Season 3- Episode 2- Coming Out For The Millionth Time
_Hey guys! I hope that you are enjoying the series so far :D I really appreciate your support and the fact that you are reading my story! I enjoy writing it and I hope that you enjoy reading it just as much ^^ And just to clarify, this specific episode is a day after the previous episode. Well then, let's begin!
"So- wait- let me get this straight-!" Casey said as he scrambled into a standing position, his eyes wide as his jaw kept opening and closing from the difficulty of speaking.
"N-not only are y-you human- but the Shredder's s-son?!" Casey stuttered, his face displayed an expression of a huge shock as he stared at Donnie.
April stared at Donnie from her sitting position, her face showing the same shocked expression that Casey was wearing.
"I- wow." April said, her voice barely above a whisper as she momentarily glanced at the floor, only for her eyes to draw to Donnie again.
Donnie had decided to come out to April and Casey about his secret. His brothers seemed unsure, given how quick this decision was made, but Donnie explained that the situation might put all of them, including April and Casey in danger, and therefore they need to know about the last few days' events.
They called Casey and April and showed them to the living room. The brothers and the two human friends sat down and looked at Donnie in concentration as he explained the full story.
It would be a lie to say that Donnie wasn't nervous or scared. He was. Very. However, it was the necessary thing to do, and therefore Donnie forced himself to comply with what needed to be done.
He explained the situation slowly, with a nervous expression, slightly stuttering as he spoke.
"Yeah… I get why you are surprised…" Donnie said quietly as he fiddled with his hands. He faced this situation a lot of times for the last few days, yet he couldn't manage to get used to it.
"We were all shell shocked as well. Believe me." Raph said as he looked at April and Casey from where he was sitting with a look of understanding at their reactions to the news.
Splinter stepped into the living room, immediately understanding what was going on.
"It seems like you know the secret now." Splinter said with a sympathetic tone as he understood entirely why April and Casey were nearly frozen from shock. The truth is not really easy to process, after all.
"And I suppose that we were never meant to find out about this…" April said quietly as she looked at Splinter with slight disappointment when he nodded, confirming her suspicions. To think that Donnie was supposed to live his entire life while being oblivious to the truth... He only found out about his origin by mistake, while he wasn't supposed to ever know about it.
'If anyone knows what it feels like to have your entire life being exposed as basically a lie, then it's me.' April thought to herself sadly as she looked at Donnie with an expression that was full of empathy.
"Wait, but why were you hiding it? Like, I know that the Shredder finding out about this is bad news but… Why did you have to hide it from the guys as well? It's not like you knew that the Shredder was around in the first place." Casey asked Splinter in confusion while his face was still displaying the shock that he couldn't stop feeling.
Everyone looked at Splinter, curiosity appearing on their faces. Splinter sighed, feeling slightly guilty for hiding it all this time, and intending to hide it for, well, forever.
"I did not want to raise my sons as if they were not the same beings. I did not want any of them to be burdened by feeling different from each other. Besides, I couldn't hide my past in the first place, since it's a part of me and they would have found out about it eventually, and I can't simply forget my life although I had started over. And if they knew about my past, then they would know of Oroku Saki. It's very obvious that given what happened between us, it would have made both Donatello and his siblings uncomfortable knowing that they are related to each other." Splinter admitted, his ears flattened in sadness as his gaze fell to the floor. Donatello flinched anxiously as he stared sadly at his father in response. The expressions of his brothers and friends changed into ones of understanding. It's a good point. Growing up knowing about it could have affected them badly or damaged their relationship.
Casey shook his head in order to snap back to reality. He walked over to Donnie, who had his gaze stuck on the floor in nervousness with his shoulders slackened, and put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze as Donnie looked up at Casey in response.
"Don't feel bad about it, dude. It's actually a really cool backstory!" Casey said, smirking playfully as he tried to lighten the mood. Donnie could never understand how Casey always managed to pick himself up from a shock this fast.
"R- really?" Donnie asked as he stuttered in nervousness.
"Of course! It's just like in the movies." Casey said enthusiastically as he released the hold that he had on Donnie's shoulder and crossed his hands in confidence.
"Yeah, he has a point." April added as she smiled. Her expression still held shock to it, but she was slowly recovering like Casey did.
Donnie slightly smiled as Casey and April lightened the mood, making him feel less stressed than he was before.
Leo, Mikey, Raph and Splinter smirked as they watched Casey and April making Donnie feel better. The conversation went better than anyone expected. It's good that Donnie has even more people to support him with this journey now that they know as well.
"Yeah, it's kinda cool but… It's still scary, you know…? The fact that it's about me… And since the Shredder knows as well…" Donnie replied, sighing.
"Of course it's scary! But I'm sure we can handle everything." April said, reassuring Donnie.
"Why is everyone finding this scary, by the way? Like I get that this is shocking and all but… I'll be the only one affected by it, won't I? Why are you all scared as well?" Donnie asked curiously. This is not the first time that he heard someone mention that this situation is scary.
"Isn't it obvious? Because whatever affects you will affect us as well." Leo replied, as if this was obvious.
"Yeah, D. Like, whether it will actually affect us personally or not, we are still worried about you and what might happen to you, you know?" Mikey said as his expression turned slightly sad. Everyone knew that the Shredder would plan something. Not only that whatever he will attempt might hurt the family in the way, but his end goal will most likely be to capture Donnie. Shredder was already really possessive about Karai and Tang Shen, but now that he knows that he has a son of his own that is also the son of Shen, it makes the whole situation much more dangerous.
"Oh… I see." Donnie said in disappointment. Not only was his origin burdening him, but it was burdening his family as well…
No one missed the disappointment in Donnie's voice, and what it was about.
"Listen, Donatello. We cannot change reality and the changes that it brings to us, however, we assure you that we will be there for you whenever you need us." Splinter said, smiling warmly as he put his paw on Donnie's head in order to make him feel better.
Donnie smiled back at Splinter as he felt his whole body relax.
"Thanks, guys…" Donnie said, smiling shyly as he looked at his entire family and friends.
"Of course, bro. Never hesitate to ask for something." Raph said, smirking as he playfully smacked Donnie on the back, making him stumble a little and frown in annoyance at Raph.
"So… Is anyone up to ordering something? I'm getting hungry." Leo asked, feeling that the mood is light enough to bring that up.
"Finally! I'm starving." Mikey said happily as he sighed in relief.
Donnie looked happily at his family and friends as they were deciding on what to order. His secret is getting more and more tolerable as more of his family members find out about it and accept him for it. It doesn't bother Donnie that everyone is still shocked about it. He is, too. But they will get through this.
Donnie glanced at Splinter, who glanced back at him, giving him a reassuring smile, knowing that he needs it. Splinter could read everyone like an open book, so of course he knew that Donnie was still struggling. Donnie might even never accept his true origin, but it doesn't matter. What matters most is that he's not enduring everything alone.
Donnie smiled back at Splinter as he once again managed to temporarily forget that their lives are going to be a huge mess because of this, and because of what the Shredder might pull on them.
_This is it for this chapter! I hope that you liked it ^^ Support is deeply appreciated!