Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tomorrow, the plan is a go.

The code was spread out over quite a few pages in the old book Donnie was allowed to have in their cell. It was dark after the officer patrolling checked in to see everyone was sleeping in their cells and not doing stuff in the cover of night finally passed by their cell and wouldn't return for another hour. The dark made it take longer than wanted to decipher, but regardless, Leo's smile grew with knowing soon he and his twin would be home free. Well…less so home, more so anywhere but here and what technically was their home free. Leo dropped his hand down, feigning to be a sleeping body limply drooping his hand over the side of the bed. He felt the book be quickly snatched from his hand from his brother, who slept on the lower bunk of their bed.

No words were spoken, none hand to be said, not for now at least. Tomorrow was going to be eventful, and if they played their cards right, everything would go according to plan.

Mutants.

Splinter hated seeing that word, especially when it was sprawled across the news headlines. They were always asking and answering questions. What are they? Self explanatory, humans or animals mutated into beasts. Should you be scared? Yes, they are more prone to violence. What should you do if you see one? Call authorities immediately so they can be shipped to some facility to be poked and prodded. 

He wasn't sure how long he could hide the news from his sons. How do you break to your kids that their duty as your son is to protect the people who want to lock them away and experiment on them from certain evil? Orange appeared relatively harmless enough, but Red? He was certain people would look past that he was just a kid, letting their fear of mutants drive past that he was a gentle giant that just wanted the best for everyone. 

More headlines on mutants cut his worries short as he tuned back in, expecting the same fear mongering nonsense. He squinted at the projection on the wall, reading the headline. Mutants Turtles Kids Break Into Museum . Splinter's scowl shifted into shock. His heart sank in his chest as he feared the worst, trying his best to not get ahead of himself and panic before he could even listen. He leaned his ratty recliner forward to force himself to listen in clearly.

Top headline tonight as we're finally given an update on the break in of the Morgan Library and Museum. Video evidence from surveillance cameras shows two mutant turtles breaking into the museum at around 2:48am, three months ago on September 24th. The two were caught stealing about two hundred dollars worth of items, and causing around a hundred dollars in property damage. The two were arrested on site and taken to the highest security juvenile delinquent center. Debates run high as to whether or not they should be sent to Earth Protection Services with other mutants, or stay in their current facility due to both being 15 years old. 

The video changed from the news anchor and graphics beside her to the previously stated surveillance video with the same headline below. 

Two figures were in a dimly lit museum, moving about pretty decently to avoid a clear view of the cameras but still prevalent that they were present. As Splinter observed the two figures though, the more his initial fear relaxed, being replaced by confusion. They were most definitely not Red and Orange. The video cut short just as one of them ran clearly across the screen, the other just about to enter view as well. The one that was fully in frame was still blurry given their movement, but it was clear based on their form they were a turtle as stated. Had it not been, he was sure everyone would assume they were some teens with backpacks on as they were both very humanoid. Splinter had been observing too closely to note the news anchor talking over the video. 

-was shot at by officers but is expected to be okay. If you have any information to provide to the police please contact the phone number and email listed on our website.

Splinter slumped back into his chair, humming for a moment before turning off the projector, shrouding the room in darkness as he thought for a bit. Two other mutant turtles. What was honestly the possibility of that? Most every mutant was a human, and usually turned into some animal, but his sons were a special case of being animals into humans. Was it possible these two were simply just humans? 

It slowly clicked into place after a while of considering the correlation between Red and Orange to the two on the news. The other two turtles he dropped, unable to save them as he rushed away from that warrior scientist's lab.

Barron Draxum must be behind this. 

Splinter is going to have to have a long talk with his sons when they wake.

"Up and at 'em boys!" Called out a guard as metal bars were harshly met with a baton. Leo jolted awake, groaning over dramatically while Donnie simply tossed over, shell facing the rest of the room. The guard's voice echoed down the hall as he met everyone else with the same sudden wakening. After a few moments of attempting to catch a few more minutes  of sleep, the two nearly in sync jolted up and awake with remembering their plans for the day. 

"Today's a special day, bro bro!" Leo stated excitedly. He scrambled down the side of the bed, hopping onto his feet as Donnie sat in his bed, pulling the orange jumpsuit up to tie it around his waist. "I can feel things are gonna go our way." Leo gave a proud smile and resting his hands on his waist, looking around the room as if reminiscing a house before moving out.

"Your instincts are usually correct, my companion." Donnie said as he stood, ducking his way out to slide out the bed without hitting his head on the top bunk. He took a step, leaning it into throwing his arm over Leo's shoulder and leaning against him. He rummaged through his jumpsuit for a moment before taking out a picture, flapping it open as he held it out at arms length for the two to see.

It was an old folded postcard, well worn and addressed to some stranger that tossed it out. It was a rather tacky image of Japan. The two didn't necessarily see Japan as an improvement to New York, more so just a metaphor for getting out and away from what was going to be their past life. Away from the humans that had no chance of redemption in their eyes to try a fresh start with a different batch of humans. Away from their da- Draxum. Away from the yōkais here to possibly meet different ones who would treat them fairly with their, hopefully, lack of knowledge of Draxum. 

Donnie pushed himself off Leo, making Leo stumble slightly as he paced away from him to look closely at the picture. He wore a big grin as he stared at it knowing it could be their future very soon. Leo moved over to take a seat on the edge of Donnie's bed, watching his brother intently as a guard soon approached the door. Time to put his part of the plan to work.

Leo slid a hand under Donnie's pillow to pull out a bracelet, while Donnie folded the picture and stuffed it into his jumpsuit tied around his waist. Donnie sat at the small desk in their room, pretending to be busy himself while Leo leaned back, spinning the bracelet around his finger. His usual award winning smug grin was across his face as the guard approached, about to unlock the door before halting. He squinted at Leo with a scowl before piping up.

"What the hell is that?" Leo raised a brow, feigning confusion. They were so predictable, needlessly snappy and rude. 

"What? Oh!" Leo caught the bracelet after spinning it off his finger. "This? It's a bracelet made in jewelry class. Dee made it for me." Not entirely a lie, Donnie did make it, just less so for him given its purpose. The two had their own bracelets of the other's respective colors already.

"Hand it over."

"What? You jealous? I'm sure Donnie can make you one too!" Leo taunted with his grin growing wide.

"I'm not asking again, Lee. Hand it over." The guard hissed. After a standstill, Leo's grin dropped to a frown and Donnie looked over with a glare that he fortunately didn't have to pretend. He flicked the bracelet at the door, the guard reaching through the bar to snatch it. After observing it he gave a hum, grinning maliciously at the two as he put it on.

"You know, I think I'll keep this. You aren't allowed metal and these beads are a little too close." Leo appeared surprised, Donnie turning his back again to hide his own smile. The guard unlocked their door, telling the two to hit the showers before leaving to approach another guard. He ignored Leo's protests the whole time.

Leo's glare looked over to Donnie before he was met with a smile from his brother, Leo unable to stop his own.

"Blue's not his color at all." Leo joked as Donnie stifled a laugh. He stood, offering a fist bump to his brother. Leo always leaned his bumps into an imitated explosion, leaning into his next steps as he left the cell. Donnie trailed behind his brother as they made their way to the showers.

After a quick shower, the two needing more specialized stuff to mostly just clean off their shells and get Donnie's bandages on his own shell switched out, the two headed back to their cell. They were technically supposed to head to their councilor to get plans for the day but the two more often than not got away with some simple emotional manipulation of their assigned spineless councilor. 

Why she believed they had good in them and were more scared, troubled, hurt teens than mutated turtles was past them but in the end it played in their favor. 

"Shell okay?" Leo asked as he spun the chair at their desk around to face Donnie who went to lay back in his bed.

"Better than before. Still sore and feels like it opens again if I move too much but I'm fine otherwise." Donnie brushed off quickly. Leo knew the both of them were concerned how the injury to his shell may affect their escape plan, but Leo never pushed more after the two got in a big argument over it that led to Donnie being ordered to two weeks of therapy. 

Those two weeks were mostly spent glaring at their councilor until she called their session short with not getting Donnie to budge. He was stubborn. He couldn't lie as well as Leo could but he made up for that in remaining silent, even with the threat of violence in an attempt to get information out of him. Regardless, Donnie would rather be strapped to an electric chair with metal beams running through his skull than to sit through a few hours of therapy. Then again, Leo didn't see that as comparable given how durable the two were to pain.

Leo shook his head clear of thoughts, knowing if he spent too long he'd spiral into memories of their arrest. 

"Ready?" 

Donnie looks around the cell, taking it in for one last time. A faint smile creeps onto his face as he looks back to his brother, giving a single nod.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Raph wasn't sure what to expect.

Family meetings were never a good sign, but then again, he couldn't be sure it wasn't just going to be a session of being scolded by Splinter for stealing a last slice of pizza, or forgetting to plug his projector back in. Regardless, he kept himself calm, knowing there was no point in getting anxious about whatever the future would be. 

He made his way down the hall- well, as much of a hall as a sewer lay out could offer. His presence was immediately welcomed by his younger brother. Mikey sat on the floor in front of the recliner, halfway turned to face it though more expectant of Splinter coming in to sit on the recliner to talk to them. 

"Mornin'!" Mikey immediately patted the floor next to him, Raph already on his way to take the invitation. Raph plopped himself next to the smaller turtle with a soft thud.

"Hey- whatcha think this is about?" Raph immediately questions, hoping Mikey had a bit more of an idea. Mikey only offers a shrug, fidgeting with the orange straps around his wrists. Noticing this Raph gives him a pat on the shoulder. "I'm sure it's nothin' bad."

"That depends on you." 

The two flinched, quickly turning their heads to the once empty recliner, where their dad now sat. Splinter chuckling a bit at spooking the two. He waved his hand apologetically, earning a bright smile from Mikey and a small grin and eye roll from Raph.

"So any hints or are we waiting for April?" Mikey asks, getting antsy while waiting for whatever news Splinter had. It was obvious Mikey was a bit more optimistic, Raph attempted to remain so as well but generally trying to be realistic. The only times Splinter was this vague was when he had some very important things to tell them and didn't quite feel they were ready yet.

"She's on her way, patience Orange." Mikey deflated, "In the meantime, how are my sons?" 

Raph glanced at Mikey, the confusion went unspoken but still well accounted for. "We're alright pops." Raph answered simply, "Training mostly."

Splinter nodded, appearing content with the answer. Silence fell amongst the party, growing a bit awkward for all besides Splinter. Fortunately, it was broken by the most lively of them all, April. Her announcement of her presence echoed into the TV room before she rounded the corner on her bike. She hopped off her bike, leading it to drop gently to the floor before rushing over immediately to Mikey with her arms out.

Mikey's smile immediately lit up the room as he hopped to his feet and jumped into April's hug that she swung him around in for a moment before setting him down again. "Sorry for keeping you goobs waiting, was caught a little off guard for being included in this family meeting business." She laughs, Raph and her exchanging fist bumps. She sits herself between Raph and Mikey, Mikey subconsciously leaning into April. 

Splinter waits expectantly for a moment in April before something seems to click. "Oh! Right, and the documents I promised not to question you for forging are in my bag." She adds, Splinter giving a content nod. Raph quirks a brow, Mikey pursing his lips a bit as he shuffles to face Splinter more head on as April and now Raph were.

"Right…" Splinter trailed off, wondering if this really was for the best. He took a deep breath trying to find the best way to lay everything onto his sons, especially Red, and April, without an overload of information. 

Mikey cleared his throat, clearly getting impatient with Splinter's thoughts getting off track in his mind. He squinted at the youngest who only offered a bright smile of innocence. 

"This is going to take a while to process. Everything will change and I need you all to know that regardless, we will make it through this." Splinter huffed. Mikey's smile faltered slightly in worry, April and Raph sitting up straight displaying he had their undivided attention. "Red, Orange. You two know the story of how you were made, yes?"

"Sorta. Some crazy mad scientist guy was trying to put your DNA into us to make us some mystic warriors. His lab caught on fire and you saved us." Raph answers, Mikey and April giving a nod in agreement.

Splinter hums. Tear it off like a bandaid.

"Well…something about that night. I…there…" He falters, but only stopping to take a deep breath. "There were two others I was unable to save." 

It fell quiet, even the sound of the projector didn't cut through the suddenly crushing denseness of the room. Though conclusions lead to different spots between Raph and Mikey as they spoke at the same time, startling April who was waiting for more clarity.

"We have two more siblings?!"

"We have two dead siblings?" 

Mikey jolted at Raph's assumption that their lost siblings died, Raph seeming embarrassed his assumption was darker. He only used a bit of contextual evidence given the lab was on fire in their dad's recounting.

"I did believe they were dead too. I was waiting for a certain answer that Draxum wasn't around to tell you all but…" the paused.

"But?" April pushed. 

"But they're alive. My assumption is that Draxum saved them, which I didn't expect since you all used to be so small. I was scared they got lost in the chaos." Splinter took another breath to collect his thoughts. "If my assumptions are correct now though, they were raised by Draxum, either got arrested committing a crime on his behalf or ran away, became criminals, and got arrested."

"So either way, they're in jail." April pointed out.

"Our siblings are criminals…?" Raph questioned cautiously, uneasy where the conversation was headed.

"Not just that but raised by Drax?!" Mikey thought for a moment, "Man, they're probably good fighters." 

Raph gave a small nod in agreement, distracted momentarily by Mikey pointing out that their estranged siblings would be rather strong.

"Hey!" Splinter snapped, getting their attention again, "My sons, April, who I'm comfortable to refer to as the daughter I never had, I need you all to understand the seriousness of this. If Draxum has two others, he could be a set match with us. We won't stand a chance against him if he tries something like the bugs turning humans into mutants."

"Oozsquito-" Mikey interjects.

"And regardless of how they were raised, they are a part of this family. They are a part of our Hamato clan." 

Raph rose to his feet, what was once uneasiness was replaced by a determined smile. "You're right, dad! These two are our family. We'll do whatever it takes to make sure they're given just that, regardless of if they've had a rocky start." Splinter's smile shows something proud, but April unintentionally interjects before Raph notices.

"That's great and all but if they're in jail, what's the plan? Wait 'till they're let out? And then what afterwards? Drax will probably want them back, and I don't see him letting them go without a fight."

"That's where the documents come in and your help, April. You will go with me, we will pretend to be a rehabilitation facility for troubled teens. The news said they were taken to a juvenile delinquent center, so it must be easier to get them out than a regular prison." Splinter explained.

"Seeing as they got that far without being sent to a facility to be tested on, there must be someone behind those walls that sees good in them too, enough to keep them there. Sees them more than mutants." Mikey added, the party looking at him in surprise at the astute observation. He looks back at them before appearing offended. "What? I like to read about psychology. I think a lot about people's emotions."

"Okay- okay. So the plan is we go in there, tell them we're a rehabilitation center, toss in some forged documents, and walk out with two mutant turtles teens? I don't think they'll hand them over that easily." April admits.

"If we can't get them by their rules, we'll get them by ours." Raph states confidently. 

"And break them out, I'm assuming?" April quirks a brow, stuffing her hands into her pockets as she also stands.

"Gotta bend a few rules if it means the best to protect humanity from Draxum. Plus you could end up with a gal pal depending on who these two are!"

April seemed convinced of that, giving a smile at the thought of not being surrounded by boys all the time.

"Alright gang! Let's go meet our siblings!" Raph pumps a fist into the air, Mikey throwing his hands up in a cheer.

Chapter Text

Night had fallen, buttons were pressed, and their plan had begun its motion. The only problem?

They'd been caught.

At least that's what the twins had assumed. They had no other reason to believe why they were being led away from their cell that was already locked for the night, handcuffed, by two guards. Leo found it flattering that they were left with two guards, but kept any smug comments about one guard being scared of two teens away to save them more trouble they were headed to.

Much to Donnie's dismay, they were led to the hall containing their counselor's office. The two shared one councilor, mostly because she was the only one to make an effort for the two. She saw good in them, for reasons past them. 

The door to her currently empty office was opened and the two were pushed in, "Sit. We'll be outside the door so don't try anything either." One guard hissed, Leo opened his mouth to make a snide comment, but was met with a door. He slumped his shoulders and shuffled to the chairs, Donnie following beside him.

They both sat into the chairs, Donnie fidgeting with the handcuffs. He usually would manage a way to get himself out of them but seeing as the trouble they were already in, he didn't wanna risk the chance of getting more stuff piled onto the list of crimes. He'd have to settle with the uncomfortable stimulation making him irritable instead. 

Leo on the other hand shifts to make himself right at home. He scoots his chair, leans back in it and kicks his feet up on the desk. He also makes the point of knocking a few things off the desk while he was at it, sending a few small knick knacks and papers onto the floor. 

"Think Ms. Flores will talk her way into letting us not have more time?" Leo asks, closing his eyes, clearly expecting them to be waiting.

"I don't know, Nardo." His twin mumbles simply. Leo quirked a brow, already picking up on Donnie's irritation. He settles to remain quiet.

Leo looked around the office. It had mostly failed attempts to make it cozy. Lit with lamps in the corners and flickering fairy lights instead of the fluorescent lights overhead, white painted cinder block walls covered with posters and tapestries, mostly warm fall-like colors. He was sure if it was any other environment, he'd be more than willing to sit and talk about his emotions for hours, but it was more of the principal to be a general nuisance when locked up.

Muffled talking outside drew the twins attention, the door eventually opening just to a guard. 

"Flores will be here in a minute. She wants you two to be ready for visitors." 

The two appear confused, but Donnie's eyes widen in an assumption of who would visit them. "D-did she say who was visiting us?" He quickly spits out before the guard could close the door, Leo looking at Donnie perplexed.

"Nah, sorry. No idea. Just says to be ready. I'm assuming kiss ass to give you guys a break." Without allowing another interjection, the door closes.

Donnie's shoulders slump, eyes wide but brows furrowing in thought. He has a clear frown as he turns to stare past everything in thought.

"Dee? You good man?" Leo questions, a laugh entering his voice. It was an unintentional nervous tic, laughing, smiling, joking when uneasy though it was hidden under his natural demeanor that also contained all that.

"I'm fine." He dismisses quickly, though after another pause he looks to Leo. "You don't think-...whoever is visiting us is dad…do you?" 

Leo processes the question, worry drifting into his expression. He shakes his head to clear his thoughts, only able to muster an uneasy smile. "Please- I'm sure he doesn't miss us that much." 

Donnie's expression often didn't show much, but there was something somber in his demeanor after Leo said that. 

"I-I mean- well you know I don't think…he necessarily needs us anymore that is. He might miss us, who's to say- not me." Leo laughed, "I don't- I…I hope he's not though…"

Silence fell between the two, Leo shifting to sit upright, dragging his feet off the desk to drop to the floor, sliding a few more papers off this time by accident. Leo looked to his hands resting in his lap. Orange jumpsuit covering his legs, hands chained. 

He told himself he'd rather this than be stuck with Draxum but regardless, there was the consistent nagging of over complicated emotions. He missed him. He hated that he missed him too. Drax filled in the void of a father, and while he was the worst one the world had to offer, without him, Donnie and Leo only had each other. 

When thinking back, every single moment of grueling training, every time he bit his tongue to keep himself from crying out for his brother, every time the other twin faced punishment when Drax picked up on the two losing self preservation and instead only protected each other, every moment of abuse stood clear in his memories. Every time he looked at the scars on Donnie, every time he stared at himself in the mirror, every time an adult man spoke to them in an eerily calm voice he was sent back to that cold cell called his room.

Despite it all, small moments of what could've been fatherly love if he squinted and blurred his eyes gave him a sense of longing to go back. That Drax truly had the heart to be the father they wanted. 

Watching Draxum shoo away Huginn and Muninn from taking the last donuts in the box left for him and Donnie. Listening to Drax praise Donnie's additions to his tech-bō. Feeling of one of the only hugs he'd gotten when their dad nearly crushed him accidentally with a falling piece of scrap metal.

Leaving their cells unlocked the night he and Donnie escaped, because they wouldn't stop begging and crying to be with the other. 

Light entered the room, Leo caught tears welling up in his eyes and quickly brushed his wrist across his face to wipe them away. He could've sworn he saw Donnie do the same motion as they both turned to look to the door that their councilor passed through, a guard trailing in behind her.

Ms. Flores was a hispanic woman in her mid 30s. Her hair was black and nearly always pulled back into a bun that varied on how neat it was. At the moment it was getting messy with her staying later than usual. She usually wore pantsuits with heels to make her shorter stature balanced out well with, what Leo would jokingly say, girls bossing. The guards tend to be a little intimidated by her, allowing her more leeway in making sure any kid in her office would be treated as a kid and not a criminal.

The guard moved to Donnie, removing the handcuffs and doing the same to Leo before quickly leaving to stand outside the door again, closing it behind himself.

"Sorry to keep you two waiting. Trying to get stuff in order." Flores said, her voice sickly sweet compared to everything else in their life. She simply picked up the stuff Leo had kicked off without a second thought before rounding the desk to the other side and seating herself. 

"Before anything though, how are you two?" She asks, not having met their faces yet with putting the papers that were once on the floor away into a drawer. The twins remained silent, Donnie scowling and Leo mustering a smug grin to hide the uneasiness he felt. She looked up, noting Leo's eyes seeming faintly red but she had assumed the two were just tired.

"Shell okay?" She specifies for Donnie, only getting a small grunt in response. She nods but Leo speaks before she could get a chance to question his well being too. 

"What's a deal miss lady?" 

"Deal? Oh, right. I forgot I sent a guard to tell you two you'd have a visitor. Change of plans, they're coming back again tomorrow so we can all sit down and discuss." She explained, a bright genuine smile creeping on her face. Clearly whoever was there was someone she believed was good for them. Leo's anxieties of Drax are slightly calmed. Might be some other person who cared for the two, like Repo and Hypno. 

"Are we going to get any idea as to what you're hinting at or are you going to hold it in front of us?" Donnie spoke up, his voice laced with irritation.

"Yes, yes. Right, sorry. I don't mean to be vague. To make a long story short, we'll go into details both now and tomorrow, you two have caught the interest of a rehabilitation facility!" She cheered, giving small jazz hands. She leaned forward, rolling her office chair as she slid a folder to the two and opened it. The information on the paper meant nothing to them but it was clear she was still trying to offer honest information to them.

Donnie squinted and leaned in, sliding the folder closer to himself. Leo had an expression of shock, looking back and forth from Donnie, the folder and councilor that held a bright smile across from the twins. After a few moments, noticing Donnie's expression shifting to shock as well as his brows furrowed, Leo gave a hearty laugh that trailed rather awkwardly into a jumble of words.

He finally collected himself to make a coherent sentence. "What? This- this has to be some kind of prank right? A joke? Are you and the guards in on something?" Leo leans forward propping himself in a hunched position with his forearms resting on his thighs as he stares at Ms. Flores, scanning her expression for some hint.

"What?" She spoke softly, clearly confused and worried. "N-no! No, you boys know the guards and I aren't on the same page regarding you two. No no, they came in early today, been here nearly all day trying to get everything in order to bring you to their facility as soon as possible! It's a place for troubled teens who don't have parents"

"We're supposed to believe we'd just be handed over? Two mutant criminals? I mean, what's a rehabilitation facility really gonna do?"

"It's well within your rights, yes. To deny you this would infringe on your rights and strip away the opportunity to improve. This discussion isn't a debate on whether or not you'll be allowed to go to this, it's whether or not you two want this. It's a decision for you." Once she was done talking, she stared at the two, looking back and forth trying to read their expressions. She appeared expectant, waiting for questions, reactions, responses. She didn't rush them though, eventually relaxing as the two were processing.

Leo leaned back to slump in his chair, once a smile now a confused focused expression that looked foreign on his face. Donnie has his eyes locked on the papers the whole time, reading through them carefully. He had slowly moved the folder to his lap at this point and had his head bowed to read through it, struggling to see clearly with his natural vision problems and in the dim room.

After a bit Donnie set the folder back onto the desk, crossing his legs and and fingers in his lap. He still seemed to be thinking, Leo looking to him for some sort of commentary. Some plan, idea, anything to do with this information that already took away from their initial plans.

"This…is a lot to believe and process." Donnie says simply, his tone bordering sincerity. 

"I know. I imagine it's hard to trust someone wanting to work with the two of you after the examples you've had here." She sighed gently, "I know a rehabilitation center may not sound like sunshine and rainbows but this may be an opportunity that only comes once." Leo's expression flickered to solemnity before switching to focus yet again. 

"Listen, I need to clock off soon but you guys should sleep on it, think about it and we'll talk more. As soon as the guards let you out for the day, come here and we can go more into it. How does that sound?" She asks, taking the folder slowly to place it into the drawers on her desk.

Leo looked to Donnie.

A spark. A light in his brother's eye that was only visible to Leo from his years on knowing him. Donnie had a plan.

"This is just a big decision. Listen I…I know we're not allowed much in our cell but-" Donnie sighed softly, rubbing at the back of his neck, uncrossing his legs and leaning forward to quiet his voice while still being heard. "Any chance we could take some pencils to write down our thoughts?" 

Ms. Flores had a pitiful expression, a small pout on her lip with Donnie finally asking her for something. "Oh of course dear. Here-" she slid a pencil cup on her desk over to Donnie. "Take whatever you'd like. Make sure to hide it when you're headed back to your cell. The guards will probably take them and rat me out." She gave a smile and a wink to Leo who's focus turned to a smile with Donnie's silent plan.

Donnie leaned over, taking four pencils but seeming to try and obscure it as just taking two. He sat back in the chair, pausing for a moment before looking to meet Ms. Flores’s eyes. “Do you also maybe have a rubber band…?” He falters for a moment, glancing at Leo before bowing his head to his lap. “I have the habit of hitting my head and scratching myself when stressed or nervous- and I heard flicking yourself with a rubberband does less harm.” 

Donnie’s lies were always somewhat laced with some truth- it helped him avoid his habit of simply outing himself with poor acting. Leo grew more confused about Donnie’s plans but nonetheless, Ms. Flores obliged, handing him a few rubber bands given his reasoning was in the face of self harm. With a soft thanks, Ms. Flores waved her hand and stood up, gathering some things.

“Well- I must get home soon. I’ll let the guards give you guys a few minutes to get yourselves situated.” She says with a wink to Donnie and the supplies in his hand. “Think about it, you two. Try to get some rest. Have a busy day tomorrow!” With that, Ms. Flores left, the guards outside the door looking back, soon their voices muffled by the door closing again.

Donnie and Leo stared until the door was shut and they had their privacy again, Leo looking to his twin immediately after to hopefully get an idea as to what his plans were. 

“Take two push pins from the board.” Donnie whispered as he began to fidget with what was in his lap, four pencils, two rubber bands, and what seemed to be a binder clip he snagged from the folder. Leo quickly rushed out the chair, reaching over the desk to a corkboard on the wall, taking unused pins. He was just about to hand them to Donnie while sitting back down but the door opened.

Leo paused, two guards standing in the door while Leo held his hand out, though it was empty from Donnie snatching the pins before Leo could react. 

“Okay you two- let’s get you back to your cell.” Spoke one guard, his voice blunt sounding. Leo smiled quickly, trying to avoid looking at Donnie who still seemed to fidget with the supplies. 

“Right! I bet you guys will be glad to have us out of your hair soon huh?” Leo said, one guard appearing confused while the other shifted his gaze to Donnie, noticing his back still faced them. 

“Hey- you. Turn around.” He barked out.

Leo looked at Donnie with wide curious eyes. His brother froze, hunched over his lap making it hard to tell what he was building with the supplies.

Donnie met his brother’s eyes, fixing his posture to show Leo what he made, silence between the two as one of the guards approached. His brother seemed to have built a mini crossbow out of office supplies. No words were spoken, none had to be said. Just a small nod from Donnie. They were breaking out, and it seemed brute force was their ticket.

“I said turn around and put your hands up-!” The guard yelled as he stamped towards the two, the other guard stepping into the office. 

He was cut short as Leo quickly kicked the chair that he once sat in at the guard. The guard appeared startled, stopping it from sliding further across the floor. He was about to laugh at Leo’s attempt to stop him but Donnie spun around himself, hopping to his feet. The rubber band drew back, then flicked forward, sending a pencil at the guard about to laugh in the mouth, hitting the back of his throat.

The guard reeled forward at the sudden pressure in his mouth, gagging then coughing, the pencil immediately falling out. The other officer was startled, ready in motion to try and help his coworker out but he was too late for Leo’s own plans.

The slider ran to the chair, using it as a step to hop onto the back of the coughing guard. The two tumbling over. The officer in the door was ready to rush over, but found himself too distracting to remember Donnie was in the room too, and now was present behind him. The soft shell kicked his feet out from beneath him with one swift movement. 

The guard fell backwards, trying his best to catch himself to get up. He caught himself on his elbows but the weight of Donnie jumping onto his chest knocked not only the wind out of him, but his arms out from beneath himself. He wheezed as he attempted to look up to the teenager that now loomed over him. The already dim lights that casted behind the smarter twin were blocked momentarily as chaos played out behind him.

Leo had the other guard on the floor, also knocking the wind out of him by using the guard's body to break their fall. He rather ungracefully scrambled off the guard. He grabbed the chair, raising it up. The guard was only halfway through lifting himself before the chair was brought down onto him, slamming into him and rendering him unconscious.

Leo looked to Donnie, seeing the remaining officer was still conscious. He attempted to rise to his feet but fell over with a groan of pain. Donnie grabbed the guard's feet, dragging him into the office completely before shutting the door. How nobody heard the commotion was past him, but he'll consider it luck.

Leo paced over to Donnie, resting an arm on his shoulder and leaning against him as the two stared down at the guard attempting to crawl away. 

"He's not gonna get far." Donnie dismisses before Leo can brag that he already got a guard unconscious. Donnie leans down after shrugging his brother off, snatching the walkie-talkie and security  card off his belt. He tosses the walkie-talkie across the room from the guard.

Leo laughs as Donnie paces away, leaning down to the officer limply trying to push Leo away. One swift hit near the temple at the right angle, and he was unconscious. He debated if he had the time to handcuff them to some furniture but Donnie was already leaving the office.

Leo skipped after his brother, a bright smile on his face as he closed the door behind himself.

"Consider that a job well done! Told things are going our way!"

Donnie turns around, walking backwards down the hall with a sly smile himself.

"Never doubted your instincts, let's just work on being more sneaky about tHIS-!" 

Before either of the two could react, Donnie tripped and fell to the floor. With a groan and shifting to sit up after catching himself on his forearms he looked across from himself to be face to face with…

"How long will this take?" April whispered to Splinter covering her mouth with her phone, the rat poorly disguised as human from the perspective of someone who knew the man was a mutant rat. At least he went for the vibe of an old man like he was and not a teen. He wore a button up, sweater vest and what she only assumed was slacks made for a kid going to church but tailored to fit around his waist.

Splinter waved his hand dismissively, making April slump down into her chair. Her phone buzzed, making her quickly shift her undivided attention to it. 

Message from Raph in a group chat with him, her and Mikey.

Ad-red-naline: Waiting outside 👍

April_showers: this is takin 4-ever srry

Dr_Delicatetouch: we'll be here nws! :)

April gave a soft sigh, shifting to look outside some of the windows. After a few more excruciatingly long minutes of waiting, a door opened. An officer stepped in with a woman looking over a tablet.

"Hoshi Yamato and Taylor Cain?" 

April shot a glare at Splinter, just now realizing all he did to make a fake identity was switch his first and last name and switch up letters. Splinter ignored her and stood, waving as he did so, getting a smile from the woman.

After a quick text to Raph and Mikey that progress was being made, she trailed after Splinter and stuffed her phone into her jacket pocket.

"Hi, I'm Lucia Flores, if you two will follow me to my office?" Splinter offers a nod, April giving a warm smile as she turns on her heel to lead the two down the hall, the officer following behind the party after making sure the door closes completely. They went into an office not too far down the hall from the waiting room. It seemed rather barren outside of some filing cabinets, a table and three chairs and a clock that filled the silent room with soft ticking.

Ms. Flores gestured over to the chair, Splinter and April taking their seats as Ms. Flores set the tablet onto the table. The officer trailing after them stayed out in the hall, closing the door but appearing to wait outside it.

"So, looking over your guy's paperwork, you, Mr. Yamato, are the owner of a small rehabilitation center and are interested in taking in two teenagers we have here, is that correct?" She asks, peering over to Splinter.

He gave a smile and nod, "Yes, we recently had two children leave our program, so it's been quite lonesome. I was hoping to fill in the space, especially for the poor boys and Ap- Taylor here to have new faces to learn to interact with." 

Ms. Flores gives a sympathetic smile, holding a hand over her chest as if touched as she looks to April who gives a nod in agreement to Splinter's words.

"Right, of course. Says here you're more focused on giving teenagers struggling with unstable or a lack of home an opportunity to help turn their life around by offering them resources such as therapy, schooling, social events and basic resources they may otherwise not receive. Have also said 5 of the pupils you've had have gone onto win a total of $5,000 in scholarships." She sets the tablet down, "For a small organization I haven't heard of, you seem to be doing quite well for yourself."

"Yes, yes, we try to keep ourselves small. Heaven knows we'd take in every kid if we could but we find it better to give these kids an environment where they feel tended to and focused on."

"Keepin' it small to keep us in focus!" April butts in, giving a proud grin. Ms. Flores laughs a bit before looking down to her tablet, tying in as she continues on herself.

"Well, that does sound delightful. Some of these kids really do need more individualized attention. Any idea as to qualities you may be looking for?" 

Splinter feigns contemplating for a bit, "Ah…well I had an idea but I was uncertain of how well it may pan out."

"Oh, go right ahead. I'd rather work around stuff than deny a kid the possibility!"

"Right well…I saw on the news last night you had two mutants. The turtle ones." Splinter offers, sounding unsure of himself. He prayed this woman would be somewhat considerate towards mutants.

His prayers must have been answered as her eyes lit up and she typed on her tablet for a bit before tilting it towards April and Splinter.

"Oh! Yes!" The tablet showed clear pictures of the two he saw on the news the night prior. They were mugshots.

One has a more lighter green color, red streaks around their eyes and two scars near their chin. They also had lighter streaks on their shoulders before the picture was cut off. Their expression looked unnatural on their face despite never having seen them before. Simply exhausted. The other had a darker green tone to themself, purplish squares below their right eye and above their left. They also had what seemed to be drawn on eyebrows and their own smaller scars scattered near their neck as if hurting that same for years. They looked just as tired and faintly sickly though it looked more natural to them.

"Donatello and Leonardo. No last name and no legal documentation that they exist. We think they're orphans that unfortunately got mutated then caught up into a life of crime. Nobody seems to recognize them or claim to be their parents yet but they do seem to be related or at least very very close." She explains. 

"Like a bonded pair…" April says, more to herself as she stares at the mugshot of the two. Something in her heart knew that these two needed to be saved. From here or from something else, she wasn't sure. 

"Right- well I would absolutely love to hand these two over. Hell, if this were any other case, I would start this process right away. Unfortunately with these two being mutants, it throws a wrench into the process of doing anything with them, let alone sending them anywhere but here." She looks solemn. "These boys really need a change otherwise they won't."

Splinter's shoulders slumped, April going into thought herself to debate whether or not to text Raph and Mikey they would have to break in later to get the two out.

"I apologize for my unprofessionalism, but the situation sucks." Ms. Flores mumbles, clearly seeming frustrated. She rubs at the bridge of her nose as she moves the tablet to type on it for a bit. "I'm trying my hardest to get these boys out of here before they turn 16. The moment they do they legally can go to a real prison, and following that I'm certain they'll be taken away by Earth Protection Services. There's nowhere these boys can go without being taken away eventually unless they can prove they can be model citizens but everyone is going to find anything they do to tear them down to look like monsters to the public eye."

"I imagine that you're trying to change that, huh?" April says, voice soft and sympathetic. 

"I really am. These boys have good in them. Everyone does, but everyone is so adamant that being forcibly mutated somehow turns you into an angry freakish monster. Here-" She turns the tablet back to face the two. They lean in, seeing a video was pulled up. "This is their arrest caught by security cameras."

"I've seen this on the news…" Splinter says more to himself.

"Yes, but they all cut the video off before it gets graphic and before it shows something important. Just watch, you'll see what I mean."

It was the same as Splinter saw on the news. The two ran around a clear view of the camera for a few minutes before lights flashed, showing alarms had gotten set off. The slider, who he believed was Leonardo, ran clear across the view of the camera, the other following suit. Splinter remembered that from the news.

What followed though…

Just as the other, Donatello, entered the view of the camera, there was another flash. He fell to the floor, what looked like some sort of armor on his back breaking off near his left side. Though the video had no audio, it was clear he was screaming, curling up into himself on his side. Within seconds, more lights were flashing from outside, but even sooner Leonardo had returned to Donatello. He was lifting his brother in an attempt to help him stand but after a moment the two were left on the floor. Leonardo grasped at his brother as a dark liquid pooled beneath them. Donatello laid with his head in his brother's lap, nearly hidden from the camera with how small he was curled in on himself. 

Cops entered the camera, obscuring the view of the two while surrounding the boys. There was clearly a scuffle though, Leonardo being pulled away by quite a few cops, screaming and kicking while a few of the cops crowded around Donatello on the floor. 

Ms. Flores paused the video.

"Leonardo had a chance to escape. If these boys didn't care about anything and were only angry mutants out to hurt people, he wouldn't have sacrificed his freedom to help his brother. Sacrificed everything. For all he knew, he was going to be shipped off to some lab to be experimented on but he put that past to stay with him."

Splinter looked at Ms. Flores with wide eyes, clearly shocked. April's hands were cupped over her mouth, though her eyes looked more worried than anything.

"These boys…really care for eachother." Splinter spoke softly as he stared off near the floor.

"So they have it in them to care for more. Donatello wasn't brought in with Leonardo when they were arrested, he was taken to a hospital to get himself patched up from being shot. Those days Leo was away from his brother he didn't sleep, eat and only asked where his brother was. When he was brought in they were put into separate cells at first but neither would eat, talk, or do anything until they got moved to be with the other. From there they were completely different people, smart, cunning, snarky." 

"Why are you telling us all this?" April asks, more curious than anything.

"I suppose if you two knew what these two are like outside of the news pumping out fear for them, maybe you would push more to take them in. It's easy to see it'll be difficult and move on, but if you know these boys really do deserve this…" She stares down at the tablet, furrowing her brows before deflating with a sign. 

There was a silent pause before Ms. Flores looked up to the two. Splinter and April looked to each other for a moment, April giving a nod and Splinter smiling. They looked at the woman across from them.

"We'll do whatever it takes. Fight tooth and nail like these two have for eachother." April says with a determined smile.

Ms. Flores's eyes light up, a smile growing on her face. "Oh, I don't know what angel sent you two but you are doing a truly marvelous thing for these boys! I'll get their files and we'll talk more! Just a moment, stay here!" She said as she stood quickly, rushing out of the room, startling the guard standing outside the door.

The two watched her rush past, April looking to Splinter as she bounced in her chair. "Mikey was right!"

"Donatello and Leonardo…" Splinter whispered more to himself, clearly having it settle in he was going to have two more sons before he knew it. He gave a content smile. He couldn't wait to meet his boys.

The joyous moment was interrupted by the officer adjusting to lean against the doorframe. They looked unimpressed, crossing their arms over their chest. "You two interested in the mutants?" They asked, quirking a brow.

Splinter looked skeptically to the guard though April was clearly still too happy to be deterred by the guard's demeanor.

"Yeah! Leonardo and Donatello! We're gonna try to take them to our rehab center!" She was cut short by a mix of a scoff and laugh from the officer. Her smile dropped into a frown.

"Those boys won't change. If they're anything, they're sure as hellfire stubborn." The guard looked down the hall as if waiting for Ms. Flores to come back to rip them a new one for talking ill of the two boys she gave all her sympathies to.

"They've been through a lot. I don't think it's unfair of them to be so." Splinter dismissed, trying to calm April down who was already visibly upset.

"Just giving you a less sugar coated perspective on them is all. Flores wants those boys out of here as much as the rest of us. For different reasons sure, but if she can find some well intentioned strangers to toss them onto, she will." 

"She wants what's best for those two." April muttered, keeping herself from snapping at the officer.

"You think you're the best for them?" 

April shoots a scowl at them, Splinter waving his hand to try and dismiss the officer as well as to signal April to stand down. 

"Listen, I don't mean anything against you two. Just those mutants are more than a handful, you'll need a wheelbarrow." They moved into the room, pacing over to the desk to lean against it. "These boys are strong. The officers here won't let their egos down long enough to admit that one of them alone can take down a guard without weapons. Not exactly thrilled to admit to myself that a 14 year old can beat my ass."

"Is this supposed to scare us away from them?" April accused the officer who gave a shrug. 

"Just a warning what you're getting yourselves into. You're not gonna live with these boys without somebody getting hurt and they're only going to get stronger the older they get. Consider the other kids you got." They explain, talking more to Splinter as they gestured to April. “I can’t say I know much on where they’re going when they turn 16 if they stick around here, but I do know wherever they’d be, it’d be safer.”

April appeared defensive but before she could say anything Splinter spoke up. “I appreciate the warning, but these boys need the opportunity.”

“Stubborn batch huh? Keep it that way. Those boys will drive you up the wall. They’re clever. Know what buttons to push, what to say, when to say it, how to. Only thing that sets them off is someone who can keep up with their energy.” The officer gives a smile. They moved to stand outside the door again, resting their hand on the handle before faltering. “And uh…just in case you are able to get custody of those boys, keep this in mind. Don't separate them. They’ve been through hell as is. The last thing they need is to lose each other.” 

April waits until the door is closed to allow her face to show her disgust. She scoffs before pulling out her phone to text Raph and Mikey. When Splinter didn’t say much though she peered over to him with a look of concern.

He was deep in thought, eyes closed and brows furrowed. 

“You good Splints?”

“These boys…they’ll be nothing like Red and Orange.” He sighs softly. 

“Hey, it’s nothing you haven’t dealt with before. Just trouble making teens. Who knows, maybe meeting Raph and Angelo will make them feel less alone.” She rests a hand on Spilter’s shoulder. He peaks an eye open before looking at her with a soft smile. 

A moment later Ms. Flores comes back holding a stack of papers. 

“Alright! Let’s get this process rolling!”