Race. [TMNT 2012]

10. Games of the Turtles; Raphael

Song: Watch It Burn - Disciple

I travel back behind the garage. I take a seat where I had earlier, silently fuming at my brother. I angrily throw a sai at the ground.

Why are Donatello and April defending Charlotte? She's obviously a brat. She would never be grateful for anything we do for her, so why bother? She could probably live by herself and get on just fine. She has Lucy and that dog as well; it's not like she'd be lonely.

Deep down, I know I'm being unreasonable. I'm not acting how a real hero should. I'm letting a bad attitude get in the way of saving a life, and that is something Master Splinter had taught me to never do.

I have to remind myself that Master Splinter isn't here. And with Leonardo refusing to lead us, it doesn't matter what we do. We're all spiraling towards the inevitable future of death.

Even so, my heroic nature continues to fight against me. It keeps telling me to protect Charlotte, no matter what she says to me. To not let my emotions get the better of me.

Donatello and Michelangelo appear around the corner, pulling me away from my thoughts. I ignore their presence and turn my back on them.

"Now don't be like that, Raphie!" Michelangelo chirps, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"What do you want?" I ask irritably, shrugging off my brother's hand.

"We wanted to speak with you," Donatello explains, sitting beside me.

"There's nothing to say," I grunt, but I don't shift away from him.

"And I saved you some pizza," Michelangelo adds, dropping a slice of the cheesy substance into my hand.

I feel my cold heart thaw out a bit. "Thanks, little brother," I say, rubbing my knuckles across his head affectionately, to which he squeaks in protest.

I practically inhale the pizza. Feeling better, I turn my attention back to Donatello. "What did you want?"

Donatello begins to reply carefully. "I wanted you to know that I agree Charlotte is a bit... ill-mannered. But I think it's in everyone's best interests to keep her and her friend safe."

"I agree," I say quietly.

Donatello doesn't seem to hear me at first.  "I know you dislike her, but if you just give her a chance to prove herself, I'm sure she will be of some use- and did you just agree with me?" The purple-clad turtle looks at me with surprise.

"Yeah, I did." I stare at the clouds floating by. "I think we should keep her safe, too. But I'm only doing it for our honor, not her."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Donatello gives a tiny smile of relief. "I knew you'd come around."

I smirk at him and trap him in a loose headlock. "Well, I gotta keep you guys in line, don't I?" I tease lightly. "You sort of look up to me and junk."

"Actually, I look down on you, Raph," Donatello says while poking out his tongue.  "I'm taller."

"Turtle pile!" Michelangelo declares, jumping on our backs. We fall underneath his weight, flattened on our plastrons.

Donatello and I laugh as we struggle to get out from under him. We haven't messed around in so long that my smile actually makes my face ache. I've missed times like these.

A loud, high-pitched scream shakes us out of our play fighting. We're all on our feet in an instant, looking around.

"I think it came from that direction," Donatello says, pointing deeper into the abandoned side of town.