Raph Vs Leo - Blog Posts

mnt x reader competition 💚🐢

Ahhh!! Stumbled across the prompts and got excited- I've been dying for some angst, recently going through a situationship problem myselllfff sooo we read about turtles to cope :)

Anyway, this is a Once Leo x Y/n to Raph x Y/n

Yknow...the old "He was first but the brother was better" type situation

My prompt:

"So what, you're just moving on from us and talking to this other person?" "We were never official."

@dancingdonatello

I've entered the competition, idc if I win, I just wanted an excuse to put this out before the other requests I have :')

Anywayyyy, Enjoy!

-Writer Icy♡

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The lair had always been a place of comfort for Y/N. From the cold, damp walls to the faint hum of the sewers, it was a place where they felt safe. Especially when they were with Leo.

It hadn’t always been like this, though. There was a time when the two of them shared moments—quiet cuddle sessions on the couch after long patrols, Leo’s arm wrapped securely around their waist, his cheek resting on top of their head. He had a way of making them feel safe, grounding them in a world that often felt overwhelming. They could still feel the warmth of his lips from when they would kiss, gentle and full of promises. They had spent nights talking until the early hours, Leo’s soft voice guiding them through his favorite episodes of Space Heroes. It was their thing, something only they shared.

They were never officially dating, but they were something. Or at least, Y/N had thought they were.

But everything started to shift when Danielle showed up.

April had introduced Danielle to the turtles, a mutual friend from school. At first, it seemed harmless. Danielle was friendly, bright, and curious about their world. Y/N didn’t think much of it. Leo was kind to everyone; it was one of the things they loved about him. But soon, those quiet moments Y/N used to have with Leo… they noticed them slipping away.

Y/N had come to the lair, expecting another night of *Space Heroes* marathons or watching Leo train in the dojo, only to find him sitting with Danielle instead. Danielle, laughing at something Leo said. Danielle, watching him while he trained, her eyes following his every move the way Y/N’s used to. Danielle, joining him on patrols—patrols that used to be reserved for Y/N and Leo.

It was like watching their memories play out with someone else in their place. *Déjà vu*, but it stung deeper with every passing day. No longer did they feel like the person Leo sought out at the end of a long day. Instead, Danielle was now in those places—sharing the moments Y/N had once cherished.

Y/N told themself not to care. After all, Leo and them were never official. But that didn’t stop the sinking feeling in their chest every time they saw them together. Every time they caught a glimpse of Danielle laughing at one of his jokes or sitting beside him as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

The breaking point came at a Halloween party hosted by April. The lair was decorated with makeshift pumpkins, glowing orange lights strung around the walls. It was meant to be a fun night—a distraction. Y/N had dressed up in a simple costume, determined to try and enjoy themself, even with the weight of everything going on with Leo.

But then they saw it.

Across the room, Leo and Danielle were talking, standing far too close for comfort. Danielle reached up to adjust the ninja headband Leo had worn with his costume, fingers brushing his cheek with a familiarity that made Y/N’s stomach twist. It was the kind of moment that should have been theirs—another stolen fragment of their past.

Y/N’s heart clenched as they turned away, the party’s music and chatter becoming nothing but background noise. They didn’t stay long after that, leaving the lair with a heavy heart.

That night, after everyone had gone home and the lair fell silent, Y/N confronted Leo. The tension had been building for weeks, and it finally snapped.

"So, what, you're just moving on from us and talking to this other person?" Y/N’s voice trembled, their hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Leo stood there, arms crossed, a defensive edge to his posture. “Y/N… we were never official.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. Y/N’s breath caught in their throat, their heart hammering painfully in their chest. “That’s what you’re going to say? After everything we’ve been through, that’s what you’re going to throw at me?”

Leo’s face was stoic, unreadable, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then how did you mean it, Leo?” Y/N’s voice rose, the hurt spilling out in waves. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you just replaced me with Danielle like it was nothing. You used to talk to me, spend time with me—now it’s like I don’t even exist.”

Leo took a step forward, his brow furrowed. “I didn’t replace you, Y/N. It’s just… things change.”

Y/N shook their head, stepping back, away from him. “You’re right. Things *did* change. You stopped caring.”

Without waiting for a response, they turned and walked away, the sting of his words and the emptiness of their broken bond echoing in their chest. The door to the lair closed behind them with a soft thud, but the sound felt final.

Days passed, and Y/N did their best to avoid Leo. It was easier said than done, given that they both moved in the same circles, but they found comfort in an unexpected place: Raphael.

Raph had always been the opposite of Leo—fiery, rough around the edges, and unapologetically himself. But in those days following the fight, he was the one who made them feel like they still mattered. His gruff humor, the way he stood by their side when they needed someone, without any expectations. And before Y/N knew it, something deeper began to bloom between them.

It wasn’t long before Leo noticed. He caught sight of them training together one night, Raph standing close, guiding Y/N’s movements with an intensity that made Leo’s chest tighten. They weren’t just friends anymore—it was clear in the way Raph looked at them, the way Y/N smiled in his presence. It was a connection that Leo had let slip through his fingers.

He confronted Raph, jealousy boiling over in his veins. “You’re really going to do this? After everything?”

Raph didn’t hold back. “You dropped them, Leo. I didn’t.”

Leo opened his mouth to argue, but Raph cut him off. “You had your chance, and you blew it. You let them slip away because you couldn’t figure out what you wanted. That’s on you.”

Leo clenched his fists, frustration and regret warring inside him. He wanted to say something, to fight for Y/N now that they were gone, but it was too late. He could see it in the way Raph and Y/N stood together—the ease, the connection.

Danielle had faded into the background, uninterested now, but that didn’t matter. Leo had already lost the one person he truly cared about.

And watching them with Raph, happy in a way they hadn’t been with him in weeks, was a punishment far worse than he could have imagined.

The Lair was quiet, the sound of the television barely audible in the background as Raph stalked across the room, his fists clenched tight. He could feel the tension building in his muscles, the frustration from earlier still bubbling beneath the surface. Leo was standing near the dojo, his back turned as if to dismiss the argument they had started just moments ago.

Raph couldn’t let it go. Not this time.

“So, that’s it, huh?” Raph growled, his voice cutting through the stillness. “You’re just gonna act like nothing’s wrong?”

Leo turned slowly, his face calm, but Raph could see the strain in his eyes. “Raph, I’m not doing this right now,” he said, his tone carefully measured. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Nothing?” Raph took a step closer, his fists tightening. “*Nothing?* You’ve been riding me for weeks now, all ‘cause you can’t stand seein’ me with Y/N.”

Leo’s calm exterior cracked for a moment, his jaw tightening as his eyes narrowed. “This isn’t about that.”

“Like hell it isn’t!” Raph’s voice rose, his frustration spilling out. “Ever since I started seein’ Y/N, you’ve been actin’ like I stole somethin’ from you. You’re jealous, Leo. Admit it.”

“I’m not jealous,” Leo snapped, his voice rising to match Raph’s. “I just think you’re being reckless.”

“Reckless?” Raph laughed bitterly. “Reckless is lettin’ them go in the first place. You had ‘em, Leo, and you let ‘em slip away.”

Leo’s face hardened, his eyes flashing with anger. “We weren’t anything official. We never *were,* Raph. It’s not like I broke some unspoken rule.”

Raph’s nostrils flared, the bitterness of Leo’s words hitting a raw nerve. “You didn’t need some damn label to know what you had! And now that they’re with me, you can’t handle it.”

Leo took a step forward, his calm exterior completely shattered. “This has nothing to do with handling it! You don’t get it, do you? You think this is just some competition? Like it’s about winning?”

Raph’s eyes narrowed, his chest heaving as he stood his ground. “No, Leo. It’s about how you treated Y/N like they didn’t matter, and now you’re pissed ‘cause they found someone who makes ‘em feel like they do.”

Leo’s fists clenched at his sides, his face flushed with anger. “I never treated Y/N like they didn’t matter.”

“Then why’d you push ‘em away?” Raph shot back. “Why’d you let Danielle come in and take all the moments you used to have? Y/N didn’t deserve that, and you know it.”

For a moment, Leo faltered, the guilt flickering across his face. But it was quickly replaced by a cold resolve. “I did what I thought was best.”

“Best for who?” Raph demanded, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “Best for you, or best for Y/N? ‘Cause from where I’m standin’, you only cared about yourself.”

Leo’s eyes flared with anger, his voice rising again. “And what, you think you’re the hero now? You think just because you’re with Y/N, everything’s fine? You don’t get it, Raph. You don’t understand what it’s like to have to make these kinds of decisions.”

Raph’s temper snapped. “What I understand is that you messed up, Leo! You had Y/N, and you let ‘em down. And now, you can’t stand that they’re happy with me.”

Leo’s face darkened, his chest heaving as he tried to control the storm of emotions swirling inside him. “You don’t know anything about what Y/N and I had,” he hissed, stepping even closer to Raph.

Raph didn’t back down, his eyes blazing with anger. “I know enough to see that you never fought for ‘em. You didn’t try. And now you’re stuck watchin’ from the sidelines, and it’s killin’ you.”

Leo’s hands clenched into fists, and for a moment, it looked like he might swing at Raph. But instead, he just stared at him, his voice low and filled with resentment. “You think you’re better than me?”

Raph’s eyes never wavered, his voice steady and cold. “I ain’t better than you, Leo. But I sure as hell know how to fight for someone who matters to me.”

For a long moment, they just stood there, the tension between them thick and suffocating. Neither of them willing to back down, neither of them willing to break the silence.

Finally, Leo took a step back, his face a mask of frustration and hurt. “You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you, Raph?”

Raph shrugged, his expression hard. “Maybe I do. Maybe I just know what’s real.”

Leo stared at him for a moment longer, his jaw tight, before he turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Raph standing there, breathing heavily, his heart still pounding from the confrontation.

---

Raph’s hands were still shaking when he slammed the door to his room, his mind replaying the fight with Leo over and over. But as soon as he saw Y/N sitting on his bed, their eyes filled with worry, his anger faded into something else—something softer, but no less intense.

He let out a deep breath, his shoulders slumping as he ran a hand over his neck, trying to ease tension. He hadn’t wanted them to see that. To hear it. But it was too late now.

His chest heaved as he tried to calm down, the heat of his latest fight with Leo still burning under his skin. He rubbed his temples, cursing under his breath. It was always the same argument—

It didn’t help that the moment he stepped inside, he saw Y/N sitting on his bed, their eyes wide with guilt. The tension in the room shifted instantly, and Raph’s heart sank. They had heard everything.

“Raph…” Y/N’s voice was soft, laced with the same guilt he could see written across their face. “I didn’t mean to cause all this…”

Raph’s muscles tensed, frustration still lingering in his tone as he threw his hands up. “Don’t,” he said, his voice harsher than he intended. “Don’t go blamin’ yourself for any of this, Y/N.”

But the way Y/N’s shoulders slumped, the way they hugged themselves as if trying to hold back tears—it made Raph’s frustration turn inward. He wasn’t mad at Y/N. He was mad at Leo for making them feel this way. He was mad at himself for letting it affect them.

“Look,” he started again, this time softer, his hands dropping to his sides. “This ain’t your fault, okay? Leo’s just… he’s jealous. That’s all.”

Y/N looked up at him, their voice trembling. “But I didn’t want to come between you two. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Raph crossed the room in a few steps, sitting beside them on the bed, the anger draining from him as he saw the pain in their eyes. His hands came up to cup their face, rough but steady, forcing them to meet his gaze. “Listen to me. Me and Leo fight. It’s what we do. We’ve been fightin’ since we were kids, and it ain’t gonna stop just because of this. But what we have—” his voice softened, the rough edges melting away, “what we have is real.”

Y/N looked at him, searching his face for the truth, still uncertain. “But what if—what if you regret it? What if I’m just a rebound or something?”

Raph’s brows furrowed, and a low growl escaped him. “You think you’re some rebound?” He almost laughed at the absurdity of it. “Leo screwed up, alright? He let you go. But that don’t mean you’re replaceable. Not to me. Never to me.”

He saw the doubt flickering in Y/N’s eyes, so he did what he knew best—he broke the tension. “You seriously think I’d risk getting chewed out by Leo just for a fling?” He smirked, his usual cocky grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “I got better taste than that.”

A soft laugh escaped Y/N, and Raph felt the tension lift just a little. “There’s that smile,” he teased, nudging them with his shoulder. “See? Told ya I’d cheer you up.”

Y/N shook their head, a small smile pulling at their lips, but their eyes were still clouded with doubt. “You really mean it, Raph? I’m not just some… phase?”

Raph’s smirk faded into something more serious, his green eyes locking with theirs. He leaned in, his forehead resting gently against Y/N’s, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “I don’t do phases. I don’t do half-measures either. If I’m in, I’m all in.”

Before Y/N could respond, Raph’s lips were on theirs, firm and passionate, pouring everything he couldn’t put into words into that one kiss. His hands slid around their waist, pulling them closer, deepening the kiss as if to prove just how real this was. It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t fleeting. It was filled with a quiet intensity, the kind that burned deep, steady and sure.

When they finally pulled away, both of them breathless, Raph pressed his lips to their forehead, his arms still wrapped protectively around them. “You’re not goin’ anywhere,” he murmured, his voice soft but filled with certainty. “And I’m not lettin’ you go.”

Y/N leaned into him, their head resting against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart as they let his words sink in. They could feel the warmth of his body, the strength of his arms holding them close, and in that moment, all the doubts began to fade away.

Raph shifted, lying back on the bed, pulling Y/N with him until they were tucked against his side, his arm draped over their shoulders. “You’re mine, Y/N. And I don’t care what Leo says or does, he ain’t changin’ that.”

Y/N curled closer, their body fitting perfectly against his, the warmth of his skin chasing away the cold lingering from their earlier fears. Raph pressed a kiss to the top of their head, his hand gently running up and down their arm in a soothing rhythm.

“You got nothin’ to worry about,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. “You’re not replaceable. Not to me. You’re the real deal.”

Y/N looked up at him, their eyes shining with something close to relief, and Raph smiled down at them, his thumb brushing gently over their cheek. “Now,” he said, his voice soft but teasing, “you gonna stop worryin’ and just enjoy this, or do I need to keep kissin’ you till you do?”

Y/N laughed softly, the sound making Raph’s chest swell with pride. “I think I’ll be okay,” they whispered, though the smile on their face said they wouldn’t mind the extra kisses.

Raph chuckled, pulling them even closer as they settled into the comforting quiet of the room. He held them tight, making a silent promise to himself. He’d never let Y/N feel like they weren’t enough. Not after everything they’d been through.

And as they lay there, wrapped up in each other, Raph knew one thing for certain—he was never letting them go.

AHHH okay, ive been working on a 2007! Raph x GN! Reader and it's taking a little longer than I thought so take this edit-

LOVE YOU GUYS

-Writer Icy<3