Protect You- Leonardo x Reader (TMNT 2012)

chapter 4- a deep conversation with a turtle

The noise of water droplets caught your attention as you and Leo were walking in silence. Master Splinter had ordered him to walk you home since, you by no means knew how to navigate yourself out of the sewers and would probably get yourself lost if you were not supervised.

Two days ago, you would have never imagined you would ever be walking in the sewers. Then again, two days ago you would have never imagined to be walking side by side with a mutant turtle without screaming so maybe you shouldn't rule anything out for the future.

You were busy in your own head, consumed by your thoughts. You would have not bothered to break the silence of water droplets and stayed in your own mind thinking to yourself if it wasn't for the very awkward mutant walking by your side.

"So, nice weather huh?" Leonardo immediately regretted the poorly done ice breaker and wished he had the last five seconds back. He saw the girl besides him was being very quiet and tried to make things less awkward, so he decided to be brave and start a conversation.

But now he wished he didn't.

'I'm able to take out 15 foot bots at once but can't talk to a girl? Quick, what would Captain Ryan do-'

Before he could overthink anymore, you luckily let out a chuckle at his strange conversation starter.

"I mean last time I checked we were underground but sure. The weather's very nice." You grinned up at him teasingly, sarcasm lacing your tone. He rolled his eyes playfully as a small smile appeared on his face. "You couldn't think of something even a tad bit more original Leo?"

"Hey in my defense that conversation starter works most of the time! Besides, I'd like to see you try."

"Ok you know what, fair point." He let out a little laugh as he looked down to your face, silence creeping up once more.

"You ok? You've been kinda quiet since we've left the lair." You looked up to meet his eyes as he searched yours for answers. 

"Yeah I'm fine, just trying to take everything in. It's just a lot to process."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, you're taking this a lot better than anyone else who found out about us." You looked up to see him give you an encouraging shrug. Your eyebrows furrowed slightly at his statement. You were quiet for a moment, contemplating whether or not to ask him the first thought that crept into your mind.

You decided to ask.

"Does it ever hurt your feelings? When people are scared of you?" He didn't speak at first, just stared at the ground in thought.

"It did at first. Eventually you get used to it. People are afraid of what they can't understand, at least that's what sensei always says. I just have to remember that and keep an open mind." His gaze turned back to you, giving you a slightly sad smile.

You couldn't understand why, but your heart broke slightly at the look in his eyes.

A bittersweet taste made its way into your mouth at his optimistic outlook on the sad reality of how people look at him. You'll probably never understand the cruelness he and his brothers had to endure all their lives, but you caught a glimpse of what that may look like in his sorrowful ocean eyes. 

You didn't say anything. You couldn't say anything. How are you supposed to respond to that? It's not like you could relate to this circumstance so all you could offer him was sympathy. Saying sorry wouldn't fix anything either so what were you left to say? The sound of water droplets seemed to get louder and louder as the turtle next to you tried to recover from his previous statement.