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maddys-nerd-blog · 27 days ago

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After five-six months of writing and chipping away at this beast…

I proudly present to you my short story!

For context before going in! This is a tie-in to my current Familia AU, this takes place between the end of Familia: Through Space and Time, and the middle of Familia Forever, hence the addition of Mikey on the team and Katie being able to mutate into a jaguar! Also since this is a crossover AU there’s multiple versions of the characters! Here’s the key to who’s who in each series’s release date order:

2003 Hun

2007 Raph

2012 Casey Jones, Mondo Gecko

Bayverse Mikey

Rise Leo, Dastardly Danny

Mutant Mayhem/ Tales of the TMNT Donnie

Katie is my OC, as well as Grace who’s only briefly mentioned. The setting is the 2003 universe. There’s gonna be tons of whump in this one so be warned! 🤣 And there’s some Spanish in here cuz Katie is half Hispanic, so please let me know if I got something wrong as I don’t know the language 😅

NOW ONTO THE FANFICTION PROPER!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ransom

A TMNT Crossover Short Story Fanfic

Part One: It Takes One Second

Sunlight poured into the room through the slits in the shuttered blinds, warm and inviting, greeting a new day. The loft was awash with streams of soft hues of yellow that colored the walls and floors. Beyond the tiny hovel of a bedroom they’d sorted this space into, the faint rumble of a train speeding through the Manhattan subway shook the ceiling’s foundation, akin to a mother rocking their newborn. It was a familiar sound that brought comfort.

For Danny, he couldn’t sleep without the noise. The Hidden City was a bustling jungle almost as big as New York itself, though he couldn’t say he’d traverse the metropolis as easily as his home turf. The streets were busier. Louder. Jam packed with humans that cast him sideways glances if he didn’t carry a Cloaking Broach on hand when he did make those trips. Too much noise, too many cranky business schmucks, rowdy pedestrians. It was easier getting through the damn alleys than taking the main roads.

But the quiet was nice. Especially if it came with a lovely view.

He was an early riser by nature— it came with the job. Always waking up at the crack of dawn just as the sun kissed the morning horizon to color the sky in brilliant tones of pale yellow and tangerine orange. There was no greater sight than the Hidden City in the early morning. Yet he couldn’t quite explain the catch of breath in his throat as he stared down upon the slumbering form of the human detective at his side.

Katie’s body was covered in the quilt that draped over her bed frame most of the time, lips pursed slightly as she breathed. Her hair was getting longer around the back, he noticed. Tussled charcoal locks fell around her face like a messy curtain that framed her brow. The robotic appendage was draped over her side, titanium glinting in the slim rays of sun that managed to travel across the bed. She somehow managed to look even more gorgeous every time he looked at her.

How th’ hell did a human woman manage to do this to me? He wondered.

Danny could lay beside her all day and just stare at her— taking in her beauty, listen to the gentle rhythmic sound of her heartbeat, put every detail of her face to memory to capture it within his fondest dreams. He would, if he could. But the day was just beginning, and they still had responsibilities to keep up on.

Putting a hand on her shoulder he gave her a gentle shake. “Kat. Hey. We gotta get moving.”

Katie sleepily grumbled something unintelligible under her breath, burying her face into her pillow.

He chuckled at the sight. “Maravilla,” he sang with another gentle shake of her shoulder. “Despertar.”

Katie moaned this time, metal hand slowly coming to reach for her face to rub the heel of her palm into droopy eyes that were thick with sleep. “‘See you’ve been practicing your Spanish,” she mumbled.

“Ya like it?” Danny arched a playful eyebrow, smirking down at her. “I think it’s coming together. It gives me more of a… how do ya call it, sexy charisma, ah?”

“Cabron.” Katie grinned teasingly at him.

“Madam!” He sat up on his elbows a little to feign an indignant gasp, dramatically putting a hand to his chest. “Such foul language!”

“I’m shocked you understood that much.”

“Okay NOW you’re just bein’ cranky.”

“I’m not a morning person.”

“Clearly.”

Katie’s eyes opened halfway— stunning bright emerald orbs glared against the sunlight, making them shine like gemstones. “You’re feisty this morning.” She cracked a devilish smile. “I like it.”

“Oh?” Dropping his voice low for only her ears to hear, he moved without hesitation; with one arm he drew her close to his chest, the other hand coming up to caress her face. “Maybe I should tell ya how I really feel.”

Still smirking Katie breathed. “Enlighten me.”

Danny happily obliged, capturing her throat in a lingering kiss that left the detective speechless. “Eres tan hermosa como el sol de verano. Con una figura asesina a juego.” He peppered her neck with kisses, making her giggle. Raising his gaze back to match hers he murmured, “Y un par de ojos que podrían matar a un hombre.”

Katie gasped so quietly he nearly missed it. For a moment he thought he’d said something wrong— he’d only been learning Spanish for a few months, he was bound to make an error in translation. She suddenly touched his face, loving and tender, lips drawn into a beautiful grin that looked moved by his words. “You really mean that?”

“Every word.” He leaned up and kissed her forehead this time. Properly pulling himself to sit upright, his spine cracked simultaneously from the movement, making him flinch. Katie nestled closer to him, head coming to rest on his shoulder as she drew herself up against the headboard. “It’s not everyday a man treats me like an equal instead of an object. This is nice.”

“You kidding?” Danny gingerly raked his fingers through her hair— taking care not to pull his claws through tangles or knots. “Any man should treat his woman like a queen. There’s no exception unless yer a callous prick.”

Katie stuck her tongue out at him playfully. “Such a gentleman.”

“I try,” he shrugged. “Some of th’ time it’s hard t’ keep up this image.”

“Why, cuz women will hound you?”

“Oh that’ll happen regardless. Have you seen my face? Ya don’t get perfection like this every day.”

“Glad to know you’re humble.”

“You know you love me.”

“Unfortunately I do,” Katie giggled, scrunching her nose in that mischievous way he loved. “You wouldn’t cut your losses and turn tail, right?”

Danny snorted; pushing her bangs out of her eyes, he lowered his forehead to let it rest against her own, letting this moment linger for as long as he could. She was warm. She was radiant. She was all the things he couldn’t be. “Ya ain’t getting rid of me that easily.”

“That a promise?”

“If ya want it to be.”

*********************

“Mooooooom! Raph’s hogging the bathroom again!”

“We have another one downstairs.”

“But it’s so far away!”

“If you can’t walk fifteen steps up and down to the basement, we have SERIOUS problems.”

Flopping onto the couch with an outlandish whine, Leo picked up a throw pillow and threw it into the love seat opposite of him. “Why couldn’t we live in a killer mansion?”

“Did you suddenly forget that we’re being hunted by a psycho-stalking yōkai with a fetish for mutant blood?” Without looking up from her task, Katie flipped the frying pan full of chopped carrots and diced onion, the roar of the sizzle making her arms prickle. “Mansions are too posh, too much of a target!”

“Plus it just screams, ‘I’m an oversized, big-headed piece a’ shit with too much cash and too much free time.’” Walking past with a freshly brewed mug of piping hot coffee, Danny planted a kiss on Katie’s temple as he went. “Stayin’ on th’ down-low is better. Trust me.”

“Says you,” Leo pouted. “If I gotta be a criminal, I at least want to live a life of luxury!”

“Livin’ th’ fancy life ain’t all it’s cracked up t’ be. Appreciate th’ things ya got and you’ll be ten times happier,” Danny leaned against the wall, mug in hand. “Take it from me. It’s a nightmare.”

Leo didn’t appear to be convinced. “Well my Dad used to be a movie star before he got mutated, sooo…”

Clearly not getting through to him, Danny sighed, rubbing his temple. “Never mind.”

“Don’t worry. It takes a while b’fore anything gets through that thick skull,” Raph teased, making himself known at last as he tied his mask on. “Also, you can have th’ bathroom now, Yer Highness.”

Offended, Leo snapped, “Hey! Not true!”

“It’s one hundred percent true!” Raph chuckled, flicking the slider’s forehead. “I gotta remind ya NOT t’ do stupid shit most of th’ time!”

Swatting his hand away from his face, Leo snapped at him. “Name ONE thing I did that you told me not to!”

“That list is longer than th’ Eiffel Tower.”

“Recently then!”

“When I told ya not t’ skateboard in the subway during rush hour and ya did it regardless of traffic.”

Leo pouted. “… that was one time.”

“Amongst many other things,” Raph headed towards the pantry to rummage around for a mug. “Mornin’ Ma. Dan.”

“Hey Red.” “‘Sup.”

“What’s for breakfast?”

“Lemme see… some omelets. Extra crispy bacon. Maybe if I’m feelin’ real jazzy, I’ll throw in some fruit salad.”

“Need help?“

“Nah! Can you just poke your head into the boys’ room and wake them up?”

Raph gave a nod, heading off to the corridor, leaving Leo to sit in the living room. Meanwhile the slider slouched in his seat with a pout, arms crossed as he sulked. His adopted brother’s statement clearly left him irritated judging by the scowl on his face.

“You know nobody thinks you’re trouble,” Katie reminded, looking at Leo with a caring grin. “Raph just likes to push everyone’s buttons sometimes.”

“I know,” Leo mumbled. “Still makes me upset.”

“Hon, I understand, but you gotta know that Raph has his own ways of joking around. He never means those things to hurt you.”

“Then why does he gotta use that Smartass voice when he does?”

Not even one minute later Raph re-emerged from the corridor, this time joined by Mondo— who looked both groggy and worried. “Um, Ma?”

Katie’s brow knotted together with confusion. “What’s up? Where’s the others?”

Mondo frowned in worry. “I think Donnie is sick.”

Katie stilled. Danny looked up from his drink, Leo’s expression pinched with concern. “Sick how?”

“I went to get him up earlier but he said he had a headache. I thought it was nothing, but…” Mondo rubbed his neck. “Now he’s throwing up.”

This caught her attention immediately. Turning the stove off with a swift click, Katie started for the bedroom with a fretful lizard at her feet, softly calling as she went, “Donatello? Honey, ¿Qué pasa?”

Leo was off in seconds, scurrying after the detective. He could hear the heaving cough of someone who couldn’t breathe, a sickly wheeze pulling in air. Due to the commotion of the situation next door, Casey emerged from his room with a yawn, looking between Raph and Leo with heavy-lidded eyes still thick with sleep. “Yo, everything okay?”

“I dunno,” Leo responded as he passed. Upon reaching the doorway of Mondo and Donnie’s shared bedroom, the sound of whimpering came from inside.

Donnie lay in the bottom bunk of the bunkbed he and Mondo occupied. He was bundled up in the galaxy themed throw blanket bunched around his shoulders, eyes pinched shut as he struggled to breathe. His normally light green complexion was wrought with pain, sickly, sweat making his face clammy. His glasses and mask were resting atop the small table near the mattress, but along with it was a bucket that had just been used to catch vomit. Mikey was kneeling at the bedside of the younger turtle, reaching up a hand to feel his forehead, expression wilting. “Oh, man…”

“He’s been like this for an hour,” Mondo explained, cringing when Donnie coughed again. “He can’t even talk without barfing.”

“Oh sweetheart…” Katie cooed with sympathy. Turning to look at Raph, she gave an order. “Red, grab me a thermometer please?”

Without hesitation the older of the group darted for the medicine cabinet.

Donnie fought to pry his eyes open, puffy and weary with exhaustion. Sucking in a gasp through chattering teeth the turtle groaned. “M-Mom…?”

“I’m right here sweetie,” Katie comforted, dropping to a kneel at his side when Mikey moved aside to let her through, rubbing his head to soothe his headache. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

Donnie shut his eyes, shying away from the light that struck his face. “Don’… feel good…”

“What hurts?”

“M-my… head… an’ stomach…” he rasped. “My th-throat…”

“How long have you been feeling like this?”

“Y-Yester-day…”

“What? Donatello why didn’t you tell me?”

“D-Didn’t want… t-to scare you…”

Raph returned in seconds, thermometer in hand. Danny appeared in the doorway, cringing at the sight before him. “He ain’t looking too good… what’s he got?”

“Probably a flu at best. Pneumonia at worst,” Katie put the thermometer in Donnie’s mouth, putting a comforting hand atop his head. “Just focus on breathing right now Donnie, I’m not going anywhere.”

Leo stiffened at the poor sight of the other mutant on the bed. He hated seeing his brother in pain. And though this Donnie wasn’t his blood, it didn’t change the fact that he was still a version of his twin.

And that internal instinct kicked in; Help him.

Leo knelt beside Katie to join her at Donnie’s side. “Hey, bud,” he greeted quietly. “What’s up?”

Donnie’s round features twisted into a mask of discomfort. “L-eo…?” He croaked around the thermometer.

“Yeah, it’s me,” the red slider tried to offer his tsudo-brother a warm grin to cheer him up. “Mom’s gonna help you. Need me to get you something?”

Donnie didn’t reply. The torn expression that crossed his face filled the slider with concern. “He hasn’t gotten sick in a while… you think it’s serious?”

“Hopefully not,” Katie took the thermometer out of Donnie’s mouth once it chirped. The tiny screen lit up bright red; he was running a fever of a hundred and three.

Katie’s face turned grim, the fingers holding the devise starting to tremble. “… just my fucking luck.” Turning to Danny, she spoke urgently. “Dan, can you get the boys out of here? I gotta quarantine Donnie.”

“What?” Leo blinked, looking at his surrogate mother with despair. “I don’t wanna just leave him alone!”

“I’m gonna stay here with him,” Katie reassured. “I can’t risk you guys getting sick too. Let me handle this.”

“But…!” Leo tried to protest.

“Leo.” Katie’s tone indicated no nonsense. “The last thing I want is for you to get sick too. Donnie needs space to start recovering. I’ll do all I can to speed up the process.”

The slider bit the inside of his cheek, pained, looking at Donnie with remorse. Part of him wanted to argue to stay, to comfort the box turtle, to make certain the doppelgänger of his twin brother was safe. To leave now would break his heart. It would feel like he was abandoning him…

“Leonardo,” Katie coaxed, a hand coming to rest on his shoulder. She rarely used his full name, not unless the situation required. Her eyes were empathetic. “I’ll help him. I promise.”

Hands were coaxing him to stand, guiding him by the arm. “C’mon,” Raph gently urged the slider. “Let Mom work.”

But the guilt crept through. It started gnawing on his conscience. Suddenly he was no longer a teenager— instead he was that same nervous boy struggling to help his twin breathe. He was back in that cluttered old bedroom surrounded by the stench of sick that clogged his beak, almost able to hear the far-bygone cries of his younger brother weeping for a father that never came.

With a painful grimace, the slider fled the room without another word.

**********************

“How’s th’ kid?”

Katie pressed the heels of her palms into her forehead, elbows leaning on the table to support her head as she sighed. “Running a fever of a hundred and three still. It’s getting harder for him to take a full breath— poor thing gurgles when he breathes.”

From where he stood at the sink, wrist deep in the soapy water of dishes he’d been scrubbing, Danny visibly flinched. “Damn. That don’t sound promising…”

“He’s the most susceptible to infection and flu cuz of his species type, but I didn’t think a reaction could happen this soon. I wish I’d seen the signs earlier.”

“I have connections. I can make a few calls, try and get a clinic—“

“Which ones are still loyal to Mama?”

Danny faltered. He hadn’t considered that.

“Sorry… I just… fuck, I’m such an idiot.” Katie scolded herself, fingers raking through her hair in frustration. “I should’ve restocked sooner, I should’ve gone topside—“

“Ey, ey, no ya ain’t.” Danny moved away from the counter, hooking a stool around with his tail to pull himself into a seat. “It’s been a long couple months. Ya had a lot t’ deal with. Nobody can fault ya for being stressed.” He put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to better face him as he offered a warm grin. “You’re still one woman. It’s fine. Everything will be alright.”

Katie’s emerald orbs fluttered between him and her knees, shameful. “How’re we going to get medicine for Donnie?”

“I’m sure we can find something. Have ya considered going topside?”

“A few times. But…”

“But?”

“… I don’t wanna leave the kids alone. Every time I do, shit hits the fan. I’m still technically a wanted woman up there too, even though my poster isn’t around. There’s risks of my being exposed.”

“There’s plenty of risks everywhere, no matter where we go. That’s just our life.” He brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Here’s the plan; I’ll go topside and get ya what ya need. Just write me a list of th’ important meds t’ keep an eye out for.”

“You? But—“

“I got a Cloaking Broach. Nobody knows what I look like as a human. I go in, get yer stuff, get back in under two hours maximum. I won’t be seen. ‘Sides, ya know how t’ treat th’ kids better. They need their Mom with them. Donnie needs ya.”

“… are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t be offering if I didn’t mean it.”

Katie leaned her face into his palms, closing her eyes to think. Steadying herself under his touch, the one remedy to soothe all her woes in a world of madness and despair, she tallied through the options left at her disposal.

There weren’t many. And they all proved too much of a risk. Katie’s exotic face was everywhere, plastered all over noteworthy newspaper tabloids or the TV screens. No matter where she went trouble was bound to follow. Plus, if the EPF caught wind of her being traced to the city they’d hunt for her location until the kids were found. And that wasn’t counting the yōkai bounty hunters who were interested in cashing in on her reward.

But Danny was slick, street-smart, clever, a no-nonsense man who knew his way around the city. He had the knowledge handy to find what they were looking for— specifically of the mutant and yōkai variety.

She trusted him to get the job done. That part was crucial.

“Fine,” Katie reluctantly agreed. “There should be a pharmacy two blocks down from here. Just… please be careful.”

With one of his signature sly smirks Danny leaned forward, planting a kiss on the corner of her mouth. “I’ll be in and out.”

Katie offered a wry grin. “You’re a helluva smooth talker, aren’t you?”

“Only when ya want me t’ be.”

**************************

He hated seeing Donnie sick.

Call it twin sense or sixth sense, but for Leo it was a memory that triggered emotional distress.

It wasn’t like this was new to him. On the contrary, he was very familiar with a sick brother. But the memory of such an event was one he wasn’t too keen on remembering.

Many years ago when Don first got seriously ill with the flu. They’d been seven, Raph was eight, and Mike was six. The first three days of the initial sickness were harmless— Don mostly hid himself away in his bed, sulking and whining, Raph doing his best to keep his spirits up. Mike drew him pictures. Leo had taken it upon himself to sneak his twin brother cookies when Pops was asleep.

But the fourth day was when Don started to get worse.

Don woke up weeping in pain. Not just weeping— screaming bloody murder. He could barely voice his agony, breathing stagnated between gasps or wheezes. His green complexion was pale, turning from the normal deep forest green to a lighter shade. He was throwing up violently and trembling to the point where he couldn’t speak between sharp hitches of air being dragged through grounded teeth. There was no telling when these fits of shaking would end. Between the confusion in the chaotic lair and the sickly turtle, Leo had never felt more scared in his life.

Mike was already crying hysterically in distress thinking Don was dying. Raph was rushing back and forth between the bathroom to fetch fresh water from the sink and Don’s bedside to offer meager comfort, lost and beyond his realm of experience because how could any kid at that age wrap their head around this?

Their father? Holed away in the living room, secluded, ignoring the ear-piercing cries of his twin, glued to a never ending television rerun of Japanese soaps with those vacant, unfeeling eyes that regarded the child with a level of neglect Leo had sadly grown accustomed to.

‘It is just a cold,’ he’d grumbled to Leo when he’d first come running to him. ‘It shall pass. Let it ride out.’

But Leo knew better.

Even at the age of seven he knew better.

When his father proved to be a stone wall the child raced back to his twin’s bedside, the wailing and crying shattering his eardrums. Don’s condition seemed to wither by the hour the more the children were left unattended. It got so bad Raph debated whether or not he could sneak out of the safety of the lair to go topside and find a doctor, but swiftly remembered he was too small to push the manhole cover off by himself. Three clueless toddlers fighting for stability in an environment where their only caretaker had shuttered himself away from his children, pretending they didn’t exist whilst one of their brothers had been suffering tenfold. Don’s prolonged agony went on like this for twelve hours until his crying simmered out, he’d emptied his stomach of what little he’d eaten and promptly passed out from exhaustion. Days later he was back to his casual self like he’d never been deathly ill.

On that day Leo made a vow.

He would never allow his brothers to suffer any type of pain, no matter how mundane or severe, he would be there to pick up the pieces and heal them. It was one of the main factors of why he’d taken up to studying medicine— to better understand how the process worked, to learn how to remedy the ailments his siblings went though should it happen again.

And he would never be his father.

He would never ignore his family, never abandon them, or push them away.

He’d fight tooth and nail to protect his brothers. There was nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice for their happiness or safety. Leo would do what his father would never dream of doing— being there for his siblings.

Shaking his head to clear his mind of the past, he brought himself back to the present. Peering into the bedroom, the turtle made sure the coast was clear before entering the dimly lit space.

Leo squatted at Donnie’s bedside, the younger turtle barely conscious in his sickly stupor. He knew Mom told him not to be in here for the sake of his own health, but he couldn’t leave Donnie alone. His conscious wouldn’t allow him to do so. It didn’t matter if this version of Don was significantly different or if they weren’t bonded by blood, to Leo, this was still his brother.

Donnie fought for breath. His chest rose and fell with each painful pull of air through raspy gasps, face damp with sweat. Half-lidded eyes were partially red and puffy. The bucket he’d been dry heaving into sat dormant at the corner of his bed, empty bottles of water scattered around the floor along with cough drop wrappers. The basin of water was growing warm, damp washcloth draped on the lip of the ceramic. What little Tylenol Mom had left over rested atop his drawer, untouched. He had yet to wake up.

Quietly the slider put a hand atop the younger turtle’s brow, recoiling when he felt how hot he was. It was like his skin was shimmering on high heat, boiling from within. Donnie hadn’t gotten this sick in a long time, not since he first came across their little group years ago. Just like his twin…

It was odd. It was like looking in a mirror.

The differences between his twin and this Donnie were as wide as a canyon, but the similarities were exact and precise.

Careful as he could Leo picked up the washcloth, dipping it into the basin to absorb some water. “Donnie, I dunno if you can hear, but it’s me, Lee.” He squeezed out the excess water from the fabric. “Mom says I shouldn’t be in here, but… I wanna make sure you’re okay.”

He dabbed the wet cloth on Donnie’s temple, motions tender and swift from years of practice. “Big bro’s gotcha now. I’ll pass the time by singing those J-pop songs you like! Or narrating all the Jupiter Jim comics I’ve got!”

Donnie didn’t speak.

“Or! I could pull my tablet out! Flip through Netflix, find some anime music for you to listen to?”

Once again, silence.

“That’s okay, you don’t have to choose right away! We can wait until you’re feeling better!” Leo tried to be as cheerful as possible. But the lack of conversation began to get to the slider’s anxiety.

Leo despised the silence. He’d always hated it; call it an uncomfortable memory from the past, but the quiet irritated him. No noise created unrest. No noise meant nobody was coming, nobody would bother checking on Donnie. He knew he was being ridiculous; Mom was hellishly attentive almost to a fault. One trait Pops wasn’t. One little indiscretion alerted her— even if either of them got a paper cut or a stubbed toe she’d immediately jump on top of it. ‘What do you need? Are you hurt? Did you eat poison? Oh my lord please tell me you didn’t eat the poison.’ It was a far, far cry from anything he was used to in his childhood, beyond the abandonment issues that were so engrained into Leo’s psyche not even the worlds’ best therapist could untangle those threads.

And yet that teeny, tiny smidgen of doubt poked through. The intrusive thoughts of ‘this won’t last forever.’

He shuddered. Leo scolded himself for thinking so little of his newfound family, for not letting himself be more trusting of his mother, the woman who took him in, the woman who put up with him for so long he was mildly shocked she hadn’t grown sick of his antics. The same woman who’d spent hours at his bedside, holding his hand, singing Spanish lullabies to comfort him as he sobbed after he’d woken from his coma. The same woman who’d hugged him when his crippling self worth crumbled like a stack of cards. The same woman who, despite her own demons, made him feel like he mattered in the grand scope of their crazy adventure when there were others just like him who were probably better than him.

Yet, to Katie, Leo was one in a million.

So why did he suddenly doubt her?

‘It’s cuz of you. You don’t trust anyone enough. You don’t think they’ll do more for you because of Dad,’ a voice hissed in the back of his skull. ‘If you didn’t hesitate so much when it came to talking about your feelings then you wouldn’t be a problem.’

Tears prickled the edges of his weary gaze. Why couldn’t he just allow himself to believe things were okay? Why am I like this?!

“Ya shouldn’t be in here.” Leo startled from the sudden voice behind him. Whipping his head around, he spotted Raph leaning against the doorway, staring at him with judgmental eyes. “Ma said Don needs t’ recover in quarantine.”

The slider blinked in order to stamp out the tears clinging within his orbs, trying to appear casual. “Yeah? Well, quarantine is overrated,” he said. “Who needs it am I right?”

Raph didn’t look too pleased. “Don’t dance around th’ issue. Ya know Mom ain’t gonna be thrilled t’ know ya went behind her back.”

The way he worded the sentence made Leo bristle, a wave of bitterness crawling up his shell. “I’m not going behind her back.”

“Ya ain’t?“ Raph blinked. “Oh sure, ‘course ya aren’t, what am I sayin’? It ain’t like yer disregarding th’ orders that were given t’ you in th’ first place, sneaking around when nobody’s here t’ notice?”

Leo scowled. “I just happened to come in here when everyone is busy, that’s not me sneaking. I’m… paying a visit.”

“You kidding?” Raph pushed off the doorway, tone hardening with disbelief. “Yer lying now? If ya wanna play this game, I’ll go get Ma and tell her what’s going on.”

“And what, are you the town snitch?” Leo countered, narrowing his eyes angrily. “Didn’t know you valued Mom’s praise so much you’d sell out your brother.”

“Then ya shouldn’t be in here!”

“Says who? Mom? When did you suddenly start being a rule follower?”

“Since th’ day I got my ass handed t’ me by guys who coulda done a whole lot worse t’ me had I just listened t’ Ma.”

He knew what he was referring to. Karai had nearly decimated Raph before Mom discovered his Nightwatcher persona and pulled the plug on those escapades. Fifty Foot clan members, a busted arm and spite hadn’t nearly been enough for Raph to take on single-handedly that night. It could have cost him his life. But Mom never let him go alone— she’d thankfully followed the oldest in the dingy pickup truck to ensure her suspicions were correct.

They were.

“So what? You’re the watch dog of this family now?” Leo spat, turning away from Donnie’s unconscious form to give Raph his full attention. “Over a stupid choice YOU made? Gee, sorry I’m not as good at getting caught as you.”

“Ya just don’t get it, do you?” Raph finally started showing his frustration. “Every time you do this, EVERY TIME you do this, you think you can get away scot free cuz you’re ‘Th’ Funny One.’ Bein’ funny ain’t gonna save ya forever! Donnie is SICK! Who knows if it’s contagious?! Ya get sick and waltz around th’ lair coughing and hacking out gunk, guess what?! Yer gettin’ all th’ rest of us sick! Ya want Ma t’ have t’ stress out?! Ya wanna put more on her plate?! She’s already got enough t’ put up with, th’ last thing we need is t’ have Mom on th’ floor having a heart attack!”

“NO, I don’t!” Leo exclaimed right back, shooting to his feet to face the older. “Just cuz I’m concerned for my brothers doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to check in on them!”

“I never said ya couldn’t! Ya have t’ wait until his fever breaks!”

“That could take days! Donnie’s never been able to withstand an illness that long!”

“What are you talking about?” Raph’s brows furrowed together, bewildered beyond reason. “Donnie’s never had a fever longer than three days! He’s—“

It clicked for him in an instant. Raph blinked, face pinched in an expression Leo hadn’t seen before. “… this ain’t about this Donnie, is it?”

“You do NOT get to ask me that.”

“Is that why you’ve been acting skittish all afternoon? Leo, man, he ain’t like yer twin. They’re two totally different people. They’re built differently from one another. For all we know his immune system is already working t’ get his infection out. Donnie’s gonna be fine.”

“I don’t care! You see this?! This is my not caring face!”

“There ain’t no one reason for you t’ be shouting at me! Donnie’s trying t’ sleep! What is WITH you lately?! Why do ya act like I’m your enemy?! What’s your ISSUE?!”

“YOU ARE!” Leo exclaimed. “YOU! You’ve been on my case for absolutely ZERO reason! Always nagging me, scolding me, telling me what to do, being a jerk! You act like you’re better than me but you’re just as clueless as the rest of us! You push me around like I’m a sock monkey and laugh at me for messing up, even if I’m trying to do what everyone expects of me! Mom already favors you cuz you’re the biggest suck up ever! I can’t STAND you sometimes! Why can’t you just leave me alone and do something with yourself instead of pretending you’re my big brother cuz you AREN’T!”

The way the silence fell was damning. Like a door being slammed in his face.

Leo immediately regretted his actions. He hadn’t meant to say something so cruel— but the words had escaped before he’d had time to stop himself. And he didn’t need to know he was in serious trouble when he saw Raph’s face morph from being stricken to curdling resentment. There had never been so much hurt behind razor sharp eyes before.

“… wow.” Raph spoke in a soft hiss, betrayed and incensed. “So that’s how ya really feel?”

Leo opened his mouth to apologize, thousands of words flooded throughout his mind, wracking him for anything suitable, but for some reason nothing came out. His tongue felt like a dumbbell in a parched mouth that forgot how to function. Words were locked in the depths of his unresponsive throat. His heart rate quickened the longer the pause lasted between them, unsure if Raph was going to pummel him or start screaming in his face. Either way, Leo knew he was in for it.

“Fine.” Raph’s voice was barely a whisper, bringing the tension to a standstill, his voice dripping with venom. “Fine. Ya wanna act like a self-centered brat? Do what ya want. If we’re putting all our secrets out in the open, then I’ll bite. But just remember; Yer th’ lowest of th’ low for putting yer own selfishness before th’ well-being of this family. Ya wanna know what yer worst flaw is? It ain’t yer ego. It’s th’ fact that no matter how hard we try t’ get through t’ you it ain’t about you, it goes right over yer head. I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but ya better get that shitty attitude under control before ya get someone hurt.” And with a scowling glare the eldest stormed out of the room.

Leaving a shaken Leonardo to stand there and absorb his words, cemented in place.

********************

“How’s this?” Danny adjusted the collar of his button down lavender shirt, turning around to face Katie who sat on the edge of the bed. “Inconspicuous enough?”

“Very,” she nodded, sizing him up and down with her eyes. “Although if you loosen those buttons on your shirt by a few inches down, you’ll look sexier.”

Dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans and his favorite brown loafers, the yōkai had just finished fastening the buttons to his sleeve cuffs when he gave her The Look. “Oh? What, like,” Danny reached a set of fingers up to flick his collar open to expose his torso, taunting her from where he stood. “That?”

Katie purred, leaning back into the bed, her arms supporting her upper body. “Me-YOW.”

“That’s all th’ show yer gettin’ until tonight,” he smirked, rebut toning his shirt closed with a wink. “Only if yer ready t’ handle all this.”

Katie threw a pillow at him, cracking a sly grin at him. “Ass!”

“Temper, temper!”

“Oh, you wound me sir.” Katie chuckled, rolling her eyes. “You’re lucky you’re so appealing to look at.”

Danny popped his collar down, adjusting his hair to comb it back with his fingers. “Ya know ya landed th’ lottery when ya found me. Although I can’t complain ‘bout th’ view in front of me either.”

Katie clicked her tongue. “Don’t try to butter me up, mister. I’m not an easy catch.”

“Ya sure as hell didn’t make it easy, I’ll give ya that,” Danny finally stepped away from the mirror, turning to meet her face. “But th’ chase was fun.” His tail made it’s way around her waist, acting as another appendage to hold her. The woman chuckled, sitting straight as the man casually approached with his swaggering smile. “And I’m always interested in playing th’ long game.”

“It wasn’t all that hard,” Katie hummed, raising her hand to touch his jawline with the tips of her fingers. “I had a mighty fine man to reel in at the end of that chase. And good lord was it worth it.”

Danny’s eyes turned mischievous; leaning forward mere inches from her face, he folded his hands behind him and offered the woman a playful smirk. “Oh yeah? Glad I’m such a prize.”

Her fingers pushed some of his hair out of his brow to better match his gaze. “Baby, you’re a jackpot. If someone gave me the option of choosing a million bucks or you, I’d choose you.”

“Awww, no cash? Ya coulda had it made.”

“I already do. In the past three years I’ve had the adventure of a lifetime. I’ve adopted six amazing kids. I found the love of my life. Even if I gotta put up with bigots and the occasional bounty hunter, I’d never trade any of you for my old life.“ She closed the gap to kiss him, chaste and sweet and everything he’d ever wanted. He fought the temptation to lock her in a passionate embrace, to clutch her face to his and take her in with all his strength, but he resisted. A patient man would find respite if he waited.

For now he settled for this. And it was still wonderful.

He lingered in the kiss for a moment more, pulling back once she’d withdrawn. His tail unwound itself from her waist as both his hands fell to rest on the woman’s shoulders— one cool to the touch, the other flesh and bone— to squeeze them. “I wouldn’t change a thing either.” The yōkai stepped away to start gathering his things for his trip as a thought came to mind. “I don’t think I ever asked ya, but how do you do it?”

“How do you mean?”

“All o’ this,” Danny waved a hand to gesture to the air. “Keeping a roof over yer head, juggling six kids’ t’ make sure they get equal attention, staying afloat and still managing t’ go forward? Honestly I’m a little jealous. Not even I coulda had th’ stamina t’ balance Len and Mick at my best, let alone SIX of them.”

Katie, for once, appeared surprised. Emerald eyes flickered somewhere around the room to think, properly gather her thoughts, as she straightened her slouched posture to sit. “I mean… instinct I guess. My sister and I raised her little girl together after her husband died for fifteen years, and things were great. I couldn’t HAVE kids cuz my body sucks. When I got roped into all of this and I found Mondo, some part of me kinda knew I had to step up not for my sake, but his. One thing turned into another and suddenly I became a surrogate parent to four overnight. Then Casey found me, Fugitoid blew up, Zog died, Mikey popped in and… Grace was taken.”

Her voice changed. The more the memories seemed to plague her consciousness the more somber her tone became. “Perspective really hit me when I was at Leo’s deathbed; his shell was split open like a chestnut when we found him in whatever the hell that prison dimension was, it was like I was carrying a carcass.” Katie’s face twisted with grief. Her hands folded together on her knees, metal fingers creaking anxiously. “I didn’t choose to be a mom, but destiny really kicked my ass when I got these kids. It showed me how I could be more than what I was, more than what I used to be. I’m not just some cop who doesn’t have all the pieces to her case to solve, I’m just… Mom.”

“… so… how’d ya make up yer mind about staying?”

“When those boys needed a parent to guide them through all this bullshit. Bishop almost killed me and they would’ve been left alone to deal with him. I couldn’t do that to them.” Katie shook her head to clear the muddied thoughts. “All it takes is one second, Daniel. That’s all it is. One second to decide between life or death.”

“… damn.” Danny couldn’t help but utter. “That’s kinda poetic, in a way.”

Katie, masking her inner trauma, merely smiled cheekily at the yōkai. “Awww! You think I can be the next Edgar Allen Poe?”

“Jesus, no! Ya ain’t a secret sadist are ya?”

“Daniel, there’s a ton you—“

“MA!” Her bedroom door was swung wide open, striking the opposite wall as the unexpected entrance startled the adults out of their skins. They were met with Raph standing out of breath, expression frantic, his eyes blown wide with concern. “Ma…! I messed up big time!”

“Red, what the hell—“

“It’s LEO! He’s—! He’s gone!”

Katie shot off the bed like a lightening bolt, face turning serious. “What do you mean he’s gone?!”

“I—! I said some really stupid shit t’ him, I was so pissed at him and I dunno what came over me! He, he must’ve taken what I said t’ heart and run off! There’s a portal in his room!”

Danny could sense terrible dread beginning to engulf the human. Katie’s shoulders went rock solid, her hands grabbing her hair as she panicked. He could see Raph desperately begging forgiveness, trying as he could to remedy the damage done. In all honesty the human looked ready to collapse and suffer a breakdown.

Danny knew she’d been through enough.

Danny understood she wasn’t in the right state of mind to go.

He knew, above all else, those kids were her number one priority.

So…

Snatching his black coat off the dresser and grabbing his phone with his tail, Danny rushed past the others. “I’ll get him!”

“What?! Daniel wait, you can’t—!”

“I’ll get him!” Danny called back once he reached the hall, darting to the direction of Leo’s bedroom. The door had been left ajar, a steady trickle of bright blue light shining through the gap as it spilled across the adjacent wall.

Bingo. He moved into the messy threshold just in time to see the blue vortex start to shrink. No time to back out now! Without delay, the yōkai threw himself into the unknown, barely managing to hear Katie’s distressed cry in the background as magic swallowed him whole.

Portal magic was a tricky business, one he wasn’t truly familiar with. Truth be told the concept made his head spin. It happened in the blink of an eye. One moment he was running into the open mouth of a mysterious mystic element, the next he popped up within the dirty, grimy alley of Manhattan, righting his footing as if he’d just gotten off a roller coaster, whiplash making his world tilt.

Where could the turtle have gone in such a rush? This alley was mostly dormant beyond the dumpsters and trash bags that littered the area. There was no signs of anyone else roaming the narrow passage, all the foot traffic was coming from the busy streets behind him. Danny swallowed his nausea down, shaking the feeling off before he pulled his coat on, going to reach his hand into the left pocket to retrieve his Cloaking Broach when—

… it wasn’t there.

Fuck. Danny turned his pockets inside out, searching for the artifact with a renewed fervor. Fuck fuck fuckfuckfuck are ya kidding me?! The more he checked his coat, the more the realization hit that he’d left it behind.

… he’d left it on the dresser.

“FUUUUCKIN—“ Danny threw his hands up and dragged them down his face, kicking a stray can in his frustration. “Rookie move, Dan! Ya go t’ prove ya can provide for yer woman, and ya can’t even remember t’ bring th’ one damn thing ya need t’ get past security! On top’a losing her kid!”

“Losing who’s what now?” Piped a voice from above.

“JESUS!” Danny whirled around, claws extended in warning, looking for the source of the voice as he craned his neck up to find a fire escape ladder drawn up… and a red eared slider sitting overhead on the landing.

Leo stood out in the dim lighting of the alleyway, crouched on the metal flooring to gaze down upon the yōkai from his platform six feet up. He wore a bright blue sweatshirt that was three sizes too big, grey sweatpants, and blue converse sneakers. His hood was drawn up to hide his mutated face but it was a dead giveaway once his bright yellow eyes shined through. He was sans his katana, which was unusual because he usually toted one or both of them to travel, but he retained his bright blue mask as he always did.

Leo gave the man a salute, half-hearted. “‘Sup, Rat Man.”

Unimpressed Danny responded flatly. “Rat Man. Really. Like I ain’t used t’ that one.”

“What ARE you used to then? Captain Rodent? Mister Fur Face? Whisker Dude?”

“Neither of those are clever puns.” Danny put his hands on his hips, brows furrowed in displeasure. “Can ya get down from there so we can go home?”

Leo frowned, almost a scowl, before turning away stubbornly. “Why?”

Danny balked. “Come again?”

“Why should I? It’s not like anyone will really care that I left.” The bitterness that coated his words made Danny feel uneasy. “Raph made it very clear— I’m not wanted at home.”

The yōkai didn’t know what to make of this. “What are ya talking about?”

“‘I’m the lowest of the low’, ‘I’m a self centered brat.’ You don’t need me. That’s what he said. It’s better if I left— cut off the weakest link to the team if you’re gonna have a chance at being functional.” Leo drew his knees to his chest, avoiding all eye contact with the man. “You guys are better off without me.”

Danny stood bewildered. “He couldn’t have.”

Leo shrank into himself, head buried in his arms. The way he looked made it seem like his hoodie was engulfing him.

The sounds of city life continued on without them, cars, buses, bikes and taxis whizzed by as the rush hour traffic picked up. More pedestrians started perusing the sidewalks in the corner of his eye. If they continued waiting around in this dark alley the stores would soon be crowded. Crowded areas meant grabbing medicine was next to impossible.

Danny hummed, contemplative as he raised his head to look at the mutant kid scurried in the dark. “Well I ain’t leaving. Either ya come down, or I’m climbing up.”

Leo’s yellow orbs peeked over his arms, watching the yōkai from below. He didn’t budge.

“Okay.” Danny rolled his shoulders, taking one step back as he moved; moving through tight and narrow spaces was like second nature to him, body angling and twisting around the gap between the decrepit ladder and a line of dumpsters that acted as his footing, his hands latched onto the flimsy metal. He hauled himself up with ease, climbing the rest of the way to reach the platform.

When Danny found the top he looked around the ledge to find the turtle still curled into a ball, eyes pinned onto him with mild awe. “What’s with th’ look?”

“I’ve never seen you move like that!”

“I practically grew up on th’ streets of Queens. Ya can take th’ punk outta th’ slums, but ya can’t take th’ street life outta th’ man.” Danny huffed as he pulled himself onto the platform proper, coming to sit beside Leo. The turtle didn’t move from his spot, but he sighed under his breath all the same. “Welp, we’re sitting here. Watching th’ trash in th’ alley. Didn’t know we were on garbage patrol.” He tried to joke, but Leo’s face turned melancholy. “Hey, kid. Why’d ya really take off?”

Leo shrugged lamely. “You guys don’t want me around, so I left.”

“Now who said that?” Danny quarried.

“Raph basically said—“

“Did he say those exact words to you? Verbatim? Did he say, ‘Leo, we’re better off without ya?’”

Leo went dead silent. His fingers gripped the sleeves of his hoodie.

“What’s got ya feeling this way? Anything you wanna talk about?”

“… not really.”

Danny pondered for a moment longer, drumming his claws on the metal flooring underneath him to think. “I dunno what’s wrong but I know I ain’t leaving ya by yerself. So I’ll stay here until yer ready t’ talk, okay?”

Leo was silent, unwilling to reply, but Danny didn’t hold it against him. Whatever had been said to the kid must’ve really gotten to him. He was willing to give the turtle time to think, but he had to keep an eye on the crowd; too many eyes on them wouldn’t be ideal if he had to go find a pharmacy. Who knows what Kathrine must be doing right now? She’s bound to be going hysteric.

Thankful he at least remembered to bring his cellphone, Danny fished it out of his jacket. Unlocking it he began to send a text;

Found Leo.

Seconds later a new message rang.

Kat:

THANK U GOD.

Is he ok??

Yeah he’s fine. Just upset. Gonna be a little bit.

Kat:

As long as he’s safe

Dan ur a lifesaver

Let me know when ur on ur way home please

You know I will.

Danny put his phone back in his jacket, glad to have at least given her some peace of mind in the middle of this confusion. Now how do I get him to come back home?

“I didn’t mean to be a jerk.” Leo suddenly mumbled.

“T’ who, Raph?”

Leo nodded solemnly. “Sometimes I jump the gun and say things without thinking about how it’ll hurt someone. And… I really didn’t mean it. But now he thinks I hate him.” His voice crackled guiltily. “Maybe you guys really would be better off without me. I’m just a screw up.”

“I don’t think any of that’s true.” Danny leaned forward, arms coming to rest on his knees as he regarded the mutant with empathetic eyes. “Nobody in that lair believes yer a screw up.”

“Yeah right.” Leo scowled deeper, three digits digging into the course material of his sleeves.

“It’s th’ truth. Why are ya so sure it ain’t?”

“Cuz…” the slider’s fingers clung to the sleeves of his hoodie, death-like and iron clad, avoiding all eye contact. “You guys don’t need a kid who’s gonna drag you down to rock bottom.”

“What do ya mean?”

Moments passed without conversation. Those moments turned into minutes. Leo closed his eyes and took a deep, slow breath, steeling his nerves as he exhaled with an audible sigh. “… can you keep a secret?”

Danny folded his hands on his lap, slouching forward against the rails in front of them to get comfortable. “‘Course, as long as ya aren’t planning on hurting yourself, then I’m calling Kat.”

Leo bristled, but he decided to test the waters. “Have you ever felt like your family would be better off without you? Like… if you weren’t around to mess things up or do stupid things or say things that hurt your brothers, life would be better if you weren’t around?”

Danny thought about the words for a few seconds, giving it some thought. If he lied to the kid he’d only push him away further. Perhaps being truthful would ease Leo’s burden. “When I was yer age? Yeah.”

“But have you ever wanted to disappear? Like if you were to,” Leo snapped his fingers. “Poof! Just vanish into thin air, everyone would be happier?”

Danny frowned. Fingers itched for a cigarette, ruefully remembering they were also back at home, but he stamped the urge to smoke down. “On my worst days as a delivery boy for Lena, yeah. Sometimes I look back at my younger self and I think… ‘Damn, you were such an idiot for going t’ her in th’ first place.’ But ya know what changed?”

Leo flicked his gaze onto him, waiting, still unmoving.

“I found out that there’s more t’ life than bein’ a petty thief. I got out. Yer Mom gave me th’ strength t’ stand up for myself and wipe th’ slate clean. No more crime, no more constantly looking over my shoulder, no more living in a shithole apartment, and no more regrets. My life’s been better for it.”

“What’s this gotta do with me?”

“Ya shouldn’t wanna disappear. Yer Mom would miss th’ hell outta you, and yer brothers would be worried. I know I ain’t been around long, but I can tell just by how yer Mom acts she cares about you. Ya should never have any doubt in yer head about that.”

“What about Raph?”

“I’m sure he’s gonna be scolded for talkin’ about ya like he did. And he’s probably beating himself up over it by now.”

Leo’s shoulders sank, visibly deflating. He wrung his hands out to stave off the anxiety, low rumbling chirp coming from his throat with guilt. “… I’m sorry I ran off.”

“No need t’ apologize. I get th’ feeling of needing air, but I think Kat woulda appreciated a heads up that you were gonna go topside,” Danny offered a supportive grin. “How about I take ya t’ go grab some food b’fore we get Donnie’s meds?”

Switching on a dime his demeanor changed. Leo perked up, bright eyed and excited. “Wait really?! Sweet! Let’s get a move on!” He was moving instantly, leaping to his feet and darting down the ladder. When Danny didn’t stand right away, the turtle popped his head over the ledge and he said, “Get a move on, Old Timer!”

“I ain’t old!” Danny laughed, following the turtle down the fire escape. “Not even by a long shot!”

Leo landed below with a flourish, scoffing. “Yeah, yeah, and I’m the Queen of England! Come on, we’re burning daylight!”

Danny finally climbed the rest of the way down. “I hear ya, I’m right behind ya. Pick which spot ya wanna go and I’ll see what I can—“

Click.

His ear pricked up.

Danny narrowed his gaze, averting his eyes over his shoulder to locate the source of the noise. Leo, noticing his suspicion, became alert. His stance turned defensive.

Danny turned around, unprepared to find a human man pointing a Glock at his chest, blocking their way out through the alley. His eyes were beady and dark, short blonde hair combed over, his skin peachy, adorning a dark green zoot suit like he was about to go onto a forties gangster movie set. But it wasn’t his god awful fashion sense that made Danny start to tense up.

It was the Purple Dragon tattoo stamped on the back of his right hand, the one currently aiming the gun.

“Don’t move, freaks,” Green hissed.

This guy has guts, Danny thought. And he sounds like he’s imitating Steve Buchemi. Deciding to play the confident card, the yōkai smirked. “Aww, what? Ya ain’t seen a rat in New York before? Hate t’ tell ya this pal, but,” he brandished his hand, showing a set of long, recently filed claws ready to strike. “We’re everywhere!”

Green’s face morphed into disgust, fingers gripping his gun tight to the point of revealing the white of his knuckles beneath his skin. “Just my luck, running into youse things on my day off. Ya really are cropping up outta the woodworks!”

“Um, not to be THAT guy, but what’s with your accent?“ Leo peered around Danny comedically, the ridges of his brows quirked in curiosity. “Are you pretending to be British? If so, it REALLY needs work.”

“Wha— No! I’m from Jersey!”

“Oooooo boy, that’s rough buddy, sorry I asked.”

“Anyway,” Danny took a daring step forward, claws poised at the ready as he pointed them at Green. “Ya think you can take us? Yer alone here. So I suggest ya tuck yer tail between yer legs and piss off before I do something I don’t wanna do.”

Green’s eyes darted somewhere past the rodent and turtle, brief but very much obvious, and his shit eating grin took a more devious turn. “Oh… am I?”

In the mouth of the alley where their only means of escape left was cut off by the introduction of an unmarked blue Mercedes’ pulling up on the street to box them in. Coming out of the car were four more bigger, brutish men dressed in casual punk clothes… all of which boldly showing the Purple Dragons mark.

“Ya thought I’d just corner youse two alone? I know ya travel in packs,” Green snootily backed off, Glock still aimed at Danny. “I called my pals t’ give them the heads up that you lowlives were infiltrating our turf!”

“And we don’t LIKE mutants,” one guy with a tacky haircut snarled, tapping a short metal pipe on his shoulder for emphasis.

The air turned thick. Tension rose between the bigots and the outcasts. Leo glanced up and down at the human men, mentally debating whether or not he should start fighting his way out.

Th’ guy ain’t as dumb as I thought, Danny felt cold sweat cling to the back of his neck. He retracted his claws away from Green in favor of turning his heel and addressing the burly crowd of thugs with one of his famous pleasing smiles. “Gentleman, please, let’s settle down! This ain’t all that serious! Why don’t we just go out separate ways and pretend we didn’t have this conversation?”

“Or,” Green spoke snidely. “We all take a little trip.”

“Trip?” Leo chuckled— Danny noticed there was a slight clip to his tone that suggested something else. “Dude unless we’re all going to Hawaii I’m not going anywhere with you creeps.”

“Unfortunately for you,” another man stepped closer, his anger potent. “You don’t get to have a choice.”

Danny’s eyes shifted around the alley for a moment, calculating, trying to figure out what to do. Alright tough guy, ya barked up th’ wrong tree, do something FAST.

“Yeeeeah, nope, no thanks. I’m not really interested. Let’s take a rain check on the whole kidnapping thing, huh?“ Leo clapped his hands in front of him, trying to play this off like a big joke. “Been there, done that!”

Green tsked. “Annoying little prick,” he approached the teen, lowering his gun to reach out and grab Leo’s arm—

“Fuck off, dipshit,” Danny moved so fast barely anyone noticed his precise movements; he bashed an elbow into Green’s abdomen, sweeping his legs out from under him with his tail. The moment Green went down Danny seized a beat-up wooden rod from near one of the trash cans and swung with all his might, smashing it into another thug’s nose with tremendous force.

Following his example Leo leapt into the air, moving like water over stone. He jumped over the stunned body of Green to grab the fire escape ladder, swinging his body a full three-hundred and sixty degrees around to deliver a brutal blow into the back of Green, driving both feet straight into him and throwing the goon in a pile of garbage.

The guy with the pipe ran towards Danny with his weapon raised, but Danny was clever. He seized a tethered baseball cap lying to the wayside, flipping it around to expose the inside to catch the pipe like an umpire, using the momentum of the man’s flimsy footing up drag him down. Once he was on the floor, Danny’s tail wrapped around his throat and bashed his face into solid concrete.

Leo bounced on top of the dumpster, kicking and punching the meathead trying to nab him with all the finesse of an acrobat in the boxing ring. “What’s wrong? Turtle got your tongue?” He sang in his bold bravado. “Looks like you’re not as good as me—“

Just as they thought they had gained the upper hand, the tables turned against them.

CRACK! A brick was chucked at Leo’s face from the corner of Danny’s eye.

The teen yelled in a mix of pain and confusion, falling onto his shell as he went to grab at his temple to check for bleeding, but his assailant took this chance to grab the teen. Leo began to kick and struggle as the man held him in a death grip against his chest to pin the turtle down. “Hey! Get off!”

“Leo!” Danny went to try and assist the turtle, but he never saw Green sneaking up from behind with the fallen metal pipe to strike him on the back of the noggin.

THWACK!

One moment Danny saw block spots swimming across his vision, disoriented. The next he was being pinned against the wall, arms pulled behind him and a hand gripping the back of his head.

Fuck…

“Stupid mutants. They never realize that humans also travel in packs,” Green huffed, tossing the pipe aside to rise. “My boss is gonna give me one helluva raise for this catch.”

“Like hell he is,” Danny spat through gritted teeth, trying to pry his arms free. “You’re lucky I ain’t able t’ rip yer eyes outta yer sockets!”

Green approached; weasely hands frisking the yōkai’s jacket pockets until he located his wallet and cellphone. Danny rolled his eyes at the absurdity of it. Ain’t this a trip down memory lane.

“Well, well, let’s see what we got here.” Green flipped open his wallet and took a look at his human ID. “So… Danny, innit? Whatcha doing out here? Don’t you got some cheddar to gnaw on at home?”

“Sure I do. But I was craving some Gouda, personally,” Danny retorted sardonically.

“So youse got some jokes, don’t you?” Green tossed Danny’s wallet over his shoulder as though it were another piece of litter strewn about the alleyway. “I got news for you, rat man.” He dropped Danny’s cell to the ground, the devise clattering. Without a shred of thought he smashed it under his foot, glass crackling and crunching beneath the leather heel. Taking away the last true means of summoning any help. “You ain’t going nowhere.”

“Bastard!” Danny shouted, fighting to wrench his arms free. “Yer gonna pay for that!”

Green barked out a laugh. “Oh, sure I will!” He smashed he phone down harder to rub salt into the wound. “I’d love to see you try to call for more of your Frankenstein friends without a phone!”

Leo kicked and flailed his legs in defiance, writhing like his life depended on it to escape the clutches of the bigots. “Now what’s next? Stuff us into a trunk? Cuz like that’s not gonna get picked up on surveillance cameras!”

“No. We ain’t savages.” Green put a hand to his chest in mock offense. “We can do this the calm and obedient way!” He nodded to one of his cronies, who went to the car that still sat on the side of the street, opening the left backseat door.

“Unless you guys really wanna sit in a trunk the whole time until we get to our boss… I suggest you get in. Quietly.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND THAT’S PART ONE!

Thank you all so much for reading and for your kind words!! You’re all so cool!! I cannot wait to share the rest of this one, I hope this first chapter was worth all this wait!!

I truly could not have done this without your support and encouragement. So stay tuned for more!! I can’t wait to share more angst with you 🤣

@queen-with-the-quill @tending-the-hearth @figuringitoutasigoalong @goldenflowerdragon @yorshie @lameboobah

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wingedcupcaketimemachine · 1 year ago

Text

Scattered Remains (TMNT 2012 and Rise! Crossover)

Summary: After April’s enhanced psychic powers destroy Donnie, she attempts to bring him back to life. But, the purple turtle she finds is not her own

Warnings: Spoilers for TMNT 2012 Season 4, Episode 22

A/N: I’m finally done with the first chapter! If this does well, I might create a comic based off of it on my art account!

Fic starts below cut

TMNT 2012 Masterlist

Rise of the TMNT Masterlist

Main Masterlist

“Red, is that really you?” Casey asks, as he cautiously approaches April.

“I think so. But Donnie,” she says with teary eyes, “What have I done.”

The group stands still for a moment before Leonardo breaks the tense silence.

“It’s not your fault April. You had no control,” he says.

“But it is!” she gasps, looking up at him through her tears, “It was all me in a way. If only-”

She pauses for a moment, focusing on the broken crystal shards.

“Donnie’s not gone! He wasn’t really destroyed, just molecularly scattered,” she says as she faces the turtles and Casey, “I can bring him back.”

The boys watch in anticipation as April’s powers hone in on Donnie’s energy. If she can bring him back, she can make her family whole again.

She has to bring him back.

The turtles and Casey watch as blue sparks fly through the air, forming the silhouette of a body.

The turtles watch, full of anticipation. Their brother wasn’t gone. He was coming back!

Their excitement quickly turns to horror as they realize the figure in front of them is not Donatello.

Though not their missing brother, April still managed to bring another mutant turtle to the place where Donnie had been vaporized minutes before.

This turtle seemed younger, maybe by a year or so.

Raphael breaks the stunned silence as he holds a sai against the neck of the unfamiliar turtle.

“Who the hell are you? And where’s my brother?”

“Woah, Raph! Chill out dude!” says Michelangelo, pushing his brother out of the way, “He’s just a kid. And he’s scared.”

Michelangelo was right. The mystery turtle was still pale and shaking even as Raphael released him from the ground.

“It's ok mystery dude! We’re not gonna hurt you…anymore,” says Michelangelo, glaring pointedly at his hotheaded brother.

Raph rolls his eyes in annoyance.

“What are you doing Mikey? This is some random mutant that April brought here with her freaky crystal powers. We have no idea what it’s capable of.”

“Mikey’s right,” says Leo after a long stretch of silence, “This turtle is just a lost kid. He was brought here with April’s powers, which means he’s our responsibility. We have to take him back to the lair.”

“Are you crazy Leo? We have to focus on finding Donnie. Our brother is lost somewhere and you're focused on a random mutant we found on the street!”

Before another argument could break out, the mystery turtle interjected.

“Your brother’s name is Donatello?”

The group of teenagers looked over in shock. Michelangelo was the first one to respond.

“Yeah, dude. He disappeared when April got possessed by a freaky alien crystal.”

“The same crystal that brought you here,” says April in shock, “I was trying to find Donnie, but it brought you instead.”

“So that means…you’re Donnie?” asks Casey.

“Yes,” says the other turtle, “Just not your Donnie..”

“We have to get back to the lair and talk to Master Splinter. We’ll come up with a plan to find our Donnie and get this Donnie back home.”

“Seriously Leo?” Says Raph, “You’re gonna believe him just like that? Even if he is a Donnie he’s not our brother. We can’t just take him to the lair.”

“Think about it Raph,” says Casey, “If April accidentally brought the other Donnie here, our Donnie is probably stuck wherever he came from. Trustingthe other Donnie is our best bet.”

Raph huffs, but doesn’t argue any further.

“That’s it then. We’re headed back to the lair,” said Leo, “April, you should probably come with us. Maybe you can help Donnie replicate the research that you and Donnie did on the crystal.”

April and other Donnie both nod in agreement.

“I might be able to use other me’s research to try to replicate a similar

kind of technology that could get me home,” said the alternate Donnie, “If all goes well we should be able to find your brother too.”

The group looks to Raphael, gauging his reaction.

“Fine,” he said after a beat of silence, “But that doesn’t mean we trust you. All we need you for is to get Donnie back.”

The group sits in tense silence as Raphael stalks off towards the Shellraiser.

“Don’t worry about Raph little dude!” says Michelangelo with a small smile,

“He’s just worried about Donnie. He’ll come around.

“Mikey’s right. It’s nothing personal…probably,” says Leo before looking over to the Shellraiser, “We need to get back to the lair and tell Master Splinter what happened.”

“It’s late, I should probably get home,” Casey finally speaks up, “Let me know if you come up with any ideas on finding Donnie.”

The group watches as his figure retreats into the night before following

Leo into the Shellraiser.

#rise donnie #rise leo #rise tmnt #tmnt crossover #tmnt crossover fic #tmnt 2012 rewrite #tmnt raphael #tmnt au #tmnt leonardo #tmnt mikey #tmnt donatello #tmnt #rottmnt tmnt 2012 crossover #tmnt 2012 #rise of the tmnt #tmnt 2018

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raylaui · 4 months ago

Note

1.) What was your first exposure to TMNT?

9.) Who is your favorite version-specific turtle?

27.) What is something you love to see in TMNT art/fics?

1) My first exposure to TMNT was a handful of hand-me-down VHS tapes from my cousin. My brothers and I watched those a LOT!

You know the "Hey man I brought back some takeout" "It's Shredder!!!" "Where?!"

That episode was one of them.

9) Favorite version specific turtle? Dang, that's difficult.

But if I had to pick just one: Rise Raph

27) Something I love to see in fics is when the brothers go through hell and high water for each other. The higher the stakes the better! And exploring reactions to traumatic events? A little PTSD sprinkled in? How does the family deal with the deeper effectsof their vigilante life? That's the good stuff.

Bonus points for dorky sibling dynamics (reminds me of my own family)

And a happy ending is a must! I cannot do "no comfort" fics. Even if it takes a while I need that little promise it is all worth it.

#ask box snack box #thanks for the ask!

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torturedblue · 1 year ago

Text

My thoughts on the new TMNT MM trailer in which no one asked for 😊

Part 2

Oml them sharing the same room is everything 🥺 Makes me wonder if the creators figured with slim pickings for sewer homes there are limited “bedrooms” in the lair so Splinter gets his own while the kids all share, or if they’ll actually have a big spacious lair like in every other iteration and the guys just like rooming with each other like that 🤗 They seem just as close as the Rise turtles so far but even more so with this detail

Mikey with drawings of stars above his head is so adorable and reminds me of the glow in the dark stars people put on ceilings 🥹 very accurate on the artists’/creators’ part 😌👌🏽

Raph actually wanting to go to school is a crazy change to me considering every other one (except for Rise Raph probably) would probably never want to ever do that. It’s showing some very much desiring of human-life the Raphaels don’t usually have. I’m already loving this Raph’s new dynamic

A girlfriend? Whoa slow your roll you’re like twelve dude climb back into your car seat 🤨 (also y’all cannot tell me they’re teenagers these mfs look and sound twelve at BEST hell they look even younger than the Rise turtles they are whole ass TWEENS)

Also with the time being almost 3 AM I’m surprised they’re in bed considering their nocturnal tendencies, so this almost makes me wonder if they got grounded and sent to their rooms early after Leo snitched 😂 🤔 Maybe this whole conversation was brought on by them complaining afterwards that they can’t even get some pizza without it being a problem and wishing they could fit into human life

Loving that Donnie has a whole TV set up in his nook lmao I aspire to be this comfortable on a daily basis

Ok, dude snitching wasn’t cool lmao but I don’t think he could help himself. From these posts about the boys it sounds to me like he’s working towards eventually becoming leader of the team but isn’t there yet? So I’m guessing the fear of being caught lying with his brothers made him think it would jeopardize his position or make Splinter think less of him. Suuuper curious to see if this Splinter is a little too hard on him/them or if all the nervousness and high-strungness is mainly coming from Leo himself. (Guess we know why he was so stressed during the teaser now lol)

“Don’t use that word like that!”

*overlapping incoherent mumbling*

“I mean it’s 2023, Mikey 🙄” LMAO

#tmnt #tmnt mm #mutant mayhem #tmnt mm trailer #mutant mayhem trailer #tmnt 2023 #mutant mayhem tmnt #ninja turtles

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void-writing · 2 years ago

Note

If you want to share, I'd love to hear more of your Rise TMNT and DCU crossover, please!

I am so so glad you asked : D

I've been trying so hard for so long to think of how the Rise boys misadventures would align with DCU, mostly because I was thinking about post-movie JL investigations into the Kraang Invasion. HOWEVER, I was rewatching the series with a friend semi-recently and we hit the "Battle Nexus: New York" episode and it abruptly hit me that Superman--who is in the state of New York (bc in my version of canon, Metropolis is in New York and Gotham's in New Jersey, as god intended)--would probably be high-key alarmed about the City That Never Sleeps going completely silent except for four teens and five adults, one of which being clearly the one behind it all (that one being Big Mama).

That line of thought honestly made me entertain the idea of Superman being like...the Turtles' weird uncle figure who checks in occasionally like "you good?" but I don't know all of where I'd want to take a story like that.

This honestly kind of spun around in my head for a while until I was hit with a lightning bolt of genius in the form of a very vivid daydream about Daily Planet Intern April O'Neil absolutely tearing into Lex Luthor because he had the sheer audacity to compare Superman to the Kraang in her presence, and a befuddled (and slightly flattered) Clark Kent holding her back from bodily attacking Lex like:

The fic that I'm writing is going to be a mega long one-shot of April being an absolute menace to the supervillain population of Metropolis. She's basically going to be a mini-Lois Lane but like five times more feral because this girl won't so much as flinch at the nonsense Supes deals with on the regular.

On the hero side, April kind of Tim Drakes her way into becoming Superman's unofficial-official sidekick on account of how she just forcibly inserts herself into dangerous situations and refuses to leave.

Hilariously, April doesn't put together that Clark is Superman for a while because her threshold for what constitutes as weird is so messed up that anything that Clark does that might flag as suspicious doesn't even ping for April. Lois and Jimmy have a bet in the background over how long it will take for April to figure out Clark is Superman.

Some other highlights knocking around in my head include:

April babysitting Jon for Clark and Lois so they can go on a date night. April cements herself as the coolest babysitter ever in helping Jon defend the Kent House from an incursion viscous tiny alien critters that Jon brought home from space on accident. Both are trying their hardest to not use powers in front of the other with mixed success.

On a similar note, April cultivating a big-sister relationship with Conner because you cannot tell me that he wouldn't fit right in with her collection of genetically engineered super-soldier brothers born from unethical experiments by a man convinced doing this will save his people, using DNA stolen from a powerful warrior he has homoerotic tension with (from a certain perspective regarding Lex and Clark, lol). Like seriously, Conner's backstory fits the Rise boys' so well. I can't not make April adopt him as little brother #5. Maybe for the hell of it I'll turn Conner into a turtle mutant and have him dick around with the Hamato boys, mostly in making Splinter question if he's been miscounting how many sons he has this entire time. Ah. Fic for another day.

The triumphant return of April's crane license (with bonus forklift certification)

Clark being a living jungle gym for this 4'10" menace to his confusion and everyone else's delight.

The Hamato boys making a surprise visit to the Daily Planet as April works with Lois on an article (because she missed their weekly call and the boys immediately assumed the worst) and April trying desperately to keep her dum-dum little brothers out of Lois's sight as they scamper around the office like it's a playground.

April unknowingly endearing herself to Wonder Woman when she stops by in civilian form to meet up with Clark for JL business.

April getting herself in way over her head trying to do a bit of investigative journalism alone and the Supers coming to bail her out (as a reminder to everyone--including myself--that April is not invincible).

And, of course, the reference to the Batman vs. TMNT movie that I mentioned in the last ask I did on this where the boys break into the Bat Cave and Donnie calls April to gloat that he was right about Batman's secret identity and meanwhile Clark gets a call from Bruce about the four teenage mutant menaces running around his lair and how they're connected to a specific Daily Planet intern Clark knows.

It's just really funny to me to imagine Rise!April being unleashed on Metropolis because Ninpo or no, I don't think anyone there would be prepared to handle the powerhouse that is April O'Neil. The villains of Metropolis quickly come to know and fear her because she will more often than not charge them with the nearest blunt object and somehow--despite not having a meta gene (they have checked)--she hits like a freight train and can keep up decently well with Supers (writing this out now makes me realize that it would be plausible that a conspiracy theory starts floating around Metropolis' criminal underground that April O'Neil is secretly Kryptonian in some capacity, only for it to be swiftly disproved when she grand-slams a chunk of Kryptonite into the Atlantic. Somehow this makes her more terrifying).

But yeah, April is just having the time of her life at this internship, blissfully unaware of how many minds she's breaking just being herself.

#void answers #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles #superman crossover #it took me WAY too long to find that damn gif #but i had to #it was EXACTLY the image that appeared in my head when thinking of how clark drags april away from lex #fyi i AM an 'april still has hamato ninpo' truther bc my girl deserves some sick mystic powers #also entertaining a cassandra appearance that puts her in metropolis for Reasons just to see what happens

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yanohawxcm · 1 year ago

Text

Intrusion - TMNT COMMISSION

2000 Word Simple Scene Commission

Purchased By @theeyeofthearchive

A steady fog began to roll through the air, clouding the already dark night sky. The docks themselves were empty, overhead lights flickering and buzzing with a harsh luminescence. All the workers had gone home for the night, trucks sat unmanned in fenced off yards and buildings empty save for crates and containers from the days deliveries. The only thing to disturb the silence was the slight grinding of a manhole cover being lifted and cast aside. From the depths emerged several hulking figures. Cloaked in shadow, they made their way across the docks. Avoiding every stray beam of light as they centered on a particular warehouse near the back. One of the figures produced a sai from its side, jamming it into a padlock on the fence surrounding the warehouse, and busting it open. With a path inside, the figures rushed to the nearest open entrance. A window that had been left ajar. Once inside, one of the figures located the lights and turned them on. The once black interior of the warehouse now lit up to reveal an impossible number of shipping crates.

“Donnie, status report on the location of the kraang artifact.” Leo called out, surveying the area for any sign of trouble.

Donnie looked down at a small PDA he had brought with him, kitted out with other bits of electronic scrap and wires, antenna, and blinking lights. Its screen displayed a possible, though not exact location for some sort of unknown object. Once examining its position, Donnie replied.

“Looks like Casey’s information worked out. It’s near the back of the building, probably in one of those blue cargo containers. We should start there and make our way closer to the signal.”

Leo nodded, then motioned towards Mikey and Raph. “Keep watch while me and Donnie check for the artifact.”

“We should exercise caution. We don’t know what the artifact is, only that it was brought in under the cover of top-secret cargo and emits a huge energy signature.” Donnie’s PDA beeped and hummed loudly, scanning, and flashing as it searched for their target.

“Noted. We’ll try not to damage it.” Leo replied.

“Imagine if the artifact was like, some sort of kraang microwave. For reheating weird space alien takeout. That’d be kinda rad now that I think about it.” Mikey mused, kicking back against a crate, and fiddling with his nunchucks.

“No, it’d be kinda stupid. Its probably some sort of death machine or cosmic time bomb or whatever messed up thing they’ve got in reserve for us.” Raph bit back, taking his job of standing watch a bit more seriously. His arms crossed and sai in hand.

“Yeah, but like, imagine if its some sort of supped up space ride! With hotrod flames and intergalactic fifty-sided fuzzy dice on the rearview mirror. Think Leo would let me drive it?” Mikey peaked up with an excited tone.

“Hell no, he won’t even let you touch the TV remote anymore after you-”

“Would both of you just shut up and stand watch.” Leo called back angrily, turning to follow Donnie further into the narrow paths between containers. Slowly inching their way towards the mysterious signal on Donnie’s PDA.

All the while, from far above them in the warehouse rafters, a fifth figure was observing the group in silence. They kept tabs on the turtles locations, and when they separated the figure moved in closer.

Leo felt their presence for a moment, his nerves suddenly shooting up and a feeling of unease rising in his chest. He heard faint movements from all around him, darting between shadows and behind corners. The constant, burning feeling of being watched singed its way into the back of his skull. Instinctively, he readied himself to draw his Katana’s.

“Any closer to the source?” He asked, his nervousness clear in his voice.

Donnie nodded and pointed to a particular container that stood out from the others. It was damaged, whatever previous company name that had been painted on its side had long since faded. Both brothers studied the container up and down before coming to a high-tech pad on the containers door.

“It’ll take me a few minutes to crack the encryption.” Donnie said, stepping up to the pad and plugging his PDA into one of its panels. “I’ll let you know when I-”

Time seemed to slow for a moment, everything around them screeching to a sudden halt. Leo had heard it the moment it rang out. A shifting of air so subtle, that anyone else would have assumed it was their own breath. To the well-trained ear however, it was the distinctive sound of action. Leo drew one of his blades and swung it up in defense. It clashed almost immediately with the side of a thick, wooden quarterstaff. At the other end of that staff, was a massive creature. Covered in shadow, though barring a striking similarity to the brothers in its silhouette. As their weapons collided, Leo called out for Raph and Mikey. Donnie stood back, protecting himself and continuing to work on the lock.

Raph was the first to round the corner towards Leo’s cries. Stopping for a moment to assess the situation. Leo was fighting with what seemed to him to be a blur. An opponent much closer to them in skill then some street thug or foot clan assassin. Leo’s sword cut through the air with a deadly precision. Meeting the staff over and over again, deflecting a relentless barrage of blows and strikes. The two fighters moved quickly, using any advantage they could to gain the upper hand over the other. At one point, Leo got in close enough to strike the stranger, though he only managed to graze their shoulder before they reacted. Lifting their knee up and striking Leo in the stomach, tossing him backwards into a stumbled roll. Raph ran to face the stranger next, but Mikey overtook him, leaping from above out of nowhere with his nunchucks flailing around in the air.

“Sneak attack!” He screamed, entirely missing the point of a sneak attack as he came crashing down on the stranger. He held on tight to their body as they thrashed about.

Eventually, the stranger was able to toss Mikey off, rolling him into Raph and knocking both turtles to their feet. By now, Leo had gotten back up to his feet and was ready for round two. Steadying himself, he spoke to the stranger. His voice stern and solid.

“Who are you, and who do you work for.”

The stranger didn’t reply, only narrowing their eyes and bounding towards Leo. They leapt into the air to strike from above, and for a moment they exposed themselves to the light. Leo’s eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of the strangers form.

“Wait!” He called out, raising his sword to block their attack and roll them over his shoulder. “We don’t have to fight, lets talk about this for a second!”

As the stranger recovered from the roll, they spoke their first words. Revealing that did not do they look like the brothers but sounded like them as well. Albeit, with a more feminine tone.

“I don’t talk with those who work for the kraang.” She snarled.

“Kinda already doing that my dude!” Mikey sprang out from the strangers left, a bit more serious with his strikes this time. The unpredictable motions and angles of his nunchucks proved to be a bit more of a challenge then Leo’s sword. The stranger getting hit a fair few times before they let out a loud grunt and charged Mikey head on. Using their shoulder to bash the turtle against the side of a shipping container and knocking him out of the fight for good.

“Got it!” Donnie’s triumphant exclamation drew the attention of the stranger, who now ran towards the turtle full force. Donnie readied himself but couldn’t lift his staff quick enough to meet the others. He was knocked to his feet, his weapon falling to the ground. The stranger picked it up and examined it for a moment, as if trying to discern its origins before they accidentally discovered a mechanism within the staff’s core. With a slight twist of the wooden staff, a blade emerged from one end. Donnie didn’t need to see the strangers’ face fully to know it had made them smirk a little.

Rising to his feet, Donnie began fending off the strangers attacks by hand, bruises scoring his arms as he tried blocking each hit. Then, the stranger swept out his feet with the staff, cutting Donnie deep along the side of his leg.

“Enough!” Leo roared, delivering a harsh blow to the strangers back that threw them forward. “We don’t work for the kraang. If you’d just listen for a moment, we could explain why we’re here.”

“There’s nothing to explain. You’re after kraang tech, and I can’t let you get your hands on it.” The stranger stood once more, their vigor to fight almost impressing Leo. If this stranger weren’t trying to stop their mission, he might have even offered them a position on the team.

“We need that kraang tech. The less secret space-whatever’s in the hands of those alien freaks the better. If you’re gonna stand in our way sobeit. You won’t last long.” With those final words, both Leo and the stranger charged each other. The stranger using Donnie’s modified staff and Leo using his drawn swords. Blades flung and swung about. Slashing and cutting anything they came across. Leo took the initiative in the fight, pressing hard towards the stranger. His aggressive yet calculated strikes coming close to overpowering her. A few times he even managed to surprise her, landing blow after blow and cutting up her body bit by bit. Though no matter how close he came to beating her, she just kept going. Pushing through the pain and tracking Leo with an intense, single-minded will to beat him. As the battle raged on, she overtook Leo’s strikes. Using one of the shipping containers as a launching point and striking Leo with the side of the staff. It landed right across his head, knocking him unconscious. As Leo’s body fell to the floor, the stranger staggered towards him. Their breath heavy and stagnant. They lifted Donnie’s staff up, ready to stab Leo with the retractable blade when suddenly, they heard movement behind them.

“Hey douchebag!” Raph called out, drawing their attention. “You dropped this.”

Raph swung the strangers quarterstaff like a bat, striking them in the face so hard he thought he heard a crack. The stranger fell to the ground next to Leo, who was now pulling himself back into focus.

“Thanks for the save, Raph.” Leo groaned, holding his bruised head in his hands.

“Nah don’t mention it, I’ll save you the embarrassment next time and stop the next chick from beating your ass a little faster.”

Leo rolled his eyes and got up onto his feet, Mikey walking over to join him and Raph as they approached the kraang cargo container. Donnie had woken up as well, his head still spinning as he stumbled towards the group. Once all together, Leo opened the container to reveal what was inside.

“It looks like…mutagen? In some sort of incubation chamber that uses heat to keep it stable and maintain its molecular alteration properties.” Donnie rolled out in his sometimes incomprehensible technojargon. Observing the massive mechanical vat in front of them.

“So…it’s a kraang microwave for mutagen? Ha! Score- OW!” Raph struck Mikey in the back of the head the moment he heard him say microwave.

As the two then began to bicker, Donnie plugged his PDA into one of the vats control panels and began digging through encrypted kraang files. The further he dug, the more concerned his face grew. Eventually, he called Leo over to see what he’d found.

“It looks like the kraang have been tinkering with forced mutations. Trying to create some sort of super mutant weapon to fuse with themselves. Apparently, they’ve been testing this stuff on all sorts of animals. Dogs, lizards, birds, even…” Donnie paused. Looking back over his shoulder towards the stranger who still lay sprawled on the floor. Leo’s eyes narrowed as he read the data on the PDA before finishing Donnie’s point for him.

“Turtles.”

Interested In Your Own Commission?

#fanfic commissions #writing commissions #tmnt #tmnt fic #kofimission #commissions #fanfiction #fanfic

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givemewallywestorgivemedeath · 1 year ago

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Welcome to me making unhinged theories about Rottmnt Part 2: Electric Boogaloo

So do you guys remember that episode where Draxum just casually says "Hey, lets use this neat mystic artifact to transport you into your father's mind, it's called the Sands of Time Hourglass, no biggie."

This man walked in with the TMNT equivalent of an Infinity Stone and just never brought it up again. Absolutely wild behavior.

Anyway, there is in fact a point to this, as I would like to suggest that the Sands of Time Hourglass is actually the hourglass from the top of the Scepter of the Sands of Time, aka the Time Scepter.

A totally farfetched and insane theory, I know. But if we want to make this leap in logic, we then have to ask: "Hey what the fuck? Why does Draxum have half of one of, if not the, most powerful weapons in TMNT lore???"

And guys. I don't have an answer to that. Did he steal it from the time lord, Lord Simultaneous? Possibly! I'm not sure! I just know that Draxum has a HIGHLY COVETED AND FOUGHT OVER ITEM CAPABLE OF TIME TRAVEL AND REALITY WARPING. So, uh, narratively this is kind of a massive deal.

But to get back on topic, do we, by chance, happen to know of a female teenaged mutant ninja turtle who became friends with a Time Lord, got stuck in an alternate dimension learning to time travel for years, and then stole the time scepter?

Super specific but yes, actually!

Enter Lita!

Lita is an albino turtle, her favorite color is pink and she's peak little sister vibes! Lita spent the first part of her teenage years in the null dimension training to be a time lord. She double crossed the timelords and stole the SUPER POWERFUL TIME SCEPTER to stop an apocalyptic future. She's also Leo's adopted daughter in the main timeline but the older time traveling version of Lita (with the cool markings) is more like Leo's little sister.

And at this point you're going to start to notice some similarities between Lita's plotline in the comics and Casey Junior's plotline in the movie.

And at this point I'm going to point out something absolutely RADICAL. The null dimension does not experience time, nor do changes to the timeline affect those in the null dimension. Aka, the Rise version of Lita saw Casey Junior's timeline.

Hell, I'll even go so far as to say that Lita helped Mikey send Casey Junior back in time. Crazy? Maybe, but less so when you notice that Mikey starts the scene in future with no stickers and it's only after Leo asks Mikey to make a portal that Mikey is shown with a singular pink sticker that (oddly enough) matches Lita's tattoos.

I would be willing to bet that lil teenaged timelord Lita popped in, paused time, gave Mikey some extra juice and a sticker, and then popped back out before she got caught meddling.

Anyway, I'm not really sure what the deal with Lita is in Rise, but I'm willing to bet that Draxum lost her trying to get the Scepter, Lita saw the Kraang timeline and decided to stick around the null dimension to subtly mess with time and give her family the win (possibly was even behind the Shredder/teapot victory???), Mei left because Draxum lost her little sister in a mad grab for power and now Lita is... 'a little bit kooky' because she's been in the null dimension for too long and has seen too many timelines.

Also this is a picture of a baby albino painted turtle:

Because I think it'd be super cute if Leo had a tiny baby sister that had opposite markings (aka yellow stripes on her face and red/pink stripes on her body)

(I do also think they would give her a female artist name as an alias)

Anyway, that's it. Those are my Rise theories.

Alright guys, it's that time again. It's time for me to make completely unhinged in-depth theories on cartoon shows based on comic lore.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Edition!

If you are unfamiliar with this series then congrats! You get to listen to the, hopefully entertaining, ramblings of a mad man.

But! If you, like me, binge watched this series and are now left with a burning hole in your chest wondering when season three will come out then congrats! You also get to listen to the ramblings of a mad man, this time with slightly more context!!!

One of the burning questions everyone was left with in the wake of Rottmnt and the movie was "who are the other two turtles?" See, Rise from its very inception had always intended on introducing two more turtle siblings to Raph, Leo, Donnie and Mikey's family dynamics. This inclusion can be seen as early as season one when there are six turtle pods shown on screen during the boy's origin story.

We, in fact, actually see one of the missing sisters in season 2 of the show. The character dubbed 'Big Mama's Assistant' is confirmed by the show runners to be a secret sibling and, if they had been given a season three, they would have revealed this at the end of season 2. Season three would then have been focused on the Hamato clan retrieving the missing sisters.

But who is Big Mama's Assistant? Is she Venus De Milo, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sister from the live action show? Is she Jennika, the turtle in yellow from the comics? Well I've got news folks. She's neither.

Tweets from the show runners confirm that Big Mama's Assistant was never intended to be Jennika or Venus, she was instead going to be an original character.... or was she?

Guys, gals and nonbinary pals, I submit to the court that Big Mama's Assistant is in fact an original character that is both an adaptation of Jennika and Venus.

First, let us establish some facts.

In the above images I would like you to acknowledge several things.

this sibling is in the height range of Donnie/Leo (as can be seen when compared to Big Mama's height).

this sibling has a thin shell, one that is barely noticeable under her clothes.

this sibling has a gigantic forehead.

this sibling wears a mask that shows markings that start at the eyes and wrap around the head.

this sibling's weapon of choice is neko-te.

Finally, this sibling seems to have two small fake turtle shells strapped to shoulder as shoulder pads.

So I raise the question: Who do we know that has a thin, barely visible shell, gigantic forehead, is approximately Donnie's height and wears prosthetic turtle shells? Donnie.

Yeah, folks I'm pretty sure this sibling is a softshell. She's wearing her own version of her 'battleshell' from her turtle tot days as shoulder pads. Actually, I'm pretty sure we see her green battleshell here:

And do you know what a Smooth Softshell Turtle looks like?

It's the same face markings. And it's yellow. Objectively, they have to use yellow for one of the two sisters because they gave April green in Rise.

"Alright," I hear you saying. "So you think she's a softshell, but what does that have to do with who she is??"

What a perfect segway question! Thank you so much for asking. Did you guys know that Venus' name isn't actually Venus? Venus is the alias that she uses to fight crime/be a ninja with her brothers/fit their art theme. Venus' actual name is Mei Pieh Chi which translates to Beautiful Softshell Turtle Energy.

So it is actually ENTIRELY possible for Big Mama's softshell turtle assistant to be an adaptation of Mei Pieh Chi without being named Venus. If she simply picks a different alias then we're all good. (I'm assuming the creators liked 'Frida' because Smooth Softshell Turtles look like they have intense eyebrows)

Alright, so we've established how Venus fits into this (aka Venus doesn't, Mei Pieh Chi does) but what about Jennika!? Well that one is actually super easy. Yeah, so remember how the mystery sibling uses neko-te?

Yeah, uh, Jennika's main weapon is a neko-te/tekkō-kagi mash up. (Aka Wolverine claws) I'm assuming she would use magic neko-te until she eventually unlocked her ninpō and got the wolverine upgrade (mirroring how the boys switched weapons) I'm also assuming that she would inherit Jennika's color (yellow), Jennika's sexuality (lesbian) and it's confirmed that she would inherit Jennika's personality (see below).

(also I'mma call it right now, she's autistic and I love her. She's Very Very Serious ™ aka she takes everything literally)

And now let's take a look at what I call "The reason Big Mama and Draxum already knew and hated each other, got into an argument about stealing stuff from each other and the reason why Draxum waited 13 years to do the whole mosquito backup plan":

"No, it would’ve been sweet, right? Like, at the end we see, like, maybe Draxum’s bodyguard takes off their mask and, you know, reveals a female sibling, and then there was, like, another one 'cause we thought it’d be great to investigate, ‘Okay, like, Splinter was able to save four out of six and maybe we just didn’t see the other two and, like, what would that be if they were raised by Draxum and Big Mama?’ And this would be something Draxum would admit to them at the end of season two." - Executive Producer, Andy Suriano

Guys, Draxum in season one is a divorced dad who lost custody. He went with the backup plan after THIRTEEN YEARS because his kid said "Fuck you, I'm living at Mom's house!" Draxum threw Leo off of a roof because the goatman had PTSD from his daughter rejecting him and nOW SUDDENLY THERE'S FOUR NEW KIDS THAT HATE HIM?!

Also, let's circle back to the other sister being "a little kooky from being trapped in another dimension for years." You know what'd be traumatic enough to abandon your parent and completely reject them? If they got your sister stuck in another dimension with no way out. You know what'd be a super good reason for Draxum not telling the boys about their sisters? If he LOST ONE.

But where oh where did this lost sister go and who is she? Well, I've got more on that but you'll have to wait for part two because I am out of pictures!

Thanks for being unhinged with me and see ya next time folks!

#rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles #venus de milo #draxum #big mama #big mamas assistant #jennika #rottmnt leo #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt raph #theory #Lita #leonardo #Donatello #raphael #Michelangelo #rottmnt

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misteria247 · 2 years ago

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So I'd learned that apparently in the 87 version of Tmnt Leonardo has a love interest named Lotus. And it got me thinking.....

If Rise gets a season three or another movie it'd be kinda cool to see her in the show. And if she becomes a love interest for our favorite red eared slider, I think that it'd be hella cute! I mean we got Mona Lisa from the 87 series and they brought her back to the show in the 2012 series as Raph's love interest, it'd be really cool to see other characters like Lotus and hell even Kala or Rennet make an appearance or play a part in the more recent variation of the Turtles.

Cuz I desperately want Mona Lisa to be in Rise as Raph's love interest I think it'd really cool if Lotus made a comeback as Leo's love interest.

Ya know just a thought is all.

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milkytheholy1 · 3 years ago

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Apocalyptic Love: Chapter 12: The Panthers

Tmnt Masterlist. Ultimate Masterlist. AL series links

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"THE PANTHERS!" a loud chorus cried out, each brother, minus Donatello, struck with shock and slight fear. Raph wrapped an arm around Donnie's shoulders, pulling him in closer to his chest as he hounded the poor teen, "Donnie are you insane! The Panthers are one of the roughest gangs in New York, and you made a deal with them!" he screamed out, anger rising.

Donnie pulled away from his older brother, struggling to move under his harsh grip. The genius frowned at his family, offended they think so little of his competence, "I didn't make a deal with them, Raph, I simply taught them how to hack into the Foot's computers. There's a difference." he pointed out, accurately. Leo stepped forward, his eyes glaring at Donatello but he knew there was nothing that they could do now, what was done was done.

"Donnie, are you sure about this? I know you said The Panthers have been helping the people, but-"

"I wouldn't have helped them if I didn't think so, Leo. They're good guys, well, good enough." Donnie muttered the last part, but the leader heard it, shaking his head with a raised brow, "You're really filling me with confidence Don."

"No, no, I promise. Look, I'll find their hideout and then we can go talk to them ourselves." Donnie brought your laptop onto his lap and typed away, typed what? You had no clue, you were never that great with technology to begin with. "Won't they, y'know, freak out when they see you guys? No offence, it's just, Karai's mutants haven't really given the whole mutant brand a good name." you asked, cautious as to who you were talking to.

Each brother stared at you, a whirlwind of emotions shown on their faces. While Leo and Donnie looked convinced and acknowledged the problem, Raph looked angered and Mikey looked upset. But you had a point, after the Foot-branded mutants that had been roaming the streets in recent days, no one with a sane mind would want to talk to ninja turtles. Leo looked to Donnie, their conversation wordless, their eyes their own language.

Donnie's eyes bounced over to you, Leo shook his head, his eyes squinting at the tall terrapin. But the silent debate continued, leaving the rest of you in the room to look on in confusion, "What're they doing?" you asked Mikey, following along like a tennis match. Mikey shrugged his shoulders, enamoured just like you, "Not sure dude/ette, maybe they're reading each other's minds?"

"Alright, that's it!" Raph broke the tense atmosphere that surrounded your living room, he stood between the staring match and looked to their leader with a pouted face, "Enough of your stupid starin' match, how the hell are we goin' to get The Panthers to talk to us?"

"Well, there is one way." Donnie prompted, looking away from Leo and over to you. Leo shook his head again, arms waving in the air in frustration, "No absolutely not. We're not risking (Y/N)'s safety over a what if, Donnie. Not while I'm the leader."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't be the leader?" Donnie argued back, glaring at his brother. "Not this again," Mikey shook his head, eyes creased shut out of boredom, "Can't you guys do this another time?" he dragged out. Leo and Donnie refused to make eye contact with one another, the room turning silent again, the fast-paced taps from Donatello typing was the only sound loud enough to hear.

"Aha! I found it!" Donnie exclaimed after a few minutes of stillness, you all crowded around him watching as he pointed to a small garage-like building on a map. "That's their hangout, I'm certain of it."

"Okay team, we head out at night, survey the area and talk to their leader." Leo devised, flicking his head to the window to take in the sun, it was around noonish, it wouldn't be long now until dark fell. Leo felt a tug on his arm, turning he looked down towards you with your lips formed in a pout, "I suppose I'm coming with you too, you know, human relations and all that."

"No, it's too dangerous, you've already done so much for us, I couldn't ask you to do this as well." Leo walked away, slowly shuffling into the kitchen to avoid the upcoming conversation. You followed after him with a swiftness to your steps, pulling him to face you as you backed him into the counters of the kitchen. "Listen blue, you can't tell me to not do something when you obviously need help. How are you going to talk to The Panthers' leader, huh? Robot? Letter? No, you're going to need my help."

You poked a pointed finger against his plastron, suddenly feeling like your old self again, no longer shy around the mutants. Your expression was hard, brows furrowed and cheeks rosy, "We're friends now whether you think so or not, and as your friend, I want to help you any way I can. Got it?"

Leo never knew you could be scary, your weirdly calming presence juxtaposed by your harsh glare and stone-cold words; it was alluring, to say the least. Leo's eyes roamed your face, took in your stance, the small gap between you both. It reminded him of when you had first met, the way he talked to you, the small threat he delivered. How the tables had turned.

He nodded weakly, shaking his head 'yes' rapidly. Why was he scared of you? He wasn't sure, Leo had fought much tougher, greater threats, but for some reason, you scared him to his very core. A 19-year-old turtle, a trained ninja, a master someday, and here he was cowering to a human. "Got it," he squeaked out, breathing in pants when you stepped away with a warm smile, "Good, see you later." you left the kitchen with a sway of your hips, tempting his mind further. There really is no stopping you he thought to himself, his tight grip on the counters finally relinquishing.

Night had approached quicker than anyone had realised, the boys had crowded their weapons together and neared the rickety fire escape outside of your living room. Raph, Donnie and Mikey jumped up and climbed the stairs, swiftly moving to the rooftops and waiting for their leader for further commands. Leo stood beside you, the moon casting his face in a pale light, highlighting the deep cut across his left eye from their previous fight with the Foot.

He side-eyed you, looking your form up and down. In the time it took for it to become dark you had been preparing yourself for this mission, changing into something a little more adept for a fight if there were to be any. Your hair was away from your face, small strands waving against your skin in the soft breeze of night. "You stay beside me, got it?" his deep voice rung out, startling you for a second, but you nodded your head graciously taking his hand when he offered it to you.

You allowed him to pull you from the window, tugging you along the stairs to the rooftop. You trailed behind him like a lost dog, a warm blush circling your cheeks when you stared down at your conjoined hands. "Finally, what took you guys so long?" Raph huffed out, one foot against the raised roof. Leo rolled his eyes, "Nah bro, they were kissin' or somethin'!" Mikey teased, laughing uncontrollably. You and Leo gawked at each other, faces going pure red with the insinuation, "Wh-wha- we weren't doing that!" Leo spluttered out, he so badly wanted to curl up into his shell and die.

"Then why are you holding hands?" Donnie questioned, a teasing smile of his own across his lips. At the mere mention of your interlocked hands, you both released, your palm banging against your thigh as your breaths came out in short spurts. "Knock it off you guys, we're here for a mission, remember?" you forced out, using all your willpower to remain calm and collected. "Yeah, I agree with (Y/N), let's get a move on," Leo commanded, his embarrassed manner seemingly washed away with the thought of leading the team.

He turned his shell to face you, looking back when you didn't do anything. You sent him a quizzical look, obviously, you weren't a mind reader, Leo sighed then nodded his head to his shoulder, implying that he wanted you to get on. "Oooh~" you moaned out, finally understanding his silent demand. Getting onto his shell with slight difficulty, he whispered a small "Hold on," then leapt from the rooftops.

"Of course he would agree with them," Raph sighed, but followed after, Mikey and Donnie doing the same.

The city passed by in a blur, most of the buildings were either crumbled or abandoned, lights blinking irregularly if some buildings were lucky to have power. The centre of New York was the worst hit and the most patrolled, hence why you were avoiding that area and instead taking the long approach to get to your destination. You felt sorry for Leo, having to carry you around not once but twice now, you could feel his laboured breaths as he ran and jumped. Ducking occasionally under a low railing or flinging himself from one building to the next.

Your nails dug into his skin, silent apologies running past your mouth every time you gave your hands a little squeeze. But you eventually made it across the street from the Mechanics warehouse, the building was covered in graffiti, symbols of The Panthers and words you wouldn't repeat in front of Mikey. The lights were on inside meaning they were definitely home, you still had no idea how the Foot hadn't already stormed the building.

"What's the plan, dude?" Mikey asked, his voice a hushed whisper. Leo surveyed the scene, noting the members of The Panthers walking around the outskirts of the building. "We'll have to go in through the roof, we don't need to alert all these men, we only want to talk with their leader."

"Awww, and I was so looking forward to bashing some heads tonight." Raph groaned, arms folded over his chest in a pout. Donnie patted him on the back, cautious to use his nonrobotic arm, "Don't worry Raph, I'm sure something will happen and cause a big fight."

"Dude," you groaned, glaring at Donnie from Leo's shell. Donnie shrugged his shoulders, eyes closing nonchalantly, "What? I'm being logical here."

Moving to the rooftop of the garage, you finally hopped down from Leo's shell and thanked him quietly, you didn't want to cause more teasing from his brothers. You all split up and searched around the roof, luckily you had found a small opening, free for crawling into. You, Leo and Donnie quickly went in, braced on your hands and knees, Mikey followed next groaning at the smell.

"Ugh, you sure there wasn't another way in?" Raph moaned out, sick of staring directly at Mikey's butt the entire time. Mikey poked his head around his shoulders, an evil smirk on his lips, "What, not enjoying the view back there?" he laughed out, wiggly his toosh at his brother obnoxiously. "Shhh," Leo threatened, glaring at the two, his eyes are pure white. You had never seen him do that before, but whatever it was sent shivers down your spine, there was something just so...menacing about it.

Like that was no longer the Leo you knew, he had been replaced with...a fighter, a warrior, a ninja. You had managed your way out of the cramped vent space and wandered onto a platform held high above the ground floor of the garage. Overlooking a majority of the members of The Panthers, unaware that you were even here in the first place.

From what you could see, most of them were split into different groups with no physical separation, each performing or demonstrating a different activity. A group of guys crowed around a small wooden box, a man and a woman arm wrestling on top of it, the crowd erupted into cheers when the woman slammed down the man's hand. She stood from the crate and threw her hands in the air, the crowd explodes again with cheers and teasing comments.

Another group stood around a whiteboard, discussing plans and tactics with red markers, you couldn't make out what they had written from this distance. In the far corner sat a mass of tables, each full to the brim with Panthers eating, laughing, talking. Beside them were a few mats and a weapons rack, two members currently punching and kicking each other in a mock fight, but the swings felt very real.

"C'mon, we need to find the leader," Leo instructs, crouched down to the ground and shuffling along the floor not wanting to be spotted. You all followed after the leader, you bumped your head when he came to a very sudden stop, "Hey, a little warning next time." you mused, rubbing the top of your forehead. Leo rolled his eyes but pointed a green finger towards an office, a man was sat behind a desk with a phone pressed against his ear, a tight black suit wrapped around his body. The whole room was practically one big window with a tiny wooden door fitted into it.

"I'm going in," you gruffed out, spotting a staircase a few steps away from you. Before you could leave the turtles behind and complete the mission, a firm hand gripped your arm and brought you back to the group. Staring at the green muscle you caught Leo's eyes, "Be careful." his tone wistful, "Of course," you promised, freeing yourself from his grip and dashing off until they could no longer see you.

Seconds later the boys see you tread towards the main office, hear the wrasp of your knuckles against the splintering door, feel your anxiety as you walk into the room. Leo watched with beaded eyes, waiting for any hostile movements so he could quickly swoop in to save you.

You advanced towards the desk, the man staring at you with an unamused frown, he clicked on the phone and pulled it away from his ear, placing it screen-side down.

"Asil Price I presume?" you questioned, surprised by how calm your voice sounded. The man in the chair nodded, hands clasped together, chin braced on top of them, "Random person, why do you come and bother me? I know you're not from here, it must have been a long walk, hayir?" his thick Turkish accent rung loud and proud in the air, unfazed by your sudden appearance at all.

You already hated this guy, your body froze, sweat beginning to form at the base of your hairline. "I- how did you know that?" you fell into his trap, "You are not a part of The Panthers, your arms are too scrawny, noodles."

"Then why do you continue to talk to me, now that you know I'm not one of your own." you huffed out, staying brave for the sake of it. You knew this guy could easily kill you, you'd put up one hell of a fight but even you wouldn't last very long. "You got past my men, undetected even, it is quite impressive. So impressive, in fact, that I refuse to believe you did it alone." he stood from his chair, hands now balled into fists, "I-I didn't come here with anyone, just my courage."

"And where is that courage now? All I see is a coward, alone, begging for someone to save them." he crept forward, your body impulsively taking steps back, doing everything in your power to keep some distance between you both; you only hoped the turtles would soon come to help you.

- Meanwhile -

"What're they saying?" Mikey questioned, his plastron pushed against the cold concrete floor, hands perched under his chin and legs kicking up in the air. "Would you shut it, Mikey? I can't hear over ya constant blabberin'." Raph huffed his back slouched against the wall, arms folded across his chest. "Would you both be quiet? I'm trying to lip-read!" Donnie moaned, eyes purely focused on the two people in the office, but with all this constant chatter he was beginning to lose concentration.

"Ooohh, Donnie told you Raphie boy!" Mikey teased, turning his head enough so he could stick his tongue out at his brother. Raph lurched forward, pinching the tip of Mikey's tongue, "What did I tell ya about calling me that?"

"Guys, quit it! Look something's happening, be on alert." Leo spouted, turning his attention back onto you. Your body had shrunken in on itself, it worried him, what was going on? What was that guy saying to you?

An unconscious sigh left his lips, eyes full of worry. His brothers turned to him with a raised brow and quirked smile, "What?" Leo asked, head tilting in confusion. "C'mooooon, bro, when are you gonna admit you like them?" Mikey taunted out.

"Wh-who? (Y/N)? I- I don't like (Y/N) like that, they're just a friend. Besides, we've only known them for a few days." Leo stuttered out, wiping a palm against his sweaty forehead. Raph punched Leo in the arm, his form unmoving, "Give it a rest, fearless, we're ya brothers! We know when you're crushin' on someone. Ya eyes turn into love hearts!" Raph roared out in laughter.

"I- I don't get heart eyes, and I'm not crushing on anyone!" Leo defended, but it fell on death ears, "I get why you guys used to do this to me, it's pretty fun!" Donnie pipped in, throwing a hand against his head as he rolled back laughing.

A loud bang disrupts their fit of laughter, they all quickly turn their gaze to the office and see the boss of The Panthers charging towards you. With a swiftness only they could possess they emerged from the shadows to protect you.

- Back in the office -

As Asil came running towards you, your fists braced themselves for a fight, but it never came. Asil paused, his attention drawn to the shuriken in the wall, he changed from an offence position, his shoulders slumping back, he was calm and relaxed. Readjusting his shirt sleeves, he turned to the window and caught the four pairs of white eyes staring back at him.

"Come out, the game is over." he whistled out, turning his back to the shadows and moving to sit behind his desk again. The brothers formed a circle around you, protecting you like the defenceless flower that you were. You were a little disappointed that you couldn't stick up for yourself, sure you've taken down some Footbots but at least then you had a weapon, you're practically useless with your bare fists.

"Now that everyone is here, let's talk." Asil prompted, splaying his hands on the table and waiting for someone to speak. Leo stepped forward, katana blades held high, eyes white, "You knew we were here, how?" he demanded, it wasn't a question, the teen wanted answers and he wanted them now,

"Simple, I knew the little (lady/boy) didn't come here alone, especially undetected; it only made sense they brought company. Now that you're here, we can get to business, evet?" Asil looked smug, but he didn't just look smug he was smug, smug bastard.

"We want your help." Donnie threw out, stepping away from the group to approach the desk, his brothers watching his every move. "My help? And what could you possibly need The Panthers for?" Asil probed, relaxing back into the leather chair. Donnie looked in his eyes for a moment, debating on actually trusting him or not, but they had come all this way and there was no one else who could help.

"The Foot, we want to take them down but we're not strong enough on our own. We thought if we had the gangs of New York come together we could take the Foot down and restore New York back to what it originally was."

Asil admired the turtles he really did, but why in hell would he want New York to return to its former self, he owned half of the streets right now and he knew for a fact he wouldn't if New York returned. "And why would I? My business is thriving from this whole Foot empire, what would you offer me for my loyalty, turtles?"

Donnie looked back to his brothers, Leo motioned for Donnie to pull away, they'll regroup and come up with a new plan. But Donnie had other ideas, this had to work, he was the guy that had the bright ideas and he was most of the time never wrong!

"Look, Asil was it? I know for a fact that this little business of yours isn't thriving, you're nearly out of business and the only reason you haven't been shut down yet is because the Foot can't be bothered to keep law and order. I've seen every single file you've ever made on that computer and I've got plenty of dirt on you and all your members, one wrong phone call to the Foot and it could all be over for you. So do we have a deal or what?"

His brothers had never seen Donnie so unhinged like that before, sure he got angry but never like that. You were so in awe and shock that you didn't even notice your mouth hanging open wide enough to catch flies. Asil stood from his desk, he stuck his hand out and waited for the now confused turtle in front of him to shake it.

Donnie did as told, he grasped Asil's hand in a firm grip and shook hard, his eyes flickered from their interlocked hands to his beady eyes, "It is a deal, you have The Panthers' loyalty, turtle brothers."

You all did a slight cheer, finally, something was going your way. "Your skills, tall turtle, I have seen them before." Asil probed, moving to sit back down in his leather chair. Donnie rolled his shoulders, releasing the pent up stress from the previous conversation, "Yeah, well I helped your gang out a while back."

"You were the hacker that told us the Foot's encryption codes, Bosticksrcool12! Aha! My boy, you helped us take down their entire network for some families to cross the border! Thank you!" Asil jumped up, a pointed-ringed finger aimed at Donnie.

"Really? Bosticksrcool12?" Raph mused, face held with a permanent smirk. Donnie turned away from Raph with a shrug, "What? They are." he maintained. Leo approached Asil, still cautious around the man, "Do you know anything about the rebels, where their hideout could be?"

Asil frowned, shaking his head he replied, "I know of the rebels but sadly, I do not know where their base is located. Although I may know some people who do, they know everyone in the city. They've worked with everyone from the Foot to The Tanaka clan, so if anyone in this city knows the rebel's location it will be them." Asil went to his computer, searching for some files before he found their name.

"Does the Purple Dragons ring any bells?" he asked, flicking his gaze from the hue of the blue screen to the furrowed crowd. Raph threw his arms in the air, pacing with angered steps around the room, slowly creating a small groove in the floor, "Nope! Not doing it!"

"We have no choice, Raphael," Leo sighed along with his hotheaded brother, turning back to Asil, Leo spoke again, much calmer than before, "Asil, do you know where we can find them?"

"I'll print a list of their last known locations,"

"Thank you,"

It wasn't long until the Hamato Clan got the list of locations from Price, Donnie skimmed the list muttering a few sentences to himself before handing it over to Leo. The group left through the small vent they crawled into, Raph constantly complaining about their next steps. But who wouldn't complain when you have to come face to face with the Purple Dragons?

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popculturebuffet · 4 years ago

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 Review: Still Possesses Turtle Power After All These Years

Cowabunga all you happy people! I freaking love the Teenage Ninja Turtles. I grew up with it from Turtles in Time, which was my first video game, to the 2003 cartoon, which I covered the first three episodes of last month, and on to present day as I re-read the idw comics after finally reading the original eastman and laird run of mirage, and impatiently waiting for Shredder’s Revenge to come out after a LONG drout of no good TMNT games. I”m a fan of these heroes four, their dynamic as a family, the endless possiblities that come from it’s long history and ablitlity to go anywhere in any genre, and the wonderful goofy shit that happens when you have a franchise about mutant turtles learning ninjitsu from a rat and fighting a dude covered in knife covered samurai armor.

So with me finally covering the guys after almost a year last month and with a new movie set to debut at some point this year, I had the bright idea to revisit the FIRST TMNT movie after way too many years of not watching it. This movie is anear and dear to my heart: When I first started getting into the boys big as a kid with the 2003 cartoon, I badly wanted more turtles. But back then it wasn’t nearly as easy to glom onto some more of the sewer shock pizza kings: Streaming sites with all the cartoons on them weren’t all that accesable, dvd’s were expensive for the 87 cartoon, Mirage wasn’t reprinting the comics in any meaningful way and my local comic shop didn’t have any at all and I could only play the SNES when my brother had it set up on occasion like at our Grandma’s farm.

As you probably guessed though there was one exception: the original 1990 movie, which I got at Walmart for 5 bucks and haven’t let go of since. It was one of my first dvds and is still one of my most precious. Said film hit the spot just right as like my beloved 2003 series, it was a mildly goofy but still fucking cool adaptation that stuck closer to the mirage comics, even more than the 2003 series would, while taking a few queues from the 87 series. This film is as precious to me as the 2003 series and a with a brand new movie coming up, I figured it was the exact right time to dig into this classic: what makes it still good to this day, what’s fun to point and laugh at, and how the heck Jim Henson got involved in this. So join me under the cut as I take a look at my boys first theatrical outing and why I still love watching a turtle.

No One Wanted To Make This: Before we get into the film itself some background. As usual I struggled a bit, but thankfully found some help in the form of this Hollywood Reporter article. It’s a fascinating read worth your time, providing an oral history of the film from the people who worked on it.

The film was the baby of Gary Propper, a surfer dude and road manager for the prop comic Gallagher, aka that guy who used to smash watermelons but now has instead opted to smash what little’s left of his career by being a homophobic douchenozzle. He found an ally in Showtime producer Kim Dawson who’d produced Gallagher’s special. I don’t think there will be more of an 80′s sentence than “Gallagher’s surfer dude agent wanted to make a teenage mutant ninja turtles movie”. Propper was a huge fan of the comics, and with Dawson’s help convinced Laird and Eastman to let them option it to studios.

It may come as a shock to you but the road agent for a homophobic watermelon man and a producer at a niche cable channel wanting to make a movie based on an underground comic book about masked turtles at a time when the two most recent comic book movies were Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Howard the Duck, did not go well. Every door in Hollywood got slammed in their face, even Fox> Even the eventual backer of the film, Golden Harvest, a hong kong action film studio, took months to convince to actually back the film.

Things did not get easier from there: The films writer Bobby Herbeck had trouble getting a story agreed on because Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s working relationship had deteroiated horribly from the stress so naturally the two could not agree on a damn thing and argued with each other. Peter Laird made a tense siutation even worse by constnatly sniping at Herbeck and feeling he was a “Hollywood outsider infringing on his vision and characters”

Granted the script was apparently not great... but Pete still comes off as a pretnetious ass who views his weird indie comic as THE HIGHEST OF HIGH CALLINGS HOW DARE YOU SOIL IT. And continued to be kind of a prick like this throughout the rest of his time with the property.

Thankfully the film found i’ts voice, vision and director in Steve Barron. Barron was a music video guy who knew the producers and while reluctant, eventually dove into the project rightfully thinking the film would need to be a mix of the mirage comics and 87 cartoon, keeping aprils’ reporter job, the turtles lvoe of pizza and their iconic color coding from the cartoon but adapting several stories from the comics as the backbone of the film. The guys liked barron MUCH better and things ran smoother.

Barron also brought in one of the film’s biggest selling points and it’s most valuable asset: it’s triumphantly awesome Jim Henson costumes. Barron had worked with good old Jim on the music videos for Labyrinth, and while it took some convincing since the comics were violent as hell and that wasn’t Jim’s style, Barron eventually got him on board. This naturally doubled the budget, but given Henson’s costumes STILL hold up today and look better than the cgi used in the platinum dunes films... it was a good call. And this was brand new tech for jim, having to invent tons of new ideas and mechanisms just to make the things work, and said things still were absolute hell on the actors. Jim later ended up not liking the film for being too violent... which I find hilarious given how many muppets got eaten or blowed up real good on his show but regardless, I thank this legendary and wonderful man as without him this film WOULD NOT have worked. The costumes here look great, feel realistic, and you can’t tell the actors were dubbed much less horribly suffering in those suits. Much like Disney Land.

The film would get picked up for distribution by New Line, and despite i’ts weird as hell origins and the long shot it had.. the film was a MASSIVE hit at the box office, owing to a combination of Batman 89 the previous year having proved comic book movies can work for audiences, the cartoon’s runaway sucess, and a massive marketing campaign. The film made it’s mark. So now we know how we got here let’s get into the film itself.

What’s the Story Morning Glory?:

So the story for this one is largely cobbled together from some of the more notable arcs Eastman and Laird did before handing off the book to others full time as the stress of the company and the mounting tension with each other made it near impossible to work together on the book itself.

To Save time i’m just going through what hte movie takes from the comics plot wise now to save me the trouble later:The movie takes elements from the first issue (The Turtles, Splinter and Shredder’s backstories, Shredder being fully human and the main antagonist, Shredder’s design and the final rooftop showdown that results in Shredder’s death), second and third, (April’s apartment over her dad’s old store and the turtles moving in when their home is ransacked and splinter has gone missing), the rapheal micro series (A tounge in cheek way of cashing in on the Mini-Series craze of the 80s, a one shot by modern standards and something that’s tragically been underused as an idea as only TMNT and MLP have used the idea at IDW, Raph meeting casey and their fight with one another), the return of shredder arc (One of the turtles being ambushed and mobbed by the foot and then thrown though a sky light (Leo in the comic and Raph here), the turtles being horribly outnumbered by them, Casey coming ot the rescue and metting the non-raph turtles for the first time, and them being forced to escape when the place goes up in flames), their exile to northampton (April writing in a journal, casey working on a car with one of the guys and one of hte guys looking over hteir injured brother), and finally, their triumphant return which was very loosely adapted as there are no deformed shredder clones and shredder not being dead yet in this version was not brought back by a colony of super science worms.

So as for how this all comes together: Our story takes place in New York: A crimewave is high with muggings mysterious. There are a ton of phantom thefts going around and at most people have been seeing teens responsibile. And the police.. are at about this level of useful:

The only person doing something is April O’Neil, played by Judith Hoag. Hoag is easily the standout of the film, giving us a strong, confident woman with a wonderful sense of humor. She honestly might be my faviorite April O Neil, and given we’ve had some great ones with 2003, 2012 and Rise, that’s not something I say lightly. I honestly wish I’d recognized her in more stuff as she was both on Nashville and the mom in the Halloween Town films, and most recently was on the ScFy show the magicians. She’s a talented lady and i’m glad she’s still goin.

April is a reporter for Channel 3 like the cartoon, though for some weird reason her boss from the cartoon is replaced by Charles Pennigton, played by Jay Patterson, whose currently dealing with his troubled son Danny, played by Micheal Turney. Pennington is horribly useless at both jobs: At work he tries to ease April off calling out Chief Sterns, who refuses to listen to April’s evidence gathered from japanese immigrants that the crimes resemble similar ones in japan in favor of trying to get charles to shut her up. Danny meanwhile is a member of the foot becase his dad thinks shouting out him and talking about him like he’s not there and generally being a dipstick will actually do anything to help him.

I love the concept for the foot here. In addition to being a Ninja Violence Gang as always, they now recruit new members by finding kids without families or with troubled family lives and giving them a sense of family with the foot, and sweeting the bargin with a giant cave filled with arcade machines, a skate ramp and general late 80′s early 90′s kids goodies. Is it rediculous? Yes. Is it also clever as it gives Shredder an easy army of plausably deniable theives that he can pick the best out of to put in his elite that will be tirelessly loyal to him and him alone? Also yes.

So April being public about this stuff gets her attacked, which naturally leads to our heroes coming in, first in the shadows and later directly when April wont’ give up on the case and Shredder sends some ninjas to go shut her up.. which he does weirdly as the guy jsut slaps her and tells her to cut it out like he’s on a domestically abusive episode of Full House. Raph saves her, and we get the turtles origin.. though weirdly they cut it in half. We get the ooze portion but Splinter’s past with Saki, Saki’s murder of his master and his master’s partern Tang Shen is left for later in the film and the fact Shredder’s saki is treated as a big twist despite the fact the biggest audience for the film would be kids... and kids would’ve been familiar with the cartoon where the giant brain monster routinely screeches out saki at the shredder. Maybe Barron just thought he was an alcoholic I don’t know. It just would’ve made more sense to have it all at once and let the audeince put it together.

April becomes good friends with the turtles over a night of frozen pizza and camradrie, but the Splinters return home to find it ransacked, Splinter kidnapped by the foot, and are forced to Stay with april. Charles meanwhile tries to get April to backoff because he made a deal with the police to clear Danny’s record, without TELLING her any of this mind you, but I will save my rage on that little plot point for in a bit as Danny who he drug along sees the turtles and tells the Shredder.

So we get the return of the shredder arc as Raph goes through a window, our heroes fight valiantly, and Raph’s friend Casey who he met earlier shows up, the two having bonded as all true friends do.. by beating the shit out of each other ending with raph shouting DAMNNNNNNN really big and dramatically into the sky for some reason. The Turtles and friends escape with an injured raph from April’s burning second hand store. She had a second hand store it was poorly established and only there because she had it in the comics.

Our heroes retreat to a farm April’s grandma owned in Northampton, Massachutes, where Mirage was located at the time the original comics where they were exiled to the place were written and a location that has been a staple of the turtles ever since. The turtles slowly recover, lick their wounds, talk about who hooked up with who on gilligans island etc, before Leo connects with Splinter via meditation, who tells them to come back. Splinter also starts to connect with Danny and convinces him to swtich sides.. or at the very least squat in the boys old home.

The boys return home, find danny, and prepare, Danny goes back and ends up giving away the Turtles are home.. but the turtles are ready and in an awesome sequence kick the fuck out of the foot squad sent for them with some well prepared steam vents. Casey goes to get splinter since Danny told them and with Danny’s help, finds him, since Danny found out they were gonna kill him. Casey beats up Tatsu, shredder’s right hand man, and they get him out.

We get our final fight which is awesome up until the climax.. which is splinter casually tripping shredder with nunchucks and thier bloody history being kind of rushed and unsatsifying. Casey crushes shredder with a garbage truck, April gets her job back, more on that in a moment, she and casey hook up, and we end with the fucking awesome song T-U-R-T-L-E Power by partners in cryme. Seriously check it out it’s fucking triumphant.

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The song is just good.. cheesy? Sure but that’s half the fun. It’s the gold standard for movie theme songs for them and stacks up handily with the various animated series themes.. all of which slap. Okay... ALMOST all of which slap. Fast Forwards is aggressively medicore, which is doubly suprising to me since 4kids was REALLY damn good with theme songs. It was one of the three things they were best at along with finding VERY talented voice actors and setting japan based works in america because merica dammit.

The plot is very solid: It skilfully packed half of eastman and laird’s run on TMNT into 90 mintues while adding things like April’s job at channel 9, the way the foot recurited kids etc. The plot flows well for hte most part and apart from one annoying subplot we’ll get to never has a moment that feel unecessary or dosen’t pay off later. And the stellar plot and fun pacing of it helps boilster the characters that do work... and help paper over the ones that are so thin the’yd fall down a grate...

Our Heroes, Villains and Annoying Middle Aged Guys:

Yeahhhh character is hit and miss here. Some are rather strong, others are the bare basics for the character their adapting and most are just to serve the plot but some work some don’t, So let’s talk about it starting with our boys:

Raph is the most fleshed out of the turtles, being the main focus of the first 2/3 of the film, and having his anger be part of what SHOULD be a character arc, learning to temper it. And while granted MOST TMNT properties do this, to the point that Rise Raph is so loveable in part because his boisterous bruiser big bro attitude is a refreshing break from the usual grumpus we get. But at the time this hadn’t been done in every version but the 87 cartoon, so exploring it was valid.. but despite saying this should be a thing htey just forget about it and the most plot relevance he gets is going thorugh a window. He dosen’t really get a resolution.. his arc just kind of stops dead for the final half and it’s one of the film’s weaker points, one I only just now noticed on this rewatch. He’s still the most entertaining.

Leo is the weakest of the turtles. He really lacks a personality here mostly just being leader and while his spirtual side is touched on, it’s mostly a plot device. He’s just kinda the leader because he was in the comics to the point Partners in Cryme called Raph the leader. His role in getting taken out by the foot was taken by Raph, so he just has.. nothing to do for most of the film other than gripe at raph ocasionally and say orders. He’s probably the worst Leo i’ve seen outside of Next Mutation. I prefice that because after watching Phelous’ review it’s VERY clear those four are the worst versions of the characters, and no personality is still better than either having your team do nothing or yelling at them as your personality. I chalk this up to the Mirage Leo, and the mirage turtles to a poit being kind of bland. Not TERRIBLE characters, especially for the time, but not nearly as fleshed out or individualized as they woudl be in other adpatations, and with most traits LEo DID have, like his badassery flat out gone, he’s just.. nothing here.

Mikey and Donnie are a double act here with both sharing a brain. Interestingly instead of his normal genius character, Donnie is Mikey’s best friend and the two simply trade jokes and schtick together. The two are interchangable.. but easily the best part of the film and a lot of the most memorable gags and lines, from Ninja Kick the Damn Rabbit! to “Do you like Penicllin on your pizza”, are from them. Thier there almost entirely as comic relief but it works, with both clealry being more modled ont he 87 cartoon turtles, a move that helps lighten the mood in darker moments. Their just genuinely charming and it’s intresting to see such a diffrent version of Donnie, and other incarnations, specifically the 2003 and Rise versions, would retain the sarcastic edge.

Splinter is splinter. That’s about it, he’s peformed well and the puppet is amazing but he gets kidnapped a half an hour in and outside of influcencing Denny, more on that in a moment, and finishing Shredder he dosen’t do much but spout exposition. He’s not bad or anything, but he’s essentially a rodent shaped plot device. He was also puppeted by Kevin CLash, aka the guy who does Elmo. So there you go.

April on the other hand.. is truly excellent. This might be my faviorite April. Judith’s april nicely blends the cartoon and mirage versions: She has the cartoons energy and job, but the comics sheer will and casual nature. Judith just oozes personality and her April is just a joy to watch, from her breezy chemistry filled interactions with the guys to her confrntation with Chief Sterns, knowing she’ll get thrown out by the asshole. She’s confident, and even when afraid dosen’t back down to her attackers and even helps out during the sewer ambush. I mean it’s a pot on the head but still it’s neat. She’s easily the best part of the flim and the most fleshed out of the cast. The worst I can say is they kinda shove her store from the comics, Second Time Around, in there for no other reason than it was in the comics: It dosen’t come up until it’s needed for the foot’s assault on her place. But overall.. she’s just fantastic to watch.

Speaking of fantastic to watch, Elias Koteas is fantastic as Casey. Seriously he’s only second to the 2003 version in my eyes, getting the concept of a testorone filled average guy who decided to just go out and hit people with sports equipment after watching too much A-Team.. I mean that part of it’s not in this version but it’s implied, just right. Like judith, Elias is just really funny to watch and his big scenes, showing up just in time during the foot assault on april’s place and his fight with Tatsu are some of the best parts of the film, the former taken directly from the comics. This version isn’t without problems: His friendship with Raph, his most endearing aspect and one that has been carried throughout eveyr version Casey’s important, with the only exception so far being rise and we have a movie to fix that, is absent here. HE does save the guy, but they don’t really bond or anything. In fact he disappears for about half an hour after his big fight with Raph. But... again he’s just so damn entertaining, down to his JOSEEEEEEEEEEE Conseco bats (There was a two for one sale!).

Shredder is just a LITTLE better than splinter, if only because his actor projects a true aura of menace and I feel this version had some influence on the pants crappingly terrifying 2003 version. And the idea of the foot recurting teenagers like I said is a good one: He gives them home and a cause, they give him plausably deniable backup. And his fight with the boys in the climax is really awesome... the conclusion sucks but otherwise h’es okay. Not the deepest villian, but he has enough presence to be enjoyable.

His right hand man Tatsu, whose been adapted ocasionally since this and reimaigned as Natsu in the IDW comics, a female version, is also fine. He’s your standard grimacing goon but has enough presence to work.

So that brings us to the penningtons. Charles, april’s boss at the station and his son Danny who’s joined the foot as he feels his dad dosen’t love him. Charles..is about as interesting and likeable as a dog turd and is the worst aspect of the film. No debate there, he just sucks. He sucks so hard he’s classified as a black hole. The film wants you to see him as a put upon wokring dad whose frustrated with his son’s increased moodiness, skipping school and crminal undertakings and just wants to help him and loves him deep down. The problem is his actor’s delivery instead of concerned.. is just pissed. He just seems pissy and upset about the whole thing and comes off like he’s only mad about Danny doing this because he’s embarassing him and not because you know, it’s bad. When confronting Danny about stealing, he dosen’t consider MAYBE he’s part of a gang or needs help, but just wonders “Why are you stealing when I give you stuff”. Because, Dipshit, sometimes kids do crimes not because they need the stuff but because they WANT to, and because they want to act the fuck out.

The most he does for the kid is agree to try and get April to back off the police when Cheif Sterns offers to let Danny go and not put him on record in exchange for it. The problem.. is this makes him even MORE unsympathetic. While I do get wanting to help your child, I do and it’s a sucky position... he again should be sympathetic.. but he handles the thing so badly it sucks. He just tells april to ease off, with no reason given, then fires her when she SHOCKINGLY dosen’t give up taking the guy whose refusing to take her hard work seriously or actually solve the crime wave problem to task for his shitty behavior as ANY person facing a shitty, corrput cop would. She just wants to hold him acountable and get him to actually do something. He clearly knows her on a personal level too as he talks about his issues with his son freely with her, something you don’t do with an employee unless their also a friend on some level.

He could have TOLD april what was going on. She’d be furious at Stern’s naked corrpution and prioritizing shutting her up over actually solving crimes.. and thus put at least some of that energy into shutting him down or finding a way around it, going to the papers or something like that. Even in 1990 pre-internet, there were ways to get around Sterns blackmail and expose him so someone who’d actually do the job could get the job. Instead he just comes off as a selfish coward who rather than try and fight the guy blatantly abusing his power and using Charles own son as barganing chip, goes along with it because it’s the easier option to simply bow to him instead of TRY and stop this. And it’s not like he’s even going after a beloved public figure or someone who could hide behind his rep: Sterns was blatantly failing a crime wave, April had called him out on his failrues and coverups multiple times. The public was against sterns.. finding out he tried to blackmail the media into shutting up about him would PROBABLY end him... I only say probably not because the public wouldn’t skewer him, but because police tend to escape consequences for blatantly murdering someone on a daily basis and Andrew Cumo is STILl mayor over in new york, the same city this movie takes place, 31 years later, depsite EVERYONE asking him to resign over a long history of sexual harassment and a more recent but still horrible history of hiding death numbers. I don’t doubt people being stupid enough to ignore this or the bilaws with cops being stacked enough for him to get away with it, but just because someone gets away with a crime dosen’t mean you shoudln’t try and go after them in the first place. Fuck. Charles. Pennington.

Danny on the other hand is FAR more interesting and I think gets way too much flack when it comes to this subplot. Unlike his dad, whose dead weight, Danny is intresting: He provides a POV character for the foot’s MO in the film of taking in wayward teens, and his character arc is pretty engaging, slowly realizing the foot dosen’t care and that hte turtles are the good guys. HIs actor does a great job and while not the biggest presence, he’s not a bad addition to clan hamaoto and I wish other adaptations would find a way to use him. The pull between doing the right thing and his found family is a good struggle. My only real issue with his plot is the moviies flawed aseop about family. It tries to contrast shredder and his using the kids blatnatly with Splinter and Charles really loving their sons. And it works with Splinter and the kids because despite being a tad strict, Splinter clearly loves his sons and works with them to help them. The problem is ENTIRELY with Charles and Danny. As I said Charles love comes off as transasctional: He either thinks he can buy it or just expects it because he shot a bunch of goop into Danny’s mom after two minutes of disapointment. It dosen’t work with them because neither option is good for Danny. His father is neglectful, chooses throwing his jounralistic integrity out the window over talking to his son or his best friend about another way, and abrasive. Danny is no saint, he does do crimes, but it’s clearly a result of a shitty upbringing and the shredder and co actually offeirng him the love he desperatly craves. Danny goes to the foot because his dad is bad at his job but the film never adresses that and just expects Danny to go back to his dad because the plot says so. Danny would HONESTLY be better off with Splinter. No really. Sure he’d have to live in the sewers.. but he did so for a few weeks in the course of the movie. He’s fine down there. Splitner actually cares about him and took an intrest to him and knows how to raise a child. Let him become the fifth turtle. An aseop about family is not a bad thing: Loaded subject that it can be given how many outright abusive families exist, i’m one of the lucky ones who dosen’t have that issue, family is an important thing and can be a source of comfort and support. But this film tells you you should love and respect someone who does not love, respect or value you because he spent a minute in your mom’s vagina and that’s not how family should work and is outright dangerous to kids in an abusive situation. Love the film otherwise but fuck this aseop skyhigh.

Final thoughts:

Overall though.. the film is bodacious. It’s funny, well paced, has an awesome cast, and outside of a certain bald asswipe... it’s a really good superhero film. Is it the best i’ve seen? Nope. Not even close and character wise most of them are as thin as a wet paper bag covered in ranch dressing. But it’s still a fun as hell with awesome corepgraphy, a killer soundtrack, seriously the soundtrack is damn excellent and only didn’t get it’s own section because I didn’t have enough to say and some of the best effects work i’ve seen in a film in the turtle suits. If you haven’t seen it I urge you to check it out: it’s a breezy 90 minutes, it’s on hbo max and it’s a shell of a time. Will I do the next film?

We’ll see how this one does like wise and such, but I will be doing the rise film whenever it comes out this year. So look for that and keep possesing turtle power my dudes. If you liked this review subscirbe for more, join my patreon to keep this blog a chugging, comission a review if you have more turtle stuff you want me to cover, and comment on this. What do you think of the movie, what are your thoughts on the review, what can I do better, what other turtle stuff would you like me to cover/ Let me know and i’ll see you at hte next rainbow.

#teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles 1990 #leonardo #raphael #donetello #michealangelo #casey jones #april o'neil #the shredder #oroku saki #new line cinema #golden harvest #film #90's movies #the 90's #partners in cryme #judith hoag

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