Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well during this Corona-virus pandemic! I wasn't for awhile because I had been in the process of moving. It took me awhile to get settled. Plus, where I'm at, the panic-buying is really bad and I've been struggling. However, I'm blessed that I'm not sick and neither is my family!
I have more time on my hands, though, because of being quarantined in my home, so I'll try to get stuff done! Hope you enjoy this last chapter of my little two-shot!
Third Point of View:
'This sucks!' Michelangelo thought as he laid on his bed, staring up at his ceiling with a scowl on his face. His arm was draped over his head and the throbbing pain, now dull, reminded him just how much this whole situation was.
Really though, did he have to be sent to his room like a child? Earlier after Donnie and Leo made Mikey feel better, Don practically had to force Mikey to take pain meds that made him drowsy and Leo basically escorted Mikey to his bedroom to make sure he rested instead of letting him talk to Raph. Seriously, why were they so unreasonably protective of him over the weirdest things. He'd been hurt worse than this before because of Shredder or Tigerclaw!
'Stupid big brothers,' Mikey scowled deeper as he thought back on Raph's reaction to getting hurt. Despite knowing Raph had a soft side and hated any of his family in danger or in pain Mikey had quite literally been taken off guard by the amount of rage Raph displayed towards Casey; and he's supposed to be his best friend!
Mikey wilted against his blankets sadly. He really did ruin this weekend, no matter what Leo said. Hadn't he been trained, just as his brothers were, to sense and dodge harmful projectiles? He was brought out of his self-loathing by a fist-on-wood sounds. Mikey blinked and realized Raph was still in the dojo, trying to calm down. Master Splinter said he would talk to Raph about Casey, but did that go well? Was Raph still angry? Did he not feel better at all?
Mikey frowned heavily and sat up slowly. His body felt heavy and he still felt a little drowsy but Mikey wasn't going to just lie around if he could help this situation get better somehow. Mikey groaned at the pull of stitches near his wrist. He only needed 6 stitches but since he was hit on the underside of his left arm, and so close to his wrist, he felt the slight pain and the pulling of his stitches whenever he moved his left arm and fingers. However, that wasn't enough to stop him from moving either.
Making his way out his bedroom, he peeked out his bedroom door, looking for signs of the overly-anxious Leo or doctor Donnie, but to his relief, he found they were both not in the pit. They could be in Donnie's lab.
'Or hopefully Leo's not in the dojo with Raph,' Mikey thought with a wince as he stepped out of his room and made his way into the main area. He immediately looked towards the lab but felt relieved when he spotted Leo standing near Don in Donnie's lab and both had not spotted him.
Mikey quickly snuck into the dojo and paused when he noticed Raph focused in on the wood boards they sometimes practiced with. He was angrily punching the boards with a snarl that would normally make Mikey slide back into his room nervously.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Mikey carefully approached Raph, making sure not to get too close at first since his hot-headed brother was so focused on his target, "Uh..um...Raph?"
Raph whirled his head around towards him, the snarl still on his face until he realized it was Mikey standing there. Raph's face fell into shock at seeing Mikey and his eyes unwillingly went to Mikey's bandaged left arm. Mikey followed his eyesight and put on an easy smile.
"I asked Donnie for orange bandages but he said he'd have to dye some white bandages for me to give me some and refused to put the extra effort in for me," Mikey half lied with a cheeky grin, hoping to disarm Raph's anger.
Raph blinked in surprise, thrown off guard by Mikey's remark before it set in what he said. Raph rolled his eyes, "Why would ya expect him to do that? Knucklehead."
Mikey laughed, happy he successfully soothed Raph a little, "Hey! If it's going to be on me I should like the way it looks, right?!"
"Are you dumb?" Raph retorted with a tiny smirk. Mikey knew that Raph was saying that in that affectionate Raph-way and not a mean way. Mikey stuck his tongue out childishly and then laughed again when Raph shook his head.
'How does he always manage ta turn around my mood like that?' Raph wondered in his head, feeling the burning rage he felt earlier calm and move towards the back of his mind. Raph's eyes moved to Mikey's bandage again and he couldn't help but ask, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Mikey's smile widened at the barely concealed concern, "Nope! Donnie made me take pain meds!"
Raph rolled his eyes again, "He shouldn't have to make ya take them."
"You say that...but you're the same way when you're hurt," Mikey pouted slightly, crossing his arms. He cringed in slight pain when the bandage rubbed against stitches, which pulled at his movement ever so slightly. His cringe was, of course, noticed by worrywart Raph.
"I thought ya said it doesn't hurt?" He accused and Mikey rolled his eyes.
"You asked if it hurt a lot. It doesn't..but the stitches pull sometimes," Mikey answered truthfully, knowing it was the only way to pacify that he wasn't totally lying. Raph huffed and crossed his arms as well. Then a quiet moment passed.
"Did ya come find me for a reason?" Raph questioned as he stared Mikey in the face, somehow already knowing what the younger brother would say.
Mikey smiled, "Do I need a reason to come find you?"
"No, but I know that you did anyways," Raph smirked when Mikey groaned in defeat.
"Okay, fineee. I did come find you for a reason," Mikey pouted, "I heard you beating up the poor wood in here."
"I know that's not the only reason," Raph trailed off, raising an eye ridge at his baby brother. He blinked when Mikey suddenly looked serious and his hands curled a little.
"I want you to forgive Casey and make up with him," Mikey replied bluntly, locking eyes with Raph. Raph felt the anger rushing back full force.
"Why?" Raph gritted, startling Mikey slightly, "Why would you say that?"
"It was an accident Raph," Mikey frowned but was abruptly cut off.
"Accident or not, I told him not to do it...that I didn't want him to do it. Then as SOON as my back is turned, he goes and gets the kunai, lying to Leo in the process, I mean what the hell?! Then he could have seriously hurt you!" Raph ground out, his voice slowly rising, making Mikey panic. He didn't want Leo and Donnie to intervene.
"But Casey isn't used to what we do...he didn't understand the danger! He didn't hurt me on purpose!" Mikey tried to soothe but Raph's smoldering green eyes made Mikey almost rethink trying to reason with Raph today.
"I know it wasn't on purpose but...but what the shell did he think would happen? That no one would get mad that he lied to Leo's face and went behind my back? That's even if you didn't get hurt! He just acted so stupid!" Raph growled as he looked away and his fists started shaking, "I am supposed to trust him! How am I supposed to trust that he won't do something stupid after that?"
"Raph..." Mikey trailed off, his eyes wide. He honestly didn't know what to say, but darn it he was going to try! "I'm sure if you told him that, he'd always give more thought to what he does from now on."
"I'm not going to that idiot to talk through my feelings with him," Raph growled and Mikey glared at him.
"Casey feels really bad about what he did and I'm sure he always will! I know he'll never do anything so stupid again! So I think you should go forgive him," Mikey explained, pausing when Raph's intense eyes were on him again.
"But he almost killed you. It hit your arm or wrist or whatever, but that could have easily been your neck or your face," Raph said darkly and Mikey shivered, trying not to think about that, "When I remember that fact, it makes me so mad..."
"I know it does, Raph," Mikey frowned sadly, "But I'm alive, bro, I'm still here. And I really don't want you to lose another friend. Please. Not because of me."
Mikey didn't know that his eyes were filling with tears until he noticed Raph's eyes widened at him. Mikey blinked and quickly rubbed his eyes with his good hand. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder and opened his eyes to see Raph in front of him, looking confused.
"You really...you're not mad at Casey at all? You're really so ready to forgive him?"
"Of course not bro and yes I am, I was as soon as it happened and I saw his expression," Mikey explained with a small smile when Raph looked at him like he was crazy, "Plus I meant what I said. It was all a freak accident and you shouldn't lose your best friend over it, right?"
"You're too nice for your own good bro," Raph complained, frowning as Mikey beamed. After a moment of looking at Mikey, Raph groaned and rubbed his face, "Fine..I'll go talk to Casey. I won't make promises...but I'll try to forgive him."
Raph knew he shouldn't have been surprised at the way the kid's whole face brightened up. Mikey threw himself at Raph for a hug and Raph almost stumbled back a couple of steps.
"Thank you Raph! I'll keep Leo and Donnie busy so you can go! Oh I hope you guys can make up so Casey and April come back! Then we could have a big party cause we still have pizza and soda!" Mikey told him, his face still the brightest thing in the room. Raph listened silently and any resistance he had to forgive Casey flew out of the window and Raph sighed in defeat.
Really now, they all give Mikey what he wants too much!
Raph was really starting to regret giving in to Mikey's wishes as he stood on the fire escape to April's bedroom window. He could just make out two figures in her room. Raph began to feel like this whole thing was stupid. He was extremely uncomfortable with the idea of talking it out with Casey. He always ended up saying the wrong thing anyways!
However, since Raph couldn't go back to Mikey empty-handed, he found himself tapping lightly on the window before he could think about it. He leaned back and crossed his arms, feeling awkward. A moment later, April opened the window cautiously and blinked in surprise when she noticed Raph standing there.
"Raph? What are you doing here?" She asked, her blue eyes still wide as she cast a distressed look behind her.
"I'm..ugh...here to hear Casey out," Raph ground out, clenching his fists uncomfortably. April frowned at him.
"I don't know if this is the best time, Raph. You're obviously not calm," April trailed off as she cast another distressed look behind her, "And Casey's out of his mind with guilt. He's so upset that he was trying real hard not to cry in front of me."
Raph's eyes widened. Casey was almost to the point of tears in front of April? Whom Casey has a crush on? April frowned as she looked at Raph this time, pulling him out of his thoughts, "You really did a number on him, Raph. I understand that you're mad but did you have to hit him?"
"He could have seriously hurt or even killed Mikey!" Raph bristled, trying to keep his voice down. He couldn't help but challenge the accusation in her tone.
April sighed heavily, "I know, Raph. He knows. We all know that! That's one reason why he's feeling so bad."
After an awkward moment passed April surprised Raph further by climbing out onto her fire escape next to him, "If I let you talk to him, will you promise me there will be no screaming, shouting, or fighting?"
"I promise," Raph rolled his eyes slightly and huffed, "I'm not as angry as I was. Just give me a few minutes with him and then I'll be done."
April scanned him, looking for any lies and was satisfied when she didn't find any. She nodded her head towards her bedroom, "Okay. I"ll wait out here. Don't be surprised if he freaks out though."
Raph ignored that and climbed through her window carefully before shutting the window behind him for privacy. He didn't want April to hear him struggle with what to say to Casey. He walked further into her bedroom and was surprised to see Casey leaning against a bean bag on April's floor, staring blankly at her small TV.
Raph didn't know how to start but he paused when he noticed the bruise on Casey's face and the fact that his left eye was blackened. Raph suddenly felt a lump in his throat. He hadn't him that hard, had he? Casey looked over as if he felt the stare and his eyes widened to see Raph. He froze in the position he was in and Raph froze at being caught off guard. For a moment no one said anything and Raph frowned.
"R-Raph, dude, I'm...what are you doing here?" Casey asked, clearly freaked out and shocked.
"I came to talk to you some more," Raph said slowly and awkwardly, not looking Casey in the eyes, "I...kind of lost it back there and didn't really listen to what you were sayin'."
Casey blinked, "Well, I understand. I'd be pretty pissed too. I thought...you'd never want to see me again..."
Raph unwillingly looked at Casey and was surprised to see deep sadness flash through Casey's brown eyes before he hid it. Thinking back on his anger before, Raph had thought he'd never want to see Casey, honestly...but after his talk with Mikey he couldn't understand why he'd really felt that way.
"Look Casey, I'm pretty pissed at you," Raph scowled and Casey looked at him, frowning, "Why did you lie to Leo and go behind my back to mess around with the kunai? I just don't get it!"
Casey hung his head between his knees in shame, groaning, "I dunno, dude, I mean...at the time I just thought you were being sort of unreasonable. I didn't think that it would be dangerous at all since you're all ninja. I used to throw knives with my dad sometimes and thought it would be fun to try it with you guys..."
Raph's scowl deepened, "Just because we're ninjas doesn't mean we can do and avoid everything! We had to practice with wooden stuff for years before we were ready to actual weapons, Casey! And I get that you wanted to have fun but you didn't think it through at all!"
Casey winced as another wave of self-loathing washed over him, "I know! I knew that you'd get mad just not that angry and I had NO idea that Mikey would suddenly...that the kunai would...I didn't hear him come out of the bathroom!"
"You could have killed him, Casey," Raph growled and Casey couldn't raise his eyes up to look at Raph, "Or you could have hurt him really bad or beyond repair. There's a reason I told you 'not tonight'!"
"I know now...I'm sorry," Casey curled closer to himself, trying to suppress images of Mikey's injury out of his head, "I'm sorry."
Raph took a deep breath and tried to contain his anger, thinking about Mikey, "I know you're sorry...I was too pissed before but I know it now. And...Mikey says that you'll never do something like this again. And ya won't, right?"
"No!" Casey shouted, startling Raph by his quick response. Casey's eyes were wide with shock, "No, I'd never do that again! I won't assume that I know what I'm doing...I was too confident in myself before. I can't do that and have someone hurt again."
Raph could see that Mikey and April were right. This really did bother Casey, way more than Raph allowed himself to see. Suddenly Raph felt a twisted sense of relief. Since it bothered Casey so much that's how Raph knew he'd never mess up like that again.
"Good...if you really mean that...then I forgive you," Raph said awkwardly, wanting to grind his teeth together but it was almost amusing when Casey's expression changed to shocked disbelief.
"Huh?!"
"I may be forgiving you, but it will be awhile before I can fully trust you again," Raph glared and Casey nodded after another minute of being stupefied.
"You forgive me for hurting Mikey?" Casey asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Yeah...and that's mainly because of Mikey. He said he forgave you the moment it happened. He wanted us to be friends again," Raph chuckled as he crossed his arms again.
Casey felt an odd sense of warmth again and felt relieved too at the same time. Raph forgave him and, even though he'd have to work to be in his good graces again, they were still friends. And Mikey forgave him too.
"And listen...sorry about hitting you and stuff...ya just...I can't forgive anyone that hurts them," Raph muttered, his voice so silent that Casey almost didn't realize he was talking. After Casey put together what Raph said, Casey grinned again for the first time since everything went down.
"Aww Raph, you really are a big softy," Casey teased a little, unable to help himself. Raph scowled and glared at Casey.
"Oh shut it! So, are ya comin' back or what?"
"Coming back? I can come back?" Casey asked, feeling caught off guard by the question. Raph snorted.
"If I don't bring you back as proof that we talked, I'll never hear the end of it from Mikey. Do I look like I want to give up my training-free weekend to be bothered by that brat the whole time?" Raph questioned, smirking at Casey.
Casey let out a laugh and shook his head, feeling ten thousand times lighter than he ever had, "No, you don't. I wouldn't either!"
"Then let's go," Raph remarked as he threw open April's window loudly.
"What the?! Jeez, Raph, you could have warned me!" April gasped out as she placed a hand on her chest. Then she immediately picked up on the atmosphere between the two boys and paused.
"I'm surprised her ear wasn't pressed against the glass," Casey teased and Raph looked startled before he laughed loudly. April was so happy to see them both okay and getting along that the teasing went over her head.
"I can't BELIEVE you told him to go to Casey," Leo lectured as he paced back and forth in front of Mikey. Mikey and Donnie were currently on the bench and that's only because Donnie was obsessed with checking Mikey's injury again. Shortly after Raph had left, Leo checked up on Mikey and was immediately suspicious to find him in the dojo. Once he'd learned what happened between Mikey and Raph, Leo parked him on the bench for one of his big lectures.
"Are you out of your mind, Mikey?!" Leo demanded, frowning at his baby brother who looked less than amused.
"That's what you guys have been trying to figure out for years," Mikey teased but figured it wasn't the right time to do so when Leo and Donnie glared at him, "Oh come on! I told you I calmed Raph down. Nothing bad will happen!"
"You didn't see him before..." Leo trailed off, looking towards the exit with worry. Mikey paused, remembering what Raph sounded like as he screamed at Casey. He unwillingly shivered and shook his head, prompting a concerned stare from doctor Donnie.
"I agree with Leo, Mikey," Donnie spoke up as Mikey sighed. Donnie tugged on his hand lightly to get his attention, "It's too soon to let Raph see Casey again. Raph was too mad about what happened."
"But I calmed him down! He basically promised me he'd try to forgive Casey!"
"What happens if he doesn't?" Leo asked, his tone serious as he gazed at Mikey, "What if he hurts Casey?"
Mikey scowled at Leo, "Raph wouldn't do that!"
"Oh yes he would," Leo ground out as he continued his pacing. Mikey said nothing, trying to calm down his own irritation with his oldest brother as Donnie re-wrapped his wound.
"It still looks good but you have to be really careful, okay? The placement of the wound makes it easy for the stitches to bust," Donnie explained as Mikey nodded seriously. Donnie then cocked his head, "You really are something else, you know that? How'd you convince Raph to go 'try' to forgive Casey?"
Mikey brightened, "I just used my baby brother charm!"
Leo stopped as both he and Donnie stared at Mikey, "Huh?"
"My baby brother charm! My cuteness!" Mikey laughed at their expressions.
"Mikey, this is serious," Leo sighed, shaking his head at his brother's silliness. Donnie was still staring at Mikey in almost genuine confusion. If the situation were different, Leo would have laughed at that. Donnie tried harder than he or Raph did to understand Mikey and the way he thought sometimes.
"Well I was half serious," Mikey pouted, "I just told him I didn't want him to lose his friend. Plus, he's our friend too! And he feels really bad. So he's probably already punishing himself enough!"
"True..." Leo trailed off, the expert in punishing himself with self-loathing. Mikey and Don shared a look. "Okay, fine. I just hope Raph doesn't lose it."
"You need more faith in our brother, dude," Mikey complained, crossing his arms carefully after Donnie shot him a warning look.
"I would if he didn't lose it so much, Mikey," Leo sighed heavily.
"Who lost what?"
The trio whirled around to the exit in surprise and noticed April and Casey coming in behind Raph. Leo and Don's mouths fell open and Mikey beamed happily, his whole body shaking with excitement. He jumped up immediately, startling his too brothers beside him, "Raph! Casey! You guys came back!"
"Pff...of course we did," Casey grinned, only a tad warily as he glanced at Raph to see his reaction. To his surprise, Raph was smirking at Mikey.
"Ow!" Mikey complained a second later, holding up his arm to his face in annoyance.
"Quit moving your arm so much! If you pull stitches and reopen the wound I'll hurt you!" Donnie growled, stunning Casey and April. Raph burst out laughing at Mikey's expression.
"Quite the violent reaction, D," Mikey teased, uh-phased by Donnie's threat. Though in reality he felt like sweating. Donnie was scarier than his other brothers when he was genuinely angry.
Donnie rolled his eyes, "That's because I don't want to keep stitching you up."
"Noted, bro. Thanks!" Mikey beamed at Donnie, bringing a small smile to his face. Leo exchanged a glance with April and stared at Raph.
"So...is everything...okay?" He asked hesitantly. He felt awkward, but he needed to know if Raph was okay. Raph rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, it's better now. Casey's already promised to not do anything else stupid," Raph grinned a little and Leo immediately felt relieved.
"That's right! By the way, I'm REALLY sorry, Mikey! I never meant for you to get hurt, bud," Casey apologized as sincerely as he could after he'd walked up to Mikey. Mikey just smiled brightly.
"It's alright! I know it was just an accident! Don't worry about it!" Mikey grinned but Casey still felt awkward and like he didn't believe him, "But hey, if you feel that bad about it, how about you help me with my chores next week?"
"And come down here everyday to clean up for you? No way!" Casey barked out a laugh and Mikey smiled, content that he restored the peace to both his family and his friends, who were basically his chosen family.
Mikey turned so he faced everyone, "So how about we play UNO?!"
Everyone groaned while April and Mikey laughed. April, Mikey, and then Donnie were the best at UNO after all...and they weren't quiet about their victories!
So, what do you think? Please leave any feedback! I enjoy hearing what everyone has to say!
Also, please stay safe during this pandemic! It's getting really out of hand sometimes and I'll keep anyone that's sick (even if it's not the virus) in my prayers.
As always, stay awesome!