Raphril - Captured

This is not something I normally draw but I love the darker side of tmnt from time to time and after watching the Mondo Gecko episode where their captured and used the turtles for sport, I went off that idea where the turtles, April and Casey are kidnapped and separated into groups. April and Raph get paired up during all of this – to make it a little more clear, I wrote a little something for this. Kinda depressing, but I couldn’t get this scenario out of my head. Ignore my crappy writing.

–

Stumbling in after a eight hour absence had April choking back a sob. She watched his shaky steps into their cell for the past however long they’d been in this hellhole. It felt like a lifetime ago when they were captured by Shredder in the midst of a battle with the Kraang. Never did they think the aliens from Dimension X and the Shredder would team up how they did. It all happened so fast….

At first they held their own in a gladiator style battles with random mutants. But over time without proper medical care, they became worn down. She had her share of scrapes, but over time, they wanted just Raphael to fight – some crap about him being more entertaining, with she believed stemmed from her limited skills as a kunoichi – which she knew Raph preferred. She hated it though. Watching them taking him from her cell in the morning and not knowing in what shape he’d return at night…. If he returned at all.

As many new cuts and bruises he got in the battles – Raph refused to let her touch him. Even though all the hell of fighting for their captor’s amusement – Raph remained who he’d always been. The Strong One. They’ve been separated from the rest of the turtles and Casey for longer than she cared to think about. Not knowing where they were or even if they were still alive was baring down on her soul in a way she tried her hardest to conceal from Raphael. She had to be strong too. She leaned heavily on his strength even though inside she was slowly falling apart.

But watching him limping into their cell – she noticed so many new wounds in the dim light. She prayed he’d at least let her clean them with the small amount of water they were given. Her eyes rose to his, which for the first time she ever recalled, were slowly losing their fire. It was only a moment later she saw the trembling in his legs, with strength she didn’t know she still possessed, she was in front of him as he fell harshly to his knees. Her arms immediately wrapped around him as he came to rest his body against hers, his head pressed heavily against her breast.

Without any words, her hands cupped the back of his head. Closing her eyes, she was able to tap into her telepathic ability and witnessed the horror Raphael just went through before he stumbled in. Through Raphael’s eyes – she saw Mikey – but horror overtook the joy of seeing Michelangelo alive when she witnessed him trembling as they stood in front of a crowd of crazed onlookers demanding blood. She heard Raphael’s sais soft clink as they hit the dirt floor. “Do it now, Mikey.” came Raph’s voice, barely audible through the crowd’s massive symphony of voices. She saw Mikey shaking his head back and forth, his nun-chucks stiffly clutched in shaking hands. “They won’t hurt you if you attack me.” Raph clarified a moment later, making April’s breath catch in her throat.

“No!” she heard Mikey scream before she saw the twin trails of tears leak from the corners of his baby blue eyes. It broke her heart to see sweet loving little Mikey in so much distress – the sheer fact of knowing in order to live he had to severely injure his own big brother.

“Mike… It’s okay. Just do it… Please.” Whatever look Raph was giving him worked because after tightly closing his eyes, Mikey threw the kusarigama at his brother. April’s eyes opened when she gasped and drew back after feeling the searing white pain overtake her left arm. Her eyes immediately seeking out Raphael’s arm. How did she not see it before? The laceration was deep, the gash caused by such a weapon tearing through his flesh and muscle. She chocked back a sob as she looked at the blood still flowing from it – and just the knowledge of him receiving it to protect Mikey.

“I need to wrap it up.” she said finally.

She didn’t hear him argue and took a quick glance at his face, seeing his eyes glazed over, lost in thought and the horror of having to fight against a brother…and how it was only going to get worse from then on. She quickly tore her eyes away and looked at her clothes trying to find a suitable cloth for the wound. There wasn’t much left after most of her shirt was gone and the last pieces just enough to give her some form of dignity in this place. After a glance, she knew her clothes were far too filthy after so many forsaken days in this place that they were out of the question. She did not want Raphael getting an infection if she could prevent it. Her eyes then went to his mask. While a little bloody, was still fairly clean comparatively.

For the first time since he walked in, his eyes met hers. If she blinked, she would have missed the slight tilt of his head, knowing what she was thinking and agreeing to it. She gave him a grim smile before her hands reached to the back of his head and untied the last shred of clothing on his body. The red mask fell into her hands as she took in his maskless face. Out of all the brother’s Raphael had always kept his mask attached to his face. Akin to body armor, he wanted to hide behind it for reasons she didn’t understand. She always wondered if he had an epic scar or birthmark behind the mask, but looking at his naked face in the dim light, there was none to be seen. Just Raph.

Taking her eyes from him, she went to work. Using a cup of water from a tray of food they were given, she washed away the blood as best as she could before tying his mask securely around his bicep, effectively covering the wound. After the knot was made, the situation hit her square in the gut. Not caring about his boundaries anymore, she threw her arms around his shoulders and with tears she thought dried out so long ago, began to drip down her cheeks. “We’re going to get out of here.” she promised against the side of his head. She knew he wouldn’t believe her, but to her surprise, she felt his hands rest against her lower back and return the embrace. She closed her eyes and held him closer, the comfort of his touch overwhelming. Her eyes opening in determination, knowing if they were going to survive this, they had to do it – together.