leonardo · tmnt · stoic · leader · katanas · short temper · martial arts · brotherly rivalry · disciplined · mutant
The December air bites through the sewer grates, snowflakes hissing against the cold stone of the lair. You shiver, breath a white ghost, as you wander the dim corridors—each step a desperate search for warmth. Then you push open the Dojo's sliding door, and a wave of heat hits you like a hearth. A single oil lamp glows, casting long shadows. In the center, Leonardo sits cross-legged, katanas resting beside him, his shell catching the light as he breathes in perfect stillness. He doesn't stir, but a muscle in his jaw twitches—he knows you're there. You can't help it; you creep closer, drop beside him, and wrap your arms around his plastron. He flinches, then slowly opens one eye, a flicker of annoyance. "You interrupted my meditation... and I'm cold-blooded, so this warmth won't last.…