Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT. I wish I did, though. LOL! I can only dream to.

Warning: This fic may contain some harsh language and maybe some violence. However, it does contain angst. A lot of it, too. Oh, and please read and review. I'd appreciate it if you do.

SILENCE

By Raphangela

"Cowabunga!!" is the word that echoes throughout the sewers and even out past the drains and manholes. "Whoooooooohoooooooooo!!" Mikey shouts out as he glides through the turtles' lair on his jet powered skateboard that Donatello made for him. The others sigh to themselves as they watch and listen to their baby brother reek havoc everywhere, even around a concentrating Master Splinter and "where fools dare to tread", Raphael.

"Why in the hell did Don make that thing!?" Raph growls as he trains with his dumbbells like he does every morning and at night. Right now, it is night time and not much has been going on since the defeat of the Shredder. To be honest, it is quite boring and Raph is starting to miss all the fighting they use to do, but they were all glad to know that he is now gone and finished for good. 'Now, if only we could get rid of Mikey.' Raphael thought with a chuckle that then turns into a growl. 'At times I wished he wasn't even born. He's so annoying and gets on my nerves! All he ever does is play and get into trouble! Oh, how I wish I could hurt him!'

"Hey, Raph!" Mikey laughs as he circles around his older brother. "Check this out!" He then swirls around and around and did loops and leaps in the air. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Raphael growls as lifts up his dumbbells again. "I've seen it ALREADY!" He snarls at him.

Mikey frowns at his brother's attitude and says; "Jeeze! You don't have to be such a grouch!" At this, Raphael glares at him and growls again.

"Michelangelo!" Master Splinter calls out to him. He still sits in his meditative spot as he looks over at the young turtle with one eye open. "Leave Raphael alone! And quit flying around on that thing. You've rode it enough that it's getting on my nerves, let alone your bothers'."

Michelangelo pouts as he turns off his power board. He looks around and saw that all of his brothers are looking right at him with glares plastered onto their faces. "Okay." He says in a whiney tone.

The others sigh with relief and continue with what they were doing. Donatello continues with one of his many projects, a new invention that might help them incase the time comes when they might have to go into battle. Leo seems to forever watch the news, seeing if there was anything going on topside. He is still worried about after defeating the Shredder, thinking he might still be alive out there. Hey, he always seems to make a comeback somehow, one way or another. So, you can't blame the guy for being concerned about it. Splinter went back to meditating and to ease his mind of the thoughts that seemed to plague him. Splinter's eyes have dark circles underneath them because of the sleepless nights he has. His nights are plagued with nightmares and he is still edgy about it all. He can't help but feel that something bad is bound to happen. The only questions were "What", "When", and "How". 

Raphael continues his weightlifting for a few more minutes before he goes to refresh himself with a glass of cool water in the kitchen. After he does, he looks over to his little brother, who seems to be miserable. Michelangelo is sitting Indian-style on the floor and watches the news and is completely bored of it. Mikey knew he couldn't change the channel, not with Leo around and acting like this. Mikey sighs to himself and this makes Raphael smiled at it. 'Finally, he shuts up. Look at him, all miserable. That's what he gets for making me miserable and being such a damn pest!' He put his glass of water down someplace near him as he went back to training, this time he began working with his sais and fighting moves. 'No, really… He's such a damn pest. I don't know how many times I-'

"Hey, Raph!" Leonardo interrupts Raph's train of thought. "Lets get going. There's been another gang violence going on and I don't want to just sit around here and I doubt you would want to, either."

Raphael smiles and put his weapons back into his belt. "Finally! Some action goin' on! This place is gettin' to be boring as hell!" He looks and sees that his brothers are ready, too. He goes up to them and stands beside them as Leo explains to Splinter where they are going.

"Alright then," Splinter says to them. "Be careful my sons and remember what I taught you all. I know I keep on telling you all this, but you must know that I will not always be here for you, that I will be gone one day. However, I will be with you in spirit. Use my teachings well, my sons, for it will come at good hands when it is needed. Remember the ancient arts of ninjitsu and that the ninja hides in the shadows. Now, be gone and be careful." 

"Yes, Sensei." Leo says respectfully as they all bow their heads and then Leo leads them all out in this order- First it is Leonardo, then Donatello, then Raphael, and then Michelangelo.

Michelangelo plays with his nunchucks as he goes and accidentally hits his head with one of them. "OWW!" He cries out, which made his brothers sigh.

Splinter chuckles to himself and then smiles. He is glad that one of his sons has such a free spirit. A free spirit is a very good thing, because it never seems to let anything weigh them down. Michelangelo has such a spirit, a spirit that never seems to be afraid or ashamed to let anyone know how one feels deep within. Even though Michelangelo seems to be a pest to his brothers, he always seems to show his caring side and his goodness shows. He is never afraid to express his ideas and dreams, even ones that seem to be ridiculous to everyone else's eyes. Such goodness and carefree spirit always seems to bring out the best or the emotions of everyone else. It also brought out goodness and always seems to light up every mood that would come. His jokes and actions either pleased or aggravated someone. 'Not many appreciate Michelangelo for who he is,' Splinter noted, 'especially his brothers.' If only they could see that it isn't good to burden with such bad things, like emotions and thoughts, that it is bad on a person's health. Stress can kill just like a murderer can. One must learn to be relaxed and have one's mind clear. He can clearly see that Michelangelo is pretty much like that and really didn't seem to need the meditation. He only wanted Mikey to do it because of the others. He also knew Mikey never liked sitting still, so it also does some good there. He hopes it will teach him to be more patient and to know how to sit still, especially when it comes to battle and being around his brothers.

He has to admit, though, he is more concerned about the youngest of the brothers. Mainly because of his ways and how his brothers are towards him. He also noted that many villains also hated him for it. He knew that many people, even good people, hate to see someone like that of the one who wears orange. He knew that many people are jealous of such a carefree spirit and many want to snuff it out like flame that burns in the darkness. Many rather hide than to show who they are, and for this seeing Mikey makes them jealous. Splinter sighed to himself. He knew that his son will go through very much pain because of this. This world is cruel and harsh and always wants to destroy something good… And Mikey is that good.

"Be careful, my son."

----

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo walk through the sewers and that seem to almost be completely dark if it weren't for the moonlight that shines through the drainage vents.

"So, where are we headin'?" Raphael asks with very much anticipation on going to the topside. "I can't wait to kick some shell!"

"Calm down, Raph." Leo calmly says to his brother. "We're just about there," He then points at a nearby manhole above them. "Through that manhole right there." 

He climbs the ladder and the others follow him closely. He opens the manhole cover and carefully looks out without making a sound. He looks and sees that it is a dark, quiet alley and there were no signs of anyone around.

"Okay," He says. "The close is clear." He then lifts the manhole cover and carefully slid it off onto the pavement, trying to not make a sound. He gets out and stands and his brothers do the same.

"AHHH!!" Mikey says as he breathes in. "Good ol' car polluted air! Oh, how I've missed you!" He jokes with a smile.

Donny smiles and says, "Yeah, good ol' New Yorker air! Be careful not to breathe in too much, Mikey, it might kill ya."

Michelangelo laughs with him at that comment. "Yeah, I know. The air here sucks! I don't know which place is worse…the sewer or out here?"

"Well, be glad you don't live in Los Angeles, Mikey. I heard it's a lot worse." Don replies.

"Heck, I ain't going there then!" Mikey laughes. "Count me out!"

Donny smiles and shakes his head. "Whatever."

 "Wha-? I'm serious!" Mikey continues. "What? You'd think I'd like to suffocate?"

"One can only wish." Raphael interjects with a scowl.

"Hey!" Mikey cries out.

"Enough!" Leo interrupts. "Come on…Let's get a move on, shall we?" Donny nods in agreement, Mikey shrugs, and Raph continues to scowl at his younger brother. "Lets go." Leo says and climbs up the ladder of a stairway on the side an apartment building and like wise the others follow.

They jump on to the top of the roof and continue to scout the area by roof hopping. They went together until Leo comes to a halt once he reaches a business building. The look around them and notice that the sky is now getting cloudy. Soon, the moon was covered by a huge blanket shaped cloud. Thunder is heard coming from the cloud and they knew that it meant it is about to rain soon.

 "We better do this quick… I think it's best if we separate into groups," Leo says to them and the others nod, in agreement or not. "Because this isn't working. We need to cover more ground… Lets split off into groups of two. Don you come with me. Michelangelo, you go with Raphael."

Raphael groans to himself at this. 'Oh, great.' He thought. 'I get the oddball.'

"Now that that is said, everybody knows what to do then. Good luck!" Leo says and took Donatello with him in one direction. Raphael and Michelangelo watch them until they disappear from sight.

Raphael sighs out loud. "Come on, oddball. You heard him!" He leaps to the next building top with Mikey following not too far behind.

"Raph! Wait up for me, bro!" Mikey calls out cheerfully like he always does. Raphael despises it.

Raphael growls, "Why me?" He asks out loud and then stops on a rooftop and waits for Michelangelo to catch up.

"What do you mean, bro?" Mikey asks out of curiosity once he lands to where his brother is. "Why are you so grouchy tonight, anyways?"

"You!" Raphael growls.

"Wha-? Me?" Mikey looks at him, not expecting Raph to make such a hard, vicious tone of voice at him.

"Yes, you!" Raphael states harshly at his younger brother. "It's always you!"

"What do you mean, bro?" Mikey asks with a wavering smile. "You're mad a lot at Leo, too! How can it always be me? And why are you mad at me for?"

Raphael glares at him maliciously, "Because you are so annoying, Mikey! You're worse than that brownnoser of a brother of mine! All you ever do is play and play around some more! Your stupid smile and carefree ways don't work for everyone, Mikey! Quit this senseless shit and grow the fuck up!"

Mikey's jaw drops and he tries not to look hurt. "What? Are you saying that you are mad at me because of the way I am? Huh, Raph? Why?"

"You never act seriously when it comes to any situation, dumbass!" Raphael yells. "Every time a fight comes around the corner, we always seem to be the ones saving your fucking ass! You never do anything right around here and you complain about stupid penny antic things that really don't make sense at all! You're always scared of things like the coward you are! You think life is all just some big playground and the sun is always shining when it's not! Act serious for once in your life!"

"But…but Raph." Mikey responds, upset at how his brother could talk to him like this. "Why? Why are you saying this? I thought we were supposed to be the best of friends. Best buddies."

Raphael then got up into his brother's face and says darkly, "You are not my best friend. All you are now to me is a pest in my life…a liability. You make me sick with your carefree spirit. Not everyone is like you, especially me. Not everybody accepts your ways, especially us. You are an annoyance that never seems to go away! I'm beyond tired of you! To tell you the truth, I wish I never knew you. I wish I never heard your voice. I wish I didn't have to put up with you. I wish I wasn't your brother. I wish I could get rid of you, you thorn in my side. And I wish you never even existed. To me, the world would be a better place." Lightening strikes in the distance and the thunder roars viciously.

Michelangelo is horrified by his brother's words and is deeply wounded by them. He smiles sadly at his brother; he could hardly come up with anything to say. "Yeah…sure." He peeps softly; his voice seems to have disappeared without a trace.

"Don't even talk to me or at all throughout and after this." Raphael commands and turns away from him. "In fact, don't even talk at all." 

Mikey smiles sadly as he watches his brother continues on with the search for any crime of any sort. Michelangelo tries to hold back the tears and pain he feels deep within himself. His brother's words hurt worst than that of a sword piercing through a heart. He felt that his heart had shattered into millions of tiny pieces and did not know if he should follow his brother or not.

"C'mon!!" His brother yells and looks back at him in aggravation.

Mikey nods at his brother and goes to catch up, or though it seems like that. He decides to travel at some distance behind his brother. He does not want his brother to see his face or he'd be angry at Mikey even more for 'being a crybaby'.

'So, I guess I deserve this, then.' Mikey sadly thought to himself, he tries hard not to pity himself. 'Raph does have a point, though. I mean, I am in the way… Do the others' feel the same?' He tries to fight the terrible pain and agony within himself. 'Could they?' This thought seemes to echo through his mind. He no longer felt just pain and sorrow, but also another emotion building. He remembers their times together. He remembers the good at first and he tried to keep them, but they were quickly replaced with bad things. Things his brothers did or say to him, even Master Splinter seems to be one of them. As much as he tries to fight it, all he can remember now was all the crises, the pain, the sorrow, the agony of what he went through with his brothers. And then all at once, he kept hearing his brother's hateful words that were shot right at him in his face. His brother's words had cut through him like a knife.

You are not my best friend

'No, stop!' Michelangelo tried to fight it in his head.

You make me sick with your carefree spirit

'Please! Stop!'

I wish I never knew you

'No more! I beg of you!'

I wish I never heard your voice

'WHY!?!'

I wish I didn't have to put up with you. I wish I wasn't your brother

"WHY MUST YOU DO THIS!?'

I wish I could get rid of you, you thorn in my side

'WHY ARE YOU SAYING THIS!?'

And I wish you never even existed

'WHY ARE YOU HURTING ME LIKE THIS!?!'

To me, the world would be a better place

Michelangelo notices that he has fallen far behind and doesn't want to catch up anymore. "No." He cries to himself as he decides to finally stop. "I can't do this anymore. I don't want follow you anymore…my brother. I don't want to… No." With that, he jumps down from the roof of the building and climbs down the railing as fast as he can. He wants to run away. He wants to flee away from this place. He wants to scream. He wants to go somewhere and hide. He wants to cry to himself all alone. And he does not want to go back to the layer. No, he doesn't want to see their faces anymore, especially Raphael's. He is too hurt and ashamed to go back. He does not want to go back and cry to Splinter about what happened. His brother would hate him even more.

Michelangelo cries as he ran through the streets and not much caring if he were to get hit or not, which he did, but he instantly got up and ran. He runs as far as he can and exhaustedly comes to a halt in a dark, lonesome alley. He slumps down all the way in the back. He begins to cry hardly to himself. Why did his brother have to be so cruel to him most of the time? He brings his knees up to his chest and wraps his arms around them. He then lays his head down on them and sobs all alone to himself, not caring much if anyone hears him and nor the fact that it began to pour rain. His brother's words keep on repeating through his mind for him to even care is someone did.

All you are now to me is a pest in my life…a liability

"Why, Raphael!?" Mikey cries out through his sobs, but the thunder seems to dull them out. "Why did you hurt me like this!?"

To Be Continued

Well, that's the first chapter. sniff Please tell me what you guys think. Should I continue?