Takes a break from writing for December and January: *feels refreshed, rewatches the 2016 movie to get myself back pumped up, ready to write* This is fine.
Internet keeps not responding because my sister has moved back in to help my mother after her surgery and so the internet can't reach my laptop or something across the house so I can't use the website documents to write the next chapter: That's fine.
Finds out she's staying until the start of April making it four-five months that I haven't updated: This is no longer fine.

Not unless I save every minute and switch to MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE. So I would have updated in February if it wasn't for this. Grrr.

For a dirty sewer, they sure had made this place feel like home.

The small corner that was designated the guest room was separated from the rest of the 'lair', as Mikey called it, by long strands of beads. So many in fact that it was hard to see through it, mainly because the boys didn't necessarily have 'rooms' but parts of their home they claimed as their own and without the tens yet thousands of beads blocking their view of the guest room they would be able to see everything.

And Sophie was not having that.

The 'guest room' was only big enough to hold a bed-which touched all three walls-and enough room on the floor to keep bags of clothes and other essentials. So no wardrobe or chest of drawers or even a desk to sit on, which was fine to her but her back was going to be misshapened once she was out of there and back into her University dorm and not leaning half way down the wall on her bed, facing the doorway just so she could see if someone came in.

"Angelcakes! Hey, Sophieeee!"

Mikey's high-pitched almost-a-shriek of her name dragged her out of the music currently blasting through her headphones and the sketch in her new sketchbook. She couldn't bring her computer down here, trying to keep the 'she's in witness protection across the country' story running. All of the stuff that could track her was in her dorm room, and she was praying Sarah wasn't going through her stuff for even a moment of curiosity.

And if she or anyone else was even touching her computer or phone or laptop, Donnie would be alerted immediately from his own computer. Three cheers for Donatello!

She yanked her buds out of her ears, "What?!"

She loved Mikey like a little brother, the best friend she never knew was possible to have, but dear god if he only called her for something not even remotely important like Splinter died of a stroke or one of Donnie's science experiments exploded and now he's choking on his own blood she would kick him in the teeth-

"Raphael needs your help!"

You are saved for another day, Michelangelo.

"Okay, okay, tell him I'm coming!" she dropped her sketchbook, pencil and headphones onto the bed and wriggled off, planting her feet onto the floor and pushing herself up.

She knew, or hoped, that it was about what she thought it was. The two of them had been working on it since a few days after she moved into the lair once Raph had discovered her artistic ability. The start of their friendship had been a bit different then the one between him and April.

She remembered the brunette telling her about the first few hours she knew Raph. There was obvious tension-the turtle believing that she would think them grotesque, like the boys had all subconsciously grown up to believe-until they paired up together along with Vern to save his brothers. Raphael had gotten used to the idea of humans accepting them like April, Vern and Casey had and so the tension that had once been was not there with Raph and her.

Which was excellent, considering what could have been a rather tense living quarters if the opposite had occurred.

Sophie peeled off her jeans and replaced them with overalls. She was already wearing the shirt that she didn't care much about getting dirty; that every human owned. Toeing on her boots she pulled back the beads to keep them from whacking her in the head if she just breezed through (and she was not dealing with months of being hit in the face repeatedly every morning, noon and night) and entered the rest of the lair.

Michelangelo was on the couch, reclined with modified headphones on his head as he played a game on the TV. From the candle smell Leonardo was in the dojo and the classical piano music Splinter was in his alcove. Donatello was on the sofa next to Mikey, his knees against his plastron and his nose in a book. Raphael wasn't in his little gym hole, meaning he was in the garage area of the lair.

She past in front the couch and TV and headed for the stairs that would lead her to Raph, knocking Mikey's headphones off his head as she went. She smiled at his small cry of 'Hey!' as the plastic band covered his eyes, and Donnie's chuckle as he moved his feet out of the way so she could pass. Her eyes flickered to the slightly open double doors where light was streaming out off and where Leo was, meditating.

"Raph, you hollered?" she jumped down the stairs and headed straight for the legs sticking out from under a motorbike suspended in the air.

"Hey, Tough Girl." he slid out from underneath the vehicle, taking a welding mask off his head. "The paper's finished, Casey dropped it off this mornin'."

"Oh, really? Finally!" she hurried over to the table where paint spray-red, green, white and black-lay along a table. In front was the sticker that the spray would be used on, to keep the red motorbike sleek and shiny without bits of other colors splashed across it.

Raphael had come to her days ago asking for a sketch of something to put on his bike and so off she went to create it. In two hours flat she had the drawing of a turtle skull (using said-turtle's head as a layout because the boys didn't really have the exact same head shape as actual turtles) with a snake slithering through the eye holes before coming out to wrap around the head.

Raph gave it to Casey who had some friends prepare for it to be used as a stencil for the side of the bike.

Sophie clapped her hands together. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"Just paint it on." he pointed to the piece of metal already coated in it's base color. "Then I'll add it back to the bike once I'm done."

"Okay, I can do that."

Sitting on the floor in complete silence with Raphael was an occurrence that happened often with her; he liked the non-forced conversation between them and Sophie just enjoyed his company. He was a giant but terrifying teddy bear.

So as she worked on spraying he worked on his bike in total silence, until it was broken;

"Do ya' miss it?" he asked from underneath the vehicle.

She looked up from her work. "Hmm?"

"Up top. Do ya' miss it?"

She shrugged, then realized he couldn't see her. "Uh, kind of? I don't miss the people."

He stopped working and backed out, eye ridge raised. "No?"

"Nah." she shook her head. "I don't like the company of people much."

"What about mutants?" he didn't mean for it to sound spiteful, but it came out like that anyway. If she noticed she didn't say anything, instead chuckling.

"You're all less judgy then humans."

"Well, look at us?" he gestured to himself. "If we were we'd be a little hypocritical."

"That's a big word coming from you, Raphael." she teased.

He grunted, but couldn't keep a smile of his face. "Shut up." they sat in silence for a few moments before he spoke up again. "So why did you come to New York then?"

She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Well, to be quite honest with you I didn't want to. I was kind of a hermit, and to get me out more my parents thought forcing me to go to a University abroad would help."

"They didn't let ya decide for yourself?"

She shook her head then noticed Raph's glare; not at her.

Same buddy, same.

But she decided to defend their choice anyway; "I'm glad they did though. I met so many good friends and I get to be apart of this." she gestured to their surroundings. "Not many people can say that."

"Will ya go back?" at first she thought he meant the surface, but then he elaborated at her confused eyebrow raise. "To England I mean, once you're done here?"

"Well unless I can find a job here that allows me to stay I can't; my student visa only allows me to live in America for the years I'm here to learn." she didn't say anything about trying. She didn't know if she actually wanted to; nothing was keeping her here. She always wanted to travel though, like her degree was supposed to give her. She could get a job and travel to exciting new places.

He nodded to the piece of metal in front of her. "It's done?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah!" she turned it around to show him. "What do you think?"

He flashed a grin. "It's good."

She smiled and stood up, stretching. Sitting in the same position for a very long time made her back ache; at a relieved crack she sighed in relief and Raph smirked when Donnie let out an audible flinch. "He hates when other people that aren't him do that." he muttered.

"I'll see you later then?" she winced at the paint stains on her overalls.

Damn it. That's going in the washer.

She hoped April had time to do the laundry for her then felt a pang of guilt; because of the lack of any washers or dryers down here April volunteered to have all of her clothes washed as well as any that the boys or Splinter owned which wasn't much but masks, pants and robes. She hated that it forced her in that predicament-using someone to do something she could do by herself-but she had no choice in the matter.

Not until Marsh was out of their lives.

She hurried up the stairs and to her room, changing into the pajamas she had been wearing before she went to help Raph and leaving to go see Mikey and Donnie, placing her stained overalls into a bag full of laundry she would take up with her that night when they went on their 'nightly outing' to April's, after the boys finished their patrol.

During that time she would watch some shows with Splinter, surprisingly sharing a common interest with him. She had introduced the rat to Brooklyn Nine-Nine and they had just finished Season 4 together after having the third episode rudely cut off by the usually careful Leo tripping over the TV wires.

Her exclamation of offense and surprise and Splinter's loud 'Leonardo!' as the pixels turned black was the only thing the other boys heard, as well as their leader's frantic apologizing. She never found out why he had been so caught up in his head that he had forgotten the layout of his own home.

Hey, where is Leonardo?

The doors to the dojo were thrown open and the extinguished candles almost nubs. She didn't know why Leo didn't meditate on the platform Splinter usually used, but she thought it was because he wanted privacy from his brothers. Which was understandable; she knew that feeling.

She hadn't realized she had voiced the thought until Donnie spoke up; "Down the hall." he pointed without lifting his head up from his book, and she followed his finger to a hall she realized she hadn't explored before. When the turtle didn't continue and Mikey was too invested in his video game to offer anymore information, she began the trek to the creepily dark hallway and the doorway at the end.

It was situated on a side wall, which meant she couldn't get a clear view of what was inside as she stepped closer but could see steam pouring out. It wasn't his room, his bed was in the main room like all the others and not even Donnie had a room to himself for all his inventions.

She quietly-so not to disturb him-crept towards the doorway and peaked in.

By the doorway was Leo's clothing, including his katanas and the mask she remembered not being around his face in the camera. April had bought him a new one for Christmas, and she couldn't help but notice the dark blue brought out his eyes much better then the old one.

Leo was near the back of the room, facing the wall, hands placed on it to keep himself up right as water from a shower-head slid down his...naked body (as naked as he could be considering he was turtle and could not remove his shell). Her eyes widened.

Why did it not occur to her that it was a goddamn shower room? Steam was coming out of it! That's a telltale clue!

Because you're a dumbass, I thought you knew this?

She began to back away, leaving him to shower, but her eyes went straight back to him and how the water slid down his biceps and toned legs-my god she was a pervert. She turned her head away, trying to give him at least some privacy, but she caught sight of his mask and the mischievous side of her called out; take it and pretend to be Leo to the others so you can forget you perved on the poor turtle.

So she reached out and took it. As quietly as she could, she began to back out of the doorway.

Then his head snapped towards her, and she bolted.

She ran back into the main part of the lair, giggling like crazy, passing Splinter who was holding a katana between both paws. Her brain took note of it, but the rest of her could only think about running far away from the terrapin who had burst out of the shower room still dripping wet, trying to get his clothes on so he could chase after her.

Her giggling caught Donnie and Mikey's attention who both looked up just in time to see her run towards the couch, use the arm of the furniture to push herself up and use their shells to hop over them as quickly as she could before jumping down on the other side and racing towards the entrance usually used by their human friends.

Leo skidded out of the hallway-nearly slipping on the floor-and gave chase, but because of her size and surprising speed he didn't even get close to her. So the only thing he could do was cut her off by throwing himself over the slide leading into the lair and vaulting over.

Sophie's eyes widened as he appeared in front of her, blocking her way, so she just dug her heels into the ground and turned around running to the kitchen. She was certain she heard him let out a throaty chuckle but was too busy trying to run away then stop and listen fully.

But he is having fun, so that's a plus.

She quickly through a look behind her, and her eyes widened.

Splinter, Donatello, Michelangelo and even Raphael-who poked his head up at the commotion-watched as Leonardo sped up then dropped and skidded right past her (a giant shit eating grin on his face, sent right at her) before jumping up directly in her path.

She came to a stop but before she could turn fully around and set off again he grabbed her hand, spun her in a circle reminiscent of dancing that caused her to stumble out of dizziness and crash into his chest. As she stepped back to look up at him, an apology already on her lips even though her slamming into him was entirely his fault, the mask slid out of her hand and she watched as he slowly put it back around his eyes, tying it into a tight knot.

The giant shit eating grin was still on his face as he kept eye contact with her. The corners of his eyes crinkled, amusement flashing in his blue irises.

"Haha?" she smiled, and he chuckled in response. Then the two realized just how close they were standing to each other.

She took a few steps back while Leo practically launched into the air to give her some space. She was so lucky that when she was flustered it didn't show on her face and it seemed to be the same for Leo too as there was no change of color on his own face. The only way she knew that he was equally as flustered as herself was the way his eyes flickered back and forth from her to the floor.

She rubbed the back of her neck then spotted Master Splinter watching the both of them, an amused smile on his face, still standing where he had been when she had ran past him. He still had the blade in his hand, but now it was pointing towards the floor as he watched the two mess around.

Now she really should be blushing; because that meant he had watched her walk down the hallway and into the shower room. If she was him, he would have thought the exact opposite of her attended purpose.

"I'm sorry Master Splinter, I was just-"

Wait a goddamn minute.

"Were you going to stab me?" she looked at him surprise, her jaw dropped. Leo chuckled but it cut off when he noticed the same thing she did; why was his father carrying a katana?

"Of course not Miss Ahrens." Splinter said calmly. Then a pause. "I was going to stab both of you."

Raph burst out into fits of laughter, almost roaring, at his words. Donnie smacked his forehead into his book, a smile on his face as he kept himself from laughing. Mikey decided to do the exact opposite and fall onto the floor from the couch, laughing equally as loud as his older red-clad brother.

"Dad!"

A bubble of laughter rose in Sophie's throat, and Leo looked at her in surprise as she began to laugh along with his brothers. It wasn't funny! Well, it kind of was...

A smile of his own began to creep on his face but before anyone could notice Sophie turned and ran to his youngest brothers.

"My seat!" she threw herself onto the recliner, which immediately engulfed her. It was made by Donnie to sit giant mutant turtles, not a small human. Leo chuckled at her antics and walked over, taking a seat next to Donatello. Raphael popped out of nowhere, still wiping his hands clean as he took the other recliner. Splinter went back to his part of the lair, leaving his children and their friend alone.

"So, Don." Sophie stretched, cracks and pops coming from her legs and arms. Donnie muttered something about 'twice in the last half an hour' before looking up from his book for another time.

"Yes?"

"How did you do the tattoos?" she gestured to Leo and Mikey's arms-both with the same design-as the latter played his video game, with Raph watching, and Leo relaxed in the couch his arms on the back of the sofa. He was paying attention to Mikey's game, but was looking from time to time at her. "I didn't know tattoo guns worked with your skin?"

"They don't; I had to create a needle that could penetrate our skin,"-Donatello shot a look at Mikey's immature snort and the muttered repeat of the word-"because human tattoo guns couldn't."

"Whoa," Sophie leaned forward and poked Leo's arm as he was the closest. "Incredible."

"Oh well, I-" the purple clad turtle looked down, coughing. His cheeks would have been a definite red against green if his body could show it. "Thank you."

Leo was almost as bad as he; he had visibly shivered at the light touch on his bicep and how her fingertips traced the outline of the tattoo. He shuffled and she pulled away, an apology on her lips thinking he was uncomfortable at the interaction and he was too awkward to tell her the exact opposite. Instead he looked away back at the TV, noticing her drooped look as she leaned back into the recliner. Before he could say anything the fates decided to give him an escape route as the alarms of Donnie's computer began to ring.

They all, including Sophie, jumped up and rushed over-Mikey taking a little extra time as he saved and paused his game-to run over. "What is it, Donnie?"

Marsh? Have they got him?

"The Foot Clan broke into a-...blood bank?!" it must have been a rare occurrence if the four brothers looked confused.

"A blood bank?" Leo exclaimed. "Why would the Foot be interested in a blood bank?"

"Who cares?!" Raph punched his fist, a smirk on his face. "Let's go give them a taste of their own blood!"

Sophie chuckled, even if it wasn't that funny, but Leo seemed to agree with his brothers.

"Dad-" he began to shout but Splinter was already approaching, placing a hand on his eldest sons arms.

"Go my sons; I will entertain Miss Ahrens. We're going to watch our stories." the boys jumped into action, making sure they had their weapons before rushing out of the door. Leo, however, came to a halt before he could and turned around towards her-his mouth open like he was going to say something-but decided against it and ran after his brothers.

Sophie was left to stand near Donnie's computer, looking after them a little lost and to Splinter's surprise, not out of breath for someone who ran around a lair without stopping for ten minutes and had only stopped for a few seconds.

The rat stroked his beard with a small smile-the wheels in his brain beginning to turn-and placed a hand on her back, turning her around to face him.

"Now, Miss Ahrens." Splinter began, leading her not to the couch area-as much as he wanted to watch the continuing tale of New York's Ninety-Nine Precinct-but to the dojo. "Have you ever thought of learning a martial art?"

Yeah bonding between Leo, Raph and a little of Donnie! And referenced bonding with Splinter watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine; the next thing she's going to get him hooked on is Buzzfeed Unsolved and if it doesn't work; well she had other four turtles she can try it with. That's on her list definitely.

Also there isn't a place where they shower, according to the videos of the lair Paramount released showing it, so I had to create one.

The part where Splinter draws a katana to shank the two of them was from a post about TMNTxreader smuts, and the bit of them where they're doing it in the lair. It's a given take that the boys aren't there and if they are then how do they not hear them and beat whoevers doing that to their brother?

But no one specifies if Splinter, who hardly leaves, is in the lair. So he would totally shank whoever's fucking his son, then shank said-son.

Also self spon: I also a ko-fi you can donate too if you like: Ayem0745 and if that doesn't work just Ayem.

Okay the chapter's over now.