Chapter 12: Bullseye
To hit the target right in the centre; a direct hit. Can also refer to something that achieves exactly the intended effect.
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"Mutacorp is a group of scientists," Raphael says as his family gathers for a pizza dinner. "They're using mutagen for something, but Taylor didn't know what."
"I was right! Booya-kasha," Michelangelo brags with a triumphant grin.
Sarina and Donatello move in almost perfect synchronization as they place their fingers in steeples over their mouths, brows knitting together. Leonardo glances at the couple, then back at Raphael.
"Alright, so our next plan of action is to find out what Mutacorp wants with that mutagen," he says. "To do it, we'll need the Dragons."
"Or...we could figure out where Mutacorp is and infiltrate it," Destiny says.
Leonardo shakes his head. "We need to know more before we even think about trying that. It'd be too dangerous to go in now."
"We don't even know where their building is, dudes," Michelangelo adds.
"The Purple Dragons are working for them. They have the info we need and questioning them is the only way to get that," Leonardo says.
"I highly doubt that Hun will sit down for a questionnaire session," Sarina says. Her eyebrows furrow and she pouts at the thought of withheld information.
"I know, which is why we're gonna force them," he continues, his blue eyes flickering to Raphael. "Raph, you need to get the Purple Dragon girl."
"Kidnapping?" Destiny asks, eyes widening. "Are you sure? Yeah, we need info, but this..."
"I'll do it," Raphael butts in, cracking his knuckles. "It's about time we got some answers."
"She'll probably be easier to snatch than one of the bigger thugs," Donatello agrees, slow and hesitant. "Besides, she's most likely smarter than them too."
Sarina and Destiny glance at each other and the former sighs. "This is very strange. We have never done anything like this before," she says, eyes flashing.
"Actually, one time we captured Chris Bradford and tried to use him as collateral against Xever," Michelangelo says. "We were trying to save Mr. Murakami. We threatened to drop old Chrissy B off a building and everything."
"And how did that go?" Destiny asks.
Michelangelo laughs sheepishly. "Uh...it didn't work and we let him go..."
Destiny utters a fluctuating "mmhmm", crossing her arms over her chest, and Leonardo lets out a long breath. "Des, we aren't going to be cruel," he says. "We're going to ask her some questions and get what we can out of her."
"And if she doesn't say anything?" she demands. "Then what?" She lowers her voice dramatically, uttering, "Oops, sorry, just gonna let you go now. No hard feelings!" She frowns. "That's not what happens. I don't care who this chick is, it's not right. It's—"
"Destiny," Sarina murmurs.
She stands and moves closer to the wolf-raven, one hand extended. Destiny's pupils are dilated, her ears perked and both feathers and fur alike ruffled. She takes Sarina's hand, squeezing, and together they take in a deep breath.
"Good," Sarina whispers. "This plan is indeed...unconventional, but remember that our turtles are not like them. You have nothing to fear when it comes to this girl's safety." Destiny starts to speak, but the cyborg is faster. "Even if Raphael has some bad blood, he isn't vicious—" There's an astounding amount of arched eye-ridges and brows in the room, so she back-pedals and corrects herself easily. "Crazy. He knows when to stop...hopefully."
"Of course I know when to stop," Raphael says. He crosses his burly arms over his plastron, jaw clenched. "Let's just get this over with. I'll make sure to pin her down this time."
Destiny stands and leaves the kitchen without a word, tail drooped. Sarina follows her just to the edge of the doorway and watches her enter the dojo and join Master Splinter's meditating silhouette. She sighs and looks back at her family, heaving the daintiest of shrugs.
"Come on, let's go," Leonardo says, glancing at the clock hanging on their wall. "We can leave for patrol early. I've got a feeling that the Dragons will be active again tonight."
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Leonardo was right. While most of the night was uneventful, Donatello got an alert from a spy drone just as they were about to head back to the lair. They booked it at top speed to the affected area.
It's another bank robbery this time. A gaping hole spills Purple Dragons onto the street, stolen treasure clutched in their arms as chalky dust fills the air around them. While the rest of his family launches a counterattack, Raphael lingers behind and searches for the one feminine, masked form among the unmasked men. He finds her at the edge of the battle, searching the crowds, hand hovering over a knife strapped to her hip.
Raphael rolls his shoulders and sucks in a breath. Finally, he'll get some payback. He starts along the rooftop, keeping low to the ground. There's a shout from Hun that he can't make out and he glances over in time to see the gang leader point to the girl then motion for her to leave. She tugs her hood closer to her head and takes off for the nearest alleyway.
As she rounds the corner into the side street, Raphael drops down from an above fire escape and tackles her. She yelps as they tumble across the asphalt, her trying to swipe at him the entire time, but he comes out on top and pins her to the ground with his hands clasped around her wrists.
"Let me go," she demands, eyes blazing.
"I don't think so," he retorts. "We need some answers and you've been chosen to give them to us, sweetheart." She bucks in an attempt to throw him off of her, but he's like a stone wall. She growls, making him grin. "Not so fun now, is it?"
She narrows her eyes. "I'm having the time of my life."
He forces one of her arms to her side, where he pins it beneath his knee and uses his freed hand to reach for her mask. She wriggles again, eyes wide, and as he grips the cloth she digs her nails into the softest spot on his wrist. As he jolts at the pain, she shoves him off of her and scrambles back to her feet.
She turns to run, but Raphael recovers with lightning speed and tackles her back to the ground. Her back is pressed against his chest, her arm held behind her back at an uncomfortable angle.
"Run again and I'll be forced to hurt you," he snarls in her ear.
Without another warning, he tugs her hood down and yanks out the knot securing her mask in place. As the piece of cloth flutters away, he rolls her onto her back and finally gets a good look at her face.
He pales. "Taylor?"
She lets out a low whistle. "Ay-ay-ay...this is awkward," she says. "I didn't want you to find out this way." She pauses. "Okay, I didn't want you to find out at all."
"But...you...I thought..." he stammers.
She slams her forehead into his, making him rear back, and she knocks him onto his shell as his head spins. She brushes herself off, retrieves her mask, and winks at him.
"I'll see you at ice skating, Raphael," she says. She flips her hood up and disappears from his view as he forces himself back to his feet.
The only noise he makes is the huffing of his breath as he braces one hand against the nearest brick wall. A hurricane of emotion hits him over and over, his heart pounding, his head aching. He tries to walk but instead bangs his shell against the building as he slumps into it and slides down to the ground.
He thought there were two different girls; the one that infuriated him more than anything and the rooftop rockstar. There's the Purple Dragon with the hazel eyes, the girl who he hates for her snide comments and snappy reflexes, and the girl with the sunglasses and the red guitar, Casey's old friend, the girl who he longs to see again each time they part.
"They're the same fucking person," he mumbles. He tries to keep his swearing to mutters, to little exclamations that he and his brothers have come up with over the years, but truthfully he can't think of another word to help express his disbelief. He slams his fist down on the wall. "Fuck!"
He claps his hands over his face as his entire body flares with heat at the thought of what he and Taylor have done together. Another curse leaves him and he grits his teeth. She knew about him all along. Was it all a lie? Does she even care? What the hell just happened and what does it all mean?
His bright eyes blaze hotter and he slowly looks up from his hands. He'll find out when he sees her again.
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