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Perseverance	By : EvaBrick Category: Comics > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 9920 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Charlie wheezed and flopped on the grass at the top of the mountain. She couldn’t believe that she’d made it up the whole way all by herself. Well, Raphael had pulled her up and given her the odd boost. He’d even suggested going back about five times, but she insisted that they keep going.

Raphael sat down next to her and passed her the canteen. “Have a big drink,” he said, “you’ll feel better.”

“Thanks,” she said, swigging some back. The cool water soothed her throat and suddenly it didn’t hurt to breathe anymore. “I don’t know why I forced myself to go all the way, Raph,” she said. “I should have probably turned back when you first suggested it. I’m going to be so stiff, later.”

“Nah,” Raph laughed, reaching for her closest foot. “Don would love an excuse ta rub yer back again.” He undid her shoelace, pulled her sock and shoe off and started to rub her foot. “It’ll keep ya from gettin’ blisters,” he said when he saw that she looked confused. Charlie lay back in the cool grass and sighed as he rubbed the burning pain out of her foot. “Why do ya push yerself so hard?” he asked after a minute.

“I dunno,” Charlie said. “I guess I figure that if I keep pushing myself, then I’ll be okay. There’s no one else to take care of me or fight for me, so I guess I’ve learned to push myself to the limit all the time to make up for not having any family support since my grandparents died. That doesn’t make sense, I know.”

“No, it does, actually,” Raph said, moving to her other foot. “It’s ninja training logic.”

“It is?”

“Yeah. Ninja stuff ain’t just about swanky headbands and rescuing girls from the foot, y’know.” He grinned at Charlie’s raised eyebrow, then sobered up. “We’re trained killers, Charlie. Ninjas are fighters... assassins, really.” Charlie propped herself up on her elbows and put her head to one side to listen to him. She knew he wasn’t joking; she had seen Michelangelo kill... for her.

“But ninja training ain’t just about physical strength or fighting skills, it’s a mindset; a whole way of thinking dat guides yer life,” the red turtle continued. “And dat’s really why Master Splinter picked Leo ta be our leader. Leo gets it.” Raph tapped his head. “Up here. Leo gets it more than the rest of us. It used to drive me nuts, dat he was chosen over the rest of us, but I know it was the right decision - don’t ever tell him I said dat.”

“I won’t,” Charlie smiled. She sat up and looked out over the valley, suddenly realizing how very wise Splinter was. “Raphael?”

“Yeah?” he said, looking out at the world like she was.

“Splinter told me something that you should know.” Raphael’s head snapped up to look at her, the wind blowing his bandana strings gently. Charlie put her hand on his shoulder, knowing he was hurting inside about his father’s health. “He told me that out of the four of you, you are the most like him. He may have picked Leo, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love you and trust you. He’s proud that he sees himself in you, like every father is when he sees himself when he looks into his son’s eyes.”

Raphael’s eyes welled with un-spilled tears. “He said dat?” he asked.

“Yes he did.” Charlie rubbed her hand comfortingly over the back of his shell even though she knew he couldn’t really feel it and they sat there for a long time, looking at the vast view as the sun as wind dried the few streaks of salt water that ran down his cheeks.

Neither of them said anything for a long time, and finally Charlie realised that his eyes were closed and that he was meditating, so she lay back in the grass to leave him in peace. Raphael reached a hand back to pull her back up and wordlessly, he started to slowly move his arms in rehearsed motions. He paused and opened an eye to look at her, then slowly repeated the first motion.

Charlie got the hint and copied the action. He made another movement while they sat there cross-legged at the top of the cliff, and she did as he did. Movement after movement, stretching, reaching, flowing, pushing. She found her mind starting to drift as she followed him. She thought of Splinter, of Don, of the store. She thought about how amazing it was that Raphael had so many unrepeating movements memorized. She thought of her parents and of how she hated lying to Lisa about Donatello. She thought about her little apartment and that maybe she should get a cat and try to work a little less. She thought about bills that needed to be paid, about Master Splinter, about how he was going to die... soon. And then all of her thoughts bunched together and knotted her brain up so that she couldn’t really focus on anything anymore, except copying Raphael’s movements and she realised that he had just taught her how to meditate.

Oddly enough, Charlie found this new mental plane very calming and soothing. She was thinking too much to think anymore and it was very peaceful with the sun and gentle breeze on her skin and the slow motions, swirling her blood evenly. Finally Raphael stopped and his hands dropped to rest on his knees. She copied him and they sat there for a minute together, just breathing. Charlie shut her eyes, aware of the world moving around her, but feeling very still.

A finger gently tapped her hand and she opened her eyes to see that Raphael had turned to face her. She turned to face him too, and he closed his eyes and bowed low to her. She repeated the action and when she looked at him again, he had his head cocked to one side, looking at her.

“Splinter taught us dat so long as there’s one drop ‘a blood left in yer veins, then ya gotta force yerself ta take one more breath. The people who don’t have the mental discipline to fight for dat last lungful of air are the ones who won’t make it. If ya know in the bottom of yer soul that yer determined enough ta fight ‘till yer last drop ‘a blood is gone, den yer stronger than everyone else around ya, cause dat kinda determination makes ya a very dangerous person.”

“Yeah?” Charlie asked, looking at the red turtle.

“Yeah,” he said, still gazing down at the valley. “Most people give up when they think they’ve lost. You’ve gotta be stubborn enough ta keep playing even when ya know it’s game over... dat was a big lesson in our ninja training.”

Charlie hugged her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, propping her chin on her knee.

“I don’t think I could ever be that tough, Raph,” she said, looking out at the view.

“I dunno about dat,” he chuckled. “Ya seem like a tough cookie ta me. You’ll never be as strong as us physically, but you’ve got a ninja brain, Miss Bookworm.”

Charlie laughed, took a sip of water and put on her shoes. “You think so?”

“Yeah,” Raph said, standing. He offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet. “Yer tough... ya need to work on yer nerves though.” They started back down the path together, more energized after their break. “You’ve been through a lot and I think it’s made ya doubt yerself a little. Ya need to relax and lose yer fear.”

Charlie blinked at him, surprised. “You’ve been analyzing me?”

“Yup,” he said.

“I suppose that’s fair,” Charlie sighed. “I certainly mull you guys over a lot... most of the time, actually. I’m almost always thinking about the store or turtles.” They both laughed. The trip downhill was going much faster and easier.

“So what do ya think of us?” Raphael asked, sincerely.

“Honestly?”

“Well, I like ta think dat ya wouldn’t lie ta me,” Raph said with a wink. Charlie laughed and then looked more serious.

“I guess I have a hard time categorizing you guys. Usually I can slot people into groups to keep them straight in my mind... y’know? Like, this person is this kind of person and that person is that kind of person...”

Raph nodded. “I do dat too.”

“But with you guys... you’re not like anyone I’ve met before. You all have such wonderful, rich personalities. You’re all so multi-faceted... there are so many bland people out there. They look the same, they dress the same, they buy the same things, and watch the same tv shows.”

“Clones,” Raph said.

“Yeah,” Charlie agreed. “It’s boring. You guys are all so interesting, though. I’m having a great time getting to know you. It’s kind of an adventure because you don’t even react to situations the way one might expect.”

“What do ya mean?” Raph asked, looking confused.

Charlie thought for a minute. “Well, just off the top of my head, there doesn’t seem to be any jealousy between you. I mean... it must be a little weird for you with me dating your brother... actually, it must be a little weird for your brother to be dating at all...”

Raphael laughed, “Yes and no,” he said.

“And not every guy would let his girlfriend go off in the woods somewhere with another guy, even his brother. Don really trusts you.”

“He trusts ya too.” Raphael smiled. “We do get jealous of each other sometimes... I mean... we might not let it show, but we are damn jealous of Don. We’d love ta have what he has.”

They came to a place where the rocky path dropped down about three feet. Raph hopped down easily onto the uneven ground below and reached up to Charlie to help her down. He put his hands on her waist and lifted her easily off the ledge. Her body slid along his for a quick moment before her toes touched the ground.

Raphael stepped quickly away; she smelled good.

“But,” he continued, as they started walking again, “we’re also so happy for him. It gives the rest of us hope dat we’ll be able ta meet someone special too.”

“You will,” Charlie said. “We just have to figure out how.” She was very touched by the turtle’s words.

“And it means a lot ta us that yer not uh... physically repulsed, either.”

“What’s not to like?” Charlie grinned.

“I dunno...” Raph said, quietly. “Everything? We’ve got hard shells, so we’re not cuddly, we’re bald, we only have three fingers, and on top of all dat, we’re green!”

“First of all,” Charlie smiled, “you’re wrong about not being cuddly.”

Raph raised a quizzical eyebrow.

“It’s true,” Charlie said. “Secondly, you have huge muscles, so no girl will be looking at the top of your head.”

Raphael snorted and blushed a little.

“And thirdly, of course you’re green; you’re a turtle! It’d be weirder if you weren’t green.”

“I hadn’t thought of dat,” Raph said, sheepishly. He cleared his throat. “Uh Charlie, can I uh... ask ya somethin’?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“It’s kinda weird,” he said.

“That’s ok. Go for it.”

“I mean, I’d ask April, but she’s like a weird aunt, so dat’d be kinda awkward, and she couldn’t really answer it anyway.”

“What’s your question?” Charlie smiled.

“Um... it’s kinda personal... ya don’t have ta answer...”

“Raph... the question?”

He cleared his throat again. “Um... what’s sex like... for you I mean... with one of us... as opposed ta a human guy...is it y’know... uncomfortable? Scary? Weird?” He paused and hesitantly added, “Good?”

Charlie blushed a little. It was a bit awkward, but she didn’t mind much... Raphael was so sincere-looking as he peeked at her shyly, his signature boldness gone.

“It’s good... different, but good. Don’s heavier that a human guy, and much stronger. And he’s um... y’know... bigger... so make a mental note to be very gentle when your moment comes.”

“Okay,” Raph said, thoughtfully considering her words. “Can I ask ya somethin’ else?”

“Sure,” Charlie said.

“Do you love Don?”

Charlie stumbled and Raphael grabbed her arm to steady her. The question had caught her way off guard and he felt a bit smug. He knew it was an awful thing to ask, but he needed to know before Donatello said anything to her. He wouldn’t allow his brother to humiliate himself unnecessarily.

“Well... I um... y’know...” she cleared her throat and blushed, visibly flustered.

“Don’t worry, babe,” Raph laughed, secretly relieved. “I won’t tell him.”
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Perseverance