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Push and pull.
Watching the waves of the beach eases Mikey worries, but it isn't able to wash them away completely.
He can’t go back to their temporary hideout. Not while he’s feeling this way.
Gazing up at the starry sky, he exhales. This is going to be a long night.
Mikey’s feet drag him along the coastline. His mind urges him to keep moving, since standing still causes him to lock into constant thought.
A stroll in nature of any kind normally does the trick for him, but right now? It only numbs his mind a little.
As Mikey’s eyes drift ahead of him, he catches a familiar silhouette sitting on one of the rocks of the sea hill. Before he could notice, his slow steps sped up.
Mikey’s footsteps reach Donnie’s ears. With his interest peaked, he turns his head.
“Angelo?” Donnie raises an eyebrow.
Mikey forces a grin. “Heya, D.” The orange turtle hesitantly points at the rock next to him. “Is this one taken?”
“Only if you count moss.” Donnie cackles slightly as he taps the rock.
“Heh.” Trying his best to laugh at his brother’s attempt at a joke, he plops down on the stone. His attention is taken away by the drifting sea once more.
Mikey can feel his brother’s eyes scanning him from head to toe.
Donnie’s gaze narrows. “I, uh, usually don’t see you awake at this hour.”
Still only staring ahead, Mikey can only muster the simple response of: “Yeah.”
Though, his monotone response didn’t go unnoticed. It dawned on Mikey right away that his own facade cracked.
“Are you al-“
“Ah! Sorry, D! I was just zoning out for a bit there. I’m ok!” Mikey then hugs his own legs, his mood dimming. “I’m always ok.”
“I see..”
As the two linger in an uncomfortable silence, Donnie decides to speak up.
“Remember we went to the beach a few years back?” He rubs the edge of his rock with a gentle smile. “You were the first to find me when everyone else couldn’t.”
A small grin forms on Mikey’s face.
“Instead of getting mad, you kept asking if I was alright.” Donnie inches towards his brother while keeping watch on the night sky. “And even though there was nothing you could do to help, you didn’t leave my side.”
“Yeah.. Raph, Leo and Splints were so angry after that.” Mikey’s grin widens a bit.
“What I’m trying to get at is, sometimes, no matter how much intelligence a person possesses, there are things you are unable to figure out yourself.”
A firefly passes by them, catching their eye.
“Even if you really want to.” Donnie reaches out to grab the firefly, but stops midway. “And that’s coming from a technological genius, so you know it’s true.” He taps his plastron in prideful smug.
Mikey can’t help but chuckle.
“Now that’s more like the Michael I know.”
“Thanks, D.” Now sharing the same rock as Donnie, he smiles. “Guess in the end I didn’t need some alone time, but some Don time.”
“You may indulge in some more Needius Genius for the coming hours, but for increased effect you may engage in slight squeezing.”
“Pfft!” For the first time in days, Mikey felt a genuine wave of laughter washing over him.
“You know what? I might take you up on that!” Mikey jumps in for a hug, planting his face against Donnie’s shoulder. “Some genius might rub off on me!”
“You already got plenty, Angelo.”
