Hey everyone. Well, they called a snow day today, so I'm off of school, and have to be prepared to take missed Finals in January *Sigh*. Anyways, since this is a short chapter, at least shorter than the last, I decided to update again today.
Ok, this chapter goes out to Who. For pretty much just being an awesome author and reader. And also for that cheer, truthfully I was thinking about all of my reviews as I went up to give that speech. Thanks again!
Anyways, in this chapter, you can expect fluffiness and cute turtle tots.
Oh
Warning: *Sly smile* Prepare your parachutes
I do not own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but the Teenage Mutant Ninja Tarantulas are mine! (I warn you. You really don't want to know. ^_^")
Moving on…To the chapter!
"So let me get this strait," April said into her shell cell, "We can't track Stockman because he's traveling through time?"
A sigh on the other end made the red head's eyes narrow in slight annoyance.
"No, we can track him, IF he comes to our time. Rennet could explain it better."
"Oh no Leo, I'm not getting near her again. Last time she sent me to your place. Then you guys came back looking like you'd barely survived the Jurassic era."
"Yeah, well, there's a story behind that," Leo replied.
This time April sighed before her thoughts drifted to the side, "How are the kids?"
"All asleep, Leatherhead dropped off the mattress for us to use until we can get actual beds."
"That's good. Did he head home?"
"Yeah and so did Rennet after 10 minutes. My brothers are scared of her now. She wouldn't stop smothering them."
"Hmm I wonder why?" April said in a high voice.
"Are you hinting at something?"
"Nothing Grandpa!" she muttered.
"What was that!"
"Oh Leo, I'm joking, a lot has happened and I-well, how are you doing?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, how do you feel?"
"Stressed. Old. Ill. Crazy. And to top it all off, selfish."
"Selfish? Leo, what for?"
Another sigh came from the phone, "It's just, everyone pooled to get this new home finished for us and-"
"And what?"
"And I spent that time sleeping," this comment was transferred before a stream of coughing followed.
"Leo, that is not selfish!" April yelled, "You were sick. In fact, you still sound sick. Why aren't you in bed like your brothers?"
"April, of all times, it's impossible for me to sleep right now."
"And the reason is?"
"What if Stockman appears right in the middle of our home at any moment? I can't sleep! I'm too worried!"
April sighed again, "Look Leo, get some sleep. If Stockman wanted to kill you all, with this, Time Scepter, then he probably would've already done it. It's no wonder we couldn't track him."
A deep breath flowed over the line, "Maybe you're right. But I can't help but worry."
A loose cough followed.
"Get to bed Leo. I'm going to go through the old junk stored in my basement and see if I can find some old kitchen appliances. Ok?"
"Yeah. Thank you April. You're very kind."
"It's no problem Leo. You should know that by now. I'll see you early in the morning before sunrise. Got it?"
"Sure. Thank you again. Goodbye."
"Bye."
Leo hung up the phone on his end, tucking the shell cell into his belt again before taking a deep breath in a pathetic attempt to calm himself down. Ok, attempt 1, fail.
He tried counting the stones making up the floor and the walls. Attempt 2, fail. Still worried.
He tried simply paying attention to the emptiness of the surrounding silence.
"Aniki?"
Attempt 3, fail.
The tired and weary blue masked turtle turned to the questioning voice. His eyes rested on the form of his immediate younger brother standing by the far end of the couch he was currently sitting on. The cushions' stuffing had just barely managed to be held in with duct tape in the old, ripped up thing.
"Yes Raphael?"
"I can't sleep."
Leo shot him a sympathetic smile, "You too, huh?"
The red banded turtle tot nodded before Leo patted the space next to him and the toddler ran over to pull himself up onto the couch, which took much effort to accomplish. Once Raph had managed to pull himself up onto the couch, Leo pulled the tot into his lap and nuzzled his head with his beak as he always had. These were the moments he let his paternal side overwhelm his platonic side.
"Aniki?"
"Hm?"
"Uh, I just wanted to ask you about…" the tot's voice fell silent.
"What is it?"
Raph pointed to the swords on Leo's shell, "You said you'd teach me. Back at the house."
This statement made Leo recall memories of his-well their Master and father. Now that the eldest was thinking of it, wouldn't of Splinter only been a few years old when he found them? He had to execute this right. 2 and 1 weren't much of an age difference while 4 and 29 were. Then again, Splinter had been a rat. Domesticated rats usually only lived for two years, while red eared sliders could live for a good 70+ years. Did that make any difference?
Leo abandoned his train of thought and took a deep and unsettling breath before glancing down at his little brother again. He smiled affectionately and rubbed the toddler's head, who quaintly closed his eyes as the large hand pressed down on his skull softly.
"Aniki?" Raph asked again, his curiosity shining in his eyes as he opened them and looked up at his big brother.
"We'll start in the morning, I promise."
"What about Donny and Mikey?"
"All of you will learn together," Leo said simply and stoutly so there was no room for debate.
It was then that a strange look came over Raph's face and Leo's smile fell to a frown, "What's wrong Raphael?"
The red clad tot pushed Leo's hand off his head and then reached for it, "You're cold," he commented, resting his incredibly tiny hands in Leo's one, "You're still sick. You should be resting."
"I will," Leo said, scooping up the young turtle and setting him on the floor before shooing him off to bed. He then returned to the living room where he fell onto the old couch and promptly fell asleep.
Donny awoke the next morning to find that his immediate older brother was still asleep to his right. Apparently he was having some kind of weird dream, for he was randomly waving his arms up and down. The purple clad turtle shook his head while rolling his eyes before reaching over and poking Raph in the forehead.
"On-guard!" Raph yelled as he shot up, lashing out with an imaginary, dream sword.
Donny giggled as Raph blushed
"Oh, be quiet!" Raph said with a pout and a blush.
Donny continued shaking his head and giggling before he turned over to wake up Mikey, only to find that his little brother wasn't there.
"Hey, did you hear Mikey leave?" Don asked Raph.
"No," Raph said with a yawn, "Maybe he's-"
Raph's response was cut off by a scream and then a yell.
"GUYS HELP! ANIKI ISN'T BREATHING!"
Oh, what have I done now?
Hmmm….
Would you hate me if I ended it here?
-_- *Readers growl*
Ok, just wondering.
They had only a moment to meet each other's eyes before both the purple and red banded turtle tots were in the main room of their new home. Leo was sprawled across the floor, and his skin was slightly blue, which made the red scratches on his body stand out as well as the blood running from the wounds. Donny and Raph fell to his side, Donny reaching out to feel for a pulse = like he had seen people on TV do. Of course, he was inches for, the vain when something knocked the turtles back and on to their shells. When they looked back up they gasped and their eyes widened in fear.
A Foot Tech Ninja was now standing over Leo, his foot on the eldest's throat.
"HEY! GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Raph yelled, jumping to his feet and growling fiercely.
The ninja only took out one of his swords and made a slice on Leo's arm. This sent Raph into a rage. He ran forward and knocked the ninja's feet out from underneath him, relieving the pressure on Leo's throat
"How did he find us?" Donny said, running to Leo's side with Mikey while Raph bravely stood up to the ninja. This moment of clarity for Don though was short lived when Raph went crashing into the wall near them and then fell limply to the floor, unconscious and only inches from Leo.
"RAPHIE!"
A chuckling came from the Foot Tech as he approached the two conscious turtles redirected the tots' attention to the enemy. Donny turned to look at Raph then began trying to wake up Leo. Unfortunately, he had to abandon this attempt when the Foot ninja charged and lashed out with his sword at the two youngest. Don grabbed Mikey's hand and turned to run, but this was in vain as the Foot soldier reached out and scooped them up.
"NO!"
"LET US GO!"
"HELP!
"SOMEBODY HELP!"
The Foot ninja simply laughed at the frightened toddlers, as Mikey and Donny struggled to escape their captor. If anyone else had been in that room, their sympathy would've gone out to the toddlers, who were crying their little hearts out for a hero.
HA! HA! Did you like that chapter? Now, I know there's probably questions, ask them and I'll be sure to answer them in the next chapter.
Let's see, it's a pretty safe bet Mikey and Donny are going to be hauled away and how dare that Foot ninja. First he chokes Leo, then he throws four-year-old, innocent, completely adorable Raph against the stone wall, then he just whisks a crying Donny and Mikey away from their home.
Hmm…I can already predict his future. He is going to get beaten by whatever hard/sharp objects readers can get their hands on.
Well, hope you liked the chapter. Please review! ^_^ There's only 6 chapters to go.
~Moonsetta