The four turtles ran down the street as they chased Snakeweed who had reappeared.

The giant weed monster snatched up the pizza man off his moped which made Mikey gasp.

"Not the pizza guy! Take Donnie!" Mikey cried out.

"Snakeweed's getting away!" Donnie shouted, ignoring Mikey's comment.

"Somebody help me!" The pizza guy called out desperately as Snakeweed ran into an alley.

"We've got him trapped," Leo said with a grin.

Raph punched his palm. "Good. Then let's go weed-whacking!"

"Tree-trimming!" Donnie added.

"Gardening! Boom! Ha ha! Oh, yeah. Mikey put the sprinkles on that sundae," Mikey spoke with a proud smirk.

"Let's go!" Raph said impatiently.

"Hang on, Raph. We're not charging a twelve foot regenerating mutant," Leo spoke quickly.

"Then what are we doing?"

"We'll take Snakeweed from above. Tie him up in the clotheslines. Come on," Leo instructed before starting his climb towards the roof.

"That'll take forever, and we have to stop Snakeweed now! I mean, he's kidnapping people," Raph shouted in protest.

"Not just people, people who bring pizza!" Mikey reminded.

"We take him from above. Let's move!" Leo ordered strictly.

They all made their way up to the roof, going over to the ledge.

"On my count. One, two- Where'd he-"

"And the award for worst leader goes to-" Raph started with a glare.

"How am I the worst leader?" Leo turned around to return the glare.

"If we did this my way, Snakeweed would be toast by now," Raph shot back.

"Ugh. That'd be some nasty toast," Mikey commented but Donnie pulled him back.

Donnie knew that without Sofia here to defuse the situation like she had been, they just needed to let them sort it out themselves.

"This way would've worked if you hadn't wasted time second-guessing my orders," Leo argued.

Raph scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "Don't give bad orders, and I won't second-guess 'em."

"You know what, Raph? If you think you could do better, why don't you lead?" Leo spoke irritatedly.

"First good idea you've had all day," Raph agreed as he crossed his arms over his plastron.

"We'll compromise. I'll lead," Mikey spoke up with a grin that quickly turn to a sheepish smile as his brothers both glared at him

"Fine, Raph, the team's yours. I'm out of here," Leo grumbled as he turned around and left, not looking back.

"I can't believe he's gone," Mikey whined.

"Aw, don't worry, Mikey. Leo, uh, he just needs some space," Donnie spoke before it hit him. "You meant the pizza guy, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Mikey replied with a nod.

🍕

Leo was on his way to see if he could crash the sleep over he knew April and Sofia were having.

He felt calm whenever he even just looked at Sofia and he really needed that right now.

He heard a noise behind him before finding himself surrounded.

"Foot clan?" Leo mumbled before taking a breath. "You guys just made my night."

He ran at the handful of foot soldiers and took them out with ease. It made him feel good to know that he was able to do this

"Ahh. I feel so much better," he mumbled as he looked at the defeated foot ninjas at his feet.

The thought crossed his mind that Sofia might have been impressed, but before he could fully get through the idea in his head, he spotted someone on the billboard beside him.

He looked up to see the girl jump down and his eyes went wide.

"Not bad," the feminine voice came from this new opponent.

He couldn't help but check her out. She looked kinda hot in a dark and mysterious way. She had amber eyes, black hair that is blonde in the back with an angled bob and long ear-tails. He brought himself back to reality as he gripped his katanas tighter. "Uh, thanks?"

"You might actually be a challenge," the girl remarked before drawing her own blade and casting blinding powder at the turtle.

Leo felt his vision go cloudy as he began to cough, grasping at his throat as he struggled to breath.

The kunoichi knocked him down and stomped her foot down on his plastron as she held her sword to his throat.

"Guess not," she sighed in disappointment before taking off the mask that was covering the bottom half of her face. "My name's Karai. See you around."

Leo watched as she disappeared into the night and he sat up, rubbing his head. "What was that?"

🍕

Leo walked into the lair with a sigh before hearing voices coming from Donnie's lab.

He walked in and Mikey ran over to him.

"Leo's back! And he's been crying. Aw, you missed us," Mikey claimed with a smile as he hugged his oldest brother.

Leo grimaced as he pushed Mikey off of him. "I got hit with blinding powder."

"Sure. Big softy," Mikey shot back with a grin.

"And where have you been?" Raph glared at Leo with his fists dug into his hips.

Leo scoffed. "Don't see how that's your business."

"Fine. Whatever," Raph shrugged, turning to walk away before Mikey grabbed him.

"Dudes, can't we just be cool with each other? Let's hug this out. Ugh!!" Mikey grabbed his stomach after Raph elbowed him. "Okay. Now the healing can begin."

"Hey, I think I figured out where Snakeweed's hideout is!" Donnie announced.

Leo perked up as he looked over at his other brother. "Where?"

"Okay, the radial pattern of recent Snakeweed sightings indicates his lair is at the epicenter of 47th and-"

Raph slammed his hand on the map and narrowed his eyes once again. "Actually, you're on a need-to-know basis. And guess what. You don't need to know."

Leo narrowed his own eyes before turning on his heel and leaving without another word.

🍕

Sofia set the timer as April walked into the bedroom.

"I've never done a face mask before," Sofia admitted as she looked at her face. "It feels strange."

April laughed, sitting on her bed. "You'll get used to it. Now, we have things to discuss."

Sofia could feel her face burning under the clay mask.

"So, Leo, huh?"

The brunette felt like she could curl into herself at any moment. She nodded her head slowly as a smile pulled at her lips. "What about him?"

"Do you seriously like him?" April questioned, nudging her shoulder lightly.

"And if I do?" Sofia laughed lightly. "He's incredible! I mean, have you seen him fight? And he's always been so nice to me. I just feel... I feel like we met for a reason, you know? Does that sound stupid?"

"Stupid? No. Cheesy? Absolutely," April replied with a laugh. "I think it's crazy. I mean, he's not even human."

"He has conscious emotions and feelings. He makes mistakes and is also very smart. That sounds human enough to me," Sofia said, her smile growing.

April hummed as she nodded. "I guess you have a point. I mean he likes you a lot."

"Really? I mean, I kinda thought so, but I do flirt with him a lot so I just thought maybe he was a bit embarrassed," Sofia admitted. "He's so cute when he's flustered."

"You should tell him! I'll be your wingman, or wingwoman," April said excitedly. "I think you would be so cute together!"

Sofia laughed a bit, glad that the clay mask on her face was covering her bright red cheeks. "I think I will. I mean, I don't know why I haven't already. I guess it's just really fun to mess around and tease him."

"I better be your maid of honor at your wedding," April replied with a grin. "I'll help you pick out your dress and everything!"

"Slow down, girl. I think jumping to the wedding may send him into shock," Sofia said, laughing as she crossed her legs. "But what about you? Any special someone?"

April hummed lightly before shaking her head. "No. I mean, I think Donnie likes me, but I just don't know if I feel that way about him. And there's no guys at school that I really like either. I guess I'm just picky."

"I'm sure you'll find the one," Sofia replied.

They both jumped slightly as the alarm went off on Sophia's phone.

"Time to wash it off!"

🍕

"We shouldn't be together, Ryan. It's against your fleet protocol."

"Well, Celestial, you don't get to be captain of the Dauntless by following all the rules."

"Good. Then you won't mind giving me the codes."

"Celestial, you just broke my heart. But my disintegrator still works. At least I'll have these to remember her by."

Leo sat in front of the TV with a bored expression. "Boy, relationships are complicated."

Splinter walked into the living room, looking at his eldest son, noticing that he was alone.

"Leonardo, where are your brothers?" Splinter asked curiously as he looked around.

Leo shrugged, not moving his gaze from the television. "I have no idea."

"What do you mean you have no idea?"

"Raph thinks he can lead the team better than me, so I let him," Leo replied as he finally looked up at his father.

Splinter hummed. "That is not your decision to make."

"Why not, sensei? I've had to make every other decision, and I'm tired of it. Those guys have no idea what kind of pressure I'm under, and all they do is complain. Is it too much to ask for a simple thank you?"

Splinter narrowed his eyes at the blue clad turtle. He slammed his jade walker onto the floor which made Leo jump slightly. "Of course it is! Leadership is not about being appreciated. It is about responsibility. It doesn't matter that the burden is heavy. It matters that you carry it."

Leo frowned as he looked at the floor.

"Now go find your brothers."

🍕

"What if I don't want the burden?" Leo grumbled as he trudged down an alley. "Where are those guys? Donnie said something about 47th and, uh-"

"You always talk to yourself?"

Leo stiffened when he heard the familiar feminine voice. He turned around and put on a smile as he set his hand on his hip.

"Sometimes I'm the only one who'll listen," he replied, feeling antsy.

"I'll listen when you beg for your life," Karai threatened as she drew her blade.

Leo's lips pulled into a small smirk. "Let's see how well you do against someone who can see."

"Let's see how well you do against someone who's better than you."

"Let's see how well you do against-" he tried to think of something clever to say, but shook his head. "Let's just go."

Karai leapt at Leo, landing behind him after he swiftly dodged her swing. She adjusted correctly and swung in a cross which Leo blocked before shoving her back.

"Juji-ken. Interesting," Leo commented before lunging at the kunoichi.

Karai jumped, maneuvering her body away from his sword as it moved in a sweeping motion.

"Kocho-giri. Predictable," Karai sneered as she gave him a narrowed look.

Leo grimaced, wanting to prove that he was better. He had sparred against Sofia, but this was different. While their styles were very similar, Sofia had never held malice in her strikes against him like Karai.

He swept his katana threw the air, the metal of his blade clashing with Karai's as she parried before jabbing at him. Leo quickly blocked before slicing at her center, making her have to retreat a bit.

"You're good. No wonder we haven't wiped you out yet," the kunoichi complimented.

Leo chuckled as he took a breath. "It's not like Shredder hasn't been trying."

"I know. It's all he ever talks about. 'Revenge, revenge, vendetta, vendetta.'" Karai adjusted her grip on her hilt as she relaxed her stance.

"Really? I take it you don't approve."

"No, I'm fine with it. I'm just saying, he needs a hobby," Karai shot back before she charged forward.

Their blades met in a cross before they met again, continuing the clanging racket throughout the alleyway.

Karai threw her leg up, finally landing the first hit as she kicked Leo in the face. She stood with a grin, proud of the move.

The turtle wiped his mouth for a moment as he watched her movements carefully.

"Not bad, but I've seen better," she teased.

Leo chuckled lightly as he stood. "With one blade, maybe, not with two."

He drew his second katana from his back and they charged at each other once again.

Leo felt his adrenaline soaring. This was an exciting rush he hadn't felt in a while.

"You know what? I don't think you're as bad as you pretend to be," Leo commented as he narrowed his eyes a bit, throwing her off balance.

Karai paused as her own eyes narrowed. "Oh? What part of swinging a sword at your head do you not understand?"

"On the rooftop, you could have finished me, but you didn't," Leo mentioned.

"Because you're the first thing in this city that doesn't bore me," Karai replied quickly. She threw a kick at him that he used his forearms to block. "Besides, I don't think you're as good as you pretend to be."

She got him in a lock, his sword stopping her own from hitting his throat.

"Don't tell me the goody-three-toes thing doesn't wear thin after a while," she said with a grin.

"Better than the alternative," Leo struggled out.

"Which is what? To have fun? To cut loose? To live your own life?"

Leo grit his teeth, using brute strength to break from her hold, shoving her back against a wall with his sword held steady.

Karai grunted, but her grin inly widened. "Guess I struck a nerve."

Leo scoffed. "Because I beat you?"

In a split second, Karai leapt forward which made Leo stumble out of the way. The kunoichi didn't attack him though. She stopped and looked in the distance behind her for only a moment.

"You see that high-rise?" Her sword pointed towards the Byerly building that sat deeper in the city.

"Yeah," Leo grumbled.

"Meet me there at midnight," Karai spoke calmly as she stepped back.

"Why?"

"I want to show you something."

Leo watched as the kunoichi fled into the city, leaving him there dumbfounded.

What was he supposed to do?

🍕

"Sofia? April?"

Leo sat outside April's window where he knew the girls were having their slumber party.

April opened the window with a frown.

"Leo? This better be good," April said as she crossed her arms. "You interrupting the movie."

"Hey. I need to talk," Leo said with a nervous tone before he saw Sofia walk over to the window.

"Can it wait till morning?" April grumbled.

"April, it's okay," Sofia assured as she smiled. "What's up, Blue?"

"I met this girl," Leo said quickly, an excited glint in his eyes.

Both girls stiffened at that, April giving Sofia a look that Leo couldn't decipher.

"Don't worry! She didn't freak out about the turtle thing," Leo said quickly.

Sofia cleared her throat, the smile on her face growing. "Okay, well, tell us everything!"

"Well, she's really cool. She's also a martial artist," Leo started as he tapped his fingers together. "And, uh... she's in the Foot clan."

He grunted as he was smacked in the face with a rolled up newspaper.

April, the culprit of the attack, glared at Leo. "Are you crazy?"

"April, she's different. She's-"

"In the Foot clan," April cut him off.

Leo sputtered as he tried to defend himself. "Yeah, but she's-"

"In the Foot clan!"

"Look, I know I shouldn't be hanging out with her," Leo said with a grimace.

"Yeah. You got that right. You know why?" April leaned forward with her hands on her hips. "'Cause she's in the Foot clan!"

"April, she's fun, and I'm tired of being the responsible one. When do I get to have fun?" Leo complained as his frown grew.

Sofia felt her smile begin to waver. She wanted to say that they had fun together, but she kept her mouth shut, her eyes pricking a bit.

"So what does she want from you?" April questioned, glancing at Sofia.

"I don't know. I'm meeting her later at the Byerly building. She's got something planned," Leo answered slowly.

"Yeah, like pushing you off the Byerly building. It's a trap, Leo."

Leo shook his head, wanting to prove her wrong. "I don't think so. There's good in her. I know there is. I can feel it."

"I hope you're right," April mumbled.

"I know I'm right. You'll see," Leo said quickly before he jumped up onto the roof, leaving the two girls in the room.

Sofia stood staring out the window as her mind swirled.

"Sof? You good?" April asked as she put a hand on Sofia's shoulder.

Sofia nodded slowly as her gaze lowered. "I'm fine."

April made Sofia look at her and she saw the misty look in her eyes. "Aw, Sofie." She wrapped Sofia in her arms quickly.

"I should've said something," she mumbled as she hugged April back. "It's my own fault. I just didn't think... I thought I had more time."

"But she's in the Foot clan! It'll never work out!" April tried to encourage.

"I'm thankful for the support, but I trust Leo. If he says that there's good in her, he might be right. It was just a little crush. This is normal right?"

April frowned as she let go of Sofia. "I guess that's a way to look at it."

"I'll be okay either way. Things happen, you know? The universe works in weird ways sometimes. Now, we should get back to the movie."

The ginger nodded slowly. "Alright then."

April watched Sofia as she slipped under the blanket on the bed to get comfy. She didn't understand how Sofia seemed so okay with this, but inside, she could feel the brunette's pain. She couldn't understand it, but she felt the emotions flooding from her friend.

Then Sofia's phone started ringing.