A Half Shell Christmas

Chapter 5: Merry Christmas

Song: Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano
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Raphael could see it now.

Scarlet busted in, a smile on her face about a mile wide. "Merry Christmas!" She chirped, skipping her way to Raph.

Raph's stomach dropped. "Oh, Scarlet! Uh, what are you doing home so early?"

Scarlet raised a brow in confusion. "Uh, the party ended at 6:30, remember? It's 7!" She exclaimed, plopping down in the seat next to him. "Hey... are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, it's just-" Raph had started to try and explain what was up, before the door swung open again, smacking into the wall with a cracking force.

The malicious sound of laughter filled the room as Tyler stepped in, his eyes both one color instead of two; a blood red. The skin underneath his eyes was purple, his hair no longer gelled in a clean, spiky quiff, but was now a crazy mess of bleach blonde hair. In his hand, he clutched Scarlet's necklace, a sterling silver chain with a sparkling frame hanging from the middle, with a small, heart shaped ruby shining in the center.

"Here's Scarlet's necklace, Raphael." He hissed in deep, gravelly voice, tossing it to the red-clad turtle. He chuckled, flashing a dazzling white smile. "What a great big brother you are."

At that, he left the room, leaving Scarlet to stare at Raphael with big, round, brown eyes, which were swirling with hurt and pricking with tears. "You forgot to buy me a present?" She squeaked.

"No, no! I mean, yes! Wait, Scarlet, please!" Raph stuttered, and began to panic as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"You're the worst, Raphael! I hate you!" She screamed, sobbing into her hands.

"No, Scarlet, listen!" Raphael begged, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"No, leave me alone, Raph!"

"Raph!"

The contrast in the second voice shocked Raphael out of his day dream, and he blinked, his vision focusing on Tyler, who stood in the middle of the room, holding a Christmas gift bag that had green and red tissue paper frilling out of the top.

"Are you... okay?" He muttered, taking a tentative step back.

Raph sighed, rubbing his face, his body flooding with relief at seeing Tyler back to his normal self, instead of the freak in the daymare. "Yeah, I'm fine." He breathed, standing and looking up to Tyler, nodding to him. "Thanks a lot, Ty, really. I do owe you."

"No, you don't. Merry Christmas, Raphael." Tyler smiled, passing the shorter terrapin the packaged necklace, before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

Raph blinked in surprise. Tyler didn't try and joke with him at all; something he found both pleasant yet empty. He carefully tucked Scarlet's present under his bed. Just in the nick of time, too.

The door opened again, but this time, it wasn't Tyler in the doorway, but a girl with chocolate brown hair pulled back in a long braid that started out thick at the base, and thinned as it reached the small of her back. She had sparkling, round, brown eyes, and freckles spotting her porcelain skin. A bright red Santa hat was perched on her head, and a few more were stacked on the saran wrapped plate of Christmas cookies in her hand.

"Feliz Navidad!" she sang with laughter, "Feliz Navidad! Feliz Navidad próspero año y Felicidad!"

"Huh?" Raphael inquired, raising an eye ridge.

"I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas! I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas!" She continued, setting her stuff down on his dresser as she shuffled forward. She wrapped her arms around her brother, placing her cheek on his shoulder. "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart."

Raph chuckled. "Well, Merry Christmas to you too, Scar."

"Aren't you excited, Raph? Santa's coming soon! I wonder what he's gonna bring us. Do you think I'm on the nice list?" Scarlet rambled excitedly. She let go of Raph, and turned to her stack of Santa hats, placing one on Raph's head.

He bit his lip, but didn't have the heart to refuse the hat. "Scarlet, I'm 100% sure you're on the nice list. Whatever you're getting, it's gonna be awesome." He smiled, adjusting the hat on his head. "Santa just kind of knows, you know?"

"Wow. Nice hat." A third voice interrupted the considered siblings, and they looked over in surprise. In the doorway stood Destiny, her black wings folded neatly against her back. "April and Casey are here for cookies and hot chocolate. You guys coming?"

"Yes!" Scarlet exclaimed, turning on her heels and grabbing the platter of cookies and Santa hats.

Once Scarlet was gone, Destiny locked eyes with Raph, smirking. "I told you so." She stated simply, before turning and joining the others. Raphael huffed in annoyance, before following her out.