Loving Raph Is Red (TMNT) ✔

16: Pressure

The next morning, Alice walked Angela to the door and was happy to see her sister look better than last night. She looked happier and calmer--almost the Angela she's always known.

Angela embraces her sister tight before leaving the apartment.

---

Last night, when Raph decided to explore New York and finally come home, he chose to go through the manhole beside Alice's apartment. But before jumping down, he sees a shadow jumping down from the building.

He watched the familiar figure until it jumped on the street he was at. Leonardo looked up and the brothers were gazing at each other, speechless.

It was clear that Leo just came from Alice's apartment. He began to worry and for some reason, it angered him. Ideas flew in his mind. What the hell was he doing there?

It even looked like he was speaking to someone before he jumped down.

"Where you been?" Raphael asked his brother,

Leonardo was nervous but he kept his stance, "Just patrolling."

"Patrolling?"

But both brothers knew they had to keep their secrets safe.

"Yeah." Leonardo replied,

"Alright."

"You?" Leonardo asked,

"I just finished patrolling, too."

Leonardo nodded, "Okay."

"So..."

"Let's go home?"

"Yeah."

Leonardo jumped in first. Then, Raphael exhaled deep before jumping down as well following Leo, confused.

The next day, Raphael sat in the sewers, watching his brother's every move and thinking deeply about that night when he was in the apartment.

He wanted to believe that Leonardo was there to spy on him. But he could have sworn he was speaking with someone else before moving and jumping down to the same street accidentally. He was sure about what he saw. Raphael tried not to think about the possibility that Alice had been talking to him ever since.

Raphael sighed in exasperation and slid on the seat, glaring at everything. Then she heard the voices on the television show Mikey was watching.

"How long have you been talking to him?" The actor on screen asked the woman,

The woman dramatically sobbed, "A week now! I'm so sorry, Charles!"

"How could you?"

She's not cheating, is she? Raphael asked himself. She would not. Could she?

Suddenly, Mikey was snickering. He turned around and shouted at Leonardo, "Hey Leo! This girl on the tv--"

Leonardo glanced at the TV once then glanced again, widening his eyes. He realized who it looked like and who Mikey was talking about. Mikey forgot that it was supposed to be their secret. He gulped and stopped Mikey before saying anything.

"Mikey!" He exclaimed.

Raphael didn't get it when he was too focused at himself. Instead, he misunderstood it.

"Sorry! Just reminds me of you."

Leonardo cleared his throat and tried to swerve the conversation. Luckily, Splinter came in and called for Leonardo. When they left, Raphael took the chance to ask Mikey.

"Hey," Raphael lightly kicked Mikey who was sitting on the ground, "What were you talking about earlier with Leo and the girl and all?"

"Nothing," Mikey said.

"Come on, Mikey. You almost spat it out."

"I'm just teasing Leo with the girl on TV."

"Why?" Raphael sat up, "Is he...into girls?"

Mikey laughed, "Just one."

"Mikey!"

Leonardo appeared across the room and he looked not amused. "Master needs you."

Mikey clambered standing up and nodded, "Sorry." Then, he left.

Leonardo glanced at Raphael who was glaring right at him.

At that moment, Raphael was filled with rage as he misunderstood the situation. Believing that Leonardo must have been talking to Alice, he felt rage and jealousy overcome him. He knew that he would not turn up at Alice's apartment that night with doubt in his heart. He decided to stay home.

---

A day passed and Alice thought Raphael's absence was just a coincidence. Until he stopped dropping by for three nights straight. She began to think that he was in trouble. Alice grew worried. But then again, she knew that he would find the time.

What she did not know was that Raphael sat by the other building next to hers, watching her from afar, and observing if Leonardo would come by.

He was still wrapped up at the thought that she must have been seeing him. And if he didn't see Leonardo appear on the fourth night, he would come back and tell her and confront her and maybe say he's sorry for doubting her.

Alice went back inside her room and Raph lost vision of her.

She went inside and answered her ringing phone. Alice picked up and realized it was Angela. She said she was going on a vacation and was letting her know now in case she couldn't contact her.

"Why are you leaving for a vacation all of a sudden?"

Angela didn't reply.

"Still about that guy?"

Angela sighed and agreed. The sisters said their goodbyes and she hung up on the phone.

Raphael kept himself hidden in the shadows until he saw Leonardo from afar. Sneaking and leaping from one building to another. He knew he was headed her way.

Raphael became livid. He clenched the soda can in his hand before jumping straight to Alice's apartment and surprising her inside. He's had enough.

Alice closed her room door and the lights in her room thinking that Raphael would not come by anymore. When she walked to the balcony to close the door, Raphael appeared, startling her.

"Raph?!" She exclaimed,

Raphael slid the door to a close quickly and drew the curtain. He was furious and Alice noticed this. She was confused, "Raph?"

"Have you been talking to Leo?"

"To who?!"

"Don't play dumb."

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw him. He's on his way here right now."

"Who?"

Raphael groaned, "Leo! My brother's headed here! Have you been communicating with him? Did you tell him that's why he followed me here before?"

Alice gaped and shook her head at Raphael. She was angry now, too. She felt offended that he accused her of lying to him. She scoffed, "You think I'm that kind of person?" She gazed into his eyes and felt them well up with tears.

Raphael stared into her and it hit him--no. How could he? She would never.

But he was confused. 

"You think I'd do that to you?" Her voice broke. She had never been in such an intense situation. Never been confronted like that--never--not even with a person she cared for. And at that moment, Raphael knew he messed up by losing his temper again.