Chapter Text
It had started out just like any other pointless side mission; they discover something cool and shiny, then they decide to touch said cool and shiny thing. Problem was that cool and shiny thing just so happened to be a mind control collar-type thingy...that Mikey grabbed with an "Oooh~"...and put on to show off for them.
"Check it out, bros! It's totally my style, baby! Do...uh...I-I-"
Yeah, well now the damned thing was clamped shut tightly around their little bro's neck, doing whatever it was that made him stumble and his eyes glaze over, suddenly going quiet mid conversation. It was so unlike him that the sudden change caught all their attention near instantaneously.
Raphael threw a nervous glance towards all of them before turning towards his baby brother with a forced smile, already looking like he was trying not to panic and go into 'overprotective big bro' mode.
"Hey, big man..! So uh, you...feelin' alright? Y-You're lookin' a lil intense- woah!"
It took Raphael literally jumping to the side to avoid being kicked to the high heavens. He then had to roll to the side again as Michelangelo jumped to where he was lying previously, expression blank and damn near haunting as the collar glowed an ominous yellowish-orange around his neck.
Donatello, Leonardo and Casey shouted from somewhere off to the side, unassumingly haven seen the whole ordeal. Raphael quickly got to his feet and backed up towards them, hands held out in front of him as he kept his eyes on his baby brother.
"Okay, Mike...I can see t-that your not yourself-"
Leonardo piped up from behind him,
"Yeah, way to state the obvious, Raph!"
Raphael growled lowely under his breath as Michelangelo stalked forward, flaming weapon in hand. He really didn't want to fight one of his brothers- especially not his baby bro!
"Not helping, Leo!"
Donatello, thank heavens for him, narrowed his eyes and took out a metal-looking type of rope-thingy from his battle shell and ran towards them. Holding it up, he aimed it towards their baby brother.
"My deepest apologies for this, Angelo!"
All three of them- oh right, Casey also volunteered to accompany them on this junkyard scrap search- watched nervously as the metal band headed towards their youngest, gaping when the orange-banded turtle easy- and with impressive reflexes- jumped over it and flipped backwards, landing neatly on his feet as the band crashed to the ground.
The four of them stood in silence. Leo threw both of his hands out in front of him and towards Michelangelo with a groan.
"Why did it have to be the gymnastics expert that got mind-controlled this time?!"
Raphael paused, confused by the statement before his eyes widened and he stood straighter, dropping his fighting stance as he came up with an idea.
Leonardo got pointedly nudged by a glaring Donatello, making him wince. Casey inhaled sharply, rubbing his arm awkwardly as he avoided eye contact.
"L-Listen, Raph...I shouldn't have-"
Raphael waved him off, eyes still glued to Michelangelo as the young turtle started heading towards then again, and smiled as he did, growing excited.
"No no, Leo...you're a genius!"
Leonardo and Donatello simultaneously stared at their eldest brother as if he lost his big, beautiful mind. Casey looked doubtful. Raphael rolled his eyes.
"You got through to me, so we should be able to get through to Mikey, right!?"
Leonardo perked up, catching on as he turned towards Michelangelo with his own smile...this one determined.
He wasn't happy that he'd have to do this again, but he'd be damned if they lost their heart and soul of the team.
Donatello quickly crunched the numbers and data points in his head.
"I don't know if this is the exact same concept...but it is worth a shot."
Casey nervously spoke up, looking hopeful,
"I-I've seen future Master- I m-mean Michelangelo fight before...maybe I can help?"
Raphael gave his them all a determined nod.
"If all else fails...we do it the Raphael way!"
Leonardo punched his hand.
"Smash the stupid collar to pieces..? I'd be more than happy to, Harmano."
Michelangelo broke into a sprint, and his brothers faced him head on.