Rating: T for occasional language. Also, see other warnings.
Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.
Summary: Bradford has always blamed Michelangelo for his misfortunes and especially for his mutation so when he manages to capture the young ninja, he's going to make sure he knows exactly what it's like. 2k12 AU.
Warning: Warnings for physical and mental torture in this story abound, as well as for implied and highly disturbing situations. Trigger warnings may apply for some chapters. There will not, however, be gruesome details. Some things are best left up to the imagination.
Concrit, thoughts and comments always welcomed.
Fandom Announcement! - 13 Days of Halloween is on again this year! Writers and Artists are welcome. For more information, look for sampsonknight on Deviant Art or tmnt-allstories{dot}tumblr{dot}com/
A/N: Just to give you a head's up, the next chapters of this story and 'SnO' will probably be delayed by a week each as I'll likely be posting the next chapter of 'AOtGO' next week instead, cutting into my regular update cycle.
How Much is that Turtle in the Window
ch 10
Spot lifted his head, alert as something unusual caught his attention. There was a disturbance in the trees where there never was, a series of muffled thuds and strange, yet somehow familiar scents blowing his way in the cool night air. Though his ever-present fear played havoc with his mind and body as always, his curiosity piqued so he pushed himself onto all fours and stalked quietly along the fence of his run, hoping to catch sight of whatever or whoever dared to intrude into his home grounds, praying whatever it was wouldn't notice him and try to hurt him the way his masters and Alpha always did.
His eyes narrowed as four large, strangely shaped shadows dashed quickly and silently across the grass from the surrounding woods, heading directly for the mansion. He'd long since learnt that anyone who went there was bad news so, with a faint growl on the edge of his breath, he warily watched their progress, following them from one side of his run to the other as they raced ever closer to the foreboding, shadowy building, only stopping long enough to knock out a pair of his keepers who were patrolling the area.
Moments later, he lost their scent as they moved upwind from him and that was when the largest of the shadows stopped moving and tall ears twitching, turned to peer in his direction. With but a softly hissed command that Spot couldn't quite hear, the other three shadows stopped running and also turned to face him before racing towards him with barely contained excitement.
A part of him, the part that was so often beaten into submission by his Alpha warned him to cower, to turn and run back into his kennel for dubious safety but the other more curious, stupid side that so often got him into trouble bade him to stay and though he backed away from the fence, he gave into it.
"Mikey?" the stranger wrapped in blue asked almost breathlessly, his eyes fixed unerringly on Spot.
The tall one in purple practically skidded to a halt, crouching down and clutching the wire of his enclosure desperately. "Darwin's beard! I-I don't believe it! We-we finally found you!" he babbled quickly in excitement mixed with... concern? But that couldn't be right. No one was ever concerned about him. Just angry, cruel and mocking. "Are you alright?" Spot stared at him uneasily, head canted in confusion before his attention was drawn to the tall furry creature as he spoke, an unfamiliar emotion soaking his voice that made Spot desperate to approach and seek comfort despite the fact no one could be trusted to give such things.
"My son! We feared we might never see you again. Thank goodness you are still alive." For a moment his eyes closed and when they opened again, Spot noticed an unusual brightness to them, as if they were wet.
"What the hell have they done to you, little brother?" the fourth asked testily as he crouched and reached out a trembling hand. Spot hunkered down before backing away further in fright as an angry light filled the stranger's bright green eyes. "I'm going to fucking kill those arseholes for what they've done to you, Mikey!" he spat furiously.
"Calm down, Raphael," the furry creature soothed, reaching out a calming hand and resting it on the other's shoulder, "you are frightening your brother."
Raphael whipped his head around to stare up in disbelief. "I'm frightening him? How?"
"I do not know, my son but perhaps it is due to your current aggravated state."
His terror quickly rising, Spot stared from one to the other from where he lay pressed close to the ground and well out of reach of probing and often violent hands. As long as none of them tried to go to the other side of his enclosure and surround him like his masters often did, he would be safe.
Suddenly, one of the strangers reached back, drawing a shining sword and Spot's eyes widened, glued to the sight, mesmerised. He hadn't had a good experience with people with weapons before now but something about this one rang of safety and... protection. Against his better judgement, Spot slowly rose and took a careful step closer, his eyes focused intently on the sword in that forest green hand.
The red-eyed stranger, his hands still gripping the wire of his run, followed Spot's gaze, "Leo?" he hissed, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to cut this fence open so we can get Mikey out and leave," Leo replied firmly and quietly.
"You can't!" came the immediate panicked reaction.
"Why not, Donnie?" Leo asked, lowering his weapon a little as he gazed down at Donnie questioningly.
He pointed up at a box protruding from the wire. "Because the fence has an alarm built into it. If you cut it open, the alarm will sound and Foot will come swarming out here like a horde of cockroaches with their shelter uncovered," Donnie explained agitatedly, looking up and down the run as if searching. "We need to find another way in."
"How about that?" Raphael asked, motioning to Spot's kennel.
"Yes, let's try it," Donnie agreed, releasing his grip on the wire to stand. He then rushed towards the kennel at the end of the run with Raphael following.
Spot glanced after them but otherwise ignored them in favour of Leo and his shiny sword. He came right up to the fence as Leo poked his fingers through the gaps in the wire, pressing his fingers against Spot's face and Spot relished the warm, gentle touch, something he hadn't felt since... since... He couldn't remember the last time someone was so gentle with him and he frowned. No one had ever been gentle or kind to him before now so why, how, could this seem so familiar?
"It's alright, Mikey," Leo said softly, confidently. "We're getting you out of here tonight and we're taking you home."
Spot cocked his head in confusion at the strange words. He felt as though he should know what they meant but... suddenly, the sound of his kennel doors swinging open reached his hearing and he shuddered. He whipped his head around to see Donnie and Raphael pelting down the ramp towards him and he panicked, racing to the end of his run but there was nowhere to go. He was trapped! He was always trapped and he didn't know why he even bothered to try to get away anymore, especially since he was always punished for trying.
Baring his teeth in warning, Spot growled lightly with his breath. It wasn't as mighty or fierce as the growls the other dogs or his Alpha had but still, it's enough to let anyone who came too close how he felt about it. They all always ignored or laughed at him for it but what other choice did he have? He had no voice, no other way to tell them to leave him alone anymore. To his surprise, these two actually hesitated at his warning but still, they kept coming. Straight for him. Tears he refused to let free prickled at the corners of his eyes as he lowered himself to his stomach, immediately submitting to their power over him so they wouldn't hurt him so much for speaking his mind.
"Hey, it's alright, Mikey," Donnie exclaimed softly in alarm, "we're here to help you, not hurt you."
Lying! He was lying! Spot gasped. No one ever helped him, they only ever hurt him and there was nothing he could do to stop them or it just became that much worse. He quivered in terror as Donnie came too close, reaching out to touch him.
"What the hell's wrong with him?" Raphael demanded angrily, making Spot panic all the more.
"I-I'm not sure, Raph," Donnie replied quietly. "It's almost like he doesn't recognise us," he theorised, his gaze flickering around the run sadly before settling on Spot once more.
"I promise you, Mikey, it's going to be okay. Let us help you," Donnie pleaded gently.
Spot closed his eyes, lowering his head - he didn't want to see the blow coming; it was always far worse when he saw it coming. And why did they keep saying that strange word? Mikey. Why did it feel like he should know it? Why did it feel like he should know them when he only knew his Alpha, his Master, Mai and his faceless tormentors?
At that moment he felt hands on his legs, releasing his braces and he gasped in panic.
But he hadn't done anything wrong! He hadn't done anything wrong and it was only a couple of days since his last bath; he wasn't due for another for nearly a week! He wailed desperately to himself, scrabbling away in terror. He needed them to walk properly and the only times they were removed were when he was bad and taken to Mai for punishment or for bathtime and that was a whole other nightmare!
"Calm down, Mikey!" Raph snapped irritably. "You're making it really hard for Donnie to get you free, bro!"
"Mikey," that calm soothing voice commanded from the other side of the fence. Spot couldn't help but look up and meet Leo's sharp yet kind, patient gaze. "Keep still and let Donnie work. He won't hurt you, I promise."
Though he couldn't fully understand the words, the tone soothed him and Spot's eyes flickered back to Donnie warily, watching as he pulled away first one and then the other brace and waited for the punishment to come. Nothing happened except for Donnie shifting to carefully examine his neck. Moments later, his deft hands were at work and Spot felt the ever-present shock collar come free and he wriggled his neck in delight. That horrible thing never came off and it felt so good feeling the cool, night air touching his bare skin. He shivered in delight at the feeling, marvelling at the fact that there was no longer a faint, dangerous hum against his neck.
"Aren't you going to remove the other one too?" Raph asked when Donnie shifted away to study Spot's paws.
"Can't," Donnie replied in an empty tone. "The lock's been filled in to make it unpickable. It'll have to wait..." Then he sighed in frustration and Spot could smell the anger rising off the strange person in front of him. He backed away again, his own fear rising rapidly once more.
"What's wrong, Donnie?" Leo called softly as Donnie began to shake in fury.
"Those bastards welded those manacles to Mikey's hands!" he spat furiously. "Welded them!"
Raph's expression darkened. "So you can't remove those either?" he asked in barely suppressed rage.
"Not without specialised cutting equipment, no," Donnie replied angrily. Then his expression softened as he noticed Spot's fear of him and reached out a gentle hand, only to pull it back miserably when he saw Spot quail all the more. "I'm so sorry, that must have hurt you so much when they put those on," he murmured sympathetically.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that welding is done by using extreme temperatures to melt and join the metal and that metal itself conducts the heat. Mikey's hands... They must have been badly burned in the process." Donnie sighed sadly again. "Don't worry, Mikey, I'll find a way to get them off of you as painlessly as possible I just... It'll probably have to wait until we can get you home. I'm so sorry, buddy."
"But that'll take nearly a month!" Raph protested loudly in disbelief. He quietened again at a hissed warning from Leo. "You have to do it before then, Donnie!"
"With what equipment, Raph?" Donnie retorted emotionally. "They might have what I'd need here if here is where those were... attached... to him but..."
"But we can't take the risk of staying and searching to find out," Leo spoke up firmly. "I assume those manacles will make it too heavy for Mikey to walk properly?"
Donnie nodded sadly. "That and I don't think he's walked in all the time he's been here. It's hard to see for certain in this lighting, but he has obvious tan marks and callouses from those braces suggesting they've been on him a long time, if not the entire time. We'll have to help him. Or rather, you and Raph will have to help him," he explained.
Raph looked at Donnie incredulously. "I've got no problem with helping him but wouldn't it better to have Leo or me being free to fight if need be? No offence but you really aren't as good a fighter as us."
"I'm too tall. You and Leo are similar in height and far closer to Mikey's," Donnie explained, bristling at hearing the stark truth which he knew all too well.
"Donatello is correct," the tall furry stranger spoke up, calming Raphael and Donnie both. "The two of you must be the ones to help Michelangelo walk."
"Come on, I'll help until we get out of this..." Donnie choked a moment, "cage... and then Leo can take over."
Suddenly, the two came at Spot and grabbed his forelegs, draping them over their shoulders and pulling him upright. Spot gasped as his back legs took the brunt of his weight in an unfamiliar position and he tried to fight back, cringing in fear when Raph looked at him and told him to "Stop fighting us!"
It was a command and he had to obey those unless he wanted to be punished. Head hanging in resignation, he stopped fighting and simply let them do as they wanted.
Finally, with Spot's back paws mostly dragging on the ground, they made it into the kennel and headed for the door. Spot looked over to where his lead and muzzle hung on the wall, wondering why they weren't stopping to put those on. He never left the confines of his run without them but Donnie followed his gaze and murmured darkly, "Never again, Mikey."
Raph gave Donnie a curious look but didn't say anything, instead opting to reach out and push the door open where the other two met them. As soon as they were outside, Spot looking around everywhere in curiosity at how everything appeared so different not only in the dead of night but also at his current height, Leo stepped in, taking Spot's arm from Donnie and slinging it around his neck instead.
Leo smiled gently at Spot, "It's okay, little brother, you're safe now. We're going home."
-:-
His bones ached, his muscles cramped and his legs felt unusually tight. Spot felt ready to drop from exhaustion. The sun was just beginning to rise through the trees surrounding them and they'd been running all night, with him held upright on his hind legs by Leo and Raph the entire time. His back paws hurt terribly from being dragged along the ground behind them so he'd tried moving them the way his masters and Alpha always did, the way Donnie and Master Splinter in front of him did but they were cramping up and hurt so much from the unfamiliar movement. On top of all that, other than short naps before and after dinner, he hadn't slept and being almost breakfast time, he was beginning to feel really hungry again as well as tired.
Thinking of breakfast time, Spot stared back over his shoulder anxiously. His Alpha would be coming to feed him at any moment and would find he wasn't where he was supposed to be. He began to quiver in fear; he'd be punished so badly when his Alpha caught up with him and he would. His Alpha always knew exactly where he was. Spot's gasping breathing quickened and he began fidgeting frantically. He had to get back! Now! These people may have been strange but they were also kind, almost never raising their voices at him and he didn't want them to be hurt for taking him away from where he belonged. He had to leave them now and get back before his Alpha caught up to them and killed or hurt them too.
"What's wrong, Mikey?" Raph grunted in his ear. Having no idea what he meant, Spot ignored him and just began trying to break free.
"He's probably tired," Leo replied, actually sounding tired himself. "We've been running all night. Maybe we should stop for a few minutes to rest and catch our breath."
Splinter looked around worriedly. "I am not so sure that is a good idea, my son. We are still far too close to Foot territory."
"At least let us stop long enough for me to bandage Mikey's feet," Donnie suggested worriedly, looking down at Spot's scratched and scraped back paws.
Squeezing his eyes closed, Spot whimpered silently to himself. Scraping along the ground like they constantly did since they began running hurt badly but it was nothing he couldn't handle. Unlike what would happen if he didn't get back now.
The small group finally came to a stop. Leo and Raph gently lowered Spot to the ground and sitting down themselves, they rolled their shoulders, stretching. Spot took a moment to shake himself, to get feeling back into his front and back legs before turning around to trot back the way they'd come.
"Uh... Mikey? Where are you going?" Donnie called in disbelief but Spot kept moving, picking up the pace. He didn't know how long it would take to get back and he was terrified he'd be too late but he had to try. For his sake and theirs!
Suddenly, someone caught him by the shell on his back, holding him in place. "Damn but he can really move with those heavy manacles!" Raph snorted as Spot fought desperately to pull free.
Nonononono! They couldn't stop him! He had to get back before he was punished again! His Alpha would be coming for him by now and he'd be so angry at him that he'd probably get sent straight to Mai again! He didn't want to go to Mai again! She always hurt him in ways his Alpha couldn't even begin to dream of and he could dream up plenty of ways, each more twisted and painful than the last.
"Mikey! Stop!"
The command was familiar in any language and Spot couldn't help but stop, quivering in terror where he stood. He looked up fearfully at Leo who then looked at him more gently.
"Tell us what's wrong," he commanded softly.
Spot stared at him for a moment, then looked back in the direction they'd come from before lowering his head and staring helplessly at the ground.
"I believe your brother fears the Foot coming after him," Splinter offered tightly, his ears pressing back unhappily on his head.
"So why the hell would he want to go back?" Raph exploded in disbelief. "And why the hell won't he talk to us?"
"I-I don't think he can," Donnie replied tightly after a moment.
"And what the fuck does that mean!" Raph demanded furiously, earning a chastising look from Splinter and making Spot whimper silently as he cowered to the ground again in terror.
"I mean, he's obviously been trained not to speak in the time they had him. That collar I removed... it was a shock collar," Donnie explained, clenching one hand tightly onto his opposite arm. "Mikey was probably shocked every time he tried to speak and now it's ingrained in him not to."
"Those monsters!" Raph spat, shaking angrily as he held tightly onto Spot, preventing him from escaping and running back to his masters.
"Wait, you said trained like you expected something like that," Leo cut in sharply. "Donnie, what exactly aren't you telling us?"
Donnie sighed miserably and then met Leo's gaze. "Judging by his environment and the... accoutrements attached to him, I think... I believe... they were treating him as if he is a dog," he explained hesitantly. "I mean, look at the way he's been acting since we got him out. He was even expecting us to put a leash and muzzle on him before we left the kennel!"
"Why didn't you say something earlier?" Raph hissed angrily, glaring at Donnie.
"I wasn't certain! I hoped I was wrong..."
"You're almost never wrong when it comes to things like this," Leo pointed out softly.
"I know..." Donnie hung his head, "but there's always a first time for everything and I really hoped... that this time I would be..."
"My poor son," Splinter murmured softly, coming over and laying a comforting hand on Spot's head. Flinching, Spot peeked up fearfully at him and Splinter's heart broke. "If only we were able to get to him before the ship left New York."
"But we weren't... it was an ambush..." Leo muttered in shame. "We weren't able to break past it in time and we were also almost caught by the authorities."
"Yeah, we know!" Raph snapped, glaring furiously at him. "We were all there, Leo! Remember?"
Leo shot Raph a look but before he could retort, Donnie stepped between them. "We don't have time for this. I need to treat Mikey's feet before those cuts end up worse or infected. Mikey, I need you to sit down and let me examine your feet."
But Spot ignored him, trying frantically to break free of Raph's hold again. He had to get back before his Alpha caught up and hurt him or them. He didn't know why but some instinct deep within him demanded of him to do everything he could to protect these people in any way he could.
"Raph," Donnie began but said no more as Raph shifted his grip to pick Spot up and deposit him on his rump, legs and paws extended out in front of him. Spot yelped silently at the unfamiliar and unstable position. In fact, he would have fallen over if it wasn't for Raph's death grip on his shell, holding him in place.
"It's okay, Mikey, we're just trying to help you," Donnie soothed as he carefully took the closest foot.
Distressed, Spot tried yanking his paw back out of reach but the strange person's grip, while gentle, was too firm.
"I'm going to stop it hurting quite so much," Donnie explained softly as he began cleansing it of the blood and dirt coating it. "The last thing you need right now is bacteria taking hold and infecting the cuts."
Spot stared wide-eyed at Donnie as he realised what he was trying to do and unused to anyone but Mai, or to a lesser extent his Master, treating his injuries, he couldn't believe it and it made him wonder if Donnie too, would turn around and start hurting him afterwards like they sooner or later always did.
Suddenly, he became aware of Leo shifting closer and wrapping a comforting arm around him. Spot stiffened a moment but then couldn't help but give in to his deepest instincts and lean into him, allowing Leo to calm him and relishing the rare comfort that somehow felt so familiar yet so alien to him. He finally settled down and watched Donnie gently work on his paws with drooping eyelids, enjoying the tender care, unlike anything he could ever remember feeling.
-:-
Suddenly awake, Spot shot to all fours as he stared intently into the brush. His eyes widened in fright and he quickly took a step forward.
"Mikey?" Leo called softly, coming to alert. "Where are you going?"
But Spot continued to walk shakily, one step, then another and another. His Alpha had come for him at last and he was in so much trouble. He could only hope that he could get to his Alpha before his Alpha noticed the others and tried to hurt them too.
"Mikey! Come back here!" Leo called again and vicious laughter filled the air, making Spot quiver in terror. There would be no escaping his Alpha's wrath this time. Not when he laughed like that.
"Haven't you noticed by now that Spot doesn't answer to that name any more?" his Alpha guffawed nastily as he appeared from behind a large tree. His hand snatched out and grabbed the D-ring of his collar with a vicious twist. Spot gasped in pain and his legs almost gave out beneath him.
"Dogpound!" Raph snarled angrily, whipping out his sais as he took a menacing step forward.
"Uh, uh, uh, uh! Unless you want your precious... dog..." his Alpha laughed again "to suffer more than necessary, I suggest you keep back."
Spot heard the leash snap into place on his collar and he immediately lowered himself to the ground in submission, too terrified to meet his Alpha's eyes.
[Foot ninja, kill them all!] Dogpound commanded, before whirling in place and dragging a startled, choking Spot after him.
It was several minutes beyond the last sounds of battle before Dogpound stopped and glared down at Spot. [How dare you go with those freaks, you mongrel!] he snapped furiously, kicking him viciously in the side.
But it wasn't his fault! He tried to stay, he tried to return earlier but they wouldn't let him! Spot turned pleading, desperate eyes up to his Alpha, begging him to listen, to understand but his Alpha never listened to him, not that he could even talk anymore anyway. To be honest, after so long, he wasn't even sure he could remember how to talk even if he still had the ability.
[You belong to the Foot, not them!] Dogpound roared. [When we get back, you will pay dearly for your behaviour and betrayal, Spot!]
Spot recoiled in terror. Please! He didn't want to see Mai again. Couldn't stand the idea of being handed over to Master Hakuba for gruelling corrective training again. His Alpha was bad enough on his own without also being punished by being handed over to them too!
Dogpound reached down with one hand, undoing the belt wrapped around his waist and gripped it, spikes facing down, then raised it into the air and...
"Get away from our brother!"
Dogpound laughed and brought the belt down hard across Spot's legs, making him cry out in silent agony, his breaths harsh and shallow in his sore, dry throat. "This mongrel isn't your 'brother' any more. He's just another mutt belonging to the Foot!" he crowed cruelly. [Spot, stay!]
Whimpering silently in a combination of pure terror and pain, Spot crouched down, watching fearfully as Dogpound rushed at Raph and Leo. There was a flurry of punches and kicks that he could barely follow, Leo and Raph striking out hard and fast with sharp weapons and Dogpound working to overwhelm them with his overpowering brute strength and size. Spot couldn't keep watching so he buried his face in his cold paws, gasping for breath in fear for what would happen to the nice people once his Alpha was done with them.
He wished they would just forget about him and run, flee for their lives but some deep forgotten part of him knew they never would. That they'd fight for him until the end and he really didn't want to see that. He couldn't, not again; he still had nightmares after the last time.
Suddenly, he felt warm, steady hands on his shoulders and though he was petrified, he risked peeking up into Donnie's kind, reddish gaze. "Come on, Mikey, we need to get you away from here."
Spot looked back over to where his Alpha was still fighting Raph, Leo and now Master Splinter and shook his head wildly in panic. He couldn't go! He was already in enough trouble as it was.
"Mikey," Donnie repeated sadly. "We'll protect you from him but we need to get you away from him first." Then his expression shifted, a look of understanding spreading across it, before hardening. [Spot, heel!] Donnie suddenly commanded and Spot stared fearfully up at him, his body automatically responding the way it had been conditioned to.
Donnie's face crumpled in pain but he took the lead gently and quickly led Spot away from the clearing.
-:-
Well, Mikey's family finally turned up for him. Better late than never, right? But don't worry, there's still plenty to be revealed about his time in captivity and it'll pop up as appropriate.
Don't forget to let me know what you think :-)
