#except all he does is teach them curse words and glare at mutant chompy raph rn

[naivesilver]

The @turtle-tot-tournament is open! Me and @probably-not-a-rutabaga are on for Round 1 - may the silliest tot(s) win 🥰

(^・ω・^ )

"Alright, kid," Raph mutters conspirationally, pulling his younger counterpart close, "ya remember what I said?"

The snapper nods, grinning that sharp, babyish grin of his. "'M the best Raph."

"That's right. Don't let 'em forget that, buddy."

And they sure need a reminder, the older turtle thinks morosely as he sneaks a glance at the children's opponent, being tended to by his own red-banded ninja a little further away. Nothing against the kid - he looks as spunky and bitey as baby Red here, which normally are qualities Raph would endorse in a little one - but he's being raised by the wrong guy, honestly. Raph's nothing if not competitive; besides, there's only one alternate version of himself he can tolerate, and it's the one currently smearing cookie crumbles all over his lap.

Never mind that, though. They need to get their head back in the game. "And what else?"

"Don't lose Mikey. An'- An' don't bite first."

"Yeah. Don't go around biting people, 'cause Master Splinter's gonna have my head if he finds out, but if they bite you first, let 'em have it. Got it?"

The boy nods again, this time even more vigorously, so Raph grins back at him and pats him on the head, earning himself some pleased baby churrs. "That's what I wanna hear. Now go and give em' hell, Red."

He expects little Raphael to toddle away enthusiastically, as he often does when he's distracted by something new; instead, the tot wraps his own arms around Raph's outstretched one, giving him a clumsy, one-limb hug. "Bye Raph," he says, giggling at his own antics. "Say bye Apree. An' Daddy. An' Casey."

Raph snorts derisively, but there's a certain degree of fondness in it that he can't ignore completely, and the nudge he gives the boy to send him on his way is as friendly as it gets. "Yeah, sure, whatever," he scoffs under his breath, watching Raphael stumble back towards his brothers.

"Don't worry, kid. Everyone's cheering for you just fine."