"Donnie...? Donnie, please I know you're busy but this is important."

"I'm listening." He responds automatically and continues to work at his desk without looking up at you.

"...Fine. Donatello-" he freezes at the use of his full name, "-do you love me?"

He then pauses and turns around in his swivel chair, abandoning his work.

"Wh...What? Where did that come from?"

You hug your torso as if physically holding yourself together and take a deep breath. "Y-You... I just needed to ask. I've been wondering that a lot lately. It just feels like... like you don't care for me as much as you did before.

"A-And I thought I was overthinking- I know you aren't always up for hugs or kisses, sometimes it's hard to say something with so much power behind it, and you don't have to be with me all of the time. But It's been almost two weeks since we've done any of that together.

"You're always working o-or on a mission, we don't go on dates, you never go out of your way to come to my house anymore, even when I come here to see you specifically you're so- so silent. Usually you'd be bursting at the seams with info about whatever you're working on or you ask about my day or you drag me to the garage to show me a new vehicle you've been working on- anything! I just-...

"A-Are you feeling the same way...? Was I n-not- not doing enough? Is there someone else? Whatever I did- I-I can do better! I didn't mean to upset you o-or push you away- I-"

Donnie pulls you into a tight embrace.

You finally take notice of the tears streaming down your cheeks as well as feeling droplets dripping into your hair from your boyfriend. You notice the stinging pain in your shoulders from your nails clawing into them and feel the boiling heat that slowly pooled into your cheeks.

"Darling... No, Y/N. Gods, I'm so sorry. I never meant to make you feel like this- I didn't realize I was neglecting you. There will never be anyone for me but you. No human, mutant, or yokai in the world could make me as happy as you do, Y/N. Please, gods, don't say that again."

Your arms had fallen to your sides, stinging shoulders now popping to each hiccup in your throat. You let your arms then wrap around his shell, squeezing gently.

"You shouldn't be the one apologizing, either." He reaches up to your hair with one hand, stroking the back of your head calmingly. "You're right. I'm not the best at this. Affection, emotions, words, any of it. And I should be more aware of how you're feeling even if I don't always know how to help. But please-

"N/N, if I ever make you feel like you aren't good enough or that I don't love you, tell me. Tell me the instant the thought pops into your head. I don't care if it's something small or huge- all of it matters to me if it means I hurt you."

He briefly pauses the petting motion to wipe off his face, still keeping an arm wrapped around you, and then resumes. "Hell- you matter to me. You mean the world to me and I can't even begin to imagine where I'd be without you."

Despite all of the sweet reassurances he's told you to put you at ease, there's still a harsh voice whispering in the back of your mind. 'He still hasn't said he loves you.'  You grip onto the hem of his hoodie attempting to pull him tighter to you even if there was no space between you already.

He seems to have noticed you tense up, trying to think of what you would be saying if you weren't crying. After a moment of feeding the darker thoughts, he shoves them down and attempts to think logically. As soon as the pieces snap together he presses a long kiss to the top of your head and gently pries you off of him, still keeping his hands on your shoulders.

"Y/N, I. Love. You. More than you will ever know. And I'm so, so sorry that I made you think even for a second that that was not fact."

Through sniffles and hiccups you manage a small, but genuine smile.

Actually seeing your face nearly shattered him, but he smiled with you and cupped your face with his hands. Happily wiping away the water from your cheeks.

After a minute longer of burying your face into his plastron and gripping tightly onto his hoodie, you manage a shaky sentence.

"I love you too, Donnie."



Words: 763. I have no idea what prompted this, lmao. But! Enjoy the angst and comfort!