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It was safe to say that Donnie was not good at talking to people. Why be social when you can work on phenomenal tech? He just wasn't a people person. Being a mutant turtle, that made sense. With the way Casey was just staring at with no move to start a conversation, he assumed that he was the same. He's guessing that probably had to do with growing up in an alien invasion.
So yeah. Him and social situations with people he doesn't know very well? They don't mix. The only person he really got along with from the start was April, and with the situation she had just put him in, he was seriously reconsidering that friendship right now.
She's lucky I don't shave her head while she's asleep, he thinks.
Leo would call him dramatic. So would April. But what is he supposed to talk about to a kid from the future? Better yet, a horrible future! So it's not like he can ask him what sort of movies came out or anything like that.
What led to this, you may ask? Well, in an effort to get CJ (as April calls him) more used to the food of the past (present, future? he'd have to think about that) and Donnie out of his lab, she'd taken them to Run of The Mill Pizza to eat. And then, realizing she forgot something, promptly left. He was beginning to think this was a setup of some sort.
Leaving Donnie fiddling with his hand tech and Casey with his straws, trying to figure a way to end the silence.
Taking a sip of water, he winced as it made a loud slurping noise. They made accidental eye contact.
Think! Think! What was he supposed to say? He barely knew this kid! What if he says something that will bring up bad memories? Mikey'll kill him!
"Uh..." He started. Sewer apples. He was done for.
Casey stared. It looked like he was also trying to think of something to say. Another awkward silence occurred before, finally, he opened his mouth to speak.
"Anything out of nothing." The human teen muttered, staring at the tech on his wrist.
Donnie paused in taking another unnecessary sip of water.
"Huh?" Was his ingenious response.
"We used to call you the one who could make anything of nothing. In the apocalypse."
Donnie gaped. For one, here he was, worrying about bringing up those exact memories and the guy just goes and says it all. Also, what was he supposed to reply to that anyway? It was mildly flattering that Casey wanted to bring up how intelligent he was. And he was kind of curious...
"Anything out of nothing, huh?" he smiled, "Like what?"
Casey grinned. "So many things that even Mom and Master Leonardo found interesting! You were the creator of the flying machines we took in the Final War- huge, awesome, and deadly. And you led the attacks to get supplies to make more stuff. In the future, you're amazing! Man, I used to wish I could one day be as smart as you. But I couldn't even read descriptions of what you did, much less make them." Casey sighed, though he kept smiling.
And well, if there's one thing Donnie's good at, it's sharing knowledge.
"I could teach you!" he exclaimed. "To read, I mean. I taught Mikey when Dad didn't want to. And write! I'm good at being smart, trust me." He joked monotonely.
"Really? You'd do that?" Casey asked excitedly. "I've always wanted to learn but we didn't have time in the apocalypse."
As a person who loved learning, he gaped inwardly. He must ( must! ) teach this boy somethings! "As soon as we get home," -Casey smiled at the word home- "We will make plans. The inner learner in me is crying!" He grinned as Casey laughed.
"You always were dramatic, Donatello." Casey said slyly.
"Dramatic?! I cannot believe you just said that to me. My mind is blown at your level of disrespect." Donnie replied, though he was smiling.
"Well..."
And so as April walked back in, words dying on her tongue, she smiled at the sight before her. Wiggling hands and beaming smiles. Her old brother and her new one.
Happy, even if just for a little bit.