Annalise isn't going to lie to herself; she's completely freaked out. It's not every day you find out that there are mutants living beneath your city, much less that one of them is one of your biggest fans. It makes her even more flustered when she remembers that she dedicated many daydreams to said fan.

Despite that, she feels glad to have met them, and especially to have met Michelangelo. He's just as sweet in person as he is in the comment section, and if she's being honest, that makes it easier for her to get used to this whole scenario.

Her mom crosses her mind and her stomach twists with nerves. Annalise told her that she was going for a sleepover at a friend's house, an excuse that her mother was surprisingly susceptible to. She gets incredibly excited whenever Annalise mentions spending time with friends, as she hates the amount of time Annalise spends in front of a screen, and hates even more her lack of a social life outside the Internet. Annalise figured that, if things went badly, she could call her mom and say that she wasn't feeling well and had left early.

What would her mother think of her now, clinging to the neck of a mutant turtle while he parkours across the Manhattan rooftops, carrying her in an effortless piggyback? Does he feel her weight at all, or is he way stronger than he looks?

He leaps across a gap between the roofs and Annalise feels herself go weightless, body tensing until they've landed again. She exhales out of her mouth and tries to focus on anything other than the idea of falling, her attention falling on the other mutants.

Michelangelo's brothers run with their heads down and their arms held out behind them, streamlined and incredibly swift for a bunch of turtles, while Destiny soars above them, the shadow of her giant wings occasionally blocking out the moon. Sarina acts as the perfect intermediate, using her rocket boots to propel herself over wide gaps while running at a steady sprint in between.

It looks fun when they do it, and yet Annalise knows that she'd probably die if she tried. After all, she couldn't even manage the half-pipe today, although Michelangelo saved her from breaking her wrist...again. There's a reason her mother bought her wrist guards after that specific incident.

Michelangelo crosses another especially large gap, and Annalise squeaks as she tightens her grip on him, squeezing with her knees. She hears him let out a tiny, nervous giggle and feels the way his throat bobs against her forearms. She wants to ease up, but the idea of loosening any part of her grip scares the bejeezus out of her.

Another jump. Her stomach flips, and her throat tenses up, a sudden head rush making her squeeze her eyes shut.

"Mikey?" she calls.

"Yeah?"

"Can you stop? I'm feeling lightheaded and...uh, my arms kinda ache..."

He slows to a stop, calling after his family that he's going to meet them back at home. In return, he gets a few calls urging him not to stay out too long and to stay safe. He sets Annalise down, steadying her when she wobbles, and she holds onto his arms, blinking a few times. His arms are...very muscular, and she feels her face heat even as she squeezes his biceps just a bit more.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just don't piggyback on turtles very often," she says with a weak laugh. She looks up at him, eyes glistening with curiosity. "Hey, uh...could I ask you something?"

"Anything," he says immediately. His expression is intensely genuine, baby blue eyes wide and eager, like he'd hand over his soul if she demanded it.

"Did you guys get mutated after that alien invasion, like, two years ago?" she asks, fidgeting in place as she smooths down her windblown hair.

He frowns a little as he purses his lips, and she winces. Asking for his origin story within an hour of meeting each other might be a bit much. Who is she to ask him about that? She doesn't like talking about the invasion, either. If he doesn't want to share—

"Yeah, it sort of has to do with the Kraang, those aliens," he says, resting his hands on his belt. "They created the mutagen stuff that mutates people, but my bros and I started out as baby turtles. We got mutated seventeen years ago when my dad did."

"Woah," she whispers. "Then your dad is a turtle too!"

"No...he's a rat. He was human before," he admits, scuffing his foot on the rooftop. "Sarina and Destiny started out human, too, but they were Kraang experiments. They were born on the same day, orphaned, stolen from the hospital...yeah, pretty crazy stuff. They're like fugitives!"

Her stormy eyes flicker with fear. "From the Kraang? Aren't you worried that they'll find them?" She bites her lip.

"We took care of that a while ago, destroying their home base." He flashes a proud smile. "They messed with our city, so we took 'em down. Booyah."

She rubs the back of her neck. "Oh, cool," she mumbles. "I sort of remember the invasions. My mom and I got mutated during the second one, taken off to their...home, I guess? But...everything else is hazy." She shudders. "It wasn't fun though."

She remembers very, very little from the whole ordeal. She remembers her and her mom trying to run, and then getting doused with this bright greenish-blue goop that felt like it was searing her skin off. Then, all she recalls are faint purple-hazed dreams, until everything was okay again, and she was human, and she was back on Earth in the city she knows and loves.

She looks up at Michelangelo, and there's something like shame on his face, his shoulders slumped. She laughs softly and reaches out to lightly touch his wrist, making his eyes widen as he meets her gaze.

"You and your brothers...saved us?" she asks. He nods slowly, to which her smile gets bigger. "I...I always wanted to know. I wanted to thank whoever it was so badly, and now—" Her eyes seem to twinkle as she takes a breath. "Thank you."

Michelangelo's face scrunches with emotion, tears appearing in the corners of his eyes. He lets out a cough, fanning his face a little. "You're welcome, Annalise," he squeaks.

"Oh my word, are you okay?" she asks, concern furrowing her brow.

He sniffs hard and wipes his eyes. "I'm just really happy, dudette," he wheezes, voice pitching higher and higher.

She isn't sure what possesses her. Maybe it's because seeing him so emotional makes her emotional. Maybe it's because seeing him now, knowing what he did for her and the city, she's overwhelmed with gratitude. Maybe it's just because she's remembering every kind thing he's said to her in her comment section. Whatever it is, it compels her to step closer and wrap her arms around him.

She feels him go still against her, but she holds on, tucking her head beneath his chin. She can hear his heart pounding beneath his plastron, his breaths quick and shaky, and she gives one more tiny squeeze before pulling away. Her face feels hot, and she averts her eyes as she tucks some loose hair behind her ear.

"Sorry, I'm...I'm a hugger," she mutters, flush rising. "And...yeah, I've sort of wanted to hug you since your comments started making my day every day, and now that I know you're also one of the heroes that brought me home, I—" She puts her hand over her mouth. "I'm rambling."

"I don't mind," he says as his cheeks mirror hers in colour. "I've wanted to hug you too!"

He freezes, then visibly cringes as he claps his hands over his face. It makes her smile, her stomach doing nervous flips again. He's seriously adorable, even for a giant mutant turtle. Is it weird to find him cute?

This whole thing is weird. She's willingly going to what Michelangelo called their "lair," there's a virus on the loose, and Annalise is feeling things she's certain she's never felt before.

She eyes the distant skyline, glittering with light. "Look," she says. "I'm...I'm not sure why you guys even need me for this."

"Huh?" Michelangelo says.

"I get that I know something about the virus woman, but you guys are the unsung heroes of New York." Her face falls. "Sarina and Donatello seem plenty smart enough to figure things out. I'm just—"

"Annalise Hughes, who's super smart and awesome at tech and being an amazing person," he interrupts. "Trust me, you're important. I've got a feeling."

She bites her lip yet again as it wobbles. "You're honestly so sweet," she murmurs. "It's...unreal."

"Oh...sorry."

"No! No, I..." Her bottom lip disappears into her mouth as she inhales, adjusting her backpack. "I...I meant it in a good way."

Why must she be so awkward, especially around him? It's her first time meeting a fan and she's being so weird. This is nothing like YouTube. She can't edit things here, can't take things back, and she prays that he isn't losing interest now that he's seeing the real, messy her.

"Hey," he says, his voice soft. She looks up at him. "Really...I'm not sure what Donnie and Sarina have planned. What I do know is that the rainbow lady is targeting you, and she attacked my sister. Whatever is going on, I...I couldn't live with myself if something happened to either of you. You're safest with us."

Her skin prickles at the thought. She's lucky enough to have found Michelangelo and his family when she did, and he probably has no idea how right he is. A guilty feeling pinches her, a tiny reminder, but she shoves it aside.

"Thank you," she whispers. She shakes her head. "We should get going. I...guess I should get on your back again, huh?"

He shrugs. "I could just carry you the way husbands do with their brides...after weddings."

She giggles, fingertips resting over her mouth. "You...you mean bridal style?" she asks through another laugh.

He swallows hard and blushes. "Only if you want."

She nods and extends her arms to him. "I think I'm okay with that."

He scoops her up, her arms wrapping around his neck. Already, she feels far more secure, and as he takes off across the rooftops, she hears him let out the tiniest squeal of glee as he holds her close.

The guilty feeling lingers.