Title: Work of Art

Characters: Master Splinter, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello.

Word Count: 739 (this chapter)

Warnings: None

Summary: A series of one shots and possible short chapter stories based on themes. This chapter: Mikey draws a picture while Leo, Raph, and Donnie have a bit of fun.

A/N: Hey everyone! I forgot about these note things. Anyways, thanks so much for all the views and reviews! I felt so excited when I saw that people liked what I'd written.

So here's the next theme: Smile. It fought me like a banshee. I was having trouble coming up with an idea. The chapter that you are about to read is actually version 4, but it's the one that I like the most. The Turtles are about 5 or 6 in this one. And the arguing at the beginning is Leo and Raph. I thought I'd play around with Mikey for this one. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own them. Not for profit. Just for fun.

Master piece: A person's greatest piece of work.

"That's not how you're supposed to do it."

"Sure it isn't"

"No. Your legs aren't straight enough."

Mikey hummed quietly to himself in the glow of the kitchen's lights. Not any song in particular, just whatever he wanted. His legs swung back and forth, not yet long enough to reach the rungs around the legs of the stool, much less the floor. He straightened the pile of paper in front of him, but in reaching for the pencil that had rolled away he knocked the white sheets out of alignment again.

"Do you think I care if I do it right?"

"You should. Master Splinter will make you do it over and over if you don't."

Exaggerated sigh. Mikey shifted the papers back into their place. He smiled at them and clasped the pencil in his right hand. Line after squiggle after line began to fill the page. His feet kept kicking.

"What makes you think you're so high and mighty?"

"At least I know how to do a proper handstand."

"Then show me." Shove. Crash.

"Guys! I'm trying to work!"

A tiny tip of pink tongue poked out at an especially hard part. His brow puckered in concentration and the feet stopped their back and forward motion to clench.

"You're both so loud!"

"Get off me, Raph!" Struggle.

Mikey's face smoothed out as he cocked his head, staring intently at the picture in front of him. After a tense moment he smiled in satisfaction. Continued kicking and drawing. His humming grew louder to compete with the scuffling sounds coming in from the common area..

"Raph! Stop it!"

"Make me!"

"Will you two be quiet?!" Stop. "...No. No no nonononono!"

"Get him!"

"Gyah!"

Mikey's nose scrunched up and he sneezed before adding one more line to his page. He stopped, studied it, then scrawled his name on the bottom decidedly.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Leo! Stop!"

Giggles.

"Michelangelo? What are you doing?"

Mikey looked up, his eyes bright and a wide smile in place. "I'm drawing, Sensei."

Scuffles. Grunts. "Stay still, Donnie."

"No!"

"And what are you drawing, my son?"

"Us." he held up the picture. "See?"

"Finally!"

"He's getting away!"

"Agh – Ooof." Thud.

"Not anymore."

"Raph!"

"That's you, and Leo, and Donnie, and Raph, and me. And we're smiling cause we're happy." Splinter placed his paw on Mikey's shoulder. "It is good."

"Thanks!" It wasn't possible for Mikey's face to light up more.

"Are you ticklish Donnie?"

"No! No! Raph, get off!"

"What are your brothers doing?" Splinter walked to the doorway.

"They're practising handstands." Matter-of-fact. Mikey jumped off the stool. Both peered out into the common area. Donnie was pinned on his carapace, Leo above his head straining to hold back his struggling arms. Raph sat squarely on Donnie's middle, tickling him mercilessly.

"I can see that." A smile toyed in the corners of Splinter's mouth.

Mikey vibrated at his side. He looked up at his father. Splinter held out his hand and Mikey clapped the picture into it. He bounded across the room and pounced on Leo, freeing Donnie and giving him a fighting chance against Raph.

Splinter watched as his four sons wrestled around the common area, giggles interspersed with occasional grunts. He drew Mikey's precious picture up to his eyes. While it may not be able to compete with Mikey's namesake's works, it was a master piece in its own way. Splinter smiled and walked back into the kitchen. When he left, the hand drawn picture hung from the front of the fridge.

Now that it's written, I think I really like it. I tried a different style and it was pretty fun.