Dramatic Apritello anyone? How about shipper Casey?

So... there still room in your potatoes for 2k12 now that 2k18 is out? XD

As always, huge thanks to our betas Queequegg and Theherocomplex!


Previously…

Thanks to Raph, Donnie already knows April and Casey are together. That's fine... This is how it's supposed to be anyway. He can deal with that, as long as April's still his best friend.

Except Raph was wrong.

Meanwhile April's world is still split in two: the world of the turtles, ninjutsu, her powers… and the world that seemingly has no room for any of that. And with her future self suspiciously absent, she can't help but think...


"It is completed!" Donnie proclaimed triumphantly, presenting the finished cuirass like a newborn lion prince.

April inhaled loudly, and beamed. She'd just arrived from school, choosing to do her studying in the lab, while Donnie and his future self worked. That way, she said, at least she could ask them her doubts and be done quick. "Can't believe I'm doing homework of all things," she'd groused, longingly eyeing some of the rad gadgets that Future Donnie had brought with him, and a couple new ones they'd been working on together.

"Try it on!"

April snatched the armor off his hands and practically ripped off her hoodie. She slung it across her back and buckled the sides.

Donnie grabbed the big square mirror he'd prepared and flipped it at her. "Eh?"

April looked badass and she knew it. She stared into the mirror for a couple of seconds before saying, "Pardon my French, but… Fuck yeah!"

He giggled, brimming with delight, drinking in the sight of April gloating over her armored reflection, turning this way and that with a big confident grin. After correcting a few proportions, he'd also dyed it black like she'd suggested last time. The ebony leather made the yellow of her shirt and the ginger of her hair glow.

"I feel so burly and firm!" She smacked herself on the ribs, which resounded with a sturdy thud. "I can't wait to try it out in battle. How about a test run? Come on, gimme all you got!" she challenged, getting down on a battlestance.

Instead of mimicking her, Donnie carefully set the mirror down on the desk. "Right now? I don't know, maybe we should wait until we're— hah!"

His tickle attack never met its target as April was too quick. She grabbed his wrist in a lock, used her body to trip him and all of a sudden he was on his shell.

"Thought you could tickle me? Me? Have you seen me?" she boasted, flicking her ponytail, arms open in a defiant, slightly manic gesture. It suited her.

"Yes, yes! You're too terrible, and I'm a fool!" he cried, literally floored, and also cracking up from shock and yes, even a bit of pain. But really, he was fine where he was, as long as April smiled down on him like that, proudly wearing the armor that he'd made for her. She extended a helping hand and that was the biggest, if not the only, reason he got up.

At that moment, the lab doors slid open with their usual racket, and Future Donatello came in holding a fresh coffee mug and a bunch of rolled up blueprints under his arm. "Hi, April," he said distractedly when he saw them. "Hey, Donatello! Just revised the Foot lair plans with Leo. Could you get them in the tracker? I'm gonna work a bit on installing the Shellraiser's new hydraulics."

"Right! Be right there!" But just as he started to go, April's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Hey, um… Donnie?" The serious tone sent a zing of dread through him. "I've been meaning to ask you. Have you noticed…" She fumbled a bit, side glancing at Future Donnie, who was already knelt by the Shellraiser, toolbox at his side. "Does Future Donnie seem… a little… evasive?"

"Uh—"

"I mean, he barely speaks to me. He barely looks at me." She looked up at him underneath a deep frown. "He treats me different."

Donnie's heart skipped a beat. There were a lot of things he'd been trying to block from his mind since the future turtles arrived. The April mystery was definitely one of those things.

It was taking a great deal of effort, as well as keeping his brain very busy, not to live outside his own timeline—not to compulsively attempt to connect every dot, every plausible scenario.

Pretty much all they knew about Future April was that she finished college with honors, then got a job. Not much to go by. As for Future Casey turning out to be with Future Raph, Present April herself had seemed... concerned by it, hadn't she? Was she expecting Future April and Casey to show up with matching rings? There had to have been something between them, at the very least, right? On the other hand, Future Donatello and Future Casey seemed like good friends… Last night Future Casey, high as a weather balloon, almost seemed to be trying to sell Future Donnie to April. What that meant, Donnie couldn't even begin to fathom. Maybe there'd been something between himself and April after all? Maybe it had gone wrong? Maybe Future Casey wanted to make up for something?

The thoughts rained down on him like a meteorite shower. His brain just couldn't keep track of so many possibilities. So many hopes. So many fears.

If she expected him to be comforting, they were both in trouble.

Stop it, Donatello! Remember, you're separate timelines, way removed. These guys are completely different people. For the love of Einstein, just… stop. For once, just don't think.

In the most casual voice he could summon, while feeling as though all his guts had been sucked out of his belly, he said, "Huh. Really?"

"I'm really worried something happened to Future April. Or…" She flicked her soulful eyes at him, and muttered, "Maybe we're not friends in the future."

The words hit Donnie like a flying kick to the solar plexus, his heart stumbling. He caught himself and immediately waved it off like it was ridiculous. "What? No! No way!"

"How can you know?"

It took Donnie a second to command his brain not to consider that question. "Because! Look, isn't it possible you just… misread him?" he asked carefully, not sure how she'd take that.

After a few quiet seconds in which April looked over his shoulder at the other Donnie, she chuckled ruefully. "Yeah… Yeah, that's probably it. I'm just susceptible."

Oh no, he thought. She's pretending.

He took a moment to consider, gazing pensively at Future Donatello. He'd been able to remain mostly in his happy place up to then, immersed in his own sense of purpose and duty. He knew what he had to do—Future Donnie knew what to do. And what they were doing was extraordinary. Working with his interdimensional self had been a blast. They literally shared a mind.

Besides, they'd said April was okay, and that was all that mattered.

But now that April herself had said all that... Donnie never took April's sixth sense lightly. He knew that as long as she was worried, he would not find peace of mind either.

Perhaps it was time to clear their doubts.

"You know what? Let's just ask him." And before she could say anything else—and before he could think twice—he took her hand and guided her decisively over to the Shellraiser.

Future Donnie, already half-way through disassembling the front jaw, welcomed them to his work station by dropping the torque and attentively looking up at them.

"Sorry to bring this up again," Donnie began. "I know you guys said Future April was just busy with work, but… We're worried you were just saying that so we wouldn't... you know, worry."

April stepped up. "How could I ever miss out on time travel for work? Why all the secrecy?"

Future Donnie's mouth quirked sheepishly. "Guys, come on. You know we shouldn't talk about the future."

"You've talked about a bunch of other stuff from your future! But I barely know anything about my future self," April protested. "Just tell us the truth. Am I dead?"

Future Donnie's eyes blew up. "No!" he exclaimed, and visibly shivered. Then, slow and clear, and with a reassuring smile, he said, "She's okay. I promise. The reason she couldn't come is because she's working abroad."

Donnie raised his brow in surprise, though he wouldn't be fully convinced until April was. "Well... that's pretty cool! You get to travel for work!" He nudged April, watching for her reaction. She promptly returned his smile, but Donnie deemed it inconclusive.

"Here." Future Donnie fished his slick T-phone 3.0 out of one of his kilt's many pockets, holding it in the tips of his dirty fingers. "You're really twisting my arm on the spoilers, but if it helps put your minds at ease..." He tapped and swiped a couple of times, then turned the screen towards them.

Donnie gasped. "Wow… There you are!"

The in-the-flesh April leaned in beside him, mouth parted in her own silent gasp. Cheek to cheek, they gazed at the more adult-looking April, tremendously beautiful in her pixie haircut, lips stretched in a charming smirk, as her thumb pointed at the Big Ben behind her. The tips of her hair glowed an incandescent orange in the sunny backlight.

"Cool..." present April's voice full of wonder muttered by Donnie's ear.

Fathers of science help him, he couldn't tear his eyes from this photograph! He was absolutely enraptured. He wondered what April would think if he asked Future Donnie for a copy. Yeah, probably better not… But she just looked so lovely!

Future Donnie saved him by withdrawing the device and locking it. "So do you believe me now?" he said cockily.

"Yeah, guess so... Sorry," Donnie said through a sheepish grin, and looked at April, who nodded.

"Don't worry about it, y'know? I get it," Future Donnie said kindly just as his holo wrist terminal started beeping. He pressed a button, muting it. "Oh, right. Hey, Donatello? Casey needs his bandage change, and I'm kind of a mess." He wiggled his fingers at them, which were black and glisteny with oil.

"Say no more, Donatello!"

"Thanks." Future Donnie gave them a thumbs up before he knelt back down and continued making noise.

With the image of older April still in his mind, Donnie headed for the sink, the present April at his heel.

"So… Future April seems pretty awesome," he told her while mindfully scrubbing soap into every crease. "Not black leather awesome, but hey."

She chuckled, caressing the cuirass still covering her torso. "At least I got to see me."

"So you're okay about...?" He tipped his head as he wiped his hands on the towelette.

"Yeah, no, I'm… I mean, I wish I could know more, but..." She shrugged. "What're you gonna do."

He shrugged too. Apparently that was as good as they were gonna get. Which was probably best, really.

"Okay, well... I'm gonna be right back—"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll try to finish this chapter meanwhile. Don't let Casey bite you."

"I'll bring the muzzle, as a warning."


What was she thinking, coming to do her homework in the lab? The echo of one Donnie talking to the other was as surreal as it was distracting. Stereotello, she thought amusingly, and inwardly giggled. Although, if she listened closely she could make out a slight difference in their tone. Future Donnie's voice was steadier, as if he'd finally tamed it.

Don't kid yourself, her inner voice said derisively. That was the one thing you were thinking about when you decided to study here instead of the quiet of your room. Her inner voice was right, she had to admit. And that wasn't the only thing distracting her. She couldn't get Future Donnie out of her mind, and had been looking for a chance to spend some actual time with him. Maybe that way she could work out her doubts.

No luck so far.

Future April may not be dead. She may even be working some awesome job abroad, and really, honestly couldn't make it. But although she'd gotten no hints that Future Donnie was lying per se, the exchange had left her with a certain… aftertaste. Even without 'peeking'.

Ever since the future turtles got there, she and Future Donnie had barely exchanged a few words, but then Future Donnie didn't seem all that interested in talking to her. There was just something… something not entirely right about the way he behaved around her—a certain casualness to the way he treated her. It had been intriguing at first. Now it was just… disconcerting.

Add the Future Raph and Casey implications and all in all, she may as well close the book, shove it back in her backpack, and toss the backpack into the sewers.

She needed to find a moment alone with Future Donnie. Forget school. If she didn't get answers, the questions would haunt her to the grave.

Finally, she found her moment when Present Donnie left the lab to go change Future Casey's bandages. It was now or never.

Feeling more nervous than in any school exam, April went back to sit at the desk, as close to Future Donnie as possible. She shifted in her seat, working up the courage, and as she watched him, she fought the urge to peep inside, take just the smallest sample of what he was feeling. Why couldn't she figure him out?

He was like the Donnie she knew, but not quite. When she first saw him, one word had come to her mind: 'whoa'. The years had treated him well. His body seemed to have finally made up its mind and grown out of that lanky teenage frame. He was so tall, his shoulders broad, and his limbs pleasantly sinewy. He just seemed to have a better grip of himself in general, holding his neck straighter. Confident.

She had always wondered. Well, not anymore: she was clearly, definitely, undeniably attracted to Donnie. Super attracted, stressed the tingle in her belly.

As he worked on those hoses and rods, deeply immersed, Future Donnie wrinkled his snout, then stuck out the tip of his tongue. How adorable was that? He still had the same concentration face ten years later.

She chuckled, fully conscious of the butterflies fluttering around madly in her stomach, before saying aloud, "You still do the tongue thing."

Future Donnie perked up at her. "What—oh..." He chuckled too, and she felt herself blushing. "You always laughed at me for that."

And... that was it. He went right back to work, and she was left staring at his shell. The butterflies were wasps after all.

That indifference. Did he even look her in the eyes at all? However kind and welcoming he acted, he still felt… weirdly detached. She suddenly realized not once did he touch her. Not one hug, not a measly tap on the shoulder. It was all as though they'd been friends for years, just never really… close.

Oh man, that was it! That's what felt so off! As she realized this, the tip of his tongue slipped out again. She stared at the pink bit, confused as to how this could've happened, and her resolve was rekindled.

She steeled herself and swiveled her stool, facing him. "Hey, uh… Donnie?" Somehow it felt weird calling him that now, but she really didn't know what else to call him.

He turned his head at his name again, and lowered his tools. At his attentive, yet casual, mahogany gaze, she found herself stammering.

"Listen, I- I don't wanna doubt you or anything. But I need to know. What is it, really?"

His eyes searched her. "What do you mean?"

She paused, trying to figure out where to begin.

"Well, for starters, what's the real reason future me didn't come? I know something's up."

He laughed. "Why are you so convinced something's up? I already disclosed about your job abroad, and showed you a recent picture. 'Fraid that's all I can offer for now. Besides my word." He drew up his shoulder, apologetic.

She bit her lips, absently caressing some formulas on her textbook.

"Sorry, April, I uh… I kinda need to focus on this." He ruefully scratched the back of his head—such a Donnie thing to do—then with a cute wince said, "Also, you know the rules."

She nodded in defeat. "No spoilers."

With one last smile, he got back to work.

"I just—" she blurted out not two seconds later, unable to keep it in.

He paused, tool held midway. She waited for him to lower the thing and look at her, this time seeming slightly annoyed. Well, she was losing her patience as well.

"Look, there's no way I'd skip freakin' time travel for work, not even if I'm in Timbuktu. You've been working on this thing for more than a year, which is plenty of time for me to plan for it. I can't shake the feeling that there's something you're not telling me."

This time, the chuckle came from the back of his throat. It sounded a lot less forgiving. "There are a lot of things I'm not telling you, aren't there? That's the whole point. I already promised our April's just fine. In fact, as far as I know, she's probably happier than ever."

"As far you know?" she echoed, and saw hesitation flash across Donnie's eyes. "Before, you said 'I always laughed at you'. Laughed." She accentuated the telling '-ed' sound. "So what, we're not talking? We're no longer friends, is that it?"

Future Donnie issued a long, exasperated sigh, shaking his head at the floor.

"Is it something I did? Did I do something terrible? Was it w-with my powers?"

He stood up, tool still in hand. "I- No, I mean- That had nothing t-" He took a soothing breath, raising both hands for emphasis. "Nothing special happened," he drawled. "You did nothing wrong, you just moved abroad, so naturally we… aren't as in-touch."

"Just like that? What else happened?"

"Nothing!"

"Come on, Donnie. I don't have to turn on my radar to know you're lying," she said, tapping her temple. "But I will."

Even at his impressive height, Donnie suddenly looked fifteen again. He pressed his lips. Convinced that this was a sign she was right, her heart started hammering painfully.

"So, why are you…?" She grasped for the right way to phrase it. Why don't you treat me like Donnie? Why aren't we friends anymore? What made you stop loving me? They all sounded selfish. She didn't know if she'd be brave enough to ask if there was, or ever had been, something between them. If they were ever together. She wanted to know, but she didn't. Man, what any answer would imply...

She settled for, "Why are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you!" he retorted.

"Then what?"

Donnie was still trying to act annoyed, like she was just being unreasonable, stubborn, but he wasn't fooling her. Then his deadpan cracked, and she caught a glimpse of his true face.

Longing. Hurt. There it was: that was her Donnie. She hated that she recognized that expression—that she had seen it before. She especially hated to have been the cause of it. She could tell he really did not want to be having this conversation. But how could she just leave it like this?

She took a step towards him, reached for his hand, and gently said, "Please, Donnie."

His mouth tumbled open. He was about to say. But then he turned away, and his hand fell out of April's. "I don't know what to tell ya, April," he said wanly, and knelt back down by the Shellraiser.

Frustrated and terrified, April could do nothing other than beg. "Just tell me what's wrong!"

"Look, it wasn't a big deal," Donnie said with a desperate puff, aimlessly turning a couple tools in his hands. "These things happen. Friends drift apart."

The words stung inside, the ache keeping her from answering right away. "But I don't wanna drift apart!"

His head dipped as sole response.

"How long's it been since you talked to… to her?"

"I dunno, I'm not counting the days!" he protested meekly to the neck of his plastron, still not looking at her.

"If you're anything like the Donnie I know, you're counting the minutes."

His eyes flicked at her, almost curiously. April took the opportunity to give him the Death Glare. It had worked countless times before.

Donnie's mouth curved to give the faintest of fleeting smiles. "A bit over eleven months."

April would have gasped if her chest didn't feel so heavy. So far she'd held onto the hope that it had all been a stupid, but temporary fight between friends. Maybe she got angry about something—she did have a tendency, she had to admit—and disappeared for a couple of weeks. Of course, afterwards they'd make up, and everything would go back to normal like nothing ever happened.

But this didn't seem like that. This seemed bad.

"But…" was all she could muster, as any other words escaped her. Where could she even begin to…?

Then Donnie turned, peeking sideways at her. "April, I…" He stalled, and April froze, waiting, certain he was finally going to talk to her. Certain he wanted to talk to her. But then he clucked his tongue. "We shouldn't be talking about all this. This is why I didn't wanna say anything. We don't know what could result of it. Look what happened with Karai!"

"That's absurd! If I don't know what went wrong, how am I supposed to prevent—"

"You knowing could cause it! You're smart enough to realise that, April. Please, just let me work, and—and no more questions."

"But… I—"

"Just let me work," he demanded, and even though he'd barely raised his voice, April felt exactly as though he'd slapped her right across the face.

Donnie.

"I'm not telling you anything else. It's for the better."

She wanted to insist. She wanted to kneel in front of him and force him to look at her, and demand that he helped her prevent whatever was going on.

But she didn't move. She was petrified. Sick with worry. And she couldn't take Donnie being even more upset than he already was. All she could do was stand there, agape, as he pretended like she wasn't there.

No! They couldn't leave it like this. What could she do, when she didn't even know...?

She couldn't stop it—her mind's eye creaked open. Immediately she was hit by the usual gust of sensations of all colors and intensities, like a draft bursting open a window in a windy day. She could feel everybody in the lair, right outside the lab's walls. Several familiar ghosts, each with their own texture and timbre. Some she could identify, others felt only familiar. She could vividly feel the other Donnie roaming about way at the other end of the lair, in the dojo. But...

Her stomach sank when she realized. She couldn't feel this Donnie, right in front of her. She could see him with her eyes, and yet if she'd closed them, it would be as if he wasn't even there. Distressed, she fumbled at the space he occupied, and in her search she stumbled into something solid. Into a wall. What? She pushed and pounded, but nothing was getting her any closer to Donnie.

She was so busy trying to break through, she hadn't noticed Future Donnie had stopped working again, his hands hovering over his work. Then, with an exhale, he lifted his head and their gazes met.

The look in his eyes knocked her out of her daze, and she reeled, her mind slamming shut. Donnie had never looked at her like this before. His eyes were harsh, his jaw set. Accusing. Defying. Like he knew. Like he could... feel her?

Hurt and uncertainty boiled in her chest. It was too much. She was drowning. Desperate, she grasped for her anger, and when she found the thin line, she gripped it for dear life.

"If you won't talk to me, I'll have to find someone who will."

She didn't even wait for a response, not even for a change in his expression. She just swivelled right around, wobbly at the knees, and marched out. She half expected him to stop her, but heard nothing else from him.

She stood for a few seconds outside the lab doors, a hard lump in her chest, and tried to focus past her turmoil. As she looked around the common room, at a loss for what to do, she heard Present Donnie's voice in the dojo, and panicked. She couldn't involve him in this mess now. Not until she'd at least figured it out.

Quickly crossing the common room, she slipped in the kitchen just as he was coming down the dojo steps, and waited for him to pass by.

"Meathead pulled a stitch," she heard him say once he'd reached the lab. "Why won't he ever stay still? I don't even know why we give him painkillers, it's like he enjoys being stabbed. Hey, where's April?"

"Bathroom break, I think," came Future Donnie's nonchalant reply, and the lump in April's chest gave a painful throb. "So, no signs of infection at least?"

The Stereotello dialogue continued as she stepped out of the kitchen heading for her new objective. Futute Casey was probably swimming in painkillers now: he was perfect for the job.

Because there were a lot of turtles and only one common room, they'd ended up moving all the sleeping bags to the dojo, and leaving the bench pit for recreation. She kinda wished they'd do this more often now; the dojo had transformed into a lounge of sorts, and with all the beautiful rugs and the tree, it was much cosier than the big, cavernous common room. All they had to do was light a couple dozen candles and incense sticks to take care of the smell of sweat.

However, when April made it up the steps expecting to see Future Casey resting, instead there seemed to be no one there. Just a bunch of bundled up blankets and throw pillows.

She was about to open her mind again in search for him, when she heard hushed voices coming from Splinter's room. Neither of those voices were Splinter's.

Without thinking it entirely through, she approached the painted paper screens and slid them open, ready for anything… except Future Casey and Raph, standing hip to hip, their arms around each other, their faces smooshed against the other's skin.

The scene lasted a fraction of a second, as the moment they saw her, they both jumped and shouted.

"Ahh! Seriously?" she exclaimed, turning away in a reflex and squeezing her eyes shut.

"We were just cuddlin'!" Casey honked.

"Yeah, right!" she retorted, shooting them a judging glare through her fingers.

"We weren't going to monster mash in Splinter's room, sheesh!" Raph protested, out of breath, tying his mask back in place.

"I knew we shoulda left a sock outside the door."

"Sure, Case! And a big neon sign while we're at it!"

"Just get outta there," she commanded, and they stepped out of Splinter's room with their heads low, but smirking underneath their flushed cheeks.

"This takes me back. April walking in on us…" Casey giggled, straightening his tank top and putting his arm back in its sling, before Raph shushed him.

April slid the panel doors closed after them with a reproving grunt. "I thought you were supposed to be resting your shoulder! And where is Master Splinter?" she asked bluntly, motioning at the now empty room, and realizing only now she didn't remember sensing him before.

"He went out. Said he had to run an errand. And what were you doing here anyway?" Raph demanded, though clearly too flustered to pull off his usual in-your-face-ness.

"I was looking for you," she replied, pointing at Future Casey.

Casey reeled, like he expected it to be something he'd broken. "Me? What for?"

At that, April came crashing down from her anger high, the last five minutes coming back to her like a bucket of ice water.

"I need your help. I just spoke to Donatello—your Donatello—and apparently I didn't come through the portal because I'm not even around in the future. Have we really not spoken in months?"

Raph and Casey looked at each other, then Casey burst out in a fit of cackles.

"All that nagging about no spoilers, and he's the one to blow it!"

"But he wouldn't say why," April went on quickly over Casey's laughter. "So now you have to tell me."

"Yeah, sorry, April," Raph said, not sounding very sorry. "But we're not telling ya anything either."

"Aren't we?" Casey said innocently.

"We're in enough trouble."

"I dunno, Raph, she got leverage: she caught us doing the nasty. She could black-mail us."

"We were cuddling!" Raph corrected him with a threatening finger. He aimed it at April next like the barrel of a gun. "We were cuddling!"

"I couldn't care less what you were doing!" April said in all honesty, swatting the finger away, however remarkable it was to even hear the word 'cuddling' from Raphael. "Please, I don't wanna drift apart. I don't wanna lose Donnie, or any of you guys."

That seemed to shut them up as they eyed her seriously. April thought she saw Raph's brow furrow ever so slightly—and not out of contempt.

"Dude, this is getting outta hand," Casey said then, to Raph. "We should just tell her, it'll only freak her out more if we don't." When Raph crossed his arms, Casey insisted. "Look, for the looks o' things, the beans are plenty spilled already. Beans a-a-all over the carpet."

"We have orders."

"Man, what's the point of goin' back in time if we can't Terminator these guys outta all the shit we been through?"

Encouraged by Casey's apparent eagerness to talk—just as she planned—April pushed on. "I just wanna do things right. I don't wanna make your April's mistakes."

"You know," Raph retorted. "If you don't make these particular mistakes, you'll just make different mistakes."

She glowered. Always the optimistic one.

"Come on, life of the party. I'll talk to ya, Red," Future Casey said, and for once April thanked the universe for Casey's everything-is-awesome attitude. She also couldn't help notice he apparently never stopped calling her 'Red', even after all these years.

"Fine, your funeral." Raph let himself fall on a bunch of pillows and picked up a magazine. "'Cause if Leo and Donnie find out about this, I'm blaming you, man."

Casey ignored him, and clapped his hands. "Alright, how much did he tell you? I wanna know what I can throw back in his face for when he accuses me of blabberin'."

"He said I had a job abroad and 'naturally' we aren't as 'in-touch'," she explained, with very disgruntled finger quotes. "He showed me and Present Donnie a picture of your April, and…" She thought about asking them for Donnie's new ability to mind-shield himself from her, but immediately decided against it. It seemed way too personal, and something they might not even be aware of. "Not a lot more."

"Damn, that's not much as far as leverage goes," Casey said thoughtfully, tapping his chin like she drove a hard bargain. Meanwhile, Raph turned a page, pretending not to listen.

"But I could tell he was upset with me for something, he just wouldn't say what. He kept saying nothing had happened, but I know he was lying."

"Well, obviously a fuckton o' things happened these past ten years. But here's the thing: whatever happened between you two… it had to have been real dumb."

April frowned in confusion. Certainly wasn't expecting that response. Even Raph slowly lifted his eyes at him.

"I mean, 'complicated', but like nothing at all epic. Dumb. Hear me out, right?" He plopped down on one of the pillows, and invited her to do the same. "So, before I hooked up with Life of the Party here, you were with me."

"Oh…" April said blankly. Was she surprised? She couldn't tell. Conflicted, confused, curious? Oh yeah. But most of all she worried about what it had meant for Donnie. Clearly Future Casey had begun there for a reason.

"Yeah, we even lived together for a while. I had loads of cash from my dip in the major league, so I got a nice place nearby for the two of us. And it was fun while it… was fun. Actually it wasn't that fun. We fought a lot. Everyday. 'Bout every lil' thing." He laughed fondly like he found it endearing. "This one time, I accidentally left my knickers on the kitchen counter again, so you force-threw the entire china—"

Raph smacked him with the magazine like a fly. But she'd already heard it.

"I did what now?"

"She can't do that yet in this timeline, ya clod!" Raph scolded, and Casey's mouth did a perfect 'O'.

"Right. Spoiler alert." He snickered.

April looked between the two, stammering. So she could move stuff with her mind now? Holy shit! It was almost enough to distract her from her current mission—moving stuff with my mind, are you kidding, that's nuts!— but loathe as she was, she shook it off, and left it aside. She could ask about her powers later, and maybe discuss it with Donnie or sensei.

"Uh, anyway," Casey went on, waving his hands in the air as though erasing a blackboard. "Where was I going with this? Point is, we didn't exactly fit, as it turned out. I decided the best thing was to break up and remain friends."

"Shyeah, you decided…" Raph mumbled behind his magazine.

"Ok, fine. It was mutual."

Raph snorted.

April's impatience was stronger than her fear, and she popped the question. "So Donnie's angry because we… hooked up?"

"What? No!" Casey's bewildered cry was an injection of instant relief, and she let out a breath. Now she felt silly. "Damn, that was like, a century ago, Red! Donnie was actually pretty cool about it even then. And you guys never stopped being besties. Made me a little jealous."

"So why does he hate me now?"

Casey's brow furrowed, and he gaged her quietly for a moment. "Red, he doesn't hate you, he misses you," he said softly, making April's heart clench. "I mean, we all do, but... You know, it's Donnie."

"I think the whole thing did stick with him though. You and April," Raph chimed in, magazine now resting idly on his lap.

"Yeah, maybe." Casey clucked his tongue. "I shipped them, dude. I always knew there was somethin' there."

"Pfft! We all knew, Case. I think the only ones who didn't know were Don and April."

Casey nodded solemnly, and said to April, "Denial. Never seen a more serious case of romantical constipation. It's a real thing. Ask Raph." Raph replied to that with a sideways deadpan. "Those two were always an item, they just didn't wanna admit it. They did everything together, were disgustingly cute, and huggy, and kissy…"

"So then…" April couldn't help interrupt. "Donnie and I… Did we ever actually…?"

"Hook up?"

She hesitated to say, "Yeah?"

"Nah…" Casey answered sounding disappointed, but not as much as April. Funny how it struck her that nothing had happened between them in all those years. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, though. After all, not three weeks ago, she didn't even wanna think that far into the future. Hell, a few days days ago she was considering a thing with Casey!

But nothing? Really? Ten years, and they never...? She couldn't understand it. Somehow it seemed very improbable. It seemed nearly impossible.

Then she really heard herself thinking, and it was as if the skies had opened up, this new-found certainty blowing away all the doubts that had bogged her for so long. The way was clear, the path bright. Maybe she always knew it had to happen, sooner or later. Holy chalupa.

Her chest swelled. Wouldn't it be super easy? Wouldn't it be amazing? Future Casey shipped them, so would Present Casey ship them too?

"When you and I officially broke up," Casey went on, "we all thought you two would hook up like right away. Mikey and I made bets. But nope! Bet's been on for years. April clearly digged Donnie, and clearly wanted something. But when we asked Donnie, he always said he was done with all that pinin' business, swore he didn't have any 'romantic interest' in April anymore. Just FYI, April, obviously lying through his tooth gap. Textbook romantical constipation."

"That's—" April stammered. She didn't wanna say 'dumb', but... "Why didn't you tell Future April and Donnie all this?"

"I did! They didn't wanna hear it! Man, it's frustrating. The sexual tension! Like, just bone already!"

"Okay." April raised both hands before he could go any further down that road. She puffed, and covered her face, trying to organize her thoughts. "This is getting complicated. I just… I just wanted to know how we went from besties to not talking. How did we fall out? And why did you say it was dumb?"

"Ah! Therein lies the ages-old question," he said with in a bad impression of some Olde English fantasy character or other. "Here's the thing: like so much fucked up shit's gone down throughout the years. It's a family tradition, you know, to face off against monsters and aliens and real creepy, mindfuck shit in general on a monthly basis. Shit that threatens to break us apart forever, you know what I'm talkin' about. But not even the most fucked up managed to break you guys apart." His finger bounced between her and the dojo entrance. "You just shook that stuff off, hugged it out. No spoilers, but there was this incident with an evil space demon spirit... long story short, one of you tried to kill the other..." April's jaw fell open in alarm. "And that whole shenanigan only seemed to bring you closer together." Casey put on a dreamy look, giddy like a schoolgirl. Until he suddenly bestowed the air a furious punch. "But not close enough! And then one day for no reason you suddenly stop talking? I seen a number o' chick-flicks in my life and I'll bet my other kneecap one of the two just said something they shouldn't. Or it coulda been something they didn't say, or both. Then the fears, and the misunderstandings…" Casey seemed very invested, affected even.

Lastly, he threw out his hand, leaning back, as though resting his case, and concluded, "Dumb. Something dumb and 'complicated'. I love Donnie, man. Guy's my bro and I owe him a lot. But sometimes I just wanna grab his stupid idiot face and bitch-slap the genius outta him, 'cause he's an idiot and you two coulda had somethin' if only he wasn't so chicken!" he snarled, hands balled into fists.

"There there, Case," Raph said soothingly, patting his back. "You're gonna pull a stitch again."

April didn't say anything. It was a little too much to take in at once. She was caught in a web of emotions, proud and eager for all those years of the warmest friendship —romantically constipated or not—but also angry and afraid that it could all end just like that. In the dumbest way, if Casey was to be believed.

"When April left for that job, it was really hard on Donnie," Casey continued after a couple of deep breaths. "But he never let her know. We all kept in touch, and April was doing great over there in her new job and all. Donnie kept telling us to be super supportive of your career, even though we wouldn't see you anymore, that you'd worked so hard for this and yada-yada-yada… Honestly I think your career meant more to him than to you."

Casey joked, but it sounded a lot like Donnie to be so hell-bent on her becoming the next Nobel prize, or something. It was everything he'd do if only he was human. Maybe even so much that he was willing to never see her again, if it meant she was successful?

"And then last Christmas break, she came to visit for a few days. And whatever it was, it musta happened the night before her flight back to England. Donnie walked April to our old place. Remember, Raph?"

The new info recaptured April's attention and she perked up, hopeful.

Even Raph was showing signs of sadness when he responded, "He took a while, and when he came back he did what he always does when he's real bummed out for something: locked himself in his lab and worked through the night."

"Next morning we drove April to the airport, and Donnie and April said goodbye all sadly like she was going off to war. Like she was never comin' back, but only they knew that. Neither of them told us what was up. They just kinda played it cool, but then stopped talking to each other, and eventually you stopped calling altogether, except for the occasional 'how's things?' And Donnie…" Casey blew a sad raspberry—which shouldn't be possible, but he did it. "Man, Donnie's sarcasm levels skyrocketed. That was months ago, and we still don't know what the hell that was all about. Now I'm thinkin' we really might not get to see ya again." He looked at her as though he hoped April could deny it for him. But she couldn't.

April regretted not bringing a notebook to take notes. This was worse than trigonometry. Her head was buzzing from trying to piece together all those loose bits of information into something she could work with. She needed to think. There was some relief there among it all, but she still didn't know what happened exactly, and it didn't look like Casey had more to offer.

She hummed pitifully. "That's... it, huh?"

"That's all I got. Not 'cause I don't wanna gossip. Believe me, I do. It's just, in the end, there's a lotta things only you or Donnie can know. Mikey and I have theories but…" He scooched closer to her. "Look, I guess what I was tryin'a say with all this is… You and Donnie really need to just talk shit out. And I mean in our timeline and in yours. I dunno if you really do got the hots for mini-me right now or not, or if you do for Donnie and… well, up to you, but… Yeah, just be straight with Donnie, and tell him to be straight with ya too."

"I plan to," she said, the most decisive she'd been in months.

"Awesome. Then maybe this trip can do somethin' for our Donnie too, huh? We'd all love to see our April again. So maybe you can convince him to talk to her or somethin'."

She could do something even better. She could talk to her Donnie, and then they could talk to Future Donnie. Together. That'll show him.

"I'll talk to him," she said with a nervous, but determined nod. "Thanks, Casey." Casey leaned forward and soft punched April's shoulder. "And Raph."

"Nuh-uh, I had nothing to do with this," Raph said, picking up his magazine again and covering his little grin with it.

"I gotta say, Casey, you were real sweet," she said. "I'm kind of impressed."

"Well, Casey Jones is an expert lover now, Red."

"Gimme a break," Raph grumbled behind his paper shield.

"Maybe later, big guy," Casey replied with a sultry voice and a steaming smolder. Raph's head shook slowly and April couldn't help chuckle. It was so weird. And yet, not that weird.

"So you gonna, you know, make it count?" Casey asked with a little wiggle-dance.

April felt herself blush. "Maybe..."


After her interview with the surprisingly romance-savvy Casey, April did have to go back to the lab. All her school stuff was there, and Present Donnie would certainly suspect her leaving without at least saying goodbye. Her plan for now was to go home, to review and reflect on Future Casey's story in the peace and quiet of her room, and come up with a new plan.

The moment she entered the lab, she couldn't help notice how Future Donnie stopped what he was doing and followed her with his gaze, a question in his eyes. He was probably wondering what she'd found out. April simply returned the look, but kept it neither friendly nor hostile, hoping only to convey some kind of acknowledgement. Yeah, I see you, and I'll get to you.

After explaining that she should probably study at home after all, away from distractions, she started putting away her school stuff. All the while looking covertly at Donnie—her Donnie—pink tip poking through his lips as he typed new code into the tracker's programs. Everything that had struck her about Future Donnie—the build, the confidence in his voice and posture—it was all there in Present Donnie already. She could see it. A work in progress. And dammit, she wanted to be a part of it.

They hugged goodnight as always, and while wrapped in his gentle grasp, she promised herself she would never let them drift apart.

She spent the whole walk back home grinning like a goober. All she could think about was what she was gonna say to Donnie, and the look on his face when she did. She was already considering a way and a time to… ask him out? How far was she gonna go with this? All she knew was she wanted to grab his face and look into his eyes, and kiss him right on that soft, round beak of his. Just imagining it gave her a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

Maybe she should wait until the whole Future Turtles thing has blown over, and Karai is safe, and the Shred Head gone for good...

No! No more procrastinating! There would always be some alien invasion, some war, some vengeful ghost, threatening to take all their lives. And one day will be her last chance, to… 'make it count'.

This whole future business made her realize how much she didn't want what Future April chose—that whatever a normal life was, she didn't want any of it. Not if it didn't include the turtles.

But as she turned the street corner and her place came into view, another factor also did: her father.

Should she tell him about her and Donnie before she tried anything or should she wait and see what happened first? And she still hadn't told him about their big mission. She hadn't even told him about the Future Turtles! Oh man, she hated keeping things like this from him. But he always worried so much, even about just patrolling late with the guys. What would he say of his only daughter being with a mutant from the sewers? How would he take her going off to battle against a super powerful mutant ninja army? If something happened to her, what would that do to him?

While these thoughts spun wildly in her head, she suddenly found herself through the entrance and halfway up the steps. Overcome with refreshed fear, she stopped in the middle of the hallway and stared at the door, keys in hand. What to do? Be honest with him? Would that trigger another anxiety attack? Then something caught her attention, and she paused.

Something was out of place here. She opened her mind, and frowned. Nah, it can't be… She took the four remaining strides to the front door, stuck her key in and pushed it open.

She should've known not to doubt her senses. Her dad sat with none other than Master Splinter, and they stopped talking as soon as they noticed her.

"Hello, April," Master Splinter said through a cheeky smile. The sight of him in the middle of her living room was a shock in itself. The 6 foot tall rat in a robe was even more impressive out of the context of the lair, and in her very regular home, sitting on her extremely regular couch.

"Ubb?" was all she managed.

Kirby waved at her from his side of the couch, tea cup aloft. "Hi, honey."

She crossed the threshold slowly, absently leaving her keys on the bowl without taking her eyes off the two people watching her. "What's going on?" she asked, offering a suspicious smile back.

"Master Splinter brought this great exotic tea, from Japan. Genmaicha, was it?"

Splinter nodded kindly, and said to April, "I had Murakami-san order it for me."

At this point, April was shaking, feeling as though the school principal had just paid them a visit in their own home, which was never a good sign.

"Well, Kirby. I suppose I should get back to my own teenagers," Splinter said, standing up. Kirby laughed and mimicked him. "Thank you for having me. And for the pastries!"

"Anytime, Yoshi," Kirby said, walking Splinter to the entrance. They shook hands and bowed, Japanese style. "Take care."

"I will see you tomorrow for training, April," Splinter told her on his way out, then pulled his hood over his head so that only his nose and whiskers were visible.

"Uh-bye..." April babbled, unable to ignore the fact that he'd said the word 'training' out loud and her dad didn't even flinch. What was going on? What on Earth did they talk about?

"He—he didn't just show up here, did he?" she asked her dad after he'd closed the door, thinking it wouldn't be completely out-of-character for Master Splinter.

"Of course not. I called him up, and we decided to meet in person. You think I didn't notice you sneaking out these past few nights? Your old man's not that big an idiot, April."

She winced before realizing he actually didn't seem at all angry. In fact he smirked when he said, "Splinter is one heck of a guy. No wonder you like him so much."

Then he hugged her, which he always did to greet her back home, but now it felt like something more. She hadn't seen him this serene in... years. Then he laid his hand on her back, gently guiding her towards the couch.

"Let's talk, huh? Wanna try some of that Genmaicha?"


You smell that? It's the smell of resolution...

What did you think of Future Donnie's new talents? And shipper Casey?

Remember to drop us a review! 'Tis a writer's scooby snack! :3