Hello! I know it has been a long time since I last posted, so to make up for it, this chapter is extra long! Joy, right?

Yeah, whatever. I've been pretty busy with school and basketball as of late, so I haven't exactly had much time for pleasantries. I fear it will be a long time before I can post again, too. Goodness knows I will try.

Please, get back to the story! R&R, baby! :)

Summary: Raph is sure he can't take Leo's almighty attitude any longer. He channels his rage through the Nightwatcher, a mask he puts on to beat down criminals of all kinds. However, when Raph (as the Nightwatcher) is captured by desperate criminals, he begins to realize how much he really needs a leader. He also might have found love in the process. RaphxOC, M/M SLASH! Don't like, don't read.

Disclaimer: I don't own the turtles, nor do I profit.

Flame should have been expecting the attack. He really should have. In a small corner of his rational mind, he actually had considered the possibility, but he figured he had the skill to handle one tired ninja turtle.

It was much more difficult to convince oneself of this when all 200 pounds of said turtle was hurtling straight toward your throat.

Almost without thinking, Flame dodged Raphael's initial lunge, rolling to the side. He wished desperately for his blades as the turtle growled deep in his chest (or whatever that was), spinning around to face Flame once more. Shaken, Flame clambered to his feet. He reached up just in time to block the first punch.

Flame marveled at the incredible speed with which Raph could move. The turtle could punch and kick faster than many of his own trained ninjas... But that wasn't a thought for now. Flame's temporary distraction left Raph an opening, and Flame shouldn't have been surprised when Raph took it instantly.

He felt a hard foot crash into his side, heard the finality of the crunch that followed. Flame gasped, his eyes wide in shock as he stared at Raphael. Another powerful kick sent Flame flying. He watched Raph as he did so, all the way through his path in the air until his flight was halted by a concrete wall.

Flame crumpled to the floor, and something else snapped. A searing pain in his right leg joined the blooming agony in his side. He gasped for breath, blinked, but he couldn't see anything. The corners of his vision were dark and fuzzy, with the darkness growing.

He pounded the ground with a clenched fist, gritting his teeth. This creature should not have been able to get the better of him! Even as the pain he felt at first drained away (he could thank genetics for that), Flame knew it would be difficult to move. It would be unwise. Broken bones were not something to be trifled with. He waited until all he could feel of his former pain muted into numb, silent pulsing.

However stupid the idea, Flame was nothing if not a trifler. He looked up, made out the defining edge of his desk, slathered in paperwork and his favorite novels. He could just barely reach it. His fingers curled around that edge as Flame pulled himself to his feet, or more technically speaking, foot. His now-stiffened leg refused to support his weight, but the pain had vanished completely. Flame let himself smile; it was a small victory, but a victory nevertheless.

Flame only remained lost in his thoughts for a moment before he remembered who was in the room with him. His eyes frantically scanned the room for a moment, then locked in on Raphael. The turtle was still breathing hard, but seemed to have calmed down some now that he saw Flame was no longer capable of fighting him off.

Flame fumed. He hated being weak. Suddenly, he thought he could hate Raph, too. That overgrown turtle had caused him all this trouble, after all. All because Flame had gone against his better judgement and decided to be nice.

He leaned more against the desktop in a way he hoped appeared to be relaxed, rather than fatigued. He continued to stare down the turtle across from him, and Raphael tensed once more when he noticed Flame's eyes on him. Flame shot him an easy smile in response, though inside, his blood boiled.

"So, are you going to hold up your end of our deal?" Flame asked, one eyebrow arched. Perfection. He'd seem nonchalant. He'd go for that.

"Are you serious?" Raph snarled, moving a few paces closer to Flame to get in his face. Great. Turtle breath...

Flame inclined his head to the side, mostly to get out of range of Raph's breathing, but also to get a better look at the ninja's expression. Anger, distrust, resentment. "Do I not seem so?"

Raph took Flame by the shoulders, then, actually shaking him. Flame could feel his brain rattling around in his skull for a few moments afterward. "Don't answer my question with another question!"

Flame was pretty sure that was the longest sentence he had ever heard Raphael speak. "Wow. I wasn't aware you could use so many syllables."

"I'm not stupid," Raph rolled his eyes, and his tight grip on Flame softened just a little bit. Odd. Flame thought that comment would have made the turtle angrier.

"I know," Flame admitted, mostly to himself. He looked over Raph's shoulder, tilting his head back. He would be hard-pressed to admit it, but it was Raph's kind of company that gave Flame the uncommon urge to contemplate the meaning of life. He resisted, for Raph's sake, instead moving on to more pressing matters. He could feel the waves of his physical situation radiating off his form like blaring sound, and he knew it wouldn't be long before that door was thrust open and his small army of assassins arrived to assist him. Flame doubted Raph would like to be in that position.

"So, are you gonna take that medicine, or what?" Flame asked Raph again, uncharacteristically gentle as he pulled Raph's arms away from his body.

"Why should I?" Raph retorted, his eyes narrowed. Flame watched the red-banded turtle shift nervously from one foot to the other. Flame sighed, then shoved himself away from the wall, making a valiant attempt to hobble over to the medicine cabinet.

Raph hesitated, but caught Flame when he stumbled. Flame smirked in approval, though he hid the expression behind a well-timed cough.

"I don't think it would be just grand if my ninjas found you like this," Flame muttered, more to himself than Raphael. He couldn't feel anything in his leg; it just prevented him from moving as fast as he liked. What a nuisance.

Apparently, Raph had heard him. "Yeah? And they would stand a chance against me?"

Flame smiled as he leaned more heavily on the large, green arms that were supporting most of his weight. He took his time with his answer, taking stock of the bulging muscle beneath cool skin. Raph would be a worthy opponent for them, but they could definitely take him down. Heck, Flame could barely remember why HE hadn't taken Raph down.

"They've beaten much worse."

Raphael stiffened at that, his arms quivering. Probably with rage. Well, crap... Flame really didn't want to make the turtle angrier. The guy seemed a bundle of raw emotion as it was. The idea was most enticing.

Flame almost slapped himself. What am I thinking? Shut up, shut up, shut up. Stupid brain!

Finally, they reached the medicine cabinet. The moment couldn't have come soon enough for Flame. Tentatively, he attempted to extricate himself from Raph's grip. It took Raph a minute to realize what he was doing; after he did, Flame was released immediately. Flame turned his head to catch a glimpse of the turtle, who now wore a sheepish sort of expression on his face.

Flame turned away almost instantly, but shit, that was actually kinda cute.

Stupid thoughts.

Flame rolled off his self-chastising like he did almost everything-smoothly. He opened the cabinet, transitioned back to the task at hand. Get that medicine in Raph. Yeah, that was it.

"You never answered me," Flame said, stating the facts.

"Huh?"

Flame rolled his eyes. "Will you take your medicine?"

At this, Raph growled, his countenance closed off again. "Do I have a choice?"

"If you didn't have a choice, I could've stabbed you with that needle while you were still strapped down on my bed," Flame snapped, too frustrated to think about word choice. His mistake dawned on him when Raph's jaw dropped.

"Your bed?" Raph accused, eyes incredulous. "All this time, I was bound to your bed?"

Flame turned his back to Raph, closed his eyes. He had to gather his wits about him, keep his cool. Seriously, his ninjas would be arriving any second now. What was taking them so long?

"Does it-"

"Yes, it matters!"

Awkward silence filled the atmosphere around them, and Flame choked on his words for once in his life. Well, what was he to say now? Oh, yeah, this is my bedroom. I'm sure you've had plenty of time to admire the color scheme; what do you think?

"This was the easiest place to conceal you until I had time to drop the bomb on everyone," Flame lied easily. "Generally, people don't take well to discovering the presence of a giant mutant ninja turtle without proper warning."

Truly, his bed had just been the most convenient location. He could check up on Raph at any time without people asking him where he was going and why. He could make sure Raph was comfortable.

"Oh."

Raph's voice woke Flame from his reverie. It was gruff, a little raspy, yet brittle, like something ripe for being broken. Flame bit his tongue, holding back curses as he stretched and retrieved the needle.

Flame turned slowly and made no effort to hide the needle. Raph's eyes widened, and he took two quick steps back. Flame took that as his cue to freeze. Raph watched him warily until Flame could no longer take the silence.

"May I?" Flame whispered, his eyes glued to Raph's. He stared until Raph met his questioning gaze. The turtle's eyes were uncertain, but Raph's shoulders were squared, set to rise to any challenge. Flame suddenly felt a twinge of pity for the enemies of this demanding figure.

"Sure," Raph ceded eventually. "I did give you my word."

Flame nodded, and the two stood frozen for a few beats: one quite unable to move, the other debating whether he should bring himself to. Flame decided to cut off the strange stalemate by smirking at Raph, teasing him.

"Well, are you gonna come here or would you prefer I fall flat on my face?" he joked, earning a chuckle from the tense turtle in front of him. Flame had to mentally pat himself on the back for that one. He decided he liked the sound of Raphael's laughter, though he also knew he would never admit it.

In small, carefully measured steps, Raph slunk his way closer to Flame. Which was funny, because Flame hadn't been aware that mutant turtles could slink. Mutant NINJA turtle, he was quick to remind himself. Now it all made sense.

Raph stopped when he was just within Flame's reach, and the turtle's eyes went to his feet. Flame didn't comment. Instead, he reached out slowly, tugging Raph ever closer in tiny increments. Everything he did felt so little, but Flame didn't let his impatience get the best of him. Oh, no, that would wait until he was safely in the privacy of his study.

They were a mere few inches apart now. Flame could feel the tension in the way Raph's breathing sped up, the way hot blood raced to wherever his hands touched Raph's formerly cool skin. Flame's own breath hitched slightly, but he disguised it with another cough.

Oh, how pathetic, really.

With care, Flame maneuvered Raph's arm to rest against Flame's own shoulder, giving himself a spectacular angle for injection and pulling Raph even closer to him simultaneously. Flame told himself he needed the angle, as he had little experience with needles. Jet really should have been the one doing this.

Flame moved slowly, positioning the needle just above the necessary vein. He waited until Raph's tense muscles relaxed against him (a process which didn't take near as long as he first thought it would) before pushing the needle in.

Raph winced, but if he felt any extreme pain, he didn't complain. Flame quickly injected the serum before disposing of the needle altogether. He kept Raph's arm resting against him, taking note of how Raph's elbow had bent so that they were now even closer than before, as he cleaned the tiny puncture in Raph's skin and took his sweet time applying a small bandage.

Flame looked up, noticing Raph's eyes had started drooping. Ah, crap. He didn't need the turtle passing out on top of him. That would not do at all.

"Here, you need to sit down while that medicine takes effect," Flame coaxed, circling an arm around Raph's waist to guide him forward so he could sit on the bed. They moved at the speed of an old lady's shuffle at best, Flame feeling numb pulses of warning shoot through his leg at every step, but they eventually reached Flame's bed. Raph sat down hard, bleary-eyed.

"I'm sleepy," the turtle scowled up at Flame, grumbling. Flame laid a comforting hand on Raph's shoulder, shaking his head as he grinned stupidly. He couldn't help but wonder if Raph knew how beautiful he was.

Aw, geez, snap out of it, man.

"Then sleep," Flame soothed, his yearning hand dropping away from Raph's shoulder in a great show of self-restraint. "We'll see how you've taken to the serum in the morning. I have to go, now."

To Flame's great surprise, Raph's hand reached out for him again. The turtle held Flame's hand tightly in his grasp, almost desperately. But Flame knew better than to think that.

"Don't go. Stay."

Flame blinked. He couldn't believe his ears, but he hadn't heard wrong. He never heard wrong. Even worse, Flame found himself unwilling to refuse this small request.

"Okay," he said weakly, dropping into the chair he had previously occupied by Raph's bedside. A weird sensation swelled inside his chest; one that he had undoubtedly felt before. Protectiveness. Flame determined no harm should come to this creature, not if he could help it. It was different than the kind of protection he struggled to provide for those who relied upon him, for his men. This feeling, Flame feared he could not evade. Flame felt it to be his new duty.

In fact, he knew so much so that later, when his ninjas finally decided to make an appearance, Flame simply snarled at them to leave him be. He only allowed Jet to patch up his wounds, allowing the healer's own fast-paced methods to repair his broken bones. He would have horrible bruising, but that would be just fine.

He didn't let go of Raph's hand all through the night.

He didn't even sleep.

I know, tons of fluff throughout that chapter, right? Gallons of it. Barrels full. Don't we all love fluff?

Yes, we do! *cue smirk*

I hope you've enjoyed what I've written so far! Please let me know if I can make anything better, or just let me know if you liked it. I love hearing stuff like that. So, please R&R!

-Dauntless Adrenaline