Stranger Whistles
by TJ Hector
-A/N: (so many A/N today if you're uninterested just skip it)
Hi guys! Thank you so so very much for your reviews. That kinda saved me at the beginning of this week since I've been kind of a wreck these two weeks.
Thank you, crystalbladedragon (It's realistic because it's slightly based on some personal experience), Raigon, cup-mikey-gertha (your long reviews always makes my day! BTW I don't know if you can actually freeze tears with ice pack, that just sort of came across my mind), Athese, nightfuryperson, InsaneDutchGirl (thank you for your encouragement, that really sort of saved me, no kidding), ducky mikey, Guest, mikeysgirl228, Dead Hero (love your fan screams, Raph fan here too), tmntlover2013, MissCookiiie (I guess I'm safe from your banana now?), and Blogger9999999 (Oh I love to break my characters down, that might sound terrible too).
I really don't want this story to end too! As I was wrapping it up, I thought I might miss it after it ends. I have had so much fun(?) writing it. And I think it's also something that need to come out of me. Anyway, I'm thinking about a sequel but I haven't have any good ideas so if you guys have anything in mind please give me some advice, thanks!
This is the last chapter if there's no accident. But there will be one more epilogue. Thank you for reading the story.
-Disclaimer:
I do not own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (in this case, humans!). And Buddha's words and translation (I actually translated it from Chinese to English before some other people had translated it into Chinese).
Chapter Eleven: Let It Flow Into The Sea
"How can you prevent a drop of water from drying up?
-By let it flow into the sea."
-Buddha
[Yoshi]
Hamato Yoshi, a man possessed of an aura of dignity, was in his early fifties. Tall and rugged, the man was heavyset but not at all looked like an athlete, for an athlete was not likely to show this kind of intelligence and penetration. Yoshi was also a man of knowledge, of wisdom. He had thick black hair that had begun to show whiteness, and dark, sharp eyes that were able to show gentleness and comprehension at any time. But it was also noted that he was a deadly fighter and a leader of a secret ninja clan in his youth; and that is the origin of his dreaded nickname, Splinter.
"My son, how are you feeling right now?" he asked, looking intently at his second-eldest son's confused and glassy stare.
The ward was quiet. Raphael had to share this room with other three patients; they were mostly asleep with the curtain around the bed drown close. If they were to speak, they must not disturb the others.
Raphael made a choked sound from his throat; it was probably an effort to say something.
"Should I get a nurse?" Leonardo asked worriedly by his father's side. He was the only son present, despite Raphael. Donatello and Michelangelo stayed at home.
"Yes, Leonardo, would you please ask for them," Yoshi said, putting a hand on Raph's forehead.
"Dad…" Raphael said in a hoarse whisper.
Hearing his son, Yoshi's eyes widened a little, but he was quickly back to his normal calm self.
"You must not exert yourself to speak now, my son," he said gently.
Raphael fixed his gaze on his father, and then shook his head.
"I—" he licked his dry lips, "I'm…"
As if he could read his son's thoughts, Yoshi shushed him, "It's okay, Raphael. You're in the hospital, and you have slept for two days. Is there pain? Do you need anything?"
Raphael shook his head slightly. But Yoshi could tell that not only was pain troubling his son, something else was disturbing him, too.
"Raphael," he sighed, "Leonardo and Michelangelo already told me everything."
Raph's eyes widened. He was fully awake.
"I am not angry, nor will I blame you, Raphael," Yoshi said slowly, and tried to be as gentle as he could, "We, humans, are not perfect. Even through all these years of training and meditating, I still make some mistakes. And I must admit, I've been wrong on this matter.
"I thought I knew each of you. I thought that you have grown up into independent young men, so I do not have to watch your every movement and worry about what might happen if I let you go out of my sight," Yoshi paused, shaking his head. "But I was wrong. Maybe I forgot how was it like to be a teenager." He chuckled. "You might think Leonardo was a lot like me, but in fact, I was more like you when I was a youth."
He looked down at his son, eyes scanning painfully through the healing bruises and cuts on Raphael's face. His voice lowered, his expression sinking a shade darker, "I questioned a lot of things. I was hot-tempered, proud, and bold. I embraced hatred and brutality when it came to the ugly side of human and criminals. And I was a man of physical strength and power, my son. To use your term, I was able to kick their butts."
Raphael couldn't help but curved his cracked lips into what could be seen as a smile.
"However, as I often tell you, true strength comes from the capacity to love, to contain just as great ocean receive rivers. Violence would not stop the vicious cycle of crime and brutality, Raphael. And I am not saying that you do not have true strength in you. As a matter of fact, you have shown the true power to love."
Raphael raised an eye ridge in question.
"It is true, Raphael. The act of putting yourself in danger in order to protect your little brother, my son, is a very good example. And the act of trying to protect other people—your teammate, for instance, and strangers on the streets—those are all proof of your love as well," Yoshi smiled, "But as I have told you, the cycle of violence goes on and on. And the only way to end it is with love, not with more violence.
"You're on the right path, my son," he said.
And then Yoshi leaned forward, his hands clasping gently but firmly on his son's shoulders. "I am so glad to see that you are all right, my son." He felt Raphael tremble in the awkward embrace—it was hard since he was afraid the act might induce pain to Raphael's wound.
"I-I want to apologize for my behaviors…" Raph muttered beside his ear, "An' I..'m glad to see you, Dad..." The last few words of his sentence were barely audible.
Releasing his son, Yoshi saw the smile on Raphael's face was something rare and something Yoshi truly missed; he hadn't seen it in a very long time.
Raphael's smile turned into his typical smirk, and Yoshi was glad to see that, too.
Things may return to normal in no time.
He smiled back at his son, clearing his throat.
"However," he said, "There are still a few things we need to do once you're healed. First of all, you are grounded until the end of the semester. Secondly, no more cigarette and alcohol."
Raphael chuckled quietly. It was also typical of their father.
"Sure thing," he shrugged.
[Michelangelo]
"Oh God, oh God, oh God!" standing in the living room in early morning, I jumped in my pajamas holding the phone, "He's awake, he's awake, HE'S AWAKE?"
"Please don't shout, Mikey," Leo's came out a little bit irritated from the other side of the phone line, "Yeah, he just woke up. The doctor's here."
"Well, what did he say?"
"You mean the doctor, or Raph?"
"Um…both of them?" Actually I was asking about Raph, but now that he said the doctor, might as well know what that dude said.
"The doctor checked on him and…he said Raph's looking pretty good. There's no other damage beside the wound. Well, he shouldn't be out of bed in a while, but as soon as the doctor approve, he could come home and rest at home. No need to stay in the hospital for too long."
"Wow, that's great news!"
"Yeah."
"Did Raph say anything?"
"Dad talked with him for some time after he woke up, and he seemed fine. Dad wouldn't let him talk much, saying he needed rest."
"Well, can I come see him?"
"Maybe later? And, uh, Mikey, I have to ask you something."
"…Y'wanna know about what the police said?"
"Yeah. And did you tell them anything?"
"Uh, I told them exactly what I told you. The only clue they had was the…bullet, yeah, and the footage of a security camera somewhere near that alley. And they know it's the Purple Dragons. Well uh, they want Raph and I to point the guy out when they had the photos and the name list of those PDs."
"Will you do that?"
"I guess I know him when I see him," I sounded unsure, "But I don't know…I don't think he did that intentionally—"
"If he's really as young as you, maybe they'll go easy on him, Mikey. But anyway, he did fire the gun and almost kill you and Raph."
"I know it's weird, but…I kinda feel bad for him."
Leo sighed.
"Mikey, we've talked about this before. Let's leave that to the police and the court, okay?"
"Yeah…" I said, stopping for a moment, "I'll see ya later—wait, have you done it yet?"
"Done…what?"
"The deal. You said you'll apologize to Raph once he wakes up."
"C'mon, Mikey."
"Hey, you said it yourself! Said it's not right that you yelled at him at the restaurant!"
"Oh, Father's calling me, gotta go. Later, Mikey."
"Hey!"
I put down the phone as Donnie emerged from the bedroom.
"What is it, Mikey?" he yawned.
"It's Lemonaderado."
"…What?"
"It's LEO."
"Oh," he yawned again, sitting down on the couch. "You talked so loud, Mikey."
"My bad for wakin' you up."
"It's alright, I need to finish my thesis anyway," he frowned.
"I'll make some coffee for ya."
"Thanks, Mikey," he smiled.
I went into the kitchen.
-O-
Donnie was a black coffee guy. But when he was not so tired, he would care for some milk, which would make it latte, or café au lait, to show off my French. Nah, it's probably one of the handful words I know. But seriously, I think I'm from French descent. I have Paris in my blood. Think about it, Michelangelo Molière or Michel Voltaire or names like that.
As I turned to head out to the living room with Donnie's cup of coffee, I discovered that he was actually sitting by the kitchen table.
"Oh, I didn't hear you come in," I said, setting down the coffee.
"I'm a ninja," Donnie smirked.
"No, you're a sixteen-year-old who's about to get his master's degree."
"And a ninja."
"Ya have to come down to the dojo to practice more often."
"Yeah when I got time," he grimaced.
"Are you happy, Donnie?" I asked suddenly as I sat down across him.
"Happy…about what?" he took a sip, frowning at my question.
"You're so tired all the time. And busy."
He shrugged. "I guess I just kind of push myself too hard. But actually it's not quite like that. I just…when I'm engaged in a project, I just can't stop doing it until it's done."
"Typisch Donnie." This time to show off my German.
"Actually the 'y' should be pronounced as 'ü', not 'i'. We don't have that vowel in English."
"You just know everythin', right?" I smiled dryly.
He shrugged that off.
After a moment of silence except the sound of sipping coffee, Donnie spoke again.
"Mikey," he said in a rather serious tone, "Don't run away again, okay?"
It was the first time one of them said that to me. It'd been two days, and they were still sensitive around the subject.
"I wasn't runnin' away," I said, "I was runnin' after Raph."
"But when you couldn't find him, you didn't come home either."
"Guess you're right." I shrugged.
"Why, Mikey?"
"I don't know. You guys were fightin'."
"But you know Leo would go psycho."
"Yeah, but he's makin' me loopy too. Sometimes."
"What do you mean?"
"I love you all," I said loudly, "I don't wanna choose a side or what. I mean…I know Raph was wrong to barge out like that, but actually…Leo kinda drove him out in the first place."
"I think Leo feels guilty about that night, Mikey."
"Really?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Of course. It's…what did you call him…Leonardo we're talking about."
"Lemonaderado."
"Why lemonade?"
"Oh it's sour and bitter, but it tastes good and it's also good fer your health."
Donnie laughed. He had finished his cup of coffee.
He stood up, and I stood up as well. I followed him out of the kitchen. But suddenly he stopped and turned around to face me.
"We don't deserve you, Mikey," he said.
"In a good sense or in a bad sense?" I raised an eye ridge.
"We're bad and you're good," he smiled.
"Huh, really? Can't believe what I just heard," I smiled.
"Yeah, me neither. Can't believe I just said that, but I'm not taking it back."
"Thanks, D."
He glanced around uncomfortably. "Oh, gosh, this is awkward."
"Give your buddy a hug?" I opened my arms with a grin.
He sighed. I hugged him anyway.
You'd think Raph would be lying on bed, looking weak and fragile and you'd have your chance of teasing him.
But Raph was still Raph no matter what had happened. When I stepped into the ward, I was struck by how well he was actually looking. Maybe a bit too well to me.
He had two pillows tucked under his head and his bed adjusted to an angle so he could half-sit up without hurting his wound. And he wasn't wearing the stupid-looking hospital robe or what-would-you-call-that. His arm was hooked up with an IV bag but that didn't make him look weak or sick either.
He was playing a game of go (a Chinese or Japanese board game, in case you don't know) with Leo.
"Raph playing go?" my jaw dropped.
"I beat him," Raph grinned, pointing a finger at Leo's nose, "I beat the fearless and strategic leader. Right in your face, Lame-o-nardo."
"We've played it five times and you only managed to beat me once," Leo shoved his finger away.
"Hey, that hurts," he told Leo, and then turned to me, "Mikey. Ya alright?"
"What?"
"You were beaten up by those Dragons," he said. "Weren't you?"
"Were he?" Leo frowned. Uh-oh, Leo doesn't know about this. He only knows Raph found me when I was cornered by the PDs, but he had no idea I was hurt.
"Oh I'm fine! Absolutely fine! You have a bullet hole in your gut, Raph, and you're askin' me if I'm alright," I smiled nervously. "By the way, you look good."
"I'm tough," he grinned. Could he stop grinning for a moment? It's kinda bothering me.
As if noticing my puzzled look, "They injected him some drug half an hour ago to ease the pain," Leo said, rubbing his own face tiredly, "He's been acting kind of weird since then."
"Ha ha," I laughed, "That explains it." I took a couple of steps forward, and sat down on a chair by the bed, right opposite Leo. "Where's Dad?"
"He's out shopping, he'll be back soon," Leo replied, folding the go board and gathering the pieces. "How come Donnie did't come with you?"
"He's working on a thesis, he said. After that he'll go to school. Maybe he'll drop by later. It's a weekday after all." It was a weekday but Leo and I had already taken two days off. Leo stayed at the hospital and I was mostly at home resting—Donnie said I'd better rest for a few days. They all thought I was going nuts after what happened on Wednesday night.
A hand rested on my head and ruffled my hair. I looked up and saw Raph smirking at me.
"Nice ta see you in one piece, little brother," he said; his eyes were gentle like never before.
I smiled. "How d'ya find me that night?"
"Well, I was nearby. I heard your scream. Huh, I recognize it anywhere."
"Someone else heard me that night too, Raph," I said, "Do you remember?"
"Remember what?" he looked puzzled.
"After you're shot, I yelled for help. I didn't have a phone, y'know. I couldn't call 9-1-1 and I didn't no what to do to stop the bleedin'," I said. "And then out of nowhere this stranger showed up. He was very calm, and he knew what to do, like, he's been in some kind of situation like this before. He saved you."
"Do you remember anything, Raph?" Leo asked. It was his first time hearing the story of the stranger.
Raph shook his head.
"We should thank the man, Michelangelo," dad's deep voice said. I turned around and saw him coming into the ward.
"Dad!" I exclaimed. Master Splinter had come home yesterday, but he was totally occupied with Raph's condition; we hadn't gotten to see him a lot before he left again.
"I was very curious about this stranger you speak of," he said in an amused voice.
"He told me his name, it's Kevin," I said. "But that's all."
"What does he look like?" Leo asked.
"He looks pretty ordinary. I didn't remember his face well. It was dark out there and he wore a cap."
"He reminds me of your character, Michelangelo," dad said.
"Yeah, isn't your guy's name Kevin too?" Raph said.
"It's just a coincidence," I frowned.
"Maybe it was a miracle, Michelangelo," dad said warmly.
"That's impossible," I said.
"No, it is actually possible, my son," dad said with a smile, "I am not saying this man is sent by god. No. It was a coincidence, too. Something this universe worked out for us due to reasons we could not comprehend."
"I don't get it," I said.
"You do not have to, my son. You have a very good heart, and that is the most important thing. You prevent our family from falling apart during my absence—Donatello has told me your effort, my son. And this stranger was maybe a manifestation of your good volition."
"Oh," I blushed, but confused nonetheless.
"Just stay the way you are, Mikey," Raph muttered. I glanced at him; he showed me a hearty grin in return, which was very un-Raph.
"Someone fix Raph," I pinched Raph's cheek and he winced.
"I'll tell them to reduce the dose next time," Leo sighed.
-O-
Before I left, I suddenly remembered something.
"Hey Leo," I said, "Ya owe Raphie somethin'. Y'remember?"
Leo scratched his chin, "Uh, oh."
"C'mon," I said, watching him closely.
"What's that?" Raph asked.
"Okay, Raphael," Leo sighed, turning to Raph; the latter frowned.
"Whoa, what's with the full name?" Raph smirked. "I'm sensing somethin' bad."
"I am sorry, Raph," Leo said, "I was kind of…being a…"
"Bastard? Or nagging grandma?"
"—A tyrant?" Leo said with a sigh, "I've been ruling you like you're soldiers."
"Oh forget about it Leo. I was the bastard," Raph said, which surprised us all.
Leo gave a smothered laugh, "Yeah, you kinda were. But I've been wrong, too. I should've talk to you before we started all yelling and accusing."
"Nevermind," Raph shrugged, "But your Spartan strategy sometimes pissed me off, really."
"You've made your point clear," Leo smiled, "I'll improved it. A good captain is always open for suggestion in the process of decision, said Captain Ryan. Hey, gotta watch the new episode of Space Heroes. I'll come home tonight, Mikey."
"I'll give ya a new suggestion: Space Heroes' the stupidest show ever on earth," Raph said.
"You're gonna leave Raph here, alone?" I asked Leo.
"I'll be fine, Mikey," Raph said, "Ol' Fearless needs rest. He's got a whole empire to lead, can't afford to fail here."
"Oh, it's alright. Leo'll make it up for you," I said, "We've already talk through this."
"I don't need him make it up fer me," Raph frowned.
"Oh-ho-ho, wait, it's not up to you, Raphie," I held up my hands. "And Leo's agreed. Right, Leo?"
Leonardo gave a nonchalant snort, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"He will tend you before you get well," I said, "He's agreed to, um, tie your shoelaces for ya, help you to the toilet, dress you, bathe you—"
"Wait a sec, bathe me? I don't need him to bathe me!"
"What? Then how are you goin' to bathe?" I questioned, "You don't seriously think you can just jump out of bed and run to the bathroom to take a quick shower, do you?"
Raph was speechless for a moment, and then he opened his mouth to protest, "Tie my shoe and clean my shoe and do my chores…fine, but anythin' concerning bathroom has ta be ruled out."
"No way, Raphie," I said.
"Geez, you're doin' this on purpose right?" Raph looked at me disbelievingly. "Is this some kind of a penalty?"
"Nuh-uh, I'm serious," I smiled.
"He's serious," Leo said in dismay. "And if it's a penalty, trust me…it's my penalty."
"Oh God," Raph groaned.
[Raphael]
Leo had blue eyes. And they gave him those painkillers again, after Master Splinter left for some matters in the dojo.
He always thought Leo's eyes were black, since they were so dark. But they were not pitch-black, and not deep brown.
They were deep blue.
Weird color, he thought.
"Ya got blue eyes," he said out loud.
"Yeah?" Leo shrugged. He was adjusting the blanket for Raph. He was ready to leave and go home.
"Always thought they're black," Raph said, "Weird."
"Maybe they've faded."
"Eye colors don't fade," Raph snorted, "How ridicules is that?"
Leo chuckled, pulling one of Raph's arms—the one that was hooked up with the IV—out and laid it on the covers.
"By the way, when did you get that tat?"
"What?" Raph narrowed his eyes as he flushed deep red. "Did you—? Oh geez. My God. Did you tell Splinter?" he groaned.
"Oh, no," Leo smirked, "I didn't tell him. But if you don't behave, I'll tell him."
"You're threatenin' me?"
"Well, I don't exactly have some useful bargaining chips around here. And we're still afraid that you might just run off once you get better."
"I'm not runnin' away," Raph said drowsily. "Trust me."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"Really," Raph said, his head started to spin a little due to the drug, "I know I've been an asshole, Leo. But I've been thinkin'…'bout stuff. After that night I mean. An' I regretted many things. Y'have no idea."
"Oh, really," Leo's blue eyes softened.
"Yer the best bro," Raph said suddenly, "I mean the best brother anyone could ask for. Especially a jerk like me."
"Drug-talking again," Leo smirked.
"I'm gonna regret sayin' this tomorrow," Raph laughed quietly, "But ya know I've always been sorta hard on ya. When I thought I was gonna die, I kinda wish I hadn't done all those stupid things. An' I thought I should've just said how I admire ya. Geez," he snorted, waving his arm weakly, "Go home already, your stupid show's 'bout ta start. Don' miss it."
"I change my mind," Leo said, "next time I'll tell them to give you a stronger dose. I'm beginning to like this new guy."
"G'night Leo, go home and rest," Raph waved his arm again.
Leo put on his jacket, and smirked the last time. "Why would you want a turtle on your butt anyway? You know it's gonna stay there forever."
"Geez, someone shoot me please," Raphael grunted as Leonardo disappeared at the doorway. The ward fell back to silence. The drug was still troubling him, but he knew once he closed his eyes he'd be able to sink into deep slumber.
—End of chapter eleven.
-A/N:
For those who didn't get it, Raph had a tatoo of a turtle on his butt.
The quote in the beginning in the chapter, I saw it in a movie (Samsara, a very great and artistic film but can't watch it if you're under 18. I watched it before I was 18 though) years ago and I've been thinking about it ever since. The realization of its meaning just sort of dawn on me lately.
I listened to Violent Femmes' songs while writing the chap. I just discovered recently that there are such genres like folk punk and cowpunk (country punk). It's like a whole new world to me! Oh god!