[Leo tilts his head so he can meet Donnie's eyes. He agrees with his assessment - Accelerator has openly written himself off as irredeemable, but he's still trying to be better. He's resolved never to make the same mistake again, and he's been helping them, roundabout as his help may be sometimes.

If they turn their backs on him now, it'll just reinforce that view, that he's irredeemable garbage. And it's not a view Leo feels like reinforcing.]

I don't think he has a lot of people. I mean, according to his phone we're kinda it.

[Leo knows he has a few people back in his own world, but that's a dimension away. Who knows when Accelerator will be able to go back permanently?]

And I don't want to turn my back on him. He has an attitude problem, but he can be alright if you push past all the prickliness.

And, I dunno... I know it shouldn't matter, but I keep thinking... he's the same age as Mikey. [Leo bunches his shoulders up.] He's younger, so it's like... I gotta look out for him, you know?

[Not a literal gotta, but his protective instincts got triggered and it's hard to put that back in the box.]