#brainworm Donnie AU

[cupcakeslushie]

Hey guys! Just wanted to give a life update. I’m trying to plan with a friend to do a local market on March 9th, so things might be a little slow for a while. And I also discovered I have to move in a couple months, so now I’ve gotta go apartment hunting. I am not too happy about this fact :/ lol

I was hoping to get a lot of drawing done during the previously mentioned 3 day, at home EEG, which I had to do this week, but it ended up being a lot more….distracting and cumbersome, than I’d thought, and sadly I didn’t get much accomplished. (Basically for four days it felt like fire ants were living on my head and it was insanely hard to concentrate. And I could only get up, and be disconnected from the bundle of wires for like 20 min at a time)

Febuwhump has taken a big backseat. I might put out a few more pieces before the end, but I’ve got a lot on my plate with this market so I’m not stressing about it anymore. So if you don’t see me posting at my usual level during the next two weeks please don’t panic! I haven’t “left” or “abandoned” the fandom or anything. Im still plotting out the next updates for EW, Feral Leo, and Brainworm Donnie.

Also if you’ve sent me anything for the TMNT AU competition, please know I’ve seen it, and would love to reply but it may be awhile. We might have to eventually do a bunch in big batches, but I love everything I’ve been sent! And please don’t feel like this is me saying I don’t want you to send me stuff, just be aware I might not get to it immediately!

I’m not gonna be disappearing completely during this time, but I think I’ll only be able to post little sketches and smaller scale stuff for a few weeks. Bigger updates will have to wait, and be worked on when I’m done with the market.

So that’s the skinny, for now!

💚💚💚

[teenagenutant]

I have to know... how would you imagine Galileo first fused??

this isnt set in stone but if i was gonna make a full-on au... then fusion would probably be either 'something that yokai can do (like piel and hueso)' or 'hamato mystic nonsense'

ive been kinda imagining donnie and leo fused first out of anyone! maybe by jinxing each other while they were doing their silly mirror routine they sometimes do during fights lmao

i think other fusions had something a more ~dramatique~ but for donnie and leo i think its funniest if it was comically low stakes

[paintedkinzy-88]

I have a 12AM idea that I’ll never do anything with but I want everyone to suffer with me.

When Splinter got the Rise boys, he assumed their ages based on their size: Raph was oldest, then Donnie, then Leo, and then Mikey. And April was their big sister. They’ve lived by this standard, it has always been true, no one has questioned it, and everyone ultimately likes their role!

Ya got big, protective, teddy bear older brother; book smart, chaotic, but also very protective older twin; street smart, also chaotic, gremlin child, gay younger twin; and the emotionally smart, empathetic, impressionable, heart of the group youngest.

Then Mikey befriends/reverse-adopts Draxum. Who looks at them like they are stupid when he hears this family dynamic... And proceeds to absolutely shatter their world. ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

Leo hatched first, by a significant amount of time, making him the oldest, then Raph, then Donnie, and Mikey stays the youngest. Like so many other TMNT iterations. Rise!Splinter just got it wrong.

Cutting so this isn’t super long on my page:

Now Raph is struck with this realization that he may be the biggest brother, but he is not the big brother. And that’s been like. His thing. Protecting his younger bros, always being there for his younger bros, keeping this damn family in line, laying down punishments and lectures and the such when need to or when Splinter isn’t there. But that’s no longer his responsibility. That was never his responsibility. But he doesn’t want to give that up! He doesn’t think he CAN tone that down and be more carefree (more than he already is I mean, bro is still a kid).

Donnie has been shot down from his title of big brother and oldest twin. He is now one of the youngest. He may not be as commanding as Raph, but he was sure as shit the second in command a lot of the time. Aside from his chaotic, semi-lethal tendencies, Raph could usually trust him to keep himself and the others in line when it really matters. Heck, Donnie was probably the one Raph took to the surface the most to get supplies once he hit a less shy age, because Donnie wouldn’t wonder off like the others. But now, what he has known as truth is not accurate at all. He’s more shaken by the fact they’ve all been wrong for their entire lives, and that he’s the younger twin (no, he’s not even a twin at all, why does that freak him out so much), so he doesn’t really fear any relationship between them changing.

Leo has the most dramatic change though… He’s one of the goofballs! Both a younger brother and a middle child, thriving in the childish chaos and vague invisibility as he’s able to generally be silly and not face consequences. He doesn’t have those expectations on him, nor does he want it like Raph does! But now, he’s been shoved to the top. Is he supposed to be like Raph now? Does he have to take total control? Be more responsible, more genuinely confident, more practical? The thought alone is stressing him tf out. He was already questioning his role on the team, he doesn’t need to feel like he’s REALLY been doing less than he should have been!

Meanwhile, Mikey’s watching his family fall apart and bicker and stress themselves out.

Ultimately, they decide it doesn’t fuckin matter. They are comfortable in their family roles, and that doesn’t need to change. The whole situation may have brought some concerns to light (namely: Raph’s stress, Leo’s insecurity and invisibility, Donnie’s need to fix everything to support them all, and Mikey’s overwhelming emotional empathy) but that’s probably for the better!

Still, that bombshell definitely screwed up the family for a good few weeks while they figured themselves out all over again.

[donatellowiththebookinhishand]

Amazing Art Alert!

Hey guys, I'm working on the next chapter, but first I wanted to showcase this fanart I got messaged on ao3! They wanted to remain anonymous, but said I could refer to them as C7, so thank you!

[imagionationstation]

HE'S JUST A SAD CHILD, YOU SEE

Comic belongs SOLELY to @cupcakeslushie!

Song by Lydia The Bard

I'm just adding to it's greatest with vibes and music. Literally couldn't think straight until I made this video. Go check it out!

[quinnoct]

I wasn't kidding when I said that @cokoweee 's au singlehandedly made me ship Kendratello (and so far only if its their and another creator's au) 🧍🏻‍♀️🧍🏻‍♀️

and when you drew Donnie with the hair?? tHE LONG HAIR?? YOUR MIND IS---- JDKDJDKSJDJDJDJD

Hope you don't mind fanart because the idea of Kendra braiding Donnie's hair has been an annoying brainworm in my mind 😩

For everyone who is interested pls check out their acc and their Kendratello Au (and also their Quilt au 🥹🥹) found here!!

[probably-not-a-rutabaga]

Are there any plot points in your AUs that you've had to cut out but still hold dear?

i’ve left this sitting here for a bit bc i couldn’t come up with anything aside from aberration tim originally being part of the foot clan, but i was going through an old sketchbook and found drawings !!! of an old plot point !!!

basically an explanation for aberration raph’s neck scar- it was gonna be a collar of some sort,, either a shock collar or like… it just got really hot…… or had blades or smth

but then that felt too similar to the fact that donnie had a shock collar in brainworm fic :/

[onejellyfishplease]

thinking about your new au with the technodrome causing chaos and like. what's gonna happen when she finds out about the concept of twins? Especially since her current form is very similar to Donnie. (And Donnie already has a twin and does NOT want another one)

idk it's giving me brainworms

oh yes. oh i like this!!!

oh shes gonna have a blast when she finds out about twins lol. the other actual twins? not so much

[lordshroom]

Asking some AU comp competitors & supporters:

- Are there any AUs you weren't familiar with that have recently caught your attention, or that you would like to learn more about?

- What are some AUs/fanworks that you enjoy, and would encourage more people to go check out? (Doesn't have to be in the comp!)

There have been many great works featured, and I wish I could give them all a spotlight since I know how much work everyone puts into their work. I'll highlight a few of my favorites here.

I was made aware of @that-one-dork 's "Vengeance is Yours" fic semi-recently ( what if Shredder actually mutated all the turtles ), and it is superb, I tell you. The prose is captivating and imaginative in a way I can only hope to replicate one day. Please give it a read here if you haven't; it's really well put together and worth your time.

Then there's @lexa-ocean 's "Reptile Ramage" AU. It's got a unique style that's really charming. The turtle designs are fun, expressive, and very silly. I've followed him for a while, but I'll take the opportunity to highlight his work here.

Of course, there are the names you've probably heard of. @cupcakeslushiemakes a ton of great TMNT content. I wish to put her lineart on a sandwich and eat it, it's so expressive I love it. She's also an amazing storyteller, her brainworm Donnie fic has been living casually in my head since it came out.

@tangledinink 's various AUs are also wonderful. I love the way that they play with color; it really helps their unique style stand out. It all pops together so well that I have a hard time describing it, lol.

Uhh yeah. Go read people's stuff. Interact with it. Tell them you think it's good.

[majachee]

Okay so I know this is from a while ago so feel free to not answer

but do you have any more on your Tmnt Shattered Glass Au? Specifically Donatello. But all take any info you have lol

IM ALWAYS DOWN TO TALK ABOUT MY SILLY AUS, EVEN IF I HAVENT MENTIONED THEM IN A WHILE !!!

SO... Donatello lore.. 👁👁

Donatello's personality was the hardest for me to really swap, despite the answer seeming very obvious in hindsight.

Donatello in the SG universe still retains his intelligence, but he abuses it for selfish memes and relies on malicious incompetence in order to get his brothers and underlings to do stuff for him. Not because he's lazy or anything, but because he enjoys making people do things for him.

He likes the act of manipulation a lot more than what he gets out of it, if the result is lackluster he fixes it up a bit and takes all the credit, or he uses it to throw someone under the bus.

His biggest flaw is his massive ego, which he feeds by taking advantage of others and getting praised for it.

He's been eyeballing these cool new things called "the brainworms" teehee.. He hopes he can use one on someone. For Science(tm) (ie his own enjoyment)

Bro is... not a good guy, and I'd imagine he'd be very easy to hate if I were to ever write and publish a fic for this AU. He's an ego-centric bully that manipulates and holds his intelligence over his brothers' heads (primarily SG Leo and Raph being his victims, the latter more than the forward.) He gets worse before he gets better, though, I ain't giving this kid a bad ending. It takes a while to get there, though. :^[

He does not have a crush on April, he never got the chance to meet April face-to-face before the main story. The Kraang and Utrom have switched places in this AU as well, so April's story with them changes drastically as a result.

OG Donnie definitely butts heads with his counterpart the *most* out of everyone. The second the OGs and SGs properly meet, it is ON SIGHT between those two... which is part of the reason why it takes so long for SG Donnke to even consider switching sides. The brainwashing and the personality he has are the main factors, but the counterpart beef deffo ain't helping. 💀

The ages haven't been swapped around a lot, with the exception of SG Michelangelo's. SG Mikey spent a few years in Dimension X for a mission once Splinter discovered the time difference, so now Mikey is a few years older than the rest of his brothers. However, the social hierarchy goes Mikey -> Donnie -> with Leo and Raph tied at the bottom. Even if Donnie was still older than Mikey, he would still be in second place. Fun factoid. Lol.

[cupcakeslushie]

Sneak peek for the next brainworm au part now up on my Patreon

[aeoix]

Raphael considers himself to be the prime protector of his family. This led him to earn the most amount of scars out of his brother. Thanks to his DNA composition, his thick scales help him in battle, and then pairing him with armor makes him an absolute tank. He's the most muscular out of the brothers. When Leo isn't around, Raph is always the one to step out to take care of his brothers. He's somewhat self-conscious as he is blind in his right eye from when the brainworm was used on him.

This honestly took me longer than Leo did! And most of it wasn't even dealing with anatomy, it was the instruments that took me the longest. I hope I never have to draw a drum set again if I can help it. I would have put more of his instruments, but I couldn't fit them all on the size canvas that. So not pictured is the electric keyboard, and his acoustic guitar. Feel free to zoom in on this massive canvas! Below the cut are some closeups in case anything is hard to see, along with some extra tidbits of information!

Leo / Raph / Mikey / Donnie

Reforged AU Masterpost

Raph takes his job seriously when it comes to his brother well well-being. He's of course, rough around the edges, but it comes from his fear of not being able to save his brothers. After all, he was there when his father was killed in front of him. He's basically as obsessed with training as Leo is, and he needs to be due to the blindness in his right eye that his enemies attempt to exploit.

Raph has a ton of hobbies when he isn't busy training. He is the one primarily responsible for fixing any of their gear that is made out of leather (Belts, knee pads, pouches, etc.). He is also the one who tests any of Leo's new creations from the forge. He is also a fairly skilled musician and has learned how to play multiple instruments. He writes his own music and Mikey is definitely his biggest fan.

Out of all the brothers, he is the one that wears the most armor, making him a serious threat to any of their enemies (that are still alive anyway).

[purpleturtle9000]

hey so presumably at some point my brain's gonna stop being a dumpster fire so whenever that occurs and i'm back to writing, i'll be working on everything but i can only do so much at one time

fic descriptions under the cut

something broke in me and i wanted to go home

Bayverse, Donnie POV, second movie AU. To defeat Krang, Leo gets sacrificed to Krang's dimension (yes I am ripping off Rise lmao). The remaining turtles stop at nothing to bring him back, but can't rescue their brother without Krang along for the ride.

i know exactly what i want and it's this life that we've created

ROTTMNT, future Leo POV, post-movie. wify sequel. In which our peepaw has several mental breakdowns, inflicts truly incredible violence on Jr's kidnappers, and finally realises his family loves him unconditionally along the way!

interdimensional

ROTTMNT, OC POV. Two years after being rescued from an evil laboratory and adopted into the turtle family, teenage mutant winter soldier Kestrel finds a lost and lonely yellow robot. He has to help Bee get home to the other Autobots - but really doesn't want his best friend to go.

dare to look him right in the eyes

ROTTMNT, multi POV, post-movie. Raph still has the Krang eye from when he was infected, causing no small amount of stress among the rest of his family. Drama and angst follow as their family breaks apart, and may or may not ever come back together.

is it still you or is it me?

ROTTMNT, Leo and Donnie POV, post-movie. Leo comes back from the prison dimension with a Krang brainworm trying to corrupt him from the inside out. Leo tries to handle it himself until it's too late and Donnie has to race against time to try to save him.

i wish i had more memories with you

Bayverse/ROTTMNT, Bay!Donnie POV, sequel to this family can bear any weather. By the time Nic's fixed the capacitor and can revisit his little brothers from an alternate universe, they're not so little any more. Shenanigans ensue, with a little bit of trauma and a whole lot of love.

reality check

ROTTMNT, future Leo POV, wify-verse. The Joneses go on a two-week-long road trip. Suddenly bereft of Child, Leonardo decides to hop across the multiverse adopting every teen Leo he can find. Tello would like him to put them all back and they are done asking politely (they adopt three).

i've slipped through the cracks between worlds

ROTTMNT, Casey Jr POV, post-s2 pre-movie. Through misuse of mystic powers and timeline shenanigans, Casey Jr ends up the caretaker of the baby versions of the four turtles. And also in the past. Better find the teen turtles before they end the world again... and so they can help babysit.

we were born to be together, torn apart, torn apart

ROTTMNT, multi POV pre-movie. The turtles find out that there were two other turtles created with them, thought lost to the fire in Draxum's lab. Big Mama's daughter is none too happy to have these idiots bothering her, but the other needs a rescue more than anything. Even if he tries to kill them on sight.

[donatellowiththebookinhishand]

Donatello Brainworm AU

Hey everyone- I originally posted this to ao3, but I wanted to cross-post here so I could actually tag the inspiration for the fic. My tag on ao3 however is SCREAM_ing, if you want to know where faster updates will be!

Summary:

-Based off the Brainworm Donnie AU comic by @cupcakeslushie on tumbler. I highly recommend checking their comic out, it’s pretty great! Here’s their description:

“Karai lures Donnie into her trap first in the Fourfold Trap, but what if she used the extra time to implant him with a brainworm? The brothers have to try to race against a ticking clock to save a brother who now hates them.

Warnings: brainwashing, neglect/abuse (not real, but perceived as the truth)“

Disclaimer!!! In case you missed it in the super long description- Please read this before.. reading.

This AU is NOT my idea, it comes from a comic creator on tumbler by the name @cupcakeslushie. I implore you to check their comic out before reading, their art is incredible. It’s also the basis of this entire work, and I will try to keep dialogue the same from comic to here.

This is also my first time writing a fanfic, so this pilot chapter is like a draft of a draft. Hopefully it will get better as I write 😅

---------------------------------------

Chapter 1

----

“I know you have tried, Donatello; some things are simply not meant to be. At least I have four wonderful sons.”

If that wasn’t the nail in the coffin. Donnie’s heart sank as the black goop in the beaker—a hopeful attempt at a cure—oozed mockingly at him. His brothers, who’d been crowded around him to witness this latest attempt at a cure, began to solemnly walk out of the lab. Donnie didn't know what to do anymore, and he was running out of ideas.

His failure weighed heavily on his shoulders. He’d come up empty-handed again, his ideas to develop the cure were running thin. It’s been weeks of sleepless nights and many, many, coffee pots later, and his latest idea hadn't even come close to fruition.

It also doesn't help that he can't even focus on his brothers’ and master’s disappointment through the massive headache he’s been nursing for weeks. It’s back at full throttle now as he chokes back tears of frustration.

His family had taken it upon themselves to stop into the lab after each supper to check on his progress toward the cure. Donnie really thinks it's just their way of subtly asking, "Aren’t you done yet?" It’s that, or it’s them checking if he’s still standing after missing yet another mealtime.

The brothers left, all disappointed—except for Leo, who turned to Donnie with hardened eyes and a mouth twisted in frustration. To distract himself, Donatello doesn't meet his brothers' eyes as they leave, instead opting to grab a clipboard and take notes on what he could actually fix around the lair. Leo stalked angrily behind him, unnoticed by the genius.

“Donnie, you know how much this means to Sensei.”

“Leo, I’m trying as hard as I can.” He could barely believe Leo had just said that to him; the words cut through him like a dagger. His face fell, the weariness and hurt momentarily slipping through before he clenched his jaw and tried to steady himself. After all the sleep he’d lost and sacrifices he’d made, he couldn’t take the thought of being asked to give even more.

Couldn't he see that Donnie was giving everything he had to Karai’s brainworm problem? He hadn't had a full night’s sleep in almost a month. Tears of frustration begin to well in his eyes; in a last-ditch effort to quell his rising temper, he grips the sides of the clipboard tighter, digging his fingers into the smooth wood almost painfully.

“Well, try harder.”

White-hot indignation shoots down his shell, sudden anger at his older brother is sharp and undeniable. The clipboard left his hands, skidding across the lab with a loud crash, not bothering to look in the direction it goes. His hurt is quickly masked by anger, and his focus is completely on Leo, fists tightly balled. “Try harder? I always have to find the solution! You’re the leader, Leo! You find the answer! Or what about Raph?”

“I got the answer for you—Karai’s a lost cause!”

“Don’t say that, dude.”

All four brothers began arguing incessantly with each other, weeks of pent-up anger and frustration pouring out of each of them. Donnie fired back quickly, gesticulating wildly as he channeled weeks of exhaustion into his voice—when his T-phone began to ring from across the room. Still furious and hurting, Donnie stomped across the room, almost happy for the excuse to walk away from Leo.

“Donnie, I need to talk with you alone. It’s important. I need you to meet me.”

It was April, and while this wasn't the best time for a heart-to-heart, she said it was an emergency. And who was Donnie to deny her? Besides, it's not like he was doing anything more productive at the lair—he glanced at his brothers, who genuinely seemed like dogs about to pounce on each other, and his mind was made up.

“Shizukani,” Splinter’s voice rang through the lair, effectively silencing their quarrel. He stalked out, hands clasped behind his back. All the turtles froze like they were children caught in the act; they guiltily turned to face their master with wide eyes. “What is the meaning of this?” Splinter said sternly, not bothering to hide his disdain for the quarreling, his eyebrows drawn together tightly.

“Nothing, Sensei, I’m heading out. April needs me,” Donnie said and angrily walked out of the lair, palms still tightly balled up. Leo, who took great offense to this, demanded Donnie come back. “You’re needed here now, Donnie!” He stepped forward, toward his taller brother, but otherwise made no move to actually stop Donatello from leaving the lair.

“Donnie! .. Donnie!”

Donnie mentally scoffed. Yeah, because you guys are always such reliable sources of positivity and gratitude, he thought wryly. His youngest brother’s words resurfaced in his mind.

“Donnie, you tried your best, brah... even if it totally sucked.”

He kept his back to his family, continuing to stride toward the Shellraiser, refusing to acknowledge Leo’s calls. The Shellraiser roared to life, and he sped out of the sewer tunnels.

---

Donnie was a speed demon as he drove recklessly toward the location April sent him. He didn't bother stopping for streetlights or at intersections, forcing himself to have tunnel vision on April’s problem to avoid dealing with his own. The large van skidded to a stop as he reached the GPS pinpoint, a random alleyway with a large weathered garage door at the end of it. Donnie double-checked his T-phone, wondering why April would want to meet him in a place like this. Maybe she’d discovered something that could help Karai?

He didn't put too much thought into it. Donnie placed his head against the cool leather of the custom steering wheel he’d created, still attempting to cool off from his earlier altercation with his stupid brothers. Why couldn't they see he gave them his all, and they still had the audacity to ask him to do more? He was dying out here, for shell’s sake!

While all they had to worry about was training and what monstrosity of a combination they were going to eat that night, courtesy of Michelangelo, Donnie was slaving away in the lab, barely taking breaks to give them even a chance at saving their half-sister. Donatello shook the thoughts from his head; it wasn't important right now how he felt. He wiped away the hot, angry tears that had unknowingly begun to fall from his eyes.

God, he felt even more stupid right now, letting his emotions get to him while April needed him—and that wasn't even a word! He shook his head again and refocused, hopping out of the Shellraiser and walking into the dark alleyway. The smell of oil hung heavy in the air, and he absently hoped it wasn’t from the Shellraiser. He hadn’t spent much time on his 'baby' lately, he mused with a pang of guilt. Karai’s condition was much more important, though, and he feared they didn’t have much time left before the damage to her brain would become permanent. He pushed the thought aside and fixed his attention back on reaching the end of the alley.

The garage opened quickly, as if she’d heard him coming. April’s figure was illuminated by a strange purple light. All thoughts of how weird that was went away when she called out. “Donnie,” April spoke in a gravelly voice, “the Kraang are back.” Donnie’s mood improved so much just from her voice that he almost didn't register what she’d said. He shook himself back in order for the third time that night. “What? We've got to tell the guys.” Donnie's eyes widened, and he pulled out his phone, immediately sliding past Leo’s contact to dial Michelangelo instead. No way was he going to call Fearless first thing after the night he's had—he'd make Mikey do all the explaining.

“There’s no time. They’re about to get away; we’ve got to move,” April rushed and leapt further into the seemingly abandoned warehouse. It was pretty hard to tell with that blinding purple light beaming out at him. Donnie scrambled after her, calling her name so she’d wait up. He supposed he’d just call the guys when they stopped the first round of Kraang—not so hard, right?

It was only after he stepped through the garage doors that he realized his mistake. It was a trap, and he’d fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. The heavy garage door slammed shut. He had no time to react before he was shot—a red-tipped dart and a bag roughly shoved over his head, forcing his neck back at an unnatural angle. Donnie cried out, but it was in vain; he was at Karai’s mercy now, and her scaly smirk was the last thing he saw.

“Sweet dreams, Donatello.”

After Donatello stormed out, Splinter sighed and strode back into the dojo, likely to resume his meditation. The lingering tension filled the room, and Leo stood rooted in place for a beat, Splinter’s words on unity echoing in his mind. Arms crossed, he clenched his jaw at Donnie’s blatant disregard. Didn't being the leader mean anything anymore? He couldn’t help but feel the sting of Donnie’s dismissal, and his eyes narrowed with a mix of hurt and frustration as he watched his brother disappear down the tunnel.

Raph and Mikey exchanged a look before slinking away, each to their own devices. Raph muttered something about "always being drama in this place" as he slipped off toward the training room, while Michelangelo, not too rattled by the clash, eagerly bounced back to his own mission: a game of cards with Ice Cream Kitty.

"Sorry for the wait, Kitty," he said, petting her between her cold, strangely furry ears. “Leo was being a total jerk, but we’re back at it! Now, where were we?” Ice Cream Kitty purred contentedly, her pinkish ears twitching as she smugly waited for her next move.

They played for a while, Mikey easily distracted by the cold little creature in front of him. Somehow, Ice Cream Kitty managed to take full advantage of Mikey’s earlier distraction and swept through his cards with ease, sealing her victory. He couldn’t believe it.

“No way, Kitty, you totally cheated, cheater, cheater, frozen yogurt eater! Give me that card!” Mikey cried, feigning shock as she meowed back at him triumphantly. But before he could demand a rematch, his T-phone buzzed on the table beside him. Glancing down, he saw Donnie’s name flash across the screen and picked it up eagerly.

“Hey, Mikey! You’re not gonna believe it—Murakami whipped up something new. Get this: pizza gyozas!” Donnie’s excitement came through loud and clear, and that was all Mikey needed to hear.

The thought of gooey, cheesy, bite-sized pizza pockets made his mouth water. It was as though all the tension of the evening melted away. “Aw yeah! That sounds totally awesome D. I'll be there faster than a turtle can say pepperoni!” Mikey’s eyes went wide, practically sparkling with anticipation. He knew this was something he couldn’t miss, his head already exploding at the thought of Murakami’s latest delicacy.

Quickly, he gathered his cards and placed Ice Cream Kitty back in her freezer, laughing as she let out a playful hiss. “Sorry, girl, but duty calls! Donnie’s got something totally sweet lined up!” He shut the freezer with a wink and dashed out of the lair, visions of pizza gyozas dancing in his head as he bounded through the tunnels with pure unrestrained enthusiasm.

Upon reaching Murakami’s noodle shop, Mikey burst through the door, calling out, “Mr. Murakami, what up?” The smell of delicious food enveloped him, heightening his excitement.

“Greetings, Michelangelo,” Murakami said, a twinkle in his eye as he presented a tray. “These are for you. Each has a unique mixture of cheeses and delicate flavors.”

Without hesitation, Mikey snatched one and stuffed it into his mouth, the warm, cheesy filling melting perfectly against his tongue. “Oh yeah! This is awesome—” His voice trailed off as he savored the explosion of flavors, the world around him fading into bliss. He gobbled down another gyoza, hardly able to contain his delight.

But as he reached for a third, a sudden wave of nausea crashed over him. Mikey’s stomach growled ominously, and he felt a sharp pain coursing through him. “Oh...what’s happening?” he gasped, eyes wide with confusion. “Poison?”

“Do not worry, Michelangelo,” a shadowed figure responded, stepping forward. “It is not poison, simply chemicals to give you a nice little nap.”

Mikey’s vision blurred as the deliciousness of the gyozas twisted into a haze of betrayal. “Evil. Delicious, but evil...” he murmured, swaying on his feet before collapsing to the ground. In those final moments of consciousness, he managed to hit the panic button on his T-phone, sending out an SOS before everything went dark.

------

The silence in the lair was heavy, filled only with the distant sounds of the city above. Leo paced back and forth, his mind racing with the tension from earlier. "Where’s Donnie? He should have been back by now," he muttered, glancing at Raph, who was leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

Raph shrugged, the unease palpable in the air. “You know Donnie. He probably got caught up in his experiments again. He always does.”

Leo stopped, his brow furrowing with concern. “But he was so upset. He stormed out. I just... I don’t like this.” The weight of their earlier argument hung over him, a nagging feeling that he should have done more to support his brother settled in his chest.

Just then, a frantic buzz interrupted their thoughts. Leo’s T-phone lit up on the table. “It’s Mikey!” he said, snatching it up. “Mikey- What’s going on?” But as Leo answered, his heart sank. The only sound on the other end was garbled static—no voice, no explanation, just the unsettling sound of a struggle. Panic surged through him. “Mikey! What’s happening?! Say something, anything!”

“Mikey pressed the SOS button!” Raph leaned closer, his eyes wide with alarm. “This isn’t good. Shell for brains wouldn’t do that unless things were serious.” He ran his fingers along his Sai, the familiar weight grounding him.

Leo’s fingers flew across the screen as he accessed the tracking app. “Where is he?” His heart pounded as the location pin appeared on the map, revealing Mikey’s last known position: an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. “He’s at an old warehouse!”

“Of course he is,” Raph grumbled, frustration creeping into his voice. “Why does he always have to go chasing after trouble?”

“Forget that! We need to focus!” Leo snapped, pushing the rising irritation aside. “Mikey must have seen something. If he hit that button, he could be in serious danger!” He felt his pulse quicken, adrenaline pumping through his veins. “We need to move!”

“Great, but how are we getting there?” Raph asked, raising an eyebrow. “Donnie took the Shellraiser for his ‘important research.’”

“Of course he did.” Leo sighed, running a hand through his bandana. “Looks like we’re taking the Stealth Bike. It’s not as fast, but we’ll have to make it work.”

“Perfect,” Raph replied, rolling his eyes. “Just what I wanted: a scenic tour through the sewers before racing into a potential ambush.”

“Complaining won’t help Mikey,” Leo shot back, already heading toward the exit. “Let’s go!”

---------

Leo and Raph approached the warehouse with a sense of trepidation, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. As they crept closer, they couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The entrance was unguarded, the rusty door slightly ajar as if inviting them in.

“Doesn’t this seem a bit too easy fearless?” Raph murmured, glancing at Leo with a furrowed brow. “Yeah, it’s like they wanted us to find this place,” Leo replied, his instincts tingling. “But we don’t have time to second-guess ourselves. We need to find Mikey.”

They exchanged a determined glance before Leo pushed the door open, the hinges creaking ominously as they stepped into the dimly lit space. Leo’s heart raced, the adrenaline surging through him as he scanned the room, muscles tensed and ready for action.

“Where’s Mikey?” Raph hissed, his grip tightening around his sai, his eyes narrowing as he swept the shadows for any signs of movement.

In the center of the empty warehouse, they spotted him—Mikey lying face down on the ground, his shell scratched and dirty. Panic surged through Leo, and without hesitation, he sprinted toward his brother. “Mikey!” he shouted, fear clawing at his throat.

They reached Mikey, Leo kneeling beside him while Raph crouched down, both brothers desperate to check for any signs of life. Relief washed over them as they found him breathing, albeit with a few scrapes on his arms and a deepening bruise on his cheek. “Hey, Mikey! Wake up!” Leo shook him gently, worry etched on his face.

Mikey blinked awake, groggy and disoriented. “Yo, dudes! I just had the craziest dream. I totally tore up some pizza gyozas and got totally faked out by Murakami—so not cool!”, he groaned dramatically. Raph rolled his eyes, his expression a mix of relief and irritation. “Mikey, that’s probably what happened. Look around you, shell for brains.”

Just then, a voice rang out from above, they had company. “Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up.” Leo and Raph’s heads snapped up, their eyes narrowing as they spotted Karai on the balcony of the second floor. She leaned casually against the railing, a smug grin plastered across her face, her dark eyes glinting with triumph.

“What are you doing here?” Raph growled, his instincts flaring as he took a defensive stance, ready for whatever trick she had up her sleeve. “Honestly? I thought this would be more difficult,” Karai replied with a laugh, her tone mocking. “But it seems you turtles are even dumber than I thought. I only needed to use one of my holograms to distract you.

At her words, the holograms of Mikey and April flickered and vanished, leaving only the real Mikey on the ground. The tension in the air thickened as Leo’s gaze shifted back to his brother, confusion knotting his stomach. Suddenly, they noticed Donatello, not a hologram they realized, standing beside Karai. A disturbingly wide smile stretched across his face, his posture unnaturally rigid. His pupils were dilated, giving him a wild, manic look that sent shivers down Leo’s spine.

“Well, I was only expecting Leonardo, but…” Donatello said, his tone unnaturally smooth, sending a jolt of alarm through Leo. He clicked a button on a device in his hand, and suddenly the brothers found themselves surrounded by a swarm of Foot Soldiers, their black uniforms blending into the dim shadows of the warehouse.

“Having the rest of you here makes it so much easier,” Donnie finished, the hint of delight in his voice sending chills down Leo’s spine.

“Donnie, snap out of it man!” Mikey called out, pushing himself off the ground, his voice wavering between concern and disbelief. “This isn’t you bro, it’s Shredder totally hijacking your brain!”, he made a face like a strangely dizzy zombie to prove his point.

Leo’s heart raced as he assessed the scene—his brother, usually so awkward and slightly slew-footed, now stood like a puppet, a smile that felt more sinister than genuine plastered across his face.

“What have they done to you?” Leo whispered, fists clenching around his swords. Anguish mixed with anger surged through him, knowing they were once again up against something that could twist their own brother into a weapon against them.

Raph’s face darkened, his jaw tight as he scanned the area, eyes narrowing at the encroaching Foot Soldiers. “Another brain worm?” he growled, the fury building inside him. “Great. Just what we need.”, he tightened his grip on his sai and bared his teeth at the offending ninjas.

Mikey, still shaken, pointed at the advancing Foot Soldiers. “We can’t just stand here! Donnie wouldn’t want this, right? He’d want us to fight back!” “Yeah, well I don’t think he’s in charge right now Mikey,” Raph shot back, his fists clenching tighter. “But if we don’t take these guys out, we’ll never get to him.”

With a collective surge of determination, the brothers charged at the advancing Foot Soldiers. Leo led the way, his swords slicing through the air with precision, while Raph followed suit, his sai stabbing into the nearest ninja. Mikey stayed close, using his agility to dodge blows, but he could feel the tension mounting. It was an all-out brawl, the warehouse echoing with the sound of clashing weapons and grunts of exertion.

“Come on, you overgrown tin cans!” Raph yelled, launching himself into a spin kick that sent one Foot Soldier crashing to the ground. Mikey mimicked his brother’s movements, throwing punches and kicks, but every time they took one down, two more seemed to take its place.

“Hey, Donnie, how about a little help here?” Mikey shouted, hoping against all odds that some part of their brother was still inside. But Donatello remained unmoved, standing rigidly by Karai, an unsettling grin on his face, as if he were enjoying the chaos around him.

The battle raged on, but it quickly became apparent that the brothers were severely outnumbered. Just as Leo and Raph fought off another wave of attackers, they felt the weight of heavy chains being forced around them. The cold metal bit into their skin, and with a sickening sense of dread, they realized they were being captured.

“Mikey!” Leo yelled, straining against the chains, but Raph was already being dragged back by two Foot Soldiers. The ninja’s grip was unyielding as they pulled him away, the sharp clinking of metal echoing in the warehouse. Raph struggled, kicking out wildly, but the sheer force of the Foot Soldiers overwhelmed him.

“No! Let him go!” Mikey shouted, but he too was soon restrained, strong arms pinning him to the ground. He writhed and kicked, his heart pounding with desperation. “Donnie, help us!” he pleaded, eyes wide with fear.

As the last of their resistance faded, Donatello moved down from the balcony with a slow, deliberate gait. His movements were unnaturally fluid, a predator stalking its prey. The manic glint in his eyes was unsettling, pupils blown wide, giving him a wild, deranged look. The smile that had once conveyed warmth now seemed twisted, devoid of the love and camaraderie that had defined him.

“Ah, the glorious moment has finally arrived!” Donnie exclaimed, his voice dripping with unsettling delight. “All of you in one place, now here’s where it starts to get really interesting.” he spat, malice overtaking the previous happiness in his voice.

Leo felt a cold chill settle in his stomach. “Donnie, Shredder has you and Karai under the control of a brain worm!” He called out, desperation coloring his words.

Raph, breathing heavily and straining against the chains, interjected, “You gotta resist it, Don! Use that big brain of yours! If I was able to fight it off, then you can too!”

But Donnie only laughed, an unnatural high-pitched sound that echoed through the warehouse, making the hairs on Leo's neck stand on end. “Oh, but this is so much fun! And truly Leo, I’ve never felt better!”

“Donnie, you don’t wanna hurt Mikey! I’m the one you should be mad at!” Leo pleaded, hoping to reach his brother through the haze of control that clouded his mind.

Donatello's grin widened, a jarring contrast to the familiar warmth that usually filled his expressions, as he stared at his oldest brother.

His eyes, wide and gleaming with an unsettling light, were devoid of recognition. The usual spark of intelligence was gone, replaced by something manic and chaotic. His fingers trembled slightly, as if he could hardly contain the excitement bubbling beneath his surface.

“~Aw, don’t worry, Leo,” he said, voice dripping with mock cheerfulness as he grabbed Leo’s face roughly, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Karai and I came up with fun activities for everyone!”

The chill that had settled in Leo’s stomach transformed into a wave of nausea. He could hardly process the twisted words spilling from Donnie's mouth. Fear surged through him, tightening his chest and twisting his expression into one of anguish.

“Donnie, please…” he whispered, desperation lacing his voice. His brows furrowed deeply, and his eyes widened, reflecting both disbelief and a flicker of hope that somehow, someway, he could reach his brother.

But the face that stared back at him was not the Donatello he knew—the warm, goofy brother with a penchant for invention and a heart full of loyalty. Instead, he saw a hollow shell, his brother was not with them at the moment.

“Donnie!” Raph’s voice cut through the air, furious and filled with disbelief. The sound was raw, almost primal, as if he was attempting to shake their brother awake from a nightmare.

Suddenly, the grip of the Foot Soldiers tightened around each of the brothers, yanking them backward into their respective traps. Raph thrashed violently, trying to break free, but it was no use. The chains clanked loudly on the concrete, but otherwise didnt budge.

Mikey too started to get dragged away, as he struggled against the grip of the Foot Soldiers, his heart raced, a sense of panic creeping into his chest. He watched his older brother, completely not in control for once, and felt a cold sweat break out across his brow. “Leo! Raph!”, he gulped “Dudes, I’m like, freaking out over here!” he shouted, desperation lacing his voice.

“Mikey!” Leo shouted again, fear morphing into determination as he struggled against his own restraints. The reality of their predicament began to set in, a cold weight anchoring him down.

He desperately sought to make eye contact with Donnie, hoping for a flicker of recognition, a glimmer of his true brother buried beneath the layers of madness.

As they were dragged away, Donatello stood there, a twisted smile stretching across his face, looking pleased with the chaos unfolding before him.

“This is just the beginning, my dear brothers,” he called out, his voice echoing with a sinister glee that made Leo's blood run cold.

[cupcakeslushie]

Oh my gosh this is so cool! Hehe the panel with the actual audio over it!! (°▽°) This goes so hard!!

If He Can’t Be The Hero…

Comic belongs to @cupcakeslushie and has me in a chokehold!

THERE IS NO ESCAPE

[raphthebigbro]

Tmnt 2012 au

So this IS HEAVILY INSPIRED by lfls by @eternalglitch , And this was supposed to be the alternate ending of that once episode, that is clash of the mutanimals. Seeing raph get picked by his controlled friends (Rockwell and Slash) and getting taken by them made me like ooh angst, and the fact they picked raph since he has that fighting spirit, and is a great warrior amongst his brothers (dw the bros' are great warriors as well frfr) , AND THAT ONE SCENE SJDFASF WHERE RAPH WAS STRAPPED ON A TESTING TABLE WITH HIS FRIENDS RIGHT BESIDE HIM JUST STANDING THERE

while he tries to snap his friends out of it he tries to "wriggle" off the tight straps, and they just stood there as if they don't hear his calls (ofc their controlled duhhh)

SLASH JUST FR MADE HIM STOP MOVING

AND THE PLACE WHERE THEY PUT THE BRAINWORM, (He def will be scared of worms after that ig), SO yeah after that happens Tigerclaw tells shredder that they should put a "shock" collar on him if he ever gets out of the control of the brain worm, and so shredder agrees and tells the fly man (I forgot his name..) to create a shock collar, and so he creates it using some kraang tech ( Idk how they got it but they got it lesgo) He created a manual button for the shredder and others in case of emergencies, There are like 4 or 3 modes or levels of the shock (Idk yet I'm thinkin' abt it)

So yeah, raph wakes up in that weird room, (Where they fought that shredder in that ep) And so Shredder tests the brain worms performance ( Yeah I forgot how it goes on the episode so yeah imagine it) And the moment the crew ( Leo, Mikey, Donnie, Leatherhead) Barge in raph was about to end shredder but he stopped when shredder said enough, Leo shouted "Raph do it end this!"

Donnie says "What is he waiting for?!" (I think?) And then yeah SHredder says raphael is mine now to control,

Then leo runs to shredder to slash him but then raph stops him, Leo shouted "Raph snap out of it man, Shredder's the enemy!" Raph counters it and says

"You are the enemy"

And they fight and so on yadayada,

Leo goes like "raph you gotta break Shredder's control, this isn't you! Where's that crazy temper?"

Then rapahel goes "Don't be a fool, theres nothing you could say Leonardo" And they fight yeah again

Leo says "Ah I think I get it, you can't feel emotion because your shredder's puppet" Then he starts to get angry, " As a matter of fact I bet you like doing whatever shredder tells you" Leo added, " You probably love it!" Leo said

Then raph starts to get more and more angry,

(GAHAHAHAH I'M SO GLAD I DID THIS SS) A feeling reached his throat as If he wanted to puke, Then ( aNOTHER FUNKY SCREENSHOT AHAHAHAH)

After that

Raph got out of SHredders control.. But then As he saw that Raphael was no longer responding to his orders Shredder Asked stockman to explain what happened to the worm,

He replied "I dont no Ssszzir.." Then he gave the control for the collar and explained blah blah blah. He pressed the button then the collar started beeping (3 beeps) Then raph pushed leo away because he doesn't know what'll happen, so yeah raph gets shocked, his brothers are just there, eyes wide.

Part 2 of explanation? Mmm maybe