A/N I do not own TMNT, but am forever grateful for their existence!

Threads

X.

Raphael didn't know if he should cry or laugh. What he had done had worked; however, Michelangelo was undoubtedly changed – at least to the second oldest sibling. Those glowing blue eyes were eerie enough, but what really disturbed Raphael was being able to constantly feel his youngest brother's heartbeat alongside his own. As Leonardo and Donatello embraced their baby brother, the red-clad turtle stood and put some distance between himself and the group. He was starting to get a splitting headache – the constant hum of threads the likely culprits – and after resurrecting Michelangelo, he was beginning to get hungry again. Thankfully, Raphael's sai wound had healed almost instantly after it had fulfilled its purpose. In exhaustion and frustration he rubbed his hands over his mask. He uncovered his eyes at his baby brother's voice, "Master, you need to feed."

Raphael spun around to see Michelangelo kneeling between his two older brothers with his head tilted in concern towards the red-clad reptile. Both Leonardo and Donatello shared similar expressions of bewilderment at their brother's words before the blue-clad turtle spoke, "Mikey, what did you just call Raph?"

The orange-clad turtle glanced at Leonardo, "Leo, do not be disrespectful. The Soul Collector stands before you."

Leonardo only looked more confused, "The what? The Soul Collector?"

Michelangelo nodded, "Correct, Lord Raphael is The Soul Collector and he is my Master because he claimed me as his retainer."

Leonardo and Donatello directed questioning and shocked stares towards said title-bearing turtle, which finally helped Raphael find his voice, "Mikey, how do you… How do you know that?"

The addressed turtle continued to keep his head bowed slightly as what could only be interpreted a sign of respect, "I was educated by the Herald while you completed the ritual, my lord."

"That smoky bastard…" The standing reptile continued, "You still remember everything from before, don't you?"

The freckled turtle nodded, "Yes, my lord, I have retained all my previous memories."

"Stop calling me that!" the red-clad mutant hissed, "If you remember, then you know I'm still your brother, Raphael. You know Raph? The hot-headed maniac?"

"I do remember, but I do not wish to disrespect you, my lord."

Raphael flung his arms in exasperation, "You're not disrespecting me!"

"My lord, you are a god, and I am but a lowly retainer." Michelangelo deadpanned, "I should therefore treat you as such."

By this point, Leonardo had sunk down beside his youngest brother and appeared to be struggling to remain conscious. Although his voice indicated that he was still in obvious pain, Donatello was managing to keep track of the conversation, "Whoa, wait." Raphael and Michelangelo looked to their purple-clad brother, "You're a god now Raph?"

Raphael played with his mask tails in unease, "Uh…"

At his pause, Michelangelo continued, "Donnie, it's Lord Raphael, and yes he is now the god whose realm encompasses all the souls of this world and the next."

Donatello looked at Raphael in confusion, "Which means what exactly?"

The elder turtle sighed, "Look Don, can we talk about this later? I'm getting worried about Leo."

Their oldest brother was starting to obtain an unhealthy pallor to his once leaf-green complexion, and even though his thread had not deteriorated to Michelangelo's previous state, Raphael knew if they didn't get Leonardo's wound closed soon, he would be "curing" another brother in the very near future. Donatello sank into a lying position and after hissing in pain he replied, "You're right Raph. Besides, I'm not feeling so hot myself."

Raphael knelt beside Donatello and narrowed his eyes at the jagged piece of white bone that had sheared its way through muscle, tendon, and fascia to penetrate into the outside world, "It does look pretty nasty Don. You want me to set it now or wait 'till be get back?"

Donatello winced at the comment, "Let's wait until I can take something that can take the edge off."

His older brother nodded before turning to the youngest, "Mikey!"

"Yes Lord Raphael?"

Raphael cursed, "Oh for the love of-" At the innocent look on his freckled brother's face, the so-called-lord pinched his eyes closed in resignation, "Fine, you want to play it your way; then we'll play it your way. Retainer Michelangelo!"

"Yes, my Master?"

"I hereby forbid you to address me with any of these so called titles you deem necessary."

"My-"

Raphael cut him off, "What did I just say?"

The youngest clearly looked uncomfortable, "Uh, but…"

Donatello chuckled weakly, "Careful Raph, you don't want to break him."

The red-clad turtle rolled his eyes before glancing at Leonardo's thread once more. They really did not have time for this, "Look Mikey, just focus alright? Right now I need you to help me get Leo and Don to the lair."

Still Michelangelo persisted, "My – Raphael – you still have to feed. Otherwise, you know what will happen."

This day was clearly not willing to give Raphael a break, "Look, just help me get them into the Shell Raiser. Then you can drive them back and I'll catch up with you. Ok?"

The youngest nodded, "Yes Raphael."

The larger turtle bent down to sweep Donatello into his arms – consciously ensuring he didn't drain his brother in the process while being mindful of his leg, "Bro, you never call me Raphael. Just go with Raph. Got it?"

Michelangelo – apparently now slightly stronger – lifted the unconscious Leonardo, "Yes, Raph."

Raphael looked to the sky praying for some higher power – other than him – to help get him out of this mess. Donatello answered his prayer with a smirk, "Look on the bright side Raph, this is the calmest Mikey's ever acted."

Stepping into the Shell Raiser, the elder turtle frowned, "I'd rather have our old Mikey over this robot."

"Well he supposedly has to listen to you, so I'm sure we can figure out a way to reprogram him."

Gently lowering his injured brother to his chair he replied, "I hope you're right Don." The younger inhaled sharply as Raphael released his leg, "Sorry."

The purple-clad turtle waved his brother's apology off, "Not your fault Raph. It's going to hurt no matter what position it's in." He nodded towards their baby brother who was carefully strapping Leonardo to his seat, "Tell you what, I'll help you get Mikey back to his normal self, if you promise to tell the whole I'm-now-a-god story once we get back."

Raphael snorted, "I'm no god Donnie."

Michelangelo cheerfully chirped, "Yes you are my lord – I mean – Raph."

The purple-clad turtle snickered, "He definitely didn't lose all his Mikey-ness."

At the familiar pang of hunger, Raphael folded his arms to growl, "Shut-up both of you. Mikey, I'm going to take care of some things. You get Don and Leo back. Got it?"

The orange-clad turtle beamed, "Aye-aye Captain Raph!"

Before hearing Donatello's full laugh, Raphael took his leave muttering darkly under his breath.

Yet again, Raphael reappeared close to Times Square. One quick glance was all he needed to assess that a whole new batch of threads awaited his touch. Repeating the weaving of his soul cable, Raphael soon was feeding to his heart's content. After gaining a sufficient buzz and ensuring his body would not run out of fuel for a while, the turtle vanished leaving the humans once more to panic about why hundreds of them had participated in yet another mass fainting.

Now that he could constantly feel Michelangelo's pulse and energy, Raphael had no trouble locating his brothers. Thankfully, his retainer had followed through with his instructions, for the red-clad turtle appeared at the lair entrance where his youngest brother was carefully carrying Leonardo over to Donatello's lab. Without a second thought, Raphael entered the Shell Raiser to retrieve another now semi-comatose brother. Evidently, the pain was quickly becoming too much for Donatello to bear, but at least his thread was still far brighter than Leonardo's.

Meeting Michelangelo at the lab, Raphael questioned, "How's Leo?"

The youngest appeared worried, "He hasn't awoken, and I think his energy is starting to fade..."

Raphael didn't even need to look at their blue-clad leader's thread to know that what Michelangelo said was true. The soul-feeding turtle could feel Leonardo's thread weakening. He began digging through lab drawers, "Where does Don keep the suture material?"

"Raph," Michelangelo's electric blue eyes caught his green, "I don't think stitching it will work."

Shaking his head in denial, the red-clad turtle continued to search, "Don keeps a few pints of blood in the fridge. If we give him a transfusion-"

He was startled to feel Michelangelo's cool hand on his bicep. When Raphael's green eyes widened in disbelief at his action, the younger began to cower, "Please my lord, don't be angry." When Raphael remained still and calm under his brother's touch the younger warily continued, "But there's not enough time."

Raphael's eyes began to water again, "Fuck, Mikey… Not Leo too…"

"It's for the best."

Angrily brushing his tears away, he snapped, "Don't you know what's going to happen to you? What I'm doing to you guys?"

"It's ok. I know," Michelangelo suddenly embraced Raphael, "the Herald told me everything."

The elder, although considerably larger than the younger, could not help but lean into his brother's hug, "I don't think I can do this Mike."

"No you can't, but you're not alone – Raph. Save Leo and let us help you."

The taller pulled away, "But Mikey…"

The freckled turtle gave him a small grin, "Four heads are better than one right?"

Raphael deadpanned, "Except three will be insane."

Michelangelo shook his head, "Raphael, it's not like it will happen overnight. We'll have some time. I'm sure we can figure something out before it's too late, but," he nodded towards the eldest, "It will be too late if you let Leo die."

The green eyed turtle took a shuddering breath, "Alright, but Mikey?"

"Yeah?"

"Stay with me until the end?"

Michelangelo took Raphael's hand, "Not until the end Raph, always."

A/N Yes! Check me out! Another update and this time only after a day instead of a month!

To my lovely reviewers:

Guest: I know… I just got way too caught up in the ending of "Love or Blood." I'm pleased you're still enjoying it though! =)

Gwydion: I didn't think it was rude at all! I truthfully appreciate all reviews whether their full of praise or criticism. I want to improve and appreciate anyone who takes the time to give me their thoughts =) I'm also glad that after my month's hiatus this chapter came across well! This story has definitely gone to places I didn't really expect when I first started to write it, but personally that's all part of the fun for me ;)

Also, congratulations on your nominations for Stealthy Stories! As you may have noticed, I've been recently reading your stuff and you're super amazing! You definitely deserve them! Especially for "Empty Fish Tank." That one not only hits close to home, but it was just simply beautiful. Really truly well done.

Komnenid: Same here. No one wants to be alone forever. Friends are the spice of life!