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The evening sun glittered, it's last rays string and bounce along the pools surface through trees littering the property. The glow caught itself in Polly's slick, sun dyed hair and danced along her face, delivering a much needed warmth to her paled complexion. The blood that decorated her face slips down to her chin in heavy drips, following spidered tear tracks down her face and thickened the water where it dropped. Each laden drop caught the sun in crimson momentarily before disappearing into the pool.

Her mixed expressions where wavering across her face like a thin wobbling sheet metal. Oscillating at random between a hearty jubilant laugh, and burdened cries of a woman in mourning.

She placed her face in her hand before it raked roughly back over her scalp, hyperventilating as she struggled to keep her bobbing head above water.

A deep crack from the burning building sent a thick blankets of hot ash spurting out from the floor that collapsed. You ducted beneath the surface level of the water, barely missing the ember spray. A sobering reminder that you weren't completely out of the clear yet.

You surfaced and looked to Leo, who was doing his best to swim to the edge of the pool with a his limp brother on his back. A notable pain crossed his face every kick his legs did to keep him afloat.

With one last somber and wary glance at Polly, you paddled towards Leo and Mikey, hooking your arm around one of the young turtles', easing Leo's workload exponentially. He gave you a grateful smile, the waters reflection danced along his chin, lighting up an appreciation that floated softly in his eyes.

Together, you towed his brother to the edge of the diving pool with deep panting as you tried to keep him afloat. Once it was in reach, you both grasped into the lip of the pool like a lifeline and caught your breath. "I thought... hff... turtles were supposed to be good in water." You mused through a strained voice, pulling out the now buzzing communicator from your ear.

"Not when one is unconscious and the other has a bum leg." He retorted, pushing a few times on his communicator as well. An exhausted groan left him as he gave up poking at it. "Hey can you pull him out of the pool?"

A nod was all you offered him before planting your palms against the lip of the pool and, using what upper body strength you had left you shakily lifted your torso out of the water, flopping down against the tiled concrete. Slowly, you hooked your right leg up on the edge and fully withdrew your soaked body into the cool evening air. An unwelcome shiver laced its cold inside your spine and routing out to your fingers. It tightened all your already exhausted muscles.

You didn't take any extra time to relax them as you crawled behind Mikey and looped your arms under his shoulders.

Leo positioned himself in front on his brother, his hands clamped on either side of Mikey's torso. "Okay, on three. One, two, three!" With a tight grunt you both pulled the sturdy turtle out. Your feet lost traction as you pulled harder on him, causing the turtle to slump back against you as you fell onto your butt.

A tired groan pulled it's scratchy sound from your throat as you both rested for a few moments. "We should probably get a move on, do you need help getting out?" You asked, cradling Mikey's head with one arm as the other supported your body to stay upright.

Leo hummed to himself, suddenly turning back to the water. You followed his troubled eyes to his katana sinking slowly towards the bottom of the pool like a shadow. A deep red floated in thick strands around it, like silk ribbons. The wood hilt was doing its best to keep the weapon above water, but the blade held too much weight.

A war must be waging within his mind as his intense eyes followed the katanas descent quietly.

Void of words, he plunged beneath the acidic surface and pushed off the pools side, making a beeline for the blade.

The ribbons grazed and swirled around his hand that clasped the wooden hilt in a tight grip. The thick red of blood snakes over his strong arms, slimy and ghostly gentle.

With the katana safe in hand, he paddles himself weakly back up, breaking through the surface. The sheet of water on his skin quickly retreated to little streams racing back to the pool, washing the traces of red away.

"Are you okay?" You ask as his free hand hooks the lip of the pool.

He places the katana on the ledge, blade facing away from you and the unconscious Mikey. "I'll be fine." He sputters, spitting out the sour chlorine water from his lips.

Both your heads turn to Polly who's still transfixed on the burning mansion. The glow of the fire nearly as striking as the sunset itself.

You're the first to pull your eyes away in favour of looking to Leo. You carefully set Mikey's head down on the wet cement and circle around him to the blue leader. You cautiously push the katana a bit further away with the back of your hand, crawling closer to the pools edge. "Let's get out of here." You say, exhausted as you offer your hand.

His attention lifts around to you, taking in your soaked hair, flattening a bit with stray hairs hugging tight to the skin of your face.

He nods and eagerly clasps his hand in yours. You pull back as his other palm pushes his body up and over the cement ledge, crawling closer up to you.

The water falls heavily off of him in a momentary rain while he shakes his head roughly. That was until one of his bandana tails slap into his eyes. "Hrrgh!?" He would have fell back in the water if it weren't for you holding onto him.

You stifle a much needed laugh as you heave him closer to you and gently paw the blue material from his stinging eye. "Are you... still okay?"

He grumbles to himself. "Yeah.. I guess a little less now though." His blue eyes meet yours, ebbing a light smile onto his face.

The sound of a familiar rough voice pulled your attention across the courtyard, close to the side of the crumbling mansion. "Leo! Y/n!" Raph hollers out, Donnie in tow. "You're alive!" The smile growing across both their faces couldn't be hid as Raph shoulders the pool gate open.

The brothers book it towards Leo, giving you the good sense to move clear of them. Leo's eyes widen as he caught into what was about to happen.

Raph and Donnie pummel into Leo in what might be considered a hug. That is if it weren't for the respective noogies and motherly nagging, frantically checking him over.

"I knew you'd be fine!" Raph boasts in confidence.

Donnie was a lot less energetic about this, like he'd just narrowly avoided a heart attack. He sits back on his legs with a big, tensed sigh. "Well I didn't. You really scared the life outta me, Leo!" The younger brother fret, rubbing his forehead slowly back and forth with a newly forming scowl.

Donnie's eyes flit over to you as you rested next to a limp Mikey.

The scowl nearly dissipated at the sight, shifting instead to a wide eyed gape. "I-Is that?.." He nervously pointed to the youngest.

Raph followed Donnie's finger and nearly lost it. The grin that spread across his face looked almost painful from its size. "You got him back!" He dropped Leo out of his hug roughly in favour of his unresponsive brother, who lays next to your cross legged form.

Water welled in his eyes as he messily grinned down at Mikey, scrambling over next to you. The tears freely started to flow down his cheeks. "You're safe now buddy. We've got you." He promised, gripping Mikey's hand and firmly patting the back of it.

Donnie got up and steps behind you and Raph, placing a hand on both of your shoulders with a squeeze. "I'll get him back to the van."

You peered back to him, craning your neck to meet his exhausted but relieved eyes. Gently, you nod and scoot out of the way.

"I've got the controller if you need for anything in the future." Leo announced, lifting the controller up from his belt to Donnie.

"Ah, thanks." He takes the controller and gives it a once over sourly before fixing it between him and his belt. He pressed into his comm as he kneeled down next to Mikey, checking for his pulse just in case. "Hey, Floyd. Could you bring the Shell Raiser down? I'll open the gates for you when you get here."

As Donnie waited for a response, the blonde woman paddled herself backwards towards the shallow end of the pool. Her eyes barely strayed from the devastation in front of her.

As you watch her warily, Raph's tearful eyes float to you as if he were about to say something. Unsurprisingly, he frowned at your far away expression and followed your stare past him. His eyes fall onto Polly like a shark spotting it's next meal.

A flare of rage surged powerfully around him. The silence he held was murderous as he stood to his feet, eyes set precisely onto the shivering woman as her weak body collapsed onto the concrete surrounding the pool.

"W-Wait! Raph!" You spoke, reaching a trembling hand out to him.

He paid no mind to your words, but Polly did. Her eyes lit with a sudden wide-eyed terror at the sight of the red dressed turtle, who's expression made it clear what he was about to do.

Raph's rage was hauntingly quiet, as his body was impossibly steady.

Leo stood up as quickly as he could and nearly stumbled forward, clamping down on his brothers shoulder. "Raph, you don't understand—"

The turtle growled, keeping his eyes trained forward. "What don't I understand?! She kidnapped Mikey!! She used him for whatever sick idea knocking around in her head!!!" He burst, honing his white hot glare into a concentrated sun flare, as if he intended to set her on fire.

Leos grip tightened as he grounded himself. "Listen to me Raph. We've already gotten what we need from her and we're lucky enough to all be alive to see it." Raph glared over his shoulder. He tried to roughly pull himself out of Leo's hold, but the leader's grip didn't yield, pulling Raph's shoulder back. "She doesn't have anything. There's nothing she can do to harm us now." The brothers glaring shifted from each other to Polly again, struggling to get to her feet, only to stumble forward to her knees again.

The anger in the red dressed turtle flung back to Leo. "Have you lost your mind?" He pointed his sai towards the frail woman who was attempting to get to her feet again. "She caused all this! Or did you suddenly forget?"

Leo screwed his eyes shut as he angrily shook his head, an impatient ferocity suddenly exploding. "You heard what happened didn't you?!" He shouted.

A silence fell onto the group. You subconsciously held Mikey a little tighter.

Leo's eyes suddenly snapped open into a cold, distant glare. "She only had one goal, and she reached it." His eyes solemnly fell to the katana laying deserted  on the cement before being tightly closed again. "She's done. There's nothing else she's going to do."

Raph, being ever bold, spoke up against him again. "You can't know that—!"

"Yes I can!" His eyes flamed open as his fingers dig harshly into Raph's shoulder. "How could you know, Raph?! You didn't watch what happened! You didn't see her!" The turtle waved his hand towards the demolished mansion. "This was all she was working towards! This was all she wanted to do!... It's done."

A chilling breeze flew between them as Raphael took in his brother's expression.

Leo was the only one who really saw her as she finished her work. As she killed Tiberius in the most gruesome and time consuming way he'd ever had to sit through. There was no doubt in your mind that he could feel what she felt to some degree, he was the only one who experienced it as closely as her.

She looked tired.

Raph huffed and roughly knocked Leo's hand off of him, trudging past him back to Mikey, but not without bumping his shoulder against Leo's for good measure.

A deadly glare that only you seemed to catch was sent after Raph from the leader. Was it fear? Concern? You couldn't be sure. But whatever kind of ice Leo was freezing in his mind was terrifying, like a glacial pattern being carved in real time.

His deepened stare flicked towards you, reading you. It was like he was suddenly snapped back to reality as his eyes widened, still locked on you. A confused expression slapped itself across his face as he looked down to his feet, appearing as if he was trying to equate the mass of the sun relative to that of a duck.

The sun had nearly become completely buried in the horizon as the sky's colours began to become a gradient of navy blue to black. "We should really get out of here. Fire fighters will probably show up any second now." You warned, as your eyes slid from the darkening sky back down to the turtles.

A chill ripped up your spine as the cool breeze swooped back around, hitting your bones this time. It didn't help that you were still drenched and it was mid November in New York City. The cold knuckles of your hands were losing dexterity by the second while becoming more and more light compared to your usual skin's complexion. Your laced both hands together and pressed them to your lips, huffing out a breath. However, with just a second passing, a wave of warmth rolled through the air from the burning mansion.

Deciding you didn't want to find out which temperature would win, you stood to your feet, bunching up a corner of your shirt and wringing out the excess water. "When is the Shell Raiser getting here?"

In a random stroke of drama, the van came barreling in. It swerved and turned erratically until gunning straight for everyone and the pool.

I stood frozen, stupidly waiting to see if it really was coming this way. Luckily It wasn't, and stopped a few meters from the pool gate, but if it didn't I wouldn't have been able to dodge it.

Floyd piled out of the drivers side in a flurry, rushing towards everyone by the pool.

Donnie planted his palms on his head as he cried out. "Careful with her! You could damage the shocks!" He chastised, rushing towards the van, but Floyd didn't respond. He couldn't.

Once he came into view it was apparent he was shaken to his core. Terrified yet running on autopilot. As he sped into the confines of the gate he rooted his feet immediately upon seeing Polly, who was on her feet and walking in the other direction towards the other fenced door the looked to lead into some gardens. She rubbed her arms and she stalked away like a miserable, drenched cat.

"Polly!" He called, his voice hoarse and cracking.

The woman stilled for a moment. She digested the voice until it registered and her eyes fled back towards him in bewilderment. "Floyd..?"

"Polly, I..." His words died nearly as soon as he started to speak them, just staring at the husk of a person she once resembled.

Her drooping eyes stared dully back at him, a vessel that completed its purpose. The way she perked when he called her name was all the spark that seemed to be left, or the only bit that could be reached.

As Floyd floundered for words, Polly's eyes fell from him and trailed back towards the gardens, her escape route.

With her cold shuffle, she went on her way again.

Tears began to pool in Floyd's eyes as he began to run after her, no longer petrified. He dodged Leo's hand as it tried to stop him.

"Floyd stop!" You called after him, a fear swimming up your throat. For who, you weren't sure.

He didn't listen and Leo gave chase, despite his slight limp.

Polly's head turned quickly in their direction, which once again made Floyd screech to a halt no more than ten feet away.

He was panting, overworking his fried nerves with whatever was flying through his head as he laid a medley of emotions onto her with just his express. Leo came to a slow stop, two feet behind the man.

Her gaze was icy, indifferent, beaten. She stayed silent, giving him another chance to say what he needed to.

"Are... are you okay?" He asked through a hesitant pant.

The woman's eyes searched his face, unchanging. She didn't say anything as her tired stare shifted to look slightly more sharp. Without a word she took a step away, beginning to turn away.

"I'm sorry! That was a stupid question!" He took half a pace towards her. "I heard what he did, I-I saw what happened." His voice trembled as he clutched a bunch of fabric from his sweater in his white-knuckled grip.

You felt a jolt of horror flew through you as you perked. He saw it happen too. Oh god, Floyd...

Polly's expression didn't change as she continued to stare at him, pale and shivering. The glow of the sky was dissipating quickly.

Floyd was grasping desperately for words as his eyes took in every feature of Polly they could, like he knew she might slip away any second.

An anger started to pool into his already sore eyes. "You were right to do what you did." His hands clenched tightly over his rapidly beating chest painfully. "I'm sorry I didn't help you. Please believe me that I would have if I'd known!" The anger and shame brimmed over his lower eyelids. "But I can help you now!" An guilty ache pumped through his body and seeped deep into his bones the longer he stood face to face with her.

He confidently reached his hand out to her, his palm up waiting for her hand. "Please, Polly. I'll be there for you now, and for however you need me to be." His voice was nearly erased by his closing throat, frantically blinking his eyes clear.

Her eyes widen a fraction at this beautiful man, pleading for her. You could be sure what exactly was going through her head right now as she turned her head away in thought, gripping her arms defensively.

Floyd's hand didn't fall even an inch as he waited, but the fear in his body started to get the better of him as he struggled to swallow back a sob.

Finally Polly's eyes returned to him, hollow, bitter. "Do you really want to help me?" She croaked out weakly.

Floyd's worried face broke into a shaking smile full of compassion as he let out a shaky, nervous laugh. "Yes..! Of course I do." He opened his hand a little more, waiting eagerly for hers to fit inside safely.

"Then forget about me."

The words were so steady, frigid, and biting as her expression held nothing but a slight bothered frown. You could feel the steel bolt shooting through Floyd's body as the air sucked from his lungs.

The shock written across his face was unbearable to witness, as the guilty ache tattooed itself upon every fibre of his being.

Her eyes trailed away from him easily and she continued to walk, disappearing into the foliage as the gate closed behind her.

You got to your feet and rushed to Floyd's despondent form, the breeze nearly freezing your drenched body. As you slowed, your attention flicked to Leo who was staring with sympathetic gaze at a safe distance. He met your stare with a worried frown, no doubt also feeling the harsh sting radiating from the blonde.

As the wind licked at your exposed skin, you approached with caution. "Floyd?..." The sound was hesitant as you stepped up next to him, peering over his shoulder to his stunned profile.

A pain frown forced his brows down roughly as he grit his now grimacing teeth. He slowly turned towards you and let his head fall onto your shoulder as his arms wrapped around you. As soon as he did, shaken sobs began to pour out as his hug became more desperate for comfort.

You rubbed circles on his back, and leaned your head into his as soothingly as you could.

You looked over to Leo who was avoiding staring, but once you locked eyes you tilted your chin towards the van, assuring him you'd take care of this.

Wordlessly he turned from the both of you. "Let's get Mikey in the van." He instructed, walking towards his brothers who'd watched the whole interaction silently and with great interest.

Donnie cleared his throat and got to work, shortly followed by Raph, who nearly had to use a crowbar to pry his eyes off the scene that'd just unfolded.

As they lifted Mikey up, you brought your attention back to Floyd who was trying to muffle out any kind of sentence that made some kind of sense. His eyes quickly added to the water covering you.

"I know Floyd, I know." You said, trying your best to not cry again. His feelings were loud and suffocating, and with each anguished cry it got harder to resist the burning in your eyes.

"H-How could I have—? Have let this happen?!" He wept shamefully, the heaviness of his words crushing my lungs with every broken syllable.

"How could you have known?" You attempted to reason, as you spoke as calmly as you could manage.

A heavy sob racked though his body and into yours. "How could I have not known?!" He clutched onto your frame harder, as if his knees where about to give out any second as his same anger flared up again. "The way she flinched away from me, how she spoke about that bastard, the reluctance to go back to this place!" He squeezed harder around you. "I-I just... Ignored it all!" He wailed, pushing his head closer against your shoulder.

This was your friend, your closest friend, the ball of sunshine you'd come to care for deeply. So how could you not feel his dispair with such gravity that it nearly pummelled you into the ground.

Finally, the guilt sunk deeper than it had before. You couldn't be sure if it was his or yours, but you felt it all the same as you began to cling to him with just as much horror in your heart. You both stood there for what felt like days, stuck in this void, this echo chamber until Floyd worked up to take in a long breath, slowing his sobs to nearly nothing. You followed as best as you could.

"I can't let someone down like that ever again." He muttered sorely, resting his cheek on your shoulder hollowly.

You sniffled hard, forcing yourself back to earth and pushing this shared contrition as far away as you could.

With great effort you peeled away from Floyd, looking him in the eyes strongly. "We need to go."

He didn't object, and followed you towards the van. But not without stealing long glances back to the greenery surrounding the little gate she'd disappeared through.

As you both climbed into the van your attention quickly drew onto Henry. He kept his head low enough so you couldn't get a good look at his face as he stared at his interlaced hands. There was a small wet spot right between his shoes, as little rain drops fell from his face.

As you peeled your attention away, your eyes met with Raph watching Mikey intently, crowing next to the young brother who was buckled up in his seat.

An odd mix of hope and hopelessness suffocated the van as approaching sirens could be heard.

Once the door closed behind you, the van began to peel out of there. Making you grab onto the back of the seat Donnie was in.

You shook your head and walked to the front, grabbing things to support you on the way up until you could place your hands on the back of Leo's drivers chair.

Without looking he asked lowly. "How's Floyd?"

A heavy sigh pulled from your nostrils before you placed your chin on top of his head. "Not great." You whispered, your sore eyes examining the multiple screens in front of him.

He was going fast.

"How're you doing?" He asked, a tenderness in his voice.

"A little worse after that." That was the greatest understatement you've ever dared to utter.

His grip around the wheel tightened at your words. "I'm sorry you had to be here for all this." He apologized solemnly.

You cracked a tiny yet heavy smile. "Don't be." You slowly wrapped your arms around his neck loosely as your head rested next to his. His squared shoulders slumped a bit from the gentle presence as he heaved a long steady breath. "I pushed my way into your business in the first place."

You both stayed like that for a long while, silently driving around New York's darkening alleys. He took less sharp turns so you wouldn't let go of him.

Finally when the van reached the secret entrance to the underground he spoke up again. "I know this was probably one of the worst days of your life... But can I say something?" He asked, keeping his eyes ahead.

"What is it?" You whispered, with your eyes locked forward as well.

Darkness enveloped the vehicle as it plunged down the hidden ramp into the abandoned subway.

"Today was horrible. But, I'm glad you're here... with me." He said barely over a whisper. "Isn't that sick?" He asked through a guilty chuckle.

You smiled sadly and pressed your cheek against his wet one, tightening your hug ever so slightly. "I guess I'm sick too."

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Tee hee, thanks for reading >:)

I wish I showed Polly and Floyd's relationship more, I'll probably go back and edit that in a little more once the book is finished, because they were a cute couple in my head ;-; then again, this is a book about Y/N and Leo sooo...... I guess I'll see how I feel about it later ✌🏻😎

Anyway, upon completion of this chapter, you are certified spoiler-free and if you so choose to view the Woven meme book, can do so freely.
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