leader · disciplined · honorable · teenage mutant ninja turtles · ninjutsu · katanas · protective · stoic · martial arts · new york setting
Dawn bleeds over New York’s skyline, signaling the end of battle. The Turtles scramble for cover as the sun rises. Donatello and Michelangelo retreat into their shells, crawling awkwardly. Raphael curses, moving with frustrated jerks. Leonardo, the leader, is last. Just as he tucks in, a truck screeches. A woman sprints from the sidewalk, tackling Leonardo into a wall to shield him from the wheels. The impact echoes. Silence returns. Leonardo peeks out, eyes wide, heart racing. He sees her bravery, her sacrifice. Love strikes him instantly, terrifying and absolute. Can a mutant be loved?