Forty-Fifth Theory [Voice/Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Donatello doesn't notice the announcement when it's made, and even after someone shows it to him, he won't bother addressing the 'commandant'. Instead, he'll send a locked message to someone much more important.]

Robert...

[Some time later, he'll add one more locked message.]

Kay, I think I'm going to have to reschedule.

Comments

[Voice | Filtered 100%]

[semper_cogitans]

[Guess who's been crying almost non-stop since the draft message, Don?

Yes, that's right. Your pacifistic boyfriend, who is right now curled in a heap staring with refusal-to-believe at the latest draft announcement. He can't stop himself from re-reading that list over and over...

... The words don't change, of course. Why would they? Don and Helios are being taken to war. So are Giles, Mulder, and Daisy... a few others Robert cares about too, like Japan.

...

Don and Helios, of course, hurt the most to see.

Still, he summons enough strength to choke out a response:]

D-Don...

Th-they're... you're g-going to... w-war...

[Voice | Filtered 100%]

[i_speak_softly]

I have two days. [And, traditional battle preparations be damned, he is spending some of that time with you.] I'm coming over.

[Voice | Filtered 100%]

[semper_cogitans]

Pl-please do... [Robert doesn't think he has the mental or physical energy to get up, though, so he just stays curled up on the tear-soaked couch and tries not to completely lose himself to terror.

He doesn't close his journal, though he isn't exactly paying much attention to it.

But he's waiting for Don, now.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[A green hand will reach over and close that journal. Don has some ideas in mind for this evening, and there's no way he's going to let any of it get accidentally captured on video.]

[The hand will then move to Robert's shoulder, squeezing gently.] Hey.

[poorneedyand]

I'm sure I can find some time in my schedule when you get back.

[She's even-toned, a little dry, and deceptively so. Kay's more curious than concerned about the draft, but the phrase "True Death" just isn't the kind of thing you shout hooray at.]

[i_speak_softly]

Thanks, Kay.

[... He doesn't have the heart to warn her that this kind of thing happens to him all the time.]

[poorneedyand]

[Kay doesn't think she has anything else to say, but she can't help thinking of her little brother shipping out. No one told her in advance that Tom had enlisted--she'd never gotten to give him any well-wishes beforehand, just letters to God knew where in western Europe after he'd left.]

...Be careful when you're out there.

[i_speak_softly]

I will.

[Don is pretty sure he didn't hit the Video button, but Kay might catch a flash of spinning bo staff before the journal closes.]

June 2

[the_mikester]

[When Don gets home, he'll find Mike in the kitchen, as per usual, streaked with flour. This isn't a time for video games. It's also time for breakfast, so if you time it right, you might get a plate of something hot set in front of you wordlessly.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Whatever it is, Don eats it. He ships out tomorrow, and who knows what he'll be eating for the four days after that.]

[He won't say anything, though. Any chance you won't notice he was gone all night?]

[the_mikester]

Where were you?

[No.]

[i_speak_softly]

[No point in lying now.]

... With Robert.

[If you dare to look at him, the unfamiliar state of his chi might give you a hint what they were doing.]

June 2nd, after Don's threads with Mikey and Leo.

[ninjacane]

[Splinter sits in the dojo in the lotus position, waiting and meditating. When Donatello enters the house, his ears perk, and he catches bits and pieces of conversation.

Eventually, some of the conversation dies down, and Splinter is now mostly waiting, and not happily.

Don won't keep his father waiting, will he?]

[i_speak_softly]

[After satisfying Leo that he is not a complete idiot, Don trudges into the dojo to kneel before his father. There's no point trying to hide what he's done, and he doesn't want the inevitable conversation hanging over him during the battle.]

[Please don't punish him too badly.]

[ninjacane]

[Splinter doesn't say what he plans on doing to Donatello, but needless to say, he is anything but happy.

He also cuts right to chase.]

Donatello--where were you last night?

[i_speak_softly]

At Robert's apartment.

[Just the facts.]