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The city’s skyline twinkled in the distance, a quiet lull of life continuing on, unaware of what had almost been lost. Mikey sat on the rooftop of their old haunt, knees pulled to his chest as the familiar night breeze ruffled the edges of his orange mask. The world was saved. But something had been left behind in that final battle—something he wasn’t sure they could ever get back.
The brothers were healing, but Mikey felt it. The cracks between them. They had won, yes, but the cost weighed heavily, like the shell on his back had doubled in size.
Especially for Leo.
Mikey glanced toward the dark stairwell where Leo had disappeared hours ago. He hadn’t said anything, just slipped into the shadows after they returned home. He'd been quiet ever since the Krang were defeated, pulling away from the team. From them.
Mikey swallowed the knot in his throat and stood, his nunchaku lightly tapping against his side as he walked across the rooftop, his footsteps soft. He made his way downstairs, weaving through the abandoned subway tunnels that used to be full of laughter and noise. The lair felt empty, quieter than it should.
As he approached Leo’s cart, he hesitated. The door was cracked, and through the small opening, he saw his brother sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at his katanas, which rested against the wall. Leo’s hands were gripping his knees, his posture rigid and tense. He looked like a shadow of the brother Mikey knew.
The portal. The sacrifice. The terror of almost losing Leo had haunted Mikey every night since then, replaying the moment over and over in his dreams. He could only imagine what Leo was feeling. The weight he carried on his shoulders.
Mikey exhaled softly and knocked on the door. “Leo?”
Leo didn’t turn around. “You should be sleeping, Mike.”
Mikey pushed the door open and stepped inside. “I couldn’t. I... I knew you’d be in here.”
Leo's back stiffened, but he didn't reply. The silence between them stretched, heavy and thick, like the walls of the room were closing in.
“I’m worried about you,” Mikey admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Leo chuckled dryly, shaking his head. “Why? I’m fine, Mikey. You don’t need to worry about me.”
That hurt more than Mikey expected. The coldness. The distance.
“Fine? You almost—” Mikey’s voice cracked, and he bit his lip, trying to keep his emotions from spilling over. “You almost died, Leo. You left us. You left me.”
Leo’s hand flexed on his knee, his knuckles going white. “I had to. You know that.”
“But you didn’t have to do it alone.” Mikey’s voice rose, and he stepped closer. “We’re supposed to be a team! But you didn’t trust us to help. You didn’t trust me.”
That seemed to get through. Leo’s shoulders slumped, his hands dropping to his sides as he turned his head slightly, enough that Mikey could see the strain on his face. “I couldn’t risk it,” Leo muttered. “I couldn’t risk losing any of you.”
Mikey’s heart broke a little more. He had seen the fear in Leo’s eyes during the battle, the way he looked at all of them, like he was willing to bear every burden just to keep them safe. But it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.
“You’re not alone, Leo,” Mikey said softly, taking a seat beside him on the bed. “We’re not going to let you carry everything on your own. That’s not what being a brother means.”
Leo finally turned to face him, his blue eyes dim, full of guilt. “But I—” His voice faltered. “I screwed up, Mikey. I almost got everyone killed. Raph, Donnie, you—everything could’ve been destroyed because of me.”
Mikey felt his chest tighten. He couldn’t stand seeing Leo like this, so broken and weighed down by guilt. “You saved us. You saved the world, Leo. That’s what matters.”
Leo shook his head, his jaw clenched. “I almost didn’t. If it weren’t for you pulling me back... I don’t even know what would’ve happened. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
There it was—the root of it all. The fear. The helplessness. The crushing weight of his own self-blame and gulit.
Mikey leaned in, resting his forehead against Leo’s shoulder. “You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have all the answers. We’re in this together, remember? You don’t have to carry the world on your own.”
Leo’s breath hitched, and for a moment, Mikey thought his brother might break. Leo’s hands trembled slightly as he lifted them, resting one on Mikey’s head, the other gripping his shoulder. His voice, when he spoke, was barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, Mikey. I’m so sorry.”
Mikey hugged him, his arms wrapping around Leo tightly. “You don’t have to apologize. Just... let us in. Don’t shut us out like this.”
They sat there for a long time, the quiet hum of the lair filling the space around them. Mikey held onto Leo like he was afraid he’d disappear again, but slowly, he felt the tension in Leo’s body start to ease. His brother’s grip on his shoulder tightened, but this time it wasn’t out of fear—it was something softer, something full of relief.
“I thought I lost you,” Mikey whispered, his voice breaking. “I thought you were gone.”
Leo’s head dipped, and he pressed his forehead against Mikey’s. “You didn’t. You never will.”
It wasn’t an easy fix. The hurt, the fear, the weight of what they’d been through—none of that could be erased with a single hug. But in that moment, under the dim lights of their quiet lair, Mikey felt something ease inside him. The cracks were still there, but maybe they could heal together, piece by piece.
Leo sighed, leaning back slightly, his hand still resting on Mikey’s head. “You’re... really annoying, you know that?”
Mikey chuckled, wiping his eyes. “Yeah, well, someone’s gotta keep you in check.”
Leo smiled—a real, genuine smile—and for the first time in weeks, Mikey saw a flicker of the old Leo, the one who made bad jokes and thought he was invincible. It wasn’t all better yet, but it was a start.
“Thanks, Mikey,” Leo whispered.
“Anytime, big brother.” Mikey squeezed his hand. “Anytime.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Leo didn’t pull away.