Okay-- major mood swing, coupled with reading a very good but angsty turtle tots story at Stealthy and the angst I'm dealing with in a game elsewhere caused me to write this months ago. I can't believe that I haven't posted it here. Anyway, just a lil' one-shot! TMNT are owned by Mirage.

The Agony of Defeat

"Awww, fuckin' hell!"

"Too bad, Raphie boy! You already chose!"

Raphael thought hard. There was no way he could threaten his way out of this one-- he was the one to make the ground rules in the first place, when he'd gone along with Mikey's plan to play this stupid game in the first place.

Now he was the object du jour as it were of Leo, Mikey, and Don.

Stupid Saturday nights when it's snowing outside...

Raph squirmed under the eager gazes of his brothers. Donatello was failing at pretending to be disinterested-- Raph knew all too well that look of concentration, as if Don was already writing a thesis on the reluctance of Mutant Ninja Turtles to honor the rules of a game.

Leo was smirking. For a brief minute Raph considered hitting him, and avoiding the entire episode. True, he'd end up grounded for two weeks, but some things were worth imprisonment.

Then there was Mikey, who already was getting the video camera ready.

Raph sighed heavily. HE had made the rules. HE had made them so ironclad tight that the best lawyers in the world plus the Supreme Court would NOT be able to break them.

With a heavy heart and dragging feet, he rose from the floor where the four of them were seated, carefully stepping over the maze of pizza boxes, cans of soda, bags of chips, discarded DVDs and other remnants of an all-night party, and slowly made his way to Master Splinter's room.

Quietly he slid the door open; the rat was seated in his meditation area, evidently preparing himself for a good nights sleep by releasing the stress of his mind in relaxation thought.

He crept up slowly, quietly, stealthily. Splinter didn't twitch so much as a whisker. His breathing remained normal, his body relaxed and still.

Closer his son drew, closer still... reaching out... then...

"I love you, Dad," Raph gulped out as he enveloped his father with a massive hug, and held it for five seconds-- he even counted them off under his breath.

"Chose 'dare' instead of 'truth' again, I see," was all the Rat replied.