Donnie's not too much taller than her, but Li's build's not too unlike April's, and he's carried her on his back even when he was fourteen. To his credit, even when Li finally steps back from him, he keeps a hand out in case she looks unsteady. Unnecessary, it seems. The girl's already showed herself the sort not to do anything she didn't think she could handle.

"Mutant, actually, but maybe not too far of a stretch by that line of comparison," he says, brows lifting at her revelation. Red eyes could have meant anything but even while alien might have been a possibility on a list of possibilities, it had been a low one.

"I disagree, that is a terrible excuse to leave anyone behind. I know I would take personal offense if anyone thought to do that with me- mostly because despite my excellent capabilities I am not exactly the best solo fighter." Her observation teases a wistful sort of smile on his face, and maybe a bit proud because it isn't often that he's appreciated for his planning. "Yeah, actually. My brothers- we're a team. Kinda weird with them not here."