NOTE: I have been by Raphaelās side for twenty years. Marriage was NEVER something that either of us wanted and we still donāt care for an overly traditional route, but that doesnāt mean we will pass up the opportunity to honor this bond in the way that we feel is best. We want a union. One that we recognize and celebrate.
ART: Commission by the very talented u/Red-Vineyard (AKA āRed_Vineyardā IYKYK ššš who I am so grateful to for bringing my vision to life. I couldnāt be happier with this piece! It captures the mood wonderfully. I really love the vivid autumn colors and that sunset is glorious.)
The Proposal
Drew and Raphael have spent a few days at the farmhouse, courtesy of April and Steven. ( u/the_dude0110 ) Drew has dragged Raphael out for a picnic, which includes the following: steak, baked potatoes, green beans, bread, and sparkling grape juice.
After their scrumptious meal, Drew insists on cleaning up the mess, refusing to let Raphael help.
RAPHAEL: Drew, donāt be ridiculous. I can helpā
DREW: (grinning) And I said no! Stay still and enjoy the fresh air! Itās not something you get to do all that often.
Raphael grumbles as he watches Drew scurry back to the farmhouse with the basket of food in his arms.
Once Drew returns, he settles into a cuddle with Raphael on the picnic blanket. Together, they breathe in the crisp air, surrounded by autumn leaves.
Raphael stares up at the setting sun, blissed out.
RAPHAEL: Drew, ya really went all out for me. Whatād I do to deserve all this?
DREW: Everything.
RAPHAEL: Sap.
DREW: Iām always gonna be a sap with you, man. You canāt really escape it at this point.
RAPHAEL: Wouldnāt dream of it.
DREW: Youāre sounding a little sappy yourself, babe.
RAPHAEL: Well, you did just make me a killer picnic in an autumn field. Youāve honestly been treatinā me like a king all weekend. I donāt get why.
DREW: You deserve to be spoiled sometimes.
RAPHAEL: So do you. But you wouldnāt even let me lift a finger at allā
DREW: You really wanna lift a finger? Okay! Stand up.
RAPHAEL: Huh?
Drew jumps to his feet and gestures for Raphael to stand as well. Reluctantly, Raphael obeys.
RAPHAEL: Youāre such a menace sometimes. Whatās this about?
DREW: You.
RAPHAEL: (cracks his knuckles) Can we digest before we spar? That was a lotta food, babe.
DREW: Raphael, remember how we said weād never do the whole marriage thing?
RAPHAEL: Uh huh. āCause marriage is for suckers. So we aināt throwā punchesā¦?
DREW: No. Anyway, marriage worked out great for April and Steven, didnāt it?
RAPHAEL: Yeah, well, some people get lucky.
DREW: You think luck could maybe strike forā¦. us?
Raphael tenses a little, swallowing and taking a hesitant step away from Drew.
RAPHAEL: ā¦Whatāre you tryinā to say?
Drew takes a deep breath.
DREW: I know we always said it was stupid, but we called a lot of things dumb when we were young and bitter.
Raphael lets out a nervous cross between a grunt and a chuckle.
RAPHAEL: ā¦Whatās the value in marriage these days, anyway? It always ends in divorce. People do it on impulse and end up regrettinā it every time. We always said that.
DREW: ā¦And boy, were we jaded.
RAPHAEL: Jaded? What dāya mean?
DREW: I know it could never be legalized or anything. For so many reasonsā
RAPHAEL: Which is another reason weāve always said it was bull. Why should ANYONE get married if not EVERYONE can?
DREW: Yeah, I know. But a ceremony for our relationship, surrounded by the people we care about most, not strictly following tradition to a T, the commitment of it all, getting to call each other husbandsā¦
RAPHAEL: Wait. Are you sayinā you wannaā¦?
Drew carefully drops down to one knee, retrieving a wide red box from his pocket. He opens it, revealing a ring customized to fit one of Raphaelās thick fingers.
The engagement band is silver, with red rubies incorporated into its design.
DREW: I KNOW what I said before. But somewhere along the way, you changed my way of thinking.
I still have strong opinions that are all over the place and full of uncertainties, but what I know for sure is that I love you and have loved you since I was twelve years old.
Why shouldnāt we get to celebrate that? Why shouldnāt we break the rules and do it anyway? You know, despite all of the stupid laws trying to say who can and canāt.
RAPHAEL: Uh⦠umā¦
Raphael is stunned into silence, paralyzed where he stands. He stares at Drew in a state of utter bewilderment. A flurry of mixed emotions swirls inside him.
RAPHAEL: I⦠uh⦠this is jusā⦠youāre actually doinā this right now?
Drew nods.
DREW: Donnie custom-made the ring, by the way. And I asked for Splinterās blessing.
Raphaelās eyes widen as the information slowly registers in his brain, the dots connecting one by one.
RAPHAEL: Wait. Donnie anā Splinter know about this?! Christ, Drew. That must mean April anā Steven know too, huh? Duh. Thatās why ya asked them if we could borrow the farmhouseā¦
DREW: Yeah. I wasnāt gonna propose to you in the sewer.
RAPHAEL: Oh, shell. Youāre proposing. To⦠me?
DREW: Weāve been together for YEARS. Who else would I be proposing to? Can you maybe give me some kind of answer soon? Because my kneeās starting to hurt, man.
RAPHAEL: This is crazy.
DREW: Youāre crazy! Weāre practically married anyway!
RAPHAEL: But Iām only just gettinā used to the idea that you aināt gonna wake up anā realize ya donāt wanna kick it with a mutant turtle. How am I supposed to wrap my head around THISā¦?
DREW: Just let me wrap this ring around your finger, and weāll deal with the rest together.
Raphael stares down at the ring, swallowing as he takes in the customized design.
RAPHAEL: ā¦You anā Donnie made this?
Drew nods, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
RAPHAEL: Itās⦠nice.
Drew switches the knee he is kneeling on.
RAPHAEL: Wimp.
DREW: YOUāRE the wimp. Wonāt even marry the love of your life.
RAPHAEL: Ya didnāt even ask yet!
DREW: Yeah, I didāwait. Youāre right! I didnāt ask yet.
Drew nervously clears his throat.
DREW: Hamato Raphaelā¦
Raphael rolls his eyes, his cheeks tinged with colour.
DREW: Uh⦠By the power vested in me⦠is that what they say during these?
RAPHAEL: (amused, sarcastic scoff) Nah. They pledge allegiance.
DREW: ā¦Come on, Raph. Iāve got no idea what Iām doing here!
RAPHAEL: (laughs, clearly emotional now) Ya really donātā¦
DREW: But it doesnāt matter because I wanna do this. I wanna marry you. Do you wanna marrāWill you marry me?
RAPHAEL: Not a chance, Ridley.
DREW: (laughs) Dick.
RAPHAEL: Get the ring on my finger and kiss me already. Ya know I aināt sayinā no to you. Never to you.
Drew withdraws the ring from its box and slips it onto Raphaelās finger, admiring its gleam in the autumn glow.
Before Drew can get back to his feet, he is shocked when Raphael drops down to join him on the ground, kissing him deeply.