But It's The End Of The Month - Tumblr Posts

Whumptober: This Is Why We Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Donatello was finally almost done with his newest project. It had taken months of planning, weeks of collecting the finest materials, and sleepless nights. So many excuses to stay in his lab just a little longer, just a little longer, until he was pulling yet another all-nighter. It would all be worth it in the end, though. Besides, the insomnia wasn't that bad, he had all the coffee in the world to help with that.

As Donatello finished up his- Fifth? Sixth?- Cup of coffee, somebody knocked on the lab's door.

"Come in," he called, setting the empty mug down and reminding himself that he needed to refill it soon, before his mind started to slow down.

The heavy metal door slid open with a groan- Something else Donatello needed to fix- To reveal Leonardo, who leaned against it casually, not wanting to come in without permission.

"Don, it's time for morning training."

It was already time? The genius thought that he would have at least another hour, maybe two. "Leo, please, I'm so close, I-"

"Donnie, we've been over this."

"But this is actually it! Like, I'm almost done."

"You've been in this lab far too long. It's high time you come out, even if it's just for an hour," When Donatello frowned, Leonardo kept going, "You can come right back and finish this, but you need to come out for training."

Frustration welled up in Donatello, white hot and boiling inside him, but he nodded anyway. It wasn't his place to complain about something that was almost set in stone, even if it made him unreasonably angry. He set his tools down and took the welding mask off, then stood and followed right behind Leonardo begrudgingly. The world was tipping ever so slightly, he noted, less than alarmed. It blurred at the edges like an old, fuzzy photo. It was probably just his caffeine intake, though, and it would be over as soon as his oldest brother let him go back to his lab.

But instead of finishing up his most recent project, he was on his way to the dojo, where he would be for at least half an hour.

Donatello crouched down on the sidelines, allowing Raphael and Leonardo to go at each other's throats first.

Per usual, the fight was fast and efficient, the older pair darting around each other and bouncing off their attacks so that they barely ever touched the ground. Of course, in the end, it was Leonardo who won. He helped Raphael up, murmuring something to him, then sent him to sit next to Donatello and Michelangelo.

As the second oldest sat down, Donatello got up, ignoring the way the world tipped to one side or the other when he took a step. He drew his bo staff and tapped it on the floor with a small smirk right before crouching down again. Leonardo mimicked his position across from him and said something in Japanese. Oh, that wasn’t right. Usually, he knew what his “All-Things-Japanese”-loving brother was saying when he switched languages, but at the moment, his brain wouldn’t work to translate it for him.

Oh well, it probably wasn’t important anyway.

His mind wandered back to the lab and the work that was waiting for him, calling his name. The training would be over soon enough, anyway. He’d probably go down soon, and then once Michelangelo went, they would be released to go do their own thing. Hopefully, from there, he would finish before they went for a patrol.

Then he was laying on his back on the floor, heaving like a fish out of water. Leonardo was in front of him, eye ridges furrowed in concern, but he could barely see his oldest brother. Well that wasn’t right. He could usually hold his own for longer than that against the older pair, considering that he was one of the strongest because of the things he had to carry around on a day to day basis. Instead, he was on the ground, exhausted and sore even though the battle hadn’t gone on longer than five minutes.

“Again,” Leonardo was saying, and Donatello’s mind reeled. Again? He fell, he went down, the blue-clad turtle had won, wasn’t that enough for him?

Donatello bitterly considered that it wasn’t entirely impossible that his brother didn’t just want to show off. He was one of, if not the, pettiest of them all. If Donatello thought back far enough, he was fairly certain that Raphael still owed Leonardo money. It was fifteen dollars originally, plus the ten percent interest rate, gathered over the time of five years…

Yeah, Leonardo still held that over his head. Not to mention all the favors that he could call in at any second.

He went at Leonardo again. At first, he thought that he was just doing better in battle, then realized that his oldest brother was going easy on him.

Well, easier.

Typical.

Even with the prodigal son going much slower than before, Donatello still got knocked down fairly quickly. At least that time, he wasn’t forced to do it again. Instead, Leonardo helped him up and sent him back to sit down. If he said something, Donatello didn’t hear it, too busy trying to figure out what was going on. It would be over soon, if he could just get let go.

God, did he hate morning training.

Michelangelo went quickly after him, clearly eager to try and best Leonardo. He did well, for a while, but made the mistake of leaving himself too open when he went to try and taunt the oldest. Leonardo made quick work of him, darting in to knock him down and holding a blade to the youngest’s throat once he was on the floor.

After training, everyone was dismissed, and left alone to do their own thing. Still, Donatello could feel Leonardo watching him, burning a hole into his skull while he went back to his lab.

Donatello made sure to lock the door once he got inside, then returned to his lovely work.

%%%

He was finally done. The finishing touches had been added on, and he had done a couple test runs to make sure that it worked perfectly, but it was done. Donatello yawned and spun around in his office chair, then stood up. Almost immediately, he had to grab onto something to keep from falling. That- That wasn’t good. He really needed sleep, didn’t he?

Oh well, he would talk with Leonardo first, apologize about continuously avoiding training, then head right to bed. It was about time for a nap, anyway.

Donatello took careful steps out of the lab, feeling more than just dizzy. He kept a hand on a wall or whatever furniture was near to stay upright, because without it, he was certain that he would fall and not get back up.

Guessing that it was the place where he would most likely find Leonardo, the resident genius wandered over to the dojo, and, sure enough, his oldest brother was there, sitting cross legged but definitely not meditating.

“Leo?” That single word was hesitant, just in case Leonardo didn’t want to talk at the moment.

Leonardo looked up to him, head tilted. “Yeah?”

“Hey, um-” The world was tilting again, and Donatello swayed on his feet. “I just wanted to, uh-”

“Don? You’re looking a little sick, are you alright?”

Donatello was not alright. He certainly didn’t feel alright. Maybe Leonardo had been right about him staying in the lab too long, he had been right all along, he always was. He-

The world was still spinning, but it was also blurring and he was falling. The falling stopped, and the world was black, instead.

%%%

Leonardo sighed softly, looking Donatello over for any signs of illness. Of course he had passed out. He was going to get sick at that rate. Leonardo was the oldest, he was their big brother and now caretaker, after Splinter-

After Splinter left. He was responsible for them, he was supposed to make sure that they were taking care of themselves when they didn’t feel up to it. If somebody got sick, that was on him.

Suddenly, he was very grateful for shooing Raphael and Michelangelo away. They’d worry if they saw him like this, and he really didn’t need somebody worrying over him when there were more important things to worry about.

Like Donatello waking up suddenly and trying to sit up.

Leonardo reached forward and latched onto his shoulders, gently pushing the purple-clad turtle back down. He’d probably fall back, anyway, if he got to sit up.

“Good morning,” he greeted softly, “You want some tea?”

“Eugh… I need some coffee,” Donatello mumbled.

“No,” Leonardo said, more forceful than he wanted it to be, “No you don’t.”

The second youngest huffed, but didn’t argue with him. “Wha’ happened?”

Oh, just you working yourself to the bone, Leonardo thought, and hoped he didn’t say. Instead, he said, “You collapsed.” Donatello blinked, and he kept going, “In front of me. Almost as soon as you came into the dojo.”

“Oh,” Donatello breathed.

“How long have you been awake?” He had him there, half asleep and ready to talk. He might as well push for an answer, “We’ve talked about this, you know why I don’t like you pulling all nighters.”

“About…” The genius paused to count with his fingers, then looked back to Leonardo. “Five days? Maybe, I’m not entirely sure.”

“Five?” Leonardo wheezed, unable to believe his ears. “Donnie, see- THIS is why I cut off your coffee every now and again. That’s not- That’s not healthy?” He sighed and stood up, glancing at his currently bedridden brother. “You. Take a nap, you’ve earned it. I’m making you tea, like it or not.”

“That’s not-”

“Too late,” he waved Donatello off, then carefully slid the shoji shut behind him, heading off to the kitchen.

Leonardo considered what to make for the exhausted turtle, rummaging through the stores of loose leaves he had picked up, before finally deciding on lavender. From what he heard, it was good for relieving stress. That might help. He set up the kettle and left it to boil before readying the mug. Honey would make it taste really good. He should add some. Well, Donatello probably wouldn’t be awake by the time he got there, truly drained of everything he had, but the thought was nice, at least.

He prepared the tea in mostly silence, then carried it off to Donatello’s room, careful of its temperature. Just like he thought, when he got there, the younger was passed out, burrowed under covers and snoring softly. Leonardo smiled and set it down on the nightstand in the room, then turned off the alarm he knew Donatello had set. Like shell he was going to let him wake up an hour later after the stunt he pulled.

Finally satisfied with his work, the oldest pulled back and left the room. Maybe he could call off a patrol and evening training. They’d deserved it, and were long overdue for a break.