Short Jonatello just because.

There was thrill every time they challenged each other. Hearts raced, blood boiled, adrenaline pumped through their veins like a life force. The thrill was present with every punch, every kick, every dirty move or low blow. The rest of their friends looked on in concern, worried for both of their well-beings. But their friends never saw what else was there. Their friends never read between the lines. For every insult or sly comment, something else was being said.

Their relationship was one of lust, thinly veiled by aggression. Neither could back down from the other. Neither would if they were given the opportunity.

For Donnie and Casey, rivalry was all part of the game. It was a strange game they had gotten themselves into; not one of cat and mouse but rather one of monster verses monster. April didn't understand it, she didn't see it the way they saw it. All she bothered to see was the two of them beating each other up. She never stayed behind for the after math. If she did she would have seen a much different side of things; the side of things that Donnie and Casey kept hidden from everyone else.

They kept the moments they were together away from the group. Moments after a brawl where Donnie would take Casey into the lab and lock the door behind him before pushing the boy up against a wall and pressing their mouths together. Casey would bite at him while running blunt finger nails across Donnie's arms, hoping to leave deep scratches.

No one else knew of them times they grabbed each other's waists, fingers pressing hard enough into each other's bodies to make the area bruise. Or when they pressed their chests together just so they could feel their heartbeats speeding up together. The way Donnie bit down Casey's chest and thighs, drawing blood and then kissing and sucking at the marks he made until every inch of Casey's body was a hickey, was a delicious secret to keep. The way Casey would run his fingers over Donnie's shell, working his nails into cracks and agitating sensitive skin in a way that would make the turtle moan, was beautiful knowledge to withhold. And no one else knew about it.

No one witnessed the quick, soft touches and dreamy words that were felt and heard between them before they were forced to clean themselves up and go back to acting like everything between them was normal. The others never heard them say 'I love you' to each other as they rested in the aftermath of being bloodied and bruised by each other.

The aftercare-the times where they would just lay together, comforting and whispering loving nothings-was something the others definitely didn't see.

But the fact that the others didn't see or know didn't make it any less real.

All the others saw was the times Donnie and Casey fought with each other, which caused concern among the group. The concern was unnecessary though.

Because everything they did in public was just for show.

And Donnie and Casey were quite the showmen.

Reviews and constructive criticism are welcomed and wanted!