"I can't believe she ditched me again."

Irma Langinstein had been grumbling to herself all night long. She dragged herself down the lonely streets of Manhattan with back arched in pain. She had chosen tonight to bring home the three heaviest text books so she could start on her extra credit assignments. Not that she needed it. Her arms were starting to cower under the extra weight and she stumbled over herself but remained on her feet. She couldn't risk dropping the load for the fourth time that day. The first accident was trying to get the books out of her bottom locker. She managed to trip a football player with her chemistry book that she had placed in the walkway. This of course helped Irma receive dirty looks from his friends. The second time was the waterfall of literature down the stairs during dismissal. The most recent time was trying to leave the library after a failed study session with her best and only friend. "This is like the twenty-sixth time this has happened. Ugh, if I had more friends, I would have ditched her by now." She stopped on the sidewalk and thought about what she had just said. "Man, I have no life," she said to no one in particular and continued to her house.

She barely made it up the steps to her door. Her glasses were fogging up from all the body heat she was producing. Irma fumbled with her keys as her books slid slowly in her hands.

"I really need a book bag."

Her parents were very rough sleepers and would not risk precious rest. They were both scientists that's jobs required them to rise at four in the morning. As Irma found the house key, she heard a noise from around the corner. She sat her books on the concrete seat next to the door. In a matter of seconds, Irma was thrown over someone's shoulder and taken to a dark alley. She was flung into the back corner in front of a dumpster. She was so shocked that she was too weak to fight back as her captors bound her wrists and taped her mouth.

"You think she's got any money on her," the largest of the two asked.

"Doubt it. I don't see a purse. But I do know one thing we can get out of her," the short mastermind answered.

"What's that?"

"Something she can never get back."

Irma knew exactly what he meant. This sent her into a panic attack and started squirm.

"Shut up."

A swift hand met the girl's cheek. The force sent her to the ground where she began to cry.

"Oh, don't cry babe. I mean, you can't expect to wear these short little skirts and get away with it. You were asking for it."

This only made the tears multiply.

"Ay, stop crying."

The big one kicked Irma in the gut which caused her coil up. There was nothing she could do. She was visually helpless. Tears staining her fair cheeks, Irma began to pray for safety. Someone was bound to hear her silent cries for help.

"Get her legs."

AS the humongous brute made his way to Irma, a dark figure appeared from the rooftops and took the two muggers to the front of the alley. The captive slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head to see the personification of her prayer. She watched the broad build throw her attackers to the concrete.

"Ah guys. What have we talked about? If you can't play nice with the pretty girls, you're forced to deal with me."

This figure was wearing a mask that's torn tendrils fluttered in the heavy wind. His voice was rough and oddly attractive.

"Oh wow. This is just like in Raimi's Spider-Man when he saves Mary Jane in the alley and they make out while he's hanging upside down," Irma thought to herself. She began to study her hero's movements. He was quick and agile, despite the giant backpack he had strapped to him. He finished the men off and stood quiet for a second. He seemed unsure of what to do next. He laughed slightly and grabbed the thugs by their shirt collars. He began to walk towards the dumpster where she sat. She managed to pull herself up and sit straight up. The figure threw the thugs a few feet in front of her.

"Don't you two dare try to run away."

Irma was scared. The figure stepped over the muggers and bent down so that he was at her level. His face was still masked by the shadows, except for the pair of unrealistically green eyes staring at her. The eyes made her less frightened, yet all the more intimidated. She remained silent, afraid of what might happen if she said something stupid. She saw a mischievous smile form under the eyes. God, he had a great smile!

"Are you okay," he asked maintaining the deadly eye contact.

The teenager inside of Irma wanted to snap back with something clever, but she couldn't bring herself to. For the most part she was speechless because of her savior's sudden appearance to her. But she was also lost for words because of the tape still covering her mouth. She nodded her head quickly so he could respond.

"Don't worry. I'm going to help you get out of this. But I need ya to promise me that you won't run away."

She cocked her head to the side out of confusion.

"You'll see. First things first."

Two large hands reached out to her face. They were large and only had three of what seemed to be fingers. Irma closed her eyes to hide her shock. Yet despite the disbelief she had, she wasn't scared. The left hand cradled her face while the other one gently pealed the tape from her mouth.

"Is that better," he asked.

She shook her head while her eyes continued to search the shadows for a face to match the haunting eyes. He laughed,

"You know, I took the tape off so you could talk to me."

Her body tensed up. Green hands and fingers regardless, the voice was killing her.

"Sorry," she said shyly.

His eyes got bigger.

"So, you can talk?"

"About 85% of the time. The rest of it is just mindless nonsense."

He laughed again. She made him laugh!

"So how exactly did they come about?"

He gestured to the thugs that were out cold behind his dark body.

"I don't know them. Random of act of violence I assume."

"Gotcha. I'm honestly just glad you're safe. Here, let me finish my job."

This was it. Irma sat stiff as the figure rose to his feet and stepped forward. She had seen the reports. She read the articles. But nothing prepared her for him. He was green from his hairless head to his three toed feet. There was a large plastron where a chest belonged with a small lightning bolt crack in the upper right corner. The mask that dressed the green eyes perfectly was red. As he turned for the full effect, Irma made the last big discovery. The giant backpack did not exist. Instead there was a shell covering his entire back. A little crack matching the one in the plastron hung in the upper left shoulder begging for an explanation. He completed his turn and waited for the expected response. But Irma was still studying. He wore a belt that housed twin Japanese Sai. He also wore wrappings on his hands, fingers, and feet. The turtle moved to the teenage girl and reached behind her. He turned her back towards him as he began to untie her.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Aren't you terrified of my 'hideous form'?"

"Strangely enough, no."

"Huh? I mean, how?"

"To be completely honest, you are scientifically fascinating. The thought of your origins and how you became who you are is just astounding."

"Dissection is off limits, just sayin'."

"Oh of course. I wouldn't dare."

"Why not?"

"Why not what?"

"Why not cut me open and study me? Isn't that what people do best when it comes to freaks like me?"

"You're not a freak."

"Why's that," he asked with a bit of humor in his voice. Other than his human big sister, this was the first human girl that the turtle had come into contact that did not have cruel intentions. He finished untying her and she turned to him and she stood.

"Because freaks are a result of accidents. And the fact that you were here tonight was no accident."

The turtle stood mouth ajar. Irma guessed he had not had much positive interaction with humans and the idea that one had not run away from him tonight shocked him.

"Well then I guess it was just luck Champ."

She crossed her arms and tried to hide a smile.

"So what are you going to do about them?"

She pointed toward the thugs, who had not budged the fight. Not even a twitch.

"Eh, I'll leave them beside the street and the cops'll find them on patrol. It's foolproof. Come on, I'll get you home Champ."

"It's Irma actually. Irma Langinstein," she said as they walked out of the alley together.

"Name's Raphael. Call me Raph."

Raphael. The name processed in her mind and a tingle shot down her back. She blamed it on the cold and before they turned onto the street, Irma asked Raph to wait for a moment. The small girl raced back to her attackers and delivered a punt to each of their heads. Raph cringed and replied with a smile,

"Damn, Short-Stuff. Didn't know you had it in you."

Irma found her books just where she had left them. Raphael watched from a distance.

"So you sure you'll be alright?"

"Uh, I can't guarantee tomorrow."

She picked up the books and he laughed some more.

"No but seriously."

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Raphael."

"Okay. If anything like this ever happens again, just call me."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

She had to bend over to properly see the lock and insert her key. Suddenly, the wind caught her skirt slightly. All Raph could do was watch and act uninterested.

"Scream," he replied in a low gruff voice.

Irma stopped what she was doing. How was she going to restrain herself when he answered questions like that? She was getting angry at herself. He was a mutant turtle. Yet he was definitely a hot-blooded teenager. She sensed that about him from the way he walked back to her apartment. She could tell by the way he talked and held himself. She just knew it.

"Well, will I ever see you aga-"

Irma turned around and was suddenly all alone. She tried to peak around to look in the alleys but it was no use. She pouted and proceeded into her house to pass out in her room, narrowly missing the bed all together. Raphael hid in one of the nearby alleys. He let out a sigh and replied,

"Just might kid. Just might."