Alternate Allure

CHAPTER 28: DUALITY [Part II]

MC stands close behind Donnie in the lab, peering over his shoulder as he stands in front of his lab's desk, his T-phone in hand, taking a better look at Leatherhead's drawing. Leo, Raph, and Mikey stand just behind him, watching as he zooms in on the photo.

"I know I've seen this symbol before" Donnie's brow furrow in frustration. "It's so familiar..."

"The Olympics!" Mikey blurts.

MC snorts.

"NO" Donnie glares at his brother.

"I got it!" Mike snaps his fingers. "The Olympics!"

"Stop guessing!" Donnie growls, jerking upright. "Obviously, it's a Kraang symbol"

Leo steps forward, placing a hand on Donnie's shoulder. "But from where?"

Mikey's grin widens. "The Olympics!"

"QUIT IT!" Don bangs his palms on the desk, his brothers and MC immediately backing up at the outburst. "There's something here, and I can figure it out, if you'll all just GO AWAY and let me THINK!"

MC exchanges quick glances with the others, who, wisely, decide to retreat out of the lab. As they shuffle out, MC lingers, offering Donnie a smile, patting his shell gently. The gesture makes his shoulders drop instantly and, almost sheepishly, give them a crooked little smile.

"Sorry. I'm just..." A sigh. "This is really bugging me"

With a deep breath, the boy turns back to the desk. MC joins him, and the two begin laying out images.

"Oh... the Olympics?"

A frustrated sigh.

"For the hundredth time, I—!" Don catches himself as he notices his dad behind him, exhaling hard as he drags a hand down his face. "Ugh, it's driving me crazy, Sensei! I know I've seen this somewhere else, but I just can't remember!"

"You must calm your mind and wait. You are a ninja, Donatello. The word 'nin' means patience and perseverance" Splinter steps closer and places a steady hand on his son's shoulder. "Deep breath. Breathe"

The turtle nods slowly. "Okay... okay"

MC reaches over and after an initial hesitation, slides their hand into his. As always, Dee's skin is a little rough from working with tools, but warm at the touch. MC's fingers wrap around his with a steady squeeze.

"You can do it" They murmur, giving him a subtle nudge with their shoulder. "C'mon"

Donnie's cheeks flushed pink the moment he looked at them, squeezing their hand back firmly.

"I can do it" He murmurs, more reassurance to himself than anything. "I'm calm..."

Still smiling, MC leans lightly against his arm, head settling against his shoulder as they look at the scattered diagrams. The faint scent of metal and oil clungs to him—familiar, comforting, weirdly grounding Donnie stops breathing for a second, heart hammering against his chest. Then, emboldened by the closeness, he chuckles quietly... and deliberatedly leans his head against MC's, letting out a slow breath. The contact is tender, natural by now, yet electric all the same.

A few seconds after, a faint, invisible thread pulls at your mind.

Before you can even react, a vivid image flashes across your vision. A building, towering and cold, with sleek glass walls and a giant, familiar hexagon logo embossed over the entrance, four bold letters underneath: T.C.R.I.

MC and Donnie jerk apart with a twin gasp, staring wide-eyed at each other.

"What the fuck...?" MC presses a hand to their chest, trying to steady their breathing.