TMNT - Worlds Change

Eighteen

Athena POV

Donnie gently stoked the fire, trying to make sure I kept warm. I shivered, pulling the blanket that Iris had hidden in my bag. Donnie had been silent up until this point, but I could see he was trying to be distant. I bit my lip.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. He looked up from tending the fire, confused. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't shouted at you, which I shouldn't have done in the first place-" he pressed a finger to my lips.

"I'm at fault here too. I was the one that suggested to April she come along. I know that was what bothered you, I just... are you really jealous of her?" I looked away, feeling so guilty for putting him in this position.

"I don't know, Donnie. It just seems like you are crazy about her, as more than just a friend." He sat beside me and put an arm around me. "Are you shivering?" He glanced down at me and I shifted, moving the blanket around him. He pulled me close.

"If we had my bag, we would have a small space heater or something built by now." He sighed. "I should have kept it on till I was with you." I leaned my head on Donnie's shoulder.

"I shouldn't have run away. I should have faced my problems instead of running from them. Sensei would be furious with me." He chuckled at my side.

"Splinter says that you aren't always running. It's called a tactical retreat, until you are ready to face your enemy." He was quiet a moment. "I'm gonna tell you everything about April. I was just waiting to tell you when we were alone. So we wouldn't have an awkward conversation in front of our siblings. And Casey. Oh, if he heard about all this he would be laughing for days." He shook his head and looked at me. I blushed.

"Why are you so nervous about telling me?"

"Because thought you were going to react like this. A little jealous, upset. Shut me out. And I L- I couldn't handle you being mad at me." He paused a moment and looked at the fire. "April was the first human we met. And the first girl. I had a crazy crush on her, and I knew there was no way we could ever be together. But I still tried. It wasn't like there were girl turtles around. And I wasn't the only one who fell for a human. But that's not my story to tell, and they went away anyway." He looked at me, and I analyzed his eyes. He was so sincere and so sad. "When she started dating Casey, I couldn't handle it for a while. Eventually, I got over it, but she was my first crush. And I still love her, but not the way I love you." His eyes widened. I blinked up at him and blushed.

"You- you love me?" I whispered softly. He slowly relaxed, pulling me into a tight hug.

"I have been in love with you from the moment I heard your name. When Venus said you would love my tech room, I immediately started hoping. Then I shut myself down, trying to push the idea out of my head. But then I saw you and you were... the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. More beautiful than the stars. More beautiful than the Statue of Liberty glowing on Staten Island from the bay-side... More beautiful than April." He pressed his forehead to mine as my breath caught in my throat. I leaned closer to him.

"Donnie?" I whispered softly. His eyes stared down into mine. "I love you too." He closed the distance between us, his lips on mine. In that moment, I knew there wasn't anything to be jealous of. In fact, maybe April had something to be jealous of instead. Because now I knew he loved me. And I was never letting go.

Raph POV

"We're close! If we start digging here we should open a hole in the top of the cave!" Bellona shouted above the storm that was whipping around us. Mikee dropped his bag and started shoveling the snow. I tried to call Donnie's Tphone. I heard it ring down the hill. Running over to it, I pulled his bag out of the snow drift. A crash and a shout came from over where Bellona was, making me spin around just in time to see her fall into the caverns. "Raph!"

Running over, Mikee and I looked into the tunnel to see no sign of Donnie, Athena, and now Bellona. I hoisted my bag.

"Raph, are you insane? You can't go down there, what if you are trapped?" Mikee stared me down. I rolled my eyes and snagged his kusarigama from his hip. I threw the far end down into the cavern.

"Then don't let me get trapped. Stay here, call Leo, update them on the situation. I have to find Donnie and Athena. And Bellona." I turned and lept into the tunnel, using the chain to guide my descent into darkness.