Race. [TMNT 2012]

030. Patrol; Raphael

I awake with a jolt. I feel a weight on my plastron and I glance down in confusion. A blush creeps onto my cheeks when I realize it's Charlotte.

   Not sure what to do, I ungracefully push her off and move away. Instantly, cold air engulfs me and I wish I hadn't been so hasty.  But I'm not about to touch her again.  No way.

   As her head falls, she opens her eyes and sits bolt upright. She glances around with sleep still clouding her eyes, until her gaze settles on me.

   "Is it morning?" she asks drowsily.

   "It was morning when we got here.  It's probably the middle of the night," I correct her stiffly. I don't want her thinking I enjoyed what happened between us.  I am simply trying to repay her for what she did with the Shredder.  We're even now, and I won't be treating her like that again anytime soon.

   She means nothing to me.

   "Right."  Sensing my lack of emotions, Charlotte's tone is immediately guarded.  Even though we're crammed in a cell together, she suddenly feels very far away. I'm not sure I like it.

   The door to the cell room opens.  A familiar tiger mutant steps into the room and anger grips my heart.

   The mutant's yellow eyes gleam as he admire us, as if he is staring at his own fresh-kill.  "I did not believe Master Shredder at first when he claimed a turtle had turned himself in."  Tiger Claw licks his lips.  "I am almost impressed."

   I will Tiger Claw to explode into a million pieces, to catch on fire, anything to make him disappear. It's hard enough facing a cold-blooded murderer like Shredder. I'm not sure if I can contain myself around Tiger Claw as well. Maybe I bit off more than I can chew in taking on this mission.

   But I can't give up. I am already in too deep. So, I stand up and face Tiger Claw confidently.

   The mutant shoves his large paw through the bars of the cage. He reveals two night-black bandanas, much like the material Foot soldiers wear.

   "Master Shredder orders you to wear these." There's a hint of a mistrustful growl in his voice. "He wants you to look the part if you are to go on patrol with us."

   I retrieve the cloths from him. "Patrol?" I narrow my eyes in suspicion. Shredder would never trust Charlotte and I to patrol the city that he took for himself. I know for certain that tin-freak has something up his iron sleeves, and it isn't good.

   Tiger Claw ignores my question. "Put those on," he commands as he heads for the exit. "Xever and Bradford will fetch you momentarily." And he is gone.

   I glance at Charlotte and shrug as I gave her a bandana. I replace my red mask with the black one. Though they're made of the same material, something feels wrong about swapping them out. It's as if I've completely changed identities. Good thing it's only temporary.

   "How do I look?" Charlotte's voice distracts me from my paranoia. She made her bandana into a headband, strikingly similar to Casey's, and pushed back her jet-black hair with it. It exposes many areas of her face that are normally disguised.

   I smirk and reply, "Like the Foot."

   She crosses her arms and forms her lips into a smirk as well. "Excellent."

   That very moment, Fishface and Rahzar appear in the room.  The mysterious expressions upon their unsightly faces send a chill up my spine.  For once, I'm not sure what to expect.

   "Come on," Rahzar growls as he flings the jail door open.  "I won't waste any more time than I have to with you filthy mutants."

   Charlotte steps out and put her hands on her hips.  "I'm not a mutant, you idiot," she snaps.