What Is And Always Was

Heading up to the building roof in the elevator, Mikey started making Bebop noises while Raph, Donnie, and Leo got into it. Venus sighed while seeing the elevator doors opening with them running out to stop Shredder. Shredder had gotten the timer started on the machine they planned to use to spread the deadly virus on the whole city of Manhattan. The turtles planned to stop him; they engaged at him in combat though Shredder was taking them out one after the other. Venus knew that she could get a clear shot with her shinobi magic though she needed the turtles to distract him long enough to channel her magic. Getting into her meditation position channeling her magic, the others fought him while Venus was glowing brighter, causing them to look over in her direction.

Shielding their eyes, thinking that this would be a good idea to get out of her way not to get hit. Venus continued to get brighter while Shredder went over at her lifting his blades before her light went off, causing a "supernova" striking everything. The turtles were on the ground when they were amazed by how strong she has gotten since they trained last. Training with Splinter had been paying off since things were going well, with Shredder getting knocked into the control panel. He had damaged it, causing the timer to go off through the spire, starting to fail after Venus's energy burst. Meanwhile, April had headed into the lab was Sacks was though he had a gun and started to hide from him with him still shooting off bullets.

"Understand you're a girl with daddy issues. I do, but he walked in on me, April. To stop what we were doing, and I couldn't allow for that to happen," Sack admitted to her that he had been the one who killed her father.

April mumbled to herself, "You killed my father..."

Texting Vern was waiting in the van to keep a lookout, which he honestly thought was a stupid idea. Looking down at his phone, seeing that April had sent him a text needing help, he got out of the van.

"Finally, some action," Vern said to himself through a little too loudly.

Making his way to the lab, making sure to be careful since Sacks had a gun sneaking his way inside, grabbing something off the shelf next to him. April noticed Vern enter the lab while she ran over to the alarm system, causing the fire extinguishers to go off. Vern running over to Sacks, striking him on the forehead, only to get shot in the shoulder and Sacks unconscious. Going on the floor, leaning up against the table with his good hand putting pressure on the wound.

"You alright," asked April, concerned.

Vern nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine, just another day in the life of the man of action."

April had to stop the mutagen from filling up, taking with her to go to the rooftop where the turtles, Venus, and Shredder were located. Knowing she had to get him distracted since it would be a good idea before heading up there, she needed this for leverage. The spire started to fall, with Leo and the others going over to hold it up to try and prevent it from moving through. Shredder decided to head over in their general direction.

"Nobody moves," Leo ordered through Raph wanted to fight Shredder.

Raph groaned, holding it up, "Leo, I'm letting go."

Shredder went over to Leo only to punch him in the side, which caused Leo to moan out in pain. April finally was able to make to the roof with the canister of mutagen in her hand while holding it up.

"Shredder," screamed April looking over at him.

Shredder looked over at April with the canister of mutagen, starting to walk over at her knowing he would stop her. The spired started to lean and fell between the Sacks tower and a neighboring building, with Shredder knocking April down. They both fell; fortunately, they got caught between the spire, which stopped from falling approximately 70 story drop.

~ * ~

Venus had been weakened by her blast from before getting up off the ground, noticing April was in trouble. Running over in the direction of where she fell, looking over the building's edge seeing April was hanging on to the pole connected to the spire. Jumping onto the spire in April's direction to help her out while the turtles we're following her lead.

"Hang on angel cakes," Mikey shouts out to April.

Shredder had thrown a few of his knives in their direction, causing April to fall Raph grabbing her arm, Leo grabbing Raph's ankle, Venus grabbing onto Leo's ankle and Donnie's ankle, while Donnie grabbed onto Mikey's ankles, and Mikey held onto the bar.

"Swing me towards him," April shouted up to them.

Leo nodded, "Just do it."

Raph listened for once, swinging April towards Shredder, kicking him off the spire causing him to fall 70 stories as far as they know he died, for no one could have survived a drop like this though they all ended up staying on the spire holding on for dear life.

Mikey smirked after what April did, "That's my girl."

Mumbling this to himself, it honestly happened to be obvious Mikey had a crush on April, which wasn't hard to figure out. Climbing up onto the spire holding on through the structure started to fail and fall while screaming. Thinking these were going to be their last moments until hitting rock bottom, knowing they would not be able to speak to each other again. Venus grabbed Leo's hand tightly while he did the same it was something he didn't mind since it would be their silent way of telling each other they cared.

"I think this is it, guys!" shouted Leo to the others while looking down.

The turtles, April, and Venus, start to plummet to the ground, knowing it would be something they would need to accept fate.

Leo continued to look down, "Does anyone have anything they wanna say? Donnie?"

"I'm the one who eats the icing off the pop tarts in the morning and puts them back in the box!" Donnie closed his eyes, whimpering.

They started to plummet again, getting closer towards the ground, knowing it was getting closer to the possible end.

Mikey shouted with wide eyes, "I so did not understand the ending of Lost!"

Who honestly would know or begin to understand the ending or the beginning of the franchise on tv? Well, probably on Netflix. Leo looked over at Raph, who probably didn't want to say much about what was happening.

"Raph?" Leo asked before thinking it would be something interesting.

Raph cleared his throat, getting nervous, "I just... uh, uh... If this our last moment together, I want you guys to know I'm sorry! I'm sorry I was so hard on you! Ugh. Every time I pushed you, I... I threatened you, I yelled at you, I pushed you beyond your limits, it's because I believe in you! I believe in each one of you! I believe in your spirit and your intelligence and your potential! And every time I talked about walking away, it was because I was scared! I didn't think I was good enough to stand next to you, call you brothers, and say to you that I love you! I love you guys so much!"

Upon here, this as they finally reached the ground, shocked by what Raph was telling his brothers. Surprised by what he said about them is important to him. Honestly, no one would have guessed the hothead would be this open about his feelings. Since he tended to keep them locked up deep inside, repressing it with anger and sarcastic remarks around the people he cared deeply for honestly. Stopping him, Donnie finally spoke up; Venus thought it was adorable. The tough guy did the most talking on the way down. He truly did have a big heart underneath that hard-cased shell of his knowing it broke when this life-threatening situation.

"Raph... we made it," Donnie said, smirking.

Mikey teased, "You crying?"

"No, ding dong. It's just a little dusty out here," Raph said, relaxing his breathing.

While grabbing their weapons, the vile of mutagen, before taking off into the sewer towards the lair, knowing it would be finally over with the Shredder. Little did they know the Shredder shockingly survived the fall and planned on getting back, taking his revenge on the turtles. Compared to the Phoenix, he has risen from the ashes more powerful than before, knowing they weren't going to be staying around for long. His flames would burn down the city, bringing the insects to their knees, for they would never stop his revenge for it burned brighter than ever.

"Those fools thought they had stopped me. Only my plans were put on hold. I will bring New York to its knees, and the turtles will be brought down once and for all," Shredder thought to himself while still unconscious but alive.

Meanwhile, in the sewers, Venus had been surprised about everything had been turning out, wondering if things would be alright again? Venus couldn't shake the feeling things weren't going to last like this forever because evil like the Shredder never stays dead. Looking over at the turtles with April and Vern, thinking she happened to be lucky to have friends like them in her life. Knowing this whole thing with her losing her human appearance while gaining her turtle one but she didn't like it at first. Didn't stop her from being who she was as an individual since her being a turtle wouldn't change the person she was on the inside. Splinter walked over to Venus, noticing her smiling while looking over at the others, knowing she would be someone who would be a good friend to his sons.

"Venus is something on your mind, my child," asked Splinter, curious putting his arms behind his back.

Venus turned her head to see Splinter, "Nothing thinking about how things have changed in my life but for the better. I'm not going to lie, I thought, in the beginning, this was some curse, now looking at everything, it's somewhat of a blessing. Ever since I lost my parents, I wasn't good at opening up with people. Let alone making friends, I think it's interesting knowing everything was alright."

Splinter listened to her talking about how her changing into a mutant ended up being better for her, which happened to be something he never thought he would hear.

"I'm honored to hear something like this, Venus. I'm glad this turned out well for you. I'm sure my sons and the others feel the same way about you," Splinter reassured her before walking over to sit down on the couch.

Leo ended up looking over at Venus, who had been in the dojo training this time since she would usually be meditating. Leaning in the door frame, watching her moments, thinking about how good she was especially when she fought Karai. The determination in her training not quitting until she mastered each skill, not knowing someone like her. Venus happened to be one in a million since there wasn't anyone else like her; the fact she was their friend was a good thing. Wondering what would have happened if she never got mutated into a turtle.

Would they have met if she was still human? Or would she even look at them and be friends with them? Shaking the thoughts from his mind, not sure why he thought these things for since she was here right now. Remembering her holding his hand while they were falling, hoping she did have feelings for him because he had started to develop them. Venus felt eyes were watching her jumping slightly upon seeing Leo standing in the door frame before walking over to him.

"How are you doing, Venus? Because you used your powers to its fullest and wanted to know how you are feeling," Leo asked her, seeing her walking towards him.

Venus nodded, "Yeah, I'm doing fine. Thanks, a little drained, but it's alright."

"Good because you were amazing since none of us have met someone like you before," Leo said to her, smiling.

Venus tried not to blush and smiled back, "Well, there's no other girls out there like me, and even if there was, they couldn't compare to me."

Leo thought she was honestly amazing, not sure if he could even tell her about his feelings. Of course, Splinter had noticed despite his brothers teasing him about how he would look at her knowing he just needed to tell her. Keeping her gaze on Leo's deep blue eyes, thinking he was someone she found to be more than a friend to her. She didn't know why she started developing these feelings for him, but maybe when they met, she probably did? Could it work out despite him being the leader? If so, then maybe they should give it a chance while they were both thinking about it.

They were closer to each other with their noses, nearly touch and finishing the closeness. Closing their eyes and giving in to each other by sharing a kiss, which honestly was worth the wait. Wrapping her arms around Leo's neck and Leo, placing his hands on her hips. Not realizing Mikey happened to be walking past them though he, of course, being Mikey stopped dead in tracks. Mikey's eyes widened with glam in them with a grin spreading across his face.

"Awe, that's adorable," Mikey said, ruining the mode with hands-on his cheeks with a goofy grin.

Leo and Venus' eyes opened wide before awkwardly separating from each other and blushing hard.

"Really, Mikey?" Leo said, looking at his little brother with an annoyed look on his face.

Venus stood there, face-palming herself with it being away; she didn't want to break it to the others.

"What?! I think it's great you both are finally admitting you love for each other. I don't see the problem, to be honest. It's not like you both weren't about kiss the last you both got close. When Venus was showing us around her place," Mikey explained to them before walking away, drinking an orange crush soda.

Leo and Venus watched as Mikey walked away before they looked at each other.

"Are we going to be more than just friends, Leo? Because I do like you more than that," asked Venus blushing, feeling her cheeks were burning up.

Leo knew now he could be with her now, "I think we can sense I feel that way about you too, Venus."

Smiling, she embraced him in a hug with him sharing the embrace with her. Knowing things would be changing for them both and the others knowing it would be okay since now he could be with the person he loves deeply. Venus felt like she had been alone, but now she wasn't anymore, which felt good to know she would have friends to watch her back. Splinter, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey were witnessing it, thinking it was about time they said something to each other. Before they all went back to what they were doing before they witnessed what just happened simultaneously, they were happy for them.

~ * ~

3 weeks later, after all, that happened with fighting Shredder and stopping the Foot Clan and Eric Sacks. As far as they know from what had been said on the news, the company went bankrupt with the Foot Clan heading back to Japan. The city had been going back to normal within reason since there was still a crime in the streets, no signs of stopping. A new street gang calling themselves the "Purple Dragons" started to cause trouble for the citizens through more "candy" for Raph's knuckles. Leo and Venus were dating during this time with her being his right-hand man...er...woman he means.

Venus never thought she would have thought mutating into a turtle would ever be this exciting feeling every day this to be a blessing in disguise. Splinter had been happy for his eldest son, knowing his other sons would soon know what it's like to feel this way towards another. During this time, Donnie worked on a Hummer, painting it and getting this worked on, thinking about awesome to take her out for a test drive tonight. Raph and Mikey were out in the lair's main arer, with Raph striking the punching back while playing video games. Venus and Leo were in the dojo sparring against each other, using her abilities in the process.

"That's not fair, Venus, with you were using your Shinobi abilities," Leo pouted, honestly felt like listening to Mikey.

Venus sighed lightly, "Leo doesn't take lessons from me, Mikey, okay, plus this is good practice for you all to get used to my abilities. Plus, it'll help me continue with training, so it's a win, win situation."

"Hey, I'm not acting like Mikey; what was that shot for? Also, that's fine. I was messing around, you know," Leo said back to her, hearing her giggling before striking him from behind, "Alright, I'll take you on."

They both continued to spare each other to kill time since the sun was out right now. Waiting for the night to fall, since they couldn't go out during the day, plus Donnie's van was finished and would get to take it out on a test drive. Of course, Donnie behind the wheel would be to do better at driving than Leo trusting him to not hit into things for fun. How like Raph and Mikey would most likely be doing if they would be behind the wheel, sighing lightly at the thought.

Later on in the evening, the turtles and Venus walked into Donnie's lab, where the turtle van was waiting to start. Listening to the horsepower coming out of the engine before they took off while Vern and April were meeting up underneath an abandoned overpass. April got off her bike, noticing Vern leaning against his new car, thinking it was strange to ask her this late at night.

Though she smiled at him, being friendly walking over to him, "There she is, the news reporter on Channel 6."

"How's your arm, Vern," asked April, while putting up her kickstand.

Vern had a sling around his right arm, thinking about what just happened to him getting shot, knowing it wasn't that big of a deal.

"It's fine; this my Fenwick express, like lightning is going to strike twice on this right," he said, trying to joke around.

Donnie pulled up, honking the horn to get their attention smiling at them while Mikey was getting excited about April again. Of course, it's obvious that Mikey, like April, the question being did she have feelings for the orange masked pizza-loving turtle? I know, right, mind blown, with April and Vern walking over to them, checking out the ride with Donnie talking about odds and ends. About the turtle van thinking it was going to be nice to know that Venus and Leo were together as a couple.

"This bad boy is tricked out with an ice machine, sports package, 48.1 surround sound," Donnie said, smiling at them, pushing up his glasses.

Mikey nodded, "Check bass bra."

Pushing one of the buttons only have a missile launcher coming out the roof of the van with Vern getting nervous. They all watched as the missile went over to the car causing it to blow up, with Vern getting upset over the car.

"Sorry, still learning how to work the buttons," Mikey apologized, while Venus' facepalmed herself thinking that was ridiculous.

Vern looked over at Mikey with a shocked look on his face, "That was my Fenwick express I...I just bought that."

Putting pressure on his spot where he got shot while hearing the sirens in the distance knowing someone had called the police after the explosion. It was not surprising, to be honest, since it was random to suddenly hear something like that to let it go, which some people probably would be honest.

"We're going to head out now guys, it's good to see you all again," April said, smiling at them.

Mikey took this opportunity to sing this song he picked out for his "love" mostly for his feelings towards April. Raph and the others were trying to stop him from doing that since it was embarrassing, knowing it would be a waste of time. Mikey turned on the right button, this time starting to sing for her while Donnie started to drive off, thinking it would be weird. Raph sighed, roughly pulling him into the van to come out of the back, still singing the song. April smiling at him, watching them drive off, shaking her head slightly, listening to the goofball while walking off with Vern. Venus thought it was cute Mikey wanted to be with April, though she didn't know or think April felt the same way.

Time could only tell how the feelings were going to be doing with them? Either way, Venus wished the best for them both to find each other or someone else who would be able to love them. Looking over at Leo, knowing she got lucky with this whole situation knowing it would be alright. Knowing things would be alright with them thinking it had been something better for them now since the Foot was under wraps—the Shredder and Sacks in jail which made things feel safer for everyone now. Venus and Leo were dating each other, and for the first time in forever, she felt at peace without any worries or problems. Heading back to the lair, getting out of the van parking it with Raph, Donnie, and Mikey walking towards the kitchen. Wanting to eat some pizza while Venus looked over at Leo again, going over to him.

Leo had felt the eyes on him, seeing Venus smiling at her wrapping his arms around her shoulder.

"What's on your mind Venus," asked Leo, wondering everything was alright.

Venus nodded, "Yeah, just thinking about when we first-time things don't feel dull and weight on the shoulders. You know, feeling at peace."

Gently placing a hand on his cheek, smiling softly at him, with him knowing what was she was talking about. They both leaned in, kissing each other on the lips while wrapping their arms around her waist and his neck. Mikey noticing about to say something when both Raph and Donnie pulled him away from the lab. Splinterleadsg them back towards the kitchen to give them privacy knowing how his master felt towards his wife. Separating slowly from the kiss smiling at each other knowing they somehow found each other.

"I love you so much Leo," Venus chirping, resting her head on his.

Leo rests his head on her head, smiling, "I love you just as much Venus."

Walking out of the lab towards the kitchen to get some dinner with everything going on, knowing it would be alright. Things were finally starting to look up for the turtles for once, knowing it would be better down the road for them.