Unedited - requested by @laurencandiex

A stiff breeze blew Raphael's tattered mask tails behind his head as he stood overlooking the city. His hand rested on the handle of his sai, as if the possibility of a fight was too great to risk not having direct access to his weapons. A distant siren wailed off in the distance, the shrill noise making the muscles in his neck tighten apprehensively for a moment. He inhaled deeply through his nose, taking in the all-too familiar scent of the urban musk that permeated the air in New York City. Not for the first time, he wondered what was happening beyond the streets of the Big Apple, what crime he might've conquered already if he weren't so tied down to this place. But the thought soon ran away from his mind as a bustling in the nearby alley brought him back to his senses.

Raphael's hands momentarily left their resting spot on his sais as he clambered down the fire escape, neglecting the stealth in favor of an all-out attack. He wasn't much for subtleties -- he never had been.

A swift and perfectly-executed front flip, and his abnormally large feet met the asphalt of the street. Electric green eyes swept the scene, honed senses taking in every detail, monitoring for any sign of hostility. Goosebumps erupted across his forest green skin as a sudden noise clattered behind him. He spun around, sais already out and raised, but was met with the irritating screech of an alley cat as it rummaged through the nearby dumpster. The feline hissed, risking a small swipe in his direction with its claws before taking off into the darkness.

Raphael exhaled slowly, pent-up adrenaline making him restless and jaded. He replaced his weapons to his belt, looking over at the opening where the alley led to, finding a bit of relief in the erratic, chaotic noise of the busy street that was always  just out of his reach. He clenched his fingers into frustrated fists, telling himself to just forget about it, that he's just messing with himself thinking about life outside of the rooftops and sewers. He was about to turn back to head home when a voice in the street stopped him.

"Rabbit! Here, boy! Rabbit!"

He frowned in confusion, sneaking to the edge of the alley, his form hidden in the shadows. A girl walked by, one hand cupped about her brightly colored lips as she continued to call out, her arm clung tightly to her curvacious torso, holding her leather jacket tightly against her to ward off the harsh wind. His first instinct was to gape. Luckily, he caught himself beforehand, remaining straight faced as she began to turn into the alley he was residing in. Raphael pressed himself against the cold brick walls, disappearing from sight as he observed the strangely alluring girl make her way closer.

She paused, black combat boots scraping the concrete as she came to an abrupt stop. Her lithe hand brushed a piece of jet black hair behind her ear as she brought her forefinger and thumb to her lips, whistling long and loud, the sound tempting Raphael to clamp his hands over his ears.

Seconds later, a bulky figure, low to the ground, bounded forward, tongue hanging out and to the side as the bullmastiff bounded over to his mistress. Not surprised in the least, the girl knelt and placed an affectionate scratch between the dog's ears.

"There you are!" She exclaimed, her heavily lined eyes sparkling in relief, "What've I told you about running off, Rabbit? Almost lost you for a second there..."

Raph smirked subtly at the unique name for such a huge dog, but then Rabbit's body stiffened. The sudden tension in the air made the hidden turtle clench in anticipation as well. The canine let out a menacing growl as it faced back toward the most shadowed part of the alley. The girl straightened instantly, her face showing determination rather than fear as four Purple Dragons emerged from the blackness.

"Now what's a pretty little thing like yourself doing out here, sweetheart?" Fong shot a venomous smile her way.

"Call me that pet name one more time, and I'll end you," the girl spat, stepping closer to her bullmastiff.

The leader of the gang cracked his knuckles, the black tattoos across his chest not doing anything to hide the massive lavender dragon marking across his collarbone.

"Dragons," Hun started, "I believe the little lady thinks she can actually fight her way out of this."

The gang members laughed evilly, setting Raphael's nerves into a frenzy as he lost his grip on the brick of the wall, crouching in preparation to launch himself into the fight.

"Not me," the girl retorted, "My dog."

A confused lull in the conversation gave her enough time to whistle once more and yell, "Rabbit, sick 'em!"

Raphael stood dumfounded for a split second as the enormous canine barked and leapt forward.

(Ready for P.O.V. switch? 😋)

Despite the enormous upper hand that she had, and the usual air of confidence she carried, Isabela's heart pounded against her rib cage as the fight ensued. She watched pridefully as Rabbit snarled at the Purple Dragon members, tossing her hair over her shoulder and trying to act nonchalant as her bull mastiff sunk his teeth into one of the gang members' legs. Isabela's gaze never wavered from the fight, her constantly alert blue eyes scanning for any possible signs of ambush. Just when she began to feel at ease - when Rabbit had taken down the last PD - she felt it. That telltale shiver that started at the base of her neck, spreading toward the rest of her body.

The feeling that she was still being watched.

Isabela patted her thigh curtly, making her pet perk up his ears and abandon the Purple Dragon he'd been slavering over to join her side. Discreetly, the girl revealed a can of mace from her black leather bag, turning toward the most shadowed part of the alley.

"You wanna try and sneak up on me? Fat chance," Isabela spat, holding up her defensive weapon, "My dog will tear you apart if you come anywhere near us."

Rabbit growled as a bit of dramatic add-on, making Isabela's confidence swell that much more. Her eyes narrowed when she was met with absolute silence. Her dog stiffened beside her suddenly as a figure in the shadows shifted ever so slightly, barely enough to catch the eye. But that was all Isabela needed to point her mace can and spray wildly in that direction.

The figure somehow managed to evade her attempts, leaping and landing fluidly out of range. A low voice, laced with sarcasm, echoed through the alley, "Don't you mean your rabbit?" Followed by a small contemptuous chuckle.

Isabela gritted her teeth, frustrated with her failed defense attack and annoyed with the stranger's comment.

"Gee, you must be pretty stupid to mistake a bull mastiff for a rabbit," She shot back, "Haven't you heard of ironic names?"

"Don't call me stupid," the voice retorted, irritation obvious in his tone now as well, "And don't get cocky just 'cause your dog somehow miraculously defended you, Princess. You would've been toast by now if it wasn't for pure luck."

"Pure luck?" Isabela sneered, "I'll have you know, my dog--"

"Your rabbit."

"His name is Rabbit, idiot!"

"Whatever."

"Ugh!" She stomped her combat boot against the ground, "You're impossible. I don't know why I'm even bothering arguing a total stranger."

"Because you know the total stranger is right."

"For the last time, he's not an actual rabbit!"

"He probably acts like one, though. Bet he's  no more useful than his namesake."

"Did you not just see--"

"Ooh, I know how to rile you up," A bitter laugh made Isabela's jaw clench in anger, "Just tell the weak girl that her dog is weak too."

"You jerk!" She shouted, making Rabbit's fur stand on edge, "I'm NOT weak!"

"More than willing to let your rabbit do all the work, though."

"HE'S NOT AN ACTUAL RABBIT!!"

All that could be heard was more sarcastic laughter.

"You wanna tease me?!" Isabela shouted again, her face slowly turning red from the anger boiling in her veins, "Fine. Let's see where that sarcasm is after me AND my dog take you out."

Before the stranger could speak another irritating, agitating word, Isabela whistled loudly, and her growling bull mastiff leapt into the shadows in the direction of his next target.

"Hey, I - GAH!" The voice cried out in anger, signs of struggle beginning to show in the darkness. The rebellious girl smirked in triumph, until she heard the sound of metal against leather. She froze, recognizing the noise of a weapon being drawn. She heard a faint yelp.

"Don't touch him!" Isabela cried, the panic instantly rising up into a lump that sat in her throat.

"Get your freaking mutt off of me!" He shouted angrily, "Or I'll get him off my way."

Isabela hurriedly put her fingers to her lips, whistling and patting her thigh. Rabbit trotted back over to her, a dopey canine smile still lingering on his face, despite the slight limp in his walk. He loyally sat beside her once more, alert eyes focused on his potential foe, still immersed in the shadows.

"Stupid dog," The stranger muttered, and Isabela couldn't help the small smirk when the guy finally called her pet the right kind of animal.

"Hope you learned your lesson."

"Why don't you go fix your makeup?" He snapped, making the girl's fists clench, "That's probably all you can do while you're hiding behind your dog."

"You wanna go, pal?!" She shouted furiously, "Bring it. You hurt my dog, and my dog hurt you back. Fair and square. If you really wanna fight, why don't you come out of the shadows and fight like a man?"

A bitter laugh resounded from the darkness. "Alright, Princess, have it your way. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Warn me?" Isabela tried to hide the hint of confusion in her tone, "Why would you..."

She gaped, her words dissolving into thin air as the stranger finally revealed himself in the faint light of the street lamp.

His left bicep was shiny and slick with the new wound her dog had just inflicted. Bright green eyes seemed to stare right through her. Red mask tails fluttered in the cold night air. A hard shell covered half his body, a leather belt around his waist and a three pronged weapon clutched in his three fingered hand.

Isabela stumbled back in shock.

"So," the mutant turtle growled, teeth gritted to deal with the pain, "You still wanna fight, Princess?"

(Another POV switch)

Raph glowered at the bull mastiff as it sidled up beside it's mistress. His bicep stung from the bleeding injury that mutt had inflicted on him, and as his electric green eyes scanned the sight of this chick, he no longer was enthralled by her curves, or her face, or her mesmerizing eyes. No, he was furious.

"You're...you're a...," She stuttered incoherently, trying to gain composure as she stepped back, away from him.

Typical human, Raph thought bitterly, She probably thinks I'm some sort of monster. As always.

"A freak?" He finished for her, seething with anger as he took a step forward, figuring he'd have a bit of fun trying to intimidate her, rising up to his full height, which only turned out to be an inch or two higher than her.

"Turtle," She countered, fire burning in her eyes as she took another step away, placating her lowly-growling dog with a brush of her hand over his ears, "I was going to say turtle."

"Sure you were, Princess," Raph shot back at her, his new nickname for the girl drenched in sarcasm.

"Don't call me that," She started quietly, gaze unwavering as she was backed against the wall, setting her dog on edge again. The dog bared his teeth, barking loudly, once. Never taking her eyes away, she mumbled, "Rabbit, stay."

The canine reluctantly obliged, sitting on his haunches and eyeing Raph, a last-ditch effort to intimidate.

"Oh, so confident now," Raph gestured to the blood trickling down his arm, "Are you gonna protect your dog from me?"

"Sure, now you call him a dog," The girl smirked, and Raph faltered. The smugness flitting across her face made his mind go hazy for the slightest moment, her challenging state sending an odd jolt through him. He clenched his jaw.

"You're lucky I didn't put your dog to sleep," Raph threatened, cracking his neck to rid himself of the weird feeling shooting up his spine.

She glared, trying in vain to shove him out of the way. "Leave him out of this. Your problem is with me, not him. I'm the one who commanded him to attack."

"You're right," He consented, rolling his shoulders and slamming his palm into the brick wall just to the right of her head, "So maybe it's you who needs to be punished."

Her eyes flickered to Raph's abnormally large hand,planted firmly on the wall inches from her face, and the turtle thought he caught sight of fear behind her strangely mesmerizing blue irises... deep blue eyes, like swirling vortexes of turquoise and periwinkle, with tiny suggestions of indigo in their depths...

Quit thinking like that, Raph scolded himself as her confident air returned. Though, that particular shift in her demeanor seemed temporary as well, when her eyes fell to half-mast, and she placed a steady hand on his muscled shoulder, making the turtle freeze.

"Punish me, hm?" She purred, her voice suddenly sultry.

Raphael's train of thought exploded to bits as the girl leaned ever-so-slightly closer, forcing him to tilt his head back, to prevent their faces coming too close in proximity.

"What'd you have in mind for punishment, Hothead?" The words rolled off her tongue like silk, as she took the initiative to step closer once more.

"You...you've got some imagination, Princess," Raph grumbled, trying and failing to break eye contact.

"My name's not Princess," She bantered softly, her fingertips tracing lazy circles around the crack in his plastron, "It's Isabela. And I guess I do have a reputation to let my...mind wander..."

Raph blinked hard, trying to banish the sudden giddiness rushing through him at the girl's touch, trying to create some distance between himself and this Isabela.

"Stop," He grunted, hands reaching up to grab at her wrists and hold them back. Isabela seemed unfazed, leaning her face toward his with a coquettish smile.

"What, is the hothead getting nervous?"

"My name's not Hothead," Raph reiterated her earlier statement, "It's Raphael. And personally, I don't like being seduced by crazy chicks like you."

Isabela's grin turned into a pout, her cherry red bottom lip protruding as she mumbled, "Now, that wasn't very nice, Raphael. I didn't wanna have to do this, but..."

"Do wha--?"

He was cut off when Isabela's fist collided with his jaw, making him stagger back in surprise, and then cry out when she brought her foot up and kicked his lower plastron with a force that left Raphael gasping for breath. He fell to his knees, holding in his pained groan as he glared up at Isabela, who smirked down at him.

"Don't try intimidating me, Raphael," She spat, "I'm not as defenseless as you think."

With that, she let out a shrill whistle, signaling Rabbit to her side. Raph shakily stood up, still half keeled-over with the sharp pain that was only beginning to ebb in his lower regions. His face was bright crimson with pent-up fury, but before he could speak, Isabela turned on her heel and jogged out of the alley alongside her dog, shouting over her shoulder, "And don't taunt my dog ever again, unless you want more than a kick in the crotch."

And despite his furiousness at having been bested by a girl, Raph watched her go with silent curiosity.

"Yo, Izzy. Leave your dog at home the next time you see me," he shouted back.

He caught a glimpse of her blue eyes before she disappeared from sight. "If I ever see you again."

Raph couldn't help the small smirk that inexplicably crept onto his face.

I wouldn't mind a Round 2 with her.