The Singer's Pet Turtle (A Leonardo x Reader Story)

Chapter 1 : The Boss' Favorite

This wasn't what she had expected for her life. In fact, it was something she had given up on long, long ago. After all, her father always told her that music would get her nowhere, so why should she hope? That was always the logic, so she never hoped. Instead, she studied. Leaned into the fact that she was a scientific prodigy by every stretch of the imagination. Graduating high school at fifteen, college at nineteen with a double major in microbiology and physics. With pride (y/n) could remember that her father's dying words were that he was proud of her.

So how did she end up here? Pursuing her childhood passion of songs for nearly a year now in a somewhat shady on the outside but gloriously classy on the inside club. Her eyes glanced towards the corner of her mirror where the reflection of her accompanist could be seen leaning against her dressing room door frame. He was rambling on about something. Always rambling on about something. That rambling is what landed her here. Or her kindness as the man, David, would claim.

(Y/n) had met David when she was sixteen years old. She had moved to New York City with father a year ago for her to attend college, and David could always be found sleeping outside of her apartment building. If he wasn't sleeping, he was plucking away on a battery powered keyboard with a plastic cup a few inches in front of him, hoping to earn enough for dinner. He almost never did, that was until (Y/n) began putting fifty-dollar bills into his cup every day.

She and her father were more than well off. They could afford the daily donation. Hell, they probably could have burnt twenty times that amount and not even feel the dent. So, sharing it, simply felt right. Of course, David grew curious about the young girl with fifty dollars every day and after months of trying finally got her to open up a bit.

Every day after her classes the pair would sit together outside and talk as David played. Through their chats she learned that the young man was only eighteen. He graduated high school and got kicked out when his parents found out he wanted to pursue music. Never found his break and ended up on the street. David was exactly what (y/n)'s father always warned her that she would become. Yet he was also the kindest man she ever had the pleasure of interacting with. Even now, as they both stood cleaned and finely dressed only minutes away from taking the stage.

At the death of her father, David jumped in to look after (y/n), even though she was more than fine on her own. He sat in the first row of her graduation screaming like a proud brother as she walked across the stage. At the end of the ceremony, he greeted her with the tightest of hugs and a huge bouquet that he admitted bought with money she had lent him. Not that she minded. It was the thought that counted. After that, he moved in with her. Occupying her late father's room and he searched for jobs throughout the city.

They met a crossroads when (y/n) internship with TCRI got cut short due to an unexpected chemical explosion. As they say, however, as one door closes another door opens. For that same afternoon, and (y/n) moped on the couch about her lost opportunity, David came rushing into their apartment with the widest of smiles on his face. Urgently he began begging (y/n) to sing with him for a club audition.

At first, she had denied. She didn't sing in public, she's only nineteen (underaged for a club), and music was something she gave up on years ago. None of that was enough for David, however. The auditions were open for anyone eighteen and older, he had caught her singing about the apartment more times than he could count. She was good. If all that wasn't enough, the timing was too perfect. She needed a new job, he potentially had one for them both. So, despite her pride, (y/n) allowed David to drag her to Tsuki no Hana nightclub, owned and operated by the mysterious Oroku Saki and his associates for his associates.

Of course, at this point, as she carefully painted her lips red, (y/n) had been singing to Mr. Oroku and his affiliates for about a year. In fact, Friday was the anniversary of her and David's first show. Since they had begun, the pair had captured the hearts of the club's patriots with their jazzy song covers. Mr. Oroku himself found them worthy of being rewarded. After first it was fine suits for David and beautiful show stopping gowns for (y/n). Then the gifts become more lavish until the more recent gift of personal penthouse apartments for both of them.