Family is Forever

Late Fee: Part 1

{A/N: Skipping to 'Late Fee' since I don't see Aria's presence having any significant changes in the other episodes}

Aria's POV:

The five of us ride in the Turtle Tank to the video store to drop off a DVD on Splinter's behalf. The others are wearing various disguises while I settle on something a bit more low-key.

{A/N: Photo above}

Leo: "I'm calling it now, guys. This will be our easiest mission ever."

Raph: "Yes! Dad said all we have to do is return this one Lou Jitsu DVD he rented for us back to the video store before midnight, and he'll give us all hugs."

Right now, it's only nine o'clock, so we have plenty of time to get to and from the video store in time. Raph puts the Turtle Tank in park, and we all hop into the parking lot.

Mikey: "I forget. What happens if we don't return the DVD before midnight?"

Donnie: "Then Splinter gets charged extra. It's called a 'late fee'."

Raph: "Or was it zombie apocalypse? I don't remember, but we can't afford either. Now let's return this DVD so we can go home and get hugs."

We all cheer in excitement at the prospect.

Leo: "Great call on the disguises, guys. They really help us blend in with all the people."

We look around to find that we're the only ones here.

Leo: "Wait, where is everyone?"

Then, a giant wrecking ball destroys the video store, so we drive the Turtle Tank onto a ferry.

Leo: "That didn't go so well, but on the upside, we get to ride the ferry to another DVD store!"

Raph: "So we didn't see all the 'Warning: Demolition' signs. No biggie."

Mikey: "Yeah, and my horoscope didn't say anything about reading signs so-"

Mikey stops leaning against one of the beams as he notices stains forming on his coat.

Mikey: "Oh! Wet paint?! My horoscope betrayed me. We're cursed! We'll never return our DVD before midnight."

Donnie slides onto his knees to pat Mikey on the back in comfort.

Donnie: "Easy, Michael. Easy. Back in ancient times, early 2002, there were boxes, or 'kiosks', where you could rent and/or return DVDs, and I just plotted every one in New York to the Tank's GPS, you're welcome, so as soon as we dock-"

Mikey: "We can finish our mission and go get Splinter's warm and fuzzy hugs?"

Raph: "Yes! And the ferry's just about ready to dock."

Leo: *high-fives Mikey* "Easiest mission ever!"

We engage in a group high-five when an announcement comes in over the ferry's intercom.

Captain: "Uh, folks, a movie production has the harbor closed."

Then, the ferry comes to a complete stop as we run into a movie are recording a scene with a giant gorilla attacking incoming planes atop the Statue of Liberty.

Director: "Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut! Find that monkey's talent and bring it to set!"

Mikey, Leo & Raph stare at the scene with their mouths agape while Donnie watches with an amused grin.

Donnie: "New York. What a town."

Mikey: "We're stuck! Now I'll never know if Splinter's whiskers tickle."

Raph: "Oh, you will know, Mikey. New plan! We swim to the newest DVD kiosk."

Donnie: "Which is approximately 1.0 nautical miles ahead."

Leo: "What about Aria? Sure, she can swim, but won't she get cold walking around in wet clothes all night?"

I smirk as I stand on the edge of the railing and fall backward.

Raph: "Whoa!"

Mikey: "What the-"

Then, I rise with my hang-glider guiding me through the air.

Me: "Come on, slowpokes. The kiosk awaits!"

Donnie shakes his head with a grin.

Donnie: "Aria, what a woman."

{Time skip}

Current Time: 9:45 PM

After we get across the harbor, we walk along the roads toward the nearest DVD kiosk. Along the way, the guys have made up a game with the craziest hypothetical situations I've ever heard as they toss a basketball back and forth.

Leo: "Ok, ok, ok, my turn. If Lou Jitsu & Jupiter Jim made a crossover movie, and that movie is a kid with pro-basketball skills, that's me, baby!"

Raph: "Not bad, not bad. But look. The DVD kiosk!"

We turn to our left to find a DVD kiosk behind a pile of garbage bags.

Mikey: "Ah, the sweet stink of victory."

Donnie: "Gentlemen & milady, we clear a path to the return slot, we are home free."

Leo: *cracks his knuckles* "Easiest. Mission. Ever."

Leo removes one of the trash bags to reveal a mutant silverfish hiding between them. It lets out a hiss as it leaps between us and the kiosk.

Raph: "No! No, no, no, no, no!Bad mutant silverfish."

Donnie: "Save the kiosk!"

Leo, Mikey, Donnie & I leap to attack the silverfish, but it kicks us further into the alley.

Raph: "Raph-a-roni's got a New York treat for ya. Eat this, bug!"

Raph leaps into the air to throw the basketball at the silverfish, but the ball passes through the silverfish and crashes into the kiosk. An explosion goes off, and the singular silverfish multiplies into five as they scurry away.

Raph: *nervous chuckle* "Whoops. My bad."

Me: "It's fine. We're fine."

Leo: "Yeah, it's 2 hours before midnight, and Donnie said there's tons of these DVD kiosk nearby. Right, Donnie baby?"

Donnie: "Uh..."

TO BE CONTINUED