April smiled at John as she looked at the crowd inside. The place was packed with Harley's old friends and their energetic conversation, but something about the sheer number of people made her feel a little nervous. She blinked, then made an awkward expression. "Sooo... isn't there too many people?"
John noticed the uncertainty in her voice and gave her a reassuring look. "It's alright. They aren't exactly normal either, so it won't be a problem. You can call them."
April glanced back at the door, still not entirely convinced, but she took a deep breath and waved her hand. "Alright," she muttered. "Here goes."
As she did, five figures appeared out of the shadows behind her. They entered together.
John, looking slightly amused, closed the blinds on the windows and pulled the door shut behind them. "Don't worry," he said with a shrug. "This place is built for surprises."
The new guests were kinda looking giant in brown coats and hat. They took off their hats. The room fell silent for a split second, everyone momentarily stunned. They weren't expecting this.
Four giant turtles, easily the size of small cars, stood there in all their anthropomorphic glory, wearing their signature masks—green, bulky, and clearly ready for anything. And behind them, a large rat, also humanoid in shape, adjusted his glasses as he stood calmly, eyes scanning the room.
John stepped forward introduced them to the room. "Everyone, meet the Ninja Turtles. Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey. And that's Master Splinter."
The turtles gave nods of acknowledgment, their movements coordinated but somehow endearing. Donatello, the purple-masked one, gave a little wave. Raphael, in red, just gave a short nod. Michelangelo flashed a toothy grin and threw a casual thumbs up, while Leonardo simply placed his hands behind his back, standing straight.
The large rat—Master Splinter—bowed his head respectfully. "It is an honor to be here."
The group of Harley's friends stared, trying to process the sight. The room felt even more crowded than before, and the giant turtles were definitely an unexpected twist to the evening.
"Alright," Harley said with a curious look, "this just got a whole lot more interesting." She ran over to them and looked them closely. "You guys are big ninjas. And as much as I'd like to hear your origin stories, I'll save that for later. Right now..." She made a back flip and somehow managed to got on top of a table.
Maureen took out a champange bottle and threw it Harley, which she caught with a dramatic spin.
"...It's party time!" She popped it open.
The room erupted into cheers as Harley popped the champagne cork, sending the bottle into the air with a satisfying pop. She caught it mid-spin, holding it aloft like a victory trophy. "Alright, everyone! Who's thirsty?" she shouted, flashing a wide grin.
A few minutes later...
April, now a little more relaxed, stood near the wall with a soda in hand. She hadn't expected this kind of party. But then again, she probably should've known better. Harley was never one for normal.
John stood near the kitchen counter, where he had laid out a spread of pizza slices, some fresh from the oven, others cold but still piled high. He had even set up a little makeshift station for people to top their slices with extra cheese, herbs, and spices—anything that could make the night feel even more special. He slid a pizza onto a platter and brought it over to Harley's table, eyeing the chaos happening around him with a fond smile.
"Pizza's up, folks!" he called, and the crowd eagerly grabbed slices.
Mikey, holding a slice of pepperoni pizza, was busy sneaking glances at Ivy, who was sitting across the room with a glass of wine in her hand. He fiddled with the crust in his hands, clearly unsure of how to approach her.
"You... uh... you like plants?" Mikey asked, his words coming out in a rushed stutter. "I mean, you really like them, right?"
Ivy looked up, surprised by the question, but there was a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I do," she replied, her voice calm. "You could say I have a bit of a green thumb."
Mikey's eyes widened. "Cool! I, uh, don't know much about plants. But I could totally learn! I mean, I can learn stuff. And I'm pretty good at... um... eating pizza? That's like a skill, right?"
Ivy chuckled, leaning slightly forward. "I'm sure you have other skills, too."
Mikey puffed out his chest a little, trying to appear more confident. "Well, I'm pretty awesome at nunchucks."
"I believe that," Ivy said with a grin, clearly enjoying the conversation.
Meanwhile, across the room, Donatello was in deep discussion with Maureen, who was showing him how she could control ice and create intricate designs in the air. He seemed completely fascinated.
"Fascinating," Donnie muttered, his hands moving as he jotted down notes on a napkin. "I've seen a lot of technology, but nothing like this. It's like... manipulating matter itself."
Maureen gave a small laugh. "It's more about control, really. You know, balance."
As the night carried on, the sound of laughter, conversation, and music filled the apartment. Harley, who had already consumed two glasses of champagne, was standing in front of her birthday cake, eyeing the candles with a grin. She gave a dramatic sigh, placing her hands on her hips as the room quieted down a little.
"Alright, alright," she said, looking around at the group. "It's time for a wish." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pretending to focus.
John, standing nearby, shot her a playful look. "Don't forget to wish for peace on Earth or something equally cheesy."
Harley smirked at him before closing her eyes for a moment and then blowed out the candles. The flames flickered for a moment before they were extinguished.
She leaned back and looked at the cake. "Okay, wish made."
John raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "What did you wish for?"
Harley's grin was mysterious. "If I tell you, it won't come true."
With a flourish, she grabbed a knife from the table and cut the cake, dishing out large slices for everyone.
Half an hour later...
Ivy, now holding a fresh glass of wine, had started talking to Donatello about her latest work in her greenhouse. She'd casually mentioned her plans to create a new hybrid flower that could purify air more efficiently. Donnie was absolutely captivated, peppering her with questions about plant genetics, the possibilities of mutation in botany, and whether she'd considered using algae for natural filtration. Ivy was all too happy to engage, her eyes lighting up as she explained the intricate balance of nature that fascinated her.
Mikey, still nervously holding his slice of pizza, took his chance and sidled up next to Ivy again, this time trying his best to appear cool. He nudged her gently, his voice slightly more confident. "So, uh... what's the coolest plant you've ever grown?"
Ivy took a sip of her wine and thought for a moment. "Probably the Nightshade bloom. It's rare, difficult to cultivate, but when it opens, it has an iridescent glow. It's mesmerizing."
"Whoa," Mikey whispered, clearly impressed. "Sounds like something out of a comic book. Maybe I could grow one? I mean, I'm good at a lot of things, right?"
Ivy chuckled, enjoying Mikey's sincerity. "If you're serious about learning, you could always help me out in the greenhouse sometime."
Mikey grinned widely. "Deal!"
Meanwhile, across the room, Selina was engaged in a quiet conversation with Maureen. She asked if Maureen could create fake diamonds with ice that won't melt for hours.
"Yeah, it's pretty easy," She replied. "Once I froze this powerstation and the ice won't melt for like a week or so."
"Oh my," Selina smirked. "Never knew you had a naughty side."
Maureen scratched her head. "Yeah, it's all in the past. I now feel bad for creating problem for everyone."
Killer Frost, after setting the temperature just right for the cake to stay cold, was now hanging out near the window, watching the streetlights flicker outside. Her presence, a soft chill in the air, was oddly comforting amidst the laughter and clinking glasses. She turned her attention back to the conversation happening around her, overhearing a bit of the chatter between Ivy and Mikey.
"Plant talk," she muttered to herself with a smile. "Fascinating."
Splinter, ever the calm presence in the room, moved to the corner where he had been quietly observing. As the others conversed, he allowed himself a moment to simply feel the atmosphere of Harley's birthday party. It was louder than he was used to, but the joy was unmistakable. The laughter, the warmth, and the carefree spirit... it reminded him of simpler times.
He caught John's eye across the room, who gave him a subtle nod. Splinter returned it with a small smile before turning his attention back to the interactions unfolding.
Raph, ever the restless one, had grown bored of talking and made his way to the kitchen to grab a slice of pizza. He grabbed the plate, but just as he was about to take a bite, he caught sight of Harley, who had somehow turned the chaos into an art form. She had that mischievous glint in her eyes as she balanced a piece of cake on her finger while showing off a ridiculous dance move to the beat of the music. April joined in the fun, dancing beside her, showing off her moves.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Crazy girl," he muttered under his breath, before sinking into a chair to enjoy his slice.
Menwhile, Donnie moved from Ivy to Molly and the two tech expert hit it off. They started discussing cybernetics, nanites and what nots.
And as the night wound down, the last of the cake was eaten, the music turned into slower songs, and the guests left.
They cleaned up and Maureen went to take a bath while Harley went to the roof and John took the trash out.
[Roof]
Harley stood on the roof, looking at the night sky.
John stepped onto the roof quietly.
Tonight the air was somewhat cold.
He walked to Harley and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her close. Harley leaned into him, a small sigh escaping her lips. She touched his hands.
He bent his head, pressing a gentle kiss to her neck.
Harley's eyes closed, a shiver of delight running down her spine. "John…" she murmured, her voice soft but full of happiness. "Today was amazing. Thank you. Really."
She turned in his arms, looking up at him with a wide smile. Her hands slipped around his neck, holding him close as their eyes met. "I love you," she whispered, her voice trembling with sincerity and joy.
John's own expression softened, his gaze locking onto hers. He cupped her cheeks. "I love you too," he said honestly. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her, slow and tender, letting the city and the night fade away around them.
Harley melted into the kiss, her hands tightening around his neck, laughter and happiness bubbling up in her chest. But tonight she wants more...
While kissing, she took his right hand and put it on her left boob.
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