#thinking about how mad xever is about the betrayal

[handfulofmuses]

Xever: this kid??? is mad???? at me????

It's really just his whole reaction during that scene. Mondo is for understandable reasons mad and walks towards him and looms over him and Xever has no idea what to make of that. He does not get up, his eyes remain and his face lifts with that expression while his eyes nervously keep glancing around.

He genuinely did not seem to expect that, this kid is suddenly standig up to him.

What makes him get up and yell out that Jason is a traitor?

All while he is giving his new friends a high five. His instant reaction to it feels like a twisted form of jealousy. Most of what he taught Mondo comes from his own experience. Xever was alone while living in the streets and in the comics he actually was betrayed by a friend before he got into the Foot.

I think the parallels between these two are fun. Xever grew up on the streets and needed to steal to survive, the only friend he had betrayed him and he landed in prison. The one person who got him out encouraged his worst traits

Mondo was kicked out by his parents after he turned into a mutant and was living alone on the streets until he met Xever who likely encouraged his worst traits as well, but he finds genuine friends.

When Mondo prepared his attack on Xever? He actually takes a step back and shields himself at first.

Twice he was caught off guard that Mondo was actually mad at him.

[handfulofmuses]

Xever is going through it in that episode there are so many layers to unpack and even this post doesn’t even scratch the surface

First we see him walking in, praising Mondo while gently touching him.

“Excellent job, amigo. You lured him right into my trap.“

First time we actually heard him say amigo too towards someone. Keep in mind, we know how he usually treats others. So far he treated Mondo differently from his usual interactions.

Afterwards, he punches Mikey because “that name is an insult“. Xever absolutely refuses to accept his mutant nickname, not just because it’s lame but here he reveals that it is actually an insult to him.

He quickly collects himself and Mondo has his doubts. Doesn’t bother him, instead he wraps an arm around Mondo, pats him and just tells him to stamp out any sympathy he might feel for him.

Unfortunately for Xever, he is too much in the moment. He reveals what his actual intention is - Xever was with Mondo for at least a year, keeping up an act that the turtles were the bad ones. He could have just lead Mondo away with more lies, tell him that he handles it from here, but nope, the fish was too much in the moment and then also hit Mondo across the room so that he won’t interfere further.

I am assuming he thought Mondo remains knocked out until the race is finished.

“You were one of my most promising errand boys. But helping the enemy escape? You are dead to me.“

It feels unplanned that Mondo comes to their rescue. At first I thought he waited on purpose for Mondo to gather himself to see if he would go through with it, but it doesn’t feel like it.

Mondo didn’t end up in a cage like Mikey or Casey, so it feels like he had no intention to put him into the race before all this. He left Mondo where he knocked him out.

You can taste the bitterness in his voice over Mondo‘s betrayal, but he can’t focus on that. People are watching, he has to entertain a crowd. So he puts on the theatrics, introduced the racers.

“And Jason, the gecko boy, a traitor to mutants everywhere!“

Once again - bitter. It’s not part of the theatrics, Xever is mad about the betrayal but again - people are watching, they are expecting a show and he will give them one. Xever is trying to distract himself with that race.

It’s only in the end when he lost the race that he is a sore loser and loses it completely. Jason knocked him down, giving Mikey enough time to outskate him and that already makes him mad. He rushes forwards, grabbing Mikey who does the same, they both just try to get to the finish line but Casey just throws Mondo into it.

“You cheaters! You are hideous examples of bad sportsmanship!“

Sore loser right here - it was him who said no rules.

“You told me on the streets it’s every mutant for himself. Well, you are wrong, dude!“

Xever‘s reaction is interesting to me because he is genuinely caught off guard here, mixed with … fear? He remains on the ground as Jason walks closer, he flinched and his eyes start glancing around.

Keep in mind, the crowd is still watching while this is happening - but it seems like Xever has forgotten about them entirely. His main focus is Jason - if you think it wasn’t personal before, it sure is now.

“Jason! YOU ARE A TRAITOR!!!“

It’s completely screamed out now, he gets his knife - and this moment especially shows just how much the betrayal actually affected him. The crowd and the theatrics are entirely forgotten, Jason is all that matters in that moment.

“My name …. IS MONDO GECKO!!!!!

Xever flinched again. Takes a step back as Mondo is planning his attack and shields himself with an arm. He is caught off guard so many times by Mondo, it’s like he genuinely didn’t expect that from him.

And he only has himself to blame for Mondo‘s betrayal. He was too much in the moment and that was his downfall.

[handfulofmuses]

Not what the turtle expected but Slash wasn’t complaining either. He prefers that much more considering what happened before. Xever’s sassy attitude answered the question on its own.

He is as snarky as Raphael said he was. Wastes no time to get straight to the point either considering all the leader of the mutanimals wanted to know if he was getting better. Although that wasn’t a problem - seems like that was something that was bottled up long enough.

Slash doesn’t mind - not when Raphael vented to him for years, not when he knows the backstories from the rest of the team. If he is one thing, it’s being a great listener.

He only knows the story from Mondo and Michelangelo so far. Seems like he is getting the other perspective as well - to some extent, Slash could relate.

“Look - I get it. Sometimes, you want what you think it’s best for someone but ya mess up in the most twisted way possible. I’ve been there.”

‘Mess up’ is putting it lightly.

Raphael was his world. How could he not be? That turtle cared for him for years. Vented all his problems to him. Slash wanted to give him freedom by cutting out the dead weight, eliminate the ones who were limiting Raphael‘s potential and were just holding him back. Who always managed to make him angry in some way.

Raphael wanted to be on his own - so Slash wanted to set him free in the most twisted way possible. Killing his brothers - behind his back and then in front of him.

When Raphael turned on him, Slash saw it as an act of betrayal and was willing to end the one person that he used to care about the most. The betrayal hit him hard (although more so what Raphael said to him) but after everything that happened between Newtralizer and him … Slash gets it.

The past feels so sickening now.

“Let me guess. You saw red when he betrayed you and couldn’t stop yourself anymore and that’s why you put him into that race. Emotion started to clash with reason. You thought you knew better.“

It’s twisted and unfortunately he gets that. He did the same to Raphael.

“And when you caught him in the act, it was when people were already watching. You had the enemies of your boss and there was no turning back now. Someone else would have made the choice a lil’ easier for ya.”

Because he was the one who made 'the choice a little easier' once.

Slash wasn’t judging. It’s not his place to do so after everything he has done. Slash wouldn’t trade his team for the world - but he does not deserve them nor their kindness. Everyone in the mutanimals has done bad things, but it wasn’t their fault.

Rockwell was used as a guinea pig by his former lab partner and friend while being subjected to horrifying experiments, losing his intellect in the process and finally, the forced isolation in that small cage driving him mad and then breaking out and running wild across the streets, tearing everything or everyone apart. It was the advanced empathy - he merely reacted to how his environment would.

Leatherhead was experimented on by the Kraang for years, the mutagen and the dreadful past taking a toll on him, lashing out at everyone near.

Mondo … was taken in by one of Shredder‘s top henchmen after his parents threw him out. Just a kid who didn’t know any better and was clinging to the first person that offered him a shred of decency.

And then there was him - regardless if the mutagen was messing with his mind, Slash made those choices. And it’s something he can never take back.

Perhaps that’s why this team means a lot to him. Even when you try to better yourself, people will still look down on you and it’s making you question if you even deserve that second chance. However, he can’t say he blames Leonardo either.

He was a monster when he mutated.

But with the mutanimals? At least he can offer them a second chance. It doesn’t erase the past, but he wishes to extend that to everyone who wants to do better. The turtles likely wouldn’t understand.

Sometimes, he still feels like he is not fit to lead this team. They all rely on him. He doesn’t want to let anyone down the same way he let Raphael down.

“And sometimes … all it takes is a taste of your own medicine to realize how much of a scumbag you have been. I get it. I’ve hurt and tried to kill the one person that meant something to me. And despite that, I was still saved by that person twice. I never could wrap my head around it.“

That doesn’t mean Raphael has forgiven him (or any of the turtles) but at least they are on better terms now. Raphael still cares and worries for him - something he can’t understand.

Xever had gone above and beyond to try and help Mondo feel better. It was like they fell into their old roles once more rather easily with one slight difference. Mondo was the one leading most of the conversations now with Xever nodding along while pitching in when he could. Xever knew well what to do and say to help ease Mondo. It was clear how well they knew one another, and throughout there is a warmth to Xever's eyes. A genuine love for this kid before him.

"Oh, hah...I see the huge big green wallflower has decided to finally show itself in the limelight. How nice to see you fearless leader. It has truly been a pleasure to live amoung your walls. I am..."

Ok, maybe he shouldn't be laying things on so thick. He promised himself he would stop doing the snark as much as he had before.

"Ahem...sorry I'm not used to talking nicely to anyone other than Mondo. I suppose you want to talk about what I know? I mean, I did write stuff down right? Do you really want me to talk about dark stuff like that? I wouldn't want to do that here...near Mondo's room..."

Xever went into a corner and covered his face with his hands. God he felt so terrible inside, like living in denial was nice and all but that could only go on so long. Xever needed to vent a little here and Slash was here so buckle you shell turtle boy cause this fish gotta share.

"He was my world you know? The moment I first met him I thought...I want to be someone for this kid...I want to give him hope...a place to belong...I did genuinely want to be that for him...but..."

But he messed up in the worst way possible. Mondo got to see the real Xever who lay deep within the "Mister X" he knew and loved.

"I wasn't trying to lie as a means to hurt him. I know...the turtles all likely think I was just using him...but I wasn't...I didn't want him to end up like me...hollow and torn down by the world...so I put on the mask of the person I always wanted to be. I thought if I lied enough that mask might become real...and I could get rid of my other self..."

Mister X was a hero made to be Mondo's savior. Xever made that persona, that bravado, that moxie, all to show the kid a brighter world. Only to do the very thing he tried to not do. God, he was such a scumbag...he shouldn't be here...he didn't deserve to have this...

"I don't get how he can stand me being around...I mean with all I did...was the same thing someone did to me...I hate myself..."