IV - SHRINK-STUFF
"Yo dude, ya look pale", Michelangelo greeted Donatello while bumping into the kitchen to bring back his breakfast bowl he had emptied.
"Sometimes their bickering just makes my head ache, you know", Don sighed rubbing his temples.
"Hey, look at the bright side: we don't have afternoon lessons today 'cause of Leo an' Raphie. Ya think they could argue more often?"
"Arguingmore often? Seriously Mikey, I'm afraid of they are soon going to hit their limits. I mean, it's only a matter of time when Raph gets Leo mad enough and then..."
"They'll prolly end up like killin' each other", Mike helped his brother to end his sentence.
"Yeah."
"You really think so, my sons?" Master Splinter was standing right behind them.
"Whoa, ya shouldn't sneak in like that. I almost got a heart attack!" Mike muttered, holding his chest with his right hand.
"I'm just worried, that's all, master", Donatello shrugged, keeping his uneasy glance at the checkered table cloth.
"Can't ya just like order them to love each other or somethin'?" Mike scratched his head looking at Splinter. Splinter sighed, seating himself beside Donatello.
"No Michelangelo, I can't. They have to solve their arguments by themselves."
He turned to Donatello placing his hand on his.
"It's not that they don't love each other; it's because they care about each other so much."
Don snorted and Mike kept scratching his bald.
"It kind of like makes sense...if Raphie didn't care what Leo thinks then he didn't need to always fight with him! And if Leo --"
"But master", Don said tensely interrupting Mike's muttering,
"You see, Raph has this problem with authority. He just has to always disagree with Leo. He doesn't want to take orders from anyone", Don raised his eyes to meet Splinter's,
"Actually, I think he's sorry not to be our leader, master Splinter."
Splinter sighed. He could still remember the day when he had announced that Leonardo was going to be the leader of the foursome. Not because he was the eldest, but because he was the most mature. Not because he was the most reasonable of them, but because he was able to control his own emotions.
Raphael couldn't have believed his ears. He had always thought he was going to be the leader. All four young turtles had believed in that. Raphael was a person to step out and take the charge in his hands by nature. He was strong and brave, occasionally even too daring. But his brothers had admired his strength and spirit, especially little Leonardo. They still did.
But then Leonardo had to learn to be the leader, Splinter remembered knowing he had done the right decision when choosing Leonardo as the leader.
Splinter took a good look at Donatello. Don noticed it, and stared back at his father with an inquiring look on his face.
"You do ponder a lot of relationships of you four", Splinter finally told. Don slightly nodded.
"Of course, master. It's not like I'm only thinking programming or mechanics."
"Yeah, Donny reads that philo...no...eh...what it's called...well that shrink-stuff, ya know?"
"It's called psychology, not 'shrink-stuff', Mikey."
Splinter smiled slightly, nodding:
"I am aware of that, my son. Maybe that way you will find means to get along with the difficult situation of your two brothers."
"I sure hope so, master."
Splinter gave the last, encouraging smile to Donatello.
"The commercial break seems to be over", he muttered returning to the living room. Mike told his father he was coming right behind him. Then he turned back to Don:
"Are ya okay, Donny-boy?"
"No I'm not. I don't know how long I can stand this. Sometimes it feels like I can't interact with Raph at all. And have you noticed how Leo always gets more and more furious at Raph? That's not like he's supposed to react to someone like Raph...it just encourages Raph to provoke further..."
"Whoa, hold on. I think ya do read too much of that...psychic...well whatever it was. They're just actin' like two teenage jerks, that's all, bro."
Finally Mike had succeeded to force a modest laugh out of his brother.
"You'd make a good 'shrink', Mikey", Don chuckled.