Work Text:
Krang's lab was often rather messy. Unfinished projects were strewn everywhere, forgotten and tossed aside. Currently he was working on another laser. (He always did like his lasers.)
Something scurried under the table and he yelped with surprise. After a pause, he leaned down under the table and activated his flashlight. Dark eyes shined back at him.
"Ah, Karai…" Krang muttered. He reached towards the child and picked her up by the scruff of her neck. She babbled and squirmed in his grip.
Krang, unsure of where to put her, slowly set her down on the table. He adjusted the desk lamp, shining its light onto his current project. Karai watched with interest, chewing on her sleeve. Krang continued to work on the laser, periodically pushing Karai’s hand away when she reached for something. After a while she patted Krang’s arm, chirping brightly.
Krang looked at her, confused. “What do you want?” Karai, oblivious to his annoyed tone, continued insistently patting him. Hesitantly, the alien picked her up.
Krang regarded the child as he held her close to his face. Suddenly, she reached out and patted Krang's snout. “Pa!” Karai shouted.
Krang blinked in surprise. Karai continued fumbling around, tugging at his barbels. He scowled and shifted her back to the table, sitting her on the edge. “Those are sensitive.” he admonished.
Karai simply looked at Krang with the biggest, saddest wet puppy eyes he had ever seen. “She looks so much like Saki…” he thought. Genetics was an awful strange science sometimes, even for him.
They had decided on a child when Shredder realized that he wanted a heir one day.
“You know, one day we'll be old and gray, and I won't be running the Foot Clan anymore. A heir would probably be pretty great.” the ninja had said.
Then he simply went back to writing in his notebook like nothing had happened.
So Krang, in all his genius, took Shredder's DNA and his own, and made a human hybrid in his lab. Of course, it wasn't the first time he had created life. General Traag and the Rock Soldiers could attest to that. No, no, what bothered him was the sheer vulnerability of the child.
Krang supposed he felt a bit like Victor Frankenstein, in a way. (He had read through some human literary “classics” when he was bored, although he didn't like most of them. Too much talking, not enough drama. He would stick to John & Martha, thank you.)
As someone who had seen the violence of war, he was used to being tough and ruthless. Being gentle didn't come naturally to him.
Krang's thoughts absentmindedly wandered to his father. He had simply not thought about his relatives in a long, long time, not since he had attempted to conquer Dimension X. He had never made any mention of him, and lord knows Shredder never talked about his father either.
Krang offhandedly wondered if his father felt the same way when he was born.
A sudden sound rang out, and Krang startled. He looked around and realized that Karai was currently curled up on his shoulder, sound asleep. Evidently, the kid had climbed up his exosuit while he was absorbed in his thoughts and found a comfy nook to nap.
Krang was silent for a moment, before he chuckled. “Clever girl.” Another sound came from the door and Shredder entered the room.
“Where is-Ah! There you are!” Shredder muttered. Saki was clearly tired, with lines under his eyes. He had removed his armor and was now dressed in a simple dark purple jinbei. “I’ve been looking for the kid everywhere.”
Krang snorted. “Clearly you didn’t look hard enough.”
“Well-” Saki grunted as he reached up and grabbed Karai off of Krang’s shoulder. “Maybe you should child-proof your lab more.”
“Well, I didn’t think she would ever get in here.” Krang protested.
Shredder raised his eyebrow. “I got into some weird places when I was a kid, so maybe you’re wrong.”
Krang chuckled. “Just like me too.”
Saki smiled. “Wanna go nap?” he said, jerking a thumb towards the doorway.
Krang glanced back at his unfinished project, then turned back towards Shredder. “Yeah, a nap would be productive.”
Shredder chuckled and walked out of the room with Karai in his arms. Krang followed.
They all had a very good nap.