(Beware the swearing turtle. Beware the frustrated Splinter.)

"Master..."

"No." Splinter said crossing his arms with a degree of finality. Most times his sons knew never, never to argue with Father when he had that tone. Unfortunately, this short-tempered son of his always seemed to want to push the envelope. Especially now. As it was they had been debating this particular issue for more than fifteen minutes. Splinter had listened to his son's position and then explained his own. There was a disagreement on who was right. However, Splinter was the father and, like it or not, he had final say. Raphael's teen years had started volatile, and seemed to be getting worse with each subsequent year. He might be more inclined to allow the boy to go out that evening, if he hadn't sneaked out five times this week already.

The sensei did not enjoy being played for a fool.

Splinter's main objective in life right now was to survive these difficult years. Hopefully without putting his son through a wall. But there were times, like now, that he could feel even his legendary patience thinning. This son in particular knew how to push all the right buttons. Splinter wondered if it was a skill Raphael had been perfecting all these years without his knowledge.

"Splinter.." Raphael tried again. But his master cut him off again, this time with only a wave of his hand. The fourteen year old could feel his temper rising. He wasn't a child dammit! He should be able to come and go as he pleased. He could take care of himself. He didn't need Daddy to be up his ass 24/7.

"The discussion is closed." Splinter turned away but his sharp hearing caught his son's mumbled angry reply.

The discussion isn't closed! Raphael wanted to shout. He hadn't made his point yet. His Father still didn't understand that he wasn't a little kid. But Raph knew, through many times experience, that to continue to push would not end well for him. Splinter would only take so much arguing. He couldn't help getting in one last parting shot, though. He had to have the last word, even if his Sensei didn't know it.

"Mean old rat bastard," Raphael muttered under his breath. Certainly it wasn't loud enough for his father to hear. Or so he thought. Raph's face paled as his father turned slowly back to face him.

The sensei's expression was not a pretty one. His tail was motionless; his ears flat against his head and Raph could even see the fur bristling up. The turtle gulped. He was in deep shit now.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Raph sat at the desk in his room frowning angrily at the notebook in front of him. He rubbed his wrist angrily. His father definitely could be a mean old rat bastard.

"Mean rat bastard," Raphael corrected himself out loud with a sigh.

He glared at the notebook again and continued his writing.

One thousand times.

My Father is not old.