Wow, I haven't written for TMNT in FOREVER! But I've been in such a writing mood lately, that I was desperate enough to go through my old fic idea folder, and woila! This was born.
It's based on the one quote in the 2007 TMNT movie where Splinter says, " You may not be my favorite student. It does not mean that you are my least favorite son." I always thought that was kind of a shitty thing to say. I mean, I get that he was trying to reassure Raph that he wasn't the worst son and most hated turtle like Raph's self-disparaging ass has always thought, but damn. Just by saying that implies that he DOES have a least favorite son. I always thought it would be horrible if you overheard your parent saying that about you, so this idea was born.
Anyways, please R&R! Like I'd said, it's been a while, and I'd love some feedback + interaction.
"Raphael, at times you may not be my favorite student, but that doesn't mean you are my least favorite son."
Donny feels sick, all of a sudden. It feels like he's just been slapped. Mikey sits next to him, just as eerily still.
"We shouldn't have eavesdropped," he whispers to Mikey. They're still sitting behind the doors to the dojo. Raph's shell is to them, and Splinter carries on speaking as if he didn't just drop a bomb. The only two affected by his statement are him and Mike. And that's only because... if Raph isn't the least favorite, then it's one of them.
Donny has always had his suspicions about his father's favoritism, but this cements it. His stomach twists, and he swallows, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Do you think he knows we're here?" Mikey asks. He looks uncharacteristically solemn, so Donny knows Splinter's words hit him just as hard. "I mean, if he knew we were here, then he wouldn't imply that... you know. It could be Leo."
"Of course it's not Leo," Donny scoffs, and then immediately regrets it. "But if it makes you feel better, keep deceiving yourself."
"Splinter wouldn't have said that, if he knew we were here." Mikey says, eyes glittering in the dark.
"Wouldn't it be worse if he said that knowing we were here?" Donny counters.
Mikey's eyes widen, and the look on his face drops even more. "Don't worry, Donny," he says, forcing cheer into his voice, "I know it's me." He doesn't wait for Donny to reply, just silently stands and dashes off.
Raph says something in the dojo, completely oblivious to their eavesdropping. Splinter's ears twitch, but otherwise he doesn't take his eyes off of Raph.
Donny watches the hallway Mikey just fled down. He feels faintly nauseous. Donny knew Raph had been the Nightwatcher. For months, even; he's not stupid, nor oblivious, no matter how subtle Raph thought he was hiding it. All he wanted was to prove it to Mike, to stop his idolization of said vigilante.
Instead, he's left with the newfound hole that he's his father's least favorite son, and the grief that lingers.