You're Special, Donnie (Oneshot!)

Different is not Defective

This was requested by P0PvR0CKvPr1DE and Squiddysis! I really hope you guys enjoy! This book is based off of heavy research!

A word to know:

Stimming- Repetitive movements of behaviors such as tapping, flapping the arms of twiddling the thumbs

~*~

Autism.

The bold letters on the screen hit Donnie like a ton of mutagen. He had autism. Donnie buried his face in his hands.

He had autism.

It all made so much sense to him now, why he was so quick-minded when it came to  science and technology, but struggled when it came to interacting with people on a personal level.

Donnie had always been a genius, ever since he first mutated. His high intellect allowed him to solve complex problems and invent things easily and effectively.

But Donnie's genius intellect didn't help him with social things. He had trouble talking to people that he didn't know that well, often avoided confrontation and eye contact.

As a turtle tot, Donnie was the last to start speaking. He didn't say his first word until his was two years old. But then again, his first word had been a full sentence. It blew them away.

Donnie always used to have trouble communicating, often resorting to using big words which confused, and somewhat annoyed, his brothers. He found simple words surprisingly too difficult to work with.

Donnie always knew something was different about him. He'd always been the palest and weakest out of his brothers, but he didn't know there was something wrong with his brain as well. He felt even more different.

It wasn't until Donnie did research that be discovered he had a mild form of autism. It wasn't too severe, but it was there. Donnie was shocked. He was also a little nervous. What would his family think of him now?

Donnie had always been a bit of an awkward turtle. He tended to struggle with building relationships, even with his brothers. And he much rather preferred stayed away from others, secluded in the safety of his lab rather than socializing with his family.

Donnie sighed to himself. "They'll probably think I'm weird...weirder than I already am...they'll think I'm a freak..." He closed his eyes.

A freak.

Different.

Defective.

"They can't know..." Donnie decided, closing his laptop. He decided to grab some more coffee, passing by the lair on his way to the kitchen. "Hey Don."

Donnie froze. His brothers were sitting on the couch watching some soft of movie. "Oh, hi." Donnie said simply, quickly grabbing his coffee so he could retreat back to his lab.

It wasn't that Donnie didn't want to be around his brothers. He did. He just didn't think he fit in with them that well. Leo was always watching Space Heroes or doing extra training.

Raph tended to punch his bag a lot and read comics when he wasn't punching the life out of something. And Mikey, he was usually playing video games or pulling pranks.

And Splinter? He was usually found in the dojo meditating. Donnie was on par with Splinter when it came to intelligence, so at least they had that in common. But Donnie didn't want to bother his sensei.

Donnie just didn't seem to fit in with any of them. "Wanna watch with us?" Mikey asked, flashing his older brother a grin when he walked by.

Donnie shook his head. "No thanks Mikey, I'm good." He went back to his lab, sighing to himself as he drank his coffee, almost scalding his tounge in the process. Way too hot.