Chapter Text
It had been about a week since their visit from Draxum, and Mikey was feeling amazing. Sure, his dad didn't approve of his choice of a future career, however did that really matter if his father had no idea that was what he was going to pursue?
Now, he may be Dr. Feelings, and he may be Dr. Delicate touch, but heavens forbid if he shared anything like this with his father when his school projects were going so,so well! It was fine, Mikey would razzmataz any art projects in his way and absolutely ace his art class, and he'd have a career in no time. He was skipping down the hallway at school, the day was finally over, and he had gotten a new art project. His father had been insisting more often lately that he should drop his art class, but that didn't stop him baby!
Now days he found himself going to the pizzeria afterschool and going into the security office and hanging with Draxum, Donnie, and occasionally Leo while he worked on his art assignments. Now don't get him wrong, his brothers wereamazing! But Draxum really understood him you know? He also funded any art supplies he needed to finish his projects when his father disapproved.
Mikey stopped by his locker, the hinges whining as he shut it with all of the belongings he didn't need on his journey home. He quickly skipped away to join his brothers on the way to their walk home.
"Ah, Mikey, great. We can finally head home." His brother Donnie greeted, before promptly putting away his phone he'd apparently been doing research on and started walking in the general direction of their house. "HEY! We could've left a while ago if Raph hadn't insisted on us staying!" Leo argued, speeding up his pace to catch up to Donnie.
"We can't leave Mikey behind like that, we have to stick out for him, like I do, like a boss!" Raph grinned, "Raphie I'm fine, I told you I am old and big enough to take care of myself, I know the way home!" He complained, giving the sternest face he could muster to scold his eldest brother. "What is with you and having to end almost everything you say in "Like a Boss" anyways Raph? I mean like, surely that isn't the best you could come up with." Nardo' snickered, looking back at the eldest.
“Hey- wait what’s wrong with it?!” Raph exclaimed, and thus the discussion of horrible catchphrases began.
Mikey snickered and joined in on the banter as they walked home, eventually they opened the door to their house and Mikey happily pranced in as they finished the debate on Raph’s catchphrase. Spoiler alert, they couldn’t find a new one.
"Ah, my sons. Welcome home!" Their father greeted upon them entering the living room. He was watching his commercials as per usual. "Heya pops! Can't stay long Leo promised to take me to the pizzeria today! You know, gotta show the customers some of that Michelangelo love baby!" Micheal greeted enthusiastically, bouncing up behind the rocking recliner their father currently resided on.
"Oh? Blue is? I thought Purple normally accompanied you to Draxum's pizzeria.." Yoshi inquired.
"SCOFF! Father I had told you about this last week, I have avery important upcoming exam that I, with my intellect, will pass with flying colors and get me a scholarship to one of the select few universities I have planned out!" Donnie crossed his arms, offended. "That being noted, I, the superior twin Leonardo Hamato~ shall accompany our dear Micheal to our Uncle's pizza place. Because unlike Dontron over here, I am no nerd." Leo cackled, grinning as he took his own and Mikey's backpacks and putting them in the storage closet until they were used tomorrow.
“For the last time Leo, we’re not twins. And even if we were, I would clearly be the better one.” Donatello stated, crossing his arms as Leo and Mikey waved goodbye, their father chuckled and went back to watching his commercials.
Walking out the door, Mikey pulled up his phone and started looking up design ideas for his school art project as he and Leo walked down the sidewalk.
”I’m surprised you could get Uncle to get you the supplies for your art project mi hermano.” Leo grinned, picking up the pace a bit. “He’s a man who respects art! He’s a culinary master too.” Mikey responded, turning off his phone and putting it away in his pocket. Leonardo hummed in response as they kept walking.
Leo and Michelangelo eventually arrived at their uncle’s pizzeria, Mikey pushed open the doors and skipped on in, as regulars the underpaid employees simply waved in greeting as Leo and Mikey made their way back to the security room, their uncle’s office was still a work in progress. It’s a wonder how people worked there, Leo guessed it’s just Draxum’s promise of promotions and better pay is what’s keeping the workers coming back.
Mike skipped into the security room, Leo close behind as Draxum greeted them, putting the book he was reading into a “do not touch” drawer.
Mikey paid no mind to it as he hugged Draxum and went to go do his art project, in which Draxum sighed. Something was off however, Leo could feel it, the way Draxum carried himself and the way he watched Leonardo and Micheal attentively just rubbed him the wrong way, however he shrugged it off and pulled out his phone, sitting down next to his younger brother and ignored his worries.
Unlocking the cabinet Draxum had provided the four brothers to hide stuff they weren’t necessarilyallowed to have, Mike pulled out his art portfolio and craft supplies.
It wasn’t that Mikey wasn’t allowed to have coloring paper and pencils and other supplies, it was the portfolio he was making to hopefully get accepted into art school. He had been working on it forever and was in need of improvement, but that didn’t stop him from cramming all of his finished school art projects into it.
Michelangelo planned that on his senior year of high school he’d show his dad the portfolio, and he knew, just knew his dad would warm up to the idea of him having an art career, and the both of them could go through it and clean up and select the best pieces of artistry for him to submit once he decided on the school he wanted to go to.
Unpacking all of the supplies on the floor, Micheal started to fully visualize what the final product of his art project would look like. He grinned as his uncle, Draxum, who was conveniently looking right at him, and started on the project.
—
-
Calling the finished product abstract would’ve been a great understatement, colors that clashed together and made a bold statement to the average viewer of the piece would’ve made them think that a toddler had dumped several buckets of paint on it and covered it with glitter. However, to Mikey it was art.
He looked to Leo who in turn gave a big smile and a thumbs up, making Michelangelo’s heart melt with joy at his brothers approval.
“Looks great hermano! You’ve definitely aced this project, it looks almost as beautiful as muah.” Leo stated, flipping his hair dramatically as Draxum rolled his eyes.
”It is a…bold artistic piece Michelangelo. However, I suppose it is decent for a school project.” Draxum commented, squinting at the masterpiece that laid before him as Leo glared daggers at the man. Mikey didn’t mind though, after all Draxum has his own way of showing his support.
Skipping forward, Michelangelo hugged Draxum tightly to show his appreciation. Leo relaxed and leaned back on the desk that was in the security room.
Looking at the project he had put a littletoo mucheffort into, he grabbed his portfolio and stored it inside.
”Michelangelo, I thought you had informed me the project was due tomorrow?” His uncle questioned, gesturing towards the portfolio, in which Leo nodded as well as he considered the adult’s question.
“Oh- well since I don’t have anything to prevent it from getting wrinkled I thought I’d just store it in the portfolio until tomorrow morning so it doesn’t get all wrinkled, it would ruin the meaning behind the message!”
Leo raised an eyebrow, “There’s meant to be a message in that blur of colors..?”
Micheal gasped, obviously offended. After all, there was such clear meaning behind each of the lines! Of course, he couldn’t expect too much from his poor brother in whom had clearly no taste whatsoever when it came to art.
”Tsk tsk, Leo you could never understand. We should get back to dad though, we’re probably past curfew.” Mikey said, walking to one of the two exits out of the security office. To which Leo merely rolled his eyes and followed close behind, however Michelangelo did catch Leo taking a quick glance back towards the security office where they left Draxum on their way out.
—
-
The walk home wasn’t anything to special, Mikey skipped with the folder, carrying his art as Leo attempted to keep up with the younger brother’s enthusiasm. Bursting through the door, Mikey hopped over to his room as Leonardo went over to talk to his dad, Mike assumed it was to distract him from questioning why he had brought back a mysterious folder after their prolonged visit to Draxum’s, and to avoid their father from wanting to look at the portfolio’s contents.
While Leo would never admit it, Mikey knows he cares, thinks, and plans more then he lets on. As Mikey skipped into his room, which was a mess as usual, he slid his secret art portfolio under his bed for safe keeping. After all, it would be bad news if his dad found it.
Plopping onto his bed, which was covered in various dirty clothes and Jupiter Jim action figures, Mikey grinned as he looked up at the ceiling, processing everything he had done that day.
”BOYS! RED MADE DINNER.” Their father called as Mikey groaned from where he was laying. “They let Raph make dinner..?” Don’t get Mikey wrong, his brother’s cookinghad improved after Mike started teaching him some things, but the meals could be better. Micheal would’ve made dinner for his family himself if him and Leo hadn’t stayed at Draxum’s for so long, but what could he do.
Mikey had taken over the household cooking situation for breakfast and dinner, mainly because he was the first to wake up and almost everyone else in the house had either nearly set something on fire, or blew something up in the kitchen. For a few examples, their father kept leaving the stove unattended in favor of watching TV, Donnie had disassembled the family’s microwave to study it for an experiment that he was performing (Which they were still cleaning up after years later). Leo had decided it was a good idea to put a fork in te toaster as he was making who knows what, supposedly to speed up the process of getting the food out of it, and finally Raph kept fumbling with the pans and kept dropping boiling water or other scorching ingredients. Those are just naming a few.
So imagine his surprise as Mike nervously walked towards the dining table to find a perfectly good meal waiting for them. Sitting down at the table with Raph and Leo, Michelangelo looked up to see Donnie walking in, who proceeded to sit down at his respective seating at the table.
”So, did you boys have fun at Draxum’s..?” Their father questioned, looking up and Leo and Mikey as they all began to eat.
Luckily for Mikey, Leo took over with his natural charm for lying in conversation.
”Eh, boring. Surprised Mikey had fun considering all he did was help Drax by waiting the tables, I mean of course I helped too but that was a given, considering we all know I’m better at jobs like those.” Leonardo falsely explained through mouthfuls of food, making everyone else at the table cringe from the poor manners.
Dinner past, morning came, and Mike got up and ready for school as he and his brothers departed from their home, Micheal taking his school art project with him.
—
-
When he came home from school, their father was waiting for him.
”Hamato Michelangelo.”
Mikey flinched as he came from the door as his father addressed him by full name. Standing in front of him his father held the art portfolio he had been building up in his hands, and Mike’s heart dropped.
”Dad I- I can explain..” He desperately tried.
”I’d hope so, you know I’m perfectly fine with you dabbling in arts as ahobby. But orange, my boy. I just- you could do something better with your life, I- I can’t let you go down the same path I did.” His father intervened, his brothers walking out of the room, after all they had no relevance in this discussion, not yet anyways.
“Dad I- it’s something I really want to do- and I was going to show youI PROMISE! Just- not yet.” Tears welled from the edges of the youngest eyes.
“My decision was already decided and it was never up for discussion orange. Please- understand this is out of my care for you. I just don’t want to see you get hurt, like I was. So I’m getting rid of your.. project here.” His father stated. Grimly staring at the portfolio, refusing to make eye contact with the youngest.
”BUT- WHY?! WHAT’S SO TERRIBLE THAT YOU HAVE TO THROW AWAY SOMETHING I’VE SPENT LITERAL YEARS ON! I DON’T UNDERSTAND-“
“ENOUGH. THIS IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE, THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE JUST- BECAUSE THEY ARE!” His dad shouted, cutting Mikey off.
It didn’t make sense.
However at the same time it did.
His father only raised his voice because deep down he knew his youngest was right.
He just wanted to pretend he wasn’t.
—
-
Mikey dashed out the door, no clear destination in mind as his family called out to him, it was apparent his brothers had been listening in and relatively knew what happened, and before he knew it he was at Draxum’s pizzeria just before it closed.
As to not draw a scene, Mike avoided the last remaining customers and slipped into the parts and service room and sat against the wall, curling in on himself as he cried his heart out. Maybe this was his fault, and if he’d listened to his dad this wouldn’t of happened. Or their father was just scared, and upset. Any parent would be if one of their stricter rules had been broken for so long behind their back. It was unfair, Micheal knew that, but he understood where his dad was coming from.
Who knows how long it had been, but it wasn’t Mikey that’s for sure. As his sniffles were audible heard as he rubbed his now dried, tear stained cheeks and eyes. A small headache buzzed in the back of his kind as weariness drew over him from crying. The parts and service room door clicked open as Draxum slowly walked in, sitting beside Mikey who wouldn’t meet his gaze.
”Something particularly upsetting happen?” Draxum questioned, but.. it was off. More.. emotionless for someone asking about another’s feelings? He assumed it was because Draxum didn’t know how to deal with emotional vulnerability like this.
“..yeah.. just a fight with dad.” He admitted.
”..A pity really. It’s alright. I’m here now. You don’t have to go back, I won’t tell your father that your here.” Draxum soothed, putting his hand over Micheals shoulder as Mike leaned into the touch, to be heard, and comforted, and understood by an adult was something him and his brothers all had in common.
Mikey found himself dozing off in the comforting silence and presence of Draxum. Slowly closing his eyes and letting himself forget and emotionally recover from the argument he had with his dad.
—
-
He couldn’t breathe.
He tried to take in air only to find he’d been picked up off the ground as his eyes flung open.
He grappled at the calloused hands that cut off his airflow, as he tried to scream,to beg, for help, mercy, something. His eyes lowered to Draxum.
He couldn’t think straight as his vision blurred, a smug, sad*stic grin on his attackers face. Tears slowly fell down his cheeks and his vision turned black, his eyes dulled and his struggling hands fell limp to his side as Mikey’s head lolled.
He had no need to breathe anymore.
—
-
Draxum had done it, slowly crushing the young boys body, contorting it into the animatronic body he had crafted for his benefit.
Now he just needed to wait for results.
