Imagine stumbling into the turtle’s lives by pure accident, falling from a fire escape and landing right into their arms. They’re expecting you to be shocked or scared or something…but you’re barely even phased at the sight of the giant turtles standing in front of you.
Why?
“Well, I’ve seen at least one of you over the years…like, a lot.”
Leonardo is stunned.
Stupidly, obviously stunned. Always so proud of his ninja training, he takes great pleasure in being the “unseen.” Just a shadow in a darkened alley, a swift blur in the corner of a stranger’s eye, a stolen sight that one might brush away as mere imagination and nothing more. So knowing that you’ve caught them numerous times is, well, a little embarrassing for him.
Okay, it’s more like a lot.
“Who have you seen?” He asks quietly.
“Well,” you said as you carefully gathered the books and papers that had spilled from your bag, “I’m actually pretty sure it was you. I’ve seen you running over the rooftops a lot and I remember your swords.”
And now it was just plain humiliating. Raph scoffed in utter delight, already coming up with a million and one smug remarks to make, and he could see Donnie and Mikey sharing smiles. All the times he’d scolded his brothers about being more careful, warning them to avoid being seen, were now coming back to haunt him. Oh, he was never going to hear the end of this, he just knew it! They would be bringing this up for years and years.
Leonardo looked away from his brothers and back towards you, watching as you carefully inspected your phone for chips and cracks.
“If it’s damaged, I can fix that,” Donnie said helpfully.
“I think it’s okay…” you replied, “But thank you. And thanks for catching me before I, you know, fell to my death.”
“Uh…anytime.” Leonardo replied, his brain feeling fuzzy from the embarrassment and confusion.
“See you guys around.”
And just like that you were gone, walking off into the city and leaving Leonardo standing with his brothers. At once the teasing he’d already been expecting started up, Raph ragging on him and the other two only joyfully encouraging him, but for once…he didn’t care. Not even when Don joked about telling Splinter, not when Raph told him he ought to train more. Instead he watched you walk away and wondered when he might see you again.
Perhaps next time he was running across the rooftops, he’d stop and say hello…
Donatello isn’t really too surprised.
Statistically speaking, a good number of New Yorkers have seen that turtles from time to time. After all, they’ve been living in the city for all of their twenty-two years and have been active on the surface for eight of those now. There are quite a few humans out there who’ve caught a look at them, leading to stories of some sort of man-eating turtle cryptid living in the city waterways…there are some interesting sites out there.
But math doesn’t lie and you’re not the only one who has seen them…just one of the few who has gotten to actually meetthem.
“Really?” Mikey piped up.
“Yeah,” you replied with a shrug. “But it’s not really a big deal or anything. I mean, this is New York City after all. I’d honestly be a lot more surprised if there weren’t giant turtles running around here at night.”
“How many times have you seen us?” Leonardo questioned, his blue eyes glancing sharply at his brothers.
“A lot of times through the years. Running around on the rooftops, getting into a few fights with gang bangers…actually, you know, I think I’ve seen him more then the rest of you.”
You had pointed right at Donatello when you made that little comment and already he could feel Leonardo’s glare settle on the back of his shell. He wondered if his elder brother would care too much about his argument for statistics…probably not! But you were smiling a little, brushing the dirt off of the Dittos that covered your black dress.
“And…you’re cool with that?” Donnie asked.
“Yup.”
“Then…so are we! Right, guys?”
His brothers chimed in, agreeing with the sentiment. And with that, you were off, grabbing your button-covered bag and walking away to catch your bus.
“See you around…?”
“Uh, Donnie. My name’s Donnie.”
“Later, Donnie.”
Forgetting about the impending doom that loomed over him (he could already hear Leonardo’s scolding and feel that sting in his muscles from Master Splinter’s punishment, which was sure to be brutal and terribly clever), Donatello grinned to himself as you vanished into the city…but he was certain that he would see you again.
And maybe you wouldn’t mind that at all…
Michelangelo is curious.
You saw them? For years? And you didn’t freak out or anything? That was rare for humans. Even compassionate people like April got a little freaked and, yeah, he couldn’t really blame anyone for screaming…still hurt though. They were no monsters, even if some people thought otherwise (Donnie had shown them those cryptid sites and he hadn’t liked that much). He’d been expecting screaming or fainting or something…
And yet here you were, cool as a cucumber!
“Just one of us?” Donatello asked, clearly eager for answers. “Do you know which one?”
“Oh…I dunno…” you murmured, running a hand through your hair as you thought it over. “He’s an artist.”
At once Michelangelo felt his Leo and Don glaring at him and Raph, both who claimed that honorable role as artists. The two brothers shared a guilty glance, each of them wondering who had earned himself one of Leonardo’s long lectures.
“I’ve seen him spray painting these gorgeous pieces! There’s these blue angel wings and this neon melting heart by the place I work-”
“Mikey!” Leonardo snapped, Don slapping the back of his head simultaneously.
“You’reIl Divino?”
Well, his secret was out. Michelangelo had been sneaking out every so often to paint the worn out brick and cracked concrete of New York City with his art…and now everyone knew. Including the pretty human in front of him. The fact that she liked his art so much made it possible to pretend that he wasn’t about to be destroyed by his brothers.
“I love your art…especially that roses beneath the bridge!” you chirped happily. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen it around.”
“I’ve been, uh, busy.”
“Well…” you said, picking up your sharpie-covered messenger bag, “if your schedule clears up, I hope to see your work again.”
“Yeah…”
Then you were gone, giving the turtle a little smile as you walked away. Already he was planning a new piece, something with neon pink…and a girl with a bright smile. Leonardo’s lecture began as Raph and Don walked away, laughing to themselves.
And Mikey was stunned totally stupid, wondering what you would think of his next piece…
Maybe he’d get to ask you!
Raphael is unsure.
From the second you nearly fell on top of Leonardo, he’d been expecting the whole shebang. Screaming, panicking, all that good stuff. It happened to them about every time a human managed to find them, a guy starts to expect it. But you could not care less and he…
He’s the confused one right now.
Since getting back on your feet, you hadn’t been even a little phased. Perhaps the fall had scared you but the turtles had not. Straightening your jacket, the metal and plastic pins caught his eye. A lightning bolt, several sarcastic phrases, a red eye. They were cool. You were cool, sighing as you looked back at the turtles.
“When have you seen one of us?” Leonardo asked. “Who?”
“I dunno…which one of you likes to stand on rooftops and angrily scream into the sky a couple times a week?”
At once all of his brothers turned and looked right at him, an unspoken answer to your question. Raph looked away, face hot and eyes burning. Raph’s temper was well known to his family…and apparently to you too.
“Uh…ya heard me, huh?”
“Actually, I screamed back at you once. I believe I told you you to get your crap together and stop throwing fits at four in the fucking morning.”
“That was you?”
Hands on your hips, you looked at the turtle with confidence and attitude. It was almost like you were daring him to snap back, ready for a bite back…he almost wanted to take you up on it! You were not, he realized, even a little bit afraid of him. Shocking for a human but strangely comforting at the same time for the turtle.
“Yup.”
“Why ain’t ya mad at me?”
“I was for a while. But then I saw you beating some Purple Dragons into the dirt and I thought, eh, give the guy a chance.”
Raphael grinned, chuckling beneath his breath. Clearly, you were not like most other humans. He felt certain that if aliens landed right here in font of you, you’d probably just tell them to get out of your way because you were late and trying to get home.
“I gotta go. It’s nice to finally meet you…?”
“Raphael.”
“Later, Raphael.”
He liked it. The glint in your eyes and edge to your grin, the way you said his name…there was just something about you that he liked. And there was something else telling him that this wasn’t the last time he’d see you.
Some part of you would have liked to say that you’d been seeing him for what he was but the truth was…you hadn’t. Eyes closed toght, you had been blind to it for far too long. It had been going on for so long and you had gotten to the point where you just took it.
When he called you names…
According to him, you were stupid and useless, never ever doing anything right.
When he criticized you endlessly…
According to him, you were so damn difficult, so hard to please, alwats screwing up anything you touched.
It hurt.
It hurt like hell.
But you took it all, every word and every barb, always saying nothing. Doing nothing. Like a good little punching bag.
Somehow, the toxicity of your relationship had become your new normal. You had begun making excuses for Adam for years, telling yourself that every boyfriend acted like this. It was a bad day, a bad mood, a bad time. Or it was a rough patch, right? Everyone went through rough patches but…it would be fine. It was normal, it was okay, everything was okay.
Until it wasn’t.
Until you met the turtles.
It had happened so suddenly, a series of accidents that lead to a masked turtle saving your life. And from there, a friendship begsn to blossom. You never told your boyfriend about any of it. He never wanted to hear what you had to say anyway so…you kept it to yourself.
Everyday, you came home to the same old thing.
Useless. Disastrous.
Insults thrown your way, a screaming fight in which you never uttered a word. You only sat there and let yourself be screamed at before Adam stormed out, leaving you to weep.
And every night, you ran off to something new…something wonderful.
One turtle in particular had taken to you, always slipping away when no one was looking. A rooftop overlooking the city and stars became a special sort of place. There you would hear and feel everything you didn’t even know you had wanted.
Beautiful. Intelligent. Funny.
He told you that you were all kinds of wonderful. That you were everything he had ever dreamed of, all that he had ever wanted…and that you deserved so, so much more then that bastard.
And for the first time in forever, you believed it.
They weren’t the biting remarks you were so used to, they were like honey…warm and sweet, and you began to crave it.
You began to fight back.
When your boyfriend snapped at you, you snapped back.
Teeth bared, claws out, you weren’t backing down anymore! He was shocked the first time you dud it, standing there with a stupid look on his face. Damn, did that feel good! When Adam tried it again, he found that this wasn’t a fluke. It was courage. It was you, the you that had been gone for so long, broken down by cruelty…and brought up by love.
“Shut up!” He had screamed, storming towards you.
But you didn’t back down.
You didn’t run and hide.
Pushing back, you glared up at him and, for the first time, you saw Adam for what he really was. Ugly. Evil. A tyrant that had ruled over you life with cruelty and abuse for far, far too long. But tyrants fall and empires crumble, new life springing ftom the ruins of what once was.
“No!” You screamed back, “No! I’m sick of this and I’m sick of YOU! People don’t act like this when they love each other so you don’t love me…so just leave!”
He’d laughed bitterly, smirking that smug like smile, it made you want to smack him.
“Who could ever love you?” Adam sneered. “Who could ever want you? You’re lucky that-”
No. No.
He wasn’t doing this anymore. He wasn’t going yo break you to bits again. You weren’t going to let this happen, not now and not ever. No one else was going to treat you like that ever again. Fire burned within, a raging anger bursting forth and interrupting his little tirade.
“I love me! I want me!” You shouted, shoving him away. “And I am so fucking done with you.”
“Y/N-”
But you weren’t going to hear any more of it. Throwing him and all his stuff out into the rainy street, you glared down at the man you had once loved…the man that had become your nightmare. Every nasty thing he’d ever said to you ran through you mind, destroying any pity you may have felt for the pathetic little creature. There was no parting kiss or kindness for him. The last thing you would ever say to Adam was a simple order:
“Never come back.”
The door was shut. The locks were changed. In fact, you changed everything. New sheets (you hated the ones he had slept in), a new look (you wore everything he had told not to), a new you.
It was…awesome.
Laying back in the sunlight, you felt as though everything had changed for the better. The nightmare was over and your eyes were wide open…and your phone was going off.
The name displayed on the screen made you smile, a message flashing brightly.
“Meet me on the roof?”
“Always.”
Waiting on the roof, you wore a smile on your face and a dress in his shade. The sun set slowly, stars beginning to appear one by one by one, and from out of the shadows, a figure appeared.
“Y/N!”
“Hey, you~”
That toxic love had up and died but you would not mourn it. A sweeter love had taken its place…and you were ready to live again.
(This is based of According to You by Orianthi. Moral of of the story, treat your girlfriend right or she will find someone else who will)
Imagine stumbling into the turtle’s lives by pure accident, falling from a fire escape and landing right into their arms. They’re expecting you to be shocked or scared or something…but you’re barely even phased at the sight of the giant turtles standing in front of you.
Why?
“Well, I’ve seen at least one of you over the years…like, a lot.”
Leonardo is stunned.
Stupidly, obviously stunned. Always so proud of his ninja training, he takes great pleasure in being the “unseen.” Just a shadow in a darkened alley, a swift blur in the corner of a stranger’s eye, a stolen sight that one might brush away as mere imagination and nothing more. So knowing that you’ve caught them numerous times is, well, a little embarrassing for him.
Okay, it’s more like a lot.
“Who have you seen?” He asks quietly.
“Well,” you said as you carefully gathered the books and papers that had spilled from your bag, “I’m actually pretty sure it was you. I’ve seen you running over the rooftops a lot and I remember your swords.”
And now it was just plain humiliating. Raph scoffed in utter delight, already coming up with a million and one smug remarks to make, and he could see Donnie and Mikey sharing smiles. All the times he’d scolded his brothers about being more careful, warning them to avoid being seen, were now coming back to haunt him. Oh, he was never going to hear the end of this, he just knew it! They would be bringing this up for years and years.
Leonardo looked away from his brothers and back towards you, watching as you carefully inspected your phone for chips and cracks.
“If it’s damaged, I can fix that,” Donnie said helpfully.
“I think it’s okay…” you replied, “But thank you. And thanks for catching me before I, you know, fell to my death.”
“Uh…anytime.” Leonardo replied, his brain feeling fuzzy from the embarrassment and confusion.
“See you guys around.”
And just like that you were gone, walking off into the city and leaving Leonardo standing with his brothers. At once the teasing he’d already been expecting started up, Raph ragging on him and the other two only joyfully encouraging him, but for once…he didn’t care. Not even when Don joked about telling Splinter, not when Raph told him he ought to train more. Instead he watched you walk away and wondered when he might see you again.
Perhaps next time he was running across the rooftops, he’d stop and say hello…
Donatello isn’t really too surprised.
Statistically speaking, a good number of New Yorkers have seen that turtles from time to time. After all, they’ve been living in the city for all of their twenty-two years and have been active on the surface for eight of those now. There are quite a few humans out there who’ve caught a look at them, leading to stories of some sort of man-eating turtle cryptid living in the city waterways…there are some interesting sites out there.
But math doesn’t lie and you’re not the only one who has seen them…just one of the few who has gotten to actually meetthem.
“Really?” Mikey piped up.
“Yeah,” you replied with a shrug. “But it’s not really a big deal or anything. I mean, this is New York City after all. I’d honestly be a lot more surprised if there weren’t giant turtles running around here at night.”
“How many times have you seen us?” Leonardo questioned, his blue eyes glancing sharply at his brothers.
“A lot of times through the years. Running around on the rooftops, getting into a few fights with gang bangers…actually, you know, I think I’ve seen him more then the rest of you.”
You had pointed right at Donatello when you made that little comment and already he could feel Leonardo’s glare settle on the back of his shell. He wondered if his elder brother would care too much about his argument for statistics…probably not! But you were smiling a little, brushing the dirt off of the Dittos that covered your black dress.
“And…you’re cool with that?” Donnie asked.
“Yup.”
“Then…so are we! Right, guys?”
His brothers chimed in, agreeing with the sentiment. And with that, you were off, grabbing your button-covered bag and walking away to catch your bus.
“See you around…?”
“Uh, Donnie. My name’s Donnie.”
“Later, Donnie.”
Forgetting about the impending doom that loomed over him (he could already hear Leonardo’s scolding and feel that sting in his muscles from Master Splinter’s punishment, which was sure to be brutal and terribly clever), Donatello grinned to himself as you vanished into the city…but he was certain that he would see you again.
And maybe you wouldn’t mind that at all…
Michelangelo is curious.
You saw them? For years? And you didn’t freak out or anything? That was rare for humans. Even compassionate people like April got a little freaked and, yeah, he couldn’t really blame anyone for screaming…still hurt though. They were no monsters, even if some people thought otherwise (Donnie had shown them those cryptid sites and he hadn’t liked that much). He’d been expecting screaming or fainting or something…
And yet here you were, cool as a cucumber!
“Just one of us?” Donatello asked, clearly eager for answers. “Do you know which one?”
“Oh…I dunno…” you murmured, running a hand through your hair as you thought it over. “He’s an artist.”
At once Michelangelo felt his Leo and Don glaring at him and Raph, both who claimed that honorable role as artists. The two brothers shared a guilty glance, each of them wondering who had earned himself one of Leonardo’s long lectures.
“I’ve seen him spray painting these gorgeous pieces! There’s these blue angel wings and this neon melting heart by the place I work-”
“Mikey!” Leonardo snapped, Don slapping the back of his head simultaneously.
“You’reIl Divino?”
Well, his secret was out. Michelangelo had been sneaking out every so often to paint the worn out brick and cracked concrete of New York City with his art…and now everyone knew. Including the pretty human in front of him. The fact that she liked his art so much made it possible to pretend that he wasn’t about to be destroyed by his brothers.
“I love your art…especially that roses beneath the bridge!” you chirped happily. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen it around.”
“I’ve been, uh, busy.”
“Well…” you said, picking up your sharpie-covered messenger bag, “if your schedule clears up, I hope to see your work again.”
“Yeah…”
Then you were gone, giving the turtle a little smile as you walked away. Already he was planning a new piece, something with neon pink…and a girl with a bright smile. Leonardo’s lecture began as Raph and Don walked away, laughing to themselves.
And Mikey was stunned totally stupid, wondering what you would think of his next piece…
Maybe he’d get to ask you!
Raphael is unsure.
From the second you nearly fell on top of Leonardo, he’d been expecting the whole shebang. Screaming, panicking, all that good stuff. It happened to them about every time a human managed to find them, a guy starts to expect it. But you could not care less and he…
He’s the confused one right now.
Since getting back on your feet, you hadn’t been even a little phased. Perhaps the fall had scared you but the turtles had not. Straightening your jacket, the metal and plastic pins caught his eye. A lightning bolt, several sarcastic phrases, a red eye. They were cool. You were cool, sighing as you looked back at the turtles.
“When have you seen one of us?” Leonardo asked. “Who?”
“I dunno…which one of you likes to stand on rooftops and angrily scream into the sky a couple times a week?”
At once all of his brothers turned and looked right at him, an unspoken answer to your question. Raph looked away, face hot and eyes burning. Raph’s temper was well known to his family…and apparently to you too.
“Uh…ya heard me, huh?”
“Actually, I screamed back at you once. I believe I told you you to get your crap together and stop throwing fits at four in the fucking morning.”
“That was you?”
Hands on your hips, you looked at the turtle with confidence and attitude. It was almost like you were daring him to snap back, ready for a bite back…he almost wanted to take you up on it! You were not, he realized, even a little bit afraid of him. Shocking for a human but strangely comforting at the same time for the turtle.
“Yup.”
“Why ain’t ya mad at me?”
“I was for a while. But then I saw you beating some Purple Dragons into the dirt and I thought, eh, give the guy a chance.”
Raphael grinned, chuckling beneath his breath. Clearly, you were not like most other humans. He felt certain that if aliens landed right here in font of you, you’d probably just tell them to get out of your way because you were late and trying to get home.
“I gotta go. It’s nice to finally meet you…?”
“Raphael.”
“Later, Raphael.”
He liked it. The glint in your eyes and edge to your grin, the way you said his name…there was just something about you that he liked. And there was something else telling him that this wasn’t the last time he’d see you.
When you’d first gotten to know the turtles, it had seemed like everyone was on edge. Except for one orange light among all of them, who welcomed you with open arms like he’d known you forever.
When he wasn’t rambunctious, bouncing off the walls or pulling tricks on everyone, in his most content, Mikey was the warmest person. It seemed like he had an abject love of living, and radiated that onto anyone who would receive it. And Mikey was big-hearted. Spending time around him would soften anyone. God knew Raphael wouldn’t be the same if the goofball weren’t there with him.
Despite how his attention seemed like it was being pulled in ten different directions at once, feelings and people were never lost on Mikey. You could come in slightly different and somewhere in the back of his mind, he’s already taken a note by the time you’re through the door.
This day, you trudged into the Lair and Mikey was just…there.
“Hey, Angel!” he chirped, bouncing up from the sofa.
You didn’t want to drag him down with your mood, so you collected yourself and tried a smile. “Hey, I’m late, sorry,” you said. “You’re up early."
"Early bird, ya know,” he replied with a slick shrug. He noticed at your dry chuckle that something was off. Nothing a little shine couldn’t fix, he thought. “What’s with the long face, babe? Bad day getting you down?"
"Long, bad day,” you answered with a sigh.
Normally, he’d combat any gloom with his usual energy, but he knew today was not it. So he just smiled and took your coat for you, letting you get comfortable in their home for the night. “Sit with me, then,” he said simply, taking your forearm and guiding you over to the lounge. He sat you down on the big bean bag, and settled cross-legged on the rug next to. He flicked through the channels on the TV until he found something he knew you liked. You felt his dry hand gently plant on top of yours and give it a squeeze, as if a physical touch could transmit his good feelings straight into you. Looking at you in his peripherals, his thumb rubbed the back of your hand, and he grinned, “You can always stay as long as you want, [y/n].”
A/N: this is so random and pointless but I love this song
Imagine stumbling into the turtle’s lives by pure accident, falling from a fire escape and landing right into their arms. They’re expecting you to be shocked or scared or something…but you’re barely even phased at the sight of the giant turtles standing in front of you.
Why?
“Well, I’ve seen at least one of you over the years…like, a lot.”
Leonardo is stunned.
Stupidly, obviously stunned. Always so proud of his ninja training, he takes great pleasure in being the “unseen.” Just a shadow in a darkened alley, a swift blur in the corner of a stranger’s eye, a stolen sight that one might brush away as mere imagination and nothing more. So knowing that you’ve caught them numerous times is, well, a little embarrassing for him.
Okay, it’s more like a lot.
“Who have you seen?” He asks quietly.
“Well,” you said as you carefully gathered the books and papers that had spilled from your bag, “I’m actually pretty sure it was you. I’ve seen you running over the rooftops a lot and I remember your swords.”
And now it was just plain humiliating. Raph scoffed in utter delight, already coming up with a million and one smug remarks to make, and he could see Donnie and Mikey sharing smiles. All the times he’d scolded his brothers about being more careful, warning them to avoid being seen, were now coming back to haunt him. Oh, he was never going to hear the end of this, he just knew it! They would be bringing this up for years and years.
Leonardo looked away from his brothers and back towards you, watching as you carefully inspected your phone for chips and cracks.
“If it’s damaged, I can fix that,” Donnie said helpfully.
“I think it’s okay…” you replied, “But thank you. And thanks for catching me before I, you know, fell to my death.”
“Uh…anytime.” Leonardo replied, his brain feeling fuzzy from the embarrassment and confusion.
“See you guys around.”
And just like that you were gone, walking off into the city and leaving Leonardo standing with his brothers. At once the teasing he’d already been expecting started up, Raph ragging on him and the other two only joyfully encouraging him, but for once…he didn’t care. Not even when Don joked about telling Splinter, not when Raph told him he ought to train more. Instead he watched you walk away and wondered when he might see you again.
Perhaps next time he was running across the rooftops, he’d stop and say hello…
Donatello isn’t really too surprised.
Statistically speaking, a good number of New Yorkers have seen that turtles from time to time. After all, they’ve been living in the city for all of their twenty-two years and have been active on the surface for eight of those now. There are quite a few humans out there who’ve caught a look at them, leading to stories of some sort of man-eating turtle cryptid living in the city waterways…there are some interesting sites out there.
But math doesn’t lie and you’re not the only one who has seen them…just one of the few who has gotten to actually meetthem.
“Really?” Mikey piped up.
“Yeah,” you replied with a shrug. “But it’s not really a big deal or anything. I mean, this is New York City after all. I’d honestly be a lot more surprised if there weren’t giant turtles running around here at night.”
“How many times have you seen us?” Leonardo questioned, his blue eyes glancing sharply at his brothers.
“A lot of times through the years. Running around on the rooftops, getting into a few fights with gang bangers…actually, you know, I think I’ve seen him more then the rest of you.”
You had pointed right at Donatello when you made that little comment and already he could feel Leonardo’s glare settle on the back of his shell. He wondered if his elder brother would care too much about his argument for statistics…probably not! But you were smiling a little, brushing the dirt off of the Dittos that covered your black dress.
“And…you’re cool with that?” Donnie asked.
“Yup.”
“Then…so are we! Right, guys?”
His brothers chimed in, agreeing with the sentiment. And with that, you were off, grabbing your button-covered bag and walking away to catch your bus.
“See you around…?”
“Uh, Donnie. My name’s Donnie.”
“Later, Donnie.”
Forgetting about the impending doom that loomed over him (he could already hear Leonardo’s scolding and feel that sting in his muscles from Master Splinter’s punishment, which was sure to be brutal and terribly clever), Donatello grinned to himself as you vanished into the city…but he was certain that he would see you again.
And maybe you wouldn’t mind that at all…
Michelangelo is curious.
You saw them? For years? And you didn’t freak out or anything? That was rare for humans. Even compassionate people like April got a little freaked and, yeah, he couldn’t really blame anyone for screaming…still hurt though. They were no monsters, even if some people thought otherwise (Donnie had shown them those cryptid sites and he hadn’t liked that much). He’d been expecting screaming or fainting or something…
And yet here you were, cool as a cucumber!
“Just one of us?” Donatello asked, clearly eager for answers. “Do you know which one?”
“Oh…I dunno…” you murmured, running a hand through your hair as you thought it over. “He’s an artist.”
At once Michelangelo felt his Leo and Don glaring at him and Raph, both who claimed that honorable role as artists. The two brothers shared a guilty glance, each of them wondering who had earned himself one of Leonardo’s long lectures.
“I’ve seen him spray painting these gorgeous pieces! There’s these blue angel wings and this neon melting heart by the place I work-”
“Mikey!” Leonardo snapped, Don slapping the back of his head simultaneously.
“You’reIl Divino?”
Well, his secret was out. Michelangelo had been sneaking out every so often to paint the worn out brick and cracked concrete of New York City with his art…and now everyone knew. Including the pretty human in front of him. The fact that she liked his art so much made it possible to pretend that he wasn’t about to be destroyed by his brothers.
“I love your art…especially that roses beneath the bridge!” you chirped happily. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen it around.”
“I’ve been, uh, busy.”
“Well…” you said, picking up your sharpie-covered messenger bag, “if your schedule clears up, I hope to see your work again.”
“Yeah…”
Then you were gone, giving the turtle a little smile as you walked away. Already he was planning a new piece, something with neon pink…and a girl with a bright smile. Leonardo’s lecture began as Raph and Don walked away, laughing to themselves.
And Mikey was stunned totally stupid, wondering what you would think of his next piece…
Maybe he’d get to ask you!
Raphael is unsure.
From the second you nearly fell on top of Leonardo, he’d been expecting the whole shebang. Screaming, panicking, all that good stuff. It happened to them about every time a human managed to find them, a guy starts to expect it. But you could not care less and he…
He’s the confused one right now.
Since getting back on your feet, you hadn’t been even a little phased. Perhaps the fall had scared you but the turtles had not. Straightening your jacket, the metal and plastic pins caught his eye. A lightning bolt, several sarcastic phrases, a red eye. They were cool. You were cool, sighing as you looked back at the turtles.
“When have you seen one of us?” Leonardo asked. “Who?”
“I dunno…which one of you likes to stand on rooftops and angrily scream into the sky a couple times a week?”
At once all of his brothers turned and looked right at him, an unspoken answer to your question. Raph looked away, face hot and eyes burning. Raph’s temper was well known to his family…and apparently to you too.
“Uh…ya heard me, huh?”
“Actually, I screamed back at you once. I believe I told you you to get your crap together and stop throwing fits at four in the fucking morning.”
“That was you?”
Hands on your hips, you looked at the turtle with confidence and attitude. It was almost like you were daring him to snap back, ready for a bite back…he almost wanted to take you up on it! You were not, he realized, even a little bit afraid of him. Shocking for a human but strangely comforting at the same time for the turtle.
“Yup.”
“Why ain’t ya mad at me?”
“I was for a while. But then I saw you beating some Purple Dragons into the dirt and I thought, eh, give the guy a chance.”
Raphael grinned, chuckling beneath his breath. Clearly, you were not like most other humans. He felt certain that if aliens landed right here in font of you, you’d probably just tell them to get out of your way because you were late and trying to get home.
“I gotta go. It’s nice to finally meet you…?”
“Raphael.”
“Later, Raphael.”
He liked it. The glint in your eyes and edge to your grin, the way you said his name…there was just something about you that he liked. And there was something else telling him that this wasn’t the last time he’d see you.
Imagine stumbling into the turtle’s lives by pure accident, falling from a fire escape and landing right into their arms. They’re expecting you to be shocked or scared or something…but you’re barely even phased at the sight of the giant turtles standing in front of you.
Why?
“Well, I’ve seen at least one of you over the years…like, a lot.”
Leonardo is stunned.
Stupidly, obviously stunned. Always so proud of his ninja training, he takes great pleasure in being the “unseen.” Just a shadow in a darkened alley, a swift blur in the corner of a stranger’s eye, a stolen sight that one might brush away as mere imagination and nothing more. So knowing that you’ve caught them numerous times is, well, a little embarrassing for him.
Okay, it’s more like a lot.
“Who have you seen?” He asks quietly.
“Well,” you said as you carefully gathered the books and papers that had spilled from your bag, “I’m actually pretty sure it was you. I’ve seen you running over the rooftops a lot and I remember your swords.”
And now it was just plain humiliating. Raph scoffed in utter delight, already coming up with a million and one smug remarks to make, and he could see Donnie and Mikey sharing smiles. All the times he’d scolded his brothers about being more careful, warning them to avoid being seen, were now coming back to haunt him. Oh, he was never going to hear the end of this, he just knew it! They would be bringing this up for years and years.
Leonardo looked away from his brothers and back towards you, watching as you carefully inspected your phone for chips and cracks.
“If it’s damaged, I can fix that,” Donnie said helpfully.
“I think it’s okay…” you replied, “But thank you. And thanks for catching me before I, you know, fell to my death.”
“Uh…anytime.” Leonardo replied, his brain feeling fuzzy from the embarrassment and confusion.
“See you guys around.”
And just like that you were gone, walking off into the city and leaving Leonardo standing with his brothers. At once the teasing he’d already been expecting started up, Raph ragging on him and the other two only joyfully encouraging him, but for once…he didn’t care. Not even when Don joked about telling Splinter, not when Raph told him he ought to train more. Instead he watched you walk away and wondered when he might see you again.
Perhaps next time he was running across the rooftops, he’d stop and say hello…
Donatello isn’t really too surprised.
Statistically speaking, a good number of New Yorkers have seen that turtles from time to time. After all, they’ve been living in the city for all of their twenty-two years and have been active on the surface for eight of those now. There are quite a few humans out there who’ve caught a look at them, leading to stories of some sort of man-eating turtle cryptid living in the city waterways…there are some interesting sites out there.
But math doesn’t lie and you’re not the only one who has seen them…just one of the few who has gotten to actually meetthem.
“Really?” Mikey piped up.
“Yeah,” you replied with a shrug. “But it’s not really a big deal or anything. I mean, this is New York City after all. I’d honestly be a lot more surprised if there weren’t giant turtles running around here at night.”
“How many times have you seen us?” Leonardo questioned, his blue eyes glancing sharply at his brothers.
“A lot of times through the years. Running around on the rooftops, getting into a few fights with gang bangers…actually, you know, I think I’ve seen him more then the rest of you.”
You had pointed right at Donatello when you made that little comment and already he could feel Leonardo’s glare settle on the back of his shell. He wondered if his elder brother would care too much about his argument for statistics…probably not! But you were smiling a little, brushing the dirt off of the Dittos that covered your black dress.
“And…you’re cool with that?” Donnie asked.
“Yup.”
“Then…so are we! Right, guys?”
His brothers chimed in, agreeing with the sentiment. And with that, you were off, grabbing your button-covered bag and walking away to catch your bus.
“See you around…?”
“Uh, Donnie. My name’s Donnie.”
“Later, Donnie.”
Forgetting about the impending doom that loomed over him (he could already hear Leonardo’s scolding and feel that sting in his muscles from Master Splinter’s punishment, which was sure to be brutal and terribly clever), Donatello grinned to himself as you vanished into the city…but he was certain that he would see you again.
And maybe you wouldn’t mind that at all…
Michelangelo is curious.
You saw them? For years? And you didn’t freak out or anything? That was rare for humans. Even compassionate people like April got a little freaked and, yeah, he couldn’t really blame anyone for screaming…still hurt though. They were no monsters, even if some people thought otherwise (Donnie had shown them those cryptid sites and he hadn’t liked that much). He’d been expecting screaming or fainting or something…
And yet here you were, cool as a cucumber!
“Just one of us?” Donatello asked, clearly eager for answers. “Do you know which one?”
“Oh…I dunno…” you murmured, running a hand through your hair as you thought it over. “He’s an artist.”
At once Michelangelo felt his Leo and Don glaring at him and Raph, both who claimed that honorable role as artists. The two brothers shared a guilty glance, each of them wondering who had earned himself one of Leonardo’s long lectures.
“I’ve seen him spray painting these gorgeous pieces! There’s these blue angel wings and this neon melting heart by the place I work-”
“Mikey!” Leonardo snapped, Don slapping the back of his head simultaneously.
“You’reIl Divino?”
Well, his secret was out. Michelangelo had been sneaking out every so often to paint the worn out brick and cracked concrete of New York City with his art…and now everyone knew. Including the pretty human in front of him. The fact that she liked his art so much made it possible to pretend that he wasn’t about to be destroyed by his brothers.
“I love your art…especially that roses beneath the bridge!” you chirped happily. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen it around.”
“I’ve been, uh, busy.”
“Well…” you said, picking up your sharpie-covered messenger bag, “if your schedule clears up, I hope to see your work again.”
“Yeah…”
Then you were gone, giving the turtle a little smile as you walked away. Already he was planning a new piece, something with neon pink…and a girl with a bright smile. Leonardo’s lecture began as Raph and Don walked away, laughing to themselves.
And Mikey was stunned totally stupid, wondering what you would think of his next piece…
Maybe he’d get to ask you!
Raphael is unsure.
From the second you nearly fell on top of Leonardo, he’d been expecting the whole shebang. Screaming, panicking, all that good stuff. It happened to them about every time a human managed to find them, a guy starts to expect it. But you could not care less and he…
He’s the confused one right now.
Since getting back on your feet, you hadn’t been even a little phased. Perhaps the fall had scared you but the turtles had not. Straightening your jacket, the metal and plastic pins caught his eye. A lightning bolt, several sarcastic phrases, a red eye. They were cool. You were cool, sighing as you looked back at the turtles.
“When have you seen one of us?” Leonardo asked. “Who?”
“I dunno…which one of you likes to stand on rooftops and angrily scream into the sky a couple times a week?”
At once all of his brothers turned and looked right at him, an unspoken answer to your question. Raph looked away, face hot and eyes burning. Raph’s temper was well known to his family…and apparently to you too.
“Uh…ya heard me, huh?”
“Actually, I screamed back at you once. I believe I told you you to get your crap together and stop throwing fits at four in the fucking morning.”
“That was you?”
Hands on your hips, you looked at the turtle with confidence and attitude. It was almost like you were daring him to snap back, ready for a bite back…he almost wanted to take you up on it! You were not, he realized, even a little bit afraid of him. Shocking for a human but strangely comforting at the same time for the turtle.
“Yup.”
“Why ain’t ya mad at me?”
“I was for a while. But then I saw you beating some Purple Dragons into the dirt and I thought, eh, give the guy a chance.”
Raphael grinned, chuckling beneath his breath. Clearly, you were not like most other humans. He felt certain that if aliens landed right here in font of you, you’d probably just tell them to get out of your way because you were late and trying to get home.
“I gotta go. It’s nice to finally meet you…?”
“Raphael.”
“Later, Raphael.”
He liked it. The glint in your eyes and edge to your grin, the way you said his name…there was just something about you that he liked. And there was something else telling him that this wasn’t the last time he’d see you.
