Iɴᴅɪɢᴏ & Sᴀɴᴅsᴛᴏɴᴇ || ᴀ ᴛᴍɴᴛ ғᴀɴғɪᴄ '¹⁶【✓】

01 || 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃

The sewer tunnel echoed with the soft patter of two-toed feet as Donatello crept along the curved concrete path, his small flashlight illuminating the way ahead. At ten years old, he was already showing signs of the brilliant engineer he would become, his makeshift tech gear cobbled together from discarded electronics and whatever treasures he could salvage from the human world above.

"Just a little further," Donnie whispered to himself, adjusting the oversized glasses perched on his green nose. The frames were too big for his face—a lucky find from a storm drain after a heavy rain—but he'd wrapped tape around the bridge to make them fit better.

Donnie tugged at the straps of his overalls, another prized possession he'd found and modified to fit his unique shell-covered body. The numerous pockets were perfect for carrying his collection of screwdrivers, wires, and circuit boards.

The tunnel widened into a junction, and Donnie checked his hand-drawn map. He was getting close to the forbidden zone—the sewer drains that connected directly to the streets above. Master Splinter had been clear: stay away from places where humans might see them. But how was he supposed to learn about the fascinating world up there if he couldn't at least peek?

Donnie came to a halt beneath a storm drain, where thin shafts of sunlight cut through the metal grate overhead. Cautiously, he climbed up the rusty ladder embedded in the wall until his eyes were just level with the street above.

It was a symphony of human activity—people walking past with their strange devices, cars honking, music playing from somewhere distant. Donnie's eyes widened with wonder behind his glasses as he watched a child about his age tap away at a small electronic tablet.

"Incredible," he breathed, pulling out his notebook to sketch what he saw. "The interface appears to be touch-sensitive, and the processing speed must be exponentially faster than anything I've cobbled together..."

So engrossed was he in his observations that Donnie overlooked the time slipping away, nor did he hear the first call of his name echoing distantly through the tunnels. "Donatello!"

The sharp, authoritative voice finally broke through his concentration. Donnie nearly dropped his notebook in surprise, fumbling to catch it before it fell into the murky water below.

"Oh no," he muttered, scrambling down the ladder. If that was who he thought it was, he was in serious trouble.

Sure enough, as he rounded the bend in the tunnel, Donnie came face to face with his older brother Leonardo. At ten, Leo already carried himself with the serious demeanor of a leader-in-training, and his arms crossed sternly over his plastron.

"Donnie! Master Splinter has been looking everywhere for you!" Leo's voice echoed off the tunnel walls. "You missed training. Again."

Donnie clutched his notebook protectively against his chest. "I was conducting important research, Leo. There's so much to learn about human technology, and if I could just—"

"Were you near the storm drains?" Leo interrupted, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Donnie adjusted his glasses nervously. "Well, technically speaking, proximity to the drainage system is necessary for comprehensive observation, and—"

"That's a yes," Leo sighed, shaking his head. "You know that's forbidden, Donnie. What if someone saw you?"

"No one saw me! I'm careful!" Donnie protested. "Besides, how are we supposed to understand the world if we never observe it?"

Leo took a step closer, lowering his voice even though they were alone. "Master Splinter says there are reasons. I want to see the world, too... But safety comes first."