The next night, Me, April and Vern were all called down to city hall, to film, photograph, interview and attend a public event. "Ladies and gentleman, please join me in welcoming the NYPD's top benefactor, Eric Sacks." An announcer declared over the speaker. We all stood at the side-lines as the event went on. "Please, please, please. Sit down, sit down. I have to say, it's wonderful to see so many people out here tonight, especially in a neighbourhood so hard hit by the Foot's crime wave. Years ago, my life was touched by tragedy. I was a young scientist working with a world-class team on cutting-edge research. And our laboratory was attacked, set fire to, robbed, by the cowards that call themselves the Foot Clan. Several of my employees lost their lives that day." I knew immediately that Mr. Sacks was talking about Mr. O'Neil, April's dad. He was practically my uncle, best friends with my dad and he was my god father. But he died when I was barely a year old. There was a horrible fire at the lab, I was at home with my mom when it happened. We took April in, I remembered that part. I grew up with her having my back as we both went to school. She taught me how things worked and I taught her different things I knew, such as how to find a person's weak spots. I could make a person's arm go limp just from analysing their weak spots and punching them in specific places.
Standing there, watching Mr. Sacks deliver his speech of sorts, I couldn't believe that this man knew both of my parents once upon a time. "And it is in their honour, in their memory, that Sacks Industries, whether through Sacks Biomed, Sacks Robotics or Sacks Construction, will remain committed to keeping the city of New York, our city, safe. So, whenever someone takes flame to this city, I will be there to put the fire out. And that's a promise. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." As Mr. Sacks made his way off stage, I noticed April make a move, I knew what she was doing so I decided to follow her lead. She was wearing a nice dress but I was sporting a graphic tee and jeans with my moonstone necklace.
Following her through the small scattered crowds I made sure I was right next to her when she practically shoved her hand into Mr. Sack's for a handshake. "Mr. Sacks. April O'Neil. You worked with my father." April re-introduced herself. "Oh! I can't believe it. I haven't seen you since..." "His funeral. It was a long time ago." She intervened, not wanting to make the situation awkward. Of course, he wouldn't recognise me, I mean the last time he probably saw me was when I was a toddler. "And this is?" Mr. Sacks pointed at me in a somewhat polite way. I guess you learnt how to do that when it came with becoming a legitimate businessman. "Y/N Y/L/N, you knew my mother sir." I introduced myself, giving him a firm handshake. "Oh, of course. I'd recognise that firm grip anywhere. Y'know, if you were wearing police uniform, I'd say you looked exactly like her when she first started out in the academy." He sort of complimented. "Thank you, sir." I offered an understanding nod. My mom may have trusted this guy, but I needed to have my own reasons to do the same.
"I just wanted to tell you that your words really resonated with me, and I hope to one day contribute to the city in the way that you do." April explained, giving him a look that said 'please offer me a job better than this one'. Obviously, Sacks didn't read it. "Well, it looks like you're both doing a pretty good job. Channel 6, very impressive, April." Sacks nodded in approval, noticing my father's camera wrapped around my neck, you could tell it was my dad's due to the plastic lettering on the top of it with his name. "Um... Thank you. It's, uh... It isn't exactly everything I anticipated it would be." April laughed nervously. "As long as you are true to yourself, your father will always be proud of you." He offered generously. Quickly, one of Sack's bodyguards whispered something in his ear before he both regarded us one last time "I'll see you on TV." He began to walk away. "Same goes to you." I waved.
***
"Eric Sacks was so inspiring. I know this is a story that actually matters." April started on the way home, it was already dark and she had changed back into her regular clothes. I'm glad, I feel more comfortable now that I'm not the only one wearing normal-ish clothing. "The superhero one? That's a good idea. I should chase that down." Vern replied sarcastically, I gave him a thump on the shoulder. One that said, make fun of her and I'll beat yo' ass. Vern got the idea. Before we could get any further with the idea of the story being a big deal, people started dashing out of the subway and running every which way almost frantically. "Where's everybody going?" Vern asked himself. April was already out of the van.
April O'Neil, the girl who would never run from a possible story, even if it meant risking her life.
"O'Neil! Where are you going?" Vern yelled out the window as she began to run towards the danger. "I'll keep an eye on her." I patted his shoulder before jumping out the back of the van. Whenever we were heading someplace in the van and it was the three of us, I always ended up in the back. Not sure if it was legal since there were no actual seats and too many discarded pizza slices for it to be hygienically friendly but it became a little home to me...plus I was the youngest and that was the rule.
"April!" I whisper shouted in her direction as I caught up to her, the last of the witnesses of the supposed attack already cleared the scene. Whereas me and April were following the distant sounds of screams and...was that a gunshot? "April...shouldn't we call the cops? We're not exactly armed." I whispered in her ear, but she just ignored me and carried on. If I get shot tonight she so owes me a lifetime supply of chocolate ice cream. She just kept on going, jumping over a cash kiosk in doing so. Whilst we stealthily walked towards two tiled pillars we both heard a distant "If you want to live, do it! Go on!" and another gunshot echoed up the stairs from the subway. This wasn't going to end well.
TOO LATE.
Two foot soldiers emerged from behind us, grabbing my hair and tugging it hard enough for what it felt like to make my scalp bleed. Damnit. They got the drop on us...they got the drop on me. The one who has known every kind of martial art since she learnt how to walk. Damnit! The other soldier with April had already grabbed her long auburn hair and started hauling her down the stairs.
He held a gun, and was pointing it towards her stomach, I was scared that he was about to shoot. I froze...and then we were moving towards where all the other hostages were kept. As far as I was aware, if we wanted to live, we were going to have to do as they said. I already hated the foot with all of my soul and now this happens because April can't help herself when it comes to an earth shattering story. Not gonna lie, somebody has to get the information...I'd just prefer it wasn't her.
The foot threw us to the ground next to an elderly woman and we watched as a handful of them started to place bombs on the walls...right next to the hostages heads. "Shit..." I whispered. Abruptly, a woman with a stark red undercut came into view and she shouted down the train tracks "We know you're out there! If you don't surrender, we start executing hostages!" who the hell was she talking to? That was when my attention was brought to April taking out her phone, I'm sorry, but after living with me and my mom for how long? When was she gonna learn that every action has consequences...this one came in the form of a woman carrying a gun.
A girl trying to snap a shot of a criminal and a criminal trying to take a literal shot at the girl. Well...that's just great. "You! Stand up!" She shouted, that was before all the electricity went out and a train came screaming down the tracks. "All aboard!" a new voice laughed.
Now, I get involved in just as many weird situations as any other average New Yorker does, but I could already tell this was way above the criminal element of this city's pay grade. In short, what the fuck is happening right now? That was when the evil lady with a gun went flying into a wall with her head shattering the porcelain of the tiles.
Looks like I didn't have to be the badass for once and could sit back and do nothing...now that was new. The thing that really bugged me was that even though everything was overwhelming all I could think was my mother's final words to me before she left that night.
YOU ARE READING
Just a regular teenage ninja (a TMNT Bayverse Raph x reader story)
FanfictionY/N Y/L/N had it all, friends, a high GPA and excellent grades, her mom was the first immigrant police chief of the NYPD. That was until the shredder finally succeeded in his mission to kill her...and Y/N and her sister April are next on the hit lis...
