Alternate Allure

CHAPTER 17: LET ME EXPLAIN

"Where the hell were you?"

Donnie barely has time to spin his chair around before spotting Raph in the doorway, arms crossed.

"Huh?"

"Don't pull that shit with me" Raph glares. "You skipped morning training, snuck back in and then locked yourself in your lab" His eyes narrow. "Where were you?"

Donnie shrugs, real casual-like, and turns back to his blueprints. "Out"

"Oh, cool. Out. Wow, thanks for clearing that up, genius" He stomps closer. "You think I'm stupid?"

"Do you want me to answer that?" Don deadpans, still scribbling.

"Cut the crap" Raph grabs Donnie's chair and spins it back around so they're face-to-face. "We both know you didn't sleep here last night. So, where the hell were you?"

Donnie sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose as the distant sounds of sparring from the dojo start dying down.

'Great. No point in dragging this out, I guess'

"Fine. I was making sure MC-" He catches the way Raph's expression immediately loses some edge at the mention of your name. "-was okay. Y'know. After the whole Rat King thing"

Raph grunts, but there's obvious relief in his face, even if he tries to mask it behind a scowl. "And? They good?"

"Yeah, mostly" Donnie leans back in his chair, giving his brother a pointed look. "Tired, though. So I made them breakfast"

"You made them breakfast?" Raph's brow shoots up.

"That is what I said, yes"

"What, did you poison them?"

"Oh, ha ha" Donnie crosses his arms, rolling his eyes. "I think anyone with hands can make decent pancakes"

"I know, I'm just-" Raph waves a hand at him, like he's trying to physically grab the thought floating in his head. "Weren't you guys on bad terms?"

Donnie shrugs, suddenly very interested in the notes on his desk. "I wouldn't say that..."

Raph raises a brow.

"...Okay, fine. Things were a little tense" Don rubs the back of his neck, feeling weirdly self-conscious. "But we talked. We sorted it out"

His brother squints at him. "So that's where you spent the night? At MC's?"

Donnie stiffens. "I... might have. Yes"

Raph tilts his head, frowning. "So lemme get this straight... You spent the night. At MC's. In the same bedroom. And all you guys did was-" He makes little air quotes. "-talk?"

Donnie's eyes widen, realizing the implication of his brother's words. "I- YES! Obviously!" His hands shoot up like he's being held at gunpoint. "We... we just talked! Don't jump to conclusions!"

Raph just stares at him, unimpressed.

Donnie groans, dragging a hand down his face. "Look, I know it was probably dumb-"

"I didn't say it was dumb"

"You didn't have to. You implied it"

"Of fucking course I did!" Raph throws his arms out. "You didn't tell any of us you were heading over there! You didn't mention you were staying the night! And on top of that? We still gotta track down Snakeweed, and you're out here-what? Fooling around with MC?!"