Alternate Allure

CHAPTER 14: LEAN ON ME

Potentially sensitive content for some people. I'm just warning.

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'Two weeks. How has it been two weeks?'

Donnie's thoughts swirl as he hops rooftop to rooftop under the dim city lights. Leo had called off tonight's patrol, and honestly, he thought it was the perfect excuse to check up on you. It's been a while since your little express train ride together. You haven't visited, nor sent a single text, since Leo warned you about the freakin' rat apocalypse the Rat King had unleashed.

Donnie had swung by your balcony more times than he'd admit, psyching himself up to knock, only to chicken out every. Single. Time. All he ever caught through your half-closed curtains was the same sight: you, hunched over your desk, working on something he couldn't make out.

'Maybe I was too hard on them about the Leatherhead thing...'

He slows to a halt, crouching on a building across from your apartment, feeling uncharacteristically nervous.

'Even though I was totally justified'

After a deep breath, he bolts across the street and scrambles up to your balcony. He hesitates for a moment before peeking through the window. There you are, on the floor in your favorite PJs, a toolbox spilled in front of you as you silently sort through tools. He lets out a quiet sigh, barely audible over the metallic clinks.

"MC?"

You don't react, fully absorbed in your work. For a second, he debates backing out (again) but forces himself to knock. The rap on the glass makes you jump like a startled cat, spinning toward him. Your hand flies to your chest, relief flooding your face when you see who it is. You quickly get up, shoving tools out of the way as you move to the window.

"Hey—"

"You do NOT knock on the window of a person who lives alone at 3 AM." You glare at him, voice low but intense. "I could've been asleep!"

"...But you're not" He points out.

"I was--" You pause, shifting slightly to block his view of your desk, now cluttered with the guts of a half-dismantled stun gun. "...working on a project"

"Oh?" Donnie's brow quirks, happy to have the opportunity to change the topic. "What kind of project? Maybe I can—"

"Thanks, but I'm good here" You interrupt, waving him inside as you slide the window open wider. "What's the deal? What's with the late-night visit?"

"I, uh..." Donnie climbs through the window, doing his best to avoid eye contact as he steps inside. "I just... wanted to check on you?" He mutters, rubbing the back of his neck. "You know, we haven't heard from you since... well, the whole Leatherhead thing"

"I'm fine, Dee" You murmur, locking the window once it's fully closed. "When Leo told me about the Rat King, I just climbed onto my balcony and shut everything—doors, windows, all of it. Don't worry, not a single whisker made it in"

"That's cool" Donnie trails off, his voice kinda fading as you dive right back into what you were doing. "That's... cool" He clears his throat, walking over to stand behind you. "Listen, I... about the other day..."

You stop for a split second, then go back to organizing the tools on the floor, barely whispering, "Are you... still mad at me?"

"Well... not really, I—"

"You don't wanna be friends anymore? Is that why you're here?"

"What?" He blinks as he watches you quietly sort wrenches and screws into perfect little rows. Then he shakes his head like he's trying to shake out the confusion. "It's not that. I wasn't mad at you. I was... frustrated, I guess"