Chapter seven: Survival and secrets.
After they awaken Donnie finds no time to really try to talk to Casey. There is too much to do.
They all have gone together to figure out how to get proper beds into their current hiding place. They will also need to make sure they have a food supply that isn't rotten, and also do some repairs of their hiding spot.
"Should we really risk mattresses? Air mattresses will be a lot better. Especially easier with the transportation." Casey points out before they go far from the hiding spot.
"I understand your point Jones." Splinter mentions stepping forward. "However we cannot alert the enemy by loud noises if possible. Blowing up the air mattresses would take too long with too much noise. As much as it makes things harder to sneak around we will need to use mattresses. Our base must remain hidden for as long as possible."
Casey dips his head to this. "I understand."
With that settled the group heads for a mattress store. They are carful to avoid any who are under Leo and Raphs control. They are glad that they have some experience stealing mattresses for the lair. So they doubt that there will be any issues. They turn out right as they get the mattresses to the base without being seen. They place the mattresses in the rooms they need to go in.
It takes most of what would have been a day, since one trip is not enough since they can only carry two mattresses at a time.
Casey sighs flopping down onto the mattress he got. "Finally. That was tiring."
"Moving mattresses is a lot more work than one might think." Donnie has to agree as he sits on his own mattress. He knows that after a break Splinter will pick one or two of them to go get some bedding. He just hopes that he'll have enough time to try to get Casey to tell him what's going on. "Say. Casey?"
"Yeah?" Casey turns to look at Donnie getting a small blush on his cheeks as their eyes meet.
"I wanted to talk to you about why you've been so weird around me." Donnie tries to bring up causing Casey's blush to darken a bit. "What's going on? You can tell me. I know that there is something you're not telling me. And don't make excuses." He stares at Casey who stares back in shock.
Casey takes a moment to try to find his words before he lets out a sigh. "Yeah I've been hiding something from you. But why make me share if I'm not ready?"
Donnie glances away supposing that Casey does have a point. "I just wanted to be able to work better with you." He admits rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment that he didn't think of if Casey was ready to share. "I was worried that maybe whatever this was would get in the way of us being able to t try to save the city." He can feel eyes on him which he knows is Casey's gaze. "I won't force you to say anything. It may only make such situations worse." He thinks about getting to his feet. "I could switch rooms with Mikey if you'd prefer not to room with me now. I'd understand."
"No!" Casey almost sounds pleading which causes Donnie to turn to him. He glances away almost red in the face and clears his throat. "I mean. No, you don't have to go anywhere. I'd rather have you here actually. If I was going to share a room with anyone I would want it to be you. If you want to still be roommates that is." He moves one hand to lightly scratch his chin with his finger.
"I wouldn't mind staying." Donnie admits letting himself stay on his bed. "I'm sorry that my worry over what you're not telling me made me try to force you to say it."
"Hey. All good." Casey shrugs tucking his hands behind his head. His gaze flickering over to Donnie. "I am not really ready to share what's in my head right now. However if you just wait I know at some point I will tell you. All is forgiven if that's what you need to hear man."
Donnie smiles at Casey seeing warmth shining in the human's eyes. "Thank you Casey. I promise I won't bother you about it again."
Casey nods and the two turn as there is a soft knock on the door.
"Casey?" April is heard on the other side of the closed door. "You and me are heading out. We need to go get some supplies from the store. Mainly cleaning stuff. Oh, and Splinter says that Donnie needs to get a list started for what he needs for the repairs."
"I'm coming." Casey gets up with a groan and heads over opening the door. He glances back to the turtle left sitting in the room. "Have fun chilling in here making your list."
"Actually I'll be going around to check what exactly needs repairs and what is needed. So I'll just be going around this place. Some will need to be taken apart so some of the repairs will need to be done another time." Donnie corrects Casey who chuckles warmly.
"Well still have fun you dork." Casey grins as Donnie pouts a little at being called a dork. He heads off with April to get to the way out. He can't stop smiling as they walk together. His heart fluttering in his chest.
"So. Donnie your type?" Aprils question makes Casey jump a little then whip his head around to look at her. She smirks at the wide eyes she is given. "I figured as much. You seemed a bit too easily ready to room with him. So I watched how you act around him. You've been trying to get close to him as much as possible. Plus that blushing. A girl can tell you're in love."
"What? Surely I'm not weird." Casey snorts as they get close to the front door. "So what if he's a mutant turtle? I don't care. I love his darker eyes. I love his dorky smile and the cute way he sometimes sticks his tongue out while working. I love how smart he is. I love how much he cares about his family. I love him." He blinks realizing that April did not use any sort of negative tone once. "You really don't mind it?" He blinks hopefully.
April laughs and playfully flicks Casey's nose. "Of course not you idiot." She crosses her arms over her chest as the two stop at the way out. "I only wanted confirmation of what I figured must be true." She turns away lowering her arms to her sides. "I was aware of his crush on me. However I don't feel the same way about him. I honestly have different tastes you could say. More feminine."
Casey smiles at this. "All good, I understand. Thank you for understanding about my attraction to a mutant."
"When will you tell Donnie?" April asks making Casey pause with his smile falling.
"I don't know yet." Casey admits slightly glancing down as he does so.
"Well. With all that is going on you may be low on time. Just something to maybe think about." April suggests gently then turns to the door. "Come on. Let's get what we need so they won't worry about us taking too long."
Casey nods his head and hurries along after actually starts to think about telling Donnie. He just does worry that if it's a rejection then it'll make things tense. He knows that they need to stay as much of a team as possible right now. He really isn't sure what to do.
Luckily they are able to get past an area as Raph is burning some buildings with Chompy.
"Run! Entertain me!" Raph laughs as he rides Chompy holding onto his pets neck as Chompy chases some humans.
Casey and April try to not think too much about that.
Who can expect them to currently win against a fire breathing turtle?
Casey hopes that they'll be able to figure out something for that soon.
By the time that the two get back Donnie is going over the needed list with Splinter.
Casey heads over arriving just as the two are finishing. He does notice the list is set up with what is a higher priority. "Good job Dee!" He puts his arm around Donnies shoulders pulling him close. His heart skips a beat at having the other so close to him. "That looks like an awesome and easy to follow list!"
"Yeah. It was intended that way." Donnie slightly snorts looking up to Casey with a slight smile cutely. He clearly does spot that slight blush that appears on the human. "It makes me happy that you noticed."
"Really?" Casey asks getting another snort which doesn't stop the fluttering of his heart.
"Well I would have felt like I failed if it wasn't noticed." Donnie blinks up at him and almost seems to have a new thought pass through his mind.
The two pause when Splinter clears his throat.
"As good as it is to have moments like this we need to do a little more work. After that feel free to hang out if you'd like."
"Right. Sorry." Casey let's go of Donnie feeling embarrassed he had been acting in a way that could be seen as flirty, especially since it was right in front of Splinter. He heads to do what he needs to get done. Also to try to escape his embarrassment.
Donnie stares after Casey wondering where this feeling inside himself has come from. He decides to think about it. He hopes that he can figure it out before what they call night time, well it's just sleep time though they're so used to calling it night time despite the forever sky split, since he and Casey do sleep in the same room.
...
Leo turns as Raph races over riding Chompy. He doesn't miss the other laughing to himself.
"You should have seen it! It was so much fun to destroy things! Too bad I can't destroy the farmers fields. So much to burn there. However I guess it's better to have something to eat. Especially for those that are left for our entertainment and rule." Raph gets Chompy to slow down to a stop. He hops down landing on his feet by Leo. "How has things been going on your side? Just as fun?"
"You could say that." Leo confirms making Raph look extra excited to hear about it. "I have set out some good defences plus patrols to ensure obedience. I am not finished." He adds as Raph gets a little disappointed that it sounds a little boring. "I also gathered some humans that did try to rebel a little. I have them being brought to a spot to freeze them in crystals. To strike fear into anyone who walks by them."
"I wanna come see!" Raph slightly bounces in his excitement.
"I don't see why not." Leo nods his head to it making Raph cheer. "Maybe at some point I can freeze a humans feet so Chompy can do as his name suggests."
"Totally! I'll let you know the next time I'll do that." Raph follows as Leo heads more to his side.
Neither of them find it weird to cross into each others sides.
Leo looks to the three humans being forced to stay in the middle of an open park. He keeps those under his control in their positions ready to stop any runners. He approaches ignoring some nearby humans staring on in horror.
Too scared to stop Leo.
Leo stops in front of the three who look to him. "I will make this painful." He promises getting horror from their eyes as he raises a hand. He ignores how Raph and Chompy come up behind him with Raph looking at the humans with a smirk.
Chompy just following his master's command. He, like the others under their control, move their magic depending on the crystals on their body leaving them to the mercy of Leo and Raph.
Leo clenches his hand causing frost to surround them. He drops the temperature around them quickly until they get some painful frostbites. He then releases his clenched hand causing the three to be slowly encased in crystal.
It grows upwards from the ground consuming them even as they try to run.
"It's so cold!" One man calls out as he tries to reach for any salvation even though none is coming.
"Stop! Please!" Another calls out trying to push himself out of the crystal that continues to grow. "Well obey! I swear!"
"Examples need to be made." Leo tells the man not relenting the least bit.
"Why do the frostbites hurt so bad!" The third calls out. "Someone help us!"
No one dares to approach.
"Just be glad you're not being burnt to a crisp." Raph chuckles rolling his eyes as if the three are being dramatic.
"That might have been faster!" The first man almost seems to be pleading for that to happen.
"This is fun." Raph leans back against Chompy's leg to watch. His arms crossed over his chest and one leg crossed over the other.
The three become fully covered by a giant crystal. One in the middle that's slightly higher and two on either side like the crystal grew outwards from the middle.
Leo drops his hand to his side. "I think it makes good decoration."
"Hey." Raph moves away from Chompy to head to Leo. He puts an arm around the others shoulders. "Maybe I could take that idea and do something similar but with my own crystals on my side. I'll definitely make their skin so hot they'll get burns rather than giving them frostbite. Well I suppose that would have been obvious anyways."
"Feel free." Leo gives his go ahead nod turning to give Raph a kiss on the cheek. "Heh. When we first started who knew we'd keep their relationship going afterwards."
"Eh. Don't think too much on it." Raph shrugs. "It gives us an extra little fun thing to do."
"That it does." Leo chuckles in agreement to that.
The two share a kiss before pulling apart to smile at one another.