I do not own the TMNT.
Although the best father in the world... still mine.
Chapter Two: Gifts
"Happy Father's Day, Master Splinter!"
"Happy Father's Day, I made you your favorite breakfast!"
"Happy Father's Day, can I get you some tea?"
"Happy Father's Day, Sensei." Even Raphael sounded halfway chipper, or at least a quarter chipper.
Master Splinter was smiling, amusement and pride shining in his eyes as he sat down at the breakfast table. This was tradition, on Father's Day nobody scrounged in the fridge and ate when they wanted to: breakfast, lunch, and supper would be eaten with everyone sitting together at the table and with everyone minding their manners and eating like civilized mutants (a miracle the guys couldn't seem to master on regular days.)
During the entire meal Michelangelo squirmed and shimmied in his chair, filled with anticipation. No sooner had Master Splinter finished the last bite and put down his fork than Mikey jumped up, nearly upsetting his chair as he held out a messy orange package with yellow ribbon. "Open mine first Sensei!" Kit blinked; she could have sworn there wasn't any package or gift at the table before then.
"Alright Michelangelo, I will open your gift first!" There was laughter in his voice as Master Splinter accepted the package. The paper soon fell away to reveal a picture frame encasing a pencil drawing. The drawing was of a scene in the lair with all its inhabitants plus April, Casey, and even Leatherhead. Even under the pencil lead April's smile was infectious, Donatello's eager curiosity shone like a beacon, and Klunk was only a breath away from causing chaos with his mischief.
Master Splinter beamed at the gift. "Thank you Michelangelo, my son. Your talent never ceases to amaze." Mikey lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Me next?" Donnie asked hopefully.
Master Splinter nodded and Donnie handed him a package wrapped in something silver. Under the wrapping material was a small device that looked very much like a clock radio. "It had buttons for music and for nature sounds." Donatello explained. "There's also an option for it to emit a tone that you won't be able to hear but it should cut down the amount of noise coming from outside your room." Master Splinter was somewhat skeptical of this last feature –a noise that stops noise?- but he was truly grateful for the clock.
"Thank you my son. Your inventiveness seems to have no limit." Donnie grinned like a school girl/turtle and ducked his head.
Leo started to say something but no sooner had he opened his mouth than Raph jumped in with, "This one's from me Sensei." He held out a highly polished box of what looked like pine wood. Master Splinter accepted this gift and opened the box.
Inside, resting on a soft red cloth lay a knife. The blade shone as though it were carved from diamonds instead of steel and the brightly polished hilt looked to be just right for a hand of four long fingers. Inlaid on the blade were the kanji for "Master", and "Splinter" on one side and on the other side; "Honor" and "Tradition."
"My son, the craftsmanship of this gift is most impressive. Thank you." Raph grinned, trying not to look too pleased with himself.
"Master." Leo spoke up, holding out a package carefully wrapped in yellow paper. "This one is from both April and myself." Leonardo seemed unaware of the evil glares that his brothers were shooting him. Getting help from humans should be cheating, even if April did get credit for it.
Inside the package was a simple manila envelope. Master Splinter opened the envelope and his breathing seemed to cease. "They're copies of the immigration papers." Leo explained simply.
Mikey craned to see what it was. "Dude." He breathed, "You found the papers for Master Yoshi and Teng Shin? Hey! Their pictures are on here too! Du-u-ude."
Donnie and Raph stood up to get a better look while Leo's grin was just a hair wider than his normally pleased self.
"Wow, Leo that's impressive!" Donnie marveled.
"Whoa… just whoa." Raph muttered.
Kit sat quietly, leaving the small package wrapped in tissue paper where she had tucked it into her jacket.
