Ninja Turtles Meet The Huntress

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Another week went by. It was hellish for Raph. He didn't like the kitchens. He didn't like taking orders, and he felt like he was getting nowhere. He had yelled at several people and even stormed off once. Every day was more and more frustrating and his relationships were suffering. Gabby was giving him the cold shoulder and every time he talked to Em she ended up almost in tears. Even speaking with his brothers was rough because all he wanted to do was vent. One day, Gabby didn't show up to see him in the kitchens and he was so preoccupied with the fact that she wasn't there to support him that the day went entirely smoothly. His mind was too distracted to worry about who was talking to him how and he just went on autopilot, doing what he was told when he was told. By the time he was done working he was nervous and all of the kitchen staff was finally being nice to him again. Gabby wouldn't even let him in through their bond and that's what worried him the most. Even when she was angry she never did that to him. That's why he was surprised when he walked out of the dining hall to see her waiting for him. She was clad in nothing but a doubled up sports bra and super tight pants that ended just passed her knees and a pair of tennis shoes.

"Alright, Grumpy. Let's go." She said. She held her arms crossed, her hips cocked, and an expression that brooked no argument.

"Where?" He asked, just relieved that she wasn't plotting his murder. Or was she? He got nervous for a second. It didn't help that her clothes left little to the imagination.

"We're going running." She said.

"I can't keep up with you." He said.

"I'm just as capable at running on two legs as I am at running on four." She said. "You can keep up with me in this form. Your legs are way longer."

She didn't even give him the chance to reply. She headed for the front door. He was left staring after her and what he saw made him cringe.

Gabby was walking determinedly out of the front door, knowing he would follow. She felt his hands on her upper arms though, stilling her and she realized what he was staring at.

"Jesus, Gabby." He said. "What happened?"

"You're not the only one with scars, Raphael." She said, almost bitterly.

"Who did this to you?" He asked.

"Take a guess." She replied.

"I'm going to break every bone in his body, one by one, until he's drowning in his own blood." Raph said softly, his finger tracing one of her bigger scars. It was scarier than it would have been if he had shouted and raged. The quiet conviction in his promise made it obvious to her just how attached he was to her and obviously the rest of the pack.

"Come on." She said, moving away from his touch. He followed her out to the paths that wound off into the woods and she took off running. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and then took off after her. She was right, it wasn't too hard to keep up with her. As a matter of fact, he started pulling ahead of her after a couple of miles which caused her to push herself harder which sparked his competitive side. By the end of their six mile loop, they were in a sprinting race. Gabby was quick, that was for sure, but Raph managed to beat her to the house by a good hundred feet. He turned around with a cocky grin to see her, arms behind her head, breathing hard. She was sweating and her skin glistened in the glow of the flood lights. His stomach dropped a little at the gorgeous sight and he had to shake his head a little bit. This was Gabby. This was his friend. Besides, he had a girlfriend inside.

"Next time, Big Guy." She panted as she passed him. He caught sight of her scars again and his good mood turned dark just like that. Gabby sensed the change in his mood and turned around. "You can take your revenge on Aiden in the battle field." She told him. "I don't want you bringing it here to our family and our pack and our friends. The skin is healed, the pain is gone and they're just marks. They're battle wounds. They made me stronger and they're as much a part of me as yours are of you."