#protective raph

raph growing more protective and more attached to leo with every incident that comes to pass. no one can blame him, though- everytime leo so much as bleeds a drop or bruises a nasty shade of yellow-purple, raph is back in that farmhouse bathroom, looming over his comatose brother and praying to whatever or whoever is listening that he wakes up.

leo just gets more secretive, sneakier. he can feel the change in raph and it’s not his job to worry his little brother into an early grave. If the mission calls for one for him, however- that’s his responsibility and his fate. splinter said so. he’ll take the extra hit so that his brothers don’t have to. he’ll lie about the burning in his knee and the creak in his shell so they don’t worry.

Raph is more than his temper.

I’m tired of his whole personality being reduced to “angry” and "rebellious". (Seriously those 2014 live actions making him want to leave his family behind make me so angry)

Besides Mikey, Raph is the most emotive turtle. He wears his heart on his sleeve! He is like never not showing people exactly how he’s feeling. (Mikey says it, he shows it) Raph is all about action, words are not his thing, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have anything valuable to say. (Heck even Raph can and has given great words of advise, so its just that he prefers action to words)

His default mode is defensive and protective. When they start to get overwhelmed in a fight, and Leo orders a retreat, he is always the last one to make a move. He stands his ground as a shield, his burning drive to keep his family safe always his first action. 

He is quick to recognize and sympathize with others with tempers (Casey and Leatherhead) and as the show goes on, he gets better handle on his temper, learns to slow down before acting, and is quick to apologize. He knows when's he’s wrong and owns it. 

In the early seasons, he is much quicker to anger but as the events they live through progress, he actually matures not gets worse. (Leo took care of that little arc lol). Seeing how he behaved during the "Good Genes" episodes, is just proof enough. 

They are hard to miss, but the subtle things he does throughout the show shows are caring and thoughtful person he is. He’s quick to have his brothers backs, however can get tunnel vision during fights to protect them. 

He has this whole “macho” mindset so he doesn't cry often but he doesn't try to play it off either. He knows when to be gentle, even if that gentleness can still come off kinda gruff.

Take "Lone Raph and Cub". He helps this kid out because again, he can sympathize and recognize himself in this kid. He's talking softer, treats the kid with respect while still treating him his age, and even forms a team with him to get his mom back. Dudes great with kids.

His dynamic with Mikey is also so special. They feed off each other during fights and missions and get along so well. Their love language is insults and teasing, yet they always put that to the back burner when its time to be serious and they are a strong duo. So no, he doesn't hate Mikey, they are actually best friends.

Heck even with Leo, there are very few times when he doesn't listen to him. He recognizes Leo's role and wisdom, often deferring to him.

It's when he gets to emotional and needs to act that they butt heads. It isn't that Leo isn't one to take action, he just does it differently than Raph likes to do it. Quick and passionately.

Again, his driving force is to protect his family, and the more time lost is not getting them back safe is stressful to Raph. (Again you see his growth in "Good Genes" in listening to Leo and remaining pretty calm)

He knows his stenghts and weaknesses, and especially knows when to ask for help. These boys have only ever had each other. They know at the end of the day, its them against the world. Yeah they have Splinter, April and Casey, but the bond they have is so drastically different and special.

He also constantly turns to Donnie for help, relying on and trusting his brothers expertise. He also constantly shows his appreciation for Donnies work. Their relationship is much calmer than with Mikey and Leo.

Point is Raph can be a hothead but his character is so much deeper than that. He's the turtle that shows his love for his family with protective action.

Leo may be the leader, Donnie the brains and Mikey the calming force of the family, but Raph is the heart.

He keeps them together, keeps them whole and most importantly keeps them safe. Raph is an empathy and you can't change my mind.

So, this is another piece from some crossover ideas I’ve been batting around. @brightlotusmoon Some emotional and angry Mikey for your pleasure...

***

It took a moment for everyone to gather their breath back. The turtles of this world had to admit, they had majorily underestimated the Technodrome. It looked so silly to them but oh, it was hardly silly inside! Traps, technology, and an endless supply of soldiers. Granted, they were robots but even if they were easily to take care of, you could only do it for so long.

Eventually, Leo had called them back, ordered a withdraw. Raph and Mikey had grabbed Michelangelo and literally pulled him out right before the whole war machine vanished into a portal. For a moment, they had spied Michelangelo's brothers at the top of the thing, Shredder was obviously dangling them there for emotional effect. It had worked but the situation had not allowed them to press on, not right now.

"Now what, Fearless leader?" Raph's tone was snarky. "I mean, if we're done risking our shells against a white Death Star."

Leo glared at his brother, "We regroup. We get reinforcements, we get some insight from Master Splinter." He eyed Donnie and Mikey, who were both knelt next to Michelangelo who had yet to look up. "We have to move."

Donnie frowned but he knew it was true. "Should I bring out that portal stick their Donatello made, to track this thing?"

"IF we can track it," Raph remarked. "Don't you think their Shredder, if he has ANY sense, would have found a way to block that thing?"

Leo groaned, rubbed at his eyes, "Raph, I hope not because otherwise we'll be searching blind through the whole multiverse." He frowned, "Which could take time we don't have."

"or we could have kept going," Raph challenged. He hated running from a fight and running was what they had done. "You're the one that called us back."

"I had to! It was that or get our shells creamed!" He protested, narrowing his eyes.

Donnie and Mikey rolled their eyes. Never failed, those two always got into it. They-

Their thoughts were interrupted when the smaller Michelangelo suddenly leapt to his feet and charged the arguing two. It was Leo, Leo he was aimed at and he found him, hard with a hard sock to the left cheek that left the leader stunned before he barely managed to dodge the second blow. "Teme! Sekai de ichiban daikirai!" he snarled, "You made me leave them! You made me leave them!!"

Raph recovered his senses and physically yanked the smaller turtle off his brother, surprised at how much strength it took. For a smaller one, he was strong when he wanted to be.

Leo, a bit stunned, nonetheless recovered quickly and set his eyes on the other dimensional version of his brother. A version who had tears running down his face, whose voice was breaking, who was shaking. "YOU MADE ME LEAVE THEM! SEKAI DE ICHIBAN DAIKIRAI! BAKA KA!"

Donnie stepped inbetween the two, took the younger turtle's face in his hands, "Michelangelo, we won't do them any favors if we die ourselves. What good will it do if we get slaughtered before we even get to them? Hmm?"

Gasping down some tears, he protested, "I...have to get them back."

Raph, his voice oddly soft, said "And we will, kid. We will."

The wind blown out of his sails, Michelangelo went limp and slumped, lifted his head slightly to look at Leo who had a pretty nasty bruise forming on his cheek. Lowering his eyes, he sniffed, "Sorry...I...it's not your fault, I...I want them back. I need them back."

Leo approached, put a hand to his cheek and gently tilted his head up, "And we will. Do you remember what I told you when you first came to us?"

He was quiet a moment then said, "You said I wouldn't be going home without my brothers."

"And to that, I hold."

And we wrap it up!

TRIGGER—Again, mentions of unwanted advances. Not described but proceed with caution

Coming out of her turn with a bow, the bala stood upright as the last of the soldiers gave up their whooping and cheering and succumbed into sleep. The Emperor fought it a moment more before finally slipping to the side in his chair and letting out a deep snore. The golden draped and red draped Galas, as well as five others near the wall just covered their mouths in shock and backed up.

The silver draped Bala stood up right, set her tray down and reached into her draped silks, pulling out a small bottle "Like you said," "she" stated in that oh-so-familiar tone, "A mild paralyzer knocks most people out. Funny what happens when it's in your drinks and food, isn't it?"

Turning around, feet beating against the ground, "she" fell next to the three captives, lifted the limp hand of a soldier and pressed it against the tight bands around Donatello's neck and they instantly released. He quickly went to rub his neck as the same was done for Leonardo and Raphael. As soon as Donatello gathered his breath, he grabbed the shoulders of their rescuer.

"Mikey?!" As gross as it might have been, he spat into his hand and wiped it over the eyes of the Bala. The olive colored skin gave way with smears to that familiar green skin and those bright blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "Mikey, you little..."

Grinning up at his other two brothers, Mikey addressed Leo in particular "A ninja is a Master of himself and his environment." He gestured around "I decided to "change" the environment, just a little."

Laughing out loud, Leo pulled his sibling into a tight hug, "Mikey, you amaze me sometimes."

"I try," he grinned and stood, pulling the silver silks off and tossing them down. He gave Donnie a knowing grin, "See, Donnie?" He pointed the designed that had looked like they had been carved into his skin and rubbed at them where they gradually smeared away, "Texture is your friend! Even pretend texture!"

"Alright little drag-queen" Raph remarked, "Let's get the shell out of here and drop these asses in a black hole or somethin'..."

Leo stood, stretched a bit "Our weapons first. Then, we're borrowing the ship."

"Like we did with the Triceraton Commander's?" Mikey widely beamed "Can I fly it again?"

"Sure, why not?" Leo smirked and then addressed the females in the room, "You can come with us if you want. We know a place where you can live a lot better than this."

The group of Balas exchanged glances but only two stepped forward, the red draped one and the one wrapped in purple. The others retreated like frightened rabbits. Leo sighed heavily. Well, two was better than none. "Alright, let's go..."

"Hold on..." Raph interrupted, his eyes scanning the room. Finally settling on his target, he crossed with sudden and steady steps before yanking one of the soldiers onto the ground. He didn't move. Breathed but didn't move. Donnie recognized him. The one with the scarred eye and...

Raph gave a sharp kick to the Cyamodian's lower region and Mikey yelped and winced, turning away when _something_ popped. Sounded like something important too.