Archive of Our Own ^beta

One minute he’s sacrificing himself to be beaten to death by a murderous alien invader in a nightmarish prison dimension, and the next minute he’s locking eyes with the actual, literal, cutest guy he’s ever had the privilege of seeing. Such is life for Hamato Leonardo. And ok, technically it’s not one minute after another - more like 5 months apart - but Leo’s got a flair for the dramatic anyway.

The first two months after the invasion are a blur for Leo. He’s in a medically-induced coma for, like, three whole weeks, and then after that he’s so high on painkillers and so covered in casts and slings and bandaids that he doesn’t do much other than sleep. His voice is badly damaged - it’s so tiny and raspy - and that is utter torture for Leo. How he ever lived without making one-liners for 6 weeks remains an utter mystery for the Hamato family. Leo gets to re-learn how to talk, and re-learn how to walk. A two-for-one special! He’s got broken ribs, a nasty-ass concussion, and a can-do attitude that only the cockiest guy on earth could maintain through trauma like that. And sure, he has nightmares and flashbacks and panic attacks, a lot, but his brothers are dealing with that stuff too and it’s a lot easier to bear together. The entire time Leo’s bedridden in the med bay, he’s not alone once. Casey Jr. may as well be physically attached to him.

But hey, you know, nobody really wants to hear about all that severely depressing stuff. At the two-month mark, Leo’s up and walking, with mobility aids, and, even more exciting, his voice has made a full recovery. When Leo finally gets his arm out of its sling, Casey audibly sighs in relief.

“What’s with the dramatics?” Leo says.

“In the future - in the old future, I guess? You lost that arm. I guess I was worried that-“

“I LOST my ARM and you didn’t think to tell me that!?” Leo shrieks, grabbing Little Casey by the shoulders and shaking him.

Casey laughs and defends himself: “Listen, you were going through enough! I didn’t want to be like, oh by the way, you lose your arm in a horrific accident - but don’t worry, you get a cool robot arm,”

Leo stops shaking him and goes slack-jawed. He takes a deep breath and then shouts, “I HAD A ROBOT ARM AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME!?”

“That’s so cool, Leo!” Mikey shouts.

“Man! I wish I had a cool robot arm,” Leo pouts.

“That can be arranged,” Donnie says, and he revs his tech-bo like it’s a chainsaw. Raph slaps him up the back of his head and he reluctantly stops.

“I don’t think you should wish for something like that, Leo, jeez!” Raph says, and he leans forward to inspect his newly cast-less arm.

“Fine,” Leo mumbles, “but it’s still cool that I was a cyclops in the future,”

“You did not just say that,” says Donnie, long-suffering. His brothers blink at him, confused. He sighs. “It’s ‘cyborg’ Nardo. The word you’re looking for is ‘cyborg’. I miss when you didn’t have a voice.”

A squabble ensues. Things are going back to normal.

Another sign that things are returning to normal is that Big Mama is stirring shit up again. Look, she’s come a long way since trapping New York and unleashing the Shredder armour. She really, truly has. She hasn’t even tried to kill them once - honest! In the years following the Battle-Nexus-New-York-Incident, Big Mama has tried to make amends. She’s done everything from promising them fame and riches (these nearly swayed Leo and Donnie respectively) to inviting them to dinner (a direct attack on Mikey’s sensitivities). After the Kraang invasion, she invites the whole family down to the hotel to “conference about the invading species to determine whether or not they could be a threat to yokai-kind.” Raph smells a trap, and April backs him up, but ultimately they decide that it may be worth taking her up on it. Around 5 months after the Kraang, Leo’s almost fully back to his old self, and they accept Big Mama’s offer.

The day comes and they’re prepared for anything. Big Mama seems like she’s really trying to be better, but she has, you know, tried to kill them multiple times. Not the best track record. So Splinter, April, and Casey wait at the lair. Draxum’s around, too, but school has resumed in New York and he’ll have to leave early to serve lunch.

(“Really?” Splinter had argued, “Sloppy joes are more important than this?”

“Sloppy joes are more important that you could ever understand, Jitsu,” Draxum had spat back, dead serious.)

The turtles make their way into the hotel, casting suspicious glances around at Big Mama’s staff, who glare right back. Old habits die hard, I guess.

When the elevator door dings and they step into Big Mama’s office, Leo goes to grab his weapon on instinct, but fights the urge. His fingers itch.

Big Mama’s office is as obnoxious as she is - all luxurious and mysterious, huge wooden doors to god knows where lining the circular wall.

“Turtley-boos!” Comes the expected high-pitched shriek. Big Mama’s in her human form - the boys choose to interpret this as a sign of peace. “Where’s your little human-y friends and your daddy-waddy?”

Leo grimaces. “Please don’t call him that,” Donnie mumbles.

“Sorry, Big Mama,” Raph says, “they couldn’t make it.”


She looks at them, slowly, with intent, up and down. “Come and sit,” she says, and they do. “You’re all looking quite well. I heard that the blue one was on death’s door after the invasion.”

They all stare at her for a second.

“What is wrong with you!?” Raph shouts. Mikey attaches himself to Leo’s arm and glares at her, trying to look tough despite fighting back tears.

“And I heard that you were going to try not to be a total bitch today, so I guess we’re both surprised,” says Donnie. Big Mama tsks. Leo just sits there. He’s not sure what to say, for once.

“Please!” Big Mama scoffs, “I was merely trying to say that it’s good to see you all in good health. I’ve grown fond of my little turtley-boos. I brought you here to discuss the alien race, surely we can be civil? It is in everyone’s best interest if they never come back -“

“They won’t,” Raph interrupts.

“But how can you be sure? How did you -“

“He said they won’t, lady, jeez! Clean your ears!” Mikey shouts.

“I need assurance that -“

“Listen! -“

The room devolves into chaos from here. Leo’s brothers shout over each other and Big Mama tries desperately to regain control of the situation. Leo, on the other hand, is dead quiet, trying his absolute damndest not to have a panic attack. Not here, he thinks, not now. He hadn’t thought he’d be forced to recount the details of - of what he went through. He thought they’d just talk about the vague story.

Leo’s fighting off the bone-chilling fear creeping up his spine - he’s trying his hardest to stave off the memory of the time he truly thought he was going to die.

He’s learned some tricks from his family. He tries April’s box-breathing thing but it’s not working. He tries instead to do the counting thing that Donnie’s fond of. Five things he can see - five things… Raph. Raph who is safe and his regular non-kraangified self, which is good. Donnie. Mikey. Big Mama’s huge oak desk. The huge chandelier above them. Good. Five. What’s next? Four things he can feel. Feel is hard - he feels numb. He forces himself to think. First thing: he can feel his katanas, slung on his back, and the strap that holds them there. He shifts around; he can feel the plush velvet of the fancy chair he’s seated in. The light fabric of his mask. The cold marble of the floor. That’s four, and that’s good. He’s got to find three things he can hear now, and that’s hard because the shouting is continuing. He decides to count the argument as one thing. He has to strain to find others. He can very faintly hear a jazz record playing in the corner of the room. Two. He strains. When he hears a third sound, it kind of shocks him out of his panic-induced haze. He hears one of the many heavy wooden doors in Big Mama’s office creak. There’s someone here.

He stands abruptly, pulling his katana out with a metallic clang. Instantly the room goes silent. Raph holds up his hands, palms out.

“Easy, buddy,” he says, “Let’s b-“

“Shh!”

Raph and Donnie share a look. “Nardo…” Donnie tries.

“Shh! There’s someone in here.”

Weapons are drawn instantly; Big Mama goes spider-mode. Everyone’s on their feet.

Leo looks around trying to determine which door he’d heard. He scans the room - there! A flash of white.

“They went through that door,” Leo whispers, pointing with the tip of his sword.

“What did they look like?” Big Mama demands in a whisper. (It’s hard to demand something in a whisper. It’s almost impressive.)

“I just saw, like, a flash of white?”



Big Mama sighs. “Not him again.” Her voice is still low. She turns to face the group and puts on a fake warm smile. “How would my little turtle boys like to do Big Mama a biiiiiiiig favour? This little thief has been giving me trouble for daaaaaaays!“

“Shove it, Mama.” Donnie whispers.

“Pleeeeeease?” She simpers. “It would be a show of good faith! We’re trying to rebuild-y-wildy our relationship aren’t we?”

“We don’t -“ Raph is interrupted by a small crash from behind the door that the mystery-guy is behind.

Big Mama puts on what is supposed to be a cute pout but is actually rather disturbing.

Raph sighs. “Mad Dogz!” He whisper-rallies. “Let’s rip,”

“Seriously!?” Leo, Donnie, and Mikey hiss in unison.

“Would you rather have her make us do her lackey work, or have her trying to kill us?” Raph spits.

The three younger brothers look at each other, and then nod. “Let’s go,” Leo whispers. Big Mama claps her hands, delighted that she’s won yet again.

They take off, silently, arriving at the huge wooden door in an instant. Leo is still tingly with anxiety, but the rush of action is weirdly helping him ground himself. He’s not worried about…past events, he’s worried about opening the biggest friggen’ door he’s ever seen without being detected by whoever’s in there. A thief, big Mama had said. Hm.

Raph, absolute unit that he is, actually manages to edge the gigantic door open pretty quietly, and they slip inside. It takes a moment for their eyes to adjust - the room is dark, and hot as hell too.

“Where are we?”

Donnie pops his goggles on. “Looks like Big Mama has some sort of exotic animal collection. That’s totally not intensely creepy or anything, considering we’re giant turtles.”

“Why would somebody break in just to steal an animal?” Leo whispers.

“I mean, that’s kinda exactly how Pops got us, so let’s not judge,” Raph notes.

The room is pretty loud - there’s a constant hum of heat lamps; birds squawk, insects chirp, fish tanks bubble. It’s dark, and the aquatic tanks cast weird light patterns around the room. It’s honestly a bit eerie. There’s rows and rows and rows of tanks and cages. The team looks to Raph. He makes the “split up” gesture, and everyone nods and sets off.

Leo, who clearly always has excellent luck, sets down an aisle and immediately comes upon a tank with a huge galapagos turtle. He shudders - god Big Mama is so weird. He silently picks his way down the aisle but he keeps getting distracted - a lot of these creatures are definitely not from the human world. He passes a cage with - I shit you not - a two-headed bird in it, and then he hears it. The sound of a tank sliding open, slowly and cautiously. He rolls under the tanks and into the next aisle, hoping for a better view. (He rolls! Wow. That would have hurt so bad a few months ago. He takes half a second to congratulate himself on his mad recovering skillz.) One more aisle over is the thief - Leo can see his feet under the tanks and he can faintly hear him whispering.

“There you go, Spot,” the thief says, which gives Leo pause. Why would the thief risk talking? Who is Spot?

“It’s alright,” the thief is whispering, tone soft. “I’m here now! Let’s get out of here,”

Of course, Leo takes this as his cue to make his dramatic entrance. He rolls into the next aisle and springs up to his feet, unsheathing his katanas in what he’s sure is a very cool fluid motion. “Not so fast!” He bellows as loud as he can, hoping to both alert his brothers and to impress/scare the thief. Leo holds his katana before him, right by the thief’s throat, and looks intimidatingly and badass-ly into their eyes.

And oh, shit, that was a mistake, because now Leo has locked eyes with the actual literal cutest guy he’s ever had the privilege of seeing in his life.

Immediately his grip on his katana falters, and, hey, sure, he might have even gasped out loud like a total idiot, but it’s not his fault, okay!?

The thief is - get this - a bunny, and not just any bunny, but a hot one. And listen, Leo’s not a furry, alright? Or a least, he didn’t think he was, but this guy is seriously adorable. He’s around Leo’s height, and he’s got the softest looking fur, and he’s got these huge huge eyes and a badass scar on his cheek, and his ears are tied back in a ponytail - a ponytail - and wow it must be really hot in this room because suddenly Leo is sweaty as hell and his heart is racing.

The thief shifts the animal he’s holding into one arm. Oh yeah, Leo thinks, I forgot why we were here for a second, he’s a thief. The animal he’s taken is a lizard-type thing, but Leo barely gets a glance at it because the second the bunny’s shifted the animal into one arm he’s unsheathed a katana and is coming at him.

It takes Leo’s brain several seconds longer than it usually does to start working. The bunny slashes at him and it nearly takes Leo’s arm off before he jumps back.

“Hey!” He shouts, but the bunny is unphased and takes another sharp, precise swing. Leo blocks the katana with this own and kicks at the rabbit, who flips to dodge it and is back to attacking the second he lands. It definitely wasn’t totally cool and it definitely didn’t distract Leo. He hears Mikey calling for him, and between these two distractions Leo’s caught. The bunny thief jabs his katana at him, and Leo dodges at the very last second, but the bunny continues his onslaught, swinging again, and before Leo even knows what’s happened he’s got his back against the row of tanks with a katana at his throat.

The bunny is staring at him, glaring, lip curled in anger. He’s holding the lizard to his chest protectively, and he jams his knee in between Leo’s to pin him there. Like, as if the katana to his throat wasn’t doing that already. This guy is overkill. The thief keeps staring, and Leo stares back. He has a feeling this guy’s not actually prepared to do serious damage to him. But maybe Leo is biased and not thinking clearly because this guy’s eyes are seriously so pretty, and he has these adorable buck teeth, and they’re literally like 2 inches apart, and it’s just too much. He’s just as trapped by this guy’s good looks as he is by his katana.

Leo’s breathing hard from the fight (and from the intense proximity to such a cute guy, if we’re being honest), but he hears his brothers rapidly approaching so he knows he’s fine.

He’s pinned - nowhere to go and nothing to do. Might as well make the best of it!

Leo cocks his head to the side, grins lazily, and says, “So. You come here often?”

The bunny’s nose twitches and he blinks in confusion. “I - what?”

Just at that moment Leo’s brothers come bursting into the aisle, and Leo and the thief turn to look.

“Let go of him!” Raph demands, pointing an accusatory finger at the rabbit.

The bunny looks between Leo and Raph for a moment, then rolls his shoulders back and says “Or else what?” (And even though his voice cracks, Leo thinks it sounded totally badass)

Mikey flips forward and proudly announces: “Or else we’ll fuck your shit up, bunny boy!”

Donnie cracks up and Raph yells “language!” but Mikey still stands firm.

The thief’s eyebrows shoot up, but his grip on Leo doesn’t change.

“If that’s meant to be a serious threat, you should know that I’m not scared of any of Big Mama’s minions.”

“Scoff!” Donnie shouts.

“The Mad Dogz don’t work for big Mama!” Raph protests.

“We don’t work for anybody, baby! We’re our own ninjas!” Mikey adds.

“Then why are you here?” The thief says. He’s still clutching his lizard-thing close to his chest.

“How ‘bout you let me go and we’ll tell you?” Leo says, flashing what he assumes is an award-winning smile.

“You are in no position to be making demands,” the rabbit says, still glaring right at him.

Leo looks down to the rabbit’s knee between his legs and back up to his face, mere inches away. Leo smirks. “I like my position just fine,”

The rabbit’s eyes widen and he scoffs, before grabbing Leo by the katana strap and roughly shoving him in the direction of his brothers.

He keeps his katana pointed out and his lizard-thing close to his chest. “I have had all I can take of you!” he shouts in offence.

“Are you s-“ Leo is cut off abruptly by Donnie slapping his hand over his mouth.

“Whatever you are about to say, please. Please, god, don’t. Leon, for once in your life, make the choice to shut your mouth, please, god, please,”

“Piss off, Don, that was about to be the best comeback ever!”



“I know what you were going to say and I assure you it wasn’t,”


This devolves quickly, as it always does with the twins, and Mikey and Raph pry them apart like fighting cats. The thief observes all of this quietly.

“You’re brothers,” the thief says.

“Gee,” says Donnie, dry as ever, “what gave that away? You run into mutant ninja turtles often?”

The rabbit sighs. “You are wasting my time. If you’d excuse me-“

Raph cuts him off before he takes off. “Listen, bunny,”

“Don’t call me that!”

“Listen, uh? Rabbit? Um, we just need that lizard thing.”

“I thought you said you don’t work for Big Mama?”



“We don’t! We just, erm, need the lizard?”

“Why?”

Raph thinks on this for a second, but comes up with nothing. “Because, um, Big Mama asked us to stop you?”

The rabbit closes his eyes and exhales slowly, like he’s dealing with a bunch of idiots or something.

“I don’t know what that wretch told you, but SHE stole Spot from ME. Four days ago she had some of her more competent goons bust in and take him, in broad daylight and everything.”

“You expect us to buy that?” Says Donnie.

“I don’t care what you kappa believe. I’m taking Spot, and I’m leaving.”

“Why w-“

“I’m taking Spot, and I am leaving.” He repeats, slowly. “And I’ll - I…” he takes a deep breath and squares his shoulders. “I’m willing to fight anyone who tries to stop me.”

In the thief’s arms, his little lizard-thing hisses.

The boys look around at each other. “You know what,” says Leo, thinking back to the whispered coos he’d heard from the bunny earlier, “I believe him.”

“You’d believe any cute boy with a sob story,” says Donnie. Leo is aghast.

“I dunno,” Mikey chimes in, “I kinda agree. Why go through all the trouble of getting past Big Mama if you weren’t doing it for a good reason?”

“I do have a good reason!” the thief(?) interjects. All eyes turn to him. “I’ve had Spot since I was three years old. Big Mama wants him for her stupid collection. Well I don’t care. He’s coming home with me.”

The boys look at each other. Mikey, always a softie, says “Wouldn’t we do the same thing for Mayhem?”

This gets Raph on the thief’s side instantly. The last holdout is Donnie. Shocker. Affairs of the heart are notoriously Donnie’s strong suit for sure.

All eyes are on the purple one. He hums in thought. “Your reptile. What species is he?”

“Compsognathus.” What a big word, Leo thinks.

“Bullshit!” says Donnie, but the bunny just shrugs. “You want me to believe you have a pet dinosaur? Let me see him,” Donnie demands, stepping closer and reaching out for the lizard-thing.

“NO!” the rabbit shouts, angling away so that Spot is almost behind him. “I would rather die than let Spot stay in Big Mama’s hands!”

Donnie looks the rabbit up and down. “Very emotional reaction. Alright, fine, lagomorph, I believe you.” He turns to his brothers. “So what do we tell Big Mama?”

“You tell her she’s a heartless devil with no honour!” the rabbit shouts. His ears are sticking straight up in anger and it’s cartoonishly cute.

“Ok, ok,” Raph says, making a placating gesture with his hands. “We’ll take the bunny-er, rabbit - sorry - out to Big Mama, hear her side, and let him leave with Spot.”

“I refuse to confer with her.” The rabbit says, still brandishing his sword and clutching his beloved pet for dear life.

“Well, lucky for you,” Raph says, “You don’t have a choice.”

And then, just like that, he marches over to the bunny and picks him up by the scruff of his neck.

This, it seems, was a poor choice. The thief drops his sword and alleged pet dinosaur in alarm, and immediately begins shouting and kicking and flailing. Raph sets him down but stands behind him so he’s essentially surrounded.

“Honestly!” the bunny shouts, and then says something very angrily in Japanese. He then changes mind and repeats it in English: “You kappa have NO respect!”

Raph rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sorry, dude, I just -“


“I am not your dude!” The rabbit shouts, “And I am sick to death of people underestimating me because of the way I look! If you insist that I meet with Big Mama, fine, but at least leave me with my dignity in tact!”

His little outburst practically echos through the dark room. Somewhere, a parrot mimics the last three words of the speech. The rabbit sets his jaw and glares at Raph, who puts his hands up in surrender.

“Alright, man, but I’m taking your katana.”



“A wise choice,” the rabbit spits, like a badass. As they wind their way out of the exotic pet room, he strokes his dinosaur’s head and occasionally whispers something to it, which is less badass but Leo still likes it a lot.

They push through the thick wooden door back into Big Mama’s office. She’s back in her human form, and the second the not-thief lays eyes on Big Mama he begins shouting and stalking up to her.

“Dude!” Mikey shouts, and grabs the bunny by the upper arm, “You seriously need to chill or else Dr. Delicate Touch is going to be paying you a visit reeeeeeeeal soon.”

The rabbit tries to shake out of Mikey’s grasp, but the little turtle is stronger than he looks, and the rabbit remains caught.

“Ah,” Big Mama interrupts, “You again! You’re causing quite a stir for such an adorable little bunnykins-wunnykins!” The bunnykins-wunnykins in question grits his teeth and mutters something in Japanese.

“Turtley-boos, well done! I’ll be taking our fuzzy-wuzzy thief from here!”

“Not so fast, Big Mama!” Raph says, and the rabbit wheels around to stare at Raph, mouth agape, as though he didn’t actually believe that the turtles would vouch for him.

“Yeah!” Leo adds, “You stole someone’s pet? Seriously, what is wrong with you?”

“That’s low, even for you Mama!” says Mikey.

“A third derogatory comment!” says Donnie.

Big Mama purses her lips. “You see boys, I have a vast and highly-prized collection of rare -“

“Look, Big Mama,” Raph interjects, “What you did wasn’t cool. You said stopping this guy would be a show of good faith, a way of…fixin’ our relationship. Well, we think it would be a show of good faith if you agreed to let him go.”

“You’re bargaining with me?” Big Mama says, eyebrow raised.

“Yep! I hear communication and compromise are great ways to fix a relationship,” says Raph.

“Dr. Feelings taught him that!” Mikey whispers to the rabbit, who shoots him a confused look.

“Hm. So you’re saying that if I let this little bun-“

“Call me a bunny-wunny again,” the rabbit says, “Please. I dare you. See what happens.”

Big Mama huffs out of her nose. “So you boys are suggesting that if I let this intruder go free, with his pet, you will take that as a sign that I am working to mend things between us?”

“Yep!” says Raph, popping the ‘p’ at the end.

“Very well,” says Big Mama curtly, “But I want you to escort this young man off the premises immediately. We shall have to resume our meeting another day.”


“Great!” Says the rabbit, and bolts for the door quick as a… well, quick as a rabbit.

“Whoa!” says Leo, and he bolts after him. His brothers follow.

“Bye, Big Mama!” Raph shouts over his shoulder. “Uh, thanks? And, sorry? And, see you later?”

The brothers bolt after the rabbit, who is all but sprinting for the exit. They all burst out the doors and onto the snowy street, and the rabbit starts to make a break for it, but then remembers that Raph still has his katana. He visibly sighs and walks back over to the turtles.

“My katana,” he says flatly, not making eye contact.

“A thank you would be nice,” Donnie mutters.

The bunny scoffs. “A thank you for what?”

“For saving your ass from Big Mama?” Mikey suggests.

“I did not need saving, let’s get that straight!”

“Kinda seems like you did though,” Raph says.

“Yeah man!” Leo says, “We totally swooped in and saved you! Like a knight in shining armour!”

The bunny finally looks up at them, to glare at Leo. “Well, forgive me for not swooning.” He turns to Raph. “My katana?”

“Whoa, whoa whoa,” Leo pleads, “I feel like we got off on the wrong foot here. You seem cool, not just anyone can sneak into Big Mama’s office, seriously.”



“You’ve got mad skillz!” Mikey adds.

The rabbit surveys the group skeptically. “Why were you all in Big Mama’s office?”



“Oh,” Leo says, wanting desperately to keep this boy’s attention, “She kidnapped our Dad and forced him to fight in the Battle Nexus, and then she tried to kill us a bunch of times, and then she tried to kill us and all of New York City, but her and Dad kinda have history, and she’s a super powerful figure, so we’re trying to build a healthy relationship with her.”

The bunny blinks. “She…ok? I - wow. Alright. Interesting.”

“Right!?” Leo says. “Super uncool of her to take Spot, sorry about that.” His brothers nod.

“Yes, well…” The bunny looks at the ground and then back up. “Thank you all for assisting me. I am very glad to have Spot back.”



“No problem!” Raph grins, and extends a huge hand for the rabbit to shake. And then, to everyone’s surprise, he actually shakes it. He smiles a tiny, tight smile, and Leo hopes he gets to see this dude smile every day for the rest of his life.

Raph hands his katana back, and Leo’s heart sinks for a second, thinking the rabbit will bolt the second he gets his hands on it. But, surprise number 2, he doesn’t. “I take it you’re the oldest brother?” He says to Raph.

Raph nods. “I’m Raphael, or Raph, if you want.”

The bunny still has his tiny cautious smile on. “Raphael. My name is Usagi.”

Bingo! Leo’s officially got a name to doodle in his diary inside little hearts.

“Usagi, how about joining us for a post-fight pizza?”

Usagi hesitates. “I - hmm. No tricks?” He asks. Raph crosses his heart. “No way, dude. We just love pizza.”

“And making friends!” Mikey adds. Usagi’s smile grows.

“Why not?” Usagi says, and Leo wants to cheer. “But I can’t stay long, sensei’s expecting me home by 4.”

“Sweet, dude, we know the best place in town! Mad Dogz, roll out!”

They start the short walk to Hueso’s, and Raph gives introductions.

“This little guy is Michealangelo -“

Mikey bounds over to their new friend and hugs him, cutting Raph off. “But you can call me Mikey! Or Micheal! Or Angelo! But mostly people say Mikey! It’s great to meet you, by the way, you seem awesome!” Usagi smiles and thanks him.

Raph continues: “The guy rudely texting during introductions is Donatello.”



“I’m letting Papa know that we survived Big Mama, but by all means do continue to assassinate my character in front of our new friend.” He peeks up at Usagi and offers a metal clasper from his battle shell for Usagi to shake. To Usagi’s credit, he barely seems phased, and shakes the robot hand.

“And this is -“

Leo cuts his big brother off. “Leonardo!” He says with a flourish and a bow. “Or Leo, or Leon. Charmed, I’m sure.” He adds, with a raise of his eyebrows.

“Oh, I fear I’m going to faint my heart is fluttering so fast,” Usagi deadpans. Leo starts to deflate, but then Usagi flashes him a smile - his biggest, toothiest one yet, and Leo grins.

“I see you also have immaculate taste in weapon-ese,” Leo says, pointing to the other boy’s katana.

“It’s ‘weaponry’ Leo, for the love of god,” Donnie says.

Usagi supresses a laugh. “Yes,” he says, “Are you any good with those?”

“Ha! The best,” Leo brags. “Check this out,” and then he hurls his katana up the street and portals over to it. He zips back.

“Wow,” Usagi says, wide-eyed and perky-eared. “I did not expect that. Do you all possess mystical powers?”

“Dude, yes! Check it!” Mikey shouts, but Raph grabs his hand before he can go for his weapons.

“Whoa! Mikey has sick flames and can throw buildings and stuff - it’s awesome - but maybe not best to demonstrate in town, eh Mike?” Raph reasons. Mikey pouts but agrees.

“Amazing!” Usagi says, smiling, and Mikey perks back up.

“Mine is that I can make myself, like, huge!” Raph says proudly.

“Giganonourmous!” Mikey says.

“Gigantic. Enormous.” Donnie says. “But good try Angelo,”

“I would love to see that sometime,” Usagi says, and then he turns to Donnie. “What’s your power?”

“Gun.”

“…What?”

“I have a whole tech arsenal. Drones, tanks, rocket launchers, drills, you know, any weapons of mass destruction,” Donnie says, casually.

Usagi stares at him for a second, pondering, and then says, “Hm. I’m glad we resolved things peacefully back in the pet room, then.” Donnie snorts and holds out his hand in a fist bump. Usagi jerks away. Donnie looks down at his hand and back at Usagi.

“This is a fist bump,” he says, “you know, like a high five?”

“Oh,” says Usagi, looking embarrassed, and he bumps Donnie’s fist awkwardly.

“Bro has never fist bumped before!?” Mikey shouts.

Raph shakes his head in sorrow. “Tragic.”

“Sorry,” Usagi chuckles awkwardly, “I don’t really, um, know many people my age."

“That’s ok!” Mikey says, “neither do we!”

“Hey!” Leo says, “We have friends!”

“We have, like, 4 friends, Leon,” Donnie says.

“Five now!” Mikey says, beaming at Usagi, who smiles.

“Yeah yeah yeah, cool cool cool,” Leo says, pushing past Mikey so that he’s walking beside Usagi again. “Anyway, you said you don’t know many people your age. How old are you?”



“I’ll be seventeen in the springtime.”

“Oh my god, wow!” says Leo, twirling the ends of his mask around his finger, “I’m sixteen too! That’s so crazy!”

Usagi looks at him with a confused smile. “Yeah,” he says, “Um, sure?”

“You are a master conversationalist, dear brother,” Donnie says, unhelpfully. Leo sticks his tongue out at him, and Donnie relaliates by swatting at him with one of his battle shell’s arms.

“Sorry,” Raph says, “They’re twins.”

“Oh my god, wow!” Usagi says, pitching his voice up and feigning excitement, “You’re sixteen too, Donatello? That is so crazy!”

His Leo impression is a big hit with the brothers, who love nothing more than a joke at Leo’s expense.

While his brothers laugh, Leo crosses his arms and sticks his nose in the air. “Hey,” Usagi says, and he touches Leo’s arm, “I’m only teasing. I actually am excited to have met people my age.” And then he offers a little apology smile, and really, how could Leo keep pretending to be mad after that?

When they get to Hueso’s, Usagi says, “Oh! Is this where we’re getting pizza?”


“Yeah, and don’t worry about brining your pet in, I’m friends with the owner so I’m sure he’ll let it slide.” Leo says with a wink.

Usagi looks amused. “Ok,” is all he says.

Leo kicks the door open and shouts, “Your finest table, bone-man!”

Across the restaurant, Hueso sighs and pinches the bridge of his bony nose. “Pepino, you - oh! Is that who I think it is!?”

He rushes over, right to Usagi, and shakes his hand. Leo is in shock - this is a crazier crossover than the Avengers to him.

“How have you been, conejo, how are you? How is your sensei, how is business, oh, you must come sit!” Hueso is saying, and he starts ushering Usagi away to his finest booth.

“Hey!” Leo protests, fed up with the lack of attention, “Wait up!”



“Leonardo, please, stop bothering my clientele!”

“I actually came with them,” Usagi explains, gesturing to the turtles.

Hueso looks between them. "Conejo, what is a sweet smart boy like you doing hanging out with -" he gestures vaguely at Leo’s general presence.

“Hey!”

“They actually helped me get out of a tight spot with Big Mama. She stole Spot -“

“That devil!” Hueso gasps.

Usagi nods. “Yeah. They helped me get Spot back, and then they invited me for victory pizza. I should have known they’d come here - it’s the best place in town!”

Hueso pinches his cheek. “You know it!” He says. “Oh, my favourite customer! Today, it’s on the house!”

Usagi beams. “Sweet!” says Mikey, “free zaza!”

“Stop calling pizza ‘zaza’ Micheal, we’ve talked about this.”

Hueso shakes his head. “Free for Usagi. Only respectful boys get free pizza.”

“What!?” Leo protests, “After everything we’ve been through!?”

“For the blue one, cost is double,” Hueso says, and abruptly turns and hurries towards the kitchen.

“Man, what the hell?” Leo says as he slides into the booth. “Bone-man always hooks me up! I’m blaming you,” he says to Usagi, with a playful elbow to the side.

“How do you know Sénior Hueso?” Raph asks.

“Oh, my sensei runs a restaurant. I work there. I’ve been seeing Hueso at farmers markets and festivals and business meetings since I was little,” Usagi beams.

“You work at a restaraunt? So cool!” Leo says, leaning on the table with his chin in his hands. Donnie rolls his eyes.

“You talk about your sensei a lot,” Raph says, “You must be very close.”

Usagi nods. “We are! I’ve lived with him since my parents - um. Since I was about four.”

Ok, so Usagi seems like he’s got a whole family situation going on. Noted. Proceed delicately.

Raph doesn’t miss a beat. “He must be a great teacher. You’re cracked at fighting!”



Usagi cocks his head and looks confused. Raph explains: “Oh, that means you’re, like, good at fighting. Like, you’ve got skillz.”

“Thank you!” Usagi says. “Maybe we could…” He trails off, bashful. Raph nods at him in encouragement. “Maybe we could all train together sometime?” Usagi suggests.

YES! Leo thinks. Oh, nope, wait, he didn’t think it. He actually did yell it out loud and now everyone at the table is staring at him.

“I mean, uh,” he coughs, “yeah, sure, whatever. Yeah like, because we both have katanas you know, like, that would be kinda cool I guess.”

Donnie mouths “nice save” at him across the table, and Leo mouths back “fuck you!”

Raph, bless him, saves Leo from this cringe and pushes on. “That sounds awesome! You could come to our place and train and meet Pops, and April, and all of our friends!”

“We could have a sleepover!” Mikey whispers, physically vibrating with excitement.

Usagi is grinning, his front teeth poking out over his bottom lip. “This is great!” He says, pausing to thank Hueso for the pizzas he’s just delivered. “I just have to, um, ask my sensei about it. He is a great and compassionate teacher, but he’s, uh, pretty strict. And formal. He’ll want to meet with your father before I’m allowed to come over, I bet. Uh…sorry.”

“Don’t apologize!” Raph says.

“Yeah, no biggie,” says Mikey.

Leo says nothing, because he’s spacing out admiring how soft and white and fluffy Usagi’s fur is.

As they eat, Usagi keeps passing Spot, who’s sitting between his feet under the booth, little pieces of crust. When it’s time for him to be getting back to his sensei, Raph asks Usagi if he has a phone number where they can reach him. Leo’s only a little pissed that he wasn’t the one to get to ask the cute guy for his digits. Usagi pulls out the oldest, shittiest phone any of the turtles have ever seen - cracked screen and all - and they exchange numbers. Usagi leaves with a little wave and a promise to ask his sensei about training together.

The second Usagi’s out the door Leo groans dramatically and drapes his hand over his forehead. “Ugh! He is so cute I’m going to hurl myself off a building! And he’s soooo good at fighting, did you see his swordsmanship? God. He’s so awesome. He should be in jail,”

“Yes, he’s a lovely young man, isn’t he?” says Hueso, who has appeared so suddenly at the table he jumpscares poor Raph. He leans up close to Leo and jabs a finger into his chest, warning, “So help me, if you - any of you - are a bad influence on that boy, I will add turtle soup to my menu!”

And then he stalks away, pausing halfway to the kitchen to turn around and give the boys the “I’m watching you” hand gesture.

***

Once they’re back at the lair, Raph gives Splinter, April, and Casey Jr. a rundown of the day, interrupted several times by Leo providing incredibly unnecessary information about their new bunny friend. As soon as Splinter leaves to watch tv, April says, “You know, I didn’t have ‘Leo gets a huge crush on a samurai rabbit’ on this year’s bingo card,”

Everyone laughs - except for Leo, who pouts. “I do not have a -“

“Fucking liar!” Donnie says.

“You’re not very subtle,” Raph adds.

“Ok, fine!” Leo says, throwing up his hands, “So sue me! He’s got a katana, dudes, that’s gotta be fate or something! And you can’t even deny that he’s like, super good-looking and really nice and super cool,”

“Awwwww,” Mikey croons, “So you DO like him!”

“It was pretty obvious,” Donnie mumbles.

“Did he make a fool out of himself?” April asks. Donnie nods, absolutely grinning.

“You guys are jerks.” Leo grumbles.

“Oh, relax, drama queen, it’ll pass. You’ll move on to the next infatuation soon enough,” Donnie says.

“Yeah!” Mikey says, trying to be helpful, “Just like when you had a crush on Thor! Or that one pizza delivery guy. Or He-Man. Or Steve Harrington. Or the villain from Hot Soup 3. Or -“

“That’s great, Mikey, I think he gets it,” Raph says, gesturing to Leo, who is now sulking with his arms crossed.

“Aw, Leon, we’re just teasing,” April says, elbowing him. “I’m just saying, you always get these very intense, very quick-acting crushes that you chat our ears off about for like two weeks, and then you start over with someone else. I think it’s sweet - I just want you to shut your corny ass up sometimes!”

Leo is absolutely aghast. He looks around the room for someone to defend him, but nobody does.

“Ugh! This time it’s different, I swear! Nobody’s going to back me up here? Not even you, Casey?”

All eyes turn to Casey, who is for some reason looking very mischeivious. “I dunno,” he says with a shrug, “Maybe this time could be different,”

Leo narrows his eyes. “You’re acting so sus right now, dude, it’s - wait! Oh my god, do you know Usagi? Like, from the future?”

Everybody gasps. “Do you!?” Raph demands excitedly.

“Yup,” Casey Jr. says with a smirk.

Of course, everybody starts freaking out and demanding answers from him.

“I need details, Case, I need details!” Leo begs. “What’s he like? What happens to him? Are me and him…? You know? What happens?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Casey says with a grin, before he turns and walks out of the room.

***

The next morning they’re having breakfast and watching an old Lou Jitsu film when Raph’s phone pings.

“Oh, it’s from Usagi,” Raph says with a mouthful of bacon.

Leo shoves past Donnie to get a glimpse at his phone. “What’d he say?” He demands.

“He said, Leo is a huge over-eager nerd who needs to stop acting like a lovesick puppy,” Raph says. April high-fives him.

“Hilarious,” Leo deadpans, angrily stealing a piece of toast from Raph’s plate.

“He said his sensei wants to meet with Pops, but then we’re probably good to hang,” Raph reports, and Mikey cheers.

“You good with that, Pops?” Raph asks. “He said we could meet at their restaurant after the lunch rush. I have the address,”

Splinter strokes his beard. “Your new friend’s sensei seems like a very formal man. Of course I’ll go meet him! I expect you all to be on your best behaviour today. Mikey, put on a clean mask. Donnie - take a bath. And Leo? Try to act civilized for just this one afternoon.”

***

Usagi’s restaurant is a couple Hidden City blocks away from Hueso’s. It’s tiny, and in a dingier part of town, but the restaurant itself is clearly well-kept. It’s got a fresh paint job, and a little neon sign in the window - and it smells utterly delicious. Before they go in Splinter licks his thumb and wipes Raph’s cheek, and gives Leo a warning look.

As they push through the door, a little bell tinkles, and Usagi looks over at them. He’s clearing a table, and instead of the cool hamaka he had on during their first encounter, he’s wearing a black apron with his ears tucked under a little bandana. He gives the boys a shy wave and then hurries toward the kitchen doors.

“It smells soooo good in here,” Mikey whispers.

“I wonder if being friends with Usagi will score us free meals?” Donnie whispers back. Splinter smacks him with his tail.

Usagi pops his head out of the swinging doors. “Hi!” He calls, “You can all, um, come back here. We’re just doing prep for dinner, so, uh, yeah,”

They wind their way through the tables and push through the doors - and holy shit, Usagi’s sensei is maybe the scariest guy Leo’s ever seen. And not just because he’s holding a big-ass butcher’s knife. He’s a tiger - a literal tiger - and he’s huge, like, Raph-height huge. He’s got beady eyes and sharp teeth and huge muscles - he’s pretty much the opposite of Usagi, honestly.

“Greetings,” he says in a deep, booming voice, “Welcome to our restaurant.” He bows, and says, “My name is Mifune Toshiro.”



Splinter - who looks hilariously tiny next to the giant cat - bows back. “Hamato Yoshi,” he says, “Thank you for inviting us in.”

“Hamato Yoshi?” The tiger repeats, and then says something to Splinter in Japanese. Splinter laughs, and responds in kind.

Usagi grins and looks over at the turtles, happily whispering something in Japanese.

Leo blinks at him. “Sorry, we, uh, don’t speak the language?”

“Oh,” Usagi whispers back, “I said ‘I didn’t know you guys were Japanese’ but I guess you’re maybe not?”

“Dad immigrated to the U.S. in the 70’s,” Donnie explains.

“Oh!” Usagi whispers, “They’re talking about that right now. This is great - they’re bonding!”

“Yuichi,” the tiger says, and Usagi straightens up.

“Hai sensei,” he says.

“Come here and let me introduce you.” Usagi does, and the tiger sets his huge paw on Usagi’s shoulder.

“This is my boy, Usagi Yuichi,” he says to Splinter, and Usagi bows.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Splinter says, “It is nice to meet you.”

He addresses Usagi’s sensei again: “These are my sons, Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michealangelo.”

Raph gives a little bow, Leo waves, Donnie nods, and Mikey says, “Hi!”

“You must have your hands quite full with four teenage sons,” the tiger says.

Splinter laughs. “You have no idea!”

The tiger resumes his meal prep, and he and Splinter continue their conversation in Japanese. The tiger wordlessly hands Usagi a knife, and he starts chopping bell peppers.

“Can I help!?” Mikey asks, never one to pass up on cooking. Usagi looks at his sensei.

“Why not?” The tiger says. “It’s thoughtful of you to offer help, Michealangelo.”

Splinter beams at his youngest, proud of him for making a good first impression.

The grown-ups go back to talking, and Leo jumps on the opportunity to talk to Usagi again.

“So,” he says, and Usagi looks up at him. Leo suddenly can’t think of what to say. Don’t say ‘come here often?’ don’t say, ‘come here often?’ his brain screams at him.

He leans on the counter. “You come here often?” God, damn it! Leo facepalms. The cringe is too much to handle. His brothers are snickering at him.

But Usagi laughs. “I do, actually!” Usagi says, now chopping green onion. “Is that always how you greet people?”

“No. Sorry. I have literally no idea why I said that, sorry.”



“Don’t apologize, I thought it was funny,” Usagi says with a little smile. Leo frantically tries to think of something to say that will make him smile again, but stupid polite friendly Raph beats him.

“How’s Spot?” He inquires.

“He’s great!” Usagi says, chopping with great efficiency despite not even looking at the cutting board. “He is very glad to be home. He slept like a baby!”

“He’s so cute!” Mikey squeals.

“I’d like to take a closer look him,” Donnie says, “I refuse to believe he’s a real comsognathus, tbh.”

“Are you calling me a liar?” Usagi says, tone serious, and he points his cutting knife at Donnie.

Donnie’s eyes are huge. “Whoa!” He says, “I’m just - “

“I’m only teasing,” Usagi says with a laugh, and Donnie flops forward in relief.

Mikey laughs. “He got your ass! You should’ve seen your face!”

“Boys?” Splinters calls, interrupting their merriment.

“We’ve come to an agreement,” the absolute unit of a tiger says.

Usagi stops cutting vegetables and looks up eagerly, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“You may train together once a week -“

“Yes!” All five boys chorus.

“As long as we see your skills improving,” the tiger continues.

“Yeah yeah yeah, sure,” Leo says.

“This is awesome!” Mikey adds.

“Thank you, sensei!” Usagi says, beaming. The tiger nods.

The meeting is cut short because the dinner crowd starts to show up, so the boys exchange waves and the grown-ups exchange handshakes, and they’re off. The handshake is hilarious, by the way - the tiger’s hand is like the size of Splinter’s whole body.

“I’ll see you on Saturday!” Usagi shouts, waving from the door of the restaurant.

“Bye!” The boys chorus.

“See you, Usagi!” Leo calls.

“Goodbye, Leonardo!” the rabbit calls back.

“Bye!” Leo shouts again. Donnie grabs him by the arm and drags him away before he can make an even bigger fool of himself.

***

Usagi, it turns out, has never been to the surface/human-world before. So when Saturday comes, Splinter and Usagi’s sensei have arranged to meet up at Hueso’s and go back to the lair from there. When the Hamatos get there, bone-man is chatting with the tiger-sensei like they’re old friends, which, I guess, they are. Usagi’s standing there in the same blue hamaka he had on the day they met him, smiling and nodding politely as the adults talk.

Leo slides up to him, saying “All set?”

“Hi,” Usagi says, sounding a bit breathless. He sneaks a shy glance at Leo. “Um, honestly? I’m a little nervous.”

“Aw, don’t be!” Leo says, punching his arm. “We’re only on the street for like, 45 seconds and then we’re underground. Besides, you’ll have the most badass ninja in NY with you!” He tosses his mask tails over his shoulder.

“Oh, you mean Michaelangelo?” Usagi teases, and Leo presses his hand to his chest in mock offence. Usagi laughs.

Splinter and Usagi’s sensei shake hands and exchange a few sentences, and then they’re out of Hueso’s and onto the streets of New York. Splinter leads the way, and Usagi stays sandwiched in between the boys, nervous. He tugs on one of his ears anxiously as he walks, and Leo tries not to stare because, seriously, that is so cute.

They’ve got the closest manhole cover open and are about to go down when a siren goes off in the distance. Usagi jumps about three feet in the air and grabs Leo’s arm.

“Just an ambulance,” Leo says. Usagi shakes his head, huffs out an awkward laugh, and says he’s sorry.

“It’s cool,” says Leo, and then they venture into the underground, safe from the craziness of New York.

When they get to the lair Splinter welcomes Usagi, tells his boys to give their guest a nice tour, and then says that his shows are on and that nobody better bother him unless someone gets their arm cut off.

“Ok,” Raph says, “tour in a sec, but first you’ve got to meet -“

“Apriiiiiiiiiiil O’Neeeeeeeil!” April announces, emerging from the living room at a run. She throws her hands in the air and shouts, “It’s so nice to meet - whoa!”

She’s cut off when Usagi leaps in front of the turtles and draws his katana, pointing it directly between April’s eyes.

“Whoa!”


“Hey, Usagi!”

“That’s our sister, dude!”

“Just chill!”

“Stop, man, that’s April!”

Usagi throws a glance over his shoulder. April raises her hands in the “I surrender” gesture.

“This is our friend April,” Raph rushes, “We were telling you about her the other day, remember?”

Usagi stares at April, slowly lowering his katana. “I’ve just never seen…” He says, and he keeps staring.

April puts a hand on her hip. “Oh hell no, the bunny’s racist!?”

Mikey gasps.

“What!?” Usagi says, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen a human before, is all I’m saying,”

April blinks at him. “You’ve never met a human?” Usagi shakes his head.

“Aw, well you can meet me!” She says, and advances on Usagi with her arm outstretched for a hug. Usagi gasps and retreats a few steps, half-hiding behind Leo. He peers over the turtle’s shoulder at April.

April looks between Usagi and the guys. “Anybody gonna help me out here?”

“Usagi, listen,” Leo says, turning to look at him. “Sorry we didn’t warn you that April’s human. She’s safe though, for real,”

“Yeah! We’ve known her for, like, ten years! She’s family,” Raph says.

“She’s awesome!” Mikey adds.

“She is my best friend and, in case you couldn’t already tell, I have immaculate taste,” Donnie says.

Usagi stares at April, who grins back at him and offers her hand to shake. “I don’t bite!” she says. Usagi takes a nervous step forward, tugging on his ear. He looks back at the turtles. Leo gives him a thumbs-up.

Usagi looks at April’s outstretched hand and gives a big sniff - adorable - before meeting her eyes and, finally, shaking her hand. April grins, and Usagi offers her a tiny, shy smile in return.

“There you go! Not so scary, am I?”

Usagi shakes his head. “And, um, sorry about…” he gestures to his katana, where it sits sheathed at his hip.

“I should beat your ass for that!” April says. “You’re lucky you’re so cute!”

With that awkward meeting out of the way, Usagi gets the grand tour of Casa Hamato.

“This is where the magic happens,” Leo says when they get to his subway car, hand on his hip as he gestures to his room.

“Oh, yeah,” Donnie says, “magic like writing Jojo fanfiction,”

“And throwing hissy fits about having ‘nothing to wear,’” Raph says.

“And scream-singing Queen songs,” Mikey adds.

Leo scowls at his brothers, and Usagi snorts.

“I like Queen, too,” Usagi says to Leo as they finish up their tour. “I see we share a superior taste in both music and weapons.” He nudges Leo’s shoulder with his own.

Leo feels sweaty all of the sudden. “Yeah!” He says dumbly, way too loud. God, why is he so un-smooth around this guy? Thankfully they reach the dojo right at that moment, before Leo can say anything else weird or stupid.

“So,” Raph says to Usagi, “What do you wanna do?”

“Um. Well I usually just train, like, by myself? So I don’t really know. What do you guys usually -?”

“Sparring!” Mikey says, “Ooh, Raphie, please? Let’s spar! I wanna fight Usagi!”

“I have been wanting an excuse to hit Leo,” Donnie agrees.

“Yay!” Mikey cries, and starts stalking over to Usagi.

“Hey, buddy, let’s maybe not make the new guy go first, huh?” Raph suggests. Mikey pouts but agrees. He and Raph ready up, and everyone else takes a seat to watch.

Usagi is delighted by their mystic powers. He watches the match with great intensity, eyes following their movements like he’s watching a tennis game. When the match ends, Usagi claps, and Mikey does a little curtsey.

“You wanna go next?” Raph asks Usagi, who agrees.

“I’ll -" Donnie and Leo both say at the same time.

“Shut the fuck up Don,” Leo whispers through clenched teeth. “I’ll fight him!” He yells.

Normally Donnie would protest, but actually, he’s starting to think that watching the match is going to be quite amusing, so he concedes.

Leo shakes his arms out and unsheaths a blade - just one. Usagi stands in a ready position, shoulders square, and raises an eyebrow.

“Just the one?” He questions.

“Yep,” Leo says, and then he leans in close to the rabbit’s face. “I’ll take it easy on ya,” he says with a wink, voice low.

Usagi glares at him. “Will you?”

“Ready?” Raph says, and is met with two nods - one cocky and one curt. “Fight!” He yells, and Mikey cheers.

And, alright, so maybe Leo gets humbled. It’s no big deal. It’s not that embarrassing. It’s seriously fine. It’s fine.

The second Raph says go, Usagi kicks Leo’s blade right out of his hand, and the turtle stumbles back in surprise. He goes to grab his other one - and then Usagi grabs him by the crook of that arm and flips Leo onto the ground. He hears Donnie laugh.

“Hey!” Leo shouts, but Usagi says nothing, eyes burning.

Leo tries to scramble to his feet but only makes it to his knees - Usagi’s got him in a headlock from behind in an instant. Leo grins and flips the rabbit over his shoulder, who lands on his back with a little “oof!”

They both scramble to their feet. “Still going easy on me?” Usagi taunts, finally drawing his sword.

“Not a chance,” Leo promises, reaching over his shoulder for his remaining katana.

Usagi grins and runs at him - their swords clash in front of their faces in a way that Leo is sure looks cool (and homoerotic) as hell. Like, seriously a movie moment, if he does say so himself.

They swing their swords frantically, with Mikey, April and Raph whooping in the background, and Leo actually manages to disarm Usagi with a flourish of his own blade.

“Hm,” Says Usagi, panting, “Now it’s a fair fight!”

“Ha! Don’t make me - OH!”

Leo’s totally awesome comeback dies when Usagi rushes at him and grabs him around the middle, slamming them both to the ground. It knocks the air out of Leo and before he can make a move Usagi’s on his feet, retrieving his blade, and pointing it down at Leo. He knows when he’s beat.

“That was awesome,” he says, out of breath, grinning up at Usagi. The rabbit smiles, sheaths his sword, and offers Leo a hand up. Like a total gentleman!

“It was,” Usagi smiles. “You fight well, despite your arrogance.”

“HA!” Donnie shouts.

“You are a very skilled fighter, Usagi,” says a voice from the door. Everyone turns to see Spinter standing in the doorframe, arms folded.

“Thank you,” Usagi says with a little bow of his head.

“Dad!” Leo shouts. “How, um. How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to see you get your ego checked.” Splinter says.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself, Papa,” Donnie says.

“I have the kettle boiling. When you’re all done training, there’s tea in the kitchen.” Splinter says, and makes his exit.

“Since when does Splints make us tea?” April says, nose wrinkled.

“Classic Dad behaviour,” Raph says, “Being extra nice when there’s a friend over.”

They spar for a bit longer, taking on new opponents. Usagi fights Mikey next, and it ends in a draw. The dude is seriously mad scuffed at hand-to-hand combat.

True to Splinter’s word, there’s green tea waiting for them in the kitchen, and they gather around the island counter as they sip away. Usagi and April are downright chatty, asking each other questions about their lives and their worlds. It’s a far cry from their meeting a mere hour ago - it’s so sweet to see.

“You’re staring,” Donnie whispers to Leo.

“And you’re being an asshole!” Leo hisses back.

“So, um.” Usagi says, addressing the group. “Is that true, what you said a few days ago? About your reason for being in Big Mama’s office? Did she really -" he lowers his voice, "did she really kidnap your father?"

“Oh, yeah, but that was, like, years ago!” Raph says. “Water under the bridge!”

“So why were you there?” Usagi wonders.

“She, uh,” Raph casts a glance at Leo, who’s now staring into his cup of tea like it’s the most fascinating thing on earth. “She, well, she wanted to talk about the Krang invasion. I dunno if you heard about -"

“Oh, I heard about it!” Usagi says, looking serious. “Were you all involved in that?”

How does he know about the Krang? Was it really that far-spread? Big Mama had said she’d heard Leo was on death’s door. How much do people know about this thing?

The Hamatos look around at each other. Leo looks at his tea.

“Um, yeah…” April says, “But it’s kind of hard to talk about -"

“It’s ok,” Leo says. “Honest. I’m good.”

“We were involved, yeah,” April says. “Us and our friend Casey. We actually, um, we actually stopped the invasion.”

Usagi gasps. April nods, and continues. “We kind of, um, went through a lot of shit, you know? So, sorry, but, it’s kinda hard to talk about.”

Usagi surveys the room, looking very serious. He nods. “The toughest battles leave the deepest scars,” he says, and he sounds very wise. “I am very sorry for brining it up. Let’s, um, let’s talk about something else, why don’t we?”

“Good idea,” says Mikey, and then he launches into a series of questions about Spot. Leo’s thankful for this. Beside him, Donnie bumps his arm. He looks up.

“You okay?” he says. Leo nods.

“Are you?” Leo asks. Donnie nods. “Thanks, bro.”

“Anytime.”

And then they jump back into the conversation with Mikey and Usagi. April’s patting Raph’s arm and whispering something to him. Raph nods, and they smile at each other, and then they rejoin, too.

God, Leo loves his family.

After their tea is done, Usagi checks the time on his ancient phone and cringes. “It’s late,” he says, “I have to go, guys, sorry!”

“Awwwww,” Miney whines, “Can’t you stay for a sleepover?”



Usagi shakes his head. “I would love to, honestly, but I’m helping sensei open tomorrow. Plus, I, um. I’ve never had a sleepover before and I’m not sure if he would approve.”

The Hamatos gasp.

“You’ve never had a sleepover!?” Leo says, horrified.

“You’ve not lived, brother, truly. I pity you,” says Donnie.

Usagi laughs. “Listen, I’ll work on it. I think if our training goes well for a little while he might say yes. But I definitely can’t tonight. Also, you know, Spot would miss me.”

“Awww,” says Raph, “You’ve gotta get home to that little guy!”

Usagi smiles, and then stands. “Um,” he says, looking a little awkward, “Could someone…? Can someone walk me back to Hueso’s? The human world is still a bit frightening, sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, dude!” Says April, “I don’t walk alone at night either, and I’ve lived here my whole life! One of the boys’ll take you, right guys?”

“I will!” Mikey says, half a second before Leo does. “C’mon, dude, let’s get you home!”

“Okay,” Usagi laughs. Then he turns to the group: “Thank you all. Truly. This was great! You’re all very skilled fighters, and, you know, it’s nice to have people my age I can talk to.” He got all sheepish towards the end of his little speech, but he’s still smiling.

“No problem, man,” says Donnie.

“Looking forward to next week already!” says Raph.

“Yeah,” Leo says, trying desperately to think of something cool and suave to say but coming up short.

“You!” Usagi says, pointing at Leo. He narrows his eyes but he’s still smiling. “I’m expecting a rematch next time. And I’m expecting you to not pull your punches!”

“Oh, you’re so on!” Leo says. “You’re not gonna know what hit you!”

Usagi grins. “We’ll see.” He turns to April. “Apologies for acting so brutish when we met. I should have known someone as beautiful and poised as you are would mean no harm,” he says with a little bow.

“Oh, stop it!” April says, smiling. She swats at him. “You’ll make me blush!”

Usagi smiles and then starts out of the kitchen, Mikey in tow, but he stops short. “Oh!” He says, “Thank your father for the tea and hospitality for me, please!” And then, with one last wave, he’s gone. God, he’s so respectful. King shit!

As soon as Mikey and Usagi’s footsteps fade, Leo and his siblings start talking about their new rabbit friend.

“He is seriously crazy with that katana!”



“He’s so respectful! Pops loves him, I can tell,”

“I literally want to squeeze him he’s so cute. Did y’all know I had a pet bunny in elementary school?”

“I hope he can meet the Caseys soon!”

“Did you see how he flipped over Mikey when they -“

“Yes! And when he -“

“He’s seriously so cool, guys,” Leo says with a sigh.

“Dude’s down bad,” says Raph.

“Simp behaviour,” Donnie agrees.

“Listen, guys,” Leo says, “Yeah, I totally think he’s super cool and mega cute or whatever, but I don’t want to be, like, weird or anything. I’m just glad to be friends with him, you know?”

“That’s…weirdly mature of you, Leo.” says April. Raph hums in agreement.

“Leo? Being thoughtful and self-reflective? For a boy? He’s got it even worse than we thought!” Donnie says. Leo punches his arm.

***

The next Saturday, Raph gets a text from Usagi asking if they’re still good to train that evening. Raph types back a yes and a big smiley face, and they go to meet him at Hueso’s.

Leo’s in a bad mood - he hardly slept the night before and his brothers were seriously useless in helping him pick out a rad training outfit. He’s a little nervous about seeing Usagi today, and plus, it's snowing hard, and the sky is all dark and grey, and it’s reminding Leo a little too much of a certain prison dimension.

When they get to Hueso’s, Usagi smiles and waves, and Splinter and his sensei talk, and then they set off for the lair, same as last week. Usagi still tugs on his ear and looks around nervously. Leo doesn’t have the energy to make a jokey comment about it today.

Today instead of sparring they’re doing drills and working out - which Leo really appreciates because he doesn’t much feel like performing right now. He’s vaguely aware of what the others are doing - Mikey’s using the jump rope, Donnie’s spotting April’s bench-presses, Usagi’s at the punching bag, Raph’s doing core work. But mostly he keeps to himself. It’s just One Of Those Days, you know?

He’s sitting at the weight bench pretending to be busy when Usagi approaches him.

“Hi,” the bunny says with a little smile.

“Hi,” Leo returns.

“You’re terribly quiet today,” Usagi notes, sitting on the bench beside Leo. “You’re usually the loudest one in the room!”

Leo cracks a tiny smile. “Sorry. Having a weird day, I guess.”

Usagi surveys him. “Well, I hope you feel better soon. I really miss your jokes,” he says, and then he pats Leo’s knee and hurries off to do cardio with April.

Huh. Leo wonders if he meant that. Some days are hard, but I guess family and friends can make it a little better.

They have tea again, afterwards, and Raph walks Usagi back to Hueso’s.

Leo sleeps terribly that night. After three hours of tossing and turning he gives up, grabs his blanket, and shuffles to Donnie’s room. He feels like a little baby as he crawls into bed with his twin, but Donnie doesn’t say anything sarcastic or patronizing, he just scoots over.

In the morning when Leo finally slinks back to his own room, he’s got a new text on the screen of his phone. It’s from Usagi.

I hope you get feeling better! :) You better be ready for next Saturday - Raphael says we’re sparring again and it would be totally embarrassing for you to lose twice in a row!

Leo smiles.

***

The next few Saturday evenings pass in largely the same manner. They pick Usagi up from Hueso’s, they train, they have tea, someone walks Usagi back. It’s been going great and it’s super fun - Leo even managed to win a sparring match against Usagi!

They’d been working on hand-to-hand combat that week, so no weapons. It was a hard fight, but a great one, and Leo had just barely won by pinning Usagi at the last second. They’d been on the ground for a good minute, scrambling for leverage in the fight, and Leo had thrown the rabbit off his balance and pinned him, flat on his back, pressing his arms into the ground. Usagi had looked at him with these huge eyes, surprised, and he hadn’t even tried to fight back. Leo took that W - it went straight to his ego.

This Saturday they’re all excited - Usagi’s going to meet the Caseys tonight. They pick Usagi up from Hueso’s, and when they get back to the lair Casey and Casey Jr. are waiting. April had filled Usagi in on the whole Casey’s-from-the-future-and-knew-all-of-us-so-if-he-says-something-weird-just-go-with-it thing, so there hopefully won’t be any surprises or katana-unsheathing tonight.

“Hello!” Casey Sr. yells the second she sees Usagi, a decibel too loud as always. Usagi gives her a little bow.

“You must be Usagi!” she shouts. “I’ve heard you are a great warrior. We’ll see about that!”

Usagi smiles. “I’ve heard the same about you! It would be an honour to train with you.”

“Hey,” Casey Jr. says, awkward as ever. It must be seriously so weird seeing people you used to know. “I’m Casey - er, Casey Jr., I guess.”

“Usagi,” the rabbit says, with a little bow and a smile. Casey Jr. surveys Usagi carefully.

“Quit staring, boy!” Cass says.

“Sorry,” Casey blinks. “I - we’ve met,”

“So I’ve heard,” Usagi says, tone kind and soft. “I think what you did is very brave and honourable. I hope that, when you knew me, I was as brave an honourable as you are.”

God, he’s so good with words, Leo thinks.

Little Casey softens. “You were! And you’re exactly the same as I remember you,”

Casey and Usagi grin at each other, and then the gang heads to the dojo for some sparring. April meets them there, and Usagi makes a big show of greeting her with a compliment and a kiss on the hand like he always does.

“April! You are looking as radiant as the last time I saw you,” he says sweetly.

“You are too much!” April laughs.

Training is awesome today - Usagi fights Cass and it’s crazy to witness. Cass is so loud and erratic and rage-fuelled, and Usagi is so quiet and focused. It ends in a draw, and Casey Sr. grabs the rabbit’s hand and shakes it furiously, shouting something about fierce warriors and worthy adversaries.

“That was awesome,” Leo whispers to Usagi when he flops down onto the ground beside the turtle.

“Thanks!” Usagi whispers back with a smile.

“So, hey,” Leo says, as a match between Donnie and Casey Jr. gets underway, “did you ask your sensei about having a sleepover?”

Leo stares at him expectantly.

“I… did,” Usagi says.

“And?”

“And he said yes,” Usagi whispers.

“Bro!” Leo whisper-shouts, throwing his hands in the air. “Why didn’t you say anything!?”

“I didn’t know if the offer still stood!” Usagi says.

“You are such a little nerd,” Leo says. Usagi swats at him jokingly.

“Oh,” Leo says, “You wanna go? You wanna play that game?”

Usagi laughs and swats at him again, but Leo catches him by the wrist. Usagi, quick as always, uses his free hand to poke Leo in the ribs.

Leo gasps. “Oh, it is so on!”

He side tackles Usagi and they kick and fight and roll for a minute, but they quickly dissolve into laughter and have to stop.

Across the room, Donnie clears his throat, and Leo notices that everyone is starting to file out to the living room.

“If you two are quite finished flirting, we’re having tea,” he says, and then turns on his heel and leaves.

Leo and Usagi look at each other, and then quickly look away, and then Leo scrambles to his feet. He offers Usagi a hand up, which the rabbit takes despite being beet red.

“So, um, tea?” Usagi says.

“Tea! Yes, oh, I love tea, yeah no tea for sure,” Leo fumbles.

They make eye contact again and then quickly look away. “So, yeah. Let’s. Um. Let’s go do that.” Smooth.

When they join the others in the living room there’s a full-scale war being waged about what movie is going to be watched that night. Cass, Donnie, and April are advocating for Terminator, but Raph and Mikey just keep chanting “Encanto! Encanto! Encanto!” Poor Casey Jr. is trying and failing to placate the situation.

“Movie night?” Leo asks the room, passing Usagi a Mickey Mouse mug full of freshly-steeped tea.

“Yes!” April shouts. “Leon, tell these idiots Terminator is a certified classic!”

“Leoooooo,” Mikey whines, “tell these meanies Encanto is a modern-day masterpiece!”

“Just get them to shut up.” Casey Jr. pleads.

“Why don’t we just watch Jupiter -“

“We’re not watching Jupiter Jim!” At least five people in the room chorus.

“Usagi, I wish you could stay! I bet you like the best movies,” Mikey says.

“Oh, dear brother!” Leo says, hands on his hips, “but he COULD stay!”



“What!?” Mikey demands.

Leo nudges Usagi. “Um. My sensei said that I could have a sleepover sometime, but -“

“LET’S GOOOOOOOOOO!” Mikey screams.

“Usagi, that’s awesome!”

“Dude, this is going to be so fun!”

“Well, he didn’t say I could stay tonight, per se, just that -“

“So call him and ask!” Donnie says, reaching into Usagi’s pocket with one of his robotic arms and shoving the ancient cellular device into the rabbit’s hands.

“Call him!” Says Raph. “Call him! Call him!”

He starts a chant. Everybody joins in. “Call him! Call him! Call him!”

Usagi laughs and concedes, shouting, “Okay! Fine!” before ducking out of the room to call the tiger.

He comes back in 2 and a half minutes later. Everyone waits with baited breath. Usagi nods, breaks into a grin, and everyone cheers.

“Your first sleepover!” Raph shouts.

“This is awesome - oh my God, I’m going to make brownies,” Mikey says, zipping off to the kitchen.

“We have got to do ALL the most epic sleepover things,” April squeals.

“What are all the most epic sleepover things?” Usagi asks.

If this were a movie, this is where the cheesy montage would go. They stuff themselves with junk food, have the world’s most violent pillow fight. They paint their nails, they crank call Draxum. They start to watch a movie (Usagi’s choice - Enter the Dragon) but then abandon it halfway to chat and gossip instead.

“Okay,” April says eventually, “I think that’s most of the classic epic sleepover things!”

“Most?” Usagi asks. His stomach hurts from laughing so hard and it’s almost 1 in the morning - he doesn’t know what else they could possibly do.

“I mean,” April says, “There’s still, like, playing ding-dong-ditch, stealing a parental figure’s expensive wine, karaoke, joyriding, and talking about what cute boys we like, but I feel like we’ve covered enough tonight.”

“Leo’s great at that last one,” Donnie mumbles. Leo throws a half-eaten bag of Doritos at his head.

Usagi perks up. “Karaoke!? I love karaoke!”

“Well then bust out the tunes!” Leo shouts, but he’s shushed by Raph. Raph points at the couch, where Mikey and Casey Jr. are absolutely passed out. Just utterly zonked. Far away in dreamland.

“Awww,” April says.

“Shhh!” Cass hisses, “You’ll wake the babies!”

The babies in question are then picked up by Raph as if they weigh nothing - which, to him, they do. Raph carries them to Mikey’s room as quietly and gently as a gigantic mutated snapping turtle can.

Donnie tries - and fails - to stifle a yawn.

“Aww,” Leo says in a baby voice, “Is Donnie-wonnie sleepy-weepy?”

“You sound like Big Mama,” Donnie says, and Leo fake wretches.

“Dibs on bunking with Dee!” April says, “And dibs on the memory foam pillow!”

“Ohoho, sweet April,” Donnie says, patting her head, “You’ll have to kill me for it!”

And then they race off, tripping and pulling and shoving each other the whole way.

Raph returns, sleepily rubbing his eyes.

“Time for bed, eh Big Raphie?” Cass says, jabbing Raph with her elbow.

“Oh, I could stay up for ages,” Raph says.

“Well, I could stay up for more ages!”

“Oh yeah?”



“Yeah!”

“Staring contest?”

“Staring contest!”

They head towards Raph’s subway car, Cass walking backwards so that their staring contest can be maintained.

“Wait, time-out!” Raph says, and Cass nods. The two blink furiously.

“Leo, you gonna -? Uh, If you need anything in the night just come get me, ok?” He gives Leo a smile and a firm nod.

“I will,” Leo says. “Thanks, bro. I mean it,”

“Ok, time-in!” Cass shouts, and the epic staring match resumes.

And then there were two. The cozy living room feels, like, way too empty and way too intimate at the same time as Leo stands here alone with the guy he’s totally into.

“Hi,” Usagi says.

“Hey,” says Leo.

“Should we -? Where should I…?”

“Oh!” Leo says. “Oh, uh, you can stay in my room if you want. Or like, or if you don’t want to that’s totally cool, um, you could sleep on the couch? Or wait, that’s rude, I can sleep on the couch? Or -“

“I’ll stay with you,” Usagi says, and Leo’s brain short-circuits for a second.

“Ok,” is all he manages, and then he just kind of…stands there.

“So should we…should we go?” Usagi says, sounding like he’s trying not to laugh.

“Oh! Yes, yeah, let’s - let’s do that.” Leo’s glad his brothers aren’t here to see him fumbling.

They stop on the way for an air mattress and a bunch of blankets. It’s so quiet - Leo hates not having something to stay. They get ready for bed, and Usagi asks Leo if he has any extra pyjamas.

“Sorry! I would have brought my own, but it was last-minute,”

“No worries,” Leo says, “Check my bottom drawer.”

Leo runs to the kitchen to get a couple glasses of water, and when he gets back he almost has a heart attack, legit.

Because Usagi’s standing there in Leo’s old plaid pyjama pants, and the ratty band t-shirt-turned-sleep-shirt he’s wearing is hanging halfway down to his knees, and he has his ears down out of their usual ponytail, and honestly Leo thinks that Usagi should be thrown in jail for the crime of looking too cute.

“Hi?” Usagi says after Leo has just kind of stood there in silence for a few too many seconds.

“Hi,” Leo says, but his brain isn’t working fast enough to come up with anything to say next. He’ll blame it on the fact that it’s 1 am, but he’s lying to himself.

Then there’s this awkward silence, and it’s so weird because Usagi’s so easy to talk to, but he can’t think of anything to say.

Suddenly, Usagi gets a mischievous look on his face and says, “So, you come here often?”

Leo can’t help it, he cracks up. “You’re terrible!” He says between laughs. Usagi’s laughing too hard to respond.

“Go to sleep, asshole, I’m done talking to you!” Leo manages to get out once the giggles have subsided a bit.

“Fine, fine,” Usagi says, voice wavering at the end before he submits to another fit of laughter. They do manage to get ahold of themselves, somehow, and settle into their beds. Leo fires a nerf dart at his light switch, but misses, which makes Usagi laugh again. His fourth shot hits the light switch.

“That was so impressive,” Usagi giggles. Leo pretends to blow smoke off the end of his nerf gun.

It’s still pretty bright in here - Leo sleeps with his fairy lights on ever since the - um - yeah. He hopes Usagi doesn’t mind.

Leo hears his friend shifting around and he leans over the edge of the bed to see Usagi burrowing down under a massive pile of blankets - he’s seriously barely visible he’s so snuggled up. It takes every fibre of Leo’s being to refrain from saying, you look so cute and cozy.

“Thanks for having me over,” Usagi says, voice quiter now. “I have had so much fun,”

“Dude, you can stay over anytime! You could stay over every Saturday, if you wanted to. Or, if you were allowed, I guess,”

Usagi hums. “I might have to. We didn’t get to do karaoke yet, after all.”

“Man, Mikey would be so happy if you did. He thinks you’re, like, the coolest ever.”



“I am the coolest ever.”

“Second to me, of course.”

“Ha! Maybe in your dreams, Leonardo.”

They lay there in a comfortable silence for a moment.

“Hey, Usagi?”

“Hmm?”

“Sometimes I, um, sometimes I get up a bunch in the night because I have n- just to, um, you know, check on my brothers and stuff. It’s weird, sorry, but like, I just wanted to tell you in case I accidentally wake you up and freak you out, so, uh, yeah,”

“I don’t think it’s weird, and I don’t think you need to apologize,” Usagi says, immediately, and he sounds so genuine that Leo actually believes him.

“It’s just that -“

“We all have burdens to carry and things that keep us up at night. I don’t think that makes you weird, or weak. I think it makes you a great warrior and a loving brother.”

Leo ponders this. It’s a lot. But Usagi sounds so certain. It makes Leo feel warm.

“Ok.” He says. “Ok. Thank you. And, uh…night,”

“Goodnight,” Usagi says. And then, after a few beats of silence: “Soooo, you come here often?”

They bust out into a laughing fit again.

Leo only wakes up once in the night, which is good, and he doesn’t wake up because of a nightmare or anything, which is really good. At around 5 in the morning he finds himself awake, staring at his ceiling, and even though he’s not having a full-blown panic attack or anything he does still feel the need to go check on everyone.

He skirts around Usagi - the only part of him that’s visible is his ears, the rest is lost in a nest of blankets - and clicks his phone light on when he gets out of his room.

Dad is safe and snoring heavily. Good.

Mikey and Casey Jr. are still passed out in Mikey’s room - Raph has tucked them in snugly. Good.

Donnie and April are out like lights - April had got the memory foam pillow after all. Good.

Raph and Cass are sleeping like babies - Cass is spread-eagled taking up most of the huge bed and poor, giant Raph is relegated to the very edge of the mattress. Hilarious. And good.

Everything’s good. Leo does a quick check of himself - no aches and pains, no racing heart. Good.

He sneaks back into his room and barely has any trouble at all falling back to sleep. He thinks about what Usagi said to him earlier. Everything is pretty good.

The next morning Leo wakes up to the smell of fresh pancakes, and in a brilliant moment of early morning foginess he jumps out of bed and trips directly over Usagi, still sleeping on his air mattress.

“Wh -?” Usagi jolts awake and tries to scramble away but he’s trapped under the weight of a giant turtle. Usagi blinks at him for a minute, like he’s still half-asleep.

“Good morning?” The rabbit says

“Sorry! I kinda forgot you were here,”

“What a thoughtful host,” Usagi says, and it makes Leo laugh.

“I smell pancakes,” he says, “Shall we?”

Usagi nods and untangles himself from his many, many blankets. He’s bleary-eyed and the fur on his cheek is sticking up funny from having slept on it. Leo suppresses a laugh and an “aww” at the same time.

In the kitchen, Mikey has the radio loud and the grill hot.

“Morning, Usagi!” Mikey greets cheerfully.

“What am I, chopped liver?” Leo asks.

Raph, Casey, Little Casey, and Splinter are crowded around the kitchen island, already scarfing down hot chocolate-chip pancakes. Donnie’s absence is unspurpising - he’s not really a morning person, and April tends to indulge him.

“Here!” Mikey says, sliding a plate down the counter. It’s got a gigantic pancake shaped like a bunny on it.

Usagi laughs. “This is amazing! You made this?”

Mikey beams and launches into his very serious gourmet pancake-making process.

“Did you sleep well, blue?” Splinter asks, drawing Leo’s attention, and he nods.

“Good,” Splinter says, and pats him on the arm.

Mikey keeps the pancakes coming - shaped like turtles and hockey sticks and swords and hearts.

When it’s time for Usagi to leave, it’s snowing like crazy. Leo offers to walk him back, but Splinter insists that he will, citing the fact that turtles are cold-blooded.

“Besides, I want a word with Mifune, anyway.”

“About what?” Leo demands.

“Mind your business!” Splinter says. He turns to Usagi. “I wish my sons were half as respectful as you!” Usagi smiles but has the decency to try to hide it behind his hand.

When Splinter gets back, he has an annoncement. Raph and April have to physically drag Donnie out of bed.

“Here’s the deal,” the rat starts, “I talked to your rabbit friend’s sensei, and he has agreed to also give the boy Fridays off -“

He’s cut off by a series of whoops and cheers.

“IF!” Splinter shouts, quelling the kids. “If Usagi proves that his training has been beneficial. Mifune is coming to watch training next week, and then he will decide. He is a strict man, but he seems genuinely happy that his boy has made some friends. He’s willing to give Usagi more free time, but you all have to prove that you’ve been working hard. Basically what I’m saying is, don’t screw this up!”

“Oh, we won’t!” Raph says, punching his palm in determination.

“We’re gonna show that tiger what the Mad Dogz can do!” Mikey promises.

“And can he keep having sleepovers?” Leo asks.

“Yes, blue, he can keep having sleepovers.”

“If he still wants to, after rooming with your annoying ass,” Donnie says.

***

Next Saturday afternoon, the Mad Dogz are uncharacteristically nervous.

April’s hanging with Sunita, and the Caseys are at the ice rink, so it’s just them. Which is unfortunate, because a Cass-Usagi fight is seriously wicked to witness.

They meet at Hueso’s and bone-man sends them on their way with a free pizza - for good luck, he says. Splinter and Usagi’s sensei lead the way, conversing in Japanese and laughing often.

Usagi slides up to Leo. “Hey,” he whispers. He’s tugging on his ear again.

“Hey, bunny boy. You trying to pull that thing off?” Leo says with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m so nervous!” Usagi whispers. “I want to make sensei proud of me,”

“You will!” Leo says, and Usagi smiles at him. “As long as you don’t face off against me,” Leo adds.

Usagi scoffs. “Please!” He laughs.

“Usagi!” Mikey interjects, stepping between Leo and Usagi and latching onto the rabbit’s arm. “You’re going to kill it today, man, I just know it! And then it’s sleepovers for days!”

“Thank you, Michaelangelo,” he says with a smile, but he’s still nervously tugging his ear.

In the dojo, Splinter and Usagi’s sensei seat themselves by the door, settled in with a cup of tea each and a stern look on the tiger’s face.

“Go ahead,” Splinter calls, “Just do what you normally do!”

“Uh,” Raph says, “Well, why don’t we spar?” The others nod. “Usagi, you wanna go first, or -?”

He’s cut off by Usagi frantically shaking his head ‘no,’ so fast he almost whips Leo in the side of the head with his ears.

“Okay,” Raph says, “Well, me and Donnie will start then.”

“Why me!?” Donnie pleads.

“Fine,” says Raph, “Let’s put it to a vote. 1…2…3…”

“Donnie,” his brothers chorus. The Donnie in question sighs but stands up.

Donnie and Raph spar, and then Mikey and Usagi, and then Leo and Raph. Usagi keeps nervously glancing back at his sensei looking for any sign of approval, but the tiger is stoic.

After Mikey and Donnie face off, Usagi’s sensei speaks.

“Yuichi,” he says, deep voice booming. “Why don’t you spar with Leonardo? Surely you’ve gained some new katana skills, seeing as you share the same weapon,”

“Hai, sensei,” Usagi says, and he goes to tug on his ear but stops himself at the last minute.

Leo unsheathes a blade and stands in the ready position. Usagi mirrors him. He looks nervous.

“Hey. You’ve got this!” Leo says, and Usagi gives him a smile and a short, determined nod.

It’s a good fight - a really good fight. As soon as one of them gets the upper hand, the other takes it, in a way that’s equal parts frantic and harmonious. Usually Leo’s brothers would be whooping and hollering, but today the only noise is the clang of metal and the sound of heavy breathing.

At one point their blades clash and Leo sends Usagi’s katana flying - he’s disarmed.

“Had enough yet?” Leo taunts. Usagi shoots him a look that’s a combination of a grin and a glare, and Leo has just enough time to think, that was kinda hot, before Usagi slide-tackles him and, in one fluid motion, snatches Leo’s own katana out of his hands as the turtle falls. Raph, Donnie, and Mikey gasp in unison.

“Not quite,” Usagi says, pointing Leo’s own blade at his throat. Usagi keeps swinging at him and Leo tries to dodge, but soon enough he’s backed up against the wall and he knows he’s caught. He hold his hands up in surrender and Usagi lowers his blade.

“Well done!” Splinter calls from the other side of the room.

“Boys,” the tiger booms, and gestures for everyone to come gather round.

Leo’s got his hands on his knees catching his breath, and Usagi hands him his sword back.

“That was awesome!” Leo pants.

“Yeah,” Usagi agrees, breathless.

“Seriously badass to use my own katana like that.”

“Are you trying to flatter me?” Usagi asks with a mischievous grin, cocking his head to the side.

“Depends,” Leo says, straightening up. “Is it working?”

Usagi smiles and turns his back, starting to walk over to where the others are gathering. He takes a few steps and then looks over his shoulder, saying, “Maybe!”

And damn it, Leo had just caught his breath and now his heart’s racing again.

The boys all meet with Splinter and sensei, and it’s great news. Usagi has impressed his teacher, and Splinter’s sons have done the same. Usagi is granted Fridays off.

“But you must still train on Saturdays!” The tiger warns. “No goofing off!”

Leo fights the urge to say, me? goof off? never!

Usagi’s nodding excitedly. “Of course, sensei, thank you, sensei!”

The huge tiger claps Usagi on the shoulder and the poor bunny’s knees buckle slightly. “You should be proud of yourself, my boy. You deserve to have some fun.”

Usagi smiles up at him, and his sensei ruffles the fur on his head.

Leo gives Usagi a huge thumbs-up, which catches the tiger’s eye. He looks from Usagi to Leo for a moment, appearing deep in thought. “You two seem like a good match,” he says finally.

Leo very politely pretends he doesn’t see Usagi blushing.

***

They had meant to have a sleepover celebration that night, they really had, but between the stress of performing well and the exertion of sparring, the boys are all ready for bed by, like, 9. They’re in the living room trying to watch Jupiter Jim 2, but Mikey’s already curled up against Raph’s side, fast asleep, and Donnie is staring into space not really seeing the movie.

Usagi, bless him, is really trying to stay awake. He keeps nodding off, and then waking with a start, ears sticking straight up and jumping a little.

“Alright, I’m callin’ it,” Raph says when Donnie finally nods off. “Epic celebration sleepover postponed!”

Leo agrees and shuts the movie off. Raph goes to pick up Mikey, but he stirs and blinks himself awake.

“Hey!” Mikey says, voice tired and small, “You were going to carry me, weren’t you? Raphie! I’m not a baby! I can walk!”

Raph raises an eyebrow. “Go ahead, then.”

Mikey yawns and then scowls. “Just carry me!” he pouts. ‘Not a baby’ my ass, Leo thinks fondly.

“Night, guys,” Raph says, and Mikey gives a little wave from over his shoulder.

Donnie’s woken up and is rubbing his eyes. “What time is it?”

“My god, Don, you’re finally awake!” Leo shouts. “It’s June, you’ve been sleeping for -“

“Hilarious, Nardo. Don’t make me put you back in another coma. I promise you the next one will be less medically-induced and more fist-induced.”

Then he turns to Usagi and gives him a perfectly normal and pleasant ‘Goodnight.’

Leo goes to make a joke but Usagi looks at him with his big brown eyes full of worry. “You were in a… coma?” He says, whispering the last word.

Leo sighs and rubs the back of his neck, starting towards his room. Usagi follows. Part of Leo is glad Usagi wants to sleep in his room again, but the other, larger part is more focused on the suddenly-serious turn this conversation has taken.

“Yeah. For a little over three weeks.” He says, with a shrug.

Usagi opens his mouth to say something, then closes it again. He seems like he’s choosing his words carefully.

“I didn’t… I didn’t know it was that bad,” he says quietly as they enter Leo’s subway car. “I’m sorry.”

Leo stops walking and looks anywhere but at Usagi. “S’ok. ‘M better now,” he says simply.

“If you ever want to, you know. Talk about it. I’m here,” Usagi offers. Leo looks at him then, and Usagi gives him tiny sympathetic smile.

“Thanks,” Leo says, “I mean it, thanks for saying that.”

Usagi nods. “Maybe we should get some sleep?” he suggests. Leo nods.

They settle into bed, Usagi on his air mattress in his gigantic nest of blankets.

Leo wakes up a few times through the night. The first two times he just makes his little rounds and gets back to sleep after he’s checked on everyone. But the third time he has a nightmare, and it’s 4 am, and box-breathing isn’t working and he’s trying really hard to keep it together but nothing is working. Eventually he admits defeat, grabbing his pillow and padding down the hall to Raph’s room like he’s a little kid. He feels so stupid. Today was a great day! So why is this happening? Why now? He fights back frustrated tears. He pushes open the door to Raph’s room and finds his big brother already awake.

“Can’t sleep?” Raph whispers. Leo shakes his head. “Me neither. Wanna watch a movie?” Leo nods.

They eventually do fall asleep, halfway through Mulan, thanks to the comfort of proximity.

Some days are good. Some days are bad. Some are both. Leo’s getting better at dealing with it.

***

The next Friday is cold and crisp, and the boys decide they’re going to have a snow day. Raph texts Usagi and tells him to bring warm clothes, and then meets him at Hueso’s in the early afternoon.

They arrive back to the lair and Usagi’s got on a thick knit scarf wrapped so high that it covers his nose. He’s got mittens to match, and one of the thickest, puffiest, fur-trimmed coats they’ve ever seen.

Donnie pinches the fur-lined hood of his jacket and says, “Doesn’t your own fur keep you warm?”

“Don’t you ever get tired of being so pedantic?” Usagi says back good-naturedly.

“Ha!” April shouts.

“Ok,” Raph says, looking at his phone, “the Caseys are gonna meet us at the park. Let’s get going,”

“The park?” Usagi says, ears perking up. “We’re going aboveground?”

“Don’t worry!” Mikey says, “We go out in winter all the time. We’re so bundled up that people don’t notice…our whole situation!”

Usagi looks skeptical, but agrees to go, so after everyone’s all bundled up they head up to the surface.

Usagi watches cars pass and listens to the hustle and bustle of the city with curiosity. He sticks real close to the group, but seems more at ease once they pass a dozen humans without any of them batting an eye.

“Raph!” Someone shouts, and they all turn to see Casey Sr. yelling at them from where she sits atop Casey Jr.’s shouters. They seem to be making some sort of incredibly buff snowman.

They have a delightfully whimsical afternoon, sledding and having snowball fights and what have you. Usagi is ruthless in a snowball fight - he and Donnie and Cass almost get into an actual fistfight before Raph makes them all shake hands and call a truce. It’s not until the sun starts setting that they call it a day, and even then it’s only because it’s getting super cold. Poor Mikey tries to make a snow angel, but he’s shivering so hard the wings get all screwed up.

Raph surveys his freezing crew. “Race home?” He asks.

“Readysetgo!” Cass yells, and is off like a rocket.

When they get home and out of their snow gear, Mikey makes everyone hot chololate. They drink it all bundled up in the living room. Splinter even drags out one of the heat lamps the boys used to lay under when they were babies, which Donnie gladly sprawls out under. Usagi has a bunch of snow in his fur, and it keeps dripping all over the place. Finally, he lets out a frustrated sigh, takes his ears out of their ponytail, and wrings them out like a dishcloth, which makes everyone laugh. He’s not wearing his formal hamaka today, but is instead in cozy track pants and a turtleneck sweater that pushes the fur on his chin up a little. Leo wants to push him into traffic.

“Movie night?” Casey Jr. suggests, and after a lot of debate they settle on Mama Mia: Here We Go Again.

Usagi’s never seen this one, and when the first glorious notes of Abba music play he gasps like he’s won the lottery. “I know this one! Abba!”

“Oh, sweet Usagi, you’re in for a real treat.” Says Donnie. “This musical is entirely composed of Abba songs!”

“That is amazing!” Usagi grins.

“Theatre kid moment,” Cass says. Despite this, she sings along to all the songs with everybody else.

Usagi is utterly delighted, and keeps saying, “I know this one!” every time a song starts. He’s a little shy at first, but by the time Waterloo plays he’s scream-singing as loud as anyone else.

They call it an early night tonight - they do still have training in the morning. Everyone says their goodnights and turn in to their respective rooms. Usagi follows Leo into his room - he likes that they don’t even have to have a conversation about it, they just know they’ll be having a sleepover. When they’re trying to sleep, Usagi keeps humming Abba songs and Leo has to chuck a pillow at him to shut him up.

*** 

After training the next day, everyone’s in the kitchen discussing sleepover plans as seriously as war generals discuss battle plans.

April’s phone gets a ping, and she lights up as she reads the notification. “Do y’all mind if Suni joins us tonight?”

“Dude. She knows she’s always welcome here!” Raph says. April grins and shoots off a text.

“My girlfriend,” April explains to Usagi. “She’s great, you’ll love her! And she’s not even human, so don’t even think about pulling a sword on her!” She warns.

“If she’s even half as lovely as you are, April, I’m sure she’s wonderful,” Usagi says.

“Always the charmer,” April says, leaning over the kitchen island to pinch his cheek.

Leo finds himself wondering, for, like, the millionth time, if their new friend is straight.

After dinner they go pick up Sunita, and they take the turtle tank. Usagi is in awe of the vehicle, and gives it many comments that helpfully go directly to Donnie’s already-massive ego.

“Joyride!” Cass shouts as they pull out onto the street.

“Epic sleepover task #1, a-check!” Mikey says, giving her a fistbump.

April cranks the stereo up to the max and puts their ‘Cruisin Like A Boss’ playlist on. Everybody got to contribute songs to this so it’s an…interesting mix of songs to be sure. It’s tonal whiplash. Some noise-rock song comes on first - it sounds like a car being put through a blender (Donnie’s choice). Then Sunflower comes on (Mikey), and then Landslide (Raph), and then Shake That (Cass), and then Hot Stuff (April). And then CPR comes on - which is definitely one of Leo’s favourite songs, but he frantically skips it.

“What the hell, Leon, you love that song,” Donnie says, changing it back.

“Do not!” Leo says, and tries to skip it again, but Donnie’s done some of his tech-magic and the song doesn’t change.

His twin grins at him with an evil glint in his eye. “What’s wrong? You think our new friend can’t handle a song with some vulgarity?”



“What could possibly be more vulgar than that song about shaking ass!?” Usagi demands, eyes wide.

At that exact moment, the lyrical genius that is the line “I save dick by giving it CPR” blares over the speaker. Leo puts his head in his hands.

To his surprise, Usagi starts laughing, hard. “You have such refined tastes,” he shouts to Leo over the music, and everyone laughs. Donnie gives him a high-five.

They pull up outside of Sunita’s house, and when she enters the turtle tank she shocks everyone by looking the rabbit up and down and saying, “Usagi?”

“How do you -“ April starts, but then Sunita pulls off her cloaking brooch.

Usagi gasps. “Sunita!?”

“Oh my god!” Sunita squeals, “What are you doing here!?”

“I’ve been hanging out with these guys for a few weeks - this is crazy!”

“I’m sorry,” April interjects, “How do you two know each other?”



“Restauraunt business,” they say simultaneously. Leo had forgotten Sunita works with her uncle.

“I feel like a total idiot,” Sunita says, “April totally said she had a new bunny friend, and I, like, totally didn’t put the pieces together!”

The two chatter and catch up the whole way home, April pouting from lack of attention.

After they’ve hauled a bunch of snacks and blankets and the karaoke machine into the living room - and promised Splinter they’d be in bed before dawn - phase 2 of the epic celebratory sleepover can begin.

“I’m thinking we start with Mario Kart,” says Raph, and everyone but Usagi cheers.

“What’s that?” he says, and everyone looks at him like he just shot someone.

“You’ll find out when I kick your ass at it,” Leo says unhelpfully, jumping onto Usagi’s beanbag chair so hard he almost fully flings the bunny off of it.

Usagi does get his ass kicked, and then acts all pissy about it because he’s crazy competitive. He does better in the next race, though, and pretty soon he and Leo are elbowing each other during races in attempt to get the upper hand.

They do cards against humanity next, and Usagi blushes and covers his mouth at the more lewd cards, which just makes everyone laugh even harder.

When they finally graduate to karaoke, Usagi’s shy about it despite his previous claims that he loves it.

Raph and April go first, and they sing Ain’t No Mountain High enough. It’s a tough act to follow, but Donnie bravely volunteers with a passionate and heartfelt performance of Be Prepared from the Lion King.

“You should go next,” Leo whispers to Usagi, who’s glued to his side on the beanbag chair.

Usagi shakes his head. “I’m so nervous all of the sudden!” - and it’s true, he’s tugging on his ear. “I can’t do a solo like that!” he smiles, as Donnie hits a crazy note.

This gives Leo an idea. Maybe he doesn’t have to do a solo.

“I’m next!” Leo says when Donnie finishes, snatching the mic away.

“Okay, I’m doing Under Pressure! But, hmmm,” he says mischeviously, “I need someone to do Bowie’s parts…”

Usagi gasps and shakes his head at Leo, who acts like he doesn’t see and continues on. “Oh, if only I knew someone who said they like Queen. Oh, wait, wait, no, it’s all coming back to me, Usagi, surely you know this one right?”

Usagi crosses his arms and tries to glare at Leo, but he’s smiling so it doesn’t actually look that intimidating.

“Dude, you said you love karaoke!” April says,

“Do it!” Mikey says, “It’ll be awesome!”

“Don’t make me start a chant,” Raph warns.

Usagi sighs all dramatically and marches up to the projector screen beside Leo.

“Peer pressure: 1, Usagi Yuichi: 0,” Leo says, elbowing the bunny in the ribs.

The song starts, and Leo starts screaming the lyrics with as much drama and vigour as he always does. He throws the mic to Usagi for Bowie’s first part, and he nervously sings: “That’s the terror of knowing what this world is about, watching some good friends screaming -“

Leo snatches the mic from him and sings the “Let me out!” which makes Usagi laugh, and then they finish the verse together. Leo struts around a-la Freddie Mercury, making his weird little noises, and then holds the mic between him and Usagi.

“People on the streets!” They shout-sing, Usagi getting more confident. Leo falls into a knee-slide, screaming “Why!?” with as much passion as Freddie Mercury (but a fraction of the talent).

“Insanity laughs, under pressure we’re breaking -!” Usagi shouts, holding the mic over his head and leaning backwards dramatically.

Leo snatches the mic back and screams “Can’t we give ourselves, one more chance?” Usagi alternates between playing air-guitar and air-drums as Leo sings, and then he grabs the mic, still in Leo’s hands, and belts out: “Cause looooove’s suuuuch an ooooold fashioned word -“ Leo joins in “- and love daaaaares you to caaaaaare for, the people! on! the! Eeeeedge of the night! And love daaaares you to change! our! way! of! -“

Usagi tries to wrestle the mic away from Leo for a solo, but Leo doesn’t relent, so they both just keep screaming into the mic, faces inches apart.

“- Caaaaring abooooout! ourselves! Thiiiis is our last dance! Thiiiiiis is our last dance! Thiiiiiiis is ourselves!” They sound awful, really, but they’re smiling so big and screaming so loud that they neither notice nor care.

“Under pressure!” Usagi sings, and then holds the mic out to Leo, who repeats the lyric.

“Pressure!” Usagi finishes, and Leo takes the mic from him and slams it on the ground in the most dramatic and violent mic-drop ever.

Casey Jr. whoops and everyone starts going nuts. Even Donnie claps, though his is admittedly mostly sarcastic.

“Slay!” Mikey yells.

“You really do love karaoke!” April hoots, wide-eyed and laughing.

“Welcome to watch mojo, where today we’re counting down our top ten picks for “Gayest Shit I’ve Ever Seen,”” Donnie whispers to Raph, who snickers.

Usagi takes a facetious little bow and everyone laughs. Leo had been just about to do the same thing - great minds think alike, and all that.

“Ok, I’m dying,” Leo says, panting. “Water?” Usagi nods, and then hurry to the kitchen as Casey Sr. starts up an incredibly intense and passionate rendition of Bad Reputation.

Leo slams back two entire glasses of water and then hops up to sit on the counter. “We killed that!” He says from his perch.

“We absolutely did,” Usagi agrees, dribbling a little water down his chin.

“See, you had nothing to worry about,” Leo says, “You’re so shy sometimes!”

Usagi raises and eyebrow and puts his hands on his hips. “I’m shy? You’re one to talk!”

Leo gasps and clutches his heart. “Me? Shy? I can honestly say I’ve never been accused of that before in my entire life!”

“That’s because you’re so cocky,” Usagi says, and Leo scoffs in mock-offence. “Arrogant, even! You talk suck a big game, but then when it comes down to it you are soooo shy!”

“No way,” Leo says.

“Yes way! The day we met you were acting all tough and flirtatious and suave -“

Leo cuts him off. “I -! That’s, that’s just fight banter, dude, you know?”

“Call it whatever you want,” Usagi says, smirking. “Point is, you were acting all cool, and then whenever we actually talk, just the two of us, you act all nervous.”

“I do not!” Leo says, and he prays he’s not blushing as hard as it feels like he is.

Usagi gives him a pointed look, and then says, “What about ‘you come here often?’”

“That is so unfair!” Leo pouts. Usagi cocks his head to the side.

“Do I make you shy?” He asks.

“Wh- no! You - why would you - ? We’re friends dude, I’m not shy around you!” Leo flounders. He points an accusatory finger at Usagi, who’s grinning. “You do not make me shy.”

“Oh? What if I did this?” Usagi questions, and then marches up to the counter to stand between Leo’s legs, almost nose-to-nose with him.

Leo covers his eyes. “I -! You can’t - that’s not…”

Usagi laughs and sets a hand on Leo’s knee. “I’m only teasing,” he says, and Leo peeks through his fingers to look at him.

Which, that was a mistake, because Usagi’s right, he DOES make Leo shy, and now he’s all up in his personal space with his stupid big brown eyes and his stupid buck-toothed smile and it’s kind of a lot to handle.

Leo looks at him, and Usagi looks right back, and then Usagi glances down at the floor and when he looks up again he looks a little more serious, but he’s still smiling. And Leo must honest to god be going crazy - he must be off his rocker, out to lunch - because for a wild second he seriously thinks, is he going to kiss me?

And then, of course, of course, at that exact moment Mikey bursts into the kitchen. And Leo loves his brothers, he really does, but at the moment he feels like shoving Mikey off a cliff.

“Usagi, you gotta -“ he calls, and then cuts himself off. He cocks his head and looks at Usagi and Leo. “Soooo…” he says slowly, “um, I was gonna sing the Pokemon theme and wanted to ask if you guys wanted to watch… So, uh, yeah, I’m gonna…? Go do that? You guys can come if you aren’t, um, busy?” He’s been backing towards the door since he started speaking, and the second he’s done he bolts.

Usagi and Leo look at each other, wide-eyed, and then Usagi snorts and they burst into laughter.

“Come on,” Usagi says, stepping out of Leo’s personal space and heading back to karaoke. Leo very much wants Usagi back in his personal space, so he follows. They plop down into the same beanbag chair just as Mikey starts. Leo barely hears a word of the performance - he’s seriously reeling.

Sunita sings Wannabe, and Raph sings Surface Pressure, and Usagi sings Little Lies, and Casey Jr. sings Starman. Leo and April tag-team Everywhere I Go, which makes Sunita laugh really hard. They go around and around, taking turns singing and making fools of themselves. It’s awesome.

When they’ve all sung and screamed so much their voices are raw, they just screw around chatting and gorging themselves on junk food. April and Donnie “go on a walk” and come back very obviously stoned, but thinking they’re being subtle.

“Okay,” April says, laying across Sunita’s lap, “Not to be weird or anything, but this is just like that story.”

“What?” Raph asks, laughing.

“What story?” Sunita asks, brushing a stray hair off of April’s face.

“You know!” April says. “The fairy tale. Him,” she says, pointing at Usagi, who’s sitting pressed up against Leo’s side.

Donnie starts laughing so hard that he’s crying. Everyone else feels like they’re missing something.

“The fucking -“ Donnie cuts himself off with a burst of laughter. “The tortoise and the hare!?” He shouts, and he and April crack up. Everyone else joins in.

“Alright, April, that’s great!” Sunita says when everyone’s finally stopped laughing. “Why don’t we get you two to bed?”

“Race ya!” April says, jumping up at and pointing at Donnie.

“I’ll be the tortoise,” he says, and April laughs so hard she has to sit on the floor for a good 5 minutes.

At 2:41 AM, the rest of the group finally decide to call it a night. They’re so tired they’re delirious - but that’s how all the best sleepovers go. Everyone stumbles to their rooms and are practically asleep the second their heads hit the pillow. Leo, unfortunately, can never be so lucky. He manages to get to sleep just fine - it’s what comes after that’s the issue.

A nightmare - the same one as always.

He’s there - with that…thing. It’s dark and he can’t see and he feels like the inky abyss is going to swallow him whole. He’s screaming - for Raph, for Dad, for anyone, but nobody comes. That thing is taunting him, tearing at him, slamming him into the ground - the crunch of his own bones makes him sick. He sees that face and hears that voice and feels the cold metal - he’s going to die here. He knows it. He’s going to die, and he’s not even scared because at least when he’s dead he won’t be here. The thing grabs him and he tries to jerk away; tries to scream but can’t.

Those dreadful moments between sleep and wake are always the worst. Someone’s calling his name and holding him by the arms, and in that terrible in-between state he can’t tell if it’s someone he loves or if it’s that thing in his nightmare. His heart is racing and he’s flailing desperately, and when he finally manages to drag his eyes open the terror doesn’t subside. Leo is distantly, distantly aware that someone is here with him, but they might as well be on fuckin’ Mars because he’s too out of it to ground himself.

Frantically, he kicks his blankets off and scrambles to the head of his bed, back against the wall, curled in on himself. His lungs feel like they’re on fire and this nagging, bone-chilling voice in his head is telling him that the second he turns around that thing is going to nab him.

“Leo!” Someone is saying. “Leonardo!” And it’s probably not that thing because that thing wouldn’t have called him Leo.

“Help me,” Leo cries desperately, chest heaving. He’s sobbing so hard he feels like he’s going to puke. It’s happened before. He becomes distantly aware of the fact that he’s not in that place - that he’s in bed, at home.

“Ohh,” someone says, and they sound real heartbroken. “Here,” they say, placing a hand on Leo’s chest, right over his racing heart. “We’re going to breathe.”

Leo clutches the hand like a lifeline. Whoever’s here with him is breathing deep, slow, and Leo focuses all his energy on trying to replicate that. He’s stopped crying, which is helping a lot, and he’s trying to blink the leftover tears away.

“You’re okay. You’re safe, Leo. You’re safe - you’re home.” Leo’s calmed down just enough to be able to tell that it’s Usagi. But his heart is still racing and he’s still shaking and he still feels like that thing is right around the corner.

“Have a drink,” Usagi says, and Leo does, but his hands are so shaky he can’t hold the glass by himself.

“I need to - I’m - I -!”

“Hey,” Usagi says gently, “Look at me. Let’s take a deep breath, okay?” Leo does. The eye contact and the breathing are doing a lot to tether him to reality.

“Where’s Raphie?” he chokes, voice tiny and quivering.

“He’s safe and snug in bed. Should we go see him?”

Leo nods and lets himself be manhandled out of bed like he’s a little baby. He doesn’t even care.

Usagi links their arms their arms together. “It’s going to be dark in the hallway,” he warns, “But we’ll be okay.”

Leo nods and Usagi turns his phone flashlight on.

They open Raph’s door - and there he is. Leo frantically scans him over. But he’s fine. He’s normal. Sleeping facedown, out cold, but very much alive and well. Mikey’s there, too, curled up on Raph’s back like a cat.

“Okay?” Usagi whispers. Leo nods.

They check on Splinter next, and then they find the Caseys zonked out in Mikey’s room. They’re ok, too, and it’s helping Leo get ahold of himself.

Donnie, April, and Sunita are passed out in a pile in Donnie’s room - so everyone is ok. Leo’s panic has mostly subsided - his fingers feel itchy and his heart is still buzzing, but he feels sturdier on his feet and his breathing is slowly returning to normal.

Donnie stirs awake as they’re shutting his door.

“Mm…Nardo?” he whispers, half-asleep.

“Yeah,”

“Y’ok?”

Leo sighs. “Mostly,” he whispers back.

“Y’sure?”

“Yeah. Go back to sleep.”

“M’kay. Love you, Lee.”

“Love you too, Dee, now get some rest.”

“M’kay,”

As Leo lets Usagi pull him along back to his room, the panic finally fully subsides. But then the mortification sets in.

Why did this have to happen on such a great night? On a night where Usagi was here? Why did this happen at all? What is wrong with him? Why him? He hates waking up in the night, screaming and crying like a child. Usagi must think he’s such a baby, such a coward. It is seriously so humiliating, thinking about Usagi waking him up and showing him how to breathe like he’s some helpless idiot.

As soon as they get to his room Leo dives under his covers, wishing he could disappear or, like, disintegrate or something. Usagi sits down on the edge of his bed. It’s quiet, but not eerily so, and Leo’s fairy lights cast the room in a faint but warm, cozy light that is the exact opposite of his nightmare. Usagi’s looking at him with this sweet, worried expression, and Leo sits back up so he can meet his eyes.

“Are you alright?” Usagi says, real gentle.

“I’m sorry -“

“Don’t,” Usagi says, voice somehow soft and firm at the same time.

“But I -“

“Don’t. Don’t apologize. You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

Leo blinks at him. “Then…um, thank you? It’s, um, it can be a lot to deal with sometimes. So…yeah, thanks.”

Usagi scootches closer so he’s sitting cross-legged in front of Leo. “It wasn’t a lot to deal with. Not to me. Not -“ he cuts himself off and breaks eye contact, looking down at his hands. “Not for you,” he says, so quiet Leo almost misses it.

Leo feels like his heart just shit itself, but he plays it off totally cooly by staring at Usagi and saying nothing.

“So,” Usagi says, feeling brave enough for eye contact again, “Do you want to talk about it?”

Leo vigorously shakes his head.

“That’s a first,” Usagi says with a smile, “It’s unlike you to pass up an opportunity to talk about yourself. Usually you won’t shut the hell up,”

Leo laughs, and it feels so, so good after what he’s just been through.

Usagi smiles and reaches out, tilting Leo’s chin up and saying, “There’s the Leonardo I know!”

And that feels even better than the laughing.

Usagi drops his hand and Leo wants to snatch it back up, but he doesn’t.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” Usagi says. “It would make you feel better, I bet. It always makes me feel better.”

Leo surveys him, looking for any sign that Usagi doesn’t actually want to, or doesn’t actually care, but he finds none. His bangs are sticking up wildly and his too-big sleep t-shirt is sitting off kilter on shoulders, and he’s wearing this gentle little encouraging smile that makes Leo feel all safe and warm.

“Okay,” Leo sighs, “But if I’m going to talk about all this fucked up stuff, we’re going blankie mode.”

He buries himself under the covers and then holds the blanket up so Usagi can crawl under, too.

Leo curls up on his side, and Usagi does the same so they’re face-to-face. Usagi smiles at him and Leo allows himself a moment to soak that in before he stats talking.

“I don’t really know what to say,” he whispers.

“Just…say whatever comes out,” Usagi whispers back.

Leo steels himself. “Ok, so, I dunno if my brothers or April or Casey have filled you in or anything, but, like, it was pretty bad. We had the portal open to send the Krang back to the prison dimension, but it just - it was too strong. The Krang, I mean. So I - I - you know what I can do with my katanas. So I went into the prison dimension with that thing, and then I told Case to shut the portal, but he didn’t want to, and everyone was begging me not to do it, but I said they had to, and then - and then -“

Leo cuts himself off to take a deep breath and blinks back tears. He feels his heart speed up again and tries to take deep breaths. Usagi looks at him, full of concern. And then, after a hesitation, he slings his arm over Leo so he can pat him comfortingly on the back.

Leo sniffs and continues. “So then - I was. I was in there alone. With that thing. And it was so dark and so quiet, and it was, like, it was…hunting me. It just kept coming at me - it was awful. I thought - I - I… I thought I was going to…die.”



Usagi gasps. “Oh, Leo…”

“It was really bad. It was really, really bad. Mikey made a portal and the guys saved me, but I was - yeah. I was in really bad shape. I had more bones broken than not. I had a lot of internal bleeding and stuff. It wasn’t - uh, apparently they weren’t sure if I would even make it at first.”

“I’m so sorry,” Usagi whispers, blinking fast.

Leo nods. “So that’s basically, um, I pretty much have nightmares about that all the time. Or flashbacks maybe? I don’t know. I just know it sucks.” He doesn’t know what else to say, so he just shrugs.

“I’m so sorry you’re burdened with this,” Usagi says, real quiet. He scoots closer and their knees bump. “Your family knows about this, right? And they help you?”

“Yeah,” says Leo. “They’re amazing. I just started trying to sleep on my own again, like, a little over a month ago. They’re all, um, they’re all having trouble too. So we look out for each other. It’s… I couldn’t do it without them.”

Usagi nods. “Do you - sorry for asking - do you have nightmares every night?”

“Not anymore,” Leo answers honestly. “And they’re getting a little easier. The lights help. So does checking on everyone. It’s just that sometimes I wake up and it’s so quiet and it’s like I’m - yeah.”

“You should try sleeping with white noise,” Usagi suggests. “I sleep with it every night at home.”

“And it helps?”

The rabbit nods. “Yeah. I bet Donatello could figure out some cool noise machine for you no problem!”

“Donnie pretty much IS a noise machine. Never shuts up about his stupid beloved science,” Leo says, and Usagi laughs.

“No, but seriously, I should try it!” Leo continues, “I could have a sleepover at your house to see if I like it,”

“Inviting yourself over?” Usagi says. “That’s a bit presumptuous, isn’t it?”

Leo acts offended. “You’re turning me down? You hate me!”

Usagi scoffs. “Yes, Leonardo, clearly I despise you. That’s why I’m snuggling with you, because I hate you.”

“You call this snuggling? Buddy, this is barely even a cuddle. Step your game up,” Leo says, feeling brave.

Usagi laughs and then, never one to pass up a challenge, scoots even closer to Leo until he’s so close he has to cross his eyes to look him.

Leo leans up on one elbow so he can look at him better. “All this and you still won’t even invite me for a sleepover! So rude!”

Usagi laughs, but then he gets a thoughtful look one his face. He starts tugging his ear - uh oh.

“Hm,” the bunny says.

“What is it?”

“I just,” Usagi sighs. “I’d love to, but I don’t think sensei would allow us to have a sleepover. We don’t have a spare bed, or anything, and he’s very strict.”

“I’m not following you here,” Leo says. “He lets you stay over at our place no problem!”

“Sure he does.” Usagi says, still tugging on that ear like he’s trying to rip it off, “But he might not if he knew it was like…this,” he gestures between him and Leo.

Leo blinks at him, lost. “What does us sleeping in the same bed have to do with your sensei being strict?”

Usagi sighs heavily and rolls over so he’s flat on his back. “Ok, listen,” he says, screwing his eyes shut. “Hear me out. Sensei’s not, like, prejudiced or anything - not at all! He’s just super strict and super traditional, so, um, he wouldn’t want us sharing a bed because. Well. Because…” he takes a peek at Leo, and then he takes a deep breath. Staring at the ceiling, still yanking his ear, he finishes: “Because I’m gay.”

Leo swears the heavens open up and the angels start singing Hallelujah. His brain is temporarily fried. He must sit in astonished silence for a few moments too long, because Usagi seems to take his stunned silence as a bad thing.

“You know what?” Usagi says, sitting up, “I should go, I’m sorry, it’s -“

Leo grabs his arm to stop him. Usagi turns to look at him, looking guilty and nervous, and Leo feels bad that he made him feel that way even for a second.

“Dude! That’s…” Leo casts around looking for a word that adequately describes how awesome this news is, but he finds none, so he instead opts to tackle Usagi into a hug.

“Thanks for telling me!” Leo says. “I know that’s, like, super hard to do. Trust me, I was the first person to come out in this family and I was shitting bricks even though they had all, like, totally figured it out already.”

Usagi pulls back from the bone-crushing hug and blinks at Leo in surprise. “You - are you..?”

“Duh!” Leo says, and Usagi’s nose twitches before he breaks into a laugh.

“Oh my god,” Usagi says, “Why would you just sit there in silence like that!? I thought you hated me!”

“I dunno, man, you shocked me is all!” Usagi punches Leo’s arm lightly. “April is - you know April and Sunita are dating - why would any of us be homophobic?”

“I don’t knowwww!” Usagi laughs. “It was just scary! My sensei is the only other person I’ve told, so,”

“Your sensei!” Leo says. “So what’s his deal? He wouldn’t let us have a sleepover just because you’re gay?”

Usagi raises his hands. “Listen, if I were straight he wouldn’t let me have a girl over, either. He’s totally cool with me, he’s just very formal and traditional.”

“But it’s not like we’re together or something,” Leo blurts out, and immediately he wants to snatch the words out of the air and take them back. The room gets quiet.

“….Yeah,” Usagi says,

“Yeah.” Leo repeats.

They stare at each other for a second in loaded gay silence. Then Usagi says, “So, um, you’re ok now, right? You’re feeling better?”

“Oh!” Leo says, “Yeah, for sure. We should sleep.”

They look at each other again.

“Should I…?” Usagi asks, glancing down at his air mattress.

“Uhh, oh, um, if you want to? Or maybe you could - yeah like, um, your call, dude…”

Usagi avoids eye contact. “Maybe I should stay up here. You know, in case you have another nightmare, or something?”

“Good idea,” Leo says, nodding at the brilliant plan.

They tuck up underneath the covers again, facing each other.

“Wake me up if you need anything, okay?” Usagi whispers, closing his eyes.

“I will,” Leo says. “And…thanks. For, you know. Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

“‘Night, Usagi.”

“Hmm. Goodnight, Leo,” Usagi says, nuzzling down into the soft blankets with an ear flopping over his face.

Leo’s pretty sure he won’t be having any more nightmares tonight.

***

The next morning he wakes up at, like, noon, trapped under fuzzy limbs. He blinks awake, groggy, and when he stirs so does Usagi.

The bunny rubs his eyes and lifts his head up. “Morning,” he says, hair sticking up wildly, voice husky from sleep.

“Morning,” Leo says. He’s feeling, like, tender or something from the events of the night - he’s not really sure what to say and he doesn’t want to break the warm silence of the morning.

“Did you sleep ok?” Usagi asks, looking Leo over as if he can physically see how well he slept.

“Yeah,” Leo says, “I did.”

“Good!” Usagi says, untangling himself from Leo and from the blankets. “I’m starving. Come on,”

Mikey has prepared a grand brunch, but Usagi can’t stay long. He has to help out at the restaurant today and he’s already late. He grabs some toast, and then he and Leo bundle up for the walk back to Hueso’s.

They say their goodbyes. Leo thanks him again and Usagi tells him not to worry about it. And then, at the same time, Leo goes for a hug and Usagi goes for a handshake. They laugh, and then switch: Leo goes for a handshake and Usagi goes for a hug.

Leo facepalms. “Just go,” he says, voice muffled by his mittens. Usagi laughs.

“Bye, Leo,” he says with a wave, and then Leo watches him wind through the restaurant and leave through the back door.

Leo turns around to leave but ends up face-to-face with Hueso, who’s apparently been standing directly behind him.

“Gah! Bone-man, don’t sneak up on me like that! We gotta get you a bell, or something, jeez!”

“Pepino,” Hueso says, unphased. “Did you know I offer couples’ discounts at my restaurant?”

Leo blinks at him. “Alright, great chat, gotta get going now, you know -“

“I wonder if you will be taking advantage of this discount anytime soon, hmmm?”

Leo ducks under Hueso’s arm and rushes for the door. “Stop being embarrassing!” Leo shouts, rushing back to the snowy streets of New York before Hueso can say anything else suggestive and overbearing.

Unfortunately for Leo, this onslaught does not let up when he gets back home.

He kicks off his snow gear and flops down on a stool at the kitchen island, stealing a piece of bacon from Donnie’s plate shamelessly. Mikey has the radio cranked, like he always does, and the rest of his siblings are enjoying their littlest brother’s cooking.

“Did you guys make it ok?” Raph says, shovelling down waffles.

“Yep,” Leo says, lazily.

“Leo, can I ask you something?” Mikey says, casually.

“Yep,”

“When I came into the kitchen yesterday were you and Sagi kissing?”

“WHAT!?” Raph, Donnie and April scream in unison.

Leo slams his head down on the table. “Mikey!” he yells.

“What?” Mikey asks, all innocent-like.

April has grabbed Leo by the shoulders and is shaking him frantically.

“Leo, oh my god!” Raph is shouting.

“No, we weren’t!” Leo yells. “Thanks a lot, Miguel!”

April releases him. “Wait. You weren’t -?”

“No!”

“It really looked like you were.” Mikey says.

“Well, we weren’t!”

“Then why was he all up on you like that?”

“Jesus, Mikey, he was not “all up on me,” he was just standing there -“

“I don’t stand like that with my homies,” Mikey says, teasing grin on his face. Leo puts his head in his hands.

“Stand like what?” Donnie demands.

Mikey’s grin gets even more mischievous. “Like this,” he says, and then jumps up on the counter. “Oh, Usagi, muah muah muah,” he mocks, voice high-pitched.

Then he jumps down again and says: “Muah muah muah, Leonardo we should totally kiss, muah muah muah!”

Leo hurls a piece of toast at his little brother, as hard as he can, while everyone else cracks up.

“You guys are being assholes!” Leo says, face burning. “We weren’t doing anything!”

“Aw Leon, I’m just teasing!” Mikey says.

“Yeah, man. I think it’s real sweet that that you guys, um, get along so well,” Raph adds.

“Well, you have a funny way of showing it!” Leo grumbles.

“This is interesting,” Donnie says, sounding analytical.

“What is?” says April.

“Well, based on their little karaoke performance, their proclivity for always sharing a room, and on Michael’s new intel, there seems to be a slight possibility that Usagi might actually like Leo back. Poor rabbit - he’s afflicted with some sort of disease that’s affecting his taste and judgement.”

Leo swats at him.

“This is great!” Raph says.

Donnie hums. “We’ll have to gather more information. There’s still a possibility that it was a fluke - maybe our dear Usagi’s condition isn’t fatal, after all…”

“Oh, we are so on it!” says Raph. “The Mad Dogz have mad ovulation skills!”

“Observation skills,” Donnie corrects, and then he announces: “Operation Unrequited is a go!”

“Hey!” Leo whines.

“Ok, fine. Operation Possible Mutual Pining is a go!”

Leo slides out of his seat and flops face-down on the floor. “Thank you guys sooo much for meddling in my personal business,” he says, cheek smushed up against the floor.

“Don’t mention it,” Donnie says, “It’s what we do best.”

***

To their credit, Leo’s siblings do try their best to be subtle. The key word there is try.

Next Friday when Usagi comes over they discover that he’s never been skateboarding, and they decide to remedy this immediately. Mikey keeps doing tricks and then excitedly asking Usagi if he saw.

Usagi is…not very good at skateboarding. He falls on his ass about a hundred times, and the turtles only tease him about it a little.

“You have to - why are you doing it like that?” Leo laughs as Usagi rolls the skateboard in front of him and then tries to jump onto it two-footed while it’s in motion.

“Because nothing else has worked!” Usagi huffs. Leo laughs at him.

“Here,” Leo says, taking Usagi’s hands in his own, “You should probably try getting on it first, eh?”

Usagi glares at him but steps up onto the skateboard, wobbly. Leo pulls him for a few steps and then lets him go, giving him a little push for momentum.

“Now what!?” Usagi calls.

“Now keep going! Push off with your foot,”

Usagi does, and it immediately throws him off his balance. He scowls. Leo laughs.

“I hate this!”

“Try again!”

“No!” Usagi pouts. “I like it better when you were just pulling me around. Come help me.”

“Lazy,” Leo says, but he still walks over and takes Usagi by the hands again.

“This is more like it,” Usagi says, looking incredibly self-satisfied. Leo rolls his eyes dramatically, and yet, he keeps pulling him along.

Mikey waves frantically from the top of the half-pipe until he catches Leo’s eye. When he does, he gives Leo a huge grin and an exaggerated thumbs up. Leo mouths “shut up!” at him, and Mikey sticks his tongue out.

The surveillance continues.

Leo and Usagi share a hot chocolate thermos during time-out at their next snowball fight? Raph and April whisper about it. Leo falls asleep with his head on Usagi’s shoulder during a Jupiter Jim marathon? Donnie takes note. Usagi turns up for breakfast wearing Leo’s hoodie? Mikey giggles and whispers something to Casey Jr. Leo and Usagi are always the first to pair up for sparring? Oh, believe me, that doesn’t go unnoticed.

“You construct intricate rituals to get your hands on each other,” Donnie says snidely one afternoon in the dojo.

“I’m going to kill you,” Leo hisses back.

Across the room Usagi and April finish their match, and Usagi lifts his shirt up to wipe his forehead with the bottom of it. Leo stares at him, trying to explode him with his mind.

Donnie watches this go down and then sighs, saying “Why don’t you just tell him?”



“Are you nuts!?” Leo says “What if he doesn’t - what if that ruins things?”

Donnie looks at Leo, then looks at Usagi who’s now calling Leo’s name and waving, and then looks back at Leo. “I think you’re stupid, Nardo.” he says simply, and then he gets up to go train with Raph.

***

Sometimes, very occasionally, they go over to Usagi’s on the weekend. If his sensei’s having a slow day at the restaurant he’ll invite the whole family over, and they’ll crowd into a booth and chow down on delicious, fresh-made, authentic Japanese cuisine.

Usagi’s sensei always regales them with stories of Usagi when he was little, and then Splinter will share some about the kids, and then it turns into two old men reminiscing about the good old days. It’s cozy, whenever they gather here, in the inviting little restaurant, talking and laughing as the sky grows dark. It’s always the same, but it’s always so comfortable. The food is always delicious, the atmosphere is always warm. Spot is always there, curled up on Usagi’s lap.

Tonight, Usagi’s sensei is enthusiastically sharing a story about when the bunny was a toddler, way back before they moved to the Hidden City.

“So Usagi - and by that, I mean Yuichi here’s father - Usagi and I were sitting by the fire, just conversing and drinking tea. Yuichi and his mother were on a walk, with Spot, who was a baby then. All of the sudden, little Yuichi burst in, and I could tell he was angry. He couldn’t have been older than three, and do you know what he does? This little boy says to me, he says, ‘Some asshole just kicked Spot!’”

Everyone laughs at that, including Usagi himself.

“That is so cute!” Mikey giggles.

The tiger continues. “His father and I were shocked - he is such a sweet boy, you know? His father said to him, ‘Yuichi! Where did you learn to say such things!?’ and then, at that moment, his mother storms in, and she shouts, ‘Some asshole just kicked Spot!’”

Laughter erupts from the crowded booth again. Usagi grins and pats Spot on the head.

“I’m just imagining this tiny baby bunny-rabbit saying that,” Raph laughs.

“Yuichi was such a little firecracker,” the tiger says. “He is just like his mother. He reminds me more of her every day.”

Usagi gets real quiet and stares down into his udon noodles.

“That’s lovely,” Splinter says. “Was little Spot alright?”

Leo notes the subtle shift away from the topic of Usagi’s parents, and he has this realization that Splinter lost his mother, too. Usagi’s sensei has started onto another story about Spot, and Leo watches as Splinter takes a peek at Usagi out of the corner of his eye. Huh. Sometimes Leo’s Dad surprises him.

Usagi stays quiet long after the topic has changed. Leo bumps his knee with his own under the table, and Usagi looks up at him. Leo smiles, and Usagi returns it, but his smile is tiny and sad.

When the meal is over and the dishes are cleared, it’s time to go. Usagi’s sensei has to prep for tomorrow, and Mikey offers to help but Mifune insists he’s alright.

“You gonna grab your overnight bag?” Leo nudges Usagi.

“Um. Actually, I think I’m - I think I’ll stay home tonight.” Usagi says, quiet. “But I’ll still come over for training tomorrow, ok guys?”

Raph nods and everyone starts bidding their goodbyes. Leo wants to ask Usagi if he’s ok, if he wants to talk, if he wants a hug; but he doesn’t want to call him out in front of everyone - doesn’t know how to help.

He wants to make it all better, but instead he simply says, “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

Usagi nods and avoids eye contact.

That night the gang has a movie night, like they’ve done a million times before, but it just doesn’t feel the same without Usagi. Leo feels lonely on the beanbag chair that he usually shares with the bunny.

A nightmare wakes Leo up that night. Not a bad one but still, you know, a fucking nightmare. He checks his phone and it’s only, like, midnight, so he knows Donnie will still be awake and probably fiddling with some science thing. He creeps out to the lab, and he’s proven right.

Donnie takes his goggles off when he sees Leo come in. “You alright?” he asks, lacking his usual sarcastic bite.

“Nightmare.” Leo explains. “Not too bad, though. I just can’t sleep.”

Donnie nods. “Wanna come help me? I’m making Mikey a new waffle iron that can make ten at a time.”

Leo walks over and dutifully takes up his post of passing Donnie tools and having his hand smacked out of the way when he tries to touch something he apparently shouldn’t.

“Can you get your phone? I need a flashlight here,” Donnie says.

“You’ve got all this high-tech shit but you don’t have a flashlight at your disposal?” Leo complains. But he does obediently go get his phone.

He clicks his phone on - it’s 12:37 now, and he’s surprised to see a new notification. Even more surprised to see that it’s from Usagi.

“Chop chop, Leo, this is incredibly important work!” Donnie calls.

“Hang on, Usagi texted me,”

Donnie really wants to say something like: well, goodness me, stop the presses, shut it down, Usagi Yuichi texted? My god, man, by all means, let’s stop the world from turning! But he knows this is a sensitive topic for his sensitive brother, so instead, he sensitively says: “What did he say?”

“He asked if I’m still awake. I think he’s upset about -“

“His mother,” Donnie finishes, nodding. “He seemed all sad about that earlier but I didn’t want to get all…emotional.” He says the last word like it’s a filthy one.

Leo fires back a casual, yeah! what’s up, and then holds his flashlight up for Donnie.

His phone pings - I can’t sleep is all.

Are u ok :( do u was 2 talk???

I don’t want to keep you up

I’m already up!!!! Stupid!!!

Did you have a nightmare?

:o This isn’t about me!!!

Isn’t everything about you? (And then another text, right after) Ok that sounded mean over text message. It was supposed to be funny.

h8r behviour! Die mad!

Stop deflecting!

You stop deflecting wtfffffff! (And then Leo texts again) Im gonna call u

“Dee,” Leo says, “Do you mind if I-“

“Yes yes, go go, be there for him and all that mushy stuff.” Donnie says, not even looking up from his work. Leo’s punching the call button before he even leaves the lab.

“Moshi moshi?” Usagi says when he picks up.

“Hey, man, what’s going on?”

Leo hears him sigh. “I can’t sleep. I’m thinking about…stuff.”

“Stuff!?” Leo repeats, “Well that sounds serious!” Usagi huffs a laugh.

“I just… You know what? This is stupid. I shouldn’t be keeping you up, I’m sorry -“

“I’m coming to pick you up,” Leo cuts him off.

“….What?”

“I’m coming to pick you up, we’re having a sleepover.”

“You -“ Leo cuts him off by pressing the ‘end call’ button.

He pokes his head back into the lab. “Don? I’m going to pick Usagi up, we should be back by 1ish, ok?”

“Take a coat. I am not nursing your ass back to health again if you catch a cold.”

Leo rushes out, making it to the Hidden City in record time. He considers stopping at Hueso’s to wake him up and beg for a pizza, but decides against it only because he has more pressing issues at hand. He makes it to Usagi’s and is then immediately stumped on what to do. They live above the restaurant, and Leo doesn’t know if he should, like, knock on the restaurant door or what. He decides to duck into the alley and go around back - maybe he can throw a rock at Usagi’s window like they do in movies or something? He sees a light on upstairs so that’s good. He’s just started looking for a good sized stone when a door creaks open.

“Leo! …What are you doing?”

Leo looks up and Usagi’s standing in the frame of a door he hadn’t seen before, silhouetted by the light of the hallway behind him.

“Looking for a rock,” Leo says, hurrying over to the door.

“Ok?” Usagi says. “I didn’t think you’d actually come all the way over here in the middle of the night!”

“Why do you have your coat on and your bag in your hand then?” Leo counters, and Usagi looks flustered.

“Well. I didn’t think you’d come, but I hoped you would,” he says sweetly.

Leo can’t think of anything cute to say back, so instead he just asks Usagi if he’s ready to go.

Usagi nods and then calls up the stairs. “Sensei? Leonardo is here. We’re going to go now,”

The tiger appears at the top pf the staircase, looking as fearsome as always despite wearing a classic dad-robe. “Hello, Leonardo. It’s generous of you to come all this way at this time of night.”

“No biggie,” Leo shrugs, and he means it.

“Alright, have a safe walk. And Yuichi?”

“Hai, sensei?”

“Be good.”

Usagi smiles and promises he will, and then ushers Leo out the door. As soon as it closes behind him, he turns to look at Leo, looking quite serious.

“I can’t believe you actually came. All this for a sleepover? That’s a lot of work.”

“Not to me.” Leo says. “Not for you.”

Usagi stands there staring at him.

Leo feels clever and honestly pretty suave for that one. “Remember? That’s what you said to me when -“

“I know,” Usagi says, dropping his bag.

He throws his arms around Leo’s neck - which shocks him, but no so bad that he can’t hug back. It’s a good, solid hug, and Usagi’s fur is as fluffy as it looks.

Usagi pulls back to look at Leo, but he keeps his arms looped around his neck. He smiles, and Leo’s heat rate skyrockets. He has that thought again, the one he had after karaoke in the kitchen - is he going to kiss me? But this time Leo doesn’t feel crazy for thinking it.

Leo wants to revel in this moment, he really does, but he gets this thought in his head that makes him laugh despite his best efforts.

“What?” Usagi says, amused.

“You’re going to hate me,” Leo laughs.

“Impossible!” Usagi says.

Leo stops cracking up long enough to say: “You come here often?”

Usagi snorts and drops his arms, giving Leo a playful shove. “I was wrong. I do hate you,”

“You have to admit, that was pretty funny.”

Usagi says nothing, because he’s suppressing a laugh. He retrieves his bag and they set out into the night.

Leo wants to ask him how he’s doing, but Usagi seems rather keen on avoiding the subject right now. He chatters about restaurant stuff, asks about Leo’s siblings, even comments on the weather once. Leo doesn’t want to pry, but this is getting ridiculous. They’re back in NYC, and Leo’s about to open his mouth to sagely (and ironically) lecture Usagi about bottling up emotions, but then Usagi says,

“I really am thankful that you came to get me. I feel better already, and I haven’t even talked about stuff yet.” He offers Leo a smile.

“You’d do the same for me,” Leo shrugs, and then for, like, the gazillionth time tonight his hand brushes Usagi’s. Leo has literally - quite literally truly and genuinely - sacrificed himself to death to save humanity - and now he’s too fuckin' shy to hold a boy’s hand. It’s disgustingly cliche and Leo hates it.

Usagi turns to look at him, shooting Leo a teasing look that Leo knows means he’s about to get verbally humiliated. “You’re being shy again.” He says. It’s a statement, not a question.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Leo says, convincing absolutely nobody.

Usagi narrows his eyes at him and then - just like that - grabs Leo’s hand. Easy. Just like that.

“Was that so hard?” Usagi chides.

“Yes!” Leo groans, which makes the bunny laugh.

When they make it to the lair they’re still holding hands, and Usagi doesn’t seem intent on letting go anytime soon. This is absolutely a-ok with Leo, by the way. They pop into the lab to let Donnie know they’ve arrived safely. He just hums in acknowledgement and continues his work.

As they approach Leo’s room they hear a door slide open, and turn to see a more-than-half-asleep Casey Jones Junior standing there wearing a ratty old pair of track pants and his ever-greasy mullet. “Sensei?” He mumbles, barely disceranble on account of the fact that he’s hardly awake.

“Case, it’s the middle of the night. Y’ok?”

“Water.” Casey says simply, pointing at the kitchen, blinking like he’s fighting for his life to stay awake. “Hi ‘Sagi.”

He looks at their joined hands and hums. “M glad you guys are together again,” he says, in some sleep-induced garble of the past-future and the present. And then he yawns so big Leo’s worried he’s gonna dislocate his jaw, and trudges his way to the kitchen like a zombie. Usagi stares after him. Leo tugs his hand and brings him to his room.

They get all cozied up under the covers like it’s the most natural thing in the world, which, honestly, it kind of is at this point.

“What are the chances you forget about me being all emotional and we just go right to sleep?” Usagi asks.

“Zero.”



“I figured you would say that.”

Leo flicks Usagi’s nose. “Then why did you ask?”

“I thought you might show me mercy.”

“Never!” Leo cries, and Usagi laughs at him.

“Fine,” Usagi says, and then burrows himself a little deeper under the blankets before getting into it.

“My parents. They were…. Hm. I lost them just before my fourth birthday.”

 He trails off and Leo nods in encouragement. Usagi sighs. “One minute they were there, and the next…. They were great warriors. My mother was a samurai, you know. She was so - I just remember thinking she must have been the greatest person to ever live. She was so tough and fierce and strong, but, she was soft, too. She used to sing me to sleep - used to take me on walks and tell me about plants we saw,”

Leo can practically see Usagi chasing the memory of his mother. It breaks his heart.

“She used to train me, and she would - she would pretend like I really got her, like I was really strong and fast and she could barely fight me. It used to make father laugh.”

He takes a long pause before continuing. “So one day, we were just at home, like any other day, and this… this…thing? This portal, I guess? Just opens up out of nowhere, and all these soldiers come pouring out - sensei says it was some kind of invasion from another dimension, but I didn’t know what was going on. Mother handed me over to father - she said, ‘be good, Yuchi,” and I still - oh, I - I still hear it so clearly, almost as if it were just yesterday -“

Usagi cuts himself off with a huge shaky breath and covers his face. Leo gives him a comforting little rub on the arm.

“So mother was fighting, and she was winning too. She was amazing. And then the soldiers just…they just took her. Just dragged her through the portal. Father was screaming - it was terrible - and then he just set me down and went after her. They were - eventually I guess they decided an invasion wasn’t worth it, so all the soldiers just went back through, and the portals disappeared. They were just gone. Just like that.”

Usagi lays there in silence for a long moment. Leo tries to think of something adequate to say given the gravity of what Usagi’s said, but he keeps coming up short. It’s Usagi who ends up breaking the silence.

“So sensei found me - Mifune. He was my parents’ closest friend. I’ve been with him since. We left Japan a few years after. It was too…much, I guess.” And then he shrugs, as if a shrug could ever encapsulate the feeling of what he’s been through.

“Usagi, I’m -“

“You don’t have to say anything.” Usagi says, cutting Leo off. “You don’t have to say you’re sorry, or that it’s horrible, or anything like that. I already know. Can you just - can we - I don’t know. Can you just be here for me?” Usagi looks up at him then, for the first time since he started speaking.

And for once in his life, Leo doesn’t try to crack a joke or anything. He just nods, and opens his arms in offering of a hug. Which Usagi accepts.

Usagi lays there with his face pressed up against Leo’s pyjama shirt for so long that Leo thinks he’s passed out. And then he says, in a little tiny voice, “It feels good to talk about them. It - yeah. Thanks Leo.”

“It seems like your sensei was right,” Leo says. “The way you described your Mom - she sounds just like you. I wish I got to meet her.”

Usagi sniffs and then Leo feels him nod vigourously.

“Me too,” Usagi says, “Me too.”

***

The next morning Mikey makes waffles with his brand-new waffle iron. When Leo and Usagi emerge into the kitchen, Mikey gasps and hurls himself at the rabbit.

“I didn’t know you were here!” He shouts, right in Usagi’s ear. He grimaces but doesn’t complain, beaming at Mikey.

“God! A good morning would be nice!” Leo says. “I’m your swaggiest older bro and you don’t even acknowledge me when Usagi’s around!”

“Probably because you say shit like ‘swaggiest’” Donnie suggests.

“It’s also not very swaggy to throw a hissy fit the second you feel like you’re not getting enough attention,” Raph adds. Donnie high-fives him with one of his robot arms.

Leo decides to double down, as he often does. “Ohhh, Michael!” He says, sinking to the floor clutching his heart like he’s been shot. “My own baby brother, casting me aside the second we get a new friend! I can’t go on like this! I shan’t!”

“Leo! Noooo!” Mikey says, rushing over and picking Leo up off the floor. He gives his older brother what looks like a bone-crushing hug.

“Very ‘swaggy’ of you to help your dramatic brother like that, Michealangelo.” Usagi says. Everyone cracks up.

“I don’t even know what that word means,” Usagi admits, and Raph wheezes.

“It’s kinda the same as ‘bitchin,’ sort of.” Leo says, in a way that is immaculately unhelpful.

Usagi blinks at him. “Thank you, Leo, because I definitely know what that means.”

Leo’s about to call Usagi a giant nerd, but Donnie speaks first.

“How come you call Leo ‘Leo’ but you call the rest of us by our full names?” Donnie interrogates, with an accusatory raise of the eyebrow.

“Because I like Leo best,” Usagi says. The turtles stare at him in stunned silence for a second, but then Usagi adds, “No, only joking. I call him ‘Leo’ because if he doesn’t receive enough special attention from everyone on the planet he’ll drop dead.”

Raph, Donnie, and Mikey all crack up. Leo does, too, but he’s trying his hardest to look scorned and offended.

“Dude’s got clapbacks!” Mikey says.

“Can we please stop saying words I do not understand?” Usagi begs.

***

After training that day, Leo and Usagi fight their way back to Hueso’s - it’s a shitty, freezing, blustery day in New York. But Leo kind of doesn’t care that it’s a shitty, freezing, blustery day, because Usagi seems like he’s feeling a lot better. Also because Usagi grabs his mittened hand again as they walk - so apparently that’s just a thing they do now.

“Do you wanna get pizza?” Usagi asks as they push through the door to Hueso’s, nose twitching.

Leo can’t say no to Usagi, and he definitely can’t say no to pizza.

They make their way over to a little table in the corner, dripping melting snow everywhere in the process. The second they sit down Usagi snatches hit hat off and ties his ears up into a bun - it’s weirdly attractive to Leo and he doesn’t know why.

The second Hueso spots the pair he beelines towards them. “My two favourite customers!” He says enthusiastically, “How are you boys today?”

“We’re well, senior, how are you?” Usagi says, like the polite person he is.

At that moment there’s a crash in the kitchen. Pretty great comedic timing, honestly.

Hueso cringes and says, “Busy.”

“Do you want any help?” Usagi asks earnestly.

But Hueso insists he’s fine, and despite the abundance of customers crowding the place they get their pizza in record time.

It’s nice hanging out just the two of them, Leo thinks, and he wonders if Usagi feels the same.

When Hueso brings them the bill, he’s smiling like he knows something they don’t. Leo checks the bill and it’s way less than what a pizza normally is. He shoots Hueso a questioning look.

“I gave you boys a very special discount,” bone-man explains, giving Leo a big wink and then rushing away. Usagi snatches the bill and examines it.

“That’s strange,” he says, “He gave us the couples’ discount.”

Leo’s not sure if he should slap Hueso or thank him.

“Weird,” Leo agrees, voice cracking incredibly obviously.

Usagi, bless him, really does try his hardest not to laugh - he even covers his mouth and everything. But ultimately he fails. Ok, Leo’s made up his mind. He so needs to slap Hueso.

“Sorry,” Usagi says, still giggling a little. He peeks at the bill again, and then glances at Leo.

“I don’t know,” the bunny says, with his trademark mischievous smile, “It would be a pretty good deal. You’d get cheap pizza AND you’d get to date me? You’d be the luckiest guy in the Hidden City!”

Leo’s back to wanting to thank Hueso now.

“Hmm,” Leo says, with his usual air of confidence, “I think you’ve got it backwards. YOU’d be the luckiest dude in the Hidden City because you’d be dating ME,”

Usagi pretends to ponder this as he reaches for his coat. “Seems like a rather grand charade just for some cheap pizza.”

“Who said I’m in it for the pizza?” Leo says, all cool-like. He wants to add, haha, see, I’m not shy! but he doesn’t.

Usagi grins at him, and then Leo grins back, and then they’re two idiots standing there grinning at each other in a bustling restaurant.

“Oi!” Hueso calls, “Do that outside! I need to clear your table!”

Leo covers his face in embarrassment as Usagi yells an apology.

They part ways with a hug and a promise to hang out soon. And, try as he might, Leo can’t stop thinking about that damn discounted pizza.

***

The following Saturday the gang has assembled for their weekly post-training sleepover. They’re lounging around in the living room playing jackbox - which Leo is totally dominating, by the way - when Mikey suddenly gasps, jumping down from his perch on Raph’s shoulder.

“Omigosh!” He shouts, “Bros! Do you know what next Saturday is?”

“The day we’re finally putting Leo down?” Donnie asks.

“Ghostbear’s half-birthday?” Raph tries.

“No! Dudes, it’s… Lair Games!” Mikey cries, doing jazz hands.

An excited murmur sweeps over the room.

“Aw, man!” Casey Jr. says, “I love Lair Games!”

“You know Lair Games?” Raph demands.

Casey vigorously nods his head. “Yes! You guys did it every year, up until - um - uh, well, yeah it used to be a real highlight!”

Leo weirdly feels like he’s going to start crying, and he stares at the floor until it passes. The thought of he and his brothers tending to such a fun and beloved tradition, even in the darkest times, makes him feel happy-sad. The word you’d use there is ‘melancholic’ but Leo doesn’t have the vocabulary for that.

“Who won the most?” Mikey demands, grabbing Casey by the shoulders and shaking him. “Little Casey, please tell me I won at least once!”

Casey Jr. laughs, but doesn’t answer, which, honestly, is pretty telling.

“Sorry,” Usagi says, shifting in his and Leo’s shared beanbag chair so he can address the group, “But what is Lair Games?”

Everybody starts talking at once.

“The event of a lifetime, bro,” Mikey says.

“An epic competition where each turtle is pushed to his absolute limits,” Raph says.

“It’s, like, all these games they play every year,” Sunita supplies.

Louder and more forceful than everyone else, Casey Sr. says “It’s just one big pissing contest!”

Usagi pulls the funniest, most disgusted face. “What!?” He says incredulously.

Everybody laughs.

“That’s just an expression, Sagi,” April says. “It means the boys are just trying to out-do and out-man each other. Which, honestly, is a kind of accurate summary of the Lair Games.”

Cass high-fives her. It’s more of a powerful slap than a high-five, really, but April’s used to it.

“A competition?” Usagi smiles, eyes lighting up.

Raph stops him in his tracks. “Sorry, bro. Turtles only!”

“What!? Why!?”

“Because they know they’d lose against us!” Cass shouts.

Usagi considers this. “I think you’re right! Such cowardice….”

“Hey!” Leo whines, crossing his arms. Usagi pulls Leo’s mask tail and it unties and falls in his face.

“HEY!” Leo pouts, even louder this time. Usagi gives him a shrug and a little buck-toothed grin.

“I assure you,” Donnie says, “We are not afraid of some healthy competition. It’s simply a Hamato brothers tradition. But by all accounts, you guys are invited to come watch.”

“Are we!?” Usagi says in fake delight. “Gee, thanks Donatello, what an honour it is to be relegated to the cheering section!”

“You’re gonna cheer for me, right?” Leo says, leaning in so he and Usagi are almost nose-to-nose.

Usagi smiles at him. “Oh, Leo. I will actively be praying on your downfall.”

Everybody laughs.

“You and me both, Usagi, you and me both.” Donnie says.

***

“Welcome!” April shouts, voice booming from the sound system Donnie’s rigged up. “To the annual, spectacular, highly anticipated… LAIR GAMES!” Her voice echoes around the huge atrium and the turtles enter, all posing and hamming it up like they’re pro wrestlers in front of a huge audience.

The crowd goes wild - or, well, as wild as seven people can get.

Casey Sr. has painted her face, brought an airhorn, and is already screaming as loud as humanly possible. Junior is cheering almost as loud and doesn’t even seem phased when his mother blows an airhorn right beside his ear.

Sunita claps enthusiastically - more for April’s announcing skills than the event itself - and Usagi returns Leo’s frantic wave.

Todd has been invited, and he waves a sign that says “TRY YOUR BEST AND HAVE FUN!” with a flaming skull and crossbones under it.

Draxum is here - it’s March Break so he thankfully has some time to come support his boys.

His presence is still a little unsettling to Usagi, who’d grown up in the Hidden City hearing about how Draxum was a warmonger-er and a stark raving lunatic. A few weeks ago the two had met when Draxum was over trying out new recipes with Mikey - Usagi had instinctively reached to his hip for his katana but then Mikey enthusiastically introduced the sheepman as his other dad. Usagi smiled politely and only flinched a little when Draxum gave him a sturdy and vigorous handshake.

Now, Draxum is sitting on a bench decked out in orange, wearing a t-shirt that Mikey has hand-embroidered to say “World’s Best Lunchlady Dad,” hollering something about victory and glory.

“You’re really showing some bias, here.” Splinter says, snatching an orange flag out of Daxum’s hand.

“I love all of our children equally.” Draxum says, stern. And then he turns back around and screams, “Show no mercy, Micheal!”

April taps the mic and continues. “One year ago today, Leo’s long reign as champion was brought to a screeching end by fan-favourite underdog, Donaaaatellooooo!”

Cass whoops and Leo sticks his tongue out at her.

“Today, our brave champions are fighting to defend the trophy against Leo’s smug ass!”

“Hey!” Leo shouts.

“But more importantly - they are fighting to win! Who will take it? Who will prove themselves worthy? Who is the superior turtle?”

Raph flexes his arms. Donnie does a peace sign. Leo flips his mask tails behind him and blows a kiss to the audience. Mikey does a backflip and gives a little wave.

“Drumroll please!” April cries, and everyone starts slapping their knees. “Let the Lair Games begin!”

It’s as vicious and chaotic as it always is. Much to everyone’s horror and despair, Leo takes an early lead. But then he gets too cocky, and it gets closer - Donnie’s tied and Raph is creeping up. Mikey is…well Mikey’s trying his best, and that’s all that matters!

Leo’s being a complete and absolute show-off - although that’s not the word he would personally use. Look, it’s not his fault if he’s that good. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. And he’s definitely flaunting it with Usagi here to watch. He nails pizza darts and shoots Usagi the most over-the-top wink-and-finger-guns combo the world has ever seen. If being vain and obnoxious was a competition in the Games, god, Leo would’ve won the second they started.

The final, crucial competition arrives. April’s voice is hoarse from commentating. Casey’s airhorn is fully out of juice. Todd bites his fingernails in anticipation. Draxum sits with his head in his hands - devastated by the eminent L his favourite boy is about to take. The dreaded-yet-anticipated shell bowling is here.

The Caseys, Sunita, and Usagi migrate closer to the bottom of the skate ramp in anticipation.

April is solemn as she makes the announcement. “Ladies and gentlemen. Mutants and menaces. This is it. The final countdown. Leo and Raph are neck and neck - it’s anyone’s game -“

She’s interrupted by Donnie starting a chant of “Raph! Raph! Raph! Raph!” Leo gives him the finger and everyone boos him.

“Our competitors will have a practice round. Hold tight, folks.” April announces, ignoring the interruption like the professional little journalism major she is.

Everyone breaks into an anticipatory chatter as the turtles warm up.

“My money’s on Raph.” Casey Sr. says with confidence.

Sunita nods. “For our sake, I hope you’re right.”


“We will never hear the end of it if that arrogant little fruit somehow manages to win again.” Cass says.

“I dunno, guys,” Casey Jr. says, giggling at Cass’ comment, “Leonardo won a lot when I was little.”

“Truly the darkest timeline,” Cass says with a grim shake of the head.

Everyone laughs. Usagi does, too, but he doesn’t say anything because he maybe sort of kind of wants Leo to win.

Leo has just absolutely nailed his practice round. Oh yeah - he’s revving up for a W. He can feel it. He spots his friends having an animated chat along the sidelines and he sees Usagi laugh at something apparently hilarious that Cass has said. This gives him an idea. A totally cool and suave and baller idea. He’s certain he’s heard something, somewhere, about rabbits being lucky, and he thinks he can use this to his advantage.

“Hey, Sagi!” He calls, sauntering over to the sidelines. Usagi meets him there.

“Well done so far,” Usagi says in greeting. Leo starts to say thanks but Usagi cuts him off - “I could have done even better, but still.”

Leo scoffs. “Oh, I’d like to see you try!”

Usagi’s nose twitches. “I’m sure you would.” He crosses his arms and gives Leo a smirk. “So. You going to win?”

And here’s where Leo’s brilliant idea comes into play - “Sure I am, ‘cause you’re here.” he says, certain that this is the best line ever. “I’ve got a lucky rabbit!”

Usagi is - somehow - not utterly charmed by this. Instead he narrows his eyes in confusion. And then he starts laughing. Ok, so not the reaction Leo was hoping for, but he still really loves it when Usagi laughs.

“You’re thinking of a rabbit’s foot,” Usagi giggles, “But good try! Regular old rabbits aren’t lucky, I don’t think. You don’t have a lucky charm, after all,”

Leo is unswayed by this, determined to have a cute moment, damn it!

“Then how about a good luck kiss?” Leo jokes, tilting his chin and waggling his eyebrows, hoping to make Usagi laugh again.

Only, Usagi apparently doesn’t take it as joke. Sure, he laughs for a second, but then he looks Leo up and down, grabs him gently by the strap of his katana sheath, and gives him a little kiss, right on his cheek.

Usagi releases him and gives him a little smile, but Leo just stands there blinking back at him. He’s certain he’s got, like, little cartoon hearts in his eyes right now.

“You - wh…” Leo says stupidly. Usagi laughs.

April starts announcing the beginning of the event and Usagi has to turn Leo around by the shoulders and physically push him back towards the ramp.

“Now you better win!” Usagi calls, and Leo is still too stunned to respond.

He touches his cheek and starts the climb up the ramp. He hears Cass shouting at Usagi - something about swagless looks and cringe-fail personas and how she expected better of him. Leo shakes his head - he’s gotta focus if he wants to nail this.

April’s screaming Mikey’s introduction and everyone goes nuts even though he only knocks down two pins. Draxum shouts “YES!” and hoists Splinter over his head.

Donnie has a good run - but not good enough! Ha! Oh, Leo is so going to win this.

April announces Leo’s turn and he blows the crowd a kiss before flinging himself down the ramp. He’s sure he’s going to clutch this - and then Raph has his turn and gets a perfect strike and all of Leo’s hopes and dreams go down the toilet.

Casey Sr. hollers loud enough to break the sound barrier and Mikey’s whooping. April is screaming: “Your new Lair Games champion - Raaaaaaaaaaph!”

Cass runs over to Raph and dumps a cooler of water over his head, screaming and punching his arm. Raph laughs and picks her up, and then from her perch on Raph’s shoulder she starts another chant of “Raph! Raph! Raph!”

Everyone crowds Raph, congratulating him and complimenting him and thanking him for keeping Leo’s losing streak alive.

“Well fought, my son!”

“Attaboy Raphie!”

“I’m just glad you put that little blue bastard’s ego in check,”

“That was amazing, Raphael!”

Leo’s too busy pouting and feeling sorry for himself to participate in the merriment. “What about me?” he whines.

“Can’t say I feel too sorry!” Donnie says, clearly delighted.

“I’m not about to cheer for someone who whiffed it in the final round,” Little Casey adds.

“You guys are awful!” Leo cries. He searches for an ally and thinks Usagi is probably his best bet.

“Hey,” Leo says to him, “You think I totally killed it out there, right? How about a consolation smooch?” he says, putting on a faux-confident grin and batting his lashes.

Usagi looks at him over his shoulder. “Kisses are for winners.” He says, deadpan, and then turns back to the celebration. Leo stands there dejected, jaw on the floor.

Cass has observed this all from her perch on Raph’s shoulder. “Ha!” she shouts, pointing aggressively at Leo, “Not only have you failed to best your brother, but you remain chronically bitchless!”

That’s the biggest L he’s taken today. Leo puts his head in his hands.

***

They dance around it for a few weeks. It. The thing. The situation. The fact that they’re both into each other and have no idea what to do about it.

Leo wakes up every Saturday and Sunday morning trapped under fuzzy limbs - sometimes he’ll have an elbow digging into his ribs, sometimes he’ll have an ear in his face, sometimes he’ll have a leg in between his own - but Usagi’s always there, under his ridiculously big pile of blankets, taking up way more than his fair share of the bed. His fur always sticks up at ridiculous angles and he’s always bleary-eyed and he always asks Leo if he slept ok. It always makes Leo feel all warm and cozy, but he never does anything about it.

They always train together, using their proclivity for katanas as an excuse to see more of each other. Leo even wins some spars, now and then. They always sit together during movie nights, holed up on the beanbag chair sitting so close that Leo may as well be in Usagi’s lap. They always sing together on karaoke nights, and it’s lame and it’s cheesy and Leo loves every second of it.

Usagi’s always reaching for his hand - on the walk to the lair, during post-training tea, under the blankets at nighttime. None of Leo’s friends and family even bat an eye at this; it’s just Leo and Usagi doing their little Leo-and-Usagi thing.

Usagi’s always very respectful of Leo’s Dad - and of Draxum, too. He always takes an interest in Donnie’s tech and he always listens to what Raph has to say and he always indulges in whatever silly thing Mikey is doing. He’s always sweet to April.

Usagi’s always very intense - he always takes a hard stance on things. He’s so passionate about training, takes such good care of his katana. He’s always telling stories of Spot, and sensei, and even his parents sometimes, now. He always pays attention to what people are talking about, and so he always has something kind or clever to say, Leo thinks. Leo thinks a lot of things about him.

They keep having these little moments where Leo will think, I should kiss him, and he’ll feel it in his whole chest, but then he just doesn’t. This thing between them feels so fragile - he can’t risk breaking it.

Leo wakes from a nightmare to find Usagi already up, rubbing soft gentle circles on Leo’s back and asking if he’s alright. Leo want to, then, but he doesn’t. Leo’s bested in a sword fight by Usagi (what else is new?), and Usagi laughs, leans in so close their noses bump and says, “Is that all you’ve got for me?” Leo wants to, then, but he doesn’t. Leo walks to the lair with Usagi, hand in hand, and Usagi goes on and on about some cool stunt he saw in an old movie, and he’s so excited about it and he’s so passionate about it that his ears are sticking straight up. Leo wants to, then, but he doesn’t.

They have another of these little moments one Friday evening. It’s early springtime, and everyone’s just made it back to the lair from their final snowball fight of the season. Mikey’s making hot chocolate, and Donnie’s getting a movie set up. Leo has to change his sweater because Raph, in a total bogus illegal move, had stuffed a snowball down it.

“What a jerk,” Leo grumbles, heading to his room and casting off his dampened hoodie.

Usagi trails behind him, fighting laughter. “No dignity in that,” he agrees.

Leo rummages through his drawers until he finds a sweater that’s cozy enough to suffice. He jams it over his head, saying, “First Lair Games and now this! Ugh! The universe hates me!”

Usagi nods, tying his ears back into a ponytail. “There is no justice in this world. How will you ever live with the trauma of having lost a snowball fight?”

“Hey!” Leo shouts, hurling a pillow at Usagi, “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“Why am I supposed to be on your side?” Usagi questions, with an amused smile and raised eyebrows.

“Um, duh, because we’re besties?”

Usagi opens his mouth - probably to say something totally dry and hilarious, if Leo had to guess - but then closes it again. He cocks his head and looks at Leo for a second. “You consider me your best friend?”

“Ummmm, no shit, Sherlock?” Leo says, laughing and throwing his hands out in a questioning gesture. “We totally hang out all the time, I think you’re the best!”

Usagi grins at him, one of his real big genuine ones, and he’s standing there in his fuzzy little sweater, lit up all warm by Leo’s fairy lights, and Leo has that thought again and it’s all too much.

“Stop looking at me like that!” Leo demands, covering his face - as if being physically unable to see Usagi will stop himself from wanting to see Usagi smile every day again and again for ever and ever.

“Like what?” Usagi asks, and Leo peeks through his fingers at him. Damn it! He’s still cute.

“Like…like that!” Leo says, hopelessly.

Usagi laughs. “Are you being shy again?” he says, stepping closer.

“No!” Leo insists, bringing his hands down from his face.

“You are!” Usagi says, poking him. “What, I’m not allowed to look at you now?”

“Not like that!”

“Like what?”

“Like you -! Like…like… I don’t know! Like that!”

“Why not?” Usagi demands, smiling, hands on his hips and very much looking at Leo like that.

“Because you -“ this has quickly gotten out of Leo’s control. “Because it - you’re killing me here, Sagi!”

Usagi laughs and reaches for Leo’s hand, which he gives over instinctively despite his flusteredness. Usagi takes a deep breath, and Leo sees him reach for his ear to tug nervously, but he stops himself. He meets Leo’s eyes.

“I feel like I should - I have to say - I…it’s -“ Usagi cuts himself off, looking like he’s very much trying to muster up some courage.

Um, holy shit. If this is going where Leo hopes it's going he's going to lose it. Leo tries next. “I think I know what you’re going to say and it’s - I think - it’s the same, it’s - I’m…”

Usagi laughs a little but stays nervous. “If we’re both trying to…how -? What if - ?”

“How about we… what - ok, let’s just say it.” Leo says.

And then they both stand there in profound, deeply embarrassing silence.

“Leo?” Usagi says after what feels like an eternity.

Leo feels like he’s going to throw up. But instead he says, “Yeah?”

Usagi looks at him very seriously and Leo’s heart races. Usagi takes a deep breath.

“You come here often?”

Leo busts out laughing and Usagi follows suit, and it’s like all the tension immediately dissipates and it’s just them, in their own stupid little world, and they’re laughing, together, and it’s not so scary anymore.

Leo gets that feeling again, like he should kiss him, and this time, he actually thinks he can do it.

He takes Usagi’s chin in his hands, like he’s seen in all the movies and read in all the fanfiction, all gentle and romantic. Usagi stops laughing and blinks. Leo looks at him. Usagi looks right back, and then he gives Leo a big smile and a little reassuring nod, and then Leo just does it.

He kisses him.

And, look, you’re familiar with how this goes. Fireworks and cheesy pop songs and this one, perfect moment it’s all been leading up to. It’s just like that - only it’s nothing like that because they’re both really nervous and new and excited, and actually they kinda half-miss at first but it’s totally ok. Leo pulls back but Usagi follows him, kissing him again, just because he can.

They look at each other for a second, and then break into a little nervous laughter, and then they kiss again, short and sweet like they’ve done it a million times before.

Leo feels giddy, he feels relieved, he feels excited, he feels like his heart is going to blow up - he feels a million things at once. Usagi’s grinning at him in a way that makes Leo want to soak in that smile forever. And then, because Leo truly cannot help himself, he says,

“So. You come here often?”

***

One minute he’s sacrificing himself to be beaten to death by a murderous alien invader in a nightmarish prison dimension, and the next minute he’s got the actual, literal, cutest, coolest, bestest bunny boyfriend in the whole world. Such is life for Hamato Leonardo.