Stranger Whistles

by TJ HECTOR

-Warnings:

Two nutcases, namely, Raphael and Casey Jones, and their mouthfuls of obscenities. Teenage babbling.

And I have no idea what ninth graders learn in school so I just made them up.

-A/N:

Hi there! I've considered the tone of the story for some time, and I have to tell you, sadly, that this story is going to get darker than I originally expected it to be. Don't worry though, it won't start before the next chapter and everything will eventually get better. And we can seek refuge in our lighthearted brother Mikey. And still, I didn't label this story under Angst/Tragedy.

And about the characters...I know I said this one is set in 2k12 verse, but I still borrowed a lot of character personality from other incarnations, Casey Jones in particular. I'm not saying that I don't like the 2012 Casey, but my favorite Casey is definitely 2003's.

I got the other story going on and I will finish it, but I need some time since it's the last chapter I want it to be perfect. Presently I'll focus on this story and accumulate any thoughts and inspiration.

And thank you for your reviews, ducky mikey, Pizza lover 86, tmntlover2013 and Guests!

So here you go a very long Raphie chapter. Sorry Mikey fans!

-Disclaimer:

I do not own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (in this case, humans!) and the lyrics I quote.

Chapter Three: Chinese Food, Rain and Excess

[Michelangelo]

"Com' on Mikey, you got this." Donnie tapped the pencil on the edge of his desk. I stared at the pile of files as they shook dangerously each time Don's pencil contacted with the desk. "Six times x plus two equals fourteen. So, x equals?"

I looked at him shamefaced, smiling.

"Mikey?" Teacher Don stared back at me. "Focus."

"…Dude, your files are collapsin'! I can't help it!" I jumped in my chair. Damn this tutor session. Why did dad have to make Donnie teach me math after school? I couldn't go anywhere or get to hang out with my friends.

Donnie sighed. "You were already late, so we only got about twenty minutes today. Next time get home earlier okay? I can't teach you something new in half an hour. Don't wander off to the comic book store." He put the pencil down.

"I didn't go to the comic book store!" I protested in a high-pitch tone. Gah! Sometimes I sounded like my voice hadn't already broken. I had been waiting for Raph, who'd promised to meet me after school. I had waited for him for almost an hour. However, he didn't show up. "I swear!"

"Don't make it a fuss, Mikey. It's not like I'm accusing you or something." Donnie looked at me in dismay. Nobody could endure my screams. Yeah…I knew.

"Sorry. Shouldn't yell." I lowered my head.

"It's no big deal." He shrugged. "By the way, I suppose Leonardo's in charge of dinner tonight?"

"Yeah. He said he would bring Chinese food takeout home after he finished his work." Leo worked part-time in school's library. They all got part-time jobs. Donnie worked for a professor as his assistant. And Raph, oh, he had gotten fired a month ago at this pizza restaurant—he had this tantrum when a customer made fun of his name. ("What's so funny about it?" He shouted at us when he got back home that night. "Yeah my name's Hamato and I don't look like Japanese and what's so fuckin' funny about it?")

"Sounds delicious." Donnie yawned. I looked at the dark circles under his eyes. I sometimes wondered why and since when they were suddenly so grown-up and all, because they were only two or three years older than me—okay, I mean at least Leo and Donnie. They got jobs, they got this tired look on their faces, they gave you lectures, and they sat silently with dad and drank tea…(alright, the last two ones were Leo's privileges, but trust me I didn't envy him). Raph was a different case. He still did stupid things like me but unlike me, he seemed to do them differently, maybe because he couldn't help it and was always angry or something…all I knew was my anger wouldn't last long.

"You wanna get some sleep Donnie?" I asked. "I'll wake ya up when Leo's home."

"No, 'm good." Don ran a hand through his disheveled, wild short curls—we used to tease him about his hair, since it was all messy and made him look more like a mad scientist; he simply refused to get a crew cut just like Raph did, and he sadly didn't have Leo's elegant straight hair or my easy-going waves (they were good and girls totally loved 'em). "Got another project to work on."

"Don't tire yourself out, okay?" I said.

"I will be cautious." Donnie gave me a smile. "Thanks, Mikey."

I smiled back, turning away toward the TV. I was afraid that if I stayed beside him for too long, I'd let out my worries for Raph and that'd mean betrayal. I didn't know why I felt that I was obliged to keep the meetings between Raph and me as a secret. Maybe I thought Raph wouldn't tell me anything anymore if I told Leo and Donnie about him.

But Raph said he'd meet me after school.

I searched idly through the channels for anything interesting.

Was Raph in trouble? I kept thinking about the conversation between him and Miss Morris. Raph said something about the football team, about this boy named Tim and about guns and police. Something was definitely wrong.

I glanced at Donnie, who's bending over his notebook, nose almost touching it. I supposed it's okay if I tell Don? No. Raph'd kill me.

But Raph's maybe in trouble. In danger.

I remembered the blood on his shirt this morning.

I stood up.

Suddenly the front door was flung open. Leo squeezed through it with his arms filled with paper bags. He even got his overloaded book bag and kendo gears on him.

"Someone wanna help me with this?" He panted.

"Chinese food!" I raised my arms victoriously, running to him. "All hail Leo! I'm starvin'!"

Oh my. I almost completely forgot about Raph when I saw food.

O-O-O

"How's the story going, Mikey?"

I swallowed the food, flushing it down with the tea Leo had made. Turning to answer Donnie's question, I grinned widely. "It's going awesome. You're not gonna believe this! I've already drawn the rough outline of the fourth issue. Number four!"

"How's the guy dealing with his problem?" Leo asked absentmindedly while his gaze still fixed on a slapping-his-crew Captain Ryan on the TV screen.

"What problem?" I frowned. "Oh, you mean, his wife and kid?"

"Yeah, did they forgive him?" Donnie checked a takeout box and found it empty; sighing, he leaned back onto the sofa. "Mikey, you almost ate everything. I'm still hungry."

"Sorry, bro. FYI, they're still mad at him."

"Poor guy." Leo muttered. I had no idea whether he was talking about my character or the crew member who just got slapped on face. Man, Captain Ryan's kinda harsh to people sometimes.

"But he found out who's behind the series of robbery." I said. "It was this friend of his from childhood. He believed Kevin betrayed him for the super power."

"Is that true?" Donnie slurred, his eyelids were drooping.

"Of course not."

"Too bad Raph can't read it." Leo said.

"Yeah." I sighed.

"This is outrageous." Leo said to himself suddenly, but it was loud enough for us all to hear.

"What do you mean?" Donnie asked. I was surprised that he hadn't fallen asleep; his head had slumped to one side, and now he was just leaning against Leo's shoulder.

"Raph." Leo frowned. "He hasn't come back for days. He hasn't called. I know he's alright. Saw him with his friend…Casey isn't it...in school yesterday. I don't know, just what's wrong with him?"

Maybe ya have to ask yourself, I thought coldly, and then startled by the thought. Was I angry with Leo? Heck no. I just…God. Who could put up with all these yelling and fighting? I couldn't believe it that they were not at least one bit tired by constantly at each other's throat.

[Raphael]

-Earlier-

He was leaning against the wall outside Mikey's classroom when he saw a chubby boy strolled down the hallway. It was only ten minutes before the bell rang.

"Tim?" He called out. Originally he didn't want to stop the boy, but somehow the expression the boy bore made him do so.

The kid didn't stop while Raph was sure he heard the call.

"Timothy Williams!" He called again, walking across the corridor. "Hey Tim! It's me."

The tubby boy finally turned around, and when he saw it was Raph, he let out a breath and tried to smile.

"Hey. Hamato. Didn't know it was you." Tim said nervously, dropping his gaze instantly.

"Yeah?" Raph asked. "Why da I had this feelin' that ya know it was me."

"R-really…" Tim glanced around. "Uh, listen, I'm kind of busy here, so…"

"What's wrong?" Raph took a step closer, frowning. "Ya look like ya just see a ghost or somethin'."

"Hey…" Tim licked his lips and stepped back. "Can…can we not talk here?"

"Why not?"

"'M afraid that the guys might see me." Tim shrugged, his voice low. "Please?"

"Alright." They climbed down the stairs together as Tim led the way. As soon as they're out of the building, Tim quickly hid himself behind a tree.

"What cha doin'?" Raph couldn't help but snorted.

"They might see me." Tim repeated. "The guys."

"You mean, the football team?"

Tim nodded.

"Well, you overestimate 'em then. They ain't gonna show up under broad daylight—not in school, that's for sure."

"I ain't as strong as you, Raphael." Tim smiled slightly. "Maybe you are not afraid of them. And maybe you don't have to."

"What da you mean?" Raph approached him until his gaze forced Tim to lift his chin and the two of them were facing each other. "What da you mean by this afraid thing?"

"Have you forgotten?" Tim gaped at him with wild eyes. "They creamed me even before you got in. A-and then the coach…" Raph's left eye twitched as he heard the word coach, and he half raised an arm to stop Tim from talking.

"They won't hurt ya no more." Raph's brow furrowed. "We got this truce."

"Like it still count." Tim's lips pulled down. "Like that's gonna help with you quitting the team."

"Hey, so it's my fault?" Raph hissed.

"I'm not saying that. But you're equipped with martial arts and I got nothin'."

"Com'on, yer bigger than any one of 'em."

"But they are…they're corrupt, th-they don't have morals. What am I gonna do with 'em, Hamato? Huh? I just wanna play the games. I…I just wanna train and…do my stuff."

Raphael twisted his fingers and heard his knuckles went snap. He thought for a moment.

"Yeah," he finally said, "guess yer right."

Tim sighed, and then smiled bitterly.

"So, whatcha doin' in the hallway? Don'tcha have class?" Raph asked.

"I was talkin' to this teacher. Wanted to ask his opinion. I'm considering transference."

"Like, yer goin' ta another high school?" Raph narrowed his eyes.

"…Yeah."

"So," Raph stared at Tim's troubled gaze, "You just let them break you?"

"I'm not." Tim bit his lip. "I'm just…I just want it to be different, and I'm not gonna go against 'em."

"Oh."

"…Really, I gotta go." Tim heaved a long breath. "I'm a…yeah. Hey, w-would you mind keeping me a company? Just…it's only a ten-minute walk to my apartment."

"What? You're afraid?" Raph glowered at him.

"Yeah." Tim stared back. "Aren't you?"

O-O-O

So, he ended up sitting on a half-rotten bench in the playground nearby Tim Williams' home. He had thought about returning to school for Mikey, but guessed Mikey should have been home by now. He had bought a bag of cookies from the grocery store on the corner of the block and had finished it right away.

Raphael gazed upon the cloudy sky as he recalled Mikey's statement about the rainfall. Mike was right. It was going to rain.

He absentmindedly reached for the cigarettes in his pocket and found an empty box instead. Sighing as he realized he had ran out of money and cigarettes, he lay down on the bench and folded his arms beneath his head.

Maybe I should go home.

Not until tomorrow when nobody's there. I could steal some change from dad's drawer.

Shit. Donnie will be home tomorrow. He doesn't have any classes on Wednesday.

Alright. Have ta wait for another day.

Maybe Casey wouldn't mind me spending a night at his place? Com'on it's only a night. Can't sleep on a rooftop in rain. I'm already sorta under the weather.

And maybe I get to watch some TV. Case's old man won't be home before midnight.

Geez. Don't you just miss those stupid shows on TV. Even Space Heroes sounds appealing right now.

Stupid Leo and his stupid cartoon. Arrogant son of a bitch. Wish I could sew his goddamn mouth.

He smiled, and the raindrops started to fall.

O-O-O

"Let me in."

Casey Jones rubbed his eyes and stared out of the window, climbing out of his bed. There was an unmistakable red-haired, stocky figure outside on the tiny terrace, furiously knocking his bedroom window.

"Jesus. He's a ninja or somethin'." Casey muttered to himself. Unless some alien just abducted him and put him inside some other place designed just like their house, they lived on the sixth floor of the building.

"Open the goddamn window." Raph was saying, but Casey could barely hear him since the rainfall was too heavy.

When Raph finally got inside, Casey collapsed onto his bed instantly, closing his eyes.

"Hey, get up you lazy ass." Raph pushed his friend on the back of his head; Casey grunted, annoyed.

"Fuck off, Raph. I was sleepin'. I'll be sleepin'."

"Got a towel? I'm soaking wet."

"In the bathroom. Make yerself at home since ya've invited yerself in anyway." Casey grumbled in a sarcastic tone.

Raph mumbled a muffled 'thanks', shrugged off his soaked t-shirt and threw it on the floor.

"Hey, Case." Coming back with a towel a minute later, he flopped into the worn armchair beside the bed. "Your dad ain't home, right? Care for some music?"

"He's workin'. What da you wanna listen?"

"Still got that CD I burned last year?"

"Yeah. It's on the stereo or somewhere."

Raph stood up and went to the stereo, which was on Casey's desk (What does he need that for?). He found it soon enough. "Man. There's dust all over it. Ya never listen ta it don't ya?" He snorted.

"You bet." Casey answered with a smile.

Raph muttered something under breath.

When the music started, he was already back sitting comfortably in that old armchair by the bed.

"God, it's good. Ya got any bottles?"

"Man, you're a fucking King. Aren't you." Casey moaned. "If my memory's still intact after I drank like a pig last night, there's one somewhere under my bed."

Raph grinned, crouching down.

"Found it." He sank back into the chair. "Your dad doesn't seemed to mind you stealing from his stock liquor."

Casey rolled over to face him. "Gimme that. I want a swig."

"Really? You just woke up after sleeping all day." Raph passed the bottle to him.

"I wanna get drunk so I could go back ta sleep and don't have ta listen ta you."

"I don't think so. Time's essence, Casey."

"The hell ya think so."

"My smart brother says ta me all the time. Gotta cherish time and stay sober." Raph met Casey's drowsy frown with a bright grin.

Casey gave a snort; his eyes wandered around Raph's shoulder. "Man, ya got a lot of scars. Those are old."

Raph shrugged.

"…Yer really tryin' ta get yerself killed, ain't ya." Casey looked at his friend in the eyes. "Tryin' ta burn out."

"'M not." Raph smiled slightly.

"Yes, yes you are." Casey sat up on the bed. "Why?"

Raph shrugged again.

"You don't worship those guys who died at twenty-seven, do you?" Casey leaned back against the wall, furrowing his brows. "You're really crazy. Really. Y' 'll die before twenty."

"I take that as a compliment." Raph snatched the bottle from Casey's hand, taking a long sip.

"You should take that as a warning." Casey hissed.

"What? Everybody so wants to give me a lecture or somethin'?" Raph put down the bottle, standing up.

"Hey. I'm just worried about ya." Casey sat straight. "Sit down, will ya? I'm enjoying the music."

Raph raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "It's been there since last year."

"It's good. Sorry I haven't discovered it earlier."

Raph hummed along the song. When the next song started, his face lightened.

"Love this one."

Casey glanced at him from the corner of his eyes.

"…Doesn't it blow so cold and lonely,

oh, and it's blowin' your way…"

Raph sang, lying back into the chair.

"Man. That's corny. Always thought you'd like something rougher." Casey remarked.

"No, it's not corny. You bonehead." Raph protested with a faint smile. "It's fucking awesome. This is punk rock."

"Whatever." Casey grumbled. "Sounds dated. Sounds like some country music."

"…A thousand shades of gray.

As it falls, you see it all,

…all that you see."

"—Man, didn't know you sing. Kinda creeps me out—"

"…Comes from nowhere

…can't be explain.

No one can buy…the wind and the rain…"

"—Not that kind of bad creeps. These are good creeps. Man, you can sing."

"Yeah?" Raph smiled rather reticently. "Always thought I should start a band or somethin'."

"You can count me in."

"You actually play any instrument?" Raph stared at him in disbelief.

"I learned ta play piano in Sunday school when I was eight years old or so. This old woman taught me. She's really nice."

"Geez. Casey Jones the great ape. Can't believe it. Bet you don't even know who Beethoven is."

"Fuck you. I'm a gentleman. And what about your singing? Don't tell me you're a secret member of school choir?"

"Of course not."

"If you were, you'd be an ape among 'em too."

"I'm a gentleman, too."

"Raphael Hamato, a gentleman? Fuck me."

"Yeah fuck you, Jones."

"Care for some more Dragon goons tonight?"

"Sure." Raph picked up the bottle, smiling widely. "Sure."

[Michelangelo]

The rainfall and wind were relentless outside, but inside our apartment it was warm and cozy. The rain didn't stop until about an hour ago or so. Leo was doing push-ups in front of the muted TV, and Donnie had finally given in and was lying asleep on the couch; I was drawing on my sketchbook (I should be studying, I know. But this wonderful idea of the fusion of cowboy and chef just came across and I couldn't resist). We were all in the living room.

And it was almost eleven o'clock when the phone rang.

"Get the phone, Mikey." Don muttered in his sleep.

"Hey, why always me?" I protested.

"I'll answer it. It might be dad calling." Leo said, wiping his brow with the towel on his shoulder. "Hello?"

The living room was silent besides the sound of my pencil brushing against the rough paper of my sketchbook.

"…I'm Leonardo Hamato, Yoshi's son. …Yeah, I am. All right. I'll be there in minutes." His face was grim when he hung up on the phone.

"What is it?" Donnie asked; he was rubbing his eyes and looking alert. I put down my pencil.

"…I knew he'd screw everything up." Leo said, voice tight and grave.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Leo looked lost, confused and angry. He sat down on the couch, pushing Donnie's legs aside and burying his face in his palms.

"I knew it. I told him and told him for countless time but he wouldn't listen." Leo's words were blurry but still spitting even through his hands.

Donnie sat up, moving towards Leo. "Hey, what's wrong?"

I took a step forward, eyes meeting with Don's worried ones.

"It's Raph." Leo said wearily. "He's at the police station."

—End of chapter three.

-A/N: The song is Meat Puppets' The Wind and The Rain. It rained a lot last week in the region I live. Guess the rain just soaked through my pages.