On planet Gorg, King and Trog were talking. "Did you locate the remaining daughter of our ruler?" Trog asked. "You said her sister and her family were killed."
"No, dad," King said. "We're still looking and trying to determine why our leader was murdered. It may have been because of his greed. It was well known that he loved money and flashy things. All we've learned is that her name is Emily Cordingley, she's eighteen and is studying Criminology." King tapped a few buttons and Emily's picture came up on the screen. "Nice looking girl."
"Indeed," King said, and smiled. "I'd date her. Am I allowed to compete for her hand?"
"Of course, my son, and ultimately, it is I and the other elders who choose her mate, so you have a good chance of being selected."
"Dad, regarding mates for her, should I look beyond our planet?"
An old man entered the room and said, "Trog, my son. I've located turtle mates for the daughter of our ruler."
Trog glanced at his father, Bing, and said, "Where?"
"New York. I used my turtle tracker to track them."
"Where in New York?"
"I don't know. The tracker broke and is being repaired. Could take a few days, but at least we have a location."
King typed a few words and said, "Grandpa, New York's a huge city. There's no way we'll find the turtles and did your tracker locate the girl?"
"Actually, yes. She's in New York, too, but I don't know where."
"King, you and I will go to Earth and look for them," Trog said. "Pack some lunch. I always get hungry on trips. Dad, are you joining us?"
"No. I'm too old to travel."
"You're only eighty, Dad."
"Yes, but sometimes I feel like I'm a hundred. Good luck."
King and his father made sandwiches and boarded their space machine. As they blasted off, King thought, I'm so excited to see Earth for the first time. I wonder what the earthlings are like and I hope we find that girl. She's so pretty."
Back at the lair, Raphael got out the wok and started cooking his vegetables. He wasn't hungry, but he wanted to make Emily something special. It's also a thank ya for her bein' so nice ta me, he thought. I ain't Leo, who blows up the kitchen, so surely I can make this? He placed the beef in the wok, went to his room, set up incense candles around it and moved a large table, he used for his art in the centre of the room, placing a table cloth, cutlery, plates and more candles on it, as well as an ice bucket with the grape juice in it. Perfect, he thought. One last thing. Music. He placed a CD in the CD player, hit play and smiled.
Suddenly, he caught a whiff of something burning. Oh, shit. The beef, he thought, racing to the kitchen and seeing flames leaping on the stove. Getting down flour from the cupboard, Raph doused the flames with it and looked at his ruined dish miserably. Fuck. I got distracted makin' things so nice, I burned the meal. Fuck. What do I do now? Does she like salad? Maybe cereal? I don't know. I'll make both.
"Raphael," Splinter said, entering the kitchen. "Is everything all right? I was in my room and I smelled something burning."
"No, Dad," Raph said forlornly. "I wanted ta make Emily somethin' special and I burned it."
Splinter smiled. "It's the thought that counts, my son. Do not be discouraged. You can make something else. What about a salad?"
"I was 'bout ta do that."
"Are those incense candles in your room that I smell?"
Raph blushed. "Yeah, Dad. I'm tryin' ta court her and win her heart."
"Just remember," Splinter said, laying a hand on his son's shoulder. "Always be yourself and do not rush into things. You are young and while I know you have…"
Raph flushed, knowing where his father was going. "Dad, please. I know."
"I know you have urges. It's normal to have them, but you are too young to have children. Please wait. Do we need the rest of the talk?"
"N-no, Dad," Raph stammered. "I understand."
"Good. Now have fun," Splinter said, his eyes twinkling. "I wish you good luck. I am in my room if you need me."
Raph emptied the contents of the wok into the bin and placed the wok into the sink. Then he set about creating a salad, taking care not to slice his fingers. When he was done, he poured cereal into two bowls, got milk from the fridge and took the items to his room, setting them on the table. Then he returned for the salad bowl and did the same. Now I just need ta get Emily.
Raph knocked on Emily's door and said, "Emily, it's Raph. Can we talk?"
Emily opened the door and said, "What about Raphael?" Emily asked.
Shuffling his feet nervously, Raph said, "There's somethin' I want ya ta see. It's in my room."
"I don't think so. I…"
"Look, I ain't gonna do anythin'. Please. I promise."
"Oh, all right, but if you do, I'll scream."
Raph took her to his bedroom and she gasped in amazement at the sight before her. "You did all of this?" Emily said.
"Yeah. For ya," Raph said shyly. "I wanted ta thank ya for bein' there for me and apologize for being an ass. I tried makin' a stir fry, but it burned, so I made salad and if ya don't like it, there's cereal."
"Oh, Raphael. That's very sweet of you and so thoughtful. And don't worry about the stir fry. I love salad and cereal."
"There's also grape juice," Raph said, and smiled. "Oh. One more thing. Close yer eyes, okay?"
"All right," Emily said, puzzled.
Raph stripped off his gear, mask and belt and placed them on his hammock. "Now. Open your eyes," he said. Emily did and took in the now naked turtle, who stood before her, his tail showing between his legs and Emily swore she could see it wag. "I always wear my gear and mask, because I hate bein' vulnerable and open," Raph said. "But I wanted ya ta see that I'm cool bein' vulnerable around ya. This is me. The real Raph. Open and vulnerable."
"I…" Emily said, and blushed, trying not to stare at the sexy turtle. God, I feel like a school girl, she thought, crushing on him. He's so hot.
"Shall we eat?" Raph said, pulling out her chair.
"Thanks," Emily said, sitting down. "This is really lovely of you, Raphael."
"Raph or Raphie if ya wish."
"Raph."
"It's a pleasure," Raph said, dishing up salad for her and pouring her a glass of grape juice.
There was silence while they ate. Then Raph said, "Let's play twenty questions. Ya can ask me anythin' ya want."
"Favourite memory?"
"Any time I spend with my family, especially Christmas. Yeah, we celebrate it. Mikey insists on us gettin' a damn tree every year and presents. Silly kid still believes in Santa," Raph said, and chuckled. "We all decorate the tree and sing carols and Mikey cooks Christmas lunch. I grumble and say I hate Christmas, but I don't. I love it. Togetherness. Family. That's what life is all 'bout… Oh, God. I'm sorry. I didn't mean," Raph said, noticing Emily blink back tears. "It's okay, Raph. You love your family and it's all right to talk about them. I'm okay. Please continue."
"It's just really special and I love it when we have snow ball fights. We compete ta see who can make the best snowman. I've won six years runnin' now. What's yer favorite place ta visit?"
"Overseas, I love Ireland," Emily said, and told Raph about her travels there in 2012. "I adore the Irish accent and the people are terrific. I could totally live there. Locally. I love New York. It's such a vibrant city and back in South Africa, I love my home town of Cape Town. The beaches, the people, the weather."
"Ya lived there most of yer life?"
"Up until I was fourteen. I miss it," Emily said wistfully. "Your favourite place?"
"Ain't been ta other countries, but I've been ta different dimensions. Dimension X and tons others." Raph listed them off on his fingers. "I'll take ya ta them sometime. More grape juice?"
"Thanks," Emily said, as he poured juice into a glass. "This salad's delicious."
"Yer welcome. Favorite band?"
"The Script, the Killers, Westlife, Darren Hayes, Savage Garden and heaps others."
"Don't know them. Will have ta check them out. I like soft rock and don't scoff, but some jazz too."
"Do you play any instruments?"
"Bass guitar. Ya?"
"Played the recorder at school."
"Cool. Do ya have a middle name?"
"Two. Anne and Lisa. You?"
"Firenzi. It's awful, right? I kinda hate it."
"Sounds like fire," Emily said, and smiled. "Suits you. Fiery."
Raph chuckled and Emily relaxed more. She loved his laugh and he was so different from the Raph she'd first met. Soft, funny, caring and gentle.
They chatted a bit and found they had similar interests. Like Raph, Emily was also into movies and music and art, although her art consisted of writing and Emily loved watching rugby, whereas Raph loved football and hockey. They loved the same type of movies and TV shows: action, drama, crime and forensics. "I'm having a good time, Raph," Emily said. "Thank you."
"Me, too."
Raph cleared the dishes when they were done and said, "Tuck into the cereal. I'll be back with dessert." Date's going well, he thought happily. Yeah! Raph one. My bros NOTHING. Sparks are flyin' between us. I like her and I can see she likes me.
Raph returned to his room with the strawberries and cream and said, "Here ya go, Emily."
"Thanks, but I'll skip the cereal if you don't mind."
"No problem," Raph said emptying the cereal back into the cereal box. "Okay. Next question. Ever had a boyfriend?"
"Yes. You?"
"I met this giant lizard girl on a different dimension and we bumped noses Eskimo style, but I never saw her again."
"Disappointed?" Emily asked, feeling jealous.
"No. I was for a long time. She was so powerful and strong and I loved that 'bout her. What a woman."
"You should look for her if you miss her."
"Ohh. Yer jealous," Raph said, and smirked.
"No."
"Look, I ain't into her. There's only one girl I wanna date and she's right here! I know ya like Leo and ya will probably go on a date with him and maybe the others, but this date is…This is a taste of what it could be with us."
"Is that perfume I smell? I thought I smelled something earlier, but maybe I'm wrong."
"Shit."
"You saw a girl earlier? Look, it's none of my business who you mess around with, Raphael. I should..."
"No," Raph said, grabbing her hand. "Ain't like that. I'm still a virgin, Emily. No. Irma jumped me when I went ta speak ta her ta get some advice. Fuckin' almost got her way, but I thought of ya and stopped it. Shit. Say somethin'."
"I should go to bed. It's getting late," Emily said, removing her hand.
"I DIDN'T FUCK HER."
"Don't yell at me, Raph. I don't like it. It reminds me of my father and how mean he was."
"I'm sorry. It was nice her touchin' me, I'll admit, but it felt so wrong, because it wasn't with ya."
"I think you only want to be with me, because I'm the only female around and you're afraid of being alone."
"No. Ya were nice ta me even after I was a dick. Ya cared and that meant so much. Ya make me wanna be all gooey and stuff like I used ta mock other guys bein'. Ya drive me so wild my shell's always tight and I wanna do things with ya. No, no. Not just sex, but romantic shit," Raph said, flushing. "Please say somethin'. I suck at this."
Emily laughed. "You're so cute when you blush."
"I am?"
"But you know that already. This was fun. Thank you, Raph. I should go to bed."
"So after this, ya still don't like me? I worked so hard ta make things perfect. I…"
"It's not you, Raph. You're a wonderful guy, but…."
"GET OUT!" Raph yelled.
"You're not listening, Raph. I…"
"DON'T WANNA HEAR. OUT."
Emily got up, looked at him sadly and left the room. After all I did, she goes and rejects me, Raph thought angrily, tears sliding down his cheeks. I'm gonna call Mona and see if she wants ta go out next time we're on the same damn planet. I don't need Emily, who'll be sorry!
Raph dialled Mona Lisa's number and said, "Hey, it's me, Raph. Ya good?"
"I'm fine, Raphael. How are you?"
"Fine, fine. Wanna go out sometime?"
"Go out where? Space?"
"No. I…"
"I'd go anywhere with you, Raphael."
"Great. Come ta Earth. I'll text ya my location and ya will be here tomorrow?"
"I will, Raphael. I missed you."
"Bye." Raphael text her his location and thought, now ya will be sorry, Emily. Mona's comin'.
Emily crawled into bed, head in her hands. I like Raph a lot, she thought forlornly. He's so sweet. And tonight was amazing. It's just I'm still reeling from things and I'm kind of scared to explore a new relationship after my last boyfriend. He really hurt me. And now I've hurt Raph's feelings. I'll try to explain to him in the morning. I hope he'll understand and not hate me, which I'm sure he does now.