Early mornings were usually one of RJ's favorites.

He was always the first one to wake out of the group, and it was just so he could start his morning ritual. His ritual would usually consist of digging through the log for his usual breakfast of a powdered donut or two, depending on his mood (or if Verne caught him, he'd say it was because of the stars. He got it from a movie), and then he'd make his way over to a tree near the metal gate.

One of the reasons for this was so he could look over any heist plans that he missed, like if something didn't seem right or wasn't adding up, he could fix it easily without having to worry anyone else. This was something Verne was never really the biggest fan of, but RJ found he worked better when it came to heists when there was nothing really to distract him. After that, he would just watch the highway and just see the cars driving by. Initially, he would see if he could spot anyone inside the cars and make some kind of story about them. However, it turned out all he could really think of was just families heading to work or something along those lines, which got really boring after a while.

The other reason was just to keep an eye out for any trouble, more specifically of the Vincent variety. He had no worries that he would return by just going through the hedge. Those humans may be stupid enough to leave their homes unoccupied, but they were smart enough to know that a bear was bad news. That wouldn't stop a bear from just simply going through the back to get easy access to them.

Then again, that wouldn't stop any animal from trying to get easy access to them.

Today, RJ was in his tree, watching over the highway as he didn't think there was anything he needed to work out for today's heist. Everyone was playing to their strengths, they knew where every trap was, pretty much everything was fine. Now he just had to wait for that big green lump to move-wait what?

"Good morning RJ."

Of course, that voice had to belong to the de-facto second in command in Verne, who had managed to climb the tree despite being…a turtle. RJ always wondered just how Verne managed to climb any tree, and it was a question he had planned on asking for a while. He never got around to it though, but maybe, just maybe he could ask him today.

Ask him now, he's right there you moron.

"Morning Verne." RJ spoke. "You know, I have to ask, how do you climb trees?"

"What do you mean?" Verne asked with a clearly confused look on his face. Clearly it had never occurred to him that climbing trees was not something turtles did on a casual basis.

"I mean, how do you get up trees so easily?" RJ continued. "I'd assumed that considering that you're a turtle, you'd have some…difficulties."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What it means is that turtles don't usually climb trees." RJ replied.

"And raccoons don't walk on water, yet you're surprised at that?" Verne asked.

"Hey, that was for the sake of a really well-timed joke." RJ spoke, remembering that event happened the day they met, and RJ showed them the beauty that was over that hedge…or Steve.

Yeah, RJ kind of got into the whole Steve thing.

"Anyways Verne, what's going on, you usually don't come by here that often." RJ spoke.

"Just wanted to check on everyone before the heist, like I always do." Verne replied, before placing something warm in RJ's lap. Immediately recognizing the smell, RJ looked down to see the coffee mug placed on him, and then looked back up at Verne.

"I made sure it wasn't black." Verne said. "Even though I heard that black coffee is better at energizing you."

"It may be good at many things, but I haven't started drinking dirt yet, and I'm not about to start now." RJ replied, before taking a nice sip of the coffee, and letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "Man, we made a really good decision getting that coffee maker last week."

"Heather's idea, once more." Verne replied.

"Once again, she makes this place a whole lot better." RJ would take a few more drinks, before hanging the mug on a branch above him and stretching. "Well, it's time to start the day, I'd say maybe just going over the plan one more time should be fine."

"Anything to keep the family safe." Verne spoke. "I'll meet you down there."

RJ nodded his head, and was about to grab the mug and head down when he noticed something out on the highway. Well, it wasn't exactly the highway, but it was on the other side.

A raccoon, just like him.

"Verne, hang on." RJ spoke, just as the turtle was about to start climbing down. Verne stopped. "What's going on?" He asked.

"There's a raccoon, across the way." RJ spoke as Verne joined him, and RJ would step back so Verne could get a better look. "Is he alone?" Verne asked. "I'm not sure, but from the looks of it, yeah, very well could be." RJ replied. The two would look at the raccoon for a while, watching it look back and forth at the cars that sped across the road every so often.

"It's scared." Verne spoke. "Yeah, who wouldn't be, all it takes is one wrong-"

RJ didn't even get to finish that sentence before the raccoon suddenly darted out into the middle of the road, and began making his way to the other side. Thankfully, it appeared that the traffic had slowed a bit, and the two watched as the raccoon hauled tail over the road. "I'll go down, try to get them over here." Verne spoke, before heading back to the base of the tree and starting to climb down.

RJ on the other hand would look back just in time to see the raccoon was about halfway across the road. Looking good so far. Maybe they could get a new member of the family, and considering they had enough food, it was going to be another instance of RJ successfully introducing someone to The Good Life.

That's what he called their current life now, and sure, he is technically basing off Camelot Estates, but hey, they haven't trademarked it.

That was not even to mention that RJ was actually about to have a raccoon friend, or depending if it was a she, a potential girlfriend.

As much as RJ loved the others and cherished them, he did always have that nagging feeling that maybe he didn't belong. Sure, Verne, Hammy, and Stella were all one of a kinds, but Verne and Hammy never seemed to be that bothered by it, and while Stella seemed to be bothered by the fact she was a skunk in their early meeting days, that problem was solved with Tiger.

RJ was so excited to meet this potential new family member that he hadn't realized the raccoon had stopped in the middle of the road, likely out of fear. It was only when a loud revving noise sounded out that his stupor was broken, and he realized that a massive truck was barreling down towards the fear stricken raccoon.

"Oh no, move now…" RJ mumbled, his paws clenching tightly as the truck drew closer and closer to the raccoon. That raccoon had to either move quickly enough to get away from the wheels, or go back. Otherwise, it was pretty much toast. "Come on…snap out of it…" RJ muttered some more.

That was when the raccoon noticed him. RJ realized this, and was about to wave the raccoon over until he realized that truck was getting really, really close. There was no way that raccoon was going to outrun it, and he started to wave his arms, trying to sort of give the raccoon the message that the truck was coming really close, and it would be a bad idea to make a run for it.

The raccoon made a run for it, but the truck was faster.

RJ could only watch as the truck's left wheel made contact with the small creature, and pretty much obliterated it, leaving behind a faint smear of red. He was just grateful he wasn't any closer, otherwise he would be able to hear the sounds of bone and flesh breaking apart under the wheel. As the truck drove off without a care, that left RJ to survey the damage. All it took was him following the trail to find the remains of the poor raccoon.

The raccoon's body just looked deflated, or like someone popped a fully blown up balloon. Not helping was the slight tire marks on the fur that wasn't torn apart and pressed flat. That wasn't even to mention the look of the head…

"RJ, where is he?" RJ heard Verne call out. Apparently, Verne was either not down the tree entirely or he hadn't looked yet. Regardless, he wasn't aware of the poor raccoon's fate. RJ wanted to reply, but he just…couldn't look away.

Why couldn't he look away?

"RJ, do you see him?" He heard Verne ask, although it seemed closer this time. Verne must've climbed back up, and upon feeling Verne touch his shoulder, RJ jumped. He looked back to see a clearly surprised Verne, as if he hadn't expected this reaction.

"RJ?" Verne asked. "Where is he?"

RJ's silence was all that was needed for Verne to get the message.

"RJ, I'm…I'm sorry." Verne spoke.

RJ on the other hand just stared straight ahead with this sort of hollow look in his eyes. "RJ, are you…okay?" Verne asked, reaching out for a moment, before retracting it, clearly worried that RJ was going to jump once more.

"Yeah." RJ mumbled, although from the way his voice trailed off, he was anything but alright. How could anyone be alright after witnessing that?

"I'm gonna…lay down for a moment." RJ spoke, before moving past Verne to start climbing down the tree. "RJ, wait." Verne spoke, and RJ would stop. "Should we postpone the heist for now?" Verne asked.

RJ would shake his head. "No, I just…need a moment to get my head clear, heist is still on." RJ replied, his voice wavering. "Don't tell anybody about what happened, we can't get distracted, okay?"

"Alright RJ, but I'm going to make sure you're okay, you know that, right?" Verne asked. "Yeah, thanks Verne." RJ spoke, and with that, he slowly made his way down the tree.

Making his way to the clearing where the others would gather, he realized that right now, maybe being around them wasn't going to help clear his head. Instead, he decided to sit against the tree closest to the pond. More specifically, the one where Hammy usually used the bathroom. Thankfully, RJ was wary enough to know that Hammy had to have finished his bathroom antics by now, so he could be alone for a while.

Sitting against the tree, he tried to process everything that happened. The window opening, the odd feeling carpet beneath his feet, the basement door, the song that was playing-

Wait, what was he thinking about?

He just saw a raccoon, like him, die right in front of him and the first thing he can think of is some heist he was on previously. It helped him forget about what he saw, but why was he thinking about it now?

And why did this random song give him such chills?

I originally wanted to write a valentine's special to satisfy my HeatherXRJ sweet tooth, but I think I wanted to do this story a little bit more. I wanted to explore RJ's backstory, and I think this would be very interesting.

This won't be the last of this, don't worry, I plan on finishing this.