A/N
This is actually set after the last snippet. Mikey's been distracting herself

"What are you doing here?" Donnie snarls, tech bo displaying its many cutting orientated devices.

"I could ask you the same thing!" Draxum snarls back, arms raising.

Donnie instinctively throws themself back, knocking April back into the hallway.

Except only the tiniest roots make an appearance.

Donnie blinks at it and April looks over their shoulder. They exchange a look before they start laughing and snorting.

"Donnie!"

Donnie's laughter abruptly stops at their younger sister's voice, "Mikey?! What are you doing here?! With Draxum?! He's dangerous!"

Mikey raises an eyeridge and motions at the man, "Look at him. Does he look dangerous to you?"

Donnie looks at the man, staring at his hands, and turns to glare at their sister, "It could be a trick."

Mikey folds her arms, "Really, Dee?"

Donnie folds their arms and grumbles.

April shoves them out of the way and barges into the apartment, "Why are you helping Baron Draxum? The dude has tried to kill us, like five times? And I know you haven't been telling me about how often it has happened when I haven't been with you two!"

Mikey sighs and glances at Draxum, placing down the tea she had made, "He needed help. He was living on the streets, wanted by the Hidden City," Mikey sighs again and looks up at Donnie, "I'm not going to abandon anyone who needs help."

Donnie's mind flashes back to Mikey singing a lullaby to a turtle curled up in his lap and the late night conversations about talking to the Big Guy.

Donnie sighs, "I've never been able to stop you before. This is no different."

Mikey hugs them tight, "Thanks, Dee! You're the best!"

Donnie uses one of their spidershell arms to pat Mikey's head.

———

Dinner goes about as well as can be expected.

And by that, Donnie means it goes absolutely horribly.

"Dad!" Mikey yells, trying to pull the rat man off the sad sheepman that just lies there being scratched, "Get off him!"

"AND ANOTHER THING! YOU DARE TO COME NEAR MY CHILDREN AGAIN AND I WILL COME FOR YOU!"

"Dad!" Mikey yells, finally grabbing him and pulling him off, "Sto-OW!"

Splinter freezes and looks down at the scratch on his daughter's arm, "I am so sorry, Orange."

"It's fine," Mikey waves it away, putting Splinter down so she can patch the arm up, "It's just a cut."

Donnie doesn't need to be good with feelings to know that Splinter's ears pinned against his skull and his hands moving into his pockets means that it isn't fine.

"I can't stay here," Splinter says, "please, come home safe, my children," Splinter turns to look at the three teenagers over his shoulder, "Donatello. Mikaela. Be home soon."

Splinter leaves at the confirming nods from his children.

"Soooo," Donnie drawls, "Can we leave now?"

"Donnieeee," Mikey groans.

Donnie gives Mikey a strained smile, "He. Threw. You. Off. A. Roof!"

Mikey looks down, "I know."

"Why do you defend him then?" Donnie asks, because they can't understand this.

Mikey sighs and glances at the man lying there on the ground, "Look at him. He's not a threat," Mikey rubs her arm, "And are we any better than him if we just leave him like," Mikey motions to the limp sheepman, "this?"

Donnie sighs, "Fine," Donnie's hand went down their face, "only if you don't visit him alone."

Mikey beams and hugs Donnie, "Thank you!"

"I still hate him."

"I know."

"I still don't trust him."

"I know."

Donnie's voice is quiet as they say, "The Big Guy isn't like him."

Mikey's grip tightens, "I know."