Chapter 3: Seein' Green

Raph, guess who's here?

The pizza guy?

...Um, no.

Lemme guess. It's the readers, ain't it?

Yep. You owe me ten bucks. Pay up.

*scowls and digs out the money* What do they wanna hear 'bout this time?

Someone asked about the first girl you rescued other than April.

...No. Shell no. I ain't tellin' that one.

Why not?

'Cuz. It's private.

*grins* Ooh. You have a crush on her, don't you?

N-No. I just...I don't wanna tell that one.

You do!

Not!

C'mon, Raph. Tell us the story!

No!

I'll buy you two large pizzas with all the toppings you want...

...Mikey can't have 'em?

Nope. Just for you.

*sighs; looks around to make sure no one is listening* Fine. It happened a long time ago...

TMNT/TMNT/TMNT

"It was an accident, I swear. I didn't mean to-"

"Sure ya didn't! Just like ya didn't mean ta ruin my favorite magazine or put that hole in my punchin' bag last week, right?"

"Raph, that's enough."

"Yer always stickin' up fer Mikey! Why doncha let him get what's comin' ta him fer once?"

"He didn't mean to hit you, Raph. Come on."

"I ain't apologizin' ta that little son of a-"

"Raph!"

My hands clench inta fists, and it's all I can do ta keep myself from punchin' Leo square in the jaw. Mikey cowers behind him, and Leo narrows his eyes, drawing up ta his full height. It's another battle of wills between the two of us - somethin' that's been happenin' a lot lately, ta be honest.

"I'm goin' out," I mutter, shovin' past both of 'em. Leo calls after me - probably ta lecture me some more - but I ignore him, headin' inta the garage and climbin' onta my bike. I pull my helmet on and rev the bike, shootin' out of the Lair and onta the surface.

Exhilaration builds inside me. Freedom... When I'm ridin' my bike, the guys can't touch me. It's just me an' the wind whippin' past, the roar of the road beneath me in my ears.

I steer my bike inta an alley an' cut the motor, pocketin' the key and settin' my helmet on the seat. I slip past some old crates and bags of trash ta a door hidden in the metal siding, knockin' three times on the frame. A small window slides open and icy grey eyes stare at me.

"Came out fer a drink," I say. "Ya got any vodka?"

"Fresh out," he replies gruffly. "All we got left is beer."

"It's five o' clock somewhere."

The panel shuts again, and a second later I hear a click. The door swings open and I step inta the room. Dim lighting illuminates the sheet-covered furniture. Behind me, the door shuts and locks automatically.

The heavily-muscled bulldog mutant stares at me, his eyes glinting in the half-light. "Ya got some nerve showin' up here, punk."

"I could say the same about yer ugly mug, Butch. Didn't they kick ya out last month? What'd ya do, hook up with Snake's daughter?"

Butch growls deep in his throat, his hackles rising. He takes a step towards me, fists raised. And slaps me on the back, almost makin' me lose my balance. "'Bout time ya got here, Hamato. We could use a decent fighter again."

I shake my head, walkin' deeper inta the derelict building. "I told ya. I ain't fightin' anymore."

"Aw, c'mon, Raph. Ya know how Flame and his gang have been actin' since ya left? They think they're the kings o' the ring or somethin'."

"Ain't my problem," I reply. Last time I was in a ring fight, I took home cracked ribs an' a black eye with my cash. Don taped me back together and covered fer me with the others, but made me swear not ta get in a fight again. I still come here from time ta time - especially when I need ta burn off steam - but I haven't joined a fight since I promised him I wouldn't. I duck inta the access tunnel, and a growing roar lets me know I'm close. "Who's fightin' tonight?"

The dog sighs, givin' up on tryin' ta get me inta the ring again - at least fer now. "Flame is up against Titan later, but right now it's the girls' fight."

A smirk appears on my face. There ain't nothin' hotter than watchin' female mutants try an' rip each others' throats out. At least, not ta me.

Butch follows me inta the crowded arena, and I weave through the throngs of mutants - some recent fighters, and some merely bystanders. Various humanoids shoot me dirty looks and my smirk only grows. They're all mutants that I beat before.

One particularly nasty-lookin' lizard-man hisses at me. I bare my teeth, growlin' and drawin' my sai. He backs away pretty quick. Then I'm at the ring, and my gaze shifts ta the two females inside the ropes. My jaw drops immediately.

What draws my focus ain't Rep - Snake's hot-as-shell daughter - but the girl she's fightin' against. The wolf-girl is dressed in a black tank and leggings, and leather boots come up ta her knees. Long amber-colored hair falls in a tight braid past her shoulders.

"Who the shell is she?" I ask Butch, mesmerized.

He lets out a bark of laughter. "That? That's Nikki. She's a new fighter. Showed up two weeks ago claimin' she could beat the best of us."

"And?"

"After she takes down Rep, she'll be inta the guys' league."

"Shell," I whistle. It ain't easy ta beat all those chicks. Some of the toughest fighters in the city are in the girls' league. And if Nikki is already through it... "She's good."

"She's too good," he replies, jerkin' his head toward Snake, who's sittin' in his spot up on the far wall. The serpent ain't lookin' happy - and his scowl only grows as Rep takes another hit ta the jaw. "Last time someone beat Rep-"

"They came outta the ring lookin' like they'd been through the Underworld," I finish in a low voice. I remember that. The refs had ta drag Rep's competitor outta the ring because she was unconscious and bleedin' in a dozen different places. Last I'd heard of Charm, she was livin' with Ms. Morrison - she can't ever fight again' 'cuz of her injuries.

Nikki lands a kick ta Rep's left knee, and the crowd cheers raucously at the resoundin' snap of bone. I wince, the sound echoin' in my ears. Rep goes down, holdin' her leg, an expression of intense pain on her face.

Up on the dais, Snake's face darkens and he gestures ta the fifteen-odd goons around him. They jump inta the ring, headin' toward Nikki, but she's too busy celebrating ta notice.

My pulse starts poundin'. "Turn around," I mutter. "C'mon. Turn around..."

Butch sighs resignedly and shakes his head. "If she had just thrown this fight..."

Snake's thugs are almost surroundin' Nikki now - and she's finally startin' to realize that the crowd went quiet as they wait fer Snake's signal. The reptile makes a thumbs-down sign and the mutants roar their approval. Nikki pales considerably, backin' up. Two of the thugs grab her before she can do anything, holdin' her in place. Another slams his fist inta her stomach and then kicks her hard in the knee, exactly where she kicked Rep. He pulls back fer another punch.

Kraang. Forget the promise I made ta Don. She needs help.

Before I can stop myself, I'm movin' forward, shovin' through the mutants around me. Butch sees me and his eyes widen. "Hamato, what are you-"

"I hafta help her," I explain, but my friend's large paw on my shoulder prevents me from goin' anywhere.

"Ya can't," he says. "Ya know what'll happen."

It's an unwritten rule in the ring that no one can intervene in 'punishment' fights. I know it, Butch knows it, and so does every other mutant in this place. If ya step foot in the ring ta help when someone is gettin' the crud knocked outta them by Snake's men, yer done for. Ya can't ever come back ta the warehouse - if ya can even walk again afterwards.

"It ain't right. I gotta do this, Butch."

"You know that I won't be able ta talk ta ya again. And if Snake evah sees yer face, he'll turn ya inta turtle soup and leave ya out fer the Shreddah. Ya won't be as lucky as Charm was."

"I know," I reply quietly. I give him a somewhat sad grin. "Thanks fer everythin', man."

The mutant dog matches my expression. "I wish ya luck, Hamato. Yer gonna need it."

A cocky look appears in my eyes. "Oh, yeah? Ya think so, huh? Ten bucks says different."

"Yer on," Butch says, laughing.

With a mock-salute, I catapult inta the ring, knockin' down one of the thugs holdin' the wolf mutant captive. "Hey, now. Fifteen against one ain't hardly fair."

Seein' me, the crowd of mutants grows even wilder, their cheerin' so loud that it blocks almost any noise around me. Except fer Nikki's cry of indignation.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" she asks furiously, wrenchin' away from her second captor. Her piercing green eyes, flashin' with fire, are so like my own that it startles me.

"Savin' yer shell, sweetheart," is my reply. I kick one guy's legs out from under him, and he goes down. As soon as I slam the hilt of my sai inta his head, he's out like a light.

"Fourteen ta two. Now we're evenin' up the odds a little."

She growls, throwin' a mutant inta his friend and knockin' them both down. I take my eyes offa the fight fer a minute ta look inta the stands. Snake is lookin' very, very ticked off. But across from him, Butch's eyes are glintin' with somethin' like pride.

"Duck!"

My eyes widen and I crouch just in time. One of the thugs goes flyin' across the ring and hits a stone pillar. Hard.

"Thanks," I tell her, tryin' ta get back inta the fight again. "Name's Raphael, by the way."

"I know," Nikki replies dryly. "All I've heard about since I came here was the Nightwatcher. Hamato Raphael this, Hamato Raphael that. Blah, blah, blah."

"I haven't fought in months!" The surprise must show in my tone because she glances at me.

"Well, they're still talking about you. And if my guess is right, they will be for a while yet."

I push that thought away. In a show of speed that I'm possibly too proud of, I take out three of the remainin' five thugs. The last two exchange looks of fear with each other.

"What's wrong?" I taunt. "Scared o' the big bad Nightwatcher?" I pause fer just a second, then jump at them. "BOO!"

The two mutants let out matchin' yelps of terror and run, climbin' over the ropes and vanishin' inta the floor-access tunnel.

When I turn back ta Nikki, she's doubled over in laughter. "What?" I ask, slightly annoyed.

The wolf-girl shakes her head. "Nothing," she replies, tryin' ta catch her breath.

Sighin', I put my sai back on my belt. "We better go. In a few seconds, it'll be chaos down here." Rollin' her eyes, Nikki jumps the ropes and runs down the tunnel. I take one more look at Butch, who gives me a salute. I grin at him. Then I turn and follow Nikki.

I catch up with her in the alleyway outside, where she's standin' and admirin' my bike. "Nice wheels," she tells me.

"Thanks. ...So, where ya goin' ta go now?"

She shrugs. "Dunno. I'll find something."

A crazy, totally insane idea pops inta my mind. "Why doncha come with me? There's plenty o' room at my place." Though I don't think Leo and the others will be too happy with me.

Nikki shakes her head again as if sensin' my thoughts. "I would, but I'm more of a lone wolf."

"Was that a joke?"

The mutant chuckles and presses a quick kiss ta my cheek, at the same time slippin' a piece of paper inta my belt. "Thanks for the save, Raphael. I'll see you around."

With that, she climbs up the fire escape and disappears. I'm left standin' there, a shell-shocked grin on my face and her number in my pocket.

When I get home, everyone is asleep. Except, of course, fer Splintah Jr. "Where have you been, Raphael? It's been four hours!"

Without givin' Leo a reply, I head straight ta my room, lockin' the door behind me and climbin' inta my hammock. The grin on my face grows bigger as I stare at the number in my hand. Despite Leo yellin' at me, and the shell I'll have ta pay tomorrow mornin', nothin' can ruin this night.

TMNT/TMNT/TMNT

I think you're blushing!

I am not.

I think you're actually turning red!

Argh... *throws a kunai at me*

...Maybe not.

So there. That's the story of the first girl I saved. Ya happy now?

Oh, I think they will be. I have to say, though, Raph. I never pegged you for a romantic.

What, just 'cuz I'm more hotheaded than my bros, that means I can't like someone?

I never said-

Fer yer information, sweetheart, I met up with Nik the other day. She's still doin' fine and she likes me just as much as I like her.

So you've told her that you like her, then?

...Well, I-

(from off-screen) Raphie and Nikki, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

SHUT UP, MIKE!

Come on, Raph...it's sweet of you.

*crosses arms and turns away* Yer laughin' at me.

No I'm not.

Yeah, ya are.

Raph, I promise I'm not.

...

Raph?

Sigh. Remember, if you guys want to hear about a specific thing that happened to Raph, just leave it in a review.

C'mon! We're gonna buy my pizza now. If ya don't hurry up, I swear I'm gonna-

All right, all right. I'm coming, already!