It was unusual for Leo to skip his daily meditation. While no one forced him to, the leaf-green turtle always sit at the same spot, at the same time after dinner for his visit to the spiritual plane. But Raph didn't pay much attention to it, still working to puncture his sand bag with his fists. It's not a big deal, since they slept together, he could always ask Leo after he finished his work out, when they cuddled in the futon…
Raph found the blue clad turtle later in his room, with the shell facing him, a small lamp casted his shadow over the wall. A cluster of picture scattered in the small space in front of him.
- Whatcha doing, Leo? Ya never skipped yer meditation before.
- I don't mediate every day, Raph, just a lot more than you guys do. I'm just sorting out these pictures. There're some that I haven't put in the album yet.
Peeking over Leo's shoulder, Raph saw a pile of album lied neatly in front of him, one was opened, waiting for photo to be put in. Leo put a picture about a forest in the next frame, explaining:
- These are the ones I took during the time I was in South America. I know you don't like that place, since it's keeping me from you for a really long time, but no matter how much you dislike it, you can't deny its beauty.
Raph couldn't argue with that. Some times after making up with the hothead, Leo felt more open to tell the family about his training. The way the leaf-green turtle talked about it, Raph figured out one of the reason Leo stayed there for so long. The rain forest carried in it endless hidden treasures, some untouched and unknown by human. But with the keen eye of a ninja, Leo captured every sceneries, from plant to animal. The emerald turtle squatted down next to his mate, observing a set of picture. He picked up one for a closer look:
- What's with this butterfly?
- That's an espejitos butterfly – Leo threw it a glance – It's "mirror" in Spanish. But hey! I thought you hate bug?
- As long as it don't crawl over me, I'm fine with it. Just curious how this guy fly, with holes on his wings like this.
- The wings are actually transparent, that's why you can see through it – Leo explained while glancing at the hothead, looking quite amused – And for the record, that's a "she".
- How do ya know?
- Living in the forest long enough, you'll know that too.
- Nah, I'll pass. I rather let the city noise put me ta sleep than the cricket and croak.
Saying that, but Raph still had his eyes fixed on the photo. Behind one wing of the butterfly was a yellow flower, and behind the other wing was an orange one, making the insect somehow captivating. When Raph could pull away from the picture was when he found Leo's hand covering his, the pair of black pearls inches from his golden orbs.
- Never know a simple picture of a 'bug' can make you like that. – He pulled a corner of his mouth up to a half smile.
- Hey, I can have my moment too. Ya got a problem with that? – Raph retorted with a smirk.
- Now this is more like it. What makes you so interest in it anyway?
- I dunno. Her wings, maybe? Looks like it can snap anytime, yet the girl survive in that forest, just like ya did.
- You can ask Don about that, as for me…
Leo gently pulled the picture away, while his other hand rested on Raph's plastron, pushing the bigger turtle slowly onto his shell. Their eyes never left each other.
- … I think you should know by now that I'm much tougher than a 'bug'.
- And I hate ya a lot more than them, too. – Emerald arms slid up to pull their bodies closer.
- I know. I hate you too…
The pictures sorting was completely forgotten…