A/N: I'm REALLY sorry for not updating quicker you guys! But here we are with Chapter 26!

I OWN NOTHING!

Enjoy!

Chapter 26

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."

― Ernest Hemingway

It took about another half hour of relentless pushing along the abandoned railway tracks before the exhausted ninja turtles finally made it back to the front entrance of their underground home, even with all three turtles behind the subway car using all the strength they had in them to shove the vehicle along the tracks. Luckily enough, for Donatello that is, they hadn't been too far away from the lair by the time the purple clad leader had realized that the parking brake was still on…even so, that didn't stop his brothers, Raphael and Michelangelo, from glaring daggers at him as soon as they'd stopped moving. Panting heavily and sweating profusely, the two of them watched Donnie's every move as he chuckled nervously and took several steps away from them, looking very much like pair of bloodthirsty hounds as they growled loudly.

Swallowing thickly, Donnie made sure that he was a very safe distance away from the two currently exhausted yet hot-tempered turtles before speaking. "…okay…great job, guys," he said with a hesitant gap-toothed grin as he clapped his hands together once. "So…why don't you guys get showered and get some sleep, and I'll get on the Shellraiser and start working on a plan to get that power cell back from the Kraang. Sound good?"

Sighing heavily, the two turtles obeyed as they nodded, trudging through the turnstiles and down the stairs into the lair. Slinging an arm around Raph's shoulders as the older turtle stumbled slightly, Mikey gently guided him towards their rooms. "Take it easy, bro," Mikey whispered to him. "You'll feel a whole lot better in the morning. The venom stuff should be gone by tomorrow, right?" Raph only gave an inaudible grunt of acknowledgment, leaning into Mikey's contact, but trying not to make it too obvious that he still needed help. The fish bite, though the venom had worked its way out of his system enough for him to stay on his feet, still took its toll on him more than he wanted to admit. All he wanted to do now was sleep, and forget that any of that ever happened…especially the magical unicorn part.

As Donnie watched them stagger towards their bedrooms, he hung his head and sighed heavily, the earlier fear of imminent death by their hands dissipating in an instant as he turned to walk back to the silence of his laboratory. He knew that training the Pulverizer, or even letting the fool step foot inside their home, had been a really bad idea from the very start. All Donnie had wanted to do was teach the kid enough self-defense so that he wouldn't get himself killed, since there was no way he could ever talk him out of becoming a 'super hero'. Donnie had tried to teach him…and yet, because of both him and Donnie combined, they had managed to lose the only means of powering their car by the hands of the Kraang, his brothers had nearly died again, and they would probably never forgive him for forcing them to push the stupid useless scrap of metal all the way home. He wouldn't blame them if they hated him, though. Even Donnie knew that he was, without a doubt, the worst leader in the history of –

"Hey, Donnie."

Halting mere meters away from the doors of his lab, Donnie turned around and nearly jumped out of his shell to find both his brothers standing behind him at the foot of the stairs. He swallowed again as he eyed them nervously. Perhaps they really were going to kill him. Oh well, he just hoped that they would be quick and as painless as possible. "…um…what is it, guys?" he stammered.

Mikey and Raph shared a quick look, before they turned to look back up at their leader and offered him a smile, much to the purple clad turtles' surprise. "No hard feelings, Don," Raph said with a nonchalant shrug, though he winced a little as he pulled at the wound on his shoulder from Fishface's venomous bite. "You did good tonight. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here in the first place. So…thanks, I guess."

Mikey nodded in agreement, his faint smile turning into a full-fledged grin. "Yeah, dude! And the way you smashed through that wall back there was totally wicked, bro!" His smile then faded as he thought about the aftermath of that so-called 'wicked' stunt that his brother had performed. "…even if it did get the Kraang to chase us…but still, it was awesome!" he chimed. "You rock, D!"

Blinking hard, Donnie gaped at his brothers in thorough confusion, switching his stunned, brown eyed gaze from Mikey to Raph. Why were they praising him? Weren't they supposed to be maiming him maliciously for losing the power cell and pretty much dooming the entire city once again? Wait…were they actually…trying to cheer him up? But why?

Was it because they knew that even the smartest turtle made mistakes sometimes? Because they knew that Donnie was only trying to do what he thought was right in trying to train the Pulverizer to better defend himself? Because the only reason they were forced to push the Shellraiser was because Donnie had tried to save them both before it was too late?

They realized all of that…and they forgave him despite everything else? Wow…

It was during times like these that Donnie often forgot just how forgiving his brothers were sometimes. But when it came to trivial things, not so much.

His expression melting into a warm, understanding smile, Donnie shrugged before reaching up to rub the back of his head. "…yeah, well…thanks guys," he said, though he was truly grateful for their forgiveness despite feeling undeserving of it. "But…I really am sorry for messing things up back there. And you can trust me when I say that it won't happen again. That'll be the last time we'll be seeing the Pulverizer."

The two of them chuckled in response, before Raph reached out with his good hand and gave Donnie's arm a good-natured punch. "It'd better be," he joked, turning back to Mikey and tilting his head back in the direction of their rooms. Taking the hint, Mikey nodded as he sent Donnie a quick thumbs up, before wrapping an arm around Raph's shoulders again as he helped his older brother down the stairs and through the pit. "G'night, Donnie!" Mikey called over his shoulder as they neared their bedrooms.

Donnie smiled. "Night, guys. I'll check your shoulder again in the morning just to be safe, okay Raph?"

"Sure thing, Leader," Raph grunted back in response, earning a tolerant roll of the eyes from Donnie as he leaned against the door-frame of his lab and folded his arms, letting out another long sigh as he closed his eyes. Of course, there was still so much for him to do by tomorrow, such as finding an alternative source of power for the Shellraiser, finding that power cell and taking it back from the Kraang…or possibly telling Leatherhead the bad news, which made the purple clad genius shudder in fright at the very thought of the gargantuan alligator grabbing him by the face again. He didn't want that happening, since someone had to be the pretty looking one on this team…

Which reminded him…

Snapping his eyes open, Donnie quickly took out his T-Phone and skimmed through his stream of messages with April. He sighed; still nothing new, not even after the last few messages he'd sent her asking where she was throughout the night. Donnie frowned at the screen. Even if he couldn't have made it, she would have at least called him or texted him saying that something came up or that she would be delayed or something…

The young turtle shook his head. Maybe he was just overreacting. This was April he was talking about after all; she was just a normal human girl with normal human problems or friends outside of himself and his brothers. But even so, she didn't answer her phone…and April always answered her phone, unless she was in a place or situation where she couldn't.

Donnie narrowed his eyes. Something was up. He just knew it.

After quickly pressing a few keys on the phone, a map of the city appeared on the screen. Of course, April knew of the built-in tracking system in the T-Phone he'd given her; all of their phones had a tracking system for safety measures. He just hoped that April didn't think he was being creepy or anything as he scrolled through the list of contacts before stopping on April's name. Clicking on her icon, the map on the screen then displayed a blinking yellow light hovering just over the center of…Central Park? Donnie raised a brow as he checked the time at the top right corner of the screen. It was nearly midnight, so why on earth would April be –?

His eyes widened, and his heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. "Oh no," he groaned with dread, his head whirling around towards the lair's entrance as panic began to settle in. "Don't tell me…"

He was probably exaggerating. He was probably just being paranoid. But he was the leader of the team; it was his job to worry, to make sure that everyone under his charge was okay, and that they made it out of any conflict with their lives. Not only that, but with an entire army of ninjas, alien robots, and their possibly half-crazed older brother out there looking for any means of drawing him, his brothers or their father out of hiding, Donnie knew that he couldn't be too careful anymore. If there was even a small chance that April was in danger, Donatello couldn't and wouldn't sit idly by.

There was no way he would let anyone touch April O'Neil.

His teeth grinding in anger, Donnie dashed towards the exit and leapt over the turnstiles, sprinting down the tunnels as fast as his long legs could carry him as he followed April's signal to Central Park once more.

If anyone so much as touched a hair on her head, Donatello swore that he would not hold back, not this time…

In all of her sixteen years living on this earth, April O'Neil could have sworn that she'd never been as happy before the day she'd met the three ninja turtles. She thought that the three of them alone, with their confidence, their strength, their love and happiness would have been enough to chase away the gloom in her life after the disappearance of her father, and help her get through all the complications of life.

However, she'd never felt more at ease – or more in pain from laughter –before she'd met the fourth and oldest of the turtles, Leonardo.

Talking with the blue clad turtle had been a breeze. It was as she and Leo were sat on the swings that she'd first asked him what he liked to do during his free time, if he had any. He replied with training, meditating, and taking occasional naps whilst no one was around, which April was somewhat surprised to hear; she'd thought that someone in the Foot Clan wouldn't have that much free time on their hands, being led by a crazed, evil overlord and all. When he had asked her the same question, she'd grinned as she whipped out her T-Phone and presented him with one of her favorite past times whenever she - or Mikey - was bored; Cat Videos.

To April's immense amusement, it turned out that the older turtle was very fond of cats, just like Michelangelo was, and to say that he was more than entertained by what April had shown him would be an understatement. By the time the first video finished, both of them had fallen off the swings and were struggling to breathe due to the sheer hilarity of it all. He then asked if there were any videos of tigers doing the same ridiculous things as their domestic counterparts. All it had taken was a tail-less tiger being startled out of its stripes by a passing bird before the laughter had felled him once more*.

Once they'd finally managed to calm down again, the two of them decided to sit in the large sand pit in the center of the park and exchange childhood stories. Leo, being as curious about her life as she was about his, asked her what she and her father did together when she was younger. The first thing that came to mind was when Kirby would often sit with April on the couch in their living room, and the two of them would watch old movies together, her favorite one being 'Some Like It Hot.' It was after Leo asked what that movie was that the switch of April's nostalgic geek side had been flipped on, and once it was on, it could not be turned off. So she had immediately sat him down and retold as much of the story as she could remember, only pausing due to endless bouts of uncontrollable laughter from both the turtle and the red head.

"Okay, okay, so he did what after that?!" Leo chuckled, leaning forwards eagerly as he waited for April to control her giggles.

Wiping a tear from her eye as she did her best to stifle her laughter, April cleared her throat before speaking again. "Okay, so, after that, h-he rips off the wig and says 'Oh, I'm a man!', and the other guy just goes, 'Well nobody's perfect'!" she performed with a grin, before both she and Leonardo burst into gales of laughter once again, with Leo tipping over and landing on his shell in the sand box that he and the red headed girl were sat in. April was no different as she followed his example and fell on her back, not caring is she was coated in sand as she held her aching stomach.

She could hear Leo's laughter over her own as they lay there…and though she couldn't quite grasp why, she found that it was one of the most beautiful things she'd ever heard.

"Ohoho my god!" Leo panted weakly as he rolled back into a sitting position, sighing heavily as he beamed down at April's flushed face. "That has gotta be the most perfect ending to a story like that," he said, holding out a hand to the girl lying on her back, who returned his smile with a brighter one of her own.

"I know, right?!" April grinned, reaching up to take his hand as he hauled her up with ease. After letting out a breath and dusting the sand off her clothes, she turned back to the scarf clad terrapin. "So, I think I've done a lot of talking tonight. Why don't you tell me something else about you, Leo?" she asked, crossing her legs and resting her elbows on her sand coated knees.

However, it was as she watched Leo smile and purse his lips in thought as he hummed out loud, April couldn't help but feel as though she probably shouldn't have asked about his past. Wasn't that the very thing that he was trying to forget about? Then again, not everything about his past could have been that horrible, could it? If Leonardo was still able to laugh at silly jokes and videos, smile and show compassion at all, then perhaps his early years in the Foot Clan were kind to him? Though for someone as sweet and kind as Leo to be under the command of someone like Shredder, that was really saying something.

"Well," Leo began, his fingers idly drawing shapes in the sand as he looked back up at her patient expression. His smile faded somewhat as he then regarded her with that same look he'd given her when they'd first met. Although it was not nearly as cold or as foreboding as it had been before, it was still very firm. "Can you promise me that you won't tell anyone about what I'm about to tell you?" he asked her seriously, but winced inwardly when she saw her smile slowly drop into a confused frown. Looking down again, he let out a faint sigh. "I know it sounds a little paranoid, but…I just…"

Shaking her head, April reached out to lay a gentle hand over Leo's, making him look up at her again in surprise at the gesture only to meet her kind cobalt eyes as she smiled. "It's okay, I get it," she said sincerely, curling her fingers around his as she held his hand in tight, yet reassuring grip. "You don't want the wrong people to hear about your personal life, and that's fine. Trust me; there are plenty of humans that are just like that, too." And rightly so, she grimaced inwardly; she wasn't entirely sure whether or not Leo knew about Internet Safety (or about the internet at all for that matter).

Bashfully returning her smile as he gave her hand a small squeeze in return, Leo chuckled. "…well…you already know about my love of cats," he snickered, which April returned with a nod before he continued. "…but the reason why I'm so attached to cats is because…um…" Leo hesitated again, his eyes shifting to the side as he bit down on his lip. He knew he could trust April; the last half hour had taught him that. But even so, revealing such personal information about himself to someone other than Tiger Claw or Karai…or god forbid, even Mikey, was a concept that Leo found almost daunting.

However, April had opened her heart to him. She had confided in him alone, and had told him her true feelings, about her father, the Kraang, the Foot, everything that had been going on around her ever since she'd first met his brothers. She'd shed tears in front of him. She'd shared some of her most precious childhood memories with him…if anything, April deserved to know about him in return…he'd done the same for Karai, after all.

Nodding to himself once, Leo turned back to the expectant red head and decided to go for it. "After I was left in the forest in Japan, back when I was three," he began after a moment, inwardly shuddering at the memory of the Kraang hovering over his helpless form. "I was found by another mutant named Tiger Claw. He's the one who taught me everything I know about ninjitsu…basically, he's the one who raised me for all these years."

April's eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at Leonardo, her azure eyes unblinking and full of wonder upon what she'd just heard. Another mutant had come to Leonardo's rescue on the night they'd lost him, and had taken him in just like that? Half of what she'd heard was humorous, though; it explained why he adored cats so much, since he'd been apparently raised by one…but that was also what disconcerted her somewhat. Splinter and the turtles had been all the way in Japan on that night…did that mean that there were mutants all over the world that the Kraang had created? Were they all as big of a threat as the ones here in New York? The thought was almost overwhelming.

But now April understood why he couldn't leave the Foot Clan. It would mean leaving behind the only person that had shown him any kindness when he was lost and alone…

Shaking her head and blinking rapidly to banish the thoughts for now, April focused her attention back on Leonardo. "Really? Your Sensei is a giant mutant tiger?" she asked, another smile growing across her features as she pictured the kind of mighty mutant creature that had raised Leo as a lone child. "…Leo…he sounds…awesome!"

Blushing slightly at her enthusiasm, Leo nodded. "I guess he is," he chuckled with a shrug. Leo himself had always thought of Tiger Claw as an idol of sorts, someone he would gladly look up to and go to for guidance, even if he couldn't tell him everything all of the time. "He may be a killer, but he's not heartless in the least. He's…well, he's always been a…"

"He's like a father to you, right?" April finished for him softly, smiling warmly as he looked up at her.

Smiling fondly as times together with his fierce, protective yet loving father flooded into his memories, Leo nodded. "Yes…he is," he said quietly. "He's always been there for me, even when I didn't want him to be. But that's just what fathers do, I guess…"

Humming in agreement, April's hands tightened around Leo's larger pair as she moved closer to him, her shoulder coming to rest against his as they looked back at the glistening moon that hung overhead. "Y'know, I never believed that someone like you could've ever been raised by someone like the Shredder…not with the way you are now," she said distantly. "I mean, when I met you, you seemed pretty cold…but now that I know you better, you're so much more…I dunno, compassionate? More gentle and caring than the other soldiers in the Foot Clan. I guess being raised by Tiger Claw made you that way, right?"

Smiling faintly, Leo shook his head. "Not really. Tiger Claw can be pretty strict when he wants to be, especially when it comes to training to be an assassin. He trained me to the best of his ability, and believe me; his training can be pretty intense." He then grew a cheeky grin as he chuckled to himself, a particularly fond memory of his father coming to mind. "He likes to call himself a 'merciless assassin', but you should've seen him when I was six years old. I made him chase me through the forest and set a trap for him. Later on, he came back home covered in dandelions and mud! Didn't seem so ruthless that time!"

April found herself giggling, no longer imagining a proud and mighty beast but a fluffy, dandelion covered kitten as she slapped a hand over her mouth. "Seriously?! I'm guessing you were a little troublemaker when you were little, huh?" she snickered.

His blue eyes glinting with a mischief that April had only ever seen in the eyes of Michelangelo, Leo beamed at her, folding his arms over his chest with mock pride. "Of course!" he announced, putting on his most heroic voice as he stood up and planted his fists on his hips, puffing out his chest. "As a ninja, one must be creative when it comes to luring an enemy into a trap!"

Throwing her head back, April laughed as she clapped her hands, hearing the beautiful sound of Leo's laughter beside her once more. Oh, how she loved this; spending time with someone who understood her, who she could talk to about anything without letting others know…it felt as if an overbearing weight had been lifted from her very being. If only their time together could last forever…

April's laughter stopped abruptly as her eyes widened.

Time…oh crud.

Digging into her pocket for her phone, April quickly checked the time, and gasped loudly when she read that it was almost midnight…and that she had over a dozen texts and missed calls from Donatello. "Oh jeez, oh crap, oh no!" April cried, jumping to her feet as she dashed over to the swings where her bag lay, quickly throwing it over her shoulders. How could she have lost track of time so easily? Oh, if her Aunt got home from work before April did, she was going to kill her for sure! And then Donnie was probably having a heart attack –

"April, what's wrong?" Leo asked nervously, one hand already reaching up to his katana as he watched her flounder about with her bag like a panicked rabbit.

Once she'd struggled into her bag, April turned and noticed the gesture, and once again mentally slapped herself repeatedly in the face. 'Stupid April! You can't just freak out like that in front of Leo for goodness sakes!' she scolded herself, before putting on a reassuring smile as she reached out and put a hand on his tensed shoulder. "Oh, no Leo, it's okay," she said calmly. "I just realized how late it was; my aunt might be worried if she gets home from work and sees that I'm not there. Sorry for freaking out like that," she shrugged, blushing with embarrassment.

Instantly, Leo relaxed as he let out a breath, his hand flopping to his side as he raised a brow at her. "You humans get dramatically upset about things, don't you?" he teased with a knowing grin.

April smirked back at him. "You're one to talk," she shot back with a playful slap on his shoulder. Leo merely brushed it off with a little chuckle as the two of them hopped over the gates of the children's playground and made their way back the way they'd come through the empty pathways of the park, walking side by side once again.

"Hey, if you need to get home quicker, how about I take you there by rooftop?" he offered, shyly fiddling with the wrappings on his wrist. "I mean, it's the least I could do after what you've done for me tonight and all…"

Though she didn't break her stride, April sent him a surprised glance at his generous yet unexpected offer. Normally she would have politely rejected such a suggestion, but after noticing the sincerity and pure gratitude in his dark azure gaze as it bore into her, as well as the sight blush that tinted his cheeks, the red headed kunoichi in training found that she couldn't refuse. In all honesty, it was she that owed him for allowing her to take him all the way out here and talk to him…but she guessed that this way they would be even. Besides, it wasn't every day that April got a free ride home. Smiling, she shrugged. "Sure, why not? Thanks Leo," she said.

And then another thought hit her as she reached out and stopped Leo with a hand on his arm. "...will I ever see you again?" she asked hesitantly, watching Leo's reaction carefully as it morphed from surprise into curiosity. April bit her lip, tightening her grip on his arm slightly. "…I mean, I know that we're still technically enemies, and that we may have to fight each other someday, but…I really like talking to you. I like you, Leo. I know I can tell you anything and know that you'll understand…and I know it sounds selfish, but I don't want that to go away. So…can we meet again, just like this? Can we be friends?"

Leo stared at her for a long, silent moment, his gaze wandering down to the delicate, pale, five fingered hand that clung onto his arm almost pleadingly. Slowly, his abnormal hand came to gently cover it as he looked back up at April and smiled. "…I like you too, April," he said. "And I actually had fun talking to you. I…I would like to be friends too, if that's okay."

April's gasped faintly. She knew that there was no need for her to cry, but the tears were pooling in her eyes again regardless as she grinned widely, before she leapt forwards and flung her arms around Leo's neck, enveloping him in a tight, unbreakable embrace. "Thank you, Leo," she whispered, closing her eyes as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. His arms came to wrap around her smaller frame seconds later as he returned the hug, and April didn't need to look to know that he was still smiling as brightly as she was as he held her close.

"You're welcome, April."

During her time with the turtles, April had quickly come to realize that traveling by rooftop was far faster – as well as far more entertaining – than walking through the streets like she normally would have. So it was combined with the fact that Leo had hoisted her up on the back of his shell, and that he seemed to soar across the rooftops like the wind was on his heels, that she found herself on the fire escape of her aunt's apartment in record time. And by the looks of it, her aunt still hadn't come back home yet. Perfect.

Near breathless as Leo carefully slid her off of his shell, she staggered slightly on her feet before righting herself as she looked up at Leo, who had perched himself at the edge of the railings like a cat, which she found herself smirking at more so than before now that she knew where he'd picked up those mannerisms from. "…that…was like flying," she breathed, leaning heavily against her window. "I mean, I've always gone across the rooftops with the others before, but that back there? That was awesome!"

Grinning, Leo pretended to examine his fingers smugly. "Yeah, I am pretty awesome, aren't I?" he joked, earning a giggle from April. "So…when can I see you again?" he asked, his earlier bravado gone now as he regarded her sincerely.

Biting her lip, April tapped a finger to her chin as she hummed in thought. She'd promised Leo that she would keep everything they'd done tonight a secret, meaning that in order to keep that promise and continue to meet up with him, she couldn't let the other turtles – or even Splinter – find out. It pained her to lie to them like this, but it was the only way. Leo needed a friend outside of the Foot and his distant family, someone to help him sort out his thoughts and feelings, someone to confide in…someone that would eventually guide him on the right path again.

Nodding to herself, April turned back to Leo. "How about next week Friday night?" she suggested. "I usually have Chess Club after school, so the others wouldn't expect me to be at their place until Saturday. You think you can make that?"

Smiling, Leo nodded. "I'll make a mental note of that," he said, before bowing his head once in respect. "Arigatō, April-chan. Jikai made!" he quipped, before leaping off the fire escape and disappearing over the rooftops and into the darkness once more, with April watching after his retreating form until she could no longer see him.

Sighing happily, April quickly and quietly slipped through her bedroom window and landed soundlessly on the floor, before shutting the window behind her. She'd only learned a little bit of Japanese from what she'd picked up from Splinter and the turtles, but she didn't need a translator to understand what Leo had said to her before he departed.

Thank you, April-chan. Until next time!

And as she grinned eagerly to herself as she sat on her bed, April knew that she couldn't wait until then.

As he sped across the rooftops, Leonard couldn't help but cast a final look behind him at April's apartment, a wide grin spreading across his features as he slowly drew to a stop and recalled the events of that evening. It had been a long time, too long in Leo's opinion, since he'd felt as light as he did now. Throughout the years, he'd believed that Karai was the only human being in this world that would accept him for who and what he was, the only person that he knew for certain he could trust with his very life…however, tonight's encounter with April had told him otherwise.

April O'Neil…she was a strange human, but she was possibly the kindest, most loving human he had ever met besides his adoptive sister, Karai. He could talk to April without being criticized or rejected, for she knew exactly what he felt and what he'd gone through. She was his first and possibly only friend outside of the Foot Clan. And though Leo knew that creating any kind bond with someone allied with Hamato Yoshi would surely cost him should the Shredder ever find out, he mused that he no longer cared as a warm feeling spread through his heart.

He'd meant what he said to her. He truly couldn't wait to see April again.

Something landed on an air vent nearby where he stood on the rooftop, and Leo froze.

His eyes narrowing darkly, his earlier mood vanished, replaced with a blank glare of a killer as he spun around, unsheathing both his blades in one swift movement as he glared up at his new opponent…only to blink in surprise to find that it was not a Kraang droid or an unlucky gang member…

"Donatello?"

Standing erect with his Bo staff positioned readily at his side as the full moon above illuminated his thin yet muscular frame, Donatello's mahogany gaze bore into Leonardo with an intensity that the blue clad turtle had never seen in his second youngest sibling before. It unsettled him, though he knew not why, but he was quick to brush it off as Donnie leapt from his perch atop the air vent and landed mere inches away from where Leo stood, his glare never leaving him.

"You've got a lot of nerve to even think about coming around here," Donnie growled, taking several threatening steps towards Leo as he narrowed his eyes further.

Leo, of course, was not fazed by Donnie's advancement, and retained a guarded stance and an uncaring expression. "I really don't see why it's any of your business where I go, Donatello," he shot back, his voice low and threatening. He'd had a very good night tonight, and wasn't in the mood to get into yet another fight with one of his brothers, regardless if they trusted each other or not. But by the look in Donnie's eyes, it was safe to assume that unlike Raphael and Michelangelo, he was the least trusting of him at this moment in time. "What, pray tell, brings you around here at this time of night?" Leo probed, sheathing his swords as he folded his arms over his chest instead.

"We've let you get away with a lot of things, Leonardo, for Mikey's sake more than our own," Donnie growled, jabbing a finger into Leo's chest. "I also know that you may have put your own neck on the line to save us in the past. But you've taken this little game of yours too far. If I ever see you near her again, you'd better hope your shell is strong enough to hold you together once I'm through beating the crap outta you! Understand?!"

His brows furrowing, Leo regarded Donnie in bafflement as he slapped his hand away from his chest. "Oh, please," he scoffed with a roll of his eyes. "I'm not going to kidnap your friend and use her as bait to lure you out or anything. I thought you knew me better than that, Donatello –"

"Don't pull that crap on me!" Donnie seethed, his grip tightening on his Bo staff. "You said you don't stoop low, but what about that time you left us to die with that squid monster, huh? You and your girlfriend high-tailed it outta that lab after you let her unleash that monstrosity on us!"

Leo narrowed his eyes up at his younger brother, his shoulders tensing as his fists clenched and his breath hitched in his throat. He'd almost forgotten about that little incident, even though Raphael had gone to the trouble of reminding him several times during their most recent encounter.

Donnie didn't miss the action, and he smirked coldly in response. "That's what I thought," he sneered. "I know what you're up to. You might have fooled Raph and April, but I don't trust you, not for a second. And I swear, if you even lay a finger on her head, I will personally make sure that you –"

"Why are you so concerned about this one human girl, Donatello?" Leo interjected sharply, his head tilting curiously as Donnie's expression turned from cold and murderous to something akin to discomfort as his brown eyes shifted from left to right. Leo's eyes narrowed in thought as he looked his brother up and down; his fists were clenched, his palms were sweaty, his eyes continued to shift back and forth, avoiding Leo's eyes at all costs…and was there a hint of pink tinted on his cheeks?

And then it dawned on him.

"Oh…oh, Donatello," he said, chuckling aloofly as Donnie's hard gaze returned full force. "You can't be serious. You're in love with April O'Neil, aren't you? Oh, that's adorable…and rather sad, I must say."

Teeth grinding together, Donnie's breath hitched as his eyes narrowed deadly. "Shut up!" Donnie shouted, spinning his staff as he assumed a ready stance. "I'm warning you, Leo. You stay away from April if you know what's good for you!"

Leo raised a brow at him, his eyes growing cold and impassive as he raised his arms to reach back and grip the hilt of his Katanas, glaring Donnie down all the while. So, it was true. Donnie really did love April deeply, despite having only known her for a little while. From what April had told him about her time spent with his brothers, they all seemed pretty close, like a family almost…which was, Leo realized as he lowered his arms again, exactly how he and Tiger Claw saw Karai. To them, Karai was a member of their family. They would do anything to protect her or defend her from even the Shredder if they had to. So, despite certain differences, Leo could see why Donnie was acting this way. It may or may not have had something to do with jealousy, but it was clear that he was only trying to protect her. Raphael and Michelangelo would have been the same.

Leo sighed, his glare fading into sincerity as he looked back up at Donnie. "Donatello, in the past we have made it clear that we are enemies, and that you cannot and have no reason to trust me whatsoever," he said. "But trust me when I say that I – personally – mean April no harm. She's just like the blind chef; she's an innocent that got caught up in our affairs…and if there's anything I hate more, it's involving innocents into matters that don't concern them."

Raising a brow, Donnie slowly uncurled from his guarded stance as he stared at his older brother sceptically. What was he trying to say? Did this mean that he really wasn't going to hurt April? Did this mean that he would even go so far as to…protect her, too? But why would he do that? She was just as much of an enemy as he and his brothers were. Unless…

"…why the sudden change of heart, Leonardo?" he probed, his Bo staff lowering to his side. "What exactly happened between you two in Central Park? I'm assuming that you were there with her the whole time, correct?"

Leo said nothing for a moment, his eyes darting behind him as he caught a glimpse of the sun rising just behind the towering buildings of the city beyond. He cursed under his breath. He'd lost track of time again. If he didn't get his shell back to Shredder's lair immediately, he would surely become tiger chow, or worse, a new chew toy or scratching post. He turned back to Donnie, who continued to watch him cautiously. "That is between me and O'Neil herself, Donatello," he replied evenly. He then bowed his head once to his brother, before turning away and walking towards the edge of the building. "I'm afraid that you and I both have somewhere we need to be now," he said over his shoulder. "Sayonara, for now. Keep what I said in mind…"

Donnie hesitated. Despite his earlier threats, he wanted to trust Leo. He truly wanted to believe what his brothers had said to him over and over, and that he would ensure that April remained out of harm's way…but another part of him was convinced that, as a member of the Foot Clan, he'd only put her in even more danger.

But as their eyes met once more, the previous malice and anger gone from both their gazes as they bore into one another, Donnie felt that strange spark once again. It was just like the time when they were trapped on the rooftop, surrounded by Foot soldiers and helpless to prevent their fate…and then without even using words, Donnie had been able to plead with Leo to help them…

Right now, it was as if Leo was asking him to believe him, to trust him, if only for this one time.

With a sigh, Donnie sheathed his Bo staff and nodded once. "…fine…I will," he said at last. "But my warning still stands. Got it?"

To Donnie's surprise, Leo actually smirked at him in response, but not out of spite. "Duly noted, Donatello," he replied, before leaping off the edge of the building and vanishing into the sunrise. And all the while, Donnie remained where he stood, watching his older brother retreat into the waking city as he pondered to himself. Had he just made a mistake in trusting Leo? Or was he finally moving forwards? Had he just gained another chance in getting their brother back at last? With a slight shrug as he turned and fled back to the lair, content that April was safe at home, the purple clad tech guru mused that it was as Splinter would sometimes say; only time would tell.

Speaking of Splinter…

Eyes widening as he gulped, Donnie wondered just how much trouble he was going to be in when Splinter found out that he was out until dawn. He was certain that it would be less than pleasant…

A/N: *I'm not kidding guys, there is an actual video of a tail-less tiger getting scared by a freaking bird. It was hilarious!

I hope you guys enjoyed it! Thank you all for the feedback! It's REALLY appreciated! More coming soon!