Work Text
The next day, Splinter picked up Donnie right after the AP Lit exam had ended. As Splinter drove them back to the apartment, Donnie pulled out the nearly finished AP Stat study guide and started working on the last section. Splinter only saw this happen at the 2nd red light they hit.
“Put the guide away, Donatello.”
“...why?”
“Leonardo told me about last night. I can’t let you trigger another episode. When you get home, you will rest.”
“...hai, Sensei.”
Donnie begrudgingly set his study materials back in his bag and spent the rest of the car ride listening to a new NPR podcast that his father had discovered.
When they got home, Donnie immediately went back into his bedroom and closed the door. Instead of taking his father’s advice, he spent the rest of the designated “school day” finishing the study guide for the AP Stat exam.
As he finished reviewing the study guide in full, he received a Zoom call on his laptop. He wasn’t too surprised to find his steady boyfriend of a few months calling him, but it was still a welcome reprieve.
“Casey! Bet it’s been a boring day, what with all of the AP Exams.”
“Nah, pretty much stayed the same. Missed you all day, though. How do you think you did?”
“...can’t be sure. It depends on who’s grading my free responses.”
“Yeah, that’s fair. Hey, I have some American Literature reading due on Friday. I’ve read it, like twice, but I just can’t seem to understand what the main theme is. Would you be able to help me?”
“...oh, sure. If you can send the link to the PDF in the chat, I can pull it up and read it alongside you.”
Truth be told, Donnie was not in the mood to tutor. He barely even had half a Spoon, but if it meant helping Casey out, he’d sacrifice whatever he could.
=====================================================================
“You know, when you explain these things, it makes way more sense.”
“Is it because you’re able to pay attention to me?”
“...yeah.”
4 hours after the call initially began, Splinter had finally opened the bedroom door.
“Hey, we’re ordering from that Indian place you like. Can I hand you the menu to see- what the hell are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m just about finished.”
“Hey, Splinter!”
“...hello, Casey. Donatello, I don’t understand. I asked you to do one simple thing, and you completely ignored me?”
“I was almost done with the study guide, Sensei…”
Casey sensed the tension in the air and made a quick get-away.
“Hey, my mom’s calling me for dinner. Gotta go. Love you, Don.”
Casey quickly logged off, and Donnie closed his laptop. Splinter sat on the end of the bed, his head heavy in his hands.
“I’m not mad at you, Donatello. Please know that, I’m not angry. However… I am quite frustrated.”
“Frustrated? I thought you’d be happy that I’m responsible.”
“You view it as responsibility. I view it as something else entirely.”
“Well, what do you see it as?”
Splinter sighed.
“You give all you have when you have so little yourself. I don’t understand this at all.”
“...haven’t you always been a champion for selflessness?”
“When you are in a place to be selfless. You are not right now. Fill your cup before you fill others’.”
“...I don’t understand.”
Splinter shook his head.
“My point is: It’s not wrong to put your needs before the wants of others. And this is one of those times that you have to do so. Now, I’ll take your study guide and other school stuff. You’ll get them back in the morning, but I need you to rest first.”
Donnie reluctantly handed over his study materials.
“...would I just be able to have some chicken tikka masala?”
“Yeah, of course. I’ll bring you dinner when it arrives. But try to rest first, ok?”
“...ok.”
Splinter closed the door behind him, and Donnie finally laid down and tried to fall asleep.