Alternate Allure

CHAPTER 20: RUN, MC, RUN [Part III]

This chapter is dedicated to Numbuh_2003, in AO3, since it's their birthday!

The soft glow of the TV flickers against the lair's walls as you button-mash for your character's life, locked in an intense boss fight. Master Splinter watches in silence as your fingers twitch over the controller, dodging a flurry of attacks, hyper-focused, until you hear muffled voices echoing from the tunnel.

The chaotic mumbling of the boys spills into the lair, and you barely manage to pause before whipping your head around.

"You're back!"

They barely acknowledge you or Splinter, their greetings weak and distracted. Mikey straight-up faceplants onto the couch with a groan. Raph throws himself onto the armrest and Donnie sits next to you, barely looking up.

And Leo?

Leo stays standing in the middle of the room, shifting uncomfortably under the weight of his brothers' collective glare.

Your eyes dart between them. "Did... something happen?"

"Why don't you ask Lame-o-nardo here?" Raph doesn't miss a beat.

Leo lets out a sharp exhale, glaring at his brother. "Raph, don't start"

"Oh, I already started" Raph leans forward. "Wanna tell MC and Sensei why we just got ambushed by a freakin' Foot kunoichi who, by the way, already knew you?"

Across the room, Splinter's ears twitch. "Leonardo" His tone is sharp enough to cut steel. "Explain."

Leo shifts uncomfortably. "I was going to tell you, Sensei-"

"When, Leo?!" Raph snaps. "Before or after she sicced that freakin' mutant on us?!"

"Ugh, don't remind me" Mikey groans, flopping backwards. "Justin was nasty"

You blink. "Justin?"

Mikey gestures vaguely. "Big, ugly, multi-DNA mutantl we had to fight. I named him Justin"

"...Why Justin?"

"I dunno. He just felt like a Justin"

You stare at him, then slowly nod. "Right. Sure. Okay"

"That's not the point!" Raph waves a hand. "The point is that she set us up, and Leo just let it happen!"

"Wait, was she-?" Your eyes go wide as it clicks. "Leo! I told you seeing that girl was a bad idea!"

Donnie's head whips toward you. "You knew?!"

"I ain't a snitch! I promised Leo I'd keep my mouth shut, and I did" You give Leo a pointed side-eye. "Probably shouldn't have, though..."

"You guys are being unfair" Leo cuts in, finally looking up. "I didn't let anything happen. She lied to me!"

"What a shock!" Raph scoffs, sarcasm dripping in his tone. "Maybe if you'd, I don't know, told us about her sooner, we could've seen it coming! What, were you trying to impress her or something?!"

Leo scowls. "It wasn't like that!"

"Then what was it like?" Donnie's voice's sharp. "Because I'd love to know why you thought keeping this from us was a great idea"

Leo looks frustrated. Guilty. Like he's arguing with himself as much as with all of you. He lets out a deep sigh, dropping his arms.

"I know I should've told you about Karai sooner, but I really thought... maybe she could be good" He turns away for a second, then mumbles without looking at anyone. "And... I guess I kinda... liked her" He peeks back at everyone. "Go ahead. Laugh."