Note: I was asked "when did Donatello and Leonardo become a couple in Webbed Glass?" Um, since it was Raphael and Michelangelo centered, I can see how some people didn't pick up the less ventured avenue of Don and Leo. But so everyone knows in Webbed Glass Donatello and Leonardo were already a couple. Sure they were not intimate in the bedroom but they still held hands and shared kisses, for them that was the extent of their relationship at the time, thus why the sequel to WG is centered on them and not the other two, so I can explore that lovely route with you. Hope that cleared things up.
Special Note!! There is a part you might thing Splinter is OOC, I explain it best that I could so just keep reading. Give me your thoughts and comments upon the event that happens with him in it so that I can make things better. Thank you.
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Chapter 2
Love, it was a grand thing, a warmth that was unsurpassed in its nurture. Like a beautiful plant it started off with a small seed and with tender care it grew and blossomed, but neglected it could wither and rot turning into sour bitter leafs. It could also become poisonous if the seed was sown in the wrong soil, taking on properties of its environment, thorns on a usually harmless stem may take place due to habitat and soon become an ugly creature that cries out for constant attention. Love, it was a fickle creature like the weather, but when accepted for its flaws could always become the snow flakes of silent dreams like winter's first snow. Pure and white, soft and delicate. Donatello's love was like the snow. It allowed Leonardo to sleep easy at night because of the silence that was comfort; it was soft and delicate for the few fights they have had with each other were triggered due to the heat of stress and worry. Worry over their brothers not being able to heal properly, worry over Splinter's health, stress from not wanting to be caught in each other's arms, stress with having to hide their love in the shadows. The fights were always short lived, always resulting in strong embraces and apologizes. Leonardo's love was like the weather, fickle in how to show itself. Some times he would out right kiss the mechanic when they were in the garage or in the lab. Other times he would be shy and only hold hands even though they were all alone. From day to day Donatello would have to guess what mood his love was in by the level of aggression given towards their shared moments.
Today, Leonardo was possessive. It was a new side that the olive turtle had never encountered before, to say he did not like this new display of affection would be hard pressed. He was currently enjoying being pressed into the wall of his room, mouth over his own with his hands pinned by the wrist. The thigh spreading his knees was delicious torture and he could only beg with moans that they could finally be allowed to take their relationship to the next level. But he knew better than that. His chosen mate was upset and needed reassurance, that's why the kiss was so desperate. Leonardo needed to remind himself that his gentle brother was all his and no one else's to place claim to. After going to April's to check the package that was mysteriously sent he felt something twist in side of him. The package with gifts of technological equipment that Donatello always dreamed about nestled between brown-green knees, the letter typed in blocky black ink telling Donatello how long he had been admired from afar; it all made him sick. His stomach felt heavy with emotion when Donatello was torn between taking the strange gift and throwing it away, deciding to let April have it until they could figure out who sent it. He felt desperate to reinstate that he was the one that should be the only one looking at the techno geek like that. The twisting coil in his gut writhed at the thought that someone had been watching and waiting with eyes that wanted more than they should. That was two days ago, the following day there was a card that had showed up, speaking of longevity in love with a pressed flower inside. Donatello did not know what to do with it, so he let the paper and flora slip from his fingers into the trash simply stating that sending something once should have surfaced a normal person to wait for a reply, a second gift so soon afterwards was something that started to make him uneasy. Then yesterday he got a delivery of rare fruits around the world, with out hesitation he threw them away, not trusting if something had been injected past the rine and into the flesh. Today someone had given him a cell phone, left it at Casey's apartment with a ribbon tied around it curled beautifully with purple color. Soon as he touched it, the phone had rang. He tentatively answered, before tossing the phone from his hand like it had just moved. He had been alone with Raphael at the time. His hot-headed brother picking up the phone, he had rushed to the window of the apartment, opened it and made an obscene gesture with his hand while shouting into the cell, "Back off or I'll hunt you down myself!!" The screaming bellow that resembled more of a guttural wolf's howl was what Leonardo had heard when he was coming up the fire escape to join his brothers. He had hurried up, saw the phone tossed into the alleyway so hard it shattered against the neighboring building, cracking a window in the process. When he came up and through the window he found Donatello shaking and holding onto Raphael who was shutting all the curtains and growling about a "dead man". They had gone home shortly after, making some excuse as to why he was so upset to their father before taking him to his room. Raphael opted to go make some tea with calming lemon and honey leaving the two by themselves. Leonardo did not have the heart to ask what had happened, so he just held and soothed. But when dark innocent eyes looked up to him he felt that coil in his stomach snap, he claimed lips, stroked flesh, trying to pour out all of his frustrations into the open and all of his reassurances into Donatello.
Soon enough they had to breath, when they pulled apart, the blue clad turtle ran his hands from wrists up to face and cupped cheeks, he pressed his forehead against his brothers, nuzzling their beaks together in a way that he found was comforting to the brown-green tinker-er, "No matter what, I'll protect you."
"I know," Donatello closed his eyes, breathing in the smell and taste of his forest green brother, "You always have Leo, and... and if you get sick or hurt I know Raph and Mikey are there to help."
He was pulled into a possessive hug, hands sliding around torso and neck to press against shell almost painfully, "We'll get through this, we'll get through this."
It was more of his own benefit that the leader of four brothers spoke this, he needed the reassurance that they could find someone that had the upper hand. There was a knock on the door, they pulled away enough to make it look like it was just a normal hug when bright blue eyes blinked into the room. Michelangelo hovered for a minute before tentatively stepping into the room, in his arms a stuffed teddy-bear that was some cheap rendition of a panda that he had loved since his younger years. He looked lost, and... destroyed.
"Mikey?" Donatello stepped forward noticing something was definitely not right. His brother sniffled long and hard, letting it out with a shuddering breath, he was having a hard time keeping his focus on one spot in the room. He turned his head; there, that was what was wrong. A red welt that looked slightly swollen.
"Mikey what happened?" the leader let go of his love in favor for the dejected child that was whimpering.
"I... I uh..." He couldn't look up, the cement floor keeping his sight glued.
Brown green hands lifted chin, "What happened?"
Tears started to soak bandanna, teeth gritted hard. The youth flinched from the sound of something crashing outside and raised voices. Leonardo did not blink when he hurried out of the room opening the door to hear shouts and demands. He slammed the door shut muffling the noise once more leaving Donatello to comfort their distort sibling. He closed his eyes while he wrapped his arms around his little brother, the shouting only getting louder as his heart began to crack, thin as a pencil line at first but it became thicker and thicker as the voices continued. Eventually it broke and he was crying along with his brother, both finding themselves on their knees as the held onto each other tightly.
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Raphael circled around the couch, making sure the object was between him and his father. For the first time in his life he was angry at the rat that raised them. He had seen Mikey give Raphael a kiss, a kiss that brothers should not share in Splinter's world. He had struck the youngest, out raged by their actions. The emerald turtle had quickly lept to the defense of his lover, sending the orange loving turtle off to his room while he tried to settle things with their father. At first it was hushed voices, demands for apologies, but when told this behavior was far more developed than first thought and that it was not going to stop it became close to very physical. The only reason why the turtle did not lash out was because he could understand where his father was coming from. He understood the blasphemy that must be haunting the rat, it haunted himself for a long time, but he got over it. Now it was simply a waiting game. Splinter was stressed and his son knew it. Not only did he nearly loose one to the evils of the world, but now, not long after, another one of his boys was being hunted in an other way. He was scared, confused, he didn't know what to do and what to accept. Their words kept on escalating, higher and louder, Leonardo had joined in trying to get them to stop, but when it was said that Leonardo had known about the relationship and had not spoken up the rat felt betrayed. The issue of honor started to be discussed, along with the fact that Leonardo had a relationship to Donatello. That was when fate laughed, it tore at the tapestry of loving family enjoying the shreds that its malicious claws created. It chewed on the frays with the words spoken from fur covered lips, "You are no sons of mine!"
Everything stopped moving. The air felt heavy and suffocating as breath became hard to pull in and out of lungs. Two sets of eyes turn away, the deep hurt shown for a glimpse before Raphael turned away and headed for his room. A four fingered hand reached out to his retreating figure, words choking. He had not meant it, they were still his boys, they were his children that he had raised since they were just tiny turtles. He had provided them with life and teachings, he still loved them, he had just lost control. The first time he had ever lost control in his life, right at a time when his sons needed him and he lost control.
Raphael came out of his room, back pack slung over shoulders as he adjusted straps. Head held high he walked over to the door of the lab opening it up as if nothing had happened at all. He disappeared inside, soon coming out with two smaller brothers, both he held closely to his side, lovingly keeping a hand on their shells and escorting them to the exit.
"No, Raphael, Michelangelo, I-"
The tallest of the brothers stopped, not turning around, his voice was gruff with untold emotions as he tried to keep his cool, "You need to meditate on this. We'll be back in a few days. We'll.. see you then... father." And he continued on, taking Donatello and Michelangelo outside.
"Leonardo, I did not mean it. I did not mean to," he looked at his hands that were shaking. "Michelangelo I struck him out of anger. I must apologize, I..."
Strong hands rested on his shoulders, guiding him to sit on the couch. He allowed himself to be seated, looking away from his hands when a heavy weight was settled next to him. Leonardo pulled his feet up, folding them in a meditative position. "You know," he began softly in a whisper, as if any louder of a voice would harm what little of a delicate balance was obtained once more. "We didn't say anything because we were afraid of being rejected."
"Leonardo I-"
"Shh, not just by you Sensei, but by Casey and April, you are all family to us. April is our sister, Casey our brother, and you our father... we... wanted to keep it secret because we wanted you all to remain in good health. If you had heard about these new developments when Raphael was being hurt or even now while Donatello is being scared, we were so sure that something bad would happen when usually you would be open minded." He looked over and offered a smile, a part of it forced from not being able to forget the hurtful words just spoken moments before, "There is no need to explain yourself, we understand that everyone has their limitations, if I was in your position I would do the same. We know what you said was a lie, not even close to your real feelings towards us. But right now, I think Raphael has the best idea. We'll get out of your hair for a few days and you can meditate on all of this. When we come back, we'll all be much calmer and discuss things with less worries." He reached over, running his hand through fur, "Alright?"
An old head nodded, eyes closed shut tightly, "Yes."
Leonardo unfolded himself, leaning over and giving his father a reassuring hug around the shoulders, "Three days, we'll be back in three days."
Splinter twisted and took his son into a tight hug, "I am so sorry my son," he squeezed tighter to a painful point, the uncomfortable factor forgotten to both as he held on trying to relay his regret of what he had done.
"I'll relay your message, father," the forest green turtle pulled back giving one more stroke to fur before leaving. "Be healthy."
When Leonardo finally found his brothers they were sitting on a mattress that was stored away at one of their favorite hideouts. There were a few blankets and pillows fresh and clean, obviously Raphael had taken the time to stop by April's to get a few things he had not taken from their home. He had Michelangelo up against his chest, holding him tight abandoning the panda bear in favor for his lover. One arm was around his lover and his free hand was clasped on Donatello's shoulder.
"You both listen to me," his voice was soft and stern. "No matter what, he's still our dad. You know him, he didn't mean it." He gave Donnie a small shake, "He still loves you." He leaned over a little to gaze at his mate's tear stricken face, "And he loves you." He looked between the two of them, "Not matter what, he was just surprised that's all. He'll be back to his old self when we get home and he'll be tellin' ya himself that he was in the wrong. Got that?"
Purple nodded, orange remained silent. Red looked down once more, "Got it Mikey? I bet ya a whole month of chores that he'll even be willin' to let ya slack off of trainin' for comic readin' for a whole week because he feels that bad about hurtin' ya."
Orange just snuggled into the warm chest.
To Be Continued...
