Thanks for sticking with me so far.


Bittersweet World


Chapter 10

The resistance head quarters were buzzing with movement. People packed, collected supplies, equipped vehicles and did various other things. Leonardo stood in the corner, watching over everything through dark shades. Beside him, Leo stood anxious to help but glued in place by Leonardo's previous orders. 'Stay here- we don't need to help.'

Some might say that Leonardo had learned to let others do the work in his old age, but to Leo it was a sign of Laziness and he was itching to do something, anything. Just to make himself useful.

He folder his arms. Shell, he wanted to do something.

"What's with you?"

Leo looked up at the sound of his counterpart's hoarse voice. He unconsciously swallowed, was he going to sound like that in a few years? He hoped not.

"Nothing." He answered testily; somewhat annoyed that Leonardo hadn't come outright about that problem. But then, that had never been his style had it?

"You're antsy."

Hmm, so he was changing tactics, "Its pointless us just standing here. We could be helping."

Leonardo smiled as if Leo had said something amusing- maybe he had.

"What?"

Still smirking Leonardo muttered, "I forgot just how busy I used to be…"

"Busy? I just don't like doing nothing."

"So meditating doesn't count?"

"You know it doesn't."

"Hmm… maybe. Haven't had time for it lately."

Leo glanced at him, "Lately?"

"A while."

Ah, a while, so what… A couple of years? He was certainly out of practice in this time line, maybe that could explain his drastic personality change? Or maybe he was just avoiding things that had to be dealt with.

Leo rubbed his eyes, "I'm gonna go help."

He walked off with Leonardo doing nothing to stop him, his only response a low chuckle in his wake.

"Ya done?"

Raph rubbed the grease off his hands, "Yeah, I'm done."

Raphael nodded, "Go call Leo, tell him we ready on our side."

Raph snorted but pushed himself to his feet never the less. If his counterpart wasn't gonna talk, then he certainly wasn't going to be the one to start off the conversation.

He tightened his mask, turning to the door.

A moment of silence.

"So how's you and Leo doin;"

The question was so deliberately casual- Raph tried his best not to snicker. Was he really this obvious? Apparently so.

"Me and Leo?" Raph didn't turn around but could easily imagine the annoyed look on his older counterparts face.

"Yeah…how's things with you?"

Raph turned, "Good, we're good…things a bit rocky now and then but we holding up." Shell he sounded like he was talking about his girlfriend, why did Raphael have to get all touchy feely all of a sudden?

"That's good."

Good, Raph thought, everything was good; good was a safe word, neutral. He liked that word.

"Okay." A moment of awkward silence, "I'm gonna go call Leo."

"Don't let things get out of hand."

"Huh?"

He turned but Raphael wasn't looking at him, just letting his eyes linger on the roof, "Yer Pride's not everything…. Family's more important. Brothers and the like…"

Raph waited a moment longer but it seemed Raphael had nothing more to say. He turned and left, a little confused and feeling more inner turmoil than he had for a while.

Trust him to get all philosophical before a mission…

0-0-0

Don had once read that everyone has what is called the, "Monkey mind". The part of your brain which demands immediate satisfaction, thriving only on instinct. Where is my next banana coming from? Food safety, warmth and shelter, things like that. And the other part of your mind was your reasoning and logic, the more scientific part of your brain and often the more emotional.

Don didn't know what to think of what he had just witnessed. How much should he read into it? How much did it mean? What had he been missing all these years?

He steadied himself of the wall to his right, leaning against it. He shut his eyes, hoping that no one would see him in this sheltered ally way. Though, thinking about it, what did it matter? They were already big news in this time- well more legends than anything but Don was most certain he would get a minimally negative response.

He rubbed his eyes tiredly. Oh Mikey. He would get to the bottom of it- he knew he would. But would be find something worth while or were some things better left alone?

The scientist in him, and the brother in him, both screamed for him to take the first option. It would be the right thing to do. But his monkey mind was telling him to do what was safer and just let it be.

Still not sure on his decision, Don made up his mind to talk to someone what he got to resistance head quarters- Leo, Raph or maybe even the older Mikey would have some answers when he got back.

0-0-0

"So what now?"

Michelangelo frowned, "The others should almost be finished with the preparations by now."

"So we're gonna be heading out?" Mikey asked

"Sure."

"But what about aircrafts and tanks and those big shredder cannon laser things that are like planes but bigger and like go whoosh not swish?"

"We take them out."

"You're no fun."

"You're predictable."

"I'm cute."

"I've got brains -dumbass."

'That's not a nice thing to say to yourself!"

"Eh, give it ten years and you might get some."

"Get what?"

"Brains."

"Oh… my bad."

"Right."

Michelangelo opened the door, shoving Mikey into head quarters. Mikey stumbled and nearly fell flat on his face.

"Bastard."

"Uhu, good luck with that. Just hurry up and find Leo. Tell him we're back." Michelangelo was turned around, fiddling somewhat with the control panel.

"What am I your messenger boy?" Mikey muttered, storming off to find his elder brother

"Yes." Deadpan reply- nice touch. Mikey gave a sigh, twisting his bandanna round one finger, if he didn't owe him some, he would have told Michelangelo to stick his message. But after bawling over the poor turtle, Mikey only though repaying the favor was due. Though if you couldn't comfort yourself who could you comfort.

Never the less, Mikey felt as if a weight had been lifted, and despite his complaints- messenger duty felt a lot better that normal. Almost fun.

That was saying something.

"Hey Don, we're back." He called, spotting his elder brother.

Don gave a small smile, nodding.

What no snappy comeback?

"Ey Donnie boy- you okay?"

"Hmm, yeah Mike I'm fine. See ya in a bit; I gotta go talk to Raph about prepping the bikes."

Mikey stared after Donatello retreating back for a few moments, frowning in puzzlement. What the heck was wrong with his brother?

His thoughts didn't last long before a speaker announcement snapped him right out of his daze.

"Attention- we have an emergency!"


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