Raphael's P.O.V.-

I was convinced, for a long time, that romantic love is useless. It never lasts and always ends up being a bitter disappointment. It was nothing more than a waste of time better spent training or developing one's skills. As far as I was concerned, love was not for me. And I truly believed, again for a time, that I could simply will myself not to love. Falling in love was a choice, like eating a bagel or watching a movie; it didn't just "happen" to anyone. One only fell in love if they willed it, if they wanted to. Thus, I knew I was safe from such afflictions, for I was certain that I did not want love and could choose to live without it indefinitely.

The dreaded Friday night crept up on me. Before I knew it, I checked the calendar to see- to my horror- it was Friday morning. The rest of the day was spent with me dreading and overthinking the evening's event. It was surprisingly easy to escape my brothers' prying eyes. Leo announced that we'd be doing our separate patrols tonight- he literally couldn't have gift wrapped this better for me. But once I was on my way to Murakumi's shop, any nerve I previously had begun to crumble. This would be… my first time going out alone with a girl, after all.

My teeth gritted together annoyedly. It's all Athénaïs's fault! She's the reason I'm feeling so… so… breathless. She doesn't even try, which makes me all the madder. Dammit, why does she have to be so….. feminine?! Seriously, would it kill her to act less gracefully? She walks feminine, talks feminine, even glances feminine! And she lets me do the bulk of the talking, like she secretly knows men adore good listeners. How the hell would she know something like that?! How is it possible for her to be radiant but delicate at the same time? She's too sweet and pure for her own good, god dammit all! What am I supposed to do with a human girl like that?

I had to momentarily pause on a rooftop not too far from the shop; I needed to regain my composure. My lungs sucked in some much-needed oxygen. Ok, Raph; you can do this. It's most definitely not a date- just two friends going to a festival together. You need to calm down; Athénaïs said herself that this isn't a date. Just be yourself and everything will be alright…. Everything will be alright, won't it? Won't it…..?

It's then that I spotted the roof door on Athénaïs's building opening up. Out stepped Athénaïs in a white, lacy dress with short sleeves. Her hair was done in this style where the bulk of it was loose with a single braid cupping it up and around the bottom; it's a style I'd never seen before. Looked very European. In her hair were these crystal flower pins scattered all around the back. The moment I saw her, it felt like someone punched me in the gut- hard. I was winded and struggled to regain my breath properly.

Holy crap! Where did that come from just now? To be fair, I'd only seen girls the way she was dressed now on tv before; never in real life. I didn't know girls could look like that in real life…. She told me she'd be wearing a costume to make me feel more comfortable, but I had no idea she'd wear something like this…

It took everything I had to supress all these new and very weird sensations before I jumped over to meet her. Ok, so maybe she looks a little… different tonight. I'm not going to let that change my attitude- not in the slightest. Deciding upon that, I leapt over to her roof to meet her for the first time in a few days.

Athénaïs's P.O.V.-

Thank goodness I had this white dress I brought with me from Austria. It wasn't anything too fancy; just a simple summer dress. But I suppose it would be considered elegant by American standards. I hoped Raphael would like it as I ascended the staircase and went outside onto the rooftop. To my mild astonishment, he was there a minute after I came out. I spun around to greet him with a pleasant grin.

"Raphael! Good evening." He of course, smirked; his arms folded in an unimpressed fashion. What? He doesn't like it? I glanced down a bit admonished. "You call that a costume?" His voice was a bit playful and cocky. I blinked back up at him and frowned. "What's wrong with it?" "You look like you're going to a wedding." "Nonsense! This is a costume; I'm Sissi." "Who?" His eyebrow lifted. "Princess Sissi, Empress of Austria. She's our version of Queen Victoria. You must have seen her picture on all that chocolate you ate in my room." He shrugged, still smirking. "You still look way too over-dressed for a festival." "It's a European festival. Any Europeans attending will know who I'm supposed to be," thanks to the signature hair pins- Sissi's trademark accessory. "Yeah, but all American are gonna think you look ridiculous." "I believe you there," I rolled my eyes.

Raphael's hand rubbed the back of his neck a bit awkwardly as he now peered away. "S-So, where is the festival anyway?" "It's in Brooklyn; we're rather far. It'd take too long to walk from here. I suppose we could take transit; I'll just pay your fare and tell anyone who asks we're in costume," I thought out loud, my thumb raising up to my chin in a pondering manner. Raphael watched me for a second, not saying anything. Then he gave the longest sigh while rolling his eyes exasperatedly. My eyes grew very, very wide as I suddenly felt myself being lifted up in his arms princess-style. Raphael scooped me up as easily as he did before.

"R-Raphael…!" Before I could continue, the mutant turtle stopped me. "You walk super slow. It'll take us all night if we go by foot." "W-What are you doing?" "Duh! I'm going to take us there. What'd ya think?" My cheeks immediately blushed. "N-No, that's ok. I'll walk fast; d-don't worry." "Would you give it a rest? I… uh… I don't mind carrying you," he didn't meet my stunned gaze while saying this. "Raphael," I whispered more to myself this time. I felt his arms tense up under me; if I didn't know any better, I'd say he didn't want to jostle his "cargo" too much. This only made me blush more….. He's only bringing me to the festival; that's all. So why does this feel so…. insanely intimate?

I guess I'd been quiet for too long since he finally dared to blink down at me. "What's with you?" His tone wasn't as harsh as you'd imagine. "N-Nothing! I'm just…. Erm, I'll tell you where to go from here." "You got it," with me securely in his grip, Raphael began the journey there. He only faltered on one particular jump, when my hand accidently touched the front of his shell. He didn't say anything, but I felt his arms hold me closer, if that were possible.