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The lair was unusually quiet. The sounds of the city outside had settled into a peaceful hum, and the only noise within was the soft clinking of metal and the whirring of machines. Leo had just finished another round of intense training, his muscles sore and his mind buzzing with everything he had left unfinished. Yet, despite his exhaustion, he couldn’t shake the feeling of restlessness.
He wandered through the halls of the lair, passing the common room, the kitchen, and even the gym, but no matter where he went, his mind kept drifting back to Donnie. His brother had been locked away in his lab for hours, consumed with a new project. Leo didn’t mind; Donnie often worked late, but tonight, there was something about the quiet that felt different—lonely, almost.
As Leo passed the door to the lab, he stopped. The familiar soft sound of Donnie’s tinkering filled the space around him. He hesitated for a moment, watching the shadows dance on the walls from the dim light of the lab’s desk lamps. He could just walk in, like always, tease Donnie about his endless projects, and then go on his way.
But something stopped him. Maybe it was the way the moonlight shone through the window and cast a glow over everything in the lair. Maybe it was the way Donnie seemed so focused, so alone. Whatever it was, Leo couldn’t help but lean against the doorframe, just watching him for a while.
The sound of Donnie’s humming filled the silence. He didn’t notice Leo at first, too absorbed in his work. Leo smiled to himself. Donnie was always so lost in his thoughts when he was tinkering with new tech, but it was in these moments that Leo could see how much his brother cared. The little flicks of his hands, the tiny frown on his face, and the way his eyes lit up when something went right—it was the way Donnie expressed his passion.
After a moment, Leo took a step forward, softly clearing his throat. “Hey, Don.”
Donnie’s head snapped up, his eyes wide behind his goggles, and he quickly adjusted them on his face. When he saw Leo standing there, leaning casually against the doorframe, he relaxed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “You’re still up?” Donnie asked, raising an eyebrow.
Leo gave a small shrug. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought maybe you needed a break, too.”
Donnie snorted softly. “You mean, you need an excuse to distract me from my work.”
Leo grinned. “Maybe. But also... I thought it might be nice to spend some time with you. You’ve been at this for hours.”
Donnie paused, considering Leo’s words. He often lost track of time in his projects, but something in Leo’s voice made him feel guilty. Maybe he had been pushing himself too much lately. After all, it wasn’t often that Leo just asked to hang out. Donnie was about to make another retort, but he stopped himself. Instead, he took off his goggles and set them aside, turning to Leo with a soft smile.
“Yeah, I guess we don’t do that enough, do we?” Donnie said, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful.
Leo’s heart skipped a beat. Donnie wasn’t known for being overly sentimental, but Leo had always known that deep down, Donnie appreciated moments like this, too. Leo crossed the room slowly, the two of them meeting in the middle. There was a slight hesitation in Donnie’s posture, but Leo wasn’t going to push him too hard.
Instead, Leo extended his hand, palm open. “Come on. Let’s take a break. Just you and me. Under the moonlight.”
Donnie’s lips curled into a reluctant smile, and he took Leo’s hand without a second thought. There was something about the way Leo said it—gentle, like an invitation instead of a command—that made Donnie feel... at ease. He followed Leo out of the lab and into the hallway, their footsteps soft against the stone floor.
As they stepped outside into the cool night air, Leo led them toward the small courtyard where they usually trained. Tonight, though, there was no fighting, no practicing. Just silence, the kind that was comfortable between them. The moon hung overhead, casting a silver light that made everything feel more magical, more peaceful.
The two of them sat on the edge of the courtyard, their legs dangling off the side of the stone wall. The city was a distant hum, but here, it was just them—the cool breeze and the quiet night sky.
For a long while, neither of them said anything. Donnie was the first to break the silence, his voice softer than usual. “You know, sometimes I forget that... we need this. Just to stop. To breathe.”
Leo nodded, feeling the weight of the words. “Yeah. I get caught up in everything, too. But right now, this is all that matters.”
Donnie looked at him, his purple eyes catching the moonlight. There was a softness to them, something Leo wasn’t used to seeing in his usually guarded brother. Donnie didn’t say anything at first, just leaned in and rested his head on Leo’s shoulder.
Leo’s heart swelled at the simple gesture. He had always admired Donnie’s intellect, his brilliance, but there were moments like this that made him appreciate his brother in a whole new way. Donnie wasn’t just the tech genius or the strategist. He was his family—his best friend.
Without thinking, Leo gently turned his head and pressed a soft kiss to Donnie’s forehead. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it felt like the right thing to do.
Donnie’s breath caught, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The only sound between them was the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. When Leo pulled back, he found Donnie looking at him with a mixture of surprise and something else—something that made Leo’s heart race.
Donnie smiled, a small, shy smile that Leo hadn’t seen in a while. “Thanks, Leo,” he said quietly, his voice full of warmth.
Leo leaned in again, this time pressing a soft kiss to Donnie’s lips. It was brief, but it lingered, and for a moment, Leo forgot about everything else—the weight of responsibility, the endless training, the mission. It was just them, together, under the moonlight.
When they pulled away, Leo whispered, “Anytime, Don. Anytime.”