Crazy - Chapter 11

Competition

Rated: T

Chapter Summary: Raphael falls even further in love and he didn't even think it was possible. Also, nothing brings people closer than some friendly competition...right?


I'm having a hard time with Raphael's personality anymore. The newest movie really changed a lot. He's more playful and talkative than he was in the 2014 version which is the one I based most of this story on so I'm trying to combine them. Still keeping Raph incredibly insecure while making him not a complete stone for most of this; it's not easy so please be patient with me while I try to figure it out and find a nice middle-ground. Blegh.

Hope you enjoy. :-)


It was a day like many others before; wasting time in what Donatello coined "training", which solely consisted Donnie throwing discus or other random objects around the lair and Raph either caught them or hit them with his fists or a weapon if need be to switch it up. It was boring and rather monotonous at times but so was lifting weights; so he assumed at least training with Donnie was good hand-eye coordination.

Michelangelo, of course, didn't agree.

The youngest turtle remaining adamant video games were just as counter-intuitive and should count toward physical training but Leo thankfully slapped him in the back of his head with Mikey proclaiming a loud, "YEOWCH!"; that sound typically ended those conversations. How the eldest brother managed to break out of those painful yoga poses in the blink of an eye without pulling a muscle was beyond Raph's comprehension (shit, how he even got into them in the first place was anyone's guess).

For now, it was just a waiting game - pacing and staring at a nearby clock in trepidation; abiding their time until the sun decided to push its face below the horizon. Well, that's how it normally would go down had there not been something vastly different about today; for today was Friday and April O'Neil was coming over.

Raphael's heart involuntarily clenched at the thought; returning the soccer ball towards Donnie's awaiting hands. Red-banded terrapin's mind still in overdrive whenever the thought would trickle its way into his subconscious.

It would be a sore understatement to proclaim Raphael had been distracted as of late, recalling that night at any moment he had free time to ponder and even amiss chaos it still sprang to mind. Whether it be catching a glimpse of the new scarring of his shoulder: the one scar that would be treasured above the rest solely because April tended to it. Moreover was the indescribable instance of the beautiful reporter pulling him down to her level; smiling at him in the way that only she did before her perfect, pink lips pressed upon his face.

Bestowing upon him an actual kiss; something he swore he'd die without experiencing; a lonely miserable existence without the knowledge of how simply profound it could be...

In short, it still blew his fuckin' mind.

The ever increasing need to pinch himself and make sure it was part of his reality; a night he'd never forget and of course, one that Mikey kept bugging him about to no foreseeable end.

It'd only been five days since she kissed him; well, his cheek anyway, and he'd been positively "chipper" as Mikey pointed out. That was before Raph pounded him into the mat and the youngest turtle quickly changed his mind regarding his brother's demeanor. That didn't stop the charismatic Michelangelo, the nosy little shit even tried getting information from April over the phone but to Raphael's ever-increasing thankfulness, she didn't say much (at least he assumed so for if she did tell the full story, Mikey would have brought it up by now or teased the ever-loving shit out of him).

It seemed to appease his orange-banded brother for the time being and that was the important thing; for there was only so much Mikey a person could take before losing whatever remained of their sanity.

As for him, speaking with April throughout this week was rather refreshing for nothing changed.

Still spoke and text often either about their respective days or going-ons. It shocked Raphael at how easily they communicated, friendship simple and strong that made her kiss seem even more profound. Not wanting to ponder it too long in fear his brothers seeing the dopey smile inching his way up his face, he went back to straightening up the lair in preparations for April's arrival not even noticing when the ball Donnie ricocheted flew past his head. Genius brother yelling out after him when he missed the projectile without returning it but Mikey quickly took his place. Not even sensing Leo's blue eyes shooting a confused look at the back of his head.

Raphael was trying to lay low and put off how excited he was and so far he'd been successful as he went about doing "chores" just to keep them in the dark about what was really happening. At least, he believed he was...

The hard part was making it stay that way but Raphael was determined to do so.


Hours passed and for now, the lair was quiet.

Splinter went out to go gather supplies and his brothers went out to watch the Knick's playoff game at the stadium. They questioned him for a bit as to why he'd skip such a significant game and the chance to watch it live from their new hiding spot but Raphael shrugged it off and the issue was dropped. More pizza for them Raphael supposed. Brothers were gone with Mikey's voice echoing throughout the lair before fading into the distance of the tunnels. When their presence dispersed, Raphael wasn't sure how to absorb the all-encompassing silence.

Stomach in knots, Raph stole another quick glance down at the text that April had sent just moments ago.

"OMW. Need anything?" it read and his stomach flipped.

Sure, April had been to the lair quite a few times and he'd been to her place regularly; the two certainly weren't strangers to being alone but for some fuckin' reason, it felt different tonight. They made plans and an activity; if he was completely out of his mind, he'd probably disillusion himself to thinking this was an actual date of some sort...

Raph swore he was gonna be sick...

"No. I'm good." he wrote back; pushing those fantastical thoughts to the back of his mind as he pressed the letters in with gigantic fingers. The last thing he needed was more fuel for the nervous fire rapidly building in his chest cavity.

"K. Be there soon. ;-)" she replied and Raph almost swallowed his tongue.

Damn winking emoticon...he grumbled internally, his stomach doing back-flips as he awaited her arrival.

Raphael felt positively stupid pacing around and even more embarrassed that he was freaking about what to say to her when she showed up. It felt so weird for as many times they spent alone and he was around her, just knowing what was about to occur always caused upset regardless.

"Be yourself, just be yourself, idiot..." he grumbled as a mantra, taking deep breaths while frantically pacing the expanse of the lair for what had to be the dozenth time in the past five minutes.

Passing a mirror, Raphael surprised himself when he stopped in front of it; the red-banded terrapin was famous for avoiding mirrors like the plague but it was better he was certain there wasn't anything on his face and appeared halfway decent before the reporter arrived. Adjusting his mask slightly, he was sorely tempted to give himself a pep talk but thought better about doing so when the vibration of distant footsteps nearby tickled his ear drums.

April was almost here.

Pushing the trepidation to the back of his mind, he turned away from the mirror and immediately began panicking. Not wanting to seem like he was on pins and needles eagerly waiting for her arrival, he retrieved the basketball and dribbled lazily; praying to God he didn't appear as blatantly apprehensive as he felt.

Natural, natural, natural...just be yourself....the mantra repeated internally in his mind as she grow closer; finally gathering his courage, Raphael lifted his head to greet her.

Oh, fuck...the only logical thought that crossed his mind when golden eyes absorbed her presence; basketball held in tense hands fell to the floor and bounced away.

Raphael hadn't regarded her presence for a grand total of six days but he'd swear to the highest power that during that short time, she'd only became more beautiful; more splendid and magnificent. An illuminating glow surrounding her; whether it be her smile and eyes that appeared brighter or whether it was the adorable bounce in her step; whatever the hell it was, Raphael's nervousness came back with a vengeance as soon as she approached him.

"Hey!" April chirped, moving her bike to lean against an adjacent wall.

"Hey." he grumbled; hating how the word sounded coming out of his mouth and wanting to physically smack himself into motion, Raphael closed the distance between them. April had been dressed for work and came bearing a duffel and grocery bag he immediately began helping her remove.

"What's this?" he asked curiously, gazing into the grocery bag but was stopped when April captured it from his hands.

"No! It's supposed to be a secret! It's the prize for whoever manages not to get their ass kicked tonight!" she said with a smile and breathy chuckle that caused his carapace to tingle. So distracted by how much he loved hearing her laugh, she was able to pull it away; the brown paper crinkling loudly as she cradled it against her chest.

"Hmm. So, that's how you're playing it, huh?" he muttered with raised brow ridges and barely concealed smirk adorning his rough features.

Damn, she was so beautiful...

"Yep. But you may put it in the kitchen while I get dressed." she replied with a cheeky grin, offering the bag to him which he took and nestled it in one arm.

"You mean you're not gonna take me on this those?" Raph asked, gesturing to her attire with his free hand.

"Skinny jeans and high-heeled boots? I don't think so, mister. That'll only give you another unfair advantage. I'm not gonna be playing in these unless you're wearing something similar." she laughed; giving him another brilliant smile before disappearing into an adjoining room where the bathrooms and bathing chambers were located.

Raphael's cheeks burned the instant she left before doing as she asked.

Task complete, he felt listless while waiting for her to change. Taking deep breaths to calm his frantic nerves, he began aimlessly walking around; double-checking the hoop and dribbling the ball around to make sure it had sufficient air. Careful to remove any random object throughout the area so there was no hazardous tripping material littered around; once certain there were none, his attention was grabbed when he heard her steps returning.

Amber eyes lifted and it was a miracle he didn't swallow his tongue upon seeing her. Hair in a tall ponytail showcasing those incredibly sculpted cheekbones on her heart shaped face; New York Knicks jersey hanging loosely on her frame and teeny black shorts barely visible underneath her top. Black and white basketball shoes he wasn't even aware she had in her wardrobe adorned her feet. Raph swallowed thickly when he met her eyes and realized he'd been probably oogling her like some demented creeper.

"So, ready to get your ass kicked?" April asked with dainty hands planted firmly on flared hips and Raph couldn't help but grin at her words.

"Ya should look in da mirror and ask yerself that." he replied and his smile only widened when she gave him an adorably angry pout.

This is what he was used to.

The natural ease in which he felt when around her was something he held onto a lifeline at this point to hopefully avoid embarrassing himself in her presence.

"Oh, you are ON!" April announced, grabbing the ball off the ground and began dribbling it.

"Bring it." Raph grumbled in response and full agreement. Giving her a wicked smile as she made the first move.

Raphael was thoroughly surprised by how fast she was; never noticing that trait before because her high-heels usually impeded her speed. Feet light and fast as she moved around him before he even realized what happened. Raph couldn't help but smirk as he moved to block her, stunned into silence when she threw the ball and it landed into the hoop with a resounding swoosh. Eyebrow ridges raised, he looked down at her and she gave him a haughty smirk.

"Like I said earlier, are you prepared for an ass kicking?" she teased.

"Hmph. So that's how's gonna be." Raph chuckled, not even giving her time to blink as he jumped, swooping the ball from the ground and into the hoop in a single move; turning to her with a smug smirk before the ball even managed to touch the ground.

"You're so gonna get it..." she laughed as she ran toward the discarded basketball.

Within moments, they were both moving.

Raphael careful to avoid hurting her with his massive frame and quick movements. As much as this was an awesome time to show off his ninjitsu skills, he didn't necessarily want to show her up; giving her optimum time to succeed at making a few baskets. He wasn't about to go easy on her though; making sure to meet her point for point as the game progressed.

Time flew as they went back and forth, sweat lining April's forehead as she dodged him for the tenth time that night, moving underneath his blocking arm and she was about to make the winning basket and he was gonna let her until a awesomely despicable thought arose in his mind.

With little hesitation, he moved.

Using his ninja stealth and speed to block the basketball with a massive hand. While it was bouncing away, April moved to grab it; once back in her hands, she turned toward the basket and was met with a wall of muscle - Raphael.

Blue eyes staring defiantly into his own and bottom lip clenched between white teeth, she faked him out; pretending to move left while in actuality, her sneakers squeaked upon moving right instead. The distraction proved futile as Raphael's massive reach didn't miss and before she knew it, his arm was around her middle as she tried to pull behind him.

April squealed as he grabbed her waist, lifting; turning her toward him and into his chest all while she couldn't stop the laughter to leak from between her plump lips. In her grasp the ball still remained; arms lifted high and it perched precariously in her hands.

"No fair! You cheater! You can't pick up your opponent!" she screamed and gasped fruitlessly, escaped laughter echoing loudly throughout the lair.

"Says who?" he teased.

"The official playbook!" she squealed, still giggling as she fruitlessly tried to wiggle loose from his arms.

"Heh. This ain't an official game, sweetheart." he muttered and his smile fell when the last word fell from his lips. Face burning and heart stopping cold in his chest; he stared at April to see her reaction but her bright smile never faltered.

"Fine. I still call shenanigans though." she replied, bonking him lightly on the head with the ball which earned her another toothy smile.

Raphael purposefully moved toward the basket to April's shock. Her eyes bored into his in curiosity as to why he would do such a thing but that thought left fled the instant she was close enough to make a basket. Both didn't make a move for a long while as she looked at him. It wasn't until a long minute later when during the preempted stillness, April flung her arms back. The basketball entered through the metal loop and net with a resounding swish.

"I win." April said smugly; hands resting upon his massive shoulders.

It was apparent Raphael set up the shot but she didn't care. For him to be willing to lose was something she never would have expected of the competitive, hot-headed terrapin.

"Guess ya did...Good job." he replied with a soft smirk and lazy shrug. The rising of his shoulders causing her to experience first-hand every single muscle and tendon in his impressive, thickly-muscled shoulders.

"So...you don't mind that you lost?" she asked after a long pause; dainty fingers tracing his collarbones absentmindedly.

"...not to you." he whispered, the words coming forth without his usual filter. The first milliseconds they passed his lips, he began panicking but it faded as he watched in wonder as April's face flushed and her cheeks gained the most brilliant rosy hue at his words. The smile that followed made his heart plummet and ache in a way it never had before.

Silence enveloped the space and Raphael found himself struggling to breath.

God, he loved her so much...

April continued smiling at him, hands never ceasing their gentle touch upon his shoulders and upper-chest. Raphael was certain nothing had ever felt more powerful than this. Being with her; smelling the slight sweat from her neck and her racing heart upon the palm of his hand where they rested upon her shoulder-blades. The touch of her hands and languid breaths brushing over his cheeks was akin to a paradise he had no business being a part of.

The terrapin watched with bated breath as her heavily-lidded eyes flicked over his face and down to his mouth. He swore his heart stopped as her eyes lifted back to his and he had no idea what to think and found himself struggling to breath at the indication of what her look might have meant.

This couldn't be happening...

"Raph, I..." April spoke suddenly, voice low and raspy as she spoke. Raphael was hanging on each and every syllable that left her mouth but before she could speak further, an all too familiar voice broke him from April's enchanting reverie.

"ANGELCAKES, I'LL SAVE YOU!"