SANDBOX

[snappingturtle]

Comments

[radicalrat]

Raphael, do not place the burden of guilt on yourself for what Shredder has done to you.

[moves his hand to his shoulder]

That you were able to break free at all is more than others have been able to do.

[what with karai and. All that. Still, after a moment he goes back to their care, turning his attention to his younger son who is quiet and curled up against his older brother. They're both such a mess]

[snappingturtle]

[Don't tell Raph what feelings to have about himself!!1

He makes a noncommittal sound that miiiight be agreement if you squint. His attention goes to Mikey as soon as Splinter's does though]

Is he gonna be okay?

[radicalrat]

He needs time to heal, as do you.

It will be quite some time before either of you will be able to return to the surface.

But with time your brother will recover.

[carefully brushes a piece of Mikey's shell away. Raph isn't the only one with a cracked shell anymore. Mikey stiffens at that, his eyes opening up as he lets out a small whine]

[snappingturtle]

[Stiffening up again, ready to move away if given the slightest excuse]

Mike . . . ?

[freckledninja]

[Mikey is trying really hard to stay still and silent as Splinter attends to his injury. And for the most part he's doing well although he's blinking back fresh tears.

when it's done he does his best to give sensei and raph both a smile though]

[snappingturtle]

[starts to reach for him with his less wrecked arm, but the gesture is halting and he pulls back before he actually touches him, clenching his fist and glancing away again]




You're almost done, right Sensei?

[radicalrat]

The worst of it is cared for.

The rest can come tomorrow after some rest.

[gets to his feet]

I'll see to dinner. The two of you should rest in here until then.

[snappingturtle]

Wait—together?

[CAN'T I JUST HIDE IN MY ROOM]

[radicalrat]

[firmly]

Together.

[and SPLINTER OUT]

[snappingturtle]

[This is distressingly unfair.

Just. Looks down at Mikey the same way one might view a poisonous snake about to strike. If that snake were also your adoring baby brother.]

[freckledninja]

[He's been pretty quiet since. Stuff happened. The last thing he really said was Raph's name, a frightened pleading shout that screamed his need for help when Shredder was shredding him. And despite managing the escape he's pretty useless now. His leg is fucked, his shell is cracked, there's slashes from Shredder's claws across his exposed flesh. Shredder had wanted Splinter to see just how much he made his child endure.

But that was all then, this is now. And with Raph giving him that look Mikey is slowly~ trying to straighten up and move to stay upright on his own]

We're cool.

[snappingturtle]

[There isn't any part of this that's okay. Raphael finally reaches out to gently push him back down, face stern but still showing undercurrents of unease]

He said rest.

[Says the guy who dove straight into and through attacks to get to Mikey as soon as he overcame the worm. He only looks slightly better than Mikey, a few new light scrapes and dings on his shell and deep scratches anywhere that's exposed, especially on his arms]

[freckledninja]

[let's Raph get him back down, not fighting it at all.]

I'm resting. Ish.

You oughta rest more too. You look like you stuck your hand in a paper shredder.

[snappingturtle]

[lets out a soft huff]

Just worry about yourself.

[freckledninja]

[stays quiet for several moments]

I'm really sorry I couldn't help, Raph. I didn't know what to do. And then Shredder was way scary and I couldn't...

[snappingturtle]

—Don't. Don't . . . I'm the one that shoulda done more. I shoulda . . . heard you sooner.

[freckledninja]

Shredder totally baked your mind, it's not your fault, bro.

[snappingturtle]

But I . . . I even brought you to him.

[freckledninja]

He made you!

[snappingturtle]

. . . Doesn't make it okay.

[freckledninja]

Probably not.

You. Don't really think all that stuff you said before, right?

[snappingturtle]

No. You're a pain sometimes, but not like that.

[freckledninja]

[nods and tries to curl up against Raph again]

I'm sorry for stuff I said too.

[snappingturtle]

[grimaces, but he doesn't say anything and tries not to tense up at that]

You don't gotta apologize for anything.

[freckledninja]

I'm glad you're back.