Splinter and Mrs M

Disclaimer:

I don't own the Turtles or any characters you recognise. Eastman, Laird, and Nickelodeon etc own them. I'm doing this for fun and not making any money off it. Please don't sue me :). My OC's belong to me; don't take them without asking please.

Warning: Contains violence, coarse language, and possible sexual content.

A/N: These are mostly 2K14 Turtles with other bits thrown in as the mood takes me. No Tcest. Turtles are 19 (Leo), 18 (Raph & Donnie), & 17 (Mikey) respectively. Splinter is the equivalent of a sixty-five year old.


January

000

Mrs M's POV

Hello. My name is Mrs Esme Morrison, and I am sixty-eight years old. I have lived in my basement apartment in The Bowery for forty years now, the first thirty-four years with my husband Ivan, then the last four years as a widow.

I went blind shortly after my husband died. The doctor's could not explain why.

Three years ago, I was almost evicted by the bank, after my husband's life insurance policy finally was exhausted, but then, what my young friend Raphael calls my 'Guardian Angel', left a suitcase containing more than enough money to pay off my mortgage completely on my doorstep.

I was so grateful to be able to stay in my own home. Lucy and I have been very fortunate. Young Raphael is quite a clever youngster; he has been repairing all the furniture in the apartment.

When I first met Raphael, I thought he was one of the Rosetti Boys, who were meant to help me move out. It's disgraceful that those boys didn't come to help as their father had said they would.

Raphael just happened to have taken a wrong turn and ended up in the cul-de-sac that I call home. He helped me by moving all the boxes, and, after my Guardian Angel left the money, Raphael helped me to move all my belongings back to their rightful places.

I have no family, so Raphael has been like a son to me. He pops in at least twice a week, and we have lunch. Lucy always likes to sit on Raphael's neck like a scarf we he comes over.

000

Splinter's POV

It has been a cold January this year. Donatello did some tests, and he tells me that I have arthritis. This seems to make my discomfort worse in the cold weather.

I may only be twenty-one years old in human years, but as a rat, I was already on the older side of middle-aged when I mutated, so I am approximately the equivalent to a sixty-five year old in real terms.

000

My sons have been trying to figure out their adult lives recently.

Leonardo has been delving further into his Ninjutsu, with the view of becoming a Master Ninja.

Raphael has been making furniture and selling it online for the past year and a half.

Michelangelo has an entertainment business as 'Cowabunga Carl the Party turtle' for the past two years.

Donatello has been providing for us through his Technology Phoneline for the past two years, in addition. He has also being doing something with the newspaper and the computer that he says will improve our clan's lives.

I am very proud of my sons. They have taken the challenge of their mutation, and found a way to live, in a way that is true to themselves.

It is a shame that our clan will end when they pass, but as mutants, we will always be alone. No human would ever consider a relationship with any of us, and there are no female mutants that I know of, that we could grow our clan with.

000

Mrs M's POV

I was just watering my plant's this morning when I heard a man breathing heavily in the alley. I heard the scrape of the manhole cover and a splashing of drops of liquid.

"Hello, who's there?" I asked, listening carefully for the man, who gave a sharp, but wet intake of breath.

"Do not concern yourself with me... Oh, you are blind!" The strange man, gasped, as I heard him thud on the ground.

"You sound hurt. If you come with me, I will get you some first aid and a cup of tea, I will call my young friend Raphael, to escort you to the hospital if you need it." I spoke to the general direction of his breathing.

"Raphael?" The man said.

"Yes, Raphael Hamato comes to visit me twice a week. I can call him, and he will be able to help." I told him, waving the cellular phone he Raphael given me.

I heard a soft chuckle, then the man said to me, "Yes, please call my son Raphael. I did not know he had such a beautiful friend, or I might have made your acquaintance sooner. I am Hamato Hahen, Raphael's Father. I'm afraid, I seem to have injured myself."

"Well come inside, I am blind as you can see, but I will call Raphael, and patch you up as best I can." I said as I lead the way into the apartment. "Could you please shut that manhole cover? I don't want to fall in by accident."

I heard a scrape of the cover returning to its position, then Raphael's father followed me. I got down the first aid kit, and put the kettle on for a cup of tea.

That done, I called Raphael's number and told him his father was injured and was at my home. Raphael said he would be there as soon as he could with his twin brother, who is skilled in medical matters.

Meanwhile Mr Hamato and I chatted as I helped him to patch the worst of his injuries. I teased him that he needed to cut his fingernails, as they were almost claw-like. We bantered, and chattered about how I had met Raphael.

I found Mr Hamato quite a charmer. He told me about Raphael's brothers, and some stories of his son's childhood. I told him of my own sons, how I had lost the eldest in the twin towers collapse, the second eldest in the war in Afghanistan, the third son, when he tried to arrest some foot clan members stealing chemicals, and my youngest son when he was shot during an armed hold-up by the Purple Dragons.

000

Raphael arrived with his brother, who Mr Hamato called Donatello. Donatello asked his father some questions in Japanese, then I heard the ripping of the bandages, as Donatello took a look at his father's injuries. A brief conversation in Japanese later, some more ripping sounds, and Donatello was done.

I made tea for the boys and their father. Lucy immediately went to Raphael as usual. I had noticed that she was wary of Mr Hamato, who is clearly not a 'cat person'. Afterwards Raphael cleaned my floors and took out the rubbish for me. He is such a kind young man. I told his father and brother so too.

000

Raph's POV

Sensei went out this morning, after training, to do some scavenging. Despite the fact that we can now buy most things, he likes to go out scavenging a couple of times a week. I think sometimes he just does it to get away from us for a few hours.

I had gone to my lockup to work on a Chaise Lounge for the wife of one of the city's councillors. It's a fancy hand carved piece with beautiful silk brocade upholstery.

Mrs M called me right out of the blue this morning, saying that my dad was hurt, and was now at her house. I asked her a couple of questions about his condition, then said I would be able as soon as I could. I called Donnie, and got him to meet me with the van, so we could collect Sensei from Mrs M's.

000

Donnie picked me up then we headed for Mrs M's apartment. We drove right up the alley to her front door, so we could minimise Sensei's exposure as it was now nearly 11:00am. I explained about Mrs M on the way, including the fact that she was blind, and didn't actually know I was a mutant.

000

Sensei and Mrs M were laughing together when we arrived. Donnie went into 'doctor mode' straight away, interrogating Sensei in Japanese as he examined his injuries. Sensei had a jagged cut up his right leg, where he had scraped it badly on a fence, after he was chased up the fence by an angry mastiff. After a cup of tea, and some of Mrs M's date scones. We headed home with Sensei.

000

Donnie made Sensei go into his lab, where he was stitched up properly, and given a couple of shots to ward off infection. Donnie is a real whiz when it comes to finding how to make mutant-friendly versions of medicines.

I waited for Sensei to finish with Donnie, then ask for a few private words with him. We make some tea, and go to his private sitting room.

We talk about Mrs M, his discussion with her. I'm grateful that Sensei didn't tell her we were mutants. She's a very truthful person, and wouldn't be able to lie if anyone asked her.

Sensei seems quite taken with her. He scolded me for not telling him about her sooner, but there was no real bite in it. I know because he didn't send me to the Hashi for it. I think it would be good for both of them to get to know one another. Dad could do with a girlfriend. He's been alone since before Sack's Lab, so it might give him hope for the rest of us too.

After I leave Sensei's sitting room, I grab lunch and take it to him, before grabbing my own and heading back to work.

000

February

000

Over the next few weeks after the first meeting, I know that Sensei has been visiting Mrs M. I still go a couple of times a week, sometimes Sensei is already there waiting with lunch. They are so relaxed around one another, I almost feel like a fifth wheel during those lunches.

Sensei seems lighter these days. More willing to let us do stuff, and make our own decisions.

When Sensei tells the other's he is going on retreat as usual, what the others don't know is that he's spending the three months at Mrs M's. They think he's going to the mountains or something.

I promised Sensei I wouldn't tell the others. Leo would just pester him at her house, and Sensei wants a holiday from us. I've even said I won't come around unless requested, so they have some privacy.

000

Splinter's POV

I was grateful the day I met Esme. For so long I had been blindly trying to parent four sons, now I had a friend who had raised four sons of her own, who could advise me.

I could see a clear bond between the beautiful Esme and my son Raphael. He has treated her like his mother figure, something, I am ashamed to say, I encouraged. It feels a little unreal, but I have become very attached to Esme myself.

Esme is probably the last thing I think of before I go to sleep, and often the first thing I think of when I wake. As a master ninja, I am able to conceal my feelings from all except Raphael. It is fortunate that he supports my spending time with Esme, even though our flirting with one another sometimes makes him uncomfortable.

I have discussed with Esme my desire to let my sons have a three-month period where I am unavailable, where they are forced to rely on one another, as brothers and young adults. I feel that this will help them grow as young men, and remind them of why they still need their father.

Esme has kindly offered to allow me to stay with her in one of her spare rooms until the summer. I eagerly accepted, as she is excellent company. I have even come to terms with her cat Lucy. Her cat is intimidated by a rat that is so much bigger than her, so I believe she has declared me an honorary human.

000

March 1st

000

Mrs M's POV

I've been around the house all morning making sure that everything is in order. Hahen will be arriving this morning, and I want everything perfect. I have not felt this excited since I was courting Ivan. Here I am, a sixty-eight year old widow behaving like a teenage girl. I am so silly.

Hahen makes me feel giddy, like a schoolgirl. He is very proper and respectful, not giving to unnecessary touching, which I suppose is something to do with him being Japanese.

000

Hahen arrives, and we settle down with a cup of tea. We discuss the boys and their upcoming three-month trial at adulthood.

Leonardo is nineteen, yet still is so uncertain at making decisions for the household. Donatello is eighteen like Raphael, yet despite providing for the family, cannot seem to manage without someone remembering to feed him. Raphael is the most independent of the brothers, but needs to work on his temper, which Hahen says gets the better of him sometimes. Little Michelangelo, is still too young to be considering adulthood, but it will be interesting to see if his brothers remember this when dealing with him.

000

Splinter's POV

I am heartened by the greeting I get when I arrive at Esme's. We drink tea and discuss the boys. After a lunch of chicken sandwiches and more tea, we work on a jigsaw puzzle together. Esme has puzzles that have raised pictures so that she can feel the pictures.

As we work at the puzzles quietly, I wonder at how I can let her know me better. Raphael was concerned that she would be unable to keep our secrets, as she is a very honest person. I feel differently. Perhaps because she tells me more of her past than her young friend, but I believe she has kept more than a few secrets of her own in her life.

Over the past two months I have carefully teased out Esme's attitudes to those who are different to herself. I've found her surprisingly accepting of those who are different, at least in theory.

Now I just need to find a way to tell her the truth about myself and my family.

000



A/N:
I would be interested in any ideas on how Master Splinter should go about telling Mrs M the truth about himself and his family.

Mrs Morrison comes from the TMNT 2003 cartoon episode "Touch and Go." She is an elderly, blind widow with a pet cat called Lucy. I just liked the idea of her meeting Master Splinter.

The notion that Donnie and Raph are twins is my own head cannon. It's the only way I could rationalise to myself the fact that the different versions put the order of the middle turtles differently. Sometimes its Donnie then Raph, other times its Raph then Donnie.

Master Splinter decided to use the Japanese word for 'Splinter' as his first name, when he introduced himself to Mrs Morrison. He's trying to impress her, since she can't see his true nature, so he feels he has a chance to get her to like him, before he lets her in on the truth. You can't blame him for trying, he IS a male after all. Even if he usually doesn't hold much hope, the fact that she knows his son and accepts him, has given him a dose of courage.

See my other story "Brothers Bonding on the Cusp of Adulthood" for details about Raph and his brother's jobs. This story starts two months before "Brothers Bonding on the Cusp of Adulthood".

I love reviews, please tell me what you think.

000

Any translations are done using Google translate app. I apologise in advance if the translations are a bit weak or wrong.

Japanese Translations:

"Anata" (means "you" (informal) or is a term of endearment to a husband or lover like dear or honey.)

"Hahen" (means "Splinter".)