Oh my lord! All these great reviews! thank you all so much, your comments are helping to shape this story so well! I am so happy with you all so as a treat- here's a little Leo/Nala fluff we all wanna see!

Hope you enjoy! Keep reviewing!

K x


Nala's POV

"Fuck" I said out loud staring up into those lovely blue eyes that seemed to illuminate in the darkness.

He chortled out loud, his shoulders shaking under his traditional armour as he smiled goofily at me.

"That's not funny- I could have hurt you" I told him opening my door fully as he stepped inside with my permission.

"Nala- you couldn't sneak up on me even if you tried" he said confidently as I opened my mouth in shock at his sudden playfulness. I composed myself just enough as I raised my head and turned to look away from him.

"Is that so Leonardo?" I said gently letting him digest the fact I had learnt his name. There was a silence in the air- just as playful as before but it was level now.

I turned to look at him over my lion's mane of light golden brown hair. His eyes had softened and his face gentle. He turned to take his hat off to me and held it in front of him like a gentleman.

"It's good to see you again Nala" he said honestly as I smiled at him welcoming- it had felt so natural to respond to him this way; It had felt so right just to smile like I had known him years.

I lifted my hands to brush his gently as suddenly his face melted into a lost gaze on my own when I pulled the hat slowly out of his grip and placed it on my coat peg beside the door.

"So you don't leave something else behind" I told him as he shook himself out of his own daydream and watched me carefully.

"How are you?" he asked sincerely as I chuckled.

"Not running for the hills if that's anything to go by" I told him as I moved to shut the patio door and close the curtain- he shrugged out of his trench coat and folded it over his large muscular arm as I stared on wondering how he had become so big.

I remembered his home and the various training equipment available that he must have used more than once in his life time…

I wondered what it would be like to watch him work out…

I blushed again and stole my eyes away as he smiled to me happily examining the room- he sniffed twice before turning to look at me.

"You redecorating?" he asked as I looked to him confused.

"No, the neighbours next door are though- strange people, I hardly ever see them" I told him as I started to shuffle a few books I had left out on the counter top.

"How'd you know?" I asked a little curious as he tapped the end of his nose.

"I can smell scents- it's a reptile thing" he told me as I nodded musing over the fact.

"So do you reptiles drink anything or is it just water?" I asked him rotating my hand as he chuckled again.

"We drink most things" He told me as I looked to him biting my lip

"Tea?"

"I thought you'd never ask" he said in a low charming voice.

We moved to the kitchen as I poured him and myself a cup giving him the largest cup I could find to accommodate his large hands, hoping he wouldn't be offended by the gesture. But just like the gentleman he was being- he reassured me he wasn't offended. In fact it started to amuse me how human he really was- how kind and gentle he was underneath that heroic stoic green body.

It put me at ease to know I had a friend in him. But a small part of me began to buzz in the back of my mind alerting me that friendship would be a rocky ground, something I'm sure he would want to bring up.

I ignored it- I wanted nothing more than for him to be in my life and everything seemed to be just peachy to start with.

Of course we were yet to talk about my little visit to April's.

"So- how was your day?" He asked me before I could even mention anything. I took a sip out of my cup and looked up to him.

"I was with April today- I'm sure your already aware" I told him as he looked sheepish.

"Did you two have a lesson?" he asked as I shook my head.

"We were supposed to but she cancelled- wanted to talk to me instead" I told him carefully as he looked down into his cup.

"What about?"

"I think you know…I think all of your family know" I told him as he sighed and looked down.

"Jeez, she wasn't meant to tell you" he complained disappointed as I crossed my eyes.

"She didn't. I…I seen" I swallowed and this time it was his turn to look at me confused. I sighed and looked up to him with big eyes.

"When you left last night…I…I seen you with her, and your brothers in your home- you were telling them about me" I told him nervously as he shifted uncomfortably.

Within a few moments I started to feel like even I didn't belong here in the room as he digested this information in- I had overstepped a privacy barrier, one that I had unintentionally stepped on and made Leonardo uncomfortable. He hadn't mentioned much to me about the others, hell he hadn't even spoke to me about April fully, and here I was harbouring more information than he would let any human know- I wondered if he thought it was too late to kill me, or whether he could find the time to.

I stood up and turned putting my cup in the sink staying there facing the wall.

I had planned on reading him the riot act- how it was wrong of him to tell my personal business to others, but my words seemed to fail- he looked so uncomfortable.

It was true it didn't matter what I was or where I was, I would always make people uncomfortable- I would always be a danger to those who didn't understand. But I would always be a prize to those who understood but shouldn't.

"I'm sorry, I should have known…" he started sighing carefully I could hear his hand rubbing over his skin carefully as my facial expression hardened.

I guess it was a lot for both of us to take in

"Known what? That I would overstep any privacy you had or want to have? I get it I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm the one whose screwed up in the head" I told him honestly as this time his eyes were back on my face watching me carefully as I felt my self-twist under his gaze.

"I mean…you don't even know me properly but I know you…it's weird I get it- I know you couldn't understand- shit, I even knew your name before you even told me it- I know your brothers names…I get it. I'm strange" I began to whisper as he began to shake his head and motioned for me to come sit back down.

As if on cue I followed like a puppy keeping my eyes on the table as I sat down again opposite him.

He tapped my hand carefully before placing his own on top of it. I stopped breathing feeling the heat of his 3 fingered green hand pour onto my own in a comforting manor.

"You're so warm" I told him in a murmur to which he made a noise of agreement but kept watching me as I turned my hand over and let his own settle on top of my fingers.

"It's a mutant thing- not a reptile or a human thing- just plain old mutation, something I don't find strange at all" he told me in a soothing voice as I laughed once under my breath and turned our hands over so that his lay underneath my fingers as I brushed my fingertips across his own.

There was no tension in the air, and the silence was more than comforting as I let his words digest over me. He was telling me that it was okay to be this way- it was okay to be mutated. He had survived it, maybe I could too. He was being so open and welcoming he sat much closer than I ever thought he would let himself and smiling warmly with those luminous eyes that watched my fingers trail above his gently.

The softness of his padded hands was ever so comforting

"Yes but, your mutation is nothing but amazing" I said honestly feeling his heart beat through the tips of his fingers as I ran my index finger down the middle of his larger one. We both stayed silent for a while as I continued to let my fingers roam over his hand. He stayed still- like a porcelain statue as I left a trail along his hand up to his wrist.

"Amazing?" he questioned as I nodded keeping my eyes down on his hand.

"You are" I breathed out, as my fingers stopped when my eyes caught the edge of a tattoo around his wrist. I smirked. It looked like a symbol of some sorts, all different jiggered lines and shapes fitting together to make one that rested up the middle of his forearm darkening his green scales as it went.

He flexed his fingers carefully as I traced the outline of the smaller shapes with my thumb.

It was then when I suddenly became aware of how close we actually were. I looked up at his face as his eyes watched me lazily in a trance.

"Sorry" I shook my head leaning back in my chair, he seemed to pull himself out of whatever day dream he was having and cleared his throat.

"S'okay" he answered leaning back into his own chair as we both sat nervously for a few minutes.

"Who…erm…who did your tattoo's? I mean I know April isn't a tattooist" I told him as he chuckled quietly.

"My brother- the youngest out of us, he's the artist"

I thought back to the four of them stood round in my dream from the other night- I was stood with their father watching them carefully, trying to remember which looked the youngest.

"Oh erm…Mikey" I thought carefully murmuring out the name like a swear word. He nodded reassuringly but stayed quiet.

"H-he looks like the youngest" I said as my cheeks flared up as Leo's eyes moved.

"It's okay Nala- really, I'm not here to judge you or hurt you, your safe with me" he told me sincerely feeling the tension in the air break as I breathed out fully- He needed to know everything I already knew…I needed him to know everything I already knew. It was like walking on eggshells not wanting any of them to break.

I didn't want to push him out so far with my forwardness.

"I'm not going anywhere" he told me slowly with wide set eyes as I looked down and smiled. He grinned back nervously as I took another deep breath.

"Alright- stay here then" I told him as I stood up and quickly walked into my bedroom feeling his eyes on me as I moved quickly.

Once I had reached the edge of my bed- my hands were searching for my notepad and loose pictures, some of which contained his family. Some of which contained things I hadn't let anyone see.

But this was something I needed him to see; this was information that could help mend the awkwardness- that might allow us to move forward and past this stage of getting to know one another. I had to plan for the future- after all; I wasn't very good with my gift if I couldn't.

I quickly looked up in the mirror to see my face and stared at it wide eyed.

My hair was a mess; my face was blotchy and red as my eyes were red. He couldn't see me like this!

I hissed under my breath quickly trying to sort out my messy hair and remove the redness from my cheeks before racing back through to my tiny kitchen.

He was no longer sat down on a chair but stood with his back facing the glass window, his eyes peaking round the side of the curtain. He was on the phone speaking to someone in a hushed voice.

"Yeah…she's safe, thanks for calling me, It's a bad area to walk through on your way home…no it was really nice…yeah I'm gonna fix the balcony- I was about to but she caught me so Il have to...- I know April…I…Yes April I…" he huffed out rubbing his and pinching his snout.

"How do I do that?!...Are you insane?! I've just started to…" He trailed off as his head whipped round to face me, he waved sheepishly and cringed as the phone rambled on in his ears. I waved back grinning.

"April I got to go…Tell Raph he needs to be home before 5 tomorrow morning…goodnight" He said before he hung up and his green cheeks darkened.

"Sorry- I guess I've not been totally honest with you" he said as I looked up at him smirking. April had put him in his place about something almost mothering him like a school boy.

"Mom telling you not to stay out to late?" I joked as he rolled his eyes.

"Just April- she phoned telling me you were on your way home from her house before- I had to follow you home, there's too much activity going on near that neighbourhood right now" he explained as I pulled my eyes together.

"You followed me home?"

"Just as a precaution- Its dark, girls like you- bad things happen to them, like danger magnets"

"Is that your way of saying I'm weak?" I asked- my voice not hurt or harsh, just curious on how he seen me.

"It's my way of saying your beautiful" his words flowed over me as I turned back to look at him face on. My mouth slightly open and my eyes staring

No one had ever called me that, not even my mother. He seemed to miss the point of my staring at him as he continued to watch me carefully.

"Are you having a vision?" he asked unsure as I swallowed and blinked looking away.

A small part of me seemed to explode in sheer pleasure as I realised that this turtle, this man,

He thought I was beautiful…

"No s-sorry it's…it's just….that's a really nice thing to say…no one has ever called me beautiful" I told him trying my best to avert his gaze.

He seemed to understand as he retained his poise and smiled to me gently.

"Anyway- what erm…you…you followed me home?" I asked my voice getting higher by the second.

"Uhh…yeah I did, sorry I know I shouldn't have but a small part of me guessed you would already know- that was until you nearly tried to attack me with that golf stick- your gonna have to get rid of that thing" He told me in an authoritative voice.

"Sorry- but you were all dressed up- and there's a lot more 'mess' to my "gift" as you so love to call it" I told him as he put away his phone and tilted his head.

"Oh?"

"Come see" I told him as I began laying out my drawings and pictures out on the kitchen table while his feet padded behind me gently.

I looked back at my master pieces watching him study them intently. He began picking one or two up looking at them closely before putting them down

"You date them all?" he asked.

"Usually right after I have them, they come on so fast sometimes; I could be walking down the street. Happened once- I nearly ended up underneath a bus" I snorted as his eyes watched me like a crazed person in a glass box. I blushed and as if on cue, he ignored the comment and moved on not wanting to make me feel uncomfortable.

"These are amazing, the drawings are so detailed"

"I've had plenty of practice to be fair" I stated to which he nodded. He moved some out of the way with his padded fingers and found the sketch I had drawn the morning after he rescued me- all four stood in unison all with colour around their eyes.

All but him.

"Huh" he looked on at the picture in wonder at the shadowed men with his silhouette's fallen ninja's of some sort in the background with the roof tops of Manhattan behind them.

"That was the morning after you rescued me, I dreamt about the four of you, each of you had your own colour, all but you- it's when I realised that bandana must belong to the guy in the picture…well you" I told him as his eyes rested back up on my face thoughtful.

I carried on speaking letting him adjust to this new information.

"But it was after I had breakfast when I really knew what you were…I could see you climbing into my apartment; I thought you were going to kill me…" I trailed off as I paled at the memory.

"I'm sorry I made you feel like that"

I chuckled "Don't be- you can't control my visions, hell- even I can't control them- I just have to interpret" I jumped up to sit down on my counter top so I could at least be on the same height as his face. I watched as he looked back to the pictures, his fingers running over his brothers as he remained quiet.

After a few more minutes I couldn't help but become impatient.

"What are you thinking about" I murmured as suddenly his eyes jumped back to me in alarm, almost like I'd pulled him out from a vision.

"Huh?"

I giggled- I knew he was the leader, but he seemed so playful and calm to be around. I knew However, I had felt the full formality of Leonardo's leadership skills, and it was not something I wanted a repeat of.

"What are you thinking about?" I repeated spacing out the word and over enunciating the vowels.

"Just…how conflicted I am at this moment" he told me honestly as I tilted my head.

"I just wish I had known sooner- I understand how lonely it can be…especially when you're new to the city, never mind this lifestyle"

"It's okay, really- it's not your burden"

"But it is"

I looked to him fully squaring out his green face that melted with the beautiful shades of blue that mixed from his eyes to his bandanas.

"I've always believed in keeping the people safe, it's our job to do that…I feel like I've failed at that Nala…I've failed you"

I crossed my eyebrows confused at his confession. His father had mentioned this in a past vision, how Leonardo had liked to protect innocents like me- but in my head I wondered if that linked in with his comment earlier about pretty girls

Maybe he only protected those girls.

From out of nowhere a rage seemed to fill me and a jealous pang took over my mind. I pushed it down crashing it into the corner of my mind and held it there- I would ask April about this later.

"But Leonardo, you didn't know me- you don't know me, you can't take a burden on that was non-existent until a few nights ago"

He huffed and shook his head.

"Your father told me you were like this"

That seemed to grab his attention as suddenly he shifted closer, as if by accident and looked down into my eyes testing the waters.

"My…father?"

I nodded smiling, I hadn't known how much he knew about our little greetings, or whether or not Splinter wanted me to tell him- I figured, he must if he had kept pulling me out of everyday life and into his own visions.

"What…er…I mean…how?" he asked as his hip brushed the side of my leg, his bandana tails falling over one side of his shoulder- he looked like a lost puppy.

"He pulls me every now and again- into a vision I mean" I told him as he remained stoic and nodded.

"First time was just after you left me- after you let me see you, he told me you'd do anything to protect an innocent" Leonardo didn't move an inch, just remained frozen and blinking. I wasn't sure he was alive during one part of my little speech if it wasn't for the movement of his chest rising slowly and his nostrils slightly moving in and out.

"And my father…was he-?"

"A Rat? Yes, surprised the fuck out of me- but…I guess your full of surprises" I told him tilting my head towards him as his face darkened.

"Listen about scaring you again before…" He turned to me with an open palm ready to apologise, but I grabbed it and pulled it down into my lap gently

"You're forgiven, you're not the only one full of surprises Leonardo" I said as he smirked to himself allowing me to move my fingers over his once more eyeing up another tattoo that lay on the other side of his arm higher up.

I laughed to myself as a band of tiny turtles followed one right after the other around his large muscle contained inside a frame.

Mikey was a wonderful tattoo Artist. I wondered if he did humans…

"When did you learn my name?" I looked up to him, he didn't pull his hand away or even try to move in a slightly uncomfortable manor- he just casually placed one hand by the side of my right thigh and left forward his shoulder nearly touching mine.

I smiled sheepishly.

"Your dad told me it- just mentioned it while he was telling me about you" He moved away now- taking his hand with him as he lent back against the door frame on his shell as he rubbed the side of his neck

"Jeez what did he say?"

"Oh nothing- just that you had taken a liking to me" Leo's eye's widened in panic as his mouth set into a straight line

"Oh, and that you were the eldest" I said jumping down and moving around my little kitchen counter. Leo remained frozen with wide eyes and blazing cheeks as I giggled to myself

"More tea?"


We talked a little more for what seemed like hours- I told him about my visions of his family, I told him everything I knew and things I shouldn't know, to which he remained the perfect gentlemen and never once pushed for any more details on the subject but smiled calmly and chatted gently.

In return he opened up to me slightly- telling me more about his home life, how he was the leader and the order of ages he and his brothers were at. He told me more about his father and how he had doted on him completely just like April- who had come into their lives from a young age and saved them from a terrible fire.

He loved her like a sister- they all did.

I smiled along with his stories as he told me more about his choice in weapons-how he had been given it when he was chosen to be leader.

"Wow-boys and their toys" I giggled as his face turned serious and strong.

"It's not a toy Nala, it's like another limb to me- like..."

"Leonardo- I was kidding, relax" I told him to which he breathed out and slumped back into his chair shaking his head.

Involuntarily I yawned out loud and stretched my back. Leonardo noticed and pulled out his phone checking the time.

"Oh- I better go- it's nearly morning" he told me as I looked up to my clock on the kitchen wall 4.15 am. Wow I was going to be tired for my next lesson in the morning.

"I wish you didn't have to leave" I said honestly, unsure whether or not it was just the sleep talking or whether he had slipped something into my tea making me giddy.

He looked down almost pleased with himself as he stood up and straightened out his armour. His Katana's, which lay on the floor beside his leg from his earlier demonstration and explanation, were being pulled onto his back in place as he moved towards the coat hanger pulling on the trench coat.

I folded my arms and brushed some of the stray hair out of my face while I rubbed my eye.

"Well, good night then- please don't go scaring any more girls in that get up- they'll think you're a flasher" I joked as he laughed under his breath, he turned to head out the door. But it was then when I realised he had left something.

"Oh! Wait!" I called pulling the hat off the stand and reaching up on my tip toes to place it on his head.

At the same time he bent down leaning his face close to mine.

We both remained still- with wide eyes watching the others. I could smell the scent coming from his neck from here, and feel the breath he blew out of his mouth and nostrils onto my face warming it up.

I pulled his hat down into place letting my hands tremble and feel the ends of one of his bandanna tails.

"Good night Leonardo" I whispered into his lovely face as his eyes watched me carefully, almost loosing me in the coolness of that pale blue.

"Leo"

"Huh?" his voice caught me off guard- it sounded rough and forced like someone had knocked the wind out of him. He remained on height with me as I stretched and he bent down, our noses nearly touching each other's as my body began to respond to the closeness.

"Call me Leo- I'm sure we can trust each other on a first name basis can't we not?" he smirked as he mimicked my accent from the night before. I looked away blushing and smiling to myself.

"Leo" I tested the name on my tongue finding it flowed much smoother than Leonardo he grinned to me showing his white dorky teeth before turning on his feet and darting out the open patio doors.

I ran out after him, watching him as he went into the darkness amazed by his smoothness and fluency ad he took charge over his large green muscular body.

I closed the door to my flat quickly and shrunk down against it grinning like a Cheshire cat.

I had made a friend…and not only was he a friend….but he understood me…

He called me beautiful….

I sighed and stood up moving to my bedroom as I found my self submerged in pillows lightly giggling to myself.

Was this what making friends felt like?

It didn't feel as wonderful as this with April- but was that because she wasn't mutated?

Something moved inside me in that short moment, a movement that was so joyous and confusing I didn't want to question what it was in fear of ruining it.

All I knew was that, Leonardo was here to stay in my life- they all were.

Maybe, just maybe- that was all I needed in life.

I closed my eyes willing sleep to come to me and trying to see if any new visions were peaking on dreams door step. I smiled internally and breathed out

"Good night Leo" I breathed out sighing to myself.

Something changed for me that night- for good or for worse I wasn't sure- but I knew I definitely wasn't frightened to use my visions to work it out any more.


Tada!

so what do we think? One thing that was making me nervous was whether I captured Leo's personality here- I feel like he would be all fun and goofy off duty while still wanting Nala to love his culture as much as he does!

Buttt let me know what you think!

Hope you enjoyed it! Drop me a review!

K x