#I miss dorky Leo

[thejadecount]

Forget EVERYTHING EVERYONE says about the Leos not being similar at all I’m watching a video called Leo being Leo for 2 minutes and the 2012 version just said ‘let’s put Hubbard Mother (or whatever it was) back in her cupboard’ and he is EXACTLY LIKE HIM

[leohamatoblog]

What They Text You: Applies to any...cause they're all a bunch of dorky teens and i dont care what anyone says.

Leo:

• look at my new plant

• would you like to have tea tomorrow?

• you look so pretty 😍 leo you cant see me and? i bet you do

• am i really an old man???? 😭😭😭

• be honest, do you think raph can beat me in an arm wrestle? if you dont answer in 5 minutes, i will assume it's yes and i will prove you wrong.

• good morning honey. have a wonderful day today! ❤️

• are you still mad at me...? LEO YOU SET MY MICROWAVE ON FIRE. so is that a yes?

• have you eaten yet? you need to eat...and drink something other than (your favorite drink)

• i got benched because i can't stop throwing up. i'm fine! leo...you threw up blood literally 10 minutes ago. it was only a little 🙄

• i'm in desperate need of a kiss right now.

• check out my new katanas

• remember that i love you 🥰🥰❤️

• for the last time, i wont download tik tok. you know how bad i hyperfixate 😠

• stop playing candy crush and pay attention to me

• keep it up and you won't get the knots worked out of your shoulders.

• mikey just called me a boomer...i feel like i should be offended. you are a boomer. I DONT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

• y/n, i love you, but for the love of god, PLEASE PICK UP YOUR SOCKS.

• *drunk* im in a relationship why do i have your name as my love cause my girl/boyfriend/partner will definitely not like that and i dont know who you are but they will kick your ass and i dont even feel sorry cause you arent love leo...you're drunk. NO IM TAKEN

• call me cause i would like to hear about your day and i miss you

• i love you my love ❤️

Raph:

• come watch me bench im bored

• can you please come get mikey before i hit him?

• wear that giant sweatshirt to our date. ya look adorable in it

• why did you ask donnie to help you with your homework?? um...cause it's about neurons and receptors in the brain. i could've helped with google! 😒

• YOU NEED TO COME KILL THIS COCKROACH RIGHT NOW.

• hey babe. how was your day? ❤️

• have i ever told you how beautiful you are? what did you do. nothing...? i just think you're beautiful. raphael. fine..i broke casey's nose. AGAIN!?!

• i'm so tired...wanna come nap with me?

• facetime me so i can show you this cool trick spike can do

• remember how i said i was going to be more level headed? well donnie's new robot almost broke my arm and it's no more. you lasted 1 day more than the last time.

• *you sent a selfie* yeahhhh that's my baby 😍😍

• eat or im fighting you.

• jokes on you ive always been completely unhinged and it's bold of you to think i cant be worse.

• im sick. can you bring me some soup? 😣

• i miss you like a lot and i hate when you're gone

• i love you a whole lot 😘

• im just gonna start carrying you everywhere if you dont stop tripping over NOTHING. im just gonna trip harder. Y/N NO.

• mikey said we're his parents just an fyi. he's always been my son

• i made waffles. you better come eat some

• damn babe you're fine 🤤

Donnie:

• no i wont do your homework for you

• tell shelldon to stop talking back to me before i ground him for eternity

• im in a house of IDIOTS. technically it's a lair. not now y/n.

• you look like a pile of swans in that sweater 🥰

• i can't sleep. wanna play online scrabble?

• sweetie you need to eat more than a bag of gummy worms and a bag of doritos

• you need to come sit with me while i work because i need an extra set of eyes. you just miss me 😏 don't start.

• don't call a plumber! i know how to fix the sink. i got this 😎 donnie the pipe exploded the last time you "had" this.

• *you sent a selfie* you look nice

• im gonna blow up. a person, a thing, a place, all of the above? yes.

• you need to drink straight broth, it'll help soothe your stomach ache

• im dying. you have a cold.

• i love you but please stop trying to assemble ikea furniture on your own.

• good luck on your exams/work project! 😘

• TELL RAPH TO STOP PICKING ME UP TO MOVE ME.

• leo just called me an asparagus. i didn't know how to respond so his phone will self destuct in 5 minutes. DONNIE.

• you're so pretty 🥺

• i made you something and you have to come get it right now. im literally about to have my wisdom teeth out. reschedule it

• listen to the playlist i made you or else im disabling your pirated tv show service

• thanks for listening to me 💜

Mikey:

• babe come snuggle with me

• i made you brownies so come eat them with me while we watch crognard

• i haven't seen you in so long 😭 you saw me this morning. BUT THAT WAS HOURS AGO

• angelcakessssss i love you

• look at this cat video i found

• FACETIME ME THERES A PUPPY

• are you awake? mikey it's 3 am. good, so would you still love me if i was a worm? go to sleep.

• i bet you look like a cuddly bear today 🥰

• im so hungry. can you bring me ice cream?

• raph wont stop being mean to me. can you beat him up? cause a (your height) tall human can beat a 6ft turtle's ass 😑 i believe in you.

• im coming over with my new call of duty game and we're having a game a thon!

• i found a cat. mikey no. his name is gerald. MIKEY WE ALREADY HAVE 10 OF THEM. HALF ARE NAMED GERALD.

• i made you a mixtape i cant wait for you to hear it

• how mad would you be if i crashed the shell razor in a derby and broke my arm? very. then i did not do that.

• im sick. come help me feel better 😭

• call me cause april just told me something about casey that's wild

• i found this cool rock that i think you'll like

• it's so cool i can date you. you're for real the coolest. you broke my coffee table again didn't you? no...maybe.

• im bringing you lunch cause my baby needs to eat!

• this song reminds me of you 💕

[sunny-clover]

2003 S4 Leosagi (Katanashipping) in a nutshell

Leo [batman voice]: I’m angsty teenager. I never smile. I hate myself. I’m not going to therapy. I’m just gonna kill people.

Leo, the second he sees Usagi: *SMILES* omg babe I missed you where have you been, we need to get you some sunglasses to protect your cute little face from all the bright city lights!!

my proof:

HE SMILED. THE SECOND HIS BF WALKS THRU THAT PORTAL. OMG

BUT THEN AGAIN WHO WOULDNT SMILE AT THAT FACE. LOOK AT THAT DORKY LITTLE SMILE. SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT CRAZY BLUE IDIOT.(Crazy bout u)

LOOK HOW JEALOUS HE IS. Leonardo “I want alone time with my bf >:(“ homato

GET YOU A SPARRING BOYFRIEND WHO ASKS WHATS WRONG WHEN YOURE ACTIN A FOOL

now kiss

[freakadr0id]

ROTTMNT Charater Fighting Style Analysis - Part 5: April O'Neil

Oh, would you look at that? It's finally here! After three weeks, multiple rewatches, and several pages of notes and drafts in Word, I've made it to the final individual character* analysis.

This is a continuation of my series of posts analyzing each of the Turtles' (+April's) fighting style, their strengths and weaknesses in a fight, and how Rise uses that to highlight different aspects of their character. I highly encourage you to read the first one (Leo's) before hopping into this one for full context. There is a bit of a TL;DR at the end.

[Part 1: Leo] [Part 2: Raph] [Part 3: Mikey] [Part 4: Donnie]

Last, but ABSOLUTELY not least, is our Girl with the Plan and President of the Dorky Pals for Life Club…

April O'Neil: The Scout/Jack-of-all-Trades:

My analysis for this one might be a bit of a surprise for some, considering a few people have said they already have an idea of how I might categorize her. Going into my analysis, I too thought I had a pretty solid understanding of the way she fought, but by the end, I found that there was so much I missed - I ended up coming to a conclusion that was quite different than what I was expecting.

Fighting Style:

Dynamic and Precise

April is a very strong, energetic, and multifaceted fighter, which allows her to hold her own in battle, even when she's the only human present. She is a primarily offensive fighter with a diverse skill set that she is able to utilize in almost any situation. With her bat, April demonstrates a surprising amount of physical strength as her weapon requires a significant amount of force in order to be truly effective. She also has gymnastic skills that make her a notably agile fighter, giving her an advantage in both speed and maneuverability. She approaches battles with great enthusiasm, amplifying her overall movement and attacks.

In this sense, April's fighting style is rather similar to Mikey's, as they are both quick, nimble fighters that excel offensively while implementing acrobatic movements to deliver quick attacks and make up for a defensive disadvantage. However, she distinguishes herself with a weapon that is very different from Mikey's and by having a larger, more practical set of skills that require unique tactics. Instead of mystic powers, she has a wider range of general skills that end up being incredibly beneficial in battle. She has a fluid fighting style that undergoes the most changes in the show as she learns new techniques from both her allies and enemies and incorporates them into her method of fighting.

Despite the energy she brings into battle, April is surprisingly meticulous in the way she approaches her fights. Instead of running wildly into battle, she is actually quite deliberate in when and how she attacks. April doesn't blindly attack enemies and only goes in for a strike at opportune times, aiming to deliver a few quick, accurate hits that efficiently damage her foe. This gives April the ability to participate and contribute to fights as a human without putting herself at unnecessary risk or becoming a liability.

Strengths and Roles in a Fight:

Jack-of-all-Trades

April is the generalist of the team. While the other members of the family tend to stick to one type of technique or a particular style of fighting, April has knowledge and experience in multiple fighting techniques, skills, and occupations that make her an adaptable fighter. This makes her perfect for "rounding out the team" by providing some extra strength and making up for any weaknesses that may be present in the team. Because of her dynamic fight style and ever-growing list of skills and techniques, April occasionally fights with an amalgamation of the other turtles' roles and fighting styles. April is seen acting as the Wild Card by keeping enemies on their toes with fast movements and nontraditional weapons; a Bruiser/Pummeler (a slugger, if you will) by delivering multiple hits in quick succession with her bat; or even a Striker by going for those accurate, singular attacks. If there's a role that needs to be filled in a fight, odds are April can deliver.

April also has the largest set of practical skills on the team, thanks to the experience she has gained from her numerous (former) jobs. In situations where a very specific set of expertise is needed, April can usually provide that to some degree. This makes her a versatile asset to the team in ways that even Mikey can't be, particularly with battles set in urban or unconventional environments. One of April's greatest strengths as a combatant is her ability to use the environment around her to her advantage - that comes with her dynamic fighting styles. Granted, that applies to all members of her family, but because of the considerable variety of knowledge and experience at her disposal, she has more options when it comes to utilizing her surroundings. Some of her skills are incredibly hyperspecific, however, usually limiting which ones she can use at any given point.

The Scout

April also acts as the team's Scout [No - I'm not just saying this because she happens to have a bat]. She is the one that usually goes ahead of the others before, or at the start of, a battle and gathers information about the enemy and their movements. This typically involves April disguising herself in some way and infiltrating the enemy from within, but there are times when more conventional stealth is needed. She is small and quick enough to sneak past enemies and through different environments, giving her multiple options for her investigations. April also provides information to the team during battles, as she can still apply her "stealth" abilities and use her agility to move around the battlefield quickly and mostly unnoticed.

April's precise fighting style also plays into the Scout role as she can quickly get in and out of fights when needed, which is beneficial both when she is by herself or in a group. A scout needs to be fast, precise, and agile to make up for their lack of defensive capabilities - this fits April's fighting style and abilities to a T. The Scout role plays directly to her strengths as a combatant and decreases her risk of harm as a human in chaotic mutant battles.

Utility:

As a fighter, April is particularly well suited for individual, one-on-one battles. Her primary weapon, a bat, is a generally short-range melee weapon that requires a good amount of accuracy and is limited by its small reach and defensive capabilities. Her fighting style incorporates this by focusing on accurate attacks and accurate timing while utilizing dynamic movements to increase her optimal attack range. When combined with her established proficiency with her bat and adaptive creativity, April becomes a formidable opponent in fights with a small number of opponents. Even without her bat, however, April's ingenuity, agility, and large skill set make her an extraordinarily capable fighter one-on-one.

However, due to her overall lack of mystic powers, limited defensive strength, and the natural restrictions of her weapon, April can struggle in fights with more enemies. Not only is she at greater risk of harm with so many moving parts, but it also doesn't work as well with April's fighting style - she simply doesn't have the range or attacks needed to affect a wider area. That isn't to say she isn't able to handle herself in group fights (she very clearly can), but it just isn't her strong suit.

Some of April's numerous abilities that give her the title of "Jack-of-all-Trades" can be incredibly situational and require a specific set of circumstances and environmental conditions in order to be utilized. While she still has these skills to use to her advantage, not all of them can be used at one time, although at least one of her skills will probably be applicable in any scenario.

How it Plays Into Her Character:

As a member of a family full of mutants and magic, it is only natural for April to want to contribute to the team by participating in fights - but as the only human in a family of mutants, this also means she is left at a bit of a physical disadvantage in comparison to the others. Most people would likely feel a sense of inferiority or weakness in the face of such a disparity, but not April O'Neil. One of April's greatest strengths as a fighter and as a character is her persistence and clever thinking, which is seen in her fighting style. Instead of getting discouraged at her apparent disadvantage to her brothers, April persisted and found ways to use her own natural abilities to her advantage. She may be physically weaker than the turtles, but by implementing a fighting style that relies on precise attacks and her agility, she is less likely to get hurt while still doing a significant amount of damage to the enemy. Her dynamic and precise fighting style embodies April's ability to adapt and persevere even when things are against her.

April's role as a Scout is indicative of April's intelligence while forcing her to dial back on her impulsive tendencies. It is essential for anyone acting as a scout in a battle to be intelligent and clever to be able to acquire information and make observations that are actually useful to the team. April demonstrates her intelligence and quick wit by always assisting the team with the knowledge that is essential to their success, and constantly observing different elements of a battle, even when not formally acting as a scout. The Scout role does, however, expose a potential challenge for April when it comes to impulsive actions. As a whole, I wouldn't say that April is an impulsive character - she is certainly the most level-headed of the bunch - but as the oldest sister to a bunch of teenage boys, it is only natural for some of that to wear off on her from time to time. April is usually pretty tactical about when and how she goes into fights, but there are a few times in the show where she can rush right in if she's especially passionate about something. In order to fully be effective in her fighting style and roles, she has to be sure to not give into those impulses and keep a steady head throughout the fight.

In a Team Fight:

In a coordinated group attack, April is best suited for an initial or follow-up attack. Her speed and agility mean she can get in and out of a fight quickly and her precise fighting style creates a perfect combination to provide a solid initial set of strikes to weaken or disorient an enemy. This doesn't provide much in the way of setting up the next attack, but it could be followed up with an equally quick attack from someone else. Her fighting style also lends itself to a quick follow-up attack and is particularly effective if the opponent is disoriented prior to her attack. April's quick movements and attacks can add to the enemy's confusion and deal significant damage at the same time.

However, April does not do well in a position that requires her to set up for the following attack, nor is she fit to go last in a team attack and deliver a final strike. Since her attack style implements a small number of precise hits to damage an enemy, she does much better at targeting specific weak points on an opponent rather than worrying about how someone else could further add to her attack. Her physical limitations and lack of mystic powers also restrict her ability to deliver the last attack (at least, not by herself). While it doesn't mean she isn't a strong fighter, being the final attacker in a team attack doesn't work well with her physical strengths and the advantages she has with her fighting style.

~-~-~-~

[TL;DR: April is a Dynamic and Precise fighter with very fluid and adaptable fighting techniques and a tactical and accurate approach to her attacks. Her large, diverse set of practical skills and flexible fighting methods give her an advantage by acting as a Jack-of-all-Trades. April also operates as the team's Scout by using her intelligence and precise fighting style to gather information and make quick, opportunistic attacks on an enemy. These all demonstrate her tenacity, perseverance, and creativity by presenting it through her adaptive fighting methods and approaches to battle.]

I have a feeling this one may be a bit divisive... I'm pretty happy with what I've come up with here, but it took some serious self-persuasion to get past the titles and categorizations I already established for her in my brain prior to my analysis - and I think that will be the case with a few others. Hopefully I’ve managed to make my case well enough.

Thank you so much for all your support on this little "series." You have no idea how much it means to me to have people actually read these, much less receive such positive responses to them. I'm thrilled that many of you seem to enjoy reading these posts almost as much as I enjoyed making them. DON'T WORRY - THIS IS NOT MY LAST POST FOR THIS SERIES. I have one more kind of "Wrap-up" post planned after this as an overview of their collective team dynamics, miscellaneous thoughts/"corrections", a brief explanation as to what inspired me to dedicate hours of my life writing these silly things, and (if you guys are interested) a small breakdown of my thought process and approach towards my analyses. I don't have a fully planned time to release that, but know it will be coming at some point in the near future.

[captainofthedauntless]

Integration

Bayverse Donatello x Reader imagine

Info + Warnings: Donatello finds himself all over your life. No gendered language, pronouns, or Y.N used for Reader, but they use Spotify. Friends-to-lovers type beat. Set a few years after OOTS.

Commentary: While it's not strictly necessary reading, this is the sequel to Glow in the Dark, and is set to this playlist.

Donatello has always prided himself on his observational skills.

He notices things other people don't. He recognizes patterns, he collects data, he observes.

It's why Leo turns to him first for mission analysis.

It's why April sends him documents to proof-read.

It's how he fixes codes that refuse to work and reverse engineers biological weapons and is able to turn scraps into functioning gear.

He sees.

Especially when he's already interested in what he's looking at.

Which is why, in the middle of the night, he glances at your activity in his Spotify sidebar.

It's just in his nature.

He does it every now and again- well, okay, every time he opens Spotify- and it's become a bit of a game for him, to try and hone in on your music taste and then casually send you very casually considered recommendations.

He's the most casual turtle alive, everyone knows that.

Sometimes, he spots you playing a song he's given you, and he gets a dorky little smile on his face as he alt-tabs his way back to work.

This time, it's a song he'd given you months back- StarWaves, off of the Oblivion soundtrack, by M83- and just as his lips quirk up and his fingers find his keyboard, he notices something else.

Just below the song, he spots the playlist title.

It's a purple heart emoji.

He hesitates, hand over keys, eyes lingering on his screen.

His timing is fantastic, because the song changes. Little Dark Age by MGMT, which he'd sent you when he last updated the surveillance system- still on purple heart emoji.

This is why science is such a comfort to him- it ties all of those constant observations to something concrete, makes them matter. Observation alone means nothing; study gives him structure.

This means nothing.

But further study- tabbing back and forth between his latest project and Spotify every three-or-so minutes, noting song after song that he remembers giving you- suggests that the purple heart emoji means him.

It makes his heart do something dizzy in his chest, to think that you've tucked his suggestions somewhere safe. That you've taken them with open hands and set them in a display case.

That you make use of them.

It's not even a week later when you come into the lair with a smile and your computer bag over your shoulders and bags of take out in your hands. You set your phone and keys on his desk, both tangled in your headphones, and head off to dole out food, and he can hear a Phantogram song heavy in the earbuds.

Another one of his, he notes happily.

You come back a few minutes later, a tired and amused expression on your face as you offer him his food.

"I take it Mikey found you," Donnie says in wry, fond amusement, and he's rewarded by a little snort of laughter.

"He did," You respond, setting your own food on the desk- next to your things- and shimmying your bag off your shoulder. "I swear, it's like you all let that guy starve when I'm not here."

"He does a lot of things when you're not here. Starve is not one of them."

He almost misses your response- "Tell that to him, he nearly tackled me for his lo mein!"- because something green catches the light of his computer and, in turn, catches his eye.

It's a little piece of circuit board.

One you'd helped him pull out of a haul of scrap tech, and once he'd deemed that piece useless you'd made a joke about it making a cute keychain.

He'd taken an old soldering iron and melted a hole in the corner, threading a keyring through it, and passed it to you before you left.

It was mostly a joke. You'd been joking. He'd just tapped in and taken the bit to the next level.

And the joke was somehow still in one piece, hanging off your computer bag.

It makes his heart do something fluttery in his chest, to think that you carried that silly (warm, safe, delightful) memory around with you.

It's nearly two weeks after that when he climbs in your window in the early part of the night, a little earlier than he should probably be out, with a bag of snacks hanging from his elbow.

You're in front of your TV, flicking through movie options, and he intentionally scuffs his shoe in the doorway to make sure you know he's there.

He somehow still isn't prepared for the way you tilt your head back to smile at him in greeting.

"I know it's kinda warm out, but I made hot cocoa," You say sweetly. "I got marshmallows on sale, so..."

"I brought those chips you like," He responds, slipping the bag to his palm and holding it up as though you can see through it.

"You're the best!" You chirp, slipping off the couch and leading him to the kitchen.

You already have two mugs set out, filled to the brim with marshmallows- he assumes there's cocoa beneath them somewhere, but has little proof from just looking at them.

One mug is your favorite, the one you've been using as long as he's known you.

The other is new.

It's dark purple and large, with an oversized handle. About the same size as the one he probably left on his desk when he left the lair. Large enough to comfortably fit his hand, he suspects.

It nearly stops him in his tracks.

"What is it?" You ask.

"Is this new?" He asks in place of an answer, nodding at the drinks.

"The mug?" You're using that carefully nonchalant voice you use whenever you do something nice. The one that usually obscures a lot of time and effort. "Yeah, found it at that antiques place I told you about. The one with the iron giraffe by the door?"

He remembers.

"It's- pretty," He says haltingly, trying to keep himself in a logical, reasonable headspace.

It isn't a big deal. It's a mug.

(It feels big. Feels huge. Feels like he's going to suddenly collapse under his own emotional weight and leave a black hole in your kitchen where he had been.)

(It's you adapting to his- and his brothers', he reminds himself sharply, trying to stay in the realm of reasonable and unimpacted- quirks and needs. It's you accommodating him in your own home. It's his color. He thinks his unwieldy feelings for you grow a size right here, standing in your kitchen.)

"I thought so," You agree lightly, your back to him as you grab bowls. "Thought you might like it. Thought maybe it would be nice to have one here. For you."

Reasonable is rapidly becoming less and less realistic as his heart skips a beat. There's weight in your words, despite your best efforts- he's more sure than ever than you'd set out to find this mug, that this had been a mission for you.

You never act this casually about something you're actually casual about.

"Vank- er, very nice," He stumbles over his words, slowing down to enunciate. "Thank you."

You shrug, turning to him with the bowls, eyes trained on them. "Since I like having you here, might as well, like, make it easier for you, huh?"

He's glad, in a way, that he's green. When he blushes, it's a lot more subtle on him than it is on somebody like Casey.

(He hopes you're not feeling particularly observant.)

"Being here is easy," He says quickly, a confession he hadn't really meant to make.

It's simultaneously huge and just-the-surface.

Being around you is easy.

You look up now, eyes meeting his with a searching look, and you smile. "I'm glad," You say, that weight still in your voice, some extra, unknown thing just beyond his ability to figure out. Then it shifts, and you're more smirking than smiling, and the air shifts from uncertain warmth to a familiar playfulness. "That means you can easily pick a movie. I'm sick of looking."

He stays long after the credits roll, listening as you look up tidbits about the movie and the cast and how the effects were done. He's on your couch, one leg crossed beneath the other as he angles his body to you and rests an arm over the back (staying very carefully on his side, thank you).

He chimes in as you read out trivia ("I'm pretty sure that should be lucis, but my Latin's a little rusty." "You're right, according to this. Wonder if that was an error or a stylistic choice?") and laughs as you stop mid-sentence to re-read twice because something is so littered with typos that you can't immediately tell what it's saying.

Neither of you look at the clock.

You finish the chips he brought, and you make popcorn, and the two of you finish that, too.

The movie trivia gives way to a story about your friend's dog, and the laughter from that flows into him telling a similar story about Mikey as a child- because apparently, chewing on skateboards is a more common behavior than he'd thought- which shifts into you showing him the meme Mikey had sent you earlier in the day.

Mikey'd sent it to him, too, but he didn't mention it. He let himself lean into your bubble to half-look at your phone, just to be near you.

When he finally gets home- late, very late, the sun's already planning its ascent- he's grateful that everyone seems to be asleep.

Until he hears a throat clear behind him and he winces.

"Hi, Donnie," Leo says, knowing and smug and making Donnie stifle a groan.

Leo asks how you are.

"Good," He says simply, turning and holding his oldest brother's gaze. "We had lots to catch up on."

"Clearly," Leo says, a clear undertone of teasing.

Donnie resists the urge to roll his eyes.

"I'm glad you had a good time," Leo says, teasing fading from his voice, leaving an earnest tone in its place as he bumps a fist into Donnie's shoulder. "Just let me know next time movie night turns four movies long, yeah? Keeping your dinner safe from Mikey isn't my idea of a good time."

Don can feel the blood in his cheeks again. He hadn't meant to stay so long- disrupting your sleep schedule isn't his idea of a good time- but it just... was easy. "Yeah. Will do."

Leo nods and smiles and takes his mug- strong green tea, if Don's nose is to be believed- towards his room.

Donatello exhales softly. He'd expected worse-

"Oh, Donnie," Leo calls playfully, "Mike's come up with several new songs including "k-i-s-s-i-n-g", so I'd brace myself for a musical breakfast."

This time, Donnie does groan, not bothering to respond as Leo chuckles and leaves.

He eats the dinner Leo'd kept guarded- pasta with meatballs, cold, because Donnie thinks that if the microwave wakes either of his other brothers and he has to deal with them before he sleeps he's going to ask you if he can just live on your couch- before shuffling into his lab and flopping into the chair at his workbench.

He leans back into the chair, stretching his neck out with a soft groan before his eyes land on the little glass sun hanging above him.

He watches it for a moment, a soft smile creeping onto his face.

Then he stretches out- too lazy, too tired to get up- and flicks the lights off.

The sun glows, and it looks almost as bright as his heart feels, and he feels himself sink fully into the chair and memories of you and the unwieldy, bright feelings you spark in his chest.

After a few minutes in comfortable, sweet silence, he shifts forwards and boots his computer up.

Just for some music.

Work will have to wait until he gets some sleep. You'd be livid if he jumps in now.

He pulls up Spotify and his eyes go to the sidebar out of muscle memory more than conscious effort.

Your username is the first on the list, right above a purple heart.

He lets out a little laugh, a you-shaped feeling turning bubbly and warm behind his ribs.

Deciding you have the right idea, he pulls up Random Access Memories and hits play on his favorite track, letting the bass softly fill the room and enjoying the feeling of it beneath his fingers as he quickly types out the few ideas he'd had while at your place.

He's asleep before the song ends, face buried in his forearms on the desk.

[pjoxreader]

Hey! Doing good I hope?

I’ll make this quick, I would like to request a child of Hecate reader who has powers that are similar to the Scarlet Witch? (So they’re really damn powerful 👀😬), and I was thinking they can be paired with: Jason, Leo, and Percy? So, everyone else fears the reader, but those three.

Thank you!

Powerful Reader Feared By Camp

((I'm hanging in there thanks for asking! Reminder to everyone that all nighters suck lmao))

Jason Grace

-You were used to people being scared of you, that’s just how things were. Even your own siblings had come to avoid you. You didn't mind too much, you were used to being alone. That was until he showed up.

-You had helped with the war and were working on recovering when he walked into the infirmary eyes instantly landing on you. “You’re amazing!” he says, going to your side. You pause looking around to make sure he was talking to you.

-Once you were sure he was in fact talking to you, you stare at him in surprise. “uh… Thanks…?” you manage to get out but feeling the stares of the others in the infirmary you tense up. “You… Shouldn’t talk to me… You’ll end up an outcast…” you mutter softly anxiously rubbing your arm avoiding looking him in the eyes.

-Despite having fought for your camp it just seemed to make people more scared of you. Jason goes quiet with that seemingly debating his words. “Well… It’s a good thing I’m already an outcast.” he says and sits down beside you with a little smile, offering you a water bottle.

-”Maybe we can find our place together.” you stare in surprise at that but can’t help a little laugh a subtle blush on your cheeks as you take the water. “That’s cheesy...” But you couldn’t deny you liked it.

Leo Valdez

-You were just enjoying your privacy talking a walk through camp when you bump into him. “Ah, sorry.” you say quickly assuming the person would go into a panic. However they just lift up their goggles from their face and stare up at you.

-”Woah, you are one fine king, queen, or monarch.” He says as he gives you a little grin trying to lean against the cabin and missing proceeding to fall. He at least quickly recovered, getting up and leaning against it correctly.

-You kinda just stare at him not expecting that, but you can’t help the laugh that bubbles from your throat. That just seemed to encourage him as he got a big grin on his face. “Oh I have so many more of those.” 

-You really didn’t expect this to be the way you spent your day, having Leo Valdez, hero of Olympus following you around and giving you horrible but adorable puns. He did start to run out so just went on to horrible jokes. -”This one is Percy’s favorite. What is the best tool in the ocean?” After a dramatic pause he gets a dorky grin. “A hammerhead shark.” You groan loudly and dramatically but also give him a little chuckle at least.

Percy Jackson

-You were enjoying a quiet moment by the lake, dipping your feet into the water to cool them down during the hot summer. You lay back on the beach with a small sigh of relief looking up at the sky to cloud gaze.

-”You can come swim, you know that right?” A voice calls surprising you. You sit up quickly, eyes going red as you get ready to use your magic but Percy puts his hands up in surrender. “Woah, sorry, didn’t mean to surprise you.” he says with a little laugh.

-Seeing it was just Percy you calm down sighing a little. You had seen him around camp but hadn’t gotten to know him that well… “Yeah… Yeah I did know that just… No one really wants to swim with me and I’m not that strong of a swimmer.” You admit, a bit embarrassed.

-Percy hums softly in thought. “I’ll teach you then! Swimming is a really important skill after all.” he grins offering you a hand to help you into the water. “Who better to teach you than the son of Poseidon! Come on, I'll have you swimming laps around the other campers by the end of the week.”

-You can’t help but huff a laugh at that. “I’ll hold you too that.” you decide on taking his hand to join him in the lake and that’s how your swimming lessons with the son of Poseidon began.

~Masterlist & Rules~

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[indieyuugure]

Since you did your top5 rise episodes, can you do your top5 tmnt 2012 episodes?

Alright, I gotta think about this…

Okay my top 5 episodes of 2012:

I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman, I think the episode really set in my love for Leo’s character, especially his dorky side. There’s so many amazing lines from that episode and Raph’s impression of Splinter just kills me!

The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones, such a good episode! They introduce one of my favorite TMNT characters and it’s so fun to see him meet/become friends with Raph and the others.

Moons of Thalos 3, Raph meets Mona and it’s adorable! Hard to go wrong with this one XD

Trans-Dimensional Turtles, total ten outta ten episode, the fact that they point out that Rob Paulson is the voice actor for both 12Donnie and 87Raph is just the cherry on top!

Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady/The Foot Walks Again!/The Big Blowout, (I’m counting this as one episode since it’d be like trying to divide The Invasion as two episodes) Seriously this might be my all time favorite episode! This was the one of the first times I’d finished a series and been genuinely happy afterwards. This episode is a perfect balance of humor and references. There’s just so much in this one and I love it!

I think while Rise is very consistently amazing, 2012 is more hit or miss. No hate! I love 2012, but I think we all know it’s true that not every episode is a masterpiece XD

Good question! :]

[sublieu]

- ͙۪۪̥˚┊❛ ˚ · .Insufferable༉‧₊˚.❜┊˚ ͙۪۪̥◌

tw: dub-con, yelling, no proof read, OOC donnie semi dirty talk, dacryphilia. [OOC?] donnie

Dacriphilia: to fetishize the thought of someone crying.

search up turtle dick, I dare you :3

Donatello hated you with a burning passion, always one upping him whenever you had the chance. Even his brothers were slightly more tolerable than you, but goddamn where you attractive with it.

Even when you two argue he can't help but take a peek at your chest, your attitude is even worse but when you walk off he can't help but stare at your ass. He hated you but he couldn't help that you were his type, cute yet so fuckin mean.

Today the same thing would happen as did any other day, yelling at each other and somehow you managed to throw a whole chair at him (which he missed just in time). But this time his siblings and April weren't dealing with your shit.

"Ok, you two need a room" "Obviously if you both are gonna act like this we're gonna have to put you somewhere that doesn't tear the whole sewer down".

Leo sarcasticly remarks and pushes you both in Donnie's room before zipping it up and locking it. Which you attempted to break through only for Donnie to tell you that it's made of Polycarbonate, so you both are stuck until you both makeup.

"This wouldn't have happened if you had listened to me about the acid" "Why are you so insufferable sometimes?!"

He shouts as he attempts to pull the zipped plastic from his doorway, you scoffed and continued to pull on his strings; His patience already wearing thin with that little mouth of yours before he ultimately stopped fighting with the zipper. Turning around and giving you an unreadable expression.

"Y'know, I actually find you attractive. It's just that little sailor mouth you have"

He starts and walks closer to you, his finger tracing the line of your lips as you look up at him with a flushed face. He smirks before whispering in your ear as the curtains closed themselves.

"Let's fix that cursing tongue for you k~?"

Donnie whispers and pushed you on his bed, unzipping his pants and letting his cock spring free as you laid there, flustered and confused before feeling your panties being pulled off; Looking up and seeing that it was donnie as he stared back at you with lust.

As donnie spread your legs, he couldn't help but coo at how cute your pussy was. Running a finger through your slit and watching it run down his fingers before licking it off, his cock being ever so evident and pressing at your butt as he basked in your sugary taste.

You were flabbergasted, just a couple minutes ago he was yelling at you and now this? It was as if an off switch was clicking in his senses. Letting a whimper escape your lips when he pushed the tip of his cock inside before thrusting in you, hard.

You choked on a moan as he kept thrusting inside you, his cock pressing at every sensitive spot inside you and forcing you to whimper and cry out his name as he placed your legs around his waist; fucking you as if he was trying to breed you pregnant and letting small curse words escape his lips.

Everything around you was a blur, too busy paying attention to Donnie to even notice tears slipping from your eyes. Your hands wrapping around his neck and giving him a sloppy, yet sincere kiss. To which he responds immediately and continues whispering lewd remarks to you.

When he noticed tears falling from your eyes he wiped them away, but everytime you just kept crying and repeating how much you loved him; His cockiness, his dorky behaviour, just anything to make him not let go or pull out. Which worked in your favor as he kept thrusting even harsher inside you, almost breaking his bed with you on it.

Oh how he loved how submissive you were at the moment, just a cute, little crybaby just for his eyes and his eyes alone to see; Hushing you with another kiss as you still whimpered and bucked against him. A dazed yet relaxed look on your face as your watched his cock go up and down in your stomach, pressing a hand at it and bucking against him everytime you do.

He came first but still kept going, not wanting to leave you high and dry as you kept crying and moaning. Taking deep breaths and trying not to accidentally lose your voice through crying. Which ultimately failed after looking up at him, a determined yet drunken look on his face.

Your nails dug into his arms as you came around his cock; creamy, sticky cum leaving the edge of his bed a soaked mess as he rested on your chest. Finally calming down before planting a kiss on your forehead and rolling over on his bed. You both started laughing before returning back to the comforting silence.

"Hey um, sorry about pouncing on you and..stuff"

He starts the conversation, you looked back at him and got up in his bed before going to lie down on his chest. Already telling him that you already forgave him before falling asleep.

Extra:

"Omg why did we think leaving them in a room together was a good idea..." "We?! you meant you!"

Mikey yells on the other side of the room, turning up his headsets and hiding in his pillow fort as Ralph just sat there in silence, with an unreadable expression on his face.

Splinter laughed at them as he continued watching tv, shortly falling asleep in his chair in his now finally quiet home

[hopelesslyromanticshark]

hi covey how r u??? i hope ur doing well and if u feel comfortable telling us i’m curious about wips ofc u don’t have to tell us anything. i love ur work btw

im doing great!!! been a little distracted from writing but i gotta pull an all nighter tonight anyways, so hoping to bang a few of this wips out bc i feel like i've been lacking lmao- doesn't help that i got distracted by my new blog and whatnot lmao-

ANYWAYS,

i present thee with thine wips (idk if that's accurate sounds right to my dyslexic ass shut up)

i got my hot pants on tonight; leo valdez x reader blurb (this one came to my brain while on my road trip. should be super short and sweet and hella dorky and kinda cringe lmao-)

what divine lives we lead; mortal gods blurb (pt two to my all time fav fic on this blog. might take a bit to write out but super super excited that i get to yap more about mortal gods!!)

c'mon, barbie, let's go shopping!; percy jackson x daughter of aphrodite! reader blurb (a request from our darling lotus anon who's had to wait actually eons for it- IM SORRY BBY IM WORKING ON IT I SWEAR-)

Cotton Candy Kisses (a leo valdez fic about a county fair date with gf + the seven, another request from someone!! i have good ideas for this one but i gotta like sit down and write it, which is always the hardest part lmao-)

little miss grumpy and little mister sunshine; jason grace x reader blurb (the title of this one has me screamingggggggg but tbh kinda don't have a plot for it??? probs gonna be relatively short compared to recent blurbs ive been doing- which is something i've been meaning to fix. some of my blurbs are dead ass whole fics-)

sneak around the grapevine; leo valdez x daughter of dionysus! reader blurb (another title that i loveeeeeee and liveeeeee for!! just a sneaky little fic that might get a little steamy bc im in a mood!!)

Fall In Love With a Prankster, What’s The Worst That Can Happen?? (CONNOR STOLL FIC ALERT WOOOOOOOO- im actually super excited for this one, which you could NOT tell from the blank draft but TRUST GUYS IMMA COOK YOU KNOW IM GONNA COOK-)

AND THAT'S ITTTTTTTTT shortest wip ive done like everrrrrrrrrr love it love it love ittttttttttt

well...technically that's not all.

come, lean in closer, i'll whisper it in your ear- no closer!

okay...ready?

ill whisper, don't worry...

iM WORKING ON SOMETHING FOR A 1K CELEBRATIONS!!!!!-

oh, right, sorry, just yelled straight in your ear- ummmmm yeah im sure the ringing sound will go away...with time...probably-

ANYWAYS THAT'S SO EXCITING YALL DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW APPRICIATIVE I AM THAT THOSE WORDS EVEN GET TO LEAVE MY MOUTH- I WAS FLABBERGASTED AT 350 IMAGINE WHAT 1K HAS DONE TO ME????

anyways...i've offically spilled my guts lmao

[marmolady]

Grandchildren: Aurora

Summary: Endless Ending timeline. Middle-aged Taylor and Estela are entering a new phase of their life together, welcoming their grandchildren into the family. In four parts; this is PART FOUR.

Word Count: 4421

Tagging: @saivilo, @edgydepressedchoicesthot, @sceptilemasterr, ​@mauvecatfic @rhemenway888

Thanks for reading!

________________________________________

2061

Rosa smoothed out the gown with a hand. Her Mama Estela’s beautiful wedding gown, a gift from an old friend, Seraxa. Georgie’s wife, Taamina, had made the necessary alterations to accommodate seven months’ worth of baby bump-- something that Estela had insisted they try out rather than have Rosa write off her dream dress. Guilt remained over doing anything to change it at all when there were such precious memories attached….

“You look nervous. Are you nervous?” Luz, Rosa’s other best friend, had been by her side since early that morning.

Most of the Catalyst kids had gotten permission to bring their significant others in on the secrets of La Huerta… but Rosa hadn’t the need, Vaanti fiance and all. With her looking to spend as much time on the island as possible, Varyyn had suggested he consult with the elders to gain approval for her to share her world with Luz, who’d been close to both Rosa and Georgiana since their early school days. This was the result; Niala’rei was here, and Rosa would be wed with her two closest friends by her side.

“...I….” Of course, Rosa was nervous. The dress was, admittedly, a factor. A part of her felt it was too beautiful, the kind of gown a goddess would show up to a wedding in. Did she really have the confidence to pull off a dress like that? Her Mama ‘Stel had, twice. But that made Rosa feel like a mouse stepping into a warrior costume.

Somehow, though, Rosa didn’t look like the mouse she saw herself as; she looked proud and confident. Perhaps she held herself differently just with the knowledge that this was her heritage, that she belonged. Perhaps she held herself differently because of the baby… she’d always been more courageous for Leo’s presence, maybe this little one had helped her grow further.

This dress was both Vaanti and Montoya. There was no way she’d wear anything else as she made her vows to Homori.

She had to be the warrior queen. And her fight was with herself, because the greatest fear that lingered, the shadow that loomed menacingly over her, was her inability to speak the words she so needed to speak.

“Wo--oa--oah! I’m having some serious deja-vu right now-- talk about a blast from the past, doodlejumps!”

The appearance of Raj, all wide arms coming in for a bear hug made the skittish Rosa jump, but she recovered enough to take the embrace.

Rosa had hit it off with her larger-than-life Catalyst ‘uncle’ pretty much from the get-go-- even timid and fragile as she’d been back then. He had this magic quality… you couldn’t help but be at ease around him, and the young Rosa had gotten so much comfort from that warm and jovial presence. He’d made sure he had time in his busy schedule for her wedding, saying he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

She smiled shyly. “I had hoped it could fit,” she admitted. “After Livi wore Mama Taylor’s, I thought it would be nice to…. It’s like a family tradition now, isn’t it?”  

“Seems like it,” Raj said. “Gotta pull out the old Niala’rei gowns for a Montoya wedding. You know, when your moms made it official in San Trobida-- you know I basically ran that whole gig, right?-- Estela was pregnant too. We didn’t know it, though, early days. But still, maybe that’s a tradition too!”

“It might be now.”

“Well, it suits you.”

He joined the crowd bustling into the throne room, and Rosa was left alone with Luz. All those people who’d be watching… there was surely no way she could do this….

“You can do this,” Luz said warmly, supportive as ever. “Just… talk to Mori. Look at him, look at the big smile on his dorky face, and speak to him.”

Rosa had never not been able to talk to Homori. Her body trusted him, never felt the need to freeze up. Her childhood challenges with selective mutism had been more or less overcome, but every now and then, usually when she least wanted it to happen, all her words would get… stuck. She preferred writing. Her hand never failed her like her voice did.

She couldn’t screw up her wedding vows, though. There was much that needed to be said; how much it meant to her that she could pour her heart and soul out to Homori and know she was being heard, how he made her laugh more in just a day by his side than she would in weeks without him. How he was exactly the parent to Leo that she, growing up in care, would have longed for as a young child-- sweet, and tender, and encouraging, and loving without bounds. Rosa had to promise him a lifetime of love, given honestly and openly. She’d promise that she’d have his back as they took on the challenges of parenthood, of finding personal fulfilment side-by-side, and navigating the divide between their cultures. She’d share his dreams, cheer his successes as her own, knowing that her joys would be his in the very same way. She had to say all that, aloud, get the words in the right order, and… and….

Luz squeezed Rosa’s hand. “It sounds like they’re ready for you, babe.”

Placing a hand on her belly, Rosa took a deep breath. Breathing techniques had gotten her through some real panics in her time…. She could feel the movement of the baby, and it weirdly made her feel more capable. Yes, she was definitely holding herself stronger and prouder since this little kid came along. For her baby, and for Leo, and for her lovely Homori, she could do this. She could damn well say what she needed to say.

The hall was full. Couples getting married, friends and family there in love and support. Rosa had attended Niala’rei before; when Georgie had taken Faiyara’s hand. She’d imagined it then… having the guts to choose a life far removed from the one she’d grown up with. Stepping into that hall, she was proud. Her and Homori, they were going to make it.

Her breath rattling with nervous excitement, Rosa saw through the crowd that was her family, and her eyes met with Homori’s. Oh, Mori…. His eyes welled immediately, and his face was in his hands.

Rosa giggled as she reached him, and wrapped her fingers around his. They laughed together, tearfully jubilant to be there hand in hand, so close to ever after.

Maybe they’d both have trouble getting the words out after all. It didn’t even matter. They had one another, and they could take all the time they needed.

_________________________________

The front door was ajar, so Liv pushed it open and tentatively stuck her head in. “Hello, Rosa?”

“Auntie Liv!” came the bellow of the small child who charged smack into her legs. Leonel barely even blinked, but wrapped his arm around Liv’s-- probably soon to be bruised-- thighs.

“Oh, hey Leo,” Liv said, recovering quickly. She was used to being almost being bowled over by small children by this point. “I take it your mommy’s in?”

“I’m here!” Rosa said, bustling over. “Thanks for grabbing him-- Mo just went out to the workshop to grab the crib, and I’ve been trying to convince Leo to wait here with me.”

“No worries.” Liv placed down her bags, and scooped her nephew up in her arms. He was a cuddly kid, and she was enough of a novelty that her attention would distract him from getting under his dad’s feet. “I just wanted to drop by the few things I said about. I’ll send more as Bea grows out of things, obviously, but just little little clothes and sleep bags for now.”

She sat her younger sister down and brought her a cold refreshment-- and Leonel a pineapple juice in a sippy cup.

“You really didn’t have to,” Rosa said as she sipped gratefully. The heat was admittedly hard to handle this late in pregnancy, even with all the fans going.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to go back home to San Trobida without being totally sure you’re all right,” Liv admitted. “I know first-hand how hard it can be with a newborn, and you’re fresh off the back of a massive life change. I want… I want you to know that I’m here for you. Me and Jeimy. I know we’re swamped with our own kids, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have your back as well.”

Rosa nodded quietly, looking down into her glass. She didn’t want to put anyone out, she’d always struggled with that. Her early life she’d gotten through by making as few demands as possible, well, until she simply cracked. Asking for help was still something she had only found herself able to do with Homori, her moms, and very rarely, Luz or Georgie.

“Rosita, I want to be there for you,” Liv urged.

Rosa exhaled shakily, her breath making the surface of her colourful drink tremble. She placed it down, and looked to the side shyly.

“I am scared,” she said finally. “Not of being a mom again, because I love being a mom, it… feels like it’s what I’m meant to be doing. I’m scared of labour and the birth… you know my pain tolerance is laughable. I’m not… I’m not like you. I’m not tough.”

Liv scooched closer and took her sister’s hand. “I’d think you were batshit crazy if you weren’t crazy. Labour is off-the-charts intense. You’ll cry, and scream, and swear, and probably crap yourself. And it’ll be worth it.” She paused. “They do… have everything on hand to give you an epidural if you need one, right?”

Rosa nodded, wiping her eyes. It was a relief to share her fears with someone other than Homori. What had Mama Taylor always told her?-- ‘you’re allowed to take up space’. The space she took up with her anxiety did not need to be apologised for. Or so she knew in theory.

“Y-yeah. I wanted to try without, it’s not really a thing women here use much.”

“Well, good on you. Just… don’t let other people’s expectations sway you one way or another. You know your body and what you need, and you don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

Rosa could feel herself blushing.

“Mommy!” Leonel said, “Can I show Auntie Liv my room? I have dinosaurs on my bed, she’ll pro’lly like the dinosaurs.”

“Sure, I like dinosaurs,” Liv said. “Shall we go for this tour?”

Grateful to have the glare of attention off herself, Rosa happily let Leo do his thing. He had his auntie by the hand, and enthusiastically showed her round. So, Rosa took the opportunity to put her head through the door and check in on Homori with the new crib.

“There!” he said, “we’re ready as we’ll ever be!”

Rosa could’ve danced at the sight of that crib, the ornamental fox designs at the head hand-carved by the daddy-to-be. It was just gorgeous, and its placement by the bed signalled that it would not be long until the new family member would be there with them. God, the wait was feeling like an eternity. Naturally, she ran to Homori and kissed him.

A little while later, Rosa and Liv were back in the bedroom, sorting tiny baby clothes into neat piles.

 “I’m so glad you’ve got Georgie with you on this when the time comes,” Liv was saying. “She knows her stuff.”

“She really does,” Rosa said, and she smiled. How lucky was she that her best friend happened to be a midwife? She couldn’t be in safer hands. “Sometimes I think she’s almost as excited about baby coming as we are.

Liv had to laugh. “It’s a good thing she’s going to have her own to keep her busy soon enough, or I reckon you’d have to prise her off the baby with a winch or something.”

Rosa chuckled, but then turned away. She had the best people in her corner, a far cry from what she’d come from. She couldn’t forget that feeling though, the aloneness, and it made letting go difficult. Liv would understand.

“I….”

The words caught.

“No rush, Rosi. You can take your time.”

“I have… Georgie. Helping. But she’ll have… she’ll have her own baby. I have Homori, and he’s everything.”

“Mo is an absolute freaking superstar,” Liv concurred. “Tio Diego would do anything for you as well, you know that, right? Varyyn too.”

Rosa looked at her hands, at the teeny, tiny babygro in them. Teeny and tiny, and representative of oh-so-much. “I… know that. Asking for help is… hard.” She laughed bitterly. “When I need help the most, I can hardly even string a sentence together.”

Liv frowned. “Maybe you could have a codeword to text or something? They want to be there for you-- they love you.”

It was hard to accept, even if logic told her it was true. Old insecurities were not Rosa’s friends.

“And I… I miss Moms.”

“Yeah. It’s a big change.”

“I know they’d drop everything if I needed help, but it still… scares me. I shouldn’t be scared of not living with my moms at twenty-six but I definitely am.” Rosa swallowed hard. “They said… they can stay on La Huerta as long as I need, but….”

“You’re not a burden, Rosita. Not at all.” Liv put an arm around her younger sister and hugged her close. “Worst case scenario? Moms get a month or two longer hanging out on paradise island. Mama Taylor will hang out with Tio Diego watching old episodes of Cinema Therapy and go on their little emotional journeys together. Mama Estela will teach Leony how to put the other kids in a headlock.”

Rosa snorted. “I guess they wouldn’t mind. Worst case scenario.”

“And you probably won’t even need that. You got this.”

_______________________________

There was a slight breeze. A welcome slight breeze, for it had been a muggy day even by La Huerta standards. Estela let her foot dangle.

Try and relax. It’s gonna be a long one.

She and Taylor sat on their porch swing-- it had been built and embellished with carvings by Homori who’d gifted it to them a year prior-- taking in the night, and resigning themselves to the anxious wait.

Rosa had been very afraid. Fair enough, Estela had thought, for childbirth was almost unimaginably painful. Rosi had never had a high pain tolerance. Estela did, and she’d found herself going to pieces in the agony that had preceded Liv’s entrance to the world. Her own instinct was to want to be near to Rosa, to help, but a plenty capable support team was doing that job. In all honesty, Estela had anticipated that Rosa would want her mothers there; she’d always needed their reassurance far more than Liv ever had, even into adulthood. Maybe it was a good thing that Rosa had other supports in place… her independence had certainly grown since Leo came along. Hell, she’d freaking blossomed.

Estela glanced down as her phone screen lit up.

‘6cm, looks like going into active labor. Starting to get a bit scary!’

“Oh, sweetheart…,” Taylor breathed. “That’s good. Good progress. Quicker than I was expecting, to be honest.” She sucked her cheek as she let Estela tap out an encouraging reply. “I’m selfish, but I miss her needing me so much.”

“You’re not selfish,” Estela said with a shrug. “You’d be selfish if you barged in, demanding she hold your hand. You can’t help your feelings, but you’re aware of them, so….”

“...so I guess I’m not making them anyone’s problem but my own. True. Well, apart from you.”

Estela looked her wife in the eyes and smiled gently. “It’s always comforting to know I’m not the only one having an internal freak-out.”

Taylor grinned. “We do our freak-outs as a team like the loved-up wives we are.”

She looked lovely out there in the moonlight, Estela thought. All full of hope and excitement, of tenderness for the frightened little girl who now existed only as a memory-- for Rosa had found her wings and soared.  Taylor was what she’d always been, a carer and protector, an inspirer and a confidant. She’d still be all of those things, but her role would change now as their children brought forth another generation. Time to be ‘grandma’.

Estela kissed her softly, heartbeat quickening at the tender caress of Taylor’s lips upon her own.

“You are never gonna not be needed,” she said in a hushed laugh. “Hermosa idiota.”

That made Taylor giggle. “I guess not.”

___________________________

Leonel jumped up and down on the springy old couch, punctuating his bounces with chanting. “We’ve… got… a… baby! We’ve… got… a… baby!”

In Homori’s arms, a golden-haired infant slumbered, oblivious to the excitement.

“Mind you don’t wake your sister.”

With an extra big bounce, Leo landed on his bottom, and grinned from ear to ear. “My baby sister! I can’t believe she’s gonna live with us now!”

“I know,” Rosa said, and she groaned as she sat down. “No more jumping, okay, sweetheart? I can barely believe she’s out in the world either.”

“She’ll get a name, right?” Leo asked. “We can’t call her ‘baby’ when she gets bigger….”

“I’m sure we’ll think of something, mijo.”

It was even slower than usual to get Leo into his pyjamas, and clean his teeth, and brush his hair. A new baby sister was a significant distraction. The baby joined the three of them in Leo’s room, sleeping through the two requisite bedtime stories, and still not stirring when her big brother gave her a very gentle kiss on the top of her head.

Eventually, though, Leo was settled, and his parents could spend some quiet time with the newest member of their happy unit.

“I guess the next challenge,” Rosa said sleepily, “what’s her name? I think it would be really nice to have ‘Luz’ as the middle after all she’s helped me out… but I’m pretty stumped on a first name. D’you think you can come up with a short-list?”

Homori’s eyes were shining with love for the small infant snuggled against his bare chest. “She should have a human name-- English or Spanish-- like her brother. It’ll be easier for her to keep her secrets if her name does not attract attention.”

Rosa frowned. He was right, but it didn’t sit well. Their little girl was to be raised by a Vaanti father, she had a right to the cultural heritage that came with that. They could maybe even get away with some Vaanti names-- it wasn’t as if humans didn’t get creative when naming their kids, no one would necessarily suspect anything….

“Or,” Homori said, picking up the vibe his wife was giving off, “she could have a Vaanti name and a human name. Maybe we could give Leo a Vaanti name too. Even if they don’t always use them, it would be kinda nice for them to have.”

“Maybe,” Rosa said, thoughtful, “you could come up with some Vaanti names, and we’ll look up human names with an equivalent meaning.”

They sat together on the bed, poring over baby name websites, and a book of names they’d gotten out from the library in The New Celestial weeks ago. Rosa and Homori were on a mission; their baby girl was going to have a name before the night was out.

“Something bright and optimistic,” Homori pondered. “I quite like ‘Tahiyya’, which represents a hopeful future. ‘Hiyya’ is ‘future’, and ‘Tah’or ‘Taa’ is something you add on the front of a word or name… like a positive thing.”

“What does Taamina’s name mean?”

Taamina was the child of a close friend, who frequently played with Leo.

“‘Mina’ is like… ‘to dance’. So, I guess like a dance of happiness.”

“That’s cute! Pity that one’s taken by a close friend.”

Homori chuckled. “We’ll find her name.”

Rosa clicked her tongue. “Okay, names meaning ‘future’….”

She searched for five minutes, then ten. “Nothing really jumping out, to be honest.”

“‘Laniira’ is the name of the first Elyyshar, who brought our people together from across the island at a time of trouble. I’m not sure of the full meaning, but ‘niir’ is ‘sunrise’ and the ‘a’ sound is feminine. Something beautiful beginning… that’s pretty nice as meanings go.”

That was pretty nice. “Like ‘dawn’ or something….” Rosa pondered. Or how about…. “What about ‘Aurora’? Our new day. Her Vaanti name could be Niira.”

Homori beamed. “That’s it! That’s her name!”

The baby began to stir and whine, woken by his excited cry.

“Oops-- I’m gonna… I’m gonna have to get the hang of being enthusiastic quietly….”

Rosa couldn’t help but laugh. “And this is the kid who slept through ‘Hurricane Leo’.”

“Hurricane Leo is no match for over-excited Daddy Mo!”

Having picked up the freshly named Aurora and begun gently bouncing her upon her arm, Rosa looked up at Homori and grinned from ear to ear. To think she once couldn’t see herself ever so much as having a family… now her family, and the love they shared, just kept growing.

Somewhere along the line, she’d gotten so lucky. And Aurora, and her whirlwind Leony, would never know fears like the ones she’d had.

_____________________________

2062

“Abuela, Abuela!” Sol cried as he ran, feet pounding on the sand.

Taylor grinned, looking up from her drink to meet her wife’s eye. “You’re wanted.”

Estela got to her feet and began limbering up. “Ready to lose, mijo?”

“’Stel! He’s only six! You’re gonna go easy, right?”

“And I’m sixty-five. Pretty damn fair if you ask me.”

Sol grasped his grandmother’s hand and led her to the firmer sand. He pointed up the beach. “To that banana tree that’s sticking out down there-- you see it?”

“I’m racing too!” Andi hollered, dropping her arepa con queso in her hurry to be included. She rarely beat her brother in a running race, but she didn’t tire of trying. Then, tagging along behind her was Leonel-- just another one of the ‘big kids’ as far as he was concerned.

“On my signal….” Raj announced, and he picked up a napkin to hold in the air. “Aaaand… let her rip!”

He dropped his arm, and the four were off… with Estela perhaps going a little easy on her grandkids.

Taylor watched with a smile on her face and in her heart. A more perfect way to spend a day she couldn’t think of; Aurora’s first birthday, and a lively picnic surrounded by loved ones. Joining the Montoya clan, Raj had flown in; he’d taken up the role of ‘cool great-uncle’ with Leo and Aurora as if he was born for no other purpose, though he had Diego as stiff competition. Michael and Conor had joined him; Michael never missed a birthday of one of his donor kids. Rosa’s close friends Georgiana and Faiyara had joined the celebration with children Niraea and Rauan in tow, and Homori’s father had trekked down from Colonnade Cove to be there to commemorate the birth of his granddaughter.

Diego, naturally, was right by Taylor’s side.

“How’s it even been a year?” he asked incredulously. “Look at her-- she’s walking. Walking, Taylor!”

“That’s all of them,” Taylor laughed. “All of the grandkids walking, all walking straight into mischief.”

“You reckon Rosa’s done?”

“Yeah, she seemed pretty certain.”

“I’m not surprised,” Diego commented. “She and Mori seem really content. Rosi always talks about all these things she’s excited to do... easier once all the baby-having’s out the way.”

“You’re not wrong. She’s happy, and she’s just growing into herself more and more.”

“Five grandkids… not a bad effort.”

“Not bad at all.”

Having sat herself in the middle of the largest picnic blanket, Aurora seemed to know she was the centre of attention. All these people around, all the hubbub that came with a party, and she took it all in her diminutive stride.

“She looks like you,” Diego noted with a laugh. “Everyone else revolving around her.”

“Hey! I know I’m not the centre of the universe!”

How could Taylor not smile? So much of the people she loved in those five children, and each of the five was something unique and precious all on their own. Little pieces of stardust, brightening their family’s world.

Sol had joined Aurora on the blanket, and was cuddling Beatriz in his lap-- even as the toddler made a bid for freedom and for the oh-so-tempting cupcakes set out on the camp table. Still out on the sand, Andi was giving Leonel ‘whizzies’, holding him under his armpits and swinging him wildly around in circles until she collapsed dizzily. And Aurora was just taking it all in; chewing on her teething ring, and watching the antics of her friends and family with quiet curiosity. Every now and then, someone-- her mom and dad, of course, had a particular knack for this-- would catch her eye and smile or pull a face, and she’d come alight with a giggle.

“You know what you’ve gotta do?” Diego prodded. “Grannies and grandkids selfie!”

It wasn’t always going to happen that they’d all be together, Liv’s and Rosa’s lives being in different places. Yeah… they should take a picture.

Estela needed little convincing, and she swiftly herded up Leo-- who rushed over to snuggle with Grandma Tay-- and Andi --who was grabbled and dangled upside down as she laughed hysterically.

“You,” Taylor gushed as she squeezed her little Leo, cuddled up on her lap. “Are. So. Huggy!”

“Hugs are good!” he declared.

Hugs are good, Taylor concurred, as birthday girl Aurora came over with wide arms to join in.

Liv held up her phone to take a picture. “Mom, you’ve got Andi-Pants the wrong way up! Didn’t they ever tell you how to correctly assemble a kid?”

The giggling, squirming Andi was eventually tamed, leaning up on one side of Estela’s lap, while Sol took the other. Perched between them, of course, was baby Bea-- a little bewildered by the bustling around, but taking it in her stride.

Over the top of Aurora’s head, Taylor caught Estela’s eye and they shared a smile. Sometimes, it was necessary to take a moment and really marvel in the beautiful thing they’d made together. The odds faced, the fight for their lives… somehow it was a million miles away now. And ‘happy ever after’ just seemed to keep on coming.

[leohamatoblog]

As a Dad: Leo Edition

note: hey everyone! happy Ramadan, happy Easter, happy Passover, happy Vaisakhi, happy Hanuman Jayanti, happy Mahavir Jayanti, and happy days to secular folks! i hope you all are having a safe holiday.

Authoritative

• there isn't much that we all collectively agree on more about leo than the fact that he's somewhat of a bossy dude

• that being said, he does mellow out in his older years and becomes more laid back...then he had children (biologically by some miracle or by adoption)

• he read every single baby book he could get his hands on but then they went out the window when he realized that parenting is nothing like what they say in books

• the 0-8 month phase wasn't so bad, his sleep schedule is wonky so mostly he's up with the baby. he's very calm, very soft spoken, and gentle with the baby when they're fussy cause they can't communicate

• bath schedule, eating schedule, sleep schedule, the man has schedules people.

• absolutely loves bath time cause he's the dad who will put the bubbles on his head to make the kid laugh (i dont make the rules)

• loves the pre-walking stage the most cause you just put them on the floor and let'em roll and crawl in a confined space

• lord help this man at the walking and talking stages

• he tries to get your kid to talk but all the kid wants to do is scream so..there's that idea gone

• when the kid wants to run around naked while leo's trying to get the diaper back on, now that is where he gets tested cause that little shit-

• incredible amount of patience though, especially with tantrums. splinter never raised his voice at him as a kid until he became a teen, so he wanted to carry that on with his own children

• now when your kid hits the 3-8 stage, oh boy. if leo could go grey, he would be grey.

• he tries to teach your child discipline and respect, and while your kid is respectful, unfortunately they have leo's sharp tongue and makes it everyone's problem

• leo believes in time outs or taking things away as punishment. he doesn't believe in spanking and thinks yelling accomplishes nothing. he does get a certain tone that makes it known he means business

• he knows full well your child is going to make mistakes and creates a safe environment to where your kid can come to him when this does happen without much punishment

• but we all know that's a perfect world and if it's leo's kid, their mouth is going to be their downfall

• he thought the 3-8 stage was bad until ages 13-17, oh boy.

• puberity is not on leo's side here

• grounding becomes more of a ritual and leo runs a tight ship. he will hold his grounding opinion until he thinks it should be lifted, no matter how long it takes

• of course your kid is also a ninja so sneaking out is a thing (leo can't get too mad cause he did the same but "do as i say and not as i do" is leo's famous line)

• reasonable parent and thinks carefully about how severe a punishment should be or if the circumstance really even calls for one

• chores, bedtime until they hit around 13, the kid must have at least an A/B average, a C is acceptable if the subject is particularly hard and the kid is trying their best

• dorky dad. just a dorky dad.

• dad sneezes

• doesn't strike me as a girl dad or boy dad cause he's so attentive no matter the gender

• he's the dad that doesn't call it babysitting cause it's his kids

• he will get down on the floor and play with his kids

• has a little girl? no problem dressing up and letting her do his makeup and nails

• has a little boy? wrestling and rough housing it is

• kid(s)will be respectful and smart, and just very genuinely nice kids

• kid(s)'ll also deck someone with no hesitation

• vegetables are non-negotiable

• very proud man when it comes to his children and never hesitates to praise them

• the children will each have special nicknames

• he's not the fun parent but is also not not the fun parent

• never misses an event, even though he has to attend in the shadows. he is always there

• affectionate dad, more verbally than physically, but he gives your kids head kisses all the time

• as long as the kids aren't trying to kill each other and are just playing, the noise doesn't bother him much...it's the silence that does

• definitely the type of dad to send 👍

[eternalglitch]

Can you tell us why donnie would be more ideal as being the second oldest pls? /nf

As a fellow believer that donnie is older than leo i need this information to convince my friends

YES ABSOLUTELY I am ready to discuss.

Heights. Someone else- maiprim- also popped into my inbox to mention this, but since the turtles do not have obvious birthdays, and Raph literally says "I'm the big brother– the brother that is biggest" I would ASSUME that means heights played into their logic for who is older. I would bet Donnie was taller when they made that call as kids, and now that Leo and him are pretty much the same height he made his dorky goggles taller to show that he's second tallest, trust him.

Protective traits. Similar as to how Raph shields Leo and Donnie, Donnie is often shown shielding Mikey in the direct "I'm covering you with my body" kind of way. They all protect each other, but seeing who is willing to grab their other siblings and try to take the damage gives Raph and Donnie the big bro vibes.

Smug know it all energy for Donnie. I feel like older siblings tend to be the ones that think they know best, and while Leo is reckless and wants to do his own thing, Donnie thinks HIS way is tried, true, and works. He tries to get his other brothers to follow his tune rather than striking out on his own, similar to Raph scolding Leo in the movie. Personally I feel like older siblings have the "I did this and this is what worked" opinion and younger have the "let me do things my own way" stance which Leo tends to lean towards.

In a cut opening to the movie, the turtles burst in and each say a word of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but Leo is missing because he's trying to do a flashy entrance. The order they go in is Raph, Donnie, Leo, Mikey, and then Raph looks around and goes "hey, where's our 'Ninja'?" Seems like the order is by age.

Raph and Donnie as a duo just give me older sibling energy whereas Leo and Mikey feel younger when they're hanging out. The entire Gumbus episode?? Leo feels distinctly like an older sibling but ONLY when around Mikey. He feels a lot more petty and childish whenever pestering Donnie. Mikey is almost always hanging out on Raph and Donnie's backs... I don't remember him perching on Leo nearly as much. Yet Mikey and Leo also seem to hang out casually a LOT due to similar interests, whereas Donnie is in his lab and Raph might be practicing fighting or something else.

IF Leo was to become leader, I personally think it feels more rewarding for him to not be the second oldest. So what, if Raph steps down it just goes to the next eldest rather than who is strategic and actually best suited for it? It just reinforces Leo's talents for plan and strategy if it's clear this choice is not made by age.

Leo is also incredibly smug and petty. I would imagine that every argument they have, he would gloat about being older... which he does not. I mean just look at him in Lair Games. He is OBNOXIOUS.

All of these, of course, are traits that are not 100% restricted by sibling status, but as a character that is created to fit into a close family, I personally just see him as the older one of the two middle children.

[tmnt-tychou]

OMG, I finished it! *cries in fangirl trash* The last chapter is up. Thanks for waiting so patiently. Sorry it took me so long. If I had my way, I would have finished the whole series before Halloween, but October was crazy busy and I got a little burned out in the end.

If this is your first time seeing this story, you can find Part One Here.

It Hides Within the Fog

Chapter Five: Leonardo

All four turtles were swallowed in the fog way too fast. A few seconds and she couldn't see any of them and panicked. Her flashlight reflexively shined in the direction Leonardo had gone. It was habit now. She had secretly been crushing on him for weeks. She always wanted to go where ever he was. She had no idea if he felt the same, but he never seemed to mind any time she tagged along with whatever he was doing.

“Leo?” she called into the fog. “I can't find you.”

There was no response. Maybe he didn't want her company after all. Then a light came from the mist and he appeared.

“I found you,” he said with gentle humor.

That statement—not just the words, but how he said them—warmed her to her toes. Sometimes it felt like he really did soften his professional demeanor for her. It was hard to tell. He was always just a little formal with her when what she really wanted was for him to finally feel free to be himself around her, like she had seen him be around his brothers.

They weren't they yet, though there had been a few times he had dropped his guard around her. Name certainly hadn't given up on him. For right now, she was just happy that he came back for her.

“Thank you for finding me,” she replied with sincere gratitude.

“Always.” His voice was so soft that she nearly missed it. It surprised her, but he had already turned back around to continue his investigation.

Together, their feet found a path of cobblestones that must have once been used by foot traffic. In its state of neglect, the path was overrun with weeds and dirt, but was just visible enough to tell it was there.

Name found herself gravitating toward Leonardo's well-muscled arm as she took in her surroundings. This place was hella spooky. Even more so than it had been when they pulled up at the gate. Back then, they still had the protection of the heavily-armored truck. Out here, they were simultaneously blanketed by fog and very openly exposed. She found herself wishing the other brothers had stayed together. Even though the trade off was one-on-one time with Leonardo, she wished for that protective phalanx guarding her on all sides. There was never a need to be afraid with all four brothers as her bodyguards.

Some small critter startled near her feet and skittered away. She squeaked and lurched for Leonardo's arm. He stopped as she wrapped both arms around it, sandwiching it between her breasts. She could feel his whole body stiffen at the contact before he looked down at her.

“You okay there, Scardy Cat?” he teased.

“I was just startled,” she insisted.

Yet, when she moved to let him go, he placed a hand on her arm.

“Still, you can stay close. If you want.” His voice was low and hesitant. It sent shivers all the way down her spine.

In that moment, she decided to be very brave in this spooky place and took his hand, her arm still clinging to his. She wanted to be close. She wanted to know if he wanted her close.

“I guess I'd better,” she teased back with a wink. “Just to keep an eye on you.”

A slow smile of amusement lit up his face all the way to his eyes. “My hero.”

Name could hardly hold in the dorky snort. Was he flirting with her? She was absolutely giddy to not only have his attention, but that he seemed to be enjoying himself in her presence. He was relaxed and smiling at her. What she wouldn't give to always be able to be around this Leonardo that she had right now. This one was so much better than the careful, polite Leonardo that usually greeted her.

They walked arm in arm down the lane. It was almost romantic, save for the decrepit grave stones on either side. Up ahead, the trail continued under a small bridge. The tunnel was just wide enough to fit a human and one very large turtle. The arch was illuminated in a friendly, yellow light to show that nothing dangerous awaited them underneath.

Yet, Leonardo stopped in his tracks when he noticed it. “How is there a light on way out here?”

“Maybe this is a newer part of the cemetery?” she guessed.

They both waited and listened. Lights on often meant people. But they couldn't hear any signs of human activity.

“I think it's safe,” Name whispered. “Seems like we're alone.”

Leonardo still frowned with suspicion.

“You look worried,” Name said, trying to get him to tell her what was on his mind. “Do you think people are here?”

“No, I just...I'm usually not this lucky.”

“Lucky?”

“To get alone time with you. I keep expecting my brothers to pop up at any time and ask where you are.”

“And you...don't want them to?”

He let out a long breath and wouldn't look at her. “They like you. They all like you very much and they all want your attention. I don't want to take that away from them. We don't have many friends, if you haven't noticed. I want them all to have your friendship and your time, but...”

He trailed off, looked irritated at himself over what he said, then stepped forward.

Name let got of his arm and blurted out, “You have my attention, Leo.”

He paused and turned to look at her.

“You've always had my attention,” she continued. “And I do like your brothers and love spending time with them, but I would love to spend more time with you.”

“You... you do?” he asked dumbly.

“Of course! Why do you think I always follow you around? I kept worrying I was being a bother and taking up your time.”

It looked as though a light bulb just went off in his brain and all their interactions finally made sense.

“Ah,” he said simply. Then he looked pleased.

Name felt bubbly inside for being responsible for that look. So much so, she ran forward for the bridge, urging him to meet her there. She wanted to see his smile in the light.

As she moved closer, it became apparent that the light of the bridge wasn't an electric light at all, but a whole conglomeration of lightning bugs huddled in a large mass. They dispersed as she jogged up to them and she was surrounded by thousands of tiny lights flittering all around her. The mist hung low under the bridge, swirling around her calves in a beautiful dance. It was like a scene from a fairy tale.

Swept up in the magic of it, Name twirled in the mist and the fireflies. Maybe this place had a romance to it after all. She had lost track of her turtle companion until she spun right into him. Even with her momentum, it was like hitting a solid wall. He was immovable as he caught her, one arm around her waist pinning her against him. His free hand trapped her wrist. His thumb purposefully rubbed the pad of her palm. Her face felt on fire as he looked at her with those intense, ice-blue eyes.

Eyes locked, heat spread between them simultaneously. Leonardo backed her up against the tunnel wall. His kiss swallowed her noise of surprise. It was firm, but gentle, just as his hold of her was as he pressed himself against her.

Name's brain struggled to catch up to what her body was telling her. She was in Leonardo's arms, his mouth on hers. And above the roar of her own raging heartbeat in her ears, she heard a sickening crack coming from below.

Leonardo pulled back just in time to give her a startled look before the ground beneath their feet gave way. Everything beneath them crumbled in an instant, plunging them into darkness. Name felt Leonardo's body encase her as they went into free fall.

They landed with a splash and a sickening crack of his shell hitting something solid. Name gasped as frigid water soaked into her jeans.

“You okay?” Leonardo's voice asked in the pitch blackness. She felt his body loosen around her.

Name had miraculously held onto her flashlight and illuminated his wide-eyed face.

“I'm okay. How's your shell?”

He experimentally rolled his shoulders. “I think it's okay.”

She stood, shivering. “This water's freezing!”

Miserable in her wet pants and shoes, she shined her light around. They were in some sort of underground stream. It was only a few inches deep, but enough to soak her shoes.

“How does this exist under the cemetery?” she wondered.

Leonardo had gone back into protection mode. “Doesn't matter. Let's get you out of here.”

She was completely okay with that sentiment as her teeth began to chatter. Leonardo frowned at the fact that she was visibly cold. He didn't have any extra clothing to offer her. Instead, he put an arm around her shoulder and pressed her against his body heat. Together, they sloshed through the darkness.

“This might be a weird time to say this,” Name spoke up, “but I like this version of you.”

“What version is that?”

“The version that smiles at me and feels free to put his arm around me when I'm cold.” The one who would kiss her under a bridge among the glow of a thousand lightning bugs. “The Leo from before was still my friend, but he was always so politely distant.”

She watched at his face. He continued to eye the darkness ahead, but then glanced at her.

“I thought that was the Leo you preferred. You seemed so happy being close with my brothers.”

“I adore your brothers. But that never meant I didn't want to get close to you. I adore you, too, you silly turtle.”

He wasn't looking at her, but a goofy grin was threatening to take over his face.

Up ahead, a pile of rubble grew out of the shallow stream, climbing upward. This had to lead up to the surface level. Name was eager to get out of there and immediately started climbing. Leonardo's arm tightened around her, holding her back.

“Wait.”

Above them, something glowed. Something that bobbed and danced in the darkness. The way it moved sent all her fine hairs at attention. It moved in a way that was teasing, intentional. This was no ball of fireflies.

The darkness shifted. Something big that had once been motionless on the pile of rubble. Leonardo went into action, pushing Name back as he drew his swords. In response, a deep, throaty, animalistic sound rumbled in the darkness. Claws scraped on rocks as a heavy body tensed.

Name dared to shine her flashlight upon it. The light found something akin to the mix of an angler fish with a mouth full of blade like, teeth. But its body was lizard like as it hissed at being exposed and scrambled off into the darkness. There was the sound of splashing in the distance, indicating there was deeper water out there.

Leonardo remained where he was, swords out, tense and listening.

Name couldn't pick up any other motion. “It seemed scared of the light,” she said softly. “Whatever it was. If it comes back, I'll just shine this in its face.”

A tail whipped out of the darkness, completely soundless and undetected until it snapped the flashlight right out of her hand. The flashlight went spinning into the air and landed in the shallow water. The only source of light in the entire cave. Name lunged to retrieve the precious resource, but Leonardo blocked her with one arm.

“Don't,” he said. “Don't let it separate us.”

“Don't let it?” she blurted.

************

Something didn't feel right. Leonardo didn't respond to her question. He had to focus on the darkness. This wasn't just some animal. It had purposefully made it sound like it had fled and immediately came back with a calculated attack. Somewhere in the blackness, the rumble returned. It was mixed with a dry leafy sound, like the cackle of laughter. The sound was horrifying. This thing knew what it was doing.

This was no unidentified cave species. This was an eldritch being of ancient horror, hidden away from mankind, but always existing in the deepest caverns of their primitive lizard brains. Leonardo felt it, too. A primal need to get away from this thing. They were too open on all sides. He needed a solid wall of protection at his back to keep Name safe. He also had to get them out of there.

“Okay, we're going to climb slowly, quietly up and out of here,” Leonardo said. “You stay close to me. Do what I say.”

“What about the flashlight? How are we going to see?”

“I've got another one in my right pocket. You can use that.”

He felt her small hands hesitantly, blindly, feel around his shell to his hip, searching for his pants pocket. Any other time, he would have been very content to let her explore him with just her hands in the dark. Even now, it was difficult to keep his mind from wandering until she found what she had been looking for.

This light wasn't as big or as strong as the one they lost, but it was better than nothing. Slowly, Name made her way up hill of loose dirt and rock. Leonardo watched her back as they inched their way along. Every now and then they stopped to listen, but all they heard was the trickling of water.

He thought he was one with the shadows, that nothing could sneak up on him in the darkness. But he had yet to meet a creature who was one with the pitch. Who lived where no light entered. He heard nothing as he felt something bigger, stronger than he push him right off his feet and he went tumbling head over shell down the incline. Name's scream echoed in his ears.

He slammed his swords into the ground to stop his fall and saw the flickering of light as Name scrambled away from teeth and jaws large enough to chomp her in half. A part of him was impressed she had managed to stay away from those teeth thus far. Her training with them had built up her reflexes and survival instincts. The rest of him was terrified of losing her. Especially after knowing the truth of how she felt; being able to bask in the own truth of his heart. He wouldn't allow losing her now.

He tore up the hill and leaped high in the air. He too was one with silence. The creature was too focused on its prey to notice until Leonardo landed on top of it, both swords buried into the monster's back. It screamed so loud and high pitched, the sound hurt his ears, but Leonardo held on as it bucked and tried to reach him with its claws. He hunkered down, drove the blades in deeper.

Another heavy, dark body with teeth and claws rammed into him with all the power of a freight train and sent him flying. There were two creatures. There had always been two. One that hid in the water, one that attacked them after. Leonardo managed to keep a hold on one of his swords, the other was still embedded in the first monster's body.

He was send landing on his shell with a hit so hard he felt it in his teeth. Of course, that damn shell sent him sliding down the embankment all the way into the water. The second creature was not at all concerned with remaining silent. It scrambled loudly after him, screaming and baring its teeth. Leonardo was on his feet just in time for the monster to ram him head-first like a bull and they both careened into the water.

The bottom of the lake fell into a drastic drop right off the bank, as if it were a giant sink hole. It seemed to have no bottom and the creature was pushing him deeper and deeper as if meaning to drown him. But Leonardo was a turtle. He could hold his breath far longer than any human ever could. He did not fear deep water and he did not fear this creature. The only thing he did fear was leaving Name alone in the dark with the other one. And the only thing on his mind was getting back to her.

The monster tried to maneuver him, trying to get a bite of anything else but his shell, but Leonardo knew how to keep his body safe and he knew how to strike at the right time. He still had one sword and it managed to find flesh even though his eyes found no light. He cut again and again and the water warmed around him as blood from the much bigger body spilled out.

The monster began to lose strength and slowly sunk deeper into the depths while Leonardo swam to the surface. His head breached just in time to see Name, flashlight in one hand, his sword in another, running into the water.

Her light shined in his face, blinding him.

“Leo? Are you okay?” her voice was shaky, but she sounded unhurt.

She must have realized she was impairing his vision. She lowered her light as he swam to where his feet could touch the bottom and he pulled himself from the lake.

“I'm alright.” He turned and looked at the water. “I think that one's dead. Where's the other one?”

“You pretty much got that one, too. It took a while, but I think it bled out. I uh...finished it off.” She didn't sound thrilled to admit to such a thing. There was blood on his sword.

He took it from her and sheathed them both. “And your first reaction was to come for me?”

She paused, looking wide-eyed but a little chastised. “Uh...”

“You should have gone to get my brothers.” She looked down, realizing her mistake. But he swept her up in his arms. “But thank you for coming for me.”

She relaxed in his embrace and didn't even seem to mind that he was soaking wet.

*****************

The incline did indeed lead back to the surface, but only the tiniest little rabbit-sized hole in the ground. Name had to bodily push her way through to get back to the cemetery and then help dig Leonardo a big enough hole that he could wriggle through. They both were absolutely filthy, wet and cold as they stiffly dragged themselves through the fog back to the front gates.

Her teeth chattered loudly. Though she wasn't as wet as Leonardo, she was still recovering from the shock of it all and it felt like her body had forgotten how to generate heat. Leonardo looked unsteady on his feet and she kept close to him to keep him steady. He smiled at her as she put an arm around his shell and he did the same, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her in. Neither cared the other was dirty.

“LEEEOOOOO!” Raphael's voice rose from the mist somewhere in the distance and the gentle smile he had for her turned to a frown.

“I hate it when he says my name like that.”

She managed to bark out a laugh. “Hopefully they all had a better time than we did.”

Unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case when the other brothers appeared from different parts of the cemetery. Donatello looked pale and bloodless; haunted. Michelangelo was panting and wild-eyed. Raphael was splattered with blood and shaking.

“Are you guys okay?” Name immediately forgot her own physical discomfort and ran to them. “Raph, are you hurt?”

The largest turtle shook himself. “I'll be okay. Most of the blood isn't mine. You—you're all wet.”

“Yeah, Leo and I ran into...” She glanced back at him, “some kind of...angler fish lizard monster thing that lives in an underground lake. You know, like you usually find under an old, abandoned cemetery.”

The three brothers looked at her, then at Leonardo. They looked haunted and scared all over again.

“Dudette, if you were with Leo, who...I thought you were with me. And I didn't see no lizard lake monster, but I saw something,” Michelangelo said.

Donatello nodded the same. He looked a little queasy. “We all saw something different, didn't we? And we all thought Name was with us.”

She stared at them, alarmed, wondering what the implication was. Were there shape shifters out there? Doppelgangers pretending to be her to trick her friends? To what end?

Leonardo did not wait for them to process. “Everyone in the truck now. We're getting out of here. Mikey, are you okay to drive?”

“Only if you're okay with me breaking the speed limit on the way out.”

Everyone agreed and piled into the truck. Michelangelo drove, spinning the wheels in his haste to get the hell out of there. Leonardo sat in the passenger seat at first, just to make sure his little brother stayed calm.

Donatello and Raphael sat in the two middle seats while the former patched up what few wounds the latter did have. Name curled up in the back bench seat, shivering and happy that the cemetery was now behind them. From her vantage point, she could see all four turtles and she hoped they didn't hate her now. It was her idea for them to come out here. She had suggested they do something new and fun for Halloween. She was the one who had found this place. All of this was her fault.

Once they were well on their way back to the city, Leonardo turned from his seat and made his way to the back. She looked up from where she was staring out the window as he touched her hand.

“You're freezing,” he told her. “We need to warm you up.”

He knelt and slipped off her shoes, then her socks. “You need to get out of those wet clothes.” When he then tugged at her jeans, she made a squawk of surprise. Not that she didn't like the idea of Leonardo undressing her. But this—in the garbage truck surrounded by his brothers—was not where she ever imagined it happening.

“Leo, what are you doing to her back there?” Raphael warned.

“You need to take them off. They're soaked. They'll just make you colder,” Leonardo insisted. He stood and draped himself over the bench seat to pull out a thick blanket from the back. “Here, cover up with this.”

As she took it, their hands brushed and his was ice cold. “You're freezing too. If my pants go off, your pants go off. I know they're soaking wet.”

He eyed her for a moment, then a brow raised playfully. Without breaking eye contact, he started loosening his belt. Name was the one who had to look away as her face suddenly felt like it was on fire. Now her body remembered how to generate heat.

Of course, there was nothing interesting to see about Leonardo without pants. His shell kept certain parts of him covered. Though even the sight of his bare thighs was enough to make her feel like she didn't need the blanket anymore.

Still, she kicked off her pants with him and the two of them snuggled under the blanket, cold thigh, to cold thigh. Then, in the spirit of her being brave all night long, she curled up against his side and let him put his arm around her. She felt his chin rest on the top of her head and it just felt right. They kept each other warm the entire ride back to the city.

*********************

Thank you to @turtle-babe83 who started the Halloween writing challenge. I would not have written this series without you offering the challenge. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to wax poetic about spooky, romance, and turtles. Three of my favorite things to write about.

Thank you to @thelaundrybitch who kept asking me about this last chapter and making sure I didn’t forget about it. I appreciate the support so much.

Thank you to @scrapyard-droid for making some extremely awesome art for some of the chapters.

Thank you to everyone who read this series and who supported it. It was a lot of fun.

@android-cap-007 @pheradream15 @post-apocalyptic-daydream @analogswordsman @mysticboombox @dilucsflame33

[skylarmoon71]

Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)- Chapter 6

This is the first time that you’ve actually counted down the days.

“Everything okay? You’re a little more quiet than usual.”

Peter is walking you home, and you nod.

“Everything is fine.”

That’s far from the case, but it’s not like you can tell him anything. 

Even if he believed you, there’s nothing he can do.

You stop right at your door, pulling him into a hug. He looks a bit confused, and you notice the light flush that takes his cheeks when he pulls back.

“What was that for?”

“For being my friend.” You respond.

He smiles.

“Then I should have been the one to hug first. You’re awesome. Even if you look scary sometimes."

 You can’t help but laugh at that. You’re gonna miss his dorky personality.

“Goodbye Peter.”

You send him one last smile as you head to the door. He gives a wave.

“Goodbye..”

He doesn’t know why, but he doesn’t like the feeling that follows.

Once you’re inside, you look at your watch.

“I still have a few hours.”

You’d already planned out your day. 

After a nice little movie night with your family, you kiss both your parents on the top of their heads, slipping out from the space in between them on the couch. 

You slide the blanket over their shoulders as you head to the door, taking off into the night.

Leo is about to be done with his shift. You know exactly where to meet him. It’s a nice little spot not too far into the city. It takes you a moment to get up on the fire escape of the building. You plant yourself comfortably there just waiting.

You can’t stop your mind from drifting to that time he’d basically kidnapped you to get answers. It makes you smile.

You hear the shuffling in the background, and you fully expect it to be Leo. But there are three other beings on the roof with you. You rise slowly, clearly surprised. Leo is the last to land. When he does, the three of them bow.

“Thank you.”

They say in unison.

“F-For what?”

“For Leo, he told us everything. You risked your life for him. You saved our brother.” Donnie says. You can tell from their expressions that they are all conveying the same. Leo grins.

This is not what you had expected at all.

Leo holds his hand out for you.

“Let’s go.” 

His expression is so warm.

“Where are we going?”

“To our secret hideout, where else!” Mikey shouts in excitement. He flips right over the building and they all follow.

“One last adventure?”

It’s a beautiful sentiment. You try not to let yourself get too emotional.

“One last adventure.” You agree, taking his hand.

It’s not so much the trip, but being close to him has always felt amazing. This time, maybe you’re a little more grateful for it. You make it back to their home in record time. Splinter greets you at the entrance, and Mikey gives a grand introduction. You find yourself laughing at every word that comes out of the quirky male’s mouth. After a few games and an unnatural amount of pizzas, Leo is leading you away.

It’s certainly a day well spent.

“Did I surprise you?”

He really did.

“Definitely.”

Leo smiles, nudging your shoulder as you step into his room.

Your eyes drifted over his room. It was similar to what you would expect from any teenage boy. Except everything was so tidy. Books packed neatly. Bed made. A cute little bonsai tree laying so delicately trimmed at the side.

“I’m starting to think you’re a serial killer, Leo.” He laughed out loud, and you couldn’t help but do the same.

“Just because I prefer order doesn't make me a killer. I’m sure if you saw Raph’s room you’d be grateful you can see the floor of mine.”

Well that was probably the truth.

You moved to his bed, laying down slowly as you stared at the ceiling. Leo’s eyes moved to the clock.

“11:30pm.”

He hadn’t realized just how late it was. He understood now that you had very little time left.

The smile that once adorned your face changed.

“I can take you back.”

It was a whisper from Leo. You rolled over in the bed, and when your helpless gaze fell on him, his heart clenched. You shook your head.

“I-I don’t want them to find me like that. I already gave my goodbyes. Could you…c-could you stay with me..?”

You were pleading, and Leo slowly discarded his weapons, placing them at the side as he moved over climbing into the bed with you. He didn’t reach for you, not immediately. He wanted you to be the one to tell him what you were comfortable with. When you rolled into his arms, he knew, wrapping them around you.

Your shoulders shook as you cried, and Leo did his best not to shed a tear, because he knew if he broke down, then that would be it. You needed his strength, and that was what he’d provide. One last time.

One last wish.

“I don’t want to die.”

The very last thought that seemed to run through your mind before you began to drift off.

There's a soft golden glow that your body is starting to give off. 

Leo just held on tighter. 

[misteria247]

Hey y'all I was recommended a video on Leo and as I was watching it and it came to this one scene from the 2012 series where the boys were cornering Stockman and Leo said:

"Halt villain-!"

In this cheesy superhero kind of way and it like hit me how actually young and carefree he was and then tHE TRAUMATIC EVENTS OF HIS LIFE HAPPENED AND HE NEVER DID STUFF LIKE THAT ANYMORE AND HIS BROTHERS PROBABLY MISS THOSE DORKY MOMENTS AND HIS INNOCENCE BASICALLY DIED AND I'M NOW OFFICIALLY SOBBING FUCK-

[your-lie-in-leopril]

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸

〔 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 〕

New York, Eastman High, 20xx

approx. — 9:30 a.m.

karai bored-ly drummed her fingertips against the smooth, scratched up surface of her desk.

resting a cheek on her left hand—half listening to her teacher up front. they were learning about world history and this was something karai had already learned whilst being homeschooled.

honestly — if school was this uneventful, she would’ve opted to just rely on her espionage skills and bug the school to spy on the turtles to gather the information her father oh so needed instead. the teacher’s voice droned on; some of her – ᴀʜᴇᴍ – classmates either were fast asleep or zoned out, not bothering to pay attention.

luckily just an half hour and she’d head to her next class.

ᴛɪᴋ ᴛᴏᴋ ᴛɪᴋ ᴛᴏᴋ ᴛɪᴋ — “ miss táng .ᐣ ”

green eyes focused on her balding, pudgy and divorced teacher.

“ may you repeat what i said — .ᐣ ”

𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦。

karai huffed — and repeats everything to a t finishing with a click of a tongue.

“ t-that’s correct、thank you miss táng。now — during the eras of medieval europe。。ʙʟᴀʜ ʙʟᴀʜ ʙʟᴀʜ。”

karai proceeded to muffle his voice.

she yawns covering her mouth with a fist.

luckily the bell rings signifying dismissal and five minute limit to get to your next class.

getting up — karai gathered her items, slinging her backpack unto her shoulder. the teacher said something about homework or whatever as they left. paying no mind to his babble, karai exits the classroom and heads for her assigned locker. she twists and turns the lock to access the contents inside of her locker; with a click, it opens and she switches the world history book for her chemistry textbook.

slams the locker shut and readies herself to head to the next period when karai bumps into something solid.

an annoyed hiss escapes the punk teen.

“ karai — babe、you’re fine as hell .ᐟ go out with me。just give me a chance。”

“ never in your life — dylan、now leave me alone。”

she goes to leave once more when a hand stops her.

“ whoa、whoa — cool your jets sweetheart。you haven’t had the taste of dylan o’bry — ”

karai throws him—making his body hits the ground, ʜᴀʀᴅ.

“ go fuck yourself、now leave me alone you piece of shit — ( *ᴡʜᴀᴄᴋ ) ”

she kicks his face in—drawing out blood and a fractured nose with sweetheart。you haven’t had the taste of dylan o’bry — ”

she kicks his face in—drawing out blood and a fractured nose with broken teeth.

karai heads off to class without much hassle this time around — dylan slowly gets up, groaning as he snarls.

“ stupid bitch — i’ma make her pay。”

the rest of the day went without fuss and karai thanks the gods, wanting to go home however she still needs to scavenge through the turtle’s lockers to find something of use — for her father. karai’s been keeping tabs all day.

she watches them interact with their respective clubs and electives — so far this is what she’s gathered.

⌜✎⌟

leonardo, or “leo” seems to be the turtle in charge despite being awkward, anxious, dorky and clumsy with himself. his brothers often clown him, than taking him seriously—but do listen when it matters.

he also seems to be hard crushing on that o’neil girl.

⌜✎⌟

raphael — “raph” is the second oldest and aggressive one of the bunch. always eager to fight, and a lil too trigger happy. however he’s strong as he is effective on getting things done; gets scolded a lot for his recklessness.

he does seem to have a 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩 spot for his brothers.

⌜✎⌟

donatello – ‘donnie’ ; ‘dee’ ; ‘don’ — is the second youngest of the four. gifted with genius and intellect, he thrives on technology and science. his brothers often refer to him as the “brains” of the group and rely on him for almost everything. seems he is uh—an anime nerd and k-pop enthusiast.

side note: who is BTS ?

⌜✎⌟

michelangelo aka ‘mikey’ is the youngest of the three. he is youthful, cherry, funny — the heart of the group, he excels at improv.

though he seems to dislike conflict.

granted this was weeks after weeks of studying the teens — whole ass month.

karai decides to head home now, so she can be of use to her father and hunt down the turtles. exiting the school, she walks towards the direction of the hideout — halfway through she ends up surrounded by men baring dragon tattoos.

karai scoffed — dumping her backpack onto the floor.

“ yous karai — .ᐣ ”

quirks a brow.

“ who would like to know .ᐣ ”

this big, burly bald man speaks,

“ dylan o’bryen。”

a snort , then full blown laughter is heard from the kunoichi.

“ you’re that pig’s henchmen。

“ how lame。”

the bald one does a notion and then they’re all rushing her — and karai easily disposes of them one by one without any effort.

this is light work.

so there she goes, dancing in the pale moonlight. unbeknownst to the japanese teen — the turtle brothers were out on their evening patrols.

leonardo who had been leading his brothers through the rooftops — spotted the girl.

“ guys look — it’s karai .ᐟ ”

he pointed and his brothers turned, curious.

“ seems like she’s having fun。”

donnie remarks next to raph — the teens having ceased running — mikey just watches.

“ i think we should help。”

leo says, walking over to the ledge.

“ why—she kicking ass and uh、unless you forgot、karai’s a bad guy .ᐣ ”

raph drawled out, making small movements with his hand.

“ still — she could get hurt、it’s our job to protect 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦。”

the blue masked turtle reminds them and makes his way down the fire escape. the three brothers share a worrisome look before following after their brother. karai let’s out irritated sigh — just how much more of these guys are there? she has the stamina for days — so this isn’t an issue. what is the issue, is that karai isn’t paying attention to the bald one so he manages to get in a hit.

a harsh, rough kick landing on her back — causing her to flinch and let out scream as karai’s sent flying, and smacks into a nearby wall, only intensifying the pain. she probably broke a rib or two — at best, it’s not for certain. carefully karai shuffles herself upright — resting against the bricked wall, panting heavily. a click is heard and a gun’s pointed at her face.

“ say goodbye bitch。”

karai snarls, cursing her incompetence and accepting her fate when — ( * ᴡʜᴀᴍ )

leonardo comes to her rescue with a flying kick to the goon’s head. rendering him unconscious. karai is startled — but relieved at the same time. though, it would seem she now owed this dork a favor.

“ i suppose i owe you a — ”

karai says briefly before quietening down. the moonlight illuminating leonardo as he offered a hand — his mask tails flowing freely. his eyes suddenly appeared to be twinkling; soft nurturing passion simmered in those beautiful chocolate hues. leo’s now colored in this pretty pink tint. and he’s shinning and bright, and, and…breathtaking.

♪ ♫ ♬

𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬

𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬

𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭

𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰

𝘮𝘺, 𝘮𝘺, 𝘮𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?

♪ ♫ ♬

𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦

𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦

𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰

𝘪'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸

𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰

𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰

♪ ♫ ♬

karai blinks stupidly, realizing leo’s being calling out to her.

“ uh karai .ᐣ you okay .ᐣ because you’ve been silent for the last five minutes。”

leonardo says, addressing her — sounding nervous and then — ( *fwsssh )

her face is burning up ; turning a lovely crimson as she gingerly accepts his hand — taking note of leo’s ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ. shakily she stands on her feet and stumbles, though leonardo catches her.

“ easy、you took quite the hit。”

his voice is gentle, and kind—none of that condescending tone or harsh words. leo is offering her support and karai can’t help but lean into him—curling to his side; if leonardo is aware, he doesn’t say anything. she’s limping slightly as leo reunited with his brothers.

“ hey guys — i’m gonna go take karai home。”

shrill of disbelieving 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁s are heard from the brothers.

“ are you 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦 .ᐣ ” raph huffs — pinching the bridge of his beak.

“ she’s the enemy, the bad guy or did you forget leo .ᐣ ”

donnie and mikey just nod in agreement.

“ no、but raph — just look at her。she’s injured and unable to walk。it would be cruel to just leave her be。”

the turtle brothers exchange on last look before conceding into leonardo’s heroic and martyr nature.

“ okay fine — but head straight back once you’re finished。”

raph hissed, gnashing his teeth together.

“ promise。”

and with that, the brothers part and leonardo turns his head to karai.

“ are you strong enough for a piggyback .ᐣ ”

karai nods letting go slowly and watches as leo gets onto his knee, attention on her. all too suddenly she’s self conscious about her hygiene and if she smells ok—snap out of it! karai climbs onto him and the turtle’s hand holds onto her thigh and climbs the nearest fire escape with ease—not struggling at all.

𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨。

karai mused to herself, letting her head rest on his shoulder as leo makes his way through the roofs of new york — she’s giving him directions of course, somewhere near the hideout but also far enough to keep the secrecy of its location. eyes half lidded — karai’s notices just how prettily the lights of new york shine under the night sky. painting the world in many wonderful colors. her stomach feels funny — ticklish and light; nervous. karai then closes her eyes — letting herself be vulnerable and small. after all, her leo wouldn’t hurt her.

“ karai — .ᐣ ”

slowly lifting her head, karai mumbles a tiny ‘ ʏᴇꜱ .ᐣ ’

“ we’re here。”

leonardo says with a whisper, mindful of people’s sleep.

“ thank you。”

karai murmurs, getting off of leo.

“ are you sure that you’re alright .ᐣ ”

the anxious teen asks, his handsome boyish face scrunched up in mild worry.

“ yeah—i’ll be fine、just need some rest with first aid、and then i’ll be right as rain。”

karai eases his concerns with a scoff, dismissing him. leonardo studies her briefly before nodding and turns, ready to leave. and —

“ w-wait .ᐟ ”

karai unconscious grabs ahold of his arm which causes leo’s attention to fall on her

“ yeah .ᐣ ”

she’s at loss for words; not expecting to have acted out subconsciously.

“ i-i just wanted to say, t-that i owe you one。”

leonardo rolls his eyes with a snort.

“ don’t — it’s what heroes do。later .ᐟ ”

giving a two fingered salute—the turtle disappears into the night, leaving a bewildered, questioning karai to her musings.

【𝓔𝓷𝓭.】

; ʚ♡ɞ