*Um...hi. It's me. Yes, I know it's been a while. I've certainly missed writing, but also all of the wonderful friends I made over the years in this community. I don't know who's still out there, but please know you weren't forgotten. I could ramble on about why I haven't been writing, but that's not why you're here.
So, I'll just get down to business. The timeline for this little fic-let falls in between "Bonds" and "Sacrifice" within my normal series. I've been wanting to pen this origin story for a while, and when I decided to try my hand at a little writing, it was the first thing I had to tackle. If you're new to my writings, you may have noticed I buck many of the traditional characters and villains from the series. That being said, it would be easy to think that I ripped off a certain animal from one that already exists within their known universe.
Truthfully I DID rip her off, but not from the turtles' universe. She was inspired by an animal I met while pet-sitting many years ago, and made a sudden unexpected appearance on the scene in Sacrifice. I told a little of her backstory through Mike, but never had the chance to show you where she came from, until now.
Yeah, it's gonna get emotional, but you had to expect that. I didn't plan any aspect of this little fic - simply set the ball in motion, and watched where it would go. If you're an old friend...thanks for reading. If you're new to my series...it's a complicated mess. But I hope you enjoy. I don't own the TMNT, but it's been fun reacquainting myself.
The sound of pouring rain was the only thing accompanying the red-masked turtle that evening, and it had done little to improve his mood. All Raphael wanted was a breath of fresh air and a break from the current heaviness inside their home, but his walk had achieved neither.
Granted, even wandering the damp passages of their underground world was less discouraging than sitting in the den with his brothers. There had been guilt upon his departure, but it wasn't strong enough to force him to stay behind another night and maintain a good face for the others. Not yet, anyway.
The turtle's initial plan of going topside was swapped out for an aimless subsurface stroll when he realized the deluge really wasn't letting up. Genius warned me it wasn't gonna quit, but he least he didn't try to stop me this time. Raphael had considered weathering the elements as in many times past, but his recent bout with H1N1 left the turtle unusually leery. Donny and the docs have enough to deal with right now – they don't need to start worrying over my shell again.
Raphael resigned himself to what little freedom the sewer tunnels offered. It wasn't a particularly satisfying experience, but at least he didn't have to pretend everything was all right. Nearly a month had passed since his purple-masked brother and Luke dropped the bomb that everyone wanted to avoid. Their Sensei was dying.
It was no secret that their father's health had been failing for months, but hearing the finality of the announcement triggered a strange, emotionless reaction the red-masked turtle didn't expect. As volatile and violent as his mind felt up to that point, he was now consumed by a numbing sensation that left him feeling very little, neither positive nor negative.
He embraced the "non-feeling", as it enabled him to fake the confidence that he sensed his younger brothers especially needed. But there were days when the desensitized sensation that allowed him to get up every morning threatened to be overwhelmed by the reality of the situation...and that was when he had to separate himself.
Leonardo hadn't wanted him to leave. He could see it in his older brother's eyes at their parting, a pleading quality that had only recently become so easy to decipher. The look nearly stopped him from walking out the door, but Raphael comforted himself with the fact that he was coming home.
While the blue-masked turtle usually craved his own share of solitude, he'd been sticking much closer to Raphael as of late. It was such a rarity to have their leader openly leaning on him, it reinforced the necessity for the cold awareness of his psyche.
How long do you really think it can last?
The inner question brought the turtle up short in his step. Feeling nothing doesn't change that Splinter's dying. It don't even help anyone else. But the longer I don't have to deal with it, the better-
An unholy yowl jerked him out of contemplation, and spun Raphael's head to look back over his shoulder. The echoing screech repeated, making him wince with its intensity. He'd seen (and heard) enough cat fights in his days to recognize the sound as belonging to a feline. While those signals were usually associated with aggression, however, this one rang more of pure distress.
The wail seemed to be getting closer with the passing seconds, drawing his attention to the running water that was only a few steps away. While it normally flowed at a moderate pace, when the rain kicked up on the surface it often turned into a miniature torrent.
The bright yellow color of a plastic bin caught his eye as it rounded the sharp corner by which he'd paused. It took another moment to notice the squirming bundle of fur clinging to the side of the container. Even while he watched, the bin rolled and pitched wildly in the rough water, and the creature disappeared from view.
The bin flipped a second time, and the frantic cat emerged with it, clearly struggling to keep its head above water. Torn, the red-masked turtle began running alongside the scene. A sudden onslaught of pity demanded action. Shell. Guess I'm getting wet tonight after all.
He barely took the time to shrug out of the straps of his backpack before launching into the storm drain after the yellow bin. With a few strong strokes, his hand captured the cracked edge of the container. He had such difficulty keeping a good grip, he couldn't imagine how the cat managed to cling to the tote for any length of time.
A small tidal wave washed over the turtle, catching him off guard. It wasn't enough to swamp him, but it momentarily took Raphael's breath away as water entered his lungs. By the time his eyes were cleared, he realized he couldn't see the animal. He immediately began searching under the tumultuous surface with his free hand, before a now familiar screech gave away the cat's location on the inside lip of the bin.
With a shaky breath the red-masked turtle kicked his legs against the current and forced his way back to the sidewall. He shoved the container onto dry ground and crawled out behind it. Raphael came up on all fours beside the bin and peered inside at the bedraggled ball of fur curled up in the corner, which was now strangely silent.
Brow furrowed, he leaned over the lip of the container for a closer look. "Hey. Hello?" Raphael shook the bin lightly when the animal still didn't move. "Not gonna croak on me, are ya? Cause I went to a lot of trouble to go after you. Can you move or something?"
He was irritated when the cat didn't budge, and stretched a hand toward it experimentally. Raphael was mere inches from poking the lifeless lump when the feline jolted, and sharp teeth buried into his wrist. The turtle rapidly withdrew his hand with a loud curse, shaking his limb on instinct to remove the offending beast.
But even as teeth lost their grip, a set of claws dug into his arm for dear life. Raphael backpedaled from the crate with an undignified cry and twisted around in a circle, the cat dangling from his arm like a tether ball whirling around a line. With another curse he regained the presence of mind to grab the animal by the scruff of its neck, and yank it free from his burning arm.
The turtle glared at the captured feline and seriously considered flinging it against the wall, if not back in the storm drain. The pathetic meow that escaped his prisoner still made him growl, but he didn't follow through on the savage urge. Instead he cursed the animal severely before lowering it to cement, and rapidly backing away.
"Y' better hope I never see you again," he muttered darkly. "Enjoy your life, ya brainless little pipsqueak."
Raphael turned with a huff and backtracked to where he'd dropped his bag. Man, when Donny finds out I went swimming, he'll pump me so full of meds I'll sleep for a week. Stupid thing was a waste of my time. Speaking of time, I wonder how late it actually is...
He started to reach for the phone on his belt, before realizing in a flash that the device had taken the plunge with him. Raphael withdrew his ruined cell phone with a groan. Sure, bonehead, leave your snacks behind, but go ahead and destroy your phone. Genius is gonna be thrilled.
Raphael replaced the phone with an air of disgust and shouldered his bag. Despite the warmth of the summer, the temperature of the water left him with a chill that had already seeped into his bones. Better just bite the bullet and go home. He turned on heel to head back, when the last woeful sound the cat had made repeated in his mind.
I'm not checking on that stupid thing again. I saved him, and what'd I get for it? Don's probably gonna have to give me a tetanus shot, he thought grumpily. I already destroyed my phone for it, and now I'm walking away.
At least, that was his intention. His legs ignored his mind's order, and remained rooted to that spot upon which he stood. Raphael rolled amber eyes. I ain't going back for it. It's fine. Yet he squirmed uncomfortably on his feet while guilt competed with annoyance. Why the shell do I suddenly care so much?
With a frustrated snarl he turned around again, and stomped down the tunnel. Little beast probably ran off already. I ain't gonna go searching for it. The turtle fully expected the cat to be gone, but his hopes were dashed when he discovered it lying in the same position in which it had been left.
"Darn it, y' stupid cat! What are you hanging out here for? Get going! It ain't nap time!"
The feline raised its head at his approach, but didn't try moving.
Raphael crossed his arms. "Well? Go on, get outta here!" He punctuated the statement by swiping his hand through the air, eliciting a low hiss from the animal. "You know what? Screw you. I'm gone." He planned to walk away, but instead continued the awkward stand-off with the cat.
"If you're so scared of me, why are ya still here?"
Another hiss emitted more softly than the first, and the cat did try to rise, unsuccessfully.
The red-masked turtle swore. "You're hurt, is that it? Of course you're hurt. What the shell am I supposed to do with you, huh? You already tried to chew off my hand just for checking on you."
A tail twitched in the darkness, as though to assert the feline's innocence.
"I ain't touching you again." Raphael glowered.
The cat lowered its head to rest on top of its paws.
"You think I'll trust you if you act all tame now? It's too late, you little cretin. Already showed me your true colors."
Glowing eyes gazed up at him imploringly, and the turtle sighed, suddenly defeated. "What am I supposed to do with ya?" he repeated, then fingered his backpack as an idea occurred to him. "I can think of one thing, but you're probably not gonna like it."