I'm a Burden (Mikey Depressed Fic)

Part 5

Mikey panted as he tried to keep up with his brothers.His brothers glanced at him worriedly. Their brother was slowing down. After a while Mikey could no longer run as he stopped to catch his breath his brothers did not. Something caught their attention. It was the Kraang carrying mutagen. Ralph being his hotheaded self sprang into action. Ignoring any instruction their leader may give. Donnie followed behind him and then Leo leaving there little sunshine unnoticed as he also jumped down a full minute after his brothers did.

Mikey struggled to even stand up as he felt cold and woozy. He felt sick after running and his legs felt like they were about to give out on him. Yet he jumped into action fighting next to his brothers as he would rather die twice than let his brothers get hurt. They were too important compared to someone like him. He pulled out his nun-chucks and twirled then around slashing anything in his path as if he were a machine. His usual style would be much more free and fun.

Stupid you're too slow! You deserve another cut for letting him go like that! I saw one of them hit Donnie and you could've stopped it by being faster, why are you so slow?! The orange turtle pushed himself even harder as he started to have specks in his vision. He couldn't care less though as his thoughts piled up in his head with every punch and kick. Till he felt his already light head grow too light and he didn't know what he was hitting. He just kept punching and kicking, he heard white noise until he heard a clear cut voice. "Retreat! We got what we needed!" It was his brother Leo. The four brothers cut their path open so they could jump into the shadows with ease. Donnie handled a case as well as Ralph, Leo was at the front with one also leaving Mikey in the back to guard in case anyone tries to attack.

"Mikey! Where's your head at?!" Ralph yells. "Mikey you need to pay more attention! You're always in your lala land that's why we couldn't get that last case of mutagen. Mikey bit his lip as all the words that his brothers said swirled around his head like a tilt wheel. You should've paid more attention. Didn't get a case of mutagen. WEAK! PIECE OF GARBAGE! WASTE OF SPACE! CUT! CUT! He needs to cut! He let tears start to form in his eyes but, he can't let his family down. He let Leatherhead down. He's the worst creature on this planet. Mikey felt the urge to cut become greater and greater. As Mikey gasped for air he clutched his arm digging his givers into his raw wounds he placed on his wrists. He had a collection of scars that started to grow onto his knee pads and feet.

His brothers scolded him and then gave him the cold shoulder not even looking back at his hurt face which eventually turned expressionless as his already dull eyes started to grow grey. By the time they made it back Mikey was swaying, and turning paler by the second. How brothers did not notice as they went to their father who had been waiting patiently for them in the dojo. Mikey too tired to even speak stumbled to his room and fell onto his floor after closing the door as silently as he could.

He pulled out his nun chucks and pressed the button for the blade to open. He threw off his bandages and gear and delivered short quick cuts to his wrist relaxing from the pain that felt like a high. He watched as crimson slid down his arm looking at his elbow and onto the floor. His once messy room was barren except for the posters that reminded him of how much of a failure he was. He felt lightheaded once more and his stomach empty,he was forced to eat some cereal before training. He didn't even bother with anything else. I don't deserve anything. Mikey cut himself deeper as he could no longer feel his body, his light head was his pain, his anything. With the last cut he collapsed and let his eyes dull streaming tears as if he were a lifeless doll.

On the other hand the older turtles and father were talking. "Honestly Sensei, he's such a pain! He's never paying attention. We could've gotten all the mutagen but he had to screw up!" yelled Raph. "I needed that mutagen to experiment on!" Donnie added. "He's also been slowing us down, maybe we should keep him home. He's younger than us, and way more sensitive so maybe he should stay home until he grows up a bit. Plus he needs to catch up with his training and he seems to be slowing down."

"Who cares?! The brat is a pain in th-"

"Enough!" The three went quiet at the anger in their father's voice. His eyes were filled with fury and disappointment from his son's words. "This is your youngest brother. Not only are you to look after him as his older brothers but also guide him. It is dishonoring to speak of your own flesh like this. I will not tolerate such immaturity. Not only does he have undeniable raw talent as he has excelled all of you when you were his age. He brings relief to our family, when I specifically told you to watch over him you were the ones to harm him. Now, your brother is not here. Why is that?"

Splinter could tell by his son's guilty faces they have said words to hurt Mikey as he could feel some of the pain in his Saki. He felt a sudden urge to go find his son. As if his child was getting hurt. He rushed out of the room and pressed his paw on his youngest door. He felt a sudden chill crawl up his spine. He did not like this feeling at all. He knocked on the door.

No answer. He felt a strange sense of urgency claw at his stomach. His three sons looked at curiosity, unsure why his father was so uneasy they stood behind him. "Sensei?' Leo asked as he saw his father bang his paws against the door. "Michelangelo opened this door!" The rat yelled with concern starting to frighten the three boys behind him.

Splinter felt his son's aura start to grow dim. He could not feel the little warmth his son usually brought. He could no longer control himself as he ripped the door and flung it over his shoulder. Sharing his sons even more. But what they saw behind the door made their hearts stop.

The youngest was in a pool of his own blood which was slowly seeping out of his wrist inscribed with too many scars. Tears were still pouring out of his dull grey eyes though he didn't seem to be conscious. Splinter was the first to react, lunging to his youngest pulling him into his arms and running to the lab leaving his sons behind him forgotten. They looked as if they were about to throw up. They all stared at the surreal scene in front of them unable to comprehend unable to move. Splinter, partially unable to accept the reality in front of him, pushed forward. He pulled Mikey into his arms, it was horrifying how light he had become.

"Donatello come help me with your brother. Raphael I need water and a cloth! Leonardo you start to clean up the mess!" The turtles rushed to do their assigned tasks as if they were on autopilot. Leo and Ralph grabbed cloths, they only knew where one bucket and Ralph took it and rushed to the bathroom to get hot water. Leo on the other hand took a bowl with water and soap. On his hands and knees he scrubbed the floor as if his life depended on it. The rat and the purple turtle were applying antiseptic to the youngest. Splinter pulled off everything of his son to be filled with such grief. As he stared from his son's puffy closed eyes to his pale skin covered with scars.

He felt tears pool into his eyes. How could he fail to see such darkness consuming his son. Donatello on the other hand the sight in from him was too much for him. Not my brother he thought as he ran to the edge of his lab and threw up in the corner. Splinter wiped his tears away. I need to focus on my sons, the wise rat thought. "My son! We must focus on your brother! I will disinfect but I need your medical knowledge as well." Donnie seemed to get a grip on himself and analyzed the injuries. The cuts on anything though could be covered up. His wrists, his knees, his elbows his feet. The cuts ranged from horrid to worse. The one he had hit a vein thus he couldn't stop bleeding he'll need to stitch it up. Thank shell he didn't have any infected cuts, but h Mikey has a fast metabolism he needed to eat more than his brothers but he never seen Mikey eat for months. It dawned on Donnie how much he has ignored his brother.

The brother that always made sure he slept and ate was starving himself. The dark circles under his eyes revealed he has had less sleep than his brother. Donnie with shaky hands shook Splinter a needle silently begging him to stitch up Mikey as he could not stop shaking. Splinter agreed silently as he started to stitch up Mikey while Donnie started to hook Mickey us too machines and began taking tests. By the time Ralph came in Splinter ordered him to start to clean up Mikey, as he finished up the stitching and wrapping up his wounds. Soon enough Leo had come in, standing in the back as he stared in horror. Ralph finished cleaning up and stood next to his older brother. A question had come to mind to the four conscious members of the family.

How could this get so bad?