We Don’t Talk About How Impactful The Ending To Season 1 Was.

I still think the funniest way for Gi-hun to discover that “Young-il” is the Front Man would be through the most relatable slip-up ever: missing his iconic shoulder-length waves.

Picture this: after a game, Gi-hun and “Young-il” are chatting casually, maybe even joking around. Gi-hun laughs about something, and without thinking, “Young-il” sighs wistfully and says, “I miss your longer hair.”

Cue Gi-hun freezing mid-laugh, narrowing his eyes like, “How do you know I had long hair?”

And that’s when the panic sets in. Flashback to “Young-il” glued to surveillance footage from the first games, zooming in unnecessarily on Gi-hun’s flowing hair.

More of the Tiny-Nardo AU inspired by @the-cauldron-witch tags.

Donatello: [bursts into Michelangelo’s room, wide-eyed and frantic] Mikey, have you seen Leo? I had him in his hamster ball on the kitchen counter while I made him a tiny sandwich, and now he’s gone!

Michelangelo: [surrounded by scattered action figures, hiding something behind his back, and sporting tiny bite marks on his fingers] Uh, no, nope. Haven’t seen him. Hah, get it? Seen him! Because, you know, he’s so… small.

Donatello: [crosses his arms, tapping his foot impatiently] Michelangelo, where is he, and what exactly have you done to him?

Michelangelo: [pouts, then pulls out a very annoyed, shrunken Leonardo in a tiny Silver Sentry costume, who immediately bites Michelangelo’s finger] Ouch! Hey, Leo!

Donatello: [frown wavers as he struggles to hide a smile] Did you… already take pictures?

Michelangelo: [holding his finger and grinning sheepishly while holding up his phone] Oh, you know I did!

Leonardo: [crosses his arms, muttering] I hate both of you.

I think a really underrated trope is "character gets shrunk to adorable size and hijinks ensue," and I especially want to see this used in the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Picture this: Leonardo, either through some villain of the week, freak accident, or alien technology, gets shrunk down to roughly the size of a Barbie doll.

Donatello calls Raphael and Michelangelo into his laboratory, looking all grim and serious. The absence of their eldest brother has the younger two convinced that something horrible has happened.

Raphael: [bursts in, all worried] Donny, what the shell happened? Where's Leo?!

Michelangelo: [close on his heels, equally concerned] Yeah, where's Leo? Did something happen?

Donatello: [holding up his hands to calm them] Yes, but it’s not what you think! He’s fine. He's just... gone through a bit of a change.

Raphael: [squints] What kind of change?

Donatello: [sighs] Now, I’m going to bring him out, and you two better be on your best behavior. No laughing—this is serious.

Raphael: [crosses arms, suspicious] Serious how?

Donatello gives them a look that screams, "You'll see." He reaches under the table, carefully picks up something (or rather, someone), and gently sets Leonardo down on the table. Leonardo—now barely the height of a Barbie doll—straightens his gear and adjusts his mask, trying desperately to maintain his dignity.

Raphael: [silent, staring] ...

Michelangelo: [jaw drops] ...

Raphael: [deadpan, trying not to laugh] ...I’m not supposed to laugh, right?

Michelangelo: [slowly grins] He...is...so...AWESOME! Dude, he’s like the ultimate, super-realistic action figure! [jumps excitedly] Let me hold him! Let me hold him! Please, just for a minute!

Leonardo: [scrambles to climb up Donatello’s arm, in full panic mode] DO NOT let him hold me! DO NOT let him hold me!

this post got a chuckle out of me 😭 also my baby ga yeong 💗💗

close ups

Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes

Michelangelo: I think Leo's possessed.

Donatello: [barely looking up from his coffee] Oh, fantastic. That’s just what we needed.

Raphael: [grumpily rubbing his eyes] It’s seven in the freakin’ morning, Mikey. Can we not start with your nonsense already?

Michelangelo: I’m serious! Look at him!

[Leonardo sits at the table, calmly eating a spoonful of Cheerios while reading The Art of War.]

Raphael: [deadpan] Wow, Leo’s eating breakfast. Better alert the Vatican.

Michelangelo: He doesn’t eat breakfast!

Donatello: [squinting at Leonardo] I mean… he usually doesn’t, but maybe he’s turning over a new leaf? Healthy habits?

Michelangelo: Healthy habits my shell! It’s not what Leo’s eating—it’s what kind! Cheerios over Lucky Charms?! Everyone knows he has a sweet tooth he tries to hide from us, and those are his favorite!

Raphael: [throwing his hands up] One meal. That’s all I ask. ONE. Without Mikey accusing somebody of being a zombie, or a werewolf, or—

[Michelangelo suddenly holds up a crucifix and points it at Leonardo.]

Michelangelo: BEGONE, DEMON!

[Leonardo’s eyes flash black, and he lets out an unholy roar, flipping the chair over as he collapses to the floor.]

Raphael & Donatello: [screaming] WHAT THE HELL?!

I'm trapped by these two

I’m not sure if it was intentional, but this art brilliantly captures how young and terrified Leonardo is in this moment. It’s easy to forget, given how badass this iteration of Leonardo is, that he was only fifteen years old during this fight—fifteen, staring death in the eye and refusing to back down. This really brings that vulnerability to the surface, and it hits so hard. Amazing work—I absolutely love this!

This is an art collab between me and @atomicmindz! I did the composition and draft and she did the rest!

Honestly, the colors came out so good for her part, I'm really happy with it! :D

Leonardo when fighting alongside his brothers:

Leonardo when fighting by himself:

Rewatching the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series has made one thing painfully clear: Leonardo goes absolutely feral when he fights solo. Like, when he is with his brothers, he is the model of teamwork—strategizing, watching their backs (shells?), and occasionally throwing in a quip or two. But the second he is left to fight alone? He unleashes. No one to protect, no need to hold back—he just goes full-on berserker mode.

in sleep, he sang to me.

idea from @grimeshound

How Gi-hun was going to walk out that mingle room if he paired up with Young-il in the last round: