Things Change

Chapter 1: Biology

Donatello was speechless after his little conversation with his 'brother', Leonardo. To tell the truth he wanted to cry. Now that he had put things in perspective, his sister had always striken him as different from the rest of them. But the findings really topped any previous notion he may have had.

Unconsciously the purple cladded turtle had become self-conscious around her lately. Something she did not take lightly. The blue cladded turtle always took her training seriously, no matter who she fought against during one of their many session. But lately she had made a point of taking down Donnie in the most humiliating, and painful ways possible.

Leonardo was basically shoving it into his face. 'Just because I'm physically a girl, doesn't mean I can't kick your ass.'

Much to his displeasure, Master Splinter had decided to assign him to be her partner frequently. But when they were practicing with each other's weapons, Donnie fought he'd gained the upper hand. For the first time, he was wrong. A non repentant Leo had only gained a reprimand from Splinter about this supposed to be a friendly match.

"Dude! With your own weapon!What did you do? He usually only spars like that against Raph." Michelangelo had joked, as he tended to a bruised and humiliated purple cladded turtle.

Of course this peeved his brother Raphael, who was used to being in the spotlight of Leonardo's few bouts of anger. Ever since Donatello had replaced him under the spot light, it was almost as if the red cladded turtle was trying to reclaim his place. From obnoxious comments on him being the eldest turtle, or her leadership abilities the red cladded turtle tried everything. But had no avail.

Leo didn't even seem to notice the hot headed turtle's desperation for attention. The blue cladded turtle just focused on proving to Donnie, that she was a girl, but one that was not afraid to prove who was more masculine. If not already blatantly obvious, she succeeded.

.....

To tell the truth, Leonardo had been floored after that little secret had been revealed to her, especially since now that she had all the pieces, it really made sense and she felt like a complete fool. The worst was although it was only Donatello that knew, she was already being treating differently.

First, after she came from the shower with only a towel on her shoulders, the purple cladded turtle had crashed into her and had unintentionally blushed in a deep pink color. Leo meet his eyes and shook her head in disbelief and headed straight to her room after having given the latter a not so light kick, urging him to move aside.

Then, there was the sparring practices. Every time she was up against him, he'd attempt to hit her, but never to hard. He'd attempt to block her, but far too often. During their most recent match, Leo had pinned him down onto the ground, their bodies straight on top of each other, with her legs keeping his own immobile and her hands pinned his arms. He'd choked and turned bright red in embarrassment, trying to avoid her eyes.

She sighed, playing with her bandanna's tails. "He's treating me like a delicate flower."

A warrior was neither male nor female in the battlefield and, as far as she was concerned, nothing had changed. But her brothers' on the other hand wouldn't be that adaptive to the 'Change' in their home. Donatello a prime example. She turned pale just thinking of the rest of their family's reactions.

But then Donnie came into her mind again. He knew it already, so there was no discussion on the matter and had somehow accepted it and hopefully would not tell a soul. She'd have to thank him later for taking the trouble of making sure the lair was empty. Well as soon as he regained his senses.

Leo sighed a second time, and stood up, waltzing over to her mirror. She stared at her reflection and felt her own cheeks turn pink. She always knew she looked slightly feminine compressions to Donatello and Raphael, but knowing she was actually female only made her feel more self conscious. She plucked up her bandanna tails and playfully tied them into a large, girly bow.

Batting her eyelashes, she leaned forward and giggled. "Jeez, at least I won't have to feel weird about singing I Feel So Pretty all the time." Taking out her swords, she decided to practice her sword wielding skills, and attempt to take her mind off of things.

An abrupt knock on her door interrupted her short practice. "Leo, its Donnie-"

"What do you want?"

The door opened a bashful Donatello poked his head through. "Can I come in?" She nodded and took a seat on her bed. "Look, Leo..." He trailed off and awkwardly sat next to her. "You can't stay mad at me forever-"

"Challenge accepted."

"Leo." Donnie pleaded. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I'm just not used to-this."

"All has been said as far as I am concerned" She said now taking the swords to attempt another practice.

"You need to talk to someone" Donnie replies coldly ignoring the fact that angering a sword wielding female turtle was not such a great idea. "I mean, this isn't just something you can keep between us."

"Its not big deal Donnie." She states, clearly annoyed. "Why can't you let it go?" She questioned under her breath.

"Really, well maybe you won't mind me breaking the news? Since it's not a big deal." He  headed to the exit and feeling a breeze as a shuriken hit the frame of the door a few inches from him. "Agagck-! Leo-?!"

"Not here, not now." She warns as her eyes narrow dangerously. "Don't tell them, I'll tell them when I'm ready." But behind her tough 'guy' act, he could see she was truly scared. "Please, Donnie."

"Alright." Leo sighed in relief, but Donnie continued. "But, you need to learn more about this, Leo. As a female and a teenager, you're likely to go through some changes soon. And I don't want to see you go through them unprepared."

....

Leonardo was reading in the living room about reptilian biology and as she read on mating behavior, she turned several shades of pink as she realized something. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as Raphael managed to snatch the book from her hands.

"Let's see what makes Fearless leader blush!" Raphael commented as he avoided Leo's intents to get the book back, before they could get a hint of the content.

Michelangelo walked in the room and receiving a signal from Raph, caught the book with ease. "Reptilian biology, Dude is this Donnie's?" Mikey questioned in curiosity.

"Really?" Raph said disappointed as he had expected something he could use to tease Leo with. The youngest turtle suddenly lost interest on the matter and tossed the book back heading to the fridge.

"Seen any hot mutant turtle chick lately with whom you can actually use this?" Raph said opening the book on the chapter Leonardo was reading. "And you say I am the odd one"

Leonardo now downright angry stealthily grabbed the book back by force, making Raphael lose his balance and fall back hard on his shell. "That was refreshing." She said disappearing from the living room leaving two very perplexed turtles.

As she walked out, Donatello nervously walked to her. "Well? Did you learn anything?"

"That being a female reptile is the equivalent of having red hair during the Salem Witch Trials." Leo complains, holding the book against her chest. She bit at her lip as hesitantly handed the book back to her brother. "I don't think I can read this anymore."

Having already read the book more times than he could count, the purple cladded turtle understood. "It's going to be difficult. Especially when you fully mature, that's why we need to tell everyone else as soon as possible." He sighed seeing her sapphire blue eyes slack. "You can't do this alone."

"I know." Gently patting his hand, she smiled. "Thank you, Donnie."

His cheeks reddened slightly, though, luckily the latter didn't notice.  "-Y-You're we-wel-come."