#as someone who was/is really into ROTTMNT he reminds me SO MUCH of Raph and Leo???

[phecdasolar]

Me day 1 of my Trolls hyperfixation after watching Trolls 3: This is absolutely fantastic and I love it, I love Floyd, he’s great, Bruce is also amazing (hello Daveed Diggs), John Dory is okay though I guess? Idk why people like him so much he’s kind of annoying, anyways I just really want Branch to go ham on his brothers and psychologically beat the crap out of them-

Me present day and 3 weeks into my Trolls hyperfixation: I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING NOW I UNDERSTAND IT ALL IF I DON’T RECEIVE TWO METRIC TONS OF JOHN DORY ANGST I WILL SOB, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME HE GAVE UP HIS CHILDHOOD HE HAS ELDEST DAUGHTER SYNDROME HE IS SEVERELY DEPRESSED AND TRAUMATIZED I AM SHAKING HIM LIKE A RUBBER CHICKEN LOOK AT HIM

[ju1cyfru1t]

Gotta respect and love another writer who’s a cool writer and a minor!! Fellow writer, I present to you.. A REQUEST. I don’t really request often, cause it’s my job to make ‘em, (excuse my lazy ass, i CANT do them as much as you do cause you somehow have amazing motivation to do so??), but besides that-

How about some little sister headcanons?? Or just little sibling headcanons about reader being the most cutest thing ever, but also the most surprising turtle ever- Say sneaking up on her brothers not purposefully and scaring them, or just overall knowing a whole lot about a certain math problem Donnie has troubles on?? Idk but- Have fun with this, and remember to continue be awesome!! <33

your wish is my command 🧞‍♀️ and tysm for the request! I rlly hope you like it. <3

rottmnt x sister! reader

little sister hcs

Rise! Splinter, Raph, Leo, Donnie, Mikey, April x fem! sister! Reader

sister between the ages of like 12-15, fem! reader, PURELY PLATONIC AND FAMILIAL, contains swearing, hehehehehehheee

Splinter (SORRY HIS IS SHORT)

- Splinter is such a girl dad and always wanted a daughter. you cannot convince me otherwise.

- You best believe if you were to ever start dating someone ALL of them are interrogating your partner. All of em: the boys, Splinter, and April.

- You absolutely have special privileges w/ Splinter. like he is letting you get away with things your brothers don’t and giving you almost anything you ask for

- ^ bc like…you’re just a little girl. his little girl. his baby. LIKE COME ON NOW-

- he truly believes you could NEVER do anything wrong

Raph

- they are all hella protective over you but he is the MOST protective over you (he’s the oldest, you’re the youngest; it just makes sense, ok?)

- when training, he really holds back and goes easy on you even if he doesn’t need to bc he couldn’t imagine hurting you in any way. to him you are precious and fragile

- iffy about letting you go on missions and patrols even if you’re absolutely ready

- ^ it’s not that he doesn’t believe in you, he’s just worried about what could happen

- Carries you :D

- Lectures you but just because he cares and he makes sure you know that he isn’t trying to be mean

- ^ apologizes profusely if his temper does get the best of him

- Yells at Leo for messing with you

- Anytime you’re in battle, he tries his best to keep you behind him if he can

- Heaven forbid you like Ms.Cuddles show

- He absolutely cannot say no to you like it just physically pains him

- Since Raph’s the oldest, he TRIES (key word TRIES) to handle all the important *cough* talks (puberty, s3x, all that fun growing up stuff) but he struggles 😭😭😭 ends up asking April or Donnie to handle it (but shouldn’t Splinter really be handling that???)

- dotes on you like you’re the cutest thing he’s ever seen

- reminds you all the time that he’s proud of you

Leo

- he tries SO hard to be the “cool” brother

- will always claim and brag that he’s your “favorite,” regardless of its true or not

- teases the shit out of you all the damn time like I wouldn’t blame you if you socked him in the throat

- but he just picks on you bc he loves you

-^ and while this is true, he would NEVER let anyone besides him and your brother make fun of you in any way

- (Almost) always has faith in you. he understands what it’s like to feel like no one trusts you and he doesn’t want you to feel that way

- Listens to all the drama and hot gossip and agrees w/ you on everything. If you’re beefing with someone, SO IS HE.

- ^ that bitch Chloe who told you your shirt was ugly is 13. So what? He doesn’t gaf they are BEEFING

- teaching you things he probably shouldn’t be- NOT IN LIKE A WEIRD WAY, but like how to get away with shit and be sneaky and stuff

- there for you if you need a shoulder to cry on. might not be able to give the best advice depending on your problems, but he will hold you and let you cry if that’s what you need

- calls you ‘sis’

- not the best influence 😭

- If you confide in him secrets you haven’t told your other brothers he is weeping tears of joy that you trust him like that

- also dotes on you

- competitive as hell when you play any kind of game

Donnie

- if you’re a human, he’s (begrudgingly) driving you and picking you up from school. I mean, what kind of brother would he be if he let you walk the dangerous streets of NYC by yourself?

- fr though imagine your classmates faces when you pull up in that big ass turtle tank

- Regarding school, the best to go to for help with homework/schoolwork

- ^ and listen, he tries his best to be patient with you. that’s all I’m gonna say 😭

- Donnie doesn’t really treat you much differently than he treats your brothers, just a little bit more careful and EVER SO SLIGHTLY more patient with you

- will let you hang out in his lab while he works on something if you swear up and down on Splinter’s life you will not break, touch, or LOOK at anything

- If you want an honest, unbiased opinion he’s the brother to go to

- Ole Donatello is not the best at showing he really cares for you and loves you with words and actions, but just know he does and would never let anything happen to you

- Carries you on his back like he does with April

- Lectures you as well but just because he wants you to be safe and not do dumb shit (not as gentle as Raph tho)

- If Raph can’t, he’s the one protecting you and shielding you during missions

Mikey

- actually the “cool” brother (Leo remains hella jealous)

- since you two are the youngest I could imagine you’d be pretty close

- always wants to try new things with you: snacks, video games, recipes, pretty much down for anything

- invites you to watch YouTube with him if you’re bored

- If you’re a turtle mutant like them, he’ll ask to paint or add stickers to your shell and plastron

- cooks for you when you’re hungry

- if you attend, he makes sure you always have an after school snack + packs your lunch

- if you’re ok with it he is super affectionate with you

- Lets you vent anytime you need to about anything! He’s always going to be there for you and is the most compassionate of your brothers.

- You, Leo, and him doing stupid tiktok challenges and trends at 2am

- Believes in you no matter what. So, so supportive of any dreams or goals that you have. :)

- hypes you up

- beware of Dr.Delicate Touch and Dr.Feelings

- reminds you often that it’s ok to be emotional and vulnerable

April

- of course she’s best friends w/ all of you but you guys have special sleepovers where it’s just the two of you (which your brothers probably crash if they’re bored)

- ^ obvi calls them “girls night”

- (Varies depending on your species(?)) the one to be the most helpful when you’re body starts changing and you go through puberty because let’s be real your brothers don’t know shit (except Donnie MIGHT know a little bit)

- you can always trust her with secrets or just things you don’t want your brothers to know, like you can talk to her about ANYTHING

- let’s you complain and rant about the dumbass shit your brothers do ALL THE TIME (NOT IN A MEAN WAY I LOVE THEM I SWEAR 😭)

- ^ lmao she totally joins in and agrees w/ everything you say about them

- def let’s you borrow from her if you want (accessories, clothes, jewelry)

- GOING ON ADVENTURES TOGETHER

- Mayhem LOVES you

[fishsticksloser]

OH i thought of this one!!

A rottmnt fluff HC of the boys (including their future turtles) reacting to female reader who decided to name their first baby by their husband's name?

Like reader and turtle (separately) are married and she decided to name the first new born baby as " leo jr " or " Raph jr "...etc, just because of how much she loves her husband.

Naming Babies

RotTMNT x fem!reader

Warnings: eggs hatching, egg laying, fluff

A/N: There's nothing explicit. I assume it'd be eggs, I dunno how it all works... Future them will be added to the normal boys. Donnie's is a girl because I 100% believe he'd make sure his son was named Galileo. I've posted an info dump about what I learned... Holy shit... Also I hate naming kids after their fathers, I have a friend who's like the 16th or something crazy and he's going to continue it, but similar names, yes all for it.

Donnie

Donnie had been stressing out

Sure, he'd done research, he was prepared

Just not mentally

After the egg was laid though, he became a lot less stressed

You have almost 3 months to get everything ready (82-84 days)

He worked hard

Also making sure that the incubator stayed at the correct temp

When it was time for it to hatch, he was shaky

The egg hatched and a small turtle mutant came out

You gently picked it up and cleaned it up

"It's a girl."

You held her as she chirped softly, staring at you and Donnie

"What's her name?"

"Donatella."

At first Donnie was shocked

Sure you guys had discussed names and that was one of them

But he hadn't expected you to actually choose it

Still he's happy, not necessarily about the name, but because he has 2 beautiful girls in his life.

Future Donnie:

The moment the egg began hatching, he dropped everything

His family crowded close by, not wanting to scare the new member

She was beautiful

"Donatella."

"Huh?"

"Donatella, that's her name."

He smiles wide

Donnie was touched that you decided to name her after him

Leo

2 eggs

That's what he saw

I guess twins run in the family

He panicked, wanting to make everything perfect for them

He kept a close eye on the incubator

They had Shelldon keep an eye on them so when they started hatching, they'd know

It could be 2 months or 4, there was no telling

When the eggs started hatching, he ran to get everyone

Leo was so excited to meet them

He bounced, unable to stop moving

Unfortunately only 1 was hatching

Not to fret, the other 2 might just be taking longer

"What are you naming him?"

"Leon."

"Strong name." -Splinter

"Yeah... Reminds me of someone."

Leo nudges you a smile splitting his face

Future Leo:

"They're hatching!"

Mikey had been watching over them

Everyone rushes over

These are the first grandkids of Hamato Yoshi after all

You both gently picked one up, cleaning them thoroughly

"Girls."

"You go first."

"Leonora."

He smiled, not clicking that it was the female version of his own name

"Atsuko."

Splinter gasps, tears coming to his eyes

"Wait... Leonora?"

You nod and he kisses you hard

Mikey

Probably the best while you laid your eggs

He was freaking out inside though.

Still he did his best

He made sure to keep you comfortable even after they were in the incubator

They were the most agonizing days of his life

Just waiting to meet his beautiful babies

90 days passed and nothing

Almost 10 days later, they were finally hatching

You both took one, cleaning gently

"Boy and girl."

"Names? Any ideas?"

You held your tiny baby boy

"Angelo."

"Miwa."

Then he blinked in confusion

"Angleo?"

"Yeah... It's a nice name don't you think?"

He's really happy

You chose a name similar to his own

Future Mikey:

You both watched as the small egg shook and started opening

Mikey grabbed your shoulders, shaking you gently out of excitement

"It's a girl."

"Congrats, Miguel."

You both smiled at each other, your tiny girl holding her hands up

"Michaela."

Mikey looks at you, a little shocked

A smile spills across his face, tucking you into his chest

Raph

Probably the most freaked out

He panicked even after they were in the incubators

Luckily you had about 3 months to calm him down

The issue?

It was like once he finally calmed down, they were hatching

He shifted uncomfortably, watching them open the shells

You reached in, taking the small turtle

"A boy."

"Names. What's his name!?"

"Raphael."

"What?"

Raph didn't catch what you were talking about

He zoned out looking at the baby boy

"Our baby's name. Raphael."

He stared at you

It still wasn't clicking

"Sigh... She's named him Raphael after you."

"Oh..."

Tears came to his eyes, looking back at his son

Future Raph:

He was excited and very scared

This wasn't exactly the world he wanted to bring his kids into

But as he watched the small tooth break through the shell, he realized he would do anything for his child

"It's a girl."

"She's beautiful..."

He held her gently, she rubbed her face against his large thumb

"Rafaela."

Raph looked up, smiling sweetly, tears rolling down his cheeks

"It's perfect."

[dandylovesturtles]

once again writing fanfic for an AU that's not mine

uh hi so I guess it is Crying About Future Donnie Hours except this is actually a different future Donnie than the one everyone else is crying about.

I have wanted to write something for @kathaynesart 's Replica for awhile now and I got an idea and I decided to use @tmntaucompetition as an excuse to write and post it, so I guess you could say this is propaganda I didn't expect it to be the day after my poll though so I kinda scrambled a bit aaaaa lol

Replica is one of my favorite ROTTMNT comics, it's one of the first I found after I watched the movie, and I love it so much. If you haven't read it please do! However, there is one part of the comic in particular (and especially one line in particular) that has stuck with me since I first read it, and I think about it a lot. So consider this my little homage to that part of the comic, and to the character who says it.

Also there is a short section of this that is just dialogue from the comic so obviously all credit for that dialogue goes to Kat!

And Kat I really hope you don't mind me playing around in your sandbox a bit /)_(\

Anyway I don't normally title these but I did give the gdoc for this one the title: The Needed Functions to Appreciate It

I hope you enjoy!

~~~

As an AI, experiencing the apocalypse was different.

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. did not have to feel the aching gnaw of hunger, or the bite of the cold. He did not feel the sting of acid rain on skin, or the seeping of blood from injury. All the physical sensations his family and friends suffered, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. was spared them all.

That did not mean he didn’t feel.

…

“Hey Dee?”

The “Hm?” he got in response was distracted. Donnie was often distracted those days. S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. didn’t resent him for it. He knew how busy Donnie is - he cataloged and prioritized the to-do list himself, after all.

“I still have the timers Raph asked me to set for his training in the system, and all his old records. What…” He hesitated. “What should I do with them?”

“Oh.” That got Donnie to pause in his work oh so briefly. His finger tapped twice on the enter key without pressing. “You can delete all of that. Might as well free up memory space where we can.”

“Okay.” It was the right answer. Members of the resistance were allowed to set timers and save some personal files on S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.’s system, and protocol dictated that forty eight hours after loss of vitals, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. should clear such files.

It had been three hundred and fifty seven hours since Raph flatlined. He should have cleared these ages ago.

“Hey Dee,” he said again, more quietly this time, and Donnie actually looked away from his work and gave him his attention.

He hadn’t had a physical body since a raid over a year before; he was just an artistic representation on the monitor. Donnie promised to make him a new one, but S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. could see both the parts inventory and the to-do list and he doubted he would be able to do that. Usually it didn’t bother him, but he thought that day that it bothered him a little.

“I don’t want to,” he admitted, and Donnie’s face shifted to something more sad.

“Ah. You have developed a lot of sentimentality…” Donnie sighed, not unkindly. “Well, you can keep it. I won’t make you delete it.”

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. bounced around the monitor a moment while he mulled it over. Donnie didn’t look away, though one of his battleshell arms took up the task of typing on his computer.

“Isn’t that not good, though, dude? Like… it’s useless now. It’s just taking up space.”

“Yes… sentimentality and practicality are often in direct conflict.” He leaned back in his chair, eyes roving to the ceiling. “Sometimes we just can’t let things go, even against our better judgment, because they remind us of something or… someone.”

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. zoomed himself in so he filled more of the screen. “Do you get sentimental, Dee?”

Donnie’s lips quirked up in a smile. “Yes, unfortunately so. I find it vexing… though, Mikey would say, “That’s what makes you a person, Donnie, don’t fight it!” or something like that.” 

“But if it makes you hold on to useless stuff, or do things that aren’t necessary, isn’t that bad?”

“Ah, such is the nature of emotions, Shelldon - they often lead us to do things that are, for a lack of a better word, suboptimal… Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a switch so I could just turn the pesky things off. I would focus so much better if I never had to feel… anxious or frustrated or… or sad.” He slumped forward, hugging his arms around himself. “If I didn’t have to… to miss anyone.”

“...That’s the worst one,” said S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N., and Donnie nodded.

“Yeah… yeah, it is.” He turned to face S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N., eyes glossy. “But-”

ERROR: Memory file corrupted.

.

.

.

.

“It is a convincing replica. Expertly crafted. You act just like him… Be careful that it does not interfere with our intended purpose.”

“Need I remind you, one of my core purposes is to act as a support to Donatello’s family. That includes you, even if you have chosen to forego the needed functions to appreciate it.”

“A necessary purge to keep the Kraang’s whispers at bay.”

“Was it? That is not what Donatello ever wished of you. Even when you decided to take on this burden.”

“Not having to ‘feel’ has its… benefits.”

“And Donatello was quite firm that you not lock yourself away-”

“Such advanced artificial intelligence, yet you still fail to recognize your own ignorance.”

“To what, exactly?”

“To the bliss in not having to miss him.”

.

.

.

.

Username: OMEGABOOTYYYSHAKER9000

Password: ****************

MEMORY FILE ACCESS AUTHORIZED

Enter date: XX/XX/20XX XX:XX

RETRIEVING MEMORY FILE. . . SUCCESS

AUDIOVISUAL PLAYBACK BEGIN

“But even if missing them keeps you from performing optimally… Running from bad emotions means running from the good ones, too.” Donatello sighed. “At least, that’s what Mikey said to me after Papa… And it took me awhile, but I realized he was right. Don’t tell him I said that, though, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Your secret is safe with me, dude.”

“Thank you, Shelldon.” He reached with his hand and touched the screen, and even though they couldn’t actually feel each other, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. moved like he was nuzzling his palm. “When you see Raph’s training records, it makes you sad, but also makes you remember all the things you loved about him, right?”

“I guess, yeah… He’d always scratch my head when I came to give him his training report. When I had a body.”

“Mm, so that’s why you always went to do it in person.” Donatello chuckled, rubbing his thumb on the monitor. He was sad, then, thinking that he couldn’t build S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. a proper body. Always lacking the time and materials…

“Is it worth it, though?” asked S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.. “The good feelings, when there’s bad feelings, too?”

“Maybe that’s one of the great mysteries of life, Shelldon. All I know is… I don’t want to give them up. Not anymore. And… it’s easier to deal with, when you’re not alone.” Donatello pulled his hand back, and looked at him very seriously. “Anata wa hitorijanai. That’s as true for you as it is for any of us. Your family will always be here for you, when you miss Raph, or anyone else.”

Maybe it made S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. feel better. He smiled, as much as his facial design would allow.

“Okay. And I’ll always be here for you too, Dee.”

“Thank you, Shelldon.”

“Love ya.”

“I love you too.”

End playback? Y 

PLAYBACK ENDED

[averagetmntfan]

Portals gone wrong!

(“The 4 servants Au” & “time beats a dead man Au” ((collab w/ @mikey-rottmnt)) Crossover fic!)

2/???

Tbadm universe, 12:38pm.

“uh..not to like, complain or anything but-“

“Why am i TIED UP?!?” Leo demanded, squirming in the rope. “because, you look ugly. And we don’t trust you.” Bendy pulled the rope tight, making sure it was secure. jeez, what a crazy day. First he had to calm down a guilt devoured Koi, now these Weridos fall outta the sky and invade their camp? What’s next, Someone loses a leg??

“I kinda feel bad for tying them up..” Dale whimpered. “WHY??? the little orange one was gonna attack us!!!” Chip reminded her, trying to be the reasonable one here. “Yeah but.. Besides that, they seem really nice!! and look at that one!! It’s got cool red paint on its face!!”

“as much as I love a complement, this isn’t paint. It’s my skin, thank you very much.” Leon smirked, sparkling as usual. Except there were literal sparkles..- what the hell???

Chip just..observed carefully. wow, this guy was gayer than him and mugs combined. And that’s really saying something here. Though he hated to admit, these guys did seem kinda harmless.

‘I’m sure the grown-up’s could take these bozos in a fight, anyway. So..whats the big deal?? What’s everyone so afraid of?’

Chip, being the observant guy he is, decided to go check on the others. Since everyone was acting a little bit off. And suspicious, he might add. “Come on.” He Signaled Dale to ‘follow his lead.’ And within seconds, the siblings were on a investigation.

———————————————————————

it was quiet. too quiet. Why you may ask? Well, I’ll let cup answer that one.

Cuphead Stares at raph. No conversation, no movement, just an intimidating cold stare. Raph couldn’t even bare to meet his gaze, so he turned to face the tents wall. As this starring contest continued on, the 2 bystanders looked at eachother with concern.

“cup, lay off dude. It’s been like 5 minutes. You’re scaring the poor guy!!” Mugs suggested. No one dared move.

another couple minutes go by, and mugs tries again. Again, not movement.

She tries again and again, and like every time before..

Nothing happened.

“UGHH!! WHY CAN YOU JUST LISTEN TO ME?!” He shouted, readying up a punch to the face. “Hey, hey! Mugs, calm. Down. Anger will not fix anything.” Boris reassured him, in a desperate attempt to calm her down.

“Tell me, Bucko. Why’re you really here??” cup finally spoke up, building up the tension. Raph finally Met eyes with him.

“I don’t know, ok?! Look, one minute I was hanging out with my brothers, watching a Jupiter Jim movie, and then-“

”wait, who’s Jupiter Jim?” Mugs asked, not expecting to be heard. But of course..

He was.

“ah! Jupiter Jim is the main protagonist in me and my brothers favourite movies! He’s so cool, and also have a red panda sidekick!! But there’s also comics, fan fics, graphic novels, spin-offs, fan made episo-“

“Ok can you shut up? We don’t wanna hear about your nerdy lil sci-fi show, uh..whatever you are.” Raph went completely silent after that, slightly embarrassed.

“Dude. I-“ mugs sighs.

“Ok, move it boy toy.” He attempts to shove cup outta the way. But uh..

Cup snickers at his brothers failed attempt to move him.

“Keep trying, toothpick. One day maybe you’ll be able to make me move an arm” he howls with laughter. Mugs rolled his eyes. Tsk, at least he wasnt an overachiever study nerd.

Raph Just Watch the 2 siblings, letting out a small laugh.

Cup immediately turned his attention back to raph, looking kinda..pissed..off? Uh oh..-

“Find something funny?” his voice was low, as he inched in closer to Raph’s face. He stares at him again, narrowing his eye.

“n-nooooooo…?”

“just leave the guy alone. You’re being a bitch.” Mugs told him off, putting a hand on her hip.

“WHA- I AM NOT!! THIS GUY COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS!!!” “Cup, he doesn’t even have any weapons.” this seems to get cup upset, he rolls his eyes and storms out. What a baby. Mugs scowls at him as he leaves, soon turning his gaze to their unexpected visitor.

“Sorry..a-about him. He’s just..very cautious..of people..”

“Well, can you blame him?” Boris stepped in.

“you and him have been through a lot together. He’s just trying to protect you.”

Well, this seemed to get to mugs. He thought for a moment. She hated to admit it but..Boris was right. Maybe they’d been acting like a jerk to cup.

As he got lost in his thoughts, Boris glanced at their prisoner.

this was gonna be one hell of a day, huh.

Welp…

It’s time to prepare.

PREV MASTERPOST NEXT

[mej2235]

A little gift for @wandering-ghost

Consider this propaganda for the Ghost Leo AU in @rottmnt-au-summit

For context, this is Ghost Leo’s POV and the ‘Other’ turtles are my Sewer AU turtles!

Leo twiddled his thumbs in his lap as he kicked his tiny legs that had never had the chance to grow. Looking around the arena, all the little ghost child could see were these other versions of himself and his family, turtles of different shapes and sizes, some wearing clothes, others taking after his own family and sticking with the traditional belts. Leo wished he could join in, finally wear that belt Mikey made just for him or maybe even wear a pretty dress! He had seen so many pretty ones on TV or in those Princess magazines April would bring Raph, but Leo would always be forced to remain in his rad shirt. It could be a lot worse, Leo supposed, at least he still had his bandana, a reminder that he was still part of his family.

He was glad that seemed to be true for most versions of him and his family, versions that he was watching laugh and play music together in this ‘Battle of the Bands’.

…

Leo sniffled as he watched his own siblings play together, Mikey screaming as Raph pushed him away from the guitar with one hand. He wanted that, he wanted that so bad-

A churr came from Leo’s left.

The little slider wiped the tears from his eyes as he turned to be face to face with a much larger red eared slider, only a fraction of an inch from his own face. Leo took a deep breath in, an unnecessary habit Mikey had taught him on bad days, days when Leo was forcefully reminded he wasn’t part of this world. The other Leo tilted his head at Leo with a coo and Leo giggled, almost able to pretend that someone other than his baby brother (who wasn’t really a baby anymore, was he? Whereas Leo…).

“Hi,” Leo whispered quietly, almost as if he was afraid his unhearable voice would scare the other.

Much to Leo’s surprise, Other Leo’s eyes brightened and he chirped, “Hi!”

Leo blinked.

And then he blinked again.

And, for a third time, he blinked.

“Did-“ there was no way- Leo glanced over his shoulder, but there was no one there, “Did you just say hi to me?”

The little slider pointed at his chest and Other Leo chirped at him, sitting back as he grinned at the much smaller turtle. Leo refused to get his hopes up, but he stood up on the bench anyway, turning so his whole body faced the larger turtle. The two sliders stared into each other’s eyes, unblinking, completely ignorant of the war being waged in the background.

Other Leo blinked first.

“I win!” Leo cheered, fist punching the air, and, to his surprise, the turtle in front of him groaned. He couldn’t believe it. After over a decade, someone other than Mikey could see him. Leo had no idea how to process that and chuckled, “You really can see me,” the turtle burst out into hysterical laughter, ignoring the faint sensation of tears rolling down his cheeks as his hands covered his mouth, “Someone sees me.”

Other Leo whined in distress as he watched Leo fall apart. For once, someone could see him and the first thing Leo did was breakdown. He pulled his hands from his mouth, the shaking limbs reaching out to this physically older him’s face. Leo didn’t know why, but he was so scared- he hadn’t touched anyone besides Mikey in so long and this was him. Someone he could have been.

Other Leo frowned and crooned, pressing his face into Leo’s hands. Unlike the way Leo’s skin tingled with would-be ghost bumps when Mikey made physical contact with Leo, his skin buzzed with warmth and Leo melted against the other turtle.

Was this how cuddling his family was supposed to feel?

“Oh, you’re warm,” Leo leaned against the older turtle, ignoring every lesson about stranger danger Dad would try to talk into their heads, not that it ever really affected Leo, “This is nice.”

Other Leo churred, a rumble Leo could feel throughout his body and he melted into the other turtle’s hug, completely ignorant of how he was picked up and carried away. No one had ever picked him up before in his memory- Mikey couldn’t handle the cold contact long enough to try.

The taller turtle laid down and placed the ghost on his plastron. A shadow fell over the duo of Leos and Leo glanced up, only to be met with a Raph. He blinked up at the bottom of his older brother’s chin, listening to him and Other Leo grumble and coo at each other.

“Okayyyy,” Leo looked at Other Leo, “This is nic-WHOA!”

Leo flinched as Other Raph curled around the two Leos pulling them into his plastron and Leo’s arm went through it, turning the warmth to ice. He shivered and pulled his arms close to his body, glancing across the stadium again. To his surprise, his own siblings were now only a handful of feet away, despite Leo now being further from their stage where they were supposed to be performing.

“-and you’re sure he didn’t take anything?”

“Of courssse not!” Other Donnie was not happy with Raph’s accusation, “My brother doesssn’t sssteal!”

Other Mikey put his hand on the Other Donnie’s shoulder and stepped forward, crossing his arms, “Was anything even missing?”

“A ring,” Donnie crossed his arms and glared at the other two.

The two alternate turtles looked at each other and then back at Leo’s brothers. They stared for a few seconds before bursting out into maniacal laughter.

“Y-you-“ the alternate softshell cackled loudly, “thought our brother ssstole a ring?”

Other Mikey wiped some tears from his eyes, “You clearly don’t know us. If it’s not a comic or a blanket or supplies, he won’t touch it.”

The two alternate turtles continued to laugh as Leo’s brothers turned red, all except Mikey who was looking straight at him. Leo met Mikey’s eyes and waved. Mikey shook his head and waved back. He looked over at his older brothers still arguing with the other turtles, before glancing at Leo with a smirk that Leo had personally helped his little brother cultivate as they worked on his mischief making skills. The box turtle rolled his hand, a movement that Mikey had worked tirelessly to perfect after discovering Leo’s love of magic and misdirection, leaving the slider staring at his brother in barely concealed excitement; this was going to be good!

Mikey revealed a small blue ring in his hand and winked. Leo covered his mouth and giggled. He felt Other Leo shift under him and coo at Mikey.

“YOUR MIKEY HAS THE RING!” Other Donnie yelled, pointing at Leo’s brother who suddenly looked very nervous. “And you dare to accuse my brother of thievery! How dare you-“

Leo tuned out the rambling from the other version of his Donnie to give his full attention to his own brothers.

“Mikey,” Raph placed a hand on Mikey’s shoulder, smiling in a way that reminded Leo of just before Dr. Delicate Touch would make an appearance, “why are we accusing other us of stealing a ring you have?”

The box turtle picked at his nails,” I… forgot I had it?”

Raph pinned him with a look, “Is that a question or an answer?”

Mikey didn’t bother to answer verbally and shrugged under his older brother’s hands. Leo watched Raph sigh and turn around to apologise for what had happened, Donnie completely uninterested with the scene now that it didn’t involve him. Mikey, on the other hand, approached Leo and his new friends, skipping over toward them.

Other Raph did not like that and growled at Leo’s brother, not slightly irritated or fondly exasperated like a Raph growl should be, no, this one was filled with aggression. That was not how a Raph growl should be, especially at family.

“No!” Leo scolded, reaching up to hit Other Raph’s chin, ignoring how his nonexistent scale turn to ice shards. “That’s Mikey! Don’t growl at Mikey!”

Other Raph blinked down at him and, for a moment, Leo was terrified. He’d never seen such an empty gaze directed his way, but it only lasted a few seconds as Other Raph looked up at the chittering Other Leo. From a few feet away, Leo heard a sigh of relief and watched his brother visibly relax nearby. Leo may not be able to be injured, but Mikey had always been a worrier, no matter how much Leo reminded him he would always be fine.

You can’t die twice.

Mikey did not appreciate that joke.

Leo gasped as his current bed stumbled toward Mikey, an annoyed grumble escaping Other Leo as he playfully hissed at Other Raph. The much larger turtle rolled his eyes and settled down, retuning to his nap, even if Leo was sure that was all an act. No way was Mr. Overprotective Aggression not keeping an eye on them.

Other Leo placed him on his hip, giving Leo full view of both sets of siblings as they approached Mikey. The taller slider stopped in front of Mikey, grinning up at him with a chirp.

“Yours?” Other Leo held Leo out by the armpits, much to the ghost child’s amusement.

Leo looked up at Mikey, noting how he was being held at shoulder level to Mikey. He glanced over his shoulder at Other Leo and back again at Mikey. Wow. Other Leo was the same height as Mikey. Would he have been that tall if-

Nope. Not thinking about that right now. Focus on your new friends and family, Leo.

“He can see you,” Mikey’s voice was faint, almost nonexistent, fingers raising as if to graze Leo’s cheeks, but they stopped short, unwilling to send ice down both their spines, “he can actually see you, Leo!”

“And he’s warm!” Leo reached out and grabbed his brother’s hand, “So we can be warm too!”

“Y-yeah!” Mikey’s voice wobbled, but he continued to smile, grip tightening around Leo’s hand slightly, We’ll figure it out.”

“Who is he talking to?” Leo looked over his brother’s shoulder at Other Donnie.

“No one,” Raph sighed and Leo frowned as his no longer beating heart ached. He knew Raph couldn’t see him, but that was just rude.

Other Leo hissed at Raph, taking the others by surprise, “Little Leo no no one!”

“Little…” Other Mikey murmured, “Your Leo is smaller and invisible?! Why didn’t you tell us Leo kidnapped your brother?!”

“Scoff,” Donnie was mad and not the mad which could be used to get him out of the lab, but the dangerous mad that meant you needed to keep an eye out for anti-turtle lasers, “Hard to kidnap someone that’s dead.”

Silence.

A hiccup broke it. Then another and then a third until the sobs refused to be held back and tears that didn’t exist began to pour down false cheeks. He blubbered away as Other Leo cooed and pulled him against his chest. He didn’t even notice as Other Raph pulled them into his arms, hiding himself in the comfort the warm embrace and rumbling purrs gave him.

“You made Leo cry!” Mikey stomped up to their purple clad brother, stabbing him in the chest with a finger, “What kind of brother does that?”

“One that doesn’t delude himself with fantasies of playing with said dead brother!” Leo flinched and the rumbling grew in volume.

“YOU FUC-“

“What sort of brother doesn’t trust their brother’s judgement?” Other Mikey placed a hand on Mikey’s shoulder as he stepped in front of him, “What sort of brother berates another on how they cope and doesn’t help him?”

Other Donnie folded their arms as they stepped in front of the two Mikeys, “What sssort of Donatello ignoresss the evidence right in front of them?”

They looked over their shoulder at Other Mikey who nodded and grinned at Mikey, “Go ‘hug it out’ with your Leo. You both look like you could use it. We’ll just have a quick little chat with your brothers. Dr. Feelings loves a challenge.”

Mikey quickly retreated over to Leo and his new friends in their cuddle pile. Unlike before, Other Raph didn’t growl and pulled Mikey into the pile. Leo giggled at his brother’s wide eyes as he squirmed to try and escape, only to realise there was none. Mikey was stuck, with Leo and his new friends.

Leo wrapped his arms around his brother’s neck and basked in the warmth surrounding him. If he focused on his little bubble, he could ignore the yelling nearby.

Leo really hoped Other Donnie would get them to understand. He missed his brothers.

[captain-kinda-trash]

Hi! I wanted to request some headcannons for rottmnt boys with a reader who gives great hugs and gets a plush hoodie this winter, so hugging them feels like hugging a teddy bear now

Of course!! Thank you so much for the request!!

Teddy Bear (ROTTMNT Headcanons)

This was what I had in mind while writing 🤔🤔⬇

Leo

Let's just be clear about one thing

Leo LOVES your hugs

CANNOT get enough of them

Long night of fighting for justice? Huggies

Gets into an argument with Donnie? More huggies

Hell, even walking past you in the lair, he'll do little grabby hands and act like a whiny baby until he gets his daily hugs 🙄 😩

But then you get a super soft, super fluffy, super warm sweatshirt?

Dead

He's dead

You're basically like a human heater for this cold-blooded blue boy

Since you've gotten it, you can hardly stop wearing it, because it's the most comfortable thing ever-

And Leo has gotten even more excuses to hug you

"Leo, im cooking!"

"bUT YOUR SOO COMFFYYY 🥴"

Will, without a doubt ask you to carry his lazy ass, just because he wants to snuggle into your sweatshirt

And don't even get me STARTED on movie nights with him

Because what begins as a cold-blooded turtle hanging onto your arm like a baby koala

Ends up being Leo curled up in your lap or somehow wrapped around you with this hot sweater

So while he's practically purring with comfort, you are sweating like a dog

Not to mention, this bitch is just heavy

like 200+ pounds of straight muscle, so I hope you don't have to use the restroom any time soon because it's going to take a while to pry this big baby off of you

I'd also like to mention, that you don't need to tell him not to steal your hoodie

because he’s gonna do it anyways 😎💙

You discovered this one day, when you slipped the article off to bake with Mikey

After a nice batch of cookies was made, your jacket was gone and you began parading around the lair to find it 

Only to see Leo, snuggled in his bed and playing on his phone, with your hoodie practically swallowing him whole

If he hadn’t looked so comfortable, you would have been angrier, and just settled for scolding him playfully for stealing it

it was hell trying to pry it off of him,  though...

This turtle knows how to wrestle and he will not hesitate to kick your ass over this fluffy sweatshirt 😤

These two things (hugs and your hoodie) combined just make Leo melt into a puddle, and he couldn’t be happier to have all of your teddy bear hugs :>

Mikey

um, have you met this turtle?

KING of hugs

It’s so great how both of you share the same energy

Though he’s more cold-blooded, like Donnie, he needs all of the hugs

It’s just your thing

With Raph, you have fist bumps, Leo, you’ve got a cool handshake, Donnie is more for high-fives 

And for Mikey, it’s hugs 

He practically tackles you to the ground in tight hugs whenever you get home from school/work and come to the lair, like a happy little puppy

Speaking of puppies…

That’s what he says your hoodie feels like whenever it first arrives in the mail.

Immediately, you throw it on, and Mikey is all over it, petting the soft fabric and squealing in excitement 

Can he please wear it?? 🥺

Little Mikey didn’t even have to ask before you shed the hoodie and let him try it on

And OH

MY

FLUFFY...

The amount of cuteness that this turtle radiates when he’s smiling like an idiot and flapping the oversized arms around is just-

He vows to get his own since it’s so warm and comfortable

But he’s very respectful and gives it back to you

Only to attack you in another hug and lift you off of the ground because you look so adorable

“You’re like a little teddy bear!” *excited squeal!*

Mikey 100% respects your space so if you’re ever snuggling, he’s instantly aware of your getting sweaty or uncomfortable and will let up or loosen his arms

Winter days?

Snuggles all day and night

when Mikey (politely) asks to wear your jacket, he’ll throw it on and give you piggyback rides around the lair, because we love fun

And for Christmas, you get him his own, and he’s IN LOVE 

Sweater buddies 

He gets one in his favorite color and little ears on the hood and once a week, when they need to be thrown in the washer, you’ll keep him warm while he waits.

(Leo gets jealous of all the attention you’re giving Mikey >:o)

Donnie

we all know that Don isn’t the biggest on physical affection

If he wants a hug, usually he’d be the one to initiate, which is totally cool, since usually he’s forced into a hug by his brothers (secretly loves it tho)

He does enjoy your hugs, though he can be a bit awkward and stiff with them at first

If he’s feeling down, needs to be warmed up a bit, he’ll immediately seek your comfort

Even out of his brothers, you’re secretly his favorite 

Sure he loves Dr. Delicate Touch, but sometimes Donnie would rather go to someone who isn’t very pushy with solutions, and is willing to listen

And we can also all agree that he has an immaculate fashion taste ✨���

When he sees the fluffy sweater draped over your arm, he’s immediately running over, analyzing the fabrics, and rushing to get you to try it on

Why? Fashion show 

Loves the warmth of your hoodie

And I because “it’s so soofff”

Donnie’s blood runs the coldest out of all of his brothers and he has the most sensitive shell, so he just adores your sweater

Is definitely contemplating on getting one for himself, though he wouldn’t tell you at first, because you might think he’s trying to copy your awesome style, and that would just destroy his massive ego 😩💅

He enjoys it when you sit in his lab with him, maybe rested against his side with your hoodie on, as you play on your phone/read/draw

Also up for snuggles when it’s extra chilly in the Lair, or when his brothers aren’t around, because once again, damaged ego

Movie marathons?

Hell yeah

Donnie will always make sure your comfortable before he gets comfortable on the couch, so you won’t shift around while watching the movie

He’s also very vulnerable when he takes his battle shell off, and in more ways than one

You know he’s got real, strong trust when he does so and will let you carefully hug him from behind with your hoodie on, since it’s so soft

Donnie will also snatch your massive jacket if he gets the chance, and disappear into his lab for days with it on

And he’ll never tell a soul this…

But he loves it the most, because it smells like you, 💜

so it’s like having you right beside him while you’re gone, or when he’s busy building something 

Also, tries to use his classic and sarcastic charm when it comes to asking for your hoodie back

“Come on Don, it’s cold outside! I need it!”

“But would you take it from such a luxurious face as this?” 😏

“😒”

“Right, giving it back-“

He totally gets his own hoodie, by the way

Purple (obviously)

But it just isn’t the same as your own, so Donnie might just have yours on and then wrap his own around his waist

Yep

He sure does love his teddy bear 💜

Raph

Okay but Raph is an actual teddy bear-

A big, mom-friend, weapon-wielding teddy bear

He LOVES giving hugs, and most would recognize this, seeing the various pictures and instances where he pulls all three of his brothers in for a great big group hug ❤

He's constantly reminding himself that you are much much more prone to injuries than his brothers, so he holds you like a little baby when he hugs you

(Unless he gets super excited or has a really rough night, so just be aware that you might be restricted of breathing privileges in that case-)

Usually so gentle 🥺

Just picks you up and wraps those huge freaking arms around you like giant pillows

And he LOSES HIS SHIT when you come back with this fluffy ass hoodie

Has this infatuation with petting the fur and running his fingers over it

He has never felt something so soft in his entire life 😩❤

And then when he hugs you with it on-

aUGGGH ❤❤

"Why are you a like big teddy bear?!"

"Buddy, you're just getting a taste of my own world-"

Poor Raph, being the size he is and having such a spiky shell, can't just wear your hoodie like his brothers :(

I mean, sure he could take it so easily

But he doesn't want to disrespect your things, or make you upset, because this man is The Gentleman™

So, rather than asking to wear it, he'll ask to spend more time with you

Not just for the hoodie ofc, but because of your sweet gentleness and warmth

Better quit your job babe, because your new occupation?

Raph's cuddle buddy

He refuses to let you become uncomfortable, makes sure there are the right amount of pillows, blankets, and room for you to move around while you snuggle together etc.

Raph is also a heavy sleeper, so once he gets comfy and warm enough, he'll probably doze off and trap you in his big "arm cage"

Really, his nature is pure and gentle and everything you could ever imagine when it comes to hugging his little teddy bear ❤🐢

@getacactus @turtle-babe83

Hope you enjoyed this little ditty! I LOVED writing these!! 💜💜

[werewolf-w1tch]

part 2 of my ROTTMNT x TMA crossover analyses in which i decide which TMA entity a character from ROTTMNT would serve/vibe with!

you can find part one here

spoilers for rottmnt and tma!

leo!

gotta love leo. what an asshole (affectionate)

leo is a character i initially struggled to place cause of how he handles himself and how he interacts with his family. he’s the lonely face man who doesn’t confide in his family because of the confident facade he puts forward, but he is also someone who is proud of his capabilities and handles himself well in battle. he’s quick on his feet and good with battle analysis and it’s what makes him a good leader. let him and raph be co-leaders nickelodeon you cowards

leo is a corruption-marked spiral avatar who is also eye touched with an unhealthy dose of lonely. his portals remind me a lot of michael distortion and helen richardson with their doors (mmmmmmm the funkos). i feel like if leo were in the tma universe, he would have an episode where he sank into the lonely and his brothers had to get him back out. he just needs a hug and someone to tell him they’re proud of him. gdi.

sunita!!

i love sunita. she’s so fun!

sunita was a pretty easy one ngl. like raph, she kinda speaks for herself. a solid corruption-aligned stranger avatar. she would probably be a part of something like grimaldi’s circus if she were in the tma universe that would be more themed around the restaurant her dad works in. she also gets some slaughter as a treat. she and april both really want to fight someone. someone fight her she’s so ready she can handle it her fists are up.

donnie!!

(he’s just like me fr) now THIS IS MY FAVORITE BITCH. UGH. HE IS EVERYTHING TO ME.

donnie struggles to connect with his emotional side, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one! he’s always creating tech with his family in mind to help better their lives. he and leo share a crippling inferiority complex (disaster twins fr), he’s incredibly smart and sassy and knows what he wants and if he’s sick he will let everyone know. dramatic little scrunkle. i love him. 

donnie is an eye avatar (shocking i know) with a dash of corruption, a hint of the lonely and a bit of web. literally no one is surprised donnie is an eye avatar; honestly i can see him in a position not too dissimilar to jon’s in that he signs up for something way bigger than himself and it ruins him. donnie is like leo in that he feels inadequate compared to his brothers, but his insecurities are based on how much he is needed and how much his tech carries him on the team. his nature as a softshell definitely does not help this, even if he eventually makes some peace with his reality. donnie’s also pretty web aligned, but not as much as mikey.

cassandra!

pretty on the nose. slaughter and hunt avatar simultaneously. no one knows how she got not one but TWO entities and they let her serve both of them, but she did. she is fiercely loyal to whoever she decides to back and she is very strong in her convictions. she is always ready to kill on sight and she’s a very well-trained fighter. cassie’s always hunting down her next mission or goal and she struggles without a purpose, something to strive for. she’s so great. i hope she lives to be a thousand and has a hundred angry children. 

[undercoverwizardfanfiction]

Fantasy ROTTMNT Fanfiction:Do Not Go Gentle:Prolouge

Summary: We were beaten by Draxum, the   Unbreakable Baron. He took our Donnie from us. Now there’s nothing in the Hidden Kingdom that will stop us from getting him back. Sequel to the Broken Butterfly

Characters: Leo, Donnie, Raph, Mikey

Rating: Currently E

  Overall: T (for later chapters] (note I’ll be sure to rate each chapter individually and give each one trigger warnings pertaining to that chapter for people who want to read the story but want to avoid the angst and violence coming up )

Pairings: Oh? You want to read the story and ship everything  including the trees? Go right ahead you just have to get past my ““ship guard” *points to dragon lying in front of entrance to story wearing a bib that says ““shippers only diet”

Take a step back, before Draxum stole Donnie from his brothers, before their adventure began. Before their adventure, after all everything has a beginning

                                                         (#)(#)\/(#)(#)

Prince Leonardo Pumpington Cuddle Wuddle Baby the Twenty-Fifth awoke as he always does. With a minor headache and more tired than when he laid down twelve hours ago despite sleeping on a triple sized king bed under the fluffiest blankets made from only the finest endangered species. He pushes up his eye mask and waves off the Choir standing by his side that acted as his personal alarm before sinking once again into his soft warm bed. Staring at the ceiling and mural of himself winking. Leo made sure to wink back with finger guns, as was his usual morning ritual. He was content to lay in bed for the rest of the day (which wouldn’t be unusual) when the large ornate double doors swung open. A familiar octopus stepped in with a wide smile but eyes that were forever nervous ,”Go-good Morning my Prince! Are you ready to wake up? Where would you like your breakfast?”

The prince stretched his overly privileged arms. He could always have breakfast in bed again, that thought was always appealing, “I‘ll eat in Dining Hall Three today.” He claps his hands together loudly. Two of the more muscular choir members quickly moved lift him out of bed, holding him over their heads like a religious object and carry him out of the room. The hallways are covered in beautiful rare oil paintings, but none of them held his attention until they pass by a large mirror. “Holdup,” he says waving his hand, the two attendants back up to the mirror again. Leo made sure to give his reflected self the self-appointed wink before snapping his fingers at an attendant who had doted alongside, “You go get my make up team and my manicure team. I refuse to look anything less than spectacular.”

“Yes of course my prince.” She she curtseys before hurrying off.  The attendants carrying him finally arrived in the large dining hall with a table longer than most roads. He was lowered onto a soft throne-like dining room chair before he clapped his hands together and another attendant, with a tray with an ornate tea pot came over with several ornate china teacups on the tray to see which one he’d want to go with his breakfast. He sipped one, “Too cold” he tosses the cup over his shoulder where it shatters on the ground. “Too hot” he tosses that one. “Too sour.” He tosses another, ”Too perfect...” he tosses again before letting out a large irritated sigh. “Go try again,” he snaps as that attendant runs off as well (trying their best not to step on broken pieces of fine china).

The prince leans back in his seat before a chef hustles out with a tray. “For you, your excellence!” he says lifting the lid off the tray and sets it in front of him, despite his already irritated attitude, he can’t help but smile at the delicious selection, the chef bows. ”Caviar Benedict, with a maple syrup glaze, a side of cinnamon churro asparagus and a glass of,” he sighs, “le Choccy Milk.”

“Aw perfect!” Leo waves off the tired chef.  It’s not long after he’s finally given a good pot of tea and he’s leaning back in his seat. He has two attendants giving him a manicure, with a third applying his make-up and a fourth  lifting his tea to his mouth while a fifth one is leaning precariously around everyone else to try cut his food for him. “Taki!” he snaps to the octopus servant, “I have a headache so clear my schedule.”

‘I-oh-uh.” Taki let out a tremble. “My Prince what about your Aetherwave show? You told your fans you would take a dive into a pool of diamonds today.”

Leo scoffed. “And I told you my diamonds are dirty, throw them out and buy me new ones,” he says, turning his head towards an attendant who snapped his fan open and began to fan him off, “Did you replace my ring yet?”

“You mean the one of a kind diamond sapphire ring made for you by the master craftsman Jair-Red? I-I was trying to tell you that he recently passed-“

The Prince snaps his head in Taki’s direction with such intensity the octopus squeaks out in fear “Then get the necromancer and tell her to make him make me a new one.” He thought for a moment to make sure he had said that right. “And make sure this one is clean. Unlike that last one,” he scoffs as he remembers how disgusted he was when he found that smudge on his seventy third favorite ring. So disgusted in fact he had wasted no time in yanking it off and throwing it out the nearest window.

“Um, yes my Prince, I’m sure NecroNancy won’t mind coming into work on her birthday.” Ending in a tone that implied NecroNancy would not only mind coming into work but would also be very cross about it.

Leo let out a loud scoff, his throat was actually starting to hurt from making that noise so much “That’s not my problem is it!?” he demands as though daring Taki to imply otherwise.

“Yes, right, sorry My Prince.” Taki moves down his list. “Um, that was all you really had. Other than your concert tonight-“

Leo levels the octopus with a angry look, waving off the attendant who had just finished his eyeliner. “ I just told you cancel everything.”

“No-now I would your majesty.” Taki avoids his burning yellow eyes by looking at his paper, “Your mother was the one who requested the concert. And-“ the octopus gulps,” I do not think you want to disappoint her, do you?”

Leo’s hand bumps lightly against his teacup. Though barely noticeable to anyone else, Leo was painfully aware of his mistake. He flexes his trembling hand before regaining his composure, “Well if Mummy wants it then who am I to say no. I don’t suppose she’ll be at this one either?” he asks.

“No, My Prince, I'm sorry.”

Leo hides his disappointment by inspecting his new manicure, looking for a flaw to point out. Unfortunately, they were done to perfection. With a surge of irritation, he claps his hands together. “Leave me be!” he commands, “Go get my preparations ready.”

The staff bowed as they left, bumping into each-other as they hurried away to do their assigned tasks. When they were gone from sight, Leo sighed and leaned back as much as he could in his high back seat with a cup of tea in his hand before drinking from it.

He had gone three years without seeing his mother

What was another three to her?

                                                               (#)(#)\/(#)(#)

Leo spent the rest of the day in preparation for his concert relaxing in a gold water bath which took all the tension out of his body. Investing all that money to invent gold water was the best small fortune he had ever spent, (even if it was highly toxic to drink). A day of pampering and relaxation nearly killed off his sour mood. But before he knew it, while being fed diamond-grade gold grapes, Taki was reminding him of his recital.

He knew his mother had probably already picked out a recital outfit for him, but until then at least  he had a choice in what he would wear to the event. And for him it was his favorite aqua formal coat over a his white button up shirt and two toned pants with spats. He needed help from Jabot to put on his ruffle tie and pendant but other then that he was fine. The attendants loaded up any excess jewelry he would need between the recital and the parties afterwards.

Unfortunately, the platinum diamond carriage was being re-diamonded so he was stuck with the gold diamond studded carriage. He tapped his foot boredly  before flipping out his mystic mirror, twist a flash, he knew it was connected to the Aetherwave, which was at its strongest at the castles. “Hello my fibbly fabulous subjects, it’s your beloved and beautiful Prince, Leonardo Snuggly Wuggly the Twenty-Fifth, here to tell you of an upcoming recital featuring,” Leo made sure to tilt his head to catch the mystic sun on his cheek, “Yours truly, I hope you can all make it, though I doubt it. I’ll be sure to pay someone to describe it in full detail when I return.” Leo blew a kiss at the mirror before hanging up.

“Um,” Taki tapped his tentacles together. “My prince, please we talked about you broadcasting just before you leave. It's very dangerous you don’t want your enemies –“

Leo squeezes his eyes shut snapping his fan shut with such intensity that it interrupts Taki with a small squeak as though he understood how close he was to getting on the Princes last nerve. Leo turns to Taki with a large smile. “Taki, Taki, it’s Taki right? I’ve known you foorrrr…” Leo trails off in a way that leads to Taki to add, “E-ever since Big Mama brought you home.” His nervous face half hidden behind his clipboard as though it could somehow protect him.

“Right, right. A while, and maybe in this time I may have made you feel.” Leo danced his fan as though trying to conjure the word he was thinking of, “Comfortable? So as a Pirnce, it's my job to remind you.” He taps his fan on Taki’s forehead, “What does it mean to be a prince?”

“It-it means you’re one of a kind.” Taki stutters, “a a gift.” Leo gestures for him to continue, “a superbly burbly light from the stars.”

“That’s RIGHT Taki, very good.” Leo clapped his hands like one would clap at a dog on its hind legs, “I’m a a gift, you’re lucky enough to be able to be graced in my presence every day. And you.” Again, Leo’s fan taps him between the eyes, this time with enough force to make Taki step back with a tremble, “Well, there are millions like you. So, while I'm irreplaceable, that means there are millions of yokai who could do your job in your sleep, so you are….” Leo again trails off, gesturing for him to continue. Taki’s eyes filled with a sadness that Leo barely notices, as the octopus lowered his tear-filled eyes, “replaceable.”

“Very good Taki! Such a smart man!” with a final tap of his fan on Taki’s head, Leo climbed up into the carriage, a guard pulled the door open for him. He gave finger guns to the guards who sat in the drivers spot and on the back. Leo was about to swing in when he saw a massive brown dog sitting across from his would be spot.  Ugh,” he groaned, “Gus what are you doing?”

“Heya Prince!” Gus said happily, either oblivious to Leo’s disgust or just not caring. “Big Queen sent me here as extra muscle but you’re cool with that, right bro? Course you are!” The dog tore open a tin of bone shaped cookies he had brought along and began to tear into them without any dignity or manners. Leo scrunched up his beak before pulling himself in. Snapping open his fan to try and get the smell of “peasant” off him.

It wasn’t his fault they were all poor.

                                                                (#)(#)\/(#)(#)

Thanks to the best magic available the inside of the carriage kept the interior at a perfect temperature, judging by the shivering peasants working out in the fields, but thankfully that’s what curtains were for. Leo spent most of the journey looking through the dance recital choreography his mother had picked out for him. Why she bothered to do that he didn’t know. Tapping his foot in rhythm and trying to visualize what illusion would go best with the moves. He’d have a little time to practice before the event but he often did his best work on the fly. So eventually he gave up. At that point there was a heavy shadow against the curtain telling him they were passing a forest now. Leo was half asleep when the smooth ride was interrupted by a jarring hit and they came to a stop. He grabs the door to keep from flying forward as his anger swells back. “What is the glimbering meaning of this?!” he demands scooting towards the window. ”I swear if you make me late I'm throwing you all into the Battle-“  he goes to throw the curtain open when suddenly something heavy slams against the door. Leo drew back in shock as the carriage rocks heavily. He grabs at the framework to keep from falling on the ground. Before he could say anything, Gus was scrambling for the door. ”Don’t worry, your highness!  I’ll protect-“ But a moment later the door was thrown open and his bodyguard suddenly was yanked from view and thrown aside.

A cry of surprise escapes Leo, he scrambles for the door he was presses against and after a few frantic seconds manages to get the door open and fall out the other side just as he felt a hand grab at the back of his shirt. The prince rolls on the ground for a moment, surrounded by the sounds of combat and shouts. The neat clean purple guard of the Matriatch locked in a struggle against several larger dirty looking thugs that Leo could only assume were bandits when one of them turns and points at him, “There’s the Prince!”

No!

Kidnappers.

For a moment Leo hoped they were referring to another devilishly handsome prince when all eyes fell on him. Leo looks to his fallen guards in hopes that are just pretending to be horribly injured but judging by the pained groan of one of them lets out when one of the kidnappers steps over him he knows it’s a pipe dream. “Thanks for the Aetherwave video, kid,” one of the bandits with a crooked jaw says. “We had just about given up on getting you before you posted that. Now how about you be a good boy and don’t put up a fight.”

Leo would like to think he would have been brave if he had ever been in a life or death situation, but his trembling body betrays that dream as well.  But if he knows how to do anything, its talk. He musters a chuckle that he hopes is more humor then fear. ”Really? You geniuses thought coming after me was a good idea?” He puts on a wide grin as easy as a mask, “I am Prince Leonardo Snuggly Wubbly Baby the Twenty-fifth and I –“

“Um.” One of the bands looks off to his friends in confusion. “Wait that’s your name? For real? That’s just tragic.”

Despite himself, when the bandits start off laughing (he’s even sure he can hear one of the guards chuckling weakly into the ground) he blushes angrily, “Excuse me, you are criminals! I don’t except any of you to crimdididly criminals to understand a name of high society. Or someone of my power.” He snaps his fan out hard which suddenly fills the air with bright sparks with such intensity one of the bandits stumbles back in shock. He couldn’t help but feel satisfied at their awe and fear. “I am a master Mystician. I have trained with warlocks and wizards whose very power could turn the world inside out.  And you honestly think you have any chance of challenging me!?” He threw his free hand upward as a light explodes from his fingertips licking the air like a mighty firework that makes the bandits stumble back in shock in order not to be touched by the magic.

They are so enamored by the display, it takes them a moment to notice that Leo is, in fact, running away as fast as he can in a manner that not only raised the question if he had ever run a day in his life or even walked (like a deer that not only just realized they had legs but were on backwards).

Leo’s hands fumble for his panic broach at his throat while looking at the bandits who were just noticing his disappearance when his graceful toe caught on a large root and sent him hard onto the ground. The broach flying from his fingertips and sinking into a mud puddle. “Who put all this nature here?!” he shrieks in panic. He can already hear the bandits running after him, Leo hurries to his feet and turns towards where he had come from. Despite his panic he summons bright silver lights to his finger tips that he swipes through the air, creating a crystal web across the trees in the path. But not wanting to wait to see how long they would last Leo ran again, before he hears the crystal shatter behind him and sends. Before he can react a rock hits him hard in the shell, knocking him forward snd rolling across the hard ground, his only saving grace was the hard tree in front of him that stops him but sends pain shooting down his shoulder, causing him to cry out and hold the injured appendage. He turns to press his shell against the tree as the bandits are now far too close to his liking.

“You know what, your highness?” The square chinned bandit says. “That was a good try. Probably not the best escape attempt I’ve ever seen but definately the funniest.” The other bandits chuckle around him as he raises up the muddy remains of Leo’s Panic Pendant. “Maybe if you were actually as great as you think you are, then you might have stood a chance.”  His rough hands crushes Leo’s only hope before dropping the pieces to the ground and stepping froward, reaching towards him with the same sinfully dirty hand.

Leo turns his head away, anything to spare him the sight of the hand coming closer to grabbing him-

Something whistles through the air followed by the sound of impact and something hitting the ground hard.  Leo lowers his arm in time to see something jump over his head and land hard against the bandit in front of him with both feet, sending the Yokai flying. The interloper ducks underneath a bandit directly to his front that tries to punch him and plants his staff hard in the ground, vaulting over and sending a bandit flying back into a tree. The interloper swung his staff up into a defensive position. The impenetrable shadow of his raised dark plum hood stole his features from Leo sending a shiver down his shell , but he could assume that when he jabbed his staff at the  bandits it was a warning to go on. One of the bandits go to grab the leader when the interloper aims his staff at the unconscious bandit leader. Before he uses his toe to kick his money pouch up into his hands, before nodding at him. The bandits grab their leader by the ankles and run off into the forest after his friends.  After that, the interloper opened up the drawstring pouch and began to poke around inside.

It took Leo a moment to realize his life was no longer in danger, and that relief was swapped by a rage, “What took you so long?! I thought that Uncles Rangers were the best warriors in the kingdom,” he snaps. The interloper head tipped in his direction for a moment before going back to count the money in his bag. It takes Leo a moment to realize he’s being ignored and swells up his chest as he stomps in the interloper’s direction, “Don’t you ignore me! I thought I was dimbly done for!!! I am the Prince; my safety is your only priority.”

For the first time since he arrived, the interloper looked fully in his direction, his face cast in shadow by   his hood as though finally acknowledging his presence. He almost seems frozen at the sight of him, a fact Leo took to mean he understood his failings. “Thats right, when we get back to the castle I'm going to make sure you are thrown in a dungeon-“ Leo didn’t have a chance to finish his threat before the hooked staff appeared again and caught him around the ankle.

The moment his head hit the ground his world went black.

                                                              (#)(#)\/(#)(#)

It feels like a life time before Leo opens his eyes again and when he does he’s welcomed by a splitting headache. He instinctually tries to rub his head only to find his arms have been bound with his wrists behind him. Not painfully but it is enough to make him glare at the figure sitting against a tree several feet in font of him. Now Leo can see this figure lacks the fine, if plain, tunic of a Ranger. He’s wearing poor peasant clothing that seems to hang off him, wrapped in a dark plum cloak, the only indication of his skin came from his bare two-toed green feet and fingerless gloves. He’s watching Leo from his spot with his arms over his chest. If Leo hadn’t known better, he would have thought that he had fallen asleep. Except, even though Leo can't see his face, he feel his eyes on him which only adds to his anger and irruption. He can’t actually tell how much time has passed only that they are not in the same clearing as they had been a moment ago but a more secluded spot, where the mushroom trees where much closer together.  “Excuse me?!” he snaps. ”What is the meaning of this?!” he demands. “You're not a ranger, are you?! You’re just some- some, weirdo living in the woods huh?!? Huh!? Do you want a ransom too!!??” he demands. A part of him is almost desperate for a response at his point.

“I don’t like to waste my words.”

Leo blinks. He had thought the figure might have been close to his age, but to hear his actual voice still shocks him. The thief falls silent again, drinking from a tin cup that smells like cheap old coffee that Leo can smell from here.  The thief stands up and-spins his staff around his hand again lazily. “The truth is, I haven’t decided what to do with you yet. Ransoming you out won't do me any good, I'd live the rest of my life with a target on my back. Which isn’t ideal. I could rob you I guess, but I'm not sure I want it brother myself with stuff that smells so flowery. But that’s if I wanted to be professional” The thief dumps his cup out by his side. “I could just take everything you have and dump you in the deepest darkest part to the woods.“

At first Leo wonders if it's possible to have a heart attack from fear alone.  But at the moment his heart seems determined to try. Kidnappers were one thing; he had been warned about them his whole life. But this person didn’t sound like they were all too interested int that. This sounded more like—

Leo blinks, his eyes going to the hooked staff that hasn’t left the thief’s side. Though the twisting hooked wood is nothing special to him, other than a dark gray handle at the end that seemed to summon the weapon, he sees a dark crystal hovering inside the hooked circle at the tip. The purple with a hint of pink is achingly familiar and the moment he recognizes he had owned it he can't’ help but let out a full-on laugh. It brings him no small amount of satisfaction to see the Thief look in his direction again. “I get it, you’re one of the orphans Mummy threw out before me,” he sneers. “Awwww you poor thing. Jealous that Mummy saw you for the worthless unlovable, pieces of trash you are? Is that it, little boy-“

The figure is in front of him in half a blink, lifting him up by the front and slamming him hard into the tree behind with such speed that Leo cries out in panic as dark pink eyes burn into him with such intensity Leo could feel the red hot rage about to be unleashed on him, “You know, you’re right?” the Thief says in a way that almost makes Leo think he’s sneering, “Since i’m  a no one.” He twists the shirt up tighter in his hands, “Then I got nothing to lose-“

Before Leo could see his life flash before his eyes, there's a flash of red energy and the Thief jumps away in in time to avoid a giant fist red of energy swiping at him. In the time it takes Leo to hit the ground, the Thief summersaults underneath another giant hand and snatches up his hooked staff and roll to his feet. A giant bulking figure jumps out from the tree line, sliding across the ground before coming to a stop.

“Comet Farts!” the Thief gasps.

Not that Leo could blame him, the figure now standing between him and the Thief was more muscular then any of his guards, a large snagle tooth hanging from he mouth and  with a thick  that would put a tree to shame, Leo had seen snapping turtles before but none that big. He was wrapped in a black cloak and grey traveling gear, his head is marked off by a red bandana that’s fixated on the Thief.  “In the name of Captain Jupiter James Guild, you are under-arrest for kidnapping and grand larceny and-“ The giant snapping turtle looks to his hand, Leo could just see a list of crimes the bounty hunter hand written up his arm, “And-and just a lot of other things-“ but the bandit had already turned and fled into the forest, “HEY!” The turtle shouts, “No, you're under arrest! That means stop running!” the giant runs after him, before calling, ”Mikey make sure the Prince is ok.”

“Don’t just lea-“ There’s a rustling to Leo’s right that makes him shriek out in surprise before, what could only be described as, another turtle slightly younger than himself pokes his head out to the bushes, “Don’t worry your highness! I’m a fan! Me and Raph are here to rescue you!” before climbing out of the bushes, revealing his dirty mud-covered body and old patchwork orange clothes.

Leo shrieks again.

This time for different reasons.

“No don’t you dare touch me! You’re filthy and you smell like a bird-“ There's another crashing sound, the thief almost crashes into Leo (who gave out his, what felt like, hundredth shriek and leapt out of the way.) The Thief hits the mushroom tree before falling into a crouch position. When he drags his hand across his face, Leo could see blood stain his sleeve.

The one who had called himself Raph stepped out of the forest, cracking his neck from side to side. “I’m sorry I hit you. I don’t want to fight some kid,” he starts, “If you turn yourself in maybe they’ll go easy on you-“

The Thief visibly grips his staff tighter, he reaches into his pocket and tosses a small brown bundle in the air that he smacks with his staff in Raph’s face which explodes into red dust. The bounty hunter cries out as he stumbled back, scrubbing at his face with his forearm before the Thief was on him jumping up and planting his feet hard against him like he had before with the bandit. Raph, though blinded, twists away and brings his elbow up to knock the Thief hard in the head.

The impact makes the Thief hit the ground before Raph’s foot found its place on his arm that held the hooked staff. The Thief squirmed trying to free him arm, “I’m trying to help you here. I was trained by the greatest hero of the Hidden-“

The hooked staff in the Thief’s trapped hand suddenly flashes and shrinks into the handle, with a limited room the Thief manages to toss it his other hand where it reforms and he swings hard, knocking Raph in the face.  The Thief rocks back to his feet. His closed stance shifting to a wide one as he swings his staff around, Raph’s arms came up and crossed over his face as red energy covers him again flaring under the hits as the Thief spins around and rains a few smacks on his sides before swinging his leg up with a side kick to the stomach. Blindly, Raph swings his arm around and knocks him hard in the head.

The Thief flew back hard against a mushroom tree, his hood fallen back to reveal a dark jade green complexion wrapped in a purple bandana, blood running from where his nose would be as he snarled angrily at the Bounty Hunter before jumping at him again.

The turtle that had been called Mikey let out a small whine, “Raph, the Prince won't let me untie him because he thinks I smell.”

Raph had somehow pinned the Thief around his chest, but judging by the strained look on his face he wasn’t going to keep it for long as the two struggle around. ”Don’t distract me, I'm working,” before pausing “And when was the last time you had a bath that wasn’t just you standing in the rain?”

Mikey opened his mouth to respond before lifting his arm and smelling his armpit, judging by the grimace on his face he had just answered his own question. Leo squirmed away from the filthy turtle, in fact he was so determined to get away from the filthy turtle that he didn’t see the Thief slam his head back against Raph’s face, forcing the bounty hunter to drop him and the two opposite turtles collapsing against the other.

Then.

A breath.

The one known as Raph ran forward with his hand held out probably to pull the Thief off him, but as he took a step closer a small wave pulsed from him. Like a gust of wind, ceasing the chaos and shouting and bringing silence. An invisible force catches him by the front of the chest and pulls him upward into the air, causing him to cry out in panic. He looks around and sees the same thing happening to those around them. Even the scattered leaves and stones are caught in the air as though reality in that moment had taken a break. Each of them caught in some sort of invisible suspension.  A heat started at the back of Leo’s eyes and burned forward like an inferno. He squeezes his eyes shut in order to try and stop it but his eyelids are forced open, revealing golden eyes with white flecks radiating from his eyes as the world suddenly turned white. He lashes his arms and legs out around him stupidly to try and grab something when he notices a person standing in front of him, outlined in a green flame with yellow eyes staring right at him, though there aren’t any real characteristics, Leo can tell it’s a human of sorts with a large pompadour. It reaches up to touch him but he can't’ help but flinch away, whether out of fear the fire would burn him or the stranger itself he doesn’t know. But then the figure tilts his head to the side as though saying ‘I understand’.

Before Leo could say anything, he’s not even sure he could in this state, the figure suddenly twists into itself and takes the shape of a five-petal lotus flower before burning away. Then he hears a man's voice behind him, as though something is whispering to him

“Come find me.”

As quick as it all starts, it ends. Leo hits the ground hard and gasps loudly, rubbing at his tear-filled eyes as he looks around him. Too shocked to yell, but he can tell he’s not the only one confused. Raph had already pulled himself up next to Mikey to check on him, who’s now rubbing ineffectively at  eyes streaming with tears. The Thief is several steps away, as though eh had thrown himself as far them as possible, and is checking his trembling hands as though making sure they weren’t about to explode on him. But after a few glances at each other, as though reassuring themselves they had all experienced the same thing. They had one question for each other:

“Who are you?”

Part 2=>>

[jadethest0ne]

When the Moon meets the Morning, Chapter 1 - Fire under the Blood Moon

Summary:  Raphael is going on missions with Captain Jupiter as he always does when he meets an orange-wearing turtle yokai who feels oddly familiar.

Word Count: 2154

Ratings/Warnings: General Audiences; some minor harrowing moments, but mostly fluff, emotional overload, emotional manipulation, self-deprecation

Notes: A longer chapter this time! This was the first thing I wrote for this story. I do enjoy starting out with some action! Big thanks to @undercoverwizardninjaturtle, @fraymotiif, and @frasierverse for helping me workshop this.

Read on AO3 For the RotTMNT Fantasy AU

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The thing about the Unforgiving North was that despite its reputation for being an icy snowscape it wasn't always cold and unforgiving. Sure the summers were maybe only a few weeks long and their spring was just an extended period of slush and snowmelt, but there was a time in the fall where the temperature was okay and not everything was covered in snow. Unfortunately, it was also a time where there was barely any rain either, and all the dry, dead leaves made all too good kindling for causing forest fires, much like the one that Raph had found himself in the middle of combating at the moment.

James Jupiter, the famed heroic bounty hunter, had gotten the call that the nearby forest had caught on fire due to some folks using mushroom fires irresponsibly. It was threatening the neighboring town of Bedu, as well as a group of small woodcutter huts and cabins that were within the forest's borders. As usual it was up to Captain Jupiter, his trusty sidekick Red Fox, and his protege, Raphael the “Red Angel of Preventing Harm” to save the day. Or the night rather.

Raph can feel his power swelling with the rise of the moon as he forms large red projections of his arms down a path among the trees blocking the flames to allow a family from one of the huts to pass through. Raph hears some screams behind him. He sees the Captain at the edge of the forest patiently directing everyone to safety with a confident smirk. The entire night he had been there greeting everyone that Raphael and Red Fox had brought out of the flames and giving them a strong guiding hand, letting them know that everything is going to be okay. Raph thinks wistfully for a moment what it must be like to have that confidence. He could use some of that right about now. He waits until he sees the family make it past the flames to dispel his corporeal magic into a smaller shield around himself. The heat is strong and he wishes he doesn't have his heavy cloak on him, but his shielding spell is at least enough to keep the fire at bay.

He turns towards where he heard the screams. He sees a child in a clearing wreathed with flames looking scared, with desperate eyes scanning the canopies. They look to be like some sort of squirrel yokai. He rushes over, batting away the flames with his magical aura formed into large hands as he goes.

When he reaches the child he imagines how the Captain would act in this situation and he puts on his most heroic face and states in his most heroic voice, "Don't worry, the Red Angel of Preventing Harm is here to save you!" The child stops crying momentarily and gives him a look of confusion. Raph falters. "Er, along with Captain James Jupiter..." That last part seems to make the child perk up and they manage a weak, tear-stained smile. They point a shaky finger up to the trees and say "My family is still up there!"

Raph looks up to see a literal treehouse, mostly in flames with at least half a dozen scared faces of squirrel yokai poking out. That's a lot of people, Raph thinks. It'll be hard to carry them all. But they're small, so Raph can handle it. Probably. With resolve and in a voice more confident than he feels, he calls to the family shouting above the flames, "Jump down! I will catch you!"

The yokai look at each other worriedly, so Raph lifts up his hands allowing his arm projections to expand and cupping his transparent red hands in a makeshift cushion for the family to land on. The family of, five, six, seven, Raph counts, leaps down into his waiting arms. As he lowers them to safety, he hears a cracking sound and sees the tree that the family just leapt from wobble dangerously. There's no time to wait for the family to get their bearings, so he just lifts them all up onto his broad shoulders, and grabs the child around the waist, and flings himself and the family out of the way of the collapsing tree; the rush of flames from the falling branches licking at his heels and tail as he runs. With him focusing on trying to carry the panicky family, it does not allow him much room to maneuver through the fiery forest, and his concentration on trying to avoid the flames prevents him from accessing his magic effectively. Still he does the best he can to move around the burning trees. He thinks he sees a path out, but then he hears a moan. Raph scans the forest and sees another young yokai - some sort of lizard - on the ground and looking very out of it. A nearby fallen tree branch tells him that maybe they got hit in the head. If Raph gets the family out of the forest, he may not be able to make it back to the lizard. But if he grabs the lizard, then both he and the folks he's carrying may not make it out. Raph doesn’t hesitate in his decision.

Raph rushes over to the lizard yokai, and, having no hands left to carry him, bends down and grasps a fold of his clothing in his teeth. Sometimes it's handy to have the strong jaws of a snapping turtle. There’s some more creaking from above and several large limbs from the trees fall down towards Raph and the people he’s carrying. There’s no time to dodge out of the way, and with so many people, he doesn’t think he can. So Raph stands his ground. His eyes darken over, and where his iris and pupil would normally be the shape of a blood-red moon appears, glowing even brighter than the fire surrounding him. He takes a deep breath, and wills his magic form around him. A red projection, mimicking his body’s shape and features, grows from him and surrounds both himself and the yokai he is protecting. Raph grunts as he forces the magic to hold as the blazing branches glance off of it. When the barrage of burning wood stops, Raph shakes off any errant cinders and dissipates his large red form.

He whirls around to try to get back to the path to safety but he can no longer see it. Everything is in flames now and the heat is really starting to get to him. The smoke is stinging his eyes, and he takes some heavy breaths through his nose, trying not to choke on the hot air or on his own rising anxiety. What would the Captain do in this situation? Would someone like him let a stupid fire stop him? Would he be disappointed at Raph for the tears threatening to spill over right now? They're from the smoke, not fear, Raph tells himself, of course, but his mind still conjures that disappointed look of the Captain in his brain. Raph has to remind himself to not bite down hard on the fabric that is in his mouth keeping the lizard yokai in place.

That's when he sees a flash of green through the blaze.

There's a section within the maelstrom of fire that contains no flames. A pocket of darker coolness that is inhabited by a freckle-faced yokai. He looks to be about Raph's age, maybe a little younger, and definitely much smaller. But he's wearing this brilliant smile and seems to be completely unfazed by the situation he's in. The boy cups a hand over his mouth and flames seem to come from it. Anger fills Raph’s gut and he's about to shout at the yokai as he momentarily thinks that the guy is adding to his troubles. However, Raph stops when he realizes that the kid is not breathing out fire, but sucking it in.

The yokai's already round face puffs out and becomes rounder as if storing the fire in his cheeks. The yellow freckles on his face stand out on his green skin, even among the yellow flames. The boy pulls in a deep breath, extinguishing enough of the fire to allow for a path out of the forest and to safety. Raph looks at the boy in wonder for just a second as he looks over cheerfully at him and winks. A sense of familiarity comes over Raph as he looks at the yokai. He's not sure why, but Raph is sure that he's a turtle yokai despite his orange clothes covering up where his shell would be. The smaller turtle yokai gives an "after you" gesture at Raph which snaps him out of his thoughts, and he quickly barrels through the burnt, but no longer flaming, woods.

He makes it out to where Captain Jupiter is still directing folks to safety. Once in the clear, Raph heaves a huge sigh of relief and lowers his load to the ground. The family of squirrel yokai scramble off of him and quickly go over to the Captain, excited to meet the famed hero. Captain Jupiter soaks in the praise and pats the heads of the younger yokai as he sends them on their way. Man, the Captain is so cool, just remaining calm this whole time, Raph thinks. He doesn’t even look like he’s got a burn on him - not even singed clothing! That’s in direct contrast to Raph’s soot stained clothes, and dirty face and claws, which he now feels somewhat self-conscious about as the Captain looks over to him.

The Captain gives Raph a toothy grin. "What have you got there, my boy," he says, smile fading into a grimace, "...in your teeth?”

Raph raises his brow realizing he’s still carrying the lizard yokai. He opens his mouth and gently places the young yokai in his arms, taking care to cradle his injured head. "Oh, um," Raph starts nervously. The Captain didn't like it when he used his more turtle-y features. "I, uh, ran out of arms to carry people with," he explains.

The Captain gives a discouraging look. “Remember, lad, ‘act like a beast, become a beast,’” he says tapping at his own teeth where Raph’s snaggletooth would be. He waves over his sidekick that Raph only just noticed was there, "Better let Red Fox take him then. Don't want you injuring him further, after all."

"Ah yeah," Raph says, wilting a bit as he lowers the lizard guy down to the sweet-faced red panda yokai in question. She’s also covered in no small amount of soot, and he can see some of her normally tidy auburn fur is lightly singed.

Red Fox looks up to him in concern and asks in her usual motherly tone, "Are you hurt?" She sniffs the air around him as if trying to discern his state by smell, causing the pink scar above her nose to crinkle and stand out behind the soot dusting her face.

Raph gives what he hopes is an encouraging smile and says, "Yeah, I'm fine." He gestures behind him to where he last saw the turtle yokai, saying, "It was really thanks to--" but he cuts himself off when he sees that no one is there. "Where did he go?" Raph asks himself.

There was a turtle yokai there, wasn't there? The smoke and fire hadn’t messed with his brain that much, had they? His thoughts are interrupted when he hears the Captain give his usual rundown of the situation. "Well that seems to be everybody, and it even seems as though the fire is dying down now, so that is some luck. All families are accounted for thanks to my steady guidance. Red Fox did well to listen to my commands, too. But kid, please do not rush off into the woods recklessly again, it may be too much to handle for a protege like yourself."

Raph’s shoulders sag under the Captain’s criticisms, but gives a "Yessir" all the same.

The Captain turns away to gather the victims of the fire to him, gaining statements and directing them to the necessary healing houses if need be. Raph watches on, and not for the first time tries to imagine what it's like to have such a leaderly tone that folks automatically respect.

He feels a warm hand placed on his own and he looks down to see Red Fox giving him a proud grin, "You did great out there, Raphael."

A smile spreads on Raph's face at her words and she gives a wink as she walks away with the lizard yokai in her arms.

Raph looks back at the once blazing forest, now mellowed out to a light flicker, and wonders what happened to the yokai that gave him a similarly kind wink and why he felt like he'd met the guy before…

<--previous   ///   next-->

[k4nill]

ROTTMNT: Human AU, some design HCs and random HC

@bootyyshaker9000 This is so long i'm so sorry i just gonna make a post about it i don't wanna flow your dms or anything, so I wrote this down in paper and in spanish so forgive me if my english is shitty and it took so damn long, btw HI!!!~ How you doing honey?

My Heart Ache a Lot (cuzhessopreciousicantbrah)

~ My son Mikey I can't let anybody hurt you. (Btw, Leon call him Miguelito). He struggles a little with puberty, mostly with ocasional acne. His brothers constantly remind him of being careful to not get scars from pinching the pimples obsessively.

~ MIXED BRAH U CANT' TELL ME OTHER WISE, 1/2 cups of african-american and 1/2 cups of latino spice and PUFF yOU GOT CINNAMON ROLL THAT COULD ACTUALLY KILL YOU.

~ Cocoa skin (with that yellow undertone, you know?). Thin hair, curly, natural and the most bouncy-est(?) hair, a little above the chin lenght, tied up in a bun when he's busy making art.

~ Button nose, surrounded by some freckles. With really big, almond eyes. His face gets pinkish when it's to damn hot, he's doing to much work or is REALLY angry.

~ I think I gotta bring up how nice his smile is, he got that smile, that shows up just his upper teeth row, the upper lip disappears and it goes way up his cheeks and then it sinks in his dimples. Art.

~ Mikey ain't that young but his height, complexion and even facial features makes him look a lot younger in comparison to his brothers, he could be like 25 and ppl would still think he's in highschool, never aging ppl.

~Had this beautiful dreads, with the tips colored differently once in a while. Now he's growing his hair to have larger dreads, so he can paint em a different color each and have em in high up-do, like a rubberband ball.

~ Mikey would wear every fucking color, get the fuck away with toxic masculinity p l e a s e. Fits anything 10/10. But loves sports clothing (Matching ones are the BEST) he find's it refreshing and really comfy since Miguel is really active, so if he's needs to go usain bolt he GOES OFF and you can imagine sneakers don't last with him. Probably, every single piece of clothing he owns has at least a minor stain from some sort of paint.

~Wears headbands, sometimes really neat designs and then straight out "what the hell is this vomit stain garbage Mikey?" (from Donnie, mostly).

~ Has fake piercings. He's got several in his ears. He wants to have em for real, older brothers just keep telling him that "when he gets older".

Plus: We all know how the turtles are sneaky sneaky, tricky tricky and rad skillyz skillyz being ninjas but in this human AU his brothers got nothing on him like he's flexible as hell, he comes down the stairs like the exorcist bitch or that other bitch on the ring and scares the shit out of Leon and Raph, can touch his calfs with his neck that kind of stuff. And he doesn't run, he travels back to 1955 to save Marty McFly ass.

Leonardo DABinci

~ Not so long ago I made a post about how Leon is a Latino, quote:

"I can clearly see how Leon is totally a Latino. Like: thick wavy hair, with really small monolid eyes, and medium light skin (latinos know what the hell i'm talking about, those kids that get told they have "ojos de chinito" and rock the neapolitan tanning: caramel where the sunlight hits, milky way where it doesn't and pink when it's too much sun for the day) and then Donnie is this asian™ bean, so, sometimes they are mistaken as blood related brothers (Mostly cuz the eyez) and the stripes are the tanning y'all."

~ In addition, recently someone WOKE™ me up and reveled to me as in a prophecy, that Leon is Half-Chilenian, Half-Argentinian.

~ TBH yall, i just want my boy to do his thing and do them Fornite dances while some dope ass cumbias are playing, this is straight up my dream for real.

~Leon got those damn thick eyebrows more than Raph, plucks em to give em shape.

~Has a lot of scars. Leon is very active as Miguel but he is a troublemaker. Got several scars from fights: face, knees, knuckles, arms, legs. And that one time he came running to get his juice, slipped and smashed into the stove glass.

~Has wavy thick hair, keeps the top messy and fluffy and the rest shorter, undercut typo.

~LEON. USES. GLASSES. Period. But don't use em regulary, mainly cuz he's so active and sometimes clumsy and would rather not buy glasses everytime he goes out.

(Donnie, probably): "Leon, why don't you use your glasses? You are making your eyes even smaller trying to read that sign"

(Dumbo): "No, no! que dices weon? I only need the glasses when i'm reading!"

~Loves stripes in his clothing. In any shape and thickness.

~Low-key uses Donnie button up shirts because he does think Donnie looks so well in em, but he's a little more broad than him (Thicc bacc, bicc arms) so he had tear some up, or pop a button or too.

~Guy who would wear anything and don't give a shit if he doesn't have a defined style. One day he's with that graphic tee, flashy bermudas and some sandals and the other day using some jeans, saggy big sweater, a beret and some fine boots.

~ Loves boots more than sneakers. Got good traction with em. But no one can replace las CHANCLAS i'm telling you, he's so comfortable flipping & flopping.

~ He's hairy. Really hairy. Don't shave, except the faice. He's got that baby face and the trace of where the beard could be. It ain't that thick sandpaper beard aftershave tho, Raph taught him the tricks to the silk road.

~Them sideburns tho, neAT-O.

~He ain't got former training, just some random stuff he's learned from Donnie and Raph. Nontheless, he's the trickster and can go dirty on fighting just to save his ass. But sometimes, his big mouth saves his dumb ass from trouble. (2/100 times, the other 98 times it makes it worse)

~Plus: He's into parkour a lot. Takes Mikey out so he can tag some walls uphigh. These trips are the reason he gets in fights more than his other brothers, he's gotta stick out for his brother in case shit goes down, but mostly because he's a loudmouth and sometimes he deserves it cuz he starts the fire tbh.

The thing goes RAP - PHA - PHA

~ Raph, my soft boy. He still BIG™, ain't ripped like a physiculturist, gotta admit, abs are in fact chocolate abs but got a chunky yet funky tone to it. Big ass arms, to strong to carry my depression and smash all my worries.

~ Obviously African-American, I just imagine this warm undertone to his skin. Thick eyebrows (plucks out his unibrow, and nothing more, that natural angled eyebrow perfect as it is).

~ Hairy complexion (but not as hairy as Leo) to pull out a balbo beard, faded to his hair, then starts the faded high top, (not that high tho) with that cotton natural hair (raph is just my dream tbh).

~ My boy rocks denim everything. But got this particular worn off denim jacket he treats like one of his extremities. It's kinda saggy, old, several splashes of god knows what substances... But he wears it like the most precious thing, his brothers got him for his birthday, selling candy bars and other sweet goodies. Made him cry like a bitch.

~ Snaggletooth fang. I got this random HC that Raph got it in a fight with one of his brothers when he was younger. His first tooth after his decidious teeth, he was so happy, finally "maturing" in his words. In his younger years he struggled a LOT with angry issues, (mainly, as the oldest, he understood a little big more about the rejection above the city for mutants, and built up this feeling of despite).

One day, one of his brothers made him really fucking angry, they got in a physical fight, that ended with his crooked fang, but yet, Raph is BIG and he can't measure his strenght sometimes. Then, his brother is crying in pain, screaming how bad can he treat his brother, as if he didn't love them, just as the people above.

He wasn't angry cuz the teeth (cuz he showed it off, like it made him an adult already), he broke down because he was always feeling so damn angry, being the oldest and yet he was beating their younger siblings over some dumb shit and treated them like people in the surface would. Raph is challenged each day, when he sees his face in the mirror, with the tooth projecting outwards as reminder of all the rage he had to let go to protect their brothers, to make a change on his perspective and emotions, to keep their family and himself happy.

I think this mind set change was the thing that settled Raph as a leader. He got stronger, not physicially, but mentally and emocionally, for the sake of his family.

This HC can be translated somehow to the Human AU but i'm not sure the origin of Raph's rage yet.

~ Would wear any shirt that has anything he likes, PLUS if it is in red. He just loves red. He's the only one obvious with their color preference. Red caps, shirts, jackets, pants and tons of sneakers.

~ Likes jeans but loves that kind of bermuda cut shorts and not all the way down pants. He's got some C A L F S with capitals.

~ Luckily, he does wear matching socks. (We can't see Don's most of the time but Raph shows more leg so).

~Wrist wrist wrist wrist wrist wrist. Loves wrist accesories and probably would wrap around anything on his wrist.

~He's got that classic™ Rock Lee from Naruto bandages from training and work out and sometimes he's just to tired to take off the shin pads.

~Don't show em much but got some big ass brass knuckles in his pockets in case someone messes the fuck up with his brothers. (He would easily let go if it was just him, he's a master of templance, but be warned: not with his family)

Plus: Got one tatto, in his back, below the neck, this celtic rune (we know that celtic runes have several meanings, so he took one with various that would fit him) a Gebo, that can mean partnership, generosity and sacrifice.

DONNA TELL EM

~ For starts, Donnie is my asian bean. Creamy pale skin, monolid eyes, with that puffy under eyelid, of course noticeable dark circles, but he got that EYESMILE BOI. (You know that people who kept straight face but the eyes are just screaming happiness??? That kind of eyesmile)

~ Hair black, thin, straight cut (his hair is kinda wavy) at his shoulder's lenght, got that fade styling in the back tho, usually wrapped in a high ponytail/bun. (Mikey loves to mess with his hair).

~ He's got that thin eyebrow hair, so, he fills em up to make them thicker, so gives him more of an assertive feature. (Also he is jealous of Leo and Raph eyebrows, nontheless edge so sharp to cut a bitch) Got that hairless complexion so not much about facial hair.

~ Obviously keeps them THIGHS™. (So far, to me their complexion on the show is the same as in the human AU so... ) Jeans were invented to the sole purpose to fit Donnie so well.

~To wear, jeans are a go to, but damn sweatpants comfy AF. Big old sweatshirts, swearters and hoodies. Underneat, digs button shirts, short or long, never with flashy prints, yet some minor deco, (to him is all in the elegance....). Raph and Donnie share an interest on sneakers, so he can wear like 1 hoodie for 10 days straight but a different sneaker each.

~But wears missmatched socks like the fuck out of here BOI, looking neat and clean and you come out with this yeeyee ass bullshit.

~ Donnie hides the fact that he's riPPED under the hoodies and sweatpants often, (he's tall as shit and his brothers calling him spagethi bOI don't help much) so people make the assumption he's the weakest of his brothers. He's the only graduated on black belt on Karate and knows his shit on MMA. On his younger years he was indeed saved many times by Raph's strenght, Mikey's swiftyness and Leon's cunning. This "being the weak" complex got to his head and started training solo. His brothers are amazed of Donnie's self-improvement and he often disguises it as the "i did it so i wouldnt be the weakest, you better watch out when i supass yall" but they all know he suffered inmensely seeing his brothers hurt because of him, so if they go down he does too, to protect them.

Plus: Complementary headphones with neon designs, blasting nightcore, dubstep and DnB songs with every Donnie purchased.

BG:

In my AU, these kids grew up really poor. They learned the value of hardwork since they were really young. Like in the Teetle Universe, people see them as misfits. Especially, because they are a "patched up family" (they are not blood related) and being looked down by the economic factor, mostly.

They got some real internal issues. But, the only thing that keeps them sane is how tight their brotherhood is.

Donnie and Raph have a job and go to college. Struggle a lot with their younger siblings rebellious stage.

Leon and Mikey go to highschool and do some baked goodies or art comissions to have some sort of income. Ain't fond of school that much, real troublemakers.

April it's a freshman in college and has much more accomodated life, but somehow, she's always felt she doesn't belong to anywhere, until she meet our boys. April learns a lot of life hardships while hanging out with em.

This would be, basically the series:

April meets this guys, this is sort of a slice of life anime, with lots of comedy and fun shots, however it develops around April learning valuable lessons that will help her as an adult, about friendship, loyalty, respect, empathy and kindness, after all the things the boys are going through.

I'm not sure how am I gonna accomodate Splinter in this, but eventually I'll figure it out.

I'm not got at drawing but i'm gonna try to make some of their designs.

[this-world-of-beautiful-monsters]

YES!

Speaking as a person who grew up in an explicitly loving household, I am also perfectly comfortable with other forms of expression. In fact, it really interests me because while a lot of people talk about 2018 Donnie’s autism--which I totally get, I do--I’m autistic, and I also sort of emphasize with 2012 Raph.

I can get cranky if someone invaded my physical space, and if they did it as relentlessly as 2012 Mikey does I might crankier. I probably wouldn’t get physically aggressive, but then again, I haven’t been socialized in an environment where controlled physical violence would have been part of life--like, say, a ninja lair. 

TBH, I can empathize more with 2012 Raph’s lashing out than 2018 Donnie’s calculated attempts at control through some objectively fucked up shit. Like, it’s entertaining, but it’s hard not to acknowledge the darkness. (@50-shades-of-cloaca​ were literally just talking about that stupid collar in Discord, and the mind control, and honestly I would respect the writers more if they just made it kinky rather than whatever it was supposed to be).

And I hope this isn’t going on too much of a tangent, but I also find it interesting about how people treat 2012 Raph’s lashing out versus 2018 Raph’s. I headcanon like most versions of Raph might have some kind of mental health illness, what with the mood swings and everything, although I don’t feel comfortable throwing around diagnoses. But it’s not specifically laid out for us, so we don’t feel encouraged sympathize. 

2018, on the other hand, is very cut-and-dried. He’d got DID, or what the show presents as DID, and it’s all laid out nicely with the Mind Raph thing and how he turns into a grunting, vicious animal if he’s left alone too long which is not a super disturbing way to present mental illness it isn’t infantilizing or dehumanizing at all why do you ask. So people find it easier to understand him and to demonize Raph, and by extension the 2012 boys. 

Except for Mikey, who people seem to insist on uwuing as a delicate sunshine child even though he has won plenty of fights with his brothers. He’s honestly on more of an equal ground with them than Donnie’s brothers are with him after he breaks out the shock collars and mindfuck machines.

I think people just sort of edit the episodes where he does this out of their minds. Like, the 2012 tussling is a lot more of a running theme than the stuff Donnie does, which people can and frequently do overlook if they’re not reminded it of frequently. While simultaneously bringing up every bad thing the 2012 kids have ever done.

At the end of the day, there are some things that 2018 does do better--letting April be Black again, not basing Apritello off the worst shit romcoms have to teach us--but people seem to neglecting to respect and support those choices in favor of writing crossovers which focus on something that isn’t broken in 2012. Like, I’m automatically inclined to be distrustful of ROTTMNT with the way so many people insist on relentlessly putting it on a pedestal.

seeing all these rottmnt/2012 crossovers bash on the 2012 bros’ relationship with each other is kiiindaaa upsetting as someone who’s uncomfortable with expressing and receiving overt affection

but hey what do i know i probablyy just have all toxic unhealthy relationships where we never understand each other and share mutual trust and love *twirls hair*

the 2012 bros may not openly express their love like the rottmnt boys do, but that doesnt mean its not there. and acting like the rottmnt relationships are automatically better and the only Right standard for healthy relationships seems pretty,, juvenile and inexperienced imo. love isnt only expressed through physical affection and saying things like “i love you,” openly, and assuming there is no love in a relationship without those things is… odd.

love is not only in words or hugs. the 2012 boys can love each other just as much as the rottmnt boys without being open about it. 2012 raph, especially, loves to show affection through acts of service, physical affection, and quality time, but he doesn’t like any of this to be commented on because it makes him uncomfortable. and thats okay! he doesn’t need to express affection openly to have it be there.

just as rottmnt donnie can express love and affection outside of hugs and words, so too can the 2012 boys. they all have their own unique ways of expressing love that the others all respect and recognize, and dismissing that feels less like it’s intentional, and more like the people writing these crossovers just don’t recognize alternate forms of expression exist. which, again,, reeks of inexperience.

( also semi-related tangent speaking of donnie he literally fucking . put a shock collar on his brother like he’s a dog in an attempt to change him. and brainwashed his brothers. and frequently puts his own wants and needs over their own - which is totally fine, if it didn’t happen all the time. it’s kinda laughable to say 2012 raph is worse than rottmnt donnie honestly

siblings hit each other. okay. siblings hit each other. i need y’all to recognize this. i will power drive my little brother into the floor over the last oreo. siblings hitting each other is not abusive (TYPICALLY) because there are established boundaries both parties abide by. like i will never touch my siblings if they are in a bad mood, trying to concentrate on something, or otherwise in a bad position (like standing somewhere dangerous, by a corner etc), and i will never intentionally hurt them. if i think they are actually hurt, we stop immediately until they tell me theyre fine. roughhousing with your siblings is fun. it is bonding. its a self-esteem booster to be able to pick up ur freshman brother okay.

the 2012 bros always abide by these rules. they never hurt each other beyond what the other party can handle, and if they do, it is very clearly treated as a bad thing by them or the other brothers so they realize they went over the line, and they resolve it by the end of the episode (as is the way of formulaic kids shows).

rottmnt donnie. put a fucking shock collar on his brother. and this is funny to him. and not something he ever learns from. and totally not weirdly sexual. But 2012 raph is the bad guy? ok )

i mean. i dont know what i expect from a fandom full of chronically online children who truly dont have experience with relationships. but it just really irks me for some reason and its currently one in the morning so im feeling whiny about it.

affection outside of words and hugs exists. affection outside of words and hugs exist!! and if you know that then you know that the 2012 boys love each other so so so much, just as much as rottmnt. just because they express it differently than in sanitized queer TV shows and not overtly, so you kinda have to pick up on nuance, doesnt mean they dont love each other. let people love other people in non-overt ways!