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It was just another day in which a simple disagreement escalated into an argument. Leonardo stood up and began excusing himself when Raphael interrupted.
“Just gonna walk away like ya did in Donnie’s nightmare world, huh?”
A look darkened the countenance of the leader, shadows extending over his face as he turned away.
“No wonder, with the way you persecute me for crimes I have yet to commit.”
The jaws of the younger two dropped, but it was Michelangelo who reacted first.
“Leo, wait!” he reached out to a retreating figure.
“Hey, uh, Don?” The youngest turned back to see the brawler look uncertainly at the genius who suddenly placed his head in his hands, struggling to breathe.
“Donnie!”
In moments the eldest was back in the room, flying to his younger brother’s side. He took his hands and squeezed, reminding him to breathe and giving guided breaths. Overhearing the commotion, Splinter also appeared and gave orders for the older two to lead the purple-banded turtle to his quarters while the youngest retrieved his medicine and some water. Once everyone completed their task, they were all dismissed despite their concerns.
Without a word they left into the living room, until the youngest turned to the older turtles.
“What the hell is wrong with you two, arguing in front of Donnie like that?” he spat.
“Hey, Mike, we—"
“You,” he pointed at Raph. “You really have a history of doing stuff without thinking, but this? Why did you have to even mention what he went through? Too busy taking a jab at Leo to care who else you hurt? Didn’t even notice the irony in what you said applying to both of you, huh?”
“Mikey, we’re sor—”
“And you!” He turned to Leo. “You don’t ever argue with anyone like you do with him! But instead of ending it you either escalate it to get the final word in or walk away to piss him off more! Or do you not even notice the irony in what you do applying to both of you in that situation either?”
The two turtles stood stunned, staring at the orange-banded ninja who rarely displayed such anger. He caught his breath and then lowered his voice.
“Figure your shit out, both of you! Because if you keep hurting Donnie like that, I won’t wait around for you two to abandon me!” he threatened before storming back to Splinter’s room. They waited, overhearing the door open and close as he was allowed in but they were shut out. Guilt-stricken looks were exchanged and, without a word, the second-in-command followed his leader without complaint to retreat for meditation in the dojo…
Some time later a calmer Donatello turned and fixed his gaze on Michelangelo before turning to Splinter.
“Thank you, Father. Do you mind if Mikey helps me to my room? I just want to lay down and rest.”
“Of course, my son. Please do not hesitate to seek me out if you are troubled again.” He placed a furry paw comfortably on an olive-green arm. “You have been through a terrible ordeal and healing is not always linear, so do not discount the progress you have made due to this momentary setback.”
“I appreciate the reminder—and the encouragement, Sensei.” The two turtles hugged the ninja master before exiting, noting the candlelight that flickered behind the dojo doors. The youngest rolled his eyes before he gave the genius a half-hearted smile.
“Hey, mind if I crash in your room tonight? I got so used to keeping you company that it’s been feeling weird since you started sleeping alone again.”
“I’d like that, actually,” he nodded as he leaned closer in Mikey’s embrace.
“Me too,” he murmured. After they settled in, they lay there for some time in the darkened room that was quiet except for the sound of them breathing. Finally, a strained voice spoke up.
“I have a confession to make.”
“Huh?” Mikey immediately turned to his side and leaned on his arm. The nightlight cast his silhouette against the wall which remained as still as one holding their breath.
“I… left out several details when I told you all about where Drako sent me. I didn’t think they were important enough to mention and would hurt you all more than anything. But also, there was something about them that weighed heavy on my mind and I couldn’t figure out why.”
“D… you know you can always tell me anything and everything. I’ll never judge you.” Donatello looked up and even in the shadows he could see the pain in the other’s voice as much as he heard it. For just a moment, it was similar to the note of betrayal in the older Michelangelo’s voice…
“I know and yet… this may test the limits of that endless empathy of yours,” he sighed. He then gasped as he felt himself drawn into a tight hug.
“Never! I promise, whatever you say can stay between us if you want. If you regret it, then I can pretend you never said a thing. If there is something you need, I’ll be here for you. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you don’t leave or disappear or anything. And,” he looked up, the dim light reflecting off the tears in his eyes. “If you do, just please let me go with you! I already told our brothers I would if it ever came down to that!”
“Oh, Mikey…” Donatello sat fully up and shifted so he was embracing his only younger brother. He didn’t want to see him start crying as well, although he was sure he could sense it even if he didn’t hear it. After taking a deep sigh, he spoke again.
“When I met that version of you, he was just as much in shock and disbelief as the versions of our brothers. But while they were happy to see me, you…” He took another shaky breath. “Your version sounded so… betrayed. Yet despite all of his sadness, he believed in me the most to try and fix things regardless of the overwhelming odds. And…” Wiping his eyes, he started sobbing harder until he was nearly bawling.
Again their positions shifted, Mikey embracing Donnie as he tried to console him while crying. “D, it’s okay. You’re okay, I’m okay. We’re safe at home, right here in your room.” With a weak nod, Donnie tried to collect himself before taking a deep breath.
“Despite all that he had been through, that version of you used his last words to say my name. His actual brothers were right there, but he called out to me and… I don’t know—”
“Of course.”
“What?” Donatello looked up in shock at how unsurprised Michelangelo was about the revelation that he had been mulling over ever since returning home.
“We may or may not be biological brothers, but either way my first memories are of our mutated lives and being by your side. You’ve always been my best friend and my favorite brother, which says a lot because I do love those two even when they are fighting with each other. It’s just,” he shrugged. “Their thing or whatever. And we’ve got ours. D, I’d be lost without you! I can’t even imagine living in a world where you aren’t there.”
“Mikey…”
“What else did you not mention?” The older of the two nodded and steeled himself to continue.
“When I met that version of you, there was something about the way he told me about his version of our brothers. He didn’t just say they weren’t talking to each other or were feuding, he worded it as, ’Leo and Raph aren’t with anybody anymore.’”
“With anybody, huh?” the other asked calmly.
“Then Leonardo died apologizing but Raphael, his final words were repeating Leo’s name over and over as he collapsed on top of him. They wouldn’t be in the same room and yet they basically died in each other’s arms,” he sighed.
“They wouldn’t be seen together in the same room,” Mikey corrected.
“What?” Donnie tilted his head curiously.
“Just because others didn’t see them together doesn’t mean they actually ignored each other completely for thirty years and obviously the other Michelangelo knew it. Come on, Donnie, imagine—our brothers? Ignore each other? The ones who are always in each other’s faces and can’t keep their hands off each other?”
“I told you something struck me odd about these details,” he protested.
“Donnie, would you call what they do normal sibling rivalry?”
“Mikey, nothing about us is normal.”
“Fair point, but I think you understand where my question is leading to.” The other nodded slowly.
“More like, I don’t understand the implication of the possibility your question may be leading too…”
“Huh,” the youngest offered a tired smile. “Never known you to shy away from a new theory, especially one that the facts all point to a strong likelihood of being correct!”
“If we’re wrong, that small chance could cause a lot of awkwardness.”
“Good thing for us,” he said as he grabbed the other’s hand. “It’s a pretty big chance we’re right!” He got up from the bed and gently nudged the other. “Come on, you need to tell them what you just told me.”
“But what if—”
“What if nothing, I’ll be right by your side. I’m not going anywhere and hey, if we’re right that they’ve got unresolved attraction and things work out for them then maybe…” he nervously swung their hands together for a moment. “Maybe you’ll consider the same for us?”
“Mikey?”
“If you want! Of course you don’t have to, but—” His rushed reassurance was cut off by lips pressed against his. Mikey felt his other hand embraced as Donnie stood before him, the feel of the gentle kiss causing the most intense of emotions.
“I’d love to,” he answered after reluctantly breaking away. “I promise, Mikey, I’ll never intentionally leave you—in this universe or any other.”
The two made their way to the dojo and quietly settled down, sitting next to each other and across from their older brothers who stared at them nervously.
“I have a confession to make,” he stated with newfound confidence. “I left out several details that I think you both deserve to know…”
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