[ as he turns and watches that shadow fall, leo does, in fact, see cole. not the way he would normally -- with joy at his edges as he exclaims "ko" -- but, instead, as if someone new and interesting stepped into a place they shouldn't be.

there's a lack of recognition in his gaze, and that's confirmed with leo's next words as another shadow falls by his blade. these ones don't truly fade -- the ones cole cuts down, however, do. ]

Wahaha, hey, hey! I've never seen you around before!

[ that... seems wrong to say, somehow, but leo can't spend much time focusing on things that aren't the goal right in front of him. ]

You shouldn't bust into a stage that's not yours, you know. What're you doing here?