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The brothers had just come back from another nightly patrol, all hobbling into their own respective sections of the lair. You had been awaiting for their return, sat on the way too big couch with a bowl of popcorn in your lap and an episode of Friends on your laptop. Donnie and Mikey wandered in first, Donnie greeted you with a curt nod and a quick wave before dashing off to his lab to no doubt spend the rest of the evening huddled amongst his machines.
Mikey had jumped down beside you, scooping a handful of popcorn in his mouth with one hand while the other laid behind the couch, "What's up babycakes?" you shrugged your shoulders, now very used to the nickname, "Not much, just been waiting for you guys to return. Where's Leo and Raph?"
Mikey's chaotic smile dropped, his eyes rolling to the back of his head, "Oh, those two ," he deadpanned, "They got into another fight on the way back so me and Donnie made a run for it." You found yourself frowning too, did they always have to fight, they're brothers for crying out loud. The echoing from the tunnels alerted you to their presence, Leo leading the way while Raph stomped in behind him with his arms folded along his chest.
"Oh no," you heard Mikey moan, their loud voices ruining the sense of peace in the lair. Leo tried to walk away from Raph, wanting nothing more than to dismiss the fight and meditate, but his brother had other ideas. "Oh yeah, just walk away like ya did earlier!"
He tried to ignore it he really did, but the sense of venom in Raph's voice drove Leo back into the fight, "Oh, and what's that supposed to mean?" Raph smirked, Leo took the bite, Raph surged forward prodding a finger against his brother's chest, "You should've stayed, those people needed our help and you left em'!"
"What did you want me to do, Raph! The cops were there and I don't know if you've forgotten this, but, we can't be seen!" Leo started to walk away again, Raph standing in spot, his fists clenched in rage, "Yeah, well, I'd rather be called a freak than a murderer!" he only received a middle finger in reply. The tall terrapin was breathing heavily, body shaking with anger, his head flicked to you and Mikey sat on the couch.
He became slightly embarrassed that he had an audience, and instead of walking away, he took it out on them. "What're you lookin' at?" he spits out, Mikey shook his head and scuddled off of the couch, "Nope! I'm not doing this," he whined, leaving to the kitchen. That only left you to deal with Raph's angst, patting the empty space next to you, you gave him a warm smile, "Raph, sweetie, why don't you sit down-"
"I don't need to be treated like a kid, (Y/N)!"
You pulled back your offer, eyes wide at his tone, so he was going to take his unreleased anger out on you; not in your world. "Hey, don't get dicky with me because you had a fight with your brother," you argued back, slowly sitting up from the couch. Raph shook his head, a teasing smirk adorning his lips, he averted his gaze, "You wouldn't get it, ya just a human, you don't know anythin' about this life."
Standing now, you moved slowly around the couch to stand before him. Big, tall Raph stood all by himself, having a hissy fit because he wasn't the leader. "Just because I'm not some crime-fighting turtle doesn't mean I don't understand how you feel. But just because you're angry at Leo doesn't mean you take it out on everyone else."
"I ain't angry, just right! You weren't there, you don't know what happened! And you'll never know cause ya just a weak little human!" his words sparked a part of you that you didn't realise was there, a burst of anger flooded through your body. "Oh, god, you've insulted me! Whatever shall I do? I'll be mentally and emotionally scarred for years!" you cried, sarcasm dripping from your lips.
Raph growled, pushing past you with his body, the force causing you to stumble. "And where do you think you're going?" you questioned, arms folded over your chest. Raph shrugged his shoulders, hands teasing the handle of his weapons, "Why's it any of ya business, go kiss up to Leo if ya care about him so much."
Where was this coming from? When at any point in the conversation, well argument, did you say you cared for Leo, especially more than Raph. "What?" you seethed, approaching him again, this time with a kick in your step. Raph turned around to face you, a toothpick between his teeth and a glare in his eyes, "Ya heard me, go bother Leo with ya do-gooder attitude! I don't want it no more, I don't want you!" His words hit you like a steam train, running over your heart a million times before smashing it into pieces.
Sure, you and Raph had your odd squabbles as a couple, who doesn't, but this...this was unlike anything you've ever faced before. You coward away from him, hands coming up to hold your broken heart, "What?" you wavered out, voice wobbly and unsure. His eyes seemed to hold a sad guilt to them but he masked it well, his face suddenly going emotionless, "I said I don't want ya anymore, get outta here!" his hands flung into the air, symbolising you needed to leave.
You couldn't stop the salty flow of tears escape your eyes, nose sniffling wildly. Grabbing your bag you fled from the lair and into the tunnels until you reached the surface, you avoided the desperate looks people were giving you as you made a mad dash for your apartment.
Raph stood there, watching you run away from him like the monster he was. How could he say that, he didn't even mean it! His mind was just fueled by anger and anxiety, what if you left him for Leo? What if you left the lair one day and never came back? He knew the moment the words left his lips he'd regret them and he did, he really did.
Mopping about for a few more minutes, he decided to go to the one person he hated the most because he knew, deep down, they could help him fix his relationship with you. Raph trudged his way down the countless halls until he stood in the doorway of his brother's room. Knocking on the concrete wall with malice, he stepped inside. His nose was filled with essence, countless ones going off all at the same time, the room was dark, only lit by the odd candle or two. But there, sat on the bed, was Leo.
The leader in blue was meditating, he found that it was the best way to release his anger. Raph stumbled over to the bed, his demeanour suddenly becoming rather nervous and timid, "What is it, Raph? Come back to call me a murderer some more? Perhaps you think I shot JFK too while I'm at it?" he groaned. Raph rubbed the back of his head in guilt, his bandana moving slowly askew with the rigid movements. "I'm, er, assumin' you heard mine and, er, (Y/N)'s little argument, huh?" he nervously laughed.
Leo blinked an eye open, examing his brother before closing it again, "I think the whole of New York heard it. Look, Raph, if you're coming here to look for advice I'm afraid I can't help you."
"What?" Raph choked out, Leo grumbled but reluctantly opened both of his eyes, "Listen, you and (Y/N) need to sort your own problems out. As much as I love having them here, you're the only two people who can fix this problem, therefore, I can't help you."
"Ugh, ya startin' to sound like dad." Raph groaned, Leo smiled, taking it as a compliment, "That's the plan," he mused. Raph slumped against the bedroom entrance, completely stuck on what to do, sensing this, Leo debated in his head the best way to offer advice without really intervening.
"Maybe you should go find them, apologise?" he stated it as though it was self-explanatory. Raph jumped up at his voice, shaking his head like an idiot, "Er, yeah! That's a great idea, thanks Leo." he dashed out of the room. Leo sighed and went back to meditating, Raph's head poked back into the room quickly, his face reluctant, "Oh and, er, s.." he mumbled.
Leo hummed, "What was that?" he teased, holding back his smile. Raph shuddered, "I said I'm so.."
"Can't quite hear you-"
"I'm sorry!" Raph yelled, startling the pair. Leo turned to Raph and smiled at him, "Apology accepted, now go fix your relationship, you're the only one that could give Splinter grandkids." Raph laughed it off, putting the thought of having children to the side, and dashed back to your apartment where he assumed you'd be.
Tears continued to cascade down your cheeks, a box of tissues laid empty by your feet. The roof was the place where you went to feel at peace, the clouded stars and hoking horns brought you back to reality in the perfect way. Your fingers were blue with how could it was, teeth chattering just a smidge, but it was barely noticeable from a distance. Your insides felt empty, brain dull and heart dead.
The clattering behind you drew you away from the ache in your heart, but you didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Too heavy to be a human. "(Y/N)," his voice rasped, his footsteps edging closer and closer to you. You turned away from his voice, hiding your cracked face from him, not allowing him to see the state he left you in. "(Y/N) please, I just came to say I'm sorry. I-I know I shouldn't have said those things, I didn't even mean it! I-I was just angry at myself, like always, and I took it out on you; the person I love."
You remained silent, shuffling whenever he tried to get a glimpse of your face. He sighed, arms dropping to his sides, "Please, I'm beggin'," he moaned out. Your brow twitched up, head turning just enough to catch a glimpse of him from the corner of your eye, nose stuck up in the air.
"Are you?" You drawled out, unamused by his promise, "If you were begging, you'd be on your knees." Raph's eyes sparked with embarrassment, he knew you well enough to know you weren't kidding. He approached your back, the sound of his impact echoing around the rooftop. It was quiet again, you heard him faintly clasp his hands together.
"I'm so, so, so sorry for what I said. Never in a million years did I ever think I'd say somethin' like that to you, and I never want to again. Sweetcheeks, I love ya. God, I love ya more than life itself and If you ever left me I don't think I could carry on." he begged, earning a smile from you. "Just please, give me another chance, I promise. I love you (Y/N) (M/N) (L/N)." he declared.
You finally moved to face him, a wicked smile on your lips. Your palms moved to rest against his cheeks, suddenly smushing them together as you leaned closer down to him, "It takes a very special kind of idiot to pull off what you just did," you teased. Raph went to object against your claim but found his words hushed by the gentle press of your lips against his. He allowed you to take the lead, following your every movement. Pulling away, he chased after your lips earning a light giggle from you and a very dopey grin on his face.
"So, are we good?" he asked, eyes wincing with nerves. He held your hands inside his own, much large than your tiny ones. "Hmm, we're good." you sighed, feeling his thumb rub at your much softer skin, "On one condition." you declared. Raph's thumb stopped moving across your skin, his eyes trained purely on your face, "A-and what would that be?"
- cuts to the lair -
"I, Raph, am a fairy princess from the planet Glitterball690. With my magic wand and pink tutu, I travel the galaxy to find my true prince charmin' and hope to one day experience true loves kiss. I beg that my prince is handsome 'n' hot, with a voice as soft as melted butter. I will now show you the dance of my people..." Raph grumbled out, pointing his toes as Katy Perry's voice blasted through Mikey's boombox, Calfornia Girls playing loud and proud.
You, Splinter, April and the other three brothers were held up on the couch roaring with laughter, Donnie and April held cameras in their hands to capture a once in the lifetime moment, "Donnie you betta' delete that!" Raph yelled, Donnie only snorted in response.
"Raise those toes, Raphael, a pretty princess like yourself should have better restraint." Master Splinter joked, stroking his beard with a fond smile.
Raph had definitely learnt his lesson.