Being back in the mansion, facing everyone, felt awkward to Raphael who sat hands between his legs, waiting Leonardo to speak. However Leonardo waited his maids to sit down first.
“Alright, everyone. This is a family meeting what we must keep. First of all I want to announce my apologies to Raphael.”
Turning to look said turtle Leonardo’s expression softened greatly.
“I’m so sorry for my hasty decision to throw you out. I promise I will not repeat that mistake. I will listen to you and your side of story as well. And then girls...”
Turning to look his maids Leonardo sighed.
“You all, also, own apology to Raphael. We all judged him too quickly.”
All maids bowed their heads towards the bigger turtle, stating their apologies. It was agreed that everyone would try their best to act like the horrible event from before never wouldn’t had happened. When everything seemed to be back in order, more or less, everyone was dismissed.
Raphael sat still and waited to be left alone, but he wasn’t. Margaret sat across him, waiting with soft smile on her old lips. Noticing how Raphael eyed her wrapped wrist she placed her hand on it.
“It’s fine, dear. It will heal.”
“Yeah… I know. But what effects it will leave?”
“Nothing what I couldn’t handle.”
Her laugh was lovely and it eased Raphael’s painful heart, bringing smile on his own lips.
“If there’s anything what I can do for ya -”
“There is, in fact.” She didn’t hesitate to interrupt big turtle while standing up. “Dish won’t prepare itself, dear. I could use your steady hands.”
“Anything ya need, ma’am.”
**
After helping Margaret with preparing the dish, Raphael disappeared. He still felt uneasy around everyone, felt like they all gave him weird looks. Felt he didn’t belong there after all. Sitting on the grass Raphael sighed, rubbing one of his old scars on his right arm. There were times when that scar was itching for a some reason.
Footsteps told scarred turtle someone was approaching him and, soon enough, another turtle sat next to him.
“Are you hurt? I saw you rubbing your arm.”
“It’s fine.”
There was awkward silence between the pair before Leonardo stood up.
“Raphael, I would like you to stand up and come with me. I know this is sudden, but I think it’s important.”
Eyeing the other turtle it wasn’t hidden how suspicious Raphael was. Seeing Margaret far away behind Leonardo, smiling and nodding to him, Raphael stood up.
“Lead the way.”
Raphael followed Leonardo around the house, arriving on front yard. When he saw horse carriage waiting there, he stopped. Cold sweat instantly rose on his face, heart hammering in his throat. He was shaking.
A hand landed on his shoulder, blue eyes looking at him kindly.
“I know this doesn’t look good, but please, trust me.”
Raphael wanted to flee, his instincts slowly waking up, making him snarl. Raphael moved away from the other turtle, staring at him with fury.
“Ya bastard trying ta trick me or something?”
“No. I want to take you ride and have private conversation with you. Like I said I think it’s important and I don’t want to delay it any longer.”
Raphael’s chin was moving from side to side, hands turning into fists. He didn’t know should he get in the carriage or flee. Another hand landed on his shoulder and he came face to face with old smiling woman. It was clear Margaret was now keeping her eyes on the turtle, encouraging him when he needed it.
“Go with the master, Raphael. I promise this is not about anything bad.”
Raphael huffed but he couldn’t say anything against her. After all she knew Leonardo better than he did. And if Raphael trusted anyone in this household, it was her. Turning to look Leonardo Raphael stepped closer, whispering;
“I will come only because she’s asking me ta.”
With that Raphael marched towards the carriage climbing in, taking a seat.
Leonardo watched old woman with a smile, whispering his thanks to her. She only smiled and nodded, watching how the carriage took off after Leonardo was in too.
Atmosphere in the carriage was more or less awkward and unnerving before Leonardo spoke. They had come far enough from the mansion.
“Look, Raphael. I wanted to get you out here to talk with you. I’m sorry what happened earlier and I want you to know you’ve my word that nothing like that won’t happen again.”
“Yeah yeah, ya said about that already. Ya can stop being a broken record.”
Leonardo sat silently a while, just looking at the other turtle. It seemed pointless to talk to him, but Leo still went on.
“I still wanted to tell you that. To make sure you believe me.” Looking through the window Leonardo smiled softly, eyeing the middle class area. “And I also wanted to show you this. Look.”
Raphael looked through his own window, eyeing the beautiful middle class area.
“After your rehab this is the area where you will be living. I wanted to show this to you, hoping it encourages you to stay with us and let us help you once again.”
Looking at the other turtle who seemed to be lost in his thoughts, Leonardo smiled.
“Would you like to go outside?”
Confused and slightly big eyes turned to look at blue orbs, but green eyes lowered down on Leo’s hands which held a box.
“You can’t go out without this.”
Opening the box inside of it was Raphael’s temporary stamp. Leonardo reached it towards the other turtle who carefully took it, putting the collar around his neck. Nodding while being pleased Leonardo knocked twice on the carriage’s wall behind him, rider stopping the horses.
The turtle pair stepped out, Leonardo taking deep breath of the air. So many trees were blooming and the air was filled with sweet scent of the flowers. Without a word Leonardo started to lead the way, Raphael silently following, but he – just in case – took few looks over his shoulder, to make sure the carriage would stay there instead of leaving them.
As they walked Raphael was surprised how much there was mutants among the humans – and they all were getting along so well! Hell, everyone who they walked past greeted them! Complete strangers! Well, maybe Leonardo wasn’t all that much of a stranger to those citizens, but still.
“How are you feeling?”
Leonardo’s question wasn’t surprising.
“I’m good.”
“Can you see yourself living here? Walking these streets daily? Being free without fears?”
“Kinda… Maybe.”
Leonardo stopped, turning to smile to his companion.
“I understand you’re confused and unsure, maybe even in disbelief that this all could be yours, but I promise you – it will be yours if you trust on us again, letting us help you.” Looking away Leonardo started to walk again, dropping his voice.
“I know it’s hard for you after what I did, but I wish you would forgive me and grand me a second chance. After all I never haven’t failed to rehab anyone and I definitely don’t want to fail with you.”
Stopping again Leonardo let his eyes lock with green orbs.
“I feel like you are the one who needs this the most.”
Raphael snorted as he crossed his arms over his chest, lifting weight from one foot to the other.
“So I am that bad case?”
“Most challenging, yes. And my mistake didn’t improve it.”
Males stood side by side in silence, watching how people were going on with their every day lives, kids playing happily and free on the yards, their laughs and happy screams filling the air.
“… I could get used ta this.”
Leonardo smiled as he watched happy kids running after a ball.
“Then I will do my all to help you end up living here.”
**
Rest of the day went smoothly after Leonardo and Raphael returned. Scarred turtle had withdraw into library where Margaret had joined her, helping him to learn to read while girls and Leonardo were focusing on their own tasks.
Last little evening snack was eaten together in the kitchen at 10pm and then everyone went to bed. Raphael was given his previous room and it felt so good, so safe, to be back in that bed. It was warm and dry, not went or uncomfortable like the chair or couch in the sewer.
If he was, already, grateful about something, it was real food and this bed. It was luxury. It didn’t take much or long for him to fall asleep.
At some point during the night he woke up. Raphael felt someone next to the bed, staring at him. He stayed still for a long moment, just focusing on the feeling. Was he in danger? … No. It was not that. Reaching towards the nightlight Raphael lit it, turning to look his visitor. It was Leonardo – and he didn’t look good at all.
He was pale like a ghost, shaky, eyes red with tears. He looked so horrible and completely opposite to that how he was during day.
“How you can live with it?”
Leonardo’s voice was so tiny, shaky, fragile… In confusion Raphael sat up, eyeing other turtle.
“With what?”
“You have been captured so many times… So many times they tried to kill you...”
Now Raphael knew what this was all about. Leonardo hadn’t deal with the trauma of his own near death experience. And it had come to torture him at the night. Moving a bit Raphael tapped the mattress, Leonardo sitting down next to Raphael’s feet, covered by blanket.
“It was hell shitty every time, but… I also kinda learned ta deal with it. But it was never easy.”
“But you seem so tough. It’s like none of this haven’t traumatize you in any way.”
“Trust me, it has. I just won’t let it show. Took me hell many years ta learn ta deal with it, control it, hide it. If I would had let my traumas control me… Those bastards would had killed me long time ago. And if not I definitely wouldn’t be here sitting and chatting with ya.”
Leonardo looked so miserable, hugging himself while staring his feet. Not knowing what to say, since Raphael wasn’t good with words, Raphael simply moved blanket out of the way, sitting right next to other turtle, wrapping huge blanket around both of them.
“I’ll be here with ya the whole night if ya want and need me ta.”
Sniffing with a small snort Leonardo rubbed his eyes, whispering.
“I would like that. Thank you.”
“… It also helps ta talk about it.”
Turning his bloodshot eyes towards Raphael Leonardo asked softly. “Who did you talk to?”
“Rats, pigeons, seagulls… Myself. Sometimes I imagined there was someone with me who I could talk ta. As long as I just kept talking. It helped as crazy as it sounds.”
Lowering his eyes Leonardo turned his head away. It was obvious sign to Raphael that Leonardo wasn’t ready to talk. He wanted to, yes, but was maybe too scared or ashamed to. So in return Raphael started to talk. He kept Leonardo close as he started to talk about his experiences with the “dogcatchers”. He told every detail, every scary thought, every emotion… Everything. He was completely honest and open – and one reason was because Raphael knew Leonardo wouldn’t tell anyone about this.
Raphael also strongly believed if there was someone who had been there before, their talking and experiences could help – at least in some way – the other. After all Leonardo, now, had rescued Raphael twice so at least something what Raphael could do was to offer turtle some comfort with his experiences.
The turtles ended up sitting awake through the night until sunrise started to paint new colors on the sky behind the mansion.
