Raphael X OC

Chapter 11: The Scar

"We have at least an hour to get in the dojo. I've got nothing but time, Princess."

A small smile formed on my face. I was growing fond of my new nickname. Sighing, I looked at Raph's reflection in the mirror, and then at my own. More specifically, at the scar along my right eye.

"Alright then... you asked for it.
My mother and father met here in New York when they were young. My mom was a dancer before they got married. She couldn't dance after she had me and Casey, so she tried to live her dreams through me. Hence the name and the years of ballet shoved down my throat.
I started dancing when I was three, but it all started when I was four.
I was done with practice, waiting for my mom to come pick me up. It was getting dark and I was getting scared. I know Casey always said to wait at the steps no matter what, but... I just wanted to go home , I was so hungry and tired.

It felt like hours and she still hadn't shown up yet. Imagine, a 4 year old girl crying, walking the night streets of LA. I was lost and needed help. Then there was this man. He said he could help me get home, and I believed him. He held my hand and we started walking. His grip got tighter and our walking, faster. I asked him to slow down and he told me to shut up. I told him I could see my house now, because we were in our neighborhood,... but he just... kept walking. I started to struggle and was about to scream when everything went black."

My eyes where starting to water now. I looked into my own wide eyes to see a few tears fall down my face. I stared at a tear  grazing against my scar for a few moments.
I saw Raphael walk over to me and put a hand on my shoulder, a shuddering breath escaping at his touch.
"I-... he kept me there. It was only three days but it felt like forever. I was tied up and the only light I had was during the day, when the sun would slightly shine through the small crack in the window.

He would... make me... do things and torture me. One day he left one of his knives... and I just wanted to go home. So I thought I could grab it with my feet and start cutting the rope. Of corse he caught me and he said he'd been watching me. How my parents didn't love me or care about me. That I was worth- worthless. Then he grabbed the knife... and he ...!"
I was about to collapse when Raphael caught me in his embrace. I stood there in his arms sobbing until my eyes burned. He held my chin so I could see his face.
"Princess... Odette, it's ok. You don't have to-"

"I'm fine..." I wiped my tears and looked into his electric eyes.

"Promise?"

"...Promise."
I shifted my gaze to each of his mesmerizing eyes with a smile. He's so concerned about me, and we barely met.
"I guess the thing that hurt most was the fact he was right. My parents didn't care. I don't think they even looked for me. When I finally escaped Casey found me and saw my eye. He thought it was his fault I was so damaged for some reason. It couldn't have been, I wish he could understand that before he gave himself the same mark. It wasn't as deep but I guess his eyebrow never grew back." I laughed a little, wiping more tears.

"You are not worthless" Raph spoke softly and pulled me into a hug. He leaned his cheek against my head. "We're your family now and we care about you. And you aren't damaged." He looked down at me as I met his eyes.
"...you're beautiful."