Mikey
The sizzle and crackle of scrambled eggs filled the air, the steam lifting to the ceiling and surely wafting out to the rest of my home. One whiff and my brothers would come crawling from their beds. It was only a matter of time.
I repressed the millionth yawn of the morning and went for another sip of my third cup of tea. I slapped my tongue and grimaced as the taste became so recurrent that my pallet was displeased. I knew once I got some eggs in me, my mouth would be happy again.
I couldn't wait to get rid of the Heiwa no Buki. The thought of finally sleeping and dreaming of pizza and Crog-Nard charging into battle seemed so far away, but I could do it. I wasn't sure how we would go about disposing of the Weapon of Peace, but I was sure Leo had a brewing plan. Speaking of Leo, I wondered if he was going to pry any further about our argument last night or if this whole situation we were in made him forget all about it.
Nah, it was Leo. There was no way.
I wanted things to go back to normal so badly. Before Leo became a helicopter bro and I had a connection to a powerful weapon, we had a better relationship. Now I hardly wanted to be around him, worried he'll ask me hard questions about my sleepwalking, utter a snarky comment, or bop me over the head.
Man, big bros are annoying.
Thinking about Leo nearly made me burn my eggs as I stopped and stared mindlessly like the sleep-deprived zombie I was. The pan spat hot butter on my arm, jolting me to reality with a sharp yelp.
A soft mew came from the counter as if scolding me.
"I know, kitty. I promise I'll get some sleep tonight when that magic stick is out of our hair…wait, we don't have hair. You know what I mean," I told Ice-Cream Kitty as I put the eggs on a plate. I had burned them slightly, making me frown. I never burned my food.
I plopped down before my cat, tickling under her chin and ignoring the sticky dairy running down my hand. A tired smile quirked on my face as she purred with delight. Behind her head, the curtains to the kitchen pushed open, and the figure entering sighed with relief.
"Man, I missed your cooking."
I smiled at Big Leo as he sauntered in. He looked well rested for a turtle who slept in the concrete pit, not to mention chipper. As he sat across from me, I made him a bowl of eggs and rice and served him. I'd hoped he didn't notice the eggs were slightly scorched.
"Thanks, otōto," he said with a nod.
A quick thought flickered in my mind as I started a kettle for tea: when was the last time he said that nickname? I shook it away, determined to stay positive for the sake of my family. I'd let my walls down a bit last night at the news of my fate, but I refused to let that happen again. I couldn't allow them to see me as weak at a time like this, knowing my brothers—especially Leo—were going to go into over-protective mode for now. If they could see how well I maintain my positivity and confidence, maybe they wouldn't feel the need.
I handed Big Leo his morning tea and sat across from him, directing some attention back to my sticky kitty melting slightly on the counter. As the only sound that filled the room was Big Leo's chopsticks clattering on his bowl, I would look up every now and then to see him looking right back with a slight grin. This happened a few times until I finally mimicked him.
"What?" I chuckled.
Big Leo looked down at his rice, the sparkle fading from his eyes. "I just missed you."
I frowned until he looked back at me, concealing it immediately. There was a bit of silence before I finally spoke up.
"You really did?"
Big Leo lost his grip on his chopsticks, the wooden sticks rattling across the counter. He looked up at me with slightly narrowed blue eyes.
"Of course I did. Why would you ask that?"
I slumped, my shoulders almost up to my ears in shame. "I-I don't know. It's just that you…you know. You never really express…um," I faltered as my freckled cheeks flushed.
Big Leo stood and circled the island over to me. In seconds he snared me in a tight embrace that I wasn't prepared for.
"Do people hug more in the future?" I wheezed.
"Mikey." He pulled away, his eyes staring directly into mine. "We're brothers. I may not always show compassion and yell at you a little harsher than I should, but you're my otōto, and I'll always love you. When you were…." He stopped, continuing as if I didn't notice the glint of caution in his eyes. "When you were taken from us, I missed something about you every day. Your laugh, you're cooking, dancing, your radiant smile… I swear the lack of it left us in darkness."
My mouth quivered as I soaked in his words. I blinked away the tears tickling my eyes, looking away from his brokenhearted gaze to keep my composure.
"The Leo in this time loves you too. Please, don't ever think differently, no matter how many times you bicker. Promise me," Big Leo pleaded, giving my shoulders a shake.
My eyes to the floor, I squeaked, "I promise."
"When I lost you in my time, we had also bickered, and I never told you I was sorry before…. Well, you know," Big Leo said softly.
"I'm sorry you lost your Mikey," I said, my gaze finding him again. I noticed tears filling his blue eyes. "Are you…are you scared to stop existing when the time comes?"
"No," he answered almost instantly. "It can't be worse than the pain I endured for the five years prior. I'll be creating a better future for my family, and knowing that is what makes it worth everything."
Big Leo patted my head with a forced grin. I mirrored him before watching him go back to his breakfast. We soaked in silence for a few minutes with only quiet sniffles interrupting.
He was much different than my Leo—more composed and…wise. I wondered if all the trauma from his timeline molded him this way or if he just naturally matured with age. It was hard to imagine any of my bros as twenty-one years old. We've been teens for, like, ever! Picturing us any older made me sad for some reason. I mean, like, how different would we be?
"I hope I grow up to be as wise as you, ani," I said with a smile.
"Pft, don't count on it, blockhead," a voice said from the lifting curtains.
I stuck my tongue out at Raphael. He flashed me a grin that told me he was only kidding before helping himself to some rice and eggs. Donnie and Leo followed behind him, and everyone exchanged good mornings over breakfast and tea, except for Donnie, who started a pot of coffee.
"Did everyone sleep okay?" Leo asked the room, his eyes landing lastly on me on purpose.
I hummed and nodded, picking at my rice while trying to keep my eyes from rolling. I knew he would bug me about sleep.
"Huh, that's funny. I would have thought the bags under your eyes would have faded—"
I suddenly snapped at the sound of sarcasm in Leo's tone, growling, "I'm fine, Leo."
My other bros slowed their eating, eyeing me with concern. I tried not to look back at them with burning cheeks.
"Okay, this is getting annoying," Raph spoke up, pointing his chopsticks at Leo and me. "I don't know what's gotten into you two, but it's pissing me off, and it needs to stop."
I held my tongue, thinking back on all the times Donnie and I had to sit back and watch Raph test Leo's leadership in nearly every mission, erupting in fights. If either of us spoke up, he would explode. To say he was being hypocritical was an understatement, but I was too upset with Leo to bring that up.
"Raph's right… kind of. There's been some odd tension between you two, and that's not what we need right now. We're all stressed over the Heiwa no Buki," Donnie added.
Leo and I glanced at each other, both scowling and looking away.
"If we're going to save your future, you must work together," Big Leo said. "Can we focus on a plan for now, please?"
"I say we chuck it in the ocean like Leo said last night. Out of sight, out of mind," Raph offered, crossing his arms.
Leo hummed in agreement. "I can't imagine who would find it at the bottom of the ocean. We'll have to hurry once the sun goes down. The sooner we get rid of that thing, the sooner we can all relax a little."
Everyone nodded in mutual agreement just as Master Splinter entered the scene. Upon seeing him, I stood to make him his tea.
"Be careful tonight, my children. Remember that Saki has been strangely quiet as of late. Tonight could be the night he and his mutants reemerge from their absence," Sensei warned. He smiled and nodded as I served him his tea.
"Don't worry, Sensei. We'll be extra vigilant. And if we see any mutant goons, they'll be pummeled to pudding," Raph assured with a twisted smile.
"Awe, yeah, son! Things will finally go back to normal. When do we leave?" I asked enthusiastically.
"You're not going," Leo said.
Everyone turned to him, but not a single face was as stunned and upset as mine. Leo looked down at his clenched fist atop the counter, ignoring our collected shock.
"What?" I asked.
"We can't risk anyone finding out about your connection to the Heiwa no Buki. You're also in no awake state of mind to fight in case we run into trouble. It'd be best if you stayed underground until we get rid of the weapon," Leo explained with his gaze still glued to his fist.
I whimpered in defiance, looking at our father with my best puppy-dog eyes.
"Sensei," I whined.
Master Splinter stroked his long tail of a beard. "Leonardo is your leader, Michelangelo. You must do what he says." I slumped at that. "Although, if you wish my opinion, I say that a family quandary should end with family."
Leo's stern look broke at Father's words, a frown appearing. I could see his mind working, wondering if he should change his mind now that our master had spoken against what he said.
"Sensei's right. Mikey should be with us; he's been affected the most," Raph claimed, smirking at my appreciative nod. It felt rad to have him on my side for once.
"Technically speaking, absolutely no one knows about Mikey's connection but us. He's safe for now," Donnie added.
"And as long as he doesn't exhibit any of its power—which he hasn't—I agree that we finish this as a family," Big Leo said.
I beamed at the sound of my family sticking up for me, feeling all warm inside. I ran over and hugged them from behind, saying my thanks until it came to Raph, who shoved me off.
Leo sighed after taking a long look at each of us. I knew deep down this time that he wasn't trying to bench me because he was mad at me, but his overprotective leader-ness was taking over. He didn't want to see my fate become a reality. Shell, neither did I, but I wanted to be there when we ended this thing. The thought of sitting around while they did all the work felt wrong. Also, Big Leo was expected to disappear once we got rid of the Weapon of Peace, and I wanted to say goodbye.
"Alright, Mikey. You can come," Leo sighed, then looked at everyone else. "We need to do this quickly. I have a bad feeling about all of this."
Leo could argue all he wanted and lie until his pants were on fire (wait, he doesn't wear pants), but I knew he'd been super paranoid lately. He'd been clenching his stomach and eating my food less and less. Maybe that's what Big Leo meant when he said my older bro was also being affected by the Heiwa no Buki.
"Thanks, Leo," I said with a smile.
My bro in blue didn't return one. He stood and sauntered out of the kitchen, his rice bowl hardly touched.
Dusk fell over the city around nine in the evening. Once the last of the pastel sky had been blanketed in stars and the moon peeked behind the inky building silhouettes, you better believe my bros and I were traversing the rooftops. Our destination was the same docks we found the Heiwa no Buki, where this trouble all began, so that's where it was all going to end.
As always, I hung back from the rest while Leo led the charge with the Weapon of Peace strapped with his katanas. I had to decrease my speed, or else I would have beat them all there by now. Leo scrutinized the buildings around us every now and then, forcing me to do the same out of concern. Shredder's mutant goons were stealthy to an extent, but we would be able to see them follow us, right? I mean, they're huge. I hoped my big bro's paranoia would settle after tonight. His constant looking over his back was putting me on edge.
Big Leo ran next to me, decelerating to match my speed with a face that asked if I was alright. I nodded at him, but truthfully, my body started screaming at me a while back. The lack of sleep was deteriorating me. My legs trembled with every jump, yet I pushed on with a smile. My bro from the future only bobbed his head back, but he kept an eye on me with every other padded footfall across the buildings to the docks.
We leaped over the gate with ease, entering the shipping harbor warily. Leo and Raph did a quick security sweep. Once the area was deemed safe, we zoomed across and stopped at a pier's edge. The waves were restless under the constant but steady breeze whizzing by. I could hardly hear my brothers talking if they spoke at a low register.
"Well, this is it. Raph, will you do the honors?" Leo asked, mirroring our brother in red, who smirked widely.
Raph stretched his best throwing arm. "With pleasure, Fearless."
"Better beat your high score this time," Donnie said with a playful grin.
"Yeah, dude. The one-hundred-fifty-foot throw was so yesterday," I added, nearly bouncing up and down with excitement taking over.
"Shut up and watch this," Raph retorted, ripping the Weapon of Peace out of Leo's giving hold.
My face beamed as I watched him do the famous wind-up, yearning to see how far it would go before splashing into the shadowy waters. Just as he drew back his arm for the pitch, I felt a familiar pang in my head, the hardest it had ever been. My vision went spotty as I let out a scream and dropped to my knees. My bros called out to me, but their voices were unheard under the thrashing vibration in my ears.
"Michelangelo…"
My skin turned to ice at the sound of the inhuman voice now atop the commotion in my head.
No…
"Do not let them do this, Michelangelo."
I'm sorry, Zilch dude, but you're hurting my family. I don't want your power.
"It is not a matter of want, little one. I am your destiny."
You're my…fate.
A wave of exhaustion struck me like a bus as I felt our connection wither. I hunched over my elbows as I waited for what felt like ages for the vibration and pangs to cease. My bros' frantic voices crashed through this wall of noise, begging me to respond. I looked up from my crouch and gazed at Raph through my blotchy sight.
"Just throw it, Raphie!" I begged.
Raph only stared for a second, then shook his head as if my words pulled him out of a trance. As he turned to the ocean, a blink of silver whizzed by. Raph cried out a split second after, gritting his teeth at the sight of a shuriken embedded in his throwing arm.
"You don't want to do that, turtle."
We craned our necks to find Tiger Claw and Rahzar at the base of the pier. Foot bots quietly scaled the shipping crates behind them, and that was when I felt my heart dislodge in my throat. My bros helped me to my feet, our eyes unmoving from the mutant's malevolent glares.
"You wanna bet?" Raphael screamed over the wind. He suspended the Heiwa no Buki over the pier's edge, ignoring the crimson fluid trickling down his arm. "Take a step, and I'll drop the stupid thing!"
I felt a chill run down my shell at the sight of our enemies sneering at the threat. The rushing of water picked up behind us, stronger than the gentle waves I'd listened to the past few minutes. I turned just in time to see a shadow swimming to the pier lie a motorboat.
"Raph, look out!" I screeched.
My bro in red turned as a figure burst from the ocean: Fish Face! He gripped the Heiwa no Buki with one robotic hand, the other slinging a blade at Raph's throat. He leaned his head back in time thanks to my warning, the switchblade inches from his neck as if in slow motion, but the Heiwa no Buki was no longer in his grasp. The robo-fish smiled maniacally at us before plunging back into the gray water.
"No!"
I couldn't recall giving my feet permission to move, but I was already leaping off the pier before I realized what I was even doing.
"Mikey, STOP!" Leo ordered furiously. It was the last thing I heard before my head was submerged.
I was in a vast, pitch-black void when I opened my eyes. Of course, I wouldn't be able to see anything down here. What was I thinking? Oh wait, I wasn't.
There was a flash of light as I started to swim to the top and then SMACK! My head jolted to the side, jarred by the quick blow. I couldn't regain my grip on my surroundings before another SMACK!
I whipped my head around, finding a light zipping straight to me, a light fastened to the robo-fish's head. Paddling my legs, I attempted to evade a third blow, yet I wasn't a fast swimmer (not as fast as a fish, anyway). I felt a metal hand grasp my foot before I was dragged below. Pressure flooded my eardrums like my head would explode the farther down I was pulled. This was not good.
I grew lightheaded as the mutant let go and reached for his switchblade. My lungs were screaming at me for air by this point, but there was no way I could surface in time to breathe. I was utterly scared, all the while trying to avoid the swipe of a blade, but every move I made felt like slow motion underwater. A nick in the arm, the cheek, then my hand as I covered my face. A whimper escaped my puffed-up mouth, nearly breaking the floodgates that were my lips.
He's too fast!
Then I saw it, the Heiwa no Buki under the streaks of light remaining in his left hand. I felt compelled to grab it, my arm jerking forward before even thinking. Once my fingers made contact, a burst of orange light shattered through the inky blackness, followed by an uncomfortable warmth pulsating through my body. There was a force emanating from me that neither of us could escape. Fish Face's eyes widened as he was driven back, unfortunately taking the Weapon of Peace with him.
My vision grew hazy as I watched, wishing I could swim after him if it weren't for the fact that my body was no longer responding to me. My lungs caved as I sucked in the salty water, floating down to the dark depths below.
You know, for an amphibious turtle, I was a real sucky swimmer.
I hope you enjoyed! The next chapter is a spicy one :) Please let me know what you think about this chapter, and I hope you have a great day!