In the dark, shadows crept along the wall, glints from white eyes being the only sign that it was not just a trick of the light.
Unseen by guards and enemies, a group of four darted across the building, heading for the basement, and the core. On their way, they took out enemies and guards, lowering their chance of being seen with less people around to see them.
As they neared a large computer with screens facing all around, four split into pairs of two. Red and purple stayed by the computer, while orange and blue split off to wander around the border, taking down any patrols that risked discovering the middle pair.
Michelangelo yawned and grinned at Leonardo, giving him a friendly nudge while they were lingering by a doorway.
"Hey, Leo-!"
"Shh!" Leonardo hushed him quickly, elbowing him in the ribs, "Not the time, nor the place!"
Michelangelo pouted, but gave up while they continued on with their patrol around the bordering. The youngest's gaze drifted around lazily, bored to death by the lack of conversation and- Hey, was that a..?
Oh.
That felt… really important.
And probably like something he should tell Leonardo.
"Hey, Leo?"
"What?"
"Uh… That looks. Important." Michelangelo pointed to what he spotted, and saw Leonardo's expression shift to horror immediately.
It was a camera, angled directly at them and tracking their movements. Both of them stilled, knowing that they had both messed up.
They were being watched.
They both backed up, and, after the camera had been pointed out, a voice came over the speakers. Razhaar.
"We know you're here," he growled over the microphone, voice teasing like they had already won, "get running, little piggies."
Leonardo and Michelangelo turned on their heel and ran for their lives, regrouping with Raphael and Donatello.
"Don, you done?" Leonardo asked, an urgency to his voice that wasn't there before.
Donatello nodded, giving them the good-to-go as he pulled the USB out of the computer.
With that, they took off, needing to get out fast.
The halls were... Eerily silent, there was not a sound to be heard as they ran. Which, was odd, and honestly concerning. They would have thought that the halls would be swarming with guards- No, there they are. They were all focused on the exits, trying to trap the team inside.
They skidded to a halt, bracing themselves for a fight and unsheathing weapons in preparation for what was to come. The guards spotted them quickly, and rushed them, dashing forward like they thought they had a chance.
The Foot bots were taken down quickly to avoid them adapting to their fighting styles, each member of the team moving fluidly across the area to assist others. And, just as quickly as it started, it was over.
With every enemy down, they went running for the exit, getting out while they still could. Raphael and Donatello took the lead, the genius holding valuable information at the moment, while Michelangelo and Leonardo held the rear for the time being.
Michelangelo looked behind them and froze up. He was scared, something gripped him and he stopped moving. He just couldn't move, he was afraid, there were more guards coming and they needed to leave-
"Hey," Leonardo held his shoulder, tense, but smiling gently to soothe him, "You good?"
Michelangelo still couldn't run, but he nodded, even as Leonardo positioned himself between the youngest and the approaching enemies. He missed the way Leonardo glanced up, then back, before back at Michelangelo. Leaning down ever so slightly, he cocked his head to the side.
"Mikey, you trust me, right?"
"Huh?"
"Do you trust me?"
What kind of question was that? Of course he did. Leonardo always had their backs. He was right there for them, all the time. Of course he trusted him. So, he nodded.
In the back, Donatello and Raphael called for them, sounding antsy.
Leonardo smiled wider, and Michelangelo felt soothed, like a child comforted by their mother.
"Good."
Suddenly, Michelangelo was shoved backwards, and he staggered, falling down and looking to Leonardo in question-
Leonardo smiled, and waved, before stepping back himself in time for a wall to come crashing down. Michelangelo screamed, loud and wordless as he scrambled back up and threw himself against the wall, slamming his fists into it and yelling his brother's name, yelling for the oldest.
No, nononono-!
He had been so calm just a second ago, why did that have to be taken away?!
Beside him, Raphael and Donatello appear, screaming themselves hoarse.
"Leo!"
From the other side, there was one, single tap, Leonardo's response.
"Guys," he called, and all of them fell silent, apprehensive, "you need to go, alright? I know another way out. I'll be fine, I'll meet you at the lair when this is all over."
Michelangelo whimpered. Donatello looked down. Raphael curled his hands into fists. Nobody said a word for a long moment.
Then, Donatello broke the silence. "You better keep your word, alright Leo? You have a very bad track record of lying."
"Alright," Leonardo called, his voice slowly fading, as if he was walking away, "Just get out and don't wait up, alright?"
Raphael swallowed and nodded, then signaled for them to follow after him. Donatello followed hesitantly, and Michelangelo just ran. He had already hurt them by not moving once, that's how Leonardo got trapped, and he refused to let that happen again.
%%%
Leonardo did not come back. They waited hours, constantly checking the clock, calling and texting him like they thought it would do something, waiting, waiting.
Leonardo did not come back.
A lone tear slid down Michelangelo's face.