Lyrics from "Crash and Burn" are by Savage Garden and lryics from "Only Us" are from Dear Evan Hansen. Just adding some musical flavor to this world; I don't own either. THANK YOU Savage Garden! Without Crash and Burn, we probably wouldn't have Once Upon a December Night.
Enjoy!
Crash and Burn (Savage Garden) & Only Us (Dear Evan Hansen)
April 17, 2012
"Why was it that difficult to cut down a weed?" Raph groaned. The boys pushed through the turnstiles at the front of the lair instead of leaping over them like they normally did. All of them were exhausted after finally defeating Snakeweed.
"I don't know about you guys, but I think it might be too dangerous to perform mutagen experiments topside for awhile," Donnie mused as he prodded the jar containing Snakeweed's still beating heart. It was already starting to regrow several tendrils.
"Gee, you think?" Leo flopped over the edge of the couch. Raph joined him, leaning his head back.
"Come on, Mikey. Let's find a place for Snakeweed in the lab." Donnie and Mikey trudged towards Donnie's workspace.
Raph and Leo finally let out the deep breath they'd seemed to be holding in all night.
"So…" Raph drawled. "...what's with the girl who tried to kill ya?"
Leo shoved Raph's leg to make room for him to sit up. "She didn't try to kill me. We talked for a bit and then she saved me." He frowned at the incredulous look his brother was giving him.
"Dude. She threw a knife at your head!"
Leo shook his finger. "She threw a knife near my head. Totally different."
Raph sighed. He rubbed his tired eyes. "What clan's she a part of? I didn't think there were any other ninjas in New York."
"She said she was part of the Foot?" Leo shrugged.
The loud shattering of a plate came from the entrance to the kitchen. Despite the fatigue in their limbs, Leo and Raph instantly leapt over the couch. Mikey and Donnie rushed from the lab to see what had happened. Splinter stood stock still staring at his eldest. April pressed a hand to his arm.
"Papa?" She tried to pull him out of his trance.
"You spoke with someone from the Foot clan?" The rat whispered.
Leo grew nervous. "Uh… yeah… Her name's Karai. She threw blinding powder at me earlier tonight, but saved our shells against Snakeweed. She told me that she works for a guy named the Shredder?" He nodded as Mikey snorted. "Weird name, right? Anyway, it sounds like he's got some kind of beef with you, Sensei… WHOA! Father, are you alright?"
Everyone rushed forward as Splinter collapsed to the floor, a glazed over look in his eyes.
"I'll get the med kit!" Donnie started back towards his lab before Splinter waved him off.
"There is no need, Donatello. I am fine." Leo helped his father to standing. "If any of you are hungry, dinner is on the table. Go ahead and eat. Leonardo, come with me to the dojo and tell me all of what you've learned about the Shredder and the Foot."
As father and son moved slowly towards the dojo, the rest were left to their own devices. Mikey and Raph went to raid the kitchen while April and Donnie stood staring at each other awkwardly. They shuffle towards each other.
"Can we talk?" They asked simultaneously. They both chuckled.
Donnie held up a finger. "Before you say anything, I need you to listen to something." He dashed off to his room, returning with something small in his hand. The boy handed April a CD case.
"Savage Garden's Affirmation album?" She flipped it over to read the back.
Donnie rubbed the back of his neck. "I… I picked it up a couple of years ago on a junk run for supplies. It was in surprisingly good shape for being thrown away. All of the songs are pretty good, but my favorite is Track 5. I've thought for a while now that… this song best expresses how I feel…"
April's head shot up. She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it as Donnie reached for her free hand.
"Please… I..." He sighed. "I'm sorry for how things happened. I knew that the timing was bad, but I went for it anyway. I took advantage of how comfortable we were in the moment; I was selfish. And hey," Donnie moved his hand to gently cup April's cheek. She sighed, leaning slightly into it. "If after listening to the song you're still mad at me, I'm willing to sweep all of this under the rug. You're my best friend, April. I'm always going to care for you. I just don't want to lose you to a stupid moment."
April reached up to hold the hand against her face. "Dee, we both made some mistakes that day. I'm sorry for how I reacted."
Donnie shook his head. "You have nothing to apologize for. You had so much life changing news dropped on you along with being kidnapped by the Kraang. I should have waited."
"Well, you didn't; now we're here." April took a step back. "I'll listen to the song, Donnie."
The boy ran a hand over his eyes. "Alright. It's been a long night, so I'm gonna crash. Goodnight, April." He turned to go, but was stopped by a tug on his hand.
"Dee?"
"Hm?"
"Just so you know…" April smiled shyly. "No matter what, we're good."
xXx
April shut her door, the soft light of the lamp next to her bed washing over her. She walked over to the mural her brothers had painted so long ago, her fingers ghosting over the purple sea turtle looking so lovingly at the red-headed mermaid. How had it taken her so long to see what was right in front of her?
She sighed, settling on her bed amongst her plethora of pillows with Donnie's CD and her portable CD player. April remembered hearing Savage Gardens playing occasionally in the lab while Donnie worked, but she couldn't recall the exact song he wanted her to listen to.
"Crash and Burn, huh?" She murmured. The girl plugged her headphones into her CD player so as to not disturb Donnie next door. She skipped until Track 5, Crash and Burn, began to play.
When you feel all alone,
And the world has turned its back on you,
Give me a moment please,
To tame your wild, wild heart,
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you,
It's hard to find relief,
And people can be so cold,
When darkness is upon your door,
And you feel like you can't take anymore...
April leaned her head back. She enjoyed the beat of the song thus far. She could also almost hear Donnie's voice behind the lyrics.
Let me be the one you call,
If you jump, I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night,
If you need to fall apart,
I can mend a broken heart,
If you need to crash and burn, you're not alone...
Tears began forming in April's eyes. I know he said he loves me… but this? Is this how he really feels?
When you feel all alone,
And a loyal friend is hard to find,
You're caught in a one-way street,
With the monsters in your head…
The images of all the times Donnie woke her from her screaming nightmares, sat up with her until her terrors subsided, worked out a meditation with her to chase away the darkness flooded her mind.
When hopes and dreams are far away,
And you feel like you can't face the day…
The chorus repeated as tears streamed down April's face.
'Cause there has always been heartache and pain,
And when it's over you'll breathe again,
You'll breathe again…
"Oh, Donnie…" She whispered, wiping away the tears.
And if you need to crash then crash and burn (You're never alone)
You're not alone…
"I'm not alone… I love him…" April realized. She realized how much she cared for her best friend YEARS ago, but nothing specific had clicked into place until this exact moment. April checked the clock on her nightstand. "IT'S 6AM? Why do we all stay up so late?" She knew that chasing after Snakeweed had worn everyone out and that Donnie was asleep in his actual bed versus accidentally passing out in the lab. April reached for her Tphone where it was plugged into charge. She pulled her covers down as she opened the text thread she had with Donnie.
A: loved the song Tlk mre in morn Night D
xXx
The next day found Mikey making pancakes for everyone. He was the first to awaken around noon. The smell of brunch lured everyone else out soon after. Donnie and April shuffled bleary-eyed into the kitchen at the same time.
Having both retrieved several of Mikey's 'famous' pancakes and their caffeinated beverage of choice, Donnie gestured towards the pit. They'd have a bit more privacy to talk in the living room.
Much like their previous discussion on that couch, an entire cushion separated them. This time, it was to hold their breakfast plates.
"Soooo…." Donnie took a long sip of coffee. "You… liked the song?"
April nodded, cutting up her pancakes with her fork. "It was perfect, Donnie." She met his eyes. "Do you really love me like that?"
His large hand enveloped hers. "Always," He whispered. "What about you? Have you… figured out how you feel about… me?" She could tell he was nervous.
She swallowed. This is it. "I feel… I feel like this conversation should have happened a month ago. And that's on me for taking so long." April took a deep breath. "Let's move past all of this and… see where this goes?" She looked at him hopefully.
"Where… we go?" Donnie pointed to the two of them.
April scooted closer. "Do you remember during our last mind link, that lyric neither of us knew? Something about being found?" Donnie nodded. "Another one came to me last night after I heard your song. I've never heard it before, but it just feels… right." She took another breath before singing quietly.
"So it can be us,
It can be us,
And only us,
And what came before won't count anymore or matter,
We can try that,"
She looked at him through her eyelashes. She blushed at the look of utter adoration on his face. "Well, I guess I'm trying to say that… I love you too, Donnie," April whispered. "But I need you to promise me something."
"Anything."
April giggled at that. "Promise that you'll be patient with me."
"Absolutely." Donnie murmured. "You matter too much to me to mess this up again." He leaned forward to gently kiss her forehead. It was an action he had done a hundred times before, but now it sent shivers down her spine. "We'll take things as slow as you want. But we'll always be best friends, right?"
"Besties for life!" April grinned.
"Besties for life." Donnie chortled. He took another sip of coffee before pointing to his lab. "Hey! Want to go and run some experiments on the bit of Snakeweed we brought back? Maybe we can turn him back human one day." He laughed as April tugged his arm, already bounding towards the lab.
"What're we waiting for, Dee?"
I hope that was a satisfying "reveal" for everyone. But don't worry! THIS IS NOT THE END!
I have another 3 chapters (at least) fleshed out, and THREE arcs with MULTIPLE chapters within! The arc I'm most excited for has GOT to be the "Stop the Power Inside Her" arc (if that gives anyone any hints)! Guys... I cried writing the arc's OUTLINE. That arc's gonna be at least 7-10 chapters. I think this fic may get up to 50 chapters! I THINK WE CAN DO THAT!
Thanks again to all of the kind words and the reads. Until next time... STAY CREATIVE!