A/N--Sorry I didn't do this on the first chapter: They aren't mine. That right completely belongs to someone else. I'm just playing with them for a while.
Awareness slowly returned to Leo. When it did, he was more than slightly puzzled. He had never imagined that the afterlife, if there was such a thing, would look likeā¦a sewer tunnel? He especially didn't think he'd still have the broken noose around his neck if he had somehow made it to the afterlife. Something's a little twisted here, Leo couldn't help thinking to himself. That's when he saw her, it, whatever.
The shape was vaguely feminine, but that was all Leo could make out. Otherwise, the figure rather looked like a large, white/blue glowing octopus. Looking at her, Leo said the first thing that came to mind.
"Are you God?"
The Figure laughed, at once sounding like tinkling bells and tumbling rocks.
"No, young one," she said, her voice carrying that same mixed tone. "I am not the Deity of your planet. In fact, I am not even from your specific dimension. I am a Bridger."
"And what is that, exactly," Leo asked.
"I create links between dimensions," the Bridger explained. "When two separate dimensions resonate with each other, I make the necessary connections so that the complementary elements can come together. Take you, for example."
"Me?" Leo was startled.
"Yes. You desperately wanted away from your old life where you felt unloved and unwanted. It just so happens that there is a dimension where you are exactly what is needed."
"Whoa, wait a minute, I think you'd better explain that," Leo said.
"In this dimension, you no longer exist; the Leo here died two years ago. However, his absence has created an instability that is threatening this place's future, as your, or rather his, remaining brothers are slowly being destroyed by their grief. Your desire for a family that would provide the love you have been missing resonated so strongly with the grief these versions of your brothers, that I could not help but be drawn to it."
"So, what happens now," Leo asked.
"That's up to you," the Bridger said. "You can either choose to return to your own dimension, where you would most certainly be dead, or you can choose to remain here, and attempt to make a new start."
Leo was uncertain as to what to say.
"How long do I have to decide," he asked.
"Take all the time you need," the Bridger told him. "We are between dimensions now; a place separate from time."
Taking her at her word, Leo sat down to consider the options placed before him. On the one hand, there was nothing for him back where he had come from. Even if he did return there, he would only be going to his death. On the other hand, Leo wasn't sure he could trust himself to the care of his brothers again, even if they weren't the brothers who had hurt him so badly. But, if what the Bridger said was true, it seemed these versions of his brothers were just as badly wounded as he was. Unsurprisingly, Leo found himself wanting to ease their pain. Sure, he wasn't their Leonardo, but that didn't stop the protector and big brother in him from coming out. His decision made, Leo turned to the Bridger.
"I've made my decision," he declared. "I'll stay in this new dimension."
"Very well," the Bridger stated. "There are just a few things I must require of you. First, tell no one of me if at all possible. There may come a time when you will have no choice, but I will leave that to your discretion. Secondly, and for your benefit, it might be best if you do no reveal you are not from this place. Draw on your past as necessary, but is would sabotage your efforts here if your new brothers were to realize you are not the brother they think you are."
"Anything else?"
The Bridger laughed again.
"No, that should be all. Now, just sit down and close your eyes; your brothers will be here soon." And with that, she was gone. Following her orders, Leo sat down and closed his eyes, and soon he was asleep.
