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Chapter Text

If you had told teenage Leonardo Hamato that he would get married to his rival (of all people) and raise a total of five (Leo still can't believe he managed to have that many) kids in the future, he would've thought you were clinically insane.

Yet here he was, with his ridiculously handsome husband, and their five wonderful children. All gathered around the table for dinner. Well, all except his oldest and youngest sons, Jotaro and Haru. The racing prodigy/soon-to-be samurai and the ninja in training were not present in the dining room at the moment.

Though he did know where Haru was, he had absolutely no idea about the whereabouts of his eldest son. It made him quite worried, given how prone his son was to getting himself into trouble.

"Where is that boy?" Leo wondered aloud as he carried his youngest child to the table. His daughter, Lita, was a red-eared slider with albinism, giving her a distinctive similarity to her father, Usagi. Dressed in a soft pink kimono, his five year old daughter was easily the most adorable little thing in the room.

"Are you asking about Haru?" Asked the only son who was currently present. His second son, Razor. He was also a slider turtle, though technically he was a hybrid, since he had Usagi's eyes and a rabbit nose. "He's changing out of his clothes. It was raining heavily at school today." He explained dutifully.

"No, child. Your dad was asking about your older brother." Leo's husband, Usagi, replied. He reached out to thumb off some ink that got stuck to his son's cheek. It was definitely from calligraphy practice, his son often had problems holding his brush. Regardless of how many times he practiced, there always seemed to be a mess whenever he was around ink.

A few seconds later, the shoji screen doors opened and a young white rabbit with slider markings similar to Leo's bounded into the room. He was dressed in a pale green yukata and his ears were tied together with a dark green ribbon.

"Hey dad. Hi father." The rabbit greeted cheerfully before closing the screen doors behind him and taking his seat between his older brother and older sister, a white rabbit wearing a coral kimono with a flowery hairclip of the same color that tied her ears together.

"Where's Jojo?" The young rabbit, named Haru, asked, looking around the table.

"That's what I'd like to know." Leo replied. As if on cue, his wrist communicator started to ring. He answered the call right away.

"Hey dad." A nervous voice spoke on the other side of the line. A voice Leo was all too familiar with. "How are you?"

"Jotaro Miyamoto-Hamato, where are you right now?" Leo ignored his son's poorly said greeting and went straight to the point. "It's already late. Why aren't you home yet?"

His son, Jotaro, let out a nervous laugh before replying. "It's a bit of a complicated story. I'll tell you about it later, but for now," Leo rolled his eyes at his son's excuse before he continued. "...can I please borrow 15000 dollars? It's kind of an emergency."

Usagi choked on his drink upon hearing his son's request. Naomi, his eldest daughter, patted her father on the back as he tried to compose himself.

"Why on earth do you need 15000 dollars?" A thought immediately occurred to Leo. "You're not competing in one of those underground races again, are you? Because if you are-"

"What? No! Dad, of course not." Jotaro cut him off before he could continue. "I swear, I'm not in an underground race, okay? Not anymore." Leo was not completely convinced, and his own son could tell that.

"I just need the money for... an escape room."

"What kind of escape room costs 15000 dollars?" Usagi said incredulously and loud enough that he was sure his son heard him on the other side of the line. Though he couldn't see him, Leo could tell his son winced, judging by the sound he made on the other end.

"Jail." His son answered lamely.

Everyone at the table went silent after hearing the response. After a few seconds, Leo spoke. "Where are you at right now?" He asked, getting up from his seat while digging into the pockets of his sweatpants. He pulled out out a kunai, flipping it in his hand.

Meanwhile, Razor miserably slapped ten bucks into the hand of a snickering Naomi while Usagi just pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing disappointingly.

"The New York police station in front of a bakery called Monte Rose." Jotaro replied, the sound of his feet shuffling against the floor.

"I'll be there in ten." Leo hanged up before gripping the kunai tightly in his palm, a blue light instantly covered the entirety of it before it transformed into a katana in his hand. Before he could summon a portal, he heard his daughter call out to him.

"Dad, wait!" He turned to see her rush out of the room and quickly returned in a few seconds with a deep blue jacket in her arms.

"Wear this. It's winter season in America right now." She threw the jacket over his shoulders. It covered the top of his frame nicely. "You'll be freezing cold without it." Leo looked down at himself, checking the jacket.

"Hang on." Leo shrugged off the jacket and inspected it more carefully. "I don't remember buying this." Naomi's red eyes widened (all his kids had red eyes, the one shared trait they seem to have inherited from their father) before she turned her head away, scratching her nose.

"Of course you didn't buy it. I did. Actually it was meant to be my birthday present to you but I guess now would be the best time." She said casually, playing with the end of her ears.

"Aw, thank you sweetheart." Leo ruffled his daughter's hair playfuly before planting a kiss on her forehead. "But why a jacket? I mean, I love the one you got me here, but don't I already have a ton of those?"

"You mean the ones you steal from father from time to time? Those ones?" Razor looked at his dad in disbelief. "I don't think those count as yours, dad."

"Hey, I didn't steal those jackets! I borrowed them, okay?" He huffed, tugging the jacket back on. "Besides, since I'm married to your father, doesn't that mean his stuff are also mine?"

"Uh, I don't think that's how it works dad." Haru said, looking at his father for confirmation. "Is it?"

"It depends." Usagi answered, patting his head. "Pesonally though, I don't mind sharing my clothes with your dad." He sent a wink to his husband.

"See?" Leo smiled smugly towards his son, who simply grimaced.

"Ugh, you should mind, regardless if you're both in public or not." Naomi said, cringing. "You both act so sappy with each other, especially when you lend dad your clothes, father."

"Well I apologize for making sure your dad doesn't catch a cold." Usagi spoke back, softly.

"Apology accepted." Naomi said, flipping her ears behind her in an ornate fashion. Though she takes after Usagi in terms of appearance, her personality is somewhat similar to Leo's.

Leo just smiled to himself, before lifting his katana up and striking downward. Just like that, a blue portal opened up in front of him.

He turned back to his family, blew a kiss in the direction of his husband, and stepped in. The portal closed soon after.

"I believe we should eat first, as your dad and brother will be returning later." Usagi said, picking up his chopsticks. The four children all collectively agreed and began to eat.

"What do you think Jojo's in jail for?" Haru asked, nibbling on a piece of salmon. "I bet it's for underground racing again." He said with a wicked smile.

"Did you not hear him say he wasn't participating in those anymore?" Naomi asked, taking a sip of her tea. "If he's going to jail for anything, I bet its definitely for beating someone up. You know how he is in a fight."

"I agree with her." Razor nodded, passing a bowl of miso soup to his little sister. "Sooner or later, his own cockiness was bound to land him into trouble with the police."

"Oh, please. Like you're any different than he is, little brother." Naomi said before smirking.

"Like that time you tried to pick a fight with uncle Gen's apprentice, claiming that you could beat him and in the end, all it took was one hit to send you running into dad's arms, crying. Remember that?" His older sister reminded him, smiling cruelly.

Lita giggled at the recollection. She doesn't remember much when it happened, but she does remember seeing her brother bawling his eyes out hysterically while dad tried to comfort him.

Her brother's face turned red at the reminder of one of the most embarrassing moments in his life. "You didn't need to bring that up." He mumbled.

"Of course I did." Naomi cackled.

"At least my temper isn't as bad as his." Razor grumbled as he chewed on his rice, his older sister laughed loudly and viciously at his flustered behavior. "It may not have been a fight Jojo was arrested for. I bet he was at a protest with Aaron again." He added.

"Wasn't Jojo forbidden from going to another protest after that accident with the Daimyo's son?" Lita, not wanting to feel left out by her brothers and sister but also wanted to add her own two cents to this, piped up. "I bet that-"

"Let's not place bets on what crime your brother may or may not have committed." Usagi cut his youngest daughter off before sending an icy glare to all his children, effectively silencing them. "Now, eat your food before it gets cold."

"Yes, father." They all nodded in unison before continuing to eat in silence.

Chapter Text

Leo stepped through the portal, and was instantly hit with the familiar cold city air. New York was always cold during its nightly hours, but the winter season made it feel even colder than usual.

Naomi was right, it is freezing. Leo thought, tugging his jacket closer to him. After making sure the portal closed behind him, he made his way through the crowd of people.

It's been a while since he's been back here. What with all the responsibilities he and his husband had now. Leading a clan, teaching at a dojo, as well as raising his own children, neither of them had the time to visit.

Leo watched as yokai, mutants and humans intermingled in groups of small and large under the starry sky. Thirty years ago, this wouldn't have been possible. But things have changed. It was different now, and he couldn't have been more happier.

He shook himself out of his thoughts before remembering the task at hand.

"Alright, now where is that boy?" He mumbled under his breath, looking around him. He seemed to be in Times Square. Jotaro said that he was in a police station opposite of a bakery called Monte Rose. If only he knew where that was...

"Pepino, is that you?" An old yet familiar voice spoke. Leo turned around and smiled. "Señor Hueso! Long time no see." He brought the elderly man into a tight hug, which he reluctantly let go after the man tapped on his shell repeatedly.

"How have you been, señor boneman?" Leo asked, same stupid grin pastered on his face. His response was a slap to the shoulder to which he in return, responded with a hearty laugh.

"You are the only one who still calls me that, pepino."

"And you're the one who still calls me pepino, tio."

"I'm the only one who ever calls you pepino."

"Yeah, but I've been growing, remember? Don't I deserve a new name for the upgrade?"

The skeleton yokai just sighed. Years have passed and he had long since retired from his job, passing the reigns to his son, Hueso Jr. And yet he still looks the same as he was when Leo and his brothers still met him. "I am fine, thank you. How have you been doing, nino?" He asked, looking him up and down.

"Eh, you know. Same old, same old." Leo waved his hand in a vague gesture. "My daughter got me this sweet new jacket." He turned his back, showcasing it in all its glory to the elderly yokai in front of him. "Pretty neat, huh?"

"Yes, it is." Señor Hueso agreed, nodding his head. "Which is quite the surprise, given how horrible her dad's taste in fashion is."

"Hey!" The man just chuckled under his breath. Leo couldn't help but chuckle as well. It has been a while since he talked with anyone else beside his immediate family members, and talking with the previous owner of his favorite pizza parlour whom he was so close to made him feel like nothing had changed since he was a teenager.

"Actually, señor, since you're here, can I ask ya something?" Leo asked.

"Might as well."

"Do you know this bakery called Monte Rose?"

"Yes, I do. It's one of the few places in the city that serves perfectly good black coffee." The old yokai smiled at the thought of it. "Why? You want to buy pastries?"

"Jotaro just got arrested and the station that he's being kept in is supposedly set opposite of said bakery." Leo explained awkwardly.

"Ah, I see. Like father like son." Señor Hueso mused. The skeleton pointed to a particular street down on the left side of the square.

"Go down that road, then turn right at the intersection. Continue walking till you get there. You'll know you've reached the place when you see the green and orange fairy lights."

Leo raised his eyebrow. "Green and orange fairy lights?"

"Hey, don't look at me. I'm not the exterior designer." Señor Hueso said with his hands up.

"Alrighty then, thanks señor boneman. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go get my dumbass son out of jail."

Señor Hueso waved as the turtle started his way down the road. As he watched him disappear among the crowd, he was brought back to when they first met.

 The first time I saw him, I just saw a hopeless kid. Now, he's a loving husband, a doting father, a teacher, and the leader of the most prominent ninja clan in the world at that.

Señor Hueso smiled.

Carmen was right. He really has changed.

Chapter Text

Jotaro paced around the enclosed space that he was currently being kept in, a million thoughts going through his head as he waited for his dad to arrive.

He was in trouble, deep trouble. Which wasn't really a surprise to him. After all, he had been in worse situations. However, none of those situations involved the police, or his parents.

Thus, the feeling of absolute dread that made its appearance when the door to his cell finally opened. The officer on guard, a dog yokai, led him out of the cell room to the main area where his dad was waiting for him.

"Jotaro!" His dad called out to him in relief. He wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug before letting go and cupping his face with his hands, nonexistent brow etched in worry.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? How bad is the pain?" His dad bombarded him with questions as he tilted his face from left to right. Jotaro's heart sank. He felt guilty for worrying his dad so much.

"I'm fine, dad. I promise." Jotaro said, placing his hands on his dad's. "Really?" Jotaro nodded. "Good." His dad let out a sigh of relief before suddenly yanking down on his left ear, hard.

"Ow!" Jotaro screeched out in pain as Leo pulled him out of the police station by the ear, muttering angrily under his breath.

"I can't believe you did this. What were you thinking?" Jotaro opened his mouth to speak, but was instantly silenced by his dad's harsh glare.

"Don't answer that. Yet." He said sharply before summoning his odachi. A few seconds later, they were back home in Japan.

However, it wasn't over for Jotaro, who after being portaled into the living room, was forced to kneel and received an earful from his dad that was so loud it woke up his youngest sister.

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"Hey, onee-san." Lita whispered to her sister, who was obviously asleep underneath the blankets. She whispered to her again, albeit a bit louder than what was considered a whisper. "Onee-san!"

"What?" Naomi asked groggily. Her eyes were still shut and she hadn't moved from her position, but the fact that one of her ears perked up meant Lita had her attention.

"Big brother is back." She said, playing with her sister's ears. "He's being scolded by dad as we speak."

"So?" This time, Naomi opened an eye. Lita was sitting at the edge of her futon, eyes wide.

"Wanna eavesdrop on them?"

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After what seemed like hours (it was only ten minutes) of listening to his dad lecture him, he was finally allowed to get up.

Only to make his dad a cup of tea.

"Better make sure it's the chamomile one, my insomnia's hitting hard tonight." His dad told him as he sat at the kitchen bar, stretching his neck.

Jotaro just nodded, and as he went to prepare the drink, Leo pulled out several small cups from underneath the kitchen bar's cabinet and them on the table.

Jotaro raised his eyebrow, confused, as he brought over the kettle filled with warmed up tea. Leo simply smiled. "I'm not the only one who's up for tea, you know." He then turned his head sideways, before speaking louder. "Ain't that right, girls?"

There was silence. Then, the screen doors opened up, revealing Lita standing behind the screen alongside her older sister, who seemed a tad bit too drowsy to be up.

"How'd you know it was us?" Lita asked timidly. Her sister immediately answered her question. "Because he's the greatest ninja in the world, duh." She walked over and sat on the kitchen stool next to her dad, ears drooping in exhaustion. "Because he's trained to detect the presence of someone else from a mile away, that's why..." Naomi trailed off as she leaned her head against the table.

"Oh, yeah." Lita just said as she too made her way too the kitchen bar. However, she was far too short and had to be picked up by her older brother, who then sat her down on the edge of the table instead. Lita looked up at her brother, eyes curious. "How was jail?" She asked innocently.

Instead of answering, Jotaro quietly poured the tea into the cups that had been laid out. After emptying the kettle, he placed it back on the stove, then took a seat across from his dad, staring at his cup.

"Why are you girls up at this time anyway?" Leo asked, passing a cup to his eldest daughter, who then passed it to her sister before taking her own. Again, it was the sleepy Naomi who answered.

"Lita wanted to eavesdrop on you guys. She woke me up because she was scared she was gonna get caught." Naomi gently blew on her tea before taking a sip.

"I see." Leo's eyes crinkled as he drank in his own cup. Smacking his lips, he turned back to his son, who was still just staring at his cup.

"Well?" Jotaro looked up at his dad, who in turn, just looked at him expectantly. "You wanna tell them?" He asked, nodding to the direction of his sisters.

Lita perked up, so did Naomi, though it seemed more like she was dragged upwards by the scruff of her neck.

Jotaro was uncertain, Leo noticed that and placed a hand over his. "Only if you want to, that is."

"I was caught trying to steal a puppy." Jotaro finally said through gritted teeth.

"A puppy?" Lita asked, a funny expression on her face as tried to imagine the scene.

"Yeah, it was stolen from my friend first. So, I just tried to steal it back." Jotaro explained, before finally drinking his own cup.

"Did you get the puppy back?" Naomi asked, fighting back a yawn. Her brother nodded, releasing a sigh as he put down the cup.

"Yup." He said, the end of the word coming out with pop. "Managed to portal the pet back to my friend with no issue. She'll call me tomorrow to give the down low on how it's doing."

"She? I didn't know Athena was keeping a pet." Lita said, playing with her tea, until she remembered something. "Wait, doesn't Artemis hate dogs?"

"...yeah, it wasn't Athena. It wasn't Ember either. It was just a friend, really." Jotaro said quietly, keeping his head suspiciously low as he drank more of his tea.

"Was it Kiyoko's? Did you save a puppy to impress your crush or something?" Naomi guessed. "Just kiddi-"

Jotaro spat out his tea right into his sister's face.

"Oh my gosh!" Lita cried out, the suddenness almost made her fall but luckily Leo caught her just in time.

"Jotaro, what the heck, boy?!" Leo yelled, one hand keeping his daughter up while the other patted his son's back as he coughed.

"Sorry! Sorry..." Jotaro apologized, wheezing.

"Geez, you really do like her, huh?" Naomi, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed, despite having tea spat right into her face.

Jotaro didn't reply. Instead, he went through the cabinet underneath the bar and handed his sister a bunch of kitchen towels. The whole time, his face was kept neutral, but Naomi could see hints of embarrassment.

"Are you alright, onee-san?" Lita asked, dabbing her sister's face with a kitchen towel. "I'm fine, Lita. It's just tea, after all." She assured her as Leo scolded his son for the second time that night.

Finally, after getting Jotaro out of jail, as well as helping to clean up the mess that was caused by his son's sudden reaction to his sister's teasing, Leo was finally able to rest. Even if it was for a few hours.

After all, everyday is always busy when you're a mutant ninja turtle, especially one named Leonardo Hamato.