"And people come from all these different dimensions to fight in it… it's pretty awesome."

Grace shook her head in amazement, trying to imagine what Mikey was telling her.

"It sounds awesome. And your sensei was one of the winners?"

Mikey grinned and nodded, but Grace noticed a slight look of melancholy. It was barely noticeable, but she was sure it was there. Her smile lessening, she cocked her head.

"Mikey? What's wrong?"

He looked at her in slight surprise.

"What d' ya mean? Why'd anything be wrong?"

Grace gave him a knowing look as she reached out to take his hand.

"Don't try to be all sneaky," she said, her voice slightly coy. "I know that look… you get it when something's wrong."

Mikey blinked, then finally sighed, and closed his hand around hers with a small, rueful smile.

"Can't keep anything from you, can I?"

Grace couldn't help but give a soft laugh as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"You know I'm far too intuitive for that," she teased. "Come on, I'm listening."

Mikey chuckled too, then his eyes grew distant as he directed his gaze back over the rooftops. Grace waited patiently, still holding his hand in a gentle grip, until finally he sighed.

"Okay. Well, me and my bros got curious about where he was going every year, so one time we followed him."

Grace smirked, raising a brow.

"Of course. And what, he was angry?"

Mikey grinned at that, shrugging.

"I don't think he was that mad, more surprised. And worried… the main reason he didn't tell us about it was he was afraid we'd wanna fight too. Guess he had a point."

At these words, Grace's eyes widened.

"Really? So, you did fight? Wow…" she breathed, then her eyes went even wider. "And… did one of you…"

Despite himself, Mikey felt a surge of pride and a smile came to his face as he nodded, and Grace stared at him a few moments before smiling back with the intense pride she felt at those words. They hardly were a surprise to her, but wonderful to hear.

"You? Oh, that's amazing!" Reaching out, she placed her other hand on their enclosed ones. "And your family must have been so proud!"

She thought she'd seen him downcast before, but to her surprise it was even more noticeable than before. Her proud smile quickly changed to a frown.

"What is it?" she asked softly. Mikey blinked and looked at her, as if he'd forgotten she was there for a moment. His gloomy look turned into a sheepish one as he rubbed the back of his head with his free hand.

"Heh, sorry. Mind wandered a little."

Grace's brow furrowed before speaking again in a soft voice.

"What makes you so down? I'd think you'd be happy."

The corner of Mikey's mouth quirked up.

"Well, I was."

"But…" Grace prompted, still frowning.

The orange-banded turtle hesitated as his gaze moved over the city rooftops again. Finally, he let out a quiet sigh.

"Well, I was really happy… I felt like I'd finally proven myself, showed my bros and Sensei I was just as good, that I was a real ninja too. And I thought they were proud too, but… it was like they barely even noticed. Heck, Raph was just mad I beat him. And after that, every time I brought it up, they just got annoyed at me. Said they were sick of my bragging. Maybe I should've stopped, but… I just wanted someone to say I did good."

Grace looked at him, startled by his words. Then sympathy filled her, and she opened her mouth to speak, to offer some comfort, but before she could say anything he sighed and went on in a quiet, dejected voice.

"And then, a while later, I had to do a rematch. I was really nervous, and I asked for help, but… my bros just laughed at me. Even Sensei didn't help. Guess he thought I needed t' learn a lesson 'bout humility." His voice was dull, and Grace could hear a slight tremor in it as he went on. "I really needed them, and they just left me t' fend for myself. Raph even said he was looking forward to seeing me get ground into paste. The only one who did anything for me was Leo. Then it turned out th' whole thing was a trap."

His jaw tightened, an almost haunted look on his face and his voice hushed.

"I really thought that guy was gonna kill me… he almost did."

Grace felt her jaw go slack; she could hardly believe what she was hearing. A mix of sadness, pity, and anger rose in her; how could Mikey's own family be so thoughtless and indifferent that they would barely acknowledge such an achievement? That they would turn their backs on him when he needed them the most? Hamari could be a bit of a braggart, but Grace wouldn't desert her in a time of need for any reason, even if she was angry or annoyed with her. She didn't really know much about them, especially Master Splinter, but she'd seen the strong bond Mikey and his brothers shared on their patrols, and she never would have believed they could so easily abandon him like that. She found she wasn't that surprised Splinter could… from what Mikey had told her, it seemed nothing he did was ever enough, that he would always be less than the other turtles in his father's eyes. She understood what that felt like, all too well.

Grace felt her throat tighten, but she swallowed it down and gave Mikey's hand another gentle squeeze, nestling close to him and laying her head on his shoulder.

"I know what that's like, you know," she murmured. "Feeling like you aren't enough for the person whose approval you want most… and you never will be."

Mikey immediately looked at her, his look becoming anxious.

"Oh, man… Sorry, Grace, I should've…"

The teenage girl smiled and placed a hand on his cheek, silencing him right away.

"It's all right," she soothed, stroking her thumb across the green skin. "You listen to my problems, so it's only fair I listen to yours."

Her look then grew a little sly and she lifted her head a little.

"Besides, we've developed a quite effective method of comfort, I think."

That finally brought a grin to the turtle's face, the sight warming her all the way through. He leaned down the rest of the way, their lips meeting. Grace closed her eyes, her heart skipping with pleasure, then opened them again as he drew back, still grinning.

"Totally. Sure not something I can get from my bros."

That brought a laugh bursting out of Grace, and she heard him laugh too. After it died down, she leaned against him again and spoke in a more solemn voice.

"I know you're still afraid, but I really think you should just tell them how you feel. I know talking about it with me helps, but I don't think it's going to solve anything in the long run."

Mikey was silent for a moment, and she glanced up to see him gazing off into the distance. There was a strange, weary look on his face that somehow made him seem much older than his years. Sympathy and compassion filled her as she took his hand again, her voice soft and gentle.

"Whatever happens, I'll be here for you. I can promise you that."

A few more moments passed, then a small smile brightened Mikey's face. He put an arm around her, stroking a three-fingered hand up and down her arm.

"Thanks," he said softly. "And I can be there for you too, when you decide to talk to your mom."

His words made Grace smile; she had every intention of doing just that, but she just wasn't feeling quite ready yet, and Mikey knew that. That was why he wasn't pressuring her to do it quickly, but rather at her own pace. It was the little things like this that made her most grateful to have him in her life.

"I know," she whispered. "And thank you too." Mikey gave her another grin and held out a fist.

"Wouldn't do anything else."

Her smile widened at that, and she bumped her fist against his.

"Me neither."