#ruralau

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

Okay let's try again- aauaueueeyu

Cw for blood and arguing!

This is heavily inspired by late night ramblings about rural au with @angelpuns about the village drabbles!

Let's hope this works-

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 13

Part 12 , next

This au is owned by @angelpuns, Aya belongs to me this is a fan work of the au! The au is really cool so go check them out!

Tw/cw: panic, fire, violence, vivid descriptions of gaining a concussion, fighting with intent to harm

I think that's all the warnings needed?

The village only had one soup kitchen, open from mid morning to an hour after sunset. Manned by one, great ino san. A small green furred yokai, well respected among his peers. The man had many customers, some annoying, some kind, some needing a good whack with a stick.

But every night he has one person, not a customer but a guard. As soon as he closes up and starts sweeping he hears it, hoof on wood knocking. He doesn't have to turn around to see who it was. "Aya"

"Aye boss." The goat yokai turns and faces away from the shop, looking amongst the dying lanterns on the two tables outside the shop.

He grabs a bowl and pours the leftover soba and sets it on the counter.

Aya glances at it once then twice before looking away from it. "I can't pay."

"Aya, eat. You work every night when I close up. It will waste anyway" he scolds before going back to sweeping.

She glances at it again before hesitating and then she grabs it, lifting it to her snout and drinking it, turning her head back.

Aya chews the noodles and sets it aside. "Thank you…it was very good.." she lets out a satisfied sigh as her head thumps against the wood.

"Oh please, it was seasoned completely wrong." Ino san rolls his eyes.

Aya shrugs and glances around slightly. "I think it was seasoned good.."

"Do you know what seasonings are?" He turns to look at her before sighing and walking to the back slightly.

Aya watches the shadows before flinching at the soft tok sound of a bowl on the counter.

Ino san looks at him. "Aya, watch me"

Aya turns her head away to watch the wooden fence. "Boss-"

"Aya" his tone switches to something stern. Aya tenses and slowly turns to look at him then at two bowls of water. "...."

"Watch" Ino San adds seasonings to the two bowls. "Watch the color"

Aya looks away. "Ahm supposed to be watchin-"

"Aya I want you to watch the color of the water" Ino San states, she turns back to watch.

Her ears slowly raise when the colors change two different colors. She couldn't tell what color they were, she just liked them.

"Try them" Ino San nudges them forward.

"can't p-"

"It's water I don't want you to pay" Ino San nudges them again.

Aya takes a sip of one and smiles, her tail wiggling slightly "i like tat one" she sets it down before trying the other. "Tis one tastes good too, like the soba ya gave me"

"See how different they taste? One is wrong and one is proper" Ino San smiles as Aya nods. Aya smiles "aye wish i could cook"

"Tell you what, you learn the difference between right and wrong tasting soba and I'll teach you how to make it, deal?" Ino San crosses his arms and smiles.

Aya lights up "really?...for real?...deal! Deal! No take backins!"

"Wouldn't dream of it, unless you burn the shop down" he lightly scolds.

Aya nods and smiles before standing guard, when Ino San finished the two went separate ways.

This was like clock work, as soon as Ino San closed she popped up, she never came during the day and never when there was a customer. On nights it was raining, on clear nights, snowy nights.

One night Ino San had his last customer leave when Aya comes running, stumbling down the pathway before running over. She slipped on some mud and hit the side of the shop with a loud thump and a shout as something definitely popped.

Ino San whips his head around "Aya!? Don't break the damn shop- what are you even-"

Aya barely dodged when a dog yokai slams his fist right where her head was, cracking the wood. Aya kicks his leg out from under him and she stands guard over the open doorway of the shop, tugging a rope and causing the wooden shutters to slam over the counter, concealing Ino San in.

Ino San grabs the stick from under the counter and runs out the door as Aya lunges at the dog yokai, the dog yokai stumbles into the table and knocks over a lantern, setting the dry summer grass on fire.

Ino San's eyes widen as he hits the fire with the stick, Aya tussling to the ground with the dog yokai. She let out a guttered growl as she slams the yokai's head to the ground. "You will NOT!"

Ino San rushes back into the shop to fetch water as two more yokai, a cat and a alligator rush Aya, the gator tumbling with her and rolling into the wooden fence.

Aya let's out a shout of pain as her hurt arm hits the wooden fence. She lifts her head only for it to be slammed back down by the Gator's claws.

She huffs and grunts as she pushes her palms against the grass, feeling the sun in her eyes as the hand squeezed her head. She felt like his hands could crush her skull.

She looks to the side and her eyes widen realizing it wasn't the sun but the entire yard on fire, the sun having had set already.

Her breathing quickens as she saw the look on Ino San's face, the fear…the panic. How the fire casted shadow across his face, the horrible mix of yellow light and green fur.

"B-bo-" she strained as she tries to talk, the force of her head being held to the boss making it hard to talk. She growls and swings, elbowing the gator in the face.

The gator winces and let's out a throated hiss before grabbing her head and slamming it against the ground, she swore she could feel her brain disconnect as the world spun. She slowly blinks once, twice. And then she became very aware of how the three yokai were gone, the soba shop on fire, the tables cooking to a nasty charcoal. She slowly sits up hearing ringing in her ears as hot tears bubbled up and the wave of pure guilt crashed over, swallowing her whole.

She slowly rose to her feet, looking around for the smaller yokai. "Boss!" She shouts as a crowd had gathered. She couldn't see who they were from the smoke and flames.

She looks around, listening to the crackling of the fire, her ears feeling singed as she backs away from the rising flames. Hot tears staining her already warm fur as she backs up. Her eyes scanning for green.

She looks at the shop and without hesitation she ran for it, stumbling on broken charred tables, wincing as the flames lap at her legs.

She grabs the doorframe to help herself slide into the shop, looking around as her eyes burn from the heat and brightness. "Boss!" She shouts, hearing the roaring of the fire, the crackling of it.

She. Starts overturning anything that wasn't already on fire, hearing cracking from above. Her ears drop as she looks up, quickly moving back as a support beam falls. She looks around and at the door, the haunting realization that she couldn't get back out.

So she did the only thing she thought was reasonable, she pulled the crate of seasonings to a corner under the counter Ino San prepared everything and curled up, laying her body over the seasonings. "I'm sorry..I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry.."

It was dawn before the fire went out, Ino San surveying the damage as the village guards usher the last stragglers away. He uses his stick to push around the broken wood, the air smelling of burnt wood and grass.

The devastation was immeasurable..but he would pick it back up and try again. This was his livelihood.

He lifts up broken bowls and pots. He looks over the burnt ingredients. Everything was burnt, everything was destroyed. He sighs heavily, not allowing himself to cry.

He closes his eyes and leans back, running his paw across his eyes before he hears a small whimper and the shift of bottles clinking together. He turns around to spot the young goat yokai, slowly lifting her head, her fur covered in black soot, his eyes red from the smoke. Her arms trembling as she pushed herself off the seasonings she had kept safe.

He stares at her, his eyes widening as he processes the sight in front of him. Aya looks at him tiredly before smiling weakly "I protected ta seasonins boss…"

Ino San slowly walks over, putting a hand to her fur and gently wipes away the soot around one eye. "Aya..that was completely reckless!" He scolds, he had every right to raise his stick to her but his gaze softens seeing her weak smile and how she holds back hiccups as tears fall down her face.

Aya slumps back over the seasonings "I tried so hard…I failed you"

Ino San sighs. "Get up Aya. We got cleaning to do."

Aya slowly looks at him with confusion before nodding. "Okay…" she didn't hesitate, this was her job.

"You did good protecting…but I did tell you if you burnt down my kitchen!" He points a finger at her. She stares before frowning "no learnin to cook?"

"Nope, you are grounded" he scolds and starts picking up the pieces of his shop. Aya stands up and with weak knees she starts picking up the heavier stuff. The morning was quiet, and the mess was plenty. But they could handle it.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

I DID IT! ITS LIKE 3:30 AM BUT I DID IT! AHAHAHA!!

I FINISHED IT BOSS MAN!!

@angelpuns

GRANDPA FLINT AND SPLINTER BACK AT IT IN THE KRISPY KREME

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 4

Part 3 , part 5

Rural au, once again, by the amazing @angelpuns

Tw: this short contains descriptions of late stage hyperthermia and brief hints at death during a talk

My husband has 3 rules during the winter. "Wear warm clothes, don't drink or eat anything cold, and do not walk outside unless you can see light".

Well, one fine winter my husband fell sickly ill, along with my youngest. Not only where they on my mind so where the young turtles, little Leo would wander from the rest, Mikey as excited as ever to be in town, so much so his eyes where a guide that never stayed on path...little Donnie whose own body couldn't stand on its own and little raph as head strong as a bull.

The last thing I remembered before stepping into the snow storm was shoving my feet in my boots, I had no time for socks. Throwing on my coat, I had no time for layers. The slam of the door as the wind argued it's point against me, but I would not listen. I was out of medicine and time.

Then there was cold, and wind, and white everywhere. I couldn't see more than two feet ahead, we didn't have many storms in the winter.

I could barely make out lights of lanterns inside houses, stumbling as my feet sunk into the snow. At some point I remember tripping a lot, feeling like hands were grabbing at my ankles, wrapping around my boots.

I don't remember much, but I do remember hearing shouting not far from me. I remember when the cold started to warm. And then it got hotter...and hotter. My cloak was too warm, I was wearing too much. I would roast in this weather.

I remember just barely pulling off my cloak before it got snatched right back over my head, a gruff and angered voice shouting at me to keep it on. Burning hot hands touching both sides of my face. "let go-!"

I don't even think I could hear my voice clearly, but I heard his just fine. "no! You are coming inside with me!" It was a demand, no room for argument, stomping of feet and creaking of wood I knew to be a porch, a specific porch with specific creaky spots.

I remember how i barely felt being lifted, I could barely feel the shoulder I was on if it wasn't for how warm it was. I barely remember the chatter of the turtle boys.

Then, time went past with every blink.

The bright of fire, the crackling, the burning feeling.

The way the kids looked as I kicked and fought their father over a blanket, shaking and biting. The way metallic tasted on my tongue as I snagged his hand.

I would blink again and I had a cup in one hand, Mikey's in the other, Splinter pulling away snow from my fur with gloves, tossing it into a bucket that Raph watched from behind. "I know it's hot, it's okay, let it burn. I know it's burning let it burn" I could barely feel the tears that froze to my face pulling off my fur.

I would blink again and now Donnie and Leo where at another side, rambling about some book from the market, Splinter's warm hands cupped around my ears. "Pay attention to those words Flint!" A snappy voice laced with anger and fear. A demand, a protest.

And then it was as if time got slower, the boys all curled up asleep and Splinter staring at me, sitting on the floor. "...your eyes. You paying attention?"

"mm.." i barely moved my head and the room was blurring again, tears building up.

"alright...keep...keep talking to me...keep on talking.." he got up and then I felt warm on the side of my face. I couldn't help the noise that came out, or the burning hot tears that flooded out afterwards.

"I know..I know it burns.."

"augh!" It felt like I was boiling from the inside and burning from the outside, the heat from the fire, the boys and Splinter was uncomfortable..even more uncomfortable once I saw my fingers move but I couldn't feel it.

"s-splin-..splin-ta-..I- I can't-" it felt like my throat was tightening, but Splinter sat beside me and pulled me into his side. He didn't say another word, not until my crying had stopped and all I could let out was Shakey breaths.

"...you really are an idiot..." Splinter spoke, not with anger but something I've never heard in his voice before.

"wh...what?" When I turned to look at him, his eyes were lost from reality...really...glossy and sad looking.

"why did you go out...? It's storming and you are little- not only that you-..you nearly froze-"

"...my family is sick..your boys c-could have gotten sick...I-i was out of medicine.." the shame flickered inside my chest, only to be drowned out but a laugh. One of both mockery and disbelief. Eyes wide and filled with shock in this human's eyes.

"Flint, you sound like a buddy of mine..." His voice was filled with anger and mournfulness. "you know, I was a soldier..." He starts, glancing to see if I was paying attention, of course I was. I could listen to him forever.

"...we had a mission, one day. It was snowing that day, we had to rescue our medics.." He went silent, then he shook his head slightly, blinking away at some thoughts that I would never get to hear. "...they got too warm, just like you. We didn't bring back our medics"

"...I don't...i-.." it clicked and the cold that washed over was worse than anything I had felt before. The more I think about it the more I realize I barely know Splinter. He's my neighbor, I help with his kids and he built me a pump for water. We learned to cook for our family, yet we never shared stories...well. I did, Splinter didn't.

There was more to him than I would ever understand, but...for now....

I felt him jump as I put my head against his side, moving my tail to cover his hand, situated in his own lap...now that I saw it, it was soaked, and trembling..or well I was trembling...but it was nothing compared to the slump that Splinter gave. One that meant he understood the gesture.

That no matter what I would always, be here to listen.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

Apologies for bad format (first time writing on Tumblr and I'm on mobile) and any bad English

Part 2!

This is set in rural au made by @angelpuns !!

It takes a village to raise a family: part 1

I've lived here for almost 58 years, me and my husband have been married for 65 years. In all my years I had never seen a human, until splinter arrived with 4 tots in toe. 4 turtles, each special in their own way. When one of the boys fell sickly, I'd make them dinner, round up my medicine and march my way to them. My husband always asked why I cared so much. "It's what I do, a father's job doesn't end at our own", I'd always say and he, always with a smile, opened the door with my coat in hand.

A few years went by and the human showed less to almost none, the kids grew fruit and were always the more noisy than before. A few shillings for their apples and in return a fresh pie. Once again my husband would ask "darlin, why did you make two extra pies". And of course I said, "it's what I do, a father's job doesn't end at our own".

I still remember the first day the human came up to my stall, a crying turtle in one arm and a sleeping one in the other. "Listen- before-...before you turn me away- I have the money, more than enough- I need-"

"help?" I grinned at the human, my head in my hands. I had watched as the yokai around us scittered away from the human as he walked around, gasping and spreading rumors of terror.

"don't be cheeky, racoon." He snapped before sighing. "Please..I don't know what is wrong."

"you may call me Flint, and here hand them over" I held out my hands and scooped up one of the crying ones. "What is his name?"

"uhm-...Purple- I mean- Donnie. He's been crying non stop for three days." The human looked exhausted, cradling the other one who now I can assume is named Blue.

With a quick examine over the tot I shifted his weight into one arm and used my foot to scoot a step stool to a drawer, clambering up I pulled open a drawer and dug around for a few items, setting a vial of pink, a cloth, and a spool of stretchy fabric on top. "Sit down splinter, before you drop the baby"

I heard the creak of wood behind me and then a thump, turning around to face the human rubbing his face. "...watch for the stall-"

"yeah, thanks" he snaps back before sitting in the chair by the trinkets, scaring away a goat yokai who wandered up.

I took the cloth and held it out to the human to take. "Dunk this in the bucket of water by the chair. I use that to clean the trinkets but for now it's all I have." Then I sat down with the vial, situating Donnie on his back. "So, tell me about the boys"

I swished the bottle around and uncorked the vial as the human explained the boys. Color coded and named after other humans. After the medicine was given to Donnie i took the rag and wiped across his face as gently as I could. "he has a fever, you need to keep the temperature down and a close eye on him. I don't have any medicine to send with you, all of it is at home with my husband."

"thank you.. for your kindness, I mean." Splinter held Leo against him as Donnie was handed back. I stood, grabbing the fabric and unwinding it. "Come here"

When Splinter looked dumbfounded I snatched him closer to me by the front of his shirt. "Let me get you wrapped up, this is a baby sling, I'll teach you so you can free your arms"

Splinter nods slightly, glaring while I situated the boys and started to secure them to the human with the fabric, Donnie on the front of his chest and Leo on the back as I secured them under the tail, wrapping over Splinter's shoulders and back around under his arms.

"there, now it should be secure but don't go getting in any fights or running with it." He only looked to me as I tied the knot behind Leo's back. "Now head out before it gets too dark."

When I got home that night my husband asked me. "Why did you help the human?" And I said, "it's what I do, a father's job doesn't end at our own"

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

Hey. Hey you. You should draw Grandpa Flint 🥺 /np but I wanna see him :)

Here have some out of context lore

With young grandpa Flint

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family: part 2

Part 1! , part 3

This is a story based in the rural au made by @angelpuns

It would be another two weeks before I saw the human again. My hands are weary and no longer strong like they once where, carrying my pale of water back to my stall proves difficult. I almost dropped it and fell if it wasn't for the human.

He caught the hand of the bucket and myself with his leg, keeping me from an even bigger mess.

"racoon, you should be more careful" he put my bucket down on the ground and helped me steady myself, even though I'm sure his back must hurt, I am rather small compared to him.

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you, splinter. The bucket was...heavier than expected." Looking up at him his face was unreadable. No wonder the other yokai are afraid of him.

"....I'll carry your bucket for you as payment for helping purple." He scooped up my pale and started walking. I couldn't help but smile as I followed after.

"how is Donnie doing?" I turn to face him only to get back a snide remark. "Your neck is going to break if you keep looking up at me"

"ha! I look up to people all my life, it wouldn't hurt to look more....are..are you dodging the question?.." worry filled my chest something I couldn't bear, a child that ill scared me relentlessly.

"he is doing much better..he was able to hold down his food after a few days." He smiles, only slightly. But he does. It's a funny thing people do, where they try to hide their emotions but sometimes it's easier to tell than they think.

The way Splinter drew his mouth back a little to hold back but failing even still only a little. It was a smile of relief. One I saw my own husband have once our oldest survived falling into the lake one day.

"I'm glad I could help...I only sell trinkets and small things but..if you ever need my help I'm here for you and the boys. The yokai weren't as welcoming to us either to start with" though my head held high, it hurt to not be welcomed.

"...how come"

"I was born in America and my husband was born here, he brought me back to here with him after we were discovered underground, I was new, a stranger to them." I caught myself twisting the wrist of my sleeve, letting my hands fall to my sides, however they had a mind of their own, clenching and unclenching.

It was silent the rest of the few minutes it took, as soon as the bucket was sat by my chair Splinter turned to face me.

"be careful next time." Splinter nods at me before he started his way back to his residence.

"wait...but that's out of town-..." I mumbled before turning to face him. "Wait-"

He lifted his hand, not even a second glance towards myself. "Couldn't bare to watch you struggle"

I couldn't help but smile at that...I couldn't help but smile more the day after the next when I sat on the river bank, debating to test the current's strengh before Splinter came over, wood in his arms and a few tools. "Let's make you a water pump, okay?"

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

Okay it took me uhhhh exactly... uhhhh 2 hours and 2 minutes

ALSO THE CLOAK IS HIS WINTER COAT

BUT GRANDPA FLINT FROM THE IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A FAMILY STORY!

From the RURAL AU @angelpuns