Morning came, and time was up.
His isolation was over.
One more day, and it wouldn't have matter. One more day, he would have been free, but, he didn't have a day. He didn't have a hour, just a few minutes as he left his room. The smell of food that was cooking told him his options of staying in were non-existing. His youngest brother was trying to entice his family to sit together, and that meant, even if it had to be force it would happen. No one wanted to disappoint the youngest when he cooked breakfast. Besides, he had missed lunch and dinner the other day, and to miss another meal would invite their intrusion. Though he felt he could handle it, if possible, he would rather avoid it. Thus he was on his way to another battle ground.
Each step painful, but he school his features not to show.
Closer and closer, he felt the tension though he didn't yet cross the threshold.
They knew he was coming.
The pain made his steps heavy.
Damn it!
That would eventually lead to uncomfortable questions, and he would have to find a source for his anger. Then again, he could always be unreasonable.
Time's up.
Raphael would enter the kitchen and sit down silently. No one expected much talk, the mornings were always like this, but, it was hard to keep it that way when one looked at the dark green turtle. His arm was bandage from wrist to elbow yesterday, and today, it went all the way to his shoulder. It was a jarring change, and one that made the purple mask brother stop almost in mid speech. Their father's ears would twitch as he sat at the table already eating and their eldest brother would actually hiss into the silences that followed. Even Mikey would realize something was horribly wrong this time as he was quick to attract the eye of his purple masked brother. Donatello didn't know what do, or even to say. The wounds underneath, the wounds that could possibly be underneath scared him, especially when he thought about the cause or who place them there.
Was he self harming?
Everyone had tried to ignore it. Hope it was a phase, but it was getting worst …and what had triggered it? Two days ago, he had been fine, and then one morning …he had disappeared and returned late evening wearing wrist bands made of bandages. They had seen it and ignore it, but it continue to grow and with it their own unease and imagination became worse. Yet, Raph wasn't the one to simply ask what's wrong? Raphael would bristles, he growls, and when trapped …he runs. It was not good for him to run now, the sewer was flooded with humans, and thus, they were all struck staying hidden. They was forced to keep their encounters civil, too much noise was bad. Their red mask brother did not always think before he acts, and they could not afford to slip up. Their lives depend on it, and thus, their unease had grown and they had feared gaining relief.
This morning, those bandages beg that that they bring this all to an end.
Donatello knows he should let well enough alone. He knew the risk. He calculated the probabilities. But, this was his brother, and because it was his brother, the numbers didn't matter. He would bet it all, he would risk it, for his family.
"Good morning, Raphael. Umm…can I ask, what happen to your arms?"
He tried to keep the fear out of his voice as he asked, and those green eyes would raise up to meet his. His movements slow and deliberate as he reaches for his food as if he was thinking about ignoring the question, and knowing him, he probably was. Though he would sigh lightly and finally decide against it, he would open his mouth to speak, and though it was only Donnie he was addressing …everyone would be listening.
Raphael groan.
He knew he should have stayed in bed.
"Nothing, I am fine."
Those words were heard, rejected, and one conclusion accepted. He would have to push for answers.
"You are covering more area of your arm then yesterday."
Donnie would prompt.
"I know, I put them there."Raphael respond.
"Why?"The question simple.
"Because …"
That wasn't really an answer.
"Because of what?"
Those green eyes would flash in rage as he glare at his brother. A demand to drop it, seem to roar across the room, without a word being spoken. Donnie knew, he was pushing buttons no one wanted to tread and that to do so could explode in his face. Yet, this is his brother, and he would risk it for him as he met those eyes with his own defiances. Time pass, and the was staring continued with Donnie's resolve wilting by the second until finally he found himself lowering his eyes. He couldn't force it out of him.
"Yes, Raphael because of what? We all want to know."
A second voice would relieve him of the burden. Leonardo's voice and those cold blue eyes would catch and hold his green eye brother's. Raph's eyes would narrow dangerously as he stood up all at once, and somehow no one misses the wince or the way he seem to slump a bit before he catches himself to stand tall. He was in pain, and when mix with anger it was never good.
"What do you want?! I was sent to my room."
He growled angrily.
" I stay there and didn't make a peep, and I come to breakfast to eat and get the third degree because of it. So, what if I have more wrappings on my arms? It's no one damn business, why? You didn't ask Mikey why he was going around with human underwear on for a week, and you didn't bother Donnie when he started to wear goggles. Then a week ago, when Leo's sported a headband. Yet, me, if I change one little thing, it becomes a family Q & A session."
He growled in their faces. Rage showed within, but inside he was proud of his ability to think on his feet. He hadn't plan on those words when he stood up, but he was glad that they came out. For it left Leo gasping like a fish, and Donatello looking towards the table as Mikey would scratch his head, and Master Splinter seem to take a few more moments to take in the sight of his red mask son. Yet, he remain quiet. Maybe, he finally had knocked them off the trail.
"Then, there is no other way to ask this than."
The elder rat would speak as he drew their attention towards him.
"Your brothers ask those questions out of concern, and I have them as well. If we can not use tact to ask you, then I shall be direct. Are you hurting yourself?"
That stop the world around him.
Raphael looked at his father and his mouth open slightly.
The world seem to rotate slowly, tilting just a bit on it's axis more than normal. He felt like his balance was gone. If any of his siblings had asked him that, he could rant and rave. If Leo had asked him that, he would had stomp out of the room and shut the door in his face, but this is Master Splinter. His father, so when he asked, it made Raph gulp a bit.
A lie wouldn't survive.
He couldn't throw a fit.
There was no way out of this.
He would have to give an answer, and at this moment his wit was failing him. His eyes would lock on his father. Time was running out, and the only thing running through his mind. His only answer.
He should have stayed in bed.