Leo stood in the doorway. Blinking rapidly and tilting his head. The turtle was beyond confused. His gaze flicked out over the room, his teacher was in the kitchen making what looked like pancakes. He was chatting with Splinter.
He tilted his head a bit farther, seeing that green eyed turtle sitting on the counter. Munching on an apple, listening to the conversation. Leo was confused and why the two were here.
"...why is our English teacher making pancakes in our kitchen?"
Leo jumped as Donnie had whispered to him. Donnie had come up behind Leo and was peering over his shoulder.
" I'm not sure...are you weirded out too?
" yep" the purple clad turtle scrunched his snout.
Soon Michelangelo had joined them, and the three went into the kitchen. They sat at the table and watched the scene. So far Splinter and Casey hadn't noticed them. Yet Raph did. Seeing the three he again got that guilty look in his eyes. Then dropped his gaze to the floor. He tossed his apple core into the trash.
Donnie apparently felt no shame, and simply stared at Raph. Resulting in the large turtle shifting around uncomfortably.
" Donnie...don't be so rude" mikey whispered
" oh shoosh" he whispered back.
...
Breakfast was...weird. The three brothers agreed at this. One, there teacher had made them breakfast. Two, their father seemed to know their teacher personally. Three, ...raph.
Raph was at the table. Simply staring at his food and eating in silence. Yet he'd sneak glances up at the brothers, once softly smiling at Mikey.
"...ok. Who are you?" Leo finally asked.
The three adults looked at the teenagers. Then at eachother. Raph looked like he wanted to dissolve into a puddle on the spot.
"...That's a good question" He finally answered, rubbing the back of his neck. "...well, I'm Raph. Raphael to be precise." He looked at Splinter and snorted. " you always did like the renaissance painter names."
" ok, but do you know us? It seems like you do"
" yeah" he sighed. " I do know you. Have since you were tiny tots"
The three brothers stared at him. Obviously wanting to know how this was. While they all had figured out they had hazy, vague memories about this stranger, they didn't really remember him. Or who he was.
The closet to recalling was Mikey. He recalled those faint memories of toddling around and having an older figure play chase with him. Play with him. Care for him. Mikey knew he loved the figure. Yet he couldn't recall the figure. Which made him upset.
Leo also had faint memories of adoring the figure. Of always wanting to be near him. Then he remembered hating the figure. Being scared of him. He wasn't sure why, and it bothered him. How could someone so drastically change their opinion on someone they cared about so much?
Donnie flat out could only recall being terrified of the figure. He was large, and started getting mean. He recalled being attacked. Then...then the figure was gone. No one talked about it. Splinter sure as hell never brought it up. Yet he remembered that his dad looked...sad after the incident.
...
" Well?" Donnie stated, rather impatiently. " How do you know us? and why do I have nightmares about who I assume is you? After all, you and my nightmare have the same eyes."
"...they didn't use to be green. His eyes" Casey mumbled. Looking at Raph thoughtfully. " They were the prettiest gold at some point."
"...ok? That doesn't help me"
Raph rolled his eyes. " Don't even know how you remember that Casey. That was so long ago. We were still kids when I had gold eyes." Then he gazed at Donnie "...that's a long story."
" I have the time"
