[And that...really kind of takes Leo off guard. He isn't sure what he was even expecting at this point, but whatever it was, seeing the fire go out of this other-Raph so quickly is startling enough to take the wind out of his own sails. He lowers his arms and looks again, this time more slowly.]
[...he's younger. It's obvious beyond his smaller stature - his voice, how he carries himself. The way he's crouched on the ground right now, discouraged, even a little vulnerable. Leo can't remember the last time he's seen his own brother like that.]
[This is absolutely insane. There's still a disconnect between what he's thinking and what's right in front of him: this can't be Raphael. There are only four mutant ninja turtles, and only two of them are here. Some kind of trick. A trap by the Emperor or Evandau. Or maybe he's just losing his marbles.]
[But what he's seeing is Raph, not quite Leo's brother but still, unmistakably Raphael, a kid who's upset and beaten down because...Leo isn't quite his brother, either. And in the end, the battle between Leonardo's caution and his compassion has always been a rather one-sided fight.]
[With a quiet sigh Leo crouches down, bringing himself closer to eye level with Raph. Man. How does he even do this?]
Maybe we should start from the beginning. What's the last thing you remember before coming here?
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[...he's younger. It's obvious beyond his smaller stature - his voice, how he carries himself. The way he's crouched on the ground right now, discouraged, even a little vulnerable. Leo can't remember the last time he's seen his own brother like that.]
[This is absolutely insane. There's still a disconnect between what he's thinking and what's right in front of him: this can't be Raphael. There are only four mutant ninja turtles, and only two of them are here. Some kind of trick. A trap by the Emperor or Evandau. Or maybe he's just losing his marbles.]
[But what he's seeing is Raph, not quite Leo's brother but still, unmistakably Raphael, a kid who's upset and beaten down because...Leo isn't quite his brother, either. And in the end, the battle between Leonardo's caution and his compassion has always been a rather one-sided fight.]
[With a quiet sigh Leo crouches down, bringing himself closer to eye level with Raph. Man. How does he even do this?]
Maybe we should start from the beginning. What's the last thing you remember before coming here?