TMNT: Project April

Manhattan was sinking, or so it felt to the few people who dared to get out of under a roof that night. The sky poured water so violently and in such abondance that it hurt the back of the unlucky ones who had to run from shelter to shelter, bent in two and holding a soaked hat, a newspaper or more rarely, a worn umbrella over their head.

Relatively protected from the deluge by a low balcony, a dark figure stood in a poorly lit alley, watching the occasionnal car drive by slowly. His felt hat and trench coat were dripping with water nonetheless as he often stepped out into the rain to take a quick glance around the corner and see if any pedestrian was coming his way.

A truck passed by just as his head popped out of behind the wall. The strong lights made his large, red-circled eyes blink. He rushed back to the balcony, took off his hat and rubbed his bald head with two large and green fingers.

"I've no business here, muttered Raphael. It's raining cats and dogs. I should head back." Putting on his damp hat again, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and kicked an empty can. "I shouldn't have come in the first place anyway. Damn it, today's the last time. I swear it is." Grumbling and walking back and forth, Raphael settled for another 5 minutes wait. After that, he would call it quit no matter what.

A chill breeze rose and blew raindrops on what was left of dry ground under the balcony. Still pacing nervously, Raphael adjusted his collar. Just then, he noticed someone running across the street, straight towards the alley he was standing in. His heart stopped for a second; the person was approaching fast but he could not tell yet if he or she had seen him.

The person glanced left and right before entering the alley. From what he could make of her silhouette, Raphael guessed she was a female. She jogged to his refuge. As she reached him, breathing heavily from her run, she untied the cap of her dark gray raincoat. "Hey Raph!" said the woman, revealing her abundant and waving brown hair.

The Turtle sighed, looking at her dark rubber boots. "What's wrong?" asked the woman inquisitively. Raphael swallowed; his resolution was starting to fade, but he had to say it while his will was still strong. "April, he said with a mix of anger and worry. You know, it's getting harder and harder to find good excuses.
-Oh... I know...
-Can't you let me talk to the others? They're my brothers, they'll be happy to know. They could help, even. We don't have to keep this our secret.
-No!" April gasped. "I don't want to be-
-April, I..." He didn't finish his sentence, made the gesture of giving up and kicked dirt angrily.

She took a deep breath and looked down, absently scratching the back of her head. The rain drummed loudly over their heads. She could see in his eyes that he felt terribly sorry of letting her down but that hiding this business from the other Turtles weighed too heavily on his conscience. He might very well not come back next time. She sighed. "All right, Raph. I'll think about it... -Thanks." he answered, mildly relieved.

They remained silent for a moment, uneasily. She drew another deep breath and said: "Can we...?". She made a vague gesture. Raphael sighed, put his hands back in his pockets and answered in a low voice: "All right, sure. Sure, let's go."

April looked behind her to make sure no one was spying on them. Fortunately, the storm still raged on, keeping the area clean of its usual unsavory inhabitants. "Here, she whispered turning back to her friend, look at that!"