Chapter Text
Raphael was the oldest of his two brothers. He was their caregiver whenever father would go out to retrieve more supplies. It wasn't that hard, besides he loved caring for his younger brothers.
Donatello, the second oldest, was the brains and timid of the group. He loved having time to himself and preferred to do things independently. Raph didn't really have to worry about him most of the time because he knew Donnie wouldn't do anything crazy.
The youngest however, that was a different story. Michelangelo was the most energetic and creative individual anyone can stumble upon. He was the messier one, and got even more messy when he was introduced to art. However, he still helps his older brother clean up the mess he made. It might not be the best, but Mikey was barely their age and still learning.
Splinter had gone out to get more supplies, so Raph was in charge of keeping an eye on these bozos. They were all huddled in the living area. Donnie was quietly reading a new book dad got and Mikey was eating his oranges.
"Chew slowly," Raph reminded, gently wiping the corner of Mikey's mouth with a napkin.
He was only eight years old, but he clearly remembered when his dad barged into the lair with no supplies. Instead he could see his father holding a blanket, and he was soaking wet. Raph squinted his eyes and he vividly saw a head poking out.
"Papa!" Mikey jumps up and runs towards him, Raph following closely behind. "Mm, what's that?"
Raph took a step closer and he felt his heart stop for a moment. It was another turtle, like them. They were sleeping and shivering, rain dripping down his forehead. "Dad?" He asked, concerned. "Are they okay?"
"Yes, he's just cold from the weather. Do not worry, my sons," His father reassured the kids, even Donnie who stopped reading to hear the commotion. "I will take care of him and he will get better. He needs lots of rest."
Those were the last words he said before rushing off to his room to put the new turtle in a warmer environment. Raph wanted to follow so badly, he had so many questions yet he knew now wasn't the right time.
"Hm?" Raph felt his younger brother tap his arm. "What's wrong, little man?"
"Big."
"Right, sorry, I meant big man."
"Brother?"
"Um," Raph scooped up Mikey and walked back to the other brother, who pretended he was reading. "No, I-I don't think so."
"But," Donnie closed his book. "He's a turtle. We're four, not three."
Oh. Splinter had told them about a story of how he managed to escape an "evil lair". Raph recalled him saying there were four turtles, but one went missing as he tried to escape. No one knew what happened to the said turtle.
'New turtle… evil lair,' Raph knew it could be a possibility.
"Yeah, but maybe he's from another family.." Raph muttered. "I'll ask dad later, okay?"
And that he did.
After tucking his brothers to bed, Raph went to go visit his father and the new turtle. "Dad?" He hesitated to enter the room.
"Raphael, you can come inside."
He sees the turtle laying on his father's mattress, a wet rag on his forehead and a thick soft blanket over him. Raph noticed how red his cheeks were that almost blended with the red stripes on his face. His heart ached as the turtle struggled to take proper breaths.
"He's very fragile," his father spoke. "I found him unconscious in the pouring rain. All alone in the dark…"
"Is he going to be okay?"
There was a brief silence. "With proper treatment, he will be fine. I will get more medication tomorrow."
"Dad," Raph rubbed his shoulder, unsure if he should ask. He did anyway. "Donnie and Mikey said that's our brother. Is… Is he?"
"It's a possibility," Hearing those words set off fireworks in Raph's heart. He doesn't mind having a new brother. "But, I will ask how he ended up in this situation. It's dangerous for young kids like yourself."
"Okay," Raph understood. He was almost startled when he caught a glimpse of the turtle stirring awake. Raph almost screamed out of excitement.
His hue brown eyes were watery, scanning the room of unfamiliar territory. A weak chirp escaped his lips and Raph's heart aches for this random turtle.
"Sleep easy, little one. You are safe here," Splinter assured, softly stroking his head. Raph watches as the young boy squeezes his eyes shut before relaxing under the touch of his father.
"You should sleep too, red. It is quite late."
"Okay, goodnight," Raph nodded and gave his dad a hug before leaving. He wanted to stay a bit longer but he knew he could see the turtle tomorrow.
So when the next day came, Raph made it his goal to see the young turtle.
Splinter was in the kitchen helping Mikey with his breakfast. To his left was Donnie who focused on cutting his pancakes into even slices. Raph quickly finished his meal and offered to help his dad by checking on their new guest.
"Be careful. He might still be sleeping," Splinter said as he handed a plate of breakfast to Raph.
"Yes, pa!" He promised.
Raph quietly entered the room and could see the turtle huddled in the bed. "Ah," He was also awake. "Hello!"
The turtle flinched, but nodded his head.
"Do you want breakfast?" The older asked, carefully taking a couple steps forwards. "It's pancakes and fruits. You don't have to eat everything. Raph- I like the food."
Raph's heart lightens up when the turtle sits up and nods once more. He takes a seat next to the boy. "Here you go." He hands over the plate.
The blanket slowly drops off the boy's shoulder as he reaches out for the plate. Raph eyes widen at the bruises littered on his arms, along with the faint cuts. He struggles, Raph noticed, with using the utensils.
"Oh, do you need help?"
Raph slowly reached for the fork, thankful that his dad already cut the pancakes. He jabs the food and holds it up to the young boy. "Ah!" Raph says.
A small 'ah' comes from the boy as he munches on the pancake. The boy freezes before melting from the delicious flavors he never tasted in his life. He savors every bite he gets, trying to hold back a smile.
"You were really hungry," Raph smiled, looking down at the empty plate. The young boy's cheeks turn a slight red of embarrassment. "No need to be shy! Dad will love to hear that you ate."
He chuckles. "Oh, I'm Raph. What about you?"
The turtle hesitated and he looked down at his hands.
Raph tilted his head.
Three fingers were raised.
"The… the number? Three," Raph was dumbfounded on this little boy being assigned a number as a name. "But that's not an actual name. You're not a number."
Ouch, that may have come out a bit too blunt. Raph didn't mean to make the young boy become all teary-eyed. "I- Raph didn't say it in a mean way!' Raph assured him, gently wiping his tears. "It just caught me by surprise. I think Three is a very cool name!"
The boy stopped sniffling and rubbed his eyes. "For real," Raph assured once more. "Sorry for making you cry."
Once the boy calmed down, Raph told him he'll be right back. He had asked the boy to follow him but got rejected, so now Raph was by himself entering the kitchen. Donnie and Mikey were gone.
"How is he?"
"He ate his food. I… Raph made him cry by accident."
"How?"
"Because I said his name was weird."
His father gave him a stern expression. Raph noticed quickly and backed his claim, "It's a number! Three. Who names their kids after a number, pa!"
"Lower your voice," Splinter sighed. "I will go speak to him, okay? Stay here, you did a great job."
Splinter patted his son's head, giving a small smile that everything will be okay. Once Raph gave a smile back, he made his way to the room.
The small turtle was wrapped in his blanket and sitting in the corner. He looked at Splinter.
"I see you're awake, and you met one of my son's," Splinter spoke softly to him. "He didn't scare you, right? Raph looks intimidating, but he has a really soft heart."
Of course, the turtle didn't speak. Splinter wasn't surprised by this. "Are you feeling better?
He nodded.
"That's great," Splinter placed a hand on the boy's forehead just to make sure there's no fever. "Your fever is gone. Is there anywhere else that hurts?"
The boy hesitantly nodded and pointed to his throat.
"Oh dear, you must have a sore throat. I will get you some medication," Splinter always kept the medications in his room, in fear of his sons finding it. Especially Mikey who's in his curiosity stage.
"My son told me… that your name is Three. Is this true?"
Splinter receives a nod.
"Did your family give you that name?" He returns with the medicine and sits next to the boy. Splinter pours a small amount on the spoon and signals the turtle to open up.
Three swallowed the medicine and cleared his throat. He wraps the blanket closer to himself. "D… Draxum," Three whispered.
"Draxum?" Splinter almost dropped the items in his hands.
"I-I don't want to go."
Three felt a hand wrapped around his shoulder. Although he wasn't used to physical touch, he couldn't help but lean into the warmth. It made him feel safe.
"And you don't have to go. You can stay here… do you want to stay here?"
Three nods.