If I'm not the hero

If I'm not the lead

If I'm not deniro

Then I'll be

***

>Youre sure its all good?

"What is it with you and not telling me things until the last minute!?"

<Yep!!! Do your tests and stuff we go this!! :D:D:D

"I'm not used to factoring you into plans, okay?!"

>If youre sure

"So get used to it!"

>But the minute something comes up, you text

"That's not how that works!"

<Aye aye!! Later gater~

"You know you could use less punctuation marks and it would still have the same effect."

Mikey glances up at his taller brother, finding tired eyes still trapped in a haze and mouth pinched in a line that says his headache is still reigning supreme. He's looking over Mikey's shoulder to check up on their conversation, and if Mikey wasn't using his side to prop himself up, he might be offended at the invasion of privacy. 

'Sides, it's just April. Not like he has anything to hide.

"Nah, bro. If one mark means happy, then three must mean, like, everything's seriously all good so she doesn't need to worry!" 

Mikey's confident in his logic, but Donnie only sighs. 

He straightens to turn around, setting a foot on the floor as worry flickers across his features. It's gone in the next second as he reaches over to test his temperature for what has to be the millionth and twelfth time.

He doesn't blame him when his hand is smacked away.

"I'm fine."

"Just checking." Mikey counters as he curls back up and consents to smushing his cheek against his shoulder, not about to risk pushing the emotional button that would get this contact refused. 

His older brothers can be finicky about hugs and cuddling, so he has to take what he can get. As the main turtle on Donnie-duty, he isn't going to throw away the opportunity, especially since their brainy brother isn't all there.

He's been staring at the same newsite thingy on his laptop for the past interplanetary journey and goon battle of Robot Mecha Force Five. Since Mikey already skimmed it out of pure curiosity, that means that Donnie's had more than enough time to finish. "....So how's it goin'?"

"I can't concentrate."

Donnie's curt and undeniably bitter, which gets his message across. 

In summary? 

Bad. 

Mikey knows the aggression is partly aimed at him because of Sensei Leo's orders to keep him on the couch, but he can't help feeling sympathetic to his brother's plight. 

Donnie's upset, and when he's upset he needs to be doing something about it. Mikey knows they want him to work his science magic as much as he wants to, but they don't want to risk another seizure. It was freaky.

He bites his lip in consideration, apprehensive gaze straying to the tv. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good. 

"I can turn off the tv?"

"It's not that..."

Oh, good, cause he really didn't want to do that.

"...okay, it's partly that."

Darn it. Still on the table. "Make up your mind, bro."

"I can't just sit here, Mikey!" Oops, he poked the bear. "The Mutanimals are out there trying to find our brother, and we should be too!"

Mikey doesn't know how to tell him that they did try. 

That they'd barely been gone for an hour when a panicked April called to say that he'd disappeared while she was getting him food. 

That they found him passed out in one of the sewer tunnels, pale and lying next to a pile of his own bile. That upon waking up again, he didn't have a single memory of leaving. That Rockwell thinks he had another seizure, and they're all aware that it could happen all over again. 

Well. Everyone but Donnie... 

No need to freak a sick guy out. 'Specially not when being all scared is what hurts him.

"I know, bro." Mikey soothes instead, unconsciously taking hold of his bicep. "But they're just scoping around. We can be calvary when we got a lead or two."

Donnie slumps in his spot and mumbles something inaudible. 

Mikey glances at the setup in the pit. Their mission planning board is lying on the ground, a makeshift diorama of the city set up with the Mutanimals pieces splayed out in different areas. Leo's t-phone lays untouched where he'd set it while coordinating with the Mutanimals, keeping an eye on his younger brothers while keeping up the search for their brother.

He'd even been open to letting Mikey put in his two cents every now and then, and Mikey happily acted as his imagination board, letting him bounce ideas off of him.

Sometimes he got a few exasperated or annoyed looks when he tried to lighten the mood, but those aren't anything new. 

The screen lights up with an upside-down message that Mikey can't read from where he sits, and Mikey pats the arm that he holds captive. "We'll get out there, bro. Aaaaas soon as Leo gives the a-okay."

"You guys should have gone with them." Donnie snaps suddenly, tapping a finger next to the keys. "It was an ambush. An ambush! I'd thought they'd gone underground- there was nothing, but what if that was the plan all along? Bide their time to make us lower our guards- ugh, I can't believe we just walked in!" 

Donnie runs his free hand down his face and Mikey tries not to think about what that could mean for their captured brother. The last time Raph got taken from them, he was brainwormed into working for the bad guys, and when Donnie was taken by the gang, they tried to slice him open.

Ambushes and kidnappings are never a good sign.

"I'm sure he's okay." Mikey insists loudly, drowning out his doubts and drawing Donnie's gaze to him. "Raph's tough. He can handle the haters."

"Still. We should be doing more than arguing amongst ourselves. And I don't need to be babysat." Donnie glares at the shoji wall that separates them from the leaders arguing in the dojo, the same as they'd been for the past several minutes.

Raph had officially been missing for more than twenty-four hours when Karai came on a rampage into the lair, possibly from stewing in worry during the twelve-hour plane ride from Japan. Shinigoma gave her his message, and she dropped everything to head straight back.

Just the thought of it spreads warmth across every inch of his plastron, and it's weird to think that there was a time when she wouldn't have batted an eye to stabbing one of them through the same area. She's still plenty feisty though, and the first thing she does upon metaphorically walking through the door is to jump down Leo's throat.

Speaking of which, they're getting loud enough for their voices to carry again. He doesn't even have to try to eavesdrop.

"I told you I was leaving on clan business!"

"I forgot! And I told Mikey not to bother you if you were busy!"

Mikey cringes guiltily.

"And I told you to stop doing that!"

"Being considerate?!"

"Yes! I could have been back sooner if you weren't so pig-headed!"

"Well then, I'm sorry!"

"Good!"

Their voices drop off again, and Mikey sheepishly mutters, "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything? Shini asked if everything was okay and I just kinda..."

"You made the right call." Donnie finally scrolls down. "Leo needs to start learning that it's not just us anymore."

Mikey relaxes at the confirmation, because Donnie's smart and knows these things, and he'd never lie to him about facts. If he's being honest, he doesn't really understand what that means, but Donnie said it like it was obvious, and he'd probably just prove himself to be a shellbrain for asking.

His face scrunches into a thoughtful frown, looking through the tv. Their family hadn't consisted of just them since they came back from the farmhouse. If anything, it doubled in size through all their adventures. How could Leo not know that?

They had friends all over, not only the Mutanimals, but also the frog tribe out in Louisiana, Usagi from that old-timey Japanese mutant dimension, and sweet Renet from the future, and Raph even had a girlfriend out in space-

"Mona!"

Mikey shoots upright so fast that his forehead practically collides with Donnie's chin when he goes to look at him, but his older brother pulls away just in time. Sensing the alarm in his tone, his brainy brother demands, "What? What about her?"

"She's with Sal Commander!"

Donnie doesn't seem to share the panic. "And she'll be back in a few days..?"

"She doesn't know!" Mikey bounces in place anxiously. "We gotta tell her!"

"Isn't she off-planet? She can't exactly do much about it." Donnie points out in new understanding. "How would you even get in contact with her anyway?"

Mikey raises a finger importantly and then lets it fall, clamping his mouth shut when he realizes that he doesn't actually have an answer. His expression scrunches in thought as he tries to figure out how one does get in contact with their brother's interplanetary girlfriend.

He realizes that Donnie staring at him and partly shrinks his head into his shell, embarrassed to be caught without a plan to back up his announcement. 

Donnie cocks his head with a look that Mikey can't quite read before he turns back to his laptop, and scrolls down the page. "Well... I suppose you could always use Raph's space suit helmet. I believe that has a direct line to her. As long as you don't mind the risk of getting pummeled when he finds out."

Mikey lights up. "That's it! Thanks, D!"

"You'll want that thanks back after you're green and purple."

"Nah. That's your thing." Mikey hops to his feet, striking a confident pose. "'Sides, he'll have to get close enough to touch me first."

"First, he'll have to be around to find out." Donnie counters with a worried frown, clinking something on the screen. "And be careful with the helmet, hmm? Still not sure I can repair tech that advanced, and I'd rather not be on Raph's hit list."

With his big brother nonchalantly backing up his idea, Mikey eagerly bounds to the bedrooms. "Whatever you say, bro!"

"I mean it, Mikey. Careful!"

Mikey slips into Raph's room, and the lack of a hollered follow-up tells him that Donnie's gone back to his research. He steps past the drums and plops on his older brother's mattress, bringing his legs up to cross them. The jolt sends Chompy bouncing on the pillow that he has evidently been napping on after Mondo dropped him off in the bedroom.

"Now. If I were a super rad piece of tech I didn't want my also super rad bros touching, where would I be?"

He abruptly drops his weight forward, grasping onto the edge of the mattress and peeking underneath the bed. It's immaculately clean, just like the rest of the floor since Raph adopted a small fire-breathing-and-tooting alien with chewing habits.

He pushes himself back up and calculating eyes scan the rest of the room, wondering if he's the type to have secret safes or hiddy-holes. Donnie could probably make him one, so detective prankenstien can't rule anything out. His eyes light up when he spots a particularly large poster, but he considerately decides to save tearing posters off the wall until after he explores the hidden levers route. 

Too bad Raph doesn't have a bookshelf...

He opens the dresser drawers and tilts each stack of comics, tapping his chin as his gaze strays to the weapons cabinet. Both eyes ridges fly up as a giddy smile banishes all traces of a momentarily serious turtle. "Aha!"

Mikey darts over, throwing it open with a flourish and finding a large array of collected weaponry, a scratched, shiny red helmet lying underneath the half-hazardly shoved mace. With a fair amount of shimmying, he manages to scoot it out, proudly holding it up and tapping the door shut behind him with his foot.

"Detective Prankenstien strikes again!"

Chompy stretches out his front legs as Mikey plops back onto the bed. He adjusts his hands against the sides of the helmet, dropping it onto his head.

It glows in recognition of a new being, gently closing around his neck in preparation to adapt to new atmospheres. He yelps when it starts chiming like a sophisticated bomb or alarm, wondering if he'd somehow already broken it. Donnie's right. He's so dead meat when Raph finds out-

He's about to take it off and hide all evidence of his investigation when Mona makes her appearance, frowning at the camera, but not looking altogether unhappy. "Raphael, good, you did not call back and I feared-"

The relief flickers into surprise. "Michelangelo."

"Heeey~" Mikey giggles nervously. 

Piecing yellow eyes seem to see through him and study his very soul. "What is this?"

He blinks, wondering if there's something on his face. "What's what?"

"Is Raphael aware that you have taken possession of his helmet?"

"No." He admits honestly under her stoic gaze, quickly putting on an expression that usually prompts his brothers to heave a sigh and give in to his coming request. Hands instinctively entwine and his head tilts as blue eyes widen, dawning a practiced pleading and innocent smile.

 "And I was kinda hoping we could keep this between us...?"

The hard stare melts, and Mikey understands why his secretly soft brother chose her. "I make no promises, young one."

Mikey's no younger than his brothers, so he wonders where he earned this nickname from. He glances at Chompy as he struggles to climb onto his knees, readying to rip off the band-aid, but his mouth disagrees with his brain and stealthily avoids the inevitable. "Soooo, how's the whole 'making Utrom your allies' thing going for ya?"

She straightens proudly and Mikey lifts Chompy, letting him make himself at home on his lap. The little alien chirps at Mikey, and he pats his head, glancing back at Mona. He doesn't notice the tiny body slump in disappointment before he climbs to rest his front feet on his other leg, looking longingly at the door.

"Despite being creatures of peace, the Utrom agree that something must be done about Dregg's extended reach. They do not wish to fight, but they have promised to assist us in our attempts to retrieve our planet." 

She suddenly looks frustrated and sighs. "Only they are not warriors, and all this talk bores me. There is a war to be won, and yet the council ponders and debates. It is tiring, truly."

She stares past him for a moment and then seems to come back to herself, recognizing who it is that she's talking to. She passes Mikey a knowing look. "But you did not risk Raphael's wrath to contact me to ask of Salamdrian affairs. What is it you need?"

"Heh. Yeah..." His smile fades as the familiar nerves churn his stomach because even after giving the news three times, admitting the truth doesn't get any easier. He smooths his palms down his legs. "Well... Thing is, last night Donnie and Raph snuck out and were attacked, and Raph'sbeenkidnappedbysomeEarthbaddies- BUT!-"

The amused curiosity morphs into a fury that Mikey can just feel radiating through the hologram. He jumps as a loud growl of a foreign language bursts through the speakers, followed by her slamming both hands onto the surface in front of her. "Who?! Whose dishonorable head do I have the pleasure of removing from its pathetic host?!"

"Uh?" Mikey visibly swallows. "We're not really-"

He's interrupted by a slightly manic burst. "True warriors do not steal their enemies! Only a coward would snatch instead of slay- grab instead of cripple!" Another burst of alien language leaves her throat. "When I discover what honorless filth laid hands on my Raphael, I will tear them inside out and reveal their cowardly insides for all to see!"

Sheesh. Raph really knows how to pick his girls. "Mona! Dudette! It's cool!"

"Unless Raphael has taught me earth lingo incorrectly, I do not believe that you understand the proper meaning of the word!" Mona challenges darkly. "Raphael has been stolen! What about this is cool? If anything, it is past boiling!"

"Don't think that's how that works..." Mikey corrects halfheartedly because he isn't quite sure.

Donnie would probably know, but she doesn't exactly seem in the mood for some long Donnie-lecture on Earth slang and he doesn't want to repeat everything through the helmet. Not that Donnie probably wants to give her a lecture when he's in the middle of being busy. Wait, can she hear outside the helmet? Why would he even need to wear it if she can? They should still be able to still see the hologram outside the helmet, right?

His attention darts back to her and he finds an expectant glare planted on him. He tries to reverse his thoughts and abruptly recalls what he'd been thinking about before she distracted him. "Um! But! We got him covered, Mona! Seriously! It's all taken care of! Leo's making plans and Donnie's doing research stuff and then us and the Mutaniamals are gonna get him back!"

Mona narrows her glare, leering over the camera with a posture that screams Danger! Danger! Gasket about to blow! and then pulls away, abruptly announcing, "I am returning to earth."

He's taken aback by how simply this is spoken when an explosion is due but then processes what she said. "Really? You don't got to do that. We got him covered."

"If there is a search and rescue in progress for Raphael, then I must take part in it and lend all the assistance that I can." The conviction in her eyes tells him that her mind has already been made up. The simmering fire is still there, but buried in a warrior's determination. "The Utrom and Commander will have to understand. I will see you all soon."

"Oh, uh, oka-"

Mona hangs up and leaves Mikey staring through the helmet and at the poster on the other side of the room. He takes off the helmet and sets it to the side, scooping up the alien still watching the doorway. "Hey, lil' guy! Mona's coming back! Isn't that cool of her? She's gonna help us find Raph."

Chompy looks at him, eyes sad as he chitters despondently, and Mikey melts. "Aww, it's okay. I miss him lots too, but we'll find him. No way are we leaving him on his own with some baddies. We'll be rescuing his shell any minute now. With Mona! Bet Raph'll love that."

He winks at Chompy, and the mix of his bright tone and reassuring words seems to perk up the little alien. He chirps and butts his head against Mikey's beak, and he giggles, carefully nuzzling into the small head. "That's better. Hey, you know what I could go for?! Pepperoni jelly bean surprise! You in?"

Chompy stomps his feet happily and Mikey scoots off the bed, heading back to the main room. He passes the empty couch and catches a few spurts of calmer conversation from the dojo, slipping into the kitchen. They'd all missed breakfast and lunch while planning anyway, and some pizza is always the best way to fill bellies and raise spirits!

He sets Chompy on the counter and greets Icecream Kitty. He reaches for the freezer pizzas as he fills her in on the latest events, multitasking collecting the ingredients, and decorating the pre-pepperoni-ed pizzas. He and Chompy snack as they do, and Mikey finally deems them ready for the oven. Chompy chirps his own details as he paces around on the counter, and Icecream Kitty interjects with questions, also reminding him to set out some tea for the eldest Hamatos.

The tea is cooling when the story finishes, and Chompy is happily munching on some lettuce on the island as Mikey peeks at the pizzas, practically salivating as he waits for the timer to go off.

He shoots upright when he hears Leo shout, and Icecream Kitty meows in alarm behind him. After a glance at the pizzas, he decides that he has time for a quick peek to see what was up. "Keep an eye on Chompy! I'll be right back!"

He ducks out of the kitchen and into the main room, jogging to the couch before realizing voices are coming from the lab. He glances at the empty couch and then back to the lab doors, eyes widening guiltily. Whoops.

He peeks past the lab door, finding Donnie standing next to his desk as Leo glares him down. The whiteboard stands nearby, covered by a sketch of the city, and red lines circle certain areas. Karai is to their brother's left, nonchalantly studying the collectibles shelf.

"Hamato Donatello, if you do not get back to that couch-!"

"I thought the whole point of resting was not to stress me out! This right here?! Pretty stressful!"

Karai studies the Obturaculum Somniorum as she offhandedly questions, "Isn't working how he de-stresses?"

Donnie gestures back at her. "Thank you!"

"I am not having this argument with you-"

"Great! So leave me alone so I can find our brother!"

"Rockwell has it covered-"

"Right." He agrees sarcastically. "Because Rockwell is a grade-A detective."

"At least he's not at risk for heart failure!"

"I'm fine!" Donnie groans as he plops into his chair, the wheels rolling it away from the leader. "Mikey's been watching me and nothing cha-"

"And he's clearly not doing a very good job of it!" Leo growls. "Where even is he?!"

Mikey gulps and steps backward, prepared to sprint back to the kitchen and take refuge for the extent of the rest of the bickering, when Karai completely outs him without even bothering to look over her shoulder. "He's watching by the door."

He walks inside sheepishly when all eyes turn to him. Leo narrows his gaze, and Mikey knows that he's in for the lecture of a lifetime. Thanks a lot, sis.

"Where have you been?"

Mikey takes a breath. "I was calling Mona and now she's headed here and then I made some pizza 'cause I'm sure we're all starving after all this worrying and searching and Chompy needed to eat and I should probably go check on those now byeeee-!"

He hurries to duck back out the door, and Leo calls out, "Wait!"

Mikey freezes and then turns, plastering his most innocent expression. "Yeah?"

"You called Mona?" He demands. "Why?"

"Thought she should know?"

"And now she's come back?"

"Yeeees?"

"Mikey!" He throws out both hands in exasperation. "She was in the middle of important political conferences with the Utrom! Why would you do that?!"

"Because I thought she should know!"

Didn't he just say that? And they say he's slow on the intake. Well, if he's getting thrown under the bus today; might as well bring someone else down with him.

Mikey strides forward and points an excusing finger. "Besides, Donnie seemed to think it was a good idea!"

"Of course, he would!" Leo sends him a bitter look, but their genius brother is conveniently scrolling on his laptop and doesn't catch his gaze. "He'll promote any excuse to not do the one thing I asked him to do!"

Wait, what? So he didn't actually like the idea?

Awww.

"Yeah, which is nothing!" Donnie snaps. "He's already been there too long! In case you've forgotten, the last time the Mafia took someone it was to slice them open! I should know!"

"BOYS!" Something slams down and all eyes turn to Karai as she leans on the desk. "You're worse than my new recruits! This is getting us nowhere."

"But he's not listening!" Leo whines, earning an affronted, "No, he's the one who-!"

"Shut it!"

Both boys snap their mouths shut and she looks over at Mikey. He stiffens, readying for the scolding, but she surprises them all. "Mikey was not wrong to call me, and he's not wrong to call Raph's newt girlfriend. If she wants to come back, that's her choice."

She shoots Leo a look and he scowls. Mikey grins in satisfaction, heading past his brothers and to Karai's side, copying her stature with pride.

"Donnie, you had a seizure and freaked your brothers out. Leo has a right to be worried. Get over it." Donnie huffs and looks at the whiteboard, so she adds, "Leo, Donnie's also right. He's had to track people before, so he deserves the chance to do it again." Leo sputters, but Karai interrupts, "No. He's just doing tech stuff and drawing. You can bench him from missions, but you can't stop him from making himself useful in other ways."

Donnie nods immediately, and then seems to catch on, smirk morphing into shock. "Wait- bench me?! You can't do that!"

"As leader and sensei, I absolutely can."

Mkey cringes in sympathy at the double-whammy, and Donnie gasps, "Don't you-!"

"Donatello!" He glares at her and Karai meets it evenly. "You're not going to be anything but a burden if you pass out mid-mission. Do you want to be the reason that we're unable to rescue your brother? Would you rather be another damsel to save?"

He hesitates and then looks at his feet. "...No."

"That's what I thought." She folds her hands and looks between them. "Now. I say we allow Donnie to finish his work so we can finally get somewhere. I'll contact the Foot. Shredder had them under his watch, so there has to be some dirt we can use. Sound good?"

She gets mumbled agreement and then she looks over at Mikey, a genuine affection behind her stern gaze. "And I heard something about pizza? I'm starving."

"On it!" He brightens instantly and hurries for the door, hoping the timer hasn't gone off yet. "Steaming, cheesy deliciousness coming right up!"

Leo chimes in after him. "They better have normal toppings, Mikey!"

"No promises!"

"MIKEY-!"