Leatherhead couldn't help but smile as Raphael stumbled up the ladder before pressing his hands against the manhole cover, trying with all of his might to push it off. Leatherhead's eye ridges flew up when the heavy metal disk actually shifted slightly, but by then the young red banded turtle was already panting heavily. The mutant gator reached up and pushed the cover off of its place. Raphael glanced down and gave a smile of thanks before scrambling out of the sewers, Leatherhead quick to follow.
The large mutant gator pushed himself out of the circular hole and chuckled slightly as he watched Raphael push himself against the wall of the alley, hiding in the shadows the best he could.
"You can't let anyone see you," Raph explained as he looked at the oddly vacant streets of the old neighborhood. "You have to be a sneaky ninja, like me." He continued as he snuck across the wall. He suddenly did a quick summersault to the other side of the alley before jumping up and pressing his carapace against the wall again, Leatherhead watched completely bemused. "We also have to be very quiet!" Raphael lowered his voice to a whisper. "Master Splinter says that if you- LOOK FOOD!" He gave a sudden shout and as if all of his ninja training had just slipped his mind, and booked it out of the alley.
Leatherhead gave a startled gasp, "Raphael!" He called out as the young turtle raced across the street to the bakery.
Raphael barely noticed the car that was zooming down the road, and when he did he yelped and covered his head with his arms as if that would protect him. The car swerved, missing the turtle by a few mere feet.
Leatherhead let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He wouldn't Raphael back safe in his arms, but couldn't risk being seen. A small turtle was one thing, a large gator was another.
Raphael peeked out from under his arms and his breaths became quick. He immediately turned and began racing back to Leatherhead when a voice stopped him.
"Raphael?" One called out, making Raph turn. Leatherhead watched anxiously, noticing how Raphael was trembling, most likely going into shock.
Raph gave a visible gulp as the man approached.
"Do not touch him…" Leatherhead threatened under his breath. "Leave him alone… leave. Him… Alone..."
Raph tilted his head at the extended human hand and then looked up at the two smiling faces gazing down at him. "Hey buddy, remember us?"
The small turtle scooted back slightly, his eyes wide with curious confusion.
Bruno pressed his lips together in irritation and suddenly reached out a hand and grabbed Raphael's arm, earning an exasperated sigh from Jason, a startled yelp from Raphael, and a large roar from Leatherhead.
The large mutant gator charged out of the alley, no longer care who saw him or what they would do. The two men screamed; Bruno pulled Raphael into his arms and they ran.
No matter what you tell yourself or how you pep talk yourself in life, you will never ever be prepared for a huge enraged mutant alligator who's main goal is to shred you to small pieces.
"No!" Raphael cried over the roaring and curses, "Let me go!" Raphael squirmed, "Leatherhe-" His sentence was cut short when the car door slammed, and the car was put at full speed.
The gator roared, his eyes glazing over.
And then, everything became red.