You pace the studio apartment, wringing your hands. Atop the cheaply made table sat a new —affordable— laptop with your email tab open and three unread emails sitting plainly at the top, waiting to be opened.

Of the three, only one wasn't junk mail. That one was an email from your school board. It held your immediate future inside, heavily pressing through the screen.

The plea you'd made was one that requested to be refunded your semester tuition. Thanks to the unprecedented —and very public— events that took your home back in late November, as well as the 'traumatizing nature of being displaced.'

Was it a bit of a stretch to say you were traumatized by displacement? Yes. But fuck, you weren't about to spill your actual trauma from November. So this would have to do.

Yet again, you weren't exactly the most... present student in the weeks leading up to Polly ass-fucking your life. So there was a very real chance they'd think this was an excuse.

... then again, it was a damn good one.

Your clouding mind races as your body broke into a cold sweat. Your subconscious took matters into its own hands as it bypasses your useless mind and sits you down in front of the laptop, clicking open the email.

The posturing letter was immediately torn apart by your hungry eyes, in search of acceptance or rejection; any answer to temper the thrashing ocean in your mind.

Miss Y/n L/n,

Blah blah blah blah blah blah and so, due to these unprecedented events you will receive monthly funding for the next three quarters/nine months—

You slammed the laptop shut and sat back into your chair, staring blankly at the tiny kitchen's wall just ahead. Its tacky blue suddenly and impertinently becoming tied with this feeling of shocked relief.  You hadn't even checked how much they were willing to give; the fact that they were willing to give any relief at all was almost impossible to believe in of itself.

Whatever divine power at work is werking.

A long five seconds passed before you were flipping the laptop open once more with far less fervour. $700 was going to appear in your bank account every month. Warmth of joy smothered you as you sat back in your chair smiling at the ceiling, only the heels of your hands fought to hold in the tears that were already freely falling.

I've gotta tell Leo

Joyfully, shakily, you grab your chunky t-phone and speed dial 1. It rang once, twice before a click was heard. "Hey Y/n," His voice came through melodically, "I was just thinking about you." There was some kind of gagging sound in the background —probably Raph— following his statement.

"All good things I hope." You reply, flirtatiously with an audible smile.

He pauses before laughing choppily, "ah- heh, yeah uh heh yeah only-only good things." His voice became a smidgen smaller.

"Well speaking of good things, I heard back about my claim." I say through a pitiful attempt to keep my voice even.

Leos voice brightens. "You got it!"

A grin cracks across your face as you nod. "I got it!"

"Oh, Y/n that's great!" He cheers. Voices in the background are hurriedly asking what was going on. His voice became slightly farther away, "Y/n got the grant!" Mikey's excited exclamation could be heard with an elated 'what!'. Leo returned to the phone, smile audible. "We gotta do something, right? Celebrate somehow!"

"Hell yeah we do!" I say, standing to my hurried feet as I flutter about my apartment, picking up my bag and throwing a shirt into it. "Should I grab a pizza on the way over?"

"No, no don't worry about that, we've got it this time." He said, it sounded like he was rustling through something. You imagined him rummaging through his couch cushions for change.

The grin you wear widens at the thought, "Well this day just keeps getting better and better." You say, scooping up your backpack onto your shoulder, making sure a certain figurine within hadn't been smooshed.

He chuckles warmly, "and I hope we can keep that ball rolling, do you want me to meet you at the spot by your building?"

"Ehh..." Looking out at the bright sunny day, "Nah that's okay, I think I'm gonna walk topside for a bit and enjoy this beautiful day. I'll meet you at the half-way-hole."

He sighs, "you don't have to call it that."

"It's catchy!" You defend, fighting your beaming grin.

"You're ridiculous," he says through a soft laugh, "I hope you know that."

"What does that say about you then?" You fire back teasingly while stepping outside the door, "who've you got a big fat crush on?"

"Okay Y/n—"

"That's right. Okay love you, see you soon!" You say, walking down the apartment stairs.

"Er—?" He tries to catch up. "I— yeah I love you too."

A long 'Oooo' from his side of the line could be heard as you laugh to yourself, "Byyyye~!"

"You're such a—!" CLICK

Pocketing your turtle phone in your backpack (no place else it could fit) close to the figurine, you step out into the world. The sun was warm on your face despite the cold nip in the air. Mucky snow litters the edges of sidewalks, and slush coats the road with tire tracks moulding the substance into fragile mountain ranges.

It was warm for the end of February, the snow was almost completely melted off the rooftops as they trickled with drips of water onto the concrete below.

The deep breath you took cleansed the staleness in your lungs as you head out. As crazy as it seems the topside of New York smelled a whole lot better than the underground route to the lair.

The sunshine felt blessed, like pure and unselfish love came down just to wrap everything it touches in a tenderhearted hue. It had been a while since life felt so sweet, and it shone its joy through you like a prism; splitting the light in generous beams in each direction you cast your smile. A rare moment in time that would be the sweetest of drinks should you choose to bottle it.

Not even the streets of New York could damper you as you trot your way down the sidewalk, oblivious to the occasional stare. Oblivious to everything really.

It was a time to let your worries be by themselves, far away from you as you wondered what kind of welcome was awaiting you in the lair. A giddy slip in your step propelled you forward all the way until you were about a block from your halfway point. Letting your eyes scan about casually was all you could do to pull yourself back to Earth, making sure the coast was clear or that you hadn't been followed. A small part of you said to take another lap since you'd had your head in the clouds this entire time. But you shooed it away after taking another solid look around on your way.

Nothing out of the ordinary. So, fairly confident in yourself you slipped into the familiar alley, walking deep into the back street and hooking a left around the building next to you. Cozied between two old buildings that smelled like piss you stepped over the manhole cover, walking over it with a long drag of your foot as the signal.

As you stepped past it, the cover lifted from its spot revealing Leo who immediately lit up at the sight of you. "Hey!" He whispered, shifting to the right so you had enough room to quickly climb in.

"Hi!" You greet right back, beaming your joy down on him.

He lifted his hand to you quickly, "Come on! There's lots to celebrate." He said in hushed tones.

You wasted no time in grabbing his hand as he helped you down onto the ladder, making sure you didn't slip as you settle in on the ladder as well. He pulls the cover back over with ease before finally looking to you, all smiles. A chaste kiss presses to your lips quickly before he pulls back with vigour, "Congratulations Y/n." He cheered sweetly.

You chuckle, "Thanks Leo." Readjusting your grip, you begin the descent. "It honestly just feels like a huge weight off my shoulders."

"I bet." He says, laughing lightly along with you, climbing down after you. "I'm glad you got the grant, it'll probably be saving you a lot of grief."

An airy laugh find its way out of me, "You have no idea. I was worried I might have to cut my losses and move back home." I confess, relieved that wasn't the case.

So was Leo, apparently, as he suddenly —comically— whipped his head down to face you. "Move?" He asked hurriedly, "move home, what do you mean move home?" An amused bout of your laughter already had began within his frantic questions. "Move where?"

Laughter became more difficult to swallow and you nearly slip the rest of the way down. "Where I came from? I wasn't born in New York, I'm here for university." You step off the ladder, safe on the ground as you watch his now hurried movements, "Moving back would be the best idea, financially at least."

He slides down the rest of the ladder, landing with a deft thump before looking at you with widened eyes. "Was that always a possibility?"

"Yeah, kinda." You say with a slight shrug.

He was quiet for a moment to digest this before lifting his eyes to me again with a wary smile, as if he'd just dodged a silver bullet. "Well then I'm very glad you got the grant."

You pet his face tenderly before holding him where his cheek curves, "Me too."

He hold the back of your hand with a smile, slowly setting it in his as you both start towards the lair, hand in hand.

The conversation becomes more and more lively on your part the closer you both get to home. "What's awaiting me at the lair?" You ask brightly.

Leo grins softly accompanied by a slight, mischievous frown. "Why are you always trying to spoil surprises?" He asks with a tsk, closing his eyes poshly, "impatient as always."

You raise an eyebrow at him, with a potent air of smugness. "That's rich, coming from the guy who was crying about some toy he saw on the internet a few days ago." He was about to retort but you trampled over his words as your shrugged you bag off your shoulder, "Y/n! I need it! Y/n there isn't any time to wait!" You unzip your bag, "Y/n make sure they don't sell it before I get the money for it! Don't tell Splinter I'm going topside to get money!" Slowly you pull out the Space Hero 'Captain Ryan' from within the backpack, "Honestly I thought you went up there to rob someone." You mused playfully, offering it to him.

Leo's eyes are transfixed on the gift. "What? How did..." He gingerly placed his hands on it. "It was sold by the time I got back." His gentle voice was drenched in confusion as the look in his eyes felt far away, as if he didn't quite believe what he was holding.

You smiled with a triumphant laugh as you jabbed a thumb at your chest, "Sold to me."

Finally his eyes pry off the gift and land on you as he lets out an airy laugh. "Y/n, I... I don't know what to say." He said as a beaming grin breaks across his face as his attention switches quickly to you, the figure, then to you. "This is incredible!" He swoops forward and captures you in a big hug. "Thank you Y/n! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He cheers, squeezing you a hair too tightly.

You chuckle with a wheeze, fighting to pull air back. "It was gonna sell to someone else if I didn't," Wheeze, "It's no big deal."

He peppered kisses upon your face through his smile, "I" smooch, "love you," smooch, "so much." Smooch!

Oh goodness, you started to feel a bit dizzy. Patting his arm, you tap out. "Oh-!" He quickly let loosened up and set you back to your feet that you hadn't even realized you weren't using. Although not tight in his hold, he still kept contact as he shouldered up to you with his free hand slithering around the back of your waist as you both began walking again. "God, this is... Wow." He continued, now taking the time to admire at the collectors item in hand. "I genuinely didn't think I'd ever get another chance to own this kind of thing, let alone actually own." He gushed, turning it around and reading the back. His grin looks like it could hurt with how wide it was. "And look!" He brings it closer for you to see, gushing, "It has a mark of authenticity! It's from when the second season came out."

You smiled to yourself at his enthusiasm as you looked where he pointed. If you knew this was going to be his reaction you would've given it to him sooner, it was absolutely adorable.

A polite nod of your head was enough to make him make an almost squeaky sound as he brought it back, squarely in his line of sight.

"I'm assuming you're gonna keep him in a safe place?" I ask through a light chuckle.

Leo laughed and turned his head towards you, but suddenly stopped. All warmth in his face disappeared within the half a second of stillness he occupied. It was the look got when he had to fight.

An icy pit formed within your stomach, slowly crawling outwards to slow your body to a freeze. His hand on your waist pulled you close to him as he turned back the way you'd both come from, dropping the figurine immediately to grab the hilt of one of his swords.

His eyes were slow in a thorough sweep. Watching, waiting for anything that dares reveal itself.

The beating in your heart nearly makes you dizzy, closely missing Leo's eyes being trained harshly on a darkened spot, clustered with pipes and a cement ridge to the top right of the large tunnel maybe 50 feet away. He slowly pushes you behind his body before bolting forward with powerful, and absolute strides. There is sudden scrambling at the alarming sight within the dark corner.

A foot solider.

An icy horror filled you at the revelation; you had nearly led them straight to the lair.

The ninja slipped from their hiding place —ungracefully— and booked it the opposite way. Their steps were quick, comparative to that of a cat being chase by hound they ran like hell licked at their heels.

In all likelihood, it did.

Not wanting to be left in these unmemorized dark tunnels, you ran after him as fast as you could.

The ninja was clearly going to be overrun, even from as far away as you were, you knew they weren't getting away.

They knew this too as they threw what looked to be a knife over their shoulder in Leo's direction. He caught the blade effortlessly between his fingers, never once faltering in his speed.

The foot soldier stumbled slightly at this, how many thoughts could be running through their head? How many entailed their own death?

A cold dread fell through you to your feet, making each step harder than the last. The heart that failed you so many times before began to beat far too fast for comfort, thrumming through your head loudly enough for anyone to hear. Behind the sound you could faintly hear the memory of Polly's bloody revenge.

Fear shot through to your feet, and like a frightened deer you bolted forward.

Leo had was upon them now, sword drawn as the foot soldier turned to defend themselves. They stumbled slightly while pulling out a weapon, no clear kind of fighting stance to form in their clear terror. Their weapon shook as their wrists fought to keep it upward in defence. The buggish eyes of their mask looked fitting as they stared upon the looming Leonardo.

With a flourish of ease he knocked the weapon out of their hands, twirling his sword in the way he does before going in for the final blow. This was no fight, this was an execution.

"Leo! Don't!" You cried out, desperate as you sprint forward. "Please don't!"

The tone you took halted his actions in place. As if made of stone, he keeps the point of his sword tethered to an invisible line straight to the intruders heart, unmoving.

He doesn't move his eyes from the soldier as you approach, but keeps you at a distance with a call out into the tunnel, "Don't get any closer," He commands.

You obey. Despite the flighty horror mixing your heart and mind into a soup of useless thoughts and emotions, you could discern the danger.

"What is it?" He asks, unmoving.

You're nearly at a loss for words, what did he think you were stopping him for?! Brushing down your bristling nerves, you haphazardly collect yourself. "Don't... do anything reckless." You say, carefully tiptoeing around the words 'please don't kill this person' as best as you can.

"I think not taking care of this would be reckless." He said back, yet made no move to strike.

"Can 'taking care of this' include anything other than a sword?" You asked, hurriedly and slighted.

He is still, staring down the ninja before him as he carefully mulls over his options.

The ninja at sword point leaned ever so slightly to the left, just enough to see you, "If... if it matters. I'd prefer something other than a sword."

Leo's grip on his sword tightened, slightly turning the blade as it moved an inch closer under sharpened eyes. "Shut it."

"Please," you insist, trying to curb his unexpected wrath. His hesitance to yield was the most shocking part of this entire situation, you hadn't witnessed this kind of bloodlust from him before. "There's another way to do this."

He was quiet again, before he nodded towards the foot soldier. "Take off your mask." He commands.

The ninja is startled at this, "What? No, I can't—!"

Leo snarled, harshly cutting them off, "You're in no position to refuse."

They flinch, one hand automatically raising to their neck to grasp the fabric, but the hesitate. "This'll be my death sentence, you know that right?"

Leo held no empathy, "It'll happen now or later," His eyes sharpen, "your choice."

The ninja is still for a moment, every movement they make is fought by another. Their mind is swimming as they finally make headway in the action, slowly lifting the mask up and off their head. A pair of deep brown eyes stare hardly into Leo's as they fill with water. "You just killed me."

He doesn't respond but is seemingly satisfied at this, as a sliver of tension seeps from his muscles.

You take a closer look at the now unhooded person before him. A woman, seemingly in her mid to late twenties with hair in a puff of coils that had been slightly squished by the full mask she wore moments prior. Her brows are knit in a frowning glare pointed straight at Leo. The silence between them was inhumane.

You spoke up, fighting to cut in, "We should call the others and let them know about this."

Leo nodded. "Yeah,"

Stepping away felt like the wrong choice, as if in your head you'd made yourself out as the pin that held this grenade together. Still, you push it aside and take a few paces down the tunnel, pulling your clunky phone from your bag and speed dialling the number 2. It rang a few times until Raph got to picking up.

"What's taking you guys so long?" He asks, almost annoyed beneath the bored overtones. No surprise that's the first thing out of his mouth.

However, you can't find the energy to return his, "Yeah, we kinda hit a snag," you say before looking over your shoulder to make sure nothing has changed, "A foot soldier was tailing us."

"What?" His voice is sudden, tone rising ever so slightly, "What do you mean? Like underground?"

"Yeah..." I turn away from Leo and the woman to stare back down the dark tunnels. "We're about—" you stammer, quick to correct yourself, not daring to give any location away. "Well... you know the way to mine."

"I'm on my way." He hangs up.

The phone drops heavily to the extent of your arm.

It takes a long breath to be steadied enough to turn fully back around, and upon doing so you catch the woman's cynical eye. "They're on their way."

You take a few more steps towards them, a few strides closer than Leo was probably comfortable with, "What are we going to do with her?" You ask, troubled.

"I guess we're gonna do it your way." He spares a momentary glance your way, before they settle firmly back to her, "You're going to tell us what you know."

Her eyes thin as she shuffles an inch back from the point of Leo's sword, "Listen you don't need to keep that thing pointed at me," She complains dryly, what was fear churning into a low disdain. "It's a bit redundant."

He huffs, the first shred actual acknowledgment he's spared her.

"Redundant?" You question, looking at her.

"Don't bother asking," Leo cuts in, stealing your intrigued eyes, "She's going to say anything to try and wriggle out of this."

She raises a slow brow, ribs still expanding rapidly as she speaks, "You don't listen very well, so how would you know?" She asks hurriedly, lifting her chin in some show of pride.

He flinches towards her, the tip of the sword only a hair from her neck as she holds her breath. Her eyes flick to him, brown and terrified with her head lifted from the blade.

"Leo, stop!" You say firmly, despite the racing in your desperate heart. You were done with this terrifying game he was playing.

He backs off once more. Why couldn't the others be here already?

You meet the harsh stare of the woman whose eyes are wild with adrenaline. "It doesn't matter now," She says, tipping her chin towards Leo.

"Why?" You ask. Leonardo says nothing in protest.

She is shaking, as if enraged as the tears that well begin to slide down, "You know who I am," she croaks with seething eyes.

A squint passes over your face as you eye her for a few settled moments.

"Yawa ka, not me as a person!" She grunts annoyed, angrily even. "You know my face now! They know that you know my face!"

Your heart sinks into a cold guilt. "... the foot clan?"

She doesn't respond outside of a scoff and tucks her head down under her arm that rests across her bent knees.

A heavy silence settles over you all as she all but grieves a loss you don't fully understand.

You take a couple more steps only half a foot away from Leo now, observing her more closely. Her weapon is lying haphazardly on the ground a few feet from her, a small scythe with a chain attached to the end of it. Did she even know to use it?

You reach your hand out to Leo's arm, pulling him back slightly as you turn you back to her and lower your voice, "maybe keeping a sword pointed at her neck isn't completely necessary." You whisper.

"It's necessary," He says, "we don't know anything about her."

A sour, disappointed feeling settles in your chest at his true yet callous words.

"We know that she can't beat you." I say, but his eyes remain steadfast. Annoyed, I tug on his arm slightly, finally winning over his stern gaze. "You think she's going to win a fight?" I ask, a slight frown testing my brows as I flick my head back towards the soldier, "Look at her."

With seemingly clearer eyes, he hesitantly peers upon this broken woman trying to wipe her face clear of the rivers flowing down onto the dirty cement beneath her.

He slowly lowers his sword from her with a stagger; yet it remains drawn. You can live with that.

The woman is quiet and for a moment you feel a flicker of awkwardness at the situation. You give Leo's arm an appreciative squeeze and step away.

As you turn you gaze down the dimly lit tunnel, you remember the little figurine that lay alone, abandoned in favour of yours and the family's safety. You hum to yourself, making a note to grab it before a plan was made. In that moment you find a familiar figure approaching from the darkened distance. The footfalls are silent as ever as he comes to a slow down upon the encroachment. I smile tiredly at him.

He's panting slightly, sai in hand. "So where's the uh..." he trails off while stepping closer, slightly leaning to one side, "what is that?" He points at the woman slouched over herself as he comes closer with wider, more casual steps.

"That's uh... the emergency." You say, looking at her again.

He glances at you then at her, slowly sidling up to his brother as you step up next to him on the other side.

Raph tilts his head at her before facing Leo with his thumb jutting out in her direction. "Is this a joke?"

Leo sighs, "nope."

Raph scratches the side of his head with his sai, as you all stood there like dickheads, watching a woman fall apart.

"Mikey probably should've been the one to call." Leo says.

________________________

Hello besties
the woven arc 2 playlist,, all the songs by the Beaches are the foot soldiers songs lol and 'Wander. Wonder.' Is Leo's

Also, this chapter is over a month late 😭 it's been crazy out here health wise bbg

TYANK YOU FOR READING ANYWAY🔊🔊💥⁉️🔥🗣️🔥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 10 YEARS STRONG THIS YEAR 🫶🏻✨

And I drew the foot soldier babe: