Resolve

"Dude. What the hell is with them?"

Donnie patted the chair next to him, and Mikey bounded over and plopped down, his shoulders slumping sadly.

"I mean, it's been a week of this. They act like they're fighting but they're not. It's like… It's like they're magnetic opposites, can't get within ten feet of each other. And those glares! I'm afraid to get caught between them, I might spontaneously combust!"

Donnie arched a brow at him, a smile curling his lips. "That's a lot of big words for you."

"I know," Mikey said proudly, swinging his feet and bumping Donnie's leg rhythmically. "I do listen to you, y'know. Sometimes."

"Hmph. Well, it may have something to do with the night the heater went out," Donnie said cautiously, his smile widening when Mikey predictably leaned forward eagerly.

"What? Dude, you been holding out on me? Tell me!"

Donnie twiddled something on his workstation, not paying any attention to it. "Well, you had taken Splinter to April's-,"

"Yeah, yeah, get to the good stuff."

Donnie chuckled. "The long and the short of it is, I was running around trying to weld the parts necessary to fix the heater, and I'd burnt a glove so I needed a new one, so I was going to my lab when I saw them at the kitchen table." He paused dramatically.

Mikey bounced in his seat. "Go on!"

"They were..." Donnie tilted closer to Mikey. "…kissing."

Mikey blinked at him, blue eyes wide with astonishment.

"And I don't mean a peck on the cheek type of deal," Donnie added in a conspiratorial whisper. "This was a major game of tonsil hockey."

"Ho-ly shit," Mikey breathed, unable to hide his excited grin. "Well geez, no wonder they're all embarrassed and stuff! And they don't want us to know! But, like, dude, they're more transparent than ghosts."

"I know, right?" Donnie settled back in his chair with a laugh, abandoning his tools on the table. There was no way he could concentrate on his work now. "A long time coming, I'd say."

"I… guess. The way they fight and stuff? Y'think it's some kinda twisted foreplay or something?"

Donnie bent over, laughing again. "Oh Mikey, you have the worst imagination, I swear."

"Worst… or best?" Mikey teased, giggling.

"Both?" Donnie suggested. He rested his elbows on the workbench, chin in his hands. "So, I've had a week to chew on this, but… How do you feel about it?"

Mikey bit his lip as he shrugged.

Donnie was surprised at that. "It doesn't weird you out?"

"Not really." Mikey shrugged again; too casually.

"Why not?" Donnie pressed, tilting his body toward him again.

"Just… doesn't. So what're you working on today?" Mikey asked brightly, prodding the gadgets on the table.

That was entirely too obvious, Donnie thought. Mikey was a much better actor than this. He must truly be flustered. But why? He hadn't seemed that uncomfortable a moment ago, just fascinated.

Unless…

"Mikey."

"Hm?"

"Do you have a crush on Leo?"

Mikey fidgeted with a wire. "No."

Donnie felt his heart leap. "Raph?"

Mikey looked away, studying the wall intently. "No."

"Mikey…?" Donnie leaned closer, his arms slipping from the table to rest lightly on Mikey's shoulders.

"You! It's you, okay?" Mikey peered up at him, his eyes unsure and yet wide with hope. "It's always been you, since we were four, but then I really understood like a year ago but you're always so busy and you've got enough stuff to worry about than me mooning and drooling over you so I was just gonna wait and mmph."

Donnie covered Mikey's mouth with his own, silencing the confession as they instinctively wrapped their arms around each other. It was chaste, hesitant; but their eyes opened and shared silent promises.

"You know…" Donnie said, panting softly when he pulled back, "when you start jabbering like that, I have an overwhelming urge to shut you up."

"You can shut me up anytime," Mikey giggled, burying his face in Donnie's chest. "Wow."

"Agreed." Donnie stroked the back of his head, urging Mikey to move and sit in his lap.

They cuddled for nearly an hour, chuckling and whispering as their hands and lips explored.

"Man," Mikey said dreamily as he nuzzled Donnie's neck, "Leo and Raph are so missin' out."

Donnie laughed in agreement, locking his fingers around Mikey's shell. "Maybe we should… help them?"

"Oooh, I like," Mikey sniggered. "We should brainstorm!"

"Use that terrible imagination of yours," Donnie teased, laughing again when Mikey smacked his arm.

"Just you wait 'til you find out what I've been imagining about you," Mikey whispered, and they shivered together.