AUTHOR: I own nothing, sad, but true.

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Messy Triangle

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The blinding lights of New York flushed illustriously as a new life resurrected itself on the fringes of the waning day. The clubs came alive as many young men and women saddled up for a good time, finding their feet dancing along to the hottest tunes in the hottest clubs. This was nothing new for the city life. In fact, for the ones who owned the night, it was merely routine.

For routine, Michelangelo mentally blew off with a huff, was anything but for his night. But, if not begrudgingly, he was starting to make due to the new schedule he had set for himself. Though, Michelangelo still pouted at the idea of waiting for much longer - he was sure Casey was probably scratching his head wondering what in the shell was taking him so long.

Crossing his arms over his chest in an immature display of displeasure at the mental image, Mikey settled into a crouched position on the ledge of a rather impressive looking building. His striking blue eyes glinting eerily in the faint lights as he stared down onto the street. His gaze undistracted in his vigilant watch.

The young mutant tried in vain to dispel the nagging feeling of worry settling in the pit of his stomach as he kept his eyes peeled for his person of interest.

Listening to the slight drone of the whizzing cars and the steady beats of the night clubs Mikey continued to wait. Suddenly, his breath hitched, his pupils dilating as they followed intently on his person of interest who "whooshed", as Mikey liked to express, down the street like some surreal shadow - as usual, with her long hair gliding behind her like a sleek, black jet, oval slanted eyes dark and ablaze with a fire as she walked with that same purposefully dignified gate she always seemed to walk in.

The very sight of her was a delightful shock to Mikey's system as she stole his breath away. With a small sigh of relief, Mikey allowed himself a smile as he watched her from afar - his mind finally at rest knowing she was safe.

Feeling his heart jolt up in his chest suddenly, Mikey wanted to crack a joke at himself when he felt her bold stare unintentionally being aimed in his general direction. Knowing the thickly blanketed darkness held him fast, Michelangelo brazenly looked back at her when her eyes unknowingly swept by, meeting his own in a fleeting moment. The turtle then watched as his person of interest seemingly shook herself before walking again - her pace slightly less aggressive as she made it up the stairs of her apartment.

Just to be safe, the turtle waited until she was fully in her apartment before he allowed himself to relax.

Rolling his shoulders, Michelangelo raised his arms over his head, his neck and shoulder muscles loosening as he stretched. Giving one long last look at the complex from across the street, the youngster stood to his full height.

Tonight was going be a long night, Michelangelo had a feeling. Not even a minute after the thought he felt the familiar buzz of his shellcell vibrating noisily against his plastron. Taking the phone out of his belt the terrapin flinched as he saw who was calling. Reluctantly putting the phone to his ear, he took the call, "What do you want, Casey?"

"Get your ass back to April's apartment, now!" Casey's tone was a mix between alarm and anger, "...I think you're bros' are suspecting something's up! There on the way now!"

Mikey cursed, a deep swelling of panic fuddling his brain suddenly. Clumsily, the ninja stumbled off the edge of the building and onto another as he pointedly made his way into the direction of April's apartment, "...don't worry Case, I'll be there before you can say, Battle Nexus Champion!"

"Too little, too late, Man," Casey mumbled under his breath to the heavily perspiring Mikey as they both sat under the wrathful gaze of Leonardo. The blue banded turtle regarded them stonily - his facial features even more withdrawn than usual. But the constant twitching of his mouth was a dead give away, Mikey grimaced. Leo was livid. The youngest swallowed thickly as his brother's penetrating gaze cut into him like one of his katanas would as he'd cut down a Foot ninja.

Mikey visibly shuddered as his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, suddenly dry. Noting the other's sudden inability to speak , Casey finally decided to break the ice, "Hey, man," he started, causing Leo's icy stare to be focused solely on him, "...we give, okay? We was wrong and we're sorry."

"You're sorry," The bite in Leo's rhetorical question was not lost on anyone in the room. The air suddenly felt cold as the leader seemed to mull over these words with barely restrained anger, his voice quivering with the tumultuous storm of emotion fighting to break free out of his chest, "For what, Case? Deliberately lying to my face or putting my little brother in such a compromising position? What, just in fact, are you so sorry about!"

Not giving Casey the luxury to defend himself, Leo continued to speak his mind, his dark eyes blazing,"I don't think you're sorry at all. You're just sorry you didn't get by with it!"

For a long time, no one said a word.

"Michelangelo," Leonardo barked harshly, his eyes never leaving Casey's, "...let's go."

The said rose without a word, silently mouthing a 'I'm sorry, Dude!' to Casey as he tailed his oldest sibling out the window.

The venture from Casey's house to the sewers was silent; tense. Rolling his tongue restlessly in his mouth, Mikey forced himself quiet - knowing if he even so much breathed a word, Leo would be on him like a lion pouncing on its prey. That's how Leo worked. He'd wait for you're move before he countered with his own already premeditated retort and consequently making you (actually just Mikey, usually) looking totally stupid and out of you're zone. It was the strategist in his leader, the youngest assumed.

Tracing the sharp outline of his brother's shoulders as they drew tight to his back with his eyes, Mikey let himself think - his mounting irritation suddenly leaving him as the reason why Leo was such a tight ass came back to the younger brother.

He was just trying to be the best son, big brother, and leader he could be. When Mikey reminded himself of that, he found his once previous anger immediately deflating. The orange banded turtle's shoulders slumped in defeat - Leonardo broke the all time high of winning the arguments on this one - he didn't even have to say a word to even win. Mikey's conscience already won it for him.

For a minute, Mikey couldn't help but feel just a little bitter.

Suddenly pulling himself out of his funk as they made a sharp turn, Mikey blinked owlishly before frowning slightly in confusion as he surveyed the area around him.

Awkwardly clearing his throat to get the other's attention, Mikey made his observation known, "Uh, D-Dude, I think we're going the wrong way. This is the way to the abandoned subway station."

Leo nodded silently as he came to a stop and Mikey felt a sense of dread overcome him.

"...I thought we were going home, Bro."

"We will, just not right this moment,"Leo murmured, his eyes unnaturally soft compared to the anger he'd witnessed just moments before.

For some reason, the turn of events didn't bode well with Mikey as he quickly found himself trying to make excuses as to why they should be going home, "What about Don and Raphie? They'll be lookin' for us!"

"I told them not to wait up."

"...and Master Splinter?"

"Him too."

"Oh,"Mikey closed his mouth again, his stomach churning uneasily as he looked at his brother, "So," Mikey eventually started, his voice coming out tight and strained, "...what's up? Ya gonna make me do those flips Splinter makes me do to punish me or what?"

"Or maybe," the jokester continued as he forced himself to squint his eyes playfully, "you're gonna make me do extra meditations and practices, yeah? Take away my games or my comics... maybe both?"

Even if it was that, Mikey wouldn't have minded - the sacrifice was worth it.

But again, his brother shook his head - his brown eyes meeting his own azure with a saddened light shading them, his eyes mixing into a light grey in color. Michelangelo swallowed, his insides quivering as his tone became a little less confident when he spoke, "Well, then, what is it, Dude?"

"Mikey," his brother started softly as he looked at him with a firm, caring look,"...I know."

Mike gasped.

His whole world slowly coming to a stop as the gears in his headed start to turn in on themselves.

One thought stuck hauntingly in his mind.

...he knew.

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AUTHOR: Oooohhh, intense! See you next chapter, peace! Review if you like and constructive criticism is highly recommended! Thank you!

Hope you enjoyed! ;)