Chapter Text
What would you describe as evil??
Selfishness??
Malicious intent?
Traitorous?
Manipulative?
Well, that’s the answer most would go with if asked such a question.
If you ask (Y/N) however, he’d call all that stupid.
Selfishness?? It’s a selfish world! How on Earth is he supposed to live in it without looking out for number one?
Malicious intent? How could you know someone’s intent behind their actions? Also, you never know the full story. Maybe the other person deserved it.
Traitorous? He’d refer you back to his answer on Selfishness.
And lastly, Manipulative?? What’s more manipulative, a person or group who’s taking the law in their own hands despite police existing, therefore risking civilian lives just so they could pummel a robber then, after that, acting like they were a good person for doing that, or the robber who probably had bills and a family to feed and tried to find a way to get that money?
He understood his argument and morals strayed pretty heavily from others, and he was fine with that. He didn’t feel he was in the wrong at all. He grew up on those beliefs, got taught them by his closest parental figure and mentor as well as practiced them.
Who was his mentor?
Oh, well, easy. It was a mutant, one that went by the name Tiger Claw.
If anything, (Y/N) viewed him more as a dad than a mentor, but Tiger Claw insisted on being called a mentor. So, that’s what he did.
Though, he still referred to him as a dad in his mind. After all, he was cared for by the mutant in the little isolated village where the two lived. Not to mention, (Y/N) had no memories of a biological family as far as he knew of. In fact, the first really memorable memory he really had was when he was just five years old and it was about Tiger Claw.
Even back then, Tiger Claw took on a mentor role and tried to teach (Y/N) what he knew about fighting and combat. But, inevitably when you introduce a child to weapons, they end up getting hurt…and (Y/N) did.
He nearly sliced his palm open with a katana. He just remembered crying and crying, sobbing like the little child he was while Tiger Claw tensed up from where he stood above him, unused to the sounds of a child’s tears and how to care for it.
Obviously, his first thought was to bandage the wound, but that didn’t get (Y/N) to stop crying since the pain was still there.
So…He hugged the little boy, scooping him up in his arms and trying to rock him as he hugged him.
“It’s okay, little warrior. We can train another time..” (Y/N) still remembers those words Tiger Claw said to him.
Turns out, big soft mutant kitty fur was an excellent way to get a child to stop crying.
But, if that wasn't an example of how close the two were, Tiger Claw really showed it in his actions as of recently.
Turns out, he has some ‘business’ to attend to in New York City. All he would really tell (Y/N) is that an old friend needed a hand in eliminating a little problem. Tiger Claw could’ve easily just left and put (Y/N) in charge of himself for a couple months, but he didn’t. He didn’t want (Y/N) to be alone and so, after some discussion with his ‘old friend’, he had decided to take (Y/N) with him.
“Now, you have to be on your best behavior while we are in there, okay?? No playing around, no tricks, and you have to be polite. We are guests.”
(Y/N) hummed tiredly from behind Tiger Claw as he trailed behind him. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Be respectful and all that jazz..” He yawned out, exhausted from the days the two spent walking just to get to New York.
“It’s not just about being respectful, (Y/N).”
Tiger Claw let out a gruff sigh as he spared a glance behind him at (Y/N) with his still working eye.
“These people aren’t like me. They’re not gonna care about you as much as someone who knows you would. They’re very antisocial, in fact, they didn’t even want you to come with me.” He explained, pausing for a second as the two walked before deciding to elaborate, trying to get as much information across to (Y/N) as possible before he made a fool of himself in front of the Foot Clan. “In fact you will be expected to aid them in their mission, that’s the only way they’d let you go.”
Now, that part caught (Y/N)’s attention, making him perk up and shoot his head to look at Tiger Claw. “What?! Ughh, I hate doing work!!”
“It’s not that bad. You might even enjoy it.” Tiger Claw spoke, trying to make (Y/N) more enthusiastic. “He has a daughter, y’know. She’s around your age. You might end up working with her.”
That did little to motivate (Y/N) though, with him just scrunching up his nose at the thought. “And what?? Spend all my time with some random girl? No thanks, she’s probably weird!!”
“Don’t test me, boy.” Tiger Claw turned to face (Y/N), reaching out to grab on the boy's ear when he insulted the clan leader’s daughter, earning a yelp from the boy. “You better not embarrass me, got it?? I can’t have you starting no fights with The Shredder's daughter or he’ll definitely hate you! You have to make a good impression!”
(Y/N) hissed in pain, moving to grab onto Tiger Claw’s wrist. “Okay, okay!! I won't start anything!” He huffed out which seemed to calm Tiger Claw as he let go of (Y/N)’s ear.
As soon as he did, (Y/N) clamped a hand over it, rubbing at the now sore skin as he groaned and grumbled under his breath, muttering some nonsense about, “She probably isn’t even that good at her job..” and whatnot. Though, that didn’t last long as soon he found himself begrudgingly inquiring about the part he had to play in this mission. “So…What’s the job??”
Tiger Claw grunted, looking ahead of himself down at the path before the two that they would have to trench through in the dead of night. “You can consider it a pest removal of sorts. The Shredder has some reptiles he needs to be removed. Apparently, they have been a thorn in his side. I will be tasked with trying to take their sensei, Hamato Yoshi, to The Shredder, meanwhile you can do whatever you want to those little turtles.”
(Y/N) perked up, liking the sound of having freedom to do whatever he wanted. “Whatever I want?? For real?” He repeated, wanting to make sure he heard Tiger Claw correctly.
“Mhm. Toy with them, play with them, torture them, do whatever you please, just make sure they are either dead or given to The Shredder after, got it?” Tiger Claw spoke, making (Y/N) get giddy with excitement at the chance to finally do his own solo mission, not only that, but one where he could essentially go crazy with it!!
“Ooh, if I do good will you let me go out on solo missions more often?? I love those!!” He beamed, flashing a bright grin at his dad—I mean, mentor.
Tiger Claw simply rolled his eyes in return, though, ever so slightly the corners of his mouth turned upwards. “We’ll see…”
“Yess!!” (Y/N) fist pumped the air, ecstatic with his once exhausted energy now being replaced with renewed vigor, making him walk with an extra pep in his step. He was giddy like a child on Christmas. Tiger Claw noticed.
“Enthusiasm is good, use that, but just be warned that this isn’t a fun little field trip. You’re going to have a lot of expectations on you to succeed from the others, you can’t toy around.” He spoke, moving to rest one of his large, paw-like hands on his shoulder, the calloused pads of it feeling weird to some but something that (Y/N) had grown used to.
“And I will succeed! I never failed you before, did I??”
“No. But, try and remember this. One wrong move, one moment of carelessness, one moment of weakness–and they will not hesitate to kill you. Do you understand me?” His words rang loudly in the ears of the teen, trying to drill into his brain how important this would all be, yet (Y/N) was cocky and ignorant like all teens were, with Tiger Claw’s words just going in one ear and coming out of the other.
“Relaaxx, I won’t fail you, Takeshi!!” Tiger Claw paused for a moment, his brain almost lagging as it was rare for (Y/N) to use his real name. Slowly though, he found his gaze softening.
“I know you won’t. You’re a good student.” He lifted his paw from (Y/N)’s shoulder up to his head, patting it and ruffling the teens hair.
(Y/N) squirmed under his hand, moving to fix his hair before looking around, pausing as he noticed the bright lights around them. They’ve made it into the city already?? How? When?
“Woah…” He stopped, halting all movement as he was drawn to the bright lights of the city, making the once boring dark night sky look so beautiful in contrast to all the lights and sparkle. He had never seen a civilization like this…In fact, he never saw a civilization, period.
“Is this the place…?” He asked, in complete awe and enthralled in the beauty of the city.
A smile pulled at Tiger Claw’s lips at seeing (Y/N)’s reaction.
“Yep. This is the place.”