TMNTHaven

behold: the raph system in their headspace.

Enjoy honk shoo mimimi

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“So like…” Raph started, fingers absentmindedly tugging at the tails of his mask. He hesitated, glancing at Red, who patiently sat beside him on the worn-out couch. “I’ve... been meaning to ask, what’s with the ring?”

He tilted his head toward it. A simple silver band snug around Red’s finger.

Red’s expression flickered. For a split second he practically glowed, but like he caught himself, his shoulders tensed, his excitement barely restrained. Emphasis on barely.

“Oh! I got engaged,” he blurted out, then added quickly, “Thirty-six days before we, uh, got here. And counting.” A grin spread across his face. “Her name’s Alexis.”

Before Raph could even formulate an answer, Red whipped out his phone, turning the screen toward him. “She’s a beauty, man.”

Raph leaned in, expecting a pretty face—and she was pretty—but what really caught his attention was the vivid red coat. A fox. A fox-woman? Probably a yokai.

“Oh, damn.” Raph muttered, curiosity flaring. “How’d you two meet?”

Red exhaled dreamily, practically sinking into the couch. “She was Lita’s ballet teacher,” he sighed, lovestruck. “Or, well—is. She’s still… You get me.”

Raph chuckled, nodding along. But something clicked in his head.

“Oh. So she’s not…” He let the question dangle, unsure if he should even be asking.

Red’s expression soured, his grin faltering bittersweetly. “No…” He mumbled. “It’s—it’s a long story. But let’s just say Lita’s mom removed herself from the picture.”

Silence settled between them, thick and heavy like wet sand. A question hung in the air, unspoken but obvious.

“…How long ago was this?” Raph finally asked carefully, leaning forward, elbows on his knees.

Red didn’t look at him. “Eighteen,” he answered quietly. “I was eighteen, if that’s why you’re asking.”

Raph barely registered the number before it slammed into him like a truckload of bricks.

One year older than he was now. That’s how young Red had been when he was suddenly dumped and responsible for a newborn with no apparent support.

“Oh,” Raph mumbled, the weight of it pressing down on him.

Oh.

FFFFFFFFFFFF MAN......... you are hiding the deep lore in you i stg

"I could have..."

Obviously not implying Raph should or would regret doing what was right for him... But Lita most definitely brought forward a myriad of complicated emotions gghhgh

I live for the messiness of it all aaaaa

FFFFFUCKKKKKKKKK OUGHHHHH MAN WHY ARE YOU DOIN THIS TO MEEE 😭😭😭😭😭

//I wanted to color everything and make more doodles but I got a headache mid-way haha- [I most definitely will draw more later... when my head allows it]

//Anyways, I hope you don't mind me drawing these two bozos interacting, I just thought my Mikey would definitely trauma bond with Raph and be a bad influence LMAO

AUGHHHHHHHH SHUT UP HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO CUTE I LOVE THIS

//The blorbos ever.

//The silly billies even.

//More low quality doodles, haha!

KLDJSALKSJ LK OH MY GODDDDDDD

HES HUUUUUGE!!!!!!!! oh mannnn

//Ask and you shall recieve 💙

//Two nerds bonding over nerd stuff.

//Fun fact, Big Don also uses knee braces due to his height and weight putting a substantial strain on his knees, so there is also that lol!

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF OMGGGGGGGGG THATS SO FUCKING CUTE GOD DAMN IT

//I am under no definition an author plshavemercy.

Mike leaned casually against the counter, humming as he took a slow sip of his coffee. "So, if we're just different versions of the same story," he began with a lazy drawl, "I'm guessing you all know the same people?"

Raph raised an eyebrow. "Whatcha mean?"

"Well, I haven't seen Casey anywhere 'round here," Mike replied, absentmindedly scratching his chin with that trademark idle grin, "Do you even know who that is?"

Raph's eyes widened as he turned his face away, clearing his throat with a forced cough. "Casey? Uh, yeah… vigilante human with a temper?"

Mike snickered at the description, "Sounds 'bout right. So you guys do know Case," he hummed, "You two close?"

A jolt of panic raced through Raph's thoughts, he could feel his face heat up. Fuck, did he know? It was so frustrating how this old man always seemed to wear that same smug fucking expression, it was so hard to read.

"We're… yeah, I'd say so," Raph managed, straightening his posture. "It's… complicated."

Mike's smile faded into a thoughtful gaze, scanning Raph. "How so?"

Raph made a sound, awknoledging his question while he considered the answer carefully …Might as well tell the truth, this guy seemed like the type to smell bullshit a mile away.

"We, you know, share a kiss every now and then, go out patrolling together, blow off some steam… It’s nothing too serious." He shrugged, trying to seem casual. He didn't need all the details.

Suddenly, the atmosphere thickened. Mike's eyes went cold and sharp as he fixed his gaze on Raph. "What?" he asked in a terrifyingly soft tone.

A shiver ran up Raph's spine, leaving him momentarily frozen under that intense stare. Fuck, did he say something wrong? What the fuck is happening?

After what felt like an eternity, Mike leaned back, closing his eyes and taking a deep, steadying breath, "…Describe this Casey of yours to me" He finally demanded.

Raph stuttered as he tried to collect his thoughts. "She's— she's 17, got long dark hair, she's tall and—" Before he could finish, Mike erupted in a sudden burst of laughter, snapping Raph out of his nervous spiral. Raph looked up with wide, confused eyes.

"Whoo" Mike exclaimed, still chuckling as he gathered himself. "Oh god, you actually scared me there for a minute," he said, rubbing his face with a light-hearted tone.

Raph stood there like a deer in headlights, clearly not following the sudden shift. Noticing his confusion, Mike quickly apologized, shaking his head. "Sorry. Sorry, I'm sorry. In my universe, my Casey is a 6-foot, 40-something year old guy, and I just— well, I just thought…" His smile faded into a remorseful look. "Sorry, that was really fucking stupid of me. Didn't mean to scare you, kiddo…"

Raph chuckled shakily, reaching out to pat Mike on the shoulder while rubbing his own face as if to shake off the lingering scare. "No, I get it. You never know what to expect in this fucked-up universe of mine." He mumbled bitterly.

After a minute of silence to let things settle again, Raph grinned, "You looked like you were ready to punch someone's face a minute ago," he teased, giving Mike's shoulder a playful shove.

Mike laughed, a genuine smile breaking through. "For you? I'd be ready to kill someone," he replied, ruffling his head.

That wasn't an exaggeration.

FUCKKKKKKKK no yeah. that would absolutely come off REAL bad to anyone with a classic casey SIGH....... i do think the concept of casey being a grown man anywhere else would in fact freak him out. he feels weird enough about that whole sitch poor baby

//Seems unable to say "no"?

//Mmh, sounds oddly familiar... Wonder why...

JHASHDKJ SEE. this is what they both need a lil donnie for.

//You can question his methods, but never his results.

//Might become a series if i find the motivation 💔

“Oh, old Angelo, was looking for you" Leo said as he entered the room, sauntering up to the counter and leaning against it with curiosity. “Was meaning to ask, how old are you anyways? I heard you’re the oldest, but like, I need like, a number.”

Mike stilled, his fingers idly tapping the side of his cup. Silence stretched between them, making Raph raise a brow, waiting for what should be a theoretically simple answer to the sudden question.

Instead, Mike squinted, his eyes flicking upward as if sorting through the mental chaos. "Uhh… I should be around twenty-three? If I’m not mistaken. I dunno." He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant as he awkwardly looked away and took another sip from his drink. But he could feel their stares picking him apart.

“You don’t know?!” Leo blurted, only to get a sharp shove from Raph.

"Watch your tone," Raph muttered with a warning glare before turning back to Mike with something softer in his voice. “What he means is— that’s kind of a... vague answer. Don’t you guys do birthdays?”

“Oh! No, no, they do,” Mikey said quickly, forcing a chuckle. “I just…” He hesitated, rubbing a hand down his face as if physically trying to smooth out his thoughts. A sigh finally escaped him. "I got lost for a while. Lost track of time. But I should be twenty-three now." His tone was serious, almost guilty.

Raph’s expression shifted, filled with sympathy. But Leo? He wasn’t buying it.

“You look way older to me,” he pointed out bluntly.

Another smack from Raph.

“What? It’s true! You looked way younger than your age in your teenage pictures.”

Mikey flinched slightly. Leo was a smart kid— he wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t already have suspicions.

"You want the real answer?" Mike challenged, face darkening playfully as if telling a horror story. "I got lost so far off in space that only six years passed here, but for me? It was almost two decades."

Their eyes widened like saucers.

"WHAT?!"

"SPACE! HOW'D YOU EVEN MANAGE THAT?! WHA- HUH?" Raph shot up from his seat, hands slamming onto the counter so hard it rattled.

"Wow, hypocrite," Leo muttered, earning a glare.

Mike just laughed, amused by their reactions. “Do I look my age now, Leo?” he teased, tilting his head.

Leo folded his arms, humming in thought. "... That would mean you're pushing forty." He raised his brows, nodding. "Okay, yeah, makes sense that you're a fossil."

Mike snorted, but Raph was still processing. “Does anyone else know about this?”

“Mmh, not really.” Mikey exhaled through his nose, his smile dimming. “And if they do, they just don’t bring it up.”

Leo’s brows furrowed as something clicked. “Wait… six years, you said?” His voice dropped slightly. “Isn’t Lita like almost five?”

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Mike looked down at Raph, then back up with an unspoken worry. This could be very easily a triggering topic.

“Yeah… that’s— yeah. Right.” He cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. “I wasn’t there for that.”

Leo opened his mouth to press further, but before he could, Mike abruptly clapped his hand to the counter. “Oh, right! I made breakfast for you guys. You should dig in before it gets cold... er.” His grin was sheepish, a little forced.

Raph nodded, taking the out, but Leo just kept staring at Mike. Something wasn't adding up.

//But part one of? Who knows...

!!!!! ACK!!!! WHAT THAT OLD MAN GONE THROUGH??? 😭😭😭

oof u left yourself open and uh im just gonna have to be honest abt this one dude.....

//2nd part!! Will send the last panel apart SOBS

[adding the other ask panel to make your life easier]

//Angst is far from over, but for now 🤲

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WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭😭