Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.
Summary: The Madness of the Symbol has struck again, affecting one turtle in such a way that he is trapped and cut off from everyone and everything he loves. How do you cope when no one even knows you are lost? NOT a death fic! Thoughts, comments and concrit welcomed.
Creepy but gorgeous cover created by the awesome Sampsonknight. Link to the original on my profile.
Snatched
Ch 3
When Doppelmike awoke and let him out of the nothingness the next morning, Mikey was silent and withdrawn after such a mentally traumatising night of being completely alone and cut off from absolutely everything in what amounted to a dark, soundless prison. He'd screamed, crying out for attention, for help, for hours, but nobody could hear him and nothing had helped.
After training, Mikey had sat through Splinter's reaming of Doppelmike without even a word or laugh at the body snatcher's expense and when it was Donnie's turn to lecture, Mikey only sarcastically told Doppelmike, Look bored and squirm. You'll nail it!
After two hours of listening to Donnie's monologue, all of which Mikey tuned out the words of, instead only listening to the sound of his brother's voice, Donnie told Doppelmike to get out of his lab and he did. Doppelmike immediately headed for the living room, laying down on the couch in front of the television monolith and closed his eyes.
Don't close your eyes! Mikey couldn't help but plead, flashing back to the hours of pure torture during the previous night.
'It's not as if I'm allowed to do anything and what's the point of just staring at the ceiling?' Doppelmike asked, though he still opened his eyes again and sat up.
Because even that's better than being trapped in the dark nothing... Mikey reluctantly admitted. He'd been trying not to let on how much that living nightmare had actually affected him but he'd panicked once Doppelmike closed his eyes. Why not go pester Leo or Raph for something to do? Just...
All of a sudden, the view Mikey saw through Doppelmike's vision jolted alarmingly, moving forward and back again before whipping around to the side and Mikey wondered if this was what motion sickness felt like.
Raph stood behind the couch half smirking, yet all-the-while trying to maintain his usual pissed off, moody appearance and Mikey realised that Doppelmike had just fallen victim to Raph's swift hand.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Because you're an idiot, shell-for-brains!"
Mikey groaned, Don't say hell. Master Splinter doesn't like it. Say shell instead, we all do.
"I've already been lectured by everyone else, Raph. Message has sunk in, okay?" Doppelmike glowered up at Raph.
"Yeah? Well now you're goin' to hear it again!" Raph snapped furiously. "Of all the stupid! Why would you go do somethin' like that without talkin' to any of us first?"
Doppelmike sighed inwardly, 'Wish he'd just leave it alone already.'
Yeah, Raph's not going to do that, dude. How long did you say it was since you last saw any of our brothers again? Mikey asked, blocking the words of Raph's rant, though he took comfort in the sound of his voice.
'I didn't but just over 19 years.'
"Dammit Mikey! I asked you a question!" Raph yelled, furious over being ignored.
"Because if I said anything beforehand, I would have been forbidden!" Doppelmike snapped back, knowing there was no way he could get out of answering. "Better to just get it done first and live with the consequences than to be told no and never get it done!"
Raphael stared down at them with a strange look in his eyes and Mikey suddenly realised what it was. For the first time since he could remember, Raph was looking at him with admiration and respect. For a moment Mikey felt a warm glow at finally receiving that look from his rebellious brother until it sunk in that it wasn't him that earnt it but rather his body snatcher and that hurt more than he ever thought possible.
Raph quickly bound over the top of the sofa to land sitting beside Doppelmike and slung a friendly arm around his shoulders. Doppelmike simply stared in disbelief at the sudden change in manner as Raphael leaned in conspiratorially and asked, "So, just between you and me, where'd you get that tatt done?"
"Why?" Doppelmike asked suspiciously, already knowing the answer.
Raph quickly looked around for signs of fur, blue or purple before answering, "I've been wantin' to get one myself for years. Can't believe that you of all turtles beat me to it! I was goin' to wait until we're twenty one but now? No way in shell!"
Doppelmike laughed derisively, "I'm not telling you, bro. You know how much trouble I'm in over this!"
"It was worth it though, right?" Raph asked curiously.
All Doppelmike could do was continue to stare. For him as a cover story it was definitely worth it but for the part he was playing, he knew it wouldn't have been. He didn't even need to hear Mikey's constant whining over the whole thing to have known as much.
"Show me what ya got!"
"You already saw yesterday," Doppelmike replied, sounding somewhere between bored and annoyed. "It's the drawing I had on my hand. I got that inked."
Raph scowled at Dopplemike's lack of cooperation and roughly grabbed at his left hand, dragging it over for a closer look. "They did a good job," Raph observed, impressed. "Skin doesn't even look irritated."
'I'm irritated.'
Good! Mikey snickered, happy to finally have something to amuse him, to help push aside his lonely feelings of betrayal and the terrible memories from the previous night.
'Shut up!'
Mikey blew a raspberry, gratified that the sound could at least be heard, even if the action itself couldn't be seen.
"Tell me where you got it done Mike and I'll sneak you a couple of brand new comic books of your choice," Raph offered eagerly.
"Hmm... tempting but not worth it!" Doppelmike said, pretending to mull it over. No matter what Raph said or offered, he couldn't capitulate since it wasn't a real tattoo and he didn't get it done by anyone.
"Then tell me what you do want!" Raph exploded in exasperation.
"Just forget it Raph, I'm already in enough trouble as it is. No way am I going to make things worse by helping you with this." Doppelmike yanked his hand away and stood to walk away.
"If you won't help me, then I'll just have to ask Casey instead," Raph threatened, trying to guilt Doppelmike into helping him. "Who knows who the shell that bonehead'll send me to."
"It's really not worth it, Raph. It's a decision you'll have to live with for the rest of your life," Doppelmike insisted. "Just wait a couple more years like you were going to." With that he walked off, leaving an annoyed Raphael gawking after him.
Dude! Mikey exclaimed. Raph said he was going to do it at twenty one but you just told him to wait for a couple more years.
'So what?'
We're only seventeen.
-:-
That night, Doppelmike went to bed early and Mikey felt as though he was about to freak out at the thought of being alone in the dark for hours yet again.
So, you know how there's some totally weird people out there that can sleep with their eyes open? Mikey ventured carefully.
"Yes..."
Well, what if you could be one of them?
Doppelmike laughed scornfully, "Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark at your age!"
No! Mikey cried adamantly. Not normal dark anyway but... I can't handle that nothingness for hours. Please don't do what you did to me last night again.
"You crossed the line, Mikey," Doppelmike pointed out matter-of-factly. "I'm the one in charge now and I had a point to prove."
… Maybe you think I crossed the line but you retaliated far too strongly when all I did was point out the truth as I see it, Mikey argued, anything to keep Doppelmike awake and himself able to see and hear the real world. Look, maybe I don't understand where you're coming from, you haven't really told me anything about how this all actually started yet but you don't understand how hard this is for me either!
Doppelmike was silent for a moment, "Alright, maybe I did retaliate too harshly but what do..."
An abrupt knock came from the door and Leo's voice could be clearly heard from the other side, "Michelangelo, I hope you aren't on the phone with anyone."
Doppelmike sighed in annoyance, realising he'd been speaking aloud the entire time due to being in the 'safety' of his room, "No Leo, I'm not," he called, getting off the bed to open the door.
"Good," Leo said sternly. "I don't want to have to take it away from you in case there's an emergency."
As Doppelmike simply stared at Leonardo, Mikey could see his brother's features soften for just a moment.
"Then who were you talking to?"
Just tell the truth, 'Myself' and add 'You know how much I like the sound of my own voice', Mikey suggested with a snicker. He never had any qualms with distracting his brothers with a little self deprecating humour and he saw no reason not to encourage Doppelmike to do the same. If nothing else, it would at least keep him amused for a bit.
Leonardo twitched at the reply but didn't comment. "Goodnight, Michelangelo."
"Night bro," Doppelmike echoed, then closed the door, turned the light off again and crawled back into bed.
Doppelmike...
'I can't just not sleep, Mikey,' Doppelmike interrupted irritably.
I know...
'Look, I won't do that to you again but you've got to know when to stop pushing me so much, okay?'
Thanks but can you at least sleep with the radio on? Mikey begged. At least give me something to listen to, so I won't feel so bored. It wasn't actually the boredom doing him in, it was everything else but Mikey wasn't about to tell Doppelmike that.
'Why don't you just sleep too?' Doppelmike asked as if it were obvious.
'If only,' Mikey winced mentally. I can't...
Doppelmike climbed out of bed and turned on the radio at low volume.
'Goodnight.'
-:-
The next few days passed torturously in Mikey's opinion. He mouthed off to Doppelmike a little less and in return Doppelmike made sure to keep the radio on in Mikey's room the entire time he slept. Mikey coached Doppelmike how to write like him even though Doppelmike kept using his right hand with the 'reasoning' he was improving himself by learning to do certain things with both hands and when it was possible and not too weird, he passed on what Mikey wanted to say to his family.
To Mikey's absolute dismay and Leo and Splinter's delight, Doppelmike trained a little extra each day, though not so much as to draw too much suspicion. Doppelmike often complained to Mikey though, that thanks to Mikey's past laziness, he wasn't able to do as much as he actually wanted but said he would keep slowly increasing his training over time.
You can't do that! Mikey practically exploded in horror. You're the one who said they can't know anything is wrong! You threatened their lives over it!
'I'm still grounded anyway, Mikey,' Doppelmike tried to reason patiently. 'If anyone questions me over it, this is an 'excuse' to burn off extra energy.'
I wouldn't train extra though! Maybe as a once off but not day after day!
'What would you do then?' Doppelmike asked, sounding as if he was the one actually suffering.
Um... well, I guess I'd just end up annoying the shell out of everyone. I'd also start pranking more, Mikey pointed out.
Doppelmike groaned in annoyance, 'I outgrew that lifetimes ago.'
So in other words, as far as anyone thinking you're me is concerned, you're acting weird.
Doppelmike ignored Mikey and asked Leo to spar instead.
-:-
Just over two weeks had passed since Mikey lost control of his own body and he felt as though he was about to explode from sheer desperation. The only person he had to talk to, that knew of his plight, was the one who imprisoned him in the first place and while Mikey complained often he also was careful not to let on just how badly this really affected him. He'd discovered early on that Doppelmike had a sadistic streak and the last thing he wanted to do was give the body snatcher any extra entertainment at his expense; Mikey would rather gain the entertainment from him instead.
To date though, he'd had no contact with anyone in his life, unless you counted the occasional words that Doppelmike passed on, yet no one seemed to have the slightest inkling that anything was overly wrong. Any inconsistencies they did notice was simply just brushed off as Mikey being Mikey, exacerbated from being grounded all this time; no television, no comics, no games and no topside for the last two weeks.
After breakfast, everyone gathered in the dojo for their usual pre-training meditation session when Splinter surprised them all. Instead of sticking with their standard meditation, today they would practise using the skill to reach out and interact with one another within the Astral Plain.
Mikey felt as though his heart jumped into his non-existent throat. For once he was glad he didn't have a body in this strange, nightmarish place or else he may have been unable to suppress the tears of frustration that threatened as he desperately wished for the contact he was constantly denied. He hated meditation in general, it was boring and so hard to keep still that he often ended up in trouble, but even he had to admit this type of group meditation was something special and they didn't do it nearly enough. Only once every few months or so.
This particular skill may not have been something any of his brothers practised often but it was done enough that everyone was at least familiar with the routine. In fact, Donnie had once instinctively managed to use it to reach out for Splinter's aid at a time he was being mentally assaulted and the shared connection had been so successful that Donnie had come through his ordeal intact and even better, victorious.
Before long, Splinter had guided everyone successfully into the shared space within the Astral Plain with but one exception.
"Michelangelo, my son. While I admire your sudden new found ability to shield your mind so completely, that is not the purpose of this exercise," Splinter admonished sternly.
"Sorry, Master Splinter." To Mikey's surprise, Doppelmike actually sounded somewhat sheepish in his fake apology.
"Then please lower your shielding and join the rest of us in the Astral Plain," Splinter commanded.
"Yes Sensei," Doppelmike responded.
Mikey clearly heard the hesitation in the body snatcher's voice and he chortled with realisation but didn't say anything.
Several more minutes passed with no change and Splinter spoke up again, annoyance beginning to seep into his voice. "Why have you not lowered your mind's shield and joined us, Michelangelo? Everyone else is waiting on you."
"I can't, Master Splinter," Doppelmike reluctantly admitted.
"Explain yourself," Splinter demanded, unamused.
Mikey found himself mentally grinning at Doppelmike's obvious increasing nervousness. He was sure the other was fidgeting by now, if the slight uneven view he saw through Doppelmike's vision was any indication.
"I'm... not sure how I put it up?" Doppelmike replied lamely, knowing full well exactly how to build and dismantle them.
Now Mikey cracked up with laughter, Dude, you are such a bad liar!
'I'm only trying to sound like you and you're not helping!'
I'm not trying to help, Doppeldude!
Splinter's ears twitched with displeasure, "Then I suggest you work it out fast, Michelangelo. I expect you to join the rest of us in an exercise I know you are very capable of."
"Yes, Master Splinter..." Doppelmike fought to suppress his sigh of resignation.
If Mikey still had a body, he knew he'd be wiping away tears of laughter by this point.
'What the hell's so funny about this?'
Shell, dude! Mikey snickered, automatically correcting him like he had about fifty times by now.
'If they find out about me, they'll try to stop me and then I'll have to...'
Mikey interrupted, snickering with delight as he waved a dismissive, non-existent hand; nothing was stopping him from at least imagining the motion, Damned if you do, damned if you don't, dude. You don't join them in the Astral Plain, Master Splinter's going to know something's wrong and work on the problem until he gets it. If you do join them, they'll see right through you, Doppelmike, probably even realise the truth!
'Shut up!' Doppelmike snapped, furious over having his problem spelt out for him.
Mikey laughed again, he simply couldn't help himself. This whole situation was pure gold! Oh whatever's an evil, body snatching turtle to do, he mocked, taking great delight at the other's expense.
'They can't find out!'
Well, they're going to, Mikey emphasised, unless~... He deliberately drew out the last word enticingly, then stopped.
'Unless what?' Doppelmike asked suspiciously, fully aware of Splinter's growing displeasure over his lack of cooperation.
Mikey hesitated then rushed out his words so that Doppelmike couldn't interrupt. You stop trapping me in the back of your mind and let me join them in the Astral Plain.
'Michelangelo...' Doppelmike began warningly.
No, just think, it's perfect! Mikey insisted. That way they'll be reassured by my presence and won't have reason to wonder and look more closely into you!
Pausing a moment, Mikey allowed his words to sink in before asking, Can you actually do that?
'I... have no idea, I've never tried anything like that before. Remember, you are the first who's soul I've ever left intact when I've taken over,' Doppelmike admitted carefully as he considered the thought. The idea had merit but...
So let's try! Mikey pushed, too eager. He wanted to interact with his family so badly it hurt!
'I can't,' Doppelmike said, shooting down Mikey in his tracks. 'I can't trust you.'
Mikey laughed, not put out by the second statement at all. Doppeldude, I'm not the one who can't be trusted here. You're the one who stole my life and is threatening to hurt or kill my family if they become suspicious. Sobering, Mikey quickly added, Dude, I'm not going to do anything to risk their lives just for my own sake. Whatever else I am, I'm not like that.
Amusement growing again, Mikey added the final push, Either way dude, you better hurry up and make a choice soon, because if you don't, he paused for effect and changed his voice to mimic Donatello's, you'll incur the wrath of Master Splinter.
'How did you do that?' Doppelmike couldn't help but ask, curiosity filling him over Mikey's mimicry skills.
Tick tock, Doppeldude! Mikey pressured cheerfully, ignoring the question. I promise not to give you away. But how he wished he could! He wanted so much to use the precious opportunity to tell his family about his predicament but he couldn't. Mikey would not be responsible for them getting hurt or killed by someone with so many lifetime's experience.
'Alright...' Doppelmike reluctantly agreed. 'I don't have much choice so we'll try this but if you say anything...'
I won't! Mikey insisted in exasperation. He was so close he could already practically feel life again. I'm a pretty good actor when I want to be.
'You're a trickster!' Doppelmike retorted. 'I know you, remember? I am you!'
Pft! If you were me, we wouldn't be in this position in the first place, dude!
-:-
Mikey stood blinking in the bright light and warmth of the Astral Plain, delighting in the faint feel of a light breeze wafting across his skin. He ran his fingers slowly across both skin and the edges of his shell, revelling in the amazing sensation of touch that he'd been denied for so long. None of it was real, he knew that, but that didn't stop him from closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath, savouring the calming scent that was the product of the five minds currently making up this reality. A wide smile split his face and it felt so good to be able to smile again!
"Michelangelo, if you would please join us?" It wasn't really a question so much as an expectation.
Opening his eyes and spinning on the spot until he faced where his father's voice had come from, Mikey couldn't help but widen his grin even more, stupidly happy at the sight of the family that could actually see him. Suddenly, the deprived turtle found himself flying at them, flinging his arms around each in joy and clinging for all he was worth, determined to never let go even though he knew the moment couldn't possibly last.
'Get offa me, ya damn limpet!" Raph snapped in annoyance, roughly pushing Mikey away.
"Turtle, Raphie, turtle, there's a difference," Mikey laughed as he recovered his feet. "I know they both live in water and have a shell so I guess I can't blame you for being confused bro."
"You little... Get back here!" Raph yelled as he ran at the suddenly dancing away Michelangelo.
God, he'd missed this so much! In the past, Mikey had taken his relationship with Raph and in fact everyone else, for granted, not realising just how easily it could all be taken away but now he was set on taking every precious second of enjoyment he could squeeze out before he was forced back into the hell his existence had become. "Gotta catch me first, Raphie," he teased, laughing loudly and tossing a surreptitious glance Leo and Donnie's way. He was so dragging them into this too but before he could make his move, the voice of authority rang out.
"Boys!" Splinter admonished, sounding almost at the end of his tether. "We are here to train our minds, not indulge in mindless horseplay!"
Mikey and Raph sobered, freezing at the reprimand. "Sorry, Master Splinter."
"What is it with you lately, Mikey?" Leo hissed as Mikey and Raph slunk back to the rest of the group.
Mikey tossed Leo a look, totally the picture of innocence. "Dunno what you mean, bro."
"Riight..." Leo drew out, his disbelief obvious.
"Enough, my sons," Splinter commanded. "We have work to do. Please sit and reach out to each other's minds. Practise knowing the feel of one another, this skill could very well save someone's life someday, as Donatello can very well tell you."
-:-
The lesson lasted a few hours but came to an end all too soon for Mikey's liking. Considering how mentally close everyone was while within the Astral Plain, he'd had to work extra hard to hide his increasing dread at his impending future. If anyone noticed anything though, he was ready to explain it as his usual twitchiness from meditating for so long.
"Guys, wait!" Mikey cried out in panic, trying to delay the inevitable as his family began fading from the Astral.
Splinter looked at Mikey with curiosity, "This cannot wait until we rejoin our physical selves, Michelangelo?"
Mikey shook his head violently, "I just... Can we do this more often, Master Splinter?"
Frowning, Splinter asked, "I was under the impression you hated meditation, my son?
"I do!" Mikey blurted out. "It's boring and drives me nuts doing nothing for so long but what I mean is, can we practise in the Astral Plain as a family more often? I love actually connecting with you all like this!" he pleaded.
Raph made a derisive noise at Mikey's desperate claim.
Mikey shot Raph a mischievous look as he quickly covered himself, "It gives me great insight into you Raphie, to find more and better ways to annoy you." He grinned cheekily at the scowl on his brother's face.
"Mm hm," Splinter responded suspiciously to Mikey's claim. "Your brothers and especially yourself have not even mastered the basics of meditation so I am afraid coming into the Astral Plain instead is not an option."
"I don't mean all the time Master Splinter, just... sometimes! Once a week?" Mikey begged. He would do anything for this precious contact. The thought of returning to that empty nothingness his existence had become was killing him inside. "I promise I'll keep working harder in everything else!"
Splinter mused on the request, "I will see, Michelangelo. At this point however, I do not believe it a prudent course of action when your basic skills require so much work but perhaps coming to the Astral Plain and practising connecting our minds a little more frequently may be of some benefit."
Mikey nodded listlessly in disappointment. He knew that while Splinter would take his request into consideration, it would still be a long time before they would come here again and in his current reality, even a day without being able to look into a brother or father's eyes and knowing they see him back felt like eternity.
-:-
The next thing Mikey knew was the numb sensation of no longer being able to feel, smell or taste again and darkness. All encompassing darkness and it was all he could do not to hyperventilate. Except he had no body once again, no lungs to hyperventilate with and that realisation almost sent him over the edge all over again. He fought with everything he had to keep from screaming his fears and frustrations out as Doppelmike finally opened his eyes, looking into the relaxed and laughing faces of his brothers as they were dismissed for lunch and free time.
As Doppelmike and Mikey's brothers entered the kitchen, Raph smirked, watching as Doppelmike threw together hero sandwiches for everyone.
"What, do I have something on my face, Raph?" Doppelmike asked, sounding deliberately confused.
"Nothin' worse than normal," Raph teased.
"Then why are you staring, bro?"
Raphael shrugged, "It was just kinda nice seein' you actin' like your normal weird self again instead of your abnormal weird self," he admitted. "Hey, as of today, you're no longer grounded, right?"
Doppelmike nodded and handed plates of food to those already at the table. "Right, dude."
"So after lunch, grab your board and I'll grab my blades and we'll race through the sewers?" Raph suggested. "After two weeks of sittin' on your butt, I'm gonna beat you so bad my dust'll have settled by the time you even catch up!"
Doppelmike grinned back, "Not if I make you eat mine first!"
And helplessly watching from the darkness in the mire of Doppelmike's mind, Mikey finally broke down and screamed.
-:-
To be continued.