“Donnie, watch out, behind you!”

Alopex's warning came too late, however, and she could only watch helplessly as the bad guy stabbed his blade through her friend's back.

“Dammit, I had it!” Donatello nearly dropped the controller in his hands as he spun around, the Game Over sign mocking him from the screen. “Why did you have to sneak up on me like this?”

The turtle regretted his words the moment they left his mouth, watching the fox duck behind the couch, her big ears flat against her head.

“I'm sorry.” Their apologies were muttered almost at the same time. “I didn't mean to-”

Both finished their sentences with a smile, and once the silence that followed had become awkward enough, they broke it with a laugh.

“I thought you were sparring with Raph,” Donnie said.

“We were,” Alopex replied, her growing grin revealing the fox's sharp teeth. “We're taking a break. I think I may have worn him out.”

Deciding against further pursuing that topic, Donatello glanced in the direction of the TV screen. The game asked him whether he would like to continue playing.

“I didn't know you were interested in video games,” Donnie said. He nodded at the console, before looking over his shoulder. “Like to join?”

“So it's some kind of game?” Alopex asked instead of answering his question. Her ears, now perked back up, twitched towards the screen.

“Yes, of course it is.” The turtle chuckled. “Why, what did you think I'm doing here?”

The young fox appeared as if about to hide again, looking scared to give the wrong answer.

“I don't know,” she said. “Some sort of training.”

Donatello didn't laugh at her incorrect guess, and Alopex seemed relieved for it.

“Have you never played any games when you were-” He stopped himself before finishing the question. The answer to it was obvious, and it wouldn't have been necessary to ask at all.

She shook her head, and he bit his lip.

“Would you like to?” Donatello asked with a smile.

“I don't know how,” Alopex replied.

“That's no problem,” he assured her, and offered his snacks as incentive. “I can show you. Just watch.”

---

Story by Halcyon Starfish ~ http://halcyonstarfish.tumblr.com
Art by Mr Wolfhare