My Gangster / TMNT 2012 Reader x Raph

CHAPTER 17: The Red Queen

Y/N

Groaning, I'm greeted by a sharp pain in my lower abdomen as soon as I wake up. Checking the clock, I've only gotten five hours of sleep tonight. What started as a dull ache that I was sure were gas pains from drinking too much soda, now has me flinching as I try to sit up. I pause for a moment then stand, a pounding pain starting in my head. I rub my temples, closing my eyes.

I open them and they widen in horror. Raph's bed has a small, but noticeable, blood stain where I was laying. Immediately, I check my underwear. Shit, I'm on my period.

What should I do? These guys probably have no experience with periods! What if Raph judges me? What if he thinks it's gross and is angry I ruined his sheets?

Hyperventilating, I begin pacing around the room. I've got to get to the bathroom and clean up, but I can't leave his room unattended or he may walk in and see the blood!

I grab my t-phone from the nightstand and shoot a quick SOS text to April. 'April, help! I just got my period and I don't know what to do!' I pray she replies quickly, even though it's six in the morning on a Sunday.

Moments later, April texts back. 'Don't worry, Y/N! I'll be at the lair as soon as possible with supplies. Is there anything in particular you need?'

I pause, thinking. I tell her no, I've never gotten anything special for my period. In the Family, menstruation is never discussed. I was never even told what periods are and thought I was dying when I first got one! I rushed to an elder of the Family, a woman named Beatrice. Too ashamed to tell any of the men, I told her I was bleeding uncontrollably from my vagina and was in a lot of pain.

Beatrice chuckled and in private told me I was a woman finally. I raised a brow in confusion. A woman? But I was so young! She gave me some menstrual products and advised me to take a hot bath or use a heating pad for pain.

I tell April that I bled onto Raph's sheets and don't know what to do. She says I need to tell Raph and he'll clean it up. No way! Men are not to know about menstruation, they think it's gross and should be kept completely private.

'Y/N, don't be silly. Raph won't judge you for getting your period. He's not an immature manbaby.' April assures me. I frown, unsure. Sounds of cooking and chatter from the kitchen signal that everyone is awake, though, so I can't sneak off to the bathroom without the threat of being caught.

I send Raph a quick text. 'Please come to your room. I'm sorry :('

Within seconds, Raph rushes into the room wearing a worried expression. "Babe, what happened? Are you okay?" He asks.

I quickly close the door behind him and take a deep breath. "I unexpectedly got my period and the blood got on your bed." I say, quietly, staring at the ground to avoid eye contact with him. I fidget with my hands, bracing for anger.

"Oh, I thought you were hurt or something! It's okay, I can clean up the blood." Raph says, walking to the bed to remove the sheet.

I look up at him, confused. "Are you sure? You're not grossed out by it?" I ask. Raph chuckles.

"Babe, I'm a ninja. Trust me, I've had to clean up blood before." I stay frozen, unsure how to react to his nonchalant response to the situation.

He kisses my forehead as he leaves, telling me to do whatever I need to feel comfortable. I hurry to the bathroom as quickly and quietly as possible to avoid running into anybody. I run a bath, testing the water with my hand and adjusting the knob until the temperature is just right.

As the bath runs, I take off my clothes and look in the mirror. A few pimples have formed on my chin and forehead, seemingly overnight. There's a small bruise on my head from all the trauma it's endured, but it seems to be healing up. The cut on my hand is healing, still pink and a bit itchy, but healing. My eyebrows are a bit bushy from lack of grooming. My nails still look beautiful from the day I got them painted with April. I brush against my leg hair, fluffy from not shaving.