Disclaimer: Don't own nor make money off of TMNT
Authors Note: Mikeys oneshot was supposed to be next, but this story wont leave my head for me to write his. So Raphs story is next. It will be longer then a oneshot. It has a character death. Splinter. And it also includes my OC Kat from my story Without a Trace. Timeline is a while after the 2007 movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
All Things Considered
Sequel to
Without a Trace
Raphael stared at his father, emotions warring inside him. "But Sensei..." He stopped. What was there to say?
"My son, This will be hard. It will be a test of your strength. Of your abilities. I have no doubt you will come back to us stronger." The old rat watched the emotions flicker across his second eldests eyes. Was this a mistake? No. It would eventually bring the family closer. He knew that.
Raph swallowed hard, then forced his emotions back to hide behind cloaked eyes. "How long is it to last?"
"Six Months."
"Where am i going?" Raph was nervous, maybe even slightly scared. But he would never let anyone know that. His family had just become whole again. And now he was expected to just...
"This i have debated for some time. At first i thought to send you to the same place Leonardo went. Then i thought you would benefit most from returning to Japan. But i can see that Japan isn't as much apart of you as your brothers. So Ive decided on the Arizona desert. Its barren land, hot days and cold nights hide many secrets that i believe will strengthen you in more ways then one."
Raphael bowed his head. Only one question left, and it was one he didn't want to hear the answer to. "When do i have to leave?"
"Tomorrow night. This is not a punishment, Raphael. Don't treat it as such. If you do, your trip will only be in vain." Splinter sighed softly and let his hand rest on his sons shoulder.
"I will do my best father." Raph stood slowly, allowing his senseis hand to slide gently off. Leaving his fathers room, he stopped outside and leaned back against the wall. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply for a few seconds. He knew that Leo had been sent off to strengthen his leadership abilities. Why was he being sent off? Hadn't Splinter learned from that and recent events that the family tended to fall even further apart when separated?
Pushing away from the wall he made his way to the living room. He paused as he entered, taking in the site of all three of his brothers. Mikey sat with Donnie on the floor infront of the tv monolith playing some new video game. Leo sat In a well worn chair, his attention caught between reading a tattered book that rested on his lap to the activity taking place on the tv screens.
He vowed as he watched his family that this wouldn't turn out like Leos trip. As soon as the six months were over he would be back. No if ands or buts.
Leonardo glanced up, feeling his brothers eyes on him. He frowned slightly at the look in his brothers eyes. he couldn't quite place it. It didn't hold the usual heated anger, just a pure determination. Pausing for a moment to wonder what his brother was up to, he realized Raph wasn't actually looking at him, more looking past him. At something only he could see. "Raph?"
At his brothers voice, Raphael snapped out of his reverie and stared at his brothers. How did he tell them? Shouldn't splinter have to be the one to do this? "Yeah Leo?"
"Everything ok?" A slight worry had entered his brothers voice now, and it prompted the other two on the floor to pause the game and look towards them.
One simple question. That was all it took to remove the last of his strength. His shoulders slumped for a second then he caught himself forcing the defiance back into his eyes. He couldn't let them know how this affected him. He would never hear the end of it. He had to be strong. Had to be the hotheaded brother they expected him to be.
Leo frowned slightly as he watched his brothers shoulders slump then straighten, a ghost of a smile flickered across his face as he watched the defiant curtain close over Raphs eyes. His brothers next words made that smile vanish completely however.
"I'm leaving." All in all Raph decided that the easiest way was the most forward. Say it and get it done with.
Shock gripped his brothers. Each having thought that things had settled in the lair alot lately. The arguments had dwindled to nearly nothing. Why would their brother want to leave now? Leo stood up and moved to confront his brother. But as he did, he saw the curtain over Raphs eyes flicker. He didn't want to leave. And then it clicked in his mind.
"Splinters decided to send you away on a training mission as he did with me." Leos voice didn't hold a question, merely confirmed what he saw in his brothers eyes.
"Training mission? For how long?" Mikeys excited voice broke in then.
"Same as Leos was supposed to be."Raph ignored the flinch Leo gave at that. "Six Months. Spinters decided to send me to Arizona."
"The desert? That seems a bit strange." Donnies eyes had widened, then narrowed in thought.
"Splinter must have his reasons. When do you have to leave?" Leonardo was back in his leadership role now. But under the surface he hated this. Spinter had seen what had happened the last two times their family had been separated. First his own training mission, and then again when Mikey had been taken. But they would do as their father wished. They always would.
"Tomorrow night. I'm gonna go start getting the things together i need." Raphael turned to leave and was stopped when Dons hand gripped his bicep.
"I'll work on some items for you to take with you." Donnie grinned, his mind already working in overdrive.
"Sorry Don, training mission. Splinter has said i can only take things i need." He reached forward to bop Donnie gently on the head. "Ill be fine Brainiac." With that he turned and made his way to his room.
The next night he left, his brothers watching him go with solemn eyes. A few rooftops away he stopped and turned back to wave before disappearing into the darkness.
Mikeys voice sounded soft almost a whisper, yet his two remaining brothers heard it. "He will come back wont he?"