#2012 salaìfic

[triple-asstro]

Salaì Chapter 10: Bide Your Time

chapter count: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9

word count: 1.8k

pairing: 2012!leo x reader

ao3

@jasontoddisbest - thank you <333

A/N: chapter ten! i'm gonna be taking a bit of a break from this fic since school is kicking my ass properly now. hopefully i can return soon <3

playlist

chapter song: americano - lady gaga

banners by @saradika

Leonardo’s forgotten how much time has passed. His head jolted up, squinting from the sudden shift. His head felt groggy and discombobulated, yet comforting. He didn’t feel the usual tiredness that accompanied him like a right-hand man.  How much time had passed? 

He checked the clock hanging near Chloe’s nightstand along with the oddly shaped lamp, the numbers 2:43 flashing in bright red. Thankfully, she was using military timing for her clock. Leo tried getting up from his spot, only to be weighed down by your limp head. 

A smile crept on his face as he observed your sleeping expression; it looked so calm, so peaceful, almost as if your mind was empty from all doubts and fears. It looked so appealing, he couldn’t help but stare at it. Carefully propping your head on his hands, he laid you down so that you were leaning on the floor instead of on his shoulder. His hand lingered on your cheek, longer than usual. He quickly jerked away, his heart convulsing in strange, swift patterns. As he quietly climbed through the window, he glanced back at you and Chloe. Something had changed that night. He couldn’t recognize it, but something had shifted, possibly in or out of his favour. With one steady breath, he leapt out. 

He quietly hopped over the turnstiles, careful to tip-toe back onto the beanbag or into his room where he could try and rest his head, key word being try. Before he could attempt either, a lamp flicked on, revealing Raphael’s irritated expression, more than his usual ticked off expression.

“Alright, hero boy, where have you been?”

“Just…patrolling. Doing solo missions is like, my thing.” 

“No. Solo missions have never been your thing and when it has, it’s always gone for the worst. What’s going on?” 

“Nothing!” he stated. “Nothing going on here, nope! Just usual Foot clan occurrences!” 

“Really, Leo? You’ve been gone for hours and you think we’re going to let it go? You think me, Donnie and Mikey wouldn’t understand?” he said, pausing. “You think me and Donnie wouldn’t understand?” 

“Salaì!” he blurted out. He kept blinking rapidly, thoughts whirling in his brain faster than he could process. Raph stared with his confused expression as Leo tried to stammer up a follow up. “I found someone who could help with Salaì, they could be the one who murdered those Foot Clan members.” 

“We can’t bring someone in, they could bring a whole ambush onto us! Splinter’s already on our asses after slacking off, what would he say if we bring someone else from the surface?” 

“Look, I’m the leader, I know this is going to work. Trust me, Raph.” he stated. Raphael’s face contorted, almost trying to comprehend the shift in his brother’s attitude. His eyebrows furrowed together and apart in a twisted pattern. After an excruciating minute of this, he finally let out a frustrated sigh.

“Fine, but if this goes wrong, I fucking told you so.” 

You’d been mind blank all day. Compared to yesterday, you were a whole different person. What used to be paranoid silence with glances casting down hallways and hideaway shadows were now dull glances into nothingness with occasional gleeful smiles. 

“Okay, what’s going on with you?” 

Snapping out of your fog, you darted your gaze back to Tina, who was staring at you with confusion. 

“What do you mean?” 

“You’ve been completely silent all day and all yesterday! Something’s going on, isn’t it?” 

“No, nothing going on. You don’t have to worry.” you reiterated, leaning against the grocery aisle, eyeing several boxes of hair dye. 

“It’s the halloween party, isn’t it? We have plenty of time to gather a costume, don’t worry.” she stated, playfully slapping you on the head. You flinched, the impact hitting you harder than expected. 

“So, by your logic, should I go for a more smoky boot blue alien or a two-toned haired tall alien?” 

“That’s a new idea, did you get it from one of Maise’s old sci-fi shows?” 

“Yeah…” you said, an aching feeling settling in your heart. “Yeah, I got it from that. I’m thinking of just mixing them both together.”

“Good idea, you can look double lame.” Tina remarked. You felt a buzz echo from your pocket, digging your hand through it to reveal your phone displaying another message. 

leo:

Hey there!

y/n:

hey whats up

leo:

I need your help again. It’s on something important. 

Only if you can, of course.

Your heart practically answered for you.

y/n:

sure, just give me a few mins

see you there :)

leo:

:)) 

Those three symbols imprinted a grin on your face. They quickly retracted back. Has it gotten that bad? You tucked your phone back to your pocket, before approaching Tina. 

“I gotta get back home, are you good here?”

“Yeah, I got all I need. Thanks.” Tina said, patting you on the back as you sped off. A buzz from her phone made her jolt towards it. 

tina:

Casey, what is it?

casey derulo:

Ok, i need you to confrim something w/ me

tina:

Confirm, and what? 

casey derulo:

arent they acting a bit weird?

tina:

Yeah, they’re way more jumpy than usual

they’ve been staring at their phone like a fucking lovesick bug 

casey derulo:

wait

WAIT

OH SHIT

tina:

What? 

Casey what is it

Casey 

Bitchboy answer me

casey derulo:

nvm

tina:

fuck you

Tina sighed with frustration, turning her phone off and continuing her shopping. Whatever drugs her friends were on was their business, not hers. 

You walked down the familiar sewer you’ve walked down a million times before. Your headphones playing an old sci-fi show and filling into your ears. The familiar proclamation from the main protagonist was interrupted by a faint TV static noise. Like an actor and their on-screen cues, you followed the sound, pupils widening at the sight of Leo and another turtle mutant huddled close to the TV watching a show you had playing on your phone just before. 

Quickly whipping out your phone, your fingers zipped across your keyboard. 

y/n:

hey im here

:) 

You slightly snickered watching Leo read your text, then dart his head towards you, eyes more shocked than ever. He quickly got up from his seat and approached you from behind the turnstiles. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey,” you said, this time with a wider smile. Leo’s expression remained the same. “What do you need my help for this time?” 

“It’s… about one of our missions. We’re trying to figure out where a certain vile fiend is hiding and I think you can help.”

“Alright,” you answered, chuckling at his adorable proclamations. You knew he used outlandish language but now, you were hyper aware of it. It sent another pulse through your heart. A purple-banded head popped up from the background looking at you with confusion. 

“Ah, you must be the friend Leonardo was talking about?”  

“Yeah, that’s me. Nice to meet you…” 

“Donatello, I’m the brains,” he stated, shaking your hand. Your eyes spotted a red blur from the background. 

“Who’s that?” 

“Oh, that’s Raph. He’s in a bit of a mood today.” 

“Huh, okay,” you said. “So, what do you need my help with?” 

You could feel Raph’s eyes indent the back of your head. While you were examining the canister they found from who knows where with an odd hexagonal insignia, you kept praying that his gaze would diverge somewhere, someone else. 

“Raph, lay off them, okay?” Leo’s voice demanded. In a huff, Raph arose from his position and berated Leo, calling him an ‘idiot’ and ‘a true leader’. You didn’t pay any mind to that, your mind was only focused on the pattern. You’d seen this object before, and couldn’t quite put your finger on it. An odd object with a canister in the middle, you had seen this before. 

Wait.

You’d seen it in Chloe’s room. 

“What did you say this was again?” you remarked. All eyes previously focused on the bickering between brothers darted towards you. 

“It was a mutagen canister.” 

“Which you found from the Kraang, an alien species?”

“Yes, exactly, why?” Leo asked, his eyes laced with concern. 

“There’s fingerprints on this, on the glass right there, and assuming the Kraang don’t have fingerprints, means that they have multiple scientists on the inside. If we either rescue them, we can halt their plan long enough to take them down.” 

“So smart, brah!” Mikey thanked. You stared at Raphael, who was crossing his arms and staring daggers at you. 

“Anyway, I gotta get home, it’s getting late. Just text me if you need anything like this again.” 

“We will, don’t worry,” Leo said, staring at you while patting you on the back. It was as if his eyes were like magnets with the amount of times you found yourself staring into them. A realisation dawned on you at that moment. It was a realisation that came earlier but you weren’t sure. Doubt encircled your mind along with worry. You quickly broke it off, hopping away building by building until you disappeared over the horizon. 

“Is that your new lover, Leo?” 

“W-what? No! Of course not, they’re just friends.” 

“When have we heard that before?” Donatello remarked. 

“Enough, we are friends.” 

Tina woke up to the sounds of pounding on her glass window. Irritation immediately filled her mind as she slipped on her slippers and approached the window. Darkness enveloped her room except for one ray of moonlight streaming in. A shadow covered her, standing on the fire escape, still banging. She slightly opened the window, frustration slightly lessening once she saw your face. 

“Oh, it’s you. The fuck are you doing here?!” she hissed, sliding the window open. “It’s two in the morning, and if I lose my goddamn sleep because of-”

“I’m in love with Leo.” 

“...Casey’s maths tutor?”

“Yeah…” you muttered. 

“...Come inside,” Tina said, stepping aside and allowing you to hop inside. You rested on her soft wool carpet, making yourself comfortable as she rested on the side of her bed, her face illuminated by her lamp. “So, how did this happen?” 

“I was babysitting Chloe and he knocked on the door, asking if he could help. I let him in and we spent the whole night babysitting and it clicked then. It’s been going through my head since.” 

“He…helped you babysit? Like willingly?” she asked.

You nodded.

“Damn- okay, but is he nice?” 

“Yes, he is.  Look,” you said, showing her your texts. 

“He texted you a couple of times, and that’s it?” Tina said, 

“Look I- I know I’m being a bit bold with this, but you need to trust me. My gut is telling me this is a good one to bet on. I’ve begged like this before, but this time it’s gonna last. Please Tina, you have to believe me.” 

Tina sighed, rubbing her hand on her temple. She grabbed a nearby cup of tea, feeling the lingering warmth emanating into her hands.  “Fine, I’ll trust you on this. Again. Now, do you wanna plan Halloween costumes?”

[triple-asstro]

Salaì Chapter 7: Manners Maketh Turtle

TW: Blood, Panic Attacks, Beatings

chapter count: 1|2|3|4|5|6

word count: 2.2k

pairing: 2012!leo x reader

ao3/wattpad

@jasontoddisbest - thank you dearly, your compliments mean everything /p

A/N: here's the long chapter! I hope you guys really enjoyed it since it was interesting to write. i'm also publising this on wattpad! if i got anything wrong, pls let me know. i love you! ❤

playlist

chapter song: party monster - the weeknd

banners by @saradika

Ringing echoed in your ear as you lifted your head from the ground. A groan escaped your lips, urging you to clutch your side. You lifted up your shirt to reveal a deep eggplant-toned bruise embellishing your skin, along with multiple goosebumps as the icy air filled your lungs.  A chill flew down your spine, your eyes observing your new predicament. White-tiled walls and brown-carpeted floor to which you were currently suspended above. 

You gripped onto the steel bars, attempting to break yourself free but they wouldn’t budge. Your mind kept swirling, your hand darting to grip your shirt to pull yourself out of this nightmare. This is what it has to be. A sick nightmare. 

“Hello.” 

That voice pierces through your ears, filling your heart with an intense disdain. You turned your head towards the voice. There was Karai, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, staring directly into your eyes. They stung as you turned to face her, pressing your back against the barred wall. 

“Hello, Karai.”

“My, how long has it been since I’ve seen you?” 

“Not long enough.” 

Karai chuckled, closing the door. She approached you with a slight smile on her lips, twirling her wakizashi in her hand. Memories flooded your mind, memories of her teaching you what it was and how to use it and it made you want to curl. Your eyebrows pressed together as you stared at her with contempt.

“What do you want? Just get your proposition over with.” 

“Bold, just how I’ve remembered you.” she said, tilting her eyes upwards and placing the wakizashi on a nearby examiner’s table. “I’ll make this simple, I’ve seen the turtle that you’ve been particularly close to and he isn’t as good as he pretends to be.” 

Leo? Why was she talking about him? Does he know her? 

“What’re you talking about?” you questioned, trying to keep your tone as stoic as possible. 

“You know who I’m talking about. There’s no shame in avoiding it. I’m not judging you. I’m trying to-” 

“Trying to warn me? Whatever you have to say, I don’t believe it.” 

Karai squinted her eyebrows, rubbing her middle and thumb finger together. She was shocked, no doubt about it. It was like her telltale sign, sticking out like a long crooked finger. 

“Believe me or not, I’m trying to protect you. I’ve always done that. He’s going to get you into trouble, possibly have you tortured and beaten; you’re lucky I haven’t done that already. I don’t want to see that for you.” 

“Is this what we’re resorting to?” you asked, leaning your face closer against the bars. “You’re wrong. There’s no point in keeping me, and whatever you think you have left of me; call it what you want, it’s gone.” 

She chuckled, walking closer towards the cage with a sly grin on her face. “He can’t help you. Think about it, we can put this petty grudge aside; it’ll bring you nothing but pain and anger. I can give you a place in this world where you can help others. You can help others become a better version of themselves to benefit the world.” 

You paused, leaning your back against the steel bars. It was hard to describe what you were feeling, but you could somewhat explain it as confusion mixed with irritation. Karai had been, key word being been, a close confidant to you. You used to call her your other brain, maybe even your soulmate, as whenever you two were together, it was as if all the thoughts that plague your mind dissipated. She was your soul, your mind, your ride or die; and in some ways, she hadn’t changed. In fact, she hadn’t changed a single bit. And that made your heart boil. 

“...In your wildest dreams, Harmony.” 

Karai sighed, backing away from the cage. She opened the door, facing towards you before shutting it closed. 

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” 

Idiot. That’s what Leonardo was. A stupid, bumbling idiot. He viewed from above, peering through the vents. His mind was racing, thoughts swirling faster than he can keep track of. Of course this would happen, why wouldn’t it? He was an idiot to think otherwise. He was reckless and what kind of leader is reckless? Not a good one. 

He caught sight of one foot soldier leaving and, quietly unscrewing the cover, he hopped down onto the floor. The foot soldier kept walking, unknown to his presence as he knocked him out with one swift punch. He descended down the hallways, his eyes sifting through the darkness. The tower was surprisingly quiet, with the exception of soft footsteps and metallic clanging. For the first time in Leonardo’s life, he felt uneasy. Of course he’d experienced nervousness and ambivalence by the start of missions, but that was usually gone by the end. Now, he was completely consumed in it and all he could do was pray that they didn’t notice him. 

Hopefully, no one has gotten to you yet.  

A metal cage hanging two feet over solid ground is quite the predicament to escape from. You kept swinging from left to right in some vain hope that the swinging would make it crash onto the ground. You tried banging your feet on the ground, and nothing. Eventually, you heard a groaning creak echo from the chain. As you shifted your weight back and forth inside the cage, you heard a thunderous crack before you landed harshly on the ground, the metallic bars stinging your skin. 

Pain coursed through your veins, bruising your knee a deep purple and adorning a few cuts on your arms. The rapid flow of adrenaline pulled your legs up and made you able to stand straight without having to wobble. Faint footsteps filled your ears as they began rapidly approaching towards your door. You darted your head, looking for something to arm yourself with, eventually resorting to hiding underneath the examiner’s table with Karai’s wakizashi in hand. The door flung open, making you jolt. You carefully peered from underneath, seeing a soldier in black clothing with dotted bug eyes and a metallic droid, almost identical to the ones you saw Leo take down with his brothers. 

“The ones who are called the Kraang notice the lack of kidnapped subject in the place where the kidnapped subject was before. The ones who are called the Kraang inquire about the one called the Foot Soldier where the kidnapped subject is.”

The foot soldier simply shook its head. 

“Fine, then will the one called the Foot Soldier warn the one called the Shredder and the one called Karai that the kidnapped subject has escaped from the place where the kidnapped subject was before.” 

‘Fuck, that’s not good.’ you thought, fear paralysing you underneath the table until the foot soldier left. You quietly made your way out of the table and behind the Kraang droid. With one jab to its pink innards, it squealed, struggling against your attack. After a few good stabs in, the droid fell to the ground with a thud. 

Fear drove your body to leave the room and find any form of escape, but the darkness ultimately left you defenceless. You sifted through the darkness, grazing your hand against the wall to find a door or a room you could shelter in. The sound of thumping metal made you open the door your hand brushed against but before you could do that, you were pulled by your shirt and thrown against the corridor’s window. More aching flew through your back as the sound and sight of cracking glass paralysed you in terror. 

As your eyes slowly adjusted, you made out the face of a man, one with menacing eyes and a dark brown beard. His grip lay taut against your throat, thumbs pressing deep underneath your chin as he pulled out a knife. You tried placing a few good kicks into his stomach, but he was unaffected. He grazed the knife against your cheek, the fresh cut oozing blood. He kept pressing deeper until you let go of your right arm and swung the wakizashi into his cheek. He fell back, landing hard on the ground, knocking him partially unconscious. 

Part of you told you to leave; just get out of there before more show up and render you senseless. Another, however, more stronger and prominent than the latter, told you to walk back to that man and beat him. Beat him for what he tried to do to you, the sicko, and you did just that. Rage seized your veins as you dropped the wakizashi and flung a kick into his chin before he could get back up, placing a well-good bruise. You didn’t hesitate beating him, for you knew that for one second if you stopped, he’d get back up and do even worse. 

At that moment, a pair of arms pulled you off of the man, leaving you screaming for mercy, wishing that you’d listen to your other part. The sensible one who wanted to keep you safe. You flailed and squirmed in a panic-induced trance until a voice threw you out of it: 

“Hey- Hey! It’s me, look! It’s me!” 

Your squirming subsided down as you stared wide at Leonardo, carrying a similar expression. He held your shoulders, his eyes asking you what on earth happened. All you could do was mumble and mutter like a helpless idiot. Why couldn’t you say something? Say something! Don’t just stand there and stare, why are you doing this? 

“I… I- He just-” you mumbled before eventually grabbing Leo and embracing him with as much strength as you could gather. His presence was warm and his arms were comforting, as they were placed on your back. In your mind, you were punching yourself, almost the same if not worse than the man. How could you be this mindless, this senseless? You were getting involved with mutated turtles, dangerous kunoichi and vigilantism. What did you expect? Did you expect to mercilessly mow through the bad guys and get back home just in time for dinner? Did you expect late-night patrols where you got to experience the city’s beauty while fighting criminals at the same time? Did you expect to find the fine line between what makes a criminal and a person who does criminal things? You honestly didn’t know what you expected. 

“Let me get you home, okay?” Leo spoke, his thumb grazing your cheek wound and his soft voice resting easily in your ears. You slightly nodded, getting up from your position and resting your arm over his shoulders. As you walked away, you noticed the wakizashi, the same one you dropped like a fool. In one fluid motion, you slid it underneath your foot and dipped down, low enough to grab it and sneak it in your sweater sleeve while half-acting in fake pain, half-not-acting in actual pain. It was choppy, but by the look on his face, it worked. You could hopefully rest easy knowing you have a weapon in hand, even if it’s the weapon of a former beloved. 

The next morning didn’t help. Your mind was muddled, consumed by a fog you couldn’t get past. You sat at your desk, tapping your pencil to signal yourself to zone your own mind back in. The clock ticked agonisingly slow, almost as if to torment you in your own personal predicament. The teacher kept droning on something about the Renaissance but you could barely keep yourself together. 

“Psst, dude. You good?” Casey asked, nudging your foot. 

“Hm? Oh, yeah. Just a bit tired.” you answered, almost shocked at your casual tone. Casey nodded and went back to scribbling in his notebook. All of a sudden, the lights cut out. As soon as the darkness filled the entire room, you felt your heartbeat race and your hands began to tremble. Your breaths kept going in and out sporadically: in, in, out, in, in out. Dread controlled your veins as you raced out of the classroom, panting just to get a few seconds of your breath back. 

You stopped at a nearby stairwell, resting your back against the railing. You kept rubbing circles into your forearms with your scabbed knuckles, trying to mitigate your breathing until it was back to deep and controlled. Then, you repeated a simple checklist in your mind. 

5 things you can see:

The hideous beige-coloured walls

Your jeans, the ones with ripped hems 

Your hands.

The cyan windows 

Your bloody hands.

4 things you can feel:

The stairwell

Your hands.

His face.

Your hands.

Your bloodied hands.

“Dude, there you are!” Casey exclaimed. You turned your head towards him as he carefully approached you, taking a seat next to you. “You okay?” 

“Yeah…” you shakily breathed out. “I’m not having the greatest day today. I’d rather I not talk about it right now. 

“Understandable, bro. Just know that teach is kinda worried that you disappeared during the blackout. You ready to go back yet?” 

A pause. You sighed, trying to recollect your mind until you nodded. As you walked back to the classroom, it was hard to say what state your mind was in at the moment and even when you got back, it was still difficult to define. Hopefully, this was just a one-day thing. You opened your laptop, already noticing a notification, from your mother. 

10:23

Mom:

The Dobsons are going out at 6pm. Please be there early. They have a sweet girl named Chloe that you’ll love. 

Right. That. You’d completely forgotten at this point, which only made you land your head into your keyboard as you contemplated killing your mother. You’re gonna have to work overtime for this.

[triple-asstro]

Salai Chapter 12: Like Spiderman

a/n: ITS OUT BBYYY i like this chapter a lot since it's more development on leo and salai i hope you enjoy it too <3

song: strangers by kenya grace

word count: 4.1k

Leonardo couldn’t sleep that night. It was an unwavering force that pried open his eyes, no matter how hard he tossed and turned, as he kept himself buried underneath his blanket. It'd been practically two weeks since he heard from his friend. He couldn’t remember the amount of letters and notes he’d sent, along with a small box he was tugging at. Were they okay? Could they be okay? 

His mind concluded: it was time to write. 

It’s been a while since I wrote. I’ve written about five letters asking if they’re okay, but they haven’t answered any of them. I’m not gonna pry or spy like Donnie does, which is pretty creepy, but my worries don’t leave my mind. I’ve tried meditation, drinking herbal tea; even swinging like they said; nothing! My heart feels like it’s shaking, almost. It’s incredibly weird. 

A ring echoed from somewhere underneath his sheets, as a gentle vibration was sent through his spine. He flinched, before rolling over, grabbing it to see who was calling him this late. He saw your name. Fumbling around, he snatched his phone, answering as he cleared his throat. 

“Hey- uhh- hey, what’s up?” 

What’s up?! You haven’t seen them in weeks and you start with that? 

“Hey Leo… First, I’m really sorry that I haven’t been talking in a few weeks.” 

“Sure, yeah, it’s alright. Just why?” 

“Umm…” their voice grew more silent. Leo’s nerves were practically on point. “How do I say this?” 

“Say what?”

“Is it normal for tentacles to grow out of my back?” 

The time was around 2:30 in the morning, on an even Friday, thank god. Leo’s instructions were evident and firm; head straight to the lair. You passed by multiple streets and alleys, spotting new shards of glass and broken canisters spread across the city. Thoughts inside your mind were muddled, resembling mud more than water. 

Two blocks, that’s all you needed to walk. Then, you had to make a right. Simple enough. 

You could feel a fresh breeze graze your neck. Instinctively, you turned around and raised your wakizashi, only to realise that you were threatening the late-October air. You must’ve been going insane. That’s the only explanation. 

Speaking of explanations, how were you going to explain this? The infant tendrils kept scraping against both your skin and your abundance of clothing. Their leathery textures didn’t add any comfort either, itching and irritating every inch of skin it scraped. 

You wanted these things gone, before it got worse. 

You made your two blocks and right turn, descending the ladders as fast as you could. The rust stung your skin, sticking chunks of it to your palm. Your former sting had faded, only leaving a small mark, one that could’ve been mistaken for a mosquito or bug. As you hopped down, you raced towards the faint light of the lair. The irritation only grew, driving your feet deeper and pushing off with more force than ever. 

Practically throwing yourself over the bannisters, you landed with a frantic jump. But when you looked up, you saw a familiar red-headed face within the crowd of mutants. Another glance past them reconfirmed your suspicions. Soon, you were ushered into another room by Donnie. He looked mad by the crinkling of his nonexistent brow. Either by you stealing one of his gadgets or something entirely different. The room looked dark and menacing, with multiple metals and gadgetry strewn across tables. It was both impressive and odd. 

The door opened once again, and Donnie appeared. His eyes seemed tired as he draped a white coat over his figure. He gestured over to a makeshift doctor’s bench made of old office chairs taped together, and you obliged. 

“So, can you tell me how this happened?”

“Well… I was on my way home and I saw this broken canister lying on the ground. There wasn’t any ooze or anything, just some dead creatures inside. So I disposed of it in the dumpster nearby. Next thing I know, I’m getting ready for bed and I feel this sharp sting on my skin, so I smack it and this…creature falls out. So I think: oh, just a bug. Nothing to worry about. Cut to five minutes later. I’m scratching and itching all over my back. I go to the bathroom, and tiny tendrils are sprouting out of my back!” 

“Then you called Leo?”

“Yep,” you nodded. 

“Okay, can I see these tendrils?” 

“Uh.. okay?” you answered, slightly lifting your jacket and shirt. The four tendrils seemed to wince at the fluorescent light, retracing back into your back. The movement sent a shiver down your spine. He glanced at it for a while, prodding and studying the creatures. After what felt like hours, he motioned you to let go of your shirt, letting it rest back on your back. 

“Well, it’s certainly odd. I’ll give it that.” 

“I’d hope so. Tendrils on anyone or anything isn’t a normal occurrence.” 

“It’s probably something to do with that thing that bit you. For now, you’re gonna have to stay here so we can monitor you, in case anything starts mutating or developing.”

“Understandable,” you said, nodding. Donnie nodded back, leaving you to your own devices. You took this time to truly gaze at your new friends. They were tiny, almost like velcro, constantly squirming now that they were out. Every time they moved, you could feel a twinge of discomfort speed down your back, like it was attached to the damn thing. This was everything you weren’t anticipating. 

A swing through the air twirled your head around, only to see Leonardo standing in the middle of the door. His eyes looked less tired, to your delight. But when your gaze glanced downwards, your stomach slightly sank at the sight of multiple bandages. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey, are you feeling better?” 

“Sort of. I know that, hopefully, I’m gonna be okay.” 

He sauntered over towards you, placing a mug emitting light steam next to you. 

“What’s this?”

“Oh, it’s just some herbal tea that should help with your pain. I thought it would help.” 

You grabbed the cup and took a sip, humming as the tea slid down your throat warmly. “Hmm, that’s good.” 

“R-Really? It’s… good? ” 

“Yeah, I feel slightly better now,” you said, an uncomfortable silence wafting in the air. “Are you okay?” 

“Yes, I’m alright.” 

“Okay,” you stated, slapping your knees lightly. “I apologise for just dropping off the radar. It’s this stupid, stupid thing I do whenever I feel like something’s going to end badly. It’s saving myself when there’s no danger in sight. It’s no excuse for what I did, but I’m working on it.” 

Leo nodded. “It’s alright, I’m just glad you’re okay.” 

You smiled, concealing the growing warmth in your heart. The sinking sensation in your stomach transformed into a fluttering, “I’ve got an idea, if you’re willing to hear me out.” 

“Alright, let me hear it.” 

“We should team up. If you’re going against these Kraangs and the Shredder, I wanna help as much as I can. I should be able to do something, right?” 

He chuckled. “I’m glad you want to help, but I don’t want to see you hurt.” 

“I’m not going to get hurt.” 

Leo stared into your eyes, your expression never changing. “And if I do, we’ll deal with it. Together.” 

“...I’m still unsure. You’re willing to take this risk?” 

You snicker slightly. “Yes, I take this risk, Oh Fearless Leader Leonardo. Leader-nardo! ” 

As you reached your hand to shake his, you felt a strong twinge on your back. Your arm thrusted out, as did your tendril. It emerged from your back and sped in the same direction as your arm, nearly decapitating poor Leo. Pain coursed through your back, small drops of blood decorated the floor. The tendril embedded itself into the wall as small pieces of concrete shed off and fell onto the ground. Its skin was a deep magenta, leathery, and spiked to all hell. 

“Fuck!” you exclaimed. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Are you?” 

“I think so. It was only moderately painful.” 

“...i’m getting Donnie.”

“Fair enough.” 

After almost killing their brother, the turtles were now certain of monitoring you. If one tiny tendril only took a few hours to develop into a massive two-metre one, what else could happen? This culminated in your entire early morning being taken up by Donnie staring at you, clutching onto his clipboard with all of his strength. You’re surprised it didn’t break underneath it. The other tendrils were quite the challenge. Second one developed around three in the morning. You were laid with your back towards the sky, mildly dreading the pain you were about to experience.

Mikey sat next to you, patting your head, which didn’t help with the pain. Leo kept supplying tea to soothe your nerves and stay by your side, which did help.

What did Raph do during this time, you may ask? He kept mercilessly taunting you, and if you ever asked him about it, he’d say he was simply teasing. Thankfully, it was quickly shut down with the second tendril sprouting and shoving him across the room. You were too busy cackling to yourself to process the pain. Two tendrils out of four, done. 

Tendril number three came out more calmly compared to the rest, only injuring small kitchen appliances; This one grew at four thirty-seven in the morning. You were headed to finally eat something to keep yourself awake. As you placed some toast into the toaster, you heard something unusual, like the hurried rushing of three people all at once. As soon as you turned around, you got the panicked expressions of Raphael, Donnie and Mikey, which swiftly dissipated when they saw you. 

“What’s got you all riled up?” 

“Nothing, just don’t let Leo anywhere near that thing. Trust me, you don’t wanna know.” 

“Alright… April? Do you want anything?” 

April sat on the couch, silent. She was muttering to herself, fidgeting with an unknown object. 

“...okay. Keep talking to yourself.” 

“Feeling better?” Mikey asked. 

“Yeah, after like two of them, my back’s kinda invincible. Tough as nails.” 

“That’s what I’m talking about, bro! You’re gonna be alright. Swimming with the fishes!” 

“...that’s a saying of death, Mikey.” 

“I appreciate the effort, really I do,” you responded, carrying your plate of freshly popped toasts towards April. Leo was sitting there too, watching Space Heroes. Your back was aching in pain due to two tendrils bursting out of it. Your mind felt almost indifferent to the change you were going through. Maybe it just hasn’t sunk in yet. 

“April… April? ” 

“What?” she spat. Her eyes grew wide before realising what she said. “Sorry, just focused right now.” 

“It’s alright. Just wanna ask if you wanted some toast.” 

“Oh… that actually sounds good. Thanks.” she said, taking a piece and chewing on one corner. She hummed in delight. 

“Hey April,” called Donnie. “Wanna check out what I’m making over here?” 

April fell silent, her lips flattened into a singular line. 

“Uh… kinda busy right now, Donnie.” 

“Oh..okay.” 

You blinked, nibbling on your portion of toast. “Huh. That was weird.” 

“Yeah… I need to get some air,” April huffed, walking away from her previous spot and into a miscellaneous tunnel. 

“Okay then…?” You hum to yourself before turning to the blue-clad mutant who was staring at the screen with some intensity, you worried he might shred it up with his mind. “Hey, Leo?” 

“Hm?” he hummed, disconnecting his eyes away from the screen and towards you. “What’s up?”

“What do you think happens when one of them gets cut off?” 

Leo pressed his fist underneath his chin, squinting. “It’ll probably stay cut off. I’m not the type of guy you want to talk about this kind of stuff. It's more Donnie’s thing.

“I wanna hear your opinion about it. That’s why I asked: What do you think?” 

He stopped, processing your response. His eyes went blank, as if staring off into an unknown space.

A sharp wave of heat enveloped you, causing you to clutch your forehead. Leo reacted, placing his hand on your forehead. 

“Fever. Hold on.” 

He paused the TV, rushing towards the kitchen, to which everyone panicked. Thankfully, it was only to grab an ice pack to place on your forehead. You mumbled out a thank you in response. 

“What does it feel like?” asked Mikey. 

“Like giving birth, only four times.” 

“Gnarly sight…” 

“And image,” you chuckled. You watched him give you a brief thumbs up, walking away. You glanced back, noticing Leo’s immediate head-turn. He was staring. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey…” he responded, scratching the back of his neck. “Still feeling okay?”

You chuckle at his worry, but wince as pain pangs throughout your head “Yes, Leader-nardo. I haven’t moved even once.” 

“I know, just checking.” 

“And I appreciate it. You’re watching Space Heroes?” 

He shrugged his shoulders, reaching for the remote with his free hand. “Oh, it was just on. We can switch it.” 

“No wait, I think I remember this episode! The one where Captain Ryan fights the Cortexicons and Hypnotica?”

“Yeah, that one! Have you watched it before?”

“I know what it’s about, but I’m still on season one…” 

“You’re watching season one? What’s your opinion so far?” he said, questions continuing to flow out of his mouth at record speed.

“It’s pretty good. A bit cheesy, but enjoyable.” 

You both looked back at the screen, eyes wide. As you kept watching the episode, you felt a twinge in your back. Was another ready to pop out? Surges of pain coursed through you, the clawing against your back smacked your head in realisation. It kept scratching and clawing at your fleshy back, ripping the pre-existing holes and making them bleed. 

With a jolt, you lurched back, groaning out your pain. Leo rushed towards your side, hands hovering in uncertainty. Everyone else crowded around you, varying between understanding what was going on and ignoring. Meanwhile, you kept grabbing at your head, pulling out some hairs in the process. The appendage burst out of your back, sending blood splattering and agonising aches through you. As soon as it escaped your back, it landed on the floor with a wet thud. Three out of- 

Another jolt of pain jabbed your back. This time, swiftly and efficiently. 

“Oh, come on!” you exclaimed, throwing your arms into the ground. Coincidentally, your tendrils did the same, driving themselves into the ground, cracking them into pieces. They lifted you up, letting your body hover above. The fourth, and hopefully final, appendage finally escaped your back and landed on the ground like the rest. Your back was draped with blood, along with the back of your t-shirt and jacket. You looked around the crowd, seeing everyone's concerned yet scared expressions. Except Raph, he was ecstatic. 

When morning arrived, you were exhausted. You alternated between checkups with Donnie, washing your bloodied clothes with Mikey, and resting for prolonged periods of time with Leo and Raph. Those times were when they weren’t bickering and bantering with one another.

Somehow, Raph had pulled you aside and propped you in front of his punching bag. To ‘test out your new abilities’, he said. You were still groggy and exhausted, but gave it a go, anyway. Better to comply than argue more.

“Okay, can you try to lift one of your…things?”

“My…things?”

“Y’know, your…limb.” 

“Nice phrasing there,” you snidely remarked. You concentrated your mind, commanding it to levitate, and it did. After a few seconds of strain, you confidently made it hover above the ground, controlling it like it was your own arm. 

Raph nodded, his smile quivering in excitement. “Alright, now hit it.” 

“Hit…what?” 

“The dummy, idiot.” 

“Oh, like this?” 

You hurled your appendage towards the punching bag, watching in amazement as it shattered into a million pieces. Stuffing scattered the floor, along with the sound of crashing metal. Before you could blink, the door towards the dojo swung open. The force of the slam was enough to send shivers down your spine. 

“What was that noise?!” 

“Sorry, sensei, might’ve destroyed my punching bag.” 

“Who is this?” he said. The tall rat man stared at you with confusion and menace in his eyes. 

“Oh, hi mister…rat. I’m Leo’s friend. Really sorry about the mess. I’ll clean it up.” 

He approached closer towards you, looming above with intimidation. His eyes never removed themselves from you, analysing your every move and mannerism. What was he looking for? After five more seconds of uncomfortable silence, he stepped back and lightly slammed his green staff. 

“It is nice to meet another one of Leonardo’s friends. I can trust that you’ll keep up a secret?”

“Of course.” 

“Good.” With that being said, he turned around, retreating to the dojo.. 

You turned towards Raph, a nervous look adorned your face. “Was that good or bad?”

“Good, you didn’t make him mad.” 

After that encounter, tiredness took a hold of you. Its waves came violent and tumultuous, which eventually led you to collapse onto the couch in a huff. 

You woke up, memory in a haze, and with your head on Leonardo’s shoulder. The weight of his head on yours sent warm waves in your heart and stomach. Looking around, the rest of the brothers had fallen asleep or left, Mikey and Donnie being piled on top of another. You had no idea what to think, but you couldn’t deny that it was nice. 

However, something inside of you wanted to explore. It wanted to find out: what exactly more can these tendrils do? 

“Leo, hey.”

He woke up, as if a jolt surged through him. His eyes squished together before opening wide. That simple action felt like a hug around your heart. “What? Is something wrong?” 

“No, another idea just popped into my mind.” 

“What is it?”

“Let’s go out.” 

Leo’s voice faltered. Go out? Go out, like a date? “What?” 

“Outside, test these things once again. What if I could use them, like Spiderman?” 

“Oh. Oh yeah! I’m just a bit worried.” 

Your voice lowered. “About…what?”

Leo straightened his back, adjusting his posture. “The risk, what if you could get hurt?” 

“Okay, how about we can go out for ten minutes, and if at any point you feel like we need to dip, we leave. Does that sound ok?”

He paused, eyes static. Then, they went calm again, his pupils slightly enlarging when he glanced back at you. “Okay.” 

The night sky tasted fresh. You were positioned at the edge of a rooftop, a small can elevated above you on the rooftop exit. All you wanted to do was hit it. You took a deep breath in, closing your eyes as you repeated the command in your head: hit the can. 

You felt the command warp your body and lift your appendage. With one more affirmation, you thrusted it towards the can. A clatter, along with a clap, convinced you to open your eyes. To your shock, it just missed the can. 

“Ugh…” 

“Hey, you almost got it. That’s progress.” 

“Yeah, almost. I almost got it.”

“You can try a different position?”

You both paused. 

“That’s what-”

“-she said. I know.”

You gasped, crossing your arms. “How dare you, you asshole! You finally get my jokes?”

“Yes, Raph had to explain them to me.”

“Oh, that’s hilarious. And concerning.” 

Leo chuckled, the corners of his mouth tugging into a smile. You chuckled as well, eyes softening. He’d hardly been this giddy, even in front of you. Your eyes wandered, spotting a hanging metal bar from a nearby crane. From the looks of it, it was inoperable.

“I’m gonna try something.” 

“Try what?” 

“Something potentially dumb,’” you said. With a swift rush, you dashed off the rooftop, commanding your appendage to grab the pole. Now, if you were betting the right cards, your limb would listen to you and grip onto the metal beam. Thankfully, for both Leo’s sanity and your health, it did. The air flew across your skin, the smell of rain wafting through your nose. You catapulted yourself into the air, however, didn’t take account of what would happen after. The sudden rush of adrenaline and the tremendous speed of your descent sent you into a mild state of panic. 

“Shit!” you yelped. Your first instinct was to extend all of your tendrils in an attempt to stop your descent. However, another force jolted your body. It grabbed at you and landed on the opposing rooftop. When you finally opened your eyes, you glanced upwards.

That proved to be a colossal mistake. The sight of Leo’s panicked yet soft expression sent another flood of confusion and joy through your body. His body relaxes as he sees that you’re unharmed, dropping you to the ground. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just got caught in the moment. Sorry for the scare,” you responded. His shoulder relaxed as the tension subsided. His shoulders relaxed as the tension subsided As you got to your feet, brushing yourself off, you noticed the way Leo kept his hands behind his back.

Was he hiding something?

A smile spread across your lips, One that was smug, and had Leo gripped in nervousness. 

“What? You’re scaring me…” 

“Nice try, what’s behind your back?” 

Leo shrunk, his shoulders retracting back into himself. With an uneasy grip, he revealed what exactly he was hiding: a tiny box with a silver ribbon wrapped around it. The ends were tattered with further inspection, but you were more marvelled at the surprisingly clean state of it. 

“Did you steal this?” 

“No…well, only the box. But I definitely didn’t steal it from a shop-”

“I was just asking a joke, but I admire your dedication.” 

You opened the box, discarding the lid, before peering inside, only to see a small bracelet, handwoven with carven wooden ornaments. Bringing the bracelet up to your face, you noticed, upon further inspection, that the wooden ornaments weren’t wooden, they were… acorns ; carved into small objects. 

“That one was of the time you gave me your jacket, I promise I will give it back to you,” he said, pointing at the jacket-carved one. The rest were as follows: a bluebell, a purple lilac, and Saturn. 

“Oh, it’s fine, you...you can keep it.” 

You couldn’t help but slightly chuckle at the adorableness, resting your hand on your cheek. You wanted to hug him, to squeeze him as hard as you could; but you can’t. Too embarrassing.

“I’m going to wear this for the rest of my life. I hope you know that.”

“Really? Um - thanks.” 

“No problem, really, it’s great,” you said, smiling up at him. You immediately bite it back, as he turns back to face you once more, “So, you wanna try that again?”

With a smile on your face, you jumped off the roof again, grabbing onto Leo as you swung. You felt your body fling into the air, sending adrenaline coursing through you. But this time, you kept your eyes open. A building’s wall was just a few metres away. You could easily catch it, right? Yes. 

Meanwhile, Leo was clinging onto your body like a frenzied lemur. His entire body was frozen, never before has he been this terrified. Even compared to fights against Foot Clan and numerous mutant beasts, this takes the cake. 

You leapt above, swinging past building by building. At this point, you dropped Leo off at another rooftop, because he was afraid of dying an early death. While swinging with Leo had a bonus of having him by your side, you understood the immediate fear of heights would detour some people. As you swung and he jumped from rooftop to rooftop, a certain building with white walls and a bright green plus sign caught your attention. 

You halted, landing on the fire escape near the window, only to instantly regret your decision. The sight of beeping monitors and bright fluorescent lights didn’t help either. A limp figure sat in a distant chair, slowly breathing in and out, eyes dull and strained from the light. A lump sinked in your stomach as you leaned away from the window. 

You couldn’t look at it, no way. 

“Hey, you ok?”

A hand rested on your hand, and your fist hurled into Leo’s stomach. Surprisingly, he keeled over, groaning in pain. 

“Oh shit, Leo! Are you ok? God, I’m so sorry…” 

“It’s fine… Just don’t try to do it again,” he mumbled, catching the figure in his sight. His shoulders rested. “Is that someone you know?” 

“It’s..no one. Just caught my eye,” you said, averting your eyes. With a chill down your back, you hopped on the railing. “Let’s go, okay?”

He sighed. “Okay.”

[triple-asstro]

Salaì Chapter 8: Same Coin, Manhattan Boy

chapter count: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7

word count: 2.7k

pairing: 2012!leo x reader

ao3/wattpad

@jasontoddisbest - thank you once again <3333

A/N: hi hi! here's chapter 8! let me know if you like these longer chapters more or prefer the older, shorter ones &lt;;33

playlist

chapter song: promiscuous - nelly furtado

banners by @saradika

Your freakout was chalked up to unsteady nerves. That’s what you hoped at least, as you walked down the stairs towards the cafeteria. You had no idea why you reacted like that due to something so plain as darkened lights. The debacle wrapped around your mind, trapping you in a fog. You got in line, impatiently tapping your foot to drum out the chattering noise and looking down at your phone. You’d been searching more about the Space Heroes show that Leo talked about, and it proved to be a good mind filler. Eventually, it was your turn. Approaching the lunch lady, you tapped your card on the sensor and waited for your lunch to arrive. Just then, you felt a finger tap your shoulder. 

You whipped around, jolting away from the touch only to see Ms Brooks, the science teacher, raising her hand half up. 

“Woah, sorry about that kiddo. Didn’t mean to scare you there.” 

“No problem…” you muttered. 

“What’s that?” she asked, nodding towards the big cut across your face. It was still healing over, along with some bandages covering it. “Are ya’ alright?” 

“Yeah, just got into a gnarly encounter with a cat..” you answered, pointing towards the wound. She chuckled, her smile indenting small dimples above her cheeks. 

“Okay, just be careful next time. I’ve heard that there’s some ooze that’s been rainin’ down on the city, turning people into all sorts of freaks of nature. What class ya’ have next?” 

“English, and I wouldn’t worry about those conspiracy theories..” 

“I know… But there’s been so many disappearances. They just shake you to your core.” she mumbled, shivers echoing down her spine. “I hope you have fun in English!”

Your plate arrived shortly after and you took your plate and left, waving goodbye to Ms Brooks. You scanned the room, observing for Tina or Casey to find some place to sit. Eventually, after you went outdoors, you found them parked at a bench positioned underneath a whirling office fan that looked like it was about to rip off its hinges. You gave a small wave towards Tina as she waved back. 

“There you are, you took forever!” she exclaimed, patting you on the back as you sat down next to her. “Woah, what the fuck happened to you?” 

“Casey Jones seconds that, what happened?” 

“Cats, and the lunchline was taking forever, not me.” you stated. 

“It’s true, I saw it. Going as far as the Casey Jones eye can see.” he said, shrinking his shoulders and extending his arm dramatically. 

“Not saying much, Casey,” Tina remarked. You chuckled to yourself, eager to butt in. “Yeah Case, not truly saying a lot.” 

“Why are you all ganging up on Casey Jones? That’s not fair!” he exclaimed, crossing his arms. 

“You’re right Casey,” Tina admitted, raising her hands up, with you staring at her with a confused look. “It isn’t fair. It’s truth.” 

You snickered, watching Casey’s jaw open to the floor, and almost hurling a half-baked potato at her. 

“Is today babysitting day? I forgot,” Tina asked, unravelling her wrap. 

“Yeah, I’m babysitting the Dobsons’ kid,” you answered, sticking a fork entwined with pasta in your mouth, the sauces tasting mediocre. 

“ You’re babysitting?” Casey reiterated, eyes widening in response. You kept your confused expression from before, this time without the added layer of playfulness. 

“Yes, I can do a good job at it. I babysit you both on a daily basis, how hard can babysitting a child be?”

“Hey, we’re not that bad.” 

“Yeah, you’re starting to sound like Leo-” Casey said before stopping himself, slapping his hand over his mouth. You widen your eyes towards him, as if almost to emphasise how much of an idiot he was being right now. Your mind started to formulate excuses in case Tina started asking questions and of course, Tina being Tina, she started asking.

“Leo-who? Who’s Leo? Is he new here or something?” 

“Oh, he’s just another one of Casey’s numerous tutors. I think Leo’s the one for science, right?” you questioned, turning towards him, compelling him to play along. Only thing he did was mumble and mutter like a malfunctioned printer. Thinking quickly, you played along again. “Oh, no April’s your science tutor, right?” 

Finally, he stopped muttering. “Yeah! Red’s been tutoring me all about the sciences!” 

“Such as?” Tina questioned. Casey opened his mouth, before shutting it mouth again. “But I thought April was teaching you about maths?”

“Well… I needed another one. I switched subjects.” 

“Yep, okay my mind’s working now. Leo’s his maths tutor, April’s the science tutor. All clear.” you stated, laying your hands down as everyone went back to eating; Tina still having her dubious expression. You quietly breathed out of relief, proud that you were able to handle the situation with ease. Now, you had to go home, pack your kit, and simply wait for Chloe Dobson. 

font: liu jian mao cao

Last night’s mission went alright. Oh, what am I kidding, it went awfully. I can’t believe that I’d let Karai capture them, and they had to injure a man too… I feel terrible. 

I tried to take my mind off things during training today, but I was entirely sloppy. My posture wasn’t straight and all of my moves were at least half-accurate. I was surprised my brothers haven’t noticed, or Sensei. I saw some 

My mind is still focused on last night. Why was Karai there? Was she going to hurt them? No, of course not. She won’t. The entire time I brought them home, they had this dazed look on their face. They still had that cut above their cheek, it haunts me. I wish I could’ve stopped it earlier. If I was just a bit faster, or more useful of my time… I just hope that they’re okay. The way that they… did that to that man, it sort of scared me. But it reassured me a bit, knowing they could do that without my help. 

These past few missions and patrols have me feeling kinda paranoid. We encountered a grisly sight last night. Two foot clan members bloody. They were both piled on top of one another, dead. It scared me, and it scared the others too. I shielded Mikey’s eyes, I didn’t want him to see this. I distracted the rest and we moved onto another section. They each had an arrow mark on their shoulder, it had to be from Salai. That vigilante. They saved us from some KRaang earlier this week, I had no idea they were back. I thought they were gone after we sunk the Technodrome. But, they beat up thugs and Foot Clan members just like us, but we’ve never murdered anyone. Could they be a spy from the Kraang?

I hope they don’t come after them. I’ve been hanging out with them these past few weeks and they’re really cool. Like Captain Ryan levels of cool. I’m trying my best to keep it cool. I think it’s working. I hope it’s working. I have an idea  

“Dude, pizza’s here,” Mikey announced, bursting through the door. Leo instinctively covered his book with a nearby blanket. Silence echoed in the room decorated with faint sounds of chatter and a distinct raindrop banging against the metal floor. 

“What is in that?” 

“Oh, that? Nothing!” he awkwardly chuckled, pushing the book farther away into the blankets and approached the door. “Just monologuing some thoughts down!” 

“Alright, bro.” he snickered. “Last one there’s a rotten egg!” 

“Aw, hey no fair!” Leo exclaimed as Mikey pushed over his head and dashed towards the living room. He sighed, rushing towards Mikey’s direction. He could think more about the idea another time. 

Rain poured hard on your grape-colored coat, the repetitive drops on your head served as peaceful background noise for your mind to wander. Fog encompassed the sidewalk, your headphones filling savoury melodies into your ears. You hadn’t paid much mind to the songs with you simply letting them come and go with no secondary thought but with these past songs, curiosity and intrigue plagued your mind. Deciding to satiate this hunger, you carefully pulled out your phone, shielding the screen with your other hand. The words: “Summertime Sadness by Lana del Rey” flashed on screen along with the words: “maise daddy issues playlist” . You chuckled to yourself, tucking your phone back into your pocket and continued walking. It was hard without Maise near you, even if ‘near you’ meant trying to break in your door or obnoxiously pushing you off the couch nearly smothering you. She’d always advised you that you were gonna have to get situated with life without her, which in hindsight sounded more like a warning than advice.

A clattering noise from an alleyway made you whip your head to your left, pulling your head out of bereft for your dear sister. You dug through your bag, gripping the wakizashi tight. You entered into the alleyway, carefully taking step after step in the dark environment. Breathe in, breathe out. Remain calm. 

A sewer cover flipped in the air, sending wind and slight smoke flying everywhere. You shielded your face with your arms as you saw a faint shadow speed across the walls. You could barely keep up with it before spotting it flying near you. Without a second thought, you swung a hard fist into the shadow, hearing a deep groan echo from it. 

As your eyes refocused, they saw a familiar deep blue bandana tilting his head towards the ground and clutching his stomach in pain. 

“Leo! Christ, I am so sorry; you alright?” you asked, offering your hand in assistance. He waved it down, slowly easing back up. 

“No, I’m alright.” he answered. “I was actually looking for you.” 

“Me? W-why?” you questioned, crossing your arms. Why was he looking for you? Wait, he was looking for you? Why? Is there something behind this? No, no it’s probably for something simple. Don’t overthink it. 

“I wanted to offer you something. Especially after last night.” 

“Heh, that’s what she said.” you joked.

Silence. 

“Huh?” 

“Nevermind, what did you want to offer?” you asked, embarrassment flushing your cheeks. 

“Do you want to talk inside the lair? It’s less wet there than out here.” he offered. You nodded your head, eager to escape the chilly wet cold, no matter how beautiful it looked. You both ducked into the sewer, descending down the ladder. The mossy layers remained the same, still lingering onto the scent of fresh rain. The metal stinged your skin as you and Leo hopped off the rusty ladder, landing on the ground. He led you through multiple pipes, ones you didn’t recognize from your earlier trip with Casey. This endless maze continued, leaving your mind scrambled and confused until you spotted familiar turnstiles and grey flooring that still had the dust spots around where you landed. 

“Oh, there we are.” you sighed out as Leo hopped over the turnstile, offering a helping hand to which you accepted. His skin felt surprisingly smooth, hardly feeling the scales. You softly smiled to yourself as you landed on the other side, quickly dropping the expression before he could notice. 

“So, what did you want to offer, now that we’re out of the rain?” you asked, focusing on his expression. It was calm, focused, normal. He didn’t notice at all. 

“Well, because of your encounter with Karai, I thought you deserved some explanations and if you’re up to it, a training session.” 

“How do you know Karai?” 

“My family’s a part of the Hamato Clan, a ninja clan that was originally situated in Tokyo before moving here. We thought we wiped out the Foot Clan all those years ago, but they’re still attacking us. Their leader is the Shredder, who has a vendetta against my sensei. Karai attacked some of us in affiliation with the Foot Clan.” 

“Are your brothers a part of this clan too?” you asked, sitting on one of the spare bean bags they had situated near the TV. 

“Yeah, they’re all a part of it. Including Casey.” he said. As you got up to follow him, you both approached the door. It was made completely out of yellow bamboo wood, the texture so abrasive that it could send splinters into your hand if you grazed it. 

“How do you know Casey, if you don’t mind me asking?” 

“Oh, I’ve been friends with him ever since grade school. I stuck around him because he’d always be up to talk with me. It’s nice having someone like him with me.” you said, as you saw his eyes curve downwards. “So, what are you showing me?” 

He swings the doors open, revealing a room with similar bamboo flooring. The grey walls covered the entire room, excluding the folding partitions and in the middle lay a humongous tree with luscious bushes growing away from it along with multiple traditional rugs embellishing the floors. The sight truly piqued your interest, and furthered your confusion. 

“Which room is this?” 

“This is my family’s dōjō, we use it for training mostly,” he said. “And here’s where we’re going to be performing your training. We can just go over the basics, and see where we go from there.” 

“Okay, how do I start?” you asked. 

“Well, first your posture’s off. You need to straighten your back and relax your shoulders. Like this,” he said, his hand readjusting your back and the other pushing down on your shoulders. You tried to keep your mind as quiet as you can, freezing in the position he altered you in. His hands still hovered over their spots before being quickly retracted back. 

“Like this?” you inquired. 

“Yeah, exactly like that. You’re doing perfect.” he responded. The supposed compliment almost embedded itself into your brain, echoing like a song in an empty cathedral. 

“What do I do next?” 

“Attack me.” he asked, unsheathing his katana attached to his side. Try your best and I’ll see what I’m dealing with.” 

“What you’re dealing with?” you chuckled, seeing his dubious expression. “I’ll show you what you’re dealing with, Leo.” 

Approaching him, you raised your fists near your cheeks and began swiftly punching. Leo jolted back, raising his arms to block one of your fists. Your fist was now lodged between his arms, the grip grew more taut. Thinking on instinct, you use your weight to shove him back, loosening the grip and allowing you to pry your fist free. You attempted to place a strong kick into his side, but as you wound it, he spotted your different stance and grabbed it immediately as it stuck to his side. Before you could breathe, he swooped your remaining leg, knocking you to the ground with a thud. 

You groaned in pain as you saw Leo carefully approach you, a distressed expression decorated his face. His oddly adorable face, to note. You pushed that thought to the side with a hearty chuckle before pushing yourself up, still glued to the floor. Leo, still wrapped in confusion, walked closer towards you. In a flash, you swiped your legs across Leo’s, knocking him to the ground with an even harder thud and leaving his katana to clatter along with him. You sped towards the katana, picking it up and playfully standing over him while twirling it on one spot. 

“This,” you stated, moving your grip towards the blade, the handle pointing towards Leonardo’s head. “Is what you’re dealing with.”  

Silence resonated in the room as you both shared a glance. It was the kind of glance that lingers for too long, not for inherently bad reasons. The glance that questions about something more, the glance that echos a million words without one ever being uttered. It was, inherently, a glance of confusion and a glance that words can never describe, yet is known worldwide. You broke the contact with a simple gesture of your hand, to which he gladly took. You pulled him up, attempting to dampen the swirling thoughts inside your head. 

“I… have to go. Got a babysitting gig.” 

“Yeah, I understand. You’ll do great.” 

“Thanks,” you said, giving him one more glance before taking off with a pounding heart and millions of questions left unanswered. 

[triple-asstro]

Salaì Chapter 9: Innocent Little Hamato Leonardo

chapter count: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8

word count: 2.6k

pairing: 2012!leo x reader

ao3

@jasontoddisbest - thank you <333

A/N: chapter nine! i thought i wouldn't get this out in time but surprisingly I did! my beta-reader (@jasontoddisbest bless them rn) works really quick and i appreciate them so much <;33

playlist

chapter song: enchanted - taylor swift

banners by @saradika

The Dobsons had quite the colourful apartment. While beige walls and wooden flooring were customary for any apartment, the vibrant tapestries displayed behind the TV and the abundant amount of plants embellished with LEDs flashing every colour imaginable was quite the sight. 

“Thank you so much for this, I promise we’ll be back by ten at the latest,” Chloe’s mom said, her head sticking out of the doorway. 

You turned towards her, tote-bag hanging from your hands. “No problem! I bet Mr. Dobson is going to enjoy this surprise you have planned. Where is Chloe?” 

“Oh, she’s in her room right now, she’s quite shy with new people. Chloe!” she called. Cluttering sounds could be heard from down the short hall. A door creaked open, along with a tuft of blonde hair covering a face. 

“Don’t be shy, honey. Say hi to the nice babysitter.” 

“Hi…” she quietly mumbled, stepping out of her room and approaching you. Underneath the mess of hair were two blue eyes and a shy smile.  “You must be Chloe, your mom talks about you a lot,” you introduced, reaching your hand out for a handshake.

The girl slightly shook her head towards you, which her mother noticed. 

“Chloe, we’re not rude to our guests. Shake their hand.”

“Oh no, it’s quite alright. It isn’t easy getting used to seeing a new face. But, I’m sure we’ll warm up.” you said. “Have fun, Mrs. Dobson.”

“Aren’t you a darling? Be sure to lock all the doors and windows, those news reports have been getting to my head… I’ll see you later!” she said, shutting the apartment door. You let out a heavy sigh, turning around to Chloe and kneeling down so you could properly see her. 

“So, what do you want to do?” 

Another solo mission from Leonardo, another confused expression from Splinter. It was natural for his sons to go out on solo missions before, but this frequently, almost back to back? It was abnormal, even for the supposed leader, Leo. 

“My son, a word please?” he asked. Leo spun around on his foot, shoulders straight and upper body bent. 

“Sensei, what’s up?” 

“Where are you going this late?” 

Leo laid his arms next to his sides. “On patrol. Where else?” 

“This is the fifth patrol this week, and on your own. Is something going on, my son?” 

My son. The words sounded foreign to Leo; of course he’d heard them before around his brothers and rarely during one on one, but it was still unusual. 

“No, nothing going on. Just dedicated, that’s all!” he said, desperately and unsuccessfully hiding the lies in his voice. Splinter cocked his eyebrow up, sending bullets through Leo’s body. Then, he simply nodded his head, clutching his emerald green staff. 

“Alright then, go.” 

Leo swiftly nodded before hopping over the turnstiles and disappearing into the night, a dubious look resting on Splinter’s face. 

font: shadow into light 

Honestly, babysitting isn’t that bad. I don’t see why Casey and Tina think I can’t do it. The kid, Chloe, is taking a nap right now. Got too tired after a harrowing game of Monopoly while the TV babbled on in the background. She said it helps her focus, and it does with me too, so who am I to judge?

The news keeps talking about a potential outbreak with people mutating into monstrosities. I had to switch the channel before it got too graphic. I mean, there’s no way that’s actually happening right? It’s just photoshop and conspiracies people invent because they’re bored. I’ve seen my fair share of robots and mutants but, if the news is true, what do I do? I should help in protecting this city, but I’m ultimately powerless. There’s others protecting this city too, so maybe I can rest my head for a while. 

Last night… it fucked me up. I have no idea how it did, but it messed with my mind. I tried beating up some Foot Clan goons to try and clean my mind from it? It didn’t work, only made it worse with their blood staining my hands. I can’t stop seeing his face, his mauled, beaten face. I had no choice, of course. What if you did? My heart keeps racing and I can’t even try and take a nap myself. Maybe I should just leave this Salaì thing behind. It’s done more harm than good. 

Leo seems like a nice guy, from what I’ve gathered from him. He’s very awkward, but not in the unnerving and off putting way surprisingly. More like the endearing and adorable kind. I think - no. He seems. - I can’t seem to write my thoughts down. No. What if he hates me? I mean, he saw me beat that guy with no hesitation. How could he not? 

“Mx. Babysitter?” 

Chloe’s voice called to you, instinctively shutting your journal close and stuffing it in your bag. 

“What is it, Chloe?” 

“Do you wanna have a tea-party with me?” she asked, yawning mid-way through her ask. You smiled, getting up from the couch and approaching her. 

“Of course I would love to have a tea party with you,” you agreed, knowing resistance would be hopeless. She opened the door to her room, the walls a blandish yellow with floral patterns, the flooring had a echoing creak with every step. Classical music played from a toy music player as she ushered you onto a tiny plastic chair. 

“Would you like some tea, Mx. Babysitter?” Chloe asked, her voice in a stereotypical British accent. 

Leo perched on the edge, his knees bent. Binoculars occupied his vision as he surveyed the landscape. It was odd, he’d rarely go out on rooftops to clear his head but now, he’s doing it three times a week. He found himself journaling for the first time ever. He couldn’t pinpoint what was troubling him, but it was something. 

Before he could blink, a blur sped across him and landed behind him. It was Karai, her mouth concealed with a mask. Her eyes were stern, fixated on his head and his head only. 

“Karai? What are you doing here?” 

“None of your business.” she spat. “You certainly were a surprise yesterday.” 

Leo scoffed. “I need to ask you something. Have you heard of Salaì?” 

She squinted her eyes, tilting her eyes to the left. “Perhaps. I’ve heard mentions from my subordinates.” 

“Your subordinates?” 

“Yes,” she said, holding her wakizashi in her hand. “I’ve seen you gotten closer to that human. ” 

Leo’s breath hitched. “Struck a nerve, Leo?” 

Karai charged towards him, raising her wakizashi to strike him, before he dodged, dust wafting in his eyes. He grounded himself again, planting his feet onto the floor. He lifted his katana up, blocking another swift jab from Karai. 

“I don’t want to fight you!” 

“Just because you’re defiant doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you,” she said. She rushed towards him, attempting to slash at his face. Thankfully, he evaded by grabbing her arm and yanked it behind him. Leo stepped back as Karai darted her head back in confusion. 

Anger filled her eyes, driving her to throw a jab towards Leo’s head. He blocked it, but not the secondary jab towards his stomach. He almost keeled over at the strength of her punch, kneeling on the ground, hand still gripped on his katana. She raised her fist once more before Leo released the bottom of his katana, revealing a small tantō which he used to deflect her attack and place it close to her neck. 

He froze, realising what he’d done, his eyes wide with shock. Her eyes were the same, quickly replaced with a mix of anger. Pure anger. 

“How’s your tea, Mx. Babysitter?” Chloe asked, carrying a tray with plastic teapots and small biscuits. She picked up the teapot and poured the tea into your cup. 

“It is quite splendid, Chloe. Did you make this yourself?”

“Yes, what does splendid mean?”

“It means something that’s exquisite.”

“What’s exquisite?”

“It just means great,” you said, sipping the contents. It was a sweet, robust taste along with hints of mint and berries; a fact you were slapped in the face with when you took a sip from your bottle. 

“Mx. Babysitter, can I ask you a question?” 

“Sure, what’s your question?” 

“Do you have a boyfriend?” 

You choked on the air, as many do. The question caught you off-guard. You knew that children were prone to ask uncomfortable questions, but were they always this invasive? Chloe had a confused look on her face the entire time, poor girl. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s just… Well,” you muttered, wondering how to explain to her which relationship to disclose; the one where you refused to speak about or the one where she kidnapped and jinxed you? How could you explain this? 

 “I… used to, but not anymore.” 

“Well, boys are stupid. Mom said to not bother with them when I’m older.” 

Oh sweet child. “She’s kinda right. Some boys are stupid enough not to bother, but some are worth the time. Those ones are just a bit rare. You just have to be careful, can you promise me that?”

“I promise,” she exclaimed, crossing her finger across her heart. “Princess’s honour.” 

“Good,” you said. Your eyes noticed the numerous empty seats around the table. “Do you have any friends to invite to this tea party?” 

“No, but I have an imaginary friend!” 

“Imaginary friend? Tell me all about it.” you inquired, sipping from your cup with anticipation. 

“Well, he’s a fearless leader and he wears a blue mask on his face. He always has tea parties with me when he can, and his name’s Mister Turtle.” 

As Chloe poured herself another cup, you felt your brain click. Your body froze in shock, only able to blink your eyes. She was talking about him, wasn’t she? 

“Have you met him before, Mx. Babysitter?”

“What? Oh no, no- I’m okay. Sounds like quite the friend,  I wish I could meet this Mister Turtle…” 

You stood there, sipping from your cup before you heard the sound of glass shattering. You looked back at Chloe, witnessing a crash echoed behind her, obliterating the window and sending glass shards flying everywhere. You rushed in front of her, shielding her eyes. The smoke slowly cleared. You checked Chloe for any cuts or bruises made from the glass, nothing. You turned back, witnessing a harrowing sight. You found Leo, bandaged and bruised on Chloe’s fluffy carpeted floor. You wish you could say something, but you couldn’t force the words out no matter how hard you tried. Leo slowly rose his head up, dazed in confusion, until he caught your face, eyes grew in surprise. 

“See, Mx. Babysitter? I’m not making him up, you can see him right? You can see Mister Turtle?” 

“Yeah, I can see him…” you mumbled, eyes too fixated on him. 

“You are late to the party, Mister Turtle!” Chloe said, rushing towards him. You followed her, helping Leo up. He had bruises and tiny slashes adorning his shoulders. “What happened to your shoulders?”

“I think Mister Turtle’s a bit tired, Chloe. I’ll take him to the couch, can you wait here for a few minutes?” you asked. Chloe’s eyes nervously darted left, before backtracking to you and nodded. You shut the door and carried Leo onto the couch, his back hitting the cushions with a soft thud. 

“So, we’re taking aliases now? Mister Turtle , quite the name, Blue.” 

“I didn’t know you were her babysitter!” 

“Yeah, first-time,” you remarked, searching the kitchen cabinets until you found a first-aid kit, adorned with a green stripe. Clutching it in your hand, you approached Leo, sitting next to him, legs crossed. 

“What got you into this predicament?” you asked. 

“What being a leader does to you. It’s…nevermind.” 

“It’s what?” 

“Nothing, it’s nothing. Just got a bit banged up,” he stated, wincing as you placed the cold pack on the bruise. 

“Alright, just be cautious next time. You look like shit.” you reaffirmed, wrapping the cold pack so it stayed on his leg. Unpleasantness eases into your nerves as you twiddled your fingers, wondering what to say next. Emptiness dwelled on your tongue, before you forced some words out: 

“Thank you, for yesterday. It…means a lot.” 

“No problem,” he said. The feeling drew back into your body, familiar nerves clutched your heart. This is how it always happens, you’ll talk to them first, build up a consistent conversation only for you to realise you were so involved in your lavender haze that they hadn’t put any effort into talking to you outside of school or in the day. This dread overwhelmed your brain as you felt your heart flutter a familiar feeling in your chest. 

No. No. No. 

Is this happening again? No, no it can’t happen again. It’ll just end like they all do, what’s the point in even trying? Effort, that’s all you wanted. Just a glimpse of effort from him, and you’re head over heels. It was pathetic. He’s a leader and a hero, he can’t be in love with you. It’ll only bring him more pain and bring you more harm as the hero’s love interest. But, would this leap of faith be worth it? Is Leo one of the rare ones? If these somewhat feelings were reciprocated, would the soft moments you yearned for, the feeling of another’s warmth against you again be worth the pain, worth the harm you might receive? 

‘Hold the words back, hold them until they bleed in your grip.’ you thought to yourself as you looked away. 

“Is it okay?” 

“Yeah, thank you,” he said, slight fondness glowed in his eyes. At that moment, you felt your heart slightly crack. “You…wanna go back to the child?”

“Sure,” you answered, leading him back to Chloe’s room by his hand. His skin felt soft again, surprisingly. You opened the door to see Chloe holding a cup of tea towards Leo. He took it, taking a sip and beginning the party. The tea party continued, laughs and cheer being exchanged until everyone got tired and collapsed on the floor. The lights were turned off, the only form of light being the glow of midnight. Chloe was huddled with her stuffed giraffe while you and Leo were lying against the wall. 

“Are you gonna sleep, Leo?” 

“Hm?” he said, glancing towards your downturned eyes. “Oh, no. Not tired yet. Probably going to take a nap” 

“Alright, lemme know when you wake up.” you murmured, letting your head droop down onto Leo’s shoulder, the least injured one thankfully. His eyes widened at the sudden touch, head darting towards yours. He took his arm, which was laying on his knee, and patted your head, before an unusual feeling overtook his cheeks. A flushed feeling, almost like embarrassment.  

You were still awake, marvelling at Leo’s ability to lie as still as a book, almost if he was in a coffin. 

‘Coffin? No, Leo’s not going to die. He can handle himself,’ you told yourself, but the flashes wouldn’t stop. Flashes of a bleeding Leo in your arms, flashes of grotesque amalgamations of him you didn’t even recognize, flashes that drove you to squint your eyes, repeating: “ No, no, no no no. Stop. Stop.”  

When your eyes relaxed, you peeked a glance at Leo’s face. His soft resting face was so goddamn adorable, you could stare at it for hours in awe. 

Stop. Don’t ruin this one too.

You waited for his breathing to finally calm down, slowly removing your head from his shoulder and approaching your bag, which was tucked in the right corner. Pulling your diary out, you jotted down what thoughts you could gather.

Nevermind. I’m going to keep being Salaì. Leo’s overworked, I can see it in his eyes. If I can help in any way, this is one way. I know he can protect himself but I keep getting these flashes in my head of him being in danger, and my heart churns at the sight. I’m going to protect him, because… Because…. I can’t even write it down. That’s how bad it is. I need a moment. 

[triple-asstro]

salaì incorrect quotes

Leo: I love you guys, you're the best thing that's happened to me. Salaì!Y/N: We're the best thing that's ever happened to you? Leo: Yes! Casey: I'm starting to feel a little sorry for you.

Leo: What did you do with the body? Salaì!Y/N: What didn’t I do with the body? Leo: Salaì!Y/N: Okay, that sounded more sexual than I intended. I disposed of the corpse respectfully.

(Karai) Kidnapper: I have your partner. Leo: What? I don't have a partner... (Karai) Kidnapper: Then who just called me a lowlife bitch and spit in my face? Leo: Oh my god, you have Salaì!Y/N.

Leo:  You love me, right, Salaì!Y/N? Salaì!Y/N: Normally, I’d say yes without hesitation, but I feel like this is going somewhere and I don’t like it.

Leo: Hey, did you know as a kid I accidentally ate paper? Salaì!Y/N: I feel like we've all done that at least once. Mikey: I ate it too- Salaì!Y/N: See? Mikey: -On purpose... Leo & Salaì!Y/N: ...What?

Casey: We all have our demons. Salaì!Y/N, grabbing Leo: This one’s mine.

Leo: You can track Casey? Salaì!Y/N: Of course I can. If the NSA can do it, so can I.

oh you don't know why you're this salaì person? well read this fic or this to find out! chapter eight comes in two days, wednesday! <33

[triple-asstro]

Salaì Chapter 6: Cupid is Heartless

chapter count: 1|2|3|4|5

word count: 1k

pairing: 2012!leo x reader

ao3

@jasontoddisbest - thank you for your services, dear beta-reader ❤

A/N: so i made a playlist for this fic and i really hope you guys like it! also this chapter is an interesting one so I hope you love it dearly. also if any of you want to be tagged to this, pls reblog and let me know. love you all ❤

playlist

chapter song: doin' time - lana del rey

“You’re really baby-sitting tomorrow?” 

You sighed, clutching a small dagger in your hands which Leo said was called a ‘tantō’, leaning against the billboard sign and dangling your leg back and forth, seeing how huge they looked in comparison to the tiny cars passing below. “Yes. I don’t see how that’s outlandish.” 

“Wait, where are you now?” 

“I’m…” you said, turning your head behind you to see Leonardo, peering with binoculars pointing directly downwards, watching the door with utmost patience. “Getting ready for bed.” 

“Right, I’m going to believe that. Yep, one-hundred percent. I just…” she paused, taking in a deep breath.  “I cannot believe you’re leaving me all alone with Orange is the New Black…”

“¿Realmente Tina?," you said, hearing her groan with the sudden shift. "Estás siendo tan dramático en este momento…” 

“¿De verdad? ¿Me estás hablando en español?” 

You chuckled, which caused Leonardo to dart his head towards you while you gave him a thumbs up. “Vale, vale. Debo irme. Se está haciendo tarde.”

“Está bien. Buenas noches, el mejor amigo.” 

“Buenas noches,” you said, hanging up the phone and approaching Leonardo. 

“Who was that?” 

“My friend, she was just asking where I was. I lied, of course.” 

“Good, cause you swore to secrecy.” Leo chuckled, nudging your shoulder. You stared at him as he turned his head back towards the binoculars, and for a split second, you looked at him, softly smiling before darting your head back to the midnight sky. You felt how surreal the entire location felt with its illuminating lights and indigo sky. It was a moment of tranquillity and serenity, where you didn’t feel obligated to do anything. Midnights like this didn’t need to speak or act, midnights only had to listen and that’s what you liked about midnights. It offered you silent moments in a noisy, clamorous world.  

“You were speaking Spanish back there, right?” 

“Huh?” you said, knocking you out of your trance and back to the sounds of traffic and the wind flooding into your ears. “Oh yeah, we both take Spanish at school and we practise by speaking to each other. Do you speak any languages?” 

“Oh, I speak Japanese. It’s quite hard to grasp at the start-”

“Ha, title of your sex tape.” 

“W-What?” Leo asked as you slapped your hand across your mouth. 

“Oh god, I’m so sorry! It’s just a reference to a TV show I watch, I didn’t actually mean it.” 

“What TV show is it?” he asked, leaning slightly forward with wide eyes. 

“It’s a show called Brooklyn Nine-Nine, it’s second season has been running for a while now and it’s really good. It’s by far my favourite TV show.”

“Wow, that sounds amazing! Space Heroes is my-” 

He stopped speaking and darted his eyes downwards to the rooftop flooring. 

“Hey, you alright?” 

“Nevermind, it’s… silly and we need to focus on the mission.” 

“True, but now, I’m curious about this Space Heroes show. Please tell me more, Leo.” 

Leo turned towards you, inquisitive eyes, unfiltered curiosity and completely enchanted. He sighed out, his eyes falling downturned. 

“Promise you won’t tell anybody?”

You dragged your finger across your heart, cutting two lines deep. “Forever and always.” 

“It’s this sci-fi show from the 80’s that follows this crew led by Captain Ryan; he’s in charge of this space crew on the Dauntless and they explore the galaxy fighting evil. There’s also Dr. Mindstrong, who’s an alien scientist and Crankshaw, who’s an ensign to Captain Ryan. It is the best show in the world.” 

“Nice, what’s your favourite part of the show?” 

“W-What’s not to love about it? It’s an amazing show with excellent writing and Captain Ryan is a great hero. He always does what's best for his team and - ooh! There was one episode with these creatures called the Cortexicons which took over Dr. Mindstrong's mind! Definitely a winning episode!” 

“Alright, I’ll give it a watch.” you answered, grinning as wide as the eagle could see.

A crash sends both of you looking downwards, spotting glass scattered across the sidewalk. Giving a brief nod, you both jumped from the rooftop onto the ground, turning around to face the shop. Leo kicked down the door, revealing a group of men holding Mr Murakami to the ground. The mere sight caused you to fume. 

“Stop right there, criminal scum!” 

“Criminal…scum? That’s a way to start things, Blue.” you chuckled, gripping your tantō as one of them let go of Mr Murakami and charged straight for you. Wood scraped against your skin as you barely dodged his attack, causing him to slam into a wall. The rapid thumping of your heart pumping adrenaline through your veins echoed in your mind. You turned to your left, spotting another thug rushing towards you, his fists ready for a massacre. He attempted to yank you, resulting in you rolling away and slashing a cut into his ankles; his screams muffled in your ears.

Your eyes drifted to your right, where you saw Leo wielding two katanas, punching one thug in his side and sweeping his legs, making him land with a harsh thud. As you watched him fend off the attackers, you heard the soft noises of scratching tiles from above. Your eyes zoomed upwards, spotting the sight of amber eyes aimed right for you.

Your breathing became hitched, flowing in and out sporadically. It was a brief moment where both of your eyes connected for a split second before the figure jumped down, tackling you to the ground. 

“Ow, Blue!-” you yelped before your mouth was covered by a rag. It tasted slightly sweet as you struggled underneath the figure’s strong grip, writhing and squirming as the realisation hit you like a semi-truck. This was chloroform, and if you were counting correctly, you only had four minutes or so before you slumped into unconsciousness.

Your eyes drifted upwards towards the unknown figure only for the glimpse to cause you to clench your fists and your eyes to widen in shock. You froze, staring at her with anger before she punched you in the nose, ringing echoed in your ears. The feeling of unconsciousness slowly grew, consuming you until you were only left with your thoughts. 

You knew your attacker. You knew her quite well. 

It was your ex. 

Karai. 

[triple-asstro]

more salaì quotes

wondering what salai is? well its a new tmnt 2012 fic that you can read right here!

Salaì: I’m going to hell. Mona: Probably. Salaì: I'll pick you up? Mona, nodding: Carpool.

Maise: You might not know this, Salaì, but I am a flawed person. Salaì: I do know that.

Leo, after watching Salaì get shot by someone: You’re dead. You are very dead. When you are a corpse I will hack away at your flesh and eat you raw. Salaì: Leo, I’m not dead yet. Leo: Let me have my moment of rage to avenge you. Salaì: I’d prefer it if you didn’t let me die.

Chloe: Am I in trouble? Salaì: Take a guess. Chloe: No? Salaì: Take another guess.

Chloe: Hey Salaì, can I get some icecream? Salaì: Only a spoonful! Chloe: *Proceeds to pull out a comically large spoon.*

Salaì: Hey I just got a pet snake. What should I name him? Leo: A pet WHAT?! Raph: William Snakespeare.

Raph: What did you two do? Salaì: Leo: Raph: You’re not in trouble, I just need to know if I have to lie to the police again or not.

Salaì: accidentally eats something too spicy so their eyes start to water Casey: Salaì, look at me. It's okay. I would die for you. I love you so much. You're the best person I know. Salaì: I'm not crying? Casey, hugging Salaì's head: Shush baby, it's okay. Leo is here and they love you with their whole heart.

[triple-asstro]

SALAI Q&A!

Hello everyone! Apologies that I haven’t posted a new chapter, lots of complications with editing has made publishing the next chapter a ballache lol. This chapter is meant to serve as a Q&A chapter, where you can ask any and all questions you have about the story or my writing. I’ll do my best to answer them as soon as I can lol. I love you all, and thank you so much for reading my story.