Chapter Text
The hands attached to his body are no longer his own.
The longer Lou Jitsu stares at them, the more his gut churns and yet, he cannot bring himself to look away. They’re undeniably pink and clawed now. He has rat claws for hands.
The cardboard box he sits in doesn’t do much to help with the cold or raging storm outside but that’s not why he shudders, curling in on himself slightly.
The image of his face has yet to leave his mind either. He caught a glimpse of it earlier while weaving through the streets of the Hidden City in search of a way back to the surface, unclear if he was being followed or not. None of the yokai had given him anything more than a spare glance and as Lou Jitsu cradled the precious cargo closer to his chest, he saw it. A mirror among other items at a stall, attempting to sell beauty enhancements.
His nose had completely changed to something animalistic— mouse-like. His two front teeth were longer than the rest. He had a tail now— how did he miss that?
It’s funny how much one night can flip his whole world on its head. He’s dealt with such things in the past but the one constant he had was himself. Now even that has changed.
Everything is wrong now and as the rain roars around him, Lou Jitsu lets himself be drowned out in it all.
He didn’t think he could lose anything else after being stuck fighting in the Battle Nexus. Clearly, he was wrong.
Something warm presses itself into his palm and his eyes fling open, locking onto the tiny, green and orange bundle that snuggles itself against his hand.
His heart stutters. For the first time in… Quite some time now, there’s some relief. No pressure or something dragging him down, just… Something soft. Fluttery.
Lou Jitsu had never cared much for turtles in the past— never giving them much thought. It’s hard to say what enchants him so much with this turtle but he thinks it’s the eyes. Bright, open, warm.
There were four of them. He could only grab one when the place went down, the others too far scattered. Something in him had squeezed tightly upon watching the lab collapse in on itself. Draxum would likely see another day but those tiny turtles? He wasn’t so sure.
He beat himself up for not saving them all before but now he’s looking at the remaining and finds it difficult to think about anything else other than the little turtle that takes shelter in him.
The turtle’s eyes open and the little one smiles so brightly that it hurts. It’s blinding. He wants to think of nothing else but that smile.
He brings the turtle closer to his chest. He can’t tell if they’re a girl or a boy— he’ll have to brush up on turtles for more reasons than one— but that’s for later. For now, he holds the little one close in hopes of keeping them safe and warm and has to hope it’s enough.
He’s never thought of himself as the father type. Maybe it’s high time that changed.
—
The names ‘Lou Jitsu’ and ‘Hamato Yoshi’ are dropped in favor of ‘Splinter’. He’s not as used to it but he’s not quite used to his new body either. The change feels… Appropriate. He’s a new not-man after all.
Not to mention, ‘Lou Jitsu’ attracts too much attention, and that’s the last thing either of them need right now.
His son— who he learns is a son through research— earns the name Michelangelo after he agonized over a baby naming book for two weeks straight. It was catching his son staring in awe at a piece of art that was thrown away that did it. Felt fitting to name him after an artist, though Splinter quickly takes up the nicknames ‘Mikey’ and ‘Orange’ as well. He’s too young to quite grasp a name as complicated as ‘Michelangelo’ but responds to nicknames well enough.
Mikey grows a bit faster than Splinter thought he would but even then, he’s still so small. His heart always stutters the second he’s out of sight and anytime they run low on food, he favors his son over himself. He’s a growing boy, he needs it more, and the last thing he wants is for his son to know the pains of hunger.
Splinter himself has changed too. He gets hairier, loses a few inches of height, and he swears his sense of smell is a lot more sensitive than usual.
In spite of the latter part, Splinter takes refuge in the sewers. While yokai might not blink twice at him, humans will. The sewers are safer, not to mention, it’s easier to get around to retrieve supplies from the extensive tunnels underneath the city.
He doesn’t condone stealing but he doesn’t have any other options. Besides, he finds it easier to take for his son, even if sometimes it’s more luxury things than necessities. Kids need toys after all, it’s a fact of life.
It takes him a few days to find someplace nice to settle down but it comes in time. Mikey struggles with walking with how young he is but his feet take him as fast as they can across their new home, exploring room after room and squealing with excitement.
It would be perfect for a bigger family. Splinter tries not to think about it too much.
He doesn’t want to drag his son around everywhere but he doesn’t have much of a choice. As much as he tries not to, Splinter damn near has a heart attack the second his kid is out of sight. It’s irrational sometimes, when he knows Mikey won’t suddenly disappear just because he looks away to cook, but he can’t help it. His son is the best thing that’s ever happened to him and if he lost him too—
Well. He wouldn’t take it well.
Fortunately, Mikey doesn’t like being left alone anyways. He cuddles up to him at night and waddles after him as he slowly shifts things around in their new home. It doesn’t take much to convince him to go with Splinter when he goes out for supplies. In fact, he’s helpful even. With Mikey there, Splinter knows what sort of things he’ll want. What color blanket, what kind of toy— he’s a good reference to have, and it’s all worth it to see how he beams at him.
Slowly, their home gets a little cozier. It still needs a lot of work but Splinter thinks he can pull it off.
His son deserves a proper home.
—
There are… Obstacles Splinter didn’t consider when raising a child on his own that don’t come up until months later when a familiar feeling hits him in a wave.
His limbs feel heavier; it’s harder to get out of bed; he’s sluggish; he feels terrible even though his body is healthy enough; and his motivation drops.
He’s had these moments before, ever since he was a teenager. Sometimes they’re brief but others, they last for months on end. Splinter was in the middle of a slump before those gargoyles kidnapped him but temporarily was freed while he focused on taking care of his son.
He had hoped it wouldn’t come back. He should’ve known better— it always does.
It was easier, when Splinter had no one to answer to but himself. Easier to skip meals due to a lack of an appetite, sleep in longer and longer, and forget to bathe or change out of his clothes. Big Mama always got so upset when her prized champion wasn’t taking care of himself but Splinter stopped caring about what she thought about him some time ago. If he fell apart slowly, who cared? Why did it matter?
Except, it’s not just him anymore. He has a son now, and even if Splinter can find purpose in making sure his son is well cared for, Mikey can still see something’s wrong. He’s too young to understand but he looks at him with big, sad eyes and Splinter’s heart clenches.
He can’t afford just focusing on taking care of his son. Splinter has to give a shit about himself and put in the work.
It’s… Harder than expected. But a little easier when Mikey babbles something that sounds like ‘Dad’ and looks at him like he’s his whole world.
Though, if Splinter is the world, then Mikey is the sun, so bright that it’s blinding and brings upon a whole new light into his life.
It’s a work in progress but maybe he can do it for his boy.
—
Years pass and it feels like Mikey grows bigger every day.
His name proves to be even more fitting when he takes up a particular interest in art. Splinter grabs the best of what he can get his hands on— paints, markers, colored pencils, canvases— and ends up giving it all to him on his ‘Birthday’, which Splinter chose to be the day he took him from the lab.
Mikey bursts into tears and he almost thinks he’s done something wrong until the kid latches onto him and blubbers thank you after thank you. Splinter fights back tears of his own and gently rubs his son’s back and tells him the only thing he wants from him is to see what he creates.
And boy, does Mikey have no shortage of art pieces.
The fridge Splinter managed to install is soon filled to the brim with colorful drawings and paintings are displayed all around. The base becomes an art gallery for everything Mikey has created, and even when Mikey wants to replace one piece with another to put up on the fridge or take one down because ‘It’s old’ and he’s embarrassed, Splinter never throws away a single one. They’re all stored away for him to look back on one day and relish in just how far his son has come.
Their home has been steadily improving over the years with each thing Splinter manages to get his hands on. It helps to have an extra pair of hands as well, able to help him take things apart, carry the pieces, and put them back together.
After the basic rooms are down, Splinter installs a TV with a projector, then a proper art studio for Mikey and later, a dojo for himself.
Splinter has long since gained a distaste for fights but going through the motions are a familiar comfort, not to mention good exercise. Training dummies are set up, knocked down, then put back up again. Even with how much his body has been changed— mutated against his will— he still knows all the same moves. He can still learn to find balance in his new body and accept that he’s a rat man now. Hell, there are even benefits to having a tail.
Splinter usually sticks to training at night but as Mikey grows older, Splinter finds it a bit easier to have him out of his sight for a little. Mikey isn’t as small as he once was— he’s still small of course but he’s a bright kid. He knows not to touch a hot stove or mess with a socket. Honestly, the kid’s cooking lessons have been going so well that Splinter thinks he’s gonna surpass him sooner than expected.
That urgent, protective feeling never quite fades, but Splinter knows he’ll be fine if he trains for a little to work out some nerves while Mikey is engrossed in his art.
Slowly, Splinter finds his groove again.
And one day, he turns around and nearly jumps out of his skin when he sees Mikey watching him, eyes wide with awe.
Mikey asks him to teach him. Splinter tries refusing at first but Mikey is nothing if not persistent, something Splinter admires him for. He keeps trying, again and again, and eventually Splinter gives in because he was never that good at resisting his son’s big, pleading eyes.
It’s nothing big to start, of course. If Mikey still wants to learn when he’s older, then Splinter will teach him some more advanced moves then, but for now, it’s stretches and simple motions.
Splinter demonstrates and Mikey copies the motions. Over and over again until Splinter thinks it’s been long enough and tells his son to rest.
Mikey asks how he did. Splinter tells him honestly that he’s proud of him, and Mikey shines like the sun.
The next day, Mikey complains that he’s sore but the day after that, he’s ready to train again.
He’s a fast learner, Splinter notices. It doesn’t take long for Mikey to master the simple moves and beg for something new.
Splinter still sticks to the basics but knows deep down that Mikey will be even better than him one day.
—
Mikey starts asking questions.
It was only a matter of time. Splinter knew that but even so, he’s thrown a little off when one day, his son looks up at him in the middle of breakfast and asks why Splinter is a rat but Mikey is a turtle.
Splinter chokes on his food, wheezing before he manages to get it down. Mikey stares at him expectantly and Splinter knows. He knows that the simple question will lead into much more complicated conversations.
But he cannot deny his son’s curiosity. He has a right to know certain things.
So Splinter starts off slow. Tells Mikey that he took him in after seeing that he didn’t have a parent to take care of him.
Mikey asks if that means he’s adopted. Splinter doesn’t really know how to tell him he got half of his DNA when he was mutated so he settles for telling Mikey that in a way, yes, he is.
Mikey accepts that and keeps eating.
As expected, more questions are asked over the years.
Mikey continues pushing for learning how to fight and when Splinter starts showing him his old movies, Mikey asks why they watch so many Lou Jitsu movies.
Splinter tells him it’s because the Lou Jitsu movies demonstrate a lot of the same skills that they’re learning.
Mikey asks why he looks so different from other turtles. Splinter tells him he was mutated when he was young and that he’s stronger— different from them.
Mikey asks why they can’t stay on the surface. Why they live in the sewers when everyone else lives in houses and why they hide in the darkness of night when they go out on supply runs.
It’s a harder conversation, explaining why they’re so different from the humans up top and why it’s dangerous to show themselves. Mikey’s face drops when Splinter tells him that humans can get violent when faced with something they don’t understand, but it’s unfortunately necessary. He needs to know.
But eventually, the hardest conversation comes when one day Mikey asks about how they were mutated. He’s eight years old now and Splinter knows he can’t hold off the conversation forever.
So he tells him a story. One about a warrior alchemist, gargoyles, a retired fighter, and four turtles. He tells him that the turtles were mutated with the blood of Lou Jitsu but when it came down to it, Lou Jitsu was only able to leave with one turtle after he was freshly mutated.
Splinter waits for Mikey to put the pieces together. And when he does, he—
He… Hugs him.
Splinter freezes but his son immediately starts gushing about how cool it is being the son of the Lou Jitsu. And when Splinter asks if it’s a let down knowing what ‘Lou Jitsu’ is actually like, or at least, what he is now, Mikey tells him that rat or human, he’s cool no matter what. And more than that, he’s his dad, and that’s all that’s ever mattered to him.
Splinter hugs his son so tight that his arms tremble— though, maybe the latter part is because he starts sobbing moments later.
Splinter has made many great efforts in accepting his new form, but what Mikey has done for him has eased a great burden off his chest. Not completely— Splinter doesn’t know if it’ll ever be completely gone— but he breathes a little easier all the same.
They hold each other for a while. Then, when things die down, Mikey looks at him and asks, “You said… Four turtles, right?”
Splinter feels his heart sink but he cannot deny his son the truth. “Yes, I did.”
“So I have brothers somewhere out there?”
“Somewhere.” Splinter echoes. “Maybe.”
Mikey doesn’t say anything after that, only nodding. Though, Splinter notes it’s not forgotten when he finds Mikey sketching out himself among three other mutant turtles later.
Their designs keep changing, getting erased, sketched, and erased again before Mikey lets out a frustrated groan and shoves the notebook away from him. He crosses his arms on the table and lays his head in them.
Splinter decides to let his son have a moment, but moves to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate (seeing as Mikey has yet to care for tea).
Seems like they both could use it.
—
Mikey is ten years old when he and Splinter get into their first, real fight.
Little arguments happened here and there— as sweet as Mikey is, even he had his terrible two’s phase— but it was nothing out of the ordinary. Not for family, and certainly nothing as bad as the fights Splinter and his grandfather would get into in the past.
He should’ve seen it coming. Mikey was getting suffocated by his overprotective behavior that didn't change as he grew, wanting a little more space and trust, getting frustrated with him when Splinter denied him the ability to go to the surface alone. He should’ve known his son would want to prove himself— that he would run off eventually in order to prove that he could handle things without him.
But one day, when Splinter told him he didn’t want Mikey to go with him on a supply run since the last one nearly got them caught, and it all blew up in his face. Mikey told him he was plenty old enough and was even ready for a solo mission. And Splinter—
He. Said a few things he now regrets. Told Mikey he was immature and couldn’t be trusted— things he didn’t really mean but lately, all the close calls were getting to him and all he wanted was to know his son was safe while he went off on a semi-dangerous mission.
They screamed at each other until Splinter grounded him for the first non-sickness related reason ever and stormed out.
Guilt weighs on him by the time he comes back. Splinter had made sure to grab plenty of Mikey’s favorite snacks and even managed to get some glow-in-the-dark paint as an ‘I’m sorry’ gift.
But his son’s bed is empty when he returns. Every room is— Mikey is nowhere to be found and Splinter’s panic is amps up to the nines.
He checks all his usual places in the tunnels and comes up with nothing. From there, Splinter starts his mad search across the city.
Nearly five hours later, Splinter finally finds his son, hesitantly stumbling through the tunnels and glancing around like he isn’t quite sure where he’s going.
He’s not alone. A human stands behind him.
Splinter finds it hard to care about this fact. Mikey locks eyes with him and freezes, tears brimming his eyes but he doesn’t move, like he’s afraid of him, and Splinter’s heart aches at the thought that his son isn’t sure if he’s welcomed. Splinter opens his arms and it’s invitation enough. Mikey launches himself into a hug and Splinter pulls him in tightly as they both begin to cry.
Mikey blubbers apology after apology and any anger born of worry melts away as Splinter does the same. He tells his son he’s sorry for driving him away and to please never leave for that long again. Mikey tells him he’s didn’t mean to be away for so long— that he had gotten lost and panicked, only able to find his way back with some help.
Which brings them to the elephant in the room: the human.
She doesn’t seem too much older than Mikey— three years older, if Splinter were to guess. Whatever shock she had upon seeing a mutant rat seems to fade quickly and when Splinter turns his attention to her, she smiles, albeit a little nervous, and tells Splinter what happened. How she found Mikey sobbing in an alleyway, having ventured too far into the city and had completely forgotten the way he had taken. How he blubbered between sobs about wanting his dad.
And mutant turtle or not, she informs him that her parents taught her the importance of helping others in need. How she couldn’t stand even the idea of leaving Mikey crying there all on his own.
Once she’s finished, Splinter bows so low his head nearly touches the ground and thanks her for helping his son find his way home. She insists it’s nothing but Splinter tells her he’s in her debt.
When they finally part, Splinter safely guides his son home, and Mikey ends up sleeping in his bed that night, afraid of being on his own. In the morning, Mikey will bust out Dr. Feelings for the sake of both of them and they’ll have a long talk about trust, boundaries, and negotiation. In the end, Splinter admits maybe he’s being a bit overbearing and that he does think Mikey is capable, and Mikey admits maybe he acted out because he felt babied when he wants to prove he can be independent too.
It’s a work in progress, but they’ll figure it out. They’re family and they’ll always bounce back.
—
The human— April, Splinter comes to memorize— slowly becomes a part of their life.
Mikey and April become friends, spurring Splinter to finally make a risky grab for two, modified phones for the both of them in order to not only keep in contact with each other, but with April too. Though, the latter is more for Mikey’s sake than Splinter's. He only has April’s number for emergencies and checking in when Mikey forgets to answer.
Splinter likes her, he realizes pretty early on. She’s kind, determined, and has a sharp wit to her that he can respect. She’s good to his son and the pair bond quickly with Mikey going out more and more to visit her, and eventually, April visiting their home more to visit him.
It’s a good thing. His son needed a friend— a father can only get you so far. He needed someone to goof off with freely, and while Mikey and Splinter have done plenty of goofing off, Splinter always draws the line at the slightest hint of danger. Friends aren’t quite as restrictive.
Though, due to being Mikey’s only friend, it’s not lost on Splinter that his son can be a bit… Clingy towards April at times. Something he has to work on when April sets boundaries, but that’s good for him too. He needs new relationships in his life— one’s different from the one he has with Splinter.
April is a blessing to the family, and it doesn’t take very long for Splinter to see her as one of their own. She relaxes around him too, no longer nervous and calling him ‘Mr. Splinter’ but instead shortening it to ‘Splints’ and sometimes, will initiate a conversation even when Mikey isn’t around.
Splinter tells her that she’s always welcome into their home. She thanks him with misty eyes.
—
Mikey turns thirteen. April is sixteen and in high school now. So much time has passed that Splinter almost thinks it’s forgotten.
That is, until the day after Mikey’s birthday when Splinter finds Mikey picking at some leftover cake. He frowns, asking his son what’s wrong, and it takes him a minute to respond.
“Do you think they’re still out there?”
“Who?”
“My brothers.”
Splinter feels every bone in his body freeze. Years have passed since the topic of his lost brothers has been brought up— why now? Has Mikey always been wondering about this, even after all these years?
Mikey’s gaze doesn’t break away from the cake. It’s homemade, something Splinter and April made together. It’s not the most professional looking as neither were an expert at decorating but it tasted great and Mikey still cried and engulfed them with hugs once he saw it.
He had this contemplative look before he blew out his candles, then refused to say what his wish was, insisting that it wouldn’t come true if he said it. Splinter wonders if his wish had anything to do with his brothers.
His brothers who might not have even ever made it out of that lab alive.
“I know it’s probably impossible but,” Mikey twists his fork, a determined look setting on his face, “I really want to see if I can find them. If— if they’re still out there, I want to meet them.”
“Michelangelo…” Splinter finds himself whispering, and Mikey finally looks up. His face morphs upon seeing his face, twisting into something tight, then pained, before sorrowful. And Splinter realizes that his doubt must show through.
He could tell him that it’s unlikely that they survived. He could tell him that he’ll only be disappointed if he tries to look for them. He could.
But Mikey has clearly been thinking about the brothers he never met for some time now if he’s bringing it up now. And Splinter might doubt it himself but he’s been many things for Mikey’s sake— a father most of all, when he never thought he would be— and just for this, Splinter is willing to be hopeful as well for the sake of his son.
Splinter tugs a smile onto his lips. “You probably won’t find them in the sewers or you would’ve met them by now.” He jokes, and light returns to Mikey’s eyes in full force. “There’s a chance they might be somewhere in the city but the Hidden City might be a good place to look too, though I wouldn’t really know where to start down there.”
Mikey breaks out into a wild grin. “That’s okay! It’s a good idea— we’ll figure something out! I’ve— I’ve never had brothers before but I bet it’ll be nice when I meet them! Maybe we’ll just click, you know?”
Splinter hums in agreement. “Family has a way of finding each other, Michelangelo. I’m sure that you’ll run into them, one way or another.”
Splinter remembers how devastated the lab was after he left it behind. He remembers the smoke from the fire, still smoldering, and how exactly one wall was left standing while everything else came crashing down. He remembers the feeling of hopelessness when it came to going back for the other turtles, and how he was too afraid of finding them dead to try.
He remembers all of it, but Mikey looks so set on finding his brothers in spite of it all that Splinter forgets all of this and wants to try. For him. For his son.
He meant what he said, after all. Family has a way of finding each other. Maybe it’s only a matter of time.