Title: Validation
Summary: Never the perfect son or student or brother, Raphael does the unthinkable. Away from the lair and into an allegiance with Shredder, honor is replaced by his pronounced desire for validation.
Disclaimer: I have no ownership ties to the TMNT fandom or anything else I might reference. Credit to those who do.
SPECIAL THANKS TO! Bella13blue, my own personal Nemesis! (Because everybody needs one.) MY Nemesis has been a good friend; she's a great soundboard and has been kind enough to encourage and offer suggestions on my work for this fic.
Author's Notes: -To avoid spoilers, A/N will be at the bottom.
Questions or comments, submit via review or PM. Thank you.
...
CH 35
There were times he could smile, as if his world wasn't crumbing down. As if everything truly was acceptable. Then, there were times when he was consumed with a primal urge to scream and rip apart whatever he could get is hands on. And in between those two extremities were bouts of emptiness and grief as well as boasts of arrogance and pride. Of course, there were other emotions by the multitude, but they were more complicated, harder to place, impossible to label; so, he didn't try to label them.
However he felt, he acted. Whatever he needed to do, he did. If he was hungry, he ate. Thirsty, he drank. Bored, he busied himself.
Every new breath made him feel like he was one step closer to fulfillment. Every step he took or choice he made, he couldn't be sure of its necessity, but his brain pulled and pushed and argued the balance between burden and serenity.
He imagined a scale, large and golden, mythical. A beam and a fulcrum, but it was so much more elegant than that. On one end sat everything good in his life: every person he cared for, every memory he cherished, and every hope he had. On the other side was every dark secret, every fear, and every failure and misdeed.
The two opposing ends were fairly even, but sometimes, if he breathed in deep enough, thought hard enough, or gave into pressure, the scale would tip.
A bout of depression would sear into him and spread until it consumed him; then it would radiate like something foul and disease-ridden. It soured his aura, and his harsh demeanor would become contagious to those around him. Once they were susceptible to negativity, Raphael admittedly didn't feel as bad. Didn't feel so alone...
But even he could acknowledge how fucked up that was. He knew he shouldn't need to bring someone down to his level just to feel better about himself. And so, he went with the alternative: the very alternative that had carried him through a great deal of his life.
Denial of the problem. Physical banishment as an escape.
Because, really, nothing was wrong. Really, he just needed some fresh air.
Night drew in with a dignified subtlety. Bright skies turning navy as the sun seemed to fall away and take the warmth with it.
The atmosphere itself grew darker and darker as time ticked on, until blackness was stretching over the sky; a chill permeated the air and cooled the city in segments, and Raphael found himself content to feel the wind whip at his face from such an altitude. He was crouched at the edge of a hotel's roof, posed very much like a gargoyle as his eyes swept over the city lights and streets in surveillance. And with every breath, he allowed himself to feel more calm.
The city, despite the bustling activity of hurried humans below, was at peace.
Perhaps he was too high up to catch any significant sounds of scuffling or threats, but from his vantage point, everyone was moving between cars, sidewalks, and buildings. He could see small groups of loitering teens enjoying a conversation. Hobos grouped around a burning drum. A cat in a nearby alley looting through a garbage can...
Nothing notably dangerous.
No thieves. No crooks, cronies or gangbangers. Nothing overly threatening. And while it was a fine rarity in this city, Raphael couldn't find himself to be happy about the lack of action. Because, no crime wave meant no heads to bash. No excitement. No way to burn himself out.
And, right now, he needed to clear his head.
His mind was heavy with thought and predicament.
In particular, he was still trying to grasp the idle task of acquiring a certain weapon from a certain reptile for his human-master... But he was given no time frame to complete said task, and he wasn't necessarily in a hurry to do it. Not right now. Not while his head was a jumbled mess.
If he were to be honest with himself, he could use a drink. A cold one to take the edge off. Something to cloud his own brand of misery until he lost track of why he was miserable to begin with.
But he couldn't drink. Not right now. Of course not. Not when the city buzzed and begged for his attention. And he needed to be completely sober for that. The last thing he needed was to find himself stumbling punch-drunk and making a fool of himself.
Immune to the turn of events, some things never change. He still loved this city, and every bit of scum in it. It gave him something to fight for, something to fight against. For the people, against the people. For the victims, against the criminals.
Really, one human was no different than the next. Each was just as deadly, just as much of a suspect. An eventual casualty. A statistic. A pending obituary in the newspaper.
Any one of them was more or less just as capable as the next. The only difference: ability and intent.
But to Raphael's opinion, they all screamed and bled the same. Victims and criminals. The same red-red blood. The same low pained grunts and shouts of horror. The same cries and whimpers.
Perhaps it was a little unfair of him to think like that, but the bulk of them were useless. They were troublemakers. They wasted what they had and took everything for granted, then complained when they lacked something.
Raphael's greatest loathing went towards the upper-class teens who were denied $200 jeans or the latest smartphone.
Typical. Bitchy. Obnoxious. Selfish and ignorant fools, blind to their own desire to use and consume...
'Parasites.'
But, he reasoned, perhaps he only hated them because he could never understand them. Could never see himself in their shoes. Could never have the luxury of being anything like a spoiled little human.
He didn't have the privilege, nor the right. Not even the capability. All he had in regards to societal integration, was impossibility.
Then again, he didn't want to be anything like them. Because they could be just as monstrous as any mutant, except, their appearance hid it better. Their soft skin and hair and exaggerated smiles costumed their tainted insides.
Meanwhile, Raph was content to brood, to sit back in the shadows, and to do what needed done. Because, no one else was going to do it anyways.
'The cops are a fuckin' a joke. The civilians are all just a mess of action and consequence and hidden motives. Wolves in sheep's clothing. Monsters that can hide just 'cause they look normal.' The thought made Raph one pissed off turtle. But he quelled the simmering rage. He had to. Not because it was a foul line of thinking, but because he could feel something shift in the air.
Movement.
As if someone else was present.
As if someone was watching him.
It was an eerie feeling that caused his heart to beat just a bit faster, but he kept his breathing controlled and kept his eyes over the city below.
Slowly, he inched his hands towards the holsters of his belt, wrapping his fingers around the hilts of each sai and drawing them from their slots.
His muscles tensed, shoulders squared but he dared not move. He closed his eyes and focused on the atmosphere around him. Another slight shift in the air confirmed the presence of another being, and, almost reflexively he turned and threw a sai in the direction of the intruder.
A sound hit his ear slits before the sight met his eyes.
The sound of metal on metal. His sai colliding with a blade rather than an initial target.
Quick to get to his feet and draw himself to full height, he stared at the blade-wielding intruder and panic speared his chest. He moved to take a step back on impulse, only to stop when he felt his heel start to slip over the the ledge.
Because he couldn't face this being.
This familiar face with familiar green skin.
Not now.
"Raph?"
"You shouldn't be here, Leonardo," Raphael hissed, harsher than intended.
"Raph, I'm just glad you're okay," as he spoke, the blue-banded turtle stepped closer to his unmasked brother.
Still holding one sai Raph slipped into an offensive stance, warning the other not to come closer.
Leonardo heeded the warning, stopping in his tracks. "Raph, I'm not here to fight. I'm just glad I found you. We've all been worried that-"
"Well, don't worry. I'm fine." Raphael's words were quick and rude, unthinking and sharp, cutting. He had to be that way. Behaving any other way would hurt more, he was sure.
"So, how've you been?" Leo sheathed both katanas and stepped aside, moving to pick up the sai he'd deflected when it had flown towards him. Once it was in his hand he offered it to his younger brother.
Raph looked at the sai for a long moment before snatching it up and slipping both into his belt. "I said I'm fine. I don't like repeatin' myself." He paused and looked around. The tension was thick. The moment was awkward. And really, how was he supposed to act? Clearing his throat but keeping his tone gruff, he posed a question of his own. "So, where are the others?"
Leo offered a small smile at the obvious concern. "Mikey's supposed to be running east; it's hard to say if he's actually doing what he's supposed to. And Don's somewhere north with Casey." He paused. "We've been looking for you."
Raph shrugged. "But you've all been fine, right?"
Leo opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Instead, he offered a shrug. Then, "We'll be better once you come home." He paused for one- two- three seconds, then spoke again. "Look, Raph, I'm sorry for everything. I treated you unfairly. And, about you taking the cheap shot and clipping my jaw with that metal case before- I forgive you. I just want you to come home."
Raphael's mouth dropped open and his eyes glazed over, expression showing disbelief. "You... are sorry. And... you... forgive me?" He asked the question deliberately slow, being sure to string together the words just so, and then... his shoulders shook, his eyes closed and his face split into a grin as he chuckled bitterly. "That's the Leonardo I know. Fearless asshole. Still making shit about yourself, huh? Well, this ain't about you." He shook his head, and contorted his face in dark amusement.
It was too funny. Too good. Perhaps this was just the reminder he needed, to help him get his head on straight.
"Raph, I didn't mean-"
"Have ya ever spoken a single sentence without the word 'I'? Really, it's sad. Still the golden boy, pullin' everyone together just ta make the dumb old rat proud. Still tryin' ta be this great leader. But, y'know what, Leonardo? Ya got a lot to learn about this big bad world we live in. Sometimes, ya fail. Sometimes, ya don't bounce back from those failures. And sometimes, ya need to just move on."
Leo's face twisted into a scowl and he prepared to offer repose, but at the last moment, a thought occurred and he opted to take the conversation in a different direction... He clamped his mouth and offered a thin smile. "I missed you. I even missed arguing with you. Why don't you come with me? We'll get Mike, Don, and Casey. We'll all head over to April's and order pizza. Then we can head back to the Lair to-"
Raphael had considered it.
Fuck, for a moment, the offer was tempting. For a moment, his heavy heart felt light and he wanted to listen to Leo. He missed being near the forest-green reptile. His brother. His leader. He missed talking and arguing. He missed trading glares and exchanging words of varying degrees of trust and misjudgement. He missed their heated sparring sessions. And he could almost imagine the smiles on Don and Mike's faces, if he were to show up with Leo and they were to all have pizza.
He could almost taste the pizza. Hot and greasy, cheesy.
He considered it, fuck, he did. Right up until Leo mentioned the Lair.
Then, in that instant, Raph's heart iced over.
"Fuck yer underground prison," he spat venomously. "Ya can't make me go back there. Ya don't need me, and I sure as fuck don't need you. You didn't want me. Ya wanted a soldier fer your little army. And I ain't buyin' inta yer bullshit! Not this time, Fearless." The words fell from his mouth too easily. The aggressive tone, too harsh. The moment those words left his mouth, he wished he could take them back. But he'd meant every word, and once something was said, it could never be un-said. Only seconds had passed since he'd spouted those words, but it was already part of the past. Something final and unchangeable. Something he could write in a notebook, but not something he could re-write in life.
The words stung, even to him. But this world- Leonardo's world- was not Raph's. He didn't belong in it.
He would not go back to the smelly sewers to live under the ridiculous rules and allegations of a rat.
He had a new life. And while it wasn't what he imagined, it worked. Somehow. Under the guidance of a new master, his life had been tolerable. He'd been able to control himself, his anger and actions, unlike before when he'd been a danger to his own family.
Now, the only threat he posed was that of rejection.
He had to believe it was better that way. For everyone.
"You okay, Raph? You're zoning out," Leo cautioned the words, but his eyes were filled with worry. "You're a little close to the ledge there."
Raphael's breath caught somewhere between his throat and his lungs, but he paid no heed to the discomfort. Instead, he moved further away from the ledge and into the middle of the roof. He drew his sais once more. He stared at Leo, his own gaze hard and burning and attention suddenly redirected at the twin katanas strapped to Leo's shell.
'A single katana from the one called Leonardo...'
Now was as good a time as any. Right?
Leo was right there. With two swords.
And Raph needed one.
It wasn't supposed to happen tonight though. This confrontation was unwarranted. Unwanted. Raph had wanted to get some fresh air, clear his head, maybe knock down a few thugs. That's all. Nothing more.
Leo shouldn't have showed up, shouldn't have found him.
'It wasn't supposed ta be this way,' was Raph's last thought before he charged at his former leader, daring a fight.
Leo drew his own weapons out just in time to block his brother's strike. "Stand down, Raph," he said, his own steely eyes locked on burning amber. Midnight sapphires and sunset gold. "I don't want to fight you."
"Ya don't always get what ya want," Raph ground out, swiping at Leo with one sai and moving the other interlock with a katana blade.
Leo blocked the attack and pulled back, putting space between them. "Raph, we need you home."
"Well, I don't need you."
"...I can see that. You're obviously fine, but you're our Achilles heel."
"Oh, so now I'm not even muscle, I'm just a heel?" He rolled his eyes and moved to strike again.
"No, Raph, what that means is-" He blocked again, playing defensive. Against his brother, it was all he could do. He refused to harm Raphael. "Alright, let's try another tactic," he murmured, lunging at Raph, feinting, then dropping low to lock his legs around his brother's and executing a hip-throw with practiced ease.
Raph went down with a startled grunt, delivering an uncoordinated kick to Leo's plastron before getting to his feet.
Leo moved to sit, but he did not stand. He held his katanas loosely but made no move to attack or defend. He met his brother's eyes and said "We're family. I trust you, Raph. You've always tried your best to make the right decision, and I'm counting on you to do that again." He tossed both katanas so that they landed our of reach; and he managed to suppress a wince at the sound of them scraping along the roof. Still, he held up his hands to display his lack of weapon and said: "You've always held a degree of honor and loyalty, Raph. Show me that you still have that. Show me that you're the same brother I've always known you to be."
Raph's expression had fallen blank again. He'd forced that expression -or lack thereof- so often that it was becoming too easy, borderline habitual. "You... are an idiot, y'know that? I ain't gotta show ya nothin'. In fact," he paused and let his vision move to rest on the swords, "ya just made dis a whole lot easier than I thought it would be."
Leonardo frowned, misinterpreting what his brother meant. "You won't strike an unarmed opponent, Raph. That's not your style. You're better than that."
"Who said anythin' about attackin' ya?" With that, Raphael waked passed Leo, slipping both sais into his belt mid-stride. Approaching the familiar swords, he picked them up. He felt the weighted pommels in his grip, and it just felt... wrong.
But he'd made a promise.
His gaze swept along the immaculate blades, then drifted to his unarmed brother.
For a moment, he reconsidered.
Then, "You've been... takin' care of Donatello and Michelangelo, right?"
"Yeah, for the most part," Leo answered. "But they've been there for me just as much. Now, we just want to be there for you too. It's what family does, Raph."
"Don't feed me bullshit about family." He tossed one katana in Leo's general direction but kept the other.
The blue-banded turtle's hand shot up to catch the tossed weapon. "If you'd just give us a chance-"
"A chance fer what? Ta be confined underground by the damn rat? Ta be lectured by you? Ta be pranked by Michelangelo? Ta be spoken to like I'm a child just 'cause I ain't as smart as Donatello?" He shifted the sword in his grasp, but it just felt out of place. Heavier than it should have been.
"Raph, no." Leo felt his composure beginning to slip. He could see where this encounter was heading, and he didn't like it one bit. He hadn't expected to find Raphael tonight, but now that he had, the last thing he wanted was to fight and chase him off. Yet, he seemed incapable of finding the right words to say. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. "I won't ask you to come home."
Raph blinked, suddenly started by the simple words. "Wha?"
"I won't ask. If you want to, you will. If you don't want to, there's nothing I can do to change your mind. But I want you to know that you'll always be welcome."
Dropping his head and letting his gaze fall to his feet, Raph mumbled a soft: "Thanks, I guess."
And Leo smiled, taking the lack of resistance as a sign to continue. "I just want to know that you're alright. That's what we all want. If you... find yourself happy somewhere else, then we're happy for you."
"Thanks," Raph said again, feeling like a broken record because he didn't know what else to say. He'd never been in this situation, having the eldest turtle speak to him in such a manner.
"And Raph?" Leo pressed.
"Yeah?" And Raph responded, inclining his head to see the other mutant.
"You probably won't want to come back to April's with me and the guys, but... just in case, we'll leave the window open, and there'll be a box with your name on it."
Raph bit his lip and looked away. It was an open invitation. But there had to be a catch. "If- If I did show up- and I'm not sayin' I will- you wouldn't try to trick me inta goin' back to the Lair, right?"
"No. Ninja's honor. Family shouldn't have to trick family. I'm sure the guys will just be happy to see you."
Raph was silent for a long moment after that. One moment became several and the silence became stale as he contemplated the situation as well as his options. Then, finally: "Extra cheese and peperoni. No weird toppings. And if anyone so much as mentions the Lair or Splinta, I'm gone. Got it?"
Leo got to his feet, sheathed his single katana and gave a tight-lipped smile. "I swear on my honor, Raph. You won't have to answer any questions. You don't have to come home if you're not ready. There's no pressure."
Raph hesitated, but after several beats, he said: "Lead the way."
Leo nodded and reached for his other katana, but Raph stepped back and reaffirmed his grip on the weapon.
"I'll hold onto it, just fer a bit. 'Kay?" Raph's words. His eyes held something strange, something close to guilt but too hard to properly discern.
Not wanting to addle his brother, Leo moved to scale down the side of the building with Raph in tow.
'If I can just show Raph that we trust him, miss him, need him... maybe he'll come home on his own. Tonight might be my only chance. I will not fail my brothers. Not this time.'
The two turtles dropped onto a fire escape and began an easier trek down in companionable silence, both circulating their own thoughts as they did.
As they neared the ground, a civilian's scream caught their attention and both jerked their heads to look for the source.
"Raph-" Leo began, but was cut off by the other turtle.
"Shut it, Leader-boy, let's go." And when Raphael's feet touched the ground, he broke into a run, sticking to the shadows like only a ninja can.
Leo followed close, keeping track of his brother's every move. With confrontation at bay, he was able to objectively observe the brother that had been gone for so long. Too long. Six and a half months of his absence... And during that time, it seemed, his emerald-skinned sibling had changed noticeably.
Leonardo had been too caught up in the relief of finding Raph to fully take in the nuances, until now.
Raphael seemed calmer. More reasonable. More level-headed despite the tension and anger he still retained. And those muscles that had always bulged out, much larger than that of the other turtles, had grown to startling proportions. His whole upper body's mass almost made his head look too small. Then, of course, he had new gear. The pads around his elbows and knees, cayenne-colored steel plates held on by black leather bands. And that belt, so strange with a segmented panel that seemed to radiate with energy. Even Raph's carapace was different than it used to be. The shell still held the imperfections branded with battle, but now the natural gloss was gone, leaving it to appear dull and dry; and there were sections of scutes that had begun to split to compensate for rapid growth.
The older turtle stared at the splitting scutes of his younger sibling. It was an odd thing to focus on, but Leo couldn't take his eyes off it as they moved along in synch with perfect stealth, city lights occasionally catching on their weapons or skin.
Speaking of weapons, Raphael was still holding Leo's second katana- another oddity that the blue-masked ninja couldn't understand. But he wouldn't question it. Not now. Not when he was so close to his brother after such a long time.
He wouldn't trouble Raphael with an interrogation. He wouldn't pressure him into anything. He just wanted Raph to be at ease, and maybe, he'd decide to come home on his own. That's the best he could hope for right now.
Using any kind of force would only cause more damage in this situation.
Leo had to be cautious. He knew Raphael's spirit was still trapped, but he hoped beyond hope that this encounter would go smoothly, possibly bring them even closer together so that he could free Raphael's inner self. Then, maybe Raph would come home. And the family would be made whole.
But first...
The two tore onto the scene in a parking lot, yet Raphael hung back, pressing himself against a building to veil himself within the shadows.
A gang -consisting of at least thirty helmet-wearing thugs- was shaking down an older gentleman in a business suit while fending off a few familiar faces.
Mikey was approaching the gentleman, smiling brightly. "Turtle to the rescue, dude." He waved his hand to the opening path that Don and Casey had cleared. "Right this way. Get to safety, and call the cops in about ten minutes. Alright? And, uh, keep the mutant ninja stuff a secret." He gave a wink and led the human away.
Meanwhile... "Bottom of the ninth. Bases are loaded. Batter up!" Casey hollered, slamming his bat into the helmet of one man and sending him to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"I prefer a game of Stick Ball myself," Don chuckled, tripping another with his bo.
Facing each other, Don and Casey slapped their hands together in a high-5 and high-3 gesture before turning back to back and continuing to bust thugs down while Michelangelo continued to usher the victimized human to safety.
Raph watched from the shadows, almost mesmerized by their teamwork and light-hearted banter.
Leo, seeing that Raph had frozen in place, whispered: "You can join them, you know. We could all use the help." He placed a hand on Raph's shoulder for the briefest moment before drawing it away and moving to assist his brothers. Holding his single katana in both hands he rushed forward.
"Hey! Bro!" Mikey shouted as the one human scampered off with a wild slew of unintelligible words that were caught between panic and gratitude. "Man, are we glad to see you! What took you so long, Leo?!" The orange-banded turtle procured a kusarigama and stepped into action with some exaggerated battle cries.
"You'll have to forgive me," Leo said calmly, raising his sword to block a lead pipe that his opponent had swung. "Or, perhaps you'd rather thank me."
"Thank you?!" Don asked, twirling his bo and stepping aside to avoid a second and third attack as he became isolated from Casey and surrounded.
"I gotcha, Donnie-boy!" Casey shouted, barreling into the crowd and giving several wild swings of his bat until it was effectively knocked from his hands. Without missing a beat, he reached into his equipment bag and grabbed a hockey stick. "Alright, the puck's at the left board in the Offensive Zone. Right defenseman on the move..." He stepped aside and swiped his stick, blade-down, and hooked it around the ankle of his foe; with ease he tripped his opponent and caused him to fall back and smack his head against the pavement. "Now, is that a penalty fer hooking or tripping?" He watched the same thug try to get up, only to swing again. "Now, that's a penalty for slashing. Let's see if I can get one fer interference!" Another swing and a comical jeer as he flashed a grin. "Get the team short-handed and there's no repercussion for icing!" He looked down at a conveniently placed rock. He pulled his arms high and brought the stick down in an arc, slapping the blade of his stick against the ground and working his weight against the flex of the stick; he struck the rock and rolled his wrists before following through- to perform a perfect slapshot- the rock flying with amazing speed and power, hitting an unlucky young man in the thigh.
Donatello, no longer backed into a corner, moved closer to his eldest brother. "Leo, where were you?"
Stepping back to take in the dwindling number of criminals, Leo smiled at his genius brother. "I could tell you, but I'd rather show you." He paused and turned to look towards a pool of shadows. "Why don't you come out and help with the last of these guys? I bet you're itching for the fight."
With mild hesitation the onlooker moved in. One two-toed foot spilled from the darkness and into the light, followed by the rest of the leg. Then the other leg. And with that, the entirety of the mutant was revealed, emerald skin catching in the flickering lights of nearby arc lamps.
And in that moment, everything stilled.
Time lost its meaning.
Hearts stopped and breath hitched.
Only one voice broke through to restore order.
"Raphie?" Michelangelo's one word squeaked through his tightening throat as he slipped his kusarigama into his belt and darted towards the rogue turtle. Without the slightest hint of reluctance or thought, he jumped up and wrapped his arms and legs around his older brother, holding on for dear life. "Raph. It's really you, bro. I-I just..." His words trailed off. He couldn't find the right thing to say, so he stopped talking and just held tight, resting his head against Raph's shoulder like he did when he was still afraid of the boogeyman.
Raphael visibly stiffened at the contact, but after several seconds, he brought his hands up to rest on Mike's shell, returning the hug.
Don moved closer, completely ignoring the remaining goons and punkers as he took in Raph's altered appearance, namely the change in size and visible gaps in his shell. With a shake of his head, Don made an effort to ignore his pending speculations in favor of focusing on the fact that his missing brother... wasn't missing anymore. "Do you mind," he began, voice timid, "if I just...-" He didn't finish the question. Instead, he slammed one end of his bo into the pavement and used it to vault closer to Raph and Mikey. Once there, he joined the hug.
Leo stood back, watching, smiling. His heart was swelling with a happiness he'd almost forgotten. Just seeing all his brothers together, he felt like everything was going to be alright. And yet, he had this nagging feeling that something seemed amiss; though, he couldn't quite place what it was. 'Something's off...' But Leo's thoughts came to a grinding halt as Casey finished off another baddie and also rushed over to the group of turtles, pouncing at them and effectively knocking them all off balance and into a pile of limbs, shells, and Mikey's laughter, Don's muttering, and Raph's own subtle sniffles that he'd firmly deny if anyone prodded the issue.
"Raph has agreed," Leo began, smiling so wide that his face actually hurt, "to accompany us to April's and order some pizza."
There was a barrage of cheers, mostly from Casey and Michelangelo.
"But," Leo interjected, "I have promised that we will not question him. We will not pressure him. And he gets his own pizza."
By the time the group disentangled themselves and got up, the conscious members of the gang were gone, while the unconscious ones remained. Regardless, no one saw this as a loss.
...
-If you're concerned that this chapter conflicts with Raph's last Journal, it doesn't. His last Journal said it wasn't possible to go back to the Lair and play Ninja. That is the last thing he wants to do right now. But he still misses his brothers.
NOTE: THERE IS JUST OVER 3 MONTHS OF STORYTIME LEFT BEFORE THIS FIC IS OVER.
THERE IS A POLL ON MY PROFILE.
GIVEN WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ENDING DO YOU PREDICT? PLEASE CHECK OUT THAT POLL. THE OBVIOUS CHOICES:
-Raph continues to side with Shredder.
-He returns with his brothers.
-Other.
Any predictions? Thoughts? Also, the next chapter is in its early stage and the events are subject to change. Since familial scenes are a struggle for me to write, I'll gladly take suggestions on how that goes. Comment or PM, thank you.
-Next chapter is In-Progress! STAY TUNED!