Disclaimer & Warnings:
I do not own the Turtles, as much as I would love to.
Contains spoilers for the TMNT '07 movie.
*This chapter contains allusions to tcest.*
Chapter Ten
Four months later
"Preliminary reports suggest that this new vigilante is indeed here to stay-,"
"Yo, Mikey!" Alex yelled, throwing an arm on the back of the couch.
"Wha'?" he shouted back, peeking his head out of the kitchen.
"C'mere, it's that guy again on the news!"
Mikey ran over, apron and all, and crash-landed on the couch beside her, his eyes glued to the screen.
"Police have released the contents of a note from the supposed criminal fighter, stating that he wishes to remain anonymous and be left alone-,"
Mikey pointed excitedly at the screen. "Now that's what I'm talking about! That's…" His voice trailed off, his expression sobering. "That's what we used to do."
Alex leaned against him, giving him a warm smile. "Don't worry, Mikey; Leo will be home in two months."
"Fifty-five days," Mikey replied sullenly.
She laughed at his accuracy. "Fifty-five days, then."
"Is it that Night Watch guy again?" Donnie asked, peering over their shoulders.
"Nightwatcher," Mikey corrected automatically.
"Whatever." Donnie sipped his coffee, eyeing the screen thoughtfully. "Sure has some high-tech gear."
"Isn't he great?" Mikey said wistfully.
Donnie rolled his eyes as he sat next to him. "Sure, Mikey."
"Oh c'mon, you gotta be jealous! Who knows what awesome gizmos he has hidden up his sleeves!"
Donatello snorted, trying to not appear interested and failing miserably.
Alex pulled her phone out of her pocket, her fingers flying over the keyboard.
you were on the news again. i think mikeys in love.
Moments later, her phone screen lit up with a silent text.
i bet dons tryin to figure out how hes got all his shit
She chuckled, throwing a glance at the turtle in question before simply replying, totally.
all quiet here for now, comin home in 2hrs don't wait up
She snapped her phone closed, replacing it in her pants as she grinned at the two brothers on the couch. They had digressed into an argument about whether the Nightwatcher was packing rockets among his arsenal, and she found it highly amusing.
Fifty-four days later
"Mikey, give me that." Donnie reached for the wad of cash again, but his youngest brother danced away.
"Noooo, I want a new game and I'm gonna buy it tomorrow!"
Donatello sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose wearily. "Mike, you know damn well you have to save up if you want something. I thought you got your job to contribute around here, not so you could buy more crap for yourself."
Mikey pouted, deflating slightly. "Oh c'mon, Donnie, it just came out and Casey got to play it at a friend's and said it was so mind-blowingly awesome it- well, blows your mind!"
"Wouldn't be hard in your case," Donnie sniggered. "Fine, fine. You keep this paycheck." He glanced at the clock on the wall nearby, moving his hand to rub his temples. "Gods, I can't wait for tomorrow."
"ME EITHER!" Mikey literally bounced in a circle around him, unable to contain his excitement.
Raphael jumped, startling awake from where he'd fallen asleep at the kitchen table. "Geez, Mike, keep it down," he grumbled, reburying his face in his crossed arms.
"BUT I'M SO EXCITED!" Mikey skipped over to him, drumming his fingers on top of Raph's head. "LEO'S COMING HOME!"
Raphael picked his head up, glaring at him. "That ain't just gonna magically fix anythin'."
"No, but it's a start! Look, I even made a banner." Mikey abandoned tapping out a tune on his brother's head and opened a cupboard nearby, pulling out a long sheet of paper.
"Mikey!" Donnie crossed his arms angrily. "You stole my continuous computer paper!"
"Yep!" Mikey grinned. "Look, look, d'you like it?"
Donatello couldn't hide a grin as Mikey stretched it out across the kitchen. He had scrawled 'Welcome Home' in bright blue letters.
"Oh Mikey, that's neat!" Alex said, stepping off the last stair as she shook her wet hair. "That'll be perfect."
"Think he'll like it?"
"Definitely." Alex walked over to Donnie and gave him a tight hug. "I can't wait."
"Ugh," Raph grunted, picking himself up and dragging himself to the stairs. "You guys are too damn loud. I'm goin' to bed."
"But Raph, it's nine in the morning…" Mikey called after him, then shrugged.
"Let him sleep," Alex said softly. "Tomorrow will be a big day for all of us."
Three months later
Mikey sighed, rapidly flipping the channels on TV as Donnie tapped on his laptop next to him.
"What is it?" Donnie snapped. "You've been sighing like a lovesick puppy over there for an hour now. I can't concentrate."
"Sorry," Mikey mumbled. "I'm just tired."
"Then go to bed," Donnie said crankily.
"Geez, Donnie. Drink some coffee or something." He looked around the room, puzzled. "Where did you say sis was?"
"I told you already, she's at her art opening."
"Wish she was here," Mikey grumped. "You're a complete douche unless she's around anymore."
"I- What-," Donnie's head jerked up, finally breaking his gaze from the computer screen. Mikey's words sunk in, and he frowned.
"I'm not handling this well," Donnie said quietly.
"Well neither am I, but you don't have to bite my head off."
"You're right." Donnie eyed the work left on his screen, and for the first time in several months didn't have the motivation to finish. He closed the laptop. "You're quite right, Mikey." He got up and flopped on the couch next to him. "Let's do something together."
"Really?" Mikey asked, his eyes shining.
Donnie chuckled at the hopeful tone in his brother's voice. "Sure. I've been so busy lately. I need a break. Let's… ah…" He glanced around the room, his eyes falling on a dusty pile of boardgames. "What about Scrabble?"
"Eww, no." Mikey wrinkled his nose. "You always win."
Donnie laughed. "Okay… Connect Four?"
"Too easy."
"Chess?"
"Too hard."
Donatello rolled his eyes. "Picky, picky. Um…" He snapped his fingers, grinning as a thought occurred to him. "How about Axis and Allies?"
"I call Allies!" Mikey shouted, jumping off the couch to grab the game from the abandoned heap.
"You always do," Donnie said, smiling affectionately at him.
Mikey looked at him over his shoulder. "Tell me again."
Donnie's expression fell at the now-often request. "He's coming home, Mikey. As soon as he can."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"No!" Alex clutched the helmet to her chest, backing away from Raphael. "You are slacking, big man."
"C'mon, I was in the middle of somethin'," Raph growled, stalking towards her.
"I saw! The police almost got you that time."
"I can't very well ask the dirtbags to hold still while I send a text," Raphael snapped, gesturing at his helmet. "I do my best, okay? Now give it back."
"Every hour." Alex's eyes blazed as she took another step backwards. "You promised!"
"Well some promises are made to be broken!" Raphael hissed, and then frowned as he paused.
Alex sighed, walking over to him and handing him the helmet. "Just remember you have someone to come home to, still."
"I…" His dark eyes bored into hers, and they exchanged silent words of sorrow.
"Raph," she finally said, grabbing the helmet back and placing it on his head. "We can't lose you, too."
What sounded like a sob echoed from his helm, and she squeezed him in a tight embrace.
"Ya won't," Raphael replied when he felt he could speak. "I'm never leavin' our family. An' I promise."
She gave him a tearful smile as she stepped away. "Now go kick ass."
"Ya know I will." He settled heavily on his Shell Cycle, giving her a thumbs up before revving the engine and speeding away into the darkness.
~Fin
[Author's Note]
Yep, done with sequel part one! Sequel part two is coming soon. :3 It will be shorter than this one, and have more… well, answers for lack of a better word. Stay tuned!