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Leo was in a deep slumber, when he heard something in his dream that didn't sit right. 'It's probably the wind,' he thought as he tried to stay asleep. But the sound just got louder, and he couldn't sleep anymore. When he woke up, it took a while to really open his eyes since it was practically pitch black in his room. At that moment, he realized what the sound was. 'Is someone crying?' He asked to himself.
He looked around the room but didn't find anything out of the ordinary. The crying didn't seem to come from someone else's room, so it had to come from his room.
He got out of bed quietly and carefully turned the side lamp on to see what the source was. But needless to say, he was still surprised to find Mikey sitting on the ground sobbing by his bedside.
"Mikey...?"
Mikey gasped and turned his head towards me with big tears slipping down his chubby cheeks. He was holding his teddy bear in his arms. Leo was definitely surprised. He'd never entered Leo or any of his brothers' rooms in the middle of the night. Usually, he'd go to their parents' room if he had trouble sleeping.
"L- Leo? ...Leeeoooo..." Mikey broke down crying hard with numb eyes.
Mikey held his arms up to his big brother making grabby hands as if trying to tell him to hold him as close as he could. He was still sitting in the same spot near his bed. Leo instantly moved forward, lifted him up onto his bed and embraced him in a hug.
"Shhh...it's okay Mikey. Don't cry, you're alright now." I soothed him and was constantly rubbing my palm on the top of his head and stroking his tiny curls.
"Leo... they won't go and... and she's not here." Mikey said in his baby voice but still wasn't calmed down.
"Who? Who won't go Mikey?! Who's not here?"
"..." Mikey sniffed again.
"It's ok Mikey! You can tell me. You're safe with me. Nothing's gonna hurt you."
Mikey pushed himself away from my chest and looked above straight in my eyes. Baby blue eyes shining in the dim light of the night like crystals. He wiped his baby brothers tears away with his thumb and kissed his chubby cheeks to calm him down. He adjusted himself to sit more comfortably on the bed with Mikey still wrapped around him.
"Mikey? What's wrong buddy? Why are you crying?"
"L-Leo ...they won't leave me alone a-and mama's not here to help me. They always go away when I sleep with her b- but now she's gone and I t-try to be brave - like she and papa say, b-but they still follow mmmeeeee..." Mikey buried his head in Leo's chest, crying.
"Buddy, what's following you? I-I don't understand?"
"D-dark...Dark, scary shadows, Leo!"
"..."
"L-Leo...shadows aren't afraid of me at all!"
"Does mom let you sleep with him when these shadows scare you?" I questioned him.
"Y-yeah... but mama's not here now, and Donnie was reading. You and papa always say not to bug him while he's r-reading. Then I went to your room, and it was super dark and I couldn't see you, so I thought the shadows got you, Leo." More heavy tears slipped down his cheeks. He was a bit confused before remembering that their mom hung out at a friends house but had to stay there overnight cause of a shirt but heavy storm messing up the roads.
"Why didn't you just sleep with father? And why didn't you try Raph's room?"
"B-because..."
"Well...I'm waiting Mikey!" He told him softly.
"...Cause Raphie doesn't like me and papa never wakes up at night, and I didn't want him to get mad at me, so I didn't ask him." Mikey's eyes filled with tears again. Mikey turned his head away.
"Mikey what...what do you mean father doesn't wake up? And why would you think he'd be mad at you? Or that Raph doesn't like you?" He asked, a lot of confusion in his voice.
"Every time I go to mama and papa's bed, mama always wakes up, but papa just stays asleep. Mama said he's a heavy sleeper, but it makes me feel sad he never wakes up for me. And I'm scared that if I go in his bed, he'll scream and get mad at me because I went in there and didn't ask. And Raphie's always mean to me, and he gets scary when he's mad. He doesn't let me in his room, or touch his cool stuff and he yells at me all the time."
Mikey made a pouty face, his shadow fear long gone. He looked so cute with that pink nose and cheeks making a cute face with his big eyes sparkling in the dim light of night.
Leo tried to steady his heartbeat. He hummed, understanding his reluctance. Raph had his moments of being mean to him, but it's not like Mikey was so innocent. But he didn't think it was a good time to tell him that.
"Michelangelo..." his tone got automatically serious.
Mikey looked up at Leo with fear in his eyes that he might scold him for acting this way. He shuddered and tried to squirm away a little bit, but his big brother had his arms wrapped around him.
"Mikey, please know that it's not father's fault he's a heavy sleeper. Some people are just like that. They need some extra help waking up in the morning. But that doesn't mean he'll be mad. You remember how many times he's woken up to find you in your bed before? He'll understand why you got in his bed," he whispered, smiling down at him softly so that he's understand that he was being honest. "And for the record, Raph loves you very much. He just doesn't always show it correctly. But I see what you mean about him getting angry and scary. He really should get help for that," he commented.
Mikey looked down, not wanting to show his embarrassment. Leo felt his tiny hands gripping the front of his shirt tightly. Gosh, Leo couldn't stop thinking how he was such a cute kid.
He placed his hand under Mikey's chin to lift make him look at him again. He wanted him to see that he was telling the truth.
"Father and Raph love you so much Mikey. Ok?" His voice barely over a whisper.
Mikey's eyes went wide with happiness.
"LOVE THEM AND YO...!" Mikey yelled. Leo had to place his hand over his brothers' mouth since everyone was still sleeping.
"Shhhhhhhh... not so loud, ok? Everyone's sleeping." Then he removed his hand from his mouth and smiled at his happiness. Leo was glad that he was ok now.
"L- Leo...?" Mikey slightly changed his position in his lap.
"Yeah?"
"P-Please, help me Leo... T-they won't go a-away." Mikey's fear of these 'shadows' was back again.
Leo's heart broke into two pieces seeing his baby brother like this.
"Hey, hey Mikey...Don't cry. It's alright." Leo stood up with Mikey in my arms, who had his head hidden in the crook of his neck and was now a sobbing wreck. He started walking around his room while slightly jumping Mikey in his arms. Their parents used to do that when he and his brothers would cry, apparently it would help.
"But..." Mikey sobbed.
"Tell me what they do. Maybe I can help."
"Th-they laugh at me. Say mean stuff, take my things and th-they...h-hurt me Leo! So, I go to mama and papa's room and sleep with mama."
Ohhhh. Guess that explained why he hardly ever slept in his own room anymore these past few months. He's afraid of these shadows...more likely 'nightmares.'
"How dare they make fun of my adorable little baby brother?! They oughta know I can beat 'em up like that!" He snapped his fingers, emphasizing his statement.
"R-really?!" Mikey's eyes shined with hope when he heard Leo could help him.
"Yeah! I mean, if I can beat Raph...these shadows got nothin on me." Leo told him proudly and was secretly so relieved Raph wasn't here right now, or he would have gone berserk. Not that he was lying or anything.
"Leo...what-what if you're not around either. Who will save me then?" A small tear rolled down his cheeks.
"Mikey I'm always here for you. And you can always go to Raph and Donnie too," he answered automatically.
It was kinda sad how he was so terrified with these nightmares, and Leo never really knew about it. He felt useless. What kind of big brother was he?
Wiping his tears always with the back of hand, he kissed his temple.
"But you know, mama is always here. Even if she's not actually... here," he gestured around the house.
"She... she is?" He asked curiously.
"Of course. I'll show you. First, give me your left hand."
"...Why?"
"Cause I wanna show you how mom is always here for us."
"With my left hand?... I-I use my right hand."
Leo chuckled at his innocence.
"It's because our heart is at left side Mikey."
"...o-ok...Will it hurt?" His voice came as a whisper.
"It won't." With that, he showed Leo his tiny left hand. Which he took engulfing it in his large one.
"You know how mom kisses your hand sometimes? Well, that's how you always have her love and protection with you.
Mikey looked at his hand like he had a sticker on it or something, checking his hand from every angle.
"But I don't see anything. I-Is it gone?"
Time for some sweet torture.
"Actually, her love goes from your hand and then it walked up to your arm..."
He traced the lines on his arm while brushing the tip of his fingers lightly to tickle him.
Mikey giggled at the motion.
"...then it went straight to your neck after it passed the shoulder..."
He tickled Mikey's neck and he laughed wildly. He tried to get away from him, kicking his feet but he had his little brother in a strong hold in his other hand. Mikey squirmed and giggled begging Leo to stop but he just kept up the torture, since he was enjoying it too.
"And straight into the heart." He continued the tickling.
Mikey tried to push him away one more time but instead caused himself to move backward, nearly falling off his lap. Thankfully, Leo had him secured and safe just like he promised.
After the torture he stopped and let Mikey catch his breath. A cute baby yawn made its way to Mikey. He was pretty tired now from all the crying and tickles.
"You should get some sleep Mikey. It's really late" Leo said, trying to sooth him.
Mikey looked at him with an annoyed pout telling him that he didn't wang to sleep yet. Leo just pressed him into a tight hug with a giggle.
"Cmon buddy, you have to sleep!"
Mikey looked hesitant.
"But what if they come back?" A sad voice came out of his lips.
"Don't worry I'm right here. You're with me and I won't let anyone harm you little brother. Just call me if they come back. But I'm sure they won't cause now they know you have mama's protection," he told Mikey.
"Can... can I sleep with you please?" Mikey instantly turned his face the other side so Leo wouldn't see him.
"Sure. You're always welcomed in my room Mikey!" He placed a peek on the top of his head. Mikey loved hugs and snuggles.
"You're the best Leo!" Mikey cheered and jumped from his lap to the other side of his bed claiming his place. He still had his teddy bear.
That gave the older one an idea.
"Hey Mikey...I have something I wanna give you. Can you wait for me just a second?"
"B-but L-Leo...don't leave! Pleeeeaaase!" Mikey pulled the bed cover up to his mouth.
"I'm right here...No one is going to touch you, ok? Be strong for me baby bro."
"...ok!" He whispered.
He hurried out of the room and went to the storage room to dug out his stuffed red fox. This always helped cheer him up when he was little.
"Here you go Mikey. A special red fox for my special little brother," he said, nuzzling Mikey's nose with his own, causing Mikey to giggle.
Mikey's eyes then filled with happiness. He jumped and snatched the toy right out of his hand and squished it tightly.
"Thank you Leo!"
"This fox, along with that bear, are gonna be your extra guards. Foxes are super sneaky and tricky, while bears are super tough, and the best part is that this particular fox is from Japan, where our family is from, so they can help take care of the bad dreams. So don't worry about anything. If you feel scared or want to tell something...I'm always here for you Mikey. As well as Donnie, Raph and Father. But just know that we love you a lot!"
Without waiting for his reply, he tucked him in and felt ready to sleep too. He turned off the side lamp and covered both of them, so they wouldn't get chilly.
Leo felt Mikey snuggle into his chest with both plushies in his arms. He wrapped his arm around him securing him from every imaginary shadow or darkness. With a small kiss at his forehead, he felt him falling into slumber.
"Love you Mikey!"
The last thing that left his mouth before drifting off to sleep.
Another big brother mission complete. Leo felt really proud of himself. He never wanted this to end and didn't want anything to change their relationship.