Chapter Text
All of New York watched as the explosion from the Technodrome faded from the sky, pieces of the ship raining slowly onto the city. The soft kiss of sunrise made the atmosphere glow with a beautiful mirage of yellows and pinks. If it weren't for the destruction of the city beneath that swirling view, it would be almost possible to forget the nightmare that NYC just went through. The one that the turtles are still living.
Donnie faintly heard Raph's sobs beneath him, but they were distant, an echo drowned out by the static in his head.
He felt something tickling his cheek, so he moved to touch it, remove it. Looking down at his hand, damp with his tears, the soft shell released a ragged breath. The world seemed to stand still.
Leo. His brother. His twin, according to slider himself. Donnie told him numerous times that it wasn't possible for them to be twins. They don't even share the same Family in their taxonomy classifications, which Donnie had tried (and failed) to explain multiple times. Based on that estimate, Leo is likelier to be twins with Mikey.
In spite of this, his brother only paid attention to the age gap between the four of them. Splinter told them that Raph was the oldest and Mikey was the youngest, which left Donnie and Leo as the middle children. Leo had asked if they were twins, and Splinter agreed, much to the slider's excitement. Donnie had also tried to explain that one, Splinter was introduced to them all at the same time, so there is no saying who was actually the youngest or oldest, but also that Dad was in the middle of his show and probably hadn't heard what Leo asked. All of this information did nothing to deter his brother.
Donnie loved him for that.
His brother. Leo. He was... he wasn't here. Donnie looked up from his hand, his ears prickling at the sound of Mikey's anguished cries. The guttural sobs of loss.
Those cries turned into a soft grunt as if the box turtle were under physical duress. Raph and Donnie turned to Mikey, watching as he reached out towards... something. As if trying to materialize Leo from the empty parking lot that stretched out before them. Donnie remembered their earlier conversation with Casey Jones about their future selves.
Casey had told Mikey that he was the world's most powerful mystic warrior and that Mikey was the one to send Casey into the past. His little brother had been ecstatic; He had attempted to use these powers a few times but to no avail. He had first tried when the Kraang-ified bus attacked their rescue party, and when the two of them were trapped in the turtle tank about to be crushed, but neither time had the box shell been able to do anything. Luckily they managed to escape with the help of April and Splinter, but Mikey was still soured that he couldn't save them first.
At that moment, Donnie was incredibly proud to learn of his achievements-yet-to-come from Casey's story. Of course, he knew that he would do many great things in his life, but hearing that he had been, or will be, so incredible.. it was thrilling. And a bit scary. Thinking back on it, Donnie had noticed something, the way Casey spoke, his wording was--
"Mikey, it's over." Donnie was snapped out of his thoughts by Raph. The snapper had a look on his face, flickering emotions Donnie wished he didn't understand. Grief. Mourning. Resignation. He couldn't stand to look at Raph any longer, so he turned back to Mikey. The box turtle didn't move away from the place he stood; instead, he hunched over a bit more, fingers twitching with exertion.
"Leo never gave up on us; I'm not giving up on him!" With a sudden shove and a cry, a painfully bright orange glow surrounded Mikey, worming its way across his body before shooting toward the empty space in front of him.
But now the space wasn't empty anymore.
Instead, a portal much like Leo's appeared, growing slowly. The mystic energy forced from Mikey's hands began to snake up his arm, etching deep glowing lines into his wrists and hands. Donnie made a noise of surprise, moving quickly to his younger brother's side.
"Whatever you're doing, Mikey, don't stop!" Mikey leaned forward, sweat dripping off his furrowed brow. Raph reached out, clutching the box turtle's right shoulder, while Donnie grabbed his left. "We're here, Mikey. Together!"
The three ninpōs merged into one and suddenly the energy that was burning away Mikey made its way across the soft shell's palm, burning intensely with a sharp sting. He did not let go, instead gripping harder. He reached his ninpō out as far as he could, searching. Suddenly he felt it, the blue electric pulse that was Leo's. His brother's. His twin's.
The three cried out in tandem, pulling Leo's energy towards their own. With an abrupt flash, the portal opened.
For a moment, there was light. Red, blinding light, and the most intense heat Donnie had ever felt. Then Donnie saw a figure stumble toward them. There was a grunt, and suddenly, the figure fell through the portal into Raph's open arms. The portal zipped shut, gone much quicker than it had taken to appear. Donnie looked down at the person they had pulled through; the hope fluttering in his chest turned into something that was heavy and gutting.
It was another turtle, but they were much larger than Leo, matching and possibly surpassing Raph's own stature if Donnie were to judge by the fetal position they lay in. This obviously wasn't Leo, yet Donnie couldn't help but notice the cerulean bandana wrapped around their head. There was no question that it was Leo's signature color.
"No.. no, no, no. This was supposed to be Leo. We found his ninpō, we all felt it, right? This.. this isn't Leo!" Mikey cried out, gripping his head in his hands. Donnie tentatively reached out, but Mikey moved quickly out of his grasp, pacing back and forth before coming to a stop. The box turtle raised his head, facing the spot where the portal was. His bandana was damp with tears, the fabric discolored by the moisture.
"Does this mean.. Leo is really..." Mikey couldn't finish the sentence as he lost control of his breathing, his throat hitching loudly. Donnie reached out again to lay a hand on Mikey's shoulder. After a moment, the younger turtle turned towards Donnie, wrapping his arms around the soft shell tightly while sobbing into his plastron.
Could Leo actually be gone? Donnie felt his throat tighten. How could Leo do something this stupid? How could he throw himself head first into danger, time and time again, and never learn? They were supposed to be a family and do these things together. What happened to Leo's character development?
How could he just... leave Donnie behind? The soft shell gripped Mikey a little tighter.
No. No, he couldn't think like that. Leo might be an arrogant, brainless jerk 99.7% of the time, but above all else, Leo was a survivor. The slider might make stupid dum-dum choices, but he knew how to play his cards. Something caught Donnie's attention, and he found himself staring at his bracer, reflecting the rising sun. His eyes widened, and he quickly pulled away from Mikey.
"That's it! The trackers!"
"W-what do you mean, Donnie?" Mikey wiped his snout.
"Remember earlier when we used the subcutaneous tracker to find Raph at the Metro Tower? We all have them, including Leo!" Donnie tapped furiously away on the bracer, pulling up different screens.
"Wait, what trackers?" Raph asked, eye ridge raised in confusion.
"But we already know where he is, Dee. Why would tracking him matter when we still can't reach him?"
"Hold on, what trackers? What are you guys talking about?"
Donnie ignored Raph, pulling up a small screen that displayed their tracker locations. He swiped again, pulling up a screen that had small pictures with little charts and numbers for each of them.
"The trackers were not only meant to locate. I designed them to transfer health information to my bracer, like heart monitors, adrenaline statuses, and oxygen meters. This will tell us if Leo is okay!"
"Donnie, that genius!" Mikey quickly walked over, watching the screen intently. Donnie found Leo's chart, but all the numbers glitched out, changing rapidly with no rhyme or reason. Donnie growled slightly, trying to quickly troubleshoot the program to no avail. After a minute or so, the soft shell swore loudly, earning a soft chide from Raph.
Donnie squeezed his fist tightly, his nails cutting small half-moons into his palm. He opened it up, looking at the grooves when an idea crossed his mind. Donnie moved away from Mikey, then closed his eyes, breathing slowly. Once he felt himself connect to the energy in his core, Donnie brought the palm of his hand down hard onto his bracer. He felt his mystic abilities surround him, pooling his energy into his tech. He watched the screen flicker in a bright lavender glow, Leo's vitals flashing even quicker. Donnie focused all of his power on connecting to his brother, linking them together through the digital and mystical. This continues, and Donnie is almost ready to give up when the numbers cease.
Leo's heart monitor beat steadily. A bit fast, but alive. Donnie let out a breath, his powers fading, but the numbers remained as they should.
"He's...alive. He's alive!" Raph cheered, and Mikey and Donnie hugged each other once again. There was still hope!
"This doesn't explain the mutant, though." Donnie waved a hand toward the turtle in question.
"Maybe we accidentally snatched him from somewhere else?" Mikey was staring at the turtle as well, and Donnie saw a dark look cross the box shell's face. Donnie would unpack that at a later date.
"That doesn't explain his ninpō. As you said, Michel, we all felt it."
"Guys.." Raph spoke with a nervous tone. The duo turned to him as he leaned over the man still nested in his lap. There was a look on his face as he gazed down at the stranger, a soft yet guarded look of bewilderment. Raph looked up at his younger brothers.
"I think this might be Leo."
"That is not Leo, Raph. I mean, just look at him!" Mikey's expression turned into something egregious as he pointed at the slumped shape.
"I am, Mikey. I mean, I really am lookin' at him. You guys should, too." The two brothers moved to stand over Raph and the stranger as the snapper turned their head slightly over to make it visible. Donnie felt Mikey stiffen next to him. Sure, the turtle was much older, covered in numerous scars and scrapes, but there was no mistaking that face. The scarlet markings, the bandana, Donnie could even see the scar he had accidentally given Leo when they were younger.
Donnie had dared Leo to do a handstand while going down the skate ramp. This was before Donnie had realized the slider would never back down from a dare, no matter the challenge. This, of course, ended with a broken board and a small but deep cut on the left side of Leo's jaw shaped almost like a moon (Mikey's observation) or a fingernail clipping (Raph's observation). It was virtually indistinguishable, but it was something Leo had constantly held over Donnie's head.
"You know, Don, it would be a real shame if dad found out how I got this scar, huh?. How about you watch "Jupitar Jim Versus the Dastardly Dingodevils from Planet Alpha-Centauri 7B" with me, and we'll call it even?"
And Donnie, of course, watched it out of fear of punishment, but that didn't stop Leo from using it as an excuse to blackmail him at any given chance. So much for 'calling it even.'
Leonardo groaned softly as he shifted his body more onto his shell, exposing more of his physique to the other turtles. Raph visibly tensed, unsure of what to do. Donnie moved a bit closer, leaning down as he inspected the slider. He glanced down the battle-marred plastron until his eyes focused in on a splash of red. Donnie reached down slowly, moving away the man's large hand to find a deep puncture wound bleeding steadily.
"He's injured, Raphael." His older brother looked down, tight-lipped, as the snapper thought of what to do next.
Sensing movement, Donnie jumped back as the doppelgänger's hand moved, rising up toward Raph's face. It cupped his cheek, pulling him out of thought. Leonardo's eyelids fluttered softly, a few tears soaking into the cerulean bandana he wore. Leonardo trained his gaze on Raph as a slew of different emotions slid across his eyes. Slowly, a smile began to stretch across his face, not one of Leo's signature smirks but one that radiated pure relief. Peace.
"Hey there, big brother." Leonardo's voice was hoarse, barely louder than a throaty whisper. His large thumb rubbed the snapper's brow ridge for a moment, as if he was trying to smooth out the so-called 'Raph Chasm' that adorned the eldest's face. He smiled wider, tears flowing freely now. The brothers were all silent, still as they watched the slider weep and love so openly. So unlike their own Leo.
"Raphael..." Somehow Leonardo spoke even softer now, low and steady. His eyes never left Raph's.
"Raph... I'm ready," he paused, his face trembling slightly but not of fear. It was a look Donnie could only describe as anticipation.
"I'm ready to go now. To go with you. Please, big brother, take me home." His breath hitched as he spoke, then the man tensed up and began coughing slightly. Donnie saw a few flecks of blood fly from his lips onto Raph's face, but his brother didn't flinch. Raph was instead pale, stock still, eyes wide and panicking. After the fit was done, Leonardo relaxed once again in Raph's lap, his breathing labored and sharp. He let out a choked noise as his eyes fell back closed.
"Home.."
The smile stayed true even as the turtle slipped back into unconsciousness.
Donnie kneeled next to the turtle so he could press down on the wound. He shivered slightly at the contact of blood, but he held firm.
"Raph, I'm going to need your help getting him back to the lair. I think he may have a pneumothorax, so you must be careful moving him." Raph's eyes raised to meet Donnie's. He was still shaken up, but he nodded, slowly climbing to his feet as he moved around the doppelgänger. Raph lifted him, cradling Leonardo best he could as he took off towards home. Donnie turned back to Mikey, ready to follow Raph back but paused when he noticed his little brother.
Mikey stood in the same place as before, feet planted wide, a determined light in his eye as he raised his hands once again. Donnie quickly reached over to Mikey, grabbing his hands as gently as possible to guide them downwards.
"No, Angelo, you can't. Not now. Leo is fine; all of his vitals seem normal enough for the time being. He is okay, but you won't be if you try that again," Donnie turned over Mikey's hands, inspecting the damage.
"We need you safe, so you can help bring him home when the time comes." With that, Mikey's shoulders sagged. Donnie gave his brother's arm a gentle squeeze, then pulled him along. They had to get home soon, or else they might lose another Leonardo.
____________________
Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.
The room smelled like a hospital, or at least what Mikey thought a hospital smelled like. And despite what anyone may think, hospitals and sewers did not go together.
Mikey always hated the Medbay, with its clean surfaces and bright lights. It was as if the room was purposefully mocking its occupants,
'Good luck getting comfortable in here!'
How was a turtle supposed to get any R&R when the room itself seemed to hate you?
Leo loved it in here, though. He always said the sterile environment made him feel right at home, which confused Mikey since Leo was probably the second messiest family member, right after the box turtle himself.
Mikey was always trying to add decorations to the medbay. Things like origami flowers artwork, pillows and blankets, almost anything that would put color in the room. Something that would bring light and warmth to the hostile environment.
Leo would then proceed to remove it, scolding Mikey with an obnoxious tut-tut. But Mikey was not a quitter and took it as a challenge to see just how much stuff he could sneak inside. When Leo returned from a night at Señor Hueso's to find almost every piece of furniture in the Lair neatly packed into the medbay, he finally relented.
Mikey was allowed to paint a mural of his choice above the beds. He had full reign as long as Leo didn't deem it "too distressing." The box shell spent the next week mulling over his decision, changing his mind repeatedly until the perfect idea came to mind.
It was New York City at night, buildings high above and below, and at the center was a large full moon. He used a variety of purples and pinks for the lighting of the city. When he pulled in his brothers to show off the completed piece, Raph almost started crying. Donnie gave him an approving nod, and Leo rubbed the top of Mikey's head, his fingers scratching his scalp in the way Mikey loved.
Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.
It had been 7 hours since they got home. Mikey knew because he had been listening to that damned clock slowly ticking by with each aching second, sitting in that awful plastic chair. He was pretty sure this was the longest he had ever spent in one place, even while sleeping.
Sometimes throughout the night, Mikey would wake up just to move to another part of his room. Hammock to beanbag, then to bed, then back again. Other times he would go to one of his brothers' rooms if he was lonely or lay in the den to fall asleep to the TV. Mikey was always moving, constantly changing. But he didn't feel like doing that right now. He didn't want to do much of anything.
So instead, he stayed in the medbay, letting his nostrils burn with antiseptic and lemon he stared at Leonardo.
Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.
He watched as the turtle's chest rose and fell slowly, which was much different than the shallow, wheezing breaths he had before Donnie put the tube in his chest.
Sometimes he would twitch, and his face would scrunch up in a funny way. Mikey thought the man might be suffering from nightmares, but they seemed to leave as quickly as they came.
Donnie had explained the procedure to Mikey as the box shell watched. Usually, Leo was in charge of the medical stuff, but Donnie was a good substitute, knowledgeable but with zero bedside etiquette.
"When Leondardo was shot, a hole was put in his lung. When this happens, instead of air staying inside his lung, it fills the area around the outside of it. The air squeezes the lung, which makes it hard for Leonardo to breathe," Mikey watched as a spider-like appendage made the incision in the slider's ribcage, under his arm and right above the curve where his plastron and carapace met. He had to look away quickly after, feeling slightly nauseous.
Donnie was preparing a long thin tube that was attached to a strange looking box-thing.
"What's the point of the tube?"
"The catheter-- or tube, will help let out the air that is squeezing his lung," Donnie
"So how do you plug the hole?"
"The body is the world's most efficient machine, Michel. Once all of the air is removed from 'Nardo's lung, it will block the hole by itself." There was a momentary pause.
"Unless it can't, in which case we can use his own blood," Mikey kept his eyes trained on the floor until he knew Donnie was finished, not wanting to get sick.
Donnie had saved the slider's life, fixing his noomo... his pnewmo... his punctured lung. The soft shell said that he would probably be unconscious for a long time, the next few days at least. Donnie had also confirmed that this was, in fact, their brother. His and Leo's DNA were identical.
While Mikey was happy about the slider's health improvement, he couldn't deny the growing knot in his stomach. Yes, that was technically Leonardo. Yes, Mikey had presumably saved his life by portaling him, and he didn't regret that.
But...
That turtle was not his brother.
And because of that, Mikey was angry. He shouldn't be angry at that man, that "Leo". But he didn't know where else to focus that anger. Whatever rage he couldn't channel towards himself ran wild, and the sleeping turtle with his brother's face seemed a fine place to direct it.
And yet, as much as Mikey wanted to scream at the turtle, to shake him awake and force him to give his brother back, he couldn't bring himself to even approach Leonardo's bed.
Maybe it was his subconscious, reminding him that this was his brother, even if just by blood. Or perhaps it was his empathy towards Casey Jones, who had been sleeping in the chair at the side of the bed. His hand clutched Leonardo's tightly as if he would disappear without Casey tethering him down.
Either way, Mikey wouldn't be trying anything physical with the man, even if his bandaged hands itched for a fight.
He looked down at his hands, imagining the sharp, fine lines etched deep into his skin. The lines almost had a strange glow to them, similar to his spots when he activated his ninpō. They were a constant reminder of what he sacrificed to bring home his brother, and how he still failed. A part of him wondered if they would ever fade, or would they be there for the rest of his life?
He shook his head, urging the thoughts away. Thinking like that didn't do him any good, and neither did the thoughts about assaulting Leonardo.
Mikey rose to his feet, his back and legs aching more than he realized. He hobbled slowly out of the room, trying not to make any noise. As soon as he was free, the box shell twisted his core around and got a satisfying pop in response. He felt some of the tension leave his body as he wandered further away from the medbay. The sudden protest in his stomach decided his next stop.
As he made his way to the kitchen, he could begin to hear voices coming from the den. He wasn't surprised when he found Raph, April, and Splinter talking, discussing Leonardo, the Kraang, and his brother. They had been there whenever Mikey first headed to the Medbay, and he wasn't shocked to find them here now, still going over everything that had transpired. He was pretty positive they would keep going until the sun rose again.
He made the assumption that nobody had eaten yet, so Mikey began to bustle around the kitchen, preparing to make a meal. He grabbed a pizza box but paused as his stomach did a small flip. Eating pizza with his family incomplete..? Mikey set the box back down, deciding to make Pasta Carbonara.
Mikey gathered his ingredients, letting his thoughts slip away as he moved with the familiarity of the kitchen. This was his space, and he knew it like the back of his hand. He wondered if this was how Leo felt about the Medbay.
While Mikey was filling a large pot with water, he heard a loud clang come from down the hall, presumably from Donnie's lab. The soft shell had split off from the group after patching up everyone's wounds, not wasting a moment before retreating to the sanctity of his workshop. Mikey swore Donnie hadn't taken his eyes off of his bracer for more than 5 minutes at a time, the screen showing Leo's vitals on constant display.
His brother said that Leo was stable, but he was possibly injured. Donnie didn't offer any more information than that, but the box shell didn't need him to. He could see the worry etched deep on the turtle's face.
Mikey had a decent handle on reading Donnie's emotions, even when he was pulling his "emotionally unavailable bad boy" gimmick. But as the morning went on, he could see his brother beginning to put up his walls, shutting everyone and everything away. Donnie was no doubt worried about his twin, and as soon everyone was medically cleared, Donnie scurried off, most likely working on something to free Leo.
Setting the pot on the stovetop, he flicked the burner alight. He began adding salt to the water as his eyes drifted down toward his hands again. Mikey set down the shaker before he spread his fingers slowly. He turned his palm inwards and toward his face.
Maybe he could... no. Not now, at least.
He needed time to let his hands heal before making another portal. Not to mention he needed his brothers' help to make one, and they would never agree to let him try again so soon. If the box shell tried it alone... he knew what would happen.
He had felt it as he created the portal, the energy that had rushed through his veins, the fire that pulsed through every nerve ending in his body. Mikey was naive, but he wasn't stupid.
Making a portal like that alone would kill him.
To say that scared him was a mild understatement. The fact that he possessed more than enough power to completely disintegrate his body was down right terrifying, and the idea of trying to do something like that again made his knees weak. But, if that's what he had to do to get Leo back, Mikey would not hesitate.
A hand gripped his shoulder, startling Mikey out of his thoughts. His heart pounded loudly in his chest as he turned to find Raph smiling sheepishly beside him.
"Sorry 'bout that. Didn't mean to spook ya'." Mikey felt his annoyance melt away as his big brother smiled down at him. He returned the expression, giving Raph's hand a gentle pat with his own.
"I always forget how sneaky a big guy like you can be." Raph chuckled, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze before moving to lean against the island in the middle of the kitchen.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, pretty hungry. I hope you guys are feeling pasta, 'cuz I got some lovely Carbonara on the way." The water was boiling, so he tossed in the noodles and began to stir.
"Sounds good to me, s'been since I ate... well, anything." Mikey stopped cold, turning to Raph.
How could he have forgotten?
He had been so focused on Leo, so preoccupied with everything else, that the Kraang and Raph had slipped his mind. Mikey's mouth quivered as tears began to bubble to the surface. He threw himself towards Raph, wrapping his arms tightly around the snapper's waist as he started babbling loudly into his plastron.
"I'm so--so sorry, Raphie, I just-- I forgot, I can m-make you something quick right now, whatever you w-want; I'm so sorry--" Raph softly hushed as his large arms enveloped the box shell's smaller frame.
"Shh. S'okay, baby brother. Raph's gotcha. You're safe, I promise." The snapper rubbed soothing circles into his carapace as he continued to whisper soft reassurances. They stayed like that, holding each other tightly until Mikey began to calm down. He pulled his face back a bit, looking up at Raph.
"I was so scared for you, big brother. I didn't... I didn't know what to do. What to do if you didn't come back.."
Raph cupped his brother's cheek, swiping a large thumb underneath his eye to collect the last stray tears. Raph then gave him his signature snaggle-toothed smile.
"M'here now, Mikey. And I don't plan on leaving you any time soon, neither. You're stuck with me for the long haul, little man." They laughed together, Raph gently pulling away from the hug.
"You should probably check on ya' food. We don't want those noodles getting mushy, now do we?" Raph rubbed Mikey's head, smiling at him as the box shell turned to check on the pasta.
Mikey continued to cook while Raph watched. It reminded him of when they were younger. Mikey had just discovered the food network and 'Kondescending Kitchen' , and he was determined to make his first Risotto. This, of course, terrified his older brother. Raph planted himself in the kitchen, watching Mikey like a hawk. At any sign of danger, Raph would pick up Mikey to "save" him, and Mikey would kick and scream until Raph released him. This would continue until Mikey finally finished the dish and fed it to Raph. His brother's eyes filled to the brim with tears, and he began shoveling more into his mouth.
None of the family got to try it, but that dish kept Raph from banning Mikey from the kitchen, so the box shell didn't complain. Risotto was still Raph's favorite food, bar pizza.
For a while, they just enjoyed each other's presence, and Mikey could almost pretend the last 48 hours hadn't happened. But they did happen. They were still happening right now, and Mikey couldn't keep pushing it off.
"Raph?"
"Yeah, bud?"
"What are we gonna do?" Mikey asked softly, his tone barely louder than a whisper. He gripped his spoon hard as he stared into the pot. Raph sighed, pulling a hand down his tired face.
"M'honestly not sure. We're looking into anything that could help. Donnie is doing his thing; I think he said somethin' 'bout trying to use his ninpō to build somethin'? And Dad is gonna search his scrolls for any mention of the Prison Dimension. I was gonna ask ya' if you could send a message to Barry, see if he could stop by 'n lend us a hand," Mikey nodded at that. He figured Baron Draxum would be one of the best people to help with this situation. Maybe he had some mystic-dimension-hopper-device that he had yet to share?
Mikey's thoughts turned towards their other Raph-sized problem.
"What about.. big Leonardo? What are we going to do with him?" Raph turned towards the tunnel leading to the medbay. He had a peculiar look on his face, like he was in deep thought.
"M'hoping that maybe he could give us some insight into our situation. If Casey is right, he is Leo from the future, one who went up against the Kraang. Maybe he knows more 'bout the Prison Dimension." Mikey frowned a bit.
"Are you sure we can trust him, Raph?"
The snapper looked over at Mikey, slight shock on his face.
"I mean, Casey worships the ground he walks, so he can't be that bad. Besides, he is our brother. It's Leo."
The stone in Mikey's gut grew heavier as he bristled at his brother's words.
Mikey didn't like calling the turtle anything other than Leonardo because felt like betrayal. He couldn't stand how his family used Leo's nicknames to describe the doppelgänger. Sure, maybe the guy's name is Leonardo, but that did not make him Leo, or Leon, or 'Nardo, or even Blue. The man had already stolen his brother's face, but Mikey would not let him take his brother's name, too.
Mikey knew it was silly, being this upset over a name. But that didn't make the anger blistering in his head lessen.
But a voice spoke in Mikey's brain, much softer than the festering anger. One that had been scratching at the back of his mind all day, nagging and itching and oh so very annoying.
You need him.
Mikey was really starting to hate that voice.