Sorry it took so long, but here it is-the final chapter. I had an amazing time creating this story, but it has reached its conclusion. Thank for reading and enjoy!
Raphael
Sunlight streamed through the parted curtains. The lightest sensation of a touch had reached me in my dreams, though I couldn't remember what they were. One of the windows was left open; the breeze through it is what woke me up. Goose bumps had risen across my exposed arm above the sheets. It was June, but still the air could carry a chill.
I rubbed circles into my eyes with my thumb and forefinger. Sighing, I looked over at the other half of the bed next to me. I frowned at its emptiness before looking back up at the ceiling of the farmhouse's master bedroom. The off-white paint was cracked dingy in areas. This whole place was kind of cracked and dingy, but right now I needed to be out here. I finally tossed away the sheets and quilt. My legs felt heavy as they swung to the floor. Pops and cracks sounded as my body straightened and stood.
I pulled on the tattered jeans that lay in a pile on the floor. How Casey could find a pair that could fit around a shell without making me look stupid I will never know. It probably had more to do with April and Casey to be honest with myself. I picked up something else from the ground, a flannel shirt. It had been strange trading in my leather ninja gear for blue jeans and baggy shirts but Leo said it was part of my recovery to be more 'civilian', whatever that meant for a mutant turtle. He said I had PTSD and time from the city was best for both of us.
"Who knows… maybe I am feeling better," I sighed to myself. Staring at the frayed mask on the bedside table, I took a deeper breath. I wasn't sure if it belonged anymore either. So, when I opened the door, it stayed behind.
My footfalls were heavy down the steps. The base of the stairs was alongside the living room. My brothers were down there already, of course, I could hear them before I actually saw them. They sat around the old chunky TV. Donnie and Leo lounged on the tattered couch, Mikey hung upside down in the armchair. "I'm just say, Flash Gordon is the true hero the universe needs."
"Ugh… shut up Mikey!" Donnie moaned.
"You guys sound like you're having a blast down here," I laughed hollowly coming down the steps. My joints creaked with the wood steps.
"Morning, sleeping beauty," Leo smirked, peaking from behind a newspaper. They all were dressed like me in sweatshirts and jeans or cargo shorts, except their masks were still on too.
I rolled my eyes reaching the first floor, "Please, I hardly slept in."
"It's two in the afternoon!" Leo rebutted.
"Pfft, okay," I flipped off Leo smiling as I went straight out the door. If it was two already, well I knew exactly where I needed to do.
"Asshole!" Leo called behind me as the door slammed. I smiled for real as the sun hit my skin and I sucked in a breath of fresh air. Yeah, being out here did make it easier. I looked at my surroundings as I climbed down the porch steps. A thin dirt road stretched into the front yard from a few acres of woods hiding the faded farmhouse. The grass around was long and green. A couple yard away to the left, a barn continued to stand despite its appearance. I began strolling through the grass in its direction, before turning to walk around to the back of the house.
There, the grass was even longer with one patch that seemed weighted down in the shadow of the house. I hurried towards the patch. Once I got close enough I turned around and fell backwards onto the soft Earth. "You're late."
I smiled at the voice, "Excuse me? I'm never late! Plus you're the one who always keeps me waiting."
Serena rolled over and propped herself up with one hand on either side of my next. Her soft waist rested close to my side, just barely touching. Her still growing hair was tucked in golden twists behind her ears. The long scar that now decorated her left cheek had a pinkish tint in the sunlight. It had healed enough to match the rest that covered her arms and legs. My fingers brushed against her bare limbs, aware that she wore one of my t-shirts which fit her almost like a dress with dark shorts underneath.
"I'm guessing you left the window open on your way out?" I grinned up at her.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't sleep anymore," she said with a shameful looks.
I reached up to touch her turned away face, "Nightmares again? You should wake me up when that happens."
She smiled down at me with mild eyes. She twisted and pulled back her arms so she could lie down against me. A bare leg intertwined around mine. Her hand was flat over my beating heart. "You don't sleep much better than myself most nights. You looked so relaxed and peaceful… I couldn't wake you."
"Of course you could have. We're in this together. Both of us, and we'll figure it out together." I turned my face and kissed her forehead.
"We are a very messed up pairing aren't we?" She whispered. Right then I heard an emptiness in her voice that crept back in so often. I held her, thinking about how much I'd made her lose. She was fully an orphan now. Her sisters and brothers in arms, her friends, they all were gone as well. She had me, but I wasn't much, and I nearly lost her. She slipped away three times the night we'd brought her home to the lair.
My thumb lightly ran across the short parallel scars across her abdomen through her shirt. She nearly died for me.
"Maybe that's not a bad thing," I whispered back. My hand reached and tugged her chin gently. She smiled before closing her eyes. She gave a small nod of permission and led her lips to mine. The kiss was small and light, but we were still new to this. I was afraid of hurting her, and she was afraid to let down her guard.
She broke away sighing comfortably. Her hand touched the side of my face and turned my face into it. "I can't help but feel like this is going to end. My past… it always catches up to me, and to you. There is so much blood on my hands. No matter what the reason, I am a traitor to my clan."
I stared down into her deep green eyes. I didn't know where we were supposed to go from here either. I doubted that we were free now. Both of our pasts combined was a deadly mix, yet we weren't toxic people.
"No matter what happens tomorrow, next year, or when we are seventy-nine years old," she smiled a little more, and I continued, "I'm never going stop protecting you, stop coming to your side, I'm never going to stop loving you, Serena."
Serena smiled brightly before pulling my face in for another kiss. Another followed with even more after. Slowly I lifted her so she lay on top of me. I fell deeply into her touch: her hands on my face, her torso a comfortable weight on my chest, and the skin of our legs touching. My hand took a chance and slid up the back of her shirt. She smiled at me as my fingers drew patterns among the textured marks.
"What is it?" I asked quietly. Sunlight made her short hair glow in a halo.
"I'm grateful you came into my life, Raphael." Serena rolled off of me and stood up. She left a hand waiting for me beside her. Gently I took it in mine and stood. Hand in hand, we began to walk. Her other arm curled around mine as she kept close to my side. A soft cheek stayed pressed into my shoulder as we paced ourselves. "I could get used to this."
I laughed at her comment and kissed the top of her head. For now, we could pretend like there weren't shadows lurking in the corners, we could believe that this could last. I was the man under the monster and she was the woman behind the scars. "I could too."
But then she pulled away. Serena walked backwards in front of me with a mischievous look in her eyes. "Of course I still have to keep you on your toes."
She began sprinting away from me. I laughed and shook my head at her speeding form. And of course, what else would I do besides chase her?