Over the next month, things in the lair experience a shift in what is normal. Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo had hoped that with Sarina around, the accidents in Donatello's laboratory would drop to an all-time low. That hope was quickly dashed after hardly a week where, if anything, the accidents became more numerous albeit more contained. While it's not what they imagined, the turtles are glad that their brother has someone to accompany him in his scientific experiments.

Destiny, on the other hand, pays very little attention to the laboratory incidents. She's focused on her rapidly growing wings. At first, she hardly notices her new wings except for when she's lying down and when she's putting on her clothes, all of which suddenly feel tight. As the wings start to grow, getting bigger every day, they become noticeable to everyone, not just her. Clothes become even more frustrating and she can't go anywhere without smacking them against walls, corners, and her fellow mutants.

"I swear to shell, Sarina, I'm going to saw these things off," Destiny says to Sarina on a particularly frustrating morning.

Sarina smirks, continuing to tug at the hem of Destiny's t-shirt. The wolf mutant is trapped in nothing but her bra and jeans, her t-shirt halfway pulled down her torso, halted just below her collarbone. She glares at the wall in discontent, fully aware of Sarina's soft giggles of amusement.

"Oh, they aren't that bad," Sarina comforts, half thinking of solutions for Destiny's problem as she speaks. "You'll get used to them."

"They aren't even big enough to fly with yet," Destiny whines, ears flattening against her hair. "If it was legal for me to go nude, I would."

Sarina arches an eyebrow. "I can think of at least two people who'd agree with you," she says, a teasing edge in her voice.

She turns red. "Okay, not nude. Forget I said that."

Sarina laughs and turns Destiny towards her, looking over her haphazard outfit for a moment, hand perched on her chin. Destiny crosses her arms over her chest and focuses on her feet, face sour. Sarina seems to perk up after a bit, making the wolf's tail start to sway expectantly.

"Okay, you made your jeans fit around your tail, right?" Sarina asks. Destiny nods, turning around and swishing her tail. Sarina's gaze travels to her back, gears turning. "I think we can cut some spaces for your wings into your shirts. It won't be the easiest for you to undress, but..."

"If it gets me clothed, I'm in."

"Then let's get to work."

----------

With Destiny's clothing problem fixed, the wolf-raven finds herself becoming keenly aware of the other annoyances of having her wings.

Annoyance number one; sleeping. Destiny can't roll over with ease anymore unless she wants to crush her wings in the process. She gets very used to sleeping on her side.

Annoyance number two; training. Her wings add a new weight to her back that she has to adjust to, making her mistime her tumbles and flips. Along with that, she hasn't learned to fold and tuck them in, leaving them drooping and vulnerable to weapons. Her frustration grows.

Annoyance number three; existing in general. Showering is annoying, getting through doors without smacking her wing on the wall is annoying...it's all annoying. Destiny spreads her wings whenever she stretches, often smacking whichever unfortunate turtle is sitting next to her at the time. She fluffs her feathers when she's cold and extends her wings swiftly whenever she's surprised or scared.

"You're just making yourself look bigger," Donatello assures her. "It's natural."

"None of this feels natural!" Destiny retorts, frustrated tears rimming her eyes. She kicks the nearest swivel chair and sends it rolling across the room before it tips over, nearly falling into the algae pit. "I just want them gone!" she snaps, digging her fingers into her curls.

He sighs, a sympathetic frown on his face. "I know it's hard, but just give it time, Des. Soon, it'll be like you always had them."

She truly wishes she felt optimistic enough to believe his words.

----------

Destiny and Sarina are in the bathroom, Sarina seated on the toilet, a towel draped over her shoulders, and Destiny hovering near her. Sarina tugs at her pointer finger, biting her lip and tapping her toes. Destiny casts a glance to the scissors in her hand and exhales.

"You sure?" Destiny asks.

Sarina nods. She looks at herself in the handheld mirror resting on her lap, carefully taking it and lifting it to her face. Her once bald head is covered in millions of tiny white hairs, peach fuzz that blankets the silver circuit patterns on her skin like snow. When she noticed it, the first person she told was Donatello.

"I've never had hair, aside from these," she had said to him, flicking the three blonde locks dangling in her face.

He didn't have an answer immediately, but together they found the answer in her file. The Kraang used a type of supercharged prescription cream to completely halt any hair from growing on her head. Now, without the constant treatment, her body is returning to normal.

Sarina gently touches the locks of hair on her face, then meets the wild, expectant eyes of her best friend. She takes a deep breath and straightens up, flipping the mirror over and laying it on her lap.

"Begin," she says.

Destiny offers a tiny, comforting smile before leaning over and taking the first strand in her hand. With a careful snip, it falls away and is set aside. Two more snips, two more pieces gone. Destiny gently shaves away the little sprigs left behind, wipes away the excess, and pats it dry. Stepping back, she crosses her arms over her chest and takes a deep breath.

"Well, that's that," she says. "Ready to see the new you?"

Sarina is already bringing the mirror back to eye level. Her eyes flash at the sight of her face, absent of something that has always been. She runs her hand over her head, eyes flashing again, and Destiny inches a little closer as concern wrinkles her forehead.

"Are you okay?"

"I..." Sarina shakes her head, then nods. "I am fine. It is just something more to get used to, right?"

Another hopeful look. "You look lovely."

The cyborg's smile gets a bit more genuine. "Thank you, Destiny. I feel lovely."

----------

Only a few nights after Sarina's haircut, things take a turn for the worst. Sarina and Destiny stay in the lair while the turtles and April go out for patrol. Destiny's down has started to moult, giving way to beautiful, glossy feathers worthy of flying. Until then, the wings are still more of a liability than an asset when it comes to patrol.

While the girls wait for the return of their loved ones, they play video games, chat about life, and Sarina makes sure to keep topics away from anything related to something going wrong. Destiny's worries are written in every anxious line and mark that creases her face. Sarina doesn't need to add anything. All she must do is make sure that her friend doesn't let it take over.

The turtles don't come back at the regular time, even once the TV is turned off and the kitchen is clean and both girls are starting to feel their eyes droop. Splinter emerges from the dojo, whiskers and ears heavy with the weight of exhaustion, and he hardly stifles a yawn as he greets the teenagers in the living room.

"Perhaps sleep is best, my daughters," he says.

Destiny blinks rapidly, lips pouted and arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stares at the blank TV. "I will sleep when they're home."

Sarina's eyes dim and flicker as she too yawns. "It is almost two in the morning," she murmurs. "I'm sure they just got a little...held up." Her voice falters and her eyes flash.

Destiny shrinks as she tugs her knees to her chest. She starts to mumble to herself, rocking back and forth as the occasional "Shredder" and "gone" slips out. Splinter descends into the sitting area and rests his hand on her shoulder, making her flinch and snap her head towards him. Some of the distance fades from her eyes and she purses her lips.

"I won't be able to sleep," she whispers.

"That is alright," he replies. His gaze travels to the vacant entryway. "I won't be able to either."

Splinter sits down next to her as Sarina joins them, taking the other open position. The three mutants sit and wait, accompanied only by the sound of dripping pipes and the scuttle of rats in the tunnels.

When the turtles do arrive, they're exhausted, sluggish, and Raphael is helping April walk. Sarina and Destiny move as if they've never been more awake in their lives with Sarina immediately going to Donatello for a hug. Destiny gravitates to April.

"What happened?" she demands, her breathing getting far too fast. Hardly a second goes by before she continues, "April, how bad is it? Is it..."

"Des," Leonardo says, stepping towards her with one hand extended. "We're okay. Deep breaths."

She turns to him, only minimally calmed by his words. "Was it them?"

He purses his lips and his hand falls to his side. Destiny stiffens and loses some colour, her arms starting to shake as she again looks to April. Her attention falls to the redhead's leg, where a smear of red has stained her jeans, and she sucks in a sharp breath.

"Raphael, bring April here," Splinter's voice splits the tension. "Then, we will talk."

"Hai, Sensei." His voice is hoarse, a breath away from silence.

The family shuffles to the living room. Sarina sticks to Donatello's side, murmuring to him under her breath, and he murmurs back. He takes hold of her hand at some point in their conversation and doesn't let go for a while.

"Someone care to explain?" Splinter asks, gentle and persuasive.

Leonardo starts to open his mouth, but nothing comes out. Michelangelo reaches out and brushes his brother's shell, nodding once as he lowers the leader in blue onto the nearest bench.

"I've got this, bro," Michelangelo says with a weak smile. He turns to Splinter and his little bit of sunshine fades. "Everything was okay, Sensei, just a boring old patrol. April sensed someone from the Foot, so we—" April lets out a small cry that silences him, her hand flying to her leg as Splinter's hands move away from it. The orange-masked turtle frowns. "Apes, you good?"

"Been better, Mikey," she replies.

"Her ankle is badly sprained and she has a nasty cut," Splinter says, "but that can be fixed. Michelangelo, please, continue."

"Um, right...so, we followed her sense and we found Tiger Claw, Emery, and all those dudes having this shady meeting." He pauses as his pupils swivel up to the ceiling in thought. "They were talking about making their move. Bebop's all high-strung. Rahzar is ticked because Shredder isn't doing anything. Rahzar started talking about how Shredder's obsession with finding Karai and getting Stinkman to make a retro-mutagen for her is making things difficult, blah, blah." He rolls his eyes, then yawns. "They're yammering, complaining, we're starting to think it isn't worth it, then TC drops the news. They've got some kind of plan, Shredder is just...waiting for the right time."

"Leo...you were right," Destiny breathes. Leonardo offers only a small nod.

Splinter's ears flatten against his head and a guttural "mm" is heard as he stands. "And I am guessing that's when you were attacked?" he asks.

"They caught our scent," Donatello says. "That...and I gasped...and they heard me." He slumps against the bench, shutting his eyes. "April, I'm sorry. It's my fault—"

"No, Donnie," April says with a tired sigh. Sarina reaches out and brushes the worry lines near Donatello's eyes, earning a small, sorrowful noise. April's resolve stiffens and she adds, with a little more force, "Don't blame yourself. I just...messed up during my fight with Emery."

"Emery did this to you?" Destiny echoes, rising to her feet as her claws unsheathe. "I swear to God, I will skin that cat."

"Des, breathe." This time, the warning comes from Raphael. Destiny bares her teeth and he meets her challenging glare head on. "You'll get your chance. Now isn't the time."

"Your emotions are only elevated because you are exhausted," Splinter states. "All of you, to bed. I will fix April's leg." He goes to retrieve the first aid kit, stopping only to say, "Also, someone get a bed ready for April."

Leonardo is the first to say that he'll handle it. When Michelangelo starts to ask if he's sure about that and that he can do it if he wants, Leonardo's response is for his little brother to go and rest. Michelangelo doesn't object again, instead focusing on getting Raphael to move after the two of them wish April goodnight. Donatello and Sarina stand in near synchronization and he keeps a hold on her hand even as they climb from the pit and head for the bedrooms. He kisses her forehead and she whispers something to him before they depart for their own rooms.

Leonardo moves to April's side. "You can take my room if you're okay with that," he says. "I'm thinking Des will need me tonight anyway." Destiny bows her head, eking out a nod as her eyelids and wings start to droop.

"Sounds good," April says. "Good thing I told my dad I was having a sleepover with—" She yawns before finishing with, "you guys."

He almost laughs. "Goodnight, April."

"Night, Leo. Sweet dreams, Destiny."

"Don't tease me," Destiny says with a weak smirk.

The lair drifts back into silence, not a soul able and willing to converse about the evening's events any further until morning, or even later if their morale demands it.