Chapter Text
R!9h7 45 r4!n
" the prologue "
Leonardo was no fool.
He deceives and he weaves through his fate, unwilling to let go of his life despite being ready to drop it in the flash of a hat for his family, almost similar to miniscule prey caught in a corner with a wolf. If it were to be fast enough and timed it well, the prey would have the chance to dive under the snarling mouth as foam dripped, its rabid eyes lingering just too long on the spot before it realized its prey escaped. But similarly, if the prey were a fool, if it hesitated and it gave the predator a chance, those curled fangs would dig into its flesh and dig in.
Predator, or prey, is what he failed to wonder what he was. What he could be considered as. Though in each battle he fought, in each circumstance where he was caught, he was the prey.
Similar to now, as Leo padded along the dark floor. It gave him the impression there should be water under his feet, and the impression that he should be sinking, though none of that came. And no matter how deeply he breathes in and out, the empty space failed to expand his lungs in the way they should be, though he willed himself not to panic.
As he thinks back to what must've happened before he arrived here, his memory fails him, evading each greedy hand as he tried to recall. That had been the matter as of late, hasn't it? His memory failing him. He chalks it up to simple brain fog. Or just simply because he's in a dream. He must be, anyway. His mind tried to counteract it, though he shook his head as if to waver it off. This cannot be anything other than a dream. His usually aching knee is not bothering him, for one, a typical dream thing, and if he isn't breathing in air, then he'd be dead already if this was real life.
His mind ran in loops the longer he trailed until he gradually came to a stop, and he lowered himself to the ground. He sucked in a breath when his leg dipped in and he pulled himself back a little too quickly to pull it back up, but thankfully that was the only incident as he folded his legs together and shut his eyes, darkness fading into its kin behind his eyelids.
He focused. He focused as hard as he could. In an out. He allowed himself to be lured into the peace, his body felt as though it was morphing into a cloud, vaporized water simply trying to make its way to the sky.
Or as if he's a bird. His metaphorical wings stretch out as he is plunged from the branch he perched on, his feathers gliding through the air, not reliant on the constraints of the ground, or gravity.
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
He came back to his body with a startle. His heart beats erratically in his chest as he sits up, reaching up and planting his right hand over his plastron as he tries to get his grip back onto reality.
His head and his knee are both absolutely pounding with pain, and it made him wince when he finally felt it. He struggled to get to his feet for a minute, but soon did. He had been on the floor beside his bed. How did he get there? He hardly moves around in his sleep, and even so, he doesn't remember going to bed. He can remember entering his room at the latest, and then nothing. He sat on his bed as he slowed his breathing into a calm pace with deep breaths, closing his eyes.
His eyes opened back up again eventually and the darkness bored into him as he pulled his legs up onto the bed with him.
you are not alone.
What?
you are not alone.
Yes he is.
you are not alone.
you are not alone.
you are not alone.
you are not alone.you are not alone.you are not alone.you are not alone.you are not alone.you are not alone.you are not alone.you are not alone.ou are not aloneyou are not aloneyou are not aloneyou are not aloneyou are not aloneyou are not alone.
Leo's hands felt numb over the sides of his head.
What?
His eyes snapped back open, not remembering when he'd closed them. What was that? It felt hard to breath, and he came to realize he was crying and laying on his side.
He slowly removed his hands to push himself upright and used the back of his hand to wipe his eyes clear. What the fuck was that.
something isn't right.