Chapter Text
April rang the doorbell outside of Donnie’s lab and waited until he opened the door. He looked better than he did at the start of his healing process and it made her heart happy. He was wearing the same sweater he had worn all week and his glasses were askew, but his cheeks were full and his eyes bright. He smiled loosely at her and stepped aside to let her in.
The lab was so perfectly Donnie. It was messy to the untrained eye, but her brother knew where every tool and bolt was. Unfinished projects lay scattered with exposed wires and motherboards.
Donnie hadn’t felt safe at home until he started several hundred defense projects. The Kraang were able to bust in so easily that it made sleeping at home difficult for a few weeks.
In those few weeks, Donnie had gone nonverbal and hyperfocused on creating top-of-the-line home defense systems that involved anything from tripwire to iron doors. He didn’t grieve, didn’t even fully soak in the situation. It was April that found him two months later, curled up on the floor sobbing, holding a hand over his heart like he was in pain. She tried guiding him through the attack, but he pushed her away. That, and everyone else’s moods built up until the Argument.
When everyone sat down together, Donnie asked for space. That was how he processed the loss of his twin and they needed to respect that. They did, on the exception that a doorbell was place outside the lab so they could remind him to eat and sleep and such. It was April’s idea and he always found it hard to say no to her.
“What can I do for you?” he asked politely, twirling a small wrench in his fingers.
“I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I’ve been so busy finishing up school. I’m sorry I haven’t been around enough.”
Donnie shook his head. “You being here today is more than enough.”
She smiled and took a seat close to him as he resumed his work on his battle shell. Some more pockets for tools and extra bolts. She stared up at the glow in the dark stars pasted on the ceiling of the train car. Donnie had those back at the old base since he was a tot and they were the first things he bought when they moved.
At the end of a long day of cleaning and fortifying their home after the invasion, Donnie would bunker down in the lab under the light of the stars. April never understood what purpose or meaning they held to him but it wasn’t for her to know. If it helped Donnie, so be it.
She waited for a bit longer until Donnie sat back and looked over the shell once again before saying, “Mikey and Casey went out for pizza. They should be back in a little bit.”
Donnie nodded, not ready to look away from her work. She tapped her foot, debating whether or not to say anything, but deciding to go for it. “I know you guys said no presents, but I found this on the way here.”
She pulled something small out of her pocket and placed it in his hand. It was a rock smaller than his palm, formed with dozens of little bands. It was tan and brown but a band of dull purple showed every few layers. He traced over it with his other hand while April smiled.
“I saw it and thought of you.”
Her brother was silent and April was about to leave him be when he said, “Ever since that day… I’ve felt like half of me was gone. Like half of my body was gone. Like half of my soul was gone.”
The room was quiet as April allowed Donnie to speak about it. It was the first time he had since then.
“I hate being without him.”
She rested her head on his shoulder as tears slipped from both of them. He reciprocated the action.
“I know. Me too.”
“Do you think he’s alive?” Donnie asked.
April didn’t respond. She didn’t know. She had tried picking an answer before and she didn’t know which one she liked better.