ever since he was 13 and his mom died, when casey cries, he cannot help but murmur “mom” and even “i want my mom”. which cuts his dad up inside when he tries to comfort casey and hears that.
thats actually how raph discovered casey’s mom was dead, after he whispered he wanted his mom after a bad breakdown and raph asked where his mom was and, could he help casey get to her?
which set casey off harder as he told raph she was dead. which made raph feel awful because damn, casey just wants mom but she’s dead, and he didn’t even know he was going through that grief. he goes easier on casey after that. and it’s strange to him now much he begins to notice that casey’s mom is dead.
the way he talks in conversations about moms, careful, or nothing at all. the way he shys away from TV shows about moms almost like it hurts. the sad expression after something great happens that lasts only a few seconds, and raph knows he wants more than anything to tell his mom about it. it’s always been so obvious yet only he knows casey’s suffering from a grief they couldn’t even fathom (but will feel by the time S4 rolls around sorry guys…)
