Goodbyes
A/N: This is written in memory of my nephew who had passed on this weekend. A wonderful young man who's time was cut off to short.
Devon, this one is for you, buddy. You will be forever be in my thoughts :D
Disclaimer: Still remains the same.
Raphael peered out through the barren tree branches. Being early spring, there was little greenery to camouflage in. He stayed his distance as he watched a small group gathering only 20 feet away.
"Not scared of being seen?"
Raphael tried to hide the surprised look on his face, as a familiar figure appeared at his side.
"I'm scared of nothin', remember?" he muttered. "What you doin' here,Thomas?"
The teen gave Raph a tiny smile. "You know I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."
Raphael nodded. "You know I would give you trouble if you didn't."
"That too. I know you too well, Raphael," Thomas shot back, matching wits with the red banded turtle. Then in a more serious tone, he added, "I also wanted you to know how much I appreciated you for being there for me."
Raphael felt his body tense and he looked away. "No problem."
Flashbacks from the past five years filled his mind. He remembered the first day he had met the brown curly haired boy. He had been sitting on a street curb, sobbing, dressed in nothing but a pair of shorts and a thin t-shirt. Raphael had taken pity on the young boy and stopped to talk to him. He had been locked out of his own home by his own mother. Instantly he was introduced to the world of horrors that people don't hear about. A little boy mentally abused by his mother, the one person he should never have had to fear. He had taken Thomas under his wing, being the friend he needed. In the end, Raphael was pleased to see that he had guided a troubled kid into being a young teen that honestly put every effort into doing the right thing.
"That's what friends are for, right?"
Thomas nodded. "Right. You were my best friend, Raph. You know that? If it wasn't for you, who knows what trouble I would be in?" Thomas turned and looked at the turtle curiously. "Why did you become my friend? You could have just walked away."
Raphael cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. "Trust me, kid. I know bad blood. You were nowhere near that. I guess those lessons Splinter always tried to explain to us how to look within someone to see the goodness paid off." He could have sworn he felt a sweat droplet roll off his forehead. He wondered if Thomas knew the turtle's number one rule: No sappy conversations.
"Well, at least I know one person cared."
Raphael frowned. "I'm sorry things couldn't be worked out with your Mom."
Thomas shrugged. "It's okay," he said softly. "I don't have to worry about that now."
The pair fell into thoughtful silence. They watched the little group until they started to pull into a tighter circle. Thomas sighed.
"I've got to go."
Raphael felt his bottom lip start to tremble. He clenched it between his teeth. He would be strong.
"You take care, kid."
Thomas smiled. "You too, Raph." As he started to walk away, he looked over his shoulder. "Remember, I will be watching you."
Raph snorted. "Just remember the bathroom is off limits."
Thomas laughed. "Don't ever change," he told him, his voice firm.
Raphael watched as the teen started across the field. Just before he reached the gathering, Thomas's figure faded and disappeared forever.
Raphael peered out from behind the barren branches. A tear welled up in the corner of each of his eyes as he watched the small group gathering only twenty feet away. A lump formed in his throat and his heart ached. He would always remember Thomas as the boy that could. He was just angry that his life had to be ended so early, just when he was just starting to get a break.
"I will never forget you, kid," he whispered bitterly, as he watched the dark brown casket being lowered into the ground.
~The end~