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minumi-chan · 6 months

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Words You Didn’t Say - Ch. 3

Read on A03

Rated: G

Summary: “Purple, we have never needed a map to go trick o'treating before. Is this really necessary--”

“That is because I have been gathering all the data since year one!! And after proper analysis, I have created for us-- pause for dramatic effect-- the optimal route to obtain the highest quantity and caliber of candy for our consumption on this old Hallow’s Eve--”

“I thought it was Halloween?” Mikey interjects with a raised hand.

Previous: Ch. 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ten years old...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Candy bags?”

“Check!!” Mikey bounces on the balls of his feet in excitement, the too big homemade chef’s hat on his head sliding over his eyes for a moment.

“Costumes?”

“Cheeeckity check!” Leo singsongs and models his blue unicorn onesie proudly.

“And now, the pièce de résistance!”

“The pee-yeh do what now?” Raph scratches his head in confusion, only to freeze at the sound of his Ghostbear wrestling costume ripping on the spikes of this shell at the movement. His father clicks his tongue softly as he uses a safety pin to secure it. Raphael smiles wide up at him and Splinter pats his eldest on the head, adding another pin for good measure.

"Oh, I'm so glad you asked-- Gentlemen!!" Donnie’s voice echoes down the sewer tunnel as he pauses to look judgmentally at their father in his obviously low-budget replica of a Lou Jitsu costume, and clears his throat, "Ahem, and Pápa... here’s the plan--”

“Eugh boy, here we go--” Leo crosses his arms and rolls his eyes, ignoring his twin’s glare. The effect is somewhat ruined by the floppy antenna and googly eyed glasses Donnie wears for his alien costume anyway.

Donnie taps on his phone screen for several seconds until each of their devices in turn chime with a notification.

Leo glances briefly at the notification but is almost immediately distracted by Mikey tilting his phone one way then the other, trying (and failing) to make sense of the map their brother just sent to them. His chef's hat is slipping off his head with the movement, so Leo pulls it up for him and pokes his cheek. The youngest swats at him with a giggle, while Raphael shows their father how to open his own map on his chipped phone screen.

“Purple, we have never needed a map to go trick o'treating before. Is this really necessary--”

“That is because I have been gathering all the data since year one!! And after proper analysis, I have created for us-- pause for dramatic effect -- the optimal route to obtain the highest quantity and caliber of candy for our consumption on this old Hallow’s Eve--”

“I thought it was Halloween?” Mikey interjects with a raised hand.

“Yes, that is the colloquial term, Michael,” Donnie hits a button on his phone and proudly projects the map onto the tunnel wall, fingers tracing a purple colored line around several blocks with his hand. “Now if we start out here on--”

“Are you seriously going to make us stick to a map tonight? That takes all the fun out of it!” Leo groans, throwing his head back.

“Which is whyyy~” Donnie drawls in annoyance and hits another button. A blue line appears on the map with an alternative path. “I made two routes. We can split up and make this a little bit of a competition, what say you, Nardo?”

“Oh, oh, now I get it. You’re on!” Leo grins confidently. “I call Mikey!! Get ready to win this baby brother!!”

“Aww yeah!!” Mikey hops up and double high fives him, before climbing onto Leo's back with a devious grin.

“Wait a minute, boys!! Who said anything about splitting up--” Splinter crosses his arms, glancing briefly at his eldest, “I don’t want any of you getting lost. ”

“Pish posh, Pápa! That’s why I put trackers in our phones last year, remember?” Donnie reassures him with a wave of the device in hand, ��Plus if Raph’s with me, and I am, of course, the best map maker and reader here. Then no one’s getting lost on my watch. Those two on the other hand...”

Splinter grimaces, unable to disagree, and rummages quickly in the travel bag that clashes terribly with his costume. “Well, we also need to make sure Red has his--”

“Uh, Pops...” Raphael points towards the ladder on the far end of the tunnel, where Leonardo is already climbing topside with Mikey riding piggyback, “They’re leaving without you...”

“What-- Blue, Orange!! Wait for me!!” Splinter looks up bewildered and dashes after them, shouting over his shoulder, “Raphael, you’re in charge, do not let Purple get carried away!! And be back here by ten pm!!”

“How about Twelve pm?” Donnie barters, making Splinter turn around with a scolding look.

“Ten-thirty and that’s final.”

“What about eleven -thirty--” Don offers hopefully, the brows he painted on even over his costume raising.

“Daddy, hurry up!!” Mikey calls from the open manhole, and Splinter looks torn for a moment between his two sets of sons.

“We’ll be here at ten-thirty, Pops,” Raphael reassures as he pats Donnie’s head, and Splinter nods at him with a smile.

“See ya later when you’re calling us champions, buh bye~!!” Leo waves with a wink, backing out of the way only as their father reaches them. His mild reprimands are muffled as he replaces the manhole cover, leaving the other pair of turtles in the silence of the sewer tunnel.

Raphael looks at his little brother and grins wide as he hands him a pillowcase with the crooked stitched letters of his name, “Wanna make Leo-- what is it you always say-- eateth his words?”

“I love you so much , let’s do this!!” Donnie pumps his fists into the air, his cheer echoing down the tunnel along with Raphael’s laughter as they climb up the ladder to exit opposite of their brothers.

Topside, New York City is awash with light and sound, crisp cold air making both turtles shiver until they adjust. Raphael knelt on one knee and looked over his shoulder with an expectant smile.

“Navigator?”

Donnie nods enthusiastically and climbs his shell until he can find a comfortable perch to direct Raphael from. With his little brother in tow, he slinks out of the alley and merges with a crowd of children and several chaperones mingling down the sidewalks. They made their way towards a row of brownstones, where costumed adults sat out on their stoops ready to greet the trick o'treaters.

“Stay with this group till I say, Red King.”

“Red what?”

“It’s your codename. We’re on a mission to beat Nardo, remember?”

Raphael tilts his head back to peer at his little brother, “What’s yours then?”

“Huh?” Donnie scrunches his face as he looks up from his phone screen.

“Hmm, if I’m Red King, then,” Raph scratches at his cheek as he thinks on it, “Oh you should be Purple Knight!”

“How’d you know I was going for a chess theme?” When Raphael blinks at him after a long silent beat, Donnie purses his beak, “You’ve no idea what I’m talking about. Why’d you pick that then?”

“Cause Kings can’t fight their battles without knights right?” He smiles wide at his little brother over his shoulder, but Donatello just stares at him for an uncomfortably long time. “Uh, Dee? You good?”

Donnie doesn’t answer except to clamor further up Raph’s shell until his cold little beak tucks into his neck to chuff happily for a quick brief moment. Raph giggles at the puff of air and squirms as he shoves his little brother away to escape the cold tickling sensation, Donnie nudges his hand and chuffs again.

“Quit it!!” He’s still laughing breathlessly, “Which house first?”

“Follow the girl in the Red Fox costume, my liege!”

“On it!!” Raph picks up speed and melts seamlessly into the crowd of children heading for the house door.

House after house, they shout trick o'treat along with the gaggle of children they hide within as their pillow cases bloat with their sugary treasure. When their bags get heavy enough that Donnie whines about it, Raph carries them both for a while, trailing behind his little brother with a contented smile on his face as they follow his pre-planned route. It’s past ten o'clock when Donnie stops them on their way back to their rendezvous point to catch a selfie. Raphie imitates his favorite Ghostbear pose in the background, holding up their candy bags while Donnie smirks in front. He sends it to the group chat and types a quick baiting line to Leonardo.

________________

You Are Conversing With Donatello

10:10pm

>> What’s it feel like to be losing, Nardo?

NOT Twinnie (stop messing with my phone Nardo!!! 😡)

10:11pm

________________

>> i dunno

>> you tell me Dee...

Donatello looks at the screen confused at the reaction when his phone pings with a new photo message. Splinter grins between his two smirking sons, holding his own pillow case brimming with candy. His indignant squawk causes Raph to peek over his shoulder.

“What the heck, why’s Pops got a bag too?”

As if sensing the question, Donnie’s phone pings again.

________________

NOT Twinnie (stop messing with my phone Nardo!!! 😡)

10:13pm

Littlest 🍊 Brother

>> for sum reason ppl think dads a kid too and they LOVE his Lou Jitsu costume

>> ITS GREAT

10:13pm

>>（＾∀＾●）ﾉｼ

________________

“Well,” Raph sighs, and scratches at his throat, “We did want to get the most candy this year... it’s not like we can’t force them to share once we get home. Raph can at least pull all the purple ones out for ya from everybody’s stash...”

Trailing off as he talks around a chewy chocolate in his mouth, he drops several grape flavored candies and lollies into his little brother’s pillow case, then blinks down at the odd proportion of purple in their bags throughout the night.

“Wait a minute...” Raph clears his throat a little, “Did you make this map based on how much purple candy we could get in this neighborhood?”

“Dearest Raffala!!” Donnie exclaims with just a little too much flourish and not quite the right inflection, hand over heart, “I would never! ”

“You little!!” Raphael makes a grab for him but Donnie wriggles away before he can get a good grip. His little brother cackles as he scurries down the street and Raph clears his throat again before giving chase.

“I said we’d get the highest caliber candy here and I meant it!!” Donnie insists and squeaks as he squirms away just in time to avoid a well aimed tackle by his big brother. He laughs in triumph when Raph stumbles, sounding winded and shaking his head.

“Grape is not the highest alciber, Donnie!!” Raph yells, coughing slightly.

“Ca-Li-Ber!! And grape is arguably the least overwhelming flavor!!” He scrambles the rest of the way to their appointed meeting spot, turning with a laugh, and--

And Raphael is no longer chasing.

Donnie’s hands tighten their grip on his pillow case as he calls back nervously, “Raph?”

Padding back around the corner, he spots his brother. Raph has slowed to a weak shuffle under the streetlight. His ambling is so off kilter that his bulk bumps into a girl hard enough to knock her pumpkin basket out of her hand, spilling candy all over the sidewalk. Beside him the unknown child stomps her foot in frustration, yelling back.

“Hey!! That was rude!! Watch where you’re-- uh, hey... you don’t look so good. You okay?”

Raphael stumbles as he pulls off his Ghostbear mask with a desperate gasp for air, uncaring that he’s now left his very green, very inhuman face exposed. His cheeks are swollen and his eyes water as he trills a noise that has Donatello’s scales bristling with a shiver of anxiety. Scratching at his neck, Raph wheezes out a desperate sound, before his shaking knees give out and he falls to the ground. The human tries to catch his arm only to cry out in dismay when Raph’s bulk is too much to manage, and she nearly goes down with him.

“RAPH!” Donnie abandons his candy bag halfway in the scramble towards his ailing brother, slipping around the human girl to steady Raphael with hands on his shoulders.

“Hey, is this your brother? Oh boy... He’s not looking so good. Did you guys eat some bad candy? Um, where’s your parents? Can I help you find them?” the questions pile out of her mouth quick and nervous as she waves her hands around.

Cradling a swollen and quickly reddening face, Donnie chirps to his brother worriedly. Puffy eyes leak tears steadily as a developing rash crawls up Raph’s neck, and the inside of his arms. He coughs as he tries to clear his throat but only ends up wheezing harder. The crinkle of plastic attracts Donnie's attention towards a candy wrapper still in Raphael’s hand.

It’s clear with red stripes at the ends that get twisted shut like old fashioned cellophane candy wrappers. There’s no name and he doesn’t recognize what kind it is. Beside him, the girl is already looking in Raph’s pillowcase and she pulls out a small chocolate with a matching wrapper. The chocolate is unassuming with a golden colored top, slightly malformed from being banged around during their walk. There’s no label telling what it is, and the only strip of writing on the wrapper said Ohio chocolate company. She unwraps it and no sooner does the smell hit Donnie’s nose does he stiffen with cold dread.

“These have peanut butter-- Omigosh!! Is your brother allergic?!” The girl throws the candy away as if it burns.

“Raph-- How, how many of these did you have?” Donatello’s voice quivers as his mind buzzes with one thousand worst case scenarios, each one more gruesome than the next.

Raphael only manages a wheezy whine in return, scratching at his throat with another whimper.

Startling into action with a frantic chitter, Donnie rips his backpack off and digs into it, fingers shaking. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for in the main pocket he starts unzipping the smaller ones, nothing on the front compartment, or the side one-- nor his hidden pocket!! Where is--

Donnie’s blood runs cold as he realizes with perfect recall how his father reached into his bag to hand off the epi-pen.... only to get distracted into chasing after their brothers before the task was complete.

“No, no... no. Nonono --!” He lets out a panicked sob as he realizes he doesn’t have what they need, looking to his big brother with wide frightened eyes, and-- And Raph in spite of his state croons and nudges at him gently, his struggling breaths puffing against Donnie’s wet cheek, while his little brother trills frozen in fear.

“Yeah, I just pinged our location on the map. Hey, Raph, Donnie, I got your Dad on the line-- here. My Auntie lives in this building, I’ll be back in two shakes, hang on!!” She puts Raph’s large red phone on speaker and sets it beside them, and jets off before Donnie can protest. He has the distant absent thought to scold Raph later for not locking his phone screen.

“Raphael,” Splinter’s voice sounds urgent but calm, “We’re on our way and you will have medicine to make you feel better soon. Try to stay calm, both of you. Donatello, do you remember our first aid training?”

“Uh huh...” Donnie nods, though his father cannot see him.

“Think about that, my clever little one. We’re on our way. Blue, where are we on this thing--” His voice fades out as he pulls the phone away, no doubt to view the map and the call disconnects.

In the silence, Donnie tries to wrangle his spinning thoughts until Raphael coughs. And coughs, and coughs until it turns into a long wheeze, that has his big brother twisting in growing panic with a chittering desperate noise.

“Shh-- Raphie-- No, no--” Donnie curls around as much of his larger brother as he can to stop his panicked writhing, urging him to lie still. “We’re okay, we’re okay, we’re okay...”

His fervent whispers feel like a lie even to himself as he struggles to think.

Be firm and reassuring.

“We’re okay, Raph...” His voice trembles around the words, but he pets Raphael’s head.

Explain what is happening.

“Your body is having an allergic reaction. Your skin is forming a rash and you’re probably itchy all over right? It’s because your immune system doesn’t understand how to attack the allergen. It’s going haywire trying to stamp it out. That’s why the swelling is happening too... which is making it hard to breathe right now. Your heart rate is also probably increasing, so that’s, that’s making everything feel funny, and scary right?”

Raph whines and scratches at the reddening scales along his arms, coughing and huffing for breath that won’t come as he gets more agitated as panic sets in.

Encourage slow breathing.

“You-- We, we need to take deep breaths if we can, through your nose like this--” He does his best to demonstrate, flaring his nostrils wide on his beak and breathing in slowly.

Raphael sniffles around a scratchy whimper and tries, but his face is so swollen now and the inability to breathe through his nose in combination with the shallow puffs he tries to take through his mouth just send him into a tizzy, and he thrashes in as the air gets caught in his throat.

“Raph-- Raphie --” Donnie chokes out his brother’s name in his own growing anxiety.

Raphael coughs, and tries to imitate, but the air gets caught in his throat and when it won’t move, he flails with a frightened chirp that trills in his heaving chest. The sound reminds Donnie of when they were much much smaller, when Raph and Leo were still learning words he already understood clearly. He remembers crying with Leo and Mikey as their father tried to calm a three year old Raphael as their big brother coughed and cried out of breath after his first bite of their peanut butter cookies. Since that day their father was much more careful of the foods he scavenged for them, and what snacks the little turtles could have...

Turtles...

They were turtles!

Donatello gasps as an idea solidifies in his mind and he wraps his arms suddenly around his thrashing brother, holding as tight as he can, trilling urgently.

“Raphie, remember when we had our breath holding contest, and we freaked Dad and Mikey out with how long we could hold our breaths? Want to bet we could break our record? It’s okay if you can’t breathe right now, Raphie because... we’re merely holding our breath, okay? I’m going to do it with you now, and it’ll be okay...”

Donatello breathes in deeply and clamps his beak and nostrils shut, like when they go swimming. His hands shake as he signs.

[[Just like swimming. We are okay. Right?]]

He rubs the base of Raphael’s rashy neck, scritching the itchy skin gently until Raph rumbles, and imitates his little brother, beak shutting tight and nostrils scrunching closed. Without the constant reminder of how hard it was to breathe, Raphael slowly settles, scratching at his rashy arms, but no longer flailing in a panic. Donatello tears up, and begs with shaking hands.

[[Don’t leave me alone, please ...]]

Raphie nudges closer with a rumbly grumble.

“Outta the way, coming through!!”

His attention snaps to the young girl running back towards them with a plastic canister gripped in her hand. She suddenly jumps into the air and comes flying towards them with a flourish, and a loud shout.

“Apriiiiiiiiiillllllll O’Neeeeeeeeeeeeil!!!!”

Donnie’s eyes make a valiant attempt to fall out of his head. Were it not for his glasses blocking the way, he might have truly lost them as he watches the giant needle travel as if in slow motion to stab his brother’s thigh. Raphael groans with a surprised thrash, curling up tight. The girl just crouches and watches Raph nervously, waiting for the epi-pen’s effects to kick in. When nothing happens immediately, she turns worriedly to him.

Donnie’s voice is strangled with the strength of the terror still gripping his body. The girl reaches out her hand to touch the top of Raphael’s head. Without thinking, Donnie hisses with his full chest, scrambling with great effort to tug his brother’s heavy body and himself away from her.

“Is it working?!”

“Oh, sorry-- I should’ve asked before touching, huh? Don’t worry, I seen my Auntie do this for my uncle a bunch of times!” her voice lowers and slows, deep with reassurance, “He’s gonna be okay. Your dad’s on the way too right?”

Donatello shakes where he sits, trying to remember that children-- human children at least-- don’t growl, while every instinct in his body is on red alert with his brother so vulnerable in his arms. He tries for words but clicks warningly emit from his throat instead. Frustrated tears slide down his cheeks as he shifts his gaze warily between the girl’s sympathetic eyes, and his slow breathing brother.... At least he was breathing . Where was Papa... what was taking so long?

A quiet chuff and gentle nudge against his jaw knock him out of his soon to be spiral and he glances down.

"Raphie?" He peeps.

Raph smiles up at him and chuffs once again, stronger as his breathing eases and the swelling recedes a bit from his face.

“Ra-Raphie--”

Donnie nearly melts to the ground with the pure relief coursing through him, sniffling louder and curling around as much of Raphael as he can reach as his shoulders shake with silent sobs. His older brother tiredly wraps his arms around him and rumbles deeply to ease the anxiety bubbling out of both of them.

“Hey,” a gentle voice prods through the fog of their relieved exhaustion, “Want a water, Big guy?”

The girl named April smiles and waves a little unopened bottle between them, a fearless hand rubbing along Raphael’s shell in comfort. Donnie hisses at her again, every muscle tensing as his jaw locks up.

“Pops says... not to take from.... Strangers--” Raphael struggles to croak out, stroking his little brother’s shell with soothing pressure. Even in his state, trying to give Donnie some sense of relief, and it makes the little softshell’s eyes water as the adrenaline crash rises.

“Yea, my mom says that too. So, let’s fix it. I’m April, and you’re Raph, right? Which means that you,” she turns a gentle smile to Donnie’s tearstained face, “Must be Donnie. There! We’re not strangers anymore.”

Her smile is warm and gentle like how Raph’s is when he knows Donnie’s feeling extra prickly. It makes Donnie’s eyes water more.

Donnie curls his toes nervously, and looks to Raph who is breathing slow and deep in his arms, blinking drowsily at the girl who’s smile is genuine and unflinching.

“S’okay,” her voice gentles to almost a whisper, steady and calm, “You don’t gotta answer. I’ll just keep talking, kay? I saw you signing. That’s really cool! Next year in school, we get to pick a language, and I wanna learn ASL. I like you guy’s costumes. They look so real!!”

“Yer really nice...” He murmurs, snaggle tooth catching his lip as he smiles slow, “I like you.”

“Awww, thanks big guy,” She scratches at the back of her neck with a giddy laugh.

“BOYS!!”

Splinter’s voice echoes down the street as he speeds up the block. Ahead of him zoom an orange and blue blur that all but collide with the trio in their haste to arrive at their brother’s side.

“Raphie!! Please be okay!!” Mikey wails, latching onto their eldest brother’s shell like a sobbing wart.

“Don’t worry, Raph, I’ll save you!!” Leo’s panting as he runs up with the epi-pen high and stabs down before anyone can get a word in.

Raphael yowls .

“LEO!! THAT WAS MY BUTT!!”

“YEA, I’M SAVING IT!!”

Splinter slides in and gathers his sons into his arms, “ Please stop yelling, people are staring-- Raphael, you-- you’re already feeling better, how--”

“That’s cuz I saved his butt first,” April points to herself with a grin, as the rat-faced man and two more turtle costumed children stare at her incredulously.

“She gave me a shot before you guys got here... the right way,” Raph grumbles towards Leo.

“Why’re you talking like that, mister...” April gives him a judging look, “Cool Lou Jitsu costume though!”

“Young lady, thank you very much for saving my completely normal, not at all turtle children--”

Splinter puffs up, but before he can say anything, his littlest son’s hitching words interrupt them.

“Raphie! I thought we s-said no scary Halloween tricks t-this year!!” Mikey is still a tearful lump on Raph’s shell.

“I’m sorry Mikey... That was really scary... wasn’t it?” Raphael says softly, eyes watering now that he had the room to think about it. “M’sorry... I-- I ruined Halloween, didn’t I?”

And with those words, it’s as if the dam breaks and the stress of the night's event floods out of him in great gulping sobs. By that time he’s curled in his fathers arms crying somewhat quieted, Leo and Mikey are draped over his shell, soothing and petting him, their little chirps and rumbles easing his nerves. He glances around for Donnie, and finds him sitting with all five sacks of candy next to April, neither of them speaking as she helps him deftly pick out everything with any traces of peanuts. Donnie tosses those candies aside with disdain into the dark end of the street.

“April!!”

They all start at the shout from one of the higher windows in the building before them.

“Your mother will have my head if she knew you were still outside at this hour. Come inside, c’mon--”

“Yes Auntie!!” April calls back, and then turns back to the funny little family she encountered, shoulders hunching shyly up to her ears, “Gotta go, but maybe we can play some other time?”

Donnie says nothing as he looks up at her sad hopeful smile. Taking his phone out of his pocket he unlocks it and hands it to her with the contact screen ready. She beams at him when she hands it back, giving a final wave to everyone.

“Happy Halloween guys!!”

The bale of little turtles and their father wave back, then gather their things to head home. Splinter grunts only briefly as he stands, his eldest son secure in his arms, and shuffles towards the nearby alleyway and the sewer cap hidden in its shadows. Little Mikey grabs three of the candy bags, surprisingly able to handle them with hardly any trouble or fuss. Leo grabs the last two and throws them over his shoulder, before offering a hand to Donnie who was still staring after the little girl who saved his brother’s life.

“Dee?” Leo prompts and that finally gets his twin to shuffle towards him in a bit of a daze, though he takes the proffered hand firmly. The slider gives their hands a squeeze with an encouraging chirp to get them moving towards home.

Raph watches over his father’s shoulder as Leo holds his twin’s hand through the dark familiar tunnels, all the way home into the warmth of their home. Donnie does not speak once. Not even when their father gathers them up in the tv room with extra pillows and blankets. Not even as he helps them all change out of their costumes and into their pjs for the night. Not even when he puts on Raphael’s favorite Jupiter Jim movie, which Donnie always likes to remind them is not as good as his favorite JJ film. Not when their father brings them all some hot tea, and a warmed milk for Donnie. Not even when Splinter nods off in his arm chair and snores loud enough that they need to put the subtitles on to know what’s being said.

His little brother sits staring despondently at the floor, tucked under Leo’s protective arm on the side farthest from Raph, while Mikey is already asleep and rumbling against his other side. Shifting slowly so as not to disturb their littlest brother, Raphael reaches across Leo and offers Donnie his hand. Leo watches him with sleepy eyes and smiles at Raph, turning to give Donnie a whispered word of encouragement and nudge.

Donnie chirps a small sad sound though, and ducks halfway into his shell with a sniffle.

“Donnie,” Raph croons softly, “C’mere buddy?”

Leo squeezes Donnie closer to his side, rubbing this shell through his pjs softly and murmurs another comfort as Donnie starts to shake where he sits, “S’okay, Dee...”

Donnie starts to sob quietly, so Raph reaches around Leo until he can cradle both the twins and pulls them into his side with an insistent trill, turning so he can chuff against both their faces. Leo giggles, chuffing back, while Donnie hiccups briefly, his sobs abating somewhat with the affection. A sleepy chirp of annoyance alerts Raph that he’s disturbed Mikey’s rest, but it’s easily remedied by scooping him closer and giving a big chuff against his round cheek that makes the little turtle squeal with glee.

“Raphie, we love you!!” Mikey rubs under his big brother’s chin and tucks himself close.

“Love you guys too,” Raphael answers with a gentle rumble starting in his chest, then grins slowly as he elbows Leo, “Who won?”

“Whahuh?” Leo blinks at him sleepily, rubbing his face.

“The candy battle?” Raph insists, offering Donnie his hand again, and this time his little brother takes it and squeezes tight. He closes his fingers around Don’s and holds him just as tight.

“Oh-- we totally did!” Leo pipes up, suddenly more awake.

“You can’t count Papa’s bag,” Donnie mumbles around his sleeve.

“What!! We so ca--”

“Raphie won!!” Mikey declares with a determined glare from under his big brother’s chin.

“Miguel!! Who’s side are you on!!” Leo whines, but Raphael’s chuckle makes his face twitch into a smile.

“Raphie won,” Donnie agrees, taking his wet sleeve out of his mouth and rubbing it against Leo’s cheek.

“Wuuaaaggh!! Gross!! Dee, stop-- Okay, okay!! Raphie won!!” Leo climbs over Raph’s shell to escape the assault, only to get poked by a grinning Mikey over their brother's shoulder.

Splinter snorts in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible and the boys all freeze a moment, shushing each other through giggles, before settling in a comfortable pile once more with their big brother in the middle. The movie’s almost over, but the night has worn them down and Mikey is asleep almost as soon as Raph tucks him under his arm. Leo’s not far off from succumbing, finding a comfortable perch on Raph’s shell with some pillows to cushion against the spikes, and giving his big brother sleepy pets as he drifts off.

Under his other arm, Donatello still holds tight to one of his hands with both of his own, tracing the grooves and bumps of his scales in a soothing motion. Whether he was trying to sooth Raph or himself, Raphael wasn’t sure, but it felt nice regardless. He rumbles sleepy, and content to be near his family.

“You good, Dee?” Raph whispers into the quiet between Splinter’s snores.

“Hmm.”

Raphael thinks that’s the end of their conversation, and his eyes are drifting shut. When his most skittish brother snuggles in close to him with several trembling little chuffs against his plastron. His eyes water up as he tucks his arm around Donnie and squeezes him close for several long moments.

“Want some space now?” Raph asks him as he pets his head.

“Nnnuh-uh,” Donnie squirms closer with a chirp. “You’re warm, I like it.”

“Okay,” Raphael sniffles, and holds tight as he falls asleep feeling like the luckiest big brother in the whole wide world.

~~~~~~

A/N: The world is so incredibly broken right now. I just wanted to offer a few lighthearted moments of sweet familial love and care to anyone who needs a respite from the darkness of the current events. Do what you can to support the Cease Fire. Be mindful that the donations you make actually get to the people who need it, otherwise you may accidentally be supporting their oppressors. Write and call your politicians to tell them you demand they support the Cease Fire. You have more power than you know. But don't forget, it's okay to step back and find your equilibrium every once and while as well. You're no use to yourself or others if you're suffering too much to function. Be kind, stay safe. Much love. 💖💙💜🧡 ~Minu

Next: TBD... || Masterpost

#rottmnt #turtle tots #rottmnt fic #rise raph #rise donnie #family feels #brotherly bonding #rise leo #rise mikey #rise splinter #rise april #Series: Wish we had just a little more time...#fanfic #minu loves tmnt #tcest dni

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mad4turtles · 1 year

Text

big bro michelangelo

part 2/2

(part 1 here)

---

Mikey understands why Splinter gets pissed whenever they wake him up from a nap.

Sleep is amazing.

After rolling out of bed and treating himself to the longest shower he's ever had, he returns to the t.v room to find the toddlers and Splinter all asleep in the fort. They'd left it up overnight at the behest of the kids, and Splinter hadn't complained once about the room being overtaken or missing his shows as he'd sat with them, picking up from where Mikey had left off in the Wizard of Oz. Mikey had been herded to bed early by April after wolfing down a whole pizza courtesy of Cass—a not completely rare bout of kindness—and Splinter had still been in the fort when he left, the little ones taking up his lap and shoulders as they listened to him read with wonder in their eyes.

He's just in time to watch as Draxum carefully removes the book from where it'd fallen over Splinter's eyes and lifts the blanket to cover all four of them. Leo shifts in his sleep, brows furrowing until Draxum hushes him, gently stroking his head until the little slider settles down again, cuddling against Donnie. Automatically, Donnie shifts to cling to Leo. Draxum leans back on his heels with a smile.

Mikey has never whipped out his phone so fast in his life.

Draxum still notices, though, and the poisonous glare he sends the box turtle is dampened only by the pink blooming across his cheeks. He points a warning finger. “Not. One. Word.”

Mikey waggles the phone in his hand. “Get Dad to double my allowance, or this baby goes viral.”

Draxum splutters. “Wh—why in the—why in Spirits' name should I bend to the whims of—?”

“I took care of three screaming mutant ninja toddlers by myself four hours before your woolly ass got here,” Mikey says with dead eyes. Draxum goes very still. Good, 'cause Mikey ain't playing. “I deserve a little somethin'. Even if I gotta blackmail my way to get it.”

Draxum stares. “I'll talk with your father.”

“Thanks, Papa!” Mikey chimes, skipping over to give his step-father a hug and a kiss on the cheek he can't dodge fast enough. The sheep yokai rolls his eyes and pats Mikey's hand.

“I'd say I'm proud, but quite frankly, Michelangelo, you frighten me.”

“Dr Delicate Touch can be a petty bitch.”

“Language.”

“You don't really care.”

“I really don't.”

They leave the sleeping tots and Splinter in the fort and head for the kitchen where April and both Jones' are waiting. April smiles when Mikey steps through and pulls him in for a cuddle. “Sleep well, big bro?” she asks.

“Like a baby, sis,” Mikey says, squeezing her waist and lifting her off her feet to make her laugh before setting her down to take the plate of fresh pancakes Casey offers him, He knew he'd smelled something good. “Thanks, Jr. Damn, these look fine!”

Casey smiles in that shy, thoroughly pleased way that melts Mikey's insides like goop. “Learned from the best,” he says. “Figured you'd be happier going over a game plan with a full stomach.”

Hopping up to sit cross-legged on the table, Mikey takes a big bite out of the pancake stack and sighs, blissed. “A man after my own heart,” he says around the mouthful. “Bless you, Casey Jones Jr.”

Draxum huffs a laugh poorly disguised as a scoff. “Let us continue with the plan. As Michelangelo told April over the phone, Hypno-potomus supposedly picked up a book of spells and cast a random one during battle. He had no idea that it would result in... well, that,” he jabs a thumb at the doorway where their napping charges lie, “which means tracking him down and forcing him to reverse the spell would be pointless.”

“What if we persuade him?” Cassandra asks, playing with a kunai with a terrifying grin splitting her face. Mikey has learned to stop asking where she keeps them.

April glares. “Cass, put the knives away. We're not torturing him.” Cass obeys, not without muttering and pouting. “Drax just said there's no point. What would beating the answer outta him do if he don't even got the answer? The spell was random, and besides that, he's kinda hard to find.”

“He's roommates with the worm guy, is he not?” Draxum asks. “Or am I mistaken?”

“Pretty sure they're married now,” Mikey says after swallowing.

“Oh. Congratulations to them, then.”

“Back on topic,” Casey cuts in, hands splayed on the table the way Mikey has seen Leo do a dozen times, and it makes him smile. “Hypno might not know what he did, but we can find out how to undo it without him. All we need is the book of spells or another book on how to break this one spell.”

April perks up. “Oh, right! Then Draxum can do his Mystic thing and bring our boys back!”

“And bring an end to this adorable torture!” Cass declares, waving her kunai (again) until Casey puts her arm down with practised patience. Draxum rolls his eyes again, and Mikey—

Mikey feels torn.

He misses his big brothers. He misses Raph's big booming laugh and hugs, Donnie's dry humour and the tangents he goes on about whatever special interest he has that week, and Leo's stupid jokes and reassuring smiles. He wants all that back, so bad it hurts. But...

Mikey sets his empty plate on the table. He needs his team and his big brothers back. He wants them back. But not at the cost of their happiness, this new (old) innocence...

“Mikey?”

Mikey realizes with a start that everyone's looking at him expectantly. Except for April, her brows furrowed in concern.

Right. Game-plan. Get his brothers back, and get the team back.

He shakes himself and smiles. “Sorry, zoned out. What did you say?”

April regards him a moment before smiling. Of course she knows. Big sisters just know everything. “I asked if you knew where we might find a spell book like what Hypno used? Or something that'll tell us how to break it?”

Mikey freezes. “... I may have an idea,” he says slowly. “There's... um... there's always the Mystic Library—”

“Of course!” Draxum exclaims. “The fountain of all mystical knowledge! How could I forget? I know exactly which section to look... but I cannot accompany you there as I am still not entirely welcome in the Hidden City, let alone the library.”

Mikey feels sweat gather along his brow. “Yeaaahh, about that—”

Draxum's smile falls like bricks. “Spirits above, Michelangelo, so help me—”

“We maybe kinda sorta might be banned?”

Draxum sighs, slapping a hand over his eyes. “Of course you are. I'm surprised you've not been barred from the entire Hidden City at this point.”

“You're one to talk, goat man,” Cass snips. Draxum ignores her.

“I'm sure they'll let you back in for an emergency, right?” April ventures. “I mean, who bans someone from a mystic library?”

“Library?”

Every head spins to face the doorway. Donnie, rubbing his eye with the heel of one hand, the other holding a droopy-eyed Leo, stares up at Mikey on the table. He hadn't heard them get up!

Baby ninjas. No wonder Dad went grey so fast.

“Mike's goin' to library?” Donnie asks, more awake now as hope and excitement sparkle in his eyes. He hops from foot to foot, jostling Leo. “Can I come? Can I, can I, please, please? Can I see library, Mike?!”

Oh hell no.

Desperate, Mikey turns to the other adults and teens in the room. None of them look at him, suddenly very interested in their phones, claws or, in Cass' case, the damn kunai, whistling loud and tuneless.

Mikey feels rage.

He turns to Donnie with a beaming smile—“Sure thing, Donnie D!” he says through his teeth.

“Can I come, too?” Leo asks, which throws Mikey for a loop until Leo continues with a yawn, “don' wanna let Don go 'lone. Gotta... gotta stay together. Rahpie comes, too.”

That breaks Mikey's heart and warms its shattered pieces all at once. Now he really can't say no.

“Of course, Little Blue! Go wake up Daddy if he isn't up already and let him help y'all get dressed! We're goin' on a feildtrip, baby!”

Leo and Donnie cheer with their whole bodies, throwing their arms up and stomping their feet before running off to find Raph and Dad. Mikey watches them go, love and warmth in his chest.

He turns to the others and the warmth turns to ice. “Expect a visit from Dr Delicate Touch in the next twenty-four hours.”

The sound of four people gulping has never sounded so sweet.

~0o0~

The bat yokai librarian doesn't look overly happy to see him as she peers over her desk.

One look at the three wide-eyed, slack-jawed toddlers holding his hands and clinging to his back softens something in her gaze, but her soft tone is strict when she says, “I don't even want to know, do I?”

Mikey smiles and shrugs helplessly, shaking his head.

“If I allow you to browse, I trust you will be quiet?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Mikey whispers.

“And your young charges?”

Mikey looks down at the little ones. “Remember our talk, lil' bros?”

Three heads bob in rapid nods, putting their fingers to their lips. “Library voices, shh,” they whisper.

Mikey beams. “Rad.”

The librarian almost cracks a smile. No one is immune to turtle tot cuteness. “Very good. You may proceed. But one word and all of you will be in the Kiddie Room.”

Mikey's pretty sure he's the undisputed ruler of the Kiddie Room, but he's not going to chance it today. He salutes and turns to scour the shelves Draxum told him about, but Donnie hops off his shell and races toward the desk. Mikey bites his lip against a shout, but he hisses Donnie's name frantically. He goes ignored.

Donnie carefully taps the pedestal. “S'cuse me, miss library lady,” he whispers.

She raises a brow. “Yes?”

Donnie beams, hands flapping by his sides. With his glasses on, sizes too big for his face, he looks younger than he is and far cuter than he has any right to be. “Thank you very much for letting us come to your beau—bootiful—boot—pretty library,” he chimes quietly. “I love books so much!”

The librarian stares, eyes slightly wide. And then her smile is small but real. “You're quite welcome, young man. Take as long as you need to.”

Donnie flaps his hands again, excited. ��Thank you, I love you, buh-bye!” he chirps and trots back to Mikey, hopping onto his back and clinging, muffling giggles against Mikey's hoodie.

It's all Mikey can do to keep from squealing, eyes welling up. The librarian doesn't seem to be faring any better.

It takes forever, especially with three excited babies all wanting to do their own thing and trying to run off, barely evading the Hush Bats' wrath, but he finds the section he's looking for and has the boys sit in a reading nook with colouring books he'd brought with him. Donnie forgoes them and settles in a massive armchair with Sherlock Holmes's complete collection on his lap.

Mikey finds the book he's looking for after half an hour, and by then, he's exhausted, eyes burning, limbs aching as he plops onto the floor with Leo and Raph. They're quietly discussing who would win in the ultimate fight between Lou Jitsu and Jupiter Jim, with Leo on the side of their father. He smiles as he skims the index and flips through the pages.

Ah-ha! There! De-Ageing Spells, hell yes!

Grinning, Mikey reads. And reads. And...

His smile falls.

Oh.

He lifts his head from the book, turning to face the toddlers smiling and softly giggling in their own little bubble, safe and sound from reality's sharp, unforgiving needle.

His heart sinks.

Oh, man.

~0o0~

The good news is the spell is easily reversible; no blood oaths or sacrificial virgins required. All they have to do is want to be big again, remember who they're supposed to be and let go of who and what they were.

The bad news is it's been three days since they went to the library, four since they were changed.

Mikey knew from the moment he'd read the article. They don't want to change back.

He doesn't blame them.

It's easy to forget sometimes that they're teenagers. Mikey is fifteen, for crying out loud. Raph is—should be—seventeen, a kid in a law that will never touch them, not really, as they are. They've saved the world from evils beyond comprehension, have nearly died on many occasions, and they're not even legally allowed to drink! Much as they hate to hear it due to whatever dumb hormones tell them otherwise, they're children. They shouldn't have to do any of this. That's why most superheroes in media are adults—severely messed up adults, but still!

Why should Mikey take this away from them? Why should anyone take it away or force them to want to let it go? The world will always be in danger, so why can't someone else 'rise to the challenge' and defend it? Why does the world have to fall on the shoulders of kids who barely get the chance to be kids? Why can't they be selfish for once?

Tensions were high in the two years following Splinter's decision to make Leo the leader—a position Leo had never wanted and Raph was doing so well in despite the challenges—and then things change after the Krang. Leo cracks fewer jokes and trains more often, Donnie triple-checks and quadruples his time in the lab pouring over defences, upgrades and fail-safes, and Raph is twice as jittery at night, can't sleep without a light on or checking on his family several times each night. Not that Splinter is much better—Mikey hears him every night, feigns sleep when his father tucks him in and kisses his cheek, lingering a moment before moving on to the next room.

This is the happiest he's seen his family in what feels like forever.

But as much as Mikey wants his brothers' happiness, his true wish is just as selfish. And he feels horrible for it, he does. But—

“I want my big brothers back,” he says, muffled in the folds of Draxum's robe on the night of day five. Sitting on his bed, he clings to his stepfather with all his strength and lets the tears fall. Draxum holds him with one hand on the back of his head, the other rubbing circles along his shell. It's a show of affection he's still getting used to two years down the line, and as much as it's appreciated it only makes Mikey cry harder.

Raph used to do this. Used to pick me right off the floor and crush me with all the love he had in him.

“I don't want them to hurt anymore,” he says through his tears, “I don't want them to fight or, or carry everything all the time 'cos they feel like they have to. I want them to be happy. But... I miss them! I miss my big brothers and I want them back! I don't wanna be the big brother anymore!”

“Hush,” Draxum soothes, holding Mikey tighter as he cries himself out. “I don't know your brothers as well as I'd like to, but I do know how much they care about you. A part of them knows and remembers who they really are. A part that knows this can't last, no matter how much they want it to. The past is in the past, and all that's left is the present and what we have to look forward to. They won't stay like this forever, Michelangelo.”

Mikey sniffles messily, not that Draxum seems to care about the mess he's made of his robe. “That's... that's prolly the wisest thing you've ever said, Papa,” he says. Draxum huffs fondly, but Mikey's smile dims quickly. “What if they do? What if they... what if they love being kids again more than—?”

“Don't you dare,” April hisses from where she's suddenly materialized in the doorway, “finish that sentence, Hamato Michelangelo.”

Mikey stares at her. Draxum loosens his grip and stands in time for April to take his place on the bed, taking Mikey's face between her hands and giving him a firm shake.

“Mikey,” she says, eyes burning like coals into his. Her worry is buried deep beneath, but Mikey sees it through the cracks. “Your brothers adore you. If you asked for the moon in a basket or the sun for a night light, you bet your little ass they'd find a way to make that happen. Ain't nothing in this world more important to them than you. No amount of Jupiter Jim marathons, bedtime stories or piggyback rides could ever hold a candle to having you as their little brother. They'll break this spell no matter what it takes or how long. You know this, I know this—hell, Draxum knows it!”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

“So hang in there, okay?” She smiles, pressing a kiss between his eyes and wiping his tears away with her thumbs. “Give 'em time. They'll be back before you know it.”

Mikey breathes in deeply and tries to believe. He nods. “Okay,” he croaks, throwing his arms around his sister's neck when she pulls him in.

(Outside the door, a pair of tiny feet quickly scurry away.)

~0o0~

He takes his eyes off them for a second.

They're playing in the park, hanging off the monkey bars and the swing set, and Mikey, sitting on the bench, reaches for the buzzing phone in his pocket.

Then Leo shrieks his name, and terror freezes Mikey's blood.

Hypno has Leo and Raph by their hoodies. Donnie screams at him to put his brothers down, kicking the mutant hippo's shin to little effect.

“Aw, aren't you lot adorable?” the magician coos. “Can't believe you're still so tiny, but, I'll take what I can get. Which is you lot, to get Orange over there to come running right into my trap! You won't be much of a nuisance if you're all pint-sized tots!”

Mikey doesn't hear what the fat creature says over the ringing in his ears. His body moves on its own, faster than he's ever moved in his life, and even then, he's too late. Hypno vanishes in a puff of purple smoke.

Leo, Donnie and Raph are gone, too.

Mikey stares at where they'd stood. Donnie's glasses lie forgotten on the wood chippings, the lenses cracked. Carefully, Mikey scoops them up. He shuts his eyes and grits his teeth.

When he opens his eyes, the world is red.

~0o0~

He uses Donnie's tracker to find them—thank god for Donnie's paranoia and mildly invasive meddling tendencies. They're holed up in some run-down warehouse, empty save for boxes no doubt filled with Hypno's assortment of traps, support pillars that creak ominously to the time of dripping pipes.

And, of course, Hypno and his little-big brothers, tied up and crying out for him from the little cage behind the magician.

The world is still red around the edges, and Mikey ignores whatever villainous spiel the hippo spouts, nunchaku ablaze and spinning.

“Give. Me. My. Brothers.”

Mikey's voice sounds foreign to his ears, and whatever look Mikey has on his face makes Hypno stammer into silence and take a step back. “Whoa, nelly, that's quite the look you've got on your face! I-I'm actually starting to regret my decisions leading up to this moment.”

“Mikey's gonna kick your big fat butt!” Leo cries, struggling against the ropes binding him shell-to-shell with Raph and a sniffling Donnie.

“Yeah! He's gonna beat ya up, good, ya—ya big butt head!”

“B-Bitch!” Donnie says through his tears.

Hypno looks at them flatly. “Right, I'm over the regretting thing. Let's dance, shall we, Orange?”

Mikey scowls. “Gladly,” he hisses, and charges.

(He understands Raph's rage, now, barely hidden under layers and layers of love. He wonders if it's this scary to him, too, knowing how much of it he has and what it does to you when the people you protect are in danger.

Perhaps that's what ultimately freed Raph from the Krang that day. It's what led Mikey to Leo, after all.)

The fight is as messy and chaotic as usual. But Mikey's not having fun, and Hypno won't let him get close to the tots until he's one of them. He must've finally studied the book, which is just great, really, and adds fuel to Mikey's growing fire. Figuratively and literally.

An explosion gets too close to the kids, and Donnie wails at the loud noise.

Then Mikey gets angry.

He traps Hypno in the extended chains and swings him straight through a pillar. It's the straw to break the camels' back as the whole building crumbles around them.

Mikey remembers himself and nearly chokes on his horror. What did I just do?

He hears his brothers scream his name. He shakes himself and sprints to the cage, tearing it open with sheer adrenaline and slicing the ropes away with the jagged piece of metal that bites into his skin. He ignores the sting and pulls the crying tots into his arms.

“It's okay, guys,” he says, dizzy with relief—he's got them, they're safe, he'll get them out, and they'll be safe, they'll be okay—“It's okay. Big bro Mikey's here.”

Something gives above their heads. Mikey looks up in time to see the giant slabs of concrete hurtling towards them.

He doesn't think twice. He shoves the boys as hard as he can, and—

And he blinks awake to a ringing in his ears and copper in his mouth. He feels numb from the waist down.

He's buried under the rubble.

His vision is spotty with hints of actual red—blood, most likely—but he can see the boys. They're not hurt. Covered in dust and soot from the collapsing debris and crying their hearts out, but they're fine.

They're okay. Good.

“Go on, guys,” he coughs. Raph stops tugging his arm to stare at him with open horror. It's not something he ever wants to see on a toddler's face, but there's not much he can do about it now. “T-There's... not much time. Y'gotta get outta here, the buildings' comin' down...”

“NO!” Donnie shrieks, stomping his feet, big fat tears dripping down his chin. “No no no! Not leaving Mikey, no! Not leaving you!”

“Stay together!” Leo sobs. Mikey wants to reach out and hold him, but his left arm's buried under the rubble, the other clutched in Raph's trembling hands. “Gotta help, Mike, gotta—gotta get back to normal 'n be big together again!”

Ah. It was Leo who overheard. Heh. Baby ninjas.

Mikey huffs. “S'okay, Little Blue,” he says, words slurring together as it gets harder to stay awake. “You guys... It doesn't matter how big or small you are. I love you anyway. I'll always love you because you're still my brothers.”

He smiles big and wide, fighting tears. “Big Bro Michelangelo loves you. Always.”

They stare at him, masks soaked with tears. It's not the best thing to see right before you die, but Mikey thinks it could be worse.

He can't keep his eyes open anymore. He feels Raph drop his arm. Good. They're leaving. He hopes Donnie can still work a phone to call Dad. Hopes they don't blame themselves.

He hears another pillar give above him, and he knows it's over.

They'll be okay. Mikey did what every good big brother is supposed to do. He did good.

There's a familiar whirr of machinery, a crackle of energy that Mikey knows as intimately as his own, a flash of purple—

“FIBONACCI!”

Mikey's eyes snap open. He looks up.

Donatello stands over him—sixteen years old, a pillar of armour, defined muscles and gangly limbs—a mystic shield keeping the worst of the debris from crushing them. He meets Mikey's gaze and grins through the strain.

Mikey's jaw hangs. “... Donnie?”

“In the half-shell!” Donnie declares, and Mikey could cry.

Lightning crackles against the stones pinning Mikey. A circle of brilliant blue sparks to life beneath them and pulls them under. The world spins until it rights itself in the form of Leonardo catching him before the portal can spit him onto the asphalt. Mikey blinks the white spots away until the striped face of his grinning older brother remains, his smirk set at an angle that's equal parts arrogance and affection. Behind them, the warehouse collapses.

“Leo?”

“Were you expecting DiCaprio?” Leo quips. It's not even remotely funny, but Mikey throws his head back and laughs.

Then he freezes. “Wait, wait!” He squirms in Leo's arms, but Leo settles for dropping to his knees and setting him on the ground. Mikey paws at his shoulders desperately. “W-where's—?”

“SAVING LIKE A BOSS!”

A red goliath bursts from the rubble in a shower of brick and twisted metal and leaps out of the wreckage, leaving small craters in the ground as he lands superhero-style. He drops Hypno off to the side before re-calling his ninpo.

And then there's only Raphael, smiling right at him as he lumbers over to kneel before them.

Mikey shakes. Leo's arms wrap around his shoulders and hold him close. “Raph...”

“You did great, little brother,” he says, reaching out with one massive hand to gently cup Mikey's cheek in his calloused palm. His eyes shine with unshed tears and pride. “You really did. You saved us, buddy. I'm proud of you.”

“Same here,” Leo says, nuzzling his cheek against Mikey's. His mask is still damp. “Sorry it took us so long to come back, little bro.”

“Indeed,” Donnie adds, typing something onto his holographic before joining them on the floor. “Though my memories of being toddler-fied are hazy at best, I do recall enjoying elements of it. However, no amount of piggyback rides or weaponising cuteness for a mystic library pass could satisfy my need to reach the freaking kitchen countertop by myself and slice my own goddamn fruit, thank you very much!”

Raph rolls his eyes with a smile that's equal parts fond and exasperated. A smile that Mikey gets now. “I think what Don's tryin' to say, is that, yeah, being kids again was fun while it lasted. And spending time with Dad like that again was really great...”

“But Draxum was right,” Leo adds, drawing back enough to wipe the soot and blood off Mikey's face with his mask tails. He smiles. “We gotta let go of the past. That's done. What matters now is what we do in the present—”

“And the things we have to look forward to in the future,” Donnie finishes, reaching out to rub the top of Mikey's head. “For instance, I am most looking forward to wiping every single freaking picture and or video you've taken these last six days. Tech gods as my witness, I will leave no SD card unturned, no RAM un—oh. Oh, Mikey...”

Mikey doesn't realize he's crying until Leo pulls him back for a hug, holding tight. Then the floodgates burst as he gives way to heaving sobs, curling into Leo's chest. Donnie drops all pretences and joins the embrace, his snout nuzzling Mikey's head. Raph gathers them all up and squeezes.

Through the haze of bone-deep, exhaustion, aches, pains and relief, Mikey smiles.

They're back. My big brothers are back. April and Draxum were right.

Just when Mikey thinks he could stay like this with them forever, there's a groan near the mound of rubble. A ripple goes through the (now) older trio as they lift their heads and turn as one. Mike follows a beat after.

Hypno rubs his head and looks around him, rumpled and rough-looking as Mikey feels, but mostly intact save for a nasty black eye. Both eyes widen when he sees the turtles staring back at him.

He blinks. “Um. I can explain.”

Raph, Leo and Donnie narrow their eyes to slits at the cowering hippo mutant. Mikey stifles a giggle.

Oh, he 'bout to get it.

Raph looks back down at Mikey and smiles. “You sit tight for a sec, Little Man,” he says, kissing Mikey's forehead before letting them all go and standing, cracking his neck.

“Yeah, we'll be right back,” Leo pats his cheek and joins Raph. His claws peek out, hands fluttering at his sides.

“I've sent April a message. She and The Parents are en route, E.T.A three minutes, so keep an eye out, m'kay? Cool.” Donnie nudges his shoulder against his and extends his battle shell, hovering over Hypno.

Mikey, for once, is content to sit on the side and watch. He's already given Hypno a piece of his mind. Now it's his big brothers' turn.

“So,” Raph bumps his fists together, red armour encasing his arms. “You shrank us.”

“You kidnapped us,” Leo's swords flash into his palms.

“And you nearly crushed our baby brother,” Donnie's bo extends into a mini-missile launcher.

Hypno goes white. “A-Ah, hey now, let's not be hasty! It was all in good fun, we had a few laughs—!”

“Not only that, but you owe Mikey so much child support!” Leo cries, raising his swords. “You goddamned—”

“Big-mouthed—” Raph pulls his fists back.

“Blue gumball, simpleton—” Donnie spins his bo and lifts it high.

“Wait, wait, wait—!”

“SON OF A BITCH!” they holler and bring their weapons down in a burst of soot, brick and screaming hippo.

Grinning hard enough to hurt, Mikey throws his head back and cackles.

“That's my boys!”

#rottmnt #rottmnt fic #turtle tots #big bro michelangelo #weirdly enough i was listening to a slow reverb version of titanic while writing the last part #and i teared up XD #YOU'RE HEEEERE: just as Donnie turns back into a teen! POETIC CINEMA!!!#i really enjoyed writing this #Donnie in the library was kinda me projecting but actually little Donnie at the same time #my writing

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