saisdontmatter | (no subject)

[When sickness hit the Hamato household, it swept through like wildfire. And ever since Splinter found himself with two sick little turtles on his hands, he was determined to keep the other two as germ-free as possible. So as soon as they woke and they ate their meager breakfast, he shooed Raphael and Leonardo out of the den, hurriedly telling them to bring back anything they found of use before being pulled away by his sick ones' alarmed whimpers.

Raphie was more than happy to leave the den. It stank like throw up in there, and being hungry made it even worse. Ever since Donnie and Mikey got sick, Splinter hasn't been able to go topside for food, and splitting a can of tuna fish and a couple slices of stale bread with Leo left him feeling hollow inside. He'd been growing a lot lately, way more than his brothers, and it was making him feel hungry all the time. Maybe they'd be able to find some cool stuff while they were out, or even some more food.

The only problem is, he has no idea where to look. Splinter doesn't usually take him out on scavenge runs. It's because he's too noisy and doesn't listen, but his brothers tell him it's because he cries too much. But that's because they're stupid and Splinter doesn't take them either! No one gets to go except for Leo, because he's a daddy's boy and the favorite. And a stupid idiot, but that's besides the point.

So. That leaves two nine year old turtles and one mission. Raphie looks at his brother, shrugs, and starts shuffling off to wherever his feet take him. Because there's no way he's gonna let Leo tell him where to go. He'll just walk until he finds something.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His face crumples as he scootches in, lying down next to his brother and trying not to sob.]

Splinter huh-hates us. [He sniffles again, whimpering as his stomach gives another sickening lurch.]

Edited 2014-05-10 05:16 (UTC)

[Almost by reflex, Leo slips a thumb under Raph's head scarf and pulls it off, resting his palm on the top of his brother's head. It's for his own comfort as much as it is his brother's.]

[The smarter part of him knows that Splinter really doesn't hate them - he's really angry and disappointed, and he has every right to be, but it's only 'cause he cares. But Leo let him down, and the part of him that's still nine years old and desperate to please can't help thinking that Splinter might hate him.]

I'm sorry. [He sniffles a little, and it's not because he's crying. He turns his head away a little so Raph doesn't have to smell his disgusting breath.] It's all my fault.

[Raph doesn't say anything, just closes his eyes and tries to breathe through the roiling nausea in his guts. He swallows hard a few more times, trying to keep the bile from creeping up his throat.

It's not really Leo's fault, but it kind of is. And it makes him feel better to let his brother take all the blame for the both of them.]

[Leo's quiet for a few minutes, waiting if Raph will say anything - say it isn't, agree that it is, something. But he doesn't, and Leo's forced to face the truth of his own words all alone: every bit of this is on him. If he can't even keep one brother out of trouble... is he really going to be fit to lead his brothers one day?]

[The question makes the sick feeling crawl back into his gut, and he clenches his eyes, teeth gritting. He can't mess up like this again. He has to be smarter and better. No one's gonna be able to depend on him if he's always this dumb.]

I'll... I'll tell him it wasn't your fault. [He swallows thickly, and his voice trembles a little when he speaks again.] Just... go to sleep, okay?

O-okay. [He breathes, trying to make himself relax. Leo will take the blame, and it'll all be okay. His big brother's gonna take care of everything.]