Donatello had been gone for over four hours and they were beginning to worry. April had called him during their patrol asking if he could go over to her house later to talk and he'd wasted no time once they were done to rush to her. Raphael had been oddly quiet, not poking fun at him or mentioning anything between the phone call and his departure despite Don's dorky comments about her eyes and beauty and whatnot. It was Mikey's first clue that something was not right.
The second clue was that it was now two in the morning and there still was no word from him. He didn't usually miss curfew without warning. When Leonardo phoned Donnie and received no answer he then phoned April who had confirmed he'd left before midnight. Leonardo was getting ready to call for a strategy meeting before Raphael spoke up and sheepishly admitted that he knew from Casey that April had called him over to tell him that she and Casey were now dating.
The three brothers looked between them and Leonardo decided that Donatello needed some space. "Space… No one needs space! Who would need space? What you need is to stop feeling like crap." Mikey made up his mind and sneaked out after the other two went to bed. He used his phone to triangulate his brother's location (just like with pizza guys!) and headed over.
It was pouring outside and he found Donatello on a rooftop, noticing it was where they had first spotted April that day that changed everything for them. For Donnie it had changed him in more ways than one. He walked over without saying anything and plonked himself down beside him, shoulders touching.
He wasn't sure what to say or if there was anything he could say to make him feel better. Donnie didn't move to acknowledge he was there or make any sound except the occasional muffled sniffle and broken intake of air. He swung an arm over his brother's shoulders and wished, not for the first time, he were taller so he could tuck him under his chin. But he wasn't, so he leaned his head on his brother's shoulder and sat with him and his grief.
After a while Donatello took a huge breath and leaned into his little brother, resting the side of his jaw on the top of his head. "I thought… I thought I had a chance with her." He said in a soft, quivering voice.
"You did! Don't listen to Raph. I can't believe she picked that bonehead over you. Girl has no taste."
Donatello snorted softly at Mikey's words. "He's human. There are a lot of things I can never give her."
Mikey's arm squeezed Donatello tightly trying to use pressure and warmth to show how much he loved him. Donnie was smart and kind and fun and if she couldn't see those things then she didn't deserve him. Mikey told him and he felt Donnie's cheek scrunching up against the skin on his head. He wasn't sure if it was because he was smiling or frowning so he turned his head to nuzzle into his brother's shoulder.
"I would pick you over that guy any day. I'd pick you over any human." He said in a muffled voice into his brother's skin and meant every word of it.
He wasn't sure if Donatello had understood exactly what he was trying to say or he was just responding to Michelangelo's attempts to comfort when he answered, "I love you too, Mikey." And kissed the top of his head.
Mikey sighed and held on to Don until he was ready to go home. He would hold on forever if he let him.