When the Sky Falls- TMNT X ROTTMNT Crossover

Chapter Nine: Milo

((Just a spoon full of sugar makes the emotions go high, emotions go highhh, emotions go high. In case you haven't figured it out, it's the illegal kind, illegal kiiind, illegal kind-))

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Michelangelo stared at the four turtles in front of himself, before looking down at his own legs. He noticed they were meatier than they were before. He hadn't taken how he looked into consideration in years. He always prided himself for being the 'cute one' when he was younger.

When his home had fallen into chaos, so many things were robbed of him and his friends and family. Time slipped away from him, and so many things that were relevant in his life before, weren't. He desperately wanted to understand, though now it is too late to demand such a thing. What would he say, to these strangers that were the reflections of his siblings and himself? How does he tell them that he was another version of one of them without sounding like a maniac?

It was too much for him to comprehend. Donnie surely would have known what to do.

".... I... uh..." Mikey managed to sligthly sputter out, before looking to the side. Come on.. think of something... you have to think of something. "I'm... uh.."

"Nice to meet you, Uh- I'm-" before Leon could continue making the snickering comment that he was in the middle of making, Raph lightly elbowed the other turtle a bit, though it wasn't enough to hurt him. Leo coughed a little bit, before laughing at the action made to stop him from his low-effort joke. "C'mon Raph, it was a good joke I was settin' up."

"First of all, Leo, it was one of the oldest jokes in the book. Second, let's not confuse him, he's probably still tired."

"Fiiiine, fine." Leo waved his hand a bit, before stucking out his tongue as asmall action of moderate distaste. It wasn't taken to heart though, because it was clear that he was messing around and not being serious. "My name is Leo. I am the handsome one." to that, both the orange banded turtle and purple banded turtle behind him stuck out their tongues with a small 'pfftth' noise, before the Box turtle flipped his fist upside down.

"Booooo."

Leo instantly turned around and grinned, before grabbing Mike and pulling him into a partially aggressive noogie. Both of the brothers quickly started laughing in amusement, satisfied with the end interaction. Eventually, the box turtle brother managed to slink his way out of the red-eared sliders grasp.

"Nevermind them and their antics. I am Donatello, the one and only softshell genius in these sewers." The more borderline nonchalant turtle smirked a bit as his passive expression seemed to be unfaultering. "This, over here, is our dearest little artist, Michael." Reaching over, and quickly peeling Mikey away from Leo amids their playful wrestling match, he made several gestures to the orange banded turtle, presenting the youngest brother in a fashion similar to presenting a new car.

To the introduction, Mikey only beamed in pride, and closed his eyes as he did a peace sign. Then, he started doing a couple dramatic poses to add to his charm. Donnie snickered a little bit, before stopping abruptly and tucking his arms behind his shell.

"And here, in this corner, the biggest, and baddest older brother around, we have- Raphaeeellll." Mikey eventually jumped to introduce the alagator snapper to the stranger, grinning as he hopped around on the much larger turtles shell. "Don't let his massive size intimidate you- he is as gentle as they come. Look at these cute lil' bunny ears." the orange banded turtle grabbed the tails of Raph's bandana and pulled them up over the eldest siblings head.

Raphael only started to slightly object when Mikelangelo was getting overanimated. He grabbed the Box Turtle by his shell, and gently placed him back down on the floor- his face flushed from the rabbit ears being made with his mask. There were several reasons, but he couldn't help it. He was a naturally bashful guy.

The terrapin continued to stare at them, unsure how to process the information. Part of himself felt as thought it had shut down- similar to a channel on TV going to static when it was down for whatever reason. Every piece of information was more stressful than the last. He already knew all their names, and yet, hearing all of them introduce either themselves or each other only made him feel as though he was choking.

It was a truth he didn't want to be true. A reality he wouldn't want to accept- no matter what the facts were. It's funny how life worked like that. No matter how much a truth such as this has to be acknowledged, he would probably always be in denial.

He couldn't tell them his real name. He couldn't take it, he couldn't answer questions, or explain what was going on. What if they didn't believe him? He can't even organize his thoughts, and he would be expected to try and come up with a reasonable explanation as to why there were now two Mikey's in the same universe.

Ice Cream Kitty looked to it's owner, before letting out a low, sad mewl. The Neopolitan cat nestled it's head up against the plastron of the diamondback, before starting to pur. Ice Cream Kitty certainly didn't look happy either. The only real peace of mind that Michelangelo could come to was a little funfact that Donnie had told him once a long, long time ago.

Cat's purring is often stated to be a way for cats to show happiness. However, it was also stated that cat's purr to heal themselves and their owners. It wasn't anything superpowered, or anything like Mikey had thought at first. It was something as silly as a little silence, and emotional interaction. Yet- knowing that cat's could purr to heal their owners was something that the Terrapin had emotionally attached to upon learning it.

The light-weighted thought had taken away a bit of the pressure from Michelangelo's chest, and he let out a relieved breath as the smallest smile dare to cross his lips.

"Sooo, what IS your name, stranger?" the alternate version of Mikey grinned, before extending out a hand in the terrapin's direction. The movement was quick, and caused Michelangelo to jump a bit, blue eyes flashing in Mike's direction. The Box turtle brought his hand away, before shaking them. "Whoa, sorry. Didn't mean to move that fast-"

"Milo." the voice finally stated.

All of the brothers looked toward the stranger, before looking at each other. Almost as if they couldn't actually believe that the figure had finally spoke to them in a voice that wasn't broken or distant. A distinct 'Huh?' expression crossed all their faces, while they stared at the stranger- waiting for him to say it again.

"Milo. I'm called... Milo." Michelangelo sighed, before sitting up on the table.

The terrapin took in a deep breath as he brought his hands to his face. He could feel part of himself coming back. He did little to stop it, for he hardly could tell it was happening. A small smile reappeared on his tired face, and he looked around between the four brothers in front of him. So close to him, and yet still complete strangers. He couldn't bring himself to tell them his real name. Hopefully... they would never need to know.

He had made them worry about him long enough, he needs to stop sobbing around and being desperate for comfort.. they had better things to do.. right? He needs to stop crying. Leo, Donnie and Raph from his time wouldn't cry. They would suck it up, and be upset in solitude. Because their problems shouldn't be projected on everyone else around them.

That is what he would do indeed. He would keep his problems to himself. For his brothers. He can be better, and do better. He can keep it all inside, because Ninja's aren't babies...

Right...?

"Milo Hamato."

((To Be Continued))