List Five Things That Make You Happy, Then Put This In The Askbox For The Last Ten People Who Liked Or

Chapter 5 Part 1

‘What the hell just happened?’

This day wasn’t supposed to be filled with so much fear and shock. It was supposed to be an a ok normal day at school with her friends. But April was here comforting Leo as he fell apart after what must have been hours of keeping himself together. It was one of the things April both loved and hated about him. How he tries so hard to protect the people he cares about but forgets to take care of himself.

She had to help them figure this out. There must be something they can find if the turtles and April combined their strengths. They’ve done it once and they can and will do it again.

But right now April needed to let Leo go through his process and let himself feel like this. The same thing happened to April when she lost older family members too. You just need to let them ride out this feeling until you can help them move on.

She pulled him into a hug as the turtle boy’s sobs continued. Slowly turning to sniffles. And then unsteady deep breathing. April sprinkled in a few reassuring words and rubbed Leo’s shell as she comforted one of her best friends.

Even though the turtles and April shared an equal bond, something about her and Leo’s was special. Leo understood her more than his brothers did. He understood what it was like to truly hate how people treated others for something that wasn’t their fault to begin with.

It hadn’t been that long before Leo realized what happened.

“Oh god!” He shook his head and tried to wipe away the tears that were still streaming down his face, breaking their hug.Leo tried not to croak when he talked. “I’m so sorry April! I don’t know why I did that! I just-”

April squeezed his shoulder. “Hey Hey Hey it’s ok. You’re gonna be ok.” She looked into his eyes and tried to help pull out the calm confident smart Leo that she knew could help and fix this. That she and his family believed in. Just like during Superfly’s attack. Leo stepped up and inspired them all to push through their limits and save New York City.

Leo felt his confidence come back slowly and steadily as he finally felt the first wave of relief since last night. He didn’t care if he was blushing. Well he did but it wasn’t the most important thing. Getting help and regaining his strength to help Mikey was important. Even so it still felt great to be reminded that even though one of his brothers was in danger he still wasn’t alone. None of them were. Leo would make sure of that. “Thanks April. I uh I needed that.”

“No problem.” April and Leo stood there smiling at each other for a few awkward minutes before she cleared her voice ready to start their search for the youngest turtle brother. “Now if you don’t mind I have a million questions about what happened and how we’re gonna fix this.”

“Wait you’re gonna help. But I didn’t even as-”

“Leo. It would be insane if I didn’t help you guys.”

Looks of determination spread across their faces. The duo was back together ready to solve this mystery.

“Alright. Let’s get started.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After rushing through the school day and letting his brothers’ club mates know that they wouldn’t be able to come, Leo returned to the heart and soul of his and April’s research. The old school dark room. The very first room the turtles got to explore in an actual high school.

He told April everything about what happened. Though it wasn’t easy it didn’t exactly trigger him into another anxiety attack. How many had he had anyways? 3? 4?

‘Focus Leo. Finding Mikey is really important.’

“So let me get this straight.” April said this as she pointed to rough sketches she had created on the dry erase board. Notes were jotted down next to the doodles. “You and your brothers were attacked by several cloaked figures and they each had a foot sewn onto their clothing?”

Though it sounded ridiculous it was true.

“Yeah pretty much. We didn’t get much time to see them because of how fast they were. We tried to fight through them but. . .”

“Ok. Let’s not look at what happened let’s look at what we know. Are any of you guys hurt?” April needed Leo to stay with her. She didn’t know how many more panic attacks they could endure.

“Oh yeah. They fought really well. These guys weren’t your average New York street punks. It was like they were taught and trained like we were. But in a much less defensive way.” Leo thought back to Donnie’s hand. It was practically the color of his old bandanna. Raph’s nose had been bleeding along with his mouth and scratches that tore through his skin. Leo was left in a similar condition. Someone had definitely used a roundhouse kick on his hip.

“Yeesh these guys sound like they would NOT take no for an answer.” April grimaced as she thought about how badly those wounds would feel like.

“But that’s the thing. Who would want us? What do four teenage turtle mutants help someone do?” Plenty of weirdos had crossed the turtle brothers’ path. It wasn’t unusual for someone to treat them like freaks even though they did save New York and possibly the world. But he never saw someone truly hate them to the point of breaking the law and kidnapping them.

“And who would have the guts or the heart to hurt you guys? You saved the world! Sure you look a little different but what kind of psycho wouldn’t at least tolerate you guys. What kind of sick ill minded cold blooded son of a-” April’s ranting was dulled as Leo came to a realization.

‘Blood’

He was suddenly drawn back to the night right before Superfly’s big attack. When him and his brothers had failed to stop the giant bug man from taking the last piece of his twisted puzzle. When they had been driven off the side of a highway, knocked out, dragged, and hooked up to a horrible machine. A machine designed to become a vampire once turned on. Sucking the blood and life out of its victims- the mutant brothers.

‘“What I want is your blood. And there is only one way to get it.”’

“TCRI.” Leo whispered as the present slowly moved into his grasp.

April broke out of her rant and looked shocked at Leo. “What?”

“TCRI. That’s who would want us.” Leo spoke louder but still in a slow dazed state. “That’s who would want us. That’s who would and could hire trained warriors to hunt us down. They have Mikey.”

The two teenagers saturated in the fear stirring up their stomachs. Bending their minds over to fears will.

If Mikey was being taken for the reason Leo thought he was, their family of mutants, containing the mystery of the ooze in their DNA, was in deep shit now.

that’s another chapter for the collection

Previous Masterpost Next

Tomorrow imma wear all of my Tmnt merch and watch Tmnt Mutant Mayhem at FULL volume

Hear me out;

They bring in Sheena for Mutant Mayhem..

And she IS a punk rock singer…

But she also has a passion..for Chappell Roan

I made a smart board doodle of Kai and Laurie’s anxiety during my school musical

Okay out of pocket but I NEED an Official MM / TOTTMNT Casey design because I can NOT cook my own 😭😭😭

Bro went full Darwin with that 🤣

blud had to put on a performance to be sarcastic

Chapter 5 Part 2

Leo and April just sat there.

In the pounding silence of the post school hours in Eastman High.

‘Their back. Somehow they did it again.’

Leo could only think, could only live in those long hours of having to hear his brothers screaming. He screamed too. The sharp zaps of the electrocuting cuffs that pinned him onto the awful machine meant to only cause pain and suffering suddenly became more and more reminiscent. He had always hated that feeling. Being held like that. Against your will. When the people in him and his brother’s favorite tv shows got captured or a criminal was arrested, he couldn’t help but feel the phantom pain that his thoughts created. None of that prepared Leo for the tight cuffs that made his hands go numb and so pale that they almost turned white.

She knew. That horrible old witch knew what pained she caused them. With her polished yellow suit and her horrifying eyes that looked like they could cut through men ten times easier than Leo’s katana. She had the power to control what they went through and instead of using it for good she made sure that night was a night none of the brothers would soon forget. And what was even worse, she could do all over again. TCRI had Mikey. And he was alone. That jar that made the ceiling look like it touched the sky was way too much for Mikey to live the rest of his life filling let alone with his brothers combined.

He needed to tell Raph and Donnie. Leo had to at least let them know. Even if they couldn’t help him, Leo had tell someone in is family. This was something he could never tell his dad. He was absolutely furious when he freed the turtle brothers from that building. And they’re pretty sure it was over them disobeying him. Mostly. Leo watched that katana blade as it sliced through the guards, causing blood to stain the blades.

“I have to go.”

Leo swiftly slung his backpack onto his shoulder and dashed to the door. Every second counts. April could barely stop him before he went too far.

“Wait!”

Leo paused and turned around. April was grabbing his arm. His look of determination and shear desperation made April realize he needed to do this. And his brothers needed the help. Her gaze softened as she moved to his hand loosening her grip.

“Tell your brothers I said Hi. A-And sorry for this whole situation.”

Leo calmed at her voice and put on his best performance as gentle strong leader/big brother. He couldn’t be scared. He wouldn’t. “Thanks.” He said calmly.

Then he dashed through the door and out of Aprils sight. She stood there at the door before starting her new research project on TCRI.

Moments later her news apps all seemed to ping at the same time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Leo made it to the entrance of the lair, he needed a quick second before embracing the chaos or rather lack there of in his home. ‘Just focus on helping them and finding Mikey before dad asks anything. At all.’

They loved their dad and he loved them but sometimes missions were better done when the turtles kept it to themselves. Especially if it was dangerous and involved them.

He stepped into the cool damp sewer room. Everything was exactly the way he left it. The living room empty. After the mutants were excepted into the world, all of their cousins had moved out and started their lives. They still visited but now they just had a chance to explore the world. And if the turtles knew anything it was the urge to finally see the world after being shunned by the race that ruled it; Humans.

The curtain to the boys room shut and for once not trying to hide their activity in attempts of creating a private area. And his dad was luckily in the kitchen. Not around to notice his return or ask any questions. Leo summoned all of his ninja stealth and reflexes as he quickly made his way to his room. Find his brothers, fill them in on the plan, figure out how to save Mikey.

He was almost there before he heard the soothing voice. “Going somewhere?”

And there he was behind the blue turtle. The father behind their upbringing. Leo stood completely still as he tried to cover his nerves as best as physically possible.

“Hiiiii Dad. What’s up?” Leo said in the most awkward and guilty voice he had unintentionally backed his words up with.

‘What. Was. THAT!?’

Splinter slowly walked over to his son, staring straight into his soul. Toe to toe. Leo was about a foot taller but that didn’t come into play under the amount of stress he felt.

‘Shit shit shit shit SHIT! I am so dead.’

Leo nearly flinched as his dad raised his hand. But instead of turning into an accusatory point, it cupped Leo’s cheek. Leo opened his eyes. When had he closed them? His father looked at him in complete sympathy and compassion. He sighed before looking back at his son.

“It’s hard. Isn’t it.” Splinter continued that look that screamed Open up. I’m here and I know you’re not ok. Tears formed in Leo’s eyes. Hadn’t he done enough crying for one lifetime? He slowly leaned deeper into his father’s hand clutching it with his own ensuring that the soft touch of the rat fur coated hand didn’t leave him.

“I’m so sorry you are going through this. None of you should be. But I need you to be a bit strong.” Splinters free hand was holding Leo’s other one now. “Raph is not listening to me. And you’re the only other person he might listen. He respects you.”

‘He what? Raph does what? He listens to me more than you?’

“N-no no it’s not your fault.” Leo could only whisper this out. Tears slid down more rapidly now.

“I know and it’s not yours either my son.”

Leo looked up into his dad’s eyes. He was practically beaming. How did he know Leo was thinking about that? How did his dad know that in the back of his mind Leo felt responsible for it? He didn’t even say anything like that. But for some reason that was some of the best news Leo had heard in what felt like forever. For once happy tears rolled down and graced Leo’s face. He felt so much better in the comfort and sincerity of those weirds. He weakly let out a small hiccup and a laugh of relief as he finally felt that weight being lifted of his chest.

“Thanks dad.” Leo rubbed his eyes as he nestled against his dad’s hand. He felt so safe. All of his brothers had a special connection to their dad in their own way. But Leo and Mikey had always been the most open. They had the most obvious signs. Listening to their dad and being the most openly worried as well as being the oldest and youngest. According to Donnie( who relied this info solely on physiological websites and studies online) the oldest children have always been the most trusted and the youngest were the most babied. But that didn’t matter all they knew was caring about the first person to love the turtle boys for who they were. Unconditionally.

“Just don’t forget that no matter what hurts you or our family.” Splinter moved his hands so that they were both holding his sons. “Because it is not. But the fact that you take your role as leader this seriously is admirable. And I am very proud.”

They stood there like that for a few moments in the bliss of their happiness. That was until Leo remembered why he had come back.

“Well I . . . I guess better check on Raph and D.” Leo rubbed his neck as he turned to the doorway of the brothers room.

“Yes yes. Just tell April I said hello.”

Leo whipped his head around only to see his father stroll back to the kitchen. His confusion shown on his face as his father only waved his tail teasingly behind him. Leo rolled his eyes as he let out a slight chuckle. He stepped into the four room as he gently pulled the curtain shut in an attempt of absolute privacy.

“What are you doing?”

Sorry for the long wait but as you could see from my last few posts I had a bit of difficulty with the last part. Cowabunga turtle fans!

Previous Masterpost Next

Raph is currently drinking the Hudson River yet again

Chapter 4 Part 1

Last night was a blur.

Hours spent talking and arguing with their dad. Trying to stay up later and find out every possibility of what could have happened to Mikey. All just to be left back where it all started.

Leo stood there alone on the rooftop across from Eastman High. Raph had locked himself up in the bottom bunk. And Donnie. . . Leo could only hope that he would actually unfreeze from the numb gaze he kept since the night before.

That was when Leo came to a scary realization.

They had never been so separated before.

Sure now that the turtles all had their own separate friend groups and activities. But they had never all been alone. Usually they were always at least a phone call away.

But now Leo had to face the school day alone. And on top of that he was the only one who could and needed to ask for the help of their one true best friend. The one who stuck by the boys through thick and thin. The one they all shared but in completely separate ways.

Of course it was up to the eldest and most responsible brother to handle the heavy burden. Alone. With a life on the line.

Leo thought back to one of his earliest memories. He and Mikey were venturing out into the sewers racing to their usual swimming spot. They were probably about 4 or 5 years old then with Leo just an hour or two closer to aging up than his other brothers. Though they never talked about it until the boys started finding out that siblings had an age order Leo was always assumed to be the eldest. The mother hen. The boss of the brothers.

Even their dad would ask out of all of them for him to do the hardest and most important tasks. Like babysitting while he went to get supplies or making sure Mikey and Donnie wouldn’t get hurt. That pair was always assumed as the younger and delicate ones being smaller and having softer shells than Leo and Raph.

As the two ran, feeling the wind against their cheeks, their feet splashed in the little stream running through the tunnel. “Wait up Leo” Mikey giggled stumbling behind his brother. Eventually the tunnel met an end and Leo paused looking down from the tiny ledge to take a breath. This part of the sewer was his favorite. The lake-like body of water was perfect for swimming. It was like a private beach only known to the inhabitants of the sewers. The turtle tot breathed in and out slowly taking in the smell of salty water pouring in from the Hudson.

“Watch out!!” Mikey yelped as he slipped onto his back and continued sliding towards Leo at top speed. “Wha- oof” Leo managed to turn around right Mikey’s shell came slamming into his chest knocking them both off the side of the ledge.

“Eeugh. Mikey what the-“ Leo said rubbing his head as he looked around to see nothing on the little beach.

“Mikey. Mi-ike.” He called as he turned around to his little brother. He was tucked under the pipe entrance hugging his knees and whimpering and chirping every minute or so. Blood slowly dripped down from his knee. “Oh mi gosh! Mikey! Are you ok?”

Mikey shook his head. Tears glazed over his eyes. “My knee. I want papa.”

Their dad was on a scavenging errand trying to find things that would be helpful towards trying to survive down there. Leo was supposed to be keeping them in the lair. Not goofing around getting his brothers hurt. “It’s-It’s ok. It’s just a little scrap” Leo was stuttering like he always did when he was nervous.

But he couldn’t be right now because his brother needed him.

‘Cmon Leo you can do this. Your brother needs you.’

After a few deep breaths he continued to comfort Mikey. “It’s ok. You’re gonna be just fine.” Mikey looked at his brother. Fear didn’t fill his eyes just sincerity and love. His whimpers turned into sniffles and his eyes focused on his brother.

“Can you let me carry you? We can do a piggyback ride home if you can be strong enough for it.”.Leo had him at piggyback. Mikey raised his arms and immediately started gripping the air. Mikey loved to be carried especially by his older brothers since they would rarely do it. Leo giggled as he lifted his little brother onto his back.

“Hey Leo.” Mikey whispered. “Mm hm”. “I love you bro.”

Leo stared at his drama king of a brother. “You’re not dying.”. “I know!” Mikey answered annoyed. After a long period of silence, Mikey squeezed his brother just a tiny bit tighter. “I just wanna tell you that. Cause I mean it.”

Leo was kind of shocked by how serious his baby brother was being.

“Yeah I love you too. But everything’s gonna be ok. You’re strong.”

Leo blinked himself back to the present. He took a few deep breaths and made his way to homeroom.

“You’re strong”

So just a quick peak in and out of the brothers past.

Previous Masterpost Next

support trans people.