Work Text:
Splinter wasn't the best dad.
They all knew this and were okay with it, because at the end of the day, he still raised them as best as he could with what he had and tried his damn best to give them a normal enough childhood.
However, Splinter made a mistake no parent should ever make.
He picked a favorite.
He held Leonardo to such a high regard, it almost seemed impossible for any of his younger, less skilled brothers to even try and compete to be on his level in their father's eyes.
Raph complained over how much time Splinter dedicated to helping Leonardo become the best version of himself while the rest of them were being left behind.
"It's like we are each other's papas", Mikey had said to Raph, once when they were still very young, even though their father was sitting a few meters away from them, helping Leo with whatever problem the oldest had at the time.
It was as if the two of them weren't even there, in the same room as them...
Raph played with his little brothers as much as they wanted, clipped their nails for them when they got too long, comforted them when they were sad and tended to their injuries.
Donnie taught them complicated vocabulary the youngest (and sometimes oldest) didn't quite understand, monitored their writing and reading, closely followed their development to make sure they were learning at the expected pace for their age, despite being barely older than his brothers.
And in exchange, Mikey cooked for them when Splinter was too busy, made sure they ate three times a day and lended a hearing ear whenever they needed to talk, always making sure to give some advice, some reassurance or even just a comforting hug where it was required.
They all made sure the others knew how loved they are, always.
Leonardo had an actual dad, one that would make sure he did all those things and also provided him with the affection and wisdom only an adult could have.
He would never know how heavy the weight of raising someone else when you are still a child yourself is to carry.
Mikey then, started calling his older brothers "dad" or "papa" while Splinter had been demoted to "sensei".
When he called for his dad, either Raph or Donnie would be by his side in a heartbeat to ask what he needed, and even if the oldests didn't do the same, they would still seek for Mikey's unrivaled love and comfort when in distress before anyone else's.
Outside the dojo, they didn't know the man who lived with them and that was perfectly fine by everyone, as the master ninja didn't notice said change either for a long time and couldn't find it in himself to care too much once he did.
As they grew up and the breach between them and Leo's perfect little family grew farther apart, the oldest turtle often found that his childhood memories with his father weren't the same as his brothers'.
None of them remembered how Splinter would pull them aside and give them valuable life lessons when met with an existential doubt, or brew green tea in the middle of the night for them after having nasty nightmares because it would always help calming them down.
No. The reality was far less perfect and way more depressing for some living under the same roof.
Donnie and Raph would read Mikey bedtime stories every night, kiss him goodnight in the forehead and tuck him in bed. And the purple clad turtle would answer the million questions that plagued his little brother's mind from time to time.
Raph would chase the monsters away and hug them until they fell back asleep. No matter how late it was or how tired he felt, he was always there for his little brothers.
Mikey would make them hot coco when a nightmare would inevitably wake them up and ask what they dreamt about to try and help them get through it; reminding them that none of it was real and offering his support in times of need
They all gave each other the best advice they could when they needed it and helped each other through their problems.
They grew up too fast to be the fathers the others deserved, not minding how empty that hole in their heart felt.
They taught each other how to ride a skateboard from trial and error.
They held the others when they needed a shoulder to cry on.
They were each other's papas.
It was then that it dawned on Leo just how different his childhood was from theirs.
Despite living in the same lair, it would forever stick out like a sore thumb just how different their lives were.
For him, this was the home he grew up in; a warm home with an amazing, loving father and a perfect set of little brothers.
For the others, the place they grew up in could barely be called a home. It was their house, yes, but the walls welcomed them every morning with their cold embrace, and the only family they would ever know, was a set of adult-shaped-kids.
They would forever be grateful for Splinter, because despite everything, he put a roof over their heads and food on their plate. He did everything he could with what he had.
But he isn't pefect. In fact, he is far from it.
They love him, but he isn't their father.
Hamato Yoshi only has one son.