The base was calm. Almost lazy.

Raph lay on the couch, his leg draped over the armrest, idly clicking away at the remote. Donnie was tweaking something on his desk, sparks occasionally illuminating his face. Mickey was attempting a perfect triple spin with his nunchucks... and almost broke a lamp.

And a little further away, in the shadows, sat two people.

Leo and Splinter.

They were talking quietly. Almost whispering.

And then—familiar footsteps.

"Yo guys!" Casey's voice echoed throughout the base.*

You and April walked in next.

Raph immediately sat up straighter.

"Oh, look who's here."

Mikey spun around, beaming.

"HEY! The party's officially starting!"

Donnie looked up and smiled softly.

"Hey. How was your week?"

You waved, smiling.

"It's been boring without you."

And it was true.

You and April walked forward, Casey clapped Raph on the shoulder, making him mutter, "Be careful." Laughter, conversation, a light jostling.

You sat down next to Mikey, who immediately began to talk emotionally. Raph commented sarcastically. Donnie tried to correct the situation. Casey argued with everyone at once. April listened to all the chatter, smiling calmly.

You laughed.

And you didn't notice that at the other end of the base, one glance returned to you too often.

Leo sat straight. But his fingers slowly curled on his knee.

Splinter watched. And knew.

"Sensei..." Leo said quietly.

"Yes, Leonardo?"

Pause.

Leo looks at you. You laugh, lightly nudging Casey's shoulder.

He turns away.

"How..." he takes a breath. "What's the best way to approach someone... if you don't want to embarrass them?"

Splinter's mustache twitched slightly.

"Which person, Leonardo?"

Leo tensed slightly.

"Just... hypothetically."

"Hypothetically," Splinter repeated softly.

He folds his hands.

"If your heart has already chosen... then you must not act like a warrior. You must act like a man."

Leo's brow furrows slightly.

"This is not a mission, my son. This is not a strategy."

"But what if I'm wrong?"

"Then you will know the truth."

Splinter looks at you. Then at Leo.

"She smiles differently when you enter the room."

Leo freezes.

"What?"

"And he always sits closer to you if possible."

He looks down.

"You're afraid of losing what you already have." Quiet. Exactly.

Leo swallows.

"And if she... doesn't feel the same?"

Splinter smiles softly.

"Then you'll accept it with honor. But I've lived long enough to see... when two souls look at each other the same way."

At that moment, you accidentally look up.

Your eyes meet. You freeze for a second. And—you smile. Not a wide smile. Warm. Just for him.

Leo turns away abruptly, as if he's been caught.

Splinter says quietly:

"See?"

Leo exhales.

"I don't know what to say."

"Start simple. Ask her how her day was. Offer to go for a walk. Not as a leader. Not as a protector. But as Leonardo."

Leo stands up. Slowly.

Raph notices it first.

"Oh, look. The commander has come to life."

Mikey narrows his eyes.

"Ooooh, here we go..."

Donnie just watches silently, analyzing.

Casey let out a quiet whistle, realizing what was about to happen. April glared at him, after which he immediately shut up.

Leo comes closer. You're still laughing at Casey's latest stupidity.

He stops next to you.

"Can I... talk to you for a minute?"

Silence.

Raph slowly turns his gaze to Mikey. Then the two look at Donnie.

Mikey breaks into a grin. Casey raises an eyebrow.

"I'll bet you ten bucks he's blushing," Mikey whispers.

"Shut up," Raph mutters.

Donnie smiles slightly with the corners of his lips, almost imperceptibly, turning his gaze to you.

April smiles softly as she looks at you and nudges you slightly with her elbow, in a silent, "go ahead."

Casey suddenly became interested in the turtle lair, so he looked everywhere but at the two of you. He knew this was your moment.

Splinter closes his eyes, almost satisfied.

Because he knew.

From the very beginning.