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Four turtles watched from the rafters of a small, run down dojo as the children below fumbled through katas with their teacher’s instruction. Leo fidgeted in his spot glancing at the humans below and the escape exits that were a bit too far for his comforts.
“Jesus Leo, would you quit freaking out!” Raph hissed at his brother.
Leo glared back, whisper-shouting, “We shouldn’t be here! Can you not see how many humans could see us if they just looked up? I’m sorry if I don’t feel like getting shot.”
Raph rolled his eyes. “Whatever loser, if you’re so worried then shut up and sit still so they don’t have a reason to look up,” Raph snarks back.
“Come on Leo, we can beat ‘em up with our hero moves if they try anything,” Mikey says.
“Technically anything we learn from this, they will probably be able to do better since they are the ones actually being taught. And stop basing your ideas off of movies, Mikey! I’ve told a thousand times those are fake,” Donnie says as Mikey pouts.
“Can it, nerd-brain, you can go to the attic with Leo if you sabotage this,” Raph hissed. Leo regretted saying anything, this was stupid and dangerous but they were totally dead if Raph and Donnie started fighting again.
“Guys, guys, look! They’re bringing out the weapons,” Mikey cheers, fortunately cutting the argument before it could grow. All four of them peered over the edge, entranced as the sensei brought out the weapons. They had colorful wrappings that were fraying at edges and were chipped from years of use. It was definitely not to the quality they saw in movies but the brothers thought they were beautiful nonetheless.
The sensei began to explain the items to his class, “The katanas, a light but deadly weapon. Few of you will be able to wield it, only those who are responsible, quick and unbreakable may have a chance at it. The sai, deadly if in the wrong hands. To use this one must be versatile, persistent and courageous. The bo staff, steady and reliable. Those who chose to pursue this must be balanced, careful, and put their mind to their movements. Lastly, the nunchaku, an unpredictable weapon. Many of you will not be able to use this, but with nimble hands and control you will see a great improvement of yourself.”
The turtles were enamored, whispering about what they wanted to take. Even Leo was excited about the prospect of using a cool sword now that there wasn’t a chance of being heard when the human kids shouted over the weapons. The rest of the lesson seemed to drag on longer than usual as they waited for the rest of the humans to clear out before they could sneak down and play with the weapons. It was like the day they discovered pizza, all of them giggling as they ran around with their chosen weapon waving it in the air.
Leo got the katanas, getting there just before Raph (“Sorry but these are for someone that is quick”) and gleefully mimicking the moves of the sensei. Raph grumbled but got over it soon enough when got his hands on a pair of sais. He smirked, raising the weapon into fighting pose as he rushed at his unsuspecting brother. Donnie inspected the bo staff, feeling it in his hands before trying to figure out how to use it when red, green and silver were charging at him. Working on instinct, he panics, swinging the staff at his brother’s face (“What the hell Donnie, you could’ve given me a cacusin!” “YOU TRIED TO STAB ME”).
As the three brothers fooled around, Mikey grabbed the nunchaku. “Are you sure Mikey?” Leo asks, looking questionably at it.
“Really, that one? Didn’t the old guy say that you need ‘self-control’ and ‘hands’ or whatever,” Raph says.
“Yeah no offense Mikey, but you wouldn’t know self-control if you managed to drop it,” Donnie jokes, earning a high five from a smirking Raph.
Mikey spins them in his hand, completely different from how the sensei instructed the students to. He flicks his wrist, only to smack himself in the head. The middle brothers burst into laughter as Leo comes over to check on his head like the concerned mother hen he is. Mikey brushes him off, he adjusts his grip and spins it once more. “Don’t worry,” Mikey says with a grin, “I’ll make it work.”