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[soft_shelled]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, DONATELLO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 016.04.154.55 *** Bootyyyshaker9000 has joined 016.04.154.55 <Bootyyyshaker9000> God this tech is old. <Bootyyyshaker9000> ANYWAY, you're conversing with Donatello. Leave a message.

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Comments

[detectivision]

I -- might be able to help you understand what's happened. If you let me.

And I have advice, for...repairing things, between you.

[He is gunning so hard to get Donatello to listen.

Focusing on this...it's letting the aliens slip into the background.]

[soft_shelled]

I know what happened!

[He snaps, growling at Sherlock before just taking a sip of his water now.]

It can't be fixed, I ruined it, so why bother?

[detectivision]

That's where you're wrong.

[The reply is placid, casual, said as he crosses the room, takes a seat at the bar. Sherlock is prepared for self-sabotage and self-loathing, and cruelty on top of it. He knows how you work, Donnie. Bring it.]

It will take work. It will be hard, and it won't be comfortable. But there is a path to fixing it.

[A beat.]

Unless you'd rather stay apart.

[Which is honestly the healthier option, and you won't catch him arguing.]

[soft_shelled]

I don't want that but...

[Did Ray really tell him everything? He has a feeling she didn't, as he goes to stand across from Sherlock.]

I told her I don't care if she doesn't love me.

[detectivision]

[Gently nudging forward, asking the question openly, without judgment.]

Why?

[He's very sure he knows why, but he's got to lead Donatello to it. He can't just say it, he'll get flat denial.]

[soft_shelled]

Because, because she's...

[Something just kinda snaps, and anything else Donnie was about to say comes out as chirps and squeaks. Everything finally just getting to him. God communicating is way easier with the laptops when this happens, as Donnie freezes when he realizes what's going on with himself mid-chirp rant.

He places his glass on the counter between him and Sherlock, because he'll need both hands for this and starts signing. Thank goodness whatever makes everyone able to understand each other also covers ASL.]

She's already got someone she loves.

[detectivision]

....

As a girlfriend?

[RACHEL H. GARDNER

IF YOU ARE DATING SOMEONE AND PLAYING WITH DONATELLO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE WORDS]

[soft_shelled]

Maybe? But they're not here, back home.

[He signs, sure of that last part because if the guy Ray spoke so fondly of was here? Donnie is very sure Ray would have never attempted a relationship with him.]

[detectivision]

[...."maybe"?]

Then -- she did not tell you she was in love with them. What has she told you?

[The impending Words he was intent on having are provisionally rescinded.]

[soft_shelled]

[Donnie takes a moment trying to recall what was said to him and for once? Drawing a blank, but he does remember the important thing]

It's not what she said, but how she said it.

[detectivision]

[He leans forward, raises an eyebrow.]

Then you didn't trust what she had to say to you as much as you trusted your own assumptions.

[The next question he has to ask is incredibly loaded. But Sherlock pulls the trigger anyway.]

Do you trust Rachel at all, Donnie?

[soft_shelled]

[WOW. He is offended good sir, as Donnie levels a scowl at Sherlock before picking up his drink and having a sip and then... Trying to speak again, and alas only a squeak escapes him.

Glass down and he signs a little bit aggressively now.]

Of course I trust her!

[detectivision]

[Undaunted:]

But you don't trust her word. If she told you she was not in love with someone else, would you even believe her?

[soft_shelled]

[He grits his teeth, it's so very tempting to tell Sherlock to leave.]

You didn't hear how she spoke of them, if that's not love then I'm an idiot.

[detectivision]

Hm. Very dreamy, and more than a little dramatic?

She talks about cute animals that way too, you know.

It is love, I am sure. But it is not necessarily the kind that implies a romantic rival.

[She's Just Like That.]

[soft_shelled]

No! She gets all moony eyed and it's like in the movies!

[Donnie is resolute in this, you shan't change his mind.]

[detectivision]

You're assuming you know what she's thinking, and not trusting in what she is saying.

That's the sort of behaviour that is very frustrating in a partner. It makes you difficult to trust, as well.

And if you two are going to survive what happened in the labyrinth as a pair, you will need to restore trust. Otherwise, you might as well remain apart.

[soft_shelled]

[Donnie is just getting angry at Sherlock's words that well? He finds his voice.]

If it's such an issue she could tell me this herself!

[detectivision]

[Sherlock gives a dismissive wave of his hand!]

She has tried to tell you a number of things.

You haven't listened to her.

Which brings us to where we are -- the two of you, taking time apart.

[There is probably something infuriating in Sherlock's calm. He's very sure he is the person in the room with all the answers, explaining this the way he might explain how the angle of an injury indicates a knife wound was accidental.]

She wants to come back, Donnie. She doesn't want you to think she's gone forever. But if matters go on the way they have, both of you will get hurt again.

I presume that is not something you want.

[It's not something any of them want. It's why Sherlock is even here, because, against all the odds, he cares about both of them.]

[soft_shelled]

I have listened to her!

If I wasn't then I wouldn't be here, I'd be talking to her instead of you!

[Donnie is not getting any calmer, as he grips the counter between him and Sherlock. Claws digging into it.]

And I am not hurting myself by being with her!

[detectivision]

I said you are both getting hurt.

[He's not opening with a full psychological analysis, to which Donatello can simply say, "nope!" Sherlock is trying for outcomes, first.

But he notes that the idea of Donatello hurting himself is already on his mind.]

You are both hurting now.

As a friend to you and to Rachel, I want to help you understand why, and how to prevent it. But I can't force you.

[soft_shelled]

How? I...

[He looks down at his hands, gripping the counter top so tightly.]

I just want her to be happy.

[detectivision]

[Sherlock's tone, his expression, turns gentler.]

Seeing someone we care for in pain hurts us terribly in turn. Does it not?

Whether it is love or not, she clearly cares for you. Therefore, to take care of her, you must also take care of yourself.

[soft_shelled]

[Donnie's attention is still on his hands, as he just tries to go over every interaction he's had with Ray. And trying to figure out where he could have hurt her...

Sure, the time where she made a fuss about him saying he'd sacrifice himself to save her comes to mind but...]

But... Isn't that how relationships are supposed to be? Making sure that you do everything to make sure the other person is happy, no matter what?

[detectivision]

Mm-mn.

[Sherlock shuts his eyes a moment as he shakes his head. Hell no. He certainly isn't like that, even if he has done the laundry once or twice.]

If both parties light themselves on fire to keep the other warm, very soon all that will be left is ash. A relationship should be more like --

[Good lord, he just figured out how he wanted to say this when Bucky was ill. It sure is lucky he put this together just in time to tell Donatello. Sherlock is no expert on this, but he knows that what he wants from Bucky, the winning strategy as he sees it, is...]

...being on the same team.

You share a common goal: both of you, together and happy, for as long as it can possibly last. And you must work together to make that happen -- not decide you know what is best and go off on your own. Otherwise...you remember what happened when you and Leo tried to protect Bucky, but Bucky was trying to protect you, and in the end, all that happened was that you all got hurt?