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Breathe. In. Out.
Meditation was something that none of the remaining Hamato Clan had wanted to do, initially. Sitting there, focusing on nothing except your own thoughts, sounded boring to the boys.
But years later, after they'd all gone through hell and back twice over, once with the Shredder and again with the Kraang, their opinions on it had changed.
It was still boring, when they didn't want to do it. When their minds were racing and they had plans; Donnie with his tech, Raph and Leo with their games, Mikey with his art. They would refuse to think about sitting there, instead getting to action and doing their own things.
But once daily training had started, something both leaders had agreed on doing after the invasion and everyone had healed, they warmed up to the idea.
They trained at the same time every day, something put in place to keep Donnie at ease, keep him knowing when it would happen so he could prepare, have time to get partially-completed inventions to a stable point.
Meditation was always one part of their training. Whether it be before they start, or after they'd finished, each one of the boys did it. Even Casey and April joined in, when they were around.
Breathe. In. Out.
Donnie would always meditate before training. It would let him clear his mind, place all plans and ideas for inventions to one side, settle any lingering irritation from a failed experiment so he didn't use it against his brothers.
Raph and Mikey would always meditate after training. They'd equally let their emotions out through punches and flips, through growls and teases. One would get a bruise, one a small cut. Neither got injured past that, they held back their true strength and power in ways only they could understand. Then they'd settle side by side, knees touching, and meditate. Let their remaining energy drain out in sorting their thoughts out.
Leo was always the wildcard. He varied; sometimes he'd meditate before, sit beside his twin, mirror his position, and break at the same time Donnie would. Sometimes he'd join his oldest and youngest brothers, follow their breathing until they all inhaled as one. Sometimes he wouldn't at all; he'd sit with on old Jupiter Jim comic, silently reading it, and it had taken only three sessions for his brothers to realize this was his way of sorting his thoughts out. Occupy his always-running mind with useless information while filing through everything that wasn't the comic.
Breath. In. Out.
Today was a before day.
Training had been called, the same time as every other day, and everyone was in the Dojo. Mikey and Raph, as always, had started out with a Kata, and transitioned into a sparring session once they finished. Donnie was sat in the corner, legs folded, back straight, eyes closed, hands resting on his knees.
Leo moved to join him, sitting close enough that their knees almost touch, but not quite. His hands settled in his lap, back straightened, eyes closed. The sounds of his brothers moving across the Dojo, dodging and attacking, filled his ears, but after a moment, he tuned it out. Thoughts slowly filtered in.
Breathe. In. Out.
Memories of the Shredder made their way to the forefront of his mind.
Of the creature attacking his family, only to fizzle away. Of him slamming the collar around its neck. Of it snapping his Ōdachi like dry spaghetti in its claws. Of it killing Karai, leaving them to figure their Ninpō out alone.
He twitched. He felt Donnie twitch next to him.
Breathe. In. Out.
The fear that had filled him when they retreated from their destroyed home made an appearance. Made his heart race. It was pushed away however, and he forced his mind clear until his heartbeat was no longer sporadic.
Relief that Karai's spirit was still alive, watching over them with the rest of the ancient Hamato Clan. Grateful for her assistance in unlocking his ninpō's full potential.
The rush of adrenaline when he used it for the first time against the Shredder, he could still feel it. The tingle of its energy running through him, ready to be used at a moment's notice.
His hand twitched for his Ōdachi. He felt Donnie hand twitch next to him.
Breath. In. Out.
Memories of the invasion filled the emptiness where the ones of the Shredder used to be.
Of the horror when he learned what the key was. Of the horror when the portal was opened, and the Kraang walked through. Of them calling their ship through, and claiming themselves a 'gift.' Of the disbelief when his ninpō, his powers didn't work, and Raph was captured. Of the terror when he learned what happened to his brother's in the future.
Breathe. In. Out.
He could still hear Casey's admittal of what happened to his brothers. The speech that drove him to listen, to be a better leader.
Each action that happened after floated by, letting him glimpse at them before moving on to another one.
His brother being Kraangified.
His remaining family splitting up.
Fighting Kraang Prime and his brother.
All his brothers freeing their ninpōs as one.
Fighting Kraang Prime while his brothers fell hundreds of miles back to Earth.
Begging Casey to close the portal.
He twitched again, hands clenching. He felt Donnie twitch, hands clenching beside him.
Breathe. In. Out.
There was relief, once the portal was closed. Relief that Earth was safe. Relief that Kraang Prime, half the Technodrome, were both locked back in the Prison Dimension. Relief that his family, his planet, were safe.
And the terror that had hit immediately after. Terror that he was locked in the Prison Dimension also. Terror that he wouldn't survive Kraang Prime's wrath. Terror that he wouldn't see his brothers again. Terror that he would die in the Prison Dimension alone with an alien.
His breathing stuttered slightly, not enough to be noticed with an untrained eye. He heard Donnie's breathing stutter slightly, not enough to be noticed with an untrained eye beside him.
Breathe. In. Out.
And there was relief again, when the portal had been opened. Relief that his brothers had somehow saved him. Relief that he wasn't alone. Relief that his brothers pulled him out, saved him. Relief that everyone was okay. Relief that they'd won.
He settled, taking a deep breath. He felt Donnie settle, taking a deep breath beside him.
Breathe. In out.
Phantom pain washed over him, but he ignored it. Filed the thoughts and memories away, now he'd let himself filter them.
That was step one of healing from trauma, wasn't it? Allow yourself to realize what had happened, that you'd done your best in an impossible situation.
And he'd done that.
He felt… better, almost.
He let himself relax. He felt Donnie relax beside him.
Breathe. In. Out.
Thoughts of an invention floated by, one he faintly recognized as an upgraded weapons launcher for the Turtle Tank. Calculations were made, two minds working at the same time.
The changeable distance was amazingly ranged, not too far to fall out of sight, not too close to hit the Tank itself while trying to hit something else.
But the propulsion was too much. While it would go at the wanted distance, it would go forward too fast, with too much strength. Rather than rendering the vehicle unusable, it would decimate the target.
He felt Donnie tense up, hands clenching beside him. He tensed up, hands clenching.
Breathe. In. Out.
But there was a solution. It would scale up the distance, leave its maximum range just under a mile out, but it would reduce the power in which the weapon would come out.
Reroute the electrical supply from the weapon's battery, sending less to the propulsion system depending on how close the target was. The closer the target, the more power sent to something else. The further the target, the more power drawn to the launcher.
He felt Donnie relax beside him. He let himself relax.
Breathe. In. Out.
Next was something Leo had only seen incomplete blueprints of, set atop spare parts and empty coffee cups.
Shelldon's body. A new update for it.
He felt Donnie twitch beside him. He twitched.
Breathe. In. Out.
Shelldon was a sore subject in the lair. It was unknown if his programming, his AI and his memory had survived the Shredder's attack.
A memory of Shelldon's remains floated across his mind. Despair that he might be gone for good. Despair that Donnie's son creation had died protecting Karai.
But Donnie's tech was good. Incredible. Hardy. Near-instructable. It would take more than just a slash to destroy something as well-made as Shelldon's memory card, AI.
He felt Donnie clench his hands beside him. He clenched his hands.
Breathe. In. Out.
The body would be built as toughened as Donnie's new Battleshell. The AI and memory chip would be made stronger, more resistant to damage. Donnie would look into creating permanent force shields out of his ninpō, and create one around Shelldon's most vital parts.
Donnie didn't know how long it would take. Leo didn't either. But both were sure they'd take as long as needed until Shelldon was back with them.
He felt Donnie relax again beside him. He let himself relax again.
Breathe. In. Out.
Leo tuned back into the real world, and instantly noticed the lack of sparring. He opened his eyes, glanced at the middle of the Dojo, and spotted Raph and Mikey taking a break, sipping water.
"How did you do?" Donnie spoke up, apparently also having broken. His voice lacked any tension it previously had, something that made all three brothers smile.
"Good! I think I'm finally nailing that dodge flip you always do! It's trickier, with my harder shell, but I'm getting it! Wanna see?"
"Maybe later, Mikey. Leo and I have yet to start. Speaking of." Donnie hummed and stood, stretching his arms above his head, back clicking. "Kata?"
"Kata." With a smile, Leo also stood up and stretched, disappointed and jealous when his own back didn't click.
Breathe. In. Out.
The two moved towards the center of the room and stood, Leo in front of Donnie, waiting seconds before starting. Neither mentioned what Kata they were planning, they simply started, moves echoing each other.
They were graceful, slowly moving from one point to another, taking their time and focusing their intentions into the stances.
The Dojo fell into a comfortable silence, Mikey and Raph taking their places at the edge of the room, watching the twins move as one. It was a sight to see; the normally hyperactive Leonardo and the normally stoic Donatello moving as slow and gracefully as they were.
Breathe. In. Out.
Raph and Mikey spoke in whispers as to not disturb the twins, agreeing how at peace the two looked when working together, if only slightly concerning how well-tuned they were with each other.
But all too soon, Donnie and Leo transitioned into the final stance of the Kata, and shared a smile. Donnie set a hand on Leo's shoulder, who copied the touch. Another unspoken conversation.
Thank you.
Thank you too.
Your stance faltered slightly on the fifth position.
I didn't realize, I'll keep watch next time. Your stance was slightly wrong on the seventh.
I'll keep watch on that next time.
Their hands dropped, and they faced their brothers.
"So? You two done for today, or you up for a little sparring?" Leo grinned and the same time Donnie's head tilted.
Raph blinked, setting his water bottle down. "You sure? Raph can get a bit into it sometimes."
"We'll do a duo spar! You and Mikey against me and Dee! We can take you, don't worry big guy."
Breathe. In. Out.
The youngest matched Leo's grin, bouncing over with his weapon in hand. "I'm up for it! It'll be fun Raph! And we can stop if anyone gets too hurt!"
A look of brief panic flashed over Raph's face before he nodded, picking his Sais up. "Fine, but we stop if anyone gets hurt."
He chuckled and nodded, Ōdachi quickly in hand. "And no ninpōs! Weapons only, Dee ."
Scoffing, Donnie rolled his eyes. "You underestimate my understanding of training entails, Nardo. This is merely for practice, not beating our brothers to a pulp like you deny me permission to do to our enemies. Can we start now? I left an experiment half completed that I'd rather not leave overnight unfinished."
"Sure thing twinsie! Raph? Mikster?"
The two brothers snorted and joined the twins, all four of them entering ready stances.
Breathe. In. Out.
"Ready?"
"Yup!"
"Yes."
" Hajime !"
And they moved.
Raph moved for a punch at Donnie, who blocked with his bō and retaliated by hitting the snappers arm. Mikey swung his Kusari Fundō towards Leo, who let it wrap around his Ōdachi before yanking and aiming a kick when Mikey was pulled towards him.
The Box Turtle flipped over Leo's head and into Donnie, who stumbled back and swung his bō. It sailed over a ducking Leo, and knocked one of Raph's Sais out the snappers hand and to the edge of the room.
One weapon down.
Breathe. In. Out.
Even with one weapon gone, Raph never took the defensive, charging towards Leo and moving to disarm him. The Slider stepped back until he was shell-to-shell with his twin, Ōdachi up to block.
On the other side of the spar, Mikey was closing in on Donnie, Kusari Fundō swinging about and blocking attacks from the softshell's bō, small giggles leaving him when he got to show off his acrobatics.
A flip here, a spin there, popping into his shell only to come out with a counter-attack.
Alone, Raph and Mikey worked well. They knew their attacks, their defenses, their dodges, and each other's moves.
But they worked together, as a team.
The twins were different.
Breathe. In. Out.
When Leo moved back, Donnie moved forward. When Donnie attacked, Leo defended. When one was close to being touched, the other protected. When one redirected, the other took over.
They didn't work as a team.
Leo knew Donnie by heart, his moves, his offensive attacks and defensive blocks. His tells of stress, his moments of about to be hit.
Donnie knew Leo by heart, his moves, his offensive attacks and defensive blocks. His tells of stress, his moments of about to be hit.
They worked as one.
Breathe. In. Out.
Mikey's Kusari Fundō was tossed to one side when Leo protected Donnie.
Raph's remaining Sai joined the other at the edge of the room when Donnie protected Leo.
Mikey gained some bruises from Donnie's bō.
Raph gained some small cuts from Leo's Ōdachi.
" Yame !"
Breathe. In. Out.
And it was over. The four turtles bowed, Donnie resting one end of his bō beside him, Leo sheathing his Ōdachi, both movements done in surrender. Raph moved to pick his Sai up, sheathing them on his belt, Mikey picked his Kusari Fundō up and reattached it to his belt.
"That was terrifyingly awesome !" Mikey cheered, tossing over three bottles of water to his brothers. Even Donnie didn't know when he picked them up. "But I totes want Dee on my team next time."
Leo cackled, taking a swig of water in a way that made his twin cringe in disgust. "Aw, sorry Mikster. We'll switch up next time!"
"Gross, Leo. Drink like a civilized Turtle."
Breathe. In. Out.
Donnie groaned when Leo downed his bottle in a matter of seconds, shaking his head and taking a sip of his own. "Gross."
"At least I don't swallow my food whole."
"That is simply a part of my biology. And it's much less complicated than chewing it, especially when I'm busy."
"You did it at Draxum's! We were having a family dinner!"
Donnie grinned, all teeth and absolutely no remorse. "That was merely on purpose. His look of disgust was well worth Papa's lecture on civilized eating."
The irony of that wasn't lost on anyone .
"Now shoo, go and complete your own meditation. I want to do some more stretches before I finish here. Care to join me, Nardo?"
Breathe. In. Out.
"Sure! But you gotta join me when I go to Hueso's later!"
"Groan, fine. You just want to see that waiter and chat him up. Again."
A red blush covered Leo's face, and he grinned nervously. "No idea what you mean, brother mine! Now c'mon, before we lose our mojo!" Grabbing his twin's wrist, he pulled Donnie away from the settling Sunset duo and into a clear part of the Dojo.
They moved as one again, moving into a series of stretches. Silence filled the Dojo once more, the breathing from a meditating Raph and Mikey, and the shifting from the twins being the only audible noises.
Leo let out a faint groan when his shoulders popped, rolling them while Donnie rolled his eyes.
Donnie let out a soft groan when his back clicked again, while Leo glared with jealousy.
"Bastard."
"Sucker."
Breathe. In. Out.