Author's Note:

For the fans of Penance...

Rating: T

"Tell me, Hisoka..."

The young man stood at attendance, eyes respectfully low.

"... Have you uncovered the reason for the disappearance of Baxter Stockman?"

Hisoka stood perfectly still, his expression remorseful. "I have, Master. I'm afraid we won't be seeing Dr. Stockman anymore." He tilted his head, red eyes alert and contrite. "I discovered his dead body just this morning. It would seem he was attacked."

Shredder growled low in his throat. "And how did this come to be?"

Hisoka met Shredder's gaze. "I was just as baffled as you... at first. Then I remembered overhearing an argument between Dr. Stockman and a new recruit by the name of Toshi. I'm not certain what it was about, but I'm sure I heard Stockman promise to 'end' him."

An innocent shrug of his shoulders. "I suppose Toshi thought to end him first."

Hisoka turned and beckoned with a single finger, and the steel walls peeled back to reveal a doorway. Two Foot soldiers marched through, a thrashing young man in their arms.

"Let go of me!" he shouted, eyes blazing with rage. "I don't know where Stockman is! I've never even seen the lab!" The soldiers stopped but did not relinquish their grip, even as Hisoka turned to face the obstinate recruit. His back to Shredder, Hisoka gave the young man a mild smile.

Toshi froze, his features frozen in wide-eyed terror. "You," he whispered.

"Me," Hisoka whispered back, his smile growing.

It vanished as he turned to Shredder. "This is the one, Master."

Shredder stepped forward, rage radiating from his countenance. He looked to the young man, his metal armor glinting ominously. "Did you kill Baxter Stockman?"

"No!" the young recruit shouted, before hurriedly amending. "No, Master. I have never – never even..."

"Fingerprint analysis doesn't lie," Hisoka cut in, hands clasped behind his back. He raised a brow, his posture cool and calm in contrast to the wildly growing panic displayed by Toshi. Shredder grunted, turning away with a sharp clink of his armor.

He walked several feet away and kept his back to them as he spoke.

"Very well. Dispose of him."

Toshi's eyes watered and his thrashing grew in earnest, but the iron grip of the Foot soldiers was unrelenting. Hisoka gestured to the soldiers and they began to drag the frightened young man away. However, they stopped at Hisoka's word and he stepped forward, dropping his head low to speak.

"I told you I would end you..." he murmured, his grin returning. "I just never imagined it would work out so well for me."

Toshi's screams and pleas for help went unanswered, but they didn't bother Hisoka.

Most of the walls were soundproof.

Donatello jerked awake with sob.

Overcome with horror, he slipped out of his bed and stumbled out of his bedroom. On the nights he stayed at the lair, without the warmth of April at his side, it seemed his dreams grew worse and worse.

Moving down the corridor, he took note of the time and knew he'd only been asleep for a few terrible, uncomfortable hours. Morose, limbs heavy, he dragged himself to the kitchen, ready to spend another sleepless night staring at the counter and fighting off blood-stained memories.

"Hey Donnie."

The scientist glanced up at the sound of his name, and his eyes quickly glanced on the turtle standing at the counter. Leonardo offered him a small smile from where he stood, looking just as tired and haggard as Donnie felt. The lair was quiet, dark and captured in the throes of sleep. Only the small light above the kitchen counter gave them a sense of warmth.

The younger brother shuffled into the kitchen, his shoulders slumped. He took a seat on a barstool.

"Hey Leo," he said softly.

The two brothers paused, perhaps to commiserate on their troubled sleep. Then Leo straightened and pulled something out of the cabinet.

"Hot chocolate?" he offered.

Donnie's face slowly lifted into a smile. "That'd be great," he whispered sincerely. Leo clasped a hand on Donnie's shoulder for a moment, giving it a gentle squeeze.

All in all, it turned out to be a decent night.

Hisoka: (m) secretive, reserved. hidden. prone to obsessive behavior if born on the 4th, 7th, 13th, 16th, 22nd or 25th of any given month.