Just a short I wrote.
The boys realize something isn't right about you the second you walk into the lair for the first time in weeks. Being closest to Raph, it frustrates him that you shut him out.
They weren't sure what to say.
Sure, there's been a week or two before that you couldn't see them, but this time was different.
Three weeks.
Three weeks you'd been gone, no warning.
You never picked up their calls, only a text to assure them you were indeed alive and nothing more.
But here you were, walking into the lair for the first time in weeks, and you looked...rough.
Sure, you were dressed in your usual tshirt and jeans, a lightweight jacket even, which had been slightly wet from the rain outside. But something else was off.
Maybe it was the half smile.
The half hearted wave you gave them.
The tiniest "Hey Guys" they'd ever received.
Maybe it was the way you barely hugged Mikey back before shuffling over to the couch.
The tone you had when you asked for a surprise movie night.
The lame excuse of "I'm just tired from work and school."
They knew better, but they didn't push it.
Well, Raph did.
"How was school?" He quizzed from beside you while the others were in the kitchen.
"Okay." You responded flatly.
"Work?"
"Okay." You said again.
You didn't dare look at him, afraid it would give away just how depressed you'd been, how lonely you'd been. You were absent at school, but attended work only to be set on autopilot all day, getting the job done nothing more.
"Do ya feel sick?"
"Kinda." You replied. Raph's face scrunched into a confused look. You didn't see it but you sure did feel it.
"Family issues?"
"Not really."
After a long silence, Raph huffed. With a small but aggressive "That's it." He stood, and for a second you were relieved he was walking away, but the feeling came back in panic as you were listed off of the couch entirely, suddenly being carried across the lair.
You saw Mikey poke his head out of the kitchen at your loud scolding to Raph, but he quickly disappeared as Raph reach his room, practically tossing you onto the bed and blocking the doorway.
You hurried to sit up, glaring at him in the process, and stood. You pretended to brush yourself off, fixing your clothes before crossing your arms. "What the hell was that, Raph?"
"Ya tell me."
"You just- you picked me up, tossed me in here, and now you're blocking my way. What the hell?"
"Tell me what's wrong with ya, and ya can get back to movie night."
"Nothing is wrong!" You lied, practically hissing at him. He shook his head.
"Lie."
"What?" You growled. He shook his head again, pointing at you this time.
"You're lyin'. I can tell."
"Like hell you can." You scoffed. "Stop fucking with me and move."
"Why are ya bein like this? What's got you so- like this?" He motioned his hands at you, and you huffed.
"Nothing. Let it go, let me out."
"Not until you speak."
"Why do you care?" You found your voice raising again.
"Because I care about ya, Y/n! Why's that so hard for you to see? Why're ya shuttin me out?"
"Because!"
"Because why?"
The two do you were practically yelling now.
"Why do you even care?" You flipped the script. Raph, baffled but still angry, threw your previous response back at you.
"Because!"
"Because why?" You challenged, just like he had seconds ago.
"Because I like ya!" He exclaimed, hands now running over his face. "I like ya, and I don't like seein you like this. Yer just dragging your feet, zonin' out, frowning everywhere ya go. It ain't like you! Now tell me what's got yer damn panties in a twist so I can fix it!"
Silence. The two of you simply stared at one another. Raph finally spoke again, breaking the tension.
"Look...I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, I wanna help. I wanna be there for ya and I can't when you shut me out. Ya get so down sometimes and I don't know how to fix it because you won't tell me what's happened."
After a long silence, you finally spoke.
"You like me?"
Raph cleared his throat.
"Yeah."
"As in, like-like me?"
The tension in the room seemed to fade. Raph watched you carefully. You looked so small. Much smaller than usual. It took a second to pinpoint that it was because your voice had dropped to a lower volume, and your back had slightly hunched. Insecurity. Doubt. He knew that look well. He knew that feeling well.
"I've liked ya since the beginnin'." He clarified, stepping close now. "I just wanna help ya."
Sitting on his bed now, you allowed him to join you. His big hand lightly overlapped your own, and you looked at him.
Those eyes stared right into your soul, and you knew then that he was being sincere.
"Well, at work..."
You began, watching as he hooked onto your every word.
You began to wonder why you'd shut him out, out of everyone. But it didn't matter anymore, because he would always be there.
