𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍: 𝐷𝑅𝑂𝑊𝑁 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐹𝐸𝐸𝐿𝐼𝑁𝐺, 𝑁𝑂𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑃𝐸𝑅𝑆𝑂𝑁

⚠️WARNING: MENTION OF DEALING AND USING DRUGS⚠️

READER DISCRETION ADVISED

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Kylie woke up at 4am on Wednesday morning to prep for her finals. She made herself a protein shake before going on a four mile run. By 5:30am she was back at the apartment and in the shower. By 6:45am she was completely dressed and ready to head to the university. And by 8am, she was seated and taking her first exam.

It was currently 2pm, and Kylie was sitting in the waiting room of her therapist office. Casey couldn't come with her this time, having to be at work and then the academy later on. So, she sat by herself. And she was okay with that.

She smiled at the blonde, who noises her head to let her know that Tracey was ready for her, and she kept her smile as she walked into her office and took a seat on the velvet green couch.

Tracey smiled at her kindly as her glass fell to the tip of her nose.

"Good afternoon, Kylie. How are you today?" She asked

"I'm actually pretty good. I just finished my finals and they weren't as bad as I thought they were going to be."

"Well that's wonderful. How is your medication working?"

"Uh, it seems to be working well. I've been in way better moods the past two days, but I still get really upset when I think of somethings." Kylie spoke truthfully

"Unfortunately, no medication can completely take away your mood swings. We can only make them less drastic. Is there any specific example of what upset you?" Tracey asked her intently

Kylie stopped for a second and thought of yesterday.

"Uh yeah actually. I get upset when I think of my high school years, specifically when I think of my junior year."

"And what happened your junior year that makes you upset when you think of it now."

"It doesn't upset me all the time, just when... I have this friend here in New York that I really like. But he's very controlling and possessive. Back in France, during my junior year, I dated a guy who tried to get me to cut ties with friends and family so he could have me for himself." Kylie admitted

Tracey nodded tenderly before speaking.

"And you're worried this friend will turn out the same?"

Kylie nods

"Have you spoken to him about this?" She asked her

"No, I haven't spoken to him in a week. And he's forbidden his brothers from speaking to me as well while I'm in therapy." Kylie tells her

"How do you know this?"

"One of his brothers reached out to me. He needed help with something."

Tracey nods thoughtfully as she writes down a few notes.

"And why do you think this friend is keeping himself and his brothers from you."

"Every part of me believes he's doing it to make sure nothing interferes with me recovering my mental health."

"But...?" Tracey urges

"But part of me keeps saying that he has worse intentions behind it."

"Do you think that you're mind is telling you this, because you are scared that you will fall for him, and he will turn out to be someone different?"

Kylie stopped and thought about her question.

"I.. don't know. Maybe?"

Tracey nodded and wrote something else down in her notepad.

"Alright, I'm going to change the topic. How are you doing with your friend Gabbi living with you?"

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Leo walked confidently through the hall of the NYPD Headquarters, his head high and shoulders squared. Some of the other officers and detectives stopped and made way for the giant turtle as he passed through.

He had just left a meeting with Chief Vincent and her personal team. He and his brothers had already landed another high profiled case and he couldn't wait to start working on it. This was his chance to prove to himself that he and his brother's could solve this by themselves.

And he also wanted to prevent Donnie from reaching out to Kylie. She was dealing with her own problems, and didn't need to be interrupted with theirs.

So, as he made his way into he and his brothers equipment room; he headed straight for his spot at the table and threw down this vanilla envelope in his hands.

His brothers, who were all preoccupied with their phones; looked over to him before taking their places at the table.

As Leo informed them of the case, he felt empowered. He carefully and swiftly relayed the information to them and instructed them of the seriousness of the case.

"...and this time we're all working on the discovery. Raph and Mikey, head down to forensic lab and see what you can find out. Me and Donnie will go through the records."

"Sweet!" Mikey said happily as he took off out the door. Raph grumbled thankfully and followed his little brother.

Leo then turned to Donnie, who wanted to sink into his shell, before motioning towards the computer.

"Let's get to work Don."

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Kylie walked happily into her apartment. She set down her vanilla tote bag in the living room before plopping down on the couch.

She looked out at the busy streets below her, and she was thankful to be inside the comfort of her home. She was also looking forward to not having class for a whole month.

She pulled out her phone and shot Gabbi a text, letting her know she was home, before grabbing a blanket from beside the couch and snuggling into the couch.

Not long after, she drifts asleep to the sound of the bustling traffic below her.

Almost 3 hours later, Kylie is awoken with a start as her phone begins to vibrate uncontrollably against the coffee table and fall onto the floor. She yawns loudly and rubs her eyes before picking her phone up off the ground and answering.

"Hello?"

"Kylie!" A male voice replies

Kylie's eyes go wide as she recognizes the voice.

"THEO?! Oh my god! How are you?" She ranted excitedly

"I'm doing pretty good. Word is that Gabbi moved to New York with you, figure I'd call and see you two troublemakers have gotten into."

"Yeah, she got here a few days ago. She's been busy with setting up her studio and I've been busy with school; we haven't gotten to do anything yet."

"Ah. Well, I figured I should tell you that I plan on spending Hanukkah in Manhattan. Thought I could come see you and see what all the hype was about."

"You should totally come see me! I'd love to get to spend some time with you! And I'm sure Gabbi will be excited too!"

"Awesome, any ways, have you talked too Alexei? I've called him multiple times and no response."

Kylie was currently making circles around her kitchen counter, unsure of how to respond. However, she decides to be honest.

"Honestly, I have really even thought about him. We weren't really close. But I can ask Gabbi for you tonight when she gets back."

"Oh, okay thanks. Anyways I've got to go. Talk to you later."

"Bye."

As the call ends, Kylie can't help but feel slightly guilty. Her and Alexei were no where near close, they had two completely different views and ideas; and no matter how hard she tried they would always end up arguing when they talked.

But Alexei was Theo's best friend and she knew how much he meant to him. So, she scrolled through her call log and found a number she wondered if was actually real before hitting the dial.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

"Good work today boys, I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning. Have a good night." Chief Vincent instructs as she dismisses the four turtles from her office

They had successfully solved the case, without Kylie's help. Leo couldn't help but feel accomplished, and his ego restored.

He brothers walked beside him, Raph who was still upset from the events of the day before was furthest from him. They walked side by side, uniformed. And Leo felt his brothers and team coming together.

He worried that they would go back to being divided after the events of Kraang's invasion. But now, there they stood. Together.

However, his moment of peace is destroyed when Casey Jones cuts the corner and comes face to face with them. He stood before them, sporting a black leather jacket, worn out jeans and white sneakers.

"Hey Casey, how ya doin bra?!" Mikey asked

"I'm doing good Mikey, just coming to check in with the Chief. You guy's leaving for the day?"

"Yeah, we just finished a case." Donnie said to him

Casey simply nodded at him before turning to Leo. His eyes were unreadable to the leader, and as Casey took a step forward; Leo did too.

"See you guys around."

Casey does not break eye contact with Leo until he pushes past him and walks they way they came. His brothers stand there, not completely understanding what had just happened.

In reality, Leo had no clue either. He hadn't spoken to Kylie in nearly a week, something he thought would Casey would enjoy more than angry him.

Leo shook it off and began to walk forward before turning his slightly back to motion his brothers to follow him.

The rest of the way home was silent for Leo, who appeared to be deep in thought. However, whether he was reflecting on himself or his unknown feelings remains to be seen.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

"Well, well well. If it isn't Miss American Honey. I've got to say if was quite the surprise to see your name appear on my phone."

Kylie's teeth gritted silently as Alexei's Russian accent rolled across his words. If she could, she'd slap him. But she called herself just as quietly before speaking.

"I just finished talking to Theo. Apparently you haven't been answering his calls. He's worried."

"Hm. But why did you call? If he hadn't been able to reach me, what made you think you could." Alexei teased

Kylie leaned over her counter, her hands gripped to the side in anger.

"Because you love a good game, Alexei. You love when the unexpected happens. You back to dealing again?" Kylie smugly stated

The other side of the line goes quiet and Kylie continues.

"I can hear the slight rasp of your voice as you slur your accent across your words. You only do that when you're dealing. I bet you're out on the street now, with what; 2 or 3 grams of coke and opium?"

Kylie smugly walks around her kitchen counter, twirling her phone in her hands.

"You can't know that."

"Really? You think I can't hear the way your saliva is wrapping around your teeth when you talk. You know, dealers tend to not do the drugs they're selling."

"What can you possibly do about it Kylie. You're across the ocean. You're powerless there." Alexei taunts smugly

"I still have my connections, Alexei. I would hate for the PSP to discover you've been smuggling drugs from India into Syria."

"What do you want, Kylie?"

"2 thing's really. One, call Theo back."

"And two?"

"Two, you owe me one."

The line goes dead and Kylie smirks. She crosses her arms across her chest and looks out towards the city.

She might not be able to do anything about Alexei serving time, but she could make sure that she had the leverage she needed when it came time for it.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Leo let out a breath as he stared at the board before him, covered in black and red string, drawings, and writing.

His room was dark, only lighten by the candles around him forming a circle. He sitting crisscrossed on the floor in front of the board, preparing to meditate.

Today was a win. One that he accomplished with just him and his brothers. His leadership was a main key to that success.

He felt close to that spirit today, the one that inhabited his body as if it were him. For the first time, he thought that he could finally figure out who that person was.

And as he sat, his eyes shut and he looked deep within himself. He found peace. And when he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his room.

Before him was a beautiful beach, the sounds of the waves hitting the sand and rolling back out to see filled the bright morning sky as the light blue sky blends with the water.

As Leo got up, he saw an outline before him. It was a woman. She stood with her back to him, revealing no details of her identity. She walking forward, treading deeper into the before them. As she walked, Leo chased after her, calling out for her to stop.

She came to a stop were the water hit her waist and her hair laid within the substance.

"Wait!"

She tilted her head slightly to him, not far enough  however for him to see who it was. And she stepped forward, before sinking into the water below her.

Leo ran, faster than he realized he was. And when he reached where the girl once stood, he saw nothing. No evidence that there had ever been anyone but him there.

He let out a breath before turning to sun, which was lined perfectly in the middle of water. He let out a sigh and took in the sight. He could feel the heat warming his hard scales and tough shell. He shut his eyes and soaked it all in.

Before his soul exited this place and brought him back to his room.

As Leo truly opened his eyes, he took him a second to adjust to the change of scenery.

He then looked up at his bulletin board once more, before feeling more determined to solve the mystery that was plaguing his ability to connect with his third eye.