I'll be fine, I swear

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Who: [Bad username or site: gaijin_ninja title=Raphael @ livejournal.com] and [Bad username or site: i_speak_softly title=Donatello @ livejournal.com]
What: Brotherly weekend camping trip
When: Backdated to early this morning
Where: Near the western lake
Summary: Raph and Don take a much-needed break from civilization to regroup and recover from recent losses.
Rating: T


For the first time in weeks, Raph's actually excited to start the day. They'd done all their packing the night before, told Casey all about their plans in case someone started asking after them, and headed out for the west lake at the break of dawn.

The morning was warm, but not unbearably so compared to the heatwave the rising sun was sure to bring. Luckily they'd be traveling by the shade of the forest through the worst of it, and reach a suitable campsite by the cool relief of sundown.

Now Raph would never call himself anything but city-bred. He loves the noise and clamber of the streets far more than what's good for him. But walking through the dappled shade to the sound of summer breeze and birdsong is something he's learned to appreciate.

Quiet. God, he just needed quiet. Give him some time to get away from prying people and just relax for once.

He closes his eyes, shifts his pack, and sighs, sending another watchful look to his brother following not far behind.

"Reminds you of Northampton, don't it?"

Comments

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

No kidding.

Raph's been watching the storm clouds move in. The distant ache in his sides would agree. "Should we put up the tarp?"

[i_speak_softly]

Don doesn't answer, only rolls to his feet and rummages in his bag for the plastic sheet. He backhands the disassembled framework to Raph, and works on unfolding the thing.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

He'll take that as a yes. Soon as the frame is handed to him, he starts putting it together, his eyes drifting toward the sky.

He grunts, snapping two aluminum poles together. "Sometimes I still hate seein' the sun come up."

[i_speak_softly]

Don hesitates, trying to figure how to interpret that. "What do you mean?"

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

He doesn't take his eyes away from his work. Sometimes he loves being cryptic, just for the fun of stumping Don every once in a blue moon. "Means playtime's over, and Splinter's probably waitin' to smack me upside the head for bein' topside all night."

[i_speak_softly]

Another moment, then he bursts out laughing. "You know, some of us insomniacs manage to stay at home and out of trouble."

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Raph's grin is nothing short of unmeasurable pride. "Now what's the fun in that?"

[i_speak_softly]

Don just shakes his head. "Fun" is one word he will never be able to teach Raph the true meaning of.

The clouds are moving fast across the sky, and he throws the tarp over the frame, reaching to secure the edges.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Once the tarp is secure, gives it a quick pat and a once-over. Lookin' good.

"Anyways." He yawns hugely, stretching his arms over his head to ease the ache in his sides. "I'm beat."

Then he heads for his bedroll again, dragging it under the tarp.

[i_speak_softly]

Don spends a few minutes tidying up the camp, moving the leftover firewood under a corner of the tarp, stowing their packs and cleaning the leftover plates from the night before. Then, as the first drops start to patter down, he moves under the tent and sits to watch the rain.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Raph gets cozy and starts to drift off as Don putters. But when things go quiet again, he opens his eyes, watching Donnie watch the rain until he gathers enough courage to say: "Sorry 'bout wakin' you up."

[i_speak_softly]

"Hm?" Don turns his gaze from the increasingly heavy sheets of rain to look at Raph. He smiles. "Don't apologize."

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Raph grunts and rolls over so he doesn't have to make eye contact. Something about that response makes him feel really crappy. Why do you have to be so freakin' nice to him all the time, Donnie? And without Mike around to curb it with taunting and jokes, he feels a little suffocated.

"Yeah, I should." Because he feels like it. Shut up and let him pout. "So I did. Won't happen again."

[i_speak_softly]

Oh, Raph. Don't you know he's on-call 24 hours for you? That's what family does.

He shifts forward, letting his feet stick out in the rain, and reclines on his elbows. "I don't mind. Really." He smiles at the grey sky. "It's not like I've never done it to you."

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

There's a grumble muffled by blankets that sounds somewhat like "Not as often...Not even close."

[i_speak_softly]

Okay, he hadn't known they were keeping score. He just brushes his hand over Raph's shell. "Get some rest."

Then he ducks out of the tent, to take a walk in the rain and give Raph some time alone.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Raph's grateful for that space. It gives him time to think before he finally gives into sleep. When he wakes, he'll be a little less cranky. Probably.

Until then, he's content to sleep through the storm until the better half of the afternoon, snoring loud enough to keep any more freaky cougars at bay.

[i_speak_softly]

The advent of a fierce lightning storm drives Don back into the tent. He munches on cereal as quietly as he can, and watches the weather roll through.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Raph sleeps like a log through most of it until a terrifyingly loud clap of thunder startles him awake. "Uh?"

He blinks sleepily at Don, not quite sure what woke him up. "You say somethin'?" He slurs.

[i_speak_softly]

Don gestures to the opening of the tent, which he'd reduced to a slit when the wind kicked up and started to blow the rain inside.

"'Looks like rain' turned out to be an understatement."

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

He sits up and stretches, his shoulders awarding him with a satisfying pop. "No kiddin'. Turtle Luck."

Then his eyes travel to the box in Donnie's hand. "You eatin' my cereal?"

[i_speak_softly]

Don sighs and surrenders the box. "I thought you brought enough for everyone."

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

He snatches the box away. Yes, he's very protective of his Cocoa Puffs. Especially his Cocoa Puffs. He starts snacking on the cereal like he's starving to death. Apparently sleeping all day works up quite an appetite.

"How long you think it'll last?" He asks with his mouthful, then swallows. "The storm, I mean."

[i_speak_softly]

He leans forward to look out the flap. "It was moving fast on the way in, but now it just seems to be sitting." He leans back again, tucking the tarp down. "Could be hours."

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

"Great." He reaches in the box again. "I'm gonna go insane."