Bubble-wrapped

Chapter 4

"Raph?" A small voice suddenly squeaked from the door. Mikey edged it open, looking deathly worried. He felt himself begin to shake from the awful noise of his brothers howls.

Leo was behind him, wearing a pitiful and concerned face. He had his hand on Mikey's shoulder.

Donatello mouthed 'help' to Leo with a stressed face.

Raph heard mikeys tiny voice, and felt a desperation to protect his younger brother- but also a heavy shame. His wails subsided into pained whimpers, and he squeezed his eyes shut and pulled the blanket tighter over himself. His cries sounded muffled, which in turn made the throbbing of his body as he sobbed more obvious.

"Oh no," Mikey stepped into the room, hesitating when he reached Raph's bed. He paused with his arms out awkwardly, then found tears flooding his own eyes. He then gave up on being sincere, and leapt onto the bed, lying himself on Raph.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry Raph I shouldn'ta made you worry like that!" He whined aloud, holding his large brother as tight as his smaller body could.

Raph squeaked and sniffed, wishing he could respond but too overwhelmed. He muffled his cries, although still throbbing.

Leo came in after mikey and put his hand on donnies shoulder for his comfort, but looked in need of comfort himself. Seeing their brothers cry- especially their oldest and youngest brothers- was enough to distress both Donnie and Leo.

Mikey sat up and looked at Raph with a broken quivering face. He climbed onto the other side of the bed where Raph's face was, and attempted to pull at the blanket so he could get in. He managed to pull it out and eased himself in, only focused on comforting his older brother.

He pressed himself into Raph's plasteron and felt the throbbing from his brother's sobs. He was still for a second, before a whimper squeezed out of him and he too began crying.

Raph wrapped his arms around his younger brother and pressed him against himself in return, sobs subsiding into exaggerated breaths and the occasional squeak. "I'm sorry..." he sniffed in a shaky voice. "I was so angry with you... and i was being really.. *sniff* unfair," He sharply sobbed at the last word.

"I for-forgive you Raph," Mikey wept, glad to be in his big brothers arms, "A-and I'm sorry too!"

Raph looked at mikey with big eyes. "But you didn't do anything wrong,"

Mikey looked back up at his brother with a quivering lip, "I shouldn'ta snuck out,"

"You only snuck out because i've been caging you here," He replied, his voice dramatically wavering as he looked down in shame. He released a sniff.

"I still shouldn't have done it!" Mikey protested, not really sure what else to say. He cuddled back up to his brother.

"I love you bro," He said gently, it was all he had.

Raph exhaled as he felt a slight settle. "I love you too,"

Raph relaxed his arms to cradle mikey lovingly.

Mikey smiled in his embrace, feeling himself begin to calm down as a ray of peace seemed to settle over him.

Raph was too exhausted to say anything else, so he just lay there- finally relaxing- with mikey in his arms.

He wearily shut his eyes, and soon, his occasionally irregular breaths became a deep, mellow snore. Mikey eased, warm and safe in his brothers arms, relishing the calm rumble from Raphs chest. He cuddled up further and closed his eyes, gradually dozing off. 

[The End!]