He sat on the steps with his elbows on his knees, fingers crossed in front of him, head hung slightly over squared shoulders. His eyes weren’t focused on anything beyond the last step before him, and he clearly wasn’t listening to the soft gurgle of waters from the swimming pool near by.

I watched him in concern and curiosity, it’s not often he’d just sit there daydreaming. He’d frown for a moment, brows knit in a focused and thoughtful expression, before it would dwindle slightly into a more relaxed look, before switching to either a sad or slightly positive expression.

He was so lost in thought, he didn’t even notice me standing no more than ten feet in front of him. I leaned against the doorway for over ten minutes, waiting for him to lift his head and notice, but he either disregarded me standing there, or hadn’t really noticed me yet.

I dare not move, I leaned my shoulder against the doorway, the side of my head touched the cool surface of the stone walls, and a small tingle trickled down my skin. I smiled at the welcomed sensation, but my smile dropped when I saw he had still not taken notice of me.

His eyes blanked and his frown knit tighter, a slightly troubled look caressed his features. Suddenly, he made a grunting sound and buried his face in his hands with a frustrated sigh.

“No, that’d be pointless…” he muttered, drew in a deep breath and then sat upright, eyes shut he let out the breath in a long-winded sigh.

But then he saw me and his eyes brightened, startled but not alarmed.

“Leo! Hey,” he greeted a bit awkwardly, and then forced a smile, though it looked tired, “How long have you been there?” he arched a brow.

I smiled a bit and stood upright, parting from the cool, soothing walls. “A couple of minutes, to be honest.” I walked closer and leaned against the staircase’s rail, “Is everything alright?” I asked, and tried to look casual.

His smile dropped, “Yeah, I just got thinking,” he mumbled at first, rubbed the back of his neck and then eyed me uneasily, “you wouldn’t happen to know where I can find a good, reliable blacksmith, would you?”

I felt my brows rise and my eyes widen a bit, before they met in a confused frown, “A blacksmith?” I asked, just to make sure it was indeed his requirement, and he nodded. I thought for a moment, raking my brain for an answer, but I couldn’t think of anyone who could be described as a blacksmith, not at this day and age, anyway. I shook my head, unable to find an answer, “No, not in this world anyway,” I replied, “You might have better luck asking Usagi, really.”

To my surprise, his expression brightened, “Oh yeah! I forgot about him,” he grinned, but then his grin fell into a puzzled look, “no wait, how do we even contact him?” he turned his question to me.

I thought for a moment, and then shrugged, “To tell you the truth, I don’t know. Master Splinter is usually the one to contact him.” I confessed. “What do you need a blacksmith for, anyway?” I crossed my arms, and eyed him quizzically.

Oddly, he stared at me for a moment, paused a bit nervously and then forced a grin, “Oh, nothing, just- something I need done before- erm… I mean,” He hesitated, and at my frown he shrugged, “it’s just something I need done, nothing to worry about.” He assured.

“Mike, this is you we’re talking about,” I replied, “that alone is enough a reason for me to start worrying.”

He sent me a hurt puppy look, but then his expression brightened and he leaped off the steps, “Donny!” he cried and dashed away, waving a hand.

I turned around fast enough to spy Don, with a large cardboard box in his arms, and a face of a dear in headlights, before he hurried off with his stash towards his work station before Mike came too close.

“For the last time, Mikey, No!” Don’s voice replied curtly. “I will not let you anywhere near my soldering iron! Last time you borrowed it, without permission may I add, you set the couch on fire!” he exclaimed angrily, and dropped the box roughly on his work bench, “and besides, I’ll get the shell cycle fixed when I get the right pieces, stop fretting already.” He muttered.

At the mention of Raphael’s beloved, I quirked a brow, half curious and half mortified at the thought of anything happening to her while daddy was away.

But looking at the bright side, Raph’s at Casey’s farmhouse with master Splinter and April, and probably won’t be home for another week, surely Don can get it fixed and save Mike’s tail before then, right?

“Honey! I’m home!” Casey’s voice cheered from the door way, soon followed by the grumbling of a dark green turtle.

“It was nice knowing you,” Don suddenly muttered, in a frantic tone, as he shoved Mike out of the room and locked the door.

Mike stood there for a moment, jaw dropped and eyes blinking at the door.

Raph stepped closer, eyed me, then Mike, and then glanced back at Casey, Splinter and April who were talking about something near the doorway. Raph glanced at me again, and then at Mike, who replied with a big sheepish smile, which earned him a not-so-amused arched brow.

“I don’t know what you did Mike, but I figure you better start running.” He muttered with a scowl and popped his knuckles.

Mike, without a second wasted, bolted off like an orange lightening.

Raph didn’t follow, instead he had a small smile on his lips as he glanced at me, “So anyway, what did he do exactly?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know, all I know is that it has something to do with your bike.” I confessed.

He looked at me for a moment with a mildly interested stare, “is that it?” he said, though seemed disappointed. I nodded, so he huffed a bit, annoyed. “Meh, might as well let him go hide for a while, keep the lair quiet with him gone.”

“What about your bike?” I asked, rather confused at the calm reception of the news.

To me surprise, he grinned, “I went to check on her earlier, found Renet there,” he said, “whatever damage Mike did, she already fixed it, but since I might need to give my girl a whirl to make sure she’s functional, she still looked in pretty good working order, so Mike’s safe for now.”

“You’re evil,” I commented with a small smile.

He flashed me a big, shark-like grin and walked away, “So long as I’m in a good mood Leo, Mike had better stay out of sight,” he chuckled, and walked away.

I shook my head and watched him go.

Poor Mike, he would so want pay back if he found out about this. I wouldn’t put it past him, too.