A/N I do not own TMNT, but am forever grateful for their existence!
Love or Blood
Chapter 17: What Cannot Be Stitched
Shortly after Raphael disappeared, the party divided. Casey and Michelangelo set out to find the two oldest turtles, and April dragged Donatello to the farmhouse washroom to tend to his wounds. Presently, said injured terrapin was straddling the commode while the red-head applied ample – and very painful – quantities of rubbing alcohol to his multiple facial abrasions.
A mere few hours earlier, Donatello would have done everything in his power to avoid his current predicament, but that was before April chose his side over his brother's. If Donatello knew this would happen, he would have gotten Raphael to beat him up ages ago. Nevertheless, it appeared as if things were finally returning to normal. His volatile brother was once again undoubtedly out breaking stuff as usual, and April was back on his side with nothing but doting affection. Balance had once again returned to Donatello's universe.
Up until this point their conversation had revolved around his various lesions, but as April began the delicate work of applying several stitches to his cheek – Raphael's rough scales must have pierced the flesh – she steered the conversation to unexpected territory, "I hope he's ok."
Donatello tried to act dumb, "Who? Leo?"
Icy eyes sliced through his delusion, "You're too smart to play stupid Don. You know who I'm talking about."
His brown eyes widened forcing him to swallow a cry of pain as his tender flesh pulled against April's suture material – after tending Leonardo's injuries all they had left for anaesthesia was some wintergreen ointment – and it donned on the purple-banded turtle that he was trapped.
Over the last few days, April had tried to corner him, but Donatello had always managed to find an escape. Usually he would latch onto Casey or Michelangelo because the turtle knew April wouldn't discuss anything related to her feelings with them present. However, now she had him and even worse, she knew it.
Donatello either had to grotesquely rip more of his aching flesh from the suture material in her grasp or submit to a conversation that was no longer continuing as calculated. Neither option was ideal. Although the former did receive its due diligence in its consideration, in the end pain won out and Donatello pursued the latter course of action.
Minding his cheek he asked, "Why are you worrying about him? He's not the one who was half-drowned while being kicked out of his shell!"
She jabbed the needle into the skin a little more aggressively than was necessary, "Because he's the one who was called stupid –"
He cut her off in a patronizing tone, "- Well he sure as shell isn't the brightest bulb April!"
"He may not have your so-called scientific genius," she spat, "but he's a hell of lot smarter than you in a lot of ways!"
April paused halfway through the suture pattern, and now was literally holding him in place by tightly twisting the threads around her fingers. In his ire Donatello countered, "Oh yeah? Name one!"
Her frosty glare narrowed, "Well as far as the empathy goes he's a savant compared to you!"
"Raph!?" Despite the pain Donatello snorted, "Are we even talking about the same turtle? The guy only gets one emotion April and that's anger."
"Don't lie Don," April hissed, "you know that's not true!"
Of course the turtle knew his brother wasn't a raging lunatic most of the time, but ironically the one characteristic Donatello loathed in Raphael was now proudly baring its teeth in him. He spoke in a low dark voice, "Since you seem so confident in this, why don't you enlighten me April?"
The red-head stood her ground, "Unlike you, Raphael has almost always understood how I feel."
Donatello was taken off guard, "I get your feelings!"
The turtle's surprise only seemed to enrage the girl – still attached to him – more, "No you don't! You never did! You've been pining after me for months, and yet I still didn't jump into a relationship with you. Don't you think maybe that was a sign? That maybe in reality I just didn't feel that way about you?"
Disregarding the pain, he pulled out of her hold. He didn't even to bother covering the cheek. Instead tears of blood slowly ran down his face, "But you kissed me! Girls don't kiss guys if they don't like them!"
"What was I supposed to do Donnie?" Her eyes began to water as she quickly sprang to block the doorway, "Here's my best friend totally head-over heels for me, and no matter how hard I try I just cannot return his feelings! I began to question everything! I thought maybe a little physical intimacy would give me the sparks I needed, but when that didn't work I just didn't know what to do."
Donatello felt he was on the verge of prolapsing from the pressure he now felt constricting his torso, "So all of that meant nothing to you?!"
Her voice cracked as she continued, "I was just so torn Donnie. I felt the only way you would be happy would make me miserable, and I seriously thought about sacrificing my own happiness for yours."
"I would have made you happy!" He cried, "Way happier than Raphael ever could!"
April's eyes immediately transformed from sorrow to rage, "See, you still don't get it!"
"Get what?"
"You still can't possibly believe that I have deep feelings for Raphael and not you."
He didn't want to hear this. He didn't want to face the truth. He tried to side-step April so he could escape, but he was trapped. He growled, "I get it. You have thing for bad boy muscle heads."
He then folded his arms hoping to demonstrate to her his request for release, but instead April's eyes flashed dangerously. She did not budge an inch. When she spoke her voice was filled with fury and gradually accelerated as her wraith increased, "Wow. You really think you're all high and mighty don't you?"
Suddenly Donatello didn't feel as brave as April mercilessly continued, "So tell me about your stupid war with Casey over me. Do you have any idea what it feels like to be treated like some prize piece of meat at an auction? Or to have your feelings and opinions completely disregarded for the sake of some immature competition?"
He opened his mouth, but she cut him off, "But really, why would you? Why would you care when you never even bothered to ask me how I felt about you? Why would you care when my consent obviously meant nothing to you! You just assumed "if I like her enough she will like me back," but I got news for you Donatello, that's not how any relationship should work.
"Then you have the audacity to treat your brother like shit because he "stole" me from you? Get off your high horse Donnie! Raphael did not steal me from you. It takes two, which means I had a say. I didn't choose you because I didn't fall for you. I fell for Raphael and thankfully I was lucky enough that he wanted me just as much as I wanted him."
Finally he got a chance to speak, but found himself at a loss for words. He had never even entertained the thought that his competition with Casey could have an inverse effect on his relationship with April, and even worse, he had over time begun to assume that once said rival was out of the way, April would automatically go for him. Naturally Raphael would have looked that much more appealing when April considered her other suitors. The only thing that made him feel more miserable was discovering that the girl of his dreams had never managed to even think of him more as a friend. That all his efforts had been in vain, and he had been wrong. Donatello knew then if he should be pissed at anyone, it should be at himself.
When he didn't immediately respond, April took on far less fear-inducing tone, "Donnie, you need to know I don't regret my decision because I acted on my heart, and that wasn't in anyone's control but mine. So please stop blaming and torturing Raphael."
Donatello pinched his eyes closed fighting back his own tears, "So what, you want me to just go and fix it like I do everything else?" He opened his eyes to glare at her, "It's not that easy April!"
For the first time in his life Donatello actually forced April out of his way – albeit gently – he didn't care if his cheek was only partially stitched. He was done. The turtle managed to jump down the stairs and fling open the front door before April cried from the top of the banister, "Donnie please! I'm sorry that I hurt you!"
With the door wide open he froze at her words. Without turning around he responded, "Sometimes apologies just aren't enough," and he slammed the door in his wake.
A/N First off, did April and Don come across as natural? April kind of seriously unloaded on Don here, but I think it needed to happen because it had been building for a while.
Also, I'm sorry guys things aren't getting any happier any time soon… However, if you want something more pleasant I have posted a fic called "Our Style" based on this 'verse for Valentine's. It's my first attempt at something in the realm of smut so if you're older (+18) you should go check it out!
Also thanks again so much for reading and reviewing! It is always greatly appreciated =D
To my lovely reviewers:
majishan: I know all the feels are happening…
Mr.E: Thank-you! I look forward to them =) I'm glad I'm making Canada look good! Woot. Woot. Also, personally with the exception of Raph the other three totally cycle on who I like the best based on the verse, but yeah I'm a little rough on Don here…
kamilaloveboysloveyaoi: I know… It makes me sad too…
Terri: I have no idea… My mind pretty much never shuts off and so I'm always on guard for when a new idea smacks into my train of thought. Still as much as I'd like to say that I stick to my outlines, half the time they end up being a really rough skeleton. Like with the ugly duckling, would you believe it wasn't planned for at all? Often I have the set-up for the chapters ready, then when I sit down to write it, BAM INSPIRATION and the story totally takes a mind of its own.
SetoAngel01: Hey no worries! That's how life goes, and probably how my life will start to go in the next month or so XD Consequently, I've been writing like mad to try and get stuff done before it happens. Also I know! I hate torturing my characters! But alas it must happen for the sake of plot… I'm glad you're still enjoying it though.
Komnenid&Komnenid2: Thanks! Don can totally be an evil genius. Also although good guess (I route I did contemplate) as you can tell it's not the way I went, but yes Mikey does play a role at some point.
turtlesrockmysocks: Thanks so much! Reviews like this really mean the most to me, because I too have to have something really connect with both my heart and mind before I will typically say something (cuz I'm shy…). So the fact I got a review from you is super awesome =D I'm also glad to hear that it's staying in the realm of the believable without using a crazy deus ex machina or something. I definitely want to make sure I keep doing my favourite couple justice!
ariesdragon2000: Haha I'm sorry I wrote as fast as I could, but I guess you just can't rush these things ;)