Mikey woke up the next morning, deciding to start over at the farm. Go back to the way things were before. It wasn't going to be easy, and he knew it probably wouldn't work at all. Mikey didn't know how he could possibly repair the relationship he'd trampled on, so he didn't worry about it. In the mean time, he decided to have fun, and started making quite a bit of messes in the house.
Meanwhile, Raph sunk into a sour mood that didn't leave. He was so disagreeable, no one wanted to be around him until this fog over him lifted.
While they were eating one morning, Leo stood up. "So, we're going to have a little campout this weekend. April's already got 13 bags of marshmallows. Won't that be fun, guys?"
"Heck yeah!" Donnie said enthusiastically.
"Yeah! I love marshmallows." Mikey smiled.
Leo was a little shocked at his... smile? Why...
Later that day, Mikey and Donnie were out in the barn, and both were in good spirits. "And so then, Crognard was like- 'You cannot-'"
"MIKEY." Raph's voice came from the door. "What the heck did you do to the kitchen? It's a disaster area!"
"This is the second time this week.." Donnie muttered.
"W-well, I- was just playing.." Mikey said quietly.
Raph had a bitter expression. "Go clean it up. NOW."
He gulped.
"Raph, he was just goofing off, no need to get mad." Donnie said, in Mikey's defense.
"I don't care. I've had enough with him. GO."
Truthfully, Raph had noticed Mikey being much more cheerful and energetic at the house recently, and he didn't have a full reason why.
So he just watched the three of his brothers all getting closer and having adventures together, while he sat back, isolated. If I could go back, I would. But there's no turning back.
He sighed. Recently, he hadn't been outside much at all. He'd actually been helping April with the housework, and that horrified him. He wasn't meant for this kind of stuff. He was meant to be out there, with his brothers, having adventures and protecting them, like he was supposed to.
But every morning, Leo would go out to meditate, Donnie and Casey would head for the barn, Mikey would fly all over who-know's- where, and April would just be writing outside..and he wouldn't see them again for hours, being completely alone in the house. Raphael liked being alone.. sometimes. But even people like him needed a little time with the others. The only problem was, every time he would go outside to see them, they'd all leave and do something else.
I wish I could change this all. Was his thought while setting down dinner for everyone. I'm not meant to be indoors like this all the time. The others came into the house.
"Hey, guess what?" Mikey cried excitedly, running into the house.
Raph had a surprised expression, and looked around. "A-Are you talking to me?"
"Well, duhhh.." Mikey giggled. "I gotcha something!"
"Okay.. what is it?"
"It's not here, dufus. You have to go outside to see it!"
"N-no... I'm not. You're probably just pranking me, as usual, or setting up a murder. So no."
"B-but I-"
"I said no." He walked away.
Outside, Mikey went up to the punching bag he'd just made and took it down, sniffling. "He.. must've been too busy. That's all..." He wiped his eyes and sat down with the punching bag. "That's all."