The Turtle Charm

Red, Green, or Christmas?

After a research session at the Mystic Library, I got hungry, so I picked up a green chile cheeseburger on my way back to the lair. I stretched myself out on the couch and took a single bite of it before sighing in disappointment. 

"You okay, over there?" said a familiar voice, which always seemed to make me jolt.

I fumbled a bit with my burger, glad I didn't drop it, before saying, "Oh, hey Leo..." He was standing a little too far into my bubble again, but I had started getting used to it. "It's really no big deal," I said taking another bite of the burger before sighing again, "I just miss New Mexico's chile. This stuff is pretty weak to my pallet and I got the extra spicey option..."

Leo looked shocked when he said, "You got the spiciest option and it's still not hot enough to you?"

"New Mexico's chile is bred to be super spicey and I grew up on the stuff, so this barely a tickle to me," I shrugged and continued eating, "Huh...what I wouldn't give for a jar...a rista of my home's chile"

The turtle seemed to have an idea popping into his head. He jolted up and ran off to his room which was also part of the old train on the tracks. A few minutes later what looked like a Lu Jitsu Jr. in denim and a Jupiter Jim t-shirt walked in. Pinned to his jean jacket was the same cloaking brooch Raph used to go to Teddy Bear Town. "So...How do I look?" asked Leo's voice.

"Oh my god," I said looking him up and down, "You're the spitting image of your father. Pre mutation of course." It seems in character enough that Leo saw himself as taking after the old rat, who'd spent years as a Hollywood star before becoming a father of four. "But...are you going out or something?"

"Well, you want good chile, right?" he asked, pulling out a sword and slicing a portal open beneath us, "Let's go get some!" I screamed as I fell through the wormhole and dropped out the other end. "Vola! I present to you, you're home state!" said Leo.

When I got a good look around, I said, "Umm, we're in Mexico, Genius," I pointed to the Mexican pyramids, "I can tell you for a fact that those are not in New Mexico!"

"Huh, are you sure? I heard they're a pretty famous attraction..."

"Oye vey, you really got to learn the differences between Mexico and New Mexico," I pulled out my phone and entered New Mexican landmarks into the search engine, "Oh! They got a 'Topes stadium here!" My heart filled with nostalgia for both the baseball and soccer games I'd seen there.

"'Topes?"

"The Isotopes," I said, showing him a picture, "They're Albuquerque's baseball team. United also plays there. Now this, this is a New Mexico true landmark..." I felt myself falling again and spit back out. "Oyes!" I said grabbing him by the shirt and shaking him, "You really got to ask before you portal people around like..." Suddenly the best scent in the world filled my nostrils.

"What's that smell?" asked Leo.

"Roasting chile" I said, letting the turtle go and welcoming the smell into my nostrils, "Smells like...home..." Standing on the tallest part of the stadium, I took a look around, finding that it was in fact coming from within the ballpark itself. I read a sign aloud that said, "Isotope Park Chile Fest 20XX. Hmm, I never heard of this kind of event taking place here, and it's a little late for roasting chile..." I made my way down into the event. 

They weren't only roasting chile. There were a ton of vendors selling various products and concessions featuring various dishes. Tamales, menudo, pesole, green chile stew, chile relleno...so many! 

Nearby I heard a stomach grumble and turned my head to see Leo seemingly blush a little in his human disguise. Partially putting aside my annoyance with the turtle, I asked, "Hungry? It'll be my treat."

I dragged Leo to a stand selling smothered burritos, "A cheesy bacon and potato burrito for me," I said to the vendor, then asked Leo, "How about you?"

After he took a look at the menu, he said, "I'll go with the same."

"Okay," said the vendor writing it down, "Now red, green, or Christmas?"

"Christmas? Isn't it a little early for Christmas?"

Several people around us chuckled at him practically giving away he was from out of state. Chucking with them, I said, "She's asking if you'd prefer a combination of the two. Half and half. You know, since red and green are the colors of Christmas?" 

"Oh! I'll take Christmas then!"

"Ditto," I said turning back to the vendor, "Oh, and we'll take two of your largest cups of horchata."

When we got out food, we made our way to a pair of seats in the stands and dug in. Right after the first bite, Leo started coughing and waving his hand over his mouth, "It burns! Like my mouth feels like it's on fire!"

I laughed, pointed at the horchata, and said, "Take a drink, Azul! You know, you could have refused the chile, or just asked for a little. Nobody would have judged you...much."

"Why didn't you warn me then?"

"Let's just call it a burning revenge," I shrugged, smirking, "I'm still a little salty that you portaled me without my permission...But thanks anyway." I took a large bite of my burrito, feeling warm inside as I chewed and swallowed down the chile-drowned food. I gave out my best grito as I said, "Now that's the stuff!" before continuing to down the rest.

Leo managed to finish half of his before we decided to go take a look around at the other vendors and he helped me stock up on practically a winter's supply of red and green chile in various tote bags before we portaled back to New York.

"Did you see how many people did a double take once they saw you?" I asked as we filled the extra fridge in the kitchen, "It's like they just saw Lu Jitsu in New Mexico for some reason, except it was Leo Jitsu, his son."

"'Leo Jitsu'," said the turtle, back to himself, "I like the sound of that. Maybe I'll use it if I'm forced to fight in the Battle Nexus again or something!"

"You're welcome for the stage name. I expect full credit," I said laughing, "Seriously though. It was like I was walking next to a famous Japanese idol. It's the most anime thing I've ever done."

"I really do look good as a human, don't I?"

"Well, sure, but you know, you're a lot more handsome as a turtle...as yourself." I immediately realized what I said as Leo's face reddened to the shade of his eye marks. Turning my own face away, I tried changing the subject, "A-anyway. Thank's again for today, I actually had a lot of fun..."

Leo said softly, "Well...It was worth it. I've never seen you so happy before. So lit up. You usually have a serious look on your face, but today... you smiled from ear to ear...You were so beautiful when you smiled like that." I felt more blood rush into my face as I turned back to him. His too deepened, giving those red-chile-like marks a run for their money.

Leo ran a hand over his head before saying, "Actually, I...I got something I want to tell you...You don't have to feel the same way. I get why a chick like you wouldn't be into a guy like me...but I like you...a lot. Ever since you came here..."

I found myself pulling the turtle in, crushing my lips against his, and wondering how this mildly adorable idiot got past these walls I'd had up for years now. 

For a second, Leo stiffened, before relaxing and putting his arms around my waist, pressing us together as the chile-flavored kiss continued.