[If anything takes the wind out of everyone's collective sails, it is that heavy piece of news. Emotions are running high. Raph leans against the edge of the stove, just looking between Donnie and their feral sibling.
The feral turtle continues just eating his eggs, focused on food. The eggs are slightly crispy at the edges, but he is enjoying how eating feels. He's paying attention.
Raph is the first to speak, tearing up very openly. He awkwardly moves the pan back towards the lit stove pilot.]
Oh. That's...
He still has that? When we found him, I thought he lost it. [Mikey is amazed and emotional all at once. Splinter gently holds him close in a brief gesture.]
It must be the reason he remembered us as he did. Even with his initial confusion upon coming back. [Splinter offers in turn.]
[Goodness, that was something heavy to drop on them wasn't it? Donnie feels a little bad about it, but also they should know. It'd be weird if he kept that information to himself and then it somehow got out he knew and didn't tell. He's sure his family would not be pleased with that.
And since Leo doesn't seem bothered, just happily eating his eggs, Donnie doesn't feel bad about telling them.]
Yeah, he does. He showed me it last night, and it makes sense. [Just going to focus on his drink now, this is getting a bit more emotional than he likes but he knows he can't just bail out now.]
I guess that explains where Leo went while I was asleep... [Mikey muses with a weak watery kind of laugh. He wipes at his eyes again.
Raph snorts a little.] Well, the insomnia is still around for Leo.
[Splinter exhales, shaking his head as he walks over to the cabinet to pick out some glasses for his other sons. Everyone falls quiet for the moment, soaking in the information.
The feral turtle only breaks the moment to point at the stove.]
Eggssss.
[The smell of something burning is quickly filling the air. Raph startles, realizing he's lost control of the eggs. He whips around to yank the pan off the fire.
[Donnie can't help but also choke, either from his brothers reactions or because of the smoke, either way he can't help but laugh at little at Raph's reaction.]
Why is Raph cooking anyway? [He knows why, because Mikey is in no condition to do so.]
Can't a guy flex his culinary skills around here? [Raph grouses audibly with no real heat, just awkwardly moving the pan aside. He starts fanning the air trying to get rid of the smoke.] I'll eat these ones.
[He points a spatual at the older teen.] No, you can't eat them.
[The feral turtle huffed back.]
My son, how about you settle down and I cook? [Splinter offers, though his cooking isn't any better.]
[Oh god no, it's already a disaster. They don't need Splinter's cooking on top of that. He's putting his glass down and moving over to the stove to stop both his eldest brother and his father.]
How about I cook and you both settle down? [His cooking may not be much better, but he can also follow instructions and knows to not have the heat on the stove up so high.
So in Donnie's mind this is the perfect solution and will save them from having more burnt eggs.]
Alright, alright, I think we can bot take the hint. [Raph at least sounds amused, moving away from the oven. He doles the burnt eggs onto a plate. Splinter just shakes his head, but doesn't argue the point.]
Thank you, Donnie, thank you. [Mikey sounds openly relieved. The feral turtle next to him just chirrups initially. He attempts to say the word thank you, but it comes out absolutely mangled.]
Close, Blue, very close. [Splinter offers encouragingly as he takes his usual spot at the table.
The feral turtle taps his mildly trimmed claws against the glass in front of him. His gaze is locked on Raph's plate. Raph sets it down on the table, moving to grab a fork.
[Dare he let Leo get away with switching the plates since he hasn't yet turned his attention to the stove just yet, or not?
Yeah, he's not going to let the feral turtle get away with it.]
If you want more, just wait a sec and I'll make you more, Leo.
[Now if him pointing out the attempted plate swap stops it, he'd be surprised. As he grabs the pan and goes to turn the heat down on the stove to a more proper egg cooking temperature before he's cracking some eggs to cook.]
[Donnie calling him out is enough for Raph to whip around. Mikey should be stopping it, but is giggling wildly. Splinter immediately interferes to stop the plate switching. He catches the edge of the place and blocks the feral turtle.]
Leo! [Raph is trying for chiding, but failing to not smile.]
My son-
[The feral turtle squeaks at being caught. He releases his hold on the plate. He makes eye contact and grabs a handful of burnt eggs stuffing them into his mouth.]
Ohmigosh- noooo- [Breakfast hasn't been this chaotic in a good while.]
[The feral turtle seems pleased with himself. Even more so when Raph groans and relents, just pushing the plate toward the older turtle. The red-eared slider manages to remember the fork after a moment. He's just cramming eggs into his face. Raph looks back towards Donnie imploringly.]
Please and thank you, Donnie. I didn't think someone would steal my eggs today.
[Mikey is still giggling as Splinter gives a very fond sigh. The mutant rat isn't about to fight the egg situation now. Mikey leans back in his seat, just taking in the scene.]
We def gotta text April about this though. She and Casey are gonna be so jelly she missed Leo's first new words.
[Just poking the eggs to make sure they're cooking right, honestly there isn't much he can do aside from that. But once they're ready he's grabbing a new plate and serving them up for Raph.]
Oh, I am certain of it. Blue did always enjoys talking. I believe he was the first to talk. [Splinter says easily, nostalgic in the way only a parent can be after getting children after a certain age.] I do believe Orange spoke second, the babble was quite adorable.
[Mikey groans a little, but is still smiling.] daaaad!
I think Donnie and I were both waiting to talk. [Raph is willing to indulge their parent given the good be it an emotional thing that happened this already this morning.
The feral turtle finishes the burnt eggs. He starts eying other plates on the table. A clawed hand gingerly reaches out towards Mikey's orange juice.
Raph actually catches sight of it this time, gently catching Leo's hand.] No, Leo, c'mon.
Not everyone needs to be a chatterbox, after all. [Donnie is pretty sure he was the last to start talking out of all of them, which he doesn't mind. Although nowadays he can talk up a storm with the best of them.
His attention is back on the stove, so he doesn't see what Leo is up to, or that Raph is stopping him in that way. More focused on making eggs right.]
[Splinter for his part is stuck reminiscing still fond and nostalgic.] You say that, but when you finally did speak, I believe you rattled off a sentence at me with no hesitation, Purple.
[Mikey just laughs, attention focused on Splinter.] Okay, that sounds like Donnie alright.
[The feral turtle seems to be outwardly behaving just for long enough that Raph relaxes marginally. His attention turning back to the conversation at hand.
The feral turtle uses the moment to snap out his hand, grabbing the glass to drink it. Mikey startles a little, and Raph releases a short slightly frustrated breath.
Raphael acts without really thinking, reaching out to grab the red eared slider's arm with a bit too much force. He pulls him forward slightly in the process. It isn't a lot, but the fast movement paired with the grab is enough to make the feral turtle freeze perfectly still in place.]
[It only takes Raph a second to realize he's made a mistake. His eyes widen and his frustration turns to shame. He releases his hold on Leo quickly.
The older turtle is up and out of his chair, the glass hitting the wall with a crash. Then he bolts, initially on two legs before dropping to four. The familiar recognition on his face is replaced by something more akin to a frightened animal trying to escape. Mikey jumps up from his seat, starting after the other turtle. Mikey only comes to a stop at the kitchen doorway when he realizes his chasing will just make it worse.
It isn't the first time they had the older turtle bolt.]
Frick- [Raph manages to reel the urge in to swear, openly angry at himself.] I didn't mean to. I'm sorry-
[Mikey turns back to Raph, grimacing a little.] Bro, its okay, he's just... jumpy.
[It doesn't take much to have his attention turned back onto the scene that happens, the glass hitting the wall most certainly doesn't help.
Donnie just winces as Raph apologizes, knowing that the older turtle didn't mean anything with what happened. Just.
Some things are different now.]
Hey, it's not your fault... [The words seem hollow as he says them, but what else can he do? Going after Leo may just make the situation worst, at least right now. But then again waiting too long and he could end up outside the lair and that would not be good.]
Boys. [Splinter speaks, his voice firm. It was rare for their father to use their full names unless he's serious.] Michelangelo, sit back down. Raphael, help me clean this up. We can finish breakfast once things are calmer.
Donatello, do you still have those cameras around? Keep an eye on your brother, once he settles go after him. [The family at least knew going as a group didn't work out well. One on one was better.
The feral turtle for his part was running through the lair. He practically bounces up and over the train cars that made up their various bedrooms. He crams himself between the small space of the train car and the tunnel.]
[As soon as Splinter is using their full names, it's a serious time. Donnie is turning off the stove before he's pulling up the cameras on his tech gauntlet.]
Sure, dad. I can do that. [He's checking the cameras now, finally seeing Leo on the ones set up outside the bedrooms. He lets out a sigh when he sees on the camera just where Leo has holed himself up, it'll take him a bit to get there.]
Found him, he's at least still in the lair... [And unless they need him, he'll start heading out that way. But taking his time so Leo can be calmer by the time Donnie gets to him.]
Its a good thing though, he's not trying to bolt out now. [Mikey is taking that as a positive sign if anything. Donnie can hear the murmur of conversation between the three as he heads out into the rest of the lair.
Donnie's guess about his brother's mood is correct. By the time he makes it to where the older turtle is, the red eared slider isn't actively hissing at the sight of Donnie. He's just crammed himself into a very small space.
Donnie can likely hear the nervous tip tap of claws against metal, but the older turtle has yet to move.]
[With just a little "hm" at Mikey's words and he's off, heading towards the bedroom area while also taking his time.
The lack of hissing is taken as a good sign really, as he crouches by the only way into where Leo has crammed himself. Aside from going in from above, that is, at least he doesn't have Leo boxed in. Another thing to always worry about too, not wanting to make his brother feel trapped.
The tapping is, maybe, a good sign. It's better than hissing at least, as Donnie starts with some quiet words to try and coax his twin out.]
Leo, it's okay. Raph didn't mean to do that and you're safe here. Come out, please?
[The feral turtle growls just slightly. His plastron clicks audibly against the metal he's pressed himself into. He doesn't move beyond that, just very still and quiet.
The tapping picks back up as the older turtle peers down at Donnie. A wary shift to move slightly out of his hiding spot.
This is honestly a faster recovery time than he's had the past few weeks.]
Okay, okay, okay. You don't have to come out now, but I promise no one is mad at you.
[The tapping has him curious, making him wonder if, like the clicking, it's a way to communicate. But then again, that seems a bit too advanced for Leo even before the prison dimension.
The slight shift is noticed, as Donnie is just going to reach out a hand towards his brother now. Moving slowly so as to not startle him too.]
[The tapping trails off as Donnie draws closer. Initially, the older turtle hunches into himself, half likely to disappear further into hiding spot he's found.
He hesitates, growling just a little.]
Purrble? [The growl absolutely mangled the word, but there is an attempt at it.]
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[He answers, taking a sip of his drink now. How to explain this, without getting sappy?]
He has a picture, the picture Casey had of us, and I think it helped him when he was in the prison dimension... I'm mean, I just guessing here though.
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The feral turtle continues just eating his eggs, focused on food. The eggs are slightly crispy at the edges, but he is enjoying how eating feels. He's paying attention.
Raph is the first to speak, tearing up very openly. He awkwardly moves the pan back towards the lit stove pilot.]
Oh. That's...
He still has that? When we found him, I thought he lost it. [Mikey is amazed and emotional all at once. Splinter gently holds him close in a brief gesture.]
It must be the reason he remembered us as he did. Even with his initial confusion upon coming back. [Splinter offers in turn.]
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And since Leo doesn't seem bothered, just happily eating his eggs, Donnie doesn't feel bad about telling them.]
Yeah, he does. He showed me it last night, and it makes sense. [Just going to focus on his drink now, this is getting a bit more emotional than he likes but he knows he can't just bail out now.]
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Raph snorts a little.] Well, the insomnia is still around for Leo.
[Splinter exhales, shaking his head as he walks over to the cabinet to pick out some glasses for his other sons. Everyone falls quiet for the moment, soaking in the information.
The feral turtle only breaks the moment to point at the stove.]
Eggssss.
[The smell of something burning is quickly filling the air. Raph startles, realizing he's lost control of the eggs. He whips around to yank the pan off the fire.
Mikey chokes a little.]
Why do you have the fire up so high!?
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Why is Raph cooking anyway? [He knows why, because Mikey is in no condition to do so.]
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[He points a spatual at the older teen.] No, you can't eat them.
[The feral turtle huffed back.]
My son, how about you settle down and I cook? [Splinter offers, though his cooking isn't any better.]
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How about I cook and you both settle down? [His cooking may not be much better, but he can also follow instructions and knows to not have the heat on the stove up so high.
So in Donnie's mind this is the perfect solution and will save them from having more burnt eggs.]
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Thank you, Donnie, thank you. [Mikey sounds openly relieved. The feral turtle next to him just chirrups initially. He attempts to say the word thank you, but it comes out absolutely mangled.]
Close, Blue, very close. [Splinter offers encouragingly as he takes his usual spot at the table.
The feral turtle taps his mildly trimmed claws against the glass in front of him. His gaze is locked on Raph's plate. Raph sets it down on the table, moving to grab a fork.
The feral turtle switches plates or attempts to.]
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Yeah, he's not going to let the feral turtle get away with it.]
If you want more, just wait a sec and I'll make you more, Leo.
[Now if him pointing out the attempted plate swap stops it, he'd be surprised. As he grabs the pan and goes to turn the heat down on the stove to a more proper egg cooking temperature before he's cracking some eggs to cook.]
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Leo! [Raph is trying for chiding, but failing to not smile.]
My son-
[The feral turtle squeaks at being caught. He releases his hold on the plate. He makes eye contact and grabs a handful of burnt eggs stuffing them into his mouth.]
Ohmigosh- noooo- [Breakfast hasn't been this chaotic in a good while.]
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Donnie just lets out a bark of a laugh at the scene happening, it's certainly something of course.]
Okay, so I guess I'm just going to replace Raph's eggs then. [Which he's going to keep his attention on now, don't want to burn them after all.]
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Please and thank you, Donnie. I didn't think someone would steal my eggs today.
[Mikey is still giggling as Splinter gives a very fond sigh. The mutant rat isn't about to fight the egg situation now. Mikey leans back in his seat, just taking in the scene.]
We def gotta text April about this though. She and Casey are gonna be so jelly she missed Leo's first new words.
[Leo chirrups again, looking smug.]
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[Just poking the eggs to make sure they're cooking right, honestly there isn't much he can do aside from that. But once they're ready he's grabbing a new plate and serving them up for Raph.]
And hopefully, we'll all be there for them too.
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[Mikey groans a little, but is still smiling.] daaaad!
I think Donnie and I were both waiting to talk. [Raph is willing to indulge their parent given the good be it an emotional thing that happened this already this morning.
The feral turtle finishes the burnt eggs. He starts eying other plates on the table. A clawed hand gingerly reaches out towards Mikey's orange juice.
Raph actually catches sight of it this time, gently catching Leo's hand.] No, Leo, c'mon.
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His attention is back on the stove, so he doesn't see what Leo is up to, or that Raph is stopping him in that way. More focused on making eggs right.]
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[Mikey just laughs, attention focused on Splinter.] Okay, that sounds like Donnie alright.
[The feral turtle seems to be outwardly behaving just for long enough that Raph relaxes marginally. His attention turning back to the conversation at hand.
The feral turtle uses the moment to snap out his hand, grabbing the glass to drink it. Mikey startles a little, and Raph releases a short slightly frustrated breath.
Raphael acts without really thinking, reaching out to grab the red eared slider's arm with a bit too much force. He pulls him forward slightly in the process. It isn't a lot, but the fast movement paired with the grab is enough to make the feral turtle freeze perfectly still in place.]
2/2
The older turtle is up and out of his chair, the glass hitting the wall with a crash. Then he bolts, initially on two legs before dropping to four. The familiar recognition on his face is replaced by something more akin to a frightened animal trying to escape. Mikey jumps up from his seat, starting after the other turtle. Mikey only comes to a stop at the kitchen doorway when he realizes his chasing will just make it worse.
It isn't the first time they had the older turtle bolt.]
Frick- [Raph manages to reel the urge in to swear, openly angry at himself.] I didn't mean to. I'm sorry-
[Mikey turns back to Raph, grimacing a little.] Bro, its okay, he's just... jumpy.
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Donnie just winces as Raph apologizes, knowing that the older turtle didn't mean anything with what happened. Just.
Some things are different now.]
Hey, it's not your fault... [The words seem hollow as he says them, but what else can he do? Going after Leo may just make the situation worst, at least right now. But then again waiting too long and he could end up outside the lair and that would not be good.]
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Donatello, do you still have those cameras around? Keep an eye on your brother, once he settles go after him. [The family at least knew going as a group didn't work out well. One on one was better.
The feral turtle for his part was running through the lair. He practically bounces up and over the train cars that made up their various bedrooms. He crams himself between the small space of the train car and the tunnel.]
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Sure, dad. I can do that. [He's checking the cameras now, finally seeing Leo on the ones set up outside the bedrooms. He lets out a sigh when he sees on the camera just where Leo has holed himself up, it'll take him a bit to get there.]
Found him, he's at least still in the lair... [And unless they need him, he'll start heading out that way. But taking his time so Leo can be calmer by the time Donnie gets to him.]
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Donnie's guess about his brother's mood is correct. By the time he makes it to where the older turtle is, the red eared slider isn't actively hissing at the sight of Donnie. He's just crammed himself into a very small space.
Donnie can likely hear the nervous tip tap of claws against metal, but the older turtle has yet to move.]
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The lack of hissing is taken as a good sign really, as he crouches by the only way into where Leo has crammed himself. Aside from going in from above, that is, at least he doesn't have Leo boxed in. Another thing to always worry about too, not wanting to make his brother feel trapped.
The tapping is, maybe, a good sign. It's better than hissing at least, as Donnie starts with some quiet words to try and coax his twin out.]
Leo, it's okay. Raph didn't mean to do that and you're safe here. Come out, please?
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The tapping picks back up as the older turtle peers down at Donnie. A wary shift to move slightly out of his hiding spot.
This is honestly a faster recovery time than he's had the past few weeks.]
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[The tapping has him curious, making him wonder if, like the clicking, it's a way to communicate. But then again, that seems a bit too advanced for Leo even before the prison dimension.
The slight shift is noticed, as Donnie is just going to reach out a hand towards his brother now. Moving slowly so as to not startle him too.]
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He hesitates, growling just a little.]
Purrble? [The growl absolutely mangled the word, but there is an attempt at it.]
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gently bumps us ahead once again
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