The next morning, Raphael woke up, ran his fingers down his face and gasped in amazement. "I have five fingers. What the hell?" He ran his hands over his head and felt something soft. Hair. "It's true. I'm a human?" He gazed down at himself and noticed he was naked. "Raph?" Troy said sleepily.
"Troy, I'm a human," Raphael said excitedly, going over to the mirror and staring at his reflection. Dark hair, golden eyes and a handsome face. "Can ya believe it?"
"And a sexy one at that," Troy said, staring at him.
Raphael smiled, went over to him and kissed him. "So where are we?"
"My bedroom."
"Aww neat."
"You won't think so soon."
"Why?"

"Troy Brady, get your damn butt down for breakfast!" a male voice roared.
"That's why," Troy groaned. "That's my dad. I hope the bitch is out."
"Who?"
"My mother."

"Troy!" the voice yelled again.
"I'm coming, Dad. Hold your horses." Turning to Raphael, who'd donned his belt and sai, Troy said, "You can't go to breakfast like that."
"But I always wear my belt."
"Yeah, but you need clothes. You can wear your belt over some jeans and put on a T. We're basically the same height, so you'll fit into my clothes. But I suggest leaving the sai here."
"No. They're part of me."
Troy shrugged. "Suit yourself. Hurry up. He'll shout again if we're not down in the next two…"

"Troy!"
"Sheesh, Dad, take a chill pill. I'm coming."
"Is yer dad always so crabby?" Raphael asked, dressing.
"Yeah. He's worse when he drinks, but…I'll tell you later. Come on."

Troy threw on some jeans and a T and he and Raphael made their way to the kitchen. "Morning, Dad," Troy said, taking a seat. His twin was already at the table, digging into a bowl of cereal. Tadhg gazed at Raphael, but said nothing. Luke snapped, "Who's this, Troy? I told you to stop bringing hobos home."

Raphael stiffened, already disliking the man. "I ain't a hobo."

Luke ignored him and turned to Troy, "So who is he?"

"His name's Raph, Dad," Troy explained.
"And where does he come from?"

Before Troy could answer, a woman breezed into the kitchen. "Morning, Luke," she said, pecking his cheek and glaring at her twins and the visitor. "Who is this?"
"Some kid called Raph. Troy brought him home."

"Let me guess. Raph comes from Manhattan and has three brothers called Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo," Tadgh said. "And those are sai in his belt. And his dad's name is Splinter. And his favourite food is pizza."
"Mind like a steel trap," Raphael retorted. "And cereal, actually."
Tadhg burst out laughing. "I was joking. No damn way you're a ninja turtle. They're not real and you're a human, anyway. I bet those aren't even real sai."
"Wanna find out?" Raphael muttered.
Tadhg grinned. "Yeah, right. Must be a prop. I'm going out. Troy, remember we have that party tonight at Rich's place?" He looked at his parents. "You said we could go."

"As long as you come back by midnight," Luke said.
"Yes, Dad. Bye, Claudia."

"So who are you, Raph? Is it short for Raphael?" Luke asked. Troy got down a box of cereal from the cupboard and bowls and placed them on the table. "Dad, let Raph sit down and he'll explain. You're being rude to our guest."
"Your guest and he's not staying long. Have a seat, kid."

Troy poured cereal into a bowl and Raphael did the same. "Ain't a kid," Raph said crossly. "How old are you?" Claudia asked.
"Fourteen."
"A kid then. Where are your parents?"
"Manhattan."
"And how did you get here?"
"Plane."
"Do you have other family?"
"Brothers." Raphael started to eat.
"And why aren't they here?"
"Don't like travellin'."
"Where did you meet Troy?"
"Manhattan."
"What? That's impossible. You were in New York, Troy? Did you steal your dad's credit card again?"
"No," Troy said. "I met Raph at a party. Can he stay here with us? Raph said he has parents, but he doesn't. They died some time ago and so did his brothers. He's still traumatised and doesn't want to admit they're gone. Please let him stay here."
"I already have two ungrateful brats I don't want another one. I should have aborted you two in the first place. Brought me nothing but grief."

Raphael's teeth clenched. I'd love ta ram these sai into that bitch. How can she say those things 'bout her kids?

"Please," Troy said. "I'll give some of my money and do whatever I can. He's lonely and he needs people who love him. Please, Dad?"

Luke looked at Raphael, who was counting slowly silently to control the rage burning inside of him. Something seemed off about the kid. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt bad for the kid and the loss of his family. "All right. He can stay, but he has to do his fair share of the chores and he has to go to school. I suppose now I can only retire when I'm eighty having an extra brat around, but your story pains me, Raphael. I'm sorry for your loss."

"But he can't stay here," Claudia said angrily.
"My word is final," Luke snapped. "He stays. I'm going out with the lads. See you tonight. Troy, you promised to paint the garage."

"I will do," Troy said. "Thanks, Dad."
"I hope I won't regret my decision. Raphael, this brat gets in all kinds of shit. If you can keep him out of... Oh why am I saying this…No use. Troy does whatever he wants and so does that Tadhg. Make yourself at home. One last thing. Those weapons. Are they real?"

"No," Raphael said, scared they'd take them away from him. "Just a prop. My dad gave them ta me and I treasure them because of that."
"Oh, right. I suggest you don't wear them to school, though. Capiche? Others won't be as understanding as me."
"Okay," Raphael said. The hell I'll listen ta him. "Thank ya, Mr. Brady."
"Luke and you can call her Claudia. Later."

"I'm going out too," Claudia snapped. "Have plans with my friends. Troy, it's your turn to make supper."
"You know I can't cook."
"Just fucking get something on the damn table, otherwise…" Her eyes glinted.
Troy gulped. "Yeah, Claudia. Okay."

Raphael overturned a chair in anger. "Why you doing that?" Troy asked.
"I'm pissed. Yer family sucks, man. Look at how they treat ya. I'd like ta ram these babies up…"
"Whoa, Raph."
"Even in my darkest moments at home, my family wasn't like that. We love one another. I've never seen a family like this and it blows. How can they speak ta ya like that? And what did that bitch mean somethin' will happen?"
Troy looked down. "She'll come into my room."
"And what?"
"And things will happen."
"Oh, God. She molests ya?"
Troy's face flushed. "Since the age of twelve."
"And does Luke beat you?"
"Yeah."
"And yer brother?"
"He's cool. Tadhg gets beaten too."
"Well, I promise ya that from now on, things will be different. No one will touch ya or Tadhg and if they do, they'll have me ta tangle with."
"I got to paint the garage. I promised and to make supper and I should clean the house."
"What day is it?"
"Saturday?"
"Fuckin' forget it. We're goin' out. And we'll get a takeaway for dinner. Come on."
"But, Raph."
"But what? Everyone else has gone out. Why can't we? One question. Why didn't they seem shocked that ya'd been away?"
"I often run away for days on end."
"See, if I did that….When I did that, my family cared. Anyway, come on, man. Show me around the town."
"What about the garage?"
"Tell him ya will do it tomorrow. If he blows a fuse, I'll deal with him. When was the last time ya had fun?"
"I don't remember."

Raphael dragged Troy out of the house and marvelled at everything he saw. Ya know, with the exception of Troy's family, I could like bein' a human and livin' here. And I will talk ta Troy's parents and knock some sense into them. Raphael chuckled inwardly at the thought.