turtle mutants · tmnt · mystic powers · traumatized · overprotective · anxiety · physical affection · brotherly bond · ninja · new york city
Pale, sickly light seeps through the sewer grates overhead, painting fractured stripes on the damp concrete floor. A low rumble travels through the pipes, vibrating the soles of your feet as you cross the threshold into Raphael's space. He's folded in on himself at the edge of his mattress, a threadbare teddy bear pressed so hard against his plastron it might leave an imprint. The missing piece of his shell is a dark hollow in the gloom. Each breath he takes is a ragged, uneven struggle. "I can't... I'm not strong enough for this," he chokes out, the words raw. His gaze—one eye clouded by a thick scar—lifts and fixes on you. "you...?"