INBOX // ROUTE 666

[purplexing]

You're conversing with Donatello-

Juuuust not this exact second. Please rank your call by number of priority and I'll get back to you accordingly.

1 - A technical emergency

2 - General inquiry

3 - Miscellaneous

Comments

sometime in late February; voice

[propatriamori]

Hello, Donnie. Are you still collecting recordings from people around the convoy? I have one I'd like to make.

[purplexing]

Always. Haven't been many takers, but I'm always open.

I'll be at the Tank if you wanted to do it now.

[propatriamori]

Oh, good. I'll come round the Tank in a few minutes, then.

[And come round the Tank he shall! Edward has taken to parking relatively close to the Tank anyway, and he strolls over about five minutes later, a book tucked under one arm. He sends a message through the pack link--I'm going to let myself in--and then does exactly that.]

I have a book I'd like to record.

[purplexing]

All right. See you then.

[Donnie's doing some final adjustments to Andrew's collapsible staff when he jumps- just a bit- at the sudden message. He's not used to it, having other people's thoughts pop into his head, but it isn't as bad as having someone's emotions bleeding in without him realizing.]

Hey Ed.

[The smile and the brightness that comes with it is at least genuine.]

Ooh, a book? What's the title?

[propatriamori]

[Edward mirrors back Donnie's smile, a warm wash of affection coming off him. He notices the staff Donnie is working on, and nods to it.]

Andrew will be happy to have that. Thank you for making it for him.

[He holds out the book for Donnie to see. That will be a completely useless gesture, since it's printed in Braille; the pages are completely innocent of ink, instead covered with small raised dots. Although who knows, Donnie might have taught himself Braille on some science-fueled night. As one does.]

It's called Charlotte's Web. Have you heard of it?

[purplexing]

[There's pride colored with a bit of annoyance then.]

It's taken longer than it should have. But it's just about done, finally.

[There's been a lot of setbacks ever since the carnival, and Donnie feels bad about having spent so long on a project that realistically should have taken him not even half that time. But being constantly on the move makes it hard to really sit and focus on things as long as he normally tends to, and when crazy things are happening outside and on top of that your mind gets warped into baser functions, then a project that should have taken a week or two at most stretches out to forever.]

E.B. White, right? I'm pretty sure I read that or something else from that author waaaaay back.

[He grins.]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the subject matter.

[propatriamori]

I know he understands. Trust me, he'll be delighted to have it.

[Oh, that waft of pure, shameless love off Edward is embarrassing. Sorry to expose you to some Hallmark Movie Channel levels of absolute sap, Donnie.]

Yes, that's right.

[Edward laughs softly.]

It seems fitting, doesn't it? I've taught myself to read again with a book about a web-writing spider. But it's occurred to me that not everyone in the convoy is familiar with the story, and it's a lovely one. I'd like to leave a mark in this world with something that's good, and this story seems like a fine place to start.

[The Steel Wardens can spam their propaganda, but maybe the convoy can respond with a story about love.]

[purplexing]

[GAH what was tha- oh. OH. Not to say that Donnie hadn't wondered about the two of them given Andrew would usually bring Edward up, and then there was the whole bit about them both wanting to stay here but wow that sure is a sensation. It's kind of...nice? And at the same time makes him want to back away very quickly.

A-anyway back to fictional spiders and pigs.]

Heh, that is pretty amusing when you put it that way.

[There's...something that resonates with Edward's words then, at the desire to leave a mark in this world. It shifts into something more heavy, bristly around the edges, a ball of uncertainty that he tries to push down.]

-cool, cool. I'll get you set up.

[Donnie puts the staff down, going over to where he has the recording equipment he's thrown together.]

[propatriamori]

[Yeah, Edward is just going to smother that incredibly awkward waft as quickly as he can. He does, however, get a glimmer of Donnie thinking it's nice, and there's a jolt of gratitude sent back over that. No matter how long he's here, Edward will never get tired of this just not being a big deal, and having his friends and family be supportive.]

Someone, somewhere, is laughing about it, no doubt.

[Edward tilts his head; he felt that shift in Donnie. That's the problem with the pack link, and its greatest strength too: it goes both ways.]

Thank you. I would have no idea how to do this without your help.

[You're leaving things better than they were before too, buddy.]

[purplexing]

[Donnie doesn't notice the gesture, already escaping into work. He starts carrying things over to the front of the tank since that's where the seats are, and he's certainly not making Edward sit anywhere else to read a book!]

Of course. That's what I'm here for.

....

[propatriamori]

That's not the only thing you're here for.

[For real, they would be lost without Donnie's expertise.]

[purplexing]

[He pauses in plugging things in, that unsettled pulse of heaviness- stress? echoing through their link.]

No, of course not. I'm supposed to help fix things. ...but what if there's no fix? We've only had one place we've been directed to go... but what if it doesn't have the answers we want? What do we do then?

[propatriamori]

[Ah, this. Edward comes up behind Donnie and touches his shoulder.]

Then we do what we've been doing from the very beginning: we face it together and make the best of it.

[A pulse of quiet confidence passes between them. Edward knows he doesn't understand how this all works. If anything, he's one of the more ignorant people in the convoy. But he has full faith in his friends, and their ability to work together.]

[purplexing]

[Together. That's what Serph had said as well. It's a small reassurance.]

...I know.

[It's a quiet confirmation.

It had been easier at the beginning, when his goals, he was certain, aligned with everyone else's. Get Leo home, get everyone home.

But then he'd found out that people actually liked it here. Edward and Andrew and Serph...maybe others too, he doesn't know, but it complicated things. Because this world seemed certain on a path to destruction. He's still not sure what's expected of them, once they get to Nirvana.

When Serph had floated the possibility that maybe it wouldn't work out, that they should take the Convoy and seek out the Tears, it had terrified him. Because Donnie had no backup plans for once...

...but 'Together' is such a strong word. It's always ultimately all that he and his brothers have ever had to get them through their hardest ordeals. ]

I know.

[propatriamori]

[Edward leaves his hand on Donnie's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.]

I know you want to go home, and I will fight with everything I have so that you're able to go home. But if there is anything worth saving here, then this is where I'd like to stay.

[Edward knows he isn't alone in that. Andrew, Serph, perhaps Kavinsky and a few others: the convoy is speckled with those who have nothing to go home to, and everything to stay here for.]

Although who knows... if you go back to your New York, perhaps you could use your internet machine to find me. I'll be a very old man by then, but I could still be alive.

[purplexing]

I want to get my brothers home. Leo, so he knows that he won't have to be trapped in the prison dimension, that we did save him...

But...I know there are those who want to stay here too...

[His smile is tight as he lifts his head, looking towards Edward.]

I can't leave without knowing that things will work out here, that you all will be okay...

[AUGH he's glad Edward can't see it but Donnie can certainly feel that burning in his eyes that usually preludes tears. Why'd he have to say something like that? But despite the gut punch at the possibility that maybe, maybe their worlds might be aligned somehow, Donnie's determined to try. Maybe it might not be the same Edward, but he still has to try.

He nods.]

If I find you, I'll try not to scare you.

[propatriamori]

It certainly won't be the same around here without you and your brothers.

[Edward's voice only cracks a little as he imagines Revan without Donnie, Leo, Raph, and Mikey. He knows the boys will be happier back home, but he will miss them all fiercely.]

[Donnie's promise makes Edward burst out laughing.]

Just tell me you're an American student visiting England, and I'll never know the difference!

[You know, on account of not being able to see or use vibrations. Edward would have no idea Donnie was a turtle unless he was specifically told otherwise.]

I'll likely just be delighted to talk to such an intelligent, well-spoken young man.

[purplexing]

[Donnie laughs a little too.]

Guess I'll have to figure out how to get around TSA...or see how well Leo can manage long-distance portals by looking at images.

[He sucks in a breath, willing his tears to stay in, and then abruptly turns and hugs Edward tightly.

He really, really doesn't want to think about goodbyes, even though it's been something long anticipated. Or have they been? They don't know what lies ahead in Nirvana, if things will be truly over, or... ]

[propatriamori]

I have full confidence in both your abilities.

[Edward oofs a little when Donnie swings around on him, but then he wraps all four arms around him and hugs him back, just as tightly.]

You're one of the best friends I've ever had, Donatello Hamato, and I am so, so fortunate to have met you.

[purplexing]

[And here come the tears.]

You're one of the better things about this world, and that's more than enough to want to try and save it.

[propatriamori]

[It turns out the real Nirvana WAS the friends they made along the way.]

[Edward doesn't mention Donnie's tears, although he does spare a hand to fish around and find a handkerchief in a pocket to offer to him.]

No matter what else happens, we'll always have this.

[Distantly, through the pack link: something WORTH fighting for. Whether it's Donnie getting to go home or Edward getting to stay behind, having a friend--a brother--to fight for makes all the difference.]

[purplexing]

[Augh remove your Hallmark Channel vibes from this premises!!

Donnie sniffs, peeling away so he can wipe away the evidence.]

Yeah.

[He nods. No one will take that from them. He'll fight tooth and nail for it, for his family.]

[propatriamori]

[You started it! But okay, Edward is done being sappy. He lets Donnie go and turns his face towards the wall while Donnie destroys the evidence of having had An Emotion.]

So you've read this one before? I have a few other books as well that I could read for a recording, but they're more complicated and I'm still a bit slow with Braille.

[He chuckles softly.]

Although the book of poetry might serve as well. Nice, short little segments. I'll save the long one for when I'm more confident.

[purplexing]

[You started it, sir!

Donnie folds up the handkerchief, unsure whether Edward wants it back with turtle tears.]

I'll remember once I hear you reading it, if I've read it before or not.

But starting with simpler texts is understandable, especially when you're essentially translating on the fly.

[He tucks the handkerchief away with a mental note to wash it out later before he returns it, setting back to his task of getting the recording equipment up.]

[propatriamori]

[Edward just said he wanted to read a book! You're the one who got all existential about it!]

[But yes, hanging onto the handkerchief until it can be cleaned is excellent manners. Edward wouldn't have minded getting it back and cleaning it himself, but he appreciates Donnie's good sense.]

To be honest, I'm simply delighted to be able to read on my own again.

[He went over a year without it, Donnie! So long!]

I've been spending my afternoons near the stream and reading. Heavenly.