Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

If your not sure about what you are reading come back to this page to check. This generally applies to most x reader stories.

(Y/N) - Your Name

(L/N) - Last Name

(F/C) - Favourite Colour

(H/C) - Hair Colour

(H/L) - Hair Length

(S/C) - Skin Colour

(E/C) - Eye Colour

(B/P) - Body Part

(F/D) - Favourite Drink

(LF/D) - Least favourite Drink

(F/F) - Favourite Food

(LF/F) - Least Favourite food.

(F/FF) - Favourite Fast Food

(A/L) - Another Like

(A/D/L) - Another dislike

Chapter Text

The four Mutant Turtle brothers sighed as they each took a bite of their pizza. Their muscles ached and their minds barely took in anything around them. The foot clan had been working them non-stop lately, a new ‘mastermind’ teaming up with them to strategically cause mayhem, forcing the brothers to split and work alone.

It had been exhausting, but the man had been stopped and the rest of them went into hiding. Just another’s days’ work for the secret heroes of New York! They’d been so caught up in their work that they hadn’t realised what day it was. The words flashed on the screen of the TV, it’s pink and red colours painting the living room in an eerie red glow that suddenly turned pink. Mikey commented about how the lair looked like a bad horror film, no one commented.

Happy Valentines Day! To Celebrate we have the whole day dedicated to Romance Films! Enjoy!

“Damn,” Mikey commented, wishing he had the strength to stand to pick a DVD with some action and no romance.

Raph scoffed, “it’s just another stupid tradition, what do we care.”

Donnie glanced at his brother, having become adapt over the years at learning what his expressions meant. Raphael was good with actions not words. But, despite this, he already knew what it meant to all of them. They had come to terms with their lives a long time ago. But that didn’t make it any easier. A life alone.

Silence filled the room, as the film started to play. Soft music played and a series of seemingly unrelated scenes with pink, cursive writing. The boys all sat up straighter as the title finally appeared on screen.

To Love a Ninja

“DUDES!” Mikey drawled, his soft chuckle filling the room, “imagine the chances!” A pillow was thrown at the youngest turtles head, and in the dark, pink hued room, it easy hit the unsuspecting turtle around the face.

“Shut up Mikey, “Raph grunted, “some of us are trying to watch.” The young turtle glanced at his brothers faces to see them sitting up straighter, entranced by the screen as a darkly clad Ninja made an appearance. Mikey too, found himself quickly becoming enamoured with the scene as it played out. He may not be a mutant turtle but he was a Ninja. So, they could relate, in a sense.

*****

The four brothers let out a sigh as the credits to the film started to roll. The end had them all on the edge of their seats. It may be the loneliest night of the year for the turtles, but that film gave them hope.

The Ninja in the film was alone in the world, dedicated to his work, until he found love in the most unusual place in the most unusual way. Typical romance crap, but each of them couldn’t help but be entranced. Even if his moves were sloppy, he couldn’t handle his weapon properly and his meditation technique was all wrong, each of them could imagine being in his shoes. Swopping in to save the beautiful girl, and overcoming all odds to be together.

“Can you imagine,” Leo mumbled to his brothers, “everything being so easy.”

Raph grunted and rose to his feet, “don’t be ridiculous, we can never have anything like that,” he walked out the room, the sound of his footsteps and his door closing filled the silence.

“He’s right,” Mikey huffed sadly, “but they doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be nice living a normal life. With praise and a girl…” A dreamy sighed followed.

Donnie glanced at his younger brother, and opened his mouth to answer, but Leo beat him too it, “it really would be Mikey. But look at us, you know we can’t show ourselves to the world. Besides, we’re Ninjas, we work in the shadows and fight evil. We don’t get normal lives or the girl.”

Following Raphs lead, Leo stood up, wished his brothers a goodnight and retreated back to his bedroom.

“Bummer,” Mikey drawled, “well, goodnight Donnie!” The energetic younger brother walked to his room, but Donnie couldn’t help but notice how his shoulders sagged and how he dragged his feet. His arms still tightly clutching the throw pillow. The film may have made them feel better when they were watching it, but now the reality of everything just weighed down on them harder.

Donnie too stood up, turning off the TV and walking out of the living room. But, unlike his brothers, Donnie, wandered into his lab and not into his bedroom. His body demanded rest, but his mind was whirling 100 miles an hour. Coming up with ideas to help his brothers. But what could he make?

Donnie pulled out a pad and pen as he flopped onto his desk chair, staring at the fresh piece of paper with furrowed brows. He started writing, the sound of his pen scratching the paper filling the room, as Donnie wrote down every idea. Of course, there were a few no-no’s. Things like the Mutagen…they had all decided a long time ago that they were turtles and turtles they were going to stay.

Suddenly, as if a lightbulb turned on, Donnie came up with an idea that toppled the others. It was just a case of making it. It would take some time, making the actual device and then coding the software, but it would be worth it. If he could see the burden of their lives lifted from his brother’s shoulders, then the hours of sleep lost and the time spent would be worth it.

So, with an idea in mind and his need for sleep forgotten. Donnie got started.

Chapter Text

One Month Later… 

The only sounds that filled the dojo was the light breathing of the turtles as they all sat in a straight line, meditating. Sensei Splinter walked silently walked around them, watching their concentration. Leo had already mastered the art, but his brothers could let their mind wander more easily. Donatello was always caught up in his inventions, Raphael let his emotions control him and Michelangelo was too energetic to sit still for too long.

But, despite all of this. The brothers still sat down a few times a week in group meditation. Practice makes perfect after all. The brothers may have practiced Ninjutsu their entire lives, but as young men, they had to learn control now more than ever. For more than one reason. A tap filled the silence, and soon, a few more followed. Splinters eyes narrowed in on Donatello's leg, as he taps it faster and faster. Growing increasingly frustrated in just a few short seconds. His brows furrowed and his face twitched slightly. It showed his in-depth concentration, the same face he made when he reached a dead end on a device he was working on. It was not a face of relaxation. 

“Is there somewhere else you need to be, Donatello?” He asked his purple masked son. Donnie jumped, and opened his eyes, the tapping stopping instantly as his eyes shot to his father. His siblings all opened one eye for a quick peak before closing them quickly, as to not be spotted by their father.

“No Sensei,” Donnie sighed, dropping his head in shame, “I was thinking and got distracted.”

“You may be a genius my son,” Splinter reminded his second youngest son, “but your mind, spirit and body all need to rest and recuperate at some point.”

Donnie nodded his head, “yes Sensei.” Splinter smiled and shook his head lightly, “but now that you’ve distracted the whole session, I don’t see why we can’t cut it short for you to continue.” Even Splinter realised it was useless to meditate now that the atmosphere was ruined. Everyone was curious about Donnie’s work as it was. He had been especially secretive this last month. He made every excuse possible to get out of patrols and wouldn’t tell anyone what he was doing.

Immediately Donnie jumped to his feet and ran out the door, shouting his thanks to his father over his shoulder. The other three glanced at each other before following their brother, curious to what invention got him so work up it interrupted training. They hoped to finally get a glance at whatever he was making.

The door was slightly ajar. In his rush to get back Donnie forgot to close and lock his door. Finally giving his brothers the perfect opportunity to nose. They each pushed at each other to get in first, as a result the three turtle brothers stumbled into Donnies lab. Finally, inside after so long, they set their eyes on their brother. They walked towards Donnie quickly ignoring the large metal contraptions they’d seen a hundred times before. His desk was messier than usual, some of it had even spilt onto the floor. Screwed up balls of paper, pens, pencils, pieces of deformed metal, wires and odd tools the eccentric turtle had made.

“What are you working on Donnie?” Leo asked his brother, shuffled next to him and peaking over his shoulder.

Donnie gasped, and turned around, his hand on his plastron, near his heart, a screw driver clenched tightly in his hand, “you guys scared me. What are you doing in here?”

“They wanted to know what you were doing,” Raph lied, “I just followed because I was bored.”

“Sure…” Mikey teased, “that’s why you pushed me out of the way to get here first.”

Raph narrowed his eyes at his youngest brother and pointed a finger at him, “because you were too slow and I was trying to follow Leo.”

Mikey smirked, and elbowed his brother lightly, “whatever you say!” Raph growled and took a menacing step forward, causing Mikey to squeak and move to hide the other side of Leo, who glanced between the two nonchalantly.

Donnie rolled his eyes at his brothers, “it was a surprise but if you really want to know…” It was almost done. The coding was finished and the device was practically done, it just needed a few more tweets to make it more comfortable and to hide the wires. It didn’t need to look completely crappy.

“YES!” Mikey cheered, holding up his fist for one of his brothers to bump, but they all ignored the energetic turtle, as Leo and Raph nodded their heads.

Donnie turned back to his station and pressed some buttons on his desk. Wires were still hanging out of some places and buttons flashed when they weren’t even supposed to. But, there was no time like the present. Donnie held up the device for his brothers to see. A large floppy, slightly circle piece of equipment that left his brothers confused. It looked a lot like a swimming cap with a lot more wires. The sort of thing you’d see in a bad sci-fi film with aliens that tried to read your mind.

“What is it?” Raph asked.

“It goes on your head,” Donnie explained, “it’s encoded to project scenarios in your head.”

A silence filled the lab as his brothers tried to figure out what Donnie had just told them.

Leo cross his arms, “what sort of scenarios?”

Donnie face palmed, forgetting to explain the device at his brothers ‘level’, “right. It basically lets us live out normal lives for a short while. They’re headsets that scan your brain and project and interactive game into it of sorts. I’ve only programmed it to do so much, but it picks out what you want…so, say you wanted to experience walking through a park with a girl. It picks out your tastes in a girl and uses that, a park you’ve always wanted to visit. I’ve had to connect it to the internet and social media because the computer can only put together so much, especially if you don’t know what you want…” Donnie trailed off, his eyes finally focusing in on his brothers wide eyed expressions.

Mikey was the first to break out of his trance, “I WANT TO GO FIRST!”

Raphael, was next, “No! Me First!”

And finally, Leo, “as the oldest, I think it would be wise for me to test out this invention first of all.”

All hell broke loose as the three brothers continued to argue about who got to use the new device first. Usually Donnies devices were to help them fight or find a fight, but it was never for pleasure. Never for fun. This made a good change, and they each wanted to have a turn first.

“Uh, guys!” Donnie shouted, and pulled out two more headsets from the draw, and waved them in the air, “you can all have a turn.” The three turtles froze and looked at Donnie expectantly, “just wait in the Living Room, I’ll be in, in a second.” As they ran out the room Donnie started to gather all the necessary materials. He hadn’t had a chance to try it out himself, but he needed to be awake in case anything went wrong. He quickly connected the head sets to the computer, the sound of this brothers bickering once again filling the halls and echoing into his lab.

After a long and tiring month, Donnie finally felt a carefree smile take over. He’d almost done it. He’d managed to give his brothers a sense of normality, even if it was for a short while. The head sets started to glow and beep as they turned online. Donnie nodded to himself, satisfied that they were working before he picked up his tablet and followed the sound of his brothers into the living room.

“Alright!” Mikey cheered, “our bro is bringing the thingy ma’ bob in.”

Leo shook his head at his brother, sure that Donnie had come up with a more technical name for the device, “where do you want us?” Leo had to count down in his head to calm his racing heart. They may have come to terms with who they are, but a piece of living a normal life, even if it is fake…who could pass up on an opportunity like that?

Donnie passed around the head sets, “just put these on and get into a comfortable position. When you’re comfortable start to meditate, clear your minds and relax as much as possible. It would be easier for the program to work if you’re more open to it.”

The others carefully pulled the device over their heads, pieces of metal dug into their skin and the rubber constricted their heads. But as annoying as it was, they each knew they rushed their brother and were unwilling to wait for a more comfortable device. When they were each sitting down on a separate part of the sofas around the room. Their eyes closed and their faces peaceful, Donatello fire up his tablet. The program came on instantly, immediately measuring their vital signs.

Giving another glance at his brothers, Donnie pressed the button to start the program. The sound of the technology beeping filled the room, as each of his brothers took a synchronised breath. The tablet screen split three ways, and data rolled across the screen as it scanned their minds. Finding the perfect scenario and person for them.

“Please work,” Donnie whispered into now silent room.

*****

In Leo’s Mind...

Leo opened his eyes to find himself in the middle of a grassy field, large blanket underneath him. A gentle breeze whirled around him, and made the straps on his mask brush the back of his neck. He took a deep breath, the fresh air seemed so real. Cleaner than the air of the city and it definitely smelt fresher than the sewers.

Leonardo felt himself smile and his eyes close. He had always wanted to meditate in a place like this. He wouldn’t be surprised if Donnie programmed this just for him. He opened his eyes again and rotated on the spot. He was on top of a hill, rolling hills and deep blue skies that rivalled his eyes stretched as far as the eye could see.

Leo stretched his arms above his head and slowly lowered himself towards the ground. He may be meditating in the real world, but he was going to relax. Focus on the world and breath in nature.

But, the program had more in store than Leo thought.

“Leonardo!” A female voice called out, its owner huffing, out of breath, “Lee!” Lee? No one had ever called him that before.

Leo opened his eyes in shock as he spotted the top of a head as the (H/C) tresses glowed in the morning sun, “huh?” The leader wasn’t sure what to say as the owner of the voice gradually came into view.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she huffed, smiling widely at the turtle, “I completely forgot how huge this hill is! Great spot, though right?”

Leo didn’t say anything, his mouth falling opening slightly as the girl came into full view. Her (H/L) (H/C) hair ruffled in the breeze, her (S/C) skin seemed to glow under the sun’s rays and her body, even clad in loose sportswear made him want to drool. Who was she?

“Lee?” She asked, tapping the turtle on the nose. Leo blinked once, twice and again. He felt the light touch as if it actually happened.

“Yeah…?” He asked, unsure.

“Are you going to teach me how to meditate or are you going to stare at me?”

Leo couldn’t help but chuckle, “I’m not sure,” he answered truthfully, “do I know you?”

She laughed loudly, shaking her head as she dropped down onto the blanket right in front of Leo, their knees almost touching, “don’t be silly. Of course, you do! Unless you always teach strangers how to meditate?” She raised a brow, but the wide smile on her face and the playful gleam in her eyes told him she was messing with the usually calm turtle.

“Then,” he gulped, finding it hard to talk to a stranger, a girl, that wasn’t April and one that made his heart skip a beat with just a smile, “what’s your name?” She tilts her head to the side, confused and reach a hand up slowly. Leo held his breath as her hand touched his skin. It was so smooth, so warm, like a feather brushing his skin as he touched him with such a delicate caress.

She rubbed an invisible lump on his head, and look concerned before she glances down to meet his eyes, “did you bump your head?” He sucked in a deep breath as her eyes stared deeply into his. (E/C) was his new favourite colour. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before he realised he hadn’t answered.

Leo force himself to breath, “what’s your name?” He repeated. It was the only thing that mattered to him in that moment. That and finding out how Donnie created someone as perfect as her.

She smiled at him and grabbed one of his large hands in her own, the contrast making his heart skip another beat, “it’s (Y/N) silly, remember now?”

Leo gulped and forced out a nod.

She raised a brow and giggled slightly, “are you sure?”

Leo had to clear his throat, “I’m sure. After all, how could I forget you?” Her hands moved down between the two of them, and she grabbed Leo’s hand tightly in her own, rubbing his callous hands with her soft ones. Both of her hands barely fit around one of his, and he found himself wrapping her hands in his free one.

“I’m glad,” she sigh softly, “I would hope my boyfriend doesn’t suddenly forget me. I’d hate to go through all that trouble again.”

Leo nodded, but he had one more question, “why do you call me Lee?”

The (H/C) haired girl ahead of him raised a brow and smirked, “because everyone calls you Leo, so I decided to call you Lee. Happy now?” Leo felt himself nod again, his head beating impossibly fast and his stomach clenching tightly with nerves as he realised something.

This was a meditation date.

Leo had only dreamt about moments like this and now he was finally going to get one.

He had no idea what Donnie had planned in this program but right now, he never wanted to leave again.

*****

In Mikey’s Mind…

Music was the first thing Mikey heard. It shook his entire body as he forced his eyes to open. He was shocked to find himself in the middle of what looked like to be some sort of Carnival. Live music played in the background, fairy lights filled the sky above, stalls of all sorts filled the area, and the smell of food made the turtles stomach grumble loudly.

Then, he felt someone pull his hand.

Mikey glanced down, his eyes following the action as whoever it was continued to tug. It was then he realised he was holding onto something tightly. His grip firm and unyielding. Like his body was afraid to let go. He saw a (S/C) hand first, so small it was engulfed in his own, barely visible in the shadows of his body. He followed the hand to an arm, clad in a thick cream jumper. It was then Mikey noticed it was chilly, a cold evening chill to the air that matched the orange and brown leaves that littered the floor. Not enough to faze him though. All those nights he’d spent running across skyscrapers in thick snow had built immunity to the cold.

It was her face that made him freeze. (H/L) (H/C) hair framed the most beautiful face he’d ever seen. She smiled shyly at him, a faint, barely visible pink blush on her cheeks. She tilted her head back to stare into his eyes. Oh, sweet ninja turtle god above her eyes. The most beautiful shade of (E/C) he’d ever seen.

“Mikey,” she called, her voice sweeter than anything he’d ever heard before. If you could hear silk, Mikey imagined it would sound just like her voice, “what do you want to do first?”

“You,” he automatically answered and both of your faces turned red at his response.

She shook her head, and chuckled lightly, “how about you win me a teddy bear first and maybe you’ll get a kiss?”

Mikey fist pumped the air and pulled her towards a booth that was flaunting large, un-won teddy bears around the outside, “your wish is my command!”

She giggled as he dragged her behind him, his hand tightly in hers, “no nicknames today?”

Mikey stopped and turned around to face the unknown female, “nicknames?” “Don’t act like you don’t know! Lately you’ve been calling me ‘my precious pizza topping’ whatever that means. And before that it was ‘my angel’…But we both agreed that should be your nickname because of your name. Should I go on?” Mikey shook his head, mentally praising himself for the first nickname and vowing to use it in the real world. “Thinking about it, you have never really have called me by my first name, you’ve always called me one nickname after the other…”

“Huh,” he commented, he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as he pulled your towards the stand, “come to think of it. What is your name?”

She raised a brow and point to the teddy bears hanging above your heads, “it’s gonna cost ya’ for forgetting little Mimi.”

Mikey blushed at the nickname before change, the money glinting in the colourful lights ahead, suddenly appeared on the side of the game stall, followed by an oddly enthusiastic man with a knowing gleam in his eyes.

“Welcome to my stand! For only two dollars you get five balls to try and knock a tower down!”

Mikey pointed above his head, “What do I have to do to win ones of these monster for my precious pizza topping?”

The man gestured to the largest tower, easily 20 cans, with a casual wave of his hands, “knock everyone down or on their side and you can pick any prize on the stand.”

Mikey finally let go of herr hand, missing the warmth immediately as he cracked his knuckles together, “bring it on!”

The money was scooped up and five wore red balls were carefully place in front of him. Mikey picked up one ball and threw it firmly at the tower. A few fell off the top but it stayed firm. Mikey changed tactic and aims for the bottom. With his next throw the large tower fell over with an over dramatic wobbly.

With the other three balls he knocked down the other tower cans and gave the man a cheeky grin, “Cause I knocked them all down, can I have two?” The man nodded wordlessly with wide eyes as he went to rearrange his stall, mumbling under his breath that the game should be rigged.

Mikey reached up and pulled down an overly large teddy bear down and gave it to the girl waiting by his side. She snuggled into the soft fur, making his heart clench. With the girl distracted, Mikey quickly plucked a smaller stuffed toy from above. One he had only just spotted from the corner of his eye.

He held out the toy to the (H/C) haired beauty, waiting for her to look up. She glanced up in confusion and her heart melted at the sight of the small turtle. She pulled it gently from his hands and bought it to her chest, along with the teddy bear she was struggling to hold.

Mikey laughed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, dragging her to the next stall, “so, are you going to tell me your name?”

She laughed lightly, “you really did forget?” Stopping and turning to Mikey, she pushed herself up onto the tips of her toes and pressed a light kiss on his cheek, “(Y/N).” She whispered, her breath fanning his cheeks. She quickly pulled away and ran off.

“HEY!” Mikey shouted, “wait up!”

Mikey looked up to the sky, where he assumed Donnie was watching and thanked him with a thumbs up, before running after the girl of his dreams.

*****

In Raph’s Mind…

Raph felt warm, so warm he didn’t want to open his eyes. The warmth seeped into his skin and removed any anger he could’ve possibly had towards anything at the moment. The blankets shifted over him as he moved.

But something else moved in the bed with him.

Raph’s eyes quickly shot open to see what was moving on his arm, only to notice the back of a head. (H/L), (H/C) hair tickled his arm as the person shuffled backwards to snuggle into Raphs side. Their legs brushed against his, and he realised in that moment how entangled they were. And how everything was touching without any hindrance. As in…Naked. Raph was glad no one could see him blush as warmth filled his cheeks.

The person groaned and Raph watched in interest as she turned over to snuggle closer to his plastron, “it’s too early Raph, go back to sleep.” Raph hadn’t even realised he’d sat up. Leaning on an arm to glance at the women…by his side…in bed. “Raph,” the woman groaned again, sending a pleasant tingle down his spine, “please just lay back down.”

Slowly, Raph felt himself slowly laying back down. Lowering himself onto his back, the woman snuggled closed to him, humming in content.

Raph was at a loss for words, so relaxed and withdrawn from his usual anger he didn’t feel the need to ruin the atmosphere with words. But his thoughts were running a mile a minute. Who was the woman in his bed?

Raph looked around the room, and quickly realised he wasn’t in his bed. He was in a spacious room, in a large King size bed. The mattress seemed to swallow him into warm, comfortable cloud that he never wanted to leave. Small rays of light broke into the room, filling it with warmth and the perfect amount of light for the morning. Bright enough that he could nose, not too bright that it woke up the sleeping person next to him.

“I thought we agreed to go back to sleep,” she grumbled into his side, her voice barely more than a vibration across his arm.

Raph raised a brow and couldn’t help but chuckle, “more like you told me to and then fell back to sleep yourself.” She grumbled incoherently into his arm, and it made him laugh that little bit harder. She finally raised up her head, her hair a tangled mess and her eyes barely open. Not enough though that he could see their colour. She rested her chin on his plastron and let out a deep sigh.

“I can’t help it,” she grumbled, rubbing her eyes tiredly, “it’s our first weekend off in ages. We need the rest and snuggle time.” She pouted, drawing Raphs attention to her lips. He gulped, the desire to fill the gap between them suddenly overwhelming. But he wasn’t sure what happened to his body in the real world when he partook in ‘those’ sorts of activities, so he decided to stick with the bliss.

But everything you were saying…jobs, weekend lay-ins and snuggles? It all sorted so mundane, so normal. As if he wasn’t a giant mutant Ninja turtle.

“Hey, um?” Unsure, as to what he should call you.

“Are you that tired you forgot my name again,” you grumbled sleepily.

“Maybe…” Raph squeaked, “but I’ll remember next time I promise.”

“(Y/N), Raph, it’s (Y/N).”

“Right...” he drawled, unsure of himself, of what the programme had planned, “what do I do for a living?” She finally opened her eyes, and Raph stammered. Beautiful pools of (E/C) shinned at him up at him and his heart skipped a beat. 

“You teach Ninjutsu to children with your brothers…at your family ‘dojo’.” “And who are you to me?”

A hand slowly worked its way up his plastron and a hand pointed down, waving slightly in his face. The gleam of two rings made his eyes water, but it took him a second to realise what they were, on what finger they were on.

An engagement ring and a wedding ring.

She was his wife.

“Oh,” was all he could say. 

*****

Back with Donnie…

An hour went by before Donnie decided it was time to wake up his brothers. It was strange hearing them have their own conversations. But he could hear their laughs, see their smiles. In that moment he knew he did the right thing.

It was strange at times though. Mikey kept talking about ‘his precious pizza topping’ and both Leo and Raph kept referring to someone called (Y/N) but he decided not to question it. It seemed to work fine to worry about the finer details later. He’d question his brothers on it later, but he needed to know what the experience was like.

He made each scenario have two different programs, a single and a couple programme. That way, when the device scanned them it would see whether or not they wanted to false ‘relationship’. That strange romantic ninja film gave him the idea.

Of course, he’d programmed certain things with each brother in mind but there was no way of telling which ones they’d want to try. A few were generic, like going to the beach, having a lay in or walking through the park. But he doubted they’d want to try anything like that yet. He could see what scenarios they went into later, it would all be on the tablets program.

But Donnie would be lying if he said he wasn’t eager to try it himself. But, he’d have to wait. He’d try it on himself later once he’d put a timer into the programme. From there he should be able to use it on himself with no faults. He’d already set it up so that if the alarms went off, they’d all be pulled out of the program so they could get into action.

His brothers quickly came too, blinking quickly as they regained their awareness.

“Woah,” Mikey commented, silent and at a loss for words, “I have no words.” Donnie rolled his eyes.

Leo glanced towards Donnie, “what Mikey means to say, is that it was so real we almost didn’t want to leave.”

Raph stood up, stretching his muscles with a loud groan, “maybe you guys didn’t want to leave but I did.”

Donnie eyed his brothers carefully, watching as they took off the headsets carefully. No marks on their head. They didn’t seem to be confused or be in any physical pain. But he didn’t want them to push their bodies using these things too often.

“How are you guys feeling?” He asked his brothers.

“It feels like it was dream,” Leo sighed.

“A really good dream,” Mikey added.

“One you didn’t want to wake up from,” Raph whispered.

“Hey! Bro! I thought you said you did want to leave. Were you worried about what we’d think about you?” Mikey teased.

Raphael growled at his younger brother before storming out the room, grumbling about how he would never run a family ninjutsu business with a goofball like him. Leo and Donnie passed a look but never commented on their brothers strange words.

“Are you going to have a turn?” Mikey asked Donnie, his excitement building along with his hunger.

“Once I finished a few more things, then yeah!” Donnie pushed up his glasses, “I’m really excited to see how the neuro-transmitter filter processed all the data and made you feel and smell things.”

“Dude…” Mikey drawled, “you totally lost me. I’m gonna go and make some pizza soup!” Mikey skipped out of the room singing the theme tune to Merry-go-Rounds. His brothers looked at each other before deciding that it was just Mikey and to ignore it.

Leo turned to Donnie, “so you made all of that up?”

“I used the internet to find pictures and stuff, and a lot of it your mind fills in the rest.”

“Right,” Leo sighed, “so the people?”

“They don’t exist,” Donnie answered truthfully, unaware of the extra two sets of ears listening in a small hope that they’d be able to meet the woman from the dream. The three of them let out a small sigh at the news. It wasn’t real.

It was only just a dream.

Chapter Text

Mikey glanced around the lair, tip toeing into the silent room. He may have skipped a corner or two on his patrol to get back quicker than his brothers so that he could start his programme in peace. But the world was peaceful at the moment, so Mikey needed something to occupy his mind...Yep, that was the excuse he was going to use.

Still tip toeing, Mikey walked into Donnie's lab and towards his target. The draw was slightly ajar, an edge of a cap sticking out. Spare tablet on the side above it, each with a coloured rim to represent each brother so they could go into the programme separately. Mikey's, of course, was orange.

Mikey grabbed the orange rimmed tablet, and slowly pulled open the squeaky draw. It let out a loud whine as Mikey opened it, cringing as the sound echoed through the room. He couldn't shut the door out of fear his father would hear him, so it was still wide open, carrying the sound further through the lair. He spotted his orange cap and smiled widely to himself in triumph as he pulled it from the door.

Mikey silently congratulated himself with a fist bump to the air before he continued tip toeing, this time heading for his room.

Mikey reached his room, without any interference. After ridding himself of his equipment, and the many straps holding it in place, Mikey quickly settled himself on his bed. He pulled his mask off and pulled the cap on, quickly turning on the tablet. Mikey got himself in a comfortable position, the meditation pose, positioning his finger over the start button.

Mikey closed his eyes and took and deep breath, settling his rapidly beating heart as he settled his nerves. When he was finally calm, Mikey took a deep breath in and on instinct, his finger relaxed and dropped down onto the touch screen, starting the programme.

*****

In Mikey's Mind...

Mikey blinked rapidly, his eyes trying desperately to get used to the bright lights shining in his eyes. They continued to flicker and change, flicking from one colour to the next. The floor vibrated beneath his feet, a gradual thump that shook his legs. It reminded him of when he stood right next to a train as it zoomed past, shaking the very ground that he stood on.

Only this time, it had a rhythm. One that made Mikey want to bob his head and tap his foot.

It was then Mikey realised what it was. It was music. His eyes quickly opened with excitement as the sound of distant music began to fill his ears. In front of him stood a run-down warehouse. Graffiti covered the outside walls, a few windows were broken, and piles of forgotten rubbished littered the floor outside. A flickering Neon sign hung high above everything else, giving the area a pink glow. It read 'The Warehouse'. It was slightly on it is side and looked as if it was going to fall any second.

The appearance of the place didn't deter the floods of people entering, each dressed in less clothing than the other. Some stumble in, already drunk, as they forced themselves to sway to the beat. But, in those windows Mikey, could see the strobe lights. Mikey could feel the music.

And Mikey...is at a PARTY!

Mikey felt a smile stretch across his face. He had always wanted to go to a party. His back wasn't heavy, so he wasn't wearing his usual gear. His face could feel the wind on his face, so no mask. He was completely open, and no one cared. They all looked past him. Some waved, like they were old friends, and his heart swelled at the action.

Mikey squealed and then realised his hand was gripping something, something small and cold. He pulled it to up into the flickering lights to glance at the small object. It was a USB stick. What was he doing with this?

On cue, a man ran out of the club looking very worried. He spotted Mikey and a look of relief on his face as he ran towards the turtle as if the man was expecting him. Mikey checked behind him to make sure that there was no one behind him, but when he saw nothing but shadows, he knew the man was aiming for him.

The man reached him, panting as he tried to speak to Mikey, wheezing sounds leaving him. He was bent over, his hands on his knees as he tried to speak.

"Mikey?" He asked, forcing himself to stand, his breathing only slightly normal. He was a young man, older than Mikey but young enough to be at a club. But the logo on his shirt told him he was only working here, not having fun.

Mikey nodded his head, "that's me."

The man groaned in relief, and stood straighter, gesturing to the thumping warehouse behind him, "your manager has set your booth up and you've got a private room like you requested but when she said you're usually late," the man checked his watch, and glanced up at Mikey with a grimace, "I didn't think you'd be over an hour late."

Mikey squealed, his knees shaking with the excitement that this new programme will bring. It even knew he was always late! The man gave him a strange look but said nothing until he caught sight of the USB stick in his hands.

"Oh good, you're all prepared. I heard your beats are sick dude."

Mikey felt his grin impossibly widen, "am I your DJ?"

The man nodded, "of course. You're DJ Ninja Turtle...you are DJ Ninja Turtle aren't you?"

"YES!" Mikey cheered, right after the man finished, "I am DJ Ninja Turtle." Mikey couldn't believe he was a DJ, and one with such a cool name! "lead the way good sir, so we can get this party started!"

The man nodded and quickly gestured for Mikey to follow him into the club, but instead of using the front door, they swerved to the side and into the shadows where a side door lay hidden. A body guard nodded to the man ahead of Mikey and opened the door with a sweeping arm. His eyes hidden behind dark glasses, but Mikey could still feel them watching him as he made his way into the door.

Immediately an old man ran up to Mikey and pointed an accusatory finger at him, "I'm not paying you for the hour you are late kid. In fact you're lucky I don't fire you right now. What time do you call this?" Mikey opened his mouth, "don't answer that, in fact, I'm dropping your pay-"

"-drop his pay and I promise you now Maurice, Mikey won't be preforming here tonight." The voice was hard, with a soft edge to it. Mikey's heart started to beat loudly as his face found a familiar one.

"(Y/N)," he breathed. He only been the headsets twice before this, and she'd been in each of them. He'd had the time of his life each time, and he knew, without a doubt, he was falling for the fake person. He knew he like, liked her. It hurt to think of her as fake. So, in his effort to ease the ache on his heart. Mikey had twisted his perception on her, a lot. He like to think of himself as being voluntary cat fished...by Donnie's program. Yeah, that made him feel better. But that didn't stop him from falling for her. A lot.

(Y/N), turned her gaze towards Mikey and raised a brow, "yes?" She asked. Mikey nearly squealed, she was looking at him. And, once again, she was perfect.

Mikey shook his head and gave her a wide smile, shrugging, "nothing."

She rolled her eyes before turning towards Maurice, "what's it going to be? You increased your prices for tonight by 20 dollars because of Mikey here. If Mikey don't play you'll have a riot on your hands and you'll have to give everyone a refund AND you'll ruin your 'good name' in the progress," she clicked on her phone and hummed at the time, "I don't like waiting so what is it going to be?"

Maurice frowned at her but grumbled a, 'fine he can perform.'

Mikey let out a whoop and spotted (Y/N) turning on her heels and walking down another hallway. Quickly, Mikey followed. Making the shining (H/C) hair, his guide as he weaved through the unfamiliar hallways. Eventually, she vanished through a door, and pushed it ajar behind her.

Mikey paused outside the door, becoming momentarily shocked by the name under the little star on the door. It was his name. This was his dressing room, and she was in it! Mikey cleared his throat, squared his shoulders and braced himself for the person on the other side of the door. He pushed the door open with a hand and quickly followed.

Only...to get stuck.

Mikey felt his eyes widen. He was stuck! He never even bothered to check the width of the door. He wiggled slightly trying to free himself, but he quickly found himself firmly wedge in place.

A light laugh filled the air, and goose bumps rose on Mikey's arms and neck. Oh, that laugh.

"I thought you were getting better at not doing that?" Mikey glanced up and into (E/C) eyes. His heart fluttering.

Mikey tried to shrug, but just sighed, "next time?"

(Y/N) laughed and walked up to Mikey, a spray bottle in her hand, the small metal ball inside clanging against the tin, "I'm glad I bought this with me, but you'll have to get more off of Donnie."

Mikey narrowed his eyes, confused. That was the only thing about these scenarios. They came with a back-story Mikey didn't understand. Sometimes his brothers existed, other times they didn't. Mikey, just had to go with the flow. A lot of the time, it made him look like an idiot but at least no one was here to see it.

"Right..." he drawled.

She laughed again, closer this time so that he could smell her sweet smell. She held up the bottle and started spraying the sides of his shell. Immediately Mikey could feel it start to slide down the doorframe, around his shell. Mikey wiggled, and could feel himself slip free. After a few awkward shuffles he popped through the door, stumbling forward. By this point, (Y/N) had moved away and was sitting on the patched-up sofa. Scrolling through her phone with a huff.

Mikey took a deep breath and waltzed up to her. Trying desperately to do a walk he saw on a late-night dating programme once on TV. It was called 'how to impress'. He'd never had a chance to use the information...until now!

"Hey," he smiled, slowly sitting down next to her.

She didn't glance up from her phone, but she smiled softly "I'm not ordering you a Pizza Mikey."

Mikey frowned and was now really crazing pizza, "maybe I wanted to ask you something else?"

"Or garlic bread."

Pouting, Mikey collapsed backwards against the chair. Throwing his arms up and against the headrest. Unsure as to what he should so now. Suddenly, as if fate was working with him, (Y/N) shuffled closer and leant against him. Still scrolling through her phone.

Mikey squealed in his head, 'She is so cool and smooth! I wish I was like her'.

Mikey cleared his throat again, thinking of something to say. It wasn't that the silence was uncomfortable, but he wanted to get to know this girl more.

"Hey," Mikey said, trying to mimic Ralph's batman voice.

(Y/N) chuckled and glance up from her phone and at Mikey, "you said that already. Is everything alright?"

Mikey nodded, gulping, before leaning forward and pressing his lips to her temple, "everything is fine. I just.." Mikey paused. Unsure as to how he should proceed. But he decided to wing it, it wasn't real. That reality made his heart ache, but it was the hard true. "...I just missed you, is all."

She smiled at him, love shining in her eyes, and kissed his chin, "I love you too."

It was in that very moment that Mikey realised something. He didn't just like this (Y/N) person. He loved her. He wasn't falling. He had already falling and was now realising. What was worse, was it was a doomed relationship. Fated in the stars to fail. Like Romeo and Juliette, but the Ninja version. Now that sounded like a cool remake. Images of people dressed in their old-fashioned clothes fighting with their Katanas and Nunchucks. Kicking ass.

"What is going on in that head of yours?" (Y/N) asked Mikey, making him jump.

Mikey shrugged, "Romeo and Juliette but with a Ninja twist?" Mikey realised what he said and glanced down to gauge her reaction.

(Y/N) raised a brow, "oh really. What is it with you and Ninjas?" Mikey opened his mouth, but the scenario started to fade into darkness.

"NOOOO!"

*****

In the real world...

Mikey opened his eyes to see the glaring eyes of his brothers staring down at him. But the corners of their mouths were twitching as they tried to not smile.

"MIKEY! You are supposed to be on patrol," Leo scolded him.

"Yeah," Donnie added, "this is supposed to be for fun. Not as an alternative to work."

Raph scoffed, "Mikey prefers Romeo and Juliette with Ninjas anyway."

Mikey's eyes widened, "What! How much did you guys here?" The three of them exchange a knowing look that made Mikey cringe. "So, everything...Great. On another note, what did you guys think of my idea. Should I send it to someone and see if they'll make it a thing or what?"

"MIKEY!" They all shout at him, walking out of his room, grumbling to themselves about Mikey and his antics.

Mikey jumped to his feet and followed them, "I'm serious guys! But I need your help. Would they have back up clothes? What would the theme music be? I think it needs to be a mixture of the batman theme song and the pink panther theme tune."

His brothers groaned again, but there was one though Mikey couldn't voice aloud. How much he was already Romeo and Juliette was (Y/N). At least he could see her again tonight in a new scenario. Or maybe he could finish up at he club. Or...

"HEY DONNIE. WANT TO MAKE ME A NINJA VERSION OF ROMEO AND JULIETTE FOR THE DREAM SCENARIOS!"

"NO!"

Mikey frowned, following the sound of his brother's voice. Convinced he could convince him to make him his dream scenario.

Chapter Text

Leo glanced down at the cap in his hands, and shifted it between each hand, feeling the weight of it in his three fingers. He was unsure what to do, whether or not he should wear the cap. He was standing outside door to Sensei’s office. The smell of incense wafting through the small gap under the door, calming his rattled nerves.

Ever since Mikey got caught skipping patrol, Splinter had been a lot stricter on the three brothers about their new…extra-curricular activity. That didn’t mean the brothers didn’t still go into the dream scenarios. But, they were under a lot more scrutiny than before. Splinter constantly tried to convince them to do anything other than put on the caps and ignore the world.

Leo was conflicted about the matter. He loved the freedom and everything that he’d experienced while in the scenarios. He’d travelled to some of the most sacred places in the world, meditated there. Gone deep into the jungle and became one with nature. Travelled back in time and became part of a Ninja Guild in Japan. Became a teacher. Bought his first house. He’d experienced everything he’d never imagined he could ever have.

There was one problem though. There person that was always there with him. The mysterious (Y/N). Leo had never realised how lonely he truly was until he spent time with the mysterious (H/C) haired women. She was everything from his wildest dreams. Patient, kind, funny and a soul searcher. The thought of her made his palms start to sweat, his heart rate increase, and his focus deteriorates. His thoughts went back to her at all times of the day. His dreams were filled with her face. Little thing reminded him of her. He saw adverts on TV of things she’d like. It was relentless.

Leo was convinced he was going mad. The machine was doing something to his head. The scenarios lingering in his mind, impairing his judgement. He was tempted to ask Donnie but at the same time, he didn’t want to not see her. This whole ordeal was giving him a headache.

In the end, Leo decided not to talk to his father. He turned on the spot and headed for the Dojo. His thoughts running endlessly. Whirling through his mind like a tornado. He didn’t know what to do, his ability to judge a situation as a leader was becoming impaired.

It was then Leo remembered something. Something his father said to him once when he was having problem with Raph and his role as a Ninja. ‘The universe works in mysterious ways my son, sometimes things happen that we can’t explain, we must learn that we cannot fight this. Learn from it and embrace it.’

Taking his fathers advice, Leo made his way towards the dojo to meditate and to use the dream headsets. He quickly settled himself on the floor, putting the tablet in front of him and pulled the cap on. Settling his racing heart, Leo took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pressed the button. Immersing himself in the fake world.

*****

In Leo’s Mind…

Before Leo opened his eyes, he could hear the howling wind. Feel it against his skin and the bitter chill that came with it. Something crunched under his feet, the sound of stones rolling. The air was heavy, making Leo take deeper breathes.

Taking a deep breath, Leo opened his eyes. The sight before him was breath taking. Mountains surrounded him, the clouds low and covering anything a mile away. A gravel foot path the only guide in the magical scenery. Leo shifted his shoulder feeling a weight on one. He pulled the weight around to the front and realised it was a backpack. A sleeping bag on the bottom and a water bottle on the side. The huge pack hiding the heavy contents.

But that wasn’t what Leo was looking for. Leo turned on the spot but couldn’t spot her. He couldn’t hear her laugh. Couldn’t spot her (H/C) hair. Smell her sweet sense. She wasn’t here. Leo’s heart dropped. He so wanted to see her. It was why he was here after all.

Leo took a deep breath and prepared to say the words to take him out of the programme. When he heard it; the systematic crunching of gravel, the quick deep breaths of someone trying to catch their breath, and the shadow slowly getting closer.

Leo held his breath and waited for their arrival. Begging the programme for it to be her.

When the familiar (H/C) hair and smile broke through the foggy mist. She was still so far so Leo ran to meet her halfway. Her cheeks were flushed pink with her run and Leo smiled softly at the sight. She too was carrying a backpack, but hers was much smaller. Leo just hoped he was carrying all the heavy stuff.

“We were going the right way,” she breathed, still catching her breath, “the camping site is a way away but if we keep out stops at a minimum we should make it before nightfall.”

Leo nodded. He had always wanted to go on a mountain hike, and this was exactly how he picture it would be and more. But he didn’t care. She was here, (Y/N) was here, and she made everything perfect.

She grabbed his hand and pulled Leo along, bringing him back to the ‘real world’, “as much as I love when you stare at me. We really cannot waste any time.”

Leo shook his head, a soft smile overtaking his features, unable to stop himself as he brushed his fingers down her cheek, her skin was so soft, “we don’t have to stay at a camp site you know.” She leaned into his hand as he spoke, but quickly pulled away as she realised what he said.

(Y/N) huffed, “of course I know that. But they have showers there,” she lifted her top, rubbing her nose in the material and took a long sniff, “and I really need one. Besides, after changing our packs over so you carry all the cooking equipment, I’m sure you’ll need one too.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but the anger didn’t reach her tone.

Leo felt himself sigh in relief, not caring about all the excess weight on his shoulders, “I’m sure you can get a shower in the morning.”

She turns on her heels and walks away, “just because you want to camp out under the stars every night and embrace our true nature, it does not mean I want to smell like nature!” Leo chuckled and jogged to catch up with the small woman. Then again, everyone was small to him and his brothers.

When he finally reached the woman, he’d been thinking about where this Scenario would take him. He’d already meditated at some of the most sacred locations he knew. Hiked jungles. Lived out romantic fantasies and so much more.

It was out of the corner of his eye he saw it, a small sign barely visible through the foliage. Leo had only spotted it because it seemed to flash at him. (Y/N) never looked at it, so he assumed it was the scenario pointing him in that direction. Approaching the sign, Leo moved the leaves away with delicate hands, his eyes widening when he saw the symbol. It was for hot springs! Leo had always wanted to soak in hot spring after a hard training session. This wasn’t exactly a training session, but at least he’d still get to spend some time with the mysterious female alone.

“Look at this!” He called to her, watching her turn to him with a raised brow and a smile. “It’s a hot spring!”

(Y/N) gasped before running towards Leo, readjusting the large pack on her back. Leo felt his eyes narrow at the action. It looked to be too heavy for her. He knew she’d argue against him, but he couldn’t help but formulate a plan to take it from her.

“Really?” (Y/N) asked, her eyes lighting up, as she read the sign, “it’s half the journey as well compared to the camp! And I could have a wash, it’s perfect,” she turned to Leo and sent him a sheepish smile, “I’m sorry for being grumpy earlier, I’m tired and I hate it when I smell.”

Leo nodded, smiling, “I remember-” Leo felt his eyes widen. Was he supposed to say that? Could he mention other times and other scenarios? “Oh, um…” Leo stuttered, unsure, “I just meant…What I meant to say-”

(Y/N) chuckled, “don’t worry. We can laugh about the jungle hike now. But it was not funny that I slipped in that huge pile of…” she shivered, “I don’t even want to think about it that much.” Grabbing his hand, she pulled Leo along the forgotten path and to the hot springs.

They reached the hot springs in little under half an hour, and (Y/N) quickly dropped her backpack in a clear, dry spot before unloading for the night. Leo followed suit, and the tent was set up in silence. Both of them were looking forward to relaxing in the hot spring, and despite actually having hiked the distance (Y/N) had told him about, Leo’s body still ached. He wasn’t sure if it was from all the work he was doing in real life or apart of the simulation.

Now, unpacked and ready to unwind, they were both standing by the steam hot spring. Towels draped over their arms as they each waited for the other to make a move. Leo had never seen (Y/N) naked before. He had thought a few times about what she looked like but never dwelled on the thought, always becoming too flustered before it developed any further than just that.

(Y/N) giggled next to Leo and unzipped her coat, letting it fall to the floor by her feet. Leo watched each movement as she next removed her shoes and socks, her toes wriggling against the cold, rocky ground. She pulled her long sleeve over her head, revealing the vest underneath. Leo gulped. There were only a few layers left.

(Y/N) glanced at Leo, still fully clothed, “aren’t you going to get undressed as well?”

Leo gulped again, “I-I,” he stuttered before coughing, “I left something in the tent. You go ahead, and I’ll follow after.” (Y/N) nodded before continuing to strip, Leo quickly turned on his heels as her top was about to be pulled over her chest, thinking of something he needed quickly. He decided on a wash cloth, it seemed like a reasonable enough excuse. Now to go and face (Y/N).

Leo exited the tent and an armed waved him over, “come on Leo! The water is so nice!”

Leo took a shaky breath in; his heart was beating so fast he was sure it would take weeks of meditation to get it back down again. He waved back and took a step forward before the scenario started fading.

The scene turning black, before becoming nothing.

*****

Leo opened his eyes to see Donnie glancing down at him concerned, his eyes flicking between the tablet and Leo. Donnie let out a sigh of relief when Leo woke up, his eyes glaring up at him, “thank god you’re awake,” Donnie pushed his glasses up and passes the tablet to Leo, “look at your vitals and heart rate. They’re through the roof. I had to pull you out, I weren’t sure what was happening.”

Leo sighed, pulling the cap of his head, and stood up, “I can't catch a break,” he mumbled before passing the cap to Donnie and leaving the room.

“I’ll have to check your vitals again later Leo!” He called after his retreating older brother, watching his slumped form disappear towards the bedrooms. He wanted to ask what happened, but after a confusing conversation with Mikey about DJ’s and doorways, he realised it was better to not ask anything.

Leo retreated to his room and was left to wonder what would have happened if he would had reached the pool before the programme ended.  

Chapter Text

In Raphs Mind…

Unlike his brothers, Raphael had had a reoccurring scenario. Every time he went in Raph had found himself following a story. He ran a ninja school with his brothers for little kids (even though so far, he’d never actually had to work), he lived in a large house in the suburbs out of the city, one with a big garden and a bench swing that he liked to knit on, neighbours that he watched games with and a…

This was always the part he struggled with the most, even after month.

A Wife.

And boy oh boy, was she perfection. Strangely, she called him by his name or her guardian angel; everyone else still called him Raph.

Her name was (Y/N), and she was everything he’d ever wanted.

She was there, every time. Waiting. Stroking his face as he woke up in the scenario or curled up in his side. After the first time she was always wearing clothes, but only just. It was one of his tops that dropped too far down her shoulder and not far enough down her legs. Not that she wasn’t perfect to look at, he was just worried about his bodies reaction in the real world. No, that was something that he kept in the back of his mind when he knew he’d have privacy in bed.

But, each time he wondered if there was something wrong. The others talked about their constant adventures, the new places they went each time. Vaguely though, never with many details. He wanted to ask Donnie but at the same time he was afraid it would all be taken away. He was living a normal life. A life of his own, away from his brothers, as much as he loved them, and away from hiding in the shadows.

Currently, Raph had just entered the scenario. His wife here curled up onto of him, their legs intertwined and their breathing synchronised. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, keeping her safe on his chest. After a while, she groaned and mumbled as she woke up. Stretching her arms and legs as she forced her body to wake up. She glanced up at Raph face, blinking as she got used to the light.

“Morning,” he greeted, his voice rough as if he too had just woken up. Another perk of Donnie’s programming.

She smiled at him, pushing herself up on his chest, “morning. Have you been watching me again?”

Raph smirked, “it’s one of the best things to watch in the world.”

She blushed and ran her hand through her knotted (h/c) hair, “I can think of better things,” she grumbled, rolling off of him and out of bed. “Leo is picking us up at 2. He said it would give you both enough time to set up before all the kids left school to go to the Dojo.”

 Raph sat up straight in bed, “work?” He asked, eyes wide.

(Y/N) nodded and giggled, “we can’t pay for the house with sarcasm and your hand knitted scarfs, can we?” She left the room to make breakfast and then Raph realised she said ‘us’. Is she coming too? He groaned and dropped his head into his hands. How can this get any worse?

*****

Raph took a deep breath as Leo drove him and (Y/N) to the Dojo. Apparently, she helps with number crunching when Donnie has too much teaching to do. Leo was chatting happily to her, sending weird looks to Raph out of the corner of his eye.

He was the same Leo. Blue mask, blue eyes and all turtle. No one looked at them weird. No one questioned their presence. Some people even waved. It was all too much, Raph just froze and let the warm hand of (Y/N) lead him to the car and kept up the conversation with Leo. He only realised this when Leo asked him questions and (Y/N) answered. She knew he wanted to be left alone. It filled him with a warm feeling. Raph never realised how much he wanted a normal life until this moment.

 An unknown feeling. But it made him happy.

Leo’s car was even absurdly normal, a 7-seater family car that looks custom made to fit them both. Again, not one even looked at them funny. There were a small pair of shoes on the back seat, and a boaster seat to match. Did Leo have a family too? Was he married with kids? Raph didn’t have kids here but (Y/N) talked about them a lot. They had a plan apparently. It was in a little book, with illustrations and notes made in both of their hand writing. Mostly Raphs. It talked about exploring before they had kids, saving for universities…the mundane crap he’d never thought about before.

Eventually, after a car journey of nothing but over thinking, Leo pulled up to a large hall. He pulled around the back and parked in a bay with his name on a little plaque. Under it were the words ‘Sensei’s Dojo’. A rat doing a high kick the logo.

The area was clean, a side door with a lock to enter the building, and more spaces for visitors. The name of the hall again framed along the top, but this time there were four prominent colours, orange, red, purple, and blue. Their colours. Mikey once talked about this as a joke. He said he’d use it to attract the ‘ladies’ and show them his ‘mad turtle ninja skills’. It would be interesting to see if that was a reality. Again, there was the rat logo, the outline reminded him a lot of splinter now it was larger.

Raph slowly stepped out the car and followed Leo to the side door. The car door clicked shut behind him. (Y/N) walked next to Raph and again, grabbed his hand, tugging him after his brother as he put in the 6-pin password into the side lock. It was the day they learnt Ninjutsu. He smile at the memory. The awkwardness of limbs flying about, stiff muscles, barely being able to stretch, the cat fights over what weapons they would each train to use. It never started out easy, but it was worth the years of training.

Leo opened the door and walked into the dark hallway, Raph noticed (Y/N) frowned into the dark and decided it was time to take the lead. He walked into the hallway, his grip on her hand tight as he led her into the dojo. It smelt clean but oddly smelt like home, without the overpowering sewage smell.

The lights flickered on and Raph looked around with wide eyes. On the walls were group portraits, him and his three brothers surrounded by lots of kid of all different ages, wearing different coloured belts. The year under each picture, and with each year the larger the group seemed to get, until each face was barely recognisable and then they were broken down into categories. A door or two between each picture.

“The dojo has gotten bigger over the years, hasn’t it?” She asked him, squeezing his hand tighter.

Raph cleared his throat, “it certainly has been a wild ride.”

She giggled, and the two of them came into a large entrance hall. Which held a reception desk, the glass double entrance doors, the logo once again and another set of double door with frosted glass, the words ‘main dojo’ painted on the glass.

Leo walked towards it and pushed the doors wide open, revealing the open hall. Matts lined the floor and florescent lights flickered on. There were four different types matts, blue, orange, red and purple. Belts lined he walls, along with trophies and ribbons. A smile overtook Raphs face.

It was perfect.

Leo walked into the centre of the blue matt and turned to Raph, “seeing as you’ve taken so much time off I think I should make sure you can still do Ninjutsu. Unless you’re not up for it?”

Raph rolled his neck and walked forward, stretching as he walked towards Leo, “I don’t want to hurt you Leo, we both know I’m the strongest.”

Leo got into a stance, his legs and arms positioned perfectly. Raph couldn’t help but scoff, even in the dream scenario he was perfect at everything. Reaching the matt, Raph got into his own stance. With a confirming nod, the two started to circle each other. From the corner of his eye, Raph could spot (Y/N), watching with interest.

With a battle cry from Raph the two started sparring. Grunt and the sound of skin hitting skin filled the room as each brother tried to land hits on the other. The circle got tighter and tighter, legs and arms flying in a blur of power and skill. Leo let out a loud cry and twirled in the air, his protruding outwards as he landed a full round house kick to Raphs chest.

The force of the kick was so powerful it sent Raph sliding backwards on his back. The floor was completely scuffed up and dust filled the room. Shocked that Leo got the final blow, Raph stayed on his back and pouted. Nothing, he decided, could make this day worse.

“RAPH!” Soft footsteps padded towards him and Raphael realised that there was something that could make this day a lot worse. Quickly Raph tried to roll to his side and up, but in his panic he was only managing to rock himself back and forward.

Feet stopped but by his head and hands helped Raph roll to his side. Raph felt his entire face go hot and his breathing become erratic. His palms started to sweat and despite standing up, his knees started to shake. He glanced down at the (E/C) eyes that were watching him with concern and knew what was happening. He was having a panic attack. He was humiliated in front of her.He couldn’t spot Leo yet, his eyes unwilling to leave hers.

He wasn’t sure what to do or what to say to her but all he could do was curse Leo in his head for attacking him so far. For making him look like a fool in front of his wife…

Wait.

His wife?

She wasn’t his wife.

She was a computer.

She was designed.

She wasn’t real.

She was Donnie’s creation.

The thought alone made his heart ache, so much so that he couldn’t bring himself to be angry.

“BRUSSEL SPROUTS!”

*****

Back in the real world…

Raph opened his eyes, and immediately tore the cap from his head. That was too intense. He jumped to his feet and stormed to Raphs workshop. He pushed the door open without knocking and threw the tablet onto the table in front of the working, purple masked, turtle.

Donnie glanced up at his brother with a raised brow, “yes?”

Raph pointed an accusatory finger at the tablet and put the cap next to it, “it’s broken. Fix it.” He didn’t want to explain why it was broken, if it even was. Either way, the panic he felt in there was not good. He needed to spend a few hours with the punching bag and then he would feel better. He could get his mind straight and figure out what was real. With his point made Raph left the room and tried to figure out what to do until Donnie fixed the dream scenario.

Chapter Text

Donnie had been noticing something suspicious lately. As it was only a prototype, he’d kept an eye on his invention. Monitoring his brothers and his vitals throughout a typical scenario. The results were not promising. Increased heart rates and perspiration, rapid breathing, increased hormones, and that was just while the scenarios were going on.

Outside of the scenarios he’d been taking mental notes on his brothers’ behaviours as well. They hadn’t been focused, lacking in their studies, irritable, isolating themselves, their appetites had gone down. It was a strange occurrence.

But Donnie couldn’t relate it to the devices with such little data, so he continued to allow his brothers to use it. So, he devised a plan. Donnie was going to use the devise. In fact, he’d prepared a special scenario just for himself as it was his first time using the device. Pulling the cap on his head and pressing the button, Donnie immersed himself in the dream…

In Donnie’s Mind…

Donnie heard the echoed chattering and could feel the heat of the room first. His body felt constricted and as something seemed to cover him, it reminded him of tight clothes. Whatever was around his neck was the tightest! His fingers reached up and he pulled on the item, loosening it considerably. Donnie’s fingers froze as he realised what the item was.

It was a tie.

He felt excitement fill his veins at the thought of what was going to happen next.

Donnie gulped as the room became clear, he was standing in front of two wooden double doors. On the door were the words ‘F12 - Hall’. The other side of the door was where the chatter was coming from. A long hall either side of him. In one hand was a worn brief case and the other was still grasping his tie. He felt nervous now, it all feels so real.

An arm linked into his and Donnie glanced down, and his breath caught. This was supposed to be an individual scenario. How was she here? Why was she here? With shining (H/L) (H/C) hair, and matching (E/C) eyes, Donnie froze in his tracks. Her smile was shining so brightly and there was something in her eyes. It was the same way Mikey stared at pizza. It was a look of adoration…a look of love.

She reached up and brushed a hand down the side of his face, when she did Donnie caught sight of the wedding ring on her ring finger, “you worry too much.”

Donnie shook his head, “that’s not true. I weigh the odds and realise that some things are worth worrying about.” She shook her head at his words and a coffee cup appeared in her free hand. Donnie frowned at the act, that was a glitch.

She passed him the coffee and stood on her tip toes giving him a kiss on the cheek, “you’ll be fine Donnie,” she whispered in his ear making him shiver, “or should I call you Professor now?”

Donnie gulped, and squeaked, “Donnie is fine.” Unable to look at her, Donnie glanced around the room. The scenario was simple, he had just becoming a professor at M.I.T and was celebrating with his colleagues. He never planned for there to be a girl though.

She giggled, “what about me? Do I have to be addressed and Mrs. Professor? Mrs. Donnie?” Donnie went to answer but a man called to him. “At least until I finish my own doctorate.”

Donnie glanced over his shoulder to see an elderly man approaching him, maybe in his 60’s with grey hair and a three-piece suit. A much younger woman on his arm that was eyeing Donnie up like a piece of meat.

Donnie felt himself gulp again.

A hand grasped his and rubbed their thumb soothingly, in circles around the back of his hand. He glanced down and the woman was beside him again, smiling encouragingly at him.

“Donnie,” the man greeted with a nod, “and the lovely (Y/N). I’m glad you both could make it.”

So that’s her name, Donnie thought, it suits her.

(Y/N) giggled, “it is a pleasure to meet you. Donnie has told me so much about you.”

The man rolled his eyes, a soft smile gracing his features, “no he hasn’t but I do like the flattery. This is my wife, Delilah,” he nodded towards the woman holding his arm.

A forced smile stretched across her face, her arms squeezing her breasts and forcing them up, “so you’re who all of this commotion is about!” Her eyes shot to (Y/N), a dark gleam in her eyes as she looked her up and down, before they returned to Donnie, “I would like to personally congratulate you on your achievement.”

“Thank you,” he smiled, “this is a dream come true.”

“Tell me, I heard you were the smartest in your family, overcoming all the odds. Is this true?”

Her husband tutted at her words, “really Delilah, taking part in speculation and gossip. I thought more of you. I believe it is time for your speech, Professor, I shall see you inside.” Tugging on his arm, the man then proceeded to drag his wife away from the duo.

As soon as they were out of sight, (Y/N) burst into laughter, “she really doesn’t like me.”

Donnie’s eyes widened, “that’s not true. Who could not like you?”

(Y/N) hummed in thought momentarily before shaking her head, “because they’re jealous of my handsome, dashing and extremely intelligent husband. Why else?”

Donnie, for the first time he could ever remember, did not have an answer, “but I’m just me. I’m no one special.”

Rolling her eyes with an over exaggerated sigh, (Y/N) briefly stood on her tip toes, placing a light kiss on his chin, “you are everything about the world that is special, Donnie.” Donnie sighed in bliss, he had only known this person for such a brief about of time and yet he felt so happy. Like they were made for him.

Then, he remembered that they were. That nothing about this was real and that he had been sucked into a false reality.

Donnie took a deep shaky breath in, then out, but his mind would not stop racing. At the moment, his life was a lie and he hated it. He wanted out. Donnie felt claustrophobic, like everything was suffocating him. Even the hand that was bringing him a strange sense of comfort.

“Donnie, are you alright?”

No, no he was not alright.

“BRUSSEL SPROUTS!”

*****

Back in the real world…

Donnie pull the cap off, trying to free himself from this claustrophobic feeling. His breathing laboured, and frantic. Quickly, he pulled the tablet towards him and checked his vitals. Elevated heart rate and blood pressure, dilated pupils and an increased hormonal response.

Donnie shook his head, this wasn’t right. He was having the same response as the others and he was barely in the simulation for any period of time.

Making a decision, Donnie shot to his feet and left his room to find his brothers. He found them in the dojo, each of them with a cap on their heads and goofy smiles on their faces. Donnie froze. They looked so happy. He’d never seen them so happy. Maybe when Mikey first tried pizza…A scientist never based the results off their first findings, right?

Donnie settled next to his brothers, taking a deep breath, he pulled the cap over his head again.

“One more test, if the results are the same then you need to run tests,” Donnie told himself, as he set up another program, “besides, I can always leave again.”

Taking a deep breath, Donnie pressed the button and let go of reality.

Chapter Text

One Month Later…

Inside Donnie’s mind…

Donnie glanced up from the microscope and peaked over the rim. He could just about see the top of her head, as she too glanced down a microscope. Despite the harsh florescent lights, her (H/C) hair still seemed to glow. He felt his heart beat faster and his palms start to sweat. He couldn’t tear his eyes away to glance at the specimen the microscope was showing him. He’d wanted to come here for so long, but he just couldn’t. She was enthralling.

Without looking up, she spoke to him, “why are you looking at me like that?”

Donnie shook his head, forgetting she wasn’t looking at him, “it’s nothing (Y/N).”

She hummed and stood up straight, looking away from the microscope to give him a knowing grin, “are you sure?”

Donnie nodded, gulping.

She slowly wandered forward, and raised a finger waggling it at him, but before she could say anything, a loud beep echoed through the room, almost like a warning alarm. Making them both jump backward in fright.

Donnie jumped backwards, accidently knocking over a small glass beaker. The blue liquid inside splattered across the floor but after a few seconds and after nothing happened, they both burst into laughter. (Y/N) nudged Donnie’s shoulder drawing his eyes to her, and clasped her hand in his as she pulled him away from the evidence.

“Come on,” she whispered, “we have to go before someone realises we did that!”

Donnie nodded quickly and over took (Y/N) as he rushed out of one lab and into another, pulling her with him.

He was experiencing a scenario specifically designed for himself. He’d used online images and a virtual walkthrough of a state of the art laboratory to create this one, letting him experience it in ‘person’. He never expected that she would be there with him. But the programme automatically made two versions of any scenario; a single or couple scenarios. But every time, no matter what he did, there she was. Enjoying the world with him.

Lately though, he noted that inside the simulations, his heart rate would increase, he would become easily distracted, nauseas with weird stomach fluttering’s and could barely concentrate. He’d checked his main vitals, and everything had seemed fine, but something didn’t sit right with him. There was something he wasn’t realising.

This was the last time he’d use the device before taking it away. From him and his brothers. If there were any short or long-term effects he’d need to know. But he checked his vitals before, and they were fine. So, he’d check them during and after.

Once Donnie was pulled out of the room, (Y/N) turned to him. Her (E/C) eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Well, as we’re probably gonna get kicked out now, want to go into the restricted areas that visitors aren’t allowed to go?”

Donnie felt his head nod, his eyes unwilling to leave hers. She turned her head and started to drag him away again, bringing him back to his senses.

“Brussel Sprouts!”

*****

Back in the Real World…

Donnie opened his eyes with a start. His breathing erratic, and his heart was beating so hard he was sure it would burst through his plastron. He couldn’t stay, he needed to figure out what was wrong.

Brussel sprouts was a code word he built into the system. If it ever became too much for any of them, they just had to say the words and the program ended immediately. None of the brothers ever liked Brussel sprouts, so it was the perfect word. It was a programmed ‘out’ of every scenario, so no one ever said it in the programme or it came up. That way the brothers could never say it accidentally.

His brothers were all sitting next to him in the dojo. Their faces peaceful and carefree. Each holding a smile or barely holding in laughter. He hated to do this to them, but a press of a button on his arm and the simulations ended. Waking up his brothers who slowly opened their eyes as they came to terms being in the real world again.

A series of groans filled the room, before Mikey broke it with a scream, “DUDES! WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED!”

Donnie glanced at his younger brother with a sigh, and started to explain.

*****

You see, it had been a confusing last month for the four brothers. They had each divided their time between patrols, and using the ‘Dream Scene Head Sets’. Their official name however is, the Neuro-Transmitter Sensory Scenario Head Sets. Mikey, however, had dubbed the device his ‘precious pizza topping’. An inside joke…apparently.

But, one thing had become clear to each brother. Their time in each scenario bought them closer to the one known as (Y/N). Each time they entered the simulation their hearts slowly opened to her antics. And slowly, but surely, they ached to see her smile, to be in her presence and to hold her close.

They weren’t sure what was happening to them. But as each brother spent more and more time in her presence, they each started to come up with their own theories.

Donnie suspected that the machine was starting to have a neurological impact and took away the devices and started scanning their brains. Much to his brother’s displeasure, especially Mikey who kept going on about not getting a victory kiss in his skateboarding competition. But, he had to be sure. They were the protectors of this city, not including the actual protectors the police. But they worked in the shadows away from the law.

Leo wasn’t sure what to think about the new way his body was reacting. He had mediated on it for hours and had come up blank. He thought to ask his father but he was already sceptical about the whole simulation ordeal as it was. But, after much deliberation, he remembered something his father once told him. ‘The universe works in mysterious ways my son, sometimes things happen that we can’t explain, we must learn that we cannot fight this. Learn from it, and embrace it.’ So, he did just that, he didn’t question it. Until Donnie told him it was messing with his brain. Then he started to question it…a lot.

Raph was convinced all the relaxation from the program was messing with his head. How could one unreal person affect him so much? How could someone that had struggled with anger his whole life suddenly relax at the sight of a smile? So, when Donnie took away the devices and started the scans he was convinced he was right. At least, he hoped that was it.

The only one that wasn’t disillusioned was Mikey, who knew he had a big crush on you. Maybe a bit more, but he was too innocent to think much further than that. He tried telling his brothers that experiencing a new life wasn’t bad, it’s just making them feel things they’ve never felt before. It made them realise how much their bodies craved things they only dreamed about. How much they wanted a normal life and relationship.

Not that any of the brothers spoke about what they saw. Mikey mentioned somethings sometimes, but to the others it was like he was speaking in code. But never did he mention the name (Y/N).

A week had passed and still Donnie couldn’t prove his hypothesis right. The scans had come back clean, but all of them were experiencing the same symptoms. Donnie had spent all week in his lab, trying everything to come up with an explanation. A part of him was convinced that maybe, for once, Mikey was right, but he had to be sure first.

With his mind and heart torn. Donnie started to do the one thing that made him happy, draw (Y/N)’s face. The one thing that had made him unbelievable happy these last few months. He was almost finished when someone burst through his door.

“Donnie!” Mikey called out to his brother, “don don, my big bro, my…”

“What do you want Mikey?”

Mikey pouted and shuffled closer to Donnie, who was doodling on his work station, “are you sure I can’t go and see my precious pizza toppings today?”

Donnie sighed, “yes Mikey, I’m sure. I still have to go over the scans to make sure they haven’t left any sort of damage,” a lie, but he wanted to triple check, the triple check that he had already done, “besides, it would be good for you to have some time in the real world. You haven’t been skateboarding in a while, why not try that?”

Mikey let out a pained moaned and flopped down in the chair next to Donnie, “I guess, but it’s no fun now that I’ve faked skated in competitions!” Mikey then realised Donnie wasn’t drawing a design but a face. A face that seemed somewhat familiar. “What are ya’ drawing bro?”

 “A person,” came Donnie’s cryptic answer as he focused on the finer details, his tongue sticking out in concentration.

“Dude,” Mikey laughed, “that looks just like (Y/N).”

Donnie froze, his eyes shooting to Mikey, “(Y/N)?”

“Yeah,” Mikey cheered, “the girl from the head sets, she’s in all of them. She’s so nice…” Mikey sighed dreamily. It was then Donnie remembered something, the day he first tried the piece of equipment on his brothers, both Leo and Raph said the names (Y/N). Of course, in his eagerness to improve the program, he’d completely forgot. But now that he’d used the device and had met the infamous (Y/N), it was too much of a coincident for it not to be related.

Donnie pushed himself away from his desk and towards his computers. The computer chair squeaked and groaned under the pressure as it rolled across the floor. His fingers immediately started to press buttons of his keyboard, his eyes scanning the various screens as images popped up. But no matter what he looked at and what buttons he pressed, there didn’t seem to be a glitch anywhere.

“Strange,” Donnie commented aloud, unaware of the not so sneaky presence behind him.

“What is it bro?”

“MIKEY!” Donnie yelled, the shock causing him to stumble and roll from his seat. The shout and the loud bang that followed attracted the attention of the other three beings in the lair, who quickly went to see what had happened.

Splinter was in there first. He’d been very supportive of Donnie’s invention originally. The turtles could see the world and remain safe. Hidden. But as the brothers each got more addicted to the idea of living a normal life, he couldn’t help but note the way they’d been lacking in other areas of their lives. They were eager to finish training faster, they took short cuts on patrol and they ate quickly without a word to get back to their escape. He’d even caught them once skipping sleep to play with the device.

“My sons,” he called into the lab, “what’s happened?”

“I made Donnie jump,” Mikey shrugged.

Splinter looked towards his purple masked son on the floor, “what made you lower your defences to a point Michelangelo could sneak up on you, Donatello?” Knowing too well that Mikey did not have the true graces of a ninja. In time he would perfect it, but now it meant he was only one that couldn’t sneak to the fridge at night. But that didn’t stop him trying.

Donnie sighed, as he rolled onto his side and stood up, dusting himself off, “there’s a glitch in the Dream Scene Head Sets, I’ll need to run further tests.”

“What!” Raph shouted in dismay, he stormed into the lab only to stop when his eyes spotted a familiar face, he turned on his heels and wandered over to the drawing. Some details were missing but he knew who it was right away, “why do you have a picture of (Y/N)?”

“(Y/N)?” Leo asked finally joining everyone else, his heart skipping a beat at the thought of her, “how do you know her?”

“She’s always in my scenarios,” Raph walked up to Donnie and held out the picture, pointing to the face, “is she the glitch?”

Donnie shrugged, adjusting his glasses, “I’m not sure. As far as I can tell the program is running perfectly. Anybody we see in the partner scenarios are what the scanners detect are our ideal woman…partner…whatever you want to call it.”

Leo raised a brow, “so we all have the same taste in a girl?”

Mikey gasped, and watched his brothers talk with a slacked jaw.

Donnie paused, “I’m not sure. You see, I can only program so much, so I used the internet for some help. It scanned things like social media sites to help your mind create someone. It used the features you wanted and scanned for someone fitting those categories, so either she fell into those categories or-”

“-wait!” Mikey interrupted, coming back to reality, “are you telling us that (Y/N) is real?!” Donnie wasn’t sure what to say to his brothers. Their eyes gleamed with hope, but he knew the reality of the situation was a lot harsher. He had originally told his brothers that the people in it weren’t real. In order to save them from worrying about something that will never be.

“Yes and No,” he answered truthfully, “yes, she looks like you remember, but she might not sound or act the way the computer simulation makes her now. She might be completely different,” although he doubted that. Based off of his program, there was a chance it scanned everything to see exactly what sort of person you were. But he didn’t want to give his brothers false hope.

“Let me get this straight,” Leo asked, “this last month we’ve all been seeing the same girl in our ‘scenarios,’ who may or may not be real. And it’s all because we’ve got the same taste in girls?”

Donnie opened his mouth and closed it again. Unsure as to how he should answer. Out of all the things he had to create a mistake in this is where the glitch was! The very thing that was giving his brothers a sense of normalcy. Donnie sighed and shrugged.

“Dudes!” Mikey gasped, “he has as much idea as us.”

Raph grunted and screwed up the portrait in his hands, “so, what’s gonna ‘appen now?”

And, much like the very time he came up with his idea, a light bulb went off in Donnie’s head. There was only one true way to figure out if this was a glitch or a huge coincidence.

“There’s only one thing we can do,” Donnie glanced up at his brothers, feeling his anxiety and nerves spike, “we find (Y/N),” after all, it wasn’t every day you get to meet the person of his dreams.

“What does this mean my son?” Splinter asked, his brows furrowing as a hope that his sons will finally embrace reality once again.

“It means,” Donnie said, running a hand down his face, “we’ll get our answers and possibly meet her.”

His brother’s eyes widened as Donnie turned around and started to scour the internet for the very person that had touched each of their lives, the person known as (Y/N).

*****

After a few hours of scanning every social media and internet platform out there, Donnie finally spotted a familiar face. The picture was slightly blurred, but he’d never be able to mistake that face, the hair and those sparkling eyes.

He’d found her.

“HEY GUYS!” He called, unaware that his brothers were waiting outside the door, listening to every tap of the keys. They quickly piled into the room, waiting for Donnie to explain just what was going on.

Truthfully, none of the brothers were sure what to feel about everything that was going on. Excited, sad, nervous, impatient and confused...This is a girl that they’ve each spent weeks with. They’d gotten to know. Only, it might not be her that they know. But it might be her. Or, everything is just a very bad glitch?

“What did you find?” Leo asked.

“I found her,” Donnie replied, his brothers quickly shuffled in closely behind him. They each looked at the familiar face and name. “It took a while, as there are a lot of people called (Y/N) on the internet, so I had to personally check every picture. But I managed to narrow the search to people around our age and based on her accent from a certain area.”

Each of them scanned the profile presented to them, absorbing the details presented. Some they never knew, some they knew all too well. But it felt weird to see her on a screen, where the computer pulled her from.

(Y/N) (L/N)

(Age)

From - (Home Town)

Currently Living – New York

Likes: (F/C), (F/F), (F/D), (A/L), (A/L), Reading, Experiencing new things, self-defence and reptiles.

Dislikes: Animal Cruelty, (L/F/C), (L/F/D), (A/D/L), (A/D/L).

Last Profile Update: Finally reached New York! If all goes well my internship will result in an actual job!

“Wait!” Raph grunted, his eyes squinting as he pushed his face closer to the bright screen, “she’s in New York?”

“Does that mean what I think it means?” Leo asked, his voice breathless in wonder.

“I think it does!” Mikey cheered, “dudes! We’re gonna meet our not so imaginary dudette.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” each one of them looked towards Donnie, “alright, some of the things on her profile seem familiar to me, but we still don’t know anything about her. What she puts on the internet isn’t completely her, she may fake some things or not put some things up at all. We can’t get our hopes up.”

Mikey shook his head and pats his brother on the back slowly, “look at it this way bro. She’s the girl of our dreams…literally! It couldn’t possibly hurt to glance from a distance.”

Donnie felt himself nodding against his better judgement, and started typing on the keyboard. As quick as he started typing a map popped up onto the screen and zoomed in on New York and onto a street. A red dot moved across the street displayed across the screen. Having grown up in New York the turtles immediately recognised the street.

Donnie turned on his chair towards his brothers, “there she is. I’m tracking her phone so it’s easy to follow her. What do you want to do?” They all glanced at Leo.

“Let’s go.”

Raph clicked his knuckles, Mikey first pumped the air, Leo crossed his arms and smiled slightly and Donnie started taping on the technology covering his arm, making sure they could follow her.

‘Just a glimpse’ they all thought, as they each wandered out of the lab, and towards the lair exit. Just a glimpse and they’d know how much of what they saw was real. But each of their hearts were hammering in their chests. Even if it was from a distance, part of them would forever be able to hold onto the memories as if they were real.

“Ready?” Leo asked, his voice unsure.

“As we’ll ever be,” Donnie squeaked, glancing at his brothers once more before they each ascended the ladder and into the night.

Chapter Text

The brothers were silent as they jumped from roof to roof. Scaling up sky scrapers and descending down again, all with ease. Each of them determined. They would usually be out on patrol now, so no harm was done. They kept an ear open and scanned the areas, but their hearts wouldn’t be in a fight. Their hearts needed to know. It wanted to prove the logical side of them wrong.

They got closer to the dot. To her. Their hearts thumped loudly, their palms began to sweat and their heads stared to spin. Questions began to swirl as they started to doubt.

‘What if she’s not the same?’

‘What if she is?’

‘She’ll never meet us so what does it matter?’

‘What if she already has someone?’

‘What if she does meet us?’

‘What if we never meet her again?’

They each skidded to a halt on top a building when they realised that they had reached the destination. Each of their eyes scanned the area, looking for the familiar flash of (H/C) hair. Or maybe, they’d be able to hear her twinkling laughter. After a few minutes of looking they each sigh in defeat.

“I promise,” they each hear. Their hearts hammering with recognition as they all glance down, right under their noses at the bus stop. A figured paced behind the line of people, obviously anxious, “I know, I know. But New York has been safe for a while now mum. Yes, I know. I start my first day tomorrow and I promise I’ll ask my supervisor where the dangerous places in New York are.”

She sounds exactly the same, they all thought, even the way she huffed and shook her head made their hearts clench with familiarity.

“Dudes,” Mikey whispered, clutching the edge of the building tighter as he leaned over a bit more, “it’s really her.”

The three other turtles didn’t respond to their brother, too enthralled by watching the person beneath them.

“Listen, I have to go,” the person on the other end on the phone kept talking erratically, obviously not wanting to end the call. “I promise I’ll phone again when I get home. Okay, Okay, good night. Talk to you in a bit.” You quickly pulled the phone from your ear and ended the call.

The stress of the day had really gotten to you and right now the bath in your crappy little apartment appealed more than anything. It was only a short bus ride, but it was still shorter than walking. So, you resisted the urge to speed walk home and waited. You promised your mother you would try and avoid any dangerous situations, you didn’t know the streets well enough yet.

Only, when it did arrive a few moment later, it was full to the brim. Sweaty people pressed against one another and the glass. Steam fogged up the glass, but you could still watch as the people swayed with the movement of the bus.

No one got off and the shout of the driver barely carried over the grumbling passengers, “the bus is too full. Please wait another hour for the next one.”

You let out a frustrated groan, and turned on your heels before stalking down the pavement. You grumbled under your breath at the how there needed to be more buses before you started the journey home.

Your heels clicked against the pavement. It was quite late now, with only a few people on the street. Some enjoying the night and others were pacing quickly past you. Obviously used to the hustle and bustle of the streets in New York.

You slowed slightly when you spotted your favourite fast food from the corner of your eye. Your mouth watering at the thought. The sign outside said it delivered. You walked closer to the takeaway to grab a menu from the outside, your eyes quickly scanned it as you continued to walk.

“Dudes,” a voice echoed around you, making you shake your head with a smile at the language, “she still likes (F/T/O), that’s a good sign, right?”

That made you freeze as you glance down at the (F/T/O) menu in your hand and as quick as you could, you turned on the spot and glanced around.

When you couldn’t see anyone you frowned, tucking the menu into your pocket. Before deciding to walk home fast. You turned on the spot, planning to speed walk all the way home when you walked into someone.

You bounced backwards and onto the pavement. Your bum and back hitting it with a loud thump. You groan in pain and it was echoed by whoever you hit. In the distance you heard gasps, the person that was watching you. You were starting to think whoever they were, were watching you from a window, and you were just being paranoid.

You sit up and glanced at the person you walked into and felt the blood drain from your face. Oh god, it’s the person watching over your internship, Miss.O’Neal. You quickly shoot to your feet and pull her up.

You dusted off her shoulders and sent her an apologetic look, “I’m so sorry Miss.O’Neal!” You apologise, hoping this wasn’t the end of your internship before it had even started.

For the first time that evening, April glanced at you and raised a brow, “what did I say about calling me that? I feel like my mum. Call me April.”

“Right,” you rub the back of your head sheepishly as you remembered her words earlier when you went for your introduction, “sorry. It’s a habit to do that.”

April smiled, and laughed lightly, “it’s a habit for you to call everyone Miss.O’Neal?”

Your eyes widened and you shook your head, and started to stammer, “that wasn’t what I meant- I- I just- I-”

A laugh interrupted your ramblings, “calm down (Y/N), relax,” she glanced around the now empty street, “which way are you going?”

You pointed towards where you were heading, “the bus is another hour so I decided to walk. It’s only a 30 minute walk. Where are you going?”

April shrugged and waved a hand dismissing the question, “I just heard a few friends would be around here. I’ll walk that way with you, I live not too far.”

With your back turned to the turtles, they watched wide eyed as April turned to them and winked. On queue Donnie’s phone went off, and all four looked at the incoming message.

Splinter told me what was going on. I’m coming to help you look for her.

“Well,” Mikey huffed, “we’re screwed. She knows who our secret crush is. Do you think she’ll be mad at me?”

Leo shook his head, “I don’t think we are. She knows her from work. She might not know (Y/N) is the one we’re looking for.”

Raph leant on the ledge of the building, following the duo with his eyes, “either way, are you gonna continue following her?”

Donnie shrugged, pushing his glasses up his nose, “I guess. Just don’t make any comments again Mikey. She nearly spotted us.” Even though he wanted to see her reaction, an accidental sighting would make confronting her a lot easier.

Mikey nodded quickly, rubbing the sore spot on his head were Raph hit him to shut him up. He will admit though that he was teeny, wincey, bit loud. But nothing too drastic. The others thought otherwise though. He couldn’t help himself. You’d always go on about how you wanted to go out for (F/T/O).

It gave him hope. Hope he could see building in his brothers’ eyes.

So, they planned to follow you and April. Who kept you talking about the things you liked and wanted to try to do. So many things sounded familiar to each brother. Some they all knew, some they didn’t They whispered amongst themselves as they pointed this out. The way you walked, talked, acted in general. The way you moved your hands when you were talking about something passionate.

Your laugh.

They each sighed when they heard you laugh, quickly become jealous of April who could actually talk to you and make you laugh. April never looked back at them again though. She would check her phone every so often when she got a text from work, but nothing major.

It was then Donnie got an idea. They could ask questions without having to actually be there. The noise of the world around them made it hard for them to hear. They started to bicker as tried to come up with the perfect question between them.

Mikey thought it should be about food, preferably pizza.

Raph kept quiet for the most part, but as a lot of his dream scenarios involved relaxing, he kept saying they needed to ask if she liked lay-ins.

Leo wanted to ask if she liked meditating.

Donnie said they needed to ask something generic but in-depth based on what they know. He thought they should ask something simple, like, if she like science or computers. His brothers quickly saw through his ploy however and the bickering continued.

It was, strangely enough, Raph that came up with the perfect question. One that could confirm their fantasies or destroy them in an instance.

“Ask her if she likes turtles.” A statement from Raph but it was a perfect question. Her profile stated, if Donnie remembered correctly, that she liked reptiles. That could mean anything, especially as a lot of people don’t associate turtles with reptiles.

Donnie quickly typed out the message and they all waited impatiently for Aprils phone to buzz indicating it she’d received it. But, as soon as the phone buzzed the worst thing imaginable happened. An alarm went off in a jewellers ten blocks from here. The warning buzzed on all of Donnie’s technology making the brothers go stiff. They needed to do their job. They might never get this opportunity again, but their duty to the city came first. It always did.

So, with heavy hearts, they left. Never getting their answer.

*****

Later that evening, with their heads hung, each of the turtles walked back into their lair. They usually slid in, with laughter announcing their arrival to their father, who always seemed to be at the cusp of enlightenment during their arrival. But today, they were so quiet that they even made splinter jump, who was watching his soaps.

“Good Evening my sons,” he greeted with a nod of his head. He only got grunts and mumbled replies as they each put their weapons away for the night. But Splinter knew what to do to pull them out of their self-pity. “April stopped by earlier.”

Immediately his sons were in front of him, their eyes wide with curiosity and fear.

Leo coughed when his father said nothing, finding his voice after a few minutes, “did she say anything Sensei?”

Splinter shrugged, keeping his sons on their toes, “maybe. Why, was she supposed to leave a message?”

The brothers shared a look, before Raph sighed, “we asked her to ask someone a question. We’re waiting for an answer.”

Splinter rubbed his chin thoughtfully, building unnecessary suspense, “Are you now. I supposed that would explain the message she left.”

Mikey jumped in front of his father, his face close to his as he said, “what message?!”

With the flick of his tail, Splinter sent Mikey on his back on the ground, “so impatient my sons. And as for Aprils’ message. It was the about the girl you were all fussing about, (Y/N) was it? Ah yes, that was her name.”

“Did you tell her anything?” Donnie asked, as Raph pushed Mikey up.

Splinter waved a dismissive hand, “only that you were looking for the young girl, her name and I showed her the picture of her your found on the wiff-ee. She said to say that she was cute and she wanted to talk to you about her. Oh, and something else.”

Ignoring how Splinter said Wifi wrong, they each sent each other a worried glance, “and!” Each of the brothers said in sync.

“Oh!” Said splinter, giving all of his sons a mischievous look, “she also said that (Y/N) loves turtles.”

Mikey fainted.

Chapter Text

One Month Later…

Using April as their interrogator/questioner/inside woman, the turtles had slowly found out more about you over the past month. It had only made their longing for you grow. Their dream scenarios felt a lot more real now that they knew a real person was behind the holographic projection and there wasn’t much difference between the two people they’d ‘met’.

It was getting late now though, so the brothers are preparing for their nightly patrols. There hadn’t been any activity for a while but it always better to be safe than sorry. Each brother was eager to get the patrol over with so they could go back to the dream headsets. Knowing that you were real had only fuelled their longing to spend time with you, much to splinters dismay.

“Is April coming over tonight?” Raph asked Donnie, knowing the turtle secretly kept track of her. But, more so since she had become close friends with the (H/C) haired female. He had caught him mumbling and had subtly used this information to try and keep track of (Y/N). Despite their ‘not-stalking’ they still had no idea where she lived.

“Yeah, she’s coming about 10.”

“Oooh yeah!” Mikey drawled, “I can find out more info about my precious pizza topping.” Mikey had finally told his brothers about his inside joke, which they had not found at all funny. Or a good enough nickname for their precious (Y/N).

The sun was setting and Leo was giving each of his brothers a route that intercepted each other’s. After so long it became a tedious routine but it gave their life purpose where they couldn’t live a normal one. After all, they are Ninjas. They can’t have normal lives. That was what the headsets were for.

So, geared up. They prepared to leave when the alarms went off.

Donnie raced over to the computer and his fast typing quickly silenced the alarms. His tapping replaced the silence. Suddenly the sound of police radio chatter filled the air. Images filled the screen and a map zoned in on a certain area, a red dot pulsing on the screen.

“There’s been gun shots reported, and the police say it’s the foot clan,” Donnie reported, pointing to the map on the screen without looking up, “apparently they’ve taken hostages at a business convention.”

Raph clicked his knuckles. Donnie transferred the information to his wireless device. Mikey ate a slice of pizza. Leo cross his arms, nodding at his brothers. They all walked into the shadows and in a flash, they vanished into the night.

*****

You sighed as you glanced down at your phone and then back up at April and Vern who were packing up the equipment from the latest broadcast. Your legs were aching from a long day, and this wasn’t going to help. The sun was starting to set now and you knew this long day was about to get longer.

“Guys,” you called to them, wandering towards the van, “we’ve been sent an urgent job. Apparently, some clan is holding people at gun point at a business convention down town, they want us to cover it as we’re the closest.”

April grabbed the phone, her eyes quickly scanned the words before she turned and started running down the streets towards the convention. You only huffed before running after her, Vern shouting from behind the two of you as he was forced to quickly pack the rest of the equipment alone, and follow in the truck. You gave him a brief glance as you followed April around the corner.

“April!” You called after her as she ran passed the police blocking off the doors and down an alley way to the side. You called to her again and followed her into the alley way.  When finally caught up with April she was huddled close to a wall, concentrating on her wrist. With April having finally stopped, you slowed down your running, trying to catch your breath.

*****

The four turtle brothers hurried to the business centre in silence. It was a small convention held every year. One of little interest to most, so it bothered them as to why the foot clan would attack there. Then again, it was an easy target, little to no security, a lot of people that aren’t likely trained in combat and it’s in a prime location. If they wanted publicity to alert New York that they were back, it would be a good way to do it.

The brothers skidded to a halt the building across from the attack and quickly came up with a plan of attack, “layout Donnie,” Leo ordered as they huddled close together.

“Right,” Donnie nodded, pulling up a hologram of the floor layout, “there are only two exits. One is being blocked by the police and the other is an employees entrance. We could probably climb through the vents but the side door is our best bet-”

A voice cut Donnie off, “April!” The brothers stared at each other as they each recognised the voice. The very same voice they were going to run home to tonight. It was (Y/N). Sticking their heads over the side, they each spotted (Y/N) and April. Donnie noted that April was hacking into the side doors lock with the watch her gave her. What concerned each brother, however, was that April had dragged (Y/N) into her dangerous adventures.

They watched as the two quickly talked before walking into the building that was overrun with foot clan soldiers.

Mikey elbowed Raph next to him, “oh this is not good guys.”

Donnie quickly jumped back up and planned a new entrance and escape route, before showing it to his brothers, “when we get in there, I’ll turn off the lights and then we can attack. We’ll have to keep an eye on (Y/N) at the same time. We don’t know what will happen if she…” Donnie couldn’t finish. Each of his brothers knew what he meant.

If she saw them.

With a nod of agreement between them, the brothers went to save the hostages.

*****

April turned towards you as she heard your laboured breaths from running all the way here, in heels, your earlier call having been unknowingly blanked by her.

“Oh! (Y/N), sorry I didn’t realise you were following me. I think I found a back door in, and hopefully we can film without getting caught.” You nodded, excited to be a part of the action but nervous, of course. These were criminal with guns and who knows what other weapons they had. Vern had always told you to be weary of Aprils ‘adventures’, even though it had earned him the title of hero and the nickname the ‘falcon’. But you refused to call him that.

April stepped forward towards a hidden door near a pile of rubbish, and quietly pushed a hidden door open. You mentally questioned how she could open the door easily, and spotted a swipe access card to the side. The light green. Did she hack it? You would have to ask her later. It squeaked loudly and you cringed. April stepped into the darkness of the room and you quickly followed behind her, hearing a hushed, “oh this is not good guys,” behind you.

As you weaved the maze of corridors, following April closely, but keeping an eye on the many doors around you. You both finally managed to find the main hall. A small archway leading into the area but a turned over table gave the two of you cover, as you ducked behind it. People were forced on their knees with their hands above their head in a large gathering in the centre of the hall. The stalls around the side abandoned. People whispering in fear and some in pain as they were struck across the head with the butt of their oppressor’s guns.

April pulled out her phone to start recording. Following her lead, you quickly started doing the same, quickly pointing it in the other direction. You’re recording was nothing special, just the ‘foot clan’ pushing people to the floor, large guns in each of their hand, and a few had some hand combat weapons, the sort you’d imagine a ninja would use.

You had a flash back to a cheesy film you watched on valentine’s day about a Ninja falling in love. You quickly got distracted thinking about the name of the film, not paying attention to the recording. What was it called? Ninja Love? No. My Ninja Lover? No, that wasn’t right either. To Love a Ninja? Yes! Only, by the time you focused on the world again, you saw a masked member glance right in your direction before signalling that there were more people to others around him. 

*****

The brothers found a hidden post to the side and surveyed the situation in an extremely large vent. 200 or so hostages, a mixture of staff and visitors. Low lighting, multiple exits into hallways. But all had been gathered into the main hall. 45 Foot Clan henchman, more than usual, their numbers appeared to be increasing.

Leo spoked in hushed toned to his brothers without letting his eyes leave the scene, “Raph you take on the big guys on the left, Donnie and Mikey take the middle and I’ll take the right.” No one answered, but Leo knew they had heard him. It was then he spotted (Y/N) and April in the corner. Partially hidden by the shadows but made visible by how high they were holding their phones.

Leo smiled softly, she always was reckless. Then the Foot Clan soldiers spotted them as well.

“Donnie, lights. Attack in three, two, one.”

*****

Your eyes widen, and you opened you mouth to tell April to run, but the lights turned off. You heard the sound of glass breaking, grunts from a fight, a clash of weapons, someone screamed, and then the lights turned back on.

Your eyes widened as the ‘bad guys’ were now in an unconscious pile to the side. Their weapons in a pile on the other side of the hostages. You glanced at April to see her giving the scene before her a knowing smirk. Almost as if she knew what happened.

You narrowed your eyes at her, “do you know who did this?”

April’s head snapped towards you as she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, “sort of. They’re heroes in the shadows of sorts, vigilantes if you will, I’ve been following them for a while.”

You nodded, “were they the people that stopped the spaceship attack?”

April shrugged a lie, as if she did not know the answer, not every convincingly either as she couldn’t make eye contact, “I don’t know. Besides, no one knows if that really was a space ship.” She signalled that you should both leave and you followed her out quietly, choosing to question her outside as the hostages ran out the building.

It was dark outside. The stars barely visible over the light pollution and the high buildings around you. The darkness of the alleyway would have been scary if you didn’t have the feeling that someone was watching over you. When you had shut the door behind you April was standing to the side, quickly typing on her phone with great interest.

Knowing she knew more than she was letting on, you decided to confront her, “if it flies and is from space, it’s a spaceship.” April turned to you with a frown. You waited for her response as a man in a hockey mask and holding a hockey stick skids around the corner and runs into the alley. When he spots the two of you, he skidded to a stop. You stepped back, unsure as to whether or not to feel threatened by him.

“Casey, take the mask off or the police will arrest you for acting suspicious,” April sighed walking up to him, and slapping him around the back of the head. You on the other hand, were watching with interest as ‘Casey’ took his mask off, revealing his sheepish grimace as he turned his head towards April.

“Sorry, I just found out about the hostages, I came as fast as I could to help them-,”

“-we have company Casey,” April quickly interrupted him.

Casey’s eyes flash to you, “who are you?” Regaining his awareness his face turned into a flirty smirk as he eyed you up and down and stuck out his hand, “Sorry that was rude. Lets start over. Hi. I’m Casey Jones, soon to be detective and shadow in the night and who are you lovely lady?” You could’ve swore you heard someone growl.

You slowly shook his hand, before letting it go again, your arm falling back down to your side, “(Y/N) (L/N), intern and future journalist. It’s nice to meet you Casey Jones.”

Casey sent you a blinding smile, but his attention turned to April as she coughed, “right,” he said remembering why he was here in the first place. “Are they still here?”

April shrugged, “the foot clan have been dealt with, so you’re late and aren’t needed.”

Casey groaned, running his free hand down his face, “great. I always miss out on the fun.” April rolled her eyes, but quickly glanced up and her eyes widened. Ignoring you and Casey she nodded her head and quickly unlocked her phone and started texting someone. A passing shadow disrupting the little light shining into the alley. You went you glance up but Casey drew your attention to him.

“So,” Casey drawled, “you’re the infamous intern I’ve heard all about. Do you work with April a lot?”

You nodded, ignoring the urge to look up, “Yeah. But from what I’ve heard from the other interns I couldn’t have gotten anyone better, the others don't let them do anything, April lets me gets involved. How do you know April?” Another shadow passed over your head.

Casey bit his lip in thought, and laughed lightly, it sounded harsh and fake to your ears, “it’s a long story actually and I don’t really remember it. But that’s not important,” he took a step closer to you, and you heard a faint gasp along with the words ‘this is not good guys, that’s his move’, “want’s important is if you’ll go out for a date with me this Saturday?”

Before you could think of a way to turn him down a loud, “NOOO!” Echoed through the alley. A loud, high pitched screech filled the air, similar to a girlish scream, and a thump sounded behind you. You tried you turn around, but you were quickly pulled towards someone and away from Casey. You were being held so tight you couldn’t turn around to see, all you could do was feel the muscles in the arms holding you close, covered in skin tight, green clothes, which you swore looked like scales. His chest was hard against your back, unnaturally so. You froze on the spot, unsure as to what to do.

“Stay away Casey,” the male behind you warned, “she’s way out of your league anyway. I mean look at her and look at you.” You raised a brow at Casey who’s jaw was hanging open in shock. “I mean, you even get pineapple on your pizza! Who does that dude! I’m sorry but I can’t subject her to that sort of life.”

Casey composed himself and scoffed, “yeah right Mikey. And how are you going to explain your…situation.” You glance at April who was merely observing, her hand covering her mouth as she desperately tried not to laugh. What did she know?

“Oh shit,” ‘Mikey’ grumbled as three more thumps sounded behind you.

“Mikey,” someone warned, their voice barely an audible growl, “you are in so much trouble.”

While your holder was distracted you pulled away and quickly turned on the spot. The sight made you freeze.

It was a giant turtle.

Your vision blurred for a moment and you swayed on your feet making everyone around you take a worried step forward, but you held your ground. You definitely weren’t going to faint over this. So, you closed your eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again.

“Turtles?” You asked, all four of the turtles silently nodded. None of them realised it, but they were each holding their breath. You glance at them up and down in wonder, “how are you so big? Are you like a werewolf, do you shift into a were-turtle?”

While the others stood in shock at the statement Mikey was the first to break free of his stupor and start laughing, “that’s a first,” he slid closer on a handmade skateboard he quickly pulled off of his back, “so pretty lady, how about me and you get a pizza this Saturday?”

That broke his brothers out of their trance as they quickly tackled Mikey to the ground before he could get an answer and for managing to be the first to ask. His youthful charms made it so much easier for him to ask these things with no inhibitions. You barely caught any of the arguing between the brothers, as they rolled across the ground. Their shells bashing loudly and echoing around you.

You caught little bit of what they were saying though, “what the hell,”, “get a life,”, “you’re shit out of luck,”, “you can’t even share a pizza.”

You slowly stepped backwards towards April and Casey, “how long have you known these…were-turtles?” You whispered.

April sent you a grin, “they’re not were-turtles, they're mutants.”

“So, turtle, Mutants? Anything else I should know?”

Nodding his head, Casey added, “they’re also Ninjas,” you sent him a look, and he raised his hands in surrender, “blame the giant rat,” your eyes widened, “don’t ask about the rat and FYI. Don’t fight him.”

Shocked, you could only nod and repeat your question, “anything else I should know about the turtle, mutant, ninjas?”

April hummed, “well they’re teenagers-”

“-NOO!” All four brothers screamed, realising what was happening while they wrestled for your unknown affections.

Donnie jumped to his feet, “that is just a title, we are no longer teenagers, but human years we range from about 19 to 21. Our turtle’s genes have helped us mature beyond our years, both physically and mentally. I like to think as my mental capacity as having outgrown that of my brothers.”

Raph scoffed and Leo face palmed. Mikey was just shocked that he didn’t think of that pick-up line before Donnie. But he asked her on a date first so that was something he could always hold over his brothers.

“How long have you been on this planet?”

They each shared a look, Leo coughed, “what do you mean?”

“How old are you physically?”

They each grumbled a “15,” which made you smile and laugh lightly. The sound so familiar to them and it filled their hearts with joy.

You glanced at the four turtles and then the two humans, “I can already tell that this is going to make an interesting story?”

“What?” April asked, worried you were referring to an article.

You raised a brow, “how you both became friends with the turtles, I bet that’s interesting,” you turned to Casey, “did they attack you for running around wearing that creepy mask?”

Casey blanched, and then coughed, “no actually, they pretended to be aliens and told me they were gonna eat me and dip me in ranch dressing.”

You smiled widely and turned to the turtles who felt faint at finally seeing it face to face, “who’s idea was that?”

They each answered with a breathless, “me.” When they realised what the others had said, they all started arguing their case. But the sound of the police siren quickly silenced them and making them freeze, and they all remembered why they were in the alley in the first place.

April turned to the turtles and winked, knowing in her heart that the turtles might have a chance with the girl they’d been asking her to spy on these last few months. “I think we should take this conversation back to the lair.”

“The lair?” You asked. The turtles smirked before gesturing to the drain hole that was swiftly uncovered with a flick of Raphs foot.

Leo stepped forward, holding out his hand, “it’s a bit of a bumpy journey, but don’t worry you can ride on my chest,” he proudly stated, ignoring his glowering bothers.

“Thanks?” You managed a smile as you too stepped forward and took his hand, allowing him to lead to the hole.

He sent a smile back, “just hold on tight.” With a flick of his wrist he pulled you into his chest, his arms holding you tightly to him. You gasped at the motion. But, before you could question him, Leo jumped into hole, his brothers quickly grabbing the others without as much grace and followed.

*****

You kept your eyes closed as your pressed yourself closer to Leos chest, or plastron, as it is probably known to them, as your fingers clenched tightly over the top of the shell to get any sort of grip. The flash of colours and the whirling wind in your ears was making your head spin, so you just wanted to arrive at the mysterious ‘lair’.

Little did you know, Leo was trying desperately hard not to hyperventilate and pass out. For the first real time, he could feel you and his head was trying so hard to keep fantasy and reality separate as he couldn’t find any physical differences. Even the way you felt in his arms was just so similar, so right.

“Are you alright?” Leo shouted of the howling wind.

“Just peachy,” you replied, raising your voice so that you didn’t have to raise your head. The tunnel turned bumpy as it led closer to home and you squeaked at the sensation, trying to get impossibly closer to him. In response, Leo tightened his arms around you. You instantly felt safer and decided to blame the feeling on the nerves of possibly falling off the giant turtle, who’s name you didn’t know yet.

The tunnels end came into view after what seems like hundreds of twists and turns and Leo pulled you higher as he skidded across the ground on two feet before gently setting you down. The sound of his brothers echoing through the tunnels you’d just left. The three of them arguing about how stupid the others were.

Sharing a look you both quickly shuffled to the side as the five of them came bursting through. Leo pushed you behind his arm as they spun out of control and on their backs across the ground, their bickering never ceasing.

The moment they stopped the turtles quickly jumped to their feet. April and Casey quickly pulling away from the bickering turtles and stumbling over to you. You helped April stand as Casey collapsed against the wall. After a minute or two April wandered towards Casey and the two started whispering.

You nudged the turtled next to you with your elbow, your eyes met as you glanced up and he down, “I never did get your name?”

He smiled softly, “It’s Leonardo, but everyone calls me Leo.”

You hum in thought, smile widely when you get an idea, “can I call you something different?” Leo’s heart starts to beat faster at your words. You couldn’t possibly want to call him that? Right? “As everyone calls you Leo,” he started to sweat, “can I call you Lee?”

Leo swayed on his feet, as his head spun at the nickname, “she wants to call me…” Then he completely zoned out. Too overwhelmed with everything that was happening, a goofy smile taking over his face as he collapsed backwards against the wall, a dreamy sigh escaping his lips. Stopping their bickering, his brothers jumped to their feet to see what had happened to the dazed turtled.

Donnie turned to you, pushing his glasses up with a finger, “what happened?”

You shook your head, biting your lip as you glanced at the fallen turtled, “I don’t know,” you said with concern, “one minute we were talking and the next he just zoned out.” Donnie nodded in thought, unwilling to give out the information that you probably said something that was personal to him and his dream scape and the reality of it happening was too much for him.

Donnie sent you a smile, “don’t worry. He’ll be fine. He just hasn’t had enough Pizza today?”

“Pizza?” You ask. Donnie went on to explain how important the meal of pizza was to the brothers.

*****

Watching the whole scene unfold April and Casey observed from the shadows.

“What’s the deal with the four of them,” Casey asks a smirking April, “I’ve never seem them act this weird before.”

April glanced at the turtles, making sure they couldn’t hear her before leaning closer to Casey, “they all have a huge crush on her.”

“So, they all have a thing for her?” Casey asked in bewilderment.

April nodded, “yep. Donnie created a device and each of them spent their time there in different scenarios with someone that looked and acted like (Y/N) over there and when they found out they were all seeing the same person they hunted her down online and found her.”

Casey raised a brow, “and it just so happened that she was your intern. Doesn’t that seem like an amazing co-incident?”

April shrugged, “she was there for a week before they found out and she had the place secured for 4 months before hand. I like to think it was fate.”

Casey hummed, “fate is not the words I would use. Creepy, stalkerish, weird…are a few of the kinder words."

April shook her head with a smile, “oh come on Casey it’s cute and you know it. Maybe if they didn’t stalk her in their dreams first it would be less weird, but maybe it showed them who their soul mate was.”

Casey sent April a confused look, “soul mate?! Are you kidding me? There are four of them and one of her. How would that even work?”

April pulled out her phone and started showing him page, upon pages of information she had found on the internet, “actually. From my research, female turtles have many mates. So male turtles are used to ‘sharing’ for lack of a better word. So this is just their natural instincts. They would have the same ideologies of an ideal ‘mate’ and it just so happens that they managed to meet theirs.”

Casey shook his head, “so basically you’re telling me that all four of them want to f-”

“HEY GUYS!” Mikey called to the two of them, his hand tightly clasped around (Y/N)’s, Raph and Donnie dragging Leo with them as they waddled behind, “we’re gonna show (Y/N) the crib, are you coming?”

“Of course,” April smiled back, elbowing Casey on her way over to them for what he was about to say.

*****

You were pulled away from Leo by an arm that was wrapped around your shoulder, “ignore Leo.” It was the turtle from before, “he has issues and it’s best to let him deal with them.”

You glanced up at the orange masked ninja turtle and back at the blue masked one, “if you’re sure. He doesn’t look like he’s in any pain at least.”

Mikey nodded at you, “exactly. He’s just been stressed. But I know something that will take your mind off this.” You raised a brow and turned your attention back to the orange masked turtle and away from the blue masked one who’s others brothers were trying to wake him up.

“How?”

Mikey turned in the ‘entrance hall' and gestured to the door to the side, “how about a tour. I can show you the crib, the dojo…my room.” His voice took on a strange tone towards the end, but before you could question him, he pulled you towards the door, quickly turning to April and Casey to ask them if they wanted to come too. You were vaguely aware of other turtles following behind as Mikey started to tour.

“Don’t worry. You’re going to love this place, just ignore the smell.”

*****

“Over there is the dojo, and then that’s my room, that’s sensei’s room, and this,” he gestured to a wide, open area, “is the living room. Fully equipped with surround sound, high definition TV and my favourite, the mini fridge.” Mikey pointed to the object, that was decorated with various skateboard drawings.

You took in as much as you could of the underground lair, “what are all of your names?” You asked him, the other two turtles dragging Leo into the room and pushing him on the Sofa.

Mikey grinned, and pointed to his brother wearing the red bandana, “that’s Raphael, a big soft teddy bear…if big soft teddy bears are incredibly violent,” he jumped over to beside Donnie, “and over her sporting purple is Donatello, a genius in everything except in social skill and then there is me,” he gestures to himself while strutting a pose, “my name is Michelangelo, I’m a triple thread, in singing, dancing and eating pizza. Oh, and on the sofa having a moment is-”

“-Lee already told me his name,” you smiled, missing the glare his brothers sent his way. “So, you’re all brothers?” You asked. They nodded. “Who’s the youngest?”

Raph smirked at Mikey and pulled him into a choke hold to rub the top of his head violently, “that’s our little Mikey here.” You cringed at the violent show of affection.

“Mikey?” You asked, “a nickname?” Mikey wheezed out a ‘yes’ from between Raphs arm.

You couldn’t help but think of another nickname for the youngest turtle, “I’m surprised they don’t called you little mimi.” Then, Mikey fainted. Collapsed on the floor, Mikey’s eyes fluttered open as he stared at the ceiling with a loving sigh.

“She called me little mimi,” he whispered to himself. Donnie shook his head. Wondering why he was never given a nickname in any of his scenarios that would have this effect on him.

Watching from the shadows, Splinter slowly walked into the room, “I believe our new friend should visit another time when you are all well fed and rested?” You turned towards the new voice and tilted your head in wonder.

You saw the authority he held and quickly approached, holding out your hand, “hi, I’m (Y/N), it’s nice to meet you.” You remembered what Casey said about fighting the rat but couldn’t see such a gentle soul starting a fight. It then occurred to you that you never introduced yourself to the giant turtles, but if Casey was anything to go by you figured she'd probably told you about them. 

Splinter smiled and gently shook your hand, “Sensei Splinter, I’m their father.”

You squinted your eyes and leaned closer to him observing his face closely, before leaning back with a confirming nod, “they have your eyes.”

Splinters eyes squinted with his smile as he turned to the turtle brothers, “I like your new friend boys. But it’s time for your patrol, so you all better be going.” Mikey and Leo shot up and woke from their dazes at Splinters words.

Bowing their head, each turtle chanted, “yes Sensei.” Splinter waved goodbye before taking his leave. Satisfied at having met the girl his sons had been obsessed with for so long. He had to say, his sons had chosen well. Even if she didn’t know that they’d chosen her.

April linked arms with you and led you out of the living room and towards the tunnel, “bye guys, see you later!” She called to them as she led you away. You sent a wave over your shoulder at their sad faces.

“See you soon,” you said, watching their faces light up at the comment. Casey stayed behind.

When you climbed out of the sewers, April linked her arm back with your and led you in an unknown direction, “we are having a girls night tonight, I have so much to tell you.” You laughed at her antics and made her pick up (F/FF) on the way to her place.

Today had definitely been…different. But, you couldn’t help but feel that it had been a good different.

Chapter Text

April filled you in that night about how she met the brothers, originally, and how they were reunited again years later. She had known the brothers now for 5 years and helped them save New York, twice. Which explained Vern and his ‘position’. It took all night for her to explain, and the brothers became more intriguing to you.

Staying in the shadows, fighting evil and trying to live a life in the sewers away from civilisation. Being Ninjas would probably have been hard enough without the added complication of being giant mutant turtles. You felt sorry for them, the brothers were forced to watch the world around them and never be apart of it. To save it and never be acknowledged for everything they did.

The next morning, after a night of binge eating and talking all night, you both woke up late. You lived alone so you didn’t worry about telling anyone where you were. Aprils phone however was an endless stream of messages from the brothers, although she didn’t tell you what they said, she did say they wanted you to go back to the lair to ‘discuss’ things.

Their patrol started at sundown, until the early hours of the morning. But April got you both the next day off of work to meet them during the day, she said she told the boss that she wanted to help you spot stories. But she’d being doing that since you became an intern, but if it got you the day off you weren’t going to question it. You had no idea when she planned this however, but she had it all arranged before you had even woken up.

The two of you walked in no specific direction that afternoon to the lair, letting the brothers rest a bit, but April seemed determined to go anywhere than where we went yesterday. Eventually, she picked an alley that was empty and started texting again.

“Do we not climb into the sewers?” You asked, a strange noise coming from around the corner making you jump.

April shook her head, not taking her eyes off her phone, “they come and collect us. It’s easier as you can never use the same entrance a lot and I always get lost.”

You gulped, “does that mean we have to slide again?”

On cue, the drain hole was flipped over and a turtle stepped out, his purple bandana blowing in the breeze, “don’t worry (Y/N), it’s closer this time and you won’t get hurt, I promise.” It was Donnie and following close behind was Raph. The two glared at each other when they were both situated at the top before turning to smile at you and April.

You hummed, “alright. So, who goes with who?”

Donnie stood up straighter, “you’re with me and April is with Raph.”

You nodded and walked up to him, noticing a bead of sweat running down his face and his shaking hands, he looked nervous “where are the others?” You asked, hoping to ease his nerves.

“Still asleep,” Raph grumbling, sending you a wink, “they had a late night and can’t handle it.” You only nodded, not getting the double meaning to his words, and took Donnie’s outstretched hand, his hands were smooth and soft, a lot more so than Leos. Donnie gave Raph a nod as he pulled you close, his arms tight around you. Donnie was squealing inside like Mikey would outside, the feel of your body against his was perfect to what the simulation gave him, his machine was perfect and so was the girl in his arms. Trying to act as cool and collected as Leo did yesterday, Donnie jumped into the drain hole, holding you tight.

*****

Donnie’s landing wasn’t as smooth as Leo’s, instead of landing on his feet, Donnie stumbled his nerves getting the best of him, and his shell hit the floor at an odd angle making it spin and slide across the hall. The spinning exit making you pull yourself closer to Donnie as you tried to stop yourself from flying off. Only, your head was spinning so much when Donnie did stop spinning you continued to cling tightly to him, not that he minded. In fact, he stayed perfectly still, just holding you.

Much to Raphael’s displeasure.

Raph stormed over and touched your shoulder lightly, “it’s okay, you can let go.” His tone was so soft and caring both Donnie and April were shocked by the change. Mikey’s description of a Raph being a soft teddy bear was actually accurate…for once.

Opening an eye, you glance up at Raph, “I’ll fall over, my head is still spinning.” With a sigh, Raph leaned over and picked you off of Donnies plastron, while holding you close to his and carried you into the living room. Donnie quickly jumped to his feet, following suit like a lost puppy, as April continued to watch with a dropped jaw.

With a small laugh and a shake of her head she followed the weird trio, “this is going to be interesting.”

Raph carried you to one of the sofas in the living room and gently placed you down. By this point your head had stopped spinning, but Raph didn’t seem to mind, as long as you weren’t clutching to Donnie and him instead. The sensation of you being in his arms made his knees weak and his pulse go quicker. He kept thinking back to all those simulations where he woke up in bed with you, the warmth radiating from you and the smell of your shampoo. Everything was the same.

You glanced up at Raph with a smile, “thanks for that. You’re Raphael, right?”

Raph nodded, “yeah, but everyone calls me Raph.”

You shook your head, “I think I’m going to call you Raphael, I like it better.” Raph nodded, his mind flicking between reality and fantasy as he fell backwards into one of the other sofas.

“Yeah,” he breathed, his voice a dreamy whisper. You frowned, did all the brothers have these sorts of moments? Donnie glanced briefly at Raph, before sitting down next to you.

“So,” you turned to look at Donnie who started talking, “how are you?”

You smiled, “I’m great, you’re Donatello, right?” Donnie nodded, “do you have nickname?”

“Everyone calls me Donnie,” you tilted your head at his words, making him gulp, “so, what do you want to do?”

You shrug, “I don’t know, April said you guys wanted to talk or something.”

April! Glancing over your shoulder, Donnie spots his friend smirking as she placed herself in the corner on an armchair, he gulped again, pushing his glasses up, “right. Well, it’s just the basics really. Don’t tell anyone we exist, plan meetings ahead, tell us if you see anything, help us with cover stories and you might be targeted by the foot clan,” your eyes widened in fear, making him panic, “but don’t worry! We’ll keep an eye on you to make sure that nothing bad happens!”

You sighed in relief, “that’s a lot to take in and if I’m honest a bit scary.”

Donnie nodded, waving his arms around to get his point across, “yeah, but it will get easier, I promise.”

In waving his arms around, Donnie drew attention to his arms and the many devices on them, and you reached a hand out, touching one of the many screens, “woah, those are cool.”

Beaming with pride, Donnie couldn’t help but sit straighter and puff out his chest, “thanks. I made them out of rubbish I found in the sewers.”

Glancing at the devices with a slack jaw, you whispered to Donnie in awe, “that’s awesome. I wish I was that smart.”

“You’re smart in your own way,” You glance up at the smiling, purple masked, turtle, “if you want I can make you something?”

“Really?!” Your eyes sparkled so much you made Donnies heart skip a beat, “you could do that.”

“Yep,” Donnie pointed at April, “I made April a watch for her birthday that allows her to do all sorts of stuff. I can make you one too!” Squealing with excitement, you jump and Donnie and give him a big hug, quickly Donnie hugged back. Donnie stood up, pulling you with him as he led you to his workshop, exchanging the hug for holding hands, “if we’re quick before the others wake up we can start a preliminary design and you can tell me your app and system preferences.” Confused but excited, you nodded and let Donnie pull you into his lab.

April watch the whole scene with a wide smirk, unable to do anything but. When the two of you left, she decided to pull Ralp out of his day dream and wake him up. A pillow thrown at his face was quick and without injury to her as he was known for his flying fists when woken up unexpectantly. Raph jumped up, a startled gasp escaping his lips in the process, making him growl threateningly and hunch over as he prepared for a fight. Raph looked around, preparing for the oncoming attack, only to see April standing there with her arms crossed.

Standing straight and clearing his throat, Raph nodded, “April, what’s going on?”

“Donnie took (Y/N) into his lab and he’s making her something.”

Raph narrowed his eyes and stormed towards Donnie’s lab, his nostrils flaring as his breathing increased. April followed. She was never usually a trouble maker, but she was trying to push the brothers to confess or at least ask you out, more than Mikey’s half-hearted proposal yesterday. Raph stormed passed his brothers rooms and in doing so, woke up Leo.

Leo stuck his head of out his bedroom door, his eyes barely open as he let out a loud yawn to watch Raph stomp down the hall, “some of us are trying to sleep Raph!” He called after his brother before going to go back into his room. Only the sight of April stopped him. When did she get here? “April,” Leo greets with a wide yawn, “what are you doing here?” He’d been in the dream scenarios for a few hours last night and was paying the price for the lack of sleep.

April shrugs, “just watching the drama unfold, you go back to bed and I’ll make sure (Y/N) is alright.” Leo nods, and does just that. He closes the door, muttering a goodnight before jumping back into his oversized bed. He snuggles into his pillows, his body relaxing with every passing second.

Then he realised what April said.

Jumping back out of bed and slamming his door open, Leo chased after April, “what did you say about (Y/N)?!” He skidded to a stop outside of Donnie’s lab, having seen a flick of Aprils hair as she walked into the room. Leo glanced into the room to see (Y/N), Raph, Donnie and April all looking back at him with weird expressions. Donnie rolled his eyes before turning back to measuring (Y/N)’s wrist. Leo cleared his throat, “morning everyone.”

You laughed lightly, “it’s the afternoon.” Leo coughed, too embarrassed to say anything but squeak slightly before turning and walking back to his room. You turned back to Donnie, “so this foot fetish group may or may not come after me now that I know you.”

Donnie laughed lightly, but raised a brow at your words, how were you so in the dark about the foot clan but wanted to work in journalism, “that’s right. It depends on if they’re looking for us and their numbers. They’d never attack in crowded places, but they might use you to get to us. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Raph scoffed, muttering under his breath, “more like it’s better to stalk.”

You glanced over your shoulder to raise a brow at Raph, “what did you say Raphael?” Huffing, Raph turned his head away and mumbled a ‘nothing’. You shook your head at him before turning back to Donnie, “was this watch how April hacked into the door at the convention?”

“Yep!” April chimed in, “Donnie is a technical genius, he can make or fix anything. I even once hacked into a moving laptop!”

You turned to look at April with wide eyes, “freelance?” You ask.

April nodded, “yeah, I had intel that a scientist was working for shredder. I was disguised, I was wearing a wig and everything, to get the information I needed I pretended to be a fan and I was nearly done when he gave it to someone to transfer to a different location. I had to follow but had to change my clothes and everything at the last minute to keep him in the dark!”

You leaned closer to April, intrigued as to what happened next, “you got the data right?”

April nodded, “yeah but there was a code that deleted the data a few minuets after I started reading it. But I found some information, which led me to-”

“-April!” Donnie interrupted, it wasn’t that he didn’t want you to know. But he’d been practising a speech for how he’d tell you his technical version. “I don’t think this is the time.” Donnie released your wrist, “I think I have everything I need. I can just text you later if I need to know anything else. The schematics can be complicated at first, but once I put your preferences in, it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”

You nod along to his words, before pulling out your phone, unlocking it and handing it to him, “add your number or take mine, whatever is easier.”

Donnie fainted.

Growling, “bloody idiot,” Raph grabbed your phone and walked over to Donnie’s workbench to write down your number before handing it back to you. “Sorry about him, he has-um-”

“-Issues?” You added, and Raph nods, smirking and trying to use it to his advantage.

“Yeah, a lot of issues that one.”

Clicking filled the room as Splinter wandered into the room, upon seeing Donnie on the floor he only sighed, “did he work all night again?” He asked, before spotting you and April in the room. He knew, that more than likely, you were the unknowing culprit, having done or said something to encourage these strange reactions his sons have been having lately.

Raph shook his head, “no Sensei, he’s just having a moment because of his issues.” Raph flicked his eyes to you, signalling to Splinter that you were indeed the culprit.

“I see, you better take him back to his room.” Raph nodded, bending down to pick up Donnie, throwing an arm over his shoulder and standing to his full height so his feet wouldn’t drag. “(Y/N), would you like join me for tea. I should get to know you better if you’re going to be staying around this much.” Raph dropped Donnie in shock, before quickly bending down to pick him up again with a sharp look from splinter. Raph knew the true reason, but he knew better than to go against his father’s wishes.

You nodded happily, “will do.” You glanced over to Raph, “do you need help?”

Raph shook his head, “he slipped is all. Besides, April can help me.” April nodded, signalling for you to follow Splinter.

You waved goodbye following the giant rat to have some tea.

*****

Splinters room was quaint but perfect. Large tapestries, that looked handmade hung from the walls, large cushions were positioned all over the floor, bonsai trees surrounded the area, candles and incense creating a calm, peaceful atmosphere. In the corner was small teapot, kettle and a few cups.

“Please, sit down while I prepare the tea.” Splinter gestured to a specific cushion, one opposite a cushion that looked very well used.

“It’s peaceful in here,” you comment, breathing in the new pleasant smells and relaxing into the cushion. Even the sound of the kettle boiling in the background did nothing to break the serene calm, only adding to it like white noise.

“Thank you, I usually play music but my stereo broke. Donatello is fixing it for me.” You nod, your eyes continuing to dance around the room and looking at every intricate detail that had been added to make this place his own. Eventually, the tea was done and Splinter bought you over cup.

“Thank you,” you smile as you accept it, using the cup to warm your hands.

“I would like to say thank you for keeping my sons secret,” you nod your head, blowing your tea, “but I would like to ask you a serious question, you do not have to answer straight away, but it is important to me that you do answer eventually.”

Feeling the atmosphere change, you lowered your tea and nodded again, “I’ll try.”

Splinter took a sip of his tea, humming in thought, “my sons may be ninjas but just like every other creature in this world they desire companionship, and they seek this in the form of friendship. Now, young (Y/N), are you willing to be my sons friend?”

*****

Raph, sat in the living room, watching splinters door with wide worried eyes. As wise as his father was the last thing any of the brothers would want is for their father to have the ‘talk’ with their crush. Or even talk about their crush. Or worse, tell her to leave!

Raph shot from his chair, but a pillow to the face made him stop himself from storming into his fathers private room, “calm yourself Raph. Splinter won’t do anything stupid.”

Raph groaned falling back into the chair, “you don’t know that April! You see a different side to him, he can get very protective and it gets weird very quickly.” Curious, April went to ask for details when Mikey wandered into the room, followed by Leo who looked much more awake now.

“Morning dudes,” Mikey greets, “and April…” Seeing April seemed to wake something up in Mikey, “is (Y/N) here?” Raph groans at his words, and Leo answers.

“Yeah, but I think she’s still with Donnie.”

Raph groaned even louder, “I wish!” He said, his voice echoing through the living room, “she’s with Sensei, he wanted to talk to her!” Mikey and Leo stopped in their tracks, jaws dropping and their bodies going ridged.

April eyed the brothers in shock, “what am I missing here!”

Leo pulled himself out of his stupor, “Sensei wasn’t like this with your because he trusted you and viewed you as family. Not only is (Y/N) and outsider but she’s also,” Leo glanced at Splinters door, before whispering, “you know!”

“That doesn’t explain anything,” April adds.

Mikey grabs a slice of pizza before walking to April, “dad is going to try and see if (Y/N) is worthy of any of us by asking her a series of trick questions that will ruin everything. So all I will have left is you,” Mikey holds up the slice of Pizza and slowly takes a bite, “because now I am going to die alone!” April sighs, thinking the brothers over dramatic before the door opens and you and splinter leave. Splinter was smiling and you looked very confused but nodded to everyone in the room.

“Is there anywhere I can take a call?” You ask, “I just got a load of missed calls from a friend and the signal isn’t too good.”

April nods and points to a hall, it leads into the sewers, “there’s a vent down there. The signal is good but it’s a couple of minutes’ walk. Do you need me to show you?”

You shook your head, “I’ll be fine thanks. I’ll be back in a about ten minutes.”

The moment Splinter knew you were out of ear range he turned to his sons and April with a wide smile, “I have solved this issue. I asked her outright.” The brothers gawked at Splinter, and then glanced at April, who finally realised what they meant, he may be wise and only speak the truth but this was just common sense.

“About what?” April asked.

“I asked (Y/N) if she would like to be friends with my sons and she replied she’d love too! She thinks they’d be great friends!”

All four of them groaned, Mikey started talking to his Pizza again, “we’ve bene friend zoned little buddy!”

Splinter glanced at all four of them confused, “what did I do?”

Raph got up and left the room.

Leo went to meditate.

Mikey went to find more Pizza.

April approached Splinter with a sad smile, “you may have made it harder for them to admit their feelings.”

Splinter frowned, “the best relationships start with friendship. They could not build a foundation without someone to base it on. My sons are unique and until she can understand that she is not worthy of them.” April’s eyes widened, maybe being wise was the best thing for the brothers. Then she realised something else.

Splinter gave great relationship advice.

Chapter Text

Over the next few weeks a routine started for you and the four ninja mutant turtle brothers that had become your friends. Good friends, even. After your ‘chat’ with Splinter, things changed. Every night you’d visit the brothers after your internship and before their patrols. Sometimes April would come with you, sometimes she didn’t. You didn’t see Casey a lot, the brothers claimed it was a clash of schedules. When you eventually saw Casey he just shrugged and agreed without questioning it. April laughed when she found out but you never knew why, only shrugging off the incident as you were quickly distracted by one of the brothers. Conveniently.

When the nights started getting the longer the brothers would walk you home before going on patrol. They would stay in the shadows, and sometimes you’d join them there. The brothers would carry or walk you back, depending on how late it was. Sometimes, you’d even walk through the shadows with them. They used this time to deal with the smaller, various crimes in New York as they went. Mikey would call it ‘helping the little man’. Leo hit him around the head every time he bought it up, he said they helped everyone.

It led to them figuring out where you lived.

Which led to the midnight visits.

Donnie would text in advance and would tell you that a pizza was also ordered, they always made sure to order your favourite one too. They’d arrive just before the food, climbing through your window like you’d image ninjas from a tale, shrouded in shadows, silent and deadly. And yet, there was still that edge of bickering that only siblings had. They’d give you the cash for the pizza, including tip and hide while you answered the door. They stay for an hour, eat the pizza, laugh and joke (generally at one of their brothers’ expenses, usually Mikey’s) and leave again. Disappearing into the night with a smile and a promise to see you the next day. You didn’t get a lot of sleep, but you slept sounder than ever before.

Knowing they were around made you feel a lot safer. You weren’t scared to go out at night. You felt free and you weren’t scared of the dark because you knew they were in it. Watching. Waiting. Ready to act and save the city. Ready to save you.

Your friendship with the brothers was developing as well. Raph was teaching you self-defence. Leo was teaching you how to meditate and the wonders of yoga. You’d watch films or play games with Mikey. And you’d sit with Donnie in his work room as he worked on his inventions, just letting him ramble to someone and get his ideas out. You even made time for splinter and would have tea with him every once in a while. You felt apart of their family and you were getting to know them in a deeper sense. You knew them as more than the ninja vigilantes, they were your friends. And their bought with them, their own little quirks.

Mikey had started calling you weird nicknames.

Raph knitted you a scarf.

Donnie make you the watch he promised.

Leo whisked you away one night and made a vow to protect you, no matter what.

Tonight, was just like any other night.

It was the start of December, the nights cold and long. The brothers were escorting you and April back to the surface and then to your respective apartments. You were going to Aprils first. The six of you were walking, weaving through dark alleys so you could stay together a little longer.

You shivered lightly as the cold air swirled around you drawing a certain younger turtles’ attention, quickly Mikey shuffled up close to you and wrapped a warm arm around your shoulders, pulling you close to his side.

“It’s alright! Mikey is here to keep you warm angel!” You rolled your eyes but let his arm stay where it was. He was right, it was warm.

Raph scoffed, subtly flexing his arms as if to help his argument, “if she really wanted to keep warm Mikey, she’d just need one hug from me and she’d be set for the rest of the night.”

Mikey stuck his tongue out at his brother but laughed none the less, “yeah right Raph, with your icy personality you couldn’t keep anything warm. She’d freeze from one look!” The two continued to bicker about who was warmer, one even claimed they could ‘fry an egg on these pecs’.

April smirked from the side-lines. You hadn’t noticed, but she’d been doing it a lot lately. Using you to tease the brothers and help them get close to you. She was reaping the rewards every time she skipped meeting the brothers in the evenings and saw all of you together a couple of days later. You all always seemed closer. The foundations of your friendship that was formed through your unusual meeting, was now developing into a best-friend-ship. And even if you didn’t know they wanted more, the brothers were falling for you more and more each day. But the brothers still spoke to her about their concerns, after all, the comparisons between the real you and the fake you were uncanny. But the brothers continued using the dream scenarios because they still need the fake you.

The one that showered them with kisses.

The one that supported them through their doubts.

The one that helped them achieved their dreams in the fake world.

The one that loved them unconditionally.

“I think,” April added, pulling herself back to the real world, “you would be willing to let me freeze if it meant saving (Y/N).” The brothers gulped in sync. They all kept forgetting April was around, even though they were walking her home. Even though she was the unofficial sister.

You laughed lightly, shaking your head as you did so, “they wouldn’t let anything happen to you April. You’re like their sister.”

April shook her head at how oblivious you truly were, “maybe. I think I annoy them exactly like a little sister does.” You went to ask what she planned on doing but them Aprils apartment comes into view and April quickly shuffles ahead, “I’ll be fine from here guys. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

You all waved and said your goodbyes to April before continuing your walk to your apartment. You never watched her go all the way in, but the streets were lit enough for it to be safe for her. The rest of the walk was in relative silence. Mikey’s stomach grumbled once, but otherwise it was peaceful. You were halfway home when an alarm sounded on Donnie’s arm. You all halted in your tracks and glanced at Donnie who was furiously tapping away before glancing up at all you.

His eyes were frantic as they darted around to look at the four of you there. He didn’t seem like he could make a decision and you knew then a serious job had come up. You could see how torn he was from the look in his eyes and smiled, pulling Mikey’s arm off of you and stepping into the cold air.

“You have to go.”

Donnie shook his head, “we could still walk or even run you home-”

“-Where this time?” You ask. The foot clan have constantly been breaking into medical or scientific research buildings this month, especially places that stock supplies. By the times the brothers get there, the foot clan have gone, vanished into the night with their spoils of war. No evidence left but a mark on the wall and unconscious guards.

“Byers research faculty.” You knew where all of these places were, having researched them in advance in case anything like this happened. It turns out it wasn’t for nothing.

You shake your head, “dropping me off will take you in the wrong direction. Go now, while you still can.” Knowing you’re right, the brothers nod reluctantly, and watch you walk back to the lit streets before vanishing into the night. You watch as they go, missing the longing look the shadows hide.

When you were sure they’d gone, after a few moments of staring in the direction you were sure they’d go in, you turned on your heels and went to walk home. It was too late to be out alone without the brothers. Only, when you turned you walked straight into someone’s chest. You stumbled backwards and glanced up at face of the person that you walked into, prepared to apologise when you realised you couldn’t see their face. A black mask covered their face, the materials latching onto all the edges and contours of their face, but you’d never be able to identify the peoples faces behind them. They were wearing dark, tight clothing, Katanas over their shoulders and guns strapped to their hips.

Members of the foot clan.

You started to shake, forcing your hand to move to your watch to press the panic button, pretending to scratch your wrist as you did so. They didn’t take any notice. Probably thinking it was a nervous tick.

The one in front spoke, his voice muffled through the thick material of his mask, “you’re coming with us.”

You opened your mouth to object, anything to waste time like the brothers taught you, but then you felt a sharp pain in your neck. Your hand flew to the spot, finding a small device imbedded in your neck. You pulled it out, letting the small, metallic point fall to the floor with an almost silent clang. But, by that point, it was too late.

Immediately, your vision blurred, and you swayed on your feet. The foot clan soldiers watched as you eventually collapsed onto the floor, circling you as the drugs quickly made their way into your system.

“You won’t-” But you never finished as you passed out.

The lead solider glanced down as you, “take her back to base. The doctor is waiting.”

*****

The brothers were almost at Byers Research Faculty when another alert stopped them. Donnie check and his eyes went wide before he turned on his heels and headed in the opposite direction. Leo, Raph and Mikey all shared a look before following their brother, amazed as he continued to pick up speed nearly leaving them in the dust.

“DONNIE!” Leo called to his brother, “SLOW DOWN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

Donnie didn’t even halter for a second, instead he chose to shout back, “(Y/N) ACTIVATED HER PANIC ALARM.”

Overtaken by their own sense of panic, Leo, Raph and Mikey all overtook Donnie and zoomed past him, going to the location they last saw you. By the time they got there, every other lamp had been turned off. A new energy saving idea that had come into play a few months ago by the mayor, it was one of the reasons they walked you and April home. But the bonus side of it was that the brothers could scan the area relatively undetected.

Donnie was quick to set an actual scanner to work in the area, while the other three looked for more obvious physical clues. They found the mini tranquilizer blow dart. Donnies scans found small blood particles of your DNA and some black fibres.

They knew who it was immediately.

It was the foot clan, they had taken you. But how did they know about you? What were they planning on doing to you, because of them?

It was then that Donnie’s alarm went off again. The brothers turned to look at Donnie, worry over taking their features as they each wondered where their dream girl went. Where you went. Because you weren’t just a computer programme anymore, you were a person, someone in trouble. Some one they all loved. And it was in that exact moment that all the brothers came to the same realisation, in sync.

But, now wasn’t the time.

Donnie glanced at the device on his arm and sighed in relief, “her watch sent me a last known location. An abandoned warehouse by the docks. But the signal has stopped so I’m assuming they destroyed the watch. We have a couple of minutes to get there if we don’t want to take the chance of them leaving.”

Leo nodded, “Donnie check all access routes and the easiest entry points on the way. Contact Casey, April and Vern. We may need extra help. This was clearly a hit.”

In a flash the brothers had vanished, moving with the shadows of the night.

‘We’re coming (Y/N)’.

*****

When you woke up again you were in a dark room, a single stream of light could be seen though a small hole in what looked like the door. Your hands were tied tightly behind your back, too tight. Your hair was loose, your shoes missing and your bag gone.

You tried to remember what the brothers taught you but your mind was still waking up. You tried to remember what Raph and Leo taught you. ‘First, see if you can get the watch Donnie made you. Send for help as often as you can. We’ll get a constant location point if you’re travelling.’

Your watch was missing. So you had to try plan B.

‘If you can’t we will come for you. It was just take longer. Try to figure out where you are or if you can escape. But don’t do anything that would risk your life, that’s what we’re here for.’

So, you tried to figure out where you were. You listened intently to everything around you, trying to hear traffic, people and event. Something…anything.

It was then you realised someone else was in the room with you. They groaned and moaned loudly as they woke up. They cursed loudly before calling out and it was a voice you know all too well.

“Hello! Can anyone hear me?”

“April?!” You called into the darkness.

“(Y/N)?” April called back, “how are you here?”

You sighed, “I was corned by foot clan soldiers when the brothers had to run off to stop a raid. They knocked me out before I could even stall.”

April laughed dryly, “well it looks like they’re not hiring the stupid lackeys anymore.” April shuffled in the dark, and you didn’t realise she’d moved closer until she whispered to you, “we need to think of a way out.”

But, before you could answer, loud footsteps echoed down the hall and into the room as they walked closer. There were a group of them. The sound reminded you of a marching army, walking into a battle. Confident. A sense of impending doom filled you. A sense of death and destruction.

The door to your cell was opened slowly. Three locks, four chains, two latches later and a huff from April later, it opened. The light was blinding, and you turned away from it at first. Before a dark chuckle drew your attention towards it again. Your journalist curiosity getting the best of you. But still they were silhouetted so you could not see them.

“My, my,” he called out into the room, his voice making April gasp. She obviously knew him. “What do we have here?” 

Chapter Text

The dark chuckle the man released echoed around the room. It created an ominous feeling that shook your bones and sent a chill up your spine. You watch as April glared at the man as he walked further into the room. Shadows hiding his face.

“April O’Neil,” he turns his body to look at you, “and friend, thank you for being here on this fine evening. I understand it was last minute but I’m glad we have everyone gathered here.” The tone of his voice reminded you of that time you went to comic con and a Star Wars fan was trying to bargain with his ‘Darth Vader’ voice. You could tell he was mocking you, but you didn’t know why.

“Baxter Stockman,” April hissed, “I thought shredder ripped you a new one. Come back for seconds?” You recognised that name. April had told you about him and his contributions to nearly destroying New York. All of it. Baxter stomped towards April and towered above her, before pulling her up by her cuffs so she was face to face with him, he then moved his hand to her collar and pulled her even higher, her toes scrapping across the floor.

“Your amphibian friends may have gotten the best of me, and Shredder,” he growled, “but I will have the last laugh. We’ve been following you for a while now and noticed when your intern came onto the scene and when she was introduced to the turtles. I don’t know why and if I’m honest. I don’t care. But it just makes my justice that much sweeter.”

April managed to pull her hands away and stumbled back, “and our friends will stop you just like before.”

Baxter laughed again before turning to walk away, but not before he called out into the hall, “guards, take them to the lab and set up them to their stations. It’s time we test the new ooze.” As Baxter walked out, four guards came in, one for each arm, and they started to pull the two of you out of the room. “Oh,” he added, his voice echoing back into the room, “and make sure to sedate them. I don’t want them knowing how to escape.”

*****

The brothers were frantic by the time they reached the warehouse. It was a very old building, in the middle of an abandoned dock, but sturdy and new panelling had made the place look like renovation project, not a secret hideout for the footclan.

There were only two real entrances, the front and back, which were large shutter doors. Similar to garage doors, both were very well guarded. They had gone around the perimeter and they could not see an easy entrance. The place was crawling with foot clan soldiers.

With each passing seconds the brothers imagined the horrors you were going through. Casey and Vern had met them there, but they hadn’t heard anything from April. The brothers didn’t even think to send someone to check. Their sole focus was on getting into that building and getting you out. Vern had tried to get out of this, claiming that he had a party to attend but one look from all the brothers had made him go silent quickly.

Leo turned to Donnie, “what are our entrance points Donnie?” Donnie sighed, “there are two but none of them are good. The main entrance which means we’ll have to fight the entire time or the backdoor but, again, we have the same problem. They have too many bright lights that get rid of the shadows and not enough options.”

Casey approached the two, waving around his hand. But, that’s not what drew the brother’s attention to him. It was the light flickering of something between his fingers. “I have an option for a plan C,” Casey pointed out.

Donnie noted it was car keys, already understanding what Casey’s plan was and nodded at Leo, “it could work.”

Leo nodded at Donnie and Casey, “gather the others, we’re going in.”

*****

When you woke up you couldn’t move your body an inch. Your entire body was strapped down onto a large metal table, large mechanic arms latched onto every movable part of your body sending a chill down your spine. Your eyes darted around, and you could just about see the cage that you were in. Your body was positioned so that you were staring up the ceiling, the white tiled ceiling giving you a headache. Tubes were wrapped around your arms and you could hear a monitor keeping track of your heart beat. Something sharp was pressing against your neck but you couldn’t move to check what it was. A small part of your feared it was a knife but you forced yourself not to check, too scared out the outcome.

“(Y/N)!” April called to you, “are you alright?”

You swallowed, a feeling a dread coming over you, “I’m fine. Are you strapped down as well?”

“Yep, I can’t see anything. How long have you been-”

But the question was stopped before she had a chance to finish, “-now, now ladies. You can talk as much as you want later. But for now…” the device you were in started moving, you turned to your left and tilted forward, until your eyes locked with Aprils. She seemed fine, but it was then you realised what was pointing into your neck. A huge needle prepared to inject you with what looked like bubbling purple liquid. “…it’s time that we start.” Soldiers quickly surrounded the area and warning lights flashed around them, but Baxter continued.

“April, for your crimes against me and the footclan, I’m going to make you watch as I inject your intern with the purple ooze. Then, I’m going to do the same to you.”

At his words you froze.

Your ears started ringing and in that moment you couldn’t hear anything else he said, his lips were moving but the words were lost to you. You remembered when the brothers were bragging about saving the city for the second time. They showed you photos of two peoples that turned into huge Warthog and Rhino hybrids. They were somewhat willing participants, but what they became gave you chills. You didn’t want to turn into that.

You felt the tears sliding down your cheeks and your lips tremble April screaming at Baxter to stop bought you out of your silence and back to reality.

The sound of swirling gears filled your ears and slowly the needle pierced the skin of your neck. You felt a small pinch, and the gurgling of liquid followed as the purple ooze was injected into you. You thought you heard April sobbing, but your mind couldn’t focus on anything. Black surrounded your vision and another pinch on your neck indicated the removal of the needle.

Unable to cope with the thought of turning into one of those beasts, you passed out.

*****

The brothers drove over the footclan member and through the large doors of the warehouse with a resounding bang, the van Casey had stolen was now smashed and damaged beyond repair. Vern had been squealing like a girl in the back the entire time, Casey had been hollering in joy and the brothers were all silent, so focused on the task at hand they didn’t know how unlike their selves they were being. It freaked Casey and Vern out.

The inside was a lot newer than the outside. Small rooms filled the area and one large room right in the centre. New technology filled the area and very quickly drones, and soldiers were ahead of them prepared to attack.

The brothers could hear April scream, begging for someone to stop, sobbing her heart out. They felt guilty for not thinking that April was kidnapped as well, but their only thought was barging in their and saving the two of you.

Leo pulled his Katana out and was chopping down any that attacked his head on. Leading the rescue party.

Raph was right next to him, using his Sai shuriken and pure strength to bat away enemies as if they were nothing more than a fly pestering him.

Mikey was flying around his brothers on his skateboard, picking off any extras that tried to escape and the drones, taking them down with his num-chuk’s. He didn’t even use any of his catchphrases.

Donnie was advancing behind, using technology to open all the doors they passed and hacking into the security cameras to try and find April and (Y/N).

When they finally reached the centre, Donnie opened the door and the brothers charged in. What they saw made them freeze. Laying, on the floor, completely still was (Y/N).

April was above her, strapped to a device, sobbing as she watched the footclan poke at (Y/N). Next to them, with his arms crossed and a disappointed frown on his face was Baxter Stockman. He didn’t even acknowledge the brothers, he just stared at (Y/N).

“Well that was unexpected, I didn’t expect the procedure to kill her.” The statement alone was enough to shake Mikey out of his frozen state. With tears in his eyes, a battle cry ripped from his throat as he charged towards Baxter Stockman.

Baxter turned towards Mikey with a sigh and a wave of his hand was all it took before foot clan soldiers descended on Mikey, a dozen of them forcing him to the floor.

The others were quick to follow. Leo and Raph freed Mikey and the trio started to attack those around them.

Casey and Vern went after Baxter who had managed to leave himself exposed before he darted out of the room.

Donnie ran over to April and hacked into the device holding her up and freed her. April immediately ran towards (Y/N), her fingers desperately searching her neck and trying to find a pulse.

Donnie was next to April in an instant, placing a small device on the girl’s neck, Donnie quickly went to work. The machine on his arm came to life in sync with the device. It was faint, but there was a heart beat there. (Y/N) was alive. Donnie sighed in relief and a stray tear ran down his cheek.

The other made quick work of the foot clan members and ran over to join Donnie as he carefully picked up the (H/C) haired girl. “She’s alive,” he told his brothers, watching as their shoulders sagged in relief.

Casey and Vern arrived not long after, each of them hugging April. “He got away,” Casey told them, he had set traps for us and we watched his vehicle drive away before we could even think about getting out of them.

Leo nodded solemnly, “then we have our next mission.”

Raph clicked his knuckles, “find Baxter Stockman and make him pay.”

*****

The brothers, April, Casey, Vern and you all managed to get back to the lair without incident. Splinter was waiting and told the brothers to let you rest in the spare room. He made April tea to calm her nerves.

He saw her tear streaked cheeks the moment she arrived. Whatever happened had upset her. His sons were very jumpy, each eyeing up the shadows and jumping in your direct any time even the slightest sound was made.

Splinter made them all settle on the sofa’s and turned to April, “what happened?”

April took a shaky sip of her tea, “I was about to unlock my door when I was jumped, I barely had to chance to fight back before they drugged me. From what (Y/N) told me, they did the same to her the moment she was left alone.” The brothers tensed at her words, each wondering how they could’ve prevented it if they’d of ignore you telling them to leave. “I woke up in a cell, (Y/N) was there. We’d barely been awake when Baxter Stockman arrived. He told us he was getting revenge for what we did, and he planned on using me and (Y/N) to do it then he drugged us again.”

Unable to listen anymore, Raph growled before standing up and storming to the gym, needing to get rid of his growing rage. He couldn’t beat Baxter up, so a punching bag would have to do.

April watched him go before continuing, “when we woke up again, we were strapped to those machines. They were set up to inject us with purple ooze,” they held their breath as April prepared herself for her next words, “they injected (Y/N) just before you arrived.”

In an instant was Donnie on his feet and running into the room they left her in. Donnie went to work quickly the moment he skidded next to her bedside. She was asleep, a frown covering her features and a few groans escaping her mouth.

Donnie scanned her, setting her scanner to try and find the purple ooze. April was right, she was full of it. The preliminary scan showed that it had bonded to her DNA, so why hadn’t she changed?

Donnie turned, prepared to go to his lab for more equipment when he noticed everyone in the doorway. Their eyes were wide and full of concern. “My son, is she going to be alright?”

It took everything in Donnie not to cry, “I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”

Chapter Text

More efficiently than the brothers had ever worked before, they had doubled the defences around the lair. It was probably over kill, but it was needed for the brothers own peace of mind. Donnie had set up a monitor bracelet specifically for you as you hadn’t woken up yet. If you woke up, showed any signs of changing (from the Ooze), hell, even if your pulse went up, he would know.

They were even too scared to let April out of their sights. Which is how they got into this predicament…

After a few hours of waiting for results, building defences, forming a plan to hunt to Baxter and the shock of the last couple of hours simmer down, everyone had finally started to settle in the living room. April, however, was exhausted. She wanted to go home, cry a little and sleep for a week. But she had work tomorrow, so she’d just go home and cry. The brothers were less than keen for her go.

April crossed her arms and huffed, glaring at the brothers, “I want to go home.”

Donnie pushed his glasses up, “April, that’s not the wisest choice. We don’t know what else Baxter might have planned. It’s too dangerous right now.” April rolled her eyes, she always seemed to forget how stubborn the brothers were. Maybe it had something to do with their shells.

“I’m going Donnie. Now, are you going to let me go freely or tie me up like Baxter did?”

The brothers all flinched, but it was Mikey that let out a slow whistle, “did that burn feel good April?”

April sighed, her shoulders dropping and forced herself to stifle a yawn, “no Mikey. But I just want to go home. Last time I didn’t make it to the door. This time, you guys can make sure I’m back at my place safe and sound. Tomorrow, I’ll start looking for a new apartment to make sure that they can’t come after me.”

Deciding it was time for his input, Splinter stepped out of the shadows, “my sons. I know what happen to your new friend (Y/N) is hard. But you must not stop it allowing others to live their lives. Learn from your mistakes. For that is all that they are.”

Leo dropped to one knee, his entire body so tense he’d need months of meditation to even think about relaxing again, “but master, this was more than a mistake. This is a person’s life. There can be no mistakes with life.” Splinter smiled down at his eldest son, and slowly, with such precision it looked it a graceful swan, raising it’s head to glance over a vast lake…

…he raised his cane and smacked Leo right on the top of the head. Hard.

Leo yelped in fear; glancing is father with eyes full of misunderstanding. He wants to think that his father is trying to give him some wisdom. But he didn’t understand what kind of wisdom involved a hard smack to the head.

“I don’t understand…”

“My son, were you hurt?” Leo nodded, “is the pain easing?”

“Well, I’m getting a bit of a headache-”

Losing his patience slightly, Splinter scolded his son as if he was just a young turtle again, “-yes or no, does it hurt as much as when I hit you – I mean taught you life skill?” Leo shook his head, “sometimes, people get hurt. A life is made from the accidents in them. It’s not wisdom in its truest form, but I was once introduced to the phrase ‘but did you die?’-”

“-dude, that was totally me that taught him that,” Mikey added.

Splinter shook his head, “and although crass, I think the meaning is rather relevant. If whatever occurred did not kill you, or those around you, it is then a mistake, not a tragedy. We cannot control what gives us pain or how, we just have to make sure we are able to heal from it, learn from it.”

Leo bowed his head and thanked his father for his wisdom.

Mikey released a long, almost silent, “OH!” from the corner, and leaned over to whisper to Raph, “did Splinter literally knock some sense into Leo?”

Raph glanced at Mikey with wide eyes and grumbled, “I think so.”

Leo stood to his full height and turned to his brothers and April, “Donnie, get as much security tec as you can carry. We’ll make sure April is extra secure as we’re taking her home in 20.”

Donnie nodded, running off to his lab to try and gather as much as he could. From hidden cameras to motion sensors to panic buttons in every room. He thought it may be seen as too much, but it’s better to be prepared than sorry. With time to spare, Donnie was back in the living room, an overly large backpack on his back. He nodded at his brothers to let them know he was ready. He was not worried about (Y/N), Splinter was here and there was enough security in the Lair to make sure even a flee didn’t get in without him knowing.

“Right,” Leo announced, “let’s go.”

*****

After April was home and safe, the brothers collapsed on the sofas. Their adrenaline was still high, as they were all still on alert. But, in the back of their minds, there was a more pressing matter. One that scared each of the brothers to their very core.

What were they going to do about the dream headsets?

Raph threw a throw pillow across the room and growled, “I guess I’m going to have to be the one to discuss the elephant in the room,” Mikey glanced around for said elephant, “what are we going to do now she’s staying here?” Realising there wasn’t actually an elephant, Mikey nodded his head in agreement.

Leo sighed, “well, we can’t outright tell her we stalked her through a computer reality thing.” As much as Donnie wanted to correct his terminology, he stayed silent, listening to his brothers.

Raph rolled his eyes, “no shit Leo. Thanks for the input. What I want to know is, what do we do with the headsets. We can’t use them anymore, she’ll ask questions.”

“Then the answer is simple,” Leo stated, “we don’t use the dream headsets for as long as (Y/N) is here. Besides, as long as she’s here, we have a better chance to get to know her. See if the person created by the programme is real or if she was just that, a programme.” Leo glanced at his brothers, before he stopped at the sight of Mikey’s scrunched eyebrows. “What is it Mikey?”

“I just…dudes, we have no idea how long (Y/N) is going to be here for. She’s from the real world. She’ll miss it when she’s down here for too long. Donnie made the headsets to help us experience the real world. I don’t think it’s fair we keep that from her.”

“I agree,” Donnie added, “they weren’t originally there to stalk (Y/N) with. It was just a coincidence.”

Leo nodded thoughtfully, “alright. Then how about his. We never tell (Y/N) what we see in the headsets. We lie. She is too vulnerable right now to hear the truth, it’s too much. But, if she’s here longer than…let’s say three weeks, well introduce her to them. Sound good?” Leo watched as all of his brothers nodded and felt relief wash over him.

“My sons,” Splinter sighed, as he entered the room, “remember, she is still a living breathing person. Do not spend all your time comparing what you think you already know. Use this time to get to know her.”

All four brothers stood and bowed deeply for their father, “yes Sensei.”

“Good, not get some sleep, you’re going to need it.”

*****

As quietly as he could (which, for a ninja, was pretty quiet), Donnie slowly opened the bedroom door to your makeshift room. He watched your slow deep breathes for a few seconds, allowing the action to calm his nerves before he pulled out his tablet. He quickly scanned through the latest vital updates before tucking it away again.

You were fine.

Nothing was wrong.

You hadn’t been changed by the Ooze.

But why?

Donnie watched you once more. Your face was so peaceful. For the first time that evening, he felt himself smile. Let tomorrows problems be just that. Tomorrows problems. Donnie pulled the door shut before heading to his room. He was going to need the rest to solve tomorrows problems.

“Hey!” Mikey called out, intercepting Donnie as he made his way to his room, “how is she?”

Donnie smiled and nodded, “she’s doing good. Really good.”

Mikey gulped, “any…” Mikey couldn’t find the words. But then, who had the words to ask if their crush had been turned into something by the purple Ooze.

“Changes?” Mikey nodded, Donnie shook head, “nothing yet. Her vitals are good, and she looks the same.”

Then, came the next hard question, “why?” Then Mikey’s eyes widened as he realised just how bad that sounded. “I mean, it’s not that I want her to change or anything, but like, the Ooze, it’s bad stuff man. Like really bad you know. And I just-”

“-Mikey,” Donnie sighed, “it’s alright. I was wondering the same thing.”

“So you don’t know? Is this a good or a bad thing Donnie?”

Donnie sighed, the need for sleep growing as his head began to swim with questions, “I don’t know. But I will do everything in my power to find out.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, the brothers all slowly wandered out of their rooms to the living room. Donnie put in some pop tarts. Mikey ate some leftover pizza. Leo had some fruit. Raph made some tea and toast. No one said a word as they each wordlessly completed their morning tasks before they dropped to the sofa. You wouldn’t need to hear the say to know that none of the brothers had a peaceful night. Their heads all full of what-if scenarios.

“Good morning my sons,” Splinter greeted as he came in and boiled the kettle, “it is a fine new day.” When he only got grumbled and mumbles as responses, Splinter finally turned to really look at his sons. “You all look awful.”

“Thanks,” Raph commented, “you’ve got great bed head going on too Sensei.” Splinter rolled his eyes at Raph, before opening the fridge door. He pretended to rummage around while he smoothed out his untamed locks. He quickly pulled out the milk and continued making his tea.

Donnie was staring at the un-moving words on his tablet, which was delicately balanced on the table, so that he could watch the words without being disturbed.

Health Status – Normal

Ooze Status – Active

Abnormalities/ Changes – None

Wake Status – Asleep

“Any updates?” Leo asked, as he read the information on the screen.

“None.”

Raph and Mikey sat up straighter, Raph swallowed a large mouthful of tea before he spoke, “so does that mean-?”

A blaring beeping sound resonated from the tablet. Raph and Mikey shot up from their spots and crowded around the tablets. One tap from Donnie and the word ‘UPDATE’ flashed along the top in bright red, bold letters.

Health Status – Normal

Ooze Status – Active

Abnormalities/ Changes – None

Wake Status – Waking…

The brothers glanced at each other for a split second before they all ran to the bedroom.

*****

You awoke with a start. Your dreams filled with the horrors of the day before, a kidnapping and painful injection with the purple ooze, Dr Baxter, standing over you, doing an overly dramatic laugh as your body twisted and contorted, as you became a hideous monster. Each dream ending worse than the last. Immediately, your hands flew to your face, feeling for any abnormalities. But your skin felt normal, even the small scar was still there.

You stretched your hands out in front of your face and twisted them, searching for black nails, blue skin, webbed fingers, or tentacles in place of fingers. But there was nothing. You sighed in relief until a new fear shook you to your core. You’d heard the stories; you knew what was supposed to happen. But, why hadn’t it happened to you?

While you were thinking, unconsciously stroking your smooth, un-scaly skin, you just decided to thank the universe that nothing did happen. You were relieved to be normal, to be yourself, but you were no fool. You knew something had to have changed. You thought back to thousands of superhero/sci-fi movies and programmes. If there wasn’t a change on the outside, then something might have changed on the inside.

Quickly, you flung out your hands and waited to them to catch on fire or for ice to shoot from your fingertips. But there was nothing. You sighed in relief before flinging your legs from the bed and placing them on the floor. If the design of the room was any sort of give away, you were in the brother’s lair.

Almost as if they could read your thoughts, the brothers burst into the room, each falling over each other to try and get through the door first. You watched with wide eyes as they all, eventually managed to get in. Each of them shouting out ridiculous reasons as to why they should be in the room first.

‘I need to make sure she didn’t miss me too much!’ Mimi

‘I’m the leader, I need to make sure she is comfortable in our home.’ Lee

‘I’m thinking about knitting her a scarf and I need to see what her favourite colour is.’ Raphael

‘I need to check her vitals.’ Donnie, although you supposed that one wasn’t a ridiculous reason.

But, before you could tell them to calm down, an alarm sounded, and the brothers all stood rigid. Their eyes turned towards Leo.

“Donnie, stay here. You two, we’re heading out.” Aside from Mikey sending you puppy dog eyes, they quickly left, with almost practiced precision, they got through the door and were heading down the hallway before you could even utter a goodbye.

Donnie quickly tapped a device on his arm, and the alarm stopped. You turned to Donnie and smiled slightly. His eyes quickly glancing up you and down.

“Sorry about that (Y/N). But, at least it’s not quiet.”

You nodded, “it’s alright. It’s kind of like Déjà vu.” You remembered when you were first bought here, and the bickering that ensued after your shell ride with Leo.

Donnie took a few steps forward and looked slightly uncomfortable, “right. So, um, how do you feel?”

Gulping, you nodded, “I feel fine. Strangely enough.”  Is it strange if I’m scared to know but I still want to know what happened?”

Donnie quickly approached, crouching down in front of you and grabbing your hands, “it’s okay to be scared (Y/N), it’s just being human.”

At his words, you couldn’t help but let a tear roll down your cheek, “human. A strange choice of words considering the situation at hand.” Seeming to chock on his own tongue, Donnie coughed violently before standing back up.

“Anyway, the best way to know is through blood tests and some scans. Aside from monitoring you though, I wasn’t comfortable doing anything else without your consent.”

You smiled lightly at Donnie, “that’s fine,” Donnie turned to leave, signalling with a wave of his hand that you should follow, “oh and Donnie!” He stopped, turning around to face you. “Next time, just run the tests, I don’t mind.” Donnie nodded quickly before turning and walking out of the room. You quickly stood, letting out a long groan as you stretched your limbs, and followed Donnie. It was a short walk to his lab. Donnie was quick to rummage through draws and cubby holes in the walls, trying to find the right equipment. You wandered around and sat in a free chair nearby.

“I won’t be a moment,” Donnie called out, as he ran into a different section of the room, out of sight. You smiled at his antics before you turned your attention to the thing on your wrist. It looked very similar to your watch but you knew that had been taken when you were kidnapped. You shivered at the thought, as dark images flashed before you. You quickly realised your eyes were shut and you forced yourself to open them.

Donnie quickly bounded around the corner and smiled widely at you, waving a bag of unknown supplies in his hand, “I found all the stuff!” But, one look at your face and Donnie quickly realises there’s something wrong. He speeds over to you, and, much like before, he crouches in front of you grabbing your hands as his ‘thumb’ rubs soothing circles on the back of your hands. “What’s wrong (Y/N)?”

Your lip quivered as you swallowed the words you’d desperately been trying not to say aloud, “why Donnie? Why didn’t I change?” At your words a tear rolled down your cheek, Donnie reacted quickly and pulled you into a tight, comforting hug.

“Shhh, it’s alright (Y/N).”

You shook your head into his ‘chest’, “no it’s not. I like being the way I am Donnie. Even if I always wondered why my hair wasn’t shiner or my body ‘better’. But now, now I just want to be me!”

Donnie, realising there were no words to truly console you, rocked you gently in his arms until you calm down. The action unusual for the large turtle but he liked it all the same. In truth, he’d never be able to do this if it hadn’t happened in the dream scenario once.

Eventually, when you stopped crying and pulled back from his arms, Donnie spoke, “right now (Y/N), I can’t tell you why nothing has happened. But, I promise, together, we will find out.”

Slowly, you leaned forward, pressing your foreheads together. You knew it was an intimate gesture, but right now you were feeling vulnerable and Donnie was there for you. Besides, you were sure all of the brothers had a thing for April.

“Thank you, Donnie.”

Failing to hold back his blush, Donnie nodded as he rose to this full height, “right. Now for the tests.”

*****

You read through the notes over Donnie’s shoulder, an hour and bit after all the tests had been completed.

“So, the ooze is in me, but it’s dormant?” You asked again, unable to believe your luck. The ooze had bonded with you, but it didn’t react, it merely settled.

Donnie nodded, “I will need to run more diagnostics to understand why but, yes. It’s dormant.”

You hummed your understanding, watching as the computers in his labs run through multiple tests of your blood. You watch a jumble of words scroll down the screen so fast you couldn’t understand what you were reading. Then, a new word appeared, ‘NEGATIVE’ flashing for a few seconds before the screen carried on as before.

“Are the extra diagnostic tests going to take long?” You ask, watching as more ‘Negatives’ appear on the screen.

Donnie gave a non-committal shrug, “probably, I don’t really know.” He turned to you and held out a hand, not quite realising what he was doing until he watched your confused face as you took his hand. Still, unwilling to seem weak, Donnie gripped your hand firmly and led you from the lab and to the living room.

“If I’m honest (Y/N). I don’t want to leave you alone right now. Are you alright hanging with Splinter until I finish my other tests?”

“Of course!” You didn’t like the thought of being left alone either, your thoughts turned dark very quickly.

In the living room you both found Splinter, making tea and grumbling as he soothed down his hair in the mirror near the kettle. Splinter turned when he saw the two of you approaching and smiled softly.

“Ah, my child, how are you feeling?”

Before you could answer, Donnie quickly interjected, “oh, I’m fine, but I think I’m getting a headache from over thinking.”

Splinter laughed lightly, “I was asking (Y/N), my son.”

Donnie’s eyes widened before he nodded in understanding, “oh course you were. Anyway Sensei, do you mind spending time with (Y/N)? I don’t want to leave her alone.”

Splinter smiles softly, showing a wide row of sharp teeth, “of course. Would you like some tea my dear?”

“Yes please,” you let go of Donnie’s hand and walk to the large rat. You didn’t see but Donnie smiled softly before returning to his lab. Afterall, he did have work to do.

“Yorkshire, Green, Early Grey, Camomile…we may also have ginger, I think April has some coffee that she left here as well if you prefer that, what do you fancy?”

You giggled lightly, “um, I think I’ll have (type of tea or Coffee), please.” You quietly sat yourself on one of the island stalls opposite where he was making tea and observed him working.

“Ah,” he hummed, pulling the box from the cupboard, “good choice. You know, I used to be very limited with my tea collection. April, likes to spoil me and buy me different types to try now.” As he spoke, splinter poured the boiling water into each of the mugs, “milk or sugar?”

“(Yes – what and/or how many – No) thank you,” Splinter passed you the mug and you quickly cradled the warmth in your hands. “So, do you like your tea collection then?”

Splinter laughed lightly, “very much so, although, I did have a bit of an addiction once.”

“And tea helped you?” you enquired, blowing on the steaming drink.

“No, my addition was collecting tea. I had two whole cupboards of different types! It was a wonderful time. But, when I realised that what I had was an addiction, especially when I refused to give up space to allow my sons to store their own treats. So, I now have a shelf that houses all of my tea needs. Including teapots and mugs.”

You laughed lightly, from the smile on his face it was clear Splinter found the whole incident amusing, “I never though anyone could love tea so much.”

“That’s because you hadn’t met me.” The two of your laughed for a bit longer before you both quietly decide to spit on your respective drinks. Despite it being silent, you felt at peace and aside from a lingering thought in the back of your mind, you managed to relax. In the distance, you heard the sound of the sound of approaching footsteps, your head shoots in the direction of the sound, eyes wide in fear and worry. “Worry not my child, it’s just April,” he took a long sniff of the air, “I can smell her.”

You gave him a tight smile, but you could easily see the concern in his eyes. It was the same look Donnie kept giving you during the tests after you panicked when you saw a needle. There was always a strange look in the brother’s eyes, but now you were sure you’d see one thing in their eyes for a long time. Worry. Over you. Over what happened to you. Over what will happen to you.

April walked into the room shortly after and quickly made her way to you and Splinter, “(Y/N),” she started, voice filled with relief, “I’m glad you’re up and alright. How are you feeling?”

The sight of April though, reminded you why you were in New York, “OH MY GOD, April, what happened at work today?”

April held her hands up in mock surrender, “(Y/N), calm down, I sorted out the situation at work. I told them a family member was taken extremely ill and you were told it might be the last chance you get to spend any time with them,” you winced at her words, “harsh, I know. But I read your contract and it’s the only way you can get out of work for an extended period. You then have leave for a while, and if we need to extend it, then we’ll have to get creative.”

You nodded, sighing slightly in relief, “well, at least I don’t have to worry about losing my internship. Will it be extended?”

April nodded, grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge, “yep, but it won’t take long for this all the be dealt with.”

“How long, is long?” You ask, hope filling your heart that she meant you could go the end of the week.

April froze and glanced at Splinter, “I can’t be sure. But it shouldn’t be longer than a few weeks.” You nodded, thoughtfully, you could survive a few weeks down here. “But, when you leave, it will be safe (Y/N), I promise you that.”

“And I second that promise child,” Splinter added, then took a long sip of his tea.

All the commotions meant you didn’t hear the brothers enter until the door to the living room slammed open and the smell of pizza filled the room.

“Yo! Yo! Yo! We bought pizza,” Mikey called out. The three of you turned to the arriving brothers, watching as their eyes seemed to scan you. “(Y/N)! You’re up and about. Good for you girl!”

Raph hit him around the back of the head as soon as the words left his mouth, “can you get any more insensitive Mikey?”

Leo’s nostrils flared, “the two of you stop it. We need peace in this house!” The three continued to bicker as they made their way over.

April leaned forward and whispered in your ear, “you’ll get used to it.”

You raised a brow, smiling slightly, “I think I already am.”

Chapter Text

The atmosphere is light as the brother set down the pizza and start eating. No one mentions the incident or the fact that you’d woken up a few hours before. However, the brothers had been bickering the entire way over as to what was ‘sensitive’ conversation, they just decided to avoid the topic completely. When you were ready to talk to them about it, you would.

You witnessed Mikey eating an entire pizza, in less than one minute. It was strange watching someone savour every slice while he ate each quickly. It was a sight to behold. While Donnie and Raph fought over control of the TV, while Leo tried to compromise. Mikey, after finishing his pizza, got involved too. It ended with Leo shouting at this brother that he was the leader. After that, Leo was in the rumble as well, all four brothers rolling across the floor as they fought for control of the remote.

It was…nice. You felt human again. Aside from the arguing giant ninja turtles and the Rat that was making endless cups of tea.

Then reality came crashing back.

Donnie seemed unsure of himself as he approached the table, breaking away from his brothers. He fiddled with his hands as he sat down, his down downcast.

“So, um, we’re really excited to have you here (Y/N),” Donnie starts, “but-” at his words, the rest of the room turned their attention to the purple masked turtle.

“-it’s alright Donnie,” Leo sighs, taking a seat next to his brother, “I’m the leader, I should tell her.”

“You’re not kicking me out, are you?”

“NO!” All four brothers shout at once, their eyes wide with fear.

“We need to set the ground rules,” Leo clears his throat after his outburst, “we just don’t want you revealing our location.” You nodded your head. “First of all, Donnie will set your phone up so your location can’t be tracked. You can’t use social media-”

“-but I’m working on that,” Donnie adds quietly, sending you a wink.

Leo merely rolls his eyes before continuing, “- and you can’t leave suddenly. It needs to be planned with one of us nearby to make sure you’re safe.”

You nodded your head, slowly this time, “okay. Is that all?”

“Oh!” Donnie finally managed to speak, too ashamed that he shouted ‘no’ before like his more impulsive brothers and his head spinning from his uncharacteristic wink, “the room you woke up in before is now your for your stay. You might want to add some homey touches but I’m sure we can help.”

“Actually,” April added, a knowing smirk on her face, “I bought some bits from home and I also stopped by the shop for some extra supplies, most clothes and stuff. We can go through them if you want and anything, I can stop by your place to get anything extra?”

You smiled gratefully at April, understanding that there are some things girls need that boys don’t understand, “can I take a look at what you have?” You look at the brothers and they nod you along.

“You don’t need our permission to leave the room (Y/N), you are free to go as you please while in our home.”

You and April shot each other a look before giggling and standing. April passed you and backpack and in hushed tones, you discussed the contents before vanishing into the tunnels.

The brothers watched as you vanished into the tunnels, then, they turned to Donnie.

“Is she alright?” Mikey asked.

“What he said,” Raph added, with a small nod towards Mikey’s form.

“It’s difficult to explain. I’m not even really sure I understand it but I can explain it to you the same way I did for (Y/N).”

The three brothers nodded quickly in anticipation of the news they were about to receive, “we just need to know she’s alright Donnie,” Leo added. Even Splinter nodded his support, while he casually sipped tea.

“Well,” Donnie started, pushing his glasses closer to his eyes, “after (Y/N) woke up, I ran some more tests….”

*****

April sat on the bed, jumping slightly to get a feel for the mattress. She tried not to think about where the brothers found it but knew it would’ve been thoroughly disinfected. But the grey walls and concrete floor didn’t make the room seem very appealing. In fact, it reminded April of a story she once did in a women’s prison on bad conditions. Not pleasant.

“I wish I bought some paint,” she said aloud, “I would’ve thought one of the them would’ve spiced up the spare room.” You shrugged, just thankful that April managed to buy underwear in your size. She bought sports bras with simple sizes, but you weren’t going to be picky.

“I agree,” a new voice adds, Mikey, “this needs to be more orange. Like your favourite Ninja.”

April tutted loudly, “I would hate an orange room. You need muted colours to help you sleep.”

Mikey’s shoulders visible sagged at April’s words, “dude…that’s cold.”

“She’s right though Mikey,” Leo commented as he too, walked into the room, “orange is a bad colour for a room. Maybe…and I’m just speculating here, a nice blue?”

A scoff echoed throughout the room, “aren’t girls more into pink? And that’s just a lighter shade of red…” Raph let his words trail off, a knowing smirk on his lips.

Donnie, however, was faster on his feet, “shouldn’t we let (Y/N) decide before we try to put ideas in her head?”

April slowly rose from the bed, a smirk covering stretched across her face as she turned to you, “I’m going to pick up some paint now. Any colour ideas?”

You shook your head, “I don’t mind, but not grey?”

April smiled, “you read my mind. Need anything boys?” Each of the turtles shook their heads, trying to convey with their eyes that April should pick a colour relating to them as she walked past them.

She didn’t take the hint.

“Bye April!” Mikey called out behind her, “love you!”

“Cute,” you comment as you, sit down. Mikey quickly turned on his heels, eyes wide as he realised what he had just said. He had been trying so hard to keep from portraying any love towards April. His first love. But (Y/N) was his true love. If she thought that he was interested in another woman. The results would be devastating, horrendous and soul crushing.

He could never recover.

He could never love again.

He would be…..

FRIENDZONED!

“Yeah Mikey,” Donnie commented, “cute.”

“So cute,” Leo added.

“The cutest,” Raph smirked.

His brothers had realised his mistake. He was done for.

“I’m surprised all of you didn’t say it. Don’t you all see April as the sister you never had?”

Realising he wasn’t completely cut off from ever loving again, Mikey nodded his head in agreement, “yeah guys!” Then he used it to his advantage, “it’s because they’re all emotionless Ninja’s (Y/N). I have tried sharing my love of everything with them, but they aren’t the same as you and me.”

You smiled widely at Mikey’s theatrics, “I don’t think anyone loves like you Mikey. I see the way you look at Pizza.”

And just like that, Mikey was back at square one. His brothers were no better off either, so he supposed it was a win, win.

You glanced at the walls of your room, the bag of essentials April got you and your bed. Not much, but it was better than nothing, “it’s a shame I can’t go shopping for more things to add,” you comment aloud.

“We could help with that,” Raph replies, nodding to his brothers, “we all have our own rooms and lot of stuff we’ve collected over the years. We’ll be happy to share. Right guys?” His brothers nodded, each of their eyes clouding over in thought. What could they give that would be better than each other? “We’ll go and pick our stuff now and bring it right back?”

“If you’re sure, you don’t have to go without for me. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Nothing,” Leo speaks softly, “you could ever do will make you a burden. Now, I have an idea of what I can give you. What about you guys?”

“Nothing is better than my idea,” Mikey states, proud of his ‘ingenious’ idea.

Donnie and Raph share a look before leaving, Leo and Mikey quickly scuttling behind. Each of them wanting to be the first to give you there’s.

As all of the brothers, leave however, the each notice their father standing in the hall, “I guess I need to find a housewarming gift.” He slowly turned, with all the grace of a giant Rat and wandered to his room.

*****

Mikey was quick to gather his items and ran back to your room. His prized skating posters. Mikey knew from experience that painting the walls was never enough. You could still feel the grey concrete underneath, see it in your mind. It was cold and dark, like Raph’s sense of humour.

Which was why the posters were perfect.

They’d be a constant remind of Mikey and add a splash of colour to the room. Of course, all the posters had a main colour theme of orange.

Mikey gathered his posters, and ran back to his precious pizza topping.

*****

Raph new exactly what he was giving (Y/N).

A few months ago he knitted an entire blanket when someone dumped a whole dustbin of wool. It was warm, cosy and she would use it all the time. A perfect reminder of how he was more than just a wall of muscle.

Inside, there was a man… who could knit.

He had talent in ways that people could never image.

Besides, didn’t women always like men who were good with their hands?

Being on his bed, the blanket was quick to grab before Raph was heading back where he came.

*****

Leo went with a less complicated version compared to his brothers. The floors here are cold and ruthless.

Leo, much like his Father, had his entire room covered in rugs to take the edge off. He knew you wouldn’t accept every rug he owned. So, he had to improvise.

It was then he realised he could help you in two ways. A yoga mat could keep the chill off the floor, and it would give (Y/N) time to think through her life. He could spend more time with her to teach her yoga and they could bond.

It was perfect.

Leo made sure he picked up one that was blue before he made haste to your room. He was sure mikey just ran past, a flash or orange paper trailing behind him.

*****

Donnie was not too sure what to give you. He just knew his needed to be technical. He thought about what you might want. Then he realised you were going without everything to live. Everything you were used to in the comfort of your own home. He knew, without a doubt, you’d have a TV.

He couldn’t give you a computer, but he could give you a hacked TV. With every channel and service.

He picked an old but good monitor and quickly got to work; he knew the others gifts would not be that complicated. But it would show (Y/N) what he had to offer.

*****

Splinter was not as concerned as the other. He just wanted to make sure you were comfortable. Tea made Splinter comfortable, but he knew he couldn’t give you that to put in your room. Splinter did like his cushions. With a non-committal shrug, Splinter picks up two decent cushions before moving joining his sons in his guests’ room.

He wanted to make sure they allowed her time to settle if she needed it, after all, she’s been through an ordeal already.

*****

Everyone seemed to arrive back at the same time, Mikey and Raph busting through the doors like someone set their butts on fire. They arm full of their ‘house warming gifts’.

Leo walked in after, glaring at his brothers.

Splinter walked in next, colourful throw pillows under each arm. The smell of incense following him in.

Donnie slowly shuffled in, a large monitor in his arms.

Before anyone could say a word, a whipping sound filled the room, along with a flash of blue before the ‘rug’ settled to the ground, “it’s a yoga mat. It will keep your feet warm and give you somewhere to meditate.”

Before you could say thank you, Mikey was pushing past Leo and started plastering the walls with a lot of colour posters. Most of them had the main theme of orange and all of them had something to do with skateboarders.

“There you go my precious pizza topping, something to make the walls seem less dull.” You could barely open your mouth before a loud sound echoed through the room followed by bright flashing lights.

“I have just set your TV up (Y/N), for when you want some alone time.”

Raph coughed loudly before a flick of his wrist sent the blanket flying high in the air and landing on your bed, “I knitted this. I thought you would like it. It gets cold down here.”

You waited a moment, “thank you guys. These are all such lovely gifts and I promise, you’ll get them back.”

At that moment, Splinter walked deeper into the room, placing his pillows on the end of the bed, “you are our guest child. We want you to feel at home.” The brothers nodded their agreement, “you did not come here under the best circumstances, but we can make sure you stay comfortable for the time being. Besides, I’m sure my sons have already come up with a plan to find Baxter and to stop him?” Splinter turned his eyes to his sons who stood straighter at his words.

“We have,” Donnie answered, “I am running a programme that is checking security cameras and anything to do with Baxter as we speak. If he’s on the grid or mentioned well find him that way.”

Leo took a slight step forward, “we have word on a foot clan soldiers hideout. We were planning a raid tomorrow. Our aim was to get some info and see if there is any computers there Donnie can hack.”

You smiled up at the unusual family, “thank you. I know Baxter will be covering with his tail between his legs knowing you guys are after him.”

Raph cracked his knuckles, “oh believe me, he’s going to pay.”

Then, a loud rumble echoed through the room, like a cry for help, Mikey started to rub the back of his head sheepishly, “anyone want some pizza?”

The brothers started to argue about timing and then rough housing each other out of the room. You turned to Splinter and sent him a wide smile, “never a dull day in the sewers?”

“Home, Sweet, Sewers,” he laughed, before following his sons. They went silent as the sound of something smashing echoed through the tunnels. Splinter then grumbled under his breath before leaving the room, “that better not be my good mug.”

Wrapping Raph’s blanket around your shoulders, you followed him and the brothers.

You wanted to see exactly what happened to them.

Chapter Text

You watched over the top of your mug as Mikey and Raph got told off again during their training. Their bickering a distraction for the other two who were meditating quietly.

Yesterday, the brothers raided the foot clan soldiers hideout, but found no evidence of Baxter. They did find a lead on another possible location. Until they could narrow it down, however, there was not a lot they could do. Every day Donnie would give you updates on his programmes progress. Baxter had been spotted twice but vanished. He had created an entire programme to try and find Baxter.

The man that ruined the life you were trying to build. It is not that you were ungrateful for everything the turtles did. You just didn’t imagine spending part of your life, no matter how small, hiding in the sewers from an evil scientist. It sounded like a cliché story. A bad one at that.

The brothers were looking into his research and possible ways he could vanish or even what he was working on to help himself hide. Then there was the next question, was someone hiding him?

But they couldn’t find anything.

Until then, you have to wait.

That didn’t mean your time in the sewers was boring. From eating a near endless supply of pizza, to drinking tea with splinter and watching the antics of the brothers: you forced yourself to relax and enjoy your time away from the complications of modern life. The smell wasn’t too bad, and they made sure to keep it warm. The TV had channels you’d never even heard of and the sofa was very comfortable.

They were a family. A very close family and they has accepted you into their home and their shenanigans with open arms. They had even offered to teach you some meditation techniques, or to teach you some defence techniques. But Donnie quickly reasoned you hadn’t even had a week to recover since to incident. But next week you start your ninja defence training with the secret ninjas of New York.

That left you here, sitting in silence as you sipped at your tea.

When you finished your tea, you decided to go and check on Donnie’s programme. If it was finished you might be able to save Mikey and Raph from another scolding, if not then at least you’d stretched your legs. You took your mug with you and tip toed out the room. Too scared placing the mug down would disturb the calming silence. While you were sure your thick socks muffled the sound of your steps, Splinters ears twitched in your direction as you left the room.

The programme was still running when you entered the dark room. The white writing rushing across the inky black screen faster than you could read it. You huffed when you realised it wasn’t finished. Sipping from your tea as you slowly backed out of the room.

As you did, your eyes glued to the screen in case they changed their mind and found something. Something kept catching the light. A stream reflecting off many small metal pieces. Donnie had once told you that nothing dangerous was never left unattended with Mikey around, so you approached the new object. Upon closer inspection you noticed it was covered in wires and reminded you of a swimming cap. It was rather large, large enough to fit on a large Mutant Turtles head.

You reached for it and slowly pulled it out the draw. It was a thick rubber.

“This is weird, even for Donnie,” you comment aloud, as you tried to figure out what this could do. How it could help the brothers with their everyday lives.

Maybe it was supposed to wipe people’s memories?

Maybe Mikey tried to make something, and Donnie couldn’t bring himself to throw it out?

Or…maybe it was a head electrocution device?

“Oh (Y/N),” speaking of Mikey, his voice echoed down the hall followed by his thundering footsteps. You smiled as you went to make your way out of Donnie’s workroom. “Where are you?” He sung, his voice light and happy.

“I’m in Donnie’s workroom,” you called back as you lifted the cap closer to your face, inspecting what appeared to be very intricate work. More light filled the room as Mikey pushed open the door. You were expecting a dramatic greeting. Him to start singing a song in your honour. A large bear hug…But instead, you heard a small, tiny squeak.

You turned to Mikey, removing your eyes from the strange device. He was frozen. His eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. Your movement seemed to trigger something in him as he started to smile. A very forced smile. Still, he didn’t say anything.

“Are you okay Mimi?” He nodded slowly, but his eyes weren’t on you. They were on the strange device in your hands. “Do you know what this is?” He didn’t move. Then, as if possessed, he quickly backed out of the room and started screaming his brother’s names. Confused and worried you’d done something wrong; you slowly followed the youngest turtle.

You were scared you’d touched something dangerous. Something so dangerous Mikey even know not to mess with it and now…A sinking feeling in your gut and the accursed item in your hand. You forced yourself forward. A small, dark voice in the back of your mind told you they were kicking you out. A lump formed in your throat and you could feel the urge to cry build in your eyes. The brothers had been your rock these past few days and you managed to ruin it because you decided to snoop/

When you entered the living room, the brothers were in a huddle and Mikey looked like he was about to pass out. Raph was pacing. Donnie and Leo were talking in quiet hushed whispers. Splinter was observing from the kitchen, the kettle softly boiling behind him. He noticed you in the doorway and sent you a soft smile. The once calming atmosphere was now tense, and you caused it all.

You took a deep breath before you spoke, “did I do something wrong?” The brothers turned to look at you, before three of them turned to look at Donnie. Donnie pushed up his glasses and his eyes homed into the rubbery device in your hands. “Donnie?” Your voice broke as you said his name, and his eyes shot to your face, watching the tears form and your lip start to tremble.

What had you done wrong?

In an instant he was moving towards you. You loosened your grip on the cap, preparing it to be ripped from your hand. Instead you were ingulfed in warm and covered in a dark shadow, a hard surface pressing against your face. You were squeezed tightly, the action comforting as the tears started to cascade down your cheeks.

He was hugging you, tightly. As if he was afraid you’d vanish if he let go.

You hugged him back just as tight.

“You didn’t do anything wrong (Y/N),” he whispered, “please don’t cry.” Together you blocked the doorway and Donnie’s large form hid you from his brothers. You took a few deep breath, the smell of oil, metal and something to akin to old books flooding your senses.

“Okay,” you managed to whisper back, still sniffling slightly. You were still worried you’d done something wrong, a fear that wouldn’t leave until you were told what you were holding and why Mikey reacted like that. He still didn’t let go and you were glad he didn’t. You let your forehead rest on his plastron.

The others were silent too, the whistling of the kettle filling the silence.

Donnie let out a large puff of air, “I’m gonna to let go now,” he whispered, “we’ll tell you exactly what that is before we beat up Mikey.”

“Don’t beat him up Donnie,” you whispered back.

“For making you cry,” he signed, his hand running up and down your back, “he deserves a bruise or too.” Then, as quickly as the hug started, the two of you parted. With your arms now free, you could wipe away your tears.

The other brothers were very close to you and Donnie. So close, you’d almost guess they were trying to get in on the hug too. A green hand reached for you, and wiped away a tear before it had a chance to roll down your cheeks. Leo smiled at you softly before he pulled back his hand.

“Right,” you sigh, “are you going to tell me what this rubber cap is for or not?”

*****

You were all settled on the sofa, one of Raphs kitted blankets on your laps, as you fiddled with the strange device in your hands.

“I guess this all started about 6 months ago,” Donnie started. “It’s…difficult down here. We hear about a lot and see a lot, but we can’t realistically do anything. There is a whole world out there, and we are resisted to the few miles of sewers we call a home. We love our home, but we’re isolated.” You nodded, feeling Raph and Leo tense beside you. Mikey was sitting in the corner, forced by his brothers to take a timeout for scaring you.

“Can I sit on the sofa now?” He asked timidly

“NO!” The other shout at him, causing Mikey to grumble from his corner.

“Continuing the story,” Donnie said, pulling your focus back to him, he was sitting in front of you, “I tried to invent a device that allows us to experience the world. The thing we’ve missed because we’re different,” he gestures to the cap in your hand, “that’s when I created the Dream Scene Head Sets’. Their official name however is, the Neuro-Transmitter Sensory Scenario Head Sets.” He takes a deep breath, his eyes shooting to Leo briefly before they focused back on you. “Through these we are able to experience the world. They’re complete prototypes and aside from a few…side effects, they were perfect. We got to experience life on the outside.”

You glanced at Mikey and then back at Donnie, “that’s it? Then why did Mikey freak out.”

Donnie rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, “well…I…-”

“-we sorted all agreed to keep it a secret between the four of us. It’s embarrassing to admit that we sit around hallucinating because our lives suck,” you head shoot to Leo. Before you could talk yourself out of it, you reach out and grab his hand.

“I don’t think it’s embarrassing to want to live your lives. You just found a unique way to do it You also don’t need to be scared to tell me these things, we’re friends right?”

While you felt relieved a small part of you wasn’t convinced. Would Mikey really react that badly over a small secret. When you went to glance at Mikey only to see his corner empty.

“MY LIFE IS OVER! ALL THE PIZZA IS GONE! HOW AM I EVER GOING TO LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT PIZZA!” Actually, Mikey being overdramatic sounds right, you turn to watch the orange masked turtle slowly sink to the floor, his hands reaching up into the sky. Unaware that Raph was slowly approaching from behind, “THE LIGHTS ARE FADE- OW! Who hit me?”

“Quit being dramatic Mikey,” Raph grumbled, “just order some more.”

“Right on dude,” Mikey cheered, before he pulled a phone from his belt, quickly typing in a number and strolling towards the closest exit. “Steve, my man, it’s Mikey…” His conversation trailed off as he wandered down in a tunnel. You approached the kitchen as the brother mingled around, searching for food while they waited for Mikey to order the pizza. As you sat on one of the stall you realised you still had the cap in your hands.

“Hey, Donnie,” the three brothers and Splinter all gave you their undivided attention, “can I help you improve your Dream Scene Headsets? I have experienced a lot more than you guys; I can you tweak it to make it more accurate or give you some ideas?”

Donnie nodded, “I would like that, what about you guys?”

“Sounds good to me,” Leo smiled.

Raph only nodded, but you didn’t miss the small smirk he shot in your direction.

“GUYS, PIZZA IS ORDERED! LET’S GO!”

But none of them moved, and by instinct you knew what to say, “I’ll be fine. Just make sure Mikey doesn’t eat all the pizza.”

Raph cracked his knuckles, “he’ll have to fight me for it,” then he was off, like a thundering bull as he ran after the sounds of Mikey’s singing. Donnie soon following after, after a quick wave goodbye.

Leo stayed briefly behind, “thank you (Y/N).” Then he was gone. His running a mere silent patter against the concrete. You never got a chance to ask what he was thankful for.

That left you with splinter, who was already pushing a mug of tea towards you. You smiled your thanks as the two of you settled into a comfortable silence.

What a strange day.

Chapter Text

The brothers had been working hard trying to track down the foot clan.

Day and night, they had been relentless in tracking down the people that forced you into hiding. Not that they minded you being there, but they wanted you to feel safe when you returned to your normal life.

It was a weird concept. The thought of returning to a ‘normal’ life. Going to work, ordering a takeout that wasn’t pizza and speaking to family and friends on those rare days you had energy.

You had fallen into a routine of sleeping through most of the day and staying awake all night. You had realised that the brothers were staying up 24 hours to spend time with you, only for you to go to bed when they needed to stay up. You had felt guilty when you realised, so you kept to their routine. You could always change back, and this way you get to spend more time with the brothers.

Sometimes, however, a certain turtle likes to break the routine...and the rules…and likes to just lounge around.

I’m sure you can guess the turtle in question.

Today, started out as normal…

You were on the sofa, watching the monitor on the wall signalling the setting sun. Behind you, the brothers were preparing for their nightly patrol. They were bickering amongst themselves, eating pizza and warming up in preparation for the night ahead. You turned to watch them as they prepared, catching the eye of an orange masked turtle.

“(Y/N)!” Ignoring his brothers and bounding over to you, a wide smile stretched across Mikey’s face, “you look so lonely over here, I’ll come and sit next to you.” Mikey jumped over the sofa to the cushions on the other side. You were jolted slightly but it didn’t bother you. The first couple of times you thought you were going to fly into the ceiling, after your stomach settled and you realised your entire body didn’t go flying you calmed down.

“I’m fine Mikey, besides,” you glance over to his brothers who were watching the two of you closely, “don’t you have to get ready?”

Mikey’s eyes sparkled, as if he wanted you to ask that very question, “you see, angel, the foot clan are too scared to come out because they know I’m on patrol. These day’s it’s like going for a leisurely stroll at night, with a few back flips of course.” Mikey sat up straighter and puffed out his chest proudly as he boasted his strength against the foot clan.

Your heart ached at the thought of being able to safely walk at night without fearing for your life. To smell fresh air and to see the stars. You couldn’t help the sad sigh that escaped your lips, “sounds nice.”

Mikey, ever diligent at keeping people happy, noticed the sudden change in mood, “are you alright? Want me to sing you a song?” You briefly wondered how many people had taken him up on that offer.

You shook your head, laughing lightly, “I’ll take a rain check on the song but I’m fine. I just realised how much I missed doing certain things.” He watched your face closely, looking unconvinced.

“What do you have planned tonight?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he leaned forward.

You shrugged, “I think Splinter and I are trying a new tea April got him. There’s a movie marathon on tonight too. I’ll watch that until you guys get back.”

Mikey rubbed the back of his neck, “that sounds…fun.”

“It’s relaxing and it’s safe Mikey, that’s all I can ask for.”

Mikey blew a raspberry, “relaxing and safe is boring. You need a live girl! I tell you what,” Mikey leaned impossibly closer you and, again, began whispering, “an hour after we leave. Meet me right here.”

“I wasn’t planning on leaving but what about your patrol?” You whispered back.

“I’ll worry about that,” he winked, giggling.

“WHAT ARE YOU TWO WHISPERING ABOUT?!” Raph yelled, his loud footsteps indicating that he was storming over.

“We are whispering sweet nothings to each other!” Mikey quipped back, quickly jumping away to avoid the hand that was about to smack him around the head. “Don’t be jealous of our love, embrace it! We have!” He laughed as he ran away from Raph, who was fuming as he ran after his brother. The two vanished down a tunnel. Mikey’s laughter echoing loudly.

Leo approached you slowly, shaking his head at his two youngest brothers, “what did Mikey whisper to you?”

You shrugged, not wanting to get Mikey in trouble, “I think it was something about Pizza but he said it so quietly I couldn’t hear him.”

Leo sighed in relief, “so no sweet nothings? Not even a little bit of flirting?”

You couldn’t help but giggle, “not that I heard.”

After Mikey and Raph calmed down the two strolled into the room. From different entrances. You wanted to ask how, especially as both were dead ends…and none of them were the same tunnels the brothers ran down originally.

Now settled, they gathered to the side and Donnie gave them his statistics and the run down the trends he’d found. Leo quickly came up with a plan, the lack of movement meant the brothers were splitting up and watching from the shadows to cover more ground.

Waiting for one of the foot clan to slip up and dealing with petty crime.

As they left the brothers called goodbye to you, each of them waving and promising to see you soon. Mikey was the last out, mouthing something you couldn’t make out, but you nodded all the same. You guessed it was something to do with him meeting you here in an hour. Even as they prepared to step into the night to fight crime, the brothers started bickering. Their whispered echoes filled the tunnel.

Splinter, who was once again preparing some cups for tea, turned to you with a smile, “tea?”

You smiled and nodded, walking over to him, “what flavour today?”

“Jasmine,” he hummed, “I tried it a few years ago, but it was old, from the rubbish and very stale. I’m looking forward to trying a new packet.” You laughed lightly at him, your heart aching at the thought that he had to dig through the rubbish to find some tea. “I supposed our usual tasting will have to be cut short tonight, with Mikey coming back.” You opened your mouth to question how he knew when you realised it was splinter. If he didn’t know from experience, then he heard with his amazing hearing. So, your shrugged as you slid into your stall and waited for your expertly made tea.

*****

Mikey smiled widely at you as he appeared exactly an hour later, he said nothing as he grabbed you by the hand, pulled you from the sofa and proceeded to drag you through the tunnels surrounding his home.

There was no explanation, no hello, just action. Which was very unusual for the orange masked turtle, who usually never stopped talking, singing or both. You did wonder if he waited outside for a while to be exactly an hour or if he had impeccable timing.

But the deeper you went through the sewers, the more suspicious you became. Where was he taking you? Finally, Mikey stops and pushes open a door which was covered in so much rust it was a deep orange. It squeaked but held strong as it swung on its hinges.

“I’m not saying that this is my tunnel,” he says finally says, his voice filled with glee as he pulls you into the darkness. There was a faint buzzing as you walked further in. The lights on the walls coming to life. “But I definitely like to think it is.”

Then the lights fully turned on, illuminating exactly what you would describe as Mikey’s Tunnel.

The entire tunnel looked like a long skate park. There were ramps, jumps, ledges, dips and stairs. There was even a podium for the top medallists. All of it covered in various graffiti, only, instead of tags or badly drawn artwork, it contained a series of paintings, clearly created with spray paint and beautifully so. Some big, some small but all of them showcased something Mikey loved. You can’t even imagine how many pizza pictures there were. There was even a large pineapple with a cross over it. He even painted each of his brothers, Splinter, April and Casey. It was very clear what Mikey loved and he made sure it was represented.

Spotlights lit up the room, making the artwork shine and the small tunnel seem like a stadium.

You were in awe of Mikey’s creativity.

A lot of time and effort went into this.

“This is so awesome,” you gasped in amazement, “I never knew you were so creative Mikey!” You turned towards the turtle in question, to find him watching you with an unreadable expression. His face seemed to drop as his eyes seemed to shine in wonder.

Before you could question it, his usual carefree smile returned and he jumped on the balls of his feet before running to get something.

He ran around the room, moving some of the jumps around and flipping an old skate board in his hands as he did before eventually coming to a stop in front of you.

“(Y/N), my Angel, we are here for a skating lesson. And there is no one in the world that’s better to learn from then the master.”

You smiled widely, “when is Splinter getting here?”

Mikey pouted, “no! I meant me!” He reached forward, carefully taking your hand in his as he led you deeper into the skating paradise. “By the end of the evening, you will be doing jumps like a pro. But, first! Safety!” Stopping near a box, Mikey flicked the lid off and let go of your hand as he proceeded to rummage through. He then pulled out a helmet, elbow and knee pad, all of them orange. “These will do,” he hummed to his self. “Right, stand still and use my head for balance,” before he squatted in front of you and proceeded to start putting on the equipment.

Mikey tap the inside of your leg lightly, encouraging you to part them slightly. As if by instinct you shuffled them apart slightly. But now you were all too aware of the turtle crouching between your legs.

“Mi-mi,” you squeaked, face going red, “I can do it myself you know.” Mikey ignored you as he firmly strapped on your knee pads before jumping to his feet.

“I know that Angel, I just needed to make sure myself,” the look in his eyes was so innocent you started to berate yourself for your own dirty thoughts. Then, he raised the elbow pads, “elbow time!” After you were fully protected to Mikey’s standards, you could start your training.

“Now, first you have to learn to balance on the skateboard, the trick for beginners is to make sure that you keep your foot here for now.” Mikey positioned your dominant foot on the skateboard and bent your knees slightly. “Remember to bend your knees, keep your back straight and lean.” You nodded, despite being still you were nervous to start moving. You were tightly holding onto Mikey’s upper arm as he made sure you were in the best position.

Mikey pats your hand, drawing your eyes from your feet to his face, a comforting smile covering his features, “I won’t let anything happen to you, so just relax and try your hardest.”

You nodded, loosening what you now realised was a tight grip on his arm, “so I just push myself off?” Mikey nodded his encouragement. Wanting to give yourself some more movement, you moved your hand to his and started pushing the skateboard ahead.

It was a slow process, painstakingly so. You fell off more times then you stayed on but eventually you were at a nice pace as you pushed yourself along the flat concrete. You turned to Mikey with a wide smile, impressed you made it across the tunnel without falling off and maintaining the same pace.

“I DID IT!” You yelled with glee! Using the other trick Mikey taught you to kick up the skateboard and catch it in your hands.

Mikey cheered with you, probably going a bit overboard as he ran towards you, picked you up and spun you around, “now, for the finale of the night, do you want to go riding on my modified skateboard?”

You felt your eyes widen in shock, “I can’t use your skateboard. I’ll surely get hurt then.”

Mikey laughed, loudly shaking his head, “no, no. Not like that. I ride and I’ll hold onto you to make sure that you don’t fall off. But you’ll get a taste of what I like to call ‘Extreme Skating’.” You smiled at Mikey, unable from stop yourself from giggling at his antics. It was then you realised, his arms were still around you, he’d never let you go after spinning you around.

“MIKEY!” The two of you jumped as you turned around, to see Leo, Donnie and Raph at the door. Their faced furious as they stared down the two of you, more specifically Mikey. “You skipped patrol!”

Mikey shrugged, “maybe. But it was for a very important reason. (Y/N) was sad!”

Donnie face palmed.

“That’s no excuse Mikey,” Raph seethed through gritted teeth and cracking his knuckles, “and you’re gonna get what’s coming to you.”

You gulped, you knew he wasn’t talking to you but as Mikey was standing so close you felt like the glare from the three brothers was directed at you.

Before you could come to his defence and before his brothers could react, Mikey bent down and gave you a kiss on the cheek, “I loved spending some time with you today.” You gasped, hand going to the area as you turned to face him. But the only trace of him was the dust that had been disturbed by his running. Raph was quick behind him, yelling profanities as he raced after his younger brother.

You turned to the other two, your face burning from embarrassment.

“Are you alright (Y/N)?” Donnie asks, clearly his throat as he observes your glowing red face.

You nodded, “I’m fine I’m just a bit embarrassed is all.” Your eyes moved to Leo, who was watching you closely, his fists clenching at his side.

“Don’t worry, Mikey will be punished.”

You shook your head, “no, please. He was just trying to help.”

“What was he trying to help you with?”

You took a deep shaky breath, “I was feeling sorry for myself and Mikey wanted to cheer me up. I didn’t know he would get in so much trouble for skipping but I didn’t really try to talk him out of it either.”

Leo nodded turning on his heel and walking out of the room.

Donnie sighed, walking over to you as he rubbed his temple, “did you have fun with Mikey?” You nodded, smiling widely, “that’s good to hear. I’ve been trying to make you a cap for the dream head sets but their not quite finished yet. I’m gland Mikey cheered you up.” Donnie glanced around before leaning a bit closer, “between you and me, I think we’re all just stressed, and we all want a day off.”

You nodded, “how about you and I have a day off together then soon?”

Donnie nodded, “I would like that.”

The sound of Mikey’s voice echoed down the tunnel, “awesome, fresh Pizza!”

“MIKEY!!!”

You met eyes with Donnie and laughed lightly, “want some pizza?” You asked him, he nodded lightly and the two of you walked back down the tunnels. You had no doubt Raph would be relentless in the pursuit of his brother tonight. Leo would be trying to figure out how to punish Mikey without it being too serious and Donnie would be trying to keep the peace.

A normal day when you live with mutant turtles.

At least you had fun sneaking around with Mikey.

Chapter Text

It was quiet tonight, peacefully so.

After the fun with Mikey the other day, the brothers had been watching their younger brother closely. They ordered pizza with pineapple that night just to punish him. As a picky eater, he claimed the taste of the pineapple lingered even when he took it off. You had never seen someone eat a pizza so meticulously to avoid the ‘icky pineapple taste’.

While you all ate your (Favourite Pizza), Mikey was reduced to tears with what was ruefully dubbed the ‘pineapple horror show’. You felt incredibly guilty, he was only trying to cheer you up, but the brothers and even splinter would have none of it. Splinter played the fool, but you did wonder if he’d have overlooked it if Mikey was never caught. Despite his good intentions, Mikey still had a duty to protect the city. And you had to promise to let the brother know if you found out Mikey was skipping work again.

Splinter only winked at you as you made the promise.

The next night, the brothers returned to normal, acting like the incident never happened.

You were currently in Splinters room, learning how to meditate. You were in your comfiest clothes, in a room filled with pillows and the calming aroma of incense. You had a cup of tea beforehand and stretched per your instructors’ recommendations. With your body relaxed, you could focus on your mind.

“Breathe deeply,” Splinter’s voice filled the calm space, “keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.” You adjusted your position slightly after noticing you had begun to slouch, “perfect. Well done.”

Your eyes were closed, but you were all too aware of the mutated Rat sitting in front of you. Watching your every move and scrutinising your ability to mentally relax. If your current thoughts were any indication, you were failing miserably.

“Now, meditation is difficult process that requires practice. So, for now, I will talk you through a relaxing scene and with practice, you will be able to find your own place without guidance.”

You resisted the urge to nod, solely focusing on your breathing.

“Excellent. You’re doing great, now-”

The sound of a door smashing open broke the calm atmosphere and made you both jump as you opened your eyes just as the panicked scream of Donnie filled the air, “SENSEI!” Thundering footsteps followed, and panicking bickering filled the air. You shared a look with Splinter before you both jumped to your feet and made your way out of his room.

You were not prepared for what you saw.

Ralph and Mikey were carrying a limp Leo carefully across the room on a makeshift gurney, while Donnie scanned him, monitoring his vitals, and mumbling his findings as he went. Leo himself had turned a sickly, pale shade of green. His exposed skin covered in scratches, bruises and cuts; his right hand was swollen; a particularly nasty cut on his forehead continued to dribble a continuous stream of blood down his head. The gurney was too short, stopping just before his knees, letting his legs swing unhindered in the air, barely an inch from touching the floor.

Splinter pushed passed you and towards the brothers as you stood in frozen shock.

Splinter quickly guided them into the corridor with the rooms and into closest room, the medical room. In all your time here, you had never seen them use it aside from your first night. You had managed to avoid it and the memories that resurfaced with it, but now it seemed unavoidable as you willed your legs to move and follow them in a stunned silence.

The little room was filled with three giant turtles and a rat, so you stopped by the door. By the time you had reached the room, they had settled Leo on the bed and were preparing to deal with his injuries.

It was there your eyes were drawn to Leo.

He was so still. His breathing shallow and fast, his face twisted in pain.

“What happened?” Splinter asked, as he gently pressed a hand to Leo’s head. The gash now bandaged. But blood started to seep through, turning the pristine white, a deep red.

“He was ambushed, we were about to meet as scheduled halfway through the patrol. We saw Leo jump onto a building a little over 3 miles away and was heading to reach us, and then we saw the shadows attack. There were about 30 of them. One of them knocked Leo around the head and knocked him unconscious. We reached him just as they tried to drag him off, so they scattered,” Ralph recalled as Mikey tried to recreate the scene from behind him, carefully kicking and punching around the medical equipment. What he was not careful of was his brothers, he manged to simultaneously kick Ralph and Punch Donnie and briefly froze in position, his pose much like a child imitating superman, as the reality of what happened settled in.

“Whoops,” he squeaked, watching as his brother’s furious eyes turned towards him. Quickly, Mikey righted himself and ran towards the door. He shuffled past you and ‘hid’ behind you, resting his chin on your shoulder. “You look worried my precious pizza topping.” You felt your entire body seize at his words; your eyes still stuck on Leo’s frozen form. Your tongue felt swollen as you were unable to answer him, “(Y/N)?”

Ahead of you, Donnie and Ralph shared a look, glancing briefly at you and Mikey. Their eyes shining with worry as their faces twisted into a deeper frown.

Splinter coughed, drawing all eyes to him, “this is a small room my children and I think Leo should have some tests in peace. You can all come and see him once Donnie has finished his check-ups.” Hands wrapped around your waist and gently led you from the door. Ralphs bulky form blocking your view of Leo as you were led away from the medical room and towards the living room.

You wondered if you looked like that when you were ill, if the brothers were standing around like this, watching you take slow, shallow breaths. The thought sent uneasy shivers down your spine. No wonder they were so cautious around you when you woke up, in addition to having to rescue you from the experiments, they had to watch you lay there. Unmoving. Not know what had happened or if they could even help.

Still your eyes stayed trained on the doorway, as if Donnie would burst through at any moment to let you know he was going to be alright. That he was awake and asking for…

“…Do you want to watch some TV?” You shook your head, signalling your ‘no’. You weren’t even sure who asked.

“He’s going to be alright (Y/N), Leo barely stops. This won’t even deter him. If anything, he’ll want to get his payback tomorrow.”

“Okay,” you hummed quietly, your eyes stilled trained on the doorway, waiting anxiously for news. You weren’t sure how much time passed, Mikey and Raph continued to make small talk but your one worded answers weren’t helpful or encouraging anyone.

So, in a silent show of comfort, Raph grabbed your hand in his own large one and started to rub soothing circles in the skin. Mikey, with your back partially to him, began playing with your hair. Your nerves began to ease, and you felt yourself relax slightly.

It was then, the door opened, and slow footsteps made their way down the hall.

As Donnie came out you bolted upright in your seat, his face grim but sure, “Leo is stable. He’ll be fine in a few days, but I think it’s best he rests now,” his eyes catch yours, “you can see him if you want.” You don’t remember your feet moving, but as you stepped through the door, you felt a lot of the tension leave your body as you caught sight of Leo. Leo was a much better colour, his cuts bandaged, and his scrapes looked clean.  He looks like he was sleep peacefully, no longer in pain.

“Oh Lee,” you sigh, grabbed a nearby chair and pulling it up to his bedside, unable to resist grabbing his hand. To feel that he was alright, that his hand was warm. Your eyes moved to the bedside clock; it was nearly 4am. The usual time the brothers returned from patrol. It was then your eyes started to scan the rest of the room, remembering when you first saw the area when you woke up in the room.

Your body shivered at the unpleasant memories, and you forced them back, you couldn’t leave Leo alone in here. Donnie quietly opened the door and poked his head through the gap.

“He’ll be fine (Y/N), maybe you should get some dinner and go to bed,” Donnie sighed, walking into the room, his eyes scanning the machine around him.

“No Donnie. I won’t leave him. I don’t want him to wake up alone.”

Donnie sighed tiredly, “do you need anything?” You were thankful he didn’t argue with you.

“I’ll be alright just please let me stay.”

“I’ll hold the others off until Leo wakes up, but I make no promises after that.”

You smiled at the purple masked turtle, “thank you Donnie.”

*****

As Leo opened his eyes, his first thought went to his throbbing head. He recognised the cracked concrete ceiling and the sounds of the dripping from the pipes, so he knew he was safe. As he went to raise a hand, he noticed it was restrained. Slowly, as to not aggravate the incessant throbbing, he moved his head. What he did not expect to see was the (H/C) locks covering his hand and part of his arm, pressed down by the face that was hidden among the locks.

“She stayed there all day,” a voice whispered into the darkness, Donnie emerged from the door as it swung open silently and approached with a tired smile, “she refused to leave you side. Something about not wanting you to wake up alone.” Donnie waved his tablet, “and before you say anything, I got an alert your vitals were changing. I wanted to check up on you.”

Leo’s heart fluttered, the machine beeping widely in response. As the figure on his hand began to stir, he took slow deep breaths, and it calmed to normal again.

“I tried to get her to move somewhere more comfortable, but after she fell asleep I couldn’t bring myself to make her move more.”

“What happened after I was attacked?” Leo asked, ignoring Donnie’s musings for a moment as he tried to recall why he was bandaged up in the first place.

“You should rest now, they got you good, we can talk later.”

“Donnie,” he growled, “don’t avoid the question.”

“I’m not. It’s not like you can do anything right now and she was in so much shock the last thing I want is for (Y/N) to have a panic attach when she wakes up and finds you missing.”

Leo only sighed, “fine, but this conversation isn’t over.” He glanced down at his hand and went to reach over to you, only to notice that his only free hand was bandaged. “This is going to be a long day.”

Donnie shook his head in laughter as he left the room to tell the rest of his family his brother had woken up and was back to his old self.

*****

A few hours later you woke up, relief filling your chest at the sight of Leo sitting up and relaxing peacefully. His eyes were trained on the tablet ahead of him, and his brows furrowed in thought. At your stirring, Leo glances down at you, straightening slightly as his eyes met yours.

“Morning sleepy head,” he smiled.

Immediately, your eyes filled with tears, as you sit up. Donnie had told you he was okay, shown you the proof in his tablet and the others had assured you he had been worse. But you’d never seen any of the brothers in such a state. Seeing him smiling and awake made your hear soar as the relief he was okay, for the most part, finally settle in.

“Why are you crying!” Leo’s panicked voice breaks your thoughts, his body turning towards yours slightly.

“Sorry,” you sniff, “I’m just glad you’re alright.”

“I need to train harder if you think this could stop me,” he joked.

You lightly knocked his shoulder, “maybe you should Lee. Making me worry like that.”

His smile tightened and his eyes softened, “I’m sorry (Y/N).”

You shook your head, “just worry about getting better.” You stood from your seat, stretching your arms above your head as you did. “Are you okay, do you need anything?”

“I’m okay for now, I’m under doctors’ orders to stay in bed for the next day or so. But Donnie gave me his spare tablet. Do you want to watch a film? I was going to watch a documentary earlier, but I didn’t want to wake you.”

“That sounds like fun! It’s been a while since I watched something educational. Mimi is a bad influence with the TV.”

You settled into the chair next to Leo again as he loaded the documentary. You didn’t catch the name but dramatic music started to play as vast views of landscapes across the globe filled the screen.

‘The world is full of vast wonders, from the top of the earth to the depths of the ocean.’ You noticed as the presented started to speak, the strange angle of the screen caught your attention, most of it pointed towards you.

You eyed the bed, it was larger than most hospital beds, meant to accommodate the large size of the brothers. Mutant Ninja Turtles did not fit the description for any items in the world. So, you stood again, “shuffle over Lee.” Leo only nodded, but didn’t question your request, shuffling as far as he could to the right, creating a small space next to time. Not big enough for a turtle but perfect for you, “perfect!” You sat onto the bed next to him, putting more weight on your hip closest to him. Leo froze as you pressed yourself into his size, “sorry, am I hurting you? Are you okay with this? I just thought it would be easier to watch this way.” You didn’t add how you wanted to physically feel he was alright now, even just this short moment, his body pressed against yours relieved any additional worried you had.

Leo nodded slowly, gulping, “yep. I’m fine. It might be more comfortable if I put my arm around your shoulder.”

“Sure, okay,” you hummed, as Leo slowly moved to place his arm around his shoulder. He adjusted the blanket toom settling it over your legs as you moved deeper into his side.Yyou noticed the film was paused. Once you were comfortable, glanced up at Leo again, “ready to press play?”

“Sure,” he squeaked and pressed play. The documentary turned out to be about different natural hiking locations across the globe, but you were sure Leo gasped lightly at the mention of hot springs close to a camp in Indonesia. But he said nothing and after some re-assurance from the turtle, you were assured he wasn’t in pain. At some point Leo fell asleep, his arm still wrapped tightly around you, periodically squeezing you a bit tighter as if assuring himself you were alright.

You were so relieved he was alright, and you vowed to do what you could to help the brothers that risk their lives for others. For you.

*****

“That’s it,” Raph growled, “I’m breaking them up!”

A tail wrapped around his wrist, “you will do well to remember that this is a comfort they both need. It’s a reminder for Leo to recover and for (Y/N) that Leonardo is going to recover,” Splinter said.

“Well I don’t like it,” Mikey pouts again the wall, “he gets to say he was the first one of us to sleep with (Y/N)!”

Raph scoffed, “and you honestly thing that was going to be you anyway. She’ll want to be with a real man, pineapples!” Mikey gasped in shock, ready to no doubt to defend his honour at being called his most hated pizza topping before a raised paw stopped him.

“I mean it my sons. If either of you step into that room to wake them up, you’ll deal with me.”

They both nodded quickly, as Donnie pushed past them and into the room, snickering as he did so. But, with his back to his family, his eyes sadly took in the scene in front of him. It was obvious she would choose Leo. No one ever likes tec support, he chides, they also go for the heroes. The Leaders.

He allowed his eyes to scan your sleeping form one last time. Your fingers lazily running again Leo’s plastron as you were tightly tucked into his side. The two of you fit perfectly and Donnie couldn’t see himself fitting into that mix.

“I don’t care anyway, I’ll just skip and woo her with my skateboarding skills again,” Mikey loudly announced as he reached the end of the hall.

“LIKE HELL YOU WILL MIKEY!” Raph shouted followed by a loud bang and a high-pitched shriek.

Donnie could only roll his eyes and smile, at least some thing never change.  

Chapter Text

With bored eyes you stared up at the ceiling.

The darkness of the room shrouding where you knew it to be, but still your eyes followed the hidden pipes as you waited to fall to sleep. You were tired but despite your minds needs for sleep, your body seemed to hum with a burst of unwanted energy.

You flipped your blankets to the cool side, turned onto your side and then your front, counted turtles sheep, conjured your wildest daydreams and still, sleep evaded you. Your mind was numb, but a recent conversation with Splinter came to mind, ‘tea, is known for calming the mind but your mind teaches it to calm the body…eventually’.

Tea.

I need tea.

With a single thought, your body rose from the bed and into the chilly air of your room. You pulled your blanket over your shoulders, slipped your slippers onto your feet and began the slow walk out of your room.

With your thick, knitted blanket wrapped around your shoulders, you quietly shuffled down the hall and into the living you. You yawned silently as you did so. It was dark and silent. The dripping of the pipes and the occasional flash of the little green lights that shows all the systems were running. It was weirdly comforting, a constant in your life. One you had quickly become accustomed to.

What you weren’t expecting was the flash of the TV as you entered the living area, while all the brothers were noticeably bald. You had developed the ability to determine them based on head shape from a distance. You were caught out once when they swapped masks and only nodded in response.

In your defence, you had not long moved in and the colour co-ordination was helpful. You wondered if it was a childhood habit that they kept, all their stuff was colour coded and everything that wasn’t was fair game. Maybe you should ask or get your own colour to add to the collection.

The brothers, despite their co-ordination, were still individuals that didn’t need separating based on colour.

You had seen and even heard Donnie wandering the halls at night, muttering as he tried to work out the solution for his latest invention.

Leo always went to bed early.

Mikey put himself into a pizza coma every night and waddled slowly from the sofa to his bed. Groaning for a few moments before snores could be heard from his room.

Raph kept to himself and would often retire while knitting away, emerging the next morning with a new scarf or pair of socks for you.

So, trying not to disturb the sleepless Turtle as the familiar sound of needles clicking barely above the quiet mumblings coming from the TV, you not-so-gracefully decide to tip toe into the living room. Like a child afraid to be caught outside of her bed at night. But, despite knowing you’d likely be more than welcome to make a midnight cup of tea, your heart started to race at the thought of being told off.

“Mikey,” Raph grumbled without even looking at you, a slight sigh pausing the sentence, “it’s like I told you before. We’re out of pizza.”

You resisted the urge to giggle and tried to put on your best Mikey voice, “But pizza is life dude! Without it, I might like, actually die!” Your tone was too squeaky and then suddenly too deep as your tried to overcompensate. But, you felt the dialogue was on point, you were just missing a skate board flip and to be suddenly eating a piece of pizza. An orange accessory would help too. If you had planned ahead and were feeling extra a bald cap.

You had never seen Raph move so fast.

He tended to move slowly, as if doing anything other than what he wanted was a huge annoyance. If he’d been anyone else, you imagine he’d be heavy footed, but his ninja training made his stomping abnormally silent. Only when he wanted you to hear his thunderous footsteps, could you feel the earth shake around you. This was usually when he was chasing Mikey, like a raging Bull, unable to be tamed and enraged by seeing the colour red that he was always surrounded by.

You had once wondered if he was angry for a reason. If you had done something in particular to annoy him. You then realised he was the type of person that found everything annoying. His was an old man at heart. He’d already decided what he liked and wasn’t willing to deviate. All affection was shown though actions and he much preferred the quiet life.

“It’s you,” he whispered, and his eyes widened with another emotion. You wanted to say shock, but you highly doubted he thought you were Mikey. But a second late he shook his head it was gone, the look replaced with slight concern. “Not tired?”

“No, I feel tired, but my mind has other ideas.”

“What are you worried about doll?”

“Doll?” You laughed, “that’s new.”

Raph only huffed, “it just came out but I think I’ll keep calling you that. If you don’t mind.”

“As long as you don’t plan on dressing me, but I don’t mind the occasional tea party.”

“Deal,” he chuckles, he pats the sofa next to him, being mindful of his knitting as he does, “if you want, you can join me. I always struggle sleeping, so if you’re ever up before sunset. I’m here.”

You thought it odd, never having heard him before but again, he had optional silent feet.

“Sure,” your thoughts of tea momentarily forgotten, you padded over to the largest of the turtles and set yourself down next to him. Your eyes caught sight of late-night ads showing a craft shopping channel. “Interesting choice.”

The sound of the needles continued next to you, as you both turned to face forward. “Nothing is ever on with the channels we get, and I didn’t feel like bad sci-fi or horror films,” he grumbled, eyes still focused on his knitting, “you also didn’t answer my question.” You pulled your blanket tighter around your shoulders as you watched Raph knit. The speed his fingers and the needles moved were mesmerising as the stitch got longer, “(Y/N)?” He called to you again, pulling you from your strange trance.

“Sorry, what question?”

“What are you worried about?”

You shook your head, turning to face the turtle, “nothing, but I haven’t been doing a lot lately. All that energy left after a long day of doing nothing.” Strangely though, you felt at peace for the first time this evening and started to relax.

He chuckled but said nothing as a comfortable silence fill the air as you turned your attention to the TV. A chilly draft wafted through the room, making you shiver and shuffle closer to the body heat that was Raph. He stopped his knitting, taking the own blanket that was covering his legs and moving the fabric, so it was draped across both of your laps. He didn’t say a word as he then continued knitting, as if nothing had happened.

“Thank you,” you whispered, worried about ruining the peaceful moment you were having with him, but as the shape of his knitting became less like a scarf or a pair of socks, you couldn’t help but wonder what the crafter of the family was making, “what are you knitting?”

“I saw a pattern online that I’ve been trying to follow for a few days now. I’m trying to figure out a difficult stitch.”

You smirked at his response, “you didn’t answer my question.”

Raph grinned at your words, only nodding, “touché, doll. It’s a toy.”

“That’s so cute, what type?”

Finally, his eyes turned to your as his hands slowed down, “it’s a secret, but I’ll show you when I’m done if I’m happy with it.” He got quieter as his face twisted in concentration and for the moment you were content to watch him. A peaceful silence passing between the two of you, just content to be in each other presence for the moment.

It was then you noticed the flashing blue reminder on the screen – REMINDER: To Love a Ninja. Playing now.

“So you did have plans?” You teased, gesturing to flashing screen.

Raph glanced up lazily partly listening to you and the rest of him still focusing on his stitch to the point you felt guilty for disturbing him again. Should you just leave him be after this? Get your tea and run off to bed?

It was too late as Raph finally read the message on the screen. The wheeze you heard from Raph was probably the most high-pitched noise you’d ever heard him make and yet still deeper than anything out of Mikey. In his rush to cancel the reminder, he dropped his knitting, and accidentally pressed the accept button. It was so uncomposed, so human, you forgot he was almost always a hulking mass of anger and muscle.

Light music flooded the room and a pink glow settled over the two of you and cursive script appears and vanished from the screen as the opening credits began to play. Raphael froze with his hand on the remote, his eyes wide as he stared at the scene. Obviously, mortified, and embarrassed by the turn of events.

“Woah, I was teasing Raphael!” You tried to soothe noticing his rush to hide the reminder, but the damage was done, and it was then you noticed his heavy breathing and a slightly shake to his form. “Raphael?” You called to him, grabbing his larger hand in yours, “can you hear me?”

But he didn’t respond.

Only muttering, “Brussel sprouts” to himself in and endless loop and blinking uncontrollably. As if it would stop everything and pull him back to reality. As if he was waiting for the world around him to change and to wake up from his embarrassment.

“It’s okay big guy,” you say gently, keeping your hand in his and you work to move the blankets over your lap and placed it around his shoulders. You eventually ended up slightly bent in front of him, looking straight into his eyes as you did so. Making sure he could see you and focus on one thing. He calmed slightly but he was still unfocused and nowhere near how he usually was.

It unnerved you, seeing this side of him. You had grown used to a certain side of him, of his brooding and silent judgment. But, you had caused his panic and you weren’t going to leave him. Everyone has a bad day, and you needed to make your mistake right.

“If you can hear me, copy me, okay? A deep breath in for three,” you breath in, “and out for three.” You repeated this for a few moments, grabbing his hands remaining hand too. Squeezing them as you breathed in, and releasing slightly as you breathed out, but keeping your thumb rubbing soothing circled into the skin.

Eventually, his eyes focused back on you, and he immediately closed them, turning his head away as if he could escape the reality again.

“Can you please leave?” Was all he said, his voice so quiet you barely heard him.

You hummed in thought, “I don’t think that’s a good idea but if you really want me to I will.”

You didn’t move and he didn’t release your hands. His grip tightening a fraction at his own words.

But still, he didn’t look at you, his body wound tight with obvious tension. “You know, once, when I was in school, we had to give a huge presentation.” His head shifted, listening. “I don’t remember specifically the main topic was, but I know it was for English and I did mine on my favourite book at the time which was Alice in Wonderland. It didn’t help I was obsessed with the film.”

As you continued to ramble, he tried to sneakily open one eye to watch you, as if trying to figure out where the conversation was going.

You hadn’t quite figured that out yourself yet.

“I’m not sure if you’re a reader, but it’s a good book. Very whimsical but go in with an open mind and you will leave with your mind blown!”

His eyes were fully open and his head was turning to look at you full on, the tightness leaving his shoulder as confusion filled his gaze more. You could feel the questions in his gaze and his curiosity as you continued to ramble. Forcing his mind to think of something other than panicking, even of for a moment.

“I don’t remember if I did well but, when I did go to do my presentation, there was a girl who was so nervous to do hers,” his grip tightened again, as if worried about your next words, “she got terrible hiccups. Every time I tried to make a point or present a serious case she would loudly squeak in the silent classroom. I was so nervous too and ended up laughing at her and I caught her hiccups! That’s so funny right!”

“Has anyone ever told you, you’re weird doll?” he snorts, a small smile flickering at the corner of his lips. You nodded as you giggled. He didn’t add anything else, but his eyes looked lighter. Even as his hands tightly gripped you.

For the moment, you decided to say nothing. There was no harm to no one but Raph and if he didn’t want to talk about it you wouldn’t make him.

So you stayed, ignoring the ache building in your legs and showing your support for a mess you inadvertently made.

*****

Raphael thought himself a fool.

He actually thought he was in the headset! Why? Because it was all too domestic all at once. The late-night TV watching, while you snuggled closer and he began knitting. How many times had this happened before?

That stupid film.

He couldn’t believe when he’d seen it again. It was after he watched it last time, their lives began to change and now it was making his unravel. But still, even in this moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off you.

With the pink glow of the surrounding your head, making you seem like you were a gift from cupid. His eyes watching him with nothing but concern and worry. You shouldn’t need to worry about him. He should be taking care of you and giving you a care free life.

He felt pathetic.

Worst, this time he couldn’t escape the embarrassment. He couldn’t run and hide. Worse of all, he knew you blamed yourself but he was too weak, he needed to be strong. What’s the point in having all of these muscles if he couldn’t take a little emotion.

With a deep breath, he prepared to face you. He had been preparing for battle his whole life, he needed to look at you as the enemy for this moment and become indifferent. Only then could he face you.

But, as his eyes continued to stare into yours, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He only managed a weak smile before looking away again, gripping your hand tightly as if they were his tether to the world.

*****

You had an idea.

“Do you want to watch the film with me?” Raph only blinked up at you, “I know it seems silly. But I’m interested. I’m literally surrounded by Ninja’s. I wonder if I picked anything up.”

Slowly, you loosen one hand and began to pull away and you squeezed tightly with the other. You weren’t letting go, just moving away, slightly to the side and still within reach. Your eyes caught sight on a Ninja appearing on the screen, merging with the pink background as he stalked across the screen and into the film. He jumped across the roof of houses, his goal the obvious mansion on top of the hill, glowing in the light of the full moon, the ground and the houses below the roof tops, hidden in a thick fog that barely reach the top of the hill.

“I bet you that he falls in love with some kind of princess he was meant to protect,” you whispered as you took your place on the sofa and sat snuggly next to Raph. Moving his hand into your two.

His hands are softer than Leo’s.

You couldn’t help the comparison and you tried not to compare the size of Raph next to compared to what it was like next to Leo. Or even when Mikey pressed against you when he taught you how to skate.

No, you needed a clear mind and to help Raph remember this night as a bad night that went right. As much as it was a ‘night’ for the nocturnals around you. “You’re wrong,” he whispers back.

“Oh, and who do you bet?” “I think he has to kill someone, and it goes wrong. And he ends up falling in love with a poor farm girl who has to learn to love him despite his job after she nurses him back to health.”

You scoff, “that seems too cliché.”

“I’m sorry, what princess story isn’t cliché?” He was coming back to you, easing into the conversation. Raph shrugged the excess blanket off his shoulder, releasing your hand temporarily to adjust it accordingly. Cocooning the two of you together.

“They’re a dying breed. I haven’t seen a good cliché princess story in ages,” sneakily, you stole some from his lap too. Well, not very sneaky as you’re with a Ninja but he didn’t seem to stop you.

The conversation gently fades as move action appears on the screen, fighting ensues and the lone ninja is victorious. Onward, he continues his journey.

Raph leaned toward you, his lips ghosting your ear as he spoke, somehow deeper than normal and a hidden promise to his words, “Want to make this interesting?” You raise a brow at Raph, your heart thumping.

All you could think about, despite your best intention was Netflix and Chill. You berated your own mind but as your mouth went dry you found it difficult to reply. Considering the position, the two of you were in, you refused to blame yourself. Already mentally blaming the obvious rom-com you were watching.

“What did you have in mind,” you squeaked in response. He pulled back, a glint to his eyes.

“Whoever correctly guesses, no, describes the plot of the film, gets a prize.”

“Whatever the other wants?” You ask, before adding as you felt your face heat in embarrassment, “within reason Raphael!”

Holding up his free hand in mock surrender, he added, “the winner gets to ask the other a small favour. Just once, but no questions and it can be whenever they want.”

You shrugged; how bad could it be? “I’m in. You have a deal.”

*****

As the film went on, you finally started to feel tired. A few times you woke up from resting on Raph’s shoulder.

You needed to find out if you won.

You had no doubt that turtle would fib his way into a free no questions asked favour. But as the film came to an end, you could only look at Raph in shock.

He was right.

“Pleasure doing business with you Doll,” he smirked, leaning down and pressing for forehead against yours, once again causing your heat to flutter as he spoke to you in that deep hushed whisper, “Oh I should add, I enjoyed watching this film again with you.”

Again?

AGAIN?!

“Raphael, your dirty cheating turtle. The deal with we have to guess the plot. You knew!”

He hummed, “I believe I actually said describe the plot of the film. I took it back when I said guess.”

You couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Defeated.

Betrayed.

Indebted.

It was too much for one evening.

Slowly your stood, “you may have won this battle, Raphael,” you narrowed your eyes in playful mischief, tugging your blanket from his shoulder in your last act of defiance of the ‘evening’ “but I will win this war.”

As you left the room, your pride barely intact you didn’t notice the dreamily look that followed you until you were out of sight.

She’s coming again, was all he could think.

Chapter Text

It was mid-day; you had just got off the phone with your parents. A pre-arranged call so you knew to be up and now you are sluggishly making your way back to your room. The tunnels were quiet as everyone slept, and it was the peaceful comfort that lured you to your bedroom. A blissful haven of your things and your bed.

Over the last few weeks, more and more items had started finding their way to your room. Making it feel like a room and less like a university dorm when you first move in.

It had; fairy lights, multiple hand-knitted blankets, throw pillows, posters, a TV, books, and a warm, fluffy rug. It had a nice feel to it, homely. You have taken the blank canvas of the barren room and made it your own.

But, as you made your way to your room, the sound of fast tapping echoed down the halls. You paused, and for some reason, you allowed yourself to follow the sound. Until, eventually, you found yourself standing outside Donnie’s workroom.

You pushed the door open, cringing at the loud sound the door made.

Donnie’s wide, bloodshot eyes snapped to your form, “(Y/N)? What are you doing up?” His voice was soft and tender, like a parent speaking to a child in the middle of the night. You couldn’t help but notice the tired strain in his voice.

“I could ask you the same thing Donnie,” you yawned, your eyes homed in at the clock in the walls, “in less than 5 hours you need to be on patrol.” You walked into the room and next to the turtle, gently grabbing his hand before taking a few steps back, “to bed with you workaholic.”

Donnie’s eyes widened and his face took on a vacant stare, “Donnie?” As he allowed you to pull him up and out of his seat, “Donnie?”

****

Donnie couldn’t help it.

How did his programme make the fake you act so much like the real you?

You had said the same thing to him during one of his scenarios. He had one specifically set up so that he could practice writing a thesis on his technology like a professor would. Fake days he spent in the scenario, creating all sorts of ideas at peace and without any disruption. No need to eat, sleep or leave his office.

He had been playing that scenario for days and was making great progress when ‘you’ burst through the doors. Frantic and face full of worry.

“Donatello! You better have a good reason for staying in your office with no contact?”

He jumped to his feet, feeling like a young turtle again. An excuse building within him before he realised, he didn’t need to give one.

When he thinks back to the moment he fell for you, this scenario always flashes in his mind.

“I’m sorry, who are you?”

The fury in their eyes made his limbs twitch with the need to pop back into his shell. But he stood his ground. He had not fought and trained every day of his life to back down with one hard glare. Otherwise, he’d of succumbed to Raphs whims a long time ago.

But as quick as the glare came, it softened and heavy tears began to fall, “Is this your sick way of saying you want to break up with me? You’re just going to pretend I never existed?”

His legs moved before he could stop them, his hand awkwardly hovering over their shoulder. He didn’t know how to comfort girls. A brotherly punch on the arm, a kind word mixed in with an ancient proverb or a cup of tea was the most comfort he had ever been given. But this, crying! Should he get a tissue? But that would mean walking away. Could he explain he was getting a tissue first? Would it be too insensitive to speak at this moment? Should he hug her? He didn’t even know her name? Should he take off his glasses and pretend he was so tired he didn’t recognise her voice?

“Well?” She asked, her body shaking as she started to cry harder, croaked sobs escaping every few seconds. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“No?” I don’t really know you anyway. “I mean, No, No I’m not.”

She settled slightly, her eyes flicking towards his still hovering hand, “what’s wrong with your hand? Don’t you want to touch me now?”

His hand was stiff but he forced it down and gently held her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, “I’m sorry. I got caught up in my work. I didn’t think-”.

“We can both agree on that. You’re one of the smartest beings in the world Donnie but you do act stupid. You’re not living secluded from society you know; you have responsibilities!”

He didn’t know what to say, “I’m sorry.”

She grabbed his free hand, smiling tiredly at him, “You’re going to break my heart one day Donnie. But how can I say no to that adorable face.”

“People seem to do it a lot,” he huffed under his breath.

That was the first time he saw you in his dreamscape. After that, you never left.

****

“I’m sorry,” he yawned tiredly, pulling himself back to the present, “I got caught up in my new invention.”

“That’s no excuse, Donnie. Honestly, you’ll have me worried to death at this rate. I had no idea you stayed up so late. Figuratively speaking of course,” You were persistent in your tugging. Pulling him towards the door and likely towards his room.

“I just have one minor adjustment to make.”

Your hand loosened its grip slightly, eyes appearing so wide as they stared up at him in thought, “Just a minor adjustment?” This was his chance! To break free and continue his work! “If it’s only minor it can wait until tomorrow. Don’t you agree?”

Baffled at the sudden turn of events, the brainiac turtle could not come up with a witty enough response back before he found himself in his room. He clenched the air realising your hand had slowly slid from his as he stood in the centre.

“I’m really not tired (Y/N),” he argued, lying as a new idea came to mind, “I’ve stay up much later than this.” You shuffled around his room, picking things up as you went and he moved to the bed, a large part of him knowing this was a failing argument and he was too tired to care. Maybe you were right? You have been before, but that wasn’t you, or was it?

“That’s a childish argument Donnie. Mutant Turtle or not, you need sleep.” You placed a notebook on his bedside table, alongside a pen. “If you get any ideas, write them down and act on them tomorrow.”

He nodded, staring up at you seemed like a strange turn of events, “thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me for looking out for you. I care about you Donnie, just get some sleep. That way I’ll know you feel the same way back.”

“I do care about you,” he yawned, pulling off his glasses and some of the gadgets from his arm. “I’m just not good at expressing myself like the others.”

“The others are not experts either. Everyone has their own thing.”

The light flickered off, and your silhouette filled the doorway, “night night, sleep tight, don’t let the sewer creatures bite.”

The door closed with a creak, clicking shut, and in the darkness, the purple mask turtle signed hopefully, “Night (Y/N), sweet dreams.”

****

That was 2 days ago and now, you were checking up on him every night. As endearing as it was, it was getting on his nerves, he was an adult, maybe? Who could tell really? But, besides the point, during the day was one of the few moments he was left alone.

So, after you made sure he was asleep and wished him goodnight, he waited an hour and merely got out of bed again. His plan was working too, he figured as long as you had a separate bed from him, you’d never know! He was getting some of your attention, something the others didn’t get to this level and he could like his life like before.

Oh, how wrong he was.

That night, while on patrol Donnie forgot one of his tracking gadgets. It was useful if they spotted gang vehicles or something similar. It could help them find their base and bring the whole operation down. He didn’t want the others to know he’d forgotten it, no one had let Leo live down the time he’d forgotten his Katana and while it wasn’t quite the same, it was still part of his fighting style and could be vital.

The base was quiet when he arrived, but he picked up the scent of mint tea. He didn’t see you or his Sensei anywhere and figured you were in his room.

As he tiptoed across the area, knowing the rat could hear him if he made the slightest noise, he heard a huff, followed by a loud sip of tea.

“He’s always been like this child, it’s best to let it rest. You will tire yourself out worrying over him like this.”

You sighed in response to Splinter, “I know he’s a grown man but still, it’s not healthy. He works all night long, and so hard, he deserves a decent night rest every once in a while.” Donnie’s heart started to flutter, she sees me as a man and not a child. “But I know he’s just jumping out of bed and carrying on,” you sighed again, “I probably sound like a nagging, overbearing mother and not a concerned friend.”

There was some shuffling, it was then Donnie realised he was stood still in the middle of the living area. Body poised perfectly for the tiptoeing he’d been doing before he’d frozen on the spot to eavesdrop. He looked like a perfect imitation of a cartoon burglar.

Any moment though someone could come in and catch him in the act. But he wanted to know how this conversation ended.

He needed this.

“You have tried, that is the most that can be asked of you. But your own health should not suffer for the sake of someone else’s. Even if he is my son, do not be fooled, Donnatello is a stubborn as the rest of them, he just hides it better.” There was another loud sip and tea followed by a contented sigh, “it’s the turtle in them. If only they’d have been part Rat.”

“Then you’d have to share your tea,” you joked, laughing lightly.

Donnies heart felt heavy as it sank to his stomach. A horrid feeling taking over his being, he was causing you pain. The others did nothing but make you feel loved and safe.

You were worried about him and he only found you annoying. It was an act of love and care, and there was nothing else it to.

He was a fool and now he needed to make it up to you. First, he needed to do his rounds and set up a few cameras. The city would be fine for an hour, right?

He had work to do.

****

Splinter was meditating as the evening continued peacefully, this left you to wander aimlessly and watch TV. Not the most productive of evenings but at least you could keep up with the news and daily happenings. You wondered, when you returned to the real world, what it would be like.

Would you miss the sewers? Would you need to re-adapt? Would it ever feel the same again?

Light footsteps approached from the main tunnel.

Usually, although he had been caught every time since your initial evening learning to skateboard, this is where Mikey would try to spend the evening with you. He would quell your boredom with a joke as you tried to shoo him off so he wouldn’t get in trouble. But alas, they must’ve put a tracking chip in him, because one of the three were here in moments, dragging him off as he begged for mercy.

But no, as you turned, prepared for the usual antics you were surprised when a flash of purple met your eye.

“Donnie?” Your heart raced in panic, “is something wrong? Are the others okay?”

He nodded, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, “they’re fine, it’s just,” he started to stutter, “well, um, I wanted to show you something.”

“Now? Don’t you have patrol?”

“I have it covered, it will be an hour max and then I’ll carry on my route as normal.” He held out his hand, “do you trust me?”

You grabbed his hand in an instant, letting him pull you up, “of course! Where are we going?”

“It’s a secret!” He whispered, interlocking your fingers with his as he started to walk out the main entrance. It felt foreign to be this close to it, it had been so long since you left you can’t even remember the last time you actually walked through the door.

“Wait,” you whispered back, suddenly aware of Splinter in the next room. You felt like you were doing something you weren’t supposed to do, and he would disapprove, “are we going outside?”

“I told you, it’s a surprise.”

Your stomach twisted in knots, but a gentle squeeze from his large warm hand had that knot loosening ever so slightly. You trusted Donnie. He would keep you safe. You had to give him the chance.

You took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes as he glanced down at you with concern, “sorry. It’s been a while, I was nervous. Lead the way!”

That was all the encouragement he needed as he whisked you up into his arms and sprinted down the tunnel, earning a squeak from you in the process.

Neither of you noticing the smirking rat in the background, head peaking through the door as he sipped on his tea.

****

By the time you had realised Donnie had literally swept you off your feet and whisked you away into the night, you were outside, your cheeks flushed from the revelation and the chill of the night air.

Donnie wasted no time and started to climb before skilfully moving across the top of buildings and weaving through. Making you realise how much effort the brothers went to, to stay hidden and how physically powerful they were. He didn’t moan or pant with the exertion, only grunt as he made one tricky manoeuvre after another.  The shadows were his and he gracefully accepted their help.

Finally, he stopped, on top of a building surrounded by and old derelict billboard with a large gap underneath that was enough for him to climb under with you still in his arms. The gaps made it seem like different viewpoints of the city, and hidden in the shadows, you could watch without fear of your life.

It was so bright, the noises of the cars, the people. Smells, both good and bad. You could even see the people walking down the road, each in their own world, unaware of your gaze on them. Part of you had missed it, but the other part of you was blissfully  settled with the quiet pace of life in the sewers.

You were so entranced by being outside you missed the look the turtle was giving you. His eyes wide with hope and he fought for his redemption. He made his way to the middle and sat down, an old blanket he put up here earlier protecting him from the dirt.

Before you realised, you’d pushed your head up to each gap you could reach and had done a full 360. Donnie, patiently sitting, as he watched you marvel at the sights.

“How did you find this place?” You spoke softly, afraid someone would hear you, even way up here and ruin the moment. You decided to join him, your knees a breath away from each other but not touching.

“We used to come up here all the time as young turtles, we haven’t been here in a while,” he smiled, pushing up his glasses. Because I invented something better. His brain argued. “It’s too dark for anyone to see us and we could watch without being afraid.”

“I understand. It is hard to be in hiding,” you sighed, shivering slightly.

On instinct the large turtle, moved closer, wrapping his arm around you, his hand resting on your shoulder and pulling you into his warm side. You flushed but didn’t complain. This was definitely touching.

Knowing that this was an old spot for the brothers your mind wondered what it would’ve been like when they were younger. Were they the same or were they all energetic bundles of joy with no calling yet. Did they like pizza? Had their started their ninja training?

A vision filled your mind of Donnie tinkering with an old phone, Raph in a corner trying to discretely read a knitting book, Mikey falling off a skateboard and falling into Leo who was trying to meditate. A small smile formed on your face at the mental image.

“This may seem a bit out of the blue,” you start, realising you broke the comfortable silence you had built, “but had you always been interested in technology?”

With his eyes staring straight ahead, Donnie hummed, “I think I was fascinated by the real world. I watched TV, saw the ads and watched films. We mostly watched Sci-fi for that though. Originally, I wanted to be part of it too, so I tried fixing the broken pieces I found in the rubbish or had fallen into the sewers.” His eyes turned to you, conscious that he was close to rambling, but you merely smiled and nodded encouragingly. “then when we started building our lair, we realised we needed security so I started making a camera and then….”

 Sitting on the top of the building, the moon shining overhead and the distant sounds of the streets around you faded into nothing as you let Donnie talk and ramble about his inventions. Uninterrupted, for once.

****

More time than Donnie had planned past before he realised, he needed to get you back, or else he’d end up punished like Mikey. So as Donnie carried you down, he started to reminisce about the old outings he’d have with his brothers. Before they became full time heroes of the night.

“So, Mikey doesn’t like pineapple on pizza because he tried it. It was because of some wayward fruit freak accident?”

Giggling quietly, Donnie nodded, “that’s right. He vowed pineapple to be one of his moral enemies and to never touch the fruit again.”

Not how you expected the pizza lover to determine his favourite toppings but for some reason you didn’t expect anything less. Their lives seemed to be filled with stories of otherworldly events that most normal people wouldn’t think to encounter.

Before long you had reached the bunker and you were being placed gently down on the floor.

You beamed up at the turtle, watching with interest as his eyes widened, his throat bobbing with a deep gulp.

“I had a nice time tonight, Donnie. Thank you.”

“It was the least I could do,” his eyes shifted from yours, moving around the room as his nerves grew. “I know I’ve been a pain lately. I can’t help but get caught up in my work. Leo is the leader. Raph is the strongest and Mikey helps us see the positive side. Without it I’m nothing-”

You couldn’t help but throw yourself at the turtle and hug as much of him as tightly as you possibly could.

“You’re enough Donnie. Your brothers love you for you. I do too!” You mumbled into him, “please, just make sure to get some rest.”

His arm slowly made their way around you, as he returned the hug, his heart fluttering. “I will. I’m sorry. I’m an idiot.”

You laughed lightly, pulling back, “an idiot and yet still one of the smartest beings in the world.”

With that, you went your separate ways. Donnie needing to return to his patrol and you to your safe haven.

Splinter, who had made another cup of tea, chamomile this time, watched the two of you and had an idea. But he needed Aprils help.

Chapter Text

It was quiet, too quiet.

You were sure you could hear everything and nothing all at once.

The constant dripping of that leaking pipe was driving you particularly insane. The air felt stale and the rooms too cramped. Your skin felt itchy and dry. You were pacing to create some airflow and to not stare at the growing stain on the wall.

After your brief outing with Donnie the other night you realised how much you missed the freedom. The fresh air. Just being able to go outside. The normalcy of it all.

Being human.

While it was for your protection, you were still trapped. A gilded cage was still a cage. Sure, you could leave but you’d be going from one cage to another.

You shook your head at that train of though, willing it to leave your head. This was not a cage. A haven, a hide out, a rescue centre. But not a cage. If the brothers knew you thought of this as a cage, it would break their hearts.

You shook your head once again and continued your pacing. Maybe you should pace in Mikeys’ tunnel. You were sure he wouldn’t mind but there was only so much TV people could watch. You had some books, but you had read all of them too, now eagerly awaiting Aprils next shipment.

“If you haven’t driven yourself mad already with the pacing child, you might drive me,” Splinters voice broke the silence. His form appearing from nowhere, as he grabbed your elbow and steered you towards the sofa. “Tell me, what troubles you.”

You sat as instructed but froze, “it’s silly. It’s not worth talking about.”

“Anything that causes you distress, even small, is worth discussing,” he smiles gently patting your arm as he leans back, “we have all night.”

“I miss being able to leave,” Splinter merely nods, his eyes warm with understanding, “it started the other night-” you paused again. You were going to say too much.

“After you went out with Donatello?” Splinter encouraged, grinning at your shocked face, showing you a shiny row of teeth, “I am a bit insulted you thought I wouldn’t notice you had suddenly vanished without a trace. You are lovely company after all,” you laughed lightly at his words.

It made sense, Mikey only got in trouble after the others caught him. Donnie never did because they never found out. Splinter was a creature of habit, no pun intended, and it seems very far fetch he didn’t question where you vanished off too. If he didn’t watch the whole thing take place with his ninja skills.

“So,” he encouraged you to continue with a wave of his hand, “what happened after your escape with Donnie?”

“I realised I missed it. My freedom. It’s not the boys, I know I’m here for my protection but it’s just not being able to do anything really. I can’t decide if I want to go for a walk, shopping, visit my friends, I feel cut off from everything I’ve ever known.”

“My sons felt the same,” Splinter sighed, “even if they weren’t ninjas. They’re still giant turtles, they can never have the normal lives they so often watch others have. You have had a taste of that life, but worse, cannot go outside.”

A thoughtful silence filled the air. You knew what splinter was trying to say, they became Ninjas to get their own sense of freedom. And while you could easily imagine yourself wielding nunchuck’s and fighting crime, you had no doubt the reality was much harder.

“I may be overstepping here, but tonight when he comes home, ask Donatello if he has anything that can help pass the time.”

“Anything in particular?”

He gave you he same smile Mikey has when he’s taken the last pizza slice, an all-knowing devious smile.

“That is not for me to say, I am but the guiding hand and Donatello the master.”

“Is that a way of saying you don’t know?”

“Only time will tell,” his eyes glanced towards the kitchen, “would you like some tea?”

***

Donnie liked to think, after the other night, he was very sneaky. His brothers, however, were getting increasingly suspicious.

He was gathering the same equipment and tinkering at all hours again, the same as he did when he made the headsets. Now he was doing the same, but this time, he needed them to not be suspicious. They would be against it, that much he was sure.

You could ask questions, which would lead them down the rabbit hole of hurt and betrayal.

They all liked you for you. It was inevitable they’d compare you with, well, ‘you’, but between the real you and the computer generated you there was no comparison.

It took him a while to work out but the computer you was based off your likes and dislikes. Of course you were going to be similar, it was copied from you. And the computer wouldn’t make you mean, they’d make you nice and sweet. All things you already were.

The computer just did its job and it did it so well, it created the ultimate confusion amongst a group of people who had never experienced anything like it before.

Well maybe Mikey with April.

He measured April’s head, who had swore herself to secrecy and used it as a template. It was stretchy stuff but wouldn’t have the same affect if you put one on meant for their size. They had big heads and yours was very small.

He was close to completion. One more night and he could start introducing the idea to you.

He said good morning as he got in from his patrol and ran straight to his workshop. Missing the glances from everyone, and more important, not listening as you followed him. He quickly sat down at his desk and checked his previous notes, making sure he was picking up exactly where he left off. He didn’t need to be repeating himself or doing work that had already been done.

“Donnie?” He had just sat on his chair when you called out to him.

“Oh!” He tried to act casual, leaning and stretching out his legs. “What’s up?” His voice squeaked before dropping lower.

“Can I ask you something?” He nodded, watching as you slowly approached, “I was wondering if you had something that would,” you paused, biting your lip as you thought of the best way to word it. Then you felt silly. What could he do? Splinter had said he could help but he was obviously busy and this was such a minor concern. “Actually, don’t worry.”

His hand reached out, grabbing yours and you turned around, “I-, um, I-” he stuttered, clearing his throat and ignoring his glasses sliding down, “you can ask me anything. I don’t mind.” He gave your hand a tight squeeze.

“You look busy,” you reasoned, gesturing to the overloaded work bench, “I can talk to you another time.” But his hand didn’t let go, squeezing slightly, somewhat encouragingly and his soft smile made your insides flutter. “Alright. I was wondering if you can help me feel less…stuck.”

“Stuck?” He asked.

“This place is safe and lovely, but I miss parts of the real world. Splinter said you could help but I’m not too sure what you could even do for me.”

Donnie jumped to his feet and pulled you into a tight hug, moments from his childhood flashing through his mind. Stuck in a world beyond the every day with no way to join. He was more determined than ever to give you a taste of the headsets.

“I know it’s not easy. I was actually building you something, it was going to be a surprise but now is a good of time as ever,” Donnie pulled back and directed you to his chair.

“A little over a year ago, I developed a new technology for us. It’s a bit similar to VR but it directly linked to the brain. We use it to escape into pockets of the world, the computer builds the reality using photos, videos etc. and we can experience any time or place we want.” He pulled out his own cap from the bottom draw, careful of the wires that seemed to be entangled, and placed it in your hands, “we wanted to explore the world and escape. This gave us a chance to do that.”

You meant to say, that’s amazing or You’re a genius, instead you breathed, “you’re amazing.” Much to your complete embarrassment. While you didn’t mean to say it in such a way, you knew it was true.

Donnie, was blushing furiously and was badly covering it up, “I wanted to share that with you. I’ve been working to develop it for you. I just needed to make you a headset.”

“When can I try it?” You asked, hopeful.

“In a few days. My designs were initially a lot bigger and designed for heads without hair so I’m just tinkering.” “Would you really want to try it?”

“Of course. I trust you Donnie.”

“Thank you. I only ask you keep this between us. My brothers were worried it wouldn’t be safe.” He frowned deeply as he spoke, his lie playing on his mind which made it look all the more convincing to you. He looks truly conflicted.

“They’re very protective aren’t they. Alright, let me know as soon as it’s finished. I can’t wait to try it.” You sigh dreamily, trying to imagine what it would show. Your hometown, shopping in a mall, a walk in the park. Some of life’s small pleasures that you deeply missed.

As you walked from the room, a cheerful skip to your step, he knew he’d done the right think. Now he needed to convince his brothers of that too.

He knew they’d be furious but they couldn’t change it now. This machine had bought them together and he’d be damned if it didn’t keep you all together too.

With new determination, Donnie turned back to his bench and carried on working. He was on a tight schedule now.

***

He’d finished it, with a few hour before his patrol, he could leave his computer to run the diagnostic while he was gone and then he could show you.

There was a harsh knock at his door and then the door burst open. His three brothers standing at the doorway. He shoved papers over the tiny headset and turned to them, much more casually then he did with you the other day.

“We’re leaving in 10,” Leo informs him. His eyes glance down the hall. “Also, turtle only meeting at noon.”

“I’ll be there,” he nods to them. As they all leave Donnie realises from this moment, everything is about to change. 

Chapter Text

It was midday. A seemingly important time for all occurrences in the sewers.

For the brothers that worked as vigilantes in the night. This was cutting into valuable sleep time. But there were some things that could only be said under the sun’s golden rays. Where the shadows weren’t listening, and the truth could be exposed as the harsh reality it often presented itself as.

So, they went to their ‘secret’ tunnel. The one that was the furthest from the main living quarters and from possible prying ears.

Splinter knew about it though. And April. Casey came in here once too when he thought it was the bathroom. But he didn’t know it was the secret tunnel, so it doesn’t technically count. But April (and Casey) is not here, and Splinter was asleep. A new container of chamomile tea had seen to that. While the giant rat was suspicious of the sudden gift, he did like tea.

Mikey has swiped a pizza on his way over and was moaning to himself during each bite as he waited for Donnie to arrive. Raph has picked the corner by the door and was glaring at Mikey but refused to comment on his noises. Leo stood in the middle; eyes trained on the door, arms crossed, and brows furrowed in deep thought.

The air was tense.

No one had said it openly, but they all knew why they were gathering here.

The one thing that seemed good about their lives at the moment.

You.

It had been a few months, but they couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room and it was driving them crazy. The similarities were uncanny and the sense of longing it created broke their hearts in a way they never thought possible. You both were and weren’t there. They had experienced things with you that you would never know about. Could never know about.

Donnie finally arrived, the familiar cap in his hands and a tired gleam to his eyes.

“I don’t want to say we have to be quick but lately (Y/N) has been checking up on me so she may notice I’m missing.”

“Why?” Raphs tone was accusatory, “what have you two been doing during the day?”

“She’s caught me up a few times when she phoned her parents. That’s it,” he defended. “We’ve come to an understanding mostly but I think she’s calling her parents today so she may notice.”

“Now we’re all here,” Leo started, breaking the previous conversation, “let’s get started so we can all go to bed.”

“I don’t understand why really,” Mikey managed to say between bites, “we know (Y/N) is (Y/N). Even though she is not the original (Y/N), who wasn’t the original (Y/N) either, but a copy of this (Y/N),” he lowered the pizza from his mouth, “wait? Is that right?”

His brothers groaned, “this is why we’re here Mikey!” They all exclaimed before realising their huge mistake.

“I need more pizza,” the youngest turtle huffed, proceeding to continue to stuff his face.

“We need a plan,” Leo starts, “firstly, I think we can all agree on one thing. (Y/N) must never know how this started.”

“Agreed.” It had been a long time since they all agreed on anything. Even while they all liked computer you, they all had their own idea on the best way to show that affection.

“Good,” he sighed, finally moving from his spot in the centre, and picking an unclaimed area of wall. “Anyone want to start?”

“I have to tell you all something,” Donnie shuffled uncomfortably, knowing the reaction the others would have, “(Y/N) knows about the headsets.”

“WHAT!”

Silence fell over them as their echo settled, they couldn’t hear the patter of feet and decided they were safe enough for now.

“When?”

“Why?”

“How?”

“I made her a cap. She needs it for the same reason we originally did.” There was a heavy pause to his words, the implications she was unhappy in the sewers with them, but they each pushed the fear aside and gripped the fear of her finding out their deepest secret tightly.

“What did you tell her about it?” Leo asks.

“It was a way for us to escape and explore the world. I explained the basic technology behind it but I never mentioned what we did with it in detail.”

“You mean who with~!” Mikey sang, before sighing in dreamy bliss. “Oh, the places we went together.”

“Shut up Mikey,” his brothers berated in unison. Unperturbed, the youngest turtle continued to eat his pizza and daydream.

Finally, Donnie walked to the side and claimed his spot, as they all turned to face each other. Silence fell between them again.

It was Raph, that broke the silence, “I never thought it would be this hard. I constantly question myself before I start speaking, wondering if it was something that really happened or something from the dreamscape.”

Leo gulped, drawing suspicious eyes to him, “I mentioned meditating the other day and how we should do it again, forgetting I had never actually meditated with her. I quickly lied and said I had done it before with April and I was tired.”

“You’re such an idiot! What if she caught you!” Raph argued.

“She was suspicious at first but didn’t question when I said about April. I think she took it as I’m comfortable with her.”

The room fell into a tense silence, each brother glaring at one another.

“What are we going to do?” Leo asks.

“What can we do?” Raph adds.

“Order more pizza?”

“Do you ever think about anything that isn’t your stomach?” Raph growls, finally storming towards the youngest turtle.

Mikey squeaked and ran behind Leo, “chill man. Why are you so worried. Happy wife, happy life.”

His brothers froze at his words, at the meaning behind them. It was Donnie who finally answered, “she’s not our wife, Mikey?”

Our wife?

They all thought, realising the implications of Donnies words.

“My point is,” Mikey breaks the silence, “if she’s happy, we don’t need to worry. I say let her use it, it bought us to her, and I have been happy ever since. Except when you punished me for cheering her up.”

Still reeling from imagining you are their wife, the brothers took a moment to think through what they were going to do. None of them could.

“How are we going to do this?” Raph asked, “she’s one person.”

Our wife

They all thought again. The words echoing through their minds like a mantra.

“We take it one day at a time. No special treatment though, no skipping work. We are ninjas above all else. Agreed?” Leo asks.

“Agreed!” The others nod. As if that was a real plan. As if that wasn’t like what they had been doing all along.

At that moment, the door opened slowly and splinter walked in, finally allowing himself to make a sound.

“I thought I trained you boys better than to ‘take one day at a time,” he sighed, yawning loudly. That chamomile really did a number on him, but he couldn’t take this much longer. He knew they were cut off but were they so dense they didn’t realise women needed to be wooed. Swept off their feet and romanced.

“My sons, women are like fine tea. The plant must be grown and nurtured with care, much like a relationship. Only once you have done this, can you harvest the leaves and taste their sweet nectar. With this, you can bathe in their truest depths. Do you understand what I am trying to say?” He had been trying to find a way to describe love to his sons, to show them it wasn’t what they saw in TV’s and read online. It involved time, effort and dedication.

Like making the perfect cup to tea and saving every last drop.

He forgot they were almost like children.

Mikey immediately put his fingers over his ears, “I don’t think I’m old enough to learn about the nectar of women!”

Splinter wacked him over the back of his head with his cane. Mikey ruined his perfect analogy. Now he needed a new one. And now he couldn’t even use tea!

What a disaster!

“We are not leaving here until you come up with a real plan.”

“Yes sensei,” they all droned monotonously.

“Excellent my sons. Now, one at a time, what would you like to do with (Y/N)?”

Each of the brothers took a moment, brows furrowed in thought before they opened their mouths in sync and started to talk.

At the same time.

“Im going first!” They all started to argue. Splinter only sighed.

He wasn’t going to get any sleep today.

***

The brothers head were throbbing, splinter had not gone easy on them. These last 20 minutes were like slow torture.

“I think we are done,” the giant rat sighs. If he didn’t love you and his sons dearly, he would not be playing match maker. In fact, he vows never to play match maker again for his sons. “Rapahel, what is your goal?” Splinter stands in front of his red masked son.

“To spend quality time together doing crafts. I can teach her to knit.” Raph responded instantly, withholding the yes Sensei. This wasn’t training, even if it did feel like it.

“Donatello, what is your goal?”  He moved along slowly as if he was taking a leisurely stroll, now infront of his purple masked son.

“To help her with the dream headset and make sure she does not use it to replace reality.” Splinter walked past him. Not, whacking him on the head was  good sign.

“Michelangelo, what is your goal?”  

“To help her relax and teach her to skateboard.” The rat carried on walking.

“Leonardo, what is your goal?”

“I want to help her learn defence. So she doesn’t feel helpless.”

“What is your main goal my sons?” Splinter asked the group.

“To woo, (Y/N). She is a women and deserves to be romanced,” they said in sync. Their heads throbbing to the drone of their words.

“That didn’t take as long as I thought it would,”Splinter comments. “Now go to bed. You have a real plan, not whatever that discussion was before I walked in.”

“Yes, Sensei,” splinter left and the brothers followed behind him. Going to the respective beds.

They may have a headache from hell and their pride was wounded that splinter actually knew something about romance. But one thing was no certain.

They had a plan.