Has there ever been a time where someone "fucked around and found out" with CJ?
(Sorry for spamming, I just love them. 😔)
The whole family is pretty protective of each other, kind of the whole “mess with one of us, mess with all of us” ordeal. Especially when it comes to the kids.
However, there is one specific occasion that always sticks out in CJ’s mind.
He isn’t particularly close with his Uncle Leo, since the old turtle tends to be a bit more closed off with CJ than with the other cousins.
It’s not intentional, and Leonardo doesn’t even realize he does it, but it’s always bothered CJ (even when a certain ghost friend told him the story of Junior.)
CJ reminds Leo so much of his former student, and the pain and guilt the memories evoke hurt him a lot. Of course it’s not the kid’s fault, but it takes a long time for Leo to move on.
One day, CJ wandered off when his parents weren’t looking during a festival in Yokai City, not thinking much of it, and accidentally took a wrong turn into an unpleasant neighborhood.
Some older kids decided the youngster was fresh meat to entertain their time. . . Or they did until Leonardo showed up. Trust me when I say the guy can be quite intimidating when he wants to be.
That was the moment when CJ realized Uncle Lee may not wear his heart on his sleeve all the time, but CJ’s just as much a part of the family as anyone else.