TMNT: Screw-Up

The wind rustled through the bright green leaves of the surrounding trees, slightly cooling the warm spring air that the sun created. It was a perfect day. Well…almost perfect.

Sitting alone on the swing outside of the farmhouse, Michelangelo sighed deeply, gazing down sadly at the ground below him. Ever since the incident with “Mom” and then him running away two days ago, the blue-eyed terrapin had felt down because his brothers and Casey still wouldn’t treat him with respect. They hadn’t even apologized to him for their attitudes towards him after the incident with the frogs.

“Mikey?”

That new voice still took some getting used to. The orange-clad mutant turned his gaze upwards to find Leonardo approaching him, concern written across his face. Mikey glanced down again and sighed.

“What do you want?” the freckled mutant asked rather heatedly.

The leader sat down next to his youngest brother, who kept his eyes planted on the ground. “I couldn’t find you and when I asked Ember, she said that you were out here, but you didn’t want to talk to anyone.”

“She’s right, I don’t” Mikey said. “I’m surprised that you even came out to check on me.”

“What do you mean by that?” Leo questioned.

The blue-eyed reptile scoffed. “Don’t give me that. I know what you all really think of me. You never give me the respect I deserve.”

“Yes we do” the older turtle argued.

“Not enough. You guys never consider my opinions…or my feelings.”

“Mikey, that’s not true.”

Mikey rolled his eyes and looked to his right. “Yes it is.” He then stood up and began trudging back to the house before Leo could argue. “I’ll never be anything but a screw-up” he muttered to himself.

The blue-clad terrapin had unintentionally heard his brother’s sentence as he watched the retreating shell until it disappeared behind the screen door.

Looking down at his lap, Leonardo thought about all the times Michelangelo had helped them. He even saved the day a few times; and what did the orange-banded turtle get? Nothing; maybe a pat on the shell or head, but not one single ‘Thank you’ have ever passed their lips. The leader didn’t even remember apologizing to his little brother for their behavior that April and Ember had so blatantly pointed out to him, his other brothers, and Casey.

Leo shook his head and sighed as he hunched forward and put his head into his hands. “I’m such an idiot. How could I be so blind?” The leader huffed then looked up with determination. “Well, now I’m gonna set it right.”

Leo stood up and made his way back to the farmhouse to have a talk with his other brothers, April, and Casey.

…

Michelangelo descended the staircase slowly, his shoulders slouched sullenly from dejection. His earlier mood hadn’t lifted and it seemed that nothing would take it away.

The youngest brother pulled the sliding wooden door open to be met by his brothers, human friends, and girlfriend, all standing together and holding a makeshift banner that said, “WE’RE SORRY!” All of them were wearing sad smiles on their faces.

Mikey stared in confusion at the sight before him. “What’s going on, guys?”

“We wanted to apologize for our behavior towards you, Mikey” April started.

“And we wanted to make it up to you” Ember added.

“After our talk outside, I’ve come to realize all of the times you’ve actually helped us out of a tight spot and that we’ve never thanked you for those times” Leonardo explained. “We also wanted to apologize for our behavior towards you recently. We still treat you like a goofball and that’s not fair to you. You deserve way more than that.”

“Yeah, we’re really sorry Mikey” Donatello apologized. “It’s just…you get under our shells so often that we don’t open our eyes to the stuff you do that actually benefit us or save our shells. April and Ember helped us realize this.”

“Sorry, dude” Casey said simply.

“And I’m…” Raphael began. The hothead wasn’t the best with words; he was a turtle of action and didn’t like apologizing. But this time, he was determined. “I-I’m…sorry. You may be a goofball…but you’re still my brother, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Mikey grinned widely. “Aww, you guys are the best. I’m so lucky to have family and friends like you.”

The six friends dropped their banner then moved to embrace the freckled turtle in their arms, displaying their love for him.

Suddenly, Michelangelo’s stomach growled loudly.

“Uh, is there any pizza?” the orange-banded mutant asked shyly.

Everyone around Mikey laughed then Raph grabbed his younger brother in a headlock and gave him a playful noogie. Mikey freed himself and sighed.

“I love you guys.”

“We love you, too, Mikey” the lioness said before going up to her boyfriend and kissing his cheek.

“But seriously. Do we have any pizza?” the freckled terrapin questioned again.

The leader laughed and wrapped his arm around Mikey’s shell. “Come on, little brother. Let’s go eat.”

Everyone went into the kitchen and spent their meal in pleasant conversation, happy to have Michelangelo in their lives.