Remember. [TMNT 2012]

Chapter 52; Raphael

Song: Those Nights - Skillet

Rubbing my eyes, I walk half-blind into the kitchen. I stretch and involuntarily groan as the stiffness retreats from my body.

I have completely recovered from last night's freak-out. I still can't explain why a shadow tried to kill me, but I also don't care. It's over with. Time to move on.

My arrival catches the attention of Edmund, who is standing at the kitchen window. "Morning!" he greets me, taking a sip from the glass of orange juice in his hand. He gestures towards something out the window. "They're working hard, aren't they?" he comments.

I walk over to see who he's talking about. Leonardo and Elizabetta are training in the backyard. I got here just in time to see Elizabetta perform a backflip. It would be perfect, if she didn't land a shift away from where she is supposed to.

"This is really interesting to watch," Edmund says, his tone thoughtful.

Yeah," I grumble. "When Leo isn't being annoying."

Edmund laughs and takes another swig of his orange juice.

Even through the window, I can see that Elizabetta's face is red from effort, and beads of sweat drip down her face. She must've been practicing for at least an hour now. The sun is almost above its peak, too; Leonardo doesn't need to risk being seen. I decide it's the perfect time to interrupt.

I open the back door and poke my head outside. The cold air sends a chill up my spine, reminding me it will be winter much too soon. Snow and freezing sewer tunnels. I am not looking forward to that.

"Hey, Leo!" I yell. "You planning on working her to death so you don't have to teach her anymore?"

They both turn their heads toward me in surprise. "Ha, ha. Very funny," Leonardo calls back sarcastically.

"Yeah, I thought so," I smirk, polishing my fingertips on my plastron.

I come back inside, and it isn't long before Leonardo and Elizabetta follow suit. The early-risers sit down at the kitchen table, worn out.

"Is it too early to take a nap?" Elizabetta yawns. Her brother sits a glass of juice in front of her. "Thanks," she says with a tired smile, before drinking it.

Edmund sets more glasses of the orange liquid in front of Leonardo and I. We thank him as he takes a seat at the table with us.

I study Leonardo as the blue-clad turtle examines his drink. He seems to be lost in his thoughts... Again. Why does he keep doing that? What can he possibly be thinking about now?

Michelangelo bursts into the room, breaking my train of thought. He has two brown sacks in his arms.

"Hey, dudes and dudette!" Michelangelo says cheerfully. He ungracefully drops the bags onto the kitchen table. Food spills out of them and a delightful aroma spreads throughout the house.

"Where did you get that?" I ask him suspiciously. It isn't unlike the youngest turtle to turn up with food, no. It's unlike him to turn up with cooked food. Other than pizza, that is.

"Penelope!" Michelangelo grins. "I stopped by her restaurant and ordered it." He opens a container and starts to munch on some of the delicacies.

Leonardo sits up in alarm. "Were you seen?!" he questions immediately.

"Relax, man, it's all good!" Michelangelo replies nonchalantly, his mouth crammed full. "She hadn't even opened up yet. She only just happened to see me peeking in. Now, come eat!"