Mᴜᴛᴀɴᴛ Aᴘᴏᴄᴀʟʏᴘsᴇ 5: Bʟᴀᴄᴋ Mᴀsᴋs ❪✓❫

25 || 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

Zayn and Michelangelo moved a few more boxes from their tents and brought them to the military trucks that Sam had provided the community. Donatello set down his own crate full of his things and put them in the back of the truck. He wiped away the sweat from his forehead and saw his brother right next to him. "We'll get our freedom back." Said Don.

"Yeah," Mikey said, letting out a deep sigh. "but for how long?"

Donnie was about to speak, but a gunshot in the distance filled the atmosphere of the community. All of the people who are close by the front gates could hear how loud it was, setting off a massive boom and bouncing off all objects. No one could really make out where that gunshot came from. "Who was that?"

Zayn set his box of supplies on the military vehicle. "Not sure." He said, a million things going on in his head. "Bendovians?"

"I dunno," Don said, looking off into the distance, seeing nothing but sky and mother nature over the tops of the gates and walls.

Mikey shrugged, standing beside his tall brother. "Maybe Sam shot something or maybe one of his men found food... I don't know. Hope it wasn't someone we know."

Raphael walked by with his own box and set it down by the wheels because the vehicle is filling up quickly. He looked very drained and tired-- like he was going to pass out or something.

Mikey and Zayn were already retreating back to their tents to take a break while Donnie still stood by the vehicle while Raph was stumbling on his feet, even his words, too.

Donatello knows that Raph had little interest in talking to Donnie. Somehow, Don just needed to try and make amends of some sort. "Raph?" He begins.

Raphael leaned on the side of the military vehicle and glanced at Donnie, appearing to have no energy left in him. He groaned. "What do you want, Don?"

The once lost brother began his offer. "Is there anything I can do for you? You look like you haven't gotten lotta sleep."

The mutant turtle that once sported a red mask chuckled. "What is sleep, Donnie? I've had paranoia because of the infected outside the walls and because of how fussy Harlow is." He rubbed his eyes.

Donnie then had an idea. "Look, I know that you don't really trust me anymore. But I think it's about time that you do. After all, I am your brother. I still am even though I changed. Let me look after Harlow for you just for a while to let you get some sleep."

Raphael stood tall and got eye level with Don. "Yeah, you have changed, Don. But not for the better. Haven't you seen what you could do?" He crossed his arms against his plastron.

Of course, Don knows what he can do, doesn't mean he does it all of the time. "I'm perfectly aware of that. I have been away from this family for far too long to where I had to force myself to become someone I'm not. I hate that I have a second personality living inside me and I cannot get rid of him. Just trust the brotherly side of me and don't pay any attention to the Rep side. Let me worry about that, not you." He said, his older brother listening closely. "Trust me. I won't do anything to hurt your daughter because she's my family, too."

The tired turtle, a father that deserves a rest sighed, trusting himself to trust Donnie. Raph dropped his arms to his sides and says, "I do need to sleep. So does Kitty. I really hope that dark side of you doesn't come out on my daughter."

Don smirked. "I'll let you be the first to beat my ass if I get outta hand."

"Damn, right I'll beat your ass," Says Raphael, his breath threatening and sharp on Donnie's ears. He gestures to his tent where Kitty is feeding Harlow her bottle. Kitty looked just as exhausted. "Harlow is over there. Thanks, Don."