A New Home ( TMNT Leonardo love story)

Revelations through Memories

"It reminds me of Christmas time." Leo says, looking away from you. "The first one you shared with us. I remember you wanted to see the stars, so we tried to climb up as high as we could to escape New York's light pollution. Of course, even high up, we couldn't see the stars, especially with all the extra Christmas lights the city had up. I thought you were gonna be disappointed, but when I looked over at you, you were just smiling up at the moon. It was sooo cold, and we couldn't see any stars, but you were still smiling as the clouds opened up and it started to snow"

Leo closes his eyes and smiles to himself, remembering that night. "I can still see that moment so clearly. Your cheeks were rosy, and the wind was blowing the snow through your hair. The moon was shining on us from above, and the Christmas lights were glowing from below, and still the brightest thing I remember from that night was your smile."

Leo takes a pause in his explanation, and you realize you've been holding your breath. You're not sure how long you've been holding it, but now you're afraid of making any noise that would interrupt Leo's train of thought.

"I don't know, I guess I just loved seeing you so happy and I wanted to get you something that would make you happy like that. So I got you the moon since it made you so happy that night." Leo continues.

A small laugh escapes your lips. You see Leo quickly look up at you and then immediately look away again, embarrassed.

"Sorry," He says, a blush rising to his cheeks, "I guess I kinda just started rambling there, didn't I? Don't feel like you need to take the necklace with you or anything-"

"No!" You cut him off, "No, it's nothing like that, I love the necklace." You smile, another small laugh escaping your lips again. "I just can't believe that you remember so many details of that night so clearly, and then you got the ending wrong."

Leo's brow furrows, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"That night I wasn't smiling because I got to see the moon, I was smiling because..." You trail off, realizing what you're about to say. A giant knot forms in your stomach at the thought of you confessing all your feelings right now, but you realize that it truly was now or never, and you didn't want to leave for who-knows-how-long without knowing if Leo felt the same way you did.

You take a deep breath and push your thoughts out, "I was smiling that night because I got to be with you. You were the reason that I was so happy that evening. I got to share one of my favorite kinds of winter moments with my favorite person. It wouldn't have been the same alone or with anyone else."

You see Leo staring intently at you, but you can't make out his expression. The knot in your stomach is only getting worse, and you think your hands may have started shaking, but you keep going. "I know this is probably weird and a lot with everything I've already dropped on you. I'm not sure exactly when it started, but I know that I've had feelings for you for a long time now, and I want you to know seeing as I may not get a chance to talk to you for a while and you don't have to say anything or return it but I-"

Now it's Leo's turn to cut you off,

"Y/N, It also reminds me of that first Christmas eve" Leo says "You were putting the last of your gifts out under the tree. It was quiet and peaceful there with the lights twinkling in the tree. I offered to leave you be, but you told me to stay as me being there made the moment sweeter. You fell asleep on my shoulder before long and I waited for as long as I could before I had to take you back to your room. It was in those moments as I looked down at you, the Christmas lights making it so I could just see your features, that I finally admitted to myself that I would never be 100% happy with just being friends. That I truly loved you and wanted us to be more and that I was going to ask you the moment I was sure it wouldn't ruin our friendship if I did."

"You w-what?" You stutter, his confession catching you off guard. You'd been prepared for all of this to be one sided after all.

"I love you Y/N" Leo blushes "I have for a very long time now. I never really had the courage to tell you before, but I couldn't let you leave without saying something. You don't have to keep the necklace if you don't want to."

"Nothing will make me take it off" You smile, your eyes shining "I love you too"

"Really?" Leo asks, obviously still dazed enough that your previous speech hadn't fully registered properly

"I don't see any other blue masked turtle standing here" You say " I first admitted it to myself when you helped me relax that one day when you taught me stance meditation. I realized that as much as you made my heart race, I can relax around you. You make me feel safe and like nothing can go wrong when it's you and me."

"You really feel all that?" Leo asks, still unable to quite believe his ears

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't" You smile "You really remember that night? It was years ago"

"I remember every single detail" Leo says softly, taking a step closer "You made that first Christmas perfect and now I love that time of year more than any other."

"You said you stopped fighting that night," You say "When did you start having feelings for me?"

"I think it was the night that you snuck out and called me in a panic" Leo says, pulling you into a hug "I was terrified of losing you and realized after I found you that I would do anything to make sure that you were safe. At first I thought it was just because I was thinking of you like family, but the feelings got stronger from that point on."

"I really wish we got over our fears sooner" You whisper, hugging him tightly

"Then we better use what time we have" Leo says, pulling back to look you in the eyes "Y/N, will you give me the honor of going on a date with me?"

"I thought you'd never ask" You grin