𝚁𝙰𝙸𝚈𝙰


New York City was lit up like a Christmas Tree, just as it was every night. LED signs, bright lampposts, soft glows in building windows and digital billboards chased away the darkness of the October night. It would have been nice had the music not been absolute shit.

"This," I declared, "is the shittiest playlist I've ever heard."

Casey scoffed. "My playlist is sick."

"Step one to getting a girl is officially burning this CD."

"If my girl doesn't like my music then she's not gonna be my girl." He shrugged, glanced at me in the passenger seat. "Simple."

I lifted an inquisitive eyebrow. "Oh yeah? And how's that goin' for ya?"

"I may or may not have a date on Monday," he admitted smugly.

"Oh God, Jones," I shook my head, utterly unimpressed with him. "You are such a bullshitter. You haven't even asked her out yet, have you?"

"Hey." He meant to sound stern, but I saw through it. "I'm working on it, alright? Cut me some slack, Carter, at least I have intentions of making a move."

I shrugged and leaned back into the comfy leather seat, appearing completely unconcerned by his words despite the compelling urge to tell him the truth. "I just want to be friends." The lie was smooth and perfectly practiced. "Besides, if I ever want Raph to ask me out I just have to drop some hints. I don't have to make any moves. That's his job."

"I don't like that," Casey complained. "That's not fair. Why do guys always have to make the first move?"

"Some girls will. But it's not my kinda thing." I'm too lazy for that shit. Just gimme a time and an appropriate outfit on a scale of pyjamas to wedding and I'll be ready.

"So you're saying that after two years of hanging out with this guy, you seriously don't like like him?"

"No!" Lie. "Jesus, Casey. Why is that so hard to believe?"

"I'm just making sure!" He laughed.

"Why? Worried April's not gonna fall for you and you're gonna have to deal with never getting to first base with her?" I teased.

"That would be sad," Casey agreed solemnly.

I shook my head, smiling. "You've only known her for like a month. Try not to seem so desperate."

"I think every word you've said to me so far has been insulting."

I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Oh, that's really mature," he mused. "Stick your tongue out at the person who's driving out of their way to make sure you don't get mugged. You know," he continued. "I have to deal with your shit every time–"

"Just drop me off here!" I yelled over him, fighting my rising smile. "I'll walk myself!"

"Fine!" He wrenched the car over to park at the curb.

I didn't hesitate, throwing the car door open and jumping out onto the sidewalk. I spun, slammed the door shut.

"Asshat," I muttered, already walking away.

"Piece of shit!" He shouted back. It was hard to contain my laughter, but I managed to not look back when I heard his car engine rev. Though I never saw or heard him drive away as I walked. I knew Casey wouldn't leave me to walk home alone this late at night, even if it was barely a block away. He's a good friend.

Without looking his way, I stuck my hand up and flipped him off. Instantly, I received a long honk in return. I grinned, reaching my apartment building's front door and swinging it open. Only then did the black Dodge Challenger race down the street and disappear into the night.

I shook my head, smiling to myself and pulled my phone out to check the time. 12:16. Just two more hours. I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor before leaning against the back wall for the ride up. Every time I rode an elevator some childish part of me desperately wanted to push every single button and see them all light up. So every time I had to make sure I stepped away from the buttons and focused on something else. Usually, it was my phone, but I was too excited to focus on anything except for how stupidly excited I was. After a month of zero communication I was finally going to see the brothers tonight. Assuming they didn't miss their flight. Or that they were still alive. Happy thoughts, Raiya.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. I walked off, looking down at my phone and checking for any messages, wondering if Liv was back from her date yet. Nothing.

I grabbed my keys from my pocket and unlocked the apartment door, swinging it closed behind me and kicking my shoes off. I grinned when I found a familiar pair of men's shoes and a dog leash lying on the ground. I just about ran into the living room in search of the Border Terrier I knew resided somewhere inside the dark apartment.

"Raiya?" Liv's voice came from the couch. In reply, I kneeled on the ground and threw my arms open. Not a moment later, Kota was in my lap, furiously wagging his tail and placing his paws on my chest so he could lick my chin.

"Hi!" I cried happily, petting every inch of the excited ball of fur.

"I can't believe you say hi to my dog before us," Andy mused, sitting on the couch next to Olivia, who was curled up under a blanket.

"Maybe because he's more excited to see me than you guys are," I pointed out, playing with Kota's floppy ears and rubbing his cheeks.

"She works at a zoo," Liv muttered to her boyfriend. "Of course she likes animals more than people."

"Yeah, because animals can't insult me."

"I'm feeling insulted," Andy argued. "My dog just left me for you."

I smirked and kissed Kota's nose, narrowly avoiding his tongue.

"We got a new neighbour across the hall," Olivia mentioned, probably expecting me to be excited by the news. I just laughed.

"That sucks. You guys watched a movie?" I asked, nodding to the TV which was currently rolling credits.

"Yeah."

"We were both kinda tired from work," Liv admitted, shrugging sheepishly.

"So we watched some weird movie about a girl hiding people in her basement," Andy concluded, grinning at Olivia, who kicked him lightly.

"She was saving them from the Nazis," my sister corrected, then turned to me. "We watched The Zookeeper's Wife."

"Sounds boring." I wrapped Kota up in a huge hug and pulled him against my chest, making him squirm and paw at me.

Andy shrugged and leaned back into the couch's cushions. "It wasn't bad."

"It was so good!"

I released the little Terrier, who—now significantly riled up—jumped away from me and lowered himself into a play position before launching himself at me. Laughing, I lifted my arm up in defence so he could chew on it. Olivia watched me with a mixture of amusement and confusion.

"You know what looks good? Ragnarok."

Liv raised an unimpressed brow. "The new Thor?"

"I don't know," Andy mumbled. "It looks kinda weird. Like some...retro...colourful, superhero show." He seemed unsure of his wording choice.

"It looks anime-y," Liv added.

"Thor gets a haircut," I said, making my sister immediately perk up. "And there's a shirtless scene." Kota placed a paw on my arm as he gnawed on my fingers and lied down, as if ensuring my arm wouldn't run away from him.

"Well, when does it come out!?"

I swung my hand from side to side, dragging Kota's head along as he clung to me with his teeth and growled lightly.

"Next month," I replied.

Andy watched his Terrier carefully. "Make sure he doesn't get too rough," he reminded me. I nodded and lifted my other hand to pet the dog. Kota released his hold and tried to grab it. He latched onto my wrist with a growl as I petted his shoulder.

"Why do you always let him bite you?" Olivia asked.

"Cuz he likes it." I lifted my other hand to draw Kota's attention. He jumped to his feet and lunged at it, grabbing my index finger with a wagging tail. "And it's fun. Watch this." I yanked my hands away from him and clasped them behind my back while ordering him to sit. Kota let out a small bark of dismay, but sat in front of me obediently. I jerked my chin at him. "Kiss."

The Border Terrier shot to his feet, climbed up onto my lap, placed both front paws on my chest and reached his head up to press his mouth against my lips. Liv gasped, probably in disgust. Kota hopped off and sat back down to stare at me.

"Good boy!" I cried, unclasping my hands to ruffle his fur and pet him. He wagged his tail and partly closed his eyes from my petting, a sign of happiness.

"That is so gross," Liv said. Though her boyfriend thought differently.

"That's awesome!" He cried. "When did you teach him that?"

I shrugged, rubbing Kota's ears. "I've been working on it for a month but last week he started getting really good at it."

He nodded appreciatevely. "Nice. What are you gonna teach him next?"

"I think 'hug.' Right, Kota?" I scratched under his chin and tilted his head up to look at me. "That'd be cute." Kota blinked and licked his flews.

"How'd the game go?" Liv asked.

"Oh, we won five to four," I said, smiling when Kota sneezed once, then twice. "Only one fight this time."

"Who started it?"

"Casey."

"Of course he did."

Kota rolled onto his side so I could scratch his stomach.

"How was school?" Andy asked.

I groaned. "Horrible. My stupid group ditched class so I had to present alone. And I have so much social homework." I sighed and lied down beside Kota, already dreading tomorrow.

"I remember high school," Liv mused with feigned wistfulness for no other reason than to piss me off. It worked.

"Fuck off," I muttered, making Andy laugh.

"I should go," he said, standing from the couch and stretching. Liv got to her feet as well, clutching the baby blue, ice cream-patterned blanket around her hunched shoulders like the mature, twenty-four year-old woman she was. Kota lifted his head to look at his master, ears perked, head tilted, awaiting a command.

"I gotta steal him from you," Andy said to me with a half grin, shrugging his broad shoulders. "Sorry."

I shrugged and ruffled the Terrier's coarse fur once more before standing up. Kota glanced at me with sad eyes that almost made my heart break. I wanted to hug him. Andy whistled and the dog was on his paws and by his master's side in a blink, watching for another command with a wagging tail. I knew that Andy—out of decency and courtesy—wouldn't kiss my sister in front of me, so I said my goodbye and left the two of them alone before retreating to my room to shower for the night and await the turtles' return.

─── ─ 影の啓示 ─ ───

A vibration on my left ear woke me from my light sleep. I shot up in my bed, lifting my hand to press the earpiece disguised as a stud earring in my tragus piercing.

"Yeah?" My voice was scratchy from sleeping. When Leo's voice came through my face almost broke from my huge grin.

"Sorry to wake you," he said. "But I thought you'd wanna know that we landed a few minutes ago and we're all alive."

"Yeah, thanks. You guys too jet lagged or are you up for a visitor?"

He laughed. "That's why I'm on the roof."

I grinned and threw my bedcovers off. "I'm on my way."


author's note

Hey y'all! I'm so sorry it's been a while since I've updated! I've been trying to update my other two stories and prep for school at the same time. Kill me lol

So here's the first chapter in Raiya's POV! The story is mostly gonna be told by her but there is gonna be some J.T. POV. I also thought I'd be nice to introduce Casey and Raiya's two year friendship to the story, along with Andy's relationship with the girls! Him and Liv are so cute omg. And plus, do y'all love Kota or what!? Sorry Raiya didn't see Raph in this chapter, but she will in the next! As well as a cute little surprise ;)

Please lemme know how you guys liked chapter two! Did you spot the foreshadowing? Can you guess the surprise next chap? Please review! Love you guys! :D