Disclaimer: I don't own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Warning: This story hasn't a beta reader. Sorry for the mistakes.
"Ehi, Raph! Wanna help?".
Mikey's voice resounded from the low plan. It was the day of cleaning od Spring and it was really hard to do! There were so many boxes they could create an antiquate shop like that of April O'Neil!
Raph was in the storage room, surrounded by boxex and many old books.
"Don't worry, buddy. I can do it!" he replied.
"Ok!" Mikey smiled, turning on the stereo.
Raph giggled and with extremely calm he sat on a heavy box, a bit tired for all the hours passed to do the "bellhop".
His muscles protested with soft cramps but nothing to irreparable.
"Ehi!" Raph said, noticing a book near the box where he was: "What is this? I never seen before!".
He took it in his hands and looked: the book had a rigid cover with a clip; he opened it and started to browser the old pages.
Immediately his eyes opened wide and the smile on his lips disappeared.
"It's... that stupid album of photos... I hate it with all myself!" Raph growled undervoice.
There were many photos that showed turtle tots of five/six years old in various moments. However there are a reason why Raph hated to relive a past never could forget...
10 years ago...
They were always a stronger family with a sweet and severe father and four little brothers. Leo and Don loved above all their little four years old brother and did everything to rest always with him.
But, as in each perfection, there was an obsure stain called "Jealousy".
Raphael didn't try to find something good in Mikey. He had never accepted the Little One in his life neither the orange turtle was the little child in that family and that more cuddled and followed.
Certainly these were his reason for his hate.
Raph broke Mikey's puppet or toys; locked the little brother in bathroom. Then he ruined Mikey's pictured and scared him in the midnight with a torch under his face.
Mikey's life was infernal.
But the things were changed in worse unluckly...
One of many days of October, the sensei was interrupted from his meditation by a noise insistent of little feet that ran. He opened the shoji and two little tots apperared in front of him with cute scared faces.
Big tears were rolling down on their cheeks.
"Children" Splinter admonished: "What's going on?".
Leo replied for Donnie: "Mikey isn't ok, daddy! He feels funny!".
"Show me!".
The children ran faster for reaching their small room. Raph was in bathroom and little Mikey was in the bed, weak, tired and very pale.
Splinter caressed his forehead and noticed it was a bit warm. Maybe his sweet sunshine had to have fever. In his mind danced previous images of some day before. Don, Raph and Leo had been normal but Mikey not. In fact, he hadn't eaten normally. He had had not much energy and soft stomac ache.
"Daddy..." Mikey called.
"Yes Michelangelo?".
"I... I'm cold...".
The sensei sighed and adjusted better the orange blanket on his body, finding with a simply look Mikey's puppet. Orsetto. Where is it?
"We saw Raphael hiding Orsetto under Mikey's bed, daddy!" Donnie whispered: "Have we do the spy?".
"No, my son".
Splinter found Orsetto in the place pointed by Donnie but the poor puppet wasn't a good aspect. It had one missing eyes and the right unstiched arm. Shaking the head, the rat thought he would have done a talk with Raphael who, in that same time, entered.
"Why is Mikey still sleeping?".
"Raphael, your brother is sick and we need to talk" the sensei replied.
The red child watched him with anger: "No! It is not right! Mikey's pretending!".
The sound of a coff resounded in the room: Mikey started to whine a bit, scared from the temper of hot head but he remained in silence.
"Stop, Raph!"Donnie protested: "You're bad!".
"I'm not bad! Mikey is stupid an this isn't my fault!" Raph replied.
The orange turtle started to cry, really offended. Splinter, angry, brought Raphael in his room and closed the shoji.
They remained in silence but the red turtle never saw his father in his eyes.
"Raphael, why you hate your brother?".
"Cuz he's the most cuddled! He always had everythin' and nobody notices me anymore!".
Splinter nodded, understanding Raphael would have had to understand the concept of brotherhood and passing more time with the little one.
"My son, Michelangelo isn't bad as you think. In fact, he always ask me to play with you but you reject him" Splinter continued.
Raph left to fall his shoulder and looked his father: "Does he... play with me?".
"Yes, Raphael. But every time you see his with anger, Michelangelo prefers leave you in peace. But in this way, you trasmit at your brother the idea you don't love him".
Raph sighed a bit, while his eyes filled of tears. His father took him in the arms and started to cradle, caressing sweetly the head.
"Mikey doesn't hate me...".
"No, Raphael" the rat repeated: "Michelangelo receives more attentions just because he's the younger and he needs a guide".
"Can I give this guide to him?" Raph proposed.
A smile grew up Splinter's lips and kissed Raph's forehead, really proud. Maybe his impatient child understood the lesson and this was a good sign...
TbC...