It was the middle of the night and Raphael had finally returned home. He was covered in blood and wounds. Some of the blood was his and some of it was not. Raph wobbled as he headed down the hallway.
It was a harsh battle. Raphael had headed towards the tower on his own. It was idiotic and brash. The larger turtle was out for blood and the foot just happened to be his target at the time. Although he wanted to get his hands on the Shredder, he realized that he could not take him on alone.
He took down all that was in his way. He left when the foot grew in numbers. Raphael knew that he was in deep shit but he did not care. What they had done to Don was not right.
"Raphael! Where have you -" Leonardo stopped when he seen his little brother covered in blood and battle wounds. "What happened? Who -"
"I went back ta the tower."
"Are you crazy?! You could have been killed!"
"I know!" Raphael shouted back, the anger he felt was too strong still, and the wounds were stinging. "I- they deserved it Leo."
"Oh did they now. I understand -"
"No you don't! You don't see the painful look in his eyes like I do. He opens up more ta me Leo. Don did not deserve it! Any of it!"
"And so you think getting revenge will solve it? Don needs us more than ever Raph and you go out and fight like a deranged idiot." Leonardo hissed, pointing a finger at Raph's chest. "After all if you were the one who was supposed to take care of him the. Why did you leave?"
"I- he's scared -"
"I know Raphael. Shredder will soon get what is owed. But we need to think about Donnie and his safety. Going out and causing a war will not help him."
Raph was upset though he did not feel angry anymore. His head was spinning from the blood loss and he felt like he was going to pass out. Don must be scared from all the yelling. He should go make sure he was okay.
But perhaps his appearance would scare him more. "I'll take a shower."
"This conversation is not over Raph."
"Can it wait till morning?"
Leo huffed but said nothing more and watched as Raphael walked away and ran a hand over his face. When will the babysitting ever end?
----
Don could smell blood and hear the shouting outside his room, no one had seen him after Raph had left and even if they had come in to look he was still hidden away curled in the bottom of the wardrobe with his blanket like a scared child.
The shouting and the anger was terrifying him, not able to make out many words but picking out his name. He had been bad and now they were angry! Tears sprang to his eyes as he curled up tighter and hugged himself in his blanket.
He was safe in here. No one knew he was here and he was safe in his small dark hide away he'd found
When Raphael walked into Dons room after his shower. He had cleaned most of his wounds and the blood was gone. But he still felt woozy.
But for some reason he had to make sure Donnie was okay. He frowned when he stepped inside and heard no one or saw no one.
"Donnie? Are you okay? I'm sorry if I scared ya."
Donnie was deathly silent as he heard his door opened. Don't move, barely breath. If you stay hidden then you're safe. He pushed his shell against the back of the wardrobe and closed his eyes tightly, scared even his soft breathing would alert Raph to his presence.
He wasn't scared. He’d been terrified, loud noises scared him but yelling scared him more because it meant arguments and fighting that always got taken out on him, either with a beating or sexually and he didn't want his master to do anything like that to him, anyone but master
Raph had been put on a pedestal in Donnie's mind, the nice, kind, friendly master who only gave him pleasure and wanted him to learn and be a better person. Don still felt guilty for not taking the wooden car with him that Raph had given him, but at the time he was too worried about Raph being disgusted at him
Raphael listened to the dark silence. All the larger turtle could hear was his own breathing. The smaller must have his himself due to all the yelling.
The hothead felt guilty. He had not meant to scare the little turtle. But he knew that Don did not want to be bothered and he wouldn't.
Raph stayed there for a few more minutes before wandering into his own room. He would talk to Don once he was ready. But not now. The large turtle mumbled something under his breath and fell asleep. The day's events taking its toll on him.
Donnie didn't move from his spot for almost an hour before he fell asleep in the cramped wardrobe, all wrapped up in his blanket and staying hidden and silent away from anyone who tried to look in to make sure he was ok.
---
Raphael tossed and turned for an hour or two before he finally got up. He was worried for Don. He had not made a sound or anything. The larger turtle removed himself from his bed and walked into Donatello's room.
Raph searched the under the bed. Nothing. He searched the closet. Nothing. Behind the door. Nothing.
Finally, Raph stopped at the huge wardrobe and his heart dropped to his stomach when he seen Don curled in a little ball with a blanket wrapped around him. "Donnie."
Raphael mumbled gently and slowly reached for him.
Don was fast asleep, looking to be in a troubled sleep and stirring only a little as Raph reached out to touch him, for once though he was in a deep sleep and didn't wake up easily, clinging to his blanket tightly and bundled into the corner of the wardrobe.
Raphael frowned and pulled Donatello out of the wardrobe. If it weren't for the air seeping through the cracks, Don could have suffocated.
Leo was right. He was a bonehead.
The elder scowled at the thought and gently carried Don to the bed, surrounding him with pillows and blankets.
He had regretted his actions last night. He was foolish and not only did he put himself in danger, he did that to his whole family as well.
"I'm sorry." Raphael spoke gently, caressing Don's head gently.
Don rubbed and pushed against Raph's hand even as he slept, he sort out physical affection, turning around he snuggled up close to Raph's plastron and nuzzled into it gently.
His dreams made no sense and were warped and twisted memories, his family mixed in with the abusive foot and Shredder. It made him whimper out and grip Raph to cling to like a frightened child.
Raphael held Donatello and frowned as he continued to whimper within his sleep. This was bad. The poor turtle was having a nightmare.
Last time he woke Don the smaller had been frightened. But he could not bare to see him squirm in pain anymore.
Raph nudged Don gently. "Donnie, ya need ta wake up. Yer having a nightmare. It's okay, I'm here."
Donnie groaned but was in a deep sleep and just rolled over to face away from Raph, curling up a little tighter in his ball like he was trying to pull into his shell. He was so thin he actually could a little bit, but obviously not by much since they'd mutated too human to keep that ability.
Raphael watched as the smaller rolled away. The smaller was obviously a deep sleeper. Which was odd since before the littlest sound would wake him up. Perhaps the air really really had been thin in the wardrobe?
Without really thinking, Raph leaned forwards and pressed a soft kiss to Don's forehead before turning away from him. Maybe he should go...
The soft kiss seemed to help Donnie slightly, softening out his worried expression and his whimpers stopped a little, making him seem a bit more peaceful in his sleep
Raphael stopped from his tracks and looked to the smaller form. He looked peaceful. And the nightmare seemed to have deceased.
Instead of leaving, the larger turtle moved onto the bed with Donnie and just laid down next to him. Hoping that him just being there would be enough.
Donnie turned back around and snuggled up to Raph happily with a soft little churr. Cuddling up to his brother closely as his nightmares washed away just from the touch and scent of his master, starting to associate him with being safe.
That's why he was so terrified of Raph hating him, he was the one person he was starting to open up to and think of and a kind family member that only wanted to help him
Raphael pulled Donatello closer. His strong arms wrapping around him in a protective manner. The smaller needed to feel safe. And Raph would always be there for him.
Although he was not very good with words. At least his presence was enough and that was good enough for him.
After a while of them staying like this, Raphael finally fell asleep. Holding his little brother close.
Donnie slept peacefully for the rest of the night, comforted by being held in his master arm while he slept and dreamed of happy times, some of which were old memories but most were made up and would fade when he awoke.
