Together As Mutants (Book Six)

CXXIX. First Steps

Leonardo

Leonardo sits with Dean as the little wolf-raven crawls around on the floor. Destiny walks into the room, sitting down and starting to read her book.

Dean looks to his mom, a determined look growing on his face. He places his hands on the floor, planting his feet behind him. Leo looks up, noticing his son's attempt.

"Des! Dean's trying to walk!" he calls.

She looks up, her eyes brightening when she sees it. Dean gives a shove with his hands, his tiny wings flapping quickly as he tries to get himself up. He stands up, wobbling for a moment.

"He's standing," both parents whisper.

He takes a shaky step forwards, then another and another. He toddles over to Leo, a wide grin brightening his face as he shows off the little fangs appearing in his gums. Three toddling steps later, he falls into Leo's arms.

"That's my boy! Good job!" The blue-masked turtle grins, lifting his son up and kissing his nose.

"Dada," he giggles and hugs his dad's face.

Leo laughs. Destiny walks over, her face glowing with pride. Dean reaches his hands towards her. She stops in her spot and kneels as Leo places him down. The little mutant boy toddles to his mom, grinning the entire time.

"Mummy!" he coos.

"Yes, mummy," she murmurs, lifting him into her arms. "Just look at those strong legs of yours. Nothing's ever gonna stop you from walking, huh?"

"No no." He shakes his head back and forth.

She kisses his little wolf ears. He hugs her face, his soft cheek against her scarred one.

Raphael

Raphael punches the punching bag in the living room, the sounds of his family all around him. The babies are all sitting together, bonding and getting even more acquainted with one another.

Every time the red-masked turtle looks over, Dean is always sitting down and then standing up again, like he's demonstrating how to walk to the other kids. Asher, Dakota, Mitch, and Copeland all watch him with large eyes.

Raph stops punching, turning around slowly.

"Come on, Copey. You're old enough. You can do it," he whispers.

Other than Copeland, the other three kids are sixteen months old, whilst she's eighteen months. Dean, the oldest, has been walking since seventeen months, and he's been trying to teach the others how to walk these last three months afterwards.

Raphael walks to where Leonardo is watching the kids, sitting down next to his brother.

"Yeah, Dean's your kid alright," the former comments.

The latter smirks. "He's already a leader."

"Walk!" Dean says encouragingly, demonstrating again.

"Walk?" Asher asks, confused.

"Walk," Dakota confirms to her twin.

"I want try! I want try!" Mitch squeals.

As soon as he tries, he falls over onto his butt. He frowns, shaking his head and crossing his arms.

"Me," Copeland says.

Dean sits down, putting his hands out in front of him. Copeland copies him. He pushes up from the floor, standing up straight as his wings flap. She takes a deep breath, and Raph's eyes light up.