That morning, Donatello had been trying to distract himself with side projects, but nothing worked. His memory plagued him with images of Aria's sobbing face. That dream felt all too real.
"I wish she would just tell me..." Donatello muttered. If Aria would just explain how they knew one another and what promise they had between them, it would make this so much easier. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember her or any chance he may have had to meet someone like her.
"Donnie!" Mikey greeted, "you gonna be in here all day?"
Donatello flinched and glanced at the clock, surprised to find that he had been in here nearly half a day without realizing.
"Oh...I lost track of time," Donatello replied. "I was just...thinking about something."
"About Aria?" Leonardo asked as he peeked into the room. "Cause we have some thoughts on that."
Donatello groaned, "not now, guys..."
"No, seriously," Leonardo continued, pulling a stack of papers from behind his back and placing them down onto Donatello's workbench. "We were curious about her and since she gave us her full name...we thought we would look her up. I figured we might find a Facebook page or maybe a blog of hers, but instead, we found ALL this."
Donatello looked down at the large stack of papers and though he couldn't deny he was curious, it felt a little invasive to learn more about her like this. "...I...wouldn't really feel right..."
"She's worth BILLIONS!" Mikey shouted, slamming his hands down on the table, alarming both of his brothers.
"Mikey!" Exclaimed Leonardo, "you don't have to say it like that."
"Wh-what?!" Donatello gasped lightly. He figured that she was well off because of how she carried herself and how she dressed, but billions?
"She's the only surviving member of the Dawn corporation," Leo began to explain. "Apparently, she's been attending school in London and just returned to the city after her parents died nearly 5 months ago. Now she's inherited their entire fortune. Also, check this out," Leonardo picked up a printed out article on Aria, showing the girls picture in black and white. "In her first interview when she came back home, she stated that she came back to the states because of someone very special to her and planned to stay here with him."
"We think she means YOU!" Michelangelo interrupted again. "I mean, why else would a girl like that come to the sewers?! This is so exciting! Donnie is gonna marry New York royalty! Do you think she'll buy us a skate park? Because I want a skate park!"
Donatello growled under his breath and knocked Mikey upside the head with no protest from Leonardo.
"This is why I didn't look into her on my own. I didn't want to learn this kind of stuff about her. If she didn't tell me, I'm sure she had a reason," insisted the techy turtle. "She probably doesn't like people knowing about her money since generally, people are pretty greedy."
"I wasn't interested in the money part," Leonardo added, "I was interested in this part," he finished, pointing to a few articles within the pile of papers. "A lot of reporters said the Dawn family didn't get along and that they shipped their daughter overseas because of an unconfirmed mental condition. It's said that their daughter often refused to see them the entire time she was there. Another article states that they found several sources claiming Aria had been in and out of psychiatric care since she was young. Then, she comes back after her parents get into an accident and both die. Some people are saying she wanted to be rid of them."
Donatello was silent now, taking a few of the articles to read them over. What was Leonardo trying to say? That Aria killed her parents because she was crazy and hateful? Sure, he hadn't known her that long, but she really didn't seem like the type. Yeah, she was a bit overeager at times, but not crazy. "This...is all just stuff to sell papers. Nothing in here is any proof that Aria did anything wrong. It's mostly just people speculating on their own."
"You're not concerned at all about the mental care? She's been to almost ten psychiatrists since she was 8 or 9 years old."
Truthfully, that was a little alarming, but he didn't know the circumstances and all this snooping still felt wrong. "Guys, listen, I am just getting to know her, so I don't think—"
As Donatello spoke, the phone buzzed against his desk, and with a quick glance, they could all see it was a message from Aria.
"I hope she buys me that skate park before she snaps and murders you, bro." Mikey half-joked. He really wanted that skate park.
"Shut up," Donatello insisted as he read the message to himself. Apparently, Aria had kept her word about wanting a second impression with his family. Leaving an address and a hopeful message that they would join her for an outing tomorrow evening.
Donatello sighed. He had promised Aria he would speak to his Father about them visiting her. Though he felt even more uncomfortable with it knowing she had so much money. Still, he didn't want to break a promise and Aria seemed so sincere the last time she was here.
Without explaining to his brothers, Donatello made his way to Master Splinter and spoke with him about Aria. To his surprise, Splinter didn't seem upset over this girl knowing about them. Instead, he even gave them permission to visit Aria. Which Donatello couldn't help but be suspicious over. Even while he spoke to Splinter, it was as if he wasn't surprised by any of this.
Donatello wasn't eager to tell his brothers they had been invited to dinner, but she wanted to meet them properly for some reason. Reluctantly, he told his brothers about the dinner and though they all seemed excited by the idea, Donatello couldn't help feeling uneasy. Not only was he worried about his brothers embarrassing him further, he couldn't stop thinking about that dream he had.
While Donatello was taking a moment to himself, Leonardo spoke to Mikey and Raph.
"This is going to be a good chance to get intel. We need to make sure this girl isn't actually planning anything strange." Leonardo informed his brothers.
"So, just normal recon?" Asked Raphael. "What are we looking for?"
"I just want to make sure Donatello isn't getting himself into something that could get him hurt."
"Yeah, like if she's crazy enough to kill him," Mikey agreed.
After his brothers agreed on their recon mission, Donatello spent most his time that day, staring at his phone. He couldn't get the image of Aria sobbing out of his head. Why would he dream about something like that? It was such a gut-wrenching feeling. It almost made him glad that he'd be seeing Aria soon. At least then he could confirm that it was all just a dream. After all, when she was around him, all she seemed to do was smile.
With a heavy sigh, the Techy Turtle decided to take a leap and text Aria back. He started to type out a long message, asking her if she was really the Aria that was in all the papers but quickly deleted it all. Wouldn't it sound like he was snooping around about her?
"...this makes no sense..." he muttered to himself, agonizing over the deleted message. If Aria was worth so much money, why would she bother with someone like him? Why would she come down to the sewers and confess her love for a mutant?
Finally, Donatello decided to send her a text, informing her that they were given permission to see her. It didn't take long after reading it that Aria sent many happy responses.
Really?
That's great! I'm so excited!
I can't wait to see you again!
I hope I don't embarrass myself in front of your family again.
Now I'm so nervous!
Donatello chuckled a bit over her enthusiasm. She was so eager to make a good impression on his family. His family of mutants.
With Donatello preoccupied with his phone, he didn't hear April walking into the Lab. She had already been informed of Aria's invitation when she greeted the other turtles and honestly, it didn't sit very well with her.
"Hey, Donnie..." greeted April.
Donatello nearly dropped his phone when he heard her voice, quickly tucking it away in his belt as he turned to face her.
"A-April! I didn't hear you come in!"
"Um, the guys told me you'd all be going to some dinner tomorrow?"
Donatello seethed internally. Why were his brothers so intent on embarrassing him? "U-um...well...yeah. Aria wanted to meet everyone..."
April felt that same pit in her stomach. This girl came out of nowhere and Donatello was just going to trust her? "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean...didn't the guys tell you what we found out about her?"
"You looked her up too?" Asked Donatello, a little surprised by this. He didn't think April would be that suspicious.
"Obviously," replied April, "I mean, who knows what she's after. We've all been tricked before by people who seemed nice. I just wanted to make sure she wasn't planning anything weird."
Donatello blushed lightly and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. At least April cares enough to worry about him. "It-it's fine. She really doesn't seem the type to trick people..."
"But we don't know for sure. I mean, why would some heiress be running around in the sewers? It's just weird." April stated, thinking back to the picnic Aria had prepared. It irked her that this girl was trying so hard to earn Donatello's favor. April was sure that she must be trying to take advantage of his kindness.
The smile fell from Donatello's face. So April was thinking the same thing? "...yeah, cause it's ridiculous that she might actually like me, isn't it?"
April flinched a bit, realizing now that her words were a bit sharp. "What? That's not what I meant. I mean-it's just a little strange that she is suddenly so infatuated, you know? She's not exactly—"
"—what?" Interrupted Donatello. Honestly, it stung that April would be the one to say this out loud. She was a human girl. He knew that his crush on her probably wouldn't amount to much, but he held onto some hope. Aria saying that she liked him, it helped that a bit, but here April was thinking it was some trick. She clearly didn't think that a human girl could sincerely be in love with a mutant. Isn't that what she was thinking? "Not exactly what?"
April felt a tad flustered now. She really didn't mean to hurt Donatello's feelings. "...I just meant...that with her money and social status...it's a little strange that she'd have ever met you...let alone-"
As April spoke, her phone went off, interrupting the conversation. When she pulled it out, the two could both see that it was Casey calling. This only served to worsen Donatello's mood. Especially when April answered. Weren't they just having a conversation? Was what Casey had to say that much more important? He was lost in thought as April spoke on the phone, not bothering to listen in on what they were saying. He always felt like he came second when it came to Casey and the only reason for it, was because Casey was a human.
"Sorry about that," said April as she hung up the phone and turned back around to face Donatello. "Casey's been down with a cold, so he's been such a baby."
"It's fine," replied Donatello curtly.
April noted the brush off, but surely Donatello couldn't have been that upset over a phone call? "...um...so anyway, back to what we were talking about. I think—"
"—you think a girl like her couldn't possibly like someone like me. A mutant," Donatello finished for her.
Though April didn't like the way he said it, she couldn't deny that it was a suspicion. "Well...it's just that it happened so quick..."
Her response only poured salt into his wound. She didn't deny it. "Yeah? Well, she doesn't seem that think that way," insisted Donatello. Even if he also felt that Aria couldn't really care for him like that, he wasn't about to admit that now. "Actually, she confessed yesterday."
"Confessed? As in..."
"Aria said she loved me," confirmed Donatello. "But how could a human possibly love a mutant, right?"
"That's not really what I mean. You know that you guys are my best friends!" April insisted finally. "I love you guys."
"But you wouldn't consider dating a mutant, would you?"
April was taken aback by the question. He'd never asked something like that before and it was a difficult question to answer. Wasn't it almost like a confession? If she said yes, would he ask her out? If she said no, how much would it hurt him? There really didn't seem to be a right answer. Especially with her complicated feelings for Casey involved. "...I..."
Donatello was crestfallen by her hesitation. Clearly, she didn't want to answer and that was all he needed for his heart to drop into his stomach. Of course she wouldn't. Why would she? What kind of future would they have? It's not like he could live on the surface openly with her. Still, it was nice to hold onto some hope. At least while he could. "...I get it."
"Donnie...I...you know that you're my..."
Donatello shook his head as his eyes began to burn, "it-it's fine, April. I have some work to do...so maybe we can talk later, okay?"
As Donatello turned his back to her, trying to hide his heartbroken expression, April took a step forward. She reached out, wanting to explain and make this better, but what could she say? It's not like she could tell him to wait for her when she wasn't sure how she felt. With Casey involved, it just got more complicated and she couldn't give either of them a definitive answer. Donnie was her friend. Her best friend. But dating a mutant? She'd never thought about something like that before.
"Yeah...we'll talk later..." she agreed finally, pulling her hand back to herself and leaving the lab. She had come to voice her suspicions about Aria, but instead just made a mess of things. Admittedly, she couldn't help blaming Aria just a little. If she hadn't come along, everything would have stayed the same. Maybe she really came into the picture just to cause trouble.