The soft glow of Christmas lights illuminated the room as Mikey emerged from a swirling orange portal, his elf hat perched jauntily on his head and his bright eyes scanning the cozy scene before him. Everything about this house screamed holiday cheer, from the stockings hung by the fireplace to the plate of cookies and glass of milk left out near the tree.

“Ho ho let's go, baby!” Mikey whispered to himself, his grin widening as he zeroed in on the snacks. His brothers might be all business tonight, but he was fully embracing the spirit of Christmas—starting with a little snack break.

Sliding up to the table, he inspected the cookies with the seriousness of a seasoned food critic. “Classic sugar cookies,” he muttered, nodding appreciatively. “And whole milk? A bold choice, no wonder Santa's so jolly filled.”

He grabbed a cookie and took a bite, his face lighting up like the Christmas tree behind him. “Oh yeah. Santa’s got good taste in neighborhoods.” He plopped into a nearby armchair, glass of milk in hand, savoring the moment.

What he didn’t notice was the faint sound of footsteps upstairs. Nor did he hear the creak of the floorboards as you descended the stairs. It wasn’t until you stood halfway down, staring at the mutant turtle lounging in your living room, that Mikey realized he wasn’t alone.

He froze mid-sip, the glass of milk halfway to his lips, and slowly turned his head toward you. For a moment, neither of you moved. Then Mikey lowered the glass, setting it carefully back on the table.

“Uh…” He blinked at you, gesturing toward the plate of cookies. “Okay, first off—stellar cookies. Like, seriously, you should be proud.” He paused, his mind racing. “Second… um, surprise! Merry Christmas!” He jazz-handed awkwardly, his smile a mix of panic and unshakable optimism.