IEOT: Event Special🎃

Birthday Surpise!

~LEONARDO~ 
Underground Dojo,Manhattan, New York

This Halloween night is truly superb!

The landmark is decorated in a surprising mix of horror and joyous festivity. There are garlands of spiders and pumpkins, but also balloons and a big "Happy Birthday, Jane!" banner hanging on the wall.

Yes, she was born on the 31st!

Mikey is particularly excited, determined to make this an unforgettable evening for Jane. Which is just about all of us! April pretends to need Jane's help to get something from her house, which gives us a moment to finish putting the master roof in place before they return.

-" Mickey, are you done with the cake?" Raph shouted toward the kitchen.

-" Don't worry, everything's okay here!" exclaimed the latter in the distance

I hope so...

As I finish some of the decorating, I take out the little box I've been hiding with me all evening, making sure I haven't lost its contents. Opening it, I breathe a sigh of relief to see that the gift I had planned is still there.

-" You look stressed out, son," Master Splinter asks me behind my back, startling me into thinking.

-" Oh uh, no no, everything's fine master!" I reply, hiding the box behind my back.

I'm literally burning up!

He smiles at me and puts his hand on my shoulder.

-" I'm sure she'll like what you've got." he tries to reassure me.

Easier said than done. We all know very well that Jane is a very unimpressive person, and frankly, I'm wondering...if my gift isn't a bit ridiculous...she doesn't like materials, and then what if she doesn't?...

Well, Master Splinter's right, I've got to stop worrying!

I smile at him, shaking my head, then we're interrupted by Mickey who warns us that the girls are coming back.

Oh shit.

We all get ready for their arrival, each to his post. I'm still a little apprehensive inside. My heart is beating fast, so I try to calm myself down by reassuring myself.

-" Why is it dark? Hey ho, guys, where are you and-" she asks, only to be interrupted by our shouts in unison.

- "Surprise!" The 4 of us write, with April next to her.

At first she recoils in shock, but laughs when she sees Mikey dressed as a clown, pointing the banner at her in an exaggeratedly theatrical way.

-Whoa, I just realized that today's my birthday! Thanks, folks!" She says, hands on hips, with an amused and touched look.

She looks at me, still dressed as Gomez, who advances me with a tender smile and hands her a small decorated birthday cake.

- "Happy birthday, Morticia," I say softly, winking at her own disguise.

Which earns me that typical charming smile of hers!

-" What an adorable turtle Gomez you are!" she teases, taking the cake in her hands.

She certainly doesn't lose it!

Mikey leaps forward and hangs from her shoulders.

- "But wait, there's more! The joint birthday present!" He says, pulling her gently by the hand to the center of the room.

Donnie had cobbled together a projector so everyone could share memories and fun times. They project photos and clips showing their adventures, but also funny and touching moments with Jane.

-" I didn't know I had fans who adored me so much to have so many little attention-getters like this!" she quips, smiling at us in turn.

You can tell she's touched by it, she doesn't show it much but she feels it!

-Well, this cake isn't going to eat itself, guys! Mickey exclaims, pouncing on the cake.

-" Hey, calm down, you're not going to eat it alone, you glutton!" Says April, stopping Mickey in his tracks, earning a general laugh from all of us!

This evening's going to last a while, that's for sure!

~*****~

Well, for me, it's not really the end!

We've all had a great time: between our mini Halloween games and the mini birthday party, we've had a great time, and now everyone's k.o.!

But I still have a mission: to give my present.

Everyone's already done it, even Master Splinter. Which leaves only me.
She's probably thinking that I haven't planned anything. She's surely disappointed, I've disappointed her!

Breathe Leo, breathe...

I finally decide to approach her, a little nervous, holding my famous little box.

-" Hey Jane... I've got this for you!" I said, a little shakily.

What if she doesn't like it?

Jane, intrigued, takes the box gently, and opens it.
She discovers a medallion engraved with a little tiger, a reference to her nickname. I imagined it and asked April to help me figure out how to turn it into a medallion. Inside, she finds a photo of the two of us, taken by Mikey during one of our missions.

- "So you never forget that... you're our brave tigress, and we all care about you very much." I murmured.

And to my eyes...my tigress too~

And...nothing. No reply.
She looks at me, her eyes squinting, and I can't figure out if she's shocked or not by my gift.

Which in no way relieves my stress...

-"Are you okay? You...you don't like it I guess, seeing as you're not rea-" I said before being interrupted by...the sensation of her lips on my nose.

Oh!!...

-" It's the most sincere and adorable gift I've ever been given," she says, her eyes lighting up to meet mine.

I can't see myself right now, but I'm sure my face is as red as Raph's headband!

-" Oh..eu...mhh...well you're welcome, it was a pleasure!" I begged, fumbling for words.

Which made her smile! I'd forgotten that seeing me embarrassed and blushing made her laugh!

-" Well, will you put it on me?" she asked, handing me the medallion. Which I did with pleasure!
She turned, her back to me, freeing her neck from her hair, and I slipped the medallion onto her neck.

The rest of the evening was just as quiet, with everyone else already asleep, and Jane also beginning to fall into the arms of Morpheus.
I shifted a little towards her, seeing that her head was beginning to lean to one side, and she slowly let her head rest on my shoulder.

-" Good night, tigress~" I whispered to her, before falling asleep myself.