#actually Donnie is me Fr

[inkbagel]

Babies!!

Decided to try drawing the turtles again. My friend said to start with turtle tots

[turtleblogatlast]

One of the biggest things that makes me see Leo as trans is absolutely the size of his carapace in comparison to his brothers’.

And I’m not talking about height! I’m specifically looking at his shell here, because when you compare him to the others, particularly Donnie who is nearly the same height as Leo, it’s very clear that Leo’s carapace is much longer in proportion to the rest of his body.

Like - standing side by side, even though Donnie is shorter his carapace ends noticeably higher up than Leo’s does. And I like this not only because it really helps push the idea that Leo could very likely be trans (or intersex!), but it’s also just a fun design difference between them.

(It also lends way to future scenarios of Donnie eventually getting taller than Leo, but sitting down still has Leo being the taller one haha.)

[pancake-crab]

Stimmies! Expired by me today :]

[avephelis]

shout out to the bisexuality community. PIPE BOMB !!

[shantechni]

Mikey being an acorn 🤝 Raph being a giant

[thattheater-kid]

Just started watching ROTTMNT and this version of Donnie is giving “theater kid who keeps getting ensemble but still tries to steal every scene they’re in to the point that the director has to beg them to tone it down” energy but also “slightly insane almost burnt out gifted kid who probably knows how to build atomic weapons and definitely will use them against you” energy.

[misteria247]

Watching Night Mind now on Welcome Home and I'm reading the comments and apparently it's believed that Wally's autistic coded????? At least that's what I'm getting?? I'm not sure if it's a head canon or a fact but anyways-

Suddenly me relating to him makes so much more sense right now.

[ryanthel0ser]

Things that were important to me from the new trailer

Mikey and Raph, I will always go into ueeuueueue mode over them

2. They all share the same room again, I know 87 had them sharing a quadruple bunk so this made me go ueueueueueueueue

3. Leo and Mikey doing hand stims I do, I don't know if they actually are stimming but I'm going to say they are

4. Mikey being the smallest little guy. Very important, everyone write that down in your notes and circle it, then make that circle a pizza

5. This scene because if that's you Bishop I will go through the theater screen and attack you myself

6. Raph's rage problem seems like it won't be towards his brothers but towards hitting other people which is a just like me fr fr moment

7. Donnie being Donnie, the Donnie's cheer

8. Why Mikey got two black eyes

9. I will be spreading the Donnie and Leo twin agenda thank you very much

[tammyu-2]

I LOVED UR LAST ONE how about 2012 donnie introducing his gf to everyone for the first time how would that go

OOOOO okay so I'm gonna do a different way Donnie and you meet if that's cool?

TMNT 2012 DONNIE INTRODUCING YOU TO HIS FAMILY

Mentions of Y/n, feminine labels, usage of she/her pronouns, some swearing, not proofread.

I adore his face in this gif

You had met Donnie at the dump. That's right, I said it. He was trying to find more parts for his machinery, and you had lost a precious family heirloom. So after misunderstandings and someone almost getting tazed (Donnie), you guys talked things out. After that, you met again when he was in battle. He insisted on you guys actually properly hung out.

So after one hang out became two and two became three. Soon, hangouts became dates, and soon, you guys were two peas in a metaphorical pod. The way he asked you is by trying to show you a project in disguised as him asking you out. Of course, the turtles didn't know, so he did it at an abandoned garage that he found was close by. (He later on used it for any projects he didn't want his brothers ruining.

"Watch closely my dear assistant!"

"Uh Don? Is it supposed to be letting Grey steam out?"

"I assure you I know what I'm doing."

"But the vial is shaking-"

"Trust in me!"

You know, in cartoons, when stuff blows up, leaving the black gunk on everything but the safety glasses? Yeah, that's what happened. He then explained what it was meant to do, and you were flattered at his attempt and accepted his proposal.

Now, his brothers had no idea that you existed other than the time you were a hostage for the kraang one time. But they really didn't bat an eye on how you already knew Donnie's name cause they were too busy saving you and the others. Plus, they were suspicious when Donnie's obsession with April suddenly stopped.

"Yo Dontron what's wrong with you? You didn't even bat an eye at April today!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about. I did blink several times like normal."

"He is saying that you didn't go all goo-goo eyes for her."

"Oh! Yeah, no, I have a girlfriend now."

"Ha! Nice joke. What nation is she from? Your imagination?"

"I'm serious."

"Sure you are."

So he brought you around to show that he indeed was serious. You would be lying if you weren't a little scared to meet his family. I mean, what if they like to banish you from ever meeting Donnie again because you coughed wrongly in their house or something???

Though Donnie assured you that their opinion doesn't matter to him. Not really easing your spirits, though, because he still didn't clarify that you shouldn't be afraid of MEETING them. More or less that he didn't care if they did disapprove.

"Everybody! This is my absolutely wonderful girlfriend Y/n. I thought you guys would want to meet her."

You politely waved at them with a gentle smile.

"How much is he paying you? Cause we don't have money at all, he's scaming you."

"Are you like a robot or something? I don't see your wires."

"So are you being held hostage if so blink twice."

"GUYS WHAT THE FRICK!?"

Fr tho- guys have faith in your brother that he has some game

Donnie quickly goes to apologize to you only to see you absolutely losing your shit and failing to hold in your laughter. After a few moments you gather yourself and clarify that you are Donnie's human girlfriend by choice.

"Are we talking about the same Donnie right now?"

"I'm right here!"

They are all too confused to say that they approve.

"How did Donnie pull you?"

You try not to laugh as you explained how you met him.

"What do you mean you met him at a waste disposal???"

Trust that they are secretly making notes to compare later because they have no faith in Donnie boy at all.

After all the commotion Master Splinter had entered. And Donnie was quick to introduce you to him. Donnie is basically bouncing on his feet.

"Hello sensei! This is my lovely girlfriend Y/n. Y/n this is my father I was talking about."

Splinter mumbles a simple greeting and bow his head while you copy his actions showing respect for him. Splinter is a man that sees to believe so he doesn't really say anything remarkable or worth noted on your first meeting. More or less that he hopes Donnie is treating you right. But after a while of getting to know you he likes you.

"She's a good one, son. Treat her well."

"There's no doubt in my mind that I won't sensei."

The turtles are okay with you and so is Splinter. They love when you bring pizza around though for them.

"You sure you're here against your will?"

"Mikey!!"

That's it lovelies. That's my new nickname for you guys hope you like it

I loved this it was so cutesy

BAI ;*

~Tammy<3

[cherryo]

Nsfw alphabet headcanons about the rise brothers would be great!

HIIIII!!!! okay so i decided to pick out three for each brother cause if i did all 26 questions for each brother it would be a little much for me right now! i may revisit a whole one for each brothers :3

Pairing: Rise! Brothers x reader (separately) genre: smut Pronouns: no actual pronouns but fem genitalia Word count:didnt count warnings: cussin' and sex lol did not proofread

LEO

A- Aftercare (what theyre like afterwards)

2nd best out of the brothers (Raph is the best) Runs you a bath before you even ask, he has snacks, towels, water and everything you could want in his room already!

I- Intimacy (how are they during the moment? The romantic aspect of it)

Super super romantic, literally no jokes whatsoever. As he ages he eases up but as of right now hes very intimate and romantic! He thinks sex and sexual intimacy is sacred and needs to be serious !

W-Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

He only likes to be a power bottom! He feels he has wayyyyyyy more control from the bottom than on top! He also thinks you being on top is super fucking hot

RAPH:

B- Body (what their favorite body part is of themselves and their partner)

His arms!!! Fucking thick as a log, hes very proud how much he can manhandle you with his arms and how he can hold you down or in any position with one arm!

Your thighs, he loves how they look when you sit down, have a tight skirt on, how his dick feels being slide between them, how fucking soft they are!

N-No (something they wouldnt do)

Public sex or bathroom public sex. He thinks its hot but he cant handle his noises or his size in public, it would be too obvious too quick and hes too nervous to be caught!

X-X-ray (lets see whats going on under those clothes)

HOLY SHIT FUXKING BIG AS FUCK!!!!!! Literally thickness of a coke can and the length of a normal human forearm!!!!!!!! No but fr the girth is what gets you hurtin’. You two have to prep your pussy for hourrrrssss before even attempting to slide his dick in

DONNIE

C - Cum (anything to do with cum)

He cums so much and it’s so thick and goopy and hot and-

He loves cumming in you and on you, depending on horny and situation level. If yall are in public he’s cumming in you so it drips out of you and he also does it commonly in the bedroom.

He cums on you primarily if its a quickie so he can just wipe it up and you wont have to worry bout your panties being soaked! How sweet of him <3

F- Favorite position

Mating press and doggy and i will not be expanding on this it just feels right!!!!

K-Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Literally breeding, body worship, overstim, panty sniffing, choking, collars & leashes, and -

He has so many, i believe hes the most adventurous in the bedroom! Mikey being second, raph and then leo <3

MIKEY

D- Dirty Secret (a dirty secret of theirs)

Is a panty stealer, literally sneaks dirty and clean underwear. He loves it, he primarily jerks off with them on his dick but will sometimes sniff it or stuff it in his mouth while jerkin it

L-Location (their favorite place to do it)

The bathroom!!!! Loves the counters and how creative you have to be while fucking in the bathroom. Also loves tub and shower sex! Mans is a freak fr but he just loves making the bathroom humid from stuff other than hot water ;)

Z-ZZZ (how fast do they fall asleep after?) 

Hes out, the second yall are done hes out. Hes so bad at aftercare and i know he has that whole alter ego but it just feels right!!!!!! Hes a sleepy guy :’)

[lara-cairncross]

OKAY. SO. I just looked through the entire fairy au tag..I apologize for all the notifs .... bUT that being said, because I just looked at everything, I don't think any of this has been discussed much, so I have a few questions!! (This is actually a really long ask I apologize for that as well)

Do the turtles give gifts to April? I know there was talk about Donnie making like tiny versions of what he thinks are his own ideas and inventions for April to use, but do the other turtles ever make anything for her? I noticed like a vine kind of looking ring that she had in the size comparison with Leo, and I was wondering if that was given by one of the turtles, or if she already had it just because she would definitely make herself a little ring out of like flower stems or whatever. ALSO. ACTUALLY. It looks similar to what Mikey has around his arms and legs, sooooo ??? (And is that bracelet she has, also in that drawing, possibly from one of the turtles as well ?)

And, does she ever make anything for the turtles? AND AND AND does she ever make anything with the turtles? I feel like she would make things with Mikey, like jewelry and stuff idk

OH AND ALSO. I'm curious about Donnie's glasses. Because they are clearly different than Bobble's with the water drops, are Donnie's like glass or something? Like actual lenses or whatever?? Aaaand did he somehow make them himself, while not being able to see very well before making them, or did someone else help him with that? And how did he get the materials for them?

I realized I'm extra curious about Donnie (and his glasses specifically help-) and extra EXTRA curious about April's interactions with the turtles.... I'm wondering if you have any ideas about the kinds of stuff they do together? Whether just April and one of the turtles, or all five of them together, or any combination?

Anyway yeah that's it for now. I really really really really love this au and I will probably come back and ask more questions because RHAHWWSUWHSWHHSHWNWKEZJEJHRHEHFHGEGS they're my favourite silly goofy little guys fr!!!!

AHSHSHFHE PLEASE DONT APOLOGIZE FOR THE NOTIFS OR THE QUESTIONS !!! getting spammed makes me feel so loved mwah <3 I know this ask is from a while ago, but I remember seeing you all over my "activity" tab :DDD

Yes, the turtles all give gifts to April! she has SO many little trinkets laying around her cabin from the fairy boys, bc she never throws any of them out,,, even if a lot of them are kinda useless to her lmao (looking at Donnie's "inventions" for this one). The little flower stem ring around her finger is just something she made for herself (probably after one of the boys taught her, I'm thinking Mikey?), but the bracelet was intended to be a gift from Leo :D he finds all kinds of pretty rocks/gems/lost things around Neverland when he's making deliveries and finding materials and stuff. April gets a lot of old jewelry and seashells and things from Leo! Raph tends to give her little things that his animals have shed (pretty scales and feathers, maybe the occasional antler or talon?), and Mikey will just. Fill her house with flowers. And not, like, cut flowers-- just CLUMPS of dirt and roots all over April's counters. All the boys will help him do it too, and April feels too bad to tell them to stop HAH

2. Most of what April "makes" for the turtles is just various human dishes that they want to try! She gets a bunch of weird snacks for them too-- like, can you imagine a fairy trying a Taki for the first time? A SOUR PATCH KID??? Donnie drinks one single drop of hot sauce and dies immediately lmao. She doesn't really make them gifts, but she'll buy Donnie whatever cool human materials she thinks he can make something out of (more on that later--), and she'll get specific video games and phone apps and movies that she thinks the boys will like!! And maybe the occasional bigger gift, like a stuffed animal for Rose :) ALSO YES she would totally make flower crowns and rings and stuff with Mikey!! gotta do smth with all the flowers he's dumping in her living room rip

3. FUN FACT ABOUT DONNIES GLASSES (I've been waiting for someone to ask about this--): He started off with glasses/goggles that were similar to Bobble's water-drop ones!!! He only figured out to make glasses with actual lenses once he met April, and got to study HER glasses! His own glasses are made of, like, cheap magnifying lenses April bought him, and he cut them down to size :DD The metal on his goggles/shell/glasses is all also stuff that April bought for him-- probably like, wire of different sizes. She gets him a lot of human materials to play around with hehe

4. Group activities with the boys + April can be anything, really. Her family's cabin is kinda in the middle of nowhere, and April is a city girl at heart, so sometimes the boys will force her to go hiking or exploring in the woods with them :D She hated it at first, but as time goes on, she gets more used to the bugs and the wildlife and everything-- especially since Raph and Leo will do their best to scout out routes beforehand so she doesn't get freaked out by anything. Movie nights are also really common! So are video games, to an extent? But it takes basically all four turtles to maneuver one X-box controller, so it's a little more rare lmao. April definitely wins 90% of the time.

5. As for individual activities-- those are also a bit more rare. The two boys April interacts with one-on-one (or two-on-one) the most are Leo and Mikey, since they're usually the least busy, and Leo can fast-fly them to April's cabin and back really quickly. Typically though, Leo doesn't go to the cabin unless all five of them are available to meet up!

(...although Leo starts bringing Mikey more often once Mikey loses his job. teehee.)

AHHEHFHER THANK YOU FOR ASKING SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!!! I loveeeeee getting to worldbuild a bit :DDD I STILL CANT BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THIS LIKE THATS CRAZY TO ME LMAO

let me know if you have any more questions! thanks bby <3

[stellaspectral]

Okay I have two requests but I’m going to write them separately like you asked in the rules! This one is a 2012 Raph x Reader.

Reader is April's best friend and met the turtles at the same time as her. Reader had immediately established a close friendship with Raph thanks to the fact that, despite being shy, sensitive and a nerd/bookworm, she has always had a lot of physical strength and has never been afraid to kick Raph's ass. Raph has always had a little crush on her but she has always been romantically interested in Leonardo (unrequited) and Raph knew that because she has always confided in him and April (Raph is part of the girls club idc ahah). Later Raph fell in love at first sight and began his relationship with Mona Lisa, just when Reader was forgetting Leo and had started to fall in love with him (Reader can’t catch a break she’s just like me fr). Fast forward a few years: Raph broke up with Mona a few months ago (you decide why) and just when he decides that maybe romantic relationships aren't for him and he's better off single, he finds out (while accidentally overhearing a conversation between Reader and April) that she had feelings for him in the past that she had put aside only because he had found someone else and she's not a homewrecker (being a girls girl is important), but that now she's getting her hopes up that maybe something could happen between them but she doesn't know if it's actually possible because maybe they just weren’t mean to be. Raph is completely at a loss as to how to take this information and for now he decides to ignore it and pretend he never heard that. But now his old feelings for Reader resurface😈. I'll let you decide how the story ends! (Sorry if my English is bad, it’s my second language. I hope everything is understandable!)

A/N: 2012 Raph needs more love, and I’m here to deliver. 🫡

Enjoy! 💖

Worth the Mess (angst)

❤️ 2012 Raphael/Female Reader ❤️

CWs: Angst, discussion of past relationships/breakups, mutual pining, eavesdropping scene, confessions, first kiss. All characters are aged-up.

The green couch in the lair protests as you shift, folding your legs beneath you.

The familiar sounds of Mikey mashing buttons on a video game controller and Donnie tapping away at a keyboard form the usual background noise. Your best friend April is beside you, scrolling through something on her phone, occasionally showing you a meme that earns a quiet chuckle. Across the room, Leo practices katas, his movements fluid and focused.

And then there’s Raph.

He’s in the dojo, punching a training dummy with a ferocity that makes the worn canvas groan. You think of him for a moment and grin; it’s been a while since the two of you properly sparred. Even though you’re happiest curled up with a book, you’ve always been deceptively strong. And you were never, ever intimidated by Raph’s bluster.

It’s been years since that first chaotic night you and April tumbled into their lives. And the first time Raph tried his usual tough-guy routine on you, you’d instinctively blocked his mock-lunge and used his momentum to flip him onto his shell. The stunned silence, followed by Donnie and Mikey’s howling laughter, had cemented your place in the group.

You and Raph clicked in a way that surprised everyone. He saw past the quiet bookworm facade, and you saw past his anger to the fiercely loyal, protective turtle underneath. You became his go-to sparring partner, someone who could actually give him a challenge without him having to hold back too much.

He also, surprisingly, became a confidant. Like April, you told him things. Which was why he knew, almost from day one, about your massive, hopeless crush on Leo. You’d spilled your guts to them countless times, dissecting every fleeting glance and interaction. Hoping for something that wasn’t there.

Raph listened patiently, offering gruff but surprisingly insightful advice and occasionally threatening to smack Leo upside the head for being oblivious—even as a brief flicker of something else resided in his own eyes when he looked at you. You noticed it sometimes but always brushed it off, your heart stubbornly set on the blue-masked leader.

Then came Mona Lisa. Y’Gythgba. Fierce, strong—and Raph fell hard. One glance at the Salamandrian warrior, and he was utterly smitten. You saw the way he looked at her, the genuine, unguarded joy in his eyes. You watched him navigate the giddy highs and awkward lows of his first proper relationship. And wouldn’t you know it? That was exactly when the fog around your Leo obsession finally lifted.

You began to see Leo clearly: a dedicated leader, a good friend. But not the romantic hero you’d built up in your head. And as those feelings faded, you started noticing Raph differently. The way he’d check if you were okay after a rough patrol, the low rumble of his chuckle when you made a dry joke, the fierce protectiveness in his eyes that wasn’t just for his brothers anymore. A new, tentative warmth bloomed in your chest, aimed squarely at the red-masked turtle.

Timing, you thought bitterly back then, was decidedly not on your side.

But you were nothing if not loyal. Seeing Raph happy was paramount. So you buried those burgeoning feelings deep, plastered on a supportive smile, and became Mona’s friend, too. You championed their happiness. Compartmentalized. It hurt, a dull ache behind your ribs, but it was the right thing to do.

Years pass. Things change. Raph and Mona called it quits a few months back. The official story was amicable. Different worlds, different paths, the usual long-distance relationship struggles amplified by intergalactic distances. You suspect it was more complicated, but Raph hasn’t elaborated, and you haven’t pushed.

Raph’s been quieter, withdrawn, throwing himself into training more. He’d muttered something to Donnie last week about being done with relationships altogether, that maybe he was just better off alone. He sounded so cynical, so bruised. Your heart had clenched at that. Because, inconveniently, those feelings you buried years ago? They’re still there, stirring beneath the surface now that he’s single again.

Which brings you to now.

It’s late. Leo, Donnie, and Mikey have retired to their rooms for the night. April returns from the kitchen and hands you a mug of tea before sitting back down next to you.

“Seriously,” you say, keeping your voice low. “I just feel like an idiot. All that time pining over Leo, and then when I finally see sense, Raph’s head over heels for Mona.”

“Hey now, you’re not an idiot,” April says sympathetically, squeezing your shoulder. “You couldn’t help when your feelings shifted.”

“And now … now he’s single, and I’m thinking maybe—just maybe …” You trail off, shaking your head. “Part of me, this stupid hopeful part, is wondering if there could be a chance now. But then he says stuff like he’s better off alone, and I just … I don’t know. Maybe it’s not meant to be.”

Neither of you notices the figure frozen just outside the main living area, near the entrance to the dojo. Raph was heading towards the kitchen for water when your lowered voices caught his attention. He’d stopped, hidden by the archway, not meaning to eavesdrop, but then the words hit him.

“I was so hung up on his brother that maybe I missed the window entirely. And then he found someone else. I stepped back because he was happy.” You sigh, tracing a pattern on the couch fabric. “It all felt like bad timing.”

His breath catches in his throat. You had feelings for him? Back then? After Leo? The friend he confided in, the one he’d had that stupid, persistent crush on before Mona swept him off his feet?

He remembers how you were always there, pushing him in the dojo, listening to his rants, never flinching from his temper. Remembers the pang he felt sometimes when you talked about Leo, a pang he’d initially dismissed as protective friendship. How supportive you were of him and Mona, never showing a hint of anything else.

Because you were being a good friend.

Because you had feelings you were hiding for his sake.

And now, you’re hoping again—while he’s busy convincing himself he’s destined to be alone?

His mind reels. This changes … everything. And nothing. He can’t process it. It’s too much, too complicated, layered over years of history and missed signals and bad timing. His first instinct is to run, pretend he heard nothing. Shove it away.

He forces his feet to move, backing away from the archway and retreating towards the dojo, his thirst forgotten. He needs to hit something. Hard.

“You don’t know unless you …” April starts, but trails off as she spots a shadow in the corner of her eye. “Raph?”

Your heart pounds, a heat rising to your cheeks as you see him. He’s frozen mid-step, eyes wide, fixed somewhere between you and the opposite wall. Did he hear everything?! April gives you an ‘oh crap’ look. And you—you just want the floor to swallow you whole.

Raph’s expression shifts. He replaces the shock with a carefully constructed neutrality, maybe a little too quickly. He clears his throat, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet room. “Uh … I was just getting some water,” he mumbles, turning abruptly without looking at either of you.

“O-oh, okay,” you manage, your voice barely a squeak as he disappears back into the dojo.

He didn’t hear. He couldn’t have. You try to convince yourself, clinging to the desperate hope that maybe he only caught the tail end. You stare at the entrance to the dojo, your face burning. Your mug of tea feels suddenly heavy in your trembling hands.

“Okay,” April says, “deep breaths. Maybe he didn’t hear.”

“Maybe?” you echo, the word strangled. “April, he was standing right there. How long was he there? Did you see when he stopped?”

“No, I just caught the movement when he turned to leave,” she admits, chewing on her lower lip. “But he looked … startled?”

“Right,” you say, clinging to that shred of hope even though your stomach is doing backflips. “Maybe he just heard us talking and didn’t want to interrupt. Or maybe he heard the last part, about bad timing, and thought we were talking about … I don’t know, a TV show?” The rationalization sounds weak even to your own ears.

“Exactly!” She tries to sound convincing. “He probably zoned out after training, anyway. You know how he gets.”

You nod numbly, wanting desperately to believe her. But the way Raph’s expression had instantly changed, that too-quick shift to neutrality—it felt like a defense mechanism kicking in. The kind he used when he was blindsided or feeling vulnerable. You know that look. You’ve seen it countless times over the years.

Meanwhile, in the dojo, Raph slams his fist into the training dummy. The canvas rips slightly under the force, sand trickling onto the mat. He ignores it, hitting it again and again.

You had feelings for him?

The thought bounces around his skull, colliding with years of memories re-contextualized in a blinding flash.

Because you were being a good friend.

Because you were hiding feelings.

He’d been so wrapped up in his own perceived heartbreak over Mona, so quick to wallow in self-pity and declare himself doomed to solitude, that he hadn’t seen it. Hadn’t even considered the possibility. He thought he was the one nursing a secret, hopeless crush back then, before Mona. He thought he’d successfully buried it, moved on. And now …

Now she’s hoping again.

Just as he’d convinced himself romance was off the table for good. Just as he was starting to genuinely believe he was better off alone, that he wasn’t cut out for it.

He stops punching, leaning his forehead against the battered dummy, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His knuckles ache. His head aches. He feels like an idiot. A colossal, shell-plated idiot. For missing it back then. For being oblivious now.

You were always loyal. To a fault. Loyal enough to bury your own feelings for his sake. The realization hits him with the force of another punch, this one internal. He’d confided in you about Mona, leaned on you, oblivious to the cost.

And that flicker he used to see in his own eyes when he looked at you? He hadn’t imagined it. It had been real. An ember he’d deliberately snuffed out when Mona arrived, convinced you only saw him as a friend, a surrogate brother.

He straightens up, rubbing his temples. What now? Keep pretending he didn’t hear? That would be the easiest thing. The cowardly thing. Maintain the status quo. But could he? Knowing what he knows now?

He glances towards the dojo entrance, towards the common area where you still sit with April. He’s not sure what to do. His instinct is still to retreat, to protect himself from more potential hurt. But another part of him, a part he thought had died down with his cynicism, feels a flicker of something else.

Trepidation?

Hope?

“He looked like he’d seen a ghost,” you murmur, setting the mug down before you spill it. Then you bury your face in your hands. “Oh god, this is a nightmare. How can I even look at him now?”

“Whatever he heard,” April says softly, rubbing your back, “Raph won’t think anything less of you. Don’t worry.”

“I know he won’t,” you sigh, lifting your head from your hands as you hear the rhythmic thudding sound starting up in the dojo again. “But knowing he might know—it changes things. And how can it be the same if he knows I’m sitting here, hoping for …” You can’t even finish the sentence.

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be the same?” April suggests gently. “Maybe it could be … different?”

You shake your head, a fresh wave of self-deprecation washing over you. “Right. Different like ‘awkward and painful’. He just broke up with Mona. He’s talking about being alone forever. The last thing he needs is me suddenly looking at him with heart eyes.” You sigh. “Best-case scenario, he didn’t hear. Second best, he heard, and he’ll pretend he didn’t. For both our sakes.”

“And worst case?” she prompts.

“Worst case he heard, and now everything’s going to be weird, and I’ve just piled more emotional baggage onto him when he’s already dealing with his own stuff.” You close your eyes, trying to calm yourself. “I should probably just go home. Pretend this conversation never happened.”

But even as you say it, you know you can’t. You can’t just leave him in there, potentially reeling from what he overheard, beating up a sack of canvas because he doesn’t know how else to process it. He retreated there, just like he always does when things get too complicated. And you—

—you always follow.

“No,” you say after a few moments, surprising yourself with the sudden firmness in your voice as you stand. “I can’t just hide. That’s not fair to him.” You glance at April, trying to project a confidence you definitely don’t feel. “I’m going to go check on him.”

April raises an eyebrow but nods slowly. “Okay. You sure? Want me to come?”

“No,” you blurt. “This is … this is something I need to do. Alone.” You take a deep breath, squaring your shoulders. “Wish me luck?”

“Always,” she says, giving you an encouraging squeeze on the arm.

With leaden feet, you walk towards the dojo. The rhythmic impacts grow louder, punctuated by Raph’s harsh exhales. You hesitate at the entrance, the same spot where he’d been standing just minutes before. Peeking around the corner, you see him.

He’s attacking the dummy with renewed, almost desperate, intensity. His shell is turned slightly towards you, but he hasn’t registered your presence yet. Tightly coiled muscles strain beneath his gleaming skin in the dim light. Each punch, each kick, lands with a force that seems less like training and more like punishment—directed either at the dummy or himself.

You step fully into the dojo, the soft padding beneath your feet silencing your approach until you’re only a few yards away. “Hey,” you breathe, your voice barely carrying over the sound of his next blow.

Raph freezes mid-strike, his fist hovering inches from the dummy. He stays like that for a beat, shoulders hunched, head down, before slowly lowering his arm. He doesn’t turn around immediately. “Thought you left,” he finally rumbles, his voice rough, still facing away from you.

“Not yet,” you reply, keeping your tone even. Neutral. You try to ignore the frantic fluttering in your chest. “Heard you … uh … training.”

He finally turns, but he doesn’t meet your eyes, his gaze fixing somewhere over your shoulder. His expression is carefully blank, that neutral mask back in place, but you can see the tension in his jaw, the slight flicker in his eyes that betrays the turmoil underneath. He looks cornered.

“Yeah,” he says curtly. “Just blowin’ off steam.”

There’s a strained silence. The training dummy stands between you like a silent, battered witness. You shift your weight, clasping your hands behind your back.

“That dummy looks like it owes you money,” you attempt, trying for a light tone, the kind you used to tease him out of a mood. It falls flat.

He grunts, finally flicking his gaze towards you, then away again. “Somethin’ like that.”

His curtness isn’t unusual when he’s brooding, but this feels different. Sharper. More defensive. He’s deliberately keeping distance, putting up walls you haven’t seen directed at you in a long time. The knot of anxiety in your stomach tightens.

He definitely heard.

“Are you okay?” you ask softly, taking a hesitant step closer. “You seemed upset earlier. And you’ve been hitting this thing pretty hard.”

Raph’s hands fall to his sides, clenching into fists as his gaze drops to the floor. “I’m fine.”

“Is it about Mona?” you press gently, unable to stop yourself. “Or just … things?”

He flinches almost imperceptibly at the mention of her name. His head snaps up, and this time, his gaze meets yours directly. There’s a storm in his eyes—confusion, hurt, maybe even a flicker of anger, though not aimed at you. It’s the look of someone completely blindsided, trying desperately to regain control.

“It’s nothin’,” he bites out, the words clipped. “Just… stuff. Don’t worry about it.” He turns back towards the dummy, presenting you with his shell again. A clear dismissal.

“Raph.” Your voice is firmer now, imbued with years of refusing to be shut out by this exact maneuver. “You know you can talk to me, right? Whatever it is.” You pause, your heart hammering against your ribs. Do you dare continue? “I heard what you said to Donnie the other day—about being better off alone.”

He stiffens. He doesn’t turn, but you see his hand grip the edge of the dummy’s stand, his knuckles white. “Yeah, well,” he mutters, his voice low and rough. “Maybe I am.”

The finality in his tone, the sheer weariness, hits you harder than any punch he could throw. Your heart breaks for him. “You don’t really believe that,” you whisper, mostly to yourself. But he hears it.

He whips around, his carefully constructed neutrality finally cracking. “And what if I do?” he challenges, his voice rising slightly, frustration and something raw lacing his tone. “Maybe some people just ain’t cut out for all that stuff. Maybe trying just makes everything messier!”

He locks his eyes on yours now, searching, demanding. It feels like he’s not just talking about himself anymore. Is he asking you? Accusing you? Warning you off? Your breath hitches. The confession hangs unspoken between you, a tangible thing in the air. He knows.

He has to know.

You stare back at him, unable to look away, caught in the intensity of his gaze. All your carefully planned words, your gentle probing, evaporate. There’s only the raw truth simmering just below the surface, threatening to boil over. The years of friendship, the hidden feelings—it’s all right here, compressed into this single, loaded moment.

“Maybe,” you manage, your voice trembling slightly, “maybe sometimes the timing is just … really, really bad.”

His expression flickers again. The anger drains away, replaced by something harder to read. Resignation? Regret? He holds your gaze for another long moment, the silence stretching taut. Then he breaks eye contact, scrubbing a hand over his face with a heavy sigh. “You, uh, wanna go a few rounds?”

You nod, trying to keep your expression neutral, trying to pretend your stomach isn’t doing terrified flip-flops. He didn’t hear, you tell yourself again, even as the way he’s looking at you screams otherwise as he settles into his stance.

You take your usual sparring position opposite him, feet planted, hands ready. Normally, the friendly challenge would override any lingering awkwardness. But today, the air hangs heavy. The fight is about to begin—and neither of you knows who’s going to win.

“Ready?” he grunts, flexing his fingers. His voice is carefully neutral, maybe too neutral.

You nod, swallowing hard. “Ready.”

You circle each other, years of practice guiding your muscles. You feint left, jab right. Standard opening. Raph blocks easily, but there’s a hesitation you rarely see, a split-second delay before his forearm comes up. Odd. And your own blocks feel clumsy, your usual confidence slightly shaken.

His gaze keeps finding yours, not in the assessing way of a sparring partner looking for tells. But in a searching, almost vulnerable way that makes your breath catch. You see the conflict warring behind his pupils. He lunges, and you parry, twisting away, using the momentum to attempt a leg sweep. Though he anticipates it, his eyes never leaving yours.

The rhythm picks up. Blocks become sharper, strikes land with more force, though neither of you is aiming to truly hurt the other. Sweat beads on your forehead, mirroring the sheen on his skin. Your breaths come faster, mingling in the space between you.

He breaks through your guard, hand darting out not with a weapon, but to grab your wrist. The contact sends a jolt straight through you. You react instantly, using his grip for leverage, twisting your body to throw him off balance. You expect him to resist, to counter with his usual brute force. Instead, he lets his balance shift, pulling you down with him.

You land awkwardly, your hand splayed on his plastron, his on your back holding you momentarily close. The world narrows to the space between your faces, mere inches apart. His breathing is heavy, rough. You can feel the steady thud of his heart beneath your palm, faster than it should be from exertion alone.

His eyes lock onto yours, fierce and vulnerable all at once. The guarded expression cracks. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?” he rasps, the question rough, torn from him.

Your breath catches. “Say anything about what?” You try to wiggle away. But his grip tightens. Not painfully, but firmly, keeping you there.

“About before,” he clarifies, his voice low, strained. “When I was with Mona. You … you felt something for me then?”

Ice floods your veins, followed immediately by a burning wave of embarrassment. He heard. Your stomach plummets. “Raph … I …”

“Overheard you talking to April,” he admits bluntly, the muscle in his jaw tightening. He looks away for a second, a flicker of his own discomfort showing before his gaze snaps back to yours, demanding. “Is it true? You were into me? After Leo?”

There’s no point denying it. Trapped in his intense gaze, pinned beneath him on the dojo floor, the truth feels like the only option. You swallow hard, nodding mutely at first. Then, finding your voice, you whisper, “Yes.”

He closes his eyes for a moment, processing. When he opens them again, something else mixes within his gaze—something suspiciously like pain. “And you didn’t say anything? You just let me fall for Mona? Watched us?”

“What was I supposed to do?” Your voice gains a little strength, fueled by a surge of defensiveness. “Burst in and say, ‘Hey, sorry to interrupt your newfound happiness, but I just got over your brother and realized I like you now’? You were happy, Raph. Happier than I’d ever seen you. I wasn’t going to ruin that. I couldn’t.”

His expression softens. He understands putting others first, even when it hurts. He loosens his grip slightly, though he doesn’t let you go entirely. “And now?” he asks. “You’re … hopin’ again?”

The question hangs heavy between you. This is it. The point of no return.

You meet his gaze steadily, refusing to look away now. “Maybe,” you admit. “Yeah. A little. But then you were talking about being done with relationships, and I figured … maybe it’s just bad timing. Maybe we’re just not meant to be.”

A low growl rumbles in his chest, a sound of pure frustration. “Bad timing,” he repeats, bitterness lacing the words. “Story of my life.” He shifts, pushing himself up slightly, so he’s leaning over you, his hands now bracketing your shoulders. “You think I haven’t been thinkin’?” he demands, his voice regaining some of its usual force, but edged with an emotion you can’t quite place. “You think hearing that didn’t screw with my head?”

He leans closer, the intensity radiating from him making your heart pound against your ribs. “All those years ago,” he says, his voice dropping again, rough and intimate. “Before Mona. I … I liked you, y’know? But always thought you were too busy moonin’ over Leo.” He shakes his head, a self-deprecating huff escaping him. “Then Mona came along, and I thought … well, that was that.”

He pauses, his gaze searching yours, deep and unwavering. “Turns out,” he murmurs, his voice thick with resurfacing emotion, “maybe it wasn’t.”

His gaze drops to your lips for a fraction of a second before snapping back to your eyes. The air crackles, thick with years of unspoken feelings, missed chances, and the sudden, terrifying possibility of a future you’d both given up on. He reaches out, his hand hovering near your arm, hesitating.

“I’m still messed up from Mona,” he admits, his voice raw. “And I swore I wasn’t doing this again.” He looks lost, conflicted, but the way he’s looking at you— “But hearing what I heard, I can’t just ignore it. I can’t pretend things are the same.” He finally lets his fingers brush against your arm, a feather-light touch that sends sparks racing up your skin.

“Me neither,” you whisper.

His touch, tentative at first, grounds you even as it sends shockwaves through your system. The air around you practically vibrates. “I meant it when I said about being done. About not wanting the mess. But you … you’re makin’ things complicated.”

You manage a shaky laugh. “You think I’m making things complicated? Try being in my head for the past few years.”

He closes his eyes for a brief second, as if fighting a war within himself. When he opens them again, his other hand comes up, grasping your jaw. His touch is careful, reverent almost, despite the intensity burning in his eyes. You lean into it instinctively, your own hand rising to rest hesitantly against his plastron.

“Maybe …” he murmurs, his gaze fixed on your mouth. “Maybe some messes are worth making.”

And then there’s no more space between you.

He closes the distance, his mouth crashing down onto yours. It’s not gentle. Or tentative. It’s years of pent-up frustration, missed opportunities, unspoken longing, and overwhelming emotion pouring out. His grip tightens on your jaw, tilting your head back slightly as he deepens the kiss.

You gasp against his lips, wrapping your arms around his neck. Pulling him closer, meeting his fervor with your own stored-up ache. It’s clumsy and raw, fueled by adrenaline and the shock of this finally happening. You feel the slight roughness of his skin, the solid muscle beneath your hands, the power he holds carefully in check.

It’s everything you secretly wondered about, everything you pushed down and denied yourself. It’s Raph, not just the friend, not just the sparring partner—but the turtle you fell for, the one whose happiness you prioritized over your own feelings.

And he’s kissing you like you’re the only thing that matters, like he’s been wanting to do this forever.

He groans, a low, guttural sound, pulling you tighter against him, molding your body to his. The world narrows to this single point of contact, the roar of blood in your ears, the frantic beat of two hearts hammering against each other. The entire world outside this moment fades away.

Finally, gasping for air, you break apart, though he keeps you close, his forehead pressed against yours. His breathing is ragged, and you can feel the tremors running through him. You’re trembling too, breathless and overwhelmed, your lips tingling, your mind reeling.

He pulls back just enough to look into your eyes, his own wide and searching, mirroring the storm of emotions you feel swirling inside you. “Okay,” he breathes out. His gaze flicks down to your lips again, then back up. “So … that happened.”

“Yeah,” you manage. “It did.” You lift a hand tentatively, your fingers tracing the edge of his mask near his temple, a touch you wouldn’t have dared to initiate minutes ago. He doesn’t flinch; if anything, he leans infinitesimally closer.

“I, uh …” he starts, then stops, scrubbing a hand over his face again, clearly struggling for words. “Look, I meant what I said. I’m messed up. This is … complicated.”

“I know,” you whisper.

He slowly pushes himself up further, helping you sit up properly before rising to his feet and extending a hand down to you. You take it, his grip strong and warm, pulling you easily to your feet. You stand facing each other.

He doesn’t let go of your hand immediately, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. “This ain’t gonna be easy to navigate. People are gonna notice somethin’s different.”

“Let them,” you say, surprising yourself with the firmness in your voice. You meet his gaze, holding it. The fear is still there, fluttering beneath the surface, but it’s overshadowed by something else—a fierce, fragile hope you thought you’d buried for good. “Raph, we’ve spent years tiptoeing. Hiding things. For each other. Maybe …” You trail off, taking a breath. “Maybe it’s time we stopped.”

Raph’s grip tightens on your hand as he exhales slowly, a long breath that seems to carry years of frustration with it. “Yeah,” he finally agrees, his voice low and gravelly as he smiles. “It’s about time we did.”

The confession, the kiss—it’s all out in the open now, impossible to ignore or stuff back into neat boxes. And whatever happens next, you know one thing for sure: ignoring this is no longer an option for either of you.

[qoldenskies]

Your point about Leo genuinely hating to see Donnie in pain.....it's why I fully believe that he did NOT in fact intend for Donnie to get seriously hurt during the Lair Games episode. Yes, the episode implies that he's messing around and being competitive and ultimately kind of letting Donnie win just so he can turn it into "yeah actually you get my rooming situation that's shitty now lmao get bent" (because it's such a sibling thing to pull, honestly), but I mean.....look at his face when he goes to Donnie immediately after the fridges fall on him.

That is a look of GENUINE concern. And mixed with the way he flinches back a little when Donnie yells at him and accuses him of intentionally doing it, and the way he's so indignant about it when he insists that he didn't do it on purpose--yeah, it fits with your interpretation about him lashing out when people are cruel to him, because you can easily see him being like "fuck you, how dare you accuse me of hurting my own twin who's practically like another half of my soul, get the fuck out of my face before I demolish you".

That's the look of a turtle who cares deeply about his brother no matter how much they pick at each other, okay, thank you for coming to my TEDtalk

YEAH FR leo's response to stress and conflict is to get defensive, and sometimes that means he's indignant and aggressive and sometimes that means he's brushing it off/riling other people on purpose. either way he doubles down, but i think its somewhat understandable that his overly-defensive responses to things like that whole Incident could be seen as him lying and trying to save face lmao, especially because he has literally expressed that everything he says "sounds sarcastic". sometimes he is genuinely just not lying. he just kind of sounds like that and he gets increasingly more frustrated when people accuse him of otherwise. be nice to him he's neuron divergent ..........

its why ive mentioned before that i think leo works way better for the "youre actually emotionless and dont really care about us" allegations because raph constantly assumes that he's lying or messing with them on purpose. i think they do take the facade at face value a lot of the time, and i think leo does find it upsetting by the way he reacts to that-- it OFFENDS him, actually. dont they know he actually cares??? he's just joking!! most of the time. but also with his aversion to vulnerability he doesn't really want to express that kind of thing.

and yeah i do believe he was not responsible in The Incident for lair games for the reasons stated,,, honestly i kind of interpret leo's original intentions being to stick RAPH with the room, and he had to turn around and correct himself when donnie started actually winning lolol. leo can play donnie like a fucking FIDDLE, people may think donnie's the first one to call out his bullshit but he is really not. its raph's job usually

[r1ch1e-l1psh1tz]

As the days go on, I start to realize how bad my starkid/hatchetfield hyperfixation is getting.

I literally had a dream where I was in a Bury The Bully situation with some of my friends. I also had a dream about the apotheosis taking over my body, so that was nice I guess?

Anyways, HCS!!!!!

While Ruth and Richie were dead, they saw the summoning and went “…Dude, they’re actually super hot, what the fuck.” And for the rest of their ghost lives, would come up with fanfic ideas with the LIB in it

Grace would’ve loved Star Vs The Forces of Evil if her parents let her watch it (she saw the art style and fell in love)

Paul has a shit ton of cook books

Richie had thought about joining the smoke club (idk, he seems like a stoner, just like me fr)

Ruth’s room is either one of those aesthetically pleasing rooms with a bunch of playbills on her wall or with mushrooms/plants everywhere…or both

Charlotte really likes reading, she volunteers at the library to read to the children every week and they love her

Linda uses candy to bribe her children into doing stuff

Emma really likes turtles, so when she moved in with Paul, they got four turtles and named them Leo, Donnie, Mikey, and Raph

-did i forget to mention Paul and Emma like TMNT?

Steph sleeps with the TV on due to her small fear of the dark

That’s all!

[angelpuns]

I digitized the sketches cause I have been thinking about these guys literally all day-

Also idk what type of turtle Donnie is yet??? Idk I haven't decided. Since Raph and Mikey are both Map turtles maybe he could be a slider of some kind.

also Leo really likes star motifs cause he's sweet and he gave them all a little star keychain so they could all match ( sobbing actually I'm crying over this rn )

Anyway I have lots and lots of comics planned, but they're primarily sad. I'll work on getting some /pos ideas down but we'll see. This IS all about examining my own childhood after all lmao

Anyway here's some things about these guys to start off with ( I will happily ramble about them later as well )

Leo:

-Blunt, but has trained himself to be less so ( its the heavily masked autism )

-love Galaxy Adventures and secretly writes fanfic for it.

-transmasc! Also likes neopronouns but unsure about them

-likes plants, does not have a green thumb

( there is a lot more about him cause he's just me, but uhhh I'm trying to only put the /pos things for now )

Mikey:

-art!!! He's very good at it!!! really likes horror art!!

-favorite brother of all the brothers.

-very messy, Leo gets onto him for it a LOT

-new hobby every week

-undiagnosed audhd baby

Raph:

-also an artist, but hates that he's not as good as Mikey ( :( )

-likes plants even more than Leo, but actually has a green thumb

-L O U D

-somehow a morning person???

-Will wear anything. Not really into any particular style, but likes to wear things that piss Leo off ( ripped jeans mostly )

-likes to piss Leo off

Donnie:

( he's the least figured out tbh)

-IT guy fr fr

-love Galaxy Adventures just as much as Leo, but they fight over who likes it more

-also v blunt but does not hide it.

-v good at tech stuff!

-he cooks for everyone!!

So yeah those are the bare bones of this iteration , I'm not gonna start posting comics for it til after Kid Leo Au but just know that I will be thinking about them <33

[biggesttmntfanintheworld]

Because you're alive again may I request more mutant-mayhem stuff? Like I got nothing specifically but I would love to see more of it! :3

I'm going through a severe case of writer's block so I'm sorry if this sucks:(

prom night

mutant mayhem! x gn! reader headcanons!

the turtless asking their crush to slow dance at prom!

leonardo

NEVOUS ASFFFFFFFFF

"bruh all you have to do is ask" "ITS NOT THAT EASY-"

bro heart hurts so bad he feels like its abt to explode

sweating like crazy too

bro does NOT know what to do

bro uses his rizz which is not existent to win you over

"hey uh...I think someone must have stolen the stars and put them in your eyes..."(LMFAOOOOOOOOO)

"huh"

"Wanna Dance?"

his hands are really sweaty and icky(im sorry LMAO)

he CANNOT make eye contact bro

and at the end he tells you that you're really beautiful/handsome/cute and runs away

:3

raphael

he doesn't really want to dance

because he thinks it's "not manly"

but his brothers are making him do it because they know he likes you

he really does not want to do it because he thinks it's embarrassing

butt...

he likes youuu soooo...

not nervous asking...like at all

like he's not scared whatsoever

bros so chill abt it.

"wanna dance?."

not sweaty like leo and donnie

"your eyes are really pretty"

:3

donatello

EXTREMELY nervous

like you can see the sweat dripping off of him

can't breathe

bro is literally dying

"why are you so nervous just ask" "im going to kill you shut up"

he keeps walking up to you and walking back

like he's about to tap on your shoulder and he just walks back(hes so silly)

he uses very cringy anime pick up lines

"Is your name Cana? Um, Cana call you mine?" (Fairy Tail Guild pick up line LMAOOO)

"what?"

"n-nothing!"

he just awkwardly stands around you after he said that

bro does NOT know what to do

after like 2 minutes of him standing around you awkwardly

"h-hey umm do y-you maybe w-wanna dance?, its fine i-if you don't want to"

"i would love to"

"r-really!?"

"yes!"

he fell in love with you a little deeper after that dance

:3

Michelangelo

THE ONLY MF WITH REAL RIZZ BRO

but not scared or nervous at all

he knows exactly how to rizz you up fr!

and now all he has to do is wait for the perfect moment to sweep you off your feet

as soon as the slow dance music starts...

he walks straight up to you and grabs your shoulder genty

"If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put ‘U’ and ‘I’ together"(HES SO SILLY BRO)

"oh?"

"would you like to dance with me?"

he smells like vanilla or cocoa 100%

he asked you out for pizza the next day after school

:3

can you guys give me tips on how to do oneshots like I'm actually suffering

constructive criticism is greatly appreciated:333

BYEEEEE