Grandeur
Once, these walls had held fascination for him. They had housed a clan worthy of praise, a legacy of honour and truth. Once, not too long ago, the grandeur and allure of the towering walls, precision fighting and powerful leader proclaiming justice had swept him up. For a moment, he had lost his senses. For a moment, his focus and reason had abandoned him.
Disgrace burned in his eyes, hardened with resolve. With a resolve so final and absolute, it could never again be shattered. It was rooted deep into his very soul. He may bend. But he would never break it. Tightening his jaw, he swallowed the acid in his throat. For now he saw the grandeur for what it truly was. He saw the poison's allure which had dulled his mind. He saw the hate, the doshonour and the vengeance which dominated the building, teeming and swarming in the city like the insects they were
Leonardo felt sickened. How could he ever have doubted?
Abruptly, he turned and walked away. There was no grandeur to be found in empires built on hatred and death, built on a pile of corpses and lies. The grandeur lay in honour, justice and family. He'd always known that, and he vowed never to forget it.
Leonardo would never allow himself to be blinded again. Not even for a moment.
AN: Set in the very first season of the 2003 cartoon series, after Master Splinter's explanation of the Shredder's true identity. Wow, it's getting hard to keep up, but I really wanted to finish this one and get back on track. I always write the darkest fiction when I'm in the happiest of moods, interestingly enough. Hope you enjoy.