He could feel it again. That itch to run away and return to the club house that belonged to the fight rink. Leo was so frustrating; Mikey wouldn't shut up and Donnie was so full of trivia Raph was certain he was spending his nights looking up random facts. Raph could barely take it. The stress was building up and he knew soon he would explode. He couldn't leave though; Splinter was insisting the brothers stayed home to participate in 'family bonding'.
Raph. Couldn't. Take. IT! "MIKEY BACK OFF BEFORE I REMOVE YOUR F*CKING SHELL!". Mikey scrambled backwards looking terrified. Leo and Donnie looked scared too. Raph knew he had lost it. He clenched his fists around nothing and focused on his breathing. "Sorry Mikey. I'm just… sorry." Mikey looked at him with wide eyes and Raph realised he had done something really bad. He looked up and saw Leo and Donnie giving him looks of horror.
Splinter surveyed the scene. Three of his sons were leaning away from the other in fear. Raph looked lost as to what to do. Splinter for once was unsure how to mediate the situation. Then he saw it, Raph hesitated before speaking. His words would remind Splinter of the back alleys of the outside world forever "F*ck. I just don't know how to deal with this. I'm f*cking trying but I don't know what to do okay?! I'm gonna go pound somebody before I f*cking commit murder." Splinter knew his son had not learned those word through the television. Or the laptop. Or the magazines and newspapers that littered the lair. He was going somewhere and spending time with the kind of people that would rob people with a switchblade. His son was spending time with street thugs and the like.
"Raphael!", Splinter reacted the only way he felt he could, "You are grounded!" And saw the fear it carved into his second son's face. Just before he bolted.
Raph knew running was dangerous but he felt that he had no other choice, after all if he couldn't get back to his safe place he might really kill someone. He couldn't imagine not being able to visit, he felt like he fit right in. This was the justification that kept him going, got him leaping over streets and ducking around buildings. At one point his T-phone rang but he threw it and kept running.
When he finally made it he savoured the moments as he walked up to the bouncer and was admitted with a nod. The music boomed and the chatter of people hit him like a wave. He soaked in it. As he watched Conica, a mutant goat won his fight and clambered out of the rink. Raph walked over to him and offered him a drink.
So, the two of them sat at the bar, one with a beer and the other with a cocktail, discussing fighting techniques. Raph once more felt himself slot into the life here. It felt much better, cooler and safer than home. So safe, in fact that he found himself willing to tell Conica about what had happened at home. To be met with the most terrifying response in his life.
Because Conica grunted and said, "Similar thing happened to me. Told my little brother to 'back off or I'd remove his f*cking legs' and ran away when my dad told me I was grounded. I just couldn't imagine not coming here, I feel like I fit right in."