Miracle on New York Hills (Part 1 of New York Hills)

Crack, Crack, Burn

Chapter 5

No one believes Mikey. Maybe Milo does, but Grandpa Sho makes that same joke about the drinks that he did so many years ago. Is that what he does when things get tough? Turn to alcohol?

Once the crowd returns to celebrating out of earshot, Grandpa Sho turns to Mikey with a disapproving frown.

"I really di-"

"Enough, Michelangelo," Grandpa Sho sighs, fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose, "The whole village relies on our clan, on our family, on our gifts, so the best way for... some of us to help is to get out of the way."

Mikey shouldn't have even attempted to explain. It's not like Grandpa Sho or anyone else ever believes him about anything.

"Leonardo," Grandpa Sho beckons the only lingering member of the family.

Everyone else has herded the village back into Milo's room and is entertaining them, but of course, perfect Leonardo is waiting within earshot to be able to respond to Grandpa Sho's every beck and call.

"Hai Grandfather?" Leo asks, once he steps in front of Mikey, slightly blocking his view of Grandpa Sho.

"Get your brother patched up," Grandpa Sho turns away and heads towards Milo's room.

Mikey watches him walk past, but he doesn't get to watch much longer. One of Leo's vines nudge him forward, making him stumble towards Leo, who grabs his wrist and drags him to his rose covered room. Mikey hasn't really been in here for more than making sure Leo was ready for the day since... and he didn't get a good look. Before Mikey's failed ceremony, he used to spend most of his nights in there. Leo was the best to go to about nightmares, because he was always awake and he always used logical explanations to make the scary things feel less scary (people would assume that would be Donnie's speciality, but Donnie's always been a bit of a paranoid conspiracy theorist), but that's in the past.

Despite him being older and taller now, the room seems bigger, Mikey notes, looking over the open rose beds that make up the flooring (are those statues of Leo?). Leo pushes Mikey, snapping him out of his thoughts. A thick, purple vine holds up a first aid kit that Leo opens and another forms a basin. Two leaves appear, attached to each other like some sort of ball. Leo removes the top one and pours water into the basin. He holds out his left hand expectantly. Mikey gives him a blank look.

"Hand."

Mikey startles and presents his hand. There's a long scratch on it that's lightly bleeding. He doesn't need medical attention.

"It may be scabbing over already, but that doesn't mean it won't get infected," Leo murmurs, inspecting the wound using both hands, "You need to clean this properly, especially since your hand is covered with dust."

"It's from Gram-Gram's roof ti- Ow!" Mikey cries as Leo rubs his hands with some water, cleaning them.

"Keep talking. It's a good distraction," Leo says, drying Mikey's hands with an orange towel.

Mikey scowls, "You could've warned m- Owww!"

Leo smirks a little, cleaning the wound itself with water, "Where's the fun in that?" he rolls his eyes at Mikey's glower, "You're fine, Miguel. Surprise means you won't notice as much."

"It still hurt- Owww! Will you stop doing it when I'm talking?!" Mikey growls.

"You get wrapped up in your talking very easily," Leo smiles a little, wrapping up Mikey's hand, "It's your own pain killer... anddddd done!"

Leo beams proudly, doing some jazz hands as the plants retreat. The smile disappears quickly when Mikey continues to scowl.

"Look, I'm sorr-"