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Mikey was actually right. It's the absolute last thing Raph expects to think on any given day, especially while the brothers are on one of their most terrifying missions so far. Yet here they are, with half of their team missing (dead, Raph's worst thoughts correct him), and he realizes with a raging, blindsiding horror that Mikey was completely, utterly right. They never should've come down here in the first place, never should've offered to help Quarry and their friends get another crystal from the caves, never should've scoffed at Mikey's generator idea. It was a good idea. It was an amazing idea. And as Raph takes off towards the cloaked source of their problems, the one who took his brothers, he hopes Mikey starts taking his own advice more often. Clearly they all could, as much as it pains Raph to admit.
The hover-scooter, which Donnie would have killed to disassemble, can't seem to go fast enough to catch up with the figure that is actively ripping apart Raph's entire world with disgusting ease. A more tactical, rational part of him startles when it realizes that, yeah, when he reaches the cloaked monster, he's probably going to actually commit murder if he finds out his family is gone. Heck, he might do it even if they end up being fine. He's totally invested in the idea. No hiding behind Splinter and water towers, no strategic wounds or concussions. Raph wants finality if he can't have his family. He wants it so bad he can't stand it, can't even pay attention to the debris around the sharp corner that tip his ride over, sending him soaring.
But before he could catch the enemy, the flying scooter, or himself, something else catches him instead. A tight rope and an electric tingle race around his torso until the zap intensifies, expanding over his plastron and carapace. A warbling bright light fills the entirety of his vision. This is it, Raph thinks wildly as he shuts his eyes tightly to block out the burning white. This is how it ends. Couldn't even touch or see the bastard before getting taken out.
Is this how helpless it felt for his brothers? The thought hurts, but it's all that's on his mind as the world closes in. He just hopes at least Mikey gets out alright, but knowing the knuckle-head, he's probably already backed himself into a corner. A corner Raph could've gotten him out of--if Raph himself hadn't rushed in angrily, recklessly. If he hadn't forgotten that protecting the family he has left is just as important as finding the ones he lost.
God, and Splinter. What would their sensei think of their behavior tonight? Their inability to safely get back home, taken out by a force they knew to avoid, one that Splinter never would've let them fight so blindly. If- when Mikey goes home tonight, what is that going to do to those two? Knowing that all they have left is each other? A father and his final remaining son? Not like there's more where they came from. All they had was each other. It's all they needed. And-
It's stupid, but all he wants is to hug his brothers one last time, before-
"-aph? Hey, Raph? Plan on getting off the floor anytime soon?" Raph's eyes snap open at the sound of that smug voice, and holy shell, Leo's standing right there in all his leader-glory, looking exactly like they left him. Raph takes his first breath in what feels like forever. He blinks, whispers breathlessly, "Wh- you- you're okay?" Leo grins with crossed arms, and a pace behind him stands an untouched Donnie, who's- snickering? At- at Raph? Don leans on his bo leisurely and answers with a chuckle in his voice, "Oh, we're fine. I feel we should be asking you that, Raphy. You've been down there for a while."
Then Raph realizes how he's positioned, frozen on the floor in an almost fetal position, his sais scattered on the ground yet his hands still trying to grip them. He's been sitting there, eyes stinging, mentally lamenting about his supposedly dead family for long enough to make it weird, and these assholes are just watching and laughing at him. The desire to hug the shell off them doesn't dissipate, unfortunately, but his willingness to act on that desire definitely does. Raph disengages his muscles forcefully and sighs, "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, you jerks."
And they do, for a few more moments, until Leo offers a steady, alive hand, and Raph takes it. As he stands, he asks, "The hell is this place?" Donnie lights up, happy to share the knowledge he's gained from his extended time here with another person, which judging by Leo's unphased expression, he's already babbled for their other brother. Leo, though, saddles up against Raph and sets an arm around his shoulders casually like he knows he needs it. And well, if Raph doesn't shrug him off until they hear Mikey crashing the party, then that's between them.