Writing progress!
Mar. 30th, 2024 04:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
languajixIn celebration of *finally* getting the next chapter of the kidfic 'Cause Your Future's Ready to Shine sorted out for posting later this week, and to probably no one's shock it's actually going to be four chapters long, here is a (rough WIP) scene that takes place a bit before said chapter, from the Splinter-and-Lou-centric oneshot.
Some context is probably necessary. This all takes place in a 2k3/ROTTMNT crossover, a Same As It Never Was AU wherein 2k3 Donatello's disappearance was due to him accidentally falling through a portal into the Rise universe. It's been a decade of depression and isolation for Don, but recently he was able to reconnect with his brothers spiritually through the astral plane; though they're still separated physically, they meet regularly in that space between, now, and he's been on a journey of healing and growing since then.
Less than a week before this snippet, Don's security cameras caught the Rise turtles and Splinter making their way through the sewers, looking for a place to set down roots, and Don offered up his tiny home. Rise Splinter introduced himself as Lou, but hasn't said much more about where they all came from or how they were mutated, and Don hasn't asked.
I'm still working out the Don & Lou household dynamics, but to be fair, so are they.
Warnings: Slight ROTTMNT spoilers
From his own vantage point folding newly washed blankets, Don watched Raphael grab Lou’s pant leg in both small fists and pulled himself to his feet. He patted Lou’s knee, which was as high as he could currently reach.
“Hold on one second, Red,” Lou said, putting away some clean and folded towels on the top shelf. Then he squatted down, closer to eye level, with only a little groan accompanying the motion. “What is it?”
Raphael curled his fingers into a loose C-shape, swinging them up to his mouth.
“He wants a drink,” Don said, trying to bypass Lou’s confusion, in case he didn’t know American Sign Language. He definitely wouldn’t know the turtle dialect that Don and his brothers had developed, but most of it was recognizable enough if you knew the original language they’d derived it from.
“He what?”
Don set down the blanket and cupped his fingers in that same C-shape, bringing it from his chest to his mouth as though drinking out of a glass. “Drink. Turtle Sign Language. He’s asking you for his sippy cup.”
Lou took several moments to process this, looking between Raph and Don blankly. Then something – comprehension? - washed over him, leaving behind an expression that Don couldn’t read at all.
“Holy shit,” Lou breathed. Robotically, he walked over to the cupboards and pulled out a sippy cup, popping the lid to fill it with cold filtered water from the sink and then handing it to Raph. Raph grinned, tail wagging, and plopped himself onto the ground to take a swig.
Lou had that same unreadable expression on his face as he meandered past Raph, trudging slowly across the room and through the single doorway. Don followed, concerned, and followed to observe his (roommate? was there any better word for what they were?) crashing facedown onto the bed.
“Are you okay?”
No answer.
Was it weird to be standing when Lou was lying down on the bed? Probably. Don sat himself on the computer chair nearby.
When Mike was in a mood, he either clammed up or liked to chat about everything and anything until they’d solved whatever was bothering him along with world hunger and why the chicken crossed the road. Raph liked to move. Leo liked it when Don sat in a supportive silence with him while he processed his feelings, until the moment he had gathered his thoughts and was ready to pick them apart and be vulnerable. Don chose silence, because he didn’t know what to talk about and Lou seemed incredibly uncomfortable in his own skin.
He’d give it five minutes before going to check on the kids.
Halfway through that, Lou tilted his head up. “They’re kids,” he said, sounding a little ragged.
...That was a pretty concerning statement. Don nodded slowly.
“Sorry. That was probably insensitive.” Lou scrubbed his face with his hands. “I just. I never really expected, even though I should have expected, but when I met them they were just these cute little turtles, and I-” He inhaled sharply. “Red knows words.”
“He does,” Don confirmed quietly.
“He’s a child.”
“He is.”
“I have a child. I have four kids.”
“You do.”
“I’m a father,” Lou said, like finally admitting to himself something he’d known for a while. Like it was the most terrifying thing he’d ever been forced to comprehend. Like he was scared.
But then he huffed, and Don could see the bare hint of a smile as he said again, this time a little wonderingly and oh so quiet in the stillness of the room, “I’m a father.”
Some context is probably necessary. This all takes place in a 2k3/ROTTMNT crossover, a Same As It Never Was AU wherein 2k3 Donatello's disappearance was due to him accidentally falling through a portal into the Rise universe. It's been a decade of depression and isolation for Don, but recently he was able to reconnect with his brothers spiritually through the astral plane; though they're still separated physically, they meet regularly in that space between, now, and he's been on a journey of healing and growing since then.
Less than a week before this snippet, Don's security cameras caught the Rise turtles and Splinter making their way through the sewers, looking for a place to set down roots, and Don offered up his tiny home. Rise Splinter introduced himself as Lou, but hasn't said much more about where they all came from or how they were mutated, and Don hasn't asked.
I'm still working out the Don & Lou household dynamics, but to be fair, so are they.
Warnings: Slight ROTTMNT spoilers
From his own vantage point folding newly washed blankets, Don watched Raphael grab Lou’s pant leg in both small fists and pulled himself to his feet. He patted Lou’s knee, which was as high as he could currently reach.
“Hold on one second, Red,” Lou said, putting away some clean and folded towels on the top shelf. Then he squatted down, closer to eye level, with only a little groan accompanying the motion. “What is it?”
Raphael curled his fingers into a loose C-shape, swinging them up to his mouth.
“He wants a drink,” Don said, trying to bypass Lou’s confusion, in case he didn’t know American Sign Language. He definitely wouldn’t know the turtle dialect that Don and his brothers had developed, but most of it was recognizable enough if you knew the original language they’d derived it from.
“He what?”
Don set down the blanket and cupped his fingers in that same C-shape, bringing it from his chest to his mouth as though drinking out of a glass. “Drink. Turtle Sign Language. He’s asking you for his sippy cup.”
Lou took several moments to process this, looking between Raph and Don blankly. Then something – comprehension? - washed over him, leaving behind an expression that Don couldn’t read at all.
“Holy shit,” Lou breathed. Robotically, he walked over to the cupboards and pulled out a sippy cup, popping the lid to fill it with cold filtered water from the sink and then handing it to Raph. Raph grinned, tail wagging, and plopped himself onto the ground to take a swig.
Lou had that same unreadable expression on his face as he meandered past Raph, trudging slowly across the room and through the single doorway. Don followed, concerned, and followed to observe his (roommate? was there any better word for what they were?) crashing facedown onto the bed.
“Are you okay?”
No answer.
Was it weird to be standing when Lou was lying down on the bed? Probably. Don sat himself on the computer chair nearby.
When Mike was in a mood, he either clammed up or liked to chat about everything and anything until they’d solved whatever was bothering him along with world hunger and why the chicken crossed the road. Raph liked to move. Leo liked it when Don sat in a supportive silence with him while he processed his feelings, until the moment he had gathered his thoughts and was ready to pick them apart and be vulnerable. Don chose silence, because he didn’t know what to talk about and Lou seemed incredibly uncomfortable in his own skin.
He’d give it five minutes before going to check on the kids.
Halfway through that, Lou tilted his head up. “They’re kids,” he said, sounding a little ragged.
...That was a pretty concerning statement. Don nodded slowly.
“Sorry. That was probably insensitive.” Lou scrubbed his face with his hands. “I just. I never really expected, even though I should have expected, but when I met them they were just these cute little turtles, and I-” He inhaled sharply. “Red knows words.”
“He does,” Don confirmed quietly.
“He’s a child.”
“He is.”
“I have a child. I have four kids.”
“You do.”
“I’m a father,” Lou said, like finally admitting to himself something he’d known for a while. Like it was the most terrifying thing he’d ever been forced to comprehend. Like he was scared.
But then he huffed, and Don could see the bare hint of a smile as he said again, this time a little wonderingly and oh so quiet in the stillness of the room, “I’m a father.”
