Problem Children [Tag: Hamato Clan]

continued from Drugs and Dates

Splinter had been in the spirit realm for the past several days, which explains his prolonged absence. In the spirit plane, Splinter envisioned the imbalance that seems to threaten to destroy his family. He couldn't have been more right. At this moment, Raphael already made his decision to bail out of his role of leadership. The whole point of this lesson is to walk on another shoes, to understand how Leo felt the moment he was assigned the role of the clan's leadership. If Raphael bailed out....

He didn't sense that two of his sons, Donatello and Michelangelo, had arrived home but without their brother, Raphael. It was just as he feared,""Good evening my sons. Why isn't your brother with you? The martial arts master didn't need to turn around to see that Raphael was not with them. He wanted to know why and what happened.

The three brothers finally got home, they were silent for most of the trip and Leo was dreading talking to his father. Once they got home they serched out Splinter. Finding him, the brothers silently stood behind their master. When Splinter spoke up Leo took a step forward.

Raph...uh... Leo was at a lost for words. He took a deep breath and continued.

We disobeyed Raph's orders about not helping Love. He got angry and said that we didn't respect him as a leader, which isn't true. But he got upset. He left and went on a date with a girl named Mikko. She...Got him very intoxicated. We found him but he refused to come back home. He left his weapons and ran off. We don't know where to.

Don was silent again on the way home. He just couldn't believe Raph left them like that. He still blamed himself for that, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. Raph had made up his mind. Don hoped he would come to his senses eventually and come home, but when that would be, who knew.

When they arrived back home, it didn't take long for their father to pick up on the fact that Raph wasn't with them. Don froze and looked at Leo, hoping he would explain. Of course, any of them could do it, but Leo was the closest to their father. He knew how to word things so Splinter wouldn't come flying off the handle when he heard the news.

After Leo stopped speaking, Don started holding his breath, waiting for at least a lecture from their sensei to start. Of course, there would probably be some unpleasant things coming from him as well about how they just let him leave. Which...was mostly true, but Mikey tried to convince him. The results were to be expected.

Mikey sort of hung back, behind his still at home brothers. Letting them talk, tell Splinter, actually a lot apprehensive about how their father would react to the news. Would this mean time in the haashi?!

The entire trip home he had probably been the quietest he'd ever been in his entire life! He'd not made jokes or whoops of excitement. No questions to Donnie. No endless chatter on Leo's ears. No tricks on his board or looking for interesting things that might have washed down into the sewers. No wondering if that shadow that had moved int he dark wasn't the creepy giant radioactive spider... or an albino sewer dwelling alligator.

Again the entire length of the trip home was probably the quietest he'd ever been. Aside from nap time. Possibly. Oh how he missed nap time... Not the nap itself- no he used to fight Splinter on that! - but the dreams once he gave up and took it? The dreams were awesome. Especially any about monkeys!

Now he blinks having sort of zoned in and out on the short explanation Leo gave Master Splinter now.

Splinter made a deep 'hmmmm' noise his ears drooping a little with his ears as Leonardo explained what had transpired that night and Raphael's decision. As any father he wanted to immediately find that infernal contraption other wise known as is shell cell and call his way ward son, wanted to demand he come home. And at least know he was okay.

Especially anxious with the knowledge Raphael was intoxicated!

And he definitely had plans to punish him run through his mind. To be so reckless!! But then he did know in his early days he too had been reckless and young and... sigh...

He looks at the remaining three. "I will not punish you tonight -" cause no doubt they thought it might be the case. "your brothers decision is his own, all his decisions tonight, and he must be the one to make the choice to return home." He thinks about what to say to his three sons standing in front of him now, Donatello and Michelangelo a little bit behind. The youngest almost unnaturally quiet "Your brother is probably feeling betrayed and hurt. Give it time and do not be discouraged to try and make it up him. No doubt his concern was your safety with this mutant you wish to try and help." He turns his gaze to Donatello at this and nods, "Are you still going to try helping this... Love?"

hm maybe until their forth came back and Leonardo earned his leadership role once more he should have them share the role, each turtle taking a turn at feeing the responsibility and weight that came with leading a team of brothers.

Don was glad that Splinter wasn't going to punish them, but Don still felt mostly responsible for Raph walking out on them. He knew his brother would return at some point, but he had no idea when. Or how much trouble he could get himself into before he finally did.

At the mention of Love again, Don nodded. "Yes. I really need to. I made a promise that I would help her. She's waiting for us to return with some news about a new place for her to stay. That's what we were doing before Leo called us away this last time."

He sighed heavily then continued. "She's counting on us, Sensei. I have to do this."

Mikey listens, his own shoulders sagging in relief at their dads words that he was not going to punish them. And for a moment he wanted to ask why not? but thought it best not to look a gift horse in the mouth as it were -

And he had to wonder for a few seconds how [i]that[i] became a saying! It made no sense at all!

Then he was back at the present and thankful once more that Splinter was not going to take them to haashi hell this time.

He was becoming restless, shifting a little from foot to foot.

Punish? Master splinter had thought about punishing them? Raph was the one that walked out on them. Of course they were the ones who didn't follow the new leader's orders.

At the mention of Love Leo spoke up once more.

Maybe we should all meet Love before deciding on what to do with her. I trust Don's opinion of her, but would still like to meet her. Just like I want all of you to meet my new human friends. As for Mikko. I will have a talk with her. I had supported her being with raph at first, but it seems like she will just be a bad influence on him.

Again the thoughtful noise makes itself in the back of Splinter throat as he ponders Leo's suggestion.

"That seems reasonable, only of course in a neutral location. As I suggest you do with all decisions to meet and greet companions human or not." his walking stick taps as he walks closer to Donatello, "You're attempt at keeping your word is honorable my son, just be prepared to take the necessary course of action -" He pauses thinking carefully before continuing, he did understand his more academics teens need to uphold his promises. "should the outcome be not the one you'd hoped for." He both encourages and warns. "And as this is a promise you made, your mission, you shall lead it and all things to do with Love."

His attention was drawn back to Leo about this woman Raph had seen and he nods, "Maybe so but again the decisions are your brothers alone to make -" Though if definitely did not sound an in any way healthy beginning to any sort of relationship or acquaintance.

Mikey was now hoping slightly from foot to foot and watching the exchange between his brothers and their father closely - blinking in some surprise when their father said that in regards to Love that Donnie would be taking charge of future interactions and encounters.

This came as a surprise. Especially considering the last time Love's name came up in a discussion with their father that Splinter was against Don going near the cat woman. It gave him renewed hope that the elderly rat was now on his side when it came to this matter.

Don couldn't keep a wide smile off his face and he bowed respectfully to Splinter. "Yes. Thank you so much, Sensei." Then he turned his brightened gaze to both Leo and Mikey. Everything was falling back into place. Now they just had to convince Raph to come home again.

Leo gave a small bow at that and looked over at the others. So what's our first corse of action, Don? Honestly he had no issues with Don leading this one. He was more capable then Raph and wouldn't just leave them hanging, Not only that, but Don seemed to be pretty devoted to this woman. Maybe he had a crush on her? he would have to ask that later.

"You are welcome Donatello." Splinter dips his head back in return to his more intellectually inclined son then holds up a paw to still this further discussion for one moment, "I may not have approved of this mutant - and I still am wary of the decision to continuing contact with her, but I know this is important. And with all other missions and patrols until your brother returns to us you three will share the leadership role, take turns, each learn that it takes as much trust, courage and strength to follow as it does to lead. Until with understanding and knowledge it is not easy you all choose to return the title to Leonardo." Cementing both the idea Leonardo could earn his title back, and hopefully furthering their bonds after figuratively speaking 'walking in each others shoes' and making it easier to make peace with their missing brother.

As a father he was of course fretting for Raphael. Even if on the outside he was calm as ever and lowering his hand back to the other on his walking stick indicating Donnie could take the 'floor' to speak now.

If anything could have stopped Mikey from hopping on the spot filled with restless energy and eagerness to do ... something!... it was the announcement and prospect that he... Mikey... the jokster... the team clown... and naked chef if he did say so himself!

Would have a turn at leading...

His eyes grew wide - and at first he was filled with mischievous thoughts on exactly what he could 'lead' his brothers into - Then it was followed by some fear. He was after all not the most responsible guy on the team and quiet honestly the least suited to leading. It could end in disaster!

Though, he guessed Splinter had a point in the matter. And he wondered if he would be so wise one day... when his shell was greying probably.

And for a second he was distracted by the mental visage of himself as a greying shelled mutant turtle talking in such a calm and wise 'old' guy manner to a motley collection of human like younglings and turtle like younglings -

the imagination was lifted and he blinks focusing on Donnie now... with some difficulty.

Donatello gave it some thought.  He liked the idea of taking charge of this mission.  What made it even sweeter was that two of his brothers and his father were backing him.  It made his confidence level shoot through the roof at the possibilities!

He rubbed his chin in more thought then turned to the others.  "We need to finish what we started.  We need to find a better place for Love to live."  Then he glanced around the room, deep in thought.  "It's been long enough that we need to bring her more food.  A blanket or two wouldn't hurt, either.  And a heater..."

Don's mind was going into overdrive.  There were so many ideas he could do to earn Love's trust back.  But he needed to slow down.  There were a couple things that needed to be done first.  Food and shelter.  He shook his head to keep himself on track.

"First and foremost is giving her more food and better shelter."  He sure wished Raph was around right now.  Breaking off into two teams seemed like the way to go, but someone was going to be by themselves.  And most likely, it would be him.

"I'll get food to her while you two search the sewer tunnels for a possible new place for her to stay.  After she eats, I'll contact you guys and see where you are in the search.  Then maybe I can bring Love down there with us and she could have the final say.  Sound good?"

Leo listened to Don and nodded his head. I agree. But I think we should wait until morning. It's getting late, and roaming the sewers for a suituble place to live will take time. In the morning maybe Mike can make her a breakfast and we can all look for a place for her to stay together.

Splinter had his head down in thought, his ears turning from son to son as they spoke absorbing all the ideas. He finally spoke up. "That is a suggestion Leonardo, together yous will be safer - but apart yous could probably cover more sewer and storm and maintenance areas of our underground labyrinthine home." He sighs and looks from son to son now. "Leonardo is right, first your team needs to rest, then in the morning over our breakfast you can make the final call of how we proceed. Make a list of necessary items and food stuffs to take."

And he gestures to Donatello's 'team' for the moment, including himself in the gesture. It may be he had not moved much about as he had when he was younger and the boys needed him out foraging for food and items to make their home - well a home. However including himself he gave Donnie the equal team numbers to work with if he chose to.

"In the mean time we should rest - it has been a trying night." And again his heart ached and it felt like snakes where in his belly, sure his sons where capable ninjas and strong... but did the dad in him care about that? nope it only knew one was out there alone and it worried him immensely.

Don was so excited, he didn't even realize how late it was by the time everything was over for the day. "Oh. Right." He glanced at the clock briefly then gave each of his family members a sheepish grin, finally nodding. "Alright. But we need to leave first thing in the morning."

At the mention of getting sleep Mikey invariably felt the need to yawn.

So he did, widely, stretching a little and rubbing his plastron once the yawn ended. "Oh that does sound like a good idea - dog tired." he comments randomly, his first spoken words in - some time... and he wondered if it was a new record for him personally?

though his thoughts on that were derailed at once as he thought over the phrase 'dog tired', to him the canines never looked tired, mostly all bouncing about tails a wagging generally looking like the worlds happiest kids. Sides wagging tails were adorable.

His own tail wags as his thoughts come back to impending bed time and the breakfast that would come. His belly rumbles, "well what are we standing about for - lets sleep so breakfast gets here all that much quicker!"

"Than let us head off to rest." Splinter nods and briefly upon passing each son reaches out to touch them, a reassuring squeeze to Donatello's shoulder, a fatherly rub of the head to Michelangelo and a squeeze of Leonardo's forearm expressing a silent gladness at least three of them were home and each touch was trying to convey some reassurance their missing brother was fine.

He would be Splinter told himself. He would go to Casey or April first he was sure before just vanishing. As worried as he was about Raphael he could and was certain of this and knew for tonight in any case his most impulsive son would be safe.

It would let him get some rest without tossing and turning all night fretting.

This was his last thankful thought as he went and tucked himself into his bed. His sons were all old enough to take themselves to bed when prepared.

There was little words from their fatherin way of good night- but his soft touch filled Mikey with the same warmth that had come from those prolonged night time partings with hugs and the orange clad terrapin may have felt bad Raph was still out there, but also somewhat reassured that that big brother would have found himself some where to sleep it off safely.

He yawns and lightly slapping Donnie's shell and knuckling Leo's on the way past them Mikey calls out, "Night all - bed here I come!" in a bright cheerful manor skipping away to his 'room' and into the space where the 'nest' more than bed waited and received his weight he somersault launches his way into it.

Here he churrs and tugs off his distinctive orange cloth hanging it on thumb tac that also pegged up the superman poster and simply flops onto the covers dropping his chucks with clunks to the floor beside his bed following this up with everything else on his person. Then, tail wagging he snuggles down into the collection of coverings and closes his eyes.