"Wake Up!!"
This was supposed to be for TickleTober last year, but I am bad at keeping track but I'm still proud of this and want to share.
Also this is my first tickle fic in like years so apologies for the quality.
Lee: Splinter
Ler: Little Mikey
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Hamato Yoshi blinked wearily awake, sleep barely leaving him. Well, If he could even call it sleep. It was more akin to his body passing out in exhaustion after 4 days of no sleep. Nightmares plagued him once more, and he was once again paying the price. Joy.
"What time is it?" He muttered and glanced over to the Clock he managed to find. 15 minutes passed 8. That was extremely late for him, He'd be waking his boys by now. Splinter sighed. Yet he'd kill for a few more moments of sleep. The rat felt his Eye lids droop low again, if just for 10 more minutes. Then he'd get up. Just...a few more peaceful minutes. His children were 7 now, and they....usually knew better. His ears tuned into the sounds of the lair. He could hear the TV playing some childish show as well as the chatter of his sons. They knew the rules, they could survive 10 more minutes without him. Yes...just...10 more minutes.
With that, Splinter closed his eyes once more and let out a soft sigh. Slowly his breath started to even out and his body relaxed. In...Out....In....Out....In...Out.
"Papa?" A whispered voice came from the other side of the screen that almost made him jump. Splinter didn't respond, hoping the little voice would leave him be.
It didn't.
The screen door opened, and he heard footsteps softly walk over to him. "Papa?" The voice tries again. Ah, it was Michaelangelo. It'd make sense that his youngest would check on him, but he really hoped his son would grow bored and just go back to playing his brothers. However, the rat was getting increasingly unlucky.
"Papa..." Michaelangelo sounded annoyed, and Yoshi could just picture that adorable pout on his face before he felt tiny hands try and shake him. "Papa Wake up!" It took Splinter some willpower to not laugh at his son's adorable antics. Ah, a part of him wanted to "wake up" just to scoop in his arms to hug him, but a more prominent part said to just stay quiet, and the child will leave.
"If you don't get up....I'll punish you!" Michaelangelo said that with such confidence, mimicking his own words whenever he went to wake his sons. Usually, Raphael or Donatello. Splinter felt the covers being Slowly pulled off him, a slight chill but still he didn't stir.
"Last chance Papa. Wake. Up." This boy was so stubborn yet so so amusing. Once again Yoshi repressed another laugh as he felt the son's eyes bore into his soul.
And then the poking started.
Something Yoshi was still coming to terms with about his new body was the fact it was surprisingly very sensitive. Not that he didn't have his weak spots as a human, but at least he built up a little immunity. Here and now...there was none. His son's small pokes focused close to his sides, itchy but bearable. Splinter breathed deeply to ignore the sensation but then his son started touching his ribs and Splinter refrained from jolting. A more sensitive spot. He felt laughter start to bubble inside his chest threatening to burst like a fizzy soda. The wise master fought the feeling down, yet it was getting increasingly hard. Honestly Splinter was shocked he was this sensitive, another curse with his mutation. He heard another huff of frustration from his child before he felt the poke to his stomach.
He jolted.
It was something that was very involuntary, but he hoped his son didn't notice. Yet then he heard a gasp, before he felt spidering fingers across his stomach.
Damn it.
"Michaelangelo!" Yoshi couldn't hold back those chuckles that bubbled up inside him. Of course, His stomach was his most sensitive spot. He vaguely remembered a few pokes from childhood that would make him burst into giggles, and if he was honest with himself, He didn't exactly hate this. Yes, this was silly and childish, but after days of insomnia and nightmares this was honestly what he needed. To laugh away with the pain and fear his mind plagued him with. Between his laughter, the rat's sensitive hearing picked up Michaelangelo's own giggles. Bubbly and bright as his youngest himself. Opening one of his eyes, he saw just how excited and happy his son was making him laugh. Then their gazes met.
"Hi Papa!" Michealangelo said excitedly before climbing onto his hips. Splinter couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hello my son."
"Are you gonna get up now?" It was such an innocent question. One he should have responded with 'Yes I shall'. Yet that playful side of him, a side of him he was somewhat ashamed of woke up with a vengeance and he didn't stop that silly smirk from etching its way on his face.
"Hmmmm....No." And he closed his eyes once again, a chuckle rumbling through his chest as he heard his child's gasp. Then he heard a huff.
"You asked for this!" The boy declared, most likely mimicking someone on his cartoons, and went right back to tickling. Yoshi fell back into laughter, one hand lightly covering his mouth and the other clutching his kimono. He would admit, Michealangelo was very good at tickling which surprised him knowing he was often the one being tickled, either for being "annoying" or just because. It took a bit of willpower, but Splinter kept himself still. Half because he feared moving could hurt his youngest and half....well
Plainly because he found was having fun.
Truly, when was the last time he laughed like this? If ever? The master could not pinpoint a time even as a human. That was…honestly very depressing when he thought about it. However, that thought left him when he felt the tickling fingers hit where his belly button used to be and a strangled noise came from him. His laugh seemed to rise in pitch. He probably looked so stupid.
“MichaelangelOHOHOHO!!!” Looks like a sweet spot was found. His ears picked up another strange sound and his son almost squealed. His fingers stopped momentarily giving him a small reprieve, letting him fill his lungs with much needed air. The master gave his son a confused look on why he suddenly stopped? Yoshi could have sworn he saw stars in his little one’s eyes. Usually that meant mischief was coming.
“Papa you chirped!” He giggled. Yoshi took this time to catch his breath but the child's words sank in. Those sounds…were him. The master felt himself heat up in embarrassment and his fur fluffed up in response. He chirped? He could do that?! If he was anyone else, he’d bury his face in his hands. Yet, he found he could not look his son in the eyes due to his fluster. This new knowledge played over and over in his head. Splinter barely registered the worried “Papa?” before he felt the tickly fingers return which jolted him out of his mind and back into laughter.
“Cheer up Papa! I think your chirps are cute!” He appreciated his son's praise but all it did was make him more embarrassed. Yet that feeling seemed to drift as he allowed himself to get lost in the feeling of laughing with no care. It felt freeing. Relieving. For a brief moment, he didn't have to be the serious and calm sensei his sons knew him as most of the time. He could just be a father, laughing and playing with his son. Yoshi soaked in this strange affection he was given.
His heart was beating, his sides were starting to hurt, his lungs took in all the air they could. Usually, intense training was the cause if not a fight. The fact that this was caused by something so playful and safe…it relaxed him enough to let his guard down. In these silly playful moments, He could just…be.
Soon Splinter found he had his fill from the affection so that's when he moved. In the blink of an eye he sat up, startling his playful captor, and without thought he pulled him close. Soft laughs still coming from him. Michaelangelo made a squeak sound, yet Yoshi felt him curl up in his arms, his head over his chest. There was silence as Father and Son just cuddled close, enjoying the carefree atmosphere surrounding them. When there was slight movement, Splinter looked down into the bright baby blue eyes of his child.
“Good Morning Papa.” He said with a smile. The rat couldn't help but smile back.
“Good morning my Michaelangelo.” He said warmly and gave the boy a nuzzle, making him laugh as he assumed his whiskers tickled him. Ah such a sweet sound, Yoshi was tempted to return the tickles that were given, however a new sound caught him off guard.
“Sensei?” A quiet yet calm voice came from outside his room, and looking up Splinter saw his older three sons staring in with curiosity and a little jealousy.
“Ah my sons, Good morning.” He said with a little smile. Leonardo and Donatello smiled back but Raphael looked at him with suspicion.
“Sensei we heard you laughing, What’s so funny?” He asked with his arms crossed. His cool colored children looked like they had the same question. Yoshi, for all his quick thinking skills, found he could not come up with a good or convincing lie. He knew he did not laugh often, and when he did it was his usual ‘hehehehe’. So, what could he say that would not force him to reveal his sensitivity and allow him to keep some dignity.
“I told papa a funny story.” Michaelangelo's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Oh his sweet child came to his aid, he was getting a cookie later.
“Yes, a very funny story.” Splinter said with a little smile down to his youngest. His older three looked suspicious still.
“Okay…What’s the story?” Donnie asked but Michaelangelo pouted in response.
“Not telling!” Oh yeah, this child was definitely getting a cookie.
As his sons began to bicker amongst themselves over this relatively small manner, Yoshi smiled warmly at the sound. He doubted his sons believed Michaelaneglo’s little tale but that bought him time to come up with a better one. Yet he could not help but feel his eyes become heavy again. All that laughing was enjoyable yet draining. Without realizing it, he let out a large yawn and his children looked at him in slight shock.
“Sensei? Are you OK?” Leo asked with worry in his voice. Splinter just gave his children a guilty smile.
“My apologies boys, I…have not been sleeping well.” He said and his children looked even more shocked, then the older three rushed over to him.
“Sensei get some sleep!!” Leonardo
“Yeah, You'll be even crankier than usual if you don't!” Raphael
“Sleep is healthy! That's what you always say!” Donatello.
His boy's concern for his sleep habits were heart warming yet he shook his head. He was the parent, not them.
“It is alright my sons, besides I must make you all breakfast.” He said beginning to move but he felt 8 hands try to push him back down.
“Papa go to sleep, We'll be ok!” Michaelangelo stared at him with intensity, actually all 4 of them were. Their stubbornness knew no bounds, something they inherited from him and while it was usually an annoying point today it was given a pass.
“....Alright, I shall sleep if it will make you all happy.” He smiled before a serious expression crossed his face. “Do not allow me to sleep past 9:45, understand?”
“Yes Sensei/Papa.” Was the unanimous answer. Splinter chuckled before letting Michaelangelo go and laying back on his sleep mat. His boys immediately “tucking” him in. A sweet gesture none of the less. One by one, he received some sort of affection from his children. A hug from Leonardo, a head pat from Raphael, a nuzzle from Donatello, and a forehead kiss from Michaelangelo.
“Nighty Night Papa!” His little one said but then he heard his smartest groan.
“Mikey it’s morning, You can’t say that!” Donatello lightly scolded him. Mikey pouted.
“What should I say then?”
“Tell him ‘Sleep well’ Dummy!” Splinter sighed at them and sat up a little before another fight could break out.
“Donatello, do not call your brother a “dummy”. Thank you Michaelangelo.” Mikey smiled at that, while Donnie pouted.
“Come on, let’s go watch TV.” Leo said, gently tugging his brothers out. Raph and Donnie went without issue, yet Mikey gave a smile and wave before leaving.
Yoshi watched as his door slid shut, and listened as his children went back to the main room. Their voices were soft, it made him smile as they were being respectful. Letting his head lean back, he let out another yawn as his eyes started to drift close. A paw rested over his chest and another chuckle left his mouth. Splinter felt a warm peaceful feeling inside of him. If he had to describe it, it would be like a hug.
As Splinter's mind drifted into dreams, a fleeting thought drifted by-
Could this maybe happen again?
