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She'd found the photographs in the same place she found Uncle Donatello's old mix tapes. It's easy to imagine the envelope that once held them hidden in a desk drawer that's long since destroyed by war or time. It seems everything around here is destroyed by war or time.
First she considers just showing them to Yi. The changes in their relationship are new and they're both skittish. Maybe knowing they aren't the first like them would help set her sister at ease?
But the selfish part of Moja wants to show these secret parts of their family history to her brothers. Let the revered Uncles Leonardo and Raphael take the first hit one last time. How will Uno, or shell forbid Odyn reject them when their heroes were just the same?
So she bides her time and waits for an opportunity to present itself. Finally one day both Sensei and Grammy April are out of the lair. On ninja-trained feet she pulls the photos from their hiding place under her mattress and brings them to the living room where her siblings wait.
"Pssst, guys! Come here! I found something you're gonna want to see!" She whispers-loudly just in case the adults are still within hearing distance.
All three of her siblings look up immediately. The only thing more treasured in their lair than something new is something secret and new.
"What is it, Momo?" Odyn asks slowly following behind Yi and Uno.
"Pictures! Of our Uncles and Grandpa Casey!"
"Really?! New pictures??" Yi practically shouts in excitement placing one hand on her sister's shoulder and reaching the other for the treasured photographs. Moja uses her height to hold them just out of reach.
"Where'd you find them?" Uno questions skeptically. Their big brother fully believes in looking a gift horse in the mouth.
"The same place I found Uncle Donatello's tapes! Now do you guys want to see them or not?"
In response, the three others sit down on the cold floor as if preparing for a lecture.
"Okay, so, there were just three pictures, but we've never seen them before and judging by how they were hidden, I'm not sure Sensei Casey has either."
Based on the actions in the photos, Moja is pretty certain they were taken in a certain order. She could be wrong, but she likes how they tell a little story. A moment of happiness forever held on paper.
She holds up the first one. It's a simple holiday scene. All four Uncles and Grandpa Casey sit on the couch. Left to right there's Uncle Donatello, Uncle Michelangelo, Grandpa Casey, Uncle Raphael and Uncle Leonardo. Uncle Raph's hand holding Uncle Leo's is just barely visible.
Butterflies swirling in her stomach, she flips to the next picture. The scene is much the same- four brothers with their best friend on the couch beside a pitiful looking Christmas tree. Only now Grandpa Casey has wrapped an arm around Uncle Raphael to hold something over his and Uncle Leo's head. Even years later his smile is infectious.
Without giving herself time to overthink, Moja flips to the last picture. In this one, Uncle Leo is sitting on Uncle Raph's lap with the mistletoe just above their heads. The kiss they share looks hot enough to make her blush, despite the long march of time. Uncle Donatello and Uncle Michelangelo grin at each other like cats who got the canary in the corner.
"Uncle Leo and Uncle Raph were…" Yi whispers almost reverentially reaching out to touch the photograph.
"In love!" Odyn concludes with a smile.
"But if these photos were hidden, maybe they didn't want anyone to know?" Uno questions tapping on his chin in thought.
"Grandpa Casey knew! And I'm willing to bet Grammy April took the pictures," Moja counters.
"Then… why hide them?" Yi asks the ground which seems to be studying.
"Maybe they didn't want their sensei to know. Maybe they were afraid of what Master Splinter would think," she concedes with a shrug. It's the most logical conclusion she's been able to come up with.
"Like- there would be a punishment? For falling in love?" Odyn's eyes dart from sibling to sibling as he asks. His broad face is wrinkled up in confusion.
"That's stupid!" Uno declares causing six pairs of eyes to glance over to him.
"W-what?" Moja splutters. She didn't think there was anything that could cause her brother to insult the memory of the former head of the Hamato Clan.
"I said- 'That's stupid!'. Uncle Raphael and Uncle Leonardo were good and loyal ninjas. They died for the Clan! And Master Splinter was supposed to be their father. He should have wanted them to be happy! And they look happy there," the eldest brother concludes.
"But- but they were brothers?" Yi points out incredulously.
Uno only shrugs in response.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Moja can't help but ask.
"It means I don't give a shit, Momo. Uncle Raph still got skewered by Oroku Karai. Uncle Leo still got blown to kingdom come with Grandpa Casey. If they made each other happy like you and Yi do for each other before they cashed in all their chips then good. For. Them. I wish they'd been louder about it," he snarls defensively as Odyn cheerfully claps his agreement.
Moja feels her blood run cold.
"M-me and Yi?"
Uno nods definitively.
"Caught you two in the laundry room one day when I was practicing my ninja skills. Saw more than I wanted to of your ass, but like I said. Good for them and good for you two."
Yi's glancing between her two older siblings like some sort of bobblehead. Her mouth is open ever so slightly in complete disbelief.
"D-do you mean it? You're not upset with us?" she finally asks.
"Why would Uno be upset, Yiyi? Falling in love's a good thing," Odyn interjects placing a large hand on his smaller sister's shoulder.
"Yeah, Yiyi, falling in love's a good thing." Uno agrees easily.
"But- but I was afraid you guys would hate us or think it meant we didn't love you as much or… I don't know! Don't you want to tell Sensei Casey on us?" Yi looks like she's about to cry.
"No. I kinda want to get locks for all the doors so I never see that side of Moja again, but you're still my sisters. I could never hate you," Uno reassures placing a hand on each on each sister's shoulder.
Moja feels as though there's a wound hidden deep inside her chest. Something old and forgotten and someone's finally applied a salve before it's too late.
She steps closer to her siblings and presses her beak tenderly to Yi's. As her eyes slip shut, she hears Odyn cheer.