"We better take your car." Kelsey walked a few steps behind Raphael out to the dirt lot behind the apartment building. It was actually a house a mile or so away from Raphaels' university. Only the bottom floor was theirs.
"What's wrong with yours?"
"It's been acting up lately. I want to take it up to my parents for the insurance." Raphael pulled open the trunk of delivery car. A pizza with 'Robs Slicery' printed on it was painted on either side door, glistening lazily in the sun beside his tarped bike.
"Why don't you ever let me fix that thing."
"Oh, sugar dumpling." She pushed her bags in and took his chin. "It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that I don't trust you with any tools."
"Don't call me sugar dumpling." She smirked.
"Pumpkin boodles?" He groaned and tossed his bags in after hers, shutting the door again. "Sweety muffin?" They got in the black hatch back and Raphael started the car.
"Nasty."
"Or how about," She climbed over to him and held his shoulder, coming in suggestively close to his ear. "Big Daddy?" He shivered as the tip of her tongue ran over the cut of his jaw. "Hmm?" His eyes shifted to her, and he caught a glimpse of an evil grin. She sat back in her seat and he took another long look at her. She had recently redyed the tips of her shoulder length hair to a light blue. He had to admit, he enjoyed the punk edge. No more classical piano. His eyes trailed down her modestly curvy form, down to the long legs she had put on display with a short skirt. A skirt. That was something he knew she hardly ever wore. He looked back up into her eyes. She was planning something. Something no doubt devious.
"Yeah, what was this morning about...really." He kept his eyes on the road, and began pulling out of the parkinglot. Best to keep his mind off her legs.
"Trying to conserve time." She mused. He gave her a suspicious look.
"You're unusually…. lively today." They pulled out onto the road to get through Boston. He could see Elias already on the porch watering the plants, playing house. Bumble made a flying leap on to his tail and the lizard began running about the porch, the hose dousing the rest of the house. Shaking his head, Raphael had to ignore it.
"Oh. Ok, I'll stop." She announced suddenly.
"Um... ok." He kept one eye on the road as Kelsey ran her hands up her thighs, taking hold of a black pair of panties, and pulling them all the way down, off her boots. She non-chalantly hung them around the rear view mirror.
"Starting now." He couldn't help but stare. They almost hit a truck. He had to veer back onto the right lane and was honked at.
"Holy crap, Kelsey. What the hell are you doing?" He half laughed. She shrugged with a knowing smile, eventually turning on the radio. Not long after they got onto the highway the old 'thong song' came on. It harped of tight, uncomfortably hot days on the porch of Casey Jones's farm one summer back in '99, with imaginary dancing girls. The opportunity seemed to miss Kelsey though on that drive.
They had hardly gone through the check into New York when she started up again though. First it was inching over in the seat. When she began playing with the sleeve of his tee-shirt he knew he was done for. Her hand ventured up underneath his shirt. He could see in the rear view mirror the look in her eye. As her nail gently ran up the plating in his shell he gave up his resistance.
"Ok, alright." He put his blinker on to pull off to the side of the road. She removed her hand and put it on the wheel.
"No no, keep driving." She insisted. He looked at her, still not turning it back. The pain in the lower part of his plastron made it hard to turn the blinker back off. But he did. She smiled and teasingly nuzzled his neck. He sucked his breath in as the tip of her tongue ran up the cord of his neck, up around to the sensitive part of his ear. "Just keep going." He wanted to tell her the same thing.
A desire laden moan came from his mouth and she gave a muffled laugh into his neck. Her hand ventured back up his shirt, caressing the extra-sensitive skin adjoining his carapace.
"Not funny." He groaned, tilting his head to the side for her still. She climbed a little farther on him, and he knew they were getting strange looks from passers by. But what did he care. He'd been getting strange looks all his life.
For what seemed like a delicious eternity, actually only five minutes, this continued. When she finally stopped Raphael had become a mass of sinewy muscle. He could hardly take his hands off the wheel and she attempted not to laugh. His chest heaved, he felt like he was going to die. Or have to pull over to relieve himself...
Looking over at Kelsey she had set her feet up on the dash board, resting her arms over her knees. His eyes ran again over her legs. Part of him wanted to kill her for doing that to him. The other part had an interesting idea how. She looked at him partways, and drew in her lips to keep her from smiling or laughing. His eyes caught on one of the road signs for lodging off the next exit. She somehow read his mind, and shook her head no.
Raph looked back on the road, maintaining his well trained self-control. But when she was right there.... he could just reach out and.... Arrrrrg! He nearly broke the wheel in half trying to stay in control when he was so close to blowing up. She knew what she was doing to him too, which was even worse.
A slowing haggard breathing pattern and concentrating on the radio kept him from reverting to his old 'hot head' self. Which he was SO CLOSE to doing too. God, was that what she wanted? Cause he would... in a SECOND. What the hell did she want anyway? This was cruel and unusual. He looked at her and glared. She bit her bottom lip and shrugged with innocence. God damn it.
Once they reached the city she retrieved her panties from the mirror. With the honking horns, loud talking, and screeching buses, it was like a fish returning to his waters.
Raphael kept one eye on the panties, and the other on the roads. He knew how anyone wouldn't mind walking right up and taking a peek. And he knew how easy it would be to get in a crash in this crazy place. Although it was still better than Boston (arguably) he put both eyes back on the streets.
"You wanna be careful where you flash that thing?" He smirked.
"Why, would it make you jealous?" She returned, hiking them up under her skirt. He eyed her.
"...Maybe." They exchanged sly smiles.
HOOOOOOOONK
Raphael hit the breaks. A car zipped through after his light had just turned red. He flicked them off and Kelsey laughed.
"I love this place."
"You haven't even seen rush hour." Raphael proceeded through the intersection. Although he hadn't seen Mike's new apartment, it felt almost like second nature driving there. The square block streets of New York City were firmly imprinted upon his mind. Although he was truly translating his map from what he catalogued from rooftops, into actual roadways.
A hand rested over his and he realized he must have been looking rather intense. Kelsey asked what was wrong and he said nothing, smiling afterwards. He pushed the thoughts to the back of his head and she took her hand back.
There was a pay parking garage they finally pulled into a few blocks from the apartment building. The parking hadn't gotten much better since when he had left. At least it was a little cleaner though.
They left their stuff in the back, covered by a blanket. Raphael got out and grabbed the bottle of wine from the back seat. He looked over to the other side of the car. Kelsey leaned over to fix her hair or something in the window. Even with shoes he was able to stealth back around her unheard. She saw his reflection in the mirror as he wrapped his arms around her middle.
"You look fine, okay?" He said into her hair as she stood back up. She said she knew, and he nodded. Not quite letting her go yet. He could feel her behind pressed up against him and he ran his hands around between her legs. This time it was she who took in a surprised breath. He began planting a little kiss on her neck and she turned around.
"Ready to go?" He cupped his hands around her bottom and pushed her against him, receiving a muffled squeak. They both laughed and she pushed out of his arms. "I think we might be early." He added, hoping she might catch the underlying meanings of his words. She ignored them and continued toward the sidewalk. "I don't know if the guys'll all be there yet." He finished, clicking the locks shut with his remote key as he followed behind.
"Well. It might take us some to find the place?"
"Yeah." He sighed. "I guess." They were only ten minutes early anyway. Not nearly enough time.
Mike's apartment was situated in one of the semi-nice quarters of the city. The streets were still cluttered with some trashcans and graffiti. But it was a far cry from some of the old ghettos on the outskirts of civilization. And it was still better than his last apartment. Out on skid row just about.
An charismatic voice answered down after Raphael hit the button for Michelangelos apartment. The door unlocked, opening to a narrow stairwell and hallway. They took the stairs up several long flights. Just their luck the buildings floors were extra tall.
Three flights up they found a door with a bold '306', and the word 'Hamato' printed beneath. Raphael knocked and waited patiently as heavy footsteps danced forward from the other side of the door. The bolts were undone so the door flew open from its port. An excited green face filled the doorjamb, a well worn chefs hat resting with a rackish flop off the side of his head.
"RAPH!"
"Hey Mikey!" They hugged and heartily slapped each others shells, giving a short laugh. "What's goin' on?"
"My bread's about to burn! Come insid- Whoah, Hell-OH!" Mike exclaimed, looking his brothers girlfriend over. She laughed in return.
"Same to you, buddy." Mike grew a giant grin and took their hands.
"Come on inside, I made some hors d'oeuvres. Ooh! Wine!" Raph handed over the bottle. "Nice." Pushing Raphael farther inside Mike closed and locked the door, looking over the label.
"I just grabbed it. I didn't know what you were making." Raph shrugged off his jacket and looked for a place to hang it. Mike continued reading the label while he snaked an arm around Kelseys waist, taking the jacket from Raph.
"This is great. Thanks." He tossed the jacket on the coat rack. "And you," He turned to Kelsey and grinned wide again. "Are going to be my chefette… if you don't mind."
"You're the host." He laughed.
"Excellent." Through the narrow hall to the left was the semi-spacious kitchen, now steaming and smelling of dinner. Raphael followed them in after taking a quick once over of the living room.
"Mike, this is Kelsey. Kelsey, this is Michelangelo." Mike tossed her an extra apron from a hook on the refrigerator and gave a more easy going smile.
"Hey."
"Hey." She smiled.
"And I'll can cook circles around both of you, so don't even try matching up against the master." They looked at Raphael and frowned.
"Raph, if you tried running in circles you'd fall over." Mike retrieved a pair of hot mitts thrown on the counter, and opened the oven.
"Ha ha." A rectangular pan was pulled from the oven, a tan brown cap of bread sitting atop it. Raising it to his face Mike took a deep breath through his nose. He turned and presented it to Kelsey by the refrigerator. She bowed her head and smelled as well, an approving smile coming over her face. Mike grinned at this.
"Good, huh?"
"Smells great." She said. Placing the pan on the stove top he removed his mitts. Raphael tossed him a cloth as Mike held his hand for it, not turning from the sweet smelling bread.
"Thanks." He laid it over the top and gave it a proud tap. "So Kelsey, Raph tells me you're into metal work. What's that like?" Mike turned around to her, absently slivering almonds.
"Fifteen sweaty guys, torches, and Metallica blaring all day long?" She received two wide eyed stares. "You know. Just the epitome of art." Mike's chest shook as he held in laughter, looking into his little bowl of almonds.
"You didn't tell me there were so many guys in your class." Raphaels brow deepened. The look he received corrected him. He was reminded curtly of time she had followed him to Libia, finding him ensconced one evening in a harem of belly dancers. "Mmn." He felt the color rising, still fighting down the smile of recalling her fighting off a dozen woman from him.
"Mm hm," Kelsey began slicing a box of strawberries Michelangelo offered to her. "Thanks." Mike smirked.
"...No need to thank me. I should actually thank you." He said.
"Then thank her." Raphael now smirked. Mike grinned evilly at him.
"I was planning on doing it when you weren't around."
"Whooo." Raphael squinted and shook his head.
"You know what," Kelsey precisely decapitated the leaves off a strawberry with a swipe of a blade. "I'm thanked. So before you start fighting..." Raphael made a fist and began softly hitting his open palm.
Knock-knock-knock
Three eyes looked towards the foyer. "Speaking of fighting." Raphael hopped off the stool. Mike wisely back out of his way and smiled, mainly to himself.
It had been almost a year since the four of them had been all together in one place. What with everything that had been going for them all. Life had hit them each like a rolling bowling ball. There were his own classes at NYU, Donatello's full time job and computer classes, Leonardo flying back and forth every couple months to Japan, and Raphael living in Massachusetts. They had found it increasingly difficult to all get together at one time. Or at least plan it. Which was left to mainly Mike, with some help from Don. Raph and Leo always seemed to be on another planet.
"Get the hell in here, you bastard!" Raphael bellowed. But things weren't as bad as they could have been. Mike craned his neck to look out into the front hall to see Leonardo, and his nearly equal body weight, being lifted off the ground in Raphaels ropey arms. Donatello smiled, hanging his coat on the side of the wall. "Grrrrrr! I'm gunna make you my dinner bitch, Leo." Mike stifled a laugh and returned to the kitchen.
"Now, about that thank you." He came around the back of Kelsey, gently putting his hands on her shoulders and looking over them. "Heh heh heh..."
"Oh, fresh."
"You've done this before?" He peeked at the fanned strawberries. A series of bumps and crashes emmerged from the hall.
"Here and there."
"Cool. You must have a hard time with Raph trying to cook now. Do you give him a culinary smack down, or what?"
"Yarr, where's the grub Mike." Raphael asked a few moments later, arriving with Donatello in a headlock. Don growled and managed to wrench himself free before Raphs girlfriend caught him in such a position. He gave him a little shove away too to set things straight with them. Raphael looked back and they exchanged smirks, entering the kitchen. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?" He asked as soon as he saw Mike touching Kelsey. His hands dropped from her shoulders and he looked around.
"Just thanking her." A playful smile came over his face. "Right Kelsey?" Her shoulders bounced in silent laughter as a response. "Um... right?" Raphael approached them.
"I'm the only one allowed to thank her like that." He took Mike's place and placed his arm around the front of her shoulders. Mike grinned at the table and wiped his hands on his apron, joining his brothers. Kelsey turned around fighting down a smiling, looking up as she leaned against Raphs side. "Yeah. Babe, these are my other brothers. Kelsey, this is Don, and Leo. Leo, Don, this is Kelsey."
"Hi!" Donatello stepped forward, offering his hand. He wore a pair of loose khakis and a black tee-shirt. There was an in Internet palmtop peeking out of where it had been hitched to his pants. Kelsey smiled back and shook his hand. "We've heard so many stories, I'm happy to finally meet the real thing."
"Stories?" She raised an eyebrow. He laughed.
"Adventure stories. Although sometimes we wonder about the credibility of our source." Donatello eyed Raph.
"Oh, of course. And I assure you, you have a very credible source." Stepping aside, Leonardo took Dons place. "Hello."
"Hello." Leonardo gave her a polite, but warm smile. He had on a pair of black pants, and a wheat colored lawn shirt, hemp strands wrapped around his wrists. Piercing blue eyes looked though hers and she felt as if her very soul might be on showcase.
"It's a plea-"
"sure to meet you." Raphael finished. Mike and Don both looked at him, but Leonardo continued to look at Kelsey. "That's what she says whenever she wants to make good with someone." The entire room fell silent, except for the sound of Kelseys breath being sucked in, and her free hand clasping her mouth. Her face was a mix of shock and trepidation, turning several shades redder.
"Uh..." Leonardo said softly. Sliding her hand from his she went to Raphael, beginning to slap his arm as if attempting to break it open.
"You are such an ass!" Michelangelo snickered as Don and Leo looked on. Raphael tried to raise his arm away with a mild protest.
"Hey hey, ow, cut it out! Come on, it's true!" He laughed. "Why be shy about it?" She finished by grabbed his arm and punching it as hard as she could. Of course this didn't hurt him in the least. He rubbed the spot all the same.
"Wow, domestic abuse in my own kitchen. Now I feel so worldly." Michelangelo added. She groaned and leaned against the refrigerator, hiding her forehead with her hand. She couldn't understand why he did that. Godamn men.
"Moron." She muttered.
"Let's get dinner out on the table!" Mike laughed, hoisting a bowl of pasta effortlessly.... Don and Raphael went to help him, where Leonardo went to Kelsey. Placing a hand on her shoulder and turning his head in hopes he could catch her eyes.
"I'm flattered that you'd want to impress me." He spoke softly. "And I do like you so far... besides." She raised her fingers to meet his eyes. "You're the only one here who can hit Raph and not get hit back." Stifled chuckles filled the kitchen again.
"Wow, that was god damn great Mike. I'm fucking stuffed." Raphael closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. His hands fell onto the button of his pants and he realized they were feeling tight on him. "Whad'you deep fry everything?" He took a closer look at his pants.
"Why, are you feeling a chubby coming on, Raphy?" Mike smirked. Donatello fought down a laugh, and Leonardo appeared a bit shocked his brother spoke that way in front of their guest. Raphael raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Kelsey. But before there could be any further discussion on the topic, Leonardo broke in.
"So where are you two staying?" He asked, folding his napkin into elegant folds to tuck under his plate. Raphael cleared his throat and straightened up in his seat. He could see that Leo was going to have something to say to Mike later.
"We were gunna check into a hotel somewhere. Only staying this one night." Raphael declared, sitting up and setting his silverware across his plate. Leonardo frowned and looked at his brothers.
"Don, don't you have some extra room at your place?" He said in a tone gently implying, 'shouldn't you have offered them a place to stay earlier?' Donatello blotted off the corners of his mouth with a napkin and folded it back onto his plate. He hated it when Leo still acted like that. Well meaning- but an everlasting mother hen.
"Uh, yeah." He looked up at Raphael and Kelsey. "Yeah, I have an extra room. Come and stay with me tonight." He smiled, actually enjoying the idea of his brother staying over.
"Oh, I don't know. Don't wanna be a-"
"No bother!" Mike cut Kelsey off, simultaneously picking the dishes up. "Don lives in a fucking penthouse. He needs some people to walk through the place so the dust won't settle."
"It's not a penthouse, Mike. And I have a maid." Don retorted.
"It's as good as a penthouse." Mike shouted from the kitchen.
"Geez Donny, I don't want you to go through all the trouble for just one night." Raphael added once Mike had retreated to the kitchen with his dishes. Don shook his head.
"It's no trouble, Raph. I'd love to have you and Kelsey stay with me. Who knows the next time you're going to disappear into Africa." Raphael smirked at this. "What do you say?"
"I dunno, Kelsey?" Raphael looked to the seat beside him. She looked at him, then at Don.
"That sounds great, thank you."
"Great." Donatello beamed. "The guest room is already set up. We just need to get your things."
"We can just put your things right in here, and you'll be all set." Donatello smiled and opened the door to the guest room, flipping the light on before standing back. He was happy to be letting his room out to one of his family, especially to Raphael. They hadn't gotten along all that well while they were younger, and he was happy to see how things had changed. His brother peeked his head inside the room and raised his eyeridge at the bland flowery decor. The room had came furnished and he hadn't gotten around to putting some of his own things into it. "Um, yeah... If you guys don't mind, I'm going to turn in now. Have to go in early tomorrow." Raphael seemed disappointed.
"It's only 11." He checked his watched and adjusted the leather bag over his shoulder.
"I have to show up for yoga at 6."
"Heh. Six?" Raphael smirked. "That's nuts."
"Yeah. well." Donatello frowned. He didn't enjoy the corporately enforced excersize. Especially since he landed in the advanced class with three tofu eating program designers in a rival department. "You learn to live. I'll see you two in the morning. If you need anything, I'm the door down from you."
"Thanks. Night Don." Raphael entered the room and tossed his stuff inside the door.
"Kelsey, it was nice meeting you." Don smiled and bowed his head.
"Good night, Donatello. And thanks again."
"Hey, don't mention it. I don't get guests that often. Night." He turned and went to his room. Inside the guest room Raphael had already peeled of his tee shirt and hung it over the bed post. He looked in on the small bathroom and reached in.
"Well, I guess we won't have any travel size soaps to swipe here." Kelsey closed the door behind her and went to examine the bed.
"I don't know about that." Raphael turned out of the bathroom with a handful of artfully carved fish soaps. "Classy huh."
"Hey, he's your brother." He shrugged and went to toss them back. Then began rolling them around in his hand. The thick carpet let him walk up right behind Kelsey unheard. She had become preoccupied with looking through her bag, sitting coincidentally on the bed.
"Maybe we could still make use of these, huh?" He grinned. Before he even reached the side of the bed, she dove off the otherside, landing in a crouching position. So she wanted to play that way. "Oo, aren't we smooth."
"Heh, uh, Raph....um..."
"What, you forgetting about everything this morning. C'mon..." He smirked, following her around to the other side of the bed. She backed around the side of the bureau, not taking her eyes off him.
"Raph about that, I was thinking." He lunged at her playfully and both a nervous and amused laugh responded. "Since we're staying in your brother place and everything..." Something in his eyes stirred within her, not quite a familiar feeling. One that she knew should not be explored here. He continued persuing her like a cat around the room. She wished he had left his shirt on. "Maybe we shouldn't..." He faked left, then pinned her when she went right, up against the wall. Pressing his body against her he grinned rakishly, holding her hands up above her head.
"Shouldn't what?" His deep voice turned to a whisper. He could see her resisting the urge to melt like she had so many times before. She pressed back against the wall as his mouth came for her, trailing lips up her neck.
"Ah..." She gasped.
"Mm hm..." He could feel her wrists begin to limpen beneath his hands.
"Raphael, please, I'm being serious." She tried to shrug his head away. He looked up at her, only briefly ceasing from his workings. Increasingly aware of the pressure growing in the lower part of his shell. He lightly ran his thumb up and down her open palm, breaking her concentration. She looked at him pleadingly to stop, but they both knew he wouldn't.
"What's wrong, babe?"
"This is your brothers place. We can't- we shouldn't do this here." She corrected. He looked skeptical. What did Don care if they had sex. "He's right on the other side of the wall."
"So? He'll be cool with it." And by that he meant, Don wouldn't say anything in the morning.
"Yeah, he'll think you're the greatest. He'll think I'm a whore." Raphael frowned at that. "Raph, he won't respect me in the morning."
"Of course he will." He murmured.
"No he won't. And you know what I mean." She tried to wriggle her hands free, but he hadn't given up on his cause yet. "I thought-- this morning- that we'd be staying at a hotel. Not anywhere where you're brothers would be listening in, you know?"
"Don wouldn't do that..." He hoped.
"Raph... I just want to make a good first impression on your family... please... release me from your kung-foo grip." After a moment he let her hands go. She smiled and gave him a sweet kiss. "Thank you." He stepped back to let her pass.
"You know you owe me." He announced a few minutes later.
"Oh, I owe you? I didn't know we measured our relationship on sexual favors."
"Well we don't." Raphael emerged to stand in the door to the bathroom, wiping his face off. "But the next time this subject comes up, remember what I did. I get some points." Kelsey smirked as she unhooked her bra beneath her poets shirt. Raphael had received it on his last way through Egypt, and she had adopted it as a night shirt. She unhooked her bra and pulled it out through the sleeve.
"What you did? You mean refraining from throwing me on the bed, tearing off my clothes, and ravishing me? Sure I'll remember. You have my word." She said sarcastically. He frowned and tossed the washcloth back onto the sink, turning off the light on his way out.
"Hey, I'm serious." He turned off the room light as well and went to climb into bed with Kelsey. "You don't possibly know how hard that was." He pulled the covers over him and his black boxers and looked at the other side of the bed.
"No, but I bet if you show me we'd have to start this all over again."
"Real funny. You just don't realize how hot it is when you play hard to get." His hand slid over to her. She laughed in surprise and grabbed his hand through the blanket.
"Behave!" He growled and brought his other hand over. "Ack!" He had hated taking no for an answer. "I should've asked Don if he had any rooms with separate beds." She laughed, trying to fend of his marauding hands.
"I don't." The wall responded.