Hypno, still holding a grudge against the brothers manages to capture Donnie and mess with his head.
_________________________________________

"I'm headin' out guys." Donatello gives a half-hearted wave with his back turned on his brothers.
"Huh? Where to?" Mikey calls out to his older brother.
"Some new electronic store not too far from April's apartment opened recently, I'm gonna check it out." Thinking that this conversation will end quicker if he gives his youngest brother what he wants, he tells him.
"Ah, I see. Have a safe trip, D!" He cheerfully sends his brother off.

"Ah, Donnie! Wait!" April's feminine voice hits his ears just as he is about to exit the room.
The two brothers both face her as she jogs over.

"You said you're going near my apartment, right? Could you drop by the sweets shop just around the corner for me? Pretty please? Those cream puffs are to die for!" The brunette dramatically waves her arms around as if to emphasize her point and in an attempt to convince Donnie.
Little does she know, Donnie would do about pretty much anything she asked of him, but he does enjoy watching her overdone attempts at trying to get him to do something for her.

A playful smile spreads across the purple shelled turtle's face.
"Hm, I dunno April.. Taking a detour, that could cost me some precious time, ya know."
He quirks a teasing eyebrow at her.
April and Mikey both make an unamused face at him.
Donnie just snorts at her in his amusement.

"Sure, I'll pick some up for you." His smile is still playful, but a lot more sincere this time.
"Thanks, D." A coy smile similar to his graces her own lips.
"No probles." With that, he's off.

When Donnie begins to turn, April's stomach sinks.
An uncomfortable amount of unease washes over her, a bad feeling.
Before she knows it, she's taken his hand in hers, halting him.
Donnie turns to face her when he feels her grasp.

"Donnie, be careful out there." She forces a smile, squeezing his hand.
Donnie raises an eyebrow at her.
"April, I'm just going to a store." He gives her a dubious look.
April's eyes harden at his reaction.
She feels as if she let's go of his hand now, she won't see him again.
But that feeling has to be wrong... He is just going to check out some new store, no big.
She squeezes his hand, suddenly not wanting him to leave.

"I'll keep en eye out." Donnie squeezes her hand back and his own eyes soften, wearing a reassuring smile at her reaction.
Much to April's dismay, no matter how much she doesn't want to let go of his hand, he does it for her.
"I'll be quick." With those as parting words, he turns for the last time and makes his way out of the lair.

"April... Is everything alright?" Mikey's voice cuts through the air like a knife and she realises she's been staring in the direction Donnie went.
The box turtle puts a steady hand on her shoulder.

"I have a really bad feeling, Mikey..." She shifts her gaze on him.
The turtle cocks a concerned eyebrow.

-

Donatello arrives at the store at an ungodly hour, thankfully, it's open 24/7 and because of the time, hopefully empty.
Sitting on the roof of the building across the store, he shoves his favorite purple hoodie on and decends at once.

As his feet hit the cold floor he can't help but think back to April's eyes.
She had sounded unsure more than anything when she took his hand, but her eyes just looked... Scared?
Scared of what?
He'll have to ask her about it once he returns home.
The store's doors slide open and he steps in.

His feet carry him around the store, checking out about everything in it.
He didn't come for anything specific, he could literally just build whatever this store had to offer.
That doesn't mean seeing already made stuff couldn't give him good ideas though and who knows, he might actually find something interesting.

As he wonders around, a little pedestal looking something catches his eyes way back in the store.
Stepping closer, he can see a little device neatly placed on it.
It's a circular object with all kinds of buttons on it, colored a deep, shiny purple.
His eyes light up like stars themselves.

"This is the best thing ever, and it's purple! I must have this!" He reaches an eager hand for the device but ubruptly pulls it back.
"No Donatello, you could build a million of these with your eyes closed.... But it's purple! And it's right here! Done!" Arguing with himself, he keeps reaching out and retracting his hand in a debate.

"Oh... Whatever, just this once." The debate ends with him giving in and he quickly swipes the device, marveling at it for a good minute.
"Now I just gotta pay, and-" But as soon as he takes a step away, before he knows it an entire cage had been dropped on him.

"...This is a joke.. Right?" Although surprised, Donnie can't help but burst out laughing at the sad attempt at catching him.
"Ya really think I can't just lift this and scooch on out? Think again." Snorting to himself with a smug grin, he reaches for the bottom of the cage.
A nasty zapping sound can be heard and the smell of smoke suddenly fills the air.

"Well played....!" Having been thrown against the pedestal from the high electricity running through the metal, he defeatedly raises a finger with a heavy huff.

"Honestly, how do these guys keep getting in our way? Or anybody's for that matter." A disappointed voice fills the open space, decorated by slowly approaching clacks from no doubt fancy shoes.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Another voice can be heard agreeing, frustrated and impatient.

"Now, turtle, I hope you are ready because the trick that awaits you will surely capture my audience." The first voice that spoke cackles.
"Mikey, remind me to never leave the lair when April is acting weirder than usual..." Donnie says to himself before his consciousness slips away.

-

"It's been 6 hours, where is he?" Mikey voices everyone's worries at last.
April had left a while ago and said she would come over for the puffs after school, the worry never leaving neither her voice nor her face.

"I know Donnie likes tech and stuff, but 6 hours is a little over the top.." Leo agrees with his youngest brother.
"Yeah and Donnie is a quick shopper anyway... Maybe something happened?" Mikey's face saddens as he eyes his elder brothers.

"Maybe we should check on him? Raph?" Leo shifts his gaze on the eldest of them.
Raph puts a hand to his chin.
"I'm with you guys on that, Donnie never takes this long when he's out on his own, no matter the reason." He nods in agreement.

"I swear to god, if he's stuck playing some game on display I will send him to another dimension." Grumbling under his breath, Leo twirls his sword.

-

April has been laying in bed for the past 2 hours, trying to fall asleep.
No matter how hard she tried her consciousness never faded, the uneasiness never left her stomach either.

Huffing in frustration she finally accepted she probably won't be getting any decent sleep tonight and just picked up her phone to scroll through random stuff.

At some point she ended up looking through her camera roll, recalling the memories that the pictures had framed.
Soon enough, she came across a picture of her and her amphibian friend in his signature purple mask and gear.
Her finger has stopped scrolling for about a minute now, letting her take in the sight and the memories that came with it.

She had somehow managed to convince Donnie to take a cute picture with her that she insisted she needed for her collection of pictures with her friends.
The terraping had merely rolled his eyes at her, but with a little more begging and bribing with free pizza he let her take it.

Closing her eyes, she began to recall the events of that day.

The weather was just wonderful, not too cold, just the right amount of warm with a little breeze. The sun was bright and out in the open most of the time, clouds dotting the sky as if it were a pattern.

Mikey was put in charge of the program for that day and for whatever reason, he had chosen a picnic.
The area he chose was a more or less hidden spot in a park.
Colorful flowers grew in blotches all around surrounded by trees with just enough space in the middle for a comfy blanket to be put there.

Birds that Donnie easily recognized by sound could be heard chirping and tweeting from time to time.

"So, why a picnic exactly?" Leo quirked a doubtful eyebrow at his youngest sibling.
"I just felt like we could all use a relaxing activity that doesn't require much brain power." Mikey just shrugged cheerfully, not doubting his idea of a vacation in the slightest.

"A picnic sounds real nice, actually. With all the homework I've been getting, just laying around outside and having a good snack with my friends sounds really refreshing." April lets out a satisfied sigh at the mental image she gets at her own words.

"I'm fine with whatever, as long as I can keep my phone." Poking at his phone's screen, Donatello speaks up.
The others just roll their eyes at him.

Raph spreads the red and white checkered blanket atop the grass in the middle of the clearing.
April is the first one to take a seat, plopping down the basket she had brought with her, digging into it for ingredients.

Leo and Raph are at April's side in an instant, sitting on their knees as they wait for her to make sandwiches.
Mikey is wondering around, searching for wild life while Splinter is laying on the blanket, basking in the sun.
Donnie is still poking at his phone.

Once April hands out the sandwiches and the brothers take off with them, she turns to the twin in purple.
A knowing sigh escapes her as her lips curl upwards.

"Nope. Not today mister. You will not be on this thing the entire time we're here." She swiftly swipes the phone from his hands.
"Shoulda seen it coming." Donnie just sighs in defeat, knowing April won't let him have his phone no matter what.

"So, what do you suggest we do then, your highness?" Elbow on knee as he sits cross legged, Donnie sets his chin is his palm.
He gives April a bored expression.

"C'mon now, don't make that face... You can try and enjoy other things besides tech stuff, you know." She frowns at his reaction half heartedly.
"But first, c'mere, I have a picture with every friend of mine except you and I just cannot let that slide." She motions for him with her finger to come closer.

"No." He answers with a stuck up expression, rolling his eyes.
"Wha- What do you mean no?!" April exclaims unbelievably.
"You took my precious phone, why should I comply?" The turtle narrows his eyes in a fake-angry way.
The brunette just facepalms dejectedly.

"I'll buy you pizza tomorrow, please? Just one picture?" Putting her hands together in a begging way, April shows him a desperate smile.
Donatello raises an eyebrow at her, his unamused face not changing.
"I'll bring it to your lab in secret?" She smiles knowingly.
Donnie smiles at her in return.
"You've got yourself a deal."

-

"So- Why exactly do we have to do.. This-?" April had noncholantly taken a seat in Donnie's lap, she was just the right height so that he could rest his head on hers.
The turtle however refused to move his arms from his sides, he was pretty sure April would notice how quick his heart beat if he pulled her any closer, which, even though he would never loudly admit, really wanted to.

"Which part of taking a cute photo do you not get, D?" She chuckles at her friend, looking up at him.
Donnie just rolls his eyes.

"Hugging me isn't a crime, by the way." She had noticed how he kept his arms away, thinking he might be too shy to do anything with them without permission, she tells him.
Okay, maybe she just wanted to be hugged by him... A little bit.
"R-Right.." The male reluctantly puts his arms around her, his grip as soft as can be, resisting the urge to squeeze her.

"Alright, now smile!" April, having finally stopped messing around with the camera, holds her phone up.
Donnie shakes his head a couple times in amusement.

April feels his arms tighten around her, pulling her flat against his plastron.
Donnie rests his chin atop the brunette's head, a rare, gentle smile on his face.

Before she could lose her cool at the closure and the smile on Donnie's face could fade, April quickly snaps a picture.

She remembers it like yesterday.
The way he held her, his strong arms tight, yet so gentle..

He's always gentle with her, whenever they interact.
Even when they fight, there seems to be line Donnie never ever crosses.
Not with her.

The thought brings a smile to her face.

She hopes everything is alright, that she'll get to see her purple masked friend tomorrow again.

With that thought, and the lingering images of the memory, she turns her phone off.
As she cuddles her pillow, April finally feels like sleeping.

-

"Alright, we're almost there you guys." Leo glances at the GPS on his phone as he announces.
"It really is close to April's, huh." Mikey chimes, they had just passed the brunette's apartment not long ago.

"It was kinda weird to me at first, I didn't hear about any sort of store opening here soon." The red eared slider puts a hand to his chin in thought.
"Now that ya mention it... I didn't know about it either. Neither has April, she didn't mention it." Starting to look concerned, Raph speaks up.

"Actually, yeah... You'd think April would know if something was built so close to her, no?" Mikey mirrors his oldest brother's expression back at him.
"Well, April isn't as much of a tech nerd as Donnie, so I see no issue with her not knowing about it." Leo argues.
His two brothers just shrug at him.

"Speaking of April, we should probably send her a text after we got Donnie, she seemed really worried." Mikey points out.
He isn't wrong, he can still remember what the girl had told him.
'I have a really bad feeling, Mikey...'
Her voice was frail and her face unsure, it kinda tipped him off.
He had brushed it off at the time, but her words sure hit different at the moment.

"Uh, actually... You might wanna make that a call." Leo's now clearly concerned voice breaks the atmosphere.
Mikey snaps his head up.

"What.... But, the store is supposed to be... Right here..-? Right-?" His voice trembling, Mikey's eyes widen.

Between two buildings there is just empty space large enough to fit another, except, it's not there.
It just looks like a hollow, wide alley.

Mikey swipes out his phone, immediately dialing.
"April... We have a problem.."

-

Mikey's pacing finally comes to a stop when soft huffing can be heard.
"Guys! Guys...!" April's voice can be heard calling for them among quick steps.

"April..!" Leo calls out first, pushing himself off from where he was leaning against a wall.
"April!!" Mikey meets her half way.

"What do you mean the store doesn't exist?!" She takes hold of the box turtle's shoulders and shakes him slightly.
But that only earns her a miserable expression and tear filled eyes.
"D-Donnie... He's.. We have no idea where he is!" The dam breaks, the boy's unshed tears trail down his cheeks.
Raph and Leo don't look any happier.

"Mikey..." Although equally scared, April pulls the weeping turtle in her arms, patting him on the head in a soothing way.
"Pull yourself together, Donnie needs us now." Having a hard time composing herself, she feels like a hypocrite.
There is nothing to be done about it though, they gotta keep themselves in one piece.

"Well, if it isn't my traitorous brothers, look at that." A painfully familiar voice chimes with a teasing snicker, his tone hateful.
Mikey ubruptly pulls away from April and fixes his gaze upwards, the others following suit.

"Donnie...." Mikey's miserable tone remains.
Donatello is indeed there, staring down at them from atop a lamp post.
The male's eyes are empty, literally, devoid of his irises, his eyes shine a plain white.

"My son, it would be best to capture them now, don't you think?" Another familiar voice speaks from within the alley's shadows.
Heavy steps of fancy shoes echo about.

"Father." Donnie hops down to stand beside the approaching person, giving an elegant bow as he steps into view.

"Hypno..." Leo seethes.
"And Warren Stone." The blonde worm perching on the hippo's shoulder announces.

"What have you done to Donnie you sad excuse of a magician?!" April is in the hippo's face in an instant, jabbing a finger at his chest furiously.
The hippo merely chuckles at her.

A three fingered hand grasps hers and pulls her a fair distance away from him.
"Don't touch my father so casually, girl. Run home now, before it gets nasty." Donnie's white eyes narrow at her, but his tone and eyes don't hold as much malice as his words.

"Donnie..." April turns to him, staring into his white eyes.
"You know me that much is clear, question is why I don't know you?" His eyes narrow further.

"What... You don't.. Remember me?" April's hurt tone barely makes Donatello raise an eyebrow.
His brothers wear the same hurt expression as the girl he doesn't recognize.

"Donatello..." The short female's still hurt voice comes out in a whisper.
Her eyes slowly glaze over as she holds her free hand against his cheek.
The male shivers at the way his full name rolls off her tongue.
Even if he knew this girl, he doesn't think she ever used his full name.

Her sharp eyes have him captivated, they feel familiar, something he'd often look at.
Thinking about her makes his head spin and ache.
Yet, her touch puts him strangely at ease.

"Just... Who are you..?" He had let go of the girl's hand that he grabbed to pull her away and instead raised his other one to put over hers on his cheek, leaning into it more.
Her tiny, warm hand seems to fit just right in his, his eyes narrow again in confusion.

"Donatello." Hypno calls out to his 'son' in displeasure, having already turned his back on all of them.
Donnie's eyes widen in realization and he jumps out of the girl's grasp at once, standing at his 'father's' side.
For whatever reason, he seems to miss the female's gentle touch.

"That is enough for today, we shall meet again some... Other time." Hypno disappears in the shadows he had crawled out of.
Donnie spares one last glance at the nameless brunette with arched eyebrows before following the hippo magician.

-

"So, Donnie thinks Hypno is his father, that we betrayed them and he's completely forgotten April??" Leo gestures accordingly at each part of his sentence, his tone wary.
They've been back at the lair for about half an hour, but no one spoke until now.

"His eyes were so... Empty.." Mikey just sadly stares at his own lap, thinking through it.
"He really sounded like he hated us.."

"It's obvious it was Hypno's doing, question is, how do we reverse the spell or hypnosis he was put under?" Using his brain for once, Leo reasons.

"You guys think Big Mama might be of help?" April joins the conversation, sounding rather uncertain.
The three brothers eye her with gazes full of doubt, but with no better ideas.

"What better choice do we have?" Leo sighs.
And so, they set off to visit the spider's den.

-

Donatello has been pacing in his room he'd gotten from Hypno for a while now, deep in thought.
He hated his brothers for their betrayal that was no question, but he had no idea how he should feel about the girl tagging along with them.

Sure she was with his brothers, but she had nothing to do with his hatred towards them, she was not responsible.

And her eyes, oh, those almond shaped jewels he could stare at forever.
They were the first thing that cought his attention about her.
He hated how her eyes showed hurt so plainly at his words, Donatello had wanted nothing more than to cradle her in his arms.

Now that the girl isn't here, he misses her presence, the warmth of her small hand.

She had asked if he remembered her, but he truly doesn't.
He cannot recall a single memory with her face in it and it irritates him.
He wants to remember her, he truly does.

Recalling her hurt expression again he can't help wanting to see a smile on it instead, what would it be like?
What would her laugh sound like?

The male smiles to himself as he tries to imagine it, her nose cutely scrunched up, laughing away like nothing matters.
The image makes his face and chest feel warm.

Next time, he thinks.
Next time they meet, maybe he can get her to laugh?
To tell him her name?

But he pushes those thoughts aside, reminding himself that she was with his brothers.
His brothers who betrayed him and his father.
He would probably have to hurt her in the future.. It would be bad to take a liking to her.

His mind made up, Donnie stops his pacing and finally goes to bed for the day.

-

"So... How exactly do we convince Big Mama to help us..?" Raphael's doubtful voice and question is mainly directed at April.
"Been wonderin' about that the entire way here." The blue masked twin meets Raph's eyes.

"Don't worry guys, leave this one to me." April steps forward and places a hand on the door handle of Big Mama's office.

"April, are you sure about this? Big Mama is a dangerous person.." Mikey's concerned eyes nearly burn a hole on her back.
"Don't worry Mikey.. Everything will be okay." She reassures him with a little smile.

She knocks on the fancy door three times before entering.

"Why, if it isn't the little brunette tagging along with those pesky turtles all the time." The spider lady is sitting behind her desk in her yokai form, not making any attempt to get up.

"Why have you come, human girl?" All of her eyes narrow at April, she isn't exactly angry, more like sizing her up.

"I've come to ask for your assistance, Big Mama." Keeping her tone serious, April softly bows.
The spider yokai is taken aback, for such a frail creature to come in here all alone she must either be really stupid or really determined.
Perhaps both.

"What is it you need my help for, child?" The spider never takes her eyes off of her.

"One of my friends.. The one in purple, was put under some sort of.. Hypnosis or spell. He thinks of the one who did this to him as his father, he hates his brothers and he's forgotten about me."
April's tone turns sour at the last part of her sentence.
The yokai takes note of that.

"I'd like to ask you if you know of a spell like that and how to reverse it if you do." She looks into the spider's eyes, her gaze meaningful.
"Please, help me get my friend back." April's voice cracks.

"Hmm." The yokai just tilts her head, eyes still glued to the human girl.
As someone who once had loved herself, she easily notices how the turtle means more to the girl than a friend. How much more though, she wonders?
She also knows that as his son, the turtle means a bunch to her beloved as well.
Oh well, she isn't exactly heartless, after all.

"What's in it for me, little human?" She leans forward somewhat on her desk.
April expected as much as a price for her services, so she isn't surprised at all when she asks.
"Whatever you'd like, as long as it is in my power to give." April says without as much as a flinch.

An amused chuckle escapes the spider's lips.

"Very well. Please tell me everything that seemed off about your friend, from appearance to personality wise." Reverting to her human form, the yokai beckons April further into the room.

After a brief explanation, since nothing seemed odd except the issue with his memories and loss of irises, the yokai speaks up.

"I see." She nods in understanding.
"Changing one's memories is one thing, making the person forget one close to them entirely is another." Big Mama frowns.
"And the white eyes.. It must be a spell rather than hypnosis, while they could potentially be used for the same results in certain cases, hypnosis does not alter appearance." She explains.

"So now we know magic is involved.. But how do we break the spell?" April urges.
"Calm down child, for such a complex spell it is surprisingly easy to break." She smiles at the franctic teen.

"He had to remove his already existing memories first if he wanted to plant new ones in his head. Which means, his real memories are stored somewhere. In an object." She picks up a couple items from her desk.

"It can be anything, a pen, an earring or just a tiny marble." She shows the items to her in the order she mentions them.
"You simply have to find whatever it is and break it." She grins at April softly.
Her grin soon falls because of the arms wrapping her in a hug though.

"Thank you." April voices her gratitude, her tone happy and sincere.
Before the yokai could respond, she lets go.

"So... What would you like as payment?" The brunette's shoulders slightly slump but her voice doesn't fall.
The woman before her just chuckles, leaning close so she can whisper in her ear.

"A-Are you sure..?" April's uncertain and taken aback voice makes her chuckle more.
She nods at the shocked brunette.

-

It's been a couple days since they returned to the lair.
April has kept the price for the inforation to herself but otherwise told the guys everything.
They decided to keep it all a secret from Splinter, not wanting to worry him.

They've all been looking for a way to find Hypno's lair since they set foot in their own, but no one seemed to come up with anything.

In hopes that there might be something of help, April wondered around Donnie's lab by herself.
He must have made something to track people with, knowing him.
He had something to track his brothers with at the very least.

But no matter how much she paced, she didn't understand the use of more than half the things in there.

Huffing in frustration, she crosses her arms in a sorry attempt to hug herself.
Then, she spots the purple hoodie Donnie would always wear when going out in the light of day, tossed over the back of his chair.

More or less unconsciously, she reaches for the piece of fabric.
Grasping it firmly, she hugs it to herself, wanting to feel like Donnie is there with her in a way.
But he isn't, the hoodie is empty and lifeless.

She sits on Donnie's bed, cradling the hoodie like some sort of life support.
What if they don't succeed?
If they don't find the object and he never comes back?

The thought of Donnie being gone forever makes her heart squeeze.
Tears begin to prick her eyes and she flops sideways on the bed, curling up and never letting the hoodie go.
Donnie's scent on the hoodie and his bed only make her tears fall faster.

She misses the little banters they would have.
She misses his snarky remarks and info dumping moments.
She misses the way he would unexpectedly turn kind, gentle and sometimes even shy.
She misses his presence.
She misses him.

Among soft sniffling, she drifts off.

-

Having witnessed the entire thing, the three brothers' shoulders drop at the sight from behind the lab's enterance.

"Poor April..." Michelangelo can't help but to sympathize with his friend.

"Lucky her, at least she can let her tears and frustration show." Leo frowns in both unease and sorrow.

Raph just pushes past them and tucks April under the blanket.
"C'mon guys.. We should all rest, we've been too stressed about this.
Sleeping might help clear our heads." Raphael eyes April's expression, even in her sleep she just looks so.. Sad.
So awfully sad.

The brothers all leave for their own room and sleep for the remainder of the day.

-

The following night, they are out on patrol when Raphael's eyes catch something.

"Guys, look!" The eldest brother points toward an old warehouse, it seems run down and in shambles and walking in it is...

"Donnie.." April says technically to herself, the biggest smile the guys have seen her make the past week spreads across her face.
Before anyone can stop her, she is already racing towards the younger twin.

"Donnie!!" She knows they had a plan, but seeing him after so long... Containing herself turned out to be a lot more difficult than she had thought.
She can't hear the boys' franctic voices trying to stop her, their steps running after her.
At the very moment, she only sees him.

The turtle stops in his tracks and slowly turns in the direction of her voice.
His eyes widen when he spots her racing towards him and suddenly, his heart flutters.
He should be afraid they had found their hideout but every last thought about that leaves his head.
The girl is nearing him, and at a rapid pace too.

She stops right in front of him, his brothers tailing shortly behind her.

"Donnie..." She spits out breathlessly, her eyes look desperate and sad, yet somehow hopeful as she looks at him.

"You... " Referring to the girl, that's all he manages to say before his face contorts in confusion like last time.
The girl takes a hesitant step and when she sees he doesn't back away, she throws herself at him.

"April!" Leo's concerned voice falls on deaf ears.
April desperately squeezes Donnie in her arms, fearing he might disappear again if she let go.
She nuzzles her face into the side of his neck, trying to keep the tears from flowing.

Donatello makes no attempt to get her off of him but his arms remain at his sides idly as he stands there, stunned.
His brotheres warily eye the two.

This is such an odd, yet familiar feeling to him.
Yes, he remembers this feeling.
The feeling of her arms around him like this.
To heck with his father's orders, he likes this feeling, the warmth and he wants to keep feeling it, both where the girl touches him and above his heart.

Suddenly, his arms shoot up, startling his brothers for a second, but he quickly wraps them around the brunette's waist.
Donnie's eyes fall shut in a confused frown and he shoves his snout in the crook of April's neck, her sweet, familiar scent hitting him.
April just tightens her arms around him in response, if that is even possible.

"Just who are you... To me?" He mutters against April's neck, sending little shivers down her spine with every hot puff of air that hits her skin.

"You are always around my brothers... Who I hate, and yet, I can't come to hate you." He squeezes her closer to him.
"My father tells me to keep away, but I don't want to." He growls under his breath, the growl making his chest slightly vibrate and set April's face on fire.
"Who are you and what kind of spell did you put on me...?" The anger in his tone fades into a soft sadness.

Soft little smiles spread on each of his brothers' faces.
"His mind might have forgotten her," Raphael starts.
"-But his heart and body haven't." Mikey grins widely.

"It wasn't us." The brunette is his arms finally speaks up.
"Huh?" Donatello raises a confused eyebrow as the girl reluctantly and slowly pulls away just enough so she can look up at him.

"We are not the ones who put a spell on you." Her eyes are serious but Donnie can't not find her cute with the little flush coating her cheeks.
Of course, he doesn't say or show that though.

The turtle looks to be deep in thought upon the newly recieved information.
He had thought that his connection with his father was odd, the weird familiarity with this girl and his feelings towards his brothers didn't help either.

He often felt his father irritated him, that his hatred for his brothers was unjustified and that he knows the short brunette.
If it weren't for those feelings, he'd have turned around and rushed in, continued with their plan.

He decided against it, maybe his trust is misplaced.

"Alright," He nods, catching all of them off guard.
"Please explain." His voice is gentle as he glances at the girl still in his arms again.
And to his joy, her face lights up at once, clearly very pleased with his reaction.

*Insert a long ass explanation here because I am too lazy for this shit. Sorry not sorry-*

"So, Hypno isn't my father." Donnie starts, everyone shakes their heads at him.

"And I don't hate you guys.. Well, not always, according to you..?" He chuckles at his brothers' reaction.

"And.. It wasn't just a feeling... I really do know you?" Donnie's voice is way happier and sweeter than they'd ever hear from him if he had his memories.
"Yes, we've been best friends for 5 years." April grins back at him.

"Okay, Donnie is too nice and happy for his own good, we've gotta turn him back!" Leo gets a case of the bad kinda shivers as he clings to Raph's left arm.
"Yeah, I always thought Donnie being nicer was only a thing in the land of dreams but this is just a big NO!" Mikey is clinging onto Raph's right arm.

"I think it's cute how D is all happy and giddy around April." Raph just smiles at the pair being all smily in front of him.

"Am I really being that odd? Not a single bone in my body wants to be mean to her..." Donnie's smile falls and with a shameful expression he stares the floor down, playing with his fingers in embarrassment.
Oh god help April, Donnie has always been cute appearance wise but now he's just all around adorable.

"We need to turn him back before my heart explodes." The brunette grasps at her chest for a dramatic effect as she agrees with Leo and Mikey.

"Donnie, do you have any idea what he could have stored your memories in?" Raph adresses the younger twin.
Donatello looks to be in thought for a moment.
Then, as an idea strikes him, he snaps his fingers.

"It has to be that weird purple, circular device he keeps in his pocket." He says quickly.
"For same reason, that thing seems familiar, it has to be it." He smacks his right fist atop his left palm.

"Alright guys, it's go time!" April calls, sending the team into battle.

*One epic fight later because I've been writing this fic for too long and I'm getting lazy and/or tired.*

"Ha, I got it!" Donatello stands in the middle of the warehouse, the purple device in his hand held high to strike a victory pose.
Everyone gathers in front of him, looking at him with smiles on their faces.

"So I just.. Break it, right?" He skeptically stares at the device.
"Yep." April nods at him.
Taking in a deep breath, he raises it high up again and with as much force as he can muster up, smacks it against the cold, hard floor.

The little device shatters like glass and a faint, glowy orb rises up from it.
Nobody has enough time to say as much as a single word however, because the light envelops Donnie and seemingly seeps into his skin.
He closes his eyes as he lets the feeling sink in.

April is the first one to step closer to him.

"Donnie..?" Her soft voice warily calls out to him.
Donatello slowly opens his eyes back up, his dark irises dart straight towards hers.

And then, a smile so beautiful paints itself on April's face that Donnie almost feels bad about what he's going to do.

Almost.

The turtle's expression turns to one of confusion.

"I-I'm sorry.. Do I know you..?" The male sounds uncertain and together with the joy, April's heart sinks.
"What...?" Her voice fails her and her eyes quickly fill with tears.

"It can't be..." She gingerly takes Donnie's face in her small hands.

"Donatello, please..." A single teardrop glides down her face.
Donnie, feeling more horrible by the second, flinches at the use of his full name.

"H-Hey, please don't cry April.. I was just joking..." His voice is really awkward as he tries to comfort the now weeping girl.
He puts a hand over hers on his left cheek, with the other one he wipes her tears away.

"That was cruel, even for you D.." Leo genuinely frowns at his twin.

"I-I'm sorry... I was trying to make a joke! April, I'm right here! I remember you!" Both his voice and face are franctic as he takes both of her hands in his still on his face.
The poor girl just hiccups.
"I remember you, April O'Neil." He stares into her tear filled eyes and shows her an apologetic smile.

"You jerk...!" April's voice is frail and lacks the anger.
She throws her arms around Donnie's neck, hugging him tightly.
Donnie wastes no time throwing one arm around her waist and placing his other hand on her head.
His heart picks up speed and a warmth he knows all too well spreads out in his chest.

April's sweet mint vanilla scent hits his nose and he nuzzles her neck with his snout, wanting to bask in it a while longer.
Sensing that the two might need some time to themselves, the three brothers quietly shuffle out.

Donnie reluctantly pulls back so he can look her in the eyes.
He had wanted to say a couple things, but her eyes seem to keep him speechless.
He bumps his snout against her nose, staying like that.
The little blush that creeps on April's face makes him smile.

"Why are you so adorable?" A slightly darker blush than the brunette's creeps on his face at his own words.
His smile turns into a shy grin.

"I should be the one asking you that..." April tries forcing a pout but it does a poor job at hiding her giddy grin.
She doesn't try any longer when she sees Donnie shy away at her words though.

"Ah.. I.. You think..?" The blush on his face takes on an entirely new shade of red.
April just giggles to herself.

Taking both his hands in hers, she puts them around her waist and then puts her own on the edge of his plastron.

"April..?" Donatello's eyes begin to wander lower on her face as she slowly begins to near him.
April just smiles when she sees his eyes move and gulp the moment they land on her pink lips.
She purposefully bites at her lower lip.

"You...." Donatello's eyes snap back up at hers.
"Two can play that game." He briefly sticks his tongue out at her and makes a smug face before yanking her closer by the waist and smacking his lips into hers.
He was feeling real smug when the idea came to him but actually feeling her soft, warm lips pressed against his makes his knees feel like jello.

April quickly eases into the kiss, even though it was sort of unexpected.
She slowly slides her hands up to cup his face in them, feeling every muscle in his neck as she glides over them.
The feeling makes Donnie groan and sharply inhale, the sound making April's own knees give out.

They peck at each other a couple times playfully before the kiss begins to deepen.
They lock for a longer while and Donnie can't stop himself from taking a nip at her lower lip.
The girl lets out a little sigh at that.

With the little puff of hot air escaping her lips, he decides to just give in to the urge he got from it.
He pries himself off her mouth with a loud smack, trailing hot kisses down her cheek and jaw until he reaches her throat.

With every kiss he leaves a petal-like mark on her skin with his lips stained in her red lipstick.

When he gently begins sucking at the soft skin of her throat, April's face turns redder than ever.
When he pulls away a bruising spot stained in red is left.

"A-April...?" When he fixes his gaze on her face the poor girl is an unnatural shade of red.
She is looking to the side, refusing to look him in the eye.

"Sorry.. I've been... Wanting to do that for a while and.. Uh..." His own face is not far from being as red as hers.

"Donnie." April's suddenly serious voice makes him snap his head at her.
"Yeah?" He manages to reply without his voice cracking.
She boops him in the nose with hers the same way he did to her earlier.

"I love you." A tender smile graces her face and that's all Donatello needs to see to start grinning like a fool.

"Me too." He says, his voice as sweet as when he stated he actually knew her.

"How much longer do you lovestruck fools plan to make out in there? Let's go home!" Leo smacks the door a couple time.
Donnie rolls his eyes at his twin's irritating voice and April giggles at his reaction.

But the smile is quick to reappear on the younger twin's face as he takes the girl's hand in his.
"Let's go home." He gently tugs on her hand, leading her out and never letting go the entire way.

Meanwhile- At Big Mama's-

The spider yokai stares at the new framed picture atop her work desk, a gentle smile creeps onto her lips.

"Lou, I hope you and your sons are well." She muses.

~💜~

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