Dagger From the Mirror (ROTTMNT/TMNT 2012 Crossover Fic)

Differences

The world was dark.

Black, lonely, cold, and blind; emptiness surrounded Raphael on all sides, threatening to invade his very thoughts. Or maybe the emptiness was already his thoughts? Raphael wasn't sure. He wasn't sure where he was or what he was doing. He couldn't see anything and his mind was numb. Not to say the rest of him wasn't—did he even have a body? He couldn't really feel anything besides coldness, and he wasn't sure he cold feel his limbs. He wondered if he could move his arms if he wanted to, but he didn't really care to try. Raphael was just too tired.

"Is he..." Voices faded in and out of existence. They were distant and blurry, as though a fog were covering them. No, that didn't make sense―he couldn't see the voices, just hear them. Fogs just prevent you from viewing your surroundings perfectly, and Raph had long since given up on seeing things properly. He liked the darkness. It was nice on his eyes. But why couldn't he hear the voices well? Was he deaf? No, this was like... something was covering his ears, playing white noise so loud it prevented anything else from getting through. He couldn't make out their words.

"Not breathi-"

"does... e... -ave a puls-?"

Raphael wasn't sure if he should be listening to what was being said. It was probably something important, he distantly recognized, and he should probably care about whatever it was. But... he just couldn't bring himself to. It was quiet and he was numb, far away from the troubles of the world, and he was exhausted. Months of battle could do that to a turtle. Surely, he deserved a few moments of sleep.

"-nie do..... s-thing!"

The voices were still hazy and distant, but Raph was fairly certain that was Leo. Probably. There was a small chance it was Mikey, but more likely than not, it was probably Leo's voice. Raph really wasn't sure, but at least he knew it wasn't Donnie, Why would Donnie be yelling at Donnie to do something?

A distant voice in his head told him that that was probably, technically possible, but he couldn't remember why. He couldn't remember much of anything recent, actually. Where even was he? What was going on? Why couldn't he see anything? Who did he just fight? Why was something trying to convince him he fought himself? That didn't make any sense.

A pain shot through his chest—a repetitive, blunt force bruising his ribs. It was constant and steady, never ceasing. Though it was harsh, it was timed and to gentle to be an attack... Raphael distantly realized he couldn't see anything because his eyes were shut, but he wasn't sure why he couldn't bring himself to force them open. It was such an easy task, but for some reason, it felt like the hardest thing anyone could ask him to do. Why? That question was going through his head too much. He decided he hated it.

"Som-... elp -im!"

Was that April? Raph's mind supplied that yes, yes it was, but he still wasn't sure which April it was. Wait, that was weird; why would that be a question? Since when were there two Aprils? He felt like he should know the answer to that. The darkness crept closer and kept him from moving, but Raph knew he would be frowning if he could. Two Aprils was just strange. He liked April, but one was enough for him.

"-aph, please-"

His thoughts were blurring more. Mind was numb, hazy, and it was hard to think. Every part of his body was numb, save for his lungs, which burned with pain. It was as though a crushing weight were on his sternum, only pressing on his lungs, keeping himself from getting any air in. It hurt. He knew he needed air, but it was hard to actually get any. Was he even breathing?

The steady thump on his chest continued, separate from the weight keeping his lungs shut. Repetitive, like a heartbeat, but artificial. Thump. Thump. Thump. His ribs hurt. Something was pushing on his plastron over and over again, hitting it hard. He still couldn't breathe.