Archive of Our Own ^beta

Don sighed, leaning back in his chair. The future was… confusing, to say the very least. The tech was different, the people were different, hell, the air he breathed is completely different! The lab that Don had managed to claim as his own was a total upgrade from the one back home. The screens were easy to deal with, he had more access to more and more chemicals and weapons, and there was even a goddamn bed in the corner so he didn’t have to sleep at his desk. It was something so new!

It… It wasn’t home.

Rubbing his face, Don stood up. He felt hungry, so he had probably missed more than a few meals already. Leo and Raph hadn’t stopped by yet, so he was pretty sure the two were still out and about, looking for something interesting. Mikey could be heard singing loudly in the kitchen. Usually, Don would be perfectly happy listening to his younger brother sing, but today was different.

Today, Don had to choke back a whine as one of Mikey’s high notes grated on his ears, filling his head with an unpleasant fuzz. The turtle covered his ears before shuffling into the kitchen area. Cody and Mikey were dancing around, the human laughing loudly at Mikey, who almost slipped on some spilled oil. Well, Don was hungry before he entered the room, but his appetite was long gone now. 

He decided to head to the dojo instead. He knew it would be quiet in there, as Sensei had always preferred to keep his sacred spaces, y’know, sacred. But, as he walked through the sliding doors, Don was met with the overarching cries of an actress, who wined about her husband cheating on her with her sister. The sound of Splinters gasps and muted curses gave Don the answer to his silent question. 

With the dojo and the kitchen out of the equation, Don decided to just head to bed. His body was full of static, his mind was floating, and he felt almost dead on his feet. It just so happened to be the fabled ‘turtle luck’ that had Don running into Serling. The feel of cool metal on his too-hot skin made Don shiver before his legs suddenly gave out. Cold cold hands caught him before he hit the ground, and Don hummed airily as he was carried somewhere new. 

Blinking heavily when they finally stopped, Don looked around. Serling had brought him to his bedroom and was already fixing to put Don in his bed. After being placed on the plush mattress and covered with his favorite blanket, Don gave a soft hum. “Th’nks, Serlin’...”

A mechanical whirr came from the robot before a heavy hand patted his shoulder. “Of course, Master Donatello. Sleep well.”

Don let his exhaustion wash over his body, effectively pulling his muddled mind into unconsciousness. 

Stumbling into the kitchen, Don gave a tired groan. He had slept a consecutive fifteen hours, his body having finally shut down after running on less than two hours of sleep for a week and a half. Mikey was swaying to some music playing softly into his headphones, and the youngest turtle gave a soft yelp when he finally turned around to see Don. 

“Heya, Dee! You feelin’ okay?”

Don gave a noncommittal hum, nodding tiredly. Mikey huffed fondly before taking something out of the oven, putting one on a plate, and placing it in front of Don. “Eat up, dear brother. You look like you need it!”

The purple-clad turtle eyed the apple turnover before him, his mouth beginning to water at the smell. Taking a small bite, Don all but melted at the flavor, giving Mikey a word of thanks before finishing it all. His little brother laughed, putting another turnover on Don’s plate. “You gotta be hungry, dude, so just tell me when ya get full, ‘kay?”

“I will.” Don said in between bites, smiling when Mikey gave him a glass of water.

After about ten minutes of all but silence, Leo and Raph walked in. The two sat across from Don, still lost in their conversation before finally realizing that Don was awake. Raph grinned at the second youngest, patting his hand fondly. “Mornin’ Sleepin’ Beauty. Had a good rest?”

Don nodded, taking a sip of his water before pressing his cheek into his hand, yawning widely. Leo gave a fond smile, getting up to sit next to his younger brother. “I think you still need sleep, Don.”

“Was hungry…” He mumbled, giving Leo a sleepy glare before yawning again.

His brother nodded in understanding before turning their attention to the turnovers Mikey had placed before them. Instead of another turnover, Don now had some cucumber slices to snack on. Smiling softly, Don chewed his favorite veggie before leaning to rest his head on Leo’s shoulder. His eldest brother gave a muted chuckle before patting Don’s cheek. 

He barely managed to finish his second cucumber slice before sleep claimed him once more.

Don’s mind slowly cleared away from the fog of sleep. He felt the need to move, to work, to do something, but his limbs were heavy. An arm was wrapped around his waist, pulling his shell flush with someone’s chest. Craning his neck, Don found that he was being held by none other than Raph. His older brother had very obviously made a nest sometime in the night and dragged Don’s body into it. 

He wasn’t complaining, of course. He felt safe, warm, and comforted. Like he was home. It was a feeling he’d been searching for since they arrived in the future. Shifting so he was facing Raph, Don hugged his older brother, letting out a high-pitched purr when the other tightened his grip. Sleep was a welcomed thing as Mikey and Leo found their way into the nest as well, surrounding Don with love and the comfort he had unknowingly been starved of.

Outside the room, Serling stood guard at the door, watching for any dangers in the shadows. He would do anything to protect his friends, especially those who welcomed him into their family.