Dagger From the Mirror (ROTTMNT/TMNT 2012 Crossover Fic)

How To Earn Trust

To say Little Mikey was happy was an understatement.

No, Little Mikey wasn't just 'happy'. Happy couldn't even begin to describe the pure joy he felt in his heart, pulsing outwards to fill every part of his soul and body with glee and cheer. He wasn't happy. He was ecstatic, overjoyed, euphoric, and thrilled. He was on cloud nine! And Little Mikey wanted to make sure that everyone could feel that warmth he was feeling too.

His big brother was back.

Sure, there was a tugging at his heartstrings when he thought of his other two missing family members (a thought which never fully vanished from his mind), but they had had a successful mission and Little Mikey knew everyone was exhausted. He was too! And exhaustion overtaking them wasn't going to help anyone save Leo and Donnie no matter how much Mikey wished it did. Two of his older brothers were still missing, yes, but Little Mikey felt more confident that they could get both of them back than he had in a long time. He could afford to sit back for a day, even if he didn't want to.

But just because he couldn't jump back in the battle to free them now, that didn't mean he couldn't help any of his brothers. He had a brother right here with him, one that looked depressed and self ashamed and horribly saddened. Mikey wasn't an idiot; he knew his Raph was undoubtedly still blaming himself for everything that happened, no matter how much they told him it wasn't his fault. Of course he would; it's Raph!

Raph, who put way too much weight on his own shoulders. Raph, who felt so much responsibility for keeping his team safe. Raph, who wanted nothing more than to protect his brothers from all that was wrong in the world.

Raph, who didn't deserve to deal with any of this.

While the young turtle wasn't sure if it was possible yet to convince him that this wasn't his fault, he did know there was at least one way to cheer him up. A distraction! If you couldn't think about what was bothering you, then you couldn't be upset over it. Not a solution, but a good temporary fix nonetheless.

And that idea had led Little Mikey to where he was now; dragging his Raph around the lair and excitedly introducing him to every new person and thing he had discovered.

"They don't have an arcade or a good skate ramp, but they have this cool vintage game!" Little Mikey babbled, gesturing wildly to the Space Heroes arcade game in the common area. "I haven't played it yet, but it looks fun! It's for some old TV show they all like."

Raph hummed slightly in response, indicating he had heard, when a scoff caught their attention.

"Leo likes that show," This world's Donnie corrected, sitting across the room where he sat with New April and Leo, discussing something. "The game is fun, but Space Heroes is his thing, not ours."

Leo sighed. "Space Heroes is amazing, I still don't get why you don't like it."

"Space Heroes?" Little Mikey tilted his head to one side slightly, frowning before shaking his head. He crossed his arms across his chest stubbornly, "Sounds cool, but I bet Jupiter Jim is way better! Right, Raph?"

"What? Oh, yeah," Raph agreed absentmindedly, though he was frowning and staring at this world's Donnie, distracted by... something. Little Mikey wasn't really sure of what. But that was okay; in the end, it didn't matter as long as he wasn't thinking of the previous week.

But whatever had caught Raph's attention wasn't going to last long, Little Mikey knew. He needed to get back to his tour of the lair!

Grabbing his brother's wrist, he called out a quick "goodbye!" to the group and took off running towards the kitchen, Raph stumbling slightly trying to keep up. At least that broke him free of his weird trance.