Hi guys! Whew, this is only my second TMNT-only story (I wrote the other one almost 10 years ago). I usually write stories for the "Meet the Robinsons" side, and sometimes I'll go outside the box and write stories based on other movies or TV shows, like I am today. I was listening to the song called "Never for Nothing" and realized some of the lyrics described both Donatello and April perfectly. I was inspired and wrote this short story surrounding the events of "Target: April O'Neil" (2012 series). I have thought about writing this surrounding the events of "The Power Inside Her," but I think this was the better option. With that said, I hope you'll enjoy this short read!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "TMNT." I also do not own Margaret Becker's "Never for Nothing."
APRIL'S POV
"It's over, Karai!" Leonardo yelled, pointing his katana blade at our feminine opponent.
"For now!" Karai yelled back.
The kunoichi of the Foot Clan dropped a smoke bomb, disappearing right in that moment. Soon after, I watched Michelangelo walking over to grab the plasma sword he used to defeat the newest robo-ninja he dubbed Chrome Dome.
"Whoa!" Mikey gasped with delight, looking all over the sword. "Can I keep it? Can I keep it?"
He swung it around, almost harming Donatello and Raphael, who angrily stared him down afterwards. Mikey giggled in embarrassment, dropping the sword.
"That wasn't… too difficult," I said breathlessly.
"You all right?" Leo asked, helping me up with a smile. "Easy does it, April. It's over now."
"I just need to catch my breath," I replied after a gasp, and then I let a deep breath out as the guys gathered around me. "Thanks, guys. I just wanted to say…"
I let out a gasp, realizing something wasn't sitting right with me.
"Oh my gosh! I forgot about Casey!"
I ran as fast as I could back to the ice rink.
DONATELLO'S POV
I felt confusion as I watched April run away from us.
"That's what she wanted to say?" I asked out loud.
Something wasn't sitting right with me, and I raised my eyebrow with suspicion at who this Casey was.
"I'll meet you guys at home," I told my brothers. "I have to see if April's okay."
"Donnie, wait!"
I ignored Leo's pleas and ran after April, but also making sure she didn't know I was following her. It didn't take me too long to follow her to an ice rink. I silently opened the door and walked inside.
APRIL'S POV
I walked through the door to the ice rink and bolted to where I had left Casey. I was worried he was still in harm's way, but I realized I had nothing to worry about. Casey had just taken down the last Foot robo-ninja with his hockey stick.
"And that is how you play hockey," Casey Jones told the broken down robot with a smirk.
"Casey! Are you okay?"
I leapt over the wall onto the rink, and I started to slide on the ice. I screamed, worried that I was going to lose my balance and fall.
"Of course I am," Casey answered just as I fell into his arms. "Hey! Whoa, steady there, Red."
"Oh!"
I laughed sheepishly, looking into his brown eyes. Casey seemed to have affection of his own, staring into my blue eyes. I cleared my throat and I let go of him, worried that I was giving him the wrong idea.
"Casey, could you take me home, please?" I asked, putting a strand of my red hair behind my ear. "I have some thinking to do."
"Sure, Red," Casey replied. "Did you still want to go for that pizza?"
"Thank you, Casey, but I would like to get home."
"Okay, Red."
DONATELLO'S POV
I followed April into the ice rink and witnessed her falling into that punk kid's arms. It only took me a second to realize this was the Casey she was talking about. April's hands were on his chest while his were on her shoulders. I had felt sadness in my eyes and the weight of the world on my shoulders. I had thought about leaving right then, but then April asked Casey to take her home. I decided to follow them in case Casey had other ideas. There was something about Casey that bothered me, and it wasn't just because of April. But right now, it didn't matter. I had to be sure April would be safe at home.
I left the ice rink shortly after April and Casey did, and I flipped onto the rooftops to be sure I wouldn't be spotted. Surely enough, Casey had safely escorted April home, for I spotted her through her bedroom window, wearing her yellow pajamas. But something wasn't right about this sight. She opened her window, and she was crying.
APRIL'S POV
After I thanked Casey for taking me home, I immediately went in my bedroom and changed into my pajamas. And then a feeling of sadness and guilt fell on me. The Turtles crept into my mind. I opened the window, secretly hoping at least one of them would show up to see if I was okay. But the truth was, I was not okay, and I wished Donnie was there.
"Donnie," I whispered into the sky.
I pictured the purple-masked turtle in my mind. Then I started bawling, no longer able to hold back the tears. When Mikey had revealed that he and his brothers had accidentally released the mutagen from the Kraang stealth ship, I immediately blamed them for my dad's mutation into a bat. Donnie had made the promise to cure my dad, and instead, I pushed them away. I pushed Donnie away, not once but twice when he caught up to me in an alley. I took out my T-Phone and put on a song that made me think of him.
"You cried alone by the window over the love that you lost. You gave it all never counting the cost."
I cried even harder, the lyrics matching my life perfectly. Donnie was my best friend and the Turtle I was the closest to, and I gave up my friendship with him for a normal life. I had probably also broken his heart, knowing that he had a crush on me and may have liked me as more than a friend. After all, why would he follow me after I made it clear I never wanted to see him again? But after Casey telling me his story about his best friend, I realized I was wrong to push the others away, that some things are beyond their control. I cried, afraid that things between me and Donnie would never be the same again.
DONATELLO'S POV
I heard a song playing in the distance on April's T-Phone and she cried harder. I hid behind a chimney and I started to cry also, feeling guilty for the pain she's going through. It really was our fault that Kirby mutated into a bat. It was our fault that April was suddenly alone with no one to turn to. But I cried even harder because I was scared she was probably falling in love with Casey.
I took off my purple mask when I realized my tears had soaked it. I searched for the same song April had on her T-Phone, and I started playing it on mine. I set my T-Phone down, picked up my mask again, and held it against my heart, all while still letting my tears fall.
"Rain-like tears beat on your window, melting your heart to the floor. No love returned, and now you have less than before."
That last line spoke the truth. I had attempted to spill out my feelings for April numerous times, only for me to pull them back at the last possible moment, afraid I was going to wreck our friendship. April had never returned any feelings for me, except for an occasional hug before and after I left for a dangerous mission. Instead, she had pushed me away twice after her father got mutated. After I saw her spending time with Casey at the park, I had nightmares about her rejecting me for countless nights. I had rarely gotten any sleep the past couple weeks just so the nightmares would stop. My eyes opened slightly when I heard the chorus.
"It's never for nothing when you love with no return. It's never for nothing. Light your candle in the darkness, cause it's never for nothing."
Somehow, I felt April staring in my direction, and I stopped crying. Instead, I smiled, remembering how April and I first met. I had spotted her walking with her father on my very first patrol with my brothers, and they ended up being kidnapped by the Kraang. I managed to save April later that night but could not save Kirby. I promised April that my brothers and I would not rest until we found him, and I fulfilled that promise months later. I remembered all the times I helped April with her homework. I remembered our very few sparring sessions when we trained with Splinter. I remembered all those times I walked April home.
But then I remembered that it wasn't me that walked her home tonight. It was Casey. I started crying again as the next verse started to play.
"Your friends say you're the fool for loving with nothing to gain. They can't see the reward that you'll claim."
"It's sadorable," Raph had said in my mind regarding my crush on her. "April's probably gone for good. We'll never see her again."
Maybe I was a fool falling in love with the first girl I had ever seen. Maybe I was a fool for attempting to spend as much time with her as possible using my master plan. Maybe I was a fool for believing that one day, she would be my wife. Maybe I was even a bigger fool for believing April would just decide to walk back in our lives and say that she was joking about never wanting to see us again. But then, I remembered my conversation with Master Splinter, how he had told me that April's choice to stay away was her own and she would return to us when she was ready. He told me not to lose hope.
"No, Raph, we will see her again," I said out loud, clenching my purple mask tightly. "I will see her again, even if I have to die to make sure she makes it out alive."
I emerged from the chimney, turning towards April's bedroom window, and she was still crying.
"I need her," I said to myself. "I know my crush is a teenage crush, but I know now that I need her in my life."
I paused, as the rest of the verse played.
"But April needs to come to me on her own terms. I need to give her the time and space she needs to heal."
I let out a sigh.
"I'll see you later, April. I love you."
APRIL'S POV
I sensed another presence as the chorus played, and I looked up to hear the same song playing on a nearby rooftop. I somehow sensed that Donnie had indeed followed me home. I was angered when Donnie followed me in the alley earlier tonight before I met up with Casey. Now, I wasn't angry anymore. Donnie had good reasons to follow me all this time. He wanted to be sure I was safe. Tonight, Donatello saved my life. He had sacrificed his role in the Turtles' mission to fight for me and save me from Karai and the Kraang.
Donnie was always the one to make a promise, and he has yet to break one, despite my pushing him away. He had promised me he would find a cure for my dad, and I was a fool to not listen to him. I started crying again, worried that Donnie had given up on me for my giving up on him. Then, I heard the next line in the verse.
"So hold on to the holy promise that says, no labor of love is in vain! Precious tears are changed to jewels in the rain."
I smiled through my tears, thinking of Donnie's crush on me. Despite my pushing him out of the way, he always made it a priority to make sure I was okay, physically and mentally. He genuinely cared about me and always took my interests to heart. He made sure I was passing all my tests in school, and he took care of me when I was injured. Then I realized that I had feelings for him also. I had hugged him often, always with thankfulness. Thankfulness that he had made it home safely. Thankfulness for always keeping his promises. Thankfulness for leaving the lair to keep the world a safe place for me to live in.
Then, the chorus came on again, and I no longer sensed Donatello's presence. I sobbed again.
"It's never for nothing when you love with no return. It's never for nothing. Light your candle in the darkness, cause it's never for nothing."
"Donnie, I wish I hadn't pushed you away," I cried through my tears. "You've always been there for me but I never gave you anything in return. Now, I wish I did, so you'd never leave me again."
I continued sobbing.
"I love you, Donnie, and while I promise not to go all-in on it until the time is right, I promise to show that I love you, no matter what."
I closed my window and climbed into bed. I put the song on repeat, now wishing that I was in Donnie's arms. Wishing that I would hear his gentle and kind voice, promising me he'd never leave me again. Wishing for once, he would tell me, I love you. I sobbed myself into the world of slumber.
The next day was Saturday, and I listened to the first words of my day:
"Precious tears are changed to jewels in the rain."
I changed my clothes as the chorus came on, and I immediately left to head to the Turtles' lair. I needed to apologize to them, and especially to Donnie. I climbed down the fire escape and took that all-too-familiar route down into the sewers. I smiled at the familiarity of all the tunnels, and I kept the smile on my face as I entered the lair. I saw the Turtles watching a cartoon on their television set.
"Hey, guys," I said out loud, grabbing everyone's attention.
DONATELLO'S POV
I turned at the sound of April's voice, as did everyone else, and we all stood up at her presence.
"April!" Leo exclaimed with a smile on his face.
"You're back!" Raph said, also with a big smile.
"What up?" Mikey asked excitedly.
All I could do was smile, relieved she decided to come back to the lair. I turned to my left to see Splinter emerging from the dojo.
"Hmm, it is very good to see you, April," Master Splinter said warmly.
"I missed you, Master Splinter," April replied with a smile. "I hope we can start training again soon."
"Of course. Whenever you wish."
Splinter and April bowed to each other, and then she turned towards us again.
"I never got to tell you guys that… I'm sorry for everything."
"You're sorry?" Leo asked in confusion. "But we were the ones who screwed up."
"It was an accident," April replied with a smile. "And more importantly, you're my friends. I don't ever want to hold a grudge ever again."
"You da best, April!" Mikey said happily, running up to her. "To mark this day, I offer you the slice of eternal reunion!"
I winced as Mikey held up the most disgusting slice of pizza possible. April crouched down to examine it, only to discover she was just as grossed out as I am.
"It has lint and dead bugs all over it," she said in disgust.
"I know. I just found it under my bed."
Mikey coddled with the pizza.
"It's eternal."
He ate it. April winced, but then smiled again as she walked past Raph and Leo and walked up to me. I smiled fondly at her as she put her hands over her heart.
"Thanks, Donnie, for always being there, even when I didn't want you to be."
She put a strand of her copper-red hair behind her ear, and she suddenly hugged me. I was startled, not expecting it at all, but then I relaxed, smiled again, and returned the hug. Then the totally unexpected happened: she kissed me on my left cheek. All I could do was stand in a daze.
"So… awesome," I dreamily said out loud.
I dreamed that I was telling the entire world that the girl I loved kissed me.
"I LOVE BEING A TURTLE!" I had yelled happily, flying through the air and around the globe like Superman.
Suddenly, I felt tapping on my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see April giggling.
"Are you feeling okay, Donnie?" she asked.
I cleared my throat.
"Y-y-yeah," I answered, rubbing the back of my neck. "May we talk?"
"Let's leave them alone," Leo suggested.
I watched my brothers and Splinter retreating to the dojo, leaving me and April alone.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry for following you all this time," I told her. "I must have looked like a stalker, didn't I?"
April pondered in thought.
"Yes, at first. But not anymore."
I was surprised at her answer.
"How come?" I asked.
"Because last night I realized just how much you care about me. And all I did was push you away. I want to apologize for that too. In fact, can you promise me something?"
"A-anything, April."
April squeezed my right hand, and I looked at her in awe as she bit her lip.
"Could you… stop by my apartment every night?"
I closed my mouth and gave her a big smile.
"I can do that. You want me to make sure you're safe?"
"Yeah, and not just that. Could you… maybe stop by and talk to me?"
"Anything for you, April," I answered happily. "What brought this on? I'm usually the one who's making the dare."
"Donnie, if you had been looking out for me all this time, then you're probably aware that I've been spending time with a boy named Casey."
My smile disappeared. I figured she was going to bring him up at some point.
"At first, it was just tutor sessions. I was tutoring him on trigonometry. I think the only thing he could focus on was me. Last night, after I told you I didn't want to see you again, I saw him as a friend and wanted to hang out with him. Then, well, you know what happened. After the fight was over, I made sure Casey was okay and asked him to take me home. I thought about you the rest of the night, and somehow, I felt your presence. You just wanted to be sure I was okay, and the truth is, I wasn't okay. I realized it was wrong to push you away because you're right. Some things, like my dad's mutation, was beyond our control."
"April, what is the point?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "What is Casey to you, April? Is he a friend? Is he a crush?"
"He's just a friend right now, Donnie. And either we could start a relationship, or we may remain friends. I don't know! I do have feelings for him, but I realized last night that I have feelings for you, too. I probably have had feelings for you all along and just now realized it."
April let out a sigh.
"But I'm training to be a kunoichi and I'm supposed to graduate high school this year. I need to focus on that. I can't let my feelings get in the way. Please understand that."
My smile came back.
"April, take all the time you need. I promise I won't go anywhere."
"Thanks, D."
April let out another sigh.
"Are you still promising to stop by my apartment after everything I told you?"
"Yes. I genuinely care for you, April. I'd do it even if you told me you were dating Casey. But if Casey ever harms you in any way, he'll have to face me."
April gave me another unexpected hug, and this time, she had put her head on my plastron. I returned the hug, putting my chin on top of her head.
"I promise to be more open, Donnie," April said into my plastron. "I'm sorry I've been quiet about my feelings for so long."
"April, I promise to take care of you no matter what. And I promise to stay quiet about my feelings."
April released the hug and gave me a confused look.
"Oh, D. Knowing you, you are going to show me how you feel about me no matter what. And I never asked you not to show your feelings. In fact, I'm flattered that you like me in that way. Everyone at school thinks I'm… weird. I mean, except for Irma and now Casey."
"April, you're not weird," I replied, grinning and showing my gap-toothed grin. "You are an amazing person, and you're the most optimistic person I've ever met. You've never given up on your dad and I know you never will give up on him because he means a lot to you. You support your friends no matter what."
April blew a raspberry.
"You're saying that after leaving you guys?"
"April, all is forgiven. I promise. That is, if you'll forgive me and my brothers for accidentally mutating your dad."
"Donnie, your promise to find a cure for my dad is enough to earn my forgiveness. I just wish I wasn't so stubborn."
I put my index finger on her lips.
"Don't. Being stubborn means you care, and it's part of who you are. Don't lose that, and don't lose who you are. Who you are as a person is why I like you."
April smiled.
"Donnie, let's just be teenagers, and let's just be friends, okay? After all, a relationship starts with a friendship. On the day I make the decision that I want to be more than friends with you, you will be the first to know."
I chuckled.
"Okay."
"And Donnie?"
"Hmm?"
April put her copper-red hair behind her ear again before placing her hand on my shoulder.
"I genuinely care about you too."
