I've always liked the thought of having Mikey come back home after a long absence in my stories.. I don't know why and I haven't been able to put it into them.. only My daughter, Katrina had that in it so.. yeah...
Also.. em.. I have two hopefully long oneshots that I'm hoping to post up soon along with a chapter and.. another oneshot that's about another one of my oneshots... confusing? I know.. heh heh.. enjoy xx ^_^
Mikey's reasons
It was a stormy night in New York, forks of lightning flashed in the sky and a few seconds later there would be the loud thundering. The three turtles and rat were glad that they were warm and safe in their underground home but they didn't know that one of their own was running across the rooftops.
A 25-year-old Michelangelo was sprinting through the rain, the wind clawed at his skin and howled in his ears. Mike was wearing his usual orange mask and belt, he still had his elbow and knee pads but he no longer had his nunchucks not that he cared at that precise moment. He was also wearing a black billowing cloak, it was water-proof and had a hood which was why he had taken it.. The only problem was it had blood stains on it but so did he.
Mikey had left his home in the middle of the night when he was 18, his brothers had been 20, He didn't know what his brothers and father had done when they had found him gone with just a solitary note in his place but he never thought it mattered much. He hadn't wanted to hurt them back then but he had always thought if it had hurt them he would never see them again anyway but tonight.. He needed them more than ever. His note had told them that he was leaving and never coming back but did not have a reason, Mikey regretted leaving that out.
As yet another loud thunder-clap echoed through the city Mikey jumped down into an alley and quickly down a manhole cover. He landed in the sewers with a strange sense of being home, He smiled briefly then grimaced again as he began to run. He could hear his raspy breath echo off of the pipes as he ran, he slipped a couple of times as he ran to where his old home was. He was surprised that he knew the way still but he was worried that the inhabitants had moved home.. or worse.
Michelangelo hadn't heard from his brothers since an hour before he left home, he could remember what they looked like when they were 20 but now they were 27.. 7 years older.. So much must have changed..
The cloak wearing turtles skidded to a halt outside the old door, He adjusted his grip on his shoulder. He bit his lip, Should he knock? Should he walk in like he had just been on a pizza run? No. No that wouldn't be right.. He had to knock and hope for the best. He didn't know what time it was and hoped that the family would still be awake.
knock. knock.
Michelangelo waited for a moment, he heard something shifting from inside but he realised that nobody was going to come to the door. They weren't used to people knocking, everyone they knew usually just walked in. Mikey could feel the butterflies in his stomach, there were shivers all over his body but that could have just been the cold. He took a deep breath to calm his hammering heart then opened the door.
He stuck his head round first and looked around, the lights were off and Mikey knew what would happen next. His family would attack the unknown threat.
''H-Hello?'' He asked worriedly. He realised that his voice was a lot deeper than it had been when he had last talked to his brothers, Which would mean that they wouldn't know it was him.
''Who are you and what do you want?'' A deep voice asked, Mikey swallowed. Was his family still living here or.. were they gone?
''I am here.. for good reason.. please.. I need help.'' Mikey grimaced as the blood leaking from his aching shoulder began to run through his fingers, ''I-I have had a hard journey.. lost many loved ones.. I am here to find my family.. I don't know if they still live here or if.. it doesn't matter.. but please.. If you have the room then I would be grateful if you let me stay.. just until I have recovered.. Then I will leave and look for my family'' Mikey could hear the dripping of water coming off his cloak. The lights flicked on and Mikey gasped. There in front of him were his three brothers and his father, they didn't look much different, Mikey grinned but his family couldn't see him. All they could see was the black cloak.
''Your injuries look awful.. bloods actually dripping off with the rain water'' Donatello observed, Mike didn't say anything.
''At least the cloak kept ya dry'' Raphael nodded,
''Master?'' Leonardo looked at the rat, ''It's your call''
''You say you are looking for your family?'' Splinter smiled warmly, ''We welcome you to our home. now, you may take your cloak off and we will help you recover. What is your name?''
Mikey swallowed and took yet another deep breath,
''M-My name is Michelangelo...'' He said quietly, the family gasped in shock. ''And.. I have found my family once again'' Mikey fell to his knees, he was losing strength but he knew he had to keep going.
''My son? is that really you?'' Splinter asked as he and his three sons moved closer. Mikey gulped and used his right hand to pull the hood off, The family gasped as the back of Mikey's head came into view. They didn't need to see his face because of the bright orange bandana but it had bits of red on it now.
''Mikey!'' The brothers yelped, Mikey closed his eyes tightly before opening them again. He looked up at his brother through tearful baby blue eyes.
''P-Please... I... I need your help'' Mikey begged, ''I'm sorry for leaving... I-I regret it now more than ever... If you do not want me here I understand but... please help me first..I beg of you''
''Michelangelo'' master Splinters eyes filled with tears, ''You are always welcome'' The other turtles seemed to have gotten over their shock and Donnie rushed over to his kneeling brother.
''Mikey.. You're going to have to take that cloak off'' Donnie said shakily.
Mikey eyed him sadly before shrugging the cloak off, everyone gasped at his state. His forearm from the elbow down had been lost on his left arm and replaced with a piece of living metal in the same shape of his other arm and hand but.. It looked like a left hand. Michelangelo had blood spatters all over his body, he had a few cuts and bruises but some of the blood clearly wasn't his. His knee pads were ripped and worn and his belt was ragged.
''Wh-what happened to you?'' Raph asked worriedly,
''You can tell us later Mike... let's just get that shoulder sorted before it ends up like your arm'' Leo frowned. Donnie dragged Mikey to the lab and fixed his shoulder quickly, Mike was then dragged to the kitchen and sat down as everyone rushed about him. Mikey stared into space with a grim expression as everyone rushed in a blur around him. Screams and yells echoed in his mind, gruesome images flashed in front of his eyes. He could remember everything.
Everyone eventually sat down in front of him, each mutant had a cup of tea but Mikey hadn't noticed. The family looked at him in amazement, their little brother was back but.. he looked so much older... his eyes were glazed over at the moment.
''Mikey?'' Leo asked unsure, Mike shook his head to empty the images from his mind and looked at his family. He gave them a small smile and they smiled back. Mikey felt relaxed and happy to be home at last, he could tell his brothers wanted to know everything but he pretended not to notice as he sipped his tea. They frowned at his long silence then Mikey gave them a cheeky grin.
''I knew he hadn't changed that much'' Raph snorted, ''He's still just a big kid''
''You bet Raphie'' Mikey grinned, The three mutants chuckled.
''Michelangelo.. You have been gone for a long time.. and we have welcomed you back to our home'' Splinter smiled gently, ''Don't you think we deserve some answers?'' Mikey's grin turned into an apologetic smile and he stood up and began to pace around the kitchen.
''Yeah.. I think it's time..'' Mikey sighed, ''If I don't tell anyone... then... I will never be able to live on.. It will forever be in my memory and it'll haunt me to the end of my life'' Michelangelo looked at his family. ''It might be a little long''
''We have the time to listen'' Splinter nodded.
''Ok...'' Mikey swallowed, ''I can do this..'' He breathed in and out to calm himself.
''Whenever you're ready Mike'' Leo smiled,
''I'll start by telling you why I left...'' Mikey gulped, ''It started a month before I left.. I met this girl.. she was a mutant wolf.. her name was Silvia.. she was one of Bishops experiments that had escaped when we blew up the lab. She was beautiful.. She had a blonde coat.. with blonde hair and she had the most amazing eyes.. the darkest purple.. you could see the night sky in them every time.. We-We fell in love and she had to leave New York.. A group of highly trained scientists called the M.C.D.T.. A.K.A The Mutant Capture and Disposal Team.. they came after all the mutants that escaped and because of our frequent dates they found her.. and me.. She was going to leave but I knew they would come after me and if they came after me.. they would find you guys.. I couldn't let that happen..''
''So we both left New York together.. you guys were safe and so were we. We could live the life we wanted to, We went to live in Florida and for six years we were happy.. We had four children.. they all looked like Silvia but they had turtle shells.. Three boys and a girl.. Wolfe, Lupin, Agrithar and Shadow.. Wolfe, Lupin and Agrithar were the boys.. they had a greeny-blonde fur with Silvia's eyes while Shadow had a jet black coat and my eyes.. She was obviously the girl.. She was so different from us all.. at five years old he had a huge personality.. she was a very tomboyish girl.. Silvia thought it was hilarious!'' Mikey rolled his eyes and chuckled,
''They were all good kids.. well-behaved and obedient.. They all walked on two legs at five it was great but..'' Mikey stopped and swallowed as sadness overwhelmed him, ''Last year... the M.C.D.T came to Florida we managed to keep out of their way but.. They ventured into the sewers and found our home the day before yesterday. They.. killed Silvia and the boys.. they took Shadow in a cage.. she was screaming and crying after having watched her mother and brothers die.. I tried to help her and calm her down to get her away and safe from those men.. but.. they came at me and I panicked... She was screaming "Daddy" over and over.. I tried to fight them but they were too strong and I had to run.. I fled away from them.. my dead family and my poor defenceless daughter.. like a COWARD!'' Michelangelo punched the table as tears spilt from his eyes.
''I didn't know where else to go.. so I came here'' Mike looked at his family with wet eyes. ''I-I I'm k if you don't want me to stay.. I'll find somewhere else to go.. Those guys are still looking for me.. and I'm gonna have to find out what happened to my daughter... She's somewhere.. she's alive for now.. she has to be''
''Mikey...'' Raph breathed, ''I can't believe it!''
''but what happened to your arm?'' Leo asked with wide sad eyes,
''Yeah.. where did you find this amazing technology?'' Don asked as he looked at it. Mikey looked down and blushed.
''Oops..'' he mumbled he gripped the wrist hard and mumbled something, then the metal turned into an exact replica of his right hand. mikey sighed in annoyance, ''LEFT YOU STUPID THING! LEFT!'' The hand spun until it turned into a left hand. ''This is the part that you're not gonna be happy with.. one of the scientists cut my arm off when I tried to protect Silvia. I grabbed something random because of the pain and it was one the the man's arms... turned out he had been using it for the same reason. It flew to where the cut was and turned into what it is now.. I'm still getting the hang of using it''
''Wow'' Donnie breathed.
''My son'' Mikey looked up at Splinter as he cupped his face with his paws, ''You will stay here with us. We are a family and we will help you in every way we can''
''Thank you Master.. Guys'' Mikey smiled, he fell to his knees again and the family stared at him. ''I.. I don't deserve this.. I will do anything to repay you... and.. I promise I won't let the M.D.C.T find any of you''
''Rise Michelangelo... You need not do that'' Splinter said gently, Mikey was going to but tears sprung to his eyes. He closed them and the same images from before flashed before him. His breaths were coming out in short pants, his heart was pumping in his ears and he couldn't stop the sobs that racked his body.
''My- My son.. I did not mean to offend you'' Master Splinter gasped, They were all next to him in seconds.
''N-No... you could never do that father... I shouldn't be crying... It's my fault..'' Mikey sniffed, ''It's all my fault... I do not deserve to be comforted after all I have done.. especially to you guys.. and.. my family... Shadow...''
''Mikey.. It's ok'' Leo rubbed Mikey's shell gently, ''We'll help you''
''We'll kick those scientist agent people's butts for ya Mike'' Raph growled,
''And when we find.. em.. Shadow.. you will both stay with us away from harm'' Donnie smiled softly.
''Th-thanks'' Mikey smiled as he looked up at them,
''Come, I will show you to your room'' Splinter smiled as he helped Mikey to his feet, he helped him into his old room and left him lying on the bed after checking with him to see if he needed anything.
Michelangelo looked around his room with a smile, all his stuff was exactly how he had left it. His bed was unslept in and cold, his action figures and comics were still in neat piles against the wall and the rest of his stuff was scattered on the floor. He noticed a few sai holes in his wall and could tell Raphael had done it when he had found that his brother had left.
Mike sat up and looked at his desk, is drawing were still scattered around on it but in the middle of the desktop there was a piece of lined paper. He realised that it was the note he had left. He picked it up and noticed there were five pieces of paper stapled to it, He read them one by one.
Dear Michelangelo
We have written our own letters to you as a way of releasing our sadness.. You will probably never read them but I'm hoping it will help us come to grips with your disappearance and it will help you understand what we went through and get you to open up to us.. If you ever return.
Mikey felt guilty after reading the first letter, now it was time to read the more personal ones.
Michelangelo,
My son... I wish I knew why you had left us.. It seemed only yesterday you were just a small helpless baby turtle that couldn't pronounce his 'R's and complained that they were very hard.. and now.. you are an adult that has left home. I'm sure you have a very good reason but I do wish you had told us first.
Raphael is finding your disappearance the most difficult, Donatello and Leonardo have been going out every night to try and find you while Raphael has been going out on his own to fight Purple Dragons and other gangs.
We need you back Michelangelo, You are our light and you have left us in the cold dark.
Please come home my son, I miss you greatly#
Your Sensei and father
Hamato Splinter
Mikey could feel the tears filling his eyes, he wiped them away before they could fall onto the paper and ruin it. He moved to the next one,
Mikey,
Hey little brother.. It's Leo... I know that you are probably never going to read this but.. We miss you. Why did you leave us Mikey? I hope you come home some day.
Master Splinter has gotten us to write letters to you to release our sadness (or anger in Raph's case) So this is why I'm writing.
We've all been finding your disappearance hard.. Master Splinter refuses to believe that you aren't coming back.. Raph thinks your dead.. We all hope you're not.
We've been looking for you bro, non stop searching and.. nothing.. But we aren't going to give up, We won't give up until you are safe and well at home.
Come back soon little brother,
We miss you so much..
Your brother
Leonardo.
''Oh Leo... I'm so sorry'' Mikey whispered, ''I bet you've missed a ton of Space Heroes episodes huh?'' Mikey giggled tearfully. He looked at the next,
Mike,
I know your not coming home.. I know you're not gonna read this so what's the point? huh? What's the fuckin' point? You've just left us with out a single reason of why.
Why'd ya leave us bro? Do you know how much shit we're goin' through right now? We're all miserable cause you ain't here telling jokes and pranking us. I'm not even gonna bother ta look for ya cause I know you aren't in New York no more. You'll be away in Japan or somethin' I know if I left I'd go somewhere that isn't New York but you see Mikey, that's how different we are. I wouldn't leave my family like that.
You're just a little shit-headed jackass that has no respect for us!
God I hope you don't read this... I don't mean it Mike and you know it.. You know I don't mean anything that I've written. You know I miss you. Just.. please... come home soon alright?
Please baby bro?
Your brother
Raphael
Mikey couldn't believe it.. Raph had a internal battle with himself in a letter to him. He didn't mention that he thought he was dead but... That must have been because he was afraid that if he said it.. or wrote it.. It would make it true. Mikey swallowed hard and turned to the last letter.
Mikey,
Hey buddy, I hope you are reading this.. cause that would mean that you're home. I wish you were.
We're best friends Mikey so why didn't you tell me? Don't you trust me? or are we not as close as I thought we were? man, that makes me feel foolish!
Leo and I have been searching for you but.. It hasn't been easy. You could've at least taken your T-phone and stayed in touch!
Raph has been going mad around here, he thinks your dead! Master Splinter is always telling us that one day you will return but... I can't help but think you're not.. I'm starting to believe that he's stopped believing and is just acting positive to keep us going..
Come home Mikey.. We need you
You're brother and buddy,
Donatello
Mikey breathed in and out a couple of times to calm himself. He had to make things right with his family, there was nothing else to do. He stood up and wiped the tears away and walked out of his room, he stopped just before he entered the living room and listened to his family talking.
''I can't believe he's been through all of that'' Donnie shook his head, ''That's awful..''
''I know how Michelangelo feels.. I too have lost my wife and daughter to the hands of evil'' Master Splinter frowned as he thought of Tang Chen and Miwa. Mikey didn't want to listen anymore, he took a look at the letters in his hands then walked into the living room. Everyone turned to face him.
''em.. I-.. I found these in my room'' Mikey frowned as he showed the bundle of paper to his family. he could tell that they remembered them, the evidence was on their faces. Some of them looked guilty and some just looked plain shocked.
''D-Did you read them?'' Raph asked quietly,
''Yes'' Mikey nodded, ''I can't believe you thought I'd died... I can't believe you guys looked for me and beat people up and put yourselves in danger for me'' Mikey could feel a flame in his heart and anger consumed him, he still had control but he couldn't help but start shouting, ''YOU GUYS THOUGHT I WAS NEVER COMING BACK? YOU GUYS ALL GAVE UP ON ME!? ALL OF YOU WERE HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW HARD IT WAS AND HOW HORRIBLE IT WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I AT LEAST LEFT A NOTE! WHILE I WAS OUT THERE WATCHING MY FAMILY GET SLAUGHTERED IN FRONT OF ME AND MY DAUGHTER BEING TAKEN AWAY! AT LEAST YOU KNEW SOMEONE HADN'T TAKEN ME!'' Mikey yelled the family just listened with out getting too angry but anger was evident on all of their faces but Raph decided that enough was enough.
''YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL US WHERE YOU WERE GOING!'' He yelled angrily, ''YOU SHOULD HAVE SHOWN A LITTLE CONCERN TO YOUR FIRST FAMILY BEFORE STARTING A NEW ONE!''
''I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING EITHER! NEITHER OF US DID!'' Mikey growled, ''AND THERE WAS NO POINT IN TELLING YOU! YOU WOULD HAVE JUST BROUGHT US BACK OR IT WOULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR THE M.D.C.T TO FIND US! AND EVEN IF NOBODY CAME TO BRING US HOME YOU GUYS STILL WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE BECAUSE WE KEPT HAVING TO CHANGE LOCATIONS!''
''YEAH MIKEY BOO HOO!'' His brothers began to yell, ''EVERY LAST MINUTE WAS SO HARD FOR YOU WASN'T IT? IF IT REALLY WAS THAT HARD THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU COME BACK?''
Mikey was about to shout back but he felt a slight burn where the live metal was touching his skin, he looked down at it as it turned silver. It's disguise had went down. Mikey's frown turned into confusion then to panic as the burning became worse, He gasped at the burning sensation and gripped his elbow.
''M-Mikey?'' everyone stepped closer to the turtle. Mikey screamed as volts of electricity shot through his body, he fell to the ground and tried to breathe through the pain. The arm went red, and Mikey stared at it until the sweat began to run into his eyes. He closed them as flashes of the agent were zipping through his mind, it stopped on the tall blonde one with green eyes. He laughed in delight, he turned around and next thing Mikey saw was his daughter in a tube. She was screaming for her father to help her, a green ray was on her and she was growing.
''SH-SHADOW!'' Mikey yelped but his voice echoed around him, he could hear the quiver of it.
''She is no use to me as a child.. so fourteen she will be'' The man laughed as he stared into Mikey's eyes, ''As for you freak, I have finally found that you are alive. A few more tweaks and I will know your exact location'' the man's voice echoed constantly around Mike.
''NO! Y-YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME! I WON'T LET YOU'' Mikey yelled, his voice sounded strained, ''SHADOW!'' He yelled the now ten year old girl opened her eyes and looked straight at him, ''HOLD ON! I'M COMING FOR YOU!'' Shadow gave him a small smile. Mikey focused his energy on her and she found the strength to fight the machine, ''I'm with you'' Mikey whispered.
''Thank you dad'' She whispered back. The machine exploded and Mikey opened his eyes, the electricity was still running through him and his family was frozen to the spot.
Mikey snarled as he tore at the metal arm, he scratched it until a compartment opened. he punched the blinking red button, it smashed. ''tracker down'' Mikey panted as the pain became more intense. He pulled the red and blue wires leaving the green and black alone. The electricity stopped and the arm turned back into an exact replica of his old left hand.
Mikey was exhausted, his eye lids dropped and sweat dripped off of him. He panted as he lay down on his side, he looked at the arm and knew it couldn't happen again. He couldn't help but wonder if they had used the arm to reach him of if it happened due to something else.
''Mikey'' Mikey looked up at his shocked and scared family, he smiled slightly at them.
''There were good moments... but the real reason was... I was scared..'' Mikey swallowed,
''Wh-what? what are you goin' on about?'' Raph asked, Mikey chuckled slightly.
''You asked my why I didn't come back'' He said simply,
''oh... Mikey.. we're so sorry for shouting at you.. we understand'' Donnie sniffed. Leo nodded vigorously.
''Michelangelo, what happened to you?'' Master Splinter asked as the four mutants knelt next to him.
''They've found me'' Mikey whispered as his eyes glazed over, ''The agents.. used the arm to get into my mind. They have my daughter... they made her into a ten year old.. she wasn't any use to them as a child... I helped her, she's ok... I-I broke the tracker and.. the torture device for when one of the agents failed to do something.'' Mikey explained tiredly,
''You saw Shadow?'' leo smiled, ''So she's gonna be ok?''
''I hope so'' Mikey smiled back.
''We will get her back My son. I promise'' Splinter nodded.
''Thank you father... guys.. thank.. you'' Mikey gave in to the darkness.
Please Review xx