26. Tears
Tears streaked down his cheeks. But it was raining so hard, he doubted that his brothers noticed yet. Standing in the pouring rain, he raised his face to the falling waterfall and let it wash his face. His eyes closed against the harsh blows of the rain. Idly, he wondered how rain can even be felt through leathery, scaly, reptile skin. Or is it half-human and so thinner? Once again, he found himself cursing the mix of species that created him.
It was so maddening to guess at how much of him was mammalian and how much was reptilian. It's hard enough being a living, breathing, talking turtle who practices ninjitsu without the complications of being kinda human too. And his brothers wonder why he's always angry. He was not even really sure why he was angry this time.
He was not really sure why he was crying. But he always felt so deeply, sometimes those feelings had no rational reason. They just were, and although he doesn't always give in to those feeling, sometimes he really had no choice in the matter. They swept him away, regardless of what he had to say on the matter.
"Hey, Raph! You coming?"
"Yeah, yeah. Keep yer shell on, Leo."
"Well, hurry up! You'll catch your death out there!"
"Geesh, Donnie. Stop mothering me."
Raph shook his head and started back to the fire escape, and the window of April's apartment. Now that he was calmer, he was able to reflect on some of his thoughts earlier. Heh, Reptilian. Mammalian. Donnie, eat yer stinking heart out. Now, who's the smart shell?