Chapter 6: Concerns…
Master Splinter wasn’t ignorant when it came to fathering his sons.
Students aside, he was still their father no mater what. He could still recall that he did have plenty of trouble of having raising his four children as they were growing up the last 16 years.
And to be honest he felt those years skimmed quickly, and like all fathers, he had wished multiple times in his life that they would never grow.
Only about near a year ago when they rose up in the surface and had gotten involved in a quick fight against a street gang.
Along with Stockman’s inventions to rodent problems… Since then their lives had greatly changed, especially since they met April and Casey afterwards.
To a sense there are times he would wish that there was more that he could do, but there is a time where he, like all fathers, had to let them go.
And he could never be prouder of the children he raised. Even though there are a couple of instances that could use a couple of tweaking, it wasn’t something that was never settled in the past.
And each of them had their own strengths and weaknesses along the way, the one thing he could be grateful for is the fact that they all could cover the fourth’s noticeable tracks.
Although his children had grown within the years, the youngest still retained his pure child instincts since then.
And by that logic he knew more than anything that something was wrong with Michelangelo is when the youngest didn’t go on eating his ’precious’ junk food stored in the cupboard. Or not even thinking about taunting and playing his unusual pranks on his brothers.
And as far as Raphael has been the tempered one, the ninja master knew instantly he had to check on his youngest son, since clearly yesterday’s training wasn’t just a fluke.
He moved his way until he was right outside of the young turtle’s room.
“Michelangelo?” He called out softly standing outside of the room.
What sounded like a crash quickly alerted the rat, but footsteps followed after and the orange banded turtle was outside in an instant, sweat covered his face as it dripped down his cheek.
“Is something wrong my son?” Splinter asked his hands over his wooden staff.
“N-No, why would anything be w-wrong?” The young turtle asked, the few stuttered words didn’t do any good for Michelangelo.
His white brow rose up in expectance, and more sweat had decided to run down the side of his son’s green face.
“Nothing wrong, I can-” The young turtle paused when Master Splinter gave him a serious expression.
“May I come in?” The teacher asked, he could see his son shift even more uncomfortably but he didn’t prevent the rat from walking inside.
Splinter sighed and moved inside the messy room, which he had to tighten his mouth slightly when saw a couple of comic books scattered on the ground. There was a couple of potato chip bags and candy wrappers scattered around on the floor.
The master contemplated that his son needed to clean his room more than ever, he faced the young turtle and he could see his son shift in a much more nervous notion.
“Care to explain what is going on my son.” He sated, making sure to avoid it being a question.
The orange banded turtle obviously felt uncomfortable now and he felt like he needed to leave.
“I, uh, I just remembered I think I recall Don asking me to help him with an experiment.” His sky eyes shifted uncomfortably.
“Donatello is out scouting with Raphael right now.” The rat countered and by then Mikey just felt like he had to give up.
“My son…” The rat slowly moved near the sea-green turtle. “Obviously what may have happened to you has effected you deeply.” He started already making the younger mutant look at him in surprise.
“You had been decreasing your effort in your training and you suddenly lost interest in toying around with Raphael and even playing your video games the last few days.” The mutant master instantly saw Mikey shift a bit in his feet.
Splinter knew something was up. “Michelangelo keeping in uncomfortable secrets is something that is not recommended especially since there is obviously a hole inside the bag.” The rat knew that this time the usual scattered minded turtle understood that, since Mikey lowered his head.
The orange banded turtle’s arms quivered slightly, and he was obviously debating whether or not he should tell him.
Knowing what was best, he placed a hand a on his son’s shoulder.
“Whether you are ready or not share whatever may burden you feel free to come speak to me. After all I do not like to see my children suffer regardless of the situation.” Master Splinter added, and he could see the relief in Michelangelo’s eyes.
“Thank you Master…” There were some hesitance.
And just by seeing the flash of emotion that occurred in the young one’s face, obviously something didn’t exactly sit right with him at the moment.
“I’ll make sure to put that on a sticky note.” The young one tried to joke, but even that wasn’t enough to change the mood.
And unfortunately that was the most that the rat had been able to get out of his young son before he left the rather unorganized room.
Worry was still pent up in Master Splinter’s system, and he was rather a patient rat to a fault.
Now the mutant rat would be lying if he said he didn’t want to get a response right now… but he was not one to force out an answer from his sons or welcomed friends.
But he felt if what ever has happened to Michelangelo something might occur unexpectedly; what troubled him the most from that was whether it would be a negative or a positive. And he doubted it was a positive…
However he knew it was best to wait it out for a bit for now.
And even though Michelangelo may not be as stubborn as Leonardo when it comes to holding a burden or a secret on his shoulders more than he could; Michelangelo sure was difficult to come around.
The good news is that the youngest of the turtles is not the best liar.
He had continued his way to the kitchen feeling some spice tea would help him settle his thoughts, along with some spiritual meditation.
Splinter had been making his way when he noticed Leonardo ahead, holding onto what seemed to be a small wooden box in both hands.
The eldest of the turtles noticed him and made a quick nod of greeting.
A small inch of curiosity piped inside the rat’s mind and he walked over to the leader of the turtles slowly.
“Hello my son.” He greeted.
“Hello father.” Leonardo did the same.
It was quick and simple, but a hello that did have it’s own meaning between them. Remembering what Splinter was curious about in the first place, he motioned his brown eyes at the small wooden box.
“What do you have inside there Leonardo?”
Leo briefed his eyes at the box before back at the ninjutsu master.
“Oh just something that Don asked me to bring to his lab when he returns from his scouting.”
Splinter could hear his son’s voice cracked for a split second, it was faint and quickly covered that he almost did not notice.
Something irked the rat’s senses, but upon looking at the sincere look in the blue banded turtle’s face; he settled his slight jerk of nerves down from any type of mild suspicion. The mutant rat trusted Leonardo was telling the truth as he has never lied to him to begin with. Maybe hold off explaining to him of any burdens Leonardo held, but never lied to him.
Another simple nod and Splinter made his way towards the kitchen, he quickly grabbed the kettle from one of the cupboards and began to brew his tea.
*I can only hope that my sons are alright and healthy.* He thought to himself before adding the fresh herbs to the boiling water.
Right now seemed the perfect time to meditate this over.
