#rottmnt secret gifting

[skelenova]

heyyy here's my @rottmnt-secret-gifting for @fowlaroundtown!!

uh considering it's post-halloween, i hope you can excuse the lack of spooky. but i decided to get everything in, so the disaster twins and shelldon are "hanging out" 😏 don't ask me how leo got in this situation, i frankly don't know

wips + bonus sketches under the cut ⬇️⬇️⬇️

on the other side of the portal...

✨progress shots :

[darth-sonny]

!!HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

here's my gift for @leosmasktails. I drew her turtlesona Tails as a bedsheet ghost!

Tails © @leosmasktails

@rottmnt-secret-gifting

[sylviefish]

Alright I apologize for being late but I’m finally finished! For @other-fan-fiction I present…

A mini rottmnt comic!

I’m not familiar with drawing angst (or comics in general) but I did my best to make something you would enjoy. Tysm for being patient, and I hope you like it!

(For the secret gifting event by @rottmnt-secret-gifting)

[emaginations]

HAPPY (late) HALLOWEEN!!!

Here's my gift for @gemini-forest for the @rottmnt-secret-gifting!

This is also going to be cross posted to AO3, so it can be read or bookmarked over there too!

The story, "The New World Is A Treat", can be read under the cut or in this link!

Leonardo was a soldier. He wasn't always that, but it's what he was forced to grow up as. When the Krang ripped themselves through that portal years and years ago, he had to let go of all his past dreams and childhood wishes. Then when the people around him started to slowly dwindle, he had to harden up and become the leader everyone left needed.

What Leonardo became was someone worthy of trying to fix his mistakes, someone that his family would be proud of. Someone who could actually be forgiven.

Now here he is, in a healed past, staring in a mirror and wondering if a sheet was too weak of a costume for trick or treating.

Yeah, he was going trick or treating at the ripe old age of forty. The things you do when you get yanked twenty odd years back.

It's his fault, really, that he agreed to this. It was already bad enough that all of his brothers walked up to him one afternoon last week with big pleading eyes. Then they roped CJ into this, weaponizing the face Leonardo literally watched grow up since he was an infant. Then he caved.

Now the night is here. Spirits, this feels so stupid.

Resigning himself to hiding under a sheet the entire night, Leonardo throws one over his shoulder and walks out of his room.

As expected, everyone is gathered in the lobby as they put on the finishing touches. Well, almost everyone. Leo and Donnie, who are already dressed up in Anakin and Spock outfits respectively, are too busy arguing to help out elsewhere.

"Star Trek attempts to replicate what technology would look like in the distant future based around actual science! The entire franchise is built upon science! Star Wars just makes up their own rules whenever they need some new random plot device when they’ve run out of ideas again."

Leo scoffs as he swings the lightsaber on his shoulder. “What you don’t understand is the fact that Anakin is top tier as a character and him existing is why you're already wrong."

Leonardo walks over to Mikey and Raph, who are finishing up the dragon tail to Mikey’s costume? “They're still fighting about this?”

Raph, already fully decked out in a complete Elvis costume, snorts at the question. "Are ya kidding? I don't think they've ever stopped about this. They just put it on pause."

"THEY ARE NOT "BASICALLY THE SAME THING" GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE NARDO!"

“Annnd there they go.”

As expected, Donnie runs after Leo, who has jumped behind Leonardo, the second living shield in the Hamato household. Leonardo grabs Donnie by the shell as he runs by, lifting him up as he still kicks in the air.

“Hey,” he says. “Weren’t you taught to not murder your brothers?”

Donnie looks up in thought as his kicking ceases. “Hmm, I don’t think so. Put me down, maybe?”

Leonardo gives him a tilted smirk. “Yeah I’m not that dumb you little twit.”

“You’re only defending him cause you are literally the same person!” Donnie once again thrashes in Leonardo’s grip towards Leo. Leo, the conniving little culprit that he is, snickers from the safe-zone still behind Leonardo.

“Nah,” Leo says, stepping back, “it’s cause we’ve got equal tastes.” Leo’s eyes find the white cloth over Leonardo’s shoulder. “Oh speaking of, is that what you’re wearing tonight?! Is it a Princess Leia dress to match!?”

Leonardo raises an eye as he looks down at Leo. “If I were to match you, I’d dress up as Vader.”

Leo nods slowly. “Truue.”

At that moment, Raph finally finishes helping Mikey with the dragon tail, leaving Mikey to swish around the room as he stands.

“Well, what is the costume?” he asks.

Leonardo grimaces as the attention is now fully focused on him. He would have preferred showing the costume when it was too late to turn back, but he’s still new to being ganged up on by a bunch of teenagers.

“Oh it’s just uh…” Leonardo puts down Donnie and unfurls the sheet, throwing it over his head. The sheet covers him up until it ends at his knees. He throws his arms up as if he were standing like a scarecrow. “This.”

He can’t see out of the sheet, but the silence he gets in return is very telling.

“Okay,” Leo starts. “I take back what I said about equal tastes. His are rancid.” Leo emits a small “ow”, likey from Raph smacking him for being rude.

“That’s what you’re wearing!?” Leonardo grimaces as he lifts the sheet up to face an appalled Mikey. “And after all the effort that I put into my costume?! I can accept laziness but this is just wrong.”

“Oh come on,” Leonardo complains. “It’s a classic costume!” An idea pops into his head. “Plus! CJ’s never seen costumes like these, it’s good for him to understand what older costumes looked like!”

“Hm,” Donnie activates his ninpo and makes a ninpo megaphone in his hand. “Let’s get Junior’s official opinion then.” He turns it on with a screech. “ CASEY JUNIOR! YOUR FATHER IS MAKING BAD LIVELIHOOD CHOICES! FIX HIM!”

Leonardo rips the sheet off, face heating up. “Again,” he hisses, “I am not his father. I just helped raise him after Casey died. We’re not even similar biologically.”

Leo snorts. “Says the guy who was raised by a rat.”

“That isn’t the same thing!” Sure, he raised the kid, but he knew CJ didn’t actually consider him a real father figure. He just took over for Casey Sr when she died. He ran the kid ragged when they were surviving through the end of the world, he wouldn’t be surprised if there was some discontentment running around in CJ’s head.

The curtain for the tv room parts, revealing Splinter in a king’s costume, complete with a robe and scepter and everything, and CJ dressed up in a green witch’s hat and cape.

“What was that about ‘bad livelihood choices?’” CJ asks.

Leo gestures angrily at the sheet. “This lame excuse of a turtle was planning on going out wearing just a sheet as a costume!”

“It’s a good costume!” Leonardo looks over to try and salvage his lazy choices, but he loses all hope when he sees the appalled look on Splinter’s face.

“What son of mine chooses to wear something so tasteless!?” Leonardo’s face heats up in unexpected shame, and he’s pretty sure he hears snickering behind him.

“Oh, come on,” he says “It’s a classic! Case,” CJ straightens his back slightly, and Leonardo feels his chest grow tighter, “c’mon, what do you think?”

CJ pinches his mouth then sends him a pitying smile. “It’s… less than I was expecting.”

“What.”

As the rest of his younger family starts cackling behind him, CJ gestures to all of them. “Well, I remember you telling me when I was younger that you guys dressed up in really detailed costumes that you spent weeks making or preparing.” CJ points at the sheet. “And I’m pretty sure you just pulled that out from your laundry.”

Leonardo scowls at him and finally shrugs off the sheet. “How come you didn’t forget stupid stuff like that like a normal child?”

A heavy arm lands around his shoulder and Raph pulls him into a side hug. “Hey, cheer up! I got a spare outfit from last year you can borrow for the night.”

“Can’t I just put on one of your flannels, call myself a lumberjack, and we call it even?”

Mikey jumps up on the back of his shell. “Nope! You know the rules. We all have to wear a costume when we’re trick or treating!”

Leonardo sighs. “Alright. Show me what you got, Raph.” Great. This is just great.

-

Once Leonardo was forced into a cowboy costume of all things, everyone grabbed their pillowcases and hiked up to the surface. They made their way over to the MOMA where they met up with April, dressed up in a surgeon’s outfit, and Casey Sr, donned head to toe in all the gear of a famous female wrestler that Leonardo forgot the name of.

There was a delay in getting to the nearest apartment sector of Manhattan since Casey and Raph had a wrestling competition upon seeing each other. Leonardo thought about breaking them up but CJ kept cheering on Casey, so he let it go.

Keeping CJ happy was the reason why he even agreed to go up, so he’ll focus on just that for the night. That was worth every moment of embarrassment from being seen in a costume.

As they kept moving, Leonardo found that it wasn’t a hard feat to accomplish. The second they turned a corner and spotted groups of kids running around in costumes and decorations like intricate jack o'lanterns set down on porches and fake spiderwebs all around, CJ’s eyes lit up. Everything’s filled with orange and red, probably the two colors Case knew best, but the environment isn’t oppressive at all. It’s warm, inviting, comfortable, things he only had fragments of when growing up.

And the kids. Leonardo had never considered himself the type to be fond of children, but the sheer number of children that flooded the streets wearing silly costumes makes everything more alive. The apocalypse felt so dead when their numbers were already dwindling, but now he’s recalling the days when Cassandra first found CJ, forcing them all to experience a breath of life for the first time in years.

Then Leonardo has to do a double take, because are some of these kids…?

A little girl in a poofy pink dress runs by on their right yelling with glee and carrying a candy bag almost bigger than her. She almost trips over the sidewalk with a yelp, but Raph catches her just before she hits the ground.

“Whoa, I gotchu kiddo!” The little girl’s eyes are shut tight, but she opens them as she realizes that she never hit the ground. She turns to look at Raph. “You gotta watch yourself with it being dark out here and all.”

The little girl nods with a fanged smile. “Sorry mister!” She wiggles in Raph’s hand and he puts her back on the ground. “I’m not used to a big dress like this. It’s so big that it’s covering my tail!” The little girl lifts up the dress slightly enough so that a definitely-connected-to-her-body reptile tail can be seen sliding back and forth on the ground.

Raph gasps with extra emotion. “You have a tail?! So do I!” Raph turns around and brandishes his tail, the behemoth it is in comparison to her’s.

“NO WAY!”

Leonardo shakes his head fondly at the little yokai girl’s interactions with Raph. “No way.”

Donnie looks up at Leonardo. “I’m guessing there wasn’t much of a yokai-human bond in the future?”

“Not in the beginning,” Leonardo elaborates. He watches as CJ swoops in and helps direct the kid back to her group of yokai friends. “As the years went on, the humans started to realize that we existed and were trying to fight for our lives back, so we decided to form an alliance with them.” The little girl high-fives another kid in the group, a human boy in a superman costume. “I never expected it to happen here.”

“Yes yes, the miracles that spawn from an unforeseen until time-travel-shenanigans alien invasion, or something. Yin and yang, the good you find in the evil and that jazz.”

Leonardo scoffs. “I always wanted a normal life for him, one where he could actually live up here and go to high school and find his own way in life and be happy.”

Leo suddenly slides into the conversation in such a way that makes Leonardo narrow his eyes. “Oh, you wanted the best life for Casey?”

“Stop.”

“That sounds like something a DAD WOULD WANT!”

Leonardo leans down over him. “I know what you are.”

Leo tilts his head innocently. “Anakin Skywalker?”

“A JACKASS!”

A thwap on the back of Leonardo’s leg forces him to cut the conversation short. He looks down and sees Splinter rubbing his tail.

“Could we please not argue when we could be spending this time trick or treating?!” Splinter complains. “The one time of year we get free candy and you boys are wasting it!”

Leo rolls his eyes and holds up his hands. “Fine, but I'm not done with you, old man!” Leo runs off before Leonardo can argue with him or attempt to wrangle his head.

It takes a few more minutes for them to finally reach their first stop, an apartment with a skeleton wreath hanging over the door. It’s a quaint spot, but Donnie likely already knew the contents of the candy inside; peanut free, optional gummy option, possibly a handful of fidget toys. Leonardo would never forget how his Donatello would go the extra mile to track the best neighborhoods in New York. They always came back home with more candy than they (sans Raph) could carry.

Mikey starts to run up the steps with extra energy, but he freezes halfway up. He turns around and grins at CJ.

“Cmon Casey!” He shouts.

CJ’s eyes widened. “Wh-” Case looks back and forth from everyone around him. “Are you sure? I don’t even know what to do.”

Mikey rushes back down, grabs CJ’s arm, and drags him back up. CJ looks back at Leonardo with a fearful expression, but Leonardo just lifts his hands up in surrender with a smile. He laughs when CJ scowls back.

Mikey stops CJ at the top step. “Just ring the doorbell, wait for the person inside to open the door, then shout trick or treat! Sometimes you don’t even have to say it, they’ll just give it to you anyway.”

CJ looks back and forth from the door to Mikey. "They'll just give you candy?" Mikey nods. CJ looks back at the door and takes a deep breath. "No tricks? No payment?" Again, Mikey nods. CJ looks back to the door. His hand rises slowly to press the doorbell, just about to press it.

CJ pauses. "What if I mess it up?"

Donnie whips around CJ and presses the doorbell for him.

Mikey gasps at him. "Donnie! This was a learning moment for him!"

Donnie rolls his eyes. "Oh please, we'll do this at least twenty more times. He'll have his moment at some point."

As shadows move behind the door, CJ suddenly straightens his back and goes stock still.

It feels a bit ridiculous, but seeing CJ get nervous from something as small as this makes Leonardo’s mind cloud up with the need to go up there and pull him back to safety. This is the safest they've ever been. They're surrounded by the best warriors they've ever met who also just so happen to be their direct relatives. They're living in a world, a time where they're finally free, but Leonardo can't help but fear for him.

The door opens to a young Hispanic woman in a messy bun and a detailed gothic vampire outfit. A large orange bowl is full to the brim of different brands and flavors of lollipops and suckers.

CJ stutters for a second before shouting, at the top of his lungs, "TRICK OR TREAT!"

Everyone flinches at the volume, except for Casey, who applauds. CJ turns toward Mikey with an innocent grin. "How was that?!"

Still wincing, Mikey gives him a thumbs up.

The woman laughs and rubs her ears. "Damn kid, that was loud! I feel like I should let you guys get extra for that."

CJ gasps with childlike delight. "Really?"

Leo runs up the steps and nudges him aside with an awkward laugh. "Maybe don't encourage him? He'll probably shout at every door like that if you do."

This comment leads to the woman sending a knowing look towards CJ. "First Halloween?" CJ nods sheepishly. She leans in closer with a devilish grin, dropping a handful of candy in CJ's bag. "Then here's a tip for you. A new guy moved in a few doors down about a week ago, and I saw him carry a whole box of king sized candy bars inside this morning."

Donnie snatches at the candy she offers next. "I'm adding it to the map and we will head over immediately. Oh and uh, thank you!"

As everyone else quickly grabs their own handful of candy, CJ stands to the side and stares into his own bag.

When they all start walking towards the next stop, Leonardo slows down to walk in step with CJ. "How's the first haul?"

CJ looks up at him with a smile. "She gave us all so much! Are all houses like this?"

“Basically, yeah,” Leonardo says.

CJ goes to say something else, but then he seems to notice something and pauses. "Wait… didn't you get some?"

Leonardo scoffs. "Nah, I'm too old for that."

"Too old?"

"Yeah. Halloween is more of a kids thing. Some people in college go to parties, but us adults don't do much besides follow our kids around or hand out candy." Leonardo sends a dirty look at a grinning Mikey when he says that second part.

CJ frowns at his answer. “That seems like a stupid rule to have.”

Leonardo shrugs. “I don’t have much of a sweet tooth these days, so I’m not complaining.”

The comment does not seem to satiate CJ. “How about this,” CJ reaches into his bag and pulls out a fist-full of candy. “Once we’re done, you can have half of my candy!”

“Whoa hold on Casey, this is your haul. I’m not going to take it.”

Instead of listening to Leonardo, CJ forces his left hand open and shoves a handful of hard candies into his fist.

"You're going to enjoy this night just like I am," he says with a tone of assertiveness. CJ runs off to the rest of their family, leaving Leonardo to stare at the handful of jawbreakers he was given.

-

For whatever reason CJ had knocking around in his head, he kept handing Leonardo half of the candy he got. At one point he even tried to shove it all in Raph's bag (making sure to not put in any peanuts), but then CJ would catch him and send him those pleading eyes again. So, he got a bag.

Incidentally, him getting a bag led to him taking the opportunity to confiscate anything he deemed bad. Most of it was candy with nuts that somehow slipped through Donnie's radar. At one house he had to confiscate a baggie of chocolate covered espresso beans from Donnie and Mikey before they could try it out. They did not need any more energy than they already have. For that matter, who thought espresso beans were a good thing to give to children!?

Thankfully, before Leonardo can rip his nonexistent hair out, Splinter suggests they rest up at the nearby entrance to Central Park.

The kids unanimously decide to circle up and trade different brands amongst each other. CJ, bless him, doesn’t know most of what he’s been given, so it eventually becomes a showcase of CJ trying each piece that’s offered to him.

Leonardo watches their antics from a nearby bench. He’s thankful that they didn’t try to drag him into their little circle, he’s not sure what they would have done if Leo started to dump all his butterfingers in Leonardo’s bag. If Leo didn’t like them, then what makes him think that Leonardo would?

He’s brought out of his thoughts when Splinter sits down on the bench next to them with a sigh.

“You have no idea,” he says, “how difficult this gets as you get older.” He stretches his back. “I swear, you kids just keep getting more and more energy as the years add up.”

Leonardo gives him a halfhearted chuckle as he adjusts his hat. “I am having more fun out here than I thought I would,” he admits. “But I’m not much of a kid anymore.”

Splinter hums. “True. But then again, you will always be like little baby turtles to me. You four were so small and adorable!” He sighs. “I remember the first few days I had you and your brothers. They were the worst nights of sleep I ever had! Always making your little turtle noises and crying when it got too cold.”

Leonardo can’t help the snort of laughter that escapes from him. “I can believe that.” He looks over at CJ. “When Casey died, CJ was only two years old. He still needed someone to raise him, and I was really the only person around that could actually take care of Junior. Don was always working on our defenses, Mikey had to take care of anyone that got hurt, and Raph was already…” Leonardo’s voice catches and he coughs to release it. “Anyway, babysitting duty just so happened to land on me. I thought I wasn’t getting any sleep before, but when I had to deal with Case? I became a living zombie.”

“Babysitting?” Splinter scoffs. “I could hardly call raising a child for fifteen years through the destruction of your world babysitting.”

“Again with the-” Leonardo exhales sharply, then releases it in a heavy sigh. “It wasn’t just me that did it. It took pretty much the entire resistance to raise that kid. Everyone was basically his aunt or uncle at one point or another. Donnie was, Mikey was, April too. Heck, even Draxum pitched in a couple of times!”

“You say that,” Splinter says, “but that kid looks up to you like any child would to their father. I would know, that’s the look you would always give me. It’s the look you still give me.”

That catches Leonardo off guard. He looks back at Splinter, already giving him a knowing grin. “You may think that he doesn’t see you as a father, but he does. Just as much as I can tell that you see him as a son.”

Then, CJ shouts something that almost causes Leonardo’s brain to short circuit.

“Ojiisan!” Leonardo’s head snaps towards CJ, who doesn’t seem to notice anything off with what he’s said. “Did you want any candy? I’m offering now before Casey starts hoarding it all.”

“DON’T GO GIVING AWAY MY CANDY, GIVE AWAY YOUR OWN!” The two of them then dive into a mini wrestling contest.

Leonardo blinks. “What-” he shoots up to his feet. “What did he say?”

“I believe he called me his grandfather. And in Japanese, no less.” Splinter hops off of the stool with a snarky look that he knows he inherited. “I wonder what that makes you?”

Leonardo can’t find anything to say to that, so Splinter pats his leg with a chuckle before making his way over to the kids and requesting some kit kats.

There’s not much Leonardo can will himself to do besides watch as CJ escapes Casey’s hold and hands Splinter a pile of kit kats.

When he was wrangling with CJ as he grew up, he always thought that CJ didn't deserve a parent like him. He deserved someone that actually knew what they were doing when it came to kids. Casey literally worked with little brownie scouts to create an entire brownie empire. If there was anyone that deserved to be the parent, it was her.

But Casey is sitting right next to him now, and she's more of a big sister to him now than anything else. CJ's looking at Leonardo now, waving him over for a seat in the circle on his other side.

He looks down at the bag of candy in his hand and he can feel a smile begin to form on his face.

Leonardo hauls the bag over his shoulder and goes to sit down next to his son.

“So, got any more of those jawbreakers you feel like handing off?”

[donatellokinnersinner]

my gift for @miri-in-a-bottle for @rottmnt-secret-gifting

When Donnie was little, he was a little odd to his brothers. 

He took a while to start talking, and because of his soft shell, Splinter wouldn’t let him play rough. When he was a little older, he remained out of their play on his own, even with the pillow tied to him, and would often take it off because he didn’t want to wear it. 

He claimed his shell wasn’t a weakness, just a temporary setback. 

Raph didn’t know what that meant at the time, but he understood later when Donnie made his first battle shell. The beta test allowed him to roughhouse with his brothers and ended in the shell breaking, scratching up his shell some, and Raph promising himself never to play rough with his little brother again. 

The second version was sturdier, but his brothers refused to help him test it. 

The third was on for an hour before Donnie took it off and locked himself in his room for the rest of the night. 

Suddenly, he added padding on the shells, searching fervently with Mikey, who said his tastes were so refined that Donnie rejected almost every textile they found. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack for Donnie, ending up on taking a mostly clean satin pillowcase and wrapping it around memory foam. 

Leo was the first to find him during a meltdown, and from then on, was the first to do research and offer as educated of help as he could manage. He explained everything to Raph and Mikey, so they could know and help if he was unable. 

They didn’t have to, not when Leo was always there first. Donnie would oh-so-easily go to Leo for help because he knew he didn’t have to ask for it, his twin would just know. 

On their way back from Staten Island, Leo passed out, and Donnie panicked. Leo was always the one to know the medical stuff, Donnie only knew the basics. 

“I’m an engineer, not a doctor.” 

They called Draxum, and he helped, and once Leo was all patched up, Raph realized that Donnie had disappeared. 

He found him in his room, curled up in the corner crying, with all the light off. 

Don’t try to touch him, and keep your voice low. Leo had instructed. 

Raph crouched nearby. “Hey buddy.” 

Donnie peeked at him from where he was curled up.

Check for any injuries, sometimes pain will send him over the edge, sometimes it’s just overwhelming situations. 

Raph took a breath. The situation had been overwhelming for all of them, so he couldn’t imagine how Donnie was feeling, and there were likely injuries on top of that. “Are you hurt anywhere?” 

He probably won’t outright say yes, but he will say no if he’s not hurt. 

Donnie shrugged, and Raph swallowed. “We need to make sure you get cleaned up, bud. We can make it quick, and then you can rest, I promise.”

Donnie sniffled, nodding.

He likely won’t talk, he might sign if he needs to say something. 

“Do you need help walking?” Raph asked. 

Donnie didn’t respond, moving to stand up on his own, but Raph could see him shaking. He offered his hand, allowing Donnie to make his own choice in taking it, which he did, putting his weight against his arms, both pushing against his biggest brother’s hand. 

Raph slowly led him to the bathroom, helping him take off his battle shell and getting him into the bathtub. He tried not to touch Donnie as much as possible, and made sure the water was a perfectly moderate temperature, so it wouldn’t feel like much. He tried not to panic at the mess of his brother's shell, looking like roots had been torn out of soft dirt and small bits of white could be seen through the slowly oozing blood. 

“We gotta go get this stitched up, Dee.” Raph told him and Donnie nodded slowly, letting his eldest brother help him out of the bath and into the medbay where Splinter and Casey Jr took care of him. 

Once they were done and he was all curled up with a blanket, he stared half-lidded across the room at Leo, and Raph swallowed. 

He left the room, getting Donnies headphones and bringing them back to the softshell, who relaxed when they were given. He signed Thank you. 

You’re welcome. Raph signed back, then patted beside his hand reassuringly. 

Donnie reached out and squeezed his hand, humming. 

Raph squeezed it back, giving him a smile.

(hope you enjoy!!!)

[nights-flying-fox]

Baby's First Halloween

Mikey forces Draxum joining him and his family for trick and treating.

My @rottmnt-secret-gifting gift for @bambiraptorx :] Happy Halloween!! Don't judge the title, I am either very good with them or terrible with them TwT Sorry this is shorter than I planned, but I hope you still like it!!!! I saw that your fics featured Draxum a lot so I tried writing something that is both Halloween themed and from his pov, I hope he is in character and you enjoy it :> Also on AO3 <33

 Baron Draxum had yet to understand humans. Yet to like them. But he had thought he had an idea of them (other than the fact they all were annoying). Spending months among them had given him a new chance to observe them better. At some aspects they were just like he expected them to be. In other aspects though, they proved to be more interesting than he thought they were. That wouldn’t happen often, but still was worth mentioning.

 Nowadays he didn’t have a problem living among them, he had gotten used to them, and to their behavior. He knew the basics; he knew what to expect from their society.

 Then Michelangelo showed up at his door with a costume in his hands and Draxum once again was lost.

 “What the heck is a Halloween?” Draxum stared at the mutant.

 “You don’t know Halloween!?” Mikey exclaimed. “It is okay, I can teach you everything!”

 “I am not interested.” Draxum replied.

 “Too late!” Mikey grinned as he walked in. Draxum knew he had no way to escape from the boy. He let Mikey get in with the costume he held. “So, Barry, Halloween is a human holiday- one of the best even- which I’m sure you’ll love!”

 “I doubt that.” Draxum had learned about some. They were nothing like yokai holidays, and they made no sense at all. He was sure this would be no different.

 Mikey sat on to the couch and placed the costume by his side. “Halloween happens during the night of 31st of October, and people celebrate it by trick and treating, watching horror movies, putting scary decorations everywhere…”

 “Is that why I have been seeing bat and pumpkin replicas everywhere?” He asked rhetorically, interrupting the teen.

 Mikey grinned, “Yep! People like to decorate and get into the Halloween spirit early! That’s what October’s about baby!”

 Draxum gestured to the costume in front of him, “What’s with the costume?”

 “Oh! I made it for you!” Mikey beamed. “The most important thing of Halloween is how you look. You gotta wear a costume if you are celebrating it. And you’ll terrific!”

 He reached and held the costume in his hands. “You dress up ridiculously?” Draxum questioned, inspecting the costume with more detail now.

 “Sometimes some people do, but majorly it is about looking scary.” Mikey explained.

 Draxum eyed the costume again. He couldn’t see how these clothes were supposed to be scary. He didn’t mention that though.

 “I mean, you don’t exactly have to wear a costume since this whole situation”- Mikey gestured to Draxum like whenever his family said that phase- “but, traditions are always better!”

 Draxum suddenly realized what Mikey meant, “So that’s the thing all the yokai got excited about every October.”

 “Huh?” Mikey blinked at him with confusion.

 “Every year yokai get excited about going to surface and walking among humans freely for a night.” Draxum explained. “I never understood the excitement for a thing like that, and so I didn’t find it worth to check and lose the time I could prepare my plans.”

 Mikey hummed, “Humans somehow can’t tell the difference between mutants and costumes most of the time, which is much better for us!”

 “As I had said before several times, they aren’t smart.” Draxum commented.

 “Don’t be rude, Barry!” He got up, “After all we’ll have some fun among them soon.”

 Draxum looked at Mikey, and then at the costume. “I’d rather to pass the offer.”

 Mikey shook his head, “No! Way!” He exclaimed. “You are joining us this Halloween!”

 “You?” Draxum didn’t like how it sounded.

 “Yep! Since you have never enjoyed this amazing holiday, why not join us?” Mikey said, hugging Draxum’s arm.

 The mutant raised a brow, “I am not sure if your family would like that idea.”

 “They won’t mind.” The boy chirped happily. Draxum wasn’t convinced but he didn’t try to fight against him.

 And so Draxum was once again had found himself in a situation he never expected to be in, thanks to Michelangelo. He had no idea why, but the boy always found a way to make him join his ideas or do what he asked for. Maybe it was because of how it was almost impossible to escape Mikey’s persistence. (It was definitely not because he cared for the boys he had created. Not at all.)

 He looked at the costume again and sighed, he was gonna hate it.

 He hated it.

 Mikey had made him some sort of red imp like costume. Draxum had no idea how the boy had managed to get him wear it (maybe it was the fact behind his niceness he hid the scariest person known to a yokai). When the rest of boys and April had seen him, they burst into laughing. By the way they joked, he suspected that him they were very excited to see him like that for a long time. Leo made so many terrible jokes and teased him the whole time, more than others. So much that Draxum was sure even the others were tired of his puns. He also knew that Donnie and April had taken many pictures of him. All Draxum was glad nobody that knew his glorious days (other than the Hamatos) saw him like that.

 Eventually they moved to trick or treating part. He still didn’t understand any of this. A part of him wished people would let them do their trick, so he could show what powers he got and scare all of them. (He was sure that was the meaning of trick.) Just like the old days. Shame it wasn’t “safe or legal”. Humans seemed to be afraid of him even in this ridiculous costume, so that was somewhat better.

 As the night kept going on, Draxum noticed the many yokai walking among the streets. Some having fun, drinking and enjoying the night in a different way, some spending time by trying out or checking out normal human things and technologies. They all seemed very happy. Both humans and yokai… odd. Then he looked back at the boys. They seemed very happy too. Even Leonardo was not caring that Draxum tagged along (by Mikey’s force). It was different than any other night. One night free for all to walk among each other peacefully.

 Maybe Halloween wasn’t that bad.

 After a time, they finally returned to the lair, where Splinter laughed so much that he ended having cramps and a coughing fit. Draxum had retorted pointing out how stupid his costume looked, but Splinter paid no mind telling him how amazing it looked on him and that Draxum had no taste at all. Draxum disagreed, not understanding at all how the stupid fake teeth and cape looked amazing on him.

 Then as the teens examined the candies they collected (which was surprisingly a lot); Splinter began searching for something. He victoriously announced, “I found it!”

 “What is it, rat?” Draxum asked, more to kill time than being curious.

 “Lou Jitsu’s special edition horror movie marathons.” Splinter explained proudly.

 Draxum looked at the small box Splinter held. “I thought you were an action movie star?”

 Splinter stared at him, “You are so uncultured…. Thankfully tonight you will see some real good stuff.”

 Draxum rolled his eyes, “How even your movies considered good?”

 Draxum wouldn’t admit, but they were good. Not only Splinter’s old horror movies which were more of a comedy in Draxum’s opinion, but the other movies too. The most recent ones were mostly accurate about gore details too. When Draxum mentioned that it, Donnie gladly agreed pointing out some inaccuracies. As the two agreed, the rest of them were trying shushing them so they could watch the rest of the movie properly. Draxum heard how Leonardo whined, “There are two of them now”. Draxum ignored that comment, only thinking about how it meant that Donnie was good at catching details and had knowledge over that. Even though some parts made him uncomfortable, the boy had knowledge.

 At some point Raph fell asleep. Mikey, who was hiding under a blanket next to him trembled. Leo kept his hand on the blanket, watching the movie playing with candy bag in his lap. Donnie sat on the ground with his own candy bag, occasionally commending about the movie and whispering to April, who sat next to him some things about the movie. Splinter eventually fell asleep as well.

 Draxum found it interesting. How they didn’t mind him around. How this wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be (minus the costume). How it was tolerable to watch the teens joke around, scaring each other at times under the projector’s light.

 Hours passed, as the movie marathon continued one by one, they fell asleep. Draxum could stay awake longer if he wanted, but he let himself rest as well, as the rest of them slept deeply.

 At some point he heard someone getting on his feet, he felt a blanket on himself. Once he looked, he saw Splinter with another blanket, heading towards Leonardo. He had brought blankets and pillows for them all. Draxum didn’t understand why he would do that. (At least why would he bring him one. That didn’t make any sense.)

 Then Splinter saw him, “Go back sleeping before you wake them up Draxum,” he whispered. “It is three in the morning.”

 Draxum was going to say something, but he found himself not responding. Splinter was right, he could wake them up. So, he decided to not to say a word, and do as he told him to do. Meanwhile, Splinter went back to his spot, with a blanket and a pillow going back to sleep as well.

 As he fell asleep, Draxum thought. Maybe this was why it wasn’t that bad. Because even though he was forced to join them, they still included him. Because they showed him what Halloween was. And while Draxum would never say that to them, maybe it was great to spend time with this family, more than he ever thought it would be. After everything, perhaps this was a nice change…

[idiot-swanwich]

Pumpkins!

My gift for @peachlover28

This is for the @rottmnt-secret-gifting thing.

(story under cut)

" Ready, set, go! " April said as she started the timer for this years Lair Games. This year they had decided to theme each event. Seeing as Halloween was right around the corner, this year's events were themed around well, Halloween! The first event was a timed pumpkin carving contest. Each contestant had 60 minutes to clean, design, and carve their respective pumpkins. With Splinter judging each of their pumpkins. And with that, they were off for the races.

Donnie started off strong, using his tech to quickly clean out the inside of the pumpkin. However, he was strictly forbidden to use it in any way during the actual carving. The runner up for this first step was Raph, who decided the best course of action was to smash. Mikey was third, he simply used the carving knife they were each given to cut out the top and scoop out the insides. He placed the goopy insides of the pumpkin into a large plastic grocery bag next to him. The very last turtle to finish the first step was Leo. The blue clad turtle used his ōdachi to cut open the pumpkin but somehow got teleported to Run of The Mill Pizza. He scored dead last in that part of the carving contest.

The next step was to start planning out their design, this one was relatively easy to do. The first to finish this step was last step's runner up, Raphael. He drew on with the markers that were provided a simple smiley face, with two dots for eyes and a line for the mouth. Mikey finished next, he made a classic pumpkin design with triangle eyes, a wide grin, and a simple triangular nose. Leo surprisingly finish third choosing to his name on the pumpkin. Finally, Donnie finished, he chose to draw on his pumpkin a "highly detailed" image of himself that was definitely not traced (that was sarcasm).

The final step finally came and Mikey was the first to finish with a remaining 10 minutes on the clock. His pumpkin turned out exactly as planned. He even had enough time to add lights. Raph finished next with his smiley face pumpkin. Next was Leo, his name was kinda messed up. And Donnie was once again the final contestant to finish. His self portrait did not turn out as expected. Who woulda thunk that Donatello Hamato would be had with carving tools.

Now that each turtle had finished making his pumpkin, it was time for Splinter to judge his sons. First up was Mikey.

" Wow orange! It looks great. A bit bland but it's nice. 8.5/10. End of critique. Go now " Splinter said to Mikey before shooing him away.

" Thanks Dad! " Mikey happily responded.

" Blue, your turn." Splinter said. Leo showed his creation to his dad and waited to hear his father's opinion. "it's . . . interesting. a bit egotistical to slap your name across the front but you did good enough with the carving. 6.5/10. Now go" he said as he shooed the blue clad turtle aside.

Donnie's turn was next.

" Purple . . . is that Orange's drawing of you from when he was 7 . . . on a pumpkin? " Splinter questioned. The slider simply nodded in response to his father's remark. "5/10 be more original purple."

And finally, it was Raph's turn to be judged.

" Simple and sleek. Good job Red. 9.5/10 could use some more detail, but I like it! "

And like that, Raph had won the first game! The next games were sure to be hard, but hey, Raph won and that was that.

The End!

Author's Note:

Was originally gonna make some art but couldn't find time in my schedule to draw so I made a story instead. Hope you liked it. ^^

[skelenova]

OHHH LOOK LOOK

pb & j my beloved,,,,,

these are gorgeous tysm 🥺😭💜🧡

Happy Halloween @skelenova! I was your trick or treat dude for @rottmnt-secret-gifting’s trick or treat exchange!!!! Please enjoy some PB&J Duo hanging out!!!

(Rainless edition of the first picture + Close Ups under the cut 💜🧡)

[sad-leon]

TW Suicide Attempt

we all talk about him portal chopping an arm off but,,, it would be so easy. so quick

KoFi || Patreon

[wolferetic]

Secret Santa for @vitensal!

[temva]

For @captainsweet i got you for the rottmnt gifting exchange I hope you like it :) @rottmnt-secret-gifting

[explodingstarlight]

some rottmntsona gift doodles for some moots on the bird app ✨

Black Light!Mikey belongs to HAMS0FA & Glory belongs to MissSnowKitty ^^

[shiveagit]

All the way from the riseApritello Secret Santa Gift Exchange. For the lovely @venelona-turtle-den. My gift is a remixed Nutcracker story

[Based off The Nutcracker and the Four Realms]

In this version: April kicks ass right away and Donnie is just trying to keep up. April must live up to what society expects of her while having just lost her mother. While Donnie is an unconventional nutcracker guard looked down upon. Posted at the farthest border of the kingdom, he encounters April who has stumbled into their world and now together, they must save the 4 realms.

AND in return I got a fanfic for my gift. Baked to Perfection by BizzieBee Please give it a read. It's adorable, funny, sassy, and sweet.

[characcoon]

A discord server's Secret Santa gift! Oc belongs to @/that_multi_fandom_artist (IG)

[meandtheyeehaws]

my piece for the rottmnt trick or treat exchange! mine is for @sk3tch-rottmnt just 2 bros chilling... i hope u like it!!! happy halloween everyone!

@rottmnt-secret-gifting

[boxfullaturtles]

"Listen, when you love somebody, you're always in trouble. There's only two things you can do about it: either stop loving 'em, or love 'em a whole lot more." -Colonel Potter, M*A*S*H 4077

Iiiiittttttt's my gift to @no-brain-only-brainrot for the @rottmnt-secret-gifting event!Raph finds ways to spend time with all his brothers and he loves them all very very much <3

I hope you like it and thanks to everyone who organized, hosted, and participated! Happy Halloween!