Disclaimer: I don't own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Author's note: So I know I hadn't been very clear about this but, I will say it now. Guys I don't write specifics. Please if you request, keep it vague. I want this to be an insert everyone can read, so I will not do Oc's. I really appreciate the requests but don't write me a paragraph of details you want, as a writer I need my freedom to create so I will decline requests with specifics and I REALLY loathe having to turn a request down. It makes me feel like I am letting you down by doing so… Anyway thanks guys for reading and I am sorry about not making this clearer before.
Also guys this is connected to the Breaking the limit chapters.
Turtles x Reader (2012)
The darkness...it swallowed all the light, the sound... and heat. The only thing reminder of existence is the cold hard ground, the sound of scraping filled the void along with rasped breathing. "...Failed." A soft whimper spoke. A dark silhouetted figure shuffled into a sitting position, tangled tresses dangle as it leaned forward. "...Where are you guys?" She cried. Blood caked her lips, sobs broke free as she cursed. "Why won't you come?" She howled in anguish. "...Please! Help me!" She screamed. He reached out, but his movements were to slow. She collapsed into his arms, bloodied, her pleading eyes lifelessly stared up at him. "...Why?" Her screams echoed through the dark.
Waking with a start Leo sat up to find everyone else still asleep. It was the wee hours and silent... aside from the sound snores. Letting out a sigh he rubbed his temples, glancing to the corner of the room a pang struck his chest. A rolled up bed sat unused along with an untouched satchel. Leo frowned thinking of what had transpired since their return, the denial that his youngest brother had fallen into. For a while he'd lay out the bed and roll it up in the morning, he'd even set out an extra plate during meals. They'd all taken her death pretty hard but Mikey was naive and innocent. He didn't seem to understand or perhaps he just didn't want to, though none of them did. Holding a knee to his plastron he rested his chin on his arm. "I'm sorry..." Her words haunted him just like the nightmare plaguing his sleep. Master Splinter had taken it upon himself to take care of her... he'd left carrying her limp, cold, pale form. Returning alone hours later, mourning all had stayed silent except for the sobs April could no longer hold back. Hours passed in a flash as he sat there silently staring into the void. Had she cried for them? They failed her, she died and they couldn't do anything. Everyone had began putting away their beds, preparing for another gloomy day in mutated New York. Suddenly there was a thud making everyone look over to find Casey had knocked over (Y/n's) satchel, a small leather bound book fell open by his feet. Silently he bent to pick it up, his eyes widened as they trailed over it's contents. "Dude! That's private, (Y/n) is gonna kill you when she gets back!" Mikey shouted trying to get the journal from him. After some struggling Casey managed to tear himself from Mikey's grasp and snapped. "Don't you get it? (Y/n) isn't going to come back!" He shouted breathing hard. Mikey's eyes widened then narrowed as he shook his head, "No! You're lying!(Y/n) will come back!" An uncharacteristic look overtook his face, an out of place anger flared in his normally bright baby blues. "Tell him guys! She'll be back, right?" Mikey asked glaring at him.
The brothers remain silent, they hated to see Mikey like this but they couldn't bring themselves to tell him otherwise. "You'll see." He growled turning to go and sit down. "Maybe it'd be best if you just put that away," April reasoned. "Yeah sure, if you don't want to know..." Casey started, lifting the book up. "If she wanted us to know she would have told us," Leo cut him off, a stern expression plastered to his face. "Not if it would make you feel guilty. Not if it meant telling you her feelings and fears." Casey argued. All their eyes widened, they had gone so long with out answers and now here it was... "But it's just so disrespectful..." April muttered. "Enough Jones. We aren't going to go through (Y/n's) things and that is final." Leo narrowed his eyes. With a sigh of defeat he turned away, "Fine." He fumbled with the bag for a moment as he picked it up and placed it out of the way so it'd not be spilled over again. The day had trudged by slowly most of which had been spent in silence, Donnie had been pent up in his makeshift lab trying to keep himself busy and mind occupied, Mikey had pulled ice cream kitty from the freezer and sat at a booth petting her, Raph and April tried to occupy themselves which had been proving difficult. Casey was what everyone assumed was cooling off in one of the dim corners and Leo sat in silence occasionally glancing over to the table holding what was left of you. His mind had been reeling since he'd woken and try as he might to keep them at bay thoughts, images and memories of you filled his mind. Resting his head in his hand he took a deep breath, leery of closing his eyes for even a second but he was exhausted and his eyes were becoming heavy. Rapping his fingers over the table he'd been leaning on in an attempt to keep himself busy and awake, he'd seemed to draw the attention of his father. Splinter watched his son struggle to keep himself awake, he knew what was troubling him yet there was nothing he could truly say, it'd be wrong for him to deny them the ability to grieve. He'd long hoped his sons wouldn't have to face such a loss as he had but the world had decided to teach him that he can not shelter them forever.
That night feels like it had been so long ago, it started like any other. He and his brothers were on patrol when suddenly Leo stopped gaping at the amount of Foot soldiers laying unconscious on the rooftop. "Whoa, what the heck happened here?" Mikey asked looking over his brothers' shoulders. "Looks like someone trashed the foot." Raph answered folding his arms across his plastron in annoyance. "But who would do that?" Donnie questioned. "I don't know, but who ever it was obviously isn't a friend of the foot and could be dangerous. We'll have to extra cautious and aware of our surroundings." Leo said glancing over his shoulder to his brothers. Over the course of the next week the guys had found groups of foot soldiers beaten to a pulp. "Great. Just great another group of foot that we didn't get the pleasure of smacking the crud out of," Raph growled as they stumbled upon yet another unconscious squad of ninja. "I don't see what the big deal is, I mean they ARE taking down the foot. Not attacking regular people so what's the problem?" Mikey asked as he sat down. "The problem Mikey is that we don't know just what we are dealing with and if they are friendly. It could be the Kraang or even another mutant." Donnie explained annoyed. Mikey's eyes widened at the brown glare inches from his face holding up his hands he simply offered an, "Okay sorry I asked." "Wait. Sh! Do you hear that?" Leo asked holding his hand up to silence his team. Glancing over to the dark alley across the street they could hear it, the familiar sound of someone getting pummeled. Quickly making their way over and staying out of sight their collective stare widened in shock. Foot soldiers were getting it handed to them by a single shrouded individual, they were quick and relentless. As the last fell to their feet they turned around, a navy blue hood cast a shadow over their facial features, they appeared slender (A/n: Sorry but this is how I imagined the reader as a ninja)and they seemed to have noticed their presence. The figure had gone to throw a shuriken but it was knocked from their grasp by one of their throwing stars. The boys tried to keep to the shadows but an encounter was obviously going to be inevitable. The scuffle as it were began with projectiles in which is what ended it. Catching a throwing star and examining it the figure spoke, "Watashi wa anata ni hakken shita." The brothers' brows furrowed but their weapons were still drawn. "Nihongo wo hanashimasu ka?" The ninja asked. It's voice was distinctly female yet in the dark it was hard to be certain. "You are the Hamato ninja, yes?" You asked approaching them. "I have been looking for you. My name is (Last name), (Y/n) (L/n). I am humbled to finally meet you," you smiled bowing. The four brothers' eyes were wide with confusion as they stood dumbfounded.
With a deep breath he silently approached him, "My son." Leo's eyes shot open as he looked up to meet his father's eyes. Splinter's brown orbs traveled over the eldest terrapin's features mulling over what he wanted to say, trying to find the right thing to say. "Yes Sensei?" He asked. With a sigh Splinter spoke softly, "You look unwell, seeming to be exhausted. Have you not been sleeping well?" The question struck him as a bit odd but he silently answered shaking his head. Splinter stroked his beard thoughtfully before asking what he'd already known the answer to, "And what is troubling you my son?" Leo was dumbfounded, the answer was so obvious yet his father felt the need to ask. Leo turned away, staring straight off as he took a deep breath. He knew that Splinter wouldn't ask if he hadn't felt the need to do so. Releasing a breath he'd not even known he was holding he semi answered the question, directing away from anything that may cause an argument. "...I'm having nightmares, Sensei. It has been plaguing me since... what happened. I keep seeing (Y/n) in a cold dark cell in the Shredder's dungeon. She is kneeling on the floor crying, asking why we weren't coming for and for help. Then she collapses dead in my arms and her screams fill my mind... I've been forced to see this over and over every time I fall asleep." Leo's voice cracked with hurt as he closed his fist over the smooth surface of the table. Splinter's gaze fell and he closed his eyes nodding, content that his son had not misinterpreted his question. "I see. And these nightmares plague you because you feel at fault?" Splinter asked looking down to his son's solemn expression. Taking a deep breath Leo replied, "... I know it isn't my fault and she wouldn't want me to be like this. It's just... there was nothing we could do. She had done everything she could to help us... she chose us over her own well being and we couldn't do anything to help her. I constantly ask myself what had been going through her mind in that dark cell. Wondering if she had cried for us... if she ever wished that we would come to help. She told me she didn't want us to... but... It's just so hard." He shut his eyes fighting back the tears forming and threatening to fall. "You're right. She wouldn't want you to be like this. She'd lecture you about neglecting yourself. She'd force you to try to sleep... and she wouldn't want you to grieve. She hated seeing you guys upset or hurt. She'd fly into a frenzy if she could hear you blaming yourselves for what has happened. I can not tell you not to grieve, you have every right to. But don't let that grief and guilt sully her memory. Cherish the fact that she'd been apart of your life... honor her with keeping this family together, like she wanted." Splinter gave a small sad smile as he placed a hand over Leo's shoulder. Leo nodded and attempted a small smile.
"So you'd been looking for a Hamato ninja?" Splinter asked stroking his beard. "Hai. Watashi wa gun ni sanka shitai." You answered. "Is that so? And just how did you come to know of us?" He asked eyeing you. Silently you reached into your satchel putting the brothers on edge as they watched you pull out a folded piece of paper. Slowly you unfolded it and handed it to the Master Ninja. "My Sensei had recognized the symbol when it had been televised. It made international news." You offered as he looked over the photo of one of his son's throwing stars. "Wakata. Anata wa Nihon no neitibudesu?" He asked lowering the paper to look at you. Shaking your head you answered, "Iie. My parents had fled when Oroku Saki..." The pain in your eyes had finished your sentence and Splinter told you that you didn't need to continue. He contemplated the idea of you staying with and joining them. "Perhaps you might take off of your hood?" He asked and you nodded. Lifting your hands to your hood you slowly pulled it down revealing your (h/c)hair (short, tied or braided), then your (e/c) eyes closed as your finger traced the bridge of your nose sliding under your mask and pulling it down around your neck. "You are human, are you not afraid of us? Does our appearance not disturb you?" He inquired. You swallowed before answering, "True that your appearance is in fact surprising, not at all what I had envisioned. Yet I came here to join forces to fight against the Foot, no matter what you are. Though that shouldn't matter, it is about who you are." Your words resonated with all of them. "If you'd please, I'd like to have a private discussion with my sons." Splinter said and you nodded taking the hint. You made your way out of the dojo deciding to wait in the kitchen, not entirely sure if he was asking you to leave completely or not. Their home wasn't exactly what you'd expected either but it was warm and comforting. You'd stood there silently contemplating what it was they were talking about in were pulled from your thoughts when a large three fingered hand grabbed your shoulder. Surprised you quickly turned around to find the blue banded turtle staring at you. "Master Splinter wants you to return to the dojo with me," he said releasing your shoulder and began walking back. Nodding you followed him. Standing before the family beneath the tree you felt yourself growing nervous. "We have decided that you may stay. But living here means you will follow our rules, do you understand?" He asked with a stern tone. You nodded, "Hai. Thank you very much." "Leonardo will show you where you will be staying," Splinter informed you. "Leonardo?" You asked. "Oh right. We haven't exactly introduced ourselves," Donnie realized rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm Leonardo," the blue banded turtle said stepping forward. "And these are my brothers Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo." He added motioning to each of them. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," you smiled tilting your head slightly with a wide closed eye smile.
Leo smirked at the memory of your first meeting. The decision of letting you stay was one he hoped they'd never regret... Splinter was right. This grief is messing with his head and heart. The thought though of that bright wide smile you had that night that he'd never get to see again was heavy and hurtful. Sighing he looked down to his hand, it once held yours not so long ago but now it was empty and longing for your touch. Shaking his head he clung to the memories he'd gotten to make with you, looking over to his family. It had always been apart of his resolve but he'd carry yours with him, he swore that on his honor.
Thanks for reading and please do leave a comment! Hope you enjoyed my reader insert and let me know what you think! ^-^