Raphael stood at the top of few steps, staring huge front door in front of his eye. He had been near by looking for a job, finally hearing from someone that there was big mansion near by. They had been sure he would get, at least some, job there.

Big green fist knocked the wooden door few times, and then he just waited. He was nervous. He hadn’t been looking for a job before, but he knew he needed one if he wanted to survive. Raphael had asked jobs from humans, but literally all of them had shooed him away, saying he would scare their customers away. It had hurt big turtle’s feelings. He was big, scarred and scary with one eye so he understood how he must had appeared in humans’ eyes, but it didn’t mean he was bad. He was actually big softy inside. Someone who loved to help others, protect them.

Trail of his thought hit the wall when hinges creaked, old and almost bald man stepping outside.

“Yes? How may I help you?”

While eyeing the man, who was wearing regular butler’s outfit, Raphael bowed slightly to show respect before speaking. “Name’s Raphael. I’m sorry if I’m bothering you, but I’m looking for a job. People in town said I should come here and ask.”

This butler eyed Raphael rather calmly which was both relieving and nerve-cracking to Raphael. Normally people, at least, gasped or jumped a bit when they saw him. Perhaps this man had seen a lot in his long life so he didn’t got surprised all that easily.

“I must say I cannot promise you any job. But let me go get my master. He is the one who does these decisions.”

“Of course.” Raphael bowed again as this old man withdrew back inside of the mansion. Taking deep inhale Raphael released long and loud exhale. Damn, he hated waiting – and staying still. He wasn’t all that good at it when he was nervous, so he went down those few stairs, starting to walk slowly on small area. Of course the yard was huge and he had more than enough space to walk all around further, but it would had been disrespectful. And Raphael wasn’t anything like that.

The sound from those hinges alarmed big turtle and he spun around on his heels, few meters away from the stairs. Butler stepped outside, holding the door open. Hearing steps Raphael kept his eye straight on the open doorway, getting surprised when he saw older male turtle coming into the light. He had lighter skin than he had, but he wore some scars, just like he did. So this turtle too had seen more or less rougher life… His upper body was bear, but he wore black samurai harem pants which had blue dragons on the sides. He also was wearing tabi shoes with white socks. Very Japanese like sight.

As Raphael slightly bowed to this old turtle, butler spoke.

“Your visitor is here waiting for you, sir.”

“Thank you, Alfred. I will handle this from here.”

As Raphael stood still, watching this other mutant approach him, he got weird feeling from him. Something about this turtle wasn’t right. It was the way how he was looking at him. Not wanting to be rude and stare, Raphael moved his eye away from those light blue ones. This other turtle, which was a bit shorter than Raphael himself, stopped just outside of Raphael’s personal space.

“Alfred told me you are here looking for a job. Correct?”

“Yeah, that’s the truth. I admit I ain’t young kid anymore, but I still have muscles and strength. Therefor I would be happy to get any job, if you only will give this old guy a chance.”

“May I have your hand, please?”

Surprised by this sudden request Raphael lifted his hand, other turtle taking a hold of it with his hands. His fingers traveled on Raphael’s palm, but his eyes kept staring straight. Why…? Why would he…? Oh! Shit. Before Raphael could say a thing, smaller turtle smiled warmly.

“You have strong and big hands. I like that. They are a good sign. Do you mind if I keep ‘seeing’ you more?”

“Sure, go ahead.” As slightly wrinkled hands started to travel up towards Raphael’s biceps and shoulders, other turtle chuckled.

“You have some muscles too, I see. You’ve been working hard in your life?”

“Not really working as a job stuff. Mainly just been body building and training. Can’t have muscles and strength without any stamina.”

Another chuckle. “You give good answers. Hmm… You have quite wide shoulders.”

“Is that an issue?”

“Oh no, absolutely not.” His fingers started to move over Raphael’s shoulders on the backside, but they hit something hard, which stopped other turtle. He seemed surprised. After a little study his face looked even more surprised – and Raph couldn’t help himself.

“Why so shocked? You have a shell too.”

“I’m… I’m so sorry. It just… Another turtle.” There was held back joy in his voice.

“So does that give me some extra points of getting a job?”

“Maybe.” He sounded playful and like he had a sense of humor. Raphael liked that. He always had liked people with sense of humor. It made things a lot easier. Those hands were now rising up on both sides of Raphael’s wrinkled neck, meeting up with his chin and jawline. This other turtle was slow and careful with his moves.

Resting his hands on massive cheeks, smaller male smiled slightly in awe. “You have so big face. And wrinkles.”

Raphael smiled widely, edges of his mouth touching other male’s fingers. “I said I ain’t a kid anymore.” Still smiling Raphael made sure his smile would remain on his face since those studying hands were now touching his lips.

“So beautiful smile.” It was a compliment which spread Raphael’s smile at its max.

“Thanks, I guess. Not many has complimented it.”

“That is a shame.” And those hands moved up, slowly. Thumb gently touched the area where his left eye should be – and the hand instantly stopped. It was obvious this other turtle felt something, but didn’t dare to investigate further.

“There’s no eye.”

Right after hearing this other male pulled his hands away, looking sorry. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to pry or go touch on too personal spot.”

Waving his hand in the air Raphael told other turtle not to worry about it. Not daring to lay his hands on Raphael again, smaller male took a step away, leaving Raphael alone in his personal space.

“Well, you sure are in a good shape for working, I admit.”

Raphael watched in silence as other turtle turned around slowly, starting to walk towards the open door where Alfred was waiting.

“You are hired.” He said stopping, turning his head slightly so that Raphael could see his side profile. There was a small smile on his face. “I have no idea what job I will give you yet, but I will figure something out.” Next time he stopped right next to his butler. “Alfred? I trust him in your care for now. Give him a room, clothes, food, show him around and explain house rules.”

Alfred bowed slightly; “As you wish, young master.” To this he was replied with a nod before other turtle vanished inside the huge building.

Slowly approaching old human, Raphael stared after the other turtle speaking silently. “I uh… Noticed that he -”

“Young master is blind, yes. But do not let it disturb you. He is more than those blind eyes.”

“I’m not disturbed, but just… sad.”

Alfred knew how Raphael was feeling. He’d had those feelings too when he had met this blind turtle in the past. “Shake those sad thoughts out of your mind. I will show you around and give you whatever you need. I also will explain house rules to you. Also, you may call master either as such, young master or Leonardo. Or master Leonardo.”

Leonardo. Raphael liked how that name sounded in his ears and tasted in his mouth. But without any further words he silently followed Alfred who did what was told him.

**

“I look stupid!”

“Now now, mister Raphael. Language.”

“Oh, duh! But seriously, look at me! There ain’t no way I’m gonna wear this!”

“It was master’s order.”

Biting his tongue Raphael managed not to blurt out where master could put that order of his. Taking few breaths he calmed himself down, even a bit, before speaking again. “Okay. I can wear these pants if I REALLY have to, but the shirt and vest…. No. It’s all too fancy and I don’t like fancy or fashion.”

Alfred sighed behind him. It started to sound like poor old man was having enough of big old turtle already, despite the fact he had been there few hours only. “You need to ask that from master Leonardo if you wish to change your clothes. I don’t make rules here. I just follow them.”

“Why he wants me to wear pants anyway?”

“Perhaps he doesn’t like you running around here butt naked.”

“He can’t even see my ass.”

“Language.”

“Uuggh.”

**

Later Raphael had met his so called master, explaining his issue with the clothes. Leonardo had understood the point from other turtle, accepting him wearing only pants. He was free to choose what kind of pants he would wear too. Despite the fact Leonardo had not touched Raphael below chest, he was sure this turtle had massive muscles on his legs too.

“So what’s my job here?”

“I don’t know.” After a short silent moment Leonardo spoke again. “What are you good at?”

“I don’t know. This is my first job.”

“Then what have you done in your life before?”

Silence. It was small red flag swinging in Leo’s mind. “Your silence speaks a lot. I hope you haven’t done anything criminal since then we would have an issue here.”

Another turtle remained silent which only confirmed that Leo had hit the spot. “Raphael, be honest with me. What have you done? Because right now I really hope you haven’t kill anyone.”

“….”

“Tell me.”

Raphael was breathing faster, obviously being uncomfortable and stressed. But eventually he spoke. “I fought in my younger days to earn money. To feed myself. To keep myself alive. I never haven’t go and hurt someone just for fun. Always to earn money and self-defense.”

“And the killing? Because I assume you have done something like that based on your silence.”

“… Tried to save someone, but… Jacket’s sleeve ripped and he fell down from the roof to his death.”

“You knew him?”

Loud and sudden inhale between trembling lips surprised Leonardo since he hadn’t expected such reaction. The way how bigger turtle near him was breathing via his moist nostrils told him that Raphael was crying, or at least trying his best to hold his tears back.

“I’m sorry. I will not ask further.”

It was amazingly painful to listen Raphael sniffing near him, listening the pain in those sounds what he made. But Raphael spoke between small sniffs. “He was hurt badly when I got there. His attackers were still there. I… I told him to get up and leave without realizing he had lost too much blood already. He faltered forward, way too close to the edge of the roof, and fell over it. I was near him during fighting so I went to his aid… But I didn’t get a good hold. Only from the sleeve. He looked at me, smiled and passed out, loosing his hold on the brick. That’s when the sleeve gave in. It didn’t carry his weight…” 

Raphael’s fists were shaking as he sniffed and sobbed louder, snarling at himself, displaying his teeth. “He was my best friend…”

Leonardo froze in the middle of taking a sip from his water glass. “How… old you were when this happened?”

“Doesn’t matter. That shouldn’t happen to anyone in any age.”

Landing glass back on small round table next to him Leonardo held his head down, eyes closed. “I am truly sorry for your friend. I hope you can forgive me for asking such things which brought such painful memory up. That was not my intention.”

“Don’t sweat it.” Raphael mumbled softly between small sniffs.