Donnie feared for the night to come. Papa's been talking about going back to patrol to his brothers and he didn't like that feeling in his gut about it.

"Mike?" Donnie's voice was low and sad. "Where… go?" he asked, as he watched him put the two weapons—chucks on his belt.

"Hey." Mike sat down with him, and Donnie fidgeted with his fingers. "Don't worry, buddy, we're just going to be out for like an hour, maybe two. But we'll be back!" He beamed a smile, and Donnie smiled back.

"I go too." He told him and reached for his bear. "Bee wan's go too."

Mike's 'uhh' was with hesitation and exasperation. "… You can't, bud. You need to sleep, dude."

Donnie frowned once again, "but… be alone…"

"Nah," Donnie watched him wave like it was no big deal. But Mike doesn't have the same feeling as him, and he didn't understand his pain, "Sensei's gonna be here with you."

"Papa?"

"Yeah, dude! And Leo, Raphie and I are only gone for a few hours. Once we're back, you won't even notice we're gone" Donnie played with his bear, before putting his attention to Mikey. His lips out with an exasperated pout. He studied Mikey's hopeful face and smiled.

"Promise?"

Mike leaned in and pressed his forehead against Donnie's. "I promise, dude. Mark my words."

Donnie nodded at him, like he was the boss, and only he can tell Mikey if it was okay to leave. And Mikey would never would lie to him, he's gonna come, and Donnie had trust.

Even when they all left the lair, and it was just the two of them, Mikey was never a liar. He turned to face Papa with a small gleeful smile.