A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. Your reviews help tremendously.
Raphael watched as his brother's car zoomed past the finish line, ending the ongoing street race. He wasn't surprised. He, Raphael, had taught Slick everything he knew.
But not everything I know, Raphael thought.
Slick parked the car near the sidewalk and got out. Raphael pushed away from the window. He disappeared into the washroom and a few minutes later, Slick walked through the door. It was apparent that he was quite pleased with himself for winning.
"Don't get cocky, kid."
Slick jumped and shot around to find his older brother leaning against the wall. His arms were crossed and he had his famous "You're in serious trouble" look.
"What'd I do now?" Slick asked.
"Ya got guts, I'll give ya that," Raphael said.
"Mind explainin' a bit more?" Slick inquired.
"What was that little stunt you pulled yesterday?"
"What stunt?" Slick asked smugly, playing dumb.
Raphael's glare grew more dangerous, which made the younger of the two shift uncomfortably on his feet. His brother's glare was able to make even the most strong willed person spill their deepest, darkest secrets.
"The stunt you pulled at the Race Track. You tried to punch someone out."
"You mean that Summers guy?" Slick asked.
Raphael slowly nodded. Slick shrugged, clearly nervous. This had the potential of ending very badly.
"What about it?" he wanted to know.
There was a heavy silence. Slick swallowed hard. He knew the words before they left Raphael's mouth. The two words no decent racer wanted to hear.
"You're busted," Raphael said slowly and deliberately.
Slick ran his fingers through his hair. "You're busted" was what every agent who worked for Bishop said when one of the racers got on Bishop's bad side. No one wanted to hear those words, they only brought trouble. Raphael had used them the most. He also used them when Slick got on his nerves. But, the youngest brother knew that it was Bishop Raphael was referring to.
"You've done it this time," Raphael said, standing up straight. "You went and landed yourself in Bishop's black book."
"So what? You're in the book," Slick pointed out. "So is Tyra. So are hundreds of others."
"But, do I care what happens to them?"
Slick looked out the window. "Obviously not," he muttered.
Raphael shook his head. He could feel himself beginning to lose his cool. Over the years he had managed to gain some form of control over his short fused temper, but when it came to Slick, he was a ticking time bomb.
"What's so special about Summers, anyway?" Slick demanded. "Why is Bishop so interested in him?"
"I just do what I'm told, Slick. I don't ask questions," Raphael answered.
Slick nodded. "Right. That's why you're not dead yet."
The next thing Slick knew, he was up against the wall in one of Raphael's death grips.
"You think this is a game?" his brother roared. "Any day could be your last as a free human being and you want to waste it."
"Raph...can't breathe," Slick gasped.
Raphael released his brother and Slick dropped to the floor, gasping for air. Raphael was also panting; his blood like fire in his veins. Slick looked up at him.
"I don't want to waste it," he spat.
"Then why are you trying so hard?" Raphael asked.
Slick got to his feet. "Because I want to be where you are. I want to have your position of power."
"Of all things...why this?"
Slick's eyes grew darker. Raphael thought he saw a hint of jealousy in his brother's eyes, but, then again, Slick was sometimes harder to read than Raphael himself.
"You think you're so high and mighty because you work for Bishop. All my life I've lived in your shadow. It's always been about you. Well, not anymore. I'll show Bishop that I'm just as good, if not better, than his precious Pyro."
And with that, Slick stormed out of the apartment. Raphael was silent as he thought about his brother's words. He looked down at his right forearm. The flame tattoo was a lock, a curse. It was a symbol to remind those who worked for Bishop that they belonged to him. Why Slick would want to throw away his freedom for a life of servitude puzzled Raphael, and it also scared him.
His thoughts were interrupted when his cell phone rang.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, Raph. It's Don. Your car's ready for pick up."
"Thanks, Donny. I'll be right there."
"I don't see anything different," Leonardo confessed, examining the Vanquish inside and out.
"That's because your simple mortal eyes are not trained in the art that it car building," Donatello teased.
Michelangelo snorted a laugh and hid his face behind a comic book. Leonardo looked from Michelangelo then to Donatello.
"Very funny, Braincase," he said.
Donatello chuckled. He opened the driver side door and got in. Leonardo climbed into the passenger' seat. There were a few modifications, one of which was a lever built into the gear shift.
"What's that?" Leonardo asked, pointing to the lever.
Donatello looked down at the gear shift. "That is for the nitro boosters," he replied.
Leonardo blinked. Then he looked up and stared at Donatello.
"The what?" he asked bluntly.
"Raph just wanted a basic tune up. I did more than that." Donatello tapped the dash board. "This puppy is now faster than it ever was before."
"Dude, you messed with a Vanquish?" Leonardo asked.
"Did you just say 'dude'?" Michelangelo piped up.
Leonardo shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Donny, you don't mess with this kind of car."
"Who's the car expert here?" Donatello asked.
"I may not be a racer, Don, but I know my cars," Leonardo protested.
"And speaking of which, what are you two doin' in mine?" Raphael asked, walking into the garage.
Donatello and Leonardo scrambled to get out of the car. The engineer tossed Raphael the keys.
"She's all yours, Raph."
"Thanks again, Donny."
Raphael got in behind the wheel. "Uh...Don? What's with the extra handle?"
Leonardo whacked Donatello in the back of the head.
"Donny? What did you do to my car?" Raphael asked.
Everything went silent for a couple of seconds.
"I...uh...added something," Donatello told him.
"What something?"
"Nitro boosters," Michelangelo blurted out.
Raphael's eyes widened. Leonardo slapped his hand over his eyes and Donatello stiffened. No one messed with Raphael's car.
"Nitro, huh?" Pyro asked. "Nice."
Everyone looked at him. Donatello held his breath.
"So, I'm not dead?" he asked.
"If you were dead you wouldn't be talkin'," Raphael pointed out.
Donatello released the air that he had been holding. "I have to warn you though, the engine hasn't had time to adjust to the nitro. I recommend waiting a few days before testing them," he advised.
"Whatever you say, Donny-boy," Raphael said, starting the car.
He closed the door and pulled on his seat belt. Before leaving he turned to Leonardo.
"Hey, kid. Wanna go for a ride?" he asked. "Get ya used to high speeds."
Leonardo gave Donatello and Michelangelo a quick glance. They both nodded towards the car as if to say, "Go for it".
"Uh...okay."
Leonardo hesitantly made his way to the passenger's seat. As soon as the door was shut, the car was out of the garage. Leonardo pulled on his seat belt as fast as he could. Raphael laughed.
"I ain't gonna crash," he assured his passenger.
"Do you always drive this fast?" Leonardo asked.
"I ain't slowin' down."
"I'm not brave enough to tell you to."
As time went on, Leonardo found himself getting used to travelling at such a high speed and he began to relax. Raphael drummed his fingers against the lever that would ignite the nitro. Feeling a bit nervous, Leonardo cautiously pointed something out.
"Don said the engine isn't used to the nitro yet," he said. "So, please, take it nice and..." Raphael pulled the lever and the car shot forward like a bullet out of a gun. "SLOW!" Leonardo screamed. He was slammed into the back of the seat.
"Yeeha!" Raphael shouted. "This is what I call a successful field test. Wouldn't you, kid?"
"No! Slow down!" Leonardo yelled.
The Vanquish zoomed by the Race Track. Slick glared at the retreating car. Tyra was in a coffee shop a few blocks away. She was sipping coffee and reading a magazine when Raphael's car raced by. She looked up just in time to lock glances with Leonardo for a quick second before the car disappeared around the corner.
"Who was that?" Leonardo asked.
"Who was who?" Raphael asked back.
"That girl in the coffee shop we just passed."
Raphael swallowed. "What'd she look like?"
Leonardo shrugged. All he could remember was her eyes and hair. When he looked into her grey-blue eyes a chill had shot up his spine.
"Kid?"
"She had grey-blue eyes and long silver hair," Leonardo answered. He looked at Raphael who pulled at the collar of his shirt. "Who is she?"
The car slowed down as the light changed to red. Back at the cafe, Tyra took out her cell phone and dialed a number.
"Yes?" Bishop answered.
"I have made contact with Summers. What do you want me to do?" Tyra asked.
"Keep a close watch on both him and Raphael."
"Yes, sir."
Tyra went to hang up, but Bishop stopped her.
"Especially watch Raphael. He could tell Summers everything before the time is right. If he shows signs of breaking, I give you permission to take him down."
Tyra swallowed hard. "Yes, sir," she said. She hung up.
"Who is she?" Leonardo asked again.
Raphael took a deep breath. "Her name is Tyra," he finally replied. "And if you ever cross her path, turn and run the other way."
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