Work Text:
"Hey! You know, one day I'm going to no longer be here you know! You guys should appreciate my mikeyness more!!"
We should have listened..
"Yo bro, remember I'm the cook. You don't touch the cook bro! No cook equals no me which means no food. Which sucks shell for you guys, your absolute rats at cooking! Ha- oww raphie!"
God, we should have listened.
It was all jokes and whatnot..
"Mmm leoo! If I ever kick the bucket before you dudes, make sure to make my funeral the best party ever!!!"
it was all jokes...
Yet we promised we would never let him go..
He was the youngest, the one who should live the longest...
He should live to see tomorrow...
He shouldn't be thinking about his funeral... about death.
" donnieeee, you should totes let me sit in your lab moree~ you never know when I might no longer be here to be your awesome, amazing assistant!"
you were right mikey... God were you right...
" you know, one day i'll no longer be here, and you guys will miss me! And when that happens I'll make sure to haunt the shell outa you guys, trust"
please little brother, please haunt us..
Please do anything to let us know you are still there..
" Oi-chan... I'm scared... what if one day something goes wrong and I-I die.... what will you guys do if something like that happens..?"
we grieve little brother..
We sob and wail and curse all higher beings for taking you away from us, for taking our Sunshine away..
You take apart of our hearts and souls ototo... we are never truly whole when your gone..
" if I die before you guys, I'll make sure to return as the sun! You know, cause I shine bright and you all call me sunshine... it makes sense! And that way, if I'm ever gone and you need a mikey famous hug you can just step out into the sunshine and the I'll hug you with my sunshiney warmth!!"
The sky was grey.. almost black as clouds swirl against eachother, blocking out the sun and the shine.
It rained heavy. Drops of water hitting the ground like bullets during war..
Leaves left the trees, flowers seemed to have lost its colour and the city seemed to have grown a little colder..
Like a blanket of sadness and bone deep depression has wrapped around the city..
Because that day the cruel masters known as fate and time stole away the brightest light to ever shine. To ever live in a world so inherently cruel.
It seemed like he would shine forever, like nothing could tear him down...
...
..
.
..
...
The battle was a harsh one, intense and draining for both sides.
Hands were sweaty as they gripped onto weapons, muscles sore from over use- begging for just a minute to rest. To breath.
But rest didn't come in times of conflict, when punches and kicks were traded with brutal force and mercy was found in nobodys heart-
Well expect for one..
He was more in the centre, his weapons; nunchuckes, and with a click of a hidden button do they turn into the kama.
He swings them around with agility and efficacy. Movements flowly yet fierce; like a cheetah in the way it is both graceful yet strong.
His eyes are trained on all that is around him.
Keeping track of his brothers as they fight their collective foes, keeping track of the injures that adorn those of importance on both sides.
He watches and thinks and acts all at once. His mind a tornado of one million different things, of ways to provide more help.
And his mind; in all its flaws and inefficiencies (Don't let leo know he said that, he would definitely lecture him), when in times of trouble like this, it actually provides good help.
The voice in his head that usually only speaks to berate him on behalf of all things sad and angsty, actually gives him tips and points out useful information. Information that helps mikey protect his brothers; to keep an eye on their blind spots.
And that voice in his head is the reason why he even noticed it in the first place, a rogue katantna that cuts through the air, it glides with force and power that comes with being thrown.
And usually a rogue weapon isn't something to pay attention too..
Unless it is that weapon that seems to be flying through the air in the direction of Leonardo.
He moves as if physics were a suggestion, like all of a sudden appearing behind your brother and feeling your flesh tear as the enemies katantna embeds itself in his thigh, way to close to an arterie for his liking.
He staggers for a second, mind growing painfully quiet, eyes whiting out from the sheer pain.
Yet when he opened them the fight was still on. Nobody had noticed that his presence has stilled- even if it was for mere moments.
So he knew nobody cared that he tugged out the weapon with ease, before ripping off the bandages on his arm and stuffing them all the way inside the wound. Ruff fabric quickly staining red as it try's to withhold all the blood.
He should tell donnie... he knows that. But, he can't right now. He needs to fight, needs to provide help to his brothers and defeate these foes.
And even if it hurts so, so much he continues fighting. Kama and nunchucke in hand as he hurdles the metal rod and the blade towards enemies, slamming one in the head hard enough for them to collapse. And for his kama to puncture Rahzah in the chest.
He ignores that shrill wail as the mutt falls down- (where did Rahzah even come from? What the shell?)
And he continues on fighting and fighting.
Breaking bones and tearing apart skin to reveal scarlet red liquid.
He doesn't notice the appearance of tigerclaw, not until the beast starts charging at a distracted Rapheal.
And when that happens he all but throws himself on the older mutant, pulling his weapon towards this beast and stabbing him in the shoulder with his kama blade.
Yet he wasn't fast enough to avoid getting ripped off the tigers figure and slammed- shell first into the rooftop.
He feels something break... oh well, not important.
He rolls out of the way before tigerclaw could land any more hits.
And he watches with a spark of glee as his older brother leo tackles tigerclaw; he didnt see mikey. Didnt see the way mikeys eyes looked so in pain, so stressed.
He should rest, breath. Let donnie know just how injured he is...
He stumbles back up, with only his kama in his hand... where did his nunchuckes go?
He doesn't have time to think before he is being attacked again.
And like second nature, like instinct he shifts back into the mindset of fighting.
He moves through the battle with ease despite his many injuries. Swords swiped at him, they missed by miles as he rolled out of the way.
It was like he became untouchable. Like a spirit, something fierce yet looks fragile.
Yet again, that voice in the back of his mind screams for him to turn.
And when he does he can see something that nobody wants anybody to bring to a battle fought with weapons of steel.
A gun. Which now lays in the hand of some inexperience foot soldier, who holds it like doesn't hold the ability to kill.
He is the only one to see, to see how it is pointed at Donatello.
And it's like the laws of physics don't apply here as he appers infront of the frightened gunman. Shielding his brother and any other possible victims.
The foot soldier, who is very obviously young. Probably around the age of 16-17. Has the gun raised with shaky hands.
Michelangelo raises his hands, and talks in the softest voice he can manage at the moment.
"Hey, hey dude. You probably already know who I am, right?"
The soldier shakes his head.
Michelangelo ignores that fact all fighting has ceased. He feels the weight of eyes on his back; both foe and friend.
"Ok, well then. I'm Michelangelo, what is your name dude?" He asks gently, risking a step forwards.
"M-my name... name i-is .... J-jacob..." the Soldier Jacob stutters.
"Ok, nice name Jacob. Can you do something for me, mm" he takes another small step forward. Risking a quick look behind to see his brothers; tigerclaw, the shredder (when did he get here! What the fuck!), fishface plus a small number of foot ninjas simply starring at the two of them.
He turns his attention quickly back to Jacob, who still has a gun clutched between his trembling hands.
"Jacob, could you please let go of the gun for me dude?" He politely asks.
The air is filled with tention even thicker then before. Because even the enemy knows honor in death, and death by bullet isn't the way to go. It holds no honor in the eyes of two separate clan's that are currently at war with another.
Guns is a clear no go, even shredder knows that.
"I-i can't... i-i gotta.. gotta kill you t-turtles" he whispers out into the bitter rain of the night. Holding the gun with hands just a little less shakey.
"Jacob, Jacob. Calm down, you know you can kill us using, like katantnas and whatnot. No need for guns dude, so please drop it" he spoke with his voice carrying authority he definitely doesn't feel. Yet the teenage boy doesn't listen, mind too stuck on the command of kill the turtles.
Jacobs ignores the way the shredders voice booms across the rooftop, telling him to drop the gun and use a normal weapon like a man.
And Jacob ignores it all, doesn't hear the muffled pleas spoken by the orange banded mutant.
Cause it is over shadowed by the bang of a gun.. which ejects the bullet that imminently tears through mikeys plastron and forces it way between flesh and veins. Before implanting itself right inside Michelangelos left lung.
Awful silence.
Even the enemy's eyes are wide and some even have mouths open in surprised horror.
And Jacob died that night, a sai stabbed straight in the head as Rapheal pushes him away from his currently downed brother.
"MIKEY!!"
It hurts so much... pain is all that filters through mikeys mind.
Pain of the bullet, the pain of the stab wound. The pain of his shell and how cracks decorate it in a gruesome display of pain.
He doesn't hear much over the ringing in his head.
Doesn't hear the command shredder makes, telling his lackys and his soldiers to retreat. Granting them mercy for the first time ever.
He doesn't feel the hands gripping onto him.
Doesn't hear his two oldest brothers practically screaming and pleading at him to keep his eyes open.
He doesn't feel the calloused hands of donnie as he administers first aid as quickly as possible. Trying to staunch the blood flow from all wounds that display themselves on his mutated green skin.
He hears muffled sounds. Of raph saying how he needs him to keep his eyes open. Talking about a recipe he has been so desperate to make.
He listens to leo and how he speaks to him in a voice so gentle, saying how he just has to make it home and into the medbay so donnie along with their father and leatherhead can preform surgery and save him. Because there will not be any deaths happening tonight.
He can make out the sound of donnie, talking in a voice laced with so much concern; about how he needs mikey as a lab assistant. He says how he can't go now, that he needs to stay with them.
And he can hear himself, hear how his voice is all slurred and muffled.
He hates that he doesn't know what he is saying... he thinks he said something about the sun..
His eyes open just a bit (when did they close),
He sees two blurry figures of his purple banded brother and blue banded brother as they run ahead of them, deep down in the sewers.
He feels the arms of his red themed brother as he holds him close.
Like if raph holds onto mikey tight enough, all will be ok.
Though they all hear it. Worse raph can feel it, the way his baby brothers breath tickles his shoulder from where his beak is nudged between his neck and shoulder.
" 'uve ... y-yu... o-oi- cha..an.. .."
And raph can feel the way his youngest brother starts chocking on his own blood. Can feel the way his lungs don't take any more air in, filling up with burgundy red. Drowing him inside out.
Donnie rushed over with leo in foot. Tears streaming down their faces as they watch their youngest drown in his own blood.
And donnie tries. Oh dear gods above does he try. But he isn't a doctor, he doesn't know everything.
He doesn't know how to fix this.
Leo in all his leader glory has no idea what to do, so he holds onto the slightly convulsing body of their youngest.
Raph in the way he has strived to protect his famiky; his brothers. Rests his forhead on Michelangelos plastron. Tears wetting down his face and wretched sobs scratching out of his throat as he feels his sunshine slip away.
....
That day a heart stopped beating,
That day the sun shined with a little less meaning then it was supposed too.
And that day the symphony of breaking hearts and the wails of pure grief rattled the world.
As 3 brothers hold close the body of their now deceased baby brother. Their ototo. Their light in the dark.
Raph screams and screams. Punching the ground until bone breaks but he doesn't care.
Cause when they get home everything will be bare and numb. Because the healing soup that is filed away inside the fridge will only remind him that his baby brother is gone.
Leo throws up because of how hard he hyperventilates. Body covering his baby brothers corpse. Tears of silent agony paint his face and leave their mark there forever.
And in the back of his mind he knows he will have to eventual plan a funeral.. he remembers a conversation he and mikey has once; of how his youngest has Had- how he had wanted his funeral to be big and fun. And leo swears on his honor that is what he will do.
Later though. He is to busy drowing in grief.
Donnie curls up on himself, hands scratching at his temple; words of harsh and self berating origin scream in his mind. He didn't fix it, he didn't fix it, he is supposed to fix everything! Stuipd stuiped stuiped stuiped so so stupid!!
There is nothing he can do, not for the bullet wound or for the stab wound and cracked shell (How did that happen! Why didn't he come and tell him! He is supposed to be the genius! He could've saved mikey!!) But there is nothing to do. And now his world is awful and silent and devoid of all joy and laughter.
He will never have mikey as his lab assistant again, he will never hear his jokes or his laughter.
None of them will ever see his cheesy grin.
Never will they taste a freshly made recipe that came straight from Michelangelos crazy mind.
So many nevers, so many possibilities that will never happen now.
All because their sunshine was taken.
Because they didn't see, didn't look or hear until it was to late. Before they could move to stop the honorless, merciless foot soldier as he pressed down on the trigger.
And now mikey is gone.
And they will forever yearn for him.
They will never be whole again, they already know.
.
...
....
...
.
Michelangelo Hamato looked upon his body, and looked upon his brothers as they tear them selves apart with the ugly claws of grief.
He move like the breeze over to the covered grates.
He moves away the foliage and the trash that blocks out the warmth of dawn.
He drifts towards his brothers. Who have all surrounded his body, all holding apart of him.
Wailing and crying in a way only a sibling can do for eachother.
And he allows his new form to wrap around them all.
Letting the sunshine sink into their skin, letting them know he is still there.
Ready to haunt them will the hugs of sunshine whenever it touches their skin.
( he wonders if they remember him saying that he would haunt them if he ever died.... he will never know )
He hugs them tight, his form melting away the old parts of himself until he just the warmth of the new days sun.
Now he gets to shine forever..
Just not in the way anybody could've wanted.