#raph headcanon

I like to headcanon that, as the Nightwatcher, he grew pretty close to the local homeless community and prostitutes after saving them a bunch of times (since those groups are at a significantly higher risk of being murdered or hurt in general)

Anyway, they either do or don't know that he's a mutant turtle (you can decide). I like to think they do know, but that's because they kinda figured out he wasn't entirely human on their own (I mean, like Casey said in the movie, he does look like a giant turtle). Again, you can decide if he knows that they know (I like to think he does)

Even after he gives up the Nightwatcher, he still tries to check in on them to make sure they're doing alright

Pairing: Reader x Raphael 

Plot: Raph starts carrying short and smol reader around on his back as a joke but then it turns into habit.

A/N: This is a special one (belated) for my birthday baby @txx-yxxng-txx-hxxntxd ❤️ 

Raphael’s voice, eyes or even his lips, which you time and time again found yourself caught up in, wouldn’t allow you to ever get used to his flirting. No matter the occasion.

He was known to throw the filthiest looks at you, especially when you’re hanging out in a group. Testing all that’s in you.

But Raph adored you and wanted to make sure you knew you were the centre of the room for him at all times.

Besides, seeing your blush, fidget and sneak looks back at him made his heart race. And well, Raphie-boy was an adrenaline junkie when it came to that.

However, at the same time, the red turtle also knew when to express himself with the cheesiest lines; he was a passionate romantic and only you seemed to experience that side of him.

To illustrate, his actions varied from blatantly asking you for your number to later on saying something along the lines of “I’m bad at texting first, so I always end up hoping you will.”

In sight of all this Raph was approachable, not the tough shell he seemed to be when standing in contrast to his brothers.

You always knew you could count on him, on his advice and his presence. Whether it’s unnecessary ranting about shitty friends, the need for some air and calm, or even the simple need of his presence, Raph never failed to be there for you.

You were open with one another, with the flirting always around the corner, however, one day Raph has had enough of playing around.

He’d occasionally point out his obvious height advantage by nicknaming you shortie, quite often.

It was a late night and you were, as usual, found sitting on the couch in the lair, your chin resting and eyes focused Raph, a few feet away in his gym corner, lifting and jumping and doing all the things that seemed to add up to his massive size. No complaints though you were starting to feel thirsty.

Standing up, you made your way to the kitchen passing Raph. Opening the fridge and bending down to look you were interrupted by Raph’s voice. “You won’t find any drinks, sugar. We all have our own stash, we rarely share.”, he spoke matter of fact. “I can tell you where mine is, shorty.”, you could practically hear his smirk but still decided to turn around and look at where he stood not putting his weights down. He simply pointed to a couple boxes on the top shelf. Ignoring the obvious disadvantage of your height, determination on your face.

“You could help, you know?”, you expressed after hearing a couple of sighs and chuckles from the mutant.   “I could,” Raph purred, staring shamelessly as you struggled. “But that wouldn’t give me nearly as pretty a view.”  “Do you always talk so much crap?”, you talked back, managing to climb the counter though not as steady as you’d hoped.

“Only when it works you up so much.”, he only smirked and took slow, sauntering steps towards the kitchen. Call it coincidence but in the same moment a slight imbalance in your feet and a bad grip caused you to fall back and straight into the hands of one handsome mutant turtle.“So yes, I suppose always then.” Too embarrassed to find words you just pouted and furrowed your eyebrows at which Raph couldn’t help but laugh before he placed you on his back, thighs on his shoulders. “Better, sugar?”

“I don’t like it when you’re so smug.”, you asserted. “Liar.”, he almost hissed as you took our the bottles out of the crate which was in your reach now.

Eventually, Raph starts making up excuses to carry you

“You look tired, peach, lemme help you relax.”

Or just a simple, “How ‘bout a ride around the city, babe?” 

His willingness encourages your shyness and it turns into a habit

“Look there comes Mountain Man and Heidi.”, and “It’s like the strangely sweet love between King Kong and the only woman who understands him.” were only the beginning of the teasing you’d endure from the other turtles.

Raph loved to have you close, having previously failed at making an excuse to touch you in the smallest ways.

He was, to put it simply, overwhelmed by the amount of touching he received from your part.

With your hands never resting anywhere away from him. They were either on his neck, massaging out the sore muscles, twisting and turning his bandana (definitely braiding it at some point, “Don’t move! I’m almost done, Red.”), rubbing circles in his temples whenever he became his grumpy self or simply resting your head on his.

If you were a pain in th ass then, now you’re inseparable. You aren’t seen one without the other, and always Raph carrying you somehow.

At this point Leo, Donnie and Michael, occasionally Splinter, are all putting money on you two either ‘dating already’, ‘soon to be’ or (written in big red) ‘Raph messes up and we’ll miss Y/N’s cooking’

“I’m not moving, your shoulders are comfortable. This is non-negotiable.”, you whispering between you two once it’s brought up by the guys.

“Alright, sugar. How could I say no when you talk so sweetly.”, he’d tease back, not giving you a break.

Definitely laying on his shell, admiring him, talking or even napping while he’s working out.

He can’t be more thankful when the cold days come around and since he’s and aquatic replete, cold blooded, you’re his favourite source of warmth.

This only furthers your relationship which eventually leads to the confession of the inevitable, though unspoken truth, between you two. Namely, just how head over heels you two were for one another.

Raph

Raph would be nervous almost scared but also really pleased and happy that you’re in his bed. It’ll take him a long time to actually sleep he’ll be so focused on you, are you comfortable, do you feel safe, are you warm enough, will you need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and does he have anything in his room that you’ll bang your knee or stub your toe against? The first few nights he might even choose to sleep on the floor so he doesn’t accidentally crush you or push you off the bed. Once he does fall asleep in the same bed as you, you’ll probably wake up in a turtle cocoon and it’ll take a while for him to wake up. Lucky you.

Raph