Prologue: Part Two
Over the next several months, Spring took hold of the frozen city. Ice thawed, and snow vanished. The smog-laden air held a hint of the fresh scent of re-awakening life. As the weather warmed, so too did the new friendship forged between Mo and the four brothers she met in the alleyway that cold late winter's night.
She found herself more comfortable around the light hearted Mikey and cerebral Donnie, than the moody Raphael and stoic Leonardo, but she was sure some of that was to change. Even with her limited experience with relationships of any kind, she knew that.
She had also been trying to get her mentor to meet them, as she was sure the young woman would find herself comfortable there as well. Diana had been something deeper than a friend to her this past year, and Mo found herself wishing more and more to see the flame-haired warrior happy.
This evening, the strange young woman found herself in the guys' lair, as she had for the past several nights. Joking around with Don and Mike, and settled in Don's room, she had just tackled Don with enough momentum to tip him and his chair backwards, when a soft chuckle sounded from the doorway.
"Someone's had a bit too much sugar."
All three parties looked up, and Mo smiled when she saw Di, clad in black, leaning casually on the frame, it was Mikey, however, who spoke up, "....too true. I gotta keep that in mind. Is it me?"
A slightly rough laugh rose from the warrior's damaged throat. "Well, I was referring to Mo..."
"....ironically I had sugar blasted sugar-o's for breakfast. They have 30% more sugar!"
"And you're not bouncing off the walls?"
"Naw.. after years of an all sugar diet I'm starting to like.. grow.. uh.. accustomed to it.." He scratched his head. "Or something. In fact, if I don't have a hot steaming cup of sugar in the morning I just can't seem to get started... then I get the shakes and stab myself with pointy things."
The turtle whose chest was currently acting as Mo's seat spoke up from his spot on the floor, where he landed once the feminine ball of energy hit him, confirmed, "..s'true."
Di arches a brow at that. "Disturbing." She glances from Don to Mike again. "Sounds messy."
"Yes, well...life's a messy business. ...and sometimes sticky."
Don cleared his throat, "Technically it's true."
The redhead wrinkles her nose, "Hopefully it comes off with water...yuck."
Mo ignores this from Mike, however, and looks to Don, "Yeah?"
"Yep! In fact.. here's a disturbing little tidbit. People are so used to eating unhealthy junk food so often that their bodies adapt to it. Most people don't like eating healthy cause two days into a diet their bodies are going into WITHDRAWAL from the chemicals and additives and fats and sugars. Can you believe it?
"So when people go dig into a packet of Doritos .. it's because of addiction that needs to be slowly broken. They've shocked their body with healthy food."
She blinked, "Man...that'd suck."
Diana nodded and smirked slightly, "Would explain the obesity problems in the world, too."
"That's why they say you should 'slowly incorporate healthy habits' into your daily routine." Don replied. "Not just cause of habits and learning and conditioning, but cause fast-food is addictive and we need to treat it like an addiction. Disgusting isn't it? Now think of that next time you watch Raph tearing through a bucket of KFC. No wonder Leo's a vegetarian."
The girl still perched on Don's chest shrugged. "Mph...That is nasty...and you can never convince me KFC's real food.."
"...Yea. I agree. Too bad Raph doesn't care enough about his health to think that. He's not gonna get fat cause of how physical he is. It's just not good for him. But he eats worse than Mike. At least Mike can cook for himself. Raph eats anything he finds."
"Sometimes that's a habit hard to break if it was necessary to begin with," the young woman by the door intones.
He nodded, "I agree. When we were kids.. we kinda.. -had- to eat out of the dumpsters. We still do dumpster shopping sometimes. But not like it was when we were little."
Di echoed his nod, "Hai, when I was wandering I had to do similar things...most often hunting when I was not in an urbanized area..."
"..Heh. You'd be surprised how often we had to hunt in urban areas." Don sighed in his pause.
Mo frowned a little, and before finally getting off of his chest, hugged him lightly.
"...there's lots of wildlife in New York. You just have to know where to find it. Pigeon isn't bad. But it needs to be prepared right," he continued once he found the living weight off his plastron.
Again, the soft spoken woman nodded. "Same with squirrel I'd imagine..."
"Indeed. And Rabbits are good. Sometimes you can find them in Central park."
"...Conservative?! ...heh..no way. Not my style. DON! Computers broken!" Mikey exclaimed from Don's computer, where he was taking an online quiz. "That is -so- not my kinda girl. Maybe traditional. But not conservative." Mo sniggered as he went on. "It depends what religion. ..Maybe just someone who's spiritual. She's gotta be active though, no doubt about it."
"I'd imagine none of you would do well with a couch potato," Di replied with amusement in her voice.
"I could handle a couch potato.. as long as she wasn't fermenting," Don countered.
"...ew..." The younger woman made a face. "That'd be rather aromatic."
"Yea. Totally not romantic," Mike commented, just as Leo and Raph step in, lured by the voices.
The blue-masked turtle raised his brows, "...that's not what she said."
Di smirked, "Hai...but stench isn't romantic, either."
Mike played it cool. "Oh yeah. ...stinky."
Leo face palmed as Raph discretely sniffed his pits and widened his eyes a little. Mo couldn't help her laugh.
The red-head glanced to Raph and smirked, "...bathing in order?"
Raph muttered, "...if you weren't a lady."
Leo just shook his head, "...Raph."
Raph just grumbled more and crossed his arms. Perhaps to keep the stink at bay.
Mike chuckled and smoothly made his way to Diana, offering her his arm. "Don't mind my stinky brother. He's just a extra sensitive about his extra odor."
She laughed softly and took his arm in a ladylike manner, "That is more than alright...we've all got our faults."
"So, tell me. What brings a classy dame like you to a place like this." Mikey's grin was impish, but charming, and his eyes were sparkling with a hint of mischief.
"...awwjeesus." Raph face palmed, while Leo just rolled his eyes and watched his youngest brother at work.
Mike's target just chuckled and patted his hand, "You are the charmer of the group, aren't you? Mo brought me here...she is somewhat of a little sister to me."
A look of feigned surprise comes over his face, "Charmer?? -Me?!- ..Might I say, Mo has excellent taste in lady friends."
Donnie grinned wide, he's always enjoyed watching Mike in action.
She smirked and shook her head, "Thank you, then. I would say she has excellent taste in gentleman friends, as well."
Now for the patented bashful look. He practiced hard and long to master it. "Well... heh.. 4 out of 5 scientists think I'm terrific."
"...am I on that list?" Donnie piped up.
He went ignored, though, as Mike continued, "But I -do- cook a mean steak. ....Say, do you like steak?"
"I enjoy steak every once in a while, hai."
Leo put his hands on his hips and muttered, "Here we go..."
"I take it he does this often?" Mo asked.
"Every chance he -gets-," the leader replied, while Raph leaned against the shadowy wall and watched his feet.
"Oy." Mo sniggered and shook her head.
Di chuckled as the others made this exchange, "Perhaps one day you can."
"...Well.. are you free tonight?" How could someone that innocent looking be up to anything?
The woman couldn't help eyeing him with a smirk. "Perhaps once I finish my assignment for the night."
"..Excellent. ..How about I drop by your place at 8ish? ..I'll bring the steaks and you can watch the master in action," he winked. Of course, this is all with the purest of motives, no doubt. "You might learn something about how to handle..uh.. meat. I'm thinking ..scalloped potatoes and asparagus in a red wine sauce on the side.. You like red or white wine?"
She arched a brow. "How about nine?" There was a pause, then a smirk. "Why not bring your brothers as well?"
"...my b--" He stared.
She simply smiled, just as sweetly as he was charming, "A nice family affair, hm?"
"She was never much of a dater," Mo commented.
Suddenly, Mike was nothing but saccharine, which only covered the frustration, "I'm sure they'd be delighted to come."
Leo chuckled softly to himself, though Raph was still dark. Don grinned and exclaimed, "Ohh...steaks!"
Di patted his hand gently and smiled a little, "I am sorry for leading you on...I am simply not much of a romantic when it comes right down to it..."
He tried to reassure himself silently, it showed in his eyes as he spoke again, "Heh! Leading me on? I have no idea what you're talking about... I'll see you at nine, Di. S'been a slice.."
She tilted her head, but nodded as her stomach sank a little, "Hai..."
He then slipped off for the kitchen, next seen hauling a tub of rocky-road into the bathroom.
"Heh.. Such a delicate ego. I dunno why he does this to himself," Leo shook his head.
"He's gotta face facts. Th'lil idiot."
Don now rolled off the tipped chair, "Cause he's a dreamer. ..nothing wrong with that."
Diana frowned, sighed. "It is partially my fault..." She shook her head. "My apologies to you all..." Her gaze went to her pupil and friend, "I will see you at the apartment later...take care, all," and she slipped silently out of the lair.
Leo blinked as she slipped off, then watched the door for a few moments, "..shitsurei ..sumanai." He vanished after her.