Hamato Sirani (a tmnt little sister book)

First words

Week 3

Splinter watched his tv rerun quietly, relieved that all the children were in bed. It was so rare for him to have a moment alone now a days. He used to have a lot of time before he turned into... a sad rat man.

But, it was easier with Sirani around now. She kept the boys busy and she reminded him of what it felt like to be human. She was lively and a good distraction. Besides, she made the boys a little more responsible.

Donnie now went to bed earlier instead of staying up to invent something, because he didn't want the light to keep Sirani up. He'd learned after the first few times he tried it because she was extremely grumpy the next few mornings. She wasn't even amused with Leo's magic shows.

Raph had to be more careful with his strength. When holding her or playing with her he had to watch himself. It was a good exercise for control. He'd hurt her accidentally one time. The first and last time he'd ever done that. He'd squeezed her a little harder than was comfortable and she began crying. From then on he was as gentle as he could be, always worrying that he was hurting her. It even took a little prompting to encourage him to hold her again.

Mikey had to learn to be a good influence. The two were very close in age so whatever Mikey did Sirani did. If he was drawing on the walls then so was she. He learned quickly when he'd get in twice as much trouble.

Leo had to learn not to abuse his older siblings powers. He tricked her into believing that a monster lived in the sewers, and she had kept him up for a week with her crying at night.

The family felt more... complete.

More whole.

He was very happy indeed that the boys had gotten used to their little sister so quickly. Honestly he'd been expecting at least one of them to throw a fit. But they didn't!

He hadn't even known if he himself would be up for bringing her into the family.

But she was alone in the rain.

She was cold and hungry.

He was sure now: she belonged with the Hamato family.

He debated about getting up for some cake and milk, until his thoughts were interrupted by a small sniffle.

He turned to the living room door to see who it was.
He'd expected Mikey, even Leo, but not Sirani.

She sat on the floor, small stuffed tiger in her hands.

He'd scavenged it for her a week ago and now it never left her side.

"Sirani?" He asked, even though she couldn't answer. "What are you doing up, child?"
She sniffed again and crawled over to his chair, reaching up. She opened and closed her fists.

"No, you must go to bed." He nodded to himself even though he wanted to let her stay with him. "How did you even get out here?" He stood up to pick her up.

She held out her tiger for him. "Daddy fix!"

Splinter stopped.

Didn't even move.

"...I'm sorry? What did you ask, sweetheart?" He needed to hear it again. Just to be sure he really heard it.

"Daddy fix it!" She held out the worn orange tiger for him, bottom lip wobbling as her mismatched eyes teared up.

Sure enough, there was a hole in the tigers back leg.

Splinter didn't know if he should act casual or reward her for her first words.

She shook the tiger when he said nothing.

"Okay, okay, I'll fix it!" He walked quickly to his do not touch shelf and found needle and thread. He returned as quickly as possible, scooping up both her and the tiger. He sat her on his lap and he got to work.

How had she known more than one word?

Must have been from all that reading with purple. I guess that's what you get when you start out with a dictionary instead of "brown bear".

She watched him intently, sniffing every once in a while.

"See, old tiger is okay." He patted the stuffed animals head for extra emphasis. "What happened to him?"

He hoped he could get a few more words out of her since it seemed like she'd been hiding the first two. She was bound to have a few more piled up.

She wiped her nose and fixed him with wide mismatched eyes. "Shell."

"Ohhhhh, Raph's shell?"

She nodded.

"Can you say yes?"

"...yes." She took the tiger once the thread was tied off.

"Can you say thank you?"

"Thank...thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, I say it is time for you to head to bed."

She gripped her tiger. "No."

Wow these were the most he had gotten out of her yet. Maybe she deserved a bit of a reward...

"Okay, fine. You can stay with me." He made room for her next to him.

She happily squished into his side.

She wasn't even watching the tv screen.

She had her arms wrapped around the tiger and one of her hands on Spinters claws.

"Oh Elisabetta, what am I going to do with you?" He smoothed back her brown hair and brought her closer to him.

———-

"Say 'Leo'!" Leo stood in front of Sirani impatiently, hands on hips. "Come on say it with me! Leeeeoooo... you're not saying it with me!"

She frowned at him and brought the stuffed tiger closer.

"That's cause she wants to say Donnie!" Donnie rolled his eyes and shoved his brother aside. "Donnie starts with a D. D-o-n-n-i-e! Say Donnie!"

She looked to Raph almost as if she was asking for help.

He shrugged. "If you want me to help ya gotta say my name!"

Hey he was excited okay?

It wasn't every day you were told that your little sister had said whole sentences the night before. You couldn't blame him for wanting to hear her say his name.

Sirani wrinkled her nose at him.

"Come on, I know you can say it!" He sat down beside her excitedly. "Say Raph!"

"No, Leo!"

"Donnie!"

Mikey looked up from the toy car he was messing with and crawled over. "Mikey!" He shouted, not even sure of what he was shouting about.

Sirani sat up gleefully at now seeing the brother closest to her age. "Mikey!"

"Nooooo!" The older three chorused in disappointment.

Leo fell to his knees.

Donnie clutched his face sadly.

Raph sighed deeply.

Mikey giggled, happy that whatever he had done worked.

"Mikey Mikey Mikey Mikey!" Sirani chanted happily.

"Oh quit rubbing it in!" Leo fell onto his side sadly. "I taught you magic tricks! You owed me!"

"I read to you every night!" Donnie groaned. "Come on!"

The small girl giggle again. "Mikey Mikey Mikey!"