Now improved and re-written!


The Girl

BAM. The once intact metal vent now had a large dent in it. Raphael glowered at black nothingness in the dark New York night, shaking with rage. He took off, moving at top speed from rooftop to rooftop, finding pleasure in the pain of his burning muscles. Slowly, Raph would calm down, only to hear Leo's condescending voice and see Donnie's smug smile in his mind; again his rage would overcome him, white-hot and powerful. Wanting so badly to yell his anger to the world, Raph knew he couldn't risk the chance of attracting attention to himself. A ninja's greatest weapon is his stealth and secrecy, and being out at night, alone and with Kraang around every corner, Raph needed both.
A woman's scream tore Raph from his thoughts and sent him into ninja-mode. In the alley below, a young woman was surrounded by three teenage guys, not unlike Raph. The first coaxed to the girl in front of him.

"Com'ere Mone, you don't want to cause any more trouble for yourself." The teasing tone of his voice was enough to make Raph want to run him through with his sai. This guy's just makin' my night. But wait- he had called the girl by name. He knew her. So why was he acting this way? Noiselessly, Raph settled himself within striking distance.

"Better listen up sweetheart" warned the boy to the left, "just let us have our fun, or we'll use that pretty little body of yours for somethin' else. Like target practice." he laughed at his own sick joke, and the others joined in.

"Who do you think you are Garrett? Bringing your disgusting friends and trapping me just t-to… to have your way with me?" Raph's heart sped up at the sound of the terrified girl's voice.

"Oh honey, don't you worry. Gare here still loves ya, don'tcha Gare?" The two boys flanking Garrett snickered.

"Love the way you look- that's for sure." Garrett grinned and advanced quickly on the girl, trapping her against the wall with his body. He reached to touch her face, which the girl had turned away from him and hid behind her long hair.

Not happening.

Raphael was furious that these boys would even think about harming this girl. He let his hatred for them fuel his attack.

Crowching low, he extended his arms out from his body and took out the lackeys' feet, sending them both to the ground. The boys hit the alley hard enough for Raph to hear their skulls crack against the pavement. Raphael didn't have to look back; he knew from the echo of heavy footsteps that the idoits were running for their lives.

Best decision you've made all night, fellas.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, the main attraction. Grabbing Garrett by the neck, Raph lifted the taller adolescent male high off the ground.

"You don't touch her." Raph snarled in the boy's face, loving how he cringed in fear at Raphael's tone. Bringing his sai to the gasping boy's neck, Raph growled out a final warning.

"Leave. Don't you ever look at her again. And don't you ever do what you almost did to her to any other girl, or I won't hesitate to use these." He let the scum hit the ground, hard, and watched as the disgusting 18 year old high-tailed it out of the alley.

Still sickened by the boys' actions, Raph didn't think to hide himself until he turned to see the girl watching him in wonder. Terrified, Raph jumped for the fire escape, pulling himself into the shadows.

Splinter's rules: never let yourself be seen.

But he couldn't leave her here.

Raphael watched as the girl let out a long breath and collapsed to the ground, bringing her knees to her chest and letting silent sobs wrack her entire body.

Now he defiantly couldn't leave her.

Dropping back to the ground, but still keeping to the shadows, he finally got a good look at the girl. She looked to be the same age as her attackers; the same age as Raph. Her small shoulders were covered by long chestnut hair as she sobbed into her arms, which hugged her knees tightly. As she lifted her head to wipe away the tears, Raphael saw large doe eyes, a small softly rounded nose, and thin lips. He mentally slapped himself. Why the shell was he noticing her?

Uh, maybe 'cause she's gorgeous?

Great. He had saved, ran from, and was now creepily watching probably the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Definitely a self-confidence booster. Nonetheless, he needed to make sure she was okay. She could be attacked again if he left her out here, alone on the streets at this hour.

Here goes nothin'.

Raph slowly approached her. Hearing his footsteps, she immediately looked up. She made eye contact with Raphael, and he could see her relax. Not the reaction Raphael normally recieved, but he wasn't complaining. This is a good sign. Feeling a bit more confident, he risked a question.

"You gonna be alright?"

She let out a shaky breath. "Yeah. Than-thanks to you."

Raph only nodded. Ugh, where's the hero in blue when you need him. Raph wouldn't kid himself- he wasn't any good at the consoling stuff. He wasn't personable like Leo or curious like Donnie, and he definitely wasn't perceptive as Mikey. But he wanted her to feel better, and seeing as there was no one else around to do that...

Carefully, he leaned against the wall next to her and let himself down so he sat next to her.

"You're a turtle." Yeah. How'd I know that was comin'.

"Sorry-"she apologized, "I don't mean to be so blunt. I'm kind of in shock right now and when I am I just blurt out whatever comes to me. No filter and all that. I don't wanna be offensive, it's just, well... Not everyday this sort of thing happens to a girl, ya know?" Raph smirked despite himself. Her voice was surprisingly even, considering she still had small tears running down her face. She didn't seem to be paying any attention to what she was saying; she was rambling like a crazy person and Raphael found it hilarious.

"I wouldn't know, bein' a guy and all. But I can imagine this is kinda a big deal for you. I mean, I'm a talkin' turtle. But you're lucky; I'm not known to hang around and hold conversation."

"So why are you here now?"

Nuts.

"Well... Those guys were way outta line. It's dark, and late, and New York. I couldn't leave you out here…" Smooth, Romeo. Change the subject, quick. "Who were they, anyway?"

Her eyes welled up again, threatening more tears. Way to go Raph. Get her cryin' again, that's what she needs.

"The tall blonde was my boyfriend, er... ex-boyfriend now, I guess." She let out a flat, humorless laugh at the thought. "And the other two were his friends, Ty and Lex."

Raph's mind was reeling. That scum was her boyfriend, and he did that to her?

Anger creeped into Raph's voice. "I'm real sorry he threatened you like that. Like I said, he was way outta line. But he's gone, and you're safe, so forget him."

"I know. You're here. I'm safe."

She looked up into Raph's eyes. Woah. Hold up.

Not only were her eyes big, but their color was unexplainable: a mix of gold and green and warm chocolate brown. Don't stare, doofus.

Looking away, he asked, "D'you live near here?"

She nodded, pointing east. "Three blocks that way. Corner of Eastman and Wesley."

Raph wasn't sure her giving up this information so easily was due to the shock of the attack, or if she felt comfortable around him. He hoped against hope it was the latter.

Without a word, Raph scooped her up and took to the rooftops. Her surprise was easy to see, but she tucked her face into his plastron and let him take her home.

Reaching the edge of the first building, Raph thought it would be a good idea to warn her before he took off.

"I'm gonna jump, but don't be afraid, I ain't gonna drop you or nothin'." The girl nodded her consent.

Clearing the next couple buildings with ease, he came to the top of the building she had described.

He felt her relaxing, slowly drifting in and out of conciousness in his arms.

Whispering softly, he asked, "Where from here?" She was on her way to an exhaused sleep, but still managed to reply.

"North side. 3rd terrace up."

Scaling the fire escapes and finally landing on the right one, he found he wasn't ready to let her go.
She mumbled, "Under the plant."

Still holding her to his plastron, he found the key where she said it would be and slowly unlocked the door.

"Only you home?" He had to ask; he didn't need anyone else seeing him tonight.

"Just me..." She's about to konk out here, Raph. He found his way to what he assumed to be her room, and laid her down gently on her bed. She was asleep. In seconds, he was gone. Out the door, across the night skyline, under the manhole and back to the sewers he called home.

Was it bad to wish he would see her again?


My first ever story and chapter! Thanks to those who made it this far, please, if you can, review! Feedback is wonderful!

If you enjoyed this, I already have about 8 more chapters on my mind, all they need is to be fleshed out. I'm hoping to upload in the next couple of days. Feedback if you would like more is great!

Note: Leo is, and always will be, my favorite brother. But, the Mona/Raph story makes me so happy that I needed to put it into the new Universe and give her a new look/personality (to me, it seems like people think of her as a manipulative slut, but I don't see her this way). Lucky you, Raph!