Chapter Text
Change is not new to Mikey. He knows it well. However, these past few days (months?) have been too much for him to handle.
He’s slowly cracking. Mikey can feel it. Piece by piece everything is starting to crash down around him. He’s always been good at adapting, though. So that’s what he’ll do. He’ll adapt.
That’s how he survived Dimension X. If it helped him survive there, it’ll help him make it here.
A couple days ago, his brothers showed up and rescued him and Leatherhead from Dimension X. He’s not sure they see it as a “rescue”, but that’s what it feels like to Mikey. His brothers were his heroes. They helped him leave that place after who knows how long.
The days after that were a blur. The rescue had tuckered all of them out, for sure, but there wasn’t much time to rest. The Kraang were coming, bound to invade within the next 24 hours. They were all tired, even Mikey.
He had chugged the last slug he had and trudged onwards.
There were plans on how to defeat the Kraang. Leo suggested regrouping somewhere else, to give them more time to get a proper plan and have a safer base outside the invasion’s range. Donnie had disagreed, arguing that they should stay and fight with the mech he was working on.
The fight went on for a couple hours, only stopping when April and her friend burst into their lair. April’s friend, the one who turned into a Kraang before their very eyes and let the Kraang know their location.
They left. They ran, split from Sensei and then from Leo. Mikey wondered where Raph and Casey were. He hoped they were safe.
Everything kept moving forward.
At April's house, her dad broke down. Mikey texted Leo and Raph their location. They reunited with Raph and Casey, relief overflowing Mikey as he quickly hugged his big brother before everything crashed down once again as Leo smashed through April’s window.
Glass shards were everywhere, reminding him of gems from trees in a pink land.
They ran. They separated and reunited, only to watch Sensei go down the drain. Mikey pulled Raph from his blind anger — Mikey knows the feeling all too well, purple blood over his hands as he stares at a skull — and they ran away once again. Another reunion, and then they left the town.
It was so fast. Too fast.
April’s farmhouse is where they are now. It’s been a whole day since they got here.
Mikey still hasn’t slept.
Leo’s down for the count. Whatever Shredder did knocked him out good. The scratches covering his plastron are deep, but not life threatening. His knee is a bit strained, though, but Donnie’s more concerned for the head trauma he received. There’s small gashes over Leo’s face, the most concerning injury being the big lump on the back of his head.
Donnie has locked himself in the barn not too far from the house. He crashed when they first got to April’s summer house, but upon waking up he got to work. Mikey’s unsure on what. It’s most likely something to do with the Kraang, but no one has seen Donnie since he went into the barn.
Raph also crashed when they finally got to the house. He and Donnie made sure Leo was stable while Mikey watched. April and Casey gathered pillows and blankets and passed them out. Raph fell asleep next to Leo’s side and then… didn’t leave.
As far as Mikey’s aware, Raph’s still there. He won’t move unless it’s to use the bathroom and shower. Mikey has to take his food directly to him. It’s worrying, seeing his angry brother so… quiet. So still, even.
April and Casey chose rooms upstairs to stay in. They also crashed after Donnie confirmed Leo was stable. They’ve been working to get the house in order. Mikey’s offered to help, but they turned him down.
He’s heard Casey mention his idea of going back to town to search for his family. April mentioned maybe going with him, to help search. But they both also stated how bad an idea it was.
Mikey’s sure they’ll probably go anyway.
He hasn’t done much since he got to April’s house. Still somewhat riding the energy the slug gave him, Mikey didn’t sleep the night they arrived. He worked on repairing the weapons he could, taking count of the ninja stars he and his bros had left. He took stock of the food and dishes they have available and began to make a list of what they may need in a couple days.
And that’s where he stopped.
Now, he’s leaning over the kitchen counter, wondering what he should make for dinner. He cleaned the kitchen earlier today, a feeling of restlessness overtaking him. He still feels restless, despite his muscles starting to ache from fatigue.
Mikey rubs a hand over his face, staring over at the fridge. He should probably eat soon too. He hasn’t been hungry since his last slug, which is slightly concerning. It’s been about a day and a half. Shouldn’t he be hungry by now?
He groans and places his forehead down on the countertop of the island. Who cares how long he’s been away, he’s back. That’s what matters.
He starts tapping the countertop.
The question still lingers, despite his best efforts. How old is he now? Was he there long enough for a year to have passed? Mikey doesn’t think so. However, he knows he and his brothers were all mutated on the same day. Does his trip mean he’s the oldest now?
Mikey pushes himself up from the countertop, hissing slightly. “Whatever,” he mutters. “Stop thinking ‘bout it. Food, we need food. Think about dinner, Mikey.”
He opens the pantry and squats down to read the cans on the bottom shelf. Despite his frustration, he smiles. Mikey grabs a couple cans and brings them near the stove before turning to grab a pot to cook the soup in.
Donnie once mentioned eating only liquid things for a long time could make it hard for someone to eat solid things again. Mikey assumes he needs to be careful in his transition back to solid food. This should work!
Mikey opens a drawer to grab a can opener. He hears someone shuffling down to the kitchen. The person stops as Mikey begins to open the first can.
“Really? Spaghettios?” April asks, arms crossed but a small, teasing smile on her face.
Mikey hums an affirmative, giving a small smile back. “It’s a classic!”
The can opens and he pours it into the pot. He grabs the next can and begins working to open that one.
April laughs at his remark. “I guess,” she admits, before leaning on the island. “You gonna add anything to it?”
Mikey shrugs noncommittally. “Nah, not this time. Don’t want to use too many ingredients.” He turns and pours the can into the pot.
He hears April shift behind him, her footsteps heading towards the fridge. She opens it.
“Oh, yeah. I guess we do need to go shopping soon. There’s a grocery store not far from here, I think. Me and Casey can go check that out later. Good thinking, Mikey,” April praises as more footsteps enter the kitchen.
“Casey here, at your service. You called, Red?” Casey announces. Mikey peeks over his shoulder to see Casey striking a ridiculous pose and smiles at him.
Of course, change happens. However, some things always stay the same. Apparently, that thing is the one and only Casey Jones. Should Mikey be surprised?
April doesn’t find it as funny as Mikey does. She rolls her eyes playfully at Casey. “Mikey realized we’re running low on food. Me and you will be taking a trip to the store soon to get some more stuff,” she tells him.
“Nice!” Casey says. “Snack runs are awesome. I’m sure we’ll all become a bit stir crazy in this house sooner or later.”
“A trip to the store will be exactly what we need,” April agrees.
Mikey has dumped all six cans of Spaghettios in the pot, so he grabs a wooden spoon and begins to gently stir as the stove begins to warm it up. Casey comes over and hovers near his shoulder. He wafts some of the steam towards his nose.
“Mmmm, that smells so good,” he moans. “I can’t wait to have some.”
“Should be done in a couple minutes, dude,” Mikey replies. He shifts so he’s not as close to Casey. His hovering is bothering Mikey. “Could you two get Raph and Donnie? I’ll bring their bowls to them if they don’t come, but…”
But he’s missed them. He’s missed having them all in the same room, all eating together at the same table. He wants his brothers.
April sends a sympathetic look to Mikey. “Yeah, we can do that, right Case?”
“‘Course, dude!” Casey says, gripping Mikey’s shoulder.
Mikey pulls away like the touch burns him. April’s brows furrow and Mikey realizes he’s messed up, somehow. Casey’s giving him the same expression, so Mikey forces a grin.
“No toucha of dee cook!” Mikey jokes, smacking Casey’s hand away lightly. “Anyways, go get my bros. This is going to be so good!”
Casey laughs at him but it doesn’t replace the glimmer of concern in his eyes. April gives him an awkward smile. The two humans glance at each other before leaving.
Mikey lets his smile fall when they’re out of sight. Absently he rubs his shoulder.
It’s not that he didn’t like the shoulder pat. No, he did. It just felt weird. It still does, like he needs a shower to get the lingering touch off.
He frowns and grabs some bowls from the cupboard. Mikey wills himself not to think about it as he pours the Spaghettios in. He sets the table and sits down.
Only Casey and April join him. He forces himself to smile and joke, to act as unconcerning as possible. They already have enough to worry about.
Mikey can take care of himself, he knows that now.
Dinner goes off without a hitch, as far as Mikey can tell. He then delivers a bowl to Raph and to Donnie. He cleans the kitchen and returns it to its pristine state he had it in beforehand.
With what feels like all his ducks in a row, Mikey finally sits down at the couch. His body thanks him, as the Spaghettios might have been a bit too solid for him. He hopes he continues to keep it down.
His mind, however, wanders. He thinks through what could be happening right now. New York City is in a state of ruin, would the Kraang begin to move their invasion outwards? How long until the house they’re at is trampled by Kraang forces?
Mikey doesn’t have the energy to get up from the couch. He shakes his leg instead. He should get up, double check things are all in place. He should check if the Kraang are coming.
He sits there for what feels like hours, going through possibility after possibility. He does this so long he starts making plans on what to do if anything happens. Mikey feels way too much like Leo.
“Uh, you ok?”
Raph’s voice startles him enough that he jumps up and throws a ninja star at him. Raph expertly dodges and then the two of them stare at each other in shock.
“What the heck, Mikey?” Raph hisses, volume low. Huh, is it that early in the morning? Or is it that late at night?
Mikey doesn’t know. He blinks at Raph slowly.
“You scared me, dude,” he replies, frowning at Raph. “A little warning next time? Maybe?”
Raph raises an unimpressed eye ridge. “Yeah, sure. Maybe instead of sleep talking on the couch you could go sleep talk in, I don’t know, a bedroom?”
Mikey scoffs. He wasn’t asleep. He answers Raph by sticking his tongue out at him and leaving the living room. He heads towards the front door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Raph demands, walking up behind him. Mikey stops and turns around.
“None of your beeswax.” Mikey points his finger into Raph’s plastron and then turns right back around.
He opens the front door and leaves. He walks down the porch and grips his head when he hears the door shut.
What did Raph even want from him?! It’s not like Mikey meant to throw a star at him! Raph just snuck up on him!
Mikey growls and throws his hands down. Raph snuck up on him. That’s what he’s mad about. He is supposed to always be aware of his surroundings. What if Raph wasn’t Raph? What if he was something dangerous?
Whatever. Whatever! Mikey’ll apologize later. For now, his mind is telling him to keep a lookout, that's what he’s gonna do.
The sun is rising in the east. The south is where New York is. Mikey walks to the south side of the house and plops down, slightly dizzy. He glares at the rising sun, his shell touching the house’s side.
Mikey’s super tired. Which doesn’t make sense, if he thinks about it. He ate something. Why is he tired?
“I’ll be ready,” Mikey mumbles as the sun slowly rises.
It’s a promise to the Kraang. He wonders if they’re scared of him. They should be.
However, his promise is only mental. Mikey falls asleep against his will, watching the sky go from black to blue.