TMNT: Lullaby for Leo
Ch.18~ Disobedience
I laid awake in my bed, Slowly Daddy, Papa and everyone have been turning this room into my space. Apparently, this was originally Daddy's room, all of his stuff has been moved with him into Papa's room. He left me a few old things like a worn dartboard and some posters. We added a dresser which Uncle Mikey and I painted with fun designs and colours. Toys filled a small chest that Daddy said he used to store weapons in and other gear.
Turning to the wall I traced sai marks carved into the bricks and concrete. Unable to sleep I sat up fully debating going to wake up Papa and Daddy. I heard a light almost phantom sounding steps approach the room. I quickly hid under my blanket and covered my mouth, was that HIM. No, he can't get in, right? A soft knock on my door made me peek out from under my nest of blankets.
"May I enter Vincent?" Grandfather asked I got out of bed dragging my blanket behind me like a cape.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, I closed my eyes unwilling to see if my fears were true. I felt a boney hand rest on my shoulder and a gentle kiss placed onto my forehead. Opening my eyes, I saw my grandfather looking at me understandingly. Stepping closer I grabbed onto his robes.
"What are you doing up so late little one?" he soothed, running a boney hand through my hair.
"Couldn't sleep, how did you know I wasn't asleep?" I asked, he patted my head.
"You are much like your Father, neither of you sleep quietly." He stated, I listened, and I could hear snoring, so that was Daddy? "Did you have a bad dream little one?"
"No, haven't slept yet, grandfather is it safe here?" I questioned, he pulled back and took my hand.
"Of course, come walk with me and I'll show you how I know." He explained, nodding I let him lead me out of my room.
He stopped in front of Papa and Daddy's room, I could hear loud snoring and even breathing from inside. Pointing me toward the door I saw that from their door I could see the entrance to our home. But I could also see a large device on the wall, was that an alarm?
"Is that an alarm on the main door?" I asked, he nodded and lead me past Uncle Mikey's room, I could hear him mumble in his sleep.
"Yes, we also have perimeter alarms, camera to monitor it all in Donatello's lab. Your Uncle and I sleep on the main floor and can reach the monitors and turn on your Uncle security measures." Grandfather explained, I nodded as he led me down the stairs.
"What if he comes here?" I asked meekly.
"Then he would have to get past me, your parents and Uncles." He assured; I gripped his hand tighter.
"Why would you tell me these things, what if he just wanted me to spy on you and learn your weaknesses," I argued, he knelt putting a hand to my shoulder.
"I trust that you will make the right choice, and so does the rest of the family. Remember we're here for you, whatever he has threatened we will not let him enact them. Here is our home, yet the choice is always yours." He soothed, I pulled on his sleeve looking at him with tear-filled eyes.
"This is my home, but I am scared that he'll take it away." I cried, he pulled me into a warm embrace.
"He won't little one, do not worry it will all be okay." He hushed; I buried my face into his robes.
"I'm scared that he'll hurt Daddy more…" I confessed; he gently rubbed my back.
"Your Daddy isn't alone anymore, he'll be fine. Your Papa would never let anything hurt your Daddy anymore." He soothed, I nodded into his robes sniffling. "How about I tell you a story and tuck you into bed?"
"A story..?" I stated.
"Yes, I used to tell them to your parents and Uncles when they were small, your father always loved them in his youth." He explained.
"Sounds nice."
(Raph's POV)
I smiled at Vincent who was playing with Mikey, the two were playing a shooter. I played it with Mikey long ago when I was grounded, it was a fun game, glad Vincent never heard that game commentary. Mikey was so good with Vincent, it's like he could just switch back to being a kid.
"Daddy, do you wanna play?" Vincent asked, I blinked in confusion as he was leaning over the back of the couch.
"No thanks kiddo, I already played this one, you two are doing pretty good though," I replied, walking over I leaned on the back of the couch between them.
"You suck at FPS bro!" Mikey teased, I gently shoved him.
"This kind of reminds me of some of the training stuff I did," Vincent stated, I looked at him in horror.
"Training with video games that sounds awesome," Mikey stated, I smiled at him.
"Yeah it was cool, but I prefer these kinds of games, they are way more fun," Vincent replied, I couldn't help myself from rubbing his head.
"Well, now these will be the games you play." I soothed, he nodded and looked up at me grinning.
"Does Grandfather play games?" Vincent asked, which sent Mikey into howling laughter.
"No, he will watch movies and his shows but other than that he avoids technology," I replied, elbowing Mikey who began to laugh less.
"Sorry kiddo, Master is not a gamer, even less so than Leo, but he does like board games," Mikey added.
"Cool Daddy we should have a board game night sometime!" Vincent cheered; I tussled his hair chuckling.
"Sounds good, I'll tell April and Casey and we can schedule a night to do that," I stated, he nodded.
"Not a bad idea Raphie, make sure April brings snacks," Mikey added, I chuckled.
"You ask her that, I am not the one who ate all her snacks last month." I teased, he pouted.
"I was hungry, and the chips were pizza flavoured; pizza," Mikey whined.
"Mature as ever Mikey, well you two have fun," I said, I wandered over and saw Leo training. "Busy?"
"Oh, Raph no I am good, what's up?" he replied, I smiled as he knelt down patting next to him.
"Vincent said something troubling…"
"Oh?"
"Apparently he was trained with guns using VR or something… He compared it to a game he and Mikey were playing." I stated as I sat next to him.
"I see, do you think he would be okay learning our training instead."
"Maybe, it might help him avoid and unlearn shit he was taught."
"Why don't we ask father this evening?"
"Good idea, he also mentioned wanting to play board games sometime."
"Sounds fun although no monopoly Mikey goes too wild for that."
"You mean talking about all the crap he would buy if he had that kind of money."
"Yep, still don't get the escorts he mentions."
"No idea, still he is better than when he would flip a game over as kids."
"Yeah, and Don would have to chase him down to tell him it was all luck."
"Maybe we could play cards first as a trial run."
"Heh, good idea."
(Vincent's POV)
I smiled as I watched the door slowly close the light from the main area peeking through the door. I rolled over in my bed and felt something. I touched my ear and then this tone came, and I cringed clinging to my pillow. It was like static but worse I went to scream but found I couldn't. I tried to move but my body would not respond.
"Good boy." He stated, I cringed at the man's voice I feared.
"Leave them be!" I cried and felt my body move. "So, you can control me?"
I stared at what was happening in horror as I had no control over my movements. My body was rummaging through the room searching, soon pulling out a mental bin. I thought back to my briefing and felt myself tremble in horror. He was going to make a bomb!
(Raph's POV)
I walked out of our room and yawned loudly; a nice drink should put me back to sleep. I walked down to the kitchen squinting hard to try and invoke sleep. I heard a clang and turned and saw a form, rubbing my eyes I looked and saw Vincent sat on the floor with a metal basin and other things. Odd, I walked over and looked down and gasped in shock.
(Vincent's POV) (Flashback)
I sat in my room reading over my manual for my next training session and I rolled over bored with the paper. I was so bored, no games today just work and lessons, reading is so dumb. I heard my door open I turned and saw Bishop enter looking at me coldly.
"Hello, sir." I greeted, he motioned me over, so I got up and went to his side.
"We have some test to do." He informed, I shuddered knowing what was gonna happen.
"Will I be asleep?" I asked, he patted my head.
"Yes, now follow me." He ordered, I nodded and let him lead me toward the lab.
"Sir I get to see Daddy next month, right?"
"Yes, as per usual, now hurry."
"Yes sir."
(End Flashback)
I looked at Daddy through my eyes almost like I saw it on TV, no not Daddy. I watched as my body moved and I attacked my Daddy, no, please no, not my Daddy. I began to cry as I tried to stop myself soon, I felt myself regain control.
"Daddy!" I cried, he pulled me close as I sobbed. "Bishop took me over; I can't fight it long."
"Don't worry kiddo we'll help ya." He hushed and picked me up walking towards my Uncles room. "Don get your butt up!"
In a moment I saw Uncle Don stumble out he looked still half asleep and Daddy went to him and put a hand to his forehead. Uncle looked at us confused as my Daddy pulled back and lead my Uncle in setting me on his table. Daddy whispered to Uncle Don and left the room and Uncle began to check me over.
"Uncle?" I quizzed; he patted my hair.
"Checking you for implants, might be what caused that." He soothed, I nodded and pointed to my wrists.
"Here I think," I stated, he felt it then grabbed a device scanning my wrists.
"There it is, now bud I may need to put you to sleep to get it out." He hushed, I nodded.
"Uncle check me all over too." I pleaded, he looked at me confused.
"I don't know what else they did… Don't wanna hurt any of my family." I elaborated, he smiled sadly and rubbed my hair softly.
"No worries I will make sure you're all good, so no crying." He hushed, I suddenly realized I had tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Thanks, Uncle Donnie."
"No worries Vinny now any other places I should check?"
(Raph's POV)
I couldn't bear to be in the lab, so I sat at the table Leo was next to me gently rubbing my back. Mikey was helping Don he offered when he saw our faces, we must look horrid. Not surprised I have never been so anxious in my life, my brother had to cut open my baby boy. How many devices did they put in him; how many times did they torture him?
"Raph you need to breathe." Leo reminded I gasped panting from my lack of oxygen. "Don't stew talk to me…"
"I just… My baby, they tortured him, like me… How much did he experience was he as scared as I was…" I sobbed; he rubbed my back getting closer to me.
"We can't change what happened, he is home now, we can stop this from happening again." He soothed.
"I hope this doesn't fuck him up like it did me, I can still feel it when I think back… I can't…." I cried, he pulled me into a hug, and I cried into his plastron.
"I am here, neither of you are alone…" he hushed but I only cried harder.