[IC] [Snek] Continuations

[pyrighteous]

Comments

[neonleon]

[Leaning back a little, still hugging his knees.]

I mean, the company's not great but at least you aren't hurting him or anyone else.

[pyrighteous]

No, of course not. You, alone. While they prattle on obliviously.

[neonleon]

Yeah. That's... what I wanted.

[Is it?]

[pyrighteous]

Is it, Leonardo? Is it really?

[neonleon]

[Would Dad be proud finally? Would he finally see Leonardo as worthy of a little respect and trust? Sure, this isn't Shredder or Krang, but he's doing what needs to be done to protect others at his own expense. They all fight better together, but sometimes isn't it better for only one to go through it?

Those threads of insecurity and doubt tighten around his arm, just gently tugging at him now.]

I... I dunno right now.

[pyrighteous]

[ Good. There we go. Belos threads a few through his fingers, getting up to walk around Leo and further entrap him. ]

It's terribly noble. Just you, all alone. And they don't even care. Let the stand-in take all of the hurt.

[neonleon]

...I'm not a stand-in.

[pyrighteous]

No? Didn't Donatello use those exact words?

[neonleon]

I-

Yeah, he did, but. He knows I'm not.

[pyrighteous]

I disagree. He meant it, for a moment. I saw the whole thing.

[neonleon]

And what makes you so sure?

[pyrighteous]

Look at the whole situation. He used you to give affection to someone else. His new brother.

[neonleon]

[His thoughts go a hundred mile a minute - of course he did - tactile overload - because of hiBeause of Him his fault, Leo's fault - and he tries to rub at his face, but the threads are starting to tangle.]

He wasn't in a position he could.

[pyrighteous]

To give a hug? On his own? Please. He used you like the tool he considers you to be.

[neonleon]

We're twins, it's not like that.

[They aren't, it's a fun debate they have constantly - not actually twins, not the same breed, they don't even have a clear idea of how old they are, are they 14 or 16? Who knows, only Splinter knows but-]

[pyrighteous]

Are you twins? You don't seem very alike to me.

[neonleon]

We're twins. We decided when we were kids.

[Maybe it was more Leo pushing the idea, but Donnie agreed to it, their push and pull argument about it, it's their language.]

[pyrighteous]

Is that how it works? I wasn't aware.

[ Those threads are starting to creep around Leo's feet slowly. ]

[neonleon]

It's how it works for us.

[A little too focused now to notice.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Oh yes. And Belos is getting in his face now, being rather distracting as those threads begin to coil tightly. ]

It suits, I suppose. Fake twins for a fake set of brothers.

[neonleon]

We aren't fake. They're my brothers, both of them.

[Nevermind he's the reason Donnie's been having Episodes since the Krang. He's the reason Raph's eye is fucked up. They trusted his plan and it got them nearly killed.]

[pyrighteous]

And what HAVE you contributed to that relationship lately?

[ A few more threads, going for his arms now-- ]

[neonleon]

[Those first few threads of doubt are still wrapped around his dominant arm, leaving Leo to watch Belos.

But what has he contributed lately? Nearly getting them killed, worrying them, going temporarily blind because his team lost...

I have a LOT of questions regarding when we get there

You just don't get it.]

It doesn't matter! We're brothers. We don't always have to get along, but we always have each others' backs.

[pyrighteous]

And that's the true tragedy, isn't it?

[ The threads all yank at once, pulling Leo up off the ground. Sludge oozes down the ones coming down from the ceiling, towards Leo's shoulders. ]

They won't. One day, they'll realize who the weakest brother is, and they'll cut you out.

[neonleon]

[The threads pull, tearing into his skin with the weight as he's hoisted up with a gasp. Shit when did this start? When did he have time to do this? Shit fuck, what can he do? His ninpo sparks and flickers, the doubt of the words too strong.]

Let me go.