i_speak_softly | Thirty-Ninth Theory [Action]

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Thirty-Ninth Theory [Action]

[The house is too quiet today. With April sent home, Derek hiding out who-knows-where, and Leo gone to battle, it's down to just Don and Raph again - and not in their little apartment now, but in a house that feels suddenly too big.]

[Fortunately, Don has some things to occupy himself with. After making sure Raph is all right to be left alone for a few hours, he heads out to visit some friends.]

[He goes first up the path to C7, to visit Frederic - to check on the man in his roommate's absence and to deliver a certain package.]

[After that he'll circle back to C3. He needs to see a certain resident that he's been visiting frequently of late. This time, however, he won't go around to the door of the apartment. Instead he'll knock on the window. There's something they need to talk about, and this seems like a more apt way to begin the conversation.]

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[Don taps on the doorframe as he leans into the room, walking a thin line between "sneaking up" and "barging in". He just wants to let Raph know he's leaving for a bit.]

[Raph looks over his shoulder, holding open a garbage bag full of wood splinters with both hands.]

I won't bite, you know.

[Quit looking so scared to see him.]

[He moves into the room to lean against the wall.] I need to go out for a while. Will you be okay here?

Yeah, I'll be fine.

[He gives Raph a measuring look, then turns back towards the door.]

Can I bring you anything?

[He shrugs.]

When you comin' back?

A few hours?

Pick up some lunch or somethin'. I don't care what you get.

I'll do that. [And if Raph has nothing else to say, he'll head out.]

[Yeah, he's good. Maybe by the time Don gets back, he'll have the place looking somewhat livable again.]

[Don gets back just after dark, carrying two still-warm pizzas. These he sets on the kitchen table.]

Raph...? I'm home.

[There isn't a single light on in the house save for the blue glow of the television. Raph's on the couch, snoring away, the end of The Fast and the Furious still playing with the volume low.

Go ahead and wake him up. He wants his freakin' pizza.]

[Don would take more pleasure in seeing Raph look so relaxed and comfortable if he didn't know what emotional state his brother was likely to be in within the next fifteen minutes. He leans over the back of the couch and shakes Raph's shoulder.]

Hey, sleepyhead. Pizza.

[He bats that hand away before he even stops snoring. A half second later, he's awake, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.]

Took you long enough.

[He blinks hazily for a moment.]

Man, it got dark quick.

[Strange mixed messages there, Raph.]

[Don heads back to the kitchen and flicks the light on. It should be far enough away that the sudden brightness won't bother the still-recovering turtle.]

I ran into Derek.

[Raph gets up and follows him, squinting in the sudden light. Yeah, you tried. But he's hungry.]

Hm.

[He flips open one of the pizza boxes, trying to decide whether he should bother asking if the guy's okay or not.]

[Don doesn't offer any more information on the subject. He opens the other box and takes a slice, not even bothering to get a plate. His air is one of distraction and nervousness.]

[Raph won't bother with a plate either. He hasn't eaten all day, dammit.

He bites into his slice and watches his brother fidget for a second.]

What's wrong with him?

Edited 2011-03-01 02:07 (UTC)

With who?

[You know it's bad when Donatello can't hold the thread of conversation for five seconds.]

Derek. You said you ran into him then you got all twitchy.

He's fine. The same.

[He puts his pizza down, right on the counter.] Raph, we need to talk.

[Raph huffs and rolls his eyes. He knew this was coming. Though honestly he thought Leo would lecture him about his last outburst way before Don did.]

Don, it's all right. We don't have to. Really.

[So Raph knows and has already decided to just pretend the whole thing isn't happening.]

[Don buries his face in his pizza-crumb-flecked hands.]

I'm so obvious...

[Okay, now he's just confused.]

Huh?

[...]

[He peeks out from between his fingers.]

Raph, what do you think I'm trying to talk to you about?