Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There once was a man named Hamato Yoshi.

I say once, for he is no longer one. He had a run in with mysterious men in an alley, and accidently got covered in a green, slime-like substance that took his human form away from him. He kept his wits and human posture; but his appearance was now one of a rat.

He wasn’t the only one changed by the substance. He had just bought four baby turtles from a nearby pet shop, when he saw the strange men go into the alleyway.
Those turtles were also affected by the goo as well; gaining human attributes (similar to those of newborns), but keeping their turtles shells and turtle-like appearance.
These four mutated turtles would become Yoshi’s adoptive sons. He had lost his previous family, and now he had a chance to start all over again. He named these new sons after some of his favorite renaissance artists: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. He loved these sons dearly. One could say he loved them more than life itself.

Although he had had encountered great dangers in the past involving his new family and the surface world, he couldn’t just leave them alone in their makeshift home in the sewers while he was off on supply runs for their basic necessities. They were too young for that. So, against his better judgement, he would oftentimes bring his sons with him on his trips to the surface; instructing them to stay close to him and stay out of the sight of the humans. And for the most part, it was a sound decision. The boys were always close by and never went to far from their sensei. They stayed out of sight of the humans, kept quiet, and were even helpful with finding things for both their survival and entertainment.

One day, when the boys were about 5, Hamato Yoshi (now going by Master Splinter) made a bold choice. He brought them to an old and abandoned playground; one surrounded by old and abandoned buildings. It was out of the sight of humans on the street and had a lot of room for his boys to play in. He told his sons to stay withing the area while he went to look for things they needed; to which the four sons all agreed to. Satisfied with this answer, Splinter left them to continue the trip.

This was the first mistake.

Once their sensei had departed, the four brothers debated on what to do. They could play on the playground equipment, but it was too old and rusty to work properly and would only last them so long. And they didn’t bring anything from home to play with instead. The youngest of the four brothers, wearing an orange mask and going by Mikey, suggested the game of Hide and Seek. With the game being simple enough to play and seemingly nothing better to do here, they all agreed.

Now it was a question of who was going to be it. The brother in the red mask, Raph, said he wanted to be it. The other brothers objected; saying it wasn’t fair when he was it. He was too good at seeking and would gloat about it. Raph tried to persuade his brothers otherwise; saying how he would go easy and count to 15 instead of 10. After some debate amongst the four brothers, and the increasing desire to start the game, the others gave in and let Raph be it. He turned his back to his brothers, covered his eyes, and started counting.

“1………. 2………. 3……….”

The other three scattered in all directions, trying to find a place to hide where the seeker couldn’t find them; or at least not for a long time. They had to make it a good place too, since Raph was it.

This is where the second mistake happened.

You see, the other three brothers (Leo, Donnie, & Mikey) didn’t quite stay exactly in the playground. There weren’t enough places to hide there, so they thought a bit outside the box. There were paths and alleys that lead to more hiding places; and the more places there are to hide, the better chance you have to win the game. And besides, if you’re able to retrace your steps back to where you were, you aren’t lost, are you? So, if they ever got board of waiting in their hiding place (or the noticed dawn was coming), then they could just come back to the abandoned playground whenever they wanted to. And if they didn’t see anybody there (or dawn was arriving), they knew their way home like the back of their hand! There was seemingly no problem in this logic.

It was a risk. Too much of a risk. A risk that would cost the family 10 of being separated from each other; and many more of trying to fix it to the way it was…

Chapter Text

Mikey wasn't the brightest of the four brothers; often picking the easiest of hiding spots, and often getting found first.

But this time, he's done it; he'd really really outdone himself this time! Going down one of the alleyways, connected to the old playground, there's a bush, right at the corner that connects the alley with the open street. Perfect. All the people on the street could dissuade Raph from even coming near his hiding spot; and could hence take him longer to find Mikey, and could have him win the game!

Without a second thought, Mikey ducks into the bush. The branches are a bit prickly; but it's not too bad. Plus, he has a perfect view of the humans walking by; and they have no chance of seeing him! This is the closest he's ever gotten to humans before!

Mikey sits quietly in the bush; watching the legs of humans and the brief glimpses of cars rush and wiz past his hiding spot. This is the closest he's ever been to humans. He kind of envy's them, in a way. Being able to walk around in the open; without worrying about their appearance, or being called a freak. He's wanted to be able to walk with and talk to humans for a while now; for as long as he can remember. It just didn't seem fair that he and his family should be shunned, and relegated to the shadows, just because they don't look human.

After what feels like a while to Mikey, sitting in his perfect hiding spot, he starts to get worried that it's too perfect......

What if he's too close to humans? What if Raph's already found the others; and their avoiding this place, because they could be seen by humans? What if Splinter has already come back; and they just think they lost him?! What if they've gone home already?! What if dawn comes, and he's still not found?!? What if he has to go home, all on his own?!? What if-

"Hello?"

A voice breaks into Mikey's panicked thoughts. He turns his head a little, and sees a pair of green eyes peering into the bush Mikey's hiding in. The voice is young and feminine; something he doesn't hear much, since he's mostly only heard his other brothers and father.

"Hey, what are you doing in there?" The person questions Mikey further, and Mikey just goes wide-eyed and freezes in panic.

Oh no, oh no, Oh no! He's been spotted! By a human! This isn't good; this isn't good! He's not supposed to be seen by humans; he was in big trouble now!

The girl outside doesn't seem to notice Mikey's turtle-appearance, and keeps questioning further, "Do you need help getting out of there?"

Mikey just shakes his head; no, he doesn't need any help. The little girl askes further, "Are you hiding from something?" She then gasps, and her voice sounds excited, "Are you playing a game?!"

Mikey hesitantly nods; and the girl gets excited again. "Can I join?!" she excitedly asks. Before Mikey can even respond, she just says, "Hold on, I'm coming in."; before she barges her way into Mikey's hiding spot.

This is when Mikey finds his voice again; exclaiming, "no-no-No-No-NO!" in a panicked voice. But, it's already too late. The girl is in the bush with Mikey, and can now see him fully; and Mikey vise versa.

The girl is white, with red hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, and freckles across her nose and cheeks. She has a white t-shirt, with pink sleeves, and a design of a star and heart split in half, and put together. She's got long jeans, black running shoes, a sky blue hoodie wrapped around her waist, and fingernails painted in a pink and green pattern. And most importantly, her vibrant green eyes are wide in shock, as she looks Mikey up and down.

Mikey's nervous. A human has never seen him before; nor has he himself been this close to one. He's huddled himself up to the other edge of the bush; so that when the girl eventually screams at him, he can make a break for it. But surprisingly, the girl doesn't scream in terror at the sight of him. Instead, she more looks amazed and full of wonder at Mikey's appearance; even going as far as to even scootch herself closer to Mikey.

"Whoooaa..." the girl gasps, as her green eyes continue to look Mikey up and down. "Why do you look like that? How do you look like that?" the girl continues to ask, as she reaches for Mikey's hand. She takes his hand and holds it up to her face; comparing and putting his three-fingered hand up to her five-fingered one. She stares at their hands for a bit, before looking back up in Mikey, in amazement. "What are you?"

Mikey calms down a little. This human didn't seem scared of him. Maybe sensei was wrong about how humans would react to them.....

He hesitantly answers the girl's question. "Uhhh," he starts, "I'm a..... mutant?"

"A mutant...." the girl repeats, sounding amazed by that one word. "How did you become a.... 'mutant'?"

Mikey relaxes some more, and actually gets excited this time. He's never been able to tell this story to anyone else before! "Well, funny story," Mikey begins. "It all started a while ago; when my dad (who was a human at first) was coming out of a pet shop, after..."

And next thing Mikey knows, he's in a fully on conversation with this girl. They exchange various stories about themselves; about their lives, and about their families. And soon, Mikey learns more and more about his new friend.

Her name is Mary. She's about a year older than Mikey, and is going to school. She has friends, but doesn't have parents; she's watched over by her much older brother, Hun. They live in this big fancy house, and Mary gets all the stuff he could ever want for herself, if she just asks Hun for it!

"*gasp* You should meet him!" Mary exclaims. "You should come meet my brother; I'm sure he'll love to see you!"

"Eh, I don't know...." Mikey hesitantly answers. "I'm not supposed to be seen by humans...... They'll probably be scared of me."

"But I'm a human," Mary replies, "and I'm not scared of you. So who's to say that other humans won't like you too?"

"Other humans may not be as fearless as you are..." Mikey replies. "Besides, I'm not allowed to go out into the open. It's too dangerous."

"Hmmm..." Mary looks irritated that she can't just drag Mikey out to see her brother, like she wants to. She thinks about how to get Mikey to meet her brother; without him having to be out in the open. After a bit of thinking, Mary comes up with an idea.

"Wait here," she excitedly tells Mikey, as she stands up, and get out of the bush; running down the sidewalk to who-knows-where.

Mikey stays quiet, and stays in his hiding spot. He's debating if he wants to leave now, or wait till Mary gets back. On the one hand, he's not supposed to be seen by humans; so this can be the perfect time to run back down the alley way, and reunite with his family, and tell them all about Mary and their conversation. But on the other hand, Mary was so excited to show him to her older brother. He didn't want to disappoint and make her sad, by not being here to show to her brother. But then again, he really wants to go home right about now..... But Mary was so excited for him to meet her brother....... But he wants to-

"Come on, com on!" Mikey hears Mary's voice; her feet skipping across the sidewalk.

"This had better be good." comes a deep, gruff voice behind her; sounding irritated an annoyed. That must be Mary's older brother.

Mikey watches the two pass by his hiding spot, and into the alley Mikey came down. After about a second, Mary's hand reaches into the bush, and grabs Mikey's arm; pulling him out of the bush, and into the alleyway.

Mikey looks up to see Mary's older brother. He's a big man, with muscles and tattoos all over his arms; all looking like dragons, wrapping around his arms. He's dressed in all black, with sunglasses and black hair. Mikey looks between him and Mary. They don't look related.......

Her older brothers also doesn't look like he's excited to see Mikey. He looks more................. disgusted and appalled by what Mary's showing him right now. It takes him a bit, before he speaks up; sounding like he's trying to not yell at her right now.

"Mary...." he starts, hesitantly. "What....... is that?"

"This is my friend, Mikey." Mary responds; not fazed at all by her brothers obvious dislike of Mikey. "He is a mutant-turtle," she states, as she puts emphasis on each syllable of what Mikey is; as Mikey sheepishly waves back at the older brother.

Before Mary's brother can respond further, Mary butts in, "I want to take him home with me. I want to show him around our place."

Mikey is just as surprised as her brother is, with Mary's statement. He didn't ask to come back to her place; and kinda wanted to go home now. Mikey speaks up about this thought of his, saying, "I don't have to come home with you. I'm good just.... staying out here."

"Nonsense!" replies Mary, "I insist! Your my new friend; the least I can do is show you my place. Maybe someday, you can even show me yours!"

"Mary, you can't just-" Mary's brother starts, before Mary starts pleading with him, "Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaasssseeeee?"

Mary's older brother looks unsure about Mary's request; but, at the same time, looks like he doesn't know what she'll do, if he tells her "no". So, after a bit, he lets out an exasperated sigh, and says, "If you can sneak him back home, you can do so."

Mary looks excited, jumping up and down and clapping; while Mikey looks more nervous about all this. How is Mary going to bring him back to her place? He told her that he can't just go out into the open; so what's her plan for all this?

Mary thinks for a bit, before having an idea. She unwraps the hoodie from around her waist, and gives it to Mikey. "Here, put this on," Mary insists, holding out the hoodie for Mikey to take. Mikey takes it, and slips it on. It's a bit tight, since his shell is a bit big; but he still manages to fit his head through the neck hole. The hoodie has a picture of a unicorn on it, and Mary goes and pulls the hood over Mikey's head.

"There, see?" Mary cheerfully asks. "Now no one will see you. Come on, lets go!" Mary grabs Mikey's arm and drags him out into the open street. He's scared at first (since he's never been out in the light before); but quickly sees that no one is paying any mind to him, like Mary said. Mary's brother also comes out of the alleyway; sighing, and rubbing his temples under his sunglasses, just saying, "Just go straight home, ok Mary? I don't want you out here for much longer."

"Ok!" Mary simply states; still holding his arm, tugs and drags Mikey along. "Come on!" she exclaims. "I'll show you where I live!"

Mary then pulls Mikey along, taking him down the busy streets and walkways of New York. He grips onto the hood of his disguise; making sure it doesn't fly off and reveal himself. He's honestly a little surprised that this is working. That all it takes is one hoodie, and no one even takes a second glace at him; not even to notice the hand hand that's tugging at his hood.

They go down the streets of New York for a bit, before coming to the front of a building; an apartment of some sort. Mary drags Mikey inside; into the lobby, past the receptionist (who's lazily scrolling around on her phone, not looking up for anything), and into a weird box with metal sliding doors.

The box is small, and on the wall next to the doors, are a bunch of circle buttons with numbers on them. Mary goes, and tries to hit the highest button; but doesn't quite reach. She tries jumping to reach it, but still can't. She then just asks Mikey for a hand, moving him in front of her, and climbing on top of him, to reach the button. Once she presses the button, it lights up, and the metal doors close. Mikey is then surprised, when the small box jolts and begins to move up.

Mary laughs a bit at Mikey's reaction to the box moving. "Have you never been in an elevator?" Mary jokingly asks. "No!" Mikey responds, sounding a bit embarrassed that Mary's laughing at him. He lives in the sewers for crying out loud; they don't have "elevators" down there!

As the elevator is going up, Mikey asks the question that's been on his mind for a bit now. "You and you're brother don't look very much alike. Why is that?"

Mary is hesitant at first, looking down at the ground before responding, "Huns parents took me in, when I didn't have any....... Then they disappeared; so Hun started to take care of me......"

This only leads Mikey to have even more questions about Mary's past and her relation with Hun. But, considering how uncomfortable Mary looks right now, he decides it can wait for a later time.....

After a bit of the "elevator" moving, it stops, and the doors open. Mikey is amazed by what he sees. Mary's place is huge! It's all sleek, and dark, and fancy, and everything! Mikey can't turn his head around and look at it all fast enough!

Mary tugs at Mikey's arm. "Come on!" she says. "Let me show you my room!"

Mary drags Mikey to a staircase, leading him up to another level of this place. She takes him down a small hallway, and to a door that has a sign that says "Mary's Room" on it. She pushes on the door, and bring Mikey inside.

Mary's room is nothing like the rest of the house. It's all pink, with a bunch of stuffed animals and pillows everywhere; and a huge bead in the middle of the room. There's a big TV on the opposite side of the bed, there's a big window that looks over New York (and shows just how high up they are), there's like a gaming set up; she has everything in here!

Mikey runs into the room, and just can't look at anything enough! Mary stays in the doorway, and finds it kind of cute that Mikey's enjoying all this. He probably doesn't even have half of all this in his room.

While Mikey is distracted by everything, Mary suggests, "You know.... you can stay here, and sleep over, if you'd like."

Mikey, not thinking about his family, only about being able to maybe sleep in a room like this for his first sleepover ever, hastily replies, "Heck yeah, I would!"

And just like that, it was settled! Mikey was going to sleep here for the night. They went and got a mattress for Mikey to sleep on, Mikey doesn't need any sleep-wear, and they were all set. Even though Mikey's mostly up during the night, he could sleep now. So they turned off the lights, got into their respective beds, and went to sleep.
(A/N: this is boring and cringy, I know)

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Many hours go by, before Mikey groggily wakes up. Normally, Splinter would wake him and his brothers up for training; so him just waking up on his own spooked him a bit. He was at first worried that he was late for training, then saw where he was, and was confused and a little scared for a bit, in his delirious state. But, as he woke up some more, he remembered what happened last night.

He looks outside, and the sun is up. He has to shield his eyes a bit, it's so bright out. He's normally not outside during the day; only ever hearing from books and seeing on TV what was considered the "sun". It's slightly weird, to be finally seeing it, and it being that bright. Imagine what his brothers would react, when he told them that he's seen the sun....

His brothers. Oh Jeez he's been out all nigh! They're probably worried sick about him!

He needs to go home. But, he can't go out in broad daylight! He could use a disguise, but he doesn't know what he should take. He doesn't just want to steal from Mary........ he is kind of his only human friend now.

Not to mention he doesn't know where "here" is! He wasn't paying attention to where Mary was dragging him; he could be anywhere in New York! He doesn't even know where he could go to get home!

At this point, Mikey starts to break down and cry a little. He doesn't know where he is, he went with a random stranger to who-know-where, he's probably far away from his family-from everything he's ever known, he's all alone, and-!

Mikey notices a note on Mary's bed. When he picks it up, it's written in messy handwriting; but, Mikey can make some of it out.

Something about her not being able to take him to school with her; since Hun said no. But when she get's back, they'll have fun together!

Mikey thinks about this for a bit, sniffling while at it. Surely, surely, when Mary comes home, he can ask her to take him home, right? She has to remember how she brought him here, and can bring him back to where they met, right? A-And from there, he can find his way home! Back to Splinter and his brothers! He can go home!!

So, Mikey decides to just wait for Mary to come back; so that he can ask her to take him back to the bush, where they met. Until then, Mikey tried to find ways to distract himself. He doesn't really know how long this "school" stuff goes on for; but she can't be gone for that long, right? She'll come home soon..... So until then, maybe he can figure out how her TV works........................

Unfortunately, this plan didn't work. When Mary did get home, Mikey would try to ask her to take him home. But, every time he tried, Mary would either dodge the question, ignore it, or try and distract him with something else; like a game, or showing him what her homework was like, and teaching him alongside her (learning about stuff like patterns and addition).

Mikey tried to push for Mary to take him home; but at the same time, didn't want to make his new and only human friend upset or mad at him. Plus, simple distractions can be very effective on Mikey; making him almost completely forget about what he was going to ask Mary.

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And so this was how the years went by for Mikey. Him waking up, waiting for Mary to come back, having fun playing and learning with Mary, then going to sleep.

He would cry sometimes, before he went to sleep; missing his family, and wishing he could go back to them. But, as time went by, he slowly began to forget all about them; having his mind replaced with fun memories with Mary, and doing more more relaxing stuff in this giant penthouse in the sky.

Mary would even sometimes bring her friends over to meet Mikey during sleepovers! Granted, they were a little freaked out about him at first; but they warmed up to him. One of them seemed to really like Mikey; but, he didn't really notice what the friend would do, half the time.

Years would fly by, without Mikey noticing. He and Mary got older, they got taller; Mikey even outgrew his old mask! Mary made him a new one, of course; though it was a bit longer than his old one. It was ok though! Mary tied the ends of the mask into a nice bow! Mikey even kinda liked it; so he kept it.

And so, many years would go by. With just him and Mary, against the world. For 10 whole years...................