Chapter Text
“Are you sure about this, Michelangelo? I somewhat appreciate your efforts to help me, but this seems excessive…even by my standards.” Baron Draxum crossed his arms in front of his chest and watched as the small 13-year-old turtle sifted through the clothing racks.
“Of course, Barry!” Mikey responded with a grin over his shoulder. “It’s not enough to just have a place to live and a stable income. You still have to look the part. Apron and hairnet are only for school. The sad robe-wearing bum look you’ve got is not working for you either. And who better to help find your new look than moi?” Mikey turned back to the clothes in front of him, missing the faint smile crossing the ex-alchemist’s face.
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“Tell me why we’re doing this again,” Leo commented while picking up a revolting plate of something from the floor of Draxum’s tiny apartment.
“Because, Leo,” his oldest brother Raph said. He swept in the far (mere feet away) corner of the small space. “Draxum is in need of some cheering up.”
The red eared slider rolled his eyes. “Again, why are we doing this?”
Donnie, who was updating the kitchen appliances so they would at least turn on, huffed an annoyed sigh. “Because, Leon, Mikey asked us to.”
Leo sighed and rubbed his face. “Yeah, I know. I get Mikey wants to help Draxum continue to fit into human society and whatnot, but why must he drag us into his ‘project’?”
Neither older turtle had an answer for that. Each merely shrugged and continued working. The silence that followed the conversation between the three brothers was not unpleasant. It was only broken by the sound of rain hitting the solitary window.
Raph dusted the windowsill and looked out over the city. “Man, it’s raining cats and dogs out there. I hope Mikey and Draxum make it back soon.”
“Fret not, brother,” Donnie assured while typing on his wrist tech. “The tracking device embedded in Mikey’s phone indicates that he and Draxum are exiting the clothing outlet and are heading toward this direction.”
Nodding, Raph turned from the window and picked up a rather unsightly piece of leftover – was it pizza? – from the dingy pullout couch Draxum used for a bed. What Raph did not see were shadowed figures silhouetted on the rooftops across the street.
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Mikey leapt and landed in a large puddle, heedless of the thoroughly drenched scientist next to him. Draxum shifted the shopping bags he carried and tried to dodge the onslaught of liquid.
“I do not understand your enjoyment of jumping into water that you attempt to avoid from hitting your head. It seems…counterintuitive.”
Giggling at how peeved yet silly Draxum looked with water dripping off his nose and ears, Mikey landed in an even bigger puddle posing like a ballerina. “Come on, Barry! You try to take the fun out of everything! Jumping in rain puddles is every kids’ favorite rainy-day pastime! You should try it!”
Draxum huffed. “I most certainly will not. I am wet enough as it is. And I am still wondering why no one thought to give us an object to protect us from this torrential downpour.” He appraised Mikey with a critical eye. “You are soaked through your hoodie. It does not even look as vibrantly orange as it usually would.”
Shrugging, Mikey cartwheeled into the next puddle, landing on his back. He laughed and sat up. “I don’t even care. I’m a turtle, Draxxy. Water, when I’m not actually swimming in it, is my thing.”
Before Draxum could come up with a retort, he paused and tilted his head. He had thought he had heard something. Seeing that Draxum had stopped looking his way, Mikey stood with his hand on his hip. “Draxum? You ok?”
Draxum shushed the young turtle and scanned the waterlogged street. That noise came from somewhere. Now where-
In a flash, Draxum was colliding into the building beside him. The force of the impact forced Draxum to drop his bags, clothes falling onto the wet ground.
“Draxum!” Mikey, kusari-fundo in hand, ran toward the fallen yokai. “Dude! Are you ok?!”
Shaking his head to clear it, Draxum looked at Mikey then past him. His eyes widened. “Get out of here. Now!”
“What, and leave you here? Not a chance, Barry.” Mikey bent down to help Draxum up, ignoring the goat-man’s struggles. “Stop fighting me! It’s hard to hold onto you with the rain.”
“Listen to me! You must get out of here. Find somewhere safe! You can’t let them get you!”
Mikey paused, staring at Draxum in confusion. “Them? Who-” Before Mikey could finish his question, a massive hand wrapped around his torso and flung him backward toward the street.
Instinctively, Mikey used his momentum to roll and come to a stop on one knee. He whipped his head toward where he had been standing just a second ago. What he saw made his heart drop into his stomach. There, standing impossibly tall, was the Shredder. Perched upon his shoulder was none other than…
“…Foot Recruit?” Mikey gulped and gripped the chain of his weapon tighter.
The young female cackled, jumping gracefully off of her perch to the ground. “Surprise! I’m back!”
Mikey stood from his crouch and steadied himself, squinting through the rain droplets falling on his face at the last person he thought he would see. He saw something glinting and focused on Foot Recruit’s hand. “Big Mama’s ring?” He looked at her face. “You have Big Mama’s ring?”
Grinning, Foot Recruit glanced admiringly at the mystic jewelry. “Why yes, yes I do. It’s necessary to attain my goal of WORLD DOMINATION!” She shouted the last bit, grinning wider and signaling with her other hand.
A moment later, Mikey spotted Foot ninjas crowding on each rooftop. He knew without trying to count that he and Draxum were outnumbered. Looking toward Draxum, he was glad to see the yokai standing in preparation for battle. At least he was okay now. But for how much longer?
Mikey was jolted out of his thoughts by Foot Recruit shouting orders and ninjas surrounding him. Jumping immediately into action, Mikey took on the threat.
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“Why aren’t they back yet?”
Raph was pacing the tiny apartment, able to do so freely since it was rendered spotless by the three mutants. When Mikey and Draxum had not returned or checked in when they were supposed to, and the rain turned into a small thunderstorm, Raph’s anxiety grew.
“Calm down, Raph.” Donnie typed on his wrist tech, nonchalantly leaning against the counter in the kitchen. “They probably took shelter in order to wait out the downpour. I know I would.”
Donnie’s words fell on deaf ears. Raph continued his pacing, constantly checking his phone for notifications. Leo sat on the back of the couch, feet dangling inches from the floor. His outward demeanor resembled that of his purple-banded brother’s; however, inside he felt as panicked as Raph. Where was his brother? Mikey loves being out in the rain. It wasn’t like him to hide from it.
“Shouldn’t we try to call him? You know, just in case?” the slider asked the room, looking to each brother. “He could have gotten lost and Draxum isn’t being any help.”
Donnie rolled his eyes, not looking up from his wrist. “You’re being paranoid, Leon. He doesn’t like to be mother-henned, you know. Give him some time.”
Leo looked at his feet, hoping Donnie was right.
Donnie was almost always right.
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“Draxum!” Mikey panted, turning in time to see his second father figure fly through the air into an upstairs window in the apartment building behind him.
Mikey was exhausted. He fought off dozens of ninjas, receiving just as many blows as he was giving. His legs were starting to feel like jelly, and his entire body was shaking from how drenched and cold he had gotten. Draxum held his ground well, utilizing his purple vines in many impressive yet terrifying ways. If it wasn’t for the Shredder’s ruthless attacks, Draxum would be by his side by now.
Laughter froze Mikey’s blood in his veins. He slowly turned from the last ninja he downed, staring into the eyes of Foot Recruit. Her smirk was quickly followed by a blow to Mikey’s gut with her fist. Gasping, Mikey dropped to one knee, body too worn to support his weight anymore.
“I will never forget our first encounter. If not for the interference of those bumbling idiots who used to run the Foot Clan, my mission would have been a success. Now, I am more powerful and ready to finish what we started that night.” Her grin turned devilish as she stood back, lifting her hand and closing it into a fist. The mystic ring flashed, causing the Shredder to turn his attention toward the young turtle.
Mikey felt helpless. He could do nothing but stare into those cold, soulless eyes, hoping he would die quickly. As the Shredder advanced, Mikey’s thoughts turned to his brothers. ‘I love you guys.’