(I had to rewrite this, it was awful the first time around)
Time is ticking.
What should he say?
Time is ticking.
He can't give himself away.
Time is ticking.
They won't wait long.
Yet, there is no right answers, only wrong.
His sensei, his father, asked him, did he hurt himself? The answer should have obviously been no, but, the answer wasn't that black and white. The blood that secretly ran from under his tail made that clear. Nothing was so simple, nor if his secret was reveal ….would ever be simple again. So, he was left with only one choice, he diverted his eyes looking to the side and away from their staring faces. He would admit to nothing, say nothing.
Nothing from nothing, equals nothing right?
Another mistake, though he recognize this one as he was shove forcefully against the wall. The sound of a scraping chair hadn't given enough of a forewarning to help him avoid this fate. His father's whiskers inches from his face as he felt it tickle his nose just a bit. He could remember as a child how he had loved it when his father tickle their noses with his whiskers, but that wasn't the case now. Now, there was nothing safe or innocent about this encounter as he looks into his father's eyes and saw only rage within.
"Hamato Raphael, you will answer the question. ARE you hurting yourself?"
Silences.
He couldn't, wouldn't answer him.
Raphael knew what would happen next. He had lived his entire life with his rat father, and he could easily pinpoint, when he had pushed too far. Generally, he would reign himself in before it got too far, but this time, it wasn't that simple. There was nothing he could do, no way to avoid it, so, he did the next best thing. When that famous temper that was a rarity for their father radiated around him …Raphael froze and held himself very still. He couldn't extinguish his rage, but he wouldn't give it a target either as he submitted. If only his father knew the price of this knowledge, he would let him go. He would allow everyone to stay ignorant, but at that moment, any such thoughts of what this discovery would mean was beyond him. Master Splinter had always said, that anger is destructive when turn against those that love you. Raphael never really believed until this moment when it was turn against him.
Anger blind one to everything.
Especially to reasoning, as Raph felt air against his arms.
White bandages hit the floor.
It was so fast and effortless, that none of them saw him make the move. In on swift strike, Raphael's arms were lay bare. His green skin was illuminated by the lights of the small kitchen as finally Master Splinter would back away. He would take two shaky steps backwards as everyone's eyes would fall upon those pristine green arms.
Yes, pristine, for there was not a mark on them …that didn't belong.
No scars from cutting, no open wound, nothing.
Everything they had feared, was pure fantasy at that moment, and the ruining of their morning and breakfast rest solely on their own heads.
Raphael glared as Master Splinter's rage deflated and with it the advantage he had had moments before. Raphael no longer had to submit as he let his own temper rage out. In everyone's minds it was now justified, because simple silences had not warrant such an attack. They all knew it, they knew it had gone too far, and Raphael had every plan of rubbing their noses in it.
"Well, I see how much I am trusted and what you really think of me."
He growled out as he turn and left.
He kept it short and sweet.
His back to his brothers, his back to his father, his back to his family as he sought the sanctuary of his room once more.
His plan had worked, and he would give it no chance to fail. Despite the whispering of voices behind him, he would not slow down, he would make good this escape. For he knew, just how close, it had truly been.
"Man, I feel like a heel."
Donatello would reply once he was sure that his red mask brother was out of hearing range.
Leonardo would pat him on the shoulder.
"The way he was acting, and how much time he was spending alone. It wasn't hard to jump to that conclusion, the fact, that we were concern …though. Why did he have to make that so hard? A no would have done well enough."
"He never should have had to answer such a question."
Mikey would cross his arms as he glares at his two brothers.
"I mean I know he is moody, and likes his alone time but really…Self-harm? How did any of you come to that conclusion, especially with me around? There is no way anyone here could be depress, especially enough to start doing something like that."
He scolded as his two older brothers rolled their eyes.
The entire time Master Splinter had remain quiet as he seems to be staring at the ground. He would duck down once to touch something on the ground and then rise again. It was the moment he rose that would catch everyone's attention as all conversation would ground to a halt.
"I still feel there is something that your brother is not telling us. I will talk to him again in his room."
Mikey would open his mouth to protest, but Master Splinter would catch his eye and wisely the orange mask turtle would shut his mouth. This was not to be debated nor were they to eavesdrop on the upcoming conversation either. He left them alone, and no one dared to follow.
In their father's eyes …this matter was not settle, and until it was, they were to stay out of it.
That was the command given, and all of it was said and understood without a word being spoken.
This was between him and Rapheal.