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The Pain Game	By : hummerhouse Category: +S through Z > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 4701 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.

Chapter List
- 1-The Pain Game
- 2-Part 2
- 3-Part 3
- 4-Part 4
- 5-Part 5
- 6-Part 6
- 7-Part 7
- 8-Part 8
- 9-Part 9
- 10-Part 10
- 11-Part 11
- 12-Part 12
- 13-Part 13
- 14-Part 14
- 15-Part 15
- 16-Part 16
- 17-Part 17
- 18-Part 18
- 19-Part 19
- 20-Part 20
- 21-Part 21
- 22-Part 22
- 23-Part 23
- 24-Part 24
- 25-Part 25
- 26-Part 26
- 27-Part 27
- 28-Part 28
- 29-Part 29
- 30-Part 30
- 31-Part 31
- 32-Part 32
- 33-Part 33
- 34-Part 34
- 35-Part 35
- 36-Part 36
- 37-Part 37
- 38-Part 38
- 39-Part 39 Final
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Mikey intended to remain where he was so that he could see when Don exited Raph’s room. He was certain that Don’s attitude or expression would give him a clue as to how their discussion had gone.
He missed his opportunity. Not long after Donatello disappeared into Raph’s domain, Leonardo came out of Master Splinter’s and called for his younger brother’s assistance. Worried that his father had suffered a relapse, Mikey sprang from the couch to join Leo.
It turned out that Leo was conscripting him into service. Mikey didn’t bother to hide his groan when Leo told him they were going to give Master Splinter’s room a good cleaning while their father made himself some tea and enjoyed the evening news broadcast.
Though he was pretty fed up with cleaning by now, Mikey managed to keep his complaints to a minimum. At least this time he wasn’t doing it alone and he knew that the better kept their sensei’s personal space was, the less chance he’d succumb to another illness.
While Leo carried the extra futon back into the dojo, Mikey changed the linens on Master Splinter’s bed. Between them, Mikey and Leo dusted, swept, vacuumed, and even scraped up the melted wax from the around the base of the many candles scattered throughout the room.
When they were finished and Mikey was finally allowed to leave Master Splinter’s inner sanctum, the first thing he did was look up towards Raph’s room. To his relief he saw that the door was open, but then he noticed that Donatello’s door was closed.
Mikey barely noticed it when Leo walked past him on his way to join Master Splinter in front of the television array. When Leo suddenly stopped and turned to look at him, Mikey was jolted back to reality, realizing his mistake.
Quickly tilting his head back even farther, Mikey said, “We’ve got dust strings hanging from the ceiling again and I’m not cleaning them. I did it last time, it’s someone else’s turn.”
“Nobody said anything about the dust strings Mikey,” Leo said in an even tone.
Lowering his head, Mikey met Leo’s eyes. “Dude, all I’ve done today is clean stuff. If you and Master Splinter have decided that’s a great way to tell me to do better during practice, the message has been received. Just wanted to clear that up before one of you pointed at the ceiling.”
“Your cleaning assignments were none of my doing,” Leo said, keeping his voice down so as not to disturb their father. “Sensei told me that he knows the reason for your poor practice performance and that he’s handling it. Since that’s between the two of you, I won’t ask, but I do want you to know that you can talk to me if you need to. About anything. I won’t judge.”
“Sure you won’t,” Mikey thought to himself. Shifting to his all-purpose grin, Mikey said, “Well in that case, I think we should talk about the chore assignments for the rest of the month. I’m pretty sure I’ve done enough in one day to cover my obligations . . . .”
He stopped because Leo was shaking his head. “Not going to happen.”
“How about the rest of the week?” Mikey asked in his best cajoling tone. He was concerned that Leo wasn’t reacting to his playfulness with his usual amused tolerance.
“Not even a day. You haven’t been acting like yourself bro’, in the dojo or around us. If we don’t know what to expect of you, that can have dangerous consequences. As it is, your showboating almost got you killed last week,” Leo said.
“That point has already been made and rubbed in plenty,” Mikey said with a touch of impatience. “Is the new norm that we keep ragging on each other about past mistakes? ‘Cause if so, I’ve got some sweet ones on you.”
“We don’t do that,” Leo responded quickly, “unless one of us continues to make the same mistakes. I don’t want you to repeat your mistakes, Mikey. I’m even hoping that my warnings might keep you from making new ones.”
That comment was loaded with double meaning but Mikey decided to ignore the innuendo. He wasn’t ready to go where this conversation seemed to be heading, especially not after Raph’s heated reminder that Mikey wasn’t to address their situation with anyone else in the family.
Especially not with Leo.
Mikey managed to aim another carefree grin at Leo. “You know me, always ready to learn.” From the corner of his eye, Mikey was relieved to see Raph exit the bathroom and make straight for his own bedroom, without even a glance at Donatello’s door. “Okay then, see you later. Going to bed now. Totally escaping before Master Splinter thinks of something else for me to do.”
He just registered the thwarted expression on Leo’s face as he dashed past him. It gave Mikey solace to have escaped before Leo could try to bring up the whole ‘Raph has demons’ issue again. If there was one thing Mikey knew, it was best not to let Leonardo pick the time or place for a battle. Fearless already had too much of an advantage.
Setting a course that took him straight into his bedroom, Mikey swiftly shut his door and turned out the lights, lest Leo get a notion to follow him. Once he was prone, Mikey felt the exhaustion seep into his body. Who knew lair cleaning could be as tiring as one of Master Splinter’s turbo practice sessions?
As he drifted off to sleep, Mikey’s last thought was how glad he felt that Don had gone to his room alone. Mikey wasn’t sure what he’d have done if Raph and Don were still together when he was finished cleaning his father’s room, but it probably wouldn’t have been pretty. Or smart.
Practice the next morning was a dismal affair. It was raining again; the city seemed to be caught in a squall line and the streets were flooding. That meant that the sewers were also flooding.
Donatello looked as though he hadn’t gotten much sleep. Before practice began he’d told his brothers of the weather forecast, one that meant they would all have to be vigilant lest some obstruction in the tunnels cause water to overflow into the lair.
Going out on practice runs or patrol was out. This was one of those instances where protecting their home was paramount. Mikey knew that meant he and Raph wouldn’t be able to sneak out either. Their private activities were curtailed for the interim.
Having to patiently wait for something he wanted was not Mikey’s strong suit. Raph on the other hand seemed completely unperturbed, once again making Mikey wonder if Raph was just that good an actor or if their ability to be together didn’t matter to him one way or the other.
Annoyed by that thought, Mikey decided to ignore Raph completely. When they lined up in front of Master Splinter, Mikey made sure to place himself on the opposite end as far from Raph as he could get. He already knew how Raph’s scent would affect his resolve.
The brothers flowed seamlessly through movements as their sensei called them out, his sharp eyes looking for any break in form. Mikey had the distinct feeling that Master Splinter was watching him especially hard. Being of no mind to be stuck with chores again, Mikey proved that he could be as apt a pupil as even the perfect Leonardo.
They were just completing a spinning back kick when the lights suddenly winked out.
There was a hard thump as Don landed off balance and fell against Mikey. Instinctively grabbing his brother, Mikey pushed him upright as Raph asked, “What the shell’s going on?”
Just as quickly as they went out, the lights came on again.
Master Splinter remained placidly at ease, his eyes on Don. “You should have executed that landing perfectly Donatello. There is always a chance for the unexpected to occur. Your training should negate any difficulties that might ensue.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when the lights flickered off once more.
“Ya’ forget to pay the electric bill Donny?” Raph asked teasingly.
“This is none of my doing,” Don insisted. The lights came on and Don glanced up. “The rain must be shorting out some of my connections. I was afraid of that.”
“Let us return to our practice,” Master Splinter interrupted. “This will be a good training exercise for you four. Adjusting quickly to light or the sudden absence of it is a skill you should all mas . . . .”
His words were cut off by the piercing tones of the lair’s proximity alarms.
“Dude!” Mikey shouted, clapping his hands over his ears.
Mikey saw Leo and Raph glance at each other, instantly alert and both reaching for their weapons. Then the alarm stopped.
“Donny?” Leo asked, looking at his brother.
“Probably the rain,” Don answered and then directed himself to his father. “We shouldn’t take that for granted though, sensei.”
“Very well,” Master Splinter said. “It would be better to resolve these problems quickly. You are all dismissed.”
Don made straight for his security monitors with his brothers right on his heels. Each of the wide screens usually gave him four individual images of the various tunnels close to the lair. To Don’s obvious dismay, the pictures were blurred, some of them so grainy nothing was visible.
As Don’s fingers flew over the keyboard that controlled his security systems, Leo asked, “Are we sure someone didn’t tamper with your equipment?”
“I’m running a diagnostic now,” Don said. “You see the way some of the pictures clear up for a few minutes and then go fuzzy again? I’m fairly certain it’s technical and electronic failure, not an attempt to circumvent our security protocols.”
“What I see is a hell of a lot of water running through the tunnels,” Raph said.
The lights in the lair went out again. If not for the illumination from Don’s computer screens they would have been plunged into total darkness.
“I’m glad I installed a battery backup for the more critical systems,” Don said grimly. “We’re going to have to do some emergency repairs if we want electricity.”
“Why do I have the feeling that means getting wet?” Raph asked.
Don’s grin, aimed at Raph, became visible as the lights clicked on. “Because that definitely means we’re all getting wet.”
“You know, Donny has that ‘welcome to my world’ look on his face,” Mikey said grumpily. “You’d almost think he was enjoying this.”
“Well I’m not Mikey,” Don said as he began gathering tools from his storage shelves. “It is a good opportunity to replace some of the junction boxes and monitors though. Things don’t last long in such a damp environment.”
“We going to need to run some new electrical wire?” Raph asked.
“Yep,” Don said. “There are bundles of the stuff in the garage.”
“We’ll go up and get them while you decide how to divvy up the work between the four of us,” Leo said.
“Correction,” Master Splinter said, drawing his sons’ attention because they hadn’t realized he was there, “divide the work between three of you. I require Michelangelo’s assistance with another task.”
Mikey didn’t miss the quick glance Leo shot in his direction before the older turtle bowed and said, “As you wish Father.”
“Come with me Michelangelo,” Master Splinter said as he walked away.
“Good luck you guys,” Mikey said. “Call me if you need me.” He followed after his father, not feeling nearly as relieved at having avoided slogging through raging tunnel water as he should have. Just because it was Master Splinter who’d gotten him out of an unpleasant job didn’t mean his brothers would excuse him for it.
Rather than taking Mikey to his room or the dojo as the turtle expected, his father led him into the kitchen. Mikey saw Leo and Raph pass by on their way to the elevator. From their expressions Mikey could tell they were both focused on the job at hand, which was a good thing considering their track history.
“So, what’s up Master Splinter?” Mikey asked when his father stopped and turned to face him.
“I have an obligation to fulfill that is long overdue,” Master Splinter told him. “This will be a good opportunity to complete it as well as to check on a friend. If you would, please remove the items from this bottom cabinet.”
Master Splinter pointed at one of the kitchen cabinets and Mikey complied with the directive. Swinging the door open, he saw a very large metal teapot and two oversized thick metal cups.
It took two hands to extract the teapot. Mikey set it on the kitchen table before retrieving the cups and placing them on the table as well. “Wow, where did these come from and since when did we befriend the jolly green giant?”
There was a look of amusement on his father’s face. “I doubt that Leatherhead would care to have you call him that. I requested that Donatello create these for me some time ago. Our friend Leatherhead enjoys tea as much as I, but he has difficulties with normal teapots.”
“Yeah, he smashes them to pieces,” Mikey said with a grin, remembering one such incident.
“Truly not his fault,” Master Splinter said, a hint of rebuke in his voice. “I feel committed to giving him this small comfort due to his situation and lack of family.”
“We’re his family sensei,” Mikey said quickly.
Master Splinter nodded. “Yes we are. You and I will deliver these gifts and check on Leatherhead’s welfare at the same time. Can you manage the teapot and cups during our journey?”
“No sweat Master Splinter,” Mikey said. “Hope we don’t have to swim for it though.”
“As do I,” Master Splinter replied. “I believe there is a route that will take us through maintenance tunnels where we should not encounter much water.”
Mikey frowned. “Are you sure you want to be doing this? You just got over a cold sensei.”
“I will be fine. Let us go now. I communicated with Leatherhead earlier and he is expecting us,” Master Splinter said.
As they exited the lair, Mikey saw that his brothers were already gone. The lights had flickered off and on twice while Mikey was in the kitchen and he had the feeling that it was going to be a long day for those three.
During their trip, Mikey wondered why his father chose now to deliver the teapot and not sometime when Don could go with him. It wasn’t because Master Splinter wanted to check on Leatherhead, he’d already spoken to him and could have found out then if the rains were causing the croc any problems.
His father said nothing though, so Mikey didn’t bring it up. Maybe Master Splinter just wanted to give Mikey a chance to talk if he needed to, just as Leo had expressed the night before. Everyone seemed to want Mikey to talk. Except Raph.
Mikey knew the code that would manipulate the secret door to Leatherhead’s home and instructed Master Splinter how to use it, since his hands were full. They entered to find Leatherhead waiting for them.
“Master Splinter! Michelangelo! I am delighted to see you,” Leatherhead called out to them, beaming as he approached his guests.
“As are we to see you,” Master Splinter replied with a bow. “It has been much too long since we last visited. I trust you have been well?”
“Very much so. And yourselves?” Leatherhead asked.
“Master Splinter had a cold, but he’s over it,” Mikey answered. “The rest of us are great. Are you staying dry?”
“The rains have caused me little difficulty,” Leatherhead told them. “This station was designed with appropriate drainage. Donatello could not make it?”
Though he wasn’t sure, Mikey thought he caught a hint of wistfulness in the question. They were all great buds with Leatherhead, but Don was far and away the closest to him. They spoke the same language – geek.
“He is occupied with repairs to our electrical systems,” Master Splinter said. “The rain is causing mischief.”
Leatherhead looked concerned. “I would be most happy to assist him with those repairs. Please let him know that I am available.”
“I will be happy to do so,” Master Splinter said. He waved towards the items that Mikey was carrying. “These are for you my friend. Donatello created them to my specifications. If possible, one should always have a personal teapot to suit his needs.”
Smiling widely, Leatherhead lifted the teapot from Mikey’s arms and turned it around to admire it. “Thank you! It is remarkably well made, a tribute to Donatello’s craftsmanship.”
“Yeah, and it’s just your size too,” Mikey said with a grin.
“A handy thing, I shall treasure it always,” Leatherhead said.
From his kimono, Master Splinter extracted a gift wrapped box. “This is for you as well. It is a special tea blend that we have shared on occasion.”
Leatherhead accepted the box, looking happier than Mikey had seen in a long while. “Allow me to brew tea for us. It will warm you after your journey here and give me a chance to enjoy this lovely teapot.”
“I would be most honored,” Master Splinter said.
“Please, make yourself comfortable,” Leatherhead said, indicating the oversized couch that took up one section of his home. There was a large screen television against one wall and it was on. “I have been following the weather, perhaps the meteorologist will tell us when we can expect the rains to stop.”
“Thank you,” Master Splinter said. “I too have been wondering when we will receive such a pronouncement.”
Master Splinter made his way over to the couch and Mikey tagged along with Leatherhead into the area he’d transformed into a kitchen. Mikey knew that Don had helped him with the set up and everything was arranged to accommodate someone who was very large.
Setting the cups on the countertop, Mikey leaned back and watched Leatherhead fill the teapot with water and place it onto his stove. As Leatherhead unwrapped the box of tea, Mikey asked, “What do you do with yourself all day, LH?”
“I keep myself very busy Michelangelo,” Leatherhead said. “There are ongoing experiments, many that Donatello and I are working on together. I also spend much time on replicating a Transmat machine in the hopes that I might someday travel to the Utrom home world.”
“You’d come back though right?” Mikey asked. “I mean, we’d be sad to see you go. Don’t know that Donny would have anybody to talk to if you weren’t around.”
Leatherhead glanced up. “I would not like to leave permanently either my friend. It is for that reason that your brother and I work so diligently on the device. Donatello has one of the finest minds I have ever encountered; I would miss him greatly. I would miss you all greatly.”
Mikey noticed that Leatherhead tacked that ending on quickly, as though realizing he needed to include all of them, not just Don. It made Mikey wonder if Leatherhead had a thing for his brother. He thought to himself, “Why not? Everybody else seems to.”
A second later he noticed that Leatherhead was studying him, his head cocked slightly to the side. “You seem different Michelangelo. Has something happened?”
“Heck no big guy, I’m just as awesome as I’ve always been,” Mikey assured him with a grin.
Leatherhead’s nostrils flared. “Your scent is off. Are you sure you are not ill?”
“Oh shell. He can smell me too?” Mikey thought. Out loud he said, “Couldn’t be better. You probably smell the sewers on me, the water’s running high and the whole place reeks. Well, reeks more than normal. We’ve all been a little worried about sensei, maybe that’s what you sense. He was pretty sick a couple of days ago.”
The teapot began to sing and Leatherhead turned away to add the tea. When he did so, Mikey took a couple of steps back, putting some space between them. He did not need for Leatherhead to catch enough of his scent to figure out he was emitting pheromones.
When the tea was ready, Leatherhead filled two small cups and one of his new larger ones. Mikey took the two cups meant for he and Master Splinter and Leatherhead followed.
Master Splinter smiled his pleasure as Mikey handed him a cup. Leatherhead sat near them on a specially made chair while Mikey sank onto the couch with his father. They all drank tea as Leatherhead and Master Splinter talked, leaving Mikey to his own thoughts, though for appearances sake he chimed in every now and then.
Mikey did have to admit this was better than trudging through muck, mud, and nasty water to help Don with electrical repairs. For one thing there was far less chance of his being electrocuted, something he liked to avoid whenever possible.
It also took Mikey out of Raph’s presence. Considering how aggravated Mikey was with said brother at the moment, distance was probably a good idea. Was it asking too much that Raph appear even a tiny bit as eager to be with Mikey as Mikey was to be with him?
Before he knew it, Master Splinter was rising from the couch preparatory to leaving. Mikey gathered up their cups and took them into the kitchen before rejoining his father at the entrance to Leatherhead’s domain.
“I thoroughly enjoyed your visit, Master Splinter. Please do not be a stranger,” Leatherhead said.
“Nor you,” Master Splinter responded. “Come and visit us soon. Donatello has many new devices you have probably not seen. I know he would be excited to show them to you.”
Mikey saw Leatherhead’s eyes light up at the mention of his brother’s name. “I would find that most enlightening,” Leatherhead said. “Please extend to Donatello the offer of my services with his repairs. Anything I can do for him would give me great happiness.”
“I will certainly pass that along,” Master Splinter said. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
They exchanged a few more civilities while Mikey tried to look courteous rather than bored. He never could understand why being polite had to take so long.
Finally they were on their way home. Small rivulets of water ran down the center of the maintenance tunnel they were walking through, a good indication that the sewers were inadequate to the current deluge. The rain would do a fine job of washing the city streets clean, but it was going to make a mess of the places where the turtles did most of their travelling.
Master Splinter was as silent as he’d been on the junket to Leatherhead’s. Mikey had to assume that the point of having his son go with him wasn’t so that they could talk.
“Leatherhead has an attraction for your brother,” Master Splinter said out of the blue.
“Huh? What?” Mikey asked, startled. Okay, maybe Master Splinter did want to talk.
Master Splinter’s face held a complacent look. “He does not realize that anyone has noticed, but I have been aware of it for quite a while. Donatello is utterly ignorant of the fact.”
Mikey’s mind played back the things Leatherhead had said and the way he’d looked whenever the discussion turned to Don. “Is that why you brought me along with you instead of Donny?” he asked. “Are you trying to keep Don away from Leatherhead?”
“No of course not,” Master Splinter said. “My purpose was to show you the face of desire. I wanted you to look upon longing, to see the physical manifestation of unrequited love. Do you know why Leatherhead’s need for your brother will remain unfulfilled?”
Not sure if it was a trick question, Mikey went the safe route and said, “No.”
They were walking side by side and Mikey’s eyes were glued to Master Splinter. “It is because he will not risk losing Donatello’s friendship. Leatherhead would prefer to suffer in silence than to chance having your brother spurn his advances. He still sees himself as a monster, not as someone who has much to offer.”
“So . . . you wouldn’t care if Leatherhead and Donny . . . got together?” Mikey asked tentatively.
“My only care is that my sons are happy and safe,” Master Splinter said. “Leatherhead would be a wonderful partner for Donatello. He is intelligent, strong, talented, and would die before allowing anything untoward to happen to your brother.”
“But you never told Leatherhead that, right?” Mikey asked. “Why?”
“It is not my place,” Master Splinter said. “I will not be an obstacle but neither will I be the hand of fate. The current relationship between Leatherhead and Donatello suits them both and does not require my interference. If one of them were to outright ask for my counsel, I would do my best for them.”
“Oh,” Mikey said lamely. He thought about Master Splinter’s words for a moment and then frowned as he clued in on what he perceived as his father’s main point. “Why did you want me to see the way Leatherhead looks when he’s thinking about Donny?”
“A mirror reflects best when one is looking directly at it,” Master Splinter said enigmatically. “Do you not see yourself in Leatherhead?”
Mikey didn’t answer right away. Master Splinter seemed to be telling him that his feelings for Raph weren’t all that well hidden, at least not from his father. From past conversations, Mikey had already gleaned that Master Splinter knew things.
Could his father also be trying to tell him that Raph was nearly as clueless as Don when it came to what Mikey wanted? That almost seemed to be the gist of the hints that Master Splinter had already dropped.
“I guess if you want something, you have to take risks,” Mikey said slowly. “You know, not necessarily play it safe all the time.”
“It is always a risk to speak your mind,” Master Splinter said. “It is often the greatest risk of all to place yourself willingly in the path of potential pain. Do you know what you get from life if you are unwilling to take risks?”
This answer didn’t take Mikey long to formulate. “Nothing?”
“Confusion and nothing,” Master Splinter said. “Please think about that my son. Think about it very hard.”
Mikey spent the remainder of their journey home doing just that.
TBC…………
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The Pain Game