Archive of Our Own ^beta

Being the oldest meant a lot of things. 

You had privileges your younger siblings didn't have, such as getting to stay up late, being the boss when no one was around, getting to try new things before them, and being able to get away with more stuff because you are older, you know better. The younger ones will always be the silly younger siblings who look up to their oldest, no matter what.

That alone brought a huge responsibility with it.

You are the oldest. The biggest. The strongest. The younger ones are your responsibility. It's your job to keep them safe and sound. Doesn't matter how old they are or if they think they're adults, if they're mystic warriors or tech geniuses. You are older, you have more experience than they do. You know better than them. And that's okay. You will always be there to hold them tight or dry their tears, to protect them from the evil and dark whenever they needed it.

You will protect them. Even if you have to move heaven and earth itself to make that happen.

Because those little ones are your world, your everything. And you would always take care of them whenever they needed it.

Such as now. 

"And you're sure you're really okay, Raph?" April looked suspicious as she handed the snapper the bag with supplies he has requested; fever medicine, cough syrups, some light foods, and snacks. Raph chuckled lightly.

"Promise, April." He said, and put a hand on his heart to appear more convincing. "Raph has taken care of those three when sick plenty of times before- I'll be fine."

"I know that- just- are you sure you're not sick too?" She narrowed her eyes as if trying to read his mind. "And not trying to unnecessarily 'sacrifice' yourself? Because I can help out! And the Caseys said they would too!"

"Last time Cas 'helped out' she and Casey almost set our kitchen on fire." 

"...Just be glad Mikey hadn't been awake to see that." They both shuddered at the thought. God knew Mikey would have no mercy if he ever found out what happened in his precious kitchen before he took over again.

"But are you really sure you're okay?" His older sister couldn't help it as she reached out to gently touch his cheek. "I can have my mom check them out to be sure it isn't anything bad-"

"April." Raph gently took her hand and smiled. "It's just the flu. I'm not surprised, it has been going around. We've had worse."

"But how come you are the only one not sick?" She looked suspicious again- which, honestly, Raph could understand. He was kinda self-sacrificial... and he only saw just how terrifying it was for someone else when Leo took his advice.

"It's an oldest-sibling thing." He promised and squeezed her hand.

April didn't look very convinced, so he added; "Look, I've always taken care of those bozos when they were unwell. I've been fine each time. I'll be fine now too. If I need help I'll call, okay?"

"...Alright." she relented, and finally handed him the plastic bag with everything he needed. "You promised, remember that."

"Wouldn't dare to forget." He grinned. April chuckled softly, which made him sigh with relief.

"Okay, okay. Go to those dum-dums before they do something stupid."

"Don't they always?" 

After bidding their goodbyes, Raph sneaked off again, skillfully sneaking into the first sewer opening he saw, and started walking his way back home.

Sick. All three of them, and even their father. Splinter had been put on lockdown to make sure it was actually the flu and not rat flu... he cringed. 

It had started with Leo, five days ago, who had just been sniffly on day one. They had just brushed it off as allergies to pollen. But then a fever started to rise on day two... and our stupid medic had decided to ignore it in hopes of it just disappearing. Raph still needed to talk about that...

On day three he was found out.

When he had the audacity to faint during a mission.

And remembering the events from a couple of months back...

Mikey's mystic powers had gone haywire, Donnie had checked Leo with every single medical procedure under the sun, and Raph had yet to snap out of overprotective-older-brother mode.

Leo was so getting grounded once he was better. 

Once they were sure Leo was okay, Donnie avoided going into his room and left to shower in hand sanitizer, the thought of germs still freaking him out to the core. Mikey, who had drained himself in his freakout, had cooked chicken soup and given the slider as much love as possible, hating the fact he was being iced out.

Which is how Mikey ended up sick on day four. Maybe that was his fault, with all the hugs and kisses he had given Leo to hopefully make him feel a bit better, but hey, worth it.

And then finally, Donnie fell ill on day five. Apparently, he had snuck off to make sure his twin was still alive more than once, and once he realized he had gotten sick too he locked himself in his lab. The only reason any of them found out was that Donnie had tried to get himself coffee, looking terrible.

Raph also needed to give him a stern talking to. The only one who hadn't tried to hide it was Mikey, but then again, he found out when he found the box turtle throwing up in the middle of the night. The snapper had no doubt he would have tried to pretend his fever wasn't there too- maybe he should just talk to all three of them at once. Family meeting?

To be honest, the oldest had no idea why he hadn't caught onto their illness yet, but it had always been that way. His dad had always said that was just because he was the oldest, which had been hard to believe. That was until April introduced him to TikTok, where he found other oldest siblings having the same experience. It was funny how a dance app had revealed to him that so many of his quirks and traits existed only because he was the oldest. 

Well. Another one of his oldest sibling privileges, he supposed. Being immune to sicknesses. Maybe Dad had been right... he was the strongest.

Raphael snapped out of his thoughts when he saw the entrance of the lair and made sure to walk slower to keep quiet. Chances were high the little ones were sleeping, and he would hate to wake them if they were. 

Since everyone was miserable anyway, they had decided on a turtle pile in the living room. Raph had prepared a pillow fort for them to lay as comfortably as possible. It worked out anyway; Mikey never liked being alone, Leo couldn't run away, Donnie couldn't work, and Raph could keep an eye on all three of them. Win-win! 

Peaking into the living room, he smiled softly at the sight; the two youngest were asleep on the blanket-covered floor, with Donnie spread out like a starfish on his back, while Mikey was curled up into his side. From the position the youngest was laying on, Raph could tell he had been keeping Donnie down.

Seems like the cough syrup he had given them earlier had done its job. 

He walked inside to settle and keep watch over them- only to realize his blue brother wasn't in the room. And grumbled.

God dammit Leo.

Okay. Let's not assume things. He might have just gone to the bathroom. Besides, if his little trick worked on Donatello, there was no way it didn't work on Leonardo. 

He kneeled to grab one of the blankets on the floor and used it to cover his two slumbering brothers. Then, he took the now warm damp cloths off their heads, wanting to soak them in cold water on his way to the bathroom. 

It usually was the same when any of them got sick; all of them had the habit of pretending they were perfectly fine, sadly, which April had called their Hamato Brand™. Taking care of them was easy for Raph though. 

Always make sure to give them water, light foods, blah blah- run over Leo and Donnie's shells with a sponge, they're aquatic turtles, make sure to keep an eye on Mikey, he got sick easily-

Every single habit and trait they had. Raph knew all of them. 

A walk to the bathroom told him that the red-eared slider was not there, and Raph groaned. Still, he gave him the benefit of the doubt. He wouldn’t, right? Not again?

...

He would. 

The turtle squeezed both towels and held them under cold water, then returned to the living room to put them on the younger's heads. Mikey whined in reply, while Donnie twitched. But thankfully, they continued to sleep.

Frowning, he gently touched Mikey's cheek, then plastron, and repeated the action for Donnie. Still warm... and their skin was still flushed... hm. He got up. 

Okay. Now to find his other brother. 

If he were a sick, stupid, self-sacrificial red-eared slider trying to hide, where would he go? 

...

Ugh. 

He groaned again and tried to make his way to their bedrooms instead. Maybe, just maybe, he was wrong. Maybe Leo had actually learned his lesson this time but had just gone to his bedroom. Maybe.

Well.

He was kinda right! 

On his way to Leo's bedroom, he caught the slider wearing the hoodie he always wore when they went out, the hood pulled up to cover his face as much as possible. From the way he could hear him breathe, he was shivering and was crouched over himself, Raph could tell Leo was two seconds away from collapsing. He could fix that.

"And where do you think you're going?" Leo yelped at his sudden appearance and tripped over his own feet. Luckily, he managed to catch himself before he fell and looked at Raph with wide eyes. His cheeks were just as flushed as the other two, and Raph could tell he was having trouble breathing.

"R-Raph! Hey!" he smiled brightly and leaned against the wall. "I thought you went to get medicine?" 

"I did. Just came back." He crossed his arms, looking at him sternly. "And what do you think you're doing?"

"I- ahem-" he cleared his throat and coughed. "For you see, my dearest hermano, we are out of a lot of stuff, such as pepperoni and chocolate. I decided that since you are so busy and I am all better now, I could just go grocery shopping!" He stepped forward, trying to push past Raph. "So if you let me-"

"Nope." The younger yelped when Raph grabbed his shell using a single hand and held him up until they could make eye contact. After a moment of uncomfortable staring, the snapper huffed and pulled him close.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" He grumbled, adjusting his hold on the slider as he started his walk back. "Raph can't keep running after you, ya know?"

He immediately noticed that Leo stopped struggling, and quieted down completely. He didn't say anything about it, at first, waiting to see if Leo would.

He stopped walking when he felt tears drip down his shoulder. Concerned, he tilted his head slightly and saw Leo covering his mouth, trying his hardest not to cry and failing. "Leo?" He gently asked. 

The gentle call of his name only caused the sick turtle to sob, close his eyes, and lean his head against Raph's shoulder. "I'm sorry." He whispered, shaking intensified. Raph's expression softened.

"Hey..." he said tenderly and adjusted his hold again to be able to cradle him closer. "It's okay. You three can be a handful, yeah, but Raph will always-"

"Not that." He whined and hiccuped. "I didn't- I wasn't supposed to be sick. I can't get sick-"

"Leo, you can't control that-"

"But I should!" he yelled out that last part, which took Raph by surprise. Leo angrily opened his eyes, glaring at one of Raph's spikes. "I'm the leader! I already hurt everyone enough- and then not only am I bothering you guys by forcing you to take care of me again, but I also got the other two sick on top of that! Again! Who does that?!"

He started crying at the last part, hot tears flowing down his cheeks. Raph stared at him with stunned silence. Before his heart broke.

"...Oh, Leo..." he murmured, knowing exactly what Leo was talking about as he squeezed him as tightly and as gently as possible, gently pressing his warm head on his shoulder. 

Despite the concerning heat of his body, the slider was shivering a lot, breath hitching between his feverish cries. So Raph slowly walked back to the living room, rubbing his back along the way, and sat down on the couch with Leo in his lap. Taking great care to avoid waking the younger two, he reached down to grab one of the blankets, and wrapped it around Leo's body, then pulled him back into his arms.

He held the younger until he cried himself out, gently rocking back and forth. He first didn't say anything when Leo quieted down, just in case. Only once he was sure that it was okay to do so did he speak.

"There you go..." he purred and reached out to the table to grab one of the many bottles of water he had stored there. "Drink." He ordered, pushing the bottle into his hands. Leo didn't protest, accepted the bottle, and took a couple of sips, refusing to make eye contact.

"...Sorry." 

"Stop apologizing. You didn't do anything." Raph rumbled soothingly, nuzzling Leo's head gently. The latter sniffled and wiped the tears out of his eyes. The former noticed him avoiding eye contact and frowned. "Leo. Look at me." 

The slider hiccuped softly. Forced to look into his eyes when Raph pulled away, and gently tilted his chin up. His eyes were filled with concern and so much love, it took him by surprise. 

"What happened that day was not your fault." He promised, and gently cupped his cheek. Leo leaned into the hand without looking away. "It just happened to be a-... really bad day." The slider snorted at that last part.

"You think?" He giggled- smile falling at the sight of the scar across Raph's eye, then his eyes fell on the crack in his shell. Slowly, he turned around to look at the other two. Mikey no longer needed bandages around his arms all the time and didn't wear his special gloves at home- so his scars were in plain view. He couldn't see Donnie's shell nor the damage with plain eye, but just knowing there was any damage at all was enough to squeeze at his heart.

Raph made him look at him again. "Leonardo. You're a kid. You couldn't have known what would have happened today- none of us can predict the future."

"Mikey can." The slider hugged himself. "And that's my fault too." 

His head was smacked lightly. "Leonardo."

"..." 

Raph sighed and pulled him into another hug. "You didn't know those things would show up, right?"

"No...?"

"So you didn't send them here on purpose?"

"...What does that have to do with-"

"Just answer the question, Leo."

"No?"

"Did you want me to crack my shell?"

Leo looked horrified in response. "Wha- no!"

"Did you want Donnie to throw himself into that spaceship?"

"I told him to keep himself safe!"

"Did you want Mikey to scar his arms?"

"He wasn't supposed to open-"

"Did you want him to scar his arms?" The snapper sternly asked, not wanting to hear whatever fever-induced nonsense his mind was about to come up with. Leo shut his mouth.

"...No."

"Did you know any of that would happen?"

"..." his eyes filled up with tears. "No..." 

"Would you let any of that happen if you knew?" His expression softened when Leo sobbed and shook his head. 

"So how can it possibly be your fault, little brother?" He tenderly asked and pressed a kiss on his head. He could see the way the turtle had to think about that, so he granted him the silence to be able to clear his thoughts. 

Slowly, Leo leaned his head against Raph's chin and curled up. The older one tucked the blanket around him a bit better and gently rubbed his shell. He knew it would be a while before Leo stopped blaming himself- but they had made process, in the past couple of months. The scars would never go away, and he knew that. But he could tend them, soothe them, make them hurt less.

As the oldest, that was his job. Not that he was complaining.

"...Thanks, Raphie." Leo yawned and melted into the embrace. Raph tried his best to not coo and started rocking him again in response. It didn't take long for Leo to fall asleep in his arms, with how exhausted he already had been. 

His smile softened once he spotted the peaceful expression on the slider. "You bozos are gonna be the death of me." He whispered lovingly and pressed a gentle kiss between his eyes. Frowning at the heat radiating off of him. 

Making sure not to wake him, Raph got up and placed Leonardo beside the two sleeping brothers- watching as he shifted slightly, and placed an arm on the box turtle. Donnie shifted slightly in response and grabbed Leo's hand in his sleep. His twin squeezed back.

"..." After taking a picture of the three and storing it in his family file, Raph made his way to the kitchen to get a towel for Leo as well. 

It was around eleven when the peaceful atmosphere was broken. 

The towels had been soaked many times over and Raph checked on them often, yet the three continued to sleep like the dead. With some luck, they'll sleep the rest of their fevers off and return to normal once they awoke.

Still, Raphael didn't leave their side, relaxing on the couch, searching for something to watch. Maybe he would watch a movie. He didn't have much else to do at the moment and was kinda tired of scrolling through TikTok. What movie though? Hm... 

A cartoon? Which one? There was the new Mario movie that came out, but they promised April that they were gonna watch it together... he could always watch that Sonic movie again. But that was more Leo's thing... hm... 

He pressed on a very legal movie site, scrolling through different shows and movies to see what they had. There was that Owl House show he heard Cass talk about often... that could be fun-

He stopped his scrolling. And looked up.

Something was wrong. He could feel it. 

Slowly putting his phone down, Raph sat straight to look around. Immediately his eyes fell on the ill turtles- aaaaaand Mikey's scars were glowing. Yay. 

His expression softened, and Raph got up and reached down to pull him out of the pile. Only now did he see that Mikey was frowning and whimpering, tossing and turning slightly. He felt one of the blankets lifting slightly beneath his feet, before settling again. 

His mystic powers seemed to be responding to his emotions, Raphael learned.

Of course, Draxum had tested it and found that theory to be correct. It didn't seem to hurt him, thankfully- but still. 

That meant his younger brother was either having a fever dream or one of his visions. Although they weren't sure if they were visions- Casey said Master Michelangelo couldn't see the future, but they hadn't known how to explain it otherwise.

No use thinking about that. He had to get Mikey. There were chances his chains would just burst if he woke him abruptly. That's why Raph made sure to take him away, first.

"Mikey..." The snapper gently called once they were far enough, cradling him like he would hold a baby as he ran his fingers featherlight across his cheek. "You gotta wake up, baby brother..." 

That seemed to do the trick, as Mikey woke up with a gasp, and sat up abruptly. In response, chains came to life to circle them, glowing the same orange his scars did.

Immediately, Raph checked his eyes. Wide, shaking, and filled with terror. Not glowing orange. A fever dream, then. 

"Mikey," Raph called again and leaned down to be able to make eye contact. "You're okay, little brother."

"Raph?" His voice came out way too scared and way too high pitched as he looked into his eyes, before choking on his breath. He covered his mouth and closed his eyes. "R-Raph..." he whimpered and started to cry. The glow of his arms dimmed down, and the chains disappeared.

The older one cooed, and pulled him into a hug, seeing he was back now. He frowned at the heat radiating off the youngest and nuzzled his snout on the top of his head to feel it better. 

Mikey had always gotten sick the easiest out of the four, but ever since he had opened that portal, his immune system had been wrecked. Their future boy hadn't been able to explain that either but did happen to know his Michelangelo had often been sick during the apocalypse. Draxum had said his body was restoring itself, however, which Raph was thankful about.

That didn't change the fact Mikey was way warmer than he should be. Instead of voicing his concerns, however, he purred soothingly and kissed his forehead. "You're okay. Raph's got ya now. I'm here."

"You were gone." Mikey sobbed and clung to his older brother. He gasped slightly between his cries and rubbed a hand over his chest to breathe easier. "All of you. You were gone, Raphie- I was alone. All alone. Alone with the monsters."

"Shhh." Another kiss was pressed onto his head, and Raph purred louder. "Never will Raph let that happen, little brother. Not even the scariest monster will keep me away from you. I can promise you that."

Mikey pulled away slightly to look up with bloodshot eyes- so Raph leaned down slightly to nuzzle their snouts together with a churr. Satisfied when the younger one responded with the tiniest of chirps. He could work with that. 

He held the smaller one for a little while longer, gently rubbing his shell. Mikey had curled up on his lap, trying to get his breathing in order. But while trying to do so, he coughed. Then again. And again. And again.

"Hey-" Raphael made Mikey sit straight so he could pat his back gently as Michelangelo tried to stop his coughing fit. He sniffed once he seemed done, and whined. 

"...Hold on, Mike." The snapper put him down on the couch, before getting up to get the thermometer. Once he had it, he put it under Mikey's tongue and waited for it to beep. Paling once he saw the temperature it showed him.

"Shoot-" he almost cursed, and immediately picked him up. Mikey yelped, before humming, confused.

"Gotta cool you down, Mike," Raph explained, cradling him close as he sprinted to the bathroom. Apologizing under his breath as the lights were turned on, making the box turtle whine and hide his face in Raph's neck. 

Raph waited for the tub to fill with cool water, before apologizing once more and lowering the box turtle into the tub. Mikey cried out as he made contact, clinging to Raph at once with a sob.

"I'm sorry, Mikey. But we gotta cool you down." He murmured, not caring about getting wet himself as he hugged him. 

To his credit, Mikey tried his best to not complain, other than a few whines and distressed chirps. Raphael churred lowly, hoping to soothe his discomfort. 

Nothing special happened in the first couple of minutes. The younger one eventually relaxed despite his shivering, chirping now and then, and his eyes slowly starting to slip shut. The older one never let him go despite growing cold himself-

Until his mind suddenly went alert.

Something is wrong.

His eyes fell on the box turtle he was holding, first. But Mikey was still peacefully dozing off and yawned. Pressing his beak on his forehead, Raph found Mikey had cooled down a bit. Okay. He should probably drain the water, then.

But as he reached down to pull the plug, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

And was proven correct when their door suddenly burst open, someone ran inside, and promptly threw up in the toilet seat.

Mikey was shaken awake as Raph looked up, surprised to see their purple brother in the room. Leo came running not even a second later, looking asleep on his feet yet pale.

"Oh- oh, Don-Bon..." Raph winced when he heard the genius hack painfully before he was thrown into a second round, and looked between them hesitantly. Taking the hint, Leo reached for a towel and Mikey nodded- so Raphael took that as his cue to sneak over to the soft shell, and gently rub over his stomach. "That's it, that's it... just let it out." 

Donnie sobbed and pulled away slightly, eyes closed tight. His cheeks were flushed red, and he sounded like he was wheezing. He looked disgusted, however, which made the snapper's expression soften. Donatello never liked getting sick, with his hatred for germs and hating how weak it made him feel. Throwing up into one of the most unhygienic places in their lair made him downright miserable, but he didn’t exactly have another choice as he felt bile rising again, and was forced to face the toilet once more. His older brother cooed. 

Leo, meanwhile, grabbed the fluffiest towel they owned, and slugishly tried to wrap it around their youngest. Mikey was doing his best to help, not tearing his eyes away from Donnie. 

The genius was gasping by the time he was done and pulled away again with a whine. He hugged himself, covered in cold sweat and shivering. 

"All done?" Raph asked, gently patting his stomach at the same time. Donnie nodded with a hiccup, refusing to open his eyes. The snapper flushed the toilet, and tried to get up to get Don some water- but couldn't when the soft shell suddenly held onto the hand on his middle. 

"Don't let go." He pleaded, starting to breathe a little faster. "They'll get me. Please."

Immediately, Raph pulled him into a hug. "Not letting go, Don." He promised. "As long as Raph's here, you're safe." 

It pained his heart to see Donatello this way. Raphael purred soothingly, hoping to wipe those terrifying images out of his mind.

Fusing himself with the technodrome had been, to put it lightly, disgusting. Freaky slimy goo all around, all over your body, your shell- the fact that Donnie's shell was much more tender and sensitive than theirs didn't help one bit. And then to get sick on top of that... his body cold and shivering and feeling terrible and gross and  vulnerable-

It had taken him a while to stop wearing his battle shell around the house. 

Sometimes, Donnie could still feel it. The slime dripping down his skin. Touching his shell. Screaming in his mind. The drippy, slimy, godforsaken texture. Ready to crush him. To eat him alive. The walls around him pulsing and dripping and screaming and god his shell, the feeling on his shell-

He moved Raph's hand on his shell before he could even think.

Getting the hint, Raph rested his head on top of Donnie's, wrapping one arm around his brother as tightly as possible while his free hand gently rubbed over his shell. Covering every inch of his body with his own, erasing the freaky texture out of his mind and replacing it with the gentle hold of a hug. Donnie's breath stuttered before he relaxed into the embrace.

"Thank you." He breathed with relief and quietly purred. Raph hummed and squeezed. 

"Big bro's got ya." 

"Keep it that way."

"I will." 

Donnie chirped. The older one chuckled.

"Wanna get back to Leon and Mike?" He asked, receiving a nod. "Hm. Hold on then, Don." His grip tightened as the larger turtle got up, and looked around the room to make sure they didn't forget anything. Once he was satisfied with his quick check, Raph closed the lights and walked back into the living room. And found Leo, walking back into the living room while Mikey was curled up on the floor, still wrapped up in a towel. Raph growled warningly. "Leonardo."

"Just went to get him his medicine." Leo held up his hands and sniffed. The older one frowned.

"...Why?"

Mikey coughed. One of the cushions floated up a bit, before falling again. 

The slider crossed his arms. "That's why."

"...Yeah, okay."

Leo handed Mikey a pill and a bottle of water, then settled down. The box turtle was quick to swallow the medicine before he yawned, pulling the towel a little more over him. Raph didn't try to take it away since he was still wet. Instead, he gently placed Donnie down. The genius' relaxed demeanor changed, eyes snapping open in search for Raph- his panic coming to a halt when Leo rolled over, wrapped his arms around his twin, and used his shell as a pillow with a sigh. Donnie chirped and closed his eyes. Leo purred in response. It didn't take them long to start making those peaceful sounds.

Raph snickered, and couldn't help but churr as he settled down- frowning once he realized that Mikey was not joining them and refusing to lay down. "Hey, Mike. Come on little brother, time for bed." 

Mikey shook his head stubbornly.

"Why not?" 

"They'll be back." He sounded hollow. "They'll get me... they'll get you." His voice broke at the last part. "And I'll be alone again." 

"Hey..." the oldest reached out to pull the baby of the family into a hug and nuzzled the top of his head. "Remember what I said. As long as I'm here, I will never let anything happen to any of you. No one is going anywhere. You're safe." 

Looking up, Raph could see the twins already drifting off. He changed his position slightly so he could cradle the box turtle in his arms, head pressed against where his heart was. "Just close your eyes." He purred, stroking his cheek. "I'll still be here when ya wake up again." 

Seeing his unwillingness to do so, Raph sighed... before he started to hum, gently rocking them both at the same time.

"Days seems as if they'll never end..." 

Leo cracked one of his eyes open to see what that was about, and couldn't help but smile. 

"Sun digs its heels to taunt you..." Mikey looked up tiredly, and yawned, snuggling a bit closer to try and relax. Raph was pleased to feel he wasn't as hot as before and cradled his head close.

"But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same..." he shifted so he was able to touch his leg against Donnie's head, and slumped slightly. Their genius had long passed out, apparently not as annoyed with the weight on his shell as he made out to be. Leo giggled and nuzzled into his neck. 

"Rises the moon..." 

"Leo- Leo- don't you dare-"

"Dare what, my favorite twin?~" 

"Nardo I swear to god don't- LEO!"

The slider laughed out loud, stopping to cough a bit into his elbow as he sent the blue shell straight to Donnie's character. His twin yelled, groaning as Leo took his first place.

"I hate you."

"Love you more!~" 

Donnie grumbled under his breath, trying to take his first place back. Raph, who had been reading something on his phone, shushed them.

"Shh." He said, pointing to the sleeping box turtle in his lap. It was well into noon the next day, each of them looking a lot better after a good night's rest. Leo was just coughing, Donnie and Mikey were still a bit warm, but other than that seemed fine. At least Donnie had been able to keep his breakfast down...

Having gotten bored, the twins had decided they would play Mario Kart. 

Raphael had forgotten why they had been banned. 

"Donnie!" Leo cried out as the soft shell managed to push him into lava, and grabbed his heart dramatically in betrayal. "How could you!?"

"How could I what, my dearest Nardo?"

"I'm getting my payback."

"I would like to see you try."

"Is that a dare?" Leonardo glared at him.

"As if your puny brain could ever-"

"Guys!" Raph cut them off again. The duo looked up, shutting their mouth once they saw Mikey asleep. Right. He got tired a lot more easily now- he had tried to stay awake, he had. But seeing his little brother was losing the battle, Raph had made him lay down with his head on his lap to take a nap, hand resting on Mikey's shell. 

"...Sorry," Donatello cleared his throat. Leo turned the volume of the TV down a bit, before unpausing their game. Being mindful to be more silent this time... which was just them glaring at each other now. Twin senses, the snapper supposed. Shrugging, he turned back to his phone. 

And they really had been silent. For a moment, he thought the twins had learned their lesson. Until the end.

"I WIN!!!!" Leo shouted when he won- his loud volume not only startling the box turtle awake but also knocking Donnie down while the younger twin yelled at him.

"Cheater!"

"I won, fair and square!-"

"You guys!" Raphael raised his voice, glaring daggers at them. The twins quieted down immediately, one look at the youngest making them look away guiltily.

"Sorry..."

Huffing, Raph focused his gaze on Michelangelo to pat his shell. "You good, little brother?"

"Hm..." Mikey leaned his hands on Raph's leg to push himself up and yawned, before trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. 

"Did you have a nice nap?" The box turtle nodded and stretched his arms- making his shoulders pop. Leo gagged. Donnie shuddered. 

"I don't know who I hate more." 

"I have amazing skills." Leo crossed his arms and pointed at Mikey. "That is just cursed." 

"Feels nice." Mikey tested out his hand by holding it out. Seeing it was steady enough, he tried to get up. "How late is it?"

"Just around three." Donnie started the next game, catching Leo off guard. Quickly trying to regain his first place again.

Raph rolled his eyes, looking up when he saw Mikey standing. "And where are you off to?"

"Cooking dinner."

"Nope." The oldest pulled back down. The younger frowned.

"I feel fine, Raph." He shrugged and tried to get up again. The snapper didn't miss the way his breath wheezed, but that could be his asthma just as easily. So he put a hand on Mikey's forehead to get a feel of his temperature. The box turtle stopped squirming. 

Well... his temperature felt normal. Perhaps he had slept his fever off... still doubtful, Raph pressed his hand on Mikey's chest next. "...Well, congrats." He sighed and pulled away. "Still keep your inhaler on you, yeah?"

"Gonna shower first." Mikey cringed, not exactly happy with the sweat clinging to his skin as he made his way out of the room. Turning his attention back to Leo and Donnie, Raph touched both their heads without interrupting their game.

He knew Leo's fever had broken somewhere throughout the night, but with his unnecessary self-sacrifices and guilt eating him alive, with him, Raphael could never be too sure. Donnie still felt a bit warm, which he wasn't happy about- but it wasn't as bad as before. 

"Raph, I'm fine." Leo pulled his head away.

"How come you are not sick anyway, Raph?" The genius narrowed his eyes with suspicion. "You've been very huggy these last couple of days..."

"Oldest sibling privileges." The snapper reached towards the table to grab a bottle of water and handed it to Donnie. "Drink." 

"Still not a thing." He sipped on the water anyway. 

"You too, Leo." He threw his bottle, catching the slider off guard. Grumbling as the blankets were tucked around him again.

"Raph!-"

"Shush." He settled again. Leo whined unhappily and pulled the blankets off of him. Raphael sternly pulled the blankets over him again.

"He's fine, Raphael." Donnie put his bottle away and stretched. "My scanners said his fever broke this morning."

That made the blue brother pause. "...You scanned me-?"

"I thought I had hidden all your equipment, Donnie?" Raph crossed his arms. The purple brother cleared his throat.

"Not important." 

"What else could you possibly have-?"

"Not. Important."

"Did I hear someone say he's not important?" Mikey poked inside, dripping wet and wrapped in a towel, somehow already having his glasses on. Had he... ran out of the shower-? The genius squeaked and used Leo as a shield.

"No, no, something else Mike." The snapper was quick to reassure him. "Go get yourself some clothes." 

"But it's warm!"

"Just wear it!"

Displeased, he didn't argue, unhappily walking back to his room. The slider turned to look at him, suspicious.

"...You are way more protective than usual." 

"All three of you are sick. How could I not be?" Another water bottle was pushed into Donnie's hands. "Drink."

"But I don't-"

"Softshell. Aquatic turtle. Drink it."

"..." the twins shared a look. Seemingly agreeing on something. Before turning back to their oldest brother with matching grins. 

"You worry too much, hermano..." The blanket was completely disregarded as Leo got up, cringing when his knees popped at the movement. Donnie let his blanket drop to his waist so that his legs were still covered.

Raph didn't like those looks. Not one bit. "How could I not with you three idiots running around?" He huffed instead. "Gotta take care of you until I'm convinced you're not dying." 

"Cause of a simple cold?" Donnie sounded intrigued and narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"That's my job." He shrugged. "Oldest brother brand and all."

"Still not a thing." 

"Is it that hard to believe I want you to be healthy?"

"Not at all!" He held up his hands. "But you worry too much, Raph."

"Last night you were throwing your guts out." Raph crossed his arms. Donnie cringed at the memory.

"As torturous as that had been... still a common symptom."

"Mikey had a nightmare so bad his chains activated."

"I-"

"And do I have to remind you how we found out about Leo?"

"...Yeah, okay." The soft shell seemed to give up. "I get where you're coming from."

"So it's time for you to relax, big bro!" Raph didn't even see it when Leo had sneaked up behind him- and next this he knew, Leo had launched himself on top of Raph's back, scribbling his fingers all over his shell and spikes.

The snapper's eyes widened before he burst out laughing. "Why you little!-"

"Can't handle the heat, mi hermano?" The slider nonchalantly asked, moving from his shell to his neck and earning more laughs.

"Le-ohohoho!!!"

"Come on, Nardo." Donnie tsked, before scratching over Raph's side. "You know where he is sensitive the most." 

"Dohohonie!!!" He tried to shield his sides with his arms- making him lose balance and collapse on his stomach. "Don't you dahahare!!!"

"Dare what, my dearest brother?~"

"What's going on?" Dressed in his orange hoodie, Mikey looked back inside.

"Forcing Raph to take a break!"

"You're torturing me!!! Pffft!"

"Without me!?" Mikey cried out, offended, running over to throw himself on top of the snapper. "I'm hurt, bros."

"Sorry!" Leo giggled- and gently poked one of Raph's spikes on his shoulders.

Raph's eyes got impossibly larger as he burst into laughter, struggling to breathe.  "AHAHAHAAHA LEOAHAHAHAHA!!"

"Much better." Deciding he wanted to join in the fun, Mikey traced his fingers around the spikes on Raph's arm, laughing out loud when the snapper tried to swat him away. This only left his sides open, however, and Donnie wasted no time tickling him right there.

"You should smile more." The genius decided, taking pity on his older brother and stopping poking him. The other turtles didn't, however, not having had enough just yet, and continued their torture. 

"You gonna stop worrying about us?~" Leo asked with a sing-song voice, slowly tracing another spike. Raph roared, cheeks stained with tears from how hard he was laughing.

"NEHEHEHEVER!!!"

"Doctor Delicate Touch doesn't agree." Granting him no mercy at all, Mikey poked his neck again- grinning once he realized Raph didn't try to push him off. Most likely not to hurt him. 

"Hm... worry about us less, then?" The blue brother offered as a compromise, having trouble staying on Raph's shell with how much the snapper was shaking.

"Yes, YES! Just stohohohop!!!"

"You promised, hermano!" The duo stopped at once, letting Raphael collapse on himself, and taking a minute to catch his breath. "You little sneaks..." he breathed between gasps and glared at them. Mikey smiled innocently. Leo winked. Donnie gently stroked his arm to try and rub the remaining tingles away.

Once his breathing was steady and even again did the slider push the water bottle Raph had been trying to give him earlier into his hands, grinning up at him and sitting back. Donnie wrapped the blankets back around his shoulders, and Mikey walked back into the kitchen... only to come out upset a minute later, and walk towards the exit of the lair.

"And where are you going, Angelo?" Donnie asked. Mikey groaned.

"We're out of pepperoni."

"..." Raph turned to Leo, who shrugged.

"Told you."

"I'll go get it." The red-banded turtle offered. "You just got better, wouldn't be good to risk it."

"You sure?" Mikey turned around. "You haven't exactly been in the healthiest situation, Raph."

"I'm fine." The snapper went to his room to get his jacket and pulled the hood over his head. "Anything else?"

"Chocolate? Maybe tea..."

"Can you get me those sour gummies?" Leo asked, eyes lighting up. Mikey smiled.

"Yeah!"

The soft shell rolled his eyes. "I still can't understand how you eat those."

"You would if you just tried it." His twin poked his shoulder. Donnie huffed and tried to pull him away. 

"Never."

"Anything else?"

"Unless it uranium..." Donnie turned back to the game. Raph shook his head and started walking towards the exit.

"That answers it. Leave Dad alone, yeah?"

"And we're sure it's rat flu?" Leo stretched, determined to beat his twin brother who started without him- again. 

"Could be his age catching up thin." Said twin added. Mikey looked up with shock.

"Not what I meant!"

"Don't listen to them, Mike." Raphael patted his head. "And yes, I'm sure it's rat flu. He shaved himself again."

"Dammit." 

"We're only at stage one?" The genius cringed.

"Nah. He was singing karaoke again last time I checked."

"Sooo... let's say he's now at stage six. That's almost seven..." the four thought.

"...Do we want to?"

"...Nah." Mikey reached for a water bottle. "He's done more than enough-"

"I'm asking for uranium."

"..." Leo groaned and hid his face in his hands. Raph chuckled.

"Have fun doing that." He turned his back towards them, and stuffed his hands in his pockets." Just remember not to get yourself sick, you just got-"

Raph got cut off to sneeze. Loudly. 

The younger trio stopped whatever they were doing at once. And slowly turned to their older brother, oddly silent. Raph's eyes widened, his mouth pressed shut.

"...Raph." 

Nope. He was not doing this, he was not doing this.

"Just remember to stay away from Dad!" He replied with a high-pitched voice and giant smile, nervously refusing to look at them- aaaand now he was sweating. "When did it get so hot? Pffft-"

"Raphael." their game was forgotten as they turned to glare at him, expressions stern.

"Stay away from Dad, don't kill each other, and drink water okayloveyouBYE-"

"RAPH!" Leo got up to run after him- but was too late. And groaned. "And he got mad at me for- ugh."

"Tracking him down already," Donnie said, phone in hand and eyes on the screen. 

"How are we even supposed to drag him back? The guy is too big!"

"..." Mikey held out a finger and looked down, reaching into his pocket with his free hand- and pulled out a pair of glasses.

The twins gulped, yet Michelangelo still said nothing as he calmly put the glasses on his nose, and taped either side to his face. Then, he reached for one of the many water bottles on the table Raph had stocked earlier, and stretched. Cleared his throat. Took a deep breath...

"HYDRATE OR DIE-DRATE, BIG RED!" He then screamed and ran out with incredible speed. From a distance, they could hear Raph yelp with fear.

"...We're actually doing this?"

"Apparently." The twins wasted no time and grabbed two bottles each, right behind their youngest brother.

As much as there were oldest-sibling privileges, there were also oldest-sibling curses.

And apparently, all of the littles teaming up against you to throw water bottles and wrap you up in a blanket burrito later was one of them.