When they got to the lair, Donnie grabbed his phone and called April. Raphael explained to May why they had just broken her out of house arrest.
"The Purple Dragons? But... Why would they want me?" May asked.
"I don't know. Did you used to be part of that gang or something?" Raphael suggested.
May shook her head. "That's the thing. I've never heard of them before."
"Are you sure?" Leonardo asked. May nodded.
Raphael crouched so he was eye-level with May.
"May, listen. We need the truth, okay? Promise that you have no clue about this gang?"
May nodded. "I promise. I've never heard of them before."
"You aren't lying?"
"No. I'm not." May couldn't blame the turtle's skepticism. She understood, and she had promised to herself that she wouldn't lie or cheat Raphael. She wanted his trust and was willing to do what it took to get it.
Raphael nodded, straightening up again. Leo pulled him aside for a whispered conversation.
Raphael suddenly pushed his brother. It turned into a wrestling match.
May watched, standing next to Mikey, wondering why they were fighting, and what Leo could have said to spark such a flame of anger as was now in Raphael's eyes.
"Guys... Guys, come on. Stop." Donnie sighed.
Raphael got off Leo and growled, stomping out of the room. May followed.
"What's the matter? What did he say?" She asked.
"Never mind." Raphael shook his head.
May raised an eyebrow but didn't press the matter further. She didn't want to upset Raphael any more than he already was.
"So... Is this your bedroom?" She asked, changing the subject, looking around the room. It was more of a nook than a room. It had a bunk bed, drums on the left and weights everywhere.
"Yeah. Sorta." Raphael shrugged.
"Didn't know you played the drums."
"They're Mike's." Raphael lept up to the top bunk.
"Oh..." May nodded, noting the orange tape around the drumsticks.
Donnie entered. "Hey, guys. I called May's parents. They're going to Casey's Grandma's old farmhouse for now until we figure out and stop the threat from the Purple Dragons. They wanted me to tell Raph that his job is to keep a close eye on May, 24/7. Can you do that, or do you want to switch out with us?"
Raphael shrugged. "I'm good."
May didn't say anything, but she was slightly offended by the way Donnie talked about her as though she wasn't even there.
When Donnie left, Raphael instructed May to stay in the room, and he left for a few minutes.
After a bit, she could hear him just outside the door, arguing with Leo. They were both apparently extremely pissed at each other.
"Leave her alone!"
"How can you trust her?! How can you possibly believe her?!" Leo growled.
"Shut it, Leo! You know nothing about her!"
"Yeah, well, neither do you! What if the whole Purple Dragons thing is a setup? What if she knows the gang? What if she's part of that gang?"
"She's not-"
"How do you know? Because she told you?! Can you honestly, sincerely tell me that May is telling the truth?" Leo demanded.
Raphael was quiet. May silently willed him to say yes or to growl at Leo that he had a gut feeling or something that she could be trusted, but... he didn't.
"That's what I thought. She's a liar, a criminal, and she can't be trusted." Leo started to walk away.
May tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but she couldn't. She fought the tears in her eyes.
The door handle turned, then stopped. May heard Raph sigh, and then he left, leaving the door closed.
Phew. May thought, glad she had a few minutes to pull herself together. She didn't want Raphael to see her crying or upset. She wasn't a weakling or a crybaby.
I just have to try harder. I will gain his trust. I swear.
