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Chapter Text

“Got your nose!”

Much to Raph’s irritation, another startled squeal followed the proclamation.

"So what are we supposed to do with him until this wears off and he's big again?" Raph demanded as he side-eyed the small form in Leo's arms.

Donnie examined Mikey’s palm with a scrunched face that revealed his confusion, fruitlessly trying to discover where the assumably stolen piece of his beak had gone.

For the first time in possibly years, Raph’s snide remark was met with utter silence. He turned his attention to their motionless statue of a fearless leader

The previous youngest brother pulled his hand away and made a show of pulling something out of his belt, abruptly booping the tiny olive green face. Both tiny arms jerked out in shock and Leo seemed to flinch with the sudden movement, his hold on the small form tightening.

Donnie threw both hands over his face and, upon finding the smooth bump of his beak, burst into giggles. Mikey was absolutely beaming and Raph only rolled his eyes.

He carefully knocked his fists into the shoulder of the brother who had yet to take his eyes off their current baby-brother. "Hello? Earth to sensei? Hello?"

Leo blinked twice as though dimly aware he was being spoken to. "Huh?"

Raph squinted at him. "You good?"

Leo’s gaze shifted back down to the turt in his arms and Donnie cocked his head, as though equally concerned about Leo's sudden brain death. "Yeah... Yeah, I'm- he's so small!"

Mikey and Raph exchanged an uncertain look.

Mikey spoke slowly and deliberately. "Yeah, dude. Babies are small."

Raph was tempted to backhand him for talking to the leader like he was the infant in the situation, but with how spacey and weird Leo was acting, he decided to let it slide.

"Yeah, I mean, I know, but..." Donnie squirmed in his cradled hold and Leo hurried to adjust him into a new position. "I mean, look at him."

Finally satisfied with this new placement with his head tucked against Leo's chest, Donnie yawned softly, revealing a familiar gap in a smaller mouth. Two fingers slipped in as a makeshift pacifier and he snuggled against the firm plastron, a soft churr filling the air.

All hearts in the room melted, though one of the hearts would never admit anything of the sort.

As if he'd been speaking all that time, Leo turned back towards them with a hesitant expression as he seemed to finish. "....You know?"

"Yeah." Mikey whispered as he patted Donnie's plastron. One of Donnie’s hands reached out to pat his wrist right back. Freckled face brightened again. "But Splinter took care of all of us. We can watch lil’ D until he gets big again. We got this."

To break the tension that followed their father’s name, he smirked over at the resident hothead. "Imagine if it had been Raph."

If Raph heard him, he didn't offer a reply, his absent gaze locked on the tiny form of their genius brother, as though abruptly processing Leo's point. There was a soft worry visible in the normally closed-off gaze, but no one acknowledged it.

Mikey pulled his hand back and Leo began rocking the seemingly fragile form in his arms when another yawn broke through.

Gentle eyes free from the horrors and struggles that they'd all experienced over the years, Donnie was more than happy to allow them to close, drifting off to subconscious safety of the surrounding turtles.

“Leo.”

The leader glanced up.

Raph met his gaze evenly, taking on Mikey’s deliberate tone. “We don’t know how to take care of a baby.”

Leo frowned as if catching on to what they’d been doing. Then he considered the statement. He glanced between them. “April?”

His younger brothers exchanged looks and then nodded in unison. “April.”

Chapter Text

"Aw, he's adorable!" April cooed as she approached the leader, reaching out in an unmistakable gesture. "You don't mind if I-"

"-Aaauuuhhh, noo, nooo, that's- no." In a frantic motion, Leo took a step back and protectively cradled the turt closer to his chest, rapidly shaking his head in firm denial.

Leo glanced down to make sure he wasn’t upset by the pitch in tone, but Donnie was oblivious to what was going on around him as he tired to cram the block Mikey had given him into his mouth, lacking any interest in anything other then his task. Feeding him was definitely something they needed to do sooner than later.

He moved to join his brothers in the kitchen but April moved in his way, frowning with disappointment. "How come?"

Leo felt as every nerve went on edge as he fumbled with a response, “You-You’ve never held a baby.”

"For your information, I have." April argued in obvious offense. "Besides, you've probably never held a baby before now. I'm sure I can manage."

April moved forward as if to forcefully take the young turtle from his arms. Everything in his instinct screamed not to let her touch and Leo warned her off, not realizing that he’d used a guttural hiss instead of words until she’d stepped back in surprise.

They both froze and then Leo cleared his throat, mentally switching back to human tongue. “That- I mean, I- I said no.”

"Right, right, sorry." The redhead threw up both arms as if in surrender.

Leo warily took his eyes off April to glance at Donnie when he whimpered softly, the young turt glancing between them uncertainly, clearly spooked by the hiss.

Cooing to him softly to calm him down, Leo began to walk out of the main room and back to his bedroom, leaving a startled April awkwardly standing next to the couch.

She was still there when Raph and Mikey came back with small bowls of the mushed foods that she had brought, confused about where the eldest was.

Chapter Text

Despite the crazy evening that he'd gone through, Leo was finding it impossible to relax enough to even consider falling asleep.

There was a peace in the air around him. Something that weirdly brought to mind the Christmas carols of plums and sleeping mice. At least, he thought it was a Christmas carol. Maybe it was a story? Maybe it was both?

A soft groan breaks the air. Why was he considering this?

He just wanted to go to sleep.

Even Mikey had been exhausted enough to turn in and pass out without complaint. And yet, Leo remained tense as if he was subconsciously waiting for something else to go wrong.

He kept reminding himself that everyone, including the lair's current three-year-old troublemaker, was fast asleep.

If he was smart, he'd be joining them in preparation of the long evening ahead.

Unfortunately, his body didn't seem to get the memo.

After what felt like hours, he finally began centering himself into a trance, pushing his thoughts and emotions to the side to attempt gathering some inner peace. Even a little bit would be incredibly useful right then.

"Leo?"

The leader in blue was yanked out of his meditation and into reality, his ninja instincts snapping into full gear. He narrowed his gaze on the small green form at the threshold to his room and his frame relaxed. He left his tone low as an invitation to enter. "Hey, Donnie. I thought you were asleep."

Leo suddenly wondered if Donnie's late-night habits spread to him as a child and he inwardly groaned, his expression passive as Donnie crept further into the room. "I-I was but..."

His voice faltered and his curious older brother untangled from his lotus position to slide of the bed and move to his side. "But?"

"It's dark." Donnie's timid voice was hardly higher then a whisper, but Leo could hear the shame buried in it. He titled his head thoughtfully as hopeful brown eyes peered up at him. "Can I stay wiff you?"

"Oh, well, uh..." Leo was hoping babysitting duties would have ended with the dawn and Donnie wrung his hands. "Please! I won't be a boffer! You won't even know I'm here!"

A convincing, albeit selfish part of him was tired and just wanted to send Donnie back to bed, but he knew he didn't have any hope of saying no to the puppy-eyed stare of his practically begging brother. He glanced to the door and then a deep sigh escaped before he offered a small smile. "Sure. Why not?"

Donnie lit up in obvious relief and dashed around him to pull himself onto the bed, allowing the leader to scoot him a bit towards the wall. The last thing Leo wanted was to accidentally knock the smaller turtle off the side of the bed during the day.

He was slightly amused to note that Donnie was now pushing himself as close to the wall as he could, his body lying unnaturally flat with arms tucked uncomfortably at his sides as Leo pulled the blanket over him, apparently determined to keep his promise of not being a bother.

Leo shifted a bit to give him room and then went back into the lotus position, taking a settling breath to calm his mind and quiet his thoughts.

Despite all the concentration he put in the task, the subtle movements from his younger brother always stirred him just as he began detaching.

Wondering if Splinter ever managed to meditate when they were that young, he opened an eye warily and glanced disapprovingly over at Donnie when fabric was draped over his knee.

Both eyes opened when he saw that Donnie was copying his position, having kicked off the blanket and placed himself with his shell to the wall. His posture was sloppy and brow was furrowed with too much concentration to actually be accomplishing anything, so Leo tapped his arm curiously.

Donnie blinked both eyes open and lowered his hands as if surprised. "Are we done?"

Leo raised an eye ridge. "I thought you were sleeping."

"Me too." Donnie admitted with a shrug, "But then I couldn't and I was looking at you and you seemed peas-ful so I was gonna sleep like you."

He couldn't help the genuine smile that tugged at his lips. "Donnie, there's a big difference between sleeping and meditating."

"Yeah." His younger brother nodded wisely. "One you sleep sitting, and one you sleep laying down. I know that."

"Is that so?"

Convinced he wouldn't be meditating that night, Leo laid back on the pillow with arms locked behind his head, his younger brother leaving the lotus position to crawl over to the pillow. "Sure. I'm intell-gent, so I know fings."

"You sure are." Leo turned over on his side and grabbed the blanket to tuck it back around Donnie, but his younger brother crawled closer to him before he could, his head half-hidden in Leo's plastron as he peeked at him hopefully.

Leo let out an elongated sigh. "What happened to not being a bother?"

Donnie's face fell as he scooted back, expression suddenly forlorn and ashamed as he whimpered. "I'm sorry."

Guilt flooding his chest, Leo sat up to wrap an arm around the small carapace and pull the turt to him, hugging him to his chest as he soothed, "No, no, it's okay. I was only joking. You're not a bother."

Donnie nuzzled into his hold. "Promise?"

"I promise." Leo felt Donnie relax and felt himself involuntarily doing the same, his younger brother leaning against him and yawning softly before he mumbled. "I don't like being a boffer."

"You're never a bother." Leo reassured gently, watching with some amazement at how easily turt Donnie was able to drift to sleep compared to the teen.

Then again, maybe he was always able to sleep easily. This would explain why he downed unhealthy amounts of coffee.

"Mmmmm." Donnie murmured drowsily. "What 'bout when I use big words?"

"Still not a bother." Leo reassured with slight amusement, watching as his eyes flickered open and shut in a fight against sleep. "When I blow someffin' up?"

"Concerning, but not a bother."

"Not... Not evin when I need ex'ra help wiff katas?"

"No, not even then." He chuckled, carefully adjusting him into a more secure cradled grip, laying him back on the bed. "Now enough with the interrogation already. Go to sleep so you don't be a grumpy shell tomorrow."

"Not grumpy shell." Donnie argued defiantly, snuggling into the blanket as Leo draped it over them. "Nuh-uh. Not. Noooo..."

Leo affectionally shushed him and he obediently quieted, lost not five minutes later to the grip of sleep.

It wasn't long until Leo felt himself following his example, sapphire eyes studying the gentle smile on his little brother's features until they closed, his last conscious thought of how relieved he was that he hadn't sent Donnie back to his room.

Chapter Text

“This certainly could have gone better.”

Leo gave his younger brother the best glower he could muster without giving into the urge to begin a lecture, and his younger brother responded with a nervous giggle, something usually reserved for when he embarrassed himself in front of April.

“And what exactly is so funny?” Bebop demanded with a scowl, putting a boot on Donnie’s carapace and forcing him to bend forward in an awkward position.

Donnie didn’t miss a beat, the sheepish smile shifting into a wry smirk. “The fact your disappearing act’s been canceled for a good long while?”

Bebop made an offended sounding noise and lifted a hand to his head as if planning to launch a mohawk-beam directly at his younger brother. For the first time in his life, Leo was grateful when Tiger Claw made himself known.

“Don’t even think about it, swine.”

“Come on!” Bebop whined as he lowered his hand. “He broke with my beautiful suit! And I don’t even know what he did!”

Donnie shot Leo a smug grin; the leader couldn’t help but return it. He hadn’t been listening when the weird device was described over an hour ago. He’d simply known that it would hinder Bebop from getting in their way, and that was all that mattered.

Even so, his younger brother’s victory was definitely deserved.

“I wazzz promizzzed the nerd.” Stockman huffed as he landed at Tiger Claw’s side.

“And Shredder was promised the rat.” Was the frustrated growl.

“And he will have him! You need more faith in the talentzz of my geniuzz.”

“And you need more results before I rid myself of your insolence.”

Tuning out the usual villainous bickering, Leo’s attention turned towards the nearest exit. The lower floor was posted with guards, but if they could somehow get free and higher up, then escape could be an option. He should have known that false reports could have been planted to lure his team into a trap, but the opportunity to nab some scarce supplies from Stockman was too good to pass up- according to the lair’s resident brainiac.

Leo would reconsider his own stance on the matter once he’d gotten them out.

“Can’t we- can’t we talk about this?”

Donnie’s voice was shrill and pulled Leo back into the present, the plan that he’d been piecing together completely forgotten when he saw the serum in Stockman’s grip. Donnie had been forced to his feet, tied arms held still by the smirking hog.

Leo would never have imaged that a fly could appear malicious. “Who’z the geniuzz now?”

In the time it took to process the danger and both their fear, Stockman jabbed the needle into Donnie’s arm. Leo jerked in surprise at the movement, his reaction earning his skull an abrupt meeting with the ground.

His vision blurred and his ears rung, but he could hear the agonized shriek clearly.

Leo’s heart pounded as he squeezed his eyes shut, mind whirling and screaming denials that he fought in vain to prove wrong.

There was a thud and murmurs of surprise before the grip holding him against the ground lessened. He forced himself upright, ignoring the dizzy spell that came with gathering his bearings, and desperately turned to where he had last seen his little brother.

Mask and gear laid ominously on the ground, surrounding the tiny humanoid form of a shivering, olive-green turtle. A soft chirping sounded from where he laid, curled into a ball and not even a fourth of the size he was before.

The Foot seemed just as confused and flabbergasted as the leader in blue. The only contrast was the anger compared to his fear. Tiger Claw spun towards Baxter. "What is this!?"

Baxter grabbed Donnie's arm, holding him at arms length like an old toy, giving them a better view of the trembling body with eyes tightly shut. This knocked Leo from his stunned stupor, a ugly heat building up in his chest when Baxter poked his shell like he was an old, ratted stuffed animal.

"It lookzz like he de-aged." Stockman mused. "Very interezzting."

"Put him down!" The command burst out of it’s own accord and he tried to break free, his furious struggle taking the combined forces of Rocksteady and Bebop to contain.

Baxter gave him an unimpressed look, dropping Donnie back to the floor. A sharp hiss and then Donnie went silent, curled in on himself once more. "Happy?"

Leo gritted his teeth and Tiger Claw crossed his arms, voice dark. "This was supposed to get rid of him."

Stockman glared defiantly in return. “Don’t act like thizzz my fault."

"You're the one who said to use the Kraang serum!"

Stockman buzzed furiously before snapping, "How wazz I zzzuppozzed to know it would be defective?”

“You stole it!”

“Liberated!”

“I will liberate you from that disgusting form if you don’t fix this.”

Stockman grumbled under his breath and Tiger Claw glared down at him for a long moment. Then his attention shifted to Donnie before trailing over to Leo. His confidence seemed to flourish once more. “The plan will still work. We keep the turtle; the other passes the message.”

He locked glares with the straining leader. “Splinter comes for his student or he dies.”

"I'm going to zzzee what I can learn from thizz experiment.” Stockman reached for the trembling bundle on the floor. “Failed or not, it could-"

The inferno in Leo blew.

Adrenaline his leading strength, he yanked both arms to himself and the mutants above him knocked skulls, allowing him to get free and dash forward. He grabbed Stockman's arm and twisted it, chucking the fly to the side after he cried out, straight at the mutant tiger removing his weapon.

Current dangers momentarily disposed of, Leo scrambled to Donnie's side and picked up the ball of turtle, only for the distressed chirps to pick up again.

He gently moved him into a cradled hold, safely in one arm against his chest, and then took off running, keeping his voice low. "Shhh, shhh, little brother. It's Leo. It's just Leo. I'm not gonna let them touch you. I've got you."

He managed to make it to the second floor before the villains caught up with him and he chucked throwing stars when Rocksteady got too close. Bebop was completely visible and Leo had to silently thank Donnie for that.

TigerClaw appeared on his other side, laser gun raised, as Stockman took the air. In the split second of panic, he stumbled back, and TigerClaw leapt for the controls, a transparent wall dropped between them, effectively trapping him.

He continued putting space between them, his other arm safely tucked around his chirping brother and bringing him closer to his chest.

TigerClaw stepped up to the wall calmly. "That was a foolhardy attempt. If you hadn't been so brash, you might have gotten the drop on us. A real leader would know that."

TigerClaw's words washed over him as Leo's carapace touched the wall. Out of room, he lowered himself into a crouched position, scanning the surrounding enclosure for any other entrances, making sure there was no way for one of the mutants to get the drop on them.

A soft whine broke the air, the new distressed sound drawing Leo's attention to his little brother. A tear-streaked face looked up at him, brown eyes glazed with fear and pain- oh, gosh, he was in pain- and Leo raised a hand to brush a finger over the wet cheek.

His voice remained low, purposely facing away from their captors. "Hey, Dee. Hey, little brother. It's Leo. Remember?"

Another whine, desperate and sharp, and Leo hugged him against his chest, carefully cupping the back of his head. He felt the rumble in his chest, but it was an afterthought to the reassurance he tried to convey. “I know, Dee. I know it hurts, and you're scared, but I won't let them hurt you anymore."

He raises his head to glare over at the watching mutants, promising dark reprecusions to anyone who even thought about laying hands on his brother. The next shaky whine tugged at his heart and he pulled him back, finding drying tears and pained eyes.

The fear was gone as a tiny hand reached up, and Leo raised him up a bit, the hand landing on his cheek. He chirped softly at the contact and Leo couldn't help the smile. "I've got you, Donnie."

His answer was a soft chur, the tot's plastron vibrating against his fingers.

"Aw. How sweet." It's a mocking comeback from outside their cell that halts Donnie's answering churrs immediately.

Leo lowers the little turtle and resumes his dark glare. The other mutants have left for one reason or another, but TigerClaw meets his glare evenly. With a scowl, Leo turns his attention to their surroundings. This enclosure was filled with rocks, and he got back to his feet. He moved over to one that was curved in the back and had a hanging overhead, settling Donnie within.

Donnie leaned forward, hands between his legs, eyes wide and anxious. Leo cupped the side of his face, his entire head fitting against his palm. "I'll be right back."

Donnie sniffled and Leo backed up. He placed his hands against one of the rocks, possibly big enough to be a bolder, and pushed it. He couldn't tell if it was real or not by the touch, but it wasn't too heavy, and slowly, he was able to create a makeshift cave.

It wouldn’t do much good offensively or defensively, but it would provide a bit of privacy.

A soft whine from the cave and Leo took one last glance over this shoulder, finding TigerClaw watching with narrowed eyes.

He narrowed his own back and then ducked into the cave, settling in the corner where he couldn't be seen. Donnie was on all fours, his limbs shaky as he attempted to walk across the cave, and Leo lifted him up to his lap.

Donnie immediately curled against him and Leo placed him back into the cradled hold, watching as he nuzzled into his hold. He let out a long breath, lying the back of his head against the cool rock. They were trapped in Foot hands, they had no idea what happened to their brothers, and Donnie was a baby.

The small tot against him began a soft churring, the warm body safely tucked against his plastron helping his pounding heart calm.

"It's okay. We'll be okay."

Chapter Text

“We don’t have much time!”

“So get out of here!”

“I’m not leaving you!”

“I don’t see why the heck not!”

Leo’s blade made a clean slice through the neck of the Footbot, knocking it back to take down a few others before catching the one directly behind him. “This absolutely is not the time, Red! You said you wanted out!”

His fellow turtle barreled through footbots as if they weren’t even there, stabbing and punching and ripping off skulls with a ferocity that Leo would need to teach him to master. “We can’t talk about this here!”

“Too bad!” Leo finished with his bots, scanning that the room was clear before he let down his guard enough to glare at the stubborn mutant. “If we’re doing this, it’s got to be now!”

“I can’t!” Red stomped over to him and Leo crumbled the red bandanna between three fingers, not caring if he destroyed the implantment that he’d been specifically asked to bring home intact. He held it up accusingly. “You told me this was what was holding you back! Were you lying?”

“Would it surprise you if I was?!”

“I thought I could trust you!”

“-Leo! Lee! You gotta go!”

Donnie’s voice was high in pitch and he heard rapid-fire typing, possibly indicating that the lower battle was getting the better of the droid fighters. He pressed the side of his earpiece, shutting his younger brother out and taking a calming breath.

He narrowed his gaze on the turtle across from him. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“Well, I’m not leaving!”

“Then give me a reason.”

“Why can’t you just get out of here!?”

“Because I won’t leave you!”

“You have too!”

“Why?!”

“They’ll kill him!”

Leo gave pause, spotting the fear residing behind the burning anger. “Who?”

Red swallowed hard, seemingly fighting with himself. “He… He’s across town. We’re not allowed to stay together. They’ll kill him the minute they find out that I’ve left the Foot.”

Leo pressed the side of his earpiece. “Donnie?”

“Don’t do that!” His younger brother sounded on the verge of tears and he immediately felt guilty. “You know I can’t see in there! You’re so far away- I can’t feel you and you guys haven’t gone out yet- why aren’t you out yet-“

“Hey. Breathe.” Leo coached gently.

He heard a wet intact of air and muttered, “They have a hostage. They’ll hurt him if Red leaves.”

Muffled movement and a distant hiccup before his younger brother seemed to collect himself, a surge of pride making Leo quirk a smile as Donnie questioned, “S-so what does tha-t mean? What- What can we do?”

Leo turned back to the turtle sporting similar body build to his own. “Does he have a similar shocker?”

“Wrist band.” Red said hesitantly. “But yeah.”

“Donnie, what about that second dot?” Leo checked the doorway, partly surprised that they hadn’t been overrun with calvary yet. “The one that was too far out to be the power source? Could that be him?”

“Maybe.” More clicking and then his younger brother took a shaky breath, “Yeah. I think so. If they wanted to keep them apart, tracking the distance between the dots on the same frequency would be easiest.” Leo heard a soft sniffle and made a note to give him a solid hug when he returned. “….He’s pretty far away though.”

“We’re headed there.” Leo informed him as he turned to the stunned Red. He couldn’t help the smirk, “What? I told you I was getting you out. So let’s get you out.”

For appearances sake, Red chased a bleeding Leo from the building with bellowed promises of a painful, torturous death. The moment that they reached the rooftops, the hotheaded turtle of sixteen set about carefully wrapping the wound, muttering about how stupid Leo was as he did so.

They made it across town without running into any Foot and Donnie assured them that the dot hadn’t moved an inch since they began their trek. Their ruse had worked, and breaking into the Foot base was simple enough, since they were unaware they were about to have two unwanted guests.

Leo followed Red’s lead, and they made it too a metallic door, one that Leo was about to wrench open when the stronger mutant shoved him back.

He sent his rebelling partner a startled look, and Red ignored him. The turtle dawning black knocked a rhythm on the door and held up a hand for Leo to wait, a few beats passing before the door was pulled open.

Two round, blue eyes peeked at them before a small, green body barreled out, squealing and throwing in himself into Red’s arms. The warrior melted instantly and stood the minute the small form was safely in his grasp. He lifted him up, chuckling as he pressed their foreheads together, muttering for the rambling turt to calm down.

Leo peeked into the room and found two Footbots lying on the ground, one missing it’s head and the other stabbed through the chest with a nunchuck blade.

He allowed himself a minute to take in the scene. Once it was processed, he stepped away from the door and turned his attention to the mini version of Red curiously. The only difference was the innocent blue eyes that were a direct contrast to the passionate green.

Another similarity to make note off. He needed to talk to sensei.

Finding the turt clear of gear that could be implanted with trackers, Leo turned away from them, putting a hand to his earpiece. Keeping his voice low and multitasking scanning the corridors, he muttered, “On our way back with one more, Dee. Possibly another clone. Tell papa.”

A skeptic response. “No more change of plans?”

Leo rolled his eyes good-naturally. “No more change of plans.”

The voice on the other side immediately brightened. “Okay! Be safe!”

“Always, otouto.” He listened until he heard him hang up and then slipped his earpiece off and into his belt. He turned back, and the movement drew the blue eyes to him, the eager form in Red’s arms abruptly going quiet.

Leo smiled, keeping distance between them. “Hey, there. I’m Leo.”

“He’s a friend. A real one.” Red reassured promptly, his words firm but his gaze still hesitant. Leo didn’t take it personally. “Leo, this is my little brother.”

“I’m seven.” Was the shy response.

Leo took note of the age as Red added, “He’s taking us away from the Foot.”

The young one’s eyes lit up again. “Where?”

“Hopefully somewhere that you can call home.” Leo replied easily, not about to give away locations when there could be cameras. “Do I get a name for him, Red? Or should I stick with a color scheme?”

Red shot him a dirty look and the young turtle chirped, “I’m Nēkko! He’s Kaen! Only the mean mutants call him Red.” Small beak scrunched in contemplation. “You’re not a mean mutant, are you?”

Sunshine and Flame. Basic, but strangely fitting.

“I should hope not.” Leo checked over his shoulder. “But we may want to get out of here before the ‘mean mutants’ find us.” Blue eyes rounded as green narrowed. “So, let’s take a look at that wrist band.”

Leo’s mind was whirling as he took his new guests through the sewers, watching as Nēkko chattered about everything and anything from his place on Karen’s shoulders. The hothead’s hands were on the back of his shell to keep him steady, making absent or snide comments in response, his posture more relaxed than Leo ever imagined that the brute could be.

Before he even stepped through the turnstiles, he was greeted with a blur of little brother, green skin striped with rays of pink stopping in front of them, brown eyes glowing for a brief moment as he took in the emotions of his new companions.

Once he came to the conclusion of the lack of ill will, he offered a half bow in greeting, barely managing to keep hold of his constant, vibrant emotions. Leo felt another surge of pride when he straightened again. “You’re back! You did it!”

Leo dropped down to a knee to scoop him the hug. “We did it. Good job, otouto.”

Donnie nestled into the hug and Leo allowed it to last a short while longer before he gently pulled away, turning to face the startled turtles. “Nēkko. Kaen. This is my little brother. Meet Hamato Donatello.”

“You can call me, Donnie!” His younger brother announced proudly, adding another polite half-bow. “I’m seven! Almost eight!”

Kaen set the squirming Nēkko down and the small mutant immediately dashed to Donnie’s side. “Woah! Me too!”

Nēkko circled him and Donnie watched him earnestly. “You’re like me! But not pink!”

“Your stripes are so cool!”

“Thanks!”

“How come you live in the sewers? It’s smells!”

“Not too bad! Hey- you wanna see my inventions?”

“What’s a ‘vention?”

“It’s like things I make! Leo, can I show him?”

Leo nodded his approval and Donnie grabbed Nēkko’s arm, pulling him in the direction of their workroom.

Leo turned to Kaen to find green gaze narrowed in thought. “That’s Donnie? That’s partner-who-made-a-robot-army? Kid who tracked Nēkko? You’re kidding. You have to be pulling my shell.”

“If it helps, I assisted him with the bots.” Leo shrugged in slight amusement. “I think it has to do with being part Kraang. He’s way smarter than anyone in New York, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a kid. Still throws fits over eating peas, and cries when he watches Bambi. You know how it is.”

Kaen frowned. “Kraang? You mean-“

“Yes.” Leo didn’t need to get into that conversation. Not yet. “Just like I told you. Kidnapping. Experimentation. Brainwashing. Creating mutants meant to be weapons. All the fun stuff. I just left a few things out.” He kept careful control of the storm brewing under the surface, meeting his gaze. “We weren’t meant to be the weapons. Our clones were.”

Kaen eyes narrowed as it sunk in. “So why isn’t Nēkko… Pink?”

“I was wondering that myself. You guys weren’t there when we got out. Maybe they never got around to it? I don’t know the whole story. Just putting bits and pieces together as I go.” Leo tilted his head. “I wouldn’t mind if someone helped me connect a few.”

Kaen was quiet and he sighed. “Come on. You should meet my sensei.”

Chapter Text

"No- wait! Aaak, Leo!"

To hear one of his brother's screaming out his name wasn't exactly unusual, but the fact that it wasn't Raph or Mikey had him glancing up from the tv and over his shoulder.

Raph was always mad at him for something, so his shouts were always angry. Mikey's shouts were always frantic, often looking to get out of some kind of trouble.

Donnie was his quiet brother. Hearing him raise his voice was unusual, which is why he didn't give a second thought to getting to his feet and doing a light jog for the storage room. There he found Donnie bundled in a tight ball behind the small table that he used as a desk, hands protectively clutching his head.

The book tossed to the floor told him that Donnie had been trying to read when he was interrupted, the smirking Raphael and Mikey equipped with water balloons adding who had interrupted his free time studying.

A slight frown forming, Leo stopped across from them and stomped his foot, shouting, "Leave him alone!"

Raph and Mikey turned back to him in surprise and Donnie's head shot up, jumping to his feet and diving around the distracted brothers and behind Leo, his taller form ducking to stay hidden behind the eldest. Leo lifted his arm to glance at him and then turned back to the others.

"We're just playing tag the turtle!" Mikey said slyly, tossing a balloon in one hand.

"I don't want to play!" Donnie whined in the tone that said this was definitely not the first time he'd stated the plea.

His older brother could tell that, for whatever reason, he really didn't want to be balloon splattered, so he turned a stern glare to his younger brothers. "You're being mean! Papa says no means no, so leave him alone!"

"We're just playing, Leo!" Raph shot back, "How come you gotta ruin the game?"

"Papa says games have to be fun for everyone!"

"Papa says! Papa says!” Raph mocked. “Think for yourself! You don't gotta do what papa says all the time."

Raph tilted his head at the anxious turtle, a smug grin forming. "Besides, Donnie said turtles like water and he's a turtle. So he should like this!"

Raph and Mikey began advancing forward and Donnie crouched down, covering both his eyes as he squealed, "It's to late for me! Save yourself!"

"Nuh-uh!" Leo proclaimed as he snagged his wrist and pulled him from the storage room, a water balloon shattering behind them. "No turtles left behind! Come on!"

Donnie obediently dashed after him, letting out a startled squeak when one of Mikey's throws hit his shell. Aware that they couldn't keep Raph from their shared bedroom and Mikey from the one that he shared with Donnie, Leo tugged his younger brother into the bathroom as a water balloon flew over head, slamming the door shut and locking it.

"Hey! That's cheating!" Raph proclaimed from the other side.

Leo stuck out his tongue towards to door before glancing back at Donnie. His brainy brother had awkwardly removed a piece of water balloon from his shell, a pout covering his expression. Leo tapped his chin before pulling a towel out from under the sink.

"Here you go!"

Ignoring the frustrated cries from their brothers on the other side of the door, Leo helped him to wipe off his shell and earned a smile in response. "Thanks, Leo."

A bright smile of his own forming, Leo rubbed his head. "No prob, Dee. You know I got your back."

"Yeah." Donnie beamed. "I know."

Chapter Text

“Please, please, please, pleasepleasepleasepleaseplea-”

“Donatello.” Leonardo groaned as the eager tot bounced beside him. He turned away from the console, and Donnie grappled onto his arm. The mildly amused teen lifted him off the ground as the beaming tot hung, and Donnie gave a last burst of, “Oh, please, oh please!”

“It could be dangerous.” Leo warned as Mikey came up beside them, snatching their mini brother and earning a disappointed, “Noooo!”

“Come on, lil’ bro. Let’s let the captain plan.” Mikey soothed with a wink to their older brother. He started to walk away, but Donnie threw his weight forward, practically taking Mikey down to the floor with him. The ninja is quick to regain his balance and Donnie takes advantage to continue his petition.

“But a’iens!” Donnie pleaded as he strained to reach Leo. “I gotta see! I gotta see, I gotta- I gotta- I just gotta!”

Mikey struggled to account for the stubborn weight and Leo couldn’t help the chuckle as he stepped towards them, obediently taking the bundle of enthusiasm in his arms.

Donnie wrapped both arms around his neck and threw his entire body into the hug, considerately lowering his voice as he swore, “I’ll be so, so, so, so good. Cross my heart and hope to die, promise!”

“Well, let’s not go hoping for that.” Leo chided playfully, glancing over at their cyborg guide that had suggested against tiny companionship. “Fugitoid?”

“It could be unwise.” Fugitoid made motions in the air, possibly adjusting a screen that only he could see. “While it’s not a particularly dangerous planet, it is one that isn’t under the direct control of the federation. There is no guaranteeing his safety down in that marketplace.”

“Can’t be any worse than downtown New York.” Raph shrugged. “I say we bring the squirt. We’re big boys. We can keep an eye on him.”

“Ahem?” April chastised with a hand on her hip.

“Big boys and April.” Raph concented with a small smirk, earning a dismissive eye roll from the female. She wandered over to Leo as Donnie practically vibrated with excitement, patting his shell and agreeing, “There’s plenty of us here. I’m sure he’ll have four pairs of eyes on him at all times, and it’s only for a short while.”

“You’re only saying that because you don’t want to stay back.” Leo accused lightly, expertly hiding a small grin as the turt squirmed impatiently.

“Who would?” Casey scoffed from where he sat on the back of one of the ship’s seats. “For an insane space ship, this place is boring!”

“Leo!” Donnie whined fervently before the aghast Fugitoid could put in his two cents.

“Looks like someone needs a verdict, fearless.” Raph teased as he stood up, stretching his arms over his head causally. Leo could tell by the smirk on his face that they both knew exactly what his answer would be.

“Alright. Let’s make it a group field trip then.”

Leo’s brain was still ringing from the squeal long after they exited the space ship.

Worth it.

Chapter Text

“Okay, okay, wait.” Leo took a deep breath in and then slowly let it back out as Raphael regarded him with a respectful patience.

He had to admit, it was nice to know that a Raph existed who wouldn’t push his buttons with every conversation. “So you were in the Hidden City. And there was a magic mutant who… Cursed your brothers? For dumping her cauldron?”

“Leo wouldn’t apologize, and witches hate Donnie.” Raphael shrugged as the twins went rolling past, grabbing the tip of Leon’s carapace and yanking him away from Don.

Keeping the flailing turt in the air, he didn’t even bother looking away from their guest. “Deep breaths, lil’ man. Can’t wrestle with Don, remember?”

“Yeah. I’m a softshell. It could have dire consequences.” A battleshell-less Don replied with the most malicious grin that a child could wear.

The current five-year-old troublemaker defiantly flailed harder. “That’s not a word! You’re making that up!”

“Is too a word! You’re just a dumb-dumb, dummy!”

“Hey! No name calling.” Raphael scolded with a disapproving frown.

Don seemed to hesitate a moment before falling into a pout, muttering a reluctant, but apologetic, “Yeah, okay.”

“Ha!” Leon paused in his fruitless mid-air struggle to point accusingly and smirk.

His purple playmate squinted up at him before huffing, “Ha yourself! You’re stuck!”

“Am not!”

“You are!”

“I can get down any time I want!”

“Deceiver!”

As the squabble continued, Leo only sighed. “Okay. So I guess all that makes sense. But what does that have to do with my brother?”

“Weeeell.” Raphael drew out the ‘e’ looking a tad sheepish. “He wanted to see the cloaking broaches so we brought him along. Heh. He was… Standing next to Don.”

“Caught in the crossfire. Turtle luck. True to form.” Leo mumbled as he looked to the side, his silent companion scribbling away at the coloring book that he’d been given.

Donnie seemed to sense the stare and glanced up, offering his older brother a smile. Leo returned it, so Donnie resumed his coloring, unperturbed by the chaos around him.

“I have snacks!” Michael cheered as he entered the room, brandishing a tray with small bowls and colorful cups.

“Put me down! Putmedown! PuMeDown-Pumedoun- Raphie-!” Leon resumed squirming as Don got up from the floor and wandered over to Donnie.

Raphael obediently set him on the floor and Leon immediately went charging over to Michael as Don stopped in front of Donnie. “Hey.”

Donnie looked up and Don pointed to the Michael. “We’re eating.”

His scrawny counterpart looked at his crayon and Don frowned, stressing, “It’s time for snacks.”

Donnie faced Leo and his older brother gave him a dismissive nod. Donnie brightened at the approval, getting to his feet and hopping off the couch, obediently following the knowing strides of the fellow purple-masked mini genius.

Leo stared after his younger brother for a speculative moment before stating, “Alright. I’ll get Raph and Mikey onboard. The plan is to track down this witch and make her change them back?”

“I don’t know about make.” Raphael interrupted in surprise. “I’m sure if we just ask nicely-“

Leo raised an eye ridge and the bigger mutant felt the area under his scales grow warm, anxiously repenting, “Or she could be really mad and we might have to ask not-so-nicely.”

He almost thought Leo appeared amused, but the look was gone before Raphael could decide if it was really there at all. “Right. But where does that leave them?” He nodded at the turts. “Is it safe?”

“Uhhhh-“ Raphael looked at the roof, and the more seconds ticked by, the more Leonardo’s frown hardened. By the time that he looked back down, the sensei in blue was practically glaring, “It’s really a simple yes or no question. Is there danger or not?”

“…Yes?”

Leo pinched between his eyes and then sighed. “Then they stay back. My April has school. It’s evening here, right? What about yours?”

“Doing a thing with her mom.” Raphael said quickly, scrambling to come up with an idea that would put him back in warrior’s good graces. “Oh! Wait! I might have a good idea!”

Leo didn’t look too convinced.

Chapter Text

“No! No! No! No! No! NO!”

Half an hour later, teammates had been rounded up and a bed had been dragged out of storage, much to the growing chagrin of an impatient Leo.

Leon had learned that he would not be a part of the return trip to the Hidden City and was letting all of New York hear his grievances. “I’m going too! You can’t keep me here!”

”Actually, we can.” Leo replied as Raphael set the bed down as if it weighed nothing, thanking Shelldon for his help in locating it and then walking over, mask brow furrowed in concern when he realized the hissy fit had gotten louder. 

Don was indifferent with this piece of information. He had been gifted a pair of small, purple headphones when he started abruptly going quiet several minutes back, and he remained quiet, scrolling through who-knew-what on the phone that seemed more acceptable to be considered a t-pad in his tiny hands.

Raph was one wrong look away from smacking Leon while Raphael could not have been more sympathetic. “Come on, buddy. It’s only for a little while. Just until she agrees to turn you back.”

“It’s not fair!”

“Life isn’t fair.” Shelldon offered with a false innocence.

The pathetic, mopey stare that Leon was sending Raphael disappeared long enough for him to shoot the smug bot a dark look, and then resumed at full force. His voice lowered to the perfect volume of heartbroken defeat. “But... But I thought you loved me.”

“What?!” Horror pierced the snapping turtle’s delicate soul. “Of course I do!”

“But you’re leaving me.” Leon sniffled as waterworks began.

Michael let off a brisk tisk as Raphael’s heart was visibly torn in two. Walking between them and snatching Leon from the ground, he simply said, “You gotta suck it up before you break Raph, bro.”

Leon blinked away the tears. “Meanie.”

“So how, exactly, is a bed going to solve our issue about a lack of a babysitter?” Leo spoke up impatiently, watching Mikey spin with the giggling Donnie out of the corner of his eye.

Everything had been all good so far, but he didn't trust magic enough to feel certain that something couldn't happen to his brother the longer that he remained small.

“Um.” Raphael wiped some empathy tears from his eyes and then wandered over to the bed, pressing a big silver button. The bed hummed and then four poles popped out of the posts, forming a green wall around the mattress area as the bed proclaimed, Sleep Like A Baby Mode, Activited. 

“Talking bed!” Mikey gasped as he rejoined the conversation, an intrigued turt tilting in his arms to get a better view.

“It'll stop anything from getting in, and by default, any of them from getting out.” Raphael proclaimed, getting more excited at the impressed look on the older leader’s face. “We could give them toys and stuff, and they're kids so they'll nap at some point, and we can even have Shelldon keep an eye on them!” Shelldon straightened proudly, and Raphael finished, “ If anything happens, we have Leo’s sword so we just teleport back! Easy!”

“Hey!” Leon gasped in fury when he realized that Leo was holding his odachi. “That's mine! You can't have it! That's stealing!”

“I'm only borrowing it.” Leo replied patiently. “You can have it back when you’re big enough to use it again.”

Leon squirmed in Michael’s hold, and Michael responded by flipping him upside down.

Holding his waist at arms length, he hummed over Leon’s vengeful cries and walked over to the bed. Raph pushed the button and the green wall went down, allowing him to dump Leon onto the covers.

The transparent green rose and Leon let out an enraged sound when he realized that he was trapped. Raph smirked. Michael blew him a kiss. “We'll be back for you later! Promise~!”

A tap on his leg and Raphael looked down. With a bored expression, Don raised both arms, the sweater around him sagging a bit. Raphael carefully lifted him up and Don reached over to typed into the green keypad.

Raphael shrugged at the questioning looks he got, and Don suddenly announced, “Okay. Done.”

He pressed the silver button and only half of one wall went away. Raphael set him down on the bed as Don removed the phone tucked under his arm and explained, “To help control Leon. Welcome.”

”Traitor!” Leon howled in the face of this horrific betrayal.

Don patted his twin’s head as he walked past and then sat down, headphones laying comfortably around his neck as he matter-of-factly asked, “I’m in charge, right?”

“No way! I'm older!”

“But I’m mature-er.” Don’s face crinkled as if he just realized what he said wasn't grammerly correct.

“Donnie’s in charge.” Raphael clarified, earning an indignant gasp from Leon and a “Cheering!” from the smug Don.

Over with their counterparts, Donnie‘s eyes were so round that the white was practically nonexistent, softly questioning, “You’re leaving? Why?”

“We gotta find someone to turn you big.” Mikey reassured as Leo and Raph walked over. “It won't be long. Promise.”

“But I don't want you to go.” Donnie argued fretfully, sending them all anxious looks. “Then you'll be far away. I don't mind being small. What if I get scared? Or sad? Can't you stay here?”

His brother’s gazes all softened in understanding. Unlike their sporadic counterparts, they didn't have surface freedom at a young age. Separation wasn't in the cards. Something like that didn't even cross their minds until they became teens.

So it wasn't surprising to any of them that Donnie didn't want to lose the little bit of familiarity while he was trapped in a body that hadn't been his in years, stuck in this upside down, colorful and unfamiliar world.

Leo stepped forward and Mikey handed him over, allowing Leo to tuck Donnie into his arms.

Donnie nestled against him, attempting to muffle his pitiful sniffles. “I know you don't like it, but we need you to be brave, okay? Just hang with Leon and Don, listen to Shelldon, and we’ll be back before you miss us too bad.”

Donnie leaned back and put both palms against his cheeks, looking him in the eyes. “Promise?”

Leo met his gaze solemnly. “I promise.”

Donnie leaned in for one more hug and then reach For Mikey. Mikey scooped him in for a big squeeze and Donnie looked hopefully at Raph. With an eye roll, he took Donnie and the young turtle threw his arms around his neck.

He carried him to the bed, gruff voice too soft to be heard by others. “We'll make it quick, Don.”

Donnie pulled away as he pressed the button to lower the wall. The moment it came down, Leon took off in a sprint, only to be caught by Raphael and tossed back into the bed, where he landed with a dense “Oof!”

Donnie walked over to Don as Michael dumped an array of toys onto the bed, and then closed the wall behind him. “Goodbyes!” and “be goods!” were said, and then Leo cautiously used the odachi to make a portal. After three tries, a bright blue portal opened before them. 

Raphael stuck his head through the portal and then headed all the way in, which was their cue to follow. Leo was the last one to step into the portal, taking in the pouting, deadpanned, and waving turtles before he disappeared, leaving his uncertainty behind.

Watching intently until the portal closed, Don unlocked the phone and opened an app. All heads shot to him as the bed stated, Remote Access, Granted. 

“Hey! Bad tiny Donnie! Fix it!” Shelldon snapped as the walls came down. “I’ll tell Raphela! You know I will!”

“Leo. Code tattle-tale.” Don stood up as Leon leapt from the bed with a war cry, taking the bot by surprise and using the unexpected weight to send him spiraling down. Donnie rolled to avoid being hit by the bot, watching with wide eyes as his playmates subdued their teenage robotic guardian. 

“All done!” Leo announced as he finished tying him up with the blankets. “That’ll keep him under wraps, huh, Dee?” 

“Wifi turned off.” Don responded. “Not a bad plan. Your distraction worked great.”

Shelldon squirmed, but his motors had fabric looped through them, preventing him from rising. “Let me go, lil’ dudes! I’m serious!” 

“Next time, don’t trap a genius in his bed.” Don replied simply.

“Twin power!” Leon cheered as he set a hand on his hip and pointed a finger in the air. He abruptly lowered it and pointed at the deer-in-headlights tot that had been sneaking towards their captive. “Only one problem. Space mutinies won’t work without aaaall the crew on board.”

Both accusing gazes landed on the watching tot. With a fearful squeak, Donnie jumped back, stumbling and then falling off the side of bed. Without looking back, he scrambled to his feet and took off running. 

The twins exchanged looks. Leon grinned. “Tag-team ‘im?” 

“Mummy or evil alien?”

“Evil alien! From the planet… Uh, Kilon!”

“That’s a dumb name.”

“Nu-uh!”

“Yu-huh!”

“Nu-uh!”

“Yu-huh!” 

“He’s getting away.”

“Oh yeah.” 

They hurried off the bed and after him, only to find that he’d disappeared upon leaving the room. A turtle hunt began and ended just as swiftly as it started when short attention spans wore thin. Don tapped his chin as Leon sat on the ground in a huff, musing, “He couldn’t have gone far. He’s just a kid.”

“Aw, just let him go. He’s lame. Let’s play!”

“But our space crew is incomplete.” Don frowned thoughtfully. “And if he gets hurt, they’ll blame us.”

“So?”

“Other Raph is scary.”

Leon was quiet a moment. “Not that scary.” 

“Still a little scary.” 

“A little.” 

Don nodded his approval. “Besides, I’m in charge and I say-“

“I’m oldest so I’m in charge!” Leon jumped to his feet. “Me!”

“But Raph said-!”

“Raph said to stay in the bed, but I don’t see you in the bed!”

“But the bed’s not fun!”

“You’re not fun!”

“GASP! TAKE IT BACK!”

“Never!”

With a cry of unbridled fury, Don tackled his brother and they both went rolling across the floor, shoving and flailing and smacking in an effort to become the brother on top. That is, until they were both snatched off the ground by the collars of their shirts. 

“BOYS! What is the meaning of this?!”

Leon and Don looked to the very loud, very upset, and very prominent flaw in their plan, and then back to each other.

“You forgot Pops?”

“My bad.”

“Aw man.” 

Splinter glared between them. “You two are very lucky other Purple came in during comercials or else I would deal with you personally.”

It was then that they spotted the traitor ducked behind Splinter, looking up with wary eyes. Leon scowled and Don decided, “Next mutiny, we use tranqs.” 

Donnie’s eyes widened and Splinter dismissively commanded, “Take me to Shelldon. I don’t have much time and I think I’ll let our Orange decide what we do with you.”

Donnie nodded mutely, and then it was the twins turn to know fear. 

Chapter Text

The planet was a million times better than every space movie that Donnie’d ever seen all combined. Everything was shiny, and bright, and new- every alien was different, and they smiled when he waved at them! He wasn’t weird at all!

“What’s that? What’s that? Can I look at that? How does that fly? How does he fly when his wings are so small? What are they? And them? And is that another turtle?! Is he a mutant too? Why not? Is she an angel? Really?! What’s that? Can I touch them? What’s that? Is it food? Are you sure? Then why is Mikey eating it?”

Fugi had answers to all of his questions, and if he didn’t, he promised to help Donnie find the answers when they returned to the ship. The safety that came with his brothers’ watchful eyes and the robot’s hand around his own was enough to keep any nerves at bay.

There were two shops that Fugi said had the parts they needed for the invention to make Donnie big again. Donnie hoped they’d collect all the parts soon. Fugi promised that he’d be allowed to help make it!

Everything was fine until Raph saw a poster hall-lo-gram, but other than Fugi explaining how they work, no one would tell him what was on them. Leo wanted to leave when he first saw one, but Fugi said they couldn’t because of how important the parts were. Leo said okay, but none of his brothers seemed to like the hall-lo-grams, so Donnie thought they must have had a scary bad-guy on them. 

He didn’t dare press for answers. Leo might change his mind and make them all go back to the ship!

After a while, they split up.

April, Fugi, and Casey headed to one shop while him and his brothers took the other. After only a little begging, Raph agreed to let him sit on his shoulders so he could get a better view as they traveled through the marketplace. He got scolded a little for leaning to far, but there was just so much too see!

Raph set him down when they entered the store, and Donnie looked about the glinting, metallic objects with glittering eyes.

He was perfectly aware of Leo’s command for Mikey to keep an eye on him as their oldest brothers approached the counter, so he started down the aisles. The place was filled with all kind of gadgets and gizmos that he was dying to play with.

He found himself pausing his venture and reaching for one, taking the cool metal in his hands and feeling around the smooth edges, wondering what it did. He located a button, but hesitated, knowing that the nice store owner could be mad if he started using something that wasn’t his.

A slam echoed over to him, and Raph’s furious shouting caused Donnie to jump back, his thumb hitting the button as he unconsciously tightened his grip. A long stream of light launched from it and towards the shelf across from him. It hit another device, causing it to melt into a pile of goo before Donnie’s eyes.

They dilated in horror as he realized what he’d done, shoving the device back onto the shelf. He scanned for any of his older brothers, but he realized that his current guardian was nowhere in sight. Maybe Mikey hadn’t heard Leo?

Donnie just knew he was going to be in big trouble, and the guilt drove him to dash from the aisle, moving into a different one as he struggled to calm his pounding heart. He shouldn’t have done that- touched something, broken anything, ran away- but if he told Leo, then he’ll never let him leave the ship again!

But if Donnie didn’t, then he’ll be worse than mad.

He’ll be disappointed.

Shoulders slumping with regret at ever having left his older brothers’ side, he summoned up what little courage that he had before getting to his feet. He crept back up at the aisle, steeling himself for the coming challenge.

His blood froze in his veins when he saw that the front of the store was empty. The nice shopkeeper that had smiled when they came in was muttering to himself and looking at one of the poster hall-lo-grams, but his brothers were gone.

They were- they were gone.

The adrenaline came flooding back as he realized that he had no idea where the ship was, or how to find them again.

Did they really just leave him?

Tears pricked at his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away with trembling hands.

That was dumb. They wouldn’t leave him. Not on purpose. Maybe something happened. Something with the shouting?

They’d come back for him. Papa always said that if they were lost, they needed to stay put so he could find him. So Donnie should stay put, right?

He instinctively crouched down, and the movement drew the storekeeper’s attention to him. He tilted his head thoughtfully, and Donnie’s head partly shrunk into his shell at the scrutiny. He was moving before the turt was prepared for it, and Donnie immediately scrambled back, grabbing the small taser Fugi had given him, “Only for em-mer-gen-sees, Donatello”, a defensive hiss escaping at the unfamiliar danger.

“Now, now.” The creature spoke gently, his voice a bit garbled through Donnie’s translators. “I am not going to harm you, small one.”

Donnie narrowed his eyes, trying to look braver than he felt. The alien paused for a moment, four arms lowering to his sides, and then asked, “Were you with those terrapins?”

Donnie thought for a moment. He didn’t want to make him upset and get kicked out. How would his brothers find him then?

He nodded.

“They asked me to deliver a part to their ship. I’m sure they’re worried.” Donnie’s breath caught in his throat. The alien appeared sympathetic. “Would you like me to take you to it?”

“Yes!” Donnie burst before collecting himself, timidly adding. “I-I mean- yes, please.”

The alien smiled, the same welcoming, polite smile from before, and held out one of his hands. Donnie shrank back a bit, hesitating as fear tried to smother him, and then stepped forward cautiously. The alien made no moves to grab at him and he made his choice.

He set his hand on the palm and offered a shy smile. “Thank you.”

His rescuer closed his hand around Donnie’s, and Donnie marveled at how big the hand was compared to his, completely missing the smirk that contradicted his kind tone. “Happy to help.”

Chapter Text

Raph remained in his perch, watching his little brother chat with the Mutanimals below, maintaining his spot as the center of attention. He knows that Mikey's upset, and he's distracting himself with nonsense and fast speech, trying not to think about how much danger their missing brothers are in. They did their job, dragging a bunch of Footbots, and Razhar and Fishface away from the lab, but Leo and Donnie didn't meet at the rendezvous.

Their job was supposed to be the quick and easy. All they had to do was nab some tech and science stuff. Donnie said that he didn't even need Leo to babysit, but Leo was his usual impossible self, and tagged along anyway.

It was supposed to be easy.

So where are they?

A soft thump on the rooftop behind him, and he reacts on impulse, swerving to face his opponent as the sai leaves his hand.

The blade aimed between the eyes is caught. Karai lowers it, leveling him with a smirk. "I know you don't like me, but isn't murder a little much?"

She steps forward and he ignores the way his heart pounds; the simmering panic trying to use the scare as an excuse for release. "What took you so long?"

"Traffic." She tilts her head cockily and holds out the sai. He accepts it and she looks over his shoulder to the church. "Surprised you were the one to call. Where's Leo?"

Raph nods to the church. "Playin' damsel in distress with Donnie. We're getting them out."

Her eyes widen and then harden in the blink of an eye. Her expression remains cool. "What are we doing standing out, then?"

He rolls his eyes and the clenched worry in his gut loosens. "Waiting on you."

Raph pulls out his t-phone and drops a text to Mikey. After a moment, his little brother pulls out his t-phone and his relaxed posture tightens in preparation. He hollers a confident "Let's do this!" and then takes off for the doors, the Mutanimals following quickly behind. Slash glances back to him just once, and Raph meets his gaze, hoping he remembers what will happen if he lets a single ninja lay hands on his little brother.

"Distraction sent out." He puts away the t-phone. "We give it a minute and then we move."

Karai's blade is now in hand, a smirk curving her lips. "I've been waiting for a chance for him to screw up and need rescuing. Now I can finally pay him back."

"You'll need more than one rescue to pay back all the times we've had to save your butt." Raph critiques as Leatherhead busts down the church doors.

A playful scoff. "Because you're counting."

"I can list them." He returns the smirk. "Would you like it in alphabetical order or declining order of most whimpy reasons for a save?"

"Let's just focus on how good it'll feel to rub this rescue in Leo's perfectionist face."

"I thought so." He whirls his sais, and glances at the church. "I'm sure they've gotten plenty of attention by now. Let's move."

"You totally stole that from Leo."

"Shut it."

***

The dungeons are void of turtles, so they drop into the lab, soft-footed steps crossing the lowest floor. Raph scans the area impatiently, and Karai uses the top of her blade to gesture to the empty cages. "You're sure they're here?"

"No mystery vans. No turtles dragged out on bikes." He bites back as he hurries forward, making his way to the second floor. "They're in here somewhere."

"Sheesh." She mutters as she surveys a cage with a forest enclosure, lingering with a tense frown. "Don't get your mask tails in a twist."

He points his sai at her. "I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that."

She doesn't respond, still distracted with the cage, and he moves on. He passes another empty enclosure and then turns a corner, heart lurching when the very next cage has a familiar form lying within, his carapace facing the transparent wall. Raph dives for the green UP arrow and slams it, watching as the wall comes up and hurrying to his brother's side.

"Leo!"

"Leo?" Karai appears behind him, but he waves her off. "Find Donnie!"

She nods and then leaves, satisfied to actually assist the search now that one brother has been found. He sets a hand on Leo's arm as he kneels, shaking him and urging him awake. "Leo? Leo! Come on, brother. Leo!"

His older brother stirs, glassy eyes squinting open, and Raph's shoulder's slump. "There you are. I was beginning to think you were going to make me carry you out."

Leo blinks, looking up, and something flashes across his gaze. Before Raph can process why he looks angry, his older brother's shoulder is knocking hard into his gut, throwing him back and onto his carapace. "Oof-!"

Leo pulls out a katana and hurries for him, but Raph rolls to his feet and backs up, prepared for when Leo estimates his move, and catching his katanas between his sais. He returns the glare, not even close to matching the fury in his brother's gaze, and snaps, "What the heck, man?! I'm saving you!" 

The response is more growl than words. "Master says all intruders must die."

Master?

The shock and confusion must show on his expression, because Leo seems to sense the way he freezes, taking advantage to knock his katanas free. He tries to slice at Raph's head, but he's quick to deflect, blocking two more deadly blows before demanding, "Uh, Karai?! A little help here!"

His response is a soft whoosh, and they both pause their battle to look over at their entrance and exit, finding a smug Tiger Claw standing on the other side of a lowered wall. Most of Karai's face is covered by Rocksteady's hand, her arms locked firmly at her sides. She struggles and squirms, but is obviously not going anywhere.

"I know a distraction when I see one." Tiger Claw reports smoothly. "I already anticipated you coming back for your brothers, and have prepared aptly."

"What did you do to my brother?!" Raph spares Leo a quick look, but the leader is unmoving, panting through gritted teeth, eyes flicking between Raph and TigerClaw.

"I made him of use." Tiger Claw spins the small recorder in one hand. "Introduced him to an old friend of both of yours. Surely, you remember your experiences with the brain worm?"

Raph remembers all too well. "You didn't!"

Karai screams something behind Rocksteady's hand.

"I did. Only, these have a few tweaks, so old tricks won't work on this time." Tiger Claw smirks. "This time we tapped into his emotions. Harder to control, but much more effective. Especially when he knows what's on the line."

He taps a button, and Raph doesn't know what he's hearing. It almost sounds like a baby's cry, a few clicks and chirps mixed in, and everything about it has his instincts screaming hurt scared FIND PROTECT in a deep-seeded impulse that he doesn't understand.

"NO!" Leo rams into transparent wall, practically snarling and baring his teeth at the mutant tiger as a low hiss fills the air. His body trembles with the same urges coursing through Raph, and he tries to shake it off. Leo's irrational behavior manages to ground him so he can focus on what's important. "YOU PROMISED!"

"The little cub is unharmed." He taunts, approaching Leo's area of the wall as Raph gets his bearings. Little cub? "I told you I would not harm him, and I have not. This is only a recording. To remind you of what's at stake."

He looks at Raph. "End Raphael. And Donatello will be returned, safe and sound."

Wait-

That- that was Donnie?

Leo looks over at him, eyes ablaze in an undeserved fury, and Raph knows that the deal has been taken. Whatever they did to Donnie is messing with his head, and the worm is convincing him that it's worth killing Raph over.

Aw, sewer apples.

"Leo." He holds out a hand and steps back. "Don't do this bro. We can find him. We can get Donnie without anyone dying."

"You don't have to die." Tiger Claw offers. "I want you to call your rat master. Have him come take your place."

Raph wonders if he lost his mind. "You think Leo can take Splinter?"

"No." He smirks grimly. "I don't."

Oh.

Oh.

A shriek erupts, high and shrill, and then Rocksteady cries out in pain. They all whirl to see Karai's newly snaked hands clamped down on Rocksteady's arms, slithering out of his grip while he's distracted with the agony. She flicks her tail and slams him, knocking the large mutant over the edge. 

Karai goes for the controls, but Tiger Claw moves in her way, firing at the hissing snake.

She ducks to the side, scanning for a way to the panel, but Raph knows it won't do any good. Even if they open the cage, Leo will still be under Tiger Claw's control, and they'd still have to fight. Another move is in order. "Karai! Find Donnie!"

She looks towards him, evidently ready to argue, and he snaps, "Would you just do it!?"

Karai avoids the shot from Tiger Claw and leaps off, disappearing to the main floor.

"Leonardo!" His older brother snaps to attention. "You know your orders!" 

Tiger Claw takes off after her, and Leo's eyes flash white at the final command. He strides forward, and Raph knows that he's probably not getting out of this unscathed. "Leo, look at me, you don't-"

Sword swiping the air, Leo closes the distance and leaps.

***

Locating Donatello is easier said than done, so she runs down halls and turns corners for a short while before ducking into a vent, hiding as Tiger Claw passes by. Then she follows him, waiting until he realizes that she's nowhere to be found. Exclaiming under his breath, he moves like a man on a mission, and stops by a locked door, throwing it open and ducking inside.

Evidently, he doesn't find her in there, and he closes the door behind him. After a minute of sniffing and growling under his breath, he doubles back the way he came.

She hides in an open doorway until he's gone, shedding her scales to the human form Donatello might be more likely to trust. She doesn't know what they did to him, but the recording didn't sound right, and if he's been injured badly or is confused, she doesn't need to make things worse.

Karai enters the room swiftly, closing the door behind her, and then scanning the area.

It's one of their- the Foot's storage rooms. Nothing anyone'd put prisoners or hostages in, and definitely not somewhere to store their mortal enemy's children. She never would have even considered checking in here.

Tiger Claw is constant proving to be smarter than the average mutant.

"Donatello?" It's a soft murmer as she flicks on the light. "Where are you?"

A soft sound from further in the room, and she follows it, listening to the tiny whimpers and shuffling movements until she stops by a table. She pauses, tapping her foot, and then something out of the corner of her eyes moves.

She creeps close, slowly pulling out her sword, and then spots the tiny body within one of the small cages they used for containment. One that she stuck Leo in forever ago. One that she herself was shoved in recently.

She crouches down, and finds a shivering bundle of green and brown curled up, so very small and vulnerable surrounded by the towering grey bars. It's shivering and hiding it's face in its arms, making soft mewling noises that are interrupted with weak chirps. She presses on the top of the cage, and steps back as it flies open.

The tiny form inside springs up in a panic, scrambling back on all fours, a sharp whine splitting the air. There are claw marks down one arm, red, but not bloody, and it looks up at her with watery brown eyes, scared to death of her mere presence.

Her breath is caught.

"...Donnie?"

He pops into his shell and it clatters to the cage floor, the whine only getting louder. She leans over to set a hand on the small shell, rubbing a thumb over the back. She's never been very good with kids, but this isn't just some child. Supposedly, this is one of her mutant brothers, and he's terrified and vulnerable and so, so small- and the answering sob to her touch is cutting into her like no blade can.

Her hand cups around the scrawny shell. Another desperate whine and she mutters. "Hey. Hey, don't worry. You're safe. I won't hurt you."

The whine stops, and she pulls her hand back. "I know I'm big and scary right now, and you probably don't recognize me... I wouldn't trust anyone in your place either. Most of the scary people here are just brutes. Even a- a baby could see that. A baby. I can't believe you're a baby."

She huffs a disbelieving laugh, and two eyes peek out at her. She allows herself to smile, putting away the tough-girl schtick for a moment. "Hey, Donnie. See? I'm not so bad." She reaches out to pet his shell again. "I'm here to help. And I don't know what happened to you, or how Tiger Claw did this- but I won't let the Foot hurt you anymore. I won't let anyone hurt you." 

Suddenly reminded of where they are, she glances over her shoulder and then holds out her arms to him. She'd rather not snatch and run, but she will if she needs to. "Your big bros miss you. Leo? Raph? Remember?"

Maybe it's the gesture, or maybe it's the names, but Donnie seems to wiggle out of his shell, limbs slowly exiting the safety. His head pops out as he shifts to his knees, looking her over and then opening and closing his fists shyly. 

Karai smiles and carefully scoops him up, getting to her feet. 

She has to get him to the others before Leo slice-and-dices Raphael, so she tucks him into one arm, doubling back to the lab. Donnie doesn't fight her, but she doesn't think he's even strong enough to try, so she keeps him close as she vacates the room.

***

Raph hits the dying tree and shakily forces himself back upright, watching as his older brother stalks up to him. Leo still looks furious, and the anger doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. He wishes that Karai would get there already, but if Donnie is badly hurt, she'll have other things to worry about. He might on his own.

A small part of his does want to call his father, but he shoves it away.

This so messed up!

"Leo, seriously." Raph ducks, his katana impaling the trunk above him. "We can get him! You don't need this jerk!"

"Master will give him back once I shut you up."

"He is not your master!"

A furious hiss and then he's rolling to the side, avoiding a blade through the arm. Leo strains to get them both out of the tree. "Trust me! You don't want to do this! There's another non-homicidal way!"

"You don't even know where he is." The accusation is as sharp as the blades that he keeps trying to shove through Raph's chest and limbs. His eyes are blue again, and he yanks his swords free. "You'd never get there in time."

"Leo-"

He stomps after him. "He won't hurt him. I won't let him!"

"So you're gonna kill me instead!? Do you hear yourself!?"

"He'll hurt him!"

"He's using you!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut UP!" Every cry is followed by a swipe that's rougher and faster than the last. He's barely able to keep up, taken off-guard when Leo stops striking to kick his legs out from under him, knocking him onto his carapace and pouncing with a snarl.

Raph gets his sais up in time to keep his skull from being sliced in two, and Leo plants a foot on his plastron, getting the leverage he needs to press down harder. Raph glares up at him, frustrated beyond belief that he's letting himself get used like this, but Leo has never gotten mad enough to hurt any of them- not like this.

If the brain worm is twisting his anger, then nothing is adding up, because Leo's never reacted like this. He has, sure, but never Leo.

Leo's glare doesn't look back, refusing to even face him, concentrated on the blade.

Raph's brows furrow and he studies the storm in his gaze, looking for the type of loyalty or insanity that would drive him this far- but all he finds is fear.

He's not mad.

Beneath it all, he's terrified, and everything makes a lot more sense.

Leo mainly acts when he's scared, and he expresses his fear in a lot of different ways. He's completed a lot of crazy idiocy trying to fight his fear, and it only intensifies when one of them are the ones in danger. The brain worm is using that. Twisting his fear into the anger, using it to help Tiger Claw reach his goal.

And if getting upset was what got Raph to spit out the brain worm last time, then...

"Leo." He tries to smother the fire in his tone, struggling to keep a cool head. "It's gonna be okay, brother. We can find him. We won't let anyone else hurt him. You just gotta calm down."

"No!" He hisses, pupil's dialating. "He'll give him back! He'll give him back!"

He grunts, ignoring the way Leo is digging his heel into his ribs. "Will he? Leo, it's Tiger Claw-"

"Master said-"

"The Foot lie, Leo. He's lying."

"No!" His breaths are increasing, arms shaking, "He's fine- he's fine- fine- fine- fine-"

Ah, shoot, he's just making this worse-

"He is! Donnie's okay. He needs Donnie to mess with your head." He insists desperately. "Calm down, and think about it!"

He presses down harder, the blade centimeters from Raph's skull. "Lying- lying- you're lying! Give him back- he'll give him- KILL YOU-"

"LEONARDO!"

Both their heads jerk to Karai's cry, and they spot her on the other side of the transparent wall, arms bundled to her chest. Donnie is nowhere in sight, and Raph is about to chew her out for this when she adjusts her arms, lifting a green and brown form for them to see. Tiny face tucks itself into his shoulder, limbs curled into her grip and body shaking, and a small whine breaks the stunned silence.

"NO!"

Leo abandons Raph entirely and charges for the wall, slashing at it with a cry. She instinctively steps back, cupping him tighter, glaring in frustration at the snarling, screaming turtle. "Give him back- give him back- leave him alo- MINE- MINE MINE I'll kill you- kill you- leave him alone- Donnie give him-!"

Karai doesn't even bother shouting over his shrieks. "Leonardo, you're scaring him."

"-took him- TOOK HIM- KILL YOU KILL YOU KILL YOU- GIVE-!"

"I cannot give him back while you're acting like this." Karai interrupts as she rubs a thumb over the tiny carapace. "You're scaring him, Leonardo. Do you hear him? He's scared."

Leo clamps his beak shut, entire body trembling with contained rage, and he looks ready to impale Karai without a second of hesitation. Raph still hasn't dared move, trying to comprehend what's happening before him, gaze locked on the tiny form of his brother tucked in protective kunoichi arms. She shushes the small form, brushing a hand over the carapace, and his whimpers hush, fingers in his mouth as he leans into the offered comfort.

"I want to give him to you." She coaxes with false gentleness. "I really do. But he's scared. And you could hurt him like this. How can I trust you not to hurt him?"

He opens his mouth in a low hiss, but doesn't make any motions or sounds otherwise.

"Get rid of your weapons."

The weapons are flung, shooting through the air like projectiles and bouncing off the transparent wall. He's clearly not thinking straight, as those would have hit Karai and Donnie if they'd landed, but Karai doesn't acknowledge it. 

"Raphael."

He gets up and sprints to the swords, keeping an eye on his brother. He hoisters his sais and then snatches them, moving out of Leo's reach.

"Okay." She walks over the the panel. "I'm going to open this, and I suggest staying back, because anything could happen to this little one in the time it takes you to get over here."

Her hand moves up, thumb brushing over the thin neck, and Raph bristles. Leo growls low in his throat, but he takes her at her word, unmoving as she opens it. She walks into the cage, "Good. Now, we're getting out of this place. We're leaving, and then once we're out, you have my word that you can have him back. Understood?"

Leo's gaze darts between Donnie and Karai, fingers twitching, and he nods sharply.

She gestures for him to move in front of her, and Raph sincerely hopes she knows what she's doing. His steps are rigid and jerky, but he's silent and swift, allowing them to lead him out. The chances of him turning around and heading right back after he gets Donnie are probably pretty high, but he trusts the Karai knows what she's doing.

...Since when did he start trusting Karai?

***

They're back on the rooftop. As Karai and Leo head into the alley below, Raph texts for the Mutanimals to make a quick escape, getting about thirty party emojis and smiley faces from Mikey. That tells him that he's okay, and that they only have a few minutes until they're coming back to the PartyWagon. 

He hurries down to his siblings, and the vehicle in question. Karai motions for their feral brother to enter, and Leo obeys, turning around and snapping, "Give!"

"Keep your shell on." She mocks as Raph shuts the door behind them.

She sets Donnie on the ground and he whimpers, stirred awake by the loss of warm contact, and a blur of turtle surges forward and snatches him. He takes him into his arms and ducks as far from them as he can, nuzzling his beak into the smaller face when Donnie starts head-butting against him, pleading for the affection. A small hand grapples onto the tip of Leo's plastron and he whines, chirping as his older brother brushes at the drying tears, a deep churr in the eldest's chest.

Raph shifts uncomfortably at the sounds that they hadn't made in years, and eyes Karai. She doesn't seem to know what to make of them, but doesn't comment on it, watching Leo with a critical gaze, seemingly waiting for something.

"See, bro?" He asks cautiously, piercing blue eyes moving to him. "Told you. He's right there. He's safe." He can't help a small jab. "And no one had to die."

Leo looks at the form snuggling into his hold. He blinks, the fury dissipating, and hesitates. "I..."

The slumped shoulders suddenly stiffen, and he clutches Donnie to his chest as he doubles over, a plump, green worm expelling onto the floor. Karai is on it in an instant, digging her blade into the creature. Leo gags a few times, and Raph hurries to his side, confident that he's finally back to himself.

His older brother shakes his head, a shudder running down his body. "Hugghhh- that could not have tasted worse."

Leo blinks blearily and spots the kunochi examining the dead worm. His eyes widened. "Karai?"

"Hey." She flicks it and smirks at him. "How's it going."

"But how did you- and wasn't I- and when did-?" He continues to sputter and gawk until Donnie squirms in his tight grip, and then he relaxes it. Looking down and spotting the tiny form, the comedic shock taking further hold as he scoops under his armpits and holds him at arms length. 

"Donnie!"

Donnie chirps once, a soft churr beneath his fingertips, and he looks at Raph. "Raph!?"

"So if you're done with role call..." Raph drawls with a relieved smirk, gesturing at Donnie. "You got some explaining to do."

Leo brings him back to his chest. "Uh. Long story. What happened? When did Karai get here? And how did I get out? I remember being a cell with Donnie and then..."

"Long story." Raph repeats with a huff after he trails off. He earns an annoyed look, and Karai helpfully announces, "Raph had a faulty plan so I had to come up here and fix it. You're welcome."

"....Thanks?" He glances at her blade, and then his eyes ridges shoot up. "Is that a brain worm?"

Karai passes a shark's grin. "Long story."

"I hate both of you." Leo grumbles as he looks down at the cooing form. Alarm enters his gaze as he traces down the arm with faint marks. "Who did this?"

Raph looks to Karai. She frowns. "Tiger Claw."

Leo scowls as he hugs him closer, keeping his temper in check. "Of course he did."

There's a threat lurking in the statement, but Raph ignores it, about to question him on how come their little brother is a baby for the second time when the PartyWagon door flies open, and a joyous voice rings out.

"GUYS!" 

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Mikey was the one to speak first.

"You mean he's stuck like this?"

Leo felt like his world had momentarily stalled, trying to get the words to process past the worry and confusion clouding his mind. It had been a long shot, but that didn't mean part of him wasn't expecting a miracle. They'd happened many times before, often making the impossible completely possible. So why not now? What made this time different?

The small form in his arms began squirming, not appreciating the sudden lack of movement, so Leo resumed the light bouncing, adjusting the bottle so the chubby hands can get a better grip.

"He's stuck as a freaking baby?" The ever blunt hothead demanded as his fists fell to his sides, narrowing an accusing glare.

"I never said stuck." The ape on the screen argued with apparent irritation. "I concur with your Utrom connection. I'm sure the muscle memory is somewhere in there, and anything he has read or done, can be learned again. So while is entirely possible to return him to his adolescent state and have him survive with the necessary skills, the core memories that built him up to be the Donatello you know simply aren't there anymore."

"But you got that psychic mojo!" Mikey pleaded with the most intense puppy eyes he could muster, eyes glossy. "Isn't there something you can do?

Rockwell looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"April did it before!" Raph snapped. "Splinter forgot who he was and she brought him back!"

"Yes, I am aware." The hard edge returned. "But I hypothesize that those memories were merely buried. An infant's mind cannot be compared to that of an old man. You are lucky Donatello retained enough neurons to have the recognition pattern to recall you three at all."

"So you're not even going to try?"

"April O'Neil was infused with Kraang DNA. She was born with such abilities in her very nature. If she could find few traces of him, what makes you think I will have different results?"

Donnie whimpered and Leo realized that he was squeezing him, loosening his grip as he pretended not to notice the heads swiveling in their direction. Without anywhere else believable to look, he numbly studied the olive face, round brown eyes looking back at him.

"So what are we supposed to do?" Mikey whined as he dropped his chin in his arms.

"If you want to return as he was, you will either have to get used to the idea that he will have no recollection of any bond that you four share, or keep him alive for the next eighteen years."

"You're supposed to be a scientist!" Raph slammed the table and dilated brown eyes darted towards the sound. Leo shushed him under his breath, following his gaze and quickening the bouncing. “I bet Donnie couda done it!”

Rockwell tapped a screen they couldn't see. "Some things simply cannot be done, Raphael."

"So you're just giving up!?"

Rockwell's indifferent stare turned furious. "I am accepting the facts!"

"I outta head right over there and stick my sai up yo-"

"Raphael." The rebuke came naturally. Raph turned his snarl on the leader, and Leo faced the monkey to take control of the situation before it spiraled. "Thank you for your time, Rockwell. I know you mean well."

The mutant ape frowned, perhaps sensing the bitter edge to the comment, but Leo reached out to tap the keyboard, ending the call before tensions rose any higher. Raph let out a low growl, fists tight at his side. "The guy's always had it out for Don."

"Rockwell's an egotistical jerk, but he wouldn't leave us hanging if he could do something. If only so he could hold it over Donnie's head." Leo replied, standing up from his seat and placing the half-empty bottle on the table.

Settling Donnie against the shoulder with a rag over it, he began knocking his palm into the top of his carapace, pacing as he did so. Mikey squirmed in his seat. "So Donnie's really gonna have to grow up all over again? Our Donnie's just- gone?"

Leo and Raph locked gazes. Raph looked away.

Leo's shoulders slumped; a defeated sigh released as he muttered, "It's looking that way."

"Unless we wanna put him back and hope he doesn't just run off," Raph reported wryly, speaking the fears in all their minds. If he didn't know who they were, what were the chances he'd stay? If he did leave, would he ever come back?

"But- but-" Mikey argued weakly, wringing his hands. "But that's not fair."

"When has our life ever been fair?" Raph barked back.

Mikey bowed his head and Leo stepped back over to the island. "It doesn't have to be entirely bad. At least he's still with us."

All three teens' thoughts turned in the same direction. Raph fell back against the counter, hunched in on himself, and Mikey mulled over Leo's point before nodding. "Yeah. Yeah! I mean, he's still Donnie, right? He'll still be smart and stuff when he grows up. And this time, I'll get to be his big brother!"

Leo smiled faintly, relieved to see one of them warming up to the idea. It was rarely difficult to banish Mikey's sad spells. "It'll definitely be an adjustment, but we'll figure it out. Besides, there's always a chance that this is something that reverses on its own."

Raph grunted noncommittally. Donnie burped.

It was settled. 

Chapter Text

After three days of forgoing sleep during his latest invention to crack the boundaries of time and space, Don was ushered to bed by several insistent comments from a persistent Michael, Raphie, Leon, and Leo.

Somehow the opposite version of his twin brother managed to portray all of his brothers' annoying quirks- firm and pushy, gentle and compassionate, manipulative yet convincing. He guessed this was a normal reaction by the way Donnie made himself scarce from the premises when Leo found out about Don's recent bout of continued consciousness.

In the end, he was more worn out then calculated and passed out the minute his head touched the pillow.

He wakes up to a petting motion across the back of his shell, a cold hand bringing goosebumps with it. Confused and uncomfortable, he shifts to get a look at who is touching him. His drowsy blinks increase speed as he tries to figure out why a small child is sitting on his bed, staring back at him with worried brown eyes.

"Yo'r shells's soft." The quiet voice whispers, pointing at the carapace now shielded by the wall.

"I- yes." He agrees before scrubbing at his eyes. The child remains. "Are you real?"

The turt lowers his hand and considers it, before nodding.

Don groans and rolls over. "Of course you are."

A small hand knocks against his plastron. "Hard."

He shoots the curious child with no comprehension of personal space a judgemental look. The oblivious turt feels down the curve, examining the firm covering with intelligent eyes. This is definitely an adolescent mutant turtle, but how it managed to get into the lair and much more importantly, his bed, along with whether or not his brothers kidnapped it are two questions that he fears the answer to. 

"You sick?"

Don would have visibly raised an eyebrow if he was wearing his mask.

Speaking of which...

He sits up. The child scoots back, allowing him to reach for his purple mask and hoodie. He doesn't know how the rest of this evening is going to go, and he is not ready for skin-to-skin contact just yet, so he might as well get comfortable. "What makes you ask that?"

He slips on the mask and the turt doesn't respond, his gaze shifting towards the leather shell as Don shimmies on his jacket. Tossing down the hood, he observes, "Ah. The shell. No, I am not ill. That's completely natural. I'm of a species of softshell."

He's met with silence. There's a hesitance in the turtle's eyes now, as if he's somehow made himself intimidating by sitting up. Perhaps it is his voice, too monotone for the child to interpret him as safe.

No matter. He'll get his info, drop off their guest, and his brothers can deal with babysitting.

He tucks his phone into the hoodie pockets and then does a sweeping gesture between them to urge him to the ladder. "Come. Let us locate my brothers and find out what you are doing here."

He shrinks his head into his shell some, and Don suddenly wonders if the possibility of kidnapping is a very real concern. He consciously softens his tone. "It's alright. I mean you no harm."

The child looks down at the arms pulled close to his chest and a puzzled Don follows his gaze. His eyes widen, and he pulls out his phone, turning on the camera.

His vision is on point and there are faint burns along his arms. Nothing scarring for the looks of it, which is why he didn't notice before, but they likely hurt. He instinctively reaches out, and the child jerks away from him, bumping his carapace against the wall.

Don's stare melts. The turt must have misinterpreted his previous gesture, assuming that he was going to touch the burns then too.

Perhaps it was less of a kidnapping and more of a rescue? But why hadn't his brothers already taken care of him?

"Those must hurt." He treads carefully. "I have First Aid. Cream that can help make the pain go away. Would you like that?"

Brown eyes scan his face and then he nods. Don makes a shooing motion, and the child obeys, allowing him to awkwardly stretch to the ladder. Once he's safely on the rungs, he holds out his arms to the child who possibly won't want to climb back down. What he's even doing that high, Don doesn't understand, but he's not sure the child will answer if asked.

Evidently, a bit of trust must have been earned, because he crawls forward, and lets Don pick him up. Don is careful not to touch his burns as he lowers them both down to set him on the floor, going for his first aid kit. He's no stranger to burns and explosions, so one sits in both his lab and his bedroom, complete with bandages and burn aloe.

He turns on the light and carefully gets to work, neither turtle saying anything, though the young turt winces when he begins. A gap is more obvious as he mouths the words on the side of the first aid kit, and Don notes that his feet are the same wide circles as their counterparts. His skin is unblemished, though his plastron has some little scrapes here and there.

When he's done, he's surprised when Donnie reaches out both arms, eyes pleading.

Somewhat reluctantly, he lifts him and the turtle nestles against his plastron, clutching onto the jacket. He clearly doesn't remember him, so he must be too young to understand how easily he's surrendered his trust and how dangerous that can be.

Don studies how well he seems to fit in his arms, content as he begins sucking on his finger, and chooses not to comment on it.

He finds Michael and Raphie with a tiny Mikey, Casey Jones, and April on the skate ramp.

Michael is looking over a picture book with April on his lap, pointing at the pictures as Raphie tries to calm the kids bickering over a Jupiter Jim toy. He stops to survey the scene before announcing his presence with a wry, "I cannot leave you dummies alone for even a few hours, can I?"

All gazes shoot to the new voice and three of them light up.

"Nee!" "You found him!" "Oh, thank the great pizza!"

Mikey abandons the game to dash to Don and Casey eagerly claims the toy. April looks up curiously as Raphie and Michael appear beyond relieved. Raphie walks over as Donnie peers down at his freckled brother, and Don states, "He's the one that found me. Now, does anyone want to fill me in on why four of our counterparts are children?"

"Six." Raphie admits sheepishly, "The others are out looking for Leo and Raph."

"Sigh." He lowers Donnie to the floor. "How long?"

Raphie blinks. "How long... What?"

"How long have they been missing?"

Raph shifts guiltily "Uh... Half an hour, maybe?"

"And I thought I couldn't be trusted with kids." Raphie sputters in protest, but he's easily ignored as Donnie brings up a hologram from the tech gauntlet on his wrist.

Next to them, Mikey had immediately taken notice of Donnie's arms. Blue eyes squint as he frowns, and then he asks, "Owie?"

Donnie nods. "It's okay. All wrap'ed. He has cream."

"Ice cream?" Mikey questions eagerly, eyes shining with unexplainable stars, a feature that only their counterparts take notice of. "I want some!"

"Ice cream?" Casey asks as he wanders over with a new alien figure. "Me too!"

"No." Donnie shakes his head firmly, eyeing Casey with uncertainty. "Owie cream. For burns."

"But icecream." Mikey's entire body slumped in misery and Michael jumps into gear, grasping onto the chance for further distraction. "That's a great idea, lil' Mikey! Who wants to go make some sundaes!?"

Every child in the room suddenly has literal stars in their eyes, "Me!" "Road!" "Yes, please!" "Me, me, me!"

Hoisting April onto his hip, he pumps a fist in the air. "Then let's go!"

The kids all eagerly follow after, but Donnie pauses to look back at Don. Raphie gives Michael a thumbs up before giving Don a small push, and the softshell absently trails after, not seeming fully conscious of anything but the gauntlet that he is rapidly typing into. Donnie rushes to join Mikey, taking his hand and tugging him a few steps from the rambling Casey.

Raphie looks at the space between them and then to his younger brother. "Whatchya doing, Donnie?"

"Looking at proximity alarm around the sewers. I'm trying to see if they have been triggered, but most of them that have been alerted to a presence in the last half hour seems to be because of creatures much too big or much too small to be the missing turtles. Of course, I'll keep looking, but it might be a while before-"

"There."

They both look down and find April pointing at his screen. Don tilts his head at her. "What?"

"There," April repeats firmly, unrelenting finger planted on one of the many dots. Don highly doubts that she understands the maps or its sectors, so he dismisses her with a distracted, "Yes, yes, I'm sure the screen is very pretty-"

"Wait." Don shoots him an affronted look and Raphie studies her curiously. "What's there?"

"It. Lost thing." April shrugs, brushing some hair from her face. "It's there."

"Can you show us again?"

"Raph-" Don groans as April nods proudly. He picks her up and she taps one of the dots, making the screen flicker. "There."

"Why are you entertaining her? This is serious." Don grumbles as Raphie sets her back down. She dashes over to the others at Michael's call, and Raphie admits, "Remember what the guys said? She gets the- the feelings. Maybe you should try it."

"I'd rather trust my gut than some human's intuition." Don tsks while obligingly pulling up the feed. After a moment of scanning code that Raphie can't decipher, he releases a soft, "Hmm."

"Good hmm, or bad hmm?" Raphie questions nervously.

Don pulls out his phone. "Let me call Leon. Then I'll decide."

 Picture drawn by @Sleepingdragon11 on Tumblr!

Chapter Text

"So let me get this straight..." Don grumbles through the phone's speakers. "While I graciously put up little battle and went to rest per forced unconsciousness-" Leon scoffs for multiple reasons, but mainly because nothing about his nap times are ever remotely easy. "-you and other Michael went into my lab and began messing with my unfinished work of art-"  

"Again, it was my idea, but he did most of the touching." 

"-and when Donnie came in to rightly defend what was not yours,-" 

"Started screaming for no good reason." 

"-it attracted the attention of dear Raphie who expressed his disapproval of your activities and placement-" 

"Hey, I walked away. Mikey started button smashing." 

"-but then when Donnie began trying to remove his brother from the premises because neither of you have any respect for private property-"

"Tu casa, mi casa." 

"-he accidentally switched it on and a flash of light supposedly... Ate all our counterparts-" 

"That's what it looked like!" 

"-before turning them into toddlers and transporting their physical forms in random areas around and within the lair." 

"Okay, that part's accurate." 

"So in conclusion..." Don drawls. "This is completely your fault." 

"I don't think that'll hold up in court."

"Your fault. End of story." 

"It indubitably is not." 

Raphie's voice chimes in, "Any sign of them, Leo?" 

"That would be a hard no, hermano." Leon turns his phone upside down, squinting at the GPS screenshot. "We sure this is right?"

"Relatively." Don supplies. "Try looking in small places." 

"Gee, great advice." Leon rolls his eyes and Don preens, "I know." 

The red-eared slider stops at the edge of a sudden drop, settling the flat of the blade on his shoulder and watching the waterfall of sewer water. "You know, maybe we'd be better off if you got it wrong on this one." 

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused." Leon hangs up with a smirk and then looks back down the waterfall. A moment of pause then, "Welp, sure hope no child fell down there!"

He spins with a flourish to double back and then spots the pair of eyes peeking out of a pipe leaking grimy water to the 'fall. The eyes widen and then disappear, accompanied by the splash of water. Leon stares after them. "Huh. Small places." 

So he steadies his grip on his sword, gets on his elbows and knees, and clambers in after.

The waste goes a little higher than his elbows as he follows the shadow. He's only a few feet deep, stopped because the pipe abruptly turns upward and is too steep to climb. 

Or rather, they are.

Blue eyes flash as the one in front hisses, arms splayed out as if to hide the second form from view. Another mini turtle is curled up behind him, glaring defiantly in his general direction. They're both so tiny yet trying to be intimidating. It's got to be just about the cutest sight he's ever seen- and he's been to Toby's puppy farm. 

Leon gets a two-for-two deal and he barely tried. Nice.

He can't help a cheeky grin. "Aww! Aren't you just the scariest pair."

"Go away!" Leo shouts as Raph growls low. "Leave us alone!"

"No can do. 'fraid you're coming with me, little gu-"

He's interrupted by a handful of sewage to the face. He immediately sets about wiping it off, sputtering as his stomach crawls. "Ew- why would you-?!"

Another one takes the place of the previous and he ducks. "Uh- rude!"

"Go away! I mean it!" 

"Aaaaah- no." Leon lifts his sword and circles the air. A portal appears beneath both children and they squeal in surprise, disappearing through it. He scoots forward and then sits up, dropping through the portal and onto two feet like the professional he is. 

They're back out in the tunnel since he wants to be on even grounds and not liable for child kidnapping. "Okay, niños, let's talk about this like ge-"

A glob of sewage strikes him in the face and- ARGHHH- HE CAN TASTE IT-

"WHYY?!" 

Leon manages to get a fair potion off in one swipe and then realizes that both kids have taken off down the tunnel. He creates a portal and drops down directly in front of them, earning more startled squeals as they fall backward to avoid crashing into him. 

He points his sword as he finishes removing the gunk from his face, gesturing with his weapon as he snaps, "Okay, the sewage to the face stops NOW or I SWEAR on Jupiter Jim's great uncle's grave that I-!"

He looks back at them with a frustrated frown and it instantly falls. He realizes that the blue gaze is glassy, though still glaring, grimy hands locked around his younger brother as wide green eyes stare at the sword with an expression of child-like terror.

Oh, right. He's yelling and pointing his sword at a pair of little kids who don't know who he is. 

Way to go, Leo. 

He takes a deep breath and drops his sword, both turts flinching when it hits the ground. "Okay. Bad intro. Let me start again. Hello, I'm a friend and my name is Neon Leon." He lays a hand on his plastron in a sweeping bow and charming smile before straightening, "I'm here to help."

"Leave us alone!" Leo repeats firmly, though his voice shakes. Raph looks up to his brother and then his eyes harden, turning back to Leon as he offers, "No can do, little man. I gotta get you somewhere safe before someone much less nice stumbles across you two."

"No!" Raph snaps. "Go away!"

"You aren't much for conversation, are you?" Leon throws back his head theatrically and then rolls it to look them over, musing over another way to go about this. He snaps his fingers and they flinch again.

He smiles innocently and then turns as if to leave, careful to keep his movements slow and non-threatening. "Okaaay, I guess I'll just go tell Donnie and Mikey that you didn't want to see them-" 

"Donnie?!"

"Mikey?!"

Leon turns back with a faux surprise. "Whaaat? Did I forget to mention that me and my brothers found them and are taking really good care of them back at my place?"

"Yes!" Raph snaps as Leo pulls away. "Give them back!"

"Oh, I totally would." Leon offers apologetically. "But it's dangerous out here and I don't want them getting hurt. You wouldn't want them to be hurt, would you?"

Raph stands. The brothers exchange looks. Leon taps his chin. "You know... I guess... Well, maybe I could bring you to them..."

"Bring us." Raph grabs Leo's hand and glares him down. Leon pretends to hesitate, mulling his nonexistent options over. Leo squeezes the hand and looks at him with a pleading hope that could melt any baddie's heart. "Please?"

Holy mac and cheese, these kids are adorable.

"If you insist." He smiles helpfully. "Just gonna grab the sword, mkay?"

Another exchange of looks followed by curt nods. 

So Leon picks up his handy-dandy weapon and focuses only on the lair, opening a bright blue portal that instantly has both kids mesmerized. To prove its safety and assuming the kids would want to figure out their little brothers' location, Leon steps through in a lazy stride, entering the home with a flourish. "Who missed me?!" 

He appears in Don's lab when he was thinking more of the atrium. Close enough. 

Don comes out of behind the experiment which is just as fascinating as it was before they knew what it did. "I take it that means you found the children you lost?"

"Didn't lose anyone." He deflects easily, putting away his sword. "And yes, I did! Were there any doubts?"

"A few." Don quips as he dusts off his hands. "Where are they?" 

In answer to his call, the two wary children step into the lab, hands still clasped. Don looks them over, shoulders smoothing out in relief even as he states, "Get those grimy boys out of my works space. I have delicate equipment that can't afford to be sewaged." 

"We were just leaving." Leon shoots back honestly, gesturing for the children to follow him out. 

They trail behind him and down to the main floor, scanning each new area with apparent interest. Leon spots their brothers before they do, but their reactions upon doing so are far more explosive than his, "Ah hah!"

With barely a second of pause, they're off like a shot. 

Mikey and Donnie get enough time to recognize and process their brothers' safe return before they're abandoning their colored pencils to meet them halfway. 

"Dee!"  "Mikey!" 

"Leo?!" "RAPHIE!" 

If he hadn't already known by now, it would have been apparent who was the elder pair by the way Leo and Raph scooped their brothers into a hug that the others curled into without hesitation. Heads tucked under chins and beaks nestled into shoulders- it was natural and sincere and a heck of a lot more cuddly than their older versions. 

"Awwww!" Raphie makes his presence known he as snaps a picture, holding the phone over his heart and sniffling, "They're so happy to be together."

 Picture by @Sleepingdragon11 on Tumblr! 

"Tight-knit fam." Leon agrees, proud to have been the one to bring them together. He takes notice of the bandages around Donnie's arms and frowns, "Hey, what happened there?"

Raphie looks where he points. His eyes soften sympathetically. "Not sure. Don says it has something to do with him being too close."

Leon thinks back to moments before the boom. Donnie had all but thrown Mikey in the opposite direction before the blast happened. He'd turned back, probably to do something, and then they were just gone. Shoulda moved. Kinda his own fault he got hit, really. 

The slider ignores the wave of unease. "He'll be fine once Don turns him back to normal, though. So it's not that big a deal." 

"Guess so." Raphie agrees as he looks at him. His face scrunches. "What happened to you?"

"Sewage and violent children." Leon fills in before realizing how much they'll never let him live it down. Raphie gives him a funny look and he waves it off. "Don't ask. Kids could probably use a bath too."

"Oh." Raphie's attention is immediately stolen away as Leon hoped and he starts moving. Leon trails after him.

"Hey, guys." His eldest brother greets the squirts. Everything about his tone and posture is friendly, but Leo and Raph latch onto their little brothers, dragging them back with wide eyes. 

He holds up both hands passively. "Woah, hey, not gonna hurt ya."

"That's Raphie. He's nice!" Mikey chirps, completely at ease. Donnie looks between his older brothers and ducks his head into his shell halfway. Raphie brightens, opening his mouth to speak, but Leo cuts him off, looking at Leon. "We're going now."

"Going?" Leon asks breezily, as if he couldn't care less. "Can I ask where?"

"Home," Leo states. "Thank you for helping. But we're going." 

"No, you can't-!" A panicked Raphie starts to interrupt, but Leon slides in front of him. "Oh, yeah? Sounds good. Just let me know where it is and I'll portal you there right now."

Raphie looks at him in shock. Donnie and Mikey send their brothers confused looks as Raph scowls and Leo hesitates, "No... No, thank you,"

"I can't just let you wander off alone." Leon coos. "You could get hurt, remember?"

"Home's secret!" Raph snaps as he crosses his arms. "You can't go."

"So tell me somewhere near your home." Leon offers nonchalantly. All the brothers exchange looks at this and Leon leans closer to their huddle. "You do know where home is, don't you?"

"Yes!" Raph shouts at the same time as Mikey admits, "No."

His brothers all shoot him looks and he blinks innocently. "What?"

"We do." Leo hurries to cover. "But our papa might hurt you. So you have to stay."

"Well, we can't have that." Leon nods solemnly before an idea appears to dawn on him. "Wait. Your dad wouldn't happen to be a rat, would he? Tall, ninja-y, goes by Splinter?"

"You know papa?" Donnie whispers in disbelief. 

"Sure." Leon lies brazenly. "Great guy. I'm sure he misses you. How about I send someone to go let him know that his boys are here and he can come get you? I'm sure he wouldn't want you wandering around in the icky sewers all on your own."

"Well..." Leo looks at the brothers all seeking his judgment and then nods. "Okay."

"Wonderful." Leon claps his hands, watching as Casey and April enter the room with Michael out of the corner of his eyes, which makes almost everyone accounted for. "So how about I get on that and you let Raphie get that yucky slime off before Splints gets here." 

Raph's beak scrunches and Mikey lights up as Donnie looks down at the gunk on his bandages. He makes a face as Leo hesitates, young mind trying to find the catch behind the offerings. "I don't-"

"You found them!" Michael appears beside them and all gazes dart to him. 

Then the group of turts takes notice of his companions. Raph throws out an arm in front of Mikey as Leo gasps, "Humans!"

"Turtle people!" Casey mimics gleefully as he bounds up. "Hi, I'm Casey Jones and I like robots and explosions and-!" 

There are only a few inches between them when Leo reacts to his presence and decides that a spinning kick to the chest is the best way to go. Casey slams into April and they both hit the ground with matching screams. Big brother instincts prevail and Raphie steps between them with a disapproving and startled, "Hey!" 

A large spiky turtle several times their size yelling at a bunch of kids goes about as well as Leon would expect considering how they reacted to him. All the boys shriek in unison. Leo staggers back into Donnie, both pale as the younger grapples onto his arm. Mikey freezes as Raph lets loose a long follow-up hiss. 

What Leon doesn't expect is for Apes to choose that exact moment to jump off the second floor, skid down the ramp on two feet like the pro she is, and plop right in front of the fourfold of adrenalized kiddos with a wild cry and fiery bat. 

"APRIL O’NEEEEIIIL!” 

If Leon thought their screams couldn't have been any louder, he was sorely mistaken. They must have been a few decibels higher than the sound barrier as they shot out of the room, leaving horrified human children and a mix of worried and confused teens behind. 

Apes breathlessly looks back at the remaining turtles. "Anybody want to tell me what just happened?"

Leon assumes that is his cue. "I think I'll go clean up." 

Swirling his sword, he steps through his portal with a friendly salute and disappears. Bat still in one hand, she turns back to the box turtle frantically checking both humans for injuries as Raphie looks between the kids with them and the kids lost in their lair in panic. 

Apes throws up both arms. "Anyone?!" 

Chapter Text

“Please tell me that’s your sick idea of a joke.”

Casey raised both hands, palms outward, and insisted, “It’s true! The store was locked up and he wasn’t there!”

Leo sunk in his seat, head in his hands, “I knew this was a bad idea. I knew it; I knew it; I knew-“

Raph took up a different means of panic, whirling to face the pale Mikey. “You were supposed to be watching him!”

New color flushed his face. “I was not!”

“Yes, you were!”

“He was with you!”

“Until Leo told you to watch him!”

“He did not!”

“Guys!” Slamming both fists onto the console, Leo rose to his feet, sending them both a dark glare. “Our kid brother is missing! Would you shut up for five seconds.”

Mikey turned away as he crossed his arms, fingers digging into his biceps. With nowhere left to aim his fury, Raph stomped the ground and snapped, “I told you that alien was bad news!”

At much as he preached patience and tolerance, Leo never was good at ignoring bait. “He was fine until someone decided to pick a fight with him!”

“He was trying to cheat us!”

“And because you just had to throw a fit, Donnie is somewhere out there. Alone! Way to go!”

“Don’t you try and pin this on me-“

Mikey threw out both arms. “Oh, like how you tried to blame me-“

Now both older brothers turned on him.

“You were supposed to be-!“

“You literally had one job-“

“Excuse me!” Fugitoid shouted as he turned up the ships speakers, his words exploding through the bridge and putting an abrupt halt to the brother’s argument as all heads snapped towards him. “There is no use in you assigning blame! Need I remind you that young Donatello is still out there, and has been during your entire stay in the jailhouse?”

“Thanks, Raph.” Leo spat bitterly.

Raph’s eyes narrowed, “The guy was trying to cheat us and we all knew it! Besides, he gave me bad vibes!”

“Oh, so he gave you bad vibes.” Leo taunted as he jabbed at his plastron. “What a perfect reason for you to threaten him and get us all arrested!“

“Back off me-!”

“Can we please focus?!” April demanded as she shoved her way between them. The brothers glared at one another, their worry broadcasting as stifling tension, and she lowered her hands. “Okay, so you guys last saw him in the store. Maybe there’s some kind of police station or something like that where an adult might take a lost kid? Or a shop around there Donnie might head too?”

She turned to their guide. “Fugitoid?”

“There are a few electronic stores nearby, and shops with more child-friendly trinkets.” He offered as he tapped screens. “But the nearest ranger station is pretty far from the store. I worry there’s a reason for that.”

April frowned, “Okay, that’s the first place me and Casey’ll look since you guys are pretty banned from the market right now.”

“So we’re just supposed to sit here twiddling our thumbs?” Raph demanded as Leo and Mikey cut in with equal exclamations of frustration.

“Take your turn and stop being babies.” April snapped back in return. “Because those Rangers might not be so lenient a second time.”

Leo shook his head, “But-“

“Relax.” Casey dismissed as he leaned on Raph’s shoulder. “We’ll find the squirt. You guy just try not to get sent to prison while we’re gone.”

Raph growled as he swatted his hand away. An unbothered Casey followed April out of the bridge. A set of glares were exchanged between the brothers, and then Leo sighed, approaching the peeved Fugitoid. “You can’t hack security cameras or anything?”

Fugitoid voice turned puzzled. “That would be illegal, Leonardo. Are committing criminal acts per the norm for your team?”

As Leo considered the query, Fugitoid looked down to console. An uncertainty entered his tone. “It seems I am being sent an incoming transmission, but I can’t be certain by whom. Let me put it up…”

A moment of quiet, and then one of the last faces any of them wanted to see appeared on their screen. It didn’t look like the shopkeeper was in his store anymore. He was leaning on the top of what appeared to be a captain’s chair, the seat faced away. A main deck with gear that seemed older than Fugitoid’s was littered around the smaller space that was likely in need of maintenance.

“What do we owe the… Pleasure, Granri?” Leo greeted dispassionately as Raph’s entire body stiffened with a fury.

He didn’t trust the storekeeper any more than the hothead, but he didn’t need his immediate younger brother making another scene. Not when the alien could potentially know what happened to their current youngest.

“You’re out. Good. Good.” Granri said smugly. “Purely business, Leonardo. You see, you refused my generous bargain, so I got my hands on something that might be further up your line of interest.”

He straightened, grasped the top of the seat, and spun it with flourish.

Equal parts of horror and shock impeded itself in the minds of every person on the deck.

Donnie was sitting on the chair, his arms and legs tied and useless. His eyes shimmered with the tears that had yet to join the streaks on his face, a gag pulled tightly over his mouth. He trembled with the fear that was palpable in the brown gaze, jaw straining as he helplessly tried to speak through the cloth.

 Fanart by CricketFerguson

Then Raph roared, and they all jerked back into reality, watching as the brute of a brother stomped up to the screen. “You! You- I knew you were no good, you dirty, rotten-“

“What do you want?” Leo interrupted as Mikey grabbed his arm to stop him from antagonizing the man who held their baby brother at his mercy. “The money?”

“I want money, but not yours.” He goaded, apparently excited by their reaction. “The Triceritons have a pretty heavy ransom out for you terrapins. I want two of you, and I’ll give the other this one.”

He patted Donnie’s head and the turt flinched. Raph growled, and Leo didn’t hesitate. “Fine. Where?”

The alien on the screen looked equally as shocked at his brothers, but his quickly faded into a wide smirk. “My ship. I’ll send corrodinantes. Oh, and bring the robot with you. Just so I know there’ll be no tricks.”

Fugitoid quietly squawked his offense, and Leo simply turned his attention to his younger brother, brown eyes dilating with new fear. “We’re on our way, Dee. We’ll be right there.”

Donnie only shook his head, new tears fleeing, and the screen went black.

Granri ended the call. Clearly, he was establishing an air of control.

He thought he held the upper hand here. Idiot.

“Are you kidding me!?” Raph demanded as he pulled free from Mikey’s grip. “We’re giving in?! Just like that!?”

“Of course not.” Leo scoffed as he walked over to Fugitoid. “Mikey, get in contact with April and Casey. Bring them back.”

“On it!”

“Prof, do you recognize the build of that ship?”

“I might.” Fugitoid admitted as he curiously tilted his head.

“Good. I need schematics.” Leo locked gazes with his most volatile brother; a dark look shared between them. “This team is about to commit some criminal acts.”

“That’s the best you got?”

“Shut up, Raph.”

Chapter Text

It occurs to Leo that he has no idea where they’re going as they approach a new area, hurrying to stop, only to get rammed in the carapace by his screaming brothers.

The fourfold of tiny turtles tumble onto the ground in a heap, wheezing and panting from their escape. The eldest picks himself up first, frantically looking around. There are several tunnels all around, most too high up or two dark to be certain what’s on the other side.

He doesn’t know what monsters could lie in that darkness, and he’s unwilling to venture in and find out.

He grabs Mikey’s hand and darts for one of three massive ones that leads to a well-lit open room. He hears his brothers follow suit, all of them ducking behind a table, the boxes underneath it providing ample cover. The tears in his baby brother’s eyes spill over with sudden wail, curling in on himself as Leo frantically shushes him, “It’s okay, Mikey! Really! We’re safe now- we- we just gotta hide.”

He turns to the others and Raph catches his breath, “Hide. Yeah.”

“Papa showed us.” Donnie hugs his shaky hands around his body, sitting next their their baby brother. “L-like ninjas, right, Leo?” 

“Like ninjas.” Leo repeats, heart racing. “And ninjas are quiet. Sos-sos, you gotta not cry, Mikey.” 

Mikey covers his mouth, whimpering into his hand. Donnie goes into a smaller huddle.

Raph straightens, looking around with a frown. “ Where are we?” 

Leo studies the area, hesitating on an answer. “That looks like- papa’s stove? Maybe? Those are umm-”

“Cupboards.” Donnie whispers. Leo takes a couple steps forward and picks up the pan on the floor. “That’s for cooking. So, uhm, it’s uh-”

“Kitchen.”

Leo looks at Donnie and then puts down the pan. “Kitchen. We’re in the kitchen.”

“Then let’s get out.” Raph whines. “Let’s go home.”

“But Neon’s getting papa.” Leo plays with his fingers. “And we don’t know where to go.”

“Everywhere !” Raph hisses as he waves his arms.  “Everywhere else!”

“They have color magic!” Leo pleads. “Neon will use the blue to find us!”

“And then the human’ll use green to smush us!” Raph panics, eyes wide. ”And then eat us!” 

"Humans won't eat us." Donnie tries weakly, only to be dismissed with a firm, "Turtle soup, dummy."

The two youngest whimper, shrinking against one another, and Leo snaps, "Don't scare them, Raph." 

"But they do. And I bet the big turtle can bite us with one chomp!”

Leo is quick to shush him. "Ninjas are quiet."

“They gave us icecream.” Mikey sniffles. “Me and Donnie.” 

“Fatten you up! Like- like, uh, that- that witch story with cakes!”

“Hansel and Gretel?” Donnie gasps into his hands, face paling. Leo shakes his head, “They’re not eating us!” 

“Not yet!” 

“I-I-I don’t wanna be eaten!” Mikey begs with new tears. Donnie wraps his arms around him. He snuggles into his brother's hold, beak muffled behind the bandages. "I want papa! I want home!"

"We'll go home." Leo promises as he creeps over, patting his leg. "Papa's coming."

"Or they're lying." Raph insists. "We should run."

"Neon gave us Donnie and Mikey." Leo juts out his chin, standing. "He'll give us Papa."

“Says who?”

“Me.”

"Turtle. Soup." Raph expresses with fervor.

"Raph!" Leo hisses as he stomps up to him. "I'll tell Papa!"

"Tattle-shell!" 

"Rock-brain!"

“Smarter than you!”

“Neon’s not bad!”

“How do you know!”

“I just do.” 

“That’s dumb.”

“You’re dumb.” 

“You’re dumber!”

“You’re dumbest!”

“Dummy dummy dummy!”

“Stop being loud!”

“Why?! Cause they might eat us?”

“Stop it!”

“You first, dummy!”

“NO!” The brothers whirl, shocked, as Donnie glares at them through a glassy sheen, stomping a foot on the ground. “NO NO NO! You said be QUIET and you’re not being QUIET and they gonna find us and cut us UP and make SOUP because you’re YELLING and MAD and NOT BEING QUIET!” 

Donnie’s voice tilts every which way, body trembling with the force of his emotions, standing in front of the baby brother who had long since popped into the safety of his shell. A quiet sob can be heard from within as Leo and Raph exchange a silent look, messages passed and received, and then Leo slowly approaches their high-strung brother.

“Donnie.” Leo says quietly, “You’re shaking.” 

Donnie looks at his hands, unclenching his fists to study the tremors. He looks back to his older brother, tears streaking free. “I- can’t m-make it stop.”

“Oh. That sounds scary.”

He swallows, nodding. Leo takes his hands, squeezing them. “Better?” 

Donnie stares at their hands, voice cracking. “I don’t wanna be eaten.” 

“They’re not gonna eat us.” Leo assures softly, looking over to where Raph has been trapped in a full body hug, their youngest brother latched on tight. “Neon’s nice. A-and papa’ll beat them ‘fore they’re mean like that.”

Raph won’t meet his eyes. He pulls Donnie over, kneeling down next to their brothers. Donnie follows his lead. Mikey looks up. “It’s scary, but ninja can take an’thing. They just gotta be smart and brave and sneaky.” 

Mikey sniffles, leaning against Raph’s shoulder. “And then happ’ly ever after?”

Leo nods. “The end.”

"Leo.” Donnie mumbles. “Still shaky.”

Leo looks at his brother’s hands, concerned that the pep-talk hadn’t calmed the bad thoughts like they usually did. Then again, they weren’t home, safely tucked away in blankets and pillows. If Donnie got scared-loud-sad at a bad time, they might be in a lot of trouble. 

Maybe Donnie knows that. “Make it stop?”

Before Leo do more than open his mouth, an echoing voice reaches the kitchen. “-came from this way!” 

With a horrified sound from Mikey, he disappears into his shell. Raph tightens his grip around it, both brothers looking to him in panic. Leo quickly scans the room before his eyes land on a small, open spot beneath the counters. He pushes Raph to his feet, his younger brother stumbling but keeping a firm hold on Mikey. He spots the hiding place, ducking down to fit, curled around their baby brother. Leo hops up, knocking down a pile of strange square boxes.

They fall over the side of the counter and effectively cover two of his brothers from view. He gets a glimpse of wide green eyes before he’s gone. 

Leo turns around, the large form of the scary turtle blocking the doorway, sweeping gaze taking in the kitchen.

He freezes in place as his heart enters his throat, but then his gaze darts to the final brother who’s peeking around the table with round eyes. His feet become unglued from the floor, rolling when the gaze turns in their direction, grabbing the trembling hand and pulling him further out of sight. He covers Donnie’s mouth as footsteps move further into the room.

“Lil’ guys? Hello? Big Ra- Uh, Raphela won’t hurt you. Promise.” 

Leo swallows, muscles stiffening. He takes his hands off Donnie’s mouth to crouch, watching the large feet circle the table. The spiky turtle pauses, knee partly bent, and Leo has watched enough big kid movies to know what happens next.

The large turtle swerves around the table, gaze locked right on where they were standing, but in that same instance, they’ve hoisted themselves up and over the table surface in a flash. They flip onto their feet, and, with nowhere left to hide, sprint out of the kitchen and back to the tunnel area. Leo skids under the high, but large enough tunnel in the wall, entwining his fingers so his little brother can step on. 

He throws him with a grunt, watching as he catches the edge of the pipe, pulling himself up. 

Rapid steps from a larger tunnel shoots adrenaline through his system and he spins, leaping up to a pipe. His arms ache as he pulls himself up, looking to Donnie’s panicked eyes and then back toward the incoming danger.

Green lights up the tunnel, and a female voice shouts, “Hey!”

Without hesitation, he jumps.

Donnie catches his outstretched hand with both of his, straining to lift him up into the pipe. He helps yank himself in the minute that he can, pushing his younger brother further inside. It has the frightening reminders of earlier that day with Raph, but this tunnel is so much smaller than the other. Fear steals his breath as they reach the end, too far back to be easily seen, but not too difficult for the large turtle’s hands to grasp if they were spotted.

Leo smooshes himself in with his brother, muttering, “Shell.”

Donnie obliges, head and limbs gone, and he hugs the carapace that no one would be able to pry from his grasp, not even the strongest alien on Captain Ryan’s ship. Leo can feel how wet his face is as he tucks the lip of his younger brother’s shell underneath his chin, and then the human’s loud, daunting voices filters in.

“Jeez, leave a girl behind, would you?”

Fear crawls down his spine and takes hold of his muscles. The human is so close.

“Sorry, April, I didn’t mean… heard them this way but they’re not… don’t know what to do. What do I do? They… my fault… don’t even- What if they left… in the big sewers alone and helpless-”

The world around him is swimming, buzzing with the fear of unknown. He swallows a whine, petting the carapace in his grip in silent reassurance of it’s okay I’ve got you ‘cause if he’s this scared, his little brother must be twice as scared.

He wants his other little brothers, but he knows they have to be safe if the scary turtle is still upset.

“We’ll find… have to be around here somewhere.”

“But what if-“

“You wrangled… right? …can do it again. Plus… together this time! So, find one and you find them all.”

“…you’re right. Thanks, April.”

Leo tightens his hold over Donnie as their voices grow. He looks towards the entrance, green light slipping ominously into their hidy-hole, fear swelling in his gut. It stops near them, reflecting in blue eyes, but not quite tapping green skin.

“Don’t worry, big man.” The human announces. “They won’t get far with O’Neil on the case.”

A shudder crawls down his spine.

Leo doesn’t dare breathe until the green is gone and stays gone for as long as he’s capable of holding in the air. He exhales and awkwardly pulls away from his younger brother, creeping towards the end of the pipe. He looks around, wiping at his eyes to clear his vision. The human and her scary companion is gone.

He looks back, to the brother who left his shell, and waves for him to follow.

Donnie stares at him, shaking like one of the drenched dogs in the movies.

Leo crawls back to him, and bends over, tapping his fist on the ground with each letter. “A, B, C, D…” He pauses and looks at his younger brother. Donnie curls his fingers and knocks the ground, voice tiny. “E.” 

Leo nods. “A, B, C, D, E, F, G. H, I, J, K…” 

A weak knock. “L.”

“Not M?” Leo waits for the answer despite having learned his alphabet a few days after Donnie learned how to write full sentences. Donnie is quiet, thinking past the loud thoughts to Leo’s question, and then hits shakes his head. “L.”

“I think it’s-“

Donnie hits the ground harder. “K, L.” 

“Okay, okay.” Leo whispers, “A, B, C, D, E, F, G. H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q…”

Two knocks. “R, S.”

Leo goes on, “A, B, C, D, E, F, G. H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P. Q, R, S, T, U…”

“V, W.” Donnie swallows, voice a steady whisper. “X, Y, Z.”

“Now I know my abc’s…”

“…Next time won’t you sing with me.” Donnie blinks, suddenly squinting. “But I did sing with you.”

Leo giggles at the familiar line, some of the pressure leaving his lungs. “It’s just a song.”

Donnie frowns. “Well, that’s silly.”

“A little bit.” Leo agrees, backing out of the pipe. He almost wants to do the abc’s a second time, but he wants to check on their brothers more. “Come on.”

Donnie scoots out a moment after, landing unsteadily. Leo takes his hand and realizes that there’s still some shaky. It’s not a big shaky anymore, so he leaves it be as they run over to the box barricade.

They push them to the side and find Raph’s eyes tightly shut, squeezing the shell against his plastron.

“Raph.” Leo pokes his shoulder. Their brother jumps with what little room he has. Leo smiles, “They’re gone.”

Raph relaxes, rolling Mikey’s shell out to them. Leo catches his baby brother’s shell and sets it upright. “It’s okay, Mikey. You can come out now.”

Mikey does, limbs and all, and looks around. He sets big, blue eyes back on Leo. “Why’d they want us? What we do?”

“Nothing.” Raph grumbles as he moves out of the hole. Him and Donnie survey each other before looking to Leo. 

Leo considers the question, “Papa said… Humans wouldn’t want people like us for anything good. Doesn’t matter what we do ‘cause they’ll still be scared. And scared people do scary things.”

“We scare them?” Donnie asks in a confused, small voice. Leo shrugs, taking Mikey’s hand. “I guess.” 

Mikey cuddles close to him, cheek on his shoulder. “Can we go home now?” 

“We have to find Neon first.” Leo looks toward the exit, deep in thought.

He straightens, hand on his hip. “Alright, men, I have a bold and airing plan-“

“Daring.” Raph interrupts with crossed arms “It’s a daring plan.”

“I know that.” Leo counters quickly. “I-I was testing you! Yeah!”

“No he wasn’t.” Donnie clarifies. Leo puffs out his cheeks before exhaling indignantly. “I have a plan, okay?” 

Mikey tugs at his arm. “I wanna drink. In an orange cup.”

Leo looks at him and then around them. 

“Okay.” He agrees. “Drink first.”

“In an orange cup.”

“-In an orange cup.”

“And a red one.”

“And a red one.”

“Can I find juice?”

“Good idea. Donnie finds juice. We find cups.”

“What if they don’t have juice?”

“I said find juice, Donnie.”

“Okay.”

Chapter Text

It was the crying that drew his attention.

He’d heard all kinds of sounds from the lab rooms and seen all kind of creatures come and go. It had scared him when he was really little, but then they became normal, cool even, and he stopped caring. He learned to be quiet, be still, be good, and the Kraang would never let anything hurt him.

He was always good, until they took away his bale.

They’d never been apart before. It had scared him when the Kraang tried to separate them.

They both knew it was a bad sign.

Nothing had been the same since three fingers had been wrenched out of his.

He started being bad, then.

He was bad during tests. He was bad during physicals. He was bad with the simplest of orders. He was loud, and he was mean, and he broke things, and he never stopped fighting them. He thought maybe if he was bad enough they would give him back.

He’d slept many times, earned many punishments, and his bale never came back.

He thought about him all the time. He couldn’t get him off his brain- green eyes, strong movements, tight fists, quiet voice when they were alone- and it made it hard to want to be good, even when they hurt him.

Their punishments were awful, but returning to the empty nest hurt more.

He thought about him all the time. Unless there was crying.

It wasn’t always ringing in the hallway, but it was always from the same room.

It annoyed him. It scared him. It rang in his dreams.

He hated it. He needed to know what it was.

So, one day when the Kraang leading him back to his cell made the mistake of pausing to talk to another, he darted to the nearest cell and swiped it open.

The Kraang cried out, the creature within roared, and he bolted without looking back.

He ran to the room. He ran right for it and slammed the door behind him.

He slides his hand to approve the emergency lock.

Second later, the roar is closer.

Heart pounding in maybe a little bit of terror, he listens.

The Kraang are shouting, screeching, firing. The creature fades away.

He’s not worried about it. The Kraang had protocol for this. They would deal with it with their scary weapons before they went looking for him. He had plenty of time. He flicks a finger on the pad near the door. The light comes on.

He winces, letting his eyes adjust.

The crying starts.

He follows it idly, looking at the familiar and unfamiliar equipment, at the needles and serums and pretty buttons. There’s a clear containment unit in the middle of the room, filled with the wires and masks that they put on him when training really hurts, only smaller. He pauses to look at one of the screens. He scrolls.

He can’t read it, but he knows the symbol for failing. The creature is failing big time. 

Maybe that’s why it’s crying.

He sets his attention on the sound. There’s a cage at the end of the room, near the lab table. He eyes the instruments on it nervously before looking up. He stands as tall as he can on his tiptoes and peeks in.

It’s a little him.

A tiny, screaming green creature like him, only skinner with odd pink stripes. It’s shell is clean of scrapes or cracks, but it’s skin is bruised and bandaged. There’s a tight bandage around it’s forehead too.

It has no problem with openly sobbing into the cold metal beneath it, blind to his presence.

It’s angry and sad. It seems lonely. 

He looks over his shoulder to the chair before making up his mind.

He shoves it over to the cage, small area ringing with the screech across the floor, and proudly climbs up on it. Then, he presses the easily reached button. The door slides open, disappearing as he puts his hands on the edge and looks in.

He has the thing’s attention now.

“What are you?”

It’s face scrunches. New, fat tears roll down. It’s eyes are black. It’s loud.

Maybe it doesn’t like him.

“It’s okay.” He reaches out to pat its head. It feels like his bale too. “I’m not mean.”

It presses into his hand, keening it’s misery.

Its very small, failing to remain on all fours when it tries.

Too prove his statement, he picks it up. “Don’t cry. Are you hungry?” 

It doesn’t calm down. Is that a yes or no? 

He brings it into his arms, leaning back in the chair. The metal is cold but the small body is warm.

He slides to the floor. It barely weighs anything. He wonders if they had been feeding it.

He thinks of all the times him and his bale weren’t fed. The thought makes his chest hurt.

He doesn’t know what it eats. Could he make it sick?

He looks around hesitantly. The thing cries.

So he sits down on the floor. His chest hurts as it nestles against him. He does what he always did with his bale, closing his eyes and holding safe as the love rumbles through his body, promising, promising, to keep both forever.

His eyes water as he opens them.

He looks down. It’s not as loud as before, so he whispers, “You have creepy eyes.”

It blinks at him, putting a hand in his face. He giggles, sniffling.

He takes the shaking wrist in his hand, looking at the string of numbers and letters on the bracelet. He glances at the top of the cage. There are two.

“You should have a friend.” He looks at him. “Is your friend gone?”

The small body churrs. He churrs stronger, better.

The hand flexes. He lets the wrist go, but it stays with his hand, clutching at his palm. It yawns, wide, big eyes looking up at him. It’s weak. He could tear his hand away easily.

It can’t fight him. It can’t fight anyone.

He curls his fingers around it, feeling the low vibration against him.

“You’re alone.” He whispers. “I’m alone too.”

It’s eyes flicker shut. It’s so weak.

He pulls his knees up, holding it, pressing his beak against its forehead, against the bandage.

He feels it breathe. Slow, pattering with what’s left of its sorrow.

The Kraang don’t like weak things. The Kraang don’t keep weak things.

It nuzzles against his chin. It chirps.

He chirps back, soft and urging it to chase sleep.

It’s arms glow, lightly.

“Woah,” He breathes, watching in awe as it fades away.

It obeys. It trusts. It rests.

He looks at it, holds it, and feels it breathe.

He forgets to do anything else until their room is invaded.

Everything happens too fast.

The Kraang go for them almost immediately. One rips it from his hands and he screams. “NO!” 

The thing jolts awake, screaming with him. He jumps for the Kraang but another intersects, holding him in the air. “STOP STOP- STOP IT NO STOP-” 

He’s held firm as it screams, crying and crying and crying. The Kraang shoves it on the table. It wails in pain, sobbing

There’s a needle in the Kraang’s hand. Leo spins towards the Kraang suit and jabs at the eyes. It shrieks and throws him.

He hits the floor, scrambling to his feet and then pouncing at the table.

He kicks the tray, launching the instruments at the Kraang. It drops the needle and turns so they bounce harmlessly off the suit, allowing him the opportunity to grab the small creature like him.

He tucks it safely in his arms, rolling off the surface.

He spins and stumbles backwards until he hits the wall.

The Kraang looks at him. His vision blurs.

“I’ll be good!” He gasps, sob catching his words. “Doh- don’t- please!”

The Kraang ignores him, going for the needle.

“I’ll behe goohd,” He begs, more and more sobs following the last. “Plea- spuless, dohn’t tak- Ihh’ll be ghood. Ih’ll be gohood!” 

He sinks down, curling around the creature as he touches the ground, pleading I’m here I’m sorry I’m here don’t cry I’m here I’m here I got you-

The creature’s stripes glow. It’s sobs patter off.

His chest feels warm. The terror melts away.

He blinks, tears falling, stiff muscles loosening.

A Kraang stands before him.

A needle enters his neck. 

He wakes up in a containment unit. The area is low lit.

The small body is with him, curled up on his arm, fingers twitching.

He stares at it, waiting for it to disappear, for the Kraang to come in and rip it away. It sleeps on, using his arm as a pillow, bruising on the back of its head peeking out from under the bandage.

A soft laugh peters into a sob. He runs a hand over the peaceful face.

“I’ll be good.” He promises, weakly. “I’ll be good.” 

His bale breathes, skin cold. He pulls it closer to his chest to share the heat.

Closed eyelids squeeze shut. He kisses between them, running his finger under its eyes, “I’ll keep you safe. I’ll be better.”

He churrs. It relaxes, nestling against him.

He exhales. It keeps on breathing.

He makes sure of it.

Chapter Text

Donnie hates this.

There isn’t a single thing to like about being a baby.

Or, more specifically, being a teenager stuck in a baby’s body.

It might have been better if he was able to retain the muscle memory and ability of speech that he’d grown into over the years, but that was apparently not a part of the bargain. He couldn’t speak a single word, walk more than two steps, hold an object in three fingers, or handle the insufferable baby affection that his brothers insisted on giving him!

As if Mikey’s cooing isn’t demeaning enough, Leo was insistent that he always be holding or feeding Donnie. How was he supposed to develop with this much coddling?!

And hello! Personal space does exist!

The only communication that ever went through was a bout of flailing and screaming, mostly because it was the only communication that he could do. And when he started that, he’d find himself eventually crying, which only made things more embarrassing.

It was almost like the fact that no one was listening came with more fury than his baby brain could process. He hated it and his brothers' frantic attempts to calm him.

But even then, they just assumed that he wanted more food or a nap. Or he assumed that’s what they assumed. MAN, he wishes he could just understand basic English- 

He didn't want food. He didn't want toys. He didn't want that retched pacifier.

What he wanted was to get back to his normal body! How was that not obvious?!

And now, here he was, stuck in Leo’s grip as he tries to shove the STUPID pacifier in his mouth to shut him up EVEN THOUGH he’s been TRYING to tell him that he’s NOT TIRED!

Donnie finally manages to smack it out of his hand.

When his brother panics, he inhales, and he screams.

Raph can’t stand it anymore.

“Can’t you SHUT him UP?” Raph demands as he barges into the bedroom where Leo had ducked away with Donnie not twenty minutes ago.

In all fairness, his attitude is probably why they won’t let him around the constantly cranky baby, but in his defense, how are you supposed to stay calm when everything sets Donnie off? Literally EVERYTHING. 

“What do you think I’ve been doing!” Leo responds with heat, but the way that his voice wobbles gives away his real frustration. “Nothing works!"

"Isn't Sensei back yet?!"

"No!" Leo's voice cracks hard. "And I don't know what to do! It’s like he hates me!”

“Get over yourself.” Raph snarls as he stomps over. “And give me that.”

He swipes Donnie before Leo can stop him and then storms out of the room. He takes them to the pit, crouches down, and carefully- if not a bit aggressively- sets him on the floor.

Leo runs up behind him, pausing when Donnie’s screams putter off.

Donnie looks around, fat tears still rolling down his face, harsh hitches in his breath. Raph stares him down as he looks up with big, black eyes. They stare at one another, a couple angry chirps leaving his lips, paired with sad, body-jolting hiccups.

It’s annoyingly hard to stay mad at a baby.

“You don’t want a nap.” Raph states. “Then suffer.”

Donnie looks to the ground and then rises up on shaky arms. He puts himself into the sitting position, bangs his fists on the floor, and screams.

Raph gently, gently, emphasis in not intending harm- bops his fist on his head.

Leo gasps like he was the one to take a must harsher blow.

Donnie blinks away the tears, expression puzzled.

Not the same grumpy glare or sad eyes that he’d been showing for hours.

He looks genuinely baffled. Which is good. Because a curious Donnie is a calm Donnie.

“You’re a brat.” He decides, ignoring Leo’s objection. “So fine. What do you want?”

Donnie stares at him. Raph gestures around them. “I have all night. You just sit there for all I care.”

Then he picks up the remote and turns on the tv. Donnie looks at it and then looks at him. He whimpers, now confused, and Raph holds up a hand when Leo steps forward. “Let me handle this. You go train or get your spirit on or whatever you do.”

“But…” Leo hesitates. Raph looks over his shoulder with a deadpan. “Unless you want him screaming again?”

Leo takes a minute to decide and then painstakingly drags himself away.

He disappears into the dojo. Raph's pretty sure he's going to find somewhere to go curl up and stress about being failure.

As long as the lair is finally quiet, he can tolerate it. 

Donnie looks at Raph. Raph looks at the tv.

The little tike struggles onto two feet. The hothead never turns his head, watching carefully as he tries to walk. And fails. And tries. And fails. And fails about four more times, possibly for good measure. Are all his brothers like this, or just those two? 

He cries out his fury the last three times. On the last fall, he remains where he lands, pulling away into his shell silently. He stays there and Raph lifts himself from the ground to walk over. He sits next to him and watches the tv.

After a few moments, he lifts his hand to set two fingers against the shell. It quivers, likely with silent sobs, and something in his chest twinges. This was more of what he was used to. The teen Donnie who yells until the pain eats away at him, driving him to hide and sulk. 

“You’re okay.” He says simply. “Trust me, you figure it out.”

He picks him up and then lays on his plastron, setting the shell in front of him. He waits, staring at the black hole in shell, until glassy eyes slowly peek out.

“Hey,” He welcomes, running a finger over his head. “Done pouting?”

He keens, lip wobbling. Raph tilts his head, “Do you even know who I am?”

Donnie keens again, helpless and a bit angry.

“You’re not giving up.” His big brother gets to his knees. “Let’s try this again.”

He sets his shell upright in the air. After a brief moment, arms and legs come out. Raph sets him on the ground and takes his hands.

Tiny fingers wrap around one of his.

“Good.” He tugs, just a bit. “Now get moving.”

With Raph taking the majority of the balance and shell weight off his plate, Donnie is able to make it several more steps than before. Donnie smacks one of his hands away and proceeds to try walking with only one branch of support. It’s visibly more difficult, but he keeps working at it, little tongue poking from his lips.

Even Raph has to admit that it’s adorable.

“A few days ago, you were making that same face while defusing a bomb.” Raph remarks. “And now you’re struggling to walk. What a world.”

Donnie chirps, panting, and after a couple more steps, shaky legs deposit him on the ground.

He lays where he falls, arms flopping uselessly.

Raph smirks. “Are we tired now.”

A small, sleepy round of clicks. 

“Good.” He says before cupping his mouth. “LEO!”

His older brother runs out like the lair's on fire. “WHAT?! WHAT HAPPENED?!”

Raph gestures to the baby. “Do you want him or not?”

“Um.” Leo walks over, uncertain. “I don’t know. I don’t think he…”

“You tried to put a Donnie to sleep when he had a job to do.” Raph dismisses. “Does that ever go well?” 

Leo purses his lips, not wanting to agree, because that would make him wrong.

Raph waits, impatiently.

Leo slowly kneels down. “…Hey, little brother.” 

Leo’s back.

If Raph’s scream was any indicator, he was probably summoning him.

Donnie is perfectly content on the floor. Leo picks him up anyway.

He tucks him back into his arms, voice soft overhead. Donnie considers being mad, but he’s too satisfied with his accomplishments to care.

Besides, now that his brain is no longer overcome by angry fuzz, the tone sounds less demeaning and more… Comforting. And he’s warm.

Donnie looks up at him. His expression is wary until their eyes meet, and then he’s mushy all over again. His voice dips from soothing into babying. Ugh.

Donnie rubs his eyes. He can’t remember if he slept the night before. Or at all.

Maybe that’s why this body wouldn’t stop crying.

Raph and Leo were talking. He still can’t understand them.

His brows pinch. He hates that. He wants to understand them.

He whimpers. Only because this baby mouth has a mind of its own.

Leo leans down to gently nuzzle the side of his face. Donnie instinctively goes to push him away, but something untangles in him when Leo does. He can hear the message as clearly as if it was spoken. “I love you. Are you well?”

He keeps his hands on his face, bumping his beak with his. “I’m well. I love you.”

Leo makes a sound, somewhere between a squawk and an “aww!” 

Donnie ignores the instincts to push the face away.

His brothers are so emotional.

“Did you see that?!” Leo beams when he lifts his head, “He’s so cute!”

“Uh-huh.” Raph says dryly as Donnie somehow yawns in the most adorable way possible. “Just ignore all the screaming and he’s a real sweetheart.”

“He’s just sleepy.” Leo coos. “Sleepy little guy. Poor Dee.”

"He's a brat. You need to stop babying him."

"I need to stop babying a baby?"

"Yes."

"No." Leo juts his chin. "Sensei said I could be in charge of him, so I get to baby him as much as I want."

"Then I'm not fixing it next time."

"I never asked for your help," Leo bites back as he gets to his feet. "Neither did Donnie."

"Pretty sure he was begging for it."

"He's a baby! They yell when they're tired." He goes into the hallway. "And I'm telling Sensei you hit them."

Raph eyerolls hard as he falls back onto the couch. He won't, because he'll be seeking Raph's help later, and he won't give it if he has to sit through a lecture on gentleness and compassion being important ninja traits. Leo's all compassionate and gentle and look where that got him, getting screamed at for hours on end.

Speaking of which, he lets out a long breath.

The lair is quiet. Finally.