Chapter Text
As the sun sank in the sky, bathing the busy streets in an orange hue, the crowd of bumbling workers hurries away from their jobs toward the warmth of their homes for the night.
Though even at night this city doesn't sleep.
As the street lights blink on with a low electric hum, a large figure in a crème coloured trench coat and fedora marches down the street. With just a glance, you might think he looks like an average person, if perhaps a little taller. He pulls up his lapels, blending in with the lively crowd in the bustling and loud city best known as New York.
Little do the passerby know that “he” is a tad different than your regular ol’ New Yorker. For under the facade, he is a big snapping turtle — and not just any snapping turtle — a famous detective among Youkai kind, solving one tough case after another, at least in his daydreams.
“Does this guy even exist?!” Raphael accidentally speaks aloud, as he is passing a group of four young people, causing them to look up suddenly. He sighs, releasing his pent-up frustrations. The group starts rushing faster to their destination, deciding to leave the strange tall man to his business — a business that doesn't seem to be fairing well thus far.
Raphael isn't shocked by this, the mystery of "The Doodler" only spurs on his motivation to find him. To finally catch him red-handed. The doodler has evaded the great detective for weeks, with several close calls, but every time he is just left with-
“Crap, again..” he says, exasperated.
The aftermath.
The snapping turtle’s attention is caught by graffiti art on the outside of a building. It's different than the graffiti surrounding it, showcasing pure art or gang tags. What catches Raphael's eye is one word written on the wall saying "RISE" in big artistic letters, differing in colors. Under the text, it’s signed by a small winking turtle wearing an orange bandana. It's as if the turtle is taunting him, motivating him to find the culprit more and more.
He could recognize that special spray paint everywhere. The Doodler has struck again, a few steps ahead of the chasing turtle as usual. He brings his hand down to smack the wall, frustrated. Expecting the texture of the brick digging into his palm.
However.
Raphael gasps as his hand meets another texture as it makes contact with the wall.
He gasps, saying, "It’s still wet!"
A glimmer of hope arises within him.
As if on instinct, the detective dashes into the most nearby alley. In his hurry, he nearly trips over a trash can on the ground. The snapping turtle catches himself and heaves himself upright, digging his heels into the concrete to make a full stop. In a huff, Raphael peers forward, blinded by the sunset.
He squints to see as his eyes adjust. From the left wall, a few feet away from the detective, stands a figure covered in a paint-splattered black hoodie. The detective can’t see the face because of this hoodie, but the graffiti can in his three fingered left hand leaves no doubt.
"What do ya think, Icey?" The paint-clad guy asks, not seeming to notice the detective at all.
As the hooded person keeps staring at the wall in front of him, something on his shoulder ruffles the hoodie from beneath, its nose popping out next to the guy’s face.
A silhouette of a little kitten peeks at the wall, its head’s fur a gentle brown, spilling over into a bright white across the body and ear tips.
"Mraw," the kitten squeaks out, sounding quite content.
"You like it? Great!" The Doodler smirks, scratching the small cat under its chin.
As the kitten purrs, the hooded man lets his arms rest on his sides, letting out a sigh.
"So," The Doodler’s head swiftly turns to the detective, catching him off guard while trying to sneak in closer on his toes, "what do you want?"
Raphael sweats and halts, swallowing as if pushing a brick down his throat. Looks like the signature The Doodler uses isn’t just a fantasy. The hooded guy turns out to have green skin, wearing a light orange bandana around his eyes. Though, the face nor the bandana are spared from the paint he uses to draw.
"Well?" he asks, now a tad annoyed, the slit between the green man's teeth becomes visible, his eyes staring down at the bigger turtle. Two curious blue eyes stare from under the darkness of his hood.
Shaking off his blunder, the detective daringly points at the man. As a single drop of his sweat drips on the concrete, he utters: ‘’I finally found you! You’re under arrest for vandalizing the property of New York city!’’
A moment of silence follows, only a distant honk of a car and a paper sliding across the floor could be heard. Until-
‘’Hahahaha! Oh me gosh, are you serious?!’’ The Doodler let out a snorting laugh, holding his stomach in an attempt to keep it in. ‘’What are you, a badly dressed cop?!’’
Raphael could feel his face turning from green to red. ‘’Wha-? No! I’m a detective! I’ve been on your tail for ages!’’
The snapping turtle then slowly steps in closer, opening his arms. ‘’So come with me and you won’t get in any more trouble-’’
The hooded guy steps back, his face sinking in his hoodie, being accompanied with a purr. Raphael halts in his tracks, watching the man smirking back at him.
‘’Heh, saying my art is vandalism… That kinda hurts, ya know?’’ The Doodler then looks back at his graffiti art.
‘’Well, it is! If you want to doodle, do it on a canvas or paper!’’ Raphael snarls, feeling the nonchalant attitude of the guy getting on his nerves.
‘’Maybe you should look past the surface for once.’’ The Doodler’s ominous message lingers as his grin widens.
The hooded man retreats further, now being one step away from the buzzing orange sidewalk.
‘’Wait! You’re still under arrest! Get back here!’’ Raphael dashes, kicking aside any trash in his way.
With a soft chuckle and a final meow, The Doodler takes one final leap out of the alley, mixing with the crowd almost instantly.
Jumping on the sidewalk, the detective disturbs the flow, like a rock in the middle of a river. Instead of becoming one with the city, he became its annoyance.
With a defeated sigh, the snapping turtle looks back into the dark alley. As he downcasts his gaze, something catches his eye.
‘’What’s this?’’ Curious, the detective crouches down to see.
It’s a small piece of paper, having the same handwriting as The Doodler.
Raphael reads aloud: ‘’If you wanna see past the art, be at this spot when midnight starts.’’
With a frown, the detective glares at the graffiti wall, together with the mocking winking face.
‘’Oh, I’ll be here, alright..’’ He then hides the note in his pocket and flaps his coat, hiding among the citizens. ‘’I’ll see myself what a menace you are.’’