Legacy Mutation (Book Eight)

Chapter 7: Cousin Talks

"Come on, Dean! Concentrate!"

He sighs and does a half-hearted kick. Copeland stops, her ponytail swinging as she narrows her gaze.

"What was that? I've seen Kraang with a better kick than that," she says.

He sits down, hugging his legs. "I'm just not into it today, Cope."

"Why is that?" He keeps his lips pressed shut, and she lets out an annoyed breath. "You know you can tell me. I promise I won't laugh."

He looks up at her, his wild blue eyes unsure. "It's...because I can't morph."

She keeps her promise, keeping her face straight. "This is just about how you can't turn into a wolf?"

"Do you know how many times my mom would be dead if she couldn't transform? Having a wolf side has helped her, and what if I need that one day? What if the Kraang come back but I can't take down a ship because I don't have wolf teeth and stuff?" He grimaces, revealing his fangs.

"If the Kraang come back, which I highly doubt they will, you will fight back with your current abilities, morphing or not."

"But-"

"Dean. Shut up. I'm trying to be comforting."

He chuckles softly, his blue orbs twinkling. She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her plastron.

"Auntie Destiny is cool and all, but you don't have to be exactly like her," she points out.

"But I do want to be like her! She's a hero!" She laughs, and he raises an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"Never have I seen a teenage boy say he wants to be like his mom." She stifles more laughs.

"Most teenage boys don't have a mom like mine."

She smirks. "I can relate. My mom was almost a rockstar, and well...my dad's a badass."

They laugh, and he readies his ninjaken sword. "Come on. I want to try again."

"You're the boss," she says. After a sly smirk, she adds, "...Jr."

"Hey, my dad is awesome. I'm not complaining."

"We just have an awesome family."

🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕

Asher sits on the couch fiddling with a mess of wires. Venus watches from the floor, her eyes wide as she gazes at her older turtle cousin.

"What are you doing?" she asks finally.

"Upgrading my t-phone's microchip," he answers. "And fiddling with a circuit board or two."

Her green eyes shimmer and she scoots closer, resting her chin on his knee.

"Cool. How does it all work?" she inquires.

He smirks. "Are you sure you're up for it? It's pretty difficult."

"Yes! I wanna learn about it."

He ruffles her hair, holding the various gadget pieces out in front of her, so they can both see.

"So, this little wire connects to the centre core processor..." he starts.

🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕

"Dakota?" Mitch calls as he pokes his head into the lab.

Donatello, her, and Sarina look up at him, and he grins.

"Hey Mitch. What's up?" Dakota asks.

"I need help."

She arches an eyebrow and glances at her parents. Donnie and Sarina give her an approving nod, and she goes with the blond boy readily.

"Yeah?" she asks once they leave the lab. Her eyepatch is off, so her one red eye can be seen. It flashes with curiosity.

"I need a video game partner," he explains.

She lets out a long sigh. "You interrupted my inventing time to ask me to play video games?"

He frowns. "Please? This game is impossible without two people."

She crosses her arms, and he pouts out his bottom lip. He gives her the biggest puppy eyes he can muster, and she lets out a sigh.

"Okay. Fine."

"YES! Thank you Kota!" He hugs her.

They sit down in front of the TV, grabbing the controllers and starting the next level.