Mission Failed ~ Leonardo x Reader

Chapter Eighteen

[Your POV]

The Leo Effect is something commonly described by the TMNT community as Leonardo's lack of self-preservation due to his own desire to sacrifice himself for others. It's been displayed in almost every TMNT adaptation. The fearless hero will always do whatever it takes to save his team, even if that means killing himself.

"LEO!" I screamed, attempting to get off the examination table. But my knees were weak, for more then one reason. My face felt hot. I felt dizzy. The kiss...did he...did he actually kiss me? Or did I hallucinate it? No, it was real... I felt my face only get hotter as I thought about it. But I did my best to shake it off. As I limped towards the entrance to the lab, Veronica suddenly appeared, and held my shoulders, directing me back inside the lab. "V-Veronica?!"

"Please lay down, (Y/N)." Veronica said, Blake and Zion showing up behind her.

"Zion!? Blake!?" I gazed at the two brothers. They smiled at me. Veronica, Blake, and Zion all hugged me tight. We were finally reunited.

"It's good to see you, idiot." Zion joked, ruffling my hair.

"Blake...you look different..." I commented, looking at the ears and the fur and the horns. Blake blushed with embarrassment and nodded.

"Mutagen will do that to you."

"Wait, Veronica! Let me go! I need to help Leo!" I cried, attempting to pull away from the hug.

"No way! You're gonna stay here!" Veronica said, determined to make me sit on the examination table. "You're way too weak to get involved right now!"

"But..." I protested, the kiss coming to mind. My cheeks went red again.

"They're blushing." Zion observed, nudging Veronica with a grin. I frowned and tried to hide my face, but Blake felt my cheeks with the back of his hand.

"Whoa! Are you sure you don't have a fever!?" He cried.

"I-I'm fine!"

"Something happened with Leo, huh?" Veronica smiled. I didn't say anything. I couldn't say anything. How do I respond? I have no idea... My brain felt fuzzy and my body felt like I was light as a feather. Stringing my words together became a struggle. Veronica, Zion, and Blake all looked at each other with a grin. But I noticed that when Veronica looked away, she had a look of sadness.

I was about to ask her what was wrong when I heard a loud BANG come from the entrance of the lair. "We should help them." Zion said, with Blake nodding in agreement. The two boys ran out of the lab to assist the turtles in defending their home. I went to get up when Veronica stopped me.

"You aren't going anywhere." She said sternly, giving me a look that could kill. My eyes were wide and I stood still. She sighed and rushed over to Donnie's desk and started going through some papers.

"Veronica?"

"Looks like Leo still has the box... He didn't leave it here." Veronica mumbled to herself.

"Veronicaaaaa?" I repeated, dragging out her name. She didn't seem to hear me. I furrowed my brows and shouted: "VERONICA!"

"EEP!" She shrieked, looking back at me. "Oh, were you talking to me?"

I tilted my head. "Who else would I be talking to?" I stood up and slowly walked towards her, standing next to her. "What's on your mind?"

"We sent Leo into Shredder's lair with a decoy box filled with chemically charged cockroaches. He was meant to give it to Tigerclaw in exchange for you. But clearly Leo had other plans once he found you. He probably forgot all about it after he saw you." Veronica said, giving me a small smile.