Brotherhood-Chapter 18

Brotherhood

Chapter 18: Distraction

'Oh no.'
Tension spreads naturally through my body in response to Raph's voice. Anticipation of a minefield erupting in the depot jolts my brain.
"Mikey, I told you to take him back to the lair."
My body's frozen facing my workspace. I peek over my shoulder at the churning storm. Mikey's mouth hangs half-open. Leo has the same effect on his verbal ability as on mine.
"He jus' tagged along wit' me. I woulda got bored in the' lair. Figured I'd make sure there weren't any... problems, or nuthin'."
Raph's the only one whose got immunity.
'Dunno if that's a positive or negative point.'
Leo's form emanates a low guttural sound. Only the rainwater running through the sewers follows for noise.
"Maybe I'm bein' too subtle, Leo. Step away from Donnie an' chill out."
Leo's hypertense shoulders somehow achieve a greater tension. He steps aside from me, gestures to Sensei.
"Do you condone what Donatello is doing to Master Splinter's body, Raph? Do you see this as appropriate appreciation of our Sensei?"
'Still can't determine whether these observations indicate disease or typical symptoms of decomposition. How is this different from your means of coping-NO! Don't react to him! It's always faster to let them do the yelling. And easier. What does this resemble- is easier really better? SHUT UP!'
My hand rises to my temple, applying pressure against the headache while Raph responds.
"I 'condone' you not bein' a jackass ta Donnie an' I'd 'appreciate' you not puttin' words in my mouth."
Leo finally moves away, encroaching on Raph instead.
"You are the last person I will tolerate social advice from."
'Why is he taking everything as a provocation- where are my notes? I've been keeping notes, haven't I?'
Raph's heat flares and meets Leo's. The scent of it ignites my nerves.
"Too-Damn-Bad then, Leo, cause I'm th' only one wantin' ta give ya any advice."
Mikey chimes in.
"Yeah, Leo. Raph's got tenure on you as senior hothead."
'Defusing both of them simultaneously rarely works, Mikey.'
"BE QUIET, MIKEY!"
Sparks fly from Raph's end.
"Don't'cha start in on him, ya punk! Gonna shout any crap, ya can come after me!"
Raph's palms thump against his chest. Leo returns fire.
"You're the last one here fit for telling anyone what to do or say! At least Don needs explanation for his morbid projects, with you it's always just your addiction to violence and anger!"
I hear more sparks fizzle in and out of existence. I glimpse bloodied knuckles and fingers from my peripheral.
"Let go-a me!"
"Tell us how these injuries came about, Raph! Share with your brothers and then presume to tell me what to-"
The first mine goes off from Raph's side.
"YER TALKIN' OUTTA TH' WRONG END OF YER SHELL! Quit actin' like a tool!"
The debris activates another.
"SELF-HARM IS HOW YOU COPE! What the hell kind of legitimacy can you make any claim to?"
'Those familiar pre-battle growls sound pretty legitimate to me- don't get involved. Where did I put my notes?'
"That's the biggest stink ya got? Hell! I woulda figured ya'd've been pleased. I wuz jus' followin' yer example."
Raph's verbal bomb leaves chills in its wake. Various thoughts suffer a shrieking halt. Leo's lack of immediate retort makes the effects difficult to infer.
"Raaorgh!"
Save for evoking a terrible reaction from our dormant host.
"Leatherhead!"
Mikey's exclamation indicates great concern.
'Always compassionate... let's see, acceleration of decomposition process appears directly proportional to time out of the chamber. Too noisy, too much happening in the background. Focus.'
Numbers and equations blur my vision. My head aches. The instruments in my hand shivers. My other hand massages my temples.
'Need to get some of these down as notes. Should clear up the aching.'
"Leatherhead! You're just having a nightmare, relax! It's me!"
"Mikey, get back, I'll handle this! You nearly got hurt last time!"
"Th' hell do ya think yer doin' Leo?!"
"Shut up! This is your fault! You set him off, so keep out of it!"
"Yer outta yer damn mind if ya think I'm gonna let ya 'handle' LH wit' th' sharp end of a katana, you PSYCHO!"
"Guys, you're not really helping! He's not getting any calmer! No, Leatherhead, wait!"
"I WILL NOT LET YOU PLAY GOD WITH ME AGAIN!"
"Donnie, look out!"
'The atmosphere's too volatile in here-there appears to be an unidentified source of biological malignancy, yet to be determined if it was present anti- or post-... post-mortem'
I turn around. A bulk of muscle bears down for me. Teeth. Claws. Jaws of vice-grip strength. My everything feels stiff. No staff. I throw something.
'Leatherh-?'
A scalpel flies from my hand into Leatherhead's face before I can formulate any further thought.
'What-'
"NO! Keep your machines away from me! I won't let you take anymore of my flesh! Stay away... STAY AWAY!"
Leatherhead screams, fleeing in terror from the surgical tool. Mikey calls after him.
"Leatherhead, hold up!"
Leo's hand catches Mikey's arm.
"Mikey-"
Another mine, invisible, erupts into my oldest brother's face. Mikey rips his arm from Leo's grip.
"Be quiet, Leo! I'm sick of listening to you barking like- like a stupid animal!"
Tremors beset my body. A coercive invitation from the floor reaches my shell. Leo looks dumbstruck.
"Mikey, I-"
"I don't wanna hear it! I'm fed up with you, all of you! I don't blame LH for being sick of you in his home either! What's wrong with you?!"
Raph's strong voice whispers to our little brother. My shaking hands inch toward the fallen scalpel. Moisture fills my eyes and blurs my vision.
"Mikey, chill-"
"Why does it matter who set him off? No one should care about that! But none of you tried to help him! He's family! Unless you can remember that, leave me alone! You'll only make it worse!"
"Michelangelo!"
Leo's voice holds nothing over him. He runs out, shouting Leatherhead's name. The echo blares in the ensuing silence.
"You okay, Don?"
Raph's hands reach down toward me. Mine take hold of his arms. The tremors subside. My sight gradually returns, focusing on the glass shards on Raph's hands.
"Ya deaf or somethin'? Donnie-"
'Wounds need to be soaked in sterile water. Boiled first to avoid infection. Further infection, at least. Med kit is...'
"Yo, Donnie- what're ya- ARGH!"
Raph grimaces as the hot water pours over his injuries. The water quickly reddens.
'Hopefully some of the smaller debris will be rinsed out. Bandaging tape...'
Leo folds his arms and perches himself nearby. Raph sighs.
"Mikey's right, Leo. Somethin' is wrong wit' us. No better way in the world of knowin' that than havin' my kid brother chew me out like that."
Raph turns his head toward the form of Master Splinter. Another sigh brings his gaze back to his injured hands.
"An' damned if there ain't plenty wrong wit' th' world."
'You're not wrong, Raph. You're not wrong...'