Unique (Oneshot!)

A Little Different

For mandylaren23! Hope y'all enjoy!

So, as you can tell by the description, this is going to be about Mikey having Down Syndrome! I have done extensive research before writing this chapter oneshot!

Inspired by World Down Syndrome Day!

*Offers tissues* Here, take some for the road!

~*~

Hamato Michealangelo sat in his room, looking at a comic book. The youngest turtle's eyes lit up with joy as he looked at the pictures. "Woah!"

Donnie walked by and paused in the doorway, grinning at his little brother. "Hi Mikey!" Mikey's eyes lit up even more when he heard his big brother's voice and immediately ran up to him.

"Hi Donnie!" Mikey threw his arms around his big brother, barely coming up to Donnie's chest in height. The orange-masked turtle pressed his slightly-flattened face against Donnie's plasteron affectionately.

Donnie murmured a few small world, stroking his little brother's head lightly. "There's my happy little brother!" He said with a smile as Mikey giggled, his tongue halfway out his mouth, his eyes bright.

Splinter first noticed that Mikey was a little different shortly after their mutation. But, it wasn't until Donnie got his hands on a computer that they found out what Mikey had.

After extensive research of Mikey's symptoms, Donnie concluded that his baby brother had Down Syndrome, a disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21.

The only logical explanation was that something had gone wrong during Mikey's mutation, leaving him with a slight flattened face, learning difficulties and slightly misplaced eyes. Mikey was a little different.

But, that didn't matter. His brothers and father loved him no matter what. The other turtles, who had known Mikey their whole lives, never questioned why he looked and acted different from them.

Splinter, who had no medical knowledge or access to a doctor for obvious reasons, was at first worried about his youngest son. He feared something was terribly wrong.

He had been concerned that Mikey would die...however, once the turtles turned 6 and Donnie discovered a computer, Splinter's thoughts were put at ease. Mikey was fine.

Mikey was a normal turtle despite a few learning difficulties and facial differences, and his brothers and father accepted and understood that he was special and unique.

Mikey grinned as he cuddled into his older brother's lap. Mikey was very cuddly and had the mindspace of a young child, but his family loved his carefree, positive attitude on life.

Mikey was also a little childish. He loved playing with things, dancing, singing, and just cuddling with his family! He had the mental age of a 4-year-okd child, but that's just who Mikey was. It made him special.

They were also incredibly overprotective of him, never letting him leave the lair. When the turtles had to go on patrol, Splinter stayed with Mikey and kept him occupied. Splinter adored his special son.

Mikey was allowed to train with the rest of his family, but had to use foam weapons and his brothers were always very careful when using their weapons around their baby brother.

Raph, Leo and Splinter entered the room, smiling at the sight. Mikey was sitting in Donnie's lap, happy as could be. Donnie was holding Mikey close to him with his arms around his otouto.

"Onni-sans, papa!" Mikey's these lit up as he clambered into his slightly small feet and ran up to the rest of his family. They immediately hugged him close and grinned warmly at him.