An hour later, there was a knock at the door. "Go away," Raphael yelled.
"What is it?" Troy asked sleepily.
"Probably one of my brothers."
There was another knock. "Raph, I know you're in there," Don said.
"Go away."
"No. You need to get up. Mikey never came back from his girlfriend's. We have to go bring him home before Sensei wakes. Leo's warming up the Battle shell."
Raphael got to his feet and opened the door. "I'm ready," he said, donning his obi and slipping the sai into the pockets. "I'm Don," Don said, staring at Troy, who was sitting up and staring at him. He stuck out a hand and Troy shook it.
"Troy Brady," Troy said.
"You weren't kidding when you said he was cute, Raph," Don teased.
"Shut up," Raphael growled. "I'll see ya later, Troy." He pressed his lips to Troy's forehead and said, "I doubt we'll be long. Get some sleep."
Raphael, Leo and Don drove to Mikey's girlfriend's place and the tension between Leo and Raphael was as thick as oatmeal. Raphael ignored it and tried to focus on positive thoughts. I've found someone who likes me and I'm gonna be happy, he thought. I'm sorry Leo's hurt, but I couldn't live a lie anymore. Truthfully, we were over months ago. We just didn't realize it.
The van came to a halt before Mikey's girlfriend's apartment a few minutes later. They all got out and Raphael picked the lock with his sai. Going inside, noises emanated from the master bedroom and they made their way to the bedroom door. Raphael gently opened it and saw his brother sitting astride his girlfriend. "Mikey, ya need ta come home now," Raphael said firmly.
"Oh, my God," the girlfriend, Molly, said, rolling out from under Mikey and draping herself in the bed sheets. "You again? Why can't you let Mikey and I be? We're in love."
Mikey stood up and faced his brothers. "Yeah. Why can't you leave us alone? You always have to come and spoil things."
"Because ya need ta come home before Sensei wakes up," Raphael said. "He'll blow a fuse."
"Like I did earlier," Mikey said, and laughed. "I'm not going home. You go without me."
"But she's not good enough for ya, Mikey. Ya know that."
"What I know," Mikey said, jabbing a finger into Raph's plastron. "Is that I'm fucking sick of you three interfering in my life. You guys need girlfriends of your own. All that pent-up sexual aggression. That's especially your problem, Raph. Maybe then you'd leave me to do my thing."
Raphael's face darkened and his hands clenched into fists, ready to strike. "Go ahead," Mikey taunted. "Do it and while we're talking, you suck as a brother, Raph. Why don't you leave the family and get a damn fucking life of your own? Everyone's sick of your moods and aggression. Leo, you seriously need to get laid and Don, don't even get me started on you. Now get out all of you. I'm not leaving." Mikey folded his arms across his plastron and glared at his brothers.
"I agree with you about Raph," Leo said. "He's a damn jerk. And I'm done as leader. I need a break."
Raphael loved his brothers, although he never openly said it, believing that actions were more powerful than words and the harsh words cut him to the core. He felt like he'd been kicked in the guts. They hated him and he had to leave. Leaving everything he knew would be difficult, but he had to do it. At least he had Troy. "If that's what ya want," Raphael said softly.
"So we're splitting up?" Don said sadly.
Raphael nodded. "I'll be gone in the mornin'."
"Good," Leo said.
"Can you get out now?" Mikey said. "I was busy. Tell Sensei I'm moving out."
Raphael opted to go home on foot while Leo and Don drove back in the Battle shell. Tears streamed down Raph's cheeks as he thought about what had happened that evening. They hate me. I'm a failure as a brother and a son. After everythin' we've been through it's come down ta this. He slowly made his way back to the lair, only stopping to punch a wall. He needed to hit something and the pain in his knuckles made him forget the raw pain in his heart, if only for a moment. When he got back to the lair, it was quiet. They must be in their rooms, he thought. Raphael went to his bedroom, quietly undressed, placed his sai on the bedside table and got into bed. "You're back, Raph," Troy said sleepily.
"Yeah."
"Did you get Mikey?"
"No. He didn't wanna come home."
"Why not?" Troy asked more alert, studying Raphael's tear stained face and red eyes. "You've been crying."
"Have not," Raphael said gruffly. "I don' t cry."
"It's okay to cry, Raph. It doesn't mean you're weak. I think it takes guts for a man to cry and they aren't any less manly. So talk to me. What happened?" Troy took Raph's hands in his and stared at his bleeding knuckles. "You're hurt, Raph."
"It's nothin'."
"But you're bleeding."
"So what? It'll heal."
"You want to talk?"
"No."
"Raph, if we're going to make this work, you need to trust me."
"I trust ya, Troy. I'm just not great with feelings and sayin' how I feel."
"Try for me? I want to help, like you helped me."
Raphael wanted to laugh at him. It sounded so gay to him. Big, macho Raph talking about his emotions like he was a girl, but looking at Troy's earnest face, he saw something in his eyes that made him refrain from laughing. It wasn't pity. Was it love? Yes, it was. Love. The same look Leo had had in his eyes for him a year earlier. Before he could stop himself, he let out a huge sob. "We ...We had a fight. Mikey didn't wanna come home, told me I was a bad brother and should leave. Leo agreed and we've split up."
"What? I'm sure you'll all make up in the morning. You always do."
"Not this time, Troy. We've split up for good. I suppose Leo and Don will stay here. Mikey's movin' in with his girlfriend." Troy wrapped his arms around him. "I'm so sorry, Raph. I know how much you love them."
"Promise me somethin'?"
"Anything," Troy said, disengaging himself and pulling Raph's hand into his own.
"I know we haven't known one another long, but I couldn't stand it if ya left me. Promise me ya won't."
"I'll never leave you, Raph. I promise. Don't leave me either."
"I won't. Yer all I have." Raphael pulled him close and they hugged for a long time. Tears of sadness mixed with happiness spilled from Raphael's eyes. Elation at finding his mate, but sadness at losing his family. They lay down to sleep a while later and entwined their hands. Raphael looked at Troy's face and smiled. I'm goin' ta miss my family so much, but I'm so glad I have Troy, he thought. He's the perfect mate and I know we'll be
