Race. [TMNT 2012]

036. Desperation; Raphael

Song: Battle Cry - Skillet

I stand back to back with Leonardo as I fight off Footbots. I can't lift my wounded arm very high, but my other works perfectly. I focus all of my energy into my good limb, swatting away enemies and trying vainly to ignore the excruciating pain it causes me. I can't give up; my team needs me.

Leonardo and I do a quick combo on a single Footbot, sending it flying across the room and shattering against a wall. As my older brother catches my eye, he does a double-take before he realizes who it is.

"Raph?" he asks in astonishment.

"No, it's the Hulk," I snort sarcastically as I fend off another 'bot. Footbots have never been a real challenge to me, but only having one proper arm changes that completely. I have to put in triple the effort just to set them off-balance.

A grunt escapes my lips as the Footbot kicks my injured leg. I hunch over, panting and trying to stifle a cry of agony. I hate being crippled. I hate it!

Leonardo has to make up for my slacking. He rids us of the pesky Footbot rather quickly and fight off another, all while patting my shoulder in solace.

"You need to go relax, Raph," Leonardo says once he has battled a few more 'bots and I still haven't straightened up. "You're really beaten up."

I don't even have the strength to lift my head and face him. "What I need is for you to stop treating me like I'm helpless," I snap, though I am more angry at myself than him. "I wasn't hatched yesterday, Leo. This war is it. I'll either fight for freedom or die trying. Even if you guys live on without me, at least I'll know your lives are back to normal."

Leonardo kicks another 'bot away and bends down so he can look me in the eyes. "We won't let you die," he promises, his blue eyes flaring with determination. "It's all of us or none of us. No exceptions."

It hurts too much to smile, so I hope my eyes show how grateful I am for his bravery. Even if he doesn't keep his word, I don't care. It means enough to me that he says something like that in the first place. Turtles first, always.

I finally pull myself together enough to stand up straight. I gently shove Leonardo away from me and shoot him a mocking look. "Now stop babying me, or the Footbots won't be the only ones tasting my fists," I threaten.

Leonardo smiles a bit. "It's good to have you back, bro," he laughs lightly.

I smirk, remembering when I said that exact same thing to him not too long ago. "Where would you be without me?" I joke. "Someone's gotta keep you idiots in line."

Leonardo and I fight side by side. We take down as many Footbots as we can, though my brother does most of the work. Any time I slack, he comes in and takes over. I wish he didn't have to, but I have to admit that I'm not in the proper shape to fight on my own.

The fighting carries on for what feels like hours. I am breaking out into a cold sweat from my blood loss, and the wound on my arm has started to bleed through its wraps. Leonardo notices, but he knows better than to ask if I'm ok. Instead, he sneaks a few blows in on my opponents to help me out. I don't like it, but I learn not to protest.

"The Footbots have to run out eventually, right?" Leonardo pants between each word as he battles with three 'bots at once.

My sai clanks with a Footbot's sword. We are at standstill as we each try to break each other's concentration. I grit my teeth and ignore the excruciating pain in my shoulder.

"I hope so," I eventually reply.

   A familiar teenager in a hockey mask appears and takes out the Footbot I am facing. He knocks out another approaching enemy and fixes his gaze on me. I can sense anxiety rolling off of him in waves- or maybe it's just sweat.