miss-andromeda

[miss-andromeda]

Out of protection because I can see Raph or Val doing something they'd regret, I think it's smart if Leo stays out of things for a while 😭

To Build a Home

Chapter 26: If You Love Her... (TEASER)

A/N: I have a favour to ask you guys. At the end of this excerpt, there's a poll. I need your help deciding what Leo's next move will be. It'll make more sense in a moment, I promise. Enjoy! 😊

--------------------------------

Leo sat, staring at his brother's text for what felt like hours, struggling to psych himself up enough to oblige. He'd anticipated this - no matter how sincere his written apology may be, Raph would never accept anything less than an in-person one.

[I'm not reading this shit. Be a man and pick up the fucking phone]

.

.

.

Of course, Leo suspected part of that reason was so he'd be near enough to strangle...

Still, Raph deserved something.

With a tremulous breath, Leo finally pressed 'call', putting the shell-cell on speaker before bringing it near his lips.

The second ring barely sounded when the receiving line accepted. The leader braced himself for a barrage of insults and death threats, but none came. Only breathing...

After several long moments of this, Leo finally opened his mouth to speak-

"Why...?" Came Raph's quiet, gravelly voice, striking guilt through the eldest brother's heart - he'd been crying.

Leo failed to answer initially, unsure whether to ask for clarification - for fear of upsetting him further - or just assume the specific situation Raph was referring to. To his relief, his brother continued.

"Why'd you do this to me...? How could you think this little of me? That I'd... I've nevah and will nevah... or-or was villifyin' me the only way you could justify to yourself the shit you've put us through? ... What the hell was your endgame, huh? Were you seriously hopin' she'd leave me for you?? How fuckin' little do'ya think of her-?!"

Leo winced at that. "R-Raph-"

"Y'know," Raph sniffled. "I'd planned on askin' Val to be my forever-"

A shuddered breath forced its way past the leader's lips as he buried his face in his hand, the weight of those words settling over him, like an lead blanket...

No...

"I even gotta ring made; forged it outta my old Sai... But'chu couldn't help yourself, could'ya? You just had to stick your nose where it didn't belong... and now-"

Raph's tone had fallen cold, shooting chills up his brother's spine. "Because of you, dear brothah, it seems I've lost... everything-"

"...Y-you broke-"

Click.

"We're on a break. And if you value your life, I suggest you stay right where you are; cuddled up with daddy, like a little bitch. Cos, believe it or not, Val's angrier at you right now than I am."

--------------------------------

@android-cap-007 @happymoonangel @miss-andromeda @mysticboombox @sketch-mer-6195 @jasminarts01 @obsessedftshit

[miss-andromeda]

Wow, Raph, go for the neck, why don't you 🤣❤️

Raph: *stirring macaroni cheese*

Mikey: *approaches with an impish grin* That's what good pussy sounds like-

Raph: How would you know, ya virgin?

Val and Donnie in the background:

@android-cap-007 @happymoonangel @miss-andromeda @mysticboombox @sketch-mer-6195

[miss-andromeda]

I'm not crying, you're crying 😢💚💙

To Build a Home

Chapter 25: Dead and Gone

A/N: We're finally up to where I'm at presently with this story. Yay! 😊 I hope yous are enjoying it and that it's not too convoluted 😅

TW! Suicidal ideation

--------------------------------

Val had been staring at her shower curtain for so long, the once black and white geometric pattern had blurred into a monochromatic mess. Her pelvis ached and legs tingled from the prolonged, awkward seated position on the tile. Her scalp squeezed her skull like a vise.

It was official: she no longer had tears left to cry; nor the mental fortitude to continue repelling the not-so-great thoughts attempting to seize her mind. 

She felt strangely hollow and heavy at the same time; perturbed by how okay she felt at the notion of never waking back up should she lay her head back, right now, and let sleep finally take her. 

But what bothered her most was the chuckle that followed; scratching her tender throat as she languidly shifted into a more comfortable position. 

Yes. Instead of reaming herself out for being, what she perceived to be, selfish and melodramatic - as she usually did, whenever these kind of thoughts arose - she fucking laughed. 

Jesus, I'm losin' it... 

"Val...?" 

Val bit back a sigh, door thudding softly as she dropped her head against it. She'd foolishly hoped that, if she hid away long enough, her best friend would eventually give up and let her self-destruct in peace... 

"Mags missed you..." Mol sounded so close, her voice practically vibrated against the back of Val's head. "You should've seen her when I came in this morning: 'Mom, is that you- oh, it's the babysitter. Feed me, peasant', heh..." 

No response. 

"...Val, w-what happened?" 

Val could still feel the plush velvet on her fingertips, and the surprising weightiness of that tiny halo of steel as it dropped into her palm. Then Raph's face, when he walked in on her with it.

She'll never forget that face. Never before had she seen such panic in a man's eyes; like his entire life had flashed before him.

"Ya weren't s'posed to see that."

Those words cycled through her mind, growing louder and more contentious at each rotation. Reminding her of how royally she'd fucked everything up.  

---

(10 months earlier...)

"Alright, everyone shuddup! I need to focus..."

"Focus on what? I thought we agreed to kill everyone-"

"That doesn't sound morbid at all, Mikey... and I didn't agree to that - you two did."

"Why would'ya wanna keep Emily alive, anyway? She's a bitch-"

"I don't care. I want at least someone to live through this sh- AAH-!"

"Whoa-!"

"OhmyGod ohmyGod ohmyGod-!!!"

"Quick, they're gonna getcha-!"

"What is that- SHIT! Triangle, triangle, triangle- NO-!!"

"Whelp, bye flare-"

"WHAT THE FF-"

"Watch yo profanity-"

"Shuddup! ... Left, right, left, right- RIGHT- SHIT-!"

"Well, hello gorgeous-"

"WHAT IS THAT?! ... Ohhh, my God. Please, don't die...!"

Leo chuckled wistfully as he watched the three bicker like children, from the kitchen. In spite of the cards Val was dealt those past couple weeks (assault, charges and associated court drama), the leader was relieved his friend could still be, for the most part, her vivacious self.

They hadn't yet spoken about that night; the night they were forced to get a little too close for comfort, after he'd saved her life. She'd never approached him with it, nor he her. But, admittedly, it occupied his thoughts often; primarily how her touch and perfume still lingered on his body...

He understood now that that was the beginning of the end, for him. Despite his best efforts to remain emotionally detached from this woman, he'd in fact grown attached; and how...

Leo's heart did the new clenching thing at Raph's arm stretching over the back of the sofa, behind Val's head; fingers unwittingly searching for her shoulder. The moment they made contact, the leader tore his gaze away; refocusing on the two mugs of partially made green tea on the counter, before him... and the decision to finally let her in.

Deep breaths, Leo...

"WHAT?! ... You-!"

Two pairs of sniggering voices abruptly filled the air, accompanied by grunts and thumps shortly thereafter. Turning outward again, Leo found Val looming over his red-banded brother, bandaged hand snug against her vintage band t-shirt, repeatedly smacking a cushion over his head with the other.

Glimpsing the TV screen, two sharp, gangling thumbs thrust themselves inside the screaming woman's eye sockets, silencing her instantly.

"Why *smack* would *smack* you *smack* do *smack* that?!" Val exclaimed over Raph's broken laughter, and Mikey's howling. "She was doing so well-"

"Not anymore-"

"Yeah, cos your menace of a brother knocked my arm-"

"I'm s-sorry," Raph wheezed, finally granted respite. "I couldn't resist-"

A low, pointed whistle drew Leo's attention to the lab's entrance, finding Donnie peeking through at him. He offered an expectant look, to which the purple-banded brother grinned and nodded downward; to the smallish lidded box in his hand - Val's gift.

Returning the smile, Leo nodded in acknowledgement before clearing his throat, addressing the others.

"Excuse me, children," He called wryly. When Val frowned at him, he chuckled. "Put the cushion down, Pocahontas-"

"Call me a 'child' again and I'll-"

"You'll what?" The terrapin smugly challenged. "Not get your present?"

That shut her up.

She gave the others a quizzical look, to which they smiled knowingly. Raph pecked the top of her hand as he snuck the cushion out of her now lax grip.

---

Seated in the common area, the brothers shared anxious glances as Val proceeded lifting the box's lid, smiling in bemusement at the hand-sized, cylindrical device sitting snugly inside.

"It's a portable bō," Donnie clarified, when she looked to him expectantly. He leaned forward to carefully remove the device from its container, turning it in his hands as he continued.

"It's spring-loaded. So, when you press the trigger, here-" the terrapin's thumb hovered over the centre pushbutton; eyes trained on Val's face, to check she was watching - she hadn't blinked.

"It'll extend-" Confident nobody was at risk of being struck, he proceeded pressing down; the woman flinched - with a gasp, then a nervous titter; earning a comforting shoulder squeeze from Raph - at the once 10-inch device abruptly quadrupling in length.

"-to about four feet... You can lock it into place using this mechanism, here... To bring it back down, simply slide both ends in, like so... then use the mechanism again."

Setting it in Val's readied palm, Donnie offered her a doleful smile. "Perfect for your purse."

As her fingers closed around the device, Leo - seated in a dining chair alongside his purple-banded brother - chimed in.

"We wanted to give you something that couldn't easily be used against you," he remarked gently; blood cooling at the notion that, had he not acted when he did that night, she very likely wouldn't be sitting across from them right now... "Something with which you can still protect yourself, but not cause serious damage. Because, we..."

Swiping his tongue over his parched lips, the leader proceeded gesturing to each of his brothers, then himself; sharing a knowing glance with Raph. "We know you've been struggling with that, lately..."

At that, Val promptly lowered her gaze. The brothers caught a flicker of regret in her mien as that titter made the rounds again; cheeks flushing a brilliant red. "I-I, heh... I don't... know-"

"Dudes," Mikey interjected, sensing their friend's discomfort. Practically leaping from his armchair, the terrapin wittingly leant across an irritated Raph to reach said brother's girlfriend. "You forgot the best part! ... See this, here?"

Guiding Val's fist open, Mikey proceeded carefully turning the device until a near indiscernible etching crept into view. She squinted at it:

Dudette = Baddest Bitch

A snort promptly escaped her; heart lifting, Mikey finally exited Raph's personal space with a self-satisfied smirk - mission accomplished.

"She loves my handiwork," he gloated, earning a playful eye-roll from not just his brothers, but Val included.

"I'm surprised you used the equality symbol correctly," Donnie remarked wryly.

The youngest brother preened. "See, I'm not just charm and good looks-"

"You also know first grade math," Raph quipped, offering a now crabby-looking Mikey a thumbs up. Donnie and Val broke into snickers; Leo chuckled to himself, rolling his eyes once more. "Good for you."

"You're an ass-"

"Alllright-"

"Thank you."

The room fell silent at Val's voice. Her grateful, teary-eyed smile panned from one brother to the next; clutching the gift firmly against her chest. "Thank you... for this. This means... t-this-"

She blinked and a tear slipped past, prompting a concerned Raph to wrap an arm around her back and squeeze gently. There was that titter, again.

"Raph's done a brilliant job, arming you with such skill in such a short amount of time..."

Turning his gaze from his eldest brother to his girlfriend, Raph smiled down at her amorously. "I had a good student." he murmured, squeezing her again; causing her cheeks to flush once more.

Leo could now feel the strain of every muscle in his jaw as he forcibly maintained his smile. "So, we've been talking, and... we want to teach you the way of the Ninja-"

Val's eyes bugged out at that, breath catching in her throat.

"-like our... father did us-"

"A-are you serious?" The woman's lips finally tweaked upward as an astonished chuckle escaped them. "Are you- w-wait..." Her gaze ping-ponged between the brothers, once again. "Are you sure it isn't my birthday? Did I get bopped on the head, at some point-"

Mikey proceeded lightly tapping her forehead, "Bop"; to which she playfully pushed him away, with her good hand.

"You know what I mean..."

"No," Leo chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, this... this isn't a trick-"

"You're ready, babe," Raph assured gently. The others hummed and nodded in agreement.

Val gave her boyfriend a mordacious look, raising her injury to his eye level. "I think my beautiful hand would disagree with you-"

"That'll heal, Val," Don reassured, then shrugged. "Besides, you really should start exercising those muscles. L-lghtly, of course, and in short intervals. Recovery's faster that way-"

"Iiin other words..." Mikey interjected, smirking at his purple-banded brother's admonitory look. Ignoring them, Leo proceeded offering Val a hopeful smile.

"So... do you accept?"

Carefully watching her face, the leader pinpointed the exact moment that sliver of doubt melted away; a genuine grin finally gracing her features. "Hell yeah!"

He didn't have to fight to produce this smile. "Good... Now-"

Refusing to allow himself the chance to chicken out, the leader promptly rose from his chair, flashing Raph a knowing glance as he offered Val his hand. "I've one last thing for you."

.

.

.

"There's more??"

---

"Okay, now I know you're messing with me."

Val's anxious gaze darted between the opened door and Leo's beckoning hand. Despite the invitation, it was clear her mind was struggling to accept it.

He couldn't blame her.

She's never seen the inside of this room. There was never an actual conversation between them about it; she never asked and he never offered. But he knew she was curious; he always felt her eyes following him, whenever he excused himself from the group.

"Val," Leo offered a reassuring smile as he motioned, again, to the dimly-lit doorway. His stomach flip-flopped at her gaze finally settling upon it, brain seemingly losing the battle against her body at keeping the fascination at bay. "I promise I'm not messing with you..."

You should've told her this a long time ago...

"I trust you."

Tearing her focus away from the door, Val levelled him with a gawk so intense those brown orbs could've swallowed him whole.

I deserved that.

After a long, tremulous breath, the woman finally nodded; wrapping her arms around herself as she tentatively stepped inside.

Still lounged in the common area, Raph watched the pair disappear; relieved smile pulling at his lips...

"Brrr...!" Val squeezed herself tighter, feverishly rubbing heat back into her arms as she began wandering about the candle-lined room. Only a handful of dozens were lit, casting an eerie glow over them.

"It is freezing! ... Feels like somebody died in here..."

Leo winced. He knew she was being hyperbolic, but she couldn't have struck that nail head any harder if she tried...

Val turned, finding him standing by the table lining the furthest wall; matchbox in one hand, a singular match in the other. His face must've betrayed him as hers promptly fell, replacing perturbation with patent horror.

So, Raph hasn't told you everything...

"Oh, God..." A hand flew to her mouth as she gasped, half-stepping toward him. "Oh my- Leo, I-I'm so, so sorry-!"

Leo held up a placating hand. "Hey, i-it's okay. You didn't know-"

"It was here??"

Leo's eyes unwittingly flickered to the chabudai in the centre of the room; specifically, the bleach-stained patch of concrete directly proceeding it. The sight alone made his hands itch...

Val was suddenly looking very peaky.

"Are you alright-?"

"I'm- I'm fine-" she politely waved his hand away. "I just..." Squeezing her eyes shut and pressing a hand to her chest, the woman took a deep breath; holding it for a moment, before finally releasing.

"How much do you know about our father...?" Leo carefully ventured, when her eyes reopened.

"Not much," Val managed, clearing her throat of the gunk that had abruptly amassed there. She was now looking everywhere but at him. "Raph doesn't really talk about him..."

Leo sighed inwardly at that. Why does that not surprise me...

"...Is that him?"

Following her gaze, the leader realised she'd found the family portrait; a large, vintage-style frame hanging above another table and a cluster of partially melted pillar candles, to their left of the door. The meagre lighting provided little more than five silhouettes, but he presumed the centermost, non-turtle-like one was what drew her in.

"Yeah, that's him."

Igniting the match already in his hand, Leo proceeded lighting the remainder of the candles before them, earning a timid smile and an offer of assistance from his friend.

"Look at you all..." Val stared in awe at the now fully visible photo. Prying his lingering gaze from her face, Leo finally joined her. "Splinter has the sweetest smile... Raph looks like he has gas-"

A snort promptly escaped the terrapin. "Yeah, well..." He shrugged, then gave a wearied sigh as he attempted recalling the events which led to his brother's half-assed attempt at a 'smile'. "He wasn't in the greatest mood that day. I couldn't tell you exactly why though; it's been years since April took this..."

"That's a shame; he usually has a great smile..."

Leo felt pathetic; the temptation to enquire about his own appearance was damn near unbearable. He quickly switched topics.

"Splinter wasn't well..." The leader felt his jaw muscles tense as his face grew hot, and tears began brimming his eyes. Swallowing hard, to stave them off, he attempted continuing. "We didn't find out how unwell he was until... u-until..."

Leo abruptly tore his gaze from his father's face, levelling it at the ground.

No matter how hard he tried eclipsing that image with this happier, healthier... living one, his efforts always resulted in said image growing stronger; more grotesque...

Your fault.

Val's hand touching his shoulder thrust him back to reality. Looking up, her tender smile was looking back.

"You don't have to say anything else," she reassured, with a gentle squeeze. "Thank you for showing me this... and for trusting me."

If this were their story, he'd have obliged that voice urging him to finally close that distance between them.

But it wasn't, and isn't, and never will be.

So, you should

wake

the fuck

UP.

---

(Present)

Pain finally pried Leo from his slumber; pain that had begun as a dull ache, when exhaustion finally, mercifully took him, was suddenly splitting his skull in two.

The leader groaned softly as he hauled himself into a seated position; a sudden coldness blanketing him at the sensation of earth and grass between his fingers...

Tentatively, he turned his gaze outward; flinching at the familiar grave marker mere inches from his face.

The sacramental water dish and ladle toppled over as Leo scrambled to his feet, frantically wracking his brain for the steps that resulted in him spending the night at his father's grave...

His last clear memory of the past several hours was Maggie's inquisitive face and mew, as he padded resolutely through Val's apartment; positioning the bonsai and letter atop her dining table, seizing a final, mournful glance about the room he'd likely never see again, then fleeing into the night.

Nothing about the two-hour drive up here. Nothing about whether he'd run a red light, struck something or someone, triggered a speeding camera... nothing.

Like a spirit floating back into its body, Leo felt his consciousness settle into him as he contritely returned the dish and ladle to the mound, before finally turning to acknowledg his surroundings.

He was indeed where he thought he was.

It was midday, at the very earliest; the harsh, midday sun piercing through the oak's canopy like a kaleidoscope. Across the dirt driveway, flush against the hilltop, sat the charred remains of the bonfire; around which they merrily drank, danced and sang.

He could almost hear it, his last truly happy memory...

Something in the foreground snagged Leo's attention - the van's driver's side door, wide open; interior lights out.

He sighed dejectedly as he traipsed toward it, head throbbing and limbs still stiff from the uncomfortable sleep. If he'd done what he suspected, he'd be making the dreaded call much earlier than anticipated...

Snatching up the keys from the driver's seat, Leo successfully turned over the engine. But before his mind could grant him respite, his shell-cell - face-down on the passenger's side floor - abruptly began buzzing; thrusting his heart into his throat.

For several agonising moments, the leader watched it vibrate along the carpet; unable or unwilling to reach over and answer, he wasn't quite sure. Probably both. Most definitely both...

Finally, it fell still; that sliver of blue light disappearing instantly. Steeling himself, Leo climbed into the van then closed the door; scooping the device into his trembling hands.

Twenty-one notifications; eleven texts and ten missed calls. Two each from April and Casey, demanding to know what the hell was going on. Eight from Mikey, pleading for him to return home. Six from Donnie, expressing hurt at the absence of a goodbye...

Two from Raph; the most recent call, proceeding a short but strongly worded text:

[I ain't reading this shit. Be a man and pick up the fucking phone]

---

"Val, it's totally okay if you don't wanna talk right now. But I need you to at least unlock the door for me, okay? Please..."

.

.

.

Relief washed over Mol at the sound of languid shifting beyond the bathroom door, followed shortly by the click of the interior lock.

Gaze fixed on the handle, the raven-haired woman rose to her feet; heart lifting further when it tilted and the door finally creaked open, revealing a despondent Val on the other side.

It broke her heart. "Oh, Val-"

Mol opened her arms and attempted approaching, but her friend recoiled; hands shooting between them as she stepped away, shaking her head. Not even Maggie, who had darted for her human the literal moment she was able, could get an ounce of affection...

Mol sighed inwardly. Rejecting comfort: the telltale sign of a Val guilt spiral...

Once her friend was settled onto one end of the folded sofa bed, Mol lowered herself onto the other; reaching into the burning pocket of her jacket. "I've gotta confess something..."

She then produced a creased envelope, holding it out for Val to take. "Leo-"

The brunette's lip curled slightly at his name, but she accepted nonetheless; turning it in her hands from a marked distance. She paused when the etching came into view, lowering her wrists to her knees with an almost mournful look.

Mol continued. "He left that for you. I... w-when I saw it, I was gonna destroy it. I know it's none of my business, but..." Shoulders slacking, she heaved a sigh. "I really, really don't like what's going on between you two-"

"Wha-" Mol spluttered at the sound of frenzied tearing, then the window being shoved open. "What are you doing-"

Val was suddenly staring at her, eyes wide, unblinking and brimming with tears; jaw clenched, nostrils flared...

A now red-faced Mol compressed her lips, gaze darting to her lap.

Gripping the envelope, Val abruptly pushed herself to her feet, beelining for the fire escape.

She watched the now obliterated letter be thrusted out into the street, before the window was promptly slammed shut.

---

@android-cap-007 @happymoonangel @miss-andromeda @mysticboombox @sketch-mer-6195 @jasminarts01 @obsessedftshit

[miss-andromeda]

[miss-andromeda]

Agh, I wish I had a turtle when I feel down 💙❤️💜🧡

Comfort

Because the Discord channel I’m in is filled with wonderful people and we’ve been talking about feelings a lot this morning; we all agreed that we needed some comfort HCs How would the boys go about comforting their S/O when things go really bad in their life, whatever the reason?

Leonardo You need to vent, he knows that very well. He’s patient, calm, soothing as he gently caresses your back or your arm. He understands your pain and your frustration, himself facing similar issues at times with his family. If you need to cry, throw things around, anything! - he will be there. All this frustration needs to go and once things will start to calm down, he’ll keep you in his arms, speaking in hushed tones to you, forever soft. … He loves you so much and whenever he sees you in such pain, he wishes he could simply take it away and make it disappear …. but at the same time he knows those hard times are important in order to understand yourself and your emotions. Everything you’re going through, every struggles you’re facing, are all so valid <3

Raphael He’d definitely would be ranting alongside you. He knows voicing every concerns out feels good, like the most heaviest weight is finally taken off from your shoulders. All those times he faced those same feelings, he knows very well what you’re going through! Wanna punch the punching bag? Do it. Wanna thrash things around? You’re welcome to do so. You just want to cry? Pour those rivers. It’ll feel good no matter what. … When things will start to calm down, he’ll offer to go take some fresh air, walk around a bit while holding your hand. You’d both end your stroll by sitting at the edge of a flat rooftop, watching the horizon as he keeps you in his arms <3

Donatello Oh he’d know whenever you need to vent. The way you walk, hold yourself - he’d ask you to let it all out as there’s no need to keep it all inside. And that’s when you’d explode. Talk and he’ll listen. He’ll make some comments once in a while, but he knows there’s no need trying to bring some logical explanations or anything right now. This moment is all about you and you need to know that he’s here to listen. Or if you don’t want to talk, he’d suggest that you write it down, knowing words sometimes are not coming out the way we want in terms of speech, but oh so well when written. … Life can be such a pain in the ass, especially when you’re doing everything you can and people are still complaining. … As you start to calm down, he’ll invite you to sit in his lap, keeping you in a loving embrace as he gently nuzzles your hair while slowly petting your skin. He’d try to shift your thoughts around, make you laugh perhaps with a shitty joke or two. You’re so beautiful when you smile <3

Michelangelo At first he’d slightly be taken aback by your sudden outburst, but as soon as he realises that you’re venting, he will totally be invested. He’d probably end up feeling the same emotions as you do, often leading him into the same rage or sadness, but at least you’re here, with him, talking this through. He’s glad you’re able to confide in him and share all your thoughts. Everything you do, everything you say, is so important to him and he won’t let you go until you’ve emptied your mind completely. As your inner storm is dying, he will cover you with love, hugging and kissing you. Wanna watch your favorite movie or eat your favorite food? HELL YES. He will take care of you and do everything in his power to make you feel happy and relaxed <3

[miss-andromeda]

Uh, of course! 🥰💜

Reblog if you are a fanfiction author and would like your readers to put one of your fic titles in your ask + questions about it

[miss-andromeda]

Yes. I'm aware it's been a while. But there's a reason.

And that is?

I GRADUATED!

With highest distinction in the class (3.8 GPA or higher) and with honors - and with an Associates degree in Creative Writing 🥰💜💜

I DID IT!

@tinkabelle24 @android-cap-007 @happymoonangel @jasminarts01 @kikithedreamerwriter @shinzowosasageyoooo @scholastic-dragon @thelaundrybitch @margoteve

[miss-andromeda]

AHHHHHHHHH

Okay now I'm even more scared and excited 🤍🩶

It’s a 2am surprise: The Tortured Poets Department is a secret DOUBLE album. ✌️ I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours. 🤍 https://taylor.lnk.to/ttpd-theanthology

[miss-andromeda]

Gotta love that Mikey's the only one totslly down 😌🧡🧡

Reaction: You text that you want to break up so you can appreciate The Tortured Poets Department

note: mother's new album drops at MIDNIGHT, so to all my swiftie's, this one is for you! 🤍

Leo:

You: lee listen we need to break up

Him: is this about your microwave? hun donnie's fixing it.

You: um...no...? what did you do to it?

You: NEVERMIND I DONT WANNA KNOW. Taylor's new album drops at midnight

Him: okay and??

You: AND i need to appreciate it

Him: what does this have to do with breaking up? you can listen to it while we're together

You: we need to break up for the day so i can enjoy it correctly

Him: give me a reason other than you wanting to listen to it "correctly"

You: YOU BROKE MY MICROWAVE.

Him:......touché.

Him: i'll see you this weekend then.

Raph:

You: babe im breaking up with you for the next day

Raph: WHAT DID I DO!?

You: nothing! taylor's new album drops at midnight

Raph: so?????

You: SO!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN SO!?

You: ITS TAYLOR SWIFT.

Raph: WE DONT NEED TO BREAK UP FOR THAT.

You: i cannot believe this.

Raph: y/n i like her too but i aint dumpin you for a day just to listen to her album

You: either we break up for a day or i tell mikey the truth about how your bunk bed broke.

Raph: are you threatening me??

Raph: DONT ANSWER THAT. you have one day.

Donnie:

You: dondon tomorrow we'll be breaking up for the day

Donnie: we will be doing no such thing

You: oh but we will

You: taylor's new album drops and i want the full experience

Donnie: honey that's not a good reason to break up with someone

You: it's only for the day

Donnie: that's still not convincing

You: I WILL START CRYING RIGHT NOW IF YOU DONT BREAK UP WITH ME.

Donnie: that's a bit dramatic y/n

You: BREAK. UP. WITH. ME.

Donnie: fine! i'm...breaking up with you.

Donnie: does this mean i'll get the full experience now too?

Mikey:

You: let's break up for the day

Mikey: let's break up for the day

You: hey we sent that at the same time!

You: the album drops at midnight

Mikey: I KNOW!!!!!!!

You: IM SO EXCITED

Mikey: baby i tell you i was BORN ready for this album to drop

You: so when should we break up?

Mikey: hmmmmm how about now so we can like prepare mentally?

You: okay, sounds good!

Mikey: see you soon!

Mikey: WAIT NO MIDNIGHT. I HAVE SOMETHING FUNNY TO TELL YOU!

[miss-andromeda]

4, 20 and 25 for the ask game, pretty please? 🥰💜

*cracks knuckles* Let's do this! 💜

4. What version of Leonardo is your favorite?

Ah, the born leader. I have a soft spot for 2012 Leo because of how simultaneously dorky and serious he is, but 2003 is real good too. 💙

(Also I know why you chose this one, but I ain't gonna say anything 😉)

20. What show/movie would you like to see the TMNT crossover with?

This is something I've never really given much thought about! I know we got some plans, but as far as my idea...

Well, the most interesting one is Stranger Things, but rather than the boys meet the gang, I think it'd be interesting to have a Stranger Things-like plot for a TMNT show! Like, imagine they're four boys who find a girl with abilities like El, and the mysteries that would be uncovered in the process! That'd be so awesome 🥰

25. Show us what your reaction would be if you met the TMNT.

Basically this, plus a bit of flirting towards the tall, purple one. 😉💜

Thanks for the ask, bestie - love youuuu! 💜💜

[miss-andromeda]

12, 16, and 25 for the ask game!!

I gotchu! Let's do this 💜

12. Who is your favorite minor or recurring character?

Hmm...would 2007 Karai count? If she does, definitely her. If she doesn't, then I'd probably say the Mutanimals from 2012.

16. What was the first TMNT show/movie you ever watched?

These boys - and April! I was 8 years old and watched the first episode with my dad - and then immediately fell in love 🥰

25. Show us what your reaction would be if you met the TMNT.

And also a bit of flirting with the purple one. 😌

Thank you so much for the ask! 🥰💜

[miss-andromeda]

@androidships007 I'll help you with the subway, if we don't get lost 😅

Also:

Your Result:

drunk girl in the bathroom hot

you're both wasted, she just somehow does it so much better. you're crying, about something your stupid ex did or said. and suddenly she appears, looking like an angel aside from the slight sway in her step. she's helping you our of your slump on the floor when you grow pale and catastrophy strikes. you're the most disgusting you've ever been, and still, this stranger holds your hair and rubs soothing circles in your back. gives you a breath mint and sits you back against the wall, asking what happened. you tell her, and her glittery, perfectly made face turns sour. with her heels in hand, she loops your arm around her shoulders so she can help you walk to an uber she called for you. your ex says something snarky to you in passing on the way out, and for her it's the final straw. she whirls around, fire in her eyes and a set in her brow and she slaps him hard across the face. calls him a jerk or a dick or something like that, you can't remember, you were busy smiling at the stunned look on his face as she drags you both outside. before you get home, she gives you a hug and kind words in a bubbling voice and you're thankful for her. thankful there are people out there who look out for people like you, who stand up for people even when they might have trouble standing themselves.

@jasminarts01 @shinzowosasageyoooo @luckycharms1701

Go pick your hot friendos

Mine is under the cut 😅

@leosgirl82 @leoandraphssoulmate @scholastic-dragon @raphsmuneca @margoteve @m1dnyt3-w0lf @yorshie @justalotoffanfiction @avery73 @luckycharms1701 @turtlecleric @thejudiciousneurotic @meowph-132 @gornackeaterofworlds @replicasey @trufflemacandcheese @zombiesnips-blog

Anyone can join in!

[miss-andromeda]

"I got allergies!" And Raph just leaves anyway 🤣

Thank you for answering! 🥰🫂

Oh, Han? Can I request 14, 19 and 25 for the ask game, pretty please? 💜💜

14. Who are your favourite duo (non-shipping)?

Okay, non-shipping...

I love these two.

I want a movie just of these two.

I would never get bored of these two...

These two.

19. Show us your most recently saved TMNT pic or GIF.

Not my most recent one, as it's a massive TBaH spoiler 😅 How 'bout a funny one, instead?

Not my picture; lost the link 😩 It's on Pinterest, somewhere...

25. Show us what your reaction would be if you met the TMNT.

Thank you for your ask, bestie! 🥰

@android-cap-007 @happymoonangel

[miss-andromeda]

BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD!❣️ Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 people you adore! Absolutely no pressure but. It's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out <3

My bestieeeee ❤️💜🫂

[miss-andromeda]

BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD!❣️ Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 people you adore! Absolutely no pressure but. It's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out <3

Awwww, thanks, Lucky! Right back atcha 🥰🫂

[miss-andromeda]

Why's everyone wanting to kill 2012 Donnie? Okay, I know why, but still, my heart 😅

So:

Marry 2012 Donnie (though Andi would fist fight me)

Fuck 2007 Raph (the voice 😍)

And kill Bay Leo (@tinkabelle24, sorry not sorry 😅)

Fuck, marry kill

2012 Donnie, 2007 Raphael, Bayverse Leo

[miss-andromeda]

So well done and so true! Don't mess with the dude in red ❤️❤️

I am not sure how much you are into analysis but I want to ask. Do you think raph isn’t as good of a fighter compared to his brothers? because I have a feeling either he’s holding back when sparring with them over fear of harming them or he’s not as good as them.

Anon, you just made my day because this gives me an excuse to nerd out at length. (Though apologies that it took me so long to get this fully written out and posted.)

Disclaimer before I launch into it in full: to fairly compare Raph to his brothers I'm going to do a brief run-down of the three of them before breaking into the full details on him. A lot of this is built on extrapolation from details in various canons and at times might edge toward headcanon territory, though I'll be trying to stick with what's actually present.

With that out of the way--

Comparing Raph to His Brothers

So to start with, I can only fairly do this deep-dive by briefly touching on each of his brothers before getting to Raph himself. I'll say upfront that I think it's less a question of which one is the "best fighter" and more that they're each different types of fighters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses and which might land any of them in the position of "the best" depending on the circumstances.

Leo

Strengths: This is an extrapolation based on various iterations (2003, 2007, 2012, 2014/2016, ROTTMNT, 2023, Batman vs. TMNT, and a little bit of the IDW comics), but Leo strikes me as a tactician-- as the guy who can extrapolate to fifteen different possibilities for the outcome of a fight and fifteen steps ahead of everyone else on each of those possibilities. At his best he knows how to play to his brothers' strengths, put them where needed, and let them go to do their own thing. He's also persistent and willing to put himself through his paces over and over again until he 'perfects' what he wants to learn how to do. As a "traditional" (romanticized) example of a warrior, he is the golden boy of the family. Rise Leo might be a little less likely to get every step 'just so,' but most iterations of him aim to be as flawless as possible in terms of his combat skills. In his ideal world, he will never have a misplaced swing of a sword or inflict any damage he doesn't intend to. That depth of knowledge and highly-trained skill can be damned terrifying for his enemies if it's taken to its fullest extreme.

Weaknesses: His perfectionism and desire to get things 'just right' is a double-edged sword. In the 2003 series it got wrapped up in his PTSD and the need to never make a critical mistake again (which... didn't work out well for him-- hi, shades of Raph at his worst); in the 2007 movie it led him to think his efforts to learn how to be a better leader weren't "good enough" and kept him away from home for two years; in the 2012 series it led him to ignore critical injuries and try to bully himself into being 'better' (when realistically what he did during the farmhouse arc probably would have permanently destroyed one of his knees); in the 2014/2016 movies it led him to temporarily damage his relationship with his brothers by spilling over the worst of his internal perfectionistic vitriol onto them; and in Rise it at times has turned him into a showoff who'll act without letting the others in on his plan (which can backfire horrendously in a worst-case scenario) because if he does it without telling others what he's going to do, then he gets bragging rights if it works out like he planned. Underlying all this is what could turn into an unmanageable case of anxiety depending on the version of Leo and how personally stable he is, as well as how susceptible he is to ruminating over where he feels he went wrong. To say nothing of how many versions of Leo have a GIANT self-sacrificing streak when it comes to their families. Under the right circumstances-- and if someone really intended to make it hurt-- they could easily play all that against Leo and get him to freeze due to overthinking. (Though getting him to that level would take an extreme case and some severe emotional damage to weaponize his guilt.)

Speed: OKAY. Here's where things get a little more cut-and-dried in my opinion-- if a fight is down to just speed anyway. Leo might be pretty neck-in-neck with Raph in terms of speed, maybe just a touch faster due to (generally) being more lean-built than Raph. Leo's not a tank; yes he can fight in close quarters or mid-range and hold his own, but if he can then he tends to be 'slippery' about it. He's not going to batter away at an enemy if he can spin out of range before darting back in and dodging whatever hits he can. If it's just a matter of speed without any other factors involved, then there's a good chance Leo will win in a fight against Raph. If it's a question of strength and endurance though... Well, I'll expand further on that when I get to Raph.

Adaptability: This is something that is absolutely dependent on which version of Leo we're talking about and how hung up that version is on his plans without taking the general chaos of life into account. 2012 and 2014/2016 Leo both are guilty of getting so hung up on the idea that their approach to a combat situation is the right way that they fail to plan for the fact that their brothers' ways of doing things isn't their way of doing things. Which blows up in their faces spectacularly sometimes. IF it's a version of Leo who's more likely to fail to take into account his brothers' differing styles, then Raph might easily play that against him and deliberately do things Leo would find unpredictable (though probably not as much as Mikey, lbr). For versions of him that are better about knowing that his own approach isn't the only/'best' approach, then Leo would be better able to roll with whatever Raph throws his way, within reason.

Combat Style/Approach: Mid-to-close-range, tactician, and definitely NOT a grappler. Yes, his skills and training have him moving with muscle memory when he needs to, but even so, there's a split-second awareness of what his opponent(s) could do and instinctively reacting based on what he's met with. A lot of that means he has to be free to move and avoid getting held in place, or things might go bad quickly.

Donnie

Strengths: No matter which iteration of Donnie you're talking about, you're generally talking about an engineer who's able and willing to casually heft up and carry around a car engine with his bare hands. And considering (with a quick google search) it looks like the average car engine weighs anywhere between 300 to 700 pounds, that alone is proof enough that no one in their right mind would ever want to be punched by Donnie. And considering there are instances where he's able to temporarily support the weight of himself and his brothers (a couple of scenes in the 2003 series are what immediately come to my mind, but that's just my favorite iteration showing itself) it's proof that he has that strength not just in his arms. To give you an idea of just how much weight that implies he can lift, here's a size and weight comparison of some of the largest turtle species currently living.*

Notice anything? Like how... Oh... I dunno... a 4-foot-long Loggerhead sea turtle can weigh up to 400 pounds? Or a 3-foot-long Leatherback sea turtle can weigh 550 pounds on the light end? (Note: this is not meant to be snarky or condescending, just a simple statement of fact that all signs point to these boys are fucking HEAVY.) And that huge amount of weight relative to their body size seems to be pretty consistent among turtle species from what I've seen with my digging around. Which logically implies that the same holds true for these boys, and if we play fast-and-loose with the idea that we can roughly translate length to height... well... For general weight of the boys, I tend to assume at least 200 pounds, at least for those under and up to about 5-foot-tall. For the 2014/2016 set I might even suggest somewhere between 400-500 pounds-- but roughly comparing weight to size with that table of large turtle species, I'm probably severely underestimating their weight all across the board. Being generous, hypothetically saying all four of the 2003 turtles are about 240, that then means there are moments in the 2003 series where Donnie is temporarily lifting around 960 pounds, including himself. AND THAT MIGHT BE A SEVERE UNDERESTIMATION. Terrifying, right? So yes, Donnie is unquestionably strong as hell and maintains that strength by working on his various projects, and a full-force hit from him would land someone in a hospital-- if they're lucky. The other main thing working for him is that he's a tech genius. No, he's typically not as rigid or disciplined in his training as Leo is, but if he has access to tech and distance then he has a whole host of weapons and traps he can bring to the party (something which Rise Donnie excels at in spades). Raph's a much more physical direct-confrontation fighter, but Donnie has the capacity to turn entire environments against his enemies, depending on the means he has at his disposal.

Weaknesses: For better or worse, Donnie's primary personal strength-- the one he leans on above all else-- is his intellect and being able to puzzle things out. And again, he's an engineer: yes he can lift and move that terrifying amount of weight, but he's usually not doing it at speed. (Because let's be real, moving heavy and potentially very breakable machinery is not something you want to do quickly when you want to be able to use or repurpose said machinery.) He's not a slouch when it comes to his ninjutsu training, but there's a reason why the concept of Donnie pulling the 'I'm too busy to train right now' is a widespread fandom concept. It doesn't necessarily mean that he's not 'as good of a ninja', but more that he's not a 'traditional' ninja and has had to adapt things to his preferred methods. Yes he has a lot of physical strength, but he prefers to keep a distance from his opponent(s) if possible. Doing so, having that distance, gives him more time to plan and respond-- because unlike Leo, a lot of iterations of Donnie don't have that ingrained ability to read the possible actions their opponent(s) might take and respond on a dime (or at least not to the same level). Raph's tendency to brute force things-- something which Donnie technically could do but clearly does not like to-- might be somewhat unpredictable for him, especially because that puts Raph in close and doesn't give Donnie as much time to respond as he would like. All that said, Donnie could technically win a fight against Raph without his tech if he pretty much said to hell with fighting and decided to do an imitation of an octopus. At the very least he could probably hold him in one place if he was quick enough and managed to get Raph's arms pinned. And somehow kept him from walking. (It wouldn't be a dignified win, but it might still technically be a win.)

Speed: I'm gonna be honest, I do not think speed is on Donnie's side in comparison to his brothers. If he really makes an effort (rather than just going his own route and pursuing his interests) he'd probably be able to keep up with the others going at full tilt for a little while, but he'd probably tire out first. A lot of the work he does due to his areas of expertise is fairly sedentary, and frequently he needs to move with slow and deliberate precision. There's a lot of fine muscle control involved in that kind of work (especially if it involves maneuvering something heavy), but being able to consistently do that doesn't automatically translate to being able to do something similar at high speed. But that's okay, because if he has the distance and varied means of attack he needs, then he doesn't have to worry about keeping up with his brothers for an extended period of time-- it just has to be long enough.

Adaptability: If it involves tech or computer systems, Donnie's ability to adapt to a situation is unparalleled. Give him unrestrained access to an unfamiliar and shiny (and incredibly pervasive) system and he'll be able to make it seem like a tech apocalypse is targeting one specific person if he wants to. If it's a head-to-head physical fight though, it really depends on how desperate he is or how much breathing room he has (or both). If he's frazzled and panicky then there's the possibility he'll miss several opportunities or potential tools and, in a worst-case scenario, he might freeze. (An extreme example of this is how Rise Donnie gave up fighting the crab men when his tech failed, after all his brothers had already failed in that fight.) If he has time and space to think then he's practically unstoppable, but if he doesn't have that breathing room then chances are things won't end well for him.

Combat Style/Approach: Distance fighter, brain-over-brawn, could be a grappler if necessary but uncomfortable enough with it that it might work against him, might as well dub him a 'trap master' for the little surprises he might leave in his wake if he's feeling spiteful. He's a schemer, but not a chess master.

Mikey

Strengths: If there's one thing that can be said for Mikey it's the fact that most versions of him are innately gifted at picking up kinesthetic knowledge, to say nothing of the fact that he tends to be the most spiritually gifted of the brothers. In fact in several series (2003 and 2012 off the top of my head, though I'm certain it may have popped up in others) it's briefly mentioned that if Mikey really buttoned down and was completely serious about his ninja skills he would outclass Leo-- which means that he can naturally slide into the level of skill Leo has worked for years to achieve without even really thinking about it. If he wants to. And most of the time he doesn't want to. (Too much responsibility being that serious, so who can blame him?) However, his not constantly going at the equivalent of Level 99 in a videogame in fights isn't necessarily a detriment to him, because he has other ways to stay true to himself while giving himself an edge. Like being annoying on purpose. And knowing how to aggravate the hell out of his opponents until he tricks them into getting sloppy. Until he tricks them into giving him easy openings they should REALLY know better than to give him-- and would if he hadn't deliberately torn their nerves to shreds. If it's not obvious, I'm saying versions of Mikey like to play mind-games, and if they really want to they can be vicious about it and make it HURT. (Though again, most versions of Mikey are more invested in goofing off and playing around than being outright vicious or serious.) The point is, if he finds a mental opening that sticks, then how invested he is in winning the fight will dictate how serious he is about exploiting that weakness. To say nothing about how creative he can get when he really wants to be.

Weaknesses: The downfall of a lot of Mikeys is how distractable a lot of them can be. (I won't say this is a universal fact because I'm a big fan of there being variation among different realities, but a lot of Mikeys definitely being ADHD doesn't help. How well said version is able to compensate probably also varies.) So depending on the circumstances and the environment, Raph might be able to play that distractibility against him. (Buuuut that would require Raph to play mind-games, and most Raphs aren't the 'mind-game' type.) Plus, for better or worse, it takes a LOT to get most versions of Mikey to the point where he's ready to say 'Fuck everything' and throw everything he can into ending a fight right that second.

Speed: Mikey is, in my honest opinion (and based off most of the series and movies I've seen), the fastest of the brothers-- bar none. Which means if he tore off at full speed with the intention of skipping a fight entirely and just making Raph chase him, Raph probably would never catch him. Until after he wears down anyway. But if he zipped off and found a good enough hiding spot, then he could probably avoid Raph for a while. In a fight, because of his speed, there's a good chance that Mikey might be able to get in more hits than Raph, but that comes with the risk of getting in close to Raph-- and that can easily work against him in very short order.

Adaptability: Mikey's adaptability is through the roof. Most versions of Mikey, you can throw damn near anything their way and they'll roll with it in such a way that they land on their feet while their brothers are still scrambling for stable footing. There's also the fact that he's a very lateral thinker and able to apply concepts from seemingly unrelated sources to scenarios many others wouldn't even think to combine-- and he does so to his advantage. So yeeeeeeaaaaahhhhh, given enough room and space to work with (and not panicking), then there's a good chance Mikey's going to catch Raph off guard with something he'd never expect.

Combat Style/Approach: Close range, flighty, dart in-range to hit and then dart back out of range, mind-games and making his opponents angry to the point of getting sloppy seems to be his preferred tactic. He could be the most terrifying to go up against in a fight if he went absolutely stone serious, but 99.9999% of the time he does not want to and would much rather slip in some fun where he can. (If you don't believe me on that last point, consider that in the 2003 series I'm reasonably sure he has the highest body count of all the brothers, in the 2012 series he killed a kraang and wore the dude's skin on his head multiple times, and in Rise ALL of Dr. Delicate Touch and the frothing maniacal rage he has when angry. 'Nuff said.)

Raph

And here we come to the turtle in question himself, Raph. Hamato Raphael, Raphael Splinterson, Raphie-boy, take your pick.

Strengths: Raph is a TANK. Barring '87, this boy in most iterations pretty much makes it his mission in life to be the strongest of him and his brothers. He's also stubborn as hell and WILL NOT give in if he thinks it's important to stand his ground. Which means he can and will hold his ground and dig in long past when his brothers each have to retreat or fold; he can take the hits they can't and come out the other side still kicking. And what's more, if he feels the need to and is able to get up and be mobile, then he WILL hunt you down for as long as it takes and damned near nothing will stop him-- he is that. damned. STUBBORN. Let's be real, that combination is terrifying. Of course, naturally, this brings up questions of just how physically strong he is. I pointed out up in Donnie's section that Donnie is ridiculously strong, but just how strong is Raph? To answer that question, the infamous scene from 2007:

Just how much psi does it take to snap a katana? WELL, it turns out that finding out that information is really difficult (at least when I was nosing around and trying to find out). When I was doing my initial searching I found a video on facebook examining an anime scene (at the time-- back in September-- it was literally the only thing that remotely came close to answering my question that popped up) that claimed it would take at least 20,000 psi. Being that the person who posted that video didn't include any sources for reference, I'd take it with a grain of salt (especially since despite my best efforts I'm having a hard time finding that video again), but still. If-- for the sake of argument-- we assume that the 20,000 psi measurement is accurate for what it would take to snap a katana, that would mean that our boy Raph is capable of exerting that much force with each hand. And not just a brief spike of getting there either. No, for him to be capable of the force in that 2007 scene (again, assuming the number is accurate) then he has to maintain that force for longer than a second or two.

I don't know about you, but that makes this scene just that much more dangerous and intense in my eyes. It's not just that Raph could have killed Leo by stabbing him; it's also the implication that he could have easily torn Leo apart with his bare hands if he wanted to. So yeeeeeaaaahhhh, if Raph is able to get his hands on any of his brothers and is able to hold on, they're probably toast.

Weaknesses: Whoo boy. In most iterations, point blank, his biggest weakness is his temper. If he gets set off too thoroughly or if someone knows how to play it against him, his temper can make him get sloppy and lead to his defeat-- regardless of how ridiculously strong he is. It also means that, unless it's a version of him who has worked his ass off to keep himself in check, there's a good possibility that he might wind up doing things he'll regret when he's angry (and if someone really wants to twist the knife they can play that guilt and self-blame against him). If you go by 2003 and 2012 there's also his bug-phobia which can be played against him. (Even though 2003 Raph covers it with 'KILL IT WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE'.) If you go by Rise, then you DO NOT. EVER. WANT THAT BOY TO BE ALONE. And on a much more brutal note, going back to his stubbornness which is also one of his strengths

...there's a good chance that this boy might try to push himself past the breaking point if he feels it's necessary.

Speed: I've said before that I think Raph is pretty neck-in-neck with Leo when it comes to how fast he is, Mikey has them both beat in the speed department hands down, and Donnie is most likely to be the slowest moving of the four of them. If Leo has to deal with heavy weights while trying to move at speed however, Raph will have him outclassed due to having more practice in that department. For Raph to have a hope of keeping up with Mikey going full tilt in running away, Mikey would have to be carrying enough to weigh him down considerably. And while Donnie might stand a chance in trying to grapple with Raph, Raph having more experience in moving heavy weights at speed would probably mean Donnie would be better off trying to glom onto Raph like an octopus rather than outright grappling. So Raph's not the fastest, but he's not a slouch either.

Adaptability: As much as I love my boy, Raph is a tank, he's bruiser, he's a bulldozer who freely makes use of sharp and pointy things he can use to stab people with. Adaptability-- barring variation between sneaking in and out versus barreling in as loudly as possible to cause mayhem and destruction as a distraction-- is generally not in his wheelhouse. Given time and learning how to play mind games (and I don't doubt that an adult Raph could pick up and use the skill when he needs to) he'd probably become more flexible, but with where he's portrayed to be at in most iterations he hasn't gotten there yet.

Combat style/approach: Close-range, grappler, brawler, TANK. He WILL hold the line, he WILL dig in and hold his ground, he WILL be the wall and PROTECT with everything he has if he has to. He's also not above being outright brutally destructive when he feels it's warranted. And that "when he feels it's warranted" is key.

Details that affect the outcome:

Raph has a protective streak 500 miles wide. A lot of iterations try to be the wall for his family, the last line of defense when needed. He would sooner see himself hurt than anyone he cares about.

And it's not just his brothers, father, April, Casey, anyone-he-considers-family that he's protective of either.

Seriously, if someone pushes the protective button on this boy and his sense of right and wrong kicks in, he WILL get involved.

Raph cares and feels deeply; to him, family is everything.

You

have

NO IDEA

how much

this boy

LOVES

HIS FAMILY

or how much he'd tear himself up if he ever seriously hurt any of them. So the chances of him ever actually going all-out against any of his brothers is slim. (And the few instances in various iterations where he's come close it's seriously screwed him up emotionally every time. Like 2003 and the pipe incident, 2007 and the after effects of his fight with Leo, the implied guilt Rise had after he snapped back to his senses after reuniting with his brothers after he'd been alone, etc.) He might fight with his brothers, he might disagree with them from time to time, but overall he comes off as someone who firmly believes you don't ever deliberately hurt someone you should care about if you can help it. Which is backed up by instances of him panicking in various iterations where his decisions might result in his family's deaths, as well as the fact that he only really turns on any of them (think SAINW) if they cross the line of not being there for each other like he feels they should be. Some iterations might threaten to run off a lot, but he never will without a damned good reason because he loves his family too much to ever want to do that to them.

Final Assessments

Raph vs Leo: If it's in close and is just down to strength-- Raph wins. If Leo has the time he needs to scheme and play Raph the way he needs to-- Leo wins.

Raph vs Donnie: If it's in close-- Raph wins unless Donnie pulls off an imitation of an octopus and gets all of Raph's limbs pinned and holds on for dear life. If Donnie has the distance, time to scheme, and the means to set traps to his heart's content-- plus tranqs, no one wins against tranqs-- Donnie wins.

Raph vs Mikey: If Raph can get his hands on Mikey and keep him in one place-- Raph wins. If Mikey plays Raph like a fiddle with his mind games and stays out of reach-- Mikey wins.

Raph vs the three of them together: Well shit, that'd be a losing proposition under the best circumstances unless the goal was to try to out-stubborn them at something. 10/10 if he had to, Raph would keep dragging himself along even if all three of his brothers were hanging on to him to try to keep him from reaching his goal. (And if Raph hasn't exploited that fact during some wild-as-shit game of theirs, then Casey Jones is the queen of England.)

Raph vs his guilt if he actually seriously hurt them: Instantaneous loss that Raph would probably have a hard time ever forgiving himself for.

So do I think Raph is as good a fighter as his brothers? Yes.

Do I think he's holding back so he doesn't hurt them? Also yes.

Do I think anyone he went up against if he didn't hold back would be thoroughly screwed? Emphatically YES.

-----------------------------

*The site I got the turtle size table in Donnie's section is [here], if anyone wants further details on sea turtles.