Whats wrong?
BRIINNNG
..
BRIINNNGGG
the youngest groaned, weakly bringing up his hand to swat the alarm clock, turning it off. slowly getting up, Mikey stretched out his body then turned heel to his closet. He slipped on a black jacket, orange highlights and white specks. then, he turned towards his bedroom door, heading out.
waking up late isn’t really normal mikey behavior, but due to him staying up late till 5am, he’ll have to deal with it. the younger walked to the kitchen, tracing his steps he used last night to get a drink.
Mikey traced his steps and walked into the kitchen, getting ready to cook Dinner. “Mikey?” A voice called from behind him, “oh? oh. Hey Raph.” He said unexpectedly to see his big sister. “Hey bud.. why are you up at 8?” she asked, carassing the youngers cheek.
“8? i set my alarm to 3pm—are you sure its 8?”
“8pm, mikey. everyone was so worried. did you stay up late?” She said in a soft voice, cradling mikey.
“Stayed up till 5 but ill be fine—i need to make Dinner-“
“We ordered pizza. April and Sunita are coming over, Casey too.” Raph smiled gently, “Why don’t you relax? Leo and Don are in the living room watching shows—go join them.” She said, putting Mikey on the ground before leaving.
“What about you?” Mikey asked.
“What about me?”
“Arent you gonna join?”
“I’m going to train, okay bud? i’ll be there soon. if the two start to fight or if something goes wrong tell me.” She said, leaving the room.
Mikey stood there, before hesitantly exited the kichen and walking towards the living room.
The door creaked open and Leo turned his direction from the TV towards mikey—“Hey, Angie! how are you?” He started, “oh. well its going good.” He said plainly, dropping his body weight inbetween Leo and Donnie who were sitting on the couch.
The three were having a Lou Jitsu marathon—Mikey wasnt quite sure what movie they were on, but he’d know sooner or later.
Something just didnt sit right with Mikey while watching the movies—he was distracted .
was it the movies themselves?
the fact that a fight could break out?
did he need to take his meds?
or was it raph? was it because she wasn’t here? the fact she’s been training more than normal?
Mikey knows that Raph only trains when shes stressed—mad.. scared.
and he doesnt blame her.
The orange banded turtle stood, “Im gonna go.”
“We just started the movie?” Leo questioned, “I know, bathroom.” Mikey lied, before making his way towards exit of the room.
The box turtle left, twists and turns around the lair until he met his destination.
The training room.
mostly—the training room is only used by raph. She is has been the only one in there since the invasion. Donnie tried talking Her out of it for rest.. but that didnt work. did it?
Mikey snapped out of his thoughts before entering, welcomed to faint noises of punching.
walkijg around the dimmed room, he met his big sister who was pounding away at a dummy.
Mikey sat around to watch, taking a seat in the corner of the room watching his visibly angered sister destroying the actual fuck out of a dummy.
Minutes passed, Raph went through multiple dummies, ripping them to shreds or to the point where they could be repaird. She turned to see the youngest sitting.
“..Hey bud.”
“Hi raphie!” He chirped.
“Whats up?” Raph asked, cooling down, then declining her height as she sat next to the youngest.
“Nothin. I just wanted to talk.” He explained plainly.
Raph didnt respond, the two sat on conplete silence.
..
…
“Are you okay?” Mikey asked, looking ahead of the small room. Raph turned her attention to Him, before asking, “What?” “Are you okay?” Mikey repeated again, looking at the older. he explained, “You only come here whether your stressed.. scared.. sad, mad.” It was quite obvious. Raph doesnt express her emotions—shes like donnie, but with training. She uses Training as an output to drain all emotions out, which isnt healthy.
“Yeah.. Im okay..?” That sounded more like a question. Noted. Shes not okay. “Truthfully.”
“I..” and then she went silence.
shes not okay.
Mikey pulled raph in for a hug, “Its okay. youre okay.” he comforts. “Do you wanna tell me whats up?” he asks, looking into the olders eyes—who was, in fact—tearing up. “I.. I-I..” she muttered. “Its okay, take your time.” he sighed.
“I don’t.. think..” She started, and mikey patiently waited.
“I don’t think.. That i was a perfect leader—a good enough leader.
I.. I feel like i have to be the leader, still. I.. I hated being the leader. I hate it. but.. as the oldest and with dad hardly around.. I have to be the leader. I have to protect you all..” She sobbed, “B-But what if im not good enough? what if i slip up? ruin something?”
..
“What if one of you get hurt..?”
oh no..
“What happens if something happens to you guys?—what happens if im not there to help you?
I cant be the leader. all the pressure being the leader is.. its hard. But yet, i have to. I cant have you guys getting hurt..” She cried silently, as she brought her knees to her chest. Mikey sat there respectfully, patting her. “I let you guys get hurt once.. I cant allow that again.. thats why im always in here.. I have to be better. Stronger. F-faster. I need more stamina. I need to be perfect.” She finished, sobbing silently.
Mikey sat there, comforting her. Patting her back—shell? whatever. Patting her, muttering comforting words to her, until she finished crying. then, he said,
“Why do you have to be the leader? Why do you need to take care of us, Raphie?”
“W-well because i-“
“You cant say youre not good enough and that you need to improve. out of all of us—youre probably the best fighter.”
“Says the mystic warrior..” She chuckles.
Mikey scoffs, “Besides that, youre perfect. you dont need to pull more weight than you do. You dont need to be perfect perfect. no one is. youre our sister. not a leader. youre family, we take care of eachother, not give eachother orders and give our lives away like nothing.”
“Oh, youre one to talk.. You nearly obliterated into dust saving Leo.”
“Oh? Well Leo had, much, much more damage than me.”
..
“Thank you.” she said, “Genuinely.”
“What?”
“Thank you. I needed to hear that.” She said, gently smiling, before adding, “Okay, but seriously? how did you not end up with nerve damage? not even the slightest? me and donnie—our arms have racketing nerve damage-“ Raph chuckled.
“Well, im special. Im a mystic warrior, maybe that doesnt affect me!” Mikey lied, he knew damn well he has horrible nerve damage.
“You are special. Movie marathon?”
“Movie marathon.” Mikey fist bumped raph, the pair getting up and walking towards the room which had blairing noises of the movie playing.