Shorter than the others, but full of feels. From my perspective at least. I got the idea for the title from a song from Fairy Tail, sung by Lyra when Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and Happy are on Galuna. Listen to it while reading this, if you want. Either version, English or Japanese, will work. Personally, I like the English version. Maybe because I can sing along with that one.
Anyways, enjoy!
Oh! And this guest reviewed on June 2. I'm doing these requests in order of when I received them, so just be patient if I haven't gotten to yours yet.

When You First Heard Those Words
Requested By: Guest
Anime: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012-15

Reader:
Minerva Robinson
Female
15
Chocolate brown shoulder length hair (usually in a braid), violet eyes, 4'9", B-Cup chest, birthmark on neck
Cousin/Adopted sister to April, friends with Hamato family
Human-Kraang Hybrid
Healing powers, #1 marksman in archery club

Character:
Leonardo Hamato
Male
15
Blue mask, blue eyes, brown elbow and knee pads, dark green skin, 5'
Hamato family, April, Casey, Minerva
Ninjutsu

Plot: Post 'Within The Woods'
Relationship: Friends since the first night. Both want to be more, but both are afraid of losing the friendship between them.
Word Count: 1,626

Minerva sighed as she finished washing the dishes. It had been a rather taxing day for all of them, especially the turtles. Leo had finally woken up after three months, but he was far from out of the woods yet. Not to mention he had to save all of them from a weed monster that had appeared in the middle of the forest outside the farmhouse.

It had been a hard three months… for all of them, especially Minerva. While Leo had been comatose, she and Raph had sat with him, watching… waiting. During that time, Minerva really got to know the hothead, and vise versa. Turns out, Raph could be a good listener when he wanted to be. And Minerva was always ready to lend an ear.

It had been no secret that Minerva was head over heels for Leo. She had been ever since the first night they met. At first, Raph had teased her, saying she was a female Donatello. But soon, he became the protective big brother that began pushing for her to confess. Many times a conversation he had offered to leave so she could talk to Leo in private. She had always refused, saying that, if she was to tell him, she would rather tell him when he was conscious and could respond. Eventually, Raphael dropped the subject.

Now that Leo was awake and moving around again though, he was once again pushing her to tell him. Minerva's new excuse was that he had enough to deal with. He didn't need to be pressured to answer a love confession. Since then, she had barricaded herself in the kitchen, washing dishes that weren't going to get any cleaner or reorganizing the cabinets that had more room than a haunted house.

Footsteps sounded outside the doorway. The brunette didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Neither said anything for a while, Minerva continuing to scrub a plate, and her observer boring holes into her head with his eyes. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

"You need to tell him, Minerva." She sighed, placing the plate on the counter. Turning, she braced herself against it.

"Mind to tell me why you are pushing so hard for this, Raph?" The red-masked terrapin shrugged his muscular shoulders.

"I'm not blind, Athena. I can see the way you look at him." The human averted her violet eyes from his emerald ones. "Look, I just want ya to be happy, kay? I care about you, and it really ticks me off to see someone as fearless as you cower from something like this."

"it's not like I can just jump in like I do in fights, Raph!"

"Why not?" Raph pushed off the doorframe, walking over. "If Don can do it, why can't you?" Minerva opened her mouth, only to close it again. Raph pulled her into a hug, something he had started doing about two months prior. "Just go for it, Minerva. Trust me: it'll turn out better than you think it might."

"You think so?"

"I know so." Raph stepped back, but didn't release her. Instead, he steered her towards the door, not releasing her shoulders till she was outside. "Now go get him."

"But, I don't even know-"

"He's by the lake. Here, just in case something else is out there." Raph shoved her bow and arrows into her chest. Before she had time to protest, he had shut the door. "The only way I open this door is if you and Lamenardo come back together. Together together." Not knowing what else to do, Minerva slung the quiver over her shoulder and descended the stairs.

It was a good ten minute walk to the lake on their property, so she had some time to think. 'What on earth am I going to say? 'Hey Leo. I know you just woke up and everything, but I thought I should tell you that I'm in love with you.' Yeah. That'll go over well.' Minerva shook her head.

"I'm so screwed."

"Why?"

"AAAHH!" Minerva whirled, stringing her bow. Leo stood there, leaning on his crutch. Even though his skin was still a sickly green, compared to his normally healthy forest coloring, an amused smirk twitched at his lips.

"At least I still have my stealth." Minerva frowned, relaxing.

"Yeah well…" she trailed off, not wanting to offend him. Leo noticed, tilting his head.

"Minerva? Are you alright?" She shrugged, placing her arrow and bow back into the quiver. Leo hobbled closer, reaching up to place a hand on her cheek. "Hey, c'mon now. Tell me what's wrong."

"Can we talk at the lake?" Leo nodded.

"Sure. You might have to catch me though." Minerva smirked.

"After all the times you've caught me, I would consider it repaying my debt." Leo chuckled softly, hobbling alongside her. They walked in silence, enjoying the other's company. Minerva was unaware, however, of the glances Leo kept stealing her way.

Finally, they made it to the body of water. It was Minerva's favorite place to relax and play when she was a child, growing up with April. She sat down on the bank, placing her weapons next to her before tucking her knees up to her chest. Leo gingerly sat next to her.

"Are you okay?" Minerva sighed.

"Have you… have you ever loved someone? Like, the way Donnie loves April, love." Leo's eyes widened. He cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck.

"Um… well…" Dropping his hand, he looked out over the water. "Yeah." Minerva bit her lip.

"Was it Karai?"

"No! No no no no no no no." Leo shook his head back and forth as fast as he could. "That was… a fleeting infatuation." Minerva lifted an eyebrow.

"Since when do you use superior vocabulary?" Leo chuckled.

"Since I've gotten to know you." His cheeks darkened. "Well, what I mean is… um…" Minerva giggled lightly.

"It's alright. I was just teasing." He sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "But seriously. If it wasn't Karai, then who was it?" Leo licked his lips nervously.

"She's a really good friend of mine. We used to hang out all the time. We would spar, and go on patrols, and just… ya know… do everything together." He shrugged. "But… I don't think she feels the same way about me."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know." Leo looked down at his lap. "I'm just afraid that if I tell her how I feel… I'll ruin our friendship. And… if I'm honest with myself… that'll hurt worse than just keeping it to myself." Minerva nodded.

"I know how that is." Leo glanced at her.

"If… if I tell you who it is… do you promise not to laugh?" Minerva nodded. He bit his lip, before sighing. "Can you… can you lean closer?" Minerva glanced at the bushes, reaching for her bow. "I don't know if they're listening, but, just in case…" She nodded.

"I get it." Letting her hand return to her side, Minerva leaned in.

"Closer." She did. "Closer." Inches. Leo sighed. "A little closer…" he whispered. Minerva was sure her heart was beating so loud he could hear it.

"Who is it?" she whispered back.

"You." Before she had time to react, Leo had pressed his lips to hers. Minerva gasped through her nose, earning a soft smirk from the turtle. Closing her eyes, Minerva kissed him back.

Leo was sure his heart was going to burst. The girl he loved with all his heart, his goddess, was kissing him back. He was certain that when he made the move, she would pull back and slap him or something. But no. Here she was, doing the exact opposite.

Lifting his hand, he traced the birthmark on her neck. It was always her weakness, something he went for whenever they had a tickling match. This time, it was a caress. He was still rewarded with a shiver of delight, something he loved to feel reverberating through his body.

They separated at the same time, staring into each other's eyes. Leo smiled softly. "I love you Minerva." She gasped softly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She was careful to not lean too much weight on his still healing body.

"I love you too Leo. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that." He smiled, nuzzling her neck with his nose.

"I have a pretty good idea." Leo closed his eyes, letting his head rest on her shoulder. "To be honest, I never thought I would hear you say those words."

"Ditto." Leo chuckled, pressing a kiss to her neck.

"I don't want to go back."

"We don't have to."

"Well… my leg's really hurting." Minerva pulled back, smiling.

"Here. Let me." Placing her hands together, a soft purple glow surrounded them. She touched her fingertips to Leo's green skin, watching the purple mesh with green. He stiffened, before sighing in relief.

"That feels great, Minerva." She smiled.

"I'm glad I could help heal you. It's the least I could do, after everything you and your family have done for mine." Leo tilted up her chin, gently kissing her lips.

"You've done so much more than stop the pain. You've healed my heart." Minerva's smile grew. Leaning forward, she reconnected their lips, opening and closing hers against his. Leo followed her lead. It wasn't fast-paced, but neither were they. Both were happy to take things at their own pace.

Meanwhile, hidden in the bushes surrounding the lake, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, Casey, and April grinned at the sight of two lovers next to the moon lit lake. April leaned over to whisper in Casey's ear

"I think you owe me a soda, Casey Jones."

Three more to go!