For an entire city that was just freed from an alien invasion, unknowingly thanks to the Turtles and their new allies, The Mighty Mutanimals, it grew with life again. Though it took some time. People returned to walking in the streets, businesses reopening, and children returning to school. Everything seemed peaceful at first glance, but in truth, the crime rate was at an all time high. From the average street thug, to gangs like the Purple Dragons, and even the Turtles' greatest enemy, The Shredder, still running around, plotting his next evil scheme. Even after a victory, one must be prepared for the next threat.

However, busting bad guys' heads and bringing them to justice was not the plan for an unlikely duo tonight.

Jumping from rooftop to rooftop of the high New York City buildings was the hockey loving vigilante, Casey Jones. Following him close behind was the katana wielding ninja turtle and leader of their team, Leonardo.

"Are you going to tell me where we are going?" Leo asked as he continued to follow Casey for what felt like hours, "I think it would be better to just patrol the city instead of goofing off tonight."

"Oh come on! Patrol?! You and your brothers just saved New York from the Kraang! You deserve a break."

"What happened to all that 'evil never takes down time' talk?" Leo teased.

Casey stopped in his tracks, turning back around at the blue turtle, giving him a wink, "You're an exception."

He chuckles, "So then, where are we going?"

With a smile, Casey takes a big step to the side, revealing their destination to Leo, "The hockey rink! My home away from home!"

"I thought the hockey rink was closed at night ever since... Well, The Foot Clan incident?"

"It is."

Leo crosses his arms, giving Casey a stern glare, "So we're breaking and entering?"

"It's not breaking and entering when you have a key!" Casey announces proudly, unsheathing the rink's back entrance key from his pocket, holding it up high like a mighty sword.

Unimpressed, Leo then asked, "And how did you get that?"

The vigilante smirks with confidence, "I know a guy."

Leo was unfazed, still glaring at Casey with suspicion.

Casey desperately tried to play it cool, but Leo was not budging. He had to come clean, "Okay! I may have stolen a spare key from the custodian and made a copy. But this is a one time thing, I promise! I'll destroy the key after tonight."

Casey gave him a cheeky smile, hoping his confession was enough, but the blue turtle's glare remained, "Don't look at me like that. How else are we supposed to have a fun first date?"

This question broke Leo's serious demeanor, turning into a timid smile, his cheeks faintly blushing, "I thought we agreed that we were hanging out as just friends?"

"Yeah," Casey's smirk grew, "Friends who are on a date!"

Leo couldn't bring himself to scold Casey on his insistence for what they should call this night of just the two of them. In truth, Leo wanted to call it a date as much as Casey did, maybe even more, but worried Casey would disagree and things would quickly get awkward. Luckily that wasn't the case for either of them. Casey was bold and confident in calling this a date, Leo just needed more time to process it.

A date.

Leo and Casey are on a date.

The idea alone still felt strange, not because one was a mutant turtle and the other a human, but because they never expected they'd be interested in each other like this. It is hard for Casey to believe that Leo, who he once saw only as Raph's dorky brother, was now someone he was going on a date with. Over time though, things changed. Feelings and opinions of one another changed. When the gang all went to April's farmhouse after being chased out of the city by the Kraang, the two grew closer and eventually romantic feelings sparked between them. They never told their friends, let alone Leo's brothers about their new little infatuation for each other. They themselves were still trying to figure things out, for they both don't really have that much experience in romance, let alone dating.

For Casey, he had his fair share of crushes in his past, his previous one being on April. Casey always thought from how much time they spent together doing school work and the occasional flirting, eventually they'd go out, but April's confusing signals threw him off. Sometimes she showed interest in him, others she pushed him away, only wanting to be friends. It didn't help when he met the Turtles and realized Donnie was interested in her as well. Before Casey knew it, he found himself stuck in a love triangle where he knew deep down he wasn't going to win. He could see how much April cared for Donnie. It got tiring chasing after someone who's heart yearned for another. Eventually Casey moved on, losing interest, only seeing April as a good friend and unexpectedly switched targets to a dorky mutant ninja turtle in blue.

When it came to Leonardo and romance, it was a different story. One he knows his brothers will tease him about till the day he dies. No matter how many times he reminds them that he liked her before he or anyone knew the truth, it still doesn't ignore the fact that Leo once had a crush on his own sister, Karai. The memory still makes Leo cringe to this day. Despite the rough start, Karai is still his family. Leo does care about her and worries for her everyday, especially now since she has been mutated months prior. Karai has gone missing, mindlessly roaming the streets of New York as a giant mutant snake. Now that the Kraang are defeated, Leo knows what he and his brothers next mission is: find Karai, fix her mutation, and bring her back home to her family before Shredder finds her first.

With him over and done with that regrettable crush, Leo was convinced that he wasn't meant to find someone, that is until Casey came along. Leo at first did not take notice of Casey. He just saw him as Raphael's rowdy best friend, Donnie's romantic rival, and another ally to help them with their war against the Kraang. Over time however the hockey player began to catch his eye from his daredevil like attitude to his overconfidence in battle despite his lack in fighting experience. It wasn't until they started living at the farmhouse that Leo really got to know Casey.

"After you, Baby Blue~" Casey said in a proper tone as he held open the back door to the hockey rink, giving a bow to really play the part.

"Oh, what a gentleman," Leo snickers as he enters the building, smiling at his date as he walks by him, "Thank you, Watashi no koibito."

Casey grins with excitement, closing the door behind him. He quickly catches up to the mutant turtle, leaning over his shoulder as they walk through the halls of the hockey rink, "What did you call me back there?" he asked curiously, "Wa- uh, watashee...?

"'Watashi no koibito'. It's Japanese," Leo explains, "It means 'my sweetheart'."

"Aww, well, you're my wata... um, could you repeat it again?"

Leo looks at Casey, smiling as he shakes his head "no". Despite Casey's begging, there was no time as they two finally arrived at the rink. It was dark, so Casey excuses himself to find the breaker to turn on a few lights while Leo sets up the gear that Casey brought for their date.

Leonardo still couldn't believe he and Casey were on a date. How did this all happen? From an act of kindness from Casey, that's how Leo remembers it. When on the farmhouse, Casey took notice of Raph over doing himself. From looking after Leo, to making sure Donnie, Mikey and April keep up with their ninja training, to practically being the caretaker for everyone. Raph needed some weight taken off of his shoulders. It was when Casey offered to look after Leo and keep him company for Raph that quickly turned into a friendship between the two. Over time, that friendship soon ignited a spark that led to a date, and maybe even soon a relationship?

When they were together at the farmhouse, Leo learned that they had more in common than he was led to believe. Both are the oldest siblings of their families and love their younger siblings, doing anything they can to keep them safe and happy. Leo especially related to Casey when he opened up to him one night, expressing how he feels like more of a parent than a sibling because his father is too busy to look after him or his little sister, so Casey took on the responsibility to take care of his sister. It was that night of opening up and understanding of another that truly sealed the deal of their bond which eventually led to growing romantic feelings.

Leo still doesn't fully know what about Casey had him develop a crush on him. Was it his rebellious nature that he always secretly admired and respected? His ability to always make him laugh with his dumb jokes? Or maybe it was that despite all the struggles and hardships he faces, Casey still finds a way to look at the positives and make the most with what he was given. Either way, Leo realized quickly that he had feelings for Casey, and Casey soon had the same realization.

Once Casey got a few lights on to shine on the ice rink he returned to his date. He collects his gear and takes a moment to get on his ice skates. Once on, Casey got up and approached the gate leading to the rink. He then turned to Leo, giving him a smile as he offered his hand, "Shall we?"

Leo returns the smile, gently taking Casey's hand, "Let's do this."

Carefully, Casey guides Leo onto the ice, making sure he does not lose his balance. Holding each other's hands the two began skating across the ice, with Leo almost losing his balance, but Casey pulled Leo closer to him, promising to not let him fall. The caring smile Casey gave him was enough to make Leo blush.

Though the two both promised themselves they would not make a move on each other and not let anyone know of their feelings for one another, it didn't last. On a date, skating together and holding hands. Casey would have to thank Raphael for that.

One night when hanging out with Raph, Casey asked if Leo ever talks about him when he is not around. One simple question, along with the faint blush burning in his cheeks, was all it took to have Raph instantly realize what was going on. It was obvious his brother and best friend liked each other and he wasn't going to let them crush on one another with no one making a move or doing anything about their feelings. Raph already has to suffer through that when witnessing Donnie with his obvious feelings for April. Raph was going to make sure this one was different.

"Go for it." Casey remembers Raph telling him.

It really surprised Casey with how encouraging Raph was of him dating his brother, though Casey could probably guess it was because of Leo's terrible first experience with romance that Raph painfully had to witness first hand. Raph knew his brother deserved someone better and he trusts that Casey might just be the one. With a threat from Raph that if Casey hurts his brother he will kill him, Casey took Raph's advice and asked Leo out on a date.

The sudden offer of a date surprised Leo. He was hoping for Casey to ask him, but can he really date now? He and his brothers just stopped the Kraang and saved New York, and with Shredder still out there and Karai missing, is there really time for dating? Raph advised his brother that it wouldn't hurt to just relax. He deserves a fun night, so Leo happily accepted Casey's offer, but only under the condition that they went as just friends. Casey agreed and the two tried to play it off as it was only being friends hanging out, but with the flirty banter going on between them and the hand holding as they skated on the ice, quickly destroyed that idea.

"You okay, Leo?" Casey asked as he noticed Leo was slightly losing his balance again.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Leo took a deep breath, fixing his posture and regaining his balance, "I'm actually getting the hang of this. Ice skating is similar to ballet."

Casey's eyes brighten, like an excited puppy, "You do ballet?!

Leo proudly nods as he lets go of Casey's hand and skates ahead of him, demonstrating his skills by doing a graceful spine on the ice.

"It's all about flexibility and balancing your strength," he tells him, "I do ballet to help improve my movement and reflexes when I fight."

"I didn't know that about you!"

"There's a lot of things about me you don't know." Leo smiles as he then gives a teasing wink, "...yet."

"So can you only do ballet or are there other dances that you know? Are you any good?"

"Dancing is more of Mikey's thing but I like to think I'm a pretty good dancer too."

"Well then," Casey lifts Leo's hand, giving it a soft kiss as he whispers to him, "How about you show me how good of a dancer you are?"

Leo blushed as Casey pulled him towards him, wrapping his arm around the flustered blue turtle. Hand in hand, the two waltz through the icy floor, with Casey taking the lead.

There was no music, but Leo could swear he heard a melody playing through the air as Casey guided him through the ice. Their eyes were locked, exchanging a faint loving smile as they danced on the ice together. Step by step they glided on the ice, lost in each other's gaze.

"I never expected you to be this graceful," Leo commented as they continued their waltz.

"Hockey is more than an aggressive sport, you got to keep your balance and not fall off your feet when on the ice. It's often a misunderstood sport, I guess that's why I like it so much. I can relate."

"I like seeing this other side of you, Casey," Leo confessed with a soft smile, "I wouldn't have known this about you if you didn't ask me out."

"Thank Raph. He's the one who encouraged me to ask you out. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be dancing with you right now."

"Huh, Raphael the matchmaker," Leo chuckled at the thought, "Well, I'm glad Raph told you to ask me out. Being leader really takes away all your chances at getting to do things that you wanna do. There's a lot of responsibilities. Honestly, I haven't had a fun night like this in months... Maybe longer..."

Casey takes notice of Leo's expression, his smiling slowly faded as he has the sad realization.

No. Not tonight.

Quickly, with a wide eager smile, Casey pulls Leo closer to him, their noses almost touching as he tells him, "How about we make this night more funnier?"

"Casey, it's 'more fun' not 'more funnier- WOAH!!"

Before Leo could have the chance to correct his date's bad grammar, Casey grabs Leo's hands, guiding him to spin around the rink with his date. Around and around the two spin in a circle, with Casey's contagious laugh getting to Leo. Together the two made the ice rink roar with their joyful cheers and laughter. So distracted from their fun, the two soon found themselves dizzy and quickly losing their balance, slipping on the ice and falling to the icy ground in a crash.

The two quickly realized the situation they were in, with Casey on the ground with Leo on top of him, both staring at one another with their faces burning bright red. Leo felt his heart begin to race, beating so face it was close to bursting from his chest. Casey had a more calm demeanor, blushing as much as Leo but he did his best to keep his cool. It was an awkward situation for them both, but despite it, they couldn't help but continue the gaze in each other's eyes.

Almost as if they were locked in a trace, Leo and Casey couldn't look away. They didn't want to. The ice rink grew silent, but Leo could swear his heart pumping was aloud enough for anyone to hear.

Casey couldn't help but smile at the cute awkward face Leo was making, he's never seen him so red. The slight sparkle in his clear ocean blue eyes. He was so cute.

At that moment, Casey remembered the advice Raph gave him, echoing through his head.

"Go for it."

Advice he will gladly take. A quiet ice rink, but the musical melody returned to their ears as Casey began leaning towards Leo. Their lips inched closer and closer, the music grew louder as they were about to share their first kiss, until...

"I can't do this..." Casey hears Leo whisper sadly.

Leo pulls himself away, moving off of Casey going to sit on the cold ice. Leo's posture was sluggish, keeping his head down, refusing to look at his date.

"Leo, ar-are you okay?" Casey asked worriedly, sitting himself up, "Did I... do something wrong?"

"No, it's not you..." Leo says softly, ashamed to even look him in the eyes, "I just... can't do this."

"...Can't do what?"

Leo turns back, facing Casey, his eyes starting to tear up, "I can't date. Not right now at least. Being leader, I have no time! I just stopped an alien invasion, Shredder is still out there and with Karai missing I-" Leo stops himself and signs, disappointed in himself with his confession, "I just... can't be in a relationship... with anyone right now..."

"Oh..." Casey was hurt from hearing Leo's confession, but in truth he wasn't mad at him. Not at all. He knew this was Leo's reality, his life he lives everyday. So young yet he has so many responsibilities haunting him everyday from being the leader of their team. Casey couldn't even imagine all the pressure he's under.

"I really like you Casey, an-and I wish this could work but..." Leo wanted to hold back as he was going to say next, his eyes tearing up more as he finally said, "As I was about to kiss you, I was so happy and excited, my heart has never beaten that fast before in my life, but then suddenly... it felt as if my reality suddenly came back, pulled me away and told me 'no'." he looked up at Casey, "As much as I want to be with you, I can't. I have no room in my life right now to focus on a relationship..."

It was silent for a moment as Leo wipes away his tears, but more began to flow down his face. Leo waited for Casey's ridicule or disappointment, to feel rightfully hurt and say he doesn't want to be with him anymore, but instead to Leo's surprise, Casey grabbed him and pulled him towards him. Suddenly Leo found himself in a loving embrace, Casey holding him tightly in his arms as he heard him whisper, "I understand".

"I-I'm so sorry Casey..."

"Don't be," Casey pulls away from their embrace, looking Leo in the eyes with an assuring smile, "I'm okay with just being friends for now. I'll wait for you, and when this is all over, when Shredder is gone and you feel you're ready, I'll be here. We can pick up right where we left off!"

"I don't want you to waste your time waiting for me..." Leo says, his eyes begin to tear up again, "What if we never stop Shredder? What if..."

"I know we will! And if being with you means defeating that stupid cheese grater, then that just gives me more motivation to take him down!" Carefully, Casey takes his hand, cupping Leo's cheek. With a gentle smile, Casey wipes away his tears. "I will always wait for you, Watashi no koibito."

For the first time in his life, Leonardo didn't know what to say. He allowed his actions to speak for him, leaning towards Casey, resting on his shoulder as the two returned to their loving embrace. The assurance and support, someone to tell him that it's alright and will not be ridiculed or judged, is all Leo truly needed from him.

Perhaps things would've been different for them if Leo was never leader to begin with. Maybe if Leo never asked to be leader he and Casey could've become something more, but this is the path he chose to take. His brothers need him. Karai needs him. His family and clan come first before his own happiness. A duty Leo knew he would have to follow, but one he didn't realize would affect him so greatly until now. Romance can not and will not be able to fit into his life, not now at least. Like Casey said, the sooner they stop Shredder, the sooner they can be together.

For now, Leonardo will embrace every moment he shares with Casey, even if it is just a hug on the cold icy floor of a local hockey rink. Who knows how long they must wait, but with patience and time, the outcome for the couple will truly be rewarding. For now, this moment, right now, as the gentle harmony began to fade in again for the couple, was enough for Leonardo and Casey Jones.