#tmnt fanfiction

[indieyuugure]

Episode 7 of Aliens and Mysteries! And now…✨backstory✨ (for those of you who read the concept art of this, stick around cause there’s changes)

Previous: (3) Episode 6

Next: (3) Episode 8 -Get the next part a week early on Locals at indiey.locals.com

See All…

[the-tmnt-ficfinder]

Three days left until I answer the letters!!

We've got almost 30 letters!! Keep sending them in!!

🌟Christmas Kindness🌟

A TMNT Fanfic author appreciation event!!

Hello, and welcome!! As it is December 18th, the event known as Christmas Kindness will now begin!!

What is Christmas Kindness?

Christmas Kindness is an event to help show appreciation, kindness, and love to all the TMNT fanfic authors out there!! It works kinda like a Secret Santa event.

How does this work?

For this event, you, the readers, will be sending in anonymous letters into my inbox, addressed to your favorite fanfic authors!! For one week, you'll all send in these kind letters, and then on Christmas Day, I'll answer them and tag the people that the letters are addressed to, keeping all those kind letters a fun little secret!! You won't know who sent it!!

How long does this event run?

Christmas Kindness will be running from December 18th, to December 24th. Then on the 25th, all the secret letters will be answered!! Letters may still be sent in on the 25th, but once it hits the 26th, the event is done!!

How do I participate?

Its very easy!! To participate, you simply write a kind letter to a fanfic author, and send it in my inbox!! You can praise the author, their works, a particular chapter, or any of their writing really!! For this event, its also HIGHLY encouraged to send multiple letters, to numerous authors!! You can choose any TMNT author you know!! This is not exclusive to the Fanfic List!!

What are the rules?

All letters HAVE to start with "Dear @ InsertUsername" so I know who to tag when the letters are answered!

2. All letters are to be anonymous!! This is like a secret Santa event!! You are not supposed to know who sent you the letter!!

3. These letters are to be addressed to authors only!! No comic artists! Its ok if the author is a comic artist, but please focus this on their writing as this event is dedicated to authors only!!

4. No venting!! Its alright to say if a fanfic influenced your life during a tough time, but please, no venting.

5. No spamming a single author!!

6. No hateful content!! We love our TMNT fanfic authors, so anything mean, at all will be deleted!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I will be reblogging this post daily until December 25th, when I answer all the letters!

Everyone is encouraged to participate!! And I mean, EVERYONE!! So go ahead, share, reblog, and tag friends!! We love your TMNT fanfic authors, and we want them to know that!!

If any of you have questions, please ask them down below in the comments so if any others are curious and/or have the same questions, they'll be able to see the answers.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Happy Holidays!! I look forwards to seeing what kind things you all end up sending!! <3<3<3

[imagionationstation]

12 Donnie 🎲

🎲 -> The most unlucky day

Leo's surprised when Donnie joins him.

He looks dead on his feet when he trudges into the kitchen. That's not surprising. It's almost four in the evening. He's up earlier than he normally is. He slumps onto a chair, laying his head in his arms and looking off at the wall, and Leo tries to recall when he last slept.

His sleep schedule had actually been doing better over the past few weeks. Leo watched him go to bed the day before. He'd been smiling as he did, helping Raph tease Mikey about the horror film that they'd watched. The eye bags were not this massive.

He contemplates saying something, but he's too tired to interrogate him over whether or not he actually slept. He'll save it for when Donnie makes it a weekly endeavor.

But, he might as well- 

"There was no nightmare." Donnie announces, sudden enough that Leo almost spills the tea. Dull gaze lingers on the neon sign. "Yes, my eye bags are heavy. Yes, I should head back to bed. No, I'm not going to. And no, I don't want to talk about it."

The building conversation sputters out.

Leo pours his drink. Donnie doesn't move.

Since his brother is clearly feeling moody, Leo decides to excuse himself to focus on more pressing matters. Namely-

"Can I join you?"

Leo looks at his younger brother. He doesn't look back.

Donnie admits, "I know you're going to watch Space Heroes and I know you got up this early so you didn't have to deal with us, but can you please make an exception?"

"Um." Leo's tempted to deny him, but he sounds so... Defeated. Wait. How did he know that? Leo never told them. He was always meditating by the time that they came out. He was careful. 

Double wait. Is he misinterpreting Leo's mornings of peace as avoidance? Sure, maybe they were a little avoidy, but not like that.

"Sure." He agree awkwardly. "But-"

"No negative commentary. No fun facts. No interruptions of any kind." Donnie hauls himself to his feet. His looks at Leo and the leader notices his reddened eyes before he turns away. "I know."

Leo's concern mounts. He follows him out of the kitchen. The tea is left forgotten on the counter.

He expects him to find a place on the couch to collapse, so he goes to claim his own area. He does not expect him to go to his room, come back with a blanket, and drop himself against Leo's shoulder in a suspiciously cuddly fashion.

His knees are tucked close to his body, arms closed in a self-hug. Up close, his younger brother looks pale. For more pale than he'd been the night before, worn down by an unexplained enemy. It makes the bags under his eyes bigger than he originally thought.

Leo watches at him. Donnie looks numbly at the tv.

Captain Ryan heroically proclaims the adventure of the episode as Leo sets the back of his hand on his younger brother's forehead. It's not warm. Donnie leans into the touch. Leo slowly removes it, and Donnie follows it momentarily.

He blinks, the haze gone, and pulls back.

Okay, that's it.

"Donnie," He says, cool. "What's going on?"

"I should have chosen Raph." His younger brother tells the tv. "At least he'd have given me a few hours."

"Too bad." Leo tries to meet his eyes, "You're stuck with me and if you don't tell me what's going on-"

"It's a time loop."

Leo pauses, "Excuse me?"

"I stopped counting a while ago." Donnie's tone is even, recited. "It resets every night at midnight. Renet won't tell me how. She can't tell me why. I lost track of days. I used to tell you guys. You never believe me. None of you eher bulieve me."

His voice stutters, wet with quiet sob. He inhales, shakily, repressing the weakness. ���Y-You keep going out. You keep dying. I’d tell you not to go and you’ll go anyway. Someone has to die out there. Someone always has to die.” 

Alarm has Leo swallowing, heart pounding as his hand instinctively comes up to brace his brother. Donnie won’t look at him. “I thought it would be easier if it’s me. I thought maybe once it was me it would end. It didn’t end. I woke up!” 

His voice shatters. Leo furrows his brows, feeling less than half awake. The tv is too fuzzy to watch so he looks back at his brother, “I don’t understand.”

“You can’t.” Donnie admits. “No matter how many times I tell you… You can’t.”

Leo stares at him. Donnie pleads, “I can’t watch you die again.” 

Something deep in his being softens, recollecting old moments where a much smaller Donnie would invade his bed when his brain got a bit to much for him to handle on his own. He watches his eyes as they’re cloaked with tears and brushes his thumb against his arm. “It was just a nightmare.”

“It’s not.” His voice drops into a whisper. “It’s not. It’s not.” 

“I can prove it.” Leo prompts gently. He’s seen how bad his brother’s stress dreams can get. Not to mention the repetitive ones. Leo personally knows that those are always the worst.  “We’ll go out tonight. A quick patrol.”

“I want it to end. I want it all to end.”

“They won’t last forever.” He presses as images flit by on the screen. He’s missing the episode. “You’ll get through it.”

“I thought it would end if I was the one to die.” Donnie's voice goes flat, contemplative. “Maybe I also need to be the one doing the killing.”

“Hey,” Leo cuts in, startled. “Hey, hey, don’t talk like that. You’re going to be fine. You’ll get through this. That’s never the answer.” 

“I’m so tired of being mad at you.” Donnie presses further against Leo’s shoulder. He blinks, hazily, trying to remember why Donnie might be mad. What did he do this time? “I can’t keep hating you and then watching you die.”

Oh. Nightmare Leo. Right. 

“Gee.” He roll his eyes, fondly. “Good to know you’re consistent, at least.”

He turns up the volume, relaxing onto the cushions, leaning into his brother’s heat.

“I love you.” Donnie breathes, abruptly. “I don’t think I told you that yet. You’re a good big brother. A really good one. Even when you drive me nuts. You’re really great. A-and you try so hard for us. I know you do. There’s so much I need to thank you for-”

“As much as I’d love a long list of reasons that I’m great,” Leo murmurs, taking note of the wild burst of tremors. “You’re freaking yourself out. And that’s admittedly freaking me out. We can talk about this later, okay? When you’re less frazzled.” He wraps his free arm around him, rubbing the blanket. “I should have respected you when you asked me not to the first time.”

Donnie wipes at his eyes, “Okay. Yeah. That’s- that’s what I wanted.”

He sniffs. Leo suggests, “How about you get some more sleep? You look tired.”

“I’m dead tired.” Donnie agrees, sounding the part. He closes his eyes, beginning to nod off instantly, only to violently gasp back in consciousness. He doesn't even give Leo a chance to ask.

“Once I fell asleep and you left without waking me up. You have to promise that you won't do that again. You have to. Please?” Donnie tilts his head, scanning his expression desperately. “Please?” 

“I won’t leave you behind.” Leo sighs because it’s so not fair that his brothers are able to pull on his heart strings like this. “You don’t gotta worry about me.” 

He laughs, short and brief, but it doesn’t sound happy.

Leo tries to grasp the joke.

Donnie lets his eyes close, curling into Leo as he does. His older brother tucks the blanket further up his shoulders, leaning his cheek against his forehead. Absently, he wonders how someone so tall could make himself so small. 

“I love you,” Donnie whimpers, barely audible.

Leo smiles, grateful that he made an exception, just this once.

“Love you too, little brother.” 

Awe how completely and utterly fluff. Just two bros sharing some nice bonding time 💙💜 Nothing else happening here.

[dysfunctional-doodle]

Uuh I promise I’m doing the next chapter of Too Many Turtles I’m just struggling for time and motivation bare with, please and thank you ✌️

[albaqae]

@ ALL RISE FANS THAT MAKE COMICS & STORIES

So I’ve noticed that in this fandom it’s common to include Deaf/ASL-using-characters into stories, which is honestly AMAZING and makes me SO HAPPY TO SEE, but many of us aren’t deaf we rely on resources, therefore:

My ASL teacher gave us this website cause it’s updates constantly (ASL evolves lots) and it’s a lot more accurate and reliable than just google :))

To work it- type the word, and a word bank will pull up, click on the term u want and a video/description of the sign and word will appear!!!

It’s rlly simple and has most words and if it doesn’t it’s bc it’s finger spelled probs!!!!

If u want more in-depth good grammar, search up “five parameters ASL”, “glossing in ASL” and watch a few videos to see “how sentence structure differs in ASL”

As always, remember it’s ok to make mistakes/notice a mistake, just be mindful and kind :D most of us aren’t out for malice and if someone is it’ll probs be very obv 😭

Happy Creating!!

Edit: A THANK U SO MUCH FOR THE REBLOGS :)) if anyone ever needs any help drop a comment or look at other reblogs!! There’s lot of other resources/tips there!!!

[citruswriter]

TMNT Masterlist

Btw I write exclusively for the Bayverse & ROTTMNT turts. And a reminder that I use the citrus scale. Be sure to check my bio if you don't know what that is!

Characters I Write For

Master Splinter 🧡

Leonardo 💛/🩷

Raphael 💛/🩷

Donatello 💛/🩷

Mikey 💛/🩷

TMNT Boyfriend Scenarios

Animalistic Reader 🧡/💚if you squint

Second Meeting/Becoming Close 🧡

Realizing They're In Love 🧡/💚if you squint

Then Finding Out You Have A Partner 🧡

Breaking Up With Your Partner 🧡

Tender Moments/Realizing You're In Love 🧡

Being Rescued From Danger 🧡

Confessing 🧡

Animal Love 🧡

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

All Turtles/No Specific Pairing

Say It Again 🧡

Bayverse Turtles x Younger Sibling Reader 🧡

Yandere Bayverse Turtles x Receptive Darling 💛/🩷

Bayverse Turtles x Adopted Younger Sibling Reader 🧡

Bayverse Turtles x Eepy Reader 🧡

Bayverse Turtles Reacting to Shredder Having a Mutant Turtle as a Pet 🧡

Making Headcanons about the Rise Turtles as Somebody Who's Never Seen The Show 💛

Whatever This Is 🧡

ROTTMNT Boys x ND Reader during 4th of July 🧡

Bayverse Turtles x Kitsune Little Sister 🧡

Bayverse Turtles x Fainting Disorder Reader 🧡

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Leonardo

High Standards 🧡

ROTTEN Leo x Southern Reader Blurb 💚

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Donatello

Imagine Blurb 💛

Relinquish 🧡/🩷

Glasses 🧡

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Raphael

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Michaelangelo

ROTTMNT Mikey x Reader Imagine 💛

ROTTMNT Yandere Mikey x Reader Blurb 💛/🩷

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Polyamorus Writings

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Tcest Masterlist Here!

^ Tcest has its own masterlist for the comfortability of those who do not wish to see that kind of stuff. I don't want you guys to go reading a fic of mine just to find it has tcest so I made it easy and made a whole other masterlist for it.

[thelaundrybitch]

Donnie Kisses

Turtledoves, it's been a fabulous day!

And I thought I'd share a little sugar with you...

➡️ Aged-up, adult turts

this may or may not have gotten a little out of hand I'm so sorry

Sweet and spicy - you've been warned.

Let me introduce you to Mr. Romance™

While Leo is going in for the kill, boyfriend here is just gonna be killing it.

I'm a firm believer that Don is Mr. Romance. And he is going to keep you on your toes. Chase you. Make you wonder…

He's gonna go from that little kiss kiss kiss to absolutely fucking manhandling you while you two are arguing.

You know the kind… 

Don is going to wait. He's going to make sure that this strange pull to you is worth risking his friendship with you. He's going to research. Calculate. He’s going to ask all the right questions and say all the right things. Tiptoeing the line of…  Suggestive… Or sarcastic? And right when he’s close enough with that flirty Don look on his face, he’s going to start speaking softer and softer so you have to lean in closer to hear him, so you’re hanging on every word and he’ll just lean forward and close the distance, brushing his snout alongside your nose to test. When you don't back away he will just barely touch your lips with his. With the lightest kiss… kiss… kiss… before he slants his mouth across yours and massages his lips against yours.

He’ll be busy. Sitting at his desk. Working on something. And while he’s interactive with you, you still aren’t his focal point. And it’s nudging at your patience.

Little do you know, you do indeed have his utmost attention. He’s doing it on purpose.

He’s waiting. Feeling you out. Seeing how long it takes until- 

Your leg stretches over his hips so you’re face to face with him, and your arms move around his neck as you lean against him. But he just dodges your head, looking around you as he continues to type lines of code. His brain working a million miles a minute, smiling internally that he has you… Right where he wants you. And it’s not until your voice goes from irritation that he’s ignoring you - to whining and pleading, that he stops mid-keyboard click and locks his eyes on yours, a smug smirk making its way across his lips. Hands abandon his coding and move to your waist as he rolls his chair forward and traps you between him and the desk. As his face gets closer to yours, he pauses and whispers, “Need me to run your lines of code too?” Then he laves the crease of your lips with a flat tongue, one of his hands moving to the back of your head to keep you still so he can absolutely devour you.

You had brought him to the rooftop of your building, having set up a date night. A blanket spread out with his favorite foods and some purple fairy lights as some romantic lighting. The pair of you sat and ate. Talking about everything. You were waiting for the meteor shower to begin, unbeknownst to him. Your smile grew wider as the time approached.

But then the clouds moved in, not only blocking your perfect view, but spitting down at you and ruining your surprise. Donatello jumps up and quickly starts to clean up the mess, but you can't stop the tears from falling along with the stupid rain.

He stops what he's doing immediately, hurrying to you.

As you vent out your frustration over the rain, he can't help but fall more in love with you, with each tear that makes its way down your cheeks.

Suddenly his mouth is on yours, coaxing your lips open, slow and firm. His tongue moving against yours in a dance of give and take.

The rain beats down harder and harder, adding some extra glide to your lips, and making him moan into your mouth the longer he tastes you.

You're out of breath and pull back, but his lips chase yours, his hands trapping your face in a cradle… because he needs more.

You had made it down to the lair before the guys got up. Peeking into the lab you see your boyfriend half asleep in his bed as he slappity-slaps at his phone alarm to stfu. Giggling, you head to the kitchen to start the coffee maker for him.

He comes out to the smell of newly brewed, fresh coffee, and follows the enticing scent to the kitchen.

Back to him, you're standing at the counter making him his morning coffee.

And something about the scene just sucks the oxygen from his lungs.

He's so in love with you.

His body moves on its own, and he quietly walks to the counter, grabs your hand and spins you like you're his dance partner. He spins you into his arms and dips you, his lips falling to yours while he holds you tight to him in that dip. Teeth grazing your bottom lip before he pulls it into his mouth for a little tantalizing suction. 

And as fast as it happened it’s ended.

A flirtatious smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth as he pulls back with a sultry quirk of a brow ridge, stands you on your own two feet, and strolls out of the kitchen, his coffee in hand.

He hasn't slept in days. The fate of the world is dependent upon his intellect to get them out of the current shit show.

Out of concern you tried to talk him into sleep, but he got nasty.

And a screaming match ensues.

Arms flung out and glaring as you yell back at him, you don't realize that this whole argument is doing it for him.

Your voice is strained and cracking as you bite back tears that threaten to spill, “Why are you being such a fucking assho-”

But the words die in your throat as he storms forward, crashing his mouth on yours as he scoops you up by the thighs, situating your spread legs around his hips. 

Your ass hits his lab table and he's crawling on top of you, pinning your hands above your head with a single hand while the other has a bruising grasp on your hip.

His tongue pushes through your lips only to pull back immediately with intense suction, your tongue swept into his mouth with his current of his lust. He does it over and over because he wants - no needs - to erase those dirty words from your pretty mouth. 

He never meant to get you that upset and now he needs to make up for it.

“I'm sorry for being an asshole… Let me make it up to you.”

He doesn't give you a chance to answer. He just takes those kisses from the top to the bottom, and lets his tongue love you with just as much passion below as he did above.

Please don't steal my work. Reblogging for others to enjoy is highly encouraged, though🤩

~tags~

@leosgirl82 @gornackeaterofworlds @t-annuki @scholastic-dragon @luckycharms1701 @ninnosaurus @flaminglily @fyreball66 @avery73 @leoandraphssoulmate @iheartchv

[indieyuugure]

Episode 6 of Aliens and Mysteries! It’s ninja time! (Jammies addition)

Previous: (3) Episode 5

Next: (3) Episode 7

See All…

[heck-theo]

NEON VOID - REVIVED [FULL AMV/PMV WIP] The Neon Void fic by @sugarpasteltmnt

I've been meaning to post this for ages but I just wasn't feeling in an art/ROTTMNT/fanfic mood recently. Kinda wanting to get back into it and work on it again now but don't hold your breath, I just wanted to post this in case I never finish it I wanted to show my support for the fic and didn't want all this work to go to waste. This was started before the end of the original Neon Void comic so I might adjust some of this to include later even possibly. But watching it again after months of not touching it... I kinda like it and want to work on it again? The black line art was a more refined/finished version I started working on.

About the song: This song is a fan song: Revived by Derivakat from 3 years ago. It is about a Wilbur Soot character from the Dream SMP (I think? I never watched it). Just be aware that there are some hefty accusations towards Wilbur being abusive that as far as I understand are pretty credible. The creator of the song does not support these actions and as far as I'm aware this song does not support Wilbur in any way but I just wanted to mention it so people are aware. Obviously I don't support abuse either and if this song was directly about Wilbur or supported him or the creator of it supported him then I probably wouldn't feel comfortable using it.

[sugarpasteltmnt]

Watch and be amazed... As I make the Krang Key...

Ď̹̟̫͗͠I͈̙̮͐͌ͤ͛S̹̅̒̍ͨA̵̺̾PP͔E̡̻̮̩͖̤͐A͍ͬ͜Ŕ̬̩̳͉̂̔ͥ͆ Â̸̛͔̱̗̔H̡̱̀̄̔Ą̗̃̔̄̄̈͝H̶͍̄ͥ̽ͪ̕͠AḨ̢̽͛͛̏ͬẢ̘̝͝HĀ̰͈̼͙̇ͫ–!!!

HUGE thank you to Anixolt on twitter for this INCREDIBLE commission for the newest chapter of The Neon Void!!! I can't believe it's finally here. We're nearing the end. I hope you all enjoy Leo's "show" hehe

[dysfunctional-doodle]

Death by Pringles, caught in 4K.

This is from the latest chapter of my chat fic, Too Many Turtles. (Click here to read latest chapter). Snippet below:

-> Commissions || My Kofi || Tip Jar :) <-

(Ew the resolution on mobile is terrible, click for higher res)

[sugarpasteltmnt]

TEEHEE i love Venom and i love how you drew Leo with Long Cat vibes because that is so him THANK YOU 💞💗❤️🩵💖❤️

If I had a nickel for every time, a story about the main character with a parasite from space is trying to get rid of a key that could unleash a strong evil being, all the while they're being tracked by a group who are under the impression that the mc is evil and try to stop or destroy them...

I would have two nickels.

Also Space Oddity by David Bowie is one of the songs associated with the story.

@sugarpasteltmnt

[the-peak-tmnt]

I’ve been writing my Mutant Mayhem fanfic for a year now, and that whole time, I’ve been setting the stage for Raph to learn meditation. I’m so fucking psyched about this I might explode. I FEEL SO VINDICATED!!

[zeawesomeness]

I’ve been reading The Eldest Brother fanfic by @debb987 and I absolutely adore Raph being able to hold all the 2012 children on his shell!!!

The background is stolen from the show (although I think that’s kinda obvious just by looking haha). I got the idea for this drawing when I saw a screenshot of Rise!Raph holding all his brother! So I traced that screenshot and just added the 2012 turtles on top.

[downwiththemutantnjnjaturtles]

Leonardo's First Love—Splinter's Talk

When Leo realized his heart was being divided, he felt afraid. 

His attention had always been captured by his family and his mission—he knew what it was like to love them. But never had he thought his love was going to be snatched up, split, and taken almost wholly by someone of the race that thought they were monsters. 

When Leo noticed the pull towards something else, something new, he pushed himself away. 

He found himself tonight an observer to soft skin, a vulnerable but inviting form that seemed to master existing as is without striving for status-quo. And it was entrancing, desirable; sparked sensations in him he had put under wraps years ago as a teen. Useless instinct. Basic drive. He had more to expect from the world, and expected more, he did…but every night, went back to the same old scenario. Her. 

"Get out of my head," he groaned as he laid up in the quiet lair when he was supposed to be resting, lost in thought. Smooth curves. A small stature against his. Hands, running down—he paused. Somewhere in the middle of a fantasy, he'd heard the words "I love you". That brought him back to the fact that it wasn't just desire. For that there were things he felt embarrassed to indulge in sometimes; but it didn't help anymore. Because those people in the screens, the words on a page of an R-rated book, were not her. Couldn't be, even if he tried. He wanted to know for just a moment what it was like to be human. To have that possibility of love there for the taking. And to never go for it, with all the permission those men had just for being human, he was disgusted. Feeling bitter over that fact sent his mind into overdrive—because he would feel even worse if some man did go for it with her. Like a walking contradiction, he was fighting with himself every step of the way. From she should stay away, to she should be with me. 

He got up to practice some forms. Maybe do maintenance on his flexibility. Sharpen his katanas. Anything to stop thinking and start doing. Somewhere during his steady training, he heard Master Splinter enter. 

"What is the matter, my son?" asked Splinter. He always knew even when his more stoic child Leonardo was troubled. 

"What's the matter? Nothing's the matter. I'm fine," Leo replied, balancing on one leg. "[Y/N] should head home, it's almost time for patrol." 

Splinter sat cross-legged down on a cushion with a slight smile. "So quick to mention [Y/N], even when you're preoccupied," he commented, "I told her she was welcome to stay whenever she liked. To repay for her generosity." That generosity being, stocking their fridge with things they couldn't get a hold of, to help out the heroes of New York. Something along the lines of making sure they were eating right for all they did. 

Leo paused, "What? I'm not quick, I was just saying…Splinter, it's weird having someone around now." 

"Does not have to be 'weird'," Splinter said. Leo felt his black eyes on him even when turned around. He was flustered, still going through the smooth motions of his kata. "Tell me what is really going on, Leonardo. I know you have something on your mind." 

Giving up his rotations, Leo slumped a little as he stepped off of the pedestal, setting his katanas down as he faced his father. "I don't know what's up with me, Master. I just don't get it." 

Splinter gave a knowing hum. Still, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It seems like you've been quite bothered over [Y/N], my son."

He knew he couldn't hide anything from Splinter. There was no point in deflecting longer; he was only embarrassing himself. Finally, he admitted, "I can't…you know the way it is, Master, it'll never work. She's cool with us, but she's a human. And I'm a mutant." He sat down before his father on a plain mat. 

"Yes, a very beautiful human, too," the old rat mused, gently stroking the longer hairs of his chin. Leo flinched and opened his mouth to switch the focus of the conversation, but Splinter beat him to it. "Surely a woman like that would not ever spend money on, cook for, and give quite undivided attention to such a mutant when he's training. You are correct, my son, it's over." 

Leo's face flushed cold, blood rushing to his cheeks as he listened to his father. "Master Splinter! I'm being serious!" he fussed as he leaned forward onto his palms. "I don't know what to do, I—" 

"—want to stop feeling this way, yes, I know," Splinter finished for him. "Oh, young love." 

It was quiet for more than a moment. Leo's face softened, his blue eyes studying his father's as he gave Leo a look of acknowledgement. He gathered the courage stuck in his gut fluttering about his stomach, mind bouncing between [Y/N] and what his dad was saying. "I made myself stop thinking about love and stuff a long time ago. Mikey's always going on about it. I know Raph wants to be accepted more than anything, and Donnie, he's got his secrets. I'm supposed to be the example. I was supposed to show them we can live and not care. That our lives are worthwhile even without humans being involved. But now…" 

Splinter raised a brow at him. 

"I'm in love," Leo said. "And—and want it so badly." 

Splinter reached forward to place a hand on his shoulder. As soon as [Y/N] had entered their lives, he knew this day was going to come for one of his sons. It was inevitable, he thought. "Welcome to manhood, my son, this was fated to happen at some point. I've only been waiting since she arrived." 

Leo felt exposed. He felt unsure, and that uncertainty was driving him insane. He was always steadfast in his approach. Knowing he was a fish out of water in this situation disarmed him. 

"Master Splinter, what do I do? Tell me." 

Splinter's idle smile left as the tone turned  more serious suddenly, adding to Leo's growing discomfort. "You must understand that having [Y/N] means that your burden will grow. Not only will it be your brothers you will have to protect, but her, as well. It is your job to defend her from anything that could put her in harm's way. She is not built to fight like you. She is vulnerable, and being affiliated to us will only add to the dangers already present in this world. That is what you must come to terms with. But you must not ignore your heart, either." 

Having another body to look after. He contemplated that before answering. When he thought about defending her, it did not feel like an added chore. He wanted to. What was he so strong for if not to also protect the woman he loved? And what he had said before…could she have felt the same way? 

"You've prepared me more than enough to be able to handle another person, Master." 

He wanted nothing more than to hold her. That was something he could not deny. He enjoyed being an observer to a way of life so different from his; femininity, not always being the one taking care of others. He loved his family, but at times, leading was tiring. He wanted to forget about it for just a little bit, maybe lay down, be with someone he didn't have to "manage".

Splinter would have been lying to have said he wasn't surprised at all. But he knew his sons, inside and out—Leonardo had iron will. 

"It is your choice, Leonardo," Splinter said amiably. 

His choice? He wanted to laugh. There almost wasn't a choice. He felt like every road led back to her. It was either face his fears, or stay awake every night plagued with the possibilities of what could be. And he didn't handle fear well. It twisted his stomach and ate him up inside when he felt uncertain, afraid. God, one word is all I need from her. Just one "yes". One touch. One kiss.  He wanted to feel her hands explore his plastron, run along the edge of his shell. Love what made him, him. 

Overcoming the hesitance he felt, he let out a deep breath, committing to a final answer. " I don't know how, but...I want to try. I can't let this go. There has to be a reason all of this happened. If everything that's happened to us up until now has been destiny...I can believe it for this, too. Thank you, master."

Just felt like writing our leader in blue having a talk with his father 😌 Going to make this a little mini series for all the boys!