Alternate Allure

CHAPTER 16: EVERYTHING I DO, I DO IT FOR YOU

Leo blinks. Once. Twice. And then his lips twitch like he's holding back a laugh. "Wait, wait, pry him off you?"

You can practically feel the heat radiating off your face. "Okay, listen—"

"Nooo, no, no. Back it up" Leo holds up a hand, looking way too amused for your liking. "You're telling me you were cuddling with my brother?"

"Wha— NO!" You hiss, your hands flying up as you try to stay quiet. The last thing you need is to wake Donnie up. "It wasn't cuddling! We just—" You fold your arms tightly across your chest, your eyes flicking anywhere but at Leo's smirking face. "I dunno, hugged? And then I just fell asleep"

His grin stretches wider as he leans in. "Sooo... cuddling?"

"Shut up!" You smack his arm, hard enough to make him snicker. "You don't have to say it like that! It wasn't— He was just helping me calm down, alright?!"

Leo doubles over, his laughter barely muffled. "Relax, MC! I'm just messing with you"

You huff, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. "Anyway!" You clear your throat loudly, desperate to change the subject. "Is it cool if he stays the night? He looks so... peaceful. I don't wanna wake him up"

"I mean, I guess it's fine. He doesn't sleep enough as it is" Leo says, crossing his arms."So, uh... since you're not mad anymore, can we talk?"

"Leo" You pinch the bridge of your nose. "If it was literally any other day, I'd happily hear you out for hours. But I've got class early tomorrow, and I've barely slept all week, so—"

"I met a girl."

Your hand shoots out, grabbing the strap of his ninjato holster, yanking him closer.

"Spill. Right now."

Leo smirks. "Well... she's really cool"

You nod. "Go on"

"She's also a martial artist"

You nod even more excitedly. "Love that for you. Keep going"

"And, uh..." He pulls back slightly, a nervous little smile tugging at his lips. "She's in the Foot clan"

...

...

...

His dumbass smile is immediately smacked off his face by you, with a rolled-up blueprint.

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!"

"She's different!" Leo protests, holding his hands up like you're about to whack him again—which, spoiler alert, you totally are. "She's—"

"In the Foot clan."

"Yeah, but she's—"

"In. The. Foot. Clan."

"Look. I know I shouldn't be hanging out with her, but—"

"Glad we're on the same page" You force a sweet smile, nodding enthusiastically. "You know why you shouldn't be hanging out with her?" Leo winces as you smack him one more time for emphasis. "Because she's in the motherfucking FOOT CLAN!"

"Ow! Okay, okay! I get it!" He yelps, arms up, covering himself. "What are you even hitting me with? That hurts!"

"With some blueprints... I'm making a tech-bo for Donnie" You huff, crossing your arms, the weapon still clutched tight in your hands. "You're playing with fire here, Nardo! Have you lost your mind?!"