Chapter Text
The shadow landed smoothly, too smoothly. Everything perfectly cushioned on quiet ankles and oiled knees. The shadow stood, getting taller and taller then—
Oh…
Yeah….that….that definitely wasn’t Leo..was it?
They took a step forward and April took one back.The shadow took another one and April’s heel hung off the edge of the sidewalk.
In the next step they stepped under that flickering street lamp and–
…oh..oh no…
…yeah that…that wasn’t Leo…
The mutant turtle cocked his head, curiosity oozing from every pore. (Holy crap it was another mutant turtle, where did he come from? –oh gosh he was hot. Like super, super hot.)
April took another step back–
–and immediately forgetting where her feet were and completely tripping, backwards she fell and–
–she stopped. So suddenly too. April blinked. Oh…
The…mutant had caught..
…her…
His muscular arm held her and his three fingered hand pressed gently to her back. He was slightly leaning forward, drawing her just a bit closer. His beautiful eyes, half lidded and amused.
There was something in them, his eyes glowed and sparked. Literally and figuratively. (Somehow) The deep golden cinnamon color sparkled and held all sorts of cleverness and secrets. They swirled with a playfulness that had her shivering and a deep handsomeness that sent a bloom of red striking across her face.
The mutant smiled, a soft, knowing thing that dried up her mouth instantly. He drew her just a little bit closer, his hand was strong and oh —he smelt really nice when did she–?
Oh…They were pretty… close now..
She could feel the soft puffs of air coming from his beak—
We’re they gonna kiss-?
SHUT UP. SHUT UP BRAIN. NO. NO. NO–
The gray masked turtle huffed, laughing almost and April couldn’t help but wonder what kissing him would be like, she’d never kissed anyone, beside Tyler in the seventh grade and he was bad kisser and—
He opened his mouth and April saw a wonderful pair silver-pearled…fangs–where had she–
“Careful,” The mutant pressed a little hard. April couldn’t remember how to breathe.
Was it just her or was everything on fire? “
We wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself, now would we?”
His voice flowed like honey and rumbled like distant thunder. Something breathly and husky all at once.
April wanted to melt, she wanted to melt so bad. Just die right now and go to heaven. Just send her now, RIP April O’neil died from unfair hotness and one of the sexiest voices she’s ever heard. What was happening? Why were all the incredibly hot mutants coming from all of a sudden?
April got the urge to fan herself, but she’s pretty sure her bones are jello and all of her skin is on fire because she probably looks like a lobster at this point.
She was tapped back onto her feet, she was just grateful she didn’t collapse in on herself, her knees were weak and she was kinda light headed. Because–wow.
Her eyes glued themselves to his feet after her little wobble fest and couldn’t help but wonder at his toes-because, well the guys’ toes looked more like turtle feet and this mutant’s(who definitely was a turtle based on his shell) feet looked more like human feet. Or gecko feet.
“They’re pretty nice aren’t they?”
…?
Hm?
…
What was he…?
April blinked her eyes and—almost against her will—they slowly began trailing up his toned calves, the tuscany, gold tinged arrow head markings on his thighs. The vast, chiseled expanse of his rich, coffee creamed colored chest plating, his broad shoulders with their sharp curves and athletic contours, the way they swooped and soared perfectly, reminding April more of ancient statues of Zeus or Poseidon than any real person.
Her eyes continued their journey, past his sharp collar bone, his Herculean neck, his jaw that could cut glass, that beak that was unfairly sexy, and his eyes…
His beautiful, beautiful eyes. Rich and deep, sparkling and glittering with flecks of gold leaf and little whirlwinds of cinnamon change.
April swallowed hard, well aware of the fire that burned in her cheeks. Oh gosh she was so red right now—
He cocked his head, his smile growing into a smirk, his eye ridge lilted as if he were raising an eyebrow. Slow. Real slow.
A car rumbled by in the distance, exhaust popping and coughing all the way. It didn’t matter though.
Apri l found herself gnawing her lip, her knees gave another rebellious quake. Dang it, why was she reacting this way? Why–?
—Oh, right, he asked a question.
…
What was it again..?
Dang it, those stupid eyes! She couldn’t even–
Maybe she could…
..
“....Yes..?” April wanted to die.
He hummed, a deep, throaty, rumbly thing that sent shivers and warmth floating through her. Tingling all the way down into her abdomen.
Oh no…
Well, it couldn’t be that bad, it can’t be that bad, it can’t be–
“Yeah, my toes are pretty great,” He made a show of wiggling them, his hands delicately placed on his waist.
..
…Right, that was the question wasn’t it?
April found herself nodding, with a seriousness that had suddenly gripped and any other thoughts she had. “Yes. Yes they are,” The warmth was still there…
He blinked. His lovely eyes wide, a sort of playful surprise and curiosity floating to the surface of them.
Wow.
Oh wow, she caused that.
Overcome with a sort of giddiness, April wanted to do more, surprise him more, she’d never flirted before but surely she could try.
Unearned confidence flooded her system and her heart rate sped even more. What did people say in movies? In all those cheesy romance novels that she always made fun of? What to say, what to say–?
He laughed. It flowed from his beak with a sort of hypnotic, honeyed quality that was rough around the edges but charming all the same. Because it sounded real. Not those fake laughs or smiles in movies and pictures. But something more…
Again she caused this–that reaction. The giddiness returned, as he came down, and looked at her with an air of mystery and intrigue that made April want to spill all of her secrets, just to get him to laugh or smile or cry or do anything at all because it was all so perfect and beautiful.
She needed wanted to see another reaction, she wanted–
“Yeah, I guess,” The turtle glanced around–oh that wasn’t even fair, even his glances were attractive. So smooth and confident. He looked at her with an attentiveness that she hadn’t really gotten from anyone. “Hey, what are you doing out here all by yourself? A lady such as yourself shouldn’t be out here alone, something could happen to you,”
(Oh he was caring too. He really was the whole package.)
Now, normally, April would be really offended at anyone, especially a guy assuming that she was weak in any way but when he did it…it was just…nice. She felt all warm and fuzzy. Cozy even. Protected.
That confidence was still there, that giddiness. Maybe she could get another surprised or amused reaction out of him. She seemed to have a knack for that.
April tried to put on her best uncaring, confident face. He smiled at it. Good. “I’m alright, I’m meeting up with some friends and it’s not even that far from here,”
He blinked again, he bit his lip and gosh was it just the hottest thing she’d ever seen. “Friends?”
…Oh…
Oh shoot.
Well, she hadn’t given anything away.
Not yet. There was a part of her that screamed that she should be careful that she should–
She was careful. She’d kept the secret from her Aunt, the entire school. She could keep it from one more person. Well, he was a turtle–maybe he knew the guys. But…she checked in with guys before she did or said anything that drastic.
“Yeah…” She gnawed on her lip. Thrilled when he, seemingly subconsciously, copied the action. “Friends, from school, you know? Just…friends,” Nailed it.
“Hm,” His sparkling eyes moved to some point in the distance, something complex and intricate and so, so deeply ruminating in his expression. So attentive. His movements were so unconcerned, so relaxed. It was nice to have someone so slow and responsive at the same time. Very refreshing.
April shuffled a little.“And there not far from here, so I’ll just..go now…I guess,”
But she really didn’t want to go, maybe she could talk just a moment longer.
It seems whatever god out there heard her desperate prayers because something concerned flashed over his thoughtful expression. “Are you sure you're okay to go alone? I’m not sure if I…”
April found herself talking before she even thought about it. “You could come with me!”
He blinked, gentle surprise dusting his creased brows. Another round of giddiness shot through her. “You want me to come with you?” He seemed so surprised by it too.
April nodded, grinning as she did so. “Sure, I don’t mind! If…if you don’t mind that is,” Shoot, she sounded pushy. Maybe she should backtrack–
He smiled, that charming beak of his softly flowing upwards, his gorgeous eyes half-lidded as he looked at her. Cleverness and intelligent amusement lighting up behind them. “I don’t mind at all,” He slipped his hand into hers, locking eyes with April, begging warmth and unrestrained excitement tore a new through her and another round of fire burned through her. She felt a little light headed. “And don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you, ” He sounded so sincere about that too.
Oh gosh, oh nelly. She was just about ready to burst into tears or laughter. The excitement racing through her, she grabbed for another reaction out of him. “I can protect myself you know, I’m getting self defense training from…” She searched for a reasonable cover story. “...from my friends’ martial arts teacher,”
It was technically true, Splinter was a martial arts master and he was teaching her and the guys. And beside the way his eye glinted curiously was more than enough for her to justify skirting the truth a little.
“Then I guess your friends are students as well? Do you all train together?” He sounded so interested. Oh she could finally talk to someone about this kind of stuff without being suspicious, but she’d have to fudge the truth a little. What a small price to pay. HA!
“Yup to the first one and no to the second, we all have our own training times,”
“Oh? Do all your friends train separately or is it just you?” He tugged gently on her hand as they started walking. She barely even noticed.
April hummed. “Just me,” It was so easy to talk to him, way easier than anyone else.
The mutant let out another laugh, but this one was quieter, softer but still that much rumbly. Man his voice something else wasn’t it?
When did they start walking?
“Maybe you could show me sometime, I’d love to see it,”
…?
He wanted to see…?
“My martial arts training?” The thought of being able to show off made the excitement burn that much brighter, all but consuming her thoughts. Based on his build he probably was no stranger to fighting but still. She could show someone, someone would watch and see and maybe even compliment–
He nodded. “Yes, if you don’t mind Miss…?”
Oh…
…What was he–?
Oh her name–
He was asking for her name.
Well she could give that one away.
“April,” She gained a little spring in her step. “April O’neil,”
“April…” The mutant turtle pronounced her name slowly, as if tasting it. And oh wasn’t that an image. The giddiness and warmth burrowed themselves deeper.
“Well April,” His eyes fluttered gently, his eyes dark and alluring. “I look forward to it,”
April giggled.