Work Text:
The next day, the lab’s main heater had broken unexpectedly, and in its place, the AC decided to kick in for some fucking reason. Donnie groaned as he set down the toaster he was fixing for the 100th time and re-checked the to-do list.
- Fix toaster
- Repaint Metalhead
- Metalhead software updates
- Update PC
- Clean keyboards
- Sweep and mop floors
- Spot clean mattress
- Fix the heater
“...it’s just gonna have to wait. This toaster is almost fixed.”
He grumbled as he put the rest of the toaster together, internally wondering why the hell Splinter didn’t just get a new one already.
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By the time he had finished everything else, it was almost time for evening training, and Donatello was horribly worn out. His hands had grown stiff and painful, and he wasn’t sure if it was because of a pain crisis or another bout of carpal tunnel.
“Well, in any case, the heater needs to get fixed.”
He grabbed the standing ladder and unfolded it. He grumbled in annoyance as he began to scale the ladder, but he nearly fell as Leo slammed open the door.
“Hey, Master Splinter needs you for evening training.”
“...yeah, of course.”
Donnie stood back up and headed over to his desk. He tried writing out a Post-It Note to remind himself to get to the heater, but even holding a pen was enough to send him into agonizing pain. Leo also seemed to notice that Donnie was fiercely shivering, which raised some alarm bells.
“Damn, the heater’s broken. How have you been able to handle this?”
“No clue.”
Leo just grabbed a heavy blanket and draped it over his brother’s shoulders.
“Take a break. It’s warmer out there, so you should be able to acclimate.”
“Sure. A break might be nice…”
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Just a few minutes into training, Donnie was beginning to regret his decision. Because of how stiff his hands were, maneuvering the staff was an intense hassle. He ended up dropping it more than once, and Splinter finally had to intervene.
“Donatello?”
Donnie dropped the staff again, but Splinter just patted his shoulder.
“Take a break, rest. If you’d like to mediate, use my office.”
Donnie nodded, and Splinter guided him to the office. Once Donnie was able to settle in, he grabbed an older meditation tape and let it play, using it to guide him in relaxation.