Loving Raphael was different than what you had expected. He was still prideful, possessive. He wanted you within his sight and within his House of Hope. But he was also gentle, considerate of your needs. When he held you, you were the most important person in the world. He did not view you as a possession or a symbol. You were a person. His person.

He was very vocal about how much he disliked you being on the prime. Being outside his realm of influence while fighting the absolute. And every chance he had, he brought you right back to him. It worried your friends and companions how attached he was to you. They worried that he was lying or trying to use you. But, after some time, they realized his devotion to you. Even if Astarion could not help but tease you about having 'tamed' the devil himself.

Now that the Absolute was defeated, the elderbrain destroyed, what was keeping you on the prime and away from him? He still could not understand why you chose this little cottage in the country side near Baldur's Gate. Why you would chose a life of such simplicity when you could have everything you could ever want. A life of silk, gold, luxury. But even then he still loved you. Loved you as you chose the prime over his House of Hope.

You were used to the visits of your friends and comrades to your little cottage. Used to seeing them walk through the garden gate and to your front door. They knew that your door was always open to them if they so wished; just knock and they could enter.

It was warm summer's day. The heat hung in the air as you tended to the small garden you grew, ripping up the offending weeds with steady hands. The creaking of your gate — one with hinges that you should really oil at some point — alerted you to a visitor entering your home. Looking up as you wiped sweat from your brow, you found Lae'zel standing there with that ever stern look upon her face. Even so, you gave her your gentle smile as you rose to your feet with your wings drooping slightly behind you without dragging in the dirt.

"Ah. Lae'zel. Please come inside and out of this heat." Something akin to affection crossed her eyes before hardening again and falling in step beside you as you both entered the modest home. With what gold you and the others had received from your adventures, you could have bought a house anywhere; one bigger, flashier, worthy of status. But you always were the simple sort.

Lae'zel's eyes flittered around the room, giving a nod of approval upon seeing your sword at an easy position if you ever find a need to defend yourself.

"Your dwelling is adequate. You have a well defensible home." You knew well enough that was as close to a compliment you were going to get from the githyanki on the state of your home. It was a nice sentiment at the very least. You gave her another smile before getting her a cooling glass of water and handing it to her before sitting down on one of the stools that were at your table.

"Thank you, Lae'zel. What honor do I have for this visit?" While you could expect random visits from Astarion, Shadowheart, or Gale permitting his teaching schedule, you almost never received a visit from the gith unless there was something she viewed of the utmost importance to be discussed.

So what did she think needed to be discussed now?

Lae'zel looked at you for a moment before taking a drink and setting the wooden cup onto the table top. She had this look on her face, a look of deep contemplation, before looking back up at you with her sharp eyes meeting yours.

"He is fond of you." It was a simple statement. And one that needed no explanation on who <i>he</i> was. A simple statement of what she already knew to be a fact. You slowly nodded your head, folding your hands into your lap as you continued to watch her.

"Yes." She did not nod her head or acknowledge your affirmation, continuing to stare at you.

"You are fond of him. Despite how unwise it would be." Her words were not an accusation. Just a simple statement of truth. You hesitated for a moment before nodding your head.

"Yes. I am."

"This is very unwise." A soft sigh escaped you, your wings tensing slightly.

"I know. But still, I love him." Her eyes narrowed slightly, her mouth moving into a hint of a frown.

"Does he love you?" The question caught you off guard. You felt that he loved you. The way he looked at you. The way his eyes softened just a fraction or the honeyed words he would whisper in your ear when you were in his arms. Raphael loved you. You could not bring yourself to doubt it.

"Yes." This time she nodded her head, as if she was accepting your observation, but her eyes remained intense as they met yours.

"You have been wise. Strong. You led us well against all forms of treachery that we faced in our travels. If you believe him honest, then I will not stop nor speak against you. I simply state that you should exercise caution." Lae'zel saying such things was such a high honor. To have her praise your leadership. This is how you knew she cared for you, even if the Gith herself would not admit it in as many words. So, you smiled and nodded your head.

"Thank you, my friend." She did not correct you, calling her your friend. Instead she gave a short bow of her head in acknowledgement before looking out at the sun as it made its slow decent across the sky towards the horizon.

"I must leave. May you find the path you were meant to follow." She placed a strong hand on your shoulder before leaving your small home, disappearing into the warmth of the summer night. And you couldn't help but sit there at your table, window open as the slight breeze made the curtains dance , and your thoughts turning towards Raphael.

I don't want to ruin this.

The next time you found yourself within the House of Hope it was not Raphael himself who greeted you but instead Haarlep. You and the incubus had formed a - what you would call - a tentative friendship. They did tease you. About your bleeding heart, your angelic nature, your obvious care for Raphael. But they never doubted your loyalty to him. They never questioned why you were there. It was almost unnerving how they seemed to see right through you.

"Ah, the little dove has come once again to grace us with their presence. What a great honor." Their teasing was only accentuated by the grin on their face as they made an exaggerated bow. And you found yourself returning their smile with one of your own.

"Hello, Haarlep. Is Raphael not here right now?" They hesitated for a moment - very unlike them you noted in the back of your mind — before answering you.

"Our dear Proprietor finds himself called away by Mephistopheles. But he wanted to make sure I was here to greet you and reassure you of his quick return. Mephistopheles, Lord of the Eight. And as you knew, the father of Raphael. Another reason why this was unwise, becoming involved with him. But then again you had your own parentage that you had yet to divulge to him.

He knew you were angel-kin. Aasimar. But you were more than that. A direct child of Raziel. Known as the Crusader and Firestar. An archon of Mount Celestia itself. You feared how he would respond when he would find out. Would he abandon you? Or worse, would he stop seeing you and only see a tool against the heavens?

You must not have hidden your concern well enough this time, Haarlep tilting their head like a curious cat.

"Now, now little dove. Something is weighing heavily on your mind." They, almost gentle and tender, wrapped one of their bat-like wings around you and urged you forward through the winding halls of the House of Hope. They did not press, did not pry as you walked through the unusually quiet halls. If you had the mind to think about it, the halls had started to become more quiet in your recent visits. But at the moment that was only something that lingered in the back of your thoughts.

It was Raphael's personal room they brought you to. A large room with his equally as large bed pressed against the back wall, large windows lining the far wall and showing out into Avernus, a fire place and his writing desk. The room even smelled of Raphael, of spiced wine and something darker underneath, but you shouldn't have been surprised. Haarlep led you to a plush couch, the fabric a deep red just like everything else in the room, urging you to sit down while they poured a glass of wine for the both of you. They silently passed you the glass before sitting down themselves, lounging back with an ankle crossed over their knee and swirling the wine in the crystal they held in their hand, watching you with those piercing gold eyes.

"Come, dove. You can freely with me. I may serve our dear Raphael but I do know how to keep a secret." Their words were smooth and sweet as you stared down at the glass in your hands, the wine a dark red that if you couldn't smell the sweet spice it could be mistaken for something else much darker.

"I am more than he realizes. I could ruin everything." Since when did your voice sound so small? You who faced cultists, illithids, dark gods themselves. You had faced fear head on daily. Why did you flinch now?

Haarlep looked surprised at your little remarks, their eyebrows raising as they gave you that curious head tilt again, sipping at their wine.

"Do tell, little dove. Raphael looks at you as if you bring the sun to rise and the moon to fall. What could be so dark to ruin that?" They <i>were</i> curious. They couldn't help it. This little mortal, this little mortal with a heart that seemed to bleed for all those they could not save and beat for those they could, was who their master had falling completely in love with. Haarlep had watched it happen. First slowly and then all at once.

They had first thought it was simple curiosity. Not every day you find angel-touched mortals walking around with a holy weapon on their hip. Then they thought Raphael simply wanted the honor of corrupting them. But somewhere along the way, they watched as Raphael grew soft, not in ways anyone on the outside would see, but in ways that they could see. He no longer tortured when bored or angry. No, he sought out his little dove. He no longer flew into rages at the smallest provocation. He looked at his dove not as an item to be procured, but as something precious. Haarlep has served Raphael for a long time. They had never seen him look at anyone like that.

So what did this little one think was so heavy that it would ruin it?

"Dove?" Haarlep's voice was coaxing, gentle in a way that was dangerous. It made you want to rip open your chest and spill out ever secret you kept hidden. But… you couldn't. You couldn't risk it. Risk what happiness you had found with Raphael.

Even if you knew it would be worse in the end.

So you shook your head and took a long drink of your wine before turning to look at the incubus. No. You wouldn't say a thing. Not yet.

"It is nothing. Please forget I said anything." Your voice remained soft as your eyes pleaded with them. Oh, those eyes. Those eyes that Haarlep had seen both be sharp in battle and gentle in quiet moments. Those eyes that made them want to believe that nothing was weighing heavily in your heart.

But they knew better. They knew the little ticks and tells you hid so well. Even so, they would not force you to share. It wasn't their place. When — and if — you were ready to share, then you would share.

So with a shrug Haarlep raised their glass of wine to their lips, sipping at the dark liquid.

"As you wish, Dove." The time between them stretched, filled with idle chatter that Haarlep was so good at. They were good at talking about nothing of importance; of the current gossip of the Hells, how the crystal glasses changed from Wexford to Massena — "Can you believe it, Dove?! We are supposed to have class." —, or a similar menagerie of topics. It helped honestly. To just sit and listen as you nursed on the wine. It helped you almost forget — almost.

It was in a flash of fire and ash that you saw Raphael appear in the doorway, face twisted in annoyance and shoulders tense. But none of that mattered to you as your face lit up and you placed the glass of wine down on the small side table.

"Raphael!" Your voice rang out as his eyes found yours; the anger, the tension, the rage all melting away as he walked to your side. You rose to your feet to meet him, his hand cradling your cheek in his hand. His eyes traced over your face, as if committing every tiny detail to memory before he pressed his forehead to yours.

"Hello, my Dove." The sweet moment was not broken as Haarlep could not help but smile. Yes. This is what they meant when they said Raphael had changed. That he had grown soft for his dove. But they would never say it out loud. Haarlep rose to their feet and quietly slipped out of the room, careful not to disturb the peaceful scene between the two of you.

"I missed you, Dove." Raphael's voice was rough and barely above a whisper as his free hand came to your waist, pulling you close. You could feel his warmth radiating from his body as he slowly pulled you onto the couch. He pulled you onto his lap, your head resting on his chest as he was careful to avoid any harm to those wings of yours. Beautiful and pristine. He wouldn't dare to even think of causing them harm. He held you with gentleness that would be defined as so uncharacteristic of the cambion, uncharacteristic with anyone other than you. With you he would be gentle, he would be kind.

He pressed his face into the crown of your hair, breathing in your comforting scent as you felt his heart beat under your cheek. A comforting silence fell between you both — there was no need for words. no need for anything other than your presence. His heart beat was a comforting song as your eyes slowly drooped and closed, your body relaxed against his and enveloped by the warmth of him. You wished this moment could last forever. Wished that nothing could reach you within the halls of his House of Hope. But all peace must come to an end, no matter how much your heart yearned for otherwise.

"Are you alright?" Your voice was soft, slightly muffled by being pressed into his chest. You could feel his arms tighten around you as the muscles in his jaw tensed.

Mephistopheles. His progenitor was not known for being understanding or forgiving. He expected unquestioning loyalty and for his orders to be followed without question. Every time Raphael was called into his court he came back angry. He couldn't help it. If he had the chance he would rip Mephistopheles from his throne and throw him at Raphael's feet.

A soft hiss escaped him as he nuzzled into the crook of your neck, forcing himself to calm down. None of it mattered. His father would not interfere as long as Raphael didn't get in his way. As long as his machinations did not cross with Mephistopheles'.

"He was unreasonable. Do not worry yourself, Dove." You recognized it when Raphael did not want to talk about something, when he did not want to elaborate to you — though if it was for your benefit or for his you were not always sure. You pulled away slightly, just enough for you to angle your face to look upwards at him. He looked down at you curiously before you reached up and cupped his face in your gentle hands, running your thumbs over his cheekbones. You gave him that smile, that smile that he would destroy whole planes for if you so asked for it. Rip apart the Hells and tear down the Heavens — you just need ask.

"My handsome devil." The soft statement, that quiet claim. It made his heart beat in a way he would never have thought possible for one of a devil's persuasion. For what is there for a devil to love?

An angel, apparently.

Raphael relaxed into your hands, his own hand reaching and cradling your wrist in his hand as he softly ran his thumb over your wrist.

Yours. He was yours.

He did not stop you as you leaned forward, pressing your lips against his in a gentle kiss, a kiss that made all of time stop. A kiss that made all sound fade other than the crackling of the fire place and the soft breathing of your both. His hands slowly came to rest on the plush of your hips, his nails — sharp as talons but never a danger to you — digging slightly into the cloth of your clothes. In a fluid motion he gripped your thighs and stood up, holding you with ease as if you weighted nothing to him. A soft gasp of surprise escaped you which only caused him to quietly chuckle, making his way over to his bed.

The bed was large, larger than any one you would have thought practical but Raphael always did have an eye for luxury. It was plush and soft, the comforter and pillows a deep red much like everything else in the House of Hope. He laid you down upon the soft bed as if you were made of glass, his touch careful and delicate as he stared down upon your face. His eyes gleamed and glowed like molten gold before he slowly lowered himself onto the bed as well. With the utmost care he rested his head on your chest, careful of his horns as his arms snaked their way around your waist. Your own arms wrapped themselves over his shoulders, one hand resting between his shoulder blades while gently running your fingers through his hair. Your heartbeat was a soft comfort, even and constant against his ear. He could feel the weight of the day starting to wane from his shoulders. The heaviness that bore down on him slowly lessening as your chest started to vibrate with a soft hum.

A small smile crossed your face as you continued to hum — just a little song, one that you only had the faintest memories of your mother singing to you as a child. But you still sang it to him. Still offered him this comfort and this peace where nothing could touch you both within these four walls. His eyes slowly closing in time with the song as he felt your soft body under his.

Oh, if you would stay here. He could treat you like the divine being you truly were.

He slowly opened his eyes and tilted his head up, lips finding the skin of your neck and placing feather-light kisses as his hands slipped under your shirt. Your warm skin under his hands, your warmth.

You belonged here.

"Stay, Dove. Stay with me." His voice was quiet, mutterings in the silence between you as you let out a soft gasp and tilted your head back. Your e/yes closed as he continued to speak, his nails dragging ever so slightly across your skin.

"You could. You could stay. You would want for nothing. I would give you everything." Your breath caught in your throat — his words, his touch — it made your mind hazy, made you believe for a moment that yes, you could stay.

But you knew better. You knew you couldn't. That realization ran like ice down your spine, like it did every time he asked — begged — you to stay. You knew he would do anything for you to stay with him. It was how he was. It was how much he loved you. He would defy the Hells, the Heavens, and everything in-between for you. But that didn't change that you couldn't stay.

Your hands found his cheeks, gently pulling him back to look up at you. Your eyes met his burning gold, your brow furrowed and a heavy heart.

"Raphael… love.. I… I can't…" He didn't like your words. Instead he growled, his tail twitching and flicking as he leaned forward, pressing kisses and nipping at your skin with his teeth.

"Yes you can. You could be pampered and cared for. The elder brain is defeated. Your tadpole is gone. The absolute is no more. You could, Dove." A shaky breath escaped you as you shook your head, reaching for his chin and forcing him to look up at you. Your eyes met his as you shook your head again.

"I… I just can't, Raphael."

You watched as the soft look on his face slowly morphed, morphed from gentle to annoyed then settled on angry as he let out a quiet snarl. He stood up, his tail lashing back and forth with his shirt half undone and his eyes pinning you to where you laid on his bed.

"Why? Why, Dove?" Your mouth opened and closed several times as you tried to find the words — the right words — to explain. But they would not come. How could you tell the man you loved that you were the child of an angel? The child of the enemy of his father? Your silence and inability to answer him only seemed to agitate him more as he began to pace along the edge of the bed. He moved like a tiger, shoulders tense and steps heavy while keeping his eyes on you.

"Answer me! Tell me why? I can give you anything! Everything!" His demands would not find an answer with you. You just could not find one to give him. You couldn't lie to him — no, you never lied to him — but you couldn't tell him the truth. The only option was silence. And that came with it's own consequences. Your eyes did not leave his as you gave him a gentle but sad smile, slowly standing up and righting your clothes. Raphael looked confused, his tail continuing to flick back and forth as he took a step towards you.

"Where are you going?" His question was harsh, demanding. And all you could do was shake your head.

"I… am going back to Baldur's Gate." For a moment it looked like Raphael was going to stop you, to reach forward and grab your arm as you made your way to the large doors. But he stopped himself. You didn't know if you were happy that he was letting you go or sad he didn't stop you. It was all too much. Too complicated. You glanced back at him once last time, your hand resting on the door before you walked out, closing the door with a thunk behind you.

Raphael could hear your footsteps retreating, could hear you getting farther and farther away till he could no longer discern your steps from the rest of the noise at the House of Hope.

And he hated it.

His blood pounded in his ears as he felt the burn of rage and a heaviness that he didn't want to name in his chest. He wanted to chase after you. Wanted to find something — anything — to get you to stay. But his pride, his wounded pride, would not allow him to do so. Raphael, son of Mephistopheles, did not beg. But yet he still found his feet carrying him towards the door, stopping beside his desk as his nails dug into the wood. He didn't care for the deep gouges he was leaving, didn't care that the expensive lacquer was going to be ruined. None of it mattered. None of it mattered because it wasn't you.

A roar escaped him, his arm swinging across his desk and sending the contents flying through the air and across the floor. The crystal decanter of wine shattered upon the marble floor; the deep red of the wine and the glittering of the crystal reflecting in the low firelight.

You have to stop yourself from reaching out but god does it fucking hurt whenever you think about him. Is he okay? Is he being safe? Is he being reckless?

So many questions yet not a single answer.

You can’t help but picture the worst sometimes; him lying bloody and broken on the ground with his brothers unable to help. Sometimes when your phone pings, you fear that it’s one of them calling to tell you that they found Raphael dead. You scare yourself even more by thinking of them never finding his body, that somehow scientists got a hold of him and are doing tests and experiments on him.

You can’t recall how many nights you’ve cried yourself to sleep, how you’ve hugged your pillow to your chest and inhaled his fading scent so deep that you’ve nearly made yourself lightheaded from holding your breath. How you find yourself subconsciously glancing to your bedroom window whenever you hear a noise because you think it might be him coming.

You miss him so much and there are times when you feel incredibly guilty for what you did. Maybe you should have listened to him, given him his space and waited for him to come to you and then maybe you wouldn’t be hurting as much as you were right now.

You wonder if he’s in just as much pain as you.

It’s another late night for you, sitting on your couch and watching some t.v show that’s been marathoning all day. You have half an empty bowl of popcorn sitting on your side and a few candy wrappers littering the cushions and floor. You should clean it up but you feel that you haven’t really been able to do much of that since your breakup.

Taking a glance at your phone and seeing how late it is, you decide to call it a night. You manage to pick up the mess and turn the t.v off before dropping everything off in your kitchen. After cleaning up, you head into your bathroom to do your nightly routine and then go hit the sack.

Your room is dark when you walk in and you feel along your wall for your light switch, but you stop when you see a faint gleam at your window. You freeze up, a cold chill traveling down your spine when the shine moves a bit. There’s just enough moonlight to shine down on whatever is on your fire escape, but not enough to fully illuminate.

You see whatever it is move again and then you hear light tapping against the glass. Your breath catches in your throat, flicking on the light and seeing Raph crouched on your fire escape, an unreadable expression on his face.

You nearly run over to open your window but you compose yourself, clearing your throat before slowly heading over. You can’t take your eyes off him, not with the way his amber gaze practically burns holes into your skull. The click of the latch unlocking seems to echo through your room, adding to the irregular rapid heartbeat inside your chest. You step back as Raph pushes the window and climbs inside.

You were getting closer and closer to the edge of the city. Sora was the only one invited to a party on its outskirts, but if one was invited, all of you came.

"Come on, this is literally going to ruin my hair! My tinsel is going to blow off." Sora screamed back, leaning back in her seat. Aurelia rustled her hair ironically.

"I have all your hair brushes in the trunk. Scream any more and we're crashing straight into Antonio's." You pressed the gas harder and Ella just laughed. "We should of never let you drive!"

"Yea, we're going to be late by 13 minutes." Aurelia commented, her fingers flying across the screen on her phone.

"Fashionably late, Gold" Ella corrected as she turned back. "Where's the water, I'm thirsty."

Sora opened the duffel bag sat in between her and Aurelia and pulled one of the freezing plastic bottles from it.

The city lights were blinding you so much you had to squint, but it was exactly what you dreamed of.

Despite wearing dresses, makeup and even tinsel in your hair, you weren't always popular.

Once you were the nerd trying to fit in. Muting your wardrobe and personality to make even one friend.

In high school, that all changed. You had thrown a water bottle at someones head because they just couldn't shut up. It stopped barely a few inches from their head by a hand with a sunset for manicure.

"So sorry! Please excuse my friend!"

The girl had wild orange and yellow highlights in her hair and a personality matching her nails. She had slung her arm around your shoulders as she dragged you away.

"Who are you? We aren't even friends?"

"Now we are. I think we're more alike than you think." She raised her phone towards you and your eyes widened. The actual reason you were here. You were meeting someone who miraculously played the same game as you in this massive school. Despite her hair and nails, her wardrobe was as dark as yours.

From then on, you had met Sora, the ever serious, but loyal head, who never missed a chance to hype one of you up or help with whatever. But always taking the blame for any of you because she was a model student.

Then Aurelia, the one who found studying the structure of atoms and particle accelerators more interesting than life itself. The brain of the group who never turned down a study session.

When you had all met one after the other, you saw how scared you 4 all were. 4 kids alone who were never accepted, now finding a place to belong? Impossible. You saw all the shackles they put on themselves.

Sora banned her constant need to help and support for friends, afraid of being seen as 'too much'

Ella forced herself to hide her constant smile, afraid of being seen as 'extra'.

Aurelia constantly forced herself to go out of her comfort zone, afraid of being seen as a 'shut-in'

And you? You constantly had to grind your teeth or pierce the skin on your palms to stop yourself from throwing a table at someone, afraid of being seen as 'crazy'

Together, you four managed to somehow climb the social ladder, with your own personalities having their distinct color pallet.

Sora and Aurelia favored cooler, relaxing tones with their favorite colors being Blue and Purple respectively.

You and Ella like warmed tones. She was like the sun, always wearing bright yellow or orange.

You liked the color red. It seemed like it was the only color on the color wheel that understood your anger issues.

And now driving to that weird out of town party, you wore your signature colors with colored tinsel in your hair.

"Isn't this place a bit sketchy?" Sora asked while checking her makeup with a handheld mirror.

"It can't be anything too bad, right? Angela has invited us so many times already, shouldn't be a problem." Ella turned around and put the water back in the duffel.

"I swear to god if it's something weird and im smashing the girls head out the window." Being the one most prone to violence, it was practically inscribed that you would be the strongest. Bad thing was that drove away guys. It was nothing, their little ego was nothing compared to you.

"I honestly never liked her. Always such a pick me." Aurelia commented as she leaned her head on her fist.

Ella nodded. "She literally embarrassed me just to get close to Jeremy, and he's gay!" Sora giggled. "It was so funny when she saw him kiss a guy at Emily's party last month."

Idle conversation flowed, until you made it out of New York and it drifted to the vulnerable weird kids under all that popularity.

"Ugh I won't be able to get Hyacines light cone and be able to pull for both Silver Wolf lvl999 and Evanescia" Sora sighed.

"Sora you literally have a gambling addiction." You laughed and she scoffed. "No I don't, I just like the characters!"

Ella had now pulled out her phone, her fingers flying over notes rapidly coming towards her. "Yea she doesn't! I won't be able to get enough pulls for Akitos rerun banner."

Aurelia was scrolling through build guides. "My factory in Arknights is so bad, im gonna have to rebuild it again."

Ella rolled her eyes. "It literally isn't. You've even posted it and soo many people commented how good it was."

The two started arguing and even Sora gave her two cents. The one thing that calmed all debates popped into your mind and you couldn't stop yourself from saying it.

"Leon Kennedy is so hot."

The car went silent before nods and sounds of agreement echoed.

"Him in requiem is so hot." Sora commented.

"I like him better in re2. He's so cute!" Ella giggled.

"You kidding? Every Leon is hot as fuck. But him in re4…" The whole car laughed out loud before the gps beeped.

"you have arrived at your destination"

You hit it "This shit is broken. We're literally on an empty road."

Ella suddenly looked a bit uncomfy. "Im getting bad vibes…"

You stopped your car on the side of the road before going out and almost falling. Oh yea, heels.

You walked to the back and opened the trunk. Your friends crowded around you as you handed them random items. You gave Ella two long wrenches, Aurelia a crowbar, Sora two massive screwdrivers and yourself…

"You get a fucking sledge hammer? No fair!" Ella whined and you slammed the trunk closed. "You want it?" You handed it to her and it hit the ground. "Okay okay okay fine! You can use it."

"Get your jackets, I don't think we're going to a party." Sora commanded, her voice serious.

Ella leaned over and grabbed the duffel, giving everyone the thing they packed. Sora a long coat and reached her knees, Aurelia a normal soft purple zip up top, you a black leather jacket with red details and herself…a raincoat?

"Hey! Before you judge look at the back. It was limited edition!" She turned around and moved her hair to reveal an orange rubber ducky.

"Wow." Aurelia started but shook her head.

"Im not missing the chance of a party. If something really happens, then we are ready. If it doesn't…" Sora raised her shoulders. "Then this is really dumb."

A house on the side of the road was what made you stop. Partially because there were some lights and partially because all of you were curious.

"Someone hold me im scaredddd" You hit Ella's arm lightly. "Shut up."

As you slowly made your way to the house, the sound of voices got higher. "That doesn't sound like a party…"

"I thought we already established that?" Aurelia questioned Sora, but she just shook her head as she slowly pushed the door open with her manicured nails.

She slowly stepped inside, already mastered walking in heels soundlessly. She walked towards and open doorway and peeked inside. You followed behind and also peeked. Aurelia was halfway to you while Ella hadn't even stepped in. What you saw shocked you.

There were people in dark clothing standing at the walls while a woman sat at the back of the room on what looked like a throne. The worst part was that weird symbol on the ground made out of…blood.

"What the fuck am I looking at Leo." Raph asked as he looked down.

"Seems like some sort of summoning ritual." He answered, his own instincts going on edge.

"Woah, that's like hella creepy dude." Mikey said in awe.

"Its connected to the Kraang." Donnie clicked rapidly on his watch before looking towards the symbol again. "We need a distraction to mess it up."

"Sora, what am I even looking at. We should definitely not be here." You poked her head.

"I fucking hate Angela." Aurelia whispered from above. You were stacked like some cartoon with Sora on the bottom, you in the middle and Aurelia on the top.

"Where's Ella?" Sora asked "I think shes back at the door."

"Where we should be too, let's get outta here."

Aurelia moved but her heel hit the floor too loud.

.

..

…

"Gold if I die here im coming back to life and killing you." You whispered angrily upwards.

"Who's there!" The woman screamed and the person closest to you moved and you barely manages to go back before he grabbed Sora.

"Oh fuck no." You rounded the corner and without even thinking, swung the sledge hammer to the guys face. His hold on Sora's head released and she ran towards you.

"Are those…"

"Really pretty girls fighting the Foot?" Mikey cut Leo off, his excitement uncontainable.

"I mean, its a distraction alright. We currently have a window of 30 seconds to mess up the symbol. On your call Leo."

Blood splattered on your face and the guy dropped unmoving.

"Oh my god." You whispered, looking at your bloodied body.

"I JUST KILLED SOMEONE." You shouted, making Aurelia run to the door, but it closed. She slammed her body on the handle and wrestled with it. Good thing she had pulled Ella in moments before.

Another guy went for your back, but Sora stabbed her screwdrivers into his neck. She looked slowly at her trembling hands and bloody screwdrivers.

"NOW" You heard someone yell and 4 massive figures jumped down from a hole in the second roof.

You turned slightly and the moonlight illuminated a bloody line going from the right side of your forehead to your left cheek. Your eyes met something you would only see in comic books.

The green eyes of a humanoid turtle.

But for Raph, he was stuck in awe. The blood, mixed with your sparkly red eyeshadow, brang out your wide and wild eyes. Your hair shimmered with red and blood, his eyes focused on a soldier coming right your way.

"Watch out!" Ella finally found the courage and protected you with her wrenches, but a trained soldier always won against a party girl.

He forced her to step back right into you. You grabbed her and pushed her to the wall, making the soldier loose his balance and giving you the opportunity to slam your hammer into him.

"Gold! What's going on with the door?!" Sora asked from the floor near the corner, her Screwdrivers raised high.

"Dudes, I don't think we can ignore this." Mikey pointed to the pathetic fight you, Sora and Ella were putting up.

"Alright. Donnie, do what you do. When you're ready and we aren't done, join us. Raph, Mikey with me." They all nodded and the three started taking out soldiers left and right. But before one of them died, he pressed a button on his sleeves and the air vents started emitting a weird smoke.

You quickly pulled Ella behind you and Sora quickly pushed herself towards you before standing up. You three watched the three massive figures take out the soldiers one by one.

"Wow…" You voiced your thoughts.

"It's…" Sora continued.

"Leon Kennedy." You three said in unison.

"WHERE?!" Aurelia appeared behind you from nowhere. She look over your shoulder and her own jaw dropped. "Wow…"

"Hey, what are you doing here?! Did the door fail?" Sora asked quickly as she moved infront of you all.

"Oh no, sorry. It didn't really budge." You groaned before turning around to her. "Are you reall-" You started coughing.

Soon you all did. Your became unfocused as the world spun. You didn't even notice the one soldier left charging at you, just for him to get rammed into a wall.

Now it was only you and the humanoid turtles left. They each wore different colored masks, but the colors were way to familiar. Blue, red, purple, orange.

And the blue one was looking at you 4 suspiciously while the orange one looked happy as ever.

"Donnie, how much longer."

"Just a bit more. This circus smoke is clouding my vision."

Behind you, you heard Ella cough bad before falling. You quickly threw yourself down to catch her. She sat on the floor and you pulled the hood of her raincoat on before covering her mouth with it. You held her close to your chest as you tried eyeing the creatures, but your eyes watered.

"Break… the window." Sora said before she fell, but caught herself on the wall. Aurelia started walking to a window, but her ankle twisted and she fell on debris.

"Leo, mind telling me whats going on behind me?!" Donnie asked annoyed and Leo opened his mouth. "4 humans have seen us and are currently…getting poisoned I think."

Donnie finally finished and when he looked back, his eyes widened. "Quick, we gotta get em out of here, now!!!"

"Say less." And Raph rammed himself through a window.

Donnie sighed and facepalmed himself "When he gets a concussion, im not helping him."

Leo ran over to the one alone near the wall and hesitantly offered his three fingered hand. Before she could even decide if she wanted help or not, she collapsed, but he caught her before easily picking her up and running through the open wall.

Donnie quickly walked over to the one on the ground and crouched down, not close enough to oppose, but close enough to help. He extended his arm. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

She raised herself on her elbow and Donnie breathed a sigh of relief that maybe she wasn't so bad off after all.

She raised her arm and pointed to you and Ella. "Help…them." And she fell unconscious. Donnie caught her head before it hit the ground, locked his other arm under her knees and ran towards the open hole.

Raph walked in right after Donnie ran off to see Mikey crouching down near that girl he saw and one in a…rain coat?"

"Hey hey hey, I get we might be a bit scary, but we wont hurt you, promise?" You held Ella close, her body already unconscious. Raph honestly just wanted to go back home, workout a bit, eat, sleep, not save some random dumb party girls just because they had seen them, but something in your eyes got his attention. Something was different, and maybe that interested him.

"Hey, nice jacket." You turned ever so slowly to the new voice and just like, Ella vanished from your hold. The lack of support made you tumble over, but a strong green hand caught your arm and with his other, lifted you like you weighed nothing and just like that, you also fell asleep.

~

"…think they like turtles?"

"How am I supposed to know, dumbass?"

"Hey hey." Someone snapped their fingers in your face and you grimaced before opening your eyes.

"Hey, she's awake!"

"Hello? Hi hello, how many fingers am I holding?"

"You aren't giving her many options, Don."

You blinked. "Two?"

"Yes, its two. Great!" You focused your eyes to see 4 turtles looking over you. You sat up and rubbed your eyes as you looked around.

"Am I dead?" The purple turtle shook his head. "No no no, you aren't dead. See, this might be a bit weird."

"Lets wake the other before we explain, Donnie." He nodded and moved to the 'others'. Others? What others?

It clicked in your brain. Your best friends. "How are they?" You asked a bit too quickly and the purple turtle, Donnie, shook his head.

"Their vitals are stable, but aren't waking up. Its like they are choosing to stay unconscious."

You looked around and you were laying in the backseat of your car. Next to you was Ella. Sora and Aurelia were in the front two seats, laying on the car doors.

"Choosing not to wake up, huh?" You tested your voice and the purple turtle nodded.

You sat up and cleared your throat before cupping your hands to your mouth and mimicking a voice.

"IS THAT LEON KENNEDY?!"

"WHERE?" Aurelias eyes flew open and her forehead hit Sora's.

Ella sat up immediately, her eyes scanning her surroundings.

"So fucking predictable." But you hid your trembling hand. Being surrounded by these massive creatures was terrifying. The way you felt blood crusted under your nails and on your face wasn't helping you either.

"Owhh" Sora and Aurelia rubbed their foreheads at the same time and Raph shook his head. Who was this Leon that could pull girls out of a coma?

"Sora…im scared." Ella voiced as her eyes scanned the faces of the turtles surrounding the car.

Sora's eyes met yours as she looked back. "That looks really cool." She commented on the blood on your face.

"Sora I killed 2 fucking people."

"With a sledge hammer!" The orange turtle commented excitedly.

"This is so cool." Aurelia whispered under her breath as she looked around, but then she blinked a few times.

"I think my contacts got lost somewhere."

"They're probably at the back of your eyeballs drinking your blood." Ella tried humor to ease her nerves, but it didn't really work.

"Your extra glasses are in the glove box." You rubbed your head. This migraine was disgusting.

"Am I hallucinating again?" Sora asked more to herself than anyone.

"Uhh no. We are very much real." the blue one answered her question and she nodded slowly.

"What are you guys?" Aurelia asked after putting her glasses on.

"A problem. Told you it was a bad idea to go overground. Now Splinter's gonna kill us when we get back." the red one crossed his arms.

"If we're such a problem, why did you save us? You even said you liked my jacket, but it is pretty cool so I don't blame ya." His face started slowly matching his mask.

"Oooo Raph giving a compliment? Is it Christmas or what?? Okay so about what we are." The orange turtle stood on the trunk.

"I made a lil jingle. We are…"

"Mikey please" The purple turtle pleaded, but it was no use. He looked anywhere but at the embarrassment that his youngest brother was going to give them and saw the girl with glasses playing something on her phone. He quietly moved over and peeked at what she was doing. It was like she was building something. Something mechanical. He couldn't stop himself as he asked. "What are you doing?" Playing a game right after almost dying is definitely an option.

Aurelia jumped from his sudden voice before her eyes lit up. She moved her phone closer to him and he went down on his knees and leaned on the car to get a closer look.

"So basically you build your own factory to get materials. You have to make the most of space and which machines to put it, since there are a lot of different factories you can build…" Without even hearing herself, she started explaining the whole factory system to a mutant turtle she just met.

And Mikey..

"TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

HEROES IN A HALF SHELL

TURTLE POWER!" He posed on your fucking car.

Ella started clapping, her anxiety chipping away. "Hey that was actually really good! Has a nice ring to it!"

The orange turtle's eyes lit up and he fell to his knees. You moved to the left car seat as Ella moved closer to the turtle. You hugged your knees and looked at your hands. The blood was turning brown. You killed someone. Actually fucking killed someone

"Hey…uh.. you good?" You jumped slightly. When did a turtle come behind you? "Uhm.. yea I mean as good as someone can get after killing someone." You pushed yourself up and sat on the trunk of the car to get a better look at him.

Suddenly, the orange turtle slid next to you and threw an arm around your shoulders. You tensed but either he ignored that or didn't notice.

"Chill brochacha. Killing is so not cool, but you did it to protect your homegirl and honestly?" He leaned close enough to whisper. "He wasn't a good guy anyway."

His head got pushed away by a massive hand. "Mikey, you're scaring the girl." Your eyes landed on his other hand supporting himself on the car door. By where his voice came from and his position, you could definitely guess where he was.

Just don't look at him, don't do it. Don't fucking do it.

Why are you doing it?

You turned around your calculations were disgustingly inaccurate. He was way closer than what you thought.

His eyes locked with yours and he quickly looked away and moved back. "I…uh..sorry." He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Probably scared ya."

"Why would you scare me?" He froze. Did he not terrify you? Especially being that close to his scarred face.

Aurelia was still blabbering about two different machines when she stopped. and put her phone down. "Sorry, must of talked your ear off and you don't even know my name." She extended her hand, nails manicured a deep purple with little golden designs, and introduced herself. "Aurelia, but my friends call me gold, and you are?"

Donnies eyes stuck to her nails before offering his own hand. Their eyes met. Since when were they so close? "Donatello, and you weren't talking my ear off, don't worry." He looked away. "It was actually…really interesting." Aurelia also looked away. No one had heard her yap without looking uninterested or being uncomfortable.

"Gold…" He tested it out and her head snapped back. "Because-"

"Because the start of your name 'Au' is the sign for gold on the periodic table." She nodded and smiled slightly.

"Yea, you're right."

His hand reached for her phone. "You didn't finish explaining what the Electric Pylon does. Could you…um.. continue?"

Sora's eyes were glued on you three. Sitting in the drivers seat, despite leaning on the door, she could still drive off if any of these turtles did anything.

"We won't hurt you guys, you know?"

"Sneaking up on someone while saying that isn't really the wisest decision, you know?" Blue mask laughed and crouched down slightly as he offered his hand.

"Leonardo, and you are?"

Sora eyed his three fingered hand suspiciously, but not disgusted.

"Sora." His eyes widened and he froze.

"Sky…"

Sora nodded slowly, her own eyes narrowing slightly. "Yea."

Leo shook his head and with his free hand started pointing out his brothers. "The smart guy is Donatello."

"Donnie is fine." He waved lightly before going back to staring at Aurelia's phone.

"The dumbass in orange is Michelangelo."

"Hey!" he protested and Ella giggled lightly "You can call me Mikey the pizza lord." he said before his focus was brought back to their conversation.

"And the brute is Raphael."

"You gotta insult us? Call me Raph." He was now leaning on the back of the car, grunting like he always did.

"And I, the leader, am Leonardo. But Leo's just fine." He addressed you three.

"Well then, that's Aurelia, but Gold, Goldy or Goldylock works just fine." Sora stated and Aurelia's eyes blazed before leaning over and hitting her. "Call me that one more time and im stealing that blue dress for a month."

Sora raised her hands. "Fine fine, I'll stop. Just please don't take it, I need it." Aurelia huffed and leaned back.

"The sunshine incarnate is Ella." She waved enthusiastically, her fear practically gone from talking about anything and everything with Mikey.

"And finally, our loose canon, is that one over there." Her eyes softened and she released Leo's hand to lean over to you. He noticed the lack of warmth immediately and frowned slightly.

Sora extended her hand towards you. "Hey, you good? I know you keep on saying you wanna kill people, but how are you feeling?"

You subconsciously interlocked your hands, but looked away. "Im fine, no need to get emotional." but your hand trembled.

"You also killed someone, how are you feeling?" Her face dropped. "Not the best, but I'll manage."

"Awh this is-" Mikey started but Ella quickly clamped her hand on his mouth before whispering in his ear. "Shhhh, they're never emotional like this." He nodded slowly and she let her hand go. Mikey looked at her and she looked away. "Sorry, I shouldn't of-"

"Nah, don't worry. I get it. You're good, sunshine." She looked back and now a slight pink dusted her cheeks. "Thanks."

"Okay this is really nice and all, but we have to ask you four a question." The turtles all straightened at Leo's commanding voice.

"Two questions, actually." Donnie stood up.

"Three!" Added Mikey.

"Make it four." grunted Raph.

"Are you going to keep our secret?" The mood turned serious fast.

"What secret?" Ella asked confused.

"Oh we aren't really topside kind of turtles. We live in the shadows and are the secret heroes of the city, bro." Ella nodded in realization. "Oh yea definitely. Why wouldn't we?"

Leo looked a bit unsure, but nodded his head towards Donnie. "Oh yea! How are you feeling? That gas was extremely dangerous to humans and if left unchecked for 48 hours could result in death."

"I feel normal?" Sora said more as a question and you all nodded. "Don't feel anything too different, just a bit dizzy." You noted and Donnie nodded "A bit of dizziness is normal, as long as it doesn't cause fainting or any kind of collapse, you should be good."

"Oh my turn!" Mikey exclaimed before taking Ella's hand and bringing it to his lips. "Are we going to see you beautiful ladies again?" His eyes never left hers and she giggled.

"I hope so." And his eyes lit up.

You all waited for Raph's question. "How…are you not scared of us." The car went quiet.

"When you first saw us in these dresses, heels and makeup, you assumed we were some dumb college girls sticking their noses where we don't belong, right?" His eyes widened and he tried to deny it, but it was written all over his face.

"Well maybe we are bit of that." The girls hummed as you looked at them. "But the thing that banded us together was our love for a specific type of video games and being alone most of our lives. Judging someone by their appearance has never been our style."

Raph went a bit quiet. He did assume that. He really did. "That-" But his brothers were already standing up.

"We also have a question." They were about to leave but stopped in their tracks at your voice. "It's a long way to the city and you did save our lives, so…"

"What she's trying to do is ask if you would like a ride back." Aurelia rolled her eyes.

Leo's eyes widened and he looked to the small car. "Thank you for the generosity, but.."

"We won't fit." Raph finished, his previous embarrassment gone.

Sora smirked. "We've fit twenty two people on this car. We will manage."

Twenty two people?

The brothers looked at the small car.

"I mean…" Donnie started, but his mind was stuck. Just how...

"If you can make it fit, we'd love that." Sora grinned. "Everyone out!"

You swung your legs over the car door and almost sprained your ankle. Luckily, that brute caught your arm, but he couldn't meet your eyes. "Thanks."

"Ella this is the last time I let you convince me to wear heels to a party." She just shrugged.

When everyone left the car, Sora took it all in with a hand to her chin.

"Im driving." You commented and she waved her hand dismissively. "Yea, yea I know."

"Wait but you shouldn't drive right after-" Donnie started, but Ella stopped him. "No getting her to change her mind.

Sora snapped her fingers. "Raph in the passenger seat. Leo in the backseat in the middle. Mikey on the right and Donnie on the left."

They looked at Leo and he shrugged. Might as well. As they squished together in the back, they could only look at Raph with envy. "How come you get the best seat?"

"Because im bigger than all of you knuckleheads." Raph answered proudly.

You sat in the drivers seat and pressed a button. The roof of the top started slowly covering the car, but why were they panicking?

"Have you guys never seen a removable hood before?" You asked and looked back. They shook their heads and you sighed.

When the top finally finished, the door to Donnies side opened and he sighed at the freedom before he saw what was happening.

"You ready?" Sora asked and Aurelia nodded. Her arms were being held by her and Ella.

"Okay, 1 2 3!" Aurelia jumped on the car door and it groaned slightly. She started falling back, but Ella supported her.

"Sorry, this might be a bit uncomfortable." She said before the car door shut. Gold moved her legs to find any free space without accidentally hitting Donnie. Her hands gripped the protruding car rails.

Ella and Sora moved to the other side and did the same thing for the former.

"Wait, but this isn't safe at all! You could fall of at a moments notice." Donnie protested but Aurelia lowered herself enough to go into the car. "Don't worry, we've driven like this countless times, nothing special." Ella did the same. "Yea, it's super safe. She even drives more carefully when there are people like this, so its even safer!" She explained.

Donnie looked away and nodded. Being this close to a girl made half of his brain turn off.

Finally, you helped Sora onto the drivers door and turned the car on. The loud music Ella was blasting on the way screamed in your ear and you immediately turned it down. "Sorry."

And the car came alive again. You quickly backed again into the highway and turned the other way.

You pressed the gas and the car quickly went into the 80s.

"I thought you said she drove carefully when there are people like this?!" Donnie poked his head out at Aurelia and she looked at him confused. "She is driving carefully?"

"Ugh this is so boring." Ella leaned her head on the roof of the car before poking Raph. "Can you tell her to put on some music? Make it loud too."

Raph was hesitant but he asked. You thought for a moment before playing with the touchscreen a bit and turning on a song.

Ella's eyes widened. "Is that?"

"Its Proi Proi!" Sora exclaimed and you all started singing, but no one dared to do the high notes. The chorus wasn't sung, it was screamed.

"Donnie, are we in trouble?" Leo asked quietly and Donnie shook his head. Mikey was actually dancing. "Hey I love this song!! Donnie, you know it?"

He put his wrist near the audio system and it quickly recognized the song. "Its an original soundtrack from the game 'Honkai:Star Rail.'" Mikey nodded. "We are so playing that when we get back dudes.

Raph wasn't a really big fan of the song, but when he looked at you singing your heart out, his heart skipped a beat. It was like back at the house when the moonlight hit your face. It ensnared him and he couldn't move. What was this feeling and why was it so unfamiliar?

~

You played a few more songs of the game and even took some suggestions until you finally turned into an alley.

You helped Sora get out and she helped the others. When everyone got out, Leo bowed. "Thank you for driving us home." Sora shook her head. "No problem."

"And we're keeping your secret, don't worry." Aurelia leaned on the passenger door, the wind blowing her face.

"We just hope we can see you guys again." Ella winked at Mikey and his whole face went red.

"It was nice meeting you." You got in the drivers seat, but your eyes stuck to a certain red bandana.

"Real nice…" Ella stood like a statue as she smiled at Mikey.

"Ella get in the car or I'm going without you." The engine roared to life and she ran and jumped into the back before you sped off.

"We're getting married." Mikey was stuck waving at nothing.

"Ugh Mikey." His brothers voiced in unison.

              Marks. Marks across your skin that bloomed. He loved it. Loved the taste of your skin under his tongue as he had you pinned under him. Loved the beautiful music you would make. All because of him.

              Raphael was a vain man. A prideful man. He never claimed to be anything else and never denied it. And having you with his bite marks across your skin? It was as good as any brand. A clear symbol of his ownership over you. That you belonged to him and under him.

              Even now he had you pressed into his mattress, listening to your moans and whines as he forced his cock deeper inside you. Your face was flushed, your eyes dazed, and his teeth marks littering your neck and shoulders. If he could convince you to stay like this he would. To stay here, trapped in his bed and his cock buried inside you. But for now — he would settle for the bites. For the feeling of your pulse under his teeth. For knowing that you couldn't hide them from prying eyes.