Turtle Story: Surprise Kisses Part 1
Author: Melissa the Damgel
Series: Vindicated
Title: Surprise Kisses
Pairing: RaphxDon, LeoxMikey
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After the monsters were gone and the fight was over; the boys had no where else to go but home. And that was it's own unique battle.
Warning for this chapter: Bad words mostly
Author's Note: Err.... not much to say about this one. I hope it's not boring and there is happy in this one, just as I promised :)
*****~*****
~Surprise Kisses~
The day after Leo’s return had been rather awkward despite the fact that Michelangelo had always been a master of hiding his true pain. He was a little quieter than usual, a little more skittish around his eldest brother, and his smiles were cheap. Though he did crack jokes if the temptation was just too great, everyone could tell they were forced and weak.
Donnie was distant as well, and the two often found themselves sitting together over the course of the next few days. Even during the times Donatello was doing his IT tech job, Mikey began slipping into his lab to sit with him, sipping his sodas and munching as quietly as possible on his chips while staring at nothing or watching Donnie work. Talking quietly amongst themselves was beginning to become a regular occurrence in the lair. Whether it was simply they had the opportunity to talk, or it was because they were curled up on the couch with Michelangelo hugging Donnie about the waist and Donatello rubbing soothing circles upon Mikey’s shell as they murmured to each other during the movie. Their voices held no sense of excitement or joviality during the times they were together. They were often quiet and hushed, whispering to the other so neither of their eldest brothers would hear.
And Raph and Leo were constantly at each other’s throats. If they had thought it was bad in the past, this took the cake.
“Why do you think he’s like this?” Mikey whispered late one night after they had had a thorough thrashing from some monster out at a construction site.
Donnie shrugged awkwardly from where he lay in front of Mikey - the two were curled together in his bed, facing one another as they whispered back and forth like they used to do as children.
“You think he’s still upset about what you guys argued ‘bout the other day?” He asked gently, sliding an arm through one of Donnie’s as he wiggled closer.
Frowning and shifting uncomfortably from the contact - though he had to admit, Mikey had always been a bit of a leech since birth and wasn’t likely to stop snuggling anytime soon - he sighed loudly, “Yeah, probably. But I think he also has issues with Leo leaving. It’s probably due to some inner turmoil towards being abandoned.”
“Like you telling him you guys couldn’t get married as kids?” Michelangelo asked innocently, though his eyes looked anything but.
He looked away and stared down at Mikey’s chin. “Yeah,” He breathed and shifted, nuzzling into his pillow as though that would wipe away the sting of guilt he suddenly felt.
Silence grew between them, even though Mikey was curling his fingers about in Donatello’s mask tails and stroking his arm affectionately with his other hand. He fidgeted when nothing further was said and he lifted blue eyes to watch Donnie’s eyes grow more distant the longer nothing was said. “Why do you think he changed his mind?” he whispered, giving a small tug on the purple tails to nudge Don out of his reverie.
Donatello shrugged, his dark eyes seeming to grow darker as he mulled over the question, looking for a possible answer. “I… I don’t know. Maybe he feels guilty?”
Snorting, it was Michelangelo’s turn to look away. “Guilty? About what?”
“Leaving in the first place?” Don offered and it was his turn to inch closer to his brother.
Mikey frowned, his fingers playing mindlessly against his brother’s arm and hand. “… You think he feels bad for staying away so long?”
“Doesn’t hurt to ask him.” He whispered then frowned at the darkening look on his brother’s face. “Mikey, you can’t avoid him forever.”
“I’m not avoiding him-”
“All right, you can’t avoid the issue forever. You can’t act like nothing happened and expect us to become a team again. If we have any hope of-”
“Why are you trying so hard, dude?” Michelangelo suddenly asked, interrupting his brother with a little glare. “Why bother tryin’ so hard to get me and Leo back together when you and Raph have been desperate for each other for years. Why not just go be with him. If I can’t be totally happy, I’d rather you were.”
Donatello blinked in surprise then blushed and turned his eyes away.
Sighing, Mikey dropped Donnie’s mask tails and leaned closer, wrapping his arm about his brother’s shell. “Sorry, bro. Didn’t mean to act like a total jerk there.” He bowed his head, resting his brow against Don’s and closing his eyes.
Shrugging, Don focused his eyes on his brother’s chest, his fingers beginning to very slowly trace mindless designs into his plastron. “No, you do have a point.”
“Is it a secret?” Michelangelo squeaked hopefully.
Chuckling, Donnie nodded, “Yeah, it is actually. Splinter kinda implied I wasn’t supposed to say anything.” He explained.
“Is it about me?” a beaming smile radiated off his face and caused another weak smile to touch Donatello’s face.
Shaking his head against the pillow, Don laid his hand against his brother’s chest, rather enjoying the feel of him being close suddenly. “No, it’s not about you. You’re safe for another week till eliminations begin again.”
“I’ll win.” Mikey stated.
Peeking up at his brother, Donnie smiled more, “Yeah, you probably will too.”
Silence began to drift once more between the two of them. Donnie sighed long and slow, his breath pooling between them and wafting over Mike’s neck.
Studying him, Michelangelo continued gentle strokes along his carapace as he watched Donnie begin to pull back into his own little world. He leaned forward suddenly and pressed his lips to Donatello’s.
A gasp jumped down Donnie’s throat and he pulled his head back, dark eyes wide and his jaw dropping from shock. “Mike…”
Playing across Mikey’s cheeks, a blush grew and spread over his face even as he leaned in once again, pulling Donnie closer to him, “I just thought you needed that.” He whispered as way of an explanation. Hesitating a moment, Michelangelo rolled away and onto his back, giving Donnie his space as he stared up at the ceiling.
Donnie stared at his brother in shock and surprise, uncertain how to even respond after something like that. He rolled over as well, his head turning to stare at the wall by his side, his fingers fidgeting against his plastron.
“I always thought that after Leo got back… I’d hug him and then he’d… he’d like, sweep me off my feet or somethin’, and he’d kiss me. You know, somethin’ really cheesy like that. And I don’t mean like, a little kiss or even a long kiss; I mean, he would kiss me. Like a snog or somthin’. Tongues, teeth, groping, and panting - everything. I always thought… I was so sure he wouldn’t change his mind.” Michelangelo whispered, lifting a hand to press the heel of his palm into an eye, a sad smile touching his face. Inhaling slowly and letting it back out just as gently, Mikey stemmed the tears and he cautiously turned his head to look to Donnie, and he smiled again. “But I guess I was just dreaming again, huh bro?”
Donatello turned his head and looked back to Mike, shaking his head slowly, “Dreams keep us getting up in the morning.”
“Then what do I have to get up for tomorrow, dude? I don’t even feel like continuing to breathe anymore ‘cause this hurts so much.” He pressed a hand to his chest and wrinkled his brow, desperately hoping for an answer.
But he only got a slow shake of the head as his answer.
“It doesn’t stop, Mikey. But it’ll get better. Just… please try to help me make us all a team again. I know everything will get fixed as soon as we are able to work together.
Michelangelo stared at his brother and smiled, “Splinter musta told you something good for you to look like that.”
Don smiled weakly and averted his eyes with a slight knitting of his brow, “Yeah… it was pretty good.”
A deep sigh fell from Mike’s chest and he closed his eyes taking a moment to really recover his emotions. With another sigh and then a quick roll to the side, Mikey grinned down at Donatello and giggled, “But, if all else fails for both of us, we could always hook up. I bet you’d look killer in a corset.” He snickered and leaned down quickly, again surprising his brother with a sneak-attack kiss to the beak before he rolled off his bed and out of his room, laughing insanely.
Donnie blushed lightly but he frowned, staring at the door as he touched his fingertips to his lips. “I hope Leo will change his mind... for Mikey’s sake.” He whispered to himself then sighed loudly and rolled over to go to sleep - he had work in the morning; if he went to sleep now he could maybe get two hours in.
*****~*****
It had been absolutely insane, it was only his third day back and he had already been reprimanded by Splinter, Raph had already gone up top and gotten himself injured, only to then fight with him in April’s apartment, and now his family was falling apart around his ears. And Mikey wouldn’t talk to him directly. Not that he blamed him - he had really hurt the youngest turtle.
Leonardo inhaled slowly and then released as he strained to calm himself and slip into the blissful escape that was meditation. That was one secret he would never reveal to Splinter - he didn’t always use meditation time to focus and think over their next moves or create inner peace within himself. He sometimes used meditation time to not think of anything at all, and he used it to leave this world and escape his worries and responsibilities, and he used the time to let his mind wander in very slow and lazy circles. Currently his mind was revolving around Mikey and it was making his chest hurt.
Knitting his brows together as he tried to concentrate, Leo finally bowed his head in defeat and slumped forward with his hands on his knees. He opened his eyes and stared off to the side and past the candles he had set up around himself.
“Hey, Leo, I figured it out.” Donnie poked his head in, pointing over his shoulder to his work area where he and April had been studying the legend and translating it to modern techo-geek speak.
Leonardo turned his head and looked to his younger brother and gave him a swift and sage nod. “I’ll be there in a moment.” He said and looked back in front of him and at the candles sitting atop the short table he had put together to do meditations with.
He could hear them outside the door, talking and laughing - well, Michelangelo was laughing. And it hurt a little. Somehow seeing Mikey doing just fine after he had shattered him so thoroughly that first night back was a little painful. Closing his eyes and inhaling slowly, Leo finally leaned forward and blew the twenty candles out surrounding him before he smoothly stood from his kneeling position and he headed for the door - maybe when all of this monster business was over he could finally speak with Splinter and explain to him that even two years of staying away and trying to purge his feelings of Michelangelo hadn’t worked. Maybe he would let them….
Heading for the door, Leonardo paused and watched Mikey skateboard on his indoor ramp, twisting about, leaping, and doing tricks he remembered trying to master as a child. Michelangelo was the only one who still consistently skateboarded everywhere - Donnie occasionally joined him; but he himself had stopped years ago after Splinter had announced him to be the leader.
Watching Mikey laugh so carefree was a good sight to see. He wanted to keep that image with him for as long as possible so he stared for a moment longer than needed before he left to join his purple clad brother and April and hear the status report.
*****~*****
Michelangelo snickered as he handed his brother another cheese curd, “Dude, I’m tellin’ ya! Raph was like, undressing you with his eyes!”
Glaring even as he blushed, Donnie snatched the offered morsel of food and popped it into his mouth before he bent back over his work and continued tinkering - he had to get this finished for Leo so when he said it was time to move out, he would already have a small arsenal of gadgets to use if need be.
“Mikey, how is this helping me complete my work?”
Blinking large blue eyes, Mikey shrugged, “I dun’ know. I just figured you wanted to know. I mean, yesterday when we went to April’s, he didn’t move when you were checkin’ him over for more injuries. He was like, pretending to be really hurt just so you could play doctor on him.” The orange banded turtle explained with a wicked grin, “I bet he’d love to get a col-”
“All right! That’s enough!” Donatello squeaked and pressed his hands to his ears quickly. “I still have that hammock-swing stuck in my head thanks to you! I don’t need anymore perverted ideas from you!”
“But it’d be so hot! I could get you a doctor’s coat and I could get Raph a cute little nurses’ outfit-”
Raising a brow as he lifted his hand to stop his baby brother, Donnie shook his head, “And you remember who you’re talking about, right?”
Mikey blinked blankly at him and nodded, “Yeah.” He shrugged. “Leo did it for me; I figured Raph wouldn’t want to be showed up.”
Sighing and shaking his head again as he bent back over his work, Don flipped his goofy magnify-glasses back down over his face as he got back to building his explosive.
A loud crash echoed through the lair suddenly and jerked both turtles from their teasing. Donatello straightened and lifted his goggles from his eyes as Mikey jumped off of the table and headed for the door, peeking out.
“I’ll go look, you stay here and finish up, dude. I’m sure you’ll get like, ten hours work done with me gone for five minutes.” Michelangelo laughed as he hurried out just as a second loud crash thundered down the hall coming from the dojo. He hurried towards their workout room, his hands on his weapons. The closer he got, the more clearly he could hear the voices and understand the words being spoken.
“I did something really stupid, Master Splinter.” He heard as he inched closer to the dojo. Knitting his brows together Mikey calmed and let his hands fall away from his nunchakus as he recognized Raphael’s voice.
“Go on.” Splinter said firmly.
“I know why you chose him now. I know that there’s a reason why he’s the better son and I’m not.”
Michelangelo frowned and peeked around the corner as he heard his brother speak. He gazed into the dojo from the safety of the corner in the hallway and he saw Raphael kneeing before their father.
Splinter looked a little pained after his son’s words and he took a small step closer as he gazed down at him intensely. “Raphael, you always bear the world’s problems on your shoulders. It is an admirable quality when you are a protector of others.” He said, lifting a hand and then leaning forward. “But you must realize that while, at times, you may not be my favorite student…” he slashed at the air, emphasizing the word ‘student’, “It does not mean you are my least-favorite son.”
Raph stiffened and he saw him raise his head - even the set of his shoulders told him he was slightly amazed to hear this from their father.
Mike inched further down the hall, his eyes taking in the scene before him and his ears straining to hear every word. Then he caught sight of something in Raph’s belt on his back… they looked like sword hilts. He had to press his hand to the wall next to him to keep himself standing. They looked like Leo’s…
“You are strong, passionate and loyal to a fault.” Splinter continued, motioning his hand to the side and he curled his fingers closed as he continued to speak to his son. A small smile tugged at his lips as he gazed down at Raphael, “These are merits of a great leader as well… but only when tempered with compassion and humility.”
Michelangelo moved closer -he was sure Splinter saw him now, he was practically standing in the room - but he had to listen; he had to know what those katana hilts meant.
“But, Master Splinter, I messed up big tonight.” Raphael whispered, gazing up at him forlornly. “I mean big.” He sighed and reached behind himself and pulled the katana hilts from his back and set them on the floor before him. “They took him.”
Mikey felt his stomach drop and his eyes could do nothing but stare at him even as he shuffled a bit closer into the room. He felt like he was going to collapse. Those words were like a hot poker to the gut - who took him? Raph could only be talking about one person. What happened? Where was he? He took another hesitant step forward, trying to remember to take breaths now and then. Then the denial set in and he desperately pressed his palm against the brick wall, hoping it wasn’t true, praying it was someone else they had taken.
“Leonardo.” Splinter whispered, his ears falling back.
“Yeah.” Raph whispered.
And just as his father had closed his eyes to try and calm himself and take in the situation, Michelangelo felt like he had just been sucker punched in the gut.
“Leo…” He whispered, his eyes glancing to the side to the rack of spare katana they kept on hand. What happened? Who took him? Why? His mind was fumbling over questions, and he vaguely heard his father speak. He couldn’t listen anymore. He ran from the doorway and back through the lair, gasping for breath and trembling.
He wasn’t sure how long he had stumbled about, but he felt hands grasp his shoulders and he vaguely felt the effects of being shaken. He couldn’t think and he whimpered loudly, reaching out for whoever it was.
“Mikey!” Donnie hissed and shook him gently again.
Focusing on his brother, Mikey reached for him and bit his lip, shuddering as he gripped at Don’s arms, “They took him….”
“What? Who?”
“I don’t know!” He hiccupped, “Raph came home and… and he told Splinter Leo was taken, and… and…” He bowed his head and sniffled, “He’s gone.”
“Who took him?” Donatello’s voice hardened; though he was shaken and stunned that Leo was gone again; he needed to get any and all information from his brother. He needed to understand the situation. Quickly, he pushed his shock aside and focused on his brother.
Mikey shook his head, “I don’t know…” he leaned heavily into his brother and hiccupped again - he was about ready to begin sobbing.
“Michelangelo.”
Donnie raised his eyes to his father, and watched him approach slowly and lay a hand upon his youngest son’s shell.
Mikey turned his head and shuddered, large tears beginning to make themselves known in his eyes.
“Do not fear, my son, we will get your brother back.” Splinter explained, patting his shell.
“Sensei…” Mikey whispered, his face contorting all the more.
A sudden smile touched the corners of the rat’s lips and he reached up to touch Mikey’s cheek, “After we retrieve Leonardo, I would like you two to join me in my study, so we may talk a while.” He said and patted his cheek. “Now, join us in Donatello’s lab. We need to discuss this matter with our friends.” He said and quietly hobbled away, his walking stick making soft clicks against the cement floor.
“It’ll be okay, Mikey.” Donatello whispered, suddenly hugging his brother tightly and bowing his head.
“I h-h-hope so,” he stuttered, shifting closer and wrapping his arms about his bro.
They stood there like that together for quite a while till Michelangelo once again regained control. Raphael had passed by, his eyes staring off elsewhere and an uncertain, hurt look was etched into his features.
Donnie sighed and closed his eyes. Now was not the time for them to fall apart emotionally. They needed to focus. They needed… they needed Leo. Who was going to guide them? Donatello bit his lip and hid his face against Mikey’s shoulder, shuddering slightly. “I don’t think I can lead us to save Leo, Mikey… I… I can’t… I’m no good at it.” He whispered. “What if I decide something that gets him killed?”
“Maybe Raph will lead us.” Michelangelo whispered and raised his arms a bit higher, now it was his turn to comfort his brother. Hopefully all four of them would get through this in one piece. They had too…
*****~*****
Mikey was right, Raph had suddenly stepped up and acted as leader, explaining to them what they were going to do to get their brother back. He did better than anyone expected - even Donnie had to be impressed; and he also wondered why Splinter hadn’t asked Raph to be leader while Leo was gone. He would have done so much better than he had the last two years.
Donnie quickly shoved things into his duffel bag, arranging them in just the right way in his pre-planned layout for quick and easy removal.
“Hey, Don?”
Turning, he stared at Raph and felt a flutter in his belly - he looked good. Something about him… maybe the humble look that surrounded him even as he stood confident and strong in the doorway illuminated by the light behind him. Peeking away just so he could find his voice, Donatello looked down to his duffle bag and carefully set his small range explosive inside. “Yeah?” he asked, his voice sounding weak and shaky even to himself.
Raph’s hands tightened into fists and he too looked away, amber eyes turning away to run over the set up of his lab and the massive computer terminal area that would have any l337 geek drooling. “Hey, uh, can we talk a sec?”
“Yeah, sure.” Don shifted, carefully laying in another bit of techno-creation that was a ‘just in case’ factor.
Moving further into the lab, Raphael moved with cautious steps that were typically used to approach a skittish animal. “I…” He paused and swallowed hard, darting his eyes down from Donnie’s duffle bag and then back up to his face. Once he stood in front of him, he took a calming breath before he leveled a look on his brother and squared his shoulders. “What’s going on between you and Mikey?”
“W... what?” Donatello couldn’t even stop his jaw from dropping at that question. He laughed suddenly and that only succeeded in making Raph growl in annoyance.
“I’m serious!” Raphael snarled, stepping closer, his hand darting out to grab his elbow. “You two have been all over each other for the past month! What are you guys… do you love him?” He hissed, swallowing hard and hating the fear that iced over his belly.
Frowning, Donnie stared up at Raphael and shook his head, “Raph, now is not the time to be talking about this.”
“When is it ever the time!” he shouted, but his voice quivered and Donatello looked away, a small frown falling over his face.
Sighing, Donnie lifted his hand and touched his arm lightly, “We need to focus on Leo right now. We’ll talk when we get back.” He whispered.
Glaring and hating the fact that Don was right. Raph snatched his arm away and stormed from the lab, “Fine.”
*****~*****
---- On to Part Two: http://g33kg1rl.livejournal.com/8640.html
---------- ----------
Series: Vindicated
Title: Surprise Kisses
Pairing: RaphxDon, LeoxMikey
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After the monsters were gone and the fight was over; the boys had no where else to go but home. And that was it's own unique battle.
Warning for this chapter: Bad words mostly
Author's Note: Err.... not much to say about this one. I hope it's not boring and there is happy in this one, just as I promised :)
*****~*****
~Surprise Kisses~
The day after Leo’s return had been rather awkward despite the fact that Michelangelo had always been a master of hiding his true pain. He was a little quieter than usual, a little more skittish around his eldest brother, and his smiles were cheap. Though he did crack jokes if the temptation was just too great, everyone could tell they were forced and weak.
Donnie was distant as well, and the two often found themselves sitting together over the course of the next few days. Even during the times Donatello was doing his IT tech job, Mikey began slipping into his lab to sit with him, sipping his sodas and munching as quietly as possible on his chips while staring at nothing or watching Donnie work. Talking quietly amongst themselves was beginning to become a regular occurrence in the lair. Whether it was simply they had the opportunity to talk, or it was because they were curled up on the couch with Michelangelo hugging Donnie about the waist and Donatello rubbing soothing circles upon Mikey’s shell as they murmured to each other during the movie. Their voices held no sense of excitement or joviality during the times they were together. They were often quiet and hushed, whispering to the other so neither of their eldest brothers would hear.
And Raph and Leo were constantly at each other’s throats. If they had thought it was bad in the past, this took the cake.
“Why do you think he’s like this?” Mikey whispered late one night after they had had a thorough thrashing from some monster out at a construction site.
Donnie shrugged awkwardly from where he lay in front of Mikey - the two were curled together in his bed, facing one another as they whispered back and forth like they used to do as children.
“You think he’s still upset about what you guys argued ‘bout the other day?” He asked gently, sliding an arm through one of Donnie’s as he wiggled closer.
Frowning and shifting uncomfortably from the contact - though he had to admit, Mikey had always been a bit of a leech since birth and wasn’t likely to stop snuggling anytime soon - he sighed loudly, “Yeah, probably. But I think he also has issues with Leo leaving. It’s probably due to some inner turmoil towards being abandoned.”
“Like you telling him you guys couldn’t get married as kids?” Michelangelo asked innocently, though his eyes looked anything but.
He looked away and stared down at Mikey’s chin. “Yeah,” He breathed and shifted, nuzzling into his pillow as though that would wipe away the sting of guilt he suddenly felt.
Silence grew between them, even though Mikey was curling his fingers about in Donatello’s mask tails and stroking his arm affectionately with his other hand. He fidgeted when nothing further was said and he lifted blue eyes to watch Donnie’s eyes grow more distant the longer nothing was said. “Why do you think he changed his mind?” he whispered, giving a small tug on the purple tails to nudge Don out of his reverie.
Donatello shrugged, his dark eyes seeming to grow darker as he mulled over the question, looking for a possible answer. “I… I don’t know. Maybe he feels guilty?”
Snorting, it was Michelangelo’s turn to look away. “Guilty? About what?”
“Leaving in the first place?” Don offered and it was his turn to inch closer to his brother.
Mikey frowned, his fingers playing mindlessly against his brother’s arm and hand. “… You think he feels bad for staying away so long?”
“Doesn’t hurt to ask him.” He whispered then frowned at the darkening look on his brother’s face. “Mikey, you can’t avoid him forever.”
“I’m not avoiding him-”
“All right, you can’t avoid the issue forever. You can’t act like nothing happened and expect us to become a team again. If we have any hope of-”
“Why are you trying so hard, dude?” Michelangelo suddenly asked, interrupting his brother with a little glare. “Why bother tryin’ so hard to get me and Leo back together when you and Raph have been desperate for each other for years. Why not just go be with him. If I can’t be totally happy, I’d rather you were.”
Donatello blinked in surprise then blushed and turned his eyes away.
Sighing, Mikey dropped Donnie’s mask tails and leaned closer, wrapping his arm about his brother’s shell. “Sorry, bro. Didn’t mean to act like a total jerk there.” He bowed his head, resting his brow against Don’s and closing his eyes.
Shrugging, Don focused his eyes on his brother’s chest, his fingers beginning to very slowly trace mindless designs into his plastron. “No, you do have a point.”
“Is it a secret?” Michelangelo squeaked hopefully.
Chuckling, Donnie nodded, “Yeah, it is actually. Splinter kinda implied I wasn’t supposed to say anything.” He explained.
“Is it about me?” a beaming smile radiated off his face and caused another weak smile to touch Donatello’s face.
Shaking his head against the pillow, Don laid his hand against his brother’s chest, rather enjoying the feel of him being close suddenly. “No, it’s not about you. You’re safe for another week till eliminations begin again.”
“I’ll win.” Mikey stated.
Peeking up at his brother, Donnie smiled more, “Yeah, you probably will too.”
Silence began to drift once more between the two of them. Donnie sighed long and slow, his breath pooling between them and wafting over Mike’s neck.
Studying him, Michelangelo continued gentle strokes along his carapace as he watched Donnie begin to pull back into his own little world. He leaned forward suddenly and pressed his lips to Donatello’s.
A gasp jumped down Donnie’s throat and he pulled his head back, dark eyes wide and his jaw dropping from shock. “Mike…”
Playing across Mikey’s cheeks, a blush grew and spread over his face even as he leaned in once again, pulling Donnie closer to him, “I just thought you needed that.” He whispered as way of an explanation. Hesitating a moment, Michelangelo rolled away and onto his back, giving Donnie his space as he stared up at the ceiling.
Donnie stared at his brother in shock and surprise, uncertain how to even respond after something like that. He rolled over as well, his head turning to stare at the wall by his side, his fingers fidgeting against his plastron.
“I always thought that after Leo got back… I’d hug him and then he’d… he’d like, sweep me off my feet or somethin’, and he’d kiss me. You know, somethin’ really cheesy like that. And I don’t mean like, a little kiss or even a long kiss; I mean, he would kiss me. Like a snog or somthin’. Tongues, teeth, groping, and panting - everything. I always thought… I was so sure he wouldn’t change his mind.” Michelangelo whispered, lifting a hand to press the heel of his palm into an eye, a sad smile touching his face. Inhaling slowly and letting it back out just as gently, Mikey stemmed the tears and he cautiously turned his head to look to Donnie, and he smiled again. “But I guess I was just dreaming again, huh bro?”
Donatello turned his head and looked back to Mike, shaking his head slowly, “Dreams keep us getting up in the morning.”
“Then what do I have to get up for tomorrow, dude? I don’t even feel like continuing to breathe anymore ‘cause this hurts so much.” He pressed a hand to his chest and wrinkled his brow, desperately hoping for an answer.
But he only got a slow shake of the head as his answer.
“It doesn’t stop, Mikey. But it’ll get better. Just… please try to help me make us all a team again. I know everything will get fixed as soon as we are able to work together.
Michelangelo stared at his brother and smiled, “Splinter musta told you something good for you to look like that.”
Don smiled weakly and averted his eyes with a slight knitting of his brow, “Yeah… it was pretty good.”
A deep sigh fell from Mike’s chest and he closed his eyes taking a moment to really recover his emotions. With another sigh and then a quick roll to the side, Mikey grinned down at Donatello and giggled, “But, if all else fails for both of us, we could always hook up. I bet you’d look killer in a corset.” He snickered and leaned down quickly, again surprising his brother with a sneak-attack kiss to the beak before he rolled off his bed and out of his room, laughing insanely.
Donnie blushed lightly but he frowned, staring at the door as he touched his fingertips to his lips. “I hope Leo will change his mind... for Mikey’s sake.” He whispered to himself then sighed loudly and rolled over to go to sleep - he had work in the morning; if he went to sleep now he could maybe get two hours in.
*****~*****
It had been absolutely insane, it was only his third day back and he had already been reprimanded by Splinter, Raph had already gone up top and gotten himself injured, only to then fight with him in April’s apartment, and now his family was falling apart around his ears. And Mikey wouldn’t talk to him directly. Not that he blamed him - he had really hurt the youngest turtle.
Leonardo inhaled slowly and then released as he strained to calm himself and slip into the blissful escape that was meditation. That was one secret he would never reveal to Splinter - he didn’t always use meditation time to focus and think over their next moves or create inner peace within himself. He sometimes used meditation time to not think of anything at all, and he used it to leave this world and escape his worries and responsibilities, and he used the time to let his mind wander in very slow and lazy circles. Currently his mind was revolving around Mikey and it was making his chest hurt.
Knitting his brows together as he tried to concentrate, Leo finally bowed his head in defeat and slumped forward with his hands on his knees. He opened his eyes and stared off to the side and past the candles he had set up around himself.
“Hey, Leo, I figured it out.” Donnie poked his head in, pointing over his shoulder to his work area where he and April had been studying the legend and translating it to modern techo-geek speak.
Leonardo turned his head and looked to his younger brother and gave him a swift and sage nod. “I’ll be there in a moment.” He said and looked back in front of him and at the candles sitting atop the short table he had put together to do meditations with.
He could hear them outside the door, talking and laughing - well, Michelangelo was laughing. And it hurt a little. Somehow seeing Mikey doing just fine after he had shattered him so thoroughly that first night back was a little painful. Closing his eyes and inhaling slowly, Leo finally leaned forward and blew the twenty candles out surrounding him before he smoothly stood from his kneeling position and he headed for the door - maybe when all of this monster business was over he could finally speak with Splinter and explain to him that even two years of staying away and trying to purge his feelings of Michelangelo hadn’t worked. Maybe he would let them….
Heading for the door, Leonardo paused and watched Mikey skateboard on his indoor ramp, twisting about, leaping, and doing tricks he remembered trying to master as a child. Michelangelo was the only one who still consistently skateboarded everywhere - Donnie occasionally joined him; but he himself had stopped years ago after Splinter had announced him to be the leader.
Watching Mikey laugh so carefree was a good sight to see. He wanted to keep that image with him for as long as possible so he stared for a moment longer than needed before he left to join his purple clad brother and April and hear the status report.
*****~*****
Michelangelo snickered as he handed his brother another cheese curd, “Dude, I’m tellin’ ya! Raph was like, undressing you with his eyes!”
Glaring even as he blushed, Donnie snatched the offered morsel of food and popped it into his mouth before he bent back over his work and continued tinkering - he had to get this finished for Leo so when he said it was time to move out, he would already have a small arsenal of gadgets to use if need be.
“Mikey, how is this helping me complete my work?”
Blinking large blue eyes, Mikey shrugged, “I dun’ know. I just figured you wanted to know. I mean, yesterday when we went to April’s, he didn’t move when you were checkin’ him over for more injuries. He was like, pretending to be really hurt just so you could play doctor on him.” The orange banded turtle explained with a wicked grin, “I bet he’d love to get a col-”
“All right! That’s enough!” Donatello squeaked and pressed his hands to his ears quickly. “I still have that hammock-swing stuck in my head thanks to you! I don’t need anymore perverted ideas from you!”
“But it’d be so hot! I could get you a doctor’s coat and I could get Raph a cute little nurses’ outfit-”
Raising a brow as he lifted his hand to stop his baby brother, Donnie shook his head, “And you remember who you’re talking about, right?”
Mikey blinked blankly at him and nodded, “Yeah.” He shrugged. “Leo did it for me; I figured Raph wouldn’t want to be showed up.”
Sighing and shaking his head again as he bent back over his work, Don flipped his goofy magnify-glasses back down over his face as he got back to building his explosive.
A loud crash echoed through the lair suddenly and jerked both turtles from their teasing. Donatello straightened and lifted his goggles from his eyes as Mikey jumped off of the table and headed for the door, peeking out.
“I’ll go look, you stay here and finish up, dude. I’m sure you’ll get like, ten hours work done with me gone for five minutes.” Michelangelo laughed as he hurried out just as a second loud crash thundered down the hall coming from the dojo. He hurried towards their workout room, his hands on his weapons. The closer he got, the more clearly he could hear the voices and understand the words being spoken.
“I did something really stupid, Master Splinter.” He heard as he inched closer to the dojo. Knitting his brows together Mikey calmed and let his hands fall away from his nunchakus as he recognized Raphael’s voice.
“Go on.” Splinter said firmly.
“I know why you chose him now. I know that there’s a reason why he’s the better son and I’m not.”
Michelangelo frowned and peeked around the corner as he heard his brother speak. He gazed into the dojo from the safety of the corner in the hallway and he saw Raphael kneeing before their father.
Splinter looked a little pained after his son’s words and he took a small step closer as he gazed down at him intensely. “Raphael, you always bear the world’s problems on your shoulders. It is an admirable quality when you are a protector of others.” He said, lifting a hand and then leaning forward. “But you must realize that while, at times, you may not be my favorite student…” he slashed at the air, emphasizing the word ‘student’, “It does not mean you are my least-favorite son.”
Raph stiffened and he saw him raise his head - even the set of his shoulders told him he was slightly amazed to hear this from their father.
Mike inched further down the hall, his eyes taking in the scene before him and his ears straining to hear every word. Then he caught sight of something in Raph’s belt on his back… they looked like sword hilts. He had to press his hand to the wall next to him to keep himself standing. They looked like Leo’s…
“You are strong, passionate and loyal to a fault.” Splinter continued, motioning his hand to the side and he curled his fingers closed as he continued to speak to his son. A small smile tugged at his lips as he gazed down at Raphael, “These are merits of a great leader as well… but only when tempered with compassion and humility.”
Michelangelo moved closer -he was sure Splinter saw him now, he was practically standing in the room - but he had to listen; he had to know what those katana hilts meant.
“But, Master Splinter, I messed up big tonight.” Raphael whispered, gazing up at him forlornly. “I mean big.” He sighed and reached behind himself and pulled the katana hilts from his back and set them on the floor before him. “They took him.”
Mikey felt his stomach drop and his eyes could do nothing but stare at him even as he shuffled a bit closer into the room. He felt like he was going to collapse. Those words were like a hot poker to the gut - who took him? Raph could only be talking about one person. What happened? Where was he? He took another hesitant step forward, trying to remember to take breaths now and then. Then the denial set in and he desperately pressed his palm against the brick wall, hoping it wasn’t true, praying it was someone else they had taken.
“Leonardo.” Splinter whispered, his ears falling back.
“Yeah.” Raph whispered.
And just as his father had closed his eyes to try and calm himself and take in the situation, Michelangelo felt like he had just been sucker punched in the gut.
“Leo…” He whispered, his eyes glancing to the side to the rack of spare katana they kept on hand. What happened? Who took him? Why? His mind was fumbling over questions, and he vaguely heard his father speak. He couldn’t listen anymore. He ran from the doorway and back through the lair, gasping for breath and trembling.
He wasn’t sure how long he had stumbled about, but he felt hands grasp his shoulders and he vaguely felt the effects of being shaken. He couldn’t think and he whimpered loudly, reaching out for whoever it was.
“Mikey!” Donnie hissed and shook him gently again.
Focusing on his brother, Mikey reached for him and bit his lip, shuddering as he gripped at Don’s arms, “They took him….”
“What? Who?”
“I don’t know!” He hiccupped, “Raph came home and… and he told Splinter Leo was taken, and… and…” He bowed his head and sniffled, “He’s gone.”
“Who took him?” Donatello’s voice hardened; though he was shaken and stunned that Leo was gone again; he needed to get any and all information from his brother. He needed to understand the situation. Quickly, he pushed his shock aside and focused on his brother.
Mikey shook his head, “I don’t know…” he leaned heavily into his brother and hiccupped again - he was about ready to begin sobbing.
“Michelangelo.”
Donnie raised his eyes to his father, and watched him approach slowly and lay a hand upon his youngest son’s shell.
Mikey turned his head and shuddered, large tears beginning to make themselves known in his eyes.
“Do not fear, my son, we will get your brother back.” Splinter explained, patting his shell.
“Sensei…” Mikey whispered, his face contorting all the more.
A sudden smile touched the corners of the rat’s lips and he reached up to touch Mikey’s cheek, “After we retrieve Leonardo, I would like you two to join me in my study, so we may talk a while.” He said and patted his cheek. “Now, join us in Donatello’s lab. We need to discuss this matter with our friends.” He said and quietly hobbled away, his walking stick making soft clicks against the cement floor.
“It’ll be okay, Mikey.” Donatello whispered, suddenly hugging his brother tightly and bowing his head.
“I h-h-hope so,” he stuttered, shifting closer and wrapping his arms about his bro.
They stood there like that together for quite a while till Michelangelo once again regained control. Raphael had passed by, his eyes staring off elsewhere and an uncertain, hurt look was etched into his features.
Donnie sighed and closed his eyes. Now was not the time for them to fall apart emotionally. They needed to focus. They needed… they needed Leo. Who was going to guide them? Donatello bit his lip and hid his face against Mikey’s shoulder, shuddering slightly. “I don’t think I can lead us to save Leo, Mikey… I… I can’t… I’m no good at it.” He whispered. “What if I decide something that gets him killed?”
“Maybe Raph will lead us.” Michelangelo whispered and raised his arms a bit higher, now it was his turn to comfort his brother. Hopefully all four of them would get through this in one piece. They had too…
*****~*****
Mikey was right, Raph had suddenly stepped up and acted as leader, explaining to them what they were going to do to get their brother back. He did better than anyone expected - even Donnie had to be impressed; and he also wondered why Splinter hadn’t asked Raph to be leader while Leo was gone. He would have done so much better than he had the last two years.
Donnie quickly shoved things into his duffel bag, arranging them in just the right way in his pre-planned layout for quick and easy removal.
“Hey, Don?”
Turning, he stared at Raph and felt a flutter in his belly - he looked good. Something about him… maybe the humble look that surrounded him even as he stood confident and strong in the doorway illuminated by the light behind him. Peeking away just so he could find his voice, Donatello looked down to his duffle bag and carefully set his small range explosive inside. “Yeah?” he asked, his voice sounding weak and shaky even to himself.
Raph’s hands tightened into fists and he too looked away, amber eyes turning away to run over the set up of his lab and the massive computer terminal area that would have any l337 geek drooling. “Hey, uh, can we talk a sec?”
“Yeah, sure.” Don shifted, carefully laying in another bit of techno-creation that was a ‘just in case’ factor.
Moving further into the lab, Raphael moved with cautious steps that were typically used to approach a skittish animal. “I…” He paused and swallowed hard, darting his eyes down from Donnie’s duffle bag and then back up to his face. Once he stood in front of him, he took a calming breath before he leveled a look on his brother and squared his shoulders. “What’s going on between you and Mikey?”
“W... what?” Donatello couldn’t even stop his jaw from dropping at that question. He laughed suddenly and that only succeeded in making Raph growl in annoyance.
“I’m serious!” Raphael snarled, stepping closer, his hand darting out to grab his elbow. “You two have been all over each other for the past month! What are you guys… do you love him?” He hissed, swallowing hard and hating the fear that iced over his belly.
Frowning, Donnie stared up at Raphael and shook his head, “Raph, now is not the time to be talking about this.”
“When is it ever the time!” he shouted, but his voice quivered and Donatello looked away, a small frown falling over his face.
Sighing, Donnie lifted his hand and touched his arm lightly, “We need to focus on Leo right now. We’ll talk when we get back.” He whispered.
Glaring and hating the fact that Don was right. Raph snatched his arm away and stormed from the lab, “Fine.”
*****~*****
---- On to Part Two: http://g33kg1rl.livejournal.com/8640.html
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