Chapter Text
Author's Note:
In this version of TMNT I made a few changes to the story.
-The awful Bigfoot episode never existed but Donnie's development from that episode stays and April politely turns him down.
-April doesn't have psychic bullshit powers (yet?)
-The episode "The Croaking" is relevant to Mikey's character.
-Casey's dad and sister (who are named Javier and Jessica) are in the picture and during the season, Casey regrew his familial bond with his father and sister.
-We start off after the events of "Eyes of the Chimera" and sadly, "Vision Quest" will not be included.
The warrior knows that peace does not come from control but from relinquishing control. Everything in life that you try to control that is outside your control will steal from you your peace. You must choose to take hold of what you can control and let go of what you cannot. You cannot control your circumstances, but you can control your character.
You cannot control the actions of others, but you can control the choices you make.
You cannot control the outcome, but you can control the process.
The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace
Clack
The mahogany brown suitcase containing Michealangelo's Crognard figurines snapped shut. It was pretty big, it could probably fit his whole body if he needed a hiding space. The leathery texture rubbed against his fingers as he takes in the comforting feel. It was....like a warm embrace to him. Not like the embraces he gives to his brothers and friends. No, it was something else. Something that feels almost unobtainable to him. But like a nice.....If he can describe the feeling, he would say it feels like if seeing a fairy in the forest was a touch. It felt magical yet so surreal. Man, now he wants a hug-
"Mikey!"
The younger brother snaps out of his weird trance and turned quickly to find his older brother, Raphael. He leans against the door, looking at him. "You doing alright?" Ever since the Punk Frogs incident, Mikey has been talking slightly less towards his family, usually cooping himself up in his room and playing video games or talking with Ice Cream Kitty. Why should he if this pattern of constant judgement from his family is going to continue? The Shellacne incident, Bradford, the Punk Frogs event, it seems like no matter what he does, he's always going to end up being blamed for SOMETHING. Especially by Raph with the constant teasing and smacking and pranking. It feels like the reason he exists was to just be the family's punching bag.
But something about Raph was sort of....different.
Mikey finally answers his brother, who walked towards him and sits right by him on the creaky bed of his temporary room. "Yeah, why?" Raph sheepishly shrugs. "You've been talking less to us after you tried to ran away. I just-I just-" The turtle tries to find his words but his brother finishes his sentence. "Were looking out for me?" Mikey's cerulean blue eyes lit up a bit at the thought of someone caring. Raph sighs and smiles, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Yeah." He gets up, cutting their conversation short. "Well, holler at me when you're ready to bring your stuff to the Shellraiser." He says awkwardly while exiting the room, leaving Mikey alone once again.
Of course, when Splinter went missing and Leo going into his coma, he had to take charge as head of the family. Just looking at him is a sad sight, with bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep he had. But, it seems like it's getting better. Raph hasn't punched him in 3 weeks, 1 day, 8 hours, and 5 minutes, so the big guy's gotta feel bad for him, right? Mikey can't help but still feel bad for his brother despite the hurt. Same for the rest of his family. After all, he wouldn't be alive if they didn't love him.
So if they loved him, why do they constantly hurt him?
Mikey shakes his head. It's too confusing to think about, especially since he should focus on the fact that they're finally going home after what feels like years. He takes a deep optimistic inhale and breaths out the negative energy. With a big dumb smile on his face, his hand latches onto the handle of the suitcase and gets up. As he walked out the room, he passes by Jessica, Casey's 11 year old sister. Her twin braids, one having a teal streak, were a bit messy from the summer heat from inside the house. Her converse screeched against the wooden floor in front of Mikey, panting. "Micheal, do you know a good hiding spot? I've heard you're good at that!" She says while chuckling mischievously. Mikey raised a cocky eyebrow and crosses his arms. "Jess, did my influence rub off against you?" He puts a hand on his chest and gasps dramatically. "Whatever did you do to surpass me?!" Before the preteen can respond properly, a booming shout of anger echoes from the other side of the house. "JESSICA DE LA CRUZ CASTILLO!" The pair's pupils shrunk and they jolted at the noise. Before Mikey can even process what's going on, Jessica ran like a lion was after her. The turtle hears another pair of converses and when he turns, Casey was bolting through the halls, but he was strangely soaking wet with water. "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU.....YOU LITTLE....ARGHH YOU LITTLE BRAT!"
Huh, the little gremlin got a hold of the way of the water balloon.
Mikey chuckles to himself and shakes his head, but his thoughts were interrupted by the human boy grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him. "Micheal! Where did you see Jessica-" But before he could finish his sentence, a bright pink balloon filled with shaving cream collided with the back of his head, making Casey jolt up from the cold substance. He turned angrily to a laughing Jessica, her braces fully in view as she howled like a hyena and clutched onto her stomach. While he had the shot, Casey used it to put her in a headlock. Jessica hacked and repeatedly hits her brother in the stomach to get him to let her go. The two siblings argued while the rest of the turtle siblings watched the scene. Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey looked at them wide eyed and feeling like they shouldn't be witnessing it.
As the pair fought, a pair of big strong hands picked them up by the scruff easily like kittens. As they were hoisted, Casey and Jess swatted their hands at each other as if they were middle schoolers fighting in the playground. Holding them was none other than their dad, Javier, shirtless and still sopping wet from his refreshing shower. Water was dripping from his black and partially gray hair to his stubble to his russet skin and surprisingly toned body (at least for a dad). On the hand that was holding Jessica was a white shirt with the text Zacatecas, Mex., implying that Javier was in the middle of changing before his kids decided to be pains in asses. Denim jeans, a jet black belt, and socks were the only things the man was wearing. His kids continued to quarrel but stopped once he gives the two a death stare. His sepia eyes pierced through his kid's eyes as if he was going to suck the soul out of their frail skinny bodies. "Aplacàte." He says, his Spanish accent seeping between his gritted teeth. Lightly placing the kids back on their feet, everyone stayed silent. Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey all collectively agreed through their hypothetical sibling mental connection to never piss off Javier, even as a prank.
The middle aged man inhaled and exhaled sharply and claps his hands together. "We're leaving in 20 minutes so if you have everything, Raph, Alejandro, and I will put them in the Turtle Mobile." He chuckles, referring to Casey's real name as he pats his and Raph's backs. The brawns of the group turned around and head out the door to get their ride ready. On his side, Donnie looked at him with the most disgusting and offended expression. "Turtle....Mobile?" His head slowly turned to April's gaze, who was trying super hard not to burst in laughter. Donnie continues. "He called my passion project.....the Turtle MOBILE? Who does he think we are?! BATMAN?! Who. WHO on Mother Nature's Green Earth would refer to my life's work.....as a MOBILE?"
April retaliates. "Hey! He thinks Batman is pretty cool! What did he ever do to you?"
"Be a rich person. Not dedicate passion and work to his gadgets. That's cheating in science!"
The ginger puts a hand on her hip. "Dee, that's Iron Man."
"All rich white guys in superhero films are the same." The turtle grits through his gap teeth. April punches him on the shoulder playfully as she laughs and then leaves the room to get her luggage. Don smiles as he watches her leave, but his smile slowly fades. His brother in blue notices the shift in emotion in his youngest brother.
"Hey, you two seem to be getting along!" Leo tries to cheer his brother up.
"Yeah! I mean, no? I...I don't know." The Donnie from last month would have lied to April, saying he likes Batman too. He would have tried to keep up the conversation until she had to leave. Since April basically said "You're like a brother to me" after the lovestruck turtle poured his heart out to her, he's been like Mikey: confused. Obviously he still wants to retain the friendship. April was cool and she's definitely not the bad guy. Actually, one month ago, Donnie would be considered the bad guy since the illusion of love only made him do things to make the poor girl uncomfortable. From finding the exact coordinates to her apartment, stalking her while she was living her school life with Casey, the music box he gave of her and him literally being so possessive over her.
"Leo can I ask you something?" He asks his older brother. Leo nods.
"Is it possible to really feel love again after rejection?"
"Oh boy, Don." He rubs the back of his neck with his hand while giving an exasperated sigh. "Listen, it's normal for teens to go through that stuff. Ask Casey. He's been through this a ton of times but he-he's not taking it personally!"
"CASEY'S not a mutant turtle, though. I mean, is there ANY other person who would be into me?! And even if they are a mutant, what if I'm not up to their standards? Or even worse, what if I repeat the same behaviors I did with April?! I don't wanna do that!"
Leo can tell this whole thing's been confusing his younger brother. Love is a confusing thing. But Leo knows Donnie is afraid of that feeling now. "Come on, Don. Don't be so hard on yourself."
The creaking of the Shellraiser's trunk whines as Javier lifts the back door. He sweats a bit in the warm July heat, his white t-shirt hugging his upper body and shaping his fit frame. His arm wipes the sweat from his forehead and shoulder-length black hair. He turns his head up to the sky, letting out a sigh when the cool farm breeze hits his exposed skin. Meanwhile in the background, Casey and Raph lift heavy luggage, imitating jocks with dumbbells and competing on who's the one with more muscles than brain cells. Due to his short stature, Raph was a bit slower on carrying his baggage. Something seemed off, like he was mentally occupied with something.
April walks in the room, worried. "I looked all over the house. His room, the living room, the stable, even the kitchen! No sign of Mikey." Her face scrunched with concern. First, Splinter, then Leo, and then Mikey? What the hell is happening to this family? In the far side, Raph started to become impatient. 5 hours. 5 hours and his little brother hasn't shown his face or bothered to clean up the mess he made earlier. Some promise he made to him. Casey and Jessica sit on the couch, quiet as they try their best to stay out of the family quarrels. It felt all too familiar with the brother. The youngest held the bowl holding Ice Cream Kitty, who was meowing sadly.
"Don't worry April, he couldn't have gone far." Donnie tried to reassure her. That statement was enough to make Raph growl in annoyance. "He'll show up. He's a big boy." What would Leo do? The purple clad turtle turned to his older brother. "Really? NOW? It's not the time to be Raph right now." The red clad turtle angrily slammed his hands against the table, and throws his hands up to the air. "TO BE RAPH?! If anything, now's not the time for MIKEY to be MIKEY. With all of THIS going on!? You know what?! Maybe this is a good sign! No, this is a great sign!"
"Raph-"
"He never does anything except for eat, sleep, goof off, and be a big screw up! Ha, without him, I have a LOT less to deal with now-"
"TAKE THAT BACK!" Donnie screams at him, but Raph doesn't listen.
"I HOPE HE NEVER COMES BA-"
SMACK!
The shorter turtle was interrupted by someone hitting the back of his head. Javier stood behind him, not saying a single word. The whole room went dead silent, the turtles, April, Casey and Jessica staring at the older man in shock. Before anyone can say something, though, he grabs Raphael by the shell and drags him outside to the porch. The moon shined its brightest, with the stars decorating the sky. The red turtle squirmed underneath the man. "OI! WHAT WAS THAT FOR, YOU OLD FART-" Javier threw Raph in front of him, roughly. "Cabron, ven pa aca! HAVE you learned NOTHING?" He stares at Raph, with eyes piercing him like a lion's stare. The older man gripped his wrist tightly to the point where his blood flow is slowly waning from his 3 fingered hand. The teen still stared at him with anger. "Who was the person who called Michelangelo a screw up? A MISTAKE? Something not worth protecting?" Javier yanked Raph's wrist as he tried to break free from his grip. "Your brother LOVES you!"
"No he doesn't!"
"Yes he does! Why do you think he ran off?! Because you pushed him to! He ran off because of you!" Javier's brown eyes pierced into Raph's eyes more harshly. "And you haven't learned how to appreciate what you have, even after you lost-" "DON'T REMIND ME!" Raph yelled, ripping out of the grasp from his wrist. "YOU THINK I'M NOT DEALING WITH SHIT TOO?! HUH?! IT'S-IT'S-LEO-I- IT'S HARD, OKAY?! Leo- I don't - I don't know how he does it, or how Splinter did it, or even how they both dealt with me?!" He starts to take shorter breaths as he poured his heart out. Javier's facial expression softened as he sees the hothead try his best not to crumble. He sees how soon this child was thrown into this situation with no warning.
".........I don't know....but even though I can tell you've been dealing with a lot....." Raph was taken aback when Javier gently grabs his shoulders. "It doesn't give you a right to hurt the people you love because you are. I know deep down....you're scared of something happening to him." The teen tries his best not to let his eyes well up. Javier continues. "I have that same feeling every time Casey took a lot longer to come back from what I assumed was hockey practice......" The old man pauses, keeping eye contact. "But I didn't tell him how I felt....PLEASE." He gently shakes the turtle. "Do not make the same mistakes I did. Mikey's your family. And he loves you. And I hope you make the healthiest decision for both him, your brothers, and you, Raphael."
Javier gives Raph's shoulders a final pat and leaves the porch, letting the turtle process his words. Raph's short but long breaths echoes with the wind as he realizes. The old man's right, it WAS his fault that his brother's lost and could be killed. And it was his job as an older brother to fix his mistakes.
With a lamp he found in the shed, he looks at the ocean of trees and forest and enters, searching for Mikey.
"Raph?"