Chapter Two: Memories
"Donnie? Are you okay?" a nine year old Mikey poked his head into the room.
Donnie was sitting by himself, his shell to his little brother as he connected legos into a form of a house. "Go away, Mikey!" he whined.
"Wassa matter?" he asked in concern. "Should I get Master Spinter?"
"No," Donnie said. "Raphie and Leo said I was a geek because I know too much."
"So?" Mikey shrugged as he cocked his head to the side. He blinked in confusion. "What's wrong with that?"
Donnie didn't answer, so Mikey left, but he returned a few minutes later with a broken toy.
"Hey, Donnie?" he asked in his best baby voice. "Can ya fix this? Raphie threw it and it broke."
"I dunno - "
"Please, Donnie?" Mikey begged. "Pllleeeeaaaaseeee?! Pleeeeassseee? I know ya can do it"
"Okay..." he grabbed the wounded toy dinosaur and went to work. He connected and reconnected pieces with his tounge sticking out the corner of his mouth.
After he was done he went to where Mikey was sitting watching television with their two other brothers. "You did it, Donnie!" he exclaimed, jumping up and down. "You're tha best fixer upper, I know! I'm gonna bring ya some more toys to fix." and before he could respond, Mikey sped off.
Leo and Raph looked at him for a moment before scrambling off the couch.
"Where are you guys going?"
"Gonna get some toys for you to fix for us too." Leo said. He and Raph sped off, leaving a grinning Donnie in their dust.
Donnie sighed in frusteration as he cleared all the equipment off his desk and watched as they clattered to the stone ground. The sounds of breaking glass and clanging metal echoed distantly around the lab, his ears ringing harshly. He closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to burst through and put his hands over his head in means of blocking out the memories that kept haunting him. Sobs wracked his body as flashes of his youngest brother's smiling face popped into his mind.
The goofy remarks. His playful spirit. A yearning to add joy in everyone.
Michelangelo was in fact the glue that undeniably held them together. Without him they were falling apart and it was true. Donnie couldn't recall the last time he even left his lab to see his family. Most of the day he just tankered away, getting his hands on whatever he could to distract him of the reality of it all.
Mikey. Their youngest, childlish, playful and spirited brother had left. His soul lifting into the heavens, which he hoped was now keeping a watchful eye over them because they could seriously need it.
Donnie took a deep breath, shivering as he felt a slight draft before bending down to clean up the disasterous mess.
Raphael aimed another swift kick to the punching bag, letting out a grunt at the impact. He had just returned from a night of solo gang-bashing to get his anger out. But, for some weird reason there hadn't been a hint of a crime in the city tonight. Instead, the red clad turtle had a strange feeling that he was being followed and yet everytime he took time to look around him, he found nothing.
Usually it would be Mikey following after him like a lost puppy, but...
Raphael let out a loud growl and punched the red swaying bag angrily. He held it at arms length as it came to swing back at him.
"Are you still mad at me because I broke your remote control motorcycle?" a seven year old Mikey said one day.
Raph glared at him. "Whaddya think?"
"At least you're talkin' to me." Mikey said as he climbed onto the couch, but Raph pushed him off. "I said I was sorry!"
"You asked if I was mad at yah. Yah didn't say anythin' about bein' sorry." Raph told him.
"You say Potato and I say Patato." Mikey sang off key, picking himself up and shrugging. "C'mon, I gotta show you something!"
"I ain't done watchin' my - "
Mikey grinned. "Aw, please Raphie, I promise you'll love it!"
Raph eyed him curiously, but jumped off the couch none the less and followed his little brother upstairs. "This had betta be good."
"Close your eyes, Raphie." Mikey said. "You'll ruin the surprise."
"Whateva..." he mumbled, crossing his arms, but slowly closed his eyes.
He heard Mikey shuffle around for a bit and then he shouted, "Open!"
A new red glittering remot control motorcycle was laying cautiously on his bed, waiting to be driven around the lair. The red banded turtle looked at his little brother, wondering what to say.
"What are you wating for!?" Mikey shouted, grinning. "Try it out! It has lots more stuff because Donnie helped fix it!"
Raphael stopped swinging, his rage deteriorating as he recalled one of the many memories of his spiritful brother. He let out a frustrated breath as he wandered over to the couch and threw himself onto it. Apparently, he had sat on the remote because the tv turned on.
"Micheal, stop it right this instant!" a woman with black hair on a television show was saying.
Raphael growled and changed the channel.
"I didn't do it, mommy!" a little boy cried. "Mikey, did it!" he pointed to his twin brother.
CLICK
"Mike! Behind you!" a woman screamed, her fac fixated in a horrified look.
CLICK
"Now, this painting was done by Michelangelo himself. He was a real aspiring artist in the -"
He turned off the tv, his eyes moist as he wiped at them vigorously. Letting out yawn, his eyes falling from fatigue, the tempermental turtle fell into a deep sleep.
Leo cracked open his eyes, the small noise alerting him into conciousness. He lifted his head slightly from the pillow, his heart racing in slight panic. Even though he was ten years old, the first night in your own seperate bedroom was rough; not to mention that scary movie Raph had found. It had been called "Don't Look Under the Bed"
"Leo?"
The blue banded turtle sighed in relief at the familiar voice. "What's the matter, Mikey?"
Mikey sniffled, not moving from the doorway and hugged his orange blanket closer to him. "I'm scared. There's a boogeyman under my bed..."
"Alright, lil' bro." Leo said with a slight smile as he lifted up his sheets. "Get in - but only for tonight."
A huge grin broke across his face and Mikey ran across the room, tucking himself in beside Leo. "Wait...is he under your bed?" he bit his lip, a frightened look crossing his features.
"No." Leo murmured, his shell against Mikey's, refusing any sort of snuggling.
Mikey didn't feel reassured. "Are you posi-ti-tive?" he turned onto his other side and attatched himself to Leo's shell.
"Yes Mikey." he corrected quickly.
"Well, what what if - "
"I'm your big brother, I won't let anything get you." Leo said.
"Promise?" Mikey asked
Leo turned to face him and the moment he did, his little brother snuggled into his plastron. The older turtle smiled. "I promise, bro."
"Oh, and don't tell Raph, Leo." Mikey added, yawning.
"I won't, bro."
"Mikey..." Leo murmured as the memory faded.
Leo paused in his katas, his eyes glancing over at the indestructable glass shrine. Michelangelo's precious belongings were placed inside. His nunchucks were placed on it's stand along with his orange mask hung up on a nail behind it. A few of his comic books packed in a box with a few idolized action figuers on standing on display around it.
This is where Leo often came to meditate. Everytime he did, a strange shiver came over hims almost like he could Michelangelo still walking around being his old self. He missed that. He missed the laughter, the spirit, the joy that his youngest brother brought into himself. Although, he had never said it aloud, he admired Michelangelo and he was sure that Donnie and Raph did too.
"What the hell is your problem, Don?!" a shout vibrated from the living room.
Leo sighed, rolling his eyes at yet another arguement. He was surprised that neither had killed the other yet. This time there was no answer from Donnie, except the clattering of plates.
"I said what the hell is your problem?!" Raph demanded.
Figuring, it was time to see what was all the commotion, Leo made his way out of the Dojo and into the living room. Raph was standing beside the couch, clutching his sais as if he were ready to thrown them at Donnie's head. But, the purple clad turtle just continued making whatever he was concocting, his mind lost within his thoughts as he rambled to himself.
Raph growled, stomping up to his younger brother and shoving him hard into the wall. This emitted a small squeak from him as he snapped back into the world of reality.
"Did you not see me over there, brainiac?!" Raphael shouted, raising his fist.
"Mikey," Donnie said softly as if in a trance. He lowered his eyes, brushing past Raph and continued to prepare his tea.
The name set a spark through the red clad brother as he pressed his lips together, a foul look coming across his face. "I'm goin' out." he said.
"We all should." Leo said suddenly.
"Can't..." Donnie muttered as if realizing his two older brothers were just there. "I have to - "
"I think Mikey would have wanted us to stay together." Leo said. "Instead, we're falling apart..."
Silence...
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
The clock on the wall struck seven and a yellow canary poked out from it's doors of the clock. "Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"
Michelangleo had always liked that clock saying it added spunk. It was probably the only reason why it still hung in it's place.
"Leonardo has a good point, my sons." Master Splinter emerged from his quarters. "I have seen your behaviors change each month since the death of your brother. I believe it is time that we continue on as a family to defending this city against those who seek to wreck havoc on innocent people. It would be something that Michelangelo would be most proud of."
"Whateva..." Raph muttered, turning and leaving the lair. The last thing he wanted was a lecture.
"Fine." Donnie agreed, rolling his eyes.
Leo sighed, watching his brothers before he bowed to his father and heading off after them.
"Mas'er Spin'er!" a four year old Michelangelo shouted, running into the room, crying.
"What is it, my child?" Splinter asked as he allowed the young turtle cuddle against him.
"I heard a boom boom..." he mumbled.
"A what? Michelangelo, you -" the mutant rat was cut off by a loud rumble that shook the lair.
Michelangelo whimpered, shaking in Master Splinters arms. "Raphie says its a mons'er!"..'S gonna eat-ed me!"
Master Splinter sighed, reminding himself to have a talk with Raphael about scaring his brother. "My son, it is not a monster."
Michelangelo sniffled and looked up at his father with wide watery eyes. "..'S not?"
"No," he thought of a way to put in to make his youngest son understand. "They are clouds. Clouds in the sky that get angry and bump into other clouds; much like the way you and brothers wrestle around."
The young turtle wiped his eyes and hiccuped. "So, is not a mons'er? Jus' clowds?"
"Yes, my child."
"Can you take us to go 'n see 'em one day?" Michelangelo asked.
Master Splinter sighed, "Perhaps when you are older we shall go see them."
"Really?"
"Yes. Now go and play with your brothers."
Michelangelo shook his head. "Mm-mm. I wanna s'ay with you." he nestled deeper into the mutant rat and let out a content sigh.
Master Splinter rubbed his forehead as the fond memory faded away. It seemed like everyday he received another image of the times with his youngest son. He watched his three remaining sons disappear out the lair and instead of retiring to his room, the elderly rat found himself heading into the Dojo.
Michelangelo.
Walking over to the glass shrine, Master Splinter laid a paw on the small lock and opened it. He touched everything, letting the presence of Michelangelo take over himself. Never did he think he'd live to see one of his sons die before him. It had been his promise to protect his sons from harm, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
A father should never have to bury his son.
Whoosh...
Something caught his attention. Master Splinter looked over and noticed Michelangelo's sketch pad lying against it's shelf, untouched. He reached out and took it into his gentle hands, flipping it over. On the back, near the bottom, Michelangelo had scribbled his name across. Smiling softly, the ninjitsu master opened it to the first page.
It was a drawing of him. He had a stern, but gentle of look on his face as he leaned slightly on his walking staff with both paws. Underneath it, read in Michelangelo's messy scrawl, "Master Splinter. My sensei, but most importantly my father." Master Splinter smiled softly and continued to flip through the pages of the sketch pad. He had to admit that his youngest son was the only one who really lived up to his name.
Finally, he reached the last page.
It was a human he did not recognize. Sandy hair, blue eyes, light tan with light freckles across his nose and cheeks.
Master Splinter raised his brows in question and let his eyes wander toward the bottom of the page, but all he saw was the signature of Michelangelo and nothing more.
A cool chill came over him then.
Figuring he should make himself some tea, Master Splinter took the sketch pad with him and closed up the shrine.
A fairly boring chapter, but I think you'll like the next one!
Until again! I love reviews!
