Author's Notes: Ugh, I keep forgetting to update on this site. I have way more TMNT stuff and a handful more chapters of this fic on my AO3 account (TyChou). It's just so much easier to add chapters on that site.
When Leo Met Mona
Chapter 9: A Moment in the Sun
It was a good two and a half hours to their destination and by the last hour, all the back passengers were getting restless. Mona Lisa drove the large, unmarked passenger van with white knuckles. She had a driver's license, but it had been a while since she had driven a car. Certainly nothing this big. There was definitely a learning curve too it and it slowed down their drive time considerably.
Another thing she had to be aware of: not just the size of the van but the considerable weight of the four giant turtles and one rat sitting in the back. More than once she had taken a turn too sharp and the vehicle had struggled to make the turn without tipping over or running off the road. Which of course led to a lot of back-seat comments about her driving skills. And just more negative comments in general about the whole situation. Even Leonardo was short with her once or twice.
It had taken her so long to get them to agree to this, so much negotiating and cajoling, and now she was regretting it. She was about this close to pulling over and kicking them all out on the side of the road, especially since they kept crawling around back there and messing up the balance of the van. There were bench-style seats along both sides of the van, but they weren't exactly turtle-accommodating.
"Can't you guys sit your asses down?" she complained for the third time. "We've only got like forty minutes left."
"Ugh! We're never going to get there," Michelangelo whined. "We're just sitting in the dark back here, this sucks." There were small windows, but they were heavily curtained. He had been yelled at any time he tried to peek out.
"Just take us back home," Raphael's voice grouched. "We never should have agreed to this."
"No, Raph! That's like another two hours! I want oooouuut!"
"Hold on, we're getting there!" Mona pleaded. "Just a little while longer." Jesus Chris, it was like going on a road trip with a bunch of children. And it was a lonely road trip at that. No one sat in the passenger seat with her. None of them could. It was just her stressing out about her cranky passengers the entire way.
The last twenty minutes of the drive was going over a dusty, bouncy dirt road which made her passengers even crankier and Leonardo asking her if she could slow down even more because Splinter was looking a little green under the gills. It was five-thirty in the evening, still plenty of daylight left, when they arrived to their destination. A quaint little lake house located not far from the Catskills. Mona had rented it for the whole weekend. It was the most secluded mountain spot she could find.
But before anyone in the back could be freed, Mona stepped out by herself and wandered the house. She found the hidden key left where the owner said it would be. A quick inspection of the house revealed there were no other people inside or anywhere on the property. And not another house as far as she could see, even as she looked out the windows on the second floor. It was perfect.
She opened up van's back doors to expose a nest of rancorous turtles to the sunlight.
"Coast is clear, everyone out!" she announced with relief.
The turtles were sullen as they stepped out, irritated and antsy from sitting still for so long. They stretched and grouched at each other for standing too close. Leonardo helped Splinter out and escorted him into the house.
"Can you guys please help me with the groceries?" Mona pleaded. It was the last thing she planned on asking of them for the rest of the weekend. If they could help her with this, she would leave their cranky asses alone until it was time to go home.
Being able to move and smell the fresh mountain air seemed to lighten the turtles' moods a little. They did as they were asked without complaint. There were many, many bags of groceries to carry in. Nowhere near any sort of civilization, they had to pack all the food needed for the full weekend. And keeping this family fed required more than usual.
Mona stepped in with as many bags as she could carry and found Splinter sitting in a plush recliner with Leonardo by his side.
"Can I make you some tea?" she called. "Maybe that will help."
"I will make myself some in a moment," Splinter insisted. "I like making my own. But first I would like to sit for a while and just be stationary."
"There's a really nice back porch with chairs and a view of the lake," she offered. "When you've got your tea, you might want to spend time back there."
He just nodded with a weak smile and Mona felt bad. Motion sickness for any of them was not something she anticipated. But then again, she had never seen or heard of Splinter ever leaving the lair. He was probably not used to riding in a vehicle, especially for so long.
All the groceries were left on the counter and table and that's where they stayed. Mona was left to put them all away herself as the four turtles investigated the house like a group of cats brought into a new setting. They poked around everywhere, checked every room. Looked in the closets, played with the lights, dicked around with the water in the bathrooms. Then their search extended to the outside as they wandered out both the front and back doors.
Mona had managed to put all the food away when she found them all gathered out the back of the house. There was a path from the large porch down to the modest-sized lake. All four stood on the bank, quiet and still, just staring at it.
"What is this?" Michelangelo blurted as Mona joined them.
"Uh, it's a lake?" she answered, though maybe he wasn't exactly referring to the obvious in front of them. "You know, a turtle's natural habitat?"
More than one of them made an uneasy sound and shifted around.
"You guys okay?" she pressed.
They all insisted that they were, but they were still acting weird. Even weird for them. Maybe food would help. She announced she was going to start cooking and went back inside. Soon, piles of grilled cheese sandwiches stacked up as she found a flat pan big enough to make four at a time. It was kind of like pizza, she reasoned to herself. They should like it.
Splinter sat himself at the table like a civilized person. He nibbled on his sandwich and sipped his tea. His sons, however, meandered in and out, took what they wanted, then wandered back out and continued to stare at the lake.
When she had made what she considered to be enough sandwiches for everyone, Mona took one for herself and found all four turtles munching on the bank. Some paced. Some just stood and stared. Sometimes they would go back in and then immediately come back out to the water's edge.
Mona a took a few pictures of them watching the water in the fading light. She forwarded them to April with the text: They saw the lake. They are so confused.
April's response was quick: I guess they're forever city turtles lol
Mona had tried to get April to come with them. April was a bit bummed she couldn't make it, but there was too much going on in the city. A string of arsons was something she was following closely as well as the now-established serial killer in town. One who was known for kidnapping brunettes between ages eighteen and twenty-five and then dumping their bodies.
Both of these things had kept the guys wanting to stay in town as well, but Mona insisted. She had blown all her meager savings for this trip. She would not have the turtles tell her no. She also knew that none of them liked telling her no and she had used it to her advantage. She hoped they would have a good time here. Right now they just looked...lost in their wild surroundings. But cutely so. Overwhelmed and full of wonder at the nature around them.
.
Eventually, night fell over them. The turtles remained at the lake until it was too dark to see. Donatello came in first, followed by Michelangelo. Then the other two came in. Mona spent her time with Splinter and they were both chuckling at the turtles and their obsession with the lake, but their refusal to get in it. They had spent some time chatting on the porch, then went inside when the mosquitoes came out.
Mona had finished cleaning in the kitchen then went upstairs to the bedroom she claimed as her own. The bathroom up there had a tub and she was eager to use it. She couldn't remember the last time she soaked in a bath. There was even bubble bath provided by her host. She lay in bliss, reading a book when there was a knock at the door.
Her heart picked up at the sudden intrusion. She didn't lock the bathroom door. She never had to in her own place. She sank low in the bath, peering over the side. "Yes?"
"It's me," came Leonardo's voice. "Can I come in?"
"Yes."
He stepped in and closed the door behind him, looking down at her. The bubbles did an excellent job of hiding her nudity from him, though she didn't have much left that he hadn't already seen.
"I heard you guys making a racket on every floor," she said with humor. "The house still better be in tact when I get out or I'm losing my deposit."
"The bed frames are too frail to support our weight. We had to get creative without breaking anything."
"Well I appreciate the thought. Do you need anything from me?"
"Just your company. Do you want to get out?"
"I will in a bit. A few more minutes of quiet time would be great."
"We were an absolute nightmare to drive with, weren't we?" he suddenly asked.
She laughed. "A bit, yes."
"Sorry."
He knelt down to be at her eye level and leaned in. She thought he was going to kiss her, but it was only a distraction as he reached over and pulled up the bath plug.
"Leo!" She scrambled to plug it back up, but his hand blocked hers.
"No, time to get out," he told her with authority. Then he dipped both arms into the water in attempts to lift her out.
She immediately squawked and fought back. "No, you asshat! I said give me a few minutes! At least get me a towel!"
Satisfied he had done his job, Leonardo turned to the linen closet and retrieved a towel for her. She stood as it was handed to her and she wrapped herself in it.
"There, I'm out. Now go. I'll be down as soon as I get dressed."
"Yes ma'am." The turtle turned on his heels and marched proudly out.
.
Several minutes later, Mona came down the stairs dressed in warm sleep clothes. Even though the summer heat was upon them, it was a little chilly up here at night. She paused at the base of the stairs when she saw the absolute chaos that had unraveled in the living room. All the furniture had been pushed to the wall to make room for the several mattresses and blankets that had been set up in the center.
"Oh, you guys made a nest," she said, trying to sound supportive, but the tone was failing.
Michelangelo currently sat in the midst of it accompanied by a collection of snacks. "Mmhm, very comfy." He patted the spot next to him in invitation.
Carefully, she made her way over to him. "Everything better go back to exactly where it was before we leave. I mean everything."
"No worries, Doll, we'll fix it," he assured her.
"I know exactly which mattress goes where," Donatello said as he walked in. "Everything will be as it was."
"Movie time, guys," Leonardo announced as he and Raphael walked in with several bowls of popcorn.
So that was why he had been so insistent she get out. They were waiting for her.
Splinter sat himself on the recliner and looked quite comfortable. The turtles curled up on the floor among the collection of mattresses, pillows and blankets. Even then, it was a tight fit for all the long, large bodies in the modest-sized room. Leonardo stretched out on his side, propped up on an elbow while Mona used his stomach as a back rest. One of her legs was propped up by Donatello's while Michelangelo used her thigh as a pillow.
They were all snug as bugs and Mona drifted off before the movie was even half way over. She was roused when the movie ended and the turtles began moving around.
"You must have been tired," Leonardo said. He remained on his side, now curling lazily around her.
"Oh yeah," she agreed. Both the drive and the stress of the drive had taken it out of her. "I think I'm going to go to bed."
"Bed's right here," he murmured. "Stay."
She wriggled out of his hold. "Are you trying to rob me of the opportunity to sleep in a bed to myself that isn't a mattress on the floor?"
At that point, all four brothers seemed to get the hint that Mona had had enough of turtles for one day.
"Of course you can go," Raphael said. "You look beat. Go get some rest."
She nodded at all of them. "You have permission to have fun without me. Good night." And with that, she trundled up the stairs and all the mutants below left her alone for the night.
.
It was a little past one in the morning when Mona woke up feeling queasy. She shivered and ached, her stomach in painful knots. She carried herself to the second-floor bathroom to get some water and ended up heaving into the toilet. After a drink, she threw up again and sat there on the bathroom floor, panting and miserable.
Was it something she ate? Was it the stress? All she knew was that she felt like shit and it was so unfair this was happening now. She came out here to have a good, relaxing time. This was the first vacation of her adult life and her stupid body was ruining it. At least she hadn't seemed to have woken up any of the ground-level guests.
She remained shivering on the bathroom floor until she was certain she did not need to vomit again. Then she dragged herself back to bed and tried to sleep.
.
It was warm and sunny by the time she awoke. She still felt a little shivery, but much better than the night before. Still in pajamas, she carefully made her way downstairs to find the living room in even more disarray than the night before, but it was also empty. It smelled like tea had been made and there was evidence that the cupboards were raided for breakfast. But no one else seemed to be in the house.
Mona wandered out to the back door and found the porch to be empty as well. She slipped on some sneakers and walked down the path to the lake. At first glance, it also seemed unoccupied. But there on the bank she found four piles of ninja gear and clothes. Some had been dropped where the owners stood while others had been neatly folded.
Then, as she stared out at the quiet lake, the serene surface was cut by a large, floundering turtle. Michelangelo? She thought it was, but wasn't entirely sure as another turtle body surfaced and then dragged him back under with a startled cry. It was silent for a moment and then more turtle bodies popped up. Splashing, flailing, whooping sounds of happiness.
They were playing. The four turtle brothers were playing in the lake. Exploring and frolicking in the murky water as only those of their kind could do. Seeing them play stoked such a warm fire in her chest, she forgot her shivers for a moment. This was what she wanted for them. She wanted them to have a moment in the sun where they could be free. Where they could be what they were. It brought her more joy than she was prepared for and she let out a shaky breath that almost threatened tears.
Motion in the corner of her eye caught her attention and she jerked her head around, afraid it was a stranger. Splinter came walking in from the weeds and joined her on the beach.
"Ah, you're awake. You must have been tired," he greeted.
"Yeah, I guess yesterday took a lot out of me. Have you noticed how cute your sons are being right now?"
Splinter gave the splashing chaos a warm smile. "Yes, they are having quite a good time. It warms my heart to see them this happy."
"Mine, too," she agreed.
"You did all this for them, didn't you?"
"Yes. I had to strong-arm all of you with your bitching and moaning the whole way to get you here, but I did it for them. I had a feeling they would like it."
"You love my sons very much. I can see that."
She didn't know how to answer that, so she just kept smiling.
"If you don't mind," Splinter then said, "now that I've had a nice walk around the lake, I think I will meditate for a time. I have always wanted to take a deep meditation out in nature. I won't be too far. My sons should be able to find me if they need anything."
"Okay, I'll let them know. Have fun." Mona laughed at herself at the last part. She wasn't sure if meditation was supposed to be fun or not.
For a while longer, she stood on the bank and watched the turtles breach the surface now and again, though much of their antics remained deep in the water. But it wasn't too long until her body reminded her it had been sick the night before and it still wanted some rest.
Back inside she went to clean up the kitchen and then left a note on the counter with instructions on what they could eat for lunch. Mona tried to eat a bit of toast herself, but her stomach still wasn't having it. Exhausted and shaky, she went back to bed and fell asleep.
.
She woke up later in the afternoon, groggy and having no idea what time it was. Though she felt a lot better. The shakes were practically gone and her appetite had returned. She trundled downstairs, her hair a wild nest and her not giving two shits about it. Not that it mattered. Once again, no one was in the house. More evidence in the kitchen that it had once again been raided. Though she appreciated that this time there had been effort to clean up after themselves.
Mona managed to get down some fruit and a whole piece of toast. Chasing it down with a full glass of water, she felt much better. Not yet one hundred percent, but well enough to go out and mingle. But she knew if she went out, she would get an invite to go in the lake. She wasn't quite up for that yet. They would for sure ask her why she didn't feel like swimming and she didn't want to give an answer. So she came up with a strategy.
Forty minutes later, Mona stepped out in a beautiful white and flower print sun dress, her hair pulled up with ringlets framing her face. A light shimmer of makeup finished the look. She walked barefoot down to the beach and padded along the long pier before sitting herself down on the edge, toes in the water.
Far out the middle of the lake was another pier, free-floating and much smaller. Upon it lay four giant reptiles, doing their best to fit together. Sunning themselves like big crocodiles. Leonardo stretched out on his stomach, arms folded under his chin. Raphael lay back on his shell, plastron to the sun. His feet hung in the water while he used Leonardo's leg as a pillow. Donatello was draped over Leonardo's shell while Michelangelo sat on the edge, legs in the water and face turned blissfully to the sky.
They were beautiful and free and in a place they were meant to be. Not in a dark sewer, hardly ever seeing the sky. And only at night. How was that a way to live? If she had all the money in the world, she would buy them a place like this in a heartbeat. Left to nature to play in the water and sun themselves every day. She too leaned back and let the sun warm her skin. It felt good. She didn't get out much either. The sun was good for all of them.
She opened her eyes when she heard a muffled splash and found the pier in the distance to be suddenly empty. For a while, the lake surface was still. Then, four shells curved out of the water, making a beeline straight for her. She continued to lean back on her palms, watching their approach. Four large bodies emerged from the lake like ancient water gods, wet biceps and thighs glistening in the sun.
"Well, ain't you pretty as a picture," Raphael said as he hauled himself up on the pier.
"Thanks," Mona responded, squinting at him in the sun.
"Very cute," Michelangelo agreed. "But you're not going to swim with us?"
"Mmm, not today. Been feeling a bit worn out. Maybe tomorrow."
Donatello squinted at her, trying to get a good look. He had left his glasses on the beach with all of their clothes. None of them had a stitch of clothing on them as the tallest brother stretched himself out on his stomach next to her. Leonardo walked up from behind, dripping water as he went, and sat himself on the other side of her, letting his legs dangle in the water. He was giving her an absolutely gorgeous view of those thighs that she loved and that he didn't show her nearly enough.
Behind them, the other two brothers lay themselves out on the dock to continue basking.
"Been having a good day?" Mona asked Leonardo.
He breathed in deep, enjoying the sun. The most relaxed she had ever seen him. "We have been. How about you? You slept so long. Are you feeling okay?"
"I think I was mostly just worn out. Had a lot going on lately and I've been pushing it pretty hard. It was nice to take it easy and nap all I wanted."
Next to her, Donatello shifted as he tried to scratch at the nape of his neck right under the lip of his shell. Mona obliged him, using her longer nails to get that itch just right. Donatello practically purred. Even more so when she began to absently run her nails over his shell.
Leonardo watched her, making a noise of disapproval. She rolled her eyes in humor and ran her nails up and down his arm and then across the back of his neck. He shuddered and practically arched into it—as much as a turtle was capable of arching—as her nails then moved to run up and down his shell also. Now she had two turtles making deep, happy rumbles.
A grunt sounded from behind them as Raphael pulled himself to his feet. His bulk blocked out the sun as he stood over them. Mona wasn't sure what he wanted until he put a foot solidly on Leonardo's shell and pushed him into the water. Leonardo made a comical squawk of surprise as he fell in and popped right back up to smirk at his brother.
"Envy's a bad color on you, Raph."
"Green's a good color on everyone," Raphael shot back and jumped in after him.
Mona made a horrified gasp and braced herself for the back splash on her brand new dress. But Donatello was right there. He curled around her, blocking her from the worst of the water with his shell. Always there next to her. Her silent guardian protecting her from anything, be it weapons or water.
She quickly popped up and scampered down the pier toward land before her dress was put in further danger.
"Great going, guys. She's leaving," Michelangelo admonished.
"You can keep playing," she called back at them. "I just don't want to get wet today."
Donatello stood up and followed her, retrieving his glasses as he went. In his wake, Michelangelo did the same.
"Hey, where are you going?" Raphael called.
"Uh, after the pretty girl in the dress, duh," Michelangelo called back. He looked specifically at Leonardo. "She's your girlfriend, dude. Donnie's gonna steal her right out from under your nose if you're sleeping on an opportunity like this."
"Pft, no he's not," Leonardo scoffed from the water. He frowned at Raphael's knowing look. "No, he's not," he insisted again.
"Don't tell me," Raph shot back. "You're the one out here while they're going in there." He nodded at his two brothers following Mona Lisa back to the house.
Leonardo sank in the water until only his eyes and the top of his head was visible as he weighed his options. He liked being in the water, but he also liked being with his girlfriend. And she was very pretty in that dress. He would like to see her again. He would like to follow her. But not because he was worried one of his brothers would steal her from him if he didn't go.
"Fine, we'll all go in, you stubborn ass," Raphael huffed as he stomped up onto the beach. He muttered to himself as he skulked up the path to the house.
Only then did Leonardo get out himself.
The two large turtles dripped water as they went. Michelangelo had just finished rinsing off his muddy feet before going inside and the remaining two did the same.
"Well, look, a whole pack of wild turtles just followed me in," Mona joked as now all four turtles were in the house. "Had enough of the lake?"
They really hadn't. None of the turtles were done sitting in the murky water. They had only spent half a day there and already, the house felt like an unnatural habitat. It was a strange feeling.
The back door opened again, and Splinter stepped inside.
"Ah, you managed to retrieve all of my sons," Splinter said as he walked among them to the kitchen area. "How did you manage that? I couldn't get them to even give me their attention."
Mona shrugged, but Michelangelo pointed to her. "Pretty dress," was all he said.
"Pretty dress," Donatello agreed.
She snorted at them. "Are you hungry, Splinter?" she then asked. "I've got stuff for sandwiches."
"Some water first," the old rat said as he moved to the fridge. "It's very warm outside. I'm used to the temperature in our lair."
"It is definitely warm outside," she agreed.
"Warm enough to get in the water," Leonardo said to her with a raise of his brow.
Splinter poured himself a cup of water as he looked at Leonardo. Then the rest of his naked sons. "Is this appropriate attire for our guest?"
The boys shrugged.
"I don't mind," Mona replied as she grabbed some crackers from the cabinet. "As long as no one's got their dicks hanging out, there's no problem."
A few snorts sounded through the kitchen while Splinter looked absolutely offended by that comment. Raphael turned around, his face changing colors.
"You okay, Raph?" Michelangelo teased with a grin.
Raphael waved him off. "I'm fine." He was fighting for his life to not burst out laughing. Splinter would beat his ass.
Leonardo also didn't look pleased while he gave his girlfriend a "why would you say that?" gesture while she gave him the biggest face-splitting grin. His response was to gesture her to him and she obeyed with a smirk. He smirked back, openly eyed her up and down before taking her wrist. The rest of his family continued joking and chatting as Leonardo led her through the living room. He grabbed a folded blanket draped over the back of an arm chair before heading out the door.
"Where are we going?" asked Mona in an amused tone as they continued down the porch steps.
"Some place quiet," was the response as Leonardo turned off the path.
"Ooh, let me get some shoes on first." Mona turned around, but Leonardo would not release her. He pulled her back and dipped down. She squeaked as he effortlessly picked her up by the thighs and continued on his way through the weeds and wild grass.
"Do I even weigh anything to you?" she marveled in a quiet voice.
"Not much," came the casual reply.
She was trying to come up with a response when the door slammed shut and Michelangelo stepped out on the porch.
"Hey, where are you guys going?"
Mona couldn't see the look Leonardo gave his brother. Whatever it was, it send Michelangelo right back into the house.
She snorted. "May I ask what your intentions are, good sir?"
The huskiness in his voice sent a blush to her cheeks. "I want a better look at you in that dress."
.
It seemed that what Leonardo had meant to say was that he wanted to look at her in a state of dishevelment while in that dress. It was the most feminine thing she had ever worn for him and he had been torn between the idea of having her keep it on, or her letting him remove it.
He had settled for a compromise of letting it fall off her shoulders while he gave attention to her breasts and neck. Then he let her keep it on as he lay back and guided her to sit on his face. A new position for them. She wasn't sure if she should put her whole weight on him, but Leonardo's hands on her thighs and hips kept her pressed firmly against his mouth. His head and shoulders were covered completely by her skirt, her panties still caught on one ankle.
She couldn't see what he was doing, but she could feel it. Hyper-aware of every little thing he did. His thick fingers, his wide warm tongue. It didn't take long before he had her panting on top of him, trying to keep herself propped up on shaky arms. It took all her willpower not to grind into his face as she chased her high.
"God! Ah! Leo!" She cried in breathy whispers. Though they were out in the woods, she had no idea how well sound would carry to the lake house. They were out of sight, but not that far away. She didn't dare make too much noise. Though Leonardo seemed to be making it his mission to give her a tough time of keeping quiet.
Her desperate whimpers sent a deep, pleased rumble vibrating through his chest. He seemed absolutely content to be suffocated by her as her thighs trembled and clutched his head. As release crested through her, he grabbed her tight, slamming her down as she felt his tongue spear into her depths, tasting her pleasure. Short, soft cries escaped her throat as she rode it through.
He did not let her go until it was over. Only then was she allowed to climb off him. He sat up and wiped his face on his arm, but still eyeballing her like he was thinking about going back in for a second helping.
"You look very pleased with yourself," she said as she pulled the dress back up over her shoulders.
He put his arms around her, pulling her against his firm plastron before leaning back against a tree. "And you have this absolutely arousing flush on you right now," he murmured as if he had gotten drunk on the essence of her. He nuzzled her neck, then moved down to the valley of her breasts. "I want to taste it on you." His tongue found the hollow of her throat and lapped up to her chin.
Mona shivered at the sensation, while simultaneously finding it amusing that he had just licked her. She pulled back to get some distance from that tongue on her skin, but then dove back in to kiss him. Full, hot, open-mouth kisses. Letting the tip of her tongue touch his and he groaned in response.
Leonardo tried to take charge, but she gently pressed him back against the tree, signaling it was her turn to do some exploring. That deep-chested purring returned as she kissed and nipped her away along his jaw and neck. Any extra grunt or arch she could pull from him was a bonus. He full-on shivered as she ran her nails up and down his arms and over his shoulders. Then down his plastron as she followed with sweet kisses.
Where he had been in bliss before, Leonardo shifted self-consciously as she continued lower. But her mouth on the inside of one delicious exposed thigh pulled a hissing noise from him. His hips bucked, his legs trembled. She did the same to the other one, sucking on the rough skin, but not hard enough to leave a mark.
"Sweetheart," he panted. The cute pet names always came out when she got him trembling.
She looked up from between his thighs, tapping the bottom lip of his plastron. "Leo." She always had to ask—practically order—before he would grant her all of him. Before, it had always been with the lights off at Leonardo's insistence. There was no turning the lights off out here in the middle of the afternoon.
"You don't have to..." he tried.
She reached up to slide her nails along the exposed skin of his sides, all the way down his thighs. His head rolled back, eyes shut in bliss as he groaned.
"I swear, you like it that I have to practically beg you," she accused.
"I really don't. I just..." He looked away. He never could look at her as he let the full length of his engorged erection slide out from his shell.
She leaned into him, propped herself up on his chest. Purposefully letting the length of him rub against her thigh. A soft, sweet kiss landed on the side of his mouth and his electric blue eyes turned her way.
"You are so, so cute," she cooed. "Haven't you figured out by now that everything about you just makes me love you more?"
He gave her a self-conscious smile, then kissed her soundly. He pulled away with a groan as her hand found him and pumped his full length. Seeing it out in the light of day certainly was different. She could see the color of the deep purple diamond shaped head, as well as the full shape of the soft raised ridge. When she ran her thumb around it, Leonardo practically vibrated off the ground. The soft, desperate squeaks he made would keep her warm on nights when all she had was the memory of him.
Her hands were dwarfed by the size of him as she continued to pump him firm and slow. He had not been exaggerating when he told her he was afraid that they wouldn't fit, that he might hurt her. With a braver, more experienced partner, they could have worked their way up to it. But Mona was not that brave yet. She wished she was. She wished part of his hesitance wasn't because she was also holding back with them becoming one physically in every way. But she wasn't there yet and Leonardo had never asked anything more from her. The least she could do was make sure he was physically satisfied in whatever way she knew how.
The tip of her tongue explored him and he groaned, bunching the blanket in his fists. It was difficult to even fit him in her mouth, so she instead opted to lick the underside of his length and was rewarded with another sound of pleasure.
"Wait, what's that?" Mona suddenly stopped when she saw something else. Something she had never noticed in the dark before.
Leonardo opened his eyes to find her staring hard between his thighs.
"Is that...do you have a tail?"
If turtles could blush, he would have turned fifty shades of the darkest red. "Uh, that's...don't!"
But Mona was already touching it. It was thick and short, slightly curled at the end.
"It's cute," she grinned at him.
He was frozen in place, absolutely horrified she found his secret.
"You're looking very traumatized, Leonardo. Do you need a minute?"
He cleared his throat with a deep voice, trying to get back all his lost bravado. "Yeah, no. I'm fine. I just...never had anyone touch it before. I barely touch it."
She gave him an impish grin. "Prepare yourself. I'm going to touch it again."
He didn't protest, but his whole body went rigid. Mona was loving it. Something about him being so vulnerable was like blood for a shark. She had to sniff it out. She had to gently push that boundary as far as he would let her. Another touch of the tail made him jerk, but he held fast. Mona had secretly researched the anatomy of turtles when Leonardo had first gotten squirrely about intimacy. She had learned that male turtles kept their genitals in their tails. This wasn't the case for Leonardo's mutated body, but it had probably been the truth about his form prior to his mutation. The tail even had what remained of a small slit at the base of it.
Of course she had to investigate that. Her finger pressed in and Leonardo let out a cry of surprise so loud she had to slap her hand over his mouth.
"Shhh!" she hissed. "You are always so loud."
His brows furrowed in irritation as he let out a muffled argument against her hand.
"Yes you are," she retorted as she freed his mouth. "I have recordings on my phone to prove it."
He didn't respond at first, only frowned. He was supposed to be a ninja. Silent as a shadow. Being told he was too loud at anything hurt his pride.
"You don't have to gag me," he pouted.
She raised a brow in challenge. "We'll see about that."
Her fingers pressed into the base of the tail and Leonardo's eyes slammed shut, his throat clenching against and absolute keen of pleasure. It was the sexiest sound she had ever heard from him. A firm rub of his tail and Leonardo arched into it. A sound akin to a sob escaped him. Was he aware of how absolutely fucking hot he was? How much it wildly turned her on to see him so reactive to her touch?
Her free hand went back to stroking his length as she continued to prod that little slit with a finger. Leonardo didn't last. A desperate cry escaped his mouth and Mona had to silence him again. He looked so surprised, as if he hadn't expected to lose control like that.
"I told you," she said with amusement. "Do you want me to stop?"
Wide-eyed, he shook his head back and forth so desperately, it was almost funny. If it wasn't so fucking sexy.
"Then help me." she took one of his hands and wrapped it around his own erection.
Leonardo immediately looked offended as the green of his face darkened—the only kind of blush his body could muster. "You want me to..."
"Like you never have done it to yourself before?" Mona challenged. "I've only got two hands here. Plus, it's hot. Show me how you like it. I want to see."
He gave her a look. Then stroked himself while continuing eye contact. He saw her bite her lip as she watched him. She leaned in to kiss his mouth and then covered it again with her hand. She went back to fingering his tail and his eyes immediately shut with a deep, long moan. The hand around his erection twitched and he jerked himself roughly. Rougher than Mona had ever touched him. That was intriguing.
"Keep going, baby," she whispered. "You look so good this way." Her fingers pressed in more and sharp whimpers keened in his throat. It didn't take long and he was already almost there. "But don't you dare get anything on this dress. I paid good money for this."
He panted out a laugh between her fingers, but didn't stop. He was on the tail of that high and it was coming in fast. He stroked himself faster, harder, neck arching back and eyes shut tight. He was focused only on the sensation. He, the one who was always in the lead, the one who always had to be in control, relinquished himself to her every time. He, who could dominate her whenever he wanted without effort, would put his body in her hands, and she was happy to play him like a well-tuned instrument.
She saw the stress of his position. She could see how he was a tightly coiled spring, wrapping himself tighter. He needed this. He needed a safe outlet to let go and give up control. He needed to be absolutely wrecked from time to time, which was why he was always so loud when she was the one taking over. And he was just as loud now as Mona pressed a second finger into the pseudo slit of his tail. Muffled cries vibrated through her hand, the pitch rising with each panting whimper. His hips jerked, his back arched.
He ripped away from her, rolling over as an orgasm ripped through him. Propped up on one shaky elbow, he continued to stroke himself as he spilled into the wild grass, spurt after spurt. Mona fully expected him to then flop bonelessly on the blanket and rest after a job well done. But the second he was finished, he eyed her with bright, predatory eyes. He was through with giving her control.
Yet, as he took over, his dominant side was patient and gentle. He did not ask as he slipped her dress from her body and lay her out under him completely nude. There, he adored her body with kisses and nuzzles; tasting her, planting his scent all over her as he rubbed his body against hers.
He propped his weight on an elbow as she traced his face in the sun. "Without your mask, you kind of remind me of a dragon," she mused as her fingers explored his features.
Leonardo only rumbled and clicked back in response as he went back to nuzzling her. It was as if she had fucked the English vocabulary right out of him. His cuddling eventually evolved into him rubbing his whole body over her until he was rutting his hardening length against her thigh. It was a poor substitution to the actual act of pumping inside a warm body like his instincts wanted, but it was satisfying enough.
Mona found she actually liked it when he did this. She liked feeling his weight; the strength of him as his muscles moved. She didn't mind when he used her body for his pleasure. He was quieter like this. When he was in control, he would make soft, sweet sounds of bliss in her ear. His fingers would lovingly caress her, or he would press her palm to his plastron, right above his heart. This was how he made love to her in his own way.
After he found his pleasure, he always made sure she received hers. His hand slipped between her thighs, massaging her as he watched her face. Watched her body arch beautifully for him. A thick finger slid inside.
"Leo! Yes!" she hissed as clutched him and pressed her face to his neck.
He slowly, methodically worked her over until she came, her whole body trembling. Then he kissed her trembles away and soothed her muscles with a firm, massaging hand. Then the two lay together, dappled by the sunlight filtering through the trees. Their own momentary Eden.
.
"What are we doing for dinner?" Raphael asked as the damp turtle once again came in from being out in the lake.
"Getting hungry?" Mona asked from where she had been conversing with Splinter in the messy nest of a living room.
"Always hungry," Michelangelo said as he followed his brother in.
"Well, hang onto your shells boys, because we're making pizzas tonight."
Michelangelo blinked at her. "Making pizza? You can do that?"
"Of course you can do that. Aren't you the one that cooks?"
"Not pizza! Pizza comes to me. I don't have to make it."
"This time, we are making the pizza. You can have it your way, any way you like."
His eyes widened. "Oh hell yeah. I like my pizza like I like my women—"
"Don't finish that sentence," Raphael cut him off.
"I'll start getting things ready," Mona said as she stood and smoothed her skirt down her thighs. "Give me about a half hour and we can start putting them together."
"Will do!" Michelangelo replied and happily walked back out the door.
Mona went into the kitchen and began to go through the fridge. She pulled back out and startled at Raphael's massive form standing before her.
"Oh, hey. Did you need something?"
"Nah, I came to help ya."
She blinked at him. "You did?"
"Yeah. Uh...unless you prefer I do it with pants on? I can make that happen."
She grinned. "This is a pants optional weekend, I think. And I would love help rolling out all this pizza dough."
He gave her that sideways smile as he leaned an elbow on the counter. A kind of playful crooked, smirk that none of his brothers could do. If he ever got himself a girlfriend, he was going to get his way every time with that smirk. "Yeah, I can do that."
"Fantastic! Just give me a second to get things started."
Raphael watched her as she unwrapped one of several large balls of dough and began dividing it up into smaller pieces.
"Hey, so, I don't know what you did to Leo—and I'm not asking for details—but I thought you'd like to know that he's been humming 'Brown Eyed Girl' all afternoon."
Mona Lisa snorted out a very unladylike laugh. It had nearly turned into a cackle when she was finished. "That's adorable! I love that fucking dork so much!"
Now it was Raphael's turn to snort. He had never heard anyone refer to The Favorite Son, Ninja Perfectionist as a fucking dork before. It kept him secretly amused the rest of the night.
.
It was a great time, gathering the whole family into the small kitchen while they all made pizza together. The massive turtle bodies ate up all the space, but it was a very comfortable, closed atmosphere. Plenty of jokes and laughter and experimenting with toppings. If it existed somewhere in the kitchen, one of the turtles had put it on their pizza either as a dare or from their own curiosity to try it.
As it grew dark, they made their way outside to make use of the fire pit. Mona gave them another surprise as she brought out all the fixings for S'mores. Just the mention of the word sent child-like wonder through the faces of all four brothers. They had heard about it, but never made such a thing. Mona had to show them how to cook the marshmallows and put it all together because they legitimately weren't sure exactly what S'mores were. As soon as all secrets were revealed, many marshmallows were roasted—some golden brown, some charred black. Everyone's hands and faces were sticky with sugar. The boys absolutely loved all of it and their joy gave Mona a fullness in her heart. It strangely felt like home and she basked in it.
When enough treats were consumed, Michelangelo planted himself firmly on the ground at Mona's feet, shell facing her, and then glanced at her with a "Can you?"
"Hm?" she asked, unsure what he wanted.
"Scratch my shell? I want to see what it feels like."
"Don't you have your own girlfriend for that?" Raphael cut in. "Ask her to scratch it."
"She bites her nails," Michelangelo pouted, indicating that it was something he had thought to ask her before. "They're too short."
Raphael just snorted.
"When are we going to meet her?" Splinter then asked. "You always have such wonderful things to say. You know she is welcome any time."
"Yeah, I know." He fiddled with a blade of grass. "It's just...we're still figuring things out, too. I don't want to screw this up, you know? I don't want to throw too much at her too soon."
"It's okay to take it slow," Leonardo spoke up. "You move at your own pace. Don't let us tell you how it should be."
Michelangelo looked at his brother and smiled. He finally had an understanding as to why Leonardo had kept Mona Lisa from them for so long. He didn't enjoy keeping his new love from his family, but there was an anxiety that came with the idea of showing her everything about him. What if it was too much? What if it overwhelmed her and she never wanted to go back? He didn't know if he could take Kala's rejection after falling so hard for her.
"I think she can handle it," Mona said confidently. "Just keep talking to her. Ask her how she feels. Ask her what she's ready for. She's probably been dying to meet your family, but she's been waiting for you. Speaking from personal experience."
She glanced at Leonardo who ducked his gaze away, a small smile on his face. If he had done it all again, he definitely would have brought her home sooner. Everything was better when he let her fully into his world.
"Yeah, I guess," Michelangelo said. "I'll work on that."
"Alright then," Mona Lisa announced as she made a big show of rolling up invisible sleeves. "Prepare to get your world rocked."
Then, out came the nails. Mona considered this a soft, but petty revenge for Kala eyeballing her that night they had met. Acting territorial when Mona had done everything in her power to show she was not a romantic rival for Michelangelo's affection. Now, she was going to be forever emblazoned in the smallest brother's memory because Mona liked to keep her nails long. Specifically for turtle scratches.
Michelangelo stiffened as she did not go directly to the shell. First, she raked her fingers up and down his biceps and then across his clavicle.
"Oh my God," Michelangelo blurted, his voice taking on a thick tone. He was absolutely frozen in place, as if afraid if he moved even a muscle she would stop.
"Mmhm," Mona said knowingly as she then scratched along his shoulders and the back of his neck before finally getting to the shell.
"Holy shit," Michelangelo whispered as she gave him full-on shell scratches.
"Oh yeah. I've gotten pretty good at this." She winked at Leonardo. "I get lots of practice."
Leonardo, however, was not looking pleased. Michelangelo seemed to be enjoying this a little too much. When a particularly aroused moan came from him, Leonardo stood up.
"Okay, you're done."
"What? But Leo!"
"Get up. Go." He pointed to a seat on the opposite side of the fire pit.
With a dramatic sound, Michelangelo flounced off to where he was told. He plopped down next to Donatello and said. "Dude, that was awesome. I almost came in my shell."
Donatello wrinkled his nose. "I did not need to know that."
Mona must have heard because she busted out laughing. Then immediately stopped. Hand to her face, she quickly retreated up to the house.
"Hey, what happened?" Leonardo called.
"I'll be right back," came the response.
"Are you okay?"
"I said I'll be right back!"
As she hurried through the door, she almost ran into Raphael as he was making his way out. In the house lights, he could see the red blood seeping through her fingers.
"Woah, did you get hurt?"
"No, I'm fine. Don't worry about it." She whisked past him and to the nearest bathroom.
Raphael followed and followed, standing in the doorway of the bathroom while she leaned over the sink and let the blood freely drip from her nose.
"What happened?"
"Nothing. My nose just randomly started bleeding." She grabbed some toilet paper to stop the flow, careful to keep it off her dress.
"Is that normal?"
"It has been lately. I've had a couple random bloody noses the past few weeks."
"And before then?"
"It's not something that's happened before. Maybe it's been an unnaturally dry summer."
Raphael frowned and stepped into her space. "Let me see."
She waved him away with one hand while the other plugged her nose. "No, thank you. I don't need your help. This is a one-person job." Behind him, Leonardo appeared. "Same for you. I don't need any turtle assistants for this." When even Donatello peered over his brother's head, her voice rose an octave. "How many of you are out there? I don't need help! Thank you!"
She forced them all to back up and shut the bathroom door in their faces. All four brothers reconvened in the living room. They refused to go back outside until they saw her again.
"Man, she will not be helped, will she?" Raphael asked.
"No, she will not," Leonardo said with a frown. His arms crossed over his chest and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other in agitation. He did not like being locked out.
"What do you do for a girl like that?"
Leonardo stopped shifting at the surprising question. "Just...be around in case she needs me, I guess."
"Be around," Raphael repeated thoughtfully. "Though we can barely do that much."
"I feel like you're trying to make a point, but I'm not sure what it is."
Raphael shrugged his wide shoulders. "I just...if I had a person I felt that strongly about, I'd wanna be with them all the time. But we can't. And I'd want to take care of them. But I can't. I'd want to be everything they needed. I'd want to build a life for us together. I'd want to give them everything. But we can't do any of that stuff. We can barely 'be around.' How do you deal with that?"
Leonardo was quietly frowning. It was clear Raphael had perfectly voiced something that weighed on him.
"How do you deal with it, bro?" Michelangelo asked quietly. From his reaction, it seemed Raphael had brought up a lot of things he had yet to consider with his blossoming new relationship.
Leonardo's expression softened as he realized both his brothers' questions had come from a sincere place. "You just do the best you can and hope it's enough."
Raphael let out a long breath. "It seems like it's more heartbreak than it's worth."
"You might meet someone one day that makes you feel differently."
Raphael wasn't sure. He liked the idea of love, but it seemed like a very abstract thing. Something that only existed in daydreams, like magic and dragons. It hadn't ever made sense in his world until Leonardo revealed that he had this person who loved him. And Raphael had seen first hand how that love had changed his brother. The idea that it could exist was terrifying and eye-opening. And Raphael struggled with the mere idea of it more than he cared to admit.
"Okay, bro, you know best."
.
They all eventually put out the fire and collected in the living room. A movie was put on as Splinter settled in the recliner and the giant turtles found comfortable spots in their make-shift nest of blankets and pillows. Mona Lisa curled up against Leonardo's side and fell asleep before the movie was even half over.
"Man, she is out," Michelangelo said as he touched her arm.
Leonardo slapped him away, but then carefully felt her neck and forehead. "Did she seem okay to you guys today? She looked a little under the weather this morning."
"Her scent has changed," Splinter's voice spoke up, causing all four turtles to look at him.
"What does that mean?" Donatello asked.
"I'm not sure. But she does not smell the same as she used to."
"Like how dogs can sniff out cancer?" Michelangelo said.
Leonardo looked pissed and held her tighter against him. "Shut up. She does not have cancer."
Michelangelo took a beat, surprised at his brother's response. "I know. Sorry, I didn't mean to imply anything. I'm just saying stuff."
Leonardo settled slightly and the conversation was dropped. But he continued to hold her close, and all through the night, Mona slept like the dead.
.
The next morning, Mona awoke to the sun shining through the windows and her pjs damp with sweat. It was definitely a hot, summer morning. She had been left in the living room alone to sleep, but all the blankets and pillows had been tucked in around her as if they had been trying to store her for winter. It left her skin unable to breathe as the summer warmth slowly baked her alive.
Feeling gross, she padded over to the kitchen to find it had already been ransacked by a band of turtles. This was their last day at the lake so food rations were growing thin. Still, she found enough to eat and then went upstairs to change.
Today, she too was going to live at the lake, she decided, and changed into the bright pink bikini she had packed. Upon inspecting herself the mirror, she noticed a rash on her back down by her hip.
"Shit," she hissed as she inspected it. It wasn't as bad as some of the others she had, but it would definitely be noticed. There was no covering it up with this tiny bathing suit. And she had purposefully not packed her one-piece to make sure she wouldn't chicken out of wearing her bikini.
"Of course. That's just my luck." She sighed at her reflection. And then she decided: fuck it. She was going out. This was her vacation, too.
Taking a towel with her, she stepped out onto the back porch and welcomed the summer heat. It would get even warmer before the day was through. Perfect weather to spend in the water. Slathered in sun block, she walked herself to the end of the pier and looked out at the water. The surface was perfectly serene. But she knew it wasn't empty. Within the murky water lurked four massive turtle forms; gods of their domain. And the thought made her smile.
For a second she indulged her imagination, changing her surroundings to a fantastical kingdom where the lake was inhabited by magical beings. The people would bring offerings to the lake and pray for luck from their turtle gods. Let their children bathe in the mystical waters to bring them good health as they grew.
And if a heartbroken princess were to steal out into the night and cry at the water's edge, she may see the gods themselves step from the water in all their glory. They would go to her, pull her into their strong arms. They would wipe her tears away and kiss her soundly. Then they would slowly, methodically ravage her upon the beach beneath the moonlight until her heart was healed and she was begging for more.
All four of them? Her mind paused to wonder. Sure, why not. In this fantasy it's all four of them. Then she snorted to herself for both the fantasy and finding it incredibly hot. She, too, was a huge dork and would be keeping that thought to herself for the rest of her days.
Smirking, she dove from the pier into the water, and immediately popped back up with a gasp. Despite the heat of the day, the water was still cool enough to take her breath away. She took a moment to acclimate, then began to swim for the free-floating pier in the middle of the lake. She took her time, swimming an easy breast stroke. No hurry to reach her destination. Once or twice, she thought she saw the curve of a shell crest the water in the distance. Maybe they saw her. Maybe they were too busy being turtles to notice her. She liked to imagine the gods of the lake would be aware of anything that entered their enchanted domain.
Admittedly, reaching the pier took longer than she thought it would. She was a bit winded when she finally made it and had to take a moment to rest before she could heft herself out of the water.
"Here, lemme help ya." Raphael said as he appeared. Wide hands gripped her hips and effortlessly hefted her up on the pier. "What's that on your ass?"
Of course he noticed her rash right away.
"There is nothing on my ass! Stop looking!" she fired back and quickly turned her backside away from him as soon as she was out of the water.
With a smirk, he disappeared back under the surface. For a while, Mona was left alone to rest as the sun warmed her body. She leaned back on her palms, toes in the water and face to the sky. Then she heard a splash and felt the rock of the pier as a large, heavy body pulled himself out of the lake.
"You came to join us today," Leonardo's voice sounded.
"I did," she agreed as he sat himself next to her.
"You slept hard last night. Do you feel okay?"
Admittedly, her first reaction to the question was irritation. She didn't particularly enjoy it when he tried to coddle her. Not that he did it too often. But she also had to admit that she was a bit under the weather the day before and it was a perfectly reasonable question.
"Yeah, I feel really good. All that sleep is what I've been needing. I think I had been spreading myself thinner than I realized."
"It's because of your job. Your boss is always calling; asking for things even when you're not working."
"It's fine. Dr. Falco is just one of those eccentric rich guys that likes to have things done when he wants them done. He's always been very nice about it and he's always compensated me for my time. That money is what paid for this trip. And he was completely understanding when I told him I would be out of town this weekend. He hasn't called me once."
Before Leonardo could reply, Michelangelo and Donatello pulled themselves up on the pier.
"Nice to see you up and about, Doll," Michelangelo greeted. "You can meet Donnie's new girlfriend."
"What?" she snorted.
Donatello reached down into the water and fished out a live, non-mutated turtle. "This is Penelope. She is a female painted turtle and she has been shadowing me all morning."
"She wants to have Donnie's bay-bies," Michelangelo sing-songed.
"Unfortunately, I am looking for more in a partner than she can provide." He set Penelope on the pier so she could wander around freely.
"And what kinds of things are those?" Mona asked with amusement.
"Conversation for one thing. A more appropriate size ratio would certainly be appreciated."
"Donnie's not to picky," Michelangelo joked. "He just likes 'em big and chatty." He paused and then asked. "What's on your back?"
She slapped a hand over the blemish on her lower back. "Nothing. Just a rash that's healing. I think it's from an allergy."
Donatello crouched to inspect it the second she removed her hand. He had to move in very close, squinting, since he wasn't wearing his glasses. "It doesn't look like a typical rash. The color is strange."
He extended a finger to touch it and Mona slapped his hand away with a, "Can you not? It's fine."
"You really should see a doctor if you keep getting them," Leonardo said.
"I actually have. One of the in-house doctors there is a hematologist. He took a blood sample and said he would test it against a few things and let me know if anything comes up."
"Maybe a skin specialist might be a better way to go," Donatello suggested.
"This guy's tests are free. So I'm going with this first and see what happens. Don't worry about it. It's fine."
"You say 'it's fine' a lot," Leonardo countered with concern.
"That's because it is." Mona suddenly squealed and jumped to her feet. "Donnie, your girlfriend just bit me!"
Even as she stood, Penelope was coming at her, mouth open aggressively.
"Someone's jealous," Michelangelo laughed. He stood as she was running out of room to retreat. "Here, I'll keep you safe." He rushed her, tackling her like they were playing football, and then launched himself off the pier. That impressive jump sent them flying several yards. Enough time for her to scream before they collided with the lake.
Mona breached the surface seconds later, screeching like an angry pterodactyl. Michelangelo's head popped out of the water and she attacked him. Sort of. Though she was clearly trying her hardest, her efforts to dunk him were futile. Michelangelo continued to float unhindered by her attempts. Though he did seem to enjoy her bikini-clad body crawling all over him.
Then, a much larger turtle came out of the water, grabbed Michelangelo from behind by the neck, and dragged him under.
"Better?" Raphael asked with a grin.
"So much. Thanks for the help." Mona glanced to the pier where Leonardo and Donatello were laughing so hard they couldn't stand, let alone do anything to defend her honor.
Michelangelo's head popped back up and Mona splashed him in the face. This broke into an all-out splashing war as Donatello and Leonardo entered the lake. They all played in the water until well after lunch time.
When everyone got hungry, they raided the kitchen for whatever was left and took it out to the pier on the beach to eat. The brothers chatted loudly while Mona stared quietly at the water while she ate her sandwich. Leonardo, who had been facing his brothers, turned to sit next to her, dangling his legs in the water to join with hers. An arm went around her and his hand hugged her hip. A finger surreptitiously pressed itself in the juncture of her thigh.
"What are you doing?" she asked quietly with a raise of her brow.
"Nothing. I just think this part of you is the softest. I like to touch it."
She continued to watch him suspiciously, but her gaze wandered off again when he made no further movement.
"What's on your mind?" he then asked in her ear. "You're being very quiet. Like you're not here with us at all."
"Just thinking about memories. My mom took me to a lake house once. I was twelve. It's the only vacation we ever went on."
"Was that before the accident?"
She breathed out. "That was the accident. The trip going home, she crashed the car. I don't know how. I got a concussion. I don't remember anything from that day. Not the drive, not our last day at the lake." Behind her, the brothers had stopped talking. She knew they were all listening. "The crash messed up her back. She never recovered. She was always in pain. The doctors kept saying it was because she was addicted to the pills, but I could see that she was in real pain. She needed them just to function and they kept trying to take her off of them. When I was fourteen, she had had enough of the pain. She took all her pills. And a part of me was glad I didn't have to see her in pain anymore.
"Out at the lake, what little I can remember of it, was the last time I saw my mom being her normal self. Being out here gave me a little sense of deja vu."
From behind, long green arms wrapped around her and gently pulled her back into a firm plastron. Donatello gently set his chin on her shoulder. Mona looked to Leonardo with wide-eyed glee. Leonardo knew well by now that Donatello was the favorite brother and Mona felt like she had won the lottery any time the quiet, touch-shy turtle interacted with her.
Michelangelo joined hug, throwing his arms around her more exuberantly. Raphael then added to it, pulling all three of them in. Leonardo watched with gentle amusement. He liked that she cared for his brothers and that his brothers cared for her. It felt like Mona belonged and that was what he wanted for her.
But then he thought the hug was going on a little too long for comfort. "Okay guys—"
Mona quickly shushed him. "Don't ruin this for me," she hissed beneath three pairs of arms.
Leonardo raised his hands in surrender and let them be.
Raphael let go first.
Michelangelo kept holding on and said. "How much longer do we have until we have to go home?"
"We should be out of here before five in case the owner shows up. So we need to start packing up and getting the house back together soon," Mona replied.
He let out a long breath and pressed his face to her shoulder. "I don't want to go back."
"What?" Raphael demanded. "You love the city. You love New York."
"Yeah but...here we get to sit in the sun, man. The actual sun. And we can be turtles. And it feels like it's okay to be turtles, you know? We don't have to ever pretend we're not. Not out here."
Mona leaned back into Michelangelo and Donatello. "It's always okay for you to be turtles. No matter where you go. And maybe we can make this a yearly thing. Stay more days next time and hopefully April can come, too."
"That's a date, babe," Michelangelo laughed, though he still seemed sad.
Mona pulled herself from the brothers' grip. "I'll start cleaning. You guys can spend more time out here."
"Oh, uh uh, no way," Leonardo said firmly. "Everybody helps to clean. We'll get it done faster together and then we'll all have more free time to spend."
Mona thought she would get at least one groan from the brothers, but they all readily jumped up and piled into the house. The brothers set to work putting the living room and all the beds back together while Mona cleaned in the kitchen.
Splinter was in there, helping himself to the remaining food.
"Oh, we haven't seen you all day," Mona greeted. "I hope you haven't felt left out."
The old rat patted her hand. "I have purposefully sought out my own solitude and it has been wonderful. So blissfully silent and lacking in loud and rowdy sons."
She let out a soft laugh. "I'm glad you had a good time."
.
The cleaning was done and everything was packed up in record time. This left them with a good two more hours to play in the lake and dance and talk on the pier while music played from Michelangelo's phone. The place was like magic and leaving it was bittersweet. But eventually, time ran out. The magnificent gods of the lake had to emerge from the water. They dressed and strapped on their gear. Their masks were tied. No longer gods, now mutants and misplaced New Yorkers. But still very much turtles.
Turtles that were very generous with hugs and gratitude for their hostess before they climbed one by one into the back of the van. It was time to return to the shadows. Yet, when Mona climbed into the driver's seat, there was a turtle in the passenger side.
"Leo! What are you doing?"
He smiled. "I'm going to sit with you for a while. At least until we get to the main roads. Since the last time you drove from a lake house, you didn't make it home safely. I thought maybe you might have been worrying about that all this time."
She gave him a watery look, trying to smile.
"Someone's being a good boyfriend, aww..." came Michelangelo's comments from the back.
Leonardo gave an annoyed glance to the back, but Mona said, "Somebody is. Thank you."
He reached out and squeezed her hand. "I'm trying to be."
She pulled away from the house and they started their journey back to the city; different somehow than when they had arrived. Cleansed, refreshed. Both hydrated and sun-warmed, smelling of marsh and woods. And for that time, even stuck in the van as they drove back home, life was good. It was simple and sweet and easy. Sunny skies and soft clouds.
But life never stays one way for too long. Change is always on the horizon and, in the distance, a storm was coming.