A/N: Last bit of the story, ya'll. If you were wondering where the Mikey/Sophia scene was, here it is. Book required a different end than my usual epilogues.

Those two troublemakers. XD

Epilogue

The full moon loomed over Little Italy, its natural glow muted by the orange smog from New York City. Sophia thought nothing ill about the taint, though; she'd grown up under similar skies. Now, the companion who insisted on following her? He she had only recently grown accustomed to.

"You're totally invited, Hoshi," Michelangelo said, no more than a stride behind her. "The party won't be until the twenty-second. Nia should be off, considering it's her birthday."

"I'll think about it, Figo," Sophia countered.

Using the butt of her Star Staff, she vaulted from the flat-roof she had been strolling along to a higher building, whose tiles were wet with July's consistent thunderstorms. Her boots' grip proved strong as she waited for Mikey to follow suit. He required no effort; arriving by her side with little more than a jump as aid. He smiled when their gazes met through the hazy light, eyes wide behind his bandana mask.

"It's so weird," Soph said.

"What is?"

"You being without your Turtle Titan costume. It's like you're naked."

"Oh!" The mutant stepped back with a hand at his groin and the other against his chest. "How uncouth!"

The blonde's cheeks puffed with contained laughter, but the control fell flat when she continued her walk across Little Italy's rooftops. "Idiota."

"You laughed, didn't you?"

Yes. So she wouldn't respond.

"Wait up!" Mikey jogged a moment until he traveled beside the heroine. "I'd like to wear my outfit too, but it's a little ripped from...you know."

"You think this is the same uniform? No. I have spars. Spending time with you, I've ruined at least two."

"That sounds like something a cartoon character would do."

"Ruin their clothes?"

"Have extras of the same outfits." The silly mutant beamed; Sophia saw it in her peripheral vision. "For me, though, that was the only one. I don't have the money to fix its cowl."

"What needs fixed? That disgusting monster did you a favor by clipping off the cape."

"Hey!"

"I've told you once, I've told you twice: capes are liabilities."

"They're classics."

"Classics that get you snagged on kennels." When Soph gave Mikey a pointed look, her staff's head almost whacked him in the head.

He raised his finger, perhaps in defense, yet it soon fell. "Touché. Guess I shouldn't even mention getting caught in a bus when I was fifteen."

"Oh?" An impish smile spread across the blonde's face. "I would've paid money to see that."

"Ha ha," said Mikey with puckered lips. "Anyways, my time as Titan has passed. Again. I know my real calling is being a Phantom."

"So you Hamatos are the Phantoms." The blonde swung her staff so she could rest her hands on each of its ends. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Because you've seen my killer moves?"

"Is that what they're called? I thought they were like flailing escapades."

"Don't hate me for being an awesome ninja."

"I can't hate you." Sophia's grumble was impaired by the city's constant hum, yet no matter how low she thought she had spoken, it apparently hadn't been low enough.

"Is that a bad thing?"

Although his tone was light, something about it kindled a fire inside the heroine's chest, so she kept her focus on the tiles below her boots.

"If you don't hate me, why won't you stay with my family?"

"In the smelly underground?"

"It's not so bad once you're in the Lair. Donny has an excellent air circulation…thing happening. Besides, you haven't had any luck finding an apartment, right?"

"Misses Anders was kind enough to take us in the meantime…"

"Please? It's been almost two weeks. I miss Cuddles."

Soph couldn't help grinning at how Michelangelo's eyes fluttered. "So? Come visit."

"It's not the same."

"Not the same as what?"

The mutant hesitated as the duo halted their walk. She could see it in his blue gaze; he was searching for a tactful way to make his point. The blonde had no idea why. Her answer would always be the same.

"After what happened at dinner," he said, "with Mel and all…while it was a sad moment, I—I felt a connection with everyone. My clan's growing and…I want you to be part of that growth."

"Then why aren't you pressing Mister and Misses Anders to move in? Or my Mum?"

"Well"—fiddling his thick thumbs, Mike pouted under Soph's raised eyebrow—"space is limited, unfortunately. So if I had to choose which one to keep around more often, I'd choose you."

"What am I, a Pokémon?" Sophia chuckled, which she hoped covered the flattery that riled butterflies in her stomach. Naturally, it didn't.

The mutant looked right through her until his pout morphed into a solemn expression. "Mia and your mom are getting along fine. I—I think Mia enjoys the change. She's been cooped in her house for months, torn from all her friends from before she met Bishop."

"That tends to happen when he gets involved."

"Yeah. Gavin's been her main companion, so I'm not surprised she visits us as often as she can."

"Least she has an option…"

"Do you—?" Cutting himself off with a cringe, Mikey then added, "I mean, do you have friends outside of, well, me?"

"Acquaintances."

"Four years and no one—"

"Mum does better at that stuff. I know a few people I'll go out and drink with. Nothing serious."

"What about in Italy?"

All hope of lightening the mood died with a single word. Brows lowering, Sophia spun her Star Staff behind her until it was held upright in her left hand, where it felt most natural. Then, she stalked ahead.

The mutant groaned before following her to a new roof, his pace matching hers despite a slight limp. "Sophia—"

"I had few friends back then, too." Although she wanted to glare, she settled for clenching her free hand. "It was always my cousins and…Marco."

"D—do I make you think about how we had to…?" Sighing, Mikey's voice grew softer. "I'm just a giant bad reminder, huh?"

"It's not that! It's—I—" The heroine growled as her staff swung with her pent-up anxiety. "He could be an ass. And he had a bad habit of leading me places I didn't want to be. But he didn't deserve that."

"We didn't leave him because he deserved it."

"Why couldn't you have taken us both? The closed door could've kept that thing away long enough."

"Marco," Michelangelo spoke the man's name with a strange respect, "he was adamant about me focusing on you."

"Why? I'm nothing special!"

"We would disagree."

Michelangelo's forthrightness struck Sophia so harshly that she backpedaled as a cold sensation doused the heat in her veins.

"I admit, I distrusted him at first," Mikey continued. "The idea of him being back in your life unnerved me—mainly because he nurtured the soldier part of you I know you don't always want to maintain."

"How would you know?"

"I read people, Hoshi. It's my superpower."

"Apparently, the power isn't fool-proof."

"True…but I know what I feel. You've grown since we first patrolled together. Even Marco could see that. That's why…that's why he wanted me to take you."

"You…" Sophia's words faded, her mind jumbled by thoughts from The Island, Palermo, and the mutant's serious stare. "You two were arguing. The time that monster rammed me in the gut. What…what were you talking about?"

"What I just said. He told me you seemed livelier, at ease. That you had moved on and the next person who should watch over you…should be me."

"Who are you two to determine that? I don't need overseen."

"It's not a matter of needing it. It's a matter of us wanting the role."

Please. Was she a princess? No. If anything, she was a knight. So why did such a warm smile leave her guts in knots? Arms folded, Sophia turned her head and focused on the orange cityscape while Mikey finished his explanation,

"I know we fell short many times in June. I also know from experience that dwelling won't fix matters. The Davu Stone and Marco are in Bishop's hands, and there's no telling what those factors will add to his grand scheme. Still, worrying will only make you miserable."

"Better to be happy and ignorant?"

Mikey shook his head at the blonde's glare. "Not ignorant. You can be happy while preparing for the worst."

"How?"

"My family does it every day. Horrible circumstances are thrown at us, but we can't—shouldn't let them stop us from living. I did my share of that. I can't take anymore. And…I don't want that for you, either."

Michelangelo's smile grew warmer, as did the odd flutter in Sophia's stomach. She had no idea such a thing was even possible, and the sudden urge to kiss the mutant reared like when they had first unmasked. It felt so compelling, in fact, the blonde bit her bottom lip.

"Um, you okay, Hoshi?"

'Know what?' Soph screamed in her head. 'Screw it! Maybe if I give in, the temptation will leave!'

So, reaching behind Mikey, Sophia stood on her tip-toes then pulled his head forward. Frustration made the kiss a little rough when their mouths crashed together and she meant to keep it short. However, something about his pebbly-textured skin made her linger until her muscles eased and her stomach rose. She felt as if she were falling when she pulled back, nearly shaking when her eyes opened to note the mutant's rich, blue eyes.

Damn, were they hypnotic; even when sheer shock lit them.

"Merda," she whispered while her arms fell. "It didn't work."

"What, uh, wh—what do you mean?" Excitement replaced confusion, giving Mikey's gaze a new kind of light. Before Soph could back away, he caught her waist then pulled her close with a strength she couldn't fight. "Whatever it is, I'm sure we could always try that again."

Why the hell not? At one point, the giddiness would run dry, right? It did a while after dating Marco. So, Sophia was quite convinced she could kiss the feeling away and thus let the mutant take control under the bright moon.

Reports littered Bishop's mahogany desk from its wide, gloss surface towards its inside lip. A usual sight, yes, but an influx in projects had expanded the load over several months.

'Act One is still wrapping up, despite the hiccups caused by those so-called heroes.' His hand resituated stills from Channel Six's news segment on June Twelfth, his finger loitering beside an aerial shot of three cyborgs on Unfinished Bridge. 'Agent Zero was supposed to be withheld for a while longer…Little choice, I guess. At least I have others under my belt, like Hall. Seems she will be the one to spearhead Act Two instead.'

So long as Baxter fixed her up right, what did it matter? Hun's attack on The Island almost crippled his next phase entirely when the heathen invaded the Pods. Fortunately, he had been stopped. Caused massive damaged in the lab—much like that masked turtle in his fight with a Tracker and Rojo—but not withstanding a few injuries of his own.

'The Forty-Fours and Purple Dragons are now licking their wounds. They no longer understand where their territories lay, since their heads are lost, and my organization has excelled in capturing their members. If anything, their juvenile outburst has strengthened the EPF's reputation. Commissioner Powell even accepted my explanation for Fall's death, although…'

The limelight had been shared with two others. Luis Eckley he could tolerate; the fat lard was a pawn anyhow. The fact that he had cleared Hugh Reese's name, however, left the agent embittered.

'The Hamatos will be found sooner or later. Regrettably, should I put pressure on Reese it would raise questions and an investigation, whether or not I am suspect. He now holds the benefit of the doubt. I will leave him be since the Commissioner will permit me to continue my sweep soon.'

Meanwhile, a slew of other matters needed met. Doctors Yahna and Biosvert were hard at work on 'Rojo' and their latest captive, Rizzo. The Italian stayed quiet, mainly about Moretti's possible whereabouts and how to wield the Davu Stone, which Bishop now possessed.

Although frustrating, the leader need not rely on his ex-underling's words. Moretti would be found with the damned turtles. Besides, he assigned another scientist to research the Davu Stone. He would discover its capabilities from experience by testing it on a lesser-known prisoner—one with some Languu blood in their veins…

"Bishop, Sir? I have Agent Rook's report from Ecuador."

Without glancing up from the many files on his desk, Bishop accepted the folder Agent Barrett offered. "Thank you."

"The tides have yet to turn, Sir. Rook is barely holding his own."

"Decades of war will not be for naught," spat Bishop. He clenched the folder then glared at its printed title. "Eventually, the K'ekchi will fall. And not long after, so will them…"

A/N: So much danger is still brewing beneath the surface, boiling hotter and hotter with each book. The K'ekchi are an important tribe, BTW. Just sayin'. ;)

Thus, we've come to the end of yet another Cause and Effect book. It's taken me literally all year to write, and has tried me in so many ways - to the point where I almost abandoned it. I know it may've been pushing the envelope with so much subject matter (hence why it surpassed 50 chapters!), but I hope that just added to its unique tone.

Now, I did miss the regulars from my last book "Hollow Hearts"; I won't lie. However, I'm thankful to those who DID return (like DuckiePray, Sciencegal, D'Fuentes, and Feather) and for a newcomer WOLFJADE28. Thanks for the feedback and encouragement, guys. Hope you enjoyed the ride! And be on the lookout for "Shift" and "The Distance" sometime in 2016, if all goes well. :D