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(no subject)

Who: Robert Hastings (

semper_cogitans) and Hamato Donatello (

i_speak_softly)
What: Celebrating the birthday of a certain Turtle.
When: February 6th
Where: Around the village, though the Battle Dome's a standout locale.
Summary: While there's some rare peace, Robert tries to give Don some semblance of a birthday celebration by doing everything he's terrible at.
Rating: Shouldn't be anything too bad here. PG-13 maybe at most? Or maybe B for Birthday.

Thanks to the genius of Don's winter room, this year the Turtle is actually coherent on the day Robert remembers he defined as his birthday. And while the birthdate might not even be particularly accurate, it's nonetheless significant enough to Robert that he wants to commemorate it somehow.

So what better way than by making himself look a little silly doing all the things his partner is so fond of? Don had already wanted to go for a run, and it was easy enough from there to suggest a sparring session of sorts afterwards - they've been cooped up inside too long, and need the exercise anyway.

All of this is a little nervewracking for the scientist, but he is determined to make it work as he makes his way to the Turtle's winter room bright and early in the morning.

One way or another, he is going to make sure Don has fun today.

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This startles Robert a little, and he looks back at Don, expression strangely uncertain.

"... I... do...?"

Maybe he doesn't see the resemblance because in Don's case he's got fifteen years of formal training to back it up.

Don pauses, sitting back to look at Robert more comfortably.

"Yes. I've never seen anyone be that much in their own head when they were fighting." He smiles ruefully. "Now I understand what Master Splinter was always trying to tell me." A beat. "Although, it's not a bad thing to be able to completely unnerve your opponent just by thinking."

Robert has never known his thinking to unnerve anybody before, so this is a new one on him.

"Is that... i-incorrect, though? Or... or is it an acceptable m-methodology for sparring?"

Really, he honestly doesn't know any better at this point. Mostly he wants to know if it was okay.

Don is mostly serious when he replies: "I like to think of it as a misunderstood strategy."

Well then. Robert feels a little better about his performance now, but he still has to wonder...

"If that is... true, and I do fight similarly to you... does this not make us... inefficient sparring partners...?"

Or maybe it would make them more efficient. Or at least, maybe it might make Robert himself more efficient. He's not sure how to properly statistically analyze something like this.

"Inefficient...?" Don mulls this over a few moments before giving up. "What do you mean?"

"Well... it would seem to me that, if we are... s-similar, then we might be... too similar to learn properly...

... Or... does it not work that w-way?"

Don is honestly baffled by this, so he's going to assume the answer is no.

"I don't think so."

He'll stop trying to overthink this then.

"... I suppose not. I just... I truly do want to be a good partner for you, in... in all things...

... but, I realize I am not going to be as c-competent as others here, regardless of how long I study."

It's unfortunate, but it's how it is.

"... Do you... wish for me to continue this, regardless...?"

Don sighs; he knows they've had this conversation before.

"Robert, it's not about me."

For this guy, at least a good portion of it is about Don.

"... Donatello..." Robert hesitates, using Don's whole name because this feels like something that requires it, "... it is about... both of us...

If you liked this - if... if it was something you found... e-enjoyable... then I would be glad to do so again. I... I did learn, from sparring with you. And... I a-appreciate seeing your skills in all contexts... even this one."

Don rubs the ridge between his eyes, then holds up a hand.

"Let's not talk about this today. Thank you for... one of the best birthdays I've ever had."

Sensing that this topic is probably one better left avoided, Robert pushes his worries aside for the moment, and just smiles.

"I... wanted to... to make sure it was a good one, for you."

There may even be some manner of small but enjoyable birthday treat for Don, once he actually wants to eat.

Eating is only second on the list of things Don wants to do right now. He yawns and blinks sleepily.

"You wore me out, Rob. Will you lie down with me for a little bit?"

"Of course."

Though there's gonna need to be a better place than the chair. Robert gets up from his perch - with a distinct sway, as his legs are still less-than-cooperative - and straightens himself out while leaning on the chair, even passing his hands lightly over his wings to help smooth the ruffled feathers a little. He then turns to Don. Where do you want to lie down, Turtle?

Edited 2013-02-23 02:58 (UTC)

Don doesn't go anywhere just yet, but offers Robert his shirt and hovers near him to be sure he doesn't fall over.

"Are you okay?"

"... I... am having some difficulty, with balance and standing..." Robert admits, swaying very slightly as he tries to make a grab for the shirt with one hand. He looks a little helplessly at it, since if he lets go of the chair he might fall.

Don looks at the various moving parts here, and makes a decision. Laying the shirt over Robert's shoulder, he bends to scoop his partner up in a bridal carry. He then heads slowly to Robert's bedroom, where he lays the man down on the blankets before crawling in next to him.

There's a brief moment where Robert looks a little confused when Don lifts him, but as soon as he's bundled up in the Turtle's arms he just curls gently into his plastron and lets him carry Robert wherever he will.

This happens to be his room, which is nice. He knows the temperature isn't as high as Don would like it to be, though, so he gently presses into the Turtle under the sheets. Maybe it's a good thing he didn't put his shirt back on?

Human lovers are a highly effective substitute for turning up the thermostat. Don settles comfortably against Robert, and soon dozes off.

While Don rests, Robert lays more or less awake but in a comfortable haze of familiarity. Don's presence near him, and the knowledge he genuinely made the Turtle happy, pleases him greatly.

It does revive an internal line of questioning, though - with all these comfortable expressions of affection, why does Don never use the ones he knows that other red-eared sliders use? Questions about what instincts Don has have been in Robert's head for ages now, but he's never asked...

Don sleeps soundly, but in a while begins to wake up again. He doesn't seem to be in any hurry to reach normal consciousness, though.

Robert doesn't hurry him, merely turns over to better face the Turtle as he begins to stir. He smiles softly into the Turtle's shoulder, perhaps giving him a hint that there is someone who would like to see him awake.

Don cracks an eye open, because seeing his partner smiling at him like that is always pleasant. Exactly here seems like a good place to stay for a while.

"... I had... a question for you, when you wanted to answer," Robert murmurs, still smiling. It's not a weird question - or, at least, he hopes - so it shouldn't be bad to ask...