From The Shadows: Goodbye || BOOK 3 (TMNT)

Chapter 7. The Sideline

     Despite, mostly, everyone's hope that the morning would not arrive so soon, arrive it did. At first, a strange and sorrowful tension engulfed the atmosphere. However, Mikey, always one to try to lighten the mood, began bantering with everyone and cooking a delicious breakfast. It was always difficult to remain dull when Mikey was bouncing around everywhere and having a good time. His happy energy rubbed off on everyone and, eventually, the kitchen was lively.

     Everyone was already up except for one—Raphael. He was still fast asleep and exhausted from the previous night. A faint knock came at his door. He stirred but remained asleep. His door creaked open.

     "Raph," A voice whispers, rather close to his face.

     His eyes shot open and he jolted up. Raph squinted and scrunched his nose at the shock of pain that he caused for his body.

     "Sorry, sorry," Athena panics. She shakes her hands. "I didn't mean to scare you."

      Raph rubs the back of his neck. He rolls his head and yawns. "Me? Scared? No."

     Athena rolls her eyes. "Right."

     "Morning already?"

     Athena nods. She sighs. "I didn't want you to miss out."

     The two stepped out of his room. The talk and smell coming from the kitchen were immediately noticeable. And, that wasn't the only thing Raph had noticed.

     "Well, you clean up nicely," Raph comments.

     Athena smiles. "Yeah?" She stops walking and stretches her arms out. "I was able to cover all my cuts and bruises with makeup. Mom doesn't suspect a thing. You on the other hand..."

     "What? You think anyone will notice?"

     "You better have a phenomenal story ready to go."

     "Don't worry," Raph scoffs. "I got this."

      Athena drew a sharp breath. The sweat began to build as they approached the kitchen. One deep breath later and Athena entered first, then Raph. 

     The talk and laughter faded as all eyes turned to them. Mikey, Donnie, and Casey grit their teeth as they continued to smile as if their smiles could suppress all the incoming confusion and wrath. Master Splinter stared at his son in disbelief and with frightened eyes. Everyone else just looked confused.

     Leonardo's face dropped. He ground his teeth and glared at Raphael. If he and Athena thought Sasha's stare could kill, Leo's was ten times worse. There was a fire in his eyes Raph hadn't seen in a very long time. It was a rage so bitter and so potent that Leo almost snapped.

     "What happened to you?" Angel questions. 

     "Oh, you know," Raph shrugs, "a serious training sesh."

     Arnold and Ms. White looked at each other and then at the rest of the family. His explanation wasn't believable. It was rather suspicious. 

     Mikey nods. His smile turns incredibly awkward. "Yep. You guys don't know this about Raph, obviously, you just met the guy, but he goes pretty crazy with the whole training thing."

     "Uh-huh," Donnie continues. He too begins nodding, to the point where he and Mikey are just nodding at each other. "So crazy that he sleep fights. He doesn't sleepwalk or talk—fights. Found him last night running into walls."

     Raph places his thumbs in his belt and stretches. "Yeah. That's me for you."

     Ms. White frowns. It sounded preposterous. But, then again, so did mutant turtles. "Haven't you tried to do something about that? It looks... dangerous."