mikaela

overly controlling — leo can have a hard time accepting that his brothers are capable of making their own decisions. if he thinks something is dangerous, he’ll try to stop them rather than discuss it, especially with raph.

“i’m the leader, so i know best” attitude — he can use his position as leader to shut down arguments. even when he’s objectively wrong, admitting it can take him a while because he feels responsible for everyone.

emotionally repressed — he doesn’t like showing vulnerability. instead of saying “i’m scared” or “that hurt me” he’ll become colder, more serious, or throw himself into training.

self-righteousness — leo genuinely believes he’s doing what’s best, which can make him frustratingly convinced that his methods are justified. he might criticize someone for being reckless while completely ignoring his own tendency to take dangerous risks.

martyr complex — he’ll sacrifice himself without properly considering how it affects everyone else. and honestly, part of him probably likes being the one who takes the hit because it reinforces his belief that protecting everyone is his responsibility.

jealous/possessive when he cares about someone — he wouldn’t necessarily admit it, but if someone he’s attached to starts getting particularly close to raph or another person, leo can become noticeably tense. he’d disguise it as concern or suspicion rather than admitting he’s jealous.

overprotective to the point of suffocating — especially with someone he loves. he might constantly ask where they’re going, who they’re with, whether they’re safe, etc. he means well, but eventually it can feel like being supervised rather than loved.

difficulty apologizing — leo can acknowledge that something went wrong without necessarily admitting he was the reason. his apologies can initially sound like, “i’m sorry you felt that way,” before he actually processes what he did.

takes criticism personally — because being a good leader is incredibly important to him. tell him he made a bad decision and he might immediately become defensive because, internally, he hears “you failed your family.”

can become distant when angry — rather than screaming, leo is more likely to go quiet, become clipped and formal, and create emotional distance. which can honestly be worse because you know he’s angry but he refuses to tell you why.

puts his family before absolutely everything — sounds good until you realize he expects everyone else to do the same. he can struggle to understand someone wanting a normal life or choosing themselves over the mission.

perfectionist tendencies — if he screws up, he’ll obsess over it. if someone else screws up, he may become frustrated because he’s already carrying the pressure of keeping everyone alive.

subtle superiority complex — not necessarily because he thinks he’s better than his brothers, but because he believes he’s the one who has to think rationally while everyone else acts emotionally. that can lead to him dismissing their feelings.

he can weaponize responsibility — something like, “fine, do whatever you want. i’m the one who’ll have to deal with the consequences anyway.” he doesn’t necessarily mean to manipulate people, but guilt can become one of his defense mechanisms.