Alone (a TMNT Story)

Chapter 8:

Chapter 8        

I avoided looking at Leo's eyes. I stood up and walked out without a word or even a gesture. Leo ran after me. 

"Raph, wait! I didn't mean to- Raph!"

I sighed and closed my eyes tight.

"Raph. Just come back. Please."

I stopped walking. I glanced at Leo then at the floor. Leo put his hand on my shoulder. 

"You don't have to say anything else about your past. How about we go see Sensei instead..?" Leo suggested trying to lighten the mood. My head perked up. "Really? Shouldn't we not disturb him...?"  Leo smiles slightly. "Usually, yeah we shouldn't...but this is different." 

Leo grabbed my arm and yanked me towards the dojo. My heart started racing. 

I'm gonna finally be able to see Sensei again.

Leo slid open the dojo door but he didn't walk in, he motioned for me to go as he stayed behind. I slowly walk in and looked around, Leo closed the door behind me quietly. I jumped at the sound of it closing and turned around, even though it was quieter than a mouse sneaking around the house.

"My son, you have returned and are now safe from harm. And yet you are still very tense with fear and caution."

My eyes widen. I turned back around and saw Sensei sitting in the middle of the floor, his back facing me. My stomach sank. He didn't sound surprised. Or even excited!

I felt anger boil inside me. I clenched my hands into fists, my teeth grinding in frustration, my eyes glaring at the back of his head hard. His son returns after 10 years and yet he does not even care!?

"Are you mad in anger or sorrow?"

My eyes widen slightly, my teeth slowly stop grinding, my fists unclench. I then noticed the tears streaming down my cheeks like a river streaming downhill. I touched my cheek lightly, and look at the salty droplet on my finger.

"My son there is no need to feel sad or even mad. No need to feel frightened or unsafe. No need to feel rejected or excluded."

"For your tears are mine."

I looked up at him, Sensei had stood up and is now facing me. He smiles warmly, tears are streaming down his face. 

"Welcome home, Raphael."

                                                                        ***

Hours later I had fallen asleep on the couch. When Sensei walked out with me he declared that we should all party in celebration of my return. 

I slept almost slept soundly that night. 

My eyes snapped open when I heard the footsteps of someone enter the lair.

And they were definitely not the footsteps of my brothers or Sensei. 

I jumped up and looked around. "Who's there!?!?!?"

"Whoa there, I was just bringing pizza and- ....Who are you?"

A ginger girl with a pizza box was standing at the entrance of the lair, looking at me curiously. I growled. "Never mind who I am, who are you and what are you doing here!?" She scowled. "My name is April O'neil and I lived here once. The turtles and Sensei are my friends. Why are you here and who are you!?"

I glared at her and ignored her question. "Friends!? You're human and you're friends with them!?" The girl who called herself April nodded. "Uh...yeah! What's wrong with that!?" I glared at her, my hands shaking with anger. How could she just waltz in here like nobody's business!?

I didn't understand. Humans are terrified of us. I know that all too well. And yet this April just acted like I was a normal human with a normal life. Humans are supposed to be afraid of mutants, or be trying to use them for weapons or experiments.

And then I came to one conclusion.

She's a spy.

I started walking towards her, glaring hard at this "April O'neil". Seeing my glare she jumped and started backing up. "Uh...guys!? Leo!? Mikey!?!? DONNIE!?!?" And then as if one que Donnie bursted into the room and jumped in front of April. He looked at April and smirked. "Don't worry Donnieboo- I mean- Donatello is here!" 

Donnieboo!? Oh God don't tell me... "Donnie you have a cr-" Donnie quickly covered my mouth before I could finish my sentence, "shush!" Donnie hissed in my ear. "We'll talk about this later." Donnie whispered to me, his face bright red. I scowled. "Whatever."

April looked over Donnie's shoulder to look at me. "Donnie who is this?" Donnie turned and looked at April. "Oh, uh him? He's my long lost brother! He went missing about~"

I sighed and left the room, I walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. I closed my eyes, trying to remember a memory, any memory, of the time before I was captured and with my family to get my mind off of the girl April.

But I couldn't remember anything.

And that was when the earthquake hit.