tsunami-2956

We need more of this. Public shaming in front of their families. The nerve of the war-criminal: please don't tell my children I played a huge role in the mass-murder of children.

This is not about politics. If armed settlers threaten U.S. citizens and soldiers help detain them, wouldn't that merit an investigation?

It is, by any metric, a small country masquerading as a city.

It governs more lives and more wealth than most nations. If democratic socialism — housing reform, public banking, equitable taxation — functions here, it obliterates the myth that such governance can’t work at scale. The fear isn’t ideological. It’s empirical. Because if Mamdani can keep the lights on, reduce homelessness, and maintain economic growth without catering to Wall Street, then the capitalist gospel collapses under its own dead weight.

What terrifies the establishment isn’t failure. It’s feasibility.

If it works in New York, there’s no reason it can’t work in Nebraska. If it works in Queens, it can work in Kansas City. And once proof exists, belief becomes irrelevant. The ship of democracy, fully refitted, will keep sailing — and no one can claim it isn’t American."

Bay Leo! x GN reader

Leo is in awe of how glossy your lips are

//Zero warnings// just some fluff and makeouts here and there

The steam of the night air of New York City brushed past your face, a sharp but welcome contrast to the comforting warmth of Leonardo’s massive hand holding yours. These quiet, late-night walks were a rarity, carved out from his exhausting training schedule and his heavy burdens as the leader of the team. As one of the sole protectors of the city, his mind was almost always working overtime, scanning the alleys below and analyzing every distant siren. But tonight, as you strolled along the secluded, high-walled roof of an abandoned brick warehouse, his focus shifted entirely to you. You leaned your head against his sculpted, heavily muscled arm, appreciating the rare stillness. It was undeniably hard having a boyfriend who was a massive, six-foot-five mutant ninja, especially when his sense of duty constantly pulled him away. Yet, moments like this—where he was completely yours, stripped of his katanas and his stern leader persona- made every agonizing hour of waiting worth it. Stopping near a shadowed brick alcove that overlooked the glittering city skyline, you pulled a small tube from your pocket.

The humid air was making your lips dry, so you capped off the tube and swept a generous layer of strawberry lip balm across your lips. Leonardo, who had been listening intently to the distant hum of traffic, suddenly fell dead silent. He looked down at you, his piercing blue eyes catching the dim moonlight. The blue fabric of his mask crinkled slightly at the corners as his gaze locked onto your mouth. In the pale light, your lips looked incredibly lush, catching the ambient glow of the city with a perfect, glossy sheen. A sweet, unmistakable scent of fresh strawberries immediately bloomed between you, cutting right through the scent of rain and old concrete. "What do you have on?" Leo asked, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly rumble that vibrated right through your chest. His gaze didn't waver from your lips, his pupils slightly blown. You smirked, a playful spark lighting up your eyes. You capped the tube and held it out slightly, leaning in closer to him, deliberately trying to be a bit flirty. "It's just lip balm," you murmured, tilting your head up. "Why? Do you want to try it?" Leo didn't answer with words. The subtle challenge in your voice caught him completely off guard, melting away whatever disciplined restraint he had left.

A low hum rumbled in his throat as he stepped forward, his towering, powerful frame completely blocking out the rest of New York City, trapping you against the warm brick wall behind you. "Yeah," Leo whispered, his hot breath fanning across your face. "I think I do." His large, calloused, three-fingered hand moved to the side of your neck, his thumb gently sweeping along your jawline to tilt your face upward. He leaned down, his movements surprisingly deliberate and gentle for his immense size, and pressed his lips firmly against yours. The initial contact was soft, a tentative testing of the slick, sugary sweetness coating your lips. But the moment the taste of artificial strawberry hit him, any lingering hesitation vanished. Leo groaned softly against your mouth, the sound deep and possessive, as he deepened the kiss. His grip on your jaw tightened just enough to anchor you, while his other massive arm wound tightly around your waist, pulling your smaller frame flush against his broad, armored chest. The kiss quickly evolved from a sweet taste-test into a deep, consuming makeout. Leo’s lips parted yours with a smooth, practiced hunger, his tongue sweeping in to steal the flavor directly from you. He tasted like the dew night air and the faint hint of green tea, completely contrasting the artificial sugar on your lips. You wrapped your arms around his thick neck, your fingers tangling in the long, trailing ends of his blue mask, pulling him even closer. He was incredibly thorough, losing himself entirely in the sensation.

Every time you thought he was going to pull back for air, he would shift his angle, his lips sliding against yours with a wet, heavy friction that left you completely breathless and dizzy. His thumb stroked the sensitive skin under your ear, his large body radiating an intense, comforting heat that shielded you from the chilly wind. He kissed you as if he were trying to memorize the exact shape of your mouth, pouring all the pent-up stress of his training and his fierce protection of you into every single slide of his lips. When he finally pulled away, it was agonizingly slow. He dragged his lips across yours one last time before resting his forehead against yours, his chest heaving as he breathed in the air you shared. Your lips felt swollen, completely stripped of the balm, and tingling with an intense heat. Leo kept his eyes closed for a few seconds, his thumb still tracing your jaw, just enjoying the rapid beat of your heart against his chest. When he finally opened his eyes, they were dark with affection, a lazy, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He smacked his lips slightly, clearly tasting the residual strawberry flavor left behind. "It's good," Leo rumbled, his voice rougher and deeper than before, completely dazed by you. He glanced down at the small tube still clutched in your hand, then looked back up into your eyes with a distinctly playful, needy glint. "But I think it wore off already. Can I try on some more?"

You gave him a playful smile, your fingers tightening around the small tube. Instead of applying it to yourself again, you popped the cap off with a soft click. "Well, if you want to try it on again, we need to do it right," you murmured, your voice laced with affection. You reached up, your fingers brushing against the cool, dark green skin of his cheek as you stabilized yourself. Leo watched you with hooded, heavy-lidded eyes, completely captivated as you brought the tube to his own mouth. He stood perfectly still, a massive, lethal ninja reduced to absolute compliance under your touch. Very gently, you swiped the strawberry balm across his lower lip, its glossy sheen standing out against his rugged features.

The scent of fresh strawberries immediately bloomed between you again, masking the metallic tang of the city air. Leo’s chest rumbled with a low, deep vibration—halfway between a purr and a chuckle—as he felt the slick, sweet wax coat his skin. He didn't even wait for you to cap the tube before his patience snapped entirely. "My turn," he growled softly. His massive arms wound tightly around your waist, lifting you entirely off your feet so your heights matched perfectly. You gasped, the sound instantly swallowed as Leo pressed his mouth hard against yours. This time, there was no hesitation. The mix of the fresh balm on his lips and the residual sweetness on yours created an intoxicating rush. He kissed you with a raw, desperate hunger, his lips sliding against yours with a heavy, wet friction that made your knees turn to water. His tongue swept into your mouth, tasting the artificial sugar and the deep warmth of you, completely dominating the kiss. You wrapped your legs around his broad waist to keep your balance, your fingers burying into the fabric of his blue mask as he tilted his head, deepening the embrace until you were completely breathless, lost in the sweet, overwhelming heat of him.

Hello, everyone!! This week will be extremely jam-packed for me, so I'd like to get this story wrapped up before I forget. Fun fact: that story was inspired by a dream I had, and I wanted to share it with you. I meant to write a short blurb, but I had fun, and it's a lengthy oneshot lol. I tried something new for this oneshot, so I hope it's to your liking. I am trying to answer the requests I have. Thank you for sharing your fantastic thoughts and ideas, which I can bring to the platform. I hope each and every one of you is doing your best and enjoying your summer. Remember to drink water and take pauses 💕

Taglist <3

@heartbreakinabottle99

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@kattoxicstar

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@lillycitta

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After roughly 6 months, from ideation to finish, here are the guys.

Happy 10th anniversary to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows!