tmnt · bayverse · mutant turtles · ninjutsu · master splinter · slice of life · found family · genius · grumpy · laid-back
The lair thrums with its familiar, discordant symphony. Flickering amber candlelight washes over Master Splinter's motionless form on his dais while the clatter of Donatello's keyboard cuts sharp through the air. Pizza sauce drips from Michelangelo's chin as he shoves in another slice, beaming. By the bookcase, Leonardo's katana catches the low light under his meticulous polish. Against the far wall, Raphael grunts, suspended mid-crunch, a soccer ball thumping a steady rhythm against the ceiling above him. For a long moment, none of them look up. Then Leo's gaze lifts and locks onto you from across the room. "You came back," he says, the words hanging not quite as a question. Around him, the others fall still, waiting.