He faces his fears.
She hates being one of them, but it's nice to know he's not going to run away from her. She hadn't meant it, before, but it had been a real fear. That she was too strange, too much, and he wouldn't want anything to do with her anymore.
But here he is, sitting in front of her,
"I talked to Don," he says. No preamble. Never with him. "He says you can't help it. Readin' us." He fidgets. She doesn't dare look away, or even move. "You gotta promise me one thing," he says urgently, looking up from his fingers and locking eyes with her. "Don't… don't ever tell no one. What you… read. Not even Splinter."
That makes her angry, that he would even think such a thing, but the time for anger is not now. She swallows the bitter pill and says only,
"I promise."
And he relaxes, for the first time in days. She wishes she could.
Of course, it worries him, when he sees her using her powers on their other siblings.
"Don thinks the whole thing is a science experiment anyway," she explains. "It's just another chance to gather data. And Leo's so hard to read it's kind of a victory to be able to get anything out of him. He only sees it as more motivation to train. Mikey just thinks the whole thing is a comic book. He even calls me Jean Gray. None of them mind." She puts a hand on his shoulder. "But you do. So I don't do it with you. Okay?"
"Whatever." She can tell he's relieved. Then the agitation is back. "Vee…"
It's about Splinter, whatever it is. Oh. Yeah. The thing that started everything.
"I don't know, Raph," she says, turning away. "He loves you, you know that. I don't know if I'm his favorite. I don't think Splinter has a favorite."
She's made him even madder by doing that, and for once she didn't mean to.
"Well, that's just peachy for you to say," he growls, eyes narrowing. "You're not the big screw up of the family."
"Raph, you are not the family screw up." She's exasperated now. "That would be Mikey and you know it."
"No, Mikey's the family baby."
"We're all the same age!" She flings up her hands. It's like he's determined to have the whole world against him, and even her new powers can't tell her why. "Raph, if you're so worried about it, go talk to him. It's Splinter! Like he'll care."
"I can't walk in there and ask him if he hates me."
"Yes, because then he'll call Donnie in to examine your head. Splinter. Doesn't. Hate you. None of us do! You're frustrating as shell sometimes, sure, but you're still our brother."
"And would you even give me the time of day if I weren't your brother? If I was just some stranger who acted like this?"
"Oh, I get it. You're having a pity party, and you invited me. Well, forget it Raph. If you're so intent on believing we hate you, you can go do that on your own."
She moves to walk away, and a wave of deep, black misery washes over him. It's perhaps the blackest depression she's felt from him since her inner eyes were opened, and she turns slowly back to face him. It's his biggest fear, she remembers now. Being left alone. The look on his face is stubborn, but it hides a well of fear—no, terror—that leaves her breathless. Slowly, like she's approaching a wild animal, she puts an arm around her brother, and he leans into her, slightly, as much weakness as he will ever show. When he's calmer she murmurs into his ear,
"I can't read Splinter very well yet. He's… really complex. But I do know that he loves you, so deep it aches sometimes. Just like with all of us."
He doesn't say anything. A few moments later he emerges from the embrace, scowling deeply, mask stained with tears. He holds her gaze for a moment, and walks away. Venus smiles after him, feeling his fires damp down and give way (for a moment, only ever for a moment) to peace.