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Nightly trips to Donnies lab weren’t something Don would’ve ever considered being real. The shy turtle couldn’t sleep and thinking he would wake up his brothers with his constant tossing and turning, he quietly made his way over to where he knew his older counterpart was working in, even when he should already be asleep.
It seemed like all Donnies had the same poor sleeping habits.
Padding through the silent lair, that was a abadoned subway station, Don could already see a faint light seeping through from underneath the huge door.
Quickening his pace he left the common room behind, his soft footsteps barely audible as he went up the stairs. From the other side the young turtle couldn’t make out any sounds, making him wonder if Donnie fell asleep over his work again. Wouldn’t be the first time, after all.
Deciding to just find out he knocked against the door – as he always did, since he did not want to just enter his counterparts domain without asking first, it seemed rude – and only entered after hearing Donnie giving him his okay.
Pushing open the giant metal door, and nearly tripping over his own feet doing so, Don peeked inside the lab, seeing his counterpart hunched over his laptop, only the desk lamp illuminating the room. Stepping inside and closing the door behind him, he padded over to the desk, only sitting down on the spare chair when he was allowed. He didn’t want to possibly be rude, after all.
Resting his head in his arms Don stared at the nearest wall, studying the posters his counterpart had plastered onto them. Except for the ticking of the clock, the soft humming of the desk lamp and Donnies rapid tapping onto the keyboard it was quiet. At least until the taller turtle spoke up.
„So…what brings you here?“
Adverting his gaze from the informative science posters, Don peered over to his counterpart, slowly lifting his head off his arms, but keeping them crossed still.
Donnie had directed his attention to the younger turtle now, leaning against the backrest of his chair and waiting for a reply with his occasional-patience, that only seemed to be a thing when it came to his interests.
„Well…“, Don sighed, dropping his gaze onto the paperwork scattered over the desk. Dozens of graphs, tables and other science-y stuff laughed back at him, some of which he understood and others which he’d never heard of before. However, none of it seemed to help him figure out, how to word his thoughts best.
„I-„
A loud sigh was all that came over his lips and Don just stared at the papers even more intently. But he didn’t touch it, only stared. He made out more words, sentences. But as much as he tried, he couldn’t understand just what his counterpart had written down on there. He was aware the ninja had been on countless adventures before, coming face to face with sci-fi-like and paranormal things, Don himself had always denied being real.
Just as this dimension-travelling, him and his brothers had been unwillingly subjected to. Now they were stranded here in this unfamiliar world, surrounded by strangers who looked just like them and their friends back at home. Never in his wildest dreams, had Don ever imagined something like this to be real.
And while they all had only welcomed them in with open arms and given them countless of support, the young teen longed for his home dimension. But exactly that was what made his stomach turn. What if there was just no way back?
Part of Don knew that this was stupid. There was a way to this universe, so there should be one to go back. Although that was perhaps easier said than done. And it was messing with the anxious turtles head.
„I- It‘s just-“, he started, voice quavering. „…I know you’re working really hard to help my brothers and me get back home, but…well..“ The shy turtle seemed to pull in his head a bit, his voice becoming significantly quieter as he proceeded. „What…what if you can’t do it?“
There it was, out in the open. Don whimpered quietly into the fabric of his shirt, adverting his gaze. It wasn’t like he didn’t believe in his counterparts abilities and intellect, it was just…
„P-please don’t get me wrong, but- well- I’m just a bit…worried-„ The younger turtle quickly shut himself up, fear spreading through his very core at the reaction he might receive. Subconciously, he slid a bit further away from his counterpart, deciding that whatever was located in the corner of the lab was suddenly very interesting.
But whatever Dons anxious brain thought would happen never came and his fear only eased slightly, when he heard the other finally speak up.
„…Ah“
Ignoring the sinking feeling in his chest, that this confession caused him, Donnie shook his head before smiling at his counterpart semi-confidently.
„Trust me. I’m 100% certain that I can help you out. We’ve met alternate versions of us before and travelled dimensions. If I use the Kraang-technology to my advantage, there is no doubt that I’ll be able to construct something that will get you and your brothers back home.“
Lifting his body more upright, Dons expression contorted into one of complete confusion.
„…What the hell is a Kraang?“
Having already expected such an answer, Donnie couldn’t help but chuckle, turning his attention back to his laptop.
„They’re a race of technologically-advanced aliens from another dimension.“, Donnie began explaining, looking over at Don to make sure he understood before proceeding further. Said turtle was hunched over the table, listening intently with wide and eager eyes. Of course he could follow him, he was a Donatello after all.
Smiling softly to himself, the genius resumed with his explanation, all the while searching through his files for any useful information he could show to the other.
„Their plan was to mutate the earth and turn it into a replica of their home dimension. We’ve had to cross their plans numerous of times during the last one and a half years.“
Finding what he was looking for, Donnie turned his laptop screen towards Dons curious eyes, the smaller turtle practically vibrating in his seat as his eyes scanned every piece of information he was given.
Having been given allowance, the younger teen clicked through several documents and pictures Donnie had neatly organized in folders. Always mindful to not make a mess if things, Don wondered how the hell his counterpart managed to gather this much detailed information and images. But then again, the genius was quite adept at handling tech, so perhaps he hacked himself into their systems. Something Don wondered if he could learn too.
„…Creepy, they look like brains.“
Shuddering at the thought of seeing one of these aliens in real life, Don quickly skipped over to the next file in line, his tongue peeking out as he tried to make sense of the text in front of him.
Perhaps that was also a Donnie-thing..
Although said turtle did not pay it any mind and instead moved a tad closer to his counterpart. „Weird, huh? Don’t ever tell Mikey that I filled you in on this, but we didn’t believe him at first.“
„Understandable“ Don smiled softly, his gaze not leaving the screen. „But let me guess: It’s because he'd keep bragging about it?“
„You would be correct.“
Nodding his head to show he’d heard the other, Don figured that asking questions first-hand was better than endless swiping through files and documents and with a satisfied hum he shoved the laptop back to his counterpart, turning on his spinning chair to face the robot in the room.
Ever since meeting him for the first time, Don had been in love with this little sidekick. In his opinion, the robot was perfect in every shape and form. From his cyan glowing eyes, all the way down to his tiny stubby legs.
Don found himself fawning over the invention once more, his hand moving out ever so slowly to give the robot head pats.
Metalhead noticed the sudden attention on his very self and turned towards the other, seemingly happy beeping emitting from him. Even more so, when Don resumed his restless petting, finishing off his string of affection with a nose boop.
From what Donnie had told him, this version of Metalhead was a upgraded one. Apparently the old one got destroyed a long time ago and after finding himself moving on from his loss, the genius decided to give the robot-building one more try. Thus, Metalhead 2.0 was born and Don could not be happier. Out of all of his counterparts inventions, the sidekick was by far his favorite.
Donnie watched the cuddle-session go down with an amused smile on his face, had he finally found someone who was just as enthusiastic about Metalhead as he was. Even if it was just another version of himself. However, there was something about him the smaller turtle still didn’t know.
„I used Kraang-tech to build him, you know?“
The excited babbling came to an abrupt halt.
„…Wait really?“ Don turned around on the chair, red eyes wide and full of curiousity. He got a nod as reply.
„I used some of their techs components to construct his software and features, so yes. He’s pretty much compatible with the Kraangs system, I made sure to upgrade on that,“ the genius explained, a certain gloominess making its way onto his features. Don did not miss that. However, he kept his mouth shut about it.
Patting the robots head for the umpteenth time that night, and smiling at the wave of adoring beeps being sent his way, the smaller turtle instead set for a compliment.
„Well no matter what, I love him so much.“
That did indeed distract the taller turtle from his sullen mood. Yes, Metalhead was here with him again, standing across from him and accepting all of Dons praise and affection. It was truly a sight to behold.
A yawn leaving him Don rubbed his stinging eyes, the sweet embrace of sleep seeming to call out to him. It was late. Way too late for him to still be awake and the turtle felt like it.
His head dropping into his arms once more, he stared back at the wall and would’ve probably fallen asleep right then and there, if Donnie hadn’t called out to him. The next thing he knew was shook ever so slightly, staring up disorientedly at his counterpart.
„Perhaps you should go back to bed? Sleeping on a desk is not exactly comfortable.“
Huffing Don rolled his eyes. As if he was one to talk.
Despite everything, the smaller turtle did eventually lift himself off the chair, stumbling over to the old couch and dropping onto it almost instantly. A tired exhale later he was already snuggled into the nearest pillow, gaze trailing over to his counterpart who watched him, knowing fully well he probably won't be able to move the young turtle off the sofa anytime soon.
„Are you comfortable at least, if you’re already hogging my couch?“, he asked in mock-offense, earning a content chirp in reply.
„However, I‘d probably have a better sleep, if you told me a bedtime story“, Don whispered out from where he was taking up all of the space on the couch, the hint of a sly smile on his lips.
„You know? From one of your adventures.“
Turning around from where he dug out the coziest blanket his lab had to offer, Donnie rolled his eyes with a fond smile.
It was late but…oh well, what were a few more minutes? If it helped…
Giving in to the younger turtles demands, Donnie settled down onto the floor beside the couch, leafing through his mind-library in search for an adventure that was worth being told as a bedtime story.
„Have I ever told you about that time I single-handedly infiltrated a Kraang-facility?“
He knew he hadn’t, that’s why he expected Don to shake his head with that curious shine in his eyes. It was child-like, so full of excitement it made Donnie wonder, if the youngers giddiness was gonna keep him awake.
„Okay, you better listen closely then, because it was awesome!“, he tried hyping up his story, hearing the kid move into place behind him.
Despite any of his worries Don piped down at that, snuggling into the blanket he’d been given. A rare occassion in which Donnie had been wrong and yet he didn’t mind at all.
All that he cared about right now was telling his story. Perhaps he wasn’t very truthful about some parts of it and perhaps he made it sound more exciting than it actually was, but Don didn’t need to know. Not yet, at least.
The genius knew it might come back to bite him one day, but right now, he honestly could not care less.