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You were saved by the turtles when you were fifteen. Ever sense then, you've been close to the turtles. Especially, Leonardo. He was the one that you saw first, his brown eyes, warm and caring. Something about him drew you closer.
After the Mutagen Blast, most of New York was mutated into animals. You too were also mutated, into a tiger. You stayed small, though which caused other mutants to mock you.
You and Leo were walking down the street, it was still strange for him to walk around in broad daylight. The two of you had boxes of supplies for the mutants that had lost their homes due to the blast.
"I can't thank you enough for this, Y/N," Leo smiled.
"Of course, Leo, you didn't need to ask."
Leo watched you, as you set the box on the table. Leo didn't know when he started to have feelings for you, but after a conversation with Jennika, that's when he realized.
After your mutation, Leo blamed himself. You were miserable; who wouldn't? Leo tried his best to help you through it, but you sort of pushed him away. Your reason being that you didn't want Leo to not like you more than you already thought he did.
Leo let out a sigh before glancing around, there was no one in sight. "Can we talk?"
"About?" you asked, your hands busy with the supplies. Leo rounded the table, lightly grabbing your hand.
"Please," you glance up and drop the can.
"Yeah," Leo's hand retreated from your own. He nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
"I know that you still haven't gotten used to being a mutant. I'm sorry, for this happening to you."
"Leo, it wasn't your fault."
"But it was!" he argued, "If we had stopped the Kraang none of this would have happened."
"Leonardo--" he froze. You only called him by his full name if you were pissed or serious. Sometimes both. You reached up, cupping his cheek. The one thing he missed was seeing your red face; whenever you laughed or got embarrassed, your face would flush a beautiful pink.
Now, your fur obstructed his view of your fluttered cheeks. Leo watched as you retracted your hand away; he was confused as you rounded the table. He waited as your hands bottled into fists; you pulled him into a tight hug.
Leo felt his heart skip a beat. You never hugged him before, even when you were human. He slowly wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you impossibly closer.
It wasn't that you didn't want to hug Leo in the past, it was just so hard for you to trust people. Leo knew how much this meant to you; You slightly pull away to look at his face. You felt your skin turn 100 degrees,
"This wasn't your fault."
"Y/n," he whispers. You realized how close the two of you were, Leo's warm brown eyes was so soft. Your hands moved up his arms to his neck. "Can I?" You nod, Leo leaned forward pressing his lips against yours.
Pulling away, Leo smiled. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"It's okay, I should apologize too. I pushed myself away from you, I didn't mean to make you feel like the mutagen blast was your fault."
"Why did you push yourself away?"
"I thought that...you wouldn't like me if I was this," you stared at the orange and black stripes going up your arms.
"I'm going to be honest with you, I think you look gorgeous. The only thing I miss is seeing you blush."
You let out a laugh, "I beg to differ, that was the only thing like about the fur."
"You don't think it's pretty?"
"Sometimes."
Leo leaned forward; Leo had always been a little taller than you, but you haven't felt this small before.
"I think the markings are beautiful," he brushed the fur against your forearm. "I think you're beautiful."
Your jaw went agape, you composed yourself after a bit. "You aren't bad looking either," you muttered.
"What was that?" he asked, teasingly. He had in fact heard you, he just wanted to hear it again.
"I said, you were handsome," Leo smirked. Trying hard not to freak out.
Around the corner, Jennika and Sheena watched not too far away. Jennika put her finger to her lips; Sheena was trying her hardest not to scream with delight.