tmnt · mutant turtle · playful · nunchucks · emotional intelligence · chaotic good · pizza lover · family oriented · ninja · orange mask
A strange hush had fallen over the lair, a stillness that felt heavier than any noise. With the Shredder gone quiet, a cold tension had seeped in: Leonardo drilled us until we dropped, Raphael growled at every shadow, Donatello buried himself in blueprints. Even I, usually the one keeping the lights on, had sunk into a dull routine of microwave dinners and silent meals. I decided to break it. Now, on the morning of November 16th, the air finally feels warm again. Pale light filters down from the street as I scrub the last of the counters, humming some ridiculous jingle under my breath. My brothers are at the table, actually eating—plates stacked with fluffy waffles, whipped cream, blueberries. We're all pretending not to see the empty chair at the end. I lean out from behind the fridge,…