Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“HOT SOUP!!!!”

2 years after the incident of ‘you-know-who’, people expecting some changes. Others stay the same and not prone to change.

“WOOOAAAHAAH!!!”

Some say changes bring a new and better you, but staying the same brings out the real you.

“OOOHOHOOO YEAAAH!!!”

But what if, you can stay the same, while making a change, at the same time.

“SHIIIIIIIIIING!!!!”

The sound of katanas piercing through the air current, smokes puffing here and there, the glint of bluish blur bouncing all over the place, like a spark of electricity caused by a short-circuited cable.

“Look out, big bro~” the blue blur flew in with high speed as he launches with a kick. The big red ducked down to avoid the kick, landed onto a black and red-figure, sending them to a wall.

“Ey, watch it, Leo!”

“To be fair, I did warn you,” he smirked, hoisting his katana onto his shoulder. 

“Leo!!” before Leo could react the big red threw a barrel at the figure behind him, the impact sent them to the same spot as the previous one, breaking the wall behind them and fell off the building.

“HEY!!! Watch it!!!”

“I was about to warn you.”

“Guys, there’s more coming.” the orange turtle warned his brothers about the oncoming reinforcement. They all readied their battle stance. A group of black and red figures charged in from a hallway. They await their next battle.

“Beep!”

The flooring on the hallway blew up, the group froze in midair, before they realized the floor’s missing, they all fell in with screams. The three brothers blink in confusion until a purple turtle flew up from the hole with a smirk.

"And, that’s how it’s done." the purple turtle announced.

"Donnie! Nice work!" Raph gave him a thumbs up. Leo shrugs,

"Could’ve gone better myself."

Donnie landed to his brothers and bowed. "Thank you. Thank you." The orange aka Mikey ran towards the hole.

"Whooaah, since when you make bombs, Dee?" he said peeking down the big hole on the floor.

"About two years ago. I just somehow remembered that I made some, so alas, here it is. " he showed one of the bombs he made on his hand. Leo took a closer look at it.

"Wait, you had these things for two years and you never use them?" 

"To be honest, it was still in beta. Also, I ran out of options about the supplies to make more of this."

"How many more you’ve got?" Raph asked.

"Well, these are the last ones and since there’s only four of them left, I shall- " Leo snatched the one Donnie holds before he finished. Donnie gave him the ‘seriously?’ look.

"Ohoho, boy! You let us use this thing? Awesome!" Leo examines the bomb in his hand.

"Ooh, ooh! Can I have one too?" Raph asked giddily.

"Pleaaaaaaaseeeee......." Mikey gave him the puppy eyes. Donnie figured they might react like this. He sighed, reluctantly gave them one each. 

"Yes!!" "Thanks, Dee!"

They all inspecting the small objects as if they were toys. Donnie pinched his nose bridge. "Okay, okay. Gather up, kids! Let me show you how to use it-"

"Oooh, what does this do?" Mikey curiously about to press one of the buttons on the bomb. Donnie quickly grabbed it before it’s too late.

"THAAaat, is the instant knock-out button. Which means instant explosions.  Which MEAaan, you do not touch!" Donnie sabotaged the button real quick, semi-questioning why he had it in the first place. He gave it back to Mikey and sabotaged the others as well. 

"Why would you put that button there?" Leo asked skeptically.

"I dunno. I was young and strictly melodramatic. Probably, sometimes thought about ending life right there and then. " He gives the bomb back. Leo blinked at his words.

"Wait, what?”

"Donnie, are you sure you okay giving us this?”

"Yes, Raphael. I am certain, sure and superbly confident to give you a chance, to  try such dangerous, yet ‘fun’ accessory for one use only." He gave back the bomb. Raph starting to get worried about the idea, despite having the joy to actually blow things up on purpose. Especially, with Donnie’s tech.

"Aaawww, thanks, Don. That’s very thoughtful of you." Mikey doesn’t seem to bother about it. He cherished everything his brothers gave him and he knows they did it with compassion. Even if it’s something that might blow up without notice.

Donnie smiled at his little brother, a genuinely warm smile. He never thought that they will accept his gift. As much as he knows about the risk, but he does--somehow--promised them that he would build a bomb for them, and that was when he was six. Children’s minds can be chaotic at times, especially when they decided to watch action movies that involving explosions and how awesome that is seeing their hero epicly emerge from the fire.

Technically, they never wanted a bomb, they just wanted something that can cause explosions. Which means, they wanted a bomb. "Like I said, once again. One use only, so use it wisely." He then activates his bomb and dropped it into the hole. It goes boom and comical screams were heard from below. The trio stared at him in confusion. 

"I had to. I heard them climbing up, okay?"

"Oooh." "Oh, I see. Okay." "Okay, cool."

Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed Donnie’s ankle and pulled him into the hole. Donnie yelped in surprise as he dragged away.

“DONNIE!!!” they all yelled and went after him. Donnie got slammed to the ground onto his plastron. He gasped in pain before getting thrown away onto the wall. He groaned as he landed hard onto the floor. He looked up to see the familiar big muscular guy with a fire above his head. Laughing evilly at the downed turtle.

“Imma grind your bones, turtle,” he said, fist-bumped himself. Donnie stood up, readying his bo. Before the brute charged at him, two sets of glowing chains wrapped around him.

“Cowabunga!!” Mikey pulled the guy upward, Raph came in with his flying fist, slamming down the brute, creating a crater. Donnie was surprised by the sudden assist. Out of the shadow, the skinny one sneakily emerges behind him. His giggles startled him, as he looks back Leo teleported right between the two and kicks the guy on the face. The Foot ninja got thrown through a wall, buried in debris. 

"Donnie, you okay?" Leo looked at him in concern. The other two joined in before he got to answer.

"Donnie!"

"Are you hurt, buddy?"

Donnie froze for a bit, clutching his bo tightly. He shook his head in response. "No, no, I’m fine."

His reply is semi-whisper, which concerns Raph. Mikey somehow urged to see how’s his shell doing. "*gasp* Dude, your battle shell! It’s all broken!"

Donnie peered his head to his back. He can see some of the metal bends and he could see some sparks coming out of it. Great, that’s another one this week.

"Yeah, I figured. Don’t worry, it’s still can be fixed."

"At least, you got some more at home, right Dee?" Leo patted his shoulder. Donnie remained quiet, his eyes fixed to the ground. Leo grew concerned with his brother being quiet. "Donnie?"

Raph and Mikey noticed the change. Could Donnie be possibly running out of Battleshell? No, there’s no way. Surely Donnie had fixed some of them, and perhaps he made some new ones as well, right?

Donnie still not answering, his hands' trembles while holding his bo tighter than ever before. He inhales with his nose, then lets it out through the mouth with a shaky breath.

“Yeah, yeah. I do. I do.” he finally replied, although this time it sounded more unsure. Leo smiled at his twin. He felt a little bit relieved that at least there’s still something he can use to protect his shell. Leo put his arm around Donnie’s neck, hugging him in the way.

“Come on, let’s go home.” Leo led Donnie and the rest back to the tank. 

They drove home in a rather awkward and quiet atmosphere. It was supposed to be another celebration for accomplishing their mission, but Donnie’s quiet demeanor made an exception tonight. Donnie hadn’t said anything ever since they asked about his battle shell. He just sits there at his spot, putting his battle shell onto his lap. He has done nothing with it, just staring.

The others don’t know what to do, or what to say. Every few seconds, they only glanced at his brother. Unsure if they have the courage to do some pep-talk with him. Of course, Donnie can feel them all staring at him.

Donnie put aside his battle shell, the others quickly look away as if they never stare. Donnie put on the usual emotionless face at them, leaning further to his chair, arm-crossed at his chest.

“If you guys wanted to say anything, just say it.” 

“Nonono, we just thought that you-” “What? Noooo. Did I say anything? Nah I-” “Oh, it’s nothing, it’s just that we-” 

They all spoke at the same time then stop when they realizing it. Donnie blinks, he certainly didn’t understand what they’re saying right there. Leo decided to go first.

“Donnie, if you need any help, you can ask away, okay?” he smiled reassuringly. Donnie was unsure of what to say with that.

“We can help you fix your battle shell.” 

“Yeah, we promise we won’t touch anything else without your permission.”

Donnie stared at each one of their eyes. They didn’t seem to be lying about offering help. Donnie didn’t feel they should, though. Well, it’s very kind of them, but they don’t have to. He can fix it himself, it’s his thing after all.

“I appreciate that, dear brethren. But I’ll be fine. I can do it myself.” he said. The others understand that, they nodded with his reply.

“Okay, then.” Leo said, “But if you do, just please ask, okay bud?”

“Sure, Leo.”

Welding felt relaxing, the sound of tiny sparks is like a piece of music to Donnie’s ears. It might not be real music, but it’s melodious nonetheless. Donnie lifted his goggles, leans back to catch a break. He's almost done fixing the hover shell, not the one from yesterday, the one that he kept fixing and fixing away, despite there’s nothing wrong with it.

The one he used last night was a prototype of a new model. It still looks the same as the old ones, but he did make a few upgrades on them. It was definitely frustrating when it got busted. He’s planning to use it more since it felt lighter than the old one. But, now he needs a new shell to wear on a patrol.

He looks at the battle shell charging station. What left there was his worn-down Spider-shell. Below it was none other than his wrecked and broken shells that he hadn’t repair, yet. He let out a sad sigh, he looked around him to find that his lab is somewhat cleaner, much cleaner than he remembered. Usually, the lab was littered with piles upon piles of inventions, blueprints, scattered metal parts, and energy drinks. 

Now, it seems as if it was untouched. The sleek metallic purple walls with LEDs are still looking fresh and new. The floor was free from dust due to the Roombas roam freely without bumping into any tech pieces. And the workbench,....empty. Only his old battle shell that he kept tinkering that is currently there. Also, a cup of coffee.

Donnie about to take a sip when he realized it was running out. He inspects the glass and saw small coffee drips down the mug that got frozen in place due to a long time exposed to the AC. How long has he been there without refilling his coffee? Does he been getting the science block again?

Putting down the mug, he rubbed his tired eyes in frustration. Was he being unproductive on purpose? What is he doing here? Why can’t he finish anything? 

“Hey.” the voice made him jumped, he looked back to see Leo stood in the doorway. “Whoa, it’s okay. Just a little old me.” Leo held his hands out. Donnie frowned, he turned back to his hover shell.

“What do you want, Leo?”

“It’s training time, Don. Better not coop yourself up in the lab, or I’ll let Raph drag your shell to the Dojo.” Leo ordered as he left towards the Dojo. Donnie sighed heavily, he stood up and followed him. He admits, there’s nothing else he would do, science blocks are the worst and it became a daily routine ever since their Lair was smashed to smithereens. And, the fact that he hates to obey the words Leo told him to.

He wasn’t questioning his leadership skills. If Donnie allowed himself, to be honest, the Slider actually knows what he’s doing, good at it in fact. Raph at first had a hard time adjusting, now the former leader putting his trust in Leo, even Mikey approved. Donnie, however, still adapting. 

It wasn’t because that he hates to admit it, it just doesn’t sit right putting the leader role to the one who usually pulled some poor one-liners out of spite and keeps bugging your work with some pranks, jokes, and poking on things that could cause explosions like it was some kind of a job, because if it is, he good some pretty good records he might get himself some promotions.

And now, the true color of the team seems to emerge. We got the Leader, The Muscle, The Heart, and The Brain. Although, The Brain more likely The Brain Dead one. Stupid science block keeping him from thinking straight, not much idea that pops out other than upgrading, or upgrading the upgrade, or upgrading the upgraded upgrade.

It might be some improvement for anyone, but for the one with the giant science head-cannon looming inside his head, that’s barely even an add-on. His unproductivity hurts him, as if the genius inside suddenly just wanted to stop, no more mad scientist mambo-jumbo. He felt it once again, the feeling that he had gone rotten, expired, outdated.....useless. 

Seriously, what will he be for the team without his big brain? What can he do other than getting kicked in the booty several times that let your little brother saves your sorry butt?

If once again, he got knocked down and having Mikey, of all people saves him, he’s going to lose his mind.

“Alright, my sons. Now, let us begin to--Purple, where’s your battle shell?” they stared at Donnie in his bare shell. He rolled his eyes, dejected.

“I’ll be fine, Dad. I’m not going to hurt myself.”

“Nono, my son. I believe you, it’s just....weird seeing you without one.” Splinter simply said, trying not to offend his purple son.

“Well, it’s in repair, and my shoulders are getting tired. So....” Donnie didn’t have to finish his sentence to earned a nod from his father.

“Very well, then. Let us start,....now!” as on cue, the whole Dojo became dark. The brothers immediately forming back-to-back formation, weapons at their hands, full caution. “Hamatos carries the essence of life, the Ninpo. Or what most common people called them, mystics.”

Raph sense a movement to his right, Splinter came in with a kick. Mikey saw the offense, he blocked the kick, swung his nunchaku to Splinter's head. The rat dodged it with ease. Upon landing, Raph coming in clutch with his fist. Splinter jumps back into the darkness. “Some may think that it is the most essential in fighting.” 

The turtles back to their formation, listening to every sound to pinpoint the next attack. “Others, prefer something else.” a tail emerges from the darkness. Donnie shielded himself with his bo, the tail wrapped around the wooden weapon. Donnie expected the attempt of pulling, he pulled harder, forcing Splinter to show up. Leo anticipated Donnie’s strategy, he swung his sword at the same time Donnie ducked. 

Splinter didn’t expect the timing between the two, but he flawlessly avoided himself from being cut in half. Splinter pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it onto the ground. The smoke caused them to cough, which means distractions. They have no choice but to bail on their formation.

“There will be a time where mystic powers will do no good.” Leo senses presence near him. He ducked down to escape another kick. “So, you must focus on your own ability.” He tail swipe Leo’s katanas, leaving him unarmed. 

“Agility.” Splinter increases his speed, offering punches and kicks towards the turtle. Leo dodged every attack, seamlessly evading and parrying every blow. He counter-attacked Splinter’s punch, delivering a fist to his face. Splinter caught his hand and kicked Leo away, disappearing into the dark.

“Strength.” Raph blocked a powerful kick out of Splinter, pushed him back a meter. Another tail swipe, Raph let it wrapped on his hand and threw his dad away.

“Speed.” Splinter took a punch from what seems to be Mikey’s fist. Splinter blocked his next punch, only met with a swiping kick a second after. Mikey swung his nunchakus with unimaginable speed. Splinter steps up his game to block a series of attacks that his youngest son often called ‘Razzmatazz’. He manages to grab both nunchakus and threw orange from the fight.

“And, Instinct.” Donnie dodged a powerful kick launches towards him. He swings his bo just in time to meet Splinter’s punch. Once again, he disappeared. Donnie waited, trying to hear the footsteps. Behind you! He turns to blocked another powerful kick, this time it was too much to hold, it sent Donnie flying to a nearby wall. He winced and panted, adjusting his weight to his bo.

The lights turned on, Splinter ran towards him. “I’m fine!” his voice sounded a bit too loud. Splinter flinched, he’s unsure if the pain was bearable, but he knows well how stubborn his purple son can be. He decided to let it go, “You did better, my son. If you did not block that last kick, you might get yourself hurt even more.” He thought that he should apologize, but he didn’t think purple would appreciate that.

“Alright, take a break all of you.” he put both of his hands on his back, cracking it forward. “Ugh, while I tend to my bad back, you may have some spar with each other.” he walked away while rubbing his back. 

“Hey, Raphie. Wanna spar with me?” Mikey asked excitedly. Raph smiled, accepting the challenge.

“Sure thing, Mikey.” Raph readied up. Mikey activates his mystic chains and whips the nunchaku to Raph, wrapping his whole body. Raph blinks before he was pulled away.

“AAAAHHH!!!” a loud crash was heard. Leo smirks at the scene. Donnie gathers back his bearings and prepared for the sparring.

“Leo?” the slider slowly turns with his smug face. Donnie’s on his pose, “Care to join?” giving him the serious look. Leo kept his usual expression as he readied himself. Donnie strikes first, jabbing his bo to his head, Leo tilted his head to dodge. Donnie swings, Leo parried them with his katanas. He gave more barraging swings, Leo’s agility gives him the advantage. He dodged, parried him with literal ease. 

Leo still using the same face. “What’s wrong, Dee-man? Can’t catch little Leo?” Donnie frowned. He swung, Leo blocked and kicked him in the gut. Donnie yelped, Leo sent another kick to the face. Donnie fell to the floor, shaking his head from the mild headache. Leo kneeled, “Aww, had enough already?” 

Donnie growled. He swung to his leg, Leo had expected that. He got up and sent more swing barrage, this time a lot faster and more frantic. Leo parried a lot more on this one but didn’t change the expression on his face. Donnie downward, Leo blocked it. Eyes meeting eyes. “Come on, Don. Is that all? I can definitely fight you blindfolded.” 

Donnie’s patience grew thin. He didn’t have to tell him that. He knows he can, and he might one day. 

Donnie pushed him back, now anger is definitely involved. Leo steps up his game some more every time Donnie pulled off some new combos and new speed and variety. Donnie looked at him in the face. 

Shut up.

He was parried by another sword.

Shut Up!

He can’t beat him.

Shut Up!!!

He’ll never catch up to them.

Shut UP!!!!

He’s not good enough.

“SHUT UP!!!!!”

Leo flinched. Donnie panting hard, hands gripping tightly to his bo. Eyes fixated at Leo as if he’s ready to kill. Raph and Mikey are stunned by Donnie’s shouting. 

Donnie growled for real, this time. The deep reptilian growl filled his throat with his fang showing up menacingly. Donnie engaging his predator side, Leo held out his hand. 

“Okay, calm down, Dee. There’s no need to continue this with violence. Okay?”

“GRRRR!!!” Donnie attacks Leo with full intention. Leo no longer wanting to fight, dodged every move Donnie makes. It was fast and chaotic, more like trying to hurt rather than spar. 

“Donnie, STOP!!!”

“GRAAAHH!!!” 

Raph blocks Donnie’s bo. “Donnie, knock it off!!!”

“Please calm down!” Mikey plead. Donnie ignored them all, he charged at Raph with blind rage. Raph dodged the jab, throw his fist at Donnie. He didn’t dodge, letting it hit his face. Donnie growled deeply, eyes as sharp as needle. Raph was stunned, he didn’t expect Donnie to accept the hit. He felt guilty for hurting his little brother.

Splinter ran back after being called by Mikey. “Purple!!”

Donnie saw an opening on Raph, he charges in while Raph refused to move. Leo tackled Donnie and pinned him to the ground. He refused to back down and squirmed his way to freedom as Leo gripped his limbs for dear life.

“Donatello!!!”

Leo, Raph, and Donnie were startled by his father’s voice.

“Enough!” Leo froze for a little while, he let go of Donnie once he felt no resistance. Donnie lay down, panting. He was suddenly really exhausted. All that anger took too much energy out of him. He slowly hoists himself up to a sitting position. Splinter approached his purple son. Carefully assessing the damage around the turtle. There’s a bruise on his right cheek, which might be caused by his oldest son as when he meets his eyes, he can see the guilt he’s facing.

“Purple? What is up with you?” Donnie refused to talk or making eye contact with his father. Splinter can still feel anger looming around him. Did one of the brothers tick him off? What provokes him? 

“Donatello!” 

“I DON’T KNOW, OKAY!!!!” he yelled. Splinter jerked up by the sudden loud voice that felt louder to his rat ears. Donnie noticed that he went too much. “I...I just--” Donnie can’t hold back the tears that began to form in his eyes. He looked down to obscure it. 

Splinter was surprised to see his son cried. The brothers react the same way. Devastated seeing their usual emotionless turtle broke into tears.

Splinter held out his hand, “My son,-” Donnie swatted away his hand and ran straight to his lab. Not even the call of his name from his family can get his attention. He closed the iron-forced door of his lab, locking it immediately. Donnie sat under his desk, hugging his legs to his chest as he burst into tears. The lab was eerily quiet, the only sounds that are presence are his and the sound of his family trying to reach for him from the other side of the door. 

He felt vulnerable having to broke down like this, he hates it. The way the others desperately trying to get him to open the door made it worse. He wasn’t supposed to show his weakness at the time, he’s a Hamato, a descendant of heart o’ steel. And steel has a lot of influence with tech, his thing. He is supposed to be able to control his feelings. 

Now, his meltdown would definitely be stuck in the topic for a while in this whole family situation. He knows he’s having trouble, yes he does. And he knows he needs to keep up with the others. He knows, he’s the smart one. 

He tried his best, to keep up, to adjust, to be stronger, for everyone’s sake. But he can’t let his family help him with that, they all helped enough. He can’t let them once again drag their butts to fix his problems for him, no. Fixing is his thing, and he can fix his own problem by himself. Just uh, not now. He needs more time, to figure things out. His family just needs to be patient, they can handle the waiting game. They’ve done this before, just like waiting for the drill out of its beta version.

He also needs to be patient. Everything’s going to be alright, he’ll figure it out. He has to. For everyone’s sake.

The rest of the day passes by, quietly. Donnie had refused to talk or eat, he sent Shelldon to grab some drinkable sustenance for him. He can handle being hungry, but thirst must be dealt with. As he recalled some research he found out that living beings can survive hunger for at least a week as long as they have enough supplies of water. Although, he can’t say the same about coffee, but not like it’s bothering him.

He waited for Shelldon to come back with a drink, his lab door still close but no longer locked. Once in a while, his brothers visited him as he succumbs to his depressions in his favorite purple hoodie, concealing his swollen eyes as a result of the earlier’s mental breakdown.

They talked, though they tried not to bring up what happened in the Dojo. Leo, most of all, had a hard time keeping it cool. The red-eared slider guiltily apologized for making fun of him in training. Donnie might not talk about it, but he willing to forgive him. It wasn’t Leo’s fault that he had problems, he needs to stop playing the Blame Game.

“We love you, Don. And nobody can change that.” Leo said.

“I know.” Donnie simply replied.

His thought was broken by the sound of whirring from the purple drone who he manages to salvage, thankful that Shredder didn’t think twice and explode his core memory.

“Yo, Dee. I got the coffee for you.” the drone informed enthusiastically.

“Thanks, Shelldon.” he quietly accepted the coffee and took the first sip before once again continuing his currently favorite activity, staring at an empty desk. Shelldon’s cheery attitude turned into worry as he watched his creator’s constant solitude. Slumping his upper body further back into his gaming chair, holding the coffee mug in both hands.

“Dude. You okay?” he asked for what seems like the tenth time by now. The response stayed the same.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Shelldon wasn’t happy with the answer, but he shrugged it off. He took out his lanky robot arm and grabbed something that sitting on top of him.

“Mikey told me to give you this.” he held out a box of pizza at him. “You should at least eat something, Donnie.” he pleads. Donnie stared at the pizza then at Shelldon. The look of worry annoyed him. Great, even a robot is worried about him. But he knows better that Shelldon is not just a robot. He’s a family, part of the Hamato, the drone has feelings and conscious of its own. 

Donnie accepted the package, he took a slice and eat it. Shelldon--although not quite visible--beaming away that he had accepted the offer.

“Thank you, Shelldon.”

“You’re welcome, Dee!” Shelldon flew off to the other side of the lab, knowing that he’d done his job. Donnie chuckled as he went away. It’s weird to think that the drone behaving like a kid, which was the intention of installing the emotion settings in the first place. He can’t remember the last time he acted like one, those days of constant playing, troublemaking, and have no care in the world. He said it before; it was messy but gosh, it was fun.

Then, he heard the lair suddenly began crowdy. He didn’t realize that the door was opened, did Shelldon forgot to close the door? How could an AI forget something? Donnie has no mood to stand up or command anything, for now, so he let it be. He heard a distant sound of clip-clop from hooves in the lair. The only mutant he knows that is involving hooves is Baron Draxum. What is he doing here? And the sound of chit-chats heard along with it as well, especially some faint female voices and his dad. 

They all having a chat out there. How long they’ve been in this state? Why hasn’t anyone informed him about visitors? Then again, he’d been cooped up in this lab and desiring for some temporary isolations, of course they haven’t informed him. 

Not wanting to bother with anything about it, he continued sipping his coffee and chomped down more pizza into his throat. Not much he can do for now, other than listening to the distant inaudible voices. Not even bothering to look up to the sound of footsteps getting closer and closer to the lab.

“Hey, big guy. How’s it going?” April leans her body to the door frame, keeping it cool.

“’m fine,” he answered again, too often now that it sounds more like a chanting spell. April offered a sad smile as she brings herself to sit beside the purple genius. 

“Wanna talk about it?” she asked softly. Donnie sipped his mug as a sign that he refused her demands. “I see. Well, we wanted to hang out together as a family to the Hidden City,” she told.

“Last time we did that we got thrown in jail.” he bluntly responds.

“Well, yes. But things are different now. Now that we stopped that ‘you-know-who’, they pretty much removed the bounties from our heads.” she added, definitely sounding more excited than before. Donnie still can’t trust the sudden change, although he does agree to the treatment for doing so after that horrible incident, he didn’t expect anything from the Yokais but pay some respect for sparing them from the devilish evil claws they called Shredder.

“Still, I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Remember that time where we trust that spider lady for taking care of ‘you-know-who’, and look what she did, total havoc, everywhere.”

“Well, at least she did help out with locating the....uuuh....”

“Empyrean.”

“Yeah, that. If it wasn’t for her, we might not be able to save the day and,... You know what I mean.” she reluctantly continued her sentence. Donnie can tell why, he also didn’t want to think of what happens if they can’t find where Shredder had kept their father hostage. Can’t probably sleep knowing if they were too late, Big Mama was indeed offered a huge help even though she’s only can help to tell them the location.

Although the point still stands, she wasn’t the type of person that can be easily trusted. Things happened because of her, and they suffered the most of it. Can’t believe he wished that he should’ve listened to Leo the first time, probably one of the reason why he can be such a good leader.

“Look, I know it’s hard to believe it that way. But I promise I got some good hunch today. Everything will be fine. You can blame me if anything goes wrong in your way, okay?” And there it is, the classic humble April. The very things he envies the most out of her, dare enough to take the blame and always be there with a positive attitude. 

And, yes, April always had a strong hunch, it never failed them and they all knew that. If she thinks everything will be fine, then it will indeed. 

“So, do you trust me?” she stood up with a big confident smile on her face. It somewhat contagious and made him smile as well.

“Of course, you’re the only human that I trust in this world, April.” he responded, with a less tense or sad tone.

“What, you still don’t trust Casey?” as on cue, a loud non-feminine female voice shouting in the background, followed by what sounds like his brothers shouting back at her. Donnie grimaced at the behavior of that girl. Ever since the former Foot-clan helped out with defeating Shredder, the group immediately warmed up to her. Except for Donnie.

He still respected her for saving his father, however, he never had any connection with the girl. Her risk-loving-fight-adoring attitude giving his big bulky brother, Raphael a worthy friendly match. She didn’t even flinch by his loud thundering roar if by chance she roared right back. And her chaotic energy is enough to keep up with Leo and Mikey. 

Donnie didn’t share much with such connections, which he easily predicted, the girl hates science. Although she does find his inventions as cool and awesome, she might be thinking about exploding it in place though. Leo would be proud.

Also, she’s terrifying, not as much as April, but she gave him too many goosebumps for the past years.

“In theory, she might be the last person to be trusted when it involves ‘safety’. Please don’t tell her that!” he semi-whispering, not wanting her to charged in and wreck something explosive in his lab.

“Your secret safe with me.” she gestured a zipping motion across her mouth. Donnie chuckles, “Now, come on. Everyone’s waiting. You don’t have to take your hoodie off if you don’t want to.”

Donnie smiled at that, he stood up and let April grabbed his hand leading him to the group. “Thanks, April.”

“Anytime, Dee.” she grinned at him.

Chapter Text

"All clear!" Mikey announced.

"What do you mean ‘all clear’?" Leo raised his eyebrow.

"I’m making sure there’s no police around."

"I thought they’d let us go."

"They are." Splinter said. "But that doesn’t mean that you boys don’t behave."

"It’s alright, Splints. I’ll make sure they won’t cause any trouble." 

"Ugh, what’s the point of life if there won’t be trouble?" Casey complains.

"That you won’t be here, existing," Baron replies.

"WHAT?!"

"Okay. You need to chill." April said.

Donnie walks right behind the group as they stroll the Hidden City’s streets. Head covered in his hoodie with his hands shoved in his pockets. So far, they hadn’t realized he’s being quiet. He’s not having the mood to talk to any of them. 

Although he agrees with Mikey, he still hasn’t trusted this whole situation. He looks around to make sure there are no undercover cops or something, perhaps Big Mama’s goons. 

Big Mama. What could she be doing right now? There’s no telling if she’s watching or plotting something. Two years after the incident of ‘You-know-who’, was caused by that wretched spider-lady. 

Nobody knows what her deal is. Her fanatic obsessions about Battle Nexus always made everyone in the world got involved. She had no chill, she never does. Which comes to wondering why would his father dated a girl like her?

“Donnie!” 

April’s voice startled him. The group had their heads turned to him. “You okay?” 

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine."

"Uh, no. You’re not." Leo protested.

"Can it, Leo!"

"You were spacing out again, Don! And considering we’ve been brothers for like, forever, usually that means you’re not."

"Oh, so you’re an expert now?"

"I’m an expert to know what you’re thinking, Donnie." Leo crossed his arms.

"No, you’re not."

"Yes, I am." 

"And, why is that?"

"‘Cause, we’re twins." Donnie rolled his eyes. Not again with the whole twin thing.

"We’re not twins."

"Whatever you trying to say, Don. I don’t care. We’re born the same age."

"And that doesn’t MEAN that we are. We’re not even the same-"

"Ah ah ah, don’t wanna hear it! Lalalala~~~" Leo closed his ears as he rambles.

"Leo-"

"ENOUGH!!" The twins startled at Raph’s shouting. Raph sighed, pinching his nose bridge. "We’re here to have some fun, okay? And if I see you two fight again, imma  SHOVE YOUR HEADS into a toilet. Y’all understand me?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Hmph."

"Good." Splinter groaned, massaging his constant headache. Why can his sons just behave?

"Alright, since you two done arguing, why don’t we split up"

"I’ll call dibs with Mikey." Baron's words caused the others to go silent for ten seconds. 

"Whoawhoawhoawhoa, did you just say ‘dibs’?!" Leo was flustered by what he heard.

"Yes, I did."

"Aawww, okay Barry. I’ll go with you." Mikey accepts his offer.

"Does nobody questioning that he said ‘dibs’?!!"

"Great, now it’s haunting me." Donnie threw his hands upward.

"He looks weird saying that." Raph grimaced at Baron's words.

"Am I hearing things, Barry? Did you eat something alive at your lab again?" April pokes Baron's chest, astonished.

"For the love of Hamato, please don’t say that ever again!!" Splinter was more than concern about this.

"Don’t worry. I already regret ever saying that. But my point still stands, I’ll go with Mikey."

"Don’t listen to them, Barry! You did a good thing."

"Michael, you better stay out of his head!"

"Okay, fine. Baron will go with Mikey. I’ll go with red." Splinter said to Raph.

"Sure thing, pops."

"Nah, fam. I got somewhere else to go. I’ll fly solo." Leo points out. With that, Leo took off immediately.

"What about you, Donnie? Are you fine on your own?" April seems to be teaming up with Casey on this one.

Donnie nods at her, "Yeah, I’ll be good. You go ahead dealing with the..." Casey stares at him with a blank stare, giving him goosebumps all over, "Uuh-I’ll go this way."

Donnie left the group. He can sense for sure that Casey staring at him. He doesn’t know why she terrifies him so much, she hasn’t done anything to him, regardless of those times they fought her while she still a Foot-recruit. Maybe he’s just paranoid, the fact that he did forgot to take a battleshell with him. 

His hoodie made it obscure and that his brothers didn’t warn him about it means they didn’t know he didn’t use it. With that in mind, he should be more careful and not get himself involve in a fight. The fact that he also didn’t bring his bo. 

“What is wrong with me?” he said to himself. Now fully knowing that he’s extremely vulnerable and too open for an attack, he began to be more cautious. Perhaps he needs to visit a place where there’ll be no violence. A place that strict with rules, like a Mystic Library. 

No. Raph ever told him that their last visit got thrown apart by the Foot-Clan, and if he makes noise above a whisper, he’ll be sent to a Kiddie Room that is filled with hungering monstrous children-behaved Yokais who’s out for blood.

Guess not every safe place are safe after all. 

Then, Donnie yelped as he felt being pulled backward. Suddenly a huge rock drops in front of him and shattered to bits. Donnie went shocked as he tumbled and fall on his back. A short flying yokai flew down to him.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. Are you okay?” she apologized, her wings flutter real fast as he helped him up. 

“Uh, yeah yeah. I’m okay.” the fairy-like yokai blew away some dust from him.

“Oh good, I am very glad.” then she turned to his left. “Thank you kindly, sir. I’m not sure what will happen if you didn’t save him.” 

Save him? Donnie looked to his left. A tall human stood still with a sharp gaze staring at him. Donnie flailed back at the guy. The stranger gave him an unexpressive look. He’s a few centimeters taller than him. His slim posture stood steady and a bit stiff. 

He’s unruly silverish grey hair nearly obscuring his slanted grey pupils in his pale skin tone. His collar on his cyber yellow jacket unfolded. It is also unbuttoned that reveals a white blank T-shirt underneath. His hands shoved in his navy blue pants pockets, looks somewhat made out of comfy fabric. His black and intricate design shoes look appealing as well.

Donnie doesn’t know what to say. The stranger keeps staring at him, not saying a word, not even when the fairy said her final apology and flutters off. 

And there it was, the awkward silence. Donnie held his hands close to his chest, he knows he’s extremely vulnerable, but he needs to be ready for a fight. 

Then, the stranger walks towards him. Donnie instinctively walks backward, keeping his distance from him. He was startled and horrified as his shell hits a wall, he was cornered. The men were an inch away from his face. Donnie pressed himself against the wall, body trembling in fear, seeing the guy eye to eye.

Then, the guy swept his shoulder from the leftover dust. Donnie was flustered by his gesture. The air is somewhat less tense than two seconds ago. 

“You alright, kid?” the stranger finally asked. He spoke in low tones, but not a deep one. Donnie was stunned, he would say something but he can’t. “Are you shook?” 

Once again, Donnie couldn’t speak. Some lump in his throat made him unable to let out a single word. The stranger sighed, arms crossed.

“I assumed that you are, so I don’t think leaving you here alone will be a good idea.” he walks away from him. Donnie is still flustered about what just happened. He stares as the guy moved away then startled when he turned back to him. “Come.” 

He ordered. Donnie isn’t sure if he should trust the guy, let alone that he’s a human. Since when there’s a human besides April and Casey walking in the Hidden City? But he did save his life. If that rock got him without his battleshell, he probably is dead by now. 

Donnie took a deep breath and release, he followed the stranger somewhere. At least he still has his phone with him, so whenever he’s in trouble, he could call for help. Right now, he keeps his distance from the guy in front of him.

What was he doing here? Is he from New York? Because he doesn’t look like he does. And his aura is extremely, menacing. He can’t see it, but he could feel the tensity whenever he got close to him.

The stranger stopped and turned to his right. Donnie was confused when he realized that he took him to the Run-on-the-mill Pizza place. Huh, so he likes pizza too.

Donnie followed him inside, he took a side on the sofa side. He points at the other end of the table, telling him to sit down. Donnie does what he is told, and things back to its awkward silence. This time, the guy took his attention to his phone, ignoring Donnie’s constant staring at him. 

Donnie probably would do the same if it wasn’t with the awkwardness hanging in the air.

“Good day, gentlemen.” Donnie looks up to see Hueso stood there with his notepads on his bony hands. He seems unimpressed seeing Donnie. “Anything you would like to eat?”

“Order up, kid. Don’t wait for me.” the stranger said, eyes still on his phone. Donnie blinks at the words. He looks back at Hueso who’s staring at the guy then back at him, raising his boned eyebrow. 

“Uuuh, as usual. Please.” Donnie forced out to smile. Hueso notices that, he wrote his order on the notepads. Then, turned to the stranger. 

“Whatever the kid’s ordered, make it two. I’ll take the bill as well,” he said, still not looking up from his phone. Hueso wrote it down and took off, he took the chance to pat Donnie’s shoulder.

It made him jumped, not sure what’s that for. He watched Hueso leave until he’s longer visible.

“Something bothering you?” Donnie looked back at the voice. The men stare at him at last. The lump in his throat is back, but he knew he can’t stay quiet forever, the guy knew he could speak. He might get angry and pissed if he didn’t talk.

Donnie clears his throat, gathering his courage to speak up. "Um, thanks. For saving me."

"It won’t happen if you didn’t space out," he said flatly.

"Oh, yeah, that I..." Donnie rubs his neck, "I didn’t mean to- Well, I guess I can’t help it."

"Can’t help what?"

"Well, I dunno. I just can’t think straight for these past years, science block often drives me crazy."

"Science block?"

"More of a tech block, I guess. I just, every time I tried to build things, it’s just doesn’t work, all I do is fix and fix and FIX-"

"Kid."

"-it keeps jeopardizing my usual productivity if wasn’t for a certain  ‘you-know-who’ who took pleasure destroying my LAB that I built since I was NINE-"

"You what?"

"-destroying my techs like layers of newspapers, my home, my family’s life!!  Sure, we start off with new lifes now that we’re ‘Hamatos’, an elite group of ninjas or whatsoever. Yeah, life was good, until I certainly am NOT!!"

"Okay, kid-"

"-And what would I do? Quit? Run away? Oh, I could. I thought about it. But of  course, my father won’t let me. Keeping me in full surveillance 24/7, For YEARS!!"

"KID!!"

Donnie flinched, then he looked around to see Hueso, with their orders in his hands, and all the customers staring at him. Donnie felt very embarrassed, he pulled down his hood to cover his face, looking away towards a wall. Hueso sighed heavily. 

“Here are your orders.” he puts down two large portions of pizzas on the table. Donnie held on to his hood, ducking his head onto his arm. “If you like, I’ll call Pepino to-”

“No.” Hueso blinked, “No, please don’t! Don’t call anyone!” his voice was semi-whispered. Hueso can see his hand trembles clutching the fabric of his hoodie. Hueso felt sympathetic, it wasn’t the first time the turtle took this place to vent his feelings. 

“I will get some coffee, my treat.” Hueso took off again. The Stranger glanced at the kid, he could hear some sniffles coming off of him. He knows the kid’s crying. He held on to his hoodie for dear life, not wanting everyone to see his tears.

He hates it, Donnie hates it. Crying means weakness, feelings that aren’t supposed to show that makes him more vulnerable. He can only hope his family and friends didn’t know about this. He doesn’t want them to worry, he wanted them to stop. He’s fine, he can take care of himself. He’s also a Hamato, he can fix his own problem.

“Sorry.” the word took him back to reality, he sniffles as he slowly peeks from below his hoodie. “Didn’t mean to upset you, kid. I just concern that if you keep spacing out like that, you might hurt yourself.”

The stranger apologized to him, why? What did he do? It was him that was supposed to be sorry. For what he did, Donnie just revealed his whole problems to a total stranger. Now, he’ll probably payed the price. Way to go, Donnie. What a way to keep yourself from trouble. Now watch this stranger use your weaknesses to enslave you.

Suddenly, a small blue entity appeared on his face. Donnie flinched, the blue thing looks at him. It looks like a little ghost, with it looks limbless and its body looks like tiny tendrils work as torso and arms with its round head containing two white friendly eyes.

The little thing squeaks, tilting its head. It was cute to look at. It then flew close to Donnie’s face and hugged his cheek with its tiny tendril arm. It felt warm and comforting as if it was a real hug. Donnie hovered his hand onto the thing, wondering how to hug back the thing without squishing it.

It then let go of the hug and gently patted his head, telling him to calm down. Donnie wipes his tears, he smiled at it. The blue thing smiled back, twirls happily knowing its attempt at comfort works.

It then flies towards the stranger, perching on his finger. The stranger smiles down at his little friend. It squeaks away, seems talking to him. Donnie tilted his head slightly, curiosity began to appear.

“What is that?” he asked. The stranger glances at him. “It looks, cute. It’s that a ghost?”

“This is a wisp, kinda like a small ghost. And also, it’s a ‘she’. Not an ‘it’. Her name is Sia.” he explains. Sia waves happily at him, Donnie waved back. 

“They're more of a soul remnants rather than a ghost. Whenever someone or something died, their memories remain, in a form of a wisp,” he added. Donnie blinks, he doesn’t know souls did that.

“So, are you a....psychic?”

“Kinda.”

“So, you can see ghost. And,....her type of thing?”

Sia flew circling the stranger’s head, “Yes, that’s what psychic means.”

“Well, I know. It just--are there more around here?” 

The stranger looks around him, from corners to corners. Then back at Donnie. “There are, but not much. Five including the one besides you.”

“My what?” then a small greenish entity appears right beside him. Donnie startled. It looks exactly like Sia, only it’s in a different color. Donnie somehow felt a familiar presence from it, suddenly a tear came down to his cheek. He startled, what makes him cry?

“Who-who’s this?” he asked.

“Some wisps might wander around aimlessly when they separated from their souls.” Donnie glanced back at him, “Others, might come back and followed whoever they’re close to.” 

“Whoever they close to?”

“The same case with the one in front of you.” Donnie’s eyes widened. This wisp is whoever close to him? Who was it? Why it felt familiar? 

“And, I believe it’s a ‘she’ as well.”

Donnie gazed back at him, tears began to streams out some more, “And, her name is Karai.” the men revealed. Donnie was shocked to hear her Gram-Gram’s name. He looked down to the wisp, she nodded at the sound of her identity. 

Donnie’s tears began to burst. It might not be a real form of her body, but it’s enough to make him pulled her small presence into a hug. Donnie let himself cry one last time, holding close the wisp of his dead Gram-Gram to his chest. 

He could feel the wisp hugged him back. He felt it somehow, the warmth of her arms began to wrap around him, hugging him close. Almost felt like she never left, that she’ll always be there. Watching over him, accompanying him. He didn’t get to spent much time with her, he wishes he could. He wished she still alive. Here with his family.

Donnie let go of the hug, wiping his tears. He cupped his hands to let his wisp sits on his hands. He smiled, she’s not Gram-Gram, but she’s the closest thing about her.

Then, he realized that the stranger still there. He quickly dried his tears with his sleeves, gathering back his bearings.

“Sorry, I...Name’s Donnie by the way.” he finally introduced himself. The stranger raised his eyebrow. He held out his hand at him. Donnie stares at it and took the handshake gesture.

“Silver. Just call me Silver.”

Chapter Text

Run-on-the-mill Pizza place can be a good place to vent for some reason, he always felt better having to just sit down, ordering food, and let go of his thoughts away. The weight lifted off from his chest immensely or is it just that his wisp is his Gram-Gram, sitting on his shoulder to keep him company?

Donnie can’t help smile to see her there, she smiled every he looked at her. It gives him warmth, knowing that he wasn’t entirely alone. At least now he felt a lot better that he took joy to eat his pizza to satisfy his hunger. 

“Grrrr!!” Donnie jumped hearing a growl from the person sitting in front of him. The stranger who called himself Silver, glaring at his phone. His finger tapping hard on the screen. Donnie chewed away as he watched the men frustrated himself with his phone.

Silver gritted his teeth, “Stupid, son of a-” he screamed and threw away his phone. Donnie was surprised to see his phone flew away out of sight. Sia flew after the phone. Silver sighed while shaking his head, he chomps on the pizza he ordered.

“Is-is everything, okay?” Donnie asked.

“It’s not your concern, kid.” Sia flew back with the phone and put it in his hand. Silver saw the phone and frowned at Sia, who scolded him. Donnie saw the wisp flailing angrily at him. Silver shook in disbelief, putting the phone on the table.

Donnie stared at the object. It seems like it just got bought, looks all sleek and new with its black with blue stripes background.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Just some troubles, like many.” he chowed down the pizza, mozzarella cheese melted to his mouth. Donnie can slightly see that the guy somehow had fangs. Until then he realized that he also had a pair of small brown horns. They’re obscured by his unruly hair, which makes him wonder what kind of guy he is.

“Can I take a look on your phone?” he asked. Silver stared at him. He paused for a bit, thinking if he should listen to the kid. 

He sighed and give the kid his phone. Donnie carefully took it and began his inspections. He turns on the phone and found the thing had a hard time finishing the intro. Once Donnie had access to the content, he took his time checking every system, apps, and settings. 

Silver rests his head on his hand, watching the kid gone all quiet, eyes fixated on the screen. He can see the kid in full concentration on what he’s doing, so he didn’t bother to ask anything. 

“Is it okay if I upgrade them a bit?” Donnie offered. Silver raised his eyebrow. The word ‘upgrade’ intrigues and astonished him. Can the kid really upgrade his phone? The kid seems serious about what he said. Although, is it a good idea to let a kid messes with his phone?

But Silver is more curious than worry. Silver gives him a nod. Donnie looked around for Hueso. The skeleton saw the turtle waved at him. He approached him, “If you looking for your coffee, it still in a brewing state.”

“Oh, okay. But also, do you still have my toolbox here?”

“The one that you keep forgetting to bring back with you and instead of you taking it insisting to let me store it for you?” Hueso said in a nonchalant look. Donnie grinned nervously. He sighed, “I’ll go and get it for you.” he walks towards his office.

Donnie went back to the phone in his hand. Silver just watched in quiet, finishing his meal. A waiter with six arms came and put a mug of coffee at Donnie’s side. He quickly took a sip and continue his inspecting. 

Hueso came back with a purple toolbox, he put it next to the mug and went off to do his business. The table shook as the toolbox was set down, how many tools the kid have in that thing?

Donnie put his mug to his other side. He pushed a button on the box and attracted all the tools held by small robot arms. Silver was shocked by the sheer amount of tools that came out of it. 

Donnie opened the phone’s casing. Pulled down his goggles, he types something in his tech bracelet and the robot arms helping him out to do some tinkering. Silver blinked, he observes the kid doing something to his phone. 

He watched the three-fingered hands deftly moves between each tool, once seeing his hand reaching something inside the box and implanting it onto the phone. He waited for the kid to finish as it seems the kid doesn’t want to be bothered while doing his work.

Finally, Donnie plopped back the casing. The toolbox retracted back all the tools, back to its former form. Donnie turned on the phone and give it back to Silver. He took his phone and take a look at it.

“I upgrade the memory storage, which now can hold 200 GB. It’s the biggest one I can get other than stealing it. I upgraded the ram storage, the system processor, the cache settings. Updated further the anti-virus with my own coding, also put a tiny Donnie-blocker to keep off all kinds of mal-ware, aaand installing a new set of cameras for further perfection on either photo or video making ability. Oh, and I give you some unlimited access to the internet. Your Welcome and Thank you!” he smiled with pride and joy. 

Silver nodded in amazement. He explored his phone further and he can already felt the significant difference from before. No lagging, quick accessing, one-second loading. Whatever the kid has done, it did wonders for his phone. “Well, I gotta say, Kid. I’m impressed.” he praised.

Donnie flinched by the appraisal from him. He smiled broadly with tears of joy. How long has he been dreaming for an adult’s appraisals and approvals? Too long perhaps that he can’t contain his smile. Which made Silver cringe at him. Hueso walked past them and saw Donnie glittering in happiness.

“Did you praised him?” he asked.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No. Just brace yourself, that’s all.” he added, leaving them alone. Silver pinched his nose-bridge.

Silver walks along the Hidden City’s streets with his new modified phone in his hand. The first thing he finds is that the kid had put thousands of songs on the music list. He’s really intrigued with the titles of each of them, noted to himself that he should give them a try.

“So, where are you going?”

He sighed, he nearly forgot that the said kid still on his tail. "Why don’t you just go home, kid?"

Donnie frowned, "First of all, I am not a kid. I’m 16."

"And, I’m 28. So you’re a kid to me."

"Scoff! I am a teenager, thank you very much!" he answered, arm-crossed.

"Why are you saying ‘scoff’ out loud?"

"And, second, I’m not ready to go home, yet."

"Why not?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, even though he's not looking back at him.

"Well, even though I’ve been here for an hour and fifty-one minutes, but I just got here."

"And, now, you can go home."

Donnie stopped in his track. Silver noticed the lack of sound of the kid’s footsteps, he turned around at Donnie who clearly unhappy, avoiding eye contact.

“I just won’t, alright? You won’t understand.” he shoved his hands in his pockets. Silver raised an eyebrow, the kid still refused to look at him. 

He sure didn’t understand what the kid’s deal is that he doesn’t want to go home. But it’s not like Silver would want to be part of it, especially if it’s a personal matter. He rolled his eyes and continued his walk, eyes fixated on the screen until he heard the kid’s footsteps following him again.

He peered his head back to the kid. Donnie saw him staring and froze. Silver stares nonchalantly. Donnie frowned, looking away dejected. He can still sense being stared.

“Okay, FINE. I’ll go! Stop staring at me like that!” Donnie quickly turned around, grumbling in his hood. Silver watched the kid's leaves, the kid’s wisp flew close to his head, caressing him.

He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to feel bad, he knows the kid can take care of himself, as long as he stops spacing out. Sia stares at him, unimpressed, which triggered Silver in the way.

“What?” he flatly asked. Sia scolded her living friend, squeaking away like no tomorrow. “The last thing I want other than being stranded here is becoming a babysitter. Okay?”

Sia pouts, she crossed her arms and look away. Silver rolled his eyes, he doesn’t need this right now. “Uuuugh!!! HEY, KID!”

Donnie quickly turns his head. Silver sighed, there’s no turning back now. “Come on, there’s a place that I wanna go. You can help out there if you want.” he walks away.

He didn’t need to wait or looking back to know that kid accepted his offer when he heard a running coming from behind. Donnie joined him on his side, keeping it quiet, in case if the man changes his mind.

He has a lot of questions, but putting them off the table. Keeping it cool as he observed the guy scrolling through his phone. Donnie shoves his hands, trying to obscure his fingers fidgeting restlessly. He’s giddy for some reason, he doesn’t know why. 

What he should do is be cautious, especially when you’re meeting a stranger. But so far, the stranger had been kind to him, despite all the snarkiness. 

He saved his life from a falling boulder which he still doesn’t understand why it’s there. He responsibly trying to make him feel better in case he was shaken from the near-death experience--which he got to be honest, that he was, only a little. And, he let him tinker his phone and upgraded it, and not to mention, appraisal--legitness--for his work.

He can’t help but smile with that thought, this Silver guy sure is an interesting one. He learned that souls can leave a part of their own, remnants of their memories, and formed into these little ghosts called Wisps.

The concept of this little entity really intrigues him, and now that he knows that he has a Wisp of his own, which is none other than his Gram-Gram. And, that hits him, "About the Wisps..."

"Hm?" he responds.

"Gram-Gram is a part of a family, my family. And, I’m sure that she also loves my brothers. Right?"

"Put it this way, you have how many people in one family, and there’s one who passes away and that person loves every single one of them. If a wisp wanted to go back to their loved ones, and there are many, so they’ll follow them all."

Donnie tilted his head, "How?"

Silver shrugs, "The explanatory still confuses me, but a wisp can actually exist more than once in the living. For example, if your wisp is following you now, they also follow the others. Like,...ugh, putting it simply, they can be in two or more places at the same time."

"That’s......mildly confusing."

"You tell me." 

"Wait, so...if my Wisp actually exists somewhere else and following my family, that means, she’s also there."

"So?"

"So, that means, if I can speak her language, she can help pinpoint their locations, etcetera." they both went silent, Silver looking away from his phone, figuring out what the kid said.

"Huh, I haven’t thought of that."

"Really?" he sounded excited.

"But to be fair, not all wisps had the same case. For example, Sia right here." Sia nods as she squeaks.

Donnie smiled at her, then he frowned, "That also hits me, who is she to you?"

Silver stopped, Donnie flinched at him. Silver stares blankly at the phone, although he is sure that he wasn’t staring at it. He was getting worried about how the guy didn’t say anything. He figured it actually hurts him, being asked that question.

Donnie guiltily looked away, rubbing his arm. “Sorry.” He apologized. Sia the wisp turned sad, followed by Karai.

Then, he flinched when he felt his head being patted. He meets Silver’s eyes, he didn’t smile but he’s certainly caressing. Silver let go of his hand and continue his walking. Donnie blinked, trying to process what he just did. He rubbed his head, still confused and took off to catch up.

Silver took a right and went up a stair. Donnie paused to see that he was heading towards what looks like a Museum, Yokai’s Museum. Silver went inside, not waiting around for him. Donnie ran in, until, “OOF!!!” he bumps real hard into a large hand and fell back. 

“Oww!” he rubs his head. A troll-like yokai with massively oversize hands stood guard at the entrance.

“Buy ticket first! Only ten dollars!” he said with a deep croaky voice. Silver showed up from the Museum.

“Go get yourself a ticket, kid! I’m only paying for your food.” he disappeared into the building. Donnie stood up peevishly, raising his shoulders. He sighed, reached out a ten-dollar from his wallet.

The Museum looks somewhat bigger than the outside. On the way in, Donnie picked up a pamphlet from its racks. The Museum contains artworks like statues, paintings, carvings, etc. Even some historical objects and artifacts. 

Donnie curiously looked in every direction. Never in his life went to a Museum legally and full of people and bright lights. Last time he has been in a Museum, he had to fight a psychotic hypo and the Foot-clans, breaking every content within.

Donnie scurries along through to find Silver, he isn’t in the Gallery, which now leads him to the Artifact Room. Donnie peeked into the hallway, he didn’t see him yet. He went further as he took his time sightseeing until he stumbled upon a large circular room.

The room was littered with weird, wacky, and interesting artifacts floats on pedestals. And without Donnie’s goggles, he can still see that some of them had mystic powers lingers within. He assuming they all real artifacts that are no longer in use, despite that some still have little powers to spare.

He found Silver stands and observe a floating crescent-like object. Donnie stood beside him, looking at the name on the info board. Rubbing his chin as he translates the language, “Obliath of Secrecy.”

“It’s an artifact that once used to conceal a massive gate that prevents Oble Troll from entering a farm patch for the early season of Fire Cabbage Festival, thirty years ago. Created by an old fairy farmer who lives with the farm patches.” Silver explains. Donnie looked at him astonished.

“You know about artifacts?”

“No, it says so in this info board.” he points at the board he just read. 

“O-oh...”

“Anyway, we’re not here for sightseeing.” he said, “Come.”

Donnie raised his eyebrow, he looked at Karai, she shook her head, not knowing what it means. Donnie shrugged and followed the men.

As Donnie follows, he saw Silver talk to a tiger yokai from afar. Donnie paused for a moment, he observes as Silver received some kind of a key from the yokai and quickly put them in his inner pocket. As the yokai leaves, Silver turned to Donnie and gesturing him to follow.

Donnie became suspicious, still, he does what he’s told. He approached Silver who’s standing near a big sarcophagus. He looked around, to make sure nobody’s looking and opened the coffin. “Get in.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.” And, Donnie did. Silver followed and closed the coffin, hiding the two inside.

Silver slowly opens the sarcophagus slightly, peeking out to the now dark Artifact Room. Sia emerged from the coffin, looking around as she flew away. She went back and nodded, Silver opens the coffin entirely, letting Donnie and himself out. 

Donnie gingerly looks around, unsure of what will they be doing.

“What are we doing?” he asked, only to be shushed by Silver. Silver promptly stealth walking into the empty room. Donnie follows without difficulty as he was trained to be stealthy. Silver leads them both to a turn left to the sarcophagus that leads to a storage room. Silver stopped, assessing the situation.

“What are we doing here?!” Donnie whispered. Silver ignores him and lets Sia come forth first. She flew ahead towards the door until she passed an invisible barrier that reanimated as she came through. Donnie was amazed by the presence of the invisible wall. 

Silver waited to make sure it didn’t trigger any kind of alarm, which it didn’t. He comes close to the barrier, putting his palm onto it. It was solid, as it should be. Donnie looked around to make sure they were alone, getting more worried about this whole situation.

Silver took a breath in and out, he casts an energy flow onto his hand, the bluish energy glows stunningly in the dark. Donnie watched in awe from a couple of feet away. It then formed itself into a long energy stream, condensed into a sword-like structure.

Donnie was surprised by the guy’s capability, it looks different than any mystic weapons he saw. Silver slashed the barrier right down the middle, then proceed to slice the bottom frame. The sword disappeared, Silver opened the barrier like it was a curtain. He gesturing Donnie to get in first.

“Can you please tell me what’s going on?!” he protested in a whisper.

“I’ll tell you when we get inside. Move!” Donnie opened his mouth to speak, “Kid, you’ve gone far to follow me here. And I don’t mind at all that you bail right this second. Your choice.”

Despite him whispering, Silver’s voice was sharp and stern, giving massive goosebumps towards Donnie’s shell. A strike of fear suddenly picking up, Donnie momentarily having a staring contest with the guy.

He could bail, but he needs to know what this guy’s doing. If he’s doing something bad, it’s his job as a Hamato to stop him. He can’t let it slide, he needs to know what’s going on. He stepped into the barrier, no turning back now.

He stopped at the door, Silver came up and use the key on the door. The storage filled with unshowcased artifacts organized in some ways. Silver carefully closed the door behind him and locked it, Donnie took a moment to look around. 

He has seen some of these artifacts in Draxum’s research notes. Few of them extremely foreign. 

“THOOOONG!!!!”

Donnie jumped at the sound from behind him. Silver cast some kind of barrier in bluish and white streams of energy. Suddenly, he toppled over, lying on his side. Donnie jerked up and ran at him. His breathing is normal and his pulse is steady but the guy had fallen unconscious.

“Silver?” he patted his cheeks, hoping to wake him up. Silver let out a groan. Donnie helped him to sit, leaning him to a wall. “What happened? You okay?” 

“I might...have put....too many in....one go,” he said, sounding really exhausted. Donnie looked at the barrier. It looks very sturdy, not sure how many he actually put in one spot. Donnie turned back to him.

“But, you’re okay, right?

“Yeah, just....a little tired.” he hoists himself up, pushing up against the wall to get back to his feet. Donnie ducked under his arm, helping him walk around the storage room. Silver leads them further inside, Sia flew right ahead. She pinpoints the directions around the many crates filled with artifacts, to where they should go and they follow.

Until they reached a large pedestal with an object that floats right in the middle. Silver let his arm go from Donnie. “There it is.”

The artifact shape is a trapezoid, with carvings all over its dark plum coloring. The object felt different than the others, felt threatening in some ways. Donnie frowned by the sight of it as Silver approached the thing. He held his hand out to it.

“Wait, what are you doing?” 

“What does it look like?” he said, “I’m stealing it.”

A paused for a moment.

“Wait, WHAT?!”

Chapter Text

"What do you mean by ‘stealing it’?!"

"It means, taking it without permission," he said as he turns.

"I know what it means!!"

"Then, why are you asking?"

"What I require, is a definitive explanation!!!"

"I am going to steal the thingamajig right in front of me, with my hands." he answered flatly.

"NOT THAT DEFINITIVE!!!" Donnie yelled, annoyed.

"Imma take it and not putting it back." he puts it simply.

"WHY?!!"

"Because I need it to get home."

Donnie’s suspicions subsided after he heard the word ‘home’. His tenses are loose and readjusting his tone. “Home? But I thought this is where you live.”

“No, kid. Where I live is somewhere far from here. Too far for even a plane ticket can offer, only this thing can bring me back.” Silver reached for the artifact. It begins to lit up as he touched it. Silver flinched by the sudden magenta glows, he can hear a slight buzzing sound came from it.

Donnie’s curiosity gets the better of him, ignoring the thought about where the men’s came from. He bowed to take a close look as his muzzle nearly touching the object as it sits on Silver’s hand.

“Huh, it lit up.” Silver said.

“Which means that the artifact still has powers stored inside of it.” Donnie rubbed the surface of the thing, “The surface is uneven.”

“It must’ve had been broken to pieces or something.”

“Yeah, and I don’t think that they’ll be lying around in the area.” Donnie stood up, looking around to see if a piece just somehow fell off in the room. 

“Well, at least I had it. Now, let’s get outta here.” Silver suggested.

“Are you seriously going to steal that?” 

“It’s the only chance to get me home, kid. You can stop me all you want, I won’t hesitate to kill you.” he said putting the artifact into his pouch bag on his hip. Donnie flinched by his word. Was he being serious? Is he really going to kill him?

Donnie didn’t know what to do or what to say. He knows stealing from Hidden City is a bad idea, and of course, it’s a criminal activity, right? And he’s a hero, it’s his job to stop a criminal.

But what kept him from doing it? Is it because he felt pity, or he doesn’t want to fight someone who’s being kind to him? Or was he been using him all along? Is it wrong to stop him? Is it wrong to let him go? What should he do? What is right to do? What can he do?

“BANG BANG BANG!!!”

They were both startled at the banging sound from the door. The barrier Silver put earlier preventing the door to be opened. It became louder every second, until someone trying to broke the door down. Donnie panicked, how did they know they were here? And since when?

The banging still happening, the sound of murmuring heard from behind the door.

"*sigh* F##k."

"*dramatic gasp*"

"What?"

"Don’t you EVER say that again!" Donnie was devastated of the word.

Silver astonished by his reaction, "Say what?"

"Whatever that you said eight seconds ago," Donnie answered at a fast pace.

"Said what? F##k?"

"AAAGH, YOU SAID IT AGAIN!!!" he flinches.

"What’s wrong with that word?"

"I dunno know what that word means, but I hate it. Every time you said it there’s a beep."

Silver blinks, "Beep??"

"YES, BEEP!"

"What the f##k does that mean?"

"DON’T SAY THAT!!!"

"WHAT’S WRONG WITH ‘F##K’ WORD??!!"

"STAAAAAAPH!!!!"

The barrier starting to break by the constant banging. Silver look around for an escape route, he saw a vent right on the corner, looks big enough to fit through.

“This way!” he ordered. Donnie didn’t think twice to follow. Silver popped open the vent, “Inside!” Donnie went in first, Silver follows. They hurriedly crouch through the ventilation system, letting their instincts guiding their way through many turns.

“Wait, kid!” Silver called him, Donnie turned and caught a small object given to him. It looks like a small button. “Put on the mask!” he said. Silver put his device to his neck and pressed the button, a hockey-type mask materialize from it, concealing his face except for his eyes.

“Oh, wow.” Donnie wide-eyed in amazement. He did his and pressed the button, wearing the same mask as he does. 

“Now, they won’t easily identify your face.” Silver said, taking the lead. Donnie follows after.

“You don’t mind if I re-engineer this, do you?” he asked. Suddenly, the platform below him breaks down. Donnie yelped as he fell off, Silver quickly grabbed his hand. Donnie dangles down to some room filled with some kind of bone structures in many sizes. “Fossils? Gasp, we’re on top of a Fossil Showroom,” he said, excitedly.

There’s a sound of a door being broke. Donnie saw the troll yokai and a big shark yokai burst through, searching for them. They looked around and saw Donnie on the ceiling. “Uh oh.”

“They’re here, send backups.” the shark yokai reported through his walky-talky, they both ran after them. Silver was about to pull him up when the platform below him began to break. He braced himself as he also fell off. 

They both landed on top of a giant dragon-like fossil. The yokais starting to climb up, also being careful not to break the relic. 

“They’re gaining on us.” Donnie found his balance among the giant ribcage. Sia squeaks to Silver to look left, way left. He saw a staircase leading to an emergency exit door. 

“Kid! Follow me!” Silver jumps from fossil to fossil. Donnie followed, although almost tumbled down due to the yokais shaking the fossil. He began to catch up to Silver until he heard other footsteps from the broken entrance. A weasel-like yokai aims a gun at him and shoots out a dart at his way. 

Donnie didn’t have time to react when Silver blocked the dart with his left arm. “Silver!” he pulled out the dart, observing as the liquid from it slowly drips. 

“Tranq gun, huh?” he said, somewhat calm.

“Oh no, you-”

“It’s fine, kid. I’m immune to tranqs.” he threw the dart towards the yokai with the gun. It hits right on the nose and the yokai quickly fell asleep. Donnie blinks, that was a nice throw. He got pulled away just in time before the shark yokai pounced at him. 

They continued jumping towards the door. Silver whistled out to Sia, the wisp flew in with high speed. She cuts the cable holding the fossil that the shark yokai was standing on, the yokai fell with a bunch of bones crumbled down piece by piece. 

“Eat fossil dust, fish-man!!” Donnie yelled out. The troll from before threw a large skeletal dragon head at Donnie. Donnie got hit and sent towards the door, face-planted to a wall. He fell on the stairs, limping. Silver blinks at the scene, Donnie shakily lifts a thumbs up. “Made it!” he said while groaning.

The troll roared and jumped towards Silver. He U-turn to the troll and jumped towards him, his feet covered in blue energy. He landed on the troll’s face, as he kicks, he jetted himself towards the door leaving a blue trail behind, the troll got redirected backward and crashed onto the giant dragon fossil, toppled it apart like building blocks. 

Donnie saw Silver flew in with speed, kicked down the door in the process. He went through right after, following Silver runs down the stairwell. 

“OOH, that was amazing. Wished we could visit the Fossil room before we’re doing this,” he said. They both ended up in a room, they were greeted by a large half bear-half owl yokai. He looks far bigger and muscle-er than the shark and the troll. Silver and Donnie took their fighting stance, they have no choice but to fight the yokai blocking the way.

The owl-bear cracking his neck and knuckles, ready for the battle. Donnie grabbed a pipe lying close to his feet, he twirls around the pipe like a bo. “YAH!” he points the pipe at the yokai.

There’s a pause in the air. Donnie blinks in confusion, he looked at his pipe-bo bewildered. He waved the pipe up and down several times, earning a raised eyebrow from both Silver and the owl-bear. Donnie getting frustrated, hitting the pipe onto the ground multiple times.

“Come on, come on!! Stupid....ninpo....” he keeps waving the bo up and down, confusing the other two even more.

Silver was flustered at him, "Kid, what the f##k are you doing?!"

"*dramatic gasp*"

Silver turns to the yokai, "What?!"

"What did you just say?!" the yokai was horrified,

"Did you seriously just say that word again??!!!" Donnie yells,

"Why?! Why does it matter for you f##kers?!"

"*dramatic gasp*" they both reacted.

"You two need to f##king chill!!"

"STAAAAAPH!!!!" both of them yells.

Silver lunged at the owl-bear, feet glowing, and kicked the yokai jetted through the wall, creating a massive hole. Silver got redirected back to the turtle, he glares at the kid. 

“Give me that!” he snatches the pipe and grabbed Donnie by the waist. He ran towards the hole. He threw the pipe to it with force and stuck to the opposite building. Silver used the power kick against and jetted upwards with Donnie on his arm. Donnie yelped often times as Silver climbs upward with immense speed. He gripped the wall with his attracted claws like a cat climbing onto the tree.

The guards from the Museum went out to search for them. Silver reached the top of the building and jumped upward once again. Donnie yelped once again, where are they going now? 

Silver whistles, Sia came flying. She hovered on top of Silver, waited until he put his feet onto her. He power-kicked Sia and jetted himself up in midair. He whistles, this time Karai helps out, letting Silver power kicked her. The process continues, Sia and Karai switching turns, helping Silver and Donnie propelled themselves towards the ceiling of the Hidden City.

Silver cloaks himself with the blue energy, he went in contact with the ceiling and drilled through it. Disappeared completely out of sight.

They both emerge from the ground somewhere in the forest, back to New York. Silver dropped Donnie down by his side as he leans on the tree, took off his mask without bothering to pressed the button again. Donnie got up with nausea from the spinning sensations drilling through the ground level. 

Donnie held his hand to his mouth, opened the mask, and ran towards the bushes, unloading the whole meal out of him.

“Uuuugh, that’s disgusting.” he said to himself, “The pizza was a total waste. *burp*.” 

Silver chuckles as he pants, he’s completely worn out after using his energies. Donnie sits down on the opposite side of him, trying to ease off nausea. He watched how drained Silver was, head dangles down, too tired to hold it up. 

Donnie sighed, unsure of what to do now other than taking a chill pill for a while in the middle of a forest, he doesn’t even know where they’re at right now.

Nonetheless, it was quite a ride. He only met this guy today and he was already involved in something he nearly unprepared for. And once again, another Museum visit has gone wrong. It would go less wrong if he could use the ninpo right there and then. 

He stares at both of his palms bitterly, why can he use it that time? He trained, did he? He fought so many bad guys with it. Why now? Why when times that he needs to prove himself he just, can’t, do it? What did he do wrong? 

“Kid?” Donnie looked up, glancing at Silver’s tired eyes. “What were you trying to do back then?” 

He blinked, he doesn’t know what to say because he doesn’t know what happened. He avoided another eye contact, pulling his knees to his chest, hugging them. “I....don’t know. I thought I could.”

Silver can hear his voice nearly crying. The kid once again having self-doubt, huh? He wonders what is in his mind that made him stress out like this. He recalled that the kid having science block or tech block? He wasn’t sure what’s going on.

“Something in your head, kid?” he asked softly. Donnie scoffed, Silver a bit offended by that.

“Things. Many things. A lot of things. Everything. It’s like I can’t catch a break.” he enunciated. Silver raised his eyebrow. 

“I mean, why wouldn’t you think of something? Every time something is going on in your life, eventually you’ll have it in mind. You’ll think about it, talk about it. Sometimes, you’re trying to forget about it. But you can’t. It’s not easy, it’s not like putting unused files into the recycle bin and right-click to empty them. Gone, poof! NO! It’s NOT like that! Of course, I had something in my head. I tried not to. I even tried, ‘Find your inner peace’ method. You think that’s EASY? No, it is not. I tried and tried and tried, but I. JUST. CAN’T!!!” he pants.

Silver gave him a nonchalant expression at Donnie’s sudden burst. Donnie frowned at his emotionless reaction. He looked away, fidgeting his fingers restlessly. “Feels good?” 

Donnie glances, Silver blinked. “Feel better?”

"What?"

"Pouring your heart out."

Donnie rolled his eyes, "You think?"

Silver raised his eyebrow, "Do you?"

"Does it look like I’m better?"

"Aren’t you?"

"Why do you even care what I feel? You just make me involve in your criminal bidding." Donnie protests.

Silver frowns, "It wasn’t bidding, kid. I’m not offering you anything. Also, you involve because you wanna tag along."

Donnie snorts, "Oh, really? Yeah, sure. Blame me on that then, I should’ve just bail."

"I did give you the choice, kid. You had your time to bail, you had your chance. I never wanted you to tag along, but of course, you can blame my humility to accept your demands. I said, that you could bail, but you didn’t. If anything, the question, per-se, it’s as simple as I would ask, WHY didn’t you?"

Donnie frowned, they both are. Staring contest happened like a war, two isn’t going down until one decides to look away.

Of course, it has to be him. Donnie had no idea what this guy can do, seeing him kicking a yokai three times his size like a soccer ball. With all he knew, this guy could actually, what he said earlier, kill him. 

Clutching his fist, he looked away. Pulling over his hoodie to his face, either to conceal his struggle to restrain his tears or embarrassed that he actually starting to cry. He cursed himself for being such a softy, can’t keep his own emotion in check. Guess, it is meant to be, just like what his species says about him, a Softshell Turtle.

“Your bottle isn’t as deep as what you thought.”

Donnie shook his head, face still concealed under the hood. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ve been taking it in too much. Just like an old saying about a stupid glass of water, you put too much in it, it’ll spill.” he added. Donnie sighed, “Not everything needs to be kept inside you, kid. Sometimes you have to keep your bottle empty.”

“What are you, psychologist? Like you know anything about feelings with that face of yours.” Silver looks at him nonchalantly. “And, the fact that you didn’t deny the word ‘criminal’ in my speech, kinda gives it away, don’t you think?”

Silver didn’t react, “Got nothing to say, criminal man?”

“And, what do you expect me to say after you find out that I’m a criminal? Hm? Close my palms together, kneels onto the ground while I look up with puppy eyes, and say ‘pretty please’?” 

Donnie rolled his eyes. “You talk like you’ve seen everything in this world, but the truth is that you ain’t seen nothing. I grew up in a world where people can stare at the kid’s eyes while digging their knives directly through their little chests.” 

Donnie remains unresponsive, “It’s a cruel world, kid. And whatever that you’ve been dealing with, I’m telling ya, things can be a lot worse. Your inflated head won’t mean anything if you can’t even see the true face of the world you’re live in. And New York is only one city in one big globe called Earth. You haven’t seen anything, kid.”

Donnie can only listen. He had no right to argue. He had his point. He can see it in his cold eyes, the men have seen many things. Donnie just a teenager, he might be a ninja and he knows there’s a world called Hidden City, but his field of experience is only New York. He hasn’t truly seen how the world works. Or what does it look like out there.

He should’ve known this, New York is a big place but it is nothing compared to the sheer measurement of the earth’s diameters, mass, and volume. Without him knowing, there could be a bigger Hidden City out there, someone meaner and more deceitful than Big Mama, and something bigger, badder, and stronger than the dreaded demon called Shredder.

He hates to admit it, he hates to know it’s true. He could just pretend that he didn’t listen, he could just walk away and forget everything that ever happened today. 

But, he knew he can’t. He can’t ignore that. New York can be full of threats, but who knows if the threat came from the outside world. 

Also, for the record, he did actually had a blast with his little adventure today. He just met a guy, who had saved his life, from a wandering lonesome rock. Took him for a free meal while learning new things about souls and wisps, and hey, seeing his non-human version of Gram-Gram was the happiest thing in his life, other than getting a legit adult appraisal from tinkering a newly bought phone.

A small visit to the museum might not be the top of the best moment on his list, but seeing the guy in action, stealing an artifact, and somehow surviving despite his ninpo doesn’t want to cooperate. No weapon, no battle shell, no brothers or April. Just him, the criminal, and the two little wisps sounds like living in a short action movie to him.

Although, if living as an elite Hamato ninja under the supervision and trained by none other than the legendary Lou Jitsu isn’t living in a movie enough. He chuckled in his mind, “You think....you can help me....see it? How the world looks like in your eyes?”

Silver leans back, staring the kid in the eyes. Donnie didn’t look away, he’s being serious. Silver raised his eyebrow and smirk.

“I don’t know, kid. Do you think you’re up for it?” Donnie scratches his head, “Because if you do, what you’re going to see cannot be unseen. Once you’re a part of it, there’s no turning back.” Donnie sighed.

“And, don’t worry! I won’t sway you to follow my criminal way of life. It ain’t for you, kid.” Silver smiled at him. Donnie flinched, smiling back at him. Silver then hunched over to him. “Now, let’s skip with the chit-chat!”

Silver reached into his pouch bag. He pulled out the artifact that is now glowing in magenta and buzzing softly. “What do you know about this?”

Donnie took it from his hand. The glow dims out and the buzzes gone. He rubbed his chin, shook his head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know much about mystics. But.....I know someone who can help.”

Chapter Text

Sore. Nothing but soreness. Hidden City’s spa holds many potentials but some are more likely does not. Trying out all kinds of spa treatment was a good way to learn new inspirations, he agrees to that, but hooves-style massaging does NOT suit his likings.

Baron had enough with hooves today, the only hooves that he appreciates are his own. Although, trying out the horseshoes was kinda intriguing. Painful, but intriguing. He could see that it inspires heavily by human civilization. He thought only humans wear shoes.

Nonetheless, it was kinda fun while it lasts. The orange turtle had his point to find many ways to perked up your imaginations, the boy is truly an artist. He smiles at the thought that he needs someone a hundred and seventeen years younger than him to refresh his mind, regardless of how sore he is.

“Hmmm, horseshoes.” he said, grabbing his chin. He can’t help it, he is still intrigued with the concept of wearing shoes for something that has hooves as feet. Ever since he began to spent time with the Hamatos, the sense of fashion gets to him.

Does it help when he uses horseshoes? Or does it has any other function? How can simple little things make him thinks like it had some potentials? It’s just a U-shaped metal that conveniently fits under the hooves.

Maybe he should try to make one for his own size.

“Knock knock knock!!”

Baron’s ears perked up at the sound from the door. Visitor? He wasn’t expecting anyone to come to his apartment. The turtles should’ve told him if they’re going to visit.

Baron opens the door, revealing Donnie standing there blinking at him, still in his hoodie. Baron blinks back in confusion.

“Where have you been? Your brothers were looking for you?”

Oh no. Donnie forgot to contact his family, now they’ll be worried sick and probably grounded him when he gets home. But it’s not important right about now.

“Yeah, I know. I mean, I know they would. Something happened that’s all. I’ll contact them later.” he answered. Baron looks at him suspiciously. He knows how the purple and the blue ones always got into trouble, but he knows most about the blue one. The purple one was harder to predict. 

“Then, what are you doing here?”

“Do you have a minute?” 

“I supposed.”

Donnie held up his hand to show a plastic bag with a meal package inside. Baron bitterly accepts it, feeling a bit suspicious that it wasn’t Mikey who gave him free food.

“It’s not much, but I bought it for you. I know where Mikey usually orders your favorite package.”

Baron raised his eyebrow, “Hm.” 

He went towards the table, not bothering Donnie taking a step into his room. Silver followed and closed the door behind him. Baron reflexively shoots out his purple vines at him. Silver was quick enough to dodge them. Donnie yelped in surprise, then was pulled to Baron’s back.

“Get behind me!” he said, protecting the purple turtle.

Baron waved his hands, controlling the vines. Silver dodged them all rather easily. As another vine came in, Silver projected swords from his spirit energy, slashing the vines in a matter of seconds. 

One vine slips through his defense and grabs Silver by his throat, lifting him off the ground. Silver squirmed to escape the grip. He’s still too tired to fight back.

“Wait, Stop!!” Donnie stood between the two, Baron flinched but not letting go of the intruder. “Draxum, let him go! He’s my friend, he’s not a threat!”

“He’s mystic energy is different than others. He could be dangerous.” Baron’s grip tightens, Silver winced in pain and suffocated. 

Then, Sia appears in front of Baron’s face. Baron was shocked and let go of Silver. He dropped to his knees, coughing and panting to catch some air. Sia and Donnie went to his side, Baron still bewildered to even fight back. He watched the purple-clad turtle helped Silver back to his feet. Silver glared at him while rubbing his neck at the now-formed bruises.

“Look, we’re not here to cause troubles.” Donnie reached to his pocket and showed him the artifact. ”We need your help with this!”

Baron froze at the sight of the artifact Donnie holds. He then carefully took the artifact and examining it.

“Where did you get this?”

“Oh, well, we stole it. From....a Museum.” Baron gave him an unimpressed look. “We didn’t get caught, if that’s what’s concerns you.”

Baron’s expressions remain the same. Donnie sighs, "Look, this guy here needs help. He needs to get home."

"And, you believe him?" 

"What am I supposed to do? He saved my life. I-I need to repay him."

"Do you have any idea what’d you just stole?" his tones picking up.

"Well, I don’t know, okay! Not even your notebooks you gave me said anything about it."

"That’s because this is a high rank classified AND forbidden artifact. Do you really think I would give you the notebook containing information about this?" Baron said, holding the artifact close.

"How do I suppose to know that it’s classified or forbidden! I mean, yes I had the feeling that things could be dangerous. What does it even do anyway?"

"This artifact is called “The Lucian’s Gate”, which is the key to open a gate to, bare with me, just hear me out, Outer-Dimension."

The room became quiet, the two of them froze at the last words. 

"WHAAT??!!!!" Donnie yelled, "You’re...that’s not....you’re kidding, right?" Baron shook his head, Donnie chuckles in disbelief, "No, that’s not-" He turns to Silver, "Did you know about this?"

"For what I know is that thing looks the same thing that brought me here in the first place." Silver replies.

"You’re-" Donnie extremely flustered, he let himself fall onto the couch. Clutching his head, massaging it from stress after achieving so much information about this whole conundrum. Baron looked at Silver who’s eyeing the kid, he looks somewhat beat and there’s a pang of slight guilt from his eyes despite his nonchalant expression. Baron unsure of what happened, the whole room came quiet with all of its intensity.

Donnie deeply sighs, “So, let me get this straight. You came from another dimension.” Silver nodded, “In what timeline to be exact?”

Silver contemplates for a bit, trying to remember his calendar noting, “Well, it was the year 4021 when I’m there.”

Donnie gapped his mouth open, “Four thousa-” he chuckles in disbelief, “Four THOUSAND?!” The man stares at the kid a bit concern. Donnie paused for a little moment, processing another new info to his brain.

“Are there-are the technology there....? Wha-uuh....advance?” he asked, stuttered.

“We considered the next solar system as our neighbor, and the galaxy as equal as, ‘earth’.” he simply responds. Donnie let his arms limbs, slumps back to the couch, speechless. Silver sighed, shook his head.

“It’s fine, kid. I can take care of things from here. You don’t need to-”

“What? Hoho, no no nononono.” he stood up, fast-walking to Silver, “You, really think, that I will pass up this opportunity, and throw it all away like trash?” Silver glanced left and right, remained quiet.

“NO!!! *laughs* Are you INSANE? Why didn’t you tell me that you’re from another dimension?”

“Should I?”

“Of course you should! That means, it has proven my WHOLE theory about dimensions. YOU!! A living prove!!!! OOH, how I love these feelings!!” Silver was dumbfounded seeing how cheery the kid reacts.

“Dear friend of mine, it is settled. You have earned the full contract of Donatello’s services of outer-dimensional travels, conducting the project operation of, wait for it, “Artifact Puzzle Piece Retrieval, Occupation Validated En-dearly by Donatello” aka APPROVED!! “BOO” to the “YAAH”!!! Donnie excitedly punching the air.

The kid’s excitement completely caught Silver off guard. Either he slightly grateful for the kid’s approval to help him or he is just too tired to process what he said. Baron clears his throat, claiming the two’s attention at him. He held close the artifact to his chest, protecting it.

“And what makes you think that THIS is a good idea?” Baron giving him a stern look.

“It’s the only chance to get him home. You’ve heard what he said, the artifact is the same thing as the one that got him stranded here. I think that already proven that it’ll definitely connect to his dimension.” Donnie exclaimed.

“Which might also connect with possibly many others! It’s a huge risk!”

“Yes, but take a look at this.”

Donnie grabs Silver’s hand and lets it touched the artifact. It resonates the magenta glows and generates a soft buzzing out of it, the same as it was whenever Silver touched it. Baron’s eyes widened by the sudden behavior of the artifact. As Silver pulled his hand, the glows stopped and it went quiet. Baron examining it again, making sure there were no more reactions. "Interesting. Very Interesting."

"What do you think that’s happened?" Donnie asked, curious and still in awe.

"I can only assume that the artifact sensed a small amount of trace of its counterpart’s residue. It seems matched that it began to connect itself to the previous one that your friend had touched beforehand."

"Which means?"

"That the gate to HIS dimension will automatically be opened if he's the one who activated it."

"Convenient."

"But, be in mind. Just because your friend had touched it, doesn’t mean it cannot be activated by others. You must not let anyone get their hands on this object, understand?" Baron warns them. They both nodded, "Good. Now, I already assumed you know the artifact has broken to pieces.  This is true, and the only way to activates them is to reassemble them back to their former shape."

"So, how do we find these missing pieces? Do you by any chance has some records or notes about this?"

"Unfortunately, no. But if the artifact can sense the residue of its counterpart, it might know where its own parts are."

"How do we do that? Are we just gonna hover it all over the place like some kind of a metal detector and wait for it to go ‘beep’?"

Baron blinks at Silver's definition, "That is very specific."

"Things I do to make things simple," he replies back in a flat tone.

"Okay, but no. It’ll take forever to locate it that way, and I also don’t think the artifact will immediately speak about its whereabouts."

Donnie frowned, that doesn't sound good, "And, why is that?"

"Some artifacts were cast some sort of spells to protect it, in this case,  by broken it apart and sent the pieces separated from the main one. I had this kind of spell on research in my notes." he explains.

"So, you’re saying if we somehow reverse-engineer the spell casting that was supposed to prevent anyone knowing its location-"

"-we could turn the spell and let the artifact tells us where to look for them." Baron finished Donnie's sentences.

"GENIUS!!!" Donnie shouts with joy, Silver snorts at the two brainiacs' reaction.

Baron chuckles in amusement, "Alright, purple. You got what you wanted. Time for some mystic lessons. Donnie comically beams up, mouth gaping wide, stars filling his eyes with excitement. Silver nods, this is going to be interesting.

Oh my gosh, why hasn’t he thought about it! The part where Draxum uses an unused subway tunnel as his hidden lab AND potential location to build an anti-bomb testing room. He was partially inspired and disappointed at himself, imagine the possibility after building a bigger and badder, mostly better laboratory. And the anti-bomb testing room, he might set the uranium as priority number one. If, he’s allowed to get his hands on.

Baron’s lab consists of plants and little critters experimentations. He even dared himself to try out human flora and fauna specimens. Tubes and jars were placed neatly organized in a row of tables by the walls. The center space was this single tech pedestal he designed on his own. The orange and green colorings of his lab suit his characteristics, despite being a pink sheep yokai.

The jars mostly storing parts of creatures, like eyeballs, brains, dead mice, etc. For other people, it looks kinda morbid. For Donnie, it is understandable and admiring. He can see the dedication on the yokai’s researching habit. Seeing how well arranged and labeled each of the jars kinda reminds him of his own lab, minus the jars filled with animal parts.

The walls are also littered with research notes. There’s a board specially used for brainstorming, it is also littered with notes, decorated with pins connected by strings. It wasn’t anything like his lab, but it feels somewhat, homey.

Baron places the artifact at the pedestal, it floats in the spot. He began his procedures, typing away on his mystical keyboard with yokai’s language letters. Donnie observes his every move, trying to learn as much as he can. 

“Mr. Silver?” Silver who staring at a test tube with a small pigeon-like yokai turns to him. “If I may ask, what is that blue little being following you?”

Sia squeaks in response, Silver smiled at her. “She’s a wisp.”

“A wisp?”

“Why don’t you let the kid tell you?” Donnie perked up at the mentioning. Baron turned to the turtle. Donnie paused for a second.

“Uuh, yeah, yeah, sure,” he said. 

Donnie explained to Draxum how the souls separate their memories and formed them into a wisp. He told him how they work and how they exist more than once, he even told him about his own wisp, who turns out to be his dead Gram-Gram’s wisp version.

Baron was interested in the explanations, Silver was impressed that the kid remembered the exact sentence he said when he explained them to him.

“Souls, huh? Does your power linked to souls, Mr.Silver?” Baron asked.

“It’s basically a spiritual energy, but I guess you could say that.” Silver confirmed. Baron nodded, storing the new knowledge in his memory. 

“So, what do we do to reverse the spell?” Donnie finally asked.

“They’ll require a specific ritual, we’re going to need some ingredients to began the process.” he replied.

“Then, what are you doing now?” 

“Getting the information of how to start the ritual.”

“Wait, so you didn’t know?!”

“The spell was a lot more ancient than I thought, I am currently trying to correspond to the artifact to inform us what we need to begin the process.” Donnie frowned, trying to process the info he just heard. Baron saw the change of expression, he sighed. 

“I’m not sure how you translate it to your tech expertise, but to put it simply, I am sort of trying to talk to the artifact about what it needs to convince the spell to change its course of purpose.”

“But how do you know it could talk? How can you tell? How can you see if it needs to be done like that without actually seeing the spell being cast?” Donnie frustrated, rubs his arms. “It’s just doesn’t make sense.”

“It doesn’t always make sense. Mystics are far beyond the law of physics, they cannot be easily calculated like math. Unlike technology, instead of using electricity or batteries, mystics are more closely related to your inner energy.”

Donnie blinks, “Which means...”

“Feelings,...” Donnie turns to Silver, “....determination, will, stamina, chi, emotions, souls. Something that can be distributed directly from your mind.”

“Like, coming from inside my brain?”

“No, kid. Mind. Beyond our perceptions.” Silver added. Baron nodded, agreeing to his definition. 

“Mystics aren’t always able to acknowledge physically, you have to connect to it mentally. It resonates to your soul.” Donnie remained quiet, listening closely to both adults. “Technology runs through math and logic, but mystics runs through perceptions and beliefs. Body against mind, physics against mentality.”

Donnie stares at his palms once again. Body vs mind? Does that mean the reason he cannot use his ninpo is that he’s having some stress? Is that how it works? How did he do it the first time? The part where mystics can be controlled with your mind and mentality states means to ignore all logic.

Science is all about logic. It’s like pouring oil into a glass of water. How can both be compatible if two things were so different? 

Mystics run through perceptions and beliefs. ‘Perceptions’ means senses, sensations, feelings, awareness. ‘Beliefs’ means faith, trust, confidence. 

Aware of its presence and have faith in yourself. Feel it, trust it.

Donnie subconsciously grabbed a long stick at one of the tables. Silver and Baron watched curiously. Donnie closed his eyes, concentrating on the words once again.

Feel it, trust it.

He took a deep breath.

Trust it.

He released.

Trust yourself.

He twirls the stick and thrusts forward as the stick lits up in purple and transforms into a wooden bo. Silver is amazed by the scene. Donnie smirked for succeeding the ninpo. Baron smiled proudly at him, then turned back to his panel.

“Ah, it finally tells us what we need,” he said, earning the two’s attention. “Hmm, that’s pretty simple. It only needs Empyrean.”

Chapter Text

Donnie sat by the building’s ledge scrolling around his phone. He received hundreds of missed calls and messages from his family. He frowned at the amount, how worried is his family after he disappeared for four hours?

Draxum must’ve also texted them to ensure them that he is safe and sound. The reaction was completely predictable as he found out that his father had sent him that one message that came after all the others says,

‘DONATELLO!! HOME!! NOW!!’

Donnie rolled his eyes, he was used to the treatment. Mostly tired of it. When will they stop treating him like a little kid? They can’t. They’ll always worried about him.

The urge to just stay out of home keeps getting bigger and bigger. He just wished he could join in on the fetch quest with Draxum. But of course, they told him to go home instead.

“You need to get back to your family,” Draxum ordered.

“And let you get it on your own? Last time I checked, that place was on lockdown.” Donnie protested.

“Mr. Silver shall join me there.”

“WHAT?!”

“Listen, I don’t wanna hear words from your father or your brothers, especially Ms. O’Neil if you tag along. They’re worried about you. You need to go back home. I’ll call you when we got the Empyrean.”

Donnie huffed, he could sneak upon them to the Crying Titan. If only a certain someone didn’t need to make sure he didn’t.

“The manhole’s right there, kid. Just a little bit more on the way down and you’re home free.” Silver stood beside him, crossing his arm. Donnie pouts, he refused to move from his seat. He clearly didn’t want to go home. Silver joined him at the ledge, hunched over to see his face. “Something’s bothering you?”

He sighed, “What’s the point?” Silver raised his eyebrow, “What good am I in the team if I couldn’t keep up with any of them?”

Silver shrugs, “Well, you got that big brain of yours, kid. You just upgraded my phone to the level my dimension can offer. You build your own lab from scratch since you were 9....”

Donnie laughed, “And the fact everything I am so wholeheartedly built went haywire even after double-triple-multiple checking the system reroute, and calculating back and forth the schematics before re-enacting the anti-virus program.”

"You just overthinking it, kid."

Donnie shrugs, "Hey, I’m Donnie. I always overthink things."

"Anyone can be an over-thinker."

Donnie raised a drawn-eyebrow, "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Overthinking is common, it can be dealt with. As long as you can control yourself."

"I’m always under control."

"And yet, you still overthinking things," he responded. Donnie pouts at him, "Things like your tech sometimes go out of control, yes that’s frustrating. Even when you’re trying to fix the problems can’t seem to help. Those are the things that aren’t always controllable."

"Then, what you expect me to do? Find something else that I can control?" he asked in doubt.

"Yes." Silver simply replied. Donnie turns to him, befuddled.

"What? What do you mean by-?"

"Here’s the sitch, your mind is under the stress of over-doing stuff, thinking too much and too frequent. Your tech problems might need some fixing, but how can you fix anything when your brain is currently overloaded?" Donnie frowns, he didn't answer back.

"How about this? Instead of fixing it, you need to learn to cope with it.  Focus on things that you can control, if things go haywire and fixing it doesn’t look like a good option, then make your own option." he added.

"Cope with your failure, focus on things you can control, make your own option? That sounds like improvising rather than.....planning. Isn’t that risky?" Donnie asked worriedly.

"The fact that you put your job resume as a ninja and a high probable explosion-caused tech engineer isn’t a risk?"

"Good point."

"Kid, you have a great gift. Use it! And I know you’re confident with your capabilities, and that already means that you’re more than ready to start." Donnie remains quiet, "You can’t beat the passion, kid. It’ll live on till you breathe your last breath."

Passion. It's true that passion can't just die. Technology and science are his passion, there's no going away with that. And calling it quit is almost the same thing as quit living. Donnie sighs, "Okay, I....I’ll try."

"Good."

Silver stood up, patting the kid’s head. Donnie stood hesitantly, thinking back to what the men said. Silver slapped the kid’s head, “Ack! Hey!”

“Let your brain rest, kid! You’ll need it!” he jumped down. Donnie grunts, rubbing his head.

Donnie jumped down while Silver opened up the manhole, he waited for Donnie to go first. Donnie perturbed, waving his hands on his side. Silver gave him the lazy look, “Age before beauty.” he said.

Donnie getting irritated, went down the ladder in the manhole. Silver jumps down as he closed the cover, not bothering to take the ladder. He fell straight to the bottom, landing on his feet as if the fall damage never existed. Donnie took his time to get down the ladder. He looks at Silver, annoyed at him.

“Lead the way!”

“Are you seriously going to follow me all the way home?!”

“I’m here to make sure you GET to your home, kid. I’m not taking my chances letting you sneak out to follow us back to Hidden City.” he said in a stern voice. Donnie growled, he quickly turned left, walking away angrily. “And, Karai said, you’re going the wrong way.” he quoted. 

Donnie sniffs hard in frustration, his plan to lead them away was busted. He glares at his wisp, Karai for telling the truth. Karai chuckled, unfazed by the glare. He groaned, walking towards the other way.

Silver lets the kid passes him then follows directly behind. Donnie shoves his hands in his pockets, heads and shoulders stiffen in anger. He gives Silver some silent treatment it seems. Silver snorted at the kid’s behavior.

After two minutes of silence, Silver beginning to see that Donnie slowed down his pace on purpose. The kid still refused to go home. Silver didn’t mind, he won’t let the kid think that he can make him bored and leave him on his own. 

So, he whistles softly. His voice bounces along the sewer walls, as much as the scenery wasn’t pleasing to the eye, but the sound of soft running sewer water among the silence harmonized quite nicely to a well melodious whistle. Suave and tranquil ambiance filled the whole tunnel.

Sia and Karai sway along with the melody, enjoying the moment. Donnie remained quiet, seemingly unaffected. It didn’t stop Silver to whistle away to his heart's content.

Until Silver working on some beatbox. The subtle reverb of his mouth-shift snare drum as he hums bounces around beautifully. He keeps going until he starts to sing,

Silver : *beatboxed at the same time*

♫I've been tryin' to call

I've been on my own for long enough

Maybe you can show me how to love, maybe♫

♫I'm going through withdrawals

You don't even have to do too much

You can turn me on with just a touch, baby♫

Suddenly, Donnie joined in. They both dance along with the song.

Silver : *beatboxes in the background*

Donnie: ♫I look around and

Sin City's cold and empty

No one's around to judge me

I can't see clearly when you're gone♫

♫And I said, ooh, I'm blinded by the lights

No, I can't sleep until I feel your touch

When I said, ooh, I'm drowning in the night

Oh, when I'm like this, you're the one I trust♫

Donnie : *beatboxes in the background*

Silver: ♫I'm running out of time

'Cause I can see the sun light up the sky

So I hit the road in overdrive, baby, oh♫

♫The city's cold and empty

No one's around to judge me

I can't see clearly when you're gone♫

♫And I said, ooh, I'm blinded by the lights

No, I can't sleep until I feel your touch

When I said, ooh, I'm drowning in the night

Oh, when I'm like this, you're the one I trust♫

Silver applauses the kid’s performance. Donnie turns around and bowed down as a theatre kid would do. Silver smirks with pride while Donnie had that huge smile on his face.

“I have NO idea you can beatbox,” he said excitedly.

“And so are you, kid. Not bad yourself.” Silver responds.

“Scoff. I did better than anyone could.” 

“Mm-hm.” Silver rolled his eyes. Donnie rubs his neck sheepishly.

“Uuh, thanks...for that. I really enjoyed it.” Silver chuckles. 

“Don’t thank me, kid. Your Gram-Gram told me that you had it in you.” Donnie flinched, he turns to see Karai smiling down on him. She patted his head proudly, Donnie smiles once again. He’s glad she’s there trying to make him feel better. He turns back to Silver.

“No, really. Thanks for that. If you didn’t do it, then I might’ve to revert back to overthinking Donnie. Your gigs help a lot.”

“Well, I think your beat-boxing skill did a lot in the helping part.” 

Donnie grinned. Karai squeaks at him, telling him to continue back home. For some reason, he understands what she’s saying and this time, he wasn’t feeling upset at the idea of going home, he was really tired after all.

“I’ll better get home. My dad is going to kill me if I’m home late over bedtime,” he informed. Silver nodded.

“Alright. I’ll see you around, kid.” he parted. Donnie waves and ran as fast as he could towards home. Silver didn’t follow, he stays as he watched the kid disappeared out of his sight. 

He took out a round object that Draxum gave him from his pouch and threw it to his side. A purplish magenta portal appeared before him. He took a final glance to make sure the kid actually went away, which he is nowhere in view. He smiled and stepped into the portal. It disappeared as he went through, leaving the sewer in quiet.

"Where have you been??!! You had made us all worried sick-"

"Seriously?! First, you were attacking me. Then, you cried after. Then,  you’ve gone all quiet. And, THEN-"

"You really gotta stop scarin’ us like that!!! You could’ve gone hurt before we-"

"OH ME GOSH!!!! DONNIE!!! ARE YOU OKAY???!!! WHEN I KNEW  YOU DIDN’T BRING YOUR BATTLE SHELL, I WAS-"

Donnie wasn’t even listening anymore, he’s been standing right by the entrance for nearly ten minutes hearing this midgets talks on and on and on. He knows he got home later than anybody, just ground him already, spare the chit-chats.

Donnie’s expressions had been gone long the second they all start chattering. He tunes out the other's voices as he began to think. Should he tell them the truth? About his little adventure? How he almost died because of a lovestruck from a rock? How he met a stranger who took him to eat pizza like all those people who attract kids to eat their candies? How he somehow escaped and not getting caught stealing a forbidden artifact from a Museum?

Yeah. Probably not.

“Guys, I’m fine. I just got lost for a moment in there.” he lied. He’s usually bad at it, but thanks to him growing up, he learns to lie better. 

"But you’re never got lost, Dee." Mikey's voice sounds shaky.

"Yeah, that’s more of my thing!" Leo points himself out, Donnie raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, so you’ve finally admitted that you always got us lost."

"Don’t you change the topic, Donald!"

Raph grabs Donnie's shoulder and made him look in the eyes, "Where were you?! Why don’t you call us if you were lost?"

"Raph, I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself."

"I know how that feels," Mikey said flatly.

"Mikey, don’t encourage him!" Raph replied.

Donnie sighs, this is getting old. "And I am fine. 100%! Just because I didn’t bring my Battleshell or my bo, doesn’t mean I can’t defend myself."

"But, what if you can’t?!" Leo abruptly said.

Donnie fumes with that sentence, clutching his fists really tight. Leo held out his hands, Raph readied himself in case Donnie began to snap while Mikey hid behind him. Splinter frowned as he twitched his tail at the ready.

Donnie was about to reach the boiling point until Karai caressing his head. Donnie slightly flinched, he didn’t realize that he was about to attack his brothers again. Karai smiled at him, calming him down further. He gazed upon his family, their eyes locked onto his, assuming they cannot see his wisp with him. Also, the look in their eyes, as if he was about to turn into a monster.

He heavily sighed, rubbing his eyes. The stress in his head had definitely messed him up, “S-sorry.” he turned away with saddened eyes, hugging himself. 

He then felt someone forcefully hugs him, whimpered a bit at the sudden impact. Mikey wrapped his hands tightly around him. Leo followed not long after, Raph carefully wrapped his giant arms around his little brothers, hugging them all at once. Donnie was surprised by their immediate gesture.

A bit guilty for letting them worried about him. He rests his head onto Mikey’s scalp, to hug back since his arms locked tightly in their hugs. Splinter sighed, then smiled at his purple son. “We’re glad you are alright, Purple.”

Donnie returned his smile, the bros loosened their grip and let go of Donnie. Splinter came close as they all moved away from him, putting his hand lovingly on Donnie’s arm, “Go get some rest, I can see you’re tired.” he said.

That’s one thing that Donnie can get by. His day had gone way offset to what he expected, the little heist from the Museum was nothing that he was readied for. He is bushed, some nice long nap sounds like a treat for him.

He went straight to his bedroom, the others follow suit. He climbs up to his tube-bed, letting Raph tugged him in with his blanket. Once it felt all warm and comfy, he turned to others, “Goodnight.”

“Night, Don.” “Goodnight, Dee!” “Nighty night, brother.”

The brothers say their goodnight, leaving Splinter as the last one. Splinter smiles assuredly, more than grateful to see his son all safe and uninjured. “Sweet dream, Purple,” he said, leaving the room.

“Night, Dad.”

Donnie woke up by his brain’s silence alarm, he used to the ability of his brain to wake him up out of spite. Times like that meaning he is no longer needed sleep, giving him no choice but to get up. Donnie sat up with a lazy look on his face, he took off his hoodie when he realized he’s still wearing it. It felt reeks and itchy after the last activities.

He looked around and noticing how quiet the Lair is. He glanced at his digital clock.

“03:48 AM.” he announced to himself. Donnie has always been a night owl, it was strange how he woke up earlier than he should’ve. Although, he didn’t check the time before he gets to sleep.

He went down his ladder and threw aside his hoodie to the laundry bin. Rubbing his eyes, he flinched once he felt his bare skin. Looking back to his desk below his bed, all his gear placed onto it neatly. Someone must’ve taken them off while he was sleeping.

After putting them all back on, he stepped out and began to stretch. He was about to go to the kitchen when he forgot about his phone still in his hoodie. He quickly dug his hand and took the phone out. Only then he was informed that April had sent four messages to him. He opened them one by one as they all say,

‘Hey, Don. Glad you’re home.’

‘I told them you’ll be alright. They won’t listen as always.’

‘Are you okay, though? I’m a little worried.’

‘Got some pizza if you need some chit-chats. *thumbs up emoji*’

He smiled, he could take a visit for making her worried like the others. But she sent the messages five hours ago, so he’s assuming she is asleep now.

Knowing it is still way early, he went to the kitchen to fetch some cereals and coffee. He took his cereal and his mug to his lab. As the lab door automatically opens, he paused. Wondering what he should do in the forsaken sanctuary of his techs. 

He put his bowl and mug onto the workbench, looking around some more. He still can’t form any ideas of what he should do here. He shook his head, this felt pointless. 

He thinks back to what Silver said to him, “Learn to cope with it. Focus on things you can control. Make your own option.”

He sat on the workbench, crossing his arm, stares at the pile of broken battle shell. He stares for almost a minute, he tried not to think too deeply at every tech he spots under the pile of wreckage. 

He approached one and took it to the table. He examined it, it was his new hover shell that broke down in the last fight. The metal bend inward, the pads for the thrusters can be seen through the crannies. He rubs his chin, “I could fix it. But then again,...”

He grabbed his bo staff. He gripped it hard, the weapon glows purple as it forms a large hammer. Donnie huffed, using every single strength he had, and swings down the hammer towards the shell. Slamming it into pieces accompanied by a loud crashing noise.

Donnie grimaced, he should’ve closed the door before he did this. But it’s too late now, he moved the bo away and bends down closer to his new shell. He sees how the titanium is easily destroyed by his own weapon, he sees some components scattering about the workbench, he sees how his new shell now just a bunch of scraps laying around.

Although he didn’t feel frustrated, he didn’t feel angry, or stumped, or stuck. He took more of the broken battle shells from the pile and dumped them one by one onto the table, ignoring the sounds of footsteps running towards him.

“Donnie? What’s wrong?” Raph barge in with brotherly instinct on his side. He was surprised to see a bunch of broken battle shells piled onto the table. Leo and Mikey slack-jawed as they arrived by Raph’s side.

“OH!! ME!! GOSH!!” Mikey clutching his head in sheer horror.

“Are you having another tantrum again?! Seriously, Donnie! You should’ve just said something!!” Leo flustered at his twin. Donnie glanced at them in a somewhat calm demeanor.

The others flinched by his expression, they were expecting some broken-mental Donnie huffing air like some kind of wrestler ready to pounce. Instead, they were greeted by the usual nonchalant Donnie they faced every day once before. They all blinked at each other.

Splinter skidded to halt, appearing behind the brothers. “BOYS!!! What’s going on--*dramatic gasp*” He was horrified by the number of battle shells meeting their demises gathered on the workbench. He was astonished, held his hands at the wreckage. “Purple. How does this-”

Donnie knelled down to Splinter, patted his shoulder, and smile away. Splinter flinched by his son’s reaction. Donnie proceeds to Raph, bumping his fist lightly onto his plastron. Raph blinked.

Donnie went up to Leo, patting his shoulders firmly with a raised chest. Leo was incredulous by his gesture.

Donnie comes up to Mikey and hugs him tightly, wrapping his hands around Mikey’s whole body. Mikey looked at his older brother, froze like a board.

Donnie steps back and nods at them all, then closes the lab door. The sound of the locking mechanism was heard clearly from their side. All of them blink in confusion until they hear some noises of tinkering from behind the door, accompanied by some dubstep music.

“What just happened?” Splinter asked. They went silent, stood there bewildered for a minute.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile...

Silver stepped out of the portal, back to the Hidden City. He stood on top of a giant rock formation. Baron in his gray robe waited for him at the edge, staring down into the distance. Silver joined the tall sheep yokai by his side, gaze upon a large Titanic statue with waterfalls emerge from its two eyes and a hand-like structure in the middle of the water.

Indeed it is, as the name suggests, The Crying Titan. Silver raised his eyebrow, it sure looks promising. Whatever this liquid is, it holds the source of this place’s power. Wondering how strong the liquid can be.

“There it is.” Baron said, “The Empyrean should be there.” he handed out some sac-like object to Silver. He stares at it suspiciously, turning to the yokai with a questioned look.

“The substance inside will hide your scent.” he then points out in the distance, he saw three flying gargoyle-like creatures patrolling the perimeter with the guards standing by on the cliff-side. “Squeeze and let it cover you,” he told. 

Silver grabbed the sac, held it upon his head, and squeezed. An orange goo burst out of the sac, pouring onto Silver’s body. Baron did his and they both smeared in the orange liquids.

They threw away the sac and nodded to each other. Baron raised his palm and a vine moved towards them. They went aboard and joined in for the ride. The vine slowly and surely lowers them to the water level, carefully baron controls it without getting the gargoyle’s attention.

Once they were down, they hid behind some blind spots. The gargoyles float around above the water. The guards watching towards the titan structure from the cliff. Baron frowned, their security really tight. They need to create distractions.

He whispered to Silver, “We need to make sure they all shift their sights from the structures.” Silver gave him the small round button. Baron astonished, examined the thing, questioning what will they do. Silver activates the mask again with it.

“In case they know we’re here.” Silver said, Baron blinks seeing it in action. He put the button to his neck and pressed it. The mask covered his face. He slightly recoiled by it. He hums in acknowledgment, at least they won’t be able to recognize his face.

“Sia.” the wisp appeared, squeaking happily. “Do your thing!” she nodded. She flew fast to one of the gargoyles. The large and bulky gargoyle living his best life hovers around with his tiny wings. Sia appears right on his face, surprising the gargoyle.

“What the?!” his deep throaty voice heard clearly from afar. He squints closely to the wisp, Sia smiles at him adorably. His eyes turn gleamy, “D’aaaaww, aren’t you cute little blue thing.” he reached out to touch her. Sia giggles and flew around him. The gargoyle turns to follow the blue wisp, trying to catch her at the same time. The gargoyle chuckles,

“Hey, little buddy. Come here.” he began to chase around the wisp. Laughing joyfully in pursuit, Sia having fun as well. She stops in front of another gargoyle.

“Oooooh~ pretty blue thingy.” the other lankier gargoyle said, he claps his hand to catch but missed.

“Hey, watch out!” the big gargoyle warned his friend, they both yell and crashed. Silver snorts and Baron giggles at the two moronic gargoyles. 

“Yo, watch where you going!!!” the lanky gargoyle points out.

“Maybe YOU’RE the blind one, cheap stick.” the big one replied. 

“Oh, why you-” they both wrestling on the air. The guards either groaned disappointedly at them or enjoying the scene. Sia laughs and off she goes to the last gargoyle. This one is three times bigger than the others and was nearly knocked off because of his sleepiness. He nods several times, too tired to even look straight. 

Sia went closer to the gargoyle, she then generates light from herself. The gargoyle’s fuzzy eyesight give away what it was and began to feel attracted to the source of light.

“Firefliiieeeesss~~~” he followed the light, held out both arms to try and catch it. He was pretty fast for a sleepy gargoyle. Sia leads him towards the guards, bumping each one of them and knock some to the water. 

Her plan works, they all distracted, Silver and Baron nodded once again. Baron took Silver for another ride with his vines to the titan statue. Once they got close enough, Baron reached out his palm and immediately touched an invisible barrier. Silver frowns, tilting his head, it looks kinda similar to the one in the Museum.

Baron controls his vines and trying to pry open the barrier. It was incredibly solid, the vines can’t get through. He summons more and tried for another attempt. 

He felt a hand placed on his shoulder, he glanced to his left. Silver gestured him to stand back, Baron did what he told. Silver rolled his shoulder till it cracks, he threw his hand back and formed a stream of energy in his palm. Baron was awed by the energy. It quickly condensed and formed a spear.

Silver threw the spear upward, it flips in the air. Silver instructed two little wisps to hover at the far back. The two blue wisps were different than the other one, it is smaller and stubbier, the tendril-like body was short and dull.

Baron tilts his head. Silver runs back and jumps onto the two. He set feet on the wisps and power-kick forward. The spear went down to his line of sight, kicks the spear as it lines up to the barrier, blasted off, and hits the invisible wall. The impact caused it to crack, leaving the spear stuck to the barrier.

Baron’s eyes widened by the power. Silver draws back, forming bigger energy streams to his hands and formed a condensed hammer. Baron flinched, Silver swings with brute force, hammering the spear.

The barrier cracks open and launched the spear through, hitting the statue with great force. The impact was heard by the two gargoyles in the middle of a fight. The two blinks in confusion, until they saw two figures stood by the statue.

“OY!! YOU TWO!!” the gargoyle yells. Silver glanced side-eye at them, growling in a deep monstrous voice. The gargoyles flew down to them. “COME ‘ERE!!!!”

“GO! Get the liquid!” Silver ordered. Baron winced, then he went up to the statue with his vines. He climbs to the titan’s forehead, where the pool of Empyrean lies inside by the carcass of an alien abomination. Baron frowned by the sight, wonders what kind of creature creates such cursed liquid. 

He kneels by the watery site, pulls out his pipette, and carefully took some of the essences into the vial. Meanwhile, Silver launches to the sky towards the gargoyles with the help of his wisps. He thrusts his feet to the lanky one’s gut, the momentum sending them both crashing to the big one.

The three landed onto the giant hand structure, peeling the ground as they fall. Silver skidded to a halt, feet and hands turned to claws with silverish scales gripping the surface to prevent from sliding too far.

The gargoyles shook their heads and roar angrily at him. The lanky gargoyle had the advantage of speed, poncing forward in an instant at him. Silver’s pupils slanted sharply as a needle, he dodged the beast’s claws as it plowed to the ground, breaking the floor. He kicks the debris that got launched from the ground to the gargoyles' faces. 

The impact caused a large knock-back, sending the lanky flung back. Silver got up and ducked in time as the big gargoyle manage to sneak behind him with his claws, Silver forms the big hammer and swings upward to his face. His big hand blocked the hammer easily, he grins at the human mockingly. 

Silver frowned, he whips around with speed, swinging the hammer in the opposite direction. The gargoyle blocks again with his other hand, but the second swing was harder, causing him to recoil a bit. Silver whips his body again and swings the hammer down, plowed the ground, and sends debris to the gargoyle’s gut.

He got flung backward, but able to withstand his ground. Then Silver threw the hammer to his face when he was open. Silver lunges, grab the hammer, and slams the gargoyle’s face. The big gargoyle got thrown into the water. 

Silver sighs, removing his hammer. Before he realized he forgot someone, the lanky one gripped Silver’s head and slides him across the ground as he laughs evilly. Silver’s body cloaks in blue energy and disappears into the ground. The lanky one froze, he looks around to locate the human. 

Silver jumps out from below, headbutting the lanky’s gut with blue energy. He got launches further and hits the statue’s barrier, startling Baron who nearly drops his vial. He sighs in relief when he caught it then proceeds to gather some more.

The big gargoyle emerged from the water, he flew back to Silver and roared at him. His anger gives him a speed boost, swinging his claws at Silver as he hovers to him. His increasing speed wasn’t enough to keep up with the human while Silver easily dodges every swipe aims at him.

He swings back his fist to deliver a stronger punch. Silver fluidly slides his palms across the gargoyle’s tensed arm and gripped. He flips the gargoyle and slams his whole body brutely to the ground. The big gargoyle got stuck halfway into the ground, leg twitching, passing out.

Silver pants, letting go of the gargoyle’s arm. Then he heard Sia squeak, she still lits up as she brings along the giant gargoyle behind her. The guards yelling in panic as they all perched on the gargoyle who was still enchanted, holding on for dear life. Silver shook his head, chuckling at her antics.

The gargoyle giggles dumbly as he keeps chasing the little light, speeding up as she is. Sia flew towards the barrier. She went straight towards the lanky one who still pancake’d onto the barrier. The lanky one slowly opens his eyes when Sia phasing through his body. The giant gargoyle went in with speed, the lanky one yells as loud as the guards perching on the giant coming closer and closer. They crashed the wall with hard impact. 

Baron startled once again, dropping the vial. Before it hits the ground, Sia caught it and gives it to Baron. He sighed once again, grabbing the vial. “Phew, thank you!” the wisp smiles in return.

Baron got out of the titan and froze seeing the pile of guards and gargoyles pancake’d onto the wall. Slowly, the weight caused them all to slides down and fall straight into the water with a huge splash. Baron blinks, he saw Silver sat down on the large hand below, breathing hard tiredly.

Baron approached the human with his vines, he ran to his side, assessing his condition. “Are you alright?” he asked. Silver nods, giving thumbs up. “Come on, we need to get out of here!” he helped Silver stands on his feet. He threw a round object and created a portal. He took Silver and went through. The portal disappeared, leaving the scene quiet.

Silver passes out on Baron’s couch, chest rising steadily as he fell asleep. Baron sat on an armchair, sighing tiredly taking off his mask. He slumps back, eyes closing. It was intense and exhausting despite him not doing many things, the fight was handled by the human alone.

But his experience as Hidden City’s Most Wanted once gave him the slight anxiety that he might get listed once again. Hopefully, this heist didn’t cost him being suspected again, he had enough dealing with Hidden City’s police.

He took out three vials of Empyrean from his robe and stares at it. Was it worth the effort? He knows what the Empyreans are capable of, it was what creates the Mutant Hamatos in the first place and what Shredder needs to release the Hamato essence from the host. And all of these is to get the artifact to talk and help Silver gets home. 

He suspected that the spell was powerful but ‘not requiring Empyrean’ kind of powerful. He supposed it is an ancient spell, the casting process must be tough way back when. Nonetheless, he needs to be careful with the Empyrean. He can’t let anyone gets their hands on it, not even the Hamatos.

“Is that enough?” Baron turns to the voice to see Silver already sitting up staring at the vial, leans lazily on the couch.

“It’s the correct amount. I’m not taking my chances to take more, the liquid itself is too dangerous to handle,” he said. Silver nods, understanding the stake knowing how big and strong the barrier was cast to protect it, and the number of guards to watch over it.

Baron sighed, “We could start now, but I believe Donatello might have fallen asleep. I’ll let you all know tomorrow when I’m free, then we can start.”

“Sure.” Silver replied, “You don’t mind if I took a breather here for a little while?” he requested. Baron shrugs and walks to the kitchen. Silver lays back down onto the couch, planning to return to his nap. 

He stares at the ceiling, it’s been more than a month since he got stranded here. His power will deplete significantly more if he wasn’t careful, there aren’t a lot of spiritual energies he could gather in this world, not even in the cemeteries.

His best bet is staying in Hidden City, somehow offering a lot more energy than the human world. Now, he needs to be a lot more cautious since he caused two troubles in one night. Boy, he didn’t realize how tired he is. He shouldn’t have been lazy gathering energies and wisps if he knows what’s going to happen. 

Well, it’s too late for that now. He’s paying the price for procrastinating what needs to be prepared for. Hopefully, the next day doesn’t punish him harder than today, but he knows not to hope too much about it.

He groaned, rolling to his side and closed his eyes. Sia sat next to his head, patting him, allowing him to sleep peacefully. 

Chapter Text

April runs through the sewer tunnel, a massive cloud of dust forming in her trail. She grinned broadly as she ran, her glasses glints by the light shone from the lair. She skidded,

“PIZZA TIME!!!!” she yells excitedly, arms holding boxes of pizza in the air. 

“OH YES!!!”Raph punches the air happily. 

“Oh me gosh!! I can’t wait!!” Mikey appears right behind him, followed by Leo.

“So, what’s with the whole loud cheery run-through, April? Something good happens?” Leo grinned sarcastically. 

“Oh YEEYYAAH!!! I got another spot in my new job, that’s what!” she grins proudly of herself. The three turtles applauded her accomplishment. 

“Nice work, April!!” “WHOOP WHOOP!!” “We’re so happy for you, April!!” 

“Uh-huh! Now enough talking and let’s eat! Where’s Donnie?” she pans her head left and right. The turtles froze, side-eyeing each other.

“Yeaah, about that...”

The turtles told her about the early morning incident when Donnie destroyed his own tech and more. April listens to their story as they all eat their pizza. “Mkay, mkay...then, where is he now?”

“He went out this morning.” Mikey munching his pizza slice.

“He WHAT?!”

“I know right, it’s not fair that he’s allowed to go out in the daytime while we just stay here doing nothing.” Leo crossing his arm, sulking.

“Why Splinter didn’t do anything?”

“Donnie got to him first,” Raph replied.

“What did he do?”

“I dunno. They both were inside dad’s room, and the next second, Splinter yells with joy and lets him go.”

“And, I can tell you this, because I can see clearly in his eyes, That Donnie, bribed him.” Leo points at April angrily.

“What could he bribes Splinter with?”

“Last time I saw Dad, he went towards the garage,” Mikey recalled. They all paused, staring at Mikey. “What?” They all ran to the garage and found the room is empty, with no turtle tank to be found.

Leo groans, “OF COURSE, the turtle tank. The one thing that Dad loves about him, huh?”

“Where do you think Dad took the tank to?”

“Knowing pops, it could be anywhere,” Raph replies concerned.

“Okay! This is beyond weird! Beyond Donnie’s weird! Donnie never let Splinter use his tank without his supervision and let him run loose, not to mention in the middle of daytime!” April befuddled by her purple friend’s doing.

“Nah, I won’t worried about Dad getting caught by humans. He’s a rat, he knows how to hide better than any of us combined.” Leo assured them.

“Yeah, Leo’s got a point.” Raph agrees.

“Hopefully he didn’t try to ditch the tank again like before,” Mikey said.

“Now, that’s concerning. Donnie’s gonna go mad time hours if that’s the case.” Raph turns worried, Donnie being angry wasn’t a good thing to experience, especially involving his tank.

“Okay, yeah. Maybe that’s something we need to be worried about. But enough about Dad, where do you think Donnie could’ve gone?” Leo asked.

“Where was the last time before he got home?”

“Oh, he’s at Barry’s. I wonder what were they doing during that time? Barry and Donnie never spend time together often.” Mikey wondered.

“Alright, let’s ask Barry, he might know where he is.” 

“I’ll call him!” Mikey took out his phone and searched Baron’s phone number.

Donnie scrapes chalks onto the floorboard, drawing the ritual’s diagram according to Draxum’s mapping. His goggles are down to provide better accuracy with instruction notes on his robot arm from his Spider-shell. Baron, Silver, Sia, and Karai placed a small cauldron on three points of the diagram Donnie drew.

Donnie carefully draws the line while trying not to mess up the part he had done with his feet. Sticking his tongue out as a form of concentration to finish the last touch. Once he’s done, he sat and showed a thumbs up to Baron.

Silver and Baron closed all windows and curtains, locking the door, and turn on one light on the main room of Baron’s room. Sia and Karai carefully put the artifact in the middle of the diagram, perfectly in the center. Baron, Silver, and Donnie knelled by each of the small cauldrons. 

“We will proceed by my instructions. And remember, we’re only had one shot at this. If we mess up the Empyrean, either we have to go back to Hidden City to get more or it might fall in contact with something and caused chaos. Understood?” he explained. Silver and Donnie nodded with serious manners. “Good. Let us begin!” 

Baron grabbed a jar of purple liquid and held it in front, the other two held out the same jar Baron prepared for them. At the same, they all poured the purple substances into the cauldron. Once every jar emptied, each dipped their main fingers into it. 

They drew a triangle in front of the cauldron pointing to the center. After a few seconds, the diagram lights up, the artifact floats upward and hovers above the floor. They proceed to take out the vial of Empyrean.

They popped open the cork, nodding to each other, and pour the Empyrean into the purple substances. They emptied each of the vials, the purple substances react as it explodes and spews out blueish-green smoke. The imbued liquid stirs itself and forms whirlpools within. 

It quickly turns into energy and pours itself into the artifact in the center. The view was astounding as the ritual forms the mystical fountain in the center of a room. 

“Now!” Baron ordered, held out his hand that still smeared in the purple substance. The other two followed and together formed a symbol that Baron taught them for three hours straight. They manage to get the symbol right and the diagram lights up even more, brighten up the room.

Donnie covered his eyes at the same time peeking out to see the wonders of how mystic energies work. The whole process ended with the artifact sucks in every substance in each cauldron. It ends with a small boom, sending a gust of winds throughout the room. 

The diagram lights began to dim, the artifact’s usual dark plum color now turned into navy blue with a cyan glow on the markings. It stood there hovering above the floor.

The trio froze, wondering if there’s more to the ritual. Silver sighed and braved himself to approach the artifact. Slowly but surely steeping across the diagram. The artifact float still with the glows shines like a massive firefly. Silver carefully took the artifact, the lights slowly dim off, but stable in the hands of Silver’s.

The artifact still reacts to the residue left in Silver’s hands. He smiled, it appears that the ritual works. Suddenly, it generates small blue lightning and trembles. Silver’s face went into shock, Baron and Donnie stood up in a panic.

The artifact glows brightly and symbols flow out and dance around it. The trio watched in awe with the light show. 

“It works!” Baron expressed in amazement, “These symbols, these are the clue about the first piece’s whereabouts.” 

“It’s spelled in an ancient dialect, huh? I’ve seen these symbols on our visit to the Mystic Library.” Donnie types in his tech-bracelet, his shell took out a censor scan and copies each symbol to his database. “Now, all we need to do is decipher the symbols and we’ll find the location,” he added.

“Well, I’m glad that works out.” Silver announced, Sia nodded. 

“Ancient dialect. Hmm, I have research notes about this, perhaps I can give them to you to help your deciphering.” Baron suggested.

“Oh yes! That will be so helpful.” Donnie beams up.

“What about you? What are you going to do?” Silver asked with a raised eyebrow.

“As much as I would love to join your little adventure, Unfortunately, I have some business that I can’t ignore,” Baron replied. Silver shrugs, not questioning it any further. 

“Bzzzt! Bzzzt!” The sound of the phone buzzing caught the three’s attention. Baron’s phone buzzes and slides above the kitchen table. Baron picks it up, revealing Mikey’s profile picture on the screen with two missed calls on the side, he must’ve not heard the call before. 

“It’s Mikey.”

“WAIT--” 

Baron picks up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, Barry. Is Donnie in there?” Mikey asked.

“Um...” he looks at Donnie. The turtle in question flailing his arm as he mouthed ‘No’ at him. “Yeah, he’s here.”

“Great, can we talk to him?”

“Sure-” Donnie snatched Baron’s phone.

“M-Mikey?”

“Donnie! What’re you doing?” Mikey asked.

“Oh no no, just having some business, nothing needs to be worried about.” The sound of thuds and murmurs is heard in the background.

“Yo, Donnie! What are you doing in Baron’s place?” Raph asked semi-angrily.

“Raph, it’s alright, I’m just-”

“You didn’t get caught by the human, did you?”

“No, why would I-”

Ohohoho, you did, didn’t you? That’s why you’re in Barry’s place. The old sheepmen help you out from the pesky humans-”

“*ahem*”

“*ahem* Non-April pesky humans, I mean,” Leo said nervously after getting April’s threatening voice. Donnie rolled his eyes.

“Donnie, what’s up with you, man? Why aren’t you telling anyone you’re going to Barry’s place?” April complains.

“WHY, does it matter for anyone?!” Donnie yells.

“Donnie, you just went topside, in a Daylight!” Raph yells back.

“So?”

“Soooooo, it is absolutely, R I S K Y! Come on, Don! I know you can spell it! Say it with me, R-”

“Nardo, I can spell ‘Risky’.”

“Then, why are you going topside alone in the daytime?!” Raph response.

“Raph, I can take care of myse-”

“We’re here!” Mikey called out. Donnie flinched a bit.

“What? What do you mean by-”

“Alright, Don. We’re coming up for ya.” Raph said.

“WHAT?!”

“Don’t bail on us, bro!”

“And if you are, you and my bat gonna have some talkin’!”

“WAIT-” The phone hangs up. The room fell into a pause. Donnie dramatically gasping in the comic graphic.

“What’s wrong?” Silver asked.

“You have to get out of here,” Donnie ordered. 

“Why?”

“Because, if I let them meet you, they will CERTAINLY ask me about how we met, and most of all, they will ask me why you have the artifact and why we’re here doing....this whole situation.” waving around the diagram on the floor. 

“And, they will CERTAINLY, will never let me go out alone, that way I can never prove myself--I mean help myself to help YOU get home. And that’s why I cannot let them see you.”

“And why’s that has to be our problem?” Baron crossed his arm suspiciously.

“Please, please! This is My moment! I can’t let these guys involved, not after everything we’ve done!” The trio turns towards the door when they heard subtle footsteps going upstairs, Donnie’s face turns horrified. “Please, Draxum! I’ll give you twenty percent of my income.”

“Where did you get an income?” Baron asked.

“IT DOESN’T MATTER!!” the footsteps getting louder. “Please! I am begging you!”

Baron taps his chin, contemplating the offer. He looks at Donnie who kneeled on his knees with puppy eyes. Baron sighed, “Thirty.”

“DEAL!”

“KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!!”

“Donnie! Barry! We’re here! Can we come in?” Mikey called out. No response.

“Okay, that’s it! I’m slamming the door open!” Raph was about to barge in when they heard the door’s unlocked. They glanced at each other, Raph slowly opens the door. 

They revealed a dark room filled with floating candles, a diagram drawn onto the floor with Donnie on his goggles while holding a knife pointing down to a mannequin smeared with red paint on its chest. Baron dressed in a black robe with a hood, carrying Donnie’s bo staff in form of a scythe as he blinks at them.

The family froze with a horrified face at the made-up scene. They all froze for nearly thirty seconds. 

“What in the-”

“To be fair, this is what happened when we had enough fun reading Supernatural novels provided by NYT.” Donnie defended before Leo finished.

“The concept of using living beings to summon entities kinda reminds me of my Uncle once. He’s extremely morbid, but he’s a nice guy to hang out with. So, this is a good way to reminisce the old memories.” Baron added.

“So we decided since we read enough, why not role-play them?” Donnie shrugs. 

“What if we DON’T?!” Leo greatly held out his arms at them.

“Donnie, I know you’ve been reading novels since me and Sunita bought our first. But, Am I seeing things?!” April clutching her head and released in exaggeration.

“Oh, this? We’re roleplaying the scene from ‘Rachelle Didn’t Remember’ Novel by Rachelle Smith and Larry Pazdell. Ah, such a masterpiece!” Donnie dramatically represents. The others grimaced with disgust.

“Donnie. Home. Now!” Raph points out.

Being grounded wasn’t a big deal, especially when they forbid him to go out on the day again. To be fairly honest, it was the stupidest decision. If only he would just be patient and waited till nighttime and finish the ritual.

But what’s done cannot be undone. The ritual works, they got the clues. Now, it is time to get deciphering. Before the brothers kick him home, Draxum gives him the notes he needs. The bros didn’t question any of it, assuming they thought it’s a copy of a horrific supernatural novel.

Although, he wasn’t lying about the whole novel part. It’s the only thing that Draxum and he had in common, other than being a genius scientist/alchemist guy. They both have some weird enough taste to enjoy supernatural novels and actually share some books and movies.

Draxum slips some notes from his research sometimes when Donnie requested. It was some good times indeed.

Now, back to the topic. Donnie makes sure he closed the door and locked it, he can’t let his family knows anything about this. He needs to prove to them he is capable, that he doesn’t need constant saving and protecting from any of them. He needs to prove that he can manage himself out there.

Uploading the database to the main computer, Donnie arranges the symbols and begins the deciphering. “Alright, Donnie. Now’s your time to shine!” he cracks his knuckles and types away. Deciphering codes and clues is considerably easy, with enough resources and a keen mind, nothing like this could last for more than five minutes.

Five hours later...

It was like, what, thirty attempts with some mitch-match and playing ‘which is the first and the last’ word arranging scrambles. And scrambles are easy, he played with his brothers and his dad, he’s unbeatable.

So, what’s the difference this time, other than it translates in a different language and formed into symbols instead of letters. What did he miss?

What he missed certainly knowing that he had drunk his fifteenth coffee of today, his head felt like it’s about to explode. Coffee might be good to keep you awake, but when you’re already fully awake and you’re drinking them just because of satiates addictions, was a totally bad idea.

He was overwhelmed by it, he can’t even think straight anymore. The caffeine slowly feels like poison to him, He massages his temples, trying to ease that new-formed headache. Caffeine-formed headache.

But if he stopped, how many are more times have been wasted? How many more times he’s being unproductive? How many more times-

“No, no! Don’t! Don’t overthink it! Remember what you’ve learned, Donnie! Don’t overthink!” he took a deep breath and release it through his mouth. “It’s fine. You have time. Right now, all you need to do is....take a little break.” he said to himself.

Donnie sighed, he stood up and moved away from the table. “Shelldon, save my progress will ya?” he ordered his drone.

“No problem, bro.” Shelldon replied and proceed to work on the computer. Donnie got out of his room, stretching out because he needs it. Putting his hands on his hips, he looks around the Lair.

“Now, what’s should I do?” his question was replied by his stomach grumbling. Donnie rubs his upset stomach, he went straight to the kitchen. There he found Mikey having his cooking hours, experimenting or trying out new recipes he had learned.

Donnie sees how to focus Mikey was, so he decides to stick to no talking. Donnie knew how precious cooking is to his little brother, just like how precious his tech is to him. Donnie silently opens a fridge to find something to eat. He found some pizza leftovers inside and took them. Once he closed the fridge, he and Mikey sees eye to eye and were startled all together.

“Holy pizza supreme!!” Donnie yelled.

“Oh me gosh!! I’m sorry, Dee! I didn’t see you there!” Mikey apologized guiltily.

“No no, it’s okay, Michael. It was my fault, I was supposed to tell you that I’m here, but seeing you all focus on your work, it felt like a sin to bother you.” Donnie response. He looked down to see his leftover pizza dropped to the floor. His face fell into disappointment. Mikey gasped,

“Oh no! Did I make you dropped your pizza? I’m so sorry, Don. You must be hungry.” 

“Mikey, it’s fine. I’ll find something else to eat.” 

“NO!” Mikey’s sudden yell made Donnie flinched in exaggerations. “It is my FAULT, Dee. So, it will be my RESPONSIBILITY, to make it up to you. Understood?” Mikey questioned in his usual Dr. Delicate Touch manners. Donnie nervously nodded.

“Good. Now, take a seat! I’ll be done in a jiffy.” Mikey went back to his chef Mikey style. Donnie gingerly took a seat and waited, provoking Mikey’s Dr. Delicate Touch will only lead to bad times. He doesn’t want it, so he waited patiently like a good boy. 

It took only a minute for Mikey to finally serves his dish to Donnie, “And, Voilà! Spanish-Style Avocado Toast with Chorizo and Tomatoes!” Mikey presented. “Transport yourself to España with this hearty take on avocado toast: pretend you’re strolling around the Plaza Mayor while the scent of chorizo wafts around you, paired with garlic, tomatoes, and a Spanish staple, sherry vinegar,” he added.

“Oh, Michael! That looks amazing!” Donnie praised the look on the toast already enough to make his mouth watery. 

“Enjoy!” Mikey permitted, Donnie carefully took the toast while trying not to make the toppings spills. He took a bite and immediately in love. He enjoyed every bite of it, the taste of the avocado strongly harmonized with garlic and tomatoes. Added in a taste of sherry vinegar, oh, what a symphony.

“Now, be in mind. This, is only the appetizer, may I offer you a choice for your main dish?” Mikey went full-on chef mode by this second. He can clearly see in his brother’s eyes that he really enjoys it. Donnie can only play along,

“Sure, what’s on the menu?” he asked.

“Beef or chicken?”

“Beef, please.”

“Excellent, monsieur!” he replied in a French accent. Donnie smiled at his little brother’s antics. He finished his appetizer while Mikey working on the main dish. He watched closely his little brother’s work, he can’t lie that he was amazed by it. He wondered if this is how Mikey often feels when he saw him tinkering in his lab.

The main dish had been served, “There you are, Roast Beef with Caramelized Onion Gravy, your favorite kind of beef.” he announced.

“Wow, that smells wonderful!”

“Enjoy!”

Another bite that made his tongue dances among the incredible flavor of the roast beef, the caramel sensation with the taste of onions, filled his stomach to a full joy-ride. The beef texture was so light it falls apart in just a lick. Donnie never let himself being spoiled like this in the world of food, it was definitely a good idea to take a break once in a while.

“May I interest you in dessert as well, monsieur?”

“Oh of course you may, Michael.”

“What would you like?”

“SURPRISE ME!!” Donnie grinned evilly. Mikey took that as a challenge.

Ten minutes later, “I shall give you, Pineapple Dessert Recipe with Caramel.” Mikey presented. Donnie smirks at him, “Oh yes, baby. I saw that look when you taste that caramel. Now, feast your taste on l’ananas!” he brings up his French accent again.

The presentation itself was pleasing to the eye, he was amazed by how neatly they were cut. Mikey’s experience in paintings did the caramel smearing wonders, it looks already like an art display. Donnie immediately took a bite, the correct amount of sweetness from both the pineapple and caramel combined was a sign of perfection. 

The caramel melts as the taste of vanilla sways back and forth across his taste receptors, spoiling them like a baby. The delicate texture from the pineapple gives a cheery yet calming atmosphere in every bite.

“Mikey, you have earned my full respect. I shall forever indulge under the cookings only by yours truly.” Donnie praised. Mikey beams up greatly. He quickly hugs Donnie, nuzzling his snout to his cheek. Donnie chuckles and hugs his brother back. “And, I gotta say, Michael. Your grammar has improved over the years.”

His eyes widened, the very word he said gave him an idea of what he missed. “GRAMMAR!” he shouts, “Of course, every clue had to have grammar, otherwise it won’t make sense. Oh, how I missed that!” Donnie quickly runs back to his lab.

Mikey blinks for a moment, Donnie came back and hugs Mikey again, “Thank you, my dear brethren! Your dishes had inspired me more than ever!” he took off again. 

“Aaaw, thanks Dee!” he smiles proudly knowing how grateful he is for somehow manage to help his genius brother through cooking.

Chapter Text

“Ow, my shell!” Learning a new language’s grammar was quite hard work, especially when you need to learn it in a short period of time. Reading while wearing a battle shell doesn’t help out as well, why does he keep wearing it every time? Maybe he should just make something a lot lighter? Or MAYBE...

Donnie pressed an obscured button on his shoulder pad, the sound of air pressure was heard and the battle shell detached from his shell. Donnie stretches out once again, his shell has gone sore for carrying such heavyweight for too long. 

He’s usually paranoid walking around without the metal shell, but just this once, he might give his shell a break. And speaking of ‘break’...

“Right, the new routine is a go. Take a break whenever you felt overwhelmed,” he said to himself. Even though his shell is the one that needed a break, nothing’s wrong with getting out of the lab once in a while.

He took out his phone, giving his human friend, not April, a little bit of an update. 

Donnie

Study progress on 54%.

Yokai’s grammars are discombobulating.

Donnie saw Silver typing online, he waited.

Silver

Take your time, kid!

Don’t blow yourself up!

Donnie chuckles, rolling his eyes.

Donnie

Haha, funny.

I’m taking a break.

Silver typing...

Silver

Go ahead.

I have all the time in the world.

I might as well take some day-offs.

Wake me up later.

Silver went offline. 

Donnie snorted, he shoved his phone into his phone pouch on his belt. He got the idea from Leo’s pouch bag, the slider always brings some supplies and knickknacks inside. Donnie uses his battle shell as a backpack oftentimes, but he needs quick access to his phone. So, a phone pouch exists.

Speaking of ‘Leo’, the slider turtle seems busy doing his own thing in the living room. Leo stood by the skateboard ramp, piling up objects in Jenga style, carefully placing one thing onto another while trying to make balance. 

Donnie squatted down, observing the turtle in full concentration. Leo sticks his tongue out to maintain focus as he slowly and surely placed a pickle jar on top of a tower of small objects. He tip-toed away while hovering his hands to make it didn’t tip over. It was balanced. Leo smirked proudly, standing straight with hands on his hip.

Until the small tower he built ever so slowly topples over, Leo panicking and tried to balanced it back, only to get slipped from his grasp and timbers down. Things scatter around the floor, “Aw, mannn!!!” Leo throws his hands down in disappointment.

“Is that how you trained yourself for the Fridge-Balance?” Leo looks up to see Donnie smirking at his failure. Leo shrugs,

“Probably?” he crossed his arm, returning Donnie’s smirk with a smug. Donnie raised an eyebrow, “So, what brings out of the lab, Don? Got some brain bugs again?”

“Are you still using words from when we were kids?”

“It’s catchy.”

“You could just say ‘headache’, it wasn’t catchy but it can already be stuck in your head. No puns intended.” 

Leo snorts, “Yeah, nice try.”

“At least, I’m funnier.”

“You’re not that funny.”

“Says no one.”

Donnie jumps down to the first floor, he stepped on the pickle jar and slipped, fell hard on his shell. “AGH!”

“Donnie!” Leo ran to his side. Donnie stayed on his shell, wincing in pain. Leo realized that his twin brother didn’t use his battle shell and began to panic. “Donnie, are you okay?! Why didn’t you use your battle shell?!” 

Leo helped him sit, Donnie rubs his shell to ease off the pulsating injury. “Ugh, I took it off because my shell felt sore. Ouch, guess I’m paying the price now.”

Leo checks his shell to examine the damage, the fall creates a large circular bruise in the center but the color wasn’t that dark to say that it’s bad. “It’s just a light bruise, you need to put some ice on it though.” 

“Well, that’s fine then.”

“Fine? You’re lucky you didn’t fall on your head! You have to be more careful, Don!” Leo protested. 

“Right, you’re right. My bad, Leo. I’m sorry.”

There’s a pause in the air. It was broke by Leo slapping Donnie. “OW! Wha-”

“WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BROTHER?!”

“Leo! This is me!! Why did you slap me?!”

“Because you’re acting weird! Donnie will never apologize for his own mistake!” Donnie flinched by his brother’s response. Is that how everyone saw him? A nerdy selfish freak? Indeed, he can’t handle being blame or admitting his fault but he was certain he’d changed, did he?

Has he heard himself avoiding blames? Or does he choose to forget about it? It’s embarrassing to think that your brothers see you as nothing but a good-to-nobody person. It’s embarrassing seeing your brothers referring to your negative attitudes as normal things to see. Is he not allowed to change? Can HE change at all?

Donnie snapped out when he felt Leo poking his cheek, “I didn’t slap you too hard, did I” he asked, wanted to make sure. Donnie smacked his hand away, he stood up and sigh.

“No, you didn’t.” he wipes away some dust on his torso, “After all, it was your fault for making this mess. Thus, causing me to fall and resulting in some arguing that caused you to slap me,” he said with his usual monotone look. 

Leo stood up, smiling. “Pfft, fine. Yeah, it’s my fault. I have created this mess.” he smiles sarcastically at him. Leo patted his shoulder and left.

“Leo?” the slider stopped and turned to him. “If I somehow change, like at all? Will you guys still love me?” Donnie asked while staring at his hands. Leo could hear the sound of doubt in his voice.

“Why do you ask that? Of course, we’ll always love you, Donnie. Whether you stop inventing or being a nerd or anything at all, we’ll always love you. You’re our brother, that’s what matters.” Leo replied reassuringly, giving him a soft smile.

Donnie gazed into his eyes, seeing the truth gleaming through. Donnie returned with a sad smile, “Thanks, Leo.”

Leo noticed the sadness in his tone, Donnie walks away before he gets to ask. It still disturbs him to see Donnie’s bruised shell. It doesn’t look bad, but it’ll feel annoyingly painful if he decides to put a battle shell on. 

Donnie came back to the center of the ramp with a small table. Leo tilts his head in curiosity. He then places a ruler, hammer, tape, and string. Donnie waved his hand to tell Leo to come. Leo gives him s suspicious look, “If you telling me to fix the table, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Donnie gives him the ruler and hammer to Leo. The slider holds the two things in his hands while Donnie grabs the string and tape. “Wanna see some magic tricks?” Donnie smirks. 

Leo blinks, then he nods happily. Leo’s always a sucker about magic tricks, no matter how lame they are, he loves anything about them. 

“Alright, hold the hammer for me, please.” Leo held the hammer to him, Donnie loops the string in the middle of the hammer then tapes it to secure the string in place. “You better watch closely if you want to try it yourself.”

“Oh, you know me, Donald. I’ll always pay attention,” he said with a smug, Donnie eye-rolled him. 

“Sure, now bring up the ruler, hold it above the hammer.” Leo did what he said. Donnie tied the end of the loop at the ruler. “Make sure you tie it at the two-inch mark. Right near the end here, see?” Leo observes closely as he listened. 

“Now hold the ruler with your two hands, let the hammer hangs.” Leo released the hammer and holds the ruler at both edges. The hammer leaned and forms an acute angle as the wood handle intersects with the ruler. Leo seems disappointed at the results.

“It’s not balancing if that’s what’re you trying to do, Don.” Leo said. Donnie smirks with pride, totally expecting Leo to say that. He took the hammer-ruler from Leo.

“Watch closely, my fellow brethren! You’re about to have your mind blown.” he said. Donnie approached the table with the hammer-ruler makeshifts. Leo bends down for a closer look. Donnie placed the edge of the ruler with the metal-side hammer dangles below it onto the table. He holds the other end and slowly released it.

The hammer and ruler makeshifts balancing on the table’s edge like a trapeze performer. Donnie stood up straight with a smile on his face, he turns to see why Leo didn’t say anything yet. 

The look on Leo’s face was priceless for him, his mouth gaped open wide as he stares at the balancing act of the hammer and the ruler, completely mind-boggled. Donnie silently grinned, snickering as he rubs his chin, counting how long will Leo stay in that state.

The record time was one minute and thirteen seconds, “WHA-How?! How is tha-WHAT??!!” Leo skimming around in amazement and confusion, he was awed and astonished at the same time. “How is THIS possible?!”

“Science, Nardo. It is called Science.” Donnie pridefully replied. Leo turned to him, slack-jawed still. “And you said, science can’t do magic,” Donnie added, sarcastically.

“Yeah, but you didn’t say anything about THIS!” Leo drops to his knee and walked towards Donnie with his hands holds together at him. “Teach me!” he pleads. 

Donnie raised his eyebrow, “Consider this as a commission, I’ll pay with anything you want.” he offered. Donnie grins broadly and evilly.

“Anything?”

“YES! Anything.” 

“It is more than something, and just a shy of ‘everything’.” Donnie chuckles, “Very well, my dear apprentice. I shall accept your proposal. I’m expecting discipline and obedience, or face the consequences. Are we clear?”

“Crystal clear. Water-filter clear. Clear as they can be called ‘purely clear’.” Leo responds. Donnie pats his head.

“Good!”

The next day...

He is almost done, with enough study from the library books and Draxum’s Grammar Course, he almost deciphers the whole symbols. 

He would be done if he didn’t hear some weird loud farts coming from the garage. Donnie went dumbfounded at the sound until he smells something that resembles gasoline.

No, it is gasoline. Donnie quickly squirms away from his chair and ran towards the garage. He arrives to see Raph covered in gasoline while he’s trying to stop the tank from spewing out more gasoline at him. Donnie froze, he looked around to see his tank wasn’t in good condition. The metals sort of bends, there were large scratches on the side and they were missing one Shell-Hog. 

Raph saw Donnie stood still on the door, horrified by the scene. Raph grimaced seeing his little brother’s reaction. “Buddy, it isn’t what it looks like-”

“Is it, Raph?!” 

“I was about to go and fix things. And, I was about to call you...” Donnie pinches his nose-bridge, “...look, it wasn’t me, okay? I-” Donnie raised his hand to him, Raph went silent at his gesture. Donnie sigh, throwing his head back.

“It’s alright, Raph. I know it wasn’t you,” he said.

“You do?”

Donnie shrugs, “I mean, who else did I gave my keys to?” he put his hands on his hips, shaking his head with frustrations. “Just...get yourself clean. Help me out when you’re done, okay?”

Raph smiled, “Sure, Don.” he went off to the bathroom.

Five minutes later...

Raph came back to the garage, all clean and looking fresh. When he came in, the gasoline problem has already been fixed, the floor was washed clean and the leak has been patched up. Donnie in his Spider-Shell welding up some new parts for the broken ones. 

Raph came up to him, “Need a hand?” Donnie points at the engine right beside the tank. Raph quickly examines it, he sees some parts were missing and some are broken. Raph grabs his toolbox and began fixing it.

“What were you working on?” Raph asks.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just some science business,” he answered.

“Yeah? What kind of science business?” he asked again, took out his wrench, and began the mending. Donnie pulls up his goggle, inspecting a broken piece of metal.

“Not in your field of study,” he replied.

“My field of study?” Raph raised an eyebrow, he never knew he had a field of study, whatever that means.

“Raph, pass me a bradawl please!” Raph digs into the toolbox and toss it to Donnie, he caught it with his robot arm.

“So, what do you mean by ‘field of study’?” Raph asked again, feeling the need to keep the conversations going.

“It means, your expertise, your skill, your forte, something like that.” Donnie tried to definite the word for him. Raph nods by forming an ‘O’ with his mouth. 

“Then, why is it-” Donnie vigorously points at the machine, telling him to keep working. Raph quickly gets back to his work, “Why is it not in my field of study? I mean, I could help, even if it’s just a little.”

“Meh, no thanks. I’m good on my own.” Donnie proceeds on welding. 

“You know you don’t have to right?” Raph finally said. Donnie pulled up his goggles again and stared at his older brother.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you don’t have to do things alone, you know. We’re here to help. All you gotta do is ask.” Raph continued. Donnie paused at his words, he knows that his brothers will always be there when he needs them. But he wants to be there when they need him as well. 

That’s part of the reason why he needs to keep up, the reason why he kept this whole situation a secret. He can’t keep counting on his brothers, he needs to be prepared. He wished that this ‘getting an outer-dimensional guy home’ will help him to get there. To help him prepared at least, for everything. 

Following an adult’s leads might give him more things to learn, hopefully it will be helpful for him and his family. Well yes, he can only hope. But hope is what always kept them going, that’s what had brought them all this far.

Donnie inhales, he can’t let his brothers know that he’s been doing this under their noses. Their help will be, mutual. But he can handle himself. After all, he wasn’t alone, he’s got Silver, Draxum, Sia, and Gram-Gram by his side. He’ll be more than okay.

“I know, I know. But I can do it myself. I’ll be sure to let you all know when I need help.” he said to reassure. Raph smiled, at least he knows that he will tell them. They both went silent as they get back to their work.

Donnie heads inside the tank’s hood to check for machinery. With the main engine still unattached, he squeezes through to find any other damages he can fix. Raph replaced some of the broken parts for the engine when he heard a slight yelp from Donnie. His brotherly sense began to tingle, “Donnie, you’re okay?” he called out.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” Donnie quickly answered. Raph shrugs, assuming Donnie just got it all covered. Until he heard a screech from the tank. Donnie’s yelp was louder as the tank wiggles with thuds heard from within. Raph hurriedly went over to him.

“Donnie, talk to me!” he was about to peek in when a mutant silverfish jumps onto his face. Raph yells in panic, the silverfish scratching on his face as Raph tried to get rid of the little bugger. “Get. Off. Me!!!” 

The silverfish went full frantic mode, causing Raph to bumps into anything nearby. Donnie quickly grabs a pipe and uses his ninpo to turn it into a bo. He waited till Raph got close, he forms a hammer and swings towards the silverfish. The little thing dodges and hits Raph instead, throwing the snapper into a pile of parts.

Donnie grimaced at the accident, “Raph, you okay?” Raph got up with swirly eyes and stars circling his head, giving a weak thumbs-up and passes out. The silverfish runs inside the tank again, Donnie growled and chases it.

He opens the tank and went inside. He can hear the stupid thing around but it is nowhere to be seen. With his bo at the ready, Donnie cautiously scouts around the interior. Donnie knew to look into small spaces since silverfishes can almost squeeze through anything. 

He opens some compartments, hatches, panels, anything that can be open. He went to the navigation panels to check for any signatures. He then saw the reflection of the silverfish and turns around, it lunges at him. Donnie thwacked the thing in reflex and flew out of the tank.

He quickly gets to the silverfish and pinned it to the ground. The silverfish squirms for freedom, it got its chance and bites Donnie’s arm. Donnie winces but refused to let go of it. The silverfish bites harder, digging its beak deeper into Donnie’s flesh, blood began to drip from his arm. Donnie gritted his teeth, trying to withstand the pain.

Raph finally came to the rescue, he scoops up the silverfish and put the thing into a capture capsule from Donnie's lab. The silverfish wiggles around to break free, it was too tight to move freely. Raph slowly placed it down and went to Donnie’s side.

“Donnie!” 

“I’m okay, augh!!” he flinches, he stares at his bleeding arm, slightly trembles caused by the pain. Raph scrambled towards an emergency first-aid kit attached to a wall. He took it out and went back to his little bro.

“Give me your arm!” Raph washes the blood with a bottle of water, then gently placed a towel coaxed with antiseptic. Donnie winced at the slight sting from the alcohol. Raph quickly wrapped a bandage over it and helps Donnie stands. “There you go.”

Donnie was proud of Raph’s patching skill and gave him a grateful smile, “Thanks!” Raph smiled in relief, he’s also grateful to be able to use the medical kit, even though he isn’t as good as Leo.

Suddenly, something in the tank short-circuited and sparks up a flare. Shelldon detected a fire alarm in his system and quickly flew in to extinguish it before the fire spreads. Donnie frowns, pinching his nose-bridge. Raph shook in disbelief, whatever their Dad took the tank, it wasn’t anywhere good it seems.

“Should I-” Donnie cuts his talk with his finger. He inhales deeply,

“DAAAAAAAAAADD!!!!!!!” 

Somewhere, a certain rat-man locks his door and hides for his life.