Chapter 11

Rule 1

Raphael wrapped the towel around his waist. AS much as he liked his leather 'NightWatcher" gear, he hated how hard it was to get off. But the entire process almost seemed worth it when he soaked afterwards, to feel the relief of cold water on bare flesh. The best part was that he didn't' have to go outside enjoy its pleasures. Thanks to Don's genius head, he had a way of pumping water into the house where it would pour over-head and down a hole in the floor. He wasn't sure how it worked. But that didn't mean he didn't enjoy it. Especially the way it made the ache in his back relax.

It was the same for the gauntlet on his arm, now lying next to his leather gear, a metal casing with a small hole on top, where arrows could be shot out of it. It got him out of many scrapes. He was very lucky it wasn't' damaged in his battle with Fearless. Donnie had originally made them for just Raph and their mom. He had asked (or ordered) don't to make it for himself too, just incase. It made him feel better to know his brother had a hidden weapon literally under his sleeve. Good thing his little brother was so smart, he made the suit that protected Raph from the constant assaults from bounties. then again, Raph only let him put it together after Don put together his own protective gear (Raph called it the Leather Sock) .

It occurred to Raph he hadn't seen Donnie since he drug him out of the living room , he was probably looking for some of his clothes. What a good little brother. He took the shoulders of his garb and shook it out causing a white cloud of dust to fill the air. Immediately he rubbed his irritated nose. Not his best idea.

Speaking of horrendous what-was-he-thinking. He had invited a complete stranger, one he had been trying to bash into pieces, into his mothers house. Not only that, but the same guy who had made him and his brother homeless! Ok, so he might have had a hand in that, that wasn't the point. The point was the guy who had a complete idiot ( a fearless idiot) was now in his mothers home. What was he supposed to do about that!? Maybe he could sneak some of Don's 'sleep herb' and shove it down Fearless's throat, then dump his unconscious body in a nearby river.

"Raph?"

Raph froze and turned around to see Don standing in the doorway, clothes folded up in his hands with a wooden box that Raph recognized as the remedy box ontop. He was perplexed by the concerned look on his face till he realized he was mercilessly shaking out the garb that Don had spent 4 days putting together and with hours of getting whale skin together. He dropped it and put on a huge smile best not to let Don on to his malicious thoughts, "Heeeeeeey Buddy."

" You ok?"

"Yeah 'course I am."

"Then maybe you should stop smiling before dislocate your personality."

Raph forced face faded into a real smile. He almost wish that he had some input on Don's cleverness. But if anything, he hindered it, "Those clothes for us baby bro?" he asked pointing for the stack in his hands.

"No, they're for you." Don held out the stack to him.

Raph took it and looked over it, it was true, they did look like his clothes. He hadn't worn them in a while but they should still fit. . He pulled out the black hakamas, white obi and red sleeveless shirt. Simple, probably the only of his old clothes that fit. With a toss he sent the towel around his waist over his brothers eyes and pulled them on with relative ease (ignoring the squawk as his brother fought the evil towel that had been on Raph's butt). There. He was sure he had a black happi around too, he didn't like being cold. Glancing up at his brother he quirked his eyebrows (even as Donnie glared hatred at him), "what about you? don't you want to change?"

"I don't have clean clothes right now."

"You should of cleaned your clothes by now, you can wear some of mine-"

"No way, your clothes make me look like I'm playing 'house' and I don't need that." arms crossed over Don's chest but he was smiling, "I already shook out my clothes so there's no dust."

Raph frowned and straightened up , walking up to Don and brushing off his shoulders, just to ensure they really were clean, it looked like Don did a pretty good job.

. But the fact Don had the attack to begin with was sad. He had barely had time to look around the apartment before realizing the roof cave in had ruined Don's medicine.

It was a stupid careless mistake.

One that wasn't going to happen again.

"Raph, Raphael!"

Raph blinked before looking down and realizing that he had inadvertently picked Don up by the shoulders. Leaving his little brother to blink innocently and confused as though rattled, "I promise that I shook out my clothes completely, so will you stop shaking me?"

"OH shit! Sorry bro" he set back down on his feet, but it was hard to fight the smile off of his face. IT was funny to think it took such little muscle to pick up Donnie that he didn't have to think about it.

'YEAH yeah, " but Don's smile was real too, he pointed right at Raph's face, "Well sorry 'bro' but right now I'm Yorozuya I-sha. And the I-sha needs to fix your neck."

Well that smacked the smile off Raphs face, "Aw Don-"

"It wont take long, the damage to your head however-"

That brought the smile back, and his hand around to smack him upside the head. Hard enough to make the back of Dons mask slide up and twist. But luckily his little brother just laughed in surprise and fixed his mask back up right. That's how Don usually reacted, a smile and a laugh. A optimist. Raph just smiled and knelt down, "lets get his over with RUNT." Don following and taking out the familiar clay jar, and the familiar smell of mint herbs that came from it. He only winced for a second when the cold cream touched his skin but relaxed instantly as his muscles began to relax. No one could deny that Don could create some good-stuff .

It was something Don came up with a while back, messing with Leatherheads herbs. Speaking of Leatherhead, maybe HE should of found Leo standing in the apartment with blood on his hands. One snap of those jaws and Raph wouldn't have to deal with a long lost idiot. Or not, he did have a pretty good grip on his temper. Probably would of asked for his life story. . Raph still shivered over the anger, he had been planning on sneaking through the window to scare him. You know, brother stuff. But instead of seeing his little brother he had seen a tall figure in a cloak, hands shimmering. Raph had been planning on watching him longer till the figure raised his hand and Raph saw the shimmer turn red.

Then Raph's' vision had turned the same.

He wasn't sorry for it, he was never going to be, he had reacted accordingly. If anything he was proud.

Speaking of blood, where DID the blood on Fearless's hands come from, "Hey Don?" he asked in mid-trance. spirits that herb relaxer worked freaking well.

"Hm?" the hands probed his skin, as though checking the thickness of the cream. Probably checking if he got all the sore spots.

"Why did Fearless have blood on his hands? Pick his nose too hard?"

"I don't know." but there was a pause. Small, but enough for Raph to notice.

"Don." he said slowly. Warningly. Giving him the chance to come clean.

But Don simply twisted the cap back on, rolling onto his feet (Raph noticed that he didn't use his hands)" All done, be careful with your neck and you'll be fine-" fast tone and hasty retreat towards the door.

Conclusion?

Guilty

"DONNIE." hit tone was strict. Not the first time he had used such a strict tone with him. Immediately Don froze instep. He turned around slowly ducking his head down slightly. Raph raised his hand and curled his pointer finger to gesture for Don't o come back. With a sad shoulder slump that clearly said I'm-hiding-something=that's=totally-going-to-be-found-out=and=get=someone=-killed look on his face. His little brother sat down crosslegged, hands behind his back and a small smile on his face, "Yes Kuma-ni?" It was his attempt at a 'cute' face to get himself out of trouble. Though Raph knew that Don's more natural 'what?' face was far more adorable. If you could even use that word to describe a 13 year old.

Oh dam, Don turned 14 today.

Raph was getting too old for this shit.

But this wasn't' funny, Raph could barely stop the anger from getting in his voice. Something he had to work on still, "HANDS.NOW." he growled heavily

And there went the smile. Don drew his hands out from behind his back and chin plastered to his chest. He saw the burns deep in the palms of his hands. They had probably been bleeding at one point but had stopped. Raph sighed angrily and reached into the wooden box, 'Dam where is that stupid stuff-"

"I can do it myself Raph."

Raph ignored his words though. He wasn't in the mood to hear his 'I'm a I-sha I don't' need anyone to take care of me' logic. It was his JOB as a big brother to take care of his baby one. It was a job he was never going to abandon He pulled out the second clay jar, Besides, he had spent years not knowing his little brother treated his own injuries himself. Until one night when he saw him using his toes to apply medicine to the burns to his fingertips, and their mother had taught him how to deal with the medical stuff. Well, how to put it on atleaast. Raph dipped the tips of his fingers into the jar and dab at his brothers palms gently, spreading it over the burn, looking up at his little brother knowingly his little brothers face flinching from the sting, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"no."

Good, atleast he was being honest. "Too bad." he said with a glare.

Don glared back at him weakly, before sighing, "It was a accident-"

"That's not what I asked."

"I was trying to start the stove with my metal flint, "ah yes, the monstrosity that Don had created. Like all of Don's other invention's he had no idea how it worked. All he knew was that Don would flick off the metal lid and turn the small rough-ridged and sprung circle and it would create a spark. The rest was a mystery. One that Raph like, he had one himself., "When the kamado began to start up he freaked out and tackled me. He didn't mean to, when he saw what he did Leo tried to help me, he put reed-pollen on my hands."

Leo. Even his name made Raph's throat constrict in anger. A ugly name to mark a ugly situation. The way he came out of nowhere forced himself into their lives. Then he had the nerve to hurt Don, something Raph would NEVER forgive. No one hurt his baby brother and lived to see another day

"don't hurt him."

Raph looked up and saw Don looking at him sadly, pleadingly, but it did nothing but fuel his anger,

"Why shouldn't I? He hurt you, he helped destroy our apartment and he's been lying to you-'

Don's hands suddenly pulled out of Raph's grip stuffing themselves under Don's arms, A glare on his face. Normally Raph admired his little brother for standing up for himself. But now wasn't the time, "Don-"

"Don you 'Don' me. "Great, now Don had his own glare, Raph must if said the wrong thing again, "I hate it when you treat me like a child. I'm some stupid kid that believes everything people tell me."

"But you do believe him? You think he's our long-lost brother?"

"Yes." no hesitation, not even to breathe, "Yes I believe him."

Dam it, "Don-"

"You weren't there Raph," great, now he was going to bombard Raph with facts, "When he came back into the shop. He said that if I wantd him too, he would leave and never come back. he was goin got leave but I stopped him. He started hugging me. I was going to pressure point him and go get you but, "he paused, "When he hugged me it felt familiar. Like deep down I knew those arms that were around me, I even recognized his freaking smell. And the way he was holding me, "He paused and shook his head, "I don't think he realized it at the time or even now, but he was crying." Don shrugged, "I just got the feeling like he really was my, our, brother. " he looked up at Raph sadly. Raph just sighed and pulled on Don's wrist to pull his hands out from where he had stuffed them and began wrapping them up again. Trying not to think about Don's words.

One of Don's quirks was that there were only a few things Don didn't question, Logic, Kaede and Raph. But he trusted Raph longer, their trust was founded and tried through the years.

And it all started on that boat.

But that was another thought Raph didn't want to visit, Raph finished wrapping up Don's hands

"I'm sorry Kuma-ni."

Raph glanced over at Don, already he could see the guilt filling his face. Aw spirits, this wasn't how today was supposed be a good day for his little brother, even though they didn't know their real birthdays their mother allowed them to pick days to celebrate their birthday on. Raph still wanted to do something special for it.

Raph glanced back up at Don again, this time holding onto the gaze. He could feel how torn his little brother was. They gazed at each other for a bit before Raph reached out and placed his hand on the back of Dons neck, pressing his forehead against Dons. Already he could feel his little brother relaxing, a good sign in someone who was normally twisted with heavy feelings, "Guess I need to be suspicious enough for the both of us, eh baby bro?"

The smile Don had gained slid off of his face into a more age appropriate pout, "I hate it when you call me that."

"I know, that's why I do it." despite his laugh, he knew that wasn't why he called him that. It was because that's what Don was. as much as 'rikona musuko'. He was Raph's little brother and he wasn't about to let anyone threaten that. He released his hold on Don and allowed him to rock back onto his heels.

The door slid open and Kaede poked her head in, "How are my boys doing?" she asked

"We're good Mother, I couldn't repair the damage to Raph's head though

Raph growled, "OH I'll show you brain damage-: his hand lashed out to grab Don and pull him into a headlock but his arm caught air as Don rolled away from Raph and onto his feet a bright smile on his face as he stumbled into the wall, "So predictable BIG brother.'

Raph probably would of ran after him had Kaede not giving him a knowing glare and turned to Don, "And you? How are you feeling son?"

"I feel fine mom. I wish someone would believe me."

"I do baby boy, but I also know that you have lied about your health before."

Don's head bows slightly. But Kaede reached out and brushed off his shoulders, as though trying to confirm, what Raph did, but she seemed to be satisfied," "Donatello, your older brother has fallen asleep. This would be a good time to stitch up that gash in his face without him whining."

Don nodded and hurried out of the room. Raph watched as Kaede walked on forward and knelt down, pulling on his shoulder straps, "I brought out one of your black happi's out, don't want you freezing to death son. I know how you feel about your shell-"

"You believe him then?" it took mid-sentence to realize he had interrupted her, and he awaited the slap that was bound to knock him upside the head. But instead his mother smiled patiently.

"Yes, he's a kame, he looks like you, and he risked his life to protect Donatello from you."

"But, how? Mom he hurt Don-"

"Not on purpose." Without waiting for Raph to respond she wrapped the happi around his shoulders

"Do you even hear yourself!? How can you trust some one who-" the hand made impact with the back of his head shutting him up. He should of shut up when he had the chance. He glanced up at his mother again, and saw that while she looked slightly irritated, her eyes were still fierce

"Just because I believe him doesn't mean I trust him."

Raph blinked. Before realizing what that meant, unsurprisingly he felt uplifted, "So, what did he tell you?"

"Everything he said lined up with what you said,"

"How do you know he didn't just make it up-"

"Because, he spoke first. Without any prior knowledge. Even the fire, even the boat."

Raph shivered slightly, dam even after all these years. The thought of that boat and the fire still haunted him, and he wasn't even sure which was more horrifying. He felt a hand press onto his face gently, glancing up he saw Kaede looking on him sympathetically. He realized he had subconsciously hugged himself and began rubbing his arms, "Sorry Ma-"

"don't be, I know those memories are hard on you," she pulled forward the pieces if his Happi again to make sure he was warm, "I'm making dinner, and Leonardo will be joining us."

"Aw mom-"

Kaede's eyes shifted into another glare. Raph adverted his eyes , not particularly feeling like having his eyelids burnt out of his skull to having his head knocked off. Instead he felt her gentle hand wrap around his head and press it forward, his forehead pressing against hers. Already he could feel his anger ebbing away. As he closed his eyes.

This was just another one of his mothers tricks, the ways she kept his anger in check. Even though she wasn't their birthmother, Raph wouldn't' of picked anyone else to call 'mom.' She was kind when she needed to be and slapped him upside the head when he deserved it.

"What's rule one Raph?" she asked gently

Yes, the one rule. The one Kaede always made sure that he and Don followed. As a former bounty hunter she had little respect for certain laws. But this was the golden one. Mattered more then anything.

Raph sighed as he repeated the sacred oath, "Always watch your brothers back."

"That's right son, and Don will never forget it either. You two will always protect each other. I've never worried about that. But." oh boy, the exception, "that also means you have to support him. You have to be open minded to fact that you have other family out in the world Raph."

"Mom-"

"But," she added gently, "you know what they say," and a pause. Expecting him to fill the gap. Raph couldn't help but smile

" 'Give them a smile, stab them when they turn vile.'"

It was the right answer, because Kaede kissed him gently on the forehead and stood up, "Dinner will be ready soon, you better bring your manners son."

It might seem weird to talk about stabbing someone then talk about manners. But that's how Mom was. Motherly one moment and fierce the most. It came from being a ex-bounty hunter. That saying probably kept her alive. And she had taught it to him when he decide to be a bounty hunter himself. She wasn't saying to betray or hurt anyone. It was just to be careful who you trust, that a friend today could be a enemy tomorrow. And Raph always kept in heart, especially when he thought it might put his little brother in danger

"I'll be a perfect gentlemen ma!" he called after her. Just barely hearing her laugh in the hallway. Raph leaned back on his hands, glancing over at the wall window, propped open by a wooden stick. The air was already chill, he'd have to remember to get more blankets for Don when he went to bed. He didn't want Don getting sick again. After a few seconds he stood up and pulled on the black happi. About to follow his mother when he remembered the gauntlet. He glanced over to where it sat on his discarded clothes and snapped it onto his forearm before pulling his sleeve over it.

Just in case.