Chapter Text
Everyone from his universe was here.
But none of them were here.
They have the same face, personality, and actions.
But they’re not from my universe.
He fiddled with the picture that was last given to him of his family, it was funny really, even in this last picture it doesn’t even look like how they did in his universe.
In this picture they look like their more younger self’s.
This universe of them.
They were his family.
Sure, they were welcoming but the familiarity he once had with these same people were gone. He was a stranger, an outcast to this family.
Their eyes are younger and so familiar that he just wishes that they’d magically be possessed by his family and get the happy ending deserved. Its awkward looking at them in the eye and thinking of the person he saw them as… are.
Not to mention how scattered other parts of his family was.
Most were- are still enemies or haven’t even met.
What could he do about it? Nothing? Would it happen on its own?
Gosh he really should’ve asked more questions about the past.
A knock was at the entrance of the room he was in, snapping him out of whatever memories were flooding him.
The room was Uncle Donnie’s old lab, er now lab.
The lair was in shambles luckily his older sis- the girl scouts pipped up at earning another badge finishing in a day. Casey was able to stay with April and her mom without his Mo- Cassandra knowing of his existence. The other turtles stayed elsewhere; he stopped thinking after things went downhill after they celebrate with pizza after the invasion.
Sensei laid in the bed in front of him where he sat on a chair with wheels, it had been a couple days since the invasion and his Sen- Leo, was in a coma.
It had happened shortly after they had celebrated with pizza after the fight, adrenaline can only get one so far, he knew that.
“Cassandra’s future spawn.” The voice was monotone with laced irritation.
“Un- Past Donatello.” It stung a bit, knowing this was a way him and his uncle would greet each other. A way before a small lecture about getting into his things or sneaking around.
“Sorry for coming into your lab without your prior knowledge” He sunk into the chair he’d been drowning his thought in the past minutes.
“You- uh other you was..” His focus staggered across the room aimlessly. “Well it was a habit.”
Once he got that out he was able to look the other in the eye, a sigh escaped the other, beginning to walk towards him and his twin.
The bags under his eyes were prominent but looked more soft and baby-faced then what he’d been used to, shifting in his chair slightly.
Casey’s eyes struggled to be able to look at him, it was like seeing a dead man walking. Hell it was like that with all of them, Uncle tellos was just more recent.
Even though Sensei and Master Michelangelo technically were the most recent, they felt less real.
At least holding eye contact wasn’t just his own problems, younger Donatello seems to have just as much issues with it easing away the guilt.
There was a slow sway in his movements, he finally was able to look at the other for a bit, it seemed the eye bags were somehow more noticeable than before.
Donnie checked on the status of Se- Leonardo’s health status, mumbling as he did so. He couldn’t quite hear most of what was said but heard something familiar.
“Mikey and Raph are nipping at me to sleep.”
A soft chuckle escaped his own making the other whip their focus back to him with a raised eyebrow. Which Junior noticed was slightly less unlined than the invasion similar to certain nights of his uncle. (funny how he used to draw it on back then.. now too.)
“That sounds like them,” Said nervously, scolding himself for laughing at a time like this. “Like you.”
“Interesting,” Donatello replied, looking like he was yet again about to pester the boy about the future but stopped himself.
“Sorry, it’s probably making you uncomfortable hearing about them knowing what happened to your brothers in my future.” He blurted out.
“No it's just Interesting hearing about how our brotherly fueds still continue in the future-” He cut himself off, the monotone in his voice a bit shaken, “Your future uh..”
“family.”
The nervousness was crawling up him again, it never went away but got louder at times, talking with a dead man’s younger self isn’t easy.
“Uh,” he took a slow breath “Yea I mean invasion or not siblings will be siblings”
“True.”
There was a moment of wonder that if they knew about the other two-
“Mikey’s been sneaking out.” Donnie said, shocking him yet again out of thought. “He started last night actually.”
He hummed back, Master Michelangelo was known for sneaking out before Casey jr was born. This was when he met- he jumped up his seat.
Donnie looking at him questions.
“Sorry, I’m uh,” He didn’t know whether to tell him or not “just worried.”
“The way you reacted seems subjective..” the other taped on his chin squinting at the boy. “I won’t ask if it ties to your future, yet.”
Yet.
“In a way, but it’s nothing bad,” he responded less nervous. “Do you know where he goes?”
“Michelangelo is fond of art,” he paused giving a side glance “as you know..”
“The area here is flooded with his art.”
There was silence that he understood, Uncletello let him figure out the context on his own, it went hand in hand with their SL classes.
“Apologies. He’s-“
“Sounds like him.”
Another silence followed but it was the other way.
“Its strange you know” Uncle- Donatello stated. “I never would’ve thought older me.. any older versions of me would have a nephew or a younger relative other than Mikey.”
Casey gave a knowing chuckle. Wondering if this meant they hadn’t knew about the other two.
“Biologically me and my brothers don’t have any maternal-slash-parental roles we would take up in the wild.”
A little sound left Casey at the word parent, he still hadn’t told his mom, this universe of his mom he was here. Also his other…
Surprise baby shower mom! Guess what it’s a boy! Or something unspecified he supposed.
There goes the space-time continuum indeed, guess he may not even exist in this universe either.
Yet another thing that pushes him away from this family.
Might as well not exist.
“You taught me about this,” he said putting the photo of his family safe in his pocket. “I don’t even remember when it’s just common knowledge to me.”
“Ah yes, you would know that.” He responded before he smirked. “Guess my brains just rubbed off on ya.”
“Yeah! You seriously were the smartest person I ever knew!” In the back of his head he swore he heard Older Leo telling him not to boost Uncletellos ego. But this wasn't Uncletello, the smaller and less acknowledged version of him.
“You tell Ma-Raph?” he asked, getting a puzzled loom from Donnie “about Mikey I mean.”
“I’d rather not, as long as nothing bad happens I wont say anything” He replied, not even looking at Da- Leonardo’s health status anymore. “Although with that reaction from earlier I’m a bit curious.”
Casey tightened up a bit, if this new timeline played similar to his own as it somewhat has then..
“He just did that when the Apocalypse began as well.” Replied nervously shaking his leg, holding back any non human sound that left him.
“Oh.” He cleared his throat “Apologies.”
“It’s fine.” A silence followed, not the usual communication silence, just silence.
Mikey sneaking out tonight could mean that this family even with the timeline changed could still involve the same group of people he loved become a whole.
Only this time he was here to see it be built.
“You guys ever met Spider-Man?” He blurted out faster than he could pick up.
“Not formally.” He raid his eyebrow, “He close to us in your timeline?”
“You could say that.”
“Oh! so we don’t get along, fair.” He replied, “Our dad has beef with a spider too.”
Big mama, lol.
“No nothing like that.” He smiled, “I was just curious.”
“You asked about him right after we spoke about Mikey?”
Another thrilling silence.
A soft multiple knocks on the door.
“Dinners ready Dee!!” A pitched up voice rang on the other side, he recognized different ways Master Michelangelo could talk. “Have you seen Cj?”
“In here as well Mas-Michelangelo”
The door creaked open, showing the hyper younger person of Master Michelangelo. Even in this universe he still hides behind a smile, it was worrisome but it was never something he took to fix growing up. Casey debated whether he should help Mikey or not since being older than him in this universe, he didn’t want to be a overbearing grown up as silly as that would be for him.
It was easier to not get the names mixed up, this Mikey didn’t have hair, the magic scars or looked older than his eldest sibling.
It felt more surreal knowing this kid was going to become the greatest mystic user, he was so young. They were all kids, his heart pained for his family again.
“You should eat, Dee.” The younger one said, with worried eyes. If anyone could get Uncletello out of his room it would be Mikey or himself. Back when he was younger Mikey used to send him down and force feed Uncletello. “Before I bring Dr. Feelings back out.”
He chuckled, nice to know that part of Mikey stayed despite it all.
“Just bring it over, someone’s gotta stay here just in case.”
“You haven’t left this room in days” the younger child replied, “You need air Dee.”
“He did leave for a bit actually.” Casey stated, implementing himself in their conversation, Donatello furrowed his eyes at him. “Sorry.”
“Thank you Cj!” The younger beamed, this reminded him of the routine back home. He smiled in return, “No problem uh dude.”
Dude.
DUDE?!?
It felt disrespectful to reply to him like that, although he sometimes spoke to his own family in a chill manner like that, this was still the greatest mystic user-
“Right on!” A child, this was a child. “I know this is hard on you, how’s it feeling?” Mikey added as his voice more softened.
“We should be asking you the same Miguel.” Donnie quickly said looking down at his cracked arm, “The pain was unbearable in just one arm. Are you sure yours is okay?”
“Yea Dee I’m fine!” The younger replied in a more surprised squeak.
Looks like this Mikey wasn’t fond on being dotted on as well, putting others before him was an issue. He seemed to hide behind others problems to cover his own so no one questions if he’s okay.
He sighed, even though he was worried he shouldn’t but into it much, knowing that this could possibly push him farther away. Mikey was the one most in tune with his emotions, usually he would handle it easily.
“Yea sure, sure.” Donnie rebuttal, “Lets act like that after you only got a day of bed rest.”
“You said it yourself, my health was fine.”
“Correction I said it would be fine for you to walk towards the bathroom yourself” the tone was evidently irritated. “I didn’t mean jump up and make everyone food.”
Casey knew Mikey enough that he slightly retracted into his shell when mad. “Oh hey so what’s for dinner?”
Mikey basically hopped up as the sounds of different topic “Oh yeah! Your not very common with our food right!?”
A nervous sound followed that, he sniffed and picked up a scent that was nearly heavenly.
The first meal here was already the best he’d had, no offense to his Michelangelo but this Mikey had won in making the best food. A huge of guilt followed through.
Its not like he had anything other than rats at the time.
“It’s just some pasta, I would’ve been more fancy if I remembered.” Mikey added “sorry Casey.”
A different hit of guilt was nearby, this Mikey was a kid. He made him food for the whole base back in the apocalyptic future around this time as well and this literal child was sad the food wasn’t more “fancy.”
“Fancy? This would be deluxe in my universe.” He replied, hoping this would somehow ease the others guilt.
“I’m glad you get to experience it.” Mikey replied before focusing back on Donnie “Come on.” The wheels of the chair turned back to the computer.
“Raph misses us eating together.”
The wheels creaked back, a sigh “Alright, no promises of staying for long tho.”
In a way you could basically hear Mikeys smile, it was always like that, just different since he was younger.
It was a bit nice that Donnie wanted to come out for his ma- Raph, reminded him of when he was a toddler.
The sound of one getting up from the chair didn’t phase him, for a moment they looked like his family.
“Does Mom know yet?”
The steps of the other two stopped, he looked up expectantly jump scared by who was in front of him.
“Sorry.” He cleared his throat, “R- I mean, Cass.”
“About you?” Mikey asked with a worried tone.
“I’d rather you not tell her.” Donnie added with a soft hit from Mikey, “It would ruin the space-time continuum.”
“That’s up to him, Dee.” Mikey replied earning a groan from Donatello.
“I meant, does she know what happened to-“ he paused not knowing what to call them, “Raph.”
This was gonna be a rough ride.
“Yea I mean?” Mikey replied questionly, the other two both seemed to not know what this was about “Why?”
“I was just wondering.”
“Oh yeah, she’s handling things with the girl scouts actually.” Donnie replied.
A white teenage girl with black eyes and blonde hair quickly flashed through his head.
Julie. Yet another person he was older than in this universe. This would be more awkward than a younger Michelangelo that’s for sure.
Well...? He really couldn't compare could he?
“That’s nice.” He blankly responded, he seriously didn’t know what to think knowing the girl scouts he knew were kid-kids here. They were all older than him, sisters is what he grew to calling them.
They were all different but a much important core to his whole person.
He got up from the chair, when he first came into Donnie old-new room he could hear a whisper of his Uncle taking in everything and talking about how they could use everything in this room to help them.
All of what they needed was in this one room.
The lair was fairly close to what they made it sound like in stories, although it felt more like he was visiting a memory. Ignoring how it looked destroyed the days prior.
As they walked there were stories of certain items as they passed he recognized, wondered if any of them hadn’t happened yet or ever will.
“Hey Raph look who’s up,” said Mikey, the smaller version sat at the table not eaten yet. He greeted them with a chirp.
Ma-Raph was having a hard time talking after the invasion, it was best to speak turtle. Honestly it just felt nostalgic to his toddler years.
Casey unconsciously greeted him back with a chirp, making the rest loom at him with shock and a small squeak could be heard from one.
“YOU SPEAK TURTLE?!?”
“Uh yeah? it was easy to pick up after a while.” It wasn’t a full lie, but it probably wasn’t the time to tell them it was natural, “Is that weird?”
“No! if anything it makes you more closer to us!” Mikey pipped up, a mix of emotions swelled at this comment.
“heh uh yeah.”
“Interesting.” Donnie responded, “makes sense to those other sounds you were making”
A silence followed after, Casey caught on, the other two were left with a shrug and stare.
“Huh?” Mikey finally asked, he started to fiddle with the picture in his pocket again.
“He was making turtle sounds/actions.” Donnie said sitting next to their older brother where the food was already played out. “I’m glad he cleared it up or I would’ve been making other theories.”
Other theories would have them spiraling, he knew Donnie was just hinting that he wanted to hear about this more. It would only be a matter of time before he caught on.
He glanced at Ma- Raph for a moment.
There was a reason why he didn’t let anyone check or question his health.
He surprisingly got away with it. He totally didn't know why, totally.
“Wow that’s so cool you sounded just like us!” Mikey responded sitting down on the other side of his older brother, Cj took the safe route and sat next to Mikey, avoiding eye contact with the oldest brother.
The oldest chirped as a way to praise him, it felt proud and nice to hear it again but..
“Where’s grandpops?” there was another awkward silence, he expectantly look up to find their smaller versions staring at him “Splinter I mean.”
“Asleep.” Mikey replied with a tired sigh, “Drax was here, but he went out for things we need with April.”
Pop’pops! He’d probably accidentally call him that at one point, he’s similar to his Drax.
The nickname was engraved in his head by Leo and Mikey when he was a baby, Leo did it just to make fun of Drax while Mikey did it for more of the family reason.
“Oh!” He shouted out excitedly, he was closer to Drax then Splinter not because one was better, just one got to live longer.
“How about Sunita?” He asked yet again quicker then he could think.
“We don’t know about her.”
“Oh.” This ‘oh’ was less hyped up then that last.
Asking about others in his family was vital to know during the apocalypse, down to the last grain of detail.
There was a soft sound of clinking forks against their dishes as they ate, Mikeys eyes obviously closely watching everyone, Donnie fastly ate, and the eldest Si- brother sat noticeably feeling alone.
He wanted to say something to he- em. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to make the full sentence.
Solitude wasn’t either of their favorite things.
“Alright, I’m done.” Donnie stated, getting back up to quickly make his way to the sink.
“Dee.” Mikey said.
“Michelangelo.” He replied. A light bulb went off throughout Casey’s head.
Did it seriously take him to cross over to the past to know the reason his habits began.
Mikey worried about Dee, goes to pester until knows he’s fed.
Mikey getting into Dee’s things.
Master Michelangelo would be worried about Uncletello, what to do? Send his nephew.
Mikey taking toddler Casey jr to barge into Uncletellos room.
Those lessons about Uncletello mental being, now made sense.
A blaring alarm went off went off, Casey covered his ears to drain out how loud it was.
Mikey jumped up, Donnie turned it off and checked whereabouts.
“Already?” Mikey yelped.
“It's whatever were not going.”
“What.” Mikeys voice was laced with disbelief, Casey stayed quiet, he usually did when the grown ups were speaking unless asked for his own thoughts.
“But that’s our job?”
“Miguel do you want Raph to go fight crime in his state, me to leave Leo and you with your arms like that?” He replied in a low voice. “Besides the girl scouts are on it already.”
“I’m fine. I can go fight myself.”
“No.” He replied in disbelief looking at his eldest Sis- sibling like he had not heard a word he said. The eldest brother gave a disapproving grunt as well.
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing!” the youngest grumbled “people still need us out there.”
“We stopped the Krang, as far as I know we did enough.”
A loud huff echoed.
“I’m gonna check on Leo.” Donnie rebuttal.
The oldest made a little chirp cry. Making Casey give a comforting chirp back.
“Sorry, Raph.”
As Donnie went away Casey realize that the forks clinking weren't made by him, he didn’t even touch his food, it was cold.
The other one with food still on his plate was Raph.
Biologically upset.
“I’m gonna go lay down.” Mikey replied with a shaky voice. He debated whether he should follow Mikey or not but decided to stay with Raph, after all they both didn’t do well in Solitude.
Raph didn’t let a sound out this time and neither did Cj.
He finally started eating his food, it tasted good, really good.
But unfortunately it didn’t beat Rat stew.
Master Michelangelo was therefore the better cook.
End.