"Can ya believe it? It's only October and they're already starting this shit?"
"It isn't shit Raph" Donnie retorts, eying at his older brother. "But you're right, it's early this year"
"Besides this will be a special Christmas this year" I butt in, nudging Raph's shoulder and earning a growl from the latter. I grin at him, putting my hands up in some kind of defence.
"No" Raph almost yells. "No freaking way we're gonna celebrate it like it's some kind of achievement."
"Ah don't be such a killjoy." Don teases, throwing a pillow towards his older brother. I let out a loud laugh, watching as Raph was proceeding to throw a pillow right back at Donnie, which hit him straight in the face.
A smile is plastered on my face as I watch Raph lunge at Donnie, both of them tumbling down on the ground before Don ends up pinned down by Raph, whose face is now wearing that smug grin we all came to love. A grin we unfortunately didn't get to see from the beginning, and a grin that'd be forever haunted by his past.
And yet we came so far these last 5 years, 5 years already. It seems like such a short time, because we've lost so much already.
"No celebrating" Raph repeats himself, but even he can't stop himself from grinning. It's no secret he hates these kinds of things, anything that reminds him of his lost years, or his previous family. And apart from that, he really doesn't like doing stuff like that. He loves Christmas, don't get me wrong, but he hates the idea of us celebrating it as some kind of anniversary.
But that might also be a consequence of his previous family, though I don't know how exactly.
Still Don agrees with me on that part.
"Fair enough, no celebrating" I shrug. "But it's something to think about Raph"
At that comment my little bro frowns, casting his head downwards. "Like I don't know that Leo" He mutters, which causes my smile to falter immediately.
"Raph.." I breathe out, walking up to him. "I didn't mean it like th-"
Before I can finish my sentence a pillow slams into the left side of my face, sending me stumbling backwards. I blink a few times, staring at the grinning face of my younger brother.
"Oh you're going down"
Some might call it childish, pillow fights with your 15 year old siblings, but we simply didn't care. After being separated from our brother for so long we had every right to be childish. We were close because of everything, and it was sort of our thing. When Raph first came to live with us he simply had no childhood to begin with.
No idea what a sleepover was, no idea what a pillow fight was, or even simple games Don and I used to play as kids. Took us some time explaining all the rules, or what the actual purpose of running after each other and 'tagging' them was. But he eventually warmed up to us, and we stuck to it ever since. Minus the tag games of course.
So without a care in the world I continued to throw pillows at him.
TMNT
"How could ya?!" Raphael screamed, his anger only directed to one single person. Or maybe more, but for now he could only show it to one, one who deserved every piece of anger.
"Raphael, please calm down" Dad tried but Raph was beyond pissed right now.
"NO! Don't 'Raphael' me!" Raph screamed, doing a step towards our father. "How could ya?! I thought we promised no more secrets!"
Dad's shoulders dropped slightly, if that was even possible with the defeated stance he had already. "My son, I only found out this morning. I have b-"
"I don't care dad!" Raph interrupted him harshly, and for once I didn't feel the urge to break these two apart like I'd do many times. "I don't care about that! I understand that but you promised, no lies. And yet here we are, five fucking years later. How could you keep this from us?!"
Dad didn't verbally reply. Tears were stinging in his eyes and it was clear he felt immensely guilty. And yet deep down I had to remind myself that the only guilt was us finding this out. Because that's what I wanted, needed, right now. The father who kept important information like this from us. Who promised, after we found Raph, that there would be no secrets anymore.
And yet he did. He lied to us so coldly.
I needed to see the father who lied to us for now, not the man who tried to protect us, or tried to spare us all the grief. Because that's-
No, he kept him from us. He lied, he promised!
And yet I was still rational enough that this wouldn't solve anything. It didn't work 5 years ago, and it wouldn't work this time. I took a few steps towards my little brother.
"Raph.. maybe you shou-" I start hesitantly, putting a hand on Raph's shoulder. But Raph's reaction is immediate. He slaps my hand away with a growl and turns to me.
"Don't say yer on his side now Leo! Don't ya dare say it"
I sigh, holding up my hands in some sign of defeat or surrender. "I'm not Raph. I'm just saying that you should maybe calm down okay? This isn't going to solve anything." I tell him calmly, and surprisingly it seems to calm him down. In fact, his whole face washes of his current colour, and call me delusional but I can swear he's even shaking.
"It's still him, isn't it?" He whispers in a defeated town, sitting down on the couch behind him.
"You're not him little bro" I retort. "He may've been your dad, but not anymore"
Raph snorts in disgust. "He was never my dad to begin with." I sigh, putting a hand on his shoulder. From the corner of my eye I could see Dad approaching us but I let him. Didn't mean I wasn't still angry at him. Because I still was, he lied to us. Sure it were lies of omission, but those could still be considered as lies. And I didn't like it.
Especially considering the last time he did so.
"My son" He softly breathes out, and Raph turns his head away with clenched teeth. Something that never left him over these last 5 years. Something he kept doing in a defence. Avert his gaze and pretend like he was fine. Which he clearly wasn't. Sure the trembling had stopped after 2 or 3 years, but his stance was rigid.
"I am not going to hurt you. And I am terribly sorry for lying to you about such a matter"
Slowly Raph dares to look up, tears shining in his eyes. Was he that afraid of the thought of his previous dad? Did we adopt such a damaged boy into our household? At least that's the word I first thought of, adopted. Because I didn't see him as more than a brother to me. Not because I didn't like him, just because I was young and I didn't know him.
"Then why?" Raph whispers, so utterly defeated. Maybe because he knows what it feels like. Even though we all know nothing.
"If you would know, you would understand" Dad answers, only causing me to grow confused even more.
"Then tell us. You promised we were done with the lies. Y'have already broken that once" Raph retorts, his anger returning slowly again. "Don't lie ta us again"
Sadness flashes across Dad's face and for a second I think he's going to tell us.
"I … cannot" He says softly before he stands up and leaves us. Alone. Enabling us to think about the fact that this was truly happening. That dad was really lying to us all these years, these past 10 years, these past 5 years.
And the only thing I'm truly thinking about is that whatever is stopping dad from telling us… must be bad. So bad that he truly didn't want, or couldn't, tell us.
TMNT
That morning
I wasn't really worried when Leo's phone rang only one minute ago, I mean why would I be? It was just a normal phone conversation, and it seemed like Leo knew the person on the other side of the line. So I just focused on my homework again, ignoring the conversation Leo was having.
And if I hadn't, I would've noticed the slight tone of fear in Leo's voice. And the utter confusion that was laced in his voice. I only noticed when he raised his voice slightly, something Leo doesn't do without a very good reason. And that's when I noticed his tense stance.
"Are you okay?"
Leo's face was twisted with worry and confusion, the phone still pressed against his ear, humming softly as some kind of confirmation.
"Leo" I press again. "Who was that?" I ask the moment Leo takes the phone off his ear.
"Dad" Leo says, distress in his voice before he walks over to the kitchen, picking up the jacket he had thrown over the counter.
"Where are you going?" I ask, reaching out for his wrist. Leo turns around, worry still present on his face.
"He was crying and he wouldn't tell me why. Just asked me to come meet him" Leo tells me, taking my hand off his wrist.
"Then I'm coming with you" I state firmly, and Leo sighs in response, silently (and albeit reluctantly) agreeing. Both Leo and me, and Raph for that matter, knew that we were both very similar and very different from each other. Our hair for example, and another thing we definitely had in common was the stubbornness. Once we set our minds to something, nobody could talk us out of it, most of the times that is.
And no way in hell I'm going to let Leo go alone. I had a bad feeling about this.
TMNT
"Is he on his way?" Jack asks me, handing me another cup of tea. I nod vaguely, grasping the warm cup with both my hands. The warmth feels good around my hands and I close my eyes for a few seconds. My eyes sting, but it's a good sting. My cheeks were feeling weird, filled with tear streaks and my eyes were puffy from all the crying.
"I'm truly sorry I didn't tell you before"
"You have only known for two days as well" I mumble back, running a hand through my hair. We would not have very long. Leonardo was on his way right now, and Donatello was probably following right behind. The two were always inseparable. They both shared something tragic after all. Not as bad as Raph… and apparently neither as bad as .. Michelangelo.
"True, but I could've told you sooner. Maybe could've warmed him up to you."
"What am I going to do now Jack?" I mumble, staring up to my best friend for so many years.
"The same you did with Raphael" He eventually replies, biting his lips softly. "But I'm afraid…" He starts, turning away from me. Even going as far as creating some distance between us.
"The boys won't accept another lie. You know that. They've told me numerous times about you keeping Raph a secret"
"I know" I mumble, feeling my stomach turn. I knew what he was going to suggest.
"You will have to tell them about your time in prison"
So sorry for the late update. I've been terrible busy these last weeks. I've had a test week, and everything will count for my finals next year so I really had to get decent grades and all. So that's why I've been avoiding writing all together. (And that's also the reason I haven't reviewed). But Monday is my last test so after that I will have plenty of time to update my stories which I've been neglecting so long *hides*
Also, I know I'm teasing you guys with these vague chapters, but in the next chapter or the chapter after I will probably have to spill everything, just because I can't reveal 1 thing without revealing something else. S bear with me on that part as well ^^.
And many asked about Mikey. And I can say that he will be the most important character along with Raph! So don't worry about him showing up. It's just that his appearance will be linked with the big reveal xD I just can't seem to find my way around it.