Curate, connect, and discover
This is a 2012 fic!
Bro it's so cool to get to write for so many new characters! Alr, enjoy!
Lee: Donnie
Ler: Casey
TW!: MILD SWEARING! FEELINGS OF BEING OVERWHELMED! (This turned out to be a little angstier than I initially intended it to be, but it's nothing crazy.)
This is set between season 3 and four. I'll describe a little more under the cut, but beware of mild spoilers!
(Set after the Kraang invasion, but before the crew goes to space. 👍)
"'Sup, guys! Make way for Casey Jones!"
The black-themed teen hopped the turnstile at the entrance of the lair, and nodded a greeting at the sunset duo, who were on the couch. Leo walked in from the kitchen to greet him, and smiled. "Hey, Leo. Where's Donnie? I gotta tell him about my idea for the Shellraiser!"
The blue-banded turtle's smile faltered, and he nodded towards the shut doors of the scientist's lab. "He's.. in there. I don't think he's doing so well, so go easy on him, okay?" Casey nodded, muttering a "gotcha" before making his way to the purple-teen's lab.
Upon opening the door, the raven-haired was met with a clearly upset Donatello, head hidden in his arms on the desk. Casey frowned, taking a more careful approach at confronting him. "Hey, Don. You.. alright? You don't seem too good." Donnie groaned, pressing his face harder into his arms. "No, Casey.. Just leave me alone."
Casey sat on the chair he had been using for the past few days since getting back from the farmhouse, leaning an elbow on the other's desk next to him. "You wanna.. talk about it? We're friends, you know."
The scientist paused, glancing up from his arms, then sighed. "I.. suppose that might actually help.." Casey smiled, scooting his chair to face the other better.
"I guess.. I've just been overwhelmed. I'm always pressured to fix problems, repair broken things, and prepare everyone for everything.. and I have to figure it all out with what I know of science and mechanics. It's gotten to the point where.. I just don't really see it as a passion anymore. More of a.. responsibility."
The smile on the shorter's face was immediately wiped away as he heard the problem, brows furrowing in concern. Crap. He knew about the weight on his friend's shoulders, but for him to start losing his passion for science..
"Don, we didn't know.." He looked down, trying to think of what would comfort the other. "Do you.. need a break from it? I think we could probably manage for a little bit, and you've taught me lots of stuff.." The lanky turtle rubbed at his face, groaning again.
"I don't know.. if I'm not working.. what else do I do? Just sit here, twiddling my thumbs?" he scoffed. "I don't have anything, other than knowledge.."
"Hey- don't talk like that. You're not just a pile of thoughts, you're a super cool dude. None of us think of you as just 'the brainy guy'. You do know that, right?"
The mutant seemed to miss a beat, biting his cheek. "Yeah.." he nodded slowly. "Right, I know that." Casey huffed, rather aggressively wrapping his arm around the other. "Well, just in case you forgot, allow me to give you a few reminders."
Donnie had started to relax into what he thought was a hug, lifting an arm up to hold onto his friend. Not even two seconds later, a choked noise escaped him as that same hand darted for his throat. Instead of being strangled, as his reflexes seemed to have expected, the fingers started wiggling into the side of his neck. The purple-themed turtle let out frantic giggles, chin slamming down on the other's hand, and his shoulders shot up, but it did little to stop the attack.
"Akgh- Cahasey! Whahat the hehehell! Heheh!"
A grin was back on the raven-haired's face, and he kept pressing his fingers along the taller's neck. He brought his other hand up, and rammed his nails into the cartilage of his side, resulting in a shriek from the other. "Heh! Don, you wanna know something?"
The gap-toothed mutant snorted, scrunching up as best he could, arms weakly swatting around. "NAHAH! Ihi- Whahahat?" He managed to speak around his giggles, folding over and slouching dramatically in his chair. Casey laughed, moving to tickle both of his sides at once, short nails running up and down the bridge of his shell. A wide smile cracked the mutant's face, and he tried to wrap his arms around his waist, but the other just reached around him.
Donnie's legs flailed about, and he slapped at the flat surface in front of him. "We all really care about you. If you feel like you need a break, or want to do something different, we'll be there."
Don squealed as his ribs were squeezed, and was soon screeching and begging for his release, as his friend tickled him mercilessly. Even if he could find the proper words to respond, they would be drowned out by his laughter. Casey watched the other's eyes squeeze shut, and shoved a hand up into his underarm.
"GAHAHAH! CahaHAHASE- HIC! NYEHEH! HIHI CAHAHN'T! SNRT- STAHAHAP!"
The black-themed only shook his head, putting on a mock-serious tone. "Not until you tell me how great you are."
"CAHASEY! FUHUCK NOHO! JUHUST STAHAHAP!"
He tickled harder, digging into the indent of his side.
"KGHEHEHEH! NOHO-"
"Admit it."
It took another couple seconds of tickling, and a poke to the hip, but Donnie finally broke.
"AH! OhohkahaHAY! OKAYOKAYOKAY! IHI'M SNRT- GREHEAT! I'M GREHEAT NOW STAHAP!"
Casey smiled, lowering his hands. He patted the turtle's carapace as he giggled, slowly catching his breath. When he did, he leaned backwards, holding onto the ledge of the table to keep from falling, and closed his eyes.
"Johones.. I hate you."
The shorter only chuckled, giving the other a poke in the corner of his armpit. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." There was a moment of comfortable silence, followed by a more careful, "..so, do you think you need to take a break?"
Donnie sighed. "Actually.. I think I was overthinking things a little. I'll be okay.. if I could get a little help here and there."
The hockey-playing teen grinned.
"Casey Jones is your man!"