Ugh... finally I managed to get this thing out. Last semester was crazy busy.
Disclaimer: "The Hairbrush Song" belongs to Phil Vischer.
Master Splinter stepped out of his room. He had heard his sons' conversation with Cherry, Destiny, and Kellie. He had heard everything that went on during that conversation.
And, judging by their continuing conversation, the old rat could only assume that they had not heard everything. Or rather, the lack of something.
Splinter looked over. The bathroom door was open, signifying that J was no longer occupying it. He sighed and made his way to Donatello's lab.
*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*
Inside the lab, Donnie slouched into his chair as his brothers yet again teased him about his sleep pattern, only this time for the girls' entertainment.
Mikey slid next to Destiny, shell cell in hand. "Look, I got a picture."
Desy's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "That's so cute!" she laughed. She snatched the phone out of Mikey's hands and showed it to her sister.
"Hey!" Mikey pouted.
"Look, Cherry! They look so cute!"
Cherry took the phone in her hands, and Kellie looked over her shoulder.
Cherry looked at the photo for a few seconds, then looked up. "Does J know about this?"
Michelangelo cocked his head cheekily. "About the picture? No. About Donnie spooning him? Yes."
"Mikey!"
One smack to the head later, the sea green turtle moaned, "Ow! What?"
Leo looked at his little brother disappointedly. "With an inappropriate comment like that, you had it coming."
"Meeper," Destiny added, nodding.
The orange ninja rolled his eyes. "Oh, so you never thought that?"
While a chorus of "NO!" was probably not the answer he was looking for, it's the answer he got.
What he also wasn't looking for‒or expecting‒was a wooden cane to the cranium.
"OW!"
As he nursed the back of his poor head, the others in the room bowed towards the doorway behind him.
"Master Splinter." Cherry walked over the rat and hugged him, her sister doing the same. Kellie walked up to him, but chose to wave happily instead.
Splinter smiled at the girls and broke the embrace. "Hello, everyone."
Michelangelo responded with a moan.
Donatello stood up from his chair. "Do you need something sensei?"
The master shook his head. "No. However, I recommend you listen closely to the noise outside."
The room went silent.
"I don't hear anything," Kellie said, confused.
"Precisely," the old rat replied, just as the others figured out what he was saying.
"I think J is done with his shower," Don observed.
Suddenly the lab was missing one occupant as Destiny rushed out.
"Desy, wait!" Cherry called after her sister and followed her.
The turtles looked at each other.
"Sure hope she remembers J's closed-door policy," Raph said, grimacing.
*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*
"…oh where, oh where, oh where? Is my hairbrush?" J sang softly to his reflection in the dresser mirror. Contrary to what his song was implying, he knew exactly where his hairbrush was: in the bathroom, where he forgot to grab it on his way out. So he decided, instead of going back, he would use his hands instead. Nevertheless, such a situation as this required him to sing The Hairbrush Song. "Always," he said in response to his inner monologue.
Finally satisfied with his part, J adjusted his glasses and stepped back, admiring the job he did. "It'll do."
J turned on the ball of his foot towards the door. Time to face the music. I don't even know if I'm ready yet.
When he opened the door, he certainly wasn't ready for the glomp Destiny gave him.
"BROOOOOO!" she squealed.
To his credit, J managed to keep from yelping. He also managed to keep from falling over from the sudden shift in weight. This was mostly thanks to the wall he'd backed against in recoil.
"Hi, Des." He tried hugging her back, but she currently had his arms pinned to his sides.
"You're back," she squeaked.
J struggled to free his arms. "Yes, I'm back."
Destiny tightened her hug.
The boy eventually deadpanned. "Desy, I need my arms back, thanks."
"No."
J frowned. "Fine, have it your way." He pushed back against her.
Des broke free before he could make any headway, though.
"Meeper," she quipped, giving a kitten smile.
J couldn't help but hug her, surprising her.
"Meep?"
"It's good to be back."
A new voice added to the conversation. "It's good to have you back, J."
J broke the hug and looked over Desy's shoulder at the newcomer. Upon seeing who it was, he broke into a grin and darted around Des. "Cherry!" He stopped before reaching her. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you right now."
Before the conversation could go any further, J was pushed from behind. "Enough chitchat," Desy ordered. "Everyone's waiting in the lab."
"I can walk," J complained halfheartedly.
*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*
In the lab, J looked around at his new family. Don was running more examinations on him, making sure his health was maintained, as well as checking on his scar and burn.
"You'll be happy to know," J said to the doctor, "that I used tepid water."
Donnie smirked. "Someone actually listens to my medical orders. Maybe a God of miracles does exist."
While the rest of the Hamato clan, including Splinter, looked anywhere but Don, J replied, "It wasn't even me you gave that order to." He paused. "That 'God' bit's a subject for another day."
Raph suddenly elbowed Leo. Just as the leader was about to speak, J spoke again.
"Speaking of subjects for another day, you're all probably wanting to know just what exactly happened to me in the past two weeks. Especially how I got this‒" He pointed the scar on his left arm. "‒and this." He jerked a thumb over his right shoulder, indicating his burn mark.
All the turtles looked at each other. Luckily, J didn't notice.
"Now," he continued, "before you all hatch some crazy scheme to get me to spill, like try to convince me that I can trust you, which I already do‒"
The whole lab was silent, aside from a muttered "Damn fanboy" from Raphael.
J ignored him. "‒I promise that I will talk to you. All of you." He looked around the room at everyone.
Mikey frowned slightly, picking up on where J was going with this. "Why do I feel like there's going to be a but?"
"That's 'cuz there is." J gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm still not ready." He adjusted his glasses. "I just need some time to think."
A hand on his shoulder almost made him jump. Looking up, J saw that it was Don.
"Don't worry, J," the brainy turtle smiled at him, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We'll give you all the time you need."
Raphael was about to protest, but J beat him to the punch.
"Oh, you don't have to worry too much about that," the human boy said. "I don't want you to worry for too long." He brought his knees up to his chest and balanced back on his rear, thinking. "Hm… How does three days sound?"
Splinter looked at him. "Three days for what, my son?"
J resumed a normal sitting position. "I can have three days to think over stuff by myself. After that, I have to talk. No exceptions."
Mikey, being Mikey, wanted to question J's limits to his proposal. "But what if‒"
"No exceptions. Raph, I'm counting on you to hold me to that."
And thus ends another chapter. I think that's a great line to end it with. Don't worry, next chapter shouldn't take as long.
Also, two chapters from now (spoiler alert), I will actually open up to the others and begin my tale, so it won't take that long for me to think over everything. But before that, you get to think over my stuff with me. And get feels. So many feels.