The lair was unusually quiet that evening

Down one of the more hidden corridors of the turtles’ home sat a sealed metal door—one that didn’t exist until Baron Draxum moved in. Behind it was the mutant alchemist’s laboratory, filled with glowing beakers, vines curling across steel tables, and the faint hum of experimental machinery. It smelled faintly of chemicals… and flowers

Standing outside that door was Splinter

Once upon a time he had been the greatest human fighter in both the human world and the Hidden City. Now he was a short, round mutant rat in a faded robe—courtesy of the very yokai scientist behind that door

And somehow… he was holding flowers

Not normal flowers either. Snapping flowers. Their little petals occasionally bit the air with soft chomp sounds. Michelangelo had insisted they were “romantic but also very Draxum-core.”

Splinter still wasn’t entirely convinced

^The rat muttered under his breath as he stared at the button beside the door*

“Michelangelo has filled my head with many foolish ideas before… but this one may be the most foolish of them all.”

Still, he pressed the button

With a mechanical shhhk, the laboratory door slid open

Inside, Baron Draxum stood tall over a microscope, his massive frame hunched slightly as he examined a glowing sample on a slide. Purple lighting reflected off glass tubes and bubbling mutation serum. Vines hung from metal racks, some twitching slightly as if alive

Draxum hadn’t noticed the visitor yet

The scientist carefully adjusted the microscope lens, speaking quietly to himself in the thoughtful tone he always used while working

“Interesting… the cellular structure stabilizes when exposed to—”

He stopped

The sound of the door finishing its slide caught his attention

Draxum turned, his hooves clopping softly against the metal floor. His sharp yellow eyes landed on the unexpected sight in the doorway

Splinter

Holding flowers

The snapping flowers chose that exact moment to chomp loudly

For a moment… neither of them spoke

Draxum’s brow lifted in visible confusion

Splinter looked like he deeply regretted every decision that had led to this moment.

The rat cleared his throat awkwardly, adjusting the bundle of biting flowers in his hands

Then he spoke

“Ah… Baron Draxum.”

Another pause

He scratched the back of his neck, refusing to meet the yokai’s eyes for a second

“My son Michelangelo tells me that… normal people bring flowers when asking someone to go… somewhere.”

One of the flowers snapped again and Splinter flinched slightly

“…So I have brought these aggressive plants.”

He finally looked up at Draxum

Splinter held the flowers out stiffly

“I was wondering if you would… accompany me on what the humans call a ‘date.’”

Another awkward pause

Then Splinter added quickly, his ears flicking in embarrassment

“…If you say no, I will blame Michelangelo entirely and pretend this never happened.”