This chapter is rated M for blood, gore, and language.
Also, it escalates pretty quickly
Michelangelo cringed at the silence that overtook the kitchen once he removed the whistling tea kettle from its place on the stove burner. His crystal blue orbs darted from Raphael's position leaning against the entrance to the room with his arms crossed over his chest, to where Leonardo sat at the dining table with his elbows on the table and his entwined hands pressed firmly against his mouth in deep thought. The lid to the clay tea pot clinked when Mikey opened it to pour in the hot water. The slight noise was enough to crack Raph's patience.
"So what do we do now?" He grumbled at their leader. The youngest glanced over at Leo as he placed a couple of teaspoons of loose leaf green tea into the pot and placed the lid back on. Leo sighed deeply and let his face fall forwards so that his forehead was resting against his fists.
"What would you suggest?" He asked genuinely, shocking the other turtles. Raph stood up straighter and Mikey stopped mid-reach into the cupboards where the teacups were.
"Me? Why you askin me?" Raph sounded incredulous, stalking over to the table and leaning on it with both hands, "You're the one who set him off."
"Which is exactly why I'm asking you." Leo replied instantly, his tone even but his eyes flashing with annoyance as he looked up again, "I obviously am not the one qualified to help him. I shouldn't have snapped like that."
Mikey quietly sat the cups down on the table and intently observed his brother's uncommonly slack posture and the haunted look in his gray eyes. He was feeling guilty about this, that much was obvious. Before Raph could insert another insensitive comment Mikey made sure to speak up, "This isn't your fault you know. None of us noticed how bad he had gotten, and Don didn't exactly hold up on his end of our bargain either."
"Mikey…" Leo trailed off as the two stared at one another for a good few moments. It was the blue clad turtle who broke the gaze, another very un-Leo like action, "I… understand that there are certain elements of this that were out of my control. But was I really so caught up in Master Splinter's death that I couldn't see how much Don was suffering?"
"To quote a certain wise turtle, 'that included you', Leo. We all know who took Splinter's death the hardest and it wasn't Don." Mikey huffed as he turned back to the tea and poured four cups. Brewing a batch of the caffeinated hot beverage when they were upset had been a habit of Splinter's that Mikey picked up in remembrance of him. No one except Leo really enjoyed the tea that much, but they would all drink it anyways for the effect it had on them.
"Apparently he took it harder than we thought, though." Raph was sure to point out, accepting a cup from Mikey and setting it on the table as his little brother slid one over to Leo as well, who lowered a hand to catch it before it could topple over the edge, "He was supposed to tell us if he started having those stupid dreams again."
"In hindsight it was kind of obvious," Mikey noted as he sipped at his own lightly flavored water. Both of his brothers looked at him questioningly so he proceeded without hesitation, "Not that I'm saying anyone in particular is at fault for not noticing. Don's never liked fighting in the first place. I can't name a time when he's killed someone in front of me, and he's always been the one to hold back the most, so it wasn't a very noticeable difference from how he usually fights except for the few extra scrapes and bruises he gets."
"Get on with it, Mike." Raph grumbled as he finally pulled out a chair and slumped into it. Mikey rolled his eyes.
"Don't you guys remember what he was like right after he told the truth about his dreams?" Mikey's mind supplied him an unsightly image of his olive skinned brother passed out over a red dyed bathtub, paling by the second and looking more dead than alive. He'd been so disturbed by that image that he had set his heart on observing Don and noting all the out of character behavior so that he could learn to identify when his brother was having an episode of night terrors. He was just as much to blame as any of his brother's for not seeing it sooner, but they had all been a bit out of it since Splinter's passing. Mikey gulped his emotion down with a swig of tea as he tried to get his mind back on track to continue, "He refused to fight us in the ring at all, not even like what he's been doing for the last couple of days."
"Yeah, I remember." Raph let out a long breath and took some tea of his own at last, "Stubborn fucker would just lock himself up in the lab when it came 'round time to practice."
"Language."
"Right, and he only came on patrol because he was worried something would happen to us without him." Mikey went on, both warm color banded turtles ignoring Leo's little insert, "He even threw up once after knocking out a PD punk that tried to sneak a hit in on me. He was that wigged out by fighting."
"What? When was that?" Leo's eyes widened in surprise making Mikey flinch. He hadn't meant to let his brothers in on that little bit, but there was much more between he and Don that the younger never planned on letting their friends or family know. Mikey shrugged off his brother's curiously worried looks and went on.
"A little after he started going back on patrol with us. But what I'm trying to say is that the signs have been there but it's not obvious like it was the last time. He's just getting better at hiding it, and none of us have been really paying attention to anything at home lately. It's kind of more like we've been ignoring the problems. Not just Don's issues either," He gave a pointed look to both of his brothers, who suddenly seemed rather sheepish. Mikey didn't like to admit it, but he knew that he was the least affected by their father's death.
Leo was taking his new role hard even though Splinter had been preparing their leader for his eventual demise for years. The blue wearing terrapin was adjusting to being three things at once- their leader, brother, and sensei. Mikey was not by any means jealous of all the responsibility heaped onto Leonardo's already weighed down shoulders. The other three had tried to make it easier on Leo by being obedient and respecting the authority given to him. Even Raph had gotten over his rivalry when it came to matters in learning new moves, katas, and dealing with everyone's overall performance. Still, it seemed like Leo missed the guidance and had almost fallen into a robotic routine that didn't allow himself any personal time to work on himself and do what he was interested in.
Raph's temper had mellowed out even further after Splinter died, which was odd in its own right since Raphael's usual way of coping included violence and alcohol. The outgoing and fiery tempered young man was more reserved now than ever before, and disappeared for a few hours every day to some unknown location. No one worried about him though since he always came home completely unharmed, if not a little calmer than he was before he went out. Mikey had his suspicions that Leo actually knew where Raph went every day between five to eight, but just as Mikey and Don were entitled to their secrets, Leo and Raph were entitled to theirs. As long as it didn't get any of them into danger Mikey was cool with not knowing, but he hated seeing the fire in Raphael cooling off.
"But whatever, let's just focus on the one who's life is probably the most at risk right now," Mikey moved on, drinking the second cup he'd made initially for Donatello since it had grown cold. He hadn't meant to discuss this problem with his brothers for such a long time. Both of the other occupants in the room flinched at his words and nodded in no doubt relieved agreement to turn the focus back onto Donatello, "I'm gonna go see if he wants to go for a walk to the junkyard. That usually cheers him up. Hopefully he will and when we come back he'll be more open to talk about it."
Raph quirked a brow, "You sure seem confident about that."
"Let's just say I've had a bit of practice with keeping Donnie happy." Mikey said with a smirk and a wink that seemed to confuse the other brothers.
"What, you haven't been doing perverted things in there have you?" Raph's eyes were wide as he jerked a thumb towards the lab. Leo actually spit out his tea at the remark and Mikey couldn't have pulled a more horrified face. Raphael's canines flashed as he grinned and laughed at the reaction he had gotten.
"You're nasty, bro." Mikey shook his head in shame as Leo glared daggers at their crass brother and wiped his chin with a nearby table cloth. The youngest turned with the empty cup to hide his own little smile. Seeing the mood lightening gave Mikey a bit more courage to face his brother who'd locked himself away. The orange masked turtle hummed a content note as he grabbed the pot to pour Don another cup so he could bring it to his nerdy, gentle bro. Leo stopped him from walking out immediately by gripping onto his elbow as he passed.
"Are you sure you don't want one of us to try first?" Mikey blinked at Leo for a moment as he tried to understand why his brother would ask such a thing. This, he understood as much, was a big brother worrying about putting too much pressure on his baby brother. Mikey appreciated the sentiment, and usually he enjoyed the fact that he didn't have to worry about so much like his older brothers did, but this was something different. There was no way Leo and Raph could possibly comprehend the full extent of what Don was going through. The opportunity to know what he'd really been dealing with had been open five years ago, and they'd closed that door just like Don had done with them. Mikey was an expert at faking bright smiles and he used that skill when he answered his eldest brother.
"I'll be fine, Leo. I've got this." He winked again as he slowly pulled away from Leo's grip and grim face to walk out of the kitchen armed with his anxiety remedy. He could feel his brother's eyes on him as he walked all the way past the center pool and communications center Don had rigged up for them and to the double doors of the lab.
Teacup in one hand, Mikey rose a fist to knock, "Oh Donatello! I brought you tea, big brother of mine!" He called in a lyrical tone and stood with the doors inches from his nose. A minute passed. Two. Three. The left door opened a smidgen just as Mikey had begun to worry about the cooling liquid in his palm.
"I'm fine, Mikey." The younger turtle couldn't even see his brother, only hear his tired voice from beyond the small crack the purple wearing genius had allowed. Even so Michelangelo put on his signature smile.
"Because locking yourself in your lab for two hours just screams 'I'm fine'." Mikey was half joking, a specialty of his, but changed his tone and let his grin fade into something softer, more sincere, "Come on bro, it's me. And I'm worried about you."
"Mikey…." The name came out of his brother in a long breath that reeked of exasperation. But if there was one thing his older brothers were horrible at, it was refusing their baby brother's earnest requests. This was especially true when it came to Donatello since he'd always had an odd soft spot for Michelangelo. A fact Mikey was most aware of and took full advantage of on several occasions. That was why he knew that Don's sighing was not purely out of irritation, but of defeat as well. It was no surprise to the tea bearing turtle when the doors conceded to his visit and opened enough for him to quickly pop inside, "Make yourself at home."
"Don't mind if I do!" Mikey prodded back at his brother mischievously as he plopped his rear end right onto Don's fancy stuffed leather computer chair. He only actually saw his brainy brother when he swiveled around in time to see Donatello closing the doors and turning towards him. Mikey frowned, "You look terrible."
And he truly did. The olive skinned sentient reptile was paler than usual, exceptionally noticeable in his facial features. His purple mask was hanging uselessly around his neck which meant that the darkness under his eyes was blatant and accented the noticeable red veins creeping along the whites. Don seemed smaller than he normally appeared due to his hanging head and slumped shoulders. Overall he just seemed tired. Very, very tired.
"Thanks Mike. I know I can always count on you to point out the obvious." Don grunted as he trudged over and accepted the tea from Mikey. It only took one swig before it was gone, a habit of Donatello's that Mikey had deep ire with. Food and drink deserved to be enjoyed slowly! It was something Mikey realized defined his brother's character though and hadn't taken up arms over the matter as of late. Don had always been one to finish things in a business-like and no nonsense manner, whether that be when working on a kata, project, meal, or even his love life. If he could manage to keep one, that is.
Mikey shook his slowly wandering thoughts back into place as Don sat on a clear space atop his desk and set the cup aside. His brown eyes were downcast as he pretended to be busy with looking over a note to his left. Mikey, not about to let things get awkward, decided to present his proposition.
"Wanna go to the junkyard?" He smiled when his brother's chin tilted upwards in interest. Blue met brown as Don finally made eye contact, and Mikey could see the knowing glint in those dark depths.
"You don't have to worry about me. I told you, I'm fine." Mikey felt his brows draw together in obvious disbelief. Don looked away again before going on, "I should have told you about the dreams. I'm sorry Mikey. I just feel that this time… this time it's different."
Mikey remembered what Don had yelled before storming out of the dojo.
"Because this time my brothers aren't the ones I'm murdering!"
The nunchaku expert planned on finding out what that meant, but no one could force anything out of Donatello and expect good results. Leo.
"I won't lie. I'm a little hurt that you didn't tell me anyways," Mikey said with an uncomfortable grimace that was supposed to be a smile. He accidentally let Don catch sight of the expression and regretted his words the moment deep guilt etched itself on his brother's features. But it was too late to take it back now, so Mikey kept on, "But I trust you Don. If you say you can handle it then I believe you! We just… we just hate seeing you get hurt."
"I know Mikey." Donatello muttered as he rubbed at his eyes, letting his arms fall a moment later with a defeated sigh, "Like I told Leo, I was working on the ShellCells all week and had gotten… a little… rusty…"
Mikey knew his brother hated lying, especially to him. So it was super easy to tell when his older brother wasn't being completely honest with him. But since he'd said he would trust him, Mikey let the trailing comment slide and just smiled instead, "Come on, Don! Don't get all down on me like that. Look, we can just make a quick run to the junkyard and you can pick up me up some parts for that PSP you promised to fix like, twenty years ago."
"It was eight months ago and," Don mentioned with a half smile and wide eyes, "I completely forgot about that."
"I noticed." Mikey did an inner fist-bump at getting the small smile out of his tired looking brother as he commented nonchalantly. Don let out a long suffering huff and shook his head.
"Alright, I'll go," he acquiesced as if he himself didn't want to go, which Mikey knew he most likely actually really did, "Just for a few analog parts and a surface microphone, if you don't want to use earphones."
"I have no idea what half of that means, but yes. I want that." Mikey pointed dramatically at his brainy brother, who actually chuckled lightly as he stood. Mikey felt like he was winning one Happy Point after the other.
"What I mean is that the joystick isn't working and you're gonna need-"
"Look out!"
"Stop! Mikey, no!"
"What did you do to him?"
"You're going to regret doing that."
Michelangelo groaned in pain. White hot, unbearable pain, radiating from his left temple and shoulder. His ears were ringing and his entire body felt as if it were made of led. He lay there in pain for a few short moments before the confusion set in. He didn't know where he was, why he hurt so badly all over, or what had happened. The last thing he remembered was being in Don's lab. After that, it was all a blur of memories that made his head ache terribly when he tried to recall them. What felt like an eternity later did his senses come back to him.
Heavy panting, a sense of being in a puddle of warm liquid face down on concrete, and the fact that even though his eyes were open, he couldn't see. Mikey panicked for a quick second before he realized something was only covering his eyes. His mask. It had somehow gotten turned around so that the eye holes were askew.
Hissing, Mikey used much of his remaining strength to lift his left hand up and twist the fabric around. He was very confused to notice that he wasn't wearing his own mask, but Donatello's deep purple one. Of course, that confusion was quickly overlooked when the horrible realization that the tail ends of the mask were laying in the pool of crimson blood he too was in.
"Wha…?" He started, beginning to feel afraid that he had been stabbed.
"M-Mikey!"
Mikey's adrenaline spiked as he heard the familiar voice of his brother whose mask he wore, "Don...nie!" He tried to lift his head to see where his brother was, now worried that the blood wasn't his at all.
"D-don't look!" Donatello cried too late. Mikey caught sight of the river of blood's source. The mutated turtle form of Hun lay lifeless of the ground, lifeless eyes staring upwards as hardly flowing streams of liquid life seeped from his torn open jugular and missing left arm. Startled, Mikey tried to sit upright, but a dizzy spell mixed with the slippery ground sent him sprawling in the gore again.
"Don, what… what happened?" His words sounded slow and slurred to his own ears, which seemed to send Don into doctor mode.
"Tr-try not t-to move t-too much Mikey. I think you-you have a concussion," Was his brother… crying? More fearful that before, the now purple masked and injured turtle forced his eyes to find his brother. His body went rigid at the appearance of Donatello.
Blood. So much blood. Everywhere.
Red painted nearly every inch of his soft-spoken brother. There was no yellow to be seen on his plastron at all, and his arms were covered up to the shoulders, which were also dripping. It was literally dripping off of him. His eyes were haunted, wide, and leaking tears, surrounded by the orange mask Mikey usually wore. What was the worst, though, was the giant green forearm Don was holding. Hun's arm.
Mikey thought he was going to be sick, though he couldn't tell if it was from seeing a severed arm in his gentle brother's hands, or from the intense case of vertigo he was experiencing.
"Mikey? Donnie!"
Don dropped the arm as he jumped, letting the appendage fall into a blood puddle with a sickening slap, thud, as the loose wrist bounced against the pavement.
"I-I have to go!" And Don was suddenly out of his sight, replaced by the concerned and disturbed face of Leonardo that suddenly came out of nowhere. He was asking him questions, yelling at Raphael, but Mikey couldn't hear or make sense of any of it. He could only think of one thing to say, and it took everything he had to say it without vomiting.
"Donnie needs help, Leo."