He wasn't sure why he hadn't taken his captive back to Master Shredder, it was what he had been ordered. He found that recently he was able to bend his will around the orders slightly even though he couldn't disobey them outright. He would take the turtle to Shredder eventually, he just wanted a moment with it first.

He placed his prisoner gently on the dusty floor of the empty construction site and examined him. He had come across the purple one alone rummaging in a junk yard. Purple didn't even notice him as he followed him for a while, humming and talking to himself about the items he came across. For some reason, his careless behaviour angered him so he sneaked up to him and knocked him out with a swift and calculated strike to the side of his head with the handle of his sai.

Purple would be waking up soon and it wouldn't do to have him escape before he was done with him so he looked for something to tie the turtle up with. He looped some wiring behind a pipe and tied both of the turtle's wrists firmly above his head. He paused to look at his hands. It was what had irked him the most when he encountered these creatures. Their hands looked just like his. He pressed the palm of one of his against Purple's olive palm, uncurling the limp fingers to compare them to his own, pressed together. The fingers twitched and he looked down to find Purple's red-brown eyes staring up at him.

"Raph? W-what? Did you kidnap me!?" His voice did an incredulous high-pitched screech at the end and he turned away from it. He didn't like that noise. He growled at Purple, his teeth bared less than in inch from his face and he went silent. When he was satisfied the turtle wouldn't continue speaking he stood up to get a good look at his prisoner. Something moved by his foot. A spider! He lifted it to stomp on the disgusting creature.

"No! Don't kill it! You shouldn't kill spiders."

He looked at Purple with his foot held up in the air and then stepped back quickly. You shouldn't kill spiders, spiders are important. A young voice echoed in his head.

"But spiders are gross!"

"Nuh-uh! They eat other insects. Did you know that a single spider eats two thousand insects in its lifetime? Imagine how many more bugs there would be if you killed them!"

They both watched in silence as the spider crawled away while the voices still echoed in his head. Purple was always like that, kind to the smaller creatures, fascinated by everything and spewing facts about the universe. He paced the room angrily, suddenly furious. He wanted to scold Purple, he was so careless! Anyone could have sneaked up on him and hurt him! What if the foot-

He paused and looked back at Purple, wide-eyed. He was the foot, the foot did sneak up on him and hurt him. Why was he angry about it? It didn't make any sense. He brought his face closer to Purple's, his hands gripping the other turtle's. What is it about you that makes me feel like I need to protect you? Why can't I help but listen to you? You are my enemy, I shouldn't feel this way.

He flattened his palms on Purple's wrists and then slid them down over forearms, elbows and biceps. He was different to him, longer, taller, a different hue, but he seemed so familiar. He reached the turtle's shoulders and felt around his neck, he noticed Purple swallowing nervously as his fingers circled it and then shiver when he brushed them over it and along his jaw.

Their eyes met and he held Purple's gaze for a second. Just as Blue had, this one was searching him for something. What are you looking for? Purple parted his lips slightly as if to say something but he didn't, revealing the gap in his teeth. He knew that gap. He used his thumb to brush over it and Purple turned his head away sharply, pressing his lips closed and running his tongue over his teeth blushing furiously.

He didn't care, he nuzzled the side of his jaw as Purple complained with another incredulous screech, and breathed in his scent: motor oil, antiseptic and his natural earthy smell. It was comforting in a different way than Blue's. It reminded him of soothing hands when he was hurt, soothing words when he was upset, the way he would explain things to him patiently and how his chest would fill with pride when he heard him say 'I've got an idea!'.

He held him close and kept nuzzling Purple. "Raph," he looked up at him. "Raph, let me go, I'm not going anywhere."

He hesitated for a moment and then reached up and released his hands. He tensed when Purple moved his arms towards him but relaxed when they only embraced him tightly. He buried his face again into Purple's wet neck. Huh? When did that happen? Purple moved his hands, one to cradle the back of his head and the other to wipe the tears from his cheek.

He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be listening to them, Master Shredder ordered him not to. He pulled away from Purple roughly, toppling him over. He needed to get out of here. Maybe he should tell Master Shredder about this. He was calm and at peace before, when his mind was empty of everything but his Master's voice. Now emotions swirled around inside of him like a storm, tearing him apart and he didn't know what to do with them. He wanted to run, fight, scream, and crush things with his hands.

"Raph!" Purple fell to his knees beside him as he gripped his head and cried out in pain. "Talk to me, Raph!" But he could only shake his head. He needed to leave. Now. Before he turned his fury on the turtle.

He ran as fast as he could as Purple called his name desperately.