This is not something I normally draw but I love the darker side of tmnt from time to time and after watching the Mondo Gecko episode where their captured and used the turtles for sport, I went off that idea where the turtles, April and Casey are kidnapped and separated into groups. April and Raph get paired up during all of this – to make it a little more clear, I wrote a little something for this. Kinda depressing, but I couldn't get this scenario out of my head.

April watched with bated breath as Raphael stumbled in after a eight hour absence. She valiantly choked back a sob as she watched his shaky steps into their cell that had been their home for the past however long they'd been hopelessly trapped in this hellhole.

It felt like a lifetime ago when they were captured by Shredder in the midst of a battle with the Kraang. Never did they think the aliens from Dimension X and the Shredder would team up how they did.

It all happened so fast.

They'd been separated from the others almost immediately. With a flash of blinding white light and a sudden pounding pain in the back of their heads was all it took. Hours, days, or even a week later, she couldn't be sure, they had woken up here. She quickly sat up, the throbbing in her head only getting worse but she found herself being steadied by a firm hand on her trembling shoulder. Her eyes cleared after a few desperate blinks to see Raphael sitting stiffly next to her. His eyes were pure unadulterated rage as he stared menacingly at the closed metal door of their new personal purgatory. She learned by his quick explanation that they were in fact stuck here. Forced to fight and survive by battling other mutants for entertainment.

It wasn't until she was thrown in a room surrounded by bloodthirsty mutants that she fully believed him.

The floor was stained with multiple rust colored spots which she knew instantly had to be the blood of opponents and perhaps even her friends. April had no time to think about it in depth because with a clank of metal across the room stood a female foot soldier with a predatory smirk contorting her beautiful face. April hunched her shoulders and prepared for the fight she needed to win in order to survive.

The first few weeks, they held their own in gladiator style battles with random mutants. But over time without the proper medical care, they became worn down and exhausted of the grueling schedule. She had her share of victories, scrapes, and close calls, but over time, they grew tired of her and soon only came for Raphael. From what she gathered listening to some of the guards posted outside their door, she believed it stemmed from some crap about him being more entertaining, which only highlighted the fact she still had only limited skills as a kunoichi.

Raph preferred it.

April hated it.

Every morning, April would silently watch two huge guards lead Raphael from their small stone and metal cell and she was forced to do nothing but sit still and watch it all take place. The rest of her day would be spent worrying about what shape he'd return back at night... If he returned at all... Just the sheer thought of losing him wore heavily on her like a weight placed around her neck. It made her stomach crawl and her mind ache with the pain of knowing she could be left completely and utterly alone should Raphael succumb to injuries given by an opponent. Not to mention just the loss that would mean for her as well as his family - wherever they were.

Even when he did return, most of the time with many new cuts and bruises he got in the battles, Raph continually refused to let her touch him. Even though all the hell of fighting for their captor's amusement - Raph remained who he'd always been.

The Strong One.

They've been separated from the rest of the turtles and Casey for longer than she cared to think about. Not knowing where they were or even if they were still alive was baring down on her soul in a way she tried her hardest to conceal from Raphael. She knew the only way they were going to get out of this is if she remained strong; so, she leaned heavily on his strength even though inside of her chest felt like nothing more than a raw gaping hole of torment and misery.

April nervously watched him continue to make his way into their cell - his obvious limp as well as many new scrapes and gaping wounds standing out to her even in the dim light. Her head shook back and forth of its own accord just picturing what he'd been through today and all she could do was pray he'd at least allow her clean them with the small amount of water they were given. She didn't hold out hope for that; remembering the last time she offered and in response all she heard was his low rumbling of "Don't waste it. I ain't worth it" as he continually avoided her touch.

April's eyes rose to his, which for the first time she ever recalled, were slowly losing their fire. It was only a moment later she saw the trembling in his legs - with strength she didn't know she still possessed, she was in front of him seconds before he fell to his knees with the soft thud of his kneecaps hitting the unforgiving cement. Her arms immediately wrapped around him as he came to rest his body almost limply against hers, his head pressing deeply into her heaving breast.

April didn't speak - instead, she gingerly cupped the back of his head; Closing her eyes and tapping into her telepathic ability to witness the horror Raphael just went through before he stumbled in.

Through Raphael's eyes - she saw Mikey, but horror instantly overtook the joy of seeing Michelangelo alive, trembling as they stood in front of a crowd of crazed onlookers demanding blood. The unmistakable sound of Raphael's weapons make a soft clink as they hit the dirt floor.

"Do it now, Mikey." came Raph's voice, barely audible through the crowd's massive symphony of voices. Mikey shook his head violently back and forth, his nun-chucks stiffly clutched in trembling hands. "They won't hurt you if you attack me." Raph clarified a moment later, making April's breath catch in her throat.

"No!" she heard Mikey scream before she saw the twin trails of tears leak from the corners of his baby blue eyes. It broke her heart to see sweet loving little Mikey in so much distress - the sheer fact of knowing in order to live he had to severely injure his own big brother.

"Mikey... It's okay. It'll be okay. I promise. Just do it... Please." His voice, a soft soothing rasp against the harsh gutteral screams that surrounded them. Coupled with whatever look Raph was giving him worked because after tightly closing his eyes, Mikey carefully aimed before he threw the kusarigama at his brother. Blackness was seen and only the sound of a zipping chain flying through the air followed by the gut-wrenching sound of a sharp object ripping through tender flesh.

April's eyes flew opened when she gasped and drew back after feeling the searing white pain overtake her left arm. Her eyes immediately seeking out the same area on Raphael.

How did she not see it before?

The blood encrusted laceration was deep, the gash caused by such a sharp weapon tearing through his flesh and muscle like warm butter. She choked back a sob at the wound - the blood still languidly flowing from it - and just the knowledge of him receiving it to protect Mikey was almost too much for her to bear.

"I need to wrap it up." she said finally, reining in the desire to curl up into little more than a miserable ball of grief in the corner of their cell. As much as she wanted to cry and weep at the reality they found themselves in, Raphael needed her. He may never admit to it, but right now, he did. Even more than that was the fact she desperately needed him here - he needed to live - and that wasn't going to happen unless he allowed her to help him.

She didn't hear him argue and took a quick glance at his face, seeing his eyes glazed over, lost in thought of horror of having to fight against a brother...and how it was only going to get worse from then on. She quickly tore her eyes away from the look of utter despair in his eyes and instead looked at her clothes trying to find a suitable cloth for the gaping wound. There wasn't much left after most of her shirt was gone and the last pieces just enough to give her some form of dignity in this place. After a glance, she knew the only suitable pieces of salvageable fabric from her clothes were far too filthy to use after so many forsaken days in this place that they were out of the question. She did not want Raphael getting an infection if she could prevent it. Her eyes then went to his mask. While a little bloody, was still fairly clean comparatively.

For the first time since he walked in, his eyes met hers. If she blinked, she would have missed the slight tilt of his head, knowing what she was thinking and agreeing to it. She gave him a grim smile before her hands reached to the back of his head and untied the last shred of clothing on his body. The red mask fell into her hands as she took in his maskless face for the first time.

Out of all the brother's Raphael had always kept his mask attached to his face. Akin to body armor, he constantly seemed to hide behind its facade for reasons she didn't quite seem to completely understand. In fact, she always wondered if perhaps he had an epic scar or birthmark behind the mask, but as her eyes scanned his naked face in the dim light, there was none to be seen.

It was just Raph.

Forcefully tearing her eyes away from him, she quickly went to work. Making use a cup of warm water from a tray of food they were given earlier, she washed away the wet and dried blood as best as she could before tying his mask securely around his bicep, to effectively making a tourniquet to stop the bleeding as well as cover the wound. After the knot was made, the situation hit her square in the gut. Not caring about his boundaries anymore, she threw her arms around his shoulders and with tears she thought dried out long ago, they began to silently drip down her cheeks; The tears making tracks through the dirt and grime that accumulated on her face over these past few months.

"We're going to get out of here." she promised, her voice muffled as she pressed her face against the side of his head.

April knew he wouldn't believe her, but to her surprise, she felt his hands rest against her lower back and return the embrace. She closed her eyes and held him closer, the comfort of his touch and warm hands on her back nearly overwhelming. Her blue eyes opening in determination - she knew in order to survive this, and they were, they had to do it - together.

Chapter 2 coming soon! :-)