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Then came the day he was invited to the estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life turned upside down.", "count": "16", "submission_left_submission_id": "2242541", "submission_left_file_name": "3260550_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_11.doc", "submission_right_submission_id": "2255930", "submission_right_file_name": "3280934_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_13.doc" } ], "description": "Michelangelo had never been known to stay in one place for very long. Taverns and street corners were his hearth and home, because roots can?t take hold if you just keep moving, and why would anyone want to sink into the ground so deep that you got stuck?\n\nThey were smart words to live by and had done a good job of keeping him happy enough. At least until the day he was invited to the sprawling estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life was turned upside down.\n\nAlternate Universe, AU\nPairings: Leonardo/Michelangelo, Raphael/Donatello\n\n~*~*~*~\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2242541]<--- Chapter Eleven[/url] __//__ [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2255930]Chapter Thirteen --->[/url]\n~*~*~*~", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Michelangelo had never been known to stay in one place for very long. Taverns and street corners were his hearth and home, because roots can?t take hold if you just keep moving, and why would anyone want to sink into the ground so deep that you got stuck?

They were smart words to live by and had done a good job of keeping him happy enough. At least until the day he was invited to the sprawling estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life was turned upside down.

Alternate Universe, AU
Pairings: Leonardo/Michelangelo, Raphael/Donatello

~*~*~*~
<--- Chapter Eleven __//__ Chapter Thirteen --->
~*~*~*~", "writing": "[center]~*~*~*~\n\nChapter Twelve: Bonding\n\n~*~*~*~[/center]\n\nSometimes Michelangelo wondered... if he had the ability to travel through time and could go back to give his past self a head's up about some big thing that was about to happen, what exactly he would say. Because he wasn't always able to sort his thoughts in a way that actually made any sense, and if he could find a way to reach back and tell himself what not to freak out about, he figured that so many things in his life would have happened with more finesse.\n\nLike now. He would go back and tell himself to stop being so fearful and suspicious because nothing, absolutely nothing in this entire world, would ever be more satisfying than the feeling of Leonardo's lips pressed against his own and that skipping over all of the uncertainty and simply jumping him the second he had laid eyes on the clan leader's eldest son would have been the better course of action for everyone involved.\n\nThey had been following Lord Hamato into the main hall so that he and Don could begin interviewing the candidates for replacing him as steward immediately. But as they were cutting through a side hall on the way, Leo had suddenly snatched him around the waist and pulled him into a darkened alcove without any of the others even noticing they had disappeared.\n\nAnd now here he was, hidden in a shadowed corner, Leo's leg insistent between his thighs while he plundered Mikey's mouth like he was looking for lost treasure, and Mikey thought that he would just have to learn to live without air because he certainly wasn't interested in breaking away to breathe any time soon.\n\nLeo's hands were wandering, finding all the small places along his body that pulled the best gasps and moans from his throat. The feel of him was overwhelming and intoxicating and he couldn't quite remember what the world had been like before this, when it had been empty and muted and nothing like the sparking color that filled him to bursting now. All he knew was that it was perfect, everything was just... so perfect...\n\nA door closed somewhere nearby, someone was sweeping the stone in the garden outside the window across from them and he could just hear the distant rumble of the villagers occupying the main courtyard. The steady activity of the estate continued in their periphery, but Mikey did his best to ignore it all, certain none of it was important because nothing was more important than the fiery trail Leo's fingers were leaving as they slipped under his tunic and pressed into the skin just above where his pants rested on his hips.\n\nThey couldn't ignore the awareness of their surroundings forever though, eventually all of those sounds broke through the heavy rush of their breaths. Leo's eyes glittered as he opened them and smirked down at Mikey, a resigned sigh his only offering as they came back to reality just enough to remember what they had been doing before getting lost in this alcove.\n\nWith a playful smirk of his own, Mikey brought his hand down low to graze against the smoldering heat he found that was becoming more and more prominent by the second.\n\n\"It's a busy day...'' He said, teasing over the fabric with his fingernails.\n\nLeo groaned and leaned in closer, \"You're going to get me in trouble.''\n\n\"Hey now,'' Mikey admonished, lifting his chin to whisper against Leo's lips, \"I didn't pull myself into this dark, hidden corner, that's on you...''\n\nLeo chuckled, pressing into another deep kiss, reaching down to reluctantly move Mikey's questing fingers to a more neutral position higher up on his plastron, lazily exploring his mouth as they waited for the rising desire between them to slowly ebb away.\n\n\"I'm counting the seconds until I can have you alone in my bed.'' Leo promised as he stepped back, pulling them out of the alcove.\n\n\"Me too...'' Mikey shivered with a pout.\n\nThe thudding sound of hurried footsteps came to them as they approached the doorway leading to the main hall, Leo stopping with a quick step back only a second before Raph came barreling through it.\n\n\"Where the hell have ya' been?'' He demanded, skidding to a halt, \"Hun is makin' a push on the silos, we gotta move!''\n\nMikey didn't think he would ever get tired of watching Leo's commanding mantle slide into place when his duty called him. He rushed after Raph without hesitation, calling back over his shoulder for Mikey to stay in the hall.\n\nIt was a little unsettling, watching the two of them quickly depart with a group of soldiers on their heels. Mikey looked around and spied Don sitting next to Lord Hamato on the dais, with a handful of servants gathered before them, all their attention on the doors Leo and Raph had just exited through.\n\nAfter a moment, the lord cleared his throat, bringing everyone's eyes back to him, motioning for Don to continue their conversation. Whatever was happening didn't seem to be worrying him too much, maybe he was simply confident in his son's ability to handle the situation before it became a real threat.\n\nMikey frowned, he couldn't hear any sounds of battle or alarm. Through the main doors, thrown wide open to let in the afternoon breeze, he could see the villagers milling about, they didn't seem affected by the sudden commotion at all.\n\nA familiar sense of self-preservation came over him for an instant, urging him to move, to find somewhere safe, but pushing back against the twitch in his muscles, he found he could ignore it. If Lord Hamato wasn't troubled by the sudden urgency, then he would just have to trust that Leo and Raph had everything well under control.\n\nNeeding a distraction, he wandered out to the main courtyard, exiting through the doors into the warm midday sun. He moved through the crowd, ignored for the most part since none of the villagers knew who he was anyway, steadying the rapid beat of his heart by simply observing them for a while, reading their faces as he walked.\n\nHe could tell most of the villagers were frightened even if they hid it well, but it was obvious that the unknown of what Hun would do, or what might remain of their homes and livelihoods, was already taking its toll. A good number were angry, huddled together in small groups, grumbling with complaints of why the clan hadn't marched out to deal with Hun immediately, and why they were having to cower within the walls while Hun destroyed all that they had. And a grateful few were simply accepting, going about their mundane chores as if all of this were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.\n\nStill, they were a strong and hardy people and Mikey was impressed with their resilience. But the more he moved among them, the more he became aware of a smaller, silent segment of the population, one that was just as frightened and confused, but largely ignored by the gathered crowd.\n\nThe children, some almost old enough to be considered grown, most still small enough to bury their faces in their mother's skirts, all trembling wide eyed as they looked around at the adults, knowing on some level that they were within the estate walls so the Hamato Clan could protect them, but not yet aware enough of the world to understand what the danger was. All they knew was that they couldn't go home, and their parents were scared.\n\nThe sight of it broke something in Mikey's fragile heart.\n\nOvercome by the need to do something, he looked around, an idea forming at seeing a small common area the villagers had set up in the middle of the main courtyard. There was a cooking fire with chopped logs set up in a circle around it as a temporary meeting place. It was a space these people were obviously using to gather for comfort, it was cozy, and it was exactly what Mikey needed.\n\nWith a determined breath Mikey slipped away, quickly rushing through the grounds back to Leo's row house. Darting inside he grabbed his case and ran as fast as he could back to the courtyard, finding an empty spot where he could see most of the gathered people.\n\nSettling his guitar in his lap he adjusted the strings and began to strum out one of his more upbeat numbers that he would usually play on street corners because it was quick to attract a crowd, and as a result, their coin. After a few bars he looked up to see that none of the adults had bothered to notice his sudden appearance, but that was fine because he had already captured the attention of almost every young person in the square.\n\nSmiling warmly, he cocked his head, inviting them to join him and then he began to sing. The song was an old dancing jig, usually used for weddings and birthday celebrations. It was jaunty and carefree and immediately the youngest children began to dance with glee, the older children joining in after a few moments, still trying to act grown up even as they smiled and sang along.\n\nSoon the square was filled with their twittering laughter and joyful yells and a few of the adults were starting to take note, turning away from their tasks to see where their children had scampered off too.\n\nFor almost an hour he played song after song, delighting in the way the little ones would leap and jump, begging him for more at the end of every tune. Their infectious laughter lightened the mood throughout the square, and before long all the attention in the courtyard had shifted to Mikey and the lighthearted distraction he was providing.\n\nHe indulged them until his fingers were sore and he ran out of songs to play. As a traveling minstrel he had an impressive library of music locked up inside his head, but not all of his songs were appropriate for children, so when he had nothing new to entertain them with, he gathered them close and began to show them how he held his fingers across the strings to make all of the different notes.\n\nBefore long, the children quieted, drowsily watching Mikey pluck at the strings, falling asleep leaned against each other. A few of their parents began stepping forward, lifting their small bodies carefully to take them back to their tents. He humbly accepted their warm, softly murmured praise with a sense of accomplishment that he didn't know he could feel.\n\nIt was almost disappointing when Leo appeared, placing a hand on his shoulder with an unreadable expression on his face, \"I hate to break this up, but I'm afraid I need to steal you away now.''\n\n\"Is everything alright?'' Mikey asked, looking up with concern.\n\n\"Yes, everything is fine.'' Leo answered with a pointed look that said he wouldn't provide details in front of the children.\n\nWith a nod Mikey put away his guitar and stood. The remaining children protested, begging him to stay. Mikey found that he very much wanted to grant their requests, but Leo was gently tugging on his elbow, so all he could do was quickly promise them that he would be back to play again as soon as he could and he followed Leo out of the courtyard.\n\nAs they walked Leo was looking at him like he was seeing Mikey for the first time, a faint smile ghosting across his lips.\n\n\"How long were you watching me?'' Mikey finally asked with a sheepish smile.\n\n\"Not long. We only just got back.''\n\n\"What happened?''\n\nLeo shrugged dismissively, \"Nothing really. Hun made a threat on our grain silos, but it wasn't serious. He just wanted to remind us that he's still here.''\n\nLeo brought him back to the row house where Raph was waiting for them. The second son gave Mikey an approving nod, surprising him by throwing an arm around his shoulders as they went inside.\n\n~*~\n\nThe three were pleasantly warm, having filled their bellies with wine, when Don finally rejoined them, a hunched no nonsense seamstress leading a small group of servants on his heels. She was pulling a small bamboo cart behind her filled with bright fabrics and was so ancient her wrinkles had wrinkles and Mikey didn't see how her moss colored skin could hold any more.\n\nShe eyed him for a moment, her hooded stare raking up and down his body with disdainful judgment that had him shifting uncomfortably before she hissed at him to follow her down the hall toward Leonardo's bed chamber. Mikey quailed, looking desperate as Don laughed and grabbed his hand, leading them both after her.\n\nShe directed the group of servants to set up supplies along one side of the room and they quickly moved to obey, laying fabric and thread and needles out in neat rows.\n\nAny excitement he might have felt at finally being in the room where Leo slept was overshadowed by Don pulling them both up in front of a large floor length mirror and deftly removing his tunic while indicating Mikey should do the same.\n\n\"What... is happening?'' Mikey asked, tentatively undoing a few toggles.\n\n\"You need something nice to wear.'' Don said shortly, turning to the mirror and standing straight as the old seamstress flung a bolt of violet silk over his shoulders and began cutting and pinning it in multiple places.\n\n\"Ok...'' Mikey breathed, removing his tunic as instructed, looking over his shoulder toward where Leo had seated himself on the edge of the bed, chuckling with amusement, his arms crossed. Raph was leaning in the doorway, eyes traveling up and down Donatello's form as his mate was enveloped in a sea of silk.\n\nThe seamstress was quick, in almost no time at all she had the fabric folded and pinned into the shape of a beautiful robe, fastening small swatches of red silk onto the shoulders where Mikey assumed the Hamato family bell flowers would be embroidered after the robe was tailored.\n\nDon was the center of attention, glowing in the afternoon light coming in through the windows, the purple shade of the fabric perfectly accenting his olive colored skin. Mikey glanced over, noting that Raph looked like he was only barely holding back from launching himself across the room and tackling Don where he stood. And it certainly didn't seem like Don was helping his restraint, judging by the sideways smirk he was flashing in return.\n\nPlacing one final pin, the seamstress carefully helped Don extract himself from the half-finished garment, handing it off to the servants who immediately started to work on it, expertly and swiftly sewing the pieces together. He watched them in the mirror, having never seen clothing being made before.\n\n\"You! What color?!''\n\nThe sudden loud demand from the seamstresses made Mikey jump, spinning to see her crouching over half a dozen bolts of silk in a range of colors from green and brown to yellow and gray. Caught off guard he glanced quickly at Leo, surprised that he was really being allowed to choose for himself. The eldest son simply smiled and nodded, indicating he could.\n\n\"Um... I guess the orange... please...'' Mikey said, uncomfortable with the idea that all this finery could also be for him.\n\nShe scooped up the fabric and threw it over him, pinning folds just as quickly as she had with Don. Mikey looked down as she worked, staring in wonder at the sumptuous material flowing down his arms. Never in his life had he ever worn anything so luxurious, it was foreign and unexpected and completely... magical. He ran his fingers down his forearm marveling at the smooth cloth that flowed around him as he moved his arm, clinging to his skin like it belonged there.\n\nThe old woman tutted at him as she finished, \"Tch, you're too skinny, your shoulders are too narrow. You should eat more.''\n\nMikey wasn't sure if he should be offended or not, frowning down at himself. Turning to the mirror he looked up and his eyes widened in shock, taking in the intricately folded and pinned garment hanging from his shoulders, blowing his breath out through his lips.\n\n\"I look like a puffed-up peacock.'' He said, his voice disjointed like it was coming from someone else.\n\nLeo slid up behind him as the seamstress turned to put away her scissors and pins. He stood close, looking over Mikey's shoulder into the mirror, his eyes trailing down to the floor and back up again. Mikey felt the demanding press of Leo's fingers on his hip just before warm breath tickled against his ear.\n\n\"You look breathtaking.'' Leo whispered low so only he could hear, causing a shiver to plunge down Mikey's spine. Heat flushed his neck as he thought about the two of them, alone in this room, in only a few short hours. Turning his head, he found Leo's lips easily within reach, he smiled and leaned in just enough to...\n\n\"Don't Touch!'' The seamstress screeched, swatting at Leo with a short measuring stick where his arm rested against the silk covering Mikey's side, catching him right on the exposed skin of his wrist.\n\nLeo yelped and jumped back quickly, rubbing where she had hit him, \"Alright! Sorry...''\n\n\"Shime...'' Don whispered, staring at her wide eyed that she would dare strike her lord. But she just waved him off.\n\n\"Oh, don't look at me like that, I don't answer to you anymore.'' She grumbled, moving forward to help Mikey slide out of the pinned garment.\n\nDon looked like she had just slapped him across the face and Raph had to leave the room because he was laughing too hard. The team of servants were blatantly averting their eyes from the commotion right in front of them while trying not to laugh themselves, focusing on the two garments they were charged with completing.\n\nShime was bent over, putting away her tools while ignoring them all. When she was finished, she turned, startling Don as she reached up for him, cradling his face in her withered old hands.\n\n\"My time in service has been as long as my life, and throughout all of it I have not had the pleasure of working under a steward more accomplished or kind than you.'' Her eyes darted to the doorway where Raphael had reappeared, \"He is good for you, I can feel the song of your souls. Treat each other well and you will have happiness all of your days.''\n\nDon stood, an embarrassed warmth coloring his cheeks, highlighting a grateful smile, \"Thank you, Shime...''\n\nShe nodded, blinking away the tears filling her rheumy eyes as she turned and joined the servants in their work to quickly complete the new robes.\n\n~*~\n\nThe sun was low, burning the sky with streaks of orange and red and pink, casting a warm glow on every surface in the garden. They waited in their new robes near the fountain. Don was staring at Raph's row house, fidgeting with his sleeves and Mikey swore he could feel the impatience emanating from him in waves.\n\n\"I don't even know what to do with my arms.'' Mikey joked, only half complaining, \"I've never worn anything this nice in my life.''\n\n\"You wear it well.'' Don said sincerely without looking away from the house.\n\nMikey straightened his shoulders, \"Well, I mean, [i]I[/i] can make [i]anything[/i] look good.''\n\nThe relief in Don's laugh as he finally turned to blink over at him was noticeable and Mikey smirked, happy to draw his friend's attention away from the time that seemed to be crawling by at a snail's pace. And while it may have been true that the flowing orange garment was perfectly accentuating the sea green color of his skin, making the freckles dusting his cheeks pop darkly, all of it was nothing compared to Don.\n\nThe former steward was resplendent in his violet silk, his form luminous not only from the way the color complemented his features but from the happiness suffusing his every pore, and Mikey felt so lucky that fate had brought him to this moment so that he could see it.\n\nA soft clicking sound reached their ears and at almost the same moment the doors on each row house opened. Raphael and Leonardo stepped out into the low light, dressed in their finest, identical except for their colors. Bright sapphire blue for Leo and deep crimson red for Raph, contrasted by loose black pants and enhanced by lengths of thick cloth wrapped around their heads, framing their eyes, dyed to match their silken robes.\n\nMikey was momentarily transfixed. He hadn't thought Leo could look any more handsome than he already did, but apparently, he could.\n\nRaph strode straight to Don, eyes locked on his mate, taking his hand as soon as he was within reach. \"Ya' ready for this?''\n\n\"More than ready. I thought we'd never get here.'' Don responded, nervous energy sending tremors across his shoulders now that Raph was with him.\n\nNot waiting even one more moment the second son moved away, clutching Don close to him as he led them toward the back of the estate.\n\nLeo moved up beside Mikey, reaching out to twist their fingers together, looking him over with an appreciative eye, \"You look comfortable, like you belong.'' He offered, quiet so the others couldn't hear.\n\nMikey shrugged with a lopsided smile, \"I'm not sure I completely [i]feel[/i] like I belong... but I'm getting there.''\n\nFollowing close behind Raph and Don, it was only a few more minutes before he realized where they were going, smiling as they came through the hedges.\n\nThe waterfall grotto was decorated like something out of a fairy story. Softly glowing lanterns were hanging from the branches of every tree, suffusing the area with their warm light. On the water each lily pad cradled a small flickering candle, making the rippling pool shimmer and sparkle.\n\nA tall pergola was set up right at the water's edge, with long gossamer drapes pulled out and up, fanning away from the structure to soften the roaring sound of the falls. Small plush pillows were scattered across the grass close to low tables topped with lavender carnations and red roses with smaller lanterns lighting their surfaces.\n\nNearest the pergola a small group of noble families were already seated, among them a few young ladies with prominent pouts on their faces. Mikey could only guess it was because they'd all had their sights on Raphael up until this very moment and he smiled in amusement, maybe one day they would realize they never stood a chance.\n\nBut as he looked around more he realized that most of the tables in the clearing were occupied by the serving staff, the young men and women dressed in the best they had with beaming smiles making up for their otherwise lack of grandeur. Turning quickly to Don he saw that his friend had noticed as well, his mouth hanging open in stunned surprise.\n\nLord Hamato was hurrying toward them, stopping before Don with barely contained enthusiasm. \"I invited all of the staff, releasing them from their duties for the evening if they wished to attend, I thought you might want them here.''\n\nDon was so overcome with emotion that he couldn't speak, nodding to the lord and smiling at his friends all in one fluid motion. Mikey could see Shime, the aged seamstress dabbing at her eyes with a napkin, and Kiku, trembling with excitement as she let her tears stream down her face. She was seated next to the same young male turtle from before who seemed to have an already noticeable damp patch on the shoulder of his tunic.\n\n\"I am sorry that this could not be the grand celebration it should be and that you both so deserve,'' Lord Hamato spoke again, \"With the threat of Hun still looming I'm afraid discretion is something we must practice tonight, I can only hope you find this enough to honor your...''\n\nRaphael stopped the lord with a hand on his shoulder, \"This is perfect father.'' Don chiming in quickly with a choked, \"Yes, thank you, my lord.''\n\nLord Hamato swelled with joy at their acceptance, \"Very well, let us not wait another moment then.'' He led them toward the water with pride radiating from him so forcefully it was surprising he didn't knock anyone to the ground with it.\n\nDirectly beneath the pergola a grandly robed priest waited, inviting both Raph and Don to kneel, facing each other on small pillows in front of him. Lord Hamato gestured for Leo and Mikey to join him at a small table right at the front.\n\nOnce everyone was settled silence fell, and the priest began the ceremony.\n\nHe started with a prayer, murmured in an ancient language that it seemed only the nobles understood, holding two small ceremonial lanterns over their heads as he chanted. Raphael and Donatello sat patiently, trying to control their facial expressions as they stared at each other.\n\n\"The moment each of you entered this world your souls began searching for each other.'' The priest began once the prayer was complete, \"They called to each other across distance and time, yearning for the other, drawn together like a bee to a flower, like the rain to the soil, like the sun and the moon chasing each other across the sky. When you found one another the song of your souls filled the heavens with the overwhelming joy of your love.''\n\nRaph was wiggling his eyebrows and tilting his head toward the priest while Don wrinkled his nose and tried his best not to laugh.\n\n\"The promises you make to each other tonight and the ties that will bond you as one will cross your years together, connecting you for eternity, fulfilling the destiny your souls set out to complete on the days of your birth. Here, in front of those gathered to bear witness, do you Raphael and do you Donatello seek to enter this ceremony?''\n\n\"Yeah.'' ''Yes.'' They answered in unison without hesitation, their eyes locked, beaming smiles stretching across their faces.\n\nThe priest nodded, asking them to join their hands before setting down the lanterns and lifting a length of shining green ribbon, no wider than half a finger, that he stretched out between them. Mikey could see that one edge of the ribbon had been dyed in red, with the other dyed in purple. He then began another prayer, lowering the ribbon into a bowl of dark liquid that was placed in front of him.\n\nLeo leaned over to whisper in his ear as the priest continued to chant, \"The ribbon is anointed with special perfumes and oils that are used to represent the embodiments of love and commitment and loyalty, and the prayer calls to their souls, opening the path for the moment when they will finally come together.''\n\nThe priest lifted the ribbon from the oily bowl and began to wrap it around Raph and Don's joined hands and wrists, trailing it halfway up their forearms, twisting it back and forth between them multiple times until he could tie the ends together at the top. Donnie was biting his lip around his smile, his arms trembling. Even Raph looked like he was barely holding himself together as he stared down at the ribbon encasing their hands.\n\nFor a moment Mikey's eyes were drawn skyward. The sun had set and a blanket of stars was starting to shine in the last fading rays of the light, joining the soft twinkle of fireflies that had begun to appear under the branches spread out above their heads, blinking a silent tempo to the priest's continued prayer. Mikey had never before believed in real magic, but after this night he was starting to think that maybe he could.\n\n\"The ribbon represents the connection of their souls,'' Leo said in his ear, bringing his attention back to the ceremony, \"Reaching out and drawing them in, to bind the two of them together.''\n\nThe priest removed the bowl of oils and placed two more empty bowls directly beneath Raph and Don's joined hands, then he lifted a candle between them.\n\n\"The flame of your two destinies will now consume the separation that has existed between you,'' The priest said, low, almost as if he were speaking so only Raph and Don could hear. \"It will meld and solidify into an unbreakable connection that will last for all of time, forging the foundation for your souls to join as one.''\n\nMikey tensed as the priest brought the candle down and lit the ribbon aflame, only relaxing at seeing the looks of wonder appearing on both Raph and Don's faces. They didn't jerk back or cry out, there was no heat, the flame a bright shimmering blue as it licked across their skin, and as it consumed the ribbon the ash fell into the empty bowls on the table beneath them, leaving behind pale lines of red and purple on their skin as it flaked away, the tattooed filigree swirling in loops around their fingers and up their arms.\n\nDon was shaking, his face scrunching into something between a smile and a sob, barely able to hold back his emotion as he watched a single tear roll down Raph's cheek, sliding past the lopsided grin on his face.\n\nMikey jumped a little as Leo reached over and took his hand, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. Looking up into his hopeful hazel eyes Mikey could see the question held there. Was this where he, where they, were destined to be in the not so distant future? Fire dancing between them, watching pale swirling lines tattoo themselves into their skin.\n\nHe was starting to think he knew what the answer was, and he wasn't scared.\n\nHe thought about where they touched, the solid constant of Leonardo against him, and all he could feel was soothing happiness, a comfortable certainty that he had never known in his life. Leo's thumb rubbed across his wrist and there was a pull in his chest, a yearning, something inside him reaching for what had never been there before.\n\nMikey had learned enough in the last few days to have an idea of what it was, and this time he listened to it, he let it wash over him, reached deep down inside himself to find where the ember glowed. He let it surface, encouraged it to come out and have its say. He sucked in a quick breath as the skin where Leo rested against him began to tingle.\n\nHis eyes darted up, captured by Leo's steady gaze, his eyes shining with relief, knowing that finally Mikey could feel it too.\n\nMikey stared, awestruck and only a little confused, a slow warmth spreading across his face, until finally it was too much, the wave of it threatening to carry him away, so he turned his head, hiding the blush but keeping the smile.\n\nHe looked out over the gathered people, reality bringing him sharply out of his foggy realization as he found himself pinned by the ice filled glares of the young ladies seated with their noble families. Oh. Apparently, Raphael wasn't the only one they'd had their hearts set on.\n\nWell good, Mikey thought with a smug grin, let them see. He raised his chin in triumph, claiming this victory by clinging to the fingers wrapped around his even tighter. Leo was his, Mikey had no doubts about that now. The clan leader's eldest son was officially off the market. Too bad for them.\n\nReturning his attention to the last part of the ceremony he could see Leo smiling tenderly at him from the corner of his eye.\n\nThe priest had taken the bowls of ash from under Raph and Don's hands and was pouring a cup full of ceremonial wine into each of them, chanting another prayer as he mixed the smoky dust into the dark liquid.\n\nLeo leaned in to explain, the low rumble of his voice sending tremors so deep through him Mikey could feel them in his bones, \"The ash is the physical manifestation of their souls, the wine a representation of their blood. When they drink from the bowls, they will be taking pieces of each other's souls into themselves and the ceremony will be complete.''\n\nIt wasn't quite as simple as that though.\n\nRaph and Don lifted the bowls to their lips and drank deeply. As they swallowed, a soft light slowly began to shimmer at the tips of their fingers, spreading and rising along the red and purple lines staining their skin until they were shining, sparkling, glowing in the twilight, brighter than the lanterns and the stars above.\n\nThey set down the bowls, their shoulders stiffening in unison, drawing deep breaths into their lungs as each small light from every lantern and flame and twinkling firefly in the grotto expanded and blazed bright and white, filling the space until everyone had to squint and lower their eyes against the glare. The light surrounded them, engulfing everyone gathered in a soothing blanket of warmth and peace. The low steady sound of a drumbeat filled the air.\n\nWhen the effect finally faded, they all opened their eyes to find Raph and Don standing, the table between them pulled out of the way, clinging to each other, their foreheads pressed tightly together as they stared deeply into each other's eyes, breaths ragged and heavy. The filigree on their arms was flowing like shining water, glimmering in the low warm light. They blinked and then Raphael kissed Donatello with a slow tenderness that Mikey wouldn't have believed the second son capable of if he weren't witnessing it with his own eyes.\n\nThe nobles began to clap politely, and the servants cheered from the back, buzzing with excitement. Mikey blinked as tears filled his vision, overwhelming happiness filling him as he tried not to cry. At his side Leo reached up to move his mask out of the way, discreetly brushing away the wetness there threatening to spill over.\n\nAnd across from them, sitting tall and stoic and perfectly still, staring up into the star filled sky, absently tracing the filigree on his own arms with the tips of his fingers, Lord Hamato proudly allowed a river of tears to fall freely down his face.\n\n[center]~*~*~*~\n\ntbc...[/center]", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
~*~*~*~

Chapter Twelve: Bonding

~*~*~*~


Sometimes Michelangelo wondered... if he had the ability to travel through time and could go back to give his past self a head's up about some big thing that was about to happen, what exactly he would say. Because he wasn't always able to sort his thoughts in a way that actually made any sense, and if he could find a way to reach back and tell himself what not to freak out about, he figured that so many things in his life would have happened with more finesse.

Like now. He would go back and tell himself to stop being so fearful and suspicious because nothing, absolutely nothing in this entire world, would ever be more satisfying than the feeling of Leonardo's lips pressed against his own and that skipping over all of the uncertainty and simply jumping him the second he had laid eyes on the clan leader's eldest son would have been the better course of action for everyone involved.

They had been following Lord Hamato into the main hall so that he and Don could begin interviewing the candidates for replacing him as steward immediately. But as they were cutting through a side hall on the way, Leo had suddenly snatched him around the waist and pulled him into a darkened alcove without any of the others even noticing they had disappeared.

And now here he was, hidden in a shadowed corner, Leo's leg insistent between his thighs while he plundered Mikey's mouth like he was looking for lost treasure, and Mikey thought that he would just have to learn to live without air because he certainly wasn't interested in breaking away to breathe any time soon.

Leo's hands were wandering, finding all the small places along his body that pulled the best gasps and moans from his throat. The feel of him was overwhelming and intoxicating and he couldn't quite remember what the world had been like before this, when it had been empty and muted and nothing like the sparking color that filled him to bursting now. All he knew was that it was perfect, everything was just... so perfect...

A door closed somewhere nearby, someone was sweeping the stone in the garden outside the window across from them and he could just hear the distant rumble of the villagers occupying the main courtyard. The steady activity of the estate continued in their periphery, but Mikey did his best to ignore it all, certain none of it was important because nothing was more important than the fiery trail Leo's fingers were leaving as they slipped under his tunic and pressed into the skin just above where his pants rested on his hips.

They couldn't ignore the awareness of their surroundings forever though, eventually all of those sounds broke through the heavy rush of their breaths. Leo's eyes glittered as he opened them and smirked down at Mikey, a resigned sigh his only offering as they came back to reality just enough to remember what they had been doing before getting lost in this alcove.

With a playful smirk of his own, Mikey brought his hand down low to graze against the smoldering heat he found that was becoming more and more prominent by the second.

"It's a busy day...'' He said, teasing over the fabric with his fingernails.

Leo groaned and leaned in closer, "You're going to get me in trouble.''

"Hey now,'' Mikey admonished, lifting his chin to whisper against Leo's lips, "I didn't pull myself into this dark, hidden corner, that's on you...''

Leo chuckled, pressing into another deep kiss, reaching down to reluctantly move Mikey's questing fingers to a more neutral position higher up on his plastron, lazily exploring his mouth as they waited for the rising desire between them to slowly ebb away.

"I'm counting the seconds until I can have you alone in my bed.'' Leo promised as he stepped back, pulling them out of the alcove.

"Me too...'' Mikey shivered with a pout.

The thudding sound of hurried footsteps came to them as they approached the doorway leading to the main hall, Leo stopping with a quick step back only a second before Raph came barreling through it.

"Where the hell have ya' been?'' He demanded, skidding to a halt, "Hun is makin' a push on the silos, we gotta move!''

Mikey didn't think he would ever get tired of watching Leo's commanding mantle slide into place when his duty called him. He rushed after Raph without hesitation, calling back over his shoulder for Mikey to stay in the hall.

It was a little unsettling, watching the two of them quickly depart with a group of soldiers on their heels. Mikey looked around and spied Don sitting next to Lord Hamato on the dais, with a handful of servants gathered before them, all their attention on the doors Leo and Raph had just exited through.

After a moment, the lord cleared his throat, bringing everyone's eyes back to him, motioning for Don to continue their conversation. Whatever was happening didn't seem to be worrying him too much, maybe he was simply confident in his son's ability to handle the situation before it became a real threat.

Mikey frowned, he couldn't hear any sounds of battle or alarm. Through the main doors, thrown wide open to let in the afternoon breeze, he could see the villagers milling about, they didn't seem affected by the sudden commotion at all.

A familiar sense of self-preservation came over him for an instant, urging him to move, to find somewhere safe, but pushing back against the twitch in his muscles, he found he could ignore it. If Lord Hamato wasn't troubled by the sudden urgency, then he would just have to trust that Leo and Raph had everything well under control.

Needing a distraction, he wandered out to the main courtyard, exiting through the doors into the warm midday sun. He moved through the crowd, ignored for the most part since none of the villagers knew who he was anyway, steadying the rapid beat of his heart by simply observing them for a while, reading their faces as he walked.

He could tell most of the villagers were frightened even if they hid it well, but it was obvious that the unknown of what Hun would do, or what might remain of their homes and livelihoods, was already taking its toll. A good number were angry, huddled together in small groups, grumbling with complaints of why the clan hadn't marched out to deal with Hun immediately, and why they were having to cower within the walls while Hun destroyed all that they had. And a grateful few were simply accepting, going about their mundane chores as if all of this were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Still, they were a strong and hardy people and Mikey was impressed with their resilience. But the more he moved among them, the more he became aware of a smaller, silent segment of the population, one that was just as frightened and confused, but largely ignored by the gathered crowd.

The children, some almost old enough to be considered grown, most still small enough to bury their faces in their mother's skirts, all trembling wide eyed as they looked around at the adults, knowing on some level that they were within the estate walls so the Hamato Clan could protect them, but not yet aware enough of the world to understand what the danger was. All they knew was that they couldn't go home, and their parents were scared.

The sight of it broke something in Mikey's fragile heart.

Overcome by the need to do something, he looked around, an idea forming at seeing a small common area the villagers had set up in the middle of the main courtyard. There was a cooking fire with chopped logs set up in a circle around it as a temporary meeting place. It was a space these people were obviously using to gather for comfort, it was cozy, and it was exactly what Mikey needed.

With a determined breath Mikey slipped away, quickly rushing through the grounds back to Leo's row house. Darting inside he grabbed his case and ran as fast as he could back to the courtyard, finding an empty spot where he could see most of the gathered people.

Settling his guitar in his lap he adjusted the strings and began to strum out one of his more upbeat numbers that he would usually play on street corners because it was quick to attract a crowd, and as a result, their coin. After a few bars he looked up to see that none of the adults had bothered to notice his sudden appearance, but that was fine because he had already captured the attention of almost every young person in the square.

Smiling warmly, he cocked his head, inviting them to join him and then he began to sing. The song was an old dancing jig, usually used for weddings and birthday celebrations. It was jaunty and carefree and immediately the youngest children began to dance with glee, the older children joining in after a few moments, still trying to act grown up even as they smiled and sang along.

Soon the square was filled with their twittering laughter and joyful yells and a few of the adults were starting to take note, turning away from their tasks to see where their children had scampered off too.

For almost an hour he played song after song, delighting in the way the little ones would leap and jump, begging him for more at the end of every tune. Their infectious laughter lightened the mood throughout the square, and before long all the attention in the courtyard had shifted to Mikey and the lighthearted distraction he was providing.

He indulged them until his fingers were sore and he ran out of songs to play. As a traveling minstrel he had an impressive library of music locked up inside his head, but not all of his songs were appropriate for children, so when he had nothing new to entertain them with, he gathered them close and began to show them how he held his fingers across the strings to make all of the different notes.

Before long, the children quieted, drowsily watching Mikey pluck at the strings, falling asleep leaned against each other. A few of their parents began stepping forward, lifting their small bodies carefully to take them back to their tents. He humbly accepted their warm, softly murmured praise with a sense of accomplishment that he didn't know he could feel.

It was almost disappointing when Leo appeared, placing a hand on his shoulder with an unreadable expression on his face, "I hate to break this up, but I'm afraid I need to steal you away now.''

"Is everything alright?'' Mikey asked, looking up with concern.

"Yes, everything is fine.'' Leo answered with a pointed look that said he wouldn't provide details in front of the children.

With a nod Mikey put away his guitar and stood. The remaining children protested, begging him to stay. Mikey found that he very much wanted to grant their requests, but Leo was gently tugging on his elbow, so all he could do was quickly promise them that he would be back to play again as soon as he could and he followed Leo out of the courtyard.

As they walked Leo was looking at him like he was seeing Mikey for the first time, a faint smile ghosting across his lips.

"How long were you watching me?'' Mikey finally asked with a sheepish smile.

"Not long. We only just got back.''

"What happened?''

Leo shrugged dismissively, "Nothing really. Hun made a threat on our grain silos, but it wasn't serious. He just wanted to remind us that he's still here.''

Leo brought him back to the row house where Raph was waiting for them. The second son gave Mikey an approving nod, surprising him by throwing an arm around his shoulders as they went inside.

~*~

The three were pleasantly warm, having filled their bellies with wine, when Don finally rejoined them, a hunched no nonsense seamstress leading a small group of servants on his heels. She was pulling a small bamboo cart behind her filled with bright fabrics and was so ancient her wrinkles had wrinkles and Mikey didn't see how her moss colored skin could hold any more.

She eyed him for a moment, her hooded stare raking up and down his body with disdainful judgment that had him shifting uncomfortably before she hissed at him to follow her down the hall toward Leonardo's bed chamber. Mikey quailed, looking desperate as Don laughed and grabbed his hand, leading them both after her.

She directed the group of servants to set up supplies along one side of the room and they quickly moved to obey, laying fabric and thread and needles out in neat rows.

Any excitement he might have felt at finally being in the room where Leo slept was overshadowed by Don pulling them both up in front of a large floor length mirror and deftly removing his tunic while indicating Mikey should do the same.

"What... is happening?'' Mikey asked, tentatively undoing a few toggles.

"You need something nice to wear.'' Don said shortly, turning to the mirror and standing straight as the old seamstress flung a bolt of violet silk over his shoulders and began cutting and pinning it in multiple places.

"Ok...'' Mikey breathed, removing his tunic as instructed, looking over his shoulder toward where Leo had seated himself on the edge of the bed, chuckling with amusement, his arms crossed. Raph was leaning in the doorway, eyes traveling up and down Donatello's form as his mate was enveloped in a sea of silk.

The seamstress was quick, in almost no time at all she had the fabric folded and pinned into the shape of a beautiful robe, fastening small swatches of red silk onto the shoulders where Mikey assumed the Hamato family bell flowers would be embroidered after the robe was tailored.

Don was the center of attention, glowing in the afternoon light coming in through the windows, the purple shade of the fabric perfectly accenting his olive colored skin. Mikey glanced over, noting that Raph looked like he was only barely holding back from launching himself across the room and tackling Don where he stood. And it certainly didn't seem like Don was helping his restraint, judging by the sideways smirk he was flashing in return.

Placing one final pin, the seamstress carefully helped Don extract himself from the half-finished garment, handing it off to the servants who immediately started to work on it, expertly and swiftly sewing the pieces together. He watched them in the mirror, having never seen clothing being made before.

"You! What color?!''

The sudden loud demand from the seamstresses made Mikey jump, spinning to see her crouching over half a dozen bolts of silk in a range of colors from green and brown to yellow and gray. Caught off guard he glanced quickly at Leo, surprised that he was really being allowed to choose for himself. The eldest son simply smiled and nodded, indicating he could.

"Um... I guess the orange... please...'' Mikey said, uncomfortable with the idea that all this finery could also be for him.

She scooped up the fabric and threw it over him, pinning folds just as quickly as she had with Don. Mikey looked down as she worked, staring in wonder at the sumptuous material flowing down his arms. Never in his life had he ever worn anything so luxurious, it was foreign and unexpected and completely... magical. He ran his fingers down his forearm marveling at the smooth cloth that flowed around him as he moved his arm, clinging to his skin like it belonged there.

The old woman tutted at him as she finished, "Tch, you're too skinny, your shoulders are too narrow. You should eat more.''

Mikey wasn't sure if he should be offended or not, frowning down at himself. Turning to the mirror he looked up and his eyes widened in shock, taking in the intricately folded and pinned garment hanging from his shoulders, blowing his breath out through his lips.

"I look like a puffed-up peacock.'' He said, his voice disjointed like it was coming from someone else.

Leo slid up behind him as the seamstress turned to put away her scissors and pins. He stood close, looking over Mikey's shoulder into the mirror, his eyes trailing down to the floor and back up again. Mikey felt the demanding press of Leo's fingers on his hip just before warm breath tickled against his ear.

"You look breathtaking.'' Leo whispered low so only he could hear, causing a shiver to plunge down Mikey's spine. Heat flushed his neck as he thought about the two of them, alone in this room, in only a few short hours. Turning his head, he found Leo's lips easily within reach, he smiled and leaned in just enough to...

"Don't Touch!'' The seamstress screeched, swatting at Leo with a short measuring stick where his arm rested against the silk covering Mikey's side, catching him right on the exposed skin of his wrist.

Leo yelped and jumped back quickly, rubbing where she had hit him, "Alright! Sorry...''

"Shime...'' Don whispered, staring at her wide eyed that she would dare strike her lord. But she just waved him off.

"Oh, don't look at me like that, I don't answer to you anymore.'' She grumbled, moving forward to help Mikey slide out of the pinned garment.

Don looked like she had just slapped him across the face and Raph had to leave the room because he was laughing too hard. The team of servants were blatantly averting their eyes from the commotion right in front of them while trying not to laugh themselves, focusing on the two garments they were charged with completing.

Shime was bent over, putting away her tools while ignoring them all. When she was finished, she turned, startling Don as she reached up for him, cradling his face in her withered old hands.

"My time in service has been as long as my life, and throughout all of it I have not had the pleasure of working under a steward more accomplished or kind than you.'' Her eyes darted to the doorway where Raphael had reappeared, "He is good for you, I can feel the song of your souls. Treat each other well and you will have happiness all of your days.''

Don stood, an embarrassed warmth coloring his cheeks, highlighting a grateful smile, "Thank you, Shime...''

She nodded, blinking away the tears filling her rheumy eyes as she turned and joined the servants in their work to quickly complete the new robes.

~*~

The sun was low, burning the sky with streaks of orange and red and pink, casting a warm glow on every surface in the garden. They waited in their new robes near the fountain. Don was staring at Raph's row house, fidgeting with his sleeves and Mikey swore he could feel the impatience emanating from him in waves.

"I don't even know what to do with my arms.'' Mikey joked, only half complaining, "I've never worn anything this nice in my life.''

"You wear it well.'' Don said sincerely without looking away from the house.

Mikey straightened his shoulders, "Well, I mean, I can make anything look good.''

The relief in Don's laugh as he finally turned to blink over at him was noticeable and Mikey smirked, happy to draw his friend's attention away from the time that seemed to be crawling by at a snail's pace. And while it may have been true that the flowing orange garment was perfectly accentuating the sea green color of his skin, making the freckles dusting his cheeks pop darkly, all of it was nothing compared to Don.

The former steward was resplendent in his violet silk, his form luminous not only from the way the color complemented his features but from the happiness suffusing his every pore, and Mikey felt so lucky that fate had brought him to this moment so that he could see it.

A soft clicking sound reached their ears and at almost the same moment the doors on each row house opened. Raphael and Leonardo stepped out into the low light, dressed in their finest, identical except for their colors. Bright sapphire blue for Leo and deep crimson red for Raph, contrasted by loose black pants and enhanced by lengths of thick cloth wrapped around their heads, framing their eyes, dyed to match their silken robes.

Mikey was momentarily transfixed. He hadn't thought Leo could look any more handsome than he already did, but apparently, he could.

Raph strode straight to Don, eyes locked on his mate, taking his hand as soon as he was within reach. "Ya' ready for this?''

"More than ready. I thought we'd never get here.'' Don responded, nervous energy sending tremors across his shoulders now that Raph was with him.

Not waiting even one more moment the second son moved away, clutching Don close to him as he led them toward the back of the estate.

Leo moved up beside Mikey, reaching out to twist their fingers together, looking him over with an appreciative eye, "You look comfortable, like you belong.'' He offered, quiet so the others couldn't hear.

Mikey shrugged with a lopsided smile, "I'm not sure I completely feel like I belong... but I'm getting there.''

Following close behind Raph and Don, it was only a few more minutes before he realized where they were going, smiling as they came through the hedges.

The waterfall grotto was decorated like something out of a fairy story. Softly glowing lanterns were hanging from the branches of every tree, suffusing the area with their warm light. On the water each lily pad cradled a small flickering candle, making the rippling pool shimmer and sparkle.

A tall pergola was set up right at the water's edge, with long gossamer drapes pulled out and up, fanning away from the structure to soften the roaring sound of the falls. Small plush pillows were scattered across the grass close to low tables topped with lavender carnations and red roses with smaller lanterns lighting their surfaces.

Nearest the pergola a small group of noble families were already seated, among them a few young ladies with prominent pouts on their faces. Mikey could only guess it was because they'd all had their sights on Raphael up until this very moment and he smiled in amusement, maybe one day they would realize they never stood a chance.

But as he looked around more he realized that most of the tables in the clearing were occupied by the serving staff, the young men and women dressed in the best they had with beaming smiles making up for their otherwise lack of grandeur. Turning quickly to Don he saw that his friend had noticed as well, his mouth hanging open in stunned surprise.

Lord Hamato was hurrying toward them, stopping before Don with barely contained enthusiasm. "I invited all of the staff, releasing them from their duties for the evening if they wished to attend, I thought you might want them here.''

Don was so overcome with emotion that he couldn't speak, nodding to the lord and smiling at his friends all in one fluid motion. Mikey could see Shime, the aged seamstress dabbing at her eyes with a napkin, and Kiku, trembling with excitement as she let her tears stream down her face. She was seated next to the same young male turtle from before who seemed to have an already noticeable damp patch on the shoulder of his tunic.

"I am sorry that this could not be the grand celebration it should be and that you both so deserve,'' Lord Hamato spoke again, "With the threat of Hun still looming I'm afraid discretion is something we must practice tonight, I can only hope you find this enough to honor your...''

Raphael stopped the lord with a hand on his shoulder, "This is perfect father.'' Don chiming in quickly with a choked, "Yes, thank you, my lord.''

Lord Hamato swelled with joy at their acceptance, "Very well, let us not wait another moment then.'' He led them toward the water with pride radiating from him so forcefully it was surprising he didn't knock anyone to the ground with it.

Directly beneath the pergola a grandly robed priest waited, inviting both Raph and Don to kneel, facing each other on small pillows in front of him. Lord Hamato gestured for Leo and Mikey to join him at a small table right at the front.

Once everyone was settled silence fell, and the priest began the ceremony.

He started with a prayer, murmured in an ancient language that it seemed only the nobles understood, holding two small ceremonial lanterns over their heads as he chanted. Raphael and Donatello sat patiently, trying to control their facial expressions as they stared at each other.

"The moment each of you entered this world your souls began searching for each other.'' The priest began once the prayer was complete, "They called to each other across distance and time, yearning for the other, drawn together like a bee to a flower, like the rain to the soil, like the sun and the moon chasing each other across the sky. When you found one another the song of your souls filled the heavens with the overwhelming joy of your love.''

Raph was wiggling his eyebrows and tilting his head toward the priest while Don wrinkled his nose and tried his best not to laugh.

"The promises you make to each other tonight and the ties that will bond you as one will cross your years together, connecting you for eternity, fulfilling the destiny your souls set out to complete on the days of your birth. Here, in front of those gathered to bear witness, do you Raphael and do you Donatello seek to enter this ceremony?''

"Yeah.'' ''Yes.'' They answered in unison without hesitation, their eyes locked, beaming smiles stretching across their faces.

The priest nodded, asking them to join their hands before setting down the lanterns and lifting a length of shining green ribbon, no wider than half a finger, that he stretched out between them. Mikey could see that one edge of the ribbon had been dyed in red, with the other dyed in purple. He then began another prayer, lowering the ribbon into a bowl of dark liquid that was placed in front of him.

Leo leaned over to whisper in his ear as the priest continued to chant, "The ribbon is anointed with special perfumes and oils that are used to represent the embodiments of love and commitment and loyalty, and the prayer calls to their souls, opening the path for the moment when they will finally come together.''

The priest lifted the ribbon from the oily bowl and began to wrap it around Raph and Don's joined hands and wrists, trailing it halfway up their forearms, twisting it back and forth between them multiple times until he could tie the ends together at the top. Donnie was biting his lip around his smile, his arms trembling. Even Raph looked like he was barely holding himself together as he stared down at the ribbon encasing their hands.

For a moment Mikey's eyes were drawn skyward. The sun had set and a blanket of stars was starting to shine in the last fading rays of the light, joining the soft twinkle of fireflies that had begun to appear under the branches spread out above their heads, blinking a silent tempo to the priest's continued prayer. Mikey had never before believed in real magic, but after this night he was starting to think that maybe he could.

"The ribbon represents the connection of their souls,'' Leo said in his ear, bringing his attention back to the ceremony, "Reaching out and drawing them in, to bind the two of them together.''

The priest removed the bowl of oils and placed two more empty bowls directly beneath Raph and Don's joined hands, then he lifted a candle between them.

"The flame of your two destinies will now consume the separation that has existed between you,'' The priest said, low, almost as if he were speaking so only Raph and Don could hear. "It will meld and solidify into an unbreakable connection that will last for all of time, forging the foundation for your souls to join as one.''

Mikey tensed as the priest brought the candle down and lit the ribbon aflame, only relaxing at seeing the looks of wonder appearing on both Raph and Don's faces. They didn't jerk back or cry out, there was no heat, the flame a bright shimmering blue as it licked across their skin, and as it consumed the ribbon the ash fell into the empty bowls on the table beneath them, leaving behind pale lines of red and purple on their skin as it flaked away, the tattooed filigree swirling in loops around their fingers and up their arms.

Don was shaking, his face scrunching into something between a smile and a sob, barely able to hold back his emotion as he watched a single tear roll down Raph's cheek, sliding past the lopsided grin on his face.

Mikey jumped a little as Leo reached over and took his hand, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. Looking up into his hopeful hazel eyes Mikey could see the question held there. Was this where he, where they, were destined to be in the not so distant future? Fire dancing between them, watching pale swirling lines tattoo themselves into their skin.

He was starting to think he knew what the answer was, and he wasn't scared.

He thought about where they touched, the solid constant of Leonardo against him, and all he could feel was soothing happiness, a comfortable certainty that he had never known in his life. Leo's thumb rubbed across his wrist and there was a pull in his chest, a yearning, something inside him reaching for what had never been there before.

Mikey had learned enough in the last few days to have an idea of what it was, and this time he listened to it, he let it wash over him, reached deep down inside himself to find where the ember glowed. He let it surface, encouraged it to come out and have its say. He sucked in a quick breath as the skin where Leo rested against him began to tingle.

His eyes darted up, captured by Leo's steady gaze, his eyes shining with relief, knowing that finally Mikey could feel it too.

Mikey stared, awestruck and only a little confused, a slow warmth spreading across his face, until finally it was too much, the wave of it threatening to carry him away, so he turned his head, hiding the blush but keeping the smile.

He looked out over the gathered people, reality bringing him sharply out of his foggy realization as he found himself pinned by the ice filled glares of the young ladies seated with their noble families. Oh. Apparently, Raphael wasn't the only one they'd had their hearts set on.

Well good, Mikey thought with a smug grin, let them see. He raised his chin in triumph, claiming this victory by clinging to the fingers wrapped around his even tighter. Leo was his, Mikey had no doubts about that now. The clan leader's eldest son was officially off the market. Too bad for them.

Returning his attention to the last part of the ceremony he could see Leo smiling tenderly at him from the corner of his eye.

The priest had taken the bowls of ash from under Raph and Don's hands and was pouring a cup full of ceremonial wine into each of them, chanting another prayer as he mixed the smoky dust into the dark liquid.

Leo leaned in to explain, the low rumble of his voice sending tremors so deep through him Mikey could feel them in his bones, "The ash is the physical manifestation of their souls, the wine a representation of their blood. When they drink from the bowls, they will be taking pieces of each other's souls into themselves and the ceremony will be complete.''

It wasn't quite as simple as that though.

Raph and Don lifted the bowls to their lips and drank deeply. As they swallowed, a soft light slowly began to shimmer at the tips of their fingers, spreading and rising along the red and purple lines staining their skin until they were shining, sparkling, glowing in the twilight, brighter than the lanterns and the stars above.

They set down the bowls, their shoulders stiffening in unison, drawing deep breaths into their lungs as each small light from every lantern and flame and twinkling firefly in the grotto expanded and blazed bright and white, filling the space until everyone had to squint and lower their eyes against the glare. The light surrounded them, engulfing everyone gathered in a soothing blanket of warmth and peace. The low steady sound of a drumbeat filled the air.

When the effect finally faded, they all opened their eyes to find Raph and Don standing, the table between them pulled out of the way, clinging to each other, their foreheads pressed tightly together as they stared deeply into each other's eyes, breaths ragged and heavy. The filigree on their arms was flowing like shining water, glimmering in the low warm light. They blinked and then Raphael kissed Donatello with a slow tenderness that Mikey wouldn't have believed the second son capable of if he weren't witnessing it with his own eyes.

The nobles began to clap politely, and the servants cheered from the back, buzzing with excitement. Mikey blinked as tears filled his vision, overwhelming happiness filling him as he tried not to cry. At his side Leo reached up to move his mask out of the way, discreetly brushing away the wetness there threatening to spill over.

And across from them, sitting tall and stoic and perfectly still, staring up into the star filled sky, absently tracing the filigree on his own arms with the tips of his fingers, Lord Hamato proudly allowed a river of tears to fall freely down his face.

~*~*~*~

tbc...
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