I was stuck for a little while but I think I know now how I want this to turn out. Enjoy!
Mikey's p.o.v
We're sitting here for quite some time now. Donnie hasn't let go if me yet and I'm not one to let a hug go to waste when it is offered. We just enjoy each other's company. I wonder how long it has been since I've sat with my immediate older brother like this and come to realize that for Don it has been over three years. I think that hurts him and that it is the reason he doesn't want to let me go.
I'm not sure how long we stayed here but at some point Donnie stands up. He pulls me up by my arm and we walk home silently. Only now I notice how stiff my muscles are and that I have goosebumps all over. It isn't that cold outside but the wind does make it a little chilly. That's why me and Don decide to go underground and walk back home through the sewers.
When we lower ourselves through the manhole, I can already feel a change in temperature. Sure the sewers are damp and they smell, but when it gets windy outside they can maintain more heat than the streets can. We walk alongside each other for some time when I notice something. Even though I had been extremely delirious at that moment, I know this place well. I even did before and now it has a meaning too. I don't think it will disappear from my memory ever again.
"Donnie I-" I start and I can hear him gasp.
"I-I'm sorry Mikey I think I forgot," he whispers apologetically while squeezing my shoulder for a little bit. I think he really did. Sure he's the genius of the family and stuff, but it's kinda difficult to remember you lost someone who is standing right beside you.
I merely shake my head and take a few steps closer. The collapsed tunnel hides what is inside well enough. I can still see the place where I've laid when I woke up. It's a little darker there. Just a few meters behind where my head had laid, there is a small gravestone. It's smooth, polished, with words engraved in there. They aren't as neat as a real gravestone's would be but I think Leo has done his best. He has a beautiful handwriting.
"You stole the stone for me?" I ask the turtle behind me. Donnie nods.
"We couldn't find anything that would last as long and looks as nice as it does now. Leo carved the words in though. He tried really hard on it but it didn't turn out the way he thought it had to. He had been upset about that for days."
I chuckle a little when I think of a grumpy Leo. If only he would understand that not everything can be as perfect as the stars and the moon, he wouldn't be as stressed as he often is; or at least was. I sometimes feel like I don't know my brothers at all anymore. Raph hasn't ignored Leo once, for cripes' sake. And they haven't fought but that is only an improvement. Donnie is different too but I'm not sure how. He always talked our ears of about some new interesting thing he had found out about but nowadays he doesn't seem to like 'learning' anymore. If that makes sense. Sure he's still in his lab but he doesn't tell us what he is doing there. He does what he does, not bothering to share it with us like he used to.
"I love it Donnie. It's very pretty. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
I know my older brother needs to hear that. He needs to know how much I appreciate what they did for me. Even though I'm buried in a sewer tunnel, it doesn't matter. It's been my home for forever anyways so it is the best place to go to sleep forever too. Although that last part I kinda failed in.
I turn around as see Donnie smile so much, his gap shows between his lips. A few tears stream down his face when he comes closer and hugs me again. So much hugging lately. Not that I mind.
When we release ourselves from the hug, Don tugs my arm gently.
"Let's go home. It's getting colder and I don't want Leo and Raph to worry about us."
I nod, taking one last glance at the gravestone in front of me before I follow my older brother.
Michelangelo Hamato, a true ninja with a true heart. A wonderful brother and a wonderful son.
My eyes start burning at the words. They're the kindest I've ever read. Sure my brothers told me this, albeit not often, because we're guys and stuff. But to read them on your own gravestone; you just know that what they've said means something to them and that what they say is true. It's something to remember for sure.
I shake my head and rub my eyes a little before running after Donnie. He walks on steadily until he's well out of range of the grave. I guess it hurt him to see it after all. It can't be easy on him. Still I know that he, or at least one of my other older brothers, must have been there regularly because the flowers that lie there now, aren't that withered. It's nice to know that even after three years, your family loves you so much they still tend to your grave. It feels good.
When I catch up with Donnie, I don't really know what to say. I can't handle the silence though so I say the first thing that pops into my head. Too bad I'm a little inconsiderate when I ask him.
"Hey Donnie, do you think I'm still under there? Like, there is still a body in that grave. Or am I the body and just, I don't know, crawled out? Like a zombie or something."
Yep it was definitely the wrong thing to say. Don's eyes turn dark and his gaze leaves mine. He stares at the ground and his mouth is set in a firm line.
"I've thought about that," he tells me. "I'm sorry."
Sorry? What is there to be sorry for?
"Since when do you have to apologize for thinking, bro?" I ask him, trying to cheer him up a little. "Because then I've a lot of apologies to catch up on."
There is a short laugh from Donnie and a slight shake of his head. I swear he muttered something like 'keep dreaming' and I know my job is done here. Don doesn't think so however.
"I was not apologizing for thinking though. I was apologizing for what I thought."
He's quiet for a moment and I almost want to ask him what was exactly going on in that head of his. I can't imagine it is that bad. He's Donnie after all. My geeky, know-it-all brother who masters Mario Kart but sometimes lets me win because of my ego. At least, that is what Raph told me once.
"I was thinking about digging you up. I wanted to commit desecration." my older brother suddenly whispers. It's so quiet I hardly noticed he was talking at all. I catch 'digging you up' though and that is all I need to know. He worries about that? I wouldn't mind. Sure violating a grave and all, it's a bad thing to do but that grave isn't really my last resting place anymore, so why not? I'm kinda curious too.
"We should, Donnie," I tell him. His surprised look causes me to burst out into laughter.
"No really!" I say, chuckling. "I want to see if there is anything there. I mean, it was me who asked you right? No reason to call it dese.. something like that if the person buried there asks you."
Don sighs quietly but I can see the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "If you want to, I'm not the one to stop you. So you want to help me with this?"
His gaze meets mine again and I give him a broad smile. "Sure. Now let's get inside where it is warm before my tail freezes off," I say, quickening my pace. I turn around slightly and see a slight glimpse of my older brother back. The older brother he was when he was fifteen. The older brother who was interested in everything he could discover. The older brother who still had a little brother to take care of. The older brother who is one of my best friends.
Sorry I got poetic on the last few lines. Oh well, I think this chapter is okayish. Let me know what you thought so I can even do better on the next chapter. Don't know if I wanna let you guys know what happened to Casey first, or to tell you if there is a body or not. Oh well, will see.
