Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Karai kneeled apprehensively on the ground in the sanctuary in front of her fathers pedestal. 

any punishment he gave her was deserved.

She had lost Don, her baby brother. when the third turtle tackled him into the water, she knew things were bad. she knew he was wearing his battle shell. things looked up more when he surfaced until the water slammed him into the concrete edge of the city. when he dissapeared into the raging water, she couldn't help but try to jump in after him, despite not being nearly as good of a swimmer as the turtle. The other Foot soldiers caught her and took her back to their base, immediately informing her father of everything that had happened.

he sent out his other trusted diplomat to negotiate new terms with the purple dragons, then dismissed everyone but Karai. 

she dared to glance up at her father, expecting his anger, his dissapointment.

but instead, she saw worry. 

her father sat in his chair with his legs apart, and his elbows on his knees. he pressed his palms together against his nose, and searched the floor with his eyes, his eyebrows furrowing. 

Karai decided to take a risk.

she stood.

"father."

his eyes caught hers immediately, stoning themselves on instinct. 

"I-" she took a deep breath. "I am sorry. I want to get him back, but I will not do anything else if you order so."

he thought for a moment. "they said the attackers were turtles?"

Karai was thrown off. "yes. there was some kind of spiky one, one no one saw cause he took Don into the water, and-"

"a red-eared slider?"

Karai halted. surely, such a detail wasn't deemed important enough for the soldiers to relay it to father. she nodded, cautious of where the conversation was headed. 

The Shredder sighed. "those three, I didn't think they survived."

Karai blinked. "survived what?"

he locked eyes with his daughter once more. "They are part of the Hamato clan."

"the Hamato?" Karai internally panicked. "then don-"

"He may be in danger." Father confirmed. he then stood and decended the staircase, approaching Karai. She tried to steady her already trembling shoulders. "Karai."

she looked up at him and they locked eyes. 

"You must help your brother."

she took a deep breath in, then released it, and nodded. "I'll get a team."

"no." Father shook his head. "I have a plan already, but you may not like it."

Karai hesitated at his tone. "as long as Don is returned hom unharmed, I'll do whatever you need me to do."

"very well, but first, we need to find him."

Chapter Text

"Leo." Mikey looked up at his oldest brother. Leo looked at his big baby blues for a second before raising his brows. "you don't need to stand here the whole time."

Leo looked to his left at the closed door of the room their newest brother. He didn't trust him, wether he was part of the Foot Clan or not. 

"I know, Mikey, but if he escapes he could tell the Foot Clan where we are." Leo watched as Mikey frowned, looking at his feet. 

"but he's still our brother." Mikeys protest was quiet, like he was afraid to argue. 

"hey, what's happening over here." Raph aproached the other two. 

"I'm standing guard over the blind one." Leo pointed his thumb toward the door.

Mikey huffed loudly. "His name is Donatello."

Raph and Mikey both looked at him in confusion. 

"Donatello?" Leo asked and Mikey nodded in response.

"well, It fits the theme." Raph shrugged. "Bit of a mouthful though."

"well, I'm going to call him Donnie." Mikey said matter-of-factly. 

"well, anyway, why are you standing guard over Donatello?" Raph crossed his arms.

Leo shrugged. "Why not?"

"leo-" Raph stopped, and sighed. "fine, do whatever you want, just don't miss training."

he walked away again and Mikey watched him sadly, before looking back at Leo with puppy-dog eyes.

Leo suppressed a groan. "What do you want?"

"I want to go say hi to Donnie." Mikey gave him a huge smile, as adorable as ever.

Leo narrowed his golden eyes at his youngest brother, before releasing the tension in his shoulders with a sigh. "Well, I can't really stop you. He's not a prisoner."

"Then why are you guarding his room, and why did Papa lock his door last night?" Mikey asked, walking over to the door and unlocking the knob before entering. 

Leo blinked. He hadn't realized that the door was locked. He guessed after that, guarding the door would be overkill.

Leo found himself wandering to the Dojo. when he entered, Splinter looked over at him from where he had been meditating. 

"Leonardo, how did you sleep my son?"

Leo shrugged. "Okay, I guess."

Splinter smiled a bit. "Come meditate with me."

Leo did as he was told, sitting down beside the old racoon and closing his eyes. he had found that meditating had come easier to him than his brothers. the battle nexus had a toll on his body, but he'd refused to allow it to take a tool on his mind. He steadied his breathing and the world around him faded out. His worries, his concerns, his fears, all drifted away like water rolling over stone. He aknowledged each emotion an thought, then moved on with his thoughts. He focused his senses and his breathing to a point that when Splinter shuffled, he could hear it, despite the racoon usually being very quiet. 

"leonardo?"

Leo opened his eyes and looked at his father. "yes?"

Splinter considered him for a moment before standing. "Raphael told me that your hands glowed yesterday?"

Leo also stood, nodding and looking at his palms. "They glowed when they got near Donatello after we got him out of the water."

"hmm." Splinter gently held the backs of Leo's hands, also observing his palms. "perhaps we should run a little experiment to try to discover what your Ninpo is."

Leo followed Splinter out of the Dojo and back to Donatellos room. before reaching it, however, the racoon stopped, staring at the wide open door and the empty room beyond. 

"where did he go?" Splinter sun in a circle, his ears turning every which way to try to locate the missing brother.

"Mikey went in to check on him." Leo suggested, following his father out to the main living area. Leo spotted his youngest brother fiddling with the TV, inserting a CD to set up a movie. 

"Michaelangelo!" Splinters voice was stern, and caused the hybrid turtle to turn his head, startled. he yanked his hands back from the electronics with wide eyes. "Where did Donatello go?"

Mikey narrowed his eyes, actually looking visibly annoyed with his fathers question. "He's in the bathroom." he turned back to his previous task. "you locked him in that room all night, a turtle has needs you know."

Splinter sighed, turning to look at the closed bathroom door with the light shining beneath it. "I apologize my son, I did not intend to sound so harsh."

"yeah, yeah. you all need to calm down. Donnie's not a bad person." Mikey finished what he was doing and stood up, putting his hands on his hips. "I would know, I've met him before."

"you what?" Leo asked. 

"yeah." Mikey shrugged. "I met him before I met you all, though I didn't realize that was him until today. He had every chance to attack me, but he chose not to in favor of a girl he was with."

"a girl?" Leo scoffed. "what is he, In love with some princess of the foot clan?"

Mikey shook his head. "it wasn't like that. There was a familial relationship between them, like a cousin or a close friend." he thought for a moment, before turning his attention to Leo, tappin his cheek with one finger. "she had black hair and these little diamonds on her cheek, and she was wearing a mask that matched his."

Leo remembered the night before, and his shoulders dropped. "you mean like the girl we thought was trying to take him last night?"

Mikeys eyes got wide. "oh mi gosh, that WAS her." he pressed both his hands to his cheeks. "We kidnapped him!"

"Accidentally." Leo offered.

"Ah yes," Mikey rolled his eyes. "Sorry we accidentally kidnapped you on purpose, we had good intentions."

"Mikey-" Leo stopped talking when the bathroom door opened. Donatello emerged, looking like he hadn't slept a wink and having a pair of glasses perched on his snout. He froze when he spotted Leo and Splinter, giving them both a once-over, his hot pink eyes slow and precise in their observations. 

"Donnie!" Mikey ran over to the larger turtle, who flinched and tensed when Mikey wrapped his arms around his and pulled him into the pit, pushing him onto the couch. "Here, do you need a blanket? I'm going to grab some drinks and snacks!"

"Mikey, what are you doing?" Leo asked. 

"We are going to watch a movie!" Mikey called back, dissapearing into the kitchen. 

Leo stood there in an akward silence with an anxious Splinter at his side. The racoon would not take his eyes off of Donatello, as if he would attack the moment he did. Donatello was facing toward the right, so Leo could only see that side of him. He glued his eyes to the static of the TV, as if he was trying to pretend that iit was playing so he could ignore Leo and Splinter. 

Leo understood where Mikey was coming from, but he also knew his younger brother was quick to judge and might be trusting the new brother too easily. Mikey returned with a bowl of heavenly-smelling popcorn and several soda cans as he plopped down on the couch beside Donatello. 

Donatello finally moved, looking at Mikey as he sat, and seemingly relaxing a bit as Mikey started chattering, handing him two soda cans and putting the popcorn between their thighs. 

"hey mike." Leo finally stepped forward.

Mikey shot him a nervous glance.

"mind if I join?"

a wide smile spread across Mikeys face as he lit up. "Of course bro!"

Leo sat on the other side of Donatello, accepting a soda from Mikey and spreading his arms out on the back of the couch. he crossed his legs nad relaxed into the cushion. 

Donatello shifted, Putting his arm up to hold the back of his neck and edge of his shell, which seemed to press inward a bit at his touch. 

Is he worried I'm going to touch his shell?

Leo looked past Donatello at Mikey. "What movie are we watching?"

"The first Jupiter Jim movie!" Mikey picked up the remote and pointed it at the TV which turned from static to the start of the disc. The production companys logos and theme songs started playing quietly, so Mikey turned it up. "Donnie hasn't seen them before."

"ah." Leo turned his attention to the screen.

ten minutes into the movie, He turned to look at Donatello, who's eyes were glued to the screen in facination. 

suddenly, the soft-shell flinched and turned with wide eyes to look behind Leo. startled, Leo turned to look as well, seeing a grey and black striped tail dissapear into the dojo.

Leo looked back at Donatello, freaked out. He had been able to sense Splinter moving. Leo couldn't sense it, let alone hear it unless he was deeply meditating. He also hadn't even realized that Splinter had remained in the same spot for so long. 

Donatello was skilled, and internally, it somewhat terrified Leo.

Chapter Text

Raph heard the familiar movie playing from the living area and stood to go check.

he saw all three of his brothers sitting on the couch watching the movie intently, even Donatello, who glanced over to Raph when he entered the room before turning his attention back to the TV. Leo seemed a bit tense, frowning deeply, and Mikey was excited, stealing the occasional glance toward Donatello to see his reaction to certain scenes.

Raph felt warm. This was how things were supposed to be, it felt... right.

but it wasn't, Donatello was sitting between his brothers, and Raph didn't fail to notice that Leo had his sword on his back, as if he would attack their brother if he made any wrong moves. Splinter was nowhere to be found, and April was in school and had yet to meet their newest brother. 

Raph looked at the tallest turtle, noticing the small scars on his legs and arms, as well as the bags beneath his eyes. He had no idea what kind of life Donnie may have had in the foot clan, but Raph intended to make sure he was safe, no matter what.

Raph finally stopped watching them, and decided to join them, sitting on the other side of Mikey, who lit up when he sat down and ran off to the kitchen to grab more drinks and snacks. Raph had noticed how Donnie seemed to tense a bit when Mikey left, his chin dropping slightly as he continued staring at the screen. 

"so," Raph cleared his throat. "Donnie, how old are you."

Donnie looked at him for a moment before making some kind of movement with his hand. 

Sign Language.

Raph cringed, regretting not taking Splinters offer to learn ASL a few years back. "uh, sorry. I dont know-"

Donnie pulled his lips into a thin line and pulled out a notepad smaller than the one from the night before as well as a pencil. he scribbled something on the pad and handed it to Raph, placing his hands on his knees as he watched Raph read his writing. 

"You're 15? Like Mikey?"

Donnie nodded, motioning for his pad back. he wrote something else, handing it back once more. 

"you will turn 16 in February." Raph smirked. "Makes sense. that means Mikey is still the youngest."

Leos golden eyes locked onto Raph, observing him and his interaction almost critically. Raph understood his tension, but he figured the more they were tense with Donnie, the longer It would take him to relax around them.

"so you are the second youngest." Raph continued. "Leo is the oldest, and I am right behind him." 

Donnie looked at the floor in front of him for a second, then at Leo.

Mikey came back into the room with refills and handed them all out. "What'd I miss?"

"It's confirmed!" Raph teased "You are the youngest brother."

"awe man! really?" Mikey whined. "Dang!"

Donnie watched him sit back beside him, and when Mikey leaned against Donnies shoulder, he didn't push him back. He looked a bit surprised, and tensed a bit, but then looked back at the TV nervously.

Raph didn't really understand his behavior. he seemed to hate them all the night before, but Mikey had apparently already broken through his defenses. 

unless he was pretending.

Raph could tell that Donatello was smart, and in that case he may try to escape, using Mikey to do so. 

Raph planned to keep an eye on the both of them until he could talk to Mikey alone. 

if anyone could make Donnie believe that he was where he was meant to be, it would be their youngest brother.

Chapter Text

You will be a great warrior someday

but... I don't wanna hurt anyone

... fine, we can wait a bit before starting your training. come, I need a blood sample.

Mikey opened his heavy eyes slowly, blinking to regain the bearing of his heavily graffittied room. He sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and gripped his elbows. The skin around his veins was permanently discolored. He'd been taught how to use his powers properly when they started, and Draxum had always tried to recreate his mutagen with Mikey's samples. He had been very strict with everything Mikey did and his anger got the better of him more often than it should have.

but Draxum never did train him.

Mikey made his way to the bathroom first, then to Donnie's room, unlocking the door and opening it. Donnie was sitting up in bed, reading a fairly large book, not at all like the comics that Mikey preffered. "Hey Donnie."

Donnie looked up at him, his hot pink eyes cautious, but not as sharp or intense as he had started with. 

"How'd you sleep?" Mikey took a step into the room and Donnie shrugged. "Did you sleep?"

Donnie pinched his fingers together in front of his face.

"only a bit? did you have a bad dream?"

donnie shook his head.

"okay." Mikey stood there for a moment, akwardly. "do you want some breakfast?"

Donnie nodded. 

Mikey beamed. "Bacon and sausage, right? you mainly eat meats."

Donnie made a breaking motion with his hands that Mikey recognized.

"you want some eggs too?"

Donnie nodded. 

"Okay! coming right up!" Mikey exited the room, closing the door behind him carefully before trotting to the kitchen and starting to gather his ingredients. He Knew that Leo loved fried eggs, and Raph liked bacon the most, but they were also both omnivorous, so Mikey also got out some potatoes to make hash-browns and some grits. 

Once he'd gotten everything he needed, he started preparing the potatoes and sausage patties. maybe tomorrow he'd make breakfast sandwhiches on english muffins.

no, tomorrow was cereal day. Leo loved sticking to his schedule. 

Mikey hummed a bit as he cooked, making sure to keep an eye on everything on the stove. He finished the grits first, putting them to the side to thicken, and using that burner to start the fried eggs. 

He turned to grab the salt and pepper from the island in the middle of the kitchen. He startled when he saw Donnie sitting in one of the bar seats, watching him. he hadn't even heard him come in!

Mikey yelpped, jumping back, and catching himself on the counter beside the stove, bumping the cutting board when he did so, and knocking the knife he had been using off the counter. 

Mikey tried to catch it. 

the stinging pain shot through his palm as he reeled back, letting the blade drop to the floor. 

He opened his palm to see the cut and slowly oozing blood. 

No no no no no.

He turned to look at Donnie who had stood up, and panic settled into his stomach. "Wait! it was an accident, I didn't mean to-"

Donnie stepped toward him, and Mikey took a step back. He couldn't help but see Draxum in that moment, towering over him. His anger at the fact that Mikey had hurt himself. His blood couldn't be tainted...

Donnie held Mikeys hurt hand, firmly but gently. 

then, Mikey heard a melody.

It was soft, like humming, and slow. it calmed him, and as he relaxed, it got a bit louder. Donnie guided Mikey to a chair, then turned to the stoves, turning them all off, still humming.

He rummaged through a cabinet for a second, pulling out a first-aid kit and a washcloth. he got the cloth wet in the sink and sat down beside Mikey, motioning for his hand. Mikey gave it and Donnie fluidly cleaned the cut, his humming not faltering for even a second. 

He wrapped the hand carefully with some gauze, recognizing Mikey's aversion to the white collored wrapping by keeping the fabric together with an orange band-aid. 

He looked into Mikey's eyes. "Are you okay?"

Mikey nodded, biting his lip. he hadn't expected to react like that. 

then it struck him and he shouted in surprise "YOU CAN TALK??"

Chapter Text

Don flinched, and automatically put his hand over Mikey's mouth, startled by how loud the comment had been. Mikey jumped a bit as well, and Don heard someone scramble into the room.

"Mikey, what's wrong-" Don turned his head and locked eyes with Leo, who took in the scene in front of him for a split seconds. Don still held Mikeys bandaged hand in one hand, and the other was over his mouth.

Leo did not take this well.

"What are you doing to him?!" Leo stepped toward Don quickly, aggresively, and Don jumped up, releasing Mikey and stepping away from Leo, all his defenses going back up. Perhaps he had been a fool to relax around Mikey in the first place. there was something about the snapping box turtle that was comforting in a way he'd only ever felt with Karai.

"Leo, wait!" Mikey stood as well, placing himself between the two defensive turtles. "He wasn't hurting me! he was helping me."

"then why was he covering your mouth?"

"I just startled him." Mikey waved his hands "It really isn't what it looked like!"

"He's been here for a week already and he's not done a single trustworthy thing since." Leo glared. "Might as well just send him back to where he belongs."

"leo-" Mikey pleaded. "He's our brother."

Leo narrowed his eyes at Don before straightening his stance and looking at mikey with a frown. "What happened to your hand?"

Mikey laughed sheepishly "I tried to catch a falling knife. It's just a little cut."

"let me see." Leo motioned for his hand and Mikey complied.

then Leo's palms started glowing. 

as if on a knee-jerk reaction, Leo recoiled, pressind his fists into his plastron in surprise. Mikey also seemed shocked, looking at his bandaged hand for a moment before coming to a realization. "Wait! Leo, do that again!" He stuck his hand toward Leo with a comforting smile. Don took a few steps forward to watch as Leo hesitantly took Mikeys hand in both of his again. His hands once again let off a pale blue glow that seemed to transfer a bit to Mikey's injured hand. 

When the glowing faded, Mikey took off the carefully wrapped bandage, much to Dons dismay. 

the craziest part was that the cut that Don had seen with his own two eyes was gone completely, healed as if it had happened months ago.

Don blinked. was that even possible?

"what the-" Leo looked at Mikeys hand with wide eyes. 

"dude-" Mikey said. "you healed me! your Ninpo is a healing power!"

Leo was shocked, not knowing what to say or even how to process. Don found it ironic, that a creature that had shown to have so much malice and lack of morals could possess an adverse power, able to heal the same things he hurt.

Don wondered if he could control who-

he felt a familar feeling settling into his stomach.

Oh no-

Donnie tensed. he needed to lay down, or get somewhere he could sit. He didn't say anything else, just ran past Mikey and Leo, who both shouted in surprise and followed behind him into the living area. A wave of dizziness washed over him for a moment, causing him to lose his balance and stumble sideways into the couch.

"Donnie!" Mikey was at his side in an instant, helping him ease onto the couch carefully as Don clutched his head with one hand. he needed to get situated, hold it off as long as he could so he could do so. 

"Jeez, my power didn't surprise you that much, did it?" Leo asked, right behind Mikey, leaning over, his hands on his knees. 

Don closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, but when he opened them again, he wasn't in the living room anymore. 

He was in a small dark room, his knees pressed to his plastron. He was aware of some kind of danger, and the fact that he was trapped. If he tried to leave, the nightmares would attack him. 

Karai was there too, leaning her shoulder against his, a worried look on her face. She also knew they were in danger, ever since the Skeleton Lady came. 

Who is the Skeleton Lady?

Don found slight comfort in Karai's presence, but there was something different between them, a feeling he couldn't quite place. perhaps she had said something or they had a fight. Don did tend to take things personally very easily. But her being there meant he would see her again. the Hamatos wouldn't kill him. somehow, he felt safe in another presence. 

and when the red-masked turtle opened the door, out of breath and alone, Don felt a sense of love.

Maybe Don didn't need to pretend anymore. Maybe he could learn to trust his 'Brothers'. If Raph would go so far as to face the nightmares to save him and Karai, then Don would trust him with his life, and maybe even his voice. 

The vision faded away slowly, leaving that same feeling of fatigue it always left, and the muffled voices around him returned slowly along with his control of his body.

Chapter Text

"Papa!" Mikey shouted from where he held Donatello. 

Splinter came running into the room frantically, Raph following closely behind him. they both jumped to Mikey and Donatellos side and Leo saw how Mikey was panicking, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. 

"I don't know what happened." Mikey started. "we found out Leo can heal and then Donnie kind of panicked and ran in here and basically fell onto the couch and now he's not responding!"

Splinter was graceful as he kneeled beside the two turtles, Raph clasping his hands together against his chest as he watched. Splinter pressed his hand to Donatello's forehead. he then leaned in and opened his eyes wider than their slitted position. his eyes were completely white, and Leo couldn't help but notice a faint glowing of the purple marks on his face and limbs. 

"Leonardo," Splinter reached a hand behind him. "let me see if you can heal him."

Leo complied and Splinter pressed his hand to his forehead. no glowing followed and Splinter sighed, letting Leo go and pulling back a bit, standing back up.

"Is he okay?" Mikey looked up at the Racoon with wide, pleading eyes.

"let me check something, my son." Splinter pressed his hands together as if he was praying, and Leo watched as his fathers eyes started glowing. he looked again at Donatello and smiled a bit, relaxing as the glowing faded. "relax, I believe Donatello is using his ninpo."

"Huh," Before Leo could think he scoffed a bit "incapacitation of yourself, real useful power."

"you are not Donatello, Leonardo." Splinter's scoldng tone was instant and sharp. "You cannot do what he does, so do not be so quick to judge."

Leo hung his head a bit, wondering what Donatellos power really was. maybe he was charging up or something. 

Donatello blinked, his hot bink irises and pupils finally visible again as his breath hitched a bit and he moved his head to the side. 

Raph leaned over him and Mikey, as Splinter stepped out of the way. Donatello blinked a few more times, looking up at Raph and smiling slightly. 

"hey... Raph."

Leo paused. Did Donatello just-

Donatello could talk.

and he had lied about it this whole time. 

Leo felt a hot anger in his stomach, but he pushed it down. He wouldn't confront the turtle, not here, not now. 

"hey bud," Raphs voice cracked in surprise. "You okay? You scared us there for a second."

Donatello nodded and moved to sit up a bit. Mikey helped him up and Raph straightened, crossing his arms with a smirk. 

"what happened?"

Donatello pulled out his notepad, fixing his glasses that had gone askew and Leo stifled a groan, stepping forward and snatching the paper from him. "Oh cut the act, you just spoke. we know you can!"

"Leo!" Mikey protested, backed by a motion from Raph to grab the pad back from Leo. Leo slapped his hand away.

"Stop codling him! He's a member of the Foot Clan, who, if you don't recall, killed out mother and our sister."

Before either Mikey or Raph could argue, Donnie stood up, a good 7 inches taller than Leo with an angry look. 

"it was the Hamato Clan that killed my mother." He growled.

Leo took a step back, half from intimidation, and half from surprise. Donatello, though seemingly skilled, had shown to be fairly timid until then. 

perhaps his mother was a touchy subject?

Leo crossed his arms "There's no way that's possible. the Foot hunted down the Hamatos, not the other way around."

Donatello stood there moment, deeply considering his next move. he glanced at Mikey and Raph for a moment, then huffed, training his gaze once again on Leo. "If you all are going to kill me, best do it quick, before I decide to take matters into my own hands." he shoved past Leo, going toward the bedrooms.

"Donatello." the sharp voice rang out and he froze, turning his attention angrily at Splinter. "you will remain here for a few minutes."

without any further explanation, Splinter walked into the Dojo. Leo watched Donatello, who watched him go, a look of hate even more intense than he had given Leo apparent on his face. He had barely agknowleged Splinter since they'd brought him here. there was something he knew, r thought he knew, that he had refused to talk about until then.

he believed that Splinter had killed his mother.

no wonder he had been so closed off. he had probably been fed lies all his life. He'd probably been taught that the Hamato clan was the enemy, and that they would kill him if he was ever caught. 

Leo huffed. He realized then, that his standoffish attitude probably hadn't helped Donnie believe them either. 

he wanted to say anything, but as soon as he moved, Donnies gaze shifted back to him. Leo could see the anger in his eyes, but he couls also see pain, and fear. The usually docile turtle wasn't kidding when he expected them to kill him. 

he was just a kid. 

Leo swallowed nervously, relaxing his shoulders and face so that Donnie could get the message from him that he didn't want to fight anymore, but Donnie looked at the floor instead, his fists clenched at his side. 

Splinter reapeared holding a few pieces of paper. "here." he held them out toward Donnie, who regarded them cautiously. "do not be afraid, my son. they are pictures of you four before you were mutated, playing with my daughter, Miwa, and my wife."

Leo figured he didn't want to freak Donnie out by giving him Tang Shens name. 

Donnie took the pictures slowly, looking at them carefully. there seemed to be three, and as he moved the first one to the back and looked at the second, the anger in his face yeilded to surprise. 

the third picture, however, caused Donnie to nearly drop the other two, as he looked at it with an almost horrified expression. 

he mouthed something, then looked up at Splinter, who smiled softly. 

"I am sorry I did not show you these sooner, Donatello, but I did not know what all the Foot had told you about us."

something finally processed in Donnie's mind and his face started showing his thoughts going a mile per minute. he dropped the other two pictures, keeping the third as he pressed it to his chest, taking two steps back from the racoon.

"Donatello?" Splinter asked, his voice concerned. 

Donnie shook his head once, biting his lower lip, his eyes darting around frantically.

"Donnie?" Mikey asked, getting up from his place on the couch. 

he looked over at his three brothers, breathing heavily and tensed as they all took a step toward him. 

then he turned and ran into his room.

"Donnie!" Raph called. 

"Raphael." Splinter leaned down and picked up the two abandoned photos carefully. "Give him some space. He is probably in dire need of it."

Raph stopped beside Leo as they heard Donnies door shut. He stood there with his arms crossed as Splinter returned to his place in the Dojo.

Mikey stood up. "I'm going to finish breakfast."

both of his older brothers nodded and watched him go back to the kitchen.

"you think Donnie is going to be okay? he seems a little shell-shocked." Raph asked.

Leo nodded. "I'm sure he'll be fine. It would be a shock to you too if your whole world view was flipped upside down with a couple of pictures."

"yeah, I guess that's true." Raph sighed. "I still feel like we are missing something with him."

"like what?"

"If he was told that Tang Shen was killed by Hamato Yoshi and the Hamato clan, then he probably didn't think that SPlinter was married to her."

"yeah, and?"

"who does he believe was her husband? Who is Donnie's father?" 

Leo's breath caught in his throat, only imagining the worst case-scenarios. 

Splinter was right, Leonardo was not Donatello. he couldnt do what Donnie could do, and he had no idea what he had been through. Leo intended to apologize.

he owed Donnie that much.

Chapter Text

"Donnie!" Raph knocked on his immediate younger brothers door. he heard some rustling before the soft-shell opened the door. "hey, Splinter cleared you for patrol if you want to come."

Donnie blinked, then pulled at his fingers for a second before turning around and bringing out one of his half full notepads. he did his usual scribbling, then handed it to Raph. 

Can I grab my gear?

"The gear with the foot clan logo?" Raph was hesitant.

I can take it off. I mainly need my arm and leg wraps.

"Okay." Raph walked with him to the Dojo and did not leave him to face the skeptical look from their racoon father.

after a concerningly long moment of silence, Splinter finally said "Donatello, please stay close to Michaelangelo. he is not the best fighter yet."

Donnie nodded, sighing in relief when Splinter retrieved his gear. It had been washed and folded neatly with the foot clan insigna. Donnie considered the red badge for a second before exiting the Dojo and returning to his room. 

Raph stood there for a second and felt a furry paw rest on his arm. He turned to look at the racoon. 

"Raphael, I need you to keep an eye on your brother. I sense a conflict in him, and I am hesitant to send him out with you all tonight."

Raph nodded. "I'll keep him safe, Dad."

Splinter gave a reassuring nod, then released his son. He then handed Raph a long stick. 

Raph was confused. 

"tell Donatello that his Bo was waterlogged. Give him this."

Raph nodded, sure by his father's tone that the stick had some use in Donnies hands. 

when he left, Raph moved into the living room. Mikey, April, and Leo were all ready and waiting. Mikey was bouncing on his heels, always excited for patrol, and April was looking at something on her phone. 

"looks like it's going to rain tonight." She warned. 

"what time?" Leo asked.

"not till about midnight." 

"then we do a quick sweep and head back before it starts." Leo offered.

"sounds good." Raph agreed.

Donnie emerged from his room in his black belts and wraps. He didn't have his cloak, but he did have a pink bandana around his collar. He approached the group adjusting his wraps one last time before giving them a thumbs-up. 

"you ready?" Raph asked.

he nodded and Raph handed him the stick. 

Donnie beamed, taking the stick and testing its weight for a second. then he spun it carefully, twirling it around his body in a comfortable, graceful way. finally he stopped it, resting its base on the ground. he felt along the center for a second before smirking.

A blade came out of the top. 

Raph jumped, not expecting the stick to turn into a naginata. Donnie weilded it carefully and expertly, as if it was an old friend. he sheathed the blade and slipped the stick into the holder on his shell. He made a hand symbol that Raph recognized as Thank You. 

despite Splinter's warning, Raph found that the patrol was easy, and the night was calm and quiet. 

about halfway through, they took a break and Donnie sat down, teaching Mikey more sign language. Donnie would do a succession of symbols, and Mikey would try to state what they meant. anytime he made a mistake, Donnie would use his notepad to correct him and continue. 

"I am hungry." Mikey said. 

he recieved a nod in confirmation, then Donnie did the next round. 

"please help me do this."

another nod.

"can I have a hug?"

Mikey smiled when Donnie clapped for him, then he made sure to give Donnie a hug. The brothers had found out fairly quickly that Donnie was not too big on physical touch, but he also seemed to allow Mikey to do whatever. It was as if the youngest brother had a hold on Donnie in a way that no one else had yet. 

"alright guys, it's time to head back." Leo said and everyone gathered themselves, standing up.

Raphs favorite part of patrols was soaring over the rooftops, and now that he had not one, but four family members to share that moment with, he felt full. 

Donnie stopped.

Raph turned and looked at his younger brother questioningly, but found that Donnie was looking off to the side, stock-still.

Raph followed his gaze to a seperate rooftop, where something, or someone, moved in the shadows.

Donnie took off toward them.

"Donnie!" Raph called, confused. "Wait up!"

the others also followed behind, but not as closely as Raph. with such intent, Donnie was much faster than usual, and even Raph struggled to keep up. April made sure to stay with Mikey as he fell behind, and Leo stayed in the middle.

they landed on the target roof and Donnie stopped again, allowing the other three to catch up.

"Damn," April huffed. "What's with you Donnie?"

Donnie did not respond, instead staring intensely into the shadows. he took a few steps forward, tilting his body a bit to get a better look. 

Raph flinched when a figure slowly revealed themselves. 

Donnie straightened, watching them, as Raph prepared himself. 

he heard Donnie say one word:

"Ane-"

Then he ran to her, and the two hugged, her having to take a few steps back to regain her balance. 

Ane?

"Otōto" she buried her face in his shoulder, holding him tightly. her steps back had brought her out of the shade and allowed Raph to see her long, silky black hair up in a ponytail, her pale skin making the Black facepaint stand out around her eyes. 

Otōto?

Raph didn't know how to respond. he knew the meanings of the words, as Splinter had taught him japanese. he had tried to teach April too, but she had stopped her lessons after a while, since she had started school anyways. 

the woman pulled back, cupping Donnies cheeks. "Are you okay? did they hurt you?"

He responded in a faster form of sign language that Mikey had not reached yet. 

She looked at the group skeptically, replacing her hands instead on Donnies shoulders. there was something in her dark eyes that put Raph on edge. Donnie explained something to her, and she pulled back from him, crossing her eyes as she looked at the group some more. She was wearing a similar outfit to Donnies, though hers was more suited for a human. 

Raph recognized her as the woman that had been with Donnie when Raph had tackled him into the Harbor. 

the person they had accidentally kidnapped him from. 

oops.

but that also meant she was part of the foot clan, and seeing how Donnie reacted, Raph had no idea how dangerous this woman could be.

Donnie turned his body a bit and, sensing Raphs unease, asked the woman something. 

she hesitated, "father- he wanted me to do some... unfavorable things. I left the Foot Clan three weeks ago. I've been trying to run and hide ever since. that," she looked at Donnie "and I've been looking for you."

He smiled a bit. he seemed more relaxed around her than Raph had ever seen him. 

"what's your name?" Raph asked and Leo elbowed his arm. 

"Karai." She responded. "I'm Dons older sister."

Ane, meaning sister, and Otōto, meaning little brother. no wonder Donnie was so relaxed around her. she was his family.

supposedly.

"you're his older sister?" Leo crossed his arms and Raph tensed preparing himself for Leos attitude. "does that mean you're our sister as well?"

"what?" Raph was startled.

Leo shrugged. "Isn't that how it works? If she's Donnies sister and we are his brothers, then she is our sister too."

"oh finally," April sighed. "Brothers are too much."

"what are you talking about?" Karai asked, looking at Donnie in confusion as he gave her a sheepish smile. 

"oh!" Mikey stepped forward. "sorry for the confusion. I am Michaelangelo, Donnie's brother!" he pointed at his older brothers "and that's Leonardo and Raphael, his other brothers," And finally, he pointed at April "and our sister, April. You can call me Mikey!"

Raph watched as Karai furrowed her eyebrows, looking to Donnie for an expanation. "brothers?"

He thought for a moment, before shrugging and making more hand signals. 

she waited patiently as he gave a long explination, possibly of what had happened, while everyone else stood there. When he was done, he clasped his hands infront of him and waited for her response.

"what the-" karai looked at the turtles again. "and you just believe them?"

No, of course it hadn't been that easy. it took a week and solid evidence before he believed we were not going to kill him. Raph refrained from saying that out loud, still not sure what all Donnie had told her, or what he wanted to tell her. perhaps he was easing her into the situation, rather than giving her everything at once. 

Donnie made a few slow movements and Mikey leaned his head between Raph and Leo. "He said it's a bit more complicated than that, I think."

Raph was most confused by Leo. unlike with Donnie, he didn't seem as guarded with Karai, almost like he'd known her before. 

Karai sighed, relaxing.

and as if the weight on her shoulders was connected to the tension in the air, the skies released their load. The freezing rain came quickly to drench all the cold-blooded turtles, who were startled, not having realized that much time had passed. 

"We need some cover for a bit." Leo shouted over the downpour. "we can wait it out then."

"Let's go to Murikamis. It's right around the corner from here." April suggested. Raph agreed. he had taken Leo and Mikey to the place with the best Gyoza around several times before, but this was Donnies first night out, so he hadn't met the blind cook yet. 

The group entered the resturaunt and were hit by a wave of warmth and delicious smelling food. "Murikami!" Raph called out. "we've come to visit."

"And to get out of the rain, I assume?" The man popped up from his couched position behind the counter. "Have you brought your brothers again Raphael?"

"yep! all three of them!" Raph confirmed taking a seat at the bar. 

"Oh! I had heard from Casey that you had found your fourth brother! congratulations!"

"oh no." April peeled off her soaking jacket and sat beside her red brother. "Raph, Donnie cant talk to Murikami."

"Because he's blind?" Karai asked, sitting on his other side. "our personal trainer was blind too, Don will be just fine. 

Donnie sat happily beside her and tapped the counter in no apparent pattern.

"ah!" Murikami stepped closer. "Morse code? I am a bit rusty my friend, but I will try to translate it."

"I could always translate his sign language for you." Karai offered. 

Murikami waved her off. "nonsense. If he is going to be around more often, then I should freshen up my skills. what would you like to eat, Donnie?"

a few taps later and Murikami nodded. "Anyone else?"

After he took all their orders and served their food, He brought out some dry blankets and towels for the turtles to dry off and warm up. 

"I am going to go back home." April said. "I have school tomorrow and you know how Splinter is with my school night curfew."

Raph nodded. "Go ahead."

Once she had left with her food in a to-go box, the rest of them ate. 

Karai and Donnie seemed to be having a conversation. Donnie was happy to be with her again, that much was obvious. 

as he warmed up, Donnie settled down, laying his head on his arms on the counter. He dozed off quickly. Raph had never seen him sleep before. He was always awake if someone else was there. Perhaps it was Karai that caused him to doze. 

Karai watched him carefully laying her head beside his, but not sleeping. 

Raph soon noticed that Leo and Mikey were also asleep, curled up in the corner of the room together in a fluffy blanket. 

Raph sighed. Way to be alert, guys.

Murakami had to go home for the night, so he left the back door to the shop unlocked and told Raph where to hide the key when they left. 

Raph sat there for a bit before Karai spoke up. 

"Not going to sleep?"

"someone's gotta keep an eye out." He responded crossing his arms on the counter, listening to the rain pouring outside. "I'll wake them up when the rain lets up."

Karai rubbed Donnies shoulder for a second. "That may be difficult without this."

she held up a vial of some strange liquid between two fingers. Raph looked at it in confusion for a second, a horrified feeling settling into his stomach as he stood up. Karai watched him from her seat, still relaxed with her elbows on the counter. 

"What did you do?"

"Calm down, its not lethal, just long-acting." She stood slowly. "The antidote will work quickly with no side effects. I just wanted to talk to you."

"what do you want?" Raph cut to the chase as Karai took a few casual steps back from her chair, then looked at Donnie and back at Raph.

Raph took a sharp breath in. "You never left the foot clan, did you?"

she smiled a bit, shaking her head.

Raph growled. "He trusted you and you lied to him."

"oh, and he trusts you any more?" she crossed her arms, twirling the vial in between her fingers. "If i racall correctly, wasn't it you who shoved him into the harbor and gave him a concussion. I have no idea how you all managed to convince my brother that he's yours, but I'm certainly not buying it." She frowned. "I'm taking him home, where he belongs."

"and what about what Donnie wants?"

"do you all even care about that? as far as I've heard you locked him in his room every night until he believed you were his family. He may have forgiven you, but I sure as hell have not."

Raph took a step forward, but Karai lifted the glass vial above her head. "look, Raphael, you've got two options here. If you think Donnie is a good fighter, I've got three extra years of training on him. The drug may not be lethal in small doses, but im pretty sure the reason you are not at your brothers side right now is because Michaelangelo took your drink, and I'm not sure how two doses would affect someone so small. You can try to fight me now, in which case I could drop the antidote, or I could give it to you and walk out of here with my brother. That would give you time to wake your brothers and come after me, but I doubt you want to go against the foot clan alone."

Raph swallowed, knowing she was probably right. his head knew that, but deep down, his anger boiled. He had just gotten his brother back, He couldn't lose him again. 

But he could say the same about Mikey. 

He had to choose between his two younger brothers. 

Chapter Text

Mikey felt like a heavy fog was interfering with his thoughts. his arms and legs wouldn't move, but he was aware of something, a sound.

someone was calling for him. 

he could feel his face and how his dry tongue stuck to the top of his mouth.

he struggled to fight whatever was keeping his eyes shut and was greeted by the roof of Murikamis shop.

"Mikey!" he blinked a few more times and his eyes met Raphs green ones. Raph pulled him into a tight hug. "Oh thank god you woke up."

"wudyuh-" Mikey couldn't say what he was trying to say, so he licked his lips and tried again. "whaddya mean?"

Raph pulled back, resting Mikey against the wall before shuffling backward and setting his hands on his knees, looking down at the floor. 

it was then Mikey noticed that Raphael was CRYING.

"Raph?" Mikey attempted to sit up on his own "What's wrong? are you okay?" He almost slipped and fell back to the ground, but was caught and held up by the wall behind him.

it was not a wall, it was Leo.

"what's going on?" Mikey asked, allowing Leo to help him sit up. He looked at Leo, who also looked sullen, his hands glowing softly as he held Mikey.

he was healing him? had they been attacked? the last thing he remembered was April and Murikami leaving after they had brought Donnie and Karai to the shop to get out of the rain.

He checked, it seemed the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Had he fallen asleep? He knew Donnie had.

He looked over to the counter.

then he realized that Donnie wasn't there.

"Donnie?" He sat up the rest of the way, his aching joints protesting the sudden movement painfully. 

He bit back the bile and slight nausea.

"Where- Where is Donnie?" Mikey gripped Leo's arm at his side and Mikey looked at him, locking eyes with the slider. "Leo? where's-"

Mikey liked to think he was good at reading people, but sometimes, he wished he didn't have that gift. sometimes he wished he could wait for a verbal answer and compartmentalize the feeling that came with it instead of facing them all head on. What made it worse was how other peoples emotions only ever amplified Mikeys. He could feel the pain pouring out of Leo, and even more so from raph, mixed with a hatred and an anger. 

all negative emotions that Mikey soaked up like a sponge, unable to stop them from wrapping around his heart and squeezing.

Raph spoke, his voice cracked as he quietly said "He's gone. Karai took him."

"Karai-" Mikey repeated. "Karai took him? But she's-"

Mikey was good at reading people... he had sensed only good intentions from Karai.

Had he been wrong?

"no." Leo looked at Mikey when he said that, confused. "No, I couldn't have been wrong."

"mikey," leo started.

"NO!" Mikeys sharp, loud voice startled both of his brothers. "I'm not WRONG. Karai couldn't have..."

Raph watched him breaking, and shuffled back a bit more when tears started to call down Mikey's face.

"No-" Mikey rubbed at his eyes. "We just got him back... we can't... we just... we just got him back."

Leo wrapped his arms around Mikey as he broke down, sobbing into his oldest brothers plastron. He gripped Leo's shoulders desperately as his cries wracked his body. every breath in was sharp and short, as if his pain refused to allow him a full breath of air. 

Mikey couldn't breathe.

Leo didn't know how to help him, so he held him close and stroked his shell. mikey didn't know what else Leo did, just that it didn't help. He had been comforted before, but it wasn't like this. He had to try so hard to keep the buzzing in his veins from releasing with his emotions.

He needed Donnie to hum to him, to remain calm and careful, delicate and comforting. 

Mikey screamed desperately for his missing brother, as if he would hear him and come running back.

Mikey needed him.

Chapter Text

Leo looked at his palms, slumped over on the couch. 

he had never seen his hands glow as brightly as they did when he held mikey.

at first, he had almost panicked, thinking that Mikey was injured. but, along with Raph's shocked expression, Leo came to understand his power better.

Leo's healing activated around pain.

in a few weeks, Donnie and Mikey had bonded better than Leo or Raph could in four months. Despite the softshells hard exterior, Mikey had no issues breaking through it and throwing Donnie over his shoulder on his adventures, sometimes literally. 

so when Leos hands reacted to Mikeys crying, it was reacting to his pain; his pain in losing his big brother, his stability.

Leo sighed, closing his hands on his lap and leaning back on the couch. He had woke up to Raph panicking and trying to wake Mikey up. Leo used his hands to help the antidote work through his little brothers body quickly, getting the overview of what had happened from Raph as he tried not to break down.

Leo knew there was more to it, there had to be. Raph was hiding something.

Leo huffed, standing from the couch roughly. Raph was in the dojo with splinter. Leo had no idea what they were doing in there, but he hoped that they'd be done soon.

the lair was so quiet. 

Donnie had taken to tinkering with any loose electronics around the lair. he even managed to fix the toaster when Leo broke it, set up a decent security system in the surrounding sewers in only a week, and upgraded their TV so it was more up-to-date. Leo had already gotten used to the metal clining and chatter of Mikey when he decided that Donnie needed company. 

but now Donnie wasn't there, and Mikey wasn't talking.

once they'd gotten back from searching through the city, despite the light rain that chilled their bodies, Mikey had locked himself in his bedroom. 

Leo knocked on his door, leaning into it a bit. "Mike? have you eaten?"

there was no response.

"Mikey?"

silence.

Leo turned the handle, finding it unlocked, and opened the door.

the room was a mess, and by that, it was messier than usual. his usually vibrant graffitti had dark smudges in random spots, and some of his rainbow lights were off and broken, looking burnt out. there were several crumpled up pieces of paper littering the floor around his hammock and the trashcan by his desk. across from the desk was his shelves, one with cabinet doors where he kept any prvate things he found, and the other held his collectables and decorations and art he had made. people would be surprised how much the hybrid mutant turtle had managed to collect in such a short time.

it looked like Mikey was in his hammock, hiding under a thick fuzzy blanket. Leo could see some of the spikes on his shell shaping the blanket.

"Mikey?"

He seemed to wiggle a bit and mumbled what sounded like "go away."

"Not until you eat something." Leo reached for Mikey, realizing a little too late the excessive amount of tension in the air. 

the bolt of light that shot from the blanket to his hand was searing and hot as Leo yelped and jumped back. "ah, fuck!" he flicked his hand, trying to get the shock to fade.

Mikey shot up, uncovering his body and looking at Leo in a state of panic. "Oh my- Leo, I'm so sorry!"

Leo held his hand to his plastron, calming his voice. "it's fine! I'm fine."

Mikey sniffled a bit, looking away from Leo.

"hey, hey. It's okay, Mikey, see?" Leo held his hands together, willing the glowing to take away the dull ache that remained in his fingers. 

it did not glow.

and Leo felt dumb, so he wiggled his fingers at Mikey, ignoring the pain. "see? it's all good bro. I didn't realize you were... uh..."

Mikey didn't seem convinced as he pulled his knees to his chest. "My ninpo is a bit frantic. i locked the door so I wouldn't-" he hesitated, but Leo knew what he meant.

"okay." Leo took a deep breath, putting his hands behind his shell. "then can you make your own food?"

Mikey nodded, pressing his lips together. 

"good." Leo stepped back to the doorway. "It... It's going to be okay, Mikey."

Mikey looked at him with tears in his eyes. "but Donnie-"

"we found him once, we'll find him again." Leo assured.

"that was by accident though." Mikey's voce was much quieter.

"but we know who has him, the foot, and we will search everywhere they go until we find our brother." Leo smiled as best he could at his youngest brother. "I promise."

Mikey smiled a bit. "Thanks Leo."

"do you want pizza for dinner? we can order some so you don't have to cook."

"okay." mikey agreed.

Leo gave him another smile and left his room, keeping it cracked open. he found his eyes drifting to the dojo, who's door was still closed. 

"Leo!" the turtle jumped, turning to the male voice as none other than Casey Jones came running into the lair. "I got an emergency text from April, what happened?"

"hey, Case." Leo sighed a bit. "its a bit complicated."

"complicated?" Raph opened the door to the dojo, joining the conversation uninvited. "there's nothing complicated about it! The foot clan took Donnie."

"awe man! I was supposed to finally mee the guy this week." Casey groaned. "the universe is really not on his side right now, is it?"

neither brothers commented on that, instead, Raph crossed his arms. "we need a plan."

"no, we need to eat and regroup." Leo shut him down. "Lets order some pizza and calm down a bit before we go rushing into things." Raph was seriously pissed off, which was reasonable, but his almost irrational actions kept Leo under the same idea that he was hiding something. 

"okay..." Casey fiddled with his hands nervously for a second before pulling out his phone to call the pizza place. he stepped away while he made the call and Leo turned to Raph. he was determined to find out what Raph knew. 

"hey, are you okay?" Leo started.

Raph didn't answer keeping his eyes on Casey. 

"Raph?"

Raphs eyes caught Leo's and he looked away quickly. 

Leo thought for a second. Raph had been awake before Leo or Mikey, giving them the antidote. that probably meant that he wasn't drugged. "Did Karai say anything to you? any kind of hint of what they want with Donnie?"

Raph stiffened a bit before blinking a few times and shaking his head. 

Leo sighed. "Come on, Raph. we need all the information."

Raph huffed, before grabing Leos forearm and walking to his room, closing and locking the door behind him. he pressed his shell to the door and glared at the floor before looking up at Leo with guilt swimming through his eyes.

"Raph?"

"she-" Raph hesitated, clenching his hands together nervously. "I couldn't- If-" he groaned, putting his face in his hands. "I don't know, Leo. I messed up."

Leo took a deep breath. his brother was stressed and worried and angry, and Leo needed to be there for him, not be angry at him. "How?"

"I didn't fight her." Raph mumbled, pulling his hands back to look at his palms. "she was right in front of me an I let her walk away with our Donnie."

Leo sucked in a sharp breath, not really sure what he was expecting. as the questions started swirling through his head and he began to feel the anger rising in his stomach, he willed himself to stay calm, to not show his own distress at the situation. "why?"

"because," Raph looked at him "It was either Donnie or Mikey. Mikey took my dose of the sedative, it could have killed him. I had to give him the antidote. I chose to save him over Donnie."

Leo felt the anger ease, replaced by pity. "Raph-"

"don't, I should have-" Raph started, but Leo cut him off. 

"should have what?" Leo crossed his arms. "let Mikey die? If they wanted Donnie dead, they would have tried to kill him, instead of going through the trouble of capturing him. you saved your brothers life, and thanks to you, we have the chance to get Donnie back, together."

Raph teared up, and Leo took a step toward him. "but mikey's-"

"mikey will be okay once we get Donnie back."

"he'll hate me."

"he wouldn't be able to hate you if you hadn't saved him."

"yeah..."

Leo sighed. He wasn't the voice of reason, usually Raph was. "look, what we need to focus our energy and thoughts on getting Donnie back." 

Raph nodded, determination taking over his expression. "Right."

"Casey is ordering pizza, let's eat, then we can come up with a game plan."

Raph nodded agin. "yeah, let's."

They were going to get Donnie back, no matter what.

Chapter Text

Don awoke with a start, sitting up in his bed. the rushing feeling like he was falling washed away, quickly replaced by the sound of his heart pounding in his ears and the feeling of a sharp pain in his head and his shoulder. he swallowed, pulling at his shoulder to spot the small needle sized wound at the top of his shoulder blade. 

What?

He sighed, closing his eyes for a second. He had been with Karai and his brothers and then-

Don couldn't recall what happened after that. 

He reopened his eyes, groaning a bit as he pulled the blanket off his body.

then he realized that it was not his usual blanket. He blinked at the bed and spread for a second. It wasn't foreign, that was for sure, but it wasn't what he expected either. He looked around the room, finally realizing where he was.

he was back in his bedroom at foot headquarters.

how had he ended up here? he rubbed his shoulder for a second.

Karai had drugged him?

that didn't make any sense. Karai wasn't part of the foot clan anymore. he trusted her word. she must have also gotten captured. 

yeah, that must be it. 

Don sighed, pinching his snout and looking at the nightstand where his glasses were resting alongside a glass of water. 

how considerate.

He put his glasses on before drinking the full glass, then attempting to stand up. His legs felt a bit like jelly, but he would manage. He stumbled a bit on his way to the door and reached for the handle, surprisingly finding it unlocked. He stepped out into the hallway to find a foot soldier staring at him from their post outside of his door. 

"Donatello." they addressed him. "I will inform Master Shredder that you are awake."

they ran off before Don could say another word. He stood there for a moment, not sure what to do. He debated going to the kitchen. he was famished and they always had decent meats. After a few seconds of thinking about food, he realized where he'd been before Karai had come along.

with his brothers. 

He considered leaving. with no guards in the way, he was sure he could just leave.

but he couldn't leave Karai, so he pushed the idea away.

He needed to make sure he took her with him when he left. He realized he was still wearing most of his gear, save for his staff. He reached into the pouch at his hip and pulled out the picture he had gotten from Splinter. the picture was of his mother, Tang Shen, holding Karai as a baby. she had the same black hair and brown eyes. surrounding the two were three baby turtles of different sizes, and Tang Shen held a fourth soft-shelled turtle in her hand, showing it to the younger human. Tang Shen had the Hamato clans symbol on her shoulder, in clear view. 

This picture was what had convinced Don of the truth. It was physical evidence that he could hold in his hand. 

"Donatello!" Don looked down the hall where the soldier had dissapeared to see his supposed father runing toward him. he was free of any metal plating on his body, loooking, for once, like a normal New Yorker rather than the leader of an ancient Japanese ninja clan. Don shoved the picture back in its pocket.

when he reached the turtle, he startled him with a strong embrace. 

Don stiffened at the touch, mainly because it was unexpected. after a second he pulled back and held Dons face in his hand, locking his worried eyes on his sons. "Are you okay? the nurses said you were unharmed, but did they do anything to you?"

Don slowly shook his head, watching Oruko Saki's shoulders relaxing in relief and a small smile spread across his face. It was odd to Don, as he'd never seen his father act like that before. 

he pulled Don into another embrace. this time it was softer, gentler, and he held Donnies head against his chest as he spoke. "I am so sorry, Don. For so long, I was blinded by what i believed was ideal, I never noticed just how amazing you are. I apologize for treating you so terribly, and I apologize for only realizing after I had already lost you."

the words slowly broke down inside Don's brain, processing and causing him to release the tension in his body in surprise. He had wanted so badly for his father to accept him as he was, instead of comparing him to Karai. 

"I love you Donatello."

It was too much, and Don started crying. he buried his face in his fathers chest, wrapping his arms tightly around him. He felt a hand gently stroking his shell as his father patiently waited for him to finish. 

when he did, Don pulled back, rubbing at his eyes. 

"would you like some food?" His father asked, offering his hand to the turtle.

Don nodded, taking his hand and allowing him to lead him through the hall. something was missing still though.

"Father," Don looked at the man that had raised him "where is Karai."

"I believe she's training right about now. she always eats after training, so we can wait for her if you'd like."

Don nodded. 

they got to the kitchen and Don got a plate of popcorn shrimp and lemon pepper chicken wings, as well as some celery sticks. he ate across the table from the shredder, as passing soldiers gave them odd looks. they hadn't known their leader to eat there, let alone with his son. 

an odd feeling settled in Don's stomach as he finished his food and put the plate away. he sat back down, and clasped his hands on the table.

"father?"

"hmm?" his father put his spoon down from the miso soup he'd been eating. 

Don pulled back out the picture and set it on the table between them. 

Saki observed it for a second before taking another sip of his soup. 

"Am I-" Don started, not sure how to word the question. "Are we from the Hamato clan?" he said the last part quieter, so as not to alarm any nearby foot. 

his father looked at him, then sighed a bit. "let us wait for your sister and I will explain everything."

Don agreed, staring at the wooden table as they waited. when he was done, the shredder washed his dishes and returned to his seat.

then Karai entered the kitchen. she rubbed a towel across her neck and looked up at her brother.

she paused.

"Don! you're awake!" she ran over, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. something itched in the back of his mind. there was still something off about all of this, but he couldn't place it, not when he already had so many other thoughts running through his head. "how are you feeling."

Don pursed his lips a bit, not really feeling like talking. he looked at his father who was watching the interaction carefully. 

Don took a deep breath and tapped on the picture.

"What's this?" Karai picked it up and after what seemed like at least five minutes, she locked eyes with her father, repeating her previous question with a whole new tone. "what is this?"

Saki sighed. "the truth. sit down, Karai. we have much to discuss."

she did as she was told, sitting on Dons left. 

"first of all, I assume you havng this picture means that Hamato Yoshi lives?" He crossed his arms on the table, looking at Don.

Don nodded. 

he sighed again. "that rat doesn't know how to die."

"the man that killed our mother?" Karai asked.

Don looked at her, deciding that it was better to tell her than expect the shredder to admit it. "Yoshi didn't kill our mother."

Karai looked at him as he locked his eyes of Saki. 

"he did."

Karai blinked at him, then turned her head quickly to her father. "is that true?"

"Tang Shen was indeed a casualty that I caused. she married into the Hamato Clan and fled with the coward Hamato Yoshi."

"you killed my mother?" Karai stood, but she was not agknowledged as he continued.

"the head of the Hamato clan killed my father. His dying wish was that I lead my clan to avenge him. the foot clan vowed to take out the Hamato clan." Saki kept his eyes on the table, as if he could not admit this while looking at his children. "Hamato Yoshi was the last one of his clan, so I attempted to take him out and finish what I had started. Tang Shen took a blow intended for him."

Karai stayed standing, both palms flat on the table as her eyes remained locked on the man. 

"I set off a bomb I had gotten from a supplier in new york. I dont believe it was a normal bomb though, as the damage it did was minimal at best. the building was still somewhat taken out."

Not to mention it was an apartment building, full of innocent people.

"I returned later to make sure the job was finished, but I found you among the flames." He finally looked up into Karai's eyes. "a small five year old girl holding a young turtle covered in a weird glowing substance. none of it got on you, but he was coated." Saki switched his eyes to Don. "and after several days, I noticed the changes in that turtle." He picked up the photo. "I had no idea there were four of you total."

"my brothers." Don said quietly.

"despite this, I still see you as my son and my daughter, as you have always been." Saki finished. 

Karai looked at him a moment before looking at the table and sitting back down. "so they were not lying?"

Don shook his head. "I didn't know how to tell you yet."

It was then that that odd feeling hit again, as he looked at his sister. how had they ended up here, back with the foot? he had suspected that they'd been captured, but it didn't add up. Karai had been training, walking around freely just as he had. He reached again to touch his shoulder. He had trained his senses to be aware at all times. There was no way someone could have snuck up on him, and considering how close it was to the rim of his shell, and its entry angle, there was no way it was shot. 

that left only one possibility.

He swallowed. "You drugged me." 

Karai startled a bit, and looked at Don with a nervous look. "Don, I-" she moved her hand off the table to reach for him, but he moved away, standing up. 

"you lied to me."

"I didn't want-"

"I trusted you."

she pressed her lips together, wrapping her arms around her torso tightly. "I'm sorry Donnie."

"You don't get to call me that."

the hurt was apparent on her face as her eyebrows shot up at the comment. 

"Donatello. I assure you, everything Karai has done was under my orders."

Don looked at his father, swallowing the bile that had raised in his throat. "like that's any better."

Karai stood up. "Don, I just wanted you to be safe, to be home."

Don didnt have anything else to say, so he shook his head, frowning. It was all too much. everything was. first, his entire life was upended, he was captured, held captive, he discovered a family and the lies around a previous one, he was captured again by his previous family, finally recieved everything he ever wanted, but couldn't trust anyone. 

He didn't know anymore. 

He had three brothers who so easily (except Leo) welcomed him without hesitation or concern for who he was. 

But his father... his father finally saw Don. 

Everything was WRONG.

"Don?" the voice peirced through his head painfully, his previous headache returning tenfold from the single word. He pressed his palms to his ears, shaking his head from side to side. He needed to be alone, he needed to feel SAFE.

he wasn't safe, not with the odd presence looming in the foot headquarters, not with Karai, and not with the shredder, who had killed innocents and Don's mother all to get back at one man. what level of petty or insane did soneone have to be to go as far as he did.

Donnie needed to be safe...

Chapter Text

TW: Graphic Depictions and Death

Mikey was anxiously stepping from side to side, watching the building below. "I want to come too." He was being stubborn.

Leo put his hand on Mikeys forearm. "no, Mikey. Raph and April can handle this."

Raph nodded and gave April a thumbs up. they both hopped down the fire escape on the side of the building and darted silently across the street into the alley beside their target building. they searched carefully, finding the right winow one story up. It wasn't a good architectural choice for the window to look at the brick wall of the building beside it, but it was convenient for two ninjas on a mission. 

Raph hoisted April up to the glass and she opened it and crawled inside, tossing down a rope so he could follow. He had to be careful with his bulky shell when he entered the room inside. it was a dark storage room with tons of boxes and crates neatly lining the floor in stacked rows. 

the pair made their way to the door and opened it slowly. April peeked out, checking the surroundings before nodding, and the two took off down the hall. they made it to the main space of the base, finding themselves on a balcony overlooking a large inside area with only a dozen or so foot soldiers, maybe not even that many.

"jackpot." Raph declared, jumping up and perching on the railing. "let's do this."

"copy that, big red." April followed suit and they both jumped down, taking out three guards that were playing a card game. the other soldiers started yelling and charging toward them, but Raph and April made easy work of them, throwing them all into a nice little pile. 

"alright, one of you is going to answer a quick question for me." Raph clenched his sais as he stood over them.

one of the soldiers yelled "Kare wa hoka no kame no yōdesu!"

another growled and said "Watashitachi wa anata o tasukemasen."

Raph crouched in front of the first soldier, replying "Betsu no kame?"

"Nani mo shirimasen." his voice raised in pitch.

"Kare wa doko ni imasu ka?" Raph asked.

before the soldier could respond, the second one from before slapped her hand over his mouth, glaring daggers at Raph.

Raph punched her in the face, so she fell back, causing the other soldiers to scamper back. the woman groaned a bit, then laughed. "You will not get anything out of him now."

Raph didn't like the sound of that, as he looked back at the first soldier, who was coughing, holding his throat like he was choking. he fell foward and started convulsing on the floor.

"No!" April crouched beside him, attempting to help, but Raph knew there wasn't anything she could do. the man continued seizing, then went still, a bubbly foam leaking out of the corner of his mouth. 

Raph turned back to the female soldier. 

she pulled out another pill, probably to swallow it herself.

Raph wa squicker though, flicking it out of her hand with the tip of his Sai, then tackling her, pinning her wrists to the ground on either side of her head. the other soldiers tried to advance on raph, but April stepped in, spinning her kunai that was attatched to a chain. "I don't think so."

"give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip your throat out?" Raph growled at the female beneath him, making sure to flash his sharp canines.

"because," she tilted her head playfully, "If you kill me, you will never find your kappa friend."

Raph huffed, half tempted to pick her up by the collar and throw her across the room. but she was right. 

and Splinter did not allow them to kill. that was a line they could not cross. that was a line that Leo had not yet caught on to.

Raph had a bad idea, and shifted her arms so he could hold them both with one hand and searched her pockets. he pulled out a small wallet and opened it.

jackpot.

he pulled out a small picture, looking at the other female in it with a small smirk. "who's this?"

"You would not!" She sqirmed, raising her voice.

"I'm sure you are already aware of what we Hamato are capable of." He lowered his voice to make it sound more threatening and serious. "where is he?"

she growled again, seething, before giving in and looking away. "Foot headquarters," she listed an address, which April promptly wrote down. Raph replaced the photo into her wallet and set it beside her head before releasing her and jumping away as she immediately got up and started slashing. He followed April back to the second floor and out the window they'd entered in, climbing the closest fire escape. they spotted Mikey and Leo from across the street as they ran parallel to Raph and April. 

once they'd managed to get a safe distance away without anyone on their tails, they stopped, reuniting with their brothers. 

"did you get it?" Leo asked.

April handed him the paper, "They said he was at Foot Headquarrters." then crossed her arms, looking at Raph.

"what?" he asked.

"that was out of line, Raph."

"she killed one of her comerades, April, and she tried to kill herself. how else was I supposed to handle it?"

April huffed as Leo looked between the two for a second before checking the address. "this is near the harbor."

"then let's go!" Mikey pumped his fists excitedly.

Leo shook his head. "Foot Headquarters will be swarming, we need a gameplan, and supplies."

"so, we go home, get all that, and go in all guns blazing!" Mikey suggested.

"we might not have time to do it tonight." Raph crossed his arms. As badly as he wanted to find Donnie, they couldn't risk being out in daylight. "It took forever just to find a Foot soldier to track. the sun will be up soon."

Mikey looked at him, frowning, then looked away. "We cant just leave him."

"We wont, Mike." Leo patted his shoulder. "We'll get him back as soon as we can. I promised, remember?"

Mikey nodded and Raph smiled a bit. They were a family, they were brothers. They wouldn't leave one behind.

But once again, Raph had a bit of a sinking feeling in his stomach, as if something was bound to go terribly wrong.

Chapter Text

Karai felt something was amiss.

There had fallen a strange tension over headquarters. She knew it wasnt just Don though, as he hadn't really left his room the past two days.

There was something else. 

It was about midday when she saw Don. He was standing in the hallway, just staring at a wall, not moving.

"Don?" She stepped toward him slowly, put off by his odd behavior.

he turned to look at her, his blank eyes locking onto hers, showing no emotion whatsoever.

What the fuck.

Don turned and started walking down the hall. there was a thin fog hovering over the floor everywhere that shifted around his legs as he walked. Karai, despite her better judgement, decided to follow him. this was weird, but that only made her want to stay with him, to keep him safe. "Don!" she called for him, but he did not slow down. Karai looked at the fog, realizing that unlike with Don, it did not shift around her legs, rather it kind of dissapated. 

What?

Karai looked back up, and Don was gone. 

"Don?" she internally panicked, spinning around searching for him. "Donatello?!"

"Karai?" She turned around and found her brother standing there, his arms crossed, confusion over his face. "are you okay?"

"I was going to ask you that." she responded. "I followed you cause you were acting weird."

Don shook his head, looking irratated. "No, it was you who was acting odd. I followed you here."

Karai also shook her head. "that's not-"

the tension in the air seemed to snap and both siblings stiffened. Karai took another step toward Don, instincually wrapping her hand around his arm. The fog seemed to be shifting randomly, in small sections, not acting like fog at all.

then they heard a voice. 

"Nemuru jikandesu." 

"what?" before the word had finished exiting Karai's lips, Donnie crumbled to the ground beside her. "Don?!"

Karai heard a bit of a clicking, like bones tapping against eachother. there was a shift behind her before she felt a cold pressure on the back of her neck. the pressure caused a tingling bolt to rush through Karai's body as she lost control of it, not even able to groan when she dropped to the floor beside her unconsious brother. she looked at him, her eyelids heavy, as he was picked up. she could only see the bottom of a pink flowered Kimono and the hands that held her brother that were made of bones. 

Karai felt herself lifted as well, bent at the waist over the skeletons shoulder as it dug into her stomach. Her vision of the fog coated ground blurred, and she lost herself to the surrounding darkness. 

the last thought on her mind was that her bad feeling had been correct.

Chapter Text

Mikey was ready. 

he gripped the railing overlooking the foot headquarters. The building was bit, with a domed glass roof and a columned entrance that darkened the doors when the sun set. 

"Everyone clear on the plan?" Leo asked. 

Mikey nodded. 

"ninja in, get Donnie, ninja out." Raph confirmed. 

Leo gave him a quick nod. "alright, let's do this."

Mikey and Raph followed the slider across several rooftops, until they found a smaller gap that they could cross, bringing them to the top of the target building. Leo checked the roof for cameras, motioning to his brothers when he found none. Mikey jumped ahead of him, pressing his palms to a glass pane. 

he silently thanked Draxum for teaching him to control and use his power effectively. 

He converted the current sunning through his body to the tips of his fingers. the increase in the charge was enough that when he ran his hand widely around him, against the pane, it cut quietly through the glass. there was a small squeaking sound, but other than that, nothing. Mikey caught the pane before it dropped down, careful not to cut himself as he manuvered it through the hole and set it down on the roof beside them. He also allowed the power to release the tension in his fingers and spread once again throughout his body.

the three brothers looked down into the space below, finding what looked like a throne room. Leo shrugged and dropped down, quickly pressing his carapace into the wall. Mikey and Raph followed, the only noise being Mikeys feet. he hadn't exactly mastered stealth yet, and the drop didn't help. 

he followed Raph and Leo through a doorway and a few halls. April had managed to find the schematics of the building from when it was built, so they followed that as they made their way through the building. They were careful, sticking to the shadows, and avoiding any people they came across. 

They passed the section that seemed to be living quarters before they heard a commotion. curiosity got the better of Mikey and he found himself drawn to the noise. he pressed his head to the door outside the room.

"sir, there's no sign of them." a voice spoke

"Have you checked the security cameras?" a deeper, more authoritative voice asked. 

"yes sir, there was some kind of interference around the time they dissapeared."

the other voice seemed to growl. "You mean someone managed to sneak into our hideout, kidnap my children, and leave no evidence whatsoever?"

the first voice didn't answer. 

Mikey wondered what that was about, catching Raph and Leo motioning to him that it was time to go.

one more line stopped him in his tracks.

"Karai and Donatello are to be found IMMEDIATELY."

"yes sir!"

the doors opened and a frantic foot soldier was too afflicted by fear to see the three mutant ninja turtles hiding in the shadows. He ran past and dissapeared down the hall as Raph grabbed Mikey's arm.

"Donnie isn't here." Mikey hissed.

"what?" Raph asked, lookign behind him at Leo, who was also shocked. 

"him and Karai were taken by someone." Mikey sighed. "why can't anything go right?"

"Who are you?"

the three turtles stiffened at the voice. they looked up to see a massive man coated in metal blades. 

the Shredder. 

"Turtles?" he sneered. "are you the ones who took them?"

"retreat." leo hissed. Splinter had warned them not to try to fight the leader of the foot clan.

Mikey didn't protest, bolting down the hall after his older brothers. 

The shredder yelled, enraged, and followed them. 

"Mikey! we need an out!" Leo shouted behind him, leading them back the way they came. there were two turns left before the throne room, and Mikey knew which way to go. He sped up, the electricity running through his veins increasing in quantity as he drained what he could find around him, making the lights flicker. 

then he jumped, using the power as a boost to fling him forward farther and faster. he put a good amount of distance between himself and his brothers, spotting the throne room and the window escape. he rode the electricity as he jumped, using a discharge as another boost to get him all the way up to the hole in the glass. He hung there, looking below. His brothers had yet to emerge from the hallway, but he knew theyd make it.

Mikey pulled out a rope he had bound to his belt, throwing the end of it to the floor below. 

Raph and Leo emerged, running as fast as they could toward the rope. 

they both grabbed it, clinging for their dear lives as Mikey released the largest discharge yet, also pushing with his free arm as he flung himself and his brothers out of the building and into the air. 

the rest of the glass of the dome shattered. Mikey watched in slow motion as the Shredders face turned from anger to shock. 

Mikey smiled a bit, then focused once again. he yanked the rope, pulling his brothers against him. they grabbed either side of his shoulders as the three started plummeting toward the nearest rooftop. 

"Mikey!" Leo yelled.

"hang on!" Mikey had just enough left to bounce a bit before hitting the roof, taking away the original momentum of the fall as the three broke apart and rolled across the concrete.

they recovered quickly, jumping up with a few coughs and groans, before running across the rooftops. They hoped the foot clan wouldn't foollow them as they made their way to the rendevous point. when they stopped there, April and Casey ran up to them, but they stopped short after their eyes darted over their whole group.

it still wasnt whole.

Mikey buried his face in his hands. "this can't be happening."

"what happened?" April asked Leo.

Leo shook his head. "Donnie and Karai were apparently taken from the headquarters."

"they moved him?"

"No." raph crossed his arms. "Donnie just seems to have a habit of getting kidnapped. he even gets kidnapped from his kidnappers."

"he's just in high demand." Casey offered.

Mikey glared at the human. "no one knows who took him this time. we are at the same level as we were a month ago!" He laughed, but it didn't sound like him "oh, and the icing on the cake has got to be the fact that Shredder is his and Karai's father."

"what?" Raph asked again, his eyes growing to the size of golf balls. "how do you know that?"

"I heard the shredder call Donnie and Karai his children, and why else would he be so pissed off at their dissapearance?"

"this is getting too complicated." Leo pinched his nose. "I swear if there is ONE more thing that life decides to throw at us now, I will snap and probably decide to run off to the jungle. two years there would be better than two weeks here."

"so," April huffed, putting her hands behind her back. "what do we do now?"

Chapter Text

Leo paced in the dojo. He wrung his hands nervously.

"Leonardo." the slider jumped at the voice. he turned to look at his Racoon father.

Racoon father? tell me four months ago that that was a thing and I would have laughed.

"I have something that may aid you." Splinter held a case in his hands. it was longer than it was wide and made of a dark wood. the clasp on it was gold and matched the lining of the lid.

Leo blinked, not expecting a gift. He reached for it slowly, opening the lid to reveal two sleek metal katanas with black wrapped handles. they rested in a dark red velvet cushion and seemed to almost glitter when the light hit them.

Leo pulled his hands back. He had only been allowed to have his swords when he was fighting in the arena. they had been chipped and scratched to high heaven, and were sharpened regularly. The handles had been worn down to fit in his hands perfectly. He hadn't had them when he left the Battle Nexus, and due to his 'lack of restraint' he hadn't been allowed to have any blades yet. 

Leo hesitated. the Katanas were gorgeous, and he knew that those blades were sharp enough for clean easy cuts. 

"Go ahead, my son. You have shown more self-control these past few months. I believe you are ready."

Leo swallowed, taking the swords by the handles. they were weighted perfectly and the handles were soft and seemed to mold to his hands in the same way as his older ones. 

Splinter closed the case and took a few steps back. "try them."

Leo nodded, gripping the handles firmly before swinging the Katanas. SPlinter watched as he made a few moves, testing out their weight and balance.

"you need more practice with Katas specific to Katanas." Splinter said. "but other than that, they suit you well."

"Thank you, father." Leo relaxed, holding the swords at his sides. 

Splinter smiled mischeviously. "do you remember the rooftop where you met Michaelangelo?"

Leo nodded, startled at the change of subject.

"I would like you to close your eyes and picture it in your head."

Leo did as he was told, envisioning the rocky roof and the shed he sat on. 

"Now, try out your swords again." 

Leo furrowed his brows in confusion, still picturing the roof as he swung. he felt an odd tingling in his fingers and heard some kind of noise.

he opened his eyes to see a glowing blue circle in the spot he'd swung. it quickly flickered and dissapeared as he blinked. 

"What-"

"those Katanas are special." Splinter explained. "They can create portals to wherever you envision, but you must learn to control them. it will take much focus, but I will guide you."

Leo looked at the portals in his hands, a sudden wave of determination rushing through him.

Before he swung them again, He pictured his missing brother, and the portal once again appeared, dissapearing just as quickly. Leo cursed to himself. He needed to know what was on the other side. 

"Leonardo?" Splinters voice was laced with worry. "you do not have full control of them yet. You may hurt yourself."

Leo tried it again. this time the portal was open for an even shorter time. 

Leo sighed. "Teach me."

Splinter nodded. "Only if you allow me to come with you and your brothers."

Leo was surprised, but agreed. If this new threat was able to leave no trace and get Donnie and Karai with no visible fight, then they may be strong and dangerous.

they needed all hands on deck.

Chapter Text

Donnie stared at the wall in front of him, waiting.

The Skeleton Lady had brought him and Karai there and promptly left as soon as Don woke up. She had black hair tied up in a traditional bun and hollowed-out eyes. 

Donnie wracked his brain for how she could possibly exist. He didn't believe in ghosts, so what could she possibly be?

Karai groaned from beside him, lifting her chin off her chest as she slowly started to open her eyes. 

Donnie kept his eyes trained on the wall that held the door the skeleton lady had left through.

"Wha-" Karai shook her head, most likely trying to shake off the last of her short rest. "Don? What happened? Where are we?"

Don did his best to shrug, but it was difficult when his hands were bound behind his shell. He also had a rope tied around his ankles. The ropes were not tied tight enough to hurt, but they were tight enough that wiggling out of them wasn't an option. the other bad thing was their knots, designed to tighten the more someone resisted. That was why he was waiting. If he moved, they'd tighten.

Karai wiggled beside him, not yet realizing her predicament, but after a second, she stopped. they had been trained to recognize these kinds of things.

he could feel her eyes on him after a minute. 

"Don?" her voice was quiet, over her original panic. 

He glanced at her briefly. Her face expressed a range of emotions as she watched him, only some of which he could identify; pain, sadness, and worry. 

"I really am sorry, for everything."

He looked back at the wall, frowning. He couldn't say he wasn't still hurt by what she did, but he wasn't her. he didn't know what Shredder said or did to convince her to drug him.

but he knew his sister would never do anything like that if she thought she had any other choices. If anything, Don's trust in his brothers was a key player in her choice. nevertheless, it WAS her choice, no one else's. 

"I know." He whispered. 

Karai didn't respond, bowing her head a bit and staring at the floor. 

then the skeleton lady returned. 

when she opened the door, Karai and Donnie stiffened. she almost floated over the floor, but the soft clicks of her feet on the floor were audible. She stood over the two teenagers for a second before stepping to the side and crunching in front of Don.

"Kawaisōna mono-tachi." She whispered, reaching a bony hand toward Don's face. 

He flinched back and Karai wiggled slightly. "Stop!"

she did and looked at Karai. "I mean you no harm."

Karai scoffed. "you kidnapped us."

hypocrite

"I only wish for your safety."

I'm getting an odd sense of deja vu.

Karai narrowed her eyes.

"I am Hone no kifujin, but you are welcome to call me Hone-Onna."

Lady of Bone. Don thought. 

"What are you two named?" she asked as if they were having a casual conversation. she sat down on her knees in front of the siblings. 

"untie us and we'll tell you." Don could hear the almost-threatening tone in Karai's voice. 

Hone-Onna looked a bit sad for a moment. "I apologize for the restraints, but I cannot allow either of you to go back to the Shredder. I wonder if he has missed me."

She sat in silence for a second, pondering something as she watched Karai and Don. "well, if you will not tell me your names, then I guess I will give you names." She tapped her chin making a clicking sound before snapping. "Oh! I know!" she pointed at Karai "you shall be Hana, and you" she moved her finger toward Don "shall be Umi."

She stood abruptly, making Don flinch again as she clapped once "well since that is out of the way-" 

Don's stomach growled and she stopped, looking at him with a confused expression and tilt of her head. He pulled his head back a bit into his shell before she laughed a bit. 

"Oh, dear me. I forgot the living needs to eat. do you have any preferences?"

Donnie looked at Karai, who looked right back before glancing back up at Hone-Onna. "he can't talk, and I can't understand him unless he's able to use his hands."

Hone-Onna seemed a bit skeptical at first before exiting the room.

she was unpredictable. that was the worst part for Don. There were no patterns in her behavior and she was sporadic. 

after a few minutes, she returned and crouched beside Don on the side opposite Karai. "please stay still."

He cringed as she seemed to attach some metal around his right wrist before untying his hands. she also untied his feet and stepped back. He relaxed a bit, allowing himself to move into a more comfortable position. the metal was a cuff connected by a chain to an iron loop in the wall that he hadn't noticed before. 

Hone-Onna did the same to Karai and jumped back when Karai tried to kick her once her feet were free. 

"hey!" she crossed her arms. "I'm trying to be nice."

Don snapped, getting Karais attention before signing quickly to her. 

She took a second before signing. "He's mostly carnivorous, so any meat would be fine. I'm not picky, but I'm Gluten intolerant."

Hone-Onna nodded. "alright."

Don also found Hone-Onna odd. she came and gave them food, but something about her seemed almost motherly. She really made no attempts to hurt them. she'd knocked them out with pressure points, which left no after-effects. the food she brought was decent, but Don figured she might not have as much experience cooking considering her situation. at one point she noticed that Karai was having trouble keeping her hair out of her face, since she didn't have a hair tie on her, and offered to braid it back. after two days there, she even took off the metal restraints. 

Don stayed quiet most of the time, pulling his knees to his chest and letting his mind wander. He remembered the vision he had about the skeleton lady and the feelings behind it. what were the nightmares? what changed between now and then? 

He didn't trust her. there was something there, something deeper and darker in her that set him on edge. she didn't hint at it with her actions, but somehow, he knew. maybe it was the vision.

It didn't hit till almost three days after they'd been captured when Hone-Onna stood with determination. "I will be back in a bit."

"where are you going?" Karai asked. 

Hone-Onna was quiet for a moment before responding in a lower pitch. "To kill the shredder. he must pay for what he has done to me."

"What?" Karai stood quickly, clenching her fists. 

Donnie followed suit, though slower than Karai, not as aggressively. 

"I hope you do not try to leave, Hana." She took a step back, by the door. "I am truthful when I say it will not end well."

"is that a threat?" Karai almost growled. Don was half tempted to step between them. if it came down to a fight, he had a feeling Hone-Onna would win in a heartbeat. 

"of course not, it is a warning." she clasped her hands in front of her body. "Wana wa sōhōkō ni sayō suru."

Traps work both ways.

Karai stiffened. why had Hone-Onna set traps?

"wait patiently, children. when I return, we will all be free. you to leave, and I to find my husband."

with that she left, and neither Karai nor Don heard the door lock. 

Despite the warning, Karai and Donnie still attempted escape as soon as she left.

and just as quickly, they found out what the nightmares were.

Chapter Text

Raph tapped his foot impatiently as Mikey stood beside him, stock still. 

Leo took a deep breath, Splinter standing behind him with a hand on his shoulders in support. Leo closed his eyes, then swung both swords. 

the portal opened. 

Raph and Mikey were quick, as was expected of them, to run through before it closed, and Splinter dragged Leo in behind him, narrowly yanking him the rest of the way through before it closed with a SHWOOP. 

Mikey immediately looked around, spinning frantically. "I thought it would take us to Donnie?"

Splinter hummed. "indeed. there must be some kind of interference."

"Seriously?" Raph growled. "another fucking knot in our-"

"Raphael." Splinter cut him off. "I said there was interference, not that Donatello is not here."

Raph looked at him, realizing his eyes were glowing as he looked at a small building in front of them. it seemed old and possibly abandoned. 

"I can see some Hamato energy in there." Splinter blinked and the glowing faded. "though it seems to be more than what Donatello usually has. perhaps he is having a vision."

"we'll keep that in mind." Leo nodded. He sent April and Casey his coordinates on his phone quickly before finishing. "let's go."

"be careful, my sons. the interference may cause you trouble."

"noted," Raph said, joining his brothers in sprinting toward the building. He reached for the handle but stopped for a second.

He turned to see that Leo and Mikey had stopped a few yards behind him, both seemingly panicking. Mikey was crying and Leo had his hands pressed to his ears and his eyes clenched shut. 

"Guys?" Raph ran back to them, as splinter also came up behind them. Splinter assured Mikey quietly as Raph put his hands on his older brother's shoulders. "Leo? hey! you're okay."

Leo shook his head rapidly "no, I don't- I can't-"

"LEO!" Raph shook him until he took a step back, his eyes snapping open with a gasp.

He blinked, then looked at Raph. "Raph?"

"Yeah, it's me. are you okay?" Raph repeated, noticing Leo's shoulders trembling as he wrapped his arms around his torso.

"I don't-" Leo shook his head slower this time. "I saw-"

Splinter hushed the youngest turtle and looked at Raphael with worry before allowing his eyes to drift toward the building. He clenched his fists, taking two steps toward the building. 

his ears folded down and his eyes went wide as he stumbled three steps back, all his fur standing on end. 

He blinked, disoriented for a second, before taking a deep breath and looking toward Raph.

"Raphael, I believe there is some kind of illusion around the building that shows us..." He looked at Mikey, then Leo, before returning his gaze to the red-banded turtle "unsettling things."

Raph hadn't seen anything.

"I believe you are the only one unaffected. are you capable of going to find your brother alone?"

"no," Leo mumbled, straightening himself and returning his hands to his sides. "It's just an illusion right? so it can't hurt us." He tried to take a step toward Raph again, but once again a terrified look crossed his face and he fell backward, scrambling away once again. "NO!"

"Leonardo!" Splinter was by his side in an instant and wrapped his distressed son in his arms. Splinter stroked his shell softly, and Mikey came and crouched beside the two, looking at Leo worriedly. Splinter locked eyes with Raph again. "Raphael, please."

Raph nodded, pressing his lips together into a thin line before turning and running back to the entrance to the building. He gave one last glimpse back at the other three members of his family, still wrapped together comfortingly. 

He hoped his tech-savvy brother wasn't subject to any of these illusions.

I'm coming Donnie, hang in there.

He ran through the halls, opening any doors he came across and searching everywhere. He found nothing on the first floor. 

once he jumped up to the second one, he entered a large open area, similar to a lounge. 

a thin mist started coming out of the middle of the room, seemingly materializing. From it rose a figure, and Raph jumped behind a nearby dusty armchair. 

He heard some sort of clicking for a moment before a voice rang out. 

"Who has managed to get past my traps? Reveal yourself."

Raph clenched his sais at his sides, tensing. Perhaps whatever illusions couldn't stop him, but a person definitely could.

Unless she was also an illusion, one that actually affected him. 

"I know you're there, Ritoruratto." she called out again. "come out, there's no hiding from me."

after another moment of silence, he heard footsteps heading toward him.

"Fine, I guess I shall come to you."

he shifted as they got closer and closer, then went to strike their side. 

she lifted her arm as his sai cut through the fabric of her pink kimono and clean out the other side.

she was a skeleton.

she spun her arm, twisting his sai out of his hand and throwing it to the side before she swung a baton at him. He ducked, rolling backward. 

"Kame," She said simply. "Umi and Hana shall not fall into anyone else's hands. they are safe here."

"Their names are Karai and Donatello," he growled, crouching. he felt the familiar tingling in his arms. "And we are taking them home."

he lifted his arms and the glowing red plates he had created shot toward her, one hit off the arm that she held her weapon in, and the other knocked her head clean off. Her skull rolled about a yard back before her body crumbled. 

Raph stood, collecting his disarmed sai and running to search this floor. 

the third floor was the last level, and it only contained one hallway with several doors lined up down it. he went down checking every room, slowly losing hope a bit with every empty room until he got to the last room, opening the door almost angrily.

something wrapped around his body, causing him to take a few steps back, a slight bit of panic rising in his throat.

"Raph." a soft voice said, close to his ear. "I knew you'd come."

a massive wave of relief rushed over him, as he wrapped his arms around his younger brother. "Donnie! oh thank god!" the embrace lasted another few seconds before Raph pulled back, keeping a firm grip on Donnie's forearms.  "Are you okay? are you hurt?"

Donnie shook his head and Raph took a deep breath, composing himself. He glanced behind Donnie into the room to see Karai with one hand gripping her forearm. She looked at him for a second before looking away, her expression unreadable. Raph wanted to glare at her, but it wasn't the time, nor the place, for a fight with her. she cautiously stepped out of the room, looking around. 

"The nightmares are gone."

Raph looked at her questioningly. "nightmares? like the illusions?"

she nodded. 

Raph looked at Donnie's face as his younger brother frowned. 

"Donnie, you didn't-"

"We only saw them if we exited the room." Karai explained. "we only tried it once."

"if they're gone, it must be because I knocked the skeleton lady's head off." Raph scratched the back of his neck.

Donnie looked shocked for a second, then looked around questioningly.

Raph understood. "Mikey and Leo are outside, they couldn't get past the illusions. I can't see them though." he shrugged. 

Donnie nodded, before smiling softly, grabbing Raphs hand. 

Raph led him out of the building, careful to go around the unmoving skeleton on the third floor. once they exited the doors, Raph saw Mikey stand abruptly. "Donnie!"

Donnie smiled and let go of Raphs hand and ran to greet his younger brother, who jumped into his arms excitedly. 

before Raph could step forward to join them, Karai spoke. 

"I'm sorry. I never should have poisoned your brothers. I believed I was doing what was best for mine."

Raph was quiet for a moment before responding. "thanks. I take it Donnie showed you the picture. he really is our brother."

"yeah, and he is also mine."

Raph looked at her in confusion as she shuffled her feet nervously, looking at the ground. 

then it hit Raph.

"Miwa?"

Karai shrugged. "I guess? I don't really know anymore." she looked at Donnie. "neither does he. He'll need some guidance."

"he'll get plenty." Raph crossed his arms. "but we leave the choice of where we go from here up to him, deal?"

she smiled a bit "deal."

Raph took that as a good time to exit the conversation and go to join his brothers and father.

finally, all four of them were together again.

of course, with their luck, that didn't last long.

Chapter Text

TW: Blood and Death, proceed with caution

"Karai, Donatello."

Mikey stiffened at the voice that had interrupted his moment with Donnie. it somehow sounded familiar, and Donnie's sudden apparent panic didn't make him feel any better. 

The group turned to see The Shredder, followed by a small army of foot soldiers. 

"It is time for me to take you home." He reached a hand toward the group.

Mikey wouldn't let that happen again, and he stepped out in front of Donnie, spreading his arms out protectively. 

"You," Splinter walked forward, gripping his walking stick tightly "will not be taking anyone, anywhere."

the shredder narrowed his eyes. "Hamato Yoshi. your appearance finally matches you, trash."

Splinter narrowed his eyes at the man, his striped tail flicking angrily. 

"give me my children and you may be allowed to live another day." Shredder threatened. 

"Never." Splinter growled, getting into a ready pose. 

"Then you will die." 

both old ninjas rushed at each other, also spurring their groups into action. Mikey, Raph, and Leo shot forward, to keep the Foot soldiers away from Splinter, Donnie, and Karai. 

they had just gotten Donnie back and just found out that Karai was their sister. they were not going to let them be taken unwillingly. 

Mikey sent out waves of electricity when he was sure that his brothers were a safe distance away. when they were closer, he'd taken to punching and kicking. that was something he knew how to do, and with his added strength, most opponents would go down in one strike. 

Donnie and Karai stood together at the edge of the fight, unsure of what to do. Mikey knew it was probably difficult to decide so quickly which side they were on. 

then April and Casey arrived. 

Casey rolled, out of the minivan they had, on rollerblades, swinging his hockey sticks and yelling incoherently. April followed him with her Kunai whipping around her gracefully. they ran past Karai and Donnie and straight into the battle without a second thought. 

The brothers had managed to pick off most of the soldiers, but the few remaining stragglers were the tougher of the lot, maybe a dozen of them.

the cry that shot across the battlefield pierced through Mikey's entire being.

"NO!" Raph cried out, and Mikey whipped his head to see what his brother was seeing. 

he saw his father fall to the ground at The Shredders feet. 

Raph ran to his father's side as the enemy took a few steps back. 

"Dad!" Raph cried again.

"Father!" Leo joined him, as Mikey, April, and Casey all headed their way as well. the two older brothers checked Splinter, and Leo put his hands over their fathers bleeding abdomen.

but there was no glowing, and Leo and Raph were beginning to cry.

Donnie and Karai were on the other side of the battle area, looking over with shock. Donnie was on his knees in front of his sister, and it looked like he was crying as well.

the shredder spotted them and made a beeline.

"Leave him alone!" Mikey screeched, his fury manifesting as bright, erratic light around him. he changed his course quickly, unexpectedly.

but with one swing, the man threw him back, knocking the wind out of him. April ran to Mikey's side as he squirmed to sit back up, gasping. there was a pain in his chest at the attempt, but he managed it. He watched as the metal-plated man made his way closer to Mikey's brother. 

"no." He managed to say. April looked up at it with distress. 

"Donnie!" she called.

The shredder stopped about a yard in front of the two, and Karai stepped in front of Donnie, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Karai," the shredder started. "you ARE coming home with me."

"you-" the voice started as quiet, but Karai's lips were not moving. 

it wasn't her speaking, it was Donnie.

"You-" He stood up, also shaking like his sister. he put a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her to the side as he locked eyes with his 'father' "You killed him!"

the shredder looked at him with an uninterested look. 

"HE WAS A FATHER!!" Donnie shouted. 

the shredder still did not seem sympathetic. 

Donnie lowered his voice, growling as he glared the shredder down. "He was MY father."

the impact came faster than Mikey could see as Oroku Saki slapped him. 

Karai did not like this, and she yelled, jumping at him. he caught her arm and threw her down, his feet not even budging. 

Donnie stood there, in shock, his hand over where he had been struck, before he swallowed and looked at Karai, then back at the Shredder. "He was more of a father than you'll ever be."

this time, when Saki swung at him, Donnie dodged, jumping back. 

"He gave his children unconditional love, whether they had earned it or not!"

another swing, another miss. 

"He never pushed them to be perfect, to be flawless!"

and again, Donnie managed to get around to the other side of Saki, so that his shell was facing Mikey and the group. Mikey had finally managed to catch his breath and stood, a bit wobbly as a bolt of pain shot through his torso. April put one of his arms around her shoulder and supported him, attempting to get him to his other brothers as quickly as she could.

which would have been fine except for two things:

one, some of the foot soldiers had recovered and were standing up.

two, their brother was putting out a fire with gasoline.

Mikey thought it had all gone wrong with the final bullet Donnie shot out of his mouth.

"You will never be like him."

Chapter Text

Leo couldn't heal him.

he could feel his shoulders shaking.

why, more recently, was his one skill useless? Why couldn't he help the people he loved? He couldn't help Mikey, he couldn't get past the illusion, and now Splinter was-

He was supposed to be the oldest. 

He looked up to see the shredder grab Donnie's arm. Donnie, pulled him closer cause of his grip and swung his foot. 

the shredders helmet rolled across the ground as Donnie took a step back, his arm released.

Mikey gasped beside Leo, then flinched, holding his torso in pain.

"Mikey!" Leo reached over to him and put his hand on his plastron. when it glowed, Leo internally cursed, knowing for sure that his power was working. 

"Guys," Raph stood, rubbing his eyes and training his gaze on Donnie. "You all need to get Dad out of here. I'll get Donnie and Karai. Get him into the van and we'll be right behind you."

"no!" Leo was surprised at his outburst. "we finish this here and now."

Raph locked his eyes sadly on his older brothers, "look, Mikey's hurt, and we are all exhausted from the fight. we need to pick out battles, and I say we pick to not fight this one today."

Leo glared at the ninja. deep down, he knew Raph was right, but he still wanted to-

Leo looked over at where Donnie was helping Karai stand up and heading toward the group, walking backward to keep their eyes on the shredder. when they got closer, they turned and started lightly jogging toward them. 

the shredder remained unmoving, standing and watching them go. but there was something in his eyes. Leo thought for a second it was some kind of anger, or maybe hunger, he wasn't sure. Mikey was doing his best to pick up Splinter, with April by his side to support the raccoon's head. Casey was in Leo's corner, watching the scene just as carefully as the slider. 

they could still fight.

that was, until Donnie stopped dead in his tracks, an odd look overcoming his face. 

Leo knew that look.

Donnie was about to have a vision.

they needed to get home and they needed to get home NOW. 

"Raph!" 

"On it." Raph took off toward Donnie, who fell to his knees. Karai stopped her jog, to turn back to him, but Raph passed her, pointing her to the group. The shredder wanted both of them, so Raph would get Donnie and Karai would get to the van.

the shredder finally moved, walking toward Donnie. 

"NO!" a new voice screeched, and a flash of pink slammed into Oruko Saki. they both rolled to the side before the pink was kicked off, immediately jumping up. 

Mikey and April made it to the van, calling for Casey to come to start it. he did as he was told. 

the lady seemed to be a moving skeleton in a flowery kimono. something about her seemed familiar to Leo. 

she laugh low and deep, facing the shredder as she smiled. "Hello, Oruko Saki, did you miss me?"

"I don't even know you." He growled. 

"Oh, I think you do." from her pocket, she pulled out a sleek metal tessen. It was black with a white floral engraving on the side, and in the center was a familiar symbol.

the Hamato clan crest. 

The skeleton could only be the one person who would know about such a weapon, let alone carry it. 

Tang Shen.

her silky black hair came unraveled from its bun and floated around her maliciously as she glared at the person who killed her. 

their battle looked intense, blades against blades and clicking bones. the shredder knocked her out of the way at one point and went directly for Raph, who was holding Donnie against his plastron, trying to figure out the best way to carry his brother. 

the shredder swung his bladed gauntlet, and Raph ducked, holding Donnie's head under his chin. the iridescent red shield spread over their heads, and the attack bounced off it. 

Tang Shen once again threw herself at him, and he pulled off her arm, throwing her across the area toward Leo. then he broke the largest bon over his knee, discarding it beside him. 

"YOU!" She threw her foot at him.

he deflected it, along with several other bones she used as projectiles. 

he didn't spare her another glance as he headed for Raph and Donnie, issuing out some commands to his foot soldiers that had stood on standby the whole time. 

"Don!" Karai yelled from her spot beside Leo.

"Get to the van!" he told her, running toward his brother, who was desperately clinging to Donnie with one arm and shooting plates of his ninpo at the steadily approaching enemy.

"But-" she tried to protest, but April popped out of the van and grabbed her arm "No! DON!"

Leo ran as fast as he could, not realizing just how far away his brothers were. 

He was only halfway there when the shredder pinned Raph onto his shell, the surrounding soldiers seizing Donnie. 

"NO!" he shouted, drawing his swords and swinging them. sparks flicked off the edges, but his mind wasn't clear enough to open a portal. 

he reached them, jumping at the metal-plated man, his swords raised above his head. 

the shredder effortlessly flicked the blades away, releasing Raph to kick Leo back. 

"Leo!" Raph didn't get the chance to get up before the shredders foot collided with his head and he rolled to the side. 

Raph didn't try to get back up.

"Raph." Leo gasped, barely able to catch his breath as he scrambled to his knees. 

his heart sank when some of the soldiers also took Raph.

"NO!" Leo stumbled, pushing himself up off the ground. 

the shredder gave him one glance, picking up his helmet. 

then the Shredder threw the metal hat at his head, and Leo saw stars.

Chapter Text

Donnie took a deep breath, the vision slowly slipping from his senses. 

He blinked, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness for a few moments. 

he felt the vibrations of the engine and smaller bumps along the road. He was in the back of a van. there was someone beside him, leaning on his shoulder. he tried to get a better look, but failed, so he brought up his hand to their shoulder and felt a sharp spike. 

Mikey???

He moved his hand to the shell, where the inward spike of the rim was.

Raph!

Donnie checked his brother over, making sure he was okay. he seemed to have a bump on his head, but other than that, he was okay. 

Don shook his shoulder for a second and Raph groaned. "hmm? whozzat?"

he shifted, lifting his head slowly and Donnie squeezed his shoulder before releasing him.

"ugh, I feel like I've been hit by a bus." Raph huffed, leaning forward. 

Donnie put his hand on Raph's shell and he flinched. "Who-"

Donnie rapped his fingers against the floor near his brother's hand. 

"Donnie?" he asked. he seemed to finally be able to look in Don's direction

Don nodded. 

"Are you okay?"

he nodded again. his cheek was a little sore from when the shredder had slapped him, but other than that, he was relatively unharmed. 

The van stopped. 

Don looked at the door. 

they had made the mistake of leaving him his hands and feet. 

and he was already sick of this. 

the light flooded in, but Donnie was ready, not caring about adjusting before diving out of the back of the van. he tackled someone, felt someone behind him, and shot his foot out to hear a satisfying grunt of pain.

he usually hated causing pain, but at that moment, he loved it.

The next person managed to grab his forearms and push him onto his shell. he pulled his knees to his chest and threw them forward, hearing the impact against the pavement. He jumped back up, his eyes fully adjusting. he was still close to the exit of the van, Raph was still in it, finally adjusting himself. it was dark out, but floodlights were pointing down at the parking lot. They were not at the main headquarters, but one on the edge of the city. about a dozen foot soldiers were standing around the van, the shredder behind them, looking directly at Don with a frown.

Don glared at the man as hard as he could. 

the foot soldiers took a step forward and were met by a rain of red discs shot by Raph, who hopped out of the van behind Don. 

"fight or run?" he asked quietly. 

Don pointed to their right, where there was a thick forest that Don played in when he was little with Karai. he could get them through there with his eyes closed and hands tied behind his back. 

he unfolded all three fingers, then put his thumb down, then his second finger. 

once the last finger went down, both turtles ran to the side, bolting across the pavement as fast as they could. Raph switched to the left side of Donnie, pulling up his sheilds and shooting them where he could. if he couldn't, he had a larger one covering both of them.

"DONATELLO!" 

he didn't stop running at the man's voice, didn't even hesitate at the pleading tone. the shredder had proved to be someone Donatello could not trust. 

that was only solidified when something hit Donnie's shell and hit it HARD. 

the pain that rocketed through his body made him see white and he didn't register any other injuries from his fall.

"Donnie!" Raph skidded, determined not to leave his brother behind. he jumped over to Don and crouched, putting up a full domed red shield around the pair. 

Don tried to push himself up, but his arms were trembling and every breath felt like fire. was he fucking shot? He steadied himself on one arm and reached the other to touch his shoulder and the edge of his shell. 

Only the Shredder knew that his shell was his weak spot. that was why he had let Don make the battle shell. Karai knew too, but she wasn't there, Raph was. Raph was dragged into his mess because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. It had always been so easy not to talk to Don, but the moment he started, he couldn't stop.

He was so sick of it.

"Raph," Don gasped, looking up into his brother's lime-green eyes. "Go."

"No." Raph pulled Don's arm around his shoulder. "I won't leave you."

Don looked around, seeing the foot soldiers surrounding the dome and the Shredder approaching slowly, expecting anticipation. 

"We can do this, we just have to run. Your shell isn't bleeding, probably just bruised." Raph encouraged him, standing all the way up.

It took everything Don had not to scream. His head hung limp for a second before he looked back up, his vision going hazy for a second. He bit his tongue, glaring at the shredder who had finally arrived at the bubble Raph had made. 

He raised his fist and brought it down on the red film. Donnie heard the impact and flinched. 

the shield cracked. 

"shit." Raph tensed, pressing his free hand to the roof of the barrier. "Hang on Donnie, this might be rough." He pulled his hand back and rammed his own fist into the red, sending a tremor through the shield before it paused, then shot outward, throwing everyone around it back. "Let's go!" 

Don found it hard to run but willed his legs to keep moving. they would have the advantage in the forest, able to hide in spots Saki would never think to look. 

they just had to get to the forest. 

Don's legs gave in on him, and both turtles went tumbling from the shift in weight. 

"Donnie!" Raph tried to pull Don up but stopped when a small cry escaped his mouth. "Oh god, are you okay?"

"My..." Donnie trembled. "shell... hurts."

Raph made an odd exasperated noise, looking behind Don at the forest. "Come on, Donnie. we don't have far to go."

Don nodded. 

"You are not going anywhere." Raph was ripped away from Don and thrown. 

"No-" Donnie gasped, but a foot landed against his plastron and shoved him to the ground, putting painful pressure on his hurt shell. 

that time, he screamed, kicking and clawing at the shredders leg helplessly. 

"Leave him alone!" Raph pulled out his sais, jumping up. 

"Raph- don't-" Donnie tried to warn him, but Raph charged anyway. 

that time, Donnie didn't have the energy to fight back, he could only scream. for a second, he even felt detached from his body. was he dying?

no, he wasn't bleeding. but sweet cheese and crackers, he'd never felt pain like that before. 

Raph stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide. he got the message. 

Raph, please, run.

Donnie couldn't speak anymore. he could barely breathe. what the hell had they done to his shell?

He felt useless as he was once again carried away against his will. 

he was sick of it all.

Chapter Text

Raph was angry, he was beyond angry. 

He was angry at the shredder. was the man so sick and twisted that he thought the best way to keep his son was this?

Donnie groaned beside him and Raph turned his gaze to him. He was lying on his plastron with bandages wrapped around his shell. they came in every once in a while to put some ice or give him some painkillers. 

Raph tried to keep them back the first time they came in, but the shredder himself was there each time, carrying a tazer, and he had already shown once that he wasn't afraid to use it. 

Donnie moved, shifting his head to the side, facing Raph. his eyelids fluttered for a second before he slowly opened his eyes, blinking often. after a few seconds, he looked around and locked eyes with Raph.

"hey," Raph said. 

Donnie pulled his lips into a thin line in response, shifting around to try to get his arms underneath his torso.

"Woah, you shouldn't be..." Raph reached for him but received a firm slap on the back of his hand as his brother slowly sat himself up. Raph sighed, leaning back against the wall. "You were hit by a steel ball. I hope you're not internally bleeding."

Donnie seemed more alert than before, checking his bandages and rubbing his shoulders as he looked around almost anxiously. 

"you okay?"

Donnie shook his head, picking at the bandage around his plastron. 

"Is it your shell?"

Donnie looked at him for a second before clasping his hands together and reaching them above his head, stretching his body. His face twisted oddly as he slowed it down, and after a second, brought his hands down. he waved his hand in a so-so way. 

He thought for a second, then snapped, putting down his second finger and putting out his other two like an L. then he drew outward-facing stripes over his face with his fingers. 

"Leo?" Raph asked.

Don nodded and pointed at one of his palms. then he took the pointing hand and shook it like he was doing jazz hands. 

"Leo's healing power?"

Don have him two fingers. 

it was Charades. of course, Raph hadn't learned that much sign language yet. 

"second word, healing?"

don pushed his hands together, indicating Raph should shorten the word.

"heal?"

a nod. Don then moved his fingers like they were two people running. one of them he made pass the other, then pointed at that one.

"won, race, fast?"

Don snapped at the last one. 

"heal fast?"

Don pointed at his shell.

"your shell heals fast? or faster."

don indicated the second answer. 

"Okay, it's just you and me, Donnie, why don't you talk?"

Don narrowed his eyes a bit and made a quick motion.

"oh, you need water?"

a nod. The occasional visitors had given Raph some water, but it wasn't like they could give Don any.

Don stopped wiggling, putting his hands in his lap and looking at the floor. he still seemed anxious, but he also seemed more irritated. 

The shredder made another visit, dropping off some food and water before leaving without a word, just an off glance at Donnie. 

He was plotting something, Raph knew it.

Raph took a spoonful of the stew they served him. they had given Donnie a steak and some celery sticks. 

wasn't he carnivorous?

Don picked up one of the celery sticks, glaring at it, before throwing it as hard as he could across the room. it broke in half on impact and both pieces rolled in different directions. 

raph watched them for a second, turning to see Donnie's burning pink eyes still on them

I'm sick of this.

"Sick of what?" Raph responded, not realizing Donnie had already drunk his water. he looked at the glass but it was still full.

he blinked, then looked at Donnie, who was staring at him in shock.

I didn't say that out loud. his voice rang out again, but Raph didn't see his lips moving.

"holy shit. I can hear your thoughts-" Raph paused, remembering something Splinter had taught him. "Ninja mind meld. wait, let me-"

I think this stew tastes horrible. Raph thought.

That's why I never get it.

Raph laughed, ironically. "great, So what are you sick of?"

Donnie frowned, thinking for a second before motioning to the room. This. I'm sick of being tossed from person to person. I'm sick of waking up someplace new and having no clue how I got there or any way to get out. I'm sick of being trapped. 

Raph watched him for a moment. "yeah, I guess that makes sense. but why did you take it out on the celery? Do you hate celery that much?"

I love celery. Donnie picked up another stick. The Shredder knows that. 

"ah." Raph didn't really understand, but he figured Donnie's reasons were good. "you should eat them to spite him."

Donnie shrugged, shoving the whole piece in his mouth and swallowing after only a few chews.

Raph shuddered, he had almost forgotten that Donnie ate like that. 

the door opened, and the two turtles were met by a large Hippo mutant wearing a tux. 

Raph blinked. "uh, who're you?"

"the name's Hypnopotomus. Come along children, the shredder awaits."

"uh, how about no." Raph narrowed his eyes at the beast. 

The Hippo gave him an odd look before shrugging. "Alright, have it your way." And he stepped out of the doorway, allowing a shit ton of soldiers to flood into the room. 

Donnie panicked, trying to stand, but nearly falling back down in the process. He supported himself on the wall and backed up into the nearest corner. a few soldiers stepped between him and Raph.

"Wait! Wait! We'll come! damn." Raph yelled and the soldiers stopped moving, then filed back out of the room. 

"Brilliant!" He clapped his large hands together and turned around. "follow me please."

two soldiers remained in the room, watching the pain of turtles and Raph made his way over to Don, who was shaking slightly, holding his shoulder again. His shell was irritating him from the movement. 

"Stay with me." Raph offered his hand to his younger brother. Donnie took it and followed Raph as they were led from the small dim room to a brightly lit hallway. 

Donnie squeezed Raphs hand tighter as some of the extra soldiers filed behind them, and several tried to push up to their sides. Donnie pressed his shoulder into Raphs, the tension in his body apparent. 

I've got you, Donnie. No matter what happens, I'll always be here.

Donnie nodded. 

Raph wasn't going to let his brother go again. He would protect him to his last breath, even if that meant going one on one against Oruko Saki.

Chapter Text

"MAKE IT STOP!!!" Mikey screeched, backing up.

"I CAN'T!!!" Karai flicked her hands, making it worse as the sizzling liquid went flying everywhere.  

Mikey pulled himself into his shell, hearing the drops around him. 

"Don't flick it!" April told her. "Calm down and stop panicking."

"Stop panicking?" Karai asked. "How am I supposed to calm down when the shredder has my... our brothers?"

Mikey poked his head out again and his eyes went to Karai's hands. they were dripping a vibrant green liquid that hissed when it came in contact with anything. 

The skeleton lady from before stood there too, behind the couch with her arms crossed. she was watching Leo, who was still unconscious on the couch. Mikey sighed, crawling forward to set his chin on the edge of the cushions near Leo's hand. the room was quiet for a moment.

then Leo shot up on the couch. "Raph!"

"hey!" April grabbed his shoulders. "Leo!"

Leo gripped her arms,  his eyes going wide and searching hers. "April? Where- what are we-" He pulled one of his hands back and held it to his head. "The shredder, he- Where are Donnie and Raph?" He looked around.

No one answered and Leo stared for a second before looking at his hands and swallowing. 

"where- where is father?"

"you poor things." The skeleton lady finally spoke, and Leo seemed to realize for the first time that she was there. "I wish there was more I could do for you."

Leo looked at her for a moment before asking "You're Tang Shen, aren't you?"

everyone was shocked, especially the woman. "you know me?"

Leo nodded slowly. "My name is Hamato Leonardo, this is Hamato Michaelangelo and Hamato April." He motioned to his sister and brother

"Hamato?" she asked. "so Umi is also a Hamato?"

"His name is Donatello." Karai crossed her arms, glaring at her still-dripping fingers. 

"oh." Tang Shen looked at Karai for a moment. "What happened to the Hamato clan? I thought my husband and I were the last ones."

Leo stood up, slowly, allowing Mikey to help steady him. "Hamato Yoshi is-" he bit his lip.

"the raccoon we brought back here is Hamato Yoshi," Karai spoke softly, barely audible. 

"N- No that can't be. . ." She said quietly at first as her skeletal hand covered her mouth. mist formed in her eyesockets and ran down her skull.

 Mikey could tell she was in denial that the love of her life, even in the afterlife, was dead. she shook her head and her bones made a clanging sound as they shook. Leo and Mikey looked at one another. their expressions both had softened. Karai avoided eye contact instead, biting her lip. Perhaps she was thinking of what to say.

Mikey wanted so badly to say something.

"I'm sorry mama" he finally choked out. 

When his words reached Tang Shen she collapsed on her knees. the undead mother let out a heartbreaking sob and the mist flowed from her eyes like tears. as it began to cover the floor, it began to swirl. her hair had moved as if there was a breeze in the room, still undone from its bun after the fight.

Then bellowed a screech that was so full of rage and anguish, that Mikey wanted desperately to take a step back. Tang Shen's form shook and her eyes glowed a toxic green. as she screeched the ground and items around the room began to shake. it caused the four to fall to their knees covering their ears. 

The Skeleton lady let out a feral growl. 

after she stopped screeching over the loss of her husband, she looked up through her solid mist-like hair. her toxic green eyes looked at the four children in front of her, cowering, and something in her shifted. 

she realized her husband, Yoshi, was still there in the children he had tried so desperately to fight for. her hand curled up into a fist as a new resolve found its way into her heart.

"No one will take you from me, not again. you are what's left of my Yoshi."

Chapter Text

Leo felt numb.

Hamato Yoshi, his father, was dead. 

Tang Shen, his mother, was heartbroken.

His brothers, Raphael and Donatello were gone, taken by a madman who had never gotten enough love as a child. 

Michaelangelo was depressed. He had lost just as much.

Karai was distraught, and leaking poison from her fingertips with no control over her powers.

April had been fairly quiet, having known Splinter the longest, and remained in the dojo, kneeling by their father's body.

Casey went out to get some food for everyone, determined to make sure they ate. 

the whole lair had fallen into silence, pain hung in the air and no one was able to give comfort in their own mourning. 

Leo rubbed his palm with his thumb, sitting on the couch, listening for any kind of movement in their home. He was antsy. He needed to move, to do something, to fix all of it. but in the process of 24 hours, it felt like everything was ripped away from them. Were Raph and Donnie okay? were they together or separated? why would the shredder even take Raph? he had no use for him, right?

Leo hoped they were okay. the family couldn't handle losing anyone else. 

He closed his eyes, thinking. They had to get their brothers back, but going to foot headquarters was too obvious. If the shredder was half as intelligent as the turtles, he would move their brothers to a different location that would be harder to find. Karai might know where. 

Leo reopened his eyes, spotting his katanas lying on the coffee table. when everyone went to their own places in the lair, Leo tried his hardest to summon a portal to Raph and Donnie, but not even sparks came out of the blades. somehow, the numbness made it worse. He didn't know what he was feeling, so he didn't know how to deal with it. 

Pick yourself up and get ready for the next fight.

the words of Big Mama rang in his head. at the time, the phrase had been a sneer, a command. but now, it was encouragement. he needed to pull himself together. he needed to pull his team, and his family together. 

united they rise, divided they fall.

Leo had his healing, that still worked and was useful as a contingency. his swords may not be able to provide transportation, but they were still sharp, and he knew how to wield them well. 

April and Karai were both trained kunoichi. if they could help Karai control her emotions, and control her power, then the two of them could be useful. 

for that, they'd need Mikey, but first, Leo needed to comfort his little brother, and ready him for the battle ahead. He was young and untrained, but he had the strongest powers. 

Shen would be the easiest to pull through. She would help them however she could, she'd already said that. And she was just as ready to save their brothers as Leo was. 

First things first, Leo needed to prioritize. They needed to take a moment to bury Splinter. They couldn't put that off, that would dishonor him.

Then they needed to get Donnie and Raph back. 

Leo looked again at his swords. If he could compose himself for just a moment, maybe he could open a portal. But if he didnt then they'd have to rely on Karai. 

With her track record regarding Donnie, she would help, thought they couldnt be sure of what she'd so after. 

Leo stood from his place on the couch, picking up his blades and sheathing them on his shell. 

Once they got their brothers back, then they could mourn. Now was not the time, as much as splinter deserved it. He would have wanted them to prioritize their living family.

Leo sighed at the thought. He had only known the racoon for four months, but he had felt deeply connected to the old spirit and fatherly intent he had given off. 

Leo wished he had more time.

Chapter Text

TW: Brain worms, violence

Donnie struggled against the restraints holding his body to the metal table as another soldier finished binding his foot down. 

"Calm yourself, Donatello. Soon, I will fix everything." The Shredder stood over him, looking down with clouded eyes. He set his hand on Don's head and the turtle flinched, pressing his lips together. 

He wouldn't feed the fire more. They were already in a terrible situation.

"Get your filthy hands offa him!" Raph was in the same situation on Donnie's left. He pulled ferociously at the steel clasps, but to no avail.

Saki lifted his hand from Don's head, and the turtle sighed in relief. He looked at Raph for a moment, his eyes narrowing before he made his way over to the other turtle. 

"You were one of the three that brainwashed my son." He said matter-of-factly.

"We didn't brainwash shit." Raph spat, glaring daggers at the man. "We told him the truth. And he's not your son." 

"You are similar to him." The shredder seemed to rake his eyes over Raph's plastron. He spoke as if he hadn't heard the hybrid. "Hypno, do you believe he is similar enough for a test run?"

The hippo that had brought them there shuffled nervously. "he's just a kid mate-"

"Did I ask?" the shredder cut him off. "Will he work or not? I do not want to try this on my son if it will hurt him."

Hypnoppotomus hung his head a bit, looking at the ground. "yes, I believe he is similar enough."

"good." The Shredder turned to the human putting a whole bunch of things together on a nearby table. "Baxter Stockman,"

the man looked up. "y-yes?"

"Are they ready?"

Donnie strained his head, trying to look at what the tech whiz was working on, but he couldn't get a good view. whatever it was, Don didn't like the sound of it. Baxter Stockman was a morally ambiguous character that would do anything that the Shredder ordered him for a pat on the head and a granola bar. despite his stutter, he was dangerous.

"yes, s-sir." he held up a glass beaker that was half full of dirt and had something greenish-pink wiggling around inside. Shredder took the beaker into his hands and turned back toward the Hippo. "Hypno, a little extra, if you please."

he didn't sound like he was asking.

The hippo looked at the beaker and a look of terror came across his face. "W-Worms?"

the shredder smirked maliciously. "is there a problem?"

Hypno furrowed his eyebrows in concern but shook his head. he seemed to sprinkle some magic sparkles into the outstretched beaker before drawing his hand back and swallowing.

Donnie felt his pulse quicken when the shredder made his way toward his brother with the beaker. 

wait-

Don felt the words catch in his throat, no longer having enough respect for the man to allow him his words. that was all that made Donnie speak to him before.

Raph squirmed, growling at the Shredder. Donnie also pulled at his restraints. he didn't want to know what the hell Shredder was doing. he just wanted to stop him before he hurt Raph.

The shredder had a pair of tweezers and reached with it into the beaker. he pulled out an off, disfigured worm that looked like it had teeth. It wiggled a bit in the metal grasp of the tool, its wrong form twisting incorrectly.

Raph gagged when he saw it, and his eyes widened when Saki moved it toward his face.

"What the hell is that?" Raph choked out, turning his head away from it, facing more toward Donnie. 

Shredder pulled it back and motioned to Stockman, who typed on his computer for a second before Don felt the metal beneath him shift and lift him into an almost upright position. the same happened to Raph and Saki nodded approvingly, moving the worm once more toward Raph. 

Raph started rapidly shaking his head, which pissed off the man. 

The shredder gipped his cheeks and Donnie cringed as the worm was placed directly onto his snout and the tweezers removed. 

fully free, it wiggled around and Raph clenched his fists, his shoulders drawing up. 

Donnie pulled more on the steel holding his body. He was helpless as the worm crawled over the right side of Raph's face, under his eyes which were now tightly shut. The shredder moved his face to the side a bit so the worm wouldn't fall.

Donnie took a quick breath seeing the grub wiggle its way into the hole that served as Raphs ear.

Donnie wished he could unhear the scream that escaped his brother's lips.

Chapter Text

TW: Brain Worms, violence, vomiting

Raph hadn't felt such pain, ever, in his life.

the bolts of agony shot from his skull and through his limbs, and he could feel that THING crawling inside his ear.

Then, for a second, almost all his senses stopped. he couldn't see or feel anything, and he could only hear a faint yelling of his name. 

this time, the pain came back differently, as if he'd just been punched rather than electrocuted. It was duller and fought with him, rather than against him.

and suddenly, he retched, and disgusting bile brought back his sense of taste and smell.

he blinked a few times and looked up, realizing then that he'd been released from the table and was on his hands and knees, looking at the sullied feet of his captor. He coughed, and nearly vomited again before he was able to catch his breath.

then he noticed, among his mess on the floor, was the worm, still wiggling desperately. 

Raph yelped and pulled himself back so his carapace pressed against the base of the table he had previously been bound to. He looked up at the Shredder, who looked angry. He turned his head to the hippo that was on standby. "Why didn't it work?"

the hippo shrugged. "I don't know, mate. Perhaps he has a strong mind?"

"well then test that theory." Oruko Saki pointed aggressively at Raph, who tensed. The hippo huffed and begrudgingly switched places with the shredder, who crossed his arms from the side, observing. 

"now mate," the hippo spoke to Raph calmly "I promise I ain't going to hurt ya." He reached for Raph, but the turtle didn't much like that.

He attempted to kick the guy, but he pressed his massive hand over Raphs knees, keeping his legs pinned to the floor and his other hand shot forward and gripped the lip of his plastron. Raph pulled at his hands. "Let me go you oversized donkey-"

"Sorry little guy." He said quietly enough that only Raph could hear, before pursing his lips and saying "Mezmerooo-"

Raph got a headache from the sound and turned his head to the side a bit. 

he waited a few moments before looking back at Hypno. "was that supposed to do something?"

Hypno seemed surprised, but released Raph and stood up. "I don't think any mental attacks work on him."

The shredder huffed.  "Then test the worm on something else."

Hypno looked around. ''there's no one else here though."

the shredder groaned a bit before leaning down and picking up the worm at the hippo's feet. Raph cringed as a bit of the bile dripped from Saki's hand. 

he took a few steps toward the exit of the room and summoned one of his foot soldiers. 

Raph turned his head to look at Donnie, who was still bound and looking at Raph worriedly.

Are you okay?

Raph nodded, attempting again to swallow the leftover taste in his mouth. He looked up at Hypno, who was watching the Shredder. Raph scooted to the side a bit, closer to Donnie.

What are you doing? Donnie hissed in his head.

I'm going to try to get us out of here before he finishes. 

"Hey!" Hypno noticed Raphs movement and reached down, once again grabbing the turtle's plastron. "where do you think you're going?" He lifted Raph up, to where he couldn't touch his feet to the ground. Raph attempted to kick at him, but he couldn't reach there either. the Hippo was much larger than him. Raph let out a frustrated cry, clawing at the hand that held him. 

"Hypno-" the voice that interrupted belonged to the shredder, as he turned to look at the hippo, his summoned soldier bowing respectfully in front of him. "It works."

"it- it does?" Hypnos's pitch raise a bit in surprise and he spared Raph a sideways glance. 

"It does." Oruko Saki wasted no time stepping past Hypno, the beaker returned to his hand, and the tweezers pulled a new worm out as he made his way toward Donnie. 

"Wait-" Raph protested. "No! Leave him alone already!"

the shredder ignored him, and Donnie watched him with fear in his pink eyes. the closer he got, the more Donnie fought against his restraints, desperation crawling into his throat as he struggles. 

"I said-" Raph swung his legs up, locking them around the Hippo's elbow and pulling down with his hips. this brought him closer to Hypno's face, so Raph reached forward, grabbed the thick whiskers in the guy's snout, and used both feet to kick him hard in the nose. at this, Raph was released, and he landed on his feet and charged the shredder "LEAVE HIM ALONE!!"

The shredder dropped the worm and took a step back from Donnie in surprise. 

the worm landed on Donnie's plastron. 

Raph turned quickly, going to smack it off, but before he could reach it, something yanked hard at his shell, and then he was weightless. the impact with the wall shook through his torso, and he fell to the ground, gasping. 

"What are you doing? he's just a kid?" Raph heard Hypno's voice ask. Raph looked up slowly and heard his brother cry out as the worm crawled up his neck. He was shaking and his eyes were closed. 

Hang on, Donnie! I'm coming!!

Donie opened one of his eyes to look at Raph. Hurry.

Raph stood up again, glaring now at the shredder, who stood between him and his brother. 

"he has no more use to me." the shredders voice was low-pitched. then, a smile spread over his lips, and he raised his chin a bit. "although, he could make fine entertainment."

the shredder snapped his fingers and just as quickly, a group of foot soldiers overtook Raph, pinning him to the ground on his plastron, and pulling his hands behind his carapace. "No! let me go! Donnie!"

He looked up at his little brother just as he screamed, his whole body writhing violently on the table. 

"DONNIE!!" Raph fought against his captors to no avail "Stop this!"

Hypno gripped his forearms and avoided eye contact, but the shredder did not, keeping his eyes locked onto Raphs as if he was challenging him. 

then Donnie fell limp.

Raph screamed for his brother, but he didn't stir. Saki looked at Donnie for a moment, seemingly satisfied as he gave Stockman an order. the human typed away on his computer and Donnie's restraints hissed, releasing him. he fell forward, but the shredder caught him, easing him t the floor carefully and setting him on his carapace. he said something quietly and stroked Donnie's head.

and Donnie sat up.

Saki smiled. "good, that's my son."

"He's not your son," Raph growled. 

"Oh, I bet he'd beg to differ," SHredder remarked, helping Donnie to his feet. his shell was facing Raph, and he didn't seem to be moving much. 

it was eerie.

Raph felt a deep pit in his stomach as the Shredder locked gazes with him once more. 

"Donatello," He said, not removing his gaze. "Kill the turtle."

he took a step back, and Donnie turned toward Raph.

the foot soldiers released him, and he stood, and the brothers looked at each other for a moment.

Donnie? Raph tried reaching out to him, not exactly comfortable with the look in his eyes. 

there was no response as Donnie shot toward Raph, ever the obedient soldier. 

Raph ducked instinctually when Donnie's fist headed for his face. 

No no no no no-

"Donnie! snap out of it!" Raph spun and latched his arms under Donnie's shoulders. Donnie struggled for a second before Raph felt something grip the upper lip of his carapace and he was flipped forward, slamming to the floor on his shell. He cried out at the jolt of pain through his back but shook it off quickly. 

Raph rolled out of the way of Donnie's foot and jumped to his feet. Donnie turned to him again. Raph noticed then what was wrong with his brother's eyes. It was like the pupils were gone, contracted to small dots that were barely visible from a distance. 

that damn worm was controlling his brother. of course he wouldn't attack Raph like this if it wasn't. He needed to find a way to get it out of him. 

Donnie charged again, and Raph narrowly missed the second punch, not expecting a third to strike him in the snout. he stumbled back, holding his face. pulling his hand back, he saw red liquid on his palm. 

He swallowed, catching Donnie's wrist as he swung again. Raphs other hand gripped Donnie's other forearm, spinning him a bit and pressing him carefully to the wall. "Donnie! you can fight this."

Donnie smiled, and Raph felt a chill go down his spine. "Why would I fight it? I am where I am meant to be."

Donnie's foot collided with Raph plastron, landing the red turtle on his shell again, coughing. He scrambled up as Donnie walked toward him. 

"I told you, boy," the shredder spoke from behind him "That I was going to fix everything."

"How is this fixing anything?" Raph shouted. "this is wrong, you ass."

Donnie jumped at Raph again, unceasingly, and Raphs body reacted reflexively, gripping Donnie's shoulders and pushing his back against the wall. 

Raph forgot his own strength at that moment and watched Donnie's eyes go wide, his pink irises trembling for a second. His lips drew up in pain and he crumpled to the floor. Raph yelled in surprise, catching him so he wouldn't hit his head. 

His shell! Shit, I didn't mean to-

"Stand up," Saki ordered, and Raph saw a tremor run through Donnie's body as the worm attempted to follow its orders. his face drew up in more pain, and his eyelids fluttered a bit. 

Damnit, stop this. Stop hurting him.

The thoughts repeated themselves in Raphs head, cycling into his anger. The red forming itself around Raph and Donnie probably wasn't as strong as usual. he felt his energy being diverted to something else, something deeper. 

He looked behind him to see all of the other people in the room frozen through his shield. Their eyes had all gone white and Donnie had stopped shaking. Raph could hear them, their minds racing, shouting at him and themselves. he caught the Hippo's pleas for someone named Warren and his safety, and he heard the Shredder's chaotic thoughts circling in rage and confusion. 

Raph had somehow broken into their minds. 

he had control. 

He glared at the Shredder. "Tell Donnie to reject the worm."

The shredder twitched for a second, and Raph could feel his resistance, but it was futile. Raph diverted most of the power toward keeping his hold on Saki. 

"Donatello, reject the worm." His voice was strained, but due to the chaos in his head, he followed Raphs orders.

Donnie trembled again, and Raph looked at him as he retched. Raph held him up, gripping his shoulder and his plastron. 

The worm wiggled on the ground, and Raph slammed his fist on it. Donnie coughed, heaving, then another tremor shot through his shoulders. He looked up at Raph slowly, his eyes returned to normal, though maybe slightly dilated. 

"hey, Raph."

Chapter Text

"Come on Leo, you can do it!" Mikey encouraged his oldest brother, who gripped his swords in his hands, taking a deep breath.

then he swung, and the blue portal opened. 

before Leo and his group could step through, three figures stumbled through.

Raph, Donnie, and a Hippo mutant. 

Mikey gasped. "Guys!" He went to Donnie, putting his hands on his shoulders. Raph shook his head a bit, confused, then turned to look at the portal, before turning to Leo with panic in his eyes. 

"Close the portal!"

Leo nodded and went to swing his swords again, but something else shot out of the portal directly toward the slider. 

He was tackled, and metal scraped against metal.

"damnit!" Leo heard Raph curse. 

Leo shoved his feet upward, launching the Shredder off him and finishing closing the portal. then he ran over to his brothers, Karai, and April, and their mother joining the group as well. "Are you two okay?"

"holy mackerel, there's four of ya?" The hippo seemed to have just come to that realization.

"I'm fine." Raph stood. "can you heal Donnie's shell?"

Leo nodded again, crouching beside his two youngest brothers and setting his palm on Donnie's leathery carapace. Donnie also held a large sack, holding it to his chest. 

"Mikey, I need your help holding this guy back," Raph said and the youngest patted Donnie's shoulder and then stood. "Leo, once you're done, a portal to hell would be nice for this ass."

"I'll get right on that," Leo smirked, glad to have his brothers back. Donnie seemed to relax more as the discoloration in his shell faded. It had only been bruised, luckily. Donnie gave Leo a grateful smile that Leo returned. he heard the sounds of a scuffle behind him. 

"hey mate?" The hippo crouched beside Leo. "where exactly are we?"

Leo looked at him. "who are you?"

"Hypnoppotomus" He chuckled nervously. "I'm not a good guy if that's what you're asking, but I am not crazy enough to let that psycho" he pointed at the shredder, fighting the rest of the group "hurt a group of children. it's not my style."

"uh," Leo blinked. "Okay?"

Donnie sighed and went to stand up.

"you okay?" Leo made sure to ask.

Donnie nodded and made the sign language for thank you. then he pulled a large black item out of the sack he was holding. he hoisted it over his back and after messing with the shoulder clasps, Leo realized it was some kind of shell protector and nodded in approval. it was a good idea for Donnie to have. Donnie also pulled out a small, metal, tube-like item. he pressed something and it extended into a metal Bo.

Leo turned to the battle, and in a split second, his blood ran cold.

the Shredders blades slashed and the impact against Leo's plastron knocked the wind out of him, as he caught his brother and flew backward. 

Leo coughed, sitting up, and setting his hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Mike? are you okay?"

he saw the massive gash across his youngest brother's stomach, and he saw the blood.

"Mikey!" He rolled him onto his shell and realized that he was out cold. that wasn't good. 

"Mikey!" Raph shouted. 

"oh my god!" The Hippo took a few steps back, looking at the shredder, which had blood dripping from his gauntlet blades. 

Donnie rushed to Leo's side, thinking quickly. he grabbed Leo's wrists and pressed his older brother's hands to the injury on Mikey's plastron. the glowing that followed was bright. Raph made it over, short of breath, and fell to his knees on the other side of Mikey.

"look at that." the voice of the shredder cut through the air. "brotherly loyalty. how cliche."

April crouched beside raph, tears running down her cheeks. "come on, Leo."

"I'm trying." Leo managed to say, feeling the energy coursing down his arms. he pressed his palms more onto Mikey's plastron, hoping that would speed up the process. he was still bleeding a lot. 

"but my goals will not be stopped by children." Saki continued.

Raph shook his head a bit. "damnit. he's too strong. I can't keep fighting. I'm too tired." 

"That's probably because of your little mind control stunt." The hippo pointed out.

"your fucking what?" April asked Raph.

he shrugged. "Not sure."

"I will have what is mine." The shredders footsteps became audible to Leo, allowing him to recognize the enemy's closer proximity and the danger behind it. 

"ENOUGH!!" Donnie stood up. Leo looked up at him in shock, but his words caught in his throat when he noticed Donnie's pink eyes glowing. "Karai, Hone-Onna, on me." he turned his head to Leo. "stay with Mikey." He glanced at Raph and he nodded, some kind of silent communication passing between them. "Let's end this."

He gripped his metal staff, pressing a button on the shoulder of his shell protector. four robotic arms unfolded from the shell and stretched out from it, almost like a spider. 

Leo shuddered, averting his gaze to Mikey. His healing wasn't doing the trick, and Mikey was paler than before. 

"Leo-" April gripped Raphs shoulder uncertainly, looking at their youngest sibling. "It's not working."

Leo felt the energy running not through his veins, pulsing with his heartbeat. "It has to. come on."

Donnie, Karai, and Tang shot off toward the shredder intently and Leo focused on his task. He had to help Mikey. no one else could. 

"please-" He clenched his eyes closed, feeling warm tears running down his cheeks. "we can't lose anyone else."

The heat in his arms changed, cooling to an icy, dull ache. and behind his eyelids, Leo could see a bright light. 

He opened his eyes to see the glowing from his palms wrap all the way around his hands and spread up his arms. Mikey's whole body started giving off a bit of a blue glow as well, and light seemed to fly around, twisting and swirling around the two of them. Raph and April scooted back in surprise. 

the ice in Leo's veins grew colder and more intense along with the brightness of his light. 

Mikey would be okay, he knew it.

Chapter Text

Mikey woke slowly. his body felt light and relaxed, having already forgotten the pain he'd felt just moments ago. He opened his eyes to see Leo smiling at him, his golden eyes glowing slightly and particles of blue light flittering around his head, illuminating the tear stains on his cheeks. 

He sat up and was wrapped in a tight hug by Raph, Leo, and April. he laughed a bit, feeling giddy, and he looked around them.

He saw the battle going on behind them. 

Mikey nearly jumped out of his shell when he saw the three gashes over Donnie's right eye, dripping blood down his neck. His left eye was open and focused, glowing as he seemed to be dancing around the Shredder, using four robotic arms protruding from his shell to maneuver better. their Mom was using her broken arm bone to slash at the man, and Karai was throwing the same sizzling poison from her hands at him.

"Donnie-" Mikey attempted to get up, he needed to help, but Leo held his arm, an oddly proud look across his face.

"He's got this."

"What do you mean?" Mikey asked, watching the tallest brother look over at him.

Donnie gave him a gentle smile as the Shredder came rapidly up behind him. 

Mikey almost called for him, but without looking, Donnie crouched, spinning on his heels and making his staff collide with Saki's face. 

"what-" Mikey choked.

"He's been doing that for a good few moments. It's like he knows exactly what the shredder is going to do next." Raph watched too. "He only wanted Karai and the skeleton lady to fight with him."

Mikey looked at Raph for a moment, before sighing. 

He relaxed a bit as he watched the fight, realizing that Leo was right. Donnie did seem to be predicting the shredder's moves. 

Mikey suspected it had something to do with his glowing eyes. 

Donnie pulled Karai back from one of Saki's swipes, and Shen flipped over him, then gripped the sides of his head as mist poured from her palms, surrounding his face. 

He screeched, reeling back. Shen took a step back, nodding toward Karai, who ran around behind the Shredder and jumped onto his back, digging her dripping fingers into his shoulders. 

As he squirmed, Donnie charged toward his front. in the time it took him to get there, the shredder had thrown Karai off, and waved the mist away from his face.

but he wasn't fast enough.

Donnie slammed the end of his staff into the shredders chest, and everyone heard the sickening SHKK-

everyone froze.

the blade from Donnie's stick was barely visible behind the shredder's back, and the look of shock on the man's face was unmistakable.

just as the shredder had done to splinter.

Chapter Text

Time slowed down.

Donnie looked into the same brown eyes he'd always looked up to, as they stared back at him, swimming with emotions. 

and somehow, he still had nothing to say. 

He retracted the blade, and the Shredder fell to his knees, not removing his eyes from Donatellos. 

his breath quivered for a moment, and he spoke quietly. "Gomen ne, uchinoko."

sorry, my child.

Donnie couldn't help but feel an ache in his chest at the phrase, something the shredder had never uttered to anyone. Donnie couldn't figure out why his eyes stung, the pain from the wound across his face fading into the back of his mind. 

The Shredder smiled slightly, his eyelids closing, and his torso falling to the ground. 

He remained motionless, but something in Donnie wanted to believe he was just unconscious, despite the crimson dripping from the end of his staff. 

His logical brain wouldn't process this, it wouldn't process anything.

just a second ago, he had been so sure that he was doing the right thing, but now, he had no idea. somehow it hurt so much more than he expected. had he made the wrong choice?

Donnie shakily got down to his knees, putting his hands on his kneecaps, his breathing shallow. 

"Don." Karai kneeled to his right, in the same position. her hands were clean once more from the green poison that had coated them before. 

he didn't look at her. He couldn't take his eyes off of the shredder, off of the deep hole through his back, blood seeping into his clothing far too slowly for it to still be pumping through his veins. 

Don felt himself crying, at least from his right eye. He pressed his palms to the grass in front of his legs and bent over, resting his forehead on the ground. 

"Anzen'na tsūro," he said softly.

Karai followed his lead, repeating the same phrase, and the two of them took their time. 

Karai raised her head first, remaining on her knees, waiting patiently fro her brother. 

it took him several more minutes before he also rose. 

He had no idea where he was going, and although he knew what Oruko Saki had done, and who he had been, Donnie still knew he wouldn't be where he was that day if not for him. 

perhaps one day ha could heal, and he may once again refer to him as a father.

but for now, Donnie stood, Karai following suit and holding her younger brother's hand to guide him toward their other siblings. 

"Donnie," Leo said quietly, approaching him. he offered his palm toward Don's face, and Don readily accepted, allowing his cheek to rest in his oldest brother's hand. 

after a minute, and the feeling of that pain retreating, replaced by the warmth of Leo's skin, Don opened his left eye, blinking a few times. He couldn't see anything out of it.

that was fine, he would manage, he always did. 

"Children," Hone-Onna stepped toward the turtles and their two human sisters. he held in her hands a bundle of fabrics. "I found these in your fathers room. I'd like to think they were intended for you."

She handed them out, blue for Leo, orange for Mikey, green for Karai, and purple for Donnie. 

he felt the soft fabric between his fingers, realizing it was a mask similar to the ones that April and Raph wore. 

everyone became a mixture of happy and sad, immediately putting theirs on. Donnie was the last to do so, making his motions slow and deliberate, almost hesitant. 

maybe someday he would figure out who was under the purple mask.

but for now?

He was okay with not knowing, as long as he had his family by his side. His olders sisters and brothers, and his baby brother. 

together they could face anything.