tushanshu | Text; Don't judge.

[She has yet to learn that. So far Leo, Mikey, and Mike have all been nice. Why would Raphael be any different, right?]

Your baby brother risked his life to save you and you had to drag him out of a fire. [Her statement is firm and and somewhat strained.] I don't think you're just fine. Now unless you want to go to a clinic, put their minds, and mine, at ease and just let me check you for any delayed injuries.

[These two butting heads was unavoidable I think.]

[SHE GONNA LEARN IT RIGHT NOW]

They know that when I say I'm fine, that means I'm fine. [No they know it's the opposite but they usually don't bully him too hard unless he's actively bleeding out.]

Look, I said thank you for helping my brothers, but now you should just mind your own business. I don't need your help!

[Oh dear. This may not end well.]

Well I’m not them! [Some fierce finger pointing going on here.] When someone’s trying to be nice to you maybe you should think about not being a complete jerk! What’s your problem anyway!?

[Her eyes narrow and Korra's lips manage to part to say:] You don’t think about anyone but yourself, do you?

[Flinch.]

Oh ho, look who finally caught up!

That's right, sister. I don't think about or care about anybody but myself. So why don't we just never, ever chat ever again. Great.

Chat? Chat?!

[Why she picked that word to blow up over, even she doesn’t know. Or care, but she’ll go with it. Standing up so quickly it knocks her chair over, Korra slams her fist into her palm.]

There won’t be any chatting the next time I see you. [How Mikey could really care for this guy was beyond Korra and it was seriously ticking her off.]

[There is entirely too much deja vu here for Leo's taste. Korra isn't even in the Foot clan and still they wind up here.]

Guys, GUYS!! Stop it!

Raph - she's done a lot for us. [She saved Mikey's life. But Leo won't say that out loud over the Network. There's been too much said for his comfort already.] Cut her some slack, wouldja?

And Korra, Raphael is fine. [Or rather, any injury severe enough to warrant Korra's skills would be far too serious for him to be arguing on the Network like this.] If one of us needs your help, I will let you know.

[Despite the fact that Leo denies his own weaknesses and (depending on circumstance and priorities) minor injuries, all bets are off when it comes to his brothers. Leo will use any resource or ally necessary to keep his brothers in one piece, alive and whole. But he'll be the one to make the call, especially if Raphael is the one who needs help.]

Oh no, no. He’s far from fine. If anything I’d say he needs a major attitude adjustment. [Korra snarled into her microphone. She wasn’t even paying attention to her monitor to see if Raphael was still connected.] And I was in the process of arranging one.

[Standing there for a brief moment to let herself cool off, Korra grabbed her chair and set it back up so she could sit down.]

Try to help a guy and that’s what I get? Sheesh.

[Leo sighs as he realizes Raph is long gone. What a mess.]

Yeah, that's Raphael. [The undercurrent of his tone says You can't choose your family. It speaks of long aggravation with - and tolerance for - his brother's nature. But Leo "gets" Raphael, even if he doesn't always understand him. Though neither one consciously realizes it, they fight because they're close.] I appreciate what you were trying to do, but my brother... he needs his space.

[A weighty pause. Raph was out of line, but so was Korra, and Leo won't let that accusation stand when his brother is no longer around to fight his own battle. He likes Korra but family comes first and it always will.] What you said earlier... it's not true.

You have to put up with that every day? [Korra would have yanked her hair out by now if it was her. Leo's tone makes it clear that Raph gets under everyone's skin.] You really do have some patience.

[His statement gave her pause as she tried to recall what she had just said.] Which part?

Edited 2013-06-22 22:44 (UTC)

Ah - thanks. It's a talent. [Leo's full aware that he's the most patient of his brothers, and patience being the nin of ninja, he's both unafraid to preen a little and immensely flattered Korra would state it. His smile is audible; fortunately for his dignity, his half-mammalian blush isn't.

He could be taking a bit more credit than is due. Raph gets under Leo's skin like little else - even to the point where, not all that long ago, Leo actually walked away from team leadership to let Raphael try the job. Still, up until that point, Leonardo displayed remarkable patience with his brother's constant challenges and arguments - considering that their basic personality types set them at constant odds.]

I mean... it's not true that he doesn't care about anyone but himself. [He clarifies, low and serious. Raph cares. A lot. Leo doesn't sing his brother's praises, but he can't let that stand, not from Korra. He cares about her opinion.

As a matter of fact, Raph's hands had been burned in the heedless struggle to save Mikey, but it was already taken care of to everyone's satisfaction - strictly in the family as it were. And Raph would never forgive Leo if he blew his cover. The blisters will heal just fine, and so, Raphael is fine. That's Leo's logic and he's sticking to it.

They fight, but they're rock-solid. Nothing comes before family.]

You say talent, I say miracle. [Temperance isn't a strong trait in Korra and the fact that Leo can handle the rambunctiousness of Mikey, the surliness from Raph, and Mike's fast quips on a regular basis was impressive. And that was her completely not knowing anything about the absent Donatello.]

Well he fooled me. [That snap came a little too quickly, before Korra could think. She exhales through her nose as a thought crosses her mind.] But he did say thanks at first. [Actually it was a "thx", but she'll count it because Leo holds Raph in some regard that Korra didn't understand. Yet.]

[A huff of amusement.] Sometimes, yeah. [Thankfully, Donatello is second oldest, and it shows. He's often a breath of fresh air in comparison to the typically-squabbling younger siblings, and Leo's used to getting in some mature conversation with Donnie while Mikey annoys Raph, who then beats up on Mikey.]

Mm-hm. [Leo doesn't want to talk about Raph behind his back, and he's hardly going to lay bare what he understands of his brother's psychology for Korra. But she really ought to know a few things about his brother before passing judgment. She hasn't seen Raphael quite literally throw himself at dangerous enemies when a brother is threatened, and she hasn't seen the way he holds nothing back for himself. He's the tank, the Protector, and Leo's invaluable backup.] Raphael... he doesn't exactly say thank-you.

[Ever. And it probably won't happen again.]

Yeah, I guess not. [It did feel like one of the most awkward signs of gratitude Korra had ever received. Giving a large sigh that all too clearly said "I don't want to say this.", Korra leaned forward onto her desk with her elbows propped.]

Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. [Of course she couldn't bring herself to say they actually did, because that would mean fully admitting she was wrong. And Korra would much rather settle for partially wrong if it was unavoidable.]

Edited 2013-06-24 11:22 (UTC)

[Leo shrugs, his tone warming and relaxing with her admission. He doesn't need a full capitulation, and anyway, Raphael really was just as responsible as Korra.] Getting off on the wrong foot is normal for Raph. Don't worry about it.

[Except that it'll take a miracle to get them in the same space, and an even BIGGER miracle for Raph to use words instead of fists. Actually, mending this breach might take a genuine catastrophe, and there's no reason they have to occupy the same location anytime soon. So yaknow what, this'll do for now. Give Raph time to cool off. Like... maybe a year.]

So he’s always like this? [She was having trouble seeing him do something fun or casual the way she could easily picture Mike and Mikey playing a game, and Leo reading a book.]

Your master must have had a hard time with him. [Being a handful to all but one of her teachers, Korra could only imagine what Raph must have been under tutelage.]

More or less. [The times when he's not - the times when Raph affectionately hand-feeds Spike, or lets Mikey read comics over his shoulder while pretending he hasn't noticed - aren't for Leo to share.]

Sensei always seemed to know the right thing to do. [Leo wishes he did as well.] I would tell you about some of the "lessons" he's given to Raphael, but... I'm pretty sure Raph would actually kill me. [Not said without a significant trace of humor.]

Well respect wasn't one of those lessons. [A low mutter and it was accompanied by the twisting of her lips unfavorably.]

I'll give him some space. [She resigned, still stung by Raph's refusal to have her heal any lingering wounds. Korra felt like it was an insult at her healing abilities and/or a randomg judgmental disliking of her on his part.]

[Leo sputters in amusement at her observation, although he smothers it quickly because really, he shouldn't laugh; but it mirrors his own frustration with his brother too closely for him not to find it funny.]

It's not exactly his best subject.

[At her acquiescence Leonardo smiles in relief, a puff of air that barely makes it to the mic. He has no idea how much it might take to smooth this over properly, but a grudging flag of truce from Korra is a good starting point.]

Raph's not a bad guy, you know. He just - doesn't like it very much when people offer him help.

[To Korra Raphael seemed rather simple, but Leo knew him better than she did and he was trustworthy. Sooo] Maybe he’ll learn everyone needs help sometimes.

[Why did that boy’s attitude have to conflict with her Avatar duties anyway? Not like Korra wanted to have that bad of a first meeting with him. After all, she had gotten along well with the other family members fine.]

Well, if he asks- [And she doubted he would.] mind telling him that Mikey’s shell will be normal again? I mean it’s going to take some time, but it’ll get there.

[It's true that Raphael appears very straightforward, but Leo knows his brother like the back of his hand. Their closeness in apparent contradiction to the frequency of their fights is almost never stated out loud, merely silently understood.]

Sometimes, yeah. But if he can handle it himself – and, uh, he usually can? – it's a good idea to just let him. He likes it that way. [Leo learned a very, very long time ago to pick and choose his battles with this brother in particular. Besides, being the strongest, any attempts to press help upon him were considered both unnecessary and insulting.]

I'll tell him. [Whether he asks or not. It's Leo's duty as a brother to relay that crucial information, even if Raphael can't find the words.]

Thanks… For everything.

[That actually sounded a lot like Korra's approach to things, the only difference being that she would be willing to accept help.]

Hey. Anytime. Just let me know if you guys need me again.

[Korra gave a half-smirk and a wave before cutting the audio.]

Text; Don't judge.

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