In the lair, Mikey was playing video games while Raph threw punches at a worn-out training dummy. Donnie was holed up in his lab, tinkering away as usual. Leo, however, was in the dojo, pacing back and forth.

His fingers twitched at his sides, occasionally curling into fists. He tried to steady his breathing, but his thoughts wouldn't settle.

Another mutant turtle.

The idea alone was hard to wrap his head around, but what unsettled him most was how that turtle- Samuel- lingered in his mind. No matter how much he tried to push the thought away, it clawed back in.

Leo exhaled sharply, pressing his hands against the old wooden training post. His eyes fluttered shut as he tried, and failed, to regain control of his thoughts.

"Hard to focus when your mind's elsewhere."

Leo's eyes snapped open. Karai stood at the entrance of the dojo, arms crossed.

"Heard you guys encountered another mutant turtle," she said.

Leo sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yeah. It's... I don't know. My mind is still reeling from it."

Karai studied him, concern flickering across her face. "Well, don't let it eat at you too much. No one wants you losing sleep over it."

Leo let out a soft chuckle, though there was little humor in it. "I won't."

She didn't look convinced.

A beat of silence passed before he straightened, rolling his shoulders. "Do you want to train?"

Karai hesitated, then shook her head. "Not right now. I'm more worried about you, Leo. I know things haven't been easy since-"

"Since Splinter died," Leo muttered. The words left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Karai's expression softened, and she reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder. The moment she made contact, Leo flinched. He hadn't meant to, but his body reacted before he could stop it.

Karai pulled away, her gaze dropping. "I'll leave you be. But just remember- you're not alone, okay?"

She turned and walked out.

Leo clenched his jaw, blinking hard to keep the burning in his eyes at bay. His breaths were uneven, his chest tight.

He needed to get out.

***

The city was alive with noise- distant car horns, sirens, the occasional chatter from alleyways below. Leo took a deep breath as he ran across the rooftops, his body moving on instinct. It helped, being out here. The night air cooled his skin, and for a moment, the tension in his chest lessened.

But then-

A presence.

Leo spun, katanas drawn in an instant. His eyes locked onto a figure standing a few feet away, watching him with an almost amused expression.

Samuel.

"What are you doing here?" Leo demanded.

Samuel tilted his head, arms crossing over his chest. "Can't patrol at night?"

Leo narrowed his eyes. He didn't lower his blades.

Samuel chuckled, stepping closer. "I could ask what you're doing out here, but we both know you wouldn't tell me."

"You're damn right I wouldn't," Leo snapped, his grip tightening.

Samuel studied him for a moment, his gaze sharp. Then, his lips curled into a smirk. "You're a ninja filled with anger, aren't you?" His tone was almost teasing, but there was something else beneath it.

Leo's breath hitched.

"But it's not just anger," Samuel mused, tilting his head slightly, "it's pain."

"Be quiet," Leo muttered.

"I'm right, aren't I?" Samuel's voice was quieter this time, the teasing edge fading. "I see it in the way you hold yourself. The way you fight."

Leo moved before he could think- charging with a yell.

Samuel sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing Leo's arm and twisting it. The sudden force made Leo drop his swords, and before he could react, Samuel slammed him into the rooftop.

Leo gritted his teeth, struggling as Samuel pinned his arms behind his back and pressed a knee against his spine.

"You lose, Leonardo," Samuel murmured.

Leo growled, thrashing beneath him, but Samuel didn't let up. His grip was firm, unyielding.

"You're impatient," Samuel continued. "Almost as impatient as my associate."

Something in his tone made Leo pause. He shifted, glaring back at him. "What do you mean?"

Samuel chuckled and, after a moment, released him.

"You're just... weird," he said with an almost thoughtful look. Then, as if the words amused him, he added, "Atlas is weird too."

The night pressed in around them, the distant hum of the city barely reaching the rooftop where Leo stood, muscles tense, heart hammering.

Samuel hadn't moved. He simply stood there, arms still loosely crossed, head slightly tilted as if he were sizing Leo up like a puzzle he was trying to solve.

The silence stretched.

Leo scowled, gripping the handles of his fallen swords as he pushed himself up. "You like messing with me, don't you?"

Samuel smirked. "Maybe a little."

Leo huffed through his nose, trying to ignore the heat rising to his face. His pulse was still racing, though whether it was from the fight or something else, he wasn't sure.

He turned away, shaking his head. "Whatever. I don't have time for this."

But before he could leave, Samuel spoke again.

"You really don't like feeling out of control, do you?"

Leo froze.

"That's why this is bothering you so much," Samuel continued. His voice was quieter now, lacking its earlier teasing edge. "Not just me. Not just another mutant turtle running around. It's something deeper."

Leo clenched his jaw. "You don't know anything about me."

Samuel hummed, unconvinced. "I know enough."

Leo turned sharply, pointing his blade at him. "Then you'd know I don't trust you."

Samuel raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough. But tell me something, Leo- why is that?"

Leo blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You don't trust me. Fine. But is it really because I'm an unknown? Or because I remind you of something you don't want to face?"

Leo stiffened. "What are you talking about?"

Samuel's expression shifted- less playful, more unreadable. "You and I... we're not as different as you think."

Leo scoffed. "Yeah? And what makes you think that?"

Samuel hesitated. For the first time tonight, something flickered behind his eyes- something deeper, almost vulnerable.

Leo almost wanted to press him for an answer.

But Samuel exhaled, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter." He started backing away, slipping into the shadows of the rooftop. "You'll figure it out eventually."

Leo took a step forward. "Wait-"

But Samuel was already gone.

The night air suddenly felt heavier.

Leo let out a slow breath, sheathing his swords. He hated to admit it, but Samuel had gotten under his skin. Not just because of his arrogance, his skill, or the fact that he had taken Leo down so easily.

No.

It was because, for a moment, Samuel had looked at him like he understood him.

And that terrified Leo more than anything else.