Age Fifteen, his brothers have notice his change.
They looked at the long wrappings on his arms with questions in their eyes, and Raph notice that his father when they train didn't miss a chance to grab him tightly there. He wanted to see if he would yelp, if he would indicate what they must guess is underneath. They were looking for wounds and in some way his secret they were trying to expose. But, he is a train ninja, and he had learned long ago …that distraction is a weapon as useful as his own sai.
The blood had beckon him a few days ago, and he had had no choice but to answer the call.
Yet, with everything happening, there was no way he could stay away so long. Three days he couldn't leave his family alone, and thus, he had come back home after just day one. That meant they could smell the blood on him …they would know what he had done. Thus, he had no choice.
He wrap his arms tightly and distracted from the real source of the blood.
He hope it would work.
This secret he couldn't afford to let out.
He had hidden it too long.
It's all he had ever known.
They wouldn't understand.
Thus, he didn't yelp when grabbed …though pain radiated down his spine. He turned his scowl on them, though he didn't feel the anger only the flashes of heat and cold. He moved as swiftly as they thought he should, though his legs felt like leaden weights. 2 hours, their training normally only lasted 1, of torture, but he took it all in strides. His father's eyes on him, his brother in blue looking for him to slip up, and the one in purple barely containing his concern. Yet, he gave them no indication of what they feared, and without proof they dare not push him.
It was dangerous for him to go off alone.
They all knew this.
They knew he would flee if pushed.
How come only the one in orange missed this?
Then again, Mikey never seem to sense the tension in the room. He was immune to serious issues that seem to circulate around. That isn't to say he didn't recognize it when its shove into his face, but that it had to be shoved in his face for him to notice it. Thus, when the training came to an end, a smile was on his face. The dance his brothers and father had made around his arms …Mikey tackled head on.
The words an earnest joke.
"So, what's with the new fashion sense?"
The question something that everyone wanted to know.
It put Raphael on the spot as he looked at the wrappings on his arms. His mind buzzing with answers to an question he had tried hard to avoid. He couldn't tell them nothing, because, that would prompt more questioning. He couldn't say it is a wound, because, they would insist that Donnie take care of it. He couldn't claim that he just wanted a change, because, that would lead to more probing and future teasing. Thus, he harden his expression and he glared.
Only one answer to give.
He would scowl though his heart was fluttering in barely contain fear.
"None of your damn business."The words harsh as his brother flinch. Misunderstanding flashing in his face, brothers didn't act that way. He had done nothing to deserve such treatment, and thus, Master Splinter intervene. Anger in his eyes, words that cut and lashed, his avoidance force Master Splinter to act. His words created a gap that would force everyone to keep their distance and by the end of it …he was banished to his room.
It was the only way out.
It was what Raph wanted.
A command that isolated him.
An exit that he needed.
He felt the blood running down his inner thigh, but no one looked beyond his shelled back. His blood was beckoning. He felt the need to answer, but he dare not leave the lair. Being restricted to his room …he would have to clean up the evidences, but he had no choice …but to answer the call.
At least his outburst would give him the privacy.
His secret remain his.
Though at what price?