Drabble 3 : Raphael - Smoking Shadows

Author : Hannurdock

Universe : 2003 Cartoon

Summary : This is the first in a collection of drabbles co-written with Onlymehere. Enjoy!

Ta think I was gonna stay in tonight.

I came across some thugs breaking into TCRI wid a crowbar. I leapt down into da middle of der group, scattering them as my fist did the talkin'. Some of em were begging for a break by da time I'd shown 'em who was boss.

Raphael - One.

Street Thugs - Nothin'.

I was just turnin' to go when I saw it - half smoked and still lit.

Splinter's face came to ma mind straight away. He had told us dat we would come across temptations in da topside world.

I wasn't gonna try it at first, but I had this urge to bring da tip to ma beak and suck in the smoke. Just ta try it. I just wanted ta say I'd done it. I wanted ta know why humans stand there in da pourin' rain draggin' deep onto their lil death sticks. I saw 'em nightly - da smokin' club - outside every nightclub an' bar. All chattin' away and puffin' hard.

I picked it up and stared at it like I'd never seen one before. Must 'ave looked a right dork standing there with my mouth half open and da coffin nail in-between ma big fingers. I took off on the nearest fire escape and got myself somewhere quiet where I could tink. Didn' want no Foot sneakin' up behind me when I got other things on my mind.

I knew I shouldn't. Splinter had told me da reasons why not. He said dat it was easy to get addicted to stuff like this. Smoking would dull ma reflexes and slow me down, or sometin' like that. Having a taste of it might make me wanna have more. Splinter said dat some humans wills were weaker, and they got addicted ta stuff like dis. He didn't want any of us riskin' dat.

Splinter wasn't here though. It was just me and the cig. It smelled bad, but I wanted ta try it. It was lookin' at me with it's tempting lit end and a small tendril o' smoke risin' and disappearin' inta da night sky. I moved inta da shadows some more. Don't want big bro Leo catchin' me either. He lectures me enough without addin' fuel to da fire.

So, I took a puff on it. Real long and slow, took it down right deep into my throat and felt the smoke in my lungs. That wasn't so bad. The taste was quite nice, and I felt like a movie star. I imagined maself in an old black and white movie, with a hot chick on ma arm. That's how it always worked, right? Smokin' looked so damn cool.

The next ting I know, I'm coughing like I've never coughed before. The cigarette has fallen, and I'm on ma knees retching. Ma brain is all fuzzy and I feel sick. Ma head is spinnin' and I'm shakin'. I focus on the cig and slow ma breathin' to control ma'self. This ain't good. I risk a look around and see no enemies comin' out of da shadows. I took a gamble on dis one.

It takes a few minutes ta calm down and I'm sweatin'. I take deep breaths as I feel ma limbs return to normal, and I clench ma fists in a rage. I get to ma feet and stomp on da cig angrily.

I won't be tryin' dat again.

Shakin' like a leaf, I made ma way back home. Brainiac was still up workin' on his gadgets - but da rest of ma family are in bed. It's late. Splinta likes us up early an' doin' katas - so I sneak into da lab and sit on a stool quietly. Don doesn't even know I'm der yet, he just keeps playin' wid his tech toys. Finally, he turns around and jumps outta his skin.

"Raph. What the ... ? You look pale. Everything okay?" Don runnin' his mouth off. I really got him good.

"Can I ask ya sometin', Genius?" I looked round, made sure we are alone. "Have ya ever tried smokin' a cigarette?"

Don looked surprised for a moment, then turned back to his inventions with a smile. "I see. How was it?"

I shrugged, embarrassed. "I dunno. It tasted weird, made ma heave."

"Any other sensations?" Don looked at me with an intense expression.

I was too embarrassed ta mention the trembling. "Na. Just not what I thought it'd be."

"I'm not going to have to worry about your new addiction, then?" Don asked playfully.

Scoffin', I got to ma feet. "Yeah, right. No little white stick is gonna rule ma life."

"Good to hear that, Raph. Oh, and yes. I have tried one before. I didn't like it either. I went undercover when we turned fourteen and brought a packet from a shop in disguise. Only smoked the one - the rest got binned." Don confessed, winkin' at me.

"Aren't we the rebel." I'm smilin'. Damn, my bro knows how to get me in a good mood. "Well, I'm off ta bed. Night night."

"Night, Raph." Don's turned to his gadgets and is back in his wonderful world of weirdness.

"Oh, and Donny ..." I turned just as I reached da door knob and he looked back at me. His eyes were tired an' worn.

"What?" Don asked in a whisper.

"Don't work too hard." I said softly before leavin' my bro workin' on his toys.

I barely heard da reply, but smiled as I caught his words. "Thanks for caring, Raphy."