Chapter Text
Tattered Remains
Coming May 14
The last thing Leonardo would ever want to do is lose any of his brothers. He would sacrifice himself long before he let's a single one of them be harmed.
Unfortunately, their responsibilities made that a very hard promise to keep. At some point a line between leader and brother had to be drawn and despite how much he wanted to stay on the latter side, sometimes hard decisions had to be made.
But his brothers will always always come first.
However even the greatest leaders and brothers can make mistakes, and after losing their father and letting the pain of their past fester within their relationships, Leonardo found his brothers slipping away.
And then they found themselves slipping into an entirely new universe - a universe where they weren't hurting and their counterparts seemed to have a bond far stronger than their own and Leonardo found himself hurting in a way he didn't know possible. He just wanted to get his family home and try to heal what was crumbling.
Until Shredder appeared. And Rahzar, and Tigerclaw and other enemies that did not belong here. When one member falls victim to an incident from his past, the leader side of him is forced to step up and prepare for the worst.
And he was scared to see what would remain in the end.
Suggested Stories while you wait
Title: Deadweight
Author: MorikoTheHalfAngel
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30416832/chapters/74991873
Universe: 2012
One of the things about 2012 that I really wish they explored more were the three months Leo spent in the coma and the healing that came afterwards. Since it was a kids show, of course they had to gloss over things and get back to the action, but this story satisfies that missing piece. Also, I'm a mess for angst, like the sadder the better and this fic is PUMPED with angst. I literally read it like three times now, that's how much I love it AND it's just so well written in general. Moriko, I love you for creating this fic and destroying my heart with every update.
Title: Change of Perspective
Author: characcoon
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30334833?view_full_work=true
Universe: 2018
THIS STORY GOT LOCKED WHICH IS A CRIME . I was hooked on the first chapter and the characterization of the Rise boys is spot on , I genuinely believe that characcoon is secretly a writer for the show, that's how perfect the boys are. Donnie's feral energy is right on the nose. It's got mystic magic, family relationships, and a ton of thought and love PLEASE read it when it unlocks.
Title: Nothing Without Them
Author: CaptainLlewellyn
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30708557/chapters/75781130
Universe: 2018/Rise
So an idea I was mulling over before writing this story was making Leo being leader a massive conflict, but I realized that would be WAY too much for one story when I already have the 2012 guys going through their own issues. This book however does go down the route that I think is more believable, it explores Leo's internal conflict with being the leader and the disruption in the family relationships from the sudden change following the defeat of Shredder. It's well written and deeply explores the characters and their emotions and well worth the read, but it does have mature content as it handles mental health issues. So watch the tags to make sure it's safe for you to read.
Title: Bro, You Literally got Hit by a Bus
Author: emmals16
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27079585/chapters/66119587
Universe: Open interpretation, but 2003/2012 inspired
As I mentioned, and if you couldn't tell by my writing, I am a sucker for whump/angst and this story is FULL of it. We get comfort, of course, but it's just all so beautifully written AND it's Leo-Mikey centric and that brotherly relationship never gets old, I love the eldest and youngest relationship. Also??? Everything is medically accurate so as a paramedic student, I am loving it.
Title: Dagger From the Mirror
Author: TotallyNotaSecretA03Account
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29712687/chapters/73070430
Universe: 2012 and 2018 crossover
SHUT UP, THIS IS THE GREATEST CROSSOVER FIC EVER AND I WILL DIE ON THAT HILL. First of all, it's such a unique take on the crossover trope and I have lost my mind every single chapter. This is NOTHING like any crossover you have read in the past and it is 100% worth the read. I'm only halfways done because college is a nightmare, but I have loved every word and have been hooked since day one. Also the fights are just IMMACULATE. Read this fic before I bite your ankles.
Title: Atlas
Author: boshinya
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27140311/chapters/66278335
Universe: 2003/2012 inspired
This fic means the world to me and I can NEVER suggest it enough, it's the perfect mix of angst, fluff, comfort, understanding, growth, brotherly relationships, I swear this is a work of art. I've lost track of how many times I have read it, but I can tell you that I read it when I'm sad or anxious which is 98% of the time because of school. The relationships and conflicts the characters face are so beautifully written and I cry everytime because healthy family relationships make me projectile sob.
Title: shellshocked
Author: redhairedmuses
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29140815
Universe: 2018
Have you ever read a fic that you have a massive love/hate relationship with? Yeah, this is mine. I adore this story with my whole heart but it hurts SO MUCH. And it has art so like ???? Perfection.
Title: Monsters Among Us
Author: DanzinoraSwitch
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26310940/chapters/64065445
Universe: 2018
WHEN I TELL YOU THIS FIC HAS EVERYTHING, I MEAN IT. I am so excited to see where it goes, and everything is wonderfully written and I genuinely could gush about this fic for hours.
Title: With a Touch of Blue
Author: Windify
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28790730/chapters/70603617
Universe: 2003
I can describe this fic in four letters: P A I N. Leo-Centric angst and fluffy healing, everything you need to have a proper sob fest at 2 am after a rough midterm. Learned that from experience.
Title: Drowning
Author: CharmyWizard
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29927628/chapters/73662579
Universe: 2018
There's not many chapters out but by golly gosh is it a fantastic read. The first few chapters have me HOOKED and I am very excited to see how the story evolves, also the Donnie and Leo interactions are PERFECT.
Title: Solitude
Author: azure_frost
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29029464?view_full_work=true
Universe: original
SHUT UP I'M PROMOTING MY AU AGAIN. *slaps my version of the four turtles* These bad boys can fit so much trauma and angst. Also here they are as tots in sweaters
And then them meeting their species
Leo/Leatherback Sea Turtle
Mikey/Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Donnie/Ringed-Map Turtle
Raph/Mata Mata turtle and Salt water crocodile hybrid. He does not have a fun time learning about that little fact
art by https://bantamblip.tumblr.com/
Give her art love or suffer the consequences >:(
Frayed Knots Playlist
Songs that I had on repeat during specific scenes
Eleanor Rigby × The Beatles
Okay so like in the beginning I said that this song inspired the fic. It 100% did, everyone say thanks to the Beatles because if it wasn't for them, I would have never written this story. Anyways, the first scene it kinda clues in with would be chapter two, when everyone is comparing each other and no one is having a good time lol
Rhinestone Eyes × Gorillaz
This played A LOT during the writing of the story. It had the proper vibes for the first chapter, when the portal was getting destroyed only for the Rise guys to find the 2012 guys on the floor, and also fit the fights near the end.
Wundatrip × Duskus
This song was looping while writing the 2012 V Big Mama/Draxum fight, especially with the beginning part matching up with Draxum's reveal at the end of chapter 10. I wanted to give off the vibe from the scene during Insane in the Mama Train where Draxum ambushes the 2018 guys and then again when Donatello clues in on Michelangelo losing memories and being 13 again.
Welcome Home × Radical Face
You know that one second of comfort I gave during this fic with Michelangelo and Leonardo healing? Yeah, this song was playing.
Home × Edith Whiskers
Okay this song plays a lot in upcoming chapters *cough* arc two *cough* but it did help with writing the Leonardo, Raphael, and Splinter conversation, which was like the calm before the shit tornado hit with Leo lol
Bounce Back × LIONAIRE
Yeah, so that fight with Leo and Shredder? Pretty anticlimactic in comparison to other stuff, but this song was definitely a bop that helped with getting the scene wrapped up. 1:00-1:20 is the best part. Kinda sucks Shredder came back to rock Leo's shit whoops
The Untold × Secession Studios
2018 V 2012 villains fight, especially when the beat drops.
Intro III × NF
This song 100% embodies the Donnies in this arc because you know. An immovable object meets an unstoppable force or something like that. Idk why I thought they would get along when I first started writing, literally both of them have homicidal tendencies.