Chapter Text
Raphael pulled off his Tom Ford style glasses as he sat in the soft leather chair. The Art History Professor that sat across from him was slowly shuffling through the papers he had come in with. Raph fished out a cleaning spray and a cloth to tended to his glasses. Wearing such a thing was so annoying but he rather see than have blurry vision and there was no way he was going to poke foreign objects into his eyes every morning making contacts not an option.
Blue eyes glanced over to him, a smile pulling on forest green lips.
“Are they giving you headaches again?” He asked.
Raph pinched his beak and nodded. “Yeah.”
“A new prescription is just around the corner then.” He hummed and leaned back in his seat, shifting his weight enough to get his swivel chair to rock himself from side to side. “As for your syllabus… I say you should start off more basic. Women’s Studies is not exactly easy to write essays for.”
“And Art History is?” He put back on his glasses, green eyes blinking a few times as he got used to the clean lenses.
“I never said that, Raph.” Another smile. “But I am suggesting that most people are idiots when it comes down to women, and while you’re rather unprecedented in your field, you tend to crush your students within the first week of every semester. Shouldn’t you try to easy them into the course?”
Raph shrugged. “What can I say, Leo, I weed out the weak. The last thing I need is to allow another womanizing asshole back into my class because they turned on some water works.”
Leo leaned forward, handing the papers back to Raph. “Wasn’t that a woman?”
“Women can be just as sexist against each other as men can be against them.” Raph stood up, tapping his papers against the desk top. “Women deserve equality, not to be put on a pedestal to be worshiped nor ground into the mud under boots. So I call it as I see it, an asshole is an asshole no matter the gender.”
“Then you’re doing just fine. I don’t know why you like to show me your new syllabus each time. You don’t need me for that.”
“Oh, I know I don’t need you for that.” Raph leaned over the desk, taking hold of the blue tie of the other. He gave it a gentle tug getting the other professor to come closer. He pressed his lips against that lovely dark colored mouth. A warm tongue easily slipped between his teeth to meet him in a slow, warm dance. When they parted the two shared a soft, chaste, kiss before Raphael let go of Leo’s tie. “I just want an excuse to kiss you on campus.”
“Tease... “ Leo nudged Raph’s beak with his own. “I’m working late again tonight. I’ll see you for dinner, okay?”
“Okay. I gotta finalize some things for my lessons before the semester starts tomorrow.”
“Ordering dinner or are we going to sit down in a restaurant?”
Raph rolled the idea around in his head. After a long day of corrections he’ll want to get away. “Restaurant. Antonio’s pizza?”
Leo chuckled. “Antonio’s it is. I’ll see you tonight, love.”
A small blush warmed Raph’s cheeks. He would never admit how much he enjoyed Leo calling him that.
“See ya.”
He left the office, leaving behind the tall bookshelves and ornately carved oak walls that his boyfriend, Leonardo, seemed to fit into like a jewel on a ring. It was a perfect fit. Almost as perfect as the day they took a chance on each other. That dull summer day seemed to have lasted forever, stretching on as long as afternoon shadows. He could remember how they were the only ones left on campus besides the janitors, the groundskeepers had yet to come to tend to the manicured lawns.
“You’re a goddamn idiot!!”
“Excuse me?” Leonardo’s eyes grew wide, shocked by the other’s behavior.
Raphael jammed his hands into his pockets. “I’ve been dropping you hints this whole fucking time! Buying you coffees only to find out you like tea instead. Asking your opinion on things that I already knew about because I just wanted to hear your voice! I’ve been inviting you to go see movies with me, going out to dinner! And all you do is turn me down or turn away from me! You’re either a fucking idiot or you’re an asshole that won’t tell me to back off because I ain’t your type!!”
Then it happened.
He smiled.
That accursed smile that made Raphael’s heart hammer and steal his breath away. Then, he did the cheesiest thing; he held out his hand. What was worse was that Raph took hold. He was pulled into a strong hold, lips colliding with his own.
Raph brushed his fingers over his lips, he could still remember that kiss. It’s been two years and he can still feel it, taste the passion, it still made his heart race and shorten his breath. Before Leo, he never thought that true love even existed. But the idiot instantly had caught his attention on the first day he was employed at Pennington University. It wasn’t until after a month of dating that he found out his boyfriend had love at first sight as well and was purposefully playing hard to get. Which led to Raph wanting to strangle him for nearly a week.
Raphael allowed those pleasing thoughts to be swept to the side when his eyes landed on a young man standing in the hallway looking at a campus map before he looked up and around. He was another turtle, a sight for sore eyes if Raph admitted it to himself. It wasn’t often he got to see one besides Leo.
“Lost?” He simply put out. He figured out to keep an eye on the early students, the ones coming to look for classroom locations usually were good ones to have in one’s class.
Redwood eyes turned to him. Olive colored skin, calm, intelligent gaze. He held himself with a sort of grace most students would not acquire until they have tasted the trials and tribulations of the world. He looked… almost perfect. That same kind of perfection that Leonardo carried around with himself everywhere he went. A shorter turtle peered around the tall student, completely blocked from view by the first. Baby blue eyes shined towards him, freckles scattered on his cheeks as if a painter flicked a paint brush on him to make a work of art. These qualities were not normal for a professor to pick up at an instant. Something about these two were… off. It made something in him simply stop. It wasn’t like his heart skipped a beat, nor did it suddenly go faster. It was questionable. It was strange.
It took some effort to shake off.
“Hey, Dee! One of the Profs… I think.” The smaller one tweaked his nose in thought. “Yeah, he’s old enough.”
“Mikey!” The first one elbowed his young companion. “That is so rude!”
“What I didn’t say he wasn’t ho-” The smaller one raised up his hands over his head as the tall turtle started to hit him with a crumpled up campus map. “Hey! Hey!! You’re going to give me paper cuts and ruin my ultimate cuteness, brah!!”
Raph smirked. It was rather funny to watch them.
The one called “Dee” turned to him cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I am so very sorry about him. He doesn’t have much of a filter.”
“It’s alright.” Raph’s shoulders rolled, relaxing.
“We were just trying to find our classrooms and gauge time so that we can make sure to get to class on time when the semester starts. I’m Donatello, and this little nugget of joy is Michelangelo.” He held out his hand to Raph. “Pray that you don’t have him in one of your classes.”
“Hey!” Mikey barked, freckle cheeks puffing out in a pout. “... I’m not a chicken nugget…”
Raph was about to take Donatello’s hand in a shake and introduce himself when the younger pulled his hand away to turn his full attention to Mikey once more. Why did that hurt? Almost like rejection. He had wanted to take hold and… and what? Not let go?
“I didn’t call you a chicken nugget, nor a chicken and before you get into it; I didn’t call you a lump, nub, hunk, wad, gobbet or the informal gob. I called you a nugget as in a piece of gold or other precious metal, so take a compliment when it comes your way.”
“Well fine! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome!”
“I’m going to hug you now!”
“Mikey, no!”
Donatello was suddenly encased in strong arms, squeezing tight making it hard to breathe as he struggled to get out of the vice like grip.
The professor was not completely sure what he was witnessing. It was a little uncomfortable to watch but there was a part of him that felt at peace with it like it was something he should be seeing everyday.
He frowned. He had to stuff that feeling down deep. He was a professor at Pennington University. There was no benefit of getting close to students that were not within your own profession even then, that closeness must remain professional. The likelihood that either of these oddballs would wind up in his class was little to none. Besides, they seemed more preoccupied with goofing off than getting directions. It was wasting his time that he could be using to finalizing his lessons. And seeing as Michelangelo had no intent in letting Donatello go any time soon, Raph simply walked away. He had work to do, he didn’t have the luxuries of the carefree indulgences of the student life.
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Donatello wasn’t too happy with Mikey. He wanted to talk to the professor for a bit, find out where their classes were. It didn’t help that he was absolutely mortified that his formal introduction was soundly slaughtered by his overly affectionate companion. He would have to apologize to the professor when he saw him again… if he ever saw him again…
For some reason that thought made him feel sad. He had liked those green eyes framed by dark rims. He looked big, like he worked out, but what got Donnie was the smile. When he saw it… well, it gave him the same feeling he got when he had first met Mikey.
Donatello had been pulling into the parking lot next to the dorm when a skateboarder ran into the back of his car forcing him to slam on his breaks. He threw the car into park and got out quickly running around to find a gecko groaning on the ground.
“Are you okay?” He knelt down on one knee, practiced hands instantly going to work.
“I’m okay, brah.” The gecko moaned.
“Tell me if there is any pain or dizziness when you sit up. Easy now.”
“I’m good, really.”
Another person came running up, their bubbly voice showing little concern. “You okay, dude?”
“Yeah!”
“Pfft, I know you’re fine, Mondo.” The guy laughed. “That was so awesome watching your face kiss that bumper! I was askin’ the hot guy trying to make sure you don’t have anything broken.”
Donnie frowned, looking to the new person. A turtle, light in complexion with freckles dancing over his skin. His smile was as bright as his blue eyes. He offered his hand to Donnie and for the first time in his life, Donatello hesitated. He didn’t know what to do. His mind that always meticulously planned everything out, kept everything in nice and neat order like a well toned machine came to a halt. It wasn’t even a gradual shut down, it was as if someone had pressed a button or flipped a switch that gave him power.
It had been for only a second. He knew that, but it did happen and he knew that everything would change from then on. Their hands met and for the rest of his time on campus, thus far, had been around Mikey. He had quickly learned that the turtle was younger than him by only a few years, prefered men, was Mondo’s best friend, was surprisingly intelligent for someone so carefree, already had a job at a local coffee shop, and was a bottomless pit when it came to food. It was the whole reason why Donnie was now parked on a bench that was outside in the courtyard. Mikey had ran off to get something to eat before they continue to find their classrooms.
He smiled at the warm paper cup in his hands. Mikey made sure to leave him with some hot chocolate before he ran off completely. However Mikey managed to produce the cup, he had no idea. He was a bit of a wonder. A chaotic wonder.
It was a little worrying to him. How quickly he was getting close to the younger turtle, how easy it was to touch him. He allowed Mikey under his skin and he had no idea why. He had to be careful.
A frown tugged at his lips, brows fixing up as a familiar sadness cupped his heart in its gentle grip. Sweet and sorrowful. He had learned, a long time ago, how to deal with it. He could only allow his mask to slip in private. What was so dangerous about Michelangelo was that he had the ability to make Donnie not want the mask. Made it feel like he didn’t need it and that his happiness was genuine. The problem was that he knew things were numbered. They always have been, from the beginning of birth his equation had been written resulting in an inevitable outcome. It was easy to see that with Mikey, when he was born, there was only sheets of music. A composition of life and light that sang from upon high.
He brushed his thumb over the rim of the cup.
Then there was that professor they ran into. He had that feeling once more. That terrible pause that forced the world to stop moving and allow him an eternity to take in the haunting green eyes and broad shoulders. It had thrown him off completely and he started to act like a bumbling fool!
He caught how he smiled at their antics and it made him feel the same way he felt with Mikey. It was peaceful as if it was all meant to be. Something pulled at him wanting to know the man’s name and it left an itch that couldn’t be scratched.
He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling helpless. He wanted to get to know both of them. He felt as if he needed to-
“Are you alright?” The smooth voice was almost musical.
“Y-” He took a small breath as he steeled himself to face the person who was kind enough to inquire. “Yeah, I’m…”
His eyes widened.
The world stopped for the last time. Everything calmed in those blue eyes. They grounded him and forced him to swallow. Donnie noted that his own breath felt hot as that terrible itch that had been left be the professor only increased. It made his feet tingle and his hands shake.
“I’m… okay.”
The turtle smiled and gestured with his hand in silence asking if he could sit down. Donnie nodded and the man took a seat. Donnie had no idea someone could actually sit gracefully but he had just witnessed it.
“First time in a University?”
“You could say that.”
“Far from home?”
Donnie shrugged.
“It’s perfectly fine to be nervous. Things will work out as long as you apply yourself.” The man smiled. His eyes kept on Donatello which only made him try hard not to squirm.
“Academics isn’t much of a challenge for me.” Donnie turned his eyes forward and fought to keep them there.
“Just wait until Dead Week.” The other laughed. “Everyone has a hard time with that, even the professors.”
“And you?” He chanced a glance. The man looked like he belonged there, right next to him… him and Mikey and… the other.
He gave a sageful nod. “Like I said, everyone has it hard during that time.”
“That’s… good to know. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Also…” He hesitated, thinking his words over. “If… you have anxiety, for whatever reason… there are proper counselors on campus that are very affordable.”
Donnie blinked in surprise. He only smiled and all Donnie wanted to do was reach over, grab hold and never let go of him. It was the same with Mikey. The same with the turtle he didn’t get the name of. There was a desperate thirst in him that needed all of them in his life.
“I hope to see you around campus.” He stood up and hesitated. His hand moved as if to reach out. His mouth moved to form words that made Donatello’s heart skip. He wanted that hand to be offered, like Mikey had done. He would take hold of it as well. But the man dropped his hand, no words came out of his lips before he looked at Donnie with a strange emotion. “Have… a good evening.”
“You too.”
He watched the turtle walk away. The reality of the situation was terrifying to him. He had to make sure his mask wouldn’t slip. He would have to distance himself, make sure Mikey was at arm’s length at all times. As for the others… he may be able to keep away from them, it was a large campus after all. All he had to do was be careful. So very careful.
Keep up the ploy. After all… who could accept the real Donatello?
“Hey, Donnie!!” Mikey shouted down the way.
He looked over in time to watch Mikey run right into the man who he had just been talking to. The two grappled each other trying not to fall while supporting the other. Mikey laughed his bubbly laugh and patted the guy on the shoulder. There was a moment, just a fraction of one, where his eyes went wide and took in the other. Then he was smiling, softness and purity. If Donnie wasn’t mistaken it was… knowing, as well.
Mikey suddenly hugged the man. “Thank you!!” He shouted before letting go and running straight to Donatello. He threw himself completely into the air as Donnie suddenly screamed. He pulled the hot chocolate to the side, throwing it on the ground as he tried not to burn the both of them with it. The impact of his new best friend felt like a knee to the groin, or may Mikey really did knee him in the groin, he wasn’t sure, it just hurt, but at least he had caught the miscreant.
“What-” Donnie groaned and coughed at the same time having some wind knocked out of him. “-is wrong with you?”
“Everything. Or nothing, I was told both.”
“Suitable.”
Donnie instinctively reached up and stroked at Mikey’s head. He felt someone watching them. He looked up and the man from before was standing there, watching them with a smile. The same kind of smile that the professor had. Without thinking, Donnie wrapped his arms around Mikey. He rested his cheek on top of Mikey’s head. He didn’t know why he did it. It felt natural. Just as natural for wanting that turtle watching them to come over and offer his hand.
He tore his gaze away.
He had to keep to the way of life he was used to. The life he had been assigned. There were some risks that one simply could not take.