TMNT: Ember Meets Spike

The sun was rising over the skyscrapers in New York City. Ember was the first one up, so she decided to get a quick shower before the day began.

Raphael had woken up moments after her when he heard the shower water running. He grabbed Spike and headed to the kitchen to feed him. He got a lettuce leaf out of the fridge then got some cereal for himself and ate while he talked to Spike.

Raph never liked talking to Spike in front of anyone else. Spike was the only one Raph shared his secrets and feelings with, so when he talked to Spike, he made sure that no one else was around.

Ember came out of the bathroom dressed and her hair in a ponytail. As she shook some excess water off, she heard Raph talking.

“Man, sometimes - no most times - Leo gets on my nerves” Raph explained.

“Is that Raph?” Ember asked quietly.

“I mean, come on. What does it take to get Leo off of my case?” Raph asked.

Ember looked around the lair then realized that the talking was coming from the kitchen. She peeked in through the curtain, making sure she wasn’t seen. What she saw, though, was surprising. She saw Raph talking to a non-mutated turtle. Ember’s never seen the turtle before.

“Who’s that?” Ember thought.

“I know Leo means well, but he doesn’t have to get onto me every time I mess up on patrol or in training” Raph explained. “Do you agree with me? Chew on your leaf if you agree.”

Spike took a bite of his leaf and Raph smiled.

“Thought so” Raph said.

Ember smiled then walked back a bit, accidentally hitting the hockey game.

“Oof!” Ember exclaimed muffled.

Raph heard it and looked up. He went back to eating his cereal and Ember walked into the kitchen.

“Morning, Raph” Ember said.

“Morning” Raph replied.

Ember looked at Spike. “Oh, who’s this?”

“Ember, Spike. Spike, Ember” Raph introduced.

“I didn’t know you had a pet turtle” Ember said.

“Yeah, I’ve had him since I was younger” Raph said. “I just found him one day and took him in.”

“He’s so cute” Ember said.

“He’s not cute” Raph said annoyed.

“Okay, okay” Ember said. “So, I thought I heard you talking to him.”

Raph looked at her in shock and he blushed. “Uh, well…”

“Don’t be embarrassed, Raph” Ember said. “Almost everyone has someone or something that they talk to when they’re alone. Heck, I used to have a stuffed dog that I talked to all the time.”

“You did?” Raph asked.

“Yeah” Ember replied. “Her name was Oddball. She was a Dalmatian with pink spots on her body. She was my very first stuffed animal ever…and I lost her in the fire.”

“Oh…” Raph didn’t know what to say. He didn’t really know how to show sympathy. “I’m…sorry.”

“Eh, it’s alright” Ember replied. “I have to grow up, anyway. Well, I’ll just get my breakfast and head out. But don’t stop talking to Spike.”

Ember got up, got her cereal and headed out to the main area. Raph kind of felt bad for Ember. Losing Oddball in the fire must’ve been hard on her. He knew that he would feel the same way if something happened to Spike, so he came up with an idea.

…

That night, Ember was cleaning up the lair when Raph came in with something behind his back. Ember looked up.

“Hey, Raph” Ember greeted. She noticed Raph’s arms behind his back. “What’s behind your back?”

“Well…I remember you saying how you lost your favorite stuffed dog in the fire…so…I…” Raph started mumbling.

“You what?” Ember asked curiously.

Raph held out a new stuffed dog that looked similar to Oddball. Ember was surprised at this.

“I realized that you were right. Everyone has something or someone to talk to” Raph explained. “And…I felt bad that you didn’t have something like that anymore, so I got you this.”

“Raph…wow…I don’t know what to say” Ember said.

“You don’t have to say any-” he was cut off by a hug from Ember.

“Thank you, Raph” Ember said.

Raph was shocked, but he returned the hug.

“You’re welcome” Raph replied. They stopped the hug. “But don’t tell anyone.”

“Oh, we already know” Leonardo said as he, Donatello, and Michelangelo came into the lair. Raph turned around to find them there.

“Who knew Raphael had a sweet side?” Mikey asked jokingly.

“Yeah” Donnie said. “Do you want some cake with that anger?” He, Mikey, and Leo started laughing.

“Oh, I’m gonna crush you guys!” the hot-head exclaimed as he started chasing his brothers.

Ember could only laugh as she held her new stuffed dog, which she named Oddball Two later on. She was grateful that Raph did something like that for her and she would never forget it.