Disclaimer & Warnings:
I do not own the Turtles, as much as I would love to.
*This chapter contains allusions to turtlecest.*

Chapter Twenty-One

Donatello returned the phone to its cradle, giving Raphael a triumphant smile. Raphael, however, missed it as his nose was buried in the guts of the old radio he'd found.

"So, they found my little surprise," Donnie said, grinning evilly as he sat by his brother. He picked up the iron stoker and idly poked at the smoking wood in the fireplace.

"Wuzzat?" Raphael asked distractedly.

"Remember Despicable Me?"

Raphael finally looked up, smiling. "Yeah, pretty neat. Megamind was better, though."

Donatello put the stoker down and rubbed his hands together. "Agreed. But… I made cookie robots!"

"Ya did?" Raphael's smile grew. "Wait, wait; an' ya put 'em out as a surprise?"

"Yes," Donnie laughed.

Raphael poked him in the chest, giving him a glare. "That woulda freaked me out."

"I know. I put one in Mikey's cookies; in Leo's duffel bag; and in the kitchen teapot."

"Oh."

"I admit, if you'd found one though, I would've laughed," Donnie said, his eyes crinkling with his wide grin.

"Evil bastard," Raph muttered, winding a wire around his finger and tugging on it viciously before tossing it aside.

"You would've done the same! But I did my best to hide them where you wouldn't stumble upon them by accident."

"Hmph." He pointed the screwdriver in his hand at Donnie. "So what're you scared of?"

"Oh, no. I don't just give away potential blackmail material that easily," Donnie chuckled.

Raphael paused, waving the screwdriver at him again. "I ain't askin' cause of that. Just curious."

"Right," Donnie snorted.

Raph scowled at him. "Fine."

Donatello looked away as he changed the subject. "So, how would you feel about staying for another three or four days?"

"Ooh." Raphael quickly grinned again. "I like that idea."

"I told Leo we probably would, and do you know, he didn't sound angry for once?"

"Miracle," Raphael said, giving a fake gasp.

"Guess they're enjoying their time together too," Donnie said dryly, and Raphael made a gagging motion.

They both looked up as thunder rumbled nearby, their faces breaking into identical smiles.

"Spring storm!" Donnie said eagerly. He yanked himself to his feet and plastered his face to a grimy window, his eyes darting over the darkening sky.

Raphael chuckled as he watched him. "Ya get so excited 'bout lil' things."

"This isn't little," Donnie scoffed.

"You'd think you'd be used to lil' things like a storm," Raphael said, rolling his eyes. "We seen plenty of 'em. Been drenched by plenty of 'em."

"But…" Donnie touched the window gently, his voice quiet with awe. "Nature is the most efficient, yet unpredictable machine I'll ever witness. It's a marvel." He tore himself away from the window, running over to grip Raphael's good arm. "Let's go watch it roll in! C'mon!"

"S'cold," Raphael grumbled, resisting the pull. "Go knock yerself out."

"I'll wrap you in a blanket," Donnie offered, tugging mightily again.

Raphael laughed, slipping his arm out of his brother's grasp. "Nah, makes m'arm ache. Go on."

"Okay." Donnie patted his shoulder gently, then ran from the room after wrapping a thick bedspread around his neck like a cape.

Raphael watched him leave with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. The more time he spent with Donnie, the more he was convinced his brother was the ultimate puzzle. His sudden shifts from sharp, biting wit to wistful tenderness fascinated him. It was never forced; Don was genuine and honest. He was certainly not the boring geek they had teasingly accused him of being all these years.

He felt a pang of guilt as he remembered mocking him for his tendency to lock himself away in the lab. Was it any wonder he did, when Raph hadn't even tried to understand him until now? Had the others done the same? He suspected Leo must've cultivated a closer bond with Donnie, considering Fearless was so concerned about winning his favour. Who wouldn't want it, once they got to know Donnie?

Raphael sighed, trying to refocus on the radio, but quickly realized it was hopeless. Somehow, Donnie had gotten under his skin and past his defenses without even trying. At least, he thought Don wasn't trying- though he suspected his brother could be just as manipulative as Mikey if he wanted to, and a heck of a lot more subtle about it.

He dropped the screwdriver on the floor, watching it roll over once. He couldn't believe Leo's gall at wanting to play his brothers against each other. It wasn't enough that Mikey practically worshipped him; he had to have the resident genius wrapped around his finger also.

Did Leo want him as well?

His stomach lurched at the thought, and he spent several seconds gulping air to calm himself. Surely not. He and Leo walked a fine line of respect and tolerance; there was no way he-

He growled, shaking his head in a desperate attempt to clear it. He dragged himself to his feet and padded out of the room. He couldn't think alone. He needed Don.

The scent of rain hung heavily in the air, the humidity clinging to Donatello's exposed skin and chilling it. He grinned as he burrowed deeper into his blanket, using one leg to rock the swing before drawing it under the cover again.

He hadn't been this content in a long time, especially considering the events of late.

Sighing, he rubbed his nose into the soft material clenched in his hands. His surroundings were nearly perfect, but his mind was still uneasy.

He and Leo had gotten so close over the last year. They were both people of few words, and as Leo had encouraged him to take up meditation with him, most of their time together had been spent in silence. Donnie had always felt lighter, happier after those sessions. As the months wore on, it seemed the only times Leo truly relaxed was when he was around, which gave Donnie a glow of satisfaction he'd never experienced before.

And then Raphael had offered to help install new wiring for the TV's, and it seemed like the world shifted. He began missing afternoon meditation, not due to pressing work but simply to spend more time with Raph. He worked in the garage more often, leaving personal projects behind to help Raph with his.

Not that he had ignored Leo, but Leo wasn't his main focus anymore.

Donnie tapped his chin thoughtfully. That had to be the source of this sudden infatuation. Mikey had introduced Leo to a new idea, one filled with many possibilities, and so he'd turned to Don for answers and comfort.

He buried his head under the blanket momentarily. So how was he going to deal with it? Would it go away on its own? Would he have to keep telling Leo no?

A small whimper sounded in his throat, but the sound was swallowed by another flash of lightning. He hated refusing his brothers anything, no matter what it was. Even something as new and exotic as romantic feelings.

He raised his head, peeking out across the lawn as the first rain spattered on the roof above him, unable to resist smiling.

It should've been Mikey. He had been so sure it would be Mikey to come to him one day, large blue eyes uncertain, haltingly explaining his attraction. Mikey was the one who had hung around in his lab all the time even though he had zero interest in his work. It was Mikey who always chose to pair with him on patrol. But it hadn't been due to attraction to Donnie, but an instinctive desire to flee Leo's presence.

Donatello snorted, ruffling the blanket. Nearly two months ago Mikey had come in the lab, curled in his favourite chair, and looked at him with those wide eyes of his. Donnie's heart had sunk until his brother explained his love for Leonardo. That had been both embarrassing and a relief.

Then Leo had been introduced to this idea, and he'd gone in a direction Donatello hadn't expected. Leo fought to keep his emotions under control on a regular basis, and it didn't help that he was probably experiencing a floodgate right now. Donnie felt sorry for him even as he was annoyed. He was unable to not put this new spin on every occurrence between himself and Raphael now. Damn Leonardo. Why did he always have to fix everything for Leo? Couldn't he have a break once in a while?

He smiled out at the downpour. He did have one, right now, and no matter what Leo wanted to think or thrust upon them, Donnie couldn't be happier that he was spending the time with Raphael.

As if summoned by his thoughts, the screen door banged open and Raphael stomped over to him. He seemed irritated, though not at Donnie.

"Ya mind?" he asked gruffly, motioning at the swing.

"Do you have to ask?" Donnie smiled, immediately shifting to make room for his brother. Raphael sat heavily, and Donnie unfurled his blanket enough to pull him into it. Raph leaned against his side with a sigh.

"I know ya told me to not think about anythin', but I can't help it," Raphael grumbled.

"I can't either," Donnie admitted.

"It's easier to not when yer around, though."

Donatello paused, then nodded in agreement. "You're right."

"So, don't mind the company?"

"Never yours."

Raphael chuckled. "Yer a big sap, ya know that?"

"I don't mind," Donatello laughed with him. "As long as you don't."

"Nah. S'funny."

"How's your arm?"

"Aches like a bitch."

Donnie frowned. "Want to go back inside?"

Raphael shook his head before resting his chin on Donnie's shoulder. "Nah. Just hurts, period, no matter what. May as well enjoy the storm wit'ya."

They sat in silence as the storm raged and beat against the house, rain splattering occasionally on their faces from the swirling wind. Finally Donnie spoke up.

"I'm afraid of saying no."

"What?" Raphael said, startled. He'd been half-asleep.

"I'm scared of telling any of you no," Donnie repeated softly. "Someday I won't have an answer; or, take Leo, he asked for something I can't give. That… That terrifies me."

Raphael frowned, pulling Donnie back against his chest protectively. "Don, ya don't always have to fix everythin'-,"

"But I do," Donnie snapped. "It's what I do. It's why I'm a part of this team."

"No," Raphael barked angrily. "Yer a part of this team 'cause yer our balance. Leo ain't who keeps us balanced- he's got enough trouble doin' that for himself. He may guide, but ya keep us all calm. Leo keeps us focused, but ya give us somethin' to focus on." Raphael squeezed him gently. "Ya give us hope. That's worth more than a workin' security system." He ventured a soft chuckle. "Though the genius part of ya is a nice perk."

"But… But one day Leo is going to look at me for an answer and I won't have it," Donnie said in a hushed voice. "And someone could die because I don't know the answer, or 'cause I said no."

"Don, do ya do yer best?"

"Of- Of course," Donnie sniffled.

"Then that's all ya can do. We can strive to be perfect, but we never will be. Ya can't be perfect, and that's okay."

"B- But it's not okay-,"

"S'okay 'cause I say it is, and that's that," Raphael snapped.

Donnie tilted his head to glance at him. "Thank you," he whispered.

"S'okay," Raph said again, gentler this time.

They rocked gently in the swing, falling into a comfortable silence that lasted long after the rain moved on.

[Author's Note]
*happy sigh*