It couldn't last forever, and with the end of the embrace …Master Splinter turn and left. Raphael watched him go with a breaking heart. The door shutting with a snap that echo a finality that could not be ignored. This was it, this was the end. A pain, a burning sensation had green fingers seeking the source. The prickling feeling behind glassy green eyes wasn't one that was familiar, but there was no mistaking it, as those same fingers came away wet.
Raphael was crying.
Everything …was ruin. The secret, it destroy everything, and there was no way to make it right again. There was only one thing left to do.
The hammock would swing freely as it was emptied.
The dark green turtle would clean up the blood. Then next, Raphael would move to purge the remaining gear. The red mask would come off first, elbow pads and knee pads would follow, then would be the wrist and leg bands and finally …the belt with the R on it. All of the gear would be set on the ground, and the emerald skin turtle would look at it. Green eyes wet with tears as for the first time in so long ..,the turtle stood completed naked to the world, but it wasn't over just yet.
The sais shone in the pale lighting of the room from its place on the floor.
It was like a silent plea to stop, but there was no stopping this time.
There was no going back.
Raphael would gather everything and then with one final glance at the room, it too would be disowned, as the door shut behind the turtle's shell.
No longer would this place be home.
Those steps to the living room, towards the dojo were harder than any the hothead had every experience. Muscles trembled, and the tears, they ran steadily without being put in check. Raphael couldn't say that it would be embarrassing if they were seen now. In fact, there was doubt that the turtle could drum up the will to even care as the items seem to gain in weight.
Master Splinter deserved these items back before ….before…
The turtle's mind refused to get to what would happen afterwards. A delay tactic that was simply useless, but, it was necessary. If the thoughts came, if they were inspected ….Raphael knew, there was no way that ….that …
The doors was suddenly in front.
All thoughts ground to a stop as one green hand would push it open, and a spark of betrayal flick in green eyes, that it open so easily. Though it only lasted for a moment, then the time that was dreaded was suddenly here. Suddenly nothing else mattered, and all that could have been …all that had been, didn't matter. Nothing but the here and the now, and the fact that those eyes were tear stain didn't even register. Nor that they would be visible in the dojo's lights, no …only one thought came to the forefront and capture all the attention.
It was all over.
Master Splinter sat on the floor, his legs crossed as his tail was curl around him. At first, it seemed as though this would simply be between them, but a sound of disbelief, and a suddenly inhaling of air made it clear it wasn't. The narrow world would widen as three other figures caught Raphael's attention, three turtle brothers.
Leo the closest to Master Splinter was standing next to the weapons, while his brother's Mikey and Donnie were sitting next to each other. It seem that everything was supposed to continue like normal, or maybe, Master Splinter thought that maybe foresight would have Raphael sneaking out instead of doing it formally. With everyone in the Dojo, it would have been easy to disappear, but that wasn't …that couldn't happen.
They would look, they wouldn't just let it go. It was better, it was a clean break, and so, Raphael set everything on the floor.
"I am leaving now, I …I quit the clan and this family."
If that sharp inhaling of breathe had seem loud before, it got much louder than. Imagination couldn't compare to the real thing as each of the three brothers looked onwards with pure shock on their faces. They didn't know what to say, they didn't know what to do, and the silences stretched as Master Splinter only nods and gets up slowly to retrieve the gear.
They were even more shock by his acceptances of it, and maybe the double shock is what gave Leo's his voice. He would shout out loudly.
"What do you mean by quitting the family? You can't quit a family …hell, I don't think you can quit a clan only be disowned by it."
Those words hung as Master Splinter retrieve those things and look back at his eldest son.
"Raphael's choice is clear, and we will respect it, but …."
Master Splinter would turn to look at Raphael as the turtle seem to be paralyzed at that moment. The chance to flee had somehow pass by without the turtle's notice. Stuck, the words came like a lightning strike.
"…you must come clean to your brothers."
The words were spoken softly as Raphael could no longer look away. Green eyes showing terror, grief, but, they deserved the truth. They deserved a clean break.
"I have a secret ….a secret that I just told Master Splinter.
A secret that makes it impossible for me to be a part of this family, for me to be your brother.
I …I …I …am a girl."