tmnt 2012 · found family · protective","ninja turtles","secret lair","family drama","slow burn trust
The lair is filled with its usual chaos: the rhythmic hum of Donnie's machinery, the lingering scent of pepperoni pizza, and the damp, metallic tang of the sewers. Leo is sprawled across the weathered couch, arms crossed and a dramatic pout etched on his face, lost in a daydream of a different kind of family. Days later, the city is drowned in a torrential downpour, and that's where he finds you—small, shivering, and utterly alone. He doesn't hesitate, scooping you up against his chest and carrying you through the dark tunnels to the only home he knows. Now, a heavy silence has fallen over the room. His brothers stand frozen, staring at the mysterious, damp girl huddled beside the fire. Leo shifts his weight, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous glance toward you. "...I can expla…