PLEASE put this under a readmore. youâre just going to get blocked by a bunch of people and maybe even reported for spam since itâs clogging the tag. i am begging you. iâm on a phone i canât just scroll past super easy
Omg I completely forgot to do that- thank you so much for letting me know!
(I havenât colored in a very long time, so the drawing came out a little dogshit- and paired with bad lightingâŠit only made it worse. I should have just posted the sketch đ„
Anyway- if you donât wanna read all this then you can just scroll to the end)
Mikey couldnât remember the last time he was on an infiltration mission.
With how crazy he and his brotherâs lives were, it was hard to keep track of each and every adventure they went on unless they had gained some kind of trauma from it. Which was most of the time for the larger majority of their missions anyway. Although, he may just remember this mission for the absolutely ridiculous lengths rich people will go to just to show off their own wealth. His eyes trailed over the spotless marble floors, then to the thick, hazy glass walls engraved with patterns so complex he doubted even the steadiest of hands his generation could re-inscribe them on paper. Hand molded silver vines sprouted from each and every corner in the ceiling before branching outwards and down supporting glass pillars. Trapped within each pillar were marble statues of the glass chapelâs creator and those who helped this place come to life.
As far as he knew, this place wasnât even open to the public for a good few decades while procedures were being set in place to both protect and preserve the building's structure. It wasnât until recently that anyone besides preservationists had walked these mythical halls; all because some super rich and evil dude really wanted to host a nefarious wedding in here or something. He wondered if the bathrooms in here were also glass, because if so that would be mega awkward-
âThere you are!â
Mikey jolts as a hand- or three hands actually- grab his arm and spin him around. He gets a 360 view of the strange glass chapel before he is face to face with aâŠwoman? Yeah, a woman with bright red hair, three eyes, grey skin and six arms with her lips twisted in a snarl. âFinally, I've been looking for their âgreen brideâ all day but not one green person besides you has walked into this place!â The downright murderous glint in her eyes reminded him of an angry April, if April was an alien with a love for crazy clothing patterns. It isnât until he actually processes what she just said that he quickly backpedals out of his thoughts to try and diffuse- well whatever this situation he found himself in was.
âWoah- hold on sister- youâve got the wrong guy!â He can hear his brotherâs low and serious sounding conversations from his earspiece; they were completely absorbed in their own mission roles and completely unaware he was getting turlenapped. He couldn't even call for their attention before she plucked the device right off him with one of her many pairs of arms and mutters something about the "disrespect of the youth these daysâ or something like that.
âHey! Hold on a minute!â Despite his pleas, the lady didnât seem to care too much if the way she was dragging him across the floor towards a group of bridesmaids was anything to go by.
He didnât get a chance to recover as he was ushered into a large, winding hallway with about a dozen bridesmaids covering him from all sides. They whispered and eyed him with furrowed brows, but they seemed to be having just as much luck as he had trying to convince the red-haired woman that he wasnât who she was looking for. Mikey couldnât exactly blame them though, he was already intimidated by her strength as she lugged him around like a purse poodle.
âRossie! The bride isnât-â A blue haired bridesmaid sporting the same common traits of six arms, three eyes, and grey skin rounded the woman dragging Mikey, who he knew now as Rossie. She was pushed aside in favor of Rossie moving him to what he assumed was an elaborate dressing room detailed in the same glass, marble, and silver as this alien chapel.
âI donât care what she has to say,â she rounded another corner, nearly throwing him into a purple-haired bridesmaid who was holding a large makeup pallet that was no doubt for the real bride. âI did not spend months designing, stitching, and redesigning that dress for a bride I wasnât even allowed to see just for her to show up late to her own wedding! â Rossie peers back behind her and gives Mikey a look so scathing he canât help but sink in his shell a little. âI only get paid if she makes it down the aisle in my dress, or else I can kiss my cushy life goodbye!â
They finally arrive at their destination, which happens to be just what Mikey thought it would be, though it was a few levels more extravagant than he had first imagined. There were winding vines of silver that spread across the ceiling and curled themselves along the walls much like they did all around the chapel; but these ones had large blooming flowers hanging down from those same gleaming vines in the place of shelves, each one was packed with different kinds of products that Mikey couldnât name. The walls and ceilings were thick and opaque glass like the rest of the structure, but there were now delicately carved gems embedded in it. Each crystal came together to create complex mosaics that bounced rainbow rays off their surfaces like a never-ending kaleidoscope of color. In the middle of the room was a grand mirror wrapped in a coiling silver frame. Mikey was so distracted by the beauty of the room, that he didnât even notice the bridesmaidâs faces becoming alarmingly stony as a grim determination overtook their features after checking their messages.
He got about a good few seconds to look around at the room before he was attacked by the bridesmaids, each armed with various makeup brushes and softly muttering "hold stillâs as they transformed him into the bride to be.
Mikey, unable to blow his cover, was helpless to stop it.
â
âMikey- Mikey do you hear me!â Donny hisses into his mic, although it does little to make the orange wearing turtle respond to him. It's already been 20 minutes since Mikey went dark and only 3 minutes since any of them noticed.
They were more focused on the fact that the bride had decided to skip town a few hours before the multimillion- if not billion dollar wedding started. From what they had learned the wedding was a way to unite the heirs of two massive crime organizations not only in matrimony; but with an exchange of rings. Each ring held microchips that contained nearly all the most incriminating information on each family, so if anyone decided to try and betray the other they had blackmail in spades. Their original plan had already gone to hell, but it only got worse when Raph had informed them from his position as a tray server he had overheard some gossip. According to his red brother- some right hand men from the brideâs side of the family were talking about how although the real bride had fled, their boss didn't want all his hard work to go down the drain; so he was refusing to tell the head of the groomâs family that his daughter had vanished. It was quite the scandal.
âI swear, daâ guy is digging his own grave.â Raph snarked with a slight wobble in his voice, watching as the brideâs father only grew more nervous. Then after a few seconds he muttered âAny word from Mikey?â
Donny only sighed, the frustration and concern carrying itself out in his exhale.
âNo, heâs still dark, but my monitors are saying that heâs uninjured. Heâs just been in one of the rooms for a while now.â He opens back up his diagram of the chapel, four color coded dots lighting up on the screen strapped onto his wrist. Donny can see Raph roaming around the main room trapped in an endless cycle of getting stopped then having to double back for more drinks and exotic snacks for the rich guests. In contrast, Leo is exploring the backrooms of the chapel and gathering backup evidence for their mission. He had stolen a workerâs uniform and a ring of keys from some poor schmuck. Donny himself was pacing the halls and hiding out in small corners to listen in on more private conversations between guests. Speaking of conversations, could hear people approaching his current location (hiding out in the scarily clean bathroom), so he pulled the sleeve of his suit back up over his wrist tablet and ducked into the nearest stall.
Two men walk into the bathroom, their polished shoes clicking against the marble floor as they gravitate towards the bathroom sinkâs counter. Donny can smell their eyewateringly strong cologne and some residue of what he can only assume are cigarettes clinging to their fancy suits. Donny had never been very big on the business of rich people and their ridiculous displays of wealth, but from what he could see from the stallâs gaps- it was just outrageous. Who needs their suit vests embroidered with the wings of an endangered species of insect!? Certainly not anyone with even an ounce of common sense.
âI canât believe the boss found a replacement bride!â One of the men says, his voice nasally and rather grating on the ears. âI mean, what are the chances of another green beauty walkinâ in here at the perfect time?â He questions, and the sounds of a lighter flicking on cues Donny to what these two men came into the bathroom to do. The other man, whose voice is much deeper and steps accompanied by the chimes of jewelry, laughs, like heâs remembering something funny.
âFrom what I heard the seamstress- Rossie I think, mistook her for the bride and the bridesmaids were all too scared to tell her anything different.â As those words are spoken into the air, Donny begins to feel dread build up in his gut.
From what he and his brothers could gather, the wedding was much more extravagant than expected because it wasnât just a wedding and a way to unite the two crime families (if that wasn't reason enough); it also doubled as the daughterâs debutante. The runaway bride was hidden from both the public and the world of organized crime itself because she was born with a rare condition that dramatically affected her physical appearance. Instead of having the six arms and gray skin that her species usually entails, she was born with skin a shade of grey bordering on green and only one pair of arms. Now, with the knowledge of her condition and the fact that neither the bride or the groomâs families have seen each other before- if the brideâs father wanted to switch out his daughter with someone else; it would be completely possible.
And the only requirements for the replacement bride were to be green and have one set of arms thenâŠ
Donnyâs eyes widen in horror as he pulls on his sleeve, looking at the orange dot which blinked innocent back at him.
Oh no.
âWell, it's not like the groom has ever seen her before, and besides,â The nasally voiced man echoed in the bathroom, not helping Donnyâs spiraling thoughts at all. âI heard the groom like muscled gals, and from I heard this new girl has muscles to spare.â Anger curled right next to the dread in his gut as the deep voiced man only hummed pleasantly in acknowledgement; like Donnyâs world hasnât just gone completely sideways.
He waits for them to leave the bathroom (which takes entirely too long) before he nearly jabs a finger to his earpiece. âGuys, I know what's happened to Mikey.â
âIs he ok?â Leoâs voice is a bit frantic at the sound of Donnyâs plain as day concern.
âYeah, whatâs happeninâ Don?â Raphâs voice is gruff but he can easily detect the worry in it.
Donny has to take a few seconds to organize his thoughts, only worsening the tension in the air the longer he takes to detail their little brotherâs fate; so be steadied himself with a large gulp of air âMikeyâs been kidnapped to be the replacement bride.â
At sound of Raphâs stifled laughter, Donny realizes that he should have worded that better.
â
One makeover and a bridesmaid rushing out to get a last minute wig purchase later, Mikey was standing behind a white privacy screen holding a beautifully made dress in his calloused hands. He traced the simple vine lace on the bodice dress, admiring the silver string as it caught the mosaicâs multicolored light. In the middle of the dress that silk flower seemed to radiate burrowed luster from the light bouncing around it; the dress was positively glowing even without the true bride to wear it. As much as he prided himself in his figure, the dress did have to be slightly altered to fit him better. Rossie was upset at first, or at least until the blue-haired bridesmaid informed her that her father was going to add a bonus on top of her already astronomical pay for every adjustment she was forced to make.
âYou should probably hurry up, you know?â Another bridesmaid chirped out with false cheer (for the fifth time in 5 minutes) just barely covering her urgency; Mikey paid her no mind as he thumbed over the silk flower at the front of the dress. Now that the bridesmaids had stopped trying to convince Rossie that he wasnât the real bride he was clued into the bigger ploy in motion. Mikey had figured out a while ago that the true bride had definitely gotten the hell outta doge once she didnât bust the door down mid makeover. He had also figured out that he was now taking the place of the bride from the way the bridesmaids had gone from acting like concerned friends to wardens; foiling each of his attempts to escape his prison of silver and glass. Then, after some trial and error, Mikey had also figured out that Rossie had no idea what was going on, as far as she knew the brideâs father was a major helicopter parent and the bride herself was a tardy mess(which didnât feel all great).
Mikey had already been constructing a plan to escape the room through a vent above him when Rossieâs voice rang out through the room both irritated and exasperated. âAlright, everybody out!â He could hear the seamstress begin to push the bridesmaids out the door despite their numerous protests. âIt's obvious you all arenât helping one bit.â It was honestly impressive the way Rossie shoved the group through the door, he guessed having so many arms and some massive delts paid off for her.
âI don't even know why she chose you girls as her bridesmaids if you're like this all the time!â
As the door clicked shut both him and Rossie let out a huge sign of relief. Mikey didnât even really think about why the seamstress didn't leave with them until he heard a chair scrape its way over and settle a few feet away from the privacy screen, and when he peaked out of a gap between the wood he could see her looking at his former disguise. He began to get a little worried that she wasnât as uninvolved as he thought before she broke the tense silence. Her voice was gentler than before, kind of what he thought a concerned mom might sound like (if he had ever had a mother).
âSo, what's got you so nervous sweetpea?â Rossie questioned, her hands methodically deconstructing the orange tie of his black suit and stitching it into a shape he couldnât quite recognize. The cheery spot of color provided him a bit of familiarity among the sea of black, white, and silver wedding guests while it lasted. âYou donât seem too excited for your big day.â Her voice was gentle, contrasting the drill sergeant-like woman he had gotten to know over the course of what was almost a half hour now.
Mikey let out a huff of frustration as he returned his gaze to the pristine white dress in his hands. âIâm not the-â He clamps his mouth shut around the truth threatening to come from him. As far as he knows, Rossie is an innocent party in this whole situation. So if he were to tell her that the real brideâs crazy crimelord father kidnapped him to replace his daughter then, well there is no telling what said crazy crimelord would do to her just for having that information. Like, what if he kills her? Mikey doesn't want Rossie dead!
He clears his throat, and looks back through the crack in the wall as she sews. The vague shape she had been sewing earlier had come together rather quickly, and Mikey recognized it as a flower. It kinda looked a bit like a marigold; which just happened to be his favorite flower.
âIâmâŠIâm scared Rossie,â He glances back at the vent. âMy father arranged the whole thing without me- Iâve never even met my fĂance!â Itâs too small to fit him, heâs known it since he had begun planning his escape. Maybe he didnât want to admit that there was truly no way out of this that wouldnât break he and his brotherâs cover. Gosh, he can already hear Raph practically cackling out a lung when he found out about the mess he had gotten himself into. Then Leoâs disappointed voice in the background as he readjusts the mission plan for his mistakes- and Donnyâs concerned-amusement once they rescue him from the clutches of evil bridesmaids and their sharp nails.
He shifts his gaze back to Rossie when he hears her let out a melancholy sigh.
âOh you poor dear,â Her voice is softer than heâs ever heard it; full of empathy and a newfound understanding. âIm sorry I didnât realize it sooner.â She picked up the finished flower and carefully twirled it between her fingers while she spoke. Not unlike Mikeyâs hands occupying themselves with the dress resting in his hands. âMy conversations were only ever with your father and never you, I didnât even know what you looked like until you walked in!â Yikes, she sounded mega guilty.
âIt's ok Mrs. Rossie. This isnât your fault.â His voice weakened with emotion while imagining what his brothers would say once they got home. There really was no way out of his predicament, and he doubts that his wardens will let run out of this room. âIâll still be walking down that aisle so you donât need to worry about your check.â He tried to joke, but the way Rossieâs face fell told him that he had missed his mark. In fact heâd say she looked devastated now that the reason for his tardiness was to avoid marrying a man heâd never met before. He observed Rossieâs crestfallen expression remained for a few more seconds before being replaced with one of grim resolve. She rose from the stool slowly, like the weight of the situation was settling itself down on her shoulders. Rossie turned to face the privacy screen and caught Mikey's eyes with her own which reflected so much emotion it made Mikey feel all the more guilty for tricking this woman. Yet, not guilty enough to risk her life by telling her the truth.
âNo, you listen well now dear.â Her spine straightened in a way that reminded him of Leo when he was getting ready to deliver a plan: a heroic one liner, or some kind of reassurance to his beaten down brothers. The change in Rossieâs demeanor had Mikeyâs own posture subconsciously draw itself up to match the heavy atmosphere. âI know your father is a very powerful man, and that you may not be able to disobey him,â she takes a deep breath to steady herself and all Mikey can think about is how the real bride must have felt; he wondered if she was safe right now. âBut this doesn't have to be the end of the line.â
âYou have proven to be a witty, kind, and patient young woman for the time I've known you. I mean, you put up with mine and the bridesmaidâs bossing for goodness sake!â An amused smile cracks and widens on her gray face and Mikey canât help but let out a little giggle despite the circumstances. âIf anyone can charm that mysterious groom of yours, itâd be you, love.â She steps closer to the privacy screen, her heels clicking against the marble floors like the crackle of a campfire; whereas her previous had struck the ground like cracks of lightning.
Mikey thinks distantly that Raph and Rossie would get along like a house on fire. For all that his red clad brother likes to act like a tough macho man; heâs got a heart bigger than all the burrows of New York combined. The fact they shared the same beginning letter of their names and a red motif also helped the seed of fondness in Mikeyâs heart grow the more he got to know this incredible seamstress.
âEven if you donât grow to love him, you can still have him wrapped around your finger. Thatâs the real fun of it!â Her grin curls mischievously and he finds that the dread that was weighing in his gut has begun to dissipate. âIâve been told I have an effect on the minds of men.â He looks back down at the dress with a newfound confidence. Maybe he could pull this off: maybe he could get some information that neither Raph or Leo could overhear, and maybe he could make this mission go even smoother. âWho could refuse the bride anything at her own wedding?â Mikey thinks as he starts pulling the dress on himself with a renewed confidence.
_-_-_-_-_-_
Mikey steps out from behind the privacy screen a good minute later and a little more nervous than when he was first shoved behind it. To be fair though, it is his first time wearing a real tailored wedding dress(that and he took his time making sure he didnât smear his makeup putting it on). He only gets more anxious when Rossie gasps like heâs some strange zoo animal coming out of the shadows for the first time. Heâd not even taken half a step towards the mirror before Rossie stopped him. She stepped in front of him and raised one of her six arms, signaling him to be still as she skilfully sewed the little orange flower right in the center of the silk one. It was like a little beacon of color on the overall monocrime look. It also matched his eyeshadow.
Mikey thanked her with a nod and finally took his place in front of the mirrorâŠ
He understood why Rossie had gasped.
(Image at end because for some reason i canât imbed it here)
Oh wow. He looked beautiful, like really- really genuinely beautiful.
He reached up with his hand that wan;t occupied holding that wonderful bouquet to gently brush his fingers over the silver laced bodice: then the little orange flower, the larger silken one surrounding it, and finally he took a moment to run his fingers through the lace veil. It was long enough to cover his shell, only helping to make him fit in with the rest of the crowd. He could see the wonder in his own eyes and feel an elation so intense it threatened to burst from his chest in a shower of light that could outclass the sun.
Mikey didnât even notice Rossie getting closer until she tapped him on the shoulder. He looked back over at her with a raised eyeridge, in response she held up one of her hands which was holding his earpieces. âSomeoneâs calling you dear.â She said, and pressed the device in his hands. Mikey nodded and steeled himself for the conversation he was about to have and the scolding he was going to get once they managed to get home.
He cleared his throat, and popped a device in his ear (well, not an actual ear but he forgot the word for it). âHey guys, so I have a crazy story,â he looked back at his reflection in the mirror, watching as he glimmered under the silver light of the room. He guessed that saying about brides glowing at their weddings wasnât too far off. âAnd an even crazier plan.â
The sound of his brotherâs overlapping whispering, yelling, level yet disappointed voices, and Rossieâs mirthful cackle sounded like one of the greatest symphonies.
He wasnât too excited to wear the wig though.
â-
Eret gazed out, watching the semi interesting tray server nearly lose his temper over his cousin once more, taking nearly all the champagne glasses at once and forcing him to double back to the cellar. He had been watching this little game for the past five minutes and only growing more bored as time went on and that red tied man fell for the same trick over and over again. The most entertaining it had gotten was when the man looked about ready to beat his cousinâs head in with his tray the third time it happened. Overall, it wasnât even nearly enough to distract him from that turning pit of dread in his stomach.
He has spent years preparing to take over his fatherâs business and running it all on his own just like he had been taught; only for him to be forced into a marriage. It was a rather hypocritical course of action from the same man who had told him to never get close to anyone around him, that anybody could betray him and leave him for dead if he let his guard down. Hell, he hadnât even let his mother get close to him before she had passed when he was thirteen. Eret hadnât seen them interact for more than an hour even when she was alive, so how was he supposed to know how to deal with being married himself? Especially to the daughter of their biggest competitor? Sheâd sooner kill him and sell the skin off his bones than trust him if she was raised like he was. Although, he supposed that if she wasâŠnice enough, they could come to some mutual agreement between them. Her bizarre beauty meant nothing to him if she was just as foolish as her father was.
He glanced back up towards the red tied man, only to see him looking towards the massive, impenetrable glass doors with a grin on his face that made Eret feel uneasy.
âCould he know something?â Eretâs brows furrowed in confusion, and he began to turn his body towards his best man (and bodyguard) when the sound of the door opening gave him pause. The guests and himself turned towards the entrance as music began to play from an orchestra of delicate glass instruments; all eyes on the arrival of the bride.
It was like all the air had been stolen from his lungs then held hostage by this- gorgeous figure clothed in ivory, silver, and spots of orange began to walk down the aisle. If her pearly white heels clicked against marble floors of the same color- he was deaf to it, as all he could hear was the thundering of his own two hearts and the swell of fragile music in his ears. Eret thought that such delicate music didnât match the striking woman walking towards him like the promise of a sunny day on the near horizon after months of constant rain. Her steps were strong and confident in a way he had only seen in the strongest of his rivals and arms were scared and strong. The way she carried her strength in such a refined manner sent every one of his nerves alight. In spite of the clear signs she had survived more than her fair share of fights, her eyes were bright in a way that often faded in fields as merciless as theirs. Eret swore that his once freezing cold hands now felt hot and clammy with the arrival of his bride; her waterfall bouquet of lilies and orchids gently swaying from her clasped hands.
Oh lords, she was his bride.
Any complaint he had dissolved with the rest of his thoughts and fizzled out his ears as she walked up the small set of stairs leading towards where he was standing. The slight pep in her step as she ascended nearly had his heart bursting with a sudden fondness- then with nerves as she stood right in front of him at the altar. Eret could only stare at her in awe because, somehow, she was even more radiant up close. Perhaps it was the way he could see the orange eyeshadow that lightly dusted her lids matched the shade of both her hair and the flower right above her first heart. Or maybe it was the white sheen poured over her eyes like a liquid mother of pearl; pupiless, flawless, but so expressive he nearly didnât notice the lack of color at first
(Although he wished her bangs didnât cover her third eye). It could also be the way the massive, clear glass windows behind them let in the natural sunlight, allowing her dress to catch the light and giving her an ethereal glow. And, if the dancing lights and shadows helped add more depth to her muscled biceps, then that was between him and the walls of the chapel.
The finishing blow to his rapidly filling hearts was the way she looked at him; her gaze noting every visible detail and flow with his form; then, she smiled at him.
The smile was wide, full of teeth, and bright.
Perfect.
Eret didnât even process the ramblings of the officiant until a small pillow holding the rings was shoved into his line of sight, obscuring his view of his bride for a few unforgivable seconds. Although he forgave the action as he held the solid rings of platinum gold in his hand and became aware that these rings would tie him and this remarkable woman for the rest of their lives. Even if she happened to kill him at some point in the future; he would gladly perish if it was by her lovely, strong hands.
âEret lorane, do you take Melody Jhonas to be your lawfully wedded wife?â The wedding officiant asks in a level, if a little nervous, voice. The words practically shoot themselves out of his throat in fear of his bride- his Melody dissipating like a mirage before his very eyes if he waited even a second longer to wed her.
âI do.â
Eret speaks, not even for a moment looking away from Melody as she looks back at him. She seemed surprised at his eagerness to make their partnership official. He can understand why, as she was born so far out of the norm for their species it would almost be bizarre. Eret himself feared that she would look like some sort of creature before meeting her, now all he can think about is making who let her think she was anything less than gorgeous pay.
The man turns to Melody and asks the same question. Although, unlike him her gaze settles on Eret with a look of uncertainty. She looks worried, like there is a chance that their future together will not be the most wonderful and prosperous marriage to ever happen; like he will not cherish her until his bones are ground to dust and he is returned to the soil. Eret hopes that the smile he gives her came off as comforting as he wished it to be.
It apparently is, as she gives a quiet âI doâ. He doubts anyone would have been able to hear it unless they were standing as close to her as he was. The elation of her accepting her place as his wife keeps him from noticing three green figures beginning to close in from the crowd as they leapt between shadows.
It wasnât until he reached to slip the diamond encrusted ring on his wifeâs finger did he notice that well- it didnât fit.
Within seconds, Melody closed her hand around her ring and gave him an apologetic look as a sudden outburst of rage rang throughout the hall.
âWHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS ISNâT THE REAL BRIDE?!â His father screamed at the head of Melodyâs family, who was cowering behind many of his bodyguards(he noticed that the seamstress had disappeared from his side after collecting her check). He was frantically trying to explain himself- his hands frantically gesturing at nothing while his father reached into his suit pocket. Eret was deaf to all of it, instead he watched as his wifeâs once soft expression turned strained and apologetic. She turned to the man in the red tie, who just happened to be tall standing among the partyâs panicking guests like a rock amongst heavy waves. They had such strikingly similar features that he instantly realized they were most likely related.
His wife, who he knew not by name but by the pearlescent sheen of her eyes, the lively green of her skin, and the brightness of her smile; grabbed her skirt and turned to scurry down the steps. The reality of her leaving snapped him out of his shock and into action, because letting this extraordinary woman leave his sight was more important than the chaos reigning supreme around them.
Eret grabbed Melodyâs wrist and was nearly dragged with her from her strength alone. She whipped her head back towards him with a wide eyed expression. âWhat are you doing?â Her voice was deeper than he expected- but that wasnât an issue for him; he could listen to her voice for the rest of his life if he convinced her to stay. âPlease, donât go.â He pleaded to her and watched her mouth drop open in shock. He could see the red tied man speed walking towards them
âBut- Iâm not actually the bride!â She stated, trying to tug her wrist away from him. Eret only pulled himself close enough to count the near invisible smattering of freckles on her face.
âWhat if I wanted you to be?â He knew his voice was desperate, but how could he not be when the only person to make him feel so alive was running away from him; when his wife was fleeing from the altar. Rings be damned, those stupid rings of metal meant nothing if she wasnât wearing it. Although he wasnât able to get out another plea before the wedding officiant ran past him and knocked him down on the cold marble floor. Eret groaned as he sat up, and all he could do was watch as that bright spot of orange and green disappeared from his sight; helpless to stop it. It felt like watching the sun disappear once more and dark clouds roll back over his world once more.
A white waterfall bouquet and a stolen heart were the only two pieces of evidence left behind proving that his wife ever existed in the first place.
â-
The drive home was boisterous.
Each brother took turns recounting the many challenges they faced in their mission positions. Whether that be annoying rich guests-
âI swear, I was gonna bash da guys head in if he asked for one more refill-â
-anxiety over the amount of delicate items carelessly shoved into siderooms to make space for the wedding venue-
âThey just shoved an entire glass flower garden into one room! It was like they were playing tetris!-â
-awkward moments overheard from quiet corners of the chapel-
âI donât know how someone decides the bathroom of a glass chapel was a good place to have an affair, with your husbandâs best friend no less!â
-yet, no incident was as heavily discussed as the youngestâs sudden change in mission roles and subsequent surprise wedding. They all were originally sceptical that he could pull off the act convincingly, but now with the data from the ringâs microchip being downloaded into Donny;s servers they were happy to call it a successful mission. It also helped that Mikey was still wearing the wedding dress even after they escaped.
âAre you ever gonna take that off?â Donny questioned, watching as his usually semi-messy little brother ate his pizza (they stopped by a fast food joint on the way back) with all the elegance of a Victorian duchess. And, with cheeks full of food, Mikey shakes his head and continues to delicately tear down his meal. Raphâs laughter echoed in the background alongside Leoâs huffs of amusement. Donny signs with no small amount of fondness and turns his attention back to the road.
He guessed the mission hadn't gone that wrong after all.
Authorâs Note: I was planning to write two different scenes that I ended up cutting out. The first was going to be before the wedding that would have shown the brothers talking about the plan when the official aisle walk gets postponed by several minutes because they ran out of liquor or sm. Mikey could have been taken to a small waiting room and guarded by the bridesmaids when- on a different side of the room divided by hazy glass the groom would have walked in.
I wanted them to get to know each other before the wedding and before knowing they were each otherâs fĂances so it would feel more natural.
The second part I wanted to write was going to be if the data on each ring was separate, they would have to steal both rings. So Mikey and his brothers would have had to put up with the wedding party while Mikey also got to know the groom a bit better. In the end I began to run out of motivation so I just tried to make the last bit at least a little funny!
If you see any spelling mistakes- actually let me know this time :]
You know that moment when your writing a funny little snippet about 2003!Michelangelo and an infiltration mission gone wrong only to realize that somehow a little bit of angst snuck its way into your literary excuse to draw Mikey in a dress?
Before the Reunion- Iâd like to go through the 2012 & Rise brotherâs perspectives and some moments they share with their respective Michelangelo(s). And maybe some small moments from Mikey and Clemâs Dimension X days. Iâve decided to write this from version 1 with a young Clem perspective; so these behaviors will mostly be from leftover instincts and PTSD from Dimension X. To avoid confusion Iâll be referring to Rise!Mikey as Clem from now on.
First up is Rise!
The Rise brothers grew up knowing that their brother was a bit different from them, mostly because one day after he had been missing for a few months he came back..different. They all vaguely remember their father pulling them aside after putting Clem to bed for the first time that week to tell them that something happened to him, and that they must be patient with him till he got better. As they grew older their memories of Clemâs âQuiet Eraâ got more distant, but they do definitely recall some of the things that happened and what stuck.
Leo remembers Clem being especially anxious around him and trying to get him to be quiet as kids. Sometimes he would hiss or hit Leo until he stopped talking, although Leo didnât want to listen at first at all. It wasnât until he purposely screamed as loud as he could to protest his little brotherâs urging did Clem have his second ever meltdown in the lair(the first being when he came home). Clem was inconsolable yet silent in his distress; it took him hours to stop crying, and when he did it was only because he passed out. Seeing the meltdown first hand and knowing he had caused it, Leo decided to become completely dedicated to keeping Clem happy for the rest of his Quiet Era, even if that meant shutting up until Clem felt safe again or eating a little more even after he was full. It took a while for Clem to forgive him, but Leo was just happy that he felt safe enough to tell him that. Leo is also the first to discover that Clem didnât actually remember them all too much, so he, along with Raph and Donnie do their best to help him relearn how to be a part of the family once more. He helps Clem regain his sense of adventure (much to their fatherâs distress) and childishness. He shows his little brother that he is allowed to play loudly without the fear of âbig dangerâ coming to kill them- that he can overcome his fears and smile again. When Leo got Clem to laugh for the first time in weeks, Dad cried for a solid 13 minutes and apologized for not being there to hear it. Of course he went back to his shows the next day like nothing happened, but it's the thought that counts.
Donnie makes it his responsibility as the smartest twin to teach Clem about the world around them (because Nardo said he had forgotten a lot). At carefully chosen times where Clem is the most calm and comfortable with noise to start discussing topics he thinks his little brother will find interesting. Such as weather patterns, why the sky is blue, colors and the history of their usage(Clem was very interested in the topic, despite being silent), and, surprisingly, gravity. Donnie had chosen the topic after watching Clem become confused at his own jumping distance, like he had expected to cross the room in one simple leap. While explaining the topic to Clem, he had gotten him to ask an actual question without any prompting. It was simply his brother asking Donnie to explain why if someone fell off a cliff, they wouldn't stick to the bottom of the ledge. Yes, the question was confusing and concerning in hindsight, but he just remembers being so excited that he got Clem to question the world around him- and that he was able to comfort him with the science behind each moving part of the world(especially when the place Clem came back from didnât seem to make any sense). Donnie helped him rediscover his sense of curiosity about the world around him.
Raph was the hardest for Clem to get close to again. Now that heâs older he understands that it was because of how close his mask was to the deep pink hues that Clem dislikes(for some reason..); but it didnât stop it from hurting. Dad tried to get them to interact more by making them eat in the same areas while he supervised, or forcing Clem to sit next to him for long periods of time. Raph hated it; seeing his little brother trembling quietly next to him and only staying because he was more scared of Dad. After each failed attempt to make them bond orchestrated by their father, Raph left food outside the places where Mikey would frequent.
In the early days it was very much a challenge for the family to figure out what would and wouldn't set off Clem- and what little behaviors he had picked up stayed with him. Leo discovered that Clem would refuse to sleep unless there was someone nearby keeping watch, but Raph discovered that the rules worked in a ruel of reciprocity.
One day Raph had gotten especially sleepy around midday after wrangling the twins to bed for half the night, so he settled down in their shared room for a nap. It was only a few minutes after settling that Clem wandered inside and saw him. Raoh expected his little brother to turn around and leave, and it looked like he would for a moment, but he must have seen the exhaustion in his face (and revisiting the memory when he was older, Raph now realized the look as one of recognition). He watched as Clem cautiously toddled his way over, and plopped himself down right beside him with a little sound of impact. Raph was already about to start sobbing his eyes out when Clem gently placed his hand on his shell, brushing over the spiky surface compleat;y fear free- and told him to sleep; that heâd keep watch.
Raph had never slept that good in his little kid life, and what was even better was that Clem was no longer scared of him. He revived Clemâs sense of safety and showed Clem that he could be strong- and he was allowed to be vulnerable. Raph remembered that Clem would come to him if he was ever feeling scared or if he was having a bad day where he needed to hide.
Splinter in this AU is less distant with his children after Clemâs disappearance, but during the recovery process he was pretty absent. It is something he regrets terribly and he hates himself for wallowing in self pity rather than helping his youngest feel safe. He didnât know how to help Clem recover, so he selfishly left most of that responsibility onto his sons; who in turn had already taken it upon themselves to teach their youngest how to be a part of a family once more.
What helped Splinter snap out of his absence was the day he found a pack of crayons his youngest had lost the day he had gone missing. Splinter carefully removes the pinks from the pack and carefully holds them out to Clem after a rather quiet breakfast(he decided, from Blueâs silence, that he should refrain from speaking as well). He assumes that his son, now different in so many ways, wouldn't remember what to do with them, if he reached out to take them at all. Clem ends up breaking all his expectations when he crashes into his chest to hug him for the first time in over a month- and not only that, but he quietly thanks Splinter before fleeing to his brotherâs sides.
Splinter reminds Clem of his love for art and what it felt like to have someone like his Kiki again. Splinter himself is reminded that he still has time to make things right. It wonât be easy, and he knows that this wonât erase the years heâs spent growing more distant in favor of the TV; but by the Hamato ancestors, it was a start.
Clem forgets most of time in Dimension X as he ages, but he never truly loses all of it. He still gets anxious when things are too loud despite getting used to louder volumes (via his brothers), and it took him a very long time to get used to the general rambustiousness of New York. Although, when he does get used to the sounds of the city, Clem can easily pick out sounds that donât quite fit in with the background and find those who call for help from impressive distances. Leo is usually the first to notice when Clem needs quiet and Donnie is often the one with a solution (sound proof headphones). Alongside his paranoia he also has a habit of crashing in his brotherâs rooms after nightmares. Especially if those nightmares include big danger or someone who Clem canât quite remember anymore. Those nights, where heâs crushed by a paranoid so heavy he can barely breath, Clem can often be found with Raph where they take shifts on lookout. Oftentimes the twins and their father will join them.
Within the show's fanbase his behaviors become a point of mystery and fan theories as to why Clem acts the way he does. The show wouldnât touch on it too heavily the first season only to have a whole episode dedicated to the tots growing up with Clem and his habits as well as some exposition on protocols for each of his âmoodsâ. Unfortunately the big reveal is cut off and all the fans get is some short flashback scenes from the Movie and someone working on the show sharing their big plan on Twitter.
Now- moving on because im impatient-
2012 Boys!
The farmhouse arc goes pretty similar to how it does in canon, but now Mikey gets a lot more consideration from his brothers instead of being sidelined as the âgoofy guyâ every time he proves himself because the writers could never let him grow. He also gets actual counseling for his trauma and grief.
Mr. Oâneil makes sure all the teens have at least one session with him a week; he refuses to leave these children without the help they have clearly been needing. Due to this , Mikey feels a lot more comfortable expressing grief and letting his family help him on days where he canât muster up enough energy to get out of bed. It's also within a multitude of episodes that both the audience and the brothers get more exposition on Clemâs character as well as how much his love and grief for Clem changed Mikey. I believe the fandom would go absolutely bonkers with fanmade interpretations of Clem, fanfiction, and theorists- because in a show like 2012 tmnt the sudden good character development and mystery would have the fans reeling. I know the angst fics would be cooking because I would have been first in line to read it.
Now, in relation to how the 2012 brothers would take the news and deal with the revelation that their youngest has gone through hell and had not just one but two unbelievable losses in such a short period of time; itâs safe to say that they donât take it very well.
From eldest to youngest. Then the humans.
Leo feels incredibly guilty for not noticing Mikeyâs plan to rush into the portal sooner. He had seen that defiant look in his eyes but had just assumed that Mikey wasnât going to do anything too drastic with so much on the line. He, of course, realized he was wrong once he saw Mikey rush through the portal with a single minded goal of getting Leatherhead back. Now he listens as his little brother (now technically the eldest, but that feels wrong to even think about) talks about a child heâll never get to meet; a melancholy smile on his lips and a gaze a Dimension away.
Leo honestly believes that if he had just been faster, that he could have been right by Mikeyâs side in Dimension X and kept him from the anguish he had experienced there. Then when Clem came along, he could have helped keep him safe: taught him about his other uncles beyond the pink hellscape, soothed him with lullabies in his mother tongue, told him stories about adventures in space (totally unrelated to Space Heroes)- just met him. Maybe he could have spared Mikey the pain of losing a child, and instead help introduce Hamato Shen Clementine to the rest of the family right beside his little brother. His otĆto. Instead he listens as his little brother cries silently into his chest for those theyâd lost.
Leo may have been the first to place a gift at the shrine, but he hopes that Clem will appreciate a small, poorly made origami turtle lovingly inscribed kanji. That and a few stories about the best show to ever grace the earth (a child deserves a favorite cartoon, even if Leo had to tip the scales in his favor.) He sits next to his little brother whoâs humming an old lullaby, and hopes that Clem likes their little show wherever he is.
Raph feels just as guilty as Leo does, if not more so for his frustration with Mikey these past few months. He butted heads with his little brother so often those last few days in the lair when he knew Mikey was hurting. Yet, he ignored it in favor of taking out his own feelings of frustration and confusion on Mikey so he wouldn't have to deal with them himself. Although, even he had to pull away from his little brotherâs overwhelming anger- a side of him Raph had never truly seen before their fights in the lair; this time with Leo playing peacekeeper between the brothers.
Then Raphâs anger and his constant pushing was what drove Mikey to run away and get kidnapped by frog mutants, all because Raph was too stubborn to accept his little brother needed space. Yet, he was still the one Mikey trusted first with his precious memories of Clem, the nephew that Raph never had the chance to protect and the son his little brother could never see again. He understood the pain of losing someone you cared for, that you defended, fed, and raised as your own with Spike- now known as Slash. Yet, at least he could see Slash and know that he was alive; Mikey didnât even have the luxury of knowing how Clem passed. All Raph could do was protect the family he has now, and hold Mikey together when the loss started to pull him apart all over again. He lets Mikey get first dibs on any Krang they find in the future to ease his anger, and is glad to help tear those pink freaks apart when Mikey calls him to help.
The fans would eat up the new character development for Raph and the new scenes of his softer side. The edits and AMVs would go absolutely crazy(especially the Rockabye song AMVs with Mikey). I also personally believe that Raph would have been the first person besides Mikey to leave an offering at Clemâs shrine; hand carved and painted wooden blocks and a new painting of Clem based on Mikeyâs descriptions would be added.
Donnie holds plenty of guilt as well for his hesitance to enter the portal, and his own absence from his family during the time after they came back from the portal. He observed the changes in Mikeyâs personality and ran his own theories behind his brother;s back, but he sidelined helping his little brother in favor of working on weapons to defeat the Krang(he was also intimidated by Mikeyâs outburst and fights with Raph- but even admitting that he was scared of dealing with his brother's feelings makes him feel more pathetic than anything ever had). Even when they took refuge in Aprilâs familyâs farmhouse he spent most of his time in the barn, avoiding them all until Mikey had to drag him out for dinner. Although most days he would simply break in and leave the food on his workbench while Donnie remained unaware.
He felt like a horrible brother for willingly refusing to dig deeper into Mikeyâs issues unless it was to echo their older brotherâs frustrations. Donnie was the first to see their younger brother's carefully played facade begin to crack and the last to say anything about it. So, as his retribution, he stays up at night, thinking about all the ways Mikey could have gotten his new scars from Dimension X, and how much he had changed staying in that pink hell; alone and scared. Donnie thought about Clem, the nephew that would never know how much his uncles already love him- and would never see his fatherâs smile or feel the scarred arms of Mikey around him ever again. Clem would never get to grow up beside them, the Krang made sure of that when they ripped him away from Mikeyâs arms like something to be discarded. Now he and Mikey work alongside each other, destroying Krang tech and hacking their databases for old video recordings of Clem.
Donnie is the last brother to leave an offering for Clem, mostly due to nerves and because heâs a perfectionist. His gift is a carefully crafted nightlight that would beam stars across the ceiling of the attic; each constellation and planet shifting in a colored circle in time with the true sky.
Although, he is also the last to leave a gift because he doesnât believe that Clem is truly dead. I mean- a turtle mutant suddenly shows up in Dimension X and disappears without so much as a peep? Maybe whatever brought Clem to the hellscape also took hom out and deposited him somewhere else? Maybe he can reunite the suns of his life, and watch them glow bright once more.
Donnie doesnât tell his brothers for fear of giving them false hope, but Casey found out by accident and has become his unwanted (yet apprenticed) accomplice.
Speaking of Casey, he isnât quite sure how to comfort Mikey in the beginning, but they bond over the precious children in their life; Clem and his own little sister, Angel. He leaves smooth creek stones, a hockey puck, and wildflowers at Clemâs shrine.
April does her best to help Mieky around the house and offers him a shoulder to lean on just like everyone else; although they do share a deep anguish for how much the Krang have taken from the lives of their loved ones, as well as themselves. And this is only amplified after the Krang clone of Aprilâs mom tries to take her from the others. You KNOW the angst would be legendary. Unlike cannon, the turtles do believe Mikey more readily but that doesnât save him from being consumed. Kirby helps Mikey work through his grief in healthy manners and sympathizes with him in a way he wished he didn't have to.
If you see any spelling mistakesâŠno you donât. Expect the reunion next post, or not because Iâm becoming a bit more busy as of late ^^.
Fr, my eyesight literally HAS to get worse for my insurance to cover my appointments and any breaks in my glasses. I shouldnât have to hope that one of my major senses with which I use to experience the world around me is deteriorating just so I can afford to get my lenses updated to accommodate for the deterioration. Even for a simple blue light filter itâs $87 out of pocket.
My eyesight is already horrible, and I donât want to loose more of it. Yet, if any more accidents occur then thatâs exactly what needs to happen.
hi idk if you know Swedish but there's a song called Tills Mitt HjĂ€rta GĂ„r Under by Myra Granberg (â hopefully working YouTube link lmao) and the singer has said it was about her child iirc, how much love she holds for the child and all she'd do for them and gcycy your dimension x idea???? the mikeys??? (for cuteness in your au kgjufh?????)
like???? to me the song really is such a love letter to familyyy <333 (and it's one of my fave songs in Swedish hello)
(oh and here's an English translation i found from genuis)
OMG HI! I donât know Swedish but this song sounds so sweet! I think it would definitely fit with Mikey and Clemâs relationship ^_^!
Iâve been thinking about writing a oneshot depicting some of their moments in Dimension X and then after (Mikeyâs grief and Clemâs sense of loss for something he can no longer remember). Iâve also been going through some scenarios with Clemâs learned instincts and behaviors from DX and how they would affect his everyday living.
And of course I we have the exploration of the 2012 brothers and how they feel about Clem! I am also pretty excited to attempt to write about their reunion myself! Iâll definitely be adding this song to my writing playlist for the occasion :]
Ok so, last post was about version 1 of how Clem gets to Dimension X and back. I unfortunately forgot to actually discuss the second method, so I'll be doing that now.
In the second method Draxum and Mikey are practicing his mystic abilities when Mikey decides to tackle a spell he definitely isnât ready for to prove to his brothers that he can really take care of himself and that Draxum is a good teacher. This backfires pretty badly and it ends up transforming Mikey into a toddler.
Draxum finds him clumsily doodling symbols of a forbidden spell on some loose practice papers instead of being a dutifully practicing teenager. He rightfully freaks out and rushes to stop him but by the time his hand brushes against the box turtleâs baby soft cheek, heâd already gone.
You know damn well the rest of the family blames Draxum for Mikeyâs disappearance and works him like a dog to get their baby brother back.
At first Draxum isnât very worried about how long it would take him to locate where Mikey has found himself in, but once they reach the 48 hour mark Draxum is drowning in guilt. He fully believes that he may have just doomed the first person to ever believe in him to death; Draxum may have just killed Mikey with his own bare hands.
Mikey ends up going missing for a day or two before Draxum and the boys are able to bring him back with a location spell, leftover magic from Mikey, and Hamato ninpo. They all are happy to have their brother back but once the smoke clears they find that the heart of their family has come back⊠wrong.
First, from what they can tell-heâs older. His once unblemished skin is twisted with scars of all kinds, each one more gnarled than the last. Haunted eyes track his family from his place within the summoning circle, and his fear is only highlighted by the light of the candles surrounding him. Then, the moment their fatherâs furred, pink hand reaches out to touch Mikeyâs grime smeared cheek; they can only jump as the tiny tot lets out a glass shattering scream.
The overwhelming feeling of terror shoots through their ninpo connection like ice through veins. In the end Donnie has to sedate him so he doesn't hurt himself trying to get away.
Draxum only feels even more guilty from Mikeyâs reaction, and tries his best to quicken the aging spell but it'll take a few days for it to be complete.
The reason he comes back so much sooner is because Iâm lining this up with more 2012âs time translation, although not nearly as short as the showâs.
As for the few days I was thinking that Clem would display the same behaviors he does in the first version: such as making his brothers quiet to avoid âbig dangerâ, not actually remembering his family until much later, and going by a different name. At first the others notice that their little brother isnât responding to Mikey or Orange, so they try a various barrage of silly nicknames to try and get him to break his quiet streak. Itâs only when Leo calls him âTangerineâ that he finally introduces himself in the softest voice theyâd ever heard; it was practically a brush of air with how small it was.
âIm Clemâ
Itâs from there that the brothers start to push for more answers more consistently as the days pass, because Draxum says it's very likely that once the de-aging gets reversed that Clem will no longer remember what happened in the alternate dimension.
Leo is the first to discover that unzipping his lips is a sign someone taught Clem to say that it was ok to speak. From then on they absolutely take advantage of it and are able to get their little brother to get more comfortable with them and to speak about the âpink placeâ. Donnie, Raph, and Leo end up getting second hand trauma as Clem describes a place they can only refer to as âpink super hellâ and the staggering multitude of times their baby brother was almost killed. They actually do cry when Clem describes in scarce detail how it felt to kill something called a âKrangâ for the first time, and how someone named Kiki had helped him do it.
The Rise bros donât really know what kind of role Kiki had in their brotherâs life but they both are eternally grateful they helped keep Clem alive and hate him for making Clem grow up so fast. They learn what role this âKikiâ actually played in pink super hell when Splinter tries to comfort Clem after a meltdown.
Splinter tries to hold his youngest as he thrashes his little body around like a wild thing, refusing to make even a peep; he even bites down on his own arms to try and muffle his sobs with a desperation that breaks Spinterâs heart. He reaches out once more with the intention to sooth, but his hand gets smacked away by a scared and grief stricken Orange. It's not until Leo gives the ok that Clem bursts out in terrible cries,âI WANT MY KIKI! He makes everything better- he loves me and keeps me safe and I WANT KIKI! NOT YOU!â
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to find out who Kiki was to his sonâŠNot at all.
Unfortunately all they are able to get out of Clem the last few days are more trauma, Kiki, and a mutant named Leatherhead who is apparently Kikiâs best friend and something like an Uncle figure to Clem(despite the totâs only memories of the guy is him being in a cell). Then when Clem finally gets restored to Mikey he doesnât remember much from his time in Dimension X, although some habits still stick.
Such as being unnaturally quiet when he feels like there is danger around, overeating due to past food insecurity, and dreams about the life he used to lead. Of course he notices his brothers being weird around him and sometimes almost calling him by another name, but no matter how much he pushes no one will answer him.
I actually find myself liking version 1 more⊠But enough about Clem, it's time to check in with Mikey!
In this AU the invasion takes a few more days so Mikeyâs grief can be more properly explored as they get prepared for the Krang invasion. As stated in the last post, his family notices the change in Mikey pretty quickly despite how hard he tries to hide it.
The first to reach out is Raph, but this ends in an argument so explosive that even Raph has to take a step back from the overwhelming tension. Then Donnie tries to figure him out through a series of experiments, observations and questions. This is how both the audience and the others find out that Mikey has been taking things to his room (toys, incense, food, and art supplies), yet when he tries to ask Mikey completely shuts him out. Leo tries to ease Mikey into talking but his youngest brother just- changes into a smiling husk(one of the more disturbing things the brothers have observed). April and Casey have some success but in the end they just get a facade of Mikey that diverts them from any and all topics until they become too exhausted to keep going.
The last to reach out is Splinter, who recognizes the grief in his youngestâs heart and tries to break down his walls. Instead he gets chewed out for every flaw he has failed to recognize within himself before his son runs off into the sewers. It's not until hours later, just before the attack, that he discovered Leatherhead was who Michelangelo ran to.
Unfortunately they ran out of time to question him before all the cannon stuff went down, although this time they are able to get Kirby OâNeil out of NY and some of their belongings. Mikey only took his shrine and offerings, leaving everything else to be burned by the Krang.
They could take the entry of New York, but he refuses to let them take anymore from Clem.
Never again.
The Farmhouse Arc will go mostly the same, but this time with an actual adult and licensed physiatrist who will help these children recover even if it kills him.
The audience will get more hints about what happened in Dimension X, along with seeing as tensions between Mikey and his family only rise to a deafening crescendo. It all comes to a head when Mikey is making food and accidentally knocks a few things over. It's less of a mess than in canon but everyone is already fed up with him, so they take this as their breaking point for Mikeyâs behavior. Although the situation truly becomes unsalvageable when Raph knocks over what looks like just an extra serving (he knows Mikey makes two for himself, and considers it gluttonous). With Kirby out getting groceries and unable to act as the peacekeeper, Mikeyâs cheery persona crumbles into unforgiving rage.
He screams at them with a terrifying hysteria and shouts at Raph that âHEâS GONNA BE HUNGRY-HE CANâT BE HUNGRY HE NEEDS TO BE HAPPY HE-â among other nonsense about someone they donât know. Yet, it's more than they've gotten out of the orange banded turtle in months, so they keep pushing.
It's not until Mikey flees from the house that they realize that this was the wrong thing to do; so they try and wait for him to come back on his own, hopefully cooled off. Until Raph goes missing next, having gone looking for Mikey first without telling anyone.
Things go pretty similar to cannon, but this time Mikey forages a stronger bond with Genghis Frog as he is the first person Mikey (vaguely) mentions Clem to. Genghis doesnât quite understand the weight of the situation but I think itâs funny to imagine the amount of 12 year olds losing their mind at the lore drop.
When they return home Raph properly apologizes for his actions(with Kirdyâs coaching) and tells Mikey that he just wants to understand. This my friends is where all my set up of Raph looking like the bad guy comes in. Mikey ends up confessing that he butted heads with Raph the most because he knew that his brother would understand; Mikey wasnât sure he could stop himself from telling his big brother everything.
Raph urges Mikey to at least tell him how he can help. Mikey decides to do him one better and takes Raph Clemâs shrine that he hid in a blocked off section of the upstairs attic. There, he tells Raph everything about Clem he can remember, the fear he felt at taking the role of âKikiâ and how he had gotten the brightest boy in the world killed because he wanted to make him feel brave. Raph just holds him close and promises to help him tell the others in the morning.
That he does. (Kirby is putting his skills to good use)
Over the rest of the time they spend at the farm house Mikey shares the hardships, happy moments, and grief he had in Dimension X, with Clementine. His brothers some to adore Clem the more he described him to them; he even shares through his tears the fantasies he had in that pink hellscape about Clem coming home with them. There would be a kidâs science book in his hand and a familiar Captain Ryan figure in his other; a knitted red blanket would be draped over his shoulders and a clean yellow mask would mark Clem as a Hamato.
âHamato Shen Clementineâ gets added to the family's shrine, right beside Tang Shen. Splinter tells Mikey that she would have loved to meet her grandson, just as he would have.
Mikey sobbed like a child in his fatherâs robes that day, and he supposed that's what he was.
I WAS GONNA POST THE REUNION- but I wrote too much again ;^_^ but yeah Splinter would have been divested to learn what had happened and that his son had to grow though the grief of losing a child all by himself for so long.
Ok so, if we take that headcannon that 2012!Mikey had been in Dimension X for 3 months to a few years and then we pop in a baby (around a year old) Rise!Mikey.
Now Rise!Mikey could get here a multiple of ways, one being that he unlocked his mystical abilities early or something mystical came into contact with him as a toddler. OR he was training with Draxum, gets turned into a baby- and then plops into a different world.
2012!Mikey(who we will call Mikey) finds him a little into the first month trapped in a Krang testing facility in a cell far too big for him. He has no idea who this new turlte is or where they came from, but he decides to do his best to keep Rise!Mikey safe. Mikey names him Clem(as in clementine, because he forgot the name for tangerine) after they blow up the facility together.
Mikey gets Clem a breathing filter from the Krang who had already made one incase Clem needed to be transported. I doubt the Krang want to spend even more resources they need to take over NY on a transportation method when they can just give him a filter.
Over time Mikey teaches his charge how to survive in Dimension X: such as how sound can scare larger predators (or âbig dangerâ as Clem likes to say), and how to understand Krang speak as well as technology. Clemâs incredible vocal feats help them out a lot with avoiding scuffles, especially during times where Mikey is injured enough to keep them grounded in one spot.
Mikey figures out that Clem is from an alternate dimension pretty quickly due to the toddlerâs blabbing about his three older brothers and his rat dad; and he gives Clem stories about his own brothers and their friends when itâs safe. The next months (or years, depending on how you like it) Mikey learns how to take care of a whole person through trial and error. He has no idea how to keep Clem safe in this hellscape of pink and brown on his own; so he is forced to sacrifice Clemâs innocence by teaching how to kill his first Krang. Mikey doesnât know how to comfort the tiny tot after their first semi-permanent home gets destroyed by Krang- but helping Clem make paint out of whatever they can find in their environment and letting him give his shell a makeover is the best he can offer.
Eventually Clemâs age and his reliance on Mikey make his memories of anything before Dimension X begin to go hazy at the edges. So Clem turns to Mikey as a sort of parental unit and his only family in this dimension. Mikey on the other hand begins to notice that Clemâs name for him âKikiâ now bears a new, terrifying weight he isnât ready for. Yet, how can he refuse this responsibility for someone so sweet? So young? So kind in a way Mikey hasnât felt allowed to be in years?
Mikey didnât even realize he was taking a parental role before they ended up in their first true life-threatening incident. While nursing Clemâs wounds Mikey notices that heâs been thinking of Clem as his kid.
As time goes on they grow older (by months or years depending on your hc) and Clem nearly forgets all that was before Dimension X and his Kiki. In turn, Mikey is struggling with his new role as a father figure to Clem. He tries to keep them both alive and allow for his kid to hold onto his scraps of innocence for long as possible. Seeing glances of Leatherhead and teaching Clem about his best friend really helps him cling to his own childishness and hope(although itâs quickly fading). Leatherhead is able to meet Clem in the short instances escape plans started going right before failing halfway. Clem finds Leatherhead super cool. Clem especially likes the gator because he can make a lighter side of his Kiki come out; one Clem hasnât seen since his first month being here. Leatherhead adores Clem then he first meets him, but he understands that itâs a heavy responsibility placed on his friendâs shoulders; emphasized by his Mikey losing his brightness under the oppressive weight of Dimension X.
Mikey, while now fully taking the tile of Clemâs Kiki, still believes that his brothers are coming to save them even if they seem to be taking awhile. He likes to imagine coming home with his son and introducing them to his brothers. He knows they would find his sweetness and his chaos charming; he imagines that Donnie would teach him how to read, write, and about the world around him. Leo would want to teach Clem all about Space Heroâs and Japanese history(he would talk his kid into his naps). He wonders is Raph would teach Clem how to throw a punch or hold a paintbrush first? Mikey knows his red wearing brother would show his soft side to Clem but he wasnât sure how open he would be about it. Then Thereâs Master Splinter, Mikey knows he would love to hold someone so small once more. Mikey couldnât wait to bring Clem home.
This faith breaks within the same week that Clem is returned to his own world.
There is no warning, no big fight, no tracks to follow or a scream to alter him. Mikey feigns sleeps as Clem takes a short version of a first watch and he opens his eyes to empty space. Of course Mikey combs through as much of Dimension X as possible, he screams Clemâs names until monsters attack him and risks his life with an unplanned raid on a Krang prison only to find absolutely nothing. Mikey looks until he has to accept the reality that he is- was the father to the brightest little boy in the world, that his son died because of his fatherâs own ignorance, and that his brother werenât coming for him. He only had Leatherhead now, and Mikey would be damned if he wasnât getting him back.
Once Mikey is back home, he arrives a of who he used he used to be. He cleans out his room with an almost manic energy (to his brotherâs concern) and collects all the toys he can find scattered about, broken or not. He takes two plates of food to his room but doesnât seem to be recovering his lost weight any faster. He spends his free time learning how to properly cook or doodling in his room. Then, he trains with a kind of dedication Splinter would be jealous of(if Mikey ever spoke to him longer than a minute). His brotherâs try and stage an intervention but- if it was hard to get him to sit down and talk back then, it was impossible now.
Mikey tries to act normal, only confiding in Leatherhead about the child he lost in Dimension X. Mikey tells the gator about cleaning his room because Clem deserved to feel clean; he had cried to his Kiki because he forgot what it was like to not have a constant layer of filth over his skin. Mikey sobs to the gator him about gathering all the toys he could never provide to Clem and setting them up neatly next to a poorly drawn but smiling figure protected by a wooden frame. Mikey screams to the gator about bringing all the food he couldnât provide for Clem and eating silently in his room, waiting for a second set of utensils to scratch against porcelain. And Mikey shakily describes to Leatherhead his new rigorous training schedule; how if he was just faster, smarter, better then he could have had Clem right beside him in this very moment.
Leatherhead pulls Mikey into his arms as they melt into a puddle of grief and love and regret for the child they both loved so dearly. The child that was taken from them far too soon.
So two ways that Clem, or Rise!Mikey returns home.
The first one for how he comes back in the early tot days of Rise is that after however long of Mikey being missing (days, months?) I kind wanted time in Dimension X to line up more with Rise so Mikey is actually missing for longer than like- 15 seconds) Splinter finds him half buried in garbage and sobbing his eyes out in the sewers. If itâs the complete of months route than obviously Splinter is overjoyed that his youngest is home, but he comes back⊠different.
Mikey refused to respond to his own name for the first few weeks, only going by âClemâ before Splinter snapped and yelled at him to go by his real name. In his fright, Mikey became compliant with these demands.(Yoshi doesnât know where he got that name-). Heâs scared beyond belief, and they look far older than they should be. Yet, every time he asks Orange just clamps up and refuses to answer. Additionally, his bright and talkative son is now quiet; getting anxious when his brothers or Splinter is, apparently, is too loud. He only speaks when Splinter fakes an âunzippingâ motion on his mouth. Itâs some sort of sign that âbig dangerâ has passed (Yoshi is scared, terrified of what kind of monster made his son so quiet) and itâs ok to be noisy- if you count hardly taking above a whisper as noisy.
Eventually he starts to grow out of his odd habits (mostly) and remember who his family really is. Although, Splinter finds himself worriedconceredangryjealous of whoever was the âKikiâ his son called out for nearly every night. The one his son preferred over him when his anxiousness over his brotherâs volume made him break down in silent tears. When he would push Splinter away and call out- âNo! Not you! I want my Kiki! Kiki! Kiki-â
I think these behaviors would stick throughout the Rise series and be a point of intrigue for the viewers and the characters in Rise. Mikey canât properly remember much from Dimension X anymore but his habits, fears, scars, and general PTSD are still there.
Then for the version where his stay in Dimension X translates into a three years or more. I would personally have him appear again, a few months into being missing but when Splinter finds him he is MUCH older than he is supposed to be. This shoots him up to at least second eldest child(or eldest of you prefer). I think it would confuse Raph the most (right after Splinter) because he very clearly remembers Mikey being the youngest. The sky is blue, the sun comes up in the morning, and Mikey is a baby. Yet now heâs helping take care of Donnie and Leo with him.
Mikey would be able to better articulate what happened in Dimension X, but he refused in fear of this new nice place being ripped away from him if he strayed too far from the script that Splinter wanted him to follow. So he used his superior survival skills to re-learn how to act; although simply learning all the unspoken rules and pretending to know who everyone is doesnât quite count as re-learning who his family is, itâs just a another method of survival.
Splinter is the most worried about his youngest and how the hell he suddenly came back so traumatized and so much older, but after the first month he gives up on asking. The part of him that doesnât want to know what happened; to pretend everything is ok wins out. So Splinter decides to let Mikey pretend this is all normal until his now second eldest eases into his new role.
His Dimension X mannerisms actually donât stick for very long, or at least it appears that way. appears so. He kinda gains something like a Raph,s savage mode instead due to him shoving down all his learned survival instincts from Dimension X into a neat little box so he can fit in better in this one. I think a bit farther down the line is when we see those instincts come to light, maybe during a Hypno fight where the villain casts an illusion of Mikeyâs worst fear. Then he immediately regrets it as everyone in a 5 mile radius gets several traumatized by Mikey immediately gunning it and trying to skewer Hypno alive with completely silent footsteps.
Mikey ever truly remembers his brother when he gets back to his own Dimension but he relearns how to love them. Although itâs definitely hard to keep calm sometimes, especially with his younger siblingâs loudness and careless habits that could get them killed- Mikey loved them all the same.
Ralph pics up on Mikeyâs preference for quite over the years, as well as his irrational fear of anything pink (sticks around in both versions but if more intense in this one). He tries his best to accommodate his traumatized younger brother, but a part of him still feels off when watching Mikey tease Donnie for being the youngest. Because Raph remembers a time where he wasnât.
I also like to image that both versions keep this savage mode AND know a bit of the Krangâs language, although the first version dose so instinctively while the second actually mixes his speech with Krang words when no one is looking.
If we go with a Hypno fight and Savage Mikey reveal being with the first version I imagine it would be a lot more confusing and tears. For the next episode he refuses to speak or go by his name once more- just like he used to but he still remembers his brothers pretty well. He would try and keep them safe by making them be quiet (a hand on the mouth or a silent hiss until they shut up) and keeping them fed. Of course everyone is highly concerned about this and all three brothers are trying to figure out what the hell is happening when Splinter shows up.
Iâm thinking that he stares as his once more feral son before signing heavily at what he has to do to get him to stop. First he calls him âClemâ, which gets him a happy chirp (his other sons are watching with slack jaws)âŠ.then he yells at him to go by his real name with an intensity the audience has never seen from Splinter before. Of course the family is shocked (a but terrified) but then Mikey snaps out of it.
I love to imagine that in the show itself Mikeyâs past becomes a whole mystery that his family tries to figure out for both version. Itâs the kind of big reveal saved for later seasons (before the show got cancelled) that ends up having hints shoved into the movie then gets truly revealed by a creatorâs twitter post.
Iâll tell you about Mikeyâs interaction with Krang and his reunion with 2012!Mikey in the next post because this one is getting comically long.
A series of one-shots or a full fic were each chapter discusses the various people that Grace is being shipped with or have a crush on Grace. Like imagine heâs working at the base when suddenly Stratt comes in to introduce him to their on site dentist(Grace has been eating a bit too much candy). Then Grace freezes as he sees at this new dentist; then, with no small amount of fear says-
âOrin?â As he stares that the man he has never seen in anything besides a leather jacket or dentistâs uniform before and Orin is just grinning at him; all teeth and malice and want.
âWell hello, blondie.â
Grace goes pale like heâs seen a ghost, and everyone watching is wondering who the hell this Orin guy is and why Grace looks so scared of him.
â-
From there on itâs everyone on base or boat getting increasingly insane lore drops about Grace and his many exâs. Some more evil than others.
From Tony Stark to Superman, to Dexter-
â-
âYOU DATED WHO?!â
âI DIDNT KNOW!â
â-
Plus, you know damn well him dating Orin in the past would make for great angst- and I personally would love to see everyone whoâs ever even had a conversation with Grace jump Orin the moment he tries to pull some bullshit.
âEating skittles again you dizzy cow-â and then Carl breaks his nose while Stratt is getting Orin blacklisted from every dentist office on earth. Especially when Grace mention Orinâs sadism and his habit of not giving his patients anesthesia.
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