Worth Nothing
This is my first attempt at a Yaoi AU. Feedback appreciated.
I don't own the Ninja Turtles in any form.
Donatello stretched as he sat up, letting out a cough as he breathed in some of the dusty motes that permeated his subterranean hovel. Slipping out of his sleeping bag he got dressed by putting on some white spandex leggings over which he put on a ratty pair of jeans and a tattered purple shirt.
Glancing at himself in a broken mirror he had found at the local dump he noted that his scruffy mouse-brown hair had grown rather long in the past three months. He debated getting his hair cut, but decided against it. He didn't want to risk catching the attention of Child Protective Services, or worse recognized by anyone associated with 'him'.
While the past three months had been hard, they were nothing compared to the hell he had escaped from. And he was determined to leave it all behind him, no matter what it took. In a few years he would be 18 so he wouldn't be subjected to the foster care system. All he needed to do was endure a couple years of high school, earn a scholarship, and then go to any school as far away from New York City as he could possibly go.
Shrugging, he tied his hair into a low ponytail, though that did give something for someone to grab on to. Perhaps if he managed to find a knife or a pair of scissors somewhere he could shorten it. Packing up his school bag he left the derelict subway car he had made into his home and rushed up to the surface. Moving aside a plywood board he glanced around to make sure no one saw him. One of the last things he needed was the authorities on his case about being a squatter. While jail would be somewhat better than the streets, the streets were better than being back with 'him'. The world didn't understand or care and he doubted anyone ever would. The only way he could escape his life for good and all was to gain the means to live his own life. And one way to start was by attending the local community high school.
"Hey guys, did you check out the latest Chris Bradford movie?" A blue eyed kid dressed in an orange shirt and a pair of cut-off jeans rushed up to two other boys of the same age."
The boy was short for his age making him look more like he was twelve; the freckles dusting his face didn't help with that either. The mop of fluffy white-gold hair framed his face in a way that made him resemble a cherub who had joined a boy band.
The blond boy's companions, however, couldn't have been more mismatched. The elder of the two had shoulder length black hair, an athletic build, and was dressed in a pair of pressed black slacks and a blue turtleneck. The second boy, however, looked rougher in appearance. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans with a red sleeveless muscle shirt and a golden-tan zip-up sweatshirt, each hand sporting black fingerless biker gloves. His hair was a fiery orange mane, while a cold stoniness resided in his emerald green eyes.
"Yes, Mikey," the preppy one replied with streigned patience. "We saw it yesterday… And last week when it came out."
"Yeah, wasn't it great?!" the freckled one excitedly gushed. "I wish he taught at our school; he and I have so much in common. I'm a martial artist, he's a martial artist, it's a friendship made by destiny."
"Great isn't exactly how I would describe that film…though it is better than that hokey 'Space Heroes' movie that I had to suffer through last month," the fiery one grumbled earning him a sour look from his dark-haired companion. "And I highly doubt Chris Bradford would ever want to be your friend even if he did take up a job at this dump of a school. I don't even want to be friends with you and I'm an unfortunate relation."
"Hey, I'm a cool guy, Raph," Freckles retaliated. "I'm sure Rad Brad would be happy to be friends with me, he's already friends with me on 'Myface' and he lets me follow him on 'Snaptweet', and 'Instagadge'."
"That doesn't mean he's really your friend, Mikey," Leonardo chided. "I'm 'MyFace Friends' with several members of the 'Space Heroes cast' cast, but they aren't actually my friends."
"Aren't you the president of the 'Captain Ryan fan club', Leo?" Raph pointedly asked. "Don't you think that would get you some recognition? But, oh, wait...that's right, you're also the only member because no one actually likes that stupid show."
"Dudes," Mikey smirked, "I bet you a week's worth of Murakami's pizza gyoza, that anyone would become friends with me."
"Alright then," Raph scoffed and eyed the high school foyer, trying to see someone who would be a worthy challenge, his hard green eyes landing on a lone boy with longish, mouse-brown hair who was walking into the school building. The boy was dressed in a tattered purple hooded sweatshirt and ragged jeans. He noticed the unknown made no eye contact with anyone as he walked, keeping his face turned to the floor.
"Make friends with that guy," Raph challenged as he pointed a thumb towards the brown-haired boy. "He really looks like he really wants the 'Mikey Treatment'.
"Watch and see," Mikey answered and began to follow the unknown boy.
With the exception of a few people scattered throughout the hallway, there was no one else aside from the brown-haired boy. Mikey casually observed as the boy stopped at one of the lockers. Looking at a slip of paper he had in his hand the boy confirmed this locker was his and began to try and open it, but was met with some difficulty.
~Time for Dr. Mike-enstine to do a little friendly maintenance,~ Mikey smirked as he approached.
Donatello rattled the latch to the locker. He was certain he had put in the combination correctly. Resetting the tumblers he tried again, hearing a satisfying click with each rotation only for the latch to refuse to lift.
"Allow me," a voice said before a blond-haired kid stepped in front of him. Cracking his knuckles, he banged twice on the metal locker door, then lifted up the latch to allow it to swing open with ease.
"Um…thanks," Donnie answered, not really certain about the blond boy that just helped him.
"Hey, it's what I do," the boy responded with an impish grin. "I had this one my Freshman year, so I just needed to use a little my awesome 'Miketastic' magic to convince it to open up. The name's Michelangelo—Mikey to my friends... what's yours?"
"Don….Donatello," the brown-haired boy said.
"Wow, great to meet ya,Donnie," Mikey beamed. "I think I'm going to have fun, having you for a friend."
~When did I say anything about us being friends?~ Donatello thought as Mikey continued to grin at him like a puppy awaiting a treat.
"So what's your first class today?" Mikey asked. Donnie glanced at the scantron he held in his hand a moment.
"I have English Lit in about ten minutes," Donnie answered.
"Awesome," Mikey animatedly stated. "My friend Leo is in that class. I know you'd like him. And if you have gym this afternoon, then you'd probably see my cousin Raph. Don't let his mean looks fool you, he's actually a nice guy once you get to know him. Oh, and Casey as well...he's Raph's boyfriend...um, you aren't offended by dudes who like dudes, are you?"
Donatello just gave a noncommittal shrug at Mikey's question. "Well, I need to get to class," he said before he turned and traveled down the hall without a second glance. Mikey sighed, feeling this meeting could have gone a bit better.
"Looks like he was really eager to be your friend, Mikey," Raph chuckled sarcastically as he came up behind his cousin. "He was so excited he forgot to ask for your phone number. I guess that's a week's worth of pizza gyoza you owe me!"
"Come on, man," Mikey protested. "Friendships like this don't happen in five minutes. The bet was that he would want to become my friend, not that he would be my friend by the end of the day."
"Guys," Leo cautioned, "you really shouldn't be making bets on who will become friends with you, that can backfire."
"Backfire?" Mikey snorted. "If someone was taking bets on me, I'd be flattered."
"I'm serious, Mikey!" The dark-haired boy scolded. "If you try to make friends with someone as part of a bet, it will come back to bite you."
"Don't you have a class to get to, Leo?" Raph smirked at his companion. "You don't want to ruin your perfect attendance record by being late on the first day."
Entering the English Literature class, Leonardo noticed the brown-haired boy that Mikey had tried talking to earlier. Right now he was seemingly being ignored by the other students in the classroom, though some did glance over at him and snigger to one another.
"Man, what sort of guy has eyelashes that long?" one boy jeered. "They make him look girly."
"Maybe he's a tranny," a female student suggested. The brown-haired boy sat, quietly trying to ignore the whispered taunts, but it was clear that they were bothering him.
"Mind if I sit here?" Leonardo asked the brown-haired boy, gesturing towards the empty desk next to him. The boy in response looked up at Leo in surprise as though he hadn't expected anyone would want to even be near him. Leo couldn't help but notice how beautiful the boy before him was. He had large, almost almond-shaped eyes, that were such a rich reddish-brown they seemed to stand out against his alabaster complexion. He also had long eyelashes that also made his appearance appear feminine and his two front teeth appeared to have a noticeable but charming gap between them. There was also something oddly vulnerable about him that Leo just couldn't place.
"Sure," Donnie answered, feeling self-conscious as the elegant creature took the seat beside him. The dark-haired, blue-eyed boy looked like something he'd never be. With his torn clothes and scrawny form, Donnie felt he looked like something that crawled out from under a rock. He couldn't understand why anyone like this handsome Adonis would want to be in the same room with him.
"Okay, everyone, when I call your name please stand up and introduce yourselves," the teacher instructed as he entered the room. Donatello continued to sit quietly, not paying any attention to anyone. He wasn't one of them, he was worthless…these kids had homes, families, people who cared. The elegant looking boy stood up when the name Leonardo was called.
"I'm Leonardo," the boy answered proudly. "My father is the head instructor at the Hamato Dojo. My hobbies include fencing, drawing, and nature appreciation." A few students snickered and/or whispered to one another as Leo sat down.
"Moving on…Donatello..." the teacher called out. No one appeared to move, the teacher glanced over the class as though trying to match a face to the name. "Donatello..." the teacher called again. Donnie slowly got to his feet. He felt like he stood naked before the room, all eyes staring at him.
"I'm Donatello." The boy answered in hardly more than a whisper.
"Speak up, young man," the teacher commanded.
"I'm…Donatello." Donnie said louder. "And that's all there is." He then sat down without another word.
"And is that all you have to say?" the teacher asked raising an eyebrow. "Surely there is something special you wish to share with the class?"
"Yeah, like where you get your crappy clothes from," one student rudely snarked, earning a few laughs.
"Or why your teeth make you look like you fell off the turnip truck," said someone jeered.
"Or why you look like you are in need of a haircut," another student brayed. Leo, however, was becoming incensed by the cruel commentary. Before he realized what he was doing, the dark-haired boy got to his feet. His deep ocean-blue eyes blazed as he glared at the other students around him.
"Sit down, Leonardo, we are moving on," The teacher commanded as he jotted down a note and continued to take role. Donnie didn't know what the teacher had written, but it didn't take many guesses for him to know it was something along the lines of "problematic."
When class was over Donnie made sure he was the last one to leave the room. He was going to have to endure the same treatment in every one of his classes, but he didn't want to have to deal with that in the halls of the school. As he exited the classroom he saw Leo standing close to the door as if waiting for him.
"Are you alright?" Leo asked as he approached. Donnie was taken aback by this. Did he just hear this person ask if he was alright? He didn't want to believe it; it had to be a trick.
"I'm fine," Donnie tersely answered. ~Don't get attached. Attachments only make it hurt more.~
"I hope so," Leo stated. "I can't stand it when people are rude to others like that." Donnie blinked in surprise at this comment, but said nothing in response.
"What class do you have next?"
"Math," Donnie answered "followed by World History."
"Ah, so we will be in the same class again," Leo smiled. Donnie inwardly groaned; it wasn't that he didn't like being in the same class with Leo... It was just that the dark-haired boy looked too perfect, everything about him was perfect. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he dressed. The beautiful creature that walked the halls beside him was everything he was not. It was like being in the presence of a god.
"I guess I'll see you during history?" Leo queried, as he stopped in front of the art room.
"I guess," Donnie mumbled, before walking off. Leo watched the scrawny brown-haired boy with some concern. Never before had he met someone so guarded and at the same time so vulnerable. The boy carried himself as though he was fragile, but at the same time there was an air that made him seem as though he was worth nothing.