Chapter 3: Perfect Chemistry
A/N: Hey, I know it's been a little while, but other stories and sinus troubles have been slowing me down. But now it's time for me to get back into the grind and get more of this story updated since I've waited long enough. Sorry to leave you guys hanging like that. I'll do my best not to let it happen again. I feel so horrible about it so feel free to throw objects at me if you so desire. Thanks to all of those who have read and reviewed thus far. Your kind words mean the world to me.
Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters are property of Nickelodeon. I only own the plot of this story.
Donnie hummed as he worked on fixing Mikey's Nintendo Wii controller that broke after Raph hurled it at the TV after he lost a game. Don normally would have been upset, but he was in a good mood because he was going to spend some time with Irma. She was still in college, but she was tired o studying and wanted to take a break from all of the work the professors were piling up on her. So when she called Don and asked if he wanted to spend time with her, he'd happily agreed.
It had been difficult for Don to do anything after April's death because he felt horrible about what had happened to her and because he had loved her. But after Splinter had showed him how to contact her through the astral plane, things had gotten better for the purple-clad Turtle, and he had finally gotten the strength to move on. He was going talk to Irma about April and how he'd loved her, something he hadn't had the chance to do over the summer.
"Well, that should do it," he said as he looked over the controller. "I just hope Raph doesn't decide to break it again when he loses." He left the lab and found Mikey watching TV and cleared his throat, holding out the controller.
Mikey's blue eyes lit up. "Dude, you fixed it!" he cried, rushing over and giving Don a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You're the best, Donnie!"
Don smiled and handed his brother the controller. "Don't mention it, Mikey," he replied. "And, Raph, try not to break it again."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry," Raph grumbled. "I just don't like it when I lose."
"Well, now that I'm finished for the day, I'm going to go out with Irma," Don declared.
"Wait, you're goin' with her on an actual date?" asked Raph.
"Yeah, sort of," answered Don. "I mean, we're technically not dating yet, so it's a friends type of thing."
"I'm glad you're moving on, Donnie," said Leo gently. "That's what April would want for you to do."
"You're lucky you've got someone to go out with," said Mikey sadly.
"Oh, cheer up, Mikey," soothed Don. "I'm sure Oyuki will come back. She just needs to be with her mom right now."
"I know, but I still miss her," said Mikey.
"Well mopin' around doesn't help," replied Raph. "Take a leaf outta Donnie's book and live a little."
"Hey, I live plenty!" protested Mikey. "I went out skateboarding just yesterday!"
"No one's saying anything differently, Mikey," Leo reassured him. "We just don't want you to mope around and be sad."
"I'm not mopin'!" said Mikey. "I just said I miss her, that's all."
"Donatello, are you leaving now?" Splinter asked him as he exited the dojo.
"Yes, I was thinking about leaving now," he answered.
"Then be careful, my son," Splinter told him.
"Yeah, Donnie, make sure you practice safe sex so that you don't get Irma knocked up," teased Raph.
Don glared at him. "I'll have you know that it is scientifically impossible for me to impregnate Irma due to our biological differences. We could still have sexual intercourse, but there's no danger of me getting her pregnant since she's a human and I'm a mutant turtle, so there's no need to worry about that. Of course, it would be a good area of study to see how our mutation makes us different to humans in that regard, but I don't think Irma would be up for that."
"Okay, you just scarred me for life, Donnie," said Mikey, covering his eyes. "I SO did not want to hear that."
"Yeah, keep that to yourself, Einstein, and get out of here before you miss your date," added Raph.
Leo didn't laugh at Donnie, but put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Have a good time, Donnie, and be careful," he cautioned. "If you need anything, you know where to reach me."
"Thanks, Leo," Don said. He waved to his brothers and father and headed out to go meet Irma.
He met Irma in an alleyway next to a coffee shop. Irma had suggested it though Don had been reluctant about it. She'd assured him that she had pepper spray just in case anyone tried to bother her. He smiled when he saw her waiting for him.
"Hey there, Stranger," she teased. "Long time, no see."
"It definitely seems that way, doesn't it?" Don agreed. "So how are things with you?"
"Pretty good," Irma answered. "I just needed a break from the schoolwork. How are you holding up, Donnie?"
"Pretty good," Don replied. "Much bête than I was."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Irma. "Do you want to get some coffee?"
"As much as I'd love to, I don't think I'd be able to go in there," laughed Don. "Actually, I wanted to take you to the park."
"Oh, the one where April used to study all of the time? Yeah, I like that place. I go there to study sometimes, too, if the weather is good."
It surprised Don that she had no objections to going to the park. When they arrived, Irma sat down on one of the swings, and Don began to push her, just as he used to do with April.
"Did you guys used to come here with April?" Irma asked him.
"Yeah, a few times," Don told her. He remembered the first time they'd taken her to the park right after she started to live with them. She had been feeling stir crazy, and Do had suggested going to the park so she wouldn't be cooped up all of the time. Splinter had been reluctant about it, but in the end he'd allowed it because he knew it wasn't fair to keep April from going to the surface, and she would be with his sons, so he knew she'd be safe. It had been a fun night, and Mikey had taken a picture of Don pushing April on the swing because he thought it was cute.
"Wow, you must have had fun," Irma commented when Don finished telling her the story.
Don nodded. "Yeah, it was a lot of fun," he admitted. "So did you know that April had a twin sister?"
Irma shook her head. "No, but I thought it was weird when I'd ask April if she could hang out, and she'd tell me she couldn't because of family issues. Now I know it was because she was visiting her lunatic sister. I just can't believe she didn't tell either of us about it. Doesn't that make you mad?"
Don shook his head. "No because she had no choice," he answered. "She had to respect her father's wishes."
"So you don't feel betrayed?"
"No, If she could have told us, she would have. Besides, it's over and done with now. What's the point in holding a grudge, especially when April's dead now?"
Irma sighed. "I guess you have a point there," she conceded. "You know, April talked about you a lot."
"Me and my brothers you mean?" Don asked her.
"Yeah, but she talked about you the most," said Irma. "She would tell me about things you did together and how she really liked you. I have to admit, Donnie, I was jealous of the two of you."
"Because she spent more time with me than with you?"
"No because she loved you, and I wished that I could have a romance like that," admitted Irma.
Don's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, you loved April too?"
She laughed. "No, not at all. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that type of relationship, but I was jealous that she had someone who really cared about her. After I met you and learned how you knew her, I began to see why she was attracted to you. And as I got to know you more, I began to see you as more than just a friend. But I wasn't sure if you liked me in that way because you loved April, and I knew it was hard to get over her. So I just tried to accept that we'd just be friends even though it was hard for me to do so."
Don was shocked at her words. He'd had no idea that Irma had had a crush on him. What had it felt like for her to listen to April go on and on about him and feel like she would never have that, too? And what must it have been like for her to still feel that way after April's death while he still mourned for her best friend and only saw her as a causal acquaintance?
"Irma, I had no idea you felt that way about me," he finally said.
"Yeah, but I know you don't feel that way about me," she said. "You just see me as a friend, and I'm okay with that."
"Well, actually, Irma, I've begun to see you as more than that," he confessed. "I was just afraid to show it because I was still mourning April and holding out hope that she'd come back. But that's all over now, and I'm ready to move on with my life."
Irma's eyes lit up. "You mean you're finally over April?"
"Well, it would be absurd for me to be in love with a dead girl," he joked. "I think it's time for me to move on to a girl who's very much alive, don't you think?"
Irma blushed at his words. "Yeah, I guess," she answered. "Do you think it'll work out?"
Don nodded. "It may take some time, but I do think it will work, and I think this is something April would want for both of us."
"I think so, too," Irma agreed.
"This may sound weird, but do you mind if I….gave you a kiss?" Don asked her.
Irma blushed a little and smiled. "I was hoping you'd want to," she said. She tilted her head up until her lips met his. The kiss wasn't very long, but Don felt the same feelings he'd had when both April and Robyn had kissed him. Well, with both of them, it had been curiosity that had driven him to kiss them, but this was something more.
"Wow!" Irma breathed. "So that's what it's like to kiss someone. Now I know why April was so excited when she kissed you."
"April told you about that?" Don asked her.
"Well, yeah, she did," replied Irma. "She said it was the best feeling in the world, and she'd never felt happier."
"But wasn't she confused? When it happened, she pulled away from me and seemed shocked that it had happened."
"She was a little confused but also happy," explained Irma. "She wasn't sure how to feel about it, but when I asked her what it was like, that's when she said it was the best feeling in the world."
Her words made Don feel happy but also sad. Robyn had said something similar to Donnie about April, but Donnie had doubted her words after it was revealed she'd actually hated April. But he knew Irma was telling the truth. That was one thing he liked about her. She was always so honest about things. Donnie had been so confused himself about it, but now he knew what Robyn's game had been. She'd been using them for her own designs and had used their desires to lure them in.
And they had almost died because of it.
"Donnie, are you okay?" Irma asked him.
Don snapped out of his thoughts. "Uh, yeah, I was just thinking," he said.
"About what?" she prodded.
"April's crazy twin," he told her. "I just can't believe we fell for her bait. We were so stupid."
"It wasn't your fault," Irma reassured him. "You wanted to believe that some part of April was still there, and she took advantage of that. It probably would have happened the same way anyway."
"Yeah, probably," Don agreed. "I guess Sensei's right when he says we shouldn't dwell on the past but focus on the here and now."
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard," said Irma seductively.
Don blushed at her words. "Well, yes, that's true," he said "Speaking of which, I think it's time for me to take you back to the dorm. You do have class in the morning."
Irma nodded and allowed him to escort her to the dorm. When they arrived, she turned to him and said, "Well, I guess that's all for tonight, unless you want to come up to my room."
Don blushed at her words, but he also felt tempted to take her up on that offer. Even though he'd kissed April, they hadn't gone further than that. Don had hoped that one day they would, but it had never happened. Don had been curious about sex, and though he knew about the basics of it through the Internet and textbooks, he'd wanted to really experience it. Now was his chance to try something even his brothers hadn't tried. How awesome would it be to brag to his brothers about his intimate moment with Irma? But a voice in his head said now wasn't the right time. After all, they had shared their first kiss, an most couples didn't proceed to the next step right away.
"Um, not tonight Irma," he stuttered. "I need to get going."
"Well, okay," Irma said with a smile. "Maybe we could do this again some other time."
"Oh, definitely," Don agreed. He would never miss an opportunity to spend time with Irma.
"Great. See you around." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and headed into her dorm. Don waited until she was safely inside before he went back home via the rooftops.
But before he could leap to the next roof, a voice said, "Boy, that was a stupid move, Donnie." He whirled around, his bo staff out and ready to take on an attacker and was surprised to see Lynn leaning up against a chimney. What was she doing out here?
"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded. "How long have you been out here?"
Lynn laughed. "Long enough to hear your conversation," she replied. "And as for what I meant, you passed up on a good opportunity. But then again, you've done that before, haven't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Don replied.
"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about, Donnie," Lynn told him. "You're always drawn to girls who are like you, but you never want to commit to them."
"And why is that any of your business?"
"Because it shows me how clueless you are when it comes to relationships," Lynn answered. "First April and now Irma. You really need some help."
"No I don't!" Don snapped. "I know what I'm doing. Just stay out of this, Lynn!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Donnie," she said. "You need me."
"Why do we need you?"
"You'll find out soon enough," she answered evasively. "Well, I've got to go. I'll see you around."
"Wait!" Donnie cried, but Lynn was gone. Don was so fed up with all of this. He knew Splinter wanted them to get close to Lynn, but that was hard because of her leaving before they could even talk to her. But they would have to keep trying until they got the answers they were looking for from her. It was the only way.
When Don came home he found Leo watching TV and waiting up for him. Don thought about telling Leo about seeing Lynn but felt the blue-clad Turtle didn't need to hear about that after all he'd been through.
"So how was your time with Irma?" Leo asked him.
"It was good," Don replied. "Why are you up so late?"
"I had another nightmare," Leo answered. "They just keep getting worse. Maybe you could give me some sleeping pills to help me out."
"No way, Leo," said Don. "I am not giving you pills to help you sleep. That's too dangerous because you could get addicted to them."
"But I've tried everything else, and nothing seems to be working!" protested Leo. "I promise I won't become addicted, and I'll let you keep the bottles so I don't take too many."
"I'm sorry, Leo, but I can't do that," replied Don, and before Leo could protest any further, Don went to his room and shut the door. He really felt sorry for Leo and what he was going through, but Don knew pills weren't the answer to the problem. Leo needed to find a proper outlet for this whole thing. This was why they needed answers from Lynn. The sooner they found out whether Robyn was alive or not, the better it would be for all of them.
A/N: Wow! Eleven full pages! That's a long one for sure. Once again, I'm sorry that I left you hanging like that, and I'll do my best not to let it happen again, but you never know what may happen in the long run. I'll try and have an update sooner, but I can't make any promises with how things go with me. In the meantime feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.