#donnie is in charge here

[notiddygothgf]

SEX IS FREE (her)

★ pairings: nanami kento x f! reader

★ synopsis: In the search for solace, Nanami stumbles right into the arms of an exotic dancer. In the search for money, an exotic dancer finds more than she bargained for. In the heat of the moment, a contractual relationship turns into something more. (or; the one where sugar daddy!nanami is sweet on his girl)

★ c.w.: nanami being sexy asf, suggestive content, mentions of sex (more content warnings and tags)

★ a/n: HIIIIII omg so i can explain the hiatus lol.... it was totally unintentional. i wound up getting super depressed over school and then fell into a chainsaw man hyperfixation (read shameless, its an aki ff i wrote youll love it). I FINALLY PICKED THIS STORY UP AGAIN because for some reason it's been getting a lot of attention recently??? lol anyway! your comments inspired me to continue writing it (though i cant promise that i'll update quickly, i AM a full time student so #bepatientwithme).

I was salivating over Nanami in this chapter if you couldnt tell lol.... but enjoy!!! keep those comments coming! who knows, maybe i have another chapter stored away and will update a little earlier....... x

★ w.c.; 5.6k

my kinda love; chapter index

‘AND I’M BAD LIKE THE BARBIE. I’m a doll, but I still wanna party,’

“Donnie, baby, you in there?”

“Yeah!” You called back, loud enough for your coworker to hear through the door. You pressed the tube of red lipstick against your bottom lip, peering into the mirror, filling in the outline you had done in black. When you didn’t receive an immediate answer, you continued humming along to the song playing quietly from your phone. “Pink vette like I’m ready to bend. ‘Imma ten so I’m pullin a ken, likeee.”

Your coworker entered the dressing room – you were the only one there. Most of the other girls from the afternoon shift had gone home already. 

“Some dude wants to rent you,” She told you. 

“No. I don’t do private rooms,” You replied without even looking back. You knew who she was. You weren’t the biggest fan. “I’m good, Mandy.”

“He asked specifically for you,” She added. “Offered a lotta money, too. Helluva lot more than we normally charge.”

You froze up at that. Initially, your first thought was to send her off a second time. Then, you thought of her running off with your money. 

“Is he one of them greasy, sleazy old guys?” You asked. It was wild, how quickly you perked up when you heard that. “Last guy was throwin’ himself onto me. I should’ve filed a police report.”

“Oh, stop your ‘bitchin,” The girl sighed. “He’s paying 200 just to see your ass.”

If you had a tail, it would have started wagging. 

What? A girl had bills to pay. “So he is a greasy old pervert.”

“No, actually. He’s a fine, young thing. Well, not young, but younger than most of the guys we usually get back here,” She trailed off in thought. You watched her body move in the corner of the mirror. “Sexy as hell. Serious, businessman type. Tall, blond, handsome, a jawline that could cut paper,” here, she bent over, leaning over you and muttering the next words into your ear, “I could always take him off your hands, y’know.”

“As if,” You replied. Spinning the chair back around, you got up. “Better not be expecting nothing extravagant. I’m considering this overtime.”

With a deep breath, standing in front of the cherry red door, your heart began to pound against you chest. It was some strange mixture of nerves and excitement you felt as you raised your hand to knock. 

Here goes nothing. You reached for the doorknob and entered the private room, turning back only to lock it behind you. 

“Special delivery!” you crooned, trying to embody a playful tone to mask the jittery feeling within. When you turned around to face the client, you were caught by surprise. 

Your wide eyes traced over a familiar silhouette – broad shoulders, perfectly-fitted, navy blue two-piece suit that clung to his large arms, and matching slacks that clung to his legs – his widespread, casual position hinted at sophistication. A pretty, sharp, angular face framed by neatly-cropped blond hair. A tasteful timepiece on his wrist caught your eye. 

Narrow eyes obscured by peculiar glasses, chiseled cheekbones and jawline. His blond hair – framing his apricot skin – was done up carefully, perfectly, sweeping over his head like a ray of sunlight. You recognized him by his signature scowl.

He came back for more?

You liked your lips, trying to play it cool (like you hadn’t been waiting for him to come back). “Oh, hey, it’s you again,” you said with a smirk. Strutting over to him, you cooed, “Couldn’t stay away?”

He’s so fucking hot.

Though his response wasn’t verbal, the pink hue that dusted his face was not lost on you. You swayed your hips from side to side. “Can you give me somethin’ to work with? I don’t usually do these rooms, you know.”

The devastatingly handsome man swallowed, fixing his gaze on the door – the one you had locked on the way in. As you worked your way between his legs, teasingly dragging your hands up and down your body, his gaze wandered back to you. Shamelessly, you reveled in the attention – studying his reaction.

You could smell his cologne from here – again – and, shit, it made your head spin all over again. The warm notes lingered beneath the collar of his dress shirt. Amber. Wood. Musk. Something dark?

“So I’ve heard,” The man replied, finally breaking his silence. His voice was a revelation – deep, mellow, and smooth, carrying a certain tone of weariness that seemed to add to his enigmatic charm. Charm? Yes, you supposed he charmed you.

He loosened his tie and undid the top button on his shirt to let some fresh air in. The action drew your attention to his neck, provoking you to take a moment to appreciate the details your coworker had emphasized: Tall, blond, with a jawline that could indeed cut paper.

You were wretched. You had to have been. This is so wrong.

“You seem tense,” You remark, making your second attempt at breaking the ice. “You’re new to the scene, aren’t you?”

The handsome stranger – Nanami, if you remembered correctly – licked his lips, drawing mindless shapes over the deep-toned fabric that covered his knee. “Is it that obvious?” he asks, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The movement did not go unnoticed.

“A little,” You huffed out a quiet laugh. “Do you want a dance? We could just sit and chat, too, if you want. I don’t mind. I know your type tend’ta like talking.”

You couldn’t control the way your eyes flitted down over his toned thighs – mind hazy with unwelcome thoughts. The temptation to crawl into his lap a second time was strong, but you reminded yourself of the situation – he was your roommate’s teacher, for fuck’s sake. Your roommate’s handsome… muscular… expensive-looking teacher… with a deep, sexy voice that you could hardly resist.

You must have been ovulating. That was the only excuse.

“I won’t make you put on a show for me,” Nobara’s professor trailed off, eyes distant, clearly lost in thought. He seemed to snap out of it after a moment, pretty brown eyes peering into yours – they looked so dark up close. “As crazy as it sounds, I only wanted to speak to you.”

Your sultry facade cracked a bit at that, surprised by the sudden turn of the conversation. From your experience, men usually came here with only one thing in mind. He wanted to talk… to you. Oh my god.

You nearly squealed. Clearing your throat and pressing your legs together, you turned to hide your flustered face from the older man. “Alright,” you said. “You have 30 minutes.”  Plopping down on the couch next to him, you threw your legs over his lap. “What’s your name, handsome stranger?”

You already knew his name. Still, to keep up appearances, you played coy with him. You knew that, reasonably, there was no reason you should be continuing to entertain him — financial commpensation aside, though you could always reimburse him. You should have turned back the moment you realized it was him.

Then again… he had come to see you. It wasn’t like he knew you were his student’s roommate, but that was besides the point. That alone was moral justification enough for you.

The stiff man had his eyes trained on the spot where your legs had been thrown haphazardly over his. Then, nervously, he answered, “Nanami. Kento.”

Kento. You liked that name. It rolled off the tongue real easy — a buttery smooth name for a man as composed as him.

“Nice to meet you Nanami… Kento,” You chipped, mimicking his prose. “Donetta DiVine. I’m sure you already knew that, though. Do you wanna start, or should I?”

Nanami Kento knitted his brows. “Start…?”

You rolled your eyes rather playfully, giving his leg a nudge with your heel. You had ditched the stage platforms for a smaller pair of stilettos. “What do you do for a living?” 

He licked his lips. After a brief pause, he answered, “I can’t really say, but I teach on the side.”

“Ooh— mysterious…” You grinned. Leaning into the couch, you braced your chin on your hand, staring into his eyes. It didn’t take much effort to play the role of the ‘interested’ siren like it normally did. Not with him. “You already know what I do,” You added, “You look tired.”

His brown eyes widened with surprise.

Shit, I overstepped.

You took your statement back quickly, “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“No, it’s not—“ He trailed off. Something in his harsh expression softened. “You’re right. Just the first person to notice.”

If your attraction to the man had been any more obvious, you would’ve been waving a sign around with his name on it.

“Really? You’ve got such tired eyes,” You continued anyway. You figured you would at least try to make the most of this half hour with him. “Wanna talk about it?”

He sighed, “Where would I even begin?”

“Your week?” You answered, making a rolling gesture with your spare hand. “How… how was it?”

He looked equal parts confused and intrigued by you, quirking a perfecftly arched brow before clearing his throat. “My week was alright. I started work again after taking a leave of absence for a few months.”

“No kidding…” You trailed off. It didn’t take much to make your interested tone seem real, as you felt nothing but the most genuine sense of interest while listening to him drone on in that deep, raspy voice of his. You could have listened to it for hours. “What happened?”

Something flashed in his eyes. It was quick, fleeting – you almost missed it. “Workplace injury,” He sighed. “If it’s alright, I’d rather not go into detail about it.”

This guy’s like a brick wall.

“Did you heal up okay?” You asked, eyes wide and prying.

He didn’t seem to mind you much. That was a good sign.

“Had to undergo some minor surgery but, yes, I’m fine. Thank you for asking,” He smiled, actually smiled, and it made your chest stir with something unfamiliar. He was devastatingly handsome – the kind of handsome you kept in a little locket in your pocket when you went to war, or something like that. “My bosses have been pressuring me to come back ever since I left. One superior of mine in particular… has been a nuisance. I was under the impression that sick leave was supposed to be a period of peace… but I guess I thought wrong.”

You laughed at his attempt at humor. It came easily to you. Too easily. “I know how you feel. I busted my ass a few months ago. Twisted my ankle real bad,” You raised your leg off of his lap, twirling your stiletto heel around in the air, cutting through it like a knife. “These things are deadly. Boss gave me a solid two days before he started blowing up my phone asking when I was going to be back. It’s like… can you let me live?”

He laughed, then – really laughed, the kind that made his chest rumble, head thrown back against the cushiony couch. And as he released the melodious sound that made your head spin, his eyes creased at the corners. The experience gap between the two you couldn’t have been more apparent. He was a grown man, hardened by years of trials and tribulations – a mysterious one, at that. And there you were, a naive little dancer with your legs strewn over his lap like he was a partner and not a client. He seemed so wise beyond his years, something only accentuated by the tiredness in his eyes. You longed to hear him drone on about his life a little longer, 30 minutes be damned.

“My superior and I actually went to highschool together. He’s been up my ass as long as I can remember,” He hummed, licking his lips, and you followed the path of his tongue as it wet the skin like a hungry feline.

“Which superior?” You asked, mindlessly picking at the fabric of the velour couch beneath you. “The one you were here with last time? With the white hair?”

When the man knit his brows together, you froze up. Shit. I just gave myself away.

There was a brief, tense pause, during which you tried to focus on the music playing from the speakers, the jazzy tune, the faint remnants of a song playing in the showroom outside and up the hall, the wallpaper – anything but him. 

“Yes, that would be him,” He answered, finally. He seemed to be… intrigued by you. Yes, that’s what it was – his half-lidded amber gaze lingered on your face for a moment too long. “You’re very perceptive.”

You cleared your throat. “So, this job of yours… do you like it?”

“I despise it,” He sighed, like he had been waiting his entire life to confess those words. “But, at least, I figure I’m doing something meaningful with my life. You could say I’m a professor on the side.”

I already know that, You thought. Still, he didn’t have to know you knew.

“It’s a demanding job, but I enjoy feeling like I’ve made a difference,” He continued on. “Unfortunately, after the incident, I had to take some time away from the kids to recover.”

“You seem to enjoy teaching,” You answered back, perching your chin on your hand against the back of the couch. 

“Sometimes,” He replied. “Other times, the work can be unbearable,” He looked up, then, pretty brown eyes on yours in a way that had your heart skipping more than a couple of beats. You could practically feel the way they burned right through your extroverted facade, saw past the layers of glitter and scanty clothes and deep into the abyss in your chest. See who you really were. 

It was him who turned to you, then, asking you, “What about you?”

“Me?” You asked, just to make sure you’d heard him correctly. A client? Caring about your experience at work? That was… dizzyingly rare. 

“Yes, you,” He reiterated with the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. “Do you enjoy working here?”

Do I…? You took a moment to consider your answer. You could lie to him – preserve the perfect, sexual image the women in your company were expected to uphold. That was always an option. But, the moment you peered into those all-knowing, tired eyes of his, you found that you didn’t have it in you to lie to him. No, not when he had been so honest with you.

No one’s ever asked me that before.

Before you could catch yourself, the words were already leaving your lips. “Not really, but it pays the bills.”

His eyes softened at that. He didn’t look the least bit upset by your words. If anything, he looked as if he had grown suddenly tender with a sense of understanding. Women didn’t often join your line of work. Not unless they were desperate for money. He seemed mature enough to realize that – to see right past the fantasy you were supposed to paint for him and peer into your eyes like windows into your soul. One look at him, and you knew he didn’t see you as a dancer.

He saw you as a person. As a woman.

You broke the moment with a hum, “Why don’t you keep telling me about your week?” You asked, changing the subject, shifting the conversation back into comfortable territory.

The rest of the half-hour with Nanami flew by like a fleeting dream. He spoke with a quiet ease, his voice low and steady, yet somehow captivating. He complained about the inefficiencies at work—endless meetings that led nowhere, piles of paperwork that seemed to multiply overnight, and colleagues who turned simple tasks into impossible challenges. Yet, when he talked about his students, something in his tone softened, revealing a warmth that made your chest ache. You found yourself asking questions, small ones at first, but each answer drew him out more. The way he spoke—measured, thoughtful, with just the faintest edge of weariness—made you want to listen forever. For someone who seemed so guarded, he had a surprising amount to say, and you realized how much you liked hearing him talk.

You didn’t even notice how much time had passed until a sharp knock interrupted the quiet cocoon of your conversation.

“Donnie? You okay in there? Your 30 was up ten minutes ago.” 

It was your coworker.

“I’m good!” You called back, swinging your legs off of Nanami’s lap, turning to him with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I completely lost track of time.”

“No, it’s alright. I should have been checking my watch,” He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, long fingers combing through the buzzed, blonde strands of his undercut like wind blowing through a field of wheat. Then, after glancing down at his watch, he stood up, cleared his throat, and straightened out his suit jacket. “Thank you for your time.”

You hadn’t moved from your spot on the couch, brows furrowed. “That’s it?”

You had half expected him to extend the time. The conversation was going so well, you had silently found yourself hoping that he would lean over and do something – place his strong hand on your thigh, brush his fingers up your arm, anything. No-touching policy be damned.

You would make an exception for him. Men that fine don’t just grow on trees.

So, trying your best to lure him back in, you kicked one leg over the other, crawling into a sexy pose on the couch. In the most sultry tone you could manage, you breathed, “Is that really all you wanted?”

Please ask me for a lapdance, You found yourself wishing internally. 

He paused, looking back at you like he wasn’t the least bit phased by the sexy pose or the outfit or… well, anything. “Yes, why?”

“Nothing, I don’t know, I just… You spent so much money tonight to be here,” You uttered, suddenly bashful when he was peering down at you like that – he was so much taller than you, a height gap that was only emphasized by your seated position on the couch below him. You imagined you would have to stand on the tips of your toes to be at eye level with his neck, maybe his chin. Mindlessly, you caressed the couch. “I figured you would have at least wanted a lap dance, or something.”

“I’m not going to make you do something that neither of us are interested in doing,” He said, sliding his hands down over his slacks to straighten out the creases that had formed in them where your legs had been resting only a moment earlier. “Sex is free. It’s rare to find someone who’s willing to listen.”

You sat there, stunned into silence, still in that sexy pose on the couch, your body frozen in the aftermath of his words. His calm, unbothered demeanor completely threw you off balance, leaving you scrambling to make sense of what had just happened. Men like him didn’t come in here looking for conversation. They came in here for fantasies, for attention, for touch. But not him. 

“Thank you for everything,” he said softly, bowing his head slightly in a gesture so gentlemanly it made your stomach twist. Then, without another word, he moved to the door, unlocking it with smooth precision. 

You didn’t even have time to gather yourself before he slipped out, leaving you sitting there in your sultry pose, legs crossed, mouth slightly open. The sound of the door closing behind him echoed in the room, final and undeniable.

You blinked, your mind racing, the moment replaying over and over in your head. Did I just get… emotionally blue-balled? 

The thought hit you like a ton of bricks, both incredulous and a little amused at how absurdly fitting it was. You flopped back against the couch, your sultry act forgotten, staring up at the ceiling as the jazzy tune from the speakers drifted lazily through the air.

For the first time, a client had left you feeling something you couldn’t quite put into words. You couldn’t decide if you were more annoyed, intrigued, or just completely thrown off your game.

All you knew was that you wanted more.

DARREN: Hey imu.

DARREN: U busy tn?

YOU: I’m working but I get out early. Y.

DARREN: let me pick u up after work

DARREN: maybe i can help you ease some of that stress.

Darren rolled off of you with a huff and an exhale, proud of himself. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the backside of his elbow, sighing, “That was great. Did you cum?”

“Yeah,” You liked straight through your teeth. Feeling vulnerable, you reached for your shirt and slipped it back on. There was a point in time where the two of you would sleep skin-to-skin after sex. A point in time long ago, of course, but you couldn’t help but reflect. Now, all that was left was a feeling of discomfort where the intimacy used to be. 

He flopped down onto the bed next to you, throwing his arm around your waist. Not moving a muscle, you trained your gaze on the ceiling above, hoping that maybe, if you spent enough time counting the dots in his popcorn ceiling, he would see that you did not, in fact, enjoy the experience. You doubted he would do anything to fix it even if he did know.

52, 53, 54.

You had been counting for the past five minutes – thirty seconds after he had grunted the words, “Let’s do missionary” into your ear before flipping you over. Truthfully, you hadn’t wanted to do missionary. That would mean that he could see you and, more importantly, that you had to look at him. So, to pass time and to avoid his gaze, you looked up at the ceiling, allowing yourself to be carried away by the tides of pleasure that his strokes gave you.

55, 56, 57.

He buried his nose in the crook of your neck, inhaling. “You smell like a man’s cologne.”

Your heart skipped a beat. “I work at a strip club.”

With a groan, Darren rolled onto his back, finally putting a comfortable distance between you and him. “Don’t remind me. I’ve been telling you that you’re wasting your talents at a place like that.”

Your jaw tightened. There it was, the same old Darren: judgment wrapped in concern, but laced with the unspoken assumption that he knew what was best for you.

You slipped off the bed, grabbing your phone from the nightstand. The cool floor against your bare feet helped ground you.

Unlocking your phone, you typed a message to Nobara, your roommate: 

Can you come get me? I’m at my ex’s.

The response came almost instantly: 

Girl, r u srs?

Your fingers hovered over the keyboard before you replied: 

I’ll explain later, ik, just pls… I wanna gtfo of here.

Sliding the phone into the pocket of your hoodie, you turned back to Darren. He was staring at the ceiling now, one arm slung across his chest, his fingers idly tapping against his bicep. For a moment, you hesitated. The familiarity of this scene—him in his sweatpants, you in one of his old T-shirts—was a cruel reminder of how things used to be. But you weren’t that girl anymore.

“I think I should go,” you said, breaking the silence.

Darren’s head snapped toward you. “No, wait,” he said, sitting up. His hair was tousled, his expression almost pleading. “Please… I really want you to stay.”

You crossed your arms, keeping your distance. “Why?”

“Because…” He raked a hand through his hair, his voice quieter now. “I don’t know. I thought things were going good between us.”

You blinked, then let out a short, humorless laugh. “Things? Darren, I come here, we have sex, and then I leave. That’s it. That’s all this is.”

“Is that all I am to you?” His voice carried a tinge of desperation, his eyes searching yours.

You tilted your head, studying him. “Or maybe,” you said slowly, “you’re asking if there’s any chance of us getting back together.”

“Yeah.” His voice cracked slightly, and he swallowed hard. “Is there?”

You laughed again, colder this time, shaking your head. “No. There isn’t.”

His jaw clenched, and he looked away for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was sharp. “That’s not fair. I’ve done so much for you—”

“Done so much?” Your voice rose, and you stepped closer, anger bubbling to the surface. “You don’t give me shit but dick and attitude, Darren.”

He flinched, but you didn’t stop. “You wanna know what’s not fair? The fact that you went and knocked me up and then forced me to have an abortion. Where the hell were you during that, huh? Seeing as you’ve done so much for me?”

He sat frozen, his lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. His eyes darted toward the floor, guilt pooling in their depths.

“And you wanna know what’s really unfair?” Your voice cracked, but you didn’t care. The words spilled out like a flood you couldn’t contain. “The fact that you fucking cheated on me when I needed you the most. That’s what’s not fair, Darren.”

Darren stared at you, his face contorted with frustration. “That’s not fucking fair,” he snapped, his voice rising.  

“Oh, fuck you, Darren,” you shot back, your hands trembling as you pointed at him. “What else do I have to do to show you I’m done? What else do I have to say?”  

“I’m trying!” he yelled, stepping closer. “I’ve been fucking trying! But nothing I do is ever good enough for you, is it? You’re so goddamn impossible!”  

You laughed bitterly, shaking your head. “You call this trying? You call cheating, lying, and gaslighting me trying?”  

“God, you’re such a fucking idiot,” he spat, his words sharp enough to cut. “You act like you’re perfect, like you’ve never made a mistake in your goddamn life.”  

“I’m not perfect, Darren,” you hissed, stepping forward, your voice shaking with anger. “But at least I own my shit. At least I don’t treat the people I love like they’re disposable!”  

“Oh?” he scoffed, throwing his hands in the air. “You think you’re so much better than me? You’re the one who keeps coming back. So what does that make you, huh?”  

The room was thick with tension, and for a moment, neither of you moved. Then he muttered under his breath, “Pathetic.”  

Your blood boiled. “What did you just say?”  

“You heard me,” he said, his tone dripping with venom.  

“Fuck you, Darren!” you screamed, shoving him hard against the chest.  

His expression darkened. “You don’t get to do that,” he snarled.  

Before you could react, he grabbed your wrist and pushed you away. The force of it sent you stumbling back, and you hit the edge of the dresser, pain shooting up your arm as you fell to the floor.  

“Wait, I…” His face shifted, panic flickering in his eyes. He took a step toward you, his hand outstretched.  

You scrambled to your feet, holding your arm where it throbbed. “You know what? I’m done.” Your voice was quieter now, but no less firm. “I’m done, Darren.”  

“Wait—”  

“No!” you shouted, cutting him off. “Go fuck yourself!”  

“Please,” he said, his voice cracking. “Don’t let us go. We had something special. You know that.”  

You stared at him, disbelief flooding your chest. Then you laughed—a cruel, hollow sound. “If you thought this was anything more than sex, then you’re the fucking idiot.”  

He opened his mouth to argue, but you were already grabbing your stiletto boots from the floor.  

“We can make it work,” he said desperately, following you as you stormed out of his apartment.  

“Make it work?” you echoed, spinning around to face him as you reached his car. “Make it work?” You hefted one of your boots in your hand. “Make this fucking work!”  

Before he could respond, you hurled the boot at his car window. The glass shattered on impact, the sound ringing out like a scream in the still night.  

The car alarm blared, its shrill wailing cutting through the silence. Darren stood frozen, his mouth agape.  

“Shit,” he muttered, rushing toward the car.  

You grabbed your other boot and slung it over your shoulder. “Fix that, asshole!” you yelled as you walked away, the sound of the alarm trailing behind you.  

“Her!” Darren called after you, but you didn’t turn around.  

You kept walking, the cold air biting at your skin, the adrenaline coursing through you keeping you upright. Your arm throbbed where you’d hit it, but you didn’t stop. You didn’t look back.  

You made it about halfway home before the exhaustion hit you like a freight train. Your legs wobbled, and you collapsed onto the curb, cradling your arm as the tears you’d been holding back finally spilled over.  

Your phone buzzed weakly in your pocket. Nobara’s name lit up the screen.  

“Where the hell are you?” she demanded as you answered, her voice sharp but tinged with worry.  

You gave her your location, your words slurred with exhaustion and pain. “I can’t— I just can’t walk anymore.”  

“Stay put,” she said firmly. “I’m coming to get you.”  

By the time her car pulled up, you were slumped against a lamppost, your eyes half-closed. Nobara jumped out, wrapping her jacket around your shoulders as she helped you to your feet.  

“What the hell happened?” she asked, her tone softer now.  

You shook your head, too drained to explain. “I’m hungry. I’ll tell you later.”  

“Let’s stop and get you something to eat,” She didn’t press further, guiding you into the car. As the city lights blurred past, you stared out the window, the events of the night replaying in your mind like a bad dream.  

The car was warm, the quiet hum of the heater and the golden glow of streetlights spilling through the windshield easing the tension in your chest. You cradled your injured arm as Nobara maneuvered through the drive-thru, shooting you occasional glances.  

“You want the usual?” she asked as she pulled up to the intercom.  

“Yeah. Large fries, nuggets, and a Coke,” you murmured, leaning your head back against the seat.  

She placed the order, and soon you were pulling into a parking spot under the dim glow of the lot’s overhead lights. The smell of greasy goodness filled the car as she handed you the bag, cracking open a box of nuggets for herself.  

“So,” she said, dipping a nugget into a cup of barbecue sauce. “You gonna tell me what the hell happened back there, or do I just have to assume you went full-on ‘Carrie’ at prom?”  

You snorted, the first genuine laugh you’d had all night. “Something like that.”  

“Well, shit.” She popped the nugget into her mouth. “Guess I missed a show.”  

You sighed, staring at the fries in your lap. “It’s over. For real this time.”  

“Good,” Nobara said firmly. “That guy was a walking red flag.”  

“Yeah, yeah,” you said, rolling your eyes. “Speaking of red flags…” You smirked as an idea popped into your head. “You’ll never believe what happened at work today.”  

Her eyes narrowed as she dunked another nugget. “Oh, this should be good. Spill.”  

You leaned back, a grin playing on your lips. “I got booked for a private room.”  

Nobara froze mid-bite. “I thought you didn’t do those?”  

“I don’t,” you said, shrugging. “But they offered me a shit ton of money. Guess who it was.”  

Her brows furrowed in confusion. “Who?”  

You couldn’t help but draw it out for dramatic effect. “Your teacher.”  

Her jaw dropped, and the nugget in her hand fell back into the box. “No way, Bitch.”  

You nodded, trying to keep a straight face.  

“What did he want? Is he, like, a total pervert or something?”  

You laughed, shaking your head. “No, actually. He just wanted someone to talk to.”  

Nobara blinked, clearly baffled. “Huh.”  

“I know, right?” you said, grabbing a nugget. “Easiest money I’ve ever made.”  

“Damn,” she muttered, chewing thoughtfully. “I never took him as the emotional type.”  

“Don’t go telling your friends, though,” you warned, wagging a finger at her. “He told me some pretty heavy shit.”  

Nobara tensed, her expression flickering with something you didn’t catch as you reached for your Coke. “Like what?”  

You laughed, shaking your head. “Like hell if I’d tell you.”  

“Oh, come on!” she said, pouting dramatically. “I won’t tell anyone!”  

You smirked, leaning back in your seat. “I’m not risking it. Client confidentiality or whatever.”  

“Ugh, you’re no fun,” she groaned, but there was a smile tugging at her lips.  

You both sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the car filled with the sound of crinkling wrappers and occasional laughter.  

“Hey,” Nobara said suddenly, looking at you out of the corner of her eye. “You’re okay, right?”  

You hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. I think I will be.”  

She smiled, a small, genuine one. “Good. ‘Cause if you ever go back to that asshole, I’m slashing his tires.”  

You laughed, the sound bubbling up before you could stop it. “Deal.”  

As you both dug into the last of the nuggets, the weight of the night seemed to lift, replaced by the warmth of greasy food and a friend who always had your back.

a/n: and there she is! my first update in like a year lol. lmk what you thought! tell me what you would like to see in the story, who knows, i might be able to incorporate it in! Thank you all for your lovely comments. I loveee reading them.

comments + reblogs are greatly appreciated!!

I obviously do not own jjk or anything related to it. I can't find the artist, but if you know them pls dm for credits!!! please do not reproduce, copy, or translate my works anywhere. dont fk w me im a bruja.

taglist: @missphanosaur18 , @bontensbabygirl, @megumissunshine, @chocoyanchan, @littlelovebug98, @lucisimpongod, @xochyw, @jaegerstan222 , @electro-supremacy, @mellytheteddy, @clover0310 , @soraya-daydreams, @priussy, @insanehumantinker, @staygoldsquatchling02, @nonksity, @hinata7346, @chososwhoresblog, @ynjimenez , @soraya-daydreams , @nonksity , @hinata7346 , @armani78 , @mindurownbussines , @sad-darksoul , @sasuke-slut , @yuunie135 , @bratkuna , @aydene , @mshope16 , @pretentiousteentrash , @galactict3a , @kokos-property , @moonriseoverkyoto , @lyn-soso , @arilostie , @violetmatcha , @markleeisdabestdrug , @erensdior , @hp-simp505 , @fushiguro-kyuuuuuu , @bontensbabygirl , @switch-godess , @honey-yuh , @ddotsie

wanna join the taglist? | my kinda love; chapter index

[blueberri-blu]

Hi hi! I've been thinking about your prompt list so I thought screw it I'll put in my first ever ask lol, I thought #3 would fit bayverse Raph so well as a (light) angst to fluff confession?

I've never done this before so if I messed something up please disregard and have a great day/night ( ´∀`)

Of course!! I'd love to!

Horns 𓆩��𓆪

[Bayverse] Raph x gn!reader

Prompt #3: "Why aren't you dating them?" "I'd probably destroy them" "They'd be into that"

𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪

Raph's brothers were annoyed as fuck to be honest

You and their red clad brother have so much romantic tension it's unbearable

So, originally Mikey and Donnie got together to form a plan, they were going to try to leave you two in the lair, by yourselves, in hopes that you and Raph would work yourselves out.

However, Leo being... Leo, he stood nearby, listening, and occasionally giving ideas

But, they knew better, they knew they couldn't tell raph about their plan until the very last minute.

So... They went on

Secretly sneaking out to get things like fairy lights, your favorite movies on CDs, etc.

They noticed that Raph stocked up on your favorite foods and snacks in the lair already, so they saw this as an opportunity for Raph to show off how much he cares.

It was perfect. Their plan was immaculate, with Donnie confirming it had about an 85% success rate, with Mikey piping up that if it was more than 50, that's all the reassurance they needed

Their plan was starting to fall into place.

First, Mikey set up fairy lights in the living area, with the excuse of making it more homey.

Then, Donnie started fixing up their tv, giving it upgrades and such for better resolution and sound.

Then, Leo was in charge of making sure everyone would be out of the lair, so you and Raph wouldn't have any interruptions

Hell, even Master Splinter stepped in by making sure to get on Raph's case about making sure his room was clean.

Everything was ready.

Now... For the hardest part...

Getting Raph on board.

They decided that the best one to tell him was Mikey, seeing as he was closest to Raph.

And needless to say, Raph was... Upset

"The fuck do You mean "my chance" Mikey!?"

"well... You know, you two are already practically dating right? I mean, y'all almost kissed last movie night!" Mikey was... A bit nervous

"how 'bout, all of you stay the fuck out of my business!!"

"Oh c'mon big bro! We already texted y/n to come over and everything! You wouldn't wanna let 'em down riiiiight?"

Raph hated how all of his brothers adorned a smug grin, had an itch to punch it off their faces

It's not that raph didn't like you, he really did

But you were just so kind! Yet strong! And passionate,

You knew how to be calm, you could be kind to everyone,

He tried to convince himself that this was why he wouldn't ask you out, but in reality, he knew you liked him

You'd laugh at all of his jokes, grabbing his arm

You'd cuddle up to him on movie nights while looking at his lips, then his eyes

He almost lost himself last movie night, almost let you two kiss

But he pulled away last minute, and he could see your eyes fall from the rejection

"arggghh Mikey! Why d'y'all have to be so fuckin' nosy!"

"Raph! Why are you so upset! You like them, and they obviously like you!! What's got your panties in a twist bro!"

"Why aren't you dating them?"

"because..."

"I'd probably destroy them!"

"I'd probably be into that"

Raph froze, it was as if a glacier had fallen on his head

He couldn't believe it

How long had you been there? How much did you here? Why did you respond like that?

Mikey practically squealed, Donnie pumped his fist in the air in victory, and Leo still adorned that same smug grin

Raph turned around, finally facing you

You were blushing like crazy, yet you were looking up at him as if he was the best person in the world

His brothers decided to retreat, leaving you two alone in the lair under the fairly lights

Raph felt as if he had died and come back to life, only to get a heart attack, he was... Afraid, of what? He didn't know, but his heart was pounding in a way that you could hear it from outside of his plastron

"look... Raph... I don't want to force you or pressure you or anything of the sort, but... If you like me, I'd like to know why you don't want to date me? Please?"

"I ... I jus don't wanna hurt ya..."

"oh, Big Guy, it's ok... I really don't think you are capable of doing so... But arguments are normal in a relationship, it's just about working them out, together"

By now, Raph had one arm slinked around your waist

Raph whispered "I'd like that... y/n, I love you"

"aw, I love you too big guy" you whispered back

And you two closed the distance, starting off with soft pecks, which slowly turned into longer kisses

The night ended with you in his arms after watching your favorite movie, snacks littered the floor, and Raph taking in your features under the soft glow of the yellow lights.

𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩♡𓆪

I really love this idea, I hadn't even thought of that! I was definitely debating between Raph and rottmnt Leo!

I hope you liked it! Please feel free to request again! Thank you so much for the ask, anon ^^

I live y'all <3

[no-goodbyes-no-regrets]

This started as a shitpost but then after the basketball game/badge vs badge SWAT ep I decided to make it a thing™

Tommy and Rocker twins let's gooo

---

"So... you've met my family, you know my friends... when do I get to meet some of your people?" Buck asked.

They were lounging on Tommy's sofa, making the most of their shared day off, some gameshow on tv that neither were paying much attention to.

"My people?"

"Yeah. Your friends, family, your parents..."

"My dad is an asshole, you know that. And my mother died when I was 12." Tommy replied with a shrug, hoping that was the end of that conversation, but the look on Evan's face told him it wasn't. "I have an aunt and uncle who moved to Michigan not long after I enlisted, a cousin in Vegas and one in New York... and some aunts and uncles in Italy that I haven't seen since I was a kid... And you've met Sal and my crew at Harbor."

"No siblings?"

"I uh... yeah I have a twin brother. He's seven minutes older." Tommy told him after a beat.

Buck sat up.

"You have a twin? Why didn't you tell me? Does he live in LA? Can I meet him? What's his name?"

Tommy sighed.

"We're... We kind of drifted apart over the years. His ex didn't like me much and we're both busy with work and stuff..."

"What does he do? Is he a pilot too?"

Tommy smiled.

"No, he's always preferred to keep both feet on the ground. He's with the LAPD."

"He's a cop?" Buck asked, a mischievous grin spreading over his face. "I'm going to ask Athena if she knows anyone named Kinard." he grabbed his phone from the coffee table. "What's his first name?"

"Donovan. But she won't know him as Kinard. He goes by Rocker. He hated our dad more than me."

"Donovan Rocker?" Buck asked and Tommy nodded. "We were Donny and Tommy as kids."

"That's kind of cute. Do you have a picture of him?"

"Upstairs probably. In the albums from my grandma's place." Tommy told him, making no move to go get them. "Give me your phone, I'll see if I can find a more recent picture of him."

Buck handed his phone over and waited as Tommy typed something and scrolled.

"There. That's him. In the middle. That's his team."

"He's SWAT?"

"Yep. I enlisted, he enrolled in the police academy. He's married to the job."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Buck said with a wink.

Tommy tried and failed to look offended.

"He's even more married to the job than me. Ever since he took over as team leader a few years ago, he's put everything into it." he explained. "He texted me a couple of months ago saying his divorce had finally gone through and we went out for a beer. It was nice to catch up."

"Did you tell him about me?" Buck asked with a grin.

"I hadn't met you yet actually. It was a few days before Howie called me."

"And you didn't invite him to the medal ceremony?"

Tommy shrugged.

"It was no big deal. He probably had to work. And when we talked he mentioned he was seeing one of his coworkers but they were keeping it on the down low for now." another shrug. "I didn't want him to give up time with his new love. His ex was crazy, he deserves to enjoy this."

Buck nodded, deciding not to dig into why his boyfriend thought getting a medal wasn't a big deal or something to invite his brother to.

"So let's invite them over here for dinner sometime. I'll cook, you get to scope out your brother's new girlfriend, and I get to meet my boyfriend's brother."

Tommy smiled.

"You've got the whole thing planned out already haven't you?"

"Maybe... But is that so bad? I want to meet your brother, I want to get to know your friends... Your people..."

"I'll ask him." Tommy promised and got up to grab his phone from where he'd plugged it in to charge. "Oh. That's right." he mumbled when he unlocked it. "The badge vs badge thing is coming up."

"The what now?"

"LAFD vs LAPD. Sports events. To raise money for charity." Tommy explained. "They're doing this now instead of the calendar."

"Oh the firefighters calendar? Did you know Chim got picked for that a few years ago? Eddie and I both tried too but only he got picked. Mister April."

"Yeah. I was June."

"What?! You were on the calendar?"

"Yeah. Lost a bet. Kind of." Tommy shrugged. "There's a basketball game on the 17th. I don't know if Don... Rocker is playing. I'll ask him which events he's doing. Maybe we could meet up with him there and grab a beer after."

"Sure. Sounds good. I promise I won't try to break anyone's ankles for getting too close to you." Buck joked. "Now please tell me you have a copy of this calendar and I won't have to ask Chim for his."

---

[httpvomitello]

Hi hi! Can I request donnie x s/o (fem) where he confesses to reader in the middle of a fight with one of the villans and their just like: uhh... should I be here?

Have a good day/night :]

Hi, hi!! Thanks for the request, I had fun writing it and I hope you enjoy it too! Since there were no specifications of which year Donnie would be, I decided to make it from the Bayverse. Have a great day/afternoon/night!

In the middle of the fight *⁠.⁠✧

The poor artificial lighting of the warehouse combined with the industrial lamps illuminated the piles of crates and rusty equipment with a sullen glint. The smell of oil and metal dominated and there was the distant sound of water dripping. The Foot Clan had been broadening and getting demandingly aggressive and was so tonight. You had no right to complain when you followed him willingly, however, even for this situation, nerves stood out.

"Stay close to me." Donnie had said something which really sounded more like a plea, but there was no opportunity to reply. On your entry, the Foot ninjas had launched a group attack.

The metallic ring of the weapons, the effortful sounds of wrestling, the sound of the percussion as Donnie struck the bo staff through the air. A time or two a shuriken or flying kick might come your way, and all you could do is try and weave. Still, you could not help but finally pay attention to Donnie’s protectiveness. He was often around, looking at you with concern with every instance where you had to defend yourself against an aggressor.

"Donnie, focus!" you screamed, to deflect a punch by one of the ninjas. But just as quickly it would be Donnie in the scene beating your opponent to the punch as he swung his staff to knock your opponent right back.

The leader of the group stepped forward. He was bigger than the others, more skilled, and he moved with a confidence that made you nervous.

"You really think you can take me down?" the man sneered, his voice deep and mocking.

Donnie narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on his bo staff. "I don't think. I know."

They charged at each other, weapons clashing with force. You watched with bated breath, unsure if you should jump in or stay back. Donnie was handling himself well, but this guy was no joke. Every time it seemed like Donnie gained the upper hand, the villain would counter with a brutal strike, sending sparks flying as metal hit metal.

Then, out of nowhere, something happened. As Donnie blocked another attack, his voice broke through the chaos. "This isn't how I wanted to do this!" he yelled, his eyes locking onto yours for a brief moment.

Your heart skipped a beat. "What?"

He pushed the villain back with a grunt, and in the heat of the fight, he shouted, "I like you, okay? I—no, I love you!"

You froze.

The villain, who had been winding up for another strike, paused mid-swing, his confusion evident.

You didn’t know what to say. Was this really happening? Right now? In the middle of a fight? "Donnie, what the—"

Donnie twirled his staff, knocking the villain back again with a swift move. "I know! I know this isn't the best time, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer!"

The villain looked between the two of you, his sword still raised, but clearly unsure if he should be attacking or letting the moment play out. "Are you seriously doing this right now?"

"Kind of busy, pal!" Donnie snapped, deflecting another hit. But his eyes kept darting toward you, his face flushed under the faint light. "But yeah... I've been holding it in for a while now. I—I've wanted to tell you for so long, and now, here we are, and it just... slipped out."

You blinked, still processing what was happening. A part of you wanted to yell at him for picking such a ridiculous time to confess, but another part of you was... thrilled. Despite the danger, Donnie had just blurted out the truth, and it left you feeling lightheaded.

"Uh... okay?" you managed, your voice shaky. "But Donnie, now? We're kind of—"

Before you could finish, the villain interrupted with an exaggerated sigh.

"This is ridiculous."

He sheathed his weapon and backed away slowly, his hands raised. "You two need to figure this out, clearly. I'll just... yeah. I'll catch you later or whatever." He turned and walked off, muttering under his breath about how unprofessional the whole thing was.

Donnie stood there, breathing heavily, but his eyes were locked on you, waiting for a response.

You stared at him, your heart pounding in your chest. "Did you just... scare off a villain by confessing your feelings?"

He laughed breathlessly, shrugging. "I guess so?"

You took a deep breath, stepping closer to him. "Donnie, I... I don't know what to say. I mean, I had no idea you felt that way."

His expression softened, and despite the battle that had just unfolded, there was an intensity in his gaze now that made you forget everything else.

"I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. But it's true. I’ve been thinking about it for a while. You... you mean a lot to me."

You smiled, despite yourself, feeling your heart swell. "You mean a lot to me, too, Donnie. I—"

Before you could finish, he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into a tight embrace. For a moment, it was just the two of you, and nothing else mattered.

"So... does this mean you're not mad at me for confessing during a fight?" he asked, his voice light, teasing.

You laughed softly, resting your head against his plastron. "Oh, I'm definitely mad. But we'll talk about that later."

"Fair enough," he said with a grin. "But for now, can we focus on the fact that I totally just scared off a villain with my feelings?"

You pulled back slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, I'll give you that. But next time, maybe pick a better moment?"

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "Deal."

[tmntxthings]

(First of saw your recent ask with the anon and I hope you’re feeling a bit better since answering that! Please don’t rush to answer this or your other requests and i hope you feel better soon!)

I AM CHEWING ON YOUR DONNIE X READER WORKS OML BRO WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR INNER WRITER YOUR WORK IS ✨DIVINE✨ 😔👌

I cant resist making a request but you know Donnie flies/hovers with his battle shell in some episodes right to get around?? So what if Donnie having an s/o who is fascinated by the idea of flying, so one day, after much pestering Donnie gives in and decides to fly them around New York for a bit. BUT only if he is there with them, cuz Donnie is not about to have a stress induced heart 

attack if they loose balance. 

Donnie himself doesn’t really understand the fascination with flying cuz….well nothing is especially different, it’s just the city but from high up. But then mid sentence he looks to his partner and stares in silent awe at the fascination twinkling in their eyes as they admire the view??

I’m sorry I’m such a goddam sucker for this sort of stuff

一∑ Nights Like These 。・゜・

author’s notes: you paint a pretty picture anon, I could see it all play out thru my head! hope you enjoy <3

warnings: fluff, unedited

—————————————————————————

“Y’know what would be cool?”

Donatello blinked, his stare deadpanned. He was over this. You had asked so many times already. And each time, he had given you his answer. A resounding no. So he continued to tap at his phone while you sidled up next to him on the couch.

“Donnieeeeeee!”

A drawn eyebrow twitched. He wasn’t going to deign that with a response. You were being trivial at this point.

“Please!”

He let out a long sigh. Clicking his phone shut as dark irises finally turned in your direction. By this point it was clear you were never going to let it go. The word no, didn’t exist in your vocabulary. At least not when it came to the possibility of flying.

With his attention now on you, a speech was suddenly underway.

“I’ll do everything you say! Take a whole Donnie-training-course on how to fly a jetpack!! Just let me try! Please! Pretty please!”

You sure did know how to beg. Maybe it was unfair of him. But he didn’t like the idea of you in the air at all. You weren’t exactly known for coordination. You sucked at driving video games. How would you be able to command a jetpack that could go from zero to a hundred in seconds flat?

It was dangerous.

You could get injured or worse! There were so many terrible scenarios that ran through Donnie’s mind, he almost went back on his phone. But your hands latched onto his arm, pulling his thoughts back to the here and now.

“Nothing bad will happen! You’ll be right there beside me!!”

It was weird how you knew exactly what to say. Exactly how to sway him. Maybe his face was an open book, or maybe you just knew how to read him too well. This time his sigh was one of defeat.

You cheered.

~

After many, many lessons Donnie finally felt it was safe enough for you to put the jetpack on.

By this point you knew what all of the buttons did. All sorts of emergency protocols. And you may even be considered a certified pilot depending on the country.

Rigorous couldn’t even begin to describe what regiment Donnie had put you through. But it all paid off in the end. Because now you were strapped in.

“Alright, looks like it fits. How does it feel? I designed this one according to your specs.”

Donnie was circling around you. A hand underneath his chin as he looked for a reason to call the whole thing off. But you were on the moon.

“It’s perfect! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it. Finally!! We get to fly together!!”

How could he shatter that bright smile of yours now? He’d put this off long enough. So he nodded, and led the charge out of the lair.

~

“Remember, if you feel out of control—“

You cut him off before he could finish.

“Don, I know! Stop and hover. Can I power on now?”

“No not yet we have to go through all of… Y/N!”

There was no patience left within you as Donnie kept talking so you just took off mid-sentence. He hollered after you. He took chase, his own jetpack roaring to life.

You were going way too fast. Donnie couldn’t tell if you were even under control! Just above the rooftops you flew by. Weaving past units and it became clear that you did know how to fly. His anxiety lessened but he still kept tailing you. Just in case.

At one point you slowed down enough for Donnie to be flying right by your side. Your smile dazzled him as you glanced over. Eyes twinkling in awe as you pointed out the bridge where Donnie and his brothers did the pizza box stacking competition.

“Race you there!”

You shouted and not a second later you were going max speed.

Now you may be a natural but Donnie had been flying far longer than you. The only advantage you did have was a slight head start. The wind picked up as the two of you flew higher. The finish line apparently being the highest point on the bridge.

Donnie won. He knew the best path to take after all from a projected route via his goggles. He watched as you made it to him. Slowing down and then circling him in the air while you laughed out in joy.

“This is amazing!!”

You exclaimed as you landed in front of him. It was high up, the wind whipping past the both of you. But the cold didn’t seem to affect your spirits at all. Your arms were raised in the air, back turned to him, whooping out for all of New York to hear. None of them would, not even the passengers in their zooming cars below. But Donnie could.

His heart did a strange thump beneath his plastron. He couldn’t take his eyes off of you. He felt a little breathless.

“Thank you! I- just, thank you for this! I never thought in my lifetime I’d be able to do something so… so..!”

The words were slipping from you as you had faced Donnie to express your gratitude. This was something that only happened in movies. That only happened in dreams! Your hands came up and moved in an expression that tried to convey how big this all felt to you. These emotions!

“We can do it again. However many times you like.”

Donnie replied after a moment.

You didn’t let the shock pass your features. You had wondered if he would let you fly again. So you had tried to get it all out of your system. Not knowing if the first would be your last. You smiled brightly for him.

“My worries seem to have been for nothing. You’re a natural at flying.”

A compliment. You could only smile brighter.

“Well, I don’t know about all that,”

And his mouth opened to argue. Not liking how you were putting yourself down. But before he could you continued.

“I had a great teacher!”

You mused at how his mouth snapped shut. His eyes darting away, a hand coming up to rub the back of his bandana.

“Really. He was the best! He’s too smart!”

He had to turn away as the compliments kept coming. Had the wind stopped? It was suddenly a bit warm up here. You had the nerve to giggle at his shyness before you powered up your jetpack again.

He turned immediately back to you, expecting you to take off again. But this time you hovered. Offering your hand to Donnie. He couldn’t help but take in the view. The night sky your backdrop, few stars even more satellites. But it was as if you were glowing before him.

His own hand reached out, fingers brushing against your palm, before taking a firm grip.

He held your hand.

[cloverina]

“FRANK, THE RABBIT.”

warnings: mentions of schizophrenia and kissing! other than that, it’s just fluff:3

wc-781, ik it’s shortttt:((

The moon was a silent sentinel in the night sky, casting a cool blue light over the quiet street. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the old oak tree that stood guard over the two houses that had been neighbors for generations. Inside one of them, you lay in bed, the melatonin you took slowly kicking in.

With a yawn, you swung your legs over the side of the bed and padded over to the dusty record player in the corner of your room. You flipped through your collection, searching for the perfect melody to carry you into the realm of dreams. Your eyes fell upon "The Killing Moon" by Echo & the Bunnymen. The cover, with its mysterious artwork, whispered of a time when music was a tangible experience, a shared journey through sound. You placed the vinyl on the turntable, the needle dropping with a soft click as the first haunting notes filled the air.

The song's ethereal introduction began to play, the echoing guitars and hypnotic bassline wrapping around you like a warm blanket. But the serenity was shattered by the sudden, frantic banging on your front door. The sharp sound pierced the quiet night, jolting you out of your tranquil state. Your heart racing, you quickly turned off the record player and tiptoed down the hall, the floorboards creaking beneath your bare feet. The muffled sobs grew louder as you approached, and you knew without a doubt it was Donnie on the other side of the door.

You swung the door open to reveal your neighbor, Donnie Darko. His eyes wild with fear and his face glistening with tears. He stumbled into your house, his chest heaving with panic. "He's here again," Donnie whispered, his voice trembling. "Frank is here, and he's so angry." You guided him gently to the couch in the living room, his brown hair sticking to his damp forehead. You knew all too well about Frank, the 6ft giant bunny-rabbit hallucination that had haunted Donnie since his schizophrenia had worsened.

"Calm down, Donnie," you said soothingly, "You're okay. You're safe here." But his eyes remained wide and unblinking, and he clutched at your arm like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality. You realized that words alone wouldn't be enough tonight. You led him to your bedroom, hoping the familiarity of your space might offer some comfort. He followed you, his bare feet silent on the wooden floor, his plaid pyjama bottoms, his grey baggy t-shirt and his teddy bear hanging from his hand.

Once you were both inside, Donnie's legs gave out and he collapsed onto the bed, burying his face in your chest. His body trembled violently, each sob coming in a hitched gasp, his voice strained from the effort of keeping his fear contained. "Shh," you murmured, stroking his hair gently. "I'm here." His breath was hot and quick against your skin, his heart racing like a wild animal's. The room was bathed in the soft glow of your bedside lamp, casting warm shadows on the walls.

You sat with him for what felt like an eternity, his tremors slowly subsiding under your calming touch. When he finally looked up, his eyes were red and bloodshot, his cheeks streaked with tears. "I can see him right now," he choked out, his voice thick with terror. You followed his gaze to the empty corner of the room, knowing that to him, it wasn't empty at all. The air felt charged, as if something unseen lurked just beyond the edge of reality.

Gently, you coaxed Donnie to lie down, his back pressed against the cool pillow. He clung to you, his fingers digging into your shoulder, the plush fabric of his teddy bear smooshed between the two of you. You whispered soothing words, your voice a gentle lullaby in the stillness of the night. The tension in his body began to ease, his breaths grew deeper, and eventually, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest told you he had found refuge in slumber.

You sat there for a few moments longer, watching the soft rise and fall of his chest. The room was so quiet you could hear the ticking of the clock in the hallway, each second a solemn metronome counting the moments until the next battle with Frank. With a sigh, you lay down beside him, pulling the blanket up to his chin. His hand remained curled around your shoulder, a silent plea to not let go. You brushed a strand of hair from his damp forehead and kissed him softly, your lips lingering for a moment longer than they should have.

[onejellyfishplease]

and continuing my rottmnt minecraft au, heres Leo as a Charged Creeper!

Donnie, Raph, Mikey

[lordfreg]

💜Peepaw Donnie💜

I hate his overalls. I know, I know, I'm a terrible person but WHO . who is in charge of styling these guys cause it isn't donnie!!!! ���🙄 but seriously, IM SOOOOOOO EXCITEDDDDDDD!!!!!! RAAHHH first i get fed with jpcc:ct AND NOW A NEW RISE COMIC???!!! RAHHHHHHHHH

I also did cell shading with this! it's my 2nd time (1st here) so i hope it looks okayish 🧿🧿 i probably will not be using it again unless it's for commission. I don't think I should've used a different style of rendering here, but I need to get better at it

Anyway. enjoy the peepaw :3

SKETCHES!!

ALT VERSIONS!!!

REBLOGS APPRECIATED 💜🐢

TCEST + PRO/COMSHIP DO NOT INTERACT IN ANY WAY

[chil-aglia]

BAD THINGS HAPPEN BINGO CARD

Hey y’all, so remember when I said I’m doing a bad things happen bingo card thing? Well….I GOT THE CARD LETS GOOO

Now I haven’t done these before so bear with me.

RULES TO SUBMIT REQUESTS!

Has to be set in the ROTTMNT universe (during the show/present timeline/apocalypse timeline/movie timeline, an AU of sorts (I mean these bingo spots are basically all AU’s) etc, etc

Main character to write has to be my OC’s (Giovanni, Adriaen, Ronin, Three/Luca. You are also free to suggest Caden. I’ll even throw in Nico and Matt)

Canon characters can be part of it too. Like for example, Leo is helping Adriaen. Or Donnie and Ronin are there together doing whatever it is they are doing. Ya know? Kinda like the prompt ideas

You’re free to submit more than one prompt space for the bingo card. And you’re free to go crazy with your ideas

For the NSFW ones, I’ll be posting those on my NSFWblog, but you can submit the ideas here.

Make sure you also tell me that your request/ideas are for the bad things happen bingo! Otherwise, I won’t know

The fics will be posted here on tumblr and on my Ao3 (I’ll post a link to that after I get some suggestions)

No t-cest btw.

You’re free to draw art for these and idk, tag me or something

And that’s all. If I think of more, I’ll keep adding to it. But other than that…GO, GO, GO, SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS!

You can either comment the ideas here or send it through the ask box!

-----

Sacrifice: Nico is to blame for the Krang finding their base. Is to blame for death of innocent people. Nico needs to fix this. And there’s only one way to end this. Find the Key���stop the Krang.

Mind Rape: Krang Prime has Caden in his clutches. Terrifying him. Torturing his mind and soul. Caden needs an out, he can’t take it. Leo has to take charge now, and god damn if he couldn’t save Caden then he’ll never forgive himself.

Not afraid of you anymore: Giovanni is not the same scared little boy he once was. He’s grown. He’ll do what it takes to defend his family, especially from the EPF. Even if it means hurting someone.

Rape/non-con: Ronin has survived many dangerous things, has been through many battles. Has seen and experienced the ugliness in others. Now…it’s his turn to finally get some closure.

Cry into chest: Giovanni has tried to keep it together. He has been doing well since returning home. It’s only a few nightmares he gets. So why does he still cry? Why is his father comforting him like he’s a little boy?

Flashbacks: A younger Giovanni AU version, where he is fighting against Hypno but gets hit by a mind spell, resulting for him getting visions of his past making him now vulnerable.

Cabin fever: Things are getting a little paranormal in the cabin the turtles are staying in. What’s horrifying is that they are being stalked. And Adriaen is the one trying to fight, or else they die.

Panic attack: Adriaen hasn’t slept in weeks. It’s making him feel like he’s going insane. All because of the ominous white door that has continually been haunting him. He can’t take it anymore.

Self-harm: Ronin runs into the turtles, much to annoyance as he some cuts on his body, but he can’t let the others see. But he’s doing a horrible job at it.

Brainwashing: Ronin is hit with a mystical force that alters his brain. Forcing him to see everything as a threat. Forcing him to think and act like the days he spent in the Battle Nexus arena.

Therapy Session: Giovanni is convinced to give Therapy a go. With the help from his brother Mikey, Giovanni is actually doing well. Until he isn’t upon coming to a party for him.

Drugged: Getting sent back in time was bound to mess with Nico sooner or later. But meeting a human he only heard stories of in person? Getting drugged by them? That was a whole new mess Nico wasn’t used to.

Amputation: The Krang have been defeated but the infected people of New York still linger around. Adriaen sadly has been faced to face with one the more aggressive infected. His leg is covered in the slime, and it stings, burns. They have to take it off. They have to take away his leg.

Addiction/withdrawal: Ronin had always had bad coping mechanisms. Especially during difficult times. But he knows a way for him to feel…free. He can survive perhaps a few days maybe even 2 weeks at most without the drug. But not for long. It won’t take long for him to crack.

Forced to beg: Caden can’t come out of his meditative state. He’s trapped himself in his mind, the pressure getting too much for him. Leo and the others are begging for him to snap out of it, begging for Caden to wake up.

Body horror: Adriaen has a horrifying nightmare about the others turning into creepy monsters/creatures, he ends up having a massive panic attack after he wakes up from the nightmare and Leo is there to calm him down.

All of the other reindeer: It’s not his fault that he had some adult turtle, the leader of the Resistance inside his head. People need to learn that he’s not Leo. He can’t be Leo. So why…why do they insist that he is Leo?

Suicide attempt: Three can't take it anymore. The memories, the pain. It was all torturous for him. Huh…when did he get to this roof?

“I know you’re in there somewhere. Fight”: Matt knows his twin brother is still inside. Underneath all that Krang gunk. That is still his brother. And Matt is going to bring him back.

Forced to hurt someone: Ronin’s first battle in the Battle Nexus (May or may not be canon to the story, but we’ll see)

Non-consensual touching: Being already triggered with immense touching was annoying for Dante. But he powered through it, he had to, especially during his monthly check ups with the doctors in base. But this certain doctor…they just kept touching and touching.

Childhood trauma: Three recalls some trauma from his childhood days with Baron Draxum after witnessing Leo being shocked by the shock collar made by Donnie (takes place during Donnie’s Gifts) (not canon to the actual story for Three)

Shock collar: It was only a prank. Matt found this weird collar, remembering that his uncle invented it and showed it to him. He thought it was fine. But then he just couldn’t take it off. It malfunctioned.

Non-consensual kiss: Everyone’s first kiss is suppose to be…magical? Amazing? Caden wasn’t too sure, he’s heard the stories but never actually experienced one himself. Until…he did, but it didn’t feel right.

Touch starved: Three gets injured, he hates himself because of it. He doesn’t think he deserves the help from his family, more so from Leo. But even he can get clingy when someone shows him the slightest bit of comfort.

[j-nope-not-today]

How would bay guy's react to saving someone and the person's reaction is,

"Damn I didn't know there was life forms from outer space on earth already- *gets a clearer look at the guy's* oh shit oh wait- you dudes are like... Anthropomorphic! Or something similar- Shit! Did I offend y'all in any way by saying you guys are outer space life forms or anthropomorphic??? IM SO SORRY-"

They're a absolute nerd and only scraped the surface of social interaction, that's why they appear vv fucking akward. Very respectful and nice tho

TMNT reaction to intelligent s/o

A/N: heyy..sorry this took me so long 😭 I sort of took this as a reaction sort of thing so apologies if you wanted smth different.

Leonardo

I feel like he would be...flattered?

Outer space beings are seen as generally pretty cool in his eyes

So like..in his eyes..you think he's cool too

You're gonna catch him smiling to himself like he's the only one there

I mean you didn't scream or run 😭

He would be beyond flattered I think

Now don't expect him to say anything other than some stupid wise shit

"oh uh..Be still..we come in peace?"

He will in fact be in charge of de-escalating

Will 100% be thrown off by any smart shit you say and will immediately look at Donnie for clarification

But oh boy...he'd fall hard

Rapheal

The hell did you just say to him??

Did you just call him an alien??

"hey! I'm not.. anthropomorphic?"

Cue him looking at Donnie

Upon getting an explanation..cue tough teddy bear

"oh uh..yeah.. anthropomorphic..sure"

Will be in his own head the entire time

Trying to memorize big words to look up later

He wants you to think he's smart too 🥺

Why do you gotta be so cute 😭

Donatello

LOVE

Finally someone who speaks his language..

Genius

Will immediately jump into a heated discussion with you

Will definitely get irritated if anyone asks him anything

My boy just wants to talk to you 😭

"Would you like to discuss the properties and differences of outer space life forms and anthropomorphism?"

Say YES

He will 100% try to rizz you up with those big words of his

Michelangelo

"hey good looking-never fear Mikey's here"

He will definitely think that line killed

Is so confused by your entire being 😭

Your so smart!

Which he is absolutely loving

But he has never been more confused

Will consistently stop you and ask questions about what your saying

"dude.. what's that mean?"

He'll absorb what you're saying like a sponge

But will get distracted staring at you and thinking about how CUTE you are to him

[tizeline]

What is Draxum's relationships with each of his kids?

I'd assume he's closest to Mikey due to their shared interest in the mystic arts, as well as Mikey's emotional attachment to anyone he considers family 🥰

I find it funny how similar Donnie and Draxum are in cannon and I wonder how that will play out in this AU

The same thing with Leo and Splinter were very similar to each other despite being on opposing sides.

Yeah, I'd say Draxum and Mikey are the closest with each other. Draxum loves all his sons, but he really has a soft spot for Mikey. Mikey in turn is very devoted to Draxum, I've mentioned it before but Mikey's strong desire to do the right thing paired up with a lifetime of his father convincing him that destroying humanity is the right thing has led to Mikey being very determined to fulfill Draxum's plan. Also him being a prodigy with mystic powers leads to him spending a lot of time training his abilites with Draxum.

Raph is basically Draxum's second in command, as the oldest of his brothers he of course is the leader of the team when Draxum isn't the one issuing out orders. Draxum puts a lot of responsibility on Raph, responsibility that Raph very much takes seriously so Draxum as a result also has a lot of trust in him.

Poor Leo is still very much dealing with some intense Middle Child Syndrome here lol. To be clear, Draxum still loves Leo, and vice versa, but Draxum's role as a parent has a tendency to clash with his role as a... what, a military commander? Something along those lines. Listen, he's preparing to lead the yokai into war against the humans, and with his sons on the frontlines he needs to quickly figure out their individual strengths so that can help them evolve their specific skillsets. Mikey has his mystic abilities, Raph has his physical power and Leo.... Well, we know that Leo's expertise lies in his strategic thinking, except neither he nor Draxum has figured that out yet lol. Draxum is the leader, he comes up with the plans, and Raph's in charge otherwise. He doesn't notice Leo's leadership capabilities because he doesn't even think to look for them.

Leo's situation is kinda similar in this AU to what is in canon, where his self-esteem issues caused by him not feeling like he's bringing enough to the team paired up with him being a total Daddy's Boy and craving parental validation that he doesn't feel like he's getting because Draxum is more focused on Leo's brothers so he acts out to get attention and again Draxum's parental duties clashes with his WAR LORD duties or whatever because dammit son I love you but you need to quit goofing off you're a soldier and uh.... yeah...... Leo feeling a bit like the black sheep of his family (hah, sheep, cuz Draxum's a... hah) is another contributing factor to him being the first to turn sides.

And yeah, you make a good point, Donnie being so similar to Draxum vs Leo being so similar to Splinter is.... ooooooo, that's fun, there's so much potential there. Draxum's definitely dissapointed that Donnie's so gifted when it comes to the sciences only for him to be all like "Alchemy??🤨🤨🤨 Mystic science??🤨🤨🤨 That's not scientifically accurate!🤨🤨🤨" and just rejecting almost anything yokai-related.

Actually, Leo reminding Draxum of Splinter has a lot of fun possibilites too. Draxum being all like "Ah, he's just like Lou Jitsu!🤩" while simultaniously being all like "Ugh, he's just like Lou Jitsu...😒"

[immadatdisney2]

HUGO IS A GREAT COOK!!!!

So APERENTLY this isn't a "popular" headcannon (which left me feeling hella bamboozled) so @uhjamszone, here's your promised essay (took more than ten minutes but wtv, sry lol)

SoOoOoOoOo, Hugo grew up on the streets where food was scarce and what people like him could get was usually from the dumpster or worse. So Hugo grows up not being picky, eating whatever whenever just to survive, but he still tries to make it decent (he tried to sleep in the back allys of restaurants and stealing from markets in the summer and stuff) so he learns to try different food combinations.

Then, when he gets taken in by Donella, since she is not only a badass crime boss but the Royal Engineer (#queen) he has access to real food now (he'd still have rations like all of Donnie's lackeys but it's still wayyyyyyyy better than before) and since he'd have to travel a lot for missions, he'd get pretty good at actual cooking (and he'd hide a little travel skillet in his room so he could cook) and since he has such a strong stomach from years of such shitty food, his dumpster-fire first tries don't phase him so he can just keep getting better at his craft.

On the trials, Nuru or Varian are usually the ones to make meals (neither of them trust Hugo not to do something stupid and prank their food) but all they can make is shit like ham sandwiches and baked potatoes and eggs on a good day or something all the time (Hugo dosnt love it but he dosnt care, food is food) but then, one day when they're out getting supplies or stm Yong is super hungry and asked Hugo to make something with him and Hugo just casually whips up the best meal they've had the entire journey so far and he's in charge of cooking from now on!

(Quick intermission to say that Olivia is his little chef just lime Remy. Yes she has her own little chefs hat. Yes she runs around grabbing all the spices and ingredients and stuff. Yes she does go up and pull on Hugo's hair and it dosnt do anything but piss her off. Annnnnnnnnnd Yes she does act all bossy and insist her idea is better despite not having a sense of smell or taste because she is a robot <3)

But later on, post-betrayl when he moves in with Varian at the castle and stuff. He gets super overwhelmed, he hates it there, he hates himself for hating it there, he dosnt deserve this, he dosnt belong. He dosnt know how to use all this fancy silverware and weird food that's super small and fancy and one of the things he lived most is turning against him, so he ends up skipping a lot of dinners. Varian gets concerned but he's sees how Hugo will eat his basic sandwiches and stuff, so they end up having a lot of cooking dates and skipping the fancy dinners in favor of Mac & Cheese in the library. And, another hc is that he ends up becoming good friends with Lance as they cook together (I hc he's a good cook too<3) and Lance teaches him how to make those fancy royal foods and Hugo ends up making them WAY better.

So, to wrap things up. He likes cooking, it's one of his love languages, he can pick up on new recapies pretty quickly but prefers to just wing it, despite being a great cook he's a shitty baker so dessert is always Varians job and feel free to add to this.

I'VE DONE MY PART, MAKE THIS A PIPULAR HEDCANNON NOW PLS!!!!

-ImMadAtDisney <3

[httpvomitello]

can we have a similar one to „All for one we fight together“ in Bayverse but they find out with the NYPD after the second movie that Shredder has a wife who is pregnant meaning she may end up giving him a Shredder Part 2 and they meet her and she’s a really nice lady Shredders wife=Us

Hello, hello! I'm glad you liked that fic, and I hope you like this one too ~ ♡♡♡♡

Shadows of Redemption *⁠.⁠✧

It had been a few months since the city was saved from Krang’s alien invasion, and things had finally started to settle down. The turtles were back to their usual patrols, the NYPD was trying to rebuild trust after the chaos, and April and Casey were enjoying some much-needed normalcy.

The news came through a quiet tip to April from a contact in the NYPD. "You’re not gonna believe this," April had said when she told the turtles, her voice low and disbelieving. “Shredder has a wife. And she’s due in a couple of months.”

"You're kidding," Raphael said, incredulous, leaning back against the couch in their lair.

Leo frowned, his arms crossed. “If this is true, it could mean trouble. A child could become a legacy for him.”

“Hold up,” Mikey interrupted, waving his hands. “Are we saying Shredder had time for romance between being a crime lord and an alien’s sidekick?”

Donnie adjusted his glasses, ignoring Mikey’s comment. “If this is accurate, the NYPD probably considers her a potential threat.”

April nodded. “They’re keeping an eye on her but haven’t made a move yet. They don’t want to draw too much attention.”

“Sounds like we need to meet her ourselves,” Leo said firmly.

The meeting was carefully planned. Through April’s connections, they arranged to approach her in a not public, neutral location.

When you arrived, the turtles, hidden in shadows nearby, were surprised by how… ordinary you looked. There was nothing about you that screamed “villain’s spouse.” If anything, you looked nervous, glancing around as you waited for April to approach.

When April introduced herself, you smiled warmly, though there was a guardedness in your eyes. “I’ve heard of you,” you said softly. “You’re the reporter who’s always getting into trouble.”

April laughed nervously. “Guilty as charged.”

You looked down at your hands, resting protectively over your belly. “Let me guess. You’re here because of my husband.”

April hesitated before nodding. “The NYPD is… concerned. And so are my friends.”

At the word “friends,” you glanced toward the shadows, as if sensing the presence of others.

“I figured someone would come eventually,” you said quietly. “But I promise you, I’m not a threat. I just want to live in peace.”

When the turtles finally revealed themselves, stepping out of the shadows, your reaction wasn’t fear or anger. Instead, your eyes widened in recognition.

“So,” you said, your voice calm, “these are the famous mutants my husband was so obsessed with.”

Raph narrowed his eyes. “You say that like you’re not on his side.”

You sighed, your hand instinctively rubbing your belly. “I’m not on his side. I never was.”

Donnie tilted his head, clearly intrigued. “Then why marry him?”

You hesitated, looking down for a moment. “When I met him, he wasn’t… this. He was ambitious, yes, but not cruel. At least, not to me. By the time I realized what he was truly capable of, I was already trapped.”

Mikey frowned. “Trapped how?”

“Do you think someone like Shredder just lets people walk away?” you asked bitterly. “I wanted to leave, but he wouldn’t allow it. When I found out I was pregnant, he claimed it was ‘proof’ we were meant to be together.”

Leo’s expression softened, though his voice remained firm. “Why not go to the police?”

“I’ve tried,” you admitted, your voice trembling slightly. “But his reach is everywhere. Every time I tried to run, he found me. Now, all I can do is protect my baby and hope… hope that he doesn’t grow up to be like his father.”

The turtles exchanged glances. You didn’t seem like a threat—far from it. You were kind, intelligent, and clearly terrified of the man you’d married.

“I don’t want my child to inherit his legacy,” you said firmly, meeting Leo’s gaze. “I want him to have a chance at a normal life. To be good. But I can’t do it alone.”

Raph crossed his arms. “So, what? You want us to play babysitter?”

“No,” you said quickly. “I just need to know that, if something happens to me, my baby will be safe. I don’t trust the police. I don’t trust anyone. But you…” You paused, looking at them with something like hope. “You’re different. You fight to protect people.”

Leo stepped forward, his tone resolute. “We’ll help you. We won’t let Shredder use you—or your child—for his plans.”

Tears filled your eyes, and you nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”

In the weeks that followed, the turtles kept a close watch on you, often checking in to make sure you were safe. You and April became fast friends, and even Casey found himself warming up to yourl.

Donnie built a secure monitoring system for your apartment, ensuring no one couldn’t sneak up on you. Mikey brought you snacks and joked about teaching your baby how to skateboard someday. Raph remained gruff but secretly went on extra patrols near your neighborhood, just in case. And Leo, became your rock, always assuring you that you weren’t alone.

When the day finally came for you to give birth, the turtles were there—hidden in the hospital’s shadows but ready to protect you his remaining followers tried anything.

As you held your newborn son in your arms, tears streaming down your face, you whispered, “You’re going to have a better life than he ever wanted for you. I promise.”

[goodlucktai]

hold the world to its best (6/?)

rottmnt word count: 2k pairing: raph & OC title borrowed from light by sleeping at last part of the archer au

(prev) (next)

x

The storm rolls in later than the forecast called for, starting in earnest the next afternoon. 

The first crack of thunder is so loud, even underground, that it makes everyone jump and Mikey almost fumbles the huge mixing bowl of eggs he’s whisking. It even startles SHELLDON awake from the nap he was taking in the charging dock in the corner. The string of beeps he lets out must be something pretty foul in binary, because Donnie whips around as quick as a snake. 

“Watch your language in front of the impressionable youth!” he yells after his kid, who makes a quick escape down the hall. 

Raph’s about to step into the line of fire for his robot nephew’s sake and point out the obvious—that none of them have half an idea what SHELLDON said, let alone the four-year-old among them—but Leo beats him to the punch.

“Uhhhhh speaking of the impressionable youth,” the slider says, “where’s George?”

“He’s right—oh,” Mikey stops short. His tiny spotted helper has vanished from where he had been parked on the stool pushed up to the counter. 

Mikey puts his bowl down and joins Leo in looking around, a frown tugging at his mouth. While he’s distracted, Leo swipes a chunk of bell pepper from his cutting board, which may or may not have been his endgame all along. 

“That’s so weird, he was here two seconds ago,” Mikey says.

Raph pushes back from the table and gets up to check the living room. A Jupiter Jim movie is playing on the projector, and Gio has revealed himself to be as much of a fan as the rest of his siblings are, but there are no little turtles sitting transfixed in front of the screen. 

“Not in here,” he reports back. 

“Stay calm, people, we have protocols in place for this,” Donnie says, tapping his bracer until it projects a holographic screen of color-coded GPS location pins. 

“Donald, you did not microchip that baby,” Mikey intones ominously. 

“Of course I didn’t. That would be unethical,” Donnie replies. He even rolls his eyes, because he has no sense of danger. “I implanted the chip in his nineteen-year-old self two days after he first moved in, like a reasonable person.”

Raph pinches the bridge of his beak and reminds himself to revisit this conversation later. For the hundredth time in their lives. 

“Can you find the kid or not, Dee?”

“Please, name literally one time my Genius Built methods have ever failed us in any capacity. Of course I can find him,” Donnie scoffs, only to frown at the big error symbol that pops up on the holoscreen a second later. “Ah. Update, due to certain magical interference, the tracker currently does not exist. I can’t find him.” 

“Great contribution, Tello,” Leo says, sounding like he’s fighting for his life to keep a straight face. “Maybe now we can just look for him with our eyes.”

Another rumble of thunder bullies into the conversation. The new lair is a repurposed subway station, closer to the surface than the old one had been, and this is the first time it’s stormed this hard since they moved in, so none of them were prepared for the magnitude of the sound. It reverberates through the tunnels and pipes, amplified by the metal and cement and hollow spaces. 

“He probably went after SHELLDON,” Raph reasons. “I’ll go find him. You two bozos stay put and help Mike finish making lunch.”

“Are you punishing them or me?” Mikey demands. Behind him Leo steals a cherry tomato off the cutting board, because he also has no sense of danger. Raph gets while the getting is good. 

Gio isn’t in the lab, where SHELLDON is buzzing around singing Speed Drive by Charli xcx to himself, or the bathroom. 

Anxiety begins to stir in the back of his heart, where it’s lived for as long as he can remember. It sleeps some of the time, but not as much as it used to. 

The steps leading up to the front door have been baby-gated to lengths of absurdity, part of Donnie’s manic lair-wide Georgie-proofing—so the odds of Gio making it past the stairs and into the dark maze-like tunnels in the handful of seconds someone wasn’t actively watching him are slim to none. 

It doesn’t stop Raph from worrying. He doesn’t want to shout Gio’s name, because he doesn’t want to do anything on purpose that would make that little boy’s eyes get big and fearful, but he can feel his steps getting more frantic with every room that he checks that comes up empty. 

The door to Gio’s room is ajar—it’s rarely ever closed—and Raph pokes his head in without expecting much. Baby Gio got an eyeful of it on the whirlwind tour Mikey took him on but didn’t seem particularly interested in exploring the space. 

It’s a comfortable room. Cozy, even, which is a style that a total stranger might be surprised to find out that Gio subscribes to, but absolutely no one who knows him needed longer than one second to conceptualize before they realized it made perfect sense. 

There are string lights draped across the ceiling, and a huge felt board that takes up half the length and height of the back wall, where photos and drawings and little mementos are pinned. A downy polka-dotted duvet swallows up the bed, and the curtains strung across the front-facing window, to block some of the light that beams in from the living areas, are polka-dotted for good measure—because if there’s one thing this family loves, it’s leaning into a bit. 

And it would be tidy if not for Gio’s little siblings leaving evidence behind of their constant comings and goings. Donnie’s Switch and wireless headphones have been tossed on the bed, and Leo’s guitar is balanced crookedly on the chair by the desk, and the desk itself is covered in the half-inked pages of a graphic novel Mikey is brainstorming. Even one of April’s college textbooks has ended up in here. 

Growing up, Raph never understood why all three little gremlins wanted to be in his room all the time—sprawled on his floor bickering over snacks, or cramming into his bed to make him watch two hour long video essays about any obscure topic under the sun—and then Raph got a big brother, and it all clicked. The huge pink beanbag that used to live in Raph’s room gravitated to the corner of Gio’s, where it ended up staying as a permanent fixture. Half the time Raph just lets himself in and flops into his designated seat, in the exact same way that Donnie and Mikey and Leo consistently get on his last nerve for doing. 

Gio, who thinks everything his siblings do is silly or charming or both, complains about it a lot less than Raph does. 

“Georgie?” he says, just in case there are any turtle toddlers lurking.

Of course no one answers, and he’s turning to leave and find another place to look, when he hears two separate sounds. A vicious growling bark of thunder that echoes down the tunnel, and a muffled whimper from much closer. 

Raph stops dead in his tracks. Now he’s listening for that second sound again specifically, straining to hear it, all his ninja senses and supersoldier senses and—most of all—biggest brother senses on high alert. 

He hears it, and follows it down onto his hands and knees to peer under the bed at where a tiny spotted turtle is hiding. 

Gio’s face is streaked with tears and he’s shuddering from head to toe, hands clamped over his ears, limbs all curled up like every frightened instinct in his body is urging him to go inside his shell. 

Feeling his heart break clean down the middle, Raph trips over himself to soothe, “Hey, hey, kiddo, it’s okay! Gio, what—”

Thunder rolls, and Gio flinches and makes another quiet sound of fear, and Raph realizes immediately what the situation is. He is also about two seconds from bodily lifting the bedframe and flinging it out of the way to better scoop Giorgio up. He has always, historically, hated any potential barrier between himself and his siblings with a single-minded fervor. He can’t even function when someone he loves is crying and he can’t reach them. 

He reigns in the impulse to charge forward. It takes both hands and considerable willpower. 

Running in recklessly always worked out when he was a child, because stakes were low and his brothers would follow him anywhere even if they fully believed his plan would fall apart as early as step one. 

But as he got older, and had to force the leadership reins into Leo’s unwilling hands, and that charming and reliable guy who was forever on Raph’s right hand side with a clever idea or an exit strategy suddenly became someone willing to let them all fail just to prove a point, Raphael learned the value of thinking things through. 

And he can’t just throw the bed out of the way, he reminds himself with gritted teeth, because that would scare the baby. 

So instead he settles on his plastron right there on the floor, cheek pressed to the rug, and starts to rumble deep and low in his chest. April calls it his car engine sound, and Donnie has correlated it with the healing frequency of a cat’s purr more than once. Guaranteed to comfort frightened little turtles or your money back. 

Sure enough, after a moment, Gio’s eyes peek open. He’s crying so hard he’s hiccupping, but other than that he’s barely made a peep. Until he manages to focus on Raph’s face, and then his sobs have a little voice behind them. 

“Hey, big man,” Raph soothes. “Raphie’s right here. Nothing bad is gonna happen while Raphie’s right here.” 

Gio doesn’t budge from where he’s wedged against the wall but he’s listening. He’s such a good kid, always listening. His limbs are curled so tight they must hurt, it would probably feel better for him to just pull inside his shell at this point, but for whatever reason he stays in a miserable little ball. 

“That storm is pretty loud, huh? Raph doesn’t like it either.” He reaches an arm under the bed, offering a hand. “But you know something? The best thing about being part of such a big family is that we keep each other safe. Even when it gets loud and scary and makes you wanna hide, you’ve got all of us here on your team.” Then, with a silly frown, he adds, “I’ll go wrestle that storm right out of the sky and make it say sorry for being such a bully and making my Georgie cry. How ‘bout that?”

Thunder rumbles again, and Gio jumps and shivers at the sound, but when he starts to squirm it’s forward, towards Raph’s open hand. He holds it with both of his much smaller ones, tears dripping from his chin, grip white-knuckled. 

Mouth wobbling, he bravely shakes his head. 

“No?” Raph says, playful and gentle in equal parts. “Okay, I’ll stay in here with you instead. Do you think I could fit under there? Scooch over a bit.”

Something that might one day grow up into a smile touches just the corners of Gio’s mouth. He shakes his head again. 

“Raphie’s too big,” he whispers. Raph scoffs in fake-offense and the almost smile on Gio’s face inches closer to the real thing. “We can go under the table,” he adds very earnestly. 

“That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard,” Raph says, down for literally anything that will make his babyfied older brother stop crying. “Come on over here, spots. We’ll go together.”

Some jangling, dislocated thing in Raph’s heart only settles when he’s got Gio in his arms, tiny, insubstantial thing that he is. He sits on the floor for an extra minute, rumbling extra loud, until Gio’s pulse slows its frantic leaping into something closer to its normal resting rate. The next time the storm tries to speak up where it isn’t wanted, Gio’s tucked safely under Raph’s chin absorbing his car engine sound and only shivers. 

Red catches Raph’s eye, a familiar hoodie hanging from the handle of the closet door. He’d given it to Gio months ago, when a cooking incident led to Gio’s jacket getting tossed into the wash, and Raph had said, “Here, you can borrow one of mine.”

He’d fished the old hoodie out of a basket of clean laundry and passed it over. It wasn’t anything to write home about, weathered and faded over the years, the hem stretched out and a corner of the hoodie pocket peeling away thanks to a loose string. 

But Gio looked stunned when he saw it. He took it from Raph’s hands robotically and pulled it over his head with a mumbled thank you. It was laughably big on Raph’s big brother, who would probably only have a few inches on the twins for a few more years.

Raph grinned and helped Gio roll up the sleeves, saying, “All my siblings steal this one from me constantly. Right of passage. Look, see? Perfect fit!”

“Yeah,” Gio said hoarsely, thumbing carefully at the frayed hem as if it was spun with gold. “Perfect fit.”

Since he seemed to like it so much, Raph let it keep mysteriously ending up in his room. And Raph reaches over for it now, tucking it in with his armful of Georgie as a makeshift toddler blanket before he finally pushes to his feet. 

“Sorry,” Gio says very quietly as they make their way back toward the light and laughter pouring out of the kitchen. “For hiding.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Raph says, startled. “Georgie, you got scared, that’s not your fault. Of course you hid, that’s what any smart little turtle would do. Mikey hides when the toaster pops too loud. And I get scared all the time.”

Gio clearly doesn’t believe him, frowning deeply. That stubborn face is one-hundred-percent their Gio.

“Raph’s too big and strong to be scared,” the spotted turtle retorts, as close as he’s likely to ever come to a more age-appropriate “nuh-uh!” 

“Hah,” Raph says, “I wish that was true.” He looks down at Gio and tells him, “The thing that always makes me feel brave is remembering that I have all of you guys with me. I have a thing I say that helps. Maybe you can try it next time you get scared. Just say I’m not alone.”

“I’m not alone,” Gio repeats obediently.

One day, Raph thinks, it’ll stick. 

Until then, they’ll keep reminding him. They’ll drag him out of the dark a hundred thousand times and lead him to a warmer, well-lit place, where his siblings will trip over themselves to put a smile on his face, even if that means eating frittatas on the floor under the kitchen table. 

Leo keeps stealing food from Mikey’s plate until finally Mikey snaps and goes in for the kill, and Donnie shrieks when they kick over the pitcher of lemonade because now he’s sticky and someone will be paying for it, and Splinter comes in to investigate the noise and takes in the scene playing out under the table and says, “Why are you like this? Who raised you?”

The rest of the storm passes the way storms always do. The next time thunder rumbles through the lair, Gio is too busy giggling to hear it. 

[portableleo]

forgot to share my future au designs for the 2012 boys here! i'll throw some headcanons under the cut 👇🏽

- a couple years after the end of the 2012 series, leo moves to japan with karai and shinigami to help them manage the new foot clan. it was a difficult decision but eventually the boys accept it. leo leaves on amicable terms with his brothers and they keep in touch

- raph is left in charge of the other two rascals. despite not being able to handle the pressure of being leader when he was younger, he fits the role much better now. donnie and mikey joke that hes as big a worrywart as leo was, if not bigger

- donnie almost entirely gives up on his martial arts training. raph tries to keep him into it but he becomes even more stubborn as he got older. raph reluctantly gives up on pushing it. he still keeps on top of tech and takes a more "guy in the chair" role for missions

- mikey gets into boxing! it happened on an especially boring day and raph entertained him by showing him the basics. mikey got super into it and now practices his boxing regularly. he uses raph's punching bag more than raph does now

- raph gets one whole inch on leo. they discover that he's slightly taller when leo comes back home to visit for the first time in years. raph is absolutely ecstatic. leo is horrified to learn he's the shortest now (i have to spread the short leo agenda, sorry)

- yes, mikey where's his mask longer now. yes, everyone was upset when he started doing that. he jokes that he's "growing his hair out"

[silveroguy]

DAY 13: SCARS, PART 2

Ah yes. Mikey. So here we go:

I headcanon that Mikey's electric powers still reside deep inside. But Mikey can't control them at all, and they're dormant. He occasionally gets slightly electrocuted, but as time goes on it weakens and happens less and less.

Of course he has lightning scars!! I mean. He did get electrocuted quite a lot in the episode. Mikey got used to being shocked but his brothers, well.. they had a hard time getting used to it, cuz it was out of nowhere. Mikey learns to feel the shock charging as time goes on.

I didn't say as much as I said about Donnie but oh well..