Chapter Text
I’m angry” Mikey stated.
“I’m angry that my distress was ignored. I’m angry that the people who I trusted with my distress dismissed it as if it meant nothing”
“You guys didn’t JUST dismiss it, you went in on me for showing clear signs of distress and distrust. My opinions and my feelings didn’t matter at all to any of you guys”
The three oldest Stared at their baby brother, watching as he rested his hands against his face while he leaned his head back. He allowed a chuckle out.
“I’m angry that that “thing” had more power and influence over you guys than me. Your brother, "he added.
“Mikey-“ Leo cut himself off.
He had his thinking face on. Most definitely trying to not make Mikey more upset than he was.
“Mikey I understand that you are upset and for that I am sorry, we all are. I truly am sorry if I hurt you but you have to understand why we-“
“Leo, please spare the excuses.” He spoke.
He took glances at each of his brothers.
“I know I goof off, I provoked you guys on purpose, that I don’t have the best focus on the team, shit sometimes I don’t even know what we’re talking about or what we’re doing half the time. I know it looks like I don’t take things seriously but I do! I do!” Mikey exclaimed.
“So, I could care less about your reasons and your excuses because I know what I do plus I have already forgiven you, believe it or not.” He added.
“Then why are we here?”
The other two began to get ready to leave because they were.
He fidgeted, he was getting irritated all over again. They weren’t seeing the point. They couldn’t even see it even though he told them. (Everything that he couldn’t or wouldn’t say in his day-to-day life, he could say now and nothing would take that away from him, not even himself.
“𝘚𝘐𝘛 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯!” He shouted. He stood up from his chair.
He yelled, that’s sorta new.
Mikey wasn’t one to yell out of anger, he usually allowed the anger to fall off his shell like rain. He was more of the type to bad mouth quietly or curse someone under his breathe.
“It’s more of a Raph thing” he would tell anyone who asked “why wasn’t he angry?” But as he saw his brothers trying to leave without seeing his point made him mad.
Mikey wasn’t going to yell at his brothers, not any more than he did. He didn’t want to nor would it get his point faster.
The confusion company the three as they sat down in front of the youngest.
They all sat in silence, waiting for the youngest to start.
“Well?” He spoke.
He couldn’t wait to see how this would go.
“Well, what? We’re sitting down, aren't we? AREN'T YOU going to speak?” Raph replied.
He was concerned, his body language told Mikey everything he needed to know.
“Talk. Tell me the reasons why you believed that thing over me. You can always start there and we can build up” Mikey replied.
“Stop calling it a thing” Donnie fumed
“It was April's mom in this situation.”
“Donnie, don, deee. That doesn’t change anything for me. You believed her over me..that and the reason why is all I care about“
“It might not change anything for you but you have to understand that it was April's mom, we all saw a face that looked like April's mom and you immediately villainized her just because.”
“You’re right! I did villainize her, I did think she was up to no good the second she showed her face but how could I not? When that “person” has been under a farmhouse in a Krangg spaceship for god knows how long, she hasn't had access to water or food which if she was normal would’ve killed her a long time ago. Last time I checked you were the one to tell me that would be impossible. Don’t you remember?”
He could hear Raph whispering.
“Why were we so quick to trust her anyways?”
“I don’t know,” Leo whispered back.
“Yeah I should’ve tried to relate to her, like for example, if that was master splinter I would’ve done the same, but the second any of you, and I mean any of you showed distrust or distress I would’ve been on your side. I would’ve believed you in a heartbeat. A fucking heartbeat.”
“That’s what you guys are not understanding. You just didn’t believe me, you went in on me, shamed me, and made me feel dumb for feeling the way I did. If I can understand that, you can understand why I’m upset. I had a feeling and I ended up being right”
Mikey should’ve known that wasn’t the right thing to say, because when it came to April, Donnie couldn’t see reason or be reasonable. He noticed Donnie twitching slightly.
“Is that all! YOU WANTED TO BE RIGHT? you want us to congratulate you for being right about something. Well, great job Mikey you were right and we were wrong. We-“ He demanded.
“Didn’t trust me,” Mikey finished. Knowing that wasn’t what Donnie was trying to say.
“Maybe it’s the fact that you’ll trust those things over your brother who fights side by side with you, knew you since I dunno since we were babies, who you've been in countless death situations with. I thought the reason might be that but please share what you were thinking. We all know you love doing that!”
Donnie didn’t speak, which gave Mikey the green light to keep going.
“It was never about being right Donnie, maybe at first but now? No. It’s about the lack of trust you guys have in me, the fact that no one takes me seriously, and no one listens to me. It’s frustrating.“ Mikey spoke.
Something felt different. Mikey knew it. He took glances at all his brothers to see Raph and Leo staring at him.
Their sitting posture had changed and Mikey could tell they were focused now.
“How am I supposed to help when I’m not even treated like I’m on the team?“
“How am I supposed to do anything when I’m not listened to?”
“That's when Raph got up.
“Mikey,” Raph started
“Since these two boneheads aren’t trying to get this over with I guess I will, I am sorry. I understand now that you were just trying to keep an eye out for us, protecting us. I know you want to help but sometimes it’s hard to listen to you when all you do is good and joke around all the time. I realized a long time ago that’s just how you are and there ain’t no use tryna change you, you can still be Mikey and still be serious. I’m sorry Mike, " Raph said.
He began to get up and walk towards Mikey, slowly wrapping his arm around him. A hug.
“We should’ve taken you seriously”
The room was silent. He hadn’t expected Raph to apologize first, because he thought he would agree with Leo and Donnie.
“I’m sorry for making you feel ashamed of your guts”
“Thank you, Raph”
Mikey pulled away.
“That’s all I needed”
Raph looked at his youngest brother, Both their eyes began to gloss over.
Raph quickly moved to wipe it while Mikey didn’t move.
“I hate being mad at you guys, I didn’t want to be mad. I just hated how she was- she- she was. God it feels so childish now”
“Mikey, I’m sorry”
“I know I- WE should’ve trusted you even if you were wrong. You showing distress and distrust about someone doesn’t happen much and that should’ve been a sign”
“As a leader, I should’ve listened to you but as your brother, I should’ve tried to ease that feeling, made it go away. You’re right, we shouldn’t have trusted her. Especially considering she hadn’t had water in like forever.” Leo.
Mikey didn’t care if Leo had done it just because Raph did or if he had finally seen Mikey's point. He was just happy they were finally seeing why he was upset.
“ and I understand why you did believe her. You were happy for April and wanted April to have a mother. Which is fine but dude sometimes I need you guys to listen to me as well. Take me seriously”
“Yeah I think we learned our lesson”
“yeah I think you guys did, maybe next time this can go a bit faster”
“Next time? Next time just say it rather than doing this whole bit. I was scared that you were dying with how quiet you been the past two days''
As they left the room, this time without Mikey yelling Donnie spoke.
“I’m sorry, Mikey.”
“I am but-“
“I know dee. I know.”
“I would’ve been the same. I don’t blame you guys for not knowing. I blame the lack of trust, the not taking me seriously and you guys not listening.”
“Mikey-“
“I know. I know dee”
“I don’t expect you to know everything. “
“Mikey-”
“I know, I wasn’t trying to-I don’t even know how to speak now. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. I just-“
“Dude please just stop, you’re making it harder than it needs to be.”
Donnie got up from his chair and reached toward Mikey, wrapping his arm around him the same way Raph had.
“I know, but I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten defensive.”
“It’s okay, I already forgave you for that too. Just promise me you guys won’t do that again.”
“Promise”
“Pinky promise?”
“Pinky promise”
“Pinky pinky pro-“
“Michel”
“Okay, okay”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A few hours had passed.
They were still in the kitchen, Mikey preparing dinner while Donnie accompanied him.
“It isn’t fixed but I’m satisfied” Mikey reported.
He was at the stove, flipping the pan.
Donnie turned towards him.
“What do you mean?”
“Donnie, me and you both know that one little conversation like that isn’t going to fix things so quickly. Bad habits are hard to break, you guys will probably go back to not take me seriously or listening to me and I’m definitely going to second guess myself when speaking up or voicing my plans, feelings and opinions, but we’re on the road to fixing that and that's the only thing that matters to me.”
“Because We’ll fix it one day,” he told
“Because we’ll definitely have more talks like that”
“Really now?”
“Yup”
“I just hope that promise we made makes it a little more easier to keep your word” he mumbled.