Chapter 10-
\tThe food tasted like dirt in his mouth; the drink like ash.
\tRaph sighed once he forced half of his plate of food down his throat. Enough to satisfy his hunger and to chase away the black spots from his vision every time he attempted to make a too quick a move. He stood up, the chair squeaking against the brick floors. He scooped up his plate and dumped the rest of the scrambled eggs and half eaten bacon in the garbage before disposing of the dish into the sink. He couldn’t even enjoy the pleasures of food. His heart was too heavy to even think about the small pleasantries of their everyday life. How sad was that? His life so useless to him without Leo. As if Leo was the pinnacle of his entire existence. How could one person have so much control over somebody? How did the person he had once thought of as a good lay a few years ago become the center of his being? It jumbled his mind. Yes, he missed Leo horribly, and not because he was a good lay. Well . . . just. But how could he seem so lost and broken without him? Like a machine without its battery. Worthless. He didn’t like it. Hated it.
\tThe family of four hadn’t spoken a word throughout breakfast. Thick silence lingering in the room like a dense fog. No one had anything to say. No one had wanted to say anything. Don had no updates, sadly. Mikey, who usually was the most talkative one, appeared to want to blend in to the walls. Splinter had remained silent as well. Didn’t ask how anyone was doing. Didn’t give any orders. He didn’t even bring up the incident in the dojo. He had dismissed it on their way out. Waving away Raph’s apology and instructing him to go wash and treat his split, bloody, knuckles. Even now, Splinter didn’t glimpse at him. A sign he knew meant he was still disappointed in him. Terrific. It wasn’t just him that was having depression issues. Even a library was louder than them.
\tSuddenly, as if someone had banged a gong in the middle of a desolated field, the clang of the turnstiles echoed across the walls of the lair. Jerking everyone’s head up in attention.
\t“Yo! We’re here!” The familiar gruff male voice that could only belong from the lungs of Casey Jones, hacked through the fog.
\t“Are you guys here?” A feminine voice accompanied Casey’s obnoxious bellow. April. The doofuses wife. That’s right, the two had gotten married sometime during their trip to the stars on a little homey, beautiful alien planet, after the commotion died down some. Casey, incapable of not proposing to her after he had nearly lost her and April, incapable of refusing despite he had popped the question to her in the middle of the space ship when Triceratons had ambushed them.
\tAfter they had restored earth, they had the wedding yet again for Master Splinter’s pleasure. Raph wasn’t sure if they had another wedding with their human families or not, he didn’t bother asking. They weren’t allowed to attend anyway. Not that he would have wanted to after the first two.
\t“Uncle Waph? Uncle Donnie? Uncle Mikey? Uncle Leo? Grandpa Splinter?” A child’s voice started shouting. Listing off each of her family’s names. Ah, looks like they brought the little package along to. Despite himself, Raphael couldn’t stop the smile at the sound of Evangeline Jones’s voice. Yes, they had a kid right after they returned as well. They did not waist another precious moment.
\tEverybody but Raph stood up. Only because he was already standing up. All eyes round and exchanging the same question. April and Casey still didn’t know about Leo.
\t“Do not tell them anything.” Splinter ordered. Reading their faces.
\t“No disrespect or anything Sensei, but they’re not stupid. How are we going to hide Leo’s disappearance from them?” Don whispered.
\tSplinter stroked his goatee. The look of stress shadowing his ebony eyes.
\t“Well, we can’t possibly tell April! She’ll freak!” Mikey muttered. “Not to mention Evangeline. She doesn’t need to be brought into this.”
\t“Guys?” April.
\t“Just don’t mention it. If they ask about Leo, tell them he went out.” Raph commanded. Pushing his brothers out of the kitchen before April had the chance to wander into there. Dang psychic probably already knew they were there.
\t“There you guys are! I thought you left for some reason!” April’s silver-blue eyes widened joyously at the sight of them. Pink, bee-stung, lips curved into a pearly white smile. Waves of ginger curls rained down her creamy shoulders. Cutting off just below her collar bone. She had stopped with the constant pony tails during her pregnancy. Claiming that they gave her a headache. Now he only saw her wearing them when she trained with them on occasions or at her gym glasses. Raph felt a quirk to his lips as he recalled the hurt on Leo’s face when April announced she wanted a professional physical therapist to help her out ridding the baby fat she gained. Leo still hasn’t forgiven her for the betrayal.
\tShe wore an overly large yellow sunshine sweater that had become her new style to hide her “bag of bagels” figure. At least that’s what she claimed. Along with skinny blue jeans and flip flops.
\tMikey moved away from Raph and towards their niece, who happily met him half way there. Her arms outstretched and her auburn pig tails flying behind her. Her blue and white floral sundress fluttering around her knees as she ran. She crashed into Mikey’s chest, hugging him tightly, scooping her off the ground as if she weighed nothing more than a feather.
\tApril walked up to Splinter, giving him a quick hug. Casey strolled over to his side. Raph eyed him. Something seemed off about him. His hair . . . was he trying to grow his hair out again? He wanted to laugh as he remembered how the once teenaged boy now fully legal adult announced he was wanting to grow out his hair. He had gotten as far as shoulder length before April had chopped his hair off in the middle of the night. He had been pissed but she claimed she didn’t want her husband’s hair longer than hers. He knew the man would have tried to grow longer if she let him. After the incident. Casey being stuck with a scraggly uneven cut for about three months. He had then decided to dye it blue. Whether it was out of spite or Casey’s new style, he didn’t know. Surprisingly though, April had put up with it.
\tThe human patted one of his shoulders a bit roughly, a big dorky grin stretching his face. His cinnamon brown eyes twinkling brightly. A look Raph had often made fun of, of the sappy family guy. Now he felt envious of him.
\t“What are you guy’s doing here?”
\tCasey raised a blue eyebrow at him. His smile unwavering. “What? You don’t want us here?”
Yes. “No.”
“No as in, no you don’t want us here? Or no as in, no, I want you to stay?”
“No . . . Wait, yes. No. I mean, no, of course I want you here.” Raph clarified. Huffing as Casey laughed. Slapping the shoulder he held.
“It’s just, normally this is the time you go to work, isn’t it?”
“It’s a holiday Raph.”
“Really?” A frown formed in between his eyes. Quickly thinking of all the holiday’s that took place this time of year that he could have forgotten.
“Labor Day.”
“Ah.” He muttered. Swallowing down anything snarky and sarcastic he had to say about that.
“Uncle Waph!” The high-pitched squeal took his mind off his pugnacious thoughts and enclosed around the mini dark haired, dark eyed version of April. Albeit, she did have a little more of her father in the eye shape and she did manage to steal his stubborn chin. The cute little nose and the round jawline she had gotten from April. Thank the high heavens!
He smiled. Dismissing the memories of Leo who used to mispronounce his name in the same fashion when they were toddlers. He lifted the fragile girl up into his arms and planted a kiss to her silky pink cheek. She giggled, rubbing it with the back of her hand. “Haven’t seen you in a while, Angie.”
“For the last time Raph. Her nickname is Evie.” April protested. Whapping him on the arm.
“I like Angie better.” Raph chuckled. Recalling when he first started the debate. The girl squirming energetically in his hold. A tiny amount of joy warming his dark, cold, heart.
April shook her head. The red strands swinging across her shoulders. “You keep confusing her. She wants to be called that, but I refuse to call my daughter Angie.”
“I refuse to call her Evie then.” Raph countered.
“Raph, you can call her whatever you want when she’s older, but she’s going by Evie till she’s familiar with it.” Casey replied when April pinched his arm to say something on her part.
“Angie, what nickname do you prefer? Evie? Or Angie?”
“Angie!” She hollered. Arms flapping.
April huffed, walking over to reclaim her daughter. “You did something to make her like that name when I left her to you guys to babysit.” She accused. Sending each of the brothers a pointed glare.
“Have no idea what you’re talking about.” Raph smiled innocently. Casey snickered.
April fixed her glare on her husband next. Already knowing he was in on it.
“Uncle Leo?” Angie asked, looking around. Pausing their conversation. Raph stiffened.
“Yeah, where is Leo?” April was the next to ask; curious.
“He’s out.” Mikey quickly answered.
“Out? For what? It’s the middle of the day and he’s alone?” She looked over at Master Splinter for clarity. Knowing him, he wouldn’t have allowed his son to go out in daytime unless necessary, and certainly being accompanied by someone.
“Uh, he went out to get somethin for Mikey. We’re out of grocery’s.” Raph explained. Biting on his lower lip.
“Yeah, for lunch! Can’t make pizza without cheese!” Mikey grinned a false grin. April narrowed her eyes on the two brothers. One eyebrow raised. Her bee-stung lips tightening.
“And you’re okay with that?” She zeroed her eyes on Raph. Roaming over his stiff body.
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be? He’s a grown turtle. He can get groceries without me breathin over his shoulder.”
“I’ve just been aware of you being very over protective of him ever since we returned. So, pardon if I figured wherever he goes, you go.” April answered with a shrug of her slender shoulders.
Raph could only wish that was the case.
Splinter immediately started up another conversation completely away from the topic of Leo. Bombarding April with questions to drag her razor sharp, psychic, attention off Raph, for now.
“Uncle Mikey play?” Angie wiggled out from in between April’s arms and rushed over to Mikey once again. Her big brown eyes even more tempting than Mikey’s puppy act.
“Oh, right! Mikey, we got another video game for your console. This one actually being Angi-- I-I mean, Evie appropriate.”
“Uh-huh.” Raph smirked.
April threw him a scowl over her shoulder. One hand digging through her bag and handing Mikey a colorful go-kart video game.
“No explosions and weapons? Ah man!”
April tsked as she watched Mikey escort Evangeline to the television. Resuming her conversation with Splinter and Don.
“Hey!” Raph objected loudly as he felt his arm being groped and yanked near out of his socket. Dragging him away from the rest of the family. He tried twisting around so he could be upright but the stupid hold Casey had on him prevented him from doing so. He growled threateningly at the human as he struggled not to trip. Wondering where he was dragging him to and why.
He took in his surroundings when the pulling ceased . . . Japanese paper walls. The dojo! His eyes widened as he forcefully tugged his arm out from Casey’s grasp. Righted himself, but by that time Casey was already frozen where he stood. His cinnamon eyes locked on a tied-up Ax.
“Leo?”
Ax’s gaze lifted to Casey. A glare so heated with hatred it should have singed his eyebrows off his head. He growled so low and animalistic, it could have given a lion a run for its money.
“That’s not Leo.” Raph answered the question that waited on Casey’s lips.
“What do you mean that’s not Leo? That looks exactly like Leo except tied up and bruised to the point I think his skin color is purple instead of green!” Casey bellowed. His hands flailing wildly at Ax.
Raph grimaced, hurrying over to shut the door in hopes April hadn’t heard anything.
“Why are you closing the door? What’s going on Raph? How is that not Leo? Why is he tied?” Casey shouted question after question at him.
“Will you shut up?” Raph snapped. Casey pressed his lips together but he didn’t look any calmer. Ax transferred his glare to Raph.
“Let me go you pile of dog shit!” Ax snarled at him. Casey’s head jerked to Ax. A look of bewilderment stretching his features.
“Insulting me is only going to earn you more bruises.” Raph threatened. Tightening his fists at the ready, just in case. Wisely, Ax didn’t say anything more, but his glare never wavered its penetrating stare. Casey’s head jerked back to him. Mouth gaping open.
“If this is results of a fight between you two, this is taking it a bit too far. Don’t you think Raph?”
Raph rolled his eyes. “I told you. This isn’t Leo.”
Casey opened his mouth, no doubt to holler another denial. Raph raised his hand. Silencing him. He sighed heavily, already knowing he had no other choice but to tell him the truth. He pinched the bridge of his nose, doing nothing to ease the headache that returned from this morning.
“This is a spy. His name is Ax’ honatain. He’s been impersonating Leo for the past two months. Not, counting the week and a half I already knew.”
Casey stared in disbelief. “If he’s a spy . . . who’s he working for?”
Raph swallowed thickly. “ . . . Nak’ir Horgav.”
Astonishment made Casey’s eyes bug to the point Raph feared they were going to pop out of his head. “Nak’ir? Our Nak’ir? The one that tortured you and Don and rap . . . uh, abused April.” Casey stuttered, unable to utter that disgusting word. Especially to the likes of April.
Raph nodded. Pity wearing his expression.
“He’s back?”
“He’s here. In New York.”
Casey’s eyes bugged again. “What? How? I thought we got rid of him!”
“Apparently not. He kidnapped Leo and sent nosey here to nab information about us.”
“No. Leo . . . Damn, I’m so sorry Raph.”
Raph shook his head. “We’re getting him back.”
“How are you doing? I mean--”
“I’m fine . . . ish. Don and Mikey are more shaken up than me.” At least that’s what Raph told himself to believe. The concern in his friend’s tone soothed him enough, his voice no longer trembled.
“Do you guys have anything?”
“We went to Nak’ir’s hide out and found receipts to what he’s building. It’s only a matter of time before Don figures out what.”
“April’s going to freak! . . . She’s going to . . . to . . .”
“She’s going to; nothing. Cause you’re not going to tell her anything.” Raph ordered.
“I can’t keep secrets from April! She will found out!”
“Do it anyway! April had been through enough as it is. We’re lucky she’s smilin’ now! I want to keep it that way. Not to mention keepin’ Angie safe.”
“Angie . . .”
“You want yer daughter safe you will keep yer mouth shut. Even if April holds a knife to yer throat. Understand?” Raph barked. Jabbing a finger into Casey’s chest. The human nodded.
“Promise.”
“Good. Now let’s go before she starts looking for us.” Raph glanced momentarily at Ax whose attention switched to the ground. One of his legs swinging back and forth. He shoved Casey out of the dojo. Shutting the door swiftly behind him. Not showing a crack of anything hidden.
“There you two are.” April grinned that bright grin as she looked at them from the couch. She hopped up, skipping over to Casey where she took one of his large hands into her own. “You two okay? I thought I heard some yelling.”
“We’re fine. We were just catching up.” Raph forced a smile on his face.
“Casey? Are you sure you’re okay? Honey?” She took Casey’s face in her hands. Staring at him in concern.
“I . . .” He gazed back feebly. Raph elbowed his side. Hard. He yanked his lips up into a smile. A still weary smile but a smile nonetheless. “Yeah love. I’m fine.” He nodded. Leaning in to place a kiss on April’s nose. He enveloped his arms around her waist. Pulling her slender frame up against him. Holding her there tightly and sighing at the warmth of her body and marveling at how well she fit against him. Like a puzzle piece. He inhaled her scent of lavender. Her soft hair tickling his cheek. He loved this woman. He loved every bit of her. Inside and out. He never wanted to let her go. Would not let her fall into the grips of that psychopath. He would die before he would let that happen again. He vowed it on his life.
“Um, okay. Great.”
“Have I told you I love you today?” He mumbled in her creamy smooth freckled shoulder.
“Yes, you did Casey. Three times today as a matter of fact . . . You can let me go now Casey.” April tried to wiggle her way free but she found she was only squished harder against the man’s chest.
“No . . . Never.”
“Let her go Casey.” Raph rumbled beside him.
Casey frowned at the interruption, but reluctantly parted from his wife. Albeit, still clutching her hips.
“You’re acting really weird Casey.”
He smiled lovingly at her. “Let’s go watch our daughter pummel Mikey’s ass in the game.” He clenched her small hand and dragged her back to the living room.
“Watch your language mister.” She snapped from behind. He laughed joyously.
“Real subtle, bonehead.” Raph whispered from his other side.
“Oh shush. You would do the same if you could.”
Raph paused. Allowing the couple to pass him. He crossed his arms over his armored chest. Staring down at his feet. Yeah . . . yeah, he would. He would take Leo in his arms and never let go if he could. He would feel every inch of him. Love every inch of him. Kiss and touch him and drive his turtle into a frenzy. He would make sure Leo knew how much he cared for him. How much he missed him. How much he worried him and drove him crazy. Punish him for it. Then love him all over again. Repeatedly. Till Leo got it through his thick skull, how much he adored him.
His hands twitched, aching to touch him again. To sate his craving. Crazy, how much power he had over him. He loved it.
“Yo, Raph! Come on! Come here and cheer for me! Only Don is on my side!” Mikey’s voice interjected his lustful thoughts.
“I told you Mikey. I’m not choosing between you and my niece.”
\t“Everyone will always choose the cute one! Come on Don, I need some support.”
\tAngie grinned wide. Giggling like a thousand Christmas bells. Raph smiled bittersweetly. Walking up to his family and taking his seat among them.
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