Authors note: Hi everyone, Here’s a little fanfic I wrote, one of my favorite things to do is dive into the TMNT universe and explore these characters in new ways. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and if anyone has any prompts or requests, I’m more than happy to write something just for you! Let me know what you’d like to see next.
Synopsis: After a dangerous encounter with the Foot Clan leaves Leonardo injured, (Y/N) becomes his refuge. As they help him recover, their unspoken bond deepens, and they discover a connection neither expected—quiet, powerful, and impossible to ignore.
Content/Trigger Warnings:
This story contains depictions of violence, including injury and combat, mild blood, slow-burn romantic tension, and implied sexual situations. Reader discretion is advised.
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The running tap was the only sound in the apartment.
I had always enjoyed the silence of living alone. Growing up in a loud, rowdy family meant you learned quickly that peace and quiet were rare. Someone was always talking, arguing, or stomping around the house.
So now, moments like this felt almost sacred.
Just me, the soft running water, and my thoughts.
And lately, I had a lot of those.
I finished washing the last few plates and set them on the clean side of the sink before turning off the tap. The sudden quiet settled over the room as I dried my hands with a towel.
I had just started to enjoy the stillness when I heard a light tap against the window.
Sitting casually on the fire escape was Mikey, watching me through the glass.
Now, to any normal person, seeing a giant green turtle armed with ninja weapons staring through your window would probably be terrifying.
He was one of my closest friends.
I walked over and unlatched the window, pushing it open.
I cheered as he easily climbed through, landing inside my apartment.
The turtles were my favorite company to have over. My apartment was high enough that they could come and go through the fire escape without much trouble.
Sometimes I felt a little bad for my downstairs neighbors.
The turtles weren’t exactly small guys.
Watching Mikey hop through the window and land heavily on the carpet, I was pretty sure the people below me could hear it.
They were probably used to it by now… or at least very confused.
Mikey brushed off his hands dramatically like he had just completed some impossible stunt.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
He flopped down onto my couch while I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge.
“What’ve you been up to, angelcakes?” he asked.
I grabbed the pitcher of cold filtered water and poured myself a glass.
“Not much,” I said with a small shrug. “The usual. Work, school, family.”
Mikey nodded slowly, leaning back into the couch like he owned the place.
“Dang,” he said. “Your life sounds exhausting.”
I laughed softly, taking a sip of water.
“What about you guys? Anything interesting happening in the turtle world?”
Mikey’s eyes lit up immediately.
“Oh man, you should’ve seen Raph earlier—”
I sat down next to him on the couch, crossing my legs and leaning in a little, eager to hear whatever story he was about to tell. Hearing about the chaos the turtles got into was always one of my favorite things.
I had always been close with all of them, but Mikey and I were particularly tight.
One time at the lair, I had jokingly referred to him as “one of the girls” while talking to April. Mostly because he was just so laid back. Unlike his brothers, Mikey carried the least responsibility on his shoulders, which made him the easiest to talk to.
Honestly, I could tell him almost anything.
And apparently, he took friendship very seriously.
Because unbeknownst to one particularly rude coworker of mine… that guy had unknowingly started one-sided beef with a 6’7 mutant turtle.
Mikey shook his head slightly.
“Raph and Leo got into one of their arguments again,” he said. “Raph stormed off somewhere, and Leo’s been taking it out in training.”
I frowned a little at that.
Those two fighting wasn’t exactly rare, but it never really sat right with me.
“Probably buried in his lab like usual. Something about upgrades to the Shellraiser.”
I nodded absentmindedly, but my thoughts were already drifting somewhere else.
If he was training after a fight with Raph, that probably meant he was pushing himself harder than usual.
Which also meant there was a pretty good chance he’d be down there for a while.
Mikey noticed the look on my face almost immediately.
A slow grin spread across his.
“Ooooh,” he hummed. “You’re thinking about going down there, aren’t you?”
“Uh-huh,” he said, clearly not convinced.
I awkwardly took a sip from my glass, suddenly finding the floor across the room very interesting.
Mikey had always suspected I had a little crush on Leo.
And honestly… he wasn’t wrong.
It wasn’t something I ever meant to let show. I tried to keep it to myself, telling myself it wasn’t a big deal. But every time Leo’s name came up, my brain immediately went to him—his voice, the way he always seemed calm even when everything around him was chaos, the quiet way he listened whenever I talked.
Just thinking about him was enough to make my chest feel warm and my stomach twist in that stupid, nervous way.
I hated how obvious it probably looked.
Especially to someone like Mikey, who seemed to notice everything.
He leaned forward on the couch, squinting at me like he was studying my reaction.
“You know,” he said slowly, “you do that thing every time someone mentions his name.”
I looked back at him, confused. “What thing?”
“That thing,” he said, waving his hand toward my face. “The whole trying to act casual but obviously thinking about him thing.”
I groaned softly, leaning back against the couch.
Mikey’s grin only widened.
“C’mon, angelcakes. You’ve totally got a crush on the fearless leader.”
I opened my mouth to argue… but nothing actually came out.
Which only made him laugh harder.
I slapped his shoulder, immediately forgetting that he was, in fact, a thick-skinned turtle.
“So,” I said quickly, clearing my throat. “Have you guys seen April recently?”
I tried to sound casual, like I wasn’t very obviously attempting to change the subject.
Mikey slowly turned his head toward me, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Wow,” he said. “That was the most obvious topic change I’ve ever seen.”
I leaned back into the couch, pretending to be deeply interested in my glass of water.
“Yeah, we saw her yesterday. She stopped by the lair for a bit,” he said before leaning closer with a mischievous grin. “But nice try though.”
“You’re still blushing, by the way.”
Mikey thought he was absolutely hilarious with those kinds of remarks. Teasing people was practically one of his favorite hobbies.
But despite how much he liked to poke fun at me about it, he was still a good friend.
Because as much as he joked with me about my obvious crush on Leo, he never actually said anything about it to him. At least, not that I knew of.
The last thing Mikey would ever do was throw a joke like that out in front of his brothers and put me on the spot like that.
He had come to that conclusion a while ago at the lair.
I had been sitting on the couch reading a new novel while Leo trained not too far in front of me. The training room opened into the main area, so it wasn’t unusual for one of the turtles to be training while the rest of us hung out nearby.
Mikey had been sitting next to me, half watching whatever was playing on the TV.
At some point, though, he noticed something.
I wasn’t really reading my book anymore.
My eyes kept drifting away from the pages, following Leo as he twisted, flipped, and moved through the room with his katanas. Every movement was controlled and precise, the blades glinting under the lights as he practiced.
To be fair, the turtles’ dedication to training was genuinely interesting to watch.
But apparently… I had been watching Leo a little more closely than I realized.
And Mikey had definitely noticed.
Later that evening, when Mikey was escorting me back to my apartment, he casually brought up Leonardo in conversation.
Almost immediately, my whole demeanor changed.
I tried to act normal, but Mikey was way too observant for that. He caught the way I perked up a little, the way my voice shifted when I responded.
That was the moment he figured it out.
Ever since then, he made a point of bringing Leo up whenever he had the chance—usually just to see my reaction.
And unfortunately for me… it worked every time.
My relationship with Leo was nothing more than a friendship. At least, that’s what I always told myself.
He was always so well-spoken, calm, and thoughtful with his words. Everything he did seemed so controlled and deliberate, like he carried himself with a kind of quiet discipline the rest of the world rarely had.
It was one of the many reasons I admired him so much.
Being around him just felt… easy.
Like no matter what was going on in my life, Leo always knew exactly how to listen, exactly what to say, and exactly when to say it.
And maybe that was the problem.
Because the more time I spent with him, the harder it became to pretend that my feelings for him were just friendly.
Mikey suddenly pushed himself up from the couch, stretching his arms above his head dramatically.
“Well, dude,” he said, standing with his head held high, “I should probably start heading back now. I was just in the area and thought I’d pop in for a bit.”
I raised an eyebrow at him.
Mikey grinned, clearly proud of himself.
“Yep. Totally random visit.”
Something about the way he said it made me suspicious, but before I could question him any further, he was already making his way toward the window.
“Are you doing anything tomorrow night?” he asked as he opened it, glancing back at me.
I shook my head slightly.
“Not that I know of. Why?”
“You should come by the lair,” Mikey said casually, pointing at me like he had just come up with the idea. “Splinter was asking about you.”
I couldn’t help but smile a little at that.
“Yeah. He said it’s been a while since you stopped by.”
He climbed up onto the windowsill, balancing easily like he had done it a hundred times before.
“Plus,” he added with a grin, “we could always use more pizza.”
“Okay, Mikey. See you around,” I said with a small laugh.
And with that, he hopped out the window and pulled himself up the fire escape like it was nothing.
I closed the window behind him, the apartment falling quiet again.
I couldn’t help but think about the lair.
He wasn’t wrong—it had been a few weeks since I actually went down there and hung out with everyone.
Of course, I still saw the turtles every so often. One of them would usually stop by my apartment during patrol, or I’d run into them somewhere around the city.
But it wasn’t the same as spending time at the lair, sitting around, talking, and just being part of their world for a while.
I glanced down at the watch on my wrist.
Almost one in the morning.
With a small sigh, I finished the last sip of water from my glass and stood up from the couch. Walking into the kitchen, I placed the empty glass in the sink.
The apartment had gone quiet again after Mikey left.
I stood there for a moment, leaning against the counter, staring absentmindedly at the dark window. The city outside was quieter than usual, the distant hum of traffic and the occasional siren drifting through the night.
My mind wandered back to what Mikey had said.
‘You should come by the lair.’
It really had been a while since I properly visited. Between work, classes, and trying to keep up with everything else in my life, the days had started blending together.
And if I was being honest with myself…
Part of me had been avoiding it.
Every time I went down there, it got a little harder to pretend my feelings for Leo were just harmless admiration. The longer I spent around him, the more I noticed the little things—how focused he got when he was training, the quiet way he listened when someone spoke, the way he always checked in on me whenever I stopped by.
It was hard not to think about him.
I shook my head slightly, trying to push the thoughts away.
“Get it together,” I muttered quietly to myself.
With a tired stretch, I headed down the short hallway toward my bedroom.
Tomorrow will probably be another long day.
And apparently tomorrow night I might be visiting the lair again.
Mikey hopped down into the sewer tunnels, quickly breaking into a run as he made his way back toward the lair.
The familiar tunnels echoed with the sound of his footsteps until he finally reached the large open room they all called home.
When he walked in, Leo was still training in the center of the room, his katanas flashing through the air as he moved through a precise sequence of strikes and spins.
Across the room, Donnie sat hunched over his workbench, completely absorbed in one of his latest gadgets.
Donnie glanced up briefly when Mikey entered.
“Back so soon?” he asked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“Yeah,” Mikey replied casually, shrugging as he walked further into the room. “Just stopped by to see what (Y/N) was up to.”
At the sound of her name, Leo paused mid-motion.
He slid his katanas back into their sheaths and turned toward Mikey, walking over as Donnie returned to tinkering with his small piece of machinery.
“She should stop by sometime,” Donnie added, adjusting a small component. “I’d love to show her what I’ve been working on. April said she’d probably be a fan.”
He gave a small snort to himself before going right back to focusing on the device in his hands.
Mikey crossed his arms with a grin, now standing beside Leo.
“Well, funny you say that,” he said. “I actually asked her to come by tomorrow night.”
Leo raised an eyebrow slightly.
Donnie looked up again, mildly interested.
Leo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Mikey shrugged dramatically.
“I mean, she didn’t say no.”
Leo shook his head slightly, glancing down at the ground. Mikey always had his head in the clouds when it came to things like that.
“Is Raph still out?” Mikey asked, turning toward him.
Leo nodded faintly and began walking back toward the center of the room.
“Yeah,” he said. “He needed to cool off.”
Mikey watched him for a second, tilting his head.
“You’re not still mad about that, are you?”
Leo stopped for a moment, rolling his shoulders before reaching for the handle of one of his katanas again.
“It’s nothing,” he replied calmly.
Mikey and Donnie both exchanged a look.
Leo rarely admitted when something was bothering him.
Donnie spoke up from across the room without even looking away from his work.
“You’ve been training for two hours straight.”
Mikey crossed his arms with a knowing grin.
“Yeah, dude,” he added. “That’s kinda your ‘something’s bothering me’ routine.”
Leo exhaled slowly through his nose before turning back toward them.
Mikey’s grin slowly returned.
“Well,” he said casually, “maybe tomorrow night will help with that.”
Mikey leaned back on his heels, clearly enjoying himself.
“The night (Y/N) comes to the lair.”
Donnie immediately stopped what he was doing and spun his chair toward his computer, rolling closer to type quickly. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he analyzed the incoming alert.
Finally, he straightened and turned toward Leo, expression serious.
“Foot clan disturbance, Leo,” he said.
Leo’s eyes narrowed, the calm mask of training giving way to sharp focus. He slid his katanas back into their sheaths, strapping them onto his back, and adjusted his stance.
Mikey bounced on the balls of his feet beside him, clearly excited.
“Oooh! Some action! I was getting bored!”
Donnie glanced toward Raph’s usual spot. “Raph’s still out,” he reminded them. “He won’t be back for a while.”
Leo didn’t respond, his gaze already fixed on the monitors Donnie had pulled up. The red glow of the alert reflected faintly on his face as he processed the information.
“Where?” he asked finally, voice calm but firm.
Donnie pointed at the map, highlighting the location.
“East end of the city. Small Foot squad, probably scouting. They’ve been getting bolder lately… and it’s right around …(Y/N)’s area.”
Mikey perked up immediately. “Hey! I was just over there a little while ago! Crazy coincidence!”
Leo’s eyes narrowed slightly, calm and controlled as always. “I’ll go,” he said, “It’s close enough that I can make sure the area is safe. I can handle it myself.”
Mikey frowned. “Wait, solo mission? You’re not taking us?”
Leo shook his head. “It’s a small group. I don’t need backup this time. Mikey, you stay here with Donnie and monitor the situation. No surprises.”
Mikey huffed but didn’t argue. “Fine… but I call dibs on storytelling when you get back!”
Donnie adjusted his glasses, worry flickering across his face. “Just… be careful.”
Leo gave a silent nod, already moving toward the exit..
Leonardo moved silently through the city, hopping from rooftop to rooftop with practiced ease. Every step was careful, precise, his movements almost blending into the shadows. The cool night air brushed against his face as he scanned the streets below, alert for any sign of the Foot Clan.
He came to a halt, crouching at the edge of a building. Below him, the streets were mostly quiet, but his sharp eyes picked out the faint movement of a small group in black uniforms—not far from (Y/N)’s building.
Leo’s gaze shifted instinctively toward her apartment. The familiar window where she often sat flickered with the warm glow of lights inside. He allowed himself only a brief glance before refocusing. He had a job to do first, make sure the area was safe.
He stepped lightly across to the adjacent building, positioning himself above the Foot squad. From this vantage, he could observe without being seen. Quiet, controlled, ready for whatever came next.
Leo crouched on the edge of the building, eyes locked on the small Foot squad below. They were moving faster than usual, more coordinated, and that immediately set off alarms in his mind.
Something’s different tonight, he thought.
With a swift, silent leap, he dropped to the ground closer to them, ready to strike. The first two Foot soldiers barely had time to react before Leo’s katanas were in motion, a blur of precise strikes and blocks.
But then… one of the Foot had something new: a short, metal baton, faster and heavier than expected. Leo deflected it at first, but in the chaos of the fight, it caught him off-guard. A sharp pain ran down his side as the baton grazed him, leaving a cut along his torso.
He froze for just a second—a moment that didn’t usually exist in his controlled battles—before adjusting his stance and continuing.
Not bad… they’ve been training, he admitted silently, gritting his teeth.
He moved faster, taking down the Foot soldiers one by one, but the pain was sharper than expected. His focus wavered for a split second, enough for one of the soldiers to land another glancing strike on his shoulder.
Leo climbed his way on a nearby rooftop, breathing heavily, one hand pressing against the sting of his injury. This isn’t good. I can handle them… but not like this.
From below, he could see the squad regrouping, their movements sharper, more coordinated than he expected.
This fight was going to be tougher than he had anticipated. For the first time that night, Leo realized—he wasn’t untouchable.
He had expected to be outnumbered, but not like this. His mind was scattered, plagued with thoughts of Raph—where his brother might be, whether he was nearby, whether he’d be safe. That worry weighed on him, clouding his focus, interrupting the precision he usually relied on.
The Foot Clan seized the moment. One strike—then another.
Pain shot through his arms, legs, and torso, each hit leaving a mark. Bruises bloomed, shallow cuts burned, and his body trembled under the impact. Leo stumbled backward, balancing precariously on the edge of the rooftop, trying to regain control.
Damn it… he muttered under his breath, forcing himself to steady his breathing. I can handle this… I have to.
But even as he pressed forward again, weaving and striking, the realization lingered: tonight, the Foot weren’t just testing him—they were pushing him to his limits. And he knew, deep down, that if he didn’t end this quickly, he could be seriously hurt.
With a final, precise movement, he sent the remaining Foot soldiers flying. They hit the rooftops and streets below, downed but not defeated—they would be back on their feet.
Leo pressed a hand to his side, feeling the sting of cuts and bruises spreading across his torso. He wasn’t going to make it back to the lair like this. Not with his body this battered, not with Raph still out somewhere. He needed somewhere safe.
Then his eyes caught a faint glow through a nearby window. Warm light spilling from a familiar apartment.
I jumped awake, my heart hammering. I sat up in bed and slammed on the nearby lamp switch.
“What the hell?!” I whispered to myself, eyes darting toward the living room.
Okay… now I am fully awake. My pulse raced. The noise was coming from the window. Could it be Mikey? Had he gotten into trouble?
I bolted down the hall, barefoot, and skidded to a stop in the living room.
There he was half crouched on the fire escape,one arm hanging awkwardly at his side.
I rushed to the window, fumbling with the latch.
“Leo! What the hell happened?!”
He crawled through the window, every movement slow and deliberate, his feet finally hitting the carpet. He swayed slightly, and I rushed forward, guiding him toward the couch.
“Sit—no, lay down. You’re hurt,” I urged, my hands on his shoulders, steadying him.
“The Foot… happened,” he muttered, voice low, almost exhausted.
I frowned, taking in the state of him—cuts along his arms, bruises forming on his torso, and a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead. My stomach knotted.
“Yeah, I can see that,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm even as panic clawed at me. “Don’t move. Just… stay still.”
He exhaled sharply and leaned back against the couch cushions, wincing. “I… miscalculated. They were… better than I expected.”
I grabbed the first aid kit from the counter, kneeling beside him. “You always think you can handle everything alone, don’t you?” I muttered, rolling up my sleeves.
“Usually,” he admitted quietly, glancing at me with a faint smirk despite the pain.
I shook my head, trying not to let my worry show. “Well, you’re not handling this alone tonight. I’ve got you.”
As I carefully began cleaning his cuts, his arm brushing mine more than once, I felt the familiar rush of adrenaline mixed with… something else. Relief. Concern. And maybe, just maybe, something stirring between us.
He watched me closely as I tended to the deeper gashes, his bruising becoming more visible in the dim light of my apartment. Every movement of mine was deliberate, trying to be gentle yet thorough.
“Where are the others, Leo?” I asked softly, trying not to alarm him further as I dabbed at the blood.
“Raph…” he muttered, grimacing slightly, his hand pressing weakly against his side. “He… went off. Needed to cool down.”
I swallowed hard, biting my lip to keep from showing how worried I actually was. “And Mikey?”
“Back at the lair,” he said, voice low. “Donnie’s monitoring from there. I… I needed to make sure this area was clear.”
I nodded, keeping my focus on him, on the cuts, trying to keep my thoughts from wandering. But it was impossible not to notice the way his eyes softened whenever they met mine, the faint strain in his posture as he leaned against the couch.
“You have to say, Leo… going alone like that? That was… really reckless.”
He let out a quiet exhale, his jaw tight as he shifted slightly on the couch. His usual calm, commanding presence was still there, but now tinged with fatigue and the faint sting of pain.
“I didn’t have a choice,” he said finally, voice low but steady, each word measured. “The Foot were near your area. I couldn’t risk anyone else getting caught in it.”
I shook my head, frustration and worry bubbling together. “Leo… that’s not like you. You’re always so strategic, so careful. Going in alone? That’s dangerous—even for you.”
He met my gaze, his eyes intense despite the bruises and cuts marring his face. “I know. That’s why I went. I couldn’t let this threat linger near you. It’s my responsibility.”
I felt my chest tighten, both from worry and something else—a pang of admiration, of something deeper I couldn’t quite name. “Responsibility… or stubborn pride?” I muttered, brushing a strand of hair from my face as I adjusted the bandage on his arm.
He gave a faint half-smile, the kind that was all Leo—calm, controlled, but with an unspoken warmth. “Both,” he admitted softly, leaning back against the couch. “But I would do it again if it meant keeping you safe.”
I couldn’t help but let out a small, exasperated sigh, shaking my head.
“Maybe,” he said, voice quiet, almost teasing despite the pain. “But you wouldn’t have it any other way, right?”
I looked down at my hands, finishing the final bandage. The brush of his skin against mine sent a familiar jolt through me, and I couldn’t hide the small smile that crept across my face.
“You’re ridiculous,” I muttered, more softly now, almost to myself.
“And fearless,” he added quietly, his gaze never leaving mine, a shadow of vulnerability hidden beneath the leader I knew so well.
After I finished cleaning him up, I just stared at him for a moment. The room was quiet except for our shallow breaths, and the weight of everything—his injuries, the foot, and the closeness between us—hung in the air.
Finally, practicality kicked in. I should call his brothers.
“I’m gonna let Donatello know what happened, Leo,” I said, standing and moving toward my bedroom to grab my cell phone.
Before I could, he reached out and gently grabbed my wrist. Not forcefully, just enough to stop me.
“Wait—” he signed, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Just… give us a bit,” he said softly, eyes flicking toward the window. “The Foot could still be out there. I want them to stay in the lair… safe.”
I hesitated, tugging my wrist slightly. “But Leo, I should at least let them know where you are. They’ll worry—”
He gave me a small, tired smile, his hand lingering on mine for a fraction longer than necessary. “I know. But right now… just me and you. Please.”
I sat next to him on the couch, my shoulder brushing against his, a little closer than necessary. His eyes never left mine, they were deep, but tired in a way I hadn’t seen before.
Leo—the fearless leader, the one who always had a plan, who always had control—was here, vulnerable, letting me see a side of him almost no one ever got to witness. It was… disarming.
“You know, we’ve never hung out together… just the two of us,” he said softly, letting out a quiet laugh. He leaned back slightly, closing his eyes for a brief moment, a rare flicker of exhaustion crossing his face.
I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a warmth settle over me. He was right. I’d often wondered how I could get him alone, just so I could talk to him without someone else butting in. And yet… I’d never wanted it to be under circumstances like this. Never wanted to see him hurt, bleeding, and tired like this.
“Yeah,” I breathed out, a soft laugh escaping me too. My fingers brushed nervously against the couch cushion, trying to hide the flutter in my chest.
He opened his eyes again, green locking with mine, softening in a way that made my heart tighten. “It’s nice… I wish it were under better circumstances, but… so be it.”
I nodded, letting out a quiet sigh. My hands moved to the edge of the bandage I’d just wrapped around his arm, straightening it gently. “Better circumstances would be great,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “But… I’m glad you’re here. Right now.”
Leo’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and he gave me a small, tired smile, the kind that was both reassuring and quietly intimate. My fingers lingered near his arm, almost brushing his skin again, and I felt that familiar flutter—like my heart was too big for my chest.
For a moment, the city outside didn’t exist. No Foot, no danger, no missions—just the two of us.
Leo leaned back slightly, letting me take a moment to adjust his bandages, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from flicking up to his face. His guard was down, and I knew, right then, that he trusted me in a way few others ever had. The realization made my chest ache in the best and worst way at the same time.
“Thank you… for doing this,” he murmured, voice low, almost shy for him.
I gave a small smile, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Of course, Leo. I’ve got you.”
His gaze drifted to my cheek, where a small, noticeable red stain lingered. He had been bleeding a lot, and we’d nearly gone through the entire first aid kit. Slowly, he reached a hand up to my face, his large thumb gently wiping away the splattered blood.
I couldn’t help but lean into his touch. He noticed it, but didn’t say anything.
“(Y/N)… have you been avoiding me at all?” he asked quietly, lowering his hand.
I blinked, caught off guard.
“No, of course not, Leo. Why would you think that?” I asked, my voice a little higher than I intended.
He adjusted his posture slightly, sitting up straighter on the couch, his eyes locking with mine. There was a seriousness in his gaze now, one that made my chest tighten with something I couldn’t quite name.
“Well, for starters… you haven’t come to the lair in a bit,” he started, his tone even but careful, like he was testing the waters. “And Mikey’s been talking… always about how you’re around, but not really here. And I’ve… noticed.”
I felt heat rise to my cheeks, both from embarrassment and from the sudden intimacy of the moment. His eyes held mine, searching, gentle but firm, and I realized how rare it was for him to speak so openly about what he noticed or felt.
“I—” I started, fumbling for words, my fingers twisting the edge of the blanket draped over the couch. “I’ve just… I've been busy. School, work… everything.”
He nodded slowly, not letting go of the small space between us, the ghost of his thumb still lingering over my cheek. “I get that,” he said softly. “But you’ve been avoiding me. And it’s… hard not knowing why.”
My chest tightened, guilt and longing mingling. “Leo… I’m not avoiding you,” I murmured, my voice low. “It’s just… I didn’t want to—”
“You didn’t want to what?” he asked gently, leaning forward slightly, his eyes softening even more. “See me? Talk to me?”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. I could feel the heat between us, the tension, the almost-there closeness that made my knees weak.
“Leo… as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always been nothing but kind,” I began softly. “You’re amazing. I see how hard you train, how you take care of your brothers and Splinter… how much responsibility you carry for this city.”
I hesitated for a moment, my hands fidgeting in my lap before continuing.
“And I see how things have been with April too… with work and everything. You’re always there for everyone else,” I said, my voice quieter now. “You’re always the one holding everything together.”
I looked up at him again, meeting his eyes, my heart still racing in my chest.
“I’ve always admired you,” I said quietly.
The words hung there for a moment, heavier than I expected. My fingers twisted together in my lap before I spoke again.
“But… maybe I’m admiring you in a way I shouldn’t be,” I admitted, my voice softer now.
“At least… not while being your friend.”
I let out a shaky breath and looked away, suddenly very interested in the floor.
“What do you mean?” Leo asked, his voice calm but edged with confusion.
I swallowed, forcing myself to say it out loud.
“Leo… I think I’m having these feelings for you.”
Leo didn’t answer right away.
The silence stretched just long enough for my stomach to twist into knots. I kept my eyes down, suddenly terrified of seeing his reaction—terrified that I’d just ruined everything.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than I’d ever heard it.
I blinked and slowly looked up at him.
Leo was staring at me like I’d just said something unbelievable, his brows pulled together slightly—not angry, not upset… just surprised.
“I mean—” he rubbed the back of his neck with his good hand, clearly trying to gather his thoughts.
“I just got stabbed, fought a group of Foot soldiers, and ended up in your apartment getting stitched up. My brain might be a little slow right now.”
Despite the tension twisting in my chest, a small laugh slipped out of me.
He huffed out a quiet breath that almost sounded like a laugh too, shaking his head slightly.
“No,” he said softly. “Honestly? I’m glad you told me.”
Leo leaned back slightly against the couch, careful of his bandaged arm, his eyes still locked on mine. For once, the fearless leader looked unsure of himself.
“That explains a lot,” he murmured.
My stomach dropped again. “Explains what?”
“The way you look at me sometimes,” he said. “Or the way you suddenly got really busy the past few weeks.”
Heat rushed straight to my face.
“Okay, when you say it like that it sounds really obvious.”
Leo smiled faintly, the corner of his mouth lifting.
I groaned quietly, dropping my face into my hands for a second.
“Great. Fantastic. I’m so glad my embarrassing emotional spiral was that noticeable.”
Leo chuckled softly at that, the sound warm and low.
Then his tone shifted slightly.
Slowly lowering my hands, I looked back at him.
He studied me for a moment, something thoughtful flickering across his face.
“…You’re not the only one who’s been avoiding things,” he admitted.
Leo leaned forward slightly, closing some of the space between us again. The movement made the air feel thicker somehow.
“I just didn’t think you’d ever feel the same way,” he said quietly.
For a second, my brain stopped working.
“…Wait,” I said slowly. “Same way?”
Leo held my gaze, and for the first time since I’d met him, the confident leader of the turtles looked almost… nervous.
For a moment I just stared at him, my brain struggling to catch up with what he’d said.
“You… what?” I asked quietly.
Leo let out a slow breath through his nose, like he was steadying himself. His shoulders straightened a little, the familiar composure of the fearless leader slipping back into place—but the softness in his eyes stayed.
“I care about you,” he said simply. “More than I probably should.”
My heart thudded loudly in my chest.
“I tried not to,” he continued, glancing away for a brief second before looking back at me. “Being the leader… It means I have to keep my priorities straight. My brothers, my father, the city. Getting distracted—getting someone else pulled into our world…” He shook his head slightly. “It’s dangerous.”
“I know that,” I said softly.
“I know you do,” he replied.
The room fell quiet again, the city lights outside the window flickering across the walls of my apartment. Leo shifted slightly on the couch, clearly still sore, but he didn’t move away from me.
“If something happened to you because of me…” he said, voice lower now, “that’s not something I could live with.”
My chest tightened at that.
“Leo,” I said gently, leaning forward a little. “Things already happened because of you. Tonight, for example.”
A faint, almost guilty smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
I reached out before I could overthink it, resting my hand lightly over his bandaged one. His hand was huge compared to mine, rough from years of training, but he didn’t pull away.
“You spend so much time protecting everyone else,” I said quietly. “You don’t have to push people away to do it.”
Leo looked down at our hands for a moment, his thumb shifting slightly under mine.
“I’m not pushing you away,” he said.
“Then what are you doing?”
He lifted his eyes back to mine, something steady and determined settling there again.
“…Trying to make sure I don’t lose you.”
“You won’t,” I whispered.
For a moment neither of us moved.
Then Leo slowly lifted his other hand, hesitating just for a second before gently brushing his fingers against my jaw. The touch was careful, like he was giving me time to pull away if I wanted.
My heart pounded as he leaned a little closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
“You’re making this really hard, you know that?”
I huffed out a quiet, nervous laugh. “You broke into my apartment bleeding half to death and confessed you have feelings for me. I think we’re both making this hard.”
That earned a small chuckle from him.
The distance between us shrank again slowly, the same charged tension from earlier returning, stronger now.
This time neither of us moved away.
I whispered into the phone, stepping a little farther into the kitchen so my voice wouldn’t carry into the living room.
“(Y/N)? What’s going on? You never call like this,” Donnie answered, his voice alert despite the late hour.
“It’s Leonardo,” I said quietly, glancing back toward the couch. Leo was asleep now, his head tilted slightly to the side, the rise and fall of his chest slow and steady. “He was nearby when he got injured by the Foot Clan. He’s in my apartment… hurt.”
There was a brief pause on the line.
“…How hurt?” Donnie asked, his tone instantly serious.
“He lost a lot of blood,” I admitted, looking over the coffee table cluttered with gauze wrappers and the nearly empty first aid kit. “But I cleaned the cuts and bandaged everything I could. There weren’t any bullets or anything—just some deep gashes.”
Donnie exhaled slowly. I could almost picture him already running through possibilities in his head.
“He was earlier,” I said softly. “But he passed out a few minutes ago. I think the adrenaline finally wore off.”
“Okay,” Donnie said. “That actually makes sense. His body probably needed the rest.”
I leaned lightly against the counter, keeping my eyes on Leo from across the room.
“I thought you guys should come get him,” I added quietly. “He shouldn’t really be moving around too much, but… I figured he’d want to be back at the lair.”
“Yeah,” Donnie agreed. “He definitely will.”
I heard some movement on his end, like he was already getting up.
“I’ll grab Raph and Mikey and we’ll head over,” he said. “Give us a few minutes.”
Before hanging up, I looked back at Leo again. Even asleep, his brow was faintly furrowed, like he was still carrying the weight of everything.
“Just—try not to make a lot of noise when you come in,” I said quietly. “He finally managed to fall asleep.”
Donnie’s voice softened a little.
“…Got it. We’ll be there soon.”
I slipped the phone back onto the counter and looked over at Leo again, the dim city light spilling through the window and across his bandaged arm.
For once, the leader wasn’t on his feet.
And in a few minutes, his brothers would be here to take him home.
Donnie lowered the phone slowly, turning from his workstation to face the living area of the lair.
Mikey was sprawled across the couch, lazily flipping a nunchuck between his fingers, while Raph had just come in from God knows where and was taking his frustration out on the punching bag hanging from the ceiling. Each punch echoed through the room with a heavy thud.
“Guys,” Donnie said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Leo’s hurt.”
Raph didn’t even stop punching.
he huffed out between hits. “I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”
The bag swung violently from another punch. It was obvious he still wasn’t over their argument from earlier.
Donnie sighed, standing up from his chair.
“No, he won’t,” he said firmly. “He’s at (Y/N)’s place right now. He was attacked by the Foot Clan. She patched him up, but he lost a lot of blood. He needs our help.”
Mikey immediately sat up straight on the couch.
“Wait—what?” he said, eyes widening. “Leo’s hurt? Like… actually hurt?”
Raph’s fists finally stopped.
The punching bag swayed slowly in front of him as he stood there for a moment, shoulders tense. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand before turning around.
“How bad?” he asked, his voice rough.
Donnie crossed his arms slightly.
“She said deep cuts. No bullets, thankfully.”
Raph grabbed his sai from the nearby table without another word.
“Then what are we standin’ around for?” he muttered.
Mikey was already hopping off the couch, grabbing his skateboard.
“C’mon! Let’s go before he bleeds all over (Y/N)’s apartment.”
Donnie shook his head slightly, though he was already heading for the exit tunnel.
“Try not to make a scene when we get there,” he said. “She said he finally managed to fall asleep.”
Raph scoffed as they headed toward the sewer tunnels.
“Trust me,” he muttered. “When we get there… the only scene is gonna be dragging his stubborn shell home.”
The trip through the tunnels and across the rooftops didn’t take long. The three turtles moved quickly, the usual joking from Mikey noticeably quieter tonight.
Soon enough, they were crouched on the fire escape outside your apartment window.
Donnie was the first to reach it, tapping lightly on the glass the way they usually did when visiting. The window slid open a second later.
You stood there, relief immediately crossing your face when you saw them.
“Hey,” you whispered, stepping aside to let them in. “Thanks for coming so fast.”
Mikey slipped in first, landing quietly on the floor before peeking around the room.
“Where is he?” he asked, already scanning the apartment.
You nodded toward the couch.
All three of them turned at once.
Leo was still there, stretched across the couch exactly where you’d left him. The blanket you’d thrown over him had slipped slightly, revealing the layers of bandages wrapped carefully around his arm and side. His chest rose and fell slowly, but the exhaustion on his face was obvious.
Raph froze for a moment when he saw him.
“…Damn it, Leo,” he muttered under his breath.
Mikey walked over quietly, crouching beside the couch.
“Whoa… you weren’t kidding,” he whispered. “He looks rough.”
Donnie stepped closer, immediately shifting into analysis mode as his eyes scanned the bandages, the medical supplies, and the small spots of dried blood on the table.
“You did all this?” he asked, looking over at you.
You shrugged slightly. “He showed up bleeding on my fire escape. I kind of had to.”
Donnie knelt beside the couch, carefully checking the bandages without waking him.
“These are actually really well done,” he admitted. “You cleaned the wounds properly too.”
You let out a small breath. “Good. I was hoping I didn’t mess it up.”
Meanwhile, Raph stood a little farther back, arms crossed, staring down at his unconscious brother. The anger from earlier was still there, but now it looked mixed with something else—guilt.
“He shouldn’t have gone alone,” Raph grumbled quietly.
“No,” Donnie said, still examining Leo. “But arguing about that later will be more productive when he’s conscious.”
Mikey gently poked Leo’s shoulder.
“Hey, fearless leader,” he whispered dramatically. “Rise and shine.”
Donnie immediately grabbed Mikey’s wrist.
“Do not poke the injured ninja.”
Raph finally stepped forward, crouching beside the couch.
“…Leo,” he said a little louder.
Leo stirred slightly, his brow tightening as he slowly blinked his eyes open.
For a second, he looked disoriented.
Then his gaze shifted, landing on the three familiar shapes around him.
“…You guys?” he mumbled groggily.
Leo frowned slightly, trying to push himself up before wincing.
“Easy,” Donnie said quickly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You lost a lot of blood.”
Leo glanced around the apartment, then over at you standing nearby.
“You called them,” he said softly.
“You were half dead on my couch, Leo. I figured your brothers might want to know.”
Mikey leaned in closer with a smirk.
“Plus now we know where you’ve been sneaking off to.”
Leo’s eyes lingered on me for a second longer than necessary before he looked back at his brothers.
“…I’m fine,” he insisted weakly.
All three of them stared at him.
“Yeah,” he said dryly. “You look great.”
Donnie and Raph moved in carefully, each taking one of Leo’s arms to help him up from the couch. Leo tried to stand on his own at first, stubborn as ever, but the moment his weight shifted he winced slightly.
“Easy,” Donnie said. “You’re not proving anything right now.”
“I can walk,” Leo muttered.
“Cool,” Raph replied. “You can walk while we hold you up.”
Between the two of them, they managed to guide him toward the window. The sky outside was still dark, but the faintest hint of early morning blue was beginning to creep along the horizon. They didn’t have much time before sunrise.
Mikey hopped out onto the fire escape first, glancing down the alley to make sure the coast was clear.
“All good,” he whispered.
Donnie carefully climbed out next, while Raph helped Leo step through the window. Leo paused for just a second once he was outside, glancing back into the apartment.
For a moment it felt like everything earlier—the confession, the almost-kiss, the quiet tension between us—hung there in the air again.
“…Thanks,” he said softly.
I gave him a small nod. “Try not to get stabbed again.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before Raph nudged him forward.
“Alright Romeo, move it,” Raph muttered with his thick accent. “Sun’s comin’.”
They started making their way down the fire escape when Mikey suddenly stopped halfway down the ladder. He climbed back up quickly, poking his head back through the window toward me.
“Dude,” he whisper-yelled, eyes wide with excitement. “Tell me everything later.”
I blinked at him, slightly stunned.
Then I gave him a small nod.
With that, he disappeared back out onto the fire escape, joining the others as they moved quickly down into the alley and out of sight.
I walked over and closed the window, the quiet click of the latch echoing in the now silent apartment.
The couch was still messy with blankets and bandages. The coffee table was covered in empty gauze wrappers and medical supplies.
I looked around the room, letting out a slow breath.
I tried to go back to sleep, but it was pretty much morning by now. The sky outside my window had started to lighten, that soft grey-blue creeping over the rooftops. My apartment still smelled faintly of antiseptic and coffee grounds from earlier.
Yeah… sleep wasn’t happening.
With a tired sigh, I pushed the blankets back and swung my legs off the bed. My body felt heavy, like the night had finally caught up with me now that everything had quieted down.
I shuffled into the kitchen, stepping around the still-cluttered coffee table. The half-used bandages and wrappers were a reminder that none of last night had been a dream.
Leo had really been here.
I paused for a second, staring at the spot on the couch where he’d been laying only an hour ago.
Then I shook my head and moved toward the coffee maker.
“Coffee it is,” I muttered to myself.
A few minutes later, I stood by the window with a warm mug in my hands, watching the city slowly wake up. Cars started appearing on the streets below, the early commuters beginning their day while I felt like mine had already lasted twenty-four hours.
My mind replayed everything from the night before—Leo showing up injured, patching him up, the way he looked at me when I confessed.
I just didn’t think you’d ever feel the same way.
My face warmed slightly just thinking about it.
Before I could spiral too far into that thought, my phone buzzed on the counter behind me.
I turned around and picked it up.
I already knew exactly what it was about.
The message was exactly what I expected.
Mikey: Okay so first of all—Leo is alive. Donnie says he’ll survive his dramatic hero moment.
I snorted softly into my coffee.
A second message popped up almost immediately.
Three little typing bubbles appeared.
I could practically see him vibrating with curiosity.
Mikey: YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.
I leaned against the kitchen counter, shaking my head a little.
Me: He showed up bleeding on my fire escape. That’s what happened.
My phone buzzed again instantly.
Mikey: NOPE. I MEAN THE OTHER THING.
I raised an eyebrow at the screen.
The reply came even faster.
Mikey: The way he was looking at you like you were the last slice of pizza.
I nearly choked on my coffee.
Before I could respond, another message came through.
Mikey: Also the way YOU were looking at HIM.
Me: You were there for like 30 seconds.
Mikey: And I saw EVERYTHING.
I rubbed my face with my free hand.
Three dots appeared again.
Mikey: Did you guys almost kiss?
I stared at the message for a solid ten seconds.
My phone buzzed before I even finished.
Mikey: OH MY GOD YOU DIDN’T DENY IT.
I groaned louder this time.
The typing bubbles paused.
I straightened immediately.
Mikey: Relax relax relax.
Mikey: He’s too busy yelling at Leo right now anyway.
Me: Why is he yelling at him?
Then Mikey’s reply came through.
Mikey: Because Leo went alone last night.
Another message followed.
Mikey: Also because Leo keeps trying to get up and Donnie keeps telling him if he reopens a stitch he’s sedating him.
I couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto my face.
Mikey: …also he asked if you were okay.
A few seconds passed before Mikey responded.
Another message appeared right after.
Mikey: But don’t tell him I told you that.
I stared at the screen for a moment, warmth creeping into my chest despite how exhausted I was.
Last night hadn’t just been adrenaline and chaos.
And somehow… I had a feeling this wasn’t the last time Leo would end up climbing through my window.
Mikey: I think Leo would wanna see you.
My heart skipped a little.
I looked down at my coffee mug, watching the last bit of steam rise from it. I had originally planned to just collapse and sleep the day away after the night I’d had.
But the thought of Leo back at the lair, probably stubbornly insisting he was fine while Donnie fussed over him and Raph pretended he wasn’t worried…
I picked up my phone again.
Me: Give me a little while. I need a shower first.
The reply came instantly.
Mikey: I’ll go open the sewer entrance near your block, and also let them know you’re on your way too.
Mikey: Also I’m making pizza.
I shook my head, setting my phone down as I finished the last sip of my coffee.
Me: Just make lots of coffee please.
Looks like I'm heading to the lair today.
“Alright,” I muttered to myself. “Shower first.”
Not long after, I stepped out of the bathroom, hair still damp and pulled into a loose tie. I changed into something comfortable—nothing fancy, just something easy to move in. If there was one thing I’d learned from knowing the turtles, it was that plans had a tendency to change fast.
I grabbed my jacket, my phone, and my keys before pausing by the door.
My eyes drifted back toward the couch.
The blanket was still tossed over one side, and the coffee table still had a few forgotten gauze wrappers that I’d missed cleaning earlier.
It was strange how quiet the apartment felt now.
Just a few hours ago, Leo had been sitting there, injured but still trying to act like everything was under control.
And then there was what I had said.
‘Leo… I think I’m having feelings for you.’
My face warmed a little just thinking about it.
“Great,” I muttered, grabbing my bag. “Now I get to see him again after that.”
I stepped out into the hallway and made my way down the stairs, the morning air outside cool against my face when I reached the street.
The city was fully awake now—cars passing, people heading to work, the usual daytime buzz.
Meanwhile, I was heading somewhere most people didn’t even know existed.
It didn’t take long to reach the alley Mikey had mentioned. I glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention before moving toward the sewer entrance tucked behind a dumpster.
The manhole cover was slightly shifted—just enough to show someone had already opened it.
I lifted it the rest of the way and climbed down the ladder, the familiar smell of the tunnels greeting me as I descended.
The echoes of dripping water and distant city noise bounced along the sewer walls as I followed the route I’d taken plenty of times before.
A few minutes later, the familiar glow of lights from the lair came into view at the end of the tunnel.
And as I stepped closer, I could already hear voices.
“…I’m just saying, near-death experiences are very romantic,” he was saying loudly.
“Michelangelo, that is not how medical science works,” Donnie replied.
“Tell that to the movies.”
I slowed slightly near the entrance.
“…You’re both idiots,” Raph’s voice muttered somewhere inside.
I stepped into the lair just in time to see Mikey lounging on the couch with a slice of pizza, Donnie standing near the computer screens, and Raph leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Three sets of eyes turned toward me.
Mikey immediately lit up.
“Dude!” he said, jumping up from the couch. “You made it!”
Donnie gave me a polite nod.
Raph just gave a small grunt of acknowledgement.
And then I noticed something.
I glanced around the lair again, half expecting Leo to be sitting somewhere nearby—on the couch, at the table, maybe stubbornly pretending he wasn’t injured.
“Uh… where’s Leo?” I asked, looking back at the others.
Mikey immediately pointed a thumb over his shoulder toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms.
“Med room,” he said, lowering his voice slightly. “Doctor Don over there basically grounded him.”
Donnie adjusted his glasses.
“He needs to rest,” he said simply. “Severe blood loss requires recovery time, despite what Leonardo may believe.”
Raph huffed from where he leaned against the wall.
“Yeah, well, he’s been trying to get up every ten minutes,” he muttered. “So good luck with that.”
I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
Mikey walked over and slung an arm around my shoulders like we were old friends.
“Anyway,” he said dramatically, “welcome back to Casa de Turtle.”
I laughed lightly, glancing around the lair. It felt the same as always—comfortable, lived in, the soft hum of Donnie’s computers filling the background.
But something about being here today felt… different.
Maybe it was knowing Leo was just down the hall.
Maybe it was remembering everything we’d said to each other only a few hours ago.
“Can I see him?” I asked.
“Yes, actually,” he said. “That might be helpful.”
Donnie gestured vaguely toward the hallway.
“Because he’s been asking if she made it here yet every fifteen minutes.”
Mikey’s grin immediately widened.
“Oh yeah,” he said, clearly enjoying this. “It’s been really subtle too.”
“Guy’s about as subtle as a wrecking ball.”
“Well…” I said awkwardly, glancing toward the hallway. “I guess I’ll go say hi.”
Mikey leaned closer, whispering loudly.
“Don’t worry, he brushed his teeth.”
“Mikey,” Donnie said flatly.
“What? I’m being supportive.”
Raph just shook his head.
“Go on,” he said, jerking his chin toward the hallway. “Before he tries to sneak out again.”
I nodded slightly, turning and heading down the hall toward the med room.
My heart started beating faster with every step.
Inside, Leo was sitting on the edge of the medical table, freshly bandaged, one arm wrapped around his side while Donnie’s work from earlier was clearly holding everything together.
And the moment he heard my footsteps, he looked up.
For a second neither of us said anything.
It kind of hurt my heart to see him like that. Leo had always been the one standing tall, steady, carrying the weight of everything on his shoulders. Seeing him sitting on the edge of the med table, bandaged and forced to rest… it almost looked like it had taken some of that spirit out of him. Like being the one who needed help instead of giving it was something he didn’t quite know how to handle.
“Hey,” I said softly, stepping into the room.
Leo straightened slightly when he saw me, like instinct kicked in even though his body clearly wasn’t up for it.
I walked a little closer, stopping a few feet from him.
“You’re supposed to be resting,” I said.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”
He huffed a quiet laugh, though it turned into a slight wince when the movement pulled at his side.
My expression immediately tightened.
“See? That’s exactly why.”
Leo held up his hand slightly.
“I’m okay,” he said quickly, the leader in him still trying to reassure everyone else first.
I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow.
“You lost a lot of blood and passed out on my couch.”
“You’re impossible,” I muttered.
Leo’s eyes softened slightly at that, watching me for a moment before he spoke again.
“…Thank you,” he said quietly.
“For last night,” he said. “For helping me. For calling my brothers.”
I leaned lightly against the wall beside the med table.
“Someone had to make sure the city’s vigilante didn’t bleed out in my living room.”
He smiled faintly at that, but his gaze lingered on me.
“You didn’t have to stay,” he said.
The words slipped out before I could overthink them.
For a moment the room went quiet again.
Leo looked down briefly at the bandages around his arm, flexing his fingers slightly before glancing back up at me.
“…Did you get any sleep?” he asked.
His expression shifted, guilt flickering across his face.
“No,” I said quickly. “That’s the Foot Clan’s fault.”
Leo nodded slightly at that.
Then his eyes searched mine again, quieter this time.
“…About what you said last night.”
My stomach immediately did a small flip.
“Yeah,” I said carefully.
Leo straightened a little more, even though I could tell it probably hurt.
“I meant what I said too,” he said.
He looked a little uncertain now—something I almost never saw from him.
“But… I also meant what I said about the danger,” he continued. “My life isn’t exactly normal.”
“I noticed,” I said lightly.
That got a small laugh out of him.
Then he grew serious again.
“I don’t want you getting hurt because of me,” he said.
I stepped a little closer to the table.
“Leo, you showed up at my apartment because you trusted me,” I said gently. “You didn’t climb into a random fire escape.”
“No,” he admitted quietly. “I didn’t.”
For a moment neither of us moved.
“SO,” Mikey’s voice suddenly blasted from the hallway, “ARE WE INTERRUPTING SOMETHING IMPORTANT?”
Leo immediately closed his eyes and sighed.
Mikey leaned halfway through the doorway with the biggest grin imaginable.
“Because if this is a dramatic emotional moment I brought snacks.”
“What? Emotional moments require food,” he said, holding a box like it was a sacred duty.
He didn’t linger long before being gently—but firmly—shoved aside by Raph, who gave him a pointed glare.
I couldn’t help but instinctively step a little closer to Leo, my heart still thudding from the tension in the room.
Donnie appeared shortly after, moving with his usual calm authority.
“Listen, (Y/N),” he said, adjusting his glasses as he looked between me and Leo, “I know he wants to see you, but… I honestly think maybe Leo should have a little time alone.”
hesitated, torn between staying and giving him space.
“I… I understand,” I said softly, though part of me ached at the thought of leaving him alone.
Leo’s eyes met mine, steady and intense, but something in his expression made my chest tighten. Then, his fingers brushed mine lightly—a fleeting, almost accidental touch—and he whispered something in a language I didn't understand:
I froze for a moment, tilting my head. “…Wait… what did you just say?”
Leo repeated it, just as quietly, his gaze locked on me.
I shook my head slowly, confusion written all over my face. “I… I don’t understand,” I admitted, taking a cautious step back.
He looked at me, eyes soft but unwavering, then finally let go of my arm
Raph and Donnie, overhearing the words, exchanged surprised glances, while Mikey, who had been lingering nearby, froze with his mouth slightly open.
Leo’s lips pressed together, a subtle exhale escaping as he leaned back slightly, almost as if admitting something he didn’t want to say out loud in English.
I moved toward the living room, trying to steady my breathing, though my eyes kept flicking back to Leo. He sat on the med table, leaning slightly against the edge, arms loosely wrapped around his bandaged side. His mask hid most of his face, but his eyes… his eyes lingered on me, soft yet intense, like he was trying to communicate something he couldn’t put into words.
Mikey, perched on the arm of the couch with a slice of pizza in hand, leaned toward Raph and whispered just loud enough for me to hear, “Do you… think he’s looking at her that way?”
Raph’s brow furrowed, his arms crossed. He didn’t answer, but the way he tilted his head toward Leo, studying him, made it clear he was thinking the same thing.
Donnie, who had been quietly observing from the hallway, adjusted his glasses and frowned just slightly, his lips pressed together as if debating whether to intervene. He didn’t say a word, but the subtle shift in his posture said everything: something had changed.
Mikey nudged me gently, whispering again, “I’m telling you… that look? That’s not just concern. Not just gratitude. He’s… he’s into you.”
I tried to shrug, but my pulse was hammering so hard I doubted anyone would believe it.
Leo’s gaze never left mine. Every tiny movement—his shoulders relaxing slightly when I sat closer, the faint tilt of his head as if trying to read me—made my stomach twist. It was impossible to ignore, and even though none of the turtles said anything out loud, their subtle reactions—the way Raph’s smirk almost faltered, Mikey’s wide eyes, Donnie’s careful observation—spoke volumes.
The room was quiet for a moment, but in that quiet, the tension between us was palpable. Not one word was spoken, yet somehow, it felt like everyone in the room understood what was hanging in the air. Leo, fearless and commanding in the field, was different here, with me. And I couldn’t deny that it made my heart race—and my head spin—all at once.
Mikey, unable to contain himself any longer, whispered under his breath, just loud enough for Raph and Donnie to hear, “Yeah… definitely a thing.”
Raph rolled his eyes, but the twitch of a smile betrayed that he noticed it too.
I sat there, frozen, realizing that even if nothing was said aloud, the unspoken truth was there—and everyone could see it… except Leo himself, who just kept looking at me, steady, patient, and impossible to ignore.
Three months had passed since Leo’s run-in with the Foot Clan—and since that night of confessions. Despite everything that happened, we’d managed to keep it mostly hidden from everyone else. There was no “official” boyfriend-girlfriend label, no overt gestures in front of the others—but the unspoken understanding between us was unmistakable. Every shared glance, every quiet word carried weight, and neither of us needed to say more.
Things were different now. Subtle, almost invisible changes had crept into our daily lives. The way he asked about my day, genuinely concerned, like he wanted to know every detail. The way his eyes lingered just a fraction too long when our hands brushed, or when I laughed at something he said. The smallest gestures—a tilt of his head, the way he moved closer when the lair was crowded—spoke louder than any words ever could. And those were the moments I treasured most.
I remembered one evening at the table in the lair. I was scribbling notes for Donatello, hunched over a small gadget he’d left me to document, when a stray lock of hair fell into my face. Without a second thought, Leo reached over and gently tucked it behind my ear with his finger. The touch was so fleeting, so effortless, yet it lingered in my chest long after he pulled back. That small act alone became the hot topic among the brothers for days—Mikey couldn’t stop teasing us, and even Raph raised a brow or two—but we never said a word to each other. Not about the moment, not about the way it made my heart race.
We didn’t need to. Every unspoken word, every glance, every subtle shift in the room carried its own meaning. The tension between us had a rhythm all its own—silent, persistent, undeniable.
Mikey, naturally, had been dying to know everything. He had been sneaking looks, teasing hints, little comments that always made me blush. April seemed to have a sense that something was going on, too, but I was almost certain that if I ever let her in on the full truth, she’d think I was crazy. And that was fine. This—what Leo and I had—was ours alone. Private. Fragile, but ours.
And so, we moved forward in our own way. Side by side, close but restrained, our connection grew stronger with every stolen moment, every lingering glance, and every heartbeat that seemed to echo just for us.
That afternoon, I stepped into the lair, the familiar smells of metal, ozone, and faint pizza lingering in the air. The first thing I noticed was Leo, right in the center of the training area, moving with that precise, disciplined rhythm that always drew my attention. Raph grunted above me, hammering away at the bench press, sweat glinting on his skin in the dim light.
When Leo caught sight of me walking in, he paused mid-strike, letting the katanas clatter softly onto the mat as he sheathed them, posture relaxed but eyes never leaving mine. My pulse quickened slightly at that gaze—there was that unspoken pull between us again, the kind that had been building slowly for months.
“Hey there, stranger,” I called, a small smile tugging at my lips as I stepped closer, trying to act casual though my heart raced.
He gave a faint, almost imperceptible smirk, the kind reserved only for me. “(Y/N),” he said, his voice low, controlled, but carrying that softness I recognized instantly. “What brings you here?”
I held up a small box I’d brought, the aroma of warm pizza wafting toward him. “Thought you might be hungry after all that training. Figured you could use a break.”
His gaze flicked to the bag and lingered back on me, and my chest tightened. He stepped closer, close enough that our arms nearly brushed, but not quite. The quiet tension between us was electric, thick with all the moments we hadn’t acted on, all the words left unspoken.
“You always know the right moments,” he murmured, eyes soft, lips just slightly parted.
I swallowed hard, leaning just a fraction closer before daring a subtle, quick gesture—a kiss to his cheek. It was brief, almost a whisper, but the heat in my chest made it feel like a declaration. He didn’t pull away; instead, he froze for the tiniest fraction of a second, eyes widening slightly in surprise, before that calm, controlled mask returned.
And just like that, the tension shattered:
Mikey’s voice rang out from somewhere behind, full of triumph. My face burned as I realized he’d been watching the whole time.
“—Mikey!” I groaned, pressing my hands to my face.
Leo let out a long, exasperated sigh, jaw tightening slightly, but the softness in his eyes never left me. That fleeting kiss, that quiet, intimate moment—it didn’t need words. Despite Mikey’s interruption, we both knew exactly what it meant.
