Chapter Forty-Three

Donnie stumbling into the kitchen in the morning wasn't anything out of the ordinary, and Leo and Mikey didn't think anything of it.

What was remarkable, though, was the fact that he'd been staring at the appliances on the counter for a full three minutes, listlessly fiddling with a paper towel and piece of bread.

Leo caught Mikey's eye, tilting his head toward Donnie with an arched brow. Mikey shrugged back silently, his eyes wide with confusion.

They heard footsteps then, and turned to glance at Raphael, who was strutting toward them. Arrogance outlined every movement as he grinned at them, not stopping until he was leaning against Donnie.

Leo and Mikey shared yet another curious look.

"Y'okay?" Raphael asked, nudging Donnie's shoulder with his nose.

"Yeah…" Donnie's voice sounded distant, uncertain.

"What'cha doin'?" Raphael held up the abandoned piece of bread in question.

"I- I'm not quite sure…"

"Geez, what's with Donnie?" Mikey whispered loudly. "He's more of a space cadet than me."

Leo chuckled, mimicking Mikey's earlier shrug.

Raphael laughed then, holding the bread over the toaster. "Ya forget how to make toast there, Don?"

"Huh. Maybe."

"Ya insert Tab A into Slot B, 'member?" Raphael placed the bread into the toaster and turned it on, then leaned into Donnie, dropping his voice. "Or do ya need another… demonstration?"

Donnie flushed so darkly Leo thought he should be able to feel the heat from where he was sitting.

"Okay, Raph, what did you do to fry poor Donnie's brains?" Mikey piped up, gesturing at them with his fork.

Raphael's grin widened as he looked back over his shell. "I put my 'Tab A' into his 'Slot B'; with me?"

Mikey fell against the table, narrowly missing his plate of eggs as he sniggered loudly. Leo covered his mouth with a hand, trying desperately not to laugh.

"Raphie?" Donnie seemed oblivious to the snickers from the table.

"Yeah?" Raphael nuzzled his neck.

"I don't… I can't get the coffee machine to turn on?"

Raphael uncurled his arm from Donnie's shoulder and flipped the red switch on the bottom. "That?"

"Oh. Thanks." He opened one cabinet, closed it, then opened another. "Ah. Mugs."

"…Where they've been for years," Raphael said, amused as Donnie turned and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Leo and Mikey fell into a fresh wave of laughter, holding onto each other for support.

Raphael watched Donnie for a few seconds, relatively certain he was more aware, before he strided over and sat heavily at the table. He jabbed a thumb at Donnie over his shoulder. "Don't think he'd 'member his own name if I didn't yell it at him last night."

Leo groaned, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Alright, alright. Too much information."

"Not enough information!" Mikey countered, eyes sparkling as he leaned forward. Leo smacked his arm, but Mikey ignored him. "Seriously, though. How did you scramble his brains so badly? I mean… Dude, he can't work the toaster!"

Donnie looked over, his brow furrowed as he finally registered those at the table. "I- I can," he said defensively.

"Oh yeah? Prove it," Mikey challenged. "Make me some toast."

Donnie snorted, realizing through his pleasurable haze Mikey was teasing him. He pulled another piece of bread from the bag nearby, then turned to the toaster and paused. Every movement sent such an enjoyable dull ache up his back and down his legs, making his tail tremble with remembrance.

No wonder Raphie said he liked this feeling, he thought fuzzily.

Raphael laughed, reaching back to prod Donnie. "S'okay, Don, just- just let it go. C'mere. Sit."

Donnie followed his voice and order, resting gingerly in a chair next to him and cuddling against his side with a content sigh. Raphael wrapped his arm tightly around him again, his cheeks flushing slightly.

"Y'know, Mikey," Leo said quietly, nudging him with an elbow, "That's how I felt after that first night and the subsequent morning in the shower."

Mikey actually giggled, snuggling up to Leo much like Donnie was to Raph.

"Shower?" Raphael perked at that, sitting up and glancing interestedly at Mikey.

"Mmm. Shower. I like that idea." Donnie tilted his head, giving Raphael a sly smile before he uncurled from his embrace and walked off toward the stairs.

"But- Yer coffee-?" Raphael watched him leave, eyes widening when he saw Donnie's tail flick suggestively with each step he ascended. "Uh, yeah. M'gonna, uh, go give it to 'im. See ya, losers." Raphael bolted from his chair, taking the stairs two at a time.

Leo and Mikey stared after him in silence for a few seconds.

"Get it? You get it, Leo?" Mikey laughed. "He's gonna 'give it to him'! Get it?"

"Yes! Yes, Mikey, I get it," Leo groaned, shaking his head.

"Are you suuuuuure?" Mikey teased. "I mean, first time I seduced you to bed, you didn't even know I was asking for sex-,"

"YES! I get it, Mikey!" Leo chuckled, roughly shoving his brother. Mikey shoved him back, and they began throwing half-hearted punches.

A churr resounded from upstairs, and they both froze.

"Oh shit," Mikey whispered. "I think they left the door open."

Leo took a deep breath. "Mikey. Dojo, now."

"Whaaaat?" Mikey shrank from him, looking horrified. "No way! The dojo is a no-nookie zone! I hate it!"

"Mike- Just go," Leo urged, pushing him out of his seat.

"Buuuuut Leeeoooooh-,"

More sounds drifted from the bathroom, and Leo grabbed Mikey's wrist.

"Nevermind. Out. Out, out, out." He dragged Mikey toward the exit, and Mikey happily bounced along beside him. "On second thought, a training run would be better."

"Oooh, is that code for sex in the sewers?" Mikey asked brightly. "Hey, that's kinda like Sex in the City, only it'll be good!"

"No! Maybe! I don't know, just go!" Leo pressed Mikey out the door, unable to contain another round of laughter.

[Author's Note]
You have my great friend GemiDonnie from deviantArt to thank for this chapter. It's an expansion of a small RP we spontaneously wrote last night after I posted Chapter 42. SO FUNNY!
Thank you, honey! xD