The brothers were silent as they followed after Raph. Mikey could have easily kept up, but something made him hesitate. His brothers had refused to talk about anything since they returned home, and Mikey knew they needed to. He needed to. They would be lying if they said that the last few months hadn't changed them in fundamental ways. It was hard to face, but Mikey knew that he no longer felt like the same scared, unsure kid who first went topside with his bros. He'd gained something on the farm during their spiritual retreat, a confidence and focus that he was still learning to work with. They all had gained something that day, and it had left them spinning out and unsure of Splinter's role in their lives now.

"Well, my night just got better!"

Raph's voice broke through his thoughts. He slid to a stop beside his older brother, before looking where his finger was pointing. Squinting, he made out the shadows in the alley that were moving quickly.

"What… what are they even doing?" Donnie's voice was confused. Mikey could understand that. From what he could see, it didn't look like a robbery, as none of the shadows were carrying anything.

"Does it matter?" Raph growled; green eyes lit up at the prospect of a fight. "I say we kick some shell and ask questions later!" His hands eagerly grasped his Sai, even as he stood his ground.

He may have argued with Leo earlier, but he was still the leader, and Raph had made a promise to himself on the farm, to try and follow his brother more. Well, sometimes at least.

Casting a glance at the oldest, he waited impatiently for him to say something. Ever since their argument, Leo had hung back from the rest of them. Quietly following them, and looking so much like a lost puppy, it made Raph's heart clench. He hadn't meant to hurt his brother; he just wanted him to open up and admit to being confused like the rest of them. His temper had taken over like always, and he'd hurt his brother. At Raph's exclamation, he had sped up and come to a stop beside Mikey. He silently observed the situation for a moment before speaking.

"It doesn't look like a robbery," he began. At Raph's glare, he hurried to finish his sentence, "Still, I think we should check it out. Be careful, let's go stealth mode on this and follow them for a bit. Maybe we can find out what they are doing before we start any fights."

He kept his face neutral as he made eye contact with Raph. He could see the war play out on his brother's face. Raph loved to fight; he didn't need a reason, but Leo wasn't blind. He knew that his younger brother was trying his hardest to be part of the team and be less hot-headed. He didn't want to make it harder for his brother, but his gut told him something was off about this situation.

"Ninja mode activated yo," Mikey's voice jarred Leo and Raph out of their staring contest. Raph nodded slightly to acknowledge the plan. He wasn't a fan of it, but he also felt odd about the situation.

"Ninja mode? Guess that means we gotta leave you behind then Mikey," Raph smirked at his brother before stepping back from the edge of the roof.

"Hey!" Ignoring his protesting brother, Raph turned back to Leo and waited for him to make a move. In the corner of his eye, he could see Donnie sigh and grab their youngest brother's shell, pulling him away from the ledge. His loud protest could have attracted the attention of whoever was in the shadows. Mikey smiled sheepishly at Donnie as he let himself get dragged to the middle of the roof.

"Sorry D. Ninja mode… activated now," he said as he pretended to zip his mouth closed.

"So, what's the plan fearless leader?" Raph asked as he watched Mikey's drama.

"Let's move a bit further away. Then split up into two teams, that way we can follow them from both sides and see what they are up to," Leo directed. At his brothers' nod of approval, he felt a bit better. Something felt off with this situation, but if they didn't feel uncomfortable splitting up, maybe it wasn't as serious as he thought.

"Ok. Mikey, Raph, backtrack a bit," he put up a hand as Raph predictably opened his mouth to argue. "Cross the roofs until you are on the other side of them. Move fast, we don't know when they will take off. Make sure your T-phones are all turned on silent, but keep them close. Radio us if you need anything."

With a huff, Raph grabbed Mikey by the arm and darted off, chuckling darkly as the younger turtle was pulled off balance by the sudden movement. Mikey squeaked out a protest before getting his footing back and lunging after his older brother. Leo watched them play-fight until the shadows swallowed them, before turning back to Donnie. "Ok, let's go see what these guys are up to,"

As they ran across the rooftops together, Raph was a little surprised by his brother's silence. Mikey was the kind of ninja that seemed impossible to exist. Loud, cheerful, and energetic. Even in fights, Raph never had to worry too much about his brother. He was always easy to locate due to the amount of sheer noise he managed to make. It was when Mikey was quiet that Raph started to worry.

He wasn't good at communicating, something his brothers took great joy in pointing out. It wasn't that he didn't care, he just didn't know how to… care. Luckily, Mikey was never one to hesitate to spill whatever was on his mind.

"Hey Raph…" the smaller turtle began hesitantly. Raph grunted in response. "When you sneak out, why do you do it bro?"

His question pulled Raph up short. Why was the kid asking about that?

"Huh? I sneak out because I want to go topside. Duh" he knew his voice sounded annoyed, but it was a dumb question. Mikey stopped beside him.

"I know that" he rolled his eyes. "I mean, why do you sneak out alone? You never ask any of us to go with you. Do you think we all like being stuck in the sewers?"

Raph had never felt more lost. "Can ya imagine if I asked Fearless to go sneak out with me unless there is a serious mission? He'd blow a gasket"

Mikey snickered at that but stayed quiet. Squinting at his little brother, Raph huffed before turning his brother to face him directly. "Why are ya asking these questions, Mikey?"

Mikey looked down quickly and began to play with his fingers. 'He's nervous' Raph realized. What did his brother have to say that would make him this uncomfortable? He was getting worried and pissed. "Out with it little brother" he demanded.

As though a dam had broken, Mikey's words rushed out. "I don't know Raph. I always wanted you to ask me to go out with you sometimes, but I thought you just needed to be alone so I never asked. Then Casey came along and you were seriously happy to go topside with him bro, so I thought maybe you just didn't like us as much," he refused to make eye contact with Raph, so he missed the pained look that crossed his brother's face. "Then the Kraang invaded, and we went to the farm, and suddenly, we were all together again. After Leo woke up, it was even better. You didn't run away as often bro, like you could finally breathe and just be okay. And… and I feel like the worst turtle on earth," he said guiltily, "because I missed Master Splinter, but I miss the freedom and the comfortableness we all had on the farm!" As though he had unloaded weeks of tension off his chest, his shoulders slumped.

Raph needed to process it all. Gently bumping his shoulder against Mikey's, he began to jog again. Mikey quietly followed, but he wasn't upset. He knew his older brother processed things better with motion. After a few moments, Raph spoke up.

"Mikey," he said softly, "When I go topside with Casey, it isn't because I don't like you guys." He glanced at his younger brother to make sure his words were heard. Mikey's wide eyes assured him they were. Ducking his head from that open expression, he continued.

"Remember when we were on the farm, and we came and went without anyone saying a word?"

Mikey nodded.

"That… that freedom is something I've always needed. I… I don't know how to explain it, but it… it was…"

"It was the first time we felt like equals, and not just like kids. Brothers." Mikey interjected softly. Raph shot a surprised glance at his brother. Sometimes he forgot how observant Mikey could be when he wanted to be.

"Exactly."

"Raph," Mikey's voice had softened to a whisper. If they weren't Ninja, Raph may not have been able to hear it. "I was annoyed when Master Splinter hesitated to let us go out tonight," he confessed. "I know we are only teenagers, but dude, WE saved NY. WE saved Master Splinter. We lived alone for months. And he..."

"He hesitated. I know Mikey it pissed me off too," Raph said just as softly. He was surprised that his laid-back brother had felt the same irritation at that as he had. For the first time in his life, he wondered if he had lost track of who his little brother was. In his anger and frustration over the years, he'd never considered that maybe his energetic brother also felt stifled by the rules and fears that Splinter raised them with. Mikey was careless and carefree, but of all the brothers, he was the one who enjoyed socializing and being around people the most. It made sense that he would feel trapped in the sewers at times. Especially when his older brothers were always occupied with their own things. The realization made his fists clench.

"For the record Mikey, I always want my little brother with me," he said fiercely. "Casey is cool and all, but he's not my brother. If you get your shell kicked with us though, you're on your own," he tossed in teasingly. Mikey's face lit up. Raph relaxed a bit seeing his cheerfulness coming back. Maybe he needed to make more effort with his brothers, if Mikey felt unwanted then he had failed as an older brother. The kid could be annoying as hell sometimes, but he was still Raph's brother and best friend.

"Awwww Raphie," Mikey ruined it one moment later.

"Don't call me that!" he growled. Mikey's eyes widened before he took off. Smirking Raph cracked his muscles, before lunging after his annoying little brother.