The night passed by as the two turtles slept mostly peacefully, only Mikey whimpering slightly as he dreamed.
Leo was awake before Mikey, waking almost the same time as the sun started to rise, used to a very strict routine.
He decided to forgo his usual morning training, he had something more important to do before anyone else would awaken.
Taking a deep breath he set up the blue candles he'd brought with him in a circle, lighting each one along with a stick of incense, before settling himself in the centre.
Usually there would be no way for someone to communicate instantly over such a long distance, but the council had their own mysterious ways. Slowing his breathing Leo concentrated on putting himself into deep meditation, clearing his head of everything but the person he needed to communicate with.
Slowly the world seemed to fall away. The sounds, smells and sensations of the physical world vanishing as he drifted further and further into the astral plain. Taking another breath Leo focused, concentrating on a familiar energy; his fellow mutant Donatello.
"Donnie?"
It took a few moments before the second energy came into focus, a slight purple hue overtaking the blank canvas that was the astral plane as Donatello joined Leonardo in mind but not body.
"Leo?"
At first there was only the voice, but slowly, as their metal bond grew stronger on both ends the form of his fellow mutant came into view. The other turtle having a small curious smile on his face. "The council didn't expect an update so soon, has something happened."
Leo thought for a moment, he wanted the others opinion on what he should do about Mikey. But he knew that Donnie would not take the news of a mutant slave very well.
"Donnie.....are you alone right now?"
"Yes. I haven't started working yet so we shouldn't be disturbed." It was known in the past for the engineer to slip into the trance while he worked on something he found to be mindless, only to be pulled out of it when someone spoke or if his inventions needed tending too.
Leo Remained silent for another moment so as to gather his thoughts before starting to speak. "I......I met another mutant......another turtle...."
He felt Donnie's aura brighten. "Leo that's wonderful. What his name? What's he like?"
When Leo didn't respond right away Donnie aura shifted, becoming confused. "Leo?"
Leo remained silent, mentally moving a little closer to as to comfort Donnie if he needed it. "He's a slave."
Donnie's aura turned slightly colder, clearly Donnie had taken the news to heart, like Leo thought he would. Out of everyone on the council he needed to hear Donnie's view and opinion on Mikey the most.
"A.a turtle slave." The statement was soft and sympathetic before the aura changed again, becoming stronger as Donatello steeled himself. "I take it that he is not treated well."
Leo shook his head. "No. Hes.......treated very poorly. But.......he's been assigned as my personal escort for the duration of my visit so.........Donnie.....I promise i'll treat him with respect. I won't harm him. I promise."
Donnie remained silent for a long time. Leo was painfully aware that Donnie was scanning his aura. After several moments Donnie spoke. "What's happened Leo?"
With a sigh Leo knew that he could not lie or soften what he had seen so far.
"As we expected, Mutants are not held in any position of importance. Save for the slaves, I have seen only one other mutant hold a higher position in the settlement."
It was not something that surprised him, other human rulers had been allowed into the council in that position, but... "I'm sure Saki rules his kingdom through fear. He held a feast in my honour, but I could see how people looked at him, like they were worried of upsetting him or scared he would punish them."
Donnie remained silent, nodding as he listened. "That would fit with what I've heard."
"Donnie...... the slave I spoke of, Michelangelo.... He's told me that he is beaten. And..." Leo stopped to consider how he would word the next part.
This was the thing that had worried him enough to contact Donnie this early in his mission, he would trust his friends advice over anyone else's.
"He, pleasured me... I think he that he thought I would... I'm not sure how to deal with him without getting him hurt, or giving him the wrong Idea."
Donnie's aura instantly darkened at that. When Donnie spoke next his voice was cold and filled with hints of anger. "Tell me what happened Leonardo. EVERYTHING."
Leo flinched slightly, noting that Donnie had used his full name, something he only did when he was mad.
Slowly and carefully Leo told Donnie what had happened in the bathhouse, trying to remember exactly how Mikey had worded things, and the slaves reactions, knowing that Donnie would understand them deeper than Leo was able to grasp.
As he spoke, Donnie was deadly silent, his darkened aura looming over him and only seeming to turn colder that more he learned.
Once he finished, telling how he had instructed Mikey to move into his quarters so he could watch him more closely, he waited for his friend to let it all sink in.
Donnie remained silent for several minutes, seeming to struggle with what he'd learned. When Donnie finally did speak his tone was cold and barely contained his anger. "He's been brainwashed. They beat him and raped him and then made him thank them for it. That's why he was so concerned with finishing. In his mind that's part of why he was assigned to you. Because you're important and he's supposed to serve you."
Leo nodded. "But.....but I don't want him too."
Donnie shook his head. "That.....might not be entirely up to you. The way they've brainwashed him. If.....if you reject him to much he might think he's done something wrong. He might......punish himself.......that would be......BAD."
as Donnie spoke he shifted, his right hand unconsciously moving to rub his left arm where his skin was scarred and twisted by several large burns. Taking a deep breath he forced himself to keep speaking. "I'm not saying all the time.....but.........there may be times where.......you'll have to let Mikey......service you. Or it could make him become unstable."
"It feels wrong to let him do those things to me. He performs like a machine, like he can completely detach himself from what he thinks needs to be done... I can allow him to do it if you think he needs to."
"I don't know if I can bring myself to... Punish him. If he feels he has deserved it." Leo admitted, knowing that it would be expected of him as a Master. He gave a sympathetic look as he saw his friends hand played against his scars. "I can't believe how cruel they can be to another living thing... If I can I want to take Mikey away from this abuse."
Donnie remained silent again. Leo could tell his close friend was struggling with all this. Shifting a little closer Leo reached out, gently wrapping his fingers around Donnie's as he waited for a response.
"Be.......be gentle. Don't.....don't treat him like some faceless pleasure machine. Talk to him. Touch him. Maybe.......reciprocate his affections if he seems amenable to it. Treat him like a living being. Not a slave."
Leo nodded, noting his Donnie's hands were shaking. "As for punishing him.........punishment depends on his Master. Since that's you......anything you deem as a punishment will work. You could make him do pushups or read poetry and hed do it."
Donnie shifted, looking at him. Leo felt his heart twist as he found Donnie's face was a mixture of pain, anger and sadness. "Ill work on finding a way to help him from here. There's got to be some law or rule that would allow you to take him when you leaves."
"I understand Donnie... And I'm sorry if this had brought back bad memories and feelings." He squeezed his friend's hand and leaned closer to kiss his forehead, he wished he could do more to comfort him, but they were limited whilst in the astral plane.
"I would never treat Mikey like anything other than a living thing. I doubt he has ever known love, but perhaps I can offer him friendship." Leo knew that he would have to be careful, it would be easy to send Mikey the wrong signals, but he would do his best to be a kind Master.
"Was it selfish of me to ask for advice from you?" He hated feeling how dark and angry his friends aura was, feeling guilty for making him feel that way when he wasn't there to comfort him personally.
"You are living proof that things can change, Donnie. I'll do everything in my power to make sure Mikey is treated well while he's in my care." He promised, his own aura clearly showing the truth and power behind his words.
Slowly Donnie looked at him. "I know Leo. I know you'll take care of him. Just........please...........be gentle. He's.....he's probably only been touched when he's in trouble. So..........be gentle."
Leo watched as Donnie took another deep breath, his sides shaking slightly as he did so. After another moment Donnie spoke. "Th-thank you for.......talking to me about this. It means.....a lot"
"It's a sensitive subject I know... But I would trust your advice on this more than anything."
For a moment their eyes met and a silent understanding passed between them.
"Hopefully we can find a way to free him as well... Until then I promise to treat him right. You've been a big help, Donnie. I really appreciate this."
"There is no way Saki will get into the council. I won't let him get away with this."
Donnie nodded. "Thank you Leo."
Leo shifted, leaning in and planting a gentle kiss against Donnie's cheek. "I'll keep you updated. Ok?"
Donnie nodded. "Thank you."
Slowly Leo let himself come back to reality, drifting away from the astral plane after exchanging goodbyes with Donatello.
When he awoke from his trance the sunrise was still shining through his window, letting him know that the rest of the kingdom would probably be waking up soon.
Automatically his eyes searched for Michelangelo.
A moment later Leo felt his eyes widen. Michelangelo was on his knees, kneeling in front of him with his face almost flat against the floor. In the back of his mind Leo wondered, how long had Mikey been kneeling like this? "Michelangelo?"
Without looking up the smaller turtle spoke. "I'm sorry Master. I-i should have been ready to serve when you awoke."
Leo bit his lip. "It's......it's ok. You wouldn't know that I get up early."
Mikey remained kneeling. "I.......i'm sorry to have disappointed."
The way he was speaking; let could tell Mikey was expecting to be punished. Sighing softly Leo spoke. "Look at me."
Shakily Mikey moved, his head coming up to look at his Master while he mentally prepared himself to be punished. He watched as his Master stood up before reaching out to touch his shoulder.
"I'm not angry Michelangelo. However I am a little hungry. Would you kindly accompany me to the dining hall for breakfast?"
Michelangelo blinked before nodding slowly, a wave of relief passing through him. Slowly getting to his feet Michelangelo moved, holding open the door for his Master before slowly following towards the dinning hall.
