She gives credit where it's due, and the reality is that he's done really well despite the absolute absurdity of the situation. He kept his cool, he came up with a plan, he took her snapping into Creature mode remarkably well, and all of that is a huge part of why this turned out as well as it did. Li isn't trying to suck up to him. These are just objective facts.

In spite of everything, Li chuckles. "I kinda doubt that. You seem like you know what you're doing more than I do. I was really just doing what I could to keep things from getting worse. You're the one who figured out how to protect everyone." She's only as good as her handler, really. And Donatello, much as he might not like the title, is a good handler, just as much as he's a good partner in a combat situation.

"Yeah. This is a win. Our win, I guess." Is this what having friends is like?

Then the world changes. Color dims, edges blur, and Li looks around, alarmed, trying to understand what's happening. It hits her, then, that there are a bunch of little things about this situation that don't add up at all, which means this could actually be the dream it felt like at the start. Maybe this isn't real. Maybe Donatello isn't real. The thought has her reaching for him, just to confirm he's here, and the touch lands but it doesn't feel quite as solid as it should. She tightens her grip on his shoulder, eyes glowing with evident alarm.

"Donatello?" she asks, voice a little shaky. "I - I don't know what's happening."