Hi this is an AU called "knock knock but nobody's home"
its based on a what if
what if the brothers had failed to keep Mikeys inner self safe during the episode "journey to the center of Mikey's mind"
anyway enjoy :)
Leo walks into the living room of the spaceship carrying two slices of pizza on a plate.
He sees Mikey sitting on the floor, staring out the window, the stars reflecting in his empty eyes.
Leo sits down next to him and gently nudges him with his elbow.
"Hey, Mikey. You hungry?" He asks softly, his voice filled with concern.
Mikey slowly turns his head towards Leo, his expressionless eyes meeting Leo's concerned gaze.
He nods slowly, then looks back out the window.
Leo hands the plate of pizza to Mikey, who takes a piece and begins to eat it slowly.
After a few bites, Leo tries to engage him in conversation.
"So... how are you feeling, bro?" He asks, his voice gentle.
Mikey doesn't answer.
Leo didn't expect him to, really.
He'd been like this for about a week now.
Mikey didn't laugh or smile, he didn't read his comic books anymore, he didn't play pranks or joke around.
He still did stuff, but it was like... he was a robot, not like Mikey.
Leo sighs and leans against the wall, watching his brother carefully.
"I miss you, Mikey." He says softly. "I wish we had saved you."
Mikey stops eating and looks at Leo.
He swallows hard and nods slowly, then turns back to the window.
Leo leans his head against Mikey's shoulder, a single tear forming in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Mikey. I'm so sorry." He whispers, his voice barely audible.
"I wish I could have saved you."
He feels a lump forming in his throat, threatening to make his voice crack.
Mikey continues to stare out the window, the stars blurring together in his vision.
Leo takes a shaky breath and wipes his eyes, trying to be strong for Mikey.
He knows that Mikey wouldn't want him to be upset, but it's hard.
It's been hard for everyone since they lost their home, their father and had to come here, but Mikey... Mikey had always been the light in their darkest times.
And now he was gone.
Leo still remembers the day they had lost him the memory fresh in his mind,
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Leo found Mikey's inner self, and held him close, trying to protect him from the invaders.
His every move was gentle and caring, as if he were cradling a fragile flower.
But even his best efforts couldn't shield Mikey's inner self from the relentless onslaught.
"Mikey... Mikey... please hang on. We're here to help you. Just hang on." Leo's voice was soft and reassuring, his eyes filled with concern.
He held Mikey's inner self close to him, trying to shield him from the invaders.
The little turtles' eyes were wide with fear, his tiny body shaking. He clung to Leo, his grip weakening.
"Donnie, Raph, we need to get Mikey to safety. We can't stay here any longer."
Donatello nodded in agreement.
They began to make their way through the chaos, trying to find a safe exit.
Suddenly, a powerful shock wave hit them, sending them all flying. Leo tried to shield Mikey's inner self, but he couldn't hold onto him in the midst of the commotion.
Leo struggled to his feet, his movements slow and labored.
He looked around frantically, searching for any sign of their youngest brother.
"Leo... Raph... Donnie..." The little turtle's voice was weak and raspy, barely audible over the sound of the invading neutrinos.
"Mikey! Mikey, where are you?" Leo looked around frantically, desperate to find his brother. Suddenly, he spotted something lying on the ground nearby. It was Mikey's inner self, still alive.
Leo started running over to him as fast as he could.
He wasn't fast enough.
A neutrino emerged from the shadows
It moved silently, its movements graceful and deadly.
Before Leo or Raph could react, the neutrino plunged its laser sword into Mikey's back. There was a sharp cry of pain as the blade pierced his tiny body, and blood began to seep from the wound.
"No! Mikey, no!" Leo cried
He tried to reach out to him, but it was too late.
The neutrino yanked the blade out of his brother.
Leo ran and scooped Mikey up in his arms.
Blood was pouring from the wound, and Mikey's tiny body went limp in his grasp.
"Leo... I'm sorry..." Mikey gasped, his voice weak and hoarse.
Blood bubbled up from his lips as he spoke, staining the ground beneath him.
"No, Mikey! You didn't do anything wrong! It's not your fault!" Leo cried, tears streaming down his face.
He cradled Mikey's limp body in his arms, rocking back and forth as he tried to comfort him.
"Leo, we can't stay here any longer! We gotta get to safety!" Raph yelled over as the world around them started to crumble.
His voice was harsh and urgent, but there was an underlying note of fear and desperation.
"April Now!" Donnie called.
Suddenly, they were sucked back into the real world, the dream world fading away as they found themselves back in the spaceship.
The glow of the technological devices cast strange shadows across the floor.
Mikey's real body lay limp on the ground in front of them, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to breathe.
Leo knelt beside him, shaking his shoulder urgently. "Mikey! Mikey, wake up!" he cried.
Raph knelt down beside him, concern etched on his face.
Raph gently slapped Mikey's cheek. "Hey, baby brother, wake up!" he said, his voice filled with worry.
Mikey slowly opened his eyes, but they were dull and blank, devoid of life.
He struggled to focus on his brothers.
"Mikey, you're okay. You're back with us now." Leo said, his voice shaking as he tried to comfort his brother.
He looked at Raph, his own eyes filled with tears.
"He's okay, Raph. He's going to be okay."
Leo knew that was a lie.
Something was wrong.
Mikey showed no emotion, his eyes blank and lifeless.
Leo couldn't help but feel a knot in his stomach as he watched his brother struggle to focus on them.
He wanted to believe himself, wanted to believe Mikey would be okay, but something inside him just knew it wasn't true.
Mikey was alive. But it was as if he were a shell, a husk of the lively, vibrant turtle they had once known.
Everything that made Mikey, Mikey, was gone. His personality, his smile, the life in his eyes, all gone.
He was just a body,
moving through the world on autopilot.
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Leo sighs, his heart heavy with guilt and pain.
"I wish I could have saved you, Mikey. I should have been stronger. I should have found a way. But I didn't, and now you're... gone."
His voice breaks on the last word, and he feels a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over.
Mikey turns to look at his crying older brother and he reaches out and puts a hand on his shoulder.
There's no warmth or life in the touch, but it's something.
Leo looks up at his brother, hope flickering in his eyes.
"Mikey..." he whispers, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I love you, man. So much."
Mikey's hand on his shoulder feels like a weight, but it's comforting too.
Leo leans into it, feeling a small measure of relief wash over him. He wipes his eyes and takes a deep, shaky breath, forcing himself to be strong for his brother.
"I'm gonna find a way to get you back." he whispers, " I promise."