Hold On

Rated: T

Chapter Summary: Raphael and April have been dancing around their attraction for some time now but maybe a motorcycle drive through the country may change that. Shameless 2014/16 Raphril. Three-Shot.

This is what happens when I realize Raphael has a motorcycle in the new movie - write a Raphril fict about it before it comes out because ya know Capril is definite endgame in that series and I need to get this out before it premiers and I'm too busy crying over my otp dying to write fanficts afterward...Oh, well I'm still gonna enjoy the hell out of that movie anyway! It looks AWESOME! 3

"Hold on." Raphael growled, the low reverberation of his voice vibrating against her back even if his words were a big muffled by his helmet.

April O'Neil did as he said; leaning further into the hard surface of his plastron wasn't completely unpleasant if a bit uncomfortable as she prepared herself to hold on for dear life.

"Okay." she replied, sounding a thousand times more confident than she felt. Trying to get her body to relax, taking a few deep breaths and a vast amount of solace in his voice and powerful muscles surrounding her. Yet if the brunette was completely honest with herself, she was scared shitless as the motorcycle revved to life underneath them with a gorgeous purr. Ever since her uncle died in a horrific accident while driving one when she was a teenager, the brunette deplored motorcycles; straying far away from the two-wheeled motorized bike she liked to coin "screaming metal death trap" in lieu of her own petal cycle and safer, enclosed vehicles.

How the largest of her mutant turtle friends talked her into riding one with him she'd never truly know...

April silently admitted it probably stemmed with never really being able to say "no" to him; those fuckin' gorgeous amber eyes and damn, that smile that lit up his face when she agreed...

Ignoring her own trepidation about riding such motorcycles, she agreed for him; pushing aside her own fears to the back of her mind when she realized just how happy she'd made him. One of those rare, perfect smiles lighting up his face and damn, if it didn't make her heart beat faster. Still, she should have some confusion as to why she agreed for someone she considered a good, perhaps best, friend. Sure, there was definite attraction on both ends; no question as to what his lingering glances and gentle brushes of his hands meant, but neither spoke about being more. There were many times over their relationship that they harmlessly flirted and spent an almost unnatural amount of time together, but for now, that's all it was. April would be the first to admit that yes, there was always something between them that made them closer than she was with anyone else and vice-versa; the two always seemed to gravitate towards one another, the cusp of something deeper always forming but never truly gaining root.

Always too many questions without enough answers; April feared of the unknown and Raph of not being enough for her; propensity to hide in shadows and avoid the world she knew and lived in. It wouldn't be an easy relationship and the concerns over such a thing always caused them to just stay one step back from being something more than best friends. Dancing around it wasn't easy, one step forward, two steps back; April even began questioning wanting to at least try in fear of either of them getting hurt as the result. She wasn't sure if it was one she was willing to make...but she didn't want to die wondering either...

Breaking her from her thoughts were his massive arms walling her in, one on each side; his powerful hands wrapped tightly over the handlebars as her own small delicate fingers grasped rather pathetically at the loose black fabric covering his thighs, where she was currently sandwiched between what might as well have been tree trunks. In the back of her mind that wasn't screaming at what a stupid idea this was, she wondered why he stopped wearing his leather gladiator belt thing, which she thought looked much better on him then the black shorts he wore now... Those frivolous thoughts flew to the wayside when with a loud holler and a high-pitched scream that made her ears ring, Raphael's hands curved forward and the bike careened from the side of the darkened sidewalk with a loud squeal of rubber scraping on asphalt.

It wasn't until later she realized the scream was coming from her...

With her stomach in her throat and heart landing somewhere amid her bowels, April held on to Raphael for dear life, leaning the majority of her weight on his chest as the inside of her helmet became a bit foggy with her large amount of exhalations from being on the verge of hyperventilation. Blue eyes closing; not daring to look at the speedometer and the acceleration of how fast they were passing the neon lights of businesses and lit residences alongside of the road. The brunette forced herself to focus solely on the sensation of warm fall wind tickling her neck and through her hair outside of the helmet whipping wildly along Raphael's plastron.

The vibrations from the motorcycle was having the effect of a massage chair and soon, fear began to drift away like sand through her fingers. Recalling who she was with and how many times he'd saved her and protected her; the faith she had in him had her heart calming and breath thankfully returning to normal. She laughed practically silently, recalling being flung from the top of a building with Shredder and dangling hundreds of feet above the ground. Her falling toward the cement below at an insane rate of speed and in moments she would be nothing but a splatter and yet, he caught her when it should have been impossible. His large rough hand grasping her wrist and the whiplash shooting pain through her neck and spine, but otherwise, she was fine. The moment so clear as she looked up at him; amber eyes alight with relief making her heart skip a beat even in the midst of the battle.

It became so apparent in this moment and every one after...

...that Raphael would never let anything happen to her...

"Ya doin' a'ight?" Raph's voice came through a bit muffled from his helmet as well as the wind and speed they were currently traveling, but she heard it regardless.

"Yeah...I'm good." she laughed, leaning her head back in order to look up at him.

Amber eyes focused on the road but he was certain to give her a smirk and a devious twinkle in his eye as they sharply swung around a corner, precariously tipping to the point of almost touching the fast-moving asphalt.

April didn't realize she was screaming until they were upright again; cheeks flushed crimson upon hearing Raphael laughing his ass off as if it was the fuckin' funniest thing in the world. She did not think about how attractive, deep, and sexy his laugh is...not at all...because it didn't count when she was the butt of it.

"Sorry." he muttered in a throaty chuckle and April sensed it was a tad sarcastic or just his good-natured ribbing; either of which the brunette did not appreciate right now especially when she was having such nice thoughts about him. Deciding to be huffy toward him, she leaned further into his chest and she noticed her fingernails had been digging into his thighs much like a cat clawing desperately to their owner over a harmless tub of water that may as well be a center of a volcano. Immediately releasing her fists, she rested them loosely upon her lap as the city around them faded into darkened, abandoned residences and the oncoming countryside.

The frantic speed wasn't as noticeable with just a long road and no lights other then the bike's headlights ahead of them; the smooth asphalt and the yellow and white lines in vast contrast to the black of the street. The quiet air was calming and the stars began sparkling to life once the pollution dissipated from the smog of the city.

It was about twenty minutes of driving when he spoke again, "Eh, I'm really sorry, April. I shoulda warned ya before I pulled dat stunt." he admitted and his arms seemed to further close in on her; his deep raspy voice giving away his genuine apologetic tone.

"It's alright, Big Guy." she responded with a light sigh, allowing her body to further melt into his. The soothing breeze and the warmth of the night around them caught up with her; the long week of work behind her and a extended weekend trip with Raphael awaited. It was enough to allow her heart and breath to slow exponential in the relaxing atmosphere; the comfort of his presence and heartbeat pleasantly pattering on her back lulling her into sleep she didn't anticipate; her head lolling back to rest her weight fully into his body.

The motorcycle gliding smoothly upon finely paves roads that were nearly untouched; Raphael slowed down.

The only noise was the purr of the bike underneath them; the headlights, stars, and crescent moon the only light for miles. A bit of regret at his actions seeped into his gut; he worried he was becoming too comfortable around April. The ease as to which their friendly banter and flirting accelerating was becoming worrisome. The attachment he already felt for her was unlike anything he'd ever experienced and he wasn't sure if he liked that feeling or not. He'd always been strictly independent; adamant he didn't need anybody; and yet, with her, it was so easy to become caught up with her; the desire to be near her all-encompassing and debilitating at times.

The red-banded terrapin felt as if perhaps he should pull back yet when she offered her family's old farm house for a long weekend and he told her he'd drive without even thinking about it, he knew he was screwed. It was just too hard to distance himself from her friendship and beautiful smile; the ease as to which they grew closer and closer by the day made him second-guess everything. Eventually, she'd grow tired of him; find someone more worthy of her time and Raph silently prepared for that yet hoped maybe, just maybe, that wouldn't happen... But no matter how many times he wanted to ask her if she wanted to be more than friends, his tongue turned to lead in his mouth. He felt stupid for even thinking about such fantastical possibilities for himself...

April shifted upon his lap suddenly and Raph realized she was most likely exhausted from her work day. Unlike him, who slept all day in preparation for tonight's driving, she had been up, shopped, packed, and got everything prepared for their trip.

"Um...Hey, ya could take a nap if ya want, April. It'll be a couple more hours before we get there." Raph nervously rambled, not even noticing the blue-eyed brunette had already fallen asleep on him. When she didn't respond after a moment, he thought perhaps she was still a bit upset at his stunt earlier but instead was pleasantly surprised when he stole a quick glance at the sleeping beauty.

Amber eyes looking back to the street, he couldn't help the smile that lifted the corners of his mouth. Feeling more at ease and with the pavement smooth under the wheels and the peasant hum of the engine, he continued to their final destination.