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leo runs.
he doesn’t know where he’s going, but he just runs.
he needed to get out, the lair felt suffocating.
his brothers were all talking at once, asking him questions, plans for new missions.
raph being well raph and saying things like “i thought you were the sensei now leo.”
leo couldn’t take it. he snapped and just ran out. the brothers just stood shocked at their usually calm and collected brother.
when they were deciding who was gonna go after him, karai said she’d go, saying it was the best option. maybe leo needed his sister right now.
before anyone could protest, she was already running towards the exit and jumped over the turnstiles towards the surface.
she ran and went to every rooftop until she found the one she knew she’d find leo at. this is one they used to spar at a lot and sometimes still do in their free time.
she sees him just staring out into the distance. she walks up beside him and just stares with him, waiting for him to start.
leo then walks away and starts pacing, karai turning and watching him.
“what’s funny it was always shreddar everytime” he says pacing back and forth quickly.
karai watches him with her arms crossed trying to figure out what leo is talking about.
“what do you mean?” she asks
“everytime splinter died. it was always shredder. first time, during the invasion he threw him down a drainpipe and he was gone to us for a while. second, he killed him before he could save the world and the earth got destroyed. third, killed him on the rooftop and it was for good this time,” leo said this all in one breath as he’s pacing and karai is frowning now and going up to him.
“okay leo look at me,” she says putting her hands up in an attempt to stop the turtles pacing and he does but he’s breathing heavy and looks like he’s going into a panic attack.
“hey hey look at me,” she says moving her hands up to his cheeks and forcing him to look at her. “focus on me okay? take deep breaths for me. in and out.”
she breathes in and exhales, telling him to follow. he does and after a couple times, his breath evens out and his shoulders deflate. karai smiles and rubs his cheek comfortingly, but then tears start to fill his eyes and he starts crying. karai pulls him in and just holds him, knowing he needs this.
she brings him down to the ground gently and just holds him, rubbing his shell. after about ten minutes, he starts to calm down and he lifts up slowly wiping his eyes.
“sorry…,” he says hoarsely from the crying and karai shushes him.
“hey you needed that. you’ve been keeping that all in.”
“it’s just…so hard being sensei. they don’t respect me like they respected him and…i just wish i could be their brother again.”
karai frowns even though she’s known for a while how much pressure leo was under. she’s not sure what to say, she’s never been the comforting type. she could try though given she’s the only one out here so she has to say something.
“so be their brother,” she says.
“you don’t get it i can’t-“
“no listen,” she cuts him off and she can’t help but almost laugh at how leo’s mouth instantly shut and he stared at her. maybe she has a ‘leader’ voice too that gets people to shut up.
“you’re the oldest so it’s obvious that you’re sensei, but you don’t have to take the title. even if you do, you can take breaks from it and switch to being a brother. you’re still a teenager leo, you can just be their brother.”
karai hopes that all made sense cause she feels like she’s rambling and she doesn’t know what else to say, but she sees leo processing her words and then his shoulders slack, the tension gone and she hopes he’s taking it in.
“i just…don’t want to disappoint him,” he says softly and karai frowns going up and putting his hand on his cheek gently lifting his face up to meet hers.
“you’re not. you stepping him and leading your brothers, training them, being there for them just like you’ve always done. he’s proud of you leo. he wouldn’t want you to crumble like this.”
leo looks like he’s processing it again and he nods softly giving a small smile. karai smiles back and then leo’s face shifts and his eyes fill up with tears and he starts shaking and then he’s crying and collapsing to the ground and karai follows him and just holds him, letting him cry. he needs this and karai will forget she doesn’t know how to comfort people and do the best she can. she starts rubbing his shell and hopes it comforts him.
“i miss him so much,” leo says in between sobs.
“i miss him too,” karai says and tears come to her eyes grieving not only her father but the life they could have had together if shredder didn’t take her from him. she keeps it in though, she doesn’t want to start crying too and then leo may feel like he can’t cry anymore.
after about ten minutes, leo stops and instead of getting up he just stays in karai’s arms. he didn’t mean to cry again, but karai was right. he needed this. he’s been bottling it all up, trying to be strong for his brothers. he tried to be stoic and be strict, but he sees now he was trying to be him. and he knows he can’t be with him, he has to be leo. he has to be their brother.
“sorry for crying on you again,” he says lifting up wiping his eyes.
“if you apologize for crying one more time, i’m going to slap you,” karai says but it’s with a smile so leo knows she’s joking. partly. you never know with karai.
they both stand up and leo turns and stares out into the desolate city. karai stands next to him.
“thank you…for this,” leo says and karai smiles.
“anytime, whenever you want to just come up here to spar, talk, cry. i’m here,” she says and leo smilies turning to her.
“wanna get back to the lair?” leo asks and karai nods.
“yeah let’s see our brothers,” she says and he smiles.
“race ya!” he says and starts running before karai could process what he said.
“cheater!” karai exclaims running after him.
they run from rooftop to rooftop until they find the manhole cover, and jump in going home.