Chapter 6
A warm embrace
An arm choked around his chest, the phantom pain hat haunted his wrists from his past imprisonment had been obscured by the real chains that kept them tight together. His eyes barely penetrating the darkness around him and his feet acknowledging the stone boulder under his feet and the rushing water that he was just barely an inch from.
And the laughter
So much laughter
"Look at him Leo! Doesn't he look like he's having fun!?" came the voice holding the end of the chain, "He's practically shaking with excitement!" the chain slacked for a moment. The precarious angle that Don had on the boulder slipped for a moment, his knees all but cracking on the hard stone where he could feel warm blood began to ebb
"Damu yarō!" Don had never known his oldest brother to sound so desperate, but it dripped from his tone. He was actually a bit grateful he couldn't see Leos' face," LET HIM GO!"
"Didn't you know!?" there was a harsh bark like laugh, "Didn't you get the news?! It's Shi no shibō world Leonardo!" the chain slacked again and a hand gripped his front, twisting around and holding him from the safety of the boulder, cold mist damping the clothes of the body. Despite his best efforts to not give the manic fool satisfaction. He would not admit to his fear of the swirling river underneath that he had no defense against, or of the manic fool who held him at his mercy.
He would not admit to this day, but the mere whisper of that phrase haunted his darkest nightmares
Shi no shibō
Death for Death
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Ow….
Why did his head hurt so much? It throbbed in consistence with his heart. Pulsing through his body, his mouth tasted of foul metal. If he had to compare it to anything, he would compare it to the mornings when Raph was curled up under his blanket in the morning, paying for a night of excursions and drinks. Don would spend the morning trying to explain why his brother had a hangover till his brother threatened him with groundings or threw stuff at him till his fled with an innocent nativity wondering why his brother would act in such a way
But now he perfectly understood his brother's rage.
Despite his little memory lane moment, he struggled through his aching mind to find the source of his agony. He probably fell under a fever, which would explain why he didn't remember anything, the blood taste in his mouth giving him more then he needed in terms of clue. With a whine he tried to roll his head around. If only to alive the ache in his-
What?
His body freezing, realizing the tight strap around the back of his head. The outline of something hard wrapped around his beak and cold mist blowing against his mist-
Then it came back to him
Don all but sling shot into a sitting position. The warm blankets covering him flying off and cold air striking his flesh through his shirt. The strap around his mouth tightening. Don looked down on the clear casing and saw the perpetrator as a sort of tube, his hand snapping up and yanking-
A hand grabbed his wrist, familiar green hand that stopped him in mid yank. Don jerked his head around to have his face meet bare plastron, dark eyes bearing down on him with a mixture of concern and disapproval behind a familiar blue mask. His brother. Leonardo. Right there, his brother was right there-
Don eyes suddenly drifted down his brother's front, before the panic over took him again
AND NAKED
Don all but jumped out of the grasp of his brother's touch. Yanking on the mask's straps before a snapping sound fill the air, his foot shot up to land on this 'naked demon brother's chest.' A well-aimed muscle spasm sent him flying over the other side of the bed. He could just see the same hand try to grab him again with a cry of surprise
SPIRITS THIS BED WAS HIGH UP!
Before he could fully acknowledge how high it was, he was greeted by a hard cold stone floor right to the face. Warm blood immediately began to run into his eyes from his forehead. Dons hand going to his eyes to block the new flow. A hand grabbed his shoulder; Don raised his head to shove his naked brother away when his eyes met familiar light brown eyes.
Familiar because they were HIS eyes.
HIS EYES behind his mask
He was staring back at himself
At a naked version of himself
A cry tore from Dons' lips, legs shooting out against the floor his shell meeting something that easily moved out of the way. He caught a blimps at a strange box sitting on sticks, wheels allowing it to move without falling over, the mask he had pulled free of dangling from it. He could still just hear the hiss of mist coming from it-
Hands suddenly grabbed a hold of his wrists. Familiar pain shooting up his forearms and up his shoulders. Don cried out in ill preparation to the pain before his leg shot up, his toes jabbing into his demon duplicates bare shoulder. His duplicates eyes lit up in surprise before squeezing shut. His 'mirror' copy cried out , releasing his wrists and falling back on his tail hand going up to hold his now numb arm.
Don was grateful for his mother teaching him that trick.
But by now the 'naked' Leonardo had jumped over the bed, going to the side of his duplicate. Don pressed his feet on the ground, pushing back till his shell met hard wall. His heart beat redoubling when he realized he was trapped between the bed (the very HIGH bed) and the demon mirror duplicates of himself and his brothers (very naked demon mirror duplicates of himself and his brother). The blood all but running into his eye despite his best effort. His whole body, now with the absence of the warm blanket. An ache going through his chest that was all too familiar as he began to hack into his hands. He didn't realize how warm the air had been, sticky and thick. His throat ached in a familiar way that.
Scared.
Abandoned.
Hurt
Aching
He felt tears began to run down the side of his face. Don was disgusted with his response. He wanted the pain to go away. He wanted these naked demons to go away. His knees drew in to his chest and face met them in attempt to hide his shame. His sadness.
He wanted to go home.
In the midst of Don's pathetic whimpers, he could just hear the Naked Leonardo whisper to naked him. Donnie didn't know what he was saying, but could just hear bare feet brushing again stone. The sound of popping metal and scraping wood. Indicating his departure. The sound of brushing skin filled his ears again. This time it was moving closer, oh spirits Naked Leonardo was coming closer. Another heavy cough burst form his lips, curling up into a little ball praying he would leave-
Swiftly, though with surprising gentleness a thick arm forced its way between his chest and knees, wrapped in around his arms. Before Don could give him the head-butt he deserved the horrid mask was shoved right back over his beak. Don tried to thrash his head around but the force keeping the mask over his mouth forced his head back against a plastron, he wasn't sure how naked Leonardo managed to grip him in such a hold, his shell pressed against his opponents plastron, his neck couldn't even move-
It was only then he realized the mist being blown against his lips was soft. It was nice and cool and the opposite of the air that seemed to make up this air. Hesitantly he drew in a breath in unison off the mist. The painful spasaming of his lungs finally coming to an end in blissful peace. Don allowed his eyes to close. The lightheadedness returning. His body began to relax relinquishing into Naked Leonardo's warmth (trying to ignore the naked part).
The pressure keeping the mask around his beak lessened. He wasn't' sure how Naked Leonardo managed to clip the mask back around his mouth. But the hold he had on Donnie had lessened into more of an embrace then being held prisoner.
He knew this embrace
He knew this Leonardo.
Don turned his head, looking up to 'other' Leonardo. Unsure of what to say, but the other Leonardo seemed to chuckle lightly, "I'm sorry about the oxygen mask. You weren't reacting well to the air, so Donnie, our Donnie, thought it might be best you wear it for now and we can get you used to our air a bit at a time."
Oxygen? What was that? Whatever it was, it made his throat feel better, he almost had a feeling the air in this world was contaminated. It would explain why he wasn't reacting well to it-
This world?
That was right; he could remember his Aniki trying to get him out. The horrible bright light...
He could remember everything.
He remembered this Leonardo. He remembered being in the stone tunnel, shaking and shivering.
He remembered this Leonardo offering him warmth.
A cloth pressed against the stinging wound to his head. Don couldn't help but wince (and wonder when Leonardo had gotten that). Hadn't Leonardo hit his head too? Don glanced back at his forehead, the bandage that Don had pulled from his bandages with anoth-
Don glanced down at his arms. The normal pale sheen that acknowledged that he had bandages of them was replaced by the pale olive sheen of his own flesh. Disgust in his own gut from the sight of the lighter jagged scars that ran up them, the fact that people saw them-
Wait
What was he wearing?
His samue, undershirt and hakamas had been replaced with a long one piece black short sleeved shirt. It seemed to hold an image of four of those pig-skinned humans, though they weren't the pale pink he had come to expect by appeared to have skin stylized with white and black. Their hair sticking out and outrageous ways and one of them had their tongue sticking out at an unmorally long length.
"Sorry about Casey's shirt. We don't have clothes so we had to borrow our friends. Yours were pretty badly torn."
Apparently this "Casey" fellow was a freaking giant. The edges of the shirt freaking reached his knees. Maybe Casey was one of those pig skinned creatures he had seen- but the thought was interrupted by a second one when he felt a shiver through his neck.
Where was his Aniki's scarf?
His steady heartbeat began to hammer in his chest. Don rose up to his knees before a hand went to his shoulder and pushed down on his shoulder, forcing his eyes to meet Leonardo's again
" What's wrong?"
Don wanted to tell him, he wanted to know what had happened to his brother's scarf. If he had nothing left from his home world he wanted that he h ad to look for it-
Something was placed in his lap. Drawing his attention to a blue clean cloth.
Leonardo's scarf.
Greedily he gathered the material in his hands. The stink from the water he had fallen into had been completely cleaned. But still he held it in his fingers running over the stitching his mother had meticulously put into it, to endure his life settle as a warrior.
Though there was no point in it, he drew the scarf to his face; he could pretend to be in that memory. The one when his brother wrapped it around his neck. His Aniki had been nothing but warm and kind to him since they had been reunited. There had been so many times when Leo's protectiveness made him want to scream or run away.
But right now he'd give anything to have his family hold him. To cling to them like the child he always claimed to never be
He just wanted his family,
A light touch brushed his wet cheeks, even though he didn't know when he had started crying his body shuddered heavily jerking his head away but it met the breathing box again. When he realized the dampness on his face had all but wiped away. Apprehensively he turned back to see Leonardo's kind smile, his sympathetic eyes were soft. But they didn't hold the degrading dreading pity that people normally looked upon him with. Don was grateful that this Leonardo hadn't tried to crowd him, but rather had sat against the wall, one knee drawn in, head going down to rest on it. Don looked back to the scarf, running his fingers over the material again.
His piece of home
"Are you alright Donatello?"
Donnie nodded pulling the scarf to his chin before looking over to Leonardo again.
"I know you just woke up, but it would make me feel better if you lay on the bed.
They even used the same tactics to get Donnie to rest. It was never "it's best for you" but rather "It'd make me feel better" and playing on Don's innate urge to please his big brother. It was almost unfair, but the trust was the only other option Don had was to go out of the room to further integrate himself with his hellish world he was part of now. Donnie reached p and took the handle of the bed to pull himself up slowly. There was an unfamiliar strain to his arms that only verified his theory of being sick.
Again
Before he could really see how weak his arms were he felt hands go to his sides. They weren't exactly holding him, but they braced his body enough to help him stand up. Don turned back to smile his thanks to Leonardo before crawling back into the elevated bed. It was a strange mattress that was covered in thin blankets with thicker ones over it. As he was rolling onto his shell he felt the blankets being pulled over his body. Don looked back over to the other Leonardo before resting his head on the pillow again. His hands gripping the scarf tightly in his hands. His hand moving it around his neck
"Are you sure you want to do that you might choke on it."
Despite the concern in the other Leo's voice Donnie gave him a small glare, daring him to take away his Aniki's scarf away. He curled up under the blanket before pulling the sheet over his head in much the same way he used to as a child. But he didn't care.
A hand rested on his arm over the blanket. It was a soft touch that was almost apologetic. Unlike last time, Donnie did his best not to pull away in panic. He had already been cruel enough in the way he had 'numbed' his otherworldly self and punched his 'other Aniki' in the face.
"If you need anything, I'll be right outside the door, don't be afraid to ask. There's some of our medicine on the table next to you if you start coughing."
Donnie nodded softly curling up into a tighter ball. The sound of clicking mechanism, Scraping metal scraping across the floor. Don pulled the blanket away from his eyes long enough to glare at the door for a moment. The one thing keeping him safe from the savage world that he was now in. It was a good thing he wasn't hungry, he wasn't planning on asking for anything from this Leonardo for a while.
Not only that, but he really was tired.
He tucked his beak deeper under the blanket, right under the scarf before closing his eyes.
This world may not be hell
But it wasn't home.
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Don knew he wasn't going to sleep, but he could still just barely hear the sounds of people moving around outside of the room. Truth be told, he was hoping if he pretended to go to sleep (or didn't make any noise) that they would leave. He simply watched the door through the blanket till the sound began to fade. Slowly he took the edges of the blanket and poked his head out, ready to fake sleep again if someone came back.
It didn't' look like that was the case
He wasn't sure what time it was due to the lack of sunlight or any light at all. But the ache of his body had all but gone away, even the one in his throat. Dons hand went over his neck to ensure there wasn't' tightness to the muscles. One thing about this world, it did have good medicine. Even though his body was on the path to healing. If he had been at home, this would be the point he'd diagnose himself as 'better' and would have snuck out of his room to hide in his lab till his older brothers discovered his 'escape' and went to drag him back.
Honesty his brothers should of realized that at this point that was never going to give in to the overbearing motherliness they had thrust onto him.
Donnie tucked the top of his scarf under his chin as his eyes ran over the room. The 'elevated table' had a strange drawer at the bottom that he found himself pulling open. Inside lay a wrapping of cloth that Don could only conclude was a bandage.
He wasn't sure if there was some sort of conduct he was supposed to follow. All he knew was that he hated having his arms bare. His scars were known to gain sympathetic eyes and it was bad enough to have people pitying him for his height and weight. He took the roll into his hands and began to unravel it; wrapping it over his arms with the same skill he obtained as an I-sha before looking back to the room to occupy his mind.
There were four other elevated beds. The walls were lined the walls, bounded scrolls , the kind that Leatherhead used to have a 'desk' (he remembered Leatherhead had one at their shop) shoved in the corner a strange metal stick sticking out of the table with a strange glass ball at the end. But the walls were of the same structure as the buildings he had seen outside. But these were more like a fortress then the buildings he had seen. And, unless he was mistaken these were the same type of wall that came from the underwater river.
Were they underground?
It would make sense, it would add to his theory that 'kames were the minority. Not that they weren't the minority in his world, but they didn't have to live underground either.
He just had a feeling this was how they lived all the time.
Don's eyes fell back to the bookshelves with a hunger. Leatherhead never let him read his leather-bound books, though Donnie never blamed him, it was a sort of forbidden treasure that Don always wanted to be a part of. His eyes glancing over to the door that separated him from the rest of the turtles' home'.
Would it be alright?
Would they have put him in there if he wasn't' allowed to touch them?
Was it ok?
Donnie pulled the blankest of his legs and slowly slid out of the bed. Glancing back over to the door to make sure that no one was coming. Not that he thought he'd get in trouble, or that it mattered.
he felt a tug on his 'leash' and remembered the annoying pain in the ass that had been giving him oxygen for the past few days he had been in this world ( how long had he been out? He almost didn't want to find out). Don turned to give the cursed 'breathing machine a hateful glare before taking a hold of the 'rope that connected his mask to the machine and gave it a tug to get rewarded with the sound of squeaking wheels
A smile went to his face
Mobility!
Don pulled the breathing box all the way to the wall, his hand going up to run over the leather edges, there was so many of them! Don ran his finger over the edge of a larger brown bound one before dragging it out by the tip, the large bound scroll (a book was it?) falling into his hand. The Cover had a single line across the top, but the writing went from side to side and was written in some sort of stick writing that reminding him of some doodles he had done as a child.
"I was wandering when you'd get to that."
Light flooded the room, Dons' body jerked and the book all but flew out of Don's hands and clattered to the floor with the pages to the dirt, Don retreating and shell meeting wall again in an act of panic. Eyes to the ground and hands behind his shell
"Hey no wait!" the footsteps were already at his side, grabbed his arm. Don couldn't help but yank out of his grip immediately, ignoring his previous thought of lowering his 'cruelty'. When the hand returned to his arm again, Don fought his natural instincts to pull away, but he kept his gaze to the floor,
"Its alight Donatello, I wasn't mad at you or anything like that." his tone was just as soft as it had been when this Leonardo had been trying to keep him warm, it was such a mirror of his Aniki's that it only strengthen his urge to stare at the floor. Or more specifically at Leonardo's bare feet.
Wasn't he cold from running around naked so much?
"You're not a prisoner here, you're our guest." the grip on his shoulder softened as it started to run up and down the length of his arm, "You can look at the books if you want."
Well, he knew that. Even so Don turned his head away from where Leonardo stood, choosing rather to stare at one of the crudely cut stones that made up the wall. Spirits, why was he shaking so bad?! Was he really so scared of this mirrored version of his brother?
He heard a small sad sigh come from this Leonardo. The grip falling from his shoulder (though he honestly didn't feel better). Out of the corner of his eye he saw the book on the ground being lifted up. Leonardo's' hand reaching out to take his hand, once again Don had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from pulling away, his hand turned over so the palm faced upward, the book placed at the palm of his hand.
Don broke his 'stare' to look to make eye contact with this Leonardo. The older turtle smiled with a nod. Even though Donnie knew he didn't need permission to look at the books, he couldn't help but feel better as a smile went across his face. He took the book with both hands and sat down on the edge of the elevated bed, flipping the cover open and running his hands over the pages. Trying to ignore the sound of Leonardo chuckling softly. And when he felt the mattress sink as he joined him. But he couldn't deny that having someone that alteast looked like his Aniki made him feel better. What didn't', however, was the annoying sticking words that ran across the pages. There were a few illustrations of organs that Don recognized, so it was some sort of Medical book but that was about it
"Can you read it?"
Donnie shook his head, he couldn't' stop a groan from escaping his lips. It was the one thing he found interesting in this stupid world- wait why was Leonardo laughing?!
"Do you know how to read at all?"
What kind of question was that? Then again, considering that he didn't even know if Leonardo could read, it made sense he would be wondering the same thing. Leonardo took the book out of his hands again, flipping the pages open there was a mild light of surprise in his eyes before he looked back over, "you want to read about medicine?"
Don nodded again, what was so strange about that He watched Leonardo look back to the book a frown forming across his face, as though he was thinking about something. He took that moment to really look at this version of his brother (he hadn't before because of his brother's extreme nakedness).
The belts they wore seemed to be only to use keep their weapons on them. There were padded cushions on their elbows and knees kind of like the ones that Don had made for Mikey a while back. Btu other than that and their masks they were completely nude. His question on why Leonardo wasn't cold was answered when he realized that this Leonardo was a bit more toned then his Aniki. Their shell was also much larger (he wondered how he even sat down or lay on his back) which probably helped keep them warm. But he also didn't look like he suffered from any physical ailments. He never knew his Leo to get cold either
"Are you a doctor?"
Huh? Don blinked, tearing his eyes from Leonardo's physical examination to look up to him again. Why would he ask that? There was almost a surprised look in Leonardo's eyes, but Donnie found himself nodding anyway.
"Do you build stuff too? Inventions?"
Don nodded again; he rolled over his forearm and pointed to it before lifting his arm up and pointing with it. Trying to tell him about the gauntlet (They had to of seen it when they changed his clothes). Leonardo nodded in understanding, his gaze going back to the book. The older turtle slid off the bed, putting the book in Dons lap, "I'll be right back." before leaving the room. He turned in his seat lightly in time to see the door close shut (it worked on hinges? Weird) before leaning back on the bed with his shell meeting the pillows. His hand once again running over the leather cover.
When Donnie had asked Leatherhead why he couldn't look at his bounded scrolls (he had been six at the time) his mentor had explained that those 'books' were his most precious possessions, alongside his 'chess' set. They were the only things Leatherhead had left of his country, so he didn't want anything to happen to them. Don hadn't understood at the time, but he had always been the 'Tsukino boy' that followed the rules. He had been rewarded on his birthday by being taught how to play 'chess' and allowed one game on Leatherhead's precious board. It had become a tradition amongst the mentor and his apprentice to play one chess game on his birthday. Don never did get a chance to win either.
The door swung open again, Leonardo poked his head in with another smile that Don returned the best he could. He saw a tray in Leonardo's hands that held a bowl of rice and a small yunomi like bowl with a handle, but he could smell something sweet coming from it. A bundle of clothes under his arm along with another binded scroll. The tray was placed on the small table by the elevated bed, "I thought you might be hungry. It's just white rice and orange juice, and a change of clothes."
White rice, Don knew what that was, but orange juice? He nodded his thanks anyway; he actually did appreciate the change of clothes though. He hoped there was a fundoshi in there-
Leonardo sat back on the edge of the bed, taking out the bounded book again. This one looked newer; the cover was once again covered in that 'side to side stick' language. He glanced up to Leonardo who gave him another smile before flipping the book open, "My father, Master Splinter had a teacher who came from Japan, he had this book to help him speak and learn English. I know you can understand English, but I think this will help you read it."
English? IS that what they called common speak? It almost sounded too fancy of a- wait what? The book was opened in his lap, the familiar language of his home reflecting back to him in a swarm of nostalgia.
Home
Donnie bit his lip and closed the book. Slowly he reached his hand out to grip the top of Leonardo's knee lightly though his eyes returned to the ground.
"Can you talk?"
It would have been so easy to lie right then and there. Maybe it would have been easier to 'say' he was a mute. But He found himself nodding anyway, the shaking consuming him once again. Don put his hands together, fighting himself. Fighting to keep a firm stature-
An arm draped over his shoulder, not pulling him closer, but as though to remind him of Leonardo's presence "it's alight if you don't want to talk. No one's forcing you,"
A soft sign escaped Don's lips; he couldn't help but feel relieved. He found himself leaning more into Leonardo's embrace. Not fully but just so he could somehow return the embrace. Don Leonardo's fingers tighten ever so lightly.
The walls almost seemed a little less cold.
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Walls
Stone cut walls surrounded him, rising up around him beyond his vision. Don's hands felt the cold material, over the mortar that kept them together, "HELLO!?" he shouted again his hands slapping the stone, he moved back alongside the wall, slapping the stone again. He toes brushing against the stone, hoping to find some sort of foothold, "PLEASE? Is anyone there? I can't get out!" his voice echoed back to him, like a cruel child.
How long was he there?
How long did he shout?
How long did he beg?
His fist pounding on the stone
When did he begin screaming?
When did he begin to choke?
When did he begin to die?
(#)(#)(#)(#)
The sound of leather binding slammed against the ground a blur of paper and movement as his body followed. His vision blurring over in undistinguishable colors, his chest squeezed as though the giant had returned and was squeezing his lungs with his bare hands. The bare mist of the breathing box knocking helplessly against his lips-
"What's wrong with him?! Is it one of those breathing things?
Mikey?
"It's a panic attack."
Kuma-ni?
No,
His big bro was miles away.
Not even that-
Arms went under him, holding him close.
"Where are you taking him?"
"Out of here, what do you expect?! He's been locked up in that room week. He hasn't eaten or anything. He can't breathe down here He needs this-"
Needs? Needs what? He felt the hood of his shirt being yanked up over his head. Truth be told he did prefer the pants and the hooded shirt over the black one-
There was a metal clicking Donnie felt his body meet some sort of long cushion, he realized that the 'cold breath' still hadn't left his lips. But the consciousness began to fall away again. NO matter how hard he clung to it-
Where was he going?
(#)(#)(#)(#)
It was the strangest sound he had ever heard, the rolling, it sounded like something was being chewed. The strap around his head still remained the soft breath against his lips that gave him breath.
But there was something else. More amazing then the realization that he was moving.
It was the breeze on his cheeks
air
Fresh air
Don's eyes began to flutter ever so lightly. Pulling away from the dark of his subconscious and the horrible cold. His eyes finally forced themselves open, he found himself staring at a strange metal door, most definitely smaller than anyone he had ever seen. But there a square opening just above it, the strange buildings that he had seen upon first arriving in this world rolling past. Don's arm twitched in an attempt to embrace the cold air with his hand but he realized his arms were trapped under a blanket (wrapped around him in a cocoon) Don looked down to the thick blanket before realizing his shell was resting in the corner that the cushion met the door, a strap crossed over his chest and across his lap in a restraining method-
"You're awake?"
A muscle spasm shot across Don's face as his beak ducked back behind the scarf around his neck, allowing himself a few panicked breaths before turning his body around.
Leonardo was sitting in the other seat, both hands holding on to a strange wheel attached to the slanted front of the 'moving wagon' his body wrapped in a brown trench coat and a strange cloth on his head that was somehow risen in the middle. But he could still see his blue mask wrapped around his eyes, glancing over at him, but trying to keep his head to the front.
Don nodded, wiggling his arm enough to free itself of the blanket and pressing it to his itchy heavy eyes, "wh-what happened?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you, you were laying on the ground coughing spasaming. I thought you were having a panic attack."
A panic attack? That made sense; it wouldn't have been the first time. Especially with the coughing, "I-I just remember feeling like the walls w=were closing in."
"You were in that room for a week Half-shell. I guess you're lucky you didn't freak out sooner."
Donnie found himself nodded again. Now that his arm was free he could see the difference between his 'cocoon' and the strange wagon
Wait
Was he in a headlight?
He didn't kwon why he was surprised. But he found himself moving around-
The headlight stopped rolling , Don found himself looking up to see the 'headlight' situated between two of the tall buildings, Leonardo jerking a strange stick that stuck out of the wheel, though he was doing it quite violently and he ordered what the headlight had done to deserve such a treatment.
Leonardo turned and pressed into his side, the strap that was over him slid off and hung off the hook in the corner. His hand reaching over to Dons side (hands covered by a black cloth) and pressing into a small strange metal clip. His restraining strap also releasing and sliding being the 'cushion'. Don squirmed around to free himself further of the blanket and sat up higher in the seat-
A bowl made of a strange see through material was placed on his lap, a strange red covering overtop to keep the 'food inside.' Leonardo's' fingers curled over the 'lids edges and lifted it off. The familiar sight of white rice piled up on the inside, Don was almost ashamed with how confused he was at the sight of food. HE took the bowl and lifted it back up before putting it on the cushion-
"No." Leonardo's voice, which had been soft and caring for the past week, suddenly held an edge that reminded him of his brothers when they weren't happy with him. The bowl was placed back on his lap, only this time Leonardo reached into his pocket and drew out a pair of chopsticks to drop right next to it, "I brought you food every day this week and you haven't eaten any of it. You're not leaving this car until you eat it."
Car? It wasn't called a headlight? Wait, did that matter? Even though Leonardo was looking at him quite sternly, there was still a pleading look to his eyes.
Maybe it was because he was the mirrored version of his own Aniki, but Donnie found himself pleading with himself to eat the food. Even though he didn't' get hungry very easily, he still knew his body needed the food. But there was also that innate desire to make his brother happy. He reached up to touch his oxygen mask questioningly to Leonard who smiled lightly before reaching forward, pulling the mask off sliding it off his head, "it's alright, it'll help you get used to our air anyway
The fresh mist that had been his source of air for a week (a week?! seriously!?) was replaced by damp cool air that alteast felt real. He felt his lungs ache only lightly but otherwise didn't react as badly. Don's eyes followed down the oxygen mask to a small strange box onto the floor, was it some sort of portable breathing box-
Ugh distractions
This was how he spent a week doing nothing but researching this world's medical methods without realizing he was starving himself.
Don picked up the chopsticks settling them into position he glanced up to see Leonardo holding his own bowl and eating at his own rice. Don almost had the feeling Leonardo was trying to help him feel less awkward, it did help that he wasn't' eating by himself, he picked up a clump of rice in his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth. It wasn't' the exact same as his home food, but his stomach still craved more of it and he did need the food-
While eating away at the large pile of rice, he could just see Leonardo set aside his now empty bowl, and watch him for a moment. The look of concern returning as though he was struggling with his thoughts. Slowly his hands reaching out. Don was a bit unnerved that he was reaching for his face. But seeing as he had spent all week flinching at the touch of the kame who wanted to help him, he decided to fight his natural reactions and instead retreated to his thoughts.
He felt Leonardo's fingers brush against his mask for a moment before curling under the material and pulling it away lightly to loosen the knot and sending the material falling from his face. A small sigh going from the other kame in a clear sign of disappointment, "I should of known, and you haven't been sleeping either,"
What was his first guess? Was to the blood shot eyes or the bags that hung from them? Of course it wasn't' like he hadn't tried. He really had, but every time he tried something would come back to him. The same thought that had been haunting him since his arrival in this world.
And that was how alone he was.
"It-it's not your fault." the least he could do for Leonardo was to relieve his worries, "you've been nothing but kind to me. Maybe even kinder then you should have been, but I've never been one to eat that much. We've always had food; my stomach never could handle that much food. My stomach might need the food but it doesn't tell my brain."
"Maybe your brains being too loud to hear your stomach."
Donnie couldn't stop himself from smiling that sounded like something his Leo would say. His chopsticks scraped against the bottom of his bowl. He blinked before realizing he had already downed fall the rice Leo had gotten him. A gurgling sound coming from his stomach and demanded its needs. A harsh blush shot across Dons face as Leonardo laughed loudly, Don wanted to grumble his response but his lips refused to move in their embarrassment
"Do you want more food?"
Do you want to shut up? Don grumbled to himself, crossing his arms in a feeble attempt to retain his pride (even though Leonardo had not stopped laughing once).
"I'll just assume that's a yes. Put your seatbelt on."
Seatbelt? What was that? Upon watching Leonardo pull on that weird strap, the realization came to him as he turned and took his own 'seatbelt to pull on. So the 'headlight' was a car and the ''strap' was a seatbelt? Stranger and stranger. Don pulled the blanket around him again before e a cough escaped his lips as he rubbed his mouth. Even with the car in motion, Leonardo reached down to pick up the 'oxygen mask' and put in his hands. Donnie nodded his thanks before pulling it back on to welcome the familiar cold mist. Speaking of annoying things, he took the straps of his mask to tighten the knot again
"Do you like potatoes?"
That was a weird question; he nodded lightly and realigned his vision as he nodded. Who didn't like potatoes? Especially when you cooked it just right
"Ok good. Cause there's only one place that's open right now, and they specialize in potatoes. The other food there might make you sick."
Wait, how late was it? Don leaned closer to the 'window' despite the 'light stands' that ran up and down the street the sky was as pitch black as the night he had arrived. Did this world even have a sun? He
knew it didn't have any stars
"Don't lean out the window, someone might see you."
Don leaned back in his seta, pulling up the hood of the shirt they had given him. Truth be told, the clothes they had given him weren't all bad. He liked the purple short sleeved shirt with the hood and the long white sleeved shirt under it. It was alteast somewhat close to the clothes he wore before. But the pants were strange and stiff; they were made of a weird blue material he didn't recognize with a weird closing mechanism that had pinched his fingers.
Wait
What the sweet sprits was THAT?
The glow seemed cover the entire street a bright yellow that rivaled the sun he so missed. But the source of the light seemed to radiate from an elevated 'light' (an M? he was sure it was an M) on a rather tall pole. He couldn't really see the name, (he just knew it was under it) but it seemed to be referencing to the large one story building with a bright red roof. Walls lined with windows with lights pouring out. Leonardo seemed to be 'carring' towards it-
Hey!
He wasn't sure when Leonardo had snuck his hand behind his head but now his vision was now obscured by his hood with a hush in his ear, "Keep your face covered."
Donnie couldn't help but think a warning would have been more effective then pulling his hood up. Don glared at him just between the fabric of his hood and Leo's scarf before ducking his head down deeper into his 'fabric shell and hiding his hands under his blanket. But he knew he still looked strange with his breathing mask and tube sticking out of a mass of cloth-
"-Yeah I'll take 5 large fries and one double cheeseburger with double pickles and two waters."
"Fries? A double burger of cheese? The only thing Donnie understood from that sentence was 'pickles' and water-
A large bag made of paper was dropped on the cushion in between them emitting many strange smells as the car rode away. With his free hand, Leonardo reached over open the bag, feeling around the inside before drawing out an open container with many strange sticks sticking out of it, 'here."
"What is it?
"French Fries, they're made of potatoes."
"These are potatoes?!" what did they do to them!?
"Yeah, they're not exactly good for you but it's the least likely to make you sick."
The food of the "m" restaurant would make you sick? Then why would they eating it? If it wasn't' for the monster demanding food in his stomach he might politely turn down the strange food, Don's hands pulled the mask back off his face before he took the warm container and picking up one to 'hot fries'. He glanced over to Leonardo for a moment before popping it into his mouth. Though the heat didn't sear his tongue but the overwhelming taste of salt and (something thick) filled his mouth. He twisted his face up lightly before forcing himself past his first impression. It was edible; he popped in another fry, not so bad. As he was eating he realized the car had stopped again. Leonardo had also pulled something out of the bag too, only this one was wrapped in thin paper. The food itself smelled worse than the fries and was a mass of indistinguishable items mushed between two pieces of bread, he was grateful to be eating the hot fries rather than a mass of gunk, "what is that?"
"It's a double cheeseburger." his mouth full of food, "I don't' eat these very often but I was getting a craving." Leonardo gave him a smile, "I see the fries aren't too disgusting to you."
"They're' strange, but there' not bad." Donnie risked sticking a few more fries in his mouth "What's' yours made of?"
"Cheese, pickles, mustard, ketchup hamburger."
"Hamburger?"
"Cow meat."
The mass of fries Don had started to swallow sent him hacking uncontrollably, doubling over with his fist to his lips. A hand started to slap him on the back with the other yanking him over to Leonardo's familiar side, "COW meat!? Ushi!? Are you a cannibal!?"
"What?! No-"
"Why would they sell ushi meat in a restaurant?! Do they do this everywhere?! Why is this a thing!?"
"Donnie!"
"I've delivered Ushi babies, Spirits! Do you eat baby cows too!? Do you PREFER to eat babes-"he could already feel the same panic that had consumed him before he had passed out last time.
Hands suddenly grabbed his shoulders, but Don's body jerked away, its own desperate attempt to break free of this horrid world. Where they ate babies, where the stars couldn't shine and where he couldn't even breathe. He wanted to go HOME he wanted his Aniki, he wanted Usagi and Raph and Mikey, and his mother. He HATED this world- before he could stop himself; he had begun to sob softly. The fingers returned to his shoulders before pulling him into a tight hug ,a hand rested on the back of his neck, "Calm down already Halfshell, no one's a cannibal here." fingers began to massage his neck lightly, coaxing his tense muscles into submission, Don reached his hand up to grip Leonardo's forearm tightly, forcing his mind through the steps of logic he was so used to. Not able to stop himself from leaning more and more into Leonardo's embrace.
Being hugged by a cannibal who practiced nudity and drove a strange 'car' around and fed him cooked potatoes
He had had a lot of fever dreams in his life, but this topped the strangest one.
"You ok Halfshell?"
Don forced himself to nod, pulling the oxygen mask away and wiping at his face. Even though the air that came from the mask felt cleaner, the air of this world (though thicker) alteast felt natural.
"I'm glad, "he laughed softly. Why was Leonardo laughing at him?! That wasn't kind at all, that freaking jerk- but the embrace kept him close. It wasn't as warm as the blankets, but the actually feeling of having someone hold him was more comforting, "Sorry, I'm not trying ot be rude. I'm just relieved I guess."
Relieved? Well that wasn't so bad, Don guessed he could forgive him for laughing
"I can assume that in your world animals are the 'norm' and are like us. But here, humans rule the world and animals are sources of food and burden."
Humans? The pig skinned creatures he had seen? They were the norm? That was an ugly thought, "Then what are you?"
"Me and my brothers were animals too at one point, us and our father. We were 'mutated when we were babies. He trained us as ninjas. But we have to live in secret, and while you're here, you have to also." the hand stopped rubbing his neck long enough to rest on his scalp, "I was only able to take you to the surface cause of your panic attack. But I can't take you to the surface all the time, not even during the day. I'm sorry but it's the truth. But we are not cannibals; we are not going to hurt you. You'll always be safe as long as you stick with us."
Don sucked in a few more breaths. He could vaguely remember having this same conversation with Leonardo the same night they had arrived, when he had used his body heat to keep him warm. He didn't remember a lot from that night but he remembered one thought. When he had closed his eyes, when he had been absorbing Leonardo's warmth and words
"I'll be safe with him."
He didn't want to pull out of Leonardo's' embrace, but he did ever so slightly to look up at him. "I-I can't sleep at night. I-I used to sleep in a room with my brothers. It-it sounds stupid, bu-but I-I'm not u-used to sl=slee=sleeping without them. I-I know i-its chil-childish-"
"there's nothing wrong with that." The hand rubbed his scalp ever so lightly, "I know I'm not your Leo. But I do have a spare futon in my room. It's not much, but alteast you wouldn't be by yourself."
That didn't sound so bad. Don wiped his eyes on his sleeve before nodding lightly, raising his head again, "I-I don't have to eat cows do I?"
Leo's face twisting up lightly, before a smile grew across his face, as though what Donnie had said truly 'tickled' him. He laughed lightly before his hand rubbed Dons scalp harder, "No you don't have to eat anything you don't want to eat, but you have to eat. Deal?"
He was ok with that. So long as he didn't have to eat babies. But his stomach reminded him of the 'fries' he ha been neglecting. As much as he hated to admit it, he found himself craving more of the fries, but he didn't want to be rude, "Can I have so-some more fries? Shite kudasai?"
"Course you can, either you eat them or our Mikey will. And he really doesn't need it."
Don couldn't help but smile, taking up the carton of fries he had forgotten. He felt a calloused palm press itself to his forehead as he took some of the fries between his fingers. He was used to constant forehead checks over his whole life, so he almost didn't notice it, "You're still warm."
"It's normal; I get sick really easily at home."
"Alteast I know I'm not being paranoid." a gentle hand pressed to his shoulder, pushing him right back into his corner, his fingers catching on the blanket as he re tucked it under Dons chin, "I'll get us home, just stay under the blanket and cover up." The hand reached back over to grip Don's hand from over the blanket, casting him another warm smile
"Thank you for finally talking to me, Halfshell."
He did as he was told, snuggling under the blanket and taking pleasure in the tasty fries until a thought hit him. It was enough to raise his head to ask his cheeseburger eating friend
"Did you say you were a ninja?"
A/n translations
So sorry this took so long ot get up! I tried really hard, but life got in the way and I have another story I'm working on. I'll still get this one finished though! I swear it!
Damu yarō: Dam Bastard!
Shi no shibō: death for death
Ushi: Cow
Shite kudasai? Please