Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What are these grotesque creatures, Stockman!?” Oroku Saki growled from his throne. 

“Before you dismiss these things, allow me to explain their use.” Stockman replied eagerly from his wheelchair. 

Oroku Saki just snarled in disgust. The so-called project Stockman was creating for the last four months was Worms; Large, wriggling, slimy worms with pointed heads and a metal like band at the base. The pointed head would open up like a flower but its mouth was just as hideous looking with a long tongue that would writhe around in its enclosure pod. 

“These creatures. These worms are capable of entering a host and connecting itself to the host's brain stem and forcing them to bend to their will. I modified them with control modules so whatever they want is in accordance with whoever is in control of the command center. What we want is what the worms want and the host will do as it's told.” Stockman explained, “The Brain Worms are what I wish to call them.” 

Saki took some time to process the information. So these ugly things can control a person or several persons. Not a bad idea in the grand scheme of things. This would make getting dirty work done far more efficiently and ensure absolute loyalty. You can't betray someone if they own your mind, body, and soul. 

“Do these…things work?” He questioned, folding his hands. 

“In theory, yes. They've been tested on several livestock animals and have shown to be quite malleable to commands…but I have not tried it on humans yet…” Stockman admitted, “So I would like to request a trial run.” 

“You don't need me for this!” Saki bellowed. 

Stockman had access to human test subjects. Plenty of them. 

“I…actually, Master Shredder…I have a proposal for you and it requires your expertise you see.” Stockman started slowly, “You might find it quite enticing when it involves your greatest enemies, Master.” 

Saki raised an eyebrow to this point.

“Go on…” 

Stockman cleared his throat before giving another long winded speech.

“I would like to test these worms on the turtles, Master Shredder. Imagine it: Turning them into your puppets if these worms work on them!” 

“....And what if they don't?” Saki questioned sternly.

“The worms would only remove themselves if the host was either dying or already dead, Master Shredder. They will not want to leave their new toy…and if they do end up not serving then well…no hard feelings.” Stockman replied as he shrugged his shoulders. 

Saki did indeed like this proposal. The thought of having Leonardo in particular under his control greatly pleased him. He turned to one of his foot ninjas near him. 

“Assemble my best men to capture the turtles alive and take a special interest in the one called Leonardo.” Saki ordered. 

The ninja left swiftly to deliver the orders. Saki then refocused his attention on Stockman. 

“Prepare your lab, Stockman. Your test subjects will be arriving soon.” 

Chapter Text

Donnie, check the westside for any signs of foot activity.” Leo ordered from his Shell Cell.

“Got it!” Donnie affirmed over the speaker. 

The foot activity has been ramping up a lot lately and they had to stop it before it gets further out of hand. Leo and Raph had taken the east side of the docks to see if any shipments were coming in but so far there was no sign of anything. 

“This bites!” Raph shouted.

“Raph, don't get too loud.” Leo warned.

Raph just grunted and started to pace around the rooftop they were on. After an hour of nothing passed, Leo called back into Donnie. 

“Anything on your end, Don?” Leo questioned.

“All quiet here.” He responded.

Leo sighed and pinched the bridge of his beak.

“OK, you and Mikey meet us back here. I'm calling it.” 

Raph immediately turned his head around to Leo and was furious.

“Ya quittin!?” He yelled, “We ain't leavin’ yet til we find those foot bastards!” 

Leo sighed at his second brother's attitude. Raph always needed to find a reason to fight. 

“Raph, we are done for tonight. There's no activity from them and we have no reason to attack them outright. It's too dangerous.” Leo asserted.

He didn't want to attack the foot's home-base. They didn't have enough manpower to plan such an attack to begin with. It wasn't worth putting his life or more importantly, his brother's lives at risk. 

“Ya know as well I do that this ain't normal!” Raph grumbled, “The foot don't just take vacation from doin’ crime!” 

Raph was right. The Foot have been pretty quiet for the past few days. Even the Purple Dragons were silent in their business dealings. Leo would be a fool to say this wasn't a coincidence. 

“I'm sure they don't, Raph. It could mean something but we are not going to act on it.” Leo replied. 

“Whaddya mean not act on it!? Ya too chicken to do somethin’ !?” Raph argued.

“No, I'm saying we wait for them to slip up. We pretend that we were none the wiser and keep a lookout for any signs of them doing something!” Leo explained, “We can't just attack our enemies with no strategy, Raph.” 

“Admit it! Ya scared, Leo!” Raph screamed as he stomped closer to Leo and got in his face. 

Leo kept his cool and chose to not back off with Raph getting in his space. He has been doing this a lot more frequently with him. Always getting in his face and egging him on to do something. Raph wanted his reaction. He wanted some form of emotion from Leo to show he was not the stone cold leader he thought he was.

Or at least that's what Leo was assuming was Raph's issue.

“Raph, we are done talking about this.” Leo sternly stated to his brother. 

Just as he was about to turn away, Leo felt Raph's hand grip his wrist to keep him in place. 

“Ya ain't getting out of this one, Leo! Just cuz Splinter gives ya some power don't me ya can shut me up whenever ya don't like what I say!” Raph growled.

Leo swatted Raph's hand to get away but Raph gripped him tighter. 

“Raph, Let go!” Leo shouted angrily.

“Not until I say my piece! This is long overdue!” Raph refused, “I've about had it with ya making all these choices for me without thinkin about how I feel!” 

“I make these choices to keep you and our brother safe! Our family does not need to go on a suicide mission!” Leo hissed.

He finally shook Raph off and started to walk away. A vein popped out of Raphs as he felt so much rage built up inside of him. 

“I'm not done talkin’ to ya!” He screamed. 

“We are not doing this, Raph! We are leaving!” Leo ordered.

Mikey and Donnie finally showed up with Donnie looking worried and Mikey appearing nervous. His body language was awkward as he scooted away from Donnie nervously. 

But it didnt matter at this moment, not when Raph let out a loud scream in frustration.

“Aaaaagh!! Will ya for once listen to me!?!” 

“I don't want to hear anymore of this. Not in front of our brothers!” Leo stressed, walking away from him.

“BUT I NEVER CONSIDERED YA MY BROTHER!” Raph blurted out. 

Suddenly the anger he had built up was sapped from him as he realized what he had just said. Donnie was mortified. Mikey held his hands over his mouth in shock and Leo…

Leo faltered in his steps for a moment and stood still. 

Raph couldn't see his face as his back was turned to him. 

“...Leo, I-” Raph stuttered.

Leo didn't stay long as he walked away.

“We are leaving.” He ordered softly.

The three brothers all watched in shock and horror as Leo made his descent down the rooftop. 

"Let me go talk to him." Mikey whispered before following after their big brother.

Donnie didn't mind it. For now he could start asking his hot headed brother questions in private. 

Chapter Text

“What the shell, Raph?” Donatello snapped.

“I—I didn’t mean it!”

“You and Leo have had some bad fights but that’s a low blow even for you.”

“I KNOW, OKAY? I said I didn’t mean it!”

“Mean it or not, do you have any idea how much that would hurt any of us to hear?”

“I mean, I didn’t mean it like it sounded!” Raphael stammered.

“How did you mean it then?” the genius asked, trying to calm down. “Because it sounds like we’re all about to get a lecture from Sensei about the brotherhood of a clan all over again…”

“I…” his shoulder slumped. “I don’t consider Leo as my brother like I do you and Mikey… ‘cause I…” he sighed. “I like ‘im, Donnie. I like him in a way ya don’t go around likin’ ya brother unless ya messed up.”

“Raph…”

“Don’t! Don’t give me that look!” he snapped, pointing angrily.

“I’m not… I’m not giving you any look!” Donnie insisted.

“Ya are! It’s that horrified look knowing yer messed up brother is even more messed up than ya realized!” In anger, he balled up his fist and hit the closest surface on the roof.

“No… no, it’s not,” he replied quietly.

“Then what is it then? Ya the genius, ain’t ya got any smart words ta explain this?”

“I don’t,” he sighed. “It’s just…”

~^~^~^~^~

“LEO! Wait up!”

“Mikey?” Leonardo turned, looking over his shoulder. “Mikey, go catch up with our brot—with the other two. I’ll meet you all at home soon.”

“No way, you didn’t even realize I was following you until I called your name! You think I’m going to leave you alone after hearing something like that?”

“It’s nothing,” Leo glanced away with a dark look in his eyes. “We all know how Raphael is when he gets mad. He’ll say anything for a reaction and he’s been in a mood lately anyway.”

“There’s no way he meant that though! We’re all a team, a family!”

“Look… it’s no secret I’m Raphael’s least favorite person. Yes we’re a team and a family, so whether he likes it or not my duty is to keep him safe just like Donnie and you. I just have to bear the brunt of his rage and frustration at how unfair our lives are.”

“Being someone’s favorite person isn’t as great as it sounds either…”

“Huh?” Leo looked at his baby brother with confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Donnie’s been a bit distant with me lately…” He began, fidgeting with his fingers.

“Why didn’t you say something? I wouldn’t have paired you two together tonight if you had a—”

“Leo, I messed things up! I… I told Donnie I liked him.” The eldest blinked.

“That’s good though? We’re supposed to like our family.”

“No! Not like this, not like a brother but something different. I… I admitted my feelings for him and ever since then he’s been keeping to himself away from me.”

“Oh…”

“Oh? Is that all you have to say?” he scoffed. Just as he started to say something else, he suddenly felt himself grabbed.

“MIKEY! GET DOWN!” Leonardo grabbed Michelangelo and twisted so that the eldest landed on top of the youngest and covered him as they heard a clink of something bouncing off his shell. Glancing around them, he quickly unsheathed his swords and stood quickly, hissing, “Get out of here! NOW!”

“I can’t just leave you—”

“GET TO THE OTHERS!” Leo noticed a couple more tranquilizer darts flying towards him and deftly deflected both with his blades. Mikey quickly pulled out his Shell Cell and pressed the distress signal before attempting to dial Raphael. In the moments that his eyes were on the screen, they were surrounded by what felt like the entire Foot Clan and piled on until both felt sharp piercings in their necks…

~^~^~^~^~

“Mikey? Mike!” Donatello took the phone from Raphael and immediately placed it on speaker as he pulled his own Shell Cell out and activated the tracking.

“Thank goodness they didn’t get too far, but we need to hurry—it sounds like they’ve been ambushed!”

“How?” the brawler followed on the heels of his immediate younger brother. “We been out all night fer days with no sign of activity from the Foot! Even the Purple Dragons been quiet!”

“Maybe they were planning something? Could be the Foot Clan paid off the Purple Dragons to lay low for a few nights to throw us off their—THERE!” He pointed towards a horde of ninjas that looked almost like a dark wave dragging two green bodies through the tide.

“LEO! MIKEY!” Raphael bolted at full speed, but by the time he jumped to the rooftop his brothers had already been transported down the side of the building and were being loaded up in an armored truck. Donatello had already scaled down the building and took pursuit on the street, but he was no closer to the truck than the other middle child. In a desperate last-ditch effort, he threw something that attached to the vehicle as it sped off in a cloud of dust. A few streets over they lost sight as they were unable to keep up with the increased speed and the hothead fell to the ground with a frustrated yell. “DAAAMN!”

Donnie caught up with Raphael, leaning forward on his knees trying to catch his breath before pulling out a device. “I managed to land a tracker on the vehicle. Hopefully we’ll be able to learn where they are being taken to before it is found or they disable it with an EMP…”

~^~^~^~^~

Chapter Text

They tried. God, they tried. 

Raph and Donnie barely crawled their way back home after losing the trail of their brothers. The trucks the foot had put them in went to the foot headquarters and the tracker Donnie had placed then lost signal; Jammer no doubt. 

Splinter was deeply saddened after hearing his eldest and youngest son were taken.Donnie and Raph were near the verge of tears as they knelt before their father in shame. Splinter gracefully petted both his sons' heads to comfort them.

“I know you did everything you could to reach them. But the foot is ruthless in their pursuits. So now we must show them that we will not stand by as they take what belongs to us.” Splinter stated.

“Master, we need to call for our friends help.” Donnie replied in a somber tone. 

Raph didn't say anything. He couldn't. Not when he felt immense guilt for creating the opening for the foot to take down Leo and inadvertently Mikey. His last words to Leo were he never saw him as a brother and that by itself with no context was sure to break Leo's spirit. No amount of torture or pain could equal that to Leo as his family was his whole world and Raph made it come crashing down thanks to his stupid decision.

“That we do if we are to succeed in saving your brothers.” Splinter asserted, “Donatello, call our allies.”

Splinter then looked over at his second son and softly sighed. He sensed Raphael was deeply disturbed by something and he was sure it wasn't just because his brother's were taken. 

“Raphael, stay with me. I wish to speak with you alone.” 

/////////////////////

Leonardo woke up slowly. His head was spinning and his body felt stiff like he had laid in a position for far too long. Leo opened his eyes but quickly shut them as light above him blinded him for a moment. He finally gained mobility in his arm to cover his eyes as he sat up. The floor was cold and he felt gross as his skin had stuck to it. Leo groaned as his eyes finally adjusted and he could see that he was inside a sterile, white room. It was small with no furniture and a door to the left that was heavy steel. Leo then gasped as he saw Mikey to the back corner leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. 

“Mikey!” Leo called out as he crawled over to his little brother.

He shook Mikey's shoulder but he didn't respond. He was still under the effects of whatever drug they injected them with. Leo remembered ordering Mikey to leave and saw him calling Raph and Don but then it went blank after that. Leo couldn't believe that he let his guard down long enough for the Foot to get ahold of him and his brother. 

“Nnnngh~” Mikey stirred.

“Mikey!” Leo shouted, “Mikey, are you alright!?” 

Mikey opened his eyes groggily as he came to. Leo pulled Mikey into a hug, just glad he was awake.

“Leo….where are we?” Mikey slurred.

“Foot got us, Mike.” Leo said softly, “Are you hurt anywhere?” 

“No…” Mikey uttered, “Sorry Leo…I should've done better. I-!” 

Suddenly, a loud bang came from the door as it was opened drawing Leo and Mikey's attention. Four larger foot soldiers came in with weapons aimed at them. Then stepped in one other soldier holding a box and then Stockman who merely smirked as he had two of his greatest enemies now helpless and at his mercy. 

“Greetings my new test subjects.” Stockman grinned wickedly, “It is time to begin my newest field test, starting with the orange one.” 

Two Foot soldiers grabbed Mikey and dragged him closer to Stockman which sent Leo into a panic.

“No! Don't touch him!” Leo screamed. 

The other two soldiers grabbed him and brought him over as well. He fought and struggled against their hold. 

Stockman signaled for the soldier with the box to come closer. They obeyed and Stockman opened the box gently. He pulled out a small tweezer from his coat pocket and used it as tongs to grip the pink, wriggling worm he places in the box for this test. 

“Do not mind their appearance so much, turtles. Down the hatch they go.” Stockman gleefully stated as he nodded to the soldiers.

They moved their hands to Mikey's jaw and forced it to open. Stockman then placed the worm directly into Mikey's mouth who started to choke as the slimy thing moved on his tongue. Before he could spit it out, the soldiers placed their hands now over his mouth and forced him to swallow it. 

Once it was over, Mikey started to cough and writhe in discomfort. 

“W-what did you do!?!” Leo yelled angrily, still fighting the soldiers holding him.

Stockman didn't answer as he used the tweezers to grab another worm. Leo struggled fiercely as the soldiers held his jaw tightly to force him to open his mouth. Leo felt the worm slide down his throat as the soldiers forced him to swallow it.  

Once he was sure the two turtles ingested his specimens, he had the soldiers let them go. Mikey and Leo were sputtering on the floor in agony as they felt whatever Stockman made them take seem to crawl inside of them. 

“Now for the real fun to begin.” Stockman laughed as he threw the tweezers into the box so he could grab hold of a tablet from his other pocket. He pressed a small button to activate the worms.

“These worms are rather easy to kill when they do not have a strong and healthy host to hide behind. Once they find one however, they secrete a toxin from their body that makes the host easier for them to control.” Stockman explained, “I just tweaked their genetics a bit and now it can completely control the host's mind and the worms take commands from the monitors that are implanted on them. So you two will no longer be in control of your own bodies from here on out.” 

Leo was about to argue but then he felt rigid. His body seized up and he started to cry out in pain alongside Mikey on the floor. 

“This part is quite intriguing as when the worms find their host, the animal will start to get agitated and very feisty. It's as if they are aware they are losing control of their body.” Stockman admitted as he watched the two turtles struggle. 

Mikey and Leo could feel their bodies contort and spasm as their ability to move suddenly was sapped away from them.

“Fight it, Mikey!” Leo growled at his brother. 

“The more you fight it, the worse it will feel.” Stockman replied smugly, “The last part of this process will make your lose your ability to speak and you'll slowly no longer think for yourself anymore.” 

Leo didn't want to give up. Not now.

“Our brothers…Will not give up finding us!” Mikey forced himself to scream out. 

Mikey and Leo continue to fight against the control. Stockman grew annoyed as the tablet was showing little progress with the worms breaking their spirits. But then he thought of something. The worms could also control emotional impulses. In a low intelligence organism, their emotional capacity centered around survival. They would panic if there was a predator or feel satisfied when finding a meal. But they could also feel another emotion: 

Hopelessness 

Stockman remembered this detail when he studied the animals he was using in his experiments. Many of the animals when stressed and facing the possibility of death by sickness or injury will simply lose the will to live and let go.  

He just needed to make these turtles let go somehow. 

Chapter Text

Nothing.

They returned to the Foot Headquarters, but it was obvious that their brothers had been taken there as a decoy before being relocated. Possibly by a different vehicle even.

Whether it was Donatello’s team scouring for information through technological means or Raphael’s team scouring for information through physical confrontation, the family and their allies were distraught with each passing day.

After speaking with Raphael and Donatello individually after the abduction, Splinter learned an important clue as to their emotions at the time of separation. While he advised both to not dwell on the issue and to focus on bringing Leonardo and Michelangelo home, he used that information to try to search for their spirits on the astral plane. Even though he struggled to sit still for meditation, his youngest had natural skill with spiritual connection. Aside from that, his eldest was proficient so he trusted that he’d be able to reach at least one of them—provided they had the opportunity to do so.

While he was unable to locate them, he gained a sense of their energy in a muted sense. Uncertain of what that implied, he only disclosed to the others that he could feel their life force in order to reassure them to not lose hope…

~^~^~^~^~

Leonardo and Michelangelo were not only feeling the effects of the parasitic brain worms but of the desolate isolation of being kept prisoner.

To skew their senses, the passage of time was misconstrued so that the two turtles believed that two or three days passed during the course of only one. With no access to the sun and moon or any devices, they were at the mercy of clues such as being served their ‘daily’ meal or different guards rotated during moments of torture. The most devious, of course, were the visits and verbal abuse from Baxter Stockman and Oroku Saki…

An hour after the brain worms were administered, the scientist returned to taunt his test subjects. While they were still resisting, it was only a matter of time before their struggle ended.

“Statistics show that 76% of missing children homicide cases are within the first three hours of abduction. So congratulations, you’ve passed that benchmark.” He smirked evilly, not only belaying such a cruel fact but acknowledging that he fully understood he was dealing with minors rather than an adult such as himself.

Four hours later he returned, this time looking bored. “Halfway to the 24 hour mark, make it to that and the statistics for our poor missing children homicide cases rises to nearly 89% but I’ve no doubt you’ll be those odds.” He laughed as he left the room once again.

Four more hours later he returned for the third time in eight hours, making an elaborate show of checking his watch. “And… now. Halfway through the crucial hours of kidnapping, boys! Oh sure, 91% of missing children are found within the first 48 hours—but they tend to have the assistance of law enforcement and their local community. What do you two have? Another couple of turtles and an aged rat?” he laughed menacingly. “Now, the earlier statistics I shared were from only the missing children cases that resulted in homicides hence why the number may seem similar. You’re in luck, Master Shredder and I have no intention of ending your lives so soon. You should thank us,” he sneered, daring to lean closer to the restrained turtles.

“Thanks… for NOTHING!” Michelangelo spat as Leonardo only growled.

“Hmph,” the evil scientist straightened up, looking down on the two reptiles. “Don’t think because of your mutant abilities allowing you to withstand the results of my bioengineered brain worms longer than my usual animal test subjects that you’re special. It’s only been 24 hours and we’ve yet to see any rescue attempts from your beloved brothers…”

~^~^~^~^~

After twelve hours two figures stepped into the room, their shadows casting darkness over the two terrapins who struggled to remain cognizant.

“Status report,” Oroku Saki demanded darkly.

“30 hours under the effect of the brain worms, Master Shredder. They resisted for a full day, a valiant effort really—which is more than what I can say for their brothers who they are certain will not give up on finding them.”

“They have already given up because they have no one to lead,” he stated darkly. His words caused Leonardo to jerk his head up and snarl. “Some leader,” he taunted the blue-banded turtle before turning to the one wearing orange. “You are here suffering due to your brother’s incompetence! He didn’t protect you even after he was foolish enough to be surrounded and subdued.”

For a brief moment, Michelangelo faltered at the words and risked a glance at Leonardo who continued to glare angrily at their nemesis. Basking in their reactions, the evil man faced both turtles.

“It is no wonder under such failed leadership your other brothers were not able to arrive in time despite not being far away. Or perhaps,” his mask concealed his manipulative grin, “they did not care to even make the effort of putting themselves in danger on your behalf.” Both sets of eyes widened, but for different reasons…

“NO!” Leo snarled again.

“No indeed,” Baxter Stockman spoke only to Oroku Saki, ignoring the two prisoners but intentionally speaking loudly enough for them to hear. “Their abduction was met with no resistance.”

“The other two, they are the smartest and the strongest of the four. I would question if they wasted such an opportunity to be rid of the lesser half of their so-called team. We have no doubt done them a favor culling their weak leader and his dumb follower from their ranks.”

“Agreed, Master Shredder. These test subjects are not worth wasting more than one meal a day to sustain them through the experimentation.” Without a response, his employer turned abruptly causing his cloak to ruffle loudly as he exited the room.

“No doubt you’ve been so focused on resisting your new roles as host that your body has neglected to indicate hunger pains. But for now you have more worth alive than dead… barely.” His cold words hung in the air as he left the room.

~^~^~^~^~

“Donnie, check the westside for any signs of foot activity.” Leo ordered from his Shell Cell.
“Got it!” Donnie affirmed over the speaker.

”Donnie?”

“Mikey, please… I’m not in the mood to talk right now… Let’s just do this sweep as quietly as possible...”

“Anything on your end, Don?” Leo questioned.
“All quiet here.” He responded.

Michelangelo remained quiet, feeling as if all of his energy was needed to just breath.

However, the silence felt suffocating to the youngest who was normally lively and very animated. He felt as if the sound of his blood pumping pounded in his ears and that his breathing was also too loud as it felt difficult… It was a sense of déjà vu from—how long did Stockman say it had been, over a full day? So was it last night or two nights ago? It was hard to figure out with the haze—no, the parasite—in his mind. Honestly, it felt like it had been hours… but who was he to trust himself right now? Especially after being so foolish to confess his feelings to his own brother…

~^~^~^~^~

“Ya quittin!?”
“Ya too chicken to do somethin’ !?”
“Admit it! Ya scared, Leo!”
“Just cuz Splinter gives ya some power don't mean ya can shut me up whenever ya don't like what I say!”
“I've about had it with ya making all these choices for me without thinkin’ about how I feel!”
“Aaaaagh!! Will ya for once listen to me!?!”
“BUT I NEVER CONSIDERED YA MY BROTHER!”

Leonardo sighed, the sound echoing in the silent room. He tried to listen and look for signs that his baby brother was still breathing, noting affirmative although it was ragged at times…

“Thanks… for NOTHING!”
“Don’t think … that you’re special.”
“Some leader… You are here suffering due to your … incompetence! …didn’t protect … foolish enough to be surrounded and subdued. …such failed leadership …they did not care …on your behalf.”
“Their abduction was met with no resistance.”

I lost. I failed… again.

Old familiar thoughts took over his mind, a sense of past struggles clouding over his emotions. He groaned, trying to resist…

I did the best I could! I did the best I could!

“The other two, they are the smartest and the strongest of the four. I would question if they wasted such an opportunity to be rid of the lesser half of their so-called team. We have no doubt done them a favor culling their weak leader and his dumb follower from their ranks.”
“But for now you have more worth alive than dead… barely.”

There wasn’t any more I could have done!

It was true. He just wasn’t enough.

Never.
Good.
Enough.

~^~^~^~^~

A crackling sound was heard overhead from a corner of the room. Neither turtle bothered to raise his head to investigate the noise.

“Welcome to the 9% boys… It’s been 48 hours now.”

Chapter Text

Leonardo’s brain felt worse than any concussion he had ever suffered. He tried to keep his wits about him, but undoubtedly the unknown effects of the parasite his mind was now harboring was having extremely ill effects. He tried to focus on facts such as the time… when Baxter Stockman stated they had been captive for an entire day, he remembered that normal pet turtles cannot survive more than one day without water however humans for about three days. He tried to search his memories for any time they had tested their limits to determine which part of their nature prevailed in this area of survival but could come to no clear conclusion.

Food? They were told they were to be fed daily but it had already been two days with nothing, not that he expected much in the way of sustenance from the Foot Clan. If they were barely worth more alive than dead, to what extent did that make their worth being barely alive if they were to go a week or two without eating?

He looked over to his youngest brother who was close enough to see but too far to reach. Closing his eyes, he sighed as he tried to will himself to speak.

“Mm… Mikey? O-okay?”

“Nnn… no. Leo.” A forlorn sigh escaped him and for a moment the exhale sounded as if it carried the last of his life force away with him, causing Leo a brief moment of heightened panic. But he then heard an intake of breath, the relief causing the oldest to crash from burning the small bit of adrenaline his body seemed to have had reserved.

~^~^~^~^~

“Hey, Don… can I talk ta ya?” Raphael stood wearily in the entryway of the lab, looking as if the structure was supporting his weight. Donatello turned tiredly to his immediate older brother, pinching the spot between his eyes as he squeezed them shut for a few moments.

“About the thing we were told not to talk about?”

“Yeah… if that’s okay.” Donnie slowly nodded.

“Close the door so Sensei doesn’t hear.” His suggestion was unnecessary as the other was already doing so, knowing that they both had been advised not to dwell any issue other than the task at hand to bring their brothers back home safe.

Both middle children sat there for a minute, as if collecting their thoughts.

“It’s been an entire day… I know it’s still kinda early but—”

“But every minute as prisoner of the Foot means they’re in danger, I know. Hopefully the point of them being captured and not… taken care of… immediately means they are planning something that requires them to be well. Even if it’s to be used as bait for a trap, although I would hope even if they would want to do any experiments there would be preliminary bloodwork, testing, and various things before any invasive procedures are started…” He looked up and froze at seeing the horrified look on the brawler’s face. “Oh! I’m sorry, Raph. I guess my mind and mouth went on autopilot and disassociated for a moment speaking from a scientist viewpoint and not our actual dilemma.”

“What gives? Ya usually ain’t this tired after only one all-nighter?” The scientist sighed and shook his head.

“I… I’ve been a bit preoccupied for a couple of days prior.”

“Really? What about?” Another tired sigh.

“You know what you told me about with you, concerning Leo?” Raph nodded, licking his lips nervously.

“Apparently Mikey feels the same way about me…” The other’s jaw dropped in surprise.

“What? Really?” Seeing his immediate younger brother nod, he paused. “What did ya tell him?”

“I was just so surprised. I mean, I’ve never given too much thought one way or the other, what with protecting the city and saving the world… we’ve been kind of busy.”

“Really? I know we don’t get much down time but ya never, ya know, lay in bed awake at night thinking about life and stuff?”

“I try not to, not when there’s a lot more things in life to figure out.”

“Sounds more like ya just avoided one thing fer another ta me.”

“Maybe,” Donatello shrugged. “I don’t think I reacted badly, but I could have handled it better. I just told him I needed time to think about what he told me but then I did the worst thing any of us could do to Michelangelo…”

“Ya ignored him?”

“Kept a bit distant, yeah… I thought I’d be fine during patrol but when Mikey tried to talk with me I just told him I wasn’t in the mood and wanted quiet.” Raphael shook his head.

“Why, Don?”

“I don’t know, Raph!” The normally calm turtle suddenly banged his fists on his desk. “Not a minute has gone by that I haven’t regretted being so stupid!”

“Hey, hey!” Raphael grabbed Donatello’s fists and held them firmly. “I know ya ain’t familiar with the feeling but ya ain’t stupid. Take it from me, I know what that feels like… I wasn’t smart enough to say the right words ta Leo like Mikey did fer ya.”

“For all the good that did him,” Don scoffed before looking up at his brother critically. “How would you have felt, Raph? If you confessed to Leo and he treated you the way I did Mikey?”

“A hell of a lot better than Leo who thinks I hate him, that’s how I would feel!”

“That doesn’t even make sense!”

A loud knocking on the lab door sounded, causing the two to freeze before watching the door open. Splinter stepped in, looking at his two middle sons sternly.

“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “Is it not enough half of my sons are missing that I have to hear the other half be at odds with one another? Was I not clear that we should all stay focused until our family is whole again?”

“Sorry, Sensei,” both muttered, lowering their heads. Their father walked over, embracing both of the sitting turtles in a hug.

“This is difficult for us all and while I respect the… sensitive… nature of some new and unresolved feelings, it is of utmost importance we reclaim what we had before discovering what can be.” Both nodded as the reciprocated the hug with him and one another.

~^~^~^~^~

Utilizing elements of psychological torture, Baxter Stockman was able to calculate how to effectively misconstrue the captives’ sense of time in an effort to exacerbate their sense of hopelessness to empower the brain worms. The minimal liquid diet prevented their dehydration while also serving as an indicator for each day. He added to their sense of panic and even anger most effectively when Shredder joined him irregularly on visits, taunting their despondency.

While the isolation pained both immensely, their most recent rejections remained on the surface and were the emotions that fed into the bioengineered parasites. Thus, Michelangelo drowned in the regret of risking and ruining his relationship with his closest brother while Leonardo lamented that his love for his immediate brother was inversely proportionate to how the other felt in return. He chastised himself for neglecting to realize the depths of the hothead’s hate for him, believing that the other only tolerated him due to filial loyalty to their father and to protect the younger two from his failed leadership.

At times they emphasized the lack of a rescue, insisting that no attempts were made even for surveillance. On rare occasions they would attempt to turn the youngest and eldest against each other, which worked in part when Michelangelo succumbed and the devastation impacted Leonardo that the last of his resistance faltered. At this point their restraints were removed only for Foot Clan soldiers to occasionally be sent in to instigate a fight and force them to defend, thus giving them anger and conflict in which to focus during their ‘weeks’ imprisoned.

In actuality, it had been less than one week that had been drawn out to feel as if a month had passed with no signs of rescue or reprieve. While the two prisoners had struggled to stay intact despite the invasive process, their family and friends had continued aggressive efforts to find them. But as they followed precious few leads as well as developed plans to infiltrate suspect locations, a suspicious item provided a clue as to where their missing loved ones were kept captive…

~^~^~^~^~

Chapter Text

Despite it being three in the morning, Donnie's lab was busy with people moving in and out as they plotted the rescue mission to save Leo and Mikey. Leatherhead was making various items for them to use in the initial attack while April and Donnie worked tirelessly to hack into the foot database for any clues as to where they had hidden their missing family.  Raph and Casey were out collecting as much gear. Grappling hooks, nets, rope, and all the above for their mission.

“Think that's enough, dude?” Casey wondered as they finished piling stuff in the back of the ShellRaiser. 

“It's never enough when it's takin’ on the foot, Case.” Raph grumbled as he closed the doors.

Casey understood what his friend meant. This was going to be a tough rescue mission but it's actually taking on the foot in their playground. They don't know what will happen. 

Suddenly a loud thud startled both of them, coming from the direction of the front of the vehicle with loud footsteps running away from it. Raph pulled out his sais in record time and ran to the front. Casey pulled out his hockey stick ready to swing but there was no one around. 

“What the hell?!” Raph shouted indignantly.

Casey looked at what Raph was upset about and saw a small brown package on the dash of the ShellRaiser with a note addressed to them.

-For the Rat and his pathetic turtles…half of them at least.

Raph started to seeth in anger. The Shredder was taunting them. Raph didn't even want to think about what was inside of the package; For all he knew it was one of his brother's cut off fingers the Shredder had sent to make them scared. Casey used his stick to poke at the package and it felt hard but it was way too small to be a bomb, he thought.  

“Raph, we need to head back now.” Casey pressed.

As much as he wanted to fight, something just screamed at him to get out of there. It was almost too easy for the foot to just sneak up on them like that.  Raph was shaking in anger but he relented and they took the package before getting the vehicle to leave. 

When they got to the lair, they showed everyone the package and the note. Splinter  shook his head in disgust at how their enemy was taunting them and Donnie carefully took the package, afraid that whatever was in it was possibly fragile. 

“It's bad enough they took Leo and Mikey but now they have to rub it in!?” April cried while Casey comforted her. 

Donnie carefully opened the package, revealing a black videotape with a crude label on the top of it of two turtles looking upset. 

Donnie sighed as he inspected the tape. It was real and not a disguised bomb so the Shredder did have a message for them. He took the tape to the living room and popped it in the VCR which shirred to life as it read the tape. The TV screen suddenly went static as the white noise took over then refocused. On the screen was the Shredder in full get up.

Greetings, turtles. If you have received this message then you know that I have something that belongs to you. 

The video switched focus to another part of the room their enemy was filming. Everyone collectively gasped as they saw Leo and Mikey on their knees, bound and gagged with several foot soldiers standing beside them. 

Your missing brothers. They are quite eager to see you. If you wish to stop by and retrieve them, I'll be more than happy to welcome you into my home with all my ninja present for your arrival. You have until tomorrow night. But when the clock strikes midnight, I will take matters into my own hands. My ninja are quite eager to play with them, you know. 

The screen then went black as the tape finished its recorded piece. Everyone was deeply shaken and frustrated over the contents of the message. 

“We have 21 hours before the time is up.” Donnie stated solemnly, “We need to move.” 

Everyone nodded in agreement and got back to work. No one stopped for anything as they prepared themselves for the battle to come. Raph and Casey got the ShellRaiser ready, decking it out in metal shields and prepping its weapons for the fight. Donnie and April managed to get a full blueprint of the headquarters.

“Based on what I saw in the tape, he's keeping them on the top floor. His personal throne room you could say.” Donnie spoke quietly.

“Can you get there? It looks highly secured.”  April questioned.

“I can disable the security but I know a better way to get in.” Donnie replied. 

By four in the evening, the team was ready. Donnie pulled them all into his lab again for a debriefing. 

“Leonardo and Michelangelo are being held on the top floor of the Foot Headquarters. They will be expecting us to come in the front and make our way to the top but we are not going to be doing it. At least Raph and I won't be.” Donnie explained, “Raph and I will use grappling hooks to climb up to the top while the rest of you will attack them from the bottom as they will predict. They'll be distracted while we get Leo and Mikey out. Once all four of us are out, we will join you guys and make our escape.” 

“Ya think Shredder won't be waitin’ up there for us?” Raph questioned.

“It's possible but if we get to Leo and Mikey and free them, we should be able to evenly match him.” Donnie asserted.

They couldn't stand a chance without Leo and Mikey but when they are together, the odds can be tipped in their favor.

“You must tread carefully, my friend.” Leatherhead spoke, “I fear we are walking into a Devil's Den.” 

“We always are with the Shredder….but he's got our brothers…I will not leave them alone any longer.” Donnie stated.

“We will go save our family.” Splinter urged, “And we will not show mercy to those that stand in our way.” 

Chapter Text

7:45 pm 

The front gate was rammed by the ShellRaiser, startling the foot soldiers patrolling the perimeter. They sounded the alarm. 

Their “guests” have arrived.

“Keep them all busy until I am ready.” Shredder ordered through his com. 

The soldiers obeyed and all surrounded the vehicle, weapons raised and poised for an attack. They just weren't expecting a giant alligator to come bolting out of the back charging at them. Splinter came out as well taking on the soldiers with ease using his trusty cane. Casey threw several smoke bombs to confuse the soldiers so he could start swinging while April powered up the ShellRaiser's weapons. 

They threw everything they had at them, all for the sake of a distraction. 

Meanwhile, Raph and Donnie climbed the side of the tall tower that was Shredder's home base to get to the top. Raph carried Leo and Mikey's spare weapons strapped to his back as he continued to ascend to the top with Donnie. Once they reached the edge, they peeked over. There were no guards or security but they saw their brothers tied up and gagged facing Shredder's throne. 

Raph and Donnie nodded to one another and made their way from the edge onto the balcony then into the room. Raph ran towards his brothers.

“Leo! Mike!” He shouted.

The two looked up to see Raph and Donnie coming to them but their expressions remained calm despite everything. Raph didn't care, he was just glad to finally get to see them unharmed. 

Raph started to untie Leo's bindings while Donnie did the same to Mikey. 

“We're gonna get ya outta here, Fearless.” Raph promised.

Leo and Mikey were silent, not even trying to speak through their gags. 

“Whoever tied these knots was an idiot.” Donnie commented as he undid Mikey's with relative ease. Far too easy. 

He helped Mikey up to his feet and took off the gag.

“Thank God we got here in time.” Raph smirked as he got Leo untied and helped him up, removing his gag as well.

“Man, these were not tied very tight. Someone's gonna get fired.” He commented before looking up at Leo.

Raph pulled out Leo's swords and handed them to him which he took slowly. Raph also threw over Mikey's nunchucks which his little brother caught with lightning speed. Donnie didn't know what to expect from Mikey when he found him but he was expecting at least one joke about perfect timing or something of that nature. But Mikey was silent and his face had no emotion. 

“Mike…?” Donnie called out softly.

“...Big Brother, it's so good to see you.” Mikey replied.

This would be normal for Donnie but….there was no emotion behind those words. 

“Mikey…” Donnie uttered in concern.

Something wasn't right. 

No guards. No security. The bindings were not even that tight. 

“I'm so glad we found ya guys!” Raph affirmed to his elder brother.

Leo gripped his swords tightly. 

“I'm glad you found us too.” Leo replied in an even tone, “Now I can kill you so much easier.”

“L-Leo?” Raph stuttered in shock over what Leo just said. 

Leo then took a swing at Raph with his swords. Donnie pushed Raph to the floor and just barely missed the strike. They both got up quickly just as Leo came back around to strike again.

“Leo!?” Donnie screamed in a panic just as he used his staff to block Leo's swords.

Mikey then started to swing his nunchucks around wildly and tried to land a blow on Raph who kept dodging. 

“Mike, Stop! What's the matter with ya!?” Raph shouted.

“What do you think? You left us at Shredder's mercy.” Mikey answered coldly.

Donnie managed to get away from Leo and came over to Raphs side to help him in pushing Mikey away. 

“Mike, Stop!” Donnie yelled as he used his staff to try and swipe at Mikey's legs to make him fall.

Mikey backflipped away from the staff over to Leo's side. 

Raph reluctantly pulled out his sais and nervously looked to Donnie who was just as frightened by their brothers’ behavior. 

Suddenly a loud maniacal laughter was heard coming from the intercom system.

“Foolish turtles! Did you really think I would leave my newest recruits unattended!?” Shredder cackled.

Shredder was in a separate room watching the whole ordeal from a hidden camera. The tablet with the control system used to send signals to the worms inside of Leo and Mikey was in his hand. He pressed a button and several options popped up. 

“Kill them! That's an order!” Shredder demanded as he selected one of the commands.

Leo and Mikey did as they were told and got ready to attack their brothers.  Leo dashed towards Raph with his swords raised and Mikey dove to take a swing with his nunchucks at Donnie. Raph used his sais to block Leo's hits with his katana. Their respective weapons clashed together forcing them into a stalemate. Both pressing hard to try and overpower the other. 

“Leo, snap out of it!” Raph pleaded, “Ya don't wanna do this! I know ya, Fearless! Ya Not like the Shredder!” 

“You would kill me if you had the opportunity,  wouldn't you?” Leo calmly asked, “You already admitted that you hated me” 

“Leo, I-!” Raph was interrupted when Leo got the upper hand and kicked Raph in the stomach, making him lose his grip. 

Leo tried to land a blow to Raphs shoulder but he managed to get away in time. Meanwhile Donnie twirled his staff around to block each swing of Mikey's nunchucks.

“Mikey, Please! I don't want to fight you!” Donnie begged his little brother.

“But I wanna.” Mikey replied with no emotion behind the words, “You probably were so happy that I was gone. You didn't have to deal with me following you around like a lost puppy…To think I loved someone like you.” 

“Mikey, I know you don't mean that!” Donnie shouted.

“But I do, Donatello. I feel nothing but hate for you.” Mikey admitted.

Donnie was stunned. Mikey was never one to say such awful words, especially to him. He must've been frozen in place long enough for Mikey to strike and hit him in the head. Donnie yelped from the blow and staggered backwards, dropping his staff. Mikey then punched him in the stomach which made him double over in immense pain. Donnie never knew Mikey could hit this hard. Ever. 

Meanwhile Raph kept dodging and blocking Leo's attacks. He swung with quick precision and was going for all of the spots that could kill Raph. A move Leo would never do in any sort of fight. He hated killing. 

“Leo, this ain't like ya!!” Raph shouted, “We came to bring ya home! Not to fight ya!” 

“You always were against me being the leader. You said you never considered me your brother. Why should I believe your words after you abandoned me?” Leo questioned as he swung his swords down to strike Raph's sides. 

Raph barely got away from the swing but he used this moment to kick at Leo's right hand with the intent of having Leo lose his grip. But it remained firm and took another swipe. Raph somersaulted away and then used a beam that held up the ceiling of the room to spring at Leo and knock him down. Raph forced Leo's swords out of his hands and pinned him to the floor, wrestling with him.

“Leo, I didn't mean what I said the night ya got taken! It wasn't what ya think!” Raph shouted.

“You said you never thought of me as your brother. I got the message loud and clear.” Leo replied as he fought against Raph's hold. 

“Leo, I love you! Don and I spent this whole week trying to make a plan to rescue ya!” 

“LIES.” 

Leo suddenly headbutted Raph in the face, giving him the chance to slip free. He then threw Raph across the floor and he hit a beam. Raph gasped as the air was knocked out of him. Leo walked over to Raph and pressed his foot to Raphs side to keep him down.

“I spent a whole month captive and you finally decided to show up now? You must be delusional to think I would fall for such a blatant lie.” Leo stated harshly before proceeding to kick at Raph's stomach.

Raph did his best to hold back his voice as Leo kicked him with all his strength. It wasn't until Donnie jumped on Leo's back and pulled him away from Raph did he finally stop.  Mikey had followed after Donnie attempted to hit him but Donnie pulled out a smoke bomb and smashed it on the floor. He got off of Leo and ran to Raph to drag him away. 

Then Raphs world went black.

Chapter Text

“Wha…”

“Sshh…”

“Naw, don’t sshh—AH!” Raphael yelped, a strong burst of pain jolting his senses on high alert as he looked at his surroundings.

Home. Med cot to be specific. He groaned, leaning back.

“My son, please do not further strain yourself.”

“Huh? Oh, sorry, Master Splinter…” he mumbled as he was already crashing from the brief spike of adrenaline.

“Take this and please, just do it. I… I can’t handle any more brothers fighting with me.” Raph’s eyes flew open, seeing the other middle child hand him a glass of water with what he assumed to be pain medication. Misunderstanding his reaction, Donnie shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Just, please take the medicine. I know you don’t—” he stopped as the other reached over and popped the pills without a word, downing the entire glass.

“What happened?”

“You don’t remember? I didn’t expect you to have a concussion—”

“I remember what happened, I meant after I passed out.”

“Oh. Of course, sorry,” Donatello cleared his throat and sighed. “First off, don’t move much. You have a cracked rib and bruises from…” he faltered and Raphael could see how tired he looked.

“I remember… from Leo kicking the shit outta me like—” This time Raph’s words faltered and he left the statement incomplete.

“You’ve been recovering for a full day,” Splinter cautioned, reminding Raphael that he was there as well. He looked around and saw it was just their immediate family present.

“Everyone else okay?”

“Yes, no major injuries except for you.”

“Including ya too, Donnie?” He raised an eye ridge suspiciously, causing the other to sigh once again.

“I wasn’t unconscious since yesterday, Raph. You definitely received the brunt of the battle.” He patted his brother comfortingly on the arm to reassure him. “Unfortunately, two days isn’t nearly enough time to heal but that’s the deadline we were given to make a second rescue attempt, so our friends are also resting while devising a secondary plan to retrieve us if things are once again unsuccessful.”

“Ya suggesting we go alone, the two of us?” He asked, watching his brother reach for his neglected cup of coffee and taking a drag of the lukewarm beverage.

“Not a suggestion. The demand was, per his subsequent message, the other half so he could have the complete set.” His expression was as bitter as the words he relayed as was the look of quiet rage on the face of their Sensei.

“Any idea what was up with how they was actin’?”

“Fortunately, yes. Their behavior suggested some sort of brainwashing or possibly hypnotism so we tried to dig deeper into the Foot database. Unfortunately, what I found was much worse.”

“Worse?” the brawler exclaimed. “What could be worse than messin’ with someone’s brain?”

“The only thing worse than mentally messing with someone’s brain, as you say, is physically doing so simultaneously. In other words,” he inhaled raggedly while pinching the bridge of his snout and closing his eyes as if willing himself to wake up from a nightmare… “We anticipated a purely physical extraction, but the fight we were unprepared for was mental assault.” He opened his eyes and his expression was weary. “Raph, they… force fed them some sort of organism—almost like a tapeworm kind of parasite. Baxter calls them brainworms,” at that Raphael grimaced in disgust as his brother continued. “Yeah, it didn’t seem to be a physically painless process either… More so, it seems he’s bioengineered them to be controlled somehow but even on their own they somehow feed on negative emotion.”

“Great… of all the nights fer them ta get taken,” he muttered.

“My thoughts exactly, but it gets worse.”

“Of course it does, turtle luck.”

“They psychologically tortured them. I… I won’t share all the details because we need you as focused as possible, but the main thing you should know is they orchestrated it to effectively skew their sense of time. Meaning—”

“Meaning they thought this past week was an entire month!” he realized, recalling his older brother’s accusation.

“Exactly. The way they expediated the process is rather terrifying, Stockman worked around the clock and plotted out points where Shredder joined him in taunting them…”

“So what do we do then? Knock ‘em out and give ‘em some medicine ta kill the worms?”

“Unfortunately it won’t be that easy.”

“That ain’t gonna be easy!” Raph exclaimed, exasperated.

“Okay, then the process won’t likely be that simplistic. I’m still working on various ideas including any sort of spiritual healing techniques Sensei might be aware of. For all we know, the effects are irreversible so it will likely be trial and error of anything and everything we can attempt to help our brothers.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do… anything and everything ta get ‘em back,” Raphael vowed as Donatello nodded, clasping their hands together in solidarity while Master Splinter rested his hands upon theirs.

~^~^~^~^~

Chapter Text

“Hey, Raph… can we talk?”

“About the thing we were told not ta talk about?” he asked as he sat up.

“Yeah… if that’s okay.”

“’Course,” Raph scooted over and patted the med cot indicating the space next to him. Donnie carefully sat down next to his brother, resting his hands in his lap. After a minute of quiet, he finally spoke up.

“How do you know? About… well, you know.”

“Ya mean how I feel ‘bout Leo?”

“Yeah… like, how can you tell the difference between loving him like a brother which we all do from loving him like your best friend which I’ve always felt for Mikey to loving him as, well, a mate?”

“Well, I guess fer starters ya gotta recognize we ain’t like humans. There’s only four of us and we’re mutants in a human world. So I think we’re more than brothers, like we’re family but we’re a team. We got Master Splinter and we got our friends and even allies… but no matter what we got most is, we always got each other’s shells.”

“That’s just it though… shouldn’t that be enough rather than take the chance of things going wrong? We’re not in the position to push for more and risk gambling what we have.”

“Whoa! That don’t sound like the Donnie I know. What gives?”

“It just seems like for everything we’ve worked and fought hard for, this is something we should keep intact at all costs…”

“Little bro, maybe instead of thinking about what’s on yer mind ya should try talking about what’s in ya heart.”

“But I can’t trust my feelings right now, everything is too stressful! I was still trying to figure out if his or my emotions were just misdirected, but with him being kidnapped it’s far easier to misconstrue them based on the stress of the situation and even my own guilt. Now compounded with the things he said…” his voice weakened, full of emotion as he laid his head in his hands.

“How ya feelin’?” Raph asked, a hand placed on his brother’s left shoulder.

“How am I feeling?! What kind of question is that?” he snapped as his head jerked up.

“Ya feelin’ worried and scared like the rest of us, or maybe something more? Like wonderin’ if ya ever gonna be able ta breath right again if we don’t get ‘im back home safe and sound…” Donatello paused, casting his eyes downward back at his hands, one of which rose up to place atop his left upper plastron.

“I’m sure it’s psychosomatic but… it does… it does kind of feel that way, like my heartbeat is irregular and my breathing ragged…”

“Ya feel the same way thinking about Mikey as ya do Leo?”

“Raph, that’s ridiculous. Of course I worry about our brothers equally—” he paused for a moment as a thought struck him before he shook his head. “No, it’s not the same! Leo is the best fighter out of all four of us, I’m just used to him being more formidable so in comparison it’s only natural to worry about Mikey more.”

“Ya sayin’ he can’t hold his own? ‘Cause ya know that ain’t true…”

“No,” he shook his head again. “Mikey is a great fighter, the most agile out of all of us—if anyone can slip away, it would have been him. Except…”

“Except he wouldn’t have abandoned Leo, even if it was a direct order. Kid’s got a great heart, he understands stuff like that better than all of us.” He paused before adding, “So maybe ya should listen to ‘im about these things like he’d listen and trust ya about everything else in the world.”

“He trusted me with telling his feelings and I…” his eyes were downcast. “I abandoned him. If I had not been so distant—”

“He still would have gotten caught. He ran after Leo who left ‘cause of something I said, not ya.”

“But he hates me now…”

“That’s what Leo thinks I feel about him too, but ya both wrong.” He scoffed, “Finally tell ‘im the truth and he thinks I’m lying.”

“At first I wondered… how could either of them possibly think that we weren’t looking for them, even if it had been an entire month? I suspected they were taken to a different location since none of the files I found indicated anything at the Foot Headquarters. I still couldn’t find where it was but I do know for sure they were not there the entire time since the abduction. Yet they were tricked into thinking they’d been under our noses the entire time but we didn’t bother.”

“They know us better than that. Mikey is too smart emotionally and Fearless is too smart mentally ta be manipulated easily—plus they both stubborn as hell. Is it possible those worms are…” The question died on his tongue as he conjured up an image too repulsive to imagine.

“I don’t believe they are relying on brain matter for nourishment if that’s what you’re afraid of. At this point I cannot discern with infallible certainty, but their behavior is not indicative of someone suffering Traumatic Brain Injury nor something akin to a lobotomy.” He pondered something for a moment. “It’s possible the additional meals they provided as a way to indicate individual days was intentional to support the parasites as well as the hosts, perhaps to keep them fully functional in order to focus on the energy of negative emotions.” He stopped speaking for a moment as his words caught up to the thoughts in his tired brain. “Wait…”

“Wait fer what?”

“Emotions require energy and intense negativity seems to be a strong motivating factor maintaining their behavioral modification… What if,” he paused to think for a moment. “What if we somehow matched that? Would it empower them more or offset their current reprogramming?”

“So we try ta piss ‘em off more? I don’t think my ribs like the sound of that…”

Almost as if he hadn’t heard his brother, the genius stood up as he cradled his chin in one hand as he pondered new ideas as he started to pace. “I’ve started to surmise a few solutions that could be possible… medication, mantras,” he counted off on both fingers of one hand before holding up his thumb, “maybe mood is a third option? I’ll have to see if there could be a possible correlation in which might make it beneficial to utilize somehow… We certainly need to explore every avenue available to us as this is unprecedented and we have no way of knowing what will be the most effective method…”

A small smile briefly lifted Raphael’s lips. Just for a moment, his younger brother was distracted as his genius brain began mapping out various scenarios of success. Having helped as much as he was able to, Donatello was now able to redirect and focus. With that, he softly sighed and laid back to try to rest as much as he was able to, willing his body to recover in time for the next rescue…

~^~^~^~^~

Chapter Text

“I'm not sure how I feel about this.” Raph grumbled as Donnie did his check up on his brothers health.

“I don't like any of this, Raph. If I had a choice I would bench you but the deal said if both of us don't show they would kill Leo and Mikey.” Donnnie lamented.

Raph grunted as Donnie pressed against his plastron to check for tenderness. 

“I don't know what's worse. Them being killed if we don't both go or us having to fight them.” Donnie uttered, “I can't face Mikey after everything…He said.” 

Raph agreed with his brother. Listening to Leo saying such hurtful things made his heart want to break. He didn't know when the feelings occurred but Raph always wanted Leo's attention. Good or bad, he wanted Leo to focus only on him. Secretly Raph would watch Leo as he moved about his day. 

Leo during his solo practices were his favorites. He moved with such grace and fluidity it made Raph stare in awe. When Leo would read his books, he would smile, a genuine smile, as he read a certain part. Raph wanted so badly to just run up and hug Leo when he was going through a tough time. Leo feeling inadequate or depressed was always hard for Raph to watch. 

To him, Leo was perfect. 

Raph couldn't view Leo as a brother when he felt so intense euphoria anytime Leo would pat his shoulder; Or when Leo praises him on a good job during a mission. 

He wanted Leo as a partner. His other half. 

He just couldn't speak such things with Leo. Not when Leo was always so absorbed by his filial promises to Splinter.  That night, He let his emotions get the better of him and he said something so careless.  He never meant to say such words without context. He cared for Leo. He wanted Leo to see him as more than just a wayward hothead.  But before he had the chance to say what he truly meant, Leo was taken from him. Warped into believing Raph wanted him dead.

////////////////////////////

Donnie could say one thing about love:

It's not a science.

There's no guarantees, no exact numbers, or data that can prepare you love.

So hearing Mikey confess to him threw Donnie off guard. 

Donnie knew their circumstances were unique and wild turtles are not as stingy when it came to potential mates, male or female. So it wasn't that which made him inclined to refuse Mikey's confession.

It was fear. 

He didn't want to start something and it did not work out. They couldn't go back to being the way they were before. Mikey is too emotional and Donnie felt he was incompatible to be his mate. 

But then Raph revealing his love for Leo made him realize something.

Leo and Raph were completely opposite to each other and when they weren't at each other's throats, they did work incredibly well together. Leo could soothe Raph's emotions while Raph could get Leo to think outside the box as a leader. Donnie had that with Mikey. He could keep his imagination from running wild and Mikey always was there for Donnie. He got him to not be so absorbed in his work. He brought out the best in him without even trying. 

But Donnie was so scared, he shut Mikey down without thinking clearly. 

Mikey was hurt; Beyond hurt. He was devastated.  He distanced himself from Mikey, hoping this would blow over and Mikey would go back to his usual self. But as a week or so went by, Mikey was still upset and guarded. So it was no wonder he went to Leo to comfort him. He understood his pain of not feeling wanted.  It's how he was taken alongside his elder brother. Broken and made to believe Donnie felt so much hatred for him that he would abandon them. 

///////////////////

“Ya think we can snap’ em outta it using’ that?” Raph questioned.

“It is a purge technique my master used when someone was possessed by an evil entity. “ Splinter explained calmly.

“This isn't an evil entity, Master Splinter.” Donnie commented, “It's a bio engineered parasite.” 

“Regardless of its origins. We must do whatever we can to save your brothers.” Splinter reminded. 

“Yes, Sensei.” Raph nodded. 

They had three more hours until the duel and Raph was dreading it. He didn't want to face Leo and possibly hurt him. 

“My best solution has a 50% chance of working and it's only if we can hold them off long enough to talk.” Donnie stated solemnly, “I've prepared tranquilizers incase we need to subdue them.” 

“We will be waiting for you, my sons.” Splinter asserted, “I know how hard this must be for you.” 

“It's hard…but we're gonna bring’ em home, Sensei.” Raph promised. 

“Will not stop until they are returned to us.” Donnie added. 

“I know…I have faith in you, my sons.” Splinter spoke softly. 

He knew this would be a tough battle. One that could change their dynamic for better or for worse. 

Chapter Text

Donnie and Raph reached the foot headquarters and were led to the elevator by several foot soldiers. After going up several floors that felt like forever, they reached their destination. It was at the very top of the Foot Headquarters where the helicopter runway was situated. A large black helicopter had landed and was powering down while Shredder stood in the center with both Leo and Mikey beside him. 

“You actually came. I was beginning to think you had given up after your brothers had you running away with your tail between your legs last time.” Shredder taunted.

“Shuddup, Ya oversized can opener. We gettin’ our bros back!” Raph growled.

“Oh? You think I'll just let them go!? You're oh so wrong!” Shredder waved his hand, “Leonardo, go to the edge of this building.” 

Leo obeyed, looking empty as he made his way slowly to the edge. His feet barely passed the space between the floor and certain death. 

“Remain there, Leonardo. You are to jump on my command.” Shredder ordered.

“LEO!” Raph screamed out as he tried to run towards him but Mikey stepped in the way and pulled out his nunchucks.

“You have ten minutes. Kill Michelangelo and I will let Leonardo live as my chunin. Fail to do so and he will jump.” Shredder cackled.

“Why are you doing this!?!” Donnie yelled as he pulled out his staff, “Don't they serve a better purpose alive!?” 

Shredder laughed, almost like someone had told a joke to him. 

“Even if one of both of them die, it is not any trouble to me. But I will enjoy watching you suffer.” He gleefully stated, “Michelangelo, Kill them!” 

Mikey obeyed and charged at his brothers fully intending to kill. His nunchucks connected to Donnie's staff as he used it as a blocker. 

“Mikey, I need you to listen to me!” Donnie urged.

Mikey didn't answer, he was too fixated on trying to get past Donnie's staff which was blocking every swing. 

“Mikey, I never meant to shut you out!” Donnie shouted, “I never wanted you to feel like I hated you!” 

Mikey just kept swinging, his face remained unbothered. It didn't deter Donnie though. He needed to keep trying. Raph joined in the fight and got behind Mikey to grab under his arms. 

“Ya gotta stop, Mike! We don't wanna hurt ya!” Raph yelled.

“Mikey, Please!” Donnie begged, “I love you!” 

Mikey threw his head back to hit Raphs beak which made him lose his grip and allow Mikey to get away from him. 

“You're lying.” Mikey replied coldly, “You told me that I was confused. That we should never speak of this again.” 

Donnie stepped closer to Mikey while Raph slowly got back on his feet, blood trickling down from his nostrils.

“Mikey, I'm sorry! I was scared!” Donnie cried, “I was afraid of the what ifs-The unknown! Not realizing love is not something you plan! It just happens!” 

“Mikey, We never wanted ya to get lost!” Raph added, “Yer place is with us! Forever and always!” 

“Mikey, I'm sorry I didn't do better to understand how hard this was for you!” 

Mikey's face started to grimace. His stance faltered as he stepped back. Donnie got excited. His plan was working, Mikey was starting to break away from the control. 

“Mikey, I love you! You bring out the best in me! You're always there when I need someone to cheer me up!” 

“You're lying” Mikey growled, gripping his nunchucks, “You're trying to trick me! You don't love me at all!” 

“Mikey…” Donnie stepped closer to Mikey, “I love you the same way you love me.” 

Donnie took a shaky breath and continued.

“I was so confused with…all of this…Mike, you are so much better with figuring out emotions than I am. You make it look so easy…It's what I find most endearing about you.” 

Mikey let go of his weapons to grip both sides of head as he felt an intense headache. Something was wriggling inside of his head and it hurt. 

It needed to come out.

“WHAT IS THIS!?” Shredder shouted indignantly from his spot. 

Mikey started to scream in immense pain as whatever was inside him was trying to move. Donnie dropped his staff and raced over and pulled Mikey into a hug, shocking both Shredder and Raph. 

“I'm here, Mikey. It's ok! Keep fighting!” Donnie urged as he pressed the flat side of his left hand against Mikey's plastron.

Remembering what Splinter taught him, he pressed the palm down deep into his stomach and then pushed up to press against his ribs in one swift motion. The technique made Mikey convulse, losing his balance as he felt something come up in his throat that was slimy and wriggling to come out. He threw up the worm then went boneless in Donnie's arms. The worm crawled away, attempting to find a new home but Raph flung his Sai at the creature, impaling it; Thus ending it's life. 

Mikey! Mikey!” Donnie called out to him in joy as he was no longer under the worm's control.

“LEO NO!!” Raph screamed, making Donnie look up.

Much to his horror, Leo had unsheathed one of his swords and pressed the sharp edge to his neck. Shredder laughed as he pressed the buttons on the brain worm command center for Leonardo. 

“His fate is sealed!” 

Chapter Text

“LEO! Don’t do it!” Raphael exclaimed, his voice fervor. Emotionless eyes turned towards him. The brawler tried to calm his voice and tried again. “Come on, Fearless… ya don’t wanna cut that pretty neck of yers—ya can’t lecture nobody unless ya can talk.”

“Not as if you ever listened.”

Leonardo stood motionless, his blade pressed against his neck. From the ledge he stood above looking down at his three brothers, two consciously staring at him with pleading eyes while the other was held in Donatello’s arms to support him in his weakened state.

“I’m listening now…”

“Then mark my words… I would rather die than to ever be taken prisoner again.” As if to prove his point, he pressed the blade a little closer which drew some drops of blood.

“Ya ain’t our prisoner, we’re ya family tryin’ ta take ya home where ya belong…” he coaxed.

“You’ll take advantage of me no longer,” he hissed lowly.

“Leo, you’ve always listened to me,” Donatello pleaded. “So hear me when I tell you that worm over there impaled by Raph’s sai was controlling Mikey’s thoughts and emotions. It’s how they made you believe that you’ve been here a month when it’s been a week since the Foot took you both from us when we got separated at the end of patrol.”

While his brother was speaking, Raphael glanced back at Shredder. He realized that their enemy was allowing the conversation in order to draw out their pain, however that did not change the fact that at any moment his eldest brother could either decapitate himself or plumet off the skyscraper. Even without a broken rib, trying to physically intercede to prevent both outcomes would be a challenge.

“And it’s been the worst week of my life, Fearless! Even worse than the two months ya got sent away, because at least then I knew where ya was and that ya was okay.”

“You care nothing for me, not even as a brother-in-arms despite us fighting side-by-side. So now I fight against you as is our natural order.”

“Us arguing ain’t our natural order! We just,” he floundered for an explanation. “I just wanted ya attention!”

“You have diverted my ‘attention’ via opposition under the guise of cooperation long enough!”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“You continue to say that. It is an ignorant excuse you fall back on when your words fail.”

Realization dawned on Raphael and he glanced at Donatello.

“Donnie, get ready on my signal.” He whispered quietly so no one else heard, the other barely nodding to indicate the message was understood. Slowly he crouched to the ground as he lowered Michelangelo down.

“Ya don’t like my words, huh?” He sheathed his remaining sai casually and raised his hands as if he were about to shrug before taking a step forward. “Well ya never did, that’s why we always arguing because ya never listen ta me!”

“How dare you accuse me—”

“Uh uh,” he waved a finger as he took another step forward, nervous at the glare he received from his leader. “I didn’t say ya wasn’t within yer right! I say a lot of stupid shit, ain’t no one can blame ya. So how about I make it up ta ya?”

“You could never possibly—”

“Ya ain’t heard my offer yet ta know that. Been stuck listening ta only the Brainiac here fer a week, ain’t ya curious if a decent idea popped in my head fer once?” The katana wielder said nothing, only glared coldly. However, both brothers recognized the very subtle note of curiosity in the blue eyes they were familiar with and knew that the eldest’s stubbornness might provide them the chance for Raphael to follow through with whatever he was planning…

They stood there for a full minute staring at each other before Leonardo spoke.

“Speak your offer.”

“Ya worry less about ya neck because I’ll put mine on the line instead.” The other raised an eye ridge questioningly so he explained. “Don’t pretend with all my talkin’ back and botched words ya ain’t never felt like forcin' me ta shut up and take orders. So here’s ya chance… ya put yer hands on my neck and squeeze until ya satisfied, I’ll even let ya tie up mine so ya know it ain’t a trick fer me ta fight back.”

Seeing the momentary hesitation, the brawler glared over his shoulder. “YA HEAR THAT SHREDHEAD? Ya want one of us dead, ya take me instead! Added bonus, ya get ta watch him take me out instead of some coward’s way like ya was about ta do so at least one of us gets ta die with some honor!” Everyone on the rooftop stood still for a moment as if at a standoff.

“Bind him,” Shredder commanded.

Raphael willingly held out his arms and Leonardo cautiously stepped forward, removing something from his belt in which he used to wrap up the other’s wrists once he was barely within range to do so as he kept a cautious distance while approaching. Studying the knot he was tying, he glanced up into golden eyes before furiously tightening the final knot. Seeing a quick wince of pain from the other, he smirked.

“Kill him,” Shredder ordered.

Slowly Leonardo stepped closer as if relishing raising his hands to place them around the emerald-green throat. He stared for a moment as his leaf-green fingers rested on the skin, gently tapping a couple of times before settling them wrapped around securely.

“Leo… I love ya.”

“I should have done this a long time ago,” was the response as the digits tightened.

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Raphael answered before leaning forward and pressing his lips against the other’s mouth.

Donatello watched and waited, his arm over Michelangelo protectively.

Oroku Saki, a hardened man who was a proficient ninja, had seen much in his evil life. He believed one was responsible to expect the unexpected however, for the first time in a long time, he was witnessing a situation he would have never expected…

Leonardo’s hands loosened slightly but did not let go… there was enough space that allowed Raphael to reach his bound arms up and over the other’s head. The movement slightly nudged the other’s hands to drop from his neck to his shoulders, encouraging him to try to deepen the kiss—exactly the signal the other brother was waiting for to make his move.

Donatello rushed over, pressing his palm down deep into Leo’s stomach and then pushed up to press against his ribs in one swift motion. The technique made the eldest convulse, staggering as he fought to keep his balance despite what was going on internally. Raphael restrained him, bracing himself for what he knew was about to happen as he broke away from the kiss and pulled his bound arms back over the other’s head just as he expelled the brainworm between their feet. Grimacing, he grabbed his other sai and quickly stabbed it to ensure the impalement ended its life.

“Leo!” Raphael called out as the other coughed. “Leo!”

“NOOOO!” Shredder bellowed.

Chapter Text

Shredder screamed in fury, throwing the command tablet to the floor from his spot. 

“Raph, to the helicopter!” Donnie shouted as he picked up Mikey.

Raph wasted no time in picking up Leo and running with him on his back to the black helicopter. Donnie used his staff to knock the would-be pilot off the seat and onto the ground. He took the now empty seat and set Mikey in the back with Raph who was holding Leo. 

“NINJA, DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!!” Shredder demanded angrily into his com. 

Several foot soldiers on standby came storming from the elevator and rushed to the platform but it was too late. Donnie got the helicopter started and began its rough start off the ground. Raph held on to both Leo and Mikey for dear life as Donnie maneuvered the aircraft. They got up in the air and were flying above New York City, away from the source of their turmoil.  Donnie made his way to a barren field away from the city and landed it safely on the ground. Once the loud sound of the engine came to an end and the whirring of the helicopter blades stopped spinning Donnie spun his body around to look at his brothers.

Leo and Mikey had bags under their eyes and looked a bit gaunt in the face. They had obviously bruises all over their limbs, old and fresh. They both were very weak with eyes barely open and not able to move their bodies as it required energy that no longer had.

“Sending coordinates to April now.” Donnie stated sternly to Raph. 

//////////////////

Three Hours Later  

Donnie and April had just finished getting Leo and Mikey settled in the spare cots in his lab with a saline drip connected to their wrists.  Raph was finally allowed to see them and he was deeply concerned when he saw Leo's face. His mask was off showing the dark rings around his eyes.

“The Brainworms had absorbed all the nutrients from their bodies. They need hydration and it looks like the worms numbed their nervous system so they couldn't feel the need to sleep or physical pain. With how long they were under control, they will be out of it for a while.” Donnie explained softly. 

“...Goddammit” Raph seethed as he held Leo's limp hand. 

“They'll be hooked to the drip for the next 12 hours or so.” April added, “I just hope we won't have to force fed them…” 

Donnie didn't want to think about that. He already felt bad sticking needles in his brothers but he couldn't bring himself to have to shove tube's down their throats.

“I'm keepin’ watch.” Raph asserted as he sat down in a nearby chair.

“Raph, they won't wake up anytime soon.” Donnie stated.

“Don't care. I'm stayin with'em!” Raph replied angrily.

Donnie knew he wasn't upset at him, just this situation. They were so close to losing their brothers. Mikey in s forced death battle and Leo by his own sword. Raph wanting to stay by Leo's side was understandable. He wanted to just hold Mikey close to him. So he let him stay and he grabbed a chair to sit down next to Mikey, clasping his hand to his baby brother's.

“I'll join you.” 

//////////////////

Twelve Hours Later

A full day has passed since they brought Leo and Mikey back home. Raph awoke with a short gasp as he felt a furry hand shake his shoulder gently.

“Raphael.” Splinter called to him quietly.

“Sensei…” He murmured.

“Donatello needs to remove the medical devices attached to your brothers. Then you will help them be moved to their rooms.” Splinter explained calmly.

Raph looked over and saw Donnie was removing the IV drips gently from Mikey's wrist.

“Their bodies are hydrated and I can move them to a more comfortable place to rest.” Donnie stated, “Move them gently, they might wake but they won't be coherent. Still very weak.” 

Raph let Donnie unhook Leo from the drip and gave him the ok to pick up Leo. There was more color to his face thankfully Raph knew he wasn't in the clear yet. He picked up Leo and carefully carried him to his room upstairs with Donnie not far behind with Mikey.  Raph settled Leo in his bed and put the covers over him and could only hope he wakes up soon. Donnie had taken Mikey to his room with Splinter following him. After he finished putting the covers over him, Splinter began to speak.

“Get Raphael and both of you meet me in my quarters. I have much to speak to you about.” He ordered.

Chapter Text

Splinter sat before his two middle children, shadows flickering across the room from the lit candles around them. The turtles sat quietly, trying to focus their thoughts in the moment and not what had been going on.

“I commend you both for bringing your brothers home and making our family whole once again. I know it was not easy.” Both nodded silently. “You have debriefed me on the mission during the past day, but I sense that both of you withheld some detail from your account despite how thorough you were with your recollections.” Watching their gazes settle to their fists rested on their knees, the two remained quiet. “Although I advised otherwise, I happened upon you both speaking about the subject that was not the foremost concern we needed to focus on at the time. I have no doubt that was an isolated incident.”

Their sensei paused and the room echoed with the sound of water running through the pipes.

“In hindsight, were your conversations beneficial to the successful outcome of the missions? It would seem they might have detracted from the initial rescue attempt…”

"I know we had started arguing when you found us, but it did help me to focus after talking with Raph. Just getting what happened off my shell and even him calling me out... I guess I kind of understand how Leo feels now."

"It helped knowing I wasn't the only one out of us four feelin' like I did," Raphael spoke up. "I didn't know Mikey was going through it too and I wish we had talked about it before all this stuff happened."

"Our first mission failed because we anticipated rescuing Leo and Mikey then having them with us against the Foot. Uncertain feelings aside, we were at a strategical disadvantage not knowing about the brainworms and the brainwashing."

"Yeah I don't think we coulda been prepared ta hear our brothers say they hate us and wanted ta kill us... if it weren't obvious by me gettin' the shell kicked outta me and a broken rib ta show fer it..."

"And what of the aftermath from that battle?" their father prompted.

"Raph gave me a lot of insight to get out of my head and into my heart. He explained the differences between love in terms of brotherhood, friendship, and romance. In fact, it was our conversation about intense emotions could be a factor in coming up with a solution to the matter at hand."

"Don was the first ta get through ta Mikey, his words and that purge technique showed us that plan would work." He paused, "Should be no surprise but, uh, Leo was a bit harder to reach. Being in a position that any moment he could cut his own head off or step off the skyscraper didn't help none either."

"When we didn't kill Mike, Shredder changed his plans at the last minute. We had to respond just as strongly."

"Explain to me what that means, Donatello."

"Leo wasn't listening ta me," Raph interrupted. "Not like our normal arguing but, like angry. Worse than the time when ya sent him away... when he said my words failed, I knew my actions had ta speak louder. Once I got 'im ta listen, Donnie was able ta get close enough to do that technique ta purge the brainworm."

"Sensei," Donatello sighed. "Shredder forced Leo to draw blood on his own neck and then to kill Raph with his own hands by suffocation. We had to do whatever it took."

“And what was it that took?” The two turtles glanced at each other.

“I kissed ‘im. I can’t outtalk Leo, so I distracted him in a way he wouldn’t have expected. Kinda how I imagine Mikey the way he pulls stunts.”

“One thing’s for sure,” Donatello couldn’t resist smirking, “Shredder sure was shocked.”

“Hell, I was shocked!” He laughed before noticing the strong look he received and raised his hands defensively. “Sorry, Sensei! I know… language.”

“What will you both do now?”

“Well, we both owe them an apology. Then they may want an explanation—I’m not sure how much they will recall once they wake up… But we’ll be honest with however much they want to know.”

“After that,” Raphael added, “we tell ‘em the truth is we are happy ta have them back home just as they are. Whatever does or doesn’t happen, it’s up ta them.”

“I know it’s possible after this ordeal that Mikey is no longer interested in pursing anything further. We’ll go back to normal and no harm done. But…” he sighed a bit wistfully, “if he feels the same, I am much more receptive.”

“I am sure that is easier said than done, but well intentioned if you can manage to do so.” Splinter turned from Donatello to Raphael. “And what of you, Raphael? Your brother’s emotions run cool while yours run hot—how would you deal with such rejection?”

“It ain’t rejection, Master Splinter.” The hothead met his gaze with a fierce look in his eyes. “Leo’s back home, anything and everything else is a bonus.”

~^~^~^~^~

Chapter Text

3 Days Later…

Mikey pulled himself out of the dark abyss. He forced his eyes open. It was blurry for a moment before his eyes adjusted and he saw he was in a dimly lit room. He felt covered in a soft blanket but his limbs ached from being stiff for so long. He tried to move his hands but he felt something on his left hand, making him confused. 

“...Who?” Mikey croaked, his voice shaky and dry. 

Donnie shot his head up in surprise as he heard Mikey's voice.

“MIKEY!?” he shouted as he jumped for joy and pulled his little brother into a hug, “You're awake!” He exclaimed before pulling away to look at Mikey.

“....Where?” Mikey questioned, looking around confused. 

“You're home, Mike! You're home!” Donnie cried as he cupped his hands to Mikey's face. 

Mikey could barely process what was happening before Donnie was calling for Raph and Master Splinter to come to them.

Raph was the first to enter, pushing the door open harshly and pulling Mikey close to his plastron.

“THANK GOD, MIKEY!!” Raph screamed, sounding equally worried as well as tired.

“D-Dude...I can't breathe.” Mikey choked as Raph hugged him too tightly. 

“Give your brother room to breathe, Raphael!” Splinter ordered as he stepped into the room.

The soft tap of his cane came with every step he made closer to Mikeys bed. 

“Michelangelo, I'm so glad you are awake. You've had us all worried.” Splinter spoke gently to his son.

“....Master” Mikey uttered before holding his stomach as it growled loudly. 

“Right! You haven't eaten in several days! I'll get you something light! Your stomach is probably too sensitive for any heavy meals!” Donnie rambled as he hurriedly got up to get to the kitchen.

Despite knowing full well he can't cook to save his life. Raph just facepalmed and got up to go stop Donnie from burning down the kitchen.

“Will get ya somethin’ .” Raph promised as he patted Mikey's head, “Just stay put.” 

With that, Raph left and Splinter took his spot beside Mikey's bedside. 

“Michelangelo, you are overwhelmed I'm sure.” Splinter spoke calmly.

“....Sensei.” Mikey murmured. 

“How much do you remember, my son?”  Splinter inquired

Mikey shook his head with tears in his eyes. 

“I remember feeling…like I was no longer….myself. like I was still me but my body was….possessed.” Mikey sobbed.

Splinter gently patted his youngest son's shoulder for comfort.

“You were under the influence of the Shredder, my son. He made you consume something that gave him control of your body and mind…” Splinter explained, “You're brothers worked tirelessly to free you and bring you back home.” 

“....I can't remember anything after eating that gross bug…then I heard Donnie's voice…” 

“There was a duel orchestrated by the Shredder to make you fight Donatello and Raphael to the death, the winner could save Leonardo from certain death as he was forced to stand precariously over a ledge…He was tormenting all of you, my sons."

Mikey put his head in his hands and cried. He couldn't fathom how awful it would've been if he had remembered such an ordeal. Him fighting his brother's with the intent to kill; Mikey would rather die before he would ever hurt his own family. 

“Donatello spoke to you…” Splinter continued softly, “He spoke of his love for you. His admiration for your kind and intuitive nature…It gave your mind the power to fight against this creature's control and with it an opportunity for Donatello to expel it from your body.” 

Mikey looked up at his father still crying, his eyes bleary from the tears.

“What about Leo…Please tell me he didn't…?” Mikey questioned weakly.

“He too was saved…But he is also weak and resting from the ordeal.” Splinter answered.

Mikey sighed shakily, relieved that his big Brother didn't die. 

“I didn't think D would wanna talk to me ever again” Mikey hiccuped as he pulled his legs close to his chest and rested his head on his knees. 

“No, my son. Donatello loves you greatly.” Splinter asserted as he hugged him, “He feels the same way you feel…He was just fearful of the possibilities which he could not predict…but he knows now that love is not predictable…sometimes it just happens and it can be most beautiful.” 

Mikey just kept sobbing. He didn't know how to process this. 

“My son, your answer is not required just yet. Let yourself heal before you make your decision on your feelings for Donatello now.” Splinter urged, “Much has happened during your absence.” 

Mikey nodded weakly and he felt Splinter pressed his shoulder to nudge him lay back on the bed. 

“Rest for the time being, my son.” Splinter whispered.

//////////////////////////////

2 Hours Later…

“Dammit Leo…” Raph grumbled from his leader's bedside, “Ya never make things easy, do ya?” 

Raph was holding Leo's left hand while he remained asleep. Raph had finished helping Donnie make a simple Zosui for Mikey to eat and then made a mad dash for Leo's room, hoping he had awoken too but was disappointed when he came into the bedroom and saw Leo was still in the same position as before and unresponsive. Even after a few hours of Raph holding his hand, speaking to him about anything and everything; Leo wouldn't open his eyes.

“Fearless…” Raph started, “Leo…Please I hope ya can hear me…when i said those words to ya topside…the night ya got taken…It wasn't cuz I hated ya…I don't see ya as my brother when I see ya as somethin’ more.” 

Raph felt his body constrict in nervousness as he fought through the urge to just scream at Leo to wake up. 

“Leo, I love ya…I love ya more than just a brother…all those jabs and petty fights…I was wantin’ yer focus on me…I wanted ya in way I felt I could never have with ya…” Raph choked out.

He gripped both hands over Leo's and held it close to his forehead. 

“I really thought ya were gonna die back there, Fearless.” Raph confessed, “I can't imagine a world without ya.”

“....You don't have to.” 

Raph shot his head up to look in the direction of where The soft voice came from. 

“I'm….not going anywhere…” 

Leo had his eyes open and was staring at his brother with a soft smile.

Chapter Text

“How long ya been playin’ possum listening ta me?” Raph snapped, lacking any bite to his tone.

“Something about I don’t make things easy,” he smiled teasingly.

“Dammit, Leo…”

~^~^~^~^~

“Thanks, D…”

“Anytime, Mikey. Although Raph deserves more credit.”

“Not the soup,” he shook his head. “For talking to me again. You saved my life, bro.”

“Michelangelo! How can you really think I’d ever not talk to you again? I know I was a bit distant, but you know how I get when I’m trying to figure out something…” Before the other could say anything he continued. “I owe you an apology, I handled things so poorly… I was afraid of things going wrong that my inaction literally backfired…” The genius shook his head before looking up. “What all do you remember since you went after Leo when Raph snapped at him?”

“Like I told Sensei, not much between having that bug shoved down my throat until it was back out—and not even after that not much really to be honest… From what I’ve already heard, it doesn’t seem like I want to know either,” he frowned.

“Honestly, I didn’t even tell Raph all the details. Unless it somehow proves helpful in the healing process, I advise against it for you and Leo as well.”

“That bad, huh? That would explain why I feel as if I rose from the dead.” He felt his hands swooped up and looked down to see them embraced in the olive-green hands of his immediate brother.

"Mikey, stop me if I'm saying too much or you're feeling overwhelmed but..." He took a deep breath. "I was the one confused. I needed to get out of my head and into my heart, to understand the differences between love in terms of brotherhood, friendship, and romance. You've always been better at figuring out and understanding emotions, I've always found it an endearing quality of yours... I was the one scared. That it wouldn't work out, that I was incompatible to be your mate. You bring out the best in me, always there for me to cheer me up and to keep me balanced with my work... It seems silly now that I needed time to figure these things out, that I hurt both of us by being distant from the one I'm closest to... I just hope—”

“Hey, D?”

“Yeah?”

“You can shut up and kiss me now.” Although he still looked a bit worse for wear, his small smile shone with his affection for the other.

Donatello chuckled awkwardly for a moment before regaining his composure, gently reaching out to Michelangelo’s face and cupping his cheek in his palm. He leaned in, softly placing his lips on his and closing his eyes to focus on the soft sensation. He poured a lifetime of pondering into the touch and allowed himself to be absorbed in the emotion.

Just as he felt that he could fall no further into the feeling, he felt himself pulled down as his lover pressed against him more passionately. Mikey’s mouth grew more ravenous as his tongue pressed against olive lips to trail along enamel teeth. After a time they broke away, panting lightly.

“Hm, no wonder you’re hungry… that soup didn’t taste as good as it looked,” the genius joked. They both chuckled, resting their foreheads against each other and gazed lovingly into one another’s eyes while their fingers caressed each other’s faces.

~^~^~^~^~

"I'm glad ya two don't remember all that ya went through, what I saw was bad enough," Raphael shook his head.

"It feels weird, having a chunk of time in your life missing though..." Leonardo stated with a bit of distraught in his voice.

"Don't doubt it does but how much worse ta remember something so horrible. Leo," he squeezed the hand his were holding onto. "It was bad, don't go asking no one fer details, okay? I mean it!"

"I... can't promise I won't. But I'll try not to."

"Serious, man... ya were gone a week and they dragged it out so that ya both thought it had been a month before we found ya." Leo's eyes widened. "I promise ya, two weeks was the most I was gonna wait before I burned the entire city down looking fer ya!"

"Raph, don't be so dramatic," the leader shook his head before freezing at the fiery expression on the other's face.

"Leo, I'm serious. That one week was worse than the two months ya got sent away, because at least then I knew where ya was and that ya was okay! Well, physically anyway.” A minute of silence passed between the two as they thought back to that time when Leonardo visited the Ancient One to deal with his PTSD.

“Right before we got attacked, the last thing I really remember is Mikey telling me had had feelings for Donnie. I hope things work out for them.”

“Ya don’t sound surprised?” Raph arched an eye ridge.

“Why should I be? They’ve always been close, Donatello has even more patience with Michelangelo than I do, and Mikey is the best at helping Donnie refocus. It’s like… Mikey keeps Donnie from running himself into the ground while Donnie keeps Mikey from flying off with his head in the sky.”

“Only ya can make a couple sound like something zen, being elements of nature or whatever,” he joked.

“Do you disagree they are like Earth and Air?”

“If they are, what does that makes us?”

“You’re obviously fire, Hothead,” the leader smirked. “I guess that would make me water.”

“Nah, yer too cool for just plain water. More like ice.”

“Fire and Ice, huh? Doesn’t sound like a balanced combination to me.”

“I think it sounds steamy,” he grinned.

“If you say so,” he shrugged. “So if it took Donnie reciprocating Mikey’s feelings to help him purge the brainworm, what did you two say to reach me?”

“Ain’t important, all ya need to know is it took both of us working together—so, teamwork and all that.”

“That is nice to hear,” he nodded. “But I insist on at least that one detail.” Noticing the insistent look on his face, the other sighed.

“Fine… I offered an exchange, my neck fer yers.”

“What?”

“Nothin’ I was sayin’ was getting through ta ya, I ain’t good with words ya know… I figured, Shredder wanted at least one dead turtle then he’d rather me than ya especially under his control. Got the sword off yer neck and while yer hands were wrapped around my neck, Donnie was able to do the technique thing.”

“Uh huh…” the eldest regarded his brother closely. “I feel like there’s something you’re leaving out.”

“Well, I didn’t want ta mention it… but ya threw up on me.”

“How could Donnie get close enough for me to not react in time?”

“Ya were focused,” he shrugged. “Ya even said ya should have done it a long time ago.”

“That does sound accurate,” he nodded. Something about his statement sounded odd but Raph wasn’t sure why. Being lost in thought he started as he saw hands coming closer to him. “I’m just trying to understand…” he said, almost apologetically. “My hands were near your neck, like this?”

“Higher,” he grabbed the hands off his collarbone and raised them up to his throat. “Tighter too, but ya don’t have ta do all that.”

“Of course,” he nodded. His hands stayed in place as he looked curious. “Hmm…” They sat there, the hothead growing impatient as his leader seemed to be puzzling something out. He watched the other before closing his eyes to both try to remember and forget the evening in question. After being lost in his thoughts for a full minute, he startled hearing Leonardo exclaim and grab his shoulders.

Which he used to pull him into a kiss!

He pulled back slightly, giving an astonished look to his leader. “What was that fer?”

“That’s me reciprocating your feelings that help purge the brainworm I was afflicted with,” he smiled.

“How would ya know that? I ain’t left ya side since ya woke up so no one could have told ya, both ya and Mikey said ya got no memory of what happened!”

“I don’t, except for the fact that particular moment caused a very strong emotional response. Not just in me, but the one controlling the brainworm…”

“What are ya sayin’ exactly?”

“I’m not sure how it happened, but I got some sort of sense or signal through the brainworm when it happened… you certainly made an impression as it’s safe to say Shredder was quite shocked at what he saw.” He chuckled at seeing the brawler’s expression as well as imagining their enemy’s reaction. He then paused. “Oh and I didn’t throw up on you, I threw up near you. There’s a difference.”

“Dammit, Leo…”

~^~^~^~^~

Chapter Text

“Dude, you don't have to watch me eat. I'm sure I'm a gross eater.” Mikey mumbled.

It was day four of him still being confined to his bed and given light meals that Donnie would sit through with him. 

“You know that I'm here to make sure you don't choke. Now eat your food, Splinter made it.” Donnie urged. 

“Don-!” 

“Not another word. Eat.” 

Mikey pouted before shoving a spoonful of rice into his mouth. He knew he couldn't win against Donnie on this. 

“This tastes awful.” Mikey muttered as he kept eating.

“It's called Congee and it's supposed to be a good meal for people who are sick. We couldn't add much flavor since it might upset your stomach.” Donnie explained, “If you keep eating this for a few more days, you'll be graduating to solids.” 

“Pizza?” Mikey questioned in a pleading tone.

“Too far. I'm thinking more along the line of potatoes.” Donnie replied, which made Mikey groan. 

Donnie did feel bad that Mikey couldn't eat what he liked but this was for his own safety. Donnie had thought about joining Mikey in consuming the unsavory meal but he ultimately decided against it as he didn't want Mikey to feel like he was being babied, which he hated being treated as an invalid. 

“Mikey…I promise when this is all over, we will celebrate with a pizza party. But just be patient for now.” Donnie encouraged his lover. 

Mikey sighed and then smiled slightly at Donnie.

“Dude, I know you're just helping me get back in shape with this stuff.” He responded.

“I hate being the one stopping you from enjoying food…” Donnie replied. 

“I'll get back to eating all my junk food eventually. Doesn't Master Splinter say good things come to those who wait?” Mikey grinned.

Donnie rolled his eyes but was still happy that his mate was taking this all in stride. 

//////////////////////////

1 Week Later

“OK, I think they can start eating normally by next week. Their blood tests are normal so we're on the right track.” Donnie explained happily as he finished reviewing Leo and Mikey's bloodwork results.

“So can they start gettin up more?” Raph asked.

“Yes, but in small increments. No training yet, their muscles were atrophied after no nutrients thanks to the worms and also a full week of not moving doesn't help either.” Donnie commented.

“Kinda sucks. I miss Fearless when we spar.” 

“Don't encourage Leo to move too much. I'm sure he's just as antsy to get back into action.” 

“I'm not, but if he gets up when I ain't lookin! It's not on me!” 

“You're still gonna need to keep an eye on him.” 

Raph grunted but Donnie knew Raph liked being with Leo. The two had made it official despite not saying anything, which they don't have to for the whole lair to know the two were a thing now. Raph practically moved himself in Leo's room and Donnie had caught the two of them kissing. He's even come in to wake Leo up and found Raph snuggled up to him in his bed. 

“So…” Raph rubbed the back of his head, “When….can Fearless be good to go for some fun?” 

Donnie was caught off guard by that question. He was sure he had already told Raph the answer.

“Raph, I would give Leo a few more weeks before even trying to let him wield his swords again.” Donnie asserted.

“Uhmmm…W-well uh-! I'm thinkin’ more of a different kinda sword play…” Raph mumbled while looking away embarrassed.

Donnie then realized what Raph was asking about.

“Oh…those swords…” Donnie uttered.

While sexual intercourse is a vigorous activity, there are ways to work around Leo's ailment for the encounter to be pleasurable for him.

“Might I ask who is receiving and giving?” Donnie inquired quietly.

“...If ya askin’ who's top, it's me.” Raph grumbled uncomfortably, “Look, I just wanna know if I can even do anythin’ or if Fearless needs more time before I try to hop in bed with’im.”

“I've already seen you two in bed.” 

“N-not like that-! Ya know what I mean!” 

Donnie put his hands up to tell Raph to calm down.

“If Leo is the bottom, you'll have to prepare him for penetration.” Donnie urged.

“I know how to use lube!” Raph argued.

“But you can't jackhammer Leo! You can have intercourse with him now. He's past the point where I would be worried he'll throw up his food but if you're going to do it, be careful about it.” 

“Whaddya mean?” 

Donnie sighed and patted his brother's shell.

“Keep him on his carapace. Don't do anything where he's flat on his stomach as it will irritate it, especially after he's had a meal. Put a pillow on his rear so he'll be even on his back.” Donnie suggested.

“So…Missionary?” Raph wondered.

“Yes…”

Leave it to Raph to know all the sex positions. 

“I will also add that when you're done, you give him pain meds and don't give him food until 2 hours after so his stomach won't be upset.” 

“R-right.” Raph acknowledged sheepishly, “So I'm in the clear to get it on?” 

“No jackhammering! I'm serious!” Donnie warned while pointing his finger at him, “If you have sex with Leo and do anything of that sort with him, I will smother you!” 

“Whaddya think happens when I stick my dick in Fearless!? I just sit there!?” Raph shouted angrily.

“I know what happens during penetration, Raph! I'm aware you have to move but you're just going slower.” 

Donnie made a sexual gesture but the thrusting motion was slow to display to Raph what meant.

Raph threw his hands up and walked out of his brother's lab. 

Chapter Text

“What’s the matter, D?” Michelangelo noticed as soon as Donatello arrived with his meal that he looked annoyed. Upon asking, the genius just shook his head and rolled his eyes.

“Your hotheaded brother is an idiot who could stand to think with his brain rather than the small head.”

“What do you mean?” the younger asked as a tray of food was set down in front of him. “I mean, I know what you’re saying but in regards to what?” Donnie gently laid a hand on Mike’s to prevent him from taking his first bite of food.

“He literally asked me, if Leo is—and I quote, ‘in the clear to get it on’.”

“For real?”

“I wish I was joking,” he sighed watching the other stir his food before taking his first bite.

“So what did you tell him?”

“Technically, in the slowest way someone can possible do missionary,” he frowned. “Maybe if he had more self-control and wasn’t crawling all over Leo in bed already, he could be a little more patient!”

“They’re already cuddling? Huh…”

“Maybe I should go speak with Leo, who knows what might go missing in translation when Raph talks to him.” As Donnie stood up, he felt his wrist grabbed.

“Donnie, Raph is crazy but he’s not going to purposely hurt Leo. Heck maybe he’s just messing with you to get a reaction since I’m not able to prank him lately.” The youngest offered a half-hearted grin, causing the other to pause and sit down.

“Mikey… are you okay? What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing to worry about.”

“Are you… upset I’m not clinging all over you like that?”

“I’m sure you have your reasons,” he looked down, again stirring his food before taking another bite.

“My reasons are that I’d rather you make a full recovery first,” he reached out, placing a hand on the other’s thigh. “What kind of celebration did you think we were going to do after your pizza party?” he smiled coyly.

“I know, it’s just,” suddenly the other’s head jerked up as he realized what was just said. “Wait, what?”

Donnie leaned in, nuzzling Mikey. “It’s not that I don’t want to, I just don’t see the point in teasing us with the temptation until you’re, as Raph puts it, in the clear to get it on. I’d rather you be at full stamina so you can unleash that wild energy of yours without limits.”

“Really?” Mikey asked, pleasantly surprised.

“Really!” Donnie responded satisfactorily. He pressed a kiss on the other’s cheek.

“D?”

“Yeah?

“When’s the pizza party?”

~^~^~^~^~

“So I got good news and bad new fer ya, Fearless.”

“Bad news first,” Leo said as he opened an eye to glance at his partner as he sat down next to him.

“Just like I knew ya would say,” he commented as he waited while the other scooted over a bit. “So, Donnie won’t clear ya ta spar and wield ya katana fer a few more weeks yet. And he already warned me ta warn ya don’t go getting antsy ta get back into action else he’s holding me personally responsible!”

“Hm,” Leo smiled as he opened both eyes to looked at the other. “That sounds like a you problem then.”

“Don’t get cocky if ya wanna hear the good news,” he snorted.

“Please tell me the good news is I can get out of bed,” he sighed wistfully.

“Ah but why would ya want ta when ya cleared to play with yer other swords?” he smirked.

“My other… swords?” As he glanced up towards his set on the wall he noticed the devious look on Raph’s face and realization settled in. “OHMIGOSH,” he facepalmed. “You did not ask Donnie that!”

“At first I didn’t,” he shrugged. “I asked when ya could have some fun and he said no sparring, so I told him I had a different set of swords in mind.”

The eldest had not removed his hand from his face which had gone flush with embarrassment. “I can’t… I don’t even know what to say to that!” He lowered his hand to see the other leaned inches away from him with a full-faced smirk.

“Say yer up for a duel,” Raphael replied as he placed a hand over his lover’s lower plastron. Feeling his heartbeat start to race, Leonardo licked his lips nervously.

“I feel like I’m supposed to make a pun about wielding dual swords instead,” he weakly joked.

“Why use two hands when ya only need one?” He ran his fingertip over the sensitive slit while smiling at hearing his lover’s breath hitch. He was always one to put his full energy into an endeavor, so the frustration of holding back was outweighed by the temptation of claiming his mate. He may not be a genius like Donatello or as imaginative as Michelangelo, but if anyone knew the limits of Leonardo’s patience it was him. So for now he had to be smart about being creative while they wait…

Because based on the sounds he was already hearing, it would be sooner rather than later.

Chapter Text

Leo felt Raph run his thumb on the soft cartilage of his slit before pressing down which made Leo let out a soft churr.

“Feels good” Raph grinned as he kept toying with the slit.

Leo gripped the pillow under his head as he felt Raph press and massage his sensitive pouch, increasing his arousal. His tail came out and would twitch from the feeling in his groin. Leo's pouch finally parted and his cock sprung out when Raph removed his thumb. 

“Damn, Leo.” Raph huffed, “Excited for me~?” He teased his mate. 

“Maybe.” Leo responded, “You seem more  excited than me though.” 

Leo turned his gaze down to Raphs lower plastron which made him look down as well. His own cock was out and throbbing. Raph didn't even realize he had dropped yet.

“I've been wantin’ ya for a long ass time.” Raph chuckled. 

“I'm here. Right where you want me.” Leo smirked slightly.

“That ya are.” Raph grinned wickedly as he moved his hand up Leo's shaft.

Leo moaned softly as he felt pressure on his penis from Raph's hand stroking him. While Raph fondled his shaft, he used his free hand to put one of Leo's extra pillows under Leo's rear just like Donnie had suggested. If he was doing this with Leo, he didn't want him getting hurt. Once it was in a good spot, Raph moved his cock to be pressed against Leo's and he wrapped his hand around both of them.

“Mmmph~!!” Leo pushed his head back into the pillow.

“Heh, Dual action~” Raph leered as he stroked both shafts. 

Raph kept sliding his hand up and down the two organs and would even press his thumb to Leo's spade-tip which made shudder.

“F-feels good~” Leo moaned softly.

Raph hovered over Leo to lean down and kiss his lips. The connection got heated and Leo wrapped his arms around Raphs neck. Raph held himself back from thrusting as he didn't want to hurt Leo. He let his hands do the work as he rubbed both his and Leo's shafts together. Leo was clearly enjoying it as he would sometimes pull apart to let out a deep churr in pleasure.

“Raph~” Leo panted heavily.

“I got ya, Fearless~” Raph spoke gently as he kept going. 

Leo bucked his hips as he felt like a coil was tightening in his stomach. Raph moved his lips to Leo's neck and nibbled on his collarbone.

Oooo~!!” Leo moaned.

His body convulsed and he rutted his hips against Raphs as he reached his peak. Raph growled and bit down on Leo's skin as he came all over his and Leo's plastrons. They rode through their climax together with Leo going limp and breathing hard. Raph pulled away to lick at the fresh bite he gave to Leo which made his partner sigh in content. Raph pulled away to kiss Leo softly, basking in the feel of their bodies connecting. 

“You ok?” Raph inquired softly.

“More than ok, that felt amazing.” Leo replied, running his hands through Raph's mask tails.

“Sucks I can't give ya the full package.” Raph grumbled.

Leo ran a hand down Raph's limp shaft.

“We still have time for more fun if you are interested~?” Leo suggested, “My hands are free for you as well~” 

Raph grinned and dived back in to kiss his mate passionately.

/////////////////////////////////

2 Weeks Later.

“I'm happy to say you guys are all clear to move around freely!” Donnie proclaimed proudly as he finished his physical check up for his brother's. 

Mikey pumped his fists in excitement and Leo just smiled at Raph who gave him an impish look. 

“I'd say tonight is a cause for celebration. I'll call April and we can get pizza.” Donnie added.

“I call Casey-uhh! Later!” Raph shouted suddenly as he felt a hand run up his rear. 

‘Raph, you ok?” Donnie asked worriedly.

“I'm great!” He hurriedly answered as Leo's hand rubbed his tail, “I'm just gonna borrow Fearless for a moment!” 

Raph dragged Leo out of the lab in a hurry, leaving Mikey alone with his mate. 

“Geez, looks like Leo couldn't wait any longer.” Mikey laughed from his seat.

“Guess not but at least they waited to do anything strenuous.” Donnie sighed as he got up from his computer chair. 

“What now, D?” Mikey questioned as he watched Donnie walk away.

Donnie smiled at his mate before going to shut his lab door.

“We have a few hours before I call April.” Donnie stated, “You look like you could use some entertainment before then.” 

Mikey blushed slightly as Donnie came up to him and pressed his plastron to his. Donnie ran his hands down Mikey's exposed sides which made Mikey gasp softly.

“We can stop if you're not feeling it?” Donnie whispered.

“N-no, Dude. I want this.” Mikey asserted as he spread his legs open.

Mikey then pressed his lips to Donnie's and held him close by wrapping his legs around Donnie's shell. The two divulged from light kisses to a full heated make out session. Donnie rutted his lower plastron against Mikey's and churred as he felt his pouch soften. Mikey's own shaft was peeking out of his pouch and was throbbing as he felt the friction. 

“Aaah~!” Mikey pulled away from the kiss as he felt his cock tumble out completely into the cold air. 

Donnie wiggled away a bit to give Mikey some room and both their shafts were out and twitching with need. Donnie's was noticeably larger and thicker while Mikey's was of a fair length for their species. Donnie watched as Mikey's spaded tip flexed with need. He got on his knees to be eye level with his mate's penis with his arms under Mikey's thighs.

“D, you sure?” Mikey questioned nervously.

“Yes, I'm very sure.” Donnie asserted as he started to lick around the sides of the organ.

“Mmmph~!!” Mikey held back his voice as he felt the wet tongue on his penis.

Donnie rubbed the tip of Mikey's cock while licking the base where the pouch was parted which made Mikey throw his head back and churr. Donnie then took his mouth to engulf the tip and swirled his tongue around it.

“Aaaaagh~! Donnie~” Mikey whined loudly. 

Donnie started to slowly move down the full length which made Mikey convulse as he felt the warm heat of Donnie's mouth take him in. He felt Donnie slowly go back up and then down, setting a pace as he performed fellatio on his mate. He churred, which sent vibrations around Mikey's cock.

“Don~! Oh God~!”  Mikey cried out as he bucked his hips.

Donnie pulled back to cough which pulled Mikey out of his lust. 

“S-sorry, D! Got a lil’ excited there!” Mikey stammered. 

Donnie regained his composure.

“It's fine, Mike.” He breathed, “I just didn't want you to finish too soon.” 

Donnie got up and pulled Mikey up as well. He leaned over the desk nearby and flicked his tail, which made Mikey short circuit.

“I have lube in the desk drawer. Makes this easier.” Donnie explained.

Mikey got his head back in order to focus on the task at hand. He opened the drawer and grabbed the small bottle of lube with Donnie's directions of course; He didn't want to grab something else. Mikey poured the gel on his palm and rubbed it around his fingers. 

“OK, tell me if it hurts too much, D.” Mikey urged.

He pressed one finger under Donnie's tail and rubbed around the tight ring of muscle that was his entrance.

“Mmph~!” Donnie jolted from the cold intrusion.

Mikey quickly stopped what he was doing. 

“You Ok!?” Mikey panicked. 

“I'm a-alright~” Donnie reassured, “Keep going.” 

Mikey nodded and pushed his finger back to Donnie's tail. He managed to pushed past the ring of muscle. He buried his finger all the way to the knuckle and pressed into the soft insides which made Donnie churr as Mikey bumped his prostate. He pulled put and then pushed back in with ease.

“Aaagh~! Feels good~!” Donnie panted heavily. 

Mikey was spurred on by his mate and started to move in and out at a faster pace. Donnie spread his legs farther apart and rolled his hips to meet Mikey's digits. He moaned loudly with every hit to that spot that made him see stars. Donnie's shaft twitched and started to leak from the sensations. 

“M-Mikey~Put it in~” Donnie begged wantonly with his face pressed to the desk.

Mikey wasted no time in pulling his finger out a lining his penis up to Donnie's rear. He gripped Donnies hips and started to pushed into his ass. Donnie did his best to remain relaxed as he felt the intrusion, gasping as he felt beyond full. Mikey gritted his teeth as he felt the tight heat around his cock. An intense euphoria overcame Mikey along with an aching desire for Donnie. To take him. He bottomed out in Donnie and hissed before pulling his mate's head up by his mask tails. 

“Nnnngh~!!” Donnie groaned as he was forced up.

Mikey wrapped his arms around Donnie's upper plastron to keep him in his hold as he started to thrust wildly into him. 

“Oo~! Uunngh~!! Aaaahh~!!” Donnie moaned loudly with every thrust hitting deep inside of him with no reprieve.

His legs dug into the side or the desk as Mikey pounded him into his backside aggressively. Mikey growled and snarled as he became lost in the pleasure. 

“Mikey~! M-Mikey~!!” Donnie cried out. 

Mikey wasn't listening and bite down on Donnies left shoulder, sinking his teeth into his olive green skin. 

“Hhhhgggggg~!!” Donnie yelped as he felt Mikey bite him just as he reached his peak. 

Rope of fluids spurted from his cock and splattered on his desk. His body convulsed violently as he rode through his orgasm but Mikey was not done with him. He rammed into Donnie's ass with an animalistic fury. He pressed himself against Donnie's shell and pushed him down on the desk and stilled as he reached his peak. 

“Oooo~!!!” Donnie cried out with his tongue out as he felt hot liquid flood his insides. 

Mikey rolled his hips as he rode out his orgasm. He pulled his teeth away from Donnie's new bite mark and licked the fresh indents on his skin as a sort of apology. Donnie was sure his mind was elsewhere but he felt it was only a few moments. He suddenly came to in a soft cot with a blanket over him. 

“Hmmm!?” Donnie shot up as he regained his senses. 

“Woah dude!” Mikey exclaimed as he pulled Donnie close him, “You're not dead!” 

“W-where???” Donnie inquired worriedly as he was gently pressed back into the warm embrace of his mate.

“You kinda zoned out after I nutted in you.” Mikey stated proudly, “Guess I was a good lay!” 

After Mikey explained to him that they were still in the lab but he cleaned Donnie up and laid him down on the cot to rest. 

“My mind just went completely blank after…that.” Donnie uttered sheepishly.

“It's good, D! You did great!” Mikey giggled as he kissed Donnie's cheek.

“You were amazing too. Sorry I blanked out.” 

“It's good! really, Don! It was hot! I went ham on you!” 

Donnie rolled his eyes and pulled Mikey close to kiss him fervently. Mikey rolled over to hover on top of his mate. 

“I'm ready for another round you know? Battery is recharged.” Donnie smirked when he pulled away.

Mikey grinned and dove back in for another kiss.

Chapter Text

“So can you tell if the decreased Foot activity is because they are getting ready for another attack?”

“Actually based on historical trends it follows previous patterns of when the lower operations continue despite the top levels preparing for some sort of plan. Which makes sense,” Donatello turned around in his chair to face Leonardo. “Baxter’s brainworms failed so no doubt he’ll be punished from whatever the repercussions are for that, but based on the reaction from Shredder I think he might need some time to get over the shock of what he saw.” He couldn’t suppress the small giggle at his memory of Raphael suddenly kissing their leader to, literally, talk him off a ledge.

“Hopefully he will assess it as nothing more than a distraction and not a way to use it aga—ah!” Leonardo yelped as he was suddenly jumped on by an agile Michelangelo who had suddenly bolted into the lab.

“LEO! Help!”

“MIKEYYY!” Raph barreled in behind the youngest, panting with his fists clenched.

“Hold on, Raph! You can’t get to me without hurting Leo and you wouldn’t want to do that!” He paused in surprise while the brawler laughed.

“Ha! Ya think I won’t go through Fearless ta kick yer ass?”

“Raph!”

“What?”

“Language!”

“Oh shit!” Realization dawned on Mikey’s face as he suddenly scrambled to get off the oldest and managed to climb into the arms of his own mate. Donatello looked down at his lover’s sheepish and apologetic grin.

“Language!” Leo repeated.

“Sorry, Leo! Guess you’ll have to let Donnie punish me later,” he grinned looking up at his mate who smirked while the other two blanched.

“I… didn’t need to hear that,” the eldest muttered.

“Oh no! Ya ain’t rescheduling our pizza party two days in a row! Also, keep yer hands off each other, Casey will start asking questions and April might figure it out.”

“I mean, is that so bad we tell our friends now considering our enemy already knows?” Mikey asked.

“He doesn’t know anything for sure, just that we would resort to desperate measures to save each other,” Leo asserted as Raph walked over and pulled his mate into his arms without a word.

“They should have realized that a long time ago considering some of the things we’ve had to do before, but hopefully this time they’ll start to think twice!” Donatello nodded, agreeing with his mate.

The four stood there for a minute, appreciate to be reunited and recovered from their most recent ordeal before the quiet was interrupted with a Shell Cell chime. Donatello checked his phone and smiled, “April said she and Casey picked up the pizza and movies already! They’re on their way.”

“Alright, man I can’t wait to get some real food in my mouth!” Mikey exclaimed.

“Ya could have last night if ya weren’t busy shoving other stuff in ya mouth,” Raph snickered, not noticing his mate’s eye twitch.

“I didn’t need to hear that, either!”

“I seem to recall that we weren’t the only ones getting in some extra practice with ‘sword play’ yesterday, either!” the genius smirked.

“Guys! Let’s go get the lair picked up before our company arrives!” Leo insisted. Some time later when the two humans arrived, Splinter greeted them alongside the turtles.

“It is wonderful for you both to join us, I hope I will not be too much of a ‘third wheel’ as they say.”

“What do you mean, Master Splinter?” April asked.

“This is a special occasion indeed as you and Mr Jones are joining my sons during their first double date.”