A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome to this little TMNT plot bunny that wouldn't leave me alone! Ehem. Yes.

Just a quick note before we start guys, this is an AU and it will contain NO OCs. I've tried to keep everyone as in character as possible, but please understand that in some cases only the essence of a character will be there, they are going to have a slightly different personality when certain situations happen. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I hope you enjoy!

Beta: Ravenshell.

Warnings: Violence, language, torture, pain. Lots.

Disclaimer: I do not own this franchise.

Shredder's Plan

The way he sees it, there are two ways out. Either he rots in this hole or Leo saves his shell - again.

But just the prospect of Leonardo bursting through the cell door with his perfect polished katanas, slashing the chains with a flawless kata back flip and double sword combination, makes Raphael want to roll his eyes.

Smug bastard.

It almost makes him wish Leo wouldn't come. Almost, because as much as he hates to admit it, Raph's pretty screwed. He needs help and at this point he doesn't care if it's his 'oh so perfect older brother' waltzing in to save the day again or the freaking Easter Bunny. He just wants out of here.

Three days, Raph growls to himself, trying to calm down. He's been trapped here for three days with no food or information or demands. Just a bucket that, frankly, is stinking up the cell pretty bad now. He doesn't know if the tiny window near the ceiling of his prison is a curse or a blessing. It sits there, letting light in, but also taunts him with the world outside.

Seriously, he'd figured at least Shredder cared. He'd never had trouble endlessly monologuing about his vendetta in the past. It doesn't help that Leo is taking his precious time to make a fearless entrance.

Or maybe the reason Shredder hasn't shown up is because Raph is not the only prisoner in this dungeon. Raph shudders. The idea of his family or friends being interrogated sends a wave of nausea down his stomach, a feeling that Raph is not ready to admit. His mild irritation suddenly morphs into rage and then cold, shaking fear.

Jagged breaths escape him, making his throat sore at the lack of water in his system. His hands ball into fists and not for the first time, jerk at the chains.

The rusty metal manacles bite the already raw skin on his wrists. He can do this. Raph growls louder, as if the chains' resistance depend on how much sound he makes. He pulls harder.

A clink later the chains fall in place at each of his sides, forcing him back to an unbearable kneel against damp rock. He falls against the wall once more with a sharp gasp. The iron rattles and echoes against the concrete and rock.

"Arg!" Raphael finds his voice engulfing the entire cell. He punches at the air when nothing happens -when no one comes- drawing even more blood from the shackles.

Shredder's trying to drive him nuts! "What's taking so long!? Doing your nails, Shredder!? I'm right here! I can handle it! Come face me if you're so tough, you sick coward!"

"There is no need to shout, Raphael."

Raph freezes on the spot.

The door, unguarded and wide open, frames the armored man's silhouette. Shredder's face is shadowed as he walks pleasantly into the cell with his arms at both sides. And even if his gauntlet blades are sheathed, Raph cannot help but feel his heart beat faster with each step the man takes towards him. Raph snarls at him and raises his chin in defiance, putting up a pretty convincing bravado mask.

Shredder stops right in front of him, towering over Raph. "I am sure even a creature such as yourself can understand the concept of a civilized conversation."

Raph spits at his feet.

To his disappointment, Shredder acts as if nothing has happened. He considers Raphael for a moment. Raph prepares himself for a blow. However, the man doesn't move to strike him. He looks like he is annoyed at Raph's little act of defiance.

Raph smirks then. Shredder must have realized he's not getting to him.

In an instant, Shredder's blades slice out of his gauntlets and Raph can't help but stiffen at the sound.

This time Shredder laughs. The sound echoes on the walls as if proving a point. Raph growls at him and silently berates himself for showing how truly helpless he actually feels. "Tell me where Splinter is, turtle."

"Why, let me go check his calendar," he starts pleasantly until there is a slice on his right shoulder. He gasps, both in pain and shock.

It takes him a few moments to recover; his shoulder is burning with agony and flowing with fresh blood. Raph clutches his eyes shut before glaring up at Oroku Saki.

"Tell me where your Master is," he repeats.

"Bite me!" Raphael yells and to his surprise Shredder steps back.

There is a beat of silence. Raph's eye catches the blade drenched in blood at Shredder's side. The blood falls in uneven drops and threatens with another promised slice. He swallows thickly.

"Well?" he hears Shredder speaking, snapping Raph's attention to someone in the shadows, behind Shredder. "Aren't you going to do as he asks?"

Raph's confusion turns to horror when he realizes that Xever is jumping towards him. Suddenly the fish's fangs are biting his already hurt shoulder. Raph growls like a wounded lion. However, the agony doesn't last long.

The venom's effect is instant. A wave of dizziness spins his head to the side. His limbs feel like jelly. At least the pain in his shoulder is forgotten, like some old, faded memory, as the drug takes him over.

He can't afford this; in this condition Raph knows his mind and tongue will betray him. His arms are no longer working. Distantly, Shredder's voice reaches his ears again.

"Splinter, turtle." He is now lifting him by the neck. "Speak, while you still can."

But he can't. His throat is parched and his tongue might as well be made of rubber. Raph struggles to catch a breath. The pressure around his neck increases and there are black spots in Raph's eyes.

"Master Shredder," Tiger Claw interrupts carefully. Just how many people are inside this ridiculously tiny cell, anyways? "I believe the poison is far too strong, the cub won't last without an antidote."

Shredder growls in frustration, realizing his mistake far too late. He drops Raphael to the ground. Raph groans but makes no effort to move. He barely has the strength to try and keep awake.

"You!" Shredder calls to some soldier behind Tiger Claw; Raph cannot see who it is, everyone seems like a blurry shadow at this point.

The soldier jumps to his feet and bows his head, waiting for his Master's command.

"Make sure he doesn't die." It's more of a threat than an order.

There are footsteps now and a loud clank as the cell door shuts, leaving Raph alone with the poor soul destined for the impossible task. The soldier bolts towards Raph and kneels before him. Shaking hands grab his face. Raph tries to pull away but he is too weak to do anything but uselessly bleed on Shredder's floor.

The hands are moving again, this time inspecting his arm. Raph groans as the bastard takes a blood sample. He feels his bile rise up and when he finally pukes he hopes that at least the vomit reaches this asshole.

If it does, Raph cannot tell. In the end, there is a slight pinch on his arm as the injection penetrates him. Slowly, his senses start coming back to him and with them, the pain.

His shoulder is on fire but now he is lucid enough to grab the needle from the soldier's first aid kit, pick the lock on one of his anklets and kick the bastard as far away as he possibly can.

The Foot lets out an 'oof' as he stumbles back and collides against a wall on the other side of the cell. Raph gets to work. Time is of the essence. He needs to pick the locks on the remaining manacles and anklet before the Foot soldier recovers. It's been a while since he's done this and never has he picked a lock with a needle, but adrenaline is making him faster and more alert by the minute.

He manages to free himself in record time - take that, Fearless! He rises to his feet and grabs a scalpel from the first aid kit the soldier left on the floor.

The adrenaline is wearing off. He doesn't care and launches for the Foot soldier anyways.

The poor guy is leaning against the wall for support. He looks up, and realizing what's going on, he panics and moves away.

Raph crashes against the wall. Disorientation blurs his eyes. He shakes his head, trying to clear his vision and spots the Foot near the first aid kit. This time he is going to attack faster.

After one glance at Raph the Foot puts his arms up in the air.

"No. No! Wait!" The - kid?- says and Raph hesitates for a half second before making up his mind once more. This is his way out. But before he can even reach the soldier - kid - Foot, there is a massive pain in his head and he falls to the ground with a thud.

The Foot is rushing to his side again, mumbling to himself as he kneels in front of Raph. "Come on, come on, come on," his tone is practically begging as he looks over Raph's shoulder and the amount of blood on the floor. He pulls some bandages from the first aid kit and starts wrapping up the wound. "Don't die, don't - come on, don't- No!"

Raph's eyes snap open and for the first time he looks up at the Foot and really sees him.

"You have to stay awake," the boy says in a soft but determined voice, shaking Raph a little bit. "You can sleep later, but right now, you need to stay awake."

Raph is not listening anymore. When the Foot turns around, Raph recognizes the unmistakable edge of a turtle shell behind bony shoulders.

"Well, I'll be damned," he grunts at the hallucination. The worst part about Shredder's plan was that it was working. "Leo?"

A/N: Tadah! That wasn't too bad, was it? He-he.

So, let me know what you think?

Flaux.