My song of inspiration this time was 'The Monster' by Eminem. I don't particularly care for his parts, but I thought Rihanna's fit Alopex perfectly. So it was inspiring. I hope you enjoy!
They rush Donnie back to the lair and take the utmost care of him. They also try to press him for answers, Raph in particular. But the more they ask the more he clams up. Donnie keeps his head low and hi lips pressed tight together, as tight as he can given his occasional sobs and quivering lip.
Leo, however, does not pry. He watches carefully and waits for the moment of vulnerability. He had one after Karai betrayed them which Raph picked up on brilliantly, but Raph seems to be oblivious to Donnie's emotions in this scenario. Without encountering the creature his brother is unable to see anything but an enemy, an enemy that tore Donnie apart.
Mikey is perhaps the second most sympathetic. Raph tries, he really does, but he fails to achieve what Mikey does. Mikey sits close to Donnie and pets him gently. He murmurs encouraging words, words that beg for answers but that also allow Donnie to keep the heartbreak to himself.
Donnie cries harder, but he leans into Mikey's touch. He whimpers a word or two here and there, giving the youngest a chance to uncover the truth.
Unfortunately it goes over Mikey's head. All he can do is continue to pet Donnie and move closer until he is finally able to wrap his arms around Donnie in a warm but gentle hug.
Donnie throws his arms around his little brother and pulls him close for a tight hug. He shakes against Mikey and buries his head deep in his brother's shoulder. "Thank you…" His voice is tight and wavering, but the appreciation can not be denied.
Mikey smiles sadly. "It'll be alright bro." His wounds will be better in a day or two. Yet somehow he senses the tears are not only for the physical. He wants to understand exactly what his brother is hiding, what tears him apart from the inside out, but asking is fruitless. Maybe he's wrong anyway. Perhaps Donnie isn't hurting emotionally.
Eventually they leave him alone. Mikey follows after Raph and they disappear into his room. It is in this moment that Leo swoops in. He walks slowly, carefully. Sudden movements may throw Donnie off and make his walls go right back up. He doesn't speak either. He simply comes and stops in front of his brother.
Donnie sits and stares blankly at his hands. They are white with bandages, but he sees right through the wrappings. He sees to the scars that lie underneath, to the blood that once ran thick from Alopex's attack. He catches his breath and bites down hard, cringing as he tastes the blood of his tongue.
He whines softly and rubs his mouth. Like he needs another wound. He lifts his head mindlessly then and catches sight of the green figure in front of him. He starts and opens his mouth to snap at Raph until he realizes it is not his red clad brother. Then he lets his mouth close again. His lips stretch out in a grimace. "Leo…"
Leo nods. He moves forward and sidesteps to sit next to Donnie. He rests his hands on his knees and looks off to the far wall. "How are you feeling?" He starts off lightly. The biggest mistake Raph made was asking directly.
Donnie slowly turns his gaze around toward Leo. His brows knit together as he stares at his brother. He blinks twice as he watches Leo, not slow to comprehend but only a little confused by the question Leo chose to ask. "O…Ok, I guess." He finally says. He shrugs.
Leo shifts his gaze toward Donnie, but not his face. "Your hands don't hurt anymore?" His brother has already started fidgeting with them again. They can't hurt too badly. That or Donnie is just that distressed. He really hopes the latter isn't the case.
Donnie shakes his head slowly. "No…they…" He grimaces. It's not true that they never hurt. It's just the pain was dulled tenfold by the pain in his heart. There's only a light throbbing at this point. "They're fine."
Leo nods. "I'm glad." He rubs at his nose. Even with all the water that was used on Donnie and his wounds the traces of the creature are not completely gone. At least it's not bad like the last night though. "But…"
Donnie jerks to attention. He eyes Leo warily. He squeezes his hands especially tight.
Leo does not react in the least. "Is anything else bothering you?" He lifts his eyes to meet Donnie's. His expression is neutral. No one could say if Leo really knew anything or if he was simply curious.
Donnie bites his lip. He casts his eyes down. He can't bear to meet his brother's eyes, especially when they look so unreadable. "Just…April." He sighs softly. "I could barely protect her."
Leo makes a soft sound. It flows off Donnie's lips so easily he knows there is truth within it. His brother is tormented by his short comings, but it is far more complicated than that. "Why is that?" Leo tilts his head slightly.
Donnie's eyes widen. "W-What do you mean?" He swallows hard.
Leo shrugs. "It's a dangerous mutant, but-"
"She." Donnie snaps without thinking. He scowls up at Leo for an instant before his mistake hits him full force. He freezes.
Leo blinks. He frowns and stares curiously at Donnie. She. So Donnie was close enough to consider this creature a person more than mutant.
Donnie clamps his mouth shut and shakes his head fervently. "I-I…I mean...I just noticed it was a girl. Th-That's all." He ducks his head and closes his eyes tight. Son of a-
"It's alright Donne." Leo says especially softly. "You cared about it-er, her. I could see it back when we found you." He smiles sadly. He doesn't have to reveal his dealings with Karai ultimately enabled him to.
Donnie opens his eyes and reveals a buildup of tears. His lip trembles faintly. "She was my friend." He chokes out. "I don't understand how she could do this. To April…to me." He lays a hand over his eyes.
"I understand what it feels like." Leo places a hand on Donnie's shoulder. "It's probably the worst feeling ever. But…" Leo's gaze hardens. "It doesn't change the fact that she's dangerous and that she needs to be stopped."
Donnie catches his breath. His eyes widen and he stares in utter disbelief of his brother. "But…" He gasps. He opens and closes his mouth around empty words.
"I'm sorry Donnie." Empathy shines in Leo's eyes. "But the person you knew before…she's not there anymore." He swallows hard, forcing down his own tears. "Tonight proved that perfectly." Still, it was just once. Karai was given multiple chances and proved herself on some of them. But Karai never killed innocent people either.
"Leo…" Donnie whimpers. "I can't…" A sob catches in his throat. "I almost lost April. And I…I can't lose anyone else." A single tear slides down his face.
Leo grimaces. "I'm sorry Donnie." He wraps his arms loosely around Donnie. He waits a fraction of a second and when there is no resistance he gently pulls his brother to him. "So sorry." He doesn't know what else he can offer his little brother.
Donnie throws his arms around Leo. He buries his face deep in Leo's chest. "She was my friend…" He repeats over and over again. He shakes fiercely.
Leo rubs Donnie's head and pats his shell. "It'll be alright." He whispers. I made it through Karai. "Just be strong."
You're stronger than that. Alopex's words from the first night he told her stories of April comes back to him like a whip. It stings and it does him no good. It only makes him cling tighter to Leo. "I know…" He breathes. In the end he isn't sure if he's speaking to Leo or Alopex. All he knows it sleep comes fast and the next thing he knows it's morning.
…
Leo stays with him all night. He is there when Donnie wakes. He also tells the others that they are going to wait another day to search for the creature. Donnie doesn't know whether to be relieved or worse that more people will probably die because of him. In the end though it is better for everyone – everyone but the dead.
"Three more bodies were found today." The woman on the news says. By this point, even only a few days into Alopex's insanity, it is obvious that it is getting to her. She has a nervous tick and she can't keep her gaze straight on the camera. She acts as if Alopex might attack at any moment – right in the daylight. Honestly though it's not too ridiculous. If she gets to out of control then she might not be able to keep herself from attacking at every opportunity. It's just like any addiction to drugs. Only this time the user is not the one liable to die.
Raph growls loudly. He leaps up and punches the arm of the couch brutally. He whirls around and glares daggers at Leo. "See?" He throws his hand up. "Look what your waiting did! Now more people are dead! Are you satisfied? Huh, fearless?"
Leo scowls back at him, but the effort is weak. A slight grimace splits his lips. "It was the right thing to do." He says steadily.
"Right?" Raph laughs coldly. "Are you kidding me?" He stomps toward Leo. He reaches out and grabs him by his plastron. "When people have to die, nothing is right!"
Leo sighs heavily. "I'm sorry Raph." He says as evenly as he can. Still there is an undeniable edge to his voice. "But we couldn't go before. We weren't ready."
Raph scoffs. "And now we are?" He grinds his teeth and growls lightly. He looks intently into Leo's eyes, searching for something he isn't sure of. But he doesn't find it. So with an aggravated sigh he shoves Leo back. "I can't believe this." He grumbles as he stomps off.
Mikey looks back and forth between his brothers. "Uhh…" He bites his lip. In the next instant he runs after Raph. "Bro," He says tentatively. "Don't be like that." He grabs onto Raph's arm.
Raph growls fiercely. He smacks Mikey's hand off and turns on him. He makes himself especially large as he stands over his little brother. "Don't be like what?" He glowers. "Sensible?"
Mikey ducks his head. "Raph…" He says softly. "Calm down…"
Raph clenches his fists and prepares to act. But at the last moment he freezes. He unfurls his fiats and he untenses. He lets out a heavy breath. "Sorry…" He says stiffly. "I…just can't stand this." His hands tremble faintly with lingering anger.
Mikey nods meekly. "I know." He glances back at Leo. He can't say he's particularly happy with the decision Leo made. Donnie won't make that big of a difference. His purple clad brother still looks shaken up. He'd be surprised if Donnie is even allowed to come.
Raph shakes his head and shoots a look of disgust toward Leo. "Come on." He puts a hand to the back of Mikey's shoulder and pushes him lightly. "Let's get ready to go." It's only a few hours now. No more excuses. It's time to take this monster down.
Donnie slinks over to Leo once Raph and Mikey have disappeared. He casts his gaze downward and bows his head. "Sorry Leo." He murmurs. "I hate that Raph blames you for everything. It's not your fault. It's-"
Leo holds his hand up. "No," He smiles sadly. "As the leader, everything's my fault. It was ultimately my decision to wait. Not yours."
"But…" Donnie lifts his head. He frowns deeply.
Leo shakes his head. "It's fine Donnie." He pats his shoulder lightly. "I knew what I was doing when I made this choice. I knew Raph would get this way. But…it's alright." He shrugs. "I know t's what you needed."
Donnie smiles weakly. "Thank you."
Leo averts his eyes suddenly. He folds his hands together and his brows furrow on his head. "But…" He taps his fingers on the back of each hand. "I was thinking," He forces himself to meet Donnie's eyes. "And if you need to, you can stay home. You don't have to fight her."
Donnie chuckles, but it is tight and without feeling. "No," He shakes his head. "You already put this off just so I would be up to it. If you let me weasel out of it now, you'll only piss Raph off even more."
Leo half laughs. "I suppose so." Still, he can see the torment in his brother's eyes even now. While the day of reprieve surely helped, it did not completely absolve him. Nothing ever really will. "I just don't want you to be like you were…" The other night. But he doesn't have to say it. They both know what he means.
Donnie can't hide his grimace. "Yeah…" He sighs. He shakes his head and forces a smile. "But I have to face it eventually." He nods assertively. He only wishes he felt as confident as his action looked.
Leo lays a hand on Donnie's shoulder. "You can do it."
Donnie nods weakly. "I know." He steps back out of Leo's touch. "But I have to go get ready for it." Both mentally and physically. He moves past Leo to his lab. He still doubts he'll be able to attack Alopex even with all the preparation in the world. But there are things that must be done – things that aren't for his own sake.
Leo watches Donnie leave. He sighs softly. If only there were something more he could do. As his big brother he should be able to. But he can't. So he trudges off to talk to Splinter for a few minutes. It's a way for him to clear his own mind.
Donnie works quickly, but carefully. It is the fastest he has moved since he had to fight Alopex. But it is necessary. Raph will be impatient to find her to prevent any more casualties. In fact, it's probably him who will tell Donnie to move it before Leo.
He soon sees how right he is. He is just finishing up when he hears footsteps approaching him. He turns slowly, not expecting his brother despite his previous thoughts. His calm falls from him and he stiffens. He grips the objects in his hands tightly. "Oh…Raph."
Raph scoffs softly. "You ready?" He watches Donnie expectantly, but does not give his brother the time to answer. He raises a brow as his eyes fall on the objects in Donnie's hands. "What're those?" He nods toward them.
Donnie's gaze snaps down to the items. "Oh." He tucks them into his belt. "Nothing. Just precautions." He can't risk this encounter going any worse than it already will.
Raph frowns deeply and his brow furrows. He looks through narrowed eyes at Donnie. "What kind of precautions?" He crosses his arms heavily over his chest. Donnie's been weird and elusive lately and this does not sit well with him on top of all that.
Donnie shrugs. "You wouldn't understand." Donnie walks past Raph without another word. In truth his brother would be more likely to relent if he just revealed the truth, but he doesn't want to cause undue worry. It might not even happen. So he'll just keep it to himself. After tonight…it might not even matter anymore.
He squeezes his eyes shut tight and clenches his teeth. Hopefully not though. This can't be how it ends.
Raph watches after Donnie. He looks hard for a long silent moment. Then he grumbles softly to himself and shakes his head stiffly. His brother better not be planning something that stands in the way of their efforts.
They all meet at the center of the lair and do nothing more than ascent to rise to the surface. They all look at Donnie more than occasionally on their way up and Donnie feels it powerfully. He tries to make himself smaller, to practically disappear. But it's harder than one might imagine and all he ends up doing is make himself feel all the more at fault.
The night is thick with tension on the surface. It's worse than ever before. The robberies and attacks are nothing compared to what's happening now and not even authorities are out tonight. Everyone is afraid of what lurks in the dark. And to be honest, the turtles are too. Anything that can beat Slash is a monster. That's for sure.
They don't have to hide in the shadows as much no because of it all, but their guards are farther up than ever. Donnie, however, is least alert. He doesn't need to be as watchful as his brothers in order to catch wind of her. The other night he wasn't expecting her, but now that he knows she is out and about all the little things stick out without effort.
He keeps his head low as they work their way through the city. It is only ten minutes later that he stops abruptly. He stiffens and he sucks in a sharp breath. He feels it – her golden eyes on him. He swallows hard and turns his head slowly. The wind shifts, even if only in his mind.
The others jerk around to face him. "What is it?" Leo looks with wide eyes at Donnie. They all hold their breath.
"She's here." Donnie's words are a breath on the wind.
In the next instant she leaps from the darkness of an alley. She snarls fiercely and saliva drips from her mouth. Her eyes are glazed with insanity as she jumps for the first turtle she sees – red.
Raph jerks his sais out and lunges forward. He understands the power of blind rage more than anyone. He also understands its fallibility.
Alopex twists her head at the last moment and clamps her jaws around a sai. One of the points tears into her mouth, but the pain means nothing to the pulsing need for blood. She jerks in hopes of disarming him.
Raph holds strong to his weapon and swings his free weapon around with a vengeance.
Alopex screams as it pierces her leg. She releases his weapon and circles around him. She stumbles, but she is still far faster than him.
Leo races forward. He draws his katanas and slides between it and Raph.
Alopex growls at Leo and backs up. She needs it. She needs it. How can she get it like this? They're armed, and with more than a wooden stick. Donnie… She cringes, but swirls and charges toward the purple turtle.
Donnie gasps. No… He can't move. His hands clench around his weapon, but he can't get himself to act. He can't fight her. He just can't. There's no one to protect. No one but himself.
"Donnie!" Leo yells. "Get out of the way!" He runs after the animal. He knew he shouldn't have let Donnie come.
Mikey hurls his nunchuck and wraps it around the animal's neck. He pulls back hard.
Alopex gags as she reaches the end of the length. She loses her balance and can't fight Mikey's hold. His pull makes her topple backwards.
Leo runs past the creature and stops in front of Donnie. "Donnie." He says sharply, firmly. "If you can't handle this then you need to get out of here." He looks his brother hard in the eye. "We can't be protecting you constantly."
Alopex snarls and snaps her jaw around the length of the weapon. She can't break it, but she doesn't need to. She jerks back hard against Mikey.
Mikey lets out a sharp cry of surprise as he stumbles and loses his advantage.
Alopex does it again and again until she has him within reach. Then she springs over him.
Mikey swings his other nunchuck up, the blade extended.
Alopex yelps, but there is no avoiding it. It slices up across her face, narrowly missing her eye.
Mikey smirks, but guilt rises hard and fast. This animal, it's no different than them it seems. It wears clothes and the pain is clear across its face, even if it can't feel it right now from its blind rage.
Alopex uses Mikey's hesitation. She runs headlong into Mikey and knocks him to the ground. She dives her head toward his neck and sinks her teeth in. Yes. The blood.
"Mikey!" Raph screams. His fury surges and he charges at the animal.
Alopex jerks up and spins around. She hisses and leaps from Mikey, moving in a wide circle.
Mikey sits up and gasps. His eyes shoot to the splitting pain in his neck and he screams. Blood runs down his neck, more than he's ever dealt with on himself.
Leo growls deep in his throat. His carefully tempered emotions flare up at the sight and sound of his baby brother struggling. He runs at the animal with his katanas at the ready. He hates to shed its blood, mostly for Donnie's sake, but no one hurts his family and gets away with it.
Alopex curves sharply, coming up behind Raph. Donnie's words echo in her head. Raph and his bad knees. She rams her head into the back of his knees.
Raph groans and topples forward.
Alopex leaps onto his shell and forces him down. She lurches forward and bites his arm. The blood is wretched, but it strengthens her. Her lucidity comes back in increments, but it's so small that it doesn't cause guilt. It only eggs her on.
Leo brings his blade down across its side. Its blood spurts and coats his blade and already he is guilty. He grimaces and pulls back. He notices the clothes it wears now too. Donnie did say they were friends. Was it as cognant as them?
Alopex heaves. The fire in her eyes dulls as she struggles for her very life. Her ears fold down and she whimpers softly.
Raph jerks up and throws her off of him. He hisses as he grabs at his bleeding arm. It's useless now. He glowers at the creature. There is no mercy in his eyes as he jumps to his feet and turns on the animal.
Alopex skids across the ground and digs her paws into the ground until she forces herself to a stop. Her leg cries out in agony with the effort she puts into it, but it must be done. She jerks her eyes around to focus on Raph.
Raph charges and drives his sai down at the animal.
Alopex jumps backward. Her legs tremble beneath her and her vision blurs at the edges. She can't do it. She can't fight anymore. She bares her teeth anyway and crouches. She knows he won't be willing to spare her.
Donnie starts. He sees the look in her eyes – desperation. She can't fight anymore. And they'll kill her if they have the chance. "No!" The sound chokes out of him and he surges forward.
Everyone stops instantly and swirls sharply to look at him.
Donnie throws himself in front of Alopex and spreads his arms out wide. "You can't do this! I-I won't let you!" His hands clench.
Raph is taken aback. He makes a face of utter disbelief and scoffs loudly. "What are you talking about?" He snaps. "Are you insane?" He taps his head. "Get out of the way!" He lifts his one sai.
Donnie scowls at his brother. "No!" He shakes his head fiercely. "This is enough! She can't fight anymore! You don't have to kill her! Just…just leave it at this…"
"What!?" Raph roars. "And she!? You're humanizing this monster!" He points his sai down at the animal. "You act as if you know it-" Realization falls hard on him. "Oh…my…God."
Mikey staggers to his feet. His eyes widen as the truth sinks in for him as well. "Donnie…" He says meekly.
Donnie ducks his head. Shame lurks in his eyes, but he does not let his glare soften.
Leo cringes, but he quickly recovers. "Donnie." He says sternly. "Move. Now." He can't appeal to Donnie's feelings without letting Raph know he already knew before the fight. He raises his katana and points it at Donnie.
Donnie stands firm. "Never." He shakes his head. "Because she is a person!" He shoots a hateful look at Raph in particular. "She thinks and feels just like you and me!"
"Oh yeah? Then how the hell can you explain all this?" He jerks his arm around. "She's killing people! Kill-ing them! People like that are monsters."
"No!" Donnie shrills. "She isn't!"
Alopex breaths are shallow as she lowers herself to the ground. The cement is cool even through her fur and it sends a shudder up her spine. The worse she gets the more her guilt peeks out from the insane lusts. She has to get away. Even if she wanted their blood, which she does to a terrible extent, she can't fight anymore. But what is there left to do? How can she keep them from following?
Then an unsettling thought hits her. Yes. It's perfect. Do it! But…it's horrible. It could ruin everything. For them. But who cares? It's all about you. You must live. So do it. Do it now! Alopex jerks her head up. Yes. She must do it. It's too perfect. And surely it isn't as bad as she thinks.
She rises up and scuttles between Donnie's legs. She circles quickly and leaps up at Leo's back.
Leo turns sharply. He jerks his weapon up to hit hard and strong.
Alopex is too fast. She grips his shoulders, digging her claws in deep. She then wraps her tail around his face and holds it tightly there.
Leo sucks in a sharp breath and gets a mouthful of her fur. He gasps and suddenly there is a tightness in his throat. A panic swells within him and his heart beats faster.
"Leo!" Raph screams.
Alopex twists off of Leo and jumps away. She looks back fleetingly, but she does not waste her time. She scampers off into the darkness. Her wounds ache endlessly all the while.
Donnie meets her eyes in that single moment and sees the real her. He is mortified by what she did. She used their talks against his brothers. But she was there – is there. The cloud of bloodlust let down, even for just a brief moment.
Leo's weapons clatter to the ground and he collapses. He clutches at his throat as his breaths become no more than tight wheezes. He trembles noticeably with the effort to breathe.
"Leo!" All three converge on him. Raph is first there and drops down next to Leo. "Leo! What's wrong!? Come on! Breathe!" His eyes are wild with fear. This is so much worse than the simple sneezing from before. Raph's mind races with possible fixes, but none are realistic. His mind is already far from Alopex.
Mikey slides in next. "Leo!" His voice shakes. "Leo!" He tries to say something meaningful, but all he can do is repeat his brother's name over and over again. A panic surges through him like nothing before.
Donnie feels it too, but he forces himself to remain calm. "Move!" He pushes his brothers to the side and his hand shoots to one of the items in his belt. He pulls the epipen out and slams it into Leo's thigh. It clicks and he holds it there for ten seconds.
Leo sucks in a sharp breath and starts coughing from the sudden rush of air.
Donnie rubs the injection area. "It's alright Leo. Just breathe." This injection will help, but Donnie doesn't know how this allergy affects Leo. He could and probably will need better care.
Raph's heart pounds erratically. "What happened?" He demands. "What the hell just happened?" It was an allergic attack. But…but… "That was not a dog!"
Mikey watches breathlessly. No, it wasn't a dog. But he can hardly be surprised.
Donnie growls. "Shut up Raph!" This is his fault too. Everything's his fault. "We've got to get him back home – now!" Alopex is only a dull thought in his mind right now. "Understand?"
Raph nods. If anyone knows anything medically it's Donnie.
"Come on Leo," Donnie coaxes Leo to his feet. "You can walk, can't you?" He knows epipens can make a person feel shaky.
Leo breathes shakily, but it is enough for now. "Yes…" He nods. His head spins and he holds a hand to it. What even happened? Was that it? Was that animal what he was allergic to? He knew it the moment he knew Donnie's feelings, yet for some reason it never clicked.
"Then let's go!" Raph urges. He clenches his hands and a slight tremor can be seen about him.
Mikey nods vaguely. He doesn't even remember that he too is suffering. His bleeding neck is numb to the shock of Leo's episode.
Donnie keeps an arm around Leo's arm as the hurry back home. His brother's gait is not quite right and he won't stand for him falling. Donnie has screwed so much up already. He has to at least fix this. "You'll be alright Leo." He says more to himself than his brother. "I'll fix it…"
From the shadows Alopex watches. She stays low to the ground, unable to make any more moves. She whines softly. Sorry… She lays her head down and her ears fold down. Silent tears slip down her cheeks. So sorry… It really was bad. And if not for Donnie's intelligence, she might have killed him.
Ok, so I really did research allergic attacks and tried to make it realistic. The question is if I actually did it right or not. Cause something about the end just feels wrong to me. Maybe it just went by too fast idk. But it makes me sad. On a lighter note though, did you see what I did with the title? Double meaning ftw. lol
So I hope you liked it. I continue to have the most fun ever. Please review!