Disclaimer: If I owned the turtles, I wouldn't write fanfiction for them.
A/N I know this has taken me forever to update and I'm really, really sorry about that. Anyway, here this is for anyone who might still be reading this. Hopefully the next chapter won't take me so long to get to and I'll be able to start a regular rhythm.
Raph dropped down through the man hole, landing up to his ankles in dirty water. The tails of his red bandana draped themselves over his shoulder and he pushed them back as he sloshed through the muck until he reached the stone at the side where he could climb out.
He'd done it a million times, but he still couldn't resist a snarl of absolute disgust as he shook his foot, showering the stone with drops of murky water. In his opinion, you could get used to almost anything, but the stuff in the sewer wasn't one of those things. Sure he loved their home and all, but, man, the smell could be awful sometimes.
Reaching up, he grabbed the section of pipe that triggered the trap door leading into their home. It made a high-pitched creak as he pulled it down and there was a low rumbling as the wall split apart into two sections.
After pausing briefly to wonder if anyone was still up at this time of night, he hurried through before they slid shut with another low groan behind him.
Exhaustion hit him with the force of a semi once he was inside the warmth of his home. Raph hadn't realized he was that tired.
His eyes slid to the couch. It was there, so tempting. So warm and inviting. All he had to do was power his legs up and walk on over where he could collapse into the bliss of peaceful oblivion.
Then he remembered the scrapes and bruises (Man, those thugs never went down easy, did they?) he had received during this night's escapade and he realized that, unless he wanted Leo asking questions, he had to patch himself up.
Raph looked once more at the couch and was tempted to let Donnie handle the first aid in the morning. He was too dang tired for any of that medical mumbo jumbo. He could handle Fearless and any and all questions he flung at him.
In the morning.
Or… the afternoon. It depended on when he woke up. After this night, he felt like he could sleep like a rock, well into the course of the day, even if a herd of elephants were stampeding through the Lair.
Even if the Foot blasted their way in with dynamite (however unlikely the chances were that they would ever discover the Lair's location) and a fight to the death ensued.
Even if… if… even if Mikey decided to play one of his stupid video games at full volume and sat on him to do it (after all he would be hogging the couch), he would sleep through it all.
"Yeah, bring it," he mumbled, flinging his pair of sai on the floor and preparing to slump onto the wonderfully soft, amazing couch cushions.
"You are back late." The voice came behind him and Raph spun around, his fists raised, ready to pummel whoever had disturbed him at this dangerous hour. He might be extremely sleep deprived and almost asleep on his feet, but he'd show whoever it was that he could still throw in a good punch. Or two.
His groggy vision cleared in a matter of seconds to reveal a gray furred shape, cloaked with brown.
Raph's fists dropped hastily to his sides. "Er, Sensei," he began awkwardly. "Didn't know ya were still up. Thought it might be, ya know, Mikey, tryin' to get the drop on me or somethin.'"
He slumped onto the couch and dangled his hands between his knees.
"I believe you owe me an explanation, my son. Why are you so late in returning home?" Splinter asked, not exactly scolding, but Raph got the idea that he wasn't too happy about his staying out too late with Casey.
"Oh, so now I'm four again? I can't stay out a little without a babysitter?" he demanded, playing the defiance card even though he already knew how well that worked against Master Splinter.
Splinter's fingers drummed the top of his staff. "Mm-hm. And now why don't you tell me what you were really doing."
Raph flopped backward onto the couch and tried to bury his face underneath his pillow. "Aw, come on Sensei," he complained, though the sound was muffled as it came through the downy stuffing inside. "Can't we talk about this tomorrow?"
For a moment, he thought his father was going to press matters, but then there was a long sigh. "Very well, Raphael. But we will talk about this tomorrow. Don't think that I will forget." Raph slid the pillow off his face enough so that his eyes showed and he watched as Splinter disappeared into his dojo, probably to meditate or something until morning.
Raph grunted as he placed the pillow under his head and turned over, betting that he'd be able to escape the Lair before Splinter insisted on having their "talk."
Once, just once, before he went to sleep did his thoughts travel back to Angel and he found himself wondering just what exactly was going on with her.
A/N I know this was short, but hopefully the next update will be a bit longer. Anyway, thanks for reading.