Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Superman Crossover) - Chapter 4
You smile, waving at your friend as you head for your apartment. It feels a bit weird to be going back to classes as if nothing had happened. Summer vacation was coming quickly, you needed to find an internship or a summer job. Both for the financial support and the distraction.
That’s how long it’s been.
You haven’t seen Leo, or Vincent or even April. Not in person at least. You’ve given up your nightly escapades for the time being. You just needed time to evaluate everything. Come to terms with what has already happened and find a way to move forward.
As you bypass a certain pizza parlor, you grin at the bold letters. You remember a certain incident that was quite hilarious.
“So what’s the deal with you and pizza?”
Meeting at a certain rooftop was routine now. When Leo’s patrol ended with his brothers, he would meet you at the designated spot to go over any new information. You’d come to realize that a few times he’d have a box of pizza with him. So this time around you’d brought your own. You couldn’t forget the way his eyes seem to light up like a child who just got candy.
His face was stuffed with the food and you almost belted out a laugh. Leo was usually so stoic and serious. Seeing such a side to him was kind of cute.
“You’re literally obsessed with pizza. That’s all you seem to eat.”
He finished the slice, wiping his mouth.
“I’m not obsessed.” He seemed to be pouting now.
“Mhmm, if you say so big guy.”
You can’t deny that you miss it, talking with him. You’re not surprised that he hasn’t tried to seek you out. You haven’t exactly made an effort to see him either. You’re a bit scared. The stories of vigilantes running around is still the topic of the city, so you know he’s still out there fighting crime. Protecting people. Leo is a good person, he can’t help himself. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t tried to see you. You can only imagine the guilt he still holds.
Clenching your backpack a bit tighter, you lift your head at the skyscrapers. With a wistful look, you adjust the straps.
Maybe you could make a little trip after you dropped your stuff off.
“Hope ya aint out sulking.”
Raph tone over the phone was as defiant as usual.
“Could you all stop babysitting me. I can take care of myself.”
“Sure ya can, fearless. Ya better get back quickly or we’re eating all the pizza.”
Leo didn’t get a chance to retort because Raph hung up.
With a long sigh, he just stared at the skies that had begun to change color as the sun lowered. The pink and orange hues were beautiful. It always felt so hard to see from below. The complexity and height of the buildings tended to block the beauty of the more natural views in the city.
The building he was currently standing on held more personal memories.
He wasn’t sure why he still came to the spot. Maybe he hoped that one day you would just be sitting there. Hood lowered, eyes sparkling as you shared different parts of your life. Helped him understand how you grew up and how you dealt with being so different in a world of people that were all pretty much the same. His head lowered, spotting an old pizza box. One you’d actually brought for him. He laughed to himself. He probably should have dumped it into the trash, but he couldn’t bring himself to move it.
The tattered box may very well be the last thing he’d ever have to remind him of you. With a sigh he turned to leave. It was getting late and the last thing he needed was his brothers worrying about him again. He froze when he saw a pair of feet, and when his eyes lifted, he almost thought he imagined it. You were standing there in a pair of sweatpants and a loose jacket. Hands in your pockets, you just gave a sheepish smile.
An illusion, maybe a memory, that’s what he told himself. He stepped forward, wondering if maybe he’d been missing you so much that he’d projected an image of you. It could be a hallucination. You held out your hand and he reached. The second his large hand slipped into your smaller ones, he realized it was real. Not some figment of his imagination. You squeezed his hand softly and you only got a breath out before he pulled you into his arms. You were a bit startled by the action, but when you felt how desperately he seemed to be holding on, it made sense. You smiled, hands reaching up as you gave his shell a few comforting pats.
“I missed you too, big guy.”
The familiarity of that statement just made him hold on tighter.
