Chapter 29: Small Conversations
Leonardo sighed, watching Donnie walk through the room. His little legs were moving toward the couch where Leo knew he would spend the next hour or so taking a nap. As Donnie walked over, Leo bent over and scoped over his brother. Donnie gave out a small cry, tucking into his shell.
"It's okay, Donnie. I've got you," Leo whispered, stroking the shell. Donnie slowly peaked out. "Yeah, you're okay." Donnie looked up at Leo before resting his head on Leo's leg, closing his little eyes, ready for his nap.
Leo sighed, looking over the lair. All was quiet and Leo didn't want to do anything to disturb that quiet. April and Casey had yet to come back to the lair since the argument. Casey had tried to call Raph the day before. That was met with lots of yelling and Raph still beating up a punching bag. They had not heard from April.
"Man, it's so stupid, Donnie," Leo began. "Casey was the one who kicked you and April has the gall to not even call and check in on you. I mean, Sensei said she could visit. Her stupid crush on Casey is blinding her. Man, I'm sorry, Donnie. None of this should have ever happened. I just…. I miss you so much. I never realized how much I depended on you until you were gone from my life. I promise, I'll never let you out of my sight."
Leo gently ran a finger over the little head. He felt Donnie jump slightly at being woken up. He couldn't help the smile when he felt the little jaw nibble on his fingers. Leo picked Donnie back up and placed him on the ground, nudging him with his foot to get him under the couch. "Except for right now. Enjoy your nap."
Michelangelo sighed, taking Donnie away from Ice Cream Kitty. The two actually got along with very well. Maybe it was because Donnie would lick Ice Cream Kitty. Mikey wasn't sure. "How about we get you a little something, huh D?" Donnie blinked. "I know you're hungry! You always want something to eat after I fish you out from under the couch."
Mikey set Donnie on the counter, pausing for a moment to make sure the little turtle wasn't going to go anywhere before fishing out a few lettuce leafs. Mikey sat and just watched Donnie eat. He felt so lost without his immediate older brother. Donnie may have been way smarter than he was, but Donnie always had an endless supply of patience.
"I just can't believe you're a little turtle now, D," Mikey breathed, placing his head on the counter, watching Donnie eat. "I still find myself going in your lab to ask you a question. Stupid right? I mean, you haven't been in your lab for so long. How stupid can I be to keep going there to find you?" Mikey ran a finger over the shell. "I just wish I got a chance to say bye before… yeah. But I understand why Sensei did it. It would have destroyed Leo if he had to make a choice like that, if any of us had to. I may be upset about not being able to say good bye, but I'm glad Sensei did what he did. I think I'd rather have you around in some way then to have you….."
Mikey sighed, picking up Donnie so he could look in his eyes. "I promise, D, I'm going to listen to you more. I'm gonna be the bestest little brother you're ever gonna have. I'm never gonna let you go." Mikey smiled as best he could with tears in his eyes.
Karai carried Donatello into his own room, the one she took over since coming to the lair a while back. She gently ran a finger over the shell, enjoying the alone time she was going to have. Splinter had given the boys the okay to go out and get a pizza and they were overjoyed to be able to leave the lair. That left Karai on Donnie duty. She could have left him to wander the living room but Karai decided to spend some quality time with him, even if he didn't understand.
Karai shut the door and placed Donnie on the bed, watching the little turtle slowly pull his head from his shell. She reached out a hand, pausing for a moment. Donnie reached out and nibbled on her fingers. She let a smile graced her features. "I know you're in there somewhere Donnie. Normal turtles don't nibble on the fingers of those he cares about. I mean, you've been doing it consistently with all of us."
Karai sat down on the bed, taking a chance to pull the turtle onto her lap and look around the room. It was surprisingly clean for a boy's room. There was a single bed and when she first arrived, it was neatly made. The desk in the corner was covered in notebooks and papers and the area around it had sticky notes tacked on the walls. A bookshelf covered the final wall and it was overflowing with books. She was able to gain some idea of who Donnie was but Karai still wanted to actually talk to him, more than through a small hole in a cage.
She began to run her fingers over the shell. "You know, I've always wanted a sibling. I could never decide if I wanted to be the big or little sister. When I was younger, I wanted to be the little, so I could have someone to look out for me. But as I grew up, I ended up wanting a little sibling so I could protect them."
"Then, my world turned upside down. How do you handle that the person you thought was your father, turned out to be the killer of your mother and was only using you for revenge. I didn't want to believe. But I had hope. I have my real father, the one who loves me and cares for me. And four little brothers! I got my dream, four little brothers to protect. And I've failed one." Karai shuttered.
"I couldn't believe when I finally came to my senses that you were captured alongside me. And I owe you so much. You gave me back my mind, you gave me control and I hope I can repay you for your kindness one day. You're just so amazing, Donnie," Karai breathed, bringing the turtle up to her face to lock eyes with him. "I promise you, I will protect you. You're my little brother and I will never let this happen again." Karai gently placed her forehead on the small turtle's head, hoping to convey the protectiveness and love she felt.
Author's Note: Little normal turtle Donnie is really sadorable! Special thanks to Rhodesincolumbus, awesome5689, Fever To Write, CuriousHeather, Bipper Cipher 3, BurnedIce0, Pilyartquitect, and Andraia452.