Just another one-shot idea that I wanted to try out.
Enjoy x
In My DNA
Master Splinter had figured it was just a normal Thursday morning. He had trained his four sons at 6 as usual, they had breakfast together at 7.30, he went back into the dojo to meditate while they started on their chores. Realistically he shouldn't be hearing from the four teens until lunchtime, by then the chores should be done and he would make lunch for the small family and ask his youngest what he was planning to make for dinner to ensure it was something other than pizza.
But apparently this was not to be a normal Thursday.
It was now 9 AM and he could hear his four boys talking excitedly, this usually meant they were going to do something stupid and/or careless so he decided to investigate.
He leaves the dojo to see the teens gathered together in the pit, chores forgotten. Donatello, his second youngest and smartest son, was currently swabbing the inside of Michelangelo's cheek.
"What is going on?" He asked as he came closer, he spotted two other swabs in separate test tubes.
"We're gonna do a DNA test!" Mikey grinned as Donatello sealed his swab away before taking his own sample.
"Are you all quite sure that is wise?" Splinter asked carefully, he knelt in the pit to join his family.
"We know we're not related," Leo shrugged, "But if this shows we are in some way then that would be pretty cool"
"And if we're not we won't be disappointed 'coz we figured none of us can be related to Mikey." Raph smirked, Mikey stuck his tongue out in response.
"It would be cool to know for sure." Donnie summed up.
Now, Hamato Yoshi had learned a lot over the years about mutagen and how it worked – mainly thanks to Donatello and his studies. He figured the four boys weren't related to each other but instead would share the DNA of whatever human had touched them when they were simple turtles in the pet store, hence why the mutagen made them humanoid. Splinter figured this was why they each had different eye colours but it has not escaped his notice how one of his sons shared a few similar features with himself.
He wondered if it could be possible that one of his adopted sons could share his DNA making him his real son and family.
"Donatello," Splinter began, the four brothers cringed.
"Aww man," Mikey pouted, "I knew we wouldn't be allowed to do it."
"That is not what I am saying," Splinter explained calmly. "I was merely going to ask if I could join the experiment."
The brothers look taken aback; Donatello spluttered for a second before shaking his head.
"Um… Y-You wanna take part?"
"If you don't mind." Splinter nodded, he smiled as his son beamed at him.
"Of course!" Donnie hurried to the lab to get another swap and tube, he came back and took the DNA sample.
"Why do you wanna join?" Raph asked suspiciously, "We know we're not related to you."
"I'm gonna go get these back to the lab and I'll have the results by this afternoon!" Donnie grinned, he goes to rush back to the lab but stopped when Splinter raised his hand.
"Please resume your chores as soon as possible." Their father asked before he excused himself back into the dojo.
Before the family knew it, they were gathered in the pit waiting for Donnie to join them with the test results. They were all feeling strangely nervous, more so the longer their fifth member took.
"What if Donnie learned something really bad and he's scared to tell us?" Mikey asked weakly, "What if all of us are related except one of us? What happens then?"
"Nothing happens." Leo soothed, he was sitting on his youngest brother's right and so was quick to put an arm around him. "Family is more than just shared DNA, it's experiences and- "
"We're still family numbskull." Raph interrupted with a scowl. "DNA has nothing to do with it."
Leo sighed as his speech was ruined.
All four mutants looked up as Donatello left his lab, he was holding five sheets of paper and was reading them as he walked over. He smiled as he looked at his brothers.
"I learned a lot from these." Donnie smirked at the frightened faces of his brothers. "Relax, it's really not that serious, this was for fun remember?"
The brothers nod but still stay silent.
Donnie's expression softened, he realised his brother were truly scared about their results.
"You guys ready?" He asked gently, they nodded not daring to say a word.
"We are ready my son." Splinter voiced for his three boys.
"Ok so I guess I'll start with the coolest news." Donnie grinned, "So we all know turtles have clutches of eggs and will have multiple clutches in a lifetime. Well Leo and Raph are from the same clutch."
Leo and Raph perk up and grin at each other.
"So, we are actually brothers?" Leo checked.
"Yeah, which would explain why you two have a darker skin tone than Mikey and I." Donnie smirked.
Leo and Raph hurry to high-three each other. Donnie glanced to Mikey who watched with a small sad smile.
"Mikey," Donnie gained the attention of the youngest, Leo and Raph watched them worriedly, "You and I aren't related by mother to Leo and Raph."
The two eldest cringed.
"At least it's not just me." Mikey shrugged half-heartedly, "At least two of us are real brothers… I'm glad."
"No bud, you're not getting what I'm saying." Donnie shook his head with a smile, "Leo and Raph are from one mother. You and I are from another."
Michelangelo perked up with wary excitement,
"Are you saying…?" He frowned.
"We're brothers! We're from the same clutch of eggs!" Donnie nodded. Mikey leapt up from his seat and threw himself on his brother, Don was quick to hug him back.
"Yay! Donnie's my brother! My actual brother!" Mikey cheered, his eyes wet, Leo and Raph grinned.
Mikey let Donnie go and soon frowned.
"So, does that mean we're the same age?"
"Well, we'll never know when we actually hatched but generally speaking yeah, we are. Leo and Raph are the same." Donnie shrugged, "We also will never know when the two clutches were laid so we'll never know which pair are the eldest or youngest or if we're all the same age."
"We're definitely the oldest." Raph smirked.
"We're still brothers though," Leo looked at Donnie and Mikey, "All four of us."
The brother all nod happily.
Donatello looked at his smiling father.
"Father I have your results too… I think I know why you wanted me to include you..." He shuffled.
Splinter stood to join his family.
"I've always had a suspicion… Was I right?" Splinter asked gently.
Donnie glanced at his three brothers, nervous about what these results would mean for them.
"Don't be mad." He said to his brothers first, Mikey grabbed Leo and Raph tightly. They both tried to look reassuring to their youngest but were now also concerned.
Donnie stepped closer to the rat while scanning over the results again.
"We four have additional DNA provided from the humans who touched us… The ones that the mutagen latched onto to turn us into humanoid turtles… None of them are the same but…" Donatello took a deep breath and looked up at Splinter. "My Human DNA matches yours."
The other three gasp.
"You are my son." Splinter nodded, "We share similar characteristics such as height, build and eye colour… I always suspected but thought I would never truly find out."
Donnie nodded silently.
Splinter strode forward and pulled his son into a firm embrace, Donnie was quick to return it.
"When I lost Miwa, I never thought I would ever have a child of my own again." Splinter confessed, "Until I adopted you four. I am so grateful to have been blessed not only with four healthy boys to raise but one of them actually being my own. I am thankful to have you all in my life."
Donnie smiled as he pulled away from the hug, Mikey was quick to join his side.
"Technically me and Donnie are actually bros so… you're also my dad!" Mikey grinned before hugging Splinter, "Maybe not by DNA but by sharing Donnie!"
Donatello laughed at that.
"I am your father because I raised you." Splinter chuckled, "I have the scars to prove it."
Leo and Raph joined the hug with a laugh.
"So, we all are related in some way then?" Mikey checked with Donnie.
"Yeah, I guess. Leo and Raph, You and me, me and Sensei." Donnie nodded.
"Awesome!" Mikey bounced on the spot, "Everyone's happy!"
Donnie laughed as Leo and Raph joined them, Splinter looked over the four fondly before quietly excusing himself.
They watched him go into the dojo looking happier than he had in years.
"I think having an actual son is a real comfort to him." Leonardo smiled softly, "After everything that happened with his past family…"
The brothers nod.
"Well, he has four sons." Donnie rolled his eyes, "Like he said, he has the wounds to prove it!"
The brothers laugh.
Master Splinter smiled as he listened to his four boys, he looked at the photo of his old family and his smile softened.
"How I wish you could see out new family Tang Shen..." He breathed before chuckling, "What am I saying? I'm sure you are watching over all of us now. I hope you are proud of them… I hope you are proud of me."
He closed his eyes as another round of laughter came from the living room.
He could feel her presence, confirming she was.
Thanks for reading! x