Title: "Confessions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
Author: Pirate Turner
Rating: G
Summary: Splinter would gladly give up an entire afternoon's worth of confessions of his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for just a few seconds of open talk with one particular son.
Warnings: Drabble, Turtle Tots
Word Count: 400
Date Written: 11 January, 2012
Challenge: For a TMNT-Tuesdays LJ comm's weekly challenge
Disclaimer: Splinter, all other characters mentioned within, and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are ﾩ & TM their rightful owners, none of whom are the author. Everything else is ﾩ & TM the author. The author makes absolutely no profit off of this work of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended.

"I yelled at Mikey today, Master Splinter," Donnie confessed in a trembling voice, and Sensei knew immediately that his son had been crying. He started to go to him as Donnie continued his confession, "He broke the toaster - again -, and something inside of me just kind of broke too. I didn't mean to make him cry, Master Splinter. Really, I didn't." Yet, before Splinter could reach his son, Michelangelo bounded into the room, and Leonardo entered the tunnel with a sullen and troubled expression.

Both of the latter Turtles immediately started talking at once. "I burned supper, Master Splinter!" Mikey cried. "I shouldn't have even tried to cook! I can't do anything right!" Big, fat tears rolled down his face and splashed over his beak. "I broke the toaster again, too!"

"Master Splinter," Leo was meanwhile confessing in a very serious tone, "I journeyed to the upper world today. I saw some one in trouble. I rescued them, but I fear my katana may have been seen. I wasn't seen," he hurried on to clarify, "but I think they may have seen the sunlight gleaming on my blade."

The old rat tried to turn in all three directions as his sons converged on him, each talking at the same time, but even as they spoke, his fourth son entered the tunnels. Splinter's ears pricked forward, then laid back against his furry head. Raphael was grumbling dark and ugly words underneath his breath. "Raphael," he called, his strong voice breaking instantly through the melee, "where have you been?"

"Nowhere," the red-bandanaed Turtle snapped and slouched on off to his room.

Raphael had just stormed out when his brothers all started talking at once again. Splinter held up his paws, and one by one, he dealt with the troubles of three of his four sons and eased their worries. Yet, all the while, he couldn't help thinking that, as much as he loved all of his sons, he would gladly give up an afternoon of his daily confessions from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to have just a few seconds of honest, open talk with Raphael. The time would come, however, Splinter silently assured himself, his wiry tail swishing beneath his old and bedraggled robes. His son would open up to him, and he would be there for him when he did just as he always was for all of his children.

The End