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The softly glowing tree hummed from the distance, illuminating the turtle’s shell to look oddly white. The pink sky jammed with creatures of this world, playfully ramming into one another. The warm sensation sailed onto his skin, trotting further up his arms. Usually at this time he would have been invading Kraang bases and seeking information from their technologies. Though today he will just take a break from the usual schedule. (unless Rocktopus would look for a fight)
The days go by like this; invade, gain loot, leave, fight, run, and survive.
The turtle sighed, his hand removing his purple and pink mask made by the skin of his enemy. His hands gently stroking his headgear, it was rough and almost crispy. His fingers felt the bumps that had just started to form. He stared at the old hat, thinking of remaking it soon. When was the last time he changed it? Last month? Or maybe five months? Time wasn’t his thing. That was Leatherhead’s “job.”
Honestly, he had lost track of time with all the missions going on. And anyone would forget time since there wasn’t a day or night. There was no sun or moon, and surely no stars either.
Everything was just pink. Somehow only Leatherhead could tell time here.
Time is valuable, every minute you spend you remember and cherish it. But even now Mikey himself was beginning to suffer the consequences. Mikey, the one that remembered what his brothers loved and despised to every detail, was now forgetting the colors they wore.
He had forgotten what Leo’s favorite comic was, what Raph sounded like, Donnie’s favorite equipment and secrets he had only told Mikey. His father’s preferred tea, and even his father’s past. The only familiar name had begun with the letter ‘T.’
Mikey was sure “T” was a woman.
Mikey was sure this would happen someday, jumping into the portal with no mind of thinking ahead. There would be a day when the past become forgotten memories. And Mikey was dreading that day that would come.
He thought they would come. Rescue him and Leatherhead, but alas there was no outside communication. That was alright, he had Leatherhead, and they both create fun in any situation.
They could literally beat anything that came in their way. His time was mostly fun and kicking but. Except he wanted to rest, sleep here was a blessing, even if it was for a few minutes or an hour. Really, he took all basic needs as granted back then.
Mikey dropped his head, his eyes dark and smeared with black circles the size of the statue of liberty that were gained from the restless years. His remaining blue eye still held the sparkle he had many decades ago, were it not for a fact that it had dimmed. His muscles had grown, yet he managed to not make them overly large. Dimension X had forced him to use almost half his potential. It reminded him of his sensei.
He had always told Michelangelo to use his hidden potential in battle, especially training. Mikey did not get the point, why go all out on his brothers in training. It’s just practice. And his brothers would not hurt him on purpose, only jokingly or accidentally.
He doesn’t know if he will ever see them again, but at times some things are just to be never reckoned again. Maybe brothers, family, was simply a temporary matter.
From what Leatherhead told him a day ago, his birthday would be approximately today. Now here he is, fourty-five years old, never fifteen. Oh he will never see that age again.
For the past few years he had been searching for a lead to send a signal to Earth. He only now stopped when Leatherhead told him it was ok to let it go. He wondered how his father and brothers are doing. His father would be eighty-one this year, and it would be a shame and dishonorable not to be there for him in his old times. His enemies, the foot clan, should have been retired by now, yes?
Mikey felt the large presence shadow behind him, Leatherhead, the large gator spared him a glance. His hand's full with something. The large alligator placed a hand on his shoulder, his eyes softening (with guilt) each passing second. Mikey turned around, his eyes widening as he took a step back from the sudden surprise.
And then he chuckled, a laughter no one has heard in ages. "What's this for?" The turtle with the baby blue eye asked, a smile plastered on his small, freckled face that still carried a spark that if anyone would have lost long ago.
Leatherhead held the funky looking cake up, his raspy voice carrying an appreciative tone as he bopped his head, "For the greatest ninja ever known,"
The cake was made of goo that dried and molded to a flourlike state. Then shaped into three layers, each a lighter shade of green. “Aww, for me? That’s sweet of you,” he said with a tongue weighing of a heavy accent. He plopped down on the cliff, his legs dangling off the edge.
Leatherhead smiled, setting the cake between them, “I wish you a great year,” “Every year is great,” Mikey rushes. Then it is silent between them. They never celebrated birthdays, so Mikey wondered what the special occasion was.
The quiet atmosphere was replaced with a deep voice, “My friend, my greatest apologies go out to you,” he starts, and something in his tone tells he is not finished. “Why are you sorry?” Mikey leaned closer, his nonexistent eyebrows knitted together.
“I took you away from your family, and brought you misery,” Leatherhead explained, “I am responsible for most of your doom, you lost an eye because of me and placed yourself in danger many times for my sake.” Mikey frowned at these words, really it was Mikey who had decided to do this. He was the one that left with Leatherhead at the last second. He was the one that pushed past his brother's arms and yells.
“You would not have been here if it was not for me.” He finally finished.
Mikey shook his head gently, his teeth kissing in a rhythm, “Leatherhead, it isn’t your fault, no matter how much you believe it is,” Mikey placed a hand on the gator’s shoulder, “and no matter what we go through, I would gladly do it a million times and back.”
Leatherhead looked at Mikey and blinked several times, Mikey continued, “even if it hurts, we go push through it together, because you are my best friend bro.”
It was true, if you knew Mikey even for a second, he would gladly and without a second go down with you. Even if it is hell itself.
“So don’t blame yourself buddy,”
Even if it hurts.