A Half Shell Christmas

Chapter 3: My Own Angel

Song: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Chris Tomlin
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Destiny walked along the roof tops of the buildings, her eyes fixated on Tyler as he shuffled down the street. She knew she promised Tyler that she wouldn't hover, but she couldn't help it. What was to stop the Foot from acting on Christmas? Or the Kraang? Or even something as simple as a robber or an assaulter. Whatever the situation was, Tyler was Destiny's responsibility.

Plus, she didn't want to deal with Shelby if something happened to Tyler. No matter how much Mikey defended her, the wolf-raven knew Shelby was a time bomb just waiting to be set off. Destiny definitely didn't want to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

So she continued walking on the roof tops above Ty, sticking to the shadows and keeping her wings folded against her back. Every so often, the blonde would glance up at the lurking mutant, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

Finally, after walking a few blocks, Tyler turned into a store, pushing through a flood of people. Once she was positive he was inside, Destiny sat near the edge, partially wrapping her wings around herself to keep warm in the frigid wind. All around her, the streets droned on with Christmas music. It sounded fine to the humans below, but Destiny could hear far further and far better than anyone in the city, and it sounded like an out of sync marching band. Her head began to pound, and she pressed her ears to her head. To keep her mind from swirling, she concentrated on the Christmas music playing from the building down below.

The first song that played was Jingle Bells. It was Destiny's personal favorite, given it was brimming with holiday cheer. She even found herself humming along, her tail thumping on the roof to the rhythm of the song.

When the next song came on, she didn't even recognize it at first, but as the lyrics began to ring out to the street, she felt her lips part as she began to sing.

"Hark, the Herald Angels sing, 'Glory to the new born King! Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.' Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies. With angelic hosts proclaim: 'Christ is born in Bethlehem.' Hark! The Herald Angels sing, 'Glory to the new born King!'"

What Destiny didn't even realize was that a much deeper voice joined her for the next verse. "Christ by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of a Virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The Herald Angels sing, 'Glory to the new born King!'"

Destiny trailed off as she realized she was no longer singing a solo, but a duet. She turned her head slightly towards the singer, and her ears perked slightly at the source of the voice. "Leo? What are you doing here?" She asked, her brow raising as her tail wagged slightly.

"Honestly, I got a little lonely. Penelope and Donnie are still locked away in the lab, Splinter went off to mediate, and Shelby and Mikey went to her room. And I haven't seen Raph all day." Leo explained, taking a seat beside his girlfriend.

"Oh, Shelby and Mikey? Alone in her room?" Destiny teased, flashing a fang smile.

Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, right. They would never." He stated, plopping down next to the twice-mutated girl, a strange, almost mischievous glint flashing in his sapphire eyes. Before Destiny could comment and ask him what was up, his gaze left her's, and switched to the sky.

Destiny followed his gaze, though her eyes instantly trailed up to the moon. No clouds blanketed the sky tonight, and though the light pollution hid the stars, the moon was still shining bright against the purple sky.

As they sat, Leo shifted next to her, before breaking the blissful silence. "Oh, wow, how'd that get there?" He wondered aloud to himself. The question made Destiny turn her head towards him. Leo's arm was held high in the air, and clasped by the tips of his three fingers was a bunch of mistletoe. When Destiny glanced back at Leo's face, it looked like he was about to burst, his eyes dancing with laughter as he bit his lower lip, trying to hold back a smile.

Destiny smiled widely, giggling as she gently punched his arm. "You're such a dork, Leo." She laughed, her wings flapping slightly.

Leo shrugged. "It's worth being a dork if I get a kiss from my own angel." He stated, smirking.

Destiny blushed slightly, leaning in and placing her lips on his. Automatically, he caressed her face, pulling her into him and deepening the kiss.

"Um, should I just go back myself? I can leave you guys to, you know, do to your thing." A voice sounded behind them. The couple broke from their kiss and turned to the voice in surprise. Standing behind them with a teasing smile on his face was Tyler, holding a shopping bag in one hand, while the other was stuffed in the pocket of his jacket.

Destiny giggled, placing a second peck on Leo's lips, before standing and stretching. "Nah, I don't need to stay out in this cold any longer." She explained. Leo followed her lead and stood, securing the bunch of mistletoe in the side of his belt, before grasping Destiny's hand lovingly.

"Yeah, let's go before Santa comes. I want to be sleeping when he gets here." Leo agreed. Destiny and Tyler glanced at each other in confusion, but said nothing, following the blue-clad turtle down the building's fire escape and into the sewers.

When Leo was out of earshot, Tyler leaned into Destiny's ear. "Hey... Does Leo still believe in Santa Claus?" He asked her with curiosity and concern.

Destiny glanced at Tyler, frowning. "It sure sounded like it."