In New York City you get used to seeing strange things. If it's Superheroes dressed like devils with advanced hearing abilities who go around places like Hells Kitchen, if it's people going around dressed as spider's swinging around here and there who somehow seem to multiply each time they hit this one side of town, or if it's four teenaged turtles who were taught the ways of different ninjitsus by their sensei that is literally an overgrown rat in the sewers below the always in need New Yorkers. In this case, it's the turtle one. Four mutant turtles who go around in the night fighting crime and saving the people of New York City. What's not to love about them? Except for their arrogant and blue leader, brother in red with anger issues that burn more than the sun, a brother in orange as reckless as anyone could ever be but more, and then it comes down to the one turtle who actually has a sense of direction in his life. Donatello was the fourth turtle, a purple clad turtle in the sewers. He had the lamest ninjitsu out of the four, and was probably the weakest. But he was by far the smartest. When he lacked in strength or ability, he made up for it in gadgets and agility. He even made T-Phones for the brothers so the government couldn't track them and so other people couldn't either if they tried. Though that didn't mean much, seeing as how Michelangelo, the brother in orange, still had a human laptop in the lair. It didn't bother the purple one though, in fact it didn't bother anyone else. All of the brothers took turns using it, especially Raphael when looking for good workout methods. Up until a few months ago, their life underground was amazing. Yes, it became pretty bland, and the books humans dropped in the sewers now seemed to all be the same as Donatello already read, but it was good. And then they took their first trip to the surface.. It was honestly the best thing that ever happened to the overly tall and smart turtle. He met a girl. April O'Neil was her name, and boy oh boy was she gorgeous. Her light, soft skin and her gentle touch. The way her orange hair was neatly tied up in a ponytail on the back of her head, her style of clothes and carefully carved features.. She was like an angel to the purple one. An absolute dream. But what went wrong was the Foot Clan, Shredder, the Purple Dragons, the Kraang, all those crazy mutants, and most especially a boy who was close to the angel like girl. Casey Jones. Your average arrogant and disobedient teenager who strikes first and asks questions later. He ended up becoming best friends with Raph, the red one. It ticks Donatello off each time Casey walks into his lab and starts destroying things on 'accident'. Pfft. Like the smart one of the turtles would believe Jones could ever be sincere. April was competition between the two. And if Donatello was being honest, he was about ready to accept defeat and let his lousy self pity over his defeated reflection in the sewer water. Exactly like what he was doing now.
Donatello sat outside the lair a few chambers down, sitting on the curb of the sidewalk. His feet stretched out a bit, resting in the water as his arms rested on his legs. He stared miserably lurched over the green, nasty water. Staring at his reflection. Is this seriously where his love life went to? This seemed so.. Empty. He felt so empty. A pit in his heart and stomach, an aching in his lungs as he sat motionless over the sad reflection. Examining his green features, feeling nothing but insecurities. He never had a shot with April, especially when he was a mutant. A turtle for crying out loud. He cringed at the thought of how cliche he sounded, like a nerd from a Highschool 2000's movie. But this time he didn't have that special event to make his crush like him. In fact, someone had a better chance of getting that crush before him and was probably taking it.
A dark figure towered over the turtle in the reflection, and Donatello soon realized he had been crying. His eyes widened and he wiped off the tears, trying to figure out who's face was in the reflection. It was hard with the water moving so much over its features.
"I don't think you got allergies, Stick Master."
Donnie glanced behind him for a split second, immediately recognizing the clothing and voice.
"It's normal for turtles to get sick, Jones. In the cold weather of New York, it doesn't always mix well with four cold-blooded turtles with terrible immune systems." The purple turtles soft voice announced, each breath he took sounded shaky. He hoped dearly that the asshole standing above him wouldn't notice, but he seemingly did. Because Casey now sat next to him, crossing his legs and avoiding the water.
"But that isn't this case, right now. Is it?" Casey asked, he probably was trying to act nice or caring in this moment. Because Donnie almost believed it was true, and not a mere lie or act.
"Perhaps, but this does not concern you." He spat out in response, his head moving away a bit, almost unnoticeable.
"You don't have to share your troubles with me, never asked for that. Just wanna check up if you need anything? If you need a therapist, I know you've probably been through some trauma. Especially with Leatherhead grabbing your head half the time he's here." Casey tried to lighten the mood with a joke, though it only had Donatello wince. "Okay my mistake, probably shouldn't have brought that up. My bad."
"Don't act like you actually care, Jones! I don't know how you fool everyone else but it won't work with me. I'm not as gullible as the brainless imbeciles!" Donnie snapped, standing up and splashing Jones with the sewer water, Casey flinched. Did Dee somehow manage to upset Jones? Not in an anger way, but possibly in a hurt way?
"What do you mean, gap face?"
"Don't act fool with me! I won't believe it!"
"Listen, whatever you have against me, I'm sure there's an actual explanation. Do you dislike how violent I can get? When you're around I can try to tone it down a notch! If you don't like my jokes or remarks I can stop making them, Dee. Whatever it is I can stop. I never meant to make you so.. upset."
Donatello fell silent, staring Casey dead in the eye. Almost falling for his lame trick.
"Is it April?" Casey suddenly chimed in, his eyebrows raised.
"Are you saying I have a problem with April?" Donnie snarled, almost hissing at Casey.
"Are you jealous of me and April? I know you like her and me and her have been hanging out more often, I can promise you there isn't anything between us."
"I see the way she looks at you, she takes interest in you. And either you're a complete idiot as I previously assumed, or you and her do indeed have chemistry together." Donatello folded his arms, staring at the water again with a furious glare.
"Donnie?"
"You lead her on, Jones. You let her take interest in you and then you go off talking about other stuff, bringing her down. Either you like her or you don't, Jones!"
"Don."
"Are most teenaged human boys like that? Misleading girls romantically? Is that what handsome men are into nowadays?"
"I'm flattered you think I'm handsome, but Don-"
"I don't get it! How could men be so careless?! Do they have no sense of others emotions?! Talk about low-empathy! I just-"
Casey Jones slapped Donnie in the face, now holding both his hands in his. When did Jones stand up? Let alone when did Donnie turn to face him?
"I'm gay."
"What?"
"I'm gay. Homosexual. Man x man. Boy x boy. Men. Men are my interest, not women."
"But.. I thought you liked April? She's a girl." Donatello's head tilted to the side, utter confusion marking his face. I mean.. It would explain some things.
"No, men."
"Just men?"
"Men."
"Men and April?"
"Men and men."
"Not even a tiny bit April?"
"Men."
"But-"
"Men."
"Men!"
"Men."
The two went back and forth, repeating the word "men" for about ten minutes before Leonardo walked over to the bickering pair.
"Men?" Leo smirked, leaning on Casey's shoulder and staring at the two.
"Men." Casey nodded, and Donnie fell silent. Staring at Leo and then at Casey who still held his hands.
He yanked his hands away and folded them again, Casey let out a small chuckle that revealed his gapped tooth.
"What is it, Leo?" Don asked, and Leo stood up straight.
"Patrol time. This time Mike suggested it."
"Why would Mikey suggest patrol? He usually hates them." Casey asked, now wrapping an arm around Dee. Donnie just picked up Casey's middle finger and carefully unwrapped the hand. Jones sighed and let it happen, backing away from the purple turtle a bit.
At least Jones understood that space would be needed. Donatello didn't have a problem with Casey's secret pride side, but he still didn't feel comfortable with the fact Casey let April show interest in him. She had absolutely no chance with him and he let.. Wait a minute, why does this sound familiar?
Donnie shook his head, not realizing Casey and Nardo had been rambling on about something until they tapped his shoulder. "What?"
"You keep spacing out, you alright Dee? You haven't been staying up all night again, have you?" Leonardo asked Donnie,
"Uhm.. That doesn't matter." He responded.
"Actually it does, Dee." Casey responded, he was about to put one hand on Donnie's shoulder but put it back down after he remembered the conversation from before.
"Whatever. Let's go." Donnie pushed through them gently and walked off. He could feel Casey's eyes staring at him as he left, but he couldn't feel guilt. Guilt would only slow him down on whatever he had to do. Casey would have to understand, right?
Right?
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1758 Words
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Just updated this for a grammatical check! If I still missed anything let me know! 😁
Feel free to make suggestions or ask questions!
I try to respond to all replies. And tysm people for adding this story into most of your reading lists! I get a bunch of notifications about that almost everyday!
Ty for all of your love and support, guys, gals, and those awesome nonbinary pals. I appreciate it!<3
-From the writer, Tsu.
