Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pain (2018) -
Mikey takes a page of of Raph's book and does a selfless act that totally won't traumatize his blue brother (set during the Rottmnt movie)

tomato head (2018)-
things go to shit when the Krang makes the batle between Raph and his brothers a little more entertaining (set during the Rottmnt movie)

Let go (2018)-
Mikey tells Leo he needs to let go because it wasn't his fault. But Leo SUCKS at listening. (set after the Rottmnt movie)

"Candle man" (2012/2018)-
Mikey is wandering in the sewers by himself when-
wait-
when did it get so cold? [requested by @HiItsJHere]

Hunted bloody (2003)-
The bad ending to Leatherheads nightmare (set during the episode Hunted) [requested by @ZaneWalker]

Safe (2003)-
Mikey beats Kluh but at a hefty price (set during the episode Grudge match) [requested by smile]

its "Panic at the disco" man not in the sewers (2012)-

Splinter was way more affirmative in the fact that they were not to leave the lair till they were ready to face shredder. 

too bad they didn't have enough time. (set during the episode Panic in the sewers) [Requested by Wildcard] 

Orange moon (2012)-

what if Mikey was the only one that died during Leo's dream in the episode "Osoroshi no tabi" leaving the older brother very traumatized 

the sun has set (2012)-

it has been two weeks since Mikey was taken by the Krang, two weeks, to late [Requested by @snow_berry_Bunny] 

He meant no harm(2012)

what if Splinter killed Mikey while under the control of The Rat King [Requested by Smile and @Everyday_Disaster] 

truffle till death(2018)

what is a truffle? Mikey knows he could tell you. if he was alive-(set during the episode nothing but truffle) [Requested by @kurma_likes_turtles] 

Hug (2012)

What if Mikey had faced agents Raph instead of Leo in the episode clash of the mutanimals? [Requested by @Everyday_Disaster] 

Broken (2012 / 2003)

there was an explosion, Raph has to make a choice.

Just a little pinch (2012)
During the fight Tigerclaw had successfully captured the orange turtle, Now the next phase of Shredders plan can begin.

Suffocating alone (2012)
Mikey screwed up big time. Some ninja he was. [Requested by @PixiePerson19] 

Bonk (2003)

Mikey pisses Raph off, and Raph takes it a bit too far. (set during the episode Meet Casey Jones)[Requested by Smile] 

venom or poison (2012)

What if Kari's poison was more deadly than anything, and what if she when for the smallest first

Slash and die (2012)
Raph was wrong about the mutagen messing with Slash's head, Slash just loved the color red. (set during the episode Slash and destroy)[Requested by @Everyday_Disaster]

the fallout (2003)
Leo has a temper but it never got out of control before.....that was until now. [Requested by @Everyday_Disaster]

Rat snack (2012)

If Kari had never left Mikey never would have followed her and never would have taken the fall for her and gotten captured, and none of this would have happened.

[Requested by @MysticArtistMikey]

Best brother (2012)

Raph had felt anger before but this? this was different. [Requested by Hell_cat]

never should have left (2012)

Snakeweed is strong, Raph keeps forgetting that. [Requested by @TmntLover753]

Turtle soup (2012)
How to traumatize three mutant turtles in 5 easy steps :D [Requested by Smile :)  ]

Goodbye horrible nightmare! (2012)

did you know that Squirrelanoids are omnivores?

yea

Neither did Mikey

[Requested by @Everyday_Disaster and xXghostXx]

For my home (2012)
Monalisa loves her home.

and sometimes blood has to spill to protect your home.

sometimes you have to let your feelings go

sometimes things just go to shit.

knock know but nobody's home (2012)

they failed,

as ninjas,

and as brothers,

[Requested by @TmntLover753] 

mercy is painful (2003)
mercy is not supposed to be painful

so why was it so painful to Donnie?

[Requested by @Everyday_Disaster]

The things said in blood (2003)

Mikey feels like Donnie is spending more time with April and Letherhead than with him,

witch is fine
It's good that Donnie has friends.

But he is still Mikey's brother and he just wants to spend some time with him

[Requested by Smile]

they go for the smallest first (2012)
Mikey hates bugs. (hes just like me fr fr) (set during episode Parasitic) [Requested by @RyochanWolfgirl ]

smile falls (2012)
why would Rocksteady make a deal with the stupid turtles? [Requested by xXghostXx]

Little to small (2012)
Mikey barely remembers when he was a regular turtle. thankfully Bebop is going to help him remember. [Requested by @MysticArtistMikey]

Take me home (2018)
Mike gets lost and tries to take himself home. [Requested by @Noe_E520]

A hole garden of flowers (2012)
Leo changed his plan last second, now Mikey is going with Raph, April and Splinter. [Requested by ItzMi]

missing heat(2012)
Mikey never truly realized how awesome Fugitoyd's space suites were until his well.....

Shattered (2012)
Mikey was Leo's little brother.

Leo was supposed to protect him.

He had failed even before the window shattered.

Bio-turtle (2003)
Mikey had never been to school.

but he did know what biology was.

that poor frog never stood a chance [requested by: @Rassmallow]

moving is agonizing (2012-2003)

Mikey wakes up in Spain without the "S"

its called trashCAN not trashCANT (2003)

garbage..

disgusting and icky

Dramatic (2012 or 2003)

I think about that squiranoid episode way to much this can not be normal-

~~~COMING SOON~~~

N/A

___________________________________________________________

Chapter Text

Leo stared at the key.

“It’s the only way to stop the Krang!”

Casey words rang out in his head.

Raph had just put their Dad in his escape pod as Leos escape pod was closing.

It was now or never.

Leo pressed the button in the center of his chest and ran.

“LEO” Raph’s yell was cut off as his escape pod cared him away.

He sprinted to the key, the Krang on his heels.

Literally.

The Kraang’s sister grabbed his ankle and yanked Leo back as soon as he got his hand on the key.

Removing it from its place the portal closing.

Leo smiled to himself-

until the Kraang shot its leg at him. Leo clamped his eyes shut before a sound pierced the heavy air.

Scrrrrrikkkkk

Like a bone had split in two.

Then a heavy silence filled the room and he heard some pebbles fall. Slowly he opened his eyes.

He wish he hadn’t.

Mikey his little brother was standing over him a spike pierced the left corner of Mikey’s shell/plastron.

That was not the sound of small rooks falling it had been his little brother’s shell.

Mikey’s breath was stranded.

“Mikey-?” Leo whispered.

“h-hey Leon” Mikey said before flashing Leo the brightest grin and thrusted his hand to Leo’s chest.

Mikey was holding his escape pod.

was

“NO, NO MIKEY!!” Leo screamed as the escape pod shut him in and blasted him out of the green house.

His fist still banging on the titanium pod.

(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(_(

“Retreat!”

‘Yea that sounds like a good idea’

Mikey thought being straggled by the Krangs maniac sister was not the best situation for him to be in.

He watched at his escape pod came for him.

Until it was knocked off course by one of the Kraangs tentacles.

‘Crap’

The small rectangle bounced off to the side.

“Well looks like you-“ sister Krang started. 

“LEO”

The Krangs head wiped around so see want was the commotion.

Her grip on Mikey’s neck loosening.

Mikey tried to wiggled out of the Kraangs grasp, only to be let go and forgotten about as she started chasing something.

Mikey quickly rolled over and grabbed the small rectangle ready to press it to his chest and escape.

“LEO” what had Raph been yelling abu-

Then he saw Leo sprinting across the green house strait for the key.

Leo wasn’t going to make it before the Kraang got him.

That thought settled in Mikey’s mind.

Leo wasn’t going to make it.

Unless…..?

Mikey jumped up ignoring his instinct to freeze.

Leo was in his sights.

It all went so fast.

He slipped in front of Leo then he was blinded with white searing pain.

Mikey forced open his eyes.

He had to see if Leo was ok.

Mikey stared at Leo and he stared back.

Leo had said something but Mikey could barely hear anything over the ringing in his ears.

“h-hey Leon” Mikey said. it hurt to talk.

Why did it hurt to talk?

Leo looked terrified.

Mikey wanted to tell him it was going to be ok that they would all be ok.

All he could do was grin before he gave Leo his pod and then promptly passed out.

Chapter Text

The Krang threw Mikey and Donnie into the fight, Mikey landed on the cold metal floor of the Kranges ship, while Donnie slammed into Leo, the twins tumbled into a heap five feet away from Mikey. 

Mikey sat up rubbing his head before a shadow loomed over him, 

Raph lunged. 

Mikey screamed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mikey struggled to see what was going on. 

But he had his other senses.

He could smell the disgusting smell of Krang slime that was covering his bro.

He could hear Leo calling out to Raph, telling Raph to let Mikey go.

He could feel the painful grip Raph had on his head. Raph had always been the strong one. Once Mikey remembers Raph breaking a walnut with his bare hands. 

But Mikey wasn't scared. No. His brothers would save him. They would find a way to save Raph and stop the Krang. Besides Raph would never hur-

“I've had enough of this!” the Krang announced “Kill him” 

The pressure on his head increased.

Mikey freaked out. He couldn't retracked into his shell. He wasn't safe.   

“Mikey! Raph Stop!” That was Leo!

Leo would save him it was going to be-

Mikey felt pain.

Pain.

Pain.

Pain.

He screamed, a blood curdling scream. 

It felt like his head was going to explode.

There was a crack. 

He tasted blood.

Then he was falling into white.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Leo scrambled to his feet looking at the sight before him.

Raph was facing Leo, his right are extended holding Mikey by his head.

“Raph” Leo said taking a step forward “Let Mikey go” 

Raph just looked at him, tightening the grip he had on Mikey’s head earning a small whine from the box turtle.

“Raph you're hurting him, you're hurting your little brother.” Leo said taking another step forward.

“He can't hear you” the Krang sang, grinning showing his ugly teeth.

Leo ignored him, only concentrating on Raph and Mikey.

Donnie groaned as he sat up, confused.

Raph's grip tightened.    

“Raph I know you can hear me!” Leo called out “You have to let him go!”

Donnie watched as Leo pleaded with Raph to let Mikey go.

The Krang shifted on his throne. 

“Come-on Raph just let him go” Donnie piped up from behind Leo 

“I've had enough of this!” the Krang announced “Kill him” 

Leo felt his blood run cold as Raphs grip tightened once more.

This time Mikey screamed.

It was a horrible sound.

Leo hated it.

But then it stopped.

Leo closed his eyes

Leo wished Mikey had just kept screaming.

There was a crack.

And a splat.

A sound that echoed around the ship.

Then a thump.

Leo opened his eyes.

Raph’s right side of his face was covered in blood and brain matter, so was his arm, and his fist.

Mikey's body was on the ground.

Leo could see.

Donnie froze.

Mikey's head was a pile of flesh and blood, shards of his skull sticking out of it.

Raph had popped Mickey's head like a tomato.

The Krang crackled.  

Chapter Text

Leo was in his room with paper all over the floor, Mikey sitting next to him pen in hand.

He and Mikey had been drawing, in silence.

But not a bad silence.

A calming one.

Which was nice.

It had been a week since the Krang and things slowly had (thankfully) started going back to normal.

Leo looked at his empty paper not knowing what to draw.

"It's not your fault Leo" Mikey said suddenly.

"What?"

"The Krang" Mikey said "It wasn't your fault"

Leo grimed "I mean it sort of was? I lost the key, it went down hill from there"

Mikey retched and grabbed a blue marker off the floor.

"You can't keep blaming yourself Leo. It's not good for you."

"Ok Dr. Feelings." Leo said rolling his eyes

Then Leo heard sniffling.

Mikey was crying.

"Hey Mikey, its ok-"

"No, it's not Leo!" Mikey exclaimed turning to face Leo.

"For the past week you have been blaming yourself for what happened!"

Mikey grabbed Leo by the shoulder.

"I hate watching you blame yourself for something that was out of your control! I did what I did to save you! You were going to die!"

"Mikey what are you talking about?"

Leo grabbed Mickey's hands and held them.

"Mikey the Krang are gone, we won! No one died!"

Mikey froze and looked Leo right in the eye.

"Leo you can't keep doing this. You need to let go."

Leo was confused.

What was Mikey talking about?

"Let go of what Mikey?"

Mikey smiled.

"Just let go."

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

Leo woke up with a start and looked around.

He was still in his room with Mickey's art strewn all over the room.

He was holding something.

He looked down.

It all came rushing back.

Mikey ripped open a hole in space to save Leo

And hell it worked.

Leo was saved.

Mikey had saved him.

Then Mikey cried.

And the perfect moment was gone and Leo watched his brother crumble into ash.

So Leo saved him.

Most of him anyway.

Clutching the jar tighter, Leo sobbed.

It was his fault, his fault.

Tears fell down his face hitting the lid of the jar.

His fault.

HIS FAULT!

He misses Mikey so much.

He just wanted him back.

Leo cried himself back to sleep.

Mikey still held in his arms.

Leo would never let go.

Not ever.

Chapter Text

Of course it had to be winter.

Because the universe hated him.

It was freezing and Mikey didn't have a coat.

It was freezing and Mikey had gotten lost.

It was freezing and Mikey was soaked.

T-phone? Nope lost it in the fight with the mutant.

Of course.

At least he saved his bros.

But then again it was his plan that got him lost in the sewers.

During the coldest time of the year.

With a possible concussion.

Mikey trudged forward.

He had to keep moving.

You stop moving, you get cold.

You get cold, you get tired.

You get tired, you well-

You could die.

He tried to remember what Donnie had said about hypothermia. But honestly his brain was too foggy to think at all.

Everything hurts.

He felt slow.

But he kept going.

His brothers would find him.

He knows they will.

They always do.

Maby he could take a small brake.

His feet hurt and so did his head.

Yea, that sounds like a good idea.

Mikey sat down. Shell agent the sewer wall.

He thought about how his perfect plan had gotten him here.

The brothers had been fighting a new mutant.

Mikey had nicknamed him ~Candle man~

Poor dude was working at a candle shop when he somehow got his hands on some mutagen and it all went to shit after he accentually burned down three blocks.

He and his brothers were trying to put him out.

Ah that's right the pressure valve.

Great plan.

Horrible execution.

Because now he was here.

Whatever "here" was.

Freezing.

He opened his eyes.

Get up. You have to keep moving

That was Leo.

If Leo was telling him to do something it obviously was important.

Mikey almost always listens to Leo.

Begrudgingly Mikey pulled himself up from the ground and started walking.

God Mikey's head hurt.

Like someone was pounding on his skull.

Mikey walked for what felt like forever.

Where were his brothers?

He was freezing.

His hands hurt and his feet hurt.

Then he noticed he was crying.

Cold streaks fell down his face.

It felt like a hundred knives were stabbing him.

He took another step.

And missed.

He tumbled to the ground.

Mikey didn't get up. He was just.

Too tired.

Black spots swarmed his vision.

When did his eye lids get so heavy..... It's so cold.

He hates the cold.

He wants the cold to stop.

He just wants to sleep.

So he does.

Chapter Text

“Leatherhead! Wake up!” Mikey said, lightly shaking his friend.

Leatherhead was having a nightmare, thrashing and growling in his sleep.

“Leatherhead!” Mikey said again, shaking LH harder.

Leatherhead opened his milky green eyes.

Wait-?

Milky green?

Leatherhead grabbed Mikey's arm and threw him to the ground with a grunt.

Mikey gasped as the air got knocked out of him.

Leatherhead roared before picking Mikey back up and slamming him into the wall. 

Mikey felt his plastron almost cave under the pressure of Leatherhead full weight leaning on him.

Leatherhead growled before ratcheting back and slamming Mikey into the wall.

One

Two

Three

CRACK

Mikey's eyes widened as he felt his shell give way.

Mikey didn't move as he felt the blood drip down his legs to the floor.

Leather head then yanked him from the wall and lifted Mikey above his head.

“Leather head!” Mikey gasped. 

“Leatherhead! It's me Mikey-”

Then he was slammed shell fist into the floor.

Mikey's vision went white.

He felt himself bounce on the cold hard floor.

But he didn't feel anything.

Wait-

Shouldn't he be feeling something?

I mean getting slammed into the floor with a broken shell, Mikey assumed would hurt. 

Mikey tried to open his eyes that he didn't realize he had closed.

But he was too tired.

Why was he so tired? 

He felt someone gently lift him up.

Whoever they were, they were big, and they were shaking. 

Mikey wanted to comfort whoever it was, but he was too tired.

He heard muffled sounds.

Was the person saying they were sorry?

Sorry for what?

Before he got an answer, he was set down again. 

Dull thumps followed.

Oh?

The person ran away?

What?

Mikey felt someone tapping his face.

“Mikey open your eyes or so help me-!”  

That was Raph!

Slowly Mikey opened his eyes.

“H’y Raph” Mikey said looking at the blurry red and green brother holding him.

“Mike, you can't scare us like that.”   

Leo came into Mikey's view and was he-

Crying? 

Mikey tried to sit up before hissing in pain. 

“Mikey don't move, you seriously busted your shell.”

Donnie. 

Definitely Donnie.

“I’m tir’ed” Mikey breathed as his eyes slid shut.

“No Mikey you can't go to sleep, ok? Sleep is bad right now.” Leo said, tapping his cheek. 

That didn't make sense, sleep was supposed to be good.

WAIT LEATHERHEAD!

“Whe’r’s lea’thtr’head?” Mikey said, trying to look for his friend.

“He's uh- a little busy right now.” Raph said. 

“K” Mikey said, leaning farther into Raphs arms, too tired to press the question further.

Donnie pulled Leo close to him and whispered something to him.

Mikey's body stiffed before he let out a wet cough.

He felt pain erupt in his chest as Mikey let out a whine.

 Everything was hurting now.

And Mikey just wanted it to stop.

“Mikey!” Raph said taping him.

“Mikey open you’r fucking eyes right now!”

Shit Raph was mad.

He opened his eyes looking into Raphs teary ones.

“H’y do’t Cry” Mikey said his words slurring together.

Mikey tried to reach up to wipe Raphs tears away when he cried out in pain. 

“Shit! The bleeding isn't stopping!” Donnie cried.

Apparently, Donnie had been using some bandages to try stop the bleeding.

It wasn't working.  

He was tired.

“Mikey stay awake!” Leo cried 

“I’m Sr’y” Miey said 

“No Mikey, don't do this to me!” Raph yelled bringing Mikey closer to his chest

Donnie didn't say anything. 

And if he had.

Mikey couldn't hear it over the ringing in his ears.

“MIKEY!”

“MIKEY DONT-”

“-IKEY”

Gosh he was tired.

Maybe a nap wasn't that bad of an idea.

*****

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Chapter Text

“Now!” Kluh grumbled, holding Mikey up by his leg. “Now you learn the meaning of pain,” 

Mikey wished he had run away like he wanted to earlier.

To decline the challenge and just forfeit. 

But his brothers wouldn’t let him.

They wanted to see this.

Bruises were already forming on his arms and legs.

Being thrown high against the barrier and hit with Kluh’s weapon so hard it snapped in two will do that to a turtle. 

However Mikey knew it wasn’t enough for him.

Kluh wanted to cause more pain.

Mikey found himself being thrown against the blue barrier with enough force to knock the wind out of him once more.

He grimaced as he sat up, pain exploding in his shell. 

“I. . .I should be portaling out of here. . . any second now!” 

Desperation and panic laced his voice. 

Why wasn’t he being portaled out to safety?! 

To his brothers?!

What happened to the safety precautions?!

They were working just fine earlier!

He should have been sent out when Kluh hit him!

Right?!

Did the rules change for this match?! 

The Daimyo would have told them right?!

RIGHT!?

Kluh picked him up by his arm. 

“No one to save you this time,” Kluh mocked  with a wide sneer.

Dread bloomed in Mikey’s chest.

He was gonna die.

A large fist connected with his plastron, causing him to cry out in pain. 

Kluh hit again.

Mikey felt something inside his chest snap.

Third time.

A loud deafening cracking filled the air. 

Fourth time. 

Kluh hit directly on his plastron and the pain overwhelmed him.

Mikey felt something break open as black spots swarmed his vision 

He could hear the crowd.

Cheering? 

Gasping? 

Crying?

There was at least a lot of shouting around him.

Or maybe that was just the ringing in his ears. 

”You are not taking your studies seriously, Michelangelo. ” 

His father was right.

Maybe he wouldn't be in so much pain if he had trained better, instead of goofing off. 

He didn’t deserve the title of the Battle Nexus champion.

Of course he didn’t.

God dammit. 

It was obvious his winning was a fluke from the very beginning.

He had knocked Kluh out by accident. 

If it had been an actual battle (like it is now) he wouldn't have stood a chance.

“Do you hear that? Hm?" Kluh’s voice pierced through the ringing

“It is the sound of your own defeat,”

His bad breath was heavy in his face.

Fuck it stunk.

But all Mikey could think about was what his brothers had said.

“Man, it stinks to be you.”

“Support? Ha! I wouldn’t miss you taking this beating for all the world.”

”Michelangelo, you can win this, I know you can.”

Leo.

Leo was the only one that had any faith in him. 

Welp shit.

Sorry bro.

Guess he can’t help but be the fuck up.

“Soon it’ll be over, first for you” Kluh growled 

“and then your pathetic family.”

Mikey's eyes widened. 

Shit!

They were going to go after his family! 

”In this life, we only have each other. If one of us goes down, we all go down.”

Not his family!

MIkey won’t let them hurt his family. 

He could not let that happen.

No one was going to TOUCH his family.

Not in this life.

Or the next.

Mikey glared at Kluh. 

“Not while I'm still breathing shit head!”  He swung himself at Kluh, kicking him straight in  the chest. 

Kluh let out a surprised gasp and let go of Mikey as he fell back. 

Mikey used Kluh like a spring board and jumped off Kluh and onto the barrier flipping over his opponent.

Kluh turned to look at him, the sneer wiped clean off his face now being replaced by a angry grimace as he slowly got up.

Mikey grabbed his chucks and swung them, ignoring the overwhelming amount of pain he was in. 

“Alright, if this is what you want” Mikey yelled squaring up Kluh 

“Come on then!”

Kluh growled.

”To be so focused, so ready, that nothing and no one will ever catch you off guard again.”  

He understands what his older brother meant.

He had been focused on his family’s doubts and teasing.

Oh hell he still was!

But now?

Now he was focusing on proving them wrong.

Kluh charged at Mikey.

Mikey jumped over him, hitting the back of Kluh’s leg with his nunchucks. 

The force made the brute fall to his knees with a yell.

Kluh angrily picked up his weapon and turned the blade towards Mikey as he stood up.

“I will destroy you!” he shouted, running towards him again.

Mikey flipped over him and hit Kluh’s legs and ankles over and over again with his nunchucks before kicking Kluh’s legs out from under him.

Kluh got up and in his anger he rushed an attack and struck down with his weapon. 

Mikey barely stepped to the side.

Taking a breath and ignoring how his chest shook.

Mikey threw himself at Kluh’s weapon and broke it again, before kicking Kluh and knocking him down. 

He flipped off him but missed the landing and knocked his shell against the ground as his opponent tumbled backward. 

The adrenaline was starting to wear off as Kluh laid there

Mikey got up and walked over to him.

Standing over Kluh with his nunchucks swinging.

As he stood there the pain was coming back with full force.

As his vision started to swim, he refused to look weak in front of his enemy. 

He could hear his family’s voices, their teasing insults coming back. 

And yet somehow, somehow he did it. 

He won.

He proved them wrong. 

“Do it, finish me,” 

Kluh said, shame,anger and disappointment painted on his face.

Mikey’s nunchucks slowed.

“I don’t think so,” he said, putting his chucks away.

“My father taught me better than that. Besides, you’re already finished.”

He tapped Kluh’s head and Kluh fell back down, his eyes closed.

It was done.

He won the Battle Nexus. 

And this time he earned it.

Take that Raph.

But he only had the strength for a weak smile.

Distantly hearing the cheering of the crowd.

It felt like his head was full of cotton. 

His breath got heavier as dark spots started to take over his vision. 

Mikey looked up to where the Daimyo and his family were.

He couldn’t make out more than shapes and colors through his blurry vision.

Something was wrong.

Super wrong.

He looked down and saw cracks on his chest. 

Big ones.

Blood was there too.

He was bleeding.

He felt something coming up this through.

When did he get so dizzy?

Nousua hit him like a train as he fell to his hands and knees and vomited.

Mikey might not know much about health and stuff.

But he had seen vomit enough times to know that it was not supposed to be red. 

His vision was swimming and the world tilted on its side.

He felt weightless.

It should have hurt, but he doesn’t remember hitting the ground. 

All he could remember was the calm feeling that fell over him.

Then it was loud.

Like super fucking loud. 

Then he saw colors.

Red

Blue

Purple

the colors made him feel safe.

he was safe.

s a f e.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

Leo was mortified.

He just watched his little brother get his shell cracked open like a wall nut and still beat the Kulh.

This was their fault and they all knew it.

If they hadn't forced Mikey to accept the rematch this wouldn't have happened. 

Mikey wouldn't have gotten hurt 

Mikey wouldn't have died.

Leo still remembers the screaming.

The yelling.

The blood.

Mikey was lying still in Leo's arms.

Too still.

Mikey was never “still” 

“SHIT MIKEY!” Raph yelled as he watched his baby brother's eyes glaze over.“DONNIE DO SOMETHING”

 “I'M TRYING RAPH” Donnie yelled back his voice tight.

“HE'S NOT BREATHING LEO! MIKEY'S NOT BREATHING!!”

Leo was frozen.

As the reality set in.

Raph crumpled onto the ground, letting out horrific sobs.

Donnie was still patching Mikey up.

Putting wraps and bandages on all his injuries. 

Leo knew Donnie was in denial.

Because Mikey was dead.

Leo just watched him die.

That was 6 minutes and 47 seconds ago.

And Leo still hasn't cried yet.

He felt like if he started crying he wouldn't be able to stop.

He needed to be strong for his two younger brothers.

Two

Two

Only two 

Because Mikey was dead.

Only two because they didn't let him forfeit.

Only two because they wanted him to lose.

Only Two because of him.

He couldn't do it anymore.

He broke 

He cried   

Chapter Text

To say Leo was mad was an understatement

He and his brothers were grounded 

For doing what you may ask?

Trying to keep their home safe that's what.

Leo grimaced as the argument with their father still rang in his ears.

 “Sensei we have to leave! The sewers aren't safe anymore!” Leo yelled out

“You and your brothers will go nowhere!” Splinter snapped 

“But Master Splinter, the Shredder is going to do something to the sewers!” Raph growled 

“What could he possibly do to us? Yes he knows we are in the sewers but he does not know where.” Splinter said in an uncomfortably calm voice.

“Sensei please you have to listen to us!” Mikey interjected his voice filled with worry  

“Sensei, please you are being irrational! We know that that the Shredder is a smart man, he may not know exactly where we live but-”

“No buts Donatello. If you go to the surface the shredder will find you and he will kill you.”

“But if we stay we will all die the same!” Leo snapped

“ENOUGH” Splinter yelled, slamming his cane down, the loud sound reverberating around the dojo.        

“All of you will be going nowhere! You are all grounded!!”  

Now Leo was stuck in his room while the shredder could be on his way to kill them all.

Why couldn't Splinter just listen to them?

A buzzing from his t-phone yanked him out of his thoughts.

It was a text from Donnie.

Purple_Is_Scientifically_superior:  So what's the plan Leo?

Captan_Leoardo: Honestly I have no idea.  

Redteror: Honestly I think Splinter needs to get his head out of his ass. 

_xXx_Mikey_xXx_: langage raph >:/

Purple_Is_Scientifically_superior: Guys! Focus on the task at hand! Shredder should be on his way right now!

Redteror: its kinda hard to do anything when splints has put the place in lockdown.

Captan_Leoardo: Well we have to do something? Anyone got any ideas?

Redteror: i say we just break out of here and stop the shred head before it goes to shit.

_xXx_Mikey_xXx_: no way Raph we cant do that master splinter will kick r butts!!1!!

Purple_Is_Scientifically_superior: I mean Spliner has to let us out to go get supplies and stuff right? 

A knock came from the door. 

Captan_Leoardo: Speak of the devil and he shall appear. 

“My sons it is time to eat”

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

Diner had been tense to say the least  

No pizza tonight

Only algae and worms. 

The silence was deafening. 

The silence ended abruptly when Raph slammed his fist against the table, scooted his chair back and started walking towards the living room.

“Raphael, where do you think you are going?” Splinter asked, turning to look at his son.

Raph's shoulders tensed.

“Why do you care?” He asked, his voice laced with venom.

Everyone froze 

Never in their 15 years of life on his planet had any of the brothers used that tone with their Sensei.

“Raphael” Splinter said in a warning tone

“Why can't you just accept the fact that the sewers might not be safe?” Raph said his back still turned.

Oh shit-

“Raphael that's is not up for discussion-”

“Well it should be!” Raph yelled turning to face Splinter 

“Raph calm down-” Leo said, running past Splinter over to his brother. 

“No Leo! Splinter needs to open his eyes and see the fucking facts!”

Donnie and Mikey looked at each other before slowly getting up from their chairs.

Donnie took a stand with Raph while Mikey slinked off the side leaning against the pinball machine.

“And the fact is that we aren't safe in the sewers right now! The shredder is planning something!” Raph continued 

“May I remind you that the only way you know this is because you and your brothers disobeyed me”

“Well good thing we did! Because now we know how we're going to die!” Raph said hysterical

“We are going to die because you are too much of a coward to even risk the small chance that you would see the shredder, you would rather us all die down here!” 

By this point Leo was having to hold Raph back, fearing Raph might lunge at their sensei.

“Raphael the last time you saw the shredder you barely made it out with your life! Or the lives of your brothers! We stay underground because it is safe!” Splinter said his ears raised in annoyance.

“Maybe back then but not anymore-”

“I will not argue about this anymore Raphael” Splinter said as he started to walk towards the dojo.

Tap tap      

As the sliding door shut Raph was still fuming.

“I can't believe him!” Raph gasped 

“Uh-? Guys?”

“Just give him some time Raph I'm sure master splinter will come to his senses” Donnie said putting his hand on Raph's shoulder     

“Raph does have a point Donnie, we don't have time to wait, shredder could be doing his plan right now. ” 

Tap tap 

“Guys??”

“I say we split”

“And leave Master Splinter? Raph have you lost your mind?”

“Well obviously Splinter has”

TAP TAP

“GUYS MOUSER-!”

“WHAT-”

Leo barely processed what Mikey had actually said before something collided with the back of his head.

And he plunged into darkness

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Leo becomes aware or something.

A sound 

A voice 

It sounds frantic

“LEO WAKE UP”  

Donnie?

“LEO!”

Leo opens his eyes to see a tearful Donnie looking down at him. 

What the shell happened?

“Leo, you're awake!” Donnie said, wrapping Leo up in a hug.

“Donnie what happened?” Leo asked, scratching his head before hissing in pain.

“Be careful Leo you got a nasty concussion.” Donnie said slowly, helping Leo sit up.

Leo looked around him

The lair 

The place he had called home for 15 years was in shambles 

From what he could see most of the sealing had collapsed 

Ruble and metal pipes littered around  

It didn't even look like the lair anymore 

He and Donnie were under a slab of concrete that was propped up and leaning against one of the pillars 

The pillar itself looked like it might crumble at any given moment.

If the concrete had fallen any farther back he and Donnie would have been flattened.

“Wher’z Raph?” Leo asked, looking around rapidly “And Mikey?”

Donnie stiffened 

“I- I don't know leo, I just haven't had time to go look for them” Donnie said as he continued to cover Leo's head in bandages.  

Along with his concussion he also had a slight cut on the back of his head that was bleeding down his neck but besides that and a few other scrapes and bruises he was fine.   

“I woke up a few minutes ago, I was knocked back by the explosion and when i woke up the first thing I saw was Master Splinter's tail sticking of from underneath some ruble he is fine but unconscious I moved him to the dojo” 

“We need to find the others.” Leo said dismissively grunting as he pulled himself to his feet swaying a little bit before Don helped him get his balance. 

“Are you sure your not hurt Don?” Leo asked 

“Yes Leo I'm fine-”

“Don't lie to me Donnie”

Donnie took a deep breath “I'm pretty sure I may have some broken ribs and a sprained wrist nothing too serious”

“When are broken ribs not serious?”

“When you don't know where your other brothers are”

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&

Slowly Raph opened his eyes 

Or at least he thinks he did 

He can feel his eyes open but he can't see that all he sees is black.

There was a big metal pipe laying on his plastron keeping him pinned to the floor and also making it hard to breath.

What the fuck happened?

Where was everyone?

Was he dead?

Raph tried to move out from under the pipe 

Pain blossomed in his chest.

Nope 

Not dead.

That was good.

He simply lade there 

Going in and out of consciousness

This was a shity way to go out.

Not fighting for his family 

But to die from a metal pipe

Fucking great.

“RAPH, MIKEY!!”

Someone was calling for him.

“L-leo?”

“RAPH?!?!? RAPH IS THAT YOU??”

“Leo i-im here” Raph wheezed 

“Donnie, I found him!”

Black spots danced in his vision

Shit 

He was going to pass out.

He hear the sound of scraping metal

It hurt his ears

Then the weight was lifted off his chest.  

He was pulled out and placed down.

He opened his eyes

“Leo? Don?”

“Raph!” 

Before he could say anything else he was given a hug he didn't know he needed.

“Raph thank shell your ok.” Donnie gasped “You are ok right?” 

“Ma’ eye hurts, chest hurts” He said still regaining his breath 

Raph had a long gash running up the left side of his face, his mask was missing and so was his left eye. He also already had bruising on the center of his plastron.  

“Oh shit Raph” Donnie mumbled 

“Hold still Raph Donnie found a first aid kit in the ruble, he’ll fix you up in a moment”

Raph hummed in agreement as Donny put a square of gauze over where his eye should have 

Raphs other eye was taking in the destruction of the lair.  

Then to watch his brothers taking in their injuries.

“Don, can you handle Raph all by yourself?”

“I think so”

“Ok then I'm gonna go look for Mikey”

Wait-

“Where? Where's Mikey?” Raph asked 

“We don't know yet Raph” Leo said

“Well go find him!” Raph said trying to sit up 

“That's what Leo is doing and you can help him in a second if you sit still.” Donnie said, pushing Raph back down.

Leo heard Raph grumble something under his breath as he carefully made his way through the ruin calling out to Mikey.

Five minutes later Raph and Donnie joined in the search for the youngest 

Raph having to lean on Don due to what Donnie had diagnosed as a broken ankle 

Witch was now in a DIY splint.

Worry and dread began to build in his chest.

Where was Mikey?

Was he even-

No

Don't finish that thought.

Mikey was probably fine, just unconscious, that's why he wasn’t answering.

“Mikey!” Leo called his voice echoing back to him.

As Leo stepped over what looked like part of the ceiling, his foot touched something wet.

He looked down at the blood glowing red against his green skin.

It seem to be coming from-

That's when he saw it

Two feet in front of him

A glint of orange in a sea of dull gray rocks and silver pipes 

“MIKEY!” 

Leo ran over wreckage of concrete

Ignoring the cuts he was getting while he dug, getting rid of the things standing between him and his baby brother. 

He didn't stop until he saw the body.

He heard a strangled cry come from behind him.

His own voice stuck.

Whoever this turtle was 

Was not Mikey

Mikey's eyes were full of life not dull and glazed

Mikey's face was always full of emotion never had it ever been so pale and emotionless

And Mikey didn't have a piece of metal sticking out his chest.

Nor was his plastron broken 

“Leo please don't- tell me”

Leo turned to see Donnie and Raph behind him

Raph was looking at Mikey's corpse, his eye wide and unmoving.

Donnie was looking Leo dead in the eyes, tears starting to pool.

“Mikey's…dead?” Leo said 

Raph stumbled and Donnie helped him keep his balance before Raph doubled over letting out what they had eaten for dinner.

Donnie turned back to Leo whose eyes were empty and void  

A shuffle came from the dojo and Donnie looked over

His eyes looked with Splinters.

“My son’s!” Splinter gasped, stumbling across the destruction to get to them.

“My sons what has happened are you all ok?” 

Leo's void eyes were not so empty anymore.

“What happened? You wanna know what happened?” Leo asked hysterically with a smile plastered on his face.

“What happened was that we were right and now?” Leo giggled “Mikey IS FUCKING DEAD.” 

Splinter backed up as Leo took a step towards the rat man.

“Why couldn't you have just fucking listened to us? We FUCKING TOLD YOU this was going to  happen! WHY COULDN'T YOU HAD JUST GOTTEN YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND SEEN THAT WE NEEDED TO LEAVE?!?!?!!?” 

Leo was screaming now

“MIKEY IS FUCKING DEAD DAD! DEAD!! ALL BECAUSE YOU REFUSED TO BELIEVE US!”  

“Leo, please stop.” Donnie said, trying to reach out to his eldest brother who was now almost to splinter.

“Leonardo I- I never meant for this to happen. I was just so scared of losing you and your brothers-”

“FUCK YOU HAMATO!” Leo screamed his voice broken with grief and rage

“YOU KILLED MIKEY! YOU KILLED HIM YOU COWARD!” 

Leo was crying now, the salty liquid flowing down his face. His chest heaving.

“I hate you” Leo hissed, turning his back on his father Hamato Yoshi.

Those were the last words he ever spoke to Hamato Yoshi before he and his brothers left. 

Taking the orange with them.    

Chapter Text

"Mikey!" Raph screamed 

All three big brothers watched in horror as their little brother rolled down the hill. 

Raph let out a yell of fury as he charged at Jei.

"Donnie go help Mikey!" Leo ordered body turning into a fighting stance, “I'll help Raph just GO!”

Donnie didn't have to be told twice as he slid down the steep hill, 

landing gracefully on his feet. 

The purple masked turtle's eyes landed on his baby brother lying so still.

Donnie rushed to his little brother's side.

"Mikey". Donnie whispered kneeling down touching his brother's side, 

Gently, Donnie rolled his little brother so he was facing him. 

Eye's steamed with tears as he saw what the blade had done to his brother.

His plastron was cracked at the left side of his stomach, the wolf's blade going in enough to puncture it. 

Blood poured from the wound. 

From just looking at the injury Donnie knew 

It was fatal. 

Nothing that could be done, he didn't have anything to help. 

And the wound was so deep.

“Donnie?" Mikey rasped weakly eyes fluttering open

Mikey let out a wet cough groaning as a jab of pain flared through him.

"Shh Mikey don't speak". Donnie whispered, cradling Mikey against his chest. 

"Save your energy".

"Donnie, am I going to die?" Mikey whispered his fear filled eyes locked with Donnie's.

"No of course not". Donnie lied,

”'we’ll get you patched up. You're going to be fine Mikey".

Mikey searched his brother's face for a moment, 

He either accepted Donnie's reassurance or knew his fate. 

He nuzzled his head into his brother's chest. 

His body trembled.

"Donnie". Donnie snapped his head towards his big brother's voice

Leo and Raph approached the younger brothers. 

Fear painted on both their faces. 

"How is he?" 

Donnie swallowed thick, tears slipping down his face, 

His gaze landed back at Mikey who had fallen into a painful sleep.

"The wound is too deep". Donnie whispered. "There's no way I'd be able to get supplies and fix him up in time. It's already done too much damage".

Leo felt his heart shatter into a million pieces, 

He gazed at his Red banded brother who had tears in his eyes. 

Both brother's knelt next to Donnie, both putting their arms around him and Mikey. 

Tears filled all of the big brothers' eyes as they gazed at Mikey whose breathing was slowing. 

Whose eyes were closed, 

features twisted in pain. 

Mikey took a in a breath 

Then let it out.

He didn't take another.

Leo, Raph and Donnie laid their heads on their baby brother, soft sobs shaking their frames. 

"I sense the evil inside of you 3".

The three turtles slowly lifted their heads 

Jay

their eye's glowing white.

“And I will purge it". 

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

“Guys! Wake up! You're dreaming".

Leo, Raph and Donnie blinked awake before their eyes got into focus

their baby brother who they had just saw murdered. 

was standing in front of them. 

Concern written all over his freckled face.

"Mikey!". All three of them gasped.

Before Mikey could say a word all 3 brothers jumped at Mikey 

Tackling him to the ground 

Their arms wrapped around their baby brother. 

Mikey blinked for a second before his eyes softened slightly pulling his brothers close. 

He could feel them trembling.

So he held them tighter. 

"You were controlled by Jei's magic". Usagi said.

"It felt so real". Donnie whispered a three fingered hand on his forehead. 

He gazed up at Mikey for a moment his eye's watering at the sight of his baby brother alive.

“The next time I see that wolf". Raph growled, clenching his fist.

”Are you sure you're OK Mikey?" Leo asked looking Mikey over for any sign of injury. 

"I'm fine guys honest". Mikey smiled softly. "Usagi, could you give me a minute alone with my brothers?".

The Samurai rabbit gave a brief nod, gesturing to Kintaro to follow him."Do not take too long, we must keep going. We still may not be out of danger".

Mikey turned to back  his brothers who were still trying to get up, he knelt and sat down next to them. 

They all refused to meet his gaze.

Eyes going everywhere else but to their baby brother.

"Hey bros". All three jerked their heads up, their eyes finally meeting his. "I'm ok, I'm safe. It was just a dream".

"It felt so real". Leo whispered, eyes stinging with tears.

"But it wasn't". Mikey said retching out and grabbing Leos hand

"see? I'm right here. I'm alive, we're safe. It's OK". Mikey said, giving his brothers a small smile.

Within seconds Mikey had a swarm of older brothers, all 3 clutching onto him like a lifeline. 

Their body's shaking from sobs. 

Mikey was worried they might never let go. 

Chapter Text

Raph's heart was pounding in his chest as he ran through the halls of TCRI.

His feet pounding against the cold metal floor. 

“Raph wait up!” Leo called trailing behind him.

Raph did not respond, his mind racing with worry and fear for his youngest brother. 

He couldn't begin to imagine what horrors Mikey might be facing at the hands of the Krang. 

All he knew was that they had to get to him as fast as possible.

This was all his fault.

If he had been paying more attention to Mikey he never would have gotten knocked out and captured. 

“Raph!” Donnie's call snapped him out of his thoughts “Turn Left!’

Raph turned going down the left hall still sprinting.

“There!” Donnie said, pointing to one of the containment cells.

“He should be in there!”

Raph and Leo kept look out as Donnie crouched down and started working on the lock.

a click and the door to the cell opened with a hiss.

Donnie picked up his dow as Raph ran into the cell. 

Raph's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of Mikey.

And then he saw him. 

Mikey was lying on the ground, his orange mask stained with blood that looked black under the purple lights. 

Raph's heart dropped as he ran towards his brother.

“Mikey!” Raph cried out, dropping to his knees beside his brother.

“Took you guys long enough” Mikey rasped a small smile on his face. 

He gently lifted Mikey's head onto his lap as Leo whispered words of comfort and Donnie saw the extent of his injuries. 

Mikey's body was covered in bleeding cuts and bruises.

His Plastron was cracked. 

His breathing was shallow.

And Mikey's blood was all over the floor.

Tears welled up in Raph's eyes as he looked towards Donnie.

Donnie was in full concentration trying to stop the bleeding from some of the big gashes. 

How could such a small turtle have so much blood?

“Raph” Mikey whispered weakly, his eyes sliding shut. “Am I gonna die?”

“Of course, not ya knucklehead” Raph choked out as he attempted to keep his voice from shaking. 

“Stop being so dramatic” Leo said his voice shaking ever so slightly “Donnie will fix you up in no time, then we can go home and get some pizza.” 

“Prom’s?”  Mikey wheezed.

“We promise Mikey.”

Mikey gave a weak smile, his eyes drifting.

“Shit!” Donnie suddenly cried. 

Mikey's winced in pain as his eyes slid shut. 

“No!NO MIKEY OPEN YOUR EYES!!” Donnie yelled. 

Raph desperately taped Mikey’s check “Mikey you gotta wake up! Please Mikey we have come so far, don't give up now!!”

“I’m sr’y ra’f” Mikey rasped “I lo’v all of you, d’nt blam your se’f. Waz’int you’r fou’t”

“No Mikey, please don't do this to us!” Raph cried. 

“Mikey you can't leave us please! We already lost Master splinter! We can't lose you too!” Leo was shaking as he sobbed clutching Mikeys hand.  

Mikey's body went limp. 

Raph's heart shattered as he held his brother in his arms.

Tears streamed down his face.

the sound of sobbing echoed in the small room.

Chapter Text

“No Sensei!” Mikey said, slamming the door freezer closed.

“No?” Splinter said “You tell me NO!?”

Mikey looked wide eyed as Splinter let out an animalistic growl  knocking Mikey back into the cabinets. 

Splinter let out a hiss as Mikey jumped up over the table to try and avoid getting attacked.

He wasn’t fast enough.

Mikey let out a whimper of pain as splinter grabbed his foot and slammed him into the refrigerator. 

“Mikey!” Raph yelled seeing Splinter getting ready to attack again.

“Hold him!” Leo yelled as the three older brothers grabbed their father and tried to hold him back. 

But Splinter maneuvered out of their grasp and lunged at Mikey. 

A scream filed the liar before it was abruptly silenced.

 Splinter had bit through Mikey's vocal cords.

“I got him!” Casey yelled before smacking Splinter on the side of his head with his baseball bat.

Splinter collapsed.

Mikey frantically Scooted out from under Splinters limp body grabbing at his gushing throat. 

Blood was already pooling on the kitchen floor, forever staining it. 

“MIKEY!” Donnie cried running over to Mikey.

Mikey was freaking out his eyes wide and full of terror.

His throat was torn open.

Bloody teeth marks surrounded the gaping hole.

He couldn't breathe.

Blood was filling his lungs.

He was going to drown.

Donnie watched as Mikey doubled over, puking more blood onto the floor. 

"Donnie! Do something please!" Raph cried  

There was nothing Donnie could do and he knew this. 

"THERES NOTHING I CAN DO THE WOUND, ITS TO DEEP!"

Mikey was going to die.

“My sons, what is going on- Michelangelo!” Splinter exclaimed, running over and crouching down to his youngest son.     

Mikey looked at his father as black spots danced in his vision. 

Everyone was silent as Splinter laid Mikey in his lap. 

"Michelangelo! what happened?" 

He had ben fine a minute ago.

and why did he taste pennies?

oh

OH

the memories came flooding back.

“My son- I am so sorry” Splinter sobbed, pulling Mikey closer.

Mikey tried to answer only to gargle more blood.

Splinter hadn't even realized that his other sons were now surrounding him and Mikey. 

Mikey couldn’t breathe anymore.

Donnie was sodding with Splinter.

Raph was trying to comfort Mikey, rubbing his hand on Mileys head.

Leo was silently crying. 

Blood had completely filled his lungs.

They all sat there for what felt like forever.

It was just them and Mikey.

Then it was just them.

Chapter Text

Today actually hadn't been so bad.

Sure he had lied about Todd losing the truffle as well as getting his essence sucked and all but Todd would get over it.

Probably. 

He and Meatsweats had been wandering through the dense forest for about an hour now.

They were looking for a moon truffle for Meatsweats.

Due to the fact that the last one had gotten stolen by a hawk. 

Witch Mikey had nothing to do with 

Mikey looked up at the sky as the moon rose up.

“Well then let's get our truffle on shall we?” Meatsweats said, giving Mikey a smile.

Mikey smiled back.

Meatsweats was so much nicer with Todd's essence in him.

After several hours of searching, they come across a clearing in the center of the woods.

In the center of the clearing stands a massive tree with glowing mushrooms sprouting from its branches.

 the Moon truffle.  

“Would you be so kind as to go and grab some while I go get the bag ?” Meatsewats said, turning his back on the orange turtle.

“Ok” Mikey said happily before starting to climb the tree.

As he climbed, Mikey could feel the strong wood under his fingers as he climbed towards the top.

Once at the top he paused for a moment looking up at the big moon above him.

It was beautiful.

Mikey reached the top of the tree and pulled himself onto one of the thick branches.

Looking he spots a glowing blue truffle that was sprouting from the bark.

He looks down at Meatsweats, who is still at the base of the tree now with a bag in his hand. 

"I've got it! I've got the truffle!" he shouts down excitedly. 

Mikey grabbed the mushroom and slid back down the tree and handed Meatsweats the truffle grinning proudly.

Something twisted on Meatsweats face.

'Boy, I've got a surprise for you,' he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out his Meat tenderizer.

Mikey froze. As Meastweats quickly raises it above his head. 

Mikey tried to duck out of the way but he didn't have time

The tenderizer came crashing down on his shell, causing him to let out a blood curdling scream as his shell breaks and snaps.

Blood now coating the meat tenderizer. 

With his shell shattered, broken, and bleeding Mikey lays there on the forest floor.

His blood pooling around him.

He tries to call out to anyone for help but he can't as blood starts to fill his lungs.

Mikey watches as Meatsweats laughs saying something about Todd's essence wearing off? 

Mikey couldn't really hear him over the ringing in his ears.

Then he is alone.

:’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;

;’;’;’’;

;’;

;’

;’;’

;’

;’;

;’;

;’;’

“MIKEY! OH MY GOD!!” Mikey opens his eyes to see Todd frantically flapping his hands.

“MIKEY OH MY GOD WHAT DO I DO?!” Todd yelled 

Mikey can understand what's wrong.

Nothing hurts.

He's just tired.

“MIKEY YOUR BROTHERS ARE ON THEIR WAY!! I USED YOUR T-PHONE AND CALLED THEM, THEY TOLD ME TO TELL YOU TO STAY AWAKE!!!” Todd screamed 

“No…need…yell…” Mikey mumbles his eyes sliding shut.

“Sorry but you have to stay away!” Todd said, rapidly tapping Mikey on the head.

 Mikey just wants to be left alone.

But laying there he can feel the ground shake slightly.

Then there are more colors.

More people. 

“Mikey ,hey big man” Raph says his voice raw with emotion “can you look at me?” 

Tiredly Mikey brought his eyes up to meet Raphs.

“Hes responsive Leo!” Raph cried 

Mikey catches a glimpse of Purple to see Donnie vomiting with his back turned to them. 

Then something brushes against his shell-

Pain was the only thing he felt as he let out a deafening scream.

Mikey clenched his eyes shut.

Stop stop stop STOP STOP STOP STOP ST OP STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP  

“MIKEY PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES!!”

But he couldn't.

Even if he wanted too. 

It was all just-

Just-

Too mutch-

The pain was gone now.

But so what the sound of his brothers.

He could still see them though.

Red, purple, and blue,

Then black.

Then nothing.

Chapter Text

"Dude... Raph... come on, man... It's just me. You don't wanna do this." Mikey says as he tries to step closer to Raph

The other turtle only makes a threatening growl, gauntlets pointed at Mikey's chest.

"Come on Raph I know-"

Raph suddenly lunges at Mikey.

Mikey tenses, his nunchaku raised in defense.

The metal chains connecting the two turtles rattle as they collide, the force of the impact sending waves of pain through Mikey's shoulders. 

The tension in the room is thick with the stench of sweat and fear, from the other battles raging on around him.

Mikey can hear Donnie and Rockwell fighting.

Leatherhead and slash growing like wild animals. 

"C'mon, bro! It's just me! Remember? You can fight this!" Mikey tries to push back against Raph's but the red clad turtle is too strong. 

They circle each other, grunting with the effort of their movements. 

Raph's sais flash in the dim light, a deadly blur as he swings them back and forth, trying to find an opening in Mikey's defense.

Mikey spots Leo running over trying to help him fight against Raph. 

Hope blooms in his chest for a second before dying out as Tigerclaw tackles Leo keeping him away from Mikey and Raph.

Mikey turns his attention back to Raph.

"Raph... it's me, Mikey! You can fight this!" Mikey yells, his voice wavering between hope and fear. 

He continues to dodge and block Raph's attacks

but he knows he can't keep this up forever.

Raph then strikes at Mikey with both gauntlets aimed at his chest. 

Mikey sees the attack coming and quickly ducks under it. 

With a quick kick to the side, he sends Raph flying into the wall. 

The force of the impact knocks the wind out of Raph and momentarily disorients him. 

Seizing the opportunity, Mikey rushes forward, his nunchaku swinging wildly. 

He connects with Raph's arms, sending pain shooting up his limbs. Raph stumbles back.

The Red turtle was confused for a moment. 

He stumbles forward, reaching out to his brother. "Mikey...? Mikey...?" 

His voice is laced with confusion and fear as the blades of the gauntlets retract.

"Raph... it's me. It's Michelangelo." Mikey says, his voice cracking with emotion. 

He steps closer to Raph, reaching out a hand to help him up. 

"Come on, bro...it's ok."

Raph takes a shaky step forward, his hands shaking as he reaches out to take Mikey's hand. 

"Mikey... I'm... " He lunges forward and embraces Mikey. 

Mikey was stunned for a second before wrapping his arms around Raph, pulling him close as they cling to each other. 

Mikey feels a surge of relief

He did it!

Raph was back!

His Big brother-

Then it all came crashing down.

A sudden, sharp pain sears through Mikey's chest  and a crack is heard. 

Leo and Donnie let out strangled cries and Leatherhead roars trying to charge at Raph only getting held back by Slash. 

The gauntlet blades had plunged straight through his chest. 

His shell cracked from where two crimson tips poked out of his back.

He coughed up blood, his vision starting to blur. "Raph......?" he gasps, grip on his brother loosening.

Mikey collapses to his knees, Raph falling with him 

"Raph... I know you didn't mean it..." Mikey whispers, feeling the warmth of his blood trickling down his chest and out of his mouth. 

He tries to keep his eyes open, he truly does. 

"It's... it's okay... I forgive you...it's not your fault" Mikey whispers, his voice barely audible over the sound of his labored breathing. 

Raph's grip tightens around Mikey.

He looks down at the blood-covered gauntlet in his hand, horror and disbelief written across his face. "No... no, I didn't mean to..." he whispers, slipping his hand out from the gauntlet and cupping his little brother's face.

Blood continues to trickle down his chest, "I... I always knew you'd... come back to us..." He said hiving a half hatred laugh, wincing in pain. "never...doubted you..big..bro"

A wave of nausea hits Raph as he turns away from Mikey, throwing up the brain worm that had been inside his head.

The disgusting thing slithers out of his mouth and onto the floor, writhing pathetically. 

He gasps for breath, feeling lightheaded and dizzy. 

As he looks back to see Mikey's body lying on the ground, blood pooling. 

Tears streaming down his face, Raph looks on in horror.

He feels numb as Donnie runs up pushing him away from Mikey. 

"No... no, please, Mikey... I didn't mean it..." he sobs, reaching out to his dying brother only to be hugged back by Leo.

Raph's sobs turn into wails as he looks down at Mikey's pale, blood-covered face as Donnie gently wipes away the blood from the corner of Mikeys's mouth.

"No... no, I'm sorry... Mikey... please..." Raph whispered

finally he processed the fact that Leo had his arms around him

he sobbed into Leo's shoulder.

Chapter Text

There had been an explosion.

That was the first thing that registered in Raph's mind when he woke up.

The next was “where the fuck are my brothers?”

Quickly Raph had found Donnie.

He was unconscious and had a ugly bleeding gash on his arm.

Raph himself felt fine but knew it was only a matter a time before his adrenalin wore off.

Quickly he lifts up Donnie and slings him onto his back,

They needed to find Mikey.

Frantically, Raph surveyed the area looking for any sign of his orange brother. 

“Mikey? Mikey, where the hell are you?!” Raph's voice echoed through the burning warehouse.

The building rumbled.

Time was ticking. 

Then he hears it, a quiet rasp.

Raph whips his head around.

"Damn it, Mikey!" Raph shouts, running over to him. 

Behind two collapsed pillars, Mikey was pinned under a pile of flaming rubble, his body barely moving. 

Gently he sets Donnie down on the floor, being careful with his head before running over to Mikey.

Raph tried to push the debris off, but it was stuck, embedded into the ground. 

"Mikey, you've got to get out of there!"

"Raph...I'm...t...t...trapped...D...Donnie?" Mikey's voice was weak and his breathing was ragged as he struggled to wiggle out from under the ruble. 

The heat was intense and it was becoming harder for him to think straight. 

"R...Raph...h...help..."

"Donnie! Wake up!" Raph shouted, his voice shaking with desperation as he tried to rouse his unconscious brother. 

Raph glanced back at Mikey, his eyes filled with anguish. 

"Mikey, I gotta go get Donnie out of here! I'll be right back, okay? Just hold on!" He doesn't wait for a reply, instead dashing back over to Donnie and scooping him up in his arms. 

The ground shook as they ran.

"R...Raph..." Mikey coughed and wheezed, his lungs burning from the smoke. 

Mikey tried to move again, but let out a yelp as pain ravaged his body. 

The pile of rubble above him had begun to shift and creak ominously, threatening to come down at any moment. 

"R...Raph...please..."

But Raph was gone

Mikey layed there,

His lungs burn and his eyes water as the heat beats down on him. 

The pain in his body is unbearable

Every muscle aches. 

The pile of rubble above him continues to shift and creak.

He called out to Raph, his voice weak and strained. 

"R...Raph...please...don't leave..."

The walls of the warehouse groan and creak as the fire eats its way through the wood and steel beams. 

Raph, his shell charred and battered, carried Donnie out into the cool night air and laid him gently on the pavement. 

He looked back into the burning building, his heart racing with fear. 

Mikey! 

He has to go back for Mikey!

Raph turns back and starts running towards the building calling out his baby brother's name.

Mikey can hear Raph calling his name from outside, but he can't respond. 

The pain in his body is unbearable and he feels like he's going to pass out again. 

"R...Raph..." he whispers, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. "I...I'm...t...t..."

Suddenly, with a deafening roar, the warehouse begins to collapse in on itself. 

The floor gives way beneath Mikey, sending him plummeting deeper into the rubble. 

The flames dance and twist around him, searing his flesh as they engulf him. 

The air grows thick with smoke and dust. 

Mikey lets out a scream as he feels a sharp pain in his side as a jagged piece of metal pierces his plastron. 

Panic surges through him as he realizes that he's going to die here. 

His strength is fading fast.

He can feel his shell beginning to crack under the pressure of the heavy metal on top of him. 

"Raph...Donnie..." he whispers, his voice barely audible. "I love you guys...I'm sorry..." 

His vision begins to blur, and everything starts to go black. 

"I'm...I'm sorry..."

Chapter Text

Tigerclaw roughly straps Mikey to the table, making sure he is in an upright position. 

The turtle's head lolls to the side, his eyes fluttering open and shut as he tries to regain consciousness. 

The room around him is dimly lit and filled with all sorts of strange equipment.

A tank of mutagen hangs overhead, casting eerie green shadows across the walls. 

The laboratory reeks of disinfectant and other chemicals

Mikey mustered up a brave smile, looking at Tigerclaw. 

"Hey, bro... I'm sure we can work something out," he says,trying to stall.

His brothers will get here soon.

"I mean, you don't really want to do this, do you? The Shredder's gonna be pissed when he finds out you've killed one of his favorite turtles."

Tigerclaw lets out a chuckle. "Oh, don't worry, little one. I'm not going to kill you..." 

He paces back and forth in front of Mikey.

"No, the Shredder has something much more interesting planned for you."  He leans in close, his breath hot on Mikey's face. "And who knows? Maybe after a little... reconditioning, you'll be just as loyal to the Shredder as I am."

Suddenly, there's a commotion outside the laboratory. 

A buzzing sound echoed through the hallway. 

The door swings open and Baxter Stockman flies in, his bug eyes darting about nervously. 

He's carrying a small vial filled with multiple squirming brainworms. "Ah, Tigerclaw! Shredder was beginning to wonder where you'd gotten off to," he says. "We had a small setback, the red turtle and the other mutants were able to break out of the mind worm's control."

Tigerclaw rolls his eyes. 

"Well, that was unfortunate. Still, Shredder insists that we continue with the original plan." He nods towards Mikey. 

Mikey smiles happily, knowing Raph was able to snap out of it. 

"Looks like my brother was no match for your stupid brain worms," he says, sticking out his tongue. 

"But don't worry, dude," he continues, "I'm sure you can find some other mutant to experiment on." 

He glances over at Baxter, noticing the vial of brain worms in the scientist's hands.

"Or maybe not," he adds with a shy grin.

Baxter nods and approaches the lab table. "Ah yes, the orange one. Quite the feisty one, isn't he? Well, I've made some adjustments to the formula. This should do the trick." He removes the cap from the vial, revealing about ten thick brainworms wriggling about. 

He reaches into the jar with some metal tongs and carefully extracts one of the worms, holding it over Mikey's head. 

"Just a little pinch, shouldn't take but a moment."

Tigerclaw eyed Mikey as the turtle thrashed in the restraints, crying out. 

He takes a step forward, watching the brainworm dangle above Mikey's head. 

"Well, it seems like our little friend isn't going to cooperate easily. But I'm sure this will make him see reason." He looks back at Baxter, nodding in agreement. "Stockman. Let's get this over with."

Baxter carefully sets the brainworm on Mikey's head. The worm begins to burrow into his flesh. Mikey thrashes violently in the restraints, screaming in agony as the worm pierces through his skin. 

Blood trickles down his face, staining his mask. 

"Ah, there we go," Baxter says, his voice almost cheerful. "Just a few more momentsss."

As the brain worm burrows deeper, Mikey feels a cold chill run down his spine. 

As the brain worm's control takes hold images and memories flash through his mind, memories of his friends April and Casey, and of his father Splinter. 

Images of his brother Donnie flash through Mikey's mind. They were tots, sharing a bag of popcorn. Donnie fixing his toys whenever they broke. Don taking care of him when he was sick. Then, slowly, they begin to slip away, replaced by an empty void.

The next brother to fade was Leo, his fearless leader. Playing Space Heroes together. Leo saving him from the Footbots. Carving a pumpkin on Halloween. Sparring in the lair. Then, with a jolt of tearing pain, those memories were gone as well.

With a final burst of pain, his memories of Raph fade away. Playing tag together. Raph saving him from that monstrous squirrelanoid. Playing video games. The time Raphael had given him a hug. Raph didn't hug often, when he did it was the best hug ever. 

Tears stream down Mikey's face as all of the memories fade away, leaving him cold and empty.

Tigerclaw watched with triumphant as the brainworm did its work, the light from Mikey's eyes flickered out like a dying flame. 

"There, there, little orange one," he coos. "It's all going to be okay now. You're going to be part of something special. Something...greater than you could ever imagine." Tigerclaw says

Baxter begins to remove the restraints from Mikey's body.

The turtle wobbles on his feet. 

As if summoned by the pain and anguish that had been wrought upon Mikey,

the Shredder himself appears in the doorway.

His presence fills the air with an aura of menace and power.

"Ah, Master Shredder," Baxter says, bowing deeply. "Our experiment was a success. The brainworm has successfully taken control of the orange turtle's mind."

The shredder Walked over to the silent turtle, studying him with cold, calculating eyes. "Excellent, Stockman," he says in a low, menacing voice. 

"You have done well.” He steps forward, ”Very well." 

Placing a clawed hand on Mikey's shoulder as he spoke. "You shall help me in my plan to bring Hamato Yoshi to his knees."

There was a pause before Mikey's head came up 

His dead eyes locked with the Shredder's.    

"Yes, Master Shredder." 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It had been three months since Raph had seen Mikey,

for three months he and his remaining brothers had been planning this, and now?

To see Mikey's big baby blue eyes void of emotion while wearing a black hood with the foot logo on it and using swords instead of his signature nunchucks?

It was a somber sight to see.

As the battle rages on, Raph manages to land a particularly nasty blow on a nearby Footbot, sending it careening into a nearby wall with a satisfying crash. 

The only things Mikey still had were his freckles and his battered orange bandana around his neck. It stained with blood. 

"Mikey, you don't know what you're doing!" he shouts, trying to break through to him. 

"This isn't who you are! You can fight it, Mikey! You can fight the brain worm!"

Mikey's eyes flicker briefly before he snarls, his new swords at the ready. 

"Mikey, stop this!" Raph cries out, his sais stabbing into footbots left and right. 

He ducks beneath a swing from one of the Footbots and then leaps high into the air, landing on the robot's back and driving his sais deep into its metal shell. 

The robot collapses with a loud clang.

With the remaining Footbots are swiftly defeated, leaving Mikey standing alone in the middle of the abandoned warehouse. 

Donnie had killed the phone lines.

There would be no call for backup.

Leo steps forward, his katana at the ready, his voice steady and strong. "Mikey, we know you're still in there. You can fight this."

Mikey's eyes flicker again, before he speaks in a low, gruff voice. 

"There's no point. I'm one of them now." He looks down at the swords, then back up at his brothers. 

"You're going to die. All of you."

Mikey then lunges at Leo, their swords making an eerie echo as they clash together. 

Raph and Donnie exchange worried glances. 

They know that if they don't do something soon, Mikey might hurt one of them or himself.

"You're weak, Leo." Mikey growls, his eyes burning with an unnatural  fury. 

He circles around Leo, trying to find an opening, his swords flashing through the air. 

"You're all just thorns in master Shredder's side" He spins and lunges again, this time aiming for Raph.

Raph barely has time to react before Mikey's sword comes hurtling toward him. 

Donnie side steps out of the way keeping a protective hand over his satchel. 

Raph manages to dodge the blow, but feels the wind of the attack on his cheek. "Mikey, you don't want this!" he shouts, his voice cracking with desperation. "We're your family! We love you!"

"Donnie, you ready with that antidote?!" Leo shouts over the din of battle,glancing quickly at his purple brother, hoping to see the syringe in his hands.

As Mikey continues his assault, Raph and Donnie make eye contact. 

Donnie nods, revealing the syringe from his satchel.

The blue liquid he had spent the last 91 days working to perfection.

It was now or never.

“NOW!” 

Donnie tosses the syringe to Leo, who catches it swiftly. 

Leo then charges at Mikey, swinging his katana wildly. 

Mikey turns, getting ready to charge at Leo. 

At the last moment, Leo throws the syringe at Raph as Mikey collides into him. 

It connects, and Raph quickly yanks Mikey back by his shell and injects the antidote into Mikey's neck. 

Mikey stifles, his eyes widening in surprise.

Mikey stiffens and shivers, his body convulsing as the brain worm is expelled from his system. 

He drops his swords, gasping for breath as he doubles over vomiting up the brain worm. 

Raph and Donnie rush to their brother's side, supporting him as he retches and coughs.

"Are you okay, Mikey?" Raph asks, his voice shaking with fear and relief, tears already starting. 

"You're back with us now." Donnie said, his voice wavering. 

"Raph..." Mikey rasps, his eyes unfocused and distant. 

"Donnie... Leo..." He tries to focus, to remember who they are and what just happened. "I remember... I remember you guys..." He takes a shaky breath, his voice growing stronger.

"It's us, Mikey. It's us. We're your brothers. We love you." Leo says tears in his eyes as he places a reassuring hand on Mikey's shoulder. "And we're all glad to have you back." He glances over at a crying Donnie, who nods in agreement.

Mikey collapses to his knees in exhaustion, his body wracked with sobs as he clings to his brothers.

The light was back in his eyes.

Chapter Text

The air in dimension X is thick and toxic, making every breath a struggle for Mikey. 

The pink sky hangs low above him, like a blanket of cotton candy stretched impossibly thin. 

He was leaning up against a metallic rock, 

His shell bleeding from the spider web cracks running across it, 

His baby blue eyes are covered by his third eyelid to protect them from the discomfort of the fumes, but he can't tear them away from the unnatural hue of the sky.

The broken tip of his breathing machine is still in his mouth

it was not helping much anymore. 

never should have gone in here by himself. 

His brothers were right.

He screwed up big time.

Mikey reaches into his belt, feeling around for his T-phone. 

He doesn't have much time left, and he knows that. 

Pulling out his device, he starts to record a video of himself. 

"Hey, bros it's Mikey. If you're watching this, that means I fucked up big time and am dying. Yeah, bummer, I know..” He coughed violently, fighting for air.

"Donnie... I'm really gonna miss you, man. I left some old machine parts on my dresser, I forgot to give em to you earlier." 

Mikey let out a string of coughs. 

“They were for that thing you were working on, you know, with the... the... ah, you know what I mean. Anyway, they're there if you still want 'em.” 

Mikey heaved before continuing 

“Leo there is a copy of ‘Space heroes: the final frontiers’ under my bed behind my box of old drawings” 

he paused for a moment letting out sickening coughs 

“ it was supposed to be a surprise but I guess i won’t be able to get it to you” 

Mikey let out a half hearted laugh 

"And Raph... I guess you can have Mr.Snuggles back. I know it was yours to begin with, and I don't really need it now. I know you still like him though." 

His voice trails off as he looks away, fighting back tears.

“Anyway, that's it, I guess. I just wanted to say goodbye, and... and that I'm really sorry for running off without a plan. Some ninja I was Hu? 

Mikey wheezes a tear slipping down his cheek. 

“ I bet you guys would be proud to know I survived for as long as I did.” 

Mikey smiled 

“Three months is a long time, you know. Especially for the fuck up of the family”

"you know i used to be mad at you guys..."

all those times I had screamed into the sky.

"you know for .....'abandoning' me"

I don't care anymore 

"but I get it now...."

I was a liability I understand why they didn't come get me.

“So just go out there and kick some Krang butt for me, and tell Kari I wish I got to know her better,will ya?" he says, choking back a sob. 

Black spots swirling in his vision as the phone drops from his hand, 

The phone spinning in mid air. 

Yea...... that stopped being cool after the third week of being in this hell scape.

He had been stuck here for three months.

Three!!

But it didn’t matter now because it was finally over.

He could   f i n a l l y       l e a v e .

He co

        ul

           d

        g

              o 

        H

               O

            M

                         E

Chapter Text

Raph lunges at Mikey, but Mikey easily side steps out of the way. 

With a quick flip and kick, Mikey sends Raph flying across the room, directly into a table. 

The impact shatters the table and sends wooden splinters flying through the air. 

Raph lands on his shell, glaring at Mikey with anger in his eyes. 

"You think that's funny, punk?!" he growls, his fists clenched tightly.

Mikey turns and starts walking away, making some remark about Raph's fighting style. 

Raph, still seething with anger, grabs a lead pipe from the floor as he stands and lunges at Mikey, taking him by surprise and knocking him to the ground.

The lead pipe rises above his head

Ready to deliver.

"Raph wait!" Mikey calls, lifting his hands above his face as if trying to protect himself. 

Raph's eyes narrow, his muscles tense, and his grip on the pipe tightens. 

"Look, I didn't mean anything by it, okay? I was just having a little fun-

Mikey doesn't finish his sentence before the pipe is brought down on his head, sending a sickening crunch through the room. 

Blood splatters against the floor as Raph's anger gets the better of him. 

He raises the pipe again, preparing to deliver another blow, when he suddenly feels someone grab his arm and yank him back.

"Raph, stop it!" Leonardo yells, his voice shaking with fear. 

Mikey lays motionless on the ground, blood pooling around his head as Donnie stands over him. 

Raphael's face is twisted in rage, as he looks at his younger brother's broken body. 

Donatello's hands are shaking as he kneels next to Mikey, desperately trying to staunch the flow of blood.

“Raph…what the fuck did you do..?” Donnie asks his voice shaking.

Oh shit.

What had he done? 

"I…I  didn't mean to." But it's already too late. 

Mikey's breathing is shallow and ragged, his eyes half-open, staring sightlessly up at the ceiling. 

The reality of what he's done sinks in, Raph drops to his knees, Leo falls with him holding him back and away from Mikey.

Tears streamed down Raph's face. "I'm sorry,... I'm so sorry...

As the silence in the room grows heavy, Mikey's chest stops moving. 

His eyes lose their focus and his limbs grow limp in Donnie's arms. 

Leo's grip on his brother tightens as he realizes what has happened. 

"No... no, please…!" Raph sobs. 

Donatello looks up at his brothers, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief. 

Leonardo clutches onto Raph, not knowing what to do or say.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Raph realizes that Mikey isn't coming back.

And its all his fault.

His fault 

His fault His fault His fault His fault His fault HIS FAULT HIS FAULT HIS FAULT HISFAULTHIS FAULTHISFAULTHISFAULT

Raph can't take it anymore.

 he pushes Leo away, gets up and 

just 

runs. 

Chapter Text

The wind howled through the city of New York as Raph and Mikey stood on the rooftop, surveying the city below. 

It was supposed to be a simple patrol.

Go out, stop some muggings, go home eat some pizza,

Mikey shifts his weight from foot to foot, his nunchaku swinging gently at his side.

"Mikey, I think someones watching us," Raph mutters, reaching for his sais.

"You sure?" Mikey asks. 

Suddenly, Karai appears out of the shadows, a malicious grin spreading across her face. "I've been waiting for you, turtles. I have a score to settle with ," she hisses her snake-like tongue flicking in and out.

Mikey and Raph tense up, ready to defend themselves. They instinctively get into fighting stances, their weapons at the ready.

"What do you want, Karai?" Raph demands, his expression furious.

"I want Leo to suffer, that's what I want!" she hisses, her fangs bared. "And what better way than to slowly kill his brothers... one...by...one." 

With a hiss, Karai's body contorts, stretching and twisting as her arms lengthen and her hands become snake heads

she snarls, lunging forward at Mikey with her snake-arms extended.

Mikey leaps back, narrowly avoiding the attack. 

He swings his nunchucks at one of the snake heads, but it misses and thumps against the ground. 

Raph charged forward, aiming a powerful roundhouse kick at another snake head. 

The impact sends Karai stumbling back, but she quickly regains her balance.

Karai jumps at the two turtles, her snake-like arms stretching and moving with incredible speed. 

Raph, anticipating the attack, leaps forward and delivers a powerful kick to Karai's midsection. 

The force of the blow sends her flying through the air and crashing down onto the concrete below. 

She hits the ground hard, causing her to go unconscious

Mikey and Raph jump down after her. 

Mikey kneeling down beside her, making sure she's really out, while Raph whips out his t-phone and hastily dials Leonardo's number.

“Hey Leo we got Kari- yea were fine fearless…. How is she? Unconscious.”

Mikey watches as Raph paces as he talks to Leo.

A shiver ran down his spine as he felt something touched his ankle.

Mikey glanced down

And screamed 

Before Raph can hang up, he hears Mikey let out a scream. 

He turns around to see Karai, her snake-like arms wrapped around Mikey's ankle, sinking her fangs deep into his green skin. 

Mikey Kicks Karai in the face causing her to let go as he stumbles backward, clutching his wounded leg.

“Shit!" Raph curses, quickly dropping the phone and running over to Mikey as Karai slithers away and disappears

"Raph, I... I don't feel so good," Mikey manages to get out between ragged breaths, his eyes already looking unfocused.

Raph's face pales in fear as he realizes what's happening. "No, Mikey... Stay with me, buddy..." 

Raph says as he shakes his brother, trying to keep him conscious.

A trail of blood drips out of Mikey's nose as Raph picks his phone up from off the ground, his call with Leo still active. 

"LEO! Get Donnie and get over here! NOW!" He screams into the t-phone. 

His eyes are wild with fear as he looks at Mikey, who's struggling to stay conscious. 

"Mikey... Mikey, hang on buddy... Help is on the way... I promise..." He says, laying his brother in his lap and wiping the blood from his nose.

Mikey's head lolls to the side, his eyes slightly glazed as he tries to stay conscious. 

He can hear Raph talking, but he doesn't really understand what he's saying.

All he can think about is the pain in his leg and the growing darkness at the edges of his vision. 

"Raph...hurts..." Mikey whispers through gritted teeth, his eyes starting to close. 

The world is fading into black. 

He tries to reach out to Raph, but his limbs are leaden and unresponsive. 

His heart pounds in his chest, fear and panic rising as he realizes that he's losing the fight to stay conscious. 

Raph shakes Mikey violently, tears starting down his face. 

"No Mikey! You can't leave me! Hang on, damn it! Don't you dare leave me!" He begs, as he hears the Shellrazor approaching in the distance. 

"I'm gonna get you help, Mikey... I promise...You hear that, Mikey? You're gonna be okay... Just hold on..." He pleads, kissing his brother on the forehead.

Suddenly, there's a commotion as Donatello comes barreling out of the Shellrazor, skidding to a halt beside them. 

"Raph, what's going on?!" he shouts, his eyes darting between the two of them. 

He drops to his knees next to Mikey, feeling for a pulse and checking his breathing. "Mikey, buddy, can you hear me?" he asks, concern etched on his face.

Mikey feels a hand on his neck, and he tries to focus on Donnie's face, but it's still fuzzy. 

He can hear him, though, and that gives him a little bit of hope. 

"D... Donnie... hurt..." he whispers, his voice barely audible.

 Raph looks to Donnie, eyes filled with a mix of fear and anger.

"She bit him! The snake-bitch bit him!"

“I know Raph I know!” Donnie snaps but Raph as already turned his attention back to Mikey

"Mikey, buddy, you're going to be okay. We're here for you, we're going to get you fixed up and make you better. You hear me?" Raph coos

"Raph, get Mikey to the Shellrazor," Donnie commands. "We need to get him inside and get him stabilized." 

Raph nods and quickly picks Mikey up, cradling him in his powerful arms. 

Donnie and Raph sprint back toward the Shellrazor as they enter; they see Leo in the driver's seat, concern written all over his face.

Raph climbs in with Mikey in his arms, Donnie handing the phone off to Leo. "Call Master Spliter, Leo. Tell him to get my lab set up!" he shouts, before turning his attention back to Mikey. 

Raph lays Mikey down on the bench seat in the back.

Quickly Donnie removes his belt, fashioning a makeshift tourniquet around Mikey's wounded leg. 

Mikey grits his teeth against the pain as Donnie tightens the tourniquet. He feels like he's going to pass out again.

"Hang in there, Mikey... just hang in there..." Donnie whispers looking around in the Shellrazor for anything he could use to slow the poison down.

Mikey's breathing is shallow and ragged, but he's trying to stay conscious. 

Looking up at Raph and Donnie, a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

"... you guy’s lo’k f’nny..." Mikey mumbles, his voice barely audible. He can feel his eyelids growing heavy and his body beginning to go numb. 

"Y’you d’don't have to worry... about me... I'm...k..." His voice trails off as Mikey loses the battle to stay conscious, a contented smile on his face.

"No... Mikey..." Raph whispers, tears streaming down his face as he sees his brother's chest stop moving. 

Donnie's eyes widened in horror and disbelief. 

Mikey's limp body lies there. 

"No..." Raph chokes out, his voice cracking. "No... this can't be happening..."

"Raph... I'm so sorry..." Donnie whispers, reaching out to try and comfort his older brother. 

But Raph shrugs him off, unable to bear the touch. 

Raph looks down at Mikey, tears streaming down his face, and clenches his fists.

 "She... she did this to him..." he whispers. "She killed him..."

“Raph-” 

"KARAI KILLED OUR BABY BROTHER!!" Raph screams at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing through the Shellrazor. 

"SHE DID THIS! SHE TOOK HIM FROM US!!!" 

Raph punches the metal floor. 

"I'M GOING TO KILL HER! I'M GOING TO MAKE HER SUFFER FOR WHAT SHE DID TO MIKEY!" he snarls, tears streaming down his face.

Once they had returned to the lair, they laid Mikey's body down on the couch. 

Leo was sobbing into Splinter's shoulder, murmuring words of failure. 

As Donnie tried to hold Raph back, the big brother's rage was palpable. 

His eyes were wild and his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white. 

"I'm going to kill her," he growled over and over  through gritted teeth.

"I'm going to kill her,"

Chapter Text

“Raphiel you said it yourself, we don't need these clowns,we need to hunt that mutagen down. Now.” Slash said with a slight growl.

“But what about Donnie?! We have to find him!” Mikey said, stepping closer to Raph.

Concern and fear etched in his voice.

Raph cringed looking from Slash to Mikey.

He didn't want to upset Slash.

Slash was his best friend.

But Donnie was his brother.

“Sorry Slash, my brothers come fist, no matter what”

Raph gave Mikey a smile as they clapped hands.

Slash narrowed his eyes, 

"How about I make this a little easier for you?" he growled

Slash let out a terrifying roar before slamming his fist down on Mikey with all his strength. 

The rooftop shook violently as the impact made Mikey bounce off the ground.

“MIKEY!” Raph screamed 

Time seemed to slow as Slash hit Mikey again and again like a bouncy ball.

Then time sped back up.

Raph charged, knocking Slash away from his brother.

“SPIKE!” Raph yelled “What are you doing!?”

“I don't want to fight you Raphiel! Just go leave me to my work..” 

“Your work!?” Raph yelled “that mutagen warped your brain Spike! This isn't you!”

“Told you” Slash said walking towards him, his mace dragging on the ground “The names Slash” 

Slash, lifted his mace aimed at Mikey, ready to deliver a crushing blow. 

Raph was quick to react, using a smoke bomb to create a cloud of smoke between him, Mikey and Slash.

Slash let out a roar as Raph helped Mikey up off the ground as they escaped.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“Ugh, what hit me?” Donnies voice was high pitched and strained “It felt like Raph only…” 

he paused, searching for the right words, “bigger and meaner! Angrier but… not quite as ugly.” 

“It was Spike. He- he got into the mutagen-! I was gonna tell you guys bu-“ Raph said

 “That was Spike!?” Donnies said  “Way to keep that mutagen safe, Raph.” Donnie said, rolling his eyes,

Using his bō as a walking stick, Raph helped him get his battered body off the ground. 

he also helped him walk along the rooftops with their younger brother a few steps in front, jumping off a small ledge while they rounded a corner. 

a small ledge which Donnie tripped on, landing on his hands and knees.  

“C-can’t make it…” he whispered, glancing up at Raph

“Too weak. You go on without me fellas,” Donnies voice shook. 

“No way,” Raph’s words rang loudly. 

“No turtle left behind! That’s our rule…. I’m going to tie off your sprained arm. It might hurt, okay? Bite down on this.” Suddenly, the handle of Raph's sai shoved into his mouth. 

That's when he noticed.

Where was Mikey?!?

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Mikey had heard Leo’s voice.

“Leo, am I glad you're back!” Mikey called carefully climbing down to the fire escape. “Your never going to believe this there's another turtle!”

“Thats funny” Leo said

“I ACTUALLY BELIEVE YOU”

Oh shit.

That wasn't Leo.

Mikey barely had time to let out so much as a yelp before he was yanked back and slammed into a wall.

Everything went white.

When his vision came back he was laying on his plastron. 

He didn't register Slash approaching him slowly. 

He didn't register Slash raises his mace high above his head.

He registered the pain.

Mikey screamed as Slash's mace came down on him with a sickening crunch. 

Mikey's shell has been snapped in two. 

Slash dropped his mace before digging his claws deep into the two halves of Mikey's broken shell, peeling them away from the turtle's back with a sickening ripping sound. 

Mikey shrieks in agony as Slash's claws ripped into his broken shell. 

The sound of his shell being torn apart echoed in his ears, making him feel nauseous. 

He clenched his teeth, trying to hold back his scream but it escaped his lips, piercing the quiet air.

As Slash peeled away the two halves of the turtle's shell,

Mikey couldn't help but scream louder. 

He could feel the cold air touching his exposed flesh, making it sting painfully. 

Blood slowly oozed out from his wounds, painting his green skin red. 

He struggled to breathe, feeling his broken ribs digging into his lungs.

Tears streamed down Mikey's face, mixing with the blood that ran down his body. 

He was in unbearable agony and he knew he couldn't take much more. 

But Slash wasn't finished yet. 

With a savage twist, he ripped the two halves of the shell away from Mikey's body, tearing through his flesh and muscle.

Mikey's eyes widened in shock and he let out a gut-wrenching scream.

Blood gushed from the wound, painting Slash's claws a crimson red.

Slash tossed the pieces of Mikey's shell down by his head.

Crouching down he cupped Mikeys face in his blooding three fingered hand.

Mikey looked at Slash with glazed eyes.

His mask was removed before his face was let go, it t humping back down onto the rooftop

His shell hurt.

His neck hurt.

His throat was raw from screaming. 

Everything just hurts.

His head started to feel light.

Almost like it was filling with air.

Gosh when had he gotten so tired?

Well if he was tired he should probably sleep.

Yea 

Sleep

That sounded like a good idea…..

                                                      . ..

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                                                         .

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Raph couldn't focus on anything except the image that was burned into his mind.

His brother, Mikey, lay on the ground in front of him, his body mangled and broken. 

Raph's eyes widened in horror as he took in the gruesome sight before him. 

Blood covered the ground, and Mikey's bright orange mask was missing.

Raph dropped to his knees beside his brother's lifeless form, his hands trembling as he checked for a pulse. But there was nothing, only the cold stillness of death.

He takes a deep breath and examines Mikey's body once more. 

His shell had been snapped in two and ripped off his back, the damage clearly inflicted by the powerful claws.

Raph's gut twisted with anger and grief. 

How could Slash do this? 

He knew Slash had been angry and aggressive-

But this-?

This was fucking horrific.

How could Slash do this?!

And it was 

All 

“His”

Fault

Raph laid Mikey's body down and turned to face Slash who was talking to him about who great of a team they would be.

He was going to kill him.

Spike was dead.

Mikey was dead.

And Slash?

Slash was about to join them. 

Chapter Text

Leo and Mikey were navigating across the rooftops.

Mikey was more energetic than usual as he started to practice a series of flips and kicks while humming to himself , occasionally almost knocking into Leo. 

At first, Leo tries to ignore his younger brother's antics, but as his annoyance grows so does his headache. 

“Knock it off Mikey! You're starting to piss me off! he growled, trying to ignore the headache as his younger brother continued to practice his kicks and flips.

"Aw, c'mon, Leo! Loosen up!" Mikey complained, not taking the hint as he continued to flip and spring across the rooftop  

With a frustrated sigh they continue on.

Mikey bumps into Leo again causing Leo annoyance to continue to grow even after Mikey quickly apologized.

But then he bumped into him again 

And again 

And again 

And again- 

Leo finally lost his patience. 

As Mikey accidentally knocked into him for the seventh time Leo snapped. 

He roughly grabbed his brother by the shell and yanked him back, causing Mikey to lose his balance. 

He hadn't realized how close they were to the edge of the roof.

Before he could react, Mikey fell off the edge of the roof, tumbling through the air.

“LEO-?”

With a sickening thud, Mikey landed hard on the concrete below, his shell cracking under the impact. 

His limbs went limp, and a pain unlike anything he'd ever felt before shot through his body. 

He tried to move, but nothing worked as he lay there, struggling to breathe. 

"Mikey!!" Leo shouted, running down a fire escape rushing to his brother's side. 

He knelt down beside him, his heart racing with fear. 

Mikey's shell was cracked and blood was seeping through, He also had a ugly bleeding gash on the back of his head. 

Mikey's orange mask was getting stained with his own blood.

"Oh, no... no, this can't be happening..." Leo whispered, feeling helpless as he held his injured brother.

"Leo... it hurts..." Mikey whimpered, struggling to open his eyes. 

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he winced in pain.

Leo's eyes widened in terror as he saw the blood streaming from Mikey's mouth. 

"Shh... it's okay, Mikey. I'm here. I've got you. Just hang in there, okay?" he whispered, tears streaming down his own face.

Mikey's vision began to fade.

He felt himself drifting further and further away. 

"Leo... where are you?" 

“I'm right here Mikey.”

“I can't see you…Leo?

“You're gonna be ok Mikey, ok?" 

“Leo ...why-?”

Mikey choked and body went limp, 

He gently cradled Mikey's broken body in his arms, rocking back and forth as he sobbed uncontrollably. 

"Mikey... Mikey, please... no..." he whispered, his voice hoarse with grief.

“Mikey I’m….I’m so sorry!! Please Wake up Mikey!” Leo gasped hysteria filling his voice.

Nothing 

Not even a whimper came from the younger one.  

Leo on the other hand,

Screamed 

Chapter Text

As Raph and Donnie jump down in the dark wear house they were almost instantly captured by large metal cages.

"Aw sewer apples!" Raph yells struggling to get out.

Master Splinter too jumped down to only get tangled in ropes that restrained the rat. 

The Lights flickered on, revealing the whole trap. 

A gigantic tub of mutagen with Mikey hangs upside down, Only things holding him steady were chains hanging from the catwalk up above. 

His feet and arms bound together. 

Leonardo made it to the ground, only to be ambushed by Foot bots a few seconds later. 

Leo tries to stand his ground and fight but the Footbots push him back and toss him into a cage

Before the cage can close, Leonardo manages to wedge his katana in between the locking mechanism causing the lock to fail. 

He manages to break free.

Leo takes the closest foot ninja as a springboard leaping up, grabbing one of the loose hanging chains and pulling himself up to the catwalk. 

He sprints across the catwalk, over the giant batch of mutagen, grabbing the chain that held his brother up.

"Mikey, you idiot!" Leo hisses, his tone a mix of frustration and concern. "You could've gotten yourself killed!"

Leo knew it wasn't entirely Mikey's fault he was hanging upside down over a pool of mutagen.

If Kari had never left Mikey never would have followed her and never would have taken the fall for her and gotten captured.

Kari also wouldn’t be stuck in the lair with a broken wrist-

"But I didn't!" Mikey says with a smirk on his face, his blue eyes shining with excitement.

Leo let out a tired sigh, "Now hold on tight, I'm gonna get you out of there." Leo says his voice is calm and reassuring.

However the excitement in Mikey’s eyes turns to horror as his eyes trail off onto something behind Leo.

Leo’s head snaps around as the Shredder jumps out of the shadows, his gauntlet blade facing him. 

The scream echoes through the room as his blade slices through the chain holding the orange turtle.

The sound of metal snapping filed Mikey’s ears.

Mikey’s eyes widened as he fell. 

Leo was frozen as he watched Mikey fall. 

He wanted to scream.

“Mikey!" Raph and Donnie cry out in unison as they watch their baby brother fall into the pool of mutagen.

He hit the pool of mutagen with a splash

"No!" Leo screams horrified.

Mikey shrieks as his flesh tears and reshapes, his bones crack and lengthen, and his organs shift and reconfigure.

Then there is a silence. 

It only lasts for a second but it feels like an eternity.

The chain is catapulted out of the mutagen. 

Soon after, the pool throws up Michelangelo.

His new body leaned forward before slipping out of the mutagen bath.

No longer was he shaped like a turtle they all knew.

Now with a slim face like that of a serpent, 

Scales that were painted an unnatural green lime. 

Armour made out of shell covered his body almost blending in with the scales.

his fingers and toes now ended in a sharp tip,

Streaks of orange ran across his new longer body,

and a long serpent tail. 

The brothers were speechless. 

Master Splinter's anger ignited, burning through any sense of logic he had left. 

Ripping free from the ropes, Running towards his son as he watches him fall.

He makes it there, catching his son. 

Ignoring the new face, he calls out to his son.

"Michelangelo!"

Raph watches wide eyed as Splinter holds Michelangelo, watching his father break with his own eyes. 

It was a sight he never thought he'd see.

From the corner of Donnies eye, he can see Shredder. 

He seemed proud of what he had done.

"You're gonna pay!” Leonardo yells, anger radiating out of him. 

He grips his katana's knuckles turning white, running towards Shredder and lunging, 

Attacking him. 

"Mikey!" Raph calls out, helplessly watching the scene without a way out of the cage.

Meanwhile beside him, Donnie is staring, unable to register the events that just took place. 

"My son..."

The serpent's tail flickers, as Master Splinter holds the fallen son.

Oil leaks all around till it reaches a fallen bot soldier exposed wires. 

Flames ignite, surrounding everyone in a yellow light.

Meanwhile, Leonardo was managing to hold his own against Shredder, angrily swinging his swords at him. 

Leonardo surprised the shredder with a powerful kick to his stomach knocking the Shredder back into the wall. 

The wall cracks and the ceiling caves in. 

Leonardo could no longer reach Shredder, letting the man escape from his anger.

The loud noise sends Michelangelo's eyes jolting wide open revealing his now slick pupils. 

Master Splinter didn't get a chance to react before he's suddenly thrown aside by a strong tail. 

The last remaining Footbots were suddenly torn apart by the snake. 

Becoming more used to the new body Mikey was in.

"Mikey!" Raphael exclaims as the snake's tail sends him flying back into the wall. 

The cage breaks open, freeing Raph.

Michelangelo lets out a night angry hiss. 

Agitated and fearful, his eyes go back to the rat. 

Food. 

Within a second the snake is back, wrapping its dangerous body around Splinter. 

All he could think was food.

"Michelangelo! It's me, " Splinter wheezing from his trap. 

"Remember me, Hamato Yoshi-your father"

Mikey stops in his tracks. 

Recognition flickers in his big blue eyes. 

Michelangelo let out a confused hiss as he dropped Master Splinter.

Mikey couldn't understand what was going on. 

His whole body felt strange. 

He couldn't understand it. 

Looking over, glancing over at the mutagen tank.

The reflection held a face he couldn't recognize. 

Elongated snout, thin pupils, light green skin, Shell extending all the way to the back of his head. 

All that remains are his bright baby blue eyes.

That he still can't quite recognise.

"Mikey!" Raphael called, approaching his brother as flames erupt all around them, 

the ground starting to shake. 

The building was gonna go down any minute.

Mikey turned to face the red clad turtle.

Who?

The red turtle took a quick step forward.

Fear spiked in Mikeys chest.

Letting out a hiss he opened his mouth, a ugly blue/purple serum shot out. 

The snake himself seemed surprised as the fluids shot out, hitting the turtle straight between the eyes.

"Raph!" Leo yelled and ran towards his second brother, catching him mid fall. 

Raphael's whole body shook in agony.

Fluid in his eyes. 

It was beyond painful.

Michelangelo took a slither back, fear consuming his mind. 

He had had to get out. 

He takes a look over the destruction. 

He wanted out out OUT OUT OUTOU TOUTOUT  

As the ceiling finally began to cave in, debris fell.

Cuting  the other's off from their youngest. 

"We have to go!"

"Mikey!"

The snake turned.

Mikey had turned his back to them. 

Leo watched as Mikey slithered away, disappearing from view. 

"Michelangelo!" Master Splinter called out into the chaos. 

He tried to follow his son, but was blocked by a piece of the ceiling that fell right in front of him. 

They would be crushed if they stayed.

Splinter was forced to make a choice.

"My sons, we must go!" Splinter said as he ran to help Donnie.

Splinter was able to free Donatello from his cage, allowing him to escape as Leo picked up the hot headed turtle.

Taking him out to safety as the building burned down behind them. 

Chapter Text

As the turtles and their crew fought against the swarm of evil bat monsters, 

Raph was getting increasingly more annoyed with his brothers, especially Mikey. 

Mikey was constantly in the way it seemed, like he was trying to make Raph look bad on purpose. 

Finally, as Mikey went to hit one of the bats, he accidentally bumped into Raph, sending him stumbling back.

Raph let out a yell, "I could have handled it!" as he shoved Mikey, sending him sprawling to the ground. 

His helmet shattered.

Mikey's breathing hitched. 

Stray fragments of glass had nicked his freckled face, causing small droplets of blood to form at the lines. 

All Rapheal knew to do was watch as Mikey clawed and grasped at his throat, unable to take in oxygen, thrashing and coughed violently. 

A sickening feeling began to well up inside him, choking him almost as badly as the alien air.

"Mikey!" Raph yelled, dropping at his brother’s side, hands hovering over Mikey.

He hesitated.

Guilt ate at him like acid. 

He had to help Mikey

He had to make it better. 

But what could he do? 

The alien air was killing him.

Mikey heaved, expanding his chest, trying to take in the foreign air. 

It felt like a thousand needles were piercing his lungs, every inhale sending a jolt of pain through his body. 

His vision started to blur, his head spinning from lack of oxygen. 

He couldn't focus, couldn't think. 

He could only gasp and claw at the invisible force choking him.

Something gripped his hands, pulling them away from his throat. 

Another pair of arms were placed at the back of his neck and at the back of his knees, hoisting him up. 

Only one turtle was strong enough to lift him single-handedly. 

"R'ph?" He gasps and wheezes.

He opened his eyes he didn't realize he had closed, seeing blurs of colors which he could only label as his friends. 

Mouths were moving, but now the noise was too distant to hear.

It was as if the air around him had turned to cotton, muffling everything. 

“Raph…Did…Mi..k!”

“Whas…you….proble..”

“Need..ship…air…toxic….hurry…die”

It was then that he realized what had happening.

The air

it was toxic. 

It was killing him. 

Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but something in the way Raph was looking at him... it calmed him. 

He knew that his big brother was sorry. 

It wasn't his fault. 

It was just an accident.

 "M, S'rry." 

The last thing Mikey remembered was his brother's apologetic face, tears streaming down his cheeks. 

The words were faint, but he could make them out. 

“I'm sorry Mikey... I didn't mean to..." 

The darkness began to swallow him up, pulling him under. 

As his vision faded, he saw Raph's face, a fearful look had replaced the apologetic one.

He was yelling something.

Still trying to help him.

Trying to make things right.

Mikey smiled.

Raph was the best.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

 "Mikey! God damnit Mikey!" Raph shouted, his voice thick with guilt. 

Mikey had passed out and he was still so far from the ship.

"Shit!" Raph's grip tightened, nearly crushing Mikey limp body as he took off at a sprint toward their ship. 

His lungs burned, every inhale felt like a knife in his chest, but he had to reach the ship. 

He had to get Mikey help. 

The others would know what to do. 

They had to. 

As he ran, he could see the ship growing larger in the distance, a beacon of hope amidst the alien landscape. 

He pushed himself harder, ignoring the pain in his chest and the burning in his legs. 

He had to get there. 

He had to save his brother.

Finally, Raph reached the ship, his muscles burning and his lungs screaming. 

He collapsed against the hatch, gasping for breath as Donnie took Mikey from him and rushed Mikey into the med bay. 

Leo was close behind, his eyes filled with worry and guilt. 

Raph could tell they were thinking the same thing he was;

this was all his fault.

Time passed slowly as they waited outside the med bay, their hearts in their throats. 

Donnie was tending to Mikey, doing everything he could to save his life. 

Raph could hear muffled noises coming from inside, but he couldn't make out what any of it was. 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Donnie emerged from the med bay.

His expression blank as he looks at the floor.

"How is he?" Raph asked, his voice cracking.

"He didn't make it," Donnie said, his voice barely audible. 

"There was nothing I could do. He died before he even got to the ship." 

The words hung in the air, each one like a lead weight on Raph's chest. 

He felt like he was going to pass out again, but this time from the sheer force of despair and grief. 

Leo wrapped an arm around him, holding him up as he began to sob uncontrollably, trying to comfort him, 

but it wasn't enough. 

Nothing would ever be enough. 

Mikey was gone.

Chapter Text

"This place smells like shit!" Raph growls, his nose twitching uncomfortably. 

He wipes the green slime (that had been holding some humans hostage) off his sais

"Hey, watch your language, bro!" Mikey says, As He pulls out his nunchaku. 

"Let's be careful." Donnie says “We don't want to trigger any traps or alarm” He scans the room with his eyes, searching for any signs of mechanical devices or pressure plates.

As the turtles move deeper into the chamber, they notice a faint rustling coming from the back of the room. 

Suddenly, a massive snake plant unfurls itself from the shadows, revealing its ragged looking leaves and glistening fangs.

"Oh crap! Snakeweed!" Mikey yells, "what do we do Raph??"

 "Go for the head!' Raph commands, charging forward with his sais at the ready. 

"Okay, on it!" Mikey yells, running forward and swinging his nunchaku at the snakeweed's head.

Snakeweed dodges Raphael's attack with ease, leaving his sais to harmlessly slash through the air. Mikey's nunchucks strike misses as well, same with Donnie's staff.

Its long, sinuous body twisting and turning to avoid their weapons. It hisses angrily,

"Okkay, Raph what now?" Mikey asks, watching as Raph continues to charge at the snakeweed.

 "Just...go...for the head!" he yells.

"Okay! Sixth times a charm!" Mikey replies, getting ready to attack again.

 He takes a deep breath and charges at the snakeweed once more, hoping to land a hit this time.

As Mikey charges forward, Snakeweed's vine shoots out, grabbing Mikey by his foot. 

It spins him around before throwing him into the wall, making a sickening cracking sound as his neck bends. 

He collapses to the ground.

"Mikey!" Raph yells, spinning around to face the Snake Weed once more. 

Fear courses through as he sees his brother lying motionless on the ground. 

"Mikey, c'mon! Wake up!" He cries, panic starting to overtake him as he shakes his brother's limp form. 

"Donnie, help me!" He yells, looking frantically around the room. 

Donnie wraps one of his staff's bars around a nearby vine and then sticks the staff between two bars, trapping the vine. 

With a quick motion, he pulls the staff back, yanking the vine and trapping Snake Weed.

"Raph! Let's get Mikey out of here!" Donnie yells, already moving to help. 

With Raph they lift the injured turtle and carry him back toward the entrance, their hearts pounding. 

Snakeweed thrashes and hisses, trying to free itself, but the trap holds firm.

As they stagger back to the entrance, Raphael keeps glancing back at his fallen brother, whispering reassurances that Mikey will be okay. 

Donnie, however, has had enough of it.

“Raph, stop it! Mikey is dead!" Donnie shouts, losing his patience. 

He's had enough of Raphael's denial and self-delusion. 

The harsh words seem to snap Raphael out of his daze, and he finally realizes that Mikey isn't moving anymore. 

Tears well up in his eyes as he cradles his brother's limp body, sobs racking his entire frame.

"No...no, Mikey, please!" Raph cries out, cradling his brother's lifeless form. 

His tears fall as he rocks back and forth, holding Mikey close. 

"Why? Why did this have to happen? I should have been able to protect you!"

 He looks up at Donnie, anger and despair warring in his eyes. 

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

As they finally reach the entrance to their lair, Raphael carries Mikey's limp body inside, laying him gently on the couch. Donnie follows, his heart heavy with grief and guilt. They both look around, unsure of what to do next.

Just then, they hear the familiar sound of footsteps approaching. 

It's Leo.

He enters the lair, his eyes widening in horror at the sight that greets him.

 "Oh no...what happened?" he asks, rushing over to them.

"Leo...it's Mikey...he's..." Raph trails off, unable to finish as he sobs uncontrollably.

Leo looks over at Donnie, his expression full of sadness. "What happened?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

"We were fighting the Snake Weed when Mikey charged at him. He thought he could take it out, but it was too strong. It grabbed him and threw him into the wall. His neck...it was...broken." Donnie chokes back a sob, unable to finish.

Leo looks down at Mikey, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. 

He can't believe this has happened. 

He turns to Raph.

 "This is all my fault."

"No, Leo, it's not your fault! It's mine! I should have been able to protect him!" Raph cries out, his guilt overwhelming him. 

He clenches his fists, tears streaming down his face, as he struggles to control his emotions.

Leo, overcome with grief and guilt, falls to his knees beside Mikey's limp form. 

"I never should have let you be leader, I never should have left," he sobs, tears streaming down his face.

 "I should have stayed with you, should have protected you."

He looks up at Raph, his eyes filled with pain and regret. 

"I am so sorry, Mikey... I am so sorry."

Chapter Text

Shredder's gaze falls upon the three mutant turtles: Raphael, Donatello, and Leonardo. 

The turtles are strapped to their chairs, their legs bound but their arms free. 

The Shredder walks over to their table and places three steaming bowls of soup in front of them.

"Eat," he growls, his voice laced with menace.

Raphael glares defiantly at Shredder, his eyes narrowing. "Why should we?" he snarls.

Shredder chuckles darkly. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. But make no mistake, boys. Eat or else." His tone turns threatening. 

"Where is Mikey?" Leo growls. "I swear, if you've hurt him..." His voice trails off, but his body language is threatening.

"Ah, so you're worried about your little brother, are you?" Shredder sneers. "Don't worry, I haven't harmed him."

"Where is he then?" Donnie demands.

Shredder leans in close to Donnie, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you eat this soup, I might just tell you where your brother is.

As the minutes tick by, the heat of the soup and the aroma filling their nostrils begin to take their toll on the four turtles. 

Their resolve weakens, and they slowly begin to give in. 

First, Leo takes a tentative sip, then Donnie follows suit. 

Finally, Raph looks at Shredder, anger and desperation warring in his eyes. He takes a deep breath and takes a drink of the soup.

As they drink the soup, Raph finds some sort of meat in his. 

He chews the meat carefully, feeling the texture with his tongue. It's warm and tender, almost melting in his mouth. 

He swallows, feeling the heat of the soup spreading through his body. Then, he glances up at Shredder, defiance burning in his eyes.

Shredder looks at Raph with a satisfied grin. "Good boy. Now, tell me, what did you think of the soup?" He asks casually, as if he were discussing the weather.

Raph grunts noncommittally, still glaring at Shredder. "What's in it?" he growls.

The Shredder chuckles darkly. "Oh, just some special ingredients. Nothing to worry about."

Leo finishes his soup quickly, his gaze darting to Shredder. 

"Now where is our brother?" he asks, trying to sound tough but fear creeping into his voice.

The Shredder presses a button on his gauntlets, and the chains fall from their legs, freeing them. 

"Your brother is in the kitchen," he says, gesturing toward the door.

As the turtles rush into the kitchen, their hearts pounding

They find Mikey lying on the table, his eyes dull and lifeless.

His entire chest is carved open, 

organs are hanging out of his body, held in place by crude chains and shackles. 

His ribs are cracked and broken, revealing the torn muscle and tissue beneath. 

Blood pools on the table, mixing with the remains of his organs. 

A long, jagged knife lies next to him, covered in gore.

Raph and Donnie rush over to Mikey, horror filling their eyes. 

Leo slowly approaches, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. 

Shredder watches them from the doorway, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "I hope you enjoyed your soup," he says, "because good turtle meat is hard to come by."

Leo falls to his knees beside Mikey, tears streaming down his face. "No... no, please..." He reaches out a trembling hand to touch his brother's cheek, feeling the cold, clammy skin. 

The sight of Mikey's carved-open chest, the blood and organs on the floor, are burned into his brain.

Raph, unable to look away from Mikey's mutilated body, realizes what the strange meat in the soup was. 

His stomach churns as he remembers the tender, warm texture of it. 

Bile rises in his throat as he thinks about how it felt in his mouth.

Raph's hands tremble as he looks at Mikey. "The soup... it was..." He trails off, unable to finish the sentence. 

The realization of what they've just eaten hits him like a ton of bricks.

Donnie, unable to contain his revulsion, vomits all over the floor. 

The hot, burning bile mixes with the blood and organs from Mikey's open chest, creating a sickening stew. 

He wipes his mouth, his face pale and drawn. "Oh, God... oh, God..." he whispers, shaking his head in disbelief.

Shredder watches them from the doorway, a cruel smile playing on his lips. 

Chapter Text

He grabs a handful of popcorn and begins to toss kernels in their direction, creating a trail that leads them straight towards the pool of water nearby. 

His plan is to lure the creatures into the pool and then open the valve, flushing them down the drain.

As the  Squirrelanoids get closer to the pool,he drops the rest of the popcorn into the water, causing the creatures to scramble for the kernels. 

"Come on, you guys! The popcorn's down here!" 

He watches as the creatures dive for the popcorn.

then running over to the edge of the pool he grips the valve and turns it.

"Goodbye horrible nightmare!"

The Squirrelanoids let out a shriek as the ground of the pool opens up making a sorta whirlpool flushing them away.  

As Mikey is about to go find his brothers so he can gloat about his plan, one of the Squirrelanoids latches onto his leg with its disgusting tongue. 

The unexpected attack throws Mikey off-balance as he gets dragged into the water. 

*SPLASH*

He tries to wriggle free from the creature's grasp, but it only seems to cling tighter.

Mikey is struggling as he gets pulled under the water when one of the Squirrelanoid lands a hit on his stomach, causing him to accidentally gulp down a mouthful of sewer water.

Mikey starts to feel lightheaded.

His lungs begin to burn.

His vision begins to blur, and he feels like he's about to pass out.

Suddenly, someone grabs Mikey's hand and pulls him up and away from the  Squirrelanoids. 

It's Raph, who is hanging his feet, held in place by Donnie and Leo. "Gotcha, bro!" Raph exclaims, holding mikey out of the water "we all do" Leo says

Mikey looks up at Raph, gratefully. 

He tries to smile, but the pain in his chest makes it difficult. 

Suddenly Mikey lets out a scream as the Squirrelanoid rips him from Raph pulling him back under the surface of the water. 

He tries to thrash about, but the creature's grip is too strong. 

Panic begins to set in as he struggles for air. 

Suddenly, a searing pain rips through his side,

The Squirrelanoid has stabbed him with one of its claws. 

Blood pours into the water as he tries to fight back against the creature, but he's weakening fast.

The oxygen in Mikey's lungs is dissipating, he feels his body begin to shut down. 

His vision fades in and out, another sharp pain rips through his side as the squirladoid's claw pierces into his lung. 

Mikey lets out a gurgling scream as his body goes limp, the last of his strength fleeing from him. 

He feels his lungs begin to fill up with water and blood, his vision fading to black. 

He sees Raph, Donnie, and Leo reaching for him, he tries to reach out, to grab onto something, anything, but his strength is failing him.

With a final, choking gasp, Mikey drowns in the filthy water, his body succumbing to the combined forces of the Squirladoid's attack and the lack of air. 

His heart stops beating

His lungs fill, 

His limbs go limp. 

His vision fades to black, and he slips away into the cold embrace of unconsciousness.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Three days later, the brothers are still searching the sewers for any sign of Mikey. 

Their hearts heavy with grief and anger, they splash through the water, kicking aside piles of garbage and debris. 

Suddenly, Donnie stumbles upon something.

He freezes 

Donnie's eyes widen in horror as he takes in the gruesome sight before him. 

Mikey's dismembered and partially eaten body, sprawled out on the wet concrete.

His body has been torn to shreds, and the Squirrelanoids have feasted on his flesh, leaving only bones and scraps behind. 

The blood that once flowed through his veins now stains the water red, 

Donnie screams

Chapter Text

"You... you betrayed us!" he growls, his anger practically radiating off of him in waves. 

"I loved you Mona!" 

Raph, Leo, Donnie and Mikey are all chained to the wall of Lord dregs castell.

"Raph, I had to save my home! They would've destroyed it if I didn't! I'm sorry!" Monalisa pleads,

Lord Dreg steps closer to Raph, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Actually, I have one more thing you must do before your home is safe," he says, his voice dripping with malice. 

"Execute the annoying orange one." He nods towards Michelangelo

Mikey is then unchained from the wall and dragged by some guards until he is in front of Monalisa and forced to his knees.

"No! You don't touch him!" Raph growls, struggling against his chains. "I don't care if it means our home is safe, I won't let you hurt Mikey!"

Monalisa: "Lord Dreg, this was not part of our deal!" she exclaims, her voice shaking with fear and desperation. "You promised me that if I helped you capture the Ninja Turtles, my home would be spared!"

Lord Dreg laughs maliciously. "Oh, but my dear Mona, you misunderstood. Your home will be spared... if you kill the turtle" He points at Michelangelo again, his face twisted into a sick grin.  

“I am a man of my promises. And I promise you, if you don't kill Raphael’s little brother, I will destroy your home." 

Mikey looks up at Mona with his big blue eyes, a nervous expression on his face.

 "Yeah... I bet there's some other way we can work this out, dude." He says, trying to sound confident despite his obvious fear.

Monalisa closes her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. 

"I... I'm sorry," she whispers. "I'll make it quick." 

She draws her glowing sword, the same one she had when they first met. 

The blade hums with energy as she raises it above her head.

Raph's eyes widen in horror as he sees the sword in Mona's hand. 

"No! Mona, don't!" He shouts, straining against his chains. "We can still find another way!"

Lord Dreg laughs maniacally. "Ah, the power of love! So beautiful! But alas, it is time for the performance." He sits back, gesturing for the show to begin.

Monalisa hesitates for a moment, her hand shaking as she holds the sword above Mikey's head. 

She glances back at Raph, their eyes locking for a brief moment. 

"Mona, please..." He whispers, his voice breaking. 

"Don't do this."

Mona closes her eyes

And  swings.

The sword makes contact, slicing through the air with deadly precision. 

There's a flash of orange as it connects with Michelangelo, 

The sound of flesh being severed echoes through the chamber. 

Blood sprays in every direction, coating the floor and walls as well as Monalisa's face. 

Mikey's body slumps forward, landing with a wet sickening thud on the cold stone floor. 

The head, rolling a few inches away from the body. 

Mona stares down at her bloody sword, guilt filling her. 

Raph's chains clank against the stone floor as he struggles frantically, trying to free himself from their grasp.

"Raph, I'm so sorry," she whispers, her voice barely audible. 

She looks up at him, her tears mixing with the blood on her face. "I had to do it."

Raph's anger boils over, and he growls at Mona, his fists clenched tightly around the chains that bind him.

“You didn't have to! You could've found another way! You could've saved him and still saved your home!" he shouts, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"I hate you, Mona! I hate you for what you've done! You selfish bitch!" He spits the words at her, feeling a fresh wave of pain and rage wash over him. 

Lord Dreg steps forward, his expression cold and unreadable. "Well, well, well," he drawls. 

"Looks like we're done here. Take them to the dungeon and lock them up tight. We'll have plenty of time to decide their fate later."

Monalisa remains where she is, staring at the floor, unable to meet Raph's enraged gaze. 

The guards approach, roughly yanking them from their positions and dragging the turtles away. 

As they are taken down a long, winding hallway, Raph continues to shout insults at Mona, his voice growing fainter and fainter with each step.

Monalisa looks down at the sword in her hand, the blood still coating the blade. 

She thinks back to the moment she swung it, the look of shock and horror on Michelangelo's face

the sound of his body hitting the ground. 

She shudders, feeling sick to her stomach. 

She thinks about Raphael, his expression filled with hatred and betrayal. 

With a shaking hand, she reaches up to touch the pendant around her neck, feeling the cool metal against her skin. 

"For my home”

“for Slamanderia," 

Chapter Text

Leo walks into the living room of the spaceship carrying two slices of pizza on a plate. 

He sees Mikey sitting on the floor, staring out the window, the stars reflecting in his empty eyes. 

Leo sits down next to him and gently nudges him with his elbow. 

"Hey, Mikey. You hungry?" He asks softly, his voice filled with concern.

Mikey slowly turns his head towards Leo, his expressionless eyes meeting Leo's concerned gaze. 

He nods slowly, then looks back out the window.

Leo hands the plate of pizza to Mikey, who takes a piece and begins to eat it slowly. 

After a few bites, Leo tries to engage him in conversation. 

"So... how are you feeling, bro?" He asks, his voice gentle.

Mikey doesn't answer. 

Leo didn't expect him to, really. 

He'd been like this for about a week now. 

Mikey didn't laugh or smile, he didn't read his comic books anymore, he didn't play pranks or joke around. 

He still did stuff, but it was like... he was a robot, not like Mikey. 

Leo sighs and leans against the wall, watching his brother carefully. 

"I miss you, Mikey." He says softly. "I wish we had saved you."

Mikey stops eating and looks at Leo. 

He swallows hard and nods slowly, then turns back to the window.

Leo leans his head against Mikey's shoulder, a single tear forming in his eyes. 

"I'm so sorry, Mikey. I'm so sorry." He whispers, his voice barely audible. 

"I wish I could have saved you." 

He feels a lump forming in his throat, threatening to make his voice crack.

Mikey continues to stare out the window, the stars blurring together in his vision.

Leo takes a shaky breath and wipes his eyes, trying to be strong for Mikey. 

He knows that Mikey wouldn't want him to be upset, but it's hard.

It's been hard for everyone since they lost their home, their father and had to come here, but Mikey... Mikey had always been the light in their darkest times. 

And now he was gone.

Leo still remembers the day they had lost him the memory fresh in his mind,

+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+

Leo found Mikey's inner self, and held him close, trying to protect him from the invaders. 

His every move was gentle and caring, as if he were cradling a fragile flower. 

But even his best efforts couldn't shield Mikey's inner self from the relentless onslaught.

"Mikey... Mikey... please hang on. We're here to help you. Just hang on." Leo's voice was soft and reassuring, his eyes filled with concern. 

He held Mikey's inner self close to him, trying to shield him from the invaders.

The little turtles' eyes were wide with fear, his tiny body shaking. He clung to Leo, his grip weakening.

"Donnie, Raph, we need to get Mikey to safety. We can't stay here any longer."

Donatello nodded in agreement. 

They began to make their way through the chaos, trying to find a safe exit. 

Suddenly, a powerful shock wave hit them, sending them all flying. Leo tried to shield Mikey's inner self, but he couldn't hold onto him in the midst of the commotion.

Leo struggled to his feet, his movements slow and labored. 

He looked around frantically, searching for any sign of their youngest brother.

"Leo... Raph... Donnie..." The little turtle's voice was weak and raspy, barely audible over the sound of the invading neutrinos.

"Mikey! Mikey, where are you?" Leo looked around frantically, desperate to find his brother. Suddenly, he spotted something lying on the ground nearby. It was Mikey's inner self, still alive.

Leo started running over to him as fast as he could.

He wasn't fast enough. 

A neutrino emerged from the shadows

It moved silently, its movements graceful and deadly. 

Before Leo or Raph could react, the neutrino plunged its laser sword into Mikey's back. There was a sharp cry of pain as the blade pierced his tiny body, and blood began to seep from the wound.

"No! Mikey, no!" Leo cried 

He tried to reach out to him, but it was too late. 

The neutrino yanked the blade out of his brother.

Leo ran and scooped Mikey up in his arms.

Blood was pouring from the wound, and Mikey's tiny body went limp in his grasp.

"Leo... I'm sorry..." Mikey gasped, his voice weak and hoarse. 

Blood bubbled up from his lips as he spoke, staining the ground beneath him.

"No, Mikey! You didn't do anything wrong! It's not your fault!" Leo cried, tears streaming down his face. 

He cradled Mikey's limp body in his arms, rocking back and forth as he tried to comfort him.

"Leo, we can't stay here any longer! We gotta get to safety!" Raph yelled over as the world around them started to crumble. 

His voice was harsh and urgent, but there was an underlying note of fear and desperation.

“April Now!” Donnie called.

Suddenly, they were sucked back into the real world, the dream world fading away as they found themselves back in the spaceship. 

The glow of the technological devices cast strange shadows across the floor.

Mikey's real body lay limp on the ground in front of them, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to breathe. 

Leo knelt beside him, shaking his shoulder urgently. "Mikey! Mikey, wake up!" he cried.

Raph knelt down beside him, concern etched on his face. 

Raph gently slapped Mikey's cheek. "Hey, baby brother, wake up!" he said, his voice filled with worry.

Mikey slowly opened his eyes, but they were dull and blank, devoid of life. 

He struggled to focus on his brothers.

"Mikey, you're okay. You're back with us now." Leo said, his voice shaking as he tried to comfort his brother. 

He looked at Raph, his own eyes filled with tears. 

"He's okay, Raph. He's going to be okay."

Leo knew that was a lie.

Something was wrong. 

Mikey showed no emotion, his eyes blank and lifeless. 

Leo couldn't help but feel a knot in his stomach as he watched his brother struggle to focus on them. 

He wanted to believe himself, wanted to believe Mikey would be okay, but something inside him just knew it wasn't true.

Mikey was alive. But it was as if he were a shell, a husk of the lively, vibrant turtle they had once known. 

Everything that made Mikey, Mikey, was gone. His personality, his smile, the life in his eyes, all gone.

He was just a body,

moving through the world on autopilot.

+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+._.+

Leo sighs, his heart heavy with guilt and pain. 

"I wish I could have saved you, Mikey. I should have been stronger. I should have found a way. But I didn't, and now you're... gone." 

His voice breaks on the last word, and he feels a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over.

Mikey turns to look at his crying older brother and he reaches out and puts a hand on his shoulder. 

There's no warmth or life in the touch, but it's something. 

Leo looks up at his brother, hope flickering in his eyes.

"Mikey..." he whispers, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I love you, man. So much."

Mikey's hand on his shoulder feels like a weight, but it's comforting too. 

Leo leans into it, feeling a small measure of relief wash over him. He wipes his eyes and takes a deep, shaky breath, forcing himself to be strong for his brother. 

 “I'm gonna find a way to get you back.”  he whispers, “ I promise."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The kitchen is small and cramped, with various appliances and cabinets lining the walls. 

The countertop is covered in various kitchen utensils and ingredients, making it difficult to navigate through. 

A stove stands in one corner, its burners currently in use. 

The air is filled with the aroma of something sizzling on the stove.

Raph walks in and sees Mikey working at the counter top. 

"Hey Mikey, whatcha got cookin'?" Raph asks with a hint of curiosity in his voice, leaning against the kitchen counter. 

He glances around the kitchen, taking in the various ingredients and utensils scattered about. His stomach rumbles at the smell of whatever Mikey is making.

Mikey turns to Raph and that's when Raph sees that Mikey has cut his arm quite badly while cutting up some sort of vegetable. 

Blood is pooling on the cutting board. 

Mikey doesn't seem to notice or care, his focus entirely on the task at hand. 

Raph, on the other hand, starts to freak out.

"Dude, you're bleeding all over the place!" Raph exclaims, quickly rushing around and over to the counter. 

He grabs a dishcloth and begins to press it against Mikey's arm, trying to stop the bleeding. 

"Are you even paying attention to what you're doing!?" he asks, his voice filled with concern. "You could have killed yourself!"

Mikey glances down at the cut and then back up at Raph, seemingly unaware of the severity of the situation. 

Blood is dripping onto the floor.

"Mikey, we gotta get you to Donnie. He'll know what to do." Raphael says, his voice filled with worry as he looks his brother over. 

He reaches out to grab Mikey's arm and pull him away from the counter, not wanting him to make the injury worse. 

"Come on, let's go," he says urgently, "No time to lose."

Mikey doesn't budge from his spot by the counter. 

Blood is still flowing from his arm.

His expression remains unchanged.

“Mikey, are you even listening to me? We need to get you to Donnie right now!" Raphael pleads, his voice raising in frustration. 

His grip tightens on Mikey's good arm and tries to pull him away from the counter again, but Mikey doesn't seem to register the pain or the effort.

Mikey continues to stand there, unfazed by the blood loss and the supposed pain. 

His expression remains emotionless, and he doesn't seem to be listening to Raph. 

His focus is still on the counter and whatever it is he's trying to make.

"Goddamnit Mikey, don't you care about yourself?" Raphael growls, beginning to lose his patience. 

He yanks Mikey's arm again, still trying to force him away from the counter, but Mikey simply stumbles a step forward, still not registering the pain or the urgency.

"Fine, be like that!" Raph yells, giving up on trying to reason with Mikey. 

He turns around and stomps towards the living room, where he assumes Donatello is. "Hey Donnie! You gotta help me with Mikey! He's bleeding all over the place and he won't listen to me!" he shouts, slamming his fist against the wall in frustration.

"Okay, give me a sec!" Donnie calls back from the living room, hurrying over to Raph. 

"Is it really bad?"

"Bad enough!" Raph growls, gesturing towards the kitchen. "He won't let me help him or anything!"

"Alright, let's go see what we can do." Donnie follows Raph back to the kitchen, where Mikey is still standing by the counter, blood dripping on the floor. 

"Mikey, you really need to pay attention to what's going on here." He gently nudges Mikey aside and examines the wound. "It's not as bad as it looks, but it needs to be cleaned and bandaged. Come on, let's get you to the med bay."

Mikey continues to stand there, unfazed by the blood loss and the pain. 

His expression remains emotionless, and he doesn't seem to be listening to Donnie either. 

His focus is stuck on the counter and whatever it is he's trying to make.

"Mikey, please, you need to come with me." Donatello pleads, trying to get Mikey to look at him. 

He grabs Mikey's good arm, 

"It's not safe for you to stay here like this. Come on, let's go."

"Goddamnit Mikey, just do it!" Raph shouts, his patience wearing thin. 

He grabs Mikey's other arm, forcing him to move. 

“We're not going to let you bleed to death out here!"

Mikey grunts quietly as Raph grabs his other arm, and with both Donnie and Raph pulling him he finally moves, following them to the med bay. 

"Alright, Mikey, just lay down on the table." Donnie instructs, already setting up the med bay for treatment. 

"I'll clean the wound and bandage it up, okay?"

Mikey nods slowly, still feeling a bit dazed from the blood loss. 

He lies down on the table as Donnie begins to clean the wound.

Mikey doesn't make a single noise as Donnie disinfects and wraps the cut. 

He stares at the ceiling, his expression never changing, as if he's somewhere else entirely.

"There we go, all cleaned up and bandaged." Donnie says once he's finished. 

"You should be good as new in a few days. Just try to stay off that arm for a while, okay?"

Mikey doesn't respond.

Donnie lets out a sigh

He misses how Mikey used to be so full of life, but ever since the Neutrinos he's been almost like a zombie, and Donnie hates it. 

"Mikey, can you at least tell me what you're trying to make back there?" He asks gently, not wanting to upset him further. "Maybe we can help you finish it?"

Mikey continues to stare at the ceiling, his expression unreadable. 

He doesn't respond to Donnie's question. 

After a moment, he finally turns his head to look at Donnie, meeting his gaze for the first time since he was injured.

Without another word, he slowly gets up from the medical table. 

He starts to walk back to the kitchen, leaving Donnie.

Donnie watches Mikey walk away, feeling a twinge of worry in his gut. 

He knows Mikey isn't himself, but he doesn't know how to help him. 

He turns to Raph, who is leaning against the wall, watching the whole scene play out with a mixture of anger and concern. 

"Raph, do you think...I dunno, maybe we should ask Leo to talk to Mikey?"

Raph grunts "I don't know, Donnie. Mikey's not really responding to any of us right now. Maybe Leo could help, but I'm not sure what he'd say." 

He pauses, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. " we're gonna have to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't hurt himself worse."

"Yeah, you're right. I just...I don't know, it's just so different from the Mikey we all know and love." Donnie sighs, shaking his head.

Donnie feels a tear trickle down his cheek. "Raph, it's like Mikey isn't even here anymore. I miss the old him. I just...I don't know what to do." He wipes roughly at his eyes, trying to hide his tears.

A lump forms in Donnies throat as he thinks about how helpless they all feel. 

"Oh, Raph," he sobs, "he could have saved him. But we failed. We failed him." 

His words are choked with tears as he breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Later that night, Raph walks to the holographic training room and sees Mikey sitting there, 

Surrounded by holographic flowers. 

The flowers sway gently in the nonexistent breeze, their colors reflecting the dim light of the room. 

Mikey's expression is as emotionless as ever, his eyes blank and unseeing. 

He seems lost in thought, not responding to the beautiful illusions around him.

"Hey Mikey, you alright?" Raph asks, approaching his brother slowly. 

He's not sure how Mikey will react, but he feels the need to try and reach out to him.

Mikey turns his head slowly to look at Raph, his expression unchanging. 

He doesn't respond verbally, but he seems to acknowledge Raph's presence.

“Hey buddy did you have a nightmare?” Raph asks “you want me to go get Leo?”

Mikey glances back at the holographic flowers, then back at Raph. 

He remains silent for a moment, contemplating his brother's words. 

Finally, he shakes his head slightly. 

Then signs 'red'.

Raph blinks, surprised by Mikey's response. 

He hadn't expected his brother to actually respond at all. 

"Hey, you're finally learning some sign language?" he asks, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "That's good, Mikey. That's really good."

Mikey continues to sign 'red', over and over again. Pointing to Raph in between.

Raph watches Mikey sign 'red' again, his brow furrowing in confusion. 

But then he realizes what Mikey is trying to say. 

His eyes widen in surprise and excitement as he grins broadly. 

"You're giving me a name, Mikey! You're calling me 'Red'!"

Mikey nods slightly. He looks at Raph for a moment, then back to the flowers. 

He points to himself 'orange'

"and you're orange." 

Raph studies Mikey's expression for a moment, wondering if his brother is actually beginning to give them names.

Mikey glances back at the holographic flowers, then back at Raph. He seems to consider his brother's words, but doesn't respond.

"Hey Mikey What if you give Leo and Donnie names? Wouldn't it be cool to show them that you're trying to remember us?" Raph asks

Mikey looks at Raph for a moment, then nods slightly. 

He signs 'okay', then points to the flowers and signs 'pretty'.

"You think the flowers are pretty, huh?" Raph says, watching Mikey sign 'pretty' at the holograms. 

"That's...that's good, Mikey." He reaches out a hand, resting it on his brother's shoulder gently.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The next morning, Raph gets Leo and Donnie together. 

They all meet in the living room where Mikey spends most of his time. 

Raph explains the situation to them, telling them how Mikey has something to show them.

Donnie listens to Raph, his expression softening as he takes in the news about Mikey. 

He glances over at Leo, who gives him a small nod of encouragement. 

"Well, we should go see him then," he says finally.

They enter the room where Mikey is sitting. 

He doesn't seem to notice them at first, focused on the starts outside the window.

Raph clears his throat, trying to get Mikey's attention. "Hey, Mikey. We're here. We want to see what you've got for us." 

He gestures to the others, standing close behind him.

Mikey turns his head slightly, glancing at the group before him. 

There's no recognition in his expressionless face. 

He doesn't seem to react to Raph’s voice or gesture.

But then Mikey does something unexpected. 

He stands, 

slowly walking in front of Donnie. 

He signs 'purple' several times, pointing to Donnie in between. 

His movements are jerky and uncoordinated, but there's some form of determination in his eyes.

Donnie looks at Mikey with surprise and a hint of disbelief. 

He glances at Raph, then back at Mikey, before slowly nodding his head. 

"Yeah... I'm Donatello. Purple is my color." 

He takes a deep breath, trying to control his emotions as tears start forming in his eyes

Mikey watches Donnie carefully, taking in his reaction. 

Then, he turns to Leo and repeats the process. 

He signs 'blue' several times, pointing to Leo each time. 

There's a slight pause in between the signs, as if Mikey is trying to convince himself as much as he is Leo.

Leo is taken aback by Mikey's actions. 

His heart skips a beat as he realizes what his brother is trying to do. 

He can't help but feel a lump forming in his throat. 

"L-Leo... Yeah, I'm Leo. Blue is my color. Thanks, Mikey," he manages to choke out, wiping a tear from his eye. 

He can't believe his brother is trying to communicate with them.

Raph feels a pang in his chest as he watches Mikey try to connect with Leo and Donnie. 

He knows how much effort this must be taking for his brother. 

He steps forward, placing a hand on Mikey's shoulder. 

"That's great, Mikey. You're doing really well." He glances over at Leo and Donnie, and his eyes well up with tears.

Mikey lets out a shaky breath, his body tense. 

He doesn't return Raph's touch, but he doesn't pull away either. 

He turns to face Raph, looking at him blankly. 

Raph notices this and decides to try something different. 

He pulls towards him and wraps his arms around Mikey, pulling him into a tight hug. 

The others exchange glances before they all join in, wrapping Mikey in a group hug.

And Raph swears he feels Mikey hug them back.

Chapter Text

Donnie groans, trying to pull himself together as he feels a sharp pain in his shoulder.

His breathing is labored, but he manages to lift himself up onto his elbows, scanning the alley for any signs of movement. 

The explosion must have been the Foot Clan's last resort; they must have been desperate.

Donnie's heart sinks as he realizes that Mikey is nowhere to be seen. 

Panic grips him as he frantically searches the alley. 

His eyes darted around, scanning the area for any signs of movement.

He spots Mikey lying motionless against the wall, a chunk of shrapnel protruding from his chest. 

Donnie's heart breaks as he rushes over to his injured brother.

Kneeling down beside Mikey, his hands trembled as he gently felt for a pulse. 

There's one, but it was weak and irregular. 

He looks down at Mikey, tears welling up in his eyes. 

"Mikey... Mikey, can you hear me?" Donnie asks, his voice cracking.

Mikey weakly opens one eye. 

He looks up at Donnie, tears streaming down his face. 

"Donnie... it hurts so bad... I can't... please..." 

He trails off, his voice barely more than a whisper. 

"Donnie... please... just... kill me..."*

Donnie's eyes widen in horror as he hears Mikey's words. 

He can't even begin to comprehend the pain his brother must be going through. 

He shakes his head, tears streaming down his face. 

"No, Mikey! I can't do that! We'll find a way to help you, I promise!" He says, gently wiping the tears from Mikey's cheek.

Mikey tries to smile through his pain, but it comes out more of a grimace. 

"Thanks... bro... but... please..." He trails off, his breathing becoming more labored.

"Mikey, listen to me! Leo is coming! He'll know what to do!" Donnie says, trying to sound confident.

He's not sure if Leo can do anything about the shrapnel, but he has to try. 

He glances around, looking for any sign of his blue brother in the alley.

"Donnie... please..." Mikey sobs, tears streaming down his face. 

"Donnie, I can't take it anymore... please..." He begs, his voice growing weaker with each word. 

"I just want the pain to stop..."

Donnie feels helpless as he watches Mikey suffer. 

He can't believe this is happening, 

He presses his free hand against Mikey's wound, trying to stem the flow of blood. 

"No, Mikey! You can't say that!" he insists, his voice breaking.

"DONNIE JUST KILL ME PLEASE!!" Mikey screams, and with tears pouring down his face 

Donnie's heart shatters into a million pieces. 

He can't bear to see his brother suffer like this. 

No longer.

With a shaky hand, he reaches for the shrapnel protruding from Mikey's chest.

Donnie's hand shakes uncontrollably as he grips the shrapnel. 

He steels himself, takes a deep breath, and yanks it free. 

There's a sickening tear as it rips through Mikey's flesh, but the pain is mercifully brief. 

Mikey's eyes roll back in his head, and he goes limp. 

Donnie collapses beside him, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mikey..." Donnie whispers "Mikey, I'm so sorry..." 

Tears stream down his face as he rocks back and forth, cradling his dead brother in his arms.

"Donnie?" Leo's voice echoes through the alley, his footsteps quickening as he approaches the gruesome scene. 

He sees his two brothers, one dead and the other sobbing uncontrollably over his body.

 "Oh, God... Donnie... what happened?"

Donnie looks up, eyes red and puffy from crying. 

"Leo... he... he asked me to..." He chokes back a sob, unable to finish. 

"He said he couldn't take it anymore..."

Leo's face contorts in pain as he kneels beside them. 

He takes in the gruesome sight before him.

Mikey laying there with a hole in his chest.

and Donnie....

He turns his attention back to Donnie, his voice cracking as he speaks. 

"Donnie... I'm so sorry..." 

He wraps his arms around Donnie, offering what little comfort he can.

The sound of sobbing echoes around the alley and into the night sky.

Chapter Text

Donnie doesn't even look up from his latest invention when Mikey walks into his lab, carrying his skateboard. 

It's getting a bit annoying how Mikey keeps trying to get his attention these days. 

He's got important stuff to work on, you know?

"Hey, Don, you busy?" Mikey asks, leaning against Don's desk. He fidgets with the weels of his skateboard. 

"You could use a break, couldn't ya? We could go out for some pizza or something. Just you and me, bro."

Donnie sighs heavily, finally looking up from his work.

"Mikey, I appreciate the offer, but I'm kinda in the middle of something important here." 

He gestures to a series of wires and circuits laid out on his workbench. 

"Besides, you know I don't like leaving my projects unattended."

"Oh, come on, Don, You're always working on stuff." Mikey crosses his arms, starting to get a bit annoyed. 

"I just want to hang out with my brother, is that so bad?"

Donnie glares at Mikey, feeling a little irritated himself. 

"Look, Mikey, I'm not trying to ignore you. I'm just busy right now. But we can hang out later, okay?" 

He tries to sound reassuring, but it comes out a bit harsher than he intended.

Mikey's eyes narrow, "Yeah, later. Like, 'later, later'? You keep saying that, but then you just keep working on your stupid gadgets!" 

"They're not stupid, Mikey!" Donnie retorts, growing more annoyed. 

"And It’s not just 'later, later'! I have important things to do!" 

He glares at his brother, wishing he would just leave him alone.

"Fine, Don! Have fun with your stupid gadgets! I'm going to my room!" Mikey turns and stomps off, slamming the door behind him. 

He throws himself on his bed.

Donnie watches Mikey leave his lab, feeling a pang of guilt. 

He should probably apologize... but not right now. 

Right now, he needs to finish this project. 

With a sigh, he gets back to work, muttering to himself.

Alone in his room, Mikey broods. 

He knows he shouldn't have gotten so mad, but it's just... frustrating. 

He's always been the dumb one, the clumsy one. 

But he's trying to change that, you know? And he wants Donnie to see that.

Mikey looks up at the ceiling, tears stinging the corners of his eyes. 

He needs to get out. 

He needs some fresh air.

Mieky grabs his skateboard and nunchucks, and starts to head towards the exit . 

Just as he's about to leave, he hesitates for a moment, thinking about telling Donnie that he's going out. 

But he decides against it, not wanting to make things awkward.

Mikey steps out into the cool evening air and takes a deep breath. 

He grins, feeling a rush of adrenaline as he begins to skate across the rooftops.

The wind howls as  Mikey speeds across the rooftops. 

He's been practicing his tricks lately and feels pretty good about them. 

He nails a kickflip over an air conditioner and lets out a whoop of delight.

But as he skates, he can't help but feel guilty. 

He should've been nicer to Donnie. 

He knows he can be a pain sometimes, but he loves his brother. 

He wonders if Donnie's still mad at him. 

He should probably apologize when he gets back.

Suddenly, something flies by Mikey's head. 

He dodges it instinctively, barely missing a ninja star. 

His heart races as he looks around, realizing he's not alone on the rooftops. 

His eyes widened as foot ninjas appeared from the darkness. 

"Oh crap..."

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿

Donnie looks up from his work, feeling a sudden sense of unease. 

It's been too quiet lately, and Mikey's usually pretty good about being well.... not quiet. 

He puts down his soldering iron and heads out of the room to find him.

"Mikey?" he calls out, walking through the house. 

"Where are you?" There's a moment of worry as he realizes his brother isn't in his room either. "

“Mikey?!" he says again

Donnie paces back and forth in the hallway, worry etching its way into his expression. 

He glances at the clock, it's been almost an hour since Mikey stormed off to his room.

Donnie walks into the dojo, where his brothers are training. 

"Leo, Raph?" he says, worry creeping into his voice. 

"Have you guys seen Mikey?"

Leo looks up from his practice and frowns. 

"No, I haven't seen him since he went to his room." 

Raph shakes his head. "I thought he was with you."

"No, he wasn't," Donnie says, biting his lip. 

"I've been working on this thing in my lab..." He trails off, not sure what to say. 

"I just... I want to make sure he's okay."

"Maybe you  should go up on the roof and look for him," Raph suggests, "He likes to skate up there sometimes, when he needs some air."

“Good idea Raph.” Donnie says as he starts to head for the exit.

"Okay," Leo says, "I'll keep an eye out for him while you're gone. Be back by dinner, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. Thanks, Leo." Donnie says as he hurries out of the lair and into the sewer tunnels.

As Donnie rushes through the sewers, he feels a sense of urgency growing in his chest. 

He knows that Mikey can take care of himself, but he's worried something might have happened to him. 

He clenches his fists as he emerges from the manhole in the alleyway.

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿

Mikey glances behind him, spotting another ninja about to throw a shuriken. 

He ducks just in time, rolling across the roof to avoid the projectile. 

He stands up, ready to fight back,

something glints of the moon light on the roof across from him.

“Oh shi-” 

It's the Shredder.

He's standing surrounded by his elite ninja forces. 

As Mikey knocks down more foot ninjas, the Shredder gets closer and closer. 

Mikey's heart pounds in fear. 

He can't take them all out by himself, and he knows this.

Shredder lunges at Mikey, his metal claws extended. 

Mikey manages to dodge out of the way, but now he runs right into another problem. 

Shredder's foot connects with Mikey's plastron, sending him flying back and knocking the wind out of him. 

He lands on his butt, gasping for air. 

The Shredder towers over him, his expression filled with malice. 

"You think you can defeat me? Pathetic! You are nothing but a weak, pathetic turtle!"

Shredder lifts his hand, aiming the blades of his gauntlet at Mikey's chest. 

Just as he's about to strike, Mikey quickly pulls out his nunchucks and pulls them straight, the chain keeping the blades from skewering his chest.

Mikey shakes as the Shredder pushes down on the chain of his nunchaku, 

the blades of his gauntlet getting closer to his chest. 

He tries to push back, but the Shredder's strength is overwhelming. 

Desperately, he thinks of something, anything, he can do. 

His mind races, searching for an idea.

But he doesn't have enough time to think as the chain suddenly snaps and the sound of a sickening crunch echoes across the rooftop. 

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿

Donnie skids to a halt atop a rooftop, out of breath from his mad dash across the city. 

He curses himself for yelling at Mikey

Mikey had only wanted to spend time with him. 

Donnie takes out his phone and glances at the screen, he sees the orange blinking dot indicating Mikey's current location. 

It's on a rooftop a few blocks away. 

Donnie hears the faint sound of fighting, growing louder as he approaches the source. 

He leaps across an alleyway, landing in a crouch on a nearby rooftop. 

There, he sees Mikey and..... THE SHREDDER.

Donnie's blood runs cold as he sees Mikey trying to hold back the Shredder's blades. 

He jumps up and sprints towards his brother, but he isn't fast enough.

Donnie arrives just as the chain of Mikey's nunchucks snaps, and the Shredder's blades puncture Mikey's chest, cracking his plastron. 

"No!" he cries out in anguish, his eyes filling with tears. 

The Shredder glances up at Donnie as he yanks the blades from Mikey's chest. 

"We are done here," he says, a wicked grin spreading across his face. 

One of the Foot Ninjas throws a smoke bomb, and they disappear, 

leaving Mikey bleeding out on the ground as Donnie runs over to him.

"No, Mikey! !" Donnie cries out, tears streaming down his face. 

"You can't die!" He puts one of his hands on top of the wound, trying to staunch the flow of blood as best he can. 

"Mikey, look at me! Stay with me!" he pleads, his voice cracking with emotion.

Frantic, Donnie quickly dials Leo's number. 

"Leo, it's Donnie... M-Mikey's been hurt bad. We need you and Raph here now!!" he gasps between breaths, his voice shaking with fear and anger.

Mikey coughs violently, blood splattering from his mouth as he winces in pain. 

"D-Donnie...?" he gasps, his eyes fluttering closed.

"Shh... Mikey. Leo's gonna be here soon, he's gonna take care of you. Just hold on, bro. You're gonna be okay." Donnie lies through his teeth, trying desperately to keep his brother's spirit up as he waits for Leo and Raph to arrive. 

His own heart feels like it's shattering as he looks down at his brother, 

his best friend,

lying there, 

bleeding out. 

He can't help but think that this is all his fault.

Donnie's chest heaves as he breaks down, tears streaming down his face as he sobs uncontrollably. 

"I'm sorry, Mikey... I'm so sorry... I should've listened to you... I shouldn't have yelled at you..." 

His words are broken by his wracking sobs, each breath agonizing as he tries to keep Mikey alive as he drops his T-phone and pushes both hands onto Mikey's chest, trying to stop the bleeding. 

"Please don't leave me!" he cries out, his voice hoarse from emotion. 

He presses down harder, feeling like his hands are going to break through Mikey's flesh as the blood continues to gush from the wound. 

"Please, Mikey! Don't leave me alone!" He shakes his head, trying to clear the tears that blur his vision.

Mikey's eyes flutter open, the pain in them evident even as his voice is barely a whisper. 

"Donnie... I'm not leaving you... I'm not..." He coughs again, blood spraying from his mouth. 

"I'm sorry... I should've listened to you, too... I just felt like....you were spending more....time....with April and Leatherhead..."

 His words trail off as he struggles to breathe.

"I'm glad...we were brothers..." he rasps, his voice growing weaker with every breath. 

"I love...you, Donnie..." He looks up at his brother, his eyes filled with regret. 

He coughs again, blood splattering against Donnie's face. 

"Please...tell the others..." His grip on Donnie's hand weakens, his head lolls to the side. 

"Please..." 

His voice trails off, and his eyes roll back in his head.

Donnie feels the last bit of life leave Mikey's body as his grip slackens, blood pools beneath them.

The stench of iron and copper fills the air.

He stares down at his brother's still form, tears streaming down his face, his chest heaving as he sobs uncontrollably.

Leo and Raph sprint up the fire escape ladder, their heavy footsteps clanging against the metal rungs. 

They skid to a halt at the top, their eyes widening in horror as they take in the scene before them. 

Donnie, cradles Mikey's limp body in his arms, tears streaming down his face as he sobs uncontrollably.

"Leo... Raph... He's gone..." Donnie chokes out between sobs, his voice barely audible over his ragged breathing. 

"He's gone... and it's all my fault..."

Chapter Text

Mikey watches in horror as Donnie lashes out at him, his normally analytical mind now clouded by the virus. 

Quickly he pushes Donnie out of the lab but not before Donnie bites him on his arm. 

Mikey yelps in surprise before slamming the door and ruining back over to the lab table.

No time to freak out, he needs to concentrate. 

Mikey's hands shake as he works with the vials of liquid, following the steps Donnie had given him. 

He desperately needs to finish the antidote before it's too late. 

"What did Donnie say the next step was??" Mikey talks to himself as he starts to mix the chemicals. 

He tries to focus on the task at hand, pushing aside the fear and the urge to go out into the living room.

Mikey carefully pours the chemicals into the centrifuge and hits the start button. 

He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as he glances back at the door. 

Donnie is still struggling to get back in, Raph and Leo are nowhere to be seen. 

The centrifuge starts to whir, and Mikey turns his attention back to the other vials and beakers on the table.

"Come on, come on," Mikey mutters under his breath as he watches the centrifuge spin. 

"Almost there..." Mikey thinks, readying the syringe as the centrifuge slows to a stop. Once it's finished, he quickly attaches the syringe to the needle and loads it with the orange-colored liquid.

But just as he lifts the syringe, his shaking hands betray him, and he drops it. 

The glass shatters, and the precious antidote spills across the floor.

Mikey looks down horrified.

Pain shoots through his spine as he grips his head as he feels the virus starting to control him, his body betraying him. 

His shaking intensifies, making it harder to hold onto anything.

Mikey feels his grip on reality slipping away as his eyes turn black. 

He stumbles out of the lab and into the living room where the rest of his brothers are surrounding the egg

Leo smirks at him and says, "Well come, Michelangelo. The egg is about to hatch." 

Mikey can't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him as he watches his brothers staring intently at the egg. 

It will all be over soon.

As the egg hatches, a sickening crack echoes through the room. 

Slowly, three giant mutant wasps emerge from the egg, their razor-sharp mandibles clicking and their wings buzzing menacingly. 

The sight of the wasp fills Mikey with an unnatural surge of joy.

The wasps go for the smallest first. 

With unnatural speed, the three wasps swarm Mikey, surrounding him on all sides. 

He feels their razor-sharp mandibles clicking against his skin, but for some reason, he doesn't move. 

He doesn't fight back. Instead, he closes his eyes and waits for the end.

The first wasp, the largest of the three, clamps down on Mikey's left arm, just above the elbow. With a sickening crunch, it rips the limb clean off at the shoulder. Blood gushes forth from the wound, but Mikey feels no pain. 

He just stands there, his eyes closed tightly, as his body is torn apart.

The second wasp, slightly smaller than the first, descends upon Mikey's right thigh, its mandibles clicking hungrily. 

With a sickening tear, it rips into his flesh, exposing the thick muscle beneath. 

Mikey feels himself starting to lose balance as the wasp continues to feast on his leg. 

He stumbles backwards, falling awkwardly to the ground, his remaining arm and leg twitching in pain.

The third and final wasp, the smallest of the three, darts around Mikey's waist, its wings beating furiously as it tries to gain purchase on his slippery hide. Finally, it finds purchase on his chest, just below the top of his plastron. 

With a sickening crunch, it burrows its way into his chest, tearing through his ribcage and puncturing his lungs. 

Mikey feels a sharp pain as the wasp begins to pull his organs out through the wound, blood and mucus streaming down his chest.

Mikey feels a strange sense of detachment as his body begins to shut down. He watches the three wasps, fascinated by their brutal efficiency. 

They tear through his body with such ease, as if they were born to do this. 

He wonders if they feel any remorse, any pity, as they feast on his flesh. 

He doubts it. 

They are only obeying their nature.

Finally, the wasp that had been tearing through his chest manages to pull Mikey's still-beating heart from his body. 

It holds it up in the air, allowing the others to get a good look at their prize before crushing it between their powerful mandibles. 

And Mikey is no more.

Chapter Text

"Look, we can give you the retro-mutagen, just let him go!" Leo yells at the mutant Rhino.

trying to reason with him. 

He takes a step forward, the muscles in his arms and legs tensing as he prepares to attack if necessary.

Mikey squirms in Rocksteady's grasp, his little fists balled up into fists. 

"Leo, dude, you gotta do something! This guy's nuts!"

Rocksteady, his scarred features twisted in a sneer, shakes his head slowly. 

"You funny but annoying turtle. Why should I do the trading with you?," he growls, his Russian accent thick in his voice.

“because!" Leo yells, stepping closer to Mikey and Rocksteady.

"You can use the retro-mutagen, to become human again." 

He glances at his brothers, then back at Rocksteady, his expression hardening. 

"Isn't that what you want? To be human again?."

"Leo, no! You can't just give him the retro-mutagen!" Mikey cries, struggling harder against Rocksteady's grip. 

“We need that stuff for Karai!"

"Mikey, we don't have a choice," Raph whispers, his voice tight with desperation. 

"I promise" Leo says as he looks into Rocksteady's cold, dead eyes and holds his ground. "Let him go, and we'll give you the retro-mutagen."

Rocksteady lets out an ugly laugh.

"You turtlez actually think I would do the trading with you?" Rocksteady said, taking a step back. "Shredder would rather me destroy you, and when I get ze respect, he will have ze bug man turn me back human.” 

Leo's eyes go wide.

Their bargaining power slipped straight through his fingers.

“Looks like I have no need for you, turtle boy." 

Then Mikey is let go.

Mikey screams as he falls, hitting the ground with a sickening crunch.

He definitely broke something.

Mike feels the blood pools around him, and he lies motionless.

The sound of Raph's anguished cry fills the air as he jumps down the coaster to get to his brother.

"No, Mikey!!" Raph cries out, tears streaming down his face as he cradles his injured brother. His eyes flicker with anger and pain as he glares at Rocksteady.

Mikey's vision is fading in and out as the pain wracked his body. 

He's dimly aware of Raph's anguished cries, but he can't seem to move. 

Mikey manages to force himself to look up at Raph, his face twisted with pain.

He takes a shaky breath before he whispers, "Raph...." He trails off, his eyes closing as he struggles for air. 

Then, with his last ounce of strength, he forces them back open again and looks at his brother. 

He Looks right into Raphs teary eyes.  

a final smile tugging at the corner of his bloodied mouth.

Before his eyes glaze over.

And his smile falls.

Chapter Text

As Leo works on picking the lock, Mikey steps forward, trying to stall the villains. 

He gives Bebop and Rocksteady his best, goofy grin. 

"Hey, guys," he says, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "You really don't want to do this."

Bebop grins back at Mikey, revealing his toothy, crooked smile. "Yeah?" he asks, his voice sounding like it's coming from somewhere deep within his body. 

"What makes you think we can't?" He takes another step forward, moving closer to Mikey. Rocksteady, on the other hand, just laughs and points at the spray bottle in Bebop's hand. 

"we'v got the magic juice!" he exclaims.

Mikey backs up a bit, trying to keep some distance between himself and the two goons. 

He takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. "Look, guys," he says, "you don't want to do this. You don't know what you're getting into. You're not bad people. You don't have to--"

"Get back here, ya little freak!" Bebop shouts, taking another step forward.

Rocksteady, not wanting to be left out, tries to move in as well, but trips over his own feet and falls to the ground with a loud thud. 

Bebop glares at him for a moment before turning back to Mikey. 

"You're starting to annoy me, turtle boy," he says, his voice dangerously low. "I think it's time you learned some respect."

Mikey's eyes widen in fear as he realizes how close Bebop is. 

He takes another step back, but his back hits a food stand.

there's nowhere else to go. 

"Look, Bebop," he says, trying to sound as calm and reasonable as possible, "I don't want any trouble. Just put the bottle down and we can talk about this--"

Bebop laughs, a harsh, ugly sound. "Oh, I know what you're trying to do, turtle boy," he says. 

"You think you're smart, huh? Well, you're not. I'm gonna show you what happens when you mess with us." 

With that, he raises the spray bottle aiming to spray Mikey directly in the face.

Leo finally picks the lock and opens the door to the van. "Hey, Mikey!" he shouts, "Get over here, now!"