Both of their jaws fell in union as the gawked at the rampaging alligator as it threw its fist at anything it could destroy. It let out a sudden roar and ripped a fire hydrant out of the ground, making water shoot up out of the ground before it came back as if rain.
Leo blinked, snapping out of his stunned trance first. He turned to Donatello, "What the heck is he doing out here?" He asked slightly harsher then he meant to.
Donatello merely shook his head, his eyes curious in thought. "Let's ask him," came his blunt answer before he opened the door and started to slide out.
Leonardo quickly wrapped his hand around Donnie's arm. "Are you nuts?!" Leo shot. Donnie sighed and yanked his arm free of Leo's grip.
"He's our friend, Leo, he won't hurt us," Donnie jumped out of the car just as Leatherhead tore the bunk of a truck right off of the vehicle.
Leo let out an exasperated sigh. "Why do I even bother?" he mumbled to himself. He watched Donnie begin his cautious decent towards the larger mutant and he quickly got out of the van to follow his brother.
Donnie moved in to try and get the big gators attention, but Leatherhead was too busy growling at a beeping car alarm as he pounded his fists over and over on the red car. He quickly got angry at the annoying noise and actually picked up the car and then chucking it down the street, the alarm growing fainter until the car disappeared from sight.
"How does Mikey always get him to calm down?" Leo asked through the hydrant water that poured down, soaking them.
Donnie gave out a huff of air, thinking for a moment. He replied by stepping forward, this time making sure he had direct eye contact with the humongous mutant. "Hey, hey, it's ok," he reached out to place a hand on Leatherhead's snout.
Leo saw it before it even happened, "Donnie no!" He shouted and ran to his brother but it was too late. The huge gator brought back his hand with a growl and swung, hitting Donatello right in the plastron; making him sail across the street and crash into the brick wall.
"Donnie!" Leo shouted over another huge roar. He skidded onto his knees next to his brother, shivering slightly from the water that was still pouring down on them. He grabbed onto his brother's shoulder and propped him up. "Don, Donnie can you hear me?" He asked, cupping Donatello's face in his hands.
Donnie groaned and brought a hand up to his head. He let his eyes blink open before groggily landing on Leonardo. "Ow."
Leo gave a small smile and helped the dazed turtle stand. "Well that didn't work." He stated bluntly.
Donnie rubbed his head for a second more before letting his hand drop to his side. "Well, we could always try food." He offered, pressing his lips together.
Leo shook his head. "No way will that work. Plus that would mean getting close to him again." Leo laughed dryly.
Donnie hummed, and opened his mouth to give another idea when an all too familiar California accent interrupted him.
"D-Dudes!" Mikey slurred as he stumbled out of the van. He smiled lazily. "I was having the best dream!" His smile dropped. "But then I woke up. Can you guys be, like, you know, quite? My shoulder kills," He yawned, "And I'm tired!"
He smacked his lips and gazed around the scene tiredly. His gaze landed on the heavy breathing alligator as he clenched and unclenched his fists, glancing around furiously.
"Whoa! Leatherhead! Long time on see man!" Mikey waved, earning himself a wince. The large gator spun his head at the new presence and growled.
"Mikey! Get back in the car!" Leo shouted as he readjusted Donnie's arm over his shoulder. "It's not safe out here!"
Mikey did the exact opposite as he rotated his shoulder and began striding towards the snarling mutant. "Dudes! What did you do to him! He's really ticked off!"
"Michelangelo!" Leo warned, "Do not take a single step closer to him!" He shouted, wanting to run to his brother, but knowing Donnie couldn't stand on his own.
"Hey buddy!" Mikey coaxed as he brought eye contact towards Leatherhead. "Everything's ok," he continued, completely ignoring Leo. "Leatherhead, calm down man!"
Mikey reached out and placed his hand confidently on Leatherhead's snout, rubbing up and down. Leatherhead growled deeply in his throat, and Leo shouted out when he watched the gator's large paw begin to reel back.
But then everything stopped. Mikey smiled as Leatherhead froze at the comforting gaze. The gator blinked at the large blue eyes that held nothing but innocence and fun.
Leatherhead blinked again, his eyes adjusting as they cleared back to their yellow color. "M-Michelangelo?"
"The one and only!" Mikey stated proudly as he stepped back and gave a toothy grin.
The gators gaze swept over to Donatello and Leonardo who still stood underneath the gushing water. He blinked and continued his search as he observed the huge mess he had made.
"Leatherhead," Donnie started cautiously, earning the mutants gaze. "If you don't mind me asking, uh, what made you… um so mad?" He asked slowly.
The huge gator's breath hitched and his eyes clouded over once again; he threw his head back and roared.
"Hey! Hey!" Mikey put up his hands as he tried to gain control again. He grabbed the gators snout and forced eye contact. "Leatherhead! It's alright!"
The mutant blinked and then fell to his knees. His breaths coming out in large pants as he tried to recompose himself.
The three brothers exchanged worried glances before all putting their attention back onto Leatherhead.
"Leatherhead…" Mikey started.
"They made him cry." He growled. "I couldn't help it. My anger took control…" He looked at Michelangelo, grief filling his eyes. "I don't even remember what happened, all I know is that he's gone.
"They took him."