Don't ask me where this came from because I don't know. I really, really don't. I don't even SHIP these two! But...I'm a sucker for some non-cannon pairings. This being one of them. I love CaseyxApril and ADORE LeoxKarai-so why did this come up? Who knows. The 2k14 movie has me all messed up with feels, and I love it. So I wrote this even though I still like the DonxApril and RaphxApril pairings. Oh dear...I just realized I'm a mess when it comes to TMNT. OH WELL!

Here's some family with light romance relationship between Leonardo and April. I like to think that even the fearless leader had a small crush on the beautiful red-head and that the sharp reporter respected the blue-banded turtle. This takes place in the 2k14 movie-verse. I have other little one-shot ideas so the rating may go up too. Whenever inspiration hits me, I'll update.

PLEASE give me feedback. Criticism or praise or a few simple words, I don't care. I love all reviews. I'm hoping to be a better writer so any helpful tips are welcomed.

I do NOT own TMNT...much to my disappointment.

Forgiveness

Leonardo sits in the middle of the dojo, eyes closed, face stoic. The atmosphere is completely still. No movement or noise of any kind interrupt his meditation. Slowly, the large mutant inhales then exhales, trying to expel all ill emotion that plagues his mind. It usually works, but his mistake was weighing especially heavy on his shoulders. He carries the shame of his regrets. The burden of guilt.

It had been a few days since the incident. Leo had led his brothers out on patrol—a regular night. A few purses saved. A mugger taken out of commission. Even a cat saved from being stuck in a tree—Mikey's doing. Overall, a normal night. Then, while heading back to the sewers, they caught sight of a few Foot Soldiers heading towards an abandoned building. Of course, the four ninjas went to investigate.

There were a lot of them, but not enough to intimidate the skilled turtles. Leo debated whether or not to engage the enemy. There seemed to be no real threat. No real leader present—no Shredder or Sachs, or Karai. He didn't think it was necessary to engage the enemy, but then Raphael chimed in saying it's been a while since the Foot Clan got a good beat-down. It had been a while. For the most part, the minions were rather quiet. Leo thinks they're waiting until they can commence a new plan for domination. That thought made him angry, made him clutch his katana tighter. Then Michelangelo had agreed and was feeling "totally ready to deliver a few chucks upside their heads." Donatello, Leo knew, was quietly running the odds of so many against four mutant turtles. When Leo had looked to him, Don had fired off the numbers that actually were in their favor this time. That was rare considering their previous terrible odds when facing the Foot Clan.

It wouldn't be so bad, Leo had thought after hearing the odds. Maybe taking out a few Foot Soldiers would make their odds better for when the enemy did come back with a bigger plan. Fewer assets to use. Fewer chances of people being hurt. Less opportunities for innocent bystanders—like April's dad. That got Leo's blood pumping. The memory of April's sorrowful face when reminiscing about her late father always managed to make the blue-masked turtle feel ready for a fight. Not in his usual honorable way, but more like Raph's way. Like he wants to bash a few skulls kind of ready. Any harm that comes to April, their April, deserves what his blades deliver.

Leonardo had decided to attack. It would almost be more of an exercise than a fight for the four brothers. They were just that good, as Mikey liked to put it. Turned out, they were "that good." They managed to take out the majority of them which really weren't that many.

That quickly changed.

Leo takes another deep breath as the memory of what happened next enters his mind. He can't stop it. The painful thought strikes through him like one of his swords.

More Foot Soldiers came. Many, many more. They seemed to double in number. Back-up had been called, and they came bearing weapons. Although Leonardo and his brothers' shells are bulletproof, it doesn't mean they don't hurt, or don't distract. The Foot had gotten smarter. They had used the guns to try and corner the mutants. Leo had seen right through it and commanded his brothers for an escape. Escape they did, but not without a scratch.

"Don't touch it! Do you want me to die? You want me to die. You've always had it out for me. My own brother!" Mikey's shriek from the other room makes Leo wince.

"Mikey, I'm only changing your dressing. Stop moving." Donatello's scold falls on deaf ears as Mikey continues to complain and accuse.

Three days Mikey has been on the remade pizza box couch within their new lair (relocated, of course), moaning and whining and demanding his brothers do everything for him. Donnie only does about half of what's asked of him from his younger brother. Leo does everything out of guilt but also avoids Mikey because of that guilt, which in turn makes him feel worse. Raph ignores him for the most part, only smacking the orange-masked turtle when the whining becomes too much. Besides, it's not Michelangelo's head that's hurt. It's his leg. And it's really not that bad, Donatello insists, but it doesn't make Leonardo feel any better.

It had been his call. His decision to go in and fight. To better his chances at winning the blood feud years in the making. He admitted all this to Splinter who gave him that disappointed look he hates getting from his sensei. Master Splinter had given him a small lecture but ended it abruptly and turning it in a different direction.

"Although you possess a great deal of wisdom, my son, there is always room for more. There is no limit to knowledge. Today you have learned yet another lesson the world willingly teaches. Keep the wisdom you have gained and use it for the future. No doubt, you shall need it for there are plenty of opportunities to come in which you shall have to make judgment calls—some of which you cannot escape without harm."

Leonardo allowed his sensei's words to run through him, but they didn't cool the burning self-hatred he felt. He had only been the official leader of his brothers for a few years now, topside even less than that, and he's already failed them.

"Angelcakes!" Mikey's shout of joy has Leo's eyes snapping open. Other than that he remains perfectly still, listening intently as April talks with the youngest turtle, asking about his wellbeing. Mikey, as expected, complains to her in a pitying voice and asks her to kiss it better. He can hear April laugh. He likes her laugh, but it only helps a little in his self-loathing state. Leo closes his eyes and tries to go back to blocking out all around him.

For a minute, Leo is so caught up in his concentration that he doesn't notice the sudden lack of whining from the other room. Then he hears a knock. A light tapping against the dojo door that couldn't possibly be from any of his brothers. He knows who it is but he doesn't open his eyes, even when he hears the door open and close and the small footsteps that cross the floor.

He can sense April as she sits down beside him. After a minute of silence, Leo dares to open one of his eyes to peer at his new company. There April sits, looking completely content staring at the far side of the dojo. As if sensing his gaze, though, she looks away from the wall and up to Leo. Leo quickly closes his eyes and takes another deep breath. She looks nice today. Happy. Healthy.

Pretty.

"Hi Leo," she says. Leo doesn't respond. His brothers had warned her before about interrupting their brother while meditating. She will get one of two responses-either he will actually respond, in an unhappy way for being interrupted, or ignore the interrupting person completely. This is the first time April has come to him while he meditates. He isn't sure how to respond. But he doesn't want to take that pleasantness from her face with his own unhappiness. So he ignores her...at least until she starts speaking again.

"I'm assuming you can hear me, unless you're in this cosmic place only meditating ninjas can get to. You'll have to tell me later if you can do that." April pauses, waiting for a response Leo refuses to give her. She then continues. "Mikey told me what happened. That's a nasty little scratch on his leg. You must feel terrible."

Leo's face ever-so-slightly changes. His face becomes slightly more pinched—from agony and anger. Why would April be so blunt in her disapproval? Usually that is something he expects from his brothers, not her.

"Yep. The guilt must be awful. I remember one time I got angry at my sister. We were just kids and she had just taken my binoculars. She wouldn't give them back so I shoved her in hopes she would give them back. Well, she dropped them, but she also fell off the couch and landed on her arm. It broke. The poor thing had to spend the next few months in a cast and I spent that whole time feeling like the worst sister in the world. I did everything for her in that time, but she was only three. She hadn't figured out just how much she had her older sister wrapped around her finger so she couldn't take advantage of it. I cried a lot the first few weeks while my sister lay in bed. Finally my dad had enough of my self-loathing. He came in one night."

At this, Leo heard April move. He heard her step behind him, sensed her close proximity. Her hands suddenly gently pressed against his shell has him inhale sharply. Touch—gentle touch—was not something he was used to. He hasn't had something like this since he was little and it was still acceptable to hug Master Splinter. Then April went a step further. She pressed herself against his shell further. The turtle leader sits up straighter as if an electric shock ran through him. Their shells were sensitive, as he said before. The warmth radiating from the newest member of the turtle family has Leo both tense and relaxed. When April presses her cheek to the very top of his shell it's all Leo can do not to move. He feels tightly wound, uncertain what to do, what to say, if to do or say anything. The tenseness makes him feel the need to move but at the same time he relishes the calming comfort.

"My dad told me that now I know the consequences to my actions," April says when she is finally settled. "That I can learn from it. I'm pretty sure Splinter has already told you this. There's something you can do, though, that can help further. Something my dad taught me. Have you apologized to Michelangelo yet?"

Leonardo momentarily stops breathing. Had he? He had bowed to Mikey, offered his services in any way, then took to ignoring his younger brother until he found a way to push down all the guilt. No. He has not apologized.

April hummed a little before continuing. "Forgiveness goes a long way. Forgiveness from others is the first step in forgiving yourself. Even forgiveness from a three year old that hardly knows any better was helpful. Mikey has a good heart. He won't hesitate to put this behind him...once he's milked it for all its worth, that is. You might have to get him a few more pizzas, but he loves you Leonardo. They all do. That's why they follow you. They also know that you aren't perfect. They are your brothers after all. They realize you can't be perfect. You need to realize that too. Perfection can be something to strive for, but not something to be grasped." April chuckled lightly. "I sound like Master Splinter. Sorry. What I'm trying to say is with all this new danger, someone is always going to get hurt. All you can do is apologize, take a deep breath, and move on. Ok?"

Leo did not answer. April did not take offense. She did, however, move away, much to Leo's disappointment. That disappointment surprised him. Is he getting used to April's constant touches? Probably. His entire family already did. Michelangelo was the first to really embrace her. He was always the touchy-feely one. Donatello had been a bundle of nerves but accepted the touches and grew to expect them. Even Raphael didn't flinch or move away when she lightly touched his arm (and that was significant progress in such a short amount of time). Master Splinter always accepted the hugs April gives him, much to his sons' surprise. Leo supposes now he's finally where the rest of his family is.

April lightly kisses the turtle on his cheek. Leo takes another deep breath, mainly to keep himself from the temptation of opening his eyes and seeing April's forgiving face. Despite her words, he still does not feel as if he deserves it.

"I'm going to head out," she announced. "Take your time. Apologizing isn't always easy. Let me know when you have, though. I'll order you a pizza."

Her footsteps, the sound of the closing door, and Mikey's call goodbye announce April's leave of the lair.

Hours pass before Leonardo moves. He takes his sweet time in gathering his thoughts and emotions until they are into their designated places before he finally stands up.

Mikey is on the couch, like he has been for a while. Sure, the cut isn't too bad, but it's still enough to keep him on the couch for a few days by orders of Dr. Donnie. So the youngest turtle picked out his favorite movies, had Donatello make him some popcorn, and settled in for another day of bed rest.

"Hey bro," Michelangelo says when he sees his eldest brother come in the room. "Could you get me a soda? All this salt is making me thirsty."

Leo nods and leaves without a word. He comes back, soda in hand, and approaches the couch.

"Thanks dude." Mikey reaches out for the beverage, but Leo keeps it close. He stares at the floor and wills the words to come out of his mouth.

"Mikey, I'm sorry."

Mikey stops reaching. He tilts his head at his brother's words. "What?"

"I said I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I was the one to make the call that got you hurt. I wouldn't have done it if I had known the odds weren't in our favor. I took an unnecessary risk and I brought you all down with me. I didn't want you or anyone else to get hurt. I'm really, really sorry. Please forgive me."

Of all the reactions to his heartfelt apology, Leo did not expect laughter to be one of them. Mikey laughs openly and unapologetically at his brother's regret.

"Leo, bro, it's no big deal," Mikey says. "Of course I forgive you. It wasn't your fault. We do awesome stuff that could get us killed all the time! It just so happens that we have mortal enemies now which I think is totally worth a few injuries. Battle scars, my friend. I'm going to look so wicked."

Mikey smiles at his brother, and just like that, nearly all of the weight on Leonardo's shoulders is lifted. He felt a small smile of his own cross his face. April was right. Smart, beautiful girl that she is—she was right.

"Thanks, Mikey," Leo says.

"Don't sweat it. Soda now please." Mikey once again reached for it, looking like a child begging for his toy.

Leo gave a small chuckle and handed over the soda. "Can I get you anything else?"

"Nah, I'm good. I'll yell for ya when I need the DVDs switched over."

"Sounds good."

Leonardo will wait until he switches the movies, then he will stop by April's place and ask for that pizza. He is definitely looking forward to seeing the approval on her face.