Work Text:
His brothers love him, he knows that.
Though, it always feels otherwise.
There Mikey lies wide awake on his bed with more than one darkness engulfing him. The memories of their voices asking for the hope of him getting beaten; for him to shut up. He was aware of his bad sides and embraced that part of who he was, but being told that non stop made him hurt. It hurt his head to know that it could affect him when it shouldn't have. He felt a tear run down his cheek and could only wonder why that could be. With the remaining amount of strength he had that night, he threw his legs off of the side of his bed, and started walking out his room.
Mikey stopped for a moment in the doorway; looking to the shelf in his room that held his battle nexus championship rewards. The longer he stared, the farther his heart sank. It was something he was proud of, why is it so different now? The thought of winning 3 battles should've made him feel prideful. Why does it feel so draining to remember? Sighing softly, he then resumed to walk out the opening of the area.
As he was making his way to the kitchen from the living room, he suddenly heard clanking and whirs; finally seeing the bright light of Donnie's supplies shine. In no mood to scare his purple banded brother, (as he probably would've), he continued with his road to the kitchen.
He walked into the big space and stood there. Mikey didn't even know what he was doing there, just that his first thought was to go where he'd usually appear. His eyes drooped due to his tired self; the room turning, and turning, and turning.
'Maybe this wasn't a good idea…. But I haven't done anything? It doesn't matter though, I'm still outta my room when I'm tired as shell!'
He thought to himself, rapidly shaking his head. Even when standing, he was too unmotivated to walk back into bed, too blurry. So instead, as he heaved, he dropped down onto his knees; the rest of his body crashing down right after, passing out.
Awakening, he found himself in the battle nexus battlefield.
"What the shell! How'd I get here!?"
His mouth dropped in surprise. As he looked around, a brother walked up to him and lended a hand.
"Mikey c'mon. Don't pretend to pass out on me. Please don't tell me you're scared.."
The youngest brother could only reply with a stare of confusion; of course he was scared! During the last fight here, he was getting beaten to a pulp! Leo sighed, facepalming into his hand.
"Get up Mikey, didn't you say you were going to prove yourself?"
When Mikey was about to speak, a gruff voice spoke before he could.
"Yeah Mikey! Ya can't break that promise cuz you're too chicken to fight now."
Raph walked up to both of them.
'What did I get myself into!?'
Mikey exclaimed in his head.
Seconds after, Leo pulled him up and started to push him into the arena.
"Don't worry Mikey, you've done it before! You can definitely do it again." Donnie appeared.
"I totally don't feel a hint of sarcasm in your voice!"
Mikey was about to speak again when his words were cut short by Leo pushing him in front of the enemy. Before the youngest could register what was happening, he found himself with a huge monster north of him, and his brothers on the top platform, waiting for Mikey's fight.
Looking up, he saw Raph and Leo grinning at him and waved. Smiling himself, he turned around to face his opponent.
'Just focus on defeating this thing! And you'll be home in no time!' A drop of sweat trickled from his forehead.
The creature raised its massive arm and brought it down, aiming directly at Mikey. Thinking fast, he took out his nunchucks and threw one towards its chest. He watched the small piece of steel stick into the creature's neck. A second later, all hell broke loose.
Mikey ducked under a swing and swung up the other blade to block the attack. Taking advantage of the opening he made, he ran forward towards its belly. Unfortunately for him, it turned quickly and caught Mikey off guard with the next attack.
It punched Mikey square in his gut, sending the younger flying backwards. He hit the ground roughly with a thud, causing him to groan as pain flared through his body. Looking up, Mikey saw the monster above ready another strike.
Quickly, he summoned his nunchucks once more and used it as a shield. A few seconds later, he got up, only to be thrown to the side once more. Mikey landed hard, scraping and cutting his elbows and knees. He winced as he slowly pushed himself up, hoping that he hadn't broken anything.
After several moments, he began walking over to the beast. Seeing that his opponent was preparing to hit him, he prepared to jump away, only to realize that his feet wouldn't move. Mikey looked up, only to see that his arms couldn't work either.
He felt a chill creep up his spine as he tried moving his legs. He looked around in search of a way, any way to calm himself and use something to his advantage, just to find himself pinned.
He began panicking; screaming and kicking at whatever part of his enemy that he could reach.
He soon gave up on trying to escape, realizing it was hopeless. The only thing he could do was look at the sky and hope to teleport out of the arena.
It didn't matter if he won or not now. It was if he could even survive any more attacks.
He looked down to see a large claw coming for him. He closed his eyes tight, bracing himself for what was about to happen. Just as the claws reached him, there was a sudden glitch of blue, and then a new area entirely.
An end to the battle at last.
Groaning; his eyes closed, making him fall into a slumber. For a few seconds at least.
With his eyes still shut, he heard the voices of his brothers; slowly being aware of the smooth and cushioned mattress he was on.
"Mikey…"
"Michelangelo!"
Mikey started blinking with drooped eyelids.
"Huh…?"
"You finally awake Mike?'
Comes a raspy voice.
"Mikey, how'd you get your shell kicked like that?" A slight color of purple started moving.
"Did you not learn anything from our spars? Or were they just for one time use."
A serious tone of noise was made.
"Guys…?"
Endless amounts of chatter formed.
He couldn't understand anything from the trance he was in.
There was nothing else around him anymore; just glares and blaring voices.
Amusement.
Disappointment.
Disgust.
It all suddenly became louder.
Clearer.
"I thought you were the battle nexus champion? How'd this happen to the great and powerful super-turtle too?" He laughs.
"I thought you were just stupid and reckless, but weak too? How do we even keep you on missions?" He facepalms.
"I expected better choices AND skill from you Michelangelo. Of course you still can't think. This keeps happening; you're cocky, immature, brainless, strengthless, and a trouble magnet. We can't have you as a liability." He squints.
Mikey couldn't say anything.
Those words.
Why are they so easy to understand?
Why was his brothers complaining?
Wasn't he just about to be beaten to death?
Why are they hurting him so much?
'It's not real is it? But it makes sense? How does this work? It can't be. They're lying. That has to be it. They're lying. They're lying. They're lying. They're lying right? They're lying they're lying they're lying they have to be lying they're lying they're lying they're lying they're lying they're lying they're lying they're lying they're lying THEY'RE LYING THEY'RE LYING THEY'RE LYING THEY'RE LYING THEY'RE LYING THEY'RE LYING THEY'RE LYING-'
"MIKEY!"
…………………
'Raph.'
'Donnie.'
'Leo.'
Mikey was aware that he was awake now.
All sound suddenly faded into perfect voices and speech. But he couldn't open his eyes.
No matter how much he wanted to call out to them, his jaw wouldn't budge either. Just listen.
"Don! Why isn't he awake yet!? He's just in a deep sleep right? There's no way it's THAT deep!" Raph yelled with a slight panic in his tone.
"I… I don't know! It might-"
"Donatello, are you sure he only passed out because he was tired?" Leo intervened.
"Yes I'm sure! But…. I'm not sure about how hard the fall was to his head.. Though I heard 2 crashes, which means he probably fell onto his legs first.. So it couldn't have been the ground impact…!"
"God…. What're we gonna do now….!?" - R
Leonardo takes a deep breath and sighs.
"...... For now… We wait." - L
" ‘WAIT!?’ LEO– "
"THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO RAPH! HE IS GOING TO BE FINE, HE'S JUST SLEEPING."
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT CRAP LEO! THERE'S NO WAY MIKEY WOULD BE SIMPLY 'ASLEEP' FOR SO LONG BECAUSE OF SOME UNKNOWN REASON!"
"RAPH!-"
In an instant, Michelangelo opened his eyes and lifted his upper body.
"Guys…?"
He whimpered.
To his brothers, hearing his small voice was it to make them engulf their little brother in a tight but warm hug.
They've never heard him in such a scared and pained way ever before. He'd always have that annoying voice and gloat and joke around.
He was happy.
Just knowing that this gentleness existed in their brother already made them hope to never ever hear him like this ever again. Especially because of them.
In the hug, Mikey could feel tears erupting, but they never fell. Instead, he had the toughest grip on the other 3 like they'd leave him if he let go.
No complaints, no noise, no words at all.
Just peace.
Comfort.
After a moment, the orange turtle calms down, but realizes that he'd have to explain his panic.
'Aw Shell.'
He lets go first to see the others' expressions and then begins talking.
"Welp, I can finally breathe."
"Mikey?"
The purple brother looks at him with so much relief in his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Donnie asks softly.
He looks down for a moment.
"I feel... better than usual."
He looks up and meets each of their stares and their eyes just speak uncertainty.
' "As usual" Mikey!? Now they're really on your case… it's ok! Just act like you added that on purpose, then they'll think it's uh, a joke!'
"Haha! Yeah! Y'know, being a superhero and the best brother isn't easy work guys!"
He flicked his left hand.
Even with his reassurance, the 3 look at him in worry. Especially because of Mikey's strong grip as they were hugging.
The genius sighed.
"Ok. But, how and why'd you pass out? Are you not getting enough sleep or something?"
"I mean, that'd explain why he was up when he fainted." Raph butt in, making his voice low but breaking in annoyance.
"Or maybe not enough nutrition? I've noticed that he hasn't been eating much to play his games, except for dinner."
Leo strokes his chin in wonder.
"U-um well….."
'Quick, think!!!!!'