(Untitled)

[the_mikester]

Who: The Tortuga Brothers: i_speak_softly, the_mikester, gaijin_ninja, honorthecode. And possibly ninjacane if he feels like it.
What: A Talk. But not The Talk.
When: Seriously backdated, we're talking March 15th, guys.
Where: House 55
Summary: Don needs to have a little talk with his brothers about Proper Behavior Toward a Sibling's Significant Other... And Mike wants to teach him how to make pecan pie.

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

Donatello is Not Happy with his brothers today. He really shouldn't be surprised that all of them took it upon themselves to perform ninja-style background checks upon his becoming-something-more-than-potential partner. But honestly, calling Robert spineless, or, even more unforgiveably, Robbie-boy? He is not going to let that kind of behavior continue, or go unchastised.

But Don is good at waiting. Oh, is he good at waiting. When Mike wakes up on the couch (something about paint fumes, Don doesn't even want to know), he'll find Don sitting on the other couch, leafing through a book, ready to spend a pleasant day with his little brother and giving no sign of the fearsome lecture he has brewing for later.

[the_mikester]

When Mike sees Don, and remembers where he was last night, a whole rush of conflicting emotions centers in his stomach, and he wonders how long he's going to be able to keep up the pretense of "paint fumes make me sick."

But Don's just sitting there, reading. Normal. Peaceful. Mike's already decided he's not going to be a drama queen anymore. He left that behind last night. And it's his day to spend with Donnie. So he gets out his best smile, shakes out the dust, puts it on, and sits up energetically.

"Ohayou, Don-san! Ready for some cooking lessons?"

[i_speak_softly]

Days that start with Ohayou, Don-san often end badly for him. But Don puts aside his worries, lays down his book, and smiles gamely.

"I didn't know this was going to be an educational kind of bonding session."

[the_mikester]

"Oh, it's going to be more than that," Mike promises as he heads toward the kitchen. He gets out the bread and some eggs and starts making breakfast. "Once I've got you elbow deep in flour and pecans, I want to hear all about Robbie."

He's going to teach you how to make pecan pie. One of his Secret Recipes. The ones he won't even give April.

That is the only sign of the guilt he's feeling.

[i_speak_softly]

"Oh, a mutually educational kind of bonding session." Don follows Mike to the kitchen and leans against the counter, waiting for instructions, automatically falling back into the pattern of Mike-doesn't-touch-anything-in-your-lab,-you-don't-touch-anything-in-Mike's-kitchen. "When can I expect this imprisonment and interrogation to begin?"

[the_mikester]

"As soon as we've eaten breakfast," Mike says, dipping two slices of bread into the beaten eggs and slapping them on the frying pan. He reaches up to the cupboard to grab the cinnamon, and sprinkles some on top. "First rule of cooking anything: never do it on an empty stomach. You'll end up full before dinner's even ready."

[i_speak_softly]

"Never cook before you've eaten. Seems like kind of a logical trap." He still doesn't make any move to do anything, but he watches the proceedings with interest.

[the_mikester]

"You would think that, wouldn't you," Mike says wisely, tossing Donnie a plate full of French toast with the flair of a diner cook. "But you, my friend, are a cooking novice, and will have to find the true path of balance between cooking and eating on your own. For now, doozo."

He starts in on his own, drowning it in syrup and whipped cream.

[i_speak_softly]

Don groans, but catches the spinning plate and backhands it to the counter. "Is this a cooking koan, Master?"

[the_mikester]

Mike thinks about this, mouth full of food.

"Yesh. And the ansher ish 'Pass me the powdered sugar'."

[i_speak_softly]

Don considers this for a moment, then nods sagely. "I would not have guessed that."

He carries his plate to the table, also bringing some silverware and the sugar shaker. "So. Have you done anything but cook since you got here?"

[the_mikester]

"That's why it's a koan." Mike joins him, adding sugar liberally.

"Of course I have." The very thought. "I made some friends. And I've been training a little." He looks down at his food, pausing very slightly. "And thinking."

[i_speak_softly]

"I'm proud of you. On all counts." Not the most serious answer, but he's determined to keep the mood light. Both because this is supposed to be a fun day, and because he thinks with this brother it will make the hard subjects a little easier. He's not averse to answering questions; in fact, he very much wants to know what Mike has been thinking about.

He cuts off a corner of his French toast, and waits.

[the_mikester]

"Ha ha." Mike keeps downing his food with gusto, but his mind is going faster. He's never had to beat around the bush with his brothers. He's not quite sure how to go about it. "So, what'd you guys do yesterday?" That works, right? It could lead into the subject he's really curious about but can't ask, but it's not too obvious. There's no way you'd just tell him if... Oh! "Did he like the pie?"

[i_speak_softly]

Don reaches for the sugar and sprinkles just a little on his toast. "Talked about a lot of things. The pie went over very well."

[the_mikester]

"Of course it did." It's his pie after all. "So are you guys all official now?"