Raising The Frame
Part Four of Tears In The Shower
Disclaimer - I do not own TMNT or any of the characters therein. Some VERY rich dude does.
Rating - Suitable for mature audiences.
Story Warnings - It's sad, and Raph's mouth. Some emotional distress too. (Don't like these topics? Do not read.)
Pairings - Brothers being brothers. Nothing sexual happening here, folks. (Don't like these topics? Do not read.)
Universe - Whichever you want.
Ages - Adult
Summary - Leo's gotten better, but Mikey still sees room for improvement.
Raising The Frame
Part Four of Tears In The Shower
Mikey stood just outside the dojo door, hiding in the shadows.
That had become a habit for him since Splinter had died.
At first, he wanted to be alone.
Alone to grieve. Alone to remember. Alone to hate the entire world for making him hurt.
So he hid in the shadows. Close to his brothers, but also alone.
The best of both worlds.
Time passed. He wanted someone else to be with him, but was afraid to approach his brothers.
They hadn't understood his need for solitude.
Raph got mad. Donnie got melancholy. Leo... Leo hovered.
So, Mikey again took to the shadows. Watching, longing, wishing. Too afraid to try.
Then Leo would appear, making everything better.
Big brother knew just what to do. What to say. What not to say.
Leo listened. Never judging, never criticizing.
Just being Leo.
Mikey knew if not for his oldest brother he wouldn't be doing so well now.
Not that he was doing so great right now.
None of them were doing so great right now.
Too much was missing. Too much had changed.
They were all missing Splinter; Leo most of all.
And the other three were missing Leo.
Mikey watched as Leo carefully lit his meditation candles, then settled himself in the center.
It was a lie.
Leo wasn't really meditating. He hadn't meditated in months.
Yeah, sure, he went through the motions, making it APPEAR as if he was meditating. But he wasn't.
Mikey felt a surge of anger.
Why was Leo still doing this?!
He did it so his brothers, his responsibilities would have some normalcy in their lives.
If not for Leo, Mikey doubted the four of them would be alive, let alone still together as a family.
They owed him a lot. Everything in fact.
They always had.
Mikey tried.
When Donnie pointed out the drastic changes to their big brother, Mikey had made a conscious effort to help.
So had Raph, and Donnie.
Little had changed.
Leo still kept himself apart. Leo still went to the dojo for training. Leo still put his brothers first.
Only now, all three of his brothers sought him out. All three of his brothers willingly followed his lead. All three no longer wanted to be first.
They wanted to be equal.
And they were determined drag Leo, kicking and screaming, to stand beside them. No matter what.
The question was how.
Mikey glanced back at his kneeling brother.
His once proud leader knelt hunched and trembling. Close to succumbing to his despair because he thought he was alone.
Mikey frowned.
What could they do to reach him? To make Leo understand he was not alone?
He had help. He had... his brothers...
His brothers!
Mikey's eyes widened.
He knew what to do! He knew how to reach Leo!
He, Donnie, and Raph had all tried ALONE!
They were never meant to be alone!
They had to work together, as one!
The way Splinter meant for them to be.
Mikey hurried across the lair heading for the lab. He entered, not even bothering to knock.
Donnie looked up from his notes.
"He's doing it again," Mikey said for what he knew would be the last time.
Thanks for reading.