Drabble inspired by a song:
In all my dreams I drown- the Devil's Carnival soundtrack
Summary: Don cannot go to sleep for fear he will have his reoccuring nightmare again. Takes place in the ninja tribunal's ship.
Disclaimer: I do not own the turtles or the song used in this chapter
Warning: I understand this might imply something a lot more than brotherly love. For those who don't like it, can either stop reading right now... or chose to ignore such implications. But it is only for this chapter... I think. You have been warned. This is also a bit dark too.
italics are lyrics.
The ship it swayed, heave-ho heave-ho, on the dark and stormy blue...
And I held tight to the captain's might as he pulled up his shoes
"You haven't slept, heave-ho" he said, "in many suns and moons"
Oh I will sleep when we reach shore and pray we get there soon
Donatello stood on the deck of the large tribunal ship, the cold air whipping his face, holding on to his bo staff as the wind and waves rocked the boat. He shivered as his eyelids began to droop, "Damn, being cold blooded doesn't help..." he muttered as he shook himself awake.
Staring out at the ocean, Don could hear the low rumbling of thunder in the distance and could sense a certain dread that always seems to be in his mind before it rains. He held onto his bo staff tightly as the wind picked up a little more.
"Donatello? What are you doing still up?"
Don glanced behind him to see Leonardo walking over to him, his hands tieing his belt. A large wave rocked the ship again and Don, being momentarily distracted by his brother's arrival, lost his footing. He had slipped backwards and his bo staff dropped to the wooden deck of the boat, forgotten. He expected to land on his shell; however, a pair of hands caught him by the shoulders. Donatello turned his head to his left as he was steadied by Leo, who let him lean on his plastron for as long as it took to regain his balance. "Thanks..."
Leo gave one of his 'something is wrong' or 'you shouldn't be falling' frowns, Don couldn't tell the difference at that moment. Leo leaned in with his head on Don's shoulder to speak, "Don, don't think I haven't noticed... you haven't slept for days since we be were brought aboard this ship. You need your sleep, cause who knows what is coming next."
"I know Leo..." Don sighed weakly as he shifted his weight from his brother to the side of the boat, watching the waves increase in tenacity. "But I can't... not yet. I will when we reach land... or where ever it is that we're going... I just hope we get there soon..." the last part came with some anxiety in his voice.
He said, "Now hush love, here's your gown."
"There's the bed, lanterns down."
But I don't want to go to sleep...
In all my dreams I drown.
Leo gripped a shoulder again, with a worried look on his face, "Nonsense Donny... you can sleep here." He insisted as he tried to comfort his brother and led him away from the side to the quarters the four turtle brothers were given, though Raph and Mikey were no where to be seen. Don only shook his head though he did not resist Leo when he brought him to the room and out of the cold.
"Your bed is right over there... I'll turn the lights out then we all can get some sleep." Leo points to a cot and moves to snuff the candles.
Don stays standing where he is and shook his head again.
"I don't want to go to sleep... I can't go to sleep, Leo! I just cant!" He turned to hurry out of the room.
The captain howled "heave-ho heave-ho" And tied me up with sheets
A storm is brewing in the south, "Its time you go to sleep"
His berth it rocks heave-ho-heave-ho, the ocean nashed and moaned
Like Jonah we'll be swallowed whole and spat back teeth and bone
Leonardo growled loudly, "Oh no you don't!" He leaped and tackled Donatello to the ground before the turtle could go anywhere.
"Hey!" Donatello didn't have enough strength from lack of sleep to fight his brother off as he is wrestled into the cot. Before the turtle knew it he felt his three fingered hands being bound by the sheet covering the bed provided.
"You're gonna stay like this until you fall asleep."
"L-Leo, cut it out!" he struggled against his brother. Don could hear thunder booming outside and his heart beat quickened.
Leo was on top of him, he had to be to tie him up, using his weight as a temporary restraint. "You need to go to sleep, you're no use to us like this... you can't even shove me off you're so tired."
Don tried convulsing to throw him off but his brother was right and his body he could not budge.
"Leo!" he shouted over the crashing of the waves that were getting more and more violent. Tears welled in his eyes as fear started to rise, he continued to struggle with the sheets and against his brother's weight.
He said "Now hush love, here's youre gown."
"There's the bed, lanterns down."
But I don't want to go to sleep...
In all my dreams I drown.
Leo got off his brother, knowing that Don wasn't going anywhere any time soon, and knealed next to him. Putting his forehead to Don's, Leo whispered "Shhh, you'll wake everyone..." even though there was no one else in the room he kept his voice low. "Please sleep, Donny...Please."
Don could feel his brother's concern, in his voice and through the cringes in his brow, and his empty sigh echoed a hidden dread "I do not want to go to sleep.." looking into Leo's blue masked eyes with fear. He could see Leo's expression as though he were caught by suprise and his brother got off him.
"Why Donatello?"
Don stares hollow eyed at a point on the floor as he spoke. "I dream that I'm surrounded by water, in a tank, a box, a room... or a ship... Im pounding on the glass or what ever barrier holds me in... or I try to run but Im always trapped!" His gaze lifted up to his brother
"And the water," Donatello continued. "It's always there and it rises fast. It swallows me and I try to fight it... but I... I always drown Leo... I'm drowning everytime I close my eyes, everytime I go to sleep!" he squeezed his eyes shut and a tear escaped them, he mentally chased away bits and peices from past dreams that threatened to overwhelm him.
Captain! Captain! I will do your chores
I will warm your cot at night
and mop the cabin floors
Scold me, hold me, I'll be yours to keep
The only thing I beg of you... Don't make me go to sleep.
Don knew Leo would make him go to sleep anyways... So suddenly, and desperately, he reached out for his brother with his bound hands as the swaying of the ship nearly knocked him out of bed; he sat up. "Leo... I'll do anything for you! I'll do your chores when we get home, you don't have to lift a finger."
Leo's face looked taken aback by his brother's sudden change in behavior though he did not move back from Don.
"I'll be your slave, Leo..." Don moved forwards as immense fear of his nightmares compelled him. "You can yell at me... even use me... I will belong to you..."
Standing now, he was so close to Leo that their plastrons were touching barely. Leo simply stared at him while Don continued, "I'll do anything, just... please don't make me go to sleep!" tears streamed down his face as he pleaded to his brother.
The sky it flashed, heave-ho-heave-ho, and the pillow torn to the brink
The curtains ran between my legs as we began to sink
I closed my eyes, heave-ho-heave-ho, as the ship was rent and felled
Eddies in the water headed to the mouth of hell
Thunder boomed louder than before and flashes of lightning lit up the room as the brunt of the storm was upon them. Don suddenly felt a shiver and looked down to see cold ocean water rushing over their feet, with more flooding in by the second.
"No... no! This can't be happening!" Don squeezed his eyes shut in fear, as though the very act would chase the water away. Though when he opened them the water was still there, cold and mind numbing. He grabbed Leo's arm, "We have to get out of here, untie me! Quick!"
Leo only stared at him, his eyes feigning indifference. The Ship creaked loudly as if it were being torn apart by the water and wind.
Don stepped back, until the back of his legs bumped into the cot, disturbed by his brother's lack of emotion. "L-Leo?"
"Hush now, hush love. Heres your gown."
"There's the bed, lanterns down."
With one swift motion Leo pushed Don back onto the bed, holding him down with his hands on Don's shoulders. "It's nothing Don, you should go to sleep." he reiterated.
"Leo! The water!"
The ocean water was now soaking the cot. Don looked hopelessly up into Leo's eyes and still could not find any emotion or remorse in his actions. "Don you must go to sleep..." and his brother's mouth then turned into a small smirk.
"Oh no..." Leo would never take this kind of sick pleasure in holding his brother down, this wasn't Leo.
Im begging you please wake me up
"...No!" Don struggled for his life against the bindings and Leo, "This is another dream! S-Someone please wake me up! Leo! Mikey! Raph! Someone help me!"
The water rushed over his chest and Leo was suddenly no longer holding him down, but Donatello was still struggling against an unseen force. He took his last gulp of air as the water rose above his head... he could not see the room... and all went dark.
In all my dreams I...
Mmm... this may have a few more drabble chapters after this... I have some thoughts.
Though I like to hear your thoughts too, just make them good and constructive as I am always trying to improve.
Also the lyrics are not all correct as they are only written from what the audio sounds like, repeat: these are not accurate lyrics. (I suggest you listen to the song)