#soft raph

Now I know you’re asking yourself, “Okaaaaaay cool fun fact I guess, what does that have to do anything with me?”

*takes a step back and adjust glasses with a smirk*

My dear dear fellow tumblr, allow me to share the wonders of mixing fact, madness and media all in one! *sounds of maniacal cackling can be heard*

(I wrote this with the intent to be platonic but it could be romantic if you squint long enough)

•So we've established Raph can smell fear right?

•As a protective big brother who is quite literally in fact “BIG” he knows a thing or two about getting scared

• Especially when it comes to looking out for people he cares about

•Hes been fighting baddies for his family since he was a tot! From keeping away scary dreams at night, from crushed ancient metal zombies to terrifying alien virus monsters, there ain't much he hasn't seen

•So when you join the ranks of the Mad Dogz, you immediately also get a built in prtoector

•Raphs been looking out for the little guys his whole life, what's one more?

•Not to mention you're kinda cute, so he doesn't mind sticking around a little bit closer

•But you're different than most folks, Raph notices. I mean besides the fact that you WILLING want to be friends with 4 mutant turtles of all things.

•No besides your abnormal incredible bravery in looking beyond the status quo to reach out the hand of friendship to these reckless reptiles, Raph noticed that you just kind of…smelled

•Not in a bad way or anything just…you always seemed to have a lingering scent of fear on you

•And Raph would know. Hed recognize that scent anywhere. It's a scent that ghosts every hour of every day for him. Nighttime and being alone especially.

•Raph hates being scared. He's the biggest and the oldest. He's supposed to look after his peeps! And he can't do that if he's frozen with fear all the time!

•So what does he do? Raph faces the problem head on like he always do.

•You get scared a lot. That's understandable, but Raph decides to make it his business that you don't need to be scared when he's around.

•Raph’ll protect ya

•Be prepared to have this turtle subtly (orrer not to much so because although he's a ninja he ain't exactly tactful or subtle) watching you every time you and the gang get all together

•Its not hard. You've always caught his attention for some reason or another. So looking at you is something he does without even realizing it.

•He’s looking for triggers, anything that gets that heart rate of yours spiking and that scent start to waft.

•Fidgeting hands, bouncing knees, shutting down and slinking into your hoodie, nervous chewing, pulling or playing with your hair and pacing, he's got eyes on it all.

•Once a trigger has been spotted, Raph immediately tries to locate the source

•Too many people? Suddenly you find a 6ft something giant turtle behind you, letting you know with his massive presence alone that he got your back. Literally.

•He kinda likes this position because he can see everyone that comes close enough to interact with you and everybody can see him.

•All he's got to do is narrow his eyes a little a give em a flash of that all too familiar snaggle tooth of his if he thinks someone's being mean and he gets his unspoken threat across just fine

•Not to mention you're also close enough to grab if someone he doesn't deem fit for your attention gets a little too close for his liking. But he doesn't say that part out loud.

•Scared of talking? You suddenly feel the cool tip of his massive scaely alligator tail (anatomically correct alligator tail be darned, I'm going with the fandoms HCs for this one) gently wrapping around your ankle as a physical reminder that he's right there here to support you

•Overwhelmed and the world feels like it's closing in on you? Raphs massive size is a natural battering ram that allows him to pass through thick crowds with easy. He's not afraid to help heard you into a quiet little corner away from it all

•Years of practice with Donnie allows him the experience to ask you if you're good with touch.

•If yes, you know you're going to be instantly wrapped into his arms, pulled flushed up against the worn keratin of his plastron. Raph’s always been more of “hands-on experience” kinda of guy anyway.

•Raph gives good hugs. They're firm and tight, padded with the security of arms who have been holding the weight of the world for years.

•He will rest his chin on top of your head, gently guiding your head with the motion ever so slightly so you're somehow perfectly nestled right against his heart.

•It's a loud heart, especially when you're up so close. It's actually his strongest muscle and one he's most proud of. He cares about you, so he reckons he’ll allow you the privilege of getting close to it. In more ways than one.

•Raph doesn't talk much during these special security hugs. He's never really been much good with words anyways. Raph knows sometimes the noise can be too much, but he also knows that the silence can be defeaning. So being a turtle comes with some built in perks that make up a happy medium.

•Hes got a special churr saved for special situations just like this one. It's one of the lowest and deepest ones he's capable of making. More akin to a muted growl more than anything the way it vibrates his chest as you're pressed up against it. You can feel it more than hear it and it just takes a handful of minutes listening to this bad boy before Raph can sense your fear stink slowly dissipating and your natural sweet scent can return.

•Raph can smell fear, and there's something incredibly humbling for this Atlas of a turtle to have the sweet experience of watching that scent drift away whenever he gets the privilege of being close to you like this.

•”You don't need to be scared no more, Sweet Pea. Raph’s got ya. I'm gonna be right here until you're ready to face the world again. Until then, let me just hold ya.”

Just imagine It had been a long day. A long week even, and Raph was was feeling drained.

He glanced at the city that never slept below him as he lurked in the protective shadows from his position on the roof. The pulsing city lights and the intense scents of food vendors, car exhaust and just that oh so “homey” NYC street stench wafted around him like a pungent punch to his senses. Usually he loved sitting up here and watching the hustle bustle of just a normal crazy NYC night, but for whatever reason, it all just seemed like too much today. Everything seemed too much of late.

He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders dropping with the action, and ran a weary hand down his face.

Raph was tired. Tired of holding it in, holding it back and just tired holding it together when once again the overwhelming feeling of everything felt like it was falling apart. All he wanted was just a little peace and quiet, a warm place to safely break down. Somewhere he could rest before having to pick up all the pieces, face this cold heavy world and do it all over again. Unbidden, your face came to mind as it often did when he was left alone with his musings. Your soft smile, the one that caused that little twinkle and the wrinkles at the corner of your eyes, beckoned to him.

And all at once Raph was hit with a moment of clarity. He didn’t have to hold it all together.

What Raph needed right now was to hold you.

Just imagine His heart thumping at a thundering pace, each beat echoing with your name as Raph raced along the rooftops at a dizzying speed. Raph jumping from building to building, ninja skills fueled by the heady thought of having you in his arms again. Just imagine

Raph finally making it to your building and climbing through his signature window without even a second thought. By muscle memory alone, Raph traced his path through the apartment towards you, not even needing to think. This was home, you were his home.

And he’d always find a way back to you.

Imagine

Raph finding you in the kitchen and without hesitation, stepping up behind you. Gently sliding his arms around your waist, and pulling you back flush up against the rough keratin of his plastron.

Silencing your squeak of surprise by pressing his beak to the nape of your neck underneath your hair where your scent was the most potent. Relishing in said scent, and felt it work it’s magic as his pounding heart rate began to slow.  Tightening his arms around you in a protective embrace. Whether for your security or for his, he didn’t know. What he did know was that he needed you in his arms, right now.

Needing the peace and warm that he could only associate with you when you were close to him like this. Just needing you. Just imagine

Raph slow dancing with you in the lowlight of the kitchen.

Raph turning you to face him, wanting, no needing to see that smile that had been haunting his thoughts that night. A slow almost hesitant finger coming up to stroke the curve of your beginning to pink cheek. An almost relieved sigh when you leaned into his touch with curious eyes. A tenderly aware hand sliding from your waist to the small of your back and pulling you further into his embrace to rest against his chest. Gently rubbing said hand in a slow rhythm up and down the notches of your spine and shoulders as the other hand gently wrapped around yours. Holding it in a soft fist close to his heart as he began to dance with you in his arms.

Well, it wouldn’t be much of a dance per se; your kitchen really wasn’t equipped to hold the giant turtle. So it was more of a small shuffle as Raph gently led you around the perimeter in small circles as he swayed back and forth with you held snug in his arms. There was no snarky trash talk, or signature playful joshing around. Just Raph resting his cheek against the top of your head, his slow breaths puffing against your hair. The sensation would tickle a little bit and make you shiver slightly. The movement would cause Raph to peak down at you with a fond smile quirking the corner of his lips. Prompting him to instinctively pull you closer, making sure to nestle your head under his chin so you could rest over his beating heart. Raph using the beat of said heart to set the rhythm of his sways as he whispers these lyrics in your ear

Rise Raph ❤️🧸:

“When I think of you sometime And I wanna spend some time with you

Just the two of us We can make it if we try Just the two of us”

Bayverse Raph ❣️💪🏼:

“I take your hand, hold it closer to mine Thought love was dead, but now you're changing my mind

My heart's a stereo It beats for you, so listen close”

Imagine

Raph wanting nothing more in this moment than to be soft with you. Going against his baser instincts and just wanting you close. He just likes these small moments where he can let down his guard and drop all the weight of the world and just be soft.

Being soft and gentle because he knows that it makes you feel safe with him.

Churring softly with the feeling of you being close to him because that means he finally feels safe with himself.

Just…Just imagine.

Thanks for the proofread @doreen090 💜

Dedicated to @anobodyinabog and @lotus-sunn