It's Tuesday! And I just got four teeth pulled. Whooo that was an experience. So yeah, my mouth is hurting right now but I still want to publish this chapter! :) so yeah, in this chapter we have some Mikey and Raph bonding, but only after meeting a new character and becoming reunited with an old one… then we get to see some Leo and Donnie brotherly fluff! :) I sure do love that brotherly fluff!
To Nukas: ahhh, makes sense. I only saw Wreck it Ralph like… once a few years ago. Lol. hehe yeah. Thank you!
To SuperStarSykor58: awwwe! Thank you!
To Beakers47: yeah, I figured it was about time I cut Raph a break lol. He has it rough in basically all my stories…. I love writing Raph angst. :)
To TMNT Fan 2012: Shini and Renet are not going to be introduced THIS chapter, but a little easter egg will be. See if you can figure it out?
To my guest reviewer: HE'S MY FAVORITE TOOOO! YAY!
I think Fanfiction ate some reviews again, so to those of you that I didn't end up answering I'm very very sorry. I do appreciate you reading and reviewing! 3
Disclaimer: I ONLY OWN OCS!
And now, the chapter!
"Wait, why don't you celebrate your birthday?" Kyle asked in surprise. Mikey looked up from his stretching, had he said that?
"Uh, I just don't. I mean, it was just a day, hundreds of people were probably born that day." Mikey shrugged. "I just don't think it's important." he stood and ran in place for a second, it was track tryouts and one of his new classmates was also trying out. They were the only two freshmen who wanted to do it this spring.
"Not important?" Kyle asked, eyes wide. "Of course it's important! It was the day you started existing! It's important to me and I only met you this week!" Mikey shrugged.
"Kyle, really, I just never have and probably never will." he sighed, "besides, most of my existence hasn't been all that great." Kyle rolled his eyes as they walked to the starting line.
"Mikey, it's not what happened to you that makes existing great." he explained, "It's what you do, it's how you react. And if your life hasn't been so great, why are you so happy all the time? I feel like Birthday celebrations are ways that people tell their friends how happy they are that their friend's alive. I'm glad you're alive." The coach signaled for them to start, and Mikey started running, so though he couldn't reply to his friend's statement, he could still think about it. Ways to tell people you're happy they're alive? That wasn't how Mikey had ever seen it, he'd always seen birthday celebrations as a privilege, something that was extra, unneeded. Sure he always enjoyed the feeling of being older, but never saw the need to celebrate like others did, for himself. Mikey had still sung as loud as he could on Donnie's birthday and put up streamers and confetti and everything. Maybe Kyle was right, he was glad Donnie was alive. Michelangelo realized he'd crossed the line and came to a halt and saw that only two older boys, probably juniors or seniors, had come in ahead of him.
"Wow!" Kyle panted when he came in a few moments later. "Mikey! You were the third fastest time! You'll definitely make it now!"
"I guess." Mikey decided, feeling someone's gaze on him. When he turned, he saw the coach talking to another student, but his gaze was fixed on Michelangelo. The rest of tryouts were a blur, but Mikey was sure he'd done well. He met up with Raphael at the front of the school.
"Hey, Mike. how'd it go?" Raph asked, ruffling Mikey's hair.
"Great! I'm sure I made the team!" Mikey declared as they began to walk toward the house. "What about you?"
"I feel confident." Raph shrugged. "But I dunno, I'm not the best or anything, haven't played for a couple years and all."
"See you on Monday, Mikey!" Kyle shouted from the parking lot, Mikey turned and waved before looking back at Raph.
"I bet you're the best!" he declared, jumping onto the curb. "I bet you hit every ball!"
"I missed one." Raph protested, but he was smiling.
"Ha! See? Only one!" Mikey declared, spinning as he jumped off the curb to cross the street. "Hey Raph?" the freckle-faced teen was still thinking about what his friend had told him at the beginning of tryouts.
"Yeah?"
"When's your birthday?" Raph looked at him in surprise, Mikey ignored his brother's shocked gaze and skipped a complicated spin on the sidewalk, ending with a spread of his arms.
"Why?"
"Just wondering, bro." Mikey replied, shrugging, "when is it?" Raph frowned, looking up at the sky.
"Around… March first." Raph remembered, "why, Mike?" Mikey nodded, trying to store the date in his brain.
"I was just wondering," Mikey replied, grinning. He looked over at Raphael, who was still watching him seriously. "Well…" he frowned, the therapist said that most secrets weren't worth it, did this count? Why didn't he even want them to know? That was another thing she'd said, that he was so used to keeping secrets that he hid silly things as well as important things. "Me and Kyle were talking," he sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "When I accidentally told him about me not celebrating my birthdays."
"A'right."
"And well, he was surprised obviously, I bet I'm the only guy in the school who doesn't. You know why I don't like celebrating my birthday, Raph?" the red-haired teen took a moment to reply.
"Why?" Mikey looked over at him again, he couldn't stop now.
"Never have before, ever! I mean, I guess maybe when I was little, but I don't ever remember getting a birthday present 'till Donnie gave me that phone. I dunno, I guess I just thought that...maybe...it wasn't important, or I didn't deserve it, or something."
"Why...why are ya tellin' me?" Raphael suddenly asked, "I mean, Mike, I'm not the nicest sympathizer." Mikey frowned.
"Because I want to tell you, Raph, don't interrupt." Raph snorted, "as I was saying, Kyle said that birthday celebrations are ways to show people you're glad they were born." Mikey fell silent for a moment, and they crossed another street before either boy spoke again. "It got me thinking, I've never celebrated it before because my biological family wasn't glad I was born. So when you guys wanted to celebrate, I thought it was weird and didn't like it, but y'know, I celebrate other people's birthdays." he added thoughtfully, "so, I guess that's why I wanted to know your birthday." Raph blinked.
"Is dat really how dis conversation started, Mike?" Mikey grinned.
"Yeah huh!" he nodded, grinning. Raphael rolled his eyes but was smiling. Suddenly, as the two passed a park, a youthful voice shrieked.
"RAPH!" both boys turned to see a little kid, about eight or nine years old, running full speed toward them. He had on a hoodie and a baseball cap that was backward, Raphael grinned.
"Whoa, hey little buddy!" he said as the kid ran into him and hugged him around the waist. Mikey had no idea who the kid was but didn't mind, Raph obviously knew him.
"I can't believe it's you!" the kid said, jumping up and down, "I missed you Raph! Did you know I made the little league baseball team this spring? Why are you here? Did you come to see me?" Raph chuckled.
"Slow down there Tyler," he reprimanded lightly, "Mike, this is Tyler, kept me sane in Brooklyn." oh, that made sense, Mikey hadn't heard a lot about Brooklyn.
"Oh, neat, Hey Tyler!" he beamed, Tyler looked up at him.
"HI! Are you Raph's friend? Raph why are you here? Tell me!"
"One at a time!" Raph said though he was grinning. "Mikey's my brothah, Tyler, uh...adopted brothah. An' we moved up here with our odah two brothers and parents, I didn't know ya lived here."
"I do I do!" Tyler declared, jumping up and down again. "I'm so excited that you're here!"
"It's good ta see ya." Raphael agreed. Mikey smiled and looked at Raph.
"Aww, he does have a soft side!" Mikey cooed, "I knew it!"
"Raph isn't soft!" Tyler said, eyes wide, "he's super great! He helped me not be so afraid to play baseball and not to be ashamed of my mom! He's like my big brother! I never had one until I met him!" Mikey looked at Raphael, who was blushing a bit. "And, when we both moved away, he drew me a picture that was really really cool! It's in my room, my mom put it in a frame and everything!" Raph's cheeks grew a darker shade of pink and Mikey grinned.
"Wow, that's cool Tyler." he declared, "where around here do you live? We live up at the top of the loop around the park."
"I live that way." Tyler pointed across the park to the other street that looped it, "In house number 357! Wanna come over? Mom's at work right now, but that's ok. I have a key."
"Nah, we gotta get home, Tyler," Raph said, rubbing the kids' head. "But I'll see ya around, alright?"
"Ok! See you Raph! Nice to meet you Mikey!" he waved and ran off toward the house he'd pointed to, Mikey and Raphael started walking again.
"Dude, he's so cool!" Mikey said, "you met him in Brooklyn? I thought you just hung around in alleys and saved people's lives while you were in Brooklyn!" Raph rolled his eyes.
"Mikey, ya know I did not save anyone's life." Mikey fell silent for a moment, thinking about this.
"You really think Leo would be the same if he was in Japan with his dad?" he finally asked, glancing at Raphael, who was staring at the sidewalk as they approached the house.
"Fine, maybe I returned a favor but-"
"When did Leo save your life?" Mikey asked curiously, Raph didn't answer. "Raph, are you ok?"
"I'm fine." Raphael sighed. "Mike, I dunno. Are ya alright? Ya don't have ta smile all da time, y'know!" that surprised Mikey, and he frowned.
"I don't smile all the time!" he protested, "just like you, surprisingly, aren't grumpy all the time!"
"Oh yeah, thanks a ton." Raph rolled his eyes, then turned to face Mikey, he was only a few inches taller than Mikey was, but Mikey was intimidated by him. "Mikey, come on. Yer eyes betray so much, dey always have, but I've nevah talked ta ya about it. Why are ya turning ta me when ya have two odah real brothahs ya could talk ta?" Raph's accent was acting up, he was flustered, or annoyed.
"You are my real brother!" Mikey declared, grinning. "Raph, you're just as much a brother as Leo and Donnie are, trust me. And as for you not asking me...I don't mind. Did you really want to accidentally make me mad? I hate being mad! And for a while there, if anyone tried to help me, I got mad."
"Mike…"
"I mean it Raphie boy!" Mikey sang, dancing out of his reach, "thanks!" he ran into the house and through the hall, up the stairs, thinking. That conversation had been weird, Mikey didn't know what to think of it. He flopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. When had Leo saved Raph's life? It must have been a while ago before Mikey started realizing everything that was going on. And for that matter, why hadn't they told him? He'd found out that Raph's dad had killed a guy only after Raph had gone to Brooklyn, it had to be before that. Mikey wracked his brain trying to think, but he couldn't place a day when Raphael's life had been in danger. Unless you counted the car crash with Donnie, but that had been really recent. Maybe Raph had just been saying things, or maybe something happened when Leo was kidnapped. Whatever it was, Michelangelo wouldn't find out unless he asked questions, and he was pretty sure no one would answer them.
"Wow, this is a big space for just a lab." Leo pointed out as he helped Donnie unpack boxes in the basement. Don looked up at him.
"Trust me, Leo, I have plans for this place. After all, now I'll be able to have an electronics area that's separate from the area I keep chemicals and stuff, and that's way safer." he grinned a gap-toothed grin and looked back into the box. Footsteps came down the stairs, it was Raph. Mikey would be already down here.
"Hey, Raph, how did tryouts go?"
"Good," Raph said moodily, making Don look up. Something was worrying the older boy. Leo could tell too.
"Raph, what's wrong?" Donnie asked, sitting back on his heels, watching his brother start to pace aimlessly like he did when he was upset.
"Nothin's wrong, Don, geez." Leo shot Donnie a disbelieving look.
"Raphael, obviously something's wrong." Leo declared, "what is it, Raph?" Raph didn't answer, just stopped pacing and leaned his forehead against the wall, tapping his fingers on his legs. Don got to his feet.
"Raph, tell me please."
"I don't know!" Raph finally burst out, "alright? Can't ya just let a guy brood for a bit, Leo? Huh? Geez, jus' let me get my own head straight before ya go investigating everything about me! Sometimes I just get in a bad mood fer no reason, alright? Ya already knew dat!" he stormed up the stairs, obviously still upset. Leo walked forward to go after him, but Donnie stopped him with his good arm.
"Leo, just let him be." he said softly, "really, he's right. Raph obviously doesn't even know what he's upset about, what will you asking him questions about it help? Nothing that's what." Leo hesitated, then nodded with a sigh.
"Alright, alright Donnie," he said, holding up his hands. "You win." Don frowned, he was just as tempted to go after his older brother a Leo was, but knew it was a bad idea.
"Let's go make something to eat for lunch." Don decided, "my lab can wait, I can't use it until my arm is better anyway." Leo nodded and they walked up the stairs, "I wonder where Raph went?" they heard a bang out the window and sighed, "maybe he's attacking a dumpster." Leo grinned. He walked to the window and opened it, poking his head out.
"What are you doing?" he asked Raph, who was leaned moodily against the wall of the house, between it and the shed.
"Thinking. Go away."
"You? Thinking? On a Saturday?" Leo joked, Raph glared at him. "Ok, ok, I'm going. Sheesh." he closed the window and shrugged at Donnie, who was attempting to open a box of macaroni and cheese with one hand.
"No, I can do it." Don protested when Leo took it, Leo ignored him and opened it.
"You can't." he sighed, "not yet, Donnie. Soon, I promise." Donatello sighed and nodded, glancing down at his right arm in the sling, stupid arm.
Poor Donnie. :( hehe. If you didn't catch the easter egg, I'll tell you now. It probably isn't very obvious, but in some of my stories (which haven't been published yet lol), I bring ICK from 2012 version in as a friend of Mikey's named Kyle. so that's where Kyle came from. :) as for next chapter… well, we get to hear from Mikey's 'father' again, so you can look forward to that. There's also more Raph and Mikey fluff, as well as some Donnie angst! We also get to see an adorable side of Shen and Yoshi, so look forward to that! If that's not enough for you, I'll throw in some Leo angst as well. :) next chapter is just full of action! As always, thank you for reading and please review!
Until Friday,
-Jelly
