The Words That Hurt Me

Thirty-Eight: Hope For the Dammed

A bud is singled out among the beautiful blossoms of it's siblings, tightly shut despite the sun shining down on the field.

'Why do you hide?' A violet asked, 'How will you flourish without your petals?'

'I am afraid,' replied the Bud.

'Wherefore, wee bud?' A rose piped up, 'The field is for flowers that bloom,'

'It is alright, young bud,' a shimmering blue daisy comforted, 'There is no need to be afraid here,'

'What if I am not beautiful?' the bud whispered, 'What if I am horrid and scarred? I will be a burden on the beautiful flowers here,'

'Does not matter?' the violet asked, 'The way your petals form, however that may be, is the way you were meant to thrive. It matters not if you are beautiful, only that you bloom,'

The bud was still nervous but was inspired by the violet's words. The bud loosened it's petals, letting them fall open into the blazing sun. 

An orange spot bloomed among the flowers, bathing in the beautiful weather.

.

"Are you ready?"

"Y-yeah, just a s-sec!"

Mikey glanced up as Goo stumbled out of their room, donned in a clean sweatshirt and wearing some rainbow leg warmers Raph kindly made them. He didn't know what colors they liked, so he used all of them.

"Are you alright?" Mikey asked, "I mean, to go out?"

"Y-yeah," Goo stuttered, switching to signing. [I'm feeling a lot better now.]

"That's good," Mikey sighed, offering up a tired smile. Goo returned it, their hands twitching again.

[Sorry that you had to see that,] They signed, looking away, "T-thank you for being t-there,"

"No problem,"

"What's up, party people!?" Leon shouted, popping out of nowhere, "You ready to have the best pizza of your life!?"

Goo giggled and nodded to him. Mikey Excitedly nodded, following him out of the lair. Once outside, Leon sliced open a portal, gesturing for his guests to go through first. Mikey paused.

Grabbing his hand, Goo stepped forward into the glowing bit of space in front of them. It was like walking through a mesh curtain, a faint tingling washing over his body, before finding himself in another place. It was like any other alleyway in New York.

Leon appeared next to them, a cocky smirk plastered on his face. He stepped up to a wall, gesturing at it with glowing fingers. The graffiti on the wall began to swirl, opening up into what appeared to be a pizza parlor. Grinning once more, he stepped through, the other two following in stunned silence.

"Oh, Pepino," A...Skeleton? Said as Leon approached, "How will you ruin my day today?"

"Relax, Hueso," Leon drawled, leaning on the podium, "I'm just here for dinner,"

"And to steal away my worker again, I'm sure," Hueso grumbled, glancing over at the other two turtles, "More siblings?"

"Oh, them? Nah, just some guests," Leon said casually, "Anyway, we're in the corner, right? I don't need help finding it,"

Hueso rolled his eyes, gesturing for Leon to go.

"I will be sure to send over your usual," He said dismissively, "And no taking my waiter this time, rush hour is in ten minutes,"

Leon waved him off, ushering the other two past a few tables filled with various Yokai. They settled into a corner booth, a more private area of the restaurant. Mikey gazed out across the room, taking in the interesting people of this new place.