You know that does bring up a good question they rely on Donnie to fix things and Mikey to cook and Leo to lead what does Raph bring to the table? Sarcasm? Lol!
Aww. All this was in regard to TMNT (2007) and the disjointed understanding they all had of each other. There doubtless were thoughts of "what the heck do you DO all night?!" But also, there probably *weren't* that many questions. They knew he was "running around with Casey." They know he loves 'bashing heads.' There wasn't a real mystery, even if they didn't know details. And depending on the fanfic writer, sometimes Donnie knows exactly what Raph is up to and helps him repair his motorcycle. Sometimes Mikey's got it figured out and is fan-boying for the Nightwatcher in an attempt to get Raph to trust him with the secret. Sometimes, Splinter turns a sad, blind eye to it, knowing that if Raphael doesn't have an outlet, Splinter would lose a second son. What I think Raphael brings, across a number of iterations--in addition to being 'the muscle' and 'the shield' for the family--is actually a compliment to Donatello's roles in the family. Donatello "does machines:" inventing them, adapting them, pushing the boundaries of science with them. But those machines need constant upkeep and repair. And while it's generally accepted in fandom that Raph is great turning a wrench in the garage on vehicles, there's a hundred other, ordinary machines that the TMNT family relies on for survival. So many other machines, that there's no way that Donatello repairs all of them AND invents new ones.
Repairman Raph
So I propose that Raphael not only does his fair share of vehicle maintenance, but also keeps the fridge running. The heater working. The pumps draining water out of the lair. The dehumidifiers keeping the damp back. The vacuum sucking. The hot water heater heating. The toilets flushing. The lightbulbs replaced. The dishwasher washing. The dryer tumbling. The million and one home repairs that require someone to change a filter or swing a hammer or unclog a drain or replace an o-ring or check for rodent damage. We (humans, generally) can buy appliances and tools new or used-but-functional. So much of what the TMNT would have in their home is third- or fourth- hand. Stuff people have thrown away because it's beyond any casual repairs. That stuff is gonna breakdown constantly as hoses dry rot or belts wear out. Donnie may get that stuff up and running the first time, but having a reliable gearhead to run triage on the latest generator that crapped out while Donnie resets the breakers and wiring after the last emergency? That's gotta be Raph. He's got the focus, the patience, and the aptitude.
(When it comes to repairs, I headcanon that Mikey has to be redirected frequently--or that he ultra-focuses on random priorities--thanks, but not the goal? [Mikey. Mikey. MIKEY! What've you been doing for the past hour--and why are all the books on the shelves arranged in rainbow order? Weren't you supposed to be--nevermind. Help me take out the trash.] And I headcanon that Leo can figure things out, but he's not efficient. He's too detail-oriented and particular about tools and the sequence of steps. Makes other the turtles who know how to use electrical tape frustrated. [Leo. What'd'ya mean you're not done? What--no one needs it to be perfect!! Move!] It's much better for everyone if a brother can just tell Leo, "dig this out," or, "move that stuff," or, "lift this while I check the transmission coupler on this washing machine, will ya?"]
The other "Raph and Donnie compliment each other?"
Raphael, SpyMaster of the Streets
Donatello has set up an intimidating quantity of automated surveillance and security tech in and around the lair. Depending on the iteration of Donatello, he's got access to cameras all over the city or spy-drones or giant blimp. But all of that tech is passive collection. It 'get triggered' like an alarm system. Or is specifically directed at a target like SpyRoach. Raphael (and his daywalker, Casey Jones) are proactively scanning the streets for trouble most every night of the week. Which gangs are acting up? Which neighborhoods are getting tagged? What is happening at the docks? Who's smuggling something big into the city? Where are the friction points with police? How many ICE raids have there been? Which Unions are about to get hit? Are the crime families in alliance or are there fractures in the coalition? Leonardo and his patrols are great for fighting crime and establishing a presence. Donatello and his electric net will catch most things that threaten the clan. Michelangelo ends up in the middle of all kinds of important business in the city. But Raphael knows the bad guys. Knows the streets. Knows who to listen for and who to be worried about if you don't hear from them. He's a "Batman Lite" figure, who intentionally puts himself in places at times where deals, trafficking, and trouble is most likely to pop off. He's no tactician. Leave that to Leo. But he has a knack for finding trouble and fighting his way out again. His networks of "I Know A Guy"s are just as fundamental to the safety of the family as Donatello's panopticon of cameras.
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Really, thinking about it, Raphael is World's Best Back-Up for pretty much all his brothers. Like a +10 stats booster on anything they're trying to do. This essay could go onwards, highlighting each match up, but I'm worried that I may be over the tumblr character limit already.
and while I am totally counting this in my TurtleWrimo word count, I also wanna work on my story tonight.
