Chapter Text
Character Description
April is 4’8 and 18. She is in her freshman year of college. She looks the same as she did in the show, obviously.
Raph is 5'8 and a senior in high school. He is 17. He has dark brown skin and short curly hair with blond tips. He has a gold stud on his nose and ears. He has an anti-eyebrow piercing. He also has a helix piercing that is silver. He wears a red t-shirt with the sleeves cut out down to his shoulders that Mikey did for him and dark jeans. With black tennis shoes and he also has a “you are not alone” tattoo written on the side of his arm and it’s in Japanese.
Donnie is 5’5. He is 16 and in his junior year. He is 2 minutes older than Leo. He has lighter brown skin with dreadlocks and braid clips. He wears a purple doo rag and headphones that look like his goggles. He has black nail polish and his signature purple hoodie paired with dark black jeans and brown eyes with a gold tint.
Leo is 5’3. He is 16 and in his junior year. He has lighter brown skin with an up pony tale that is bleached blond and dark blue tips at the end. He wears a blue T-shirt with one of the iconic Jipter Jim movie covers on the front paired with light blue shorts that come to his knees. He wears blue nail polish and he has a birthmark around his eyes that look like crescent moons. He has brown eyes with a gold tint.
Mikey is about 4’7. He is 15 and a sophomore. He has dark skin and brown eyes with brown bushy hair and he wears an orange band on his head. He has lighter brown spots on his elbows and knees. He has on a teal sweatshirt but he cut the sleeves himself down to his elbow. He has on orange shorts and orange tennis shoes with velcro strap. He has colorful stickers on his shoes at all times.
“Come on Leo, pass it!” The 15 year old Mikey whined while holding up his hands. “I’m not getting any older.” Leo just looked his way while bouncing the basketball and trying to keep Donnie (who can’t play basketball to save his life) away from the ball. He also sported that damn smirk that Mikey has a both loving and hate relationship with.
He then proceeded to go all the way down the court while knocking Donnie down in the process and shot the ball.
“Wahoo! Leo goes for all the gold medals and the crowd goes wild.” Leo exclaimed, holding up his hands to his mouth to make a cheering sound. Mikey just rolled his eyes so hard that it actually hurt. He calmly and casually walked up to his older, annoying brother and hit him in the shoulder. Leo had the audacity to wince and look at his baby brother like he had no idea what the punch was for.
“I was open, Leon. I was clearly open.” Mikey said with clear frustration in his voice and if looks could kill then Leo would be 6 feet under.
“Sorry baby bro but I need to work on my jump shot if I’m ever going to win my game tomorrow.” Leo said actually looking like he was sincerely sorry and in that moment Mikey instantly forgave him.
It’s Leo, what can you do? He has charm oozing out of his ears.
“Besides I would have totally passed it to you if you were on the team which I keep saying you would be great at.” Leo said, suddenly excited and bouncing all around Mikey.
“That’s more your thing bro. My thing is art.” Mikey said like he rehearsed the line because he has been having this conversation for months with Leo. He likes playing basketball when it’s just with his brothers but on an actual team is different.
Speaking of his bros.
“I love this bonding moment truly but can someone and I mean this in the nicest way possible HELP ME THE HELL UP!” Donnie yelled from across the court. He was still laying where Leo pushed him down and Leo because he was Leo laughed while moving to his twin and helping him up. Said twin gave him the dirtiest of looks and to that Mikey just shook his head and sighed with a smile.
“Man, where's Raph? He was supposed to be here an hour ago.” Mikey said, slightly worried but mostly annoyed. Their big brother was supposed to pick them up so they could all go to the new pizza place that opened up called Run of the Mill pizza. It was supposed to be the best pizza in town allegedly and the brothers were all dying to try it so they could be the judges of that.
“Don’t worry dear brother of mine, with a quick text we can find out that he is in fact…” Donnie said with the most dramatic tone you would expect from a theater kid like him and paused for dramatic effect because Raph had to text him back. “Sigh he got distracted by the puppies in the animal store window.”
Mikey and Leo just rolled their eyes. “Again?! That’s like the fourth time this week.” Leo groaned while putting hands on his hip.
There was another ding that came from Donnie’s cellular device. When he looked down he had the most disappointed face you could imagine. “He was also busy talking on the phone with Mona.”
Mikey in particular looked confused at that fact, “Seriously! What could they possibly be talking about that’s better than pizza? I mean it’s pizza.” Leo and Donnie looked at each other with a knowing look then back at Mikey. They actually did this a lot when romantic relationships were a part of the conversation. Mikey’s brothers just assumed that he was a late bloomer and still innocent on this particular topic so they treaded lightly on what they could say around their baby brother’s sensitive and impressionable ears.
They didn’t want to traumatize the kid.
“Video games.” Donnie and Leo said at the same exact time. They hated when they talked in unison but in this particular case they didn’t mind it.
Mikey just looked at them with an impassive look and then he just nodded and said, “well that makes sense. Video games are awesome.”
At that exact moment two very hot guys passed by the basketball court which immediately got Leo and Donnie’s attention.
“Wow, they are handsome.” Leo said and if he was in a cartoon he would have hearts in his eyes.
“For once we agree on something, Nardo.” Donnie said not faring any better than his slightly younger twin. Mikey just looked at his brothers then the two seemingly hot guys. He couldn’t see the appeal, honestly. Stopping what you were doing to stare at people. Seemed creepy if you asked him but who is he to judge? At that moment, a hot woman passed by too.
Donnie looked at the woman then the guys with a grunt and frustration, “curse my bisexual brain!” Donnie yelled to know one in particular with his fist up in the air.
Leo just patted his twin’s shoulder in sympathy and seeing all this in full display was bewildering to say the least. It’s not like this is the first time his brothers have had crushes. I mean Leo was never really in the closet because everyone just knew. And Donnie? Well, he was harder to read but when he did come out everyone wasn’t surprised. So why was Mikey just now noticing? Being the empath of the family, he always knew how his brothers were feeling but romantic relationships were something else entirely. He will be the first to offer hugs and cuddles but actually thinking someone was cute or hot was just a concept he did not understand.
He could always ask his brothers, but he feels like he needs to do some of his own research before can even hope to ask the right questions. Everything is just so confusing and he needs to get to the bottom of these feelings and emotions.
“Wait a minute, don’t you still have that super not obvious crush on Usagi he said honestly without a hint of sarcasm?” Donnie monotone while looking better than the breakdown he just had literally seconds ago.
“Well yeah, but it’s not like my crush for those two hot guys is going to amount to anything.” Leo said, shrugging and crossing his arms.
“Right and your crush for Usagi will.” With that Leo proceeded to punch Donnie in the arm and the genius reciprocated that punch only harder and the next thing Mikey knew they were wrestling on the ground. He was just glad the court was now empty because this was just embarrassing.
Mikey just shook his head while watching the wrestling match commence and thought fondly, ‘big brothers, what can you do?’
“What are you two bozos doing?” When Mikey turned around to that voice he saw his eldest brother, Raph in full display walking up to the basketball court.
“Tello insulted me.”
“Nardo's being annoying.” They said at the same exact time.
Ignoring that whole situation that would probably start another fight between the self proclaimed, Disaster Twins, Mikey ran up to his bigger brother and climbed up to his shoulder like little brothers do.
“Can we please go to the pizza place now? Please.” While annoyingly emphasizing that last “please”.
Raph chuckled with a sort of softness that was only reserved for his little brothers, “of course big man, let's go.”
They started heading to the exit when Mikey yelled to the twins, “get your butts moving! It’s pizza time, baby!” And they did in fact resolve their dispute fastly because pizza was on the line and followed their brothers to Raph’s red jeep he had parked in the parking lot.
On the way to the pizza place they were chatting about Leo’s upcoming basketball game. Or more accurately how rude his teammates are.
“There was this freshman walking in the hallway just minding their own business when stupid Chad pushed them against the lockers.” Leo exclaimed in the back seat sitting with Mikey with a clearly frustrated tone that he used sparingly. Saying Leo doesn’t get along with his teammates would be an understatement. Leo hated them and the feeling was mutual. They only act nice to each other when Leo’s coach is watching. “So I did what any awesome and amazing person would do in my situation and I, even harshly, pushed Chad against the lockers.”
Donnie in particular gave his twin a thumbs up and a proud expression from the front seat but Raph, always the peacemaker, just shook his head.
“Leo, your coach has a strict no violence rule. You could have been kicked off the team.” Raph said trying to keep his focus on the road ahead but it was proving difficult.
“I don’t care if I get kicked off the team. I mean what if it was Mikey?” Leo motioned to his little brother who looked on with a grimace because he knew if someone did do that to the youngest Hamato then that person would be dead and everyone at school knew it. Raph tightened his hands on the steering wheel and Donnie tensed up just hammering that fact home. “You would have wanted me to intervene then and I know for a fact that kid has an older sister.” At that Raph let it go for now, but Mikey has a sneaking suspicion that this conversation is far from over. They’ll probably just talk about it more when they don’t have an audience.
They finally made it to Run of The Mill Pizza and Mikey looked on with a smile that covered his whole face but before Mikey could jump out Raph stopped them.
“Oh and I forgot to mention April, pops, and dad are meeting us here.” With that information Mikey led out a happy squeal. He was practically buzzing with excitement. April has been so busy with college exams that she hasn't had time to make a quick stop at the house or join them in their eat out Fridays. When Mikey was about to get out again Raph stopped them for the second time and Mikey couldn’t help but groan which Leo and Donnie quickly followed. “She is also bringing her girlfriend.”
Wow double surprise!
Sunita was so cool. She wears a biker jacket and rides a motorcycle before she got her more sensible car when she got into college. Pops almost had a conniption fit when Sunita first rode up with that thing planning to drive April to their first official date, but he eventually calmed down when his dad made them take extra safety measures. Sunita and April weren’t too happy about it but they understood, nonetheless.
They have known Sunita since April was in 6th grade and she moved down the street from them. They have been inseparable ever since and Mikey couldn’t be happier for them. They currently live together in the dorms at the Eastlaird University that they both go to. April is majoring in journalism and Sunita is majoring in fashion.
Dad and pops both were strict on them not living together so instead they got the closest rooms which seemed to please everyone.
Mikey tried opening the door again and this time nobody stopped him much to Mikey’s relief. When he got out he was immediately bombarded with a body slamming into him. He was disoriented that he didn’t get to see who it was but he didn’t need to.
“I missed you so much, buddy.” April said while pushing Mikey at arm's length to take a good look at him. It may have only been three weeks since they last saw each other in person and they talked on the phone everyday but to their family it felt like a lifetime.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Leo could be heard coming around the car looking and sounding offended but everyone could tell it was just putting on an act while putting his hands on his hips.
“Oh get over here you.” April said holding Leo in a headlock and rubbing his head so hard that his ponytail was coming loose. “I missed you too. Who else am I going to pick on?” She eventually let Leo go and walked over to Donnie who opted to keep a safe distance from this heartwarming family reunion. April looked Donnie up and down, smirked, and punched him in the arm. April knew that anything else would be an insult to how well she knew her brothers. Donnie looked on with a glint in his eyes which said all it needed to.
Last but not least she went up to the biggest guy of the group but also her little brother and for the first time let the happy tears show. She hugged him so fiercely that one would think Raph was not as big or tough as he was. Without hesitation Raph wrapped his arms around her slim form and let the happy tears flow, as well.
When this whole gushy display of family affection was over April went over to Sunita and held her hand then they met up with their dads on the other side of the restaurant who were currently bickering over the correct driving signals.
They went into the restaurant and got a seat while playful banter and laughter of joy could be heard on the way.
“There I was just minding my own business when this jerk bumped into me.” Yoshi said, telling the ever grueling and daring story that happened a few hours ago at the supermarket.
“Minding your own business? You shoved a man down because he just so happened to look like a coworker that you hate and IT WAS THE WRONG GUY.” Draxum clarified with annoyance “You were kicked out of the store and since we’re married I obviously had to go with you.” Their kids were giggling the whole time.
Any normal bystander looking at their weird family eating pizza would have thought the two love birds were actually fighting and mad at each other but if you looked closely you could see the hint of a smirk making its way on Draxum’s face and Yoshi looking like he was offended but really he is just giving their kids a show.
Yoshi moved to New York when he was 25. He wanted to get away from the expectation that his family put on him ever since he could remember. He was next in line of the Hamato clan to be bestowed the honor of taking over the clan and teaching the younger generations the way of the ever powerful Hamato.
But Yoshi refused.
He didn’t want that responsibility. So what did he do? He adopted 5 little kids. After about 2 years in New York he became lonely and isolated himself as a result. But he knew he wanted a family of his own. He wasn’t expecting to go down to the foster home to find 5 siblings but there was no way he was going to separate them. April was 5, Raph was 4, Donnie and Leo was 3, and Mikey was 2 at the time. He signed the right papers and loved the kids like his very own.
They were practically raised in the foster care system. Their mother was a drug addict and their father left when Mikey was born. Once April was enrolled in Kindergarten her teacher became suspicious and called CPS.
And the rest was history.
Yoshi met and married Draxum 2 years after Yoshi adopted the kids. The day they got married Draxum also signed papers to legally be their other dad. They absolutely adored their weird and unusual family. It’s not your typical white picket fence family but they wouldn’t have it any other way.
The family got done eating and it was time for April and Sunita to go back to their college campus.
“I’ll make a visit to the house tomorrow. Since my exams are over we can have a movie marathon.” April said with a soft smile to Mikey who was giving sad puppy dog eyes.
“You promise.” When April moved out it wasn’t that big of a deal because her campus was only a few miles away until Mikey realized she wouldn’t be there to give him one of her famous hot chocolate sleep specials or kiss him on the head when he was snuggled in his bed which was obviously magic and made him feel all kinds of amazing.
“Of course I promise. I would never break a Hamato promise.” She rubbed him on the head and walked to her car with Sunita in hand once she said goodbye to everyone else.
They walked to the car too and drove home.
So here was Mikey. Sitting in front of his computer thinking about what he could possibly search that would give him the answers of these feelings or lack thereof.
When they came home from dinner Mikey said goodnight to everyone, got dressed for bed, and made his way to his room. He then proceeded to sit in front of his computer for 20 minutes.
Maybe he is pansexual or bi? Maybe these not feelings for any gender means he has feelings for every gender?
Maybe people don’t actually feel this way and are just faking it? But that couldn’t be right because why would his family fake something like this.
He squeezed his eyes shut and made a pained, dramatic moan like Leo and Donnie makes sometimes when they're frustrated.
He just didn’t get it.
That’s what it all boiled down to. He didn’t understand how people can love someone so intensely that they would drop everything to be with that person and not just hang out like he loves doing with his siblings and friends but kiss and….and have s…sex. At that Mikey physically gagged.
“Ok Mikester, get it together.” Mikey was pacing by this point but he refused to call it pacing because that means the fun, energetic, ball of sunshine was nervous. Mikey doesn’t do nervous.
“Maybe this isn’t as weird and unnatural as it seems. It’s not like romantic relationships are all people care about.” The moment he said that his mind supplied (unhelpfully he might had) the many, many, MANY movies and tv shows where they practically shove romantic relationships in your face. “Okaaay maybe it is all people care about and I’m the one person in this whole universe who doesn’t get it. Just terrific!” With that burst of feelings he immediately covered his mouth hoping he didn’t wake anybody up. When he didn’t hear any doors opening or footsteps coming down the hallway he put his hands down and sighed with relief.
He went over to his desk chair he was sitting in and slumped down in it.
He swiveled the chair to face his desk with his laptop still opened with the search bar practically staring into his soul.
For some reason he kept on thinking of the day that his siblings came out. April was 14 and came out as transgender and lesbian, Raph was 13 and came out as straight, Leo and Donnie were 12 and came out as gay and bisexual.
Mikey could tell they were excited about something all day and being the person that knows everything about feelings and specifically knowing his siblings better than anybody it was annoying that he was left in the dark. After school and after their dads came home from work they called a family meeting and had presentations made and everything. Leo even used glitter and threw confetti even though Donnie told him not to.
It was a well thought out and fun presentation, but Mikey just sat there in utter disbelief while their dads obviously enjoyed the show. He thought they were still too young for all of this but apparently not. He was only a year younger than Donnie and Leo so he thought he would have had crushes or something but no dice.
Raph, being the big brother that he was, knew something was off with Mikey so in private they talked and Mikey told him his concerns but his big brother just looked at him with an easy going smile and said, “you’re just a late bloomer, Mike. Nothing to worry about.”
Mikey really thought that was true but now he wasn’t so sure.
He took a deep hesitant breath and typed in the search bar.
‘What is it called if you have no romantic or sexual attraction to anybody?’
He hovered over the ENTER key and with one final push he pressed it.