And it's been good the way it was
And it's been good the way it was
And it's been good the way it was
.. I want it back
I am really, REALLY glad you guys like it, especially that you think my language is okay. Since I am from germany, this makes me proud. *smiles*
Nala162024: It really is? Oh, I missed this, it's been a long time.. Sorry, everyone... And thank you for all your wonderful reviews (:
This is going to be the last chapter. At first I had wanted to make a oneshot but I knew me too well (Me + short texts = impossible) and so I decided it should have 3 Chappies- introduction, Middle, Epilogue. But it did not work this way.. So this is how the story ends. (: I still think about a little bonus chapter but we'll see.
Enjoy!
This is a zombie.
Not me.
Definately not me.
It is 04:32 in the morning and I am in the bathroom. I did not not sleep well that night, that is not it- I simply did not sleep at all. And now I see myself in the mirror above the sink and all I can think of is what the shell.
I really look like those monsters in the video games. Big, and I mean BIG holes below my eyes which are a little red as well. My face looks like a balloon without air. I mean- are that wrinkles on my forehead? What happened? I am in charge for, like, one day and I already aged 20 years?! How does Leo do this all the time? How does he stand it?
Then I got an idea. On TV there was this ad lately about "you got old skin? Try this body milk and our new face foundation" and such stuff. Of course I found it ridiculous that day but you know something- to not look like sensei when he comes out of bed I would do almost everything. And Leo would do, too. So he has to have something hidden here which can help my skin back to its soft, cute, baby-bum-like state!!!
It is 05:17 in the morning and I still look like a zombie, only with the added touch of black colour in my face. I accidentally came over Donnie's motor oil stocks. Great. Now I look not only like a monster but like one with lepra.
I give up and spent the next ten minutes washing my head and hands. I know that the others- or Leo, at least- are already up and waiting for me. Probably talking about me. But then again, since I am supposed to wake them up, they probably still sleep tight. I wish I could. But I have to think about training today and...
Hey. Am I crying?
Oh, Michelangelo, come on. You are the oldest brother. This is ridi- ridi-- ridiculooouuuuuuussssssssss...
I don't know how long I just sat there on the closet toilet and cried my eyes out. But eventually Don comes in. And he understands immediately- because he is a genius, probably, but also because he is my best friend. I said it before and I'll do it again- if there is one turtle in my family I tell everything, it's him. Of course, if it is too bad, he tells Sensei anyway. But still.
And so he just huggs me tight and holds me there until my sobs stop and I finally am able to look at him.
"I am ss.. sorry" I say between little hick-ups. I can't think of anything else to say. For a brief second the question crosses my mind what he is doing here this early, but then again, it's Don. The coffee addict. He probably even slept less than me (if this is possible).
"It's alrght" he shshs me. "No need to worry..." His voice trails off and I cling to his chest tight because I need the comfort. Oh my god, one day without attention- or, not really without it, but with the wrong kind of it- and I already act like a total idiot. Who I probably am. But still.
"It's a tough job, huh", he finally goes on and I not, still sniffing. "Being the oldest and in charge and having to do all the things we take for normal or granted..." He shakes his head ruefully. "Poor Leo." I nod again and the thought crosses my mind if this situation happens more often to Donnie. All of a sudden I can see it clearly- him, at the same time, here with a turtle clung to him and crying. But not me. A turtle with skin like grass...
I almost start to cry all over again because I know what I am about to ask Don is shelfish and mean and it will force Leo to take responsibility again. But I can't help it.
"Don.. Can't we.. Can't you do anything...?"
And he understands, just like I knew he would. And he stands up and nods and leaves, just as I knew he would. And he gives me some time for myself, does not offer me to come with him, leaves me there on the cold bathroom floor looking like the monster I feel I am. Because of me, Hamato Leonardo will be in charge again before the sun sets tonight. And he will like it and have little fights with Raph about it and will talk to Master Splinter and train hard and do everything he did until now. And sometimes, when he can be sure no one is watching, he will come to this small room with the white walls and cry. And it will be my fault, my package to carry. And all I can think of right now is how glad I am this is not me. And I hate myself for it.
Eventually, I stand up. Don is already at the kitchen again, drinking coffee. He acts as he always does. Except for the fact that he does not look at me. And I turn and go out again and wake everybody up the way Leo normally does- by running right in saying "Breakfast, guys" and Leo really just wakes up when I say this and looks sleepy and a little happy and sad at the same time. It is the first day for a long time my big brother- oh, pardon, my little brother- actually looks like he had gotten enough sleep. And I know that it will be the last night for a long time.
While I let Leo scramble eggs ("to improve your new skills"), I just sit there. It is quiet in the room except for the hissing sound of the oil in the pan. I know that normally I would be all over everyone, making jokes and laughing and everything. But I don't feel like it. And so, nobody says something. It makes me angry, though. I mean, what does this show me? That nobody talks to each other at all if it's not for yelling at me or chasing me?!
And Donnie still does not look at me.
Then a little device on the table in front of him peeps and it is so quiet in the room Raph actually jumps when it does. "Whaddis t'is?" he asks. Don shruggs. "I made another test. The results are there" he whispers. I almost don't understand him but everyone stares at him. Raph actually has something like hope in his eyes. As much as I hate being the oldest; him being the youngest is even harder, I imagine. "So?" he asks.
And Don leaves and as he returns, burned eggs are on the table and it smells like ashes. And he has a paper in his hand and I look at my feet and eat the food even though it tastes even worse than it looks. Because I know what it will say.
Age confirm test - 2000
Results
Listing brothers according to age
4. Michelangelo
3. Donatello
2. Raphael
1. Leonardo
Examining results
[83zgrtgfv62r5r2898z4069uj0]
Results confirmed
Everyone stares at the paper. Don says something in geek-ish about how sometimes the circumstances can cause a test to be wrong and I am the only one who understands that he does not mean the first test with this. And finally Raph asks if this meant that he did not have to eat this "trash" and Leo gets mad about it and they fight and I say "Oh, no, so I am the baby once again?" and give them puppy eyes. And everything is back to normal again. And when Don finally looks me in the eyes I send him a silent "thank you" and he shakes his head so slight that nobody else notices.
I am Hamato Michelangelo.
I am the youngest of four brothers.
Four turtles. Living in the sewers. Seeing each other
All the time. And I just learned how hard it really is to be the one
To keep this mess that our life can be in order. And I know my brothers
Better then ever. But I am nobody for a serious talk. I am the clown. And so all I
Can do to show them is by doing what I usually do. By cheering them up. And so this is what I do.
"I love you guys" I say. And then I jump at Leo and the chair falls down and when Sensei comes into the kitchen we are all in one big huddle on the floor and shout and laugh and despite the feeling I have in my stomach it
just
feels
wonderful.
So this is the story. I hope you liked it. Still thinking about a special bonus chappie.. But we'll see. What do you think?
Bye guys! And may your family and friends be with you always!