A Father's Oath

[Multi-Verse blog for different incarnations of Splinter from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Currently housing IDW, ROTTMNT, and TMNT 2012 Splinter. Blog currently under construction.]

[rctpack]

“Today is a wonderful day indeed. I am proud to be the father of eight wonderful children, and all of those who have fallen into our nest since.”

[rctpack]

“..I sense a splitting headache.”

[rctpack]

tatorumaunten​:

{~ℒ  Leonardo’s fists tighten as the silence, he’s not liking it, knowing that his father wasn’t in full approval of this plan. It is dangerous, it’s even life threatening but Leo knows that this is the best way to get the information they need in order to help stop Shredder. As much as his nerves are stretched and stomach twisting, he won’t back down. He has to be on the inside in order to plant the bugs in areas that were unknown, but able to give them what they might need in order to stop the Shredder. 

When Splinter finally did speak it is a question that causes his breathing to stop, he knows this might be a horrible decision, but if he want’s this defect to be believable…they couldn’t know. Eyes closing as he feels his fathers penetrating gaze on him, it’s always one that made him feel like a tot again. 

“Only Nico, Donnie and you will know. No one else. They can’t, if they did they might pull their punches and could develop into the worst situation. I…know what this will cause but…this is something that I have to do.” 

Even with as determined and set as he is, his voice is soft and almost meek compared to his fathers. He couldn’t raise his voice, he wouldn’t, not only would it drag attention, but it would also seem as if he’s disregarding the glaringly obvious concerns regarding this plan.

Finally, his eyes open and works enough courage to look up at his father. 

Despite the fear in his gaze, there’s also a determination and distinct unwillingness to back down. 

“No, he’s not, but neither am I. He’s trying to sway Raphael, he’s been messing with his head…making him believe that he’s just like him. I don’t know why he’s doing this, but I can’t just let it keep happening. I won’t.” 

The fear slowly replaced by a subtle anger, he’s been tormenting one of his brothers, in a way that is harder to heal than any physical injury. 

“I only need to convince him long enough, not forever, but just enough to make sure we get the job done.”

Then…the worst part of this whole thing. His brothers…Jenni, the ones he’s suppose to be setting an example for. The one’s he’s promised to protect…they would no doubt hate him for awhile. This would cause a rift, he knows this, but even still he is going to risk it.

“Whatever the consequences of my actions brew, I’ll take it.” 

Eyes meet his father’s.

“I will come home father, no matter what it takes. Please…believe in Donne, Nico…me. We can do this.”  ℒ~}

Splinter listened, with ears pinned and heart pounding with anxious thoughts. He knew that his children were not the same young boys he allowed to clumsily wander the surface any longer, but there was a part of him deep down that was more than terrified of them growing up so quickly.

As well as dancing such a dangerous line with such a monstrous man as the Shredder. He feared for safety time and time again, and yet..

He met his son’s gaze with a scrutinizing wrinkle of his snout, staring him down for a moment, as though the two were discussing something with far more than words; determined and firm gazed locked, before Splinter’s eyes close, his ears swivel forward, and a peace rolls over him like smooth ocean waves.

He does not want to let him go, but he knows he cannot stop him.

“..Very well, my son. However, before I permit you to go.. You must first sit, and meditate with me. You cannot leave with your mind in fracture, you must clear your thoughts, and breathe. With me.” A deep breath filled his lungs, held for a few seconds before exhaled.

“You cannot allow your anger on your brothers behalf to guide you, for it will be your undoing. You will be far too quick to crumble, and the Shredder will be able to see straight through you.. Find your inner most calm, and link your breathing with my own. Together, we meditate for now.. and when you feel that you are truly ready, I will know nothing of this, as you have requested.”

[rctpack]

tatorumaunten​:

Continued from X

{~ℒ  The sound of his fathers voice normally calms him, like warm blanket to wind around you on a stormy night. Right now, it made him a bit more nervous then he was already, especially at the accusation of him doing something rash and dangerous. Which is, in essence, the truth but this has to be done. They’ve literally almost tried everything else and it’s barely slowed him down, this is almost the last resort. 

“Father, Donnie and I were talking. Nico and he were working on bugs that we could place in Shredders lair, so…I came up with the idea to infiltrate his lair by joining him. His Foot have been messing with Raphael’s head and making him try to defect so…”

He pauses a moment, snout scrunches a little as his hands tightens into fists. 

“I would offer myself in Raph’s stead. It’s the best way for us to get the bugs deep in his base, we would be able to know exactly what he was up to and be able to counter it. Donnie and Nico will be monitoring the whole thing…”

Now he’s rambling, trying to prove that this plan is going to work, and that it will be okay. They’re getting it ironed out. Trying to make his father worried, even though he’s going to…Shredder, no, Oroku Saki is an enemy of his and now he’s going to throw himself into his lair. 

“I just…couldn’t do it without talking to you.”  ℒ~}

Even with Leo’s constant assurance that things would be monitored, he was still hesitant. Red eyes stared down at his son with a telling gaze, snout wrinkled before eyes pinched shut, a deep breath that was held for maybe a moment too long; it was s stressful situation, one he did not ever wish upon his children.. 

“And what of your brothers? Will they all know what it happening?” His gaze fell on Leo once more, this time the frustration was gone from his face. The question was mostly unnecessary; he already knew the answer, based alone on the look Leonardo wore, and the guilt rolling off him in waves.

“What you are suggesting is more than dangerous. It is outright suicide, Leonardo.. The Shredder may be fooled but for a moment, but what happens to you when your plan is found out? Oroku Saki is no fool..” Perhaps Donatello and Niccolo knew a solution, but he did not wish to leave anything to chance.

He needed to put his faith in his sons, even if he was simultaneously terrified.

“..If you truly believe this to be the only way.. I only wish to see you returned home safe to us, Leonardo. We have had one too many scares already, and this disconnection from your brothers will only end up causing more harm.”

[rctpack]

Leo was hesitant, but Donnie was right, they needed to tell their father. Nothing ever went past him so it's better to just clue him in in advance. Moving silently, Leonardo stands in the entryway for a few beats before he shuffles in. Staying silent, before he moves to kneel in front of him. "Sensei ... father. I need to talk to you."

“Leonardo, my son..” Splinter addresses him with a small hum, ears twitching forward, a soft gaze in his eyes as he observes the other for a moment in silence. He needed to speak, and his tone held stories Leo likely was not consciously aware of.

“..You are thinking of doing something rash, and dangerous. I can see the hesitation, and uncertainty in your eyes.. What is it?”

[rctpack]

Hey Splints did you hear any screaming? Looks like one of your sons got electrocuted. (Rise)

“Electrocuted?” There was a pause, eye squinting before the man gives a small huff, reclining himself back in his chair.

“Bah. I hear of it all the time, from the purples especially. They are always messing with electricity, never listening to the dangers.. Besides, I have not heard any screaming. I am certain they are fine.”

[rctpack]

so, yosh, what's it like being dead?

“You must have me mistaken for another, shadow. I have not fallen just yet..”

[rctpack]

"Master Splinter... ?" Jennika lightly knocks on the wooden panel of the dojo sliding door, trying to stop her hands from shaking. She was still wired and up tight from everything that's happened. Since the boys came home it seemed like the others were starting to relax while she? She was far from the same. But something else was bothering her. "Do you have a minute? I-I just wanted to ask you something." Stupid stutter-great.

“Jennika,” the anxious air around her was impossible to deny; it was practically tangible, and he could not blame her for it either. Their entire situation was horrendous, and Splinter found himself unable to do much of anything at the moment for his children, except sitting with them, telling them that everything would be alright.

When even he could not promise it. Even he was wound up and a mixture of so many raw emotions. The only difference was his ability to mask them.

“I always have time for you,” there was a gesture, as he sat himself down upon his mat, waiting for her to join him. “Please, speak freely.”

[rctpack]

Babby boy‌:

      Oh boy, well here goes. “Okay, so, you have eight kids right? That’s four more compared to my sensei. Was it hard raising them? Wait no, of course it was hard, it was eight kids,” he paused for a moment, questions racing in his head. “What about who you were? I know my Splinter was a pet to Master Yoshi, but I have no idea about you. And can I ask how you got so tall? My splinters smaller than me -” he pauses again, realizing that he probably let his mouth run. 

     He takes the tea cup, blowing to cool it down. “Was..i asking too many questions?”

So many questions indeed, and all the man could do was chuckle quietly in response, taking a slow dip of his tea as he allowed the air to settle between them, unable to hide his amused smile.

“You ask the right amount of questions, and I see that you have a healthy curiosity, Leonardo.. I am relieved that not much appears to differentiate between you, and my own son,” he mused, glancing down into his tea as he prepared his response.

“I was once human before I was mutated into the man you see now.. In this dimension, I was the one known as Hamato Yoshi.. I had lost everything in Japan, and moved to the city for a new life. That was when I made the purchase of seven small turtles, two of which could not be separated, and the others I had not the heart to separate them from one another.. Perhaps I was a little ahead of myself back then, but in my grief I could not put those little ones through that stress.. I would take them all home with me.. but fate, as it does, had other plans for us.. I have told them the story many times, but it was a run-in with the kraang that caused our mutation.. and it was two years later when I was gifted my eighth and final son, Sebastiano.”

He paused, allowing Leonardo to take in all that he was telling him.

“..I am ‘tall’ because of the height I was when I was human. If you did not gather that already,” he chuckled.

[dragxnleader-a]

@rctpack​ // x

       He was nervously sitting next to the much, much taller version of his Sensei. It wasn’t like he wasn’t used to dimensional duplicates - he’s met enough to last him life times - but this one was much different. If he was right, he had more than four kids, compared to his own sensei. Plus he was so much taller, and a few years younger than his own. He had so many questions, he just didn’t wanna bombard him.

       “Uh, excuse me, Sensei,” words, Leonardo. “Can..Can i ask a few questions?”

[rctpack]

The moment Leonardo spoke, he was met with a light hum, to let the other know he was listening, prepared for whatever this alternate of his oldest needed to say to him. Eyes turned his focus to the turtle seated beside him, ears flicking forward in attention.

“You may, Leonardo. If there is something troubling you, please feel free. I understand you must have a lot on your mind..” Reaching forward, the rat began to pour himself and the blue-clad turtle a cup of tea, allowing Leo to take the cup for himself, should he decide he wanted it.

[grandtheftautobot]

raising two fingers, leah knocks on the entrance of splinter’s room. it’s rather uncomfortable, to do ANYTHING with the pink cast on her hand, but her father wasn’t about to let her go anywhere until she’d gone to the doctor. such are fathers, she supposes. 

her heart is pounding in her chest, her other hand tightening on the bag she carries. splinter wasn’t the type to want or need for much, but leah promised. 

“hamato-sensei, are you busy?”

@rctpack​

[rctpack]

From the sound of her footsteps alone, he was already aware of her approaching his room, wasting not a moment to stand up, and make his way to greet her, tail dragging along the floor behind him. The sliding door was pushed open with ease, and the rat greeted the familiar face with a smile.

“Leah. Is everything alright?” There was a vague motion to the cast she wore, a concerned look crossing his eyes as he studied her carefully. He understood why she was here, given their last conversation, however that would not stop him from expressing his concerns for the sudden injury.

[rctpack]

His father senses are tingling.

[rctpack]

kiiindhearted‌:

“You don’t have to thank me for nothin’. My Ducky loves those boys, and as a father myself, I know how hard this sort of thing can be. I’ve done what I could for ‘em here, so they’re at least stable.”

He’d never had to make “the call” during his time with the military, and he didn’t envy the men and women who did. Even though this wasn’t quite the same thing, he still felt that tightness in his chest, anxiety looming in him from how Splinter must have felt in this moment. He got it- he understood. If it was any one of his own children, he was sure he would feel the same way.

They were going to do all they could. He’d dedicated so much of his life to helping others… he was done to death with hurting. And if he could do anything for this family now, he absolutely would.

“I’ll make sure to have Odette text one of the boys when we’re on our way. We’ll get ‘em home soon. I promise.”

“Even so, we owe a great debt to you, my friend,” and although Rene assured him he did not need to be returned in kind, Splinter would remember his kindness well.

Their lives were never easy, and to say so would be so painfully inaccurate, yet these dangers are never what he wanted for his children. They were trained for this, always made aware of the consequences, especially once Saki showed himself for the first time in New York City..

But never would he ever be prepared for such devastating news, as no parent ever would be. Donatello’s accident had shaken them, and now this as well.. The chaos would only end if the Shredder was gone, but there was no time to think of that now, his focus needed to remain at home, within the current situation laid out in front of them. 

They needed Leonardo and Raphael home safe.

“Please, be safe in your travels. We will be awaiting your arrival.”

[rctpack]

kiiindhearted‌:

“Mr. Hamato? Rene Villemont-David. We met a few months ago.”

Rene wasn’t really nervous about this conversation. At least not really. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t spoken before. But it was that instinct of a parent… the nerves whenever something went wrong. He felt for the man.

“I’m sure you’ve heard that your sons found their way to the bakery. Seeing as it’s almost dawn, I don’t think it’s safe to send your boys up here to get them, so I’m gonna get ‘em into the bakery truck and bring ‘em myself. Not gonna sugar coat it… they’ve both taken a beating. Leonardo’s in bad shape.”

“I understand.“

Although it was difficult when any of his children were hurt, Splinter was thankful for the news. They were alive, the Shredder had done his damage, but his children were still alive. Guilt chewed at his core, swallowed down quickly by the clearing of his throat.

They needed to recollect themselves, come together as a family and to prepare for the storm that was headed their way. There was not a doubt in his mind that if they had escaped Saki while so badly injured.. there was more behind his plan that simply dividing their numbers.

“We will make immediate preparations for them when you arrive, Mr. David. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for my family.”

[kiiindhearted]

With the boys a bit more stable, Rene’s pacing the length of the bakery after hanging a “Closed for the Day” sign on the door, cell phone to his ear, waiting for the turtles’ rat dad to pick up.

@rctpack​

[rctpack]

He’d heard the news from Donatello and Niccolo, so the moment his phone began to ring, the man would not waste a single moment to allow for a second ring, lifting the yellow phone up to his ear.

“Moshi moshi,” he spoke quickly, ears flattening against his head, anxious fingers finding the phone’s cord to twist around his claw.

[rctpack]

There are even more that need to be adopted? ..So be it.

[rctpack]

technotello‌:

          “ Alternate’s, huh? I guess that makes sense.. ” He frowns to himself and looks over his father’s alternate once more, taking in the differences. “ You don’t seem anything like my father, if I’m being honest. ” He fidgets under the look, wringing his hands together. 

“ Likewise, I guess… So, you have, what, four turtle sons of your own, then? ”

“From what you have told me, I would not have guessed that he and I share far too many similarities..” Splinter hummed, resting both hands against his cane, watching the young turtle carefully, noting how he appears almost nervous.

“On the contrary.. Unlike most other alternates of mine, I have been gifted with eight children in total. Their names are Leonardo, Vincenzo, Raphael, Raffaellino, Donatello, Niccolo, Michelangelo, and Sebastiano..”