No Use |TMNT

Chapter 14

Splinter slowly paced himself to his once intelligent sons' room, slowly opening the door. It was the middle of the night and he wanted to check on Donatello, especially after his trauma from the recent seizure. Though, he didn't expect Michelangelo to be sitting on the edge of the bed, watching Don with what seemed like a mother hawk stare. The lack of posture on his shoulders indicated Mikey's ever dropping will to keep himself awake.

"Michelangelo?" The old rat whispered, opening the door wider as he entered the bedroom.

Mikey slurred groggily, drool manifested at the tip of his lips and dripped down his chin; "I'll take a pepperoni… double pizza dog… hold the mayonnaise…"

Splinter found himself chuckling, his voice gingerly watched over and silenced into gentle delight. He sighed, making it quick and tender.

"How about some tea instead?"

Mikey snapped awake at the recognition of the voice familiar to his brain. He straightened himself as he turned to see Splinter. "Hai sensei -!" He yelled, his shoulders tensed instinctively into a stiff, disciplinary posture in attention.

"Be very quiet, my son." Yoshi silently hushed him, indicating that Donnie was still in an unconscious state from his seizure. The turtle was in a fetal position, holding a teddy bear –probably given to him by Michelangelo when he was watching him.

"Oh…hehe…sorry Sensei." Mikey yawned tiredly, rubbing the back of his neck with tired eyes, his nerves pinched.

"Michelangelo what are you doing in here?" There wasn't a spite of anger in the voice, but concern that trickled through his tone like velvet. The father of the two walked to the bed and sat down next to his son, being careful not to wake Donatello.

"Oh this? I just wanted to watch over Donnie in case, ya know…" Mikey looked at his feet, avoiding eye contact with his father. He knew very well that a possible seizure attack wouldn't happen on the same day, but he couldn't risk not being there for him again when he needed him. He just wanted to make sure… Just in case…

"You are supposed to be asleep. Donatello will be fine, my son. You do not have to watch over him all the time." This time Splinter placed a hand on his shell, which brought Mikey to look up at him. His blue eyes were filled with tears that beaded on the edges of his eyelids, staining his mask into a damp, darkly rust.

"But Donnie and Leo and Raph always watch me when I have a hard time at night…" Mike muttered more to himself in a tone, soft as a timid child. He turned back as Don pushed the blanket unconsciously away from him. Almost immediately, Mikey moved the blanket over him, knowing the cold winter could easily make him sick.

After a few seconds trickled by, Splinter spoke up.

"There is something troubling you." There was a hint of worried and concern looming through his sentence. Mikey almost winced at his father's tone.

"Huh? Nah –I'm a tough turtle. I'll be fine. You know me." Michelangelo bluntly ignored his statement, waving his hand to show he was okay. He smiled up at his father – hoping, pleading, Sensei would believe his words. Splinter had one son to worry about, Mikey didn't want it to be two sons – Donnie needed the attention, not him.

Splinter went and rubbed Mikey's shell in circles, following the hexagonal patterns on his shell, before speaking softly once again; "Perhaps Donatello is not the only one who has suffered trauma."

The turtle's eyes widened, unsure of what to say to his father, mind laced with denial and the ever-manifesting refusal to tell him what was bothering him. He knew in the end, though, that his efforts were futile. Splinter always figured it out, there was no use hiding things from him.

"You did very well, my son. Donatello will heal hopefully –"

"Eventually." Mikey corrected him, smiling softly. He once again turned to look at his father.

Splinter smiled at the sliver of positivity in his voice. He sighed with content, a soothing melody gleaming dully within his pupils. "You must rest. He will not heal right away, you know this. A wound does not mend in a matter of seconds. It will take time and patience. Do not trouble yourself over this, my son."

Mike hesitated, turning back to see his older brother; "…Hai sensei." He leaned in for a quick kiss on Don's cheek, before he slowly got up. He didn't look away from his brother as he approached the door and exited.