~Different~
Being different had advantages. As a Turtle, he had strength humans lacked and his shell… he knew it was impressive. He knew because his brothers' shells were each awesome in their own rugged, living way, the way a mountain is beautiful and intimidating at the same time. Though he'd never actually seen most of his, he knew it was just as unique.
They were the same, and different. None of the others seemed to feel the seething, constant, anger. He wasn't sure if the rage came from being too human, or too Turtle. Too different for the world above, and too much the same not to care when they ran away from him, screaming about aliens.
He was most comfortable as a ninja. Using his skills felt as natural as breathing, and when he was saving the day, whether he were Turtle or human, nothing else mattered. He was human enough to feel the pain of a boy whose mother was missing as deeply as his own need to find his father. Reuniting the family took ninja cunning and skill. Being a ninja meant being different, too. Sometimes he hated it, but other times... Well, sometimes being different was alright.
A/N: The episode referred to is Lone Raph and Cub.
While Splinter is missing, Raphael fights with Leo (huge shock, I know) and goes out on his own for a bit. He runs into a little boy who is being chased by thugs. Raph intervenes, and discovers the kid's mom has been kidnapped. He tries to take the kid to the police station, but he's impressed with his spirit and ingenuity. He ends up helping the boy's mom get free (she never sees him) and reunites the child with his mom.