Moonlight Mutation (A TMNT Fanfic)

Epilogue

Time passes. The Hamatos and their friends spend their time training and helping around the house, distracting themselves from their problems. Raphael and Destiny stay near Leonardo every moment that they can, often falling asleep next to the tub.

Three months pass without Leonardo waking up, not a mumble comes from his mouth, he doesn't stir. It amounts to many sleepless nights for Raphael and Destiny and the constant feeling that there's a cloud hanging over their heads.

Their bumps and bruises heal, as does the "wicked awesome battle scar" on Destiny's torso, as Michelangelo has named it. She had to admit that it looks cool when the turtle originally brought it up.

Diaval tries to be a team player for Destiny's sake—she has enough to think about without him being a problem—but it isn't easy. He feels like a sore thumb with whatever he does. He tries to join in on training and gets his butt kicked. He tries to clean up the kitchen and he just makes more messes when he drops the dishes. He hardly talks unless it's to Destiny. He misses Karai more than anyone and his thoughts constantly travel back to her, him trying to imagine what she could possibly look like as a snake. Michelangelo didn't tell him much about what happened, just that she got mutated and fled.

They spend three long months of trying to adapt to their new lifestyle, without their Sensei, and Destiny's mind still strays to the city that they've left behind. Will they ever be able to return? Donatello says that chances are good and she trusts his judgement.

Destiny walks upstairs to the bathroom after another long training session, her muscles already starting to ache. One thing that's more glaring to her than anything else: she went easy on herself when she solo trained in Canada. Raphael doesn't go easy on anyone.

Leonardo remains where he's always been, sleeping in the tub, his maskless face blank. Destiny leans down and kisses his forehead before settling down on her stool.

"Hey Leo," she whispers, brushing her fingertips down his cheek. "Training went well again. I'm getting better with the sword, but..." She sighs and rests her elbows against the rim of the tub. "I wish you could teach me."

Raphael comes up less than a minute after her, settling down in his own spot with a heavy sigh. They sit in silence for a few moments, the occasional drip from the tub faucet creating ripples in the surface.

"Maybe today's the day," Destiny suggests.

"Yeah..." Raphael mumbles.

They dip back into the quiet, the sounds of Michelangelo's newest favourite TV show "Crognard the Barbarian" playing from downstairs. Destiny and Raphael don't have any conversations, but they don't need to. They're here for supporting each other while they wait for what may never happen; Leonardo waking up again.

"Destiny," Diaval says, peeking into the bathroom. She looks up at him, her wolf ears perking. "Kinda need help..."

"What happened?" she asks, standing up and moving towards him. Raphael makes a low noise in the back of his throat and adjusts his arms on his legs.

Diaval lowers his head, bringing his hand out from beneath his cloak and revealing a large cut between his fingers. Destiny gasps.

"Picked up a knife wrong," he admits.

"You didn't ask Donnie for the first aid?"

He pouts. "He's scary. He's smart and fights good."

She can't help but giggle, but she stops quickly. "Alright, come with me."

They head downstairs, Destiny retrieving Donatello's kit along the way. They go into the living room, where everyone is seated in different spots and the TV is cranked up to a rather unbearable volume, at least to Destiny's ears.

She starts bandaging Diaval's hand, his eyes falling on the screen ahead of him. There's a few shouts from the TV, Michelangelo laughs, the trees rustle outside, and Casey clears his throat.

"GUYS! GUYS!" Everyone in the room perks up as Raphael bolts down the stairs and nearly careens into the living room, his eyes wide. "It's Leo, he's waking up!" he says before turning around and racing back up the stairs.

Donatello and Michelangelo leap to their feet, but Destiny is already running like someone lit a firecracker beneath her. She takes the stairs two at a time, whipping around the corner staircase and catching herself on the railing to stop herself from careening into the wall. The remaining turtle brothers follow close on her heels.

Destiny lunges into the bathroom, her heart pounding, and Leonardo's head instantly moves to look at her. His sapphire eyes, although exhausted, widen in shock.

"Leo," she breathes.

Donatello and Michelangelo arrive and brush past her, causing her to snap out of whatever trance she fell under when Leonardo looked at her.

"Leo?" Donatello asks.

Leonardo diverts his attention to his brothers, a weak smile spreading across his face as he sits up a tiny bit. "Hey guys."

End of Book One