When Donnie woke up the next day, he saw a leaf resting beside him. On that leaf were various edible plants and fruits: three different types of berries and six apples. Donnie smiled and looked into the trees, hoping to catch a glimpse at Mei, but she wasn't there.
"Thanks, Venus," he said. He wrapped the leaf up carefully to shield the berries from the others. As much as the humans were starting to grow on him, he didn't trust them not to question where he had gotten the delicacies.
He found a hole in a tree where he could store the berry-filled leaf. He set it inside, hoping the kids wouldn't be suspicious of it.
Donnie stretched, popping a lot of muscles that were starting to get sore from sleeping on the ground. He glanced around for any security cameras, saw none, then proceeded to practice his katas. It had been a full twenty days since he was brought here, and in that twenty days, he had yet to do any kind of practice. He knew Leo would get on his case if he was here.
Donnie sighed sadly. Leo wasn't here. Neither were Mikey and Raph. Heck, Donnie would even settle for Casey being there…
He supposed that it wasn't all bad. Venus wasn't hostile towards him and the kids were as bright and bubbly as ever. Still, there was an ache in his chest every time he thought of his friends and family in New York.
Donnie let out a deep breath and focused on his stance. His left leg was shaking slightly, and he stumbled a bit when he kicked, but otherwise, it was as if he had been practicing since he got there. He was proud of himself for that.
When he was finished, Donnie made his way over to the picnic table. He glanced at the clock that was hung over the door. Breakfast wouldn't be served for another two hours.
Must be from my ninja training, Donnie thought. There was an unexpected 'thunk' beside him, and he turned to see Venus sitting on the bench.
"You're up early," she noted. Donnie blinked at her.
"So are you," he said. Venus shrugged and set down a leaf with three apples, ten mulberries and twenty strawberries on it. She handed one of the apples to Donnie, who took a grateful bite out of it.
"Mmm," he mumbled. "So nice to be eating something that I can taste."
This comment made Venus laugh softly as she took a bite of her own apple.
"So, do you always eat at the picnic table this early in the morning?" Donnie asked her. He swallowed his bite and took another one. Venus shrugged.
"Usually," she said. "I kind of like eating at a table."
"Because you're familiar with it?" Donnie asked before thinking. When he realized what he said, his face turned a bit red.
"Sorry, I know you probably don't- "
"No, it's fine," Venus said softly. She set her apple down and popped two mulberries into her mouth. "I overheard your conversation with Amy yesterday… about me…"
Donnie nodded silently, taking another bite of his apple.
"I'm fine around humans," she said. "It's just that… well…"
"Are humans fine around you?" Donnie asked softly. Venus nodded, and the two sat there in silence.
"Well, some humans don't mind being around mutants," Donnie said. "Like Amy and some of the other people who come in here… I have two friends who are humans… ok, well, one of them is half-human…"
Venus gave him a curious look, making Donnie smile sheepishly at her.
"It's a… long story," he said. He shook his head. "Point is, you have to be wary of humans, but once the humans are comfortable around mutants, they kind of forget that you aren't human."
"I'll believe that when I see it," Venus said. Donnie smirked at her.
"Then how about you sit in a nearby tree and watch?" he asked. Venus's eyes narrowed.
"What's the catch?" she asked.
"If I'm right, you have to sit here and eat with us, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day," Donnie said. Venus thought for a moment.
"I'll sit here, but I'm not eating anything," she said. Donnie shrugged.
"Good enough for me."
"But if I'm right, you have to tell me everything about where and how you grew up," she said. Donnie's eyes widened this time.
"Seriously?" he asked. Venus nodded.
"Definitely," she said. It was Donnie's turn to think for a moment before smiling and sticking his hand out. Venus took it, and they shook.
"You're on," he said.
It's pretty obvious who won.
At lunch that same day, everyone except Donnie was in shock to see Venus sitting at the picnic table when the bell for lunch rang. Donnie greeted her casually and she responded, though she looked a little uncomfortable. Thankfully, Donnie was able to clear away any awkwardness and tension, and lunch was a surprisingly light-hearted and fun experience.
Venus disappeared soon after, but Donnie got the feeling that that wouldn't be the case for long. The longer she was around them, the more open she seemed to be.
Another week flew by, and the kids were running around on two legs and doing cartwheels. Donnie had no idea where they learned to cartwheel, but they could do it, and he was proud of them.
They had been given proper stories to read, or, at least, proper stories for their age. Donnie would read to them every night, just so that they knew how to recognize certain words and sounds. After a while, Donnie started making them read to him, and it was always a competition to be chosen to read.
August was the first one to get through a whole book without a single mistake. It took a couple days for Lotus to get it, then the day after Lotus's turn, Buddy got the hang of it. Branch and Rex took a couple days longer, but they eventually got it, too.
Donnie was currently teaching them their numbers. So far, they could all count to fifteen. They were quick learners; Donnie would admit to that.
He sighed and stared at the little tally marks he had been making on the metal wall he had attacked when he arrived. He had already been there for two months.
He was starting to feel more homesick than ever before. Buddy acted too much like Leo sometimes, and something about when Venus got angry made Donnie think of Raph. Heck, all of the kids reminded him of Mikey on a daily basis, which is the one that hurt the most. April was Donnie's best human friend, but Mikey had been his best friend since they were children. To be surrounded by the kids and reminded of Mikey constantly… it just hurt.
Also, Donnie found that the terrarium was too hot and too stuffy. He understood that this was the optimum heat for turtles to survive in, but he was used to a much cooler environment. Growing up in the sewers was much cooler than he should have grown up in. Add that to the naturally cooler nights of New York City, and Donnie was burning up.
He wiped some sweat from his forehead. He really wasn't feeling all that good. It was too warm. Donnie laid down on the ground. It was much nicer… cooler