A/N
Season 3, hurry up.
Mikey takes in short, hiccuping breaths as Raph's emerald eyes study him for a moment. The younger turtle didn't know why or how, but he had a gut feeling to go to his hotheaded brother. Leo is always stressed about leadership and the orange clad turtle had already pushed Donnie away when he had the chance to explain everything. So, it only left Raph – and he has no idea how it's gonna turn out in the end.
"Raph?" Mikey croaks out, a few trails of water escaping his eyes. He's tired of this. He wants to sleep without the fear of something controlling his mind and awakening him with a start. He wants his normal life back.
Much to his displease, Raph slips his eyes back shut and rolls over onto his side with his shell to his crying brother. "I'm tired, Mikey. Can't this wait until tomorrow?"
Blinking out a few hot tears, Mikey tentatively walks further into the room and shuts the door behind him. The only light illuminating the dim room is the glow of a lava lamp on a desk, making it hard for the young turtle to see anything. But he can still feel the irritation emitting from his exhausted brother and it made his heart drop through the floor.
"No, n-not really," he manages to gently whisper as he stares at Raph's shell. "I need your help."
"Help? What help?" Raph mumbles wearily. "Actually – I don't even wanna know. Just go back to sleep, you'll be fine by tomorrow."
"No I won't-t. I don't know who else to go to. Leo is all neutral about everything like nothing is happening and Don is just gonna f-flip out again," the younger turtle says and sits down on the floor. He might as well get comfy. He might be here awhile.
"Well, nothing is happening, dude," Raph responds in boredom, the tempting sway of sleep washing over him. "You're just having some stupid nightmares. I'm tired, so I'm gonna go to sleep now, thank you very much."
The coldness in his voice makes Mikey shiver. He brings up a shaking hand to wipe his left cheek free of tears as he lets out a shuddering breath of fading hope. Raph is his last chance. If he can't get him to understand, then he's gonna be stuck with Splinter – AKA, nonstop meditation for the next three weeks. But he doesn't need useless mediation; he needs the comfort of his family. More specifically, his brothers.
"But R-Raph-"
"Sleeping."
"But-"
"Sleeping!"
"Please, just-"
"Sleepi-"
"Stop it!" Mikey cries out, pouncing to his feet. More tears flow out of his eyes, clearing his vision for a split second before more liquid fills them once more. "Dammit, Raph! I'm scared, these aren't just dreams, I can feel it! I don't know what to do! I'm afraid to even blink at this point because the images of Leo will just come right back and beat me to a pulp! P-Please, help me, Raph. Please.."
At this point, Raph sits up in a strange curiosity, staring at his brother with wide eyes. Mikey hardly ever curses – if at all – and it worries him that he is now.
"..Whoa, Mikey, bro, calm down," he murmurs as he watches his little brother sink back to the floor, his hands covering his face. He swings his legs over the side of his bed and watches with concern as his little brother sobs in front of him. What is he supposed to do? Leo usually takes care of this kind of touchy-feely stuff, not him. He ponders the thought of going to fetch his leader, but decides against it. There must be a reason why Mikey came to him, although vague. Giving out a small sigh, Raph tries his best to calm his baby brother.
"It's, um, gonna be alright. Did you say the dreams are about Leo? He's just fine, trust me. You have nothing to worry about," he awkwardly soothes, stiffly sitting on the bed. He gets no verbal response; only a shake of Mikey's head in denial answers him.
"S-something's.. gonna.. happen.. to.. Leo,.. Raph," Mikey hiccups out, his voice slightly muffled by the hands that cover his moist face. "I-I'm scared-d.. I don't w-want him.. to get.. hurt."
"But he's not gonna get hurt. He's sleepin' just fine right now," Raph replies as he rubs a hand across the back of his neck. He has no idea what he's doing right now. This whole "comforting" thing is new to him. Why didn't the little idiot go get Leo like he always does?
"He dies every time!" Mikey suddenly cries out as he whips his head back up to look his brother in the eye. Raph jumps a little at his outburst, studying the baby blue irises that glow in front of him. "Every night in my dreams, he d-dies and I can't do anything about it! I don't wanna tell him because h-he already thinks that I'm just the annoying l-little brother who is looking for a-attention. He doesn't c-care. He's just b-being nice to get me to sh-shut up."
At that, Mikey lets his head drop back down and covers his face again. He welcomes the darkness that surrounds him. He doesn't want to be constantly worrying anymore – he just wants to float off into space and never return. He wouldn't be missed, anyways. His brothers don't care. He thought they did, but they were really just trying to brush off the extra weight he puts on their shoulders. In fact, it's useless sitting in Raph's room right now. All his heartless, hotheaded brother is gonna do is yell at him and call him stupid for waking him up and-
Mikey shudders as he feels a warm presence by him. Until now, he didn't know how incredibly cold he had been. He continues sniveling, however, as a pair of hands wrap around him and pull him closer to a protective body. Instinctively, the youngest turtle snuggles his head into the comforting plastron that surrounds him. A steady heartbeat fills his ears as his tears begin to die down. Leo used to hold him like this. But that seemed so far away..
"Mikey," Raph gently whispers, giving his brother a tight squeeze. "Leo doesn't think that. We all don't think that. We care about you, little bro, no matter how super annoying you can be sometimes."
Mikey doesn't respond. He pulls his legs in tighter to get closer to Raph, closer to the comforting hand he has been searching for. It's ironic how the most violent member of his family can understand him better than any level-headed person. His breathing begins to drift into a soft, steady rhythm as the red-banded turtle rubs the back of his shell.
"Do you.. wanna talk about it?" Raph quietly states, looking down at his younger brother. Although he often chased the mischievous, orange clad turtle around in fury after a visit from Dr. Prankenstein, he knows that it's moments like these that keep them bonded as brothers and not as enemies. It's moments like these that counted the most in the end.
"No, not right-t now. I'll tell you tomorrow," Mikey sniffs and curls up closer against Raph's body. The red-banded turtle gives a small sigh before focusing on the green globs inside the lava lamp sway back and forth in the liquid. ".. Thank you, Raphie."
"I gotcha little bro," Raph replies as he gives a lovingly squeeze of protection.
He doesn't move as Mikey's breathing evens out peacefully followed by a brief snore, indicating that he has fallen asleep. He waits a few moments as he listens to the consoling silence of the air. Never before had he had to comfort Mikey like this. He never thought he would have to. Being the hothead of the team, whenever one of his siblings had troubles, they didn't run to him. They went to Leo or Splinter. But now, as he embraces his sleeping brother, he wonders why. He's not too terribly bad at this, right?
Gently, Raph shifts a little so he can put an arm underneath Mikey's knees and support his dangling head. The sleeping turtle snuggles closer to his chest as his position changes, raising the tiniest, slightest, ever so small feeling of brotherly love in Raph. Of course, he won't ever admit that to his family, but at least he knows it's there for future references. Such as when he's tackling his goofy brother to the ground. Wondering when the next session of Run-Catch-and-Pummel will happen, Raph stands up slowly as to not wake his slumbering bundle before heading out his bedroom door.
As he crosses the common room, a flicker of movement catches Raph's eye. Briefly scanning the area, he watches as the lab door opens then gently closes, leaving Donnie standing dumbfounded in the common room with him. Don looks between him and the gentle body of Mikey in his arms with complete confusion. It's not very often that you find the two brothers together without any fighting involved. Nevertheless, the purple-banded genius gives an approving smile to his hotheaded brother. But Raph only grimaces and continues on his way to Mikey's room. Just because he was able to help his brother calm down doesn't mean that he's some kind of Super Turtle. It's just what brothers do.
o-o-o
The empty room is a comforting shade of light yellow.
No screams of agony, no terrifying flashing lights – just the grinning, young turtle and his happy thoughts.
A warm, fuzzy feeling drifts through Mikey as he lifts himself from the floor and looks at his surroundings. Although simple, the small room has a nice feeling to it. Almost as if it's alive. Mikey wouldn't want it any other way.
A ringing sound of happiness catches his attention, and he notices a window in the left corner. Skipping over to it, the joyous turtle looks out the sheer glass, and his heart fills with warmth.
Below him, his three brothers are laughing together in a similar room he is in now. Donnie slaps Leo's back with hilarity, and the blue-banded brother returns the favor. Don strikes back, but only to be smacked again by Leo. Soon enough, it's a test of strength as they bat at each other, trying to land the last blow. But they still have grins pasted to their faces, showering Mikey with the feeling of love and joy that he sees.
As if suddenly noticing his presence, Raph lets his laughter die down a bit before looking up to meet eyes with his younger brother. Mikey flashes his signature beam of glee and gives a small wave. The fond memory of Raph holding him rushes through his head, and he can't help but feel a sensation of gratitude for his older brother's actions. The usually-hotheaded turtle chuckles with a gleam in his emerald eyes before jumping into the battle between his two other brothers. The three of them roll together on the ground, laughing and smacking and pushing and shoving.
As he watches, the youngest turtle begins to laugh to himself as well. For him, happiness is contagious no matter what. Very rarely has he seen all of his family so joyous with each other – and this time, it isn't because they had saved the world from an alien invasion or barely managed to defeat Shredder and his henchmen. It's simply because they are brothers, and that's what brothers are supposed to do.
Mikey rests his palm against cool glass and closes his eyes in bliss.
This is more like it.
o-o-o
Raph gently sets his younger brother's body down on the bed and pulls the covers up. The sleeping body gives a deep sigh as it settles into the new, welcoming environment. The red clad turtle can't help but slightly smile at his peaceful state. Finally, they're going to go a night without screams of fear echoing throughout the lair and blasting everyone out of their shells.
As if sensing his sudden happiness, Mikey's sleepy mouth curves into a joyous grin. Even when out cold, the goofy turtle knows how to have a good time. Raph gently chuckles before softly patting his brother's plastron in praise.
"Now, this is more like it."
A/N
Yeah, yeah. I know that this was a nice dream.
But don't worry; it evens out the upcoming nightmares - sorta.
Reviews are always welcome; please don't hesitate to leave one! (: