Chapter Text
The night was beautiful, the stars illuminated the sky more brightly than ever, and rained like soft silver trails on the water that, stunned, could only reflect that beauty back. It seemed like a gift, a reward for everything that had happened during the day. Everything they had suffered that day.
Looking down at his weak arms, his younger brother also shone, with less intensity. The marks on his skin released a faint golden light, trying to disguise the horrible wounds that covered his body. The only thing he could think about was how unnecessary it was, Mikey didn't need more shine than his soul.
A moan brought him out of his seat, he turned his head towards his older brother. The mask melted with his blood and his blood was lost with that of the boy in his arms, in the darkness it was difficult to differentiate which was whose. The pain of one was mixed with the pain of the other.
"Are you ok?"
Donie whispered as if by speaking too loudly the little peace they had would break into pieces. Raphael shook his head.
"It wasn't me, I don't know if it's good for Leo to make noises, but even if it is, I know he's alive."
He walked without looking at him, only looking down from time to time at the leader, who was fighting against the weight of being one. Raph's jaw was tense.
"Not even in this state is he able to keep quiet for a while."
He didn't say it like it was a joke, they both understood that it was, neither of them laughed.
"It's scary."
Rapha said, after almost half an hour walking towards New York, the semi-darkness did not allow Dee to see the expression on his face.
"What thing?"
"How beautiful this place is, it's like it's hiding how terrible things got. "
Donie didn't answer him, he didn't want to see it that way. He wanted to allow himself to enjoy it even just a little.
It didn't take much longer until the silence was broken again, this time by an engine. They didn't do anything about it, they were very tired, if they saw them, the turtles would ask them to ignore them and if they tried to attack, they would find out in the process. None of that was necessary, it was help.
Draxum was driving. Where had he been all this time? April, sitting in the passenger seat, looked like she had been yelling at him the entire ride; his father behind him, climbing on the chair like a madman; and Casey, who was very happy to see that they were okay. They barely got into the car and April started driving. Draxum came up behind and began to help with the wounds as Donatello explained that had caused them as best as possible. Raph didn't participate much, letting himself be bandaged and standing to the side, watching silently.
Another hour of travel and they arrived at Draxum's lair, everyone went to the infirmary, although not all stayed there for long. Raphael at one point slipped outside, his eyes were tired, his back was tense, he was stunned by the noise. He found an armchair and sat down, a trickle of blood fell from his mouth, he did nothing about it. He looked up, there was glass on the ceiling, he could see the stars.
"What a beautiful night..."
Raph murmured as his muscles slowly relaxed. Beautiful nights are the best to hide calamities. While everyone was fighting for life a couple of rooms away, he had the most peaceful moment of his as his eyes slowly faded.
An important decision was made that night, once again he chose to protect his family, from his infected body, from his corrupted soul.
They had lied, death was quite warm. And the trail of the moon that fell on him gave it a magical, dreamlike air. The warmth of the blood had been lost and no longer reflected the bright night, but it had also taken away the pain. Raph couldn't hear anything anymore, he couldn't feel anything anymore, but Raph could still see the stars. It was like falling asleep in daddy's arms, it was like being little again and not having to worry about weight anymore. This time he fell asleep in daddy's arms, and he would never have to grow up again.
Hours later, Draxum found the body of a dead child sleeping.