It was just another fight with the Kraang. Just another normal day as a mutant turtle trained in the arts of ninjitsu. But there's one thing that didn't change: him.
That stupid stick of his finally pulled the last straw. Come on, how are you supposed to even think about going into battle against alien technology when all you have is a six foot stick? Is it even possible to win?
For Donatello, he had all the questions, yet none of the answers. So now, as he sat in his reclusive lab, he irritably laid his head down on the edge of his cluttered desk and gently squeezed his eyes shut. Not having knowledge always gotten under his skin. That's why he spent hours and hours of research on simple questions such as "Why is the sky blue?". And although his brothers might tease him for blabbering on and on about the countless pieces of information he has gathered throughout his lifetime, it gives him peace of mind to be aware of even the smallest of facts in order to be prepared for the unexpected.
However, on that particular day, he was not prepared for the unexpected.
Donatello glanced down at his injured hand and groaned. It wasn't because of the pain that throbbed mercilessly throughout his entire arm, but rather out of utter irritation. He should've seen that Kraang droid coming at him with a plasma dagger sooner, but by the time he had gotten over the fact that his bo staff had broken for the umpteenth time, it was far too late. He had dropped his shattered stick and whipped out his hand in order to block the blow that was intended for his head.
Way to go, hotshot.
The lab door then creaked open, but the distressed scientist didn't bother to turn around. Judging by the steady rhythm the soft footsteps approached him with, he could instantly tell who it was. Although, he could much rather go without one of his brother's infamous lectures at the moment.
"How is it?"
Donatello drummed his good hand against the desktop as he refused to turn around. "Not much better. It's only been a few hours."
"A few hours is actually a long time when you think about it, so taking your hand out of the picture, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Don irritably parroted, drumming his fingers with more intensity. "I mean, getting slashed in the hand I use for that particularly infuriating staff of mine isn't exactly my ideal way of going out, Leo."
A rasping of a chair across the ground indicated that his eldest brother had come right up behind him. "You aren't out, Don. Sure, you might be injured, but that doesn't mean you're done for."
"That's a matter of opinion," Donnie stubbornly replied. "I feel like I failed either way."
Abruptly, a hand rested on the scientist's shoulder and gently yanked, spinning him around in his swivel chair. Donatello slightly shied away from his brother's steel, sapphire gaze.
Leonardo studied him for a few short moments. Then, removing his hand from his brother, he sighed. "You didn't fail, Donnie. You can't expect yourself to be perfect. It's just not going to happen, and the sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be."
"But I just feel like… like I got the worst of almost everything," Donatello countered. When his leader's eyes flickered with confusion, he let out a deep sigh. "I'm not the best fighter, I'm not the favorite student, I'm not the strongest in the family. Sometimes, I feel like I'm just here to be here – like I'm just here to run some mathematical problems, and after that, I'm no longer needed." He rubbed tiredly at his eyes before dramatically letting his hand slap back down on his leg. "Shell, even half of my inventions hardly ever work. What good am I for this team?"
Leo bit the inside of his cheek, contemplating the insecure words his brother had just dared to murmur. Then an idea hit him hard.
"So, are you pathetic?" he blandly stated.
"…Yes."
"Are you worthless, completely meaningless?"
Donnie swallowed. "Yes."
"Would you be better off dead?"
Donatello gazed at his brother in astonishment. "Where are you going with this, Leo?"
Leo shrugged. "I'm just asking."
"Well, you can stop now." Donnie turned back to the computer behind him and turned it on, making it a point that he was done with the conversation. Much to his dismay, Leo didn't back down so easily.
"Why don't you want to answer?"
"Why do I need a reason?"
"There's a reason behind everything."
"Exactly, so what's your reason for all these questions?"
Leonardo walked around to the front of his brother, seating himself on the edge of the desk right beside the flashing computer screen. Donnie, however, didn't seem to notice his position change. Or at least he didn't acknowledge it. Leo frowned.
"I just want to understand what's going on in there." Leonardo lightly tapped the side of Donatello's head, making the genius turn to face him. "Why don't you help me out?"
Donnie only faintly shook his head before turning back to his computer. He clicked random files in order to keep himself distracted from the other's questioning gaze. "It doesn't matter."
"What doesn't matter? You?" Leo plainly questioned as if he were simply asking 'What do you want to eat?'.
"Will you please stop?" the younger turtle suddenly snapped. He leaned back in his chair but refused to look at his leader. Leonardo, on the other hand, trained his icy blue pools on his brother's harshly paling face.
"And what exactly do you want me to stop, Donatello?" the eldest pressed. "To stop making you think? To stop giving voice to what you're feeling on the inside since you won't do it yourself?"
Suddenly, Donnie jumped onto his feet and made a beeline to the lab door. He had had enough of this. Just as his hand closed around the door handle, his brother was by his side with an unnatural speed that only Leonardo could possess. Leo pushed one of his own hands against the door, refraining Donnie from leaving.
"Let me out."
"Answer."
Donatello loosely crossed his arms and chewed his bottom lip. "I already have, Leo, so would you please let me out so I can get some food?"
"No," Leonardo disagreed at the excuse, still blocking his brother's only escape. "I believe I have answered for you so far. Use that big brain for something other than running numbers, Don; use it to think for yourself."
The door gently creaked as Don leaned tiredly against it, the plates of his shell scratching uncomfortably against the cool metal. Instead of giving his concerned brother a response, he shook his head for a second time. Leonardo let out a breath of unnamed emotions.
He let his hand drop from the cold metal as he softly spoke, "Well then, I guess I'll just answer everything for you, Donnie. It's not true. You're so much more than a calculator for this team. You have not only the much-needed wits, but also the calm and steady attitude that we all need no matter how much we deny it. I mean, come on, we all know Raph is just a ticking bomb, Mikey is a straight out goofball, and I'm stressed almost every day of the week." Leo rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at his brother. Donatello was looking everywhere else but him, and Leonardo swallowed hard. "Trust me, Donnie. You're very important to us all, and you don't need to be a grand master ninja in order to make that true."
Donatello didn't reply. Leonardo craned his neck in order to meet his brother's eyes. The soft brown irises were glistening and slightly glazed over with countless emotions. Instead of further pressing him, Leo once again put a hand on the other's shoulder and gave him a warm smile.
"Well, before Raph calls me out for being a sap, do you want to go get some pizza before Mikey single-handedly finishes it all?"
And at that, Donnie smiled as well.
A/N
Well, I don't know, I sorta liked this one. I feel as if there isn't enough Donnie and Leo fluff.
In fact, I feel as if Donnie doesn't get enough attention overall. He's such an important addition to the team, and this chapter is basically what I feel about him. I don't know; I am a weird person(:
Until next time ~
