Chapter Nineteen

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[Your POV]

I clung to Leo's shell as I held my breath. How much longer? I started to worry that I wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

But then I felt us move upwards and the sewer air hit my sopping wet hair. I coughed a little bit and my hands began shaking. My vision was blurry and my eyes struggled to adjust to the dark sewers.

I felt a turtle-y hand wrap around mine. I squinted my eyes and realized I had let go of Leo's shell once we found land. I blushed as I realized how close I was to Leo's face. I looked right into his blue eyes. "Are you cold?" He asked.

"Y-Yeah...a little..." I admitted. I felt his hot breath on my hands and he gently rubbed his over mine. I blushed. He was trying to warm me up...

"Come on, let's hurry up and get to Casey's." Raph said, walking in front with Blake. Blake was holding Raph's t-phone, following the map. As we began walking, I overheard some of the conversations between everyone. "You're uhh...not as bad at fighting as I thought you'd be." Raph said to Blake.

"Did you assume that because I was small that I can't defend myself?" Blake asked with a little bit of an attitude. Raph's eyes widened and he blushed. "I mean...I'm a lot stronger now that I'm technically a mutant... I wasn't as strong before. (Y/N) would have to protect me during PE class..."

"I think your strength...has a lot more to it then just being a mutant." Raph said. Blake blushed and stared at the t-phone.

Veronica dug through the duffel bag, quadruple checking that she had the necessary tools. "Syringe...ibuprofen..." Veronica mumbled to herself.

"I think you have everything, Veronica." Donnie reassured her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I know, I know I do but...I don't wanna make a mistake." She said, zipping the duffel bag back up. Her eyes were full of anxiety as she messed with her hair restlessly. Donnie furrowed his brow and scratched his head, the cogs in his mind turning. Then he had an idea.

"I don't think you've ever made a mistake in your life." Donnie said.

"Oh Donnie. I...I've made a lot of mistakes..." She said.

"I don't think so. You're perfect."

"I'm not perfect. I never have been."

"Well, you're perfect to me." Donnie said with a smile, showing his gap tooth. Veronica's cheeks went bright red and she couldn't stop smiling. Their hands brushed against each other's, and the two intertwined fingers.

Mikey was grinning so wide as Zion showed off his scars. "And this one is from when the snake I was dissecting came back to life, and bit me! Just ask Veronica! Uhh actually, don't ask Veronica. She passed out when that happened..." Zion said, rubbing his chin.

"Whoa! Your scars are so cool!" Mikey gushed.

"Yours are cooler! You actually earn them, in battle. But I just get them from doing stupid stuff." Zion smiled.

"I get scares from stupid stuff too!" Mikey said, moving his mask down a little, revealing a mark. "That was when Raph hit me with his sai and almost stabbed me in the head!" Zion's jaw dropped. Mikey's eyes widened when he realized how it sounded. "I-It was an accident! It happened when we were little and were first learning about our weapons!" Zion let out a sigh of relief. "But it was my fault anyway."

"Your fault? But...you said it was an accident?" Zion asked, looking down at Mikey.

Mikey looked away. "Well uhh, you know. I mess up a lot. I'm not as good as my brothers."

"What do you mean?" Zion seemed genuinely confused. Mikey looked back up at Zion and smiled reassuringly.

"Well, Leo's the leader, Raph's the angry one, Donnie's the smart one, and I'm the goofy screw up!" Mikey said with a smile. Zion's gaze softened.

"Mikey..."

"What? There's nothing wrong with being the screw up. I mean, someone had to take one for the team." Mikey said, feeling bad. He didn't mean to make Zion upset. "I'm fine!"

"Mikey, I don't think you're a screw up." Zion said. Mikey's eyes widened.

"You don't?"

"You're the strongest person I know!" He said, wrapping his arm around Mikey, making him blush. Mikey relaxed and hugged Zion's arm, making the both of them go red.

I looked back at Leo, who was staring straight ahead. "Do you wanna talk about it?" I asked with a smirk. Leo blinked rapidly and his face went red. He looked over at me.

"Talk? I mean- talk- uhh, what- what is...uhh...about...talk?" Leo stumbled over his words and I chuckled. I walked closer to him and leaned into his ear.

"I think you know what I mean." I said, nudging him. Leo's face was bright red as he attempted to compose himself.

"Um, maybe...maybe...uhh later." He mumbled. I smiled and I noticed he moved his arm. My eyes softened as I slipped my hand in the crook of his arm. I couldn't stop smiling. Leo...my comfort character, my childhood crush...and now my...maybe...maybe a boyfriend? Well, not quite yet. We still had to talk. Of course, there's much more important things to worry about then our silly little love lives, but...it's nice. It makes me feel hopeful for the future.

We soon came to a ladder that led to a manhole cover on the surface. "This should lead to an alleyway right next to Casey's building." Blake said, reading the map and texting Casey that we were arriving. We all took turns climbing up the ladder and out of the manhole cover. Raph went first. Because it was daytime, Raph managed to move a dumpster at the entrance of the alleyway, making sure no one would see us.

We climbed the fire escape to the window Casey had left open for us. We all piled in and met up with April and Casey in the kitchen. Raph and Donnie cleaned off the kitchen counter and Leo sat on it.

Veronica took deep breaths and attempted to tie up her hair. But her hands were shaking and she dropped her hair tie. She reached down but someone else picked up her hair tie for her. It was April. "Here." She said, signalling for Veronica to turn around. She obeyed and April braided her hair for her. "Hey uhh, sorry about having an attitude earlier."

"An attitude?" Veronica asked.

"Yeah, um...about the plan you and Donnie made." She apologized. "I guess...I was just worried."

"Worried? Sorry, I hope we didn't put too much pressure much on you."

"Oh no, it's not that." April said with a smile. She turned Veronica around and held her shoulders. "I was worried about Donnie. He's like a brother to me." She looked at Donnie, who was busy preparing the equipment Veronica packed. She smiled and lowered her voice. "I could tell he was infatuated by you. I was a little worried that you would break his heart. But...the feelings seem to be mutual between you two."

Veronica blushed and smiled. "W-Well uhh...I suppose so, hehe." She laughed nervously. April gave her a hug.

"You got this. Just take deep breaths." She said, patting her back. Veronica smiled and took a deep breath.

Casey handed me a pillow and I placed it on the counter, helping Leo lay down. He looked up at me. "...Everything will be okay, right?" Leo asked, his voice a little shaky.

I smiled at him. I placed my hand on his head and caressed him. His cheeks went pink but he didn't take his eyes off me. "I'll be right next to you the whole time." I said, looking around at everyone. April, Donnie, and Blake sanitized and sterilized the surgical equipment. Raph helped Veronica wash her hands and prepare. Casey, Mikey, and Zion kept watch at every window, making sure everything was locked up tight and there was no abnormal activity. I leaned down and kissed Leo on the head. But he didn't get flustered. He just closed his eyes and the tension left his body. I held his hand. "I'll never leave your side."

"Alright, Leonardo." Veronica said, now wearing a lab coat and a doctor's mask. She took a deep breath and did a stretch. Donnie walked over with a mask laced with anesthesia. "This shouldn't hurt."

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