A/N: So, I'm just going to post this for progress's sake. I have completed chapters just waiting to be published, but I want to get a little further before the updates can be more regular. I don't know how long it'll take me, but I'm getting there.

April Fools:

It was a true test of skill to escape completely unscathed. Dangers could lurk around every corner, and have in the past. The unpredictable nature of it made forethought an unobtainable ally. There was rarely a victor on either side when all parties were of equal skill. The day was a disaster waiting to happen. It was a knowledge they all knew, but in the Hamato clan, it would happen regardless. No one missed out on April Fool's Day. To do so would be forfeit.

This year, Raphael had a plan. He refused to lose. He had a secret weapon. One that would ensure his victory, for who would risk the safety of an injured friend in this game of pranks? Maybe he had another agenda in mind as well, but what did it matter? It was a good plan. It would work. And it came with the added benefit of a certain frizzy redhead currently residing in his bedroom.

After ensuring all was clear outside his room, he turned towards Kimberly. "Hopefully he's still asleep." He frowned at the healing cut he could still clearly see on her bare neck. "You sure you're a'ight?"

She brushed her fingers against the week-old injury and sighed. "I told you. It's fine. The doctor said it's healing nicely. It was hardly more than a scratch." She yawned as she took in his room. "You have a hammock."

"Yeah. I like it bettah than tha bed."

She walked over and collapsed on it. "Mmm. The rocking's nice. How do you do this morning thing?"

Raphael shrugged. "Ain't that early. It's only seven."

She snorted. "If it's earlier than ten, it's too early. You're lucky I've been sleeping earlier because of this stupid cut and all the boredom from not working."

His frown deepened into a scowl as he reflected on the black-haired woman who gave Kimberly the injury. To say he hated that woman was too kind. Anyone who threatened his family would get what they deserved, no matter the cost.

"So why'd you bring me over anyway?"

He casually leaned back against the wall. "Mike ever talk about the Fool's Day family tradition?"

"Is that today?" She shifted to see him better. "He didn't talk about it. I only started talking to him since December. It never came up."

"Well he's a royal pain in the ass any other day. This time a' year, he's a thousand times worse."

She smirked. "Sounds fun. My brother, Frey, got into the fool spirit when we were young."

"It's not 'fun'." He grunted. "Ya don't know. He's a nightmare."

"It can't be that bad."

"'Course you'd think that."

She snickered. "Oh? Come here. I'll protect you."

Raphael snorted. "I don't need no protection." He walked over to her reaching arm. "'Specially by a little pipsqueak like you."

"I'm stronger than I look. I grew up with two older brothers." She poked his plastron.

"That don't mean shit." He captured her small hand in his. "I got years a' trainin' on ya."

Her freckled face drew hard. It was his only warning before she whipped his own pillow at his face. Instinct alone granted him the ability to catch it before it could make contact. He quirked his brow at her mischievous expression.

"Okay. You must be tired." He said, slowly.

"Maybe a bit," She said through a yawn. "But that's your fault. Now you get to pay for it."

"You coulda stayed home."

"And miss finally getting to see where you live? Nope." She sat up, struggling to keep her balance on the hammock. She teetered, but Raphael's grip on her tightened before she could topple over. "Whoa, don't you ever fall off of this thing in your sleep?"

"No."

"Liar. I bet you do and you just don't wanna admit it." She pouted, comically, before pointing to a space next to her. "Sit. You're going to be my new pillow."

"You're bossy when you're tired." He quipped as he sat next to her.

"You're fault." She leaned against him, not objecting when he moved his arm around her. "Your chest is hard." She mumbled.

"'Course it is."

She looked up at him and spoke matter-of-factly, "You need to be softer."

"What do you expect me to do about it?"

"Change it."

He snorted. "Sure. Whateva' ya say."

"That's right."

He shook his head as she blinked up at him. His free hand cupped her face, completely aware of her proximity, the warmth of her pressed up against his skin. Everything else no longer mattered as he looked into her round green eyes. He leaned in without a conscious thought and kissed her.

Soft knocking at the door pulled the two apart with a gasp before a familiar voice called, "Raph?"

Raphael cursed, quickly putting space between the two of them. "What do ya want, Leo?" He about growled.

"It's about Mikey." Leonardo opened the door and paused at the sight of his brother's guest. "Kimberly?"

"Hey, Leonardo." She said, exhaustingly.

Raphael stood, placing himself between his brother and his girl. "What about him?"

Leonardo didn't speak at first, his expression stoic. He turned his gaze on his brother's narrowed look before he spoke again. "I was going to suggest we get a head start on our little brother, but I see you have company."

"She can help. They're best friends. Mike won't suspect a thing." Raphael replied with an underlying challenge. Go ahead and say something.

With another pause, Leonardo deflated. "I won't deny the advantage."

"Yeah, 'cuz you know I'm right. Kimi's our secret weapon."

"It won't work if we mess this up. We have to play this smart. Donny's already setting up downstairs." The more he spoke, the more his mischievous grin grew. "We'll get him good this year."

"What are you guys going on about?"

Leonardo turned towards her. "You're going to help pull off the best April Fool's Day revenge prank the Hamato Clan has ever seen. One Mikey won't ever see coming."

"I didn't know you were fun."

"He can be." Raphael said he leaned his elbow on his brother's shoulder.

"Sometimes, desperate measures must be taken to ensure victory." Leonardo added.

"So what do you want me to do?" She asked.

"For now, head downstairs and catch Donny up." He replied. She nodded and hopped off the hammock to do as asked. After she passed them, Leonardo lowered his voice. "We will talk about this later."

"Ya ain't tha boss a' me." Raphael snapped back before heading after Kimberly.

The lair resembled a battlefield when it was over. Ground zero was dressed in white powder and colored shreds of rubber from exploded balloons. The floors were sticky with various debris from the prank to remember. Kimberly had never seen the likes of it before. Surely, her brother barely scratched the surface of a true prank war.

"Is it like this every year?" She asked in awe.

"It's been getting steadily more elaborate through the years." Donatello said as he leaned his weight on the broom he had been using. "It has to or we'd expect it."

"It's good training." Leonardo added. "It keeps our minds sharp."

"'Course you'd think that." Raphael called from his corner of the room where the ambush had begun. "Everything's a trainin' exercise to you."

"At least it's one of the fun ones." Donatello said next. "We should team up against Mikey more often."

Kimberly glanced over to the bathroom door where she could hear the rushing water of the shower. She caught Raphael's subtle smirk in her peripheral vision and grinned back at him as her cheeks grew warm. She could still feel the ghost of that interrupted kiss. It was the first real one since meeting him two months ago.

"Hey, Kimberly?" Leonardo said from behind her. "Could you help me in the kitchen?"

"Oh, sure." She said in a start as she ducked her head to hide her flushed face. "Um, where is it?"

"Over here." He led the way, taking his soap bucket with him.

Kimberly glanced back at Raphael's suspicious expression and shrugged before following the blue-masked brother's path. Her curiosity peeked as she looked him over, trying to find a sign of what he was thinking. She knew it was an impossible task. Out of the turtles, she knew next to nothing about him. They never shared more than a few words together since meeting him. He was practically a stranger. At least in Donatello's case, they had to talk in order to bring Splinter back home. It wasn't much, but at least they were friendly. Leonardo, though? Honestly, he scared her sometimes. He was unpredictable and she swore he didn't like her. But why?

Leonardo set the bucket on the counter when he neared it. Without looking at her, he started washing the breakfast dishes in the sink. Kimberly moved to help as she watched him, her expression turning to a frown at his continued silence.

"My clan may trust you. They might think you're harmless. But," He turned his hard gaze on her. "You still have to earn my trust first."

"What do you mean?"

"Just because you helped bring Master Splinter back to us doesn't mean you get a free pass to enter our home. You shouldn't have come here."

"It was Raph's idea. He brought me here." She said, ducking her head at his firm tone.

"I will be talking to him about that later, I assure you." He pulled away from the sink. "As for earlier," His voice turned threatening. "You better not be leading my brother around. If I find out you hurt him in any way, there will be consequences. I suggest you back off before I have to make you."

"It's not like that!" She waved away his accusation, frantically. "I would never hurt him! I couldn't! Not ever! I love him!"

Leonardo's expression never wavered as he stared her down. After a moment that felt like an eternity, he returned to his task. "I suppose we'll see, then."

"Are you done, Leo?" Raphael's low growl of a voice came from the doorway, alerting the two to his presence. Kimberly's gaze quickly snapped towards him before she slinked over into his waiting arm.

"For now." Leonardo turned to his brother and a gave the possessive hand he had on Kimberly's shoulder a hard look. "Training's in forty minutes. That mess out there must be cleaned before then."

"It will be." Raphael responded.

"Good." With that, Leonardo pushed past him, leaving them alone.

"Well. Now I know he doesn't like me." Kimberly frowned.

"Eh, it's Leo." Raphael shrugged. "He'll come around. I'll make sure of it."

"I hope so." She pulled at one of her braids and frowned at the empty doorway.

A/N: And there you have it. Feeding the review box might help the muse work faster.