Raphael

The lair was quieter than usual—Leo was on patrol, Donnie was hunched over his lab making some adjustments to a new piece of tech, and Mikey was sprawled on the sofa with a half-eaten slice of pizza in his hand. You sat beside Raphael in his room, the dim red lighting casting a warm glow over his face.

He had been acting strange all night—distracted, pensive, and even a bit docile. He wasn't his usual rough self, the one who preferred punching first and talking later. Finally, he spoke in a low but serious voice.

Raphael: "Hey, can I ask you something?"

You turned to him, slightly surprised. He rarely got this serious unless someone was injured or he was about to get into a fistfight.

Hana: "What's on your mind, Raph?"

He scratched the back of his head, avoiding your gaze.

Raphael: "I don't know, it's stupid. I've been thinking a lot lately... about us. About the future, you know?"

He paused for a moment, then added in a faint voice.

Raphael: "About kids."

Your eyebrows rose slightly. Kids? He continued quickly, trying to justify himself before you could respond.

Raphael: "I saw a couple in the park yesterday. A human man and a mutant girl—a turtle like me. They had a child. A little half-shell kid wobbling around and laughing. He looked happy. And I just... I don't know. Something inside me hurts, you know?"

Raphael's eyes finally met yours, filled with that rare vulnerability he seldom showed.

Raphael: "I'm not saying we have to do anything now or anything. I just... I think I want that someday. A family. With you."

A heavy but not uncomfortable silence settled between you. You reached out and interlaced your fingers with his massive hand, and his rough thumb gently brushed against your knuckles.