ROTTMNT Stuff (And Some 2k12)

Tone Deaf 3

"So, Leo and I were able to figure out the issues. ." Donatello began, walking into the lounge with Leonardo beside him.
Raphael quickly turned to them, an expecting look plastered upon his face.
He sighed. "It isn't too bad, mostly just scrapes and bruises from some sort of struggle and being carried around harshly, but his shell carried the brunt of the injury with a large set of bruises along the side most edges and one large one on the spine. That should heal pretty quickly though. The scrapes were cleaned up before they got too badly infected. The main few things were a few. . Internal issues."
"What does that mean—?"
He sighed yet again. "Nothing too major, but I gotta go check on the little Don, make sure his heat lamp is up and running correctly. Leo, mind taking over for a second? I gotta go check on him." He awaited an answer, turning to the oldest and handing him the clipboard after he did so. He walked off to go check on the child again.
The leader in blue cleared his throat. "So. . We got lucky, to put it simply." Wow, way to be blunt Leonardo.
The red clad's face dropped.
"His body temperature lowered at a rather quick rate for it to be dangerous from how cold it was in that water, his arms are trembling—likely from shock, he won't stop chirping the same phrase, and he. . Showed signs of being in early brumation." He looked to the side.

"What-? But how?!"
"Thankfully you got him out of there quickly, so his body should recognize that it's not winter here shortly. He's gonna have to be under a heat lamp or near a heat source for a while, though, so that way he can recover from the water. And I'm assuming you're gonna wanna watch him?"
"Yeah. . I can. Uh- will. I will." He nodded.
"Alright I'll tell Don then. Imma go make sure Red isn't panicking like he usually does when his brothers aren't anywhere in sight." He turned and left, speed walking to the dojo to check on the little snapping turtle.
The Red-clad slider jumped off the couch, sprinting to the lab and swinging the door open. He walked inside, making a beeline for the small nest of blankets that lay beside the far wall under a heat lamp.
"He's gonna be fine Raph, don't worry." The scientist stated, checking the clipboard and writing on it for an unknown reason. (Likely for an analysis.)
"I don't trust that until it's proved true." He replied, kneeled beside the blanket pile.
He just sighed, nodding in understanding and taking his leave.

"Yo, lil man. . You there? Can ya wake up?" He cupped the child's face and rubbed his thumb across the small cheek. "It ain't winter bud, too early."
The younger simply groaned, shifting slightly and leaning into the hand with a chirp.
"Heh. . Okay ya little thief. C'mon, I know you can do it. You're just bein' stubborn."
The latter squeezed his eyes shut slightly tighter, shoving his face in the other's palm and snuggling further into the pile.
"Hey, no. Not winter, wrong season. It's spring—" He gently shook him, patting his cheek.
The boy shifted around again, suddenly swinging his fist into the air and hitting the older's arm.
"Hey! I know you ain't asleep!" He snapped, pulling his arm away and rubbing where it was hit. "Damn that was a hard hit little dude—"
He just snuggled further into the pile again.
"Fine, but you'll have to wake up some day." He scowled.
There wasn't a response.
He sighed, shifting his body so he was curled around the pile with his arm draped over the little one. He felt a small amount of pressure on his forearm, smiling ever so slightly.
The younger had wrapped his tiny hands around the lower forearm, giving a small squeeze.
"Night kid." He mumbled, drifting off to sleep shortly after.
There was a faint inaudible chirp.

——————

Something shook under the Red-clad's arm, causing him to stir in his sleep with a small mumble. Little man. . I'm tryin' to sleep. He thought, yawning. Suddenly his eyes snapped open, wide in realization. He quickly sat up on his elbow, feeling a sudden jerk movement from under his arm. "Little man?" He questioned, gaze drifting to the smaller terrapin beside him.
There was a small sniffle, the little softshell seemingly trying to hide under the blankets as best as possible.
"Hey, y'alright lil man? What's wrong?" His voice went softer, worry thickening in his tone. He carefully sat up completely, pulling his arm off the younger and receiving a small flinch as a response. Not good—
He curled in on himself, whining in pain from his injuries.
"Yo, what's up? Can ya tell me what's wrong—?" He shifted so that he was in front of the latter, hand gently rubbing the little one's half-hidden arm as a form of comfort. "Or sign? Are ya hurt?"
There was a small chirp, a tiny eye peeking out at him. Oh. . He'd been crying— And crying hard.
"Hey, it's alright, it's me, I ain't gonna hurt ya. Can ya just tell me what's wrong so I can help?"
He looked away for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut before reaching out for the older.
Oh— He wants me to pick 'im up? He slowly lowered his hands to the younger pulling off the blankets and lifting him up. He cradled him in one arm, keeping him close to his plastron. "Are ya able to sign to me? Or are your hands still shaky—?"

The little one stayed in his position for a second, before slowly lifting his lightly trembling arms up and signing as best as he could. "Hurts. ."
"I know it does, bud. It's gonna, those guys really did a number on ya."
"Scary— Cold—"
"Yeah, I bet it was. For both of those. But it's alright, you ain't gonna go through that again, promise. I ain't gonna let 'em get to ya." He smiled, before looking away.
There was a few beats of silence, before the littler one tapped on Raphael's plastron lightly to regain his attention.
He looked back down. "Yeah?"
". . . . Did I do- something wrong—?"
. . .
"What? Why do you ask?"
"Your colleagues—"
"They are not our colleagues, first off." He interrupted before the latter could make any more assumptions. "Second off, ya didn't do nothin' wrong. It was just the stupid shredder's fault. 'M sorry you had to go through that, ya shouldn't have."
"Sorry. ."
"Don't apologize dude. It ain't your fault, none of this is. They just caught ya at a bad time. And they're sick fucks who don't care about children or their safety."
The other just went silent (well, signing wise), more tears pricking his eyes as his lips trembled. He suddenly burst into tears, shoving his face into the other's plastron and sobbing.

"Hey, hey, it's alright. You did nothing wrong, it ain't your fault, you're gonna be okay." He reassured. "Don't you worry none lil man. I'm here to protect ya. ."
The younger just continued sobbing, latching onto Raphael's free arm and pulling it into a sort of hug. He said nothing, nor did he sign anything. He just stayed latched to him as his sobbing slowly ceased after around half an hour, dying out into nothing more than tired whines and faint sniffles.
"There ya go, better?" He smiled, rubbing his thumb across his cheek.
There was a small nod, the smaller form snuggling as close as possible to the warmth of his chest.
"Oh crap, heating lamp—" He realized, glancing around and locking his eyes on the lamp in question. (In which was still on)
The younger took in a shaky breath and chirped, a slight crack in said chirp that the little one didn't seem to notice.
He slowly freed his hand from the clutches of the softshell, using it to situate the lamp onto a slightly more elevated surface so the both of them could lay under it (added warmth for the tot)

He sighed, a slight growl to said sigh as per usual. (That's just how he sighed) He grabbed the blankets, spreading one out for them to lay on and another to drape over them both. He finally finished situating everything, looking down at the half-asleep latter and smiling. "'Ts alright bud. You can go to sleep, Uncle Raph's got ya." He reassured, which was more than enough to convince the younger.
His eyes fluttered shut, a small relieved sigh (or that's what Raphael assumed) escaping him as he slowly drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
He waited until the other was completely asleep before laying down on his side under the lamp. He laid Don in front of him, curling around him almost protectively. He pulled the other blanket over them both, humming in approval at his job before slowly drifting off to sleep as well.
Of course, that was right before Donatello and Leonardo walked in, having pulled away from the others because Michelangelo volunteered to take care of the other tots while they checked up on the two. The two went wide eyed, spotting the duo asleep underneath the lamp. (When was it re-situated?)

The two just smiled and wordlessly agreed to leave them alone, deciding they'd return when they were awake to check up on Donnie. They turned and left, shutting the lab door and returning to the others.