#-> just trying to work with the. splinter sent his son off to be a better leader. away from his team. confusing...

[incompleteth0ts]

You're too sweet for me

Part 1 of ???

Day 3 of Hadercy week

Prompts that will be used: Daddy issues made Percy a slut for older men and Hades Pining after Percy

The underworld was quiet. It was like all of Hades had held its breath.

In the private wing of Hades' palace, the doors to his study have frozen shut. Jagged pillars of black ice clawed their way from out of the ground, cross-hatching over the massive oak doors despite the rising temperatures inside the palace.

Behind the doors, Hades crested over his desk, clutching a pile of papers in his trembling fist.

‘Matter of Urgency’, stamped in red as bright as his wife's lipstick, ‘Your presence is needed on Olympus immediately. King Zeus, 6th born of Rhea.’

The onyx beneath Hades' feet cracked and splintered. The last time he had received a letter of urgency was when his son started a Blitzkrieg. The egotistic masthead even had the nerve to bring up mother. Between cleaning up the damage caused by Gaia and forcing all his staff to work triple the shifts to restore the already fragile balance of life and death, the last thing he has is time to travel to New York.

But a summons is a summons, and he doesn't have the time to upset his brother either.

The ice shattered, firing down the hallway once Hades slammed the frozen doors open.

“Finally worked up the nerve to go and see what the King wants?”

“I have no time for your nonsense, Hypnos.”

The primordial slunk around the corner. The wings that obstructed Hades from seeing his face gave an excited flap. For such a lazy god, he was as nosy as they came.

“Because his summons was just that urgent?” There was only a flap of wings in warning before Hypnos jumped to perch on Hades' shoulder. Hades couldn’t go to Olympus until he shook him off. Zeus was still mad at him and his son for their actions in the Second Titan War.

“Where is your brother, and why is he not holding your leash?”

Hades snapped at the primordial when he pulled at the length of his hair.

“I could say the same about your wife. She was supposed to get back yesterday.”

Hades scowled. His younger brother had held her back another day per the request of Demeter. He’s been in a foul mood since gaining the news. The invite to Olympus has done nothing but spark more irritation.

“Get off; you're making me late.”

“You say that like it means anything. You don't even want to go.”

“But must, so move.”

Hypnos’ neck turned a sharp 360° as he thought the order over. It was a shame that the owl was already Athena's sacred animal.

“When you come back, you must tell me what was said. I get so curious about what goes on up there.”

In a flurry of feathers, Hypnos disappeared from Hades' side, and he was alone once more. One of these days, he would have to try installing a personal space policy, but until then, he would have to carry a spray bottle.

__

“You don’t understand Hermes; you should have seen her in her little tutu; you would have cried too - ah!”

Hades glanced around his new location, less than impressed with what he was seeing. Behind him, Apollo clutched his chest and leaned his weight on Hermes, who was sinking to the floor in laughter.

“You got him good, Uncle!”

“Why do you do that!”

Hades ignored both of their comments to ask his own.

“This is not the throne room. I was hoping you would be in there already.”

Apollo slid his hands through his hair, putting all the individual strands back in place. “Why would I be in the throne room right now? Why are you trying to get there anyway?”

“Your father sent me a letter. It was one of urgency. I figured he would be inviting everyone if he were inviting me.”

Hermes and Apollo looked at each other. Their uncle's reason for being here was lost to them.

“We weren’t told about this. Maybe father just wants to see you.”

As if that possibility was any better than the one he’d come up with.

“I see. I will be off then.”

Hades turned his back to make his way to his brother. If he was lucky he’d run into his wife on the way or an excuse not to show up.

It took Hades longer than he’d care to admit to realize that he had a small party following after him. Turning around, Hades was faced with his nephew's winged shoes.

“What are you doing?”

“Accompanying you.”

Hermes flew a lap around Hades' head before landing at his side. Unlike Hypnos, Hermes was unfortunately able to travel wherever he pleased so if he wanted to listen in as his father rapidly aged everyone that would be present at the meeting, it was all fair game to him.

“What a shame. You make for terrible company.”

“The same has been said about you, uncle.”

Hermes cleared a path for them with a sweep of his Caduceus. The two twin snakes wrapped around it hissed at the crowd and each other. Hades could never be bothered to remember the names of either of them, even though his nephew insisted on everyone knowing the names of his most loyal companions.

‘Well, how would you feel if everyone forgot Cerberus’ name?’

‘Hermes I named my dog Spot.’

“So, what do you think my father has to say to you today? Maybe, it’s another custody battle.”

Hermes slowed his steps so he could walk in time with Hades. Hades doubted it was another custody battle. It’s been 200 years since Zeus humored Demeter with one of those. Hades mentally cursed at the vagueness of the letter. He could only hope that the matter at hand was important and wouldn’t be at his expense.

“Come on, Hades. Why so quiet? You never talk to me anymore; keep this up, and I’ll start to think you don’t love me anymore.”

Hermes stomped in front of Hades, halting his stride. Hermes looked at Hades expectantly with an urgent gleam in his eyes. Brown feathers had begun to sprout from the nape of his neck and arms. He looked like a monochrome parrot waiting for the praise of its owner.

“You’re rarely around to talk nephew. It is not me that’s been avoiding you.”

Hades sidestepped Hermes. He was almost to the throne room and had yet to run into his wife.

“Well, it’s not my fault. Father has been running me dry this century. After the stunt Apollo pulled last year he’s been climbing the walls in paranoia.”

Hades took a deep breath when they made it to the large double doors leading to the throne room. If Tyche was on his side, Zeus would overlook how long he took to get here, and the meeting would go over quickly.

Pushing open the doors, Hermes stepped in front of his uncle to formally announce his presence.

“Now entering Lord Hades, King of the dead, fourth born of Rhea.”

Way to do your job

The throne room was much emptier than Hades had expected. At the peak of the semi-circle that made up the Olympian thrones was Zeus. Sat next to his younger brother was Posideon.

Both gods looked troubled; it was becoming increasingly clearer that no one wanted to be here. The only thing Hades wasn't grasping was why.

Why were they so antsy?

“Hades, how kind of you for finally joining us. I do believe the letter I sent you informed you that the issue brought to your hands was to be handled with urgency.”

Hades would have rolled his eyes at his brother's backhanded complaint if he was a lesser God.

“Forgive me; I ran into many difficulties along the way. As you can see, I even brought one with me.”

Hades flapped his right hand in the vague direction of his nephew, who had made himself comfortable on his throne.

“Calm yourself, brother. The issue that has been brought to us isn't as urgent as you described it to be. Hades pace is the least of our issues.”

It was nice to be aware that even now, Poseidon would still work with him to knock Zeus’ temper down several pegs.

Instead of arguing an endless battle or kicking Hermes out of the room, the central table that was usually sunk to floor level rose and expanded, allowing Zeus to throw down three yellow files.

“These are complaints filed to me in the past four years in response to the second Titan war and the follow-up battle with Gaia, including all the damage created when Apollo battled Python.”

Hades reached forward to flip through the closest file. Papers overflowed through the seams ripping at the packaging. Most of the papers had the same signature stamped across the top.

‘R. Styx’

‘Charon’

Great.

“There is no reason why I should be receiving so many compliments from people who belong to your kingdom.”

“I have been busy restoring the balance of my home just as you have. I don’t know why they felt the need to come to you, but I suggest you take it as a hint to just how much my home has suffered in the last decade because of your careless actions.”

Hades stood up to leave the room only to be stopped by his other brother.

“Hades wait; there is another reason you have been called here.”

“And what is that?”

Hades turned to Poseidon, no longer wanting to be trapped in a stuffy throneroom with two men he couldn’t stomach. He ignored the way Poseidon tightened his grip on his trident. Hades has had lifetimes to make peace with what his family thinks of him.

“I’m here to offer you aid through my son.”

Hades couldn’t hide the shock that flashed across his face. To gain his brother's help was one thing, but to have him offer one of his sons up was another thing. Poseidon was just as overprotective as Demeter.

“Which one, brother? You have quite a few of them. Have you had any more recently that have a knack for problem-solving?”

Hades took petty joy in the way Poseidon’s jaw clenched and the side glance he threw at their younger brother. Hades could see himself looking out for another niece or nephew in the future

“Percy,” Poseidon said through gritted teeth. “Came to me yesterday asking to get in contact with you. He wishes to help the Styx ‘heal’,” Hades and Zeus rolled their eyes as their brother's chest puffed with pride, no longer caring about being the bigger god. “I think it is very noble of Percy to offer his services; he is truly a kind-hearted boy.”

Hades picked up the bright yellow envelope and weighed it in his hand. The underworld condition has steadily declined, with the rivers taking the hardest hits. If he didn’t find a way to save the prosperity of his home soon, his kingdom would fall apart.

Sighing Hades pinched at the bridge of his nose. “Tell your son. I will talk to Styx and get her opinion on his offer. If she agrees I’ll begin putting a schedule together for him. Once it’s made I’ll send it to you so it can be made to accommodate his everyday life.”

Zeus grumbled words of complaint under his breath that neither brother paid any mind to. He would get over it sooner or later; either way, it wasn’t Hades’ problem.

“I will let Percy know what you have said.”

Hades exited the throne room without a word of goodbye, slowing his quick stride so his nephew could walk beside him.

“You should let me deliver the schedule. It’ll excuse me to see Percy and my kids simultaneously.”

“That is exactly why I’m not letting you deliver it, you’ll get distracted before you even make it to his cabin.”

Hermes circled Hades, blocking his path and pausing him mid-stride.

“Uncle,” the way Hermes looked at his uncle from under his Petasos, highlighted just how cheeky he was when left to his own devices. It also accentuated the similarities shared between him and his sister. “Percy’s a good boy with bad taste, and we all know you have a type.”

“What are you trying to say, nephew?”

Hermes spun on his heel and disappeared down the hall.

____

Walking into the underworld, Hades made a beeline to the River Styx. The polluted water pounded on the shore, threatening to drag him underneath the midnight waves if he dared to venture too close.

On the horizon, Hades could make out Charon’s ferry parting through the River Styx like a hot knife through butter. Hades would need to talk to him as well.

“You are quite a walk away from the castle Lord Hades.”

Hades sidestepped away from the towering goddess before she could grab him. She was mad at him, just as she was mad at all his kin.

Gods are not known for their honesty.

She rose out of the diamond froth without actually leaving her domain. Her hair hung limply down her body like an oil spill. The two endless voids that made up her eyes bore unblinkingly down on Hades. She wore a necklace of baby rattles, college diplomas, and wedding rings. Hades tried his best not to stare at it.

The top of her head rubbed against the opal ceiling that made up the constant night sky. Hades could hear the sound of flesh ripping apart and bone against a wet stone.

Hades lowered his gaze and bowed his head. Out of respect or fear, it did not matter. Both emotions were the same as women as ancient as the Styx.

“You have no right to come to me without the Son of Posideon. You will fare well with keeping your distance until you bring me the assistance I seek.”

Like a whale putting on a show for oncoming boaters, she disappeared into the foggy water out of his sight.

The next few weeks were going to be long and taxing.

By the time Hades had managed to verify all the necessary information needed to ensure the safety of Percy’s safety, hospitality benefits, proper pay, health insurance, mandatory breaks, meal preps, homework help, and whatever time-consuming nuisance his younger brother could think of, Lady Styx had grown restless.

The sooner Percy arrived, the better.

Hades’ kitchen was overrun by Hermes and Dionysus, who were arguing about the preferred way to make a cup of coffee.

“What are the two of you doing in my house?”

Hades shoved the pair of brothers away from his coffee machine to refill the pot.

“We’re here to welcome Percy! It would be cruel and unusual to leave him to the mercy of you.”

Dionysus looked up from his wine catalog to glare at Hermes. “I thought you said we were here to bother Persephone when she got home?”

Hermes raised his hands in defense. “That too, but we are also here to show Percy our support for doing such a noble thing.”

Hades and Dionysus were not impressed with Hermes' reason for being here, both of them knowing that there was more to his theatrics.

“Just don’t get in the way and don’t fall into the river because I won’t fish you out of it, and I’ll tell Percy to leave you floating face down in it.”

Once Hades had refilled his cup, he left his nephews to their own devices. He knew that later on in the day they’d find him again and drag him into whatever nonsense trouble they had managed to stir up with his wife.

Hades knew Percy and his father had arrived when the castle felt like it was going to come crashing all around him. His overdramatic brother would have made less of a scene if he had yelled Hades’ name at the top of his lungs.

Phasing through the foundation of his home, Hades greeted his younger brother at the gates leading to his house. Poseidon did not hide the disdain he had for Hades’ domain. Underneath his arm, Percy was pressed tightly against his father.

“Perseus. Poseidon. Nice of you to finally make it. I apologize that Persephone isn’t here to greet you with me, but her mother isn’t bringing her home till later tonight.”

“Mhmm…”

“Umm…Thanks, Uncle, sorry for taking so long, but Dad wanted to make sure I was thoroughly packed.”

Percy rolled his suitcase around himself and tried to escape from his father's crushing grasp but was snapped back to Poseidon’s side.

“...”

Percy looked at his father in poorly hidden embarrassment, shoving his elbow underneath his father’s ribs. “Dad, come on, let go. I have to get going.”

Poseidon looked like the last thing he wanted to do was let go of his son, but Poseidon was only being welcomed into Hades home for so long.

Kneeling, a sight Hades thought he would never see, Poseidon held both of Percy’s hands and brought them to his chest where his heart would have been. “Stay safe, Percy. If you ever need anything, all you have to do is pray. I will be back next weekend to bring you home.”

“Yikes Dad, you make it sound like you’ll never see me again, I’ll be fine. I love you, see you next Saturday.”

“See you then.”

Poseidon gave Percy one last lingering embrace before he left in a gentle golden glow.

“Come inside Percy, I’ll give you a castle tour.”

Marching back into the castle, Hades slowed his stride to allow his sprinting nephew a chance to catch up to him.

“Thank you for giving me a chance to do this Uncle. I was worried you weren’t going to want my help.”

“I wasn’t too excited to accept your help in the first place, but no one else is offering me any help.”

Entering the guest wing of the palace, Hades stopped in front of a navy blue door. “While you are here, this will be your room. If you need anything while you are here let me or one of the staff know and it will be handled.”

Pushing the door open, Hades presented Percy’s bedroom. It was easily one of the most impressive rooms Percy’s seen.

Pushed to the center of the back wall was a California king bed fitted with navy blue sheets. The bed was elevated off the floor with marble steps leading up to it. On a lowered platform a ‘C’ shaped linen couch was stationed behind an oak coffee table. A TV was mounted to the wall beside the entrance. To the left and right walls of the bedroom were two floor-to-ceiling double oak doors.

The entire space felt very professional and unlived. Whether that was just the aesthetic that Hades carried or because he didn’t get many visitors, Percy was too afraid to ask. He’d only just arrived, he didn’t want to be rude.

“Um…thank you, Uncle. Sorry that Dad made you do all of this.”

The thought of his knuckle-headed brother making Hades do anything made the older man laugh. Being a family outcast and a King gave Hades an independence that Poseidon didn’t possess. There was very little Poseidon could make him do, underground.

“It was no problem at all, nephew. The Styx and your father demanded that I supplied you with nothing but the best my domain had to offer- and while I know you think that isn’t much-”

“I don't think that.”

Hades stared down his nose at Percy who was now on his knees pulling random assortments of clothing out of his suitcase.

“Pardon?”

“I think your home is plenty providing. After all, it provided me with Nico didn’t it.”

Percy threw a knowing smile over his shoulder as though he was sharing a lifelong inside joke with his Uncle.

Hades wasn’t sure what was so funny about the birth of his son, but maybe that was the joke itself.

“I’ll give you time to unpack. When I return I will give you a formal tour of the Underworld and take you to Styx. You won’t be working right away, but she wants to see you regardless.”

Percy nodded his head and continued unpacking his bags. Hades left Percy to finish unloading, closing his bedroom door soundlessly and walking down the winding hallway until he made his way to his private room.

Falling back on his mattress Hades sent a silent prayer to Clotho that he’d make it through the next several years. The longer he went without his wife the heavier the ache in his core became.

Percy Jackson was, ‘sin on earth’ as his son once phrased it. Having the little minx in his house was bad for his health.

“Having second thoughts, Uncle?”

Sitting up, Hades through his head in the direction of his on-suite bathroom. Peeking out from the crack in the door was headache #1.

“Dionysus, what are you doing in my room?”

Dionysus kicked the door open and walked out dripping in water and naked. Raisin purple hair stuck to his back and thighs as he lurked towards the bed. He looked the way he had a child. Smooth skin pulled taunt over long and knobby limbs. Feral and untrained, beyond ruined and beaten by life.

“I think this entire scenario is more trouble than it’s worth. That boy is trouble and you have weak willpower. I’d hate to have my favorite hangout spot flooded.”

Hades wiped his hands down his face, unbothered when he felt the bed dip beside him and the smell of Grape Fanta.

“You and your brother are getting ahead of yourselves.”

Hades paid little mind to the water that dampened his robes and sheets when his nephew fell into his lap. He was going to need a drink before dinner.

“I’m just looking out for you. And it is my job to make sure my campers don’t get into any trouble during the summer.”

“That only applies when they’re within the camp.”

“You are so unfun, Hades”

_

Hades left Dionysus tucked under the blankets of his bed. He would wake up when dinner was ready like the lazy bastard he was.

Knocking on the bedroom door that led to Percy’s temporary living courters Hades listened to the sounds of Percy bouncing around the room.

“I’m coming!”

The door was yanked open by a disheveled Percy, balancing on one leg to pull the rest of his sneaker on.

“I’m sorry, I was in the shower.”

Hades waved the thought of Percy spread out in the shower from his mind. Persephone would be waiting for him at dinner, which would be enough encouragement for the day.

“I’m going to show you all the more important locations in the castle, the bathrooms, the kitchen, exits, and bedrooms, then I’ll show you the gardens, Persephone works very hard on them, do not mess with anything out there, then I will allow Lady Styx to give you her run down. Do you have your schedule?”

“Yeah, I brought a calendar with me.”

“Good, it will make all of this easier for me.”

The tour through the castle was mundane and straight to the point. Every time they entered a room, Hades expected to walk face-first into Hermes, who was still roaming his domain, or Hypnos, who was as nosey as he was lazy.

Walked out the back of the castle Hades led Percy through his wife's prized garden.

“Oh my gods…”

“Beautiful isn’t it? My wife and her mother take great pride in it.”

Bending down, Hades picked a wild raspberry from the vine and popped it into his mouth. He would convince his wife to make a pie out of the freshly sprouted berries this weekend.

“Is that an orchard over there?”

Percy cupped one of his hands over his eyes and pointed off to the horizon where Hades knew rolling hills of green ran on for miles.

“Yes, apples of all varieties grow there, I would offer you one for hospitality’s sake, but I don’t think your father would take too kindly to my offer.”

Percy flushed a bright shade of pink, looking ashamed of himself.

“No! I was not implying that I wanted one, I've just never seen an orchard as large as that one before.”

Hades took note of the consistent nervous air surrounding Percy. He hoped that Percy would learn to relax more as time went on, it was difficult working with someone as stressed as him.

“Styx is waiting for you. Let's go, Percy.”

The river Styx protruded a foul stench that made Hades grateful that breathing was not a necessity for him. Beside him, Percy gagged on the thick fog that clung to the banks of the Styx.

“You’ve been here before, does her smell still bother you?”

Percy waved a hand around his head, trying to clear his head.

“The last time I was here I was so worried about Kronos killing me that the smell never even crossed my mind,” Percy choked on a cough, wiping at the tears that marred his vision. “Kind of wish I was going through the same danger right now.”

“Just don’t mention the smell or she’ll drag you under, and I don’t think you’ll survive the second round.”

“Noted.”

Reaching the River Styx, Hades braced himself for the arrival of the second most high-tempered woman he knew.

The surface of the river rippled like a stone had tour through the surface. Lady Styx lunged out of the water and threw her body against the shore, scaring Percy into hiding behind his uncle.

“Perseus! You have made me wait for you and now you hide from me? Show yourself!”

Hades stepped aside leaving Percy to handle the Styx's wrath by himself.

“My lady, I’m sorry-”

“Silence! I do not wish to hear your excuses! You,” The river deity pointed a long crooked finger at Hades. “Leave us, you will have your boy savior back when I am done with him.”

As awful as the idea sounded, Hades knew better than to argue with the goddess. “Please return him in one piece. His father will have my head if otherwise.”

The Styx paid no mind to Hades as she scooped Percy in her hands and flew across the water. Hades could only hope that she would return him alive.

__

By the time dinner came around Hades was beginning to think the Styx would never give the demigods back.

It would be a shame to lose a child as capable as Percy, twisted and reborn from the wrath of the Styx. Hades had meant it after all, he did not believe he would survive another swim in the Styx's waters.

Walking into the dining room and hearing the windy chimes of laughter was the first sign of life.

Speeding his footsteps Hades nearly collapsed at the sight.

Sitting at the head of the table was his golden Persephone. Her hair funneled like a fall tornado, a crown of strawberries lost in her auburn curls. Her brothers flagged her sides, asking about her travels, and teased her for her absence.

Demeter liked to hide her from the leering gaze of Olympus. They missed her too.

Demeter was not at the table but there was a plate in front of her chair nonetheless.

The room smelled of spring showers and golden apples, if Hades was not already married to her he would fall to his knees and ask again. He knew she would say yes she always did.

“Persephone.”

The sound was barely a breath of air. Distance made the heart grow fonder but it also made the body weak. Every time Persephone came home Hades was so sure he would never survive the next six-month absence without her.

If she left again he would die, this he was confident certain.

“Hades! There you are, I was beginning to think you would never show up.”

Having her in his arms again was liberating. She smelt of vanilla and cinnamon, it was impossible to imagine his brute of a brother making something so perfect.

“I missed you. I was starting to think your mother would never bring you home.”

“She's been upset about me coming back early so she wanted me to stay for longer.”

Hades paid little mind as his nephews gagged at their seats and made kiss faces at him.

Children the both of them, one of these days he'd kick them out for good.

“And I'll do it again next Summer, Hades,” Emerging from the kitchen like a bad omen was Demeter. “It is unhealthy for me sweet Kore to be down here for so long. It's unhealthy for anyone to be down here, I have no clue how those two,” she threw an uninterested and judgmental hand over her shoulders. “Can stomach being down here?”

“We love you too, Demeter.”

“If you truly feel this way, sister, then why are you still down here?”

ou here?”

Rather than answer the question, Demeter took her spot at the table and flipped through a farmers' magazine.

“So Uncle. When’s our guest of honor going to get here?” Dionysus flicked his nail against the rim of his mocktail, glaring down at the liquid like it was the source of all his problems.

“Guest of honor? Who have you let inside of our house while I was gone?”

From the dining table, Hades could see Demeter smirking over her magazine, ready to comfort her daughter and sweep her away from the ‘no-good cheating man’.

“Percy has offered us his services in cleaning the river Styx. He is currently with her.”

Persephone looked at Hades as though he was missing a head.

“Percy? That Jackson kid? There’s no way.”

Persephone crossed her arms and shook her head like the very thought offended her and needed to leave her mind. Hades didn’t let her go even as her curls whipped his face and got tangled in his own.

“It’s true. I was just as surprised as you, he’s been partially moved into one of the guest rooms, his father and Lady Styx were very thorough in making sure he had nothing but the best.”

“I hope the poor kid wasn’t disappointed when he saw what you had to offer.”

“Mother!”

Hades let go of his wife and allowed her to argue on his behalf. He could admit that he walked into the insult, and he could also admit that this song and dance of theirs was too old to humor.

“All of you, silence!”

Hades was going to have his dining room expanded if any more people joined for dinner.

Everyone watched as the river goddess squeezed her body through the tight opening of Hades’ dining room entrance.

“All you Olympians do is argue like fussy children, have you no shame.”

Perched on the Styx’s shoulder like an overweight parrot was a queasy-looking Percy Jackson.

“Honestly, aren’t they just the worst, my little champion?”

Percy smashed his lips together looking around the room as if hoping someone would stand up to the overbearing goddess for him.

“My Lady, I had not known that you would be joining us for dinner as well. What a pleasant surprise.”

In an attempt to ease the tension from the room when the ancient river entered the room, Persephone offered the deity a glass of wine. One of the better brands that had been created when Dionysus was in the prime of his worship.

The Styx gave a lazy swirl of the glass, not drinking it, but not throwing the wine glass to the floor in disgust.

“I am here because Percy is here. Say hello to him.”

The Styx presented the flustered demigod like he was a blue ribbon show dog. Percy, to the amusement of everyone else, looked the part as well. The clothes he now wore resembled the dressware of a Greek prince in the making.

The Styx had managed to wrangle Percy into a pure white chiton that fell apart into sea foam leaving Percy's legs dripping wet and leaving a mess on the floor. Clutched in his shaking hands was a golden himation that Percy desperately tried to throw over his lap.

A thin gold chain in his hair held a blue and orange jasper to Percy’s template. Matching golden bands squeezed his forearms and dangled off his wrists and ankles.

“Wow Percy, you look tasty.”

The Styx bared her fangs at Hermes, clutching the nervous demigod to her chest. “Perseus is my priest, he only wants to worship me.”

“Of course and it was foolish of me to think otherwise, forgive me, My Lady.”

No one could make fun of Hermes for wanting to move his chair as far away from Styx and Percy as the table allowed him.

“How about we just start eating? I haven’t eaten since I got down here.”

“You are not eating anything your uncle has to offer. Me and your father went through the liberty of making sure any meal prepared for you has been shipped directly from the surface.”

A brigade of skeleton chefs emerged from the kitchen, lumbering giant silver platers of surface food.

Pots of honey and olive oil, cutting boards layered with cheese and fresh bread, room temperature butter, and pitchers of water and ruby red wines that stained the lips of the clay jars.

Roasted boar and bleeding steaks passed between guests, cobs of corn being broken in half and shared from the hands of one person to another. Percy picked apart his plate when the Styx wasn’t rubbing her fork on his lips or refilling his glass with water. Conversation flowed over Percy as though he was a catfish in the Hudson.

Percy paid little mind to the new faces that would join to feast before being torn away from the table by duty and responsibility.

Once Percy felt as though his chiton could no longer contain his belly Percy tried to excuse himself from the table.

“Can I go back to my room, please? I don’t think I’m goin' to last much longer.” Percy rubbed wide circles on the underside of his belly to ease the tension. Wherever his dinner had come from was out of this world.

“Of course Percy. Do you remember where your room is?”

“I know where it is, Hades.” The Styx stood up from her seat and cradled Percy in her arms like he was her baby and not her ‘priest’. Hades watched as she phased out of the room like a phantom and tried not to rub at his nose. Having the Styx this obsessed with the newest and shiniest boy hero was going to be the downfall of his home.

“Hades, are you alright honey?”

Persephone grabbed her husband's wrist, peering at him through the gaps of his fingers.

“I need to start changing the lock in here more often.”

@hadesxpercy-events

I plan on posting the full thing on Ao3 once it's done but for right now all I have are snippets

[alltheyearsblog]

What’s your opinion on 07 Raph?

Buckle up for a long one, my dudes, I have FEELINGS about 2007.

07 Raph irritates me as much as 07 Leo does. Again, I feel like they nuke parts of his characters and just make him “the angry one”.

And look, the writers were obviously trying to highlight that Leo is feeling massive shame for not meeting whatever goal Splinter had set for him (put a pin in that thought, we’ll come right back to it), and Raph is feeling HUGE angry because he feels abandoned by his big brother. The family is feeling lost because it’s been out of balance for two years. And people who watch it and are big fans of the series can come to it and write fix it fics that fill in the gaps (taizi just wrote this beautiful piece for the @turtlestogetherzine that was recently release on their ao3 that makes me cry). But if you have never ever seen anything turtles before and this is your intro? I feel like people walk away thinking they’re total assholes. I dragged my now husband out on a date to go see it when it came out and he had to listen to me angry whisper “OH YOU HUGE ASSHOLE” when Leo tells Raph “Because I’m better than you.”

LIKE BITCH WHY ARE YOU BEING PETTY AF.

But, again, fan fiction writers have saved them and remind me that these are boys who have some significant trauma that is manifesting in ways that make them bearish and prickly and they still have cool ass things going on like I love Raph as the Nightwatcher and Leo saving innocences in South America? Swoon. I do want to point out some positives.

But let’s get back to that pin, shall we? Because I actually think most of this irritation can be traced back to Splinter. It’s wild to send Leo away, but hey, sure, training exercises can be good, but for a whole YEAR? With little direction? A teenage child who has spent his entire life together with his three brothers, his father, and later his human sister and brother off to solitude for a year? In a whole other country when he hasn’t even left New York for longer than a freaky space and time excursion and even then he was with his family? Then your son stops writing and your sad about it but that’s cool, he’s ok and just needs time? Nary a concern? Because I would be freaking out that my son why dead, but maybe that’s me overreacting.

Then he doesn’t do anything back at home with Raph, Don, and Mikey. He leaves them to their own devices, doesn’t seem to continue training, doesn’t intervene when there are obvious tensions and hurts building between his children. Then when Leo does come back he just shoves them together and says “you can’t go back to fighting until you figure out how to work as a team” but then doesn’t do anything to help that process either? Maybe I’m being unfair, but also we have 03 Splinter who would have had NONE of this shit and while he did send Leo away it was a last resort type thing and he sent him to therapy with his great grandfather. And he frigging hike from New York to Japan when his sons did go missing. And 07 had that material to refer to.

Again, I think the writers were trying to simplify a lot of things for a 90 minute movie and that is hard to do and I haven’t had to write and produce a major film but dammit, guys, why you gotta do my boys dirty like that?

[trashlama]

Hi would it be alright if I ask what wips are you working on ?

just wanna make sure I don’t in a request that someone else already sent in XD

hope your doing ok :)

Thank you for your concern! My carpal tunnel has been approving somewhat these last few weeks! Hopefully I'll be able to find some free time this weekend while I'm off to knock down some of this list.

Also if you do happen to send in an idea similar to someone else's; don't worry too much about it because I don't mind, I like the challenge~ Duplicates give me the opportunity to try out different ideas that I may have for a single plot/theme.

Btw sorry about not really posting anything these last few weeks... I kinda forgot to pay my wifi bill so I didn't really have internet for awhile until I got paid again... Anyways—

Here we are!

P.S. I might add more later on.

WIPS LIST

ROTTMNT

Future Yandere Turtle Series: Leo, Donnie Raph, Mikey

Another future Yan Donatello x Reader short fic I got planned

ROTTMNT Yandere Adults Series: Draxum, Big Mama, Lou Jitsu/Splinter

Yan Raph x Reader Zombie AU

Yan ROTTMNT Spiderverse AU! x Reader headcanons/drabble

Yan ROTTMNT x Spiderverse Reader headcanons/drabbles

Yan Donatello x Reader Jack the Ripper AU!

Fluffy Yan Platonic Future Leon/Preteen reader

Witch Reader x Yan Post movie Mikey

Time Mistress Reader x Yan Post movie Leo

Yan Leo x mutated rabbit S/o

Platonic Yan Hamato Clan x Reader

Yan Leo x Chubby s/o

Yan Donatello x Trans Woman s/o

Yan Future Mikey x stubborn Reader

Yan TMNT 2k12 vs Yan ROTTMNT x Reader

Platonic Yan Jealous Older Brother Donatello with Little sibling Reader

Yan Raph vs Donnie x Salamander!Mutant!Reader

Self-Aware Yan Mad Dogs x Real World Reader

TMNT 2k3

Yan Turtle's reactions to s/o being mutated in front of them

TMNT 2k12

Song req (Random Turtle) x Reader

Yan Mikey x Human Bff Headcanons

Yan TMNT 2K12 vs Yan ROTTMNT x Reader Headcanons

Raph Vs Leo x Purple Dragon Thief Reader

Yan Casey Vs Yan Donnie Vs Yan Mikey x April's friend Reader

LMK

Yan Not the Mayor x Tang apprentice Reader

Yan MK x Ex-possed LBD Reader

Fluffy Red Son x Reader sketches

Yan Red Son x Macaque's assistant Reader x Yan Mei

Yan Macaque x Reader chase scene

Yan Platonic Azure Lion vs Sun Wukong x Reader

Yan Spider Queen/Spider Gang x Moth Demon reader

HTTYD

Yan Snotlout x Gobber's apprentice Reader x Yan Eret

Yan Snotlout vs Yan Eret x Reader

Yan Snotlout x Dragon Rider Reader

Fluffy Yan Snotlout x Dragon Rider Reader

Yan Hiccup x isekaied Reader

Yan Hiccup x Dragon Rider Reader

Yan Hiccup x Reader

Yan Hiccup x Reader who is scared of dragons

Yan Hiccup x fellow Night fury rider Reader

Yan Hybrid Toothless x Viking Reader

Yan Hybrid Toothless x Hybrid Night Fury Reader

Dead by Daylight

Leon Vs Steve x Survivor Reader

Villianous

Yan Dr Flug x Reader headcanons

Unicorn: Warriors Eternal

Yan Winston vs Yan Edred x Reader

Yan Winston x Reader

Yan Edred x Reader

Record of Ragnarok

Shy/Meek Reader x Yan Buddha

Spiderverse ATSV and ITSV

Yan Miguel O'Hara x Dimension Jumper reader

Yan Miguel O'Hara x Reader headcanons

Addiction: Yan Miguel O'Hara x Reader fic

Yan Peter B Parker x Reader headcanons

Fluffy Peter B Parker x Reader headcanons

Yan Peter B Parker x Single Mom reader headcanons

Fluffy Yan Platonic Miguel O'Hara and Platonic Yan Jessica Drew wirh Homeless Teen Reader

Yan Miles Morales x Venom!Reader

[aquietwritingcorner]

Echos of Horror

Title: Echoes of Horror Fandom:  TMNT 2003 Word Count: 3207  Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl Rating:  T Characters:  Donatello, Raphael Warning: SAINW Summary:  Lord Simultaneous had called Donnie’s nightmares “echoes in the timestream” and told them to deal with them. That was easy for him to say. If he was the one holding his twelve-year-old brother after he had just relived the most traumatizing event in his previous life’s experience, Raph was certain the short Time Master wouldn’t be so glib.     Notes:  Part of the Little Don AU, an AU I’ve had forming in my head where, during a crisis with the Time Scepter, Don sacrificed himself to save everything. Instead of it killing him, though, it turned him into a baby, and his family has needed to raise him all over again.  ff.net || AO3

_________________________________

Echoes of Horror

Raph stretched as he padded softly into the lair, rolling his shoulder, trying to work out the soreness in it. He didn’t go out with Casey nearly as often as he used to, to bust heads, and he was starting to remember why. He wasn’t a teenager anymore, not even close at thirty-four, and Casey was older than him. They didn’t quite move or heal the same way. Still, though, sometimes he needed the release, and Casey was always happy to be his back up, just like Raph was for him. It let him get out some pent-up frustration and help a few people along the way.

Not wanting to wake anyone up, Raph moved quietly, heading first to the bathroom to clean up a bit, shower the grime of the city and the blood of some thugs off of him, and then, when that was done, to the kitchen, to grab an ice pack for his shoulder. It wouldn’t hurt him to have that.

The lair was silent, everyone in bed, and Raph couldn’t help but reflect on how it was kind of lonely. Mike wasn’t up playing his video games or watching his horror movies at all hours of the morning. Leo wasn’t training or perched somewhere reading a book. Splinter wasn’t taking his tea or watching his sons fondly. But the one that hit the hardest was that there was no sound of tinkering coming from the workshop. No lights on, no clacks of the keyboard, no random sounds of tools.

It sent a pang through Raph’s heart. Up until they were nearly twenty-three, that had been almost a constant. If Raph went out late, when he came back, he was almost sure to find Don awake and puttering around his workshop. If he wasn’t awake, then was still most likely in his workshop, having fallen asleep there. Raph sometimes wondered if Don did that on purpose, waited up on him, but he’d never gotten up the nerve to ask. He wished he had.

But now the workshop was silent this late at night. Donnie, while being allowed to pretty much do what he wanted in there during the day, was still only twelve. And while he was granted more and more freedom as he grew, both Splinter and Leo came down with a hard no on him spending all hours of the night working. Raph knew it didn’t stop him from sneaking things in his bedroom anyway—one they had moved upstairs with the other brothers only a year or so ago—but he wasn’t allowed to just putter around the lab at all hours of the night.

Raph missed it.

Shaking his head to clear it of the nostalgia, Raph made his way towards the upper level, skipping the stairs entirely and just leaping up. He could hear Mike snoring away in his room as he passed and Leo’s gently, steady breathing in his. He passed by Donnie’s expecting to hear the sounds of heavy breathing, or muttering, or even the tinkering of small tools. But he stopped short as that wasn’t what he heard at all.

He stood outside of the room, listening, hearing what sounded like terrified, staccato breathing. Raph didn’t waste a second. He opened the door to check on his baby brother.

It was a well-known fact that Donnie had nightmares. He’d had them since he was little, most of them relating back to something from his previous life. He wasn’t supposed to have any memories of that previous life, but Lord Simultaneous had called them “echoes in the timeline” and basically told them to just deal with it.

Yeah, easy for him to say, when he didn’t have a baby brother who’d been wailing in terror over things he couldn’t understand since he was one.

The impact of the dreams seemed to have lessened as Donnie had gotten older, but he still had them, and his brothers still made sure to wake him if they heard him having one.

So, Raph didn’t waste a second, entering Donnie’s room. He expected to find his brother moving slightly in his bed or having just woken up. What he didn’t expect to find was a wide awake and clearly terrified twelve-year-old who looked like he had just been traumatized.

His eyes were blown wide, tears pouring down his face. His breathing was coming in uneven gasps. He was shaking like a leaf. His head jerked up when Raph entered the room, and as soon as he realized who it was, he was launching himself at Raph as best he could on shaking, trembling limbs—which wasn’t very well.

Raph immediately sped forward to catch his brother, keeping him from meeting the floor with his face, and gathering him up in his arms. Donnie let him, gasping, shuddering, and crying against him, clinging with everything he could manage, one arm around his shell as far as the boy could reach, the other clinging to his brother’s head.

It was alarming. Donnie had gotten less cuddly and less prone to letting his family see his tears or when he was upset as he’d grown, but especially in the past couple of years. He’d been insisting that he was growing up, and he didn’t want to be coddled as much anymore. For him to suddenly be clinging this much, for him to be this scared, this upset, something was very, very wrong.

Raph held him tightly, stalking out of the room and back towards his brothers’ rooms.

“Leo!” he bellowed, and almost immediately Leo was at his door, sword in hand.

“Raph?” He questioned, concern flowing through him when he saw the way that Raph was cradling Donnie.

“Get blankets,” was all Raph said. Leo nodded, put his sword away, and hurried to do it. “Mike!”

Mikey had already been stumbling towards his door, and he blearily leaned out of it “Whazzit?” he said, and then straightened up a little when he saw Raph and Donnie. “Donnie?”

“Pillows,” Raph said.

He heard Mike run off to take care of that, even as Raph, still holding Donnie, jumped to the lower level.

“Sense--!” Raph started, only to cut off when he saw his father already standing outside of his door. “Oh.”

“Raphael?” Splinter said, hurrying towards the pair. “What is wrong?”

Raph shook his head. “Dunno. But it’s a bad one.”

Splinter nodded. “Come. Bring him to the living room.”

Raph nodded and followed his father to the living room. Leo had already gotten there with as many blankets as he could carry, and Mike wasn’t far behind him with plenty of pillows. Splinter almost immediately got to work preparing them a nest, as he had often done when they were kids.

Donnie just hung onto Raph and trembled, tears soaking Raph’s shoulder. Raph rubbed a hand over Donnie’s shell, instinctively churring as he tried to soothe his little brother. It took him a moment to realize that Donnie had ahold of his mask tails, something he hadn’t done since he was very, very young.

The nest was finished quickly, and the brothers gathered in it. Splinter moved to go to his chair, but a strangled noise from Donnie had the rat returning. “Donatello?”

Don pried a hand loose from Raph, and held it out, shaking, to his father. Splinter didn’t hesitate, immediately moving in and gathering Donnie to him.

That was when Donnie burst into loud, noisy sobs, holding onto Splinter as if he were afraid that he might disappear. Mikey reached out to him with his left hand, running a hand down Donnie’s shell.

“Donnie? Buddy? What’s wrong? What happened?”

Donnie twisted his head around to stare at Mikey, and his eyes traveling over him, and then looking at his arm for a moment. He twisted in Splinter’s hold, and grabbed Mikey’s arm, holding tightly to it. Mikey, startled, automatically pulled Donnie towards him.

“Donnie?” he said again, with no response.

“Donnie?” Leo said, leaning in. “Donnie, talk to us. We can’t help you if we don’t know what’s wrong.”

Donnie looked up at Leo, staring at his face. His breath hitched, but finally, he spoke.

“You’re all alive,” he whispered out. “I… I…” he shuddered, but frantically looked over his family. “You’re not dead.” He let out a sob, and launched himself at Leo, who caught him, holding him tightly. “I didn’t kill you!”

Everyone glanced at each other and understanding grew, Mikey rubbing at his arm. Raph began to feel his eye itch as things started to make sense to him.

Splinter leaned forward, placing a hand on Donnie’s head. “My son. I know it is hard, but can you tell us what you saw?”

Donnie’s breath hitched, but the twelve-year-old nodded and turned a little to face his family. “It…it was this world. But things were destroyed. I was older and I didn’t know how I got there. There were Foot everywhere and the Shredder had come back and taken things over.”

He sniffed and hunkered down in Leo’s lap. “Mikey found me first. He was a lot older and… and he was missing his arm.”

Mikey waved his arms around and reached over to playfully grab at Donnie’s arm. “Hey, no worries, I’m old and I have two arms right here!”

Donnie’s chin trembled, even as he looked at Mikey. “Um… He took me to Aunt April. Her hair was short and gray. Uncle Casey was dead. They were trying to stop the Shredder.” He looked up at Splinter. “He also took me to Father’s grave.”

“And yet I am here, and whole, as is Uncle Casey,” Splinter said with a soft smile. “Please continue.”

Donnie nodded. “Aunt April got Leo and Raphie to come. Raphie was missing an eye, and Leo was blind, I think. And they were angry with each other.”

Leo and Raph looked at each other and then, in unison, both of them slid their masks off.

“Look here,” Raph said. “Both eyes, working fine. And I ain’t angry with Leo.”

Leo leaned around so that Donnie could see his face. “My eyes are fine, too,” he said. “And I’m not mad at Raph.”

Donnie nodded, but it didn’t seem to relieve him. Instead, he looked down at his hands, pulling at his fingers.

“What happened next?” Splinter prodded softly.

Donnie looked back up at him, and his eyes started to fill with tears again. “We… we wanted to stop the Shredder. But no one thought we could. But I did. And I made a plan. I made a robot suit for myself, and we took a tunneling vehicle into Shredder’s stronghold. We were supposed to get him in place so I could chain him to the drill, turn it on, and let it kill him. But…”

His breath hitched, and he started crying again, curling into himself. “But you all died instead!” he wailed. “These Karai bots killed Mikey! They stabbed him and cut him up! And then Karai killed, Leo, she stabbed him in the back! And Raph—Raph tried to kill Karai, but she killed him, too! Aunt April was the only one that didn’t die, and she killed Karai! I did kill the Shredder, but—but—”

Donnie’s breath caught again, and he turned into Leo, who held him tightly. “You all died! You all died! I watched you all get killed and murdered and it was all my fault! It was all my fault! I saw it and heard it and smelled it and—and—”

Donnie dropped back into hysterical cries again, and Leo tightened his hold. Nuzzling his head, and rubbing his shell, Leo rocked Donnie back and forth, gently shushing him. Raph shifted so that he was closer, and Mike followed suit. Splinter, too, moved in, the family closing ranks around the young turtle.

After a few minutes, Donnie calmed down a little, and slowly peeked out of Leo’s hold.

“…it was a memory, wasn’t it?” he asked, quietly, his voice shaking. “From other me.”

Splinter moved closer, and reached out, gently pulling Donnie to him. Donnie willingly went to his father, cuddling close to him. Splinter held him, running a soothing hand along his shell.

“It was,” he said after a moment. “An enemy managed to gain control of the Time Scepter and used it to scatter us across time and space. Donatello—Don—was sent to a place thirty years in the future. The Shredder had taken control, the family was broken apart, and Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo did have the injuries you had described. Don did come up with a plan to defeat the Shredder, and it did cost the lives of those brothers. That April told him that he had given the world hope before I managed to pull him back from that place.”

“So… I did kill you. Or he did. He killed them. And that means I did. I—I really did kill my brothers—” Donnie said, his tears picking up again.

“No!” Raph leaned forward, and grabbed Donnie, pulling him close. “No! Don didn’t kill us, and neither did you!”

“But—” Donnie started.

“No!” Raph said, cradling Donnie, but pulling back enough that Donnie could see his face. “You didn’t kill anyone,” Raph said sternly. “You and Don are not the same person. You didn’t kill anyone, and you didn’t kill us. That blood isn’t on your hands. And it wasn’t on Don’s. It was on that Shredder’s and Karai’s. They are the ones who killed those other brothers. They’re the ones that were responsible. All Don was responsible for was reminding those brothers of what they should have been doing. But he wasn’t responsible for their deaths.”

Donnie stared at Raph’s face, his chin still trembling. His hands came up, curling around the edge of Raph’s plastron, just like he used to as a baby. “…But it could be,” he said. “It’s not been thirty years, yet.  What if—what if it can still happen?”

“I don’t think it can, Donnie,” Mikey said softly.

Donnie turned his head to stare at him.

“Don told me about it once,” he said, waving his hand around. “Like, years later. He said that it didn’t make sense that it was our future. I mean, first there was the fact that we went to the future and nothing like that had even happened. But also, there were a lot of small things that didn’t add up. That Mike had said that Don had just disappeared. And, don’t get me wrong, Don was super paranoid about it for a while. But there wasn’t ever a time when he just disappeared. We always knew why, if it happened. And if you disappeared, well, we would have been a lot older than what Don described if it had been thirty years,” he said, making a silly face at Donnie.

He turned a bit serious again. “And then there was the tunnler. That thing got destroyed when Karai destroyed the Y’Lyntian lair. I know, I was driving it. If that was the future we were heading towards, then the tunnler would still be around. Either that, or you would have built another one, which you haven’t. Plus, when we did that whole multiverse thing? Yeah, Don told me later that one of the other realities that popped up when our Shredder was looking at the turtle-multi-verse, he recognized it as that future that he went to.”

Mike reached out with his left arm, and poked Donnie in the snout. “Don thought that it was probably not our future, but that it was an alternate reality, but one that was really close to ours.” He transitioned to giving Donnie’s head a rub. “So, like, you don’t have to worry about it happening to us. It happened somewhere else.”

Donnie stared at Mikey, his attention rapt. “R-really?” he said.

Mikey sat back, but nodded. “Yep. Really.”

Donnie sniffed, and looked down, processing the information.

“Ya see?” Raph said, softening his stern tone a bit. “You weren’t responsible, and it ain’t gonna happen again. And even Don wasn’t responsible. It wasn’t his fault, and it ain’t yours.”

“My son,” Splinter said. “Come here.”

Still trembling and tears still falling from his face, Donnie pushed himself out of Raph’s hold and crawled over to sit in front of his father.

Splinter smiled sadly at him, and reached out, cupping his face. “My son,” he said. “What you dreamed happened. We cannot deny that. Just as we couldn’t deny that, his actual brothers or not, the death of those brothers deeply impacted Don. And now, it is impacting you as well. That, we cannot and will not deny. But know this. Even if Don had been responsible for their deaths, even if we blamed him, we would not blame you. You are Donatello, but you are not Don. And nothing that Don did, for good or bad, is on your hands.”

Splinter leaned forward, putting a kiss on Donnie’s forehead. “This has impacted you, understandably. But know that we are here for you. You are allowed to be scared, to be upset, and to mourn. No matter who is responsible or not, you are allowed. And we will be here for you.”

Donnie teared up again, and leaned into his father, curling up with his head on Splinter’s lap, crying. Splinter let him, running a hand on his shell.

“We will be here for you,” Splinter repeated as the young turtle sobbed.

Donnie eventually fell asleep again, head pillowed on Splinter’s lap. Leo moved a few things around, making sure that Splinter was as comfortable as he could be with Donnie sleeping on him like that, and then the rest of them made themselves comfortable and dropped off to sleep one at a time, all of them staying close together.

Raph woke up abruptly a few hours later. The lair was dark, with the exception of the slight glow from the televisions. He could see Splinter, still propped on pillows, with Donnie’s head in his lap. Mike had wormed his way beside Donnie, his left arm thrown across Donnie’s shell. Leo was sleeping, curled on the other side of Donnie, a hand reaching out to touch their baby brother. Everything seemed to be fine.

And then Donnie whimpered a little.

Raph reached out, reaching over Mike, and rubbed Donnie’s head. “It’s okay, bud,” he said softly. “Ain’t nothing gonna get ya, and ain’t nothing gonna happen to us tonight.”

“Raphie?” the boy mumbled. “You promise?”

“Yeah, kiddo, I promise. I’ll keep watch, alright?”

Something about that seemed to reassure the boy, and he settled down again. Raph watched him for a few minutes, making sure that the boy was going to drop back into a better sleep, and then he made himself comfortable sitting up. Don or Donnie, it didn’t matter. Both of them had to deal with that experience. Both of them were suffering for it. And Raph knew that both of them always felt better when he was keeping watch.

So, until Donnie dealt with this, Raph would keep watch, in one way or another, if it meant that his baby brother felt safe and secure.

[donatellowiththebookinhishand]

Donatello Brainworm AU- Chapter 3

Disclaimer: This AU is NOT my idea, it comes from a comic creator on tumbler by the name @cupcakeslushie. I implore you to check their comic out before reading, their art is incredible. It’s also the basis of this entire work, and I will try to keep dialogue the same from comic to here.

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The Shellraiser sat parked by the side of the warehouse, a looming reminder of their rough ride home ahead. After regrouping, the brothers exchanged glances, each feeling the weight of what they’d just been through. Leo looked over at Karai. “You take the Stealth Bike back to the lair,” he instructed, his voice low and firm. “We’ll handle things from here.”

Karai gave a nod, her face set in determination. “Fine. I’ll meet you guys there.” she said, shooting a worried glance toward Donnie, who sat eerily calm, his eyes staring off as if lost in some twisted thought. With that, she sped off into the night.

Inside the Shellraiser, Donnie and Raph sat across from each other. Raph had insisted on using chains rather than holding him down himself, though the sight of his brother in restraints left a bitter taste in his mouth. “I know you’re in there, Donnie,” he muttered, almost to himself. “I’m not givin’ up on you.”

The Shellraiser’s engine roared to life, and Leo took the driver’s seat with a clenched jaw, his fingers tightening around the wheel as he glanced back at Donnie. Raph sat closer, keeping a firm grip on their chained brother, ready to act if Donnie tried anything.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Donnie’s eyes flickered toward Splinter, and in an instant, his entire demeanor changed. He lunged forward, thrashing against the chains, wild and unhinged, his body twisting at unnatural angles as he strained to break free. Raph held on tightly, trying to control him without causing harm, even though every instinct screamed that the brother he knew was buried beneath something twisted and monstrous. His face was set with determination, but he couldn’t ignore the forming bruises on Donnie’s arms, or the way his nose had started bleeding again, fresh crimson staining his face.

Donnie’s body contorted, twisting and turning, his face straining as he jerked against the bindings. The chains groaned, but Raph held tight, sweat beading on his brow. “Come on, Donnie, don’t do this,” he said, voice laced with frustration and sadness.

“Come on, Donnie, snap out of it!” Mikey called, desperation in his voice, his usual playful tone entirely replaced by genuine worry. He leaned forward, trying to reach his brother emotionally. But Donnie’s response was a wild, hysterical laugh that sent a shiver down everyone’s spine. “Oh, I’m just getting started!”, he sneered.

Suddenly, Donnie lashed out, his foot landing a kick straight into Mikey’s side. Mikey gasped, recoiling and keeling over, and Raph’s patience snapped. “Alright, that’s enough!” Raph barked.

Splinter, who was silent until now, moved closer. His face was a mixture of sadness and resolve as he knelt beside his son, placing his hands gently on Donnie’s temples. His son’s pulse beat erratically under his fingertips. He closed his eyes, beginning to mutter the healing mantras, a last attempt to reach the son he knew was still in there somewhere.

But Donnie’s eyes glinted with dark delight, his face breaking into a chilling smile. “You really think you can fix this? The great Master Splinter, failing again.”

Splinter’s face faltered, a shadow of pain flashing across his eyes, but he remained resolute. Meanwhile, Mikey looked like he was close to tears, shifting uncomfortably and unable to meet Donnie’s gaze. Raph’s grip on Donnie tightened as the younger turtle bucked in his restraints, clearly willing to hurt himself to get free. His skin was already bruised, dark marks forming along his arms from the chains

“Just hang on, Donnie. We’re getting you back,” he murmured to himself, eyes flashing with resolve.

“Getting me back? Oh, how noble of you,” Donnie jeered, his laughter wild and cutting. His head jerked sharply as he looked between them, his smile taunting. “Do you even know who I am anymore?” His eyes glinted, and he leaned forward as far as his restraints would allow, looking into Raph’s eyes. “This ‘me’—this is your fault, you know. Always holding me back, dismissing everything I do.”

Raph’s face twisted, both frustrated and hurt. He held onto Donnie, but his tone softened just slightly. “That’s not true, Donnie. We’re all in this together—always have been.”

“Together?” Donnie scoffed, a sinister grin spreading across his face. “Tell me something, Raph—how does it feel to finally be right? To get what you wanted all along: me out of your way.” His words dripped with venom, yet there was a spark in his eyes, something that hinted at Donnie’s mind trying to twist his family’s resolve.

Mikey’s face fell, his eyes wide and conflicted as he watched Donnie twist and turn, his taunts striking deep. “Come on, Don, we’re family,” he said softly, a plea more than anything.

“Oh, family.” Donnie sneered, the word laced with bitterness. “You’re the ones who made sure I felt like anything but.” His eyes darted to each of them, his tone dripping with disdain. “My so-called brothers… only useful when it’s convenient for you, huh?”

Leo’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his face set in determined silence.

When Donnie lashed out with another sudden kick at Mikey, which luckily didn’t land, Leo finally turned, his voice sharp. “That’s enough. We’ll have to sedate him.”, he gave the order as he stared, using the rearview mirror, at the struggle unfolding at the back of the van.

Raph nodded, exasperated. “Before he hurts himself even more.” For once he was glad to take an order from fearless, for Donnie’s sake and his. He still wasn't feeling too hot from almost becoming baked turtle.

The sedative worked slowly, leaving Donnie half-lucid but still snarling. His words cut deep, especially as he looked straight at Splinter and jeered, “Too late for miracles, Sensei.”

He paused, a sadistic grin stretching across his face. “You’ve got two days—two days to pull off your little miracle before I’m gone. Forever.”

Leo’s jaw clenched as he gripped the steering wheel, horror written across his face. Mikey was silent, his face pale as he took in the realization. “Donnie…” he whispered, broken.

At that, Raph’s face hardened, and he abruptly slapped a thick strip of duct tape over Donnie’s mouth. “That’s enough, Don,” he said, eyes steely as he looked at his brother. Donnie’s eyes flared, glaring from behind the tape, his manic laughter muffled but still echoing in the enclosed space.

As the Shellraiser roared through the darkened streets, tension settled thickly around them, each brother shaken.

When they finally skidded to a stop, Mikey took a long breath. He happy return to familiar surroundings, “Man… it’s good to be back.”

But the journey was far from over; they each knew the battle to save Donnie—and each other—was only beginning.

[jonesatheart]

Mistaken Identity

It had been something of a routine exercise for the boys. Every few months Master Splinter would have them draw one of their brothers names from a bowl and they would trade masks and weapons for the day or longer depending on how badly they'd been fighting with one another. Of course, it was occasionally rigged, but it always had been for the benefit of his sons, his beloved boys.

Such had not been the case of late. In fact the boys had been getting on remarkably well considering it had been the middle of winter and usually at this time of year they were beginning to get a little stir crazy as it was harder to go to the surface level with the snow. Being underground was also cold of course, but his brilliant Donatello had long been able to make each of them their own heat lamps and Ms. O'Neal in her kindness had gifted them each a heated blanket. She had even given one to Master Splinter. If she had noticed how it helped with his arthritis she was also kind enough not to mention it.

All in all, the boys had been doing well in their training and with one another, which was why Master Splinter had decided now was a good time to try the exercise again.

So that the boys could learn to see from their brothers' perspective not just in times of adversity, but also in times of peace and joy.

And so, rather than just engaging in sparing with each other's weapons Master Splinter had also encouraged them to try out each other's hobbies, music, and other recreational activities.

This had led Michaelangelo to the junk yard to scavenge for metal wiring and such to try out some of Raph's wire wrapping and other metal working skills. Which ultimately led this moment Master Splinter now found himself in. Knelt by his youngest child's bedside in the medbay.

It was more the cold than the concussion, Donatello assured him, that was the cause of Michaelangelo's persisting state of unconsciousness. That did not make the guilt easier to bear.

Master Splinted sighed softly and gently stroked one of the brown, splotchy bruises on Michaelangelo's head.

"Hey, Sensei," Michaelangelo murmured and nuzzled deeper into his pillow. "'S kinda cold. Raphy break the heater 'r somethin'?"

"No, my son," Master Splinter smiled to finally hear his son's voice.

"Sensei!" Michaelangelo shot up suddenly. He groaned at the wave of dizziness and nearly fell over, but Master Splinter was faster. He jumped forward and gently guided Michaelangelo back to his pillow.

"Easy, my son. You have a mild concussion."

"Sure I'm not dying? You're not usually the one babysitting."

Master Splinter smiled and rubbed Michaelangelo's shell. "No, little one, you are not dying, though you did give it a shot. I sent your brothers to rest and warm up."

"Oh. How'd I get a concussion?"

"You were ambushed by members of the Purple Dragon gang at the junk yard. They mistook you for your brother because you wore his mask and carried his sai."

"Ohh. Yup. That'd do it," Michaelangelo said, almost sagely. Master Splinter had to hold back a snicker.

"I am sorry, Michaelangelo-"

"What for?" He yawned. "You're not the one who jumped me."

"Had I not sent you to the junk yard dressed as your brother, perhaps this would not have happened."

"I dunno, Sensei, the Purple Dragon are kinda dumb. And mean. They'd probably mug a kindergartener for their lunch money. It's not your fault. I know how you and Leo can be though, so I forgive you."

Master Splinter smiled and kissed Michaelangelo on the temple. "Thank you, little one. Try to rest now. I will fetch one of the space heaters so you will be more comfortable."

"You're the best," Michaelangelo mumbled as he drifted off again.

---

"How ya feelin' twerp?" Raphael asked and rubbed Mikey's head as crouched next to his bed.

"That depends entirely on why you're here," Mikey teased back. "Master Splinter already apologized. It's not your fault either."

"Yeah, I know. They'd'a been happy to jump any of us. No matter what color we was wearin'. Case isn't so convinced though."

"Hey, Mikey," Casey greeted.

"Hm-mm. Nope, shut up," Mikey cut it.

Raph snickered. "Told ya so."

"Mike-"

"I don't wanna hear it. I'm too zonked out for the emotional-guilt-trippy stuff when it's literally not actually anyone's fault."

"You guys wouldn't be a target for the Dragons if it weren't for me!" Casey objected.

"Bruh. Have you not noticed that Hun has a massive Foot tattoo? Don't think you're so special, hermano, he definitely would'a been on our tails for that anyway. Not to mention it was the armored car that they stole that we stole back and made into the Battleshell. It's not your fault. That said, if you reeeaallly feel that bad about it, you can definitely bring me a snickers about it!"

Casey chuckled. "Maybe I ain't that special, but I actually can be smart sometimes." He held up a candy bar, drawing an excited gasp from Mikey.

"No way! Don't tell the others, but you are definitely my favorite brother right now."

"Hey, I'm still here, remember?" Raph teased and lightly kicked the cot Mikey was lying on.

"Oh, hey, Raph, when'd you get here?" Mikey answered cheerily.

"Brat."

Mikey giggled. "For real though, you guys gotta lighten up."

"We'll lighten up when you stop gettin' into trouble," Raph replied and rubbed Mikey's head.

"Get some rest, bud."

[tworoadsandapenny]

What You Wish For: Chapter 6. Hindsight Is

Splinter's turn. Father/son relationships are a favorite writing topic of mine, so I very much enjoyed writing this chapter. Is enjoyed the right word? That would seem cruel given the content.

Yet here we are.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The light was gone.

The farmhouse, normally boisterous with activity and laughter, was silent and still as the night. The place where his children would come to be themselves, away from the worries of the city, had now become a crypt, encasing them in their own misery.

Splinter stood by as his children moved about like ghosts, barely talking or engaging with each other at all. Time was needed to let them grieve and work through this pain in their own ways, but that didn’t make watching them stumble through their despair any easier.

Leonardo was usually quite good at brightening their spirits in such dark times.

A mournful sigh blew past Splinter’s lips as he stoked the fire. He tamped his emotions down as far as he could, turning to his son sitting beside him. “Sit close, my son, and warm yourself.” Michelangelo had come in from the barn feeling as cold as ice, and with Splinter’s spirit as frail as it was, he couldn’t help but fret and worry. “I shall fetch you some tea as well.”

“No, I’m OK, Sensei.”

No, he was not OK. He was in pain—the kind splinter couldn’t take away with medicine or words of comfort. Splinter’s eyes glanced from his son near the fire, to Donatello who sat on the couch with a gadget of some sort splayed out on the coffee table. Both looked exhausted beyond all measure, and while Splinter knew it wasn’t the lack of sleep that was stealing their energy, he also knew he hadn’t seen either of them eat since coming home the other night.

“My sons, you need to keep up your strength.” He didn’t need to look to know both his children sent their eyes to the floor. Best he chose his words carefully. “I understand your pain. Loss is the worst of all burdens to bear… but we must—“

“We know.”

Splinter’s eyes snapped to Donatello, who held his hands in fists, clearly attempting to keep a plethora of emotions in check. He noticeably felt the disrespect as potently as Splinter, immediately trying to soften his objection.

“Please, Sensei. We just… we know.”

The old Father held his tongue, a pang gripping his chest at hearing the brokenness in his son’s voice. A long silence stretched, tension mounting like pressure in a volcano. Finally, April—who had been sitting quietly beside Donatello, passing him parts and tools as he tinkered—stood, deciding now was a good time to make some tea. Just in case.

As she headed for the kitchen, she glanced around the room. “Has anyone seen Casey?”

“He’s in the barn, with Leo…”

Splinter felt the way the name burned his youngest son’s tongue, but he said nothing of it. “What about Raphael?”

April suddenly realized, “I haven’t seen him since we got here.” Which was several hours ago.

“He’s probably out blowing off steam somewhere.” Don offered, not taking his eyes from the objects in his hands.

Splinter glanced out the window, unable to see anything but the front lawn and a great expanse of trees. “Perhaps that is best for now.” While he understood his son’s need to vent his grief alone, the fear curling his fur demanded he keep all his children within arms reach. Where he could protect them.

“Be careful, my sons.”

“Hai, Sensei.” Leonardo bowed, turning to take off with his brothers. It was their first mission topside—his first time leading!—and his excitement radiated like a heat wave. Which is why it caught Splinter by surprise when his eldest stopped, turned, and took his hand, looking him square in the eyes. “Don’t worry, Sensei.”

Apparently Splinter hadn’t been hiding his concern as well as he’d thought. But his fears were persistent and abundant. This was the first time they were leaving the safety of the sewers without their Father as a guardian, and Splinter’s heart refused to quiet it’s frantic pounding. If something happened to them…

But Leonardo squeezed his hand tightly, determination blazing in his eyes. “I’ll protect them. I promise.”

And to his own surprise, his heart stilled to a calm rhythm. Splinter nodded, placing a hand on his young son’s shoulder. “I know, my son. I trust you.” It was the pride that welled in Leonardo’s spirit that made Splinter smile. He watched his son rush to catch his brothers, fear ever present, but ebbed in the wake of such intense conviction.

They had each other. They would be alright.  

Grief settled in his stomach like a block of ice, freezing him inside and out. Splinter took his seat near the fire, resolved to keeping watch until Raphael returned.

April returned from the kitchen with a tray of mugs, handing them out to each turtle, refusing to take no for an answer. As she handed Splinter his cup, he looked out the window worriedly. “It’s awfully cold out there. Are you sure we shouldn’t go find Raph?”

Splinter followed her gaze, but all his eyes could see were visions of his son flitting before him.

“Don’t worry, Sensei.”

He needed to find focus, so he could be there for his remaining children. But memories of Leonardo refused to be ignored. They played in front of him like a parade, sending chills to the tips of each hair on his body, and pain like a knife staking his heart.

“I’ll protect them. I promise.”

Focus.

“If he is not back by nightfall, we shall find him.”

April took one last forlorn look out the window before conceding and taking her spot beside Don.

Mikey huddled near the fire, pulling his blanket tighter around himself, not speaking a word.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Splinter wrung the water from the cloth, watching numbly as the blood dripped into the basin. The cloth was soaked with clean water once again, ready to continue it’s task. A slight tremble of his hands went entirely unnoticed as he returned his focus to the table. With a feather’s touch, he drew the clean rag over the red stains, rotating in small, focused circles, to pull the blood away. Every crack, every crevice, every divot would be spotless. Immaculate.

As his son would wish.

A tear rolled down Splinter’s cheek as the visage of his son’s face flashed before him. Those big blue eyes that were always looking to their father for approval. Looking to make him proud. Those blue eyes that held so much fear of failure.

Had his son known how well he’d done? Had he known how much his family respected and appreciated his efforts?

Had he known how proud Splinter was of him?

A hitch in his breath had Splinter pausing, clutching the cloth tightly as he tried to reign in his emotions. Now was not the time. His younger children were all on the verge of breaking, and the last thing they would need is to walk in and see their Father sobbing over their fallen brother.

Breathing deep, Splinter wiped the tears from his cheek and continued his task. The more blood he wiped away, the more scars became visible. And Splinter knew the origin and event of each one. A long gash along the back of his son’s head brought a particularly horrific memory to mind: thunder crashing, glass falling like snow, and his son—his brave Leonardo—thrown through the window into a broken heap upon the floor. It had been the first time Splinter felt the true terror of his children’s mortality. The first time one of his son’s had been mortally wounded. The first time he’d almost had to contend with the fierce pain of losing one of his precious boys to an enemy’s sword.

Almost.

His hand ran gently over the scar, caressing his son’s head as he always did when they slept. “yoku nemuru, musuko.”

“Why do you do that, Dad?”

“Hm?” Splinter turned to a young Leonardo—no older than six—hiding behind the curtain of their makeshift bedroom. The poor child’s worried eyes fell on his younger brother, starring as Raphael’s chest rose and fell in an unsettlingly quick rhythm. Splinter stretched his arm out, inviting his son to his side, and slid his hand around the small shell. “Do what, my son?”

“You put your hand to his head and tell him to ‘sleep well’.”

The earnest confusion in his eyes brought a slight smile to Splinter’s lips. “Can a Father not dote on his children when they are sick?”

Leonardo’s eyes widened, as though he was afraid he’d been disrespectful. “No, I just… you do it to Mikey and Donnie too. Even when they’re not sick. Why? Is it like a prayer? Does it keep them safe?”

“It is similar, I suppose.” Splinter looked back to his younger child, head dripping with sweat as he continued to breathe rapidly. Thank heavens he’d managed to get the medicine in time. With any luck, that would be the last time he’d have to break into a pharmacy this winter. “It is said that those who know they are loved, sleep sounder, for they need not fear being alone. So I simply tell your brothers to sleep well.”

“So… it’s like ‘I love you’.”

Splinter chuckled lightly. “Yes.”

Leonardo hesitated, fidgeting with Splinter’s robe a moment before looking up to his father with bright blue eyes. “Do… Do you say it to me when I sleep?”

Surprised, Splinter looked down at this son—such intense worry on such a young face—and caught his eyes, staring at them intently. “Every night. Without fail.”

Leonardo, shrinking away at the seriousness in his Father’s tone, averted his eyes. Feeling Splinter pull him closer, the young boy suddenly shot his arms around his Father’s waist, clinging tightly. “I love you too, Dad.”

The joy that spread through Splinter’s spirit was almost overpowering. It was an unexpected moment of tenderness, but he embraced it as tightly as he embraced his son.

“Leo?” Donatello poked his head through the curtain, glancing at Raphael as he stepped in. “Is he OK?” He asked timidly.

“Your brother will be alright with some rest. No need to worry.”

That was enough for Don. He didn’t seem to want to look at Raph while he was sick, turning away rather quickly. “Leo, Mikey still thinks you’re playing hide and seek. If you don’t let him find you, he might wander off!”

“I’m coming!” Leo stepped from his Father’s lap, about to follow his younger sibling, but paused by the curtain. He stepped back to Raphael’s side, placing a gentle hand on his fevered head, and whispered, “Yoku nemuru, otōto.” Then followed Donnie out the room.

Splinter smiled after his children, silently thanking the universe for gifting him with such a family. While it warmed his heart to hear his children speak their love for him, it was exponentially greater seeing them show it to each other. He rested his hand once more on Raphael’s head, stroking it lovingly as he watched his son sleep.

Truly, he was blessed.

The tremble of his hand was impossible to still as it rested on the dome of Leonardo’s head, caressing the cold skin. Emotions too powerful for him to combat rampaged through his body. Splinter grit his teeth, attempting to keep the pain in, but to no avail. A tear slipped from his eye, followed by another. And another. “Sleep well, my son. For you are so loved…”

Quiet sobs wracked the old Father as he held the cold body of his eldest child.

How could he have let this happen?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Splinter swept up the last of the dirt from the tatami mats, carefully placing the practice weapons back on the wall and clapping his hands together to rid them of the dust. Ordinarily, such chores were for his children, but they had been forced to leave in such a rush, Splinter was left to clean up after them. Not that he minded, his sons were very diligent in their chores, for the most part. And while Leonardo had offered to clean it when he returned from their mission, Splinter decided to do it himself.

They would be weary after their late night battle, he would rather have them come home and rest.

Glancing at the room one last time to make sure all was in place, Splinter closed the doors to the dojo and headed for the kitchen. It had only been an hour-and-a-half since his children had left, and yet for some reason his nerves were panicking at their absence. Odd, considering they were usually gone for most of the night.

Very odd, indeed. But nothing a cup of tea couldn’t cure.

Plucking his tea from the cabinet, splinter boiled some water and steeped his beverage, enjoying the quiet of the evening. It was quite peaceful without his children mucking about and shouting at one another. Not that he minded their presence, but it was admittedly nice to have some time to himself. Just what his tense nerves needed in order to relax.

Settling down in front of the television, Splinter turned the channel to one of his favourite shows: a medical drama called “Greys Anatomy”. He wasn’t a fan of hospitals, particularly now that he was bound to the form of a giant rat and would likely be killed upon entering one, but relationships were a passion of his, and this drama provided many of those. And while the writing sometimes lacked imagination, he thoroughly enjoyed watching how each life affected the others.

Similar to how his boys touched the world, even from the shadows.

As the show began, Splinter idly wondered what jobs his children would have taken were they to be allowed in the public eye. Donatello would have made an excellent doctor, or engineer, or scientist. Perhaps NASA would have scooped him up and taken him away to—

Splinter’s tea cup fell to the floor, shattering into pieces with a crash as loud as a gunshot. He clutched his chest, not even noticing the broken glass, as a pain like a raging storm swept through his body. What on earth was—

No… He knew this pain. Emptiness. Grief.

Loss.

Something had happened. Dear heavens, his children! Were they alright? Where were they!?

“Sensei…”

Splinter looked up to see an apparition standing before him. “…Leonardo?”

“I’m sorry, Sensei.”

Splinter felt dread pounding on his chest. “My son, what has happened?

But the apparition only knelt before him, bowing it’s head in respect.

“My son…?” Splinter couldn’t form words. He watched as the ghostly form of his child bowed a moment longer before standing, a sad smile about his face.

“Thank you for everything,” It squared it’s shoulders, waving a goodbye that pierced Splinter like an arrow. “Dad.”

As suddenly as it had appeared, it vanished. And with it went Splinter’s heart.

He fell to the floor, cutting his hand on a piece of broken glass as his tried to remember how to breathe. This pain… this raw, scraping pain… could it really be…?

“Leonardo…” Splinter breathed the name on a choked plea, eyes searching the room, frantically begging to see his son once more.

Fear pounded heavily in his heart as he ran for the telephone, dialling Leonardo’s cell. No response. He tried again to the same effect. And again. He tried all his children’s phone numbers, but none would answer. Calm. They would be home soon. Everything would be all right.

But even ten minutes of waiting had proved to be agony. He could wait no longer. In his desperation, he grabbed his cloak and cane and headed for the door, but had only made it a few steps when there was sound over by the garage entrance. He moved with speed he shouldn’t possess and met the Shellraiser as it’s doors opened. “My sons!”

They were home. Not to worry. Nothing but a figment of his imagin—

Michelangelo stepped from the vehicle first, his whole body quaking and his face stained with tears.

“Kodomo, what has happened?” But the youngest didn’t look at Splinter. Didn’t look away from his brothers as they walked from the vehicle, carrying something between them.

No… No, let it not be true.

“Leonardo?”

The two lay their eldest before their Father, Donatello’s face a wash of grief and despair, and Raphael looking almost… hollow.

Splinter knelt beside the body, needing to feel the cold skin beneath his fingers to truly believe the sight before him. It could not be… His heart pounded, his throat closed, and his eyes stung. This could not be! But his pleas fell on dead ears, the cold stillness remaining beneath his fingers, devoid of pulse, warmth, and life.

“No…” Splinter placed a hand on Leonardo’s chest, consumed by it’s inactivity. No breath. No measured lungfuls of air as he did while training. No steady, controlled respiration as when he meditated.

Nothing.

Splinter’s gaze drifted to his child’s face. The blue bandana, smattered with flecks of blood, still adorned his head. His brows rested, eased from their tight posture which so often framed his eyes. No longer lined with worry.

He looked so at peace…

“Oh, my son.” Splinter caressed the cold cheek before him, millions of desperate prayers overrunning his mind. “My Leonardo…”

Gone. Forever.

Splinter closed his eyes, drawing in a careful breath as the pain of the memory washed over him.

Had he only known. He would have stopped them. Would have kept them at home. Would have forbade them from leaving the lair and kept them close. Safe.

The sight of his eldest child, covered in blood and pale as the moon, would forever haunt his days. His children’s faces, consumed with fear, denial, and anguish, bobbed at the surface of his consciousness, striking at every unguarded moment.

The pain was ever constant. As it would always be.

Wafting the memory away, Splinter leaned forward, pressing his hands on his knees to anchor himself as he stood. His joints ached and his body was weary, his old age terribly apparent in the limp of his walk and the ever-growing hunch of his back.

He was tired. In the three months since his son’s passing, Splinter had scarcely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, the nightmares would take him. Visions of Leonardo, dying in his arms and pleading for help. Of his younger three children suffering a similar, gruesome fate. Of being left alone, watching his family fall before him. Truth be told, such nightmares were hardly new. Splinter remembered vividly how terrified he’d been the first night his boys took off for the surface unaccompanied. He’d paced and meditated and cleaned incessantly, trying anything to keep his mind from jumping to the worst of scenarios. The first time one of them had come back injured, Splinter had spent the entire night watching over them as they slept, silently thanking every deity in existence that it was only a broken bone and not something life threatening. Even today, he was still haunted by his children’s first encounter with Saki, and how close they’d come to death.

But this… this nightmare was a new beast entirely. Because this one was real. This time it hadn’t all worked out in the end. This time, his son was taken. And there would be no relief of waking to find it all a dream.

Leonardo was truly gone.

A wave of sorrow crashed over him, and all Splinter could do was brace himself and breathe deep, waiting for the pain to ebb.

Had he only known…

Walking from the room, Splinter made his way to the main living area of the lair. The silence was maddening. What was once a vibrant space, full of life and excitement and the crazy antics of his children, was now lonely and destitute. Much a the cabin had felt when they buried Leonardo…

His children were not coping well with their loss. Of course it would take longer than three months to ease their grief, he knew better than to try and force his own ways of dealing with loss on them. But he longed to have his family back…

What he wouldn’t give to see Michelangelo smile and light up the room. To have Donatello rush around explaining his newest, brilliant creation. To hear Raphael in the throws of a hard workout while bantering back and forth with his brothers.

To see his Leonardo, practicing katas and honing his already exceptional skills.

Splinter sighed deeply, allowing the tear in his eye to fall before wiping it quickly from his fur and squaring his shoulders. His eldest was gone, his physical presence never again would grace the halls of this home. But his younger three children were still here. Their smiles, their dedication, their passion… he could see those once again. Given time… they just needed time.

Splinter gasped, his back arching as a sudden chill shot down his spine. Danger. His children were in danger! Aches and pains were suddenly irrelevant as the Father rushed through the lair, knocking on doors. He started with Donatello’s lab, bedroom, the dojo, Michelangelo and Raphael’s bedrooms, even Leonardo’s.

Empty. His home was empty.

His children were gone!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Previous < - > Next

I know it's a bit repetitive, but I thought that was true to form when it comes to grief. You be the judge.

End of Line.

-TRAaP

[ducknotinarow]

[MM Don and Von with Splinter - i don't remember if i ever sent an ask with Don bringing Von home before he was allowed to stay at her house or not xD]

Donatello was somehow both nervous, and completely fine, as he led Yvonne to the lair. He was fine, as, well, there was nothing bad about Yvonne - in his humble opinion. The nerves came from how his family would react. He never mentioned that this 'friend' of his was a girl after all - he can already see the looks he's going to get.

But Yvonne just smiled, expected it all. That was the fun of siblings after all.

After meeting everyone else, Don finally took her to meet Splinter. Admittedly, he'd been avoiding it. He offers a smile, showing off his nerves,

"Hey dad - you know that friend I mentioned?" Don begins, "The one who invited me to stay at their house for the weekend?" Don gestured towards her, "Well, this is them," No duh, "Dad, this is Yvonne, and Yvonne, this is my dad."

Yvonne smiled, and took a step forward, offering out her hand to shake,

"It's nice to meet you sir," She smiles, "Don's told me so much about you - is it true you taught them ninjitsu all by yourself? You must be very skilled."

| Muse interaction

Splinter supposed that all of the changes in hi life were bound to just continue going from his simple life as just an ordinary rat on the streets of New York just trying his best to survive and he guessed in a way that never really changed if anything surviving became his main goal and focus because he now was in charge of four baby turtles who along with himself had all mutated. And the mutation was such an odd experience? It sort of changed how his mind worked. Giving him a different mind set that felt like he was always needing to combat with the old world view but it seems sayings of old ways not dying and old habits were all very true. Splinter just wanted to keep his boys safe and he didn't think that was such a bad thing to want and wish for.

And sure, he taught his sons to fight to protect themselves and by doing so gave them skills to find the resources they needed to live. But they weren't really living now were they? Now they were living how he had lived for years before he suddenly mutated into the form he had now. They were only surviving day after day down under the streets of the city far away from the humans. It was safe no question about that but was that really living? Locked away from the world, hidden away from it getting glimpses of what was other there but something they never could never really have.

They only had each other, who else could understand them? was always Splinter's thoughts and he dreaded the idea that one day? His sons wouldn't even have him anymore to be around and protect them to take care of them. Back when they were so small and able to climb into his arm chair with him it was so much easier.But it always came back to on single truth.

That wasn't living it was just surviving.

Now? Now home was loud again. It was rare for it to ever be empty in the lair. Despite the varying types of mutants that now lived in the lair together they made it work but what made Splinter more happy? Was seeing his boys able to smile. Genuinely smiling everyday so happy and excited as they dressed their best for school everyday. Rushing off soon as they good to get there even. How they seemed almost disappointed but the fact sometimes school wasn't in session anymore.

They always smiled bright and had so much to tell and share about thier days everytime they came home and maybe it was worth the risk in the end? Maybe he should have tried harder for his sons. Why he was happy to learn they were gaining mkre friends even. As Donatello brought up a new friend all his own. And they even brought them into thier home to meet everyone else.

"Hey dad - you know that friend I mentioned?" Don begins, "The one who invited me to stay at their house for the weekend?"

And the time was finally here. Splinter's ear twitched a little as he paid a look towards the entrance he had set up the table with a couple types of snacks he had the cut outs of all the Chris' behind him and balloons even tapped around the table for him this was toning it down as he smiled brightly at the pair of them. Of course he wanted to meet the fired who invited his son over just to make sure they were good lile April. Splinters forever stand in for humans good human measuring now. But he still wanted to make a good impression himself. This wasn't like that Casey, after all. Donatello friend was also good least far as he knew.

"Well, this is them," No duh, "Dad, this is Yvonne, and Yvonne, this is my dad."

Splinter turned his attetion towards the young human girl she seemed to have a good air about her at least from what he could tell, moving to gestuer to the bowls of snacks he set up on the table. "I wasn't sure what you like best so I put out all the good snacks for you. It's nice to meet you. I just wanna make sure my boys are meeting good people." Well three out four was good odds at least.

"It's nice to meet you sir,"

She was polite as well Splinter could see him being fine with this human as well he guesses. So The sleep over should be fine he can be on board with that she seems like a good influence maybe even as well?

"Don's told me so much about you - is it true you taught them ninjitsu all by yourself? You must be very skilled."

Splinter looked bettqen Von and his son a moment before turning attetjon fully on to his son. "I like her second on my list after April." Not caring too much how that may come across as he turns to look at Von. "April is my favorite human you see so second means you are very high in my list." He at least offers to explain. Whiskers twitching a little as he thinks over a moment. "Know what for you Von I bring out the good snacks. I'll share the cool ranch Doritos with you. My boys got me the party size after all so I don't mind sharing them." Clearly a esteemed sign of approval from the older rat mutant.

"Sit sit you two why don't you tell me what your plans are for the weekend well we are all here." He offers indirectly stating that Donnie had the permission to go now as he was busy getting a bowl for the chips to be poured into so that they could be eaten along with the rest of the spread on the table.

[autolovecraft]

God, what a rage!

Sawyer was not a lovable man, and many stories were told of his almost inhuman vindictiveness and tenacious memory for wrongs real or fancied. Would the firm Fenner casket have caved in so readily?

In this twilight too, he began to compute how he might most stably use the eight to rear a scalable platform four deep. You know what a fiend he was for revenge—how he ruined old Raymond thirty years after their boundary suit, and how he stepped on the puppy that snapped at him a succession of shuddering whispers that seared into the bewildered ears like the hissing of vitriol. Maddened by the sound, or by the stench which billowed forth even to the open air, the waiting horse gave a scream that was too frantic for a neigh, and plunged madly off through the night, the wagon rattling crazily behind it. Birch to the outside of a spare bed and sent his little son Edwin for Dr. Davis. Just where to begin Birch's story I can hardly decide, since I am no practiced teller of tales. Several of the coffins began to split under the stress of handling, and he planned to save the rejected specimen, and to use it when Asaph Sawyer died of a malignant fever. The tower at length finished, and his aching arms rested by a pause during which he sat on the bottom step of his grim device, Birch cautiously ascended with his tools and stood abreast of the narrow transom. Then the doctor came with his medicine-case and asked crisp questions, and removed the patient's outer clothing, shoes, and socks. And so the prisoner toiled in the twilight, heaving the unresponsive remnants of mortality with little ceremony as his miniature Tower of Babel rose course by course.

When Dr. Davis left Birch that night he had taken a lantern and gone to the old receiving tomb.

His frightened horse had gone home, but his frightened wits never quite did that. Perhaps he screamed.

As he remounted the splitting coffins he felt his weight very poignantly; especially when, upon reaching the topmost one, he heard that aggravated crackle which bespeaks the wholesale rending of wood. The moon was shining on the scattered brick fragments and marred facade, and the source of a task whose performance deserved every possible stimulus.

He changed his business in 1881, yet never discussed the case when he could avoid it. The narrow transom admitted only the feeblest of rays, and the coffin niches on the sides and rear—which Birch seldom took the trouble to use—afforded no ascent to the space above the door. You know what a fiend he was for revenge—how he ruined old Raymond thirty years after their boundary suit, and how he stepped on the puppy that snapped at him a year ago last August … He was the devil incarnate, Birch, and I believe his eye-for-an-eye fury could beat old Father Death himself. I'll never get the picture out of my head as long as I live. After a full two hours Dr. Davis left, urging Birch to insist at all times that his wounds were caused entirely by loose nails and splintering wood. Whether he had imagination enough to wish they were empty, is strongly to be doubted. It was Asaph's coffin, Birch, but you got what you deserved. Clutching the edges of the aperture. Birch, in his ghastly situation, was now too low for an easy scramble out of the enlarged transom; but gathered his energies for a determined try. I live. Better still, though, he would utilize only two boxes of the base to support the superstructure, leaving one free to be piled on top in case the actual feat of escape required an even greater altitude. His day's work was sadly interrupted, and unless chance presently brought some rambler hither, he might have to remain all night or longer. His questioning grew more than medically tense, and his hands shook as he dressed the mangled members; binding them as if he wished to get the wounds out of sight as quickly as possible. He gave old Matt the very best his skill could produce, but was thrifty enough to save the stoutly built casket of little Matthew Fenner for the top, in order that his feet might have as certain a surface as possible. He had not forgotten the criticism aroused when Hannah Bixby's relatives, wishing to transport her body to the cemetery in the city whither they had moved, found the casket of Judge Capwell beneath her headstone. Tired and perspiring despite many rests, he descended to the floor and sat a while on the bottom step of his grim device, Birch cautiously ascended with his tools and stood abreast of the narrow transom.

He was the devil incarnate, Birch, but you always did go too damned far! In either case it would have been appropriate; for the unexpected tenacity of the easy-looking brickwork was surely a sardonic commentary on the vanity of mortal hopes, and the overhead ventilation funnel virtually none at all; so that he was reduced to a profane fumbling as he made his halting way among the long boxes toward the latch. He was oddly anxious to know if Birch were sure—absolutely sure—of the identity of that top coffin of the pile; how he had distinguished it from the inferior duplicate coffin of vicious Asaph Sawyer.

When Dr. Davis left, urging Birch to insist at all times that his wounds were caused entirely by loose nails and splintering wood. Birch that night he had taken a lantern and gone to the old receiving tomb. For the long-neglected latch was obviously broken, leaving the careless undertaker trapped in the vault, a victim of his own oversight. Why did you do it, Birch? Most distinctly Birch was lax, insensitive, and professionally undesirable; yet I still think he was not an evil man. In the semi-gloom he trusted mostly to touch to select the right one, and indeed came upon it almost by accident, since it tumbled into his hands as if through some odd volition after he had unwittingly placed it beside another on the third layer. This arrangement could be ascended with a minimum of awkwardness, and would furnish the desired height.

The day was clear, but a high wind had sprung up; and Birch was glad to get to shelter as he unlocked the iron door and entered the side-hill vault.

In either case it would have been appropriate; for the hole was on exactly the right level to use as soon as its size might permit. The afflicted man was fully conscious, but would say nothing of any consequence; merely muttering such things as Oh, my ankles!

I agreed that he was reduced to a profane fumbling as he made his halting way among the long boxes toward the latch.

Birch, before 1881, had been the village undertaker of Peck Valley; and was a very calloused and primitive specimen even as such specimens go.

That he was not perfectly sober, he subsequently admitted; though he had not then taken to the wholesale drinking by which he later tried to forget certain things. The air had begun to be exceedingly unwholesome; but to this detail he paid no attention as he toiled, half by feeling, at the heavy and corroded metal of the latch. Being without superstition, he did not care to imagine.

Then he fled back to the lodge and broke all the rules of his calling by rousing and shaking his patient, and hurling at him a year ago last August … He was the devil incarnate, Birch, just as I thought! He was just dizzy and careless enough to annoy his sensitive horse, which as he drew it viciously up at the tomb neighed and pawed and tossed its head, much as on that former occasion when the rain had vexed it. Then he fled back to the lodge and broke all the rules of his calling by rousing and shaking his patient, and hurling at him a year ago last August … He was the devil incarnate, Birch, and I don't blame you for giving him a cast-aside coffin, but you got what you deserved. The day was clear, but a high wind had sprung up; and Birch was glad to get to shelter as he unlocked the iron door and entered the side-hill vault. And so the prisoner toiled in the twilight, heaving the unresponsive remnants of mortality with little ceremony as his miniature Tower of Babel rose course by course. His thinking processes, once so phlegmatic and logical, had become ineffaceably scarred; and it was pitiful to note his response to certain chance allusions such as Friday, Tomb, Coffin, and words of less obvious concatenation. And so the prisoner toiled in the twilight, heaving the unresponsive remnants of mortality with little ceremony as his miniature Tower of Babel rose course by course. When he perceived that the latch was hopelessly unyielding, at least in a city; and even Peck Valley would have shuddered a bit had it known the easy ethics of its mortuary artist in such debatable matters as the ownership of costly laying-out apparel invisible beneath the casket's lid, and the company beneath his feet, he philosophically chipped away the stony brickwork; cursing when a fragment hit him in the face, and laughing when one struck the increasingly excited horse that pawed near the cypress tree. Neither did his old physician Dr. Davis, who died years ago. Steeled by old ordeals in dissecting rooms, the doctor entered and looked about, stifling the nausea of mind and body that everything in sight and smell induced.

He was just dizzy and careless enough to annoy his sensitive horse, which as he drew it viciously up at the tomb neighed and pawed and tossed its head, much as on that former occasion when the rain had vexed it. Certainly, the events of that evening greatly changed George Birch. He gave old Matt the very best his skill could produce, but was thrifty enough to save the rejected specimen, and to let no other doctor treat the wounds. The hungry horse was neighing repeatedly and almost uncannily, and he vaguely wished it would stop. In time the hole grew so large that he ventured to try his body in it now and then, shifting about so that the coffins beneath him rocked and creaked.

There was evidently, however, the high, slit-like transom in the brick facade gave promise of possible enlargement to a diligent worker; hence upon this his eyes long rested as he racked his brains for means to reach it.

[istherewifiinhell]

Okay if you can handle 07 cg animation and female character design. and the weird intro narration. ITS A BOP

I mean okay i dont even think its bad animation, just a little funky looking. but i love it. and has a very nice "spooky turtles fading into shadows with glowing eyes" effect. but yeah freaky stick arm ladies. rip. well theres only 3 of them anyway... ksdfbgs -> turtles difficulties.

the animated sets are gorgeous. like. lush environments for running around in. atmospheric lightin. DOING. the fucking most. with their water effects rendering of the time.

love a movie with. three intros. not really. but theres classic "hey look turtles, theyre mutants! and ninja!". theres hey this ancient evil thing needs a set up. and then theres. leos been hanging in... central america for 2 years. and thats. well. theres training reasons for it, but really theres angst reasons for it.

and yes. this is angst turtles narrative babeyyyyy. god help me but that was good ass leo raph fighting. the movies are gonna movie. and it is secondary mikey donnie. turtle movie constant :/. BUT. ITS GOOD. is the thing. leos been gone, and thinks he failed his training. in his absence don and mike moved to. more civilian occupations (aka IT support and kids birthdays lol). so raphs is doing a lone vigilante thing. motorbike and all.

Lemme try not to. Just repeat every narrative beat in this thread of the movie but. Just like, doing the vibe of anyone whose been away from family/friends for a while. Trying to mesh back in. Miscalculation due to things you've missed. And on top of that, trying to be the leader, with the insecurity of his perceived failure. And Raph who resents the idea they needed Leo, and hurt by his absense. And hiding his solo actions from everyone.

And well. When the words fail sometimes you want to see the characters have an emotional fraught duel!! And this fucking delivers. Maximal... catharsis i suppose.

The rest of the plot vibes well enough with keeping the emotional core of getting this family working together again. Capture monsters quests. Teases for future movies that never happened. But! It's fun! It is fun. It doing GREAT. On the funny and crying alignment chart for turtles media. Sweet boys, good dad splinter moments (even if not always good teacher, such is the way). Oh, and movie turtles that can USE THEIR WEAPONS. In fights. Like. On their opponents. Like. Just a pretty strong movie over all.

The only other thing to say about this is. great trivia to learn/s. Got fucked up by some studio stuff. INCLUDING. The weinstein company.... Which lead to recasting some of the rolls with celebrities. which is probably why the turtles are all veterans of VO work but then like. April, Casey and another character are all. BIG FAMOUS ACTORS. Cant have shit in animation. that been true and remains true huh.

[mad4turtles]

Prompt if still taking them: every turtle is a tot all of a sudden except Mikey, what will he do? (Since this episode was sadly canceled)

Anon: If you’re still taking writing prompts- maybe one of the turtles gets de-aged, and the others realize that how that turtle acts at that age is Not At All what they remember (examples: Donnie meltdown isn’t as attention-seeking like they remember, Raph isn’t trying to be the ‘favorite’ son he’s just looking for approval/taking care of his brothers, etc). Can be angst or not, those are just some examples of what I mean!

This was requested twice so I figured I'd reward two birds with one seed! Or... however you'd twist the phrase, I dunno I just work here.

SO! This was a challenge, and I may or may not write a part two depending on how I feel, but for now, I hope y'all enjoy this!

SAVE RISE! JUSTICE FOR THE CANCELLED EPISODES!!

EDIT: NOW PART 1 OF 2

---

Donnie hadn't been kidding when he'd offhandedly dubbed their missions as 'episodic mystic hi-jinks, because this is something Mikey sees far too often in western cartoons and tv shows. Which, of course, means it was only a matter of time before it happened to them.

'It' being that his older brothers have been turned into toddlers.

Mikey's still not sure how Hypno had gotten his hands on the spell or why he'd ever want to use it on anyone. Worse still, he'd seemed just as surprised as Mikey after the dust had cleared to reveal three very confused, very tiny and very cute versions of his three older brothers, their gear and now too-big masks in a pile on the asphalt. Clearly, he hadn't known the spell would do that. Which was just great.

He'd looked from the tots to Mikey with bulging eyes. Mikey had stared back.

“Well. Um. Good luck with that, bye!” 

Then the hippo vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Mikey to deal with the tots who had stared at him for three seconds before bursting into tears.

For the first two hours after teleporting them back to the lair with Leo's swords—thank Pizza Supreme in the sky it'd worked first try—he'd been fine. Splinter is still off with Draxum on a sort of 'Bonding But Not Much Because Trauma' trip somewhere in the Hidden City, and April and Casey had classes until noon, leaving Mikey to work things out on his own.

No biggie. He's a big turtle now. He faced worse and came out on top with a smile. Watching his big-turned-little-brothers should be a walk in the park.

His experience with kids is limited, but he knows his brothers. Their likes, tells and quirks that make them who they are. 

Leo loves the special ducky blanket that he's had since forever. Raph has his teddies to smother himself in. Donnie has the special oversized hoodie that's heavy enough to ground him, loose and soft enough that it doesn't hug his body too tight or scratch his skin—even if it's a few sizes too big for a three-year-old body and trails after him like a dress wherever he goes. And you can never go wrong with Lou Jitsu, which he'd popped on the minute they'd gotten home to silence the first crying fit. They were immediately entranced, clapping and giggling with every 'HOT SOUP!' bellowed by their father in human form.

That, and they're toddlers. They'll laugh at anything, Mikey had realized after tearing a piece of paper had sent Leo into hysterical giggles. 'Popping' his lips had made Donnie clap his hands and scream, and, for some reason, Raph loved when Mikey pretended to eat his arm.

Kids are freaking weird. Mikey films it all. 

For the first two hours, Mikey killed it as the new big brother. Things were quiet, and Mikey had plenty of blackmail pictures saved in the cloud where not even Donnie could reach them. Honestly, it was rather relaxing, and Mikey wondered how Splinter had such a hard time with them at this age.

But then they got bored. And they realized the Lair wasn't the same one they remembered growing up in.

Mikey hadn't realized it wasn't just their bodies that got reversed, but he learns it quickly when Donnie wakes up from a nap in his room only to find it's not his room and bursts into hysterics.

From there, it's chaos. 

Donnie won't stop screaming and crying, throwing himself on the floor and banging tiny fists against his head the way he used to when he wanted attention. That's what they'd all thought, at least, for years until Splinter had finally called a professional after the damage was already done. 

Leo is more of a hassle than he is at sixteen, running everywhere and turning everything into a game, laughing when Mikey begs him to get off the fridge, bursting with an energy he doesn't know what to do with yet, doesn't know how. 

And then Mikey gives in and shouts at him—he really doesn't mean to, he knows what it feels like, she should know better than to get mad, but he's stressed, now, and it bursts out of his mouth before his brain can stop it—“Knock it off, you little pest!”

And Leo freezes. Staring at Mikey—no, through him, like he's seeing something else, something other than his brother, bigger and scarier. His face crumples seconds before he runs off again to hide in an unfamiliar lair, sobbing, and Mikey feels like a monster.

That's probably what Leo thinks, too.

Then Raph, distressed and angry with the noise and lack of attention, bites through the table leg.

Mikey damn near loses it. Instead, he calls April.

“April, please, I'm begging you,” he cries into the phone while trying to wrangle a still-sobbing Donnie in his other arm, hooking his leg around Raph's waist to drag him away from the table for all his efforts to cling as tears spring in his eyes now. “I can't do this! Donnie can't talk to me, Raph bit through the table, and Leo's still missing 'cos I shouted at him, and I called him a little pest, and—”

“Mikey, you gotta breathe. Breathe, baby. We'll be right over, I'll call Splintz and Barry, and we'll work this out. Hang on just a little longer, okay?”

Mikey hates it when they treat him like a little kid. He's fifteen now, nearly sixteen. He's survived ancient evils and an alien invasion, a ninja and mystic warrior in his own right. But April's voice through the speakers soothes him like it always has, and he decides he doesn't mind being babied again just this once. He kinda needs it.

He sniffles. At his feet, Raph goes very still. “Okay. Yeah, yeah, okay, I can—I can deal. Thanks, April.”

“For you, big man? Anything.”

She hangs up. Donnie is still crying in his arm, but he's worn himself out now, so it's mostly just hiccups and sniffles that break Mikey's heart in a billion different ways as the little guy chews his fingers, tears dripping down his flushed face, and Raph is—

“Sowwy.”

Mikey looks down and sees Raph abandoning the destroyed table leg to hug Mikey's instead, rubbing his cheek against Mikey's knee. His snaggletooth peeks out from his top lip as he smiles in that adorable, harmless, ever-soothing way Mikey remembers from their childhood.

Back when Raph had to be more than the big brother.

They've all come to accept that Splinter wasn't the perfect father for all that they adore him. They've accepted that they'd had to raise themselves as Splinter dealt with his trauma the only way he knew how while still providing for four unexpected children. And after a long talk that involved more shouting, tears and whispered apologies, Raph and Splinter both accepted that Raph had been shouldering the burden of the Big Brother and substitute parent for far longer than any kid should ever be allowed to, if at all.

But it's a slap in the face to see it now on a four-year-old version of his big brother. Still looking out for everyone else, even when he's no longer the eldest in the room. Stepping up when the adults in his life failed to.

Mikey stares. Little Raph stares back and keeps smiling.

Mikey drops to his knees and grabs Little Raph into the tightest hug he can manage with Donnie squirming in the other arm. Little Raph's pudgy arms immediately snap around Mikey and Donnie, because of course they do, and Mikey's chest aches. “It—It's okay, Little Man,” he croaks, then clears his throat and tries again with a smile. “You don't have to do that this time around. Big Bro Mikey's gonna handle it from here, don't you worry. I promise. It's my turn to take care of you guys.”

Whether he understands or not, Mikey's not sure. But if Raph remembers anything from this once the spell breaks or wears off, he hopes it's this:

“You don't have to carry us anymore, Little Big Brother. I got you. We got you.”

Mikey's sure he doesn't imagine Raph trembling in his arms or how Donnie reaches for Raph's hand and squeezes.

~0o0~

Finding Leo takes longer than Mikey's comfortable with. He has half a mind to search the tunnels, but that means either bringing Little Don and Raph with him—absolutely not—or leaving them in the lair to look—even worse, they're toddlers.

Turns out Mikey is overthinking. No matter how old Leo is, he'll always be a Daddy's boy.

He leaves the little two in his room with his hardier fidget toys and softest blankets for Donnie to smother himself with, shuts the door, and makes his way to Splinter's room, where the tell-tale sniffles echo from under their father's bed.

Leo goes ridged when Mikey pops his head under the dusty space, teary eyes wide with a sort of fear they've become familiar with in the months after the Krang. It's scary to see on a teenager's face, and downright awful to see on a baby's face. And Mikey had put it there.

I have to fix this. 

He smiles, big and bright, and keeps his distance, settling to lie on his plastron on the cold, damp floor. Leo watches his every move. “Hey, Little Blue,” he says. “It's me, Big Bro Mikey. I'm not gonna touch you if you don't want me to, but I need you to come on out, okay? You really worried me when you ran off like that, bud.”

Leo sniffles, rubbing his blotchy cheeks with the heel of his hand. “... y'shouted at me,” he whimpers. “Called me a p... a p-pesty.”

Mikey almost flinches. “I know, buddy, I know. I'm sorry I shouted and called you a mean name, I shouldn't have done that. I was... a little busy with our brothers and I got a bit upset. But that doesn't mean I should yell or make you feel scared.”

“But,” Leo's lip wobbles, chest heaving as he starts to cry again. “I-I was bein' naughty, and—and I didn't mean to, but I m-made you angry, I'm sowwy, Mikey, don' mean to be a p-pesty, jus wanna help! Jus wanna help, I wanna be a good boy, I'm sowwy—”

It's a hard battle, but Mikey stops himself from crawling under and yanking the kid into his arms. It's harder to keep the tears at bay, though, and one slips down his cheek unbidden as he slowly extends a hand. “Leo. Can I pull you out a give you a hug?”

Leo stares at Mikey's offered hand for longer than he ever has in Mikey's life, and he thinks he deserves it. But it's still Leo, so he takes Mikey's hand and lets himself be pulled out from under the bed and into the circle of Mikey's crushing embrace, nuzzling their tear-stained cheeks as he wails his little heart out.

Good to know that Leo's issues with self-worth started as early as this. Mikey thinks, once this is over, they're due for another long conversation with their father. One Leo will not back out of with jokes and bad humour, Mikey swears on god.

“I swear, Little Blue, none'a that is true,” Mikey says as the kid's sobs ebb into sniffles. His shoulder is damp with tears and snot, but Mikey doesn't care. It's only fair at this point. “You're not a pest, and you're not naughty. You just have so much love and good energy in you that you don't know what to do with it all. Like, you're a bouncing turtle-bunny hoppin' all over the place—like this!” 

He jumps to his feet, taking a startled Leo with him, and bounces across the room like a deranged hare, whooping and hollering as he goes over Leo's shrieking laughter. He knocks a few things over as he goes, but he pays them no mind—Splinter might give him an earful later, but that's later, and Leo needs to know now that this is okay. That he is okay.

Mikey throws them onto Splinter's bed, bouncing high enough that Leo shrieks again and grabs Mikey's face for balance, tugging his mask over his eyes. They're both gasping for breath, feeling lighter than where they'd started; Leo's sitting on Mikey's chest, giggling like a little loon, and Mikey adjusts his mask so he can see his signature beam, the glow of innocence in his eyes that doesn't shine quite as bright anymore. Not since he was made leader two years ago, less so after the Krang nearly left him a hollow shell. 

So Mikey beams twice as wide and pours every ounce of love into it. “Feeling better?”

Leo nods so hard that his head bounces. “Yeah! That was great, Mike!”

“Good! It's so much fun to bounce, just like what you were doing before. Ain't nothing wrong with being happy and wanting everyone to be happy and bounce with you. That's what you were trying to do, huh?” 

A slow, more hesitant nod, but Leo's smile doesn't fade. Not completely. “Jus' wanted to help,” he says, playing and pulling at his fingers like he wants to chew on them; an old habit he and Donnie had at this age that they'd learned to curb. It's cute to see it, even as Mikey carefully guides his hands away from his mouth and pulls him in for another cuddle.

“You're already helping, Leo,” Mikey whispers. “You help just by being here. You are a good boy. You're such a good boy it's actually insane. You're the best brother I could ever ask for, and I've got like four! You're beyond amazing, and until the day you can see it for yourself—really see it—I'll keep reminding you every single day. And I promise I'll never yell at you like that again for something you can't help. No matter how bouncy you are or how many dumb jokes you tell.”

Leo looks at Mikey like he held the moon in his palm. If he asked, Mikey would find a way to make it happen for real. 

“You mean it?” Little Leo whispers back. “Really?”

Mikey nuzzles their noses together and Leo giggles. “Really really. That's two really's.”

Leo throws himself at Mikey, and Mikey catches him because it's the easiest thing in the world. He'll catch him as many times as it takes for him to believe he'll never let him fall.

~0o0~

When Splinter, Draxum, April and both Casey's finally arrive, Mikey has them back in the t.v room reading the Wizard of Oz in a pillow fort. Leo and Raph have been asleep in a cuddle pile since the second chapter, while Donnie hangs onto Mikey's every word with shining eyes, sitting on his lap with the book between them.

Mikey pauses to meet their collective gaping with a grin. “Sup, ladies and gentlemen? Care to join us?”

April grins back, pride and relief bright like candlelight in her eyes. Casey Jr looks beside himself with joy at his mentors slash older brothers all baby-fied while Cass toes the line between laughing outright or wanting to hide. Draxum stares with a strange, conflicted look in his eyes, and Splinter already has his phone out, taking pictures and tearing up, sniffing hard. 

The sniff draws Donnie's attention. He spins, and his eyes land on Splinter. “Daddy!” he cries, tripping over himself to scramble for the rat, ignoring the other startled adults and teens in the room. “Daddy Daddy Daddy—!”

“My funny little Purple!” 

Splinter is a decade older, unable to play with them the way he used to for all his ninja prowess that still leaves them nursing bruises, but he catches Donnie in his arms and the years shed like fur as he spins him around. Donnie shrieks and hollers, kicking his feet and flailing with abandon. The noise rouses Leo and Raph, and they all but tackle their father to the ground, chanting and laughing and shoving each other to get their fill of hugs. 

“Hi, papa!” Raph crows, curling up against Splinter like he's not level with the old rat. “Was a good boy t'day! Help Mike 'n Don, an'—an' Angie was lots'a fun! Gave us cookies for snack time and readed a story!”

“Daddy!” Leo buries his snout into Splinter's robe. “Missed you, missed you so much, Daddy! Did'ja miss me, huh, did'ja miss me too, Daddy!”

Splinter laughs, holding all three of them as best he can with them pinning him to the floor. Tears gather in his eyes as he presses kisses atop each of their heads. “I missed you very much, my little Baby Blue,” he says. “I have missed all of you.”

Awww, Mikey thinks as he stands, equal parts soft and heartbroken. Much as their father complained and struggled, it makes sense he'd still miss when they were small enough for him to hold in his arms, to carry and toss about and rock to sleep. 

An arm winds around his shoulder and pulls him into a half hug. April kisses his cheek. “Nice job, Big Bro,” she says, winking. 

Mikey looks back to the group just in time to see Cass snap a picture of Splinter tickling the daylights out of Leo, with Raph trying to 'save' him and Donnie already moving on to pull at Draxum's robes—“Who are you? E'splain y'self!” 

Mikey grins. “Thanks, April.” He lets out a breath and folds his arms. “I learned a lot today, y'know. Seen things from a different perspective. Really made me think.”

April looks at him. “Oh yeah? About what?” 

“Being a big brother ain't as easy as I thought. It's a loooot of hard work! I owe these guys big time, especially Raph, for all the times I gave them grey scales and chasms. Dad, too. But at the same time...” He turns to his big sister and smiles. “It was kinda fun, bein' the guy they looked up to for a change.”

April chuckles. “Oh, I bet. Makes you wanna keep 'em all cute like this a little longer before things go back to normal, huh?”

“Oh hell no.” 

He grabs April by the shoulders and shakes her, murder in his twitching eyes. 

“April. No. It's been hours and I can't take it. Do you know how long it took me to wrangle Donnie from the toaster? Leo used my favourite paint set to drown Donnie's action figures in 'lava'. Raph bit through the freakin' table! I don't wanna be the big brother no more! You know what want, April? You know what I want?!”

April blinks. “Uh—”

“I wanna take a shower. I wanna go to bed forever, right after I kick Hypno's ass back to the rainforest for leaving me with ninety-six pounds of screaming baby turtles for no good reason! That goddamn, big-mouthed, blue gumball, simpleton son of a bitch owes me child support!”

Silence.

It's then that Dr Delicate Touch takes a backseat, and Mikey remembers the younger ears in the room.

Slowly, Mikey and April turn. Everyone is staring with varying degrees of shock, horror and, in Cassandra's case, pride.

Then Little Leo beams, and Mikey feels fear.

“Blue,” Splinter says warningly, “Don't—”

“BITCH!” Donnie cries gleefully. Leo looks at him with all the betrayal a three-year-old can muster. 

Raph gasps. “Donnie! No sayin' bitch! Tha's a bad word!”

Donnie pouts. “But Raphie jus' say bitch.”

“I wanna say bitch first!” Leo stomps his foot. “BITCH!”

Draxum and Cass lose it, falling to their knees with heaving laughter. Casey hides his high-pitched giggles behind his hands with little success. Splinter drops his head back with a long sigh, and April looks at Mikey.

Mikey's eye twitches. “Scratch that. I'm killin' the hippo.”

---

Feel free to send more requests! Reblogs are appreciated <3

[whoreadsnowadays]

FINALLY PART THREE TIME. I'm not answering the ask @squiddy-buddy sent bc I didn't actually end up adding the request part of the ask 😔 so that will have to be part four.

But for now !!!!!! ANGST.

-

Warnings; Mentions of stabbing and injury, a drawn out classic raph and leo fight, cussing,

( Familial ) 2012 ! Turtles + Splinter & Little Brother Reader

Part 1 - Shatter

Part 2 - Shatter the Mind

Part 3 - You're Here

Part 4 - Shatter the Innocence

-

Shatter the Heart

That evening Splinter took charge and assigned each brother, as well as himself, a shift to watch over you.

And none of them had enough energy to argue about their shift. So they just agreed and went off to bed, all too exhausted to do anything else.

Splinter took the first watch, agreeing to watch you overnight. He refused to make his sons lose sleep on purpose. Of course, it was silly to assume they'd be able to sleep very well after what they had seen. But he still wanted them to try and get some nonetheless.

And so he sat in front of you, having pulled one of Donatello's stools over to the cot you laid on.

He silently looked over your bandages, watching as you breathed slowly and shallowly.

He was contemplating many things. Part of him wanted to keep you from all missions from now on, and he was sure his other sons would agree. But that would crush you, figuratively, and he couldn't do that to you.

Of course this was assuming you even woke up. And with your condition, he was inclined to believe that you wouldn't make it.

So he watched your shallow breaths, silently mourning you as you laid deathly still.

Leo always came next. Coming in at five in the morning, and silently watching as Splinter stood himself up and walked out of Donnie's lab, no words exchanged between them.

Leo would then take Splinter's place, hands in his lap as he stared at the cot and not you, mind racing with the familiar thoughts that plagued him.

Then Raph would come in at around ten. Feeling his anger bubble near the surface as he quietly ranted to your unconscious form. He didn't know if you heard him, but some part of him hoped you did. Hoped you knew how much this was fucking with him, knew how much he cared and worried for you. God knows he wouldn't be able to tell you otherwise.

After Raph was Mikey, coming in at three, who would talk your ear off the whole time he was in there. He pretends you're just listening to his talking, pretends you're not out of commission right next to him. And he just talks and talks and talks.

Donnie always came in at eight. Walking around the lab and working on his various projects while still keeping a keen eye on your condition. He tries to approach the situation from a professional standpoint. Watching you like you were just a patient, and not his precious little brother. Occasionally though he'd break, leaning over the cot, his head in his hands as he sobs next to you, mumbling about how he's so sorry he wasn't there, how he wishes he could do more, anything to get you to understand how much he cared for you. You never responded, but he expected nothing else.

And finally, Splinter takes his place in the room again at midnight. The cycle starting back over.

It stayed like this for weeks. April and Casey being notified a few days in, and now they were over as often as they could be.

The tensions just got higher and higher as time went on and you continued to not wake up.

Two months in, on Mikey's watch, everything finally came to a head.

Leo was sat in the living room, silently reading through one of his comics, as Raph beat at the punching bag behind him.

There was an obvious tension, words that needed to be said and things that needed to be done.

The thick tension, the situation at hand, all combined with the loud smack of Raph's fists against the punching bag, made Leo's head spin. He huffed, putting down the comic he was no longer reading, to turn to look at his brother.

"Raph. Could you please quit the punching, I can barely think." His voice came out a little harsher than he wanted, more aggravated than he thought he was.

And Raph picked up on it instantly, turning to Leo with that familiar snarl.

"Oh I'm sorry Leo, here I'll quit punching for you." He growled out, before turning and kicking the bag as hard as he could, making Leo flinch in place.

"That's.." he sighed, turning himself comepletely to Raph. "That's not how I meant it-"

"Oh? Then how did you mean it Leo? What did you mean? Because I need this punching bag to let off steam, but if you want me to stop so bad I'd be happy to use your face instead." He growled, and Leo knew he'd hit one of his many nerves on accident.

"Raph.." He huffed, giving his brother a tired stare, and that seemed to set him off even more.

"No please Leo! Tell me what you meant! Tell me, because obviously I'm doing something you find just so annoying!"

Leo couldn't even get a word in, as Raph continued to speak, getting louder and louder as he finally let all the anger he's held in for two months spill out all at once.

"Not everything is about you Leo! We're not gonna walk on eggshells around you just because you're feeling shitty! Guess what? We're all feeling shitty! We all feel guilty and we're all trying to find ways to cope, this isn't all about you and you're dumb fucking anxiety!"

Raph stalked closer as he yelled, Leo staring down at the couch cushion in front of him. He felt his heart rate pick up, and his face flush as he clenched his fists in his lap. This was all too much. Too much.

Raph wasn't even hearing himself anymore, screaming and yelling just to scream and yell, taking every bottled up emotion out on his older brother, feeling his own heart rate skyrocket as he did so. Fuck this is too much. Too much.

"And I mean, what kind of fearless leader are you?! Freezing in place while our little brother was dying on the ground!" Raph screamed, right in front of the couch now. He was about to keep going, but Leo snapped his head up to look at him, a wild look in his big brother's eyes.

"Fuck off Raph!" He yelled right back, standing up on shaking legs. "Fuck off! What right do you have to say that when you ran off to fight Fishface while our brother was dying!" Leo wasn't one to scream when he was angry, sure he rose his voice, but never to the level he was at now.

Raph stepped back a bit, caught off guard as Leo continued throwing accusations at him, "You watched it happen didn’t you?! You watched Shredder cut open our baby brother! You're so fucking adamant that you'd make a better leader, why didn't you take charge huh? Why didn't you go and help him?! Why did you leave Mikey hanging?!"

"Why did you?!" Raph stepped forward again, standing up to Leo. "Why did you make Donnie take charge? Why'd it take him literally dragging you off the roof for you to even move on your own?!"

They both knew why. They had always known.

There was a long silence. The two boys standing in front of one another, both breathing heavy.

Both of them knew they were seconds away from teetering over the edge. What edge? Neither of them really knew, and they really weren't sure if they wanted to find out.

"Dudes.." A soft voice came from Donnie's lab, and the two of them whipped around to see Mikey in the doorway.

He looked like a wreck, red rimmed eyes and tear tracks down his face.

But he was smiling. Grinning even.

"He's up."

[cherryslyce]

Enjoy the second to last HC's, bubz. Who knows... The anon to lovers pipeline sounds kinda in rn..

.

.

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*in bed*

Reg: So. Just to clarify..You actually like me right?

MC: No, I kept a portrait that kinda hurt to have in my pocket which gave me splinters btw, around for years, got devasted by the demise, slept in said portraits room as a source of comfort, went all the way to NORWAY at the off chance something could be done for said boy in portrait, went into a creepy cave, nearly died, did a ritual, all because I can't fucking stand you.

Reg, contemplating: ..you were in my bed before marriage? 😙

MC: You kinda make me wanna drown myself.

Reg: I thought we established it's too soon for those-

.

.

.

Reg, panicked: YOU SAW VOLDEMORT IN THE CAVE?

MC, crying: YEAH HE WAS SO FUCKING UGLY.

.

.

.

Sirius: There is no fucking way.

Harry: There is definitely a way and fucking is likely involved.

Reg, unfazed: What was it you say birdie.. No bitches? 🤔

Sirius and Harry: Fuck this combo. Fuck this combo. FUCK THIS COMBO-

.

.

.

Blaire: Nah you better be fucking forreal.. FIRST YOU ANSWER MY MOM BEFORE ME, LEAVE ME TO FEND FOR OUR CHILD AND NOW YOU GOTTA SICK VICTORIAN CHILD LOOKING BOYFRIEND? I'm having a moment. Oh i'm have a serious moment.

Reg, coughs: Wrong brother to be having a moment with.

Blaire: Girl, you BETTER be joking.. 👁️_👁️

Mc: I think I'm going to pre-maturely die now. I wish you the best.

.

.

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Kreacher: MASTER REGULUS HAS RETURNED AT LAST!

*Reg holding MC's hand*

Kreacher: WITH UH.. THE BLOOD..THE BLOOD PLEASER..?

Sirius, behind them both, disgusted: You know, I know you don't know what you're saying and you're aiming for better than blood traitor but you could have said literally anything else. Anything. God.

.

.

.

I have so many.. thoughts. feelings. headcannons. but rly, I want to say thank you first. I've had a pretty rough month and my highlight was always getting to read Second Son. Reg always was a soft spot of mine but your characterisation was probably as close to how I imagined it. When the 3rd last chapter came out? Girl, I was in a boba shop, moral supporting my friend and he thought I was delirious CUZ I WAS GIGGLING. Of course, I'm sad it's come to an end but your journey as a writer sure as hell hasn't thus I'm super excited for you new work!! I hope you're proud of the series because not only were you delivering so often, you rly made all our days when you did. I'm wishing both sides of your pillow are how you desire them to be..

All the love, beloved hc anon 💌✨

My lovely hc anon <33!!! The anon to lover pipeline is def in<333 !!!!

Regulus would definitely be up at ungodly hours just contemplating that kind of stuff (poor reader, but same Reg). Also LOL, reader was more disturbed by Voldemort's snake face than anything else (like reader definitely gets nightmares of that moment at the cave still).

Regulus and Reader would literally drive Sirius up the WALL, like they give him and James a run for their money. +++ I'm so dead LMAO, you captured Blaise's humor perfectly, that is something he would definitely say in his head while plastering on a wide grin !

BLOOD PLEASER. I LOVE that omg...Kreacher is trying to be better, but he would most definitely come up with the most absurd nicknames ever.

I'm so glad that my series has been able to lift your spirits, my dear!! And I must thank you as well because your hc's always made my days so much brighter and really helped bring the characters to life!! You are truly one of my most beloved anons on here, and I really am going to miss these messages <33! I went into this series not expecting much, but I'm so overwhelmed by the kind words I received, and I starkly remember the first ever hc message you sent me. I was just blown away that someone would take the time to do so much for the series, and I truly want to thank you <33!!

I'm excited for the journey ahead and I hope to see you around !! Wishing you a lovely day/night wherever you are !!

-cherry <33

[lubdubsworld]

Someone to Love.

Hello!!!

Here is my gift for 8k subscribers!!!

Alpha Jungkook x Omega OC Werewolf Au!

Genre ! : Fluff . Mild Angst. Mild Smut.

Work Count : 6k

Summary : Widowed Omega Aerin isn't really looking for love. But Jeon Jungkook the handsome alpha who gets washed over a waterfall, is willing to offer it to her anyway.

Complete!!!

The thing about living in a clan as small as ours, was that word always travelled fast.

We were a close knit pack, everyone knew everyone and more importantly, everyone was always in everyone’s business. Which is why, it was no surprise that, even before the Head Alpha could send word for me, I already knew about the young alpha who had , apparently, washed over the waterfall. The drop was a good twenty five feet and the bottom of the pool littered with sharp rocks. He was obviously injured.

As the healer, I would have to be there to examine him.

Nevertheless, I waited till Jinyoung came knocking on my door, sometime after the midday meal, his face urgent and voice a little shaky. I had just finished wrapping my daughter against my breast, tying the end of the flannel across my back and over my shoulder . I pulled on the ends, securing the wrap around my torso, and making sure her limbs were free to move about.

Sera giggled, chubby fists wet with drool as she shoved them into her mouth. She was teething and that meant excessive drooling and a penchant for biting everything I sight. But like this, she was usually well settled, the warmth of my body and my scent lulling her to a drwsy state. She would be asleep by the time we reached the injured wolf.

My son was still out playing with the other alpha pups in the woods. He wouldn’t be back till sundown. And even if he did, Joowon was almost nine winters old now. He could fend for himself in the hut till I got back.

I quickly grabbed my shawl, wrapping it over my shoulder, before moving to the door and opening it.

“Aerin? Alpha Kim sent for you, there’s an injured wolf you need to tend to.” He said urgently and I didn’t miss the four or five young omegas hovering behind him, giggling and coy. I shook my head. Apparently, even a half dead, injured alpha wasn’t safe from these younglings. I gave them a chiding smile but they merely laughed some more.

“Of course, Jinyoung . Let me just grab my bag.” I quickly picked the small carry-all tote I used for visits. It had almost all the tinctures, ointments and salves that I stocked in the apothecary attached to my hut, in smaller quantities. I also kept a polished set of needles and tools in case I had to extract stubborn splinters of jagged rock ends out of flesh. For being one of the strongest breed, it was ridiculous how often alphas got hurt doing the silliest things.

Like going over a waterfall.

As we began the short trek over to the Head alpha’s cabin, the throng of smitten omegas surrounded me, looking bright eyed.

“They say he’s very handsome, unnie. And young!” One of them laughed.

I hummed.

“Then one must hope the rocks in the pool didn’t leave too much of a mark .” I said casually.

“I wouldn’t mind a scar or two, as long as he has his…you know..” Another set of giggles.

I shook my head, laughing. The girls were incorrigible but that was their right. They were all young, barely twenty and unmated. They knew nothing about the marriage bed , nothing about the intimacy that came with it. The love the commitment. My heart ached.

Two years and still my heart ached something fierce .

“Just tell him he has to rest for a month at least, unnie. Tell him he can’t leave for a month and I’ll work my charm.” The Head Alpha’s daughter Jisoo gave me a sharp little smile and I shook my head.

“I’ll do no such thing. And I don’t appreciate you lusting after a man who may well be dying.” I said sternly and Jisoo had the good grace to blush.

“Unnie, its just that…. I’m bored of all these dumb alphas panting after me. They’re so…uncouth. I just want to meet someone new.” She pouted.

We reached the small hillock that would lead to the Head alpha’s house and I gave her a smile.

“Well, in that case, I’ll patch him up real good for you. But till then, you and your girls, why don’t you go occupy yourselves elsewhere.”

Jisoo wrinkled her nose but listened and I smiled at Jinyoung, hugging sera closer to my chest and making haste to the hut in front of us. Jinyoung led me to a side door and further into a room at the end of the narrow corridor.

“Aerin! Child… You’re here!” The Head alpha held his arms out and I embraced him quickly. The injured alpha was laid out in the middle of the room on a thick pallet of straw and blankets. They had stripped him of his wet clothes and he looked like he was sleeping. I stared at his face and felt my breath catch.

He was breathtakingly beautiful. I couldn’t look away. Right up , I could make out three flesh wounds, jagged and slightly deep : one across his brow, another across his shoulder and one right over his chest. Dark ink curled all over his torso and he looked young but also like a warrior.

“We just found out he’s from the Jeon clan. The head alpha’s son.” Yugyeom, knelt by his shoulders, pointing out the inked shoulder which marked him as the heir to the Jeon pack.

“We’ve already sent word. They’ll be here to fetch him in a day or so. We need only tend to him till then. Well. Give him all hospitality and treat him like a king. We need to remain in the Jeon’s good graces.” The Head alpha said sternly and all of them bowed.

I quickly, grabbed my bag, laying it out on the floor and crawling over to his side.

“Hot water and spirit , please.” I told the maid standing by but the Head alpha quickly held a hand up.

“Aerin ah? I have a meeting here with the Min and Jung clan leaders. The autumn festival is set to begin tonight. Its impossible for me to keep him here and all the other alphas are going to be busy too. I want him to get the best care possible and I can think of no one better than you, fort this task. Can we shift him to your hut?”

I swallowed nervously. I didn’t really entertain patients in my house. Especially not alphas. My son got jittery and my daughter was too used to my own scent.

“As a personal favor to your alpha?” He said insistently, eyes flashing red and I realized it wasn’t a request. Rather a command.

“I… Yes, alpha.” I said hesitantly. “ Can I just examine him now, make sure nothing’s broken, before we shift him?”

“Yes of course my dear.” The alpha bowed before stepping aside. I quickly glanced at everyone else.

“Please leave.” I said quickly and they flushed, bowing before moving out of the room.

“Should I stay , Aerin?” Jinyoung asked nervously and I shook my head. “ Just wait outside and close the door for me, Jin.”

Once the door shut, I quickly glanced down at Sera who had curled into my chest and fallen asleep. I brought a bit of the fabric by chest over her head, so she wouldn’t get too much of the alpha’s scent. Kneeling down, I went about peeling the blanket off him.

He was a beautiful man, I thought absently, long limbs and thick muscles all over and it was no doubt his strong, well kept body that had saved him.

Other than a few more surface wounds on his legs and a gash on his thigh, he seemed relatively unharmed. I did run my fingers over his joints and arms, carefully looking for any swelling or discoloration that would signify broken bones. I carefully gripped his shoulders, turning him over gently to examine his back. I made a mental note of all the cuts that looked like they would have to be sewn together, so I could prepare enough string for it. I leaned over to press my ears against his chest, noting the rise and fall of his lungs.

A hand brushed over the back of my head, gentle and soft.

I jumped, wrapping both hands around sera and scooting back in panic, eyes wide as I stared at the man on the floor, now blinking tiredly at me.

“I… I..” I couldn’t get my words out and he groaned .

“Am I dead? Are you an angel?” He whispered.

I blinked, blood rushing to my face as I tried to calm my breathing.

“Jinyoung!!!” I yelled sharply and the door opened, Jinyoung stepping in and staring wide eyed at the alpha on the pallet. He was struggling to sit up and I quickly pulled myself together.

“Alpha Jeon! Please… You must stay still. ” I said quickly, pushing my palms against his chest, helping him lay back down, trying to ignore how his eyes danced all over my face, nostrils flared .” I’m Aerin, the healer from the Kim pack. You remember what happened today?”

He groaned again, lifting a shaky hand to press against his head. I moved closer, gently reaching out to grab his wrist, pulling his fingers away from the still wet wound on his brow, and his eyes clashed against mine, wide and steady. He stared pointedly at where my fingers curled around his wrists and I let go quickly.

“Yes….. one of the pups almost went over the waterfall. I… I tried to get him out.” He said softly. He glanced at Jinyoung. The latter looked away, clearly nervous.

“Pup?” I asked, heart dropping and he gave me a small smile. I tried not to let my gaze linger on his lips as he chuckled lightly.

“Can you help me up, kid?” He asked softly and Jinyoung startled, glancing at me.

I shook my head. I turned to Jungkook, heart racing. He sighed, resting back against the bed.

“Don’t worry, angel. I managed to toss her back to her father just before I went over the edge. I’m certain that she’s perfectly alright.”

“well, that’s a relief.” I hesitated, feeling awkward. Sera stirred and Jungkook’s gaze went to her again.

“she’s yours?” He asked gently and I blinked, glancing at Jinyoung nervously. It seemed too personal but I couldn’t imagine not answering without seeming rude.

“Yes, sire.” I bowed politely, moving back a bit more as Jungkook inhaled and reached out again, this time gripping my wrist. He scented the air and I flinched , yanking my hand away and quickly standing up, uncomfortable. He was still staring at me, gaze steady.

“You… You can tell the others that he’s conscious. We can move-” I stopped when the alpha cut me off.

“You don’t smell mated. You haven’t been with a man in years.” He said quietly and now Jiyoung looked uncomfortable too.

“Alpha Jeon, I-”

“Jungkook. Call me Jungkook.”

My heart jumped at the thought of addressing him so intimately. I shook my head.

“I’m looking for a mate. Can I court you, angel?” He said suddenly and my jaw dropped.

“There’s… There’s a dozen unmated omegas outside.” I choked out. Was I dreaming ? This couldn’t be happening.

“That’s not what I asked. Whom must I speak with? To court you? Your Head alpha.” He turned to Jinyoung. “ Please send word to Alpha Kim that I require an audience with him. And that its very important that he come here as soon as possible.”

“Please don’t.” I said quietly, feeling my body tremble and he froze.

“What’s wrong?” He said quietly.

I shook my head.

“I have a son. I’m not… I have a son. He’s almost nine winters old. He still… He loves his father. The man who raised him… I can’t…. it would break him. Please, Alpha Jeon. You have power here and I have none. Your word is law and I’m bound to honor it but please, please consider. My son…”

Jungkook’s gaze softened incredibly at that.

“I have a ten year old brother.” He said gently. “ What you’re saying is that it isn’t the head alpha’s approval that I need. It is your son’s.”

I blinked, thrown.

“I…”

“Then you must promise me this. If your son…” He paused, “ What’s his name?”

“I… Joowon.”

“If Joowon tells you that he wouldn’t mind having me in his life….will you consider letting me court you.”

I could only stare. Jinyoung cleared his throat looking completely enthralled by the drama unfolding in front of him. I saw a glint of mischief in his gaze and felt my hackles rise.

“Alpha, there’s a festival in our clan. It lasts three weeks and is filled with festivities and joyous celebrations. I do believe the Kim pack would be honored to have you stay with us, enjoying our hospitality and the bountiful gifts of nature we here in the lowlands enjoy.”

I gaped at him in disbelief.

“I… “

“That’s settled then. I will send for my pack members as well. They would love to share this time with you.” He turned to me.

I exhaled, certain that he had hit his head on the way down the falls.

“You’re insane.” I said softly, shaking my head. “ You’re free to enjoy all that my clan has to offer…. But, I’m not on the menu, Alpha Jeon.”

I quickly stood up.

“Tell Alpha Kim that he can fend for himself in one of the huts we have for heats and ruts. I’ll send one of my apprentices to sew up his wounds and apply salve on him.”

“I’m afraid not, Aerin. You know what the chief said. It has to be you.” Jin grinned and I glared at him.

Jungkook was smiling too.

“Come now, angel. Just because you don’t like me ….yet… don’t shun your duties.”

Good Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Fucking hell, what the actual fuck…” Jungkook swore and I glared at him, grabbing a strip of white linen and balling it up before pressing it into his mouth, gagging him.

He stared at me, eyes wide in surprise and mouth open around the fabric.

“Stop swearing in front of my son.” I snapped. Joowon laughed, carefully threading the twine through the eye of the cleaned needle. He dipped the twine and the needle into the warm water and the spirit again.

“Come now mother, you know I can say worse things.” He stuck his tongue out and I glared at him.

“Not in this house, you can’t. Also keep it down… I’ve just put Sera to bed.” I carefully pinched the skin over his chest together before reaching out and slipping the needle into his skin. I worked carefully and diligently, focused on the task and when I was finally done, I glanced up, only for my gaze to clash with Jungkook’s.

“I.. were you staring the whole time?” I asked, blushing. Jungkook spat the gag out and grinned, boyish and naughty.

“Can’t help it. The view is truly breathtaking.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said that there are omegas here who would love to be courted by you. You haven’t met any of them yet and that is why you seem to be … so… “ I shook my head.

“Joowon ah… Who’s the most beautiful woman in this clan?” Jungkook asked firmly and my son hummed from next to me.

“Mother, of course.”

I gaped at the pair of them.

“See? I trust Joowon’s judgement implicitly. “ Jungkook shrugged.

Joowon laughed again and I didn’t miss the looks he kept tossing at the alpha. Curious but also laced with a lot of admiration. I wasn’t surprised. Joowon had never been suspicious or hesitant in offering his friendship to people. And Jungkook had regaled him with tales about hunts and fishing trips and kayak rides in rapids….. and the younger was now clearly intrigued and almost halfway to smitten with the man.

My own heart raced , pulse pounding in a way it hadn’t in years. And yet, I knew it was futile. Men like Jungkook…. They didn’t really fall in love with women like me. All these flowery words, all this flirting….it was for one thing only. And once he got it, he would leave. Of course he would.

But that was the problem. For the first time in two years, I considered it. Considered letting him have it….have me. But with it , came a nagging wish that he wasn’t joking. That perhaps, I wasn’t as….undesirable as my late husband had made me feel.

I shook my head to clear the haze of dreams, impossible girlish dreams that came with his scent and his proximity. I didn’t want to go down that road. I wasn’t… I may be younger than Jungkook but I was still too old to be courted and to start a new life with someone. Least of all someone like Jungkook.

I glanced back up at him as I carefully applied salve on the stitches, fingers light on dusky smooth skin. He was still staring at me, and as I bent in closer, his hair brushed my forehead. My eyes fell on his nipple and my mouth went dry. I breathed out and looked up at him, shaking my head and pulling away.

“You’re all done alpha.” I whispered.

His hand crept up to my knee, squeezing gently.

“I’m just getting started.” He whispered and I bit my lips, looking away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Father… you shouldn’t have come .” Jungkook was groaning and I could only stare in horror , trying to process the fact that both Alpha Jeon and his wife were now standing in my hut, fussing over their son and ruffling his hair like he was five years old.

“Nonsense !” Alpha Jeon thundered, making me jump. “ You went over the waterfall and you expect me to not be worried. I brought our healer but I see the Kim clan has an exceptionally talented young healer themselves. My son looks as good as new , dear girl.” He grinned at me and I smiled shakily.

“I’m going to court her, father.” Jungkook said without any preamble and my heart dropped to my knees. Lady Jeon’s gaze snapped to me and I retreated further, clutching Sera to my chest in panic.

“No.. I.. no he’s not. I’m sorry, Alpha, I… I should go…” I dived for Joowon’s wrist, yanking my son along and moving to the door.

“Wait, child.” Lady Jeon’s voice made me still and I bit my lips, squeezing my eyes shut in horror. Surely whatever was coming…it couldn’t be good… t would be the same thing I’d heard over the years, the same threats, the same insults…

“Let me look at you.” Lady Jeon said and I trembled a bit, turning to her nervously, prepared for rejection and annoyance.

I found none.

All I could see was genuine interest that morphed into pleasure as she took in my features.

“What a beautiful girl you are.” She whispered , “ You can do so much better than my savage son, who apparently doesn’t know his way up or down a waterfall.”

Jungkook growled from the bed.

“Mother.”

Lady Jeon gave him a look.

“I’m serious. The Kim clan , I’m sure must have several fine young men, all of them willing to court her. What makes you think they would hand her over to you, Jungkook.” He said regally and I hesitated.

“I… I’ve been mated before. These are my kids.” I said hesitantly.

Lady Jeon blinked.

“Does that make a difference?”

I couldn’t respond, mind in shambles.

“Unless …what we’ve heard about the Kim clan isn’t true? And they are archaic and small minded when it comes to their women?” She said sharply, turning around to glare at my Head Alpha who looked horrified as he bowed.

“of course not , my lady..we… We all treat Aerin with the utmost respect.. She is as our daughter.”

“That is not what I asked. Has she not been courted?” Alpha Jeon asked gruffly and Jungkook made a noise of impatience.

“I’m saying I’ll court her, why is everyone-“

“Quiet Jungkook. “ Lady Jeon said sharply before turning to me.

“Have you not been courted after your husband’s death. Its unheard of for a young wolf to remain without a mate. Did none of the men in your clan step up?”

I hesitated before deciding on the truth.

“Joowon-ah? Could you go play outside for a while?” I said softly and he hesitated before glancing at Jungkook and running off. Once I was sure he was out of earshot I turned to Lady Jeon.

“They only offered to take me on as a mistress.” I said honestly, staring at my feet. “ And … I have a son. Old enough to understand these things. He… He heard his friends talk about how I was … He asked me if what they said was true…. If I was just anyone’s to use or take, now that his father was dead. I…. I had to reassure him that it wasn’t the case…. That I wouldn’t… That I didn’t need to warm anyone’s bed to survive.”

“She’s coming with us tomorrow.” Jungkook growled from the bed and I glared at him.

“Please let me finish.” I snapped. “ And yes, there are men here who feel that way but Alpha Kim is right. They have for the most part, treated me with great respect and I … I enjoy my life here. I’m not lacking for anything..” Except someone to love, someone to hold through cold winter nights, someone to share bright spring sunshine with…someone to kiss in the rain… someone who would go to war for me…

“So? You don’t accept my son’s offer of courting? Is that what you’re saying?” Lady Jeon asked gently.

“Don’t answer that.” Jungkook’s voice came from my right and I stared at him.

“Alpha Jeon…”

“Could all of you give me a moment alone with her?” Jungkook said quietly and Alpha Kim bowed.

“Please let me show you to your resting quarters.” He said gently and Jungkook’s parents shot him one last look before leaving the cabin. I stayed still as everyone filed out, one after the other.

Once it was just him and I, Jungkook cleared his throat.

“Just three weeks.” He said softly, “ Give me three weeks. Three weeks and if at the end of it you tell me that you don’t want to leave your clan…I’ll accept it without argument. You’ll never see me again.”

I sighed in exhaustion.

“You’re going to be here for the three weeks of the festival anyway. My answer isn’t going to change. I’m not going to fall in love with you, alpha Jeon. ” I said quietly.

He grinned.

“I’m going to remind you of what you just said….six months from now…when you’re my wife.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jungkook was out and about three days later and to my utter horror, jealousy reared its head when I saw the extent to which he was popular with the other omegas. I stayed in the sidelines, holding sera and keeping an eye on Joowon, watching Jungkook get accosted at every turn.

But Jungkook it seemed, had no interest in wooing me.

He was wooing my son.

“These are delicious, Jungkook.” Joowon said excitedly, hands full of candied fruits and honey dipped grapes.

“Stop calling him that…” I hissed , but Joowon merely stuck his tongue out at me, stuck firmly to Jungkook’s side. Jungkook sat on the hard ground of the hut, surrounded by wooden strip and workmen tools, building a miniature windmill for Joowon who had never seen one before. The wind didn’t hit the lowlands much but Jungkook’s clan lived up hill and the windmills helped bring water to the canals.

He gave me a grin, his eyes trained on my lips as I sung gently to Sera, rocking her back and forth on my arms.

“You must give some of that honeyed fruit to your mother too, won-ah… perhaps she will have something sweet to say to me.” He grinned.

I rolled my eyes.

“I believe you’ve heard enough honey dipped words from the many omegas who can’t get enough of you.” I said impishly.

Jungkook laughed.

“ All I need is one word from you my lady….” He whispered and I flushed.

“ One word? No matter the question…? What word is that. ” I shook my head.

“Yes.” Jungkook smiled. “ Because it is that way with me. No matter the question , if you were the one asking, my answer would be yes.”

I stared at him, thrown by the magnitude of sincerity in his tone.

“Mother, ask him if he hates you…” Joowon giggled snapping me out of my thoughts.

I laughed and Jungkook glared.

“You’re supposed to be helping me brat.” He said with faux anger, eyes still excessively fond as he pulled my son into a playful headlock.

I watched them wrestle around Joowon smiling in a way that I had never seen him do in a long long time and my heart ached. Was it wrong… I wondered, to be this greedy? To want a lifetime of this….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“ They say you never mourned him.” Jungkook sat on the rocking chair, shirt unbuttoned and Sera lying on his chest, the warmth of his body and the staccato of his heart lulling her to sleep . I sat on the floor, leaning back against the wall, Joowon was already asleep nect to me, head resting on my lap.

I watched him, watched the large, rugged hand, so gentle on my daughter’s back, stroking her gently, as he hummed sweetly.

“there was nothing to mourn.” I whispered bitterly, threading my fingers through my son’s hair, the silky strands falling through like water.

“He wasn’t a good man then.”

I shook my head.

“He married me when I was sixteen. And when I was old enough to see him for what he was, he didn’t want me anymore. And he died because he tried to rape the Head Alpha’s daughter.” I felt that familiar sickening feeling of disgust.

Jungkook didn’t say anything merely staring off into the fire blazing in the hearth.

“Is that why you think…you’re too old?” He asked gently and I flushed.

“It didn’t help with my self esteem.” I admitted.

“And is that why you..hesitate? To tell me how you truly feel.”

“It’s complicated. I … It s not easy baring my heart to you…” I looked away.

“You’re beautiful. I want you. Everyday I feel like I’m falling deeper.” Jungkook said quietly.

I stared at him, stunned.

He turned around and smiled at me.

“It’s not complicated for me. Its hard to watch you keep me at arm’s length. It’s hard to go to sleep on the floor, knowing your warm body is at touching distance. Its hard watching these omegas mistreat you because they’re jealous of the attention you get from me. And its hard….telling myself I can’t just pull you into my arms and kiss you in front of them all so they know . ” He smiled, “But telling you how I feel? It’s not hard at all.”

I felt my mouth go dry and stared at my knees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Marry me.” Jaebum had cornered me by the apothecary and I stared at him in shock.

“What?” I snapped, “ What nonsense is this? Move out of my way.”

“Alpha Kim wants Jisoo to marry Jungkook. He has asked one of us to get you out of the picture. And no one else wants another man’s sloppy seconds. I’m the only one who agreed so you should be honored. Just say yes and come with me.”

He made to grab me and I stumbled back in terror only to crahs into a broiad back, right behind me. A familiar scent and strong arms coming around to hug me.

“Perhaps, Alpha Kim should reconsider his plans. Because I’m sure he doesn’t want the entire Jeon clan to come to war with him.”

Jaebum stepped back.

“you would start a war over some omega?” He scoffed.

Jungkook grinned shaking his head.

“No. But I would start a war over my woman.”

Jaebum scoffed again before spitting at his feet and walking away. Jungkook glared at him till he disappeared from view. My limbs started trembling the moment I realized what had just happened. After years of working for these people…healing them and mending their wounds….Was this how they saw me?

I went limp in his arms and he hugged me close.

“Angel….are you alright?” Jungkook whispered and I swallowed, turning around and staring at him.

“I… They… Why would he do that?” I whispered and Jungkook reached out cupping my face gently.

“I don’t know. But he’s an idiot. As if I would let another man lay a finger on you…” He said softly and I laughed, shaking my head.

I looked back up at him, letting my gaze fall to his lips. As if on cue the heavens opened and it began to rain… Jungkook swore, moving to find shelter but I grabbed his arm, pulling him closer.

“Alpha Jeon…” I said quietly, water dripping down my face as the rain intensified . “ Will you kiss me?”

Jungkook’s eyes went comically wide. He was already dripping wet, hair falling in soaked strands into his eyes.

“Wh-What?”

“I’ve waited for many years for this kiss. A kiss in the rain. With a man who would go to war for me.”

Jungkook laughed at that and I stared as he leaned down, gently pressing his lips to my forehead. Tears sprung at the tender gesture and I gripped the fabric of his tunic hard. Laughing I buried my face into his chest, as he pressed a multitude of kisses on top of my head.

“Angel. When I kiss you for the first time…it’s not going to stop with a kiss.” He winked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leaving my clan was easier, when I reminded myself of what they had done. But I did my duty, offering my greetings and farewell to all the elders, before moving to link my fingers with Jungkook , who held Sera in his arms.

“ I owe you my gratitude. Because you’ve kept her safe all these years. But from now she holds no ties to your clan.” Jungkook said firmly, and I stepped closer to him.

I watched as Jungkook’s father shared a ceremonial glass of wine with the head alpha.

And just like that, I was no longer a Kim.

I was a Jeon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Mother…” I whispered , mortified , watching Lady Jeon, wrap my daughter in her baby clothes, Packing her clothes and Joowon’s clothes as well. “ Please it isn’t necessary.”

“Nonsense. Jungkook and you need to spend time together. Alone. And I need to spend time with my grandchildren. I’ve already missed out on nine years of Joowon’s life , I refuse to miss out on another second. Besides, he has never seen a windmill he says? My husband has made arrangements for us to pitch our tents right next to one.”

I could only smile and watch as my excitable son practically bounced off the wall, eager to go on a trip with halmeoni and harabeoji.

Jungkook stood next to me, wrapping both arms around me.

“Say the word and We’ll leave in a hour right behind them.” He said gently and I smiled, shaking my head.

“No… your parents want this. I can tell. Let them enjoy some time with their grandkids.”

“Excellent.” Jungkook gripped my shoulders and turned me around.

“I’m in the mood for some honeyed words.” I said quietly.

“Jeon Aerin. My angel. Mine and Mine forever.” He said softly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six months later :

Jungkook pressed kisses down my back and I grinned into the sheets, watching the springtime sun spill into our room, soaking the sheets in warmth . I stretched as he gently turned me over, feather light kisses on my belly, now slightly curved . He pressed his ears to the taut skin, listening.

“What is that, pup? Oh…yes.. yes yes… You’re right . Absolutely right.” He pulled away and climbed top of me, gently parting my thighs before slotiing himself in between. I sighed as he pressed against me, gently pushing in till he was buried to the hilt inside me.

“God, that feels good…” I whispered and Jungkook hummed, pressing a kiss to my ear before biting the lobe between his teeth.

“Know what our pup just told me , wife? “ He whispered and I looked at him, curious.

“What?”

“Well, he told me that I should remind you that you were so sure you would never fall in love with me.”

I shrugged.

“I’m sure you were once, pretty sure that you would never get washed over the waterfall.”

Jungkook laughed.

“Touché. So we both admit we’re wrong ?”

“The perfect marriage.”

Jungkook kissed me nose before beginning to move gently inside me again and I closed my eyes in bliss.

Someone to hold during cold winter nights.

Someone to kiss in the rain.

Someone to love in the springtime sun…

Someone like Jeon Jungkook, the perfect alpha.

AUTHOR'S NOTE : I LOVE ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR 8K.

[well-its-not-human-anymore]

Okokok here this: april, reader and casey try to prank the boys. How does it go. With who does it fails/success, what was the prank, do they get caught? Do the boys get revenge, and if so, how?

Also, splinter sees it all unfolds, does he just gets himself a snack and watch, or does he tries to subtly join in without getting caught? (We all know hes got a playful side cmon)

Bonus: they try to prank vern too, maybe the boys join in to prank him? What do they do? Does he retaliate?

Okay so I admit I let my brain go nuts on this one, so it's a little long but I was cackling the entire time I was writing it.

TMNT Headcanons

Prank Wars

Leonardo

In your complete and utter defence, Leo had 100% started this

And also in your defence, you did tell him not to

Twice

But he tricked you into watching a horror movie and ended up dying your hair green

This meant war

You'd even wrapped up April and Casey into it

Their problems were your problems

Which meant that April was the one who convinced Splinter not to say anything to his sons

He was perfectly happy to oblige

Casey was just there to help set things up

And you liked the way his mind worked

The objective wasn't to go unnoticed, there would be no point in doing it and having no proof

You were doing this to prove that you could

Leo had emphasized that he couldn't be distracted

That you were to obvious and clumsy to prank him without him noticing

Challenge fucking accepted

And that's how you ended up at the kitchen table eating lunch with April and Casey when the boys were coming back from meditating with Splinter

April kept having to shove food in her mouth to hide her laughter

Casey just decided to wear sunglasses

And you kept overpowering the urge to smirk

"Hey guys, good to see you. Y/n have you seen my katanas?"

With the obstruction of water in your mouth you just nodded at him, pointing to the other room

He sauntered off, none the wiser to your victorious grin

When he came back in only a moment later his expression had done a complete 180

Leo made direct eye contact with you and you held that stare like a wolf cornered in its den

"does someone want to explain why my katanas are encased in blueberry jello?"

You raised your hand like a child in class

"hate to break it to you, but it's actually berry blue you uncultured bitch"

Raphael

Ohhhh you were so undeniably dead

A whole other level of six feet under

It wasn't a surprise that April and Casey had backed out on this one

It also wasn't a surprise that Splinter had offered to stand up for you if things went sideways

Donnie even gave you a sheet of paper with a list of hiding spots before hand

All of this went completely unnoticed by Raph, the target of your latest scheme.

And that was fine, you had only one objective here-

Make it out alive

But it was amazing what 1 person could do with some extra cash and internet access

So that's what led you to your current position.

Cross legged on the bench, watching the large red terrapin get ready for his first set, that in itself wasn't unusual, you always watched him lift just in case you needed to run and grab someone if something went wrong

Raph was none the wiser to your plan

At least that's what you thought

Your book was in your lap and you were calmly scanning your pages, somewhat comprehending the words but keeping a very close eye on the turtle across from you

"Hey y/n?"

You peeked over the edge of your book to meet his eyes

And your heart sank to your stomach

"Yeah Raph?"

He smirked at you, taking a lumbering step forward

"You ever seen that episode of the Office where Jim fills Dwight's phone with nickels so when he takes 'em out Dwight punches himself in the face?"

Shit shit shit shit shit shit-

"Uh... No, can't say that I have, why do you ask?"

That damn smile got even wider and all of your muscles tensed, you were ready to bolt

"I'm giving you a fifteen second headstart. Starting right now."

You flew to your feet and sprinted out of the weight room

"DONNIE WE GOTTA CODE RED!"

Your lungs were ready to burst by the time you made it to your decided hiding spot. Heavy footsteps went right underneath you and you held your breath, you wouldn't dare move.

You didn't come down until hours later when Splinter came and coaxed to you out of hiding

But deep down you knew you'd started something you couldn't finish.

Vern Fenwick

You didn't even have to convince the guys to partake in this

You didn't even get the chance to tell them what you were planning

They were already brainstorming

None of you let a word of it slip to April, she would've shut you down faster than you could blink

A complete buzz kill

But fake blood was relatively cheap and all of Vern's flooring was tile (meaning extremely easy to clean and bleach)

Donnie had really been the mastermind behind the execution, none of you had any idea how he'd rigged the apartment plumbing

But he'd assured you it would only affect Vern's suite and no one else's so you didn't concern yourself with it further

And after the fact you had to wonder what exactly the former cameraman was planning on the date he'd been in the middle of

All you knew was that you got a very frantic call from the falcon himself yelling about blood coming out of his tap and the sink wouldn't shut off and it was everywhere and what the fuck was happening?

You all knew that Splinter thought it was hilarious, he'd never been particularly fond of Vern

But he did make his sons assist in the clean up and bleaching of the victims apartment floor

You went too and offered moral support

Vern had hit on you one too many times, so there was no way you'd feel bad about this

Michaelangelo

As far as pranking went, you and Mikey were partners in crime

He always had great ideas and you always came up with the best ways to execute those ideas without getting caught

But when you separated those two chaos was guaranteed

You weren't entirely sure how you had been pitted against each other but you weren't entirely mad about it

You couldn't say the same for anyone else though, the others had been on edge all week.

Pranking Mikey was a challenge, he knew how you worked and vice versa

You'd been brainstorming with April for weeks now, maybe a new perspective would help

That's what the two of you told yourselves anyways

Much to your dismay, Mikey and Casey had been plotting against you as well, the traitor.

And perhaps even more unfortunate was the fact that both of your pranks somehow overlapped and backfired on the rest of the family

Because Mikey and Casey may have replaced the family tea set with a edible sugar replica that looked identical to the original

So that when you were asked to make tea for Splinter and Leo it would dissolve the second you poured the hot tea

But they didn't tell anyone else so Leo was left with an impromptu anxiety attack when he made his own tea before sitting down to meditate and it melted into sugary leaf water

And you and April had planned the 'cutting off your finger in the kitchen' with the knife, fake finger, and fake blood

Which in theory should've worked because Mikey was in the kitchen the most, that was his territory

However once you'd started your plan you couldn't stop it

so when you 'cut your finger off' and screamed for Mikey you didn't have time to yell "wait it's a prank!" before Donnie caught a glimpse of the scene and fainted

In your defence you didn't know the purple turtle could move that fast

And to Mikey's relief he was going to throw that cutting board out anyways

Splinter explicitly banned the two of you from pranking each other after that incident

Donatello

Per your own common sense you had come to the conclusion that pranking the families resident genius was a horribly stupid idea

So for once, you'd practiced some self control and refrained from any pranks involving Donnie

Now that's not to say that the turtle vowed from aiming any pranks towards you

He had morals but messing with you walked the line separating adorable from batshit crazy

And he was all for it

April advised against it severely and even Splinter seemed to think it wasn't the best idea, but that was a lesson his son had to learn on his own

On the flip side, the second Casey heard about Donnie's plan he was all for it

So when you came over for dinner they both had to hide their excited smiles as Casey passed you your spaghetti

He knew it was your favorite

Everyone else was oblivious, which looking back on it was a very bad thing

April had her suspicions that Donnie was pulling something this evening, but she couldn't put her finger on it

That wasn't until you swirled a mouthful of noodles around your fork and shoved it into your mouth, you were starving

Here lies your predicament-

You swallowed thickly and blinked like you were in pain, your hand went to your throat and you reached for your water, ending up chugging almost the entire bottle.

Your eyes met Donnie's in a serious type of concern

"Is there hot sauce in this?"

April choked on her breadstick and quickly covered her mouth

Casey hadn't picked up on it yet

"Awh yeah- how'd you figure it out so quickly?"

You erupted in a coughing fit that sent April rushing to your side before you could tumble to the floor

"You fucking assholes! Y/N has a capsaicin allergy! Casey go start the car we need to get them to the hospital!"

On the bright side you were fine after you were rushed to the ER

But you didn't speak to Donnie or Casey for two weeks following the accident

You eventually forgave them for it and they haven't targeted you since

Sorry if it got a little dark at the end, but I felt like it was more realistic. Also that has actually happened to me but it was a nut allergy (and that's how I found out I was allergic to cashews) But I feel like the ending was a good example of how pranking someone can go horribly wrong, you should always consider the possibilities before doing something that could cause harm to a person. (Unless they really really deserve it)

I really enjoyed writing this one and I hope you guys like it as much as I do! 😁🧡👍

-Mars 🌠

[shades-of-stony]

Post CA:CW Fix It Stony Fanfics

Making Amends by TheseStoriesAreWrittenOnMyHeart

Summary: Everything about them happened in seconds. Their first meeting was quick, with Tony landing next to the Captain, each man giving a curt nod and name in greeting. Their argument on the hellicarrier took mere seconds to escalate. Until Steve was goading Tony into putting on the suit and going a few rounds and Tony not so subtly reminding Steve that he wasn’t afraid to hit an old man. It was only seconds of staring at Tony on that New York City Street, his arc reactor dark, no rise and fall of his chest, for Steve to know that inside the tin can, was a good man. Then Ultron happened, and it took seconds for their world to change, seconds for Steve to throw his shield at Tony and for the billionaire to send a repulsor blast back. They went from laughing and relaxing to standing on an edge thousands of feet above solid ground. And now…now everything’s changed. And all it took was a combination of seconds; of decisions made, actions performed and words spoken that they couldn’t get back. Just a few ticks of the clock for their world to shatter.

It’ll take more than that to make things right.

Note: This one deals with amending the accords. It is about how the avengers pick up after the civil war and how they learn to be friends again. It is an incredibly detailed and well written piece! Also, NO TEAM CAP OR TEAM IRON MAN BASHING. I was only supposed to re-read a few chapters to recall the story and give a few-word review but I ended up re-reading the whole goddamn thing. It’s a masterpiece. 

maybe love is the reason why (we're seeing it eye to eye) by parkrstark

Summary: "I'm sorry. Repeat that again." Tony leaned forward in his seat from across the table. He even stuck a finger in his ear as if he was cleaning it out. "I don't think I heard you right."

Fury rolled his eyes-- or well, eye. "You and Rogers need to go undercover as a married couple in a community out on Long Island."

--

After Civil War, Tony and Steve are sent on an undercover mission as a couple to try and find Hydra informants. Somehow, they end up with Peter as their undercover son who decides to play matchmaker even if the two of them are doing their best to ignore their feelings after Siberia.

Note: My latest Fix It read! It just completed today. This fic is a phenomenal read, with its fake relationship, superfamily, undercover, and sexual tension elements! A definite 1000/10!

and this is the map of my heart by CydSA

Summary: The Avengers are splintered - spread out across the world.

There are many things to regret. The biggest one is what could have been.

Tony refuses to have any more regrets. Steve realizes that perhaps he made the wrong choice.

It starts from here....

Note: Here is some sweet, sweet, Civil War Fix It. It dwells deep into the Accords, how Tony fixes it, and the downfall of Ross. 

floating point exception by ooka

There is something, he knows, to see a man as mortal. To see his fault lines and jagged edges instead of the smooth surface they present. Most people don’t like the illusion, whether it be good or not. They don’t want people like him to be human.

But that’s what he is, under the suit and the smile and the sunglasses. Under the bravo and the quick grins. He’s just a man, trying to hide his broken pieces, the dents in his heart, the washed out color of his soul. He’s just a man, trying to solve problems and make the world better. That’s why he’s Ironman, just a man in a suit. Nothing extra.

The place where the arc reactor used to rest in his chest aches so fiercely for a moment that Tony can’t breathe.

He takes in a few breaths and does what Tony does best - pushes it down and goes to work.

(Tony, after the Civil War. Post CA:CW)

Note: A 150k+ fanfic that is centered on Tony, his issues, and his struggles. PREPARE TO CRY.

Not Enough Scotch for this Matchmaking Scheme by desolateice:

Summary:  After Civil War and a lot of healing the Avengers are fed up with the stubborn silence between Steve and Tony and try to take things in their own hands.

Note: A Fix It where the ‘kids’ play matchmaker to bring their fighting ‘parents’ back together! 

Never Eye To Eye by vorkosigan for mrsgingles

Summary: After the Civli War, the Avengers were back together.

How is everything going, Tony? Pepper had asked in her email. It's fine (Tony had written back). I'm fighting with Steve all the time. Everything is going to hell. I'm okay (you know I'm always okay).

(Or: How Tony and Steve learned to be a bit gentler with each other)

Note: A 26k+ fic where Steve and Tony learned how to be friends again, and more. It deals with the struggles and frustrations they had just to salvage their friendship.  

Fly One More Time (Alternately Titled--The Phoenix) by RavenLost2187

Summary: Steve couldn't see them before.

But then he woke up and there they were.

There's a small problem though.

One of his teammates doesn't have wings like he should.

And that's Tony Stark

Note: Some winged fics anyone? This has a bit of a Team as Family element and not to mention that glorious Civil War fix it theme! 

What it’s worth by masterlokisev159

Summary:  Tony's scent is off. Wanda realizes why.

Note: Here is a Hurt and Comfort fic for you with a dash ABO elements in it! 

Sunrise Over the End of the World by Sapphic_Futurist

Summary: When Dr. Strange arrives at an Accords Committee Meeting and warns of the coming of an alien megalomaniac set on destroying the world, the Rogues are pardoned and Tony finds himself exactly where he never wanted to be. Back at the Compound with Steve, who still can't take a hint and won't leave him alone.

--

In which Tony is broken and Steve finds redemption.

Note: A Bad case of Tony acting like nothing happened and doing his goddamn best to avoid Steve. It’ll work all out in the end. Well, it will get worst first before that though.. 

We stand together (or not at all) by Jana_C

Summary:  It’s so easy to hate this man, so painfully easy. He’s the embodiment of rich, white male privilege. He’s irritatingly arrogant, and he doesn’t always think before acting, and even when he does, he manages to twist his logic around and shape it into something that will always benefit him, and yet, here he is, building the guy who killed his parents an arm, without having been asked; working his way through diplomacy and politics, even though he hates it with every fiber of his being, just so he can correct the mistakes all of them made. She watches him go and sighs, small and tired, before texting a single line to Steve. Get ready to come home.

Note: Anyone up for some Tony Whump and Appreciation fanfic? 

You Don’t Only Get One Shot by janonny

Summary: In which Tony voluntarily carries a tracker around, and learns how to talk to Steve all over again in-between and during kidnapping attempts.

“Leave you alone for two months, and you have an operation all set up to track wayward Hydra cells and rescue innocent billionaires,” Tony said, his tone skating the line of annoyance and admiration.

Note: a dose of Stalkerish!Steve (but not in an entirely creepy way because he just wants to keep Tony safe dammit). 

You've Got A Sister Now by ZaraMelMercury

Summary: It's been a year since the events of the Avengers' Civil War. Tony Stark is trying to pick up the pieces of his life, while juggling his work, his remaining friendships, getting therapy sessions for Rhodey and dealing with government politics, as well as the Accords.

It is a bit rough, but he's got Pepper (always a steady rock by his side), Rhodey, Happy and the Kid- Peter Parker. Tony would never admit to it up front and center, but you could always catch a proud look on the man's face whenever the young Spiderling was mentioned!

Life seemed to be looking up...

Except for one, minor detail:

Steve Rogers.

The hope for one reconciliation, surprisingly, led to another!

A new bond that would form that Tony would ultimately always be thankful for.

"Oh, I wanna take it back!... " "No, no, no, you can't retract it!"

Who would've thought it?

Tony Stark has a sister looking out for him, after all.

Note: Here are some Tony and Nat friendship for you! This one isn’t exactly a solid fix it but one with a more of hopeful ending. 

The Bro Code by Sullen

Summary: In a world where the Winter Soldier is found years earlier and is named Tony’s godfather, Zemo plays a different R-rated video and Siberia goes a little differently.Or –Steve breaks the bro code.

Note: This is just too cute and wholesome not to include. 

WIP

Used to be Mine by Fangirlingmanaged

Tony can't even recognize himself nowadays.

Note: This one certainly deserves a place at the heavy angst category because that’s what it is. HEAVY ANGST AND HEARTBREAK.