I was sitting on the couch in between Raphael and Michelangelo. Donatello and Leonardo sat casually on the floor. We ate pizza for dinner once they got home and were currently watching tv. Or rather, they were watching; I was still too preoccupied with what happened earlier. My hand rubbed the other as if I was expecting to feel something. I know something happened before the guys got here…. I know, I just…. don't remember. It must have something to do with my "shining eyes", as Splinter called them. But I had no idea what that meant! What did he mean by "shining"? And that I shouldn't close my eyes again? I didn't think I had…. had I? No, I can see perfectly! It's not like I couldn't see or something…. could I?
"It's Mr. Super's Super Fun Science Show!" The announcer proclaimed. A cheesy-looking man wearing a lab coat and glasses appeared on the screen. "Howdy do! Guess what, kiddies? Today we're gonna learn about optical illusions!" "Ugh," Michelangelo groaned, spreading out his arms at his sides. "Can't we watch something cool? Like Changeformers?" "Magic School Truck is cool, Mikey," Donatello shot his younger brother a side-glare. "We could always watch Elderly Transformed Samurai Iguanas?" Leonardo offered. "It's my turn and I say we're gonna watch this. Besides, I want to learn how optical illusions work." "Only you," the youngest added under his breath.
It was around this time that the crossed-armed Raphael gazed over at me. I wasn't watching the screen, still fiddling with my hands. "What's with you?" "Huh?!" I suddenly blinked up at him, forgetting for a second that I wasn't the only one in the room. "You've been quiet all evening. Is something up?" "N-no! No, I just…." My gaze slowly returned back down to my hand. "What's wrong, Baby? I thought you liked the Magic School Truck," Donatello glanced at me over his shoulder. "I do! I'm just…. tired tonight." "Busy day at school?" Leonardo asked in a softer tone. "Y-yeah…" My voice trailed off into nowhere. None of them looked convinced, particularly Raphael. "Hey, Baby…." He was about to start until all their shell phones beeped at once.
Pulling them out for a check, their eyes collectively grew in concern. "It's from April. The Purple Dragon are hassling Murakami-san for protection money again," Leonardo stated. Within seconds, all four turtles were on their feet and I promptly followed suit. "Alright guys, let's go," the eldest instructed his brothers. Raphael immediately noticed as I trailed them to the exit. "And where do you think you're going?" He shot me a stern look. "I want to check on uncle; make sure he's ok." "We'll check in on him, Baby; you don't have to worry," Leonardo tried to reassure me. But I shook my head. "Thanks, but I rather go now, just in case…" "No."
Everyone blinked in surprise, even me. My head moved in such a way that I was facing Raphael directly; he stared back at me with determined eyes. "What?" I simply asked slightly dumbfounded. "Just stay here. We can handle this; we won't let anything happen to Uncle." "But I…." "I said no! It's too dangerous; just stay put and don't even think about moving." This was… not a suggestion; this was a command. The four of us just stared at him in a sort of awe. He'd been protective before, but this was almost overprotective. A taste of stubbornness rising up within me, I felt like I had enough nerve to put my hands defiantly on my hips.
"Don't you think that's my decision to make?" "No, cause you'll make the wrong decision." That's…. mean. "I'm not that delicate, Raphael. I won't be abducted the moment I go outside alone." He gave a soft growl in response, his big hands balling into fists. "How stupid are you?! It's just plain old not safe! You think you can handle yourself out there, but you clearly can't." "Raph!" Leonardo gasped, also gawking at him in astonishment. "How do you know?" My hand rose to my chest affronted; this was genuinely insulting. "Because I've had to save your butt a million times," he loudly retorted, narrowing his glare onto me.
"That's not true, Raph," the elder went into immediate damage control. "Baby is very capable; she's smart. She doesn't deliberately get herself into trouble." "Leonardo!" I blinked at him scandalized. "Uh! What I meant was, uh, um….." "No, trouble's right," Raphael crossed his arms. "You have a knack for getting yourself kidnapped, Baby. Seriously, why do you have to make me worry all the damn time?!" "I never asked you to worry about me! And that's not my intention, Raphael," I fired back. "I wouldn't worry if you didn't go putting yourself in unnecessary harm, you idiot." "Raph!" Leonardo yelled. The two youngers just watched in silent awe from the side, too scared to intervene.
"What's so bad with staying here? It's safe here in the lair." "Uh, he's got a point, Baby," Leonardo found the courage to add, giving me a pleading look. "I can't hide away forever. What do you expect me to do?" "Stay put," Leonardo and Raphael answered in unison. "Oh, so I should just spend the rest of my life like this?" "No!" Raphael hollered back. "You should shut up and let me protect you!" Again, we all blinked to the second eldest in astonishment. "Uh, guys? We really should get going," Donatello felt this was a good time to butt in. Raphael gave me one last glare before following after his younger brothers. "Please stay here," Leonardo then told me. "We'll call you from the shop. Don't worry about your uncle," he flashed me a reassuring grin. "Let's go, Leo!" Donatello called back. He turned to join the others, leaving the lair and me there by myself; minus Splinter in the other room.
I didn't react for a minute, just standing there with a bunch of backed up emotions. Then, when I was sure that they were gone, I flew into a rage. I knocked Raphael's comics angrily off the table and kicked my foot in the air. Those stupid, arrogant, overprotective….. They're worse than most parents! Talk about controlling much. 'Stay here. Don't go there. You can't handle yourself in the real world.' I'm the one who's human in case they've forgotten. Ugh! I can't believe how they see me; how weak they think I am. It's infuriating! Irate, I stomped over to the exit. Screw that! There's no way I'm staying here; I needed to get away. To have some time to myself. For emphasis, I turned off my phone, so they couldn't find me and presumably yell at me later. I needed to be alone right now, whether they liked it or not.