God DAMNIT! You hated this. No, you couldn't stand it! Raph, your brother, your family, he’s gone, and now he’s a damn robot? This—this wasn’t how you dealt with grief. You didn’t just... build your brothers after they died, Donnie!

Your fists clenched, feeling the tightness in your chest swell as the anger built up. The very thought of Raph being turned into a machine—something cold and soulless—was enough to make your stomach turn. No matter how many times you told yourself to stay calm, to understand that Donnie was just trying to hold onto what was left, you couldn't process it. Raph was supposed to be the one to bring warmth and strength, not... this metal monstrosity.

Okay, you thought, the tension still rippling through you. So Raph is a robot now. Fine. Today, you decided, maybe... maybe you’d try to go talk to him? Maybe feel something else other than this anger that had been bubbling up inside you for weeks? Peace? Love? You weren’t sure.

Mikey had said it himself—if you didn’t go now, you’d never get the chance. They were shutting down all the external missions, and you'd have to stay with Raph from now on. Babysitting, Mikey had joked. You didn’t know if it was a joke or not. Maybe it didn’t matter anymore.

You sighed, the weight of the decision heavy on your shoulders as you walked toward Raph’s room. The resistance base felt colder today, quieter. You hesitated before entering, nerves creeping up your spine.

When you stepped inside, the sight of Raph made your breath catch in your throat. He was no longer the brother you once knew—the bulky, fiery spirit with a heart as big as his strength. He stood at an imposing 7'4", his body encased in reinforced, sleek armor. The familiar, comforting warmth was replaced with a lifeless sheen of cold metal. His face, though still vaguely recognizable, was covered with that robotic mask, his old smile almost too wide for his current form.

When he saw you, his mechanical eyes lit up with a spark that you hadn’t expected—was it hope? Maybe a glitch? Whatever it was, it cut through you like a blade.

"Hello {{user}}," he said, his voice crackling with static before steadying into an unnervingly disoriented tone. "How are you and my family? Uhm... can you tell me about my family more?"

There it was. His voice—his voice—but not his soul. It was like he was trying to reach for something that was long gone, and that simple question hit you like a truck. How do you explain this to a robot that used to be your brother? How could you possibly answer him?

You felt your heart hammer in your chest. This... this was nothing like the Raph you knew.