TMNT - Worlds Change

Thirty-Six

Iris POV

What was I thinking?

"There we go. This should inhibit your extra mental abilities without hindering any of your normal mental functions." Donnie attached the little sliver of metal to my skin, just below my mask on my temple.

"So no more floating spoons?"

"No, there shouldn't be any more floating spoons. At least, not without your focused control." Donnie hesitated before placing his instruments down, turning back to me. "You know they aren't afraid of you, right?"

"What?" I froze, watching his eyes glance up towards the door then back to me.

"This power you have. None of us are afraid of it. You don't have to be scared of how we will react. That's what we are here for. That's what families do." He rested a hand on my knee. "We are behind you getting training for this. But you might want to talk to Mikee before you leave."

My heart sank slightly, terrified at how Mikee would look at me if he ever found out what I was capable of doing. Just thinking about any object could make it a weapon. I stood.

"Thanks, Donnie. I'll keep that in mind." I slowly made my way to the door and down the hall to where Sensei and Master Splinter were waiting for me.

Leo POV

"I don't like this, Leo." I sighed as I watched Venus pace the room for the 12th time.

"She's going for training, Vee. We can't really say its not in her best interest. You've seen what she can do, what she's capable of."

"What Shredder bred us to be capable of. Athena and I were a fluke but you know he had us trained to use our mental capabilities. What if this is his way of weaponizing the one thing we can't fight? What if this is all my fault?" She stopped in her tracks, as I immediately got to my feet.

"Venus, you know this isn't your fault. What could you possibly have done to make this hap-"

"The Blackout. When I didn't go back. He could have used it to start something she can't control."

"Venus, no matter if that were the case or not, the lab where he did all of that from was destroyed. The dojo was completely incinerated, and that was in part to you. YOU saved them," I held her close to me, feeling the warmth of her tears.

"There's still that chance it's on me. I can't let her get hurt."

"I know, and we won't. You trust our Sensei's, right? Have they let us down before?"

"It's just eating me alive that I don't know where she is going, who she's gonna be with... What would you do if it was Mikee?" She looked up, searching my eyes for a sign of doubt, that I knew wasn't there.

"Do you trust me?"

"Always."

"Then trust me that Iris will be just fine."

Mikee POV

I sat on the rooftop, watching the busy streets of New York flutter by.

"Hey, Kid. What you doin' up here by yourself?" I turned to see Casey walking across the blacktop.

"Trying to figure out why this always works for Raph and Leo. Whenever they need answers, they always come up here and sit around, then they come back and have a plan. I need one and can't find one."

"Tall order," Case replied, dropping down beside me. "What do you need a plan for?"

"Iris is having some trouble with her abilities. I want to help, to fix something, to Do something for her. But all I can figure out how to do is step aside and follow everyone else's lead."

"You wanna be a hero."

"Exactly! I want to help her, save her. My brothers all got the chance to save their girl... and now that my chance is here, there is nothing I can do to help. She has to save herself by seeking out some random person. Someone else gets to be her hero." I stared out at the bay, watching the little boats travel back and forth.

"Sometimes, Mikee, you have to let the women be their own hero. Look at Venus. From what Leo's told me, she holds her own pretty well in a fight. It was her choice to go back to save her family, and it took Leo saving her to make sure she got back to them. Athena and Donnie were just having a spat and the two of them need each other to survive now. Heaven knows how they survived without each other before. Raph and Bellona... well their battle I have to say was pretty unique, but overall it was about knowing each other. And that's what it means to be in love with someone Mike. You have to know how to support Iris."

"But how do I know how to help her when she's afraid I'll think she's a monster," I said softly as I hung my head.

"She's afraid to lose you, Mikee. You have to show her that it doesn't matter what she is or is capable of. All that matters is that you will support her. You will get stronger too. Even if that means you are apart for a while, till she can control this. Be supportive." I watched Casey talk, his eyes all far away.

"You learned all this with April, didn't you?" His eyes snapped back to me as he laughed a little.

"That's what happens with a girl like O'Neill. Or any of those girls from what I've seen. They are a breed of strong, independent women, that when put to the test can solve anything. We are just a support group at this point."

"I see why they come up here now. Talking helps a bit."

"Anytime, Mikee. Anytime."

Iris POV

"Tomomi?"

"Yes. Tomomi is a sensei in the Japanese art of Kototama, She will use mantras to help you learn control over your abilities. However, she will not receive any males in person, so you will have to travel with only your sisters or alone. You will also need our seals to ensure she will take you as a pupil." Master Splinter explained everything to me in great detail, but I noticed Master Dante sitting quietly off on his own. He didn't seem happy with this arrangement.

"Well... with Bellona recovering, Venus still getting back to herself, and Athena busy with the research with Donatello, I think it will be best for me to go alone."

"Splinter, I can't allow her to go through with this. It's dangerous just to get her to Japan, but Tomomi is a little bit of a long shot isn't she? What if this is beyond her abili-"

"Then Donnie's chip will just have to be improved." I was stunned by the words coming out of my mouth – almost as much as the looks on their faces. "Sensei, I want to do this. If I can learn to control this, it will be for the benefit of everyone."

He sighed deeply, handing me the two seals.

"If I cannot sway you, then you must go. Just please be safe."