anger was nothing new to Raph
but this?
this was different.
TW: suffocation, a little blood
As the turtles and their crew fought against the swarm of evil bat monsters,
Raph was getting increasingly more annoyed with his brothers, especially Mikey.
Mikey was constantly in the way it seemed, like he was trying to make Raph look bad on purpose.
Finally, as Mikey went to hit one of the bats, he accidentally bumped into Raph, sending him stumbling back.
Raph let out a yell, "I could have handled it!" as he shoved Mikey, sending him sprawling to the ground.
His helmet shattered.
Mikey's breathing hitched.
Stray fragments of glass had nicked his freckled face, causing small droplets of blood to form at the lines.
All Rapheal knew to do was watch as Mikey clawed and grasped at his throat, unable to take in oxygen, thrashing and coughed violently.
A sickening feeling began to well up inside him, choking him almost as badly as the alien air.
"Mikey!" Raph yelled, dropping at his brother's side, hands hovering over Mikey.
He hesitated.
Guilt ate at him like acid.
He had to help Mikey
He had to make it better.
But what could he do?
The alien air was killing him.
Mikey heaved, expanding his chest, trying to take in the foreign air.
It felt like a thousand needles were piercing his lungs, every inhale sending a jolt of pain through his body.
His vision started to blur, his head spinning from lack of oxygen.
He couldn't focus, couldn't think.
He could only gasp and claw at the invisible force choking him.
Something gripped his hands, pulling them away from his throat.
Another pair of arms were placed at the back of his neck and at the back of his knees, hoisting him up.
Only one turtle was strong enough to lift him single-handedly.
"R'ph?" He gasps and wheezes.
He opened his eyes he didn't realize he had closed, seeing blurs of colors which he could only label as his friends.
Mouths were moving, but now the noise was too distant to hear.
It was as if the air around him had turned to cotton, muffling everything.
"Raph…Did…Mi..k!"
"Whas…you….proble.."
"Need..ship…air…toxic….hurry…die"
It was then that he realized what had happening.
The air
it was toxic.
It was killing him.
Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but something in the way Raph was looking at him... it calmed him.
He knew that his big brother was sorry.
It wasn't his fault.
It was just an accident.
"M, S'rry."
The last thing Mikey remembered was his brother's apologetic face, tears streaming down his cheeks.
The words were faint, but he could make them out.
"I'm sorry Mikey... I didn't mean to..."
The darkness began to swallow him up, pulling him under.
As his vision faded, he saw Raph's face, a fearful look had replaced the apologetic one.
He was yelling something.
Still trying to help him.
Trying to make things right.
Mikey smiled.
Raph was the best.
"Mikey! God damnit Mikey!" Raph shouted, his voice thick with guilt.
Mikey had passed out and he was still so far from the ship.
"Shit!" Raph's grip tightened, nearly crushing Mikey limp body as he took off at a sprint toward their ship.
His lungs burned, every inhale felt like a knife in his chest, but he had to reach the ship.
He had to get Mikey help.
The others would know what to do.
They had to.
As he ran, he could see the ship growing larger in the distance, a beacon of hope amidst the alien landscape.
He pushed himself harder, ignoring the pain in his chest and the burning in his legs.
He had to get there.
He had to save his brother.
Finally, Raph reached the ship, his muscles burning and his lungs screaming.
He collapsed against the hatch, gasping for breath as Donnie took Mikey from him and rushed Mikey into the med bay.
Leo was close behind, his eyes filled with worry and guilt.
Raph could tell they were thinking the same thing he was;
this was all his fault.
Time passed slowly as they waited outside the med bay, their hearts in their throats.
Donnie was tending to Mikey, doing everything he could to save his life.
Raph could hear muffled noises coming from inside, but he couldn't make out what any of it was.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Donnie emerged from the med bay.
His expression blank as he looks at the floor.
"How is he?" Raph asked, his voice cracking.
"He didn't make it," Donnie said, his voice barely audible.
"There was nothing I could do. He died before he even got to the ship."
The words hung in the air, each one like a lead weight on Raph's chest.
He felt like he was going to pass out again, but this time from the sheer force of despair and grief.
Leo wrapped an arm around him, holding him up as he began to sob uncontrollably, trying to comfort him,
but it wasn't enough.
Nothing would ever be enough.
Mikey was gone.