#donnie 2012

[imagionationstation]

Son of a Tiger AU: Good Company

"My hate is what kept me going. As I tore my way out of the belly of the Kraathatrogon. As I battled through the armies of the Kraang. Across alien worlds that would drive lesser men mad. Finally... Back here. Back to my enemies."

Tiger Claw gets down to one knee, head bowed. "I would have my revenge against Splinter, against his fiendish reptiles, and against those humans who trapped me in that wretched worm's belly."

"I would grant you this wish," Shredder considers, "But there is a catch."

"Catch?" He demands, rising. "What catch?"

"Toshi has been spotted in company with the turtles."

"Toshi? No. He wouldn't-"

"But he has. And they all seem quite content together."

"They did this to stop me." Tiger Claw's fists curl. "They will find that not so easy to manage. I will have their shells."

"Then go," Shredder waves. "Bring them to me."

"What?" Karai demands. "It's because of him that Splinter and the turtles are still alive in the first place!"

"Karai, you will go with Tiger Claw," Shredder stares her down. "Destroy Splinter and the turtles, at any cost."

She gives a faint bow. Tiger Claw's eyes narrow.

Tiger Claw catches her arm in the hall, claws against metal. "If you lay a hand on Toshi, my wrath will not stop with my imprisoners."

She rips her arm away, facing him. "Then you'd better hope your turtle doesn't get in my way."

Toshi finds comfort in Murakami's shop.

It feels like home, sitting on the stool with the smells and decor around him. He trades stories in rapid-fire Japanese with the kind chef, watching it frustrate the brothers to follow along with.

"You speak English very well," Murakami praises in said-language, maybe having pity on them. Toshi smiles bashfully. "Are you from America?"

"I don't know for sure where I was born, but my theory is that I was mutated here." Toshi offers, unaware of the looks traded behind his shell, before the brothers move closer. "I was found alone, half-crushed by a trash bag. From there, I was taken back to Asia, where I spent most of my time. I'm pretty adept at languages though. I can speak a couple versions of Spanish, Russian, and I'm learning German. It's a good way to occupy my time."

"That sounds very intensive."

"I don't mind it. It's a useful skillset," He smiles as Murakami places a plate in front of him. He gives it a curious look. "Is this..."

"A pizza gyoza." The chef beams. "The brothers' favorite."

"It has... Pizza in it?" Toshi pokes it. "That doesn't sound very-"

"Oh, you have to try it!" Mikey gasps, lurching for the counter. "It's- like- the bestest thing ever!"

"I've heard of your culinary tastes, Mikey. I don't have any interest in sharing them."

"Don't knock it 'til you try it." Raph teases. Leo goes to his other side and nudges him. "It's one of Murakami's most popular dishes."

"It is." He smiles. "I am still in your debt for such a wonderful addition."

"You really don't owe us anything." Leo says as he pushes away from the counter. Raph takes his place. "Don't be chickeeen."

"Eat it! Eat it! Eat it!"

"You promise it's good, Murakami-san?"

"I insist upon it."

Mikey lays his head on the counter. "Aw, don't you trust us?"

Toshi picks up one. "For this? No."

He stares at it. Then he puts it in his mouth.

Heaven implodes on his tongue as soon as he chews.

"Eh? Eh? Ehhhh?"

Toshi forgets table manners to shove his face.

Mikey jumps up with fists in the air as Raph and Murakami laugh. Toshi feels a little silly, but he enjoys his snack as Raph and Mikey get their own plate, turning to ask Leo if he is going to join them.

He's over by the window, looking solemn.

Raph glances up and follows his gaze. "He's brooding. Thinking about Karai."

"Karai?" Toshi asks, "What about her?"

Raph and Mikey exchange a look. Leo says, "She doesn't belong in the Foot. I told her-" He shakes his head. Toshi can tell that there's a piece of the puzzle they aren't sharing. "How can she still want to stay?"

Mikey seems to take that question in stride, getting on the bar and announcing some... Declaration or another. Toshi can't tell past the food in his mouth. Raph responds with a firm, "Personally, I don't trust her. Not for one second."

"She didn't seem all bad," Toshi shrugs. "Didn't take much a liking to me, though. She was... Happy to kick me out as soon as I asked what happened to Tiger Claw."

"See?" Raph accuses, "She's bad news!"

He goes to eat the gyoza that he'd picked up, unaware that Mikey had already stolen it. Instead, he chomps down on his own flesh.

As soon as he realizes who did it, he lunges for the thief. They begin brawling on the floor. Leo sighs and looks out the window.

Toshi wonders what it is they don't want him to know.

Toshi should've been heading back, but he was putting it off, making up excuses to stay in their company before he had to sit and sleep in silence.

When Mikey panics about his doggy bag, Toshi jumps on the chance and offers to go with. Then it becomes a group effort. They head back to Murakami's together.

The interior is a wreck.

Mikey finds Murakami on the floor, curling up with his hands on his head. The poor man is shaking as Toshi goes to his other side, helping Mikey get him to his feet. He hovers, uncertain what to do next.

"They came looking for you," Murakami explains weakly. "They wanted to know where you lived." He faces Toshi. "If you were with them," Toshi's eyes widen. "They asked about your friends. To my shame, I told them everything I knew."

Raph sounds volatile. "Who did this?"

"A girl... and a growling man."

Leo goes over to the wall. Toshi stares at the long marks, slashed like claws. He touches them.

His heart leaps when Leo asks, "Was this who I think it is?"

"He's back," Toshi gasps, clinging to the hope. "Tiger Claw's back! He's-" He glances at their solemn faces and then at the scratches on the wall. He looks to their friend. "He did this? To the shop? To Murakami-san?"

Murakami is facing at his hands. Leo sharply says, "And now he's going after April and Casey."

"The girl's gotta be Karai, Leo!" Raph snaps as Toshi steps away from the wall and the brothers. "I told you-!"

"Not now Raph!"

"Why can't you ever-!"

"Not now Raph!"

Toshi hears himself say, "I have to find him."

Everyone looks at him.

Mikey tries, "Toshi-"

"If he's out there, I have to find him." Toshi has his hand to his chest, stepping away from them. "Maybe I can put a stop to this- maybe-"

Raph shakes his head. "He's dangerous! He's out to kill us and hurt our friends along the way!"

"I can fix this." He turns and runs, "I can change his mind."

"Toshi!"

He's already out the door.

"Guess that ends plan Save-Tiger-Claw-So-He-Like-Us, huh?" Mikey asks nervously. Neither of his brothers respond, and he presses, "What- what do we do now? Leo?"

Leo shakes his head and exhales slowly, "Hopefully Toshi can slow him down. We have to focus on our friends. Get to them before Tiger Claw does."

There he is.

He cups his mouth. "Takeshi!"

He watches him whirl, scanning the rooftops, spotting him.

"Toshi!"

Takeshi sprints for him, and Toshi can't help a bubbling laugh of relief, leaping down the water tower to meet him halfway. Takeshi cups his face as soon as he can reach, large hands around his head, and Toshi leans into the nostalgia, curling his fingers around his wrists, unable to stop smiling as the tiger scans him for any injuries.

"Are you unharmed? You seem intact."

"I'm fine, I promise!"

"Then you have no excuse! I have been scouring the city for you, cub!" He snarls before looking him in the eyes, "Where have you been?"

"Where have I been!?" Toshi demands. "Where have you been?! And your eye- what happened to your eye?"

He lowers his hands, and Toshi lets go. "I was eaten by one of those infernal worms! I had to fight my way back here. I could not retain everything. But I have returned! Returned to enact my revenge on the turtles and their-"

"Revenge? You mean like attacking the blind man?"

"I was gathering information to find the turtle's lair." Takeshi pulls a small device out of his belt to show him. "Then I will finish them and bring Shredder his rat."

"No, see, that's what I need to talk to you about-" Toshi blurts, putting a hand over the screen. "-you can't hurt them, or their friends, because they-"

"I was told you had been seen with the likes of them." Takeshi scoffs as he turns away. "What have I told you about fraternizing with the prey?"

"They weren't! Aren't! They-"

"Are not any of your concern. I will finish this."

"Takashi, you have to stop!" Toshi begs. "They're my friends!"

He shakes his head. "They are not your friends."

"They are! They've been helping me find you!"

"They are the reason that horrendous beast ate me!"

Toshi freezes. "Ate- you?"

"They are liars, Toshi," Takeshi warns darkly. "Betrayers like so many others. They fed me to that worm, and now I will have my vengeance. Our vengeance! Nothing will stand in my way!"

"But they-" His voice cracks. "But I thought they..."

"I have told you before, Toshi." His voice softens, still dead serious. "Everybody wants something. You cannot trust anyone until you know what that is. And even then..."

"Even if- even if they lied to me-" Toshi looks at him helplessly. "Do you have to kill them?"

"It is what I do. It is my business."

"But you've made it more than business! This is personal!"

"You are too young to yet understand," Takeshi shakes his head. "But I knew that even when I brought you."

"Takashi-"

"No more of this."

"Please, I don't think-"

Toshi grabs his chin, claws at his jaw.

"You will listen to me, boy!"

Toshi doesn't move a muscle.

The tiger takes a heavy breath. Then he lets it out, and he lets him go. "Go to your gadgets. Distract your mind," Tiger Claw leaves no room for argument. "You will not question me anymore. When I return triumphant, you will leave this place and never return."

Toshi swallows, voice small, "But you will come back?"

"I swear it." He sets a hand on Toshi's plastron. "Now go."

Toshi lies in bed; face pressed into the blue scarf.

The room is upturned, matching his state of reality.

He wishes Takeshi had remained lost.

He hates himself for that.

[your-fave-is-transmasc]

Donnie from TMNT 2012 is transmasc! (headcanon)

Donnie from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is transmasc!

other version

[imagionationstation]

The latest post you did does give me a question

Does donnie ever feel like maybe he shouldnt have joined the family? Bc i think he wants like …a stable place to call home , he meets splinter …and he dies a season or two later .

It makes me wonder if he’ll doubt if it was worth it

(Sorry if this is just me talking and non of this is true or something , oy doing this anonymous so i dont embarrass myself with a dumb question)

Goodbye>< may your day/night be filled with love

This Ask is referencing this post right here.

Donnie does have a lot of self-doubt over his place in the family, but it's not necessarily because he dislikes the family or the situations that they find themselves in. He grew up as an assassin's kid, so he was introduced to a lot of concepts that most kids wouldn't have been privy to, and he was basically gearing up to obey Tiger Claw's lead and work for people like Shredder. He's only still innocent because Tiger Claw's never had him come along on a mission before.

Tiger Claw only brought Donnie because he thought that he'd be working for Shredder for a hot minute (and Donnie insisted that he was ready for real training), and he figured that it was better for Donnie to begin killing in a world full of strangers than in a familiar environment.

'Toshi' was raised with the understanding that the rest of his life would probably involve a lot of running around, shooting people, and trying to live one more day with people who didn't like him (because he is an assassin or a mutant) breathing down his neck.

The main difference between the Hamato lifestyle and the lifestyle that Tiger Claw wanted for him is that the Hamatos believe in the preservation of life. They insist upon saving everyone at any cost to themselves, instead of preserving themselves at the cost of everyone else. They also make him feel loved and cared for and like his opinions both matter and are wanted. They make him feel smart and capable.

That's the only stability that he wants from a family.

But the thing about them fitting so neatly into what he's been hoping for is that he was raised to believe that's not possible. Or at the very least, it wasn't in the cards for people like him and Tiger Claw.

Sometimes, he feels like he shouldn't have joined the family because he sees himself as a net bad for them. Since Tiger Claw was very neglectful and never gave anything unconditionally, he was raised to believe that nothing is forever, and you have to be ready to be abandoned at any time for any reason by any person.

Which means every time that Donnie does something wrong, there's something in the back of his mind that says his family is going to disown him and walk away because of it. So, when he's first acclimating to the family, he's basically a walking pipe bomb, ready to accept that he's not good enough and they don't want him. After all, he was raised by a ruthless murderer and knows his philosophy by heart. His first instinct when surprised is to put a gun to someone's head. How can they not clock that he's bad news? Realistically, who wants something like that around? In their home, no less?

This gets explored a bit in A Chinatown Ghost Story, which comes directly after Vengeance is Mine, which is when he learns who he is/who he could have been/who he was supposed to be.

I'm trying to follow the 2012 plotline where things get wrapped up in a single episode, so that is how this one progresses, but he does carry that 'maybe they'd be better off if I was different/wasn't here' with him through a lot of the series. A big part of his arc.

Losing Splinter... Isn't a positive for him, but he's just grateful that he got a chance to meet and know him. Even if it was brief and scattered. He had a father, and he knows Splinter loved him unconditionally.

Those memories are worth more than any of his skills or inventions.

Right back at you! <3

[imagionationstation]

HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON

So you're telling me that Karai has been missing since before the Kraang took over. So around four months of the Foot searching for her. And they have been unable to find her all this time.

Then Donnie comes into town, does a couple of nerdy updates, and finds her within one search. Finds her twice after she runs off the first time. And how do the Foot capture her?

By following the turtles. Not even the turtles.

Scrap Leo, Raph, and Mikey.

Donnie was the one to track her down.

Very easily, I might add. Which is why I am baffled.

I will never understand why there isn't a single episode where the Foot don't go "huh maybe kidnapping Donatello and trying to force him to serve us is a good idea" LIKE C'MON. SHREDDER. WTHECK MAN

[justsomeskullkid]

i have a problem because i have very specific thoughts about donnie and casey and their trauma and how theyd react to it but i cant share them with the world because i'll seem like a crazy person and a freak

[imagionationstation]

Son of a Tiger AU: First Contact

"April! Casey!" He's pretty sure they fell back through this hole. He feels bad leaving Splinter on the surface, but the glowy vortex and shocked screams required his attention now that the Foot had retreated. "You guys okay? Are you-"

"We're fine!" April announces as Leo pulls his grapple back. They're running up to him, and behind them is- "And we made a friend!"

It's a turtle.

"You're a mutant," Leo blurts, cringing inwardly directly after. "I mean- I mean you're a-"

"I know, I know." He's running his hand over the portal. "Mutant turtle, shock and awe, but why don't we focus on the- oh."

He turns and they lock eyes.

"Hi," Leo says, waving his three-fingered hand. The turtle is looking around and behind him, which is kind of offensive, considering Leo is struggling to tear his gaze away. "I'm Leo."

"I'm..." The turtle groans airily. "Going to be in so much trouble."

He goes to untangle the wires around his chest, and April offers, "His name is Toshi. He helped us get rid of the worms and stopped us from getting sucked into the portal. Really saved our butts."

"He's got a knack for the Kraang stuff." Casey grins like it's a personal brag. "Like Mikey but nerdier."

Toshi is searching around his feet.

Leo steps forward, "Do you need help?"

"I think my clothes were taken by the portal," He mutters, giving him a side-eye. "I really liked that jacket to..."

"Your... clothes?" Casey asks, rearing back. "Does that mean you're naked right now?! Gross!"

"It's uncomfortable to fight in them with the shell." He snaps back, putting disgruntled hands on his hips. It's then that Leo sees the technical gun holsters, strapped running over his shoulders and down his plastron, securing the guns at either side. The leather is a similar color to his plastron. "Besides, I'm not more naked than he is."

"I'm wearing gear," Leo points out. Toshi rolls his eyes, "Right, because those elbow pads are the highlight of modesty."

Leo blinks blankly, and he only shakes his head, "Nevermind. Doesn't matter."

They sit in awkward silence for a moment.

"You- uh... You helped my friends," Leo says finally. "Thanks."

"Yeah, well," He looks at the portal. "I didn't intend to. When I started investigating the earthquakes, I didn't think-" He gestures thoughtfully, "Alien brains. Alien worms."

"Who could've?" Leo steps a bit closer, trying not to come off as eager. "But you still chose to stop them."

"I'm going to be here a little while," The mutant admits, looking deep in thought. "Better make sure this city stays intact until..." He glances at Leo, and he can see the uncertainty blossom. "I should go."

"Wait!" April blurts, "You should stay! There are others-"

"That's okay." Toshi says quickly. "I don't like groups."

"It's a very small group." Casey pushes. "Of mutant turtles, like you! You'll want to meet them-"

"I really, really don't-"

"No, no, you do-"

"I don't!" He shouts, voice pitching. "I don't want to meet them! I'm not supposed to be with him, much less his brothers!"

Leo feels like he's been dunked in water. "Do you- does that mean- you knew about us? You've known about us? But how- and from who-"

Leo reaches out, and the turtle suddenly has a gun pointed at his chest. The leader throws his hands in the air and steps back rapidly. Sharp brown eyes are narrowed, finger over the trigger.

"Woah, there's no need for that." April tries to soothe, hands patting the air reassuringly. "Trust us, Toshi-"

"I just met you." He snaps. "You're welcome for the assistance, but I have somewhere I'm supposed to be. So let me go."

"We're not trying to keep you here," Leo insists. "We just... My brothers and I... have never seen another mutant turtle before. Like us. Like you. Can't we talk?"

"I have nothing to say to you." He says quickly. "Now I'm going to walk out of here, and you're going to let me."

"Okay," Leo promises, "You're free to go."

He makes it a few paces away, before he turns and sprints into the tunnel. Leo watches his carapace until he disappears.

Casey says, "That was a bummer."

April muses, "More like suspicious."

They look to Leo.

His eyes are wide.

"I need to talk to Splinter."

[imagionationstation]

Growing up with a man who hates his sister because she betrayed him and cut off his tail surely won't affect your view of biological family, would it? Especially if you find out that the reason the tiger found you abandoned is because your "father" lost track of you and then left you behind and escaped an enemy with your brothers leaving you for dead?

Nahhhhh it'll be fine