Well now, this is a concept I came up with way back in May of this year (2018). I've been keeping it under wraps, save for a few scrappy pictures which I gave no context too! So, teasers I guess? XD Anyway this is a side story from the main one I've created, a sort of prequel? And I knew I wanted to post this first before I plunged headfirst into this AU. As this is a festive story I was trying my hardest to have it all posted within the month of December but real life took over along with the worst cold I have had in a YEARS, so this will most probably spill over into the New Year. So enjoy dear readers.

~WHD~

Mikey honestly couldn't believe it. Nose pressed against the glass which fogged up with every breath he took. Eyes wide as he stared out of the van's window it was still a shock. He never thought Grandpa would go through with this.

Heart pounding Mikey was determined to take in every sight he could.

"Stop doing that Michelangelo."

Mikey looked over quizzically. "Why?"

"One, you're fogging up the windows. Two, anyone who looks at the van will see your bright green snout pressed up against the glass."

Mikey pouted and slumped back. "You're a killjoy Grandpa," he grumbled, folding his arms over his chest.

"Well, somebody has to be."

Mikey sighed and stared out the windshield. He was still too short to see the city properly. He wanted to see the Christmas lights before they left the city behind. He bit his bottom lip and blinked rapidly as his eyes began to sting. Who knew when Grandpa would actually be willing to do this again? He sniffed and craned his neck to try and peer out but it was no good. Mikey snuffled again.

"Michelangelo what is the matter?" his guardian sighed.

"I wanna see the Christmas lights Grandpa."

"Well look out the windows!" Came the exasperated cry.

"I'm too short!"

The taller mutant glanced at him across him critically. Gloved hands flexed about the steering wheel. "You are not," he conceded.

Mikey glowered back as a lump pushed at the back of his throat. "I pull myself up to see out dude!" Tears welled in his eyes. "And you told me to get down!"

"I told you to stop fogging up the windows!"

"And get my nose off the glass!"

His Grandpa facepalmed. "For the love of-," he glared back at Mikey. "I'm not arguing with a nine year old Mikey!"

The young mutant rubbed the back of a mittened hand across his eyes as the tears began to overflow. "You're a jerk Grandpa," he sniffled. "I just wanted to see the lights," he whimpered.

There was a sigh of resignation. "Hang on," Grandpa finally muttered.

He took a sudden turn and pulled the van down an alleyway. "Wait here," he uttered getting out.

Mikey listened as he heard rustling, shifting and muttering in the back of the van. Several minutes later his Grandpa was back. He pulled the door open. "Get out for a minute," he motioned. "And don't wander off whatever you do."

Doing as he was told, Mikey hopped down to the ground having no interest of wandering off because he was too curious about the clunky object his grandpa held in his arms.

"What's that?"

"It's a booster seat."

"What's a booster seat?"

Grandpa took a steadying breath. "It's a seat for keeping children safe in the car," Mikey canted his head like a puppy. "And boosts you higher so that you can see out of the windows."

"Oh," Mikey watched as the 'booster' seat was fitted in. It looked well used but Mikey wasn't about to complain. A grin cracked his face and he jumped back into the van the first chance he got. "Awesome! Thanks Grandpa!"

"Yeah, you're welcome Mikey," he uttered, not looking up.

As the old mutant leant over Mikey to engage the seatbelt, the youngster watched. "Where'd you get the booster seat Grandpa?"

Instantly his grandparent stiffened and for a whole ten seconds he didn't say anything.

"Grandpa?"

He abruptly pulled back the moment the seatbelt clicked. "I-it doesn't matter," he said haltingly, quickly turning away and pulling hand across his eyes.

"You okay Grandpa?" Mikey asked innocently as the old mutant got behind the wheel.

"I'm fine," he responded quietly, fastening his own belt. A faint, glassy glimmer reflected in his eyes as he stared straight ahead.

Mikey's brow furrowed. "You don't look fine."

Grandpa started the van, unnecessarily revving the engine until it roared. "I'm fine Mikey," he answered more forcefully and threw the vehicle into reverse.

The van sped out of the alley, throwing Mikey hard into his seat as they spilled back out onto the road to the blare of angry car horns.

"Dude! Not cool!"

Grandpa crunched the gears as they finally lurched forwards, deliberately ignoring Mikey's words as they continued on their way.

"Can you see the lights Mikey?" he then said in a more level tone.

Mikey glanced out of the window, his frown vanishing in an instant. Baby blue eyes sparkled at the sight and the boy couldn't stop smiling. "Yes!" he squealed with glee, unable to to contain his excitement.

"Good," and Grandpa reached for a thermos stowed in bag beside him. As they stopped at a set of traffic lights he took a swig of the contents and shuddered slightly before screwing the lid back on. "Get a good look Mikey, we'll be out of the city in thirty minutes," he said more easily.

"Okay Grandpa!" Mikey chirped with his eyes glued to the window, utterly oblivious to the second surreptitious swig that his grandparent took from the thermos.

~WHD~

They were well out of the city, the early morning sun peeking over the horizon in the distance, with the snow coming down in whirling sheets when Mikey finally woke up. He stared out of bleary eyes and yawned widely.

"We almost there Grandpa?"

"One hour away."

"Really?" Mikey frowned. He'd thought they'd almost be there by now. He glanced over at the old mutant. His scarred face looked seriously tired and a familiar glazed look dulled his normally bright eyes.

As if sensing the forthcoming question, Grandpa kept his eyes on the road. "Had to stop. The sn-snow was coming down thick and I couldn't s-see the road."

"Oh, okay," Mikey glanced over at the bag sat between them. "Any breakfast Grandpa?"

"Should be some-," he suppressed a hiccup with the back of his hand. "-s-something in the bag," he motioned clumsily.

Mikey made to rummage through it as Grandpa haphazardly took another swig from the thermos. The old scarred mutant shook his head, shoulders shuddering as he rested the flask between his knees.

Mikey found his eyes glued to the ominous container. "What's in the flask Grandpa?"

"Coffee."

Mikey stared at his grandfather stonily, an expression that didn't suit his usual cheery features.

Seeming to sense the accusatory glare, Grandpa glanced over. "What?" he asked with an undertone of annoyance.

"Dude, that's NOT coffee."

Green eye ridges pulled into a frown. |"It's coffee Mikey," he tried to affirm but the youngster wasn't buying any of it.

"Let me see then," the boy put out his hand.

Grandpa's frown deepened. "Absolutely not."

Mikey's mouth formed into a straight line. He then stared into the van's footwell, folding arms over his duffell coated chest. He kicked his feet out, banging his gloved toes against the glovebox repeatedly.

Grandpa's frown stayed fixed on his face as he glared across at Mikey. "Stop that!" he snapped irritably.

Mikey scowled back and gave another deliberate kick in defiance.

"Knock it off Mikey!" Grandpa reached out with the hand that was once more holding the thermos.

Michelangelo saw his chance and grabbed the container, wrenching his wrists round swiftly in the manner of the young ninja he was becoming.

"HEY! Mikey!" Grandpa reached out, one hand on the wheel whilst trying to keep his eyes on the road, which was something that Mikey took full advantage of.

Mikey ducked holding the flask out of reach and slipped down his hand, unfastening his seatbelt.

"Mikey, what are you-?"

Michelangelo twisted about and scrambled over the front seat to the back without spilling a drop of the dark liquid.

"What are you doing back there?!" his grandpa demanded.

Mikey looked into the thermos seeing a dark brown liquid. He took a deep sniff and wrinkled his snout in distaste. There was coffee in there, black, strong and smokey in aroma but there was something distinctly hoppy in there too. Uniquely smelling like his Grandpa's old stained coats that he habitually wore back at home.

His old guardian kept peering into the rearview mirror and Mikey caught eyes with him. "I thought we agreed Grandpa, no happy sad juice on this trip. Not cool bro, not cool!" The old turtle said nothing. He cranked the window open and knelt up.

"Don't Don't you dare Mikey!" Grandpa warned.

With a determined glare Michelangelo upended the flask and the remainder of the spiked coffee splashed out, steaming as they hit the icy air. Grandpa slammed a fist against against the steering wheel as Mikey cranked the window back up and threw the empty flask back onto the front seat.

"Fresh uncooked corn kernels Mikey!" Grandpa shouted, mashing a hand over his marked face.

Michelangelo slumped back, hugging his chest and cast his blue eyes out the window.

"Why?! Why would you do that?!"

Mikey shuddered a sigh, leaning his head against his shoulder. Snow whipped against the glass, swirling away leaving frosty, watery trails in their wake. 'Must be nice to be a snowflake,' he thought sullenly, tracing a mitten clad finger across the cold surface. 'No worries at all.'

"I needed that coffee Mikey!"

The ball that had been expanding in the young turtle mutant's thoat suddenly became unbearable. "Stop the van," he said quietly.

"Sorry?"

Mikey balled his fists. "Stop the van now Grandpa!"

His grandparent tugged the wheel and pulled up on the side of the empty road. The vehicle jolted to a stop. Taking that as his cue, Mikey yanked the door open.

"Mikey? Mikey wait! What are you doing?! Don't go out there!"

The mutant boy jumped out and pelted out into the whirling snow. He heard the driver's door open but he didn't stop running until he heard the mature turtle's voice break through the wintery gale.

"Mikey! Get back in the van now! You're going to freeze out here!"

"How could you do that Grandpa?" Mikey whipped about, the wind chilling the tears that rolled down his cheeks. "Don't you watch those car crash shows? I know what a drunk driver is!" he shouted. "I was in the van Grandpa!" He balled a handful of snow and hurled it at the tall mutant's figure.

Grandpa shielded his face with the back of his arm as the white exploded on impact. "Knock it off Mikey!"

"I WAS IN THE VAN!" the youngster hurled another cold missile at his guardian. "Don't you care?! You promised me, NO DRINKING!" the third snowball fell out of his hand. "Yo-you're the smart one, you should know it was dangerous. You're the grown up," he found himself whimpering. "Why'd you do it Grandpa Don? Why do you drink?"

Grandpa Don closed the gap between them. He looked so different dressed up in winter gear, the thick clothing covering the ugly scars that marred his body but the padded hat pulled over his head could do little to hide the deep wounding in his face that he'd sustained many, many years ago. Mikey never asked where they came from and in all honesty he didn't want to know.

Grandpa Don knelt down, grimacing slightly from the action, (the cold had never done his aging joints any good). "Why do I drink?" he said lowly briefly glancing at the ground. "That's a story you're not ready for yet Mikey."

Mikey stared at the snowy ground. "Please don't drink anymore this trip Grandpa," he pleaded, looking up with dewy eyes.

Grandpa Don pulled a pained expression and looked away. "That's not something I can promise Mikey."

The boy sucked back a sob.

"But, I'll try."

Mikey peered back up. "No more drinking in the van?"

The old turtle nodded, placing a large hand on Michelangelo's shoulder. "No more drinking in the van. Th-that was irra-irresponsible of me," he finally stood back up. "C'mon, it's too cold out here. My bones are seizing up."

Wordlessly Mikey nodded and followed Grandpa Don back to the van.

~WHD~