Chapter Text
“And behold, from their perch atop New York City, the Krang ripped open the sky itself. What came out was terror, and what rained down upon us was worse than death.”
They say Lou Jitsu himself was the last man standing against the invasion. He saved more lives that day than anyone thought possible, and continued on to lead the resistance. For years, Lou salvaged the remains of the city, establishing colonies and safe havens across New York for those who remained.
Raph had heard the story many times in his short life. He and his brothers looked up to Lou Jitsu the same as any child living in these dark times. The man was a hero, a legend, there were few who didn’t idolize him.
Raph looked around to take stock of his brothers’ locations. They were rooting through the scraps of an old mechanic shop outside the border of the easternmost colony, one of the few that allowed both human and yokai inhabitants. Donnie was talking about looking for parts for his most recent project, and after a few days Raph relented to the slight excursion. Most likely the building had been raided long ago, but Donnie was sure he’d find what he needed here.
“Hey Leo, how’s Mikey holding up?” Raph asked. The brother in question was currently making faces at the youngest, trying to keep him entertained while they waited for Donnie.
“I think he’s gettin bored and I don’t blame him. We’ve been here for hooooouurs.” Leo whined. He flopped dramatically onto the ground groaning, one arm over his eyes and legs kicked out.
“It’s been like, an hour tops.” Not that Raph was counting… “but I guess you’re right, we should head home soon. I really don’t wanna travel after dark.”
“I’ll go find Don then.” Leo volunteered. He began awkwardly climbing the rubble along the side of the building to reach the roof and search for their missing brother.
Raph turned to Mikey just in time to see the toddler let out a yawn. He knew his youngest brother would be too tired to make it back the moment he allowed this pitstop. Luckily, the snapping turtle was big enough to carry him the rest of the way, as he often did. Traveling was always hard on the youngest. Mikey didn’t always understand why they had to keep going, why they couldn’t stop.
Raph sat down next to the small box turtle and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Mikey had started drawing in the dirt with his finger, the random shapes almost coming together to make a picture. Raph watched him draw and waited for the twins to come back. It was peaceful.
Until the dull buzz began. Suddenly Raph felt his senses dull as his head filled with thoughts that were not his own.
A static overtaking.
A signal.
A call.
He felt millions of eyes watching, awaiting orders from their masters. His breathing picked up as his consciousness melded with others. Thoughts, feelings, his very being mixed with so many others until he was no longer himself-
And then he woke up.
Reality would come back in waves when this happens. He heard muffled noise. Someone was speaking. Raph glanced up and saw shades of green and blue and- Leo, he could see Leo. The snapping turtle tried blinking away the static and his head started to clear.
“Heeeeey there big red, you with us?” Leo’s holding his face and looking into his eyes with concern, looking for a sign of coherence, or recognition of some sort.
“Yeah, sorry…the Krang hoard’s movin west, I think. We should, uh, probably head southeast instead. But we… probably won’t get home before dark…” Raph looked around at his brothers. He must have been out for longer than he felt that time, they all looked so concerned. “Hey, Raph’s ok, I swear!”
The twins shared a knowing look. Much to Raph’s dismay, they always seemed to be able to communicate without saying a word.
“How about we just go back to the colony and stay at the Stop N Shop on East 85th?” Donnie suggested. “It’s safer than attempting to travel in the dark and Mikey looks pretty tired anyway.”
Raph took this into consideration. As much as he’d rather be home while the hoard is in motion, he knew it would be better to stay within the safety of the colony’s borders. Since the invasion first took place, Krang zombies roamed the lands between colonies, often traveling in large groups. They communicated through some sort of hive mind, or that’s how Donnie explained it anyway. All Raph knew was that since their little ‘accident’ during the boys’ separation, he had been connected to the commands and messages sent to the zombie masses. He still mourned the loss of his right eye.
“Ok,” Raph relented, “if it’ll make you guys feel better we can stay here. But just for tonight! First thing in the mornin we’re going back home, got it?”
“Yes, yes, agreed.”
“I mean, it doesn’t have to be first thing right?”
Raph gave a soft glare at Leo’s response before standing up and offering Mikey a piggy back ride. The sleepy orange toddler happily accepted and climbed onto his big brother. Raph loved carrying Mikey. No matter how tired he was, the weight on his back was a reminder that his brother was with him, that he was safe. Raph wished his other two brothers would allow him this sometimes, but Leo was determined to be as independent as Raph himself, and Donnie was rarely in a mood for physical contact.
“Oh Donnie, did you find what you were lookin for?” Raph asked.
“Unfortunately no. But I suppose it makes sense that any spark plugs and alternators would’ve been taken long ago, seeing as vehicles were one of the first things to be commandeered after the invasion.” Donnie replied, never once looking up from his scanner.
“Um, right…” Raph never could understand the intricacies of Donnie’s particular interest, but it sure came in handy. Donnie’s knowledge was what made their lives different from the other street kids. His understanding of technology gave them the ability to live comfortably. It gave them the scanner, which alerted them to nearby Krang activity and kept them safe. Raph thanked Pizza Supreme for Donnie’s gifts nearly every day.
Their walk back to the colony was relatively short. The abandoned mechanic shop wasn’t far, and having been within the borders earlier today, permission for entry didn’t take long. Once inside the boys stuck to the shadows and made their way to the abandoned Stop N Shop. The building was caved in for the most part, discouraging most from staying within it’s walls. The boys slipped through the cracks between the rubble and set up a small camp for the night.
Leo helped pull Mikey from the eldest’s back and laid him down within their small nest. The box turtle let out a small chirp as he was placed down and held tight on to his brother’s jacket sleeve. Leo rolled his eyes and accepted his fate as his little bro’s cuddle buddy for the night. He gently pulled off Mikey's shoes before removing his own and laying down. Donnie and Raph set up their own spots before the four tots settled down for the night and fell asleep.
Raph couldn’t have been sleeping long before he felt it again. That numbing buzz that took over his consciousness and urged him to listen. Within the confines of his unconscious mind the signal brought him back to that first time. When he first felt the presence of another in his own head.
The anger was uncontrollable. Escape, out, they must be out. Out of the pod. A face, purple, familiar- no, an intruder. Wrong. This thing being here is wrong. The anger, the signals, it’s all screaming at him. They must attack the wrong. Kill the wrong. There’s blood on their hands and the intruder is screaming too. They must kill. Kill it, kill it, kill kill kill kill-
Raph jolted up from his sleep and suppressed a scream. His breathing was so fast he thought he might pass right out again and his vision was blurry. Raph frantically looked around the room at his brothers. All accounted for. Safe. Alive.
Raph took a deep, shaking breath, counted to ten, and then released it. He gathered the blanket around his shoulders and resigned himself to a sleepless night watching over his brothers. At least he’d know they were safe.