Chapter 14

Raphael was the first one to wake up the next morning as his brother; Michelangelo was trying to pull pranks on him while he slept. Raphael stretched and saw a piece of paper on the table. He was about to walk past it when the first word written on it made him stop. He picked up the piece of paper and read the small note. His scowl turned fierce by the time he finished reading it. He scrunched up the paper and tossed it across the room. He stood still and refused to move until his head clicked on what was read. He paced back and forth from where he stood and thought it over. Leonardo came into the kitchen and saw Raph. He didn't say one word; he just looked around trying to find the source of Raph's anger. He saw a scrunched up piece of paper and walked over to it. He opened it and tried his best to get rid of the cresses in it. He read the note and looked at Raph, wondering why he was so ticked off. Then it clicked.

"Do you love her?" He asked. Raph stopped pacing and turned to face Leo.

"What?!" he asked.

"You have no other reason to be ticked off so I'm asking. Do you love her?"

"It's none of your business. So what if I do, it's not like it could work anyway." Raph turned his head away and crossed his arms, a habit he had gotten into since he was just a kid.

"Raph, what are you thinking? We don't need any unnecessary distractions" Leo said.

"Don't treat me like a kid, I know what I'm doing" Raph snapped back.

"Raph we need to be careful, you know what Master Splinter would say if he knew."

"Drop it Splinter junior. What I do is nothing for you to decide, it's my choice and I am free to love her if I want to." Leo opened his mouth to speak, but Raph had bolted from the lair. He headed to the surface and straight to a rooftop. He paced around fuming.

"Why did she leave? Was it something I did? Where would she go?"Raph asked himself. The more questions that strung in his mind, the more he fumed. He kicked a pole, causing it to bend in half and nearly topple over. "What have I done?!" He yelled out.

I woke from my slumber and shifted, trying to make sure that my limbs wouldn't be too stiff. The sun blared in my eyes as I sat up. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and stood up. I stretched my arms above my head and took a few steps forward. I decided it was about time to find something for breakfast. I walked to the city streets and searched around for something to eat. I wondered if the turtles had seen my note by now and if they were mad at me. I brought a hand to my hair and twirled it around a finger. My hair had somehow managed to reach down to the middle of my back. It felt too long for someone like me. I looked up and saw a market was on. The entire place was crowded and I would be able to take some things without anyone noticing. I walked into the crowd and towards a clothes rack. I grabbed the first thing I saw; which was a red chequered dress that most likely reached to just above my knees. The sleeves stopped to just below my shoulders and were a little ruffled. The collar was V-neck. I slung the dress over my arm and walked off, trying to not make myself look suspicious. I headed over to a dog grooming stall and saw a pair of dog scissors that would be used to trim any fur away from a dog's nails. I walked over and swiped it quickly, tucking it under the dress. I walked out of the market and back to the junkyard. I walked to the back of the shed I was sleeping in. After a quick look around I stripped and put the dress on. I flicked my hair over my shoulders and picked up the scissors. I grabbed my hair into a bunch and placed the scissors to it. I took a breath and cut. My hair fell to the ground and I dropped the scissors onto my old clothes. I felt the length of my hair and realised that it was cut to just below my ears. I combed my hair with my fingers. I walked back over to the front of the shed and sat down. I peered out to the piles of rubbish. An idea sprang to my mind and I stood up. I walked over to the rubbish and moved a few objects. I pulled out an old blanket that had too many holes to be used again. I draped it over my shoulder and continued searching. I pulled out a few more blankets and moved back to shed. I dropped them all on the ground and ordered them into a bed style. My stomach growled when I finished placing the last of the blanket. I stood up and walked out of the junkyard. I headed right into the city and towards where I could smell food coming from. I made my way towards a small bin in an alleyway and peered inside it. There was barely anything to be considered food, but I grabbed what looked edible and loaded my arms up. I walked out of the alleyway and raced towards the junkyard, knowing full well that if any of the turtles were up in the streets; they could find me. I sat down on the blankets and placed the food in front of me. I unwrapped a half eaten burger and inspected it. It looked alright. I took a small nibble and found nothing to be wrong with it. I took a bigger bite and swallowed. I looked up and looked to the moving clouds in the sky. I released a breath of air and finished off my burger. I yawned. Maybe it was time for me to wander around and search for more information concerning 'The Watchers.' I left the junkyard and headed towards where I had left James. I climbed to the roof using a thick metal pole that was attached to the side of the building. I walked over to the area where James and I were. Attached to the bricks was a piece of paper. I grabbed it and looked at the note.

Tristan,

I know you must be feeling very hurt and angry but I also know you need a friend, a human one. If you are wanting someone to listen to your problems, search for where the sea meets the city.

~James.

I re-read the note. 'The sea meets the city?' Where was that? Then it clicked. The area would have to be the docks. I walked over to the edge of the building and peered down. There were less people than I thought. I made my way towards where I had climbed up and started my descent. I reached the ground and headed off towards the docks. By the time I reached it, I was wondering why I had made my way there in the first place. I stopped moving and stood right in the middle of the pathway connecting the city and the docks. I moved to the edge and sat down, my feet dangling over the edge and splashing in the water. I knew I was getting strange looks from passerby's but I didn't care. I looked at my reflection in the water. My skin looked pale from all the time I had spent in the sewers. A few men were shouting something about getting the fish to shore quickly. I stood up and started to walk back towards the city and away from the docks. A shout came from behind me and I turned. Standing there was James. He held a smile. I turned and raced away from the docks. I bolted in and out of alleyways in case James was following. My feet slapped the ground as I ran, sending a little pain to race through the bottom of them. I stopped at a blocked alley and took deep breathes of air.

"Tristan, you should know better than to try and run" Said a voice behind me. I turned and looked.

Why are you so hung up on trying to take me back? I tried to say. James' eyes opened wide.

"You lost your voice. That's okay; I had to learn how to lip read from another person at the facility," James replied, "You are my wife, just to remind you. We have to stay together for better or worse."

Why am I so special? What do you want from me?

"I want you to learn your place again. It's about time for me to let you remember the rules I set for you when we got married."

What rules? What are you talking about? James smiled and lunged forward. He tackled me to the ground and pinned my arms above my head. I struggled under his grip.

"Struggle and scream all you like, I'm afraid nobody can hear you" he said.

"That's where you are wrong" Said a voice behind James. James quickly shot up and turned. I sat up. Raph was standing there, his Sais raised. James laughed.

"You must be the one that Bishop was talking about. He has been informing me about mutants living in the sewers. He also said that the one with the red head band was quick to anger. You shouldn't be too much trouble" He said. Raph screwed up his face in anger and gripped his weapons tighter.

"Leave her alone, I'm going to take her back with me no matter what you say" Raph snarled.

"So this is who you were shacking up with. No wonder I couldn't find you" James said, turning towards me, before turning back to Raph. I gazed between the two and took a few deep breathes.

"Tristan you all right?" Raph asked, not taking his eyes off of James. I nodded my head quickly. "Leave her be, or you will have to answer directly to me" Raph continued. James grabbed my upper arm and forced me to my feet. He slung an arm around my shoulders and placed the palm of his hand around my neck. James pulled a knife from the back of his jeans and placed it to the side of my face.

"I am sure you don't want her to be hurt. Do as I say or she will be injured" He said. I shook my head.

Raph don't. He'll hurt me either way. Raph sighed and tossed his weapons to my feet. I glared at him. Idiot, I said turning my head away. Raph snarled.

"What did you call me?" he asked. I looked back and smiled.

Idiot. Raph pointed a finger at me.

"Come over here and say that; I'll make you eat those words" He snapped. I opened my mouth to say something when James spoke.

"You two can continue this another time, but right now I need her to come with me." James gestured to me with his thumb that was at my throat. James slowly took me around Raph and out into the street. James placed his arm around my waist and switched his knife so that it was concealed between my clothes and his arm. "It's nothing for you to get so worked up about, you knew this day was coming even if you don't have a clue what's going on." I raised my foot and brought it down on James' toes. He howled in pain and thrust the knife into my side. I moved back and stood up straight. I grabbed the knife and bit my lip as I ripped it from my ribs. Blood spurted out and sprayed the pavement. I gripped the knife as people screamed and ran from the two of us. My eyes turned distant and cold.

You want me that badly, come and get me. James ran forward and I ducked. I thrust the knife up and caught James in his sternum. I flung him over my body and onto the road. He landed roughly on his side and I stood up to face him. He lifted his head weakly.

Leave me alone until I'm ready to remember everything otherwise I'll be coming for you. Oh one more thing, leave my friends alone or you will all have to answer to me. I turned and walked away, towards a building. I climbed to the roof and sat on a wooden crate. I looked at the knife and saw the eye symbol on the handle. I brought the knife down and stabbed it into the crate. I bent over and sucked in small breathes of air.

"That was reckless; you should have just gone along with him" Said a voice beside me. I looked and sighed when I saw Raph.

Don't you dare lecture me; you have no idea what it's like to feel helpless.

"I know exactly what it feels like to be helpless; I was helpless just a moment ago. Why did you run away? Was it something anyone of us had done? What is your motive?" Raph asked. I stood up and stormed over to Raph.

My motives have nothing to do with you. What I do is none of your business and besides nothing would have helped if I had stayed.

"My brothers and I are always there to help and talk to."

That's just it. I need a human to talk to from time to time, not a mutant turtle and a male one at that. I need someone who is female and like me.

"Tristan, you need to take your life more seriously. I won't always be around to protect you and when that time comes, I want to know you are safe." I crossed my arms and turned my head.

Why are you so hung up on keeping me safe? What makes me so special? Raph turned his head away.

"Tristan, I can't understand much when reading a person's lips. I just wanted you to know that I would feel guilty if I had left you to go off on your own without doing anything" He said. He then walked towards me and made me face him. "Why did you leave?" I glanced into Raph's eyes and felt my stomach tighten into a knot. Without thinking, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. Raph flinched then settled his muscles down. He kissed me back and I slowly closed my eyes. Raph cupped my chin and gently placed a hand in my hand. I brought my free arm up and gently placed it on Raph's upper arm. Raph pulled me closer and my body pressed up against his. I pulled away from the kiss and broke out of Raph's grip.

I'm sorry. I turned and walked to the edge of the building. I crossed my arms and stared down at the street below. Raph walked over and sat on the edge of the building. He looked up at me.

"There is nothing to be sorry for, but I have one question; why did you kiss me?" He asked. I turned away from him and shook my head. I had no answer. I clutched my body tighter and hung my head, ashamed of what I had done. Tears filled my eyes and my body started to tremble as I forced myself to hold my tears. I heard Raph shift and walk over to me. He stood behind me and I felt his hands barely touching my shoulders. "Are you crying?" He asked. I shook my head. "Are you cold?" Another head shake. "What's wrong? I can try to help you." I placed my hands to my face, turned and buried my head into Raph's chest. I sobbed and let the tears fall down my face, only to be caught in the palms of my hands. Raph placed a hand on the top of my head and patted it. "It's okay, you can tell me when you're ready" He said. I pulled my head up and looked at Raph's face. He looked uncertain of what to do. I smiled.

Thank you. Raph smiled a little and turned his head away.

"I've got to head back to the lair, are you coming or do you want to stay on the streets?" He asked. I shrugged my shoulders. "I think it may be time for you to find somewhere to stay" Raph said.

Where?

"You'll see; he is actually very nice. You have met him before a few times actually" Raph replied.