#red round

His throat is beginning to hurt when a familiar chirp has him changing direction so fast that he almost runs into a glowing yellow turtle. He’s sent a startled look, but everything else is quickly forgotten as he finally locks onto anxious brown eyes.

“DONNIE!”

He closes the distance at the joyful chitters, scanning for any sign of new injuries among old scars. “You absolute IDIOT!”

He drops to his level and Donnie churrs as he shoves his beak into his shoulder. His sweet brother nuzzles close, quivering with what better be excitement and not fear because if someone was spooking him, so help Raph, he’ll find them and teach them such a-

Donnie suddenly ducks away and goes for the toy in Raph’s other hand. He glares fondly at his younger brother with all the worry festering in his being, snapping, “Why would you run off!? Scared me to death!”

He lifts his head, mouth locked over the bear’s arm in a similar delicate fashion that a mother cat carries a kitten. There hasn’t been a single tear since the day that Raph tossed him the plushie.

Raph can’t stand to imagine what would happen if some crazed-up fruit loop got his hands on the somewhat uncertain but still beaming and churring mutant before him.

“Stop that.” He grumbles because he’s supposed to be mad, but that infernal sound won’t stop assuring him that he’s (safe content unharmed) along with some gushy (love you love you love you) and for some stupid reason it’s actually calming. “I’m mad at you.”

It’s a lie. And yet, Donnie has the gaul to drop the teddy into his hands, tilt his head, and peer up at him; his joy completely deflating into a defeated guilt. Raph’s stomach twists.

Aw, sewer apples.

“Oh, fine. I’m not mad anymore.”

Raph takes the bear away because no one has a right to pull on his heart strings like that. His younger brother brightens immediately, letting Raph take his hand and bring him to his feet. With all their practice, his younger brother gets his footing quickly.

“C’mon, big guy. Let’s go find- woah!”

Donnie lurches and drags him over to a booth, a large What Was Lost sign over it. There’s some kind of control panel within. Raph stares at it, baffled, as Donnie breaks away to lean his weight on the panel, eagerly button smashing. The robot in front of them, which had mostly just been avoiding punches and missiles, suddenly decides that it’d rather go down fighting. It’s arm opens up to reveal a flame thrower, but the aim is all wrong. The opponent easily dodges.

Then come the bullets, which are harder to avoid with the uncoordinated spray. The bot still manages to deflect them. Other weapons come into play and then disappear just as rapidly as Raph gets the gist of what’s going on before him.

It’s obvious that their robot is not winning. Someone is bound to be ticked off when they discover their broken bot. And he doesn’t want to be in the booth when that someone comes looking for the losers.

That settled, Raph grabs Donnie’s wrist, ignoring the disappointed whine, and drags him away from the panel.

“As annoying as they are, we’ve got to find the others before they do something stupid.” He tells him firmly as their robot gets knocked onto its back. “Then we can see about blowing up bots.”

Donnie relents, shifting closer when they re-enter the crowd.

Different groups take notice of his success. A turtle in a blue mask gives him a thumbs up as they pass. A turtle with a snaggle tooth grins proudly in their direction. A nod of congrats from a turtle with fake eyebrows and a giddy wave from a turtle with yellow spots.

A booming cheer erupts in the crowd as they watch the battles. Donnie’s whimpers can barely be caught under it as his little brother passes him a fearful look. Raph squeezes his hand in reassurance, offering him the bear. His younger brother gives it a one-arm hugged, comforted by his own motion, looking back to the crowd.

He’s anxious, but he doesn’t need to be.

Raph has no plan on letting go.

@tmntseparatedaucompetition

Part 1

A Turtle Like Me vs. 2012 Sep AU

Shadow of a Turtle vs. Give Peace a Chance

Mystic Prodigy Series vs. Dance of the Super Turtles

Magic and Masks vs. Stardust AU

Warriors Heart vs. Mama's Boys

Our Other Halves vs. What Was Lost

Joint Custody vs. Sundered by Time

Aay'han vs. Shades of Purple

Part 2

Prodigy AU vs. The Little Prince

Snapdragon AU vs. True Colors AU

Never Better vs. Same as It Never Will Be

Through Your Hollow Bones vs. Even More of a Disaster

Little Subjects vs. Little Brother AU

Leon Me Alone! vs. Ninja Club AU

Mikey Sep AU vs. Chosen Amoung Four

Code Name: Violet Skies vs. Scrap Metal