Chapter 19: Issues...
Sleep had not been in terms with him. He wasn’t even sure what was going on but there was something that continued to bother him.
Donatello had to the put screwdriver down as he felt his head spinning again. In fact he was starting to feel the slightest bit tired. He blamed it on his sleeping patterns, maybe he really should consider Leo’s advice.
No.
He's already falling behind schedule; with winter heading up soon he needed to finish repairing on the generator. Otherwise another white winter will wash up on in the lair again. And that kind of winter isn't all jolly that T.V makes it out for the world for them.
With most of his brothers out in patrol he was more than suited to work on his inventions and re-engineering certain instruments in the house that had a problem or simply broke down. Though he is in the best environment for that, he simply couldn't work on them right now. His head was spinning too much to even think about working on them, let alone fix them.
He was so fixated on trying to regain his mental state that he never realized another body walk inside the lab.
“You feeling alright my son?” The voice his elder father walked in.
Donatello should have been surprised, but his reactions were way too slow to even so much breath. Automatically he shook his head allowing himself to sit on a chair nearby. “It’s been slowing down.”
Master Splinter gave the turtle a look of worry. “Donatello I believe you should rest for a moment. After all working extensively is not beneficial to your health.”
*He and Leo are talking about me again...* The purple turtle thought in mild exasperation.
“I understand father… it’s just.” He wasn’t entirely sure what he should say. “Lately I feel like the family has been more distant that usual.”
The older rat tilted his head slightly. “How so?”
“I’m not entirely sure what, but I feel there is something wrong with Mikey and Raph.”
“Does it have anything to do anything with the argument last night?” The mentor questioned.
Donatello faced his father dead on. Of course his dad would have heard that, out of everyone with the exception of Leo his father was light sleeper. Any sound would catch his attention no matter what time of day it was.
“In a sense, I’m not sure if it would be best to speak to Raph as of yet.”
Splinter nodded. Raphael has always been difficult to speak to even in the lightest of topics.
“I would love to talk to you more about this subject myself Master, but… I believe it would be more beneficial if Leonardo was also here since he knows more of the subject than I do.”
“If that is what you wish my son.”
*Personally I would tell you, but I can’t break my word…* Donatello thought stubbornly.
“Well I got to finish this. Winter is coming up and we can’t have another accident like eight years ago.”
Master Splinter wholeheartedly agreed, that year Leonardo almost died from hypothermia. The sickness itself had cut more than half of Splinter’s years out of grief and worry. It was a miracle he was able to make it through. Michelangelo would have ended up in Leonardo’s state as well had their father not found some drifting wood. That little fire saved his children at the last minute.
“Do what you must, I could never be any more prouder in your intellectual skills my son.” Splinter smiled placing a warm hand on the genius forcing a smile to appear on his beak.
"Thank you father." He responded earnestly just as he father bid him a gentle farewell and left the lab. Already Donatello was feeling much better the before.
But also not quite…
0o0
Patrolling had been much easier to manage, much to Raph’s pleasure there were no accidents along the way. With the exception of a woman getting her purse stolen. Of course the robber was nothing more than a rookie. A wimp to say as he was easy knocked over with one good Frisbee toss to the head with a trashcan lid.
The purse was dropped by in front of the woman again and the day settled down as that.
The worst part however was the awkward tension between the three brothers had kept them in a silent distance; they were at least able to get their job done without trouble.
Leo felt his thighs starting to ache a little. Probably considering the position that Donatello got him into last night. The memory made his cheeks feel the slightest bit warm. But it does goes to show he needs to work on his yoga again, he had been so adapt at working at his katas that he did sort of neglected his stretching sessions.
“Yo fearless, you comin'?” Raphael questioned roughly motioning to the open manhole where Mikey had disappeared into. Leo blinked seeing what his younger brother was telling him. Of course the emerald turtle didn't wait long at all, he jumped in, completely avoiding his gaze.
Of course he was still mad at him… but then again why wouldn't he be? Last night Leo practically kicked him out of the little circle that he created with only one brother... A symbol of trust that he purposely cracked for the sake of guilty and selfish desires.
Leonardo lowered his head, Donnie was right it was breaking the family... the leader took a deep breath right as he dove straight into the hole.
The journey to the lair took a while before finally reaching it, already they could see Master Splinter in the couch watching his soaps. No doubt Donatello was also in his lab fixing the generator of the heaters.
For a while no one bothered Donatello during this time of year. The generators and/or heaters had a nasty habit of breaking down, so in turn Donnie was quick to fix them before winter. Being cold blooded is nothing but a curse at year's end.
The fraction of time of the three brothers being so much near an inch to each other was severed in seconds entering the door. The two younger brothers went their separate ways; Leonardo was already used to that kind of treatment, they were four of kind. But that didn’t mean they had to be up on each other’s shells 24/7.
Figuring it was best to head for mediation, the eldest started to his room. That way would be able to think and evaluate how to speak to father and confess about his close relationship with Donatello. The results were anonymous but he was still fearing what his father's response may come to be. There were multiple outcomes, but the one he feared the most is disapproval…
Upon walking the steps he couldn’t help but think about the past mission, the one that emotionally forced him to crawl to Donatello… their conversation had been lubed with alcohol with no coherent thought or logic. When they came to realize what the two brothers have ultimately done their relationship changed altogether permanently. Donatello's reaction was natural.
The words: Oh and Shit were definitely in the mix of the genius's thought process. And Leonardo hadn't been too far off either, but his reaction was much more considering. And as uncharacteristic as it may have sounded, Leonardo sort of came into a mood of possessiveness that led him to seek more from his second oldest brother. Despite knowing his presence was not wanted at the time, nor was it morally right and thankfully the outcome was different by the time Donatello saw what he truly was offering, and what they both needed beyond physical interaction…
Leonardo could feel his head spinning just the slightest, his memory fuzzy during the time he consumed alcohol and what his younger brother looked like while... on top of him...
"Goodness..." He breathed as he shut his eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of his nose, forcefully making him pass the memory away. He almost bumped into his own door when he reopened those blue hues.
He’s never been this unfocused before…
He grumbled internally to himself and turned the knob, the dark room greeted him silently, he gave another sigh and closed the door behind him. He barely had a chance to remove his swords when he faced the bed, his heart forcefully jumped into his throat.
“Donnie?!”
