Jun 2
Redesign Donnie's clothes. I'm so proud of his shoes💜
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seen from Malaysia
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Redesign Donnie's clothes. I'm so proud of his shoes💜
My bayverse ✨Raph✨ headcanons
-Once passed out from working for to long (cue stressed master splinter)
-used to let Mikey sleep in his bed when they
were little because Mikey had nightmares
-really insecure but would NEVER show it
-needs to lap for at least 30 a day
-really wants to spend one on one time with Leo
-stays up all night
-sleeps on his stomach
-now has his own room (loves Mikey but definitely needs his own space)
-has low patience
-actually really smart
-enjoys sneaking out on his own to clear his mind and just walk on rooftops and watch one the city and loves to feel the cold breeze on his face, it calms him
-had Donnie build him a tv for his room
-has a beautiful baritone singing voice
-don’t be fooled those big rough hands are amazing at sketching and he can draw the best orchids
-will and can fight find any reason to argue with Casey just to let Some steam
-one Casey punched his shell and Raph just so very lightly tapped him
-when he’s feeling emotional he will lock
Himself into his room and cry into his pillow until he falls asleep
-has bloodshotish eyes the next day
-has the most ✨NASTIEST ✨stank face anyone can ever give
-resting bitch face
-will get sassy with you
-loves to mock you in a high pitched voice
-will poke you and they say it wasn’t me
*poke* “Raphael stop!”
“It wasn’t me it was Mikey
“Hey!?”
-bites his fingernails and accidentally makes them bleed sometimes
-needs to sleep hugging something
-when walking down a tunnel and stomp really loud on purpose to be goofy
-has that laugh that’s like silent but his face is turning red from laughing so hard
-will laugh when you fall
-sometimes puts his foot out when some one walks past him and loves to do it to Mikey
-gets so mad when a Spotify ad comes on
-will tap you a little hard on the head and call it a buddy tap
-if you hate Vienna sausages he will put them up to your nose to make you gag from the smell and chase you around the lair with them and pour some of the juice out of them while your screaming bloody murder
-will throw a pillow at you HARD
-if you ever bring a little cousin or sibling around he will torment them by saying
“I’m yo daddy girl/boy!!!”
While your cousins screaming madly
“YOUR NOT MY DADDY”
Sacrifice~ Chapter II
Bay! Raphael X Reader
Part I
A/N: I wasn’t going to make a second part to this—I originally wanted to leave it as a one-shot. But I saw how many people really enjoyed it and wanted more, so I decided to write an additional part! I made it a lot longer, but Tumblr was not letting me post it so I will be posting them individually-which I hope is okay, but there was just a lot more I wanted to explore in this story. Thank you so much for the support
Synopsis : Eight years later, the past finds its way back—whether they’re ready or not.
Word count: 6000 words
Tags: @skywitchflatbaddie , @jellifishpuffs , @schmelscorner , @dejiyani , @viktorz-accent , @aws-blossom-heart , @sugaritbx
New York wasn’t how you left it all those years ago.
Or maybe…
you just weren’t the same person anymore.
You still remembered the mix of emotions that sat heavy in your chest the day you decided to leave—how it felt like you were tearing yourself in two, one half staying behind while the other forced itself to move forward.
When you left, you didn’t look back.
Not really.
You couldn’t.
And for a long time, you never came back.
Not to the city.
Not to the memories.
Not to him.
Until now.
Eight years later, you’ve grown into someone entirely different—someone stronger, steadier, someone who learned how to live without the life you once thought you’d never leave behind.
That version of you?
You left her here.
Somewhere between the rooftops and quiet nights, between laughter that echoed through hidden rooms and a love that ended before it ever had the chance to last.
And now—
standing in the same city that once felt like home—
you weren’t sure if you were revisiting the past…
or finally facing it.
You knew, deep down, you never wanted to come back.
The mix of emotions sitting in your chest was enough to make you feel sick if you let yourself think about it for too long.
But business didn’t care about feelings.
And it brought you right back to New York.
Just for a couple of weeks.
That’s what you told yourself.
Just a couple of weeks.
You tightened your grip on your luggage as you walked through the narrow airport corridors, the hum of voices and rolling suitcases echoing around you. Everything felt too loud, too close—like the city was already pressing in on you before you’d even stepped outside.
Step by step, you made your way toward the exit.
Toward it all.
You slowed as you passed a large window, your eyes drifting outward almost instinctively.
The skyline stretched across the horizon—familiar, towering, unchanged.
Your breath caught slightly.
Eight years.
And it still looked the same.
But you didn’t feel the same.
Not even close.
For a moment, you just stood there, staring—like if you looked long enough, you might recognize the version of yourself you left behind in those streets.
But she wasn’t there anymore.
And neither was the life you once had.
Or at least…
That’s what you tried to believe.
Your work had offered to arrange an escort to your hotel, something simple and professional—but you had politely declined.
There was someone you’d much rather see.
You continued your descent through the terminal, the crowd thinning as you approached the exit.
And then—
a flash of bright yellow caught your eye.
Familiar.
Unmistakable.
April.
She stood just past the doors, waving you down with both hands, her signature yellow leather jacket practically glowing in the crowd.
You couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at your lips.
It had been a while.
A long while.
New York wasn’t exactly a quick trip, and while you’d both tried to keep in touch—texts, calls, the occasional message on social media—it was never quite the same.
Not like this.
Not like seeing her in person.
“Hey!” she called out, already making her way toward you.
You barely had time to react before she pulled you into a tight hug.
And just like that—
for a brief moment—
the city didn’t feel so heavy anymore.
She let out a deep sigh as she held you tighter.
“God, I missed you so much!” she laughed, pulling back slightly.
You smiled, softer this time. April had always been a bridge between two worlds you once lived in—a world you chose to leave behind.
The turtles.
The thought alone made something in your chest tighten, but you pushed it down just as quickly. You knew she still kept in touch with them, of course she did, but she also knew what happened.
What he said. What he did. And after that night, you never really went back. Not to them. Not to that part of your life. You told yourself it was easier that way, cleaner.
You let it go. Or at least… you tried to. You never asked April what happened after you left—never asked if they talked about you, if he did.
Never asked if Raphael ever regretted it, or if he even cared. Because some questions, you weren’t sure you wanted the answers to.
Your work had offered to pay for a top-of-the-line hotel, but you decided to stay with April instead. It felt easier—familiar. You followed her out, letting her grab your bags despite your protests, and walked toward a truck that looked all too familiar.
Vern.
Of course.
“There she is!” Vern called, arms already spread wide like he was greeting a celebrity.
“Hey, Vern,” you said, stepping in for a quick, polite hug.
“Thought you deserved a ride from none other than the Falcon,” he grinned, pointing proudly at his truck.
You couldn’t help but laugh a little.
Vern—the self-proclaimed hero of New York. The man who had taken credit for the turtles’ fight against the Shredder all those years ago. Sure, some people knew the truth now… but most of the city still saw him as the one who saved the day.
“Wow,” you said lightly, glancing over at April as she shoved your suitcases into the back. “I’m such a lucky girl.”
April shot you a look, already smirking.
And just like that, for a moment, things almost felt normal again. You hopped into the back seat, April taking the passenger while Vern pulled out into traffic. The streets were just as busy as you remembered—one thing you definitely didn’t miss about living in New York. Having to leave three hours early just to get anywhere on time. “So, how’s life been?” Vern asked, glancing at you through the rearview mirror as the traffic ahead slowed to a crawl. He said it like he wasn’t the same guy who randomly liked your Instagram posts at midnight, clearly keeping up with everything you’d been doing. “Life’s good. Busy,” you said with a small laugh, resting your head back against the seat. “(Y/N)’s staying with me,” April added, turning slightly to smile at you. “We’re gonna have some girly time.” “Oh—girly time,” Vern repeated, looking between the two of you. “So that doesn’t include me, or…?” You couldn’t help but laugh at that, the sound coming easier than you expected.
“You can see her later. We have a lot of catching up to do,” April said, shooting Vern a look, clearly unamused.
“God, it’s been so long since I’ve been here,” you added, glancing out the window at the crowds of people and towering buildings covered in advertisements.
“You’re staying for a few weeks—by the time you’re ready to go, you’ll be all New Yorked out—” April started, only to be cut off by the loud, obnoxious ringing of her phone.
She unzipped her jacket and pulled it out, and you saw it immediately—the way her expression dropped when she read the caller ID. Then she glanced over at Vern.
You didn’t need her to say it. You already knew. One of them. You weren’t sure which, but you knew.
“You gonna answer?” Vern asked, looking between the two of you.
“Oh—it’s just Donnie,” April said, but the name alone was enough.
Familiar. Heavy. She looked back at you, hesitant, like she wasn’t sure what to do.
You understood why. It wasn’t all of them—you weren’t on bad terms with all of them. Just… one. “Hey, April,” you said gently, giving her a small nod.
“I really don’t mind. You can pick up.” you said, offering her a reassuring smile.
“Thank you. I’ll be quick.” With that, she swiped to answer, leaning back into her seat.
“Hey, Don, what’s up?” she said casually. You tried not to eavesdrop—but it was kind of impossible when you were all stuck in the same car.
“No, not tonight. I don’t think I mentioned it, but (Y/N)’s in town. She came in for a visit, so I’m spending the day with her.” The second the words left her mouth, your stomach dropped.
Great. Now they knew you were here.
You shifted slightly in your seat, trying not to let it show on your face. It wasn’t April’s fault—of course she wasn’t going to lie to them—but still… hearing it out loud made everything feel a little too real. “Okay, talk to you later. Bye,” she said, hanging up and lowering her phone.
April lowered her phone slowly, like she was bracing for something.
For a second, no one said anything.
The car filled with a quiet that wasn’t there before.
“…So,” Vern started, glancing between the two of you through the mirror, clearly sensing the shift. “That sounded… normal.”
April shot him a look. “Vern.”
“What?” he shrugged. “I’m just saying—nobody screamed, nobody panicked. That’s a win.”
You let out a small breath through your nose, leaning your head back against the seat again.
“They were gonna find out eventually,” you said quietly.
April turned slightly in her seat, watching you more carefully now. “I didn’t mean to just… drop it like that.”
“I know,” you replied, giving her a small smile. “It’s fine.”
And it was.
Or at least—
you were trying to convince yourself it was.
Because now they knew.
Which meant—
he knew.
Your fingers tightened slightly around the strap of your bag, your gaze drifting back out the window as the city passed by in a blur.
Eight years.
And somehow, it still had a way of pulling everything back to the surface.
April hesitated for a moment before speaking again, softer this time. “If you don’t want to see them… you don’t have to.”
You swallowed.
“I’m not here for them,” you said simply.
Not a lie.
But not the full truth either.
Vern hummed lightly under his breath, clearly choosing not to push it further for once as the truck rolled forward through traffic.
And just like that—
the city felt a little smaller.
Like no matter where you went…
you couldn’t really avoid the past anymore.
—
“What did April say, Donnie?” Leonardo asked, sitting across from him at the table.
“She can’t tonight,” Donnie replied, then glanced over his shoulder, making sure they were alone. “She said (Y/N)’s in New York. Staying with her for a few weeks.”
Your name hadn’t been said much since you left.
Not out loud, anyway.
They all knew what happened. Why you left. Why you never came back.
Leo’s expression shifted instantly—subtle, but telling.
They all had mixed feelings when it came to you. You had been close with all of them once—family, even—but after everything with Raph… you disappeared from their lives just as quickly as you entered it.
Leo leaned back slightly, thinking.
Because this?
This changed things.
He already knew you weren’t here for them. You weren’t going to come looking. And if you had wanted to see them—you would’ve reached out.
So what was the point of telling Raph?
What good would it do besides stir something that had never really settled?
“Donnie,” Leo said after a moment, voice quieter now, “maybe keep that between us.”
Donnie looked at him for a second, then gave a small nod.
“Yeah… I was thinking the same thing.”
Because they both knew—
Raphael wouldn’t handle it well.
You were the one that got away.
Even if he was the reason you did.
–
The rest of the drive passed quicker than you expected.
Maybe it was the conversation, or maybe it was the way your mind kept drifting somewhere you didn’t want it to go.
Either way, before you knew it, Vern was pulling up to a familiar building.
Your chest tightened slightly.
April’s place.
Some things really hadn’t changed.
“Home sweet home,” Vern said, putting the truck in park.
April was already unbuckling her seatbelt. “C’mon, I’ll help you with your bags.”
You stepped out onto the sidewalk, the city air hitting you instantly—louder, heavier, more alive than anywhere else you’d been in years.
It felt the same.
Too much the same.
You grabbed your suitcase as April pulled the rest from the back, the two of you making your way toward the entrance.
Each step felt… familiar.
Automatic.
Like your body remembered this place even if you tried not to.
“You good?” April asked, glancing over at you as she held the door open.
“Yeah,” you said quickly, offering a small smile. “Just… weird being back.”
She nodded like she understood.
Because she did.
The elevator ride was quiet, save for the soft hum as it climbed. You watched the numbers change, your reflection staring back at you in the metal doors.
Different.
Older.
But not untouched.
When the doors finally opened, April led the way down the hall, stopping in front of her apartment.
For a second—
just a second—
you hesitated.
Because the last time you were somewhere like this…
everything changed.
“You gonna stand there all day?” April teased lightly, already unlocking the door.
You let out a small breath, shaking off the thought.
“Right.”
And then you stepped inside—
back into a life you swore you left behind.
April’s apartment hadn’t changed much.
Still decorated the same, the same pictures on the walls, the same dishes, even the same sofa. You couldn’t help but let your gaze drift toward the fire escape, noting how many times you’d been here when a certain turtle would drop in unannounced, like he belonged there just as much as you did.
“So,” April started, pulling a glass from the cupboard and filling it with water, “I don’t think I mentioned it on the ride here…” You glanced over at her, already suspicious. “But Vern has this thing tonight. It’s more like an anniversary of him ‘saving’ the city,” she added, making air quotes with her fingers.
You snorted at that. Vern really took the whole hero thing seriously, despite doing absolutely nothing.
“Go on,” you said, amused. “Anyway, it’s a formal dinner, and I thought maybe we could dress up and pop in,” she shrugged casually.
You blinked. “April, I only brought a couple blouses for work. I don’t have anything formal,” you said, pointing toward your worn suitcase, still covered in old luggage tags.
“Come on, I have something you can wear. Don’t let me down,” she insisted, stepping closer and gently grabbing your shoulders, giving you a small shake.
“Pretty, pretty, pretty please. I already told Vern you were coming…” Her voice trailed off at the end. You narrowed your eyes. “What? April.” “Come on, it’ll be fun. They have an open baaar,” she dragged out the last word, trying to sell it.
You paused, thinking it over for a moment longer than you should have. Then you sighed.
“…Fine.”
—
You looked at yourself in the mirror as April took her time, carefully applying soft makeup and curling your hair to perfection. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d gotten dressed up like this.
“So, what kind of dress do you have for me?” you asked, smiling at her through the mirror.
“Oh my God, you’ll love it—it’s beautiful,” she said eagerly before rushing out of the bathroom toward her closet. You watched her jog off, shaking your head slightly.
Your eyes drifted back to your reflection.
Wow.
It had been a while since you’d looked like this.
You reached for her lip liner on the counter, carefully tracing your lips, adding just a little more definition.
“Ta-da!” April announced, popping back into the room, holding up a long red gown.
It shimmered under the light, covered in delicate jewels that caught every movement.
Your eyes widened. “Whoa… if that’s what I’m wearing, what are you wearing?” you laughed.
“I may or may not have a pretty cute black dress waiting for its moment,” she teased.
You let out a small laugh, but your gaze lingered on the dress.
Red.
Bold.
Not exactly something you would’ve picked for yourself.
But still…
you couldn’t deny—
it was stunning.
For a second, you just stared at it.
And then—
it hit you.
A memory, sharp and uninvited.
You in a different mirror. Different night. Same color.
His hands had hovered awkwardly near his sides like he didn’t know what to do with them, trying very hard not to stare—but failing anyway.
“Damn…” he had muttered under his breath before he could stop himself.
You had turned, caught him looking.
“What?”
He’d cleared his throat, suddenly very interested in absolutely anything else in the room. “Nothin’. Just… didn’t think red was your color.”
You had raised a brow. “And yet?”
And yet he’d looked at you again.
Longer that time.
Softer.
Like he’d just realized something he wasn’t ready to say out loud.
The memory snapped back just as quickly as it came.
You blinked, fingers still lightly holding the edge of the dress fabric in front of you.
“…You okay?” April’s voice broke through gently.
You swallowed, forcing yourself back into the present.
“Yeah,” you said quickly. “Just spaced out for a second.”
April didn’t push.
But her eyes lingered on you a moment too long to miss.
You cleared your throat, letting the moment pass. “It’s really pretty.”
–
The drive there felt longer than it should’ve.
Not because of distance—but because of everything in your head that refused to quiet down.
By the time April’s car pulled up to the venue, the city lights had already changed into something sharper. Brighter. Too polished. Too loud in a different way.
The building stood tall ahead of you—glass, gold accents, cameras near the entrance. People dressed like they belonged in another world.
You exhaled slowly.
“Okay,” April said, glancing over at you as she parked. “Just a quick appearance. Smile, nod, grab a drink, we leave whenever you want.”
“Sounds easy enough,” you replied, though your fingers lightly adjusted the edge of your dress without thinking.
She gave you a look. “You good?”
You hesitated for half a second.
Then nodded. “Yeah. Just… haven’t done this in a while.”
April smiled softly. “You’ll be fine. You look amazing, by the way.”
That got a small laugh out of you. “You too.”
The two of you stepped out of the car.
The air outside was cooler than you expected.
Too crisp.
Too real.
Inside, everything changed immediately.
Music. Glasses clinking. Cameras flashing. Voices layered over each other in a constant hum of celebration. The kind of event where everyone pretended they belonged in the same room, even if they didn’t.
Vern spotted you almost instantly.
“There she is!” he called, far too loud, already making his way over like he was hosting the whole place himself.
You smiled automatically, falling into polite greetings, small talk, familiar faces that felt slightly distant.
But even as you laughed—
even as you played along—
you felt it.
That shift.
Like the air had tightened just a little too much.
Her posture shifted slightly beside you.
Her smile stayed on—but it softened at the edges.
-–
The night moved painfully slow.
You did your best to be polite, to smile, to engage in conversation with April and Vern’s acquaintances, but it all blurred together after a while. The tight red dress that hugged your figure now started to dig into your skin in places you couldn’t ignore.
You regretted agreeing to come.
But you also knew April wouldn’t have come without you. And she wanted this time with you.
So you stayed.
Now you sat alone at the table, watching guests mingle and laugh about things that didn’t concern you, your fingers loosely wrapped around a glass of wine you barely touched.
April noticed.
Of course she did.
She made her way over and slid into the seat beside you.
“Hey,” she said softly. “You just about ready to leave?”
“Yeah,” you admitted with a small, tired smile. “Sorry, April. It’s been a long day of traveling. It’s starting to catch up with me.”
“It’s okay,” she said quickly. “We can head back, watch a movie, do nothing. Whatever you want.”
Before you could respond, her phone rang again.
She sighed, already pulling it out of her purse. “Geez, Donnie’s been trying to call for hours now. Must be important.”
She answered.
You tried not to listen.
Tried.
“What—now?” April said into the phone, her tone shifting immediately.
A pause.
“Can’t this wait till tomorrow? I mean yeah, I have it with me, but I’m at Vern’s event right now.”
Another pause.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll be there in a second.”
She ended the call and looked at you with a slight wince.
“Look, sorry. I have to drop something off to Donnie real quick. You don’t have to come, I promise. He just needs it now.”
Honestly, the idea of sitting there alone in a room full of strangers while April went off to meet a mutant turtle sounded worse.
“No, no,” you said, already grabbing your purse. “I’ll come with you.”
April blinked. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” you said, forcing a small smile. “It’ll be nice to see Donnie.”
That part wasn’t even a lie.
April hesitated for half a second longer, then nodded.
“Okay. It’ll be quick, I swear.”
And with that—
you both made your way toward the exit.
–
“How long’s she gonna be, Donnie?” Leonardo asked, standing patiently in the alley behind the venue.
Patience, though, was only on the surface.
His brothers lingered around him, each of them pretending to be busy in their own way, all of them waiting for the same thing.
The same arrival.
“She’s coming now,” Donnie said quietly, eyes flicking down to his device.
“Dude, is April gonna be all dressed up?” Mikey asked, eyes widening slightly.
“Well, she ain’t going to a formal in jeans,” Raph muttered, lightly knocking him upside the head.
Donnie adjusted something on his watch, the glow of it briefly lighting his face. “Can we focus, guys? April’s gonna be here any second.”
A pause.
Then—
“Hey, guys. What’s so important I needed to come here?”
April’s voice cut through the alley like a shift in gravity.
She stepped into view.
And for a moment, all of them straightened.
“Oh… you’re all here?” she said, slowing slightly. “I thought it would’ve been just you, Donnie.”
Her gaze flicked briefly behind her.
Like she already knew what was coming.
“Sorry, April,” Leo said, stepping forward. “We just stopped by on our way to the lair. We’ll be quick.”
Mikey brightened immediately. “Hey! You look good, babycakes.”
April let out a small laugh. “Thanks, Mikey.”
“You couldn’t have waited two seconds for me, girl—”
Your voice cut in as you rounded the corner.
And just like that—
the air changed.
Your steps slowed.
Because you saw them.
All of them.
Not just Donnie.
Not just April.
All of them.
Your heart dropped so fast it almost hurt.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Leo’s expression shifted instantly—shock, then something carefully contained, like he was trying to hold the moment together before it shattered.
Raph didn’t move at all.
Not at first.
It was like the world had forgotten how to breathe.
And then—
his eyes found you.
And everything stopped.
Eight years didn’t exist in that moment.
There was no city.
No noise.
No time.
Just him.
Frozen.
Like your name had caught in his throat and never left.
Because there you were.
Still you.
Still the one he let go.
And now—
standing right in front of him again.
“(Y/N)?” Raphael said, pushing past Mikey to get a closer look at you.
Your name sounded different in his voice now.
Older.
Heavier.
Like it had been waiting years to be spoken again.
You froze.
Because it shouldn’t have been possible.
Not here. Not now. Not him.
But it was.
And he was real.
Raphael stood in front of you like time had simply… bent around him and brought him back unchanged in all the ways that mattered.
Still him.
But not.
More scars traced across him now, like history written into skin and bone. More definition in his face, like life had carved him sharper instead of softer. He looked like something that had survived you leaving him.
Or maybe—
something that never did.
He came closer slowly.
Carefully.
Like you were something fragile enough to break again just by breathing too hard.
Like you might vanish if he reached too quickly.
And instinct—stupid, ancient instinct—made you step back.
Just one step.
But it was enough.
The space between you didn’t just grow.
It spoke.
Everyone else disappeared in it.
The alley, the night, the world beyond this moment—all of it dulled into silence except for the weight of his stare.
Like he was trying to memorize you again before you slipped out of existence.
“Hi…” you said at last.
Soft.
Careful.
Barely there.
And it hit him like something physical.
Because hearing your voice wasn’t just hearing you—
it was remembering everything at once.
Every laugh he shouldn’t have let himself love.
Every silence he still carried like a bruise.
Every rooftop moment he thought he was saving you from him…
only to realize he had been losing you instead.
You couldn’t stop looking at him.
Couldn’t stop feeling him.
Like time hadn’t erased anything at all.
Like eight years had only stretched the wound thinner, not healed it.
You saw it in him too.
The way his eyes moved over you—slow, disbelieving.
Not just seeing you.
Taking you in.
The way your hair fell now, soft where it used to be hurried. The way the red dress caught the dim light like something too bold for the distance you’d both endured. The way you weren’t the girl who left him anymore…
and still somehow were.
And Raphael just stood there—
like the world had finally given him something back it had no right to take in the first place.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” he said, lifting his hand slowly toward your face.
You didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
Didn’t stop him.
His palm hovered for the briefest second—like even now, even after everything, he was still asking permission without words. Then he touched you.
Careful.
Reverent.
Like you were something he was afraid to wake up from.
His thumb brushed lightly against your cheek, slow and unsteady, like he was memorizing the reality of you through touch alone. He had always been gentle like that. Even when everything else about him was rough edges and fire, his hands had never been cruel.
You stood there, frozen in the space between then and now.
Still trying to understand how he was here.
Still trying to hold all the hurt that came rushing back the second you saw him.
Words gathered in your throat and refused to come out.
Because what were you supposed to say to that?
To him?
To eight years of silence suddenly standing inches away from you, looking at you like you were something lost and found all at once.
Your eyes flickered over his face instead, searching it like it might explain something words couldn’t.
“I… apologize to break this up. But can we focus, please?” Leo said, carefully grounding the moment before it could spiral further.
The spell broke—just slightly.
You blinked, like you’d been pulled back into your body all at once, and finally looked around at the familiar faces standing in the alley.
Mikey, still bright as ever, was the first to break the silence.
“Wow, this must be sooooo awkward for you guys,” he said, completely unfiltered. Then he grinned, like nothing in the world had ever been heavy for long. “Also—hey! Nice to see you again!”
It was so him.
So unchanged.
And for a second, it almost made you smile.
Almost.
But the air was still thick with everything unsaid, everything suspended between you and Raphael, like even breathing too deeply might shift something irreversible.
And Raphael still hadn’t stepped away.
Still hadn’t let go.
Like he didn’t know how.
Donatello began speaking quietly with April, gesturing toward whatever urgent reason had pulled them all into this moment. April shot you a look—concerned, hesitant—but she didn’t interrupt. Didn’t step in.
None of them did.
Like they understood, in some unspoken way, that this wasn’t theirs to break.
They were giving you space.
Letting it exist.
Letting it happen.
Raphael’s attention didn’t leave you.
“I just… thought I lost you,” he said softly, a faint, almost disbelieving smile touching his mouth as he stepped closer again, like he couldn’t help himself.
Like distance had never really been a concept he accepted when it came to you.
His hand lifted toward your face once more.
But this time—
you moved.
Not away.
Just enough.
Your fingers gently closed around his wrist, stopping him before he could reach you again.
Careful.
Not harsh.
But certain.
The contact made something flicker in his expression—confusion first, then something quieter. Something that settled deeper.
You were both younger then.
Younger in a way that didn’t just mean time—it meant understanding. Learning how to hold someone without breaking them. Learning how to let yourself be held without fear.
Back when love had felt like something you could figure out as you went.
Before it became this.
Before it became memory.
“You did…” you said softly.
And the words landed heavier than anything else in the alley.
You saw it happen in him—right there, unmistakable. The exact moment your voice stopped being something he could reach for, and became something he had already lost. Not suddenly. Not violently. Just… finally.
Like the truth had been sitting between you for years, and only now decided to settle.
“Okay, let’s move,” Leo said, breaking the stillness.
He pulled himself up onto the fire escape without hesitation, already shifting back into motion like he could outrun the weight of what just happened. Donnie followed, quick and precise. Mikey went after them a second later, glancing back once with a softer expression than before.
And just like that—
they were gone upward into the city.
One by one.
Leaving the alley a little emptier.
A little too exposed.
Raphael didn’t move right away.
He stayed where he was, eyes still locked on you like distance had become something physical he couldn’t accept. Like if he looked away, you might become unreal again.
A ghost.
A mistake his mind had learned to regret too vividly.
He hesitated.
You saw it.
The way his shoulders tightened, like something in him wanted to stay—wanted to say something more, something that had been sitting in him for eight years with nowhere to go.
But then—
he moved.
Slowly, like pulling himself out of gravity.
He turned away from you, climbing after them without another word.
Still not looking away.
Not until the last possible second.
And even then—
it felt like he never really stopped.
If you're interested in next part..
Chapter III
Gotta be one of my favourite Leonardo’s
So I wasn't really satisfied with the first sketch so I did it again and I think it's already a bit better ^^
(The second in color is the first version)
How da boys react to Zumba dancing with you. (Even if you're a zumba instructor) 😁:
Leo isn't much of a dancer. He is all "meditation and training" kind of guy. You were at the lair practicing new zumba moves for your next classes since you're a full time Zumba instructor at the gym on weekends. As Leo trained, he sees you dancing at the corner of his eye. He stops and studies your moves. He leans by the wall and he watches you sway your whole body at a fast pace. He bops his head a bit at the beat smiling. You see him and you chuckled. You paused the music and you look at him. "You seem to enjoy it." He smiles and nods. "I was. Till you stopped. What was that you were doing? Some kind of hip hop stuff?" You laughed and shook your head. "No you blue goof. I'm doing zumba." The Terrapin tilted his head like a dog. "Zumba huh?" He raises an eyebrow, and you nodded. You then hatch an idea since he seems interested. "You wanna give it a try?" Leo chuckled and shook his head. "Oh no, no. Please. Not me. No." You pull him to the arena and you insisted him as you danced a bit. "I'll teach you. Come on. It's fun!" You start some basic moves to help guide him. That is when he finally gave in and decided to try the dance out. At first, he couldn't follow the moves properly. But the more he watches you, the more he got the hang of it. Both you and Leo were having a great time dancing different kinds of music. After a good hour or two, he suddenly became exhausted. He never realized how very tiring Zumba can be despite how fun it is. He smiles at you and as he looks behind him, he sees his brothers laugh at him making him realize they were watching this whole time. Leo blushes of embarrassment and decides he would love to do it again but only when the gym you work at closes for the night from now on. Especially if he isn't busy with missions of course.
Raph finds dancing kinda lame. He would always watch Mikey dance like a mad man and get annoyed easily. That is until you came in and decided to practice Zumba at the lair one night since you're known to be one of the best Zumba instructors in New York City. Raph was sitting on one of the chairs as he fiddles with the key that chief vincient gave him and his brothers from fighting the krang a while back. He starts to enjoy the music you were playing. As he looks up at you, he sees you dancing but not in the way Mikey does it. Your dance moves are very fast paced and confusing to him. So he got up and he pauses the music. You stopped dancing as you looked a bit puzzled to why he paused the music. He looks at you and smiles "so uh.... What was that thing you were doin? What kind of dance is that?" You smiled as you responded. "Oh! It's called Zumba Raph. " Raph stares at you confused. "Zumba? That's what it was? It looked like some kind of random dance to me. "you chuckled and you decided to have him give it a try just to have him get the feeling of it." He looks around in case no one was looking. As he watches, he starts doing the moves you are having him try out first. He tries his best as much as he could. He just messes up every single time. It makes you laugh despite how much fun you are having. As you both got to the more harder dances, he keeps trying to catch up, but still messes up. But overall, he was having a lot of fun with it. He soon started to get tired from it as he was trying to catch his breath. You stopped as you gave him some water to drink. "Damn. That was....tiring.... And a good workout." He chuckles and you smiled at him. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." Raph was glad he got to experience something he never did in his life. He does hope he can do it again another time when he feels like it.
Donnie has never danced in his whole life. Not once. All he does is sit his terrapin ass down and glue his eyes at the computer screens all day. That is until one day, you came to the lair to practice for your next zumba class next week since you work part time as an instructor right across the street in a gym from your apartment. As Donnie was working on his computer, he suddenly stops as he hears some music that is intriguing him. he stops what he was doing, and gets up as he walks to where you're at as the music got loud the closer he walks to your direction. he blushed hard as he notices you dancing in a way he has never seen before. your hips moving back and forth, and fast pacing arm swinging. he studies what it is, and still isn't sure what his smart mind can apply. you look at him as he noticed and you stopped the music. "everything okay Donnie?" Donnie stares at you, and nods. "Yeah. uh...what is that dance you're doing there? it's so fast pacing." you smiled at him and explained about zumba, and he nods understanding what it is. you asked him if he ever danced zumba, or any dance for that matter. he shakes his head and you decided to give him the chance to try it. you restart the playlist and start moving. he at first hesitates, but then he snort laughs and gives in as he watches you dance step by step. he soon starts to get used to it and started to have a great time. you both danced for hours, and he soon starts to get tired as he tries to catch his breath. you stop the music and you smiled. "well?..." Donnie looks at you as he's sweating. "That was fun!....It's really something. do you think we can do it again?" you nodded, and you both laughed. at least Donnie got to do something that doesn't involves his lab work for once.
Mikey was playing video games like he always is as usual. That is until one day, you came over to hang out for a bit with him. A few hours pass, and you decided to practice some Zumba for a bit. You borrow Mikey’s small speaker, and you start playing your Zumba playlist. As you started dancing with your Zumba moves, Mikey watches you, and he tries to imitate you. He notices the moves are very fast and switch like lightning. You turn around, and he immediately stops trying not to feel embarrassed over it. You smiled knowingly, and you pointed it out. “I see you’re trying to copy my moves Mikey boo.” Mikey pretends to act dramatic as he got caught trying to copy your moves. “Oh no angel cakes! You got me! Oooh noo! I see my life flashing before my eyes! I’m melting! Aaaah! And I’m dead.” He slumps to the floor playing dead, and you laughed shaking your head. “You don’t know what I’m doing earlier were you?” Mikey perks his head up and smiles “nope! Is it hip hop? You were moving like a hot backup dancer!” You explained to him. “It’s called Zumba.” Mikey stands up and fiddled with his nunchucks a bit “Zooom…buh?” You chuckled and replied with a Smile. “It’s a fast paced dance that gets you pumped up. It’s like a workout, but more fun.” Mikey’s eyes lit up and excitedly asks. “I wanna try! Can we? Pleeeease!” You laughed and nodded. “Okay my orange masked wonder of joy. I’ll teach you.” You restart your play through and you help him get in position. “Okay. Just follow my lead. It’s okay if it’s not perfect at first. We will start slow, and then we go faster.” Mikey nods and gets his A game face on. “Slow, and then fast like a bullet train! Got it!” As soon as the music starts, you started to move your arms, legs, and hips. Mikey messed up badly at first, but then, he got better and better as it went on. You both laugh and started to free style on the Zumba moves. “Yeah baby! This is my kind of training! Woop! Woop!” Mikey was smiling wide enjoying it. And so were you. As soon as the Zumba workout finished, he was now tired, as beads of sweat drips on the side of his face. “Yeah honey bun. Phew!….best workout ever! We should do this more often. And if this was a punishment instead of the Hashi, I wouldn’t complain.” You giggled and smiled. “Definitely.” At least Mikey always makes the workout a brighter time.
@nikitaboeve @nittleboo @turtlebaes @raphsweapondealer @raphslovemuffin80 @leosgirl82 @donnies-pop-tart @angelcatlowyn @exovapor @thelaundrybitch @cowabunga-doll @meeplovestmnt @raisin-shell @raphaelsrightarm @raphielover @roxosupreme @fyreball66 @foreignbrunette @selfless1978 @kawaiibunga @mystics-tmnt-blog @dai-su-kiss @iheartchv
Hey Heyyy~ you have no idea what a fan I am of yours! You draw so beautifully I just can't stop looking at your drawings
я вас люблю 🥹🥹🥹
thank u!
🥰🫶 i hope you like it <3
@sivy-chan-blog