Chapter Text
The sound of water gently bubbling beneath him calmed him. The steam from his cup warmed his face and the cups warmth warmed his hand like paws. His fluffy grey ears flicked gently, his eyes were closed, the gentle smell of peach tea and the sea salt water that ran below him filled his lungs. He sat on a bridge that had a steady stream of clean water running from somewhere beneath it. It was a nice place to spend the morning when he didn't feel like meditating in his room. The rat's ear flicked as he heard a soft sniffle and the pad of little feet coming toward him, slowly, cautiously. He smiled inwardly. Leonardo...Always so polite. It it extremely early for a child to be up though...
"Good morning, my son." He heard an intake of unsteady breath. Splinter opened his eyes and turned his gentle gaze toward his oldest. Leonardo was maskless, his wide blue eyes were filled with tears. Splinter sat his tea down and beckoned his son to him with a hand like paw.
The small turtle ran to his father, up the bridge and into the rats waiting arms. Leonardo buried his teary face into his father's kimono, his sobs quiet but steady, like the water below them. Splinter held his son gently, rubbing his back softly. He waited until his little one was all cried out then squeezed him softly, kissing his head and rocking him slowly. "Papa..." The oldest whimpered, clinging to him as if he'd fade away. Splinter smiled softly. "I'm here, my beloved son. It is alright. Did you have a nightmare?"
The small head pulled itself away from the rats chest to stare up at him with wide, tear stained curious eyes. "Wha a nig-nig...mir?" His little face was smushed as he tried and failed to pronounce the word. Splinter chuckled, running his furry palm over his son's cheek lovingly. "A nightmare, my son, is a dream that scares you in some way. Did you dream something that scared you?" He asked gently, his eyes searching his son's, his eyes ever patient, ever loving, ever gentle.
Leonardo nodded.
Splinter waited but after a few moments, the child didn't say anything so Splinter promoted him. "Would you be so kind as to tell me what it was about, my darling?"
Leonardo's eyes widened. "Not mad?"
Splinter tilted his head, confused. "Why ever would I be, my son?"
"Woke Papa up..." The little ones face was fallen with shame, his forehead creased with worry. Splinter hugged him to him, rubbing his shell gently. "No no, dear one, you didn't wake me up. I was simply reflecting." Splinter pulled the small turtle back so they could look at each other. "Leonardo, you must listen very carefully to me, can you do that?"
His small face was alight with wonder, his eyes wide as he nodded, leaning in as if Splinter was about to reveal the secrets of the universe. Splinter leaned down and hugged him, tucking his head under his neck, nuzzling him gently. "If you ever feel scared, or simply need or want to talk or be with me, you can always come to me, even if I am asleep. I won't always have all the answers, but I'll do my best to help however I can."
Leonardo nodded, his small three fingered hands clinging to the kimono and the form beneath it. "Papa gone...Papa bye bye...Lone..."
"You were alone?"
Leonardo nodded as best he could.
"You couldn't find me?"
Leonardo shook his head, sniffling softly and trembling. Splinter rubbed his shell in soothing circles, rocking him gently. "Oh no no, my dearest, it's okay. I am right here. You are not alone. It's okay." After a few minutes, the trembling stopped.
Father and son sat there on the bridge, holding each other, the son clinging to his father, the father holding his son and offering love and comfort. Soon, the son pulled away, looking around and spotted the tea cup that his father had been holding. He looked back up at his father. "Sippy?"
Splinter chuckled, tilting his head to the side as he thought. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt. Yes, you may have a sip. Here, let me hold it for you so you don't spill any." Splinter grabbed his tea cup and blew on it, then held it to his son's lips but Leonardo pulled away, holding up a free fingered chubby hand. "No Papa!" He exclaimed. Splinter blinked, rasing an eyebrow. "You don't want any?"
"Yes!"
"Then why-"
Leonardo leaned forward and blew hard a couple times then looked at his father as if he were showing him something special. "Hot." He blew again. "No hot."
Splinter chuckled. "Well done. Ready?"
Leonardo tilted his head then tilted his head over the cup, sniffing at it then looking at his father. "Hot?" He pushed the tea cup and Splinters paw toward the rat, up toward his mouth. Splinter chuckled and took a sip. "No. Not hot anymore."
"Sippy!"
Splinter held the cup to his son once more, turned it to a clean side, and let his son have a bit which he swished in his mouth like mouthwash then swallowed. His little face smushed up then he smiled. "Yummy!"
Splinter blinked. He didn't think his oldest would like it. Leonardo was different from his three other children, this was just another way he was his own turtle. Splinter chuckled, sitting the cup down and scooping the tot into his arms, nuzzling him softly. "You never cease to amaze me, my son." He felt that way about all of his son's, they all amazed him in many ways. Leonardo giggled. "Papa happy?"
Splinter nodded. "Very much so, my son. Are you?"
Leonardo nodded. "No sad. Happy! Love Papa!" Leonardo hugged softly but fiercely. Splinter felt tears prick at his eyes as his heart clenched. "I love as well, my son, more than I can ever express."
The next morning, Splinter sat on the bridge and just as he was about to take a sip of tea he heard feet padding toward him. He turned to see his oldest, wide eyed and smiling, running toward him. Leonardo joined his father on the bridge. "Sippy?"
Splinter held out a small cup and handed it to his son. Leonardo sat down the bridge like his father and took a sip, humming happily then fell silent as the two watched the water pass by. Splinter loved his son's visits. Who knew tea and a nightmare could start something beautiful?