Protectors - TMNT

Chapter 9

The group raced through the tunnels, deciding on the steep ones to get home the fastest. It was the definition of an uncertified water slide of doom.

"WHOOP WHOOP! Hey Guys, I totally took out like 15 Feet peeps! Or would it be Foots? Foot peeps? Nah that sounds like a group of perverts, anyway I bet I looked better than Jackie Chan out there hehe!" Mikey flew through the tunnels on his board, his whoops and cheers echoing through the sewers as He led the group of five down the tunnels.

Donnie, with his nose stuck to his virtual screen, muttered "I am so glad I gave up on teaching him proper English... I'd be dead from wasting my breath"

Raph, carrying Rae, slid on his shell and kept her tucked in his arm, his other arm used for more steering and balancing. Raph's voice sounded over the noise of rushing water and Mikey, "Jackie Chan huh? I'd compare you to the karate kid".

"Hey that's still a compli-"

"-Before he became cool and when he got his ass handed to him by those bullies" Raph finished. A very smug look on his face, bronze eyes watching Mikey. The insult didn't register fully until a full 3 seconds passed, Mikey turned around with an affronted look, "HEY!"

Raph threw his head back and laughed, he threw himself off balance and almost dropped Rae who yelped and clung to him tighter, her feathers becoming ruffled but with a gentle rub of his hands, Raphael smoothed her feathers. He locked eyes with her "Easy there, I ain't gonna drop ya'. Ya can trust me Doll" he finished in a husky voice, eyes amused with an upward quirk on his lips. Rae turned red, too shocked to fully comprehend which fantasy of hers just came true, "I- I was going- or no, I wasn't going to-".

Cue Leonardo to her rescue, he spend past the two, swiping at Raph's head and making solid contact with the back of it, his laughter and the sound of a crisp slap following him as he continued past them, "Haha! Bullseye!" Leo stole Raph's attention away from the struggling woman in his arms.

"Ger- LEO! COM' 'ERE!" Raph roared

Rae had to be carried by one of them due to the need to not get her wings soaked, and also because the tunnels were sometimes too tight for her to control dive/glide through. She lay in Raphael's strong arms that night as they shot down the tunnels. She knew she could always count on each of her family members, but when it came to protecting her, she trusted Raph and Leo the most. Raphael was strong like a mountain, he was unshakable and he would never give up and would push through Hell if it meant keeping his loved ones safe, at the expense of teasing and arguing of course. Rae always felt safest in his arms.

Leonardo was loyal, he would never leave someone behind, certainly none of his family. Leo was like a river: calm, cool, and relaxing, and when people got to know him they never wanted to leave His presence. 'except Raph'. However, like any river, it held water: The most dangerous element, yet the most giving. She felt most valuable and loved in his arms.

As they zipped through the tunnels, she wrapped her arms around Raphael's neck tighter, tucking her head into his neck and breathing in his fireside and leather scent, and sighed, her muscles relaxing.

 Raph looked down at her in his arms, and in a gruff voice "Ya alright Princess Peach?".

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at Raphael from his neck, her nose brushed his chin and she blushed from being so close to his face, but she didn't pull away.

Smiling shyly, she replied "Yeah I'm just peachy", going on his little play on joking with her about her mask color. Raph let out a gruff laugh, his small smile lighting up her world. 'He is so handsome when he smiles.'