Disclaimer: So not mine.
Author Notes: Done as a challenge issued by Kunoichi Nazena over at Stealthy Stories. The idea was to make a turtle drunk and I thought, I can do that, but let's pick someone you wouldn't expect. Thus this was born.
I don't want to fight anymore.
"Don, please be quite! Donatello hush!" Leonardo begged, as he tried to help haul his inebriated brother into the lair without waking up Master Splinter. The fact that he had to go pick up his brainy brother in the first place was bad enough, but the last thing he needed was to have Splinter catch them. Luck was not on Leo's side however, when he heard Donatello call out to their master gleefully.
"Master Splinter your awake!" Don was completely oblivious to the disappointment on Splinters face. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. Splinter was downright floored that his smartest son was hanging drunkenly off his eldest, babbling away a mile a minute about nothing in particular. Leonardo for his part, looked like he wanted nothing more than to drag his drunk brother out of the lair and out of Splinters line of sight, to try and save at least a little face for his brother.
"Leonardo, please deposit your brother on the sofa, I wish to speak with him." Master Splinter told him with a slight warning tone. With only minimal hesitation, Leo did as he was told, before drifting off into the kitchen. Splinter knew exactly why his oldest had not gone far, just in case something should happen, he could easily hurry back in.
"Bye Leo!" Don called after his brother before looking down at his hands. Splinter sighed before moving to stand before his son.
"Donatello, why have you done this?" He demanded in the gentlest voice he could muster.
"What?" Donatello asked, blinking stupidly up at him. "Oh, Oh you mean this!" He said suddenly motioning wildly at himself.
"Yes, I would very much like to know why you have come home in this state."
"You wouldn't understand." Don said sullenly.
"You don't know that for sure." He replied, seating himself next to his son.
"I, no it's just.." Don floundered for a few moments trying to find the right words. "I'm tired of being alone."
"What? You are not alone, you have your brothers and friends, and even I." Splinter said surprised by his answer.
"But you don't understand." Don said plaintively. "None of you do, you try but you can't!"
"Can't what?" Splinter asked carefully. "What can't we understand."
"I don't want to fight Master Splinter!" Donatello suddenly blurted out.
"You have drunk yourself into a stupor because you do not wish to fight?" Splinter asked carefully making sure he actually understood what his son had said. Donatello nodded miserably and Splinter gently put a paw on his shoulder in concern Why had he not known his son felt this way?
"Go to bed Donatello, we will discuss this further in the morning. You are excused from practices until further notice." He said at last. His purple banded son looked at him with slightly wet, yet hopeful eyes.
"Really?" He asked in surprise, as if he fully expected Splinter to scold him for such a thought.
"Yes, do you require help to your room? Leonardo is not far away." Splinter said motioning to where the blue banded turtle stood, no doubt having heard everything.
"I'm sorry Master Splinter!" Don said frantically thinking this dismissal meant Splinter was angry.
"If anyone is sorry, it is me my son." Splinter said quietly. "Let your brother take you to your room."
"Leo?" Don asked and Leo moved, quickly helping heave Don to his feet to steady him.
"Don't worry Donnie, it'll be ok." He tried to assure him, as Don threw his arms around his oldest brother in an awkward hug.
"I'm sorry Leo." Don mumbled, and Leo tried to pull him off to lead him to his room.
"No reason to be bro, come on, a good nights sleep is what you need." Leo said in the best understanding big brother voice he could muster. Splinter gave them both a tight smile before he heard Leo promise to stay with Don and the two disappeared into the lab.
Splinter put his head in his hands for just a moment before he sighed. He would talk to Donatello in the morning, once he was sober. Until then, Splinter decided he would meditate to find an answer to this problem, and try to loose the disappointment he held for his son and more importantly for himself.
It would be a long night.
