Hey guys, its update time! This story was inspired by The Dragons Clutches by DiamondHeart31 who I have permission from to write my own version of their story but please check them out. Please don't forget to read and review and I hope you all enjoy, flames will be deleted so please don't waste your time writing them. Anyway, Splinter can you please do the disclaimer.
SplinterSparky doesn't own TMNT or any of the characters used.
Me: I hope you all enjoy
Raph's POV
It had been a couple of weeks since the incident and in that time Casey had seemed to go back to normal. He was laughing, playing video games with Mikey and annoying the hell out of Donnie who was trying to add some upgrades to the Shellraiser. Though being a ninja you learn to pick up on small signs, the way he'd flinch when Mikey would slap him on the back, the way he would stay close to me in patrols and would jump at the smallest sounds. He'd laugh it off but I could see it, how hard he was trying to be ok and it was breaking him.
Splinter knew, he'd told us to keep an eye on him but his act never let up. We were getting worried, "Hey Raphy!" Yelled Casey walking in, another thing is that he'd leave his mask on a lot more and would leave the lair just before it got dark instead of when everyone was going to bed, made sense though. "Hey Casey, your just in time fo-" I was cut off by Mikey's happy shout of "PIZZAAAAA!!!!" I mock glared at him, deadpanning "yeah that." Casey chuckled "so yeah, c'mon we got your favourite and we better go before Mikey eats it all."
Casey shook his head "Nah I'm good I picked up a snack on the way." Was it just me or was he getting thinner, it was scary being around him when you know he's faking all of this but..."Hey Case" I said uncharacteristically softer which made him pause and look at me "you trust us right?" I saw so many emotions flash in his eyes: fear, shame, regret, sadness before they went away and he responded with a "obviously, damn Raph no need to get all emotional on me..."
I couldn't keep doing this "Casey stop!" He gave a nervous chuckle knowing he had been caught. "Doing what Ra-" I couldn't help my temper right than, the stress and the fear had been eating at me for weeks "THIS! THIS ACT YOU'VE GOT ON! YOUR LIEING! YOUR NOT OK!" He froze "I'm sorry..." my anger faded at that voice, it was the same hurt child voice from before. "I just...I didn't want to be a bother, I was being pathetic...over what, some stupid kiss..." He was shaking, the dam was breaking so I did what Splinter did to us when we were children. I held him, took his mask off and let him cry all while rubbing his back and offering comfort that he really needed.
The crying caught the attention of the others who watched worriedly and confused, Splinter walked up to us just as Casey had cried himself to sleep. He looked worried but proud, "you have done well Raphael." "What just happened?" Asks Leo and Donnie rubs his head in thought "Well after one goes through something traumatic they may see them self's as weak so some hide it away and act ok. Casey was probably bottling this up for weeks and he couldn't handle the stress any more."
Explained Donnie while checking Casey over "slightly underweight but nothing else that you can see physically wrong." I nodded, the mask was off and you could see some bags under his eyes but I guess we were realising that it wasn't the only mask that Casey wore.
"We got to look after him, not coddle him or make him feel w-...thats it!" Says Karai, we looked at her for explanation "we've been going on more patrols than him...running into those Purple dragons and than saying how weak they are. Since there leader did this to Casey..." She trailed off as Leo continued with a sad realisation "We've been making him feel inferior and useless, so he tried to cover it up to not seem weak...We've messed up." Splinter turned to face us all "Indeed, we have failed Casey Jones, but that can be amended."
Third person POV
While the others stayed to think of ideas to help there friend, a figure watched from the shadows. "Soon, you will be mine. I wonder what your friends will think when they find out the truth."
So, how was it? Stay tuned for more XXX Sparky
