"The bananas are starting to brown, boys. Let's make haste to eat them while they are fresh... Yes?" Splinter's smile was soft and kind. Raphael smiled back, turning his face to Leo with the same tender smile he gleamed at the old rat with. Leo felt his face go hot. The three walked to the table and sat to enjoy their fruit.

They exchanged little conversation. Simple topics, mundane stuff. But they were all smiling. Raph told of when him and Donnie where kids, they were playing video games and their beloved mother decided she wanted to take part in one of them. Donnie beat her merciless, Raph made so much fun of her that she got so annoyed, she playfully got up and threw a clumsy mom-kick at him... She instead hit the corner of the wall and broke her pinky toe. He laughed so much, Leo and Splinter couldn't help but laugh as well. Matter of fact, Leo laughed a lot.

"Sounds like you guys had a cool mom..." Leo said.

Raphael's eyes dimmed a little. "She was our everything."

"Thus I am certain you boys were her world as well..." Splinter touched his paw to Raph's hand. "And I am also certain that no matter where she is, her soul remains with her beloved sons."

Raph smiled at Splinter. He felt himself get choked up a little, so he cleared his throat to push down the feeling. "Thank you, sir..." Leo just kept observing the exchange in silence. He was mesmerized by the purity he was witnessing in Raphael's heart. When Splinter got up to clear the table, both turtles rushed to help, bumping hands when they went to grab the old man's bowl. They both pulled away at the same time, blushing. Leo was who immediately took his father's bowl and rushed to the kitchen. Raph let out a low groan.

Splinter witnessed the scene, a smile curving his face. "Well, my young turtles... I'm afraid this old man has had enough excitement for one day. I must retire for my afternoon rest. Raphael, please do visit me often from now on. It is nice to have my home filled with life once more."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, sir. Thank you for having me." Raphael leaned to grab Splinter's hand; Splinter pulled him into a hug, petting his head with his paw. Raph felt an electrical current run through him and settle in his chest. The closeness got him emotional, yet he wasn't ready to show any more than he already had. He needed to get out of there now. "I-I.... Sh-shut! Look at the time! I really need to get going... Thank you, again... Ok." The large turtle clumsily made his way to the door.

"Raphael, you do not need to leave." Splinter told him, sensing the young man was battling complex inner turmoils.

"I'm sorry... I do. Thank you." He bowed lightly as he opened the door, running out in his socks.

Leo looked at the shoes still put away in the wall cubby, he turned to his father, letting out a sigh. "I got him..." Leonardo slipped his own shoes on, grabbed Raphael's, and ran out the door.

As soon as he stepped outside, Raph felt the cold asphalt under his feet. He felt like an idiot. His hand was shaking as he slapped it on his face.

"Hey..." Raph's head turned to find Leo standing behind him, his sneakers in his hand.

Raph took the shoes shyly, a light blush burning his cheeks. "Thanks."

Leo chuckled. "Donnie is right... You really are a softy under all that muscle."

"Oh, he said that now, did he? - Oh Shit! Donnie!" Raph immediately pulled his phone from his pocket and turned it on. He dialed for Donnie and absentmindedly started to walk down the street.

'Raphael!' Donnie sounded very agitated. 'What happened? Are you ok?'

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ok. I'm sorry... Nothing happened." Raph felt very guilty to have cause such distraught to his brother.

'Where were you? I've been trying to call you! I looked everywhere and couldn't find you! Do you know how scared I was?' Donatello's voice was stern and scolding. He was after all the older brother.

"I'm sorry, Don... I just... I got upset. He... He called me a fag." Raph gritted the words through tight teeth. The sour encounter re playing in his mind. Donnie went silent.

'I'm sorry, bro... I'm just glad you are ok. Call me when you feel like talking...' Don knew his brother needed space, and he also knew he would be approached when Raph was ready to talk, if he needed to talk.

When Raph hung up, a chill went down his back, realizing that someone was probably still standing behind him. He slowly turned his head, but Leo wasn't there. He was surprised... A little too surprised for his liking. But still, something told him Leo was still around. He did a quick scan of the block with his eyes, spotting a Mr Frosty truck, and a beautifully shaped, forest green terrapin's body leaning to it. Leo smiled at the driver and trotted back to Raph, holding a hot fudge sundae in each hand. Damn, he was handsome.

"Hope you like chocolate." Leonardo handed Raph an ice cream. Raphael's golden irises gleamed at Leo. They walked without exchanging words towards the park as they are their ice creams. Leo kept a slower pace, Raph glanced back every couple of seconds to check he was still there... Or maybe to make sure he was still there. When they entered the park, Leo quickened his step and got next to Raph. "My father always loved Central Park. When I was younger we would come here on Sundays for picnics. His favorite time of year for that is spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom."

Raph stared at Leo, memorizing every word he said, the way he said them... "My mom loved them too, the blossoms." He cleared his throat, hating himself for being so mesmerized by this guy. "Your dad is very nice... Makes me wonder how his son turned out to be such a shithead." There... That was better.

"Shithead? I just bought you a sundae!" Leo turned and argued Raph's accusation head on.

"Buying me an ice cream is tha least ya can do after all tha shit ya put me through." Raph tapped his finger against Leo's plastron.

"Excuse me? And what exactly have I put you through that is so horrible to gain me such insults?" Leo crossed his arms.

"For starters, yer mug makes me want ta punch you." Raph pushed Leonardo towards one of the side paths.

"Why do you have to be so violent? I followed you because you seemed upset, and frankly I know for a fact that you have no money to get back home." Leonardo smirked.

Being that the blue blushed turtle was correct about his present financial situation made Raphael that much angrier. "And how tha fack ya figured that one?"

"Why else would you offer an old man help in exchange for water? Obviously you are in a predicament, so how about you let me help?" Nailed it. Raphael's shoulders slumped a bit. Why did it have to be this guy, out of all people.

"I was upset. I didn't think when I got on the train... I just needed to run..." Raph's last sentence was spoken almost in a whisper.

Leonardo had overheard his conversation with Donnie, and he knew something had triggered Raphael to act rash. Quite honestly, Leo was curious. "Did you get in a fight with Don?" He knew that wasn't the case, but he needed Raph to open on his own.

"Nah... I bumped into someone." Raph walked towards a tree on the side path.

"Didn't take you for someone who could be ticked off so much by bumping into someone." Leonardo followed Raph, keeping a close eye on the hothead's body language.

"Well, goes ta show ya don't know shit about me, don't it?" Raph leaned against the tree trunk, he closed his eyes, a nagging headache was trying to creep up on him.

Leonardo took a deep breath. "You're right, I don't know much about you. But I would like to try and change that..." Raphael felt the heat building up in his face. "How about we play a game? You ask me a question, I'll answer it. Then I ask you, and you answer..."

"Ha! What could I possibly want to ask-" Raphael suddenly remembered his encounter with Michelangelo. Their conversation had left him with questions about the band leader. "I'll ask first." Leonardo smiled and nodded. "What did you do after you left me last night?"

Leonardo's face went blank. "I change my mind. This is a stupid game." He turned to leave, but Raph grabbed him by his arm, making him turn to face him.

"No no. I like this game. We are playing at least one round. So... What did you do after ya left me last night?"

"I went home."

"Wrong! Try again." Raph pushed Leo against the tree trunk.

"I got in a cab, and then went home."

"Wrong again!" Raphael was running out of patience. He held him by his wrists and brought a leg between Leonardo's, putting sudden pressure with his knee near Leo's tail. The shorter turtle hissed at the touch and quickly pushed Raphael away. "So the big mouth was right... Your friends are worried for you, ya know. I honestly don't need ta know who did this to ya, cause if I happen to know the bozo I will end up smashing him to pieces... But just know that I got yer back... For Donnie, ya know, since yer friends and shit..."

Leo's face blushed. He was embarrassed. He would have never thought Raphael knew about his condition. He would have a word with Michelangelo later. "I'm sorry..."

Raphael's eyes widened. "Sorry? For what?"

"I-I..." Leo turned to leave.

Raph stopped him once more. "Wait. Your turn." Leonardo stared at him questioningly. "Ask away."

Leo took a deep breath. "Forget it. It's a stupid game."

"Ok then. Guess ya really don't want to know me that bad." Raph stepped away from Leo allowing him walking space to leave. But the shorter turtle stayed put.

He looked up at Raph. "Why were you so upset about bumping into someone?"

Raph took a deep breath. "I saw my father today." Leo frowned. "We, don't really get along."

Leonardo remembered what Willy had said about Raphael's parents. "Oh..." He could imagine how bad it must be, for Don to have gotten so worked up. "I'm sorry, I actually overheard a bit of your conversation with Donnie... He's that bad, huh?"

"He wasn't always like that... Or at least that's what mother used ta say." Raph slid down the tree trunk and sat by the roots. "Apparently he didn't want children... He wanted mom to abort Donnie so bad he actually became viol-... Yeah, he's a dick." Raph shocked on his words. He brought his hand up to cup his chin.

Leo let out a breath and sat across from him. "I'm very sorry... I don't mean to pry, but why didn't your mother leave him then? Why have a second child if things were so bad?"

Raphael looked at Leo without turning his head. "Thought it was my turn ta ask."

Leo blinked hard. Damn this guy. He couldn't leave now, he was very curious to knew why Raph's mother had put up with the abuse... "Ok... Ask away then."

"Why did you let him hurt you?" Raph turned to Leo, his gaze burning through him.

Leo didn't want to talk about it, but he found the question to be a fair one. "He has... Leverage."

"Black mail."

"I have it under control." Leonardo's back stiffened.

Raph nodded quietly, then turned his head towards the sky. "The asshole had money, he threatened my mom to take Donnie away if she tried to leave him... Mom didn't have anyone in the states, she was Japanese... As for me..." Raph closed his eyes, Leo could see he was swallowing hard.

"Raphael?" Leonardo touched the emerald hand with his finger tips, making Raph flinch, but not move away. His unique eyes turned to lock with Leonardo's.

"I'm the product of rape." Leonardo's blood went cold. His mouth opened slightly. He could feel the pain emanating from Raphael's heart. "And, not for nothing, I look very much like the bastard... I don't know how my mom didn't just drown me in the toilet when I was born. I never felt deserving of all the love she poured on me... I-." Raph cleared his throat again. He felt his larynx closing up as he tried to hold back tears of rage. "Ha... Ya must think I'm pretty pathetic now. I don't even knew why I told ya all that shit. Pathetic-."

"Shut up!" Leonardo embraced Raphael in a tight yet trembling hug. "Don't say you're pathetic. Not now, not ever." Raph could feel Leonardo's muscles spasms over his shoulders. It was not a comforting hug. It was a desperate one. It was as if Leonardo saw the same pain he was experiencing in Raphael, it was as if by comforting the younger turtle he was trying to comfort himself. Funny thing was, Raph felt the same. He buried his face in Leonardo's neck, the adrenalin surge brought by the intense moment fogged his mind, allowing him to get lost in the moment.

Raphael brought his hands up; he cupped Leonardo's head and gently turned his face to him. Without hesitation he placed a gentle kiss to the corner of Leo's mouth. "You are beautiful, Leonardo. Value yourself more..." Leo's body turned to mush. He crawled closer to Raphael, curling his body between the larger one's legs. Raph wrapped his arms around his carapace and held him tightly for a few seconds.

"I am dirty," was all he said. He was too busy getting lost in Raphael's embrace. The strong musk emanating from the emerald turtle was intoxicating, as much as he tried he could not grip his thoughts.

"I like dirty..." Raphael whispered in a guttural tone that sent a shiver down Leo's body.