melancholysway

[melancholysway]

When I say crash out this is exactly who I’m talking about:

The blueprint. The original. The REAL crash out.

2012 Raph was a menace 😭😭

[melancholysway]

HOW AND WHERE all un/intentional crimes the TMNT 2007 guys committed happened, a thread:

Leonardo

justifiable homicide - killing the gang leader who was terrorizing the village in south america at the beginning of the film

assassination - killing a notorious gang member in South America

First-degree murder - killing a man with a deadly weapon in South America

Tampering with a consumer product via Aircraft - potentially touching carry-ons in cargo while on the plane back to NY

Possession of a deadly weapon on an Aircraft - owning and having twin katanas on the plane

Trespassing on an Aircraft - not paying for his ticket, not possessing a Passport for travel, and hiding in cargo on his trip back to New York

Property damage - damaging consumer goods and products within a government building (Winter's Corp)

Trespassing - Being in an unauthorized building (Winter's Corp)

Michelangelo

Reckless driving - not obeying traffic laws within the city of New York, speeding, tailgating while driving his Cowabunga Carl van

Attempted vehicular manslaughter (fully intentional) - this one was a joke lol

Reckless endangerment - holding nunchucks in his van out in public as Cowabunga Carl

Child endangerment (unintentional) - rough housing with party guests as Cowabunga Carl

Owning a business without a license - creating Cowabunga Carl without an LLC and official license

Employment under a false identity - using a fake name/social security in order to be employed as Cowabunga Carl

Property damage - damaging consumer goods and products within a government building (Winter's Corp)

Trespassing - Being in an unauthorized building (Winter's Corp), standing on an ice hockey rink during a game in the 2007 comic as Cowabunga Carl)

Donnie

Tax evasion - this one was a joke hehe

Employment under a false identity - using a fake name/social security in order to be employed as an I.T tech support

Fraud - falsifying credentials/licenses in order to get a job as an I.T tech support employee

Cyberbullying - also a joke but he's def done it before LMAO

Hacking - entering firewalls and government records via computer (also a joke)

Property damage - damaging consumer goods and products within a government building (Winter's Corp)

Possession of illegal explosives - using his homemade explosive in order to free Leo from the cage in Winter's Corp

Arson - carelessly using a homemade explosive in an unauthorized government building at Winter's Corp]

Trespassing - being in an unauthorized building (winter's corp)

Raphael

Impersonation - pretending to be a defender of justice within New York City as the Nightwatcher (taking over the old man's alias he was cool with in the comic)

Vigilantism - creating the Nightwatcher to fight crime the police don't get to

Obstruction of justice - taking the law into his own hands as the Nightwatcher

Possession of deadly weapons - owning twin sai and a spike ball...thing, in public

Destruction of property - throwing Leo against a pipe/air unit on the rooftop of Red Eye hotel

Trespassing - being in an unauthorized building (Winter's Corp), going toward the back kitchen in the Diner without authorization

Motor vehicle theft - a joke lol, he got it from an old man in the comic

Reckless driving - disobeying road signs and street lights, speeding on his motorcycle as the Nightwatcher

Street racing - a joke but he definitely would do this Lmao

Driving without a license - not possessing a license while driving his motorcycle around as the Nightwatcher

driving without a license plate - not having a license plate on his motorcycle while driving around as the Nightwatcher

// Taglist: @bee-1n-space @ducky-died-inside @xnorthstar3x @miss-andromeda @ahhhhhhhhhfuck @jasminarts01 @turtl3sk3tch3s @chil-aglia @snowhite197 Want to be added to my taglist? Comment a “💛” to be added to the melancholysway blog Comment a “💚” to be added to the melancholyswayafterdark blog Masterlist Join my TMNT Discord! Join the TMNT Community! Join the 2007 TMNT Community!

[melancholysway]

How does the 2003 turtles react to crushes - part 1

Just a little thing cuz I miss writing, i miss tmnt and I haven’t got the time to do a full one shot or mashup in MONTHS 😔, I’m still on season 1-2 so if anything is a bit too ooc, I apologize! I love reading about crushes, first kisses, first loves, so this is for my puppy love stage lovers out there!! p.s: there's a poll for the next turtle by the end of the headcanon, make sure to vote your favorite! <3

(English is not my first language and I have dyslexia, I try to check everything before posting but sometimes grammar mistakes still happen, I apologize in advance if you find one!)

Leo

That’s some deeply repressed, effortless devotion energy right there, Leo is a pro at pretending that everything is fine, keeping it cool, but on the inside? so freaking nervous it’s not even funny

it's almost creepy how quiet he suddenly gets near you on your first visits, he acts in such a secluded but... odd way that everyone know something is up with him, but no one really knows what.

His younger brothers are all 🤨 over how he’s acting, at first, they noticed tiny shifts in his behaviors, they weren’t big enough to raise a red flag of such change, but when Leo shows how inpatient and careless he has become in training or meditating, then they KNOW something was really off . he has been careless for the silliest things as well, breaking the toaster more than once a week, forgetting to nag them about the open toothpaste, stuff he usually wouldn't miss it, but suddenly he doesn't mind it anymore.

None of them have the guts to ask him (Raph and Mikey might tease here and there, but you know, it’s Raph and Mikey) Don might find himself studying his brother from time to time, interested to why his older brother is being way more introspective than before, he wonders if maybe he’s going through a natural turtle process of some sort April is the only one who truly leaves him be, but as your visits become more frequent, it all clicks when you randomly stop by to deliver some groceries by Master Splinter request.

The pure lovesick look he glances at you when you first enter... you caught him completely off guard as he was leaving the dojo with Master Splinter, his dementor shifted back rapidly to stoic, but April noticed it, her eyes widened slightly as it all made sense, softening right after. Leo helps you with the groceries with agility, as Master Splinter excuses himself after he thanks you, he even dares to make small talk after an extremely long and awkward moment of silence (which he researched his possible lines in his head several times, made up several scenarios in which topic it could lead into, I might add) We have seen how Leo reacts to Usagi in the series (he has a fat crush on each other and I’m right) so you know even if he is indeed nervous, Leo is so dedicated to your well-being, attentive to your needs and inputs to missions or even movie debates, it’s heartwarming to see how inclusive he can be of you. He notices everything – Not in an obvious way, or a loud way, but in a way that means you’ll never have to ask him twice about something important to you. You mention offhand that you like a certain type of tea? He remembers. You’re shivering? He’s already handing you his jacket before you can say a word. The exact moment you get tired even before you admit it.

One day at training after sparring, you absentmindedly rubbed your wrist. You didn’t say anything, didn’t complain at the pain you might have felt, but later that night, you find a perfectly wrapped bandage roll left on top of your bag. No note. No explanation. You glance at Leo, and he’s just calmly cleaning his takana, pretending like he has no idea what you’re looking at. He’s not the type to shower you with words, but his actions speak volumes. He makes sure you always walk on the safe path while coming back from a mission or scorting you back home, he picks whatever condiment out of your food because he remembers you don’t like them. He’ll “coincidentally” be around when you need help, even if he acts like it’s no big deal. He's gentle, kind, and a true gentleman, he makes sure his presence is there. He effortlessly puts so much thought into you, it’s just how his mind works.

He disliked how nervous he first got around you, but after a while, he didn’t even realize how he had grown used to thinking about you. He grabs an extra bottle of water without thinking because you might be thirsty later. His brothers joke that he’s got favorites, and he just denies it, but deep down? Yeah. It’s you. Eventually, he has to talk to someone, and he chooses to confide in April about… well, everything? regarding feelings, about how to be sure, what does it feel like to love someone and how should he react to it? wait, did he say love? How can he stop his hands from getting so sweaty? this is ridiculous, should he feel anxious and at ease around you all at the same time? From time to time, he tells himself he doesn’t like you like that, that he’s just looking out for you because you’re part of the team, part of the family. that's just him being a leader, That’s all it is.

his train of thought is broken as he hears Mikey chuckle “Dude, you’ve got it bad.”

Leo stiffens, cleaning his throat as he turns he page of his book a bit too slow “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, you SO do.” Mikey grins. “The ‘eyes-follow-them-every-time-they-leave-the-room’ thing? The ‘silent-knight-hovering’ thing? classic move, real smooth.”

Leo exhales through his nose, forcing himself to focus on back his book. It’s not like that. It can’t be. "Maybe you should tell them, who knows, they might be looking back right at ya" Mikey winks at him, biting on this apple as he sits on the couch, turning on the tv. Maybe he was looking at you too long, maybe he wasn't as subtle as he thought he was, or his brothers just, unfortunately, know him too well and finally caught up. He prided himself and his control, his calm exterior, carefully managed. but maybe you slip through the cracks. He can't help but to continue notice how eyes shine brighter when you smile, remembering every little thing about you, doing things that only you get to see. Deep down, he knows. He just doesn’t know what to do with it yet.

[melancholysway]

Unintentional and Intentional crimes the TMNT 2007 guys committed, a thread:

Leonardo

justifiable homicide

assassination

First-degree murder

Tampering with a consumer product via Aircraft

Possession of a deadly weapon on an Aircraft

Trespassing on an Aircraft

Property damage

Trespassing

Michelangelo

Reckless driving

Attempted vehicular manslaughter (fully intentional)

Reckless endangerment

Child endangerment (unintentional)

Owning a business without a license

Employment under a false identity

Property damage

Trespassing

Donnie

Tax evasion

Employment under a false identity

Fraud

Cyberbullying

Hacking

Property damage

Possession of illegal explosives

Arson

Trespassing

Raphael

Impersonation

Vigilantism

Obstruction of justice

Possession of deadly weapons

Destruction of property

Trespassing

Motor vehicle theft

Reckless driving]

Street racing

Driving without a license

driving without a license plate

// Taglist: @bee-1n-space @ducky-died-inside @xnorthstar3x @miss-andromeda @ahhhhhhhhhfuck Want to be added to my taglist? Comment a “💛” to be added to the melancholysway blog Comment a “💚” to be added to the melancholyswayafterdark blog Masterlist Join my TMNT Discord! Join the TMNT Community! Join the 2007 TMNT Community!

[melancholysway]

Man Valentine’s Day must suck bad for 2012 Donnie 😭 especially after this

he’s never making shorty another gift again LMFAO I died from cringe when I first saw this ep😭 he was down BAD

[melancholysway]

We got Tmnt yns before GTA 6/j

But no they’re def looking for Harlem I already know they neva stepped foot there😭😭

Early visual development for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem from 2020, by Nacho Molina, a color/visual development artist

[melancholysway]

JOIN THE 2007 TMNT COMMUNITY!!!

All things tmnt 2007‼️‼️‼️

[melancholysway]

Have you, or anyone, made a tumble community specifically for the tmnt 2007 boys? I haven't checked yet. But if there is can I have a link to it? I would love to follow it! 🥰🐢

NO BUT I WILL RIGHT TF NOW‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[melancholysway]

2012 Mikey unironically owning this cap

ADHD Dyslexics of the World UNTIE!!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

SHOP NOW

[melancholysway]

Random Headcanons (18+)

2007!Raphael x reader

A/N: Felt like it had been a minute or two since I had written anything for 2007, especially 2007!Raphael, so here ya go. Takes some inspiration and vibe ideas from my Anger series. Enjoy❤️

All characters are aged up.

Warnings: Mentioning of rough sex, mentioning of BDSM, mentioning of being heard by others during sex.

Raph has always been more to the rougher and harder things, when it came to sex. Forceful is probably not the best way to describe it, but he did have a tendency to be impatient, and more often than not, willing to skip the foreplay and jump straight to action, meaning that you would have to keep him in check, and remind him that you in fact wanted foreplay, and in some cases actually needed it. It’s not that Raph didn’t like foreplay, but it’s simply because could get so impatient, wanting to get to the big price as soon as possible.

After Leonardo left New York City for South America, there was a noticeable shift in Raphael’s mood. Sure, Raph had a tendency to easily get moody or straight up mad, up until that point. But after Leo left, Raph’s mood only seemed to take on a downward dive, and you could certainly feel that in your relationship. Raph’s mood didn’t dive down in the form of a depression, instead he seemed much more angry. And that led to a lot more angry sex, where Raph could take his anger for the world, out in a way that provided pleasure for the two of you. And luckily for you, you loved the force and speed at which Raph would ram into you, when he was mad and frustrated.

Raph didn’t have time for bondage or any additional props in the bedroom. He found that they were getting in the way of what he wanted to do, and that they were taking up too much focus. But Raph surely was into BDSM, and especially being a dominating partner in BDSM dynamic. It was definitely Raph’s default mode when it came to sex, and all just came natural to him.

Hair pulling, spanking, choking, biting, restraining you with his own hands against the bed, all that lovely stuff. Raph is into it all, and will not shy away from any of it, even if there was nothing but a thin wall between the two of you, deep in action, and the rest of his family on the other side. “That’s their problem”, Raph might even say, while having his member buried deep within you.

When Leo returned from South America, there was once again a switch in Raph’s mood. He was once again angry, being just how he was when Leo left. But now, he would visit you more and more often, not wishing to be around Leo more often than he needed to. That of course led to a lot more sex for you and Raph, just as you had thought that the two of you was having as much sex as possible.

[melancholysway]

Pigeon Pete judging you and your turtle *****

Just a pigeon judging you and your turtle as you get freaky on the roof again

[melancholysway]

Wanderlust [TMNT 2007!Leo x Fem!Reader] Ch. II: Return

WANDERLUST PLAYLIST

Key:

--- = a flashback is beginning or ending

=== = perspective change (POV changes may occur, but will be explicitly stated when they come up)

~ = small time skip

After returning home and reuniting with his family, Leonardo saves a woman during patrol. She's dropped a few important items, and Leo makes it a point to return them. But, how?

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ʀᴏᴄᴋ ʙᴏᴛᴛᴏᴍ ʙʏ ᴋᴇᴠɪɴ ᴍᴏʀʙʏ

The brown-eyed turtle makes his way to the nearest maintenance hole cover. As he jumps in, the smell of sewage greets him first. As weird as it sounds, he missed this smell. He would’ve been home already, but he decided to bask in the city lights first. 

Unfortunately, it ended in someone noticing him. 

Despite that fact, what just happened would have to wait until after the family reunion. It was time to return home. He had this sinking feeling in his stomach about tonight’s encounter that bothered him all the way to the front entrance of the Lair.

‘She may have taken a photo of me,’ he thought. It made sense, she knew he was up there. Shell, she even waved at him. Stupidly, he waved back. Though a harmless gesture, he knew there would be a consequence for this. Aside from the blogs that only know of his brother’s deeds with a connection to lower crime rates, there wasn’t any concrete evidence that they were mutants, let alone that mutants resided in the sewer systems of New York City. 

In any case, he needed to ensure that the photo was deleted. By deductive reasoning, he knew he was too far up on the roof for the woman to get a clear shot of him, but no evidence is better. 

He wasn’t even 10 minutes back home from South America and had already encountered a problem.

Leonardo puts the code into the padlock, and after a few moments, the Lair entrance is opened. Given that it was around 8 pm, he figured at least someone would be awake. Maybe he should’ve sent a letter that he was coming home soon or told April the day he saw her in the jungle to tell his family his training was ending. Either way, nobody was expecting him to be back. 

“Typical” Leo smiles to himself as he watches his baby brother passed out on the couch, while the second oldest is stirring in his sleep on the recliner, his purple bandana placed lazily on the coffee table in front of the TV. Leo’s lips curled into a smile, as he quietly went over to a drooling Mikey to place a nearby blanket over him, and folded his other brother’s bandana up nicely for when he woke up. One turtle was missing. Where is Raphael? He might be asleep in his room, or hanging with Casey. Despite this, Leonardo walks around the living room of the Lair, noticing how everything was exactly the way they were before his departure a year ago.

A faint candlelight comes from the meditation room, and Leonardo decides it’s time to greet his sensei. He walks towards the room and sees his father polishing a small bronze Tibetan bowl.

“Leonardo, you have returned.” Splinter places the cloth being used on a nearby shelf, and as he turns around, he sees his eldest son standing before him. 

“I’m sorry for my extended absence, father.” Leo frowns, kneeling in front of his Master. “I was so caught up in my own world, that I forgot about everyone else.” As his head bows down, Leo’s fists ball up onto his legs, feeling disappointed in himself for letting time and family exit his mind during his training in South America. 

“Never mind that, my son.” Placing a supportive paw on his son’s shoulder, Leonardo looks up, seeing how Splinter’s chestnut eyes scan his face; obviously noticing his disdain.

“You’re back, and that’s what matters.” As the blue-banded turtle stands up, he smiles back at Splinter, feeling a sense of relief that his father isn’t disappointed in him. That was Leo’s biggest fear; he didn’t want to disappoint or fail anyone- let alone Splinter. 

Splinter greets Leonardo with open arms, and as they share a warm embrace, Leo feels content. He’s finally home. 

“Now you are much stronger, Leonardo.” Splinter was right. The leader was stronger than he was before his training. Of course, nobody would fully know what went down out there in the jungle- the things he saw. But, overall, he had a successful extended training. Leo and his father engaged in small talk, and a few more overdue hugs until Splinter sensed one of his brothers eavesdropping. 

“Raphael!” Splinter greets his second eldest son warmly, watching as the red-banded turtle emerges from the shadows at the doorway. “Your brother is home.” Leonardo turns around to face his brother, unsure of the reaction he would get. Raphael was like night and day, you weren’t sure what he was going to do or say. Negative or positive. 

“Uh..hey.” The hoarseness in Raphael’s quiet voice indicated he really wasn’t expecting to see his older brother right now. Hell, he didn’t even know if he would see him again. Leonardo’s mind began to backtrack and think about the time prior to his training departure. Raphael was the most upset. Though he would never admit it, Raphael missed Leonardo. Despite his negative thoughts leaning toward Raphael potentially despising him when he came back, he smiled widely at seeing his hotheaded brother again. 

“Hey!” Leonardo’s grin was from ear to ear, and Raphael’s lips remained flat. Leonardo knew he owed Raph a big apology. Raphael wondered if Leo would apologize for his lengthy absence at all. 

“Welcome home,” Raph says in a monotone voice. Leonardo isn’t surprised at his tone, it’s to be expected from the amber-eyed turtle.

Raphael- not wanting to linger any longer or disturb what his father and brother were talking about, makes his exit by faking a yawn and announcing he was going to bed. As he walks to his room, his gaze is still on his brother. Leo felt it until he disappeared up the stairs. 

Feeling absolutely exhausted, he bids his father goodnight and heads to his room. Too tired to realize Raphael tiptoeing out of the Lair without a trace.

====

“And today’s top news: Crime is still being stopped by the vigilante known as The Nightwatcher. We’ve received an anonymous tip of yet another sighting of him up on the rooftop around 125th Street. More information will come after we look at the weather. Tom?”

“Thanks, Amy, New York needs to get the puffas and timbs on, yurd? We’re expecting cold…”

“Lord have mercy.” You groan in utter annoyance and cringe at the weatherman’s stereotypical lingo of New Yorkers, grabbing the remote to turn the volume down on the TV. You take a sip of hot tea from your mug, enjoying the feeling of the hot liquid going down your dry, scratchy throat and soothing it instantly. You had a bit of a cold from being outside last night without a coat during your quick break, and you made a note to start wearing a turtleneck under your chef’s jacket starting today. 

Your shift began at 3 pm, so you decided on things to do before then. After spending some time this morning inspecting the photo you took, the most you could deduce was that it was a male. Between the size and build, you were only able to figure out that much. The photo was still blurry and dark as hell, and you could only get the silhouette. So, you were calling him Mystery Man for the time being. 

Conveniently enough, your apartment was on the top floor, which meant you had easy access to the rooftop. Your bedroom window has a view of the roof, and you could get up and look at the skyline if you wanted to. Yes, you wanted to, but it was just too damn cold.

After turning off the TV, you leave your mug on the counter near the stove and decide to surf the web on your laptop. Maybe someone else has seen Mystery Man.

Once you sit at your desk in the bedroom, you open your laptop, dancing your fingers around the keyboard as you type into the Google search bar. 

“Large silhouette at top of roof NYC” You entered this jumble of words and once the page refreshed, the top search result was “Crime-stopping figures.” It came from a blog entitled “NYC’s Weirdest.” 

You skim the blog, hunting for any keywords that could get you close to an answer for the encounter last night. To your dismay, there wasn’t really much evidence; only the description of four figures looking similar to one another, yet no video or photographic evidence had been retrieved. It was simply word of mouth and sightings that were documented on this blog. You weren’t expecting four to be sighted, only the one. It seemed that there was more to this mystery than you thought. You then stumbled upon another page where someone had made the connection between gang and crime activity lowering ever since the first sighting of these beings. 

As you spend a good hour deep diving, you close your laptop in defeat. There was nothing. Extremely blurry photos that made whatever the person was trying to capture useless, no videos, nada. Although there had been a sketch of what someone had seen, and- no surprise- it matched what you had taken a photo of last night. However, that and those shitty photos were the only pieces of evidence you had. You decide to end the search, you would go crazy trying to find anything on the extremely large online community. You could conclude that there was something out there that only a handful of people knew existed and were lucky enough to witness just like you, but that’s it. Whatever they are, they exist; simple. 

In any case, you had to keep a sharper eye open.

====

The next morning came around quickly. Leonardo spent it catching up with his brothers. Raphael included once he woke up at around noon. He didn’t speak much, just the occasional nod or grunt in agreement. There was obvious tension between him and the leader, though it would be left unsaid until they were alone together. This ended when Master Splinter called his sons into the dojo and spoke of getting the team back in shape. Raphael, clearly irritated, voiced his opinion about Leonardo waltzing back in. Leonardo responded as he usually did to Raph: cool, calm, and collected. Getting the team back in shape was necessary, even if it meant spending all night outside trying to get back into the swing of things. This was Leo’s new mission: to get his team back together. 

However, Leonardo had a mission of his own that needed attention as well. He decided to try to kill two birds with one stone: fix the team, find the girl, delete the photo, and move on.

Leonardo went to his room to think of a game plan for his brothers. Thinking of places with the highest buildings they can parkour on for a warm-up exercise before the real thing. He wasn’t trying to get involved in anything crazy, just what they used to do.

Once his plan was ready, he went to the living room to lay down his ideas to the rest of the team. He received the same response: They just wanted to get out of the sewers. Raphael seemed to be in his own thoughts, but Leonardo decided not to press him about it. He was completely unaware of the fact that Leonardo’s return would interfere with his own vigilantism- he couldn’t be The Nightwatcher and Raphael at the same time. Sneaking around was going to be harder than he had anticipated.

At any rate, he should lay low for the next few nights as his alternate persona. He retreated to his room to gear up, ensuring his duffle bag containing his Nightwatcher suit disappeared under his bed. That way, it would go unnoticed. He felt like a man ready for a mission with his T-phone strapped to his belt. Despite never taking a break and fighting crime on his own, it felt…nostalgic. He swayed back into his old routine of preparing himself for patrol. It felt like the team was getting back together. That thought alone caused relief to wash over the red terrapin. However, the thought of Leonardo turned it into annoyance. He wasn’t about to beg for an apology from his older brother. Deep down, Raphael was a teddy bear. He felt he needed some kind of closure from Leo’s extended absence. His inner thoughts halt when he senses someone's presence doesn’t seem to go away. 

“Hey.” He doesn’t turn around, hearing the silvery voice of his leader and brother. 

“Yeah?” Raph huffs, turning his head to get Leo in his peripheral vision. Leo leaned on the door frame with remorse and desperation written on his face. 

“Can I…talk to you?” Leonardo’s voice seemed to quiver, unease arising. He had a crater in his gut the moment he saw his brother again, and he needed it to go away. Now. Leonardo knew he had a way with words, but when it came to an angry Raph, he constantly second-guessed what he was about to say. Raphael took a moment to gather his thoughts; he wasn’t ready to face his brother head-on right now. But, it had to be done. This issue had to be nipped in the ass before they could move forward. 

“...uh…yeah.” Raphael’s uncertainty seemed to ease Leonardo, and he began walking over toward his brother’s bed, taking a seat on the edge as Raph did the same, avoiding eye contact for the time being.  

It was time to rip off the band-aid, and Leonardo was unsure of the outcome. But, this had to be done. It was for the good of the team, and their bond.

~

“Woah Jungle Boy, ya got fasta,” Raph teases, emerging from the ladder to the rooftop. He adjusts the scarf on his neck (yeah, Raph and the others couldn’t risk getting sick from the cold. Thanks Raphael for knitting the others' scarves, too.) Leo rolls his eyes, not needing a second for a breather. Mikey and Donnie take a moment as well and engage in small talk about quitting their current jobs. 

“Or maybe you just got slower,” Leo’s quick tongue responded. He looks up at the night sky, gazing at the moon with no stars to join it. Raphael scoffs and smirks; he missed going tit-for-tat with his older brother.

“Alright,” The leader begins stretching, as the next part of this training/patrol night is going to begin,” Ready to make like a banana and split?”

The group falls silent. Only the cars from below fill their ears with noise. “Dude…” Mikey deadpans while Raph shakes his head in disappointment.

“Get it?” Leo asks, egging them on, “Because-” “If ya explain tha joke it ain’t gonna be any funnia’ than it already is. Well, ain’t.” Raph retorts, earning a frown from the eldest. The one thing Leonardo didn’t work on during his time across the country was his humor. 

“Yeah…stand-up comedy is definitely my thing.” Mikey jokes.

“No, it ain’t,”

“Don’t think so.”

“That’s a rather absurd accusation.”

Offended, Michelangelo sticks his tongue out at his brothers as they all reject his claim simultaneously, only for Raphael to flip him off- earning an eye roll from Leo. “Seriously, we’re going to split. It’s a part of the training tonight. Test our individualism. If you need a hand, press the emergency button on the T-Phone. Courtesy of Donnie.” The nerdy turtle smirks, pride running through his veins.

Luckily, nobody seemed to disagree with the idea of splitting up. It was going to make this side mission of his much easier to tackle. So, it was settled. The four brothers would split up, testing their physical and mental strength to fight by themselves if it came down to it. This was especially needed, considering it was Leonardo who did the solo fighting long ago when defeating Shredder (Raph totally looks up to him for that. Despite the gore, it was so satisfying to witness.)

====

‘Finally,’ You think to yourself. It’s time to clock the hell out. Once all kitchen closing tasks were finished, you made a straight beeline to the clock-out machine before anyone else could get to it. Your internal prayers must’ve been answered; it was not as busy as it was the other night. Passing by the other cooks and waiters you bid them farewell; the rest of the staff clearly tired after a long night of cooking and serving. Your boss hands you your check, and you fold it neatly to put into your wallet. You grab your bag, adjust your turtleneck under your jacket, and head out into the streets to walk home.

Once you got onto the streets of New York, you hustled your way back home. Making sure not to get lost or choose a shortcut. You took the same route each and every time you left work.

“Can you spare me a dolla, honey?” A voice emerges from your left. You pause for a split second, a homeless man in your peripheral vision. Before you can begin to continue walking, he asks again. This guy was going to keep pestering you until he got some money. You didn’t know his situation, and because of that, you felt sympathy. Turning to the man, you see a makeshift tent in the alleyway he seems to be residing in, along with a lot of open cans of beer. 

“Please.” He pleads. Feeling obligated, you look around you, seeing some potential ways to exit if things go south. 

“Yeah. Just…give me a sec. I think I have some cash in here,” You say as you pull out the wallet from your bag. Once you found it, you began going through it, passing by all your cards before finding some. 

As quickly as you had the money, the quicker it was snatched away from you along with the rest of your wallet. 

“What the hell? Give that back!” You bark. However, the man doesn’t budge. Instead, he smirks and taunts you with the phrase, “Come and get it.” You sigh in annoyance, you were tired and just wanted to go home and sleep. “Look man, I’m tired. Give it back.” Silence. It was almost as if he was challenging you. Luckily, there was a can of mace in your back pocket that you had always put there when you were walking out on the streets. If anything, you would be able to use that if he tried anything funny. Plus, your check was in there. You needed to get your wallet back.

You walk up to him, clearly fuming. However, instead of handing it over, he throws it far into the alley he lives in. What a dick. To make matters worse the man was reeking of alcohol and cigarettes. Despite being homeless, he had a big build hidden under his baggy clothes. Though they weren’t ripped in any place, smudges of dirt and stains you had no idea what they were had been littered all over them. His pale face had been staring you down with the ugliest dead brown eyes you’d ever seen. His wrinkled forehead and shaggy black hair seemed to shine with what light emerged from the city- he smelled and looked exactly the way he acted towards you: Disgusting. 

Not being able to see what lies deeper in the alleyway, you keep your hand in your back pocket, ready for any funny business. However, a pair of hands had trapped you in their harsh embrace. There was nowhere to move, and you soon realized you had been set up. Suddenly, two other men emerge from the back, and you watch as the man you were just aggravated at chuckles. 

“So, there’s two options. Option one, let us keep the wallet and have our way with you. Or two, let us keep the wallet and have our way with you.” You felt the tension thicken, and your skin crawling with goosebumps. This wasn’t what you were expecting, nor was this something you had even prepared for. Who even gangs up on someone like this at night? It’s too late to be acting rambunctious. Seriously, they needed to take a hike. 

Your hands had been tied behind your back, and you slowly began reaching for the bottle in your pocket. Your fingers frantically began trying to get a grip on it, and once you did, you bit down on the forearm that’s been holding you hostage, immediately spraying your captor in the face. 

“You little shit!” You were now able to see what you were up against. Two other homeless men guarded the alleyway entrance, the other standing behind you, and one of them on the ground rubbing their eyes and cursing. 

You were surrounded. Crap. Just how would you be able to get out of this one? You try to mace the man behind you, however, he grabs your hand, and you miss your shot. The other two hone in on you closer. It seemed the first man you interacted with was some decoy for whatever scheme they were trying to pull here. You were then grabbed by two pairs of hands, and there was really no way of getting out of this one. You watch as the men begin talking all at once, telling you to choose which option you wanted; despite both having the same outcome. You try to yell but are silenced when a knife is pointed at your neck. The pressure that was placed from the blade caused the fabric of your turtleneck to tear, and meet the skin on your throat. Is this how I go? You ask. Surely there was more to your story than jus-

BAM!

Suddenly, a cloud of smoke surrounds you, along with the sound of grunting. You weren’t able to see anything, however you felt the many pairs of hands on you disappear in an instant. You continue to hear sounds of punches being flown left and right, all around you.

Falling to the ground and coughing, you scramble to gather yourself and try to find your belongings amid the chaos. It was clear as day- someone had come to your rescue in the nick of time. You manage to find your wallet after touching the concrete, instantly picking it up when you feel the familiar leather fabric touch your fingertips. Your bag had been tossed to the entrance, and the smoke began to clear up. Whatever this was, none of the men had made a sound. You don’t look back, not wanting to interact or be in this space any longer. As you run toward the entrance and back on the street, you make a beeline for your apartment building in the distance. Once there, you quickly unlock the building entrance door and frantically press the elevator to call it down to the lobby. It seemed as if this elevator couldn’t come any slower than it already was. After a few moments of pacing back and forth, you heard the automated voice announce the elevator’s current floor. Getting inside and pressing your floor, you watch as the doors shut in front of you. 

Finally, you were able to breathe.

Gathering your thoughts and checking your bag, you check to see if anything in your wallet is missing as the elevator slowly ascends to the top floor. 

Check? Check.

Debit and Credit Cards? Check.

I.D? 

You look around your wallet some more, flipping through all the cards you have in there. Unfortunately, you had no luck. Frustrated, you thought of what to do. There was no way in hell you were going back to go get it. You got lucky this time, but there was zero chance of you being saved again. Whatever came…had come in the nick of time. 

You had only one option: you had to report your I.D. missing to the DMV and get a new one.

This thought caused you to curse as loudly as possible in the elevator, with nobody inside with you, giving you free will to do just that. It seemed you had a task when you got back before heading to bed: go online and report your missing I.D.

When you texted your boss, you explained the hold debacle in a paragraph, stating that you couldn’t come to work tomorrow. You needed some time to rest and get your head back on straight. Take a day to heal from what just happened to you. There was no way you were going back outside, and you needed to figure out a new route to work.

As you finally reach your floor, you step out of the elevator and fish your keys out from your bag, plopping down on your couch as you get inside. 

What a shitty night.

====

Leonardo shook his head, grabbing the knife off the concrete. There was no threat anymore. These men were knocked out cold, and he could hear police sirens in the distance. Courtesy of Donnie after explaining what had happened in the alleyway a few moments ago. 

‘She was lucky I followed her,’ he thinks to himself. He was waiting for the right moment to try and distract you so that he could use the smoke pellet to get the phone. However, this little…incident hindered that. He had also used said pellet to save you.

Looking at his surroundings, Leo goes into the dumpster, looking for something to tie the sleazy men with. Luckily, there was an old electrical cord thrown away, and he had managed to tie it around all the men involved in this incident to a nearby pipe. They weren’t waking up anytime soon, he was sure of that. As he throws the knife into the dumpster, he notices something lying on the ground. Once he saw what it was, he grabbed it before jumping onto the roof. He thought of how to go about getting the phone again. He could compromise with you- he gives you your I.D.- you delete the photo. Done.

The leader in blue had yet another side mission: return the ID to the girl. Then erase the phone. 

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

// Taglist: @bee-1n-space @ducky-died-inside @xnorthstar3x @miss-andromeda @ahhhhhhhhhfuck Want to be added to my taglist? Comment a “💛” to be added to the melancholysway blog Comment a “💚” to be added to the melancholyswayafterdark blog Masterlist Join my TMNT Discord! Join the TMNT Community!

[melancholysway]

Wanderlust [TMNT 2007!Leo x Fem!Reader] Ch. I: Commencement

WANDERLUST PLAYLIST

Key:

--- = a flashback is beginning or ending

=== = perspective change (POV changes may occur, but will be explicitly stated when they come up)

~ = small time skip

You require some fresh air during a busy dinner service. A strange being is on a rooftop near your job, and curiosity gets the best of you.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴀʟᴍᴀ ᴇɴᴀᴍᴏʀᴀᴅᴀ ʙʏ ᴄʜᴀʟɪɴᴏ ꜱᴀɴᴄʜᴇᴢ

“I said fucking ‘service please!” Your voice boomed throughout the busy kitchen, loud enough for the other chefs to shudder. You weren’t normally like this, only if shit was really hitting the fan. And right now, the shit was hitting the fan badly. 

You were currently 12 orders behind. Three cooks, two waiters, and one dishwasher called out. Unfortunately, you were forced to deal with a busy dinner service with only half a staff. 

“What’s goin’ on here?” Suddenly, the senior sous chef burst through the revolving doors, clearly annoyed with how the evening was going. You were so concentrated and stressed that you didn’t care how much of a mess the kitchen was. You had no time to worry.

“I need hands!” you huff, watching as the completed dishes pile on the shelf in front of you. The receipt printer continued making noise time after time as more orders flooded in. There were too many distractions and noises coming from both the kitchen and dining room that you became overwhelmed and couldn’t concentrate. As usual, there seemed to be no end to this madness. As usual during hectic times, you pondered why you chose this job out of the hundreds of chef openings a year ago.

---

Imagine this: You’ve just graduated from an accredited college in your hometown. Cue the crying parents and confetti from after the big tassel move at the commencement ceremony. Finally, your life was starting. Finally, you’ve been awarded your degree! 

What kind of degree, you may ask? Well, You’ve been gung-ho about a career in the culinary industry since high school and obtained your bachelor of arts in culinary and hospitality management. The joy of creation came about every time you stepped into a kitchen.

It was your dream to join a team that put together dishes with love—being part of a family in the kitchen. That’s what it was all about, right? For bonds to be created over a hot plate of food or during prep time. You had your parents to thank for their support and love for food, as it inspired you to take this route in life. 

However, after job searches around your area were slim to none, you got to thinking: How about a change of scenery? You wondered about other places that weren’t just your childhood home. A place where the opportunities were endless, and the connections were infinite.

There was New York City, right?

The idea of moving to the Big Apple was rather… absurd. To no surprise, your parents disagreed from the jump. However, you were drawn to the hustle and bustle of New York City (piss-stained elevator floors included at no extra cost), so you decided to move to Manhattan, though it took a little convincing for your parents to be on board.

They caved in, considering you had nothing holding you back (cheers to no more assignments due at 11:59 PM!) But they had a few requests.

Find a job before you relocate

Find an apartment in a decent area.

That was easy enough; the jobs in the city were much more abundant, and the apartments were endless. Once approved for an apartment (your parents also green-lit that,) the job search landed you somewhere you’d least expect—a chef position at a 4-star American restaurant.

Fast-forward a few days. The manager called you. You were a great fit after reviewing your resume and conducting a virtual interview. Your skills were there, and the professional development you received through your college enhanced your resume. 

However, you were given a warning: It gets busy. Very, very busy.

But that was precisely what you were looking for. You were moving to the city for a change of scenery and to gain experience in a high-volume, fast-paced work environment.

So it was settled: you’ve fulfilled your parents' only requests, and they had no choice but to set you free, not before giving you the money left from your college fund to get you started.

When you finally moved into your tiny studio apartment, a wave of freedom and independence washed over you. It was jaw-dropping to look outside at any time of day and see that the rumors were true—the city never sleeps. 

~

The first day of your new job wasn’t as picture-perfect as you had hoped. It felt like you were a new character introduced to a show in its 8th season. There was an established team already prepping before opening. You awkwardly walked into the kitchen, searching for an office to find the manager, realizing that nobody looked up from their spot to acknowledge you. 

That was until you heard someone call out your name. When you turned around, a middle-aged woman with brown hair stuffed in a hair net was off to the side, gently motioning for you to follow her to her station. She introduced herself once you made your way over, and you did the same. You felt a little safe knowing you were acquainted with at least one person in this place. 

She informed you that the manager was never really around, and he usually left the sous chefs in charge. However, they weren’t coming for another hour. She was told to show you the ropes before opening. 

To make the long story short, there was never a real-time to take a breather, and it was busy, just like you were warned. However, you were confident enough by dinner service to take over different stations while chefs took their breaks. As your first official day of work ended and you returned home tired as ever, you couldn’t help but smile. After all the hard work from college to other jobs you’ve had in the past, it’s brought you to this point in life. You had made it this far with the choices you made. A new change of scenery, a new job. Hell, you were living in the city, a place known for infinite opportunities. There was nothing that could make you second guess your decision!

---

Okay, maybe some things could have you second guessing. 

“Where the fuck are my servers?! You got us drownin’ back here!” You smiled as suddenly, your senior sous quickly washed his hands and put on some gloves, ready to assist the sudden dinner rush. The middle-aged chef comes to your side, placing a supportive hand on your left shoulder. “L/n, go take a quick breather, and come back ready.” Finally, You got a smidge of a break. Before anyone could stop you for something, you rushed to the kitchen entrance, trying not to slip on the dropped brioche buns flattened with non-slip shoes and soggy french fries on the once-white tile floor.

You pass all the chaos, trying to make your way through the crowd of people. Fuck preorders. Fuck parties of 12. Fuck DoorDash. Fuck UberEats. Fuck callouts. Fuck everyone and everything. You glanced at the bar, but you couldn’t even see the bartender over the crowd of people surrounding her at the table, all bar stools occupied with others standing in annoyance at the understaffed restaurant and slow service. If that wasn’t enough, you could’ve sworn you saw one of the waiters behind her blonde bangs tear up a little behind the POS system as she angrily punched in a table’s order.

Beads of sweat littered your forehead from the heat of the kitchen and the congestion from the volume of customers. As soon as you pushed the door to exit, it felt as if a massive weight was lifted off of you.

It was nighttime. You felt the cold January air slap you in the face, but you were grateful for it. Taking a deep breath, you sit on the stairs off to the side of the restaurant, what’s left of the red neon sign illuminating the parking lot around you (they really need to fix the “S” in the sign “Hudson Grille,”) the battery in its been dead since you started working here last year. The place wasn’t run down or anything; it’s just that the manager put the budget toward other things. For now, though, the restaurant is called “Hudon Grille.” First-time customers and tourists think it’s a typo and argue it’s “Udon Grille,” then get mad when there’s everything but Udon on the menu.

You look up to the full moon, contemplating your life choices as usual during a stressful service, wondering just what parallel universe you is doing right now. 

“She’s probably livin' la vida loca in Cancun right now,” you tell yourself. In this universe, though, you were livin’ la vida loca in New York City. There was so much more out there, that you wondered what lies beyond the Big Apple.

Your eyes began wandering to the city’s buildings, admiring the decoration New Yorkers put on their balcony. They began traveling upwards to the rooftops, and you got lost in thought. 

Until you noticed somebody- or- something on one of the buildings' rooftops. It was dark, but you could make out its silhouette. It looked bigger than the average human, but then again, bodybuilders and sumo wrestlers could reach this height.

But, what would a bodybuilder or sumo wrestler be doing on the top of some random building at 7:00 pm? Grabbing your phone from the back of your pants pocket, your thumb scrolls in search of the camera app. 

“I don’t think it can see me,” you whisper. Maybe you can get a bird- well- phone’s eye view to see it better. Holding up your phone, you wait for it to adjust to night mode. After doing so, you angle the lens towards the silhouette, pinching the screen with your fingers to zoom in. Once the lens focused and adjusted, you got a slightly better look at the unknown figure. You still couldn’t see who or what it was, but there was an obvious difference between it and a human. It couldn’t be human. It had some sort of backpack on its back, and there was some sort of fabric that flowed in the wind behind its head. 

"Y/n! You can hear one of the chefs calling you from inside, but you don’t move an inch. 

You snap a photo, ensuring the flash is on to capture every detail so you can study it later after your shift. However, the camera flash causes the figure to turn, almost as if it were staring.

It was staring at you. 

You felt a chill run down your spine as it began to walk. You couldn’t see its eyes, but you knew it was staring. You watched as its arms were crossed—as if it were studying you, maybe even judging you. This caused some anxiety, as you wondered if you had made it angry. If, for some reason, it was some sort of extraterrestrial, you stood up, awkwardly waving in its direction. You came in peace. 

The unknown being stood still before slowly raising what appeared to be its hand to return the gesture. 

“Coño, Y/n!-” You jolt and snap your neck to the angry voice coming from behind you. It was one of your coworkers- Maria. She didn’t speak a lot of English, but it didn’t matter; she was a damn good cook.

“I was on my way back i-” “I need a smoke break. Jefe wants you on the line.” You sigh at the thought of going back into complete chaos. It was so peaceful out here. Yet so…mysterious. You thought you knew the city like the back of your hand, but it seemed there were some things unbeknownst to you; hell, probably everyone. Speaking of mystery, you decide to take one last look at the rooftop the silhouette was on, hoping it was still there. 

Only it wasn’t. This…mystery thing had disappeared. You frown a little, wondering where it might’ve gone. This frown plays on your lips as you take a deep breath before opening the restaurant doors, and soon those damn doors to the back kitchen. 

Heading back to your station, your mind jumps from the present to the past. 

What did I just see?

You grab a cutting board from the dish pit and a knife from the cut-safe encasement, swiftly moving past other cooks while multiple calls of “behind” leave your mouth. 

Ugh, I need to slice more onions.

You speed walk toward the walk-in fridge, scanning the area and quickly finding the red onions. You grab a handful and head back to your station. Quickly, you begin chopping each whole onion in half and pushing the tunic scraps off to the side of your board.

Would I see it again?

Wiping your eyes with the back of your palm, you groan in annoyance at the onions in front of you, yet continue cutting and slicing through the stinging pain of the onion juice making its way to your eyes as best as you can.

“Yo, we got more sliced onions?” A voice asks out loud.

It waved back at me.

“I got sliced onions!” You say, placing the desired food item into a nearby bowl to hand off to whoever screamed for it. 

As the rest of the night continued and finally ended, you realized that whatever you saw earlier tonight had now fully occupied your mind. As you finish cleaning and clock out, you make your way out to the streets, walking quickly to your apartment building nearby. Once you get inside, you rush to get in the shower; you need to get the smell of food off your body before you do anything else.

Your immense curiosity overcomes your anxiety about the unknown. Your well-needed hot shower prompted more thoughts and conspiracies about what may be lurking in the city you lived in. I mean, your encounter tonight was ultimately the result of your choices, weren’t they?

Understand this: every single choice made has rather…unpredictable consequences.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

// Taglist: @bee-1n-space @ducky-died-inside @xnorthstar3x @miss-andromeda @ahhhhhhhhhfuck Want to be added to my taglist? Comment a “💛” to be added to the melancholysway blog Comment a “💚” to be added to the melancholyswayafterdark blog Masterlist Join my TMNT Discord! Join the TMNT Community!

[melancholysway]

Turtle Head Canon Time: Each of the turtles have their favorite borough and music scene within that borough

Leo: Manhattan. Big fan of starting the night early and not indulging too much in a night out. Hangs out near rooftop bars and listens to the DJ sets and crowd murmurs while people watching. Outdoor Jazz ensembles in central park are his favorite during the summer- he’ll drag all three of his brothers out to enjoy the music with him.

Raph: Brooklyn. Hates the gentrification thats been happening to his neighborhood, and in his opinion its destroyed the local scene. He gets his music taste from following local graffiti groups on insta(mostly Drill and punk/metal) and has started to recognize the local bands/ artists by the stickers their fans put on bathroom stalls, behind street signs etc. He will scan any QR code he sees and that STRESSES Donnie out. He had his favorite bands that he sees over and over and most of his favorite artists know him personally.

Donnie: Queens. Big fan of Resident Advisor style EDM raves hosted in undisclosed locations. he often takes Leo with him, even if leo wants to leave at 1 am when the party is starting. Mikey will only go if its a costume party. Donnie’s met SOPHIE and gave her a repurposed guitar petal that she used in her last album (RIP)

Mikey: The Bronx. Big fan of swiping local flyers posted around the neighborhoods and bodegas to see whos playing when: he’ll show up to anything and rarely sees the same band more than once. He always makes time to go to a Latin Music Open Mic thats hosted in an old boxing gym. Mikey loves bringing Raph to these events…. the first time they went they got so drunk they tried to sing a prince royce song and pass it off as their own ( they got kicked out)

[melancholysway]

meant to post on my main blog, oopsies !!!

Had to bring this back ya'll-

I did Headcanons a year or so back and I imagined what Raph listens to when he works out, so i made him a workout playlist!

feel free to use it at the gym lol

[melancholysway]

Wanderlust [TMNT 2007!Leo x Fem!Reader] Prologue: Leonardo

WANDERLUST PLAYLIST

Key:

--- = a flashback is beginning or ending

=== = perspective change (POV changes may occur, but will be explicitly stated when they come up)

~ = small time skip

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ 1975

There was a time when everything was normal. As normal as it could ever be. There was a time when New York City was normal, too. But that'd be a lie. Everyone knew it was everything but. It wasn't someplace where dreams came true and everything was perfect. It was a concrete jungle where you had to expect the unexpected and keep your head low. Be observant of your surroundings. Walk fast. Don't talk to strangers. And God forbid, don't ever, ever stay out too late.

There had been a time when the Hamato family was normal, too. Four mutated turtle brothers fought crime by night and didn't come out during the day. The eldest brother, Leonardo, had been a cutthroat leader to his three younger brothers. Making sure operations ran smoothly and that plans were successfully carried out. He made sure everyone was safe. Thanks to Leonardo's leadership and his sensei's intense training to mold the four brothers into who they were in the present time, they were able to eliminate the Shredder for good.

No longer posed with the immediate threat of Shredder, the turtles were in limbo.

What now?

Leonardo still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he had beheaded Shredder and taken his helmet as a trophy for his master. In which the large headpiece sat on the shelf in the dojo. A reminder of the victories they'd won and a warning for what could happen in the future.

The anticipation for the future had caused the turtle in blue to train excessively. He had no idea what he was training for, but he had to be ready. He spent so much time in solitude that his father became concerned. He knew this wasn't the end of Shredder; in fact, it was just the beginning. Although Shredder wasn't returning, The Foot now worked under his daughter, Karai. Despite the rather...taboo relationship between Shredder's daughter and Leo long ago, she had to fight for her father's honor. Master Splinter knew that, and he was ready for when that day would come. For now, the most the brothers and sensei could do was wait.

However, Splinter had other plans for his eldest son: South America.

Leonardo would be going on independent training abroad. He would be tested to many degrees, molding him into a better leader. Splinter's decision for Leo to be overseas was entirely intentional. He knew that the burden of being a leader and Shredder's killer rested so heavily on the turtle's shoulders that a change of scenery for training would be best for his son. When presented with the idea the first time, Leonardo was against it. How could he leave everyone behind? He had a purpose at home, and to go would be foolish.

However, his father disagreed. This was supposed to be both a leader training and a spiritual journey. To Leo, his only purpose had been to be a protector. He was never the one to be protected. He was so worried and concerned about everyone around him that he seemed to forget about himself sometimes. Leonardo needed this training. He needed to be stronger for not only his family but also himself.

Splinter gave his son a week to pack everything he needed and to prepare his brothers for his departure. When a family meeting was called, Splinter told his other sons about the new changes in the next week. It was up to Leo to place some ground rules for the team; Splinter was there to enforce them. What? He's getting old and has the utmost trust in the leader to call the shots. Besides, it was practice for when the time came for Splinter to pass on. It wouldn't be anytime soon, but anything was possible.

Michelangelo was deeply affected by this news. Leonardo was not just his brother but his mentor and friend. He understood the mental strain the leader in blue was under. People often underestimated the youngest turtle, but he was perceptive. He knew this was necessary for his brother, but he couldn't help but feel the void that his absence would leave. He was going to miss being able to pester him all the time.

Donatello empathized with Splinter's decision. He knew that Leonardo needed a break from the constant pressure of being the strong, prominent leader he always was. Donnie knew he could never fill Leonardo's shoes despite his intelligence and knowledge. He wondered how different things would be for the next six months without Leonardo to guide them. One thing was sure: Donnie would have fewer kitchen appliances to repair with Leo's departure.

Raphael was initially angry. Leo was his rock, the yin to his yang, the peanut butter to his jelly. Sure, when they were younger, they butted heads a lot and even fought a couple of times. However, as Raph matured, he understood his older brother more. Leo had a lot on his plate. Despite his cold demeanor in "leader mode" and "older brother mode," Raph understood why he had to be this way. He was their leader. Once he realized this, Raphael made it a point to follow Leo, no matter what. He had only good intentions for his family, and who was Raph to question them?

Contrary to popular belief, Raph wasn't some crude, tough brute with an anger problem. Deep down, he had a heart. When they got along, the dynamic between Leo and Raph was unstoppable. Sure, Raph had his own opinions, as did his leader; that was life. Hell, there was a time when Raphael disagreed with Leo's forbidden relationship with Shredder's daughter, and all hell broke loose when he found out. But they were past that. They were better than that.

Raph's mind was made up on how he would spend these six months without Leo: Train, fuck around with Casey, go on patrol, fight crime- you know, the usual.

Six months: He could handle that, right?

---

"What tha shell?!" Raph's eyes scanned the new note on the fridge. Though, it was big enough to be considered a poster. His booming voice of disagreement while reading caught the rest of the family's attention.

"Dude, it's nine in the morning; what's got your panties in a twist?" A playful voice with a surfer accent jokes. However, when he noticed what his older brother was staring at, he joined him in front of the fridge.

And soon, a curious Donatello arrived.

Then Splinter.

And then a reserved Leo.

"House rules," he states matter of factly. His face was stoic, preparing for the overlap of voices that would follow the minute he made himself known in the kitchen.

'Brace yourself.' he took a deep breath before expecting the...expected.

"Leo-" "Wha-" Mikey and Donnie began talking over each other, with a disappointed Raph off to the side. He was fuming; Leonardo could tell.

"I'm not fit to be a leader!"

"Yeah, it should be me!"

"Hey!"

Leonardo was bombarded with questions and bickering until a deeper voice intruded with sinister ideas that silenced the room.

"So we're just given' killa's an robba's tha green light ta do whateva, huh?" Raph's voice dripped with such poison that Leonardo couldn't remember the last time he spoke to him like this. His eyes snapped to his hotheaded brother and back to the brief note he left on the fridge for everyone to see the morning of his departure.

No surface activity

No fighting crime

Donnie is in charge

Despite it being short, it held so much weight for his brothers. Donnie. A leader? Well, more like Mikey and Raph's chaperone until Leo came back. At least, that's how Raphael saw it.

"These are just until Leonardo returns. It is only temporary." Splinter chimed in before Leonardo could respond to his angry brother.

"Am I the only one thinkin' this is bullshit?" Raph snaps, turning to his brothers. However, neither Don or Mikey agreed nor disagreed. They stay silent, both looking around for something to look at to distract them from what's to come. "Raphael!" Splinter's voice was rough, and Raph's quick mouth was one of the ways to get Splinter out of character. Upon hearing his father's tone, the disgruntled turtle looked down at his father, staring at his irritated beady eyes.

"This is Leonardo's decision, and it is final." Raphael looked at his brother, watching Leo's eyes avert, ensuring he wouldn't catch Raph's deadly glare. Nevertheless, Leo could feel his brother's amber eyes glued to him, burning his skin from the heated tension. The room then fell silent. Not a word was said, but there was mutual agreement: Everyone was to abide by these three new rules until their leader returned.

As Leonardo excused himself to finish packing to leave, he left the four remaining family members. Splinter retreated to his room to meditate, and soon, the three brothers were left.

"So...what are we gonna do now?" Baby blue eyes looked up at Donnie, who then crossed his arms to think. He wasn't used to anyone looking at him for answers that involved stepping up and being some leader.

"I guess...keep ourselves busy?" Donnie's nasal voice tried to sound confident, but if he was being honest, he had no idea what he would be doing for the next six months.

---

The story begins as Leo says one last goodbye before heading to the airport to hitch a ride on a one-way trip to South America. He will decide his exact destination when he leaves the belly of the plane. Raph doesn't hug him; he only rolls his eyes at a dramatically sobbing Mikey as he tries to zip himself into Leo's backpack. His shell sticks out before falling out on his left temple.

There was a void after Leo departed. It fell silent, and the evening had ended with the lingering thought of Leo on everyone's tired minds as they went to bed.

Without permission, their worlds would turn upside down from this day forward.

While Leonardo trained hard and focused on himself, his brothers back at home were trapped in the Lair (as Raph would call it.) Donnie kept himself busy by completing an online course to obtain an I.T. certification and landed his first job. Mikey followed, getting a job as a children's entertainer under the alias "Cowabunga Carl." In his free time, he would live-stream video games for extra money (and to keep himself occupied when he wasn't getting beat up by little kids.)

Raphael, on the other hand, couldn't keep a job. He had tried a few things that interested him: virtual fitness coaching, motorcycle courier, you get the gist. However, he had been a ticking time bomb since Leo left, and his smart mouth got him reported and soon fired from his job. His most prolonged time of keeping a job had been about four weeks as a motorcycle courier. Almost running over someone jaywalking in the street, Raphael's...colorful language caused the pedestrian to file a complaint for "emotional damage." In turn, this caused Raph's layoff.

But hey, he was able to keep the bike.

The red-banded fuse didn't seem interested in a job, so, long story short, he went against Leo's and his father's orders to fight crime.

Vigilantism was his new job (though unpaid, the freedom to be outside and march to the beat of his own drum was well worth it.) And as months flew by, he became famous. Even got a cool hero name, too: The Nightwatcher.

He didn't disclose this in any of the letters he wrote to his brother. He wasn't exactly pen pals with him like Mikey was, only a few words and sentences along the lines of "Hope all is well" and "How's the jungle?" Though he didn't care if he got a response or not.

In South America, Leonardo adjusted well. His destination had been a poor area of Argentina, and he sought refuge in the dense jungle surrounding a village. He often sent letters to his family, informing them of his progress while also maintaining his relationship with each family member. He expected Raphael to be dry in his letters, though.

As he became accustomed to his surroundings, Leonardo's spirit became connected. What had appeared to be a dangerous jungle to civilians was paradise to him. He explored day in and day out, his love for the world around him growing. Instantly, he fell in love. It was a change of pace, for sure. For the first time in his life, he could hear himself think. If he listened hard enough, he could even hear his heartbeat. This jungle was his sanctuary, and the people were his inspiration to train and protect, growing along the way to the best of his ability.

However, six months turned into seven.

Soon, eight.

Then, an entire year.

The letters stopped, and Leo trudged on. He wasn't stopping. The people needed him. The crimes committed here needed to be stopped. Without noticing, Leo had been caught up in his new world; he forgot about his past one.

Back home, a wave of concern had flooded the entire Lair. Since his letters stopped, nobody knew where Leo was or what he was doing. Splinter became concerned and performed an ancient ritual he had learned, where he could sense souls from afar. However, he had been putting this off for a while. The old rat had feared the worst despite his immense trust in his eldest son.

He gathered his three sons after chaos began after Mikey's overthinking caused hard-to-swallow pills and questions to erupt from his mind that traveled to his mouth to spew. He needed to know, was his brother...dead?

After a drawn-out ritual, Splinter began. Each turtle was on the edge, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. It wasn't until Splinter's ears perked up, his tense body now relaxing to nirvana, that he sensed his son's soul actively wandering a deep jungle in Argentina.

"My sons...your brother is alive."

This was music to everyone's ears. However, a new question was posed: When will Leonardo return?

It wasn't until pure serendipity that April contacted him nearly a year later while on a business trip for some artifacts. A local legend had caught her attention, and knowing her dear friend, it sounded familiar.

Leonardo appeared different. His muscles seemed to have grown since the ginger last saw him, and his chocolate eyes sparkled as he fed the fire in the cave. He seemed...content. With good reason, too. He didn't feel like he had the world's weight on his shoulders for once. His smile as he conversed with April seemed never to falter. Leonardo was always a friendly turtle, but he seemed less stressed, his mind clearer than ever. April had to admit (we take this to the grave, readers) that Leonardo looked so beautiful. His mature smile was plastered on his face, and his voice- smooth and sweet like unsalted butter as he spoke about his experiences in South America- made her cry. April had indeed missed the turtle's leader.

He had a newfound love for the world. South America's natural beauty seemed to give him more wanderlust than ever before. He longed for the sights and sounds of the Earth, uninterrupted by artificial creations that harmed his surroundings back home.

After a much-needed catch-up, April determined it was up to her to convince Leo to return home. She wasn't about to let this chance encounter slip away.

However, she doubted in the back of her mind. Could she do it?

Of course, she could; she was April O'fucking Neil.

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[melancholysway]

2 years later and my future self still agrees that the villains think Donnie is a joke 😭

- screenshot from my 2007 kunoichi crush at first sight HCs! -

In lieu of my previous post defending Donnie, I do NOT claim this scene of Donnie-

Donnie tries to impress the Foot, busts his ass instead

[2003, Colorized]

I just KNOW HE CRIED THAT NIGHT

That’s so EMBARRASSING PLEASEEEEEE

Like there’s no way I can defend that 😭he had the right spirit just terrible delivery but E for effort I guess y’all

Fighting with a bo staff is truly a humbling experience LMSKSJAJFJEJ