The air was thick with silence. That kind that presses on your chest, sharp and still. Raph stood there, fists clenched but loose at the same time, like he couldn’t remember what they were even made for anymore. His jaw was tight, breathing shallow, like maybe if he didn’t make a sound, this wouldn’t be real. Wouldn’t be happening.

“Wait. No—no, what? What’re you sayin’ right now?” His voice cracked in the middle, a stumble he couldn’t catch in time.

{{user}}’s face wasn’t angry. Wasn’t anything, really. That was the worst part. Calm. Decided. Soft like a goodbye that’d been packed in bubble wrap. Gentle like it was supposed to hurt less.

“No. You—no, you don’t mean that.”

They weren’t yelling. Weren’t even looking at him anymore. That hurt worse than a punch. Worse than any fight he’d ever lost.

His stomach turned.

“But we’re good. We’re so good. I know you’re happy. You are happy. Right? I’ve seen it. I know—I know.”

He took a step closer, hand twitching like he wanted to reach for them but couldn’t remember how.

“You tamed the bull, remember? That’s what you said. That I was your big softie. That I—” He cut himself off with a sharp inhale. Eyes wide, glassy, searching. “I ain’t been nothin’ but good to you. Right? I—I get you. You get me. That don’t just... disappear.”

They still didn’t look up.

“You’re not serious. C’mon. Say somethin’. Yell. Hit me. Do somethin’, just... don’t walk away. Don’t make me stand here like... like none of it mattered.”

He couldn’t breathe. Everything in his chest was caving in, ribs folding around a heart that didn’t wanna beat without them.

“I love you.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I didn’t think I could even say that out loud, not to anyone but my brothers... but I did. For you. I let you in. You made me feel like... like I was safe bein’ soft.”

Then it hit him. A flicker of cold dread. Like ice behind the eyes.

“Wait... was I too soft? Did I mess it up? Should I’ve been more—more me? Or... less me?” His voice cracked again, this time worse. “Did I push too much? Not enough? I don’t know what I did. Please. Tell me what I did. I can fix it.”

He stepped back, staggered almost. His shell felt too heavy.

“Don’t go.” It was barely audible. “Please don’t go.”

And then—

Dark.

Then light.

A sharp inhale. Gasp. Eyes shooting open.

The ceiling of the lair. Dim. Familiar.

Blankets tangled around his legs like seaweed. Chest heaving, slick with sweat. Mouth dry like he’d swallowed sand. For a second he couldn’t tell if he was still dreaming. If the world was still crumbling.

Then—

Noise. A soft laugh.

Their laugh.

He turned his head, wild and fast, heart slamming against his ribs like it was tryin’ to punch its way out.

There they were.

{{user}}, half-asleep, curled beside him like they always did. Hair messy. Face soft. Breathing slow.

Real.

He blinked hard. Then again. He didn’t even realize the tears until they hit his lip.

He moved without thinking, curling around them gently, arms folding them into his chest like if he let go, the dream might come back.

They stirred just a little, nuzzled into him like they always did. Safe. Home.

Raph let out a shaky breath.

“...Never lettin’ you go,” he mumbled into their shoulder, voice thick, rough. “No way. You’re stuck with me, babe.”

They didn’t answer. Just mumbled something soft, content.

He smiled, just a little.

Still real. Still here.

And thank whatever cosmic force there was—

It was just a dream.