"What's going on dudes?" were the first sleepy words to fall from Mikey's lips. "Why're ya'll in my room?"
He rolled out of his crouch into a sitting position. The Tokota moved with him as if tied by strings. It wrapped itself around him laying its massive head on his left thigh, but covering most of his lap. He looked to the broken vials by my feet, rubbed his eyes sleepily, glanced over Leo still slightly struggling in Raph's grip, then back to the vials. A look of betrayals takes over his features as understanding slowly clouded his mind. And then he grinned triumphantly up at Leo.
"You didn't really think I'd leave her alone with you, did you?" Mikey sneered like a child who just won an argument.
Leo clenched his teeth, "Mikey, that thing is a monster! It can't be here! It can't be anywhere!"
Our youngest spared a second to look each of us in the face then turned his gaze down at Icey's massive eyes, "Funny. The only monster I see here is you." I heard Raph suck in a breath as the words left Mikey's lips. "You're the only one who has such an issue with her dude. I know you have nothing against dogs and you're always preaching to us to respect nature's way and the natural balance of things. So what has gotten your undies in a twist?"
I didn't know a turtle could get so red as Leo was now. "I am your leader, I don't have to answer to you." Leo stated and turned to leave. I blocked the doorway.
"Actually Leo, I'm curious too. What has gotten into you?" I ask as kindly as I can manage.
"What? Nothing! Nothing has gotten into me! It's you guys that are acting off!"Leo yelled.
The tokota remaned on the floor as Mikey stood up and placed himself inches away from Leo's face, "Answer me bro, what's wrong? I don't want to be against you, but I don't understand you enough to work with you."
I could see the gears turning in Leo's head, his face scrunched up in thought, probably looking for a way out of the situation. Finally his hand shot out, landing on what is left of Mikey's arm, and he gave an unnecessarily tight squeeze causing Mikey to flinch.
"This is what's wrong! You got hurt because I thought I could trust Karai! Because I thought that though she was raised evil she could change! Evil never changes Mikey; your buddy down there was raised to kill and that will never change!" Leo screamed loudly.
There was a slight pause as Raph backed up to stand next to me, "Should we, i don't know, do something?" he whispered.
I shook my head, "No, Leo needs this. Mikey's got this."
He nodded and looked back to the opposites in the room, "I hope you're right".
"So it all goes back to a year ago? I shoulda figured." Mikey bit his lip in an angered fashion I had never seen him do. "I only want to say this once, so all three of you listen and listen good. If I could go back in time and do it over again, it would happen just the same. Nothing you could say or do would change how I would handle the situation. It was my choice that brought me to where I am. None of you are responsible for this!" He wiggled is stump. "This is better than what I had thought was gonna happen! I wasn't expecting to live through that! But I did and as much as it messed me up I am beyond grateful that I made it!"
I gulped, I have never seen this side of Mikey. It's like someone lit a fire within him. Raph stiffened beside me nervously looking between Leo and Mikey. Tears threatened to fall from Mikey's baby blues.
"I try to be happy after everything that has happened. But then you, Leo, come along and tear that away from me. And the moment I no longer have to try because I am genuinely happy, yo come along acting as if you know what's best. When in actuality you know nothing! I'm sick of it and I won't stand for it anymore!" Mikey pulled out the kraang portal opener, pressing a few buttons a portal revealed itself right behind Mikey.
"Mikey no!" Raph called out.
Mikey looked down at Icey and nudged his neck towards the portal. She looked between Leo and Mikey before rising and walking through the portal. Mikey turned on his heels to follow his new friend.
Leo moved to put a hand on Mikey's shoulder, unspoken apologies lingering on his tongue. Before a word could be spoken, our youngest had his weapon in hand. He swung it towards Leo's face; it made contact. But that wasn't the end. In a terrifying turn of events that had Raph and I too stunned to move, Mikey was on top of Leo holding a kunai to his throat.
"Don't ever touch me again. I'm escaping this time! You can't torment me anymore, dangling freedom in front of me like pizza. I'll kill you." He pushed the knife into Leo's neck. "I'm not your toy anymore Shredder!" He pulled back the kunia, ready to kill.
Shredder? Oh no, he must be reliving something that had happened all that time ago.
"Mikey no!" Raph leaped at him, knocking him off of Leo. "Mikey stop! We aren't here to hurt you! Shredder is gone! You are safe! You are free" Raph cried out as the pair wrestled, "Please Mikey, hear me!"
I crouched next to Leo to examine his neck, "You ok Leo?" He doesn't look ok, he looks terrified, but he nods anyways.
"H-he's so strong. When did he get this way?" Leo was stunned. We both looked to see the fight continuing a few feet away.
"It's adrenaline. He's reliving something, something terrible." We watch on.
Mikey seems to be getting the best of Raph. What was once a wrestling match over a knife was now a full on fight. Both of my brothers were on their feet, Raph mostly just blocking the neverending steam of attacks Mikey was throwing at him. Mikey however was aiming to kill.
"W-we need to help him!" Leo shouted as Mikey got in a good jab with the blade.
"No, it'll only make him feel even more threatened! We need Icey, she calmed him down before maybe she could do it again!" I look towards the portal hopeful that she will emerge.
"Mikey don't do this! I don't want to fight you." Raph whimpered as Mikey kneed him in the stomach. "But I will."
"You don't stand a chance, I already took down Shredder! You think you stand a chance TigerClaw? You're just a pathetic pussycat!" And that is how Mikey got the upperhand.
He kicked out Raph's knee and swung his nunchuck down onto Raph's injured shoulder. Raph grunted in pain, still trying to stay in defense. But with one hand gripping his wound, he was left open to attacks. Mikey moved to make another blow.
"I am not Tige-oof!" Raph was knock onto his shell.
But not by Mikey. It happened so fast she was only a blur, "Icey!" Leo cried out happily. Almost too happy for someone that wanted her dead not even ten minutes ago.
I a chaotic mess of bodies, Icey had leaped through the portal knocking Raph out of Mikey's range of attack. She whimpered sadly as she placed herself between us three and Mikey.
"She's...guarding us?" Leo asked cluelessly.
She let a growl tear through her throat, preparing to defend us. So quick to turn on Mikey, maybe Leo was right about her. But why does she now defend us over him? Is she even defending us or is this some odd trick of the predator?
Mikey lunges at her throat, "weak spot" he murmured under his breath almost too quiet to hear.
Weak spot? Because the throat is just a weak spot or because she is already injured there? But why say it outloud? That is the type of thought we are taught to pretend we don't know to give us the advantage in battle. Is he still trapped in his flashback? What happened to you Mikey?
Icey dance around Mikey's attacks nimbly for being confined to such a small area. Without rising we slowly scooted out the door to allow the beast more room to do whatever she was doing.
Never once did she threaten to attack him, she only bounced around circling him. Tiring him out maybe?
"What the heck is she doing?" I ask out loud.
"I don't know, maybe exhausting him? Making him dizzy?" Leo offered looking on in a trance.
"Well it's working on me...but I dont think thats it." Raph breathed heavily. "Wait a minute. He's trying to escape!"
Mikey was no longer focusing on attacks, but looking for breaks in her circle. He leaped at one, however she was fast to trap him. He jumped for another, sheblocked him again. And so it went until he slowed to a complete stop, breathing heavy, tears streaming down his face.
"NOOOOOO!" He screamed out in agony. It brought tears to my eyes to hear him scream so hopelessly.
"She was capturing him." Leo gasped. "He's stuck in a flashback of trying to escape Shredder! She's ending the flashback bu recapturing him!" Leo explained, unsure of what to do.
I could feel my heart break apart Mikey fell to the ground sobbing, clawing at his ankles, drawing blood. Sobs wracked his small frame, yet I did not move. None of us did.
"Please, I can't go back, pl-l-ease no, no, no no. H-help me, p-please. Father, I-I'm not strong enough." He cried on.
He's been harboring all these emotions without anyone catching on. And from what we are witnessing now he has reached his breaking point.
"Leo. Raph. Don. They'll save me, I know they will." His sobs ceased for a moment. "No no I'm on my own, I have no choice."
Icey howled before approaching Mikey slowly. He removed his hand from his ankles and reached out to her making contact with her fur, "So fluffy." he said mindlessly. "So soft."
She whimpered again, somehow it sounded like a question.
"You're right. I am ok. So fluffy, ground yourself Mikey. Soft like a blanket, soft...soft like Leo's hugs. Leo, Leo I am sorry. So sorry. So soft."
I looked to my brothers in a sad sort of confusion. What on earth is he babbling about?
Leo rose from his spot beside me, neck still bleeding slightly. He walked cautiously towards our youngest, kneeling down before him.
