Hope you like it, mechagigan!

How Did You Know?
Requested By: mechagigan2004
Anime: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012-15

Reader:
Jonathan
Male
19
Brown hair, Brown eyes, Tannish skin, 5'6", Black shirt, Black cargo pants, Black army boots
The turtles, Master Splinter, and April
Human mutant
Flight, Telekinesis

Character:
April O'Neil
Female
16
Ginger hair, Blue eyes, Pale skin, Blue denim shorts, elbow-length black shirt with yellow and white sport shirt over it, 5'1".
Human-Kraang hybrid
Telepathy and Ninjutsu

Plot: During and after episode "The Kraang Conspiracy".
Relationship: Best friends.
Word Count: 3,888

Jonathan watched as the turtles used their grappling hooks to carry themselves across the street. April had sensed someone watching them on a building parallel to them. Jonathan had as well, but he had wanted to see if April could sense it as well. After all, she was newer to her powers than he was.

Realizing their party was one short, both Jonathan and Donatello looked back to see April struggling with her grappling hook. While Donnie ran to get his, Jonathan just flew back, flashing a grin at the terrapin. Donatello growled, glaring at the human mutant's back. It went without saying the two didn't get along very well when April came on the scene.

"Hey Red." April looked up to see Jonathan hovering over the roof. "Need a hand?" He stretched out one of his.

April grabbed it, allowing herself to be picked up by him. She tried her best not to blush as he once again crossed the street aerially. Once he stopped over the next roof, she jumped down, running after the others. She missed the sparks flying between the two males behind her.

She watched as the turtles jumped down the fire escape, ran across the street, and jumped up the next one, stopping in front of the window the man had vanished into. She struggled to pull herself up onto the platform. Suddenly, two hands placed themselves on her waist. Turning around in shock, she was met with Jonathan's sparkling brown eyes as he gently set her on the metal. She blushed, mouthing 'thank you'. He nodded, petting her head softly before turning his gaze to the window as Leo pried it open.

The guys jumped in, rolling silently over the floor. April stepped through, avoiding the heater. Jonathan was last, hovering over the floor. He stayed right behind April as the guys turned on their flashlights, looking around the apartment. It was covered with newspaper clippings, articles, pictures, graphs… Jonathan smirked to himself at the resemblance it had to Donatello's lab. It disappeared when Michelangelo gasped.

The human male whirled, immediately worried. Coming up behind the turtle, Jonathan rested a hand on his shoulder before looking up. His eyes widened at the sight. One entire board was devoted to pictures of the turtles.

"It's… us."

"Not just us." Leo corrected. He swept his light across the board. "Photos of mutants and Kraang! Lots and lots of Kraang." Except for one picture.

It was of Jonathan and April exiting school together. April was laughing, her eyes closed with a hand over her mouth. Jonathan was laughing along with her, except his eyes were open as he watched April. Jonathan smiled fondly, remembering the day. The only difference was that he had a question mark next to his head, and April was circled.

"So… what's with all the creeptastic pictures?" Feeling another presence, Jonathan slipped out of the room. No one noticed, except Raph. The two exchanged a brief look.

"Well… I guess we've seen enough here guys." Jonathan moved around the corner. "Let's get out of here." Jonathan clamped his hand over the man's mouth as he pulled him into the room.

He gasped as he was thrown into the middle of the room. Everyone shone their lights down on him. Jonathan alighted, deciding it was best to not reveal anything about himself at the time. He walked up, standing behind Raph as he jabbed a sai at the man's throat.

"Don't hurt me! I'm a friend!"

"Stalker's more like it."

"After all these months, finally face-to-face with the talking ninja turtles and…" His eyes rested on April. "April O'Neil herself." Immediately protective, Jonathan shoved himself between April and the man, keeping him an arm's distance away while drawing April to his side.

"You better start talking pal. What's with the photos? Who are you?"

"My name's Kurtzman. I was a journalist on the case of the missing scientists last year." Jonathan narrowed his eyes, not believing him. "And then I discovered something much bigger." April rested a hand on Jonathan's chest.

"At least hear him out, Jonathan." He sighed, letting go of Kurtzman. The older man walked over to his desk, turning on the light. "Um, John?" April whispered.

"What is it?"

"You can let go of me now." Jonathan shook his head.

"Not until I'm sure about him." He looked at her, his eyes softening in concern. "He knew your name, Red. That's creepy." April sighed, but smiled.

"Alright. But you don't have to suffocate me." Jonathan blushed, loosening his grip slightly.

"Sorry."

"The Kraang." Kurtzman's voice brought them back to reality. They looked over to where the others had already gathered around the man. He opened a binder, revealing pictures of everything from hieroglyphics… to April's baby pictures.

"That's why you're so special April. Your DNA can perfect the mutagen." April paled. Jonathan sat down, drawing her into his lap.

"I… I think I need to sit down." The door was kicked open, revealing three Kraang droids.

"Unfortunately I don't think that's an option right now, April." Jonathan picked her up bridal style. Placing her behind the couch, he cupped her cheek. "Stay here." Not giving her a chance to respond, he jumped over the couch, catching the Kraang droid Raphael threw at him. Ripping it apart, the human kicked the alien brain through the window.

"Nice." Raph smirked.

"Years of training." He looked over when a Kraang droid approached the couch. Before he could get there, Donnie wacked the droid to the side.

"I'll protect you April." She glared at him, standing up. Taking out her Tessen, she shoved it in his face.

"Protect yourself!" Jonathan smirked, ducking a punch from a droid.

'That's my girl.' He grabbed the droid's arm again, ripping it out of the joint. Using it as a baseball bat, he hit the head, making it spin. The droid dropped. "Two down, who-knows-how-many to go."

"Why bother counting then?" Donnie's back hit Jonathan's.

"So I can show you up." Jonathan punched through the chest of another droid.

"Seriously!?"

"No. Don't flatter yourself." Donatello growled, a tick mark appearing on his temple. Jonathan shrugged, using his telekinesis to propel himself over two more droids.

April crept around, trying to find a droid to beat. After seeing Leo deflect lasers with his katana blade, she tried it with her Tessen. She only succeeded in burning her hand. Gasping as a gun was shoved in her face, she jumped when a blade sliced through the body.

"Takes a little practice, April." Leo reprimanded.

"So I'm told!" She groaned, looking around. 'Ugh. There's nothing for me to fight. Even Jonathan's getting in on it!' She watched as her friend effortlessly traded blows with Raphael, the duo in perfect sync as they created a mountain of carnage around them.

'I guess… I'm really not ready to go out on real missions yet. After all, if I'm unable to handle this… how could I handle something bigger?' April slapped herself. 'Well I'm not going to get any better wallowing in self-pity.'

"Retreat!" Donnie yelled as more Kraang droids poured in.

"Uh oh." The guys leapt out the window.

"April!" Jonathan picked her up, flying out. Looking back, he saw Kurtzman fall out the window. Thankfully, Mikey was able to catch him. Setting April down, the human male alighted next to the turtles. April dropped to the ground, landing in an exaggerated fighting stance.

"This way! Move!" Leo's escape route was cut off by a Kraang van. The doors opened, revealing some sort of drone. Jonathan's eyes widened at the sight of a Gatling gun powering up.

"Ah sewer apples."

"Scatter!"

"Don't need to tell me twice!" Grabbing April's hand, Jonathan pulled her down the alleyway after the others. The drone followed, turning around in confusion when it lost sight. Suddenly, a hatch in the ground opened, revealing the Shellraiser. Leo stared at his monitor. The drone was shooting at the back.

"Everyone brace yourselves!" Jonathan grabbed onto the handle bar. April clutched onto him as Leo gunned the Shellraiser in reverse, crushing the gun.

"Here's the plan." Jonathan lifted an eyebrow at Kurtzman. "You infiltrate TCRI. Then, wipe out all the information the Kraang have on April's DNA."

"Infiltrate TCRI?" Jonathan looked down at April. "I thought you blew that place up?"

Turns out… the Kraang had rebuilt it.

"They rebuilt it?! Already!?" Jonathan growled.

"We break in, erase April's DNA codes, and get out. Infiltration only!"

"Let's do this." Leo gave April the weirdest look.

"Great. You and Kurtzman, stay outside and look out."

"Stay outside!?" Jonathan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "On look out!?"

"No problem." Kurtzman handed Leo a key card. "It's a key card I stole from one of their vans. It'll get you into TCRI." Leo saluted.

"Thanks Mr. Kurtzman."

"Good luck."

他の愛ため

Jonathan dodged the Kraang's fire. True to form, nothing had gone as planned. He punched through the chest, ripping out the power core. As the Kraang screeched, he folded the body over it, trapping it.

"Of all the times, why did April choose now to decide that she was ready for a real mission!?" He ripped off a head. He threw it across the room, hitting several other Kraang droids on the head, causing them all to crumble. "There's a reason we don't let her come with us. She's not ready yet!"

"You done talking to yourself?" Jonathan jumped, whirling to face a smirking Raph. "Cause there's still droids that need to be destroyed."

"Right. Sorry."

"Just don't turn into Donnie on me, alright?"

"Wasn't planning on it." The two smirked at each other, running side by side into the fray. Ever since meeting the turtles, Raphael was the one that Jonathan had clicked with the most. Whether it was they're similar attitudes or respect for strength, neither knew. Neither cared. They were able to train without holding back on each other, and that was all that mattered.

"We gotta get to that door!" AS they ran towards Leo, April felt something grab her wrist.

"It is the human known as April O'Neil." She whirled, smacking the Kraang's head with her Tessen.

"I am… not… gonna… ask for help!" Her strikes did nothing to the metal body. It grabbed her hand. "Dum… help? HELP!" Jonathan whirled at her voice. His eyes widened at the sight of April being dragged away.

"April!"

"Jonathan!" He was shoved down by Leo, a rocket barely missing his head.

"Raph! Take down Miss Rocket Arm!"

"Already on it!" Leo looked at Jonathan.

"Go after her. We'll cover you." He smiled gratefully at the eldest turtle.

"Thanks." Jumping up, he decided to not waste time running. Flying after the Kraang droid, he came to another corridor. To his surprise, April came running back. "April?"

"Run!" He turned around, barely avoiding plasma blasts. The turtles joined them, turning on a dime to avoid getting shot. "In here!" A flash of suspicion ran through Jonathan's mind.

The room April had showed them into looked like some sort of prison cell. Jonathan looked around, before resting his gaze on April. She was bent over, breathing hard. His eyes narrowed… only to widen when she started laughing. Just then, gas began entering the cell from the ceiling. Jonathan looked around in a panic, trying to find some way out. Raph tried to beat down the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"April! What's wrong with you? Are you mind-controlled?" 'April' slapped Donnie.

"Try again." When she easily knocked him back, Jonathan knew the truth.

"That's not April! Get her!" He and Raph ran at her, but the android easily evaded them. Grabbing Raph's hands, she flung him into Jonathan. Both crashed into the wall. Shaking his head, Jonathan's vision became blurry.

"I hate having to do this." Don swung his staff at her, but she caught it. Knocking him back, he looked to the side. Narrowing his eyes, as soon as she was close enough, he grabbed her hands, took out her feet, and flung her back.

The android's face smashed into the consol. It reared back, before exploding. A couple beeps sounded, right before the door opened. The guys wasted no time in running through and getting out of the gassed room.

"C'mon. We gotta find the real April!" Leonardo headed the pack as they ran down the hallway. Raph glanced back at Jonathan. He was running at the back.

"Hey. You alright?" Jonathan sighed.

"I should have waited outside with her instead of coming inside with you guys." Raph smirked softly.

"Hey… you love her, don't you?" Jonathan looked at his best friend. Raph smirked. "I saw the way you were looking at her in that picture. It's not hard to see." Jonathan sighed.

"I've loved her for a long time now." They turned around a corner, a door in front of them.

"Well, if there's no better time, you might want to tell her, dude." Jonathan glanced at Raph.

"Since when are you a relationship councilor?"

"Don't patronize me."

"You brought it up."

"You were sulking."

"Shaddup." Leo flipped out of the way of the laser, using the key card Kurtzman gave him to open the door. Upon doing so, a huge vat of mutagen was revealed. The group walked in, looking around. Jonathan felt like his heart dropped.

In each container around the room… floated an April android.

"April clones!"

"Weird." Raph placed a hand on Jonathan's shoulder. He nodded, letting Raph know he was still functioning. The terrapin nodded back, joining his brothers.

"So where's the real April?" Jonathan looked around, trying to find her. She wasn't here.

"She's not here."

"How do you know?" Donnie shoved his face in Jonathan's. The human glowered, sending the scientist back a few steps.

"I just know, alright? Why don't you do your geek thing and hack the mainframe or something?" Don opened his mouth to argue, but realized Jonathan was right. Running over to the console, he typed away at it.

"Hurry Donnie. Faster!" Leo urged.

"I'm hurrying as fast as I can!" A scream echoed through the facility. Jonathan paled, whirling around.

"April!" A door opened, revealing three Kraang droids. Jonathan gritted his teeth. "Where's April, you freaks!?"

"Open the bin that is known as, 'the reject bin'." Jonathan's eyes narrowed. A section of the floor opened behind them. Turning, Jonathan's eyes widened at the sight of a huge monster rising from the opening.

"What the heck is that!?" The thing slammed it's mutated right foot down, trying to crush Leo and Donnie.

"Derp derp derp!" It thrashed around, hitting the Kraang on the platform.

"Some kind of clone reject. A genetic mishap. A-"

"April-derp!" Jonathan rolled his eyes at Mikey. Looking up, he realized the door was unguarded. He flew up, landing on the platform.

"You guys keep that thing busy. I'm going after April!" As he left, he heard Donnie complaining about that's what he wanted to do. "Too slow, Donatello."

"Need some help?" He looked to his right to see Raph.

"Thanks dude."

"Don't mention it." They ran into the room. Jonathan's heart dropped at the sight of April strapped down to a table with a needle slowly making its way towards her forehead. As Raph took down the droids, he made his way to April's side. April looked up at the sight of Jonathan. Her heart swelled in relief.

"Jonathan! You're okay!" He smiled, petting her head.

"Yeah. And you will be too." Jonathan started pulling at the restraints. He got the one off her shoulders. "Are there any others that hold you down?"

"Uh... all of them."

"You know what I mean!" April's eyes widened.

"Look out!" Jonathan turned, the side of his head catching the blow from the Kraang droid. Several others were holding down Raph. Jonathan was forced to his knees. "Jonathan! Raph!"

"April!"

"Do not struggle. The one called April O'Neil will soon expire."

'Expire!?' Jonathan once again tried to get to his feet. Unfortunately, he had too many Kraang on his back to do so. He looked up once more, his eyes wide in fear.

"No! NO!" Shockwaves came from April, affecting everything but Jonathan and Raph. The two looked at each other in shock as the Kraang crumbled around them. Outside, the April-derp struggled to stay on her feet, ultimately failing as she exploded.

Getting up, Raph helped Jonathan rip the remaining restraints off April. The device continued moving downward, though it was now needleless. Jonathan lifted April, cradling her to his chest. Raph looked at her in concern.

"You okay?"

"Brain… on fire. Ready… to pop. Other than that… meh." Jonathan smiled. In a rush of affection, he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Meh's good enough for me. Let's go." They walked out together. Raph flashed a smirk at Jonathan, who retorted by sticking his tongue out at the turtle. The hothead just snickered, running ahead.

"April!" Raph's brothers dropped down from some cables on the ceiling. He tried to hug April, but Jonathan didn't let go. He had to deal with putting his hand on her head. "I'm so glad you're alive." Alarms blared through the facility. Jonathan delicately set April on her feet, keeping her close to him.

"Uh-oh! Time to haul shell!" They hightailed it from the room. Upon entering another room, they were surrounded by April clones.

"Where are you going guys?"

"Trying to ditch me?"

"Hurry! Come on!" They jumped down from the platform, but were once again surrounded. April was ripped from Jonathan's arms.

"April!"

"Jonathan!" The clones crowded around April, confusing the guys. Jonathan searched their faces, trying to find the real one. Unfortunately, these clones had voices that were practically identical to April's.

"Which one is which?" Mikey was pushed against the wall. Jonathan closed his eyes, blocking everything out. "Johnny?" Raph hushed him.

'Find her… focus.' Using his own telekinesis, Jonathan searched through the clones. Blurs flashed before his eyes. Unlike April, these clones had not individuality… no personality… no heart. 'Her heart is connected to her mind. Find her mind, find her heart… find April.' Finally, he did.

"There!" He jumped through the clones, pushing them away. April, the real April, smiled at him.

"You found me."

"Always." Feeling the clones press around him, Jonathan pulled April close. "Hold on." He jumped up, hovering above the clones. "They're all yours guys!" The turtles grinned, unsheathing their weapons.

"Alright!" Jonathan kicked away those that tried to grab onto him. In no time at all, all the clones disintegrated. Mikey shook off his nunchaku.

"Okay that was just gross dudes. There's April-derp on my chucks."

"Let's move!" Everyone who couldn't fly ran out. Jonathan was right behind them, carrying April. Leo busted through a window. "Hurry!" Kraang droids ran out after them, each one carrying a blaster. A van pulled up in front of them. Before the teens could freak out, the door opened, revealing Kurtzman.

"Get in." Everyone piled in. Kurtzman floored it. "Escaping from the Kraang in their own van! Haha!" Jonathan smiled slightly, holding April on his lap. He was sitting down, finally allowing himself to rest. April snuggled closer, resting her head on his chest.

"Thank you, Jonathan." Jonathan pressed a kiss to her head.

"Anytime, April. Anytime."

他の愛ため

A knock at his window startled Jonathan. Reaching out with his telekinesis, he was surprised, pleasantly, to find it was April sitting on his fire-escape. Getting out of bed, he opened his window. April stood there, looking very awkward.

"Hey April. Come on in." He stepped to the side, allowing her to climb into his room. Shutting the window, he turned on the lights after redrawing the blinds. "What's wrong?"

"I couldn't sleep." Jonathan's eyes widened.

"It's about what Donnie said, isn't it?" She nodded. Taking her hands, he led her to his bed. She sat down without a word, crossing her legs. Jonathan rubbed his thumbs over her hands.

"Johnny?"

"Yeah?" April took a deep breath.

"How… how did you know? That I was the real April."

"You mean back in that lab?" She nodded. Jonathan blushed, clearing his throat. "I… um…"

"What?"

"I used my telekinesis to find you." Her eyes widened.

"How?" He shrugged.

"Telekinesis and telepathy complement each other. Telepathy allows people to read minds or feel someone's thoughts and feelings. Telekinesis allows someone to move objects and sense what is alive and what is not." Jonathan shrugged. "All I had to do was find your heart."

"My… heart?" He nodded, sheepish. April smiled. "I see." Considering what he had just told her, April decided to try and feel what he was feeling.

'Let's see… he's nervous, but anyone can see that. Relief… that I'm alive? Probably.' Her breath caught in her throat. 'Love…?'

"You love me?" When he stiffened, his eyes widening, April realized she had said that out loud. However… there was no going back. And no taking it back.

Jonathan looked into April's eyes. The whole reason he had said what he said was so she would try to sense his feelings. He just didn't expect her to get it so quickly… or search so deeply. Licking his lips, he nodded.

"Yeah." This time, it was April's eyes that widened. Jonathan tried to take his hands back, but she wouldn't let him.

"Why didn't you say anything?" He shrugged, not meeting her gaze.

"You already had Donnie fawning over you. I thought… I thought you didn't need me doing that too." April tilted her head, trying to catch his gaze. "I felt that… if I could just be there for you… that would be enough." His grip tightened slightly. "But it wasn't.

"I saw him always trying to come onto you, and it burned me up inside. I couldn't stand the sight of him trying to flirt with you." Jonathan sighed. "I was so jealous… but… I knew that…" He swallowed uncomfortably. "If you wanted to be with him, I couldn't sabotage that."

"Jonathan."

"Yea-?" As he turned his head, his question was cut off by something soft being pressed to his lips. It was another pair of lips… April's lips. Her eyes were closed as she kissed him. Jonathan couldn't move, only stare at her in shock as she pulled back. She smiled softly at him.

"You idiot. If you loved me that much, you should have just said something." A light blush dusted her cheeks. "I love you too Jonathan. I have for years now."

"April!" Leaning forward, Jonathan captured her lips in his. A light laugh bubbled in her throat. Lifting his hands from hers, Jonathan cupped April's face, pulling her closer. April rested her hands on his bare chest. She blushed as her hands brushed along his toned body. Jonathan pulled away, staring into her eyes.

"No matter what, I'll always protect you. I'll always be there for you. If you're in pain, I'll bear it with you. If you're stressed, let it out. I'll listen. If you're worried, I'll worry for you." April smiled, nestling her head in his chest.

"I know. Thank you." Jonathan wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck with his nose.

"I love you April. So much." April's arms tightened around him.

"I love you too. I really do."