Race. [TMNT 2012]

7. The Absent Leader; Raphael

"What do we do?!" Michelangelo asks, panicked.

"I don't know!" Donatello gasps, just as apprehensive. "I'm not the leader!"

"Well, someone's gonna have to act like one," I snap. Everyone looks like lost puppies as they wait on orders. Since Leonardo isn't able, I decide I have to give them out.

"Mikey, Liz, and April, you snap Leo out of whatever he's doing!" I command. It feels strange to be bossing them around. But I could get used to it. "Donnie, I'll take the retro-mutagen. You make sure that Mikey doesn't screw something up. Casey," I turn to face my best friend. "We'll give your mental sister the antidote."

Everyone nods in agreement. They must be too scared to protest; they need someone to tell them what to do. I suddenly realize how essential Leonardo is to the team. But I am certain I can handle things until he recovers.

"Go!" I finalize. Donatello gives me the orange vile. Then he, Michelangelo, and the girls dart away. Lucy and her dog wander off to the side and wait patiently, leaving Casey and I alone.

Casey hooks his fingers around the garage door's handle. He glances at me. "Ready?"

I tense my legs and grip the needle tighter. "Ready," I confirm.

At my word, Casey forces the garage door back open. I charge inside and yell for him to shut it behind me.

"No way! I'm not leaving you alone with her!" Casey shouts. He dives inside the garage as well, letting the door slam shut behind him.

Darkness swims before my eyes. I can't see a thing; I feel blind. The inside of the structure smells dank and lonely, as if no one has visited the place in a very long time. That is to be expected, of course, considering we're in the abandoned part of the city.

"Thanks, Casey, but I'd have been fine on my own," I grunt as I feel the walls for a light-switch.

"I'm not doing it for you!" Casey sounds surprised. "I just don't want you alone with my sister!"

I find a lever and flip it up. Light floods the room, revealing every possible crease. Casey's words sink in, however, and I face him instead of scanning the area.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" I growl.

"It means I don't trust you alone with her," Casey responds, rolling his eyes. "She's fragile, and you're not exactly a chill dude."

"Overprotective, much? What the heck has gotten into you?" I question him, deeply offended. Did he whack his head while coming inside? "I just want to help change her back!"

"Yeah, but who says you'll be gentle?" Casey eyes me suspiciously.

Before I can answer, my peripherals catch sight of the lioness. She is curled up in a ball in the corner, cowering from us both. Our loud voices must have frightened her.

Distracted from the argument with Casey, I steady the serum in my hand. I creep toward her slowly, suddenly wishing I asked Michelangelo to do this instead. I'm not good at making people trust me, much less mutants.

"It's ok." My coaxing sounds foreign from my real voice. It feels unnatural and wrong to be talking in such a way. It's embarrassing.

"I won't hurt you. I want to help," I continue in the weird voice. How does Michelangelo talk this way so easily?

When I'm was close enough, I quickly inject the retro-mutagen into her. The lioness doesn't have any time to react before she is transformed back into human.