Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everyone got the plan?" Leo declared. He glanced over at his brothers individually as they nodded before landing on Mikey. He raised his hairless eyebrow at him. 

"You understand, Mikey?" 

Mikey snapped out of his daydreaming. "Uhh... Yes?"

Raph groaned while Donnie face palmed himself.

"Just...take down as much Foot as you can." Leo sighed, turning his head downward to the hatch in the building.

"Will do!" Mikey replied, with a thumbs up.

Today, they have a mission against, "surprise surprise!", the Shredder. Turns out the Shredder and the Foot have been trying to mess with mutation again. There's been plenty of new mutant sightings in innocent civilians as well as street animals. People were getting kidnapped and found later mutated. It was horrendous. Now, here the turtles were on top of the Shredder's hideout, where underground was the Foot lab.

The turtles slithered their way down the hatch and through the vents. They made their way through the corridors and to the elevator where they knew lead to the lower levels. They hurried inside and mashed the button, watching as the doors closed. 

The group gripped their weapons harder in their grasp as the elevator shifted downward. Once it stopped, they gritted their teeth and narrowed their eyes. They were ready for whatever would come their way. 

The elevator doors open. There displayed the lab... along with about a hundred Foot soldiers/scientists, turning their heads to them.

The fight is on.

Punches and kicks were thrown as bodies of the Foot lay on the ground, groaning and growing puddles of blood underneath them. Sure, the Foot did land some good hits, probably to leave the turtles with some soreness and bruises the next morning, but they had nothing on them. 

Raph roared as he barreled into a upcoming herd of Foot, taking them down. Leo dodged a upcoming hit to follow with a slice in the opponent's chest. Donnie had a trail of fallen Foot behind him, as he twirled his bo staff around. Mikey had a mischievous smile planted on his face as he cracked a Foot's head to the side. He felt another come behind him so as he spun around, he kicked the guy straight in the gut, causing him to fly backwards into an upcoming group of Foot soliders. 

"Strrrrike! You're out!" Mikey exclaimed.

One of the soliders, on the ground due to Mikey's attack, grew furious and rose to his feet. He grabbed the nearest possible thing he could throw, his gaze landing on a vile full of some strange orange ooze on the table behind him. He snatched it and threw it with all his might at the back of the turtle.

Mikey heard something smash near his ear. It was the glass of the vile smashing against his shell. The ooze inside splashed against the back of his upper arm and soaked into his skin, disappearing. It burned.

"Hey! Not cool, dude!" Mikey shouted, whipping around and dashing towards the solider, hitting him in the head with his nunchunks and flipping him over the table.

Ugh, what the shell did that guy throw at me?

Mikey twisted his arm around to take a look. As much as it burned, there were no visible indication on the skin that something was wrong.

"Michelangelo, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" called out Leo, sheathing his katanas.

Mikey snapped his head up to see three of his older brothers hurrying over, desperate expressions on his face. It seemed the fight was over. All the the Foot were laid out on the ground. Mikey took one last glance at his arm.

"Nah, nah I'm good. I think he just got a lucky hit, it's no biggie." Mikey said, waving them off. He hoped it was nothing.

Maybe the Shredder just has something like orange-dyed water in his lab? Yeah, that's gotta be it.

Before anyone could say anything, the room had a red tint along with a blaring alarm. Mikey covered his earholes while the rest of the turtles grimaced.

"Fuck! Someone must've pulled the alarm!" Raph yelled.

"Look's likes it's for us to go. Donnie?" Leo turned to his genius brother.

"Got it right here, Leo." Donnie took off the backpack he had on his shell to dig out the bomb. The plan was to plant the bomb in the lab to destroy all of Shredder's mutagen and equipment. Donnie hurried over to the main section of the lab and set the bomb on the table and started programming it go off as soon as possible. The sounds of upcoming soliders came from the corridor outside the room. 

"Turtles!" came a menacingly deep, gravelly tone from the corridor as well. It sent me a chill through each of the turtles. A chill no one wanted to admit.

They couldn't fight him right now. They weren't ready for this. 

Leo looked frantically around the lab for a exit. He spotted a vent above. He knew what to do. 

"Raph! Mikey! With me! Donnie, it's time to go!"

"And..." Donnie fixed the final wire, causing the bomb to awaken with life, the numbers displaying it counting down from 20 seconds. "Done! Let's book, we got 20 seconds!"

Donnie ran over to where the rest of the turtles were gonna already climbing atop a tall canister of mutagen that lead to the ceiling. Now ontop of the canister, Leo used his sword to reach the vent, pushing it inward. The vent was still sort of out of reach. With all his might, putting all his strength to his legs, he sprang upward. He just made it to the vent, two fingers clutching on for dear life. Raph pushed his feet to help Leo as he pulled himself upwards.

"Mikey!" Leo called down, reaching his hands downward once he got in the vent.

Mikey felt himself being lifted up as Raph picked him upon by the sides of his shell. Mikey grasped onto Leo's reaching hands as he pulled him up.

"Hurry up, Don!" Raph shouted as Donnie climbed up to his side. He snatched Donnie once he was in reach and lifted him into Leo's reaching arms as well.

The doors to the lab flew open as the Shredder and his Foot Soliders came bursting through. 

They had to leave now.

"C'mon leg day, don't fail me now." Raph muttered to himself before springing himself up. Leo caught him. Donnie clutched onto Leo from behind as Mikey clutched on Donnie from behind, all of them pulling Raph up.

"Gee, Raph. You gotta stop with all the muscle building. You're getting too heavy!" Mikey joked through the strain.

"Just shuddup and pull!" Raph yelled as the rest of them grunted, finally pulling him all the way up. 

They hastily climbed through the ventilation system. After a few seconds, the vent shook as the sound of a explosion echoed behind them. They did not look back.

They started to go up, which meant they were heading towards ground level. Once they reached the ground floor and saw a opening underneath, they slammed open the entrance and tumbled out.

"Here!" Leo said pointing to a window across the room. They all ran and followed Leo as he smashed through the window and into the night.

After running a few blocks on the rooftops and making sure they were in the clear, they now were slumped over themselves, heavily breathing.

"Good work, team. Another successful mission."

"Oh shuddup, Leo. Stop actin' like we are some corny spy group." Raph scowled.

"What a rush! I'm so glad my bomb was successful." Donnie said wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Of course it works, brah! You're a genius!" Mikey said pulling Donnie down to wrap his arm around his neck.

"I'm beat." Raph declared, standing up and grabbing both of his sais in one hand. "My match is gonna start at 9 and I ain't gonna miss it."

Now that he mentioned it, Mikey did feel tired. Fatigued even. He usually didn't get so tired after a fight like that. It barely got his blood pumping! He figured he would just shake it off when he got home. Maybe he was just hungry?

Yeah, that gotta be it.

"Yeah, I'm hungry!" Mikey whined.

"Okay, okay let's go to the lair." Leo sighed, raising his palms up.

Mikey gasped in rememberance and ran up to Leo, clutching his forearm with both hands. "Wait, can we get pizza?!" His eyes sparkled in hope.

"Didn't you say you were going to cook tonight? You've been talking about how much you wanted to try this new recipe all day." Donnie said, raising a brow at him. 

"Oh yeah... I did say that. I don't know bruh, I'm just kinda tired."

"Tired? Oh, don't tell me yer startin' to get worn out by fights." Raph pointed his sai him.

"What- No!..." Mikey didn't want to seem weak or anything like that so he shifted the conversation smugly, "Gosh Raph, if you wanted some of my state of the art cooking, you could've just asked!"

"Hey now, you!-" Raph started but Mikey already forced his aching legs to run and leap off the rooftop to the other with a flip.

"Last one to the lair gets the most burnt piece!" Mikey called out, laughing. 

He figured if he laughed loud enough, maybe he could tune out the stinging ache of the burn in his arm.

He shouldn't have ran home like that. Now not only was he extremely fatigued and hungry, he was regretful and nauseous.

He was now at the entrance of the lair, his brothers' voices faint behind him. He tried catching his breath.

He felt as if he was walking on air. Everything felt and looked strange... He swore he could hear every tiny thing and it was all too loud. The lights overhead shone too bright. It never bothered him before. It was sort of hard to breathe, now that he thought about it. He didn't feel like he was running that fast. Him and his brothers race home often after a mission or patrol. He's never this out of breath. And it's like not he was nervous at all so why was he almost hyperventilating? Well, the new throbbing sensationa in the burn of his arm was sort of making him nervous. 

His brothers caught up behind him, laughing and huffing and puffing.

"Wow, Mikey are you fast- hey, what's wrong?" Donnie's voice rose in distress, causing both Leo and Raph to cease in their movements and snap their heads towards their direction.

Mikey hunched over, his hands on his knees as he struggled to take deep breaths, his body greedy for more. "I- uh- I- air."

Donnie leaned down, supporting one hand on Mikey's shell and another one on the top of his plastron.

"Woah, easy...easy now, Mikey." He spoke near his earhole. 

His legs felt like jelly, he needed to sit or else he knew he would go splat on the floor. It was as if Donnie read his mind as he grabbed his wrist and tugged him towards the couch. "How about we sit down, hm?"

Mikey wordlessly followed him to couch and followed his brother's hand when it pushed him downward into the couch. Mikey went down with a moan as his whole body relaxed. He felt as if he could finally breath. He leaned his head back.

"Phew, does that feel good." Mikey sighed, trying to sound light-hearted. "I sure love being able to breathe properly!"

No one spoke for a few beats till Raph absolutely bellowed, "Anyone wanna explain what da fuck was dat about?!" He gestured wildly to Mikey.

Mikey grimaced as Donnie shushed him. Mikey sat forward while Leo crouched down, planting both of his hands on the younger turtle's kneepads.

"Ototō, what happened?" Leo looked up at him, eyes full of worry. "You don't look too good either. Are you sick?" He brought a hand to his forehead.

"He was doin' just fine earlier." Raph crossed his arms, watching from his distance.

Mikey shifted uncomfortably under Donnie's scruntinizing gaze.

"He does seem pretty pale and his eyes seem sunken."

"Eh, I just got a lil' dizzy but I'm better now." Mikey said with a weary smile. Leo, as if ignoring him, shifted his hand downward to cup his cheek.

"Well, you don't seem like you have a fever." Leo stated.

Donnie put his hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "I think you should lay down and take it easy, Mikey. I'm sure we're all okay with pizza for dinner-"

Mikey shot up like a rocket causing Leo to fall backwards on his shell.

"Oh no- I'm fine, see?" Mikey displayed stretching his legs and arms, a superficial smile plastered on his face. "And I'm not dizzy, anymore! Just lemme do my magic in the kitchen."

Leo and Donnie exchanged glances with one another as Raph observed from where he stood, narrowing his eyes upon Mikey.

"Really brah, I'm gooood. Shell, I'll prove it to you guys by how good the food's gonna taste!"

Donnie sighed in defeat under Mikey's pleading eyes. "Okay, okay but let us know if you feel dizzy again, m'kay?"

Mikey gave a playful salute before making his way to the kitchen.

The brothers now stood in the silence of the main room. Leo stood up and faced the other two turtles.

"Did you see how strange he looked? He didn't look like that 10 minutes ago."

"Yeah, he even looks stranger than normal," Raph said, walking closer to them. "Maybe he just gettin' down with somethin'."

"I don't think you can get down with something that suddenly." Donnie pointed out. "He was practically on the border of hyperventilating when we came in."

Raph gave a sidelong glance at the light streaming from the kitchen, the clatter of pots and plates coming from the room.

"Well after we eat dinna, we're gonna settle down and watch a movie or somethin'. That oughta rest us all up."

"Well, that sounds like a plan. You guys keep a eye and ear out for him. I'm gonna hit the showers." Leo pointed to the bathroom. Donnie waved and Raph grunted in acknowledgment as each turtle parted their ways.

Something was wrong.

Something was seriously wrong.

He felt okay after that little rest on the couch. Really, he did! But now it was back but like 100x worse. He couldn't focus on the pot in front of him as he attempted to pour into it. He missed the pot, the substance spilling on the stove and leaking onto the floor.

Shell.

He now was on his knees scrubbing away at the floor with a cloth. His arm ached. Yes, the burning spread to his whole arm. He could even start to feel it move to his side. He bared his teeth in pain.

He got up, using the counter as support. He tried to make his way back to the stove but he stumbled towards it, instead catching himself on the stove. He took in a few deep breaths to calm him and his body down.

C'mon, Mikey. Just focus. Finish the meal and then you can go take the longest, fat sleep in your cozy bed. It's no biggie, just focus.

His head throbbed alongside his arm as the nausea built itself up in him as he worked on the meal. He doesn't even remember making it. It was like his body switched to "Cook-Mikey-Automode" as his hands worked away.

He felt himself come back to life once he heard his brothers voices fill the room.

"Food ready, Mike?"

Mikey had to look at who was speaking to remember whose voice that was. It was Raph's. 

Wait, of course it was Raph's. How could I seriously forget my brother, who I've known all my life, own voice?

His brain seemed to be moving in slow motion as it clicked in his brain what he was being asked. 

"Uhm, yeah." Mikey grimaced at how dry and lame that sounded. His own voice sounded distant and foreign to him. There was something wrong.

His brother gave him strange look but didn't say anything.

The brothers all took their seats at the table as Mikey put their food on plates. He took them over and placed them in front of them individually. He sighed as he sagged in his own seat.

Mission accomplished. 

The room was silent. Mikey was confused why he wasn't hearing any sounds of clattering silverware or his brothers obnoxiously munching down at food. He lifted his head upward from his lap, (when was it down?), to see all his brothers staring at him. 

"What? Is there something on my face?"

Leo pointed to the table space in front of Mikey with his fork, his brow wrinkled.

"Where's your food." He was sternly telling him, not asking.

Mikey stared down at empty space in front of him, dumbfoundingly. 

"Pfft, guess I forgot to get my own plate. Whoops." 

"Bonehead." Raph mumbled as he took a bite of his own food.

The world seemed to spin as Mikey got up. The room streched in Mikey's view, making the counter where the pot and plate was seme farther than it was. His arm decided it was the perfect time to announce itself with a baffling sting. Mikey squeezed his eyes shut as he shuffled his feet towards his goal. With lots of mental coaxing, he eventually made it back to his seat with his plate. He was relieved to hear the awkward silence diminish because now the sound of his brother's laughter and chatter made it's self known throughout the room.

Now that the food was in front of him...he realized how un-hungry he actually was. Looking at the food itself was sickening. It caused a sheet of sweat on the top of his head and back of his neck.

But... I was hungry before. What happened?

He picked miserably at the food. He couldn't bring himself to take one bite. All his brother's voices blurred away into the background as the fizzle of the lightbulb above head was all he could hear. His vision seemed to make everything appear staticky and dimmer than it was.

There is something wrong...There is something wrong... 

"-And wow Mikey, this is really good. What's in it again?"

Donnie awaited Mikey's response but never received one. He just anticipately watched as Mikey seemed to stare blankly at his untouched food.

He cleared his throat. "Mikey?"

No response.

Leo put his fork down, resting his forearms on the table as Donnie threw a confused, worried glance at Raph sitting right next to Mikey. Raph narrowed his eyes at his youngest brother.

"Hey, Mike."

"... "

"Mike."

"..."

"Mikey!"

Mikey snapped out of his trance, dropping the fork onto the plate, making a loud clatter echo throughout the silent room.

"Uh- wha-"

"What's da matter with ya, huh? We're talkin' to ya- and why ain't you eatin'?"

Mikey couldn't make himself look down at his plate or anyone for that matter. He felt as if he was going to throw up or pass out. Maybe both. His chair suddenly screeched backwards as he got up. Leo shot up as well.

"Mikey, sit down. What's-"

Mikey brought a hand to his head. "I-I need to go... I don't feel so... "

Mikey only got a few steps in before he felt his legs give out and his world go dark.

Mikey blearily opened his eyes to see the bottom of Leo's chin. The ringing and muffled voices faded in and out of Mikey's hearing. It was too bright in the room. Everything was too much. His whole body felt like it suddenly knew he was awake because the pain made itself known with its now excruciating sharpness. It seemed the burning feeling spread to his whole body. Mikey groaned causing all the voices to cease but followed with the sound of hurried footsteps. Someone was nudging his shoulder.

"Mikey? Mikey? I need you to open your eyes."

Mikey hesitantly opened his eyes but hissed in pain by the brightness of the lights. Donnie hurried over to the control panel of the lab to dim the lights some before quickly making his way back.

After forcefully prying his eyes opening again, he saw his eldest brother hovering over him, his other brothers huddled beside them, concern and distress all written over their faces. The back of his head felt warm. He realize he was laying his head on Leo's lap.

"Wha- wha 'appen?" Mikey choked out.

"You passed out is what happened." Raph said gruffly from the side.

"Passed ou'?"

"Yes, but it's a good thing Raph caught you before you slammed your head into the ground or else you would've also got a concussion to go with whatever's been going on." Donnie inquired.

"How are you feeling?" Leo asked.

"Uhh... uhmm... "

Mikey had to think about this. He felt horrible. Horrendous actually. He should've said anything about what happened at that fight and now he got to deal with all this pain and suffering, and for what? Because he didn't want to seem like a hassle? 

Before he could stop himself, he felt his eyes well up and his throat constrict.

"Aw, Mikey what's wrong?"

"Hey, hey, why ya cryin'?"

"What's wrong, are you in any pain?"

A sob slipped from his throat, echoing throughout the lab.

"My arm hurts."

That's what all he had to say. You could practically see Donnie physically switch to a mentality of "Doctor Mode".

"Which arm? Where?"

I sure wish I could stop crying. It's already embarrassing enough for me to pass out like that in front of my bros, but this...this definitely takes the cake.

It just hurt so bad, it was on the border of excruciating. Mikey choked on some more sobs as Leo stroked tenderly at the side of his face with the back side of fingers.

"My l-left arm...behind...*hic*...upper..."

Donnie was already grabbing Mikey's wrist and pulling it over his head as he examined the area. Mikey writhed under Donnie as he poked and proded, searching for something, anything but he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

A lightbulb went off in Leo's head.

"Wait, did this happen from the fight?"

Mikey's silence and averted gaze were all they needed to know.

"Awh, Mike ya gotta be kiddin' with me! Ya know damn well ya gotta tell us when dis typa shit happens!" Raph said angrily as he brushed away a stray tear from his cheek with the pad of his thumb.

Mikey just pouted and shrugged.

Donnie sighed. "Mikey, I need to know everything, from what happened and how you're feeling. This is important."

"And don't leave anything out." Leo added in.

Mikey sniffed and took a shuddery sigh to calm himself down as he sat up slowly, Leo supporting his back while he got up. Leo pulled him into his lap so he could directly face Donnie and Raph.

"Okay..." Mikey risked a glance at his brothers, both of them directing their full attention to what he had say. Their gazes were intense and stern as they leaned forward.

Mikey dropped his own gaze to his lap while he twiddled with his fingers.

"I don't know, bruh... I was just kickin' Foot butt, ya know like we always do! But one of these soliders threw some weird lookin' liquid in a glass thingy at me and it mondo burned. Shell, it still burns! But it's a zillion times worse now... And I don't know, ever since that I feel really spacey and just totally weird..."

Donnie's eyes grew wide as his voice rose in volume. "So you're saying... you got splashed with something from the Foot lab, which was full of unspecified, harmful mutagen, and you didn't plan on telling any of us until what...after you passed out?!" Donnie's voice hit a full on yell, which was a rare, but horrifying occurrence when it did happen. Mikey lowered his head some into his shell.

Raph pinched the bridge of his beak. "Fuckin' idiot." He muttered.

"Why in the world would you not tell us immediately?! We have to know these types of things, Mikey!" Leo gripped both of his shoulders from behind as he spoke urgently.

Mikey started sniffling as he wiped at his face with the back of his palms. "G-geez, I'm sorry okay!"

"Oh yeah, you're gonna be sorry... Sorry once you mutate with four heads!" Raph shouted.

Mikey's eyes widened in horror as the realization of what could happen to him sunk in. Donnie noticed his rising distress. He put a hand to Raph's plastron and glared at him from the side of his eye. 

"Raph, don't say that! No one is mutating into anything. Well, not again anyway." He turned back to Mikey, crouching down to meet his eyes. "When you were passed out, I ran some tests to possibly find out what was wrong and I couldn't find anything." Mikey opened his mouth to speak but Donnie put his finger against his lips. "But it doesn't mean it's not there or that I can never identify it. I just need to run some more tests that I was previously planning to do shortly if you had not woken up. Once we figure out what it is, we can work from there to learning how it is affecting your body from the inside and possibly work on a reversing agent." He booped Mikey's beak.

"Got it?"

Mikey turned his head to the side, slumping his shoulders. "Okay..." He felt a wave of relief.

I'll be okay...my bros are gonna take care of it.

He smiled, his tear tracks drying. "You're the Doc!"

Donnie huffed in relief to see his younger brother smiling again. He gave a gentle smile as he playfully rolled his eyes. "Again, I'm a engineer, not a doctor."

"You can be a both. An engin-tor!"

Raph scoffed. "I think da stuff is gettin' to his brain." He poked Mikey in the forehead, emitting a whine from him.

Leo's cheek came from behind, nuzzling his own.

"Next time, and I hope there is none, I want you to tell us immediately once something happens, okay? No more secrets."

"I can live with that." Mikey said with a cheeky smile. "Well, glad we got that all covered, bros! I'mma go lay down and rest up like Doc would want me to-"

"Uh-uh-uh, not so fast," Donnie turned his shell to Mikey to snatch up a clipboard on the table behind him while Raph blocked his way, looking over him with a growl as if "I dare you to get up." Mikey sat back down with a sheepish smile as Leo pulled him back down, his arms tightening around his waist. Donnie pulled a stool over, settling himself in front of Mikey before peering over his eye ridges to look at him. "With you awake, I need to gather some more data. Not only that, I need to observe you. Don't want you passing out again."

Mikey groaned. He was going to be in the lab for awhile.

In the lab for awhile he was.

It's not like he was having a fun time. He did all countless types of tests for Donnie's data collecting but they came out fine. That would've been good if Mikey felt fine. He felt absolutely horrendous. He was worsening by the minute. His whole body felt like a white-hot burning sensation and ached like it was gnawing at his bones and skin. Occasionally it would be too much to handle, making him groan and moan as he breathed shallowy, leaving Donnie feeling utterly helpless as he frantically hovered his hands over him, bombing him with questions.

His vision kept strobing in and out of focus just as his hearing did. He tried his listen to what his brothers were saying near him, but all he could hear was the muffled, distressed tone of Donnie's as he paced around the room, Leo following behind him.

"I don't know what to do, Leo! I checked everything and did everything I could to lessen his symptoms but none of it's working!"

"Donnie, you have to calm down. He isn't going to get any better if we all get riled up here. He's going to be fine, we'll find a cure or remedy-"

"His state is worsening rapidly! By the rate it's going, I don't know-"

Mikey's nausea hit him full swing again, as he squeezed his eyes shut in a grimace. A hand started rubbing at his thigh from where he lay on the cot. Raph's hand.

"You're okay, you're okay." Raph said tenderly. Mikey didn't know what was scarier: this whole situation or Raph being gentle.

He suddenly felt an overwhelming, intense impending doom. Like something big was coming. His chest felt tight. His brother's overlapping voices did not help. He wanted out. Out where? He didn't know.

He shifted his attention to the dull ache at his bladder. 

Yes! I'll use that. 

He sat up and swung his feet over the cot, head spinning, quickly attracting Raph's attention.

"And, where da fuck ya think yer goin'?!"

His two other brothers ceased in their distraught conversation to quickly turn their focus to the commotion.

"Geez, Raph. Can't a turtle go take a piss in peace?" Mikey croaked, grabbing Raph's bicep to steady himself.

"You need some help?" Leo asked, as both of his other brothers came over. He noticed the way their brows furrowed and their hands hovered over Mikey, as if ready to grab him if he falls.

Leo and Donnie looked too worried for a turtle simply going to the bathroom. It's kind of annoying. But they just care about me...I guess I'd be pretty spooked too if one of them suddenly went splat on the floor and got sick with who knows what.

Mikey scoffed in frustration. "Ugh, I'm fine dude, I just need a minute." He stumbled with shaky feet a few steps before the ground was swept under him and he was thrown over Raph's shoulder.

"Raaph, put me down! I said I'm fine! I-"

"Zip it, numbskull." The unyielding tone left no room for discussion. 

Mikey just clicked his mouth shut and succumbed to his fate of being carrried to the bathroom. He was set down in the room.

"Holler if ya need anythin'," Raph said firmly.

"Thanks dude, I'll let ya know if I fall in." Mikey smirked.

Once the door was shut, it felt like a calm before the storm. It was too quiet. Too silent to be true. Mikey used the restroom to distract himself but the toliet flush blared in his ears. His eardrums hurt like hell and tears pricked in his eyes.

There is something wrong. Something is happening. Wrong, wrong, wrong... Something wrong...

Mikey's whole body was now throbbing alongside his rapid heart beat. He felt like giant pump for blinding pain. His whole body hurt like hell. He bit down his lip hard, causing it to bleed.

All the colors were blending together as a ringing sound filled all his senses. His head hurt so bad, the sound of being beheaded didn't sound so bad to him right now. Saliva dripped from his mouth as he heavily breathed against the mirror he faced. He couldn't even see his own reflection by how blurry it was.

Oh Sweet Pizza in the Sky, please help, help me, please, someone help me, make it stop, please, help, help oh my god, what the fuck, please help help help help-

Crack.

Mikey slowly looked down in outright horror to see his hand. One of his fingers had split in two. He now had four fingers. Four. 

He was breathing heavily now, panicked and frightened to the core as he watched his other finger divide into two with another crack.

Donnie.

Donnie, I need to get Donnie. 

He was about to grasp the doorknob when he stopped in his tracks to notice the skin bubbling on his hand. It was straight up bubbling like it was boiling water in a pot. It was slowly changing shades, from a green to a fair, light-skinned color. It traveled up to his arm, side and eventually, to his legs. His arm and knee pads, as well as his wrappings fell to the floor while his orange bandana fell off his face and draped around his neck.

Tears dripped from his eyes. He opened his mouth in a silent scream hoping he could yell for help, but he couldn't produce any sound besides the sounds of his bones shifting and skin bubbling making him feel sick. He turned around and looked at his shell in the mirror, just to see it in a unnatural shape as it convulsed and conjoined into his body, leaving his back bare.

He was absolutely petrified. His shell... was gone.

He now stood in front of the mirror, completely unrecognizable. He was too busy looking his overall body changing that he just now noticed his face.

Is that...me? 

Mikey waved his now five fingered, green-less hand at the mirror to see if it would return the movement. It did.

Mikey took a involuntary step back as his breath hitched , pupils dilating in pure fear and bewilderment.

No way... no i-it... it can't be-

In the reflection was this human boy. A boy with fair, white skin with blonde curls tousled on his head. He had freckles on his cheeks and soft blue eyes. He had a orange bandana hanging from his neck. He stood there naked, looking utterly terrified. 

This boy was Mikey. 

Mikey's brain went blank. His whole body felt numb as he sucked in a deep breath before shrieking.

Chapter Text

It took about a second before the door was bust open, the hidges pummeled down with a SLAM.

Raph, the obvious culprit for this sort of violence, desperatly ran into the bathroom, eyes dilated and breathing wildly with the other brothers behind him. What they saw made them freeze in their tracks, eyes gawking.

There was a naked, human boy in their bathroom. Well, it's not something you see everyday. But they didn't miss the orange bandana hanging around the human's neck.

Mikey involuntarily backed away a few steps, his voice wavering.

"D-dudes..." Mikey broke into a wild grin, shouting. "I got balls!"

Leo looked like he was going to pass out while Raph's eye twitched. They all knew that voice. They all knew those soft blue eyes and freckles as well. Knew it all too well. There was a faint resemblance in the facial structure that pointed to all the signs.

Donnie cautiously approaching, hands hovering as if he was creeping up on a wild animal. "Mikey... is that you..?" Donnie asked slowly in disbelief, frankly ignoring Mikey's previous comment.

"Uhm, yeah? Who else would it be, yo. Last time I checked, it was us four livin' down here."

He looked back at the mirror, brushing his cheekbone with his fingertips.

"I think I doublemutated? Kinda sick and hey, I don't feel real sick, sick anymore. So that's a positive, yeah?"

The brothers sprung to action, huddling around Mikey. Donnie and Leo ran straight to Mikey, quickly cupping his cheeks and poking him all over, rambling a bazillion questions. Not only to Mikey but to each other. 

"How are you feeling?"

"What happened?"

"Does it hurt here when I do this?"

"Donnie, what do we do?"

"Leo, try doing this."

Raph came from behind him and tied a towel laying nearby around Mikey's hips. He briefly hesitated before putting his hands on his brother's, now human, shoulders.

"We can all play doctor once we get to Don's lab and preferably not in da stinkin' bathroom!" Raph argued.

Donnie twitched up in remembrance, speaking too quickly. "Oh yeah, lab! I have a lab."

Donnie marched his way to the lab while Raph lead Mikey from behind as Leo pushed Mikey by his bare back. Leo couldn't help but hesitate touching Mikey's back; it was very unusual to see his brother he known for all his life to not have a shell anymore. The sight of Mikey with a bare back sort of erked him.

Unfortunately, Mikey couldn't get too far, actually a step at most, before his world tilted and he was being hung by the shoulders from Leo and Raph behind him.

"Mikey! Mikey!? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Leo shouted anxiously, pulling him up and draping Mikey's arm over his shoulders. 

"Mikey! Ya dizzy or somethin'- nauseous?!" Raph asked desperately, following Leo's lead, also putting his arm over his own shoulders.

"Nah, nah I'm okay, I'm okay. Just feelin' a little unsteady, like I'm walkin' on a tightrope or somethin'..." Mikey chuckled. "Wow, you guys are worrywarts."

Mikey sucked in his lips when he turned his head to see his brothers looking like they were about to blow a fuse.

"He probably feels unbalanced without his shell, since the shell carries a big amount of mass. It's probably just difficult for him to get used to such a big change in his own weight." Donnie called over from his lab, already pushing a bunch of stuff of tabletops and rummaging through the shelves and drawers like an absolute madman when they came in.

"Set him down on the cot."

His two older brothers lifted Mikey onto the cot while Donnie hurried over, dragging behind him a small table with wheels as he held a bunch of supplies in his other arm. Now with this proper lighting and everyone settled down (physically anyway), they could see now get a better look at Mikey.

Mikey seemed to have the same muscle mass on his arms and legs and the faint, miniature scars from their battles over his body. Their eyes analyzed all it could reach, eventually making it's way to Mikey's eyes that were fluttering around the room anxiously before his own made contact with theirs, wide and unrelentingly blue. They gleamed against the light shining overhead.

Donnie was already grabbing a needle out, making sure to push all the air out before sticking it into Mikey's arm without warning, causing Mikey to yelp in surprise.

"Dang, Donnie, warn a dude willya?"

Donnie didn't even reply, he was already across the room trying to compute the blood. Leo's steely gaze studied Mikey as he furrowed his brows with his hands on his hips. Leo truly was trying to control his composure. It was a good thing he didn't have any hair because he would probably consider pulling it all out right now. This was terrible and he didn't know what to do.

Raph came up to Mikey, his younger brother watching his every move curiously as he leaned down, eyes scanning his face before tenderly running his three-fingered hand through the human's blond curls. Raph was in awe by how soft they were. The only human he was the closest with was Casey but it's not like he could get all up and personal physically with him besides when they were wrestling.

Raph snorted in amusement. "Yer an absolute doll."

Mikey puffed his cheeks. "Am not!"

Donnie rushed over, practically almost running Raph over. "Make way, make way! Say "Ah", Mikey." He hurriedly pushed a finger down Mikey's chin, opening his mouth. Donnie peered into his mouth with a miniature flashlight, muttering something to himself before he twirled his finger around in the air. "Stand up and turn around. I need to look at your spine. I'm not sure how that turned out with your shell gone now."

Mikey was now on his feet, Donnie supporting him. The towel around his hips loosened causing it to fall to his feet. He quickly bent down and snatched it back up with a sheepish grin.

Leo sighed as he came over and tied it around his hips, making sure it is tight enough this time. "Michelangelo, please stop flashing us. I've seen enough human today to last me a lifetime."

"My bad, bro."

Mikey yelped in shock by the sudden coldness of Donnie's fingers tracing up and down his spine.

"Dee, your hands are freezing!"

"Well, apparently you're warm-blooded now so of course they're cold. Bend down." Donnie instructed.

Mikey obliged as Donnie observed the curvature of his spine. Mikey whimpered under his cold touch.

After a a quick examination, he patted Mikey's back. "Okay, it seems all good here, Michael. Sit back down. I need to check on the blood sample."

Leo placed Mikey back on the cot while Donnie hustled back to the table, Raph following behind him to see the results. Leo was going to follow as well before a tug on his wrist caught his attention. He looked down to see Mikey studying his hand and then looking at his own. He watched as he put them side to side and then palm to palm.

"This is so freaky, dude. If you told me I was gonna become human yesterday, I would've called bull for sure..." Mikey said thoughtfully, as he wiggled his middle finger inbetween the gap of Leo's two digits. Leo was taken back by the sudden sadness in Mikey's eyes he gave to him when he looked up. "How are we going to do High Threes now? We can't call it High Three Plus Five! It just doesn't have that ring to it..."

Leo couldn't help but feel a soft smile tug at his lips at Mikey's childish concern. He tucked Mikey's hair behind his ear and leaned down to meet eye to eye with him.

"It's going to be okay, Mikey. I know this is probably very confusing, shell, it's confusing and strange for all of us, but we're going to figure it out...just like we always do, okay?"

The skin around Mikey's eyes wrinkled as he smiled wholeheartedly. "M'kay!"

"He's right." Donnie said, coming back over to sit on the rolling stool across from Mikey while Raph sat beside him on the cot. "We can, and by we, I can fix this. Now that you fully mutated, your blood is clearly displaying the mutagen flowing throughout you. It's pretty obvious that the mutagen is human DNA based as we can see. I've made retro-mutagen before for Karai, so I'll just follow the same protocol using the data from your blood. The issue is time. Last time I made retro-mutagen, it took multiple months and-"

"He's gonna be like dis for months?!" 

Donnie glared and cleared his throat before continuing. "I plan on finding alternative methods to expedite the process because I really want Mikey to be in this human form for as short of an amount of time as possible. Especially since, I'm guessing, that with this new DNA, it diminishes our usual "speed healing" ability you guys like to call it, that comes along with our original mutation."

Leo and Raph darted their eyes back to Mikey, whose own gaze looked back and forth between his older brothers. Leo crossed his arms while Raph flexed his hands at his sides.

"So what you're saying is he's more vulnerable?" Leo questioned.

"Yes, especially without the protection of his shell. It's like an another whole open blind spot! Not only that, but he isn't physically or mentally used to his new body yet and probably won't be for awhile. We ought to all take it easy and stay low until I find out how to demutate Mikey back to being his normal mutant turtle self."

"Yer heard the doc, Mike. None of yer crazy board tricks and flips. Don't want ya snappin' yer spine."

"Aw, shell." Mikey pouted. "Well, at least I'll burn my energy out when we go on patrol."

Donnie squeezed the bridge between his beak. "Mikey, did you hear anything I just said? You have to lay it low and safe. It's just too risky."

"Stay down here for who knows how long!? I'mma go crazy!" Mikey exclaimed.

Raph threw an arm around his shoulders.

"Yer already a nut. Don't ya worry, we'll finda way to keep dat attention span of a goldfish of yers satisfied down 'ere. Just give Donnie some time. Yer know the genius got da brains to solve for anythin'."

Leo stepped forward. "Raph's right. You know, we can always do some katas and meditation together-"

Yeah, Mikey already stopped listening the second Leo started speaking because he was too busy coming up with the realization of what he thought was the best thing ever! His brothers already recognized the mischievous gleam in his eyes which always came before he said or did something incredibly stupid, dangerous or reckless. Usually a combination of all three.

Mikey snapped his fingers loudly with a wide smile before saying, "Dudes, this is literally the best thing ever!" 

The other turtles exchanged glances with one another before looking back at Mikey. Raph cocked a eyebrow at him while Leo pressed further. "And... how is that?"

Mikey leaned himself forward by his palms at his sides, absolutely beaming.

"Now that I'm human... I can totally just walk uptop and no one will even bat an eye! This is my chance, yo!"

That's all Mikey had to say for Leo to suddenly appear in front of him, his plastron puffed out close to his face with his arms unraveled. Mikey didn't understand why Leo looked so unhappy, his brows furrowing as he set an burning, unwavering stare into his own.

"Oh no- no. You aren't doing anything of that sort. You are not going topside until you are back to normal."

Mikey deflated by his tone. "What? Why not? This is like a mondo oppo...oppotonity...op-"

"Opportunity, Mikey. And this is ridiculous, no way are you going topside! It's too dangerous!" Donnie said, waving his hands in emphasis.

Raph came up next to Leo, scowling. "No means no, Mike. This ain't up for discussion."

Mikey crossed his arms, defiance creeping within him as he snarled.

"Oh, come on! If any of you guys turned human, you would've wanna go topside, too! This is the only time I can feel what it's like to walk amongst other dudes and dudettes without them running and screaming at the sight of me! Also, I'm still a butt-kicking ninja, that hasn't changed. If any trouble comes my way, I'll just totally land them on their ass, no problemo!"

Leo firmly crossed his arms, mimicking him. "It's too risky. You just mutated like 20 minutes ago! You are unbalanced and uncoordinated. Not only that, you are now just a normal human child! Your ninja skills can only help you so much if a grown man in the Foot or Purple Dragons comes along. I'm not doubting your skill, Mikey, but it's just not worth the risk."

"Also, we need monitor you to make sure there isn't any secondary mutation. The mutation is still fresh. It may be unstable." Donnie rolled closer in his chair.

"That's not fair! I should be able to!-"

"Michelangelo. When we say no, it means no. You won't be doing any such thing. This conversation is over. Do I make myself clear?" Leo's voice boomed throughout the room but was eerily moderate along with his steady gaze. He pulled his shoulders back as he stood tall over Mikey.

Mikey bit his lower lip.

"...Yeah, okay. I'll stay."

"Damn right you'll stay, dimwit." Raph said gruffly, flicking his forehead.

"Ow!" Mikey rubbed the spot.

Donnie turned his attention back to his other brothers. "Well, since Mikey's gonna be human for awhile, we should get him some proper necessities. I don't think being naked in the sewers is sanitary. Also humans sweat way more than us. We all know how Casey gets after he joins us on patrol. Hygiene is a crucial factor for humans."

Leo wrinkled his nose at the memory. "You're right. We could call April and ask if she can pick up some stuff."

Raph was already plucking his T-Phone from his belt, dialing the number.

"I'll call." 

He promptly left the lab, leaving Mikey alone with Donnie and Leo. When Mikey focused his attention back from Raph, Donnie was inches away from his face with a clipboard. Mikey eeped in surprise.

"Besides this being the quite unfortunate of incidents, this is truly fascinating." Donnie brought his thumb to Mikey's face, brushing it against his cheek and to his lower lip, studying his features. He eventually pulled away. 

"You did say you did not feel sick anymore as you did before you were mutated, correct?"

Mikey nodded. 

"Not even the slightest?"

"Mhm."

"Did it stop the second you fully mutated?"

Mikey bit at his lower lip in thought. "I guess, yeah."

Donnie started scribbling something down. Mikey tried to peer at what he was writing when Leo came up in front of him, putting both hands on his shoulders.

"If there's anything you're feeling right now or later, you tell us immediately, got it?"

Mikey gave him a thumbs up with toothy-smile while Raph came back in the room. 

"April and Casey are comin' down soon. They were skeptical at first when I told 'em Mike turned human but they sure sounded excited once they believed me."

Mikey perked up. "Oo, oo, cool! I wanna show them how I look."

Donnie looked up from what he was writing. "And trust me, you will... once I run some tests."

"More?" Mikey groaned, wiping his hands down his face.

Mikey layed on the cot, attempting to understand how to play his handheld game with his new extra fingers while Donnie was click-clacking away at his computer across the lab, brows furrowed in focus.

It was so comfortable laying down on his back fully for Mikey without a shell. He felt like he could sink into the cot itself. He wouldn't exactly complain about this whole mutation thing.

"We're here, guys!"

"Where he at?"

Seemed like April and Casey were here. Donnie was already up, making his way to the lab doors when Mikey ran past him and out to the main room where the entrance was.

Leo and Raph were already talking to the two when Mikey came up behind them. Casey practically pushed past Raph, causing him to stumble with a grunt. April and Casey locked onto Mikey's new form, huddling him. 

"Woah..." 

"Holy shit... You actually..." Casey put a hand to his forehead in disbelief.

Then April squealed and pinched at Mikey's cheeks.

"Awww, you're so cute!"

"Yeouch! Aprilll!" Mikey whined. 

"I thought maybe you finally got too many hits to the head Raph but it's actually real!" Casey turned to Raph, exclaiming. Raph pushed him by the arm.

April squished his cheeks, making his lips jut out and whimper. "I can't believe it! What are the chances of this even happening! He's absolutely adorable!"

Donnie opened his mouth to speak but Raph beat him to it. "I already told 'em what happen so cool yer jets."

"Iszn't it chool?" Mikey said through his pouting lips.

April let go of Mikey's face just for Casey to come up from behind April and ruffle through Mikey's curls. "Sure ya look sick, Mikester. Sick like a..." He thought for a second before snapping his fingers, "like a poodle!"

Raph guffawed while Mikey's face grew red. 

"I do not!"

"And the ferocity of a pomeranian." Casey said smugly, making everyone snicker. Mikey kicked Casey in the shins, causing him to yelp in pain as he hopped away on one foot.

Shifting their attention away from Casey, April came forward with the big plastic bag they were carrying in when they entered and handed it to Mikey.

"Here you go, honey. We didn't really know what size you were so we just hoped for the best. There's a few shirts and pants and other things. We can always send it back if it doesn't fit so don't you worry."

Mikey peered into the bag and smiled. "Thanks April! You're the best!"

He could already think of all the outfit ideas. He always was a fan of human clothes. If his shell didn't get in the way, he would totally wear shirts and pants all the time. He liked to think of it as "customizing his avatar," (maybe Leo was right, he did play too much video games).

"Go get dressed. I'm getting anxious just seeing you stand barefoot in the lair. You're practically begging for infection if you get a scratch." Donnie urged.

"C'mon, Mike, get goin'." Raph pushed the small of his back. "I'll help ya settle up."

Raph lead Mikey into his bedroom while Mikey waved to April.

"I will make my great reappearance after this short message, ladies and gentlemen! Stay tuned!" Mikey quipped jokingly before he was yanked into his room.

Raph rummaged through the bag, tossing items around.

"Oo, oo! I wanna wear that!" Mikey pointed to a shirt nearby.

"Not so fast. Ya ain't wearin' anythin' before you got somethin' to cover down there." He rummaged some before till he finally found some underwear. He threw it at Mikey's face.

"Here, put this on."

Mikey groaned in annoyance while he lifted his legs carefully one by one to slip it on. It felt weird to not have a shell obstructing his way. Another thing hit his face. It was the shirt he was pointing to earlier. Mikey smiled as he slipped it on. He looked down at it.

I bet I look so cool right now.

On the floor next to him were a pair of jeans Raph threw while he was looking through the bag. He figured that would work. Mikey plucked it off the floor and slipped it on. Problem was, it was way too big. He could always just try something else because there were other pants lying about but he really liked this one though... 

There was the sound of a finger snap that made Mikey's head jolt up. Raph sat on his bed, looking annoyed as he waved him over.

"C'mere."

Mikey trudged toward him, holding his pants up. He imagined he probably looked pretty goofy.

"These pants are sorta big," He laughed.

Mikey was taking too long for Raph's liking so once he was in reach, he grabbed his hips, pulling him towards him, making Mikey gasp. Rapy snatched a belt from the floor nearby and starting putting it through loops of the jeans with a face of intense concentration. Mikey just watched his hands at work.

Once he was done, he zipped and buttoned him up, finishing it off with a slap to the side of his thigh.

"Yer all done. Not too bad for a first time human, eh?"

Mikey beamed as he jumped up and down. "I need a mirror, I need a mirror!" He pushed past Raph and made a beeline to the bathroom. He stood in front of the sink that displayed a mirror above. He stepped backwards to view himself fully.

I'm pretty! 

He took the orange bandana around his neck and pulled it over his eyes, tightening it at the back of his head. He now stared back at himself, a radiant smile portraying itself on his face.

Mikey giggled. He liked, no loved, how he looked.

Mikey and the others all sat together at the kitchen, discussing this whole situation at the table over some tea. What a strange day it was.

Casey had his head propped up by his hand, gaze involuntary falling on Mikey.

"Gee, Casey, I know I'm pretty but can it with the creepy staring." Mikey set his empty cup of tea down.

"It just blows my mind that you're human. How can you be a turtle one day and human the next?"

"Yup, I'm trying to get used to it, too." Donnie said exhaustedly, rubbing at his temple.

Raph took a obnoxiously loud sip of tea before slamming it down on the table and leaning back in his chair. 

"Mike's weird himself so all dis weird shit happens to 'im basically on a daily. We oughta get used to it at dis point. He's a trouble magnet, I'm tellin' ya."

"What if trouble's just a Mikey magnet, hm?" Mikey said while Raph rolled his eyes.

Leo watched as his family and friends laughed and chatted around the table. Mikey's human form stuck out like a sore thumb in his vision. He felt completely guilt-stricken that this happened. He was the leader, the oldest brother, on that mission in Shredder's lab, and under his lead, Mikey got hit with mutagen. Under his very eyes, in the next room, Mikey double-mutated. How could he miss it? What if they never figure out how to turn him back? What if Mikey never turns back and, oh shell, wouldn't it be all his fault? How could be live on with this guilt?-

"Leoooo!" Mikey called out, causing Leo to snap out of his rumination. Everyone else continued talking amongst themselves, paying no mind to them. "You're making your tea cold, bro! Why aren't you sippin' away like you usually do? Lemme warm it up for ya."

"Wha- Mikey-"

Mikey already took his cup away and put it in the microwave. 

Leo caught a glimpse of the time on the microwave before Mikey pressed at some buttons. It was late.

Leo now was up and behind Mikey, gently grasping and pulling his younger brother's wrist away from the "START" button. He spun him around to face him.

"It's actually pretty late. We should all turn in for the night. I'm sure it's best for you to get a good night's rest with this new form of yours."

"What?" Mikey pouted. "It's only 1 am..."

April practically spat out her tea. "1 am?!" She frantically wiped at her mouth as she scrambled out of her seat, snatching her phone off the table as she was already up and running out of the room. "I completely lost track of time! I have work tomorrow! Ugh, now I'm going to be walking around like a zombie tomorrow!" Her head reappeared at the door frame. "Gotta go, boys. Thanks for the tea! Call me if you need anymore things, m'kay?"

The turtles simultaneously voiced their farewells as she disappeared from the doorframe and out the lair.

"Bye, April."

"Bye."

"Goodnight, get home safe."

"Thanks again for the stuff, Ape!"

"W-wait, babe!" Casey called after her, stumbling out of his seat. He briefly glanced at the turtles. "Eh, catch you guys on the flip side. We'll drop by tomorrow, yeah?"

He too ran out, leaving the four brothers alone in the kitchen.

"I'm totally beat. Too much Mikey in one day." Raph said dryly, scratching at his plastron.

"Hey!" Mikey said defensively. Donnie came up to him. 

"Listen, like we said before, tell us immediately if something happens, even if it's the middle of the night. Do not hesitate to come to us."

"Right-o!" He nodded. He wish his brothers didn't worry so much. This was one of the most awesome things that has ever happened to him! He didn't get why they were getting so worked up by this. They just didn't get it.

Leo held onto his shoulders from behind as he lead him out of his room and into Mikey's bedroom. Mikey called out to his other brothers to exchange the fair share of "goodnights" as he let Leo lead him away.

"Ugh Mikey, your room's an even bigger mess than usual with all this new stuff." Leo scolded, struggling to make his way over the piles of items.

Leo lifted a t-shirt off the ground and studied it's graphic design as Mikey stripped his clothes off to change into something more comfortable for bed. Mikey discovered he was big fan of pajama pants that day.

His older brother lifted the covers as Mikey got into bed. It felt strange to be laying in his bed without a shell, his back feeling the mattress below. He shifted his attention back to the older turtle crouched down next to him looking... sad?

Wait, why does he look sad?

Leo wordlessly pressed his hands over the covers on top of Mikey, pressing out the wrinkles. His mouth formed a thin line.

"We'll find a way to turn you back. No matter what it takes." He spoke low and quiet.

Mikey blinked at him. "Yeah, I know you guys will." He placed a hand on his bicep. "I'm not worried."

Leo's eyes darted over his face before eventually sighing and shaking his head. He tenderly ruffled through Mikey's hair.

"Just get some sleep. Goodnight Ototō."

"Night, Ani."

The door shut and lights flickered off, leaving Mikey alone with his thoughts in the dark.

Chapter Text

Mikey glanced at the clock for about the millionth time, only to see about 3 minutes has passed since the last time he checked. He inwardly groaned and turned over to face the wall.

It was taking forever for him to fall asleep! Well, he didn't even feel tired if he was being honest. He was way too excited. Not only that, his brain wouldn't stop rushing at him with these loud thoughts. Thoughts too loud and impulsive-ridden for about 2 am in the morning.

He worried his bottom lip and displayed his hand a few inches from his face, watching as his five fingers wiggled under his command. He couldn't help but go over the same thought process he has repeatedly played in his mind ever since Leo shut off the light. 

I'm human... which is totally awesome! This gotta be a super-duper lucky one-in-a-million sorta thing to happen. I could've mutated into a cat or fish or even a slug!- but no, I mutated into a human! I've always wanted to be human...at least for a little bit so I could see what it was like, and feel...I don't know...normal..? What're the chances that I would actually be one!

Mikey rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. 

Imagine all the cool things I could do now! I could go to the zoo or the museum!- Oh mi gosh, I could totally go to the amusement park they have down by the docks! Wait, wait no!- I could go to the comic con that's happening down here in a week!

... 

Heck... maybe I could actually make some human friends.

Mikey felt a warmth grow in his chest just as a soft smile grew on his face.

Just imagine all the life uptop right now. All the cars honking aggressively at each other, shouting profanities due to the overwhelming amount of road rage, herds of people bumping into each other on the sidewalks and jaywalking, the blaring sirens of emergency vehicles running to the nearest shooting, the toxic fumes from vehicles and secondhand smoke entering your lungs... What a dream...Truly the city that never sleeps... 

But he next thought made his smile fade away. 

...And it's all possible now. The opportunity is practically up for grabs like the last slice of pizza... but I have to stay down here... In the lair... where I've always been...

Always hid.

It wasn't fair.

Mikey looked back at the clock. Only a few minutes has passed again.

My brothers didn't get it. They never did.

Leo has never been interested in the flashing lights topside. When Dad was alive, he was too busy trying to impress him to care about anything going on uptop. Now, all he ever does is worry over missions and do a bunch of training and sleep sitting- I mean meditation or whatever.

Donnie isn't a fan of being social in general. He's so obsessed with his own tech and science stuff that I swear one time I caught the guy having full blown conversations with his computer!

Raph really isn't interested much in humans but he sure is when it involves kicking their butts. He hits the streets every once and awhile with Casey, beating up street gangs that are roughing up neighborhoods and shops. So I guess you could say Raph knows his way around but it was clear he didn't really care for it more than that.

Mikey shook his leg, stimming nervously in thought.

When's the next time I'll ever be human again?After this, I'll never get to be human! I don't want to waste this opportunity... 

His fists clenched at his sides.

But my bros are right... I have to stay here! It's too dangerous! I'm too unfamiliar about what goes up there with humans. There's only so much you can learn from the sidelines... 

Mikey glanced at the piles of clothes scattered across his room. 

But this is my shot to learn.

Mikey was already up and moving, tearing off his pjs into something more "city-appropiate". He even combed his hair for the first time ever, figuring he wanted to make a good first impression if he came across any humans. Now that he was human, his ballpark was way bigger. Maybe he could meet some babes... At two in the morning... 

His gaze fell to the mess on his desk where he usually drew at and basically threw anything he was to use later on. There was the 20 dollar bill he was to use when it was his turn to buy the pizza for him and his bros.

They wouldn't mind if we skipped a pizza day... 

Mikey shoved it into his pant pocket and was about to leave when his eyes caught sight on his nunchucks hanging from his wall next to his orange bandana.

Hmm, do I need my nunchucks...? 

He stared at it some more before waving it off. 

It's not like I'm gonna meet some bad guys on a simple stroll! I don't need it.

What I do need though is my bandana! Can't leave without my signature orange look!

He snatched his bandana, tying it around his head and over his eyes. He was ready now.

He gingerly opened his bedroom door, poking his head out.

The sound of Raph's snores immediately reached him. At least he knew Raph was asleep. He couldn't say the same about Leo and Donnie though.

He crept past their bedrooms, not taking his eyes off Leo's room. Once he passed it, he felt a wave of relief. In his book, if he could pass him, he could pass anything. But what caught his attention next was Donnie's door being wide open. Mikey peered inside the dark room. Donnie was not in his bed or anywhere in his room for that matter.

That must mean... 

Mikey hurried around the corner to see the light from the lab streaming from the slightly ajar doors, the sound of keyboard typing faint. 

Shit. Donnie was awake.

Mikey didn't know why he was surprised. After something like this, Donnie probably wouldn't sleep for a few days, trying to figure out a cure while running on unhealthful high doses of caffeine.

He eyed the lab as he slithered his way to the turnstiles. He jumped over them and attempted to land softly on his feet but these shoes he wore were making it difficult. He whipped his head back to the lab in fear of seeing Donnie standing outside the doors like Jason Voorhees but he was no where to be seen, still working away in his lab.

The coast was clear. Mikey walked some until he believed he was at a far enough distance to break into a run.

Sorry bros... But a turtle's gotta do what a human's gotta do...

Mikey slightly lifted the manhole cover to hear the sounds of the city stream in, allowing only his eyes to peer through, aligning with the ground of the alley. The alley stretched on to the sidewalk and to the road ahead, showing the wheels of cars turning and people's feet walking.

Mikey pushed he cover all the way to the side and lifted himself out, pushing the cover back with his foot. He braced himself, taking a few deep breaths before making his way into the light ahead.

There was some sort of intense pressure creeping deep into his chest. Something he has only experienced with such intensity a few times in his life. It made him feel jittery as his heart pounded in his ears.

Is this was being anxious was like for Leo? No wonder he was such a grouch sometimes.

His body ached with tension, ready to run and disappear back into the sewer due to his half-expectation of sudden screams and chaos to unfold by his appearance but people brushed past him in a hurry, laughing, conversating, paying him no mind. Some in groups, some individual. Cars continued to honk and replace each other on the curb for parking. The lights from the few open shops illuminated off of his face. Life went on.

He watched everyone's eyes, how they would react to him. No one even batted an eye in his direction.

Mikey's anxiety begun to unravel in relief and he started to laugh, an easing buzzing feeling replacing the tension in his body. People started to give him strange looks then but he knew it was for a different reason. He didn't care. He was just another New Yorker now. His eyes sparkled as he moved along with the crowd of people, letting his legs guide him.

Mikey ventured throughout the streets, taking his sweet time gazing at the buzzing life around him. He felt on top of the world, walking with a little pep in his step, waving to anyone who would actually look at him only for them to send a strange/confused look back his way. He passed by some clubs and watched in awe at the women wearing skimpy outfits in it's lines outside. 

As he walked, he tried to figure out where he was even going. He still had that 20 bucks in his pocket but he wasn't sure what to use it for. He always wanted to buy a pizza slice and sit inside the place but no way any pizza place around here was open at this time. He just wanted to go in some store or shop and buy something, anything just so he could say he did something like that. 

He noticed a convenience store across the street. It's sign shone brightly, emphasizing the words "OPEN 24/7".

Mikey smirked. 

Bingo.

Once he made his way over, he plucked his hands into his pockets in an attempt to seem nonchalant and entered. The bell dinged overhead the door, making the cashier look up at him.

Woah. It's...it's... beautiful. 

Mikey could tear up by how astonishing the sight was. All the snacks he has ever loved shown brightly under the blinding lights above. The sound of buzzing refrigerators and slushy machines working made him feel overwhelmed with joy. 

Mikey shaped out of his trance at the sound of the cashier clearing his throat behind the counter, looking utterly annoyed. 

"Ya need help lookin' for somethin', bub?"

Oh mi gosh, a stranger is totally talkin' to me! Oo, he got a nice mustache.

"Uhm.. Uh- nah, I-I'm good!" Mikey stammered, hurrying over to the aisles. The guy at the counter squinted at him before drifting his attention back to his phone.

Mikey took his time looking through the aisles as if it was an art gallery, admiring the snacks and drinks. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up! 

Hm... which one, which one... 

Mikey pulled out the wrinkled bill from his pocket.

It's enough to grab a couple things for my bros!- Oh wait, I'm not supposed to be here... They would tots be suspicious if I pulled up with a whole food pantry.

He shrugged.

Meh, they wouldn't appreciate the convenience store cuisine anyway.

He finally decided on a can of soda, white powdered mini donuts, and a pack of gum for himself. He was in the middle of deciding what flavor of gum he wanted to chew on, acting like it was a life altering decision by how focused he was when the bell of the door entrance rang loudly, followed by the door slamming open.

He figured it was just a rude customer. It was New York City after all. But that was until he heard the sound of a gun cocking. 

"Ya know the drill. Empty the register or I'll blow your fuckin' head off," said a threatening voice coming from the front of the store.

Woah, woah, wait a minute! Hold the phone! 

Mikey crept over the the end of the aisle and peered his head out to see a group of men at the door. One guy held a gun to the cashier's temple as the other men started going further into the store.

"Just stock up much as you can, boys. Don't forget the beef jerky, Hun loves those." said one of the other men.

Mikey's eyes drifted to the purple symbols they all wore on their sleeves. The goofy doodles represented a dragon. Mikey's eyes grew wide as he pressed his back into the aisle.

Purple Dragons! 

He watched as the cashier's hands shook tremendously, scrambling to gather the cash from the register.

"Hurry up, I ain't got all night!" shouted the Purple Dragon, applying more pressure into his temple.

Mikey could feel his lips curl while adrenaline starting to pump through him. 

This is gonna be fun.

Mikey popped out from where he hid and walked leisurely over to the counter where the two men stood. 

"Woah, woah! If you were short a buck, I would've given one to yah!" Mikey joked sharply, clenching his items at his grasp.

The cashier's eyes widened in horror as he shook his head at Mikey's direction. The Purple Dragon was bewildered.

"And who the fuck do you think you are, pipsqueak?!"

"Oh, just the dude whose gonna leave you with your tail behind your legs when I throw you outta here." Mikey said smuggly.

The Purple Dragon stared at him for a second before bursting out in maniacal laughter. The other dragons hurried over to the commotion. The laughter eventually calmed down. The guy wipes at his lash line. 

"Yo, get a load of this kid! He says he's gonna throw us outta here!" He turned to the other Dragons who also started to laugh. He turned back to Mikey, snarling.

"Why don't ya scurry along kid, before I shoot some rounds into yah. It's a school night. Don't want ya gettin' home too late."

Mikey stretched his smile.

"Thanks for the worry, but I have the day off tomorrow."

"Scram kid! Get outta here!" shouted the cashier in desperation.

"Shuddup!" barked the Dragon, punching the cashier across the face with the gun, blood spraying from his mouth. The man stumbled backwards and flew into the tobacco products stored behind.

This was going too fast for Mikey's liking so he had to switch up. He conjured up a plan on the spot. He softened his face and weakened his muscles.

"He's right, I should go. My folks'll be worried. Sorry for the tough talk, sirs." Mikey said, attempting to sound feeble. He was trying his hardest not to laugh his ass off. He bit his lip to contain his smile as he walked over slowly.

"Good boy. Empty ya pockets before ya head out." said the Dragon, waving him over with his gun.

Mikey now in front of the sneering men potrayed his best pouty look as he slowly reached for his pockets. 

... 

It's showtime, baby!

In the blink of an eye, Mikey tore the wrapping of the white powdered donuts as he smushed them against his palms. He slid one of his palms forward as he blew the powder into the gang member's face.

"What the-!"

Mikey took the guy's distraction to his advantage, smacking the gun out of his hand and kicking the guy backward simultaneously. The other Purple Dragons were now shouting and shooting away blindly at him. Mikey threw himself to the ground, swooping his leg to knock a couple men over. Mikey hurried back behind the aisle, shaking the soda can furiously just as some of the men hurried over, aiming their weapons at him. He threw it when they fired, a bullet making impact with the can causing it to explode and drench it's contents over them. Mikey ran forward, jumping onto the shelves, pushing off of them to throw a direct airborne punch and a kick for good measurements.

A few Dragons were down but some were still standing which meant the party wasn't over just yet.

"The kid's some kind of black belt! Beat 'im to a pulp!" Shouted one of the men as the remaining ones charged towards him.

Bullets whizzed past his ear as he ducked and flipped himself over the shelf and into the refrigerator aisle. As the men ran over to grab him, he opened the fridge doors to slam it into their faces. He slide under the opened door to twist his legs and tackle one of the men down. He flipped up, dodging the upcoming bullets to slip behind an unsuspecting Dragon to grab at his arm, twisting it backwards and to the side till the pleasant sounds of bones popping and grinding against each other rang, causing the man to scream and drop his gun.

The couple of men still left standing shot at Mikey but he spun around, causing the Dragon he held to take the shots. The Dragons roared and shot at them until the empty sound of bullets emitted from their guns. They desperately clicked the gun repeatedly, cussing. But once they looked up, Mikey already dropped the limp body and was already sprinting towards them, leaping to reach his knee directly to one's throat and grabbing the hair of the other member to go down with him, causing the guy's head to hit the hard floor with a crack. 

Mikey landed swiftly on his feet, the sound of bodys collapsing behind him. Mikey brushed off his clothes, smiling pleasingly to himself.

I wonder if I can have the gum on the house for taking care of those thugs.

Mikey shifted his attention back to the register to see the cashier peering from the counter. Mikey was glad he was conscious after the guy received that gnarly hit earlier.

"Yo, sir! Are you okay? You aren't hurt too bad, right?"

The man's face contorted into outright horror as his mouth fell open as if in a silent scream. Mikey found out what was the problem once he heard rushing footsteps behind him. Before he could turn around, an absolutely excruciating, sharp wave of pain slashed into his back. A scream tore out from his throat, spraying specks of saliva, as he flew across the floor some to land onto his hands and knees. The pain blinded him as he involuntarily gasped for air, quivering.

A Dragon, bleeding from the mouth and shirt stained with blood stood over him, clutching a thick, glazed, wooden bat in his hands. He grimaced, bending over. It was obvious he was too injured to finish Mikey off.

"That's what ya get when ya mess with the Purple Dragons, punk. We'll be back and we'll tear ya limb from limb." He spat at Mikey which contained more blood than spit in the mix. The Dragon briefly glanced sullenly at his fallen members before he leaving the store, letting the door slam behind him.

Mikey's back was in searing agony that seemed to bleed its shooting sensation throughout his entire body. Saliva dropped from his mouth and onto the floor. He'd rather be dead than feel the pain he felt in that moment.

There were shouts that seemed to have been getting closer. Mikey craned his head up slightly to catch a blurry sight of the cashier guy with a panicked facial expression to match his distressed shouting. He was frantically fumbling with his phone, dropping it multiple times as he crouched over Mikey.

"Oh my god, kid! Oh my god, oh my god- Police! I'll call the police! The ambulance is gonna help ya, you're gonna be okay! Holy fuck! You're gonna be okay!-"

Ambulance? Police? Oh no- NO. 

Mikey had to get out of there fast.

He conjured up all the energy into his legs to make himself stand up. The pain made him pant as sweat dropped from his hairline. The guy was now screaming louder at him so Mikey pushed past him with all his might and stumbled out the place, feeling the cold night breeze hit him. There weren't any walking pedestrians nearby on the streets. It seemed the gunshots rang out a good volume. Good. He didn't want plenty of witnesses seeing his state right now.

Mikey needed out. Out where? He didn't know. He couldn't think, could barely see, or hear anything. Everything sounded like a buzz and all the lights looked like blurry long single lines of individual colors that went every "frames per maybe."

He dashed across the street without checking the road when a car zoomed towards him, slamming the breaks once it made contact with Mikey. Mikey slammed his palms into the car hood, too disoriented to understand what was going on and how to react. 

"What the fuck! Watch where you're going, kid!" screamed the driver, waving a fist at him.

Mikey couldn't hear him. He didn't get anything right now. All he knew was he had to run. So that's what he did.

He ran.

The pain was too much to bare. He wasn't going to make it home. He shouldn't have walked that far in the first place. He bared his teeth as he walked, grunting and whimpering as he strode. His back was now a throbbing ache that echoed throughout his entire body. It gave him a blasting headache and whenever he twisted his body even the slightest, his body screamed.

He didn't bring his phone with him. He figured he wouldn't need it. He never regretted something so much.

My brothers were right... I'm not used to this body yet. I've always been a little less careful about my backside during fights because of my shell. The shell I used to have anyway... If I had my shell back there, it would've for sure broke that stupid bat.

He hated that his brothers were right. He didn't even want to admit it to himself. He wanted to cry but decided to save it until he preferably wasn't wandering in city streets.

He looked up at the street sign ahead.

Eastman Avenue

... 

Eastman Avenue? Wait- that's... 

Mikey's eyes grew wide as realization hit him.

That's where April and Casey live! I could go to them!

He just needed someplace to go, to rest, or else he swore, he would pass out from the pain.

Mikey used the wall of the buildings to support himself as he dragged his legs down the street and in front of April and Casey's apartment. He burst in through the main entrance of the building and made it to the foot of the tall flight of stairs.

Just looking at the stairs brought tears to his eyes. He knew they lived a few floors up. He braced him for the journey. He tried his best to apply all of the pressure into his legs, practically leaning full weight against the railing. He was panting again, lightheaded to the max as he pushed himself onward. 

Almost there... Almost there... 

And there he was. He made it the floor, collapsing on the last step in exhaustion. He half wanted to crawl himself to April's door but forced himself to his feet, letting out a muffled cry. Mikey was so relived to see his friends apartment number that he imagined it practically illuminating around edges as he drew nearer. Once he was at arm's length, he reached a shaky hand to knock. More like slam though. He was so desperate and hurt he couldn't even make a fist, just an open palm. He kept hitting the door repeatedly, mentally begging it was loud enough.

"-coming, I'm coming!" came Casey's muffled voice approaching the door. 

The door swung open, displaying Casey in a white shirt littered with unremoveable chicken wing stains and a pair of boxers. His eyes were half closed while he spoke in an irritated and groggy voice.

"Pal, it's 4 in the fucking morning, what-"

Casey quickly snapped out of his sleepy state at the sight of a watery-eyed Mikey in front of him. He rubbed his eyes out of disbelief.

"Mikey?" He looked left and right into the corridor, expecting to spot the turtle brothers nearby. "What...what are ya doin' here? What's the matter?"

Mikey's throat was too tight as he shook his head, squinting his eyes shut. He wrapped his arms around himself to his best ability without absolutely blinding himself with pain and leaned his head into Casey's chest. Casey instinctively wrapped his arms around him, confusion and pure concern overtaking him. 

"Casey? Who is it?" April asked tiredly from inside, emerging while wrapping her robe around her waist. 

Casey whipped his head around, eyes still on Mikey within his arms.

"Uh, April, call the guys. Tell 'em Mikey's here and there's somethin' wrong with him." 

"Mikey's here?" April fixed her eyes on Mikey's still form, coming over. "Awh, sweetie what's wrong? Where are your brothers?"

She placed a gentle hand on his back but even the tender touch provided a sharp, shooting pain to jolt through him. He gave out a cry and burried his face even deeper into Casey.

April quickly removed her hand in surprise, anxiety spiking. Casey and April exchanged distressed glances.

"Casey, set him down on the couch carefully. I think he's injured."

Casey gingerly sat him on the couch. Sitting down applied pressure to Mikey's back, causing the pain to jolt upwards once again. Mikey failed to hide the pained expression written all over his face.

"You call the guys, Casey. I'll try to see what's going on."

Casey sighed and started his way to the phone, muttering, "Sure, let me be the bearer of bad news..."

Mikey just stared down at his hands laying likely in his lap. He felt guilty for dragging everyone into this. Not only did he wake up his friends but now his family too. He was so dead when his brothers comes. 

Mikey listened to the muffled voice of Casey on the phone in the other room while April drew her face close to his, her hands tenderly cupping his cheeks.

"Where does it hurt, sweetie? What happened?"

Even though he knew that coming here and waking them up like this, he at least owes them an explanation but at the moment, Mikey couldn't form a single word. He didn't want to embarrass himself with the high risk of his voice cracking. 

April didn't wait for his response, pulling away to allow her eyes to dart over his body, searching for any visible injuries. 

"Is it on your back?"

Mikey's eyes flirted around anxiously. He swallowed hard. 

April knew she hit the spot.

"Let me see." She reached for him but Mikey pulled away, shaking his head.

"Please." Was all Mikey could say.

"Why not?" April asked gently, leaning down to his eye level. "I need to see it, Mikey. I want to help."

Mikey shook his head again causing April to sigh.

"Okay... But when your brothers come around, you need to show them whatever it is and explain to them what happened."

She got up, leaving to the kitchen. Mikey watched in despair as she left, just for her to return with a glass of water. She handed it to him. 

"Here, drink this."

As Mikey obediently drank, Casey came around running his hand through his hair nervously. 

"Welp, they're comin'... And shit, they sure weren't happy when I told 'em. They didn't even know Mikey left."

Casey plopped next to Mikey on the couch, the cushion sinking beneath them. He nudged Mikey's cheek with the back of his pointer finger.

"Ya wanna tell us what's up with that?"

Mikey pouted and shrugged before hesitantly looking up at April.

"Sorry for waking you guys up..." he spoke hushly. "Now for sure you're really gonna be sleepy at work tomorrow..." Mikey looked up at the clock on the wall sullenly before correcting himself. "...I mean later this morning."

April couldn't help but smile at his concern. "It's okay, Mikey. I'm glad you came by but I wish you would tell us what's wrong and let us help you."

"He's been silent this whole time?" Casey arched his brows before sighing himself, starting to rub gently on Mikey's knee. "Well knowin' the guys, they'll get an answer outta him and fix up anythin' he got going on. Hopefully it ain't too bad."

"I hope so too." April said quietly.

Mikey shifted deeper into the couch with a grimace. He suddenly felt something in his pant pocket. He reached in it to reveal the crumbled up 20 dollar bill from earlier. He looked at it glumly.

I just wanted to have a good time... Is that really too much for a turtle to ask? Well, former turtle that is.

He wiped his face with his hands. 

I really done it now... Now all there is left to do is to wait for my doom... aka wait for my brothers to arrive and face their wrath. 

Welp, I had a nice run...