Chapter 20-
\tAgain, Mikey had manage to drag all three of his brothers back out of their chosen crypt into another night of movies, pizza, and popcorn. Leo had to admit that their little brother is a gift. He was sure that their family would fall into the great depression if they didn’t have Mikey to lift each and every one of their spirits.
\t“Leo? What’ cha doing?” Mikey had asked. Knocking on the door and peeking his head before his body followed before Leo could even give him the permission.
\t“What does it look like?” Leo’s feminine voice answered back. Waving around his space heroes comic. His opinion of Space Heroes hadn’t changed one bit. Except . . . only that, Leo had developed a crush like fan girl attitude toward Captain Ryan and he couldn’t help but obsess over the guy. Tucking himself away in his room and sighing dreamily. This must be what female hormones are like.
\t“Oh, okay. So nothing important.”
\t“What do you want Mikey?” Leo asked with an annoyed grumble.
\t“I was wanting to know if you wanted to watch a movie.”
\t“If it doesn’t have Captain Ryan in it. I’m not interested.”
\t“No. But it does have cute guy’s.” Mikey’s smile turned into a vicious grin. His eye ridges wiggling. Leo growled and threw the comic at his little sibling.
\t“Shut up Mikey. Just because I have a girl body, doesn’t mean I’m going to fan girl about every cute guy like one.”
\t“Aren’t you gay?”
\t“What are you talking about? I’m not gay.”
\t“But don’t you love Raph, and he’s a guy last time I checked.” Leo grinded his teeth together and swallowed down a growl that threatened to release. He would have liked to believe he did. In the way Mikey is thinking at least. But he has been working through his feelings. He had to forget them. Obviously Raph wouldn’t have returned those feelings so why keep them around? If only it was as easy as that.
\t“I used to love him.” He answered simply. Pushing himself up right and stretching out his stiff limbs.
\tMikey frowned at the sound of that before sighing and shaking his head. “Still proves you’re gay. For the most part.”
\tLeo threw a warning glare in Mikey’s direction, standing up on his feet and walking over to his little sibling. “If you still want me to go down to watch movies. You will drop this subject.”
\tThe leaf green terrapin smiled brightly, nodding, and grabbed onto Leo’s hand. Dragging the girl like turtle out of the room and down the hall. Leo wasn’t expecting though that everyone was there. Raph was sprawled on the couch, Don on a chair, Casey on the other side of the couch attempting to brush off Raph’s legs but the only thing he managed to do was pissing himself off.
\tLeo couldn’t help wonder how in the world Mikey managed to get both Raph and Donnie out of their chosen crypts, but he supposed that was a question for later.
\tApril picked her spot on the floor. Her backside leaning against Donnie’s chair and when her sights landed on him, she immediately got up and headed Leo’s direction.
\t“Hey Leo. Finally came out of your room I see.”
\tLeo offered her a friendly smile and rubbed the back of his neck to get the kink out. “Yep,” He answered. “So what movie are we planning on seeing?”
\t“Actually, I was wondering if you and me could go and hang out?” Leo cocked his head to the side in confusion. He glanced to the side and found that Mikey was no longer there, but already flopping himself down on a bean bag in front of the television. Scrambling through their large collections of movies.
\t“You don’t want to watch anything here?”
\t“Naw, come on Leo. Leave the guy’s to watch their shows. Let’s have a girl’s night.”
\tAn eye ridge raised. “You still remember, I’m not a girl, right?”
\t“We both know that Donnie had done some more tests on you and concluded that your hormones are changing rapidly into more female. Wouldn’t you prefer to do feminine things?”
\tLeo shrugged. “I’m still a guy.” He insisted. April rolled her eyes.
\t“Oh come on Leo. Do you really want to stay here where you’re constantly surrounded by male mutant turtles?”
\t“They’re my brothers.”
\t“They’re male.”
\t“Your point?”
\tApril sighed and rubbed the space between her eyes. “Your family is made up of the only mutant turtles alive on this planet, and that would have stayed that way for all of eternity. But now, there’s a female mutant turtle in the world. Don’t you think you’d want a little separation? Just for a little while?”
\tLeo stared dumbfounded and confused. “What are you trying to say?” April let out an annoyed groan and scrubbed her hands over her face.
\t“Despite your guy’s hormones aren’t raged anymore doesn’t mean their gone.”
\t“Yeah so?"
\tThe red head gritted her teeth together. “Do I have to spell it out for you!? Males! Mutant or not, their penises react the same to whoever whom! In this case! You!” And just like that, everything sunk in and realization hit Leo like a punch to the jaw. Why!? Why did he have to be a girl!?
\tSwallowing hard, he resumed rubbing the back of his neck and nibbling on his lip as he glanced over April’s shoulder to the group in the living room who, as well was gaping at them in astonishment.
\tRedness appeared on April’s cheeks when she grasped on how exactly loud she was.
\t“Do you guy’s--- you know? Need some privacy?” Don suddenly spoke over the silence.
\t“No we’re good.” Leo answered and cleared his throat.
\t“No Don. I think I want hear this.” Mikey chided in. A huge smile on his face as he set down the popcorn and rearranged his position so he was sitting on his knees. Looking in their direction with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
“Yeah, me to.” Casey said. Grinning like an idiot. Leo felt heat rising in his own cheeks. He couldn’t help but allow his attention to settle on Raph who was as well staring. He didn’t look as disturbed or shocked as Don was. Nor was he grinning seductively, like Casey and Mikey. His expression was more neutral. Like he was thinking about something really hard. Leo didn’t know if that was a good thing or bad.
At least he could be grateful that Splinter wasn’t present at this moment.
“Oh grow up! And go back to your movie!” April scowled at them. Grabbing tightly onto Leo’s arm and tugging him along to another room.
“It’s not that bad of a thought.” Leo herd Mikey say off the distance.
“I agree! That would be better than any movie!” Leo barely was able to decipher Casey’s voice. But there was no mistaking that. Leo could have sworn he herd, “You guys are such perverts.” He wasn’t quite sure who said that, or even if the statement was correct. But the obvious was that it was either Raph or Don saying it to Casey and Mikey and he could have so agreed with whom ever.
The two stopped abruptly and Leo found that he was back in his room and April was staring down at him sternly. Hands on hips. Pony tail flipped over her shoulder.
“You see what I mean?”
Yes, but Leo wished he didn’t. With a defeated sigh, he nodded. “Alright, so what exactly do these “girl nights” contain of?”
And just those words caused April’s smile to reappear magically. “Let’s go over to my apartment and you’ll find out.” She headed over to the door. “Oh, and pack some stuff. Whatever you need. You’re spending the night.” Without another word, the door closed behind her before Leo could make a statement.
So a sleep over is what April’s wanting to do. Leo never had a sleep over. Unless you count him and his brothers huddling in blankets in the living room during a cold winter night. Trying desperately to get warm. And what little he knew about it, he didn’t find it all that exciting. April and Casey had spent nights in the lair before and that didn’t feel as thrilling like April makes it seem.
Huffing, Leo decided it was better than arguing with the girl. He could make it one night in April’s apartment. It shouldn’t be that bad.
Grabbing a back pack, he stuffed a blanket, tooth brush, paste, and comics. Studying his room to see if there was anything else he needed and shaking his head when he spotted nothing else. He zipped up the bag and threw it over his shoulder, tucking the pillow under his arm. He met April in the living room who was leaning against the back of the couch.
“Ready?” She asked brightly.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Leo forced the best smile as he could.
“Alright, see ya guy’s!” She announced. Waving at them and gabbing Leo. Leading him to the exit of the lair.
“Wait, where you going?” Don asked. Everyone’s attention on them.
“None of your beeswax!” April threw back. Not even bothering to look over her shoulder as she did so and they left the lair without any more questions answered. The red head smiled and snatched Leo’s bag from him, flipping it over her shoulder. Leo might have protested, but thought better and just switched his pillow to the other arm. Following close at April’s side and listening as she rambled on about stuff. Something about school. Then something about a debate coming up. Then a fight with a bestie. Or so she called her BFF’s. (Best Friends Forever, apparently.) Then about graduations. Her future careers. And by the time she stopped fantasizing and venting, they had reached the building to her apartment.
“So, I was thinking I would order a pizza and Chinese. We can watch some movies of our own---”
“If that was the case, why didn’t we stay at the lair?” Leo retorted. Hopping down the fire escapes, one by one.
“Hush! I wasn’t finished. Then, I’m going to show you the art of makeover.”
“What!? April, you know the rules! No makeovers!”
“Actually, that was dressing up. This is completely different.” Leo huffed and slipped his way through the window and closing it behind him, tossing the pillow onto the couch. April set the bag in the corner of the room before she took off to a different room. Coming back with an armful of blankets and dropping them on the floor. Rushing off again and reappearing with an armful of pillows this time. Dumping them she started kicking and rearranging them till they looked like a quite comfortable spread out nest.
“Okay, I’ll go order the food. You can get the sodas out of the fridge.” She ordered and took off again. Leo did as instructed and set the beverages on the coffee table.
April returned again a few minutes later, tossing her phone on the couch and collapsing beside Leo on the nest. She reached out and took several movies off the shelf and spreading them out.
“Pick.”
. . .
\t“Oh my God! That was fantastic!” Leo hugged the blue pillow to his puckered chest and nibbling on his lip as he watched the credits come on. He wiped away tears that had managed to seep and drip along his cheeks. Leaving dark stains on the fabric. He couldn’t believe he was crying over some stupid sappy chick flick romance! What the hell!?
\tThe last time he watched something like this, he was a man, and he fell asleep through it. He was sure that would have happened again. Instead, his sights were glued to the screen, either cursing when the man cheated on the woman. Cheered when he came running across the airport to try to reach her before the plane took off. And watched through glistening eyes when the man went down on one knee. Proposing to her in the middle of the crowd. This stuff was so damn sappy! And so damn sweet!
\tHe laid back against the pile of pillows that outlined the nest and thought the entire plot back over. He couldn’t help but wondering what would have been if it was Raph. Speeding and running red lights in a stolen sports car, fighting off cops and security guards, even taking off across the air plane speed way just to get to him.
\tProbably not.
\tShaking the thought away, he smiled to April who was as well wiping away stray tears and talking about her favorite scenes.
\t“Want to watch another?” She asked, looking his direction. Leo shrugged. April crawled over to the pile and popped in another movie, this one action and comedy.
\t“Oh! I did want to try something out on you.”
\t“What is it?” Leo asked, glaring suspiciously at her. The red head just smiled and stood up, waltzing happily out of the room.
\t“I want to give you a facial!”
\t“Is that makeover?”
\t“Not exactly. Just try it! You might like it!” Leo doubted that, but decided that it would be better for both of them if he just allow her way for now. If he could withstand a sword to the heart. Surely he could withstand a facial.
\tThe red head female sat back in front of Leo. Holding a jar of something that looked like a deep green cream. He blinked at it as she showed it off.
\t“It’s a mud pack.”
\t“Yeah, and . . .?”
\tApril huffed and rolled her eyes. “It’s supposed to be good for your face. It moisturizes and cleans out your pores, and considering how jumpy your hormones are Leo. Your face could afford it.” Leo might have been offended by that. If it weren’t true. He had been finding a lot of blemishes that he hadn’t had since his thirteen to sixteen years. Now he had to go through the whole process again. Only this time it was female hormones he had to deal with.
\t“But mud?”
\t“The mud has different minerals that’s healthy for your face.”
\t“And you don’t think with me being mutant will cause a bad effect?”
\t“What all do you have to lose? Skin is skin.” Leo sighed and nodded. Sitting up straight and allowing April to smear the mud all across his face. The mask felt tight and weird, but nonetheless he hardly noticed the thing.
\t“See? Not so bad now is it?”
\t“So what now?”
\t“Just have to wait till it dry's. Which should just take about ten to fifteen minutes.” April screwed the jar closed and set it to the side. “You’ll see an effect once you wash it off. I’m sure your skin will be glowing. I’m sure Raph will get a kick out of it.” She smirked and elbowed Leo playfully.
\t“I’m over him April.”
\tThe girl paused and studied him before shaking her head sharply. “No you’re not.”
\t“Yes I am.”
\t“No. Your definitely not. I saw the look you have whenever you see him. Or the name suddenly comes up in a conversation. You’re still in love with him.” Leo sighed and leaned back on the nest.
\t“Well even if I am. Which I’m not. It wouldn’t make much sense to hold onto them when Raph doesn’t like me the same way.” April stayed silent for a few minutes before scooting and leaning against the nest beside Leo and gaping up at the ceiling as well.
\t“You haven’t seen his reaction every time he sees you or hears your name. Do you?”
\t“What are you talking about?”
\t“I mean, Raph does have an effect on you.”
\t“Yeah, because just the mere mention of me reminds him of what I did to him. What he’ll never be able to experience again.” Leo sighed sadly. Wringing his fingers together and resting them on his stomach plate. His thoughts wandering to the night he confessed to Raph. He could feel the movement of pillows as April shook her head again.
\t“No. This isn’t disgust. Sadness. Anger. Or betrayal. I don’t see any of that in his eyes.” Leo stayed silent and April took that as an indicator to continue. “I could sense it in his aura. It becomes brighter and stronger whenever you’re around him. It flashes and flickers when someone mentions you. I could sense the anger and longing when he sees you sad. He regrets what he says Leo.”
\tLeo licked his lips and tilted his head slightly in April’s direction. Trying not to wipe off any of the mud on the pillow. Though he could only make out the tip of her red bangs. “Anger?” He asked simply. He didn’t know what else to say.
\t“Not towards you Leo.” She giggled. “Towards anyone who was the cause of your sadness.” The mint green turtle frowned. Would Raph had been mad at himself at the times he feels upset about what occurred that night? He hoped not. Despite the fact, Leo always will go back on that night. He was hoping that they got passed it when the two of them couldn’t sleep. When they exchanged apologizes.
\tSure, Raph could regret all he wanted about what he said. But that doesn’t mean he could like him with it.
\t“I think he returns those feelings.” April cut in through his thoughts.
\t“Then why hasn’t he said anything to me? Allowing me to continue thinking that he thinks of me as his brother and nothing more?”
\t“Why didn’t you?”
\t“What?”
\t“You kept your secret hidden for over a month. You kept your real thoughts and feelings from him all that time.” Leo fell silent once again. That was true. If Raph did possess any feelings for him, he would only want him to confess when he was ready.
\t“So what about you?” He asked suddenly. Changing subjects fast.
\t“What about me?”
\t“You and Casey seem to be getting closer.”
\tPay back!
\t“What are you talking about? We’re just friends.” Despite how little Leo could see of April without rubbing off the mask. He could tell easily that April was blushing deeply.
\t“Uh huh sure~. Just friends.”
\t“We are!” She insisted. Pushing herself on her knees and staring daggers down at Leo. Only to cause the blue masked ninja to laugh.
\t“Stop laughing!” Grabbing a pillow, she “thwacked” him right across the face. Gasping, she yanked back the pillow and stared at the splotch of mud that stained the fabric. Then at the smudges on Leo’s face.
\t“Oh my God. I’m so sorry, I---”
\tHer words were cut off when her own face was met with a pillow. Gobsmacked, she rolled onto her back. The pillow tumbling out of her reach. She pushed herself up on her elbows and stared at Leo’s laughing form. He had a huge grin on his face. One finger pointed at her while the other hand clenched the blue pillow. She had to admit, this side of Leo was a rare sight and she was only glad that she managed to pry it out under all that serious and stressed layer on top.
\tSmirking, she grabbed another pillow nearby and attacked Leo with a loud war cry. Not even giving a damn about the mud she kept getting on every pillow case.
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