Chapter Text
The sunrise was high the glaring light shining down into New York city. The roads wet from the rain that night and somewhere blood washes down the drain. The road filled with yelling and horns honking impatient and down underneath the sewers' chaos unfolds.
Michelangelo had woken up at dawn, he was on a mission 'cheer his brothers up'. The events from yesterday was still fresh in his mind, but Michelangelo knows his father wouldn't want them wasting away. The kitchen was filled with humming of a tune.
The door of the fridge was opened, eggs and bacon a great meal to start today. He turns on the stove letting the pan heat as he cracked four eggs for each person. He started up the coffee machine. "Donnie can never go a day without his coffee." Michelangelo chuckled to himself as he places the bacon to fry.
The sizzling of the bacon and the smell fills the lair. He plates the bacon and then fries each egg to his brothers liking.
Leonardo, scrambled egg, two bacon and green tea, for balance he always said.
Raphael, a flat egg with his three bacon folded in it and black tea, keeps him strong, he always said.
Donatello, sunny side up with a bit of salt and black coffee, keeps his head running, he always said.
The groans came after a while of silence and the three brothers walked out their separate spaces. Looks like they slept in the rooms they were in yesterday. Michelangelo smiled, "Breakfast is ready!" He chirped watching as they made their way to the kitchen.
Thud
Raphael and Leonardo bumped shells as they both tried to enter into the kitchen together, the reaction was quick. Raphael shoved Leonardo, hard.
"Watch it fearless!" Raphael grunted, annoyed brushing his shell taking a seat, stabbing into his breaks. Leonardo gains back his balance glaring at Raphael as Donatello stumbles in taking the hot coffee to his lips.
"Didn't have to shove me, Raph." Leonardo's voice came tight and strained from anger.
They were all stressed, still grieving from yesterday's events he needed to breathe, no need to fight. Raphael snorted, "Yeah right." he didn't sound sorry, more annoyed than apologetic.
Michelangelo saw the tension rising and forced a smile, "Dudes, let's just take a breather we're all angry and sad and stress, let's just have a nice breakfast..." Michelangelo started looking between Raphael and Leonardo. "No need to fight, we're all hurting…" His voice softened.
Michelangelo, always the peacemaker.
Raphael looked at Michelangelo and his eyes soften slightly before looking at Leonardo, "He's right, sorry for pushing you, just upset that's all." He stated apologetic, glancing into Michelangelo's direction seeing his face brighten.
Leonardo nodded, "it's fine, bro I understand I guess we're just on the edge." the Sincerity in voice made Michelangelo's heart swell with pride. Maybe they would get through this together.
Michelangelo, pushes Donatello's plate at him, whose currently on his second mug of coffee, "Eat, you can't live on coffee." Michelangelo said with playful glare.
"Well, statistically speaking-", "I'm not listening, blah, blah, blah!" Donatello was caught off guard by being cut off as Michelangelo covered his ears. A smile cracked across his face as he ate, watching Michelangelo smile satisfied.
Leonardo and Raphael watched this and both chuckled at Michelangelo's antics and Michelangelo ate his breakfast, it felt normal, one step to healing. They'll be okay, baby steps, but they'll get there.
Soon, the sun went down, and the moon rose high. The brothers had gotten a few condolences messages from friends. April most likely explaining the situation to their friends about their fallen father.
They were grateful that she didn't tell them the whole story, just enough to let them know someone has fallen in their home, and they need time.
"April is so nice to tell them give us space." Michelangelo stated as they got ready for patrol. The older brothers nodded with smiles that held tension. "Yep, we really need the space." Donatello admit.
The raced over the city, jumping over gaps between the buildings. The cold air making the tension fade, it felt like four brothers just running along city. They laughed as Michelangelo joked along the way.
Movements. That's what they say, iron footsteps clad against the pavement. The dragging of crates into a moving truck. Foot Bots. Leonardo held up his hand for them to stop hiding behind the chimney of the closet building.
"Donnie?" Leonardo questioned and Donatello was quick to work, flicking down his spy glass zooming in on the crates. "Parts, It's bomb parts with some of them filled with gunpowder." Donatello stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Why would they need to make a bomb with all those parts...unless it's make a big bomb…it could cause…" Leonardo's voice trailed off he couldn't find the right word. "Nuclear Explosion." Donatello finished for him, The thought had Raphael and Michelangelo in concern.
"Well? What are we waiting here for let's stop them!" Raphael shaking off his concern, said now agitated at the thought of those foot bots making such a bomb.
"No Raph! It's too risky we need a plan." Leonardo said with reason, anger surge through Raphael as they heard the start of an engine. All their heads snapped seeing the truck driving off.
Raphael, leaps off the roof landing behind the truck as it drove pass the building. Leonardo curses under his breath. "Let's go!" He said his voice tainted with annoyance, and anger as chased after the truck from the roof.
Raphael, moved across the side of truck to the side door, punching the bot in the driver's seat sending the truck spinning. "Mikey!" Leonardo called out and without an order, "On it." Michelangelo drop in front of truck grabbing a hold of the wheel.
Truck tires twist and turns with each twist of the wheel. Michelangelo made a sharp turn smashing against a light post, falling off the car. Leonardo and Donatello jumped down as Raphael dealt with one of foot Bots.
Weapons clashed as the brothers corners the foot bots into the alleyway tying them up tightly. With them tied up, Leonardo shoves Raphael to ground. "What was that Raph? I said we needed a plan, this could've ended badly!!" Leonardo Shouted angry.
Raphael anger flared as he stood up, "You were taking to long fearless they were getting away, not everything is about waiting!!!" Raphael's voice rises, Leonardo and Raphael stood face to face. "That's exactly why you're not leader!" Leonardo snapped.
Nothing was said, but Leonardo was knocked to the ground with a punch from Raphael, who face was green with rage. Then Leonardo kicked him back and a fight broke out between the too oldest. Donatello stepped in only get yelled at and the tension rises as he also joins the fight. Punches with thrown, kicks were hit.
Michelangelo, didn't know what to do. They were getting better baby steps what's happening. Then they heard the truck sped off. The fight stopped, and they turn to where the foot Bots had cut through the restraints and left in the truck. They were two far to run after and that only fueled the anger of Raphael.
He stepped towards Michelangelo and shoved him to the ground, "Why didn't you watch them properly, shell for brain! You let them get away!!" Raphael yelled at Michelangelo, looking for someone to blame to let his anger out. Donatello shoved him back, "It's not his fault Raph! If you and Leo didn't start fighting we wouldn't be in this mess!?" Donatello stated the bottom fact.
Raphael's faced flushed with anger, "What-" He was cut off by Leonardo who sighed, "Enough Raph, he's right, Mikey shouldn't be blamed." Leonardo said his low. Raphael's couldn't believe it, "Yeah, your to blame, maybe that's why Splinter is dead." He mumbled under his breath before running off.
The other three stood their shocked, " That's low..." Michelangelo said with a heartbroken expression, turning to Leonardo who eyes were filled with tears. "Leo, I'm sure he didn't mean to..." Michelangelo said walking to Leonardo who slapped the open hands away and ran off.
Michelangelo held his hands to himself and glances to Donatello, who wasn't even their anymore. "What's happening? Papa? What's going on, I thought we could do this together." He questioned out loud, no answer, just silence. Michelangelo took the long walk home, alone.
But he would fix this, he always did because that's who he was. They would get through this, no big deal.
The crack in the family picture grows, cracks across The three older brothers face, Michelangelo stands face clear no cracked but it shows.