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They had tortured Casey, tortured him for weeks. But the pain from Rita's spell was something different. A whole new world or uncomfort and misery. Like lead seeping into his skin, like a raging fire flowing through his veins. His very will, his superpower of stubbornness, trapped in a small cramped cage like a raging tiger being prodded with heated iron bars.
He'd spent the last couple weeks of his life trying to win the good fight, planning ahead more like Leo, analysing the facts like Donnie, remaining calm and level headed while running headfirst into some of the most dangerous situations headfirst, like April. And all he has to show for it was a broken hockey stick (god that ranger power made his usual basic weapon so, so sick), and a whole lot of pain.
His muscles hurt. His head hurt. His eyes hurt. Existing currently hurt. It mentally hurt knowing he nearly killed his best friend, his brother. The only bearable pain was the heavy weight crushing him down and further into the floor. Now, that doesn't sound comforting, gravity usually doesn't elicit such emotions, but gravity wasn't the pain he was focusing on. Raph was there, leaning against his side and an arm slung over his hunched shoulders. He can feel his smile through the cheek pressed into the side of his face, and hear the relief in his own staggered breaths. It didn't take long for Mikey to join the two and flop against him shouting OR for Leo to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. They stay there for a while. Until he feels a squeeze on his shoulder and the shadow from Donnie and Leo move away from over him. The world is fighting a war, they have to go. Help the rangers and their friends, keep an eye on their enemies who joined their ranks.
God he knew he had too, but he just isn't ready to move.
Right he's going to get up
1,2-
Two large rough hands grab onto his jaw line and guide his head to turn left, angled upwards. A pressure is placed against his throbbing forehead.
It's grounding, in some weird way. All the other weight and contact from the turtles is gone, he just needs to push through the migraine and focus on this. A hand moves from his chin to the back of his skull. It's not gripping on or pulling his hair the way he is accustomed too. There is a slight pressure from it pushing his head into the rough scales already squashed against him.
He opens his eyes.
It's Raph, of course it is. He's looking at him, looking straight into his soul. A focused look flickering across his face, maybe mixed with relief or concern. Raph never shows so many emotions so openly, the close proximity or the pounding headache must be affecting his ability to read the turtle.
"You did good Case" is all his says, it sounds heavy and gravely, and hushed, this is just for them to hear. He closes his eyes for just another second, his they feel so dry they sting, he tries to solely focus on the contact, focusing on how Raph pushes with more force against Casey's head. It hurts, but it's nice.
------
The war is won. The fight is over. For good? Who knows, doubt it. But for now everyone is back at the lair celebrating, maybe de-mutating, he really is the turtles only friend to never have been mutated. April will be reuniting loved ones from the hostages, or doing a report. The girl really never stops. Raph is taking Casey home. He doesn't want to be with the others and without a single word Ralph gets that. He knows he is welcome, really, he does. And there's no way in hell he's too embarrassed to face them. But he's tired, still sore and all he really, really wants, is a nice cold beer and the comfort of his own bed.
In through the window they climb. The apartment smells of damp. It's cold, and kind of musty. Some things have probably been moved, the band of ninjas almost certainly came in here when he was missing to look for clues or to see if he'd knocked himself out and was unconscious under the bed or in the bath or something ludicrous and absurd and absolutely ridiculous but when your desperate and panicked even Donnie or Splinter can't argue reason into you.
Casey sank into the old couch cushions, flug his head back and just released a sigh. It's nice to be sat still, resting, comfortable. Raph had gone straight into the kitchen. He can hear him pottering around. Usually they'd talk to eachother, but the quiet was nice. He felt the cushions beside him shift and heard the thump of a can placed on the coffee table.
Raph grumbles "Y' foods gone off, fuckin' stinks", before mimicking Casey's position with his head rested on the back if the couch.
"Must be bad if 'the sewer creature' can't face it", is his only retort. His usual casual banter with his friend. He remembers something he said when his body wasn't his...
Raph sips his own can, of course he helped himself. Really makes himself at home here, it's typical he wouldn't even ask or mention it. "I may eat stuff from the garbage, but even I got my limits". It's quiet for a little longer, Casey will grab his drink in just a moment, he doesn't want to move again just yet. "Ya sure ya not hurt Case?"
"I hurt all over, but it ain't nothin' I can't handle, 'm fine"
"Need some first aid?"
"Nah"... God if his head wasn't pounding he'd be ready to pass out, a good few hours sleep will fix him, "just ache is all".
"You'd be better saving that schtick for April, I ain't messaging ya" another sip from his can "don't even want to touch ya, don't know where you've been"
Everything still hurts and everything feels heavy. But the absurdity of it all made his chest feel light and laughter erupted through the small recently derelict apparetment.
The conversation was lively, Casey started on his beer can, and even though the TV isn't on in the background, the small dark, unlit apparetment feels lively. He is home. He just needs to get one more thing off his chest.
"Hey bud, I'm sorry about the stuff I said, calling ya a freak and saying your not my brother. I just-"
"It's alright Casey, we don't got t' talk about it, I know".
The adult man hummed, "still I just wanted to say that neither of those things are true and-"
"Stop it Jones. I want things to be normal again, don't get all mushy on me when I've waited weeks for this drink and some peace from my brother's"
"Don't you be becoming an alcoholic before your even the legal age, the last think I need is Splinter or Leo hunting me for sport right now".
He laughs, then puts his can down on the coffe table. "Right" a large hand is placed on his thigh, "'m off", a slight squeeze. Casey turns his head to face his friend. "We're going out for pizza and shakes or something, Tommy had made these hologram things so we can go out in public" he stands to leave.
"Sounds good, I'll catch up with you all later. Just need to sit for a bit more"
In an uncharacteristically soft moment, Raphs reaches over and puts a hand on the side of Casey's face.
"Glad your safe Case"
A hard shove and with that he leaves. Leaves Casey alone with his thoughts and a new red mark on his cheek. Being able to go out with his friends in public sounds great but... He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ranger X grid. He plays with it in his hand. On a normal day a chance to do anything normal and boring with the turtles would be too good to turn down but, he reaches across the table to grab his phone.
Ignoring the low battery, all the missed calls and texts notifications from the last few weeks, he calls April. He has something he has to tell her first.