Teasing

I don't own the movie "Poison Ivy" and the quotes/scenes thereof. (For other things I don't own, refer to previous chapters.) ;)

RAPHAEL:

She was sitting on the couch, staring at the TV, when I stumbled into the lair. I glanced around. It was after last call, and the world was silent except for the movie she was curled up watching. She was in the corner of the couch, the blanket pulled up around her chin. "Hey," I slurred.

She jumped and spun her head to face me, then let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, hi, Raph. You scared me."

"You know what time it is?"

"Quarter to three," she answered. "I couldn't sleep. Where've you been?"

I didn't bother answering her. It was none of her business. Besides, I was sure she already knew. "This is a decent movie, if you're interested," she offered. "At least it is so far."

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's called Poison Ivy."

I'd seen it. Had Drew Barrymore in it. Good movie, bad ending. Too abrupt. I felt a headache starting and considered the thought of sleep. I was too wound up to sleep. But I was too drunk to stay awake. Actually, I didn't think I was really that drunk. I'd deal with a slight hangover in the morning, but I wasn't totally oblivious to my surroundings.

I sat down in the opposite corner of the couch and leaned back. I watched the movie for a few minutes before I felt myself drifting off to sleep. But I was just napping. I awoke again a few scenes later and, still drowsy, was somehow not surprised to find Kat leaning against me. I thought about pulling away. But I realized it didn't bother me. I felt her warm breath on my neck as she rested her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her and she snuggled closer.

"Raph?"

"Mmm?" I replied, eyes closed.

"Why do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Everything."

She could not expect me to play twenty questions when I was drunk. "What's everything?"

She pulled away and I opened my eyes to look at her. "Don't you ever want to stop fighting?" she whispered. "Don't you ever just want to give up the fight and... be honest?"

"I'm not dishonest," I mumbled, pulling her head back to my chest. I didn't feel like talking. Couldn't we just sit here and watch the movie?

"I didn't say you were," she sighed.

Great. Here we go again with the games. "What do you mean, then?"

"You'd rather let people misunderstand you than tell them the truth about what you're thinking," she whispered, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Why do I care about what people think?" I asked.

"Do you care about what I think?"

I wasn't so out-of-it that I didn't see a trick question. I tensed, pulled away, and looked at her. "What do you want me to say to that?"

"Forget what I want, Raph. Tell me the truth."

The truth... I wasn't sure I could do that. Every time I tried, every time I wanted to trust someone, I got burned. I wasn't stupid. By now, I knew to keep my hand out of the fire. "Knock it off, Kat," I mumbled. "Quit tryin' to psychoanalyze me."

She sighed and relaxed slowly. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the closeness, not really caring what the conditions were. I didn't love her, but this still felt good...

LEONARDO:

I knew I should just walk away and forget that I had seen anything. I had no right to react at all, much less the way I was reacting. But that didn't matter at the moment.

I had entered the room silently and first noticed the TV. Then I saw them, on the couch. I could hear them talking in hushed tones. She laughed quietly and he ran his hand over her hair. He was on his back, and she was on top of him. I watched in shock as she lowered herself, burying her face in his neck. He put his arms around her.

I stared in shock. He had denied it vehemently, and maybe he hadn't lied. Maybe it was just beginning. More whispers that I could not understand drifted from across the room. I didn't have to hear them to know what they were saying. Reflexively, I thought of Madonna. I couldn't very well be angry at Raph; I had no right. But Kat wasn't Madonna, and Raphael had only known her for a week. Last time I checked, he tolerated her, but nothing more. He was going to hurt her. Or she would hurt him. Either way, this wouldn't turn out well.

I briefly considered making my presence known. I decided it wasn't a good idea. For one thing, Raph was probably drunk. And when he was drunk, he had a tendency to get violent. I didn't want to piss him off if I could avoid it. And besides, they were both adults. It was none of my business.

Unable to justify a confrontation, I backed away quietly.

MADONNA:

Three o'clock in the morning. I stared at the glowing digits. I glanced at the phone. I should call him. No, you shouldn't. You know you shouldn't. But I wanted to.

A warm breath of stale air, and I looked around the silent room. All was still. Even the shadows were unmoving in the darkness. Finally I sat up and reached for the phone, dialing the numbers before I could think about what I was doing. It rang and rang in my ear. Then, finally, a slurred answer from a familiar voice. "Leonardo?" I whispered.

He moaned, asleep. "April?"

"Madonna," I corrected.

"Oh," he laughed, still groggy. "You know what time it is?"

I sighed. "Yes, I know. I'm sorry I woke you."

"No, it's okay," he answered. "But one of these days, you're gonna call and someone else is going to answer."

I smiled at the thought. "I'd just hang up," I told him.

He yawned. I smiled as I walked over to the window and pulled it open. "I gotta keep it down, though," he mumbled. "I don't want to wake anyone else up. Why is it you only call in the middle of the night?"

I felt a cool breeze sweep over me as I was greeted by the night air. "It's the only time I know you'll be there," I lied.

"Mmm," he murmured. "Why'd it take you so long to call me back?"

I felt my heart clench. "I don't know," I whispered. "I guess because hearing your voice just makes me want to see you more."

He moaned in reply, still half-asleep, and I laughed quietly. "When will you be back?" he asked.

"A few days."

I heard him sigh deeply and closed my eyes. It felt so good just to hear him speak to me. But at the same time, it made everything so much harder.