I don't own TMNT or UY.

Xxxxx

"I am tearing your family apart."

I looked up when he spoke. He looked so miserable and lost. No-one should look like that, least of all such a kind loving person like Usagi.

He was sitting on the couch, his legs crossed, both hands around a tea-cup which by now only held cold tea. He was staring ahead of himself, looking as if he hadn't slept in days. Perhaps he hadn't.

I shook my head and put down my own cup of tea on the coffee-table.

"It's not you Usagi." I said gently.

He closed his eyes and gave a long sigh.

"Yes it is..."

The lair was quiet now. Raph was still in the dojo blowing off steam, Mikey hadn't come out of his room yet and Donny had wandered off, possibly to work on his computer virus again, I wasn't sure though. We'd caused such a racket that master Splinter had come to see what all the noise was about. He was very disappointed to hear we'd been fighting amongst ourselves. We were going to get a lecture later for sure. We would probably have gotten one right away but Sensei had noticed Usagi had also heard the noise and had come out of my room which he was currently using as his own. I had just moved towards my friend when Sensei walked in. Seeing I was about to comfort him, he dropped his lecture, but I didn't miss the look he gave me. It said; 'comfort him Leo. But when you're done prepare for a serious scolding'. I wasn't looking forward to it. He'd then turned and followed Don who left the room. I kinda got the feeling we really upset him. Donny's such a peacemonger, he really hates it when any of us fight, and this had been a bad one.

I felt terrible that Usagi had heard it. Then again how couldn't he? We were all shouting. He seemed to really have taken the fight to heart for some reason. It really bothered me that our stupid argument had given him even more sorrow. I'd made us both some tea, feeling we needed it, and then sat him down on the couch, sitting down beside him. We'd been quiet until he'd spoken up.

I turned to face him better.

"Alright. Yes it is you, but not in the way you think."

He opened his eyes again and turned them to look at me. Strange and pink, yet somehow not unsettling at all.

"We're very worried about you Usagi." I said. "We're worried about your son. We may not have met him yet but he's still very important to us. He's important to us because he's important to you. We wish..." I shook my head slightly. "..I wish.. I wish I could do more for you. I wish I could tear down that building brick by brick and pull him free from there but.." I stopped for a moment. "...I can't."

I gave a hollow laugh. "And that hurts..."

He said nothing, staring at me quietly.

"I'm very worried about you Usagi... You're my friend...." I pulled a slight face. "...and I'm unable to help you...."

He shook his head at this. "You have helped me brother."

I turned to look at him again when he used the seldom-said honorary title.

He was still looking at me and I saw him smile slightly. "You have helped me. If it wasn't for you and your family I... .." He merely breathed out and turned away, raising a hand and running it back over his head, not knowing how to finish his sentence.

"I should not have asked you for help." He said softly.

I was hurt by this and I didn't care if it showed.

He noticed and smiled more affectionately, giving his head a soft shake. "I have brought nothing but sadness for you. That was never my intention. I was thinking about myself and my own turmoil, and I did not even stop to consider what I was bringing to you and your lives. I have done you great evil."

I frowned at him. "Usagi if you didn't come to us for help you would've done something far worse. You'd have been all alone in this city trying to fight some-one who I know, no offence, you wouldn't be able to beat by yourself. If you'd done that and something'd happened, which it would have, we wouldn't even have known. Hell who knows how long it would've been before we heard anything about it. And then where you we be? We'd be left with the knowledge that you didn't trust us enough to ask for help, and that you'd rather get killed than try and depend on us and our friendship." I made an amused noise. "I'd be furious with you."

Usagi smiled softly to himself, raising his cup to take a sip from it but, finding it was cold by now, put it on the coffee table instead.

"Yet I cause arguments and resentment within your family and amongst yourselves." He said sadly.

I gave a chuckle. "I'm sorry Usagi but it's very obvious you're an only child."

He turned to blink at me and do his characteristic slight head tilt. "Eh?"

I gave him a brighter smile. "We'd fight even if you weren't here. Heck we'd fight even if nothing was wrong! We're brothers. It's what we do. It doesn't mean we hate each other!"

He merely continued to stare at me. I decided to drive the point home with a gamble.

"Don't you have arguments with people you're close to?"

Usagi gave a small flinch and at first I regretted taking a chance like that until I realised he'd done so out of amusement, trying not to laugh.

"Yes." He said, looking up and nodding. "Oh most definitely yes."

He actually smiled at me, a proper smile. I can't even remember the last day I saw him do that.

"In fact it seems most of my dearest friends are people who I find absolutely infuriating."

I laughed at this. "Welcome to my world." I didn't realise the irony of that statement till later.

We sat in silence for a few moments. I didn't know what else I could say, so I let what I'd already told him run through his mind a little. He was staring off again, thinking to himself. Eventually he turned back to me.

"You know Leonardo-san, you are a very wise person. Probably more so than half the people I know," He smiled again, but in a quiet manner this time. "I should never have belittled you the way I did. My behaviour as of late has been downright shameful... and I am sorry."

Somewhere inside me, something which had felt like it'd been tied in a knot for a few days now broke itself free and I found myself giving a long exhale. I smiled warmly at him, suddenly feeling much lighter.

"You're a good friend Usagi." Was all I said.

He smiled at me fondly in return.

He then sat up a little straighter and looked over his shoulder to the room behind him and the hallway leading to our rooms.

"Forgive my intrusion into your affairs, but I believe you should go speak to Mikey-kun."

I pulled a slight face. I was still mad at him for the utterly demented stunt he'd pulled.

"Leonardo-san." He went on, probably noticing my expression. "I believe he was merely trying to help. Even if he did end up causing more trouble than good, his intentions were noble." He pulled an expression I wasn't really able to read. "I was unable to sleep last night, and he was kind enough to offer me some comfort. I honestly believe he was merely trying to do something for my sake and to help the situation when he fought that monster."

I sighed. "I don't doubt that Usagi, but I still can't believe he'd be dumb enough to get himself into such a situation."

"He is frustrated." Usagi said. "It would be hypocritical of me to say I do not understand his feelings."

I made a noise, reluctantly agreeing. "Yeah but... he could've been killed."

Usagi smiled again. "Your concern is touching." was all he said to this.

Damn him.

I gave a groan and uncrossed my legs. "Ok ok. Fine. I'll go talk to him."

His smile stayed as he watched me round the couch. I gave him a sideways look.

"You're too damn crafty with your manipulation you know that?"

"Wakarinai desu" he said, pretending he didn't understand a word I'd just said, though his face said otherwise.

I rolled my eyes, turning and walking towards Mikey's room.

Half-way there I stopped, the mental image of Mike's condition drifting into my memory. I turned and walked towards the kitchen instead. Our breakfast things were still lying on the table, me and Don's cereal had gone soggy by now. I took one of the empty bowls and poured some cereal into it, adding milk and a generous amount of sugar. I then got a second, smaller bowl and filled with with some lukewarm water. I turned and carried both bowls out of the room.

I walked down the hall to Mikey's door which was still closed. I could almost physically feel him sulking inside. I took a deep breath.

"Mike?"

There was no answer but I hadn't expected there to be. I didn't have a free hand to knock with, so I merely leaned against the door, trying to hear what was going on inside.

"Mikey open up." I said, using a gentle tone of voice and not a demanding one. Last thing I needed was for him to clam up. And man was it easy for Mikey to shut people out when he wanted to.

Still no reply. I felt a small bubble of worry start to grow in my stomach.

"Mikey please, it's Leo. I just wanna talk. I promise I won't yell."

Still nothing. I chewed my lip slightly.

"I'm coming in ok?" I pressed my shoulder against the door and pushed against it, forcing it open and stepping inside. We didn't have locks in our home. Master Splinter didn't believe a family should shut each other out for any reason. A lock was a sign of mistrust as far as he was concerned.

I looked around his room when I stepped inside. It was a mess but only in the way it was always a mess. Nothing seemed out of place so to speak. I spotted him on his bed. He had his shell to me, curled up tightly. He didn't look up or even react when I entered.

The bubble grew.

I walked over to the desk and put both bowls down carefully, I had to put one of them ontop of some comics which he might get annoyed about but I needed to get my hands free.

I walked over to his bunk, standing on my toes to be able to reach him properly.

"Mikey? You ok?" I reached out and gently put a hand on his shoulder.

He started violently with a sharp breath, rolling over and sitting up before staring at me wide-eyed.

"Hey woah woah woah! It's just me." I said taking a step back, startled myself.

He blinked at me wide-eyed for a few moments. "Leo?"

He sighed and relaxed, rubbing at his eyes with a noise. "What d'you want?"

I watched him quietly. "...Were you sleeping?"

"Mmm." He stopped his wiping and stared ahead, deliberately not looking at me.

I almost instinctively wanted to tell him not to sleep with his mask on, It was a choking hazard. But I swallowed it back. Now was not the time.

"I thought you might be hungry." I said gently, turning to get the bowl of cereal.

"I'm ok." He replied.

I picked up the bowl and turned back to him. "Are you sure? You didn't have breakfast and you said you were out all night. You'll feel better with some food in you." I gave him a careful smile. "Promise."

He stared at the bed for a moment, apparently thinking it over. He then nodded reluctantly.

I gave an inward sigh of relief, walking over to him and handing him up the bowl. He reached over and took it from me silently, placing it in his lap. He stared at it for a few moments before he started to eat.

I nodded, satisfied. I then turned and went to his small set of drawers, opening it up and pulling out a small face-towel with a little 'M' stitched on it. I then went to the desk and picked up the second bowl before turning back to the bunk.

I put the bowl on the bed and the towel in the bowl where it started to soak up the water. I then put both my hands on the mattress.

"Scootch over." I said.

He made a move that could've been a scootch I guess, but he didn't really clear much room. I didn't say anything though and climbed up on the bunk myself, sitting down on what little space there was left. I placed the second bowl in my own lap and turned to look at him.

He was staring at his cereal, eating silently as he refused to look at me.

I took the small towel and twisted it in my hands to rinse out the excess water before I shifted closer to him, raising it.

"Tilt." I requested.

He obliged and tilted his head slightly, turning the cut on his face towards me more. I reached out and carefully pressed the towel to it. He winced and made a small, smothered noise.

"Sorry." I apologised, gently wiping at the wound, clearing away the blood and dirt which had congealed there.

We said nothing as I cleaned the gash. It started to bleed again after a while and I put pressure to it carefully.

"Well, you're not gonna scar luckily." I said, turning to give him an encouraging smile. He hadn't said a thing so far and I really wanted to try and reach him. Best way to do that with Mike is not to ask questions, be kind and be patient, and if you're very lucky he might decide he was gonna open up to you.

He wasn't looking at me, staring off instead with a melancholic expression. It didn't look right with his cheerfully blue eyes and the sunny orange mask.

I felt my smile drop. "...I'm really sorry I yelled at you Mikey." I said carefully.

I dipped the towel into the now yellowish-pink water. "I was just upset because I was afraid something could've happened to you." I turned and took one of his hands, starting work on his knuckles. "I know you didn't mean to get in trouble. I was just angry because I didn't want you to get hurt."

"I know that." He said quietly.

I turned his hand to clean off the excess blood on it. I was relieved to find it didn't seem to be his. "I shouldn't have yelled though. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings."

I risked looking up to see what affect this was having on him. He looked distressed. He was blinking more than he should and I could feel the tendons in his hand tense slowly.

I dipped the towel in the water again. "I know you just wanted to help. Really I do. If you say you didn't mean to fight then I believe you. It doesn't matter what happened ok? I'm just glad you're safe and-"

"Leo I really screwed up!" He burst out, his shoulders giving a bad lurch.

I blinked, alarmed. "Oh no. No no no, Mikey..."

He pulled his hand away from me and covered his face.

"I messed up everything!"

I picked up the bowl of water and moved it so I could shift closer. I sat myself beside him and put an arm around his shoulders.

"No it's ok. Nothing bad's happened to us because of this, we're ok. Everything's gonna be alright."

He turned and pressed himself against me, curling up. The bowl of cereal dropped from his lap and fell off the bed, spilling milk as it went before smashing to pieces on the floor.

"I just wanted to help." He insisted, burying himself against me. "That's all I wanted to do! I couldn't sit and watch every-one else suffer any-more! I hadda do something!"

I put my other arm around him too and hugged him tighter. "I know, I know. It's ok. Don't cry Mikey. I'm not mad at you for it. Honest. You're ok now. You're not hurt and we're all still here and no-one blames you for anything. It'll be alright Mikey. I'm here."

He gave a sob and shrunk himself tighter against me. "I'm sorry Leo... I'm really sorry..."

I hushed him gently. "It's ok... I'm here..."

Xxxxx

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