breaking this down into smaller parts to make it more manageable. brace yourself for part 2 heheh. anyway. Raphie (age 9) is out here to make some new friends! maybe these random guys coming out of a bar late at night will fit the bill? :)
at first raph is extremely protective because he worries constantly; he already has a habit of carrying the weight of the people he loves on his shoulders, and dating someone who can’t see makes that instinct even stronger.
he learns your routines surprisingly quickly; which routes you prefer, how you organize your belongings, how you count steps in familiar places, and what situations make you uncomfortable (he memorizes all of it without even realizing he’s doing it).
if anyone treats you like you’re helpless, raph gets irritated immediately because he knows you’re capable of taking care of yourself, and he hates people talking down to you or assuming things about you.
he naturally positions himself on the side of the sidewalk closest to traffic, walls, ledges, or anything that could be dangerous; it becomes second nature to him.
raph develops the habit of announcing his presence when he enters a room because he doesn’t want to accidentally startle you, and after a while it becomes something he does automatically.
whenever the two of you explore somewhere unfamiliar, he’s constantly paying attention to the environment (he quietly describes obstacles, stairs, uneven ground, and changes in direction without making it feel like a big deal).
he secretly loves how much your other senses impress him: the first time you recognize someone by their footsteps or identify something from a tiny sound, he’s completely caught off guard.
hes a very physical person, so he often guides you through touch (a hand on your shoulder, an arm offered for support, a gentle squeeze of your hand when a room gets crowded). its comforting for both of you.
his brothers notice that raph becomes much calmer around you since you’re relying on information from sounds, touch, and tone of voice, so he learns to control his temper more than usual because he doesn’t want his anger to make you anxious.
he worries whenever you’re hurt, even if it’s something small (a bumped knee or scraped hand can have him hovering nearby for the next hour, pretending he’s not concerned).
he becomes very aware of keeping walkways clear around the lair. if one of his brothers leaves random junk lying around where you could trip over it, raph’s the first one complaining.
despite being protective, he never wants to take away your independence (sometimes he has to physically stop himself from helping because he knows you can handle something on your own).
• raph’s constantly, CONSTANTLY, aware of his size, although in an insecure way (cuz he loves being big and strong), it’s just that the moment you’re involved, his brain automatically switches into safety mode. for example, if you’re sitting next to him on the couch and he wants to lean against you, he’ll stop halfway and go “wait, is this too much weight?” even though he’s barely touching your shoulder.
• he absolutely refuses to let himself fall asleep on top of you, ever. if youre cuddling and he starts getting sleepy, he’ll physically move himself away because he’s terrified of rolling over and crushing you by accident.
• he has the gentlest hands imaginable around you, which is funny because those same hands can throw giant pieces of concrete. if he’s holding your hand, it’s like he’s holding a baby bird. and the first time you ask him why he’s being so careful, he literally looks so confused and says “because your bones are tiny?”
• picking you up becomes second nature to him, not because he’s showing off but because carrying you feels safer than letting you climb over things yourself: need to reach a high shelf? he’s lifting you; big gap between rooftops? hes carrying you; tired after walking all day? congratulations, you’re being carried whether you like it or not.
• if you ever trip or stumble, his reflexes kick in instantly: youre halfway to the floor before Raph’s already caught you. and he does this every single time although its honestly kind of creepy how fast he is.
• he gets nervous during play-fighting; the rest of his family wrestles with each other constantly, but with you? nooope, not happening. youll try poking his shoulder and challenging him, and he’ll just stare at you.
• if you sit on his shoulders, he becomes ridiculously protective: one hand is always hovering nearby in case you slip even if you’ve done it a hundred times.
• he instinctively positions himself between you and literally any perceived danger, it doesn’t matter if it’s a villain, a speeding bike, or an aggressive pigeon; raphs body immediately becomes a shield.
• if you’re cold, he treats it like a personal emergency cuz he’s basically a giant reptilian heater. so the second he notices you shivering, you’re getting wrapped up in his arms, his blanket, his hoodie, or all three.
• he loves having you sit in his lap, but he’s always adjusting your position every five seconds.
Summary: With the week coming to an end, there were still too many questions to answer and things that you didn't understand. Would Raph tell you? Would be be able to? And would that explanation be enough to stay with him, your head-over-heels emotions be damned?
A/n: Hey guys! I'm not dead! Here's part five in case anyone wants it... ya know like four years later. If you do, comment and maybe I'll write some more and include a high school dance ;) Love you guys!
We parted, a smile on both of our faces.
“How’s that for high school drama?” I chuckled. “Thanks for… saving me. Again,” My cheeks flushed.
“Anytime,” He tucked my hair behind my ear, a gentle gesture from someone I had just seen beat the hell out of high school guys not minutes ago. “Except, maybe don’t go looking for trouble?” He teased.
“Never in my life have I looked for trouble,” I defended.
“You came looking for me.” Raphael said with a smirk. “Time and time again,”
“Who says you’re trouble?”
He laughed. “Everyone,”
“Not everyone,” I smiled. “But I have some questions. Well, one question.”
“Just one?” He teased.
“Will you tell me everything? I’m not sure I understand everything that’s happened and… I wanna know.”
Raphael looked at me curiously, internally debating if I should know the truth—if I could handle it. I gave him a pointed look, crossing my arms and not backing down. I needed to know why this past week had been hell. Why he could take on six guys. Why he had to follow his brother’s orders. I had to know.
He chuckled and rubbed his face, backing down.
“Yeah, sure, why not,” He shrugged. “Come on, I’m sure we should get outta here,” His eyes scanned the crowd of people hovering near the scene of the fight.
“Raph, Y/n!” Donnie came trotting over from the fray. “You guys, okay?”
“Yeah, we’re good.” Raph said. “What about over there?”
“All taken care of.” Donnie shrugged. “Apparently Officer Baldwin didn’t see anything and neither did anyone else… and since the assault last week that you didn’t press charges for, it’s all circumstantial,”
“Oh,” I said, surprised. “Great,” that was such a relief.
“Thanks Don,” Raphael smiled. “Wanna stay and watch the rest of the game?” He asked the both of us. We shared a look and Donnie and I both laughed. “Yeah, I thought so, come on, ya nerds,”
We needed up in a little ice cream parlor not far from the school. They both argued when I paid for their ice cream but dropped it when I reminded them of tonight, and always having my back if I was honest.
We found a booth in the back corner. I waited in expectation.
“Well?” I asked.
“Well what?” Donnie said.
“I said I’d tell her everything,” Raph said.
“You—what?”
“Donnie, she deserves to know,” Raphael refuted.
“She would also like to know,” I raised a finger and broke up the spat between the brothers. “You’re both my friends, can’t you tell me anything? I’ve seen what you guys can do—I… how? Why?”
“We’re trained ninjas,” Donatello said. “The four of us. We saved New York, multiple times. Until the Mutant act, Leo has been our leader,”
“I knew that, sorta,” I smiled. “I read the news,”
“We patrol the streets,” Raphael said. “Keep an eye on things still, train…”
“Keep an eye on me?” I raised an eyebrow, thinking of the other night.
“Well, you’re our friend,” Donnie said. “And Raph’s right, you have a knack for trouble,”
“I’ve walked home alone from my job at night for over a year,” I defended. “Nothing has ever happened.”
“You’re welcome,” Raph grinned.
“You’re kidding me,” I gasped. “No! Really?”
Donatello nodded. “When your friends with me, with us, there’s always a target on you,”
“That’s a little dramatic,” I mumbled. “And you guys are great friends… some of my greatest,”
“Really?” Raph was skeptical. I shrugged.
“Donnie’s a huge help in chem and calc, and Raph,” I smiled, my cheeks flushing as my gaze dropped. He also looked away, blushing. “You’re great friends,” my phone started to vibrate. “Speaking of,” I answered the call.
Kameron was on the other side, I was barely able to hear her over the crowd. My eyes flashed to Donnie when he answered his own phone probably having a similar conversation. I let Kam know where I was and that I was okay. She told me to call her when I was home and I promised I would.
“Leo wants us to head back,” Donnie sighed. Raph tensed.
“Course he does,” Raph muttered.
“You have to go now?” I asked, my eyes darting outside. I still had so many questions and not enough answers and I wasn’t sure how much I trusted the city right now. There was something sinister in her streets tonight. I didn’t want to be alone.
“Yeah,” Donnie said. It sounding happy about it, getting up. I didn’t move.
“Hold on,” Raphs eyes narrowed at me. “What’s bugging ya?” I didn’t want to confess my fears. They seemed silly.
“Nothing,” I shook my head. “It’s fine,”
“Y/n,” Raph pressed and even Donnie seemed concerned now. Damn them for being caring friends. “Do you want one of us to take you home?”
My eyes met his and I nodded. I needed more time with them. I wanted more time with him.
“Go ahead,” Donnie said. “I’ll get back and explain.”
“Thanks guys, for everything,”
“See you Monday?” Donnie looked at me as he got up to leave.
“Monday,” I promised. He left Raph and I alone outside the ice cream shop. I noticed Raphael flexing his hand.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “Did they hurt you at all,”
“I’ve dealt with much worse,” Raph smiled to himself. “I’m a little outta practice though,”
“But you’re okay?” I insisted.
“I’m fine sweetheart,”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For saving me. Again,” I’d say it again and again until I felt the debt was paid. Until I felt he really heard me.
“Anything for you,” his voice was so serious and honest, my eyes flashed to his intense gaze. “And I’m so sorry that happened to you,”
I shrugged softly. “I shoulda seen it coming. Coleman’s always had a temper.”
“Normal people don’t think about stuff like that Y/n,” Raphael said firmly. “So no, you shouldn’t have.”
We walked in the night air. I felt safer with him beside me. And it was nice to have a friend.
“Can I ask one more question?” I said.
“Sure,” he chuckled.
“The thing with Leo… I—I’m not sure I get it.”
“Oh. Um.” He said, hesitant. “It’s so stupid.”
“Yeah no I gathered that,” I teased lightly, breaking through his clouds of frustration.
“When we first started training—first went to the streets to protect New York—Splinter made Leo our leader, someone to give orders so we’d work as a team.” He sounded annoyed by the fact. “But we don’t do that anymore. Not as much. And now Leo thinks he can still control every fucking part of our lives,”
“Damn.” The idea of my brother telling me how to live my life and I was just supposed to follow him? No complaints? Not a chance.
“Yeahp.” Raph said.
“Well that sucks,” I said, getting Raph to laugh.
“But he’s our leader,” he said with a snide smile.
“Bullshit,” I laughed. “Fuck that.” Now Raphael was really laughing.
“You’re the only one who seems to think so,” he said, melancholy shading his tone.
“Sorry,” I said. He shrugged. “Not that I ever go looking for trouble,” I said. “But next time Leo makes an order about me—tell me. I um… would rather know and be pissed at the right person,”
“Sure,” Raph smiled. We made it outside my door. I dug for my keys in my bag.
“And you’re sure you’re okay?” Raph said. “I know it’s been a fucking week,”
“I am,” I smiled. “Thank you, for everything.” I reached up and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you Monday,”
“Monday,” he repeated.
I went up the stairs and closed the door behind me, grinning.
________________________
Raphael walked home slow. Carefree. Thinking about you. The past week. The blur of emotions. It ended in a net positive he decided.
Leo dropped onto the sidewalk beside him. Raph knew he was being followed for a while. He just didn’t care.
“You didn’t come home.” Leo said.
“I’m on my way,” he said noncommittal.
“You keep getting into trouble Raph.”
He rolled his eyes. “No. I keep protecting the people of this city.”
“You’re fawning after some girl!”
“Oh like you haven’t?” He scoffed. “What is wrong with you man!? This isn’t just about your vendetta with me anymore! It’s Donnie! And Mikey!” He pleaded his brother’s case. “Y/n is apart of our friend group. So is Kameron. And… it’s normal. For the first time it’s so so normal. And I wish you could see that man,” Raph had never been so level headed before. But after a week wound up so tightly with anger and anxiety and having an outlet in that fight and calming down and talking over ice cream with you… he felt at peace. For the first time in a long time.
“We’re not normal Raph,” Leo said.
“I know,” he said. “And they know that too. But for the first time, we’re not freaks either,”
Leo was pensive then spoke.
“You’re… different with her around,” Leo said. “I think this is the first time we’ve ever talked without fighting,”
Raph chuckled. “I’ve had enough fights this week.”
“Never thought I’d hear you say that,” Leo smiled at his brother. “She must really make a difference,”
“She… sees me.” Raph said. “And takes it in stride. And…”
“And you like her,” Leo teased lightly.
“Yeah shut up,” Raph laughed. “Maybe I do.”
“Maybe?”
“Alright fine fine! I like her! Jeez,” Raph laughed pushing his brother playfully. “Can’t a guy have a high school crush?”
“Sure Raph,” Leo smiled to himself. “Splinter does want us home though,”
“Yeah yeah,” Raph rolled his eyes as they took off for the rooftops.
Sry haven't been posting now I'm fully better just no motivation I think I might change my blog to a full time art blog but i know I'll quit sooner or later I'm just in denial about it in not going to go on and on about how I feel and that I think its almost impossible to become popular on any app for Something you love without chasing trends or making something stupid so I'm just going to say I loooooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeee Timothy Jackson drake ahhhhhhhhhhhh 😫 I luv all the bay fam but like mainly Tim dih Jason and Barbara but like loook at him 😖 please someone tell me who this artist is and where they post and his scar like when did it happen and how do I make people draw him with it more people who draw him make him look so magical..... Anyways I'm obvi going to try and finish my request if I can't then I'm very sorry then I'm going to see if art will turn out better even though Ik it won't I'll probably stop art all together ty for the support that I've gotten the pass year if I'm being completely honest I only made this blog in hopes I'll be lucky enough to get a decent following so then I can post my thoughts ocs and share my art that hasn't worked out so I lowkey just quite
