The Red Shadow (TMNT)

The NightWatcher

"Look Ms., I'm not looking for any trouble." Raph began his charm routine so the young lady might let down her guard.

"Then what do you want??" Adelina spoke hastily.

"For you to let someone help you out for a change." "Not all of us are evil." He stated bluntly. "You and I are from two different worlds, but I hope you can remove the scales from your eyes and look differently at something...or someone in time." Raph said.

"What do you mean??" "I get help all the time!" (How did he know me? That I was devastatingly independent and had not had anyone in my life except for my sister for the past 3 years?)

Raph chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure you do."

"Just come in the light you coward!" Adelina yelled.

"As you wish, my lady." Raph stepped just far enough into the light so that she could see his face and the outline of his body; he was holding a homemade metal helmet in his right hand tucked beside his hips and some kind of metal suit with gadgets and Ninja weapons attached to it.

"What.....what's going on, do you think you're some kind of superhero?" Adelina stated shockingly. "You show up out of nowhere and expect me to trust you?" "And dressed up as a.....turtle?"

Raph began walking towards Adelina and she was scared but couldn't move; it was like an outside source had glued her boots to the sidewalk and she was anchored.

Adelina let out one tear from her eye and started looking around confused as to what was going on. Her hands fell at her side and she was helpless.

"As I was saying, maybe you shouldn't judge a book by its cover." Raph said in almost a whisper. He was now inches from her lips. He placed his vacant hand on her cheek and wiped away the tear of fear that he knew he was the cause of. "You're okay, I'm not going to hurt you."

She finally muscled the courage to look the creature in his eyes. She couldn't quite make out the color because of the darkness, but she could read his sincerity. He was telling the truth.

"What the hell am I doing!?" She thought to herself. "This guy is a stranger, and I don't ever trust people; especially people (or whatever he is) I just met.

"I....I....thank you; for saving me. But I really need to go to bed. I have to be up early for work." Adelina finally spoke; choking on her words.

"Alright," Raph said. "I'll be watching you every night from the rooftops to make sure that you're safe."

"How did you find me, and why are you protecting me??" She asked.

"That is a story for another night." He laughed. "When the time is right I will indulge your curiosity."

Adelina looked confusedly into the turtles eyes for a few more seconds before he broke the awkward silence.

"You just keep working on those Ninjutsu skills," he smirked sarcastically.

"I know, I know. I'm not the best fighter, but I can't let my enemies know that." She said.

"We'll, I'm not your enemy." Raph said.

With that, Adelina looked away. Was she blushing?? Something told her to trust this "NightWatcher."

Raph lifted his hand from her cheek; not wanting to make anything more awkward between them.

"I have no idea why I should trust you, but I do." "Thank you for all that you have done." "I won't forget you; I never forget anyone who helps me."

Raph stepped away and nodded to signal his departure. He placed his helmet on his head and scurried up to the rooftops quickly and waved goodnight once he reached the top. Adelina waved back and went into her apartment and tried to rest.

She was so exhausted, but the turtle clouded her thoughts and she just couldn't sleep. She was so curious as to where he came from, how he knew her, what his intentions were. She had so many unanswered questions. She finally exhausted herself from all the thinking and managed to drift off to sleep.