Author's Note: Yikes, I am late! I apologize for the delay in updating. My writing has been slow due to my own lack of inspiration and sleep, so I heavily apologize for the shortness of the chapter. I'm working harder on maintaining my once a month update for next round! We're getting closer to the final chapters! I'm unsure yet if I want to continue with a sequel based solely on recovery/hurt/comfort. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Also- IF INTERESTED- I'm co-writing a TMNT 2014/2016 short story, about 4-5 chapters, that I will upload VERY SOON! So, please feel free to ALERT if you are interested! We are very excited to share this story shortly, so please keep on a look out for it! As always, your thoughts mean the world to me. Thank you for reading and following the story so far. Please feel free to message me with any thoughts too! Thank you again so much for your time, and I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: (1) Quote by Franz Kafka. Song quote from "Right Here" by Ashes Within.
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A Turtle & His Sisyphus
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"Don't believe all the lies you've been told."
...
/././././././././././././././././././././
"So…Watch anything good lately?" Casey spoke again, his gaze occasionally shifting from the road to his rearview mirror where Karai was sitting. Her eyes didn't move from the window as she remained silent. "No? Okay, I get it. Nothing good on, anyway. You into music or do you prefer hearing the sounds of your enemies screams…?"
"Casey, please." Pleading with Casey for the third time, April gave a light slap on his arm. Talking over his laughter, she tuned back to Karai. "I'm really sorry, just ignore him. He's a real pain."
"To say the least." Karai's voice was low, her eyes glued to the window. Her eyes shifting up towards the sky, most likely scoping the area for her men nearby. April felt uneasy, to say the least with the turtles' once arch-nemesis sitting in the backseat. If Leo could have enough faith in her, shouldn't she? April felt for Karai, whatever little it was. Losing your 'father', picking up his messes from dealing with the turtles to convincing the mayor that her father simply passed away—April couldn't help but wonder why Karai even bothers continuing her father's work. A chance at freedom, any chance to start anew—why not take that?
April's stomach dropped. Is it possible that Karai never did let go of her grudge against the turtles? After everything Leo has risked to give her hope? April worryingly glanced back over to Casey. His hair had grown long enough to throw it back in a bun, regardless of how many times she's pleaded him to get a cut. She couldn't help but smile slightly at the way he'd chuckle whenever he was making a joke, or the way he'd smirk when he just knew he was getting under your skin. Reaching for his arm, she squeezed as she desperately sent psychic signals his way to be cautious. Please, Casey. Don't.
Casey's smile widened as he wrapped his hand with hers, keeping one hand on the wheel. Giving it a light squeeze, he smiled to her. Softly, he leaned over toward her enough to say, "Don't worry, babe. The guys can take care of themselves, and I'm built like a tank. We can handle this."
With a short nod, Casey's eyes quickly darted toward his rearview mirror. Karai's gaze never left the window. That didn't stop Casey from continuing his antagonizing with a chuckle. "So…Do you at least have a life outside of being the princess of the Foot? You know there's this thing called dating- OW!" With a harder hit on his forearm, Casey quickly cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes on the road. "Geez, okay! We can't small talk, fine, then let's real talk here. Where exactly are the guys? I still think it's rather convenient we haven't heard from them and yet here you are expecting us-."
"You did not have to accompany us, Mr. Jones." Karai commented, smugly. "Myself and Ms. O'Neil are more than capable of accomplishing the task ourselves. I would have gladly given you their destination if you asked. But, you appeared rather insistent. I am not expecting you to do anything except jeopardize the task at hand."
Casey rolled his eyes, sarcastically mumbling, "And, yet, here we are with no idea what we're walking into."
"The fact you are shows some trust for me, or the cause."
"Not you." Casey quickly responded. His eyes returned to the road, "If what you say is true, I'm trusting Leo on this. If Bishop or whoever is planning on bringing more destruction to the city, or if there's anything in there to help Mikey—that's why we're doing this. There's been enough destruction in this city. I'm sick of the guys always taking the hits for it. It's about time we get a chance to make it right."
"Why do you care for a city that has done nothing for you?" Karai's abruptness caught the couple off guard. Immediately catching their attention, Karai softly spoke. "There will always be people in the world who want more, and will stop at nothing to get it."
"And what does that make you?" Casey said venomously. Even after the evening of the Shredder's demise, and the efforts she provided to the turtles—Casey Jones knew better than to trust someone who's backstabbed you before. His father knew all too well, and he paid the price for it. He'd be damned if he watched another go through what he did. "You ain't a martyr yourself. You caused your own hell, practically following the devil himself. Why not let this city burn or whatever the hell Bishop wants? Why not trap April and myself to get to the guys?"
"I cannot justify my actions, nor do I intend to." Karai appeared somber, her gaze shifting to her feet. "If Leonardo had to harm innocent lives to save his family, would you question his motives? Yet, if Bishop believes purging this city will begin anew, it is not question to his madness. Perspectives, and persuasion, are powerful tools. Something my father mastered well, something even the rat knows too. If Leonardo told you this was a trap, you would attack me no doubt. But if he told you it was not, you would continue. Now, if I told you this indeed was part of my plan—you would trust in the threat, not me. Trust is difficult, yet it is what gets you killed. Your father knew that Mr. Jones, Leonardo knew this when he broke mine—truth, and faith, become blurred when it is the people you care most about."
"We're here." April's voice broke through, gesturing for Casey to pull over. "Better not stay too close, just in case."
"Right." Casey nodded. Turning the car off, he turned over to Karai. Lowering his voice to a whisper, "I don't really care what you think and I won't hesitate to knock you down if I have to."
"Of course," Karai swiftly replied as she stepped out of the car. Passing through the front of the car, she turned back to the couple still remaining. "We must hurry. I fear we do not have much time."
Rolling his eyes, Casey shut the car door behind him. "And we're supposed to waltz in with hundreds of security footage waiting?"
"My men have temporally halted the electricity and all footage until we are in Goldburg's office. Unlike yourself, Mr. Jones, planning ahead for these things will minimize attention. Something you seem to enjoy."
"Whatever. My way is more fun anyway." Casey grumbled under his breath. Locking the car door, he reached into his duffle bag for his mask. He hesitated, looking from the mask back to April. He knew the risk she was taking sneaking into her office for the sake of the turtles. Rushing to her, he handed her his mask. "Here, take it. It's your face they shouldn't see anyway, just in case something happens."
"I think scary-hockey-player isn't really my thing. You do it better." April smirked, handing it back to him. "Thank you, but I trust Karai on this- whatever little it is. Come on, we have to move."
Rushing behind, Casey reluctantly pulled his mask on and caught up with Karai. "So, we just walk in his office and hope there just happens to be anything? Shouldn't we be going straight for Bishop?"
"Bishop needed the technology from this facility, and Goldburg was funding money through his grants." Karai swiftly walked through the entrance, heading towards the staircase. "Whatever he is planning for the city, Goldburg must have a name, address, somewhere."
"Again," Casey dully noted, jogging closely as they rushed up the stairs. "Convenient that you've been spending weeks with the psycho and you have no idea what he's doing or where he's been doing it. I don't buy it. Since when did you start getting suspicious?"
"When he began interacting with Goldburg behind my back. I believed he knew I was allowing the turtles sanctuary, and knew better than to attack my own headquarters. Goldburg is unnerving to say the least. He was interested in my father's investment in this serum—he too hoped for a 'clean slate' to say the least, to wipe all the memories of the victim to create loyal 'servants' to the cause. Of course, after Bishop's extensive history—they hoped to create a super weapon, no humanity—just a vessel for their cause."
"Figures, why torture people endlessly for information when you can just physically extract it or wipe it out form the person." Casey cursed under his breath, struggling to catch it as he began jogging up the stairs. "Figures people like you would be into that kind of thing. Less blood on your hands, right?"
"Not exactly." Karai kept her pace, looking over at the couple. "My men are honorable. They joined my clan to fight and respect a justice cause. Too many ninja lost their lives to a hopeless cause. I owe it to them, and their families, to earn back the respect they once had for this clan. Now, enough talk. We must keep moving!"
/./././././././././././././././././././././
"Raph, come from around the back! Don't let him see you!"
"Trying, Fearless!"
"Don, cut him off!"
"Working on it!"
Raphael felt the crisp fall air sting his pacing breaths as he slid town the fourth fire escape. His body pushing against time itself while his mind felt like it was running in circles. Every gut instinct was screaming at him to find and face Bishop. After what he had done to his brothers, Bishop was the only target he was set on hunting. Instead, he's crouching behind an abandoned apartment complex fire escape waiting for Leo's signal to grab Mikey. Above, he could see Leo jumping over to reach the rooftop.
"Stop!" Raphael could hear Leo's voice over the howling winds, immediately beginning to make his way to the top of the roof. The closer he got, he could hear Donnie cry out, "It's just us! We don't want to hurt you!"
Peering his head over the corner, Raphael watched as Leonardo began approaching Mikey with Donnie cornering him on this right. If Mikey were trying to get away, he'd book it right to him. He had to be ready, prepared. But Raph found himself scoping the surrounding area. If Mikey's here, Bishop is nearby. He's using Mikey, we can't let him think he's got the upper hand. Clicking on his new earpiece, he whispered, "Leo, if Bishop's around here. I can-."
"I said no," Leo said in almost a whisper, quick to raise his voice again. "Mikey, stop running. It's us. Remember?"
Raphael could barely hear Donnie even through his earpiece. Softly, he could hear how hurt his younger brother was. "Mikey, let me help you. Come home, okay? We'll just go home. Or the farmhouse, we don't have to stay here-."
"I can't!" The sound of weapons clashing was his signal to begin moving. Waiting until he saw Mikey's back completely turned, Raphael carefully pounced up behind him.
"Enough, already!" Raphael cried out, wrapping his arm around his neck. "Come on! Stop fighting!"
"Let go!" Mikey was fast enough to elbow Raph fast enough before kicking him off and running off in the other direction.
"Damn it!" Raph cursed, quickly recovering. Leo and Donnie caught up with him, giving him a short but irritated look. "He's trying to keep this goose chase running!"
"Come on, we can't lose him!" Leo barked, already running over to the next rooftop.
/./././././././././././././././././././
Mikey has no problem showing what he was feeling. Happy, sad, energized, tried, hungry—Anything that had a facial and vocalized reaction, he had it. He showed it, with no shame. I respected that about him. The ability to just expresses yourself in your own way. Something we all kind of struggled with.
Training taught us to remain vigilant, still like the waters—unmoved, flowing through. I remember Splinter once telling us that
I can't remember the last time I ever saw Leo cry. I've seen tears swell up when he broke his ankle when we began training as kids. I remember seeing his eyes gloss over when Raphael was really sick. He has this look, a somber way of letting himself lock away his own pain. And for him, that was enough. Maybe he was too busy comforting Mikey from his nightmares, or me from blaming myself for making a mistake. Or being hardened enough for Raphael to take him more seriously. Leo was always closest with Splinter, maybe confiding in him gave him enough support. But, not usually from us. Or in front of us, for that matter.
Me? It was usually the toaster that did it for me. I was easily frustrated as a kid, and quickly locked it off to myself. I just wanted to grab anything that I didn't know and understand why, figure out what makes it tick. Where did it come form? What can I learn from it? I worked myself hard enough to the point when I'd get so overwhelmed I'd end up just grunting at the walls and working myself up to the point of anxiety and migraines. Luckily, for me, everyone knew when I was almost reaching that point.
Raphael would dunk me in sewer water before admitting he got teary-ended during "The Fox and the Hound", throwing popcorn at the screen and yelling about how terrible the old "hag" was for abandoning the fox. Luckily Mikey fell asleep during the movie and Leo didn't notice, leaving me to be the one with the actual threat of being dunked if I ever repeated what I saw to the others.
It wasn't a second thought for Mikey to just let out whatever he was feeling. Which made it strange after his return from keeping his title as Battle Nexus Champion. I expected cheers, shouts, gloating to the point of irritation, enthusiasm—anything but the silence as he retreated to his room for the rest of the day. At the time, we didn't pick up on it at first. Leo was still struggling through his own demons, Raph needed his space, and I just wanted a breather away from all the chaos that surely finds it's way to us.
So we did our own separate thing. Something Leo got really good at the time. I didn't blame him, neither did Mikey—I had a glimpse at the weight he carries. I just wish I could have done better to support him through it. Raph went topside with Casey, he too was growing more frustrated with Leo's new demeanor.
Leaving me to pick up whatever pieces I could. Mikey was always the easiest to start with, I figured I'd get the ball rolling. Mike was in his usual spot in his room—curled up on his bean-bag chair with one of his comics. He didn't pay much attention to my entrance, keeping his eyes glued to the pages. I noticed his medal was tucked away under a pile of comics. Ever since his trophy was destroyed from Karai's invasion, I figured that would earn it's place right above the T.V. Why would he burry it away? I let it go, assuming he probably just tossed it aside to read. But he didn't have much of a reaction to me anyway.
"Hey!" I perked, sitting at the edge of his bed. "What are you doing in here? I figured you'd be pumped to make your noodle-spectacular to celebrate or your specialty pizza! April picked up the stuff and everything."
"Not really feeling a celebration, bro." Mikey turned a page of his comic. Shrugging, his voice dropped low. "Leftovers are fine."
Mikey's guilt trips usually got me, but I figured I'd take a spin at it to get him to talk. "But, April just bought all the ingredients for you! Casey and Leatherhead were going to come too- you wouldn't dare subject them to Chinese leftovers!"
"Then just do pizza, okay? I thought you were supposed to be fixing the shell-cycle before Raph freaks." Mikey's short, not-so-sweet, answers were alarming enough. When Mikey's hung around Raph too much as a kid to pick up some of his habits—especially when he's upset. Although neither would admit it.
"Okay," Snatching the comic from his hand definitely got his attention. Using my slight height advantage, I raised it high. "Stop dismissing me. What's going on?"
"Really, D?" Mikey huffed, jumping up from his chair he held out his hand. "Not cool. Can I have it back now?"
"Not until you tell me why you've been isolating yourself since we came home." Tilting my head over to his pile of comics, I gestured to the medal. "Or why you're hiding that—it's like super old, by the way. It'll do no good there. You don't want to hang it?"
"No." Mikey's demeanor dropped, finally giving up on the chase and settling back down in his chair.
"Why not?"
"You guys were right…It doesn't really mean anything. It's stupid, and I shouldn't have been rubbing it in your faces. It's nothing to brag about, really. Plus, that totally gave me some mega bad karma so…Yeah."
"Okay, I'm not gonna lie, maybe the first time was a little much." I shrugged, sitting next to him. "But you earned it this time. You won on your own, even with all the odds against you. I think that's pretty cool."
"It wasn't like that," Mikey shook his head, quick to shut me down. His eyes glued to the floor. "I wasn't thinking about winning. I wanted to stop him before…Like, I tried really hard but he was just too strong. Something snapped, right before he was about to finish me off. I had to do something before…"
"Before?" I pushed, hoping he'd spill. "Before what?"
"He was going to kill you guys." The air felt thin, as his face fell. "That's what he told me. Once he got rid of me, he was going to go after you guys. I couldn't let that happen, I wouldn't allow him to. I figured at first, well if I'm still kicking he'd have to get through me first, right? And then just like that- Bam. I felt like Captain America when he found out Bucky was still alive. Something just snapped, and all I can think about was how I couldn't let him get near you guys. Not because of me."
"And you didn't," I reminded him, lightly elbowing him. "You won, remember? Not because of dumb luck, or fate. You had it in you the whole time, and when it came down to it—you did the right thing. You had the choice to end it your way, and you let him live."
"I was scared, though." Mikey admitted, shrugging from embarrassment. "I knew I was done for. But that didn't matter, I really didn't care. But the thought of him coming after you guys, that's what, did it. It wasn't noble, or anything like that. It just….was. I kind of get why Leo's been really low lately…I didn't really think about it from his side, until now. Maybe that's why he helped me, because he knew what it was like facing against someone stronger than you…"
"But you had something Kluh didn't. Something to fight for."
"Yeah…." Suddenly he busted out into laughter. I was taken back at first, immediately wondering if I said something wrong. He smiled at me, "Geez, D. You're mega sappy right now."
"What? Me?" I couldn't help but laugh with him. There was no meaning, no purpose for besides for being the sake of the present. We laughed forever, a feeling we haven't really had at home for a while. I got back up on my feet, reaching for the medallion. "Come on, shell-for-brains. Let's put this back over the T.V."
"Hey, Donnie?" Mikey waited until he had my attention to continue, "Thank you. For believing in me. Even though you, Raph, and Sensei totally ditched me and don't think I didn't see you and Raph laugh when I got those first few hits in!"
"Oh come on!" I wrapped my arm around his neck, "How was I supposed to know Kluh sabotaged the area?"
We continued our banter for the rest of night, eventually ending over a competitive game of Mario Kart. It was one of the only nights the four of us were laughing and smiling in a room together. Even Leo, who still sat in the corner, chuckled a few times during our commentary. It was just a small breath of fresh air during the toughest times.
It's the moments like these that I put my faith in.
I just hope it's enough.
/././././././././././././././././././././
It was my job, even then, to make sure everything was going according to plan. Even if it wasn't my order, or my responsibility—it always is. All the regrets and doubts clouded my mind. It was Donnie's desperate look that brought me back as he clenched the broken board in his arms.
"Guys?" Donnie called, quickly running toward us. "Mikey's not in his room! I-I think he must have ran off or something! We have to get him back!"
"There's a storm tonight," Splinter said-as-matter-of-factly, worry flooding his voice. "If Michelangelo wanders too far he could accidently end up outside of the safe zones. He must be home before it gets worse."
"Then what are we waiting for?!" Raphael impatiently exclaimed, already running out the door.
"Wait!" Donnie called out to him, holding onto the board as he reached for his backpack. "Raph, take a flashlight! I-I should get the map we made-!" His voice faded as he followed swiftly behind.
"Leonardo," Splinter's firm grip caught my shoulder. His voice was gentle, as he knelt down in front of me. He looked guilty for a moment, almost unsure. "Sometimes our focus is so narrow, we forget the world around us. Do not lose sight of your surroundings, regardless how badly you want to believe you are right, and true."
"Leo! We have to go!" Raph's voice snapped be back to reality. "Now!"
"I know! Sensei-!" I pulled from his grasp, feeling every ounce of anxiety pound in my chest. "I-I gotta go!"
"I know. Be safe, my sons." Sensei sighed, watching as I ran off to join the others. I looked back one last time, watching as remained still.
I never understood why he had to stop me right then, knowing Mikey could possibly be wandering into danger. Was he trying to clear my head?
It didn't matter then, but maybe he was trying to tell me something after all...
/./././././././././././././././././././././
Splinter regained enough strength, struggling to steady his stance. His mind, and heart, still weighed him from the experience that weakened him. Gripping his staff tightly, he shook past his dizzy gaze. Reaching across the table for his shell-cell he quickly pushed the dial to reach Leonardo.
His head grew light again. Splinter clutched the nearest chair, collapsing into it. Allowing the dial tone to drown out his heaviness within him. Splinter cursed himself for not staying another moment longer. He understood the risk of staying any longer, but that didn't silence his sorrow as he waited for seemed like decades for any sign of hope.
"Sensei?!" Leonardo's voice shook Splinter back into reality. Leonardo's voice shouted over the winds, "Are you okay? What-?"
"My son," Splinter gasped, fighting through the wave of dizziness. Taking a shaky breath, Splinter forced himself to remain composed. "Leonardo, the more Michelangelo resists you the worse Bishop inflicts him pain. You must find a way to subdue him without getting yourself or your brothers hurt."
"Got it!"
Splinter heard the line cut off, leaving him with nothing but a prayer and hope for the safety of his family.
/././././././././././././././././././././././
Once he was close enough, he quickly tackled his youngest brother to the ground. Using his metallic limb, he quickly pinned his hand down. "Mikey! Let me help you!"
"Get off!" Mikey resisted, kicking Leo square in the jaw. As Leo stumbled back, Mikey reached for his katana. Jumping back onto his feet, he immediately went on the defense as Donnie attacked.
"Leo!" Raphael quickly stepped over to Leo, helping him back on his feet as Donnie continued to approach Mikey. "What did-?"
"We can't hurt him. Splinter said Bishop is somehow manipulating him somehow." Leo quickly responded, watching Donnie block one of Mikey's attacks. "Maybe he manipulated the suit. We got to get that helmet off of him."
"I don't think he'll fall again for another sneak attack, Leo. We got to find Bishop! He's the one whose-!"
"I know- Mikey," Leo softly spoke, his katana still gripped in one hand while holding up his other. "I know Bishop is making you do this to us. We want to help you, but you have to stop resisting us. Don't make me hurt you to stop you."
"You can't."
/./././././././././././././././././././././
April lead the group, armed with Donnie's flashlight, down the dull hallway. "His office is at the end of the hall. With the power out we should be able to-." Ajar, the door to Goldburg's office revealed complete chaos. Paperwork scattered all over the room, chairs and tables flipped over. "Someone got here before we did-?"
"Or someone was trying to leave, quick." Casey noted, arming himself he gently pushed April aside to step in the room first. "Again with the convenience, but it a look like his laptop is still—oh shit. Shit. April, stay back."
April gasped, finding the deceased body of Dr. Goldburg lying beside his office desk. April looked away, hanging her head. "Oh my—D-Do you think Bishop came here first?"
"Possibly, but you see." Karai felt no reaction as she knelt beside the body, carefully examining it. "Strangled. Given the distinctive markings, it seems our dear Hun arrived here first. At least 24 hours."
"Hun?" Casey hissed, "Thought the dragons were backing out of this operation."
"As did I…Quick," Handing a pair of black gloves to April, she returned to her side. "Put these on. Don't want fingerprints left behind on this. There must be something left behind."
April nodded, quickly typing frantically. "Right. Just give me a minute."
"Looks like Bishop didn't want any lose ends." Casey noted, looking back over to Karai. "So, what does that make you?"
"We shall see, won't we?" Karai crossed her arms.
"I'm in! It looks like he's been keeping track of his work with Bishop. It was approved, and everything. Most likely why Bishop had him eliminated. Everything's still in the hard drive—the creation of the serum, reports of previous test subjects, tracking the turtles. Goldburg had it all here. It looks like they're trying to change the serum into a toxin—like a gas to release. Wait, what are these?" April mused as she began opening files, "Coordinates? These are major city areas…Are these…bombs?"
"Not explosive," Karai shook her head, pointing at the bottom of the screen. "Toxin. Nerve toxins. It appears Bishop graduated from sedatives to viral infections."
"Wait, this is Raph's suit." April panicked, quickly skimming through the report. "Oh my god. It's not just a suit—it's a bomb. It has-!"
"I don't get it! What's this mean-?" Casey frantically exclaimed, "You can't mean-!"
"Michelangelo is not just luring the turtles," Karai's eyes widened, "he is the trap. If they break that suit open or try to take him out of it-."
April gasped, taking a step back away from the screen. "Oh my god, if they do enough damage to it, it'll be released into the air—infecting anyone and everyone near them. Including the guys!"
"And Bishop can do it in a touch of a button." Karai dully noted, looking back over at April. "We may be too late…"
"No, no, no." Casey was already shaking as he began dialing Leo on his shell-cell. "Pick up the damn phone, Leo! Come on! Fuck! Come on, somebody answer their phone!"
/./././././././././././././././././././././
"Pick up the katana and attack. Now."
Michelangelo found himself trembling as he carefully picked up Leonardo's katana and holding it outward. He found himself counting his blessings for having his brothers unable to see his reactions. Faking it until you make it, that's what Donnie used to say when he would patch up Raphael as a kid. Maybe that could be enough to make it through. Mikey helplessly watched as Raphael helped Donnie back on his feet, Leo immediately stepping in front of them—as he should. His mind frantically racing as he began to slowly back away from his family, quickly looking back to find himself already at the edge of the building.
"Attack Leonardo. Now. If you disobey me, your family will suffer from your hand."
"Nowhere else to run, Mikey." Mikey felt the sting of hurt in Leo's voice. Quickly it was that of intimidation. "You want a fight? Fine. Leave my family out of it, okay? Bishop's making you play games, then you're playing in my court. You and me, one on one. You win, you do whatever you want. If I win, I'll take Mikey's place. Does that work—Bishop?"
"Hm. Predicable, yet honorable. Honorable, indeed."
"You've done enough to him! I will not hurt him." Leonardo shouted, quickly scanning the area before locking his eyes back with the empty mask. Throwing his single katana on the ground, he kicked it over to Mikey. "I know you're fighting this, Michelangelo. You hesitated when you could have hurt Donnie, you have yet to go after me now. You want to come after me, then do it. But I will not let you use my brother against me!"
"No. They must strike you! Make them fight you!"
"My son, trust in yourself. Trust in your family. They will understand, let them help!"
"I trust you," Mikey spoke, barely in a whisper. He was tired, physically, mentally, and emotionally. He wanted it to end. If it means putting trust in his own family to do it for him, then so be it. Like waking up from a deep slumber, he slowly felt himself become more energized. More alive—more himself. "I-I won't hurt my family, Bishop." Like ripping a Band-Aid, before the electrical current could shock him. He reached to take off the helmet.
And it was in that very moment that his very being was stolen.
/././././././././././././././././././././././././
Raphael steadily helped Donnie back on his feet, watching Leo cautiously step forward. "Any ideas, Donnie?"
"I think-." Donatello felt his shell-cell vibrate; he hesitantly reached into his duffle bag and flipped it open. Whispering, "Casey?"
"Don! Mike's suit contains the toxin! B-Bishop is trying to infect you guys! Don't damage the-!" The line suddenly cut off.
"MIKEY!" Donnie desperately cried, pushing out of Raphael's grip. "Don't take that off-!"
Static echoed into the phone line, then immediately to their earpieces. A dull, monotone voice eerily spoke. "A cage went in search of a bird. But now the bird is gone. The bird has changed (1)."
And in that moment everything clicked in Donnie's mind. The distraction, the purpose of the Nightwatcher's suit, Bishop's plans—Bishop got what he wanted. Mikey was the trap. Donnie jumped out of Raph's grasp as he began bolting toward his brothers, desperately shouting, "Leo! MOVE! The suit has toxin! We can't be near-!"
Right as he cried out, a flash zoomed past him and Raphael and narrowly passing through Leo. The flash ended right into the Nightwatcher's chest plate. A long arrow stuck right in the center of the plate, appearing to be heavily metallic and armed. Bulletproof, Donnie mentally praised Raphael for thinking of it. Mikey, miraculously, appeared to somehow stand his ground as he desperately gripped the arrow to remove it. Suddenly the arrow began electrocuting the entire suit, creating small cracks around the armor.
"Mikey-!" Leo instinctively stepped forward. Don quickly tackled Leo, beginning to pull him away. "Don! What are you-?!"
"It has a toxic gas- you'll get infected!" Donnie pleaded, struggling to keep Leo back. Quickly looking over at Raphael, he remained frozen in place. His eyes widened with panic, desperately looking over at them for what to do.
Everything was moving too fast for him. Mikey's screams made Leo fight harder, Raphael snapping back into reality, and Donnie desperately trying to keep his family together.
"I won't let you!" Donnie watched in horror as his little brother somehow managed to remove the mask off his head, and with it threw himself off the building—straight into the river.
/./././././././././././././././././././././
