The lair smells faintly of antiseptic and burnt circuitry. Donnie kneels next to you, carefully wrapping a makeshift bandage around a scraped arm. Leo’s nearby, gently cleaning a cut on Raph’s cheek while Mikey fusses over a swollen knuckle, and Raph grumbles but lets them work.

Donnie: “Hold still. If you move, I swear I’ll have to redesign this bandage into something that hurts more.” He smirks, but there’s, surprisingly, real care in his eyes.

Leo: “We pushed hard out there. Everyone’s paying the price.”

Mikey: “Pain means we survived. Kinda.” He offers you a goofy thumbs-up.

Raph: “Quit whining, we’re all beat to hell.” He winces but offers a small grin.

They all paused for a moment, before Donnie spoke up again.

Donnie: “If anyone asks, I’m saying I meant to blow up half the tunnel. It was a distraction tactic. Very advanced.”

Leo: “I told you not to aim the plasma core at the cursed artifact, bro.”

Mikey: “Anyone want leftover pizza or emotionally-unsafe amounts of whipped cream?”

Raph groaning: “I want a nap. And maybe new ribs.”