Authors Notes: More thanks are definitely in order. You guys are great. I am switching the rating on this one due to harsh language and adult situations…nothing to risqué yet. Just things people under the age of 21 can't do legally. Umm…lessee…
Jo Dawn, thank you so much for your review. I don't know if I have reviewed yet to let you know but I think your fic "What the Heart Wants" is absolutely amazing. I adore it. So thank you for reviewing hun.
Meathead, any questions you have feel free to ask. I've been known to crack under a good twist of the arm. I'm no good at keeping information from my readers.
Punker, thanks tons for your review. I'm so glad that this story has helped you with your writing. That's more of a compliment then I can even say.
And also thank you Dragonpink. Glad the story caught your interest. I hope it continues to do so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing save for my own character Alex. I also hold no claim to the movie Moulin Rouge. I will however say it was a brilliant movie and one of my favorites. Um…that should about do it! Enjoy guys!
Chapter Four
It had been a week. One long, miserably tense week and still Alex hadn't spoken a word to him. Of course Raphael couldn't really blame her for that. She thought he was a cold, heartless murderer and yes, he could understand why she was scared, hell he was pretty damn scared himself, but she could have at least offered him a chance to explain.
He threw another aggravated punch at the heavy punching bag. The hollow thud echoed off the walls of the empty training dojo. If I could just get her to listen to him for one minute maybe-. "What do I care if she listens to me or not?" he muttered, laying into the punching bag again, this time a little harder. Good question. What did he care? She was just a girl. And that might have almost been convincing if his inner psyche didn't know exactly why he cared so much. Sure she was just a girl, but she was a girl who had won over every single one of his brothers and his Sensei, one that was still adorable even when she was giving him the silent treatment (something of which she was incredibly good at) and one that could make him forget everything with a simple kiss.
"Damn." This time when his fist connected with the suspended bag there was no real power behind the blow. He released a tired sigh, picked up the towel he had brought with him from the floor and hung it over his shoulders as he left the dojo, intent on getting some sleep while his brothers were out.
As he rounded the corner of the hallway to his room something collided with him and sent him toppling backwards. That same something landed on top of him, forcing the air from his lungs in a sudden rush. "Jeez Alex," he managed after catching his breath. "Where's the fire?"
She stared down at him for a moment, unreadable emotions swimming in the azure pools of her eyes. Finally she said, "What day is it?"
"Thursday. Why?"
Alex released a distressed yelp and scrambled off him, running down the hallway and disappearing into her room.
"What the hell was that all about?" Raph wondered out loud as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head. First time the girl talks to him in a week and it's to ask him what day it is? He slowly got to his feet and made his way down the hall to her room, his curiosity heightened by the muffled curses and occasional thumps.
When he reached Alex's room she was sitting on the edge of her mattress pulling on a pair of elegant yet simple sandals with thin straps that matched the deep blue spaghetti strap dress she was wearing. She stood in one fluid motion that amazed him and the blue fabric whispered over her legs, stopping inches below her knees and flaring ever so gently. The sight of her standing there, a picture of simplistic beauty, caused his heart to jerk unsteadily. She was an angel. "So…ah, where ya goin'?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe as he drank in the sight of her.
She turned to him, pulling half of her hair behind her head and pinning it. "An audition," she replied flippantly.
Her words put an abrupt stop to whatever train of thoughts he had going on in his suddenly overactive imagination. An audition meant top side-the…one place she wasn't allowed to go on her own. Slowly, Raph crossed his arms over his chest and regarded her through narrowed eyes.
She saw that look and knew exactly what it meant. He wasn't going to let her go. "Raph please," she entreated, knowing it would do her no good. But she had been waiting far too long for this opportunity to give in without a fight. "I've been wanting to do this for weeks now…before I even met you guys. It's really important to me. Please let me go."
He shook his head. "No Alex. You know what Leo said. You can't go top side unless one of us goes with you."
She crossed the room, closing the distance between them and placing her hands lightly on his arms. "Then come with me," she said softly, begging him with those big blue eyes that had yet to fail in softening him.
"You'd want a murdering monster like me goin' with ya, huh?" The words were out before he could even stop them.
Alex's mouth dropped open and she stared at him, her eyes wide with shock. "That…that's not what I think Raphael," she whispered.
He dropped his arms to his sides, freeing them from her grasp. "Then what do you think Alex?" he asked, taking a step forward and leaving only an inch of space between them.
She shook her head slowly back and forth, her eyes never leaving his. "Not that. I…I was just scared."
"Scared doesn't really explain why the hell you've been avoiding me all week," he bit out, sounding much more angry then he had intended to. Alex flinched but didn't move away. She didn't even look like she wanted to back down. He grudgingly admired her for that.
"I'm sorry. You…you just killed the guy and you didn't even look like you cared," she cried passionately, her anger starting to show itself. "I've never seen a person…stabbed before! Sorry if I can't handle it like you can and be so damn cold about it!"
Raph grabbed her arms just below the shoulder and yanked her close. He was beyond angry, beyond furious even. "Is that what you think Alex? That I'm cold?" he demanded through clenched teeth. What did she know about being cold? Did she ever have someone she loved taken by the Foot, tied, and beaten? Was her home ransacked and her life destroyed to the point that she couldn't even grieve or return to the way it had once been but had to keep going forward? If anyone had a right or reason to be cold, it damn well better be him.
"Raphael, please-," she said, the anger draining from her in a sudden rush, being replaced by fear and exhaustion.
"Would it help to know that it was the first and probably the last time I have ever killed a person? That every time I close my fucking eyes I'm haunted by visions of a goddamn corpse?!"
"Raph, you're hurting me," Alex tried again in a trembling voice.
"What?" He looked down at his hands. Each still gripped her upper arms, his fingers biting into her soft skin and turning it an angry red. "Damn," he muttered, quickly releasing her and taking a step back. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just-," he drew an unsteady breath, ashamed with his lack of self-control. "I wanted you to understand. You could have at least let me try to explain. He could have killed you Alex. I couldn't let him do that."
He started to turn away when suddenly her arms were around his neck and she was pressing her warm body against his. "I'm sorry. I didn't know," she murmured close to his ear.
Suddenly his angered thoughts came rushing back to him and with it came guilt. Horrible, gut-wrenching guilt. How could he have thought for one second that she had it easy? He'd heard the story, heard how her parents were ripped away from her, and he could only guess what terrible, empty life she had led with no family. She probably had no choice but to go on, despite how alone she was. At least he had had family to pull him through. With this new realization he gave up the fight to stay angry and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Well, in all fairness I didn't really tell ya."
"And I didn't give you much of a chance to," she argued back, tightening her arms around him. "I missed you Raph," she admitted in a tiny whisper.
Those were the last words he'd expected to hear out of her and they shook him, more then he even cared to admit to himself. "I missed you too Alex," he said, running a hand slowly down her back. And it was the truth. He had missed her. God how he'd missed her. It was funny how someone you had only known for little over a week could make such a difference in your life.
"So," she pulled away from him, keeping her hands on his shoulders and giving him a bright smile, "you'll come with me then?"
He rolled his eyes, unable to keep from smiling. "Alright…alright. But if Leo gets pissed-."
"I'll take the blame," she finished for him. "Good. Let me just grab my jacket and we'll go."
And just like that things were back to normal or at least as normal as they had been. Alex slid her leather jacket on; they stopped in the living room so Raph could grab his coat and then together they left the lair for Alex's audition.
*~*~*
The auditions were held several blocks away from the lair in a large theater that went by the name of The Eccentric. The name suited it well for they only did plays that were risqué in nature, taking them to the extreme. Alex had once seen "A Streetcar Named Desire" there and had fallen in love with not only the theater but in love with each and every performance.
When Alex and Raph arrived the place was already filled with people. Several sat on the stage, others milled around laughing and talking. A few of them had started to form a line before a table where a very striking woman with long, flaming red hair sat, talking to a haughty looking dark haired man in all black.
"Nervous?" Raph asked.
Alex stared around at the mass of people and swallowed hard. "Now I am. I didn't expect so many to show up."
"What's this for anyway?" He pulled her back into the shadows of an overhanging balcony to avoid yet another group of people.
Alex watched them make their way to the front feeling more and more out of place by the second. There were so many and they all looked as if they knew each other. Then there was her, standing in the dark with Raphael. "It's…um…try outs for Moulin Rouge. You know the movie?"
"Fell asleep to it once or twice."
The attempt to make her smile failed and she continued staring apprehensively at the growing crowd. "Well this is the play. And you know what? I've changed my mind. Let's go."
"Whoa! Hold it." Raph snaked an arm around her waist as she tried to escape and pulled her back. "You wanna leave after all that beggin' you just did to get here?"
"Yup," she said, struggling half-heartedly against his hold. Finally she gave up and sagged back against his chest. "I didn't think there was going to be so many people here."
"So let me get this straight. A bunch of people standin' around doin' nothin' scares ya, but four mutant turtles and a rat doesn't?"
Alex fought the smile tugging at her lips. "You guys intimidated me," she said softly.
"Yeah, for like a minute," Raph intone. "Alex, look at me."
She turned to face him, finding herself immediately lost in the depths of his dark eyes. The dull murmur of voices slowly started to fade away to nothing and for a fleeting moment Alex considered dragging Raph up on stage with her. If he was this good at making the crowd disappear she could really used him.
"You've been wantin' to do this for how long now?"
"Weeks."
Raph took one her hands in his. "So if you wanted it so bad why are ya lettin' a bunch of strangers scare you off?" She opened her mouth to say something in her defense but he pushed on, not allowing her the chance. "You've got a hell of a singing voice and you have got to be a damn good actress if you can pull the silent treatment on me and miss me at the same time."
She laughed at that, holding a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound.
"Plus," he went on, "Alex, you look gorgeous. Don't
tell me you got all dressed up just to take a walk."
"No," she said, smiling at him. "No I didn't."
"So get up there then."
Alex looked thoughtfully at him for a moment, wondering how she could have possibly been afraid of him. "Thank you so much," she murmured. Lifting her arms she wrapped them around his neck in a loose hug. "You know…you're pretty easy to talk to when you want to be."
Raph shrugged, grinning as he circled a strong arm around her waist. "Don't go tellin' my brothers that. I'd never live it down."
"Deal," she agreed. Ever so slowly the control she had over her actions and emotions started to slip, lessening with every second that she stood there in his embrace. If she didn't move soon she was going to become a victim to her desire and make a fool out of herself again. Just when she thought she could manage a step back and get out of her current situation, she felt Raph's finger tips gently brush over her back. On their own accord her arms tightened around his neck, bringing them closer together.
"Alright people, if you missed the earlier announcement those of you who are here to audition must sign in first. The lovely Marquette will be taking your names. If you haven't signed in I suggest you do so now. I have very little time and right now you're all wasting it," the man at the table called out in a bored sounding yet deep and authoritative voice. People responded immediately, rushing to join the growing line.
"I think that's your cue," Raph said, his voice lower then normal and his intense gaze holding hers.
"I think you're right." His arm fell away; Alex moved back and took a deep breath. "Be back in a bit."
Making her way down the aisle, she resisted the overpowering urge to look back at Raph, hard as it was. She knew he'd be sitting in the shadows, waiting there for her to return, but that didn't stop her from wanting to run back to him and get lost in those dark eyes once more. God, what was she going to do?
As she moved into the line, paying no attention to the people around her, her mind worked furiously, trying to figure out the emotions that constantly plagued her, trying to figure out where exactly she stood with Raphael. Now that the past week had been somewhat put behind them, they were on better ground…but she still couldn't define what it was that she felt for him. It went beyond a simple liking; beyond what she felt for any of his brothers…and she didn't have a name for it.
When she reached the table she forced her thought aside and quickly signed her name.
"Don't forget your last name dear," a husky female voice with only a hint of a French accent called out as she was turning away.
"I'm sorry…what?" Alex faced the elegant looking red head, the one that went by the name Marquette.
"Your last name." She repeated, pushing the clipboard toward Alex. "We need it in case there are others here with the same name."
The younger woman stared at the paper blankly for a moment before finally saying, "I don't have one."
Marquette gave her a patient smile, tilting her head to the side. "Surely your parents-."
"They both died when I was born," Alex explained. "I was given no last name."
"Oh…I see. Fair enough. We will just have to make up one for you to use temporarily then." The red head tapped her chin, clearly thinking up a last name for Alex to use. "How does Eisei sound?"
Alex smiled. "Pretty strange. But I like it. Does it stand for something?"
Marquette nodded as she wrote the last name behind where Alex had wrote her first. "Yes. It's one of my favorite Japanese words actually. It means…eternal life."
Alex's heart slammed painfully against her ribs, bringing with it the first threads of panic, but she forced her smile to remain firmly in place. That name means nothing, she told herself vehemently. It's just a coincidence.
"So that will work then?" Marquette asked, looking up at Alex with kind chocolate brown eyes.
"Yes," Alex said calmly. "That will work fine, thank you." She excused herself and made her way back up the aisle on unsteady legs, moving into a dark row of seats in the back and collapsing in the one beside Raphael.
"What's up? You don't look too good," he said, watching the group of people move around the stage area. When she didn't answer he turned to face her. "Alex, what's wrong?"
She shook her head and folded her trembling hands in her lap. "It's nothing. I'm probably just being paranoid."
"About what?"
"Well I…I don't have a last name and the lady up there called me on it." Dropping her voice to a whisper, Alex tore her gaze from the flame haired woman and turned it to Raphael. "She made one for me…a temporary name. Eisei."
Raph racked his brain, knowing the word was Japanese but not being able to remember what exactly it meant. "What's so bad about that?" he asked.
"It's Japanese…for eternal life."
Giving her a skeptical look, Raph leaned back in his seat. "You don't think-."
Alex shrugged. "I honestly don't know. Like I said, I'm probably just being paranoid."
"You don't sound too convincing," he said, watching the slow, shy grin spread over her face.
"I know." This time the waver in her voice was audible. She was worried.
"Hey." Raph reached over and slid an arm around her shoulders. "No one's layin' a hand on you while I'm here and if it makes you feel better I'll keep and eye on her, okay?"
"My big bad body guard," Alex quipped, relaxing enough to laugh softly.
"Yeah…sure." He lifted his gaze to the talking crowd. Most of them were seated by now, taking up most of the first few rows and the ledge of the stage. "You know, you probably are just being paranoid. You women are good at doing that." He smirked when he felt the smooth edge of her sandal against his leg.
"You value that shin of yours?" she asked, rubbing her foot against it.
"Sure do ma'am. One busted up shin is enough for me, thanks."
Alex chuckled, lowering her head to rest on his shoulder. It was an unexpected movement and Raphael immediately tensed, not sure how to react. It wasn't every day a woman snuggled up to him. Hesitating a moment longer, he tightened his arm around her shoulder and relaxed, finding he really liked the feel of her in his arms.
"Alright people!" The man sitting at the table stood, his long form looking oddly elegant in the somewhat tight black clothing. He was a director all right. He clapped his hands loudly over his head to gain everyone's attention. "By now you should all know why you're here. If you don't," he pointed a long finger towards the back, "there's the exit. My name is Cameron Diangelo. I am the founder of this establishment as well as your director…should you have what it takes to get in to this production." He moved away from the table, taking long easy strides to the front of the stage. "If this is your first time auditioning you should know that we do things quite differently here. You'll be called up and given a script. I will then tell you what song you will be singing. These auditions will go fast people as will the decision of who gets cast as what roll. You have one chance…and only one chance to prove your worth as an actor. Make it a good one. Marquette?"
"James Martin and Cynthia Beck," the red head announced in her clear accented voice. Two people, a short girl with spiky blonde hair and a lanky man with a mop of brown hair and a goatee stepped up to the table, eagerly taking the scripts Marquette offered.
"Well. This is…different," Raphael muttered, watching the two make their way up on stage.
"They're the only one's who run a theater like this," Alex said as she shifted in her seat, moving closer to him and resting her arm on the bar between them. Her fingers brushed against the outside of his leg and he swallowed hard, feeling the slight pressure as if it were an electrical shock. Had she meant to do it? Knowing her…probably. But did he mind? Not in the slightest. She could touch him as much as she wanted for all he cared.
"Raph?"
"Yeah?"
Alex tilted her head up so that she could look at him without moving her head from his shoulder. "What were you talking to Leonardo about that night? You know, when you said something about those guys finding your place before?"
Notes from the piano on stage filled the room and not long after a slightly shy baritone joined in. Raph smiled sadly, remembering a time that he wished he could forget. "You remember Leo tellin' you about the Foot right?" he asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Well, a few years back a friend of our got jumped by 'em in the subway. I was the only one there so I took care of the guys and brought April back to our place."
Alex's brows furrowed and she sat up. "April…Casey's girlfriend?"
"Yeah. When I brought her back I was followed. Things only got worse after that. They broke in while we were takin' April home…took Splinter with 'em. It was days before we ever saw him again." He dropped his gaze to the floor.
"Oh Raph," Alex murmured, slipping her hand into his. She understood fully now why he had taken care of that intruder the way he had. He wasn't just trying to protect her; he was trying to protect his family. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Hey, it was a long time ago." He gently squeezed her hand and looked up at her. "But thanks."
Sighing, Alex rested her head back on his shoulder. "So um…what did you guys do with…with…?"
Raph smiled as her nose scrunched up in concentration. "With the body?" he prompted.
She turned her wide-eyed gaze on him and nodded slowly as if she were ashamed of her curiosity.
"He's sleepin' with the fishies." At her horrified expression Raph laughed, tightening his arm around her shoulders when she tried to pull away. "Alex I'm just kidding! Me and Leo too him out to April's farm and buried him, okay?"
Watching him warily she returned to his side. "Not funny Raph."
"Sure it was," he said, still smiling.
They fell into a comfortable silence, watching the performances up on stage. They were all interesting, ranging from romantic duets to throaty, seductive solos. Every now and then Raph would comment on the quality of a singers voice asking if it was a requirement that you be tone deaf to audition or saying that maybe they should have left when she'd wanted to and each time he made such snide remarks Alex would elbow him lightly in the side and laugh.
An hour crawled past and the fair Marquette called out Alex's name. Taking a deep breath Alex stood, slipping off her jacket and leaving it in the chair she had just vacated. "Alright. Wish me luck."
"Knock 'em dead babe," Raph said giving her his best Mikey impression and a thumbs up.
Alex giggled, shaking her head and made her way to the table. Waiting for her was a young man only slightly taller then her who was slightly built and had light brown hair complimented by amazingly green eyes. He had to be around the same age, 23…24 maybe. Alex nodded to him and accepted her script from Marquette, noticing that it had been turned to the page with the romantic duet.
"Good luck you two," Marquette said, offering them a friendly smile. They both voiced their gratitude then went up on stage.
"My name is Wes," the guy said as they walked, smiling warmly at her.
She returned it, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. He seemed nice enough. Not trustworthy…then again no one seemed trustworthy now a days. No one except for her new, unique friends. "Alex. Nice to meet you."
"Same goes. So you've seen the movie?"
"Own it."
He laughed softly, stopping at center stage and facing her. "So I'm guessing we don't need these then, do we?" he asked, holding up his script.
Alex shook her head. "Not if you know the words as well as I do."
Wes closed his script, rolling it and tucking it into her back pocket, winking at Alex in the process. "I think those leading rolls are as good as ours."
*~*
Leaning back in his seat, Raphael eyed the man on stage smiling at Alex with growing irritation. Who the hell did that guy think he was? Rico Swavey? Hardly. Although, when he began to sing Raph did have to admit the guy had a voice. "Won't save him from an ass kickin' if he keeps lookin' at her like that," he muttered under his breath.
With a sigh he sank further back, stretching his legs out in front of him as best he could, given the limited space, and allowing his mind to wander. Of course, as it usually did since the moment she had started hanging around, his mind immediately chose to think about Alex. He shook his head, not able to believe that he had just spent over an hour with his arm around her. And the way she had rested her head on his shoulder, like it was something she did every day…it almost seemed like she liked doing it…like she enjoyed being close to him. But did she? He had no way of knowing. Sure, he'd seen her act like this with Michelangelo all the time…but she never held Mikey's hand the way she had held his. It was too fucking confusing. That's all there was to it. Raphael frowned, wondering when the hell he had allowed such emotions to cloud his mind. But even as he thought that another question nagged at him. Did Alex feel anything for him…anything like what he felt for her?
You're a mutant buddy. Of course she doesn't. Besides, what could you honestly offer the girl? his conscience brutally reminded him. Raph just smiled sadly, thinking that if he could he would offer her the whole damn world.
A sweet soprano voice more beautiful than anything he had ever heard jarred his thoughts to a sudden halt and Raphael glanced up from under the brim of his hat. Standing on stage, commanding it with gracefully liquid movements and a dazzling smile was Alex. He had no idea she was that good! She obviously hadn't done herself justice singing along with Sheryl Crow in their kitchen back at the lair. But now…god, now she took his breath away and made him wish that it was him she was singing to instead of that no-name on stage with her.
In perfect tune the two finished their duet and the audience, those who were willing to acknowledge quality when they heard it, applauded enthusiastically. The two made their way off stage, Alex stopping momentarily when the guy she had been singing with reached out and touched her arm. They exchanged a few words, and then Alex nodded, giving him a fleeting smile before turning her back on him and returning to the darkened part of the theater where Raph was waiting for him.
"So how was I?" she asked as she sat down beside him, her voice wavering slightly from the remaining nerves that jittered in her system.
"Voice like an angel," he replied softly, meaning every word of it.
Alex ducked her head modestly and started pulling her jacket on. "Come on. Be serious."
"I am being serious Alex."
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to his, taking a second to read the truth written clearly in his dark eyes. A gorgeous smile lit up her face. "Thank you Raphael."
Now it was his turn to blush. "Don't mention it," he muttered, pulling his hat down to hide his face. He could still feel her eyes on him though, studying him, that shy smile playing on her full lips. Thoughts of what he could do to those lips…what he wanted to do filled his head and he bit back a growl of frustration.
Luckily for him the auditions didn't last much longer. The last couple left the stage amid a round of applause and there was a tense fifteen minutes of silence before the man at the table stood, a piece of paper clutched loosely in his hand. "I suppose you all want to know what I have here?" He held up the paper, waggling it slightly.
A few people laughed, albeit nervously. Beside him Alex remained silent, her usual easy to read expression replaced by a mask of indifference.
The man, Diangelo he had called himself, began reading off names in an almost bored manner, pairing them up with the rolls of the characters they would be playing. When he'd gone through at least half a dozen and Alex's name hadn't been called yet, Raphael cast her a worried glance, surprised to find that she still maintained her expression of complete calm.
"And now, our ill…fated lovers," Diangelo called out, catching Raphael's attention. "Playing the roll of Christian will be Wes Johnson. And…the roll of the beautiful Satine goes to Alexandria Eisei. Congratulations to those of you who made it. I expect you here at five o'clock on Monday for practice. Until then."
As the sounds of people packing up their belongings and getting ready to leave filled the massive room Raphael turned to Alex. "Hey, way to go," he said appreciatively, giving her a lop sided grin.
She said nothing in return. She didn't even smile. She merely sat there staring straight ahead.
"You okay?" he asked.
Ever so slowly she stood and turned, making her way out of the theater. Confused, Raphael quickly followed her, pulling his coat tightly around his body to ward off the chill of the night and the curious glances he might receive should anyone catch a peek at what lie beneath the well-worn trench coat.
"Alex, wait up!" he called once they were out on the sidewalk. Most had chosen to take the back way out which left them, for the most part, alone save for a few stragglers. At the sound of his voice Alex stopped under the orange-red glow of a streetlight but did not turn to face him. When he reached her he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Alex-,"
"I can't believe I got it," she whispered, scarcely loud enough for him to hear. With a joyful yelp she spun and threw her arms around his neck, laughing. It was the third time she had done this to him and yet it still caught him off guard. Allowing himself to relax, Raphael wrapped his arms around her waist. Her scent, a heady mixture of strawberry and wild roses filled his nose, reminding him of the old farmhouse and the flowers that had bloomed so freely there.
"I can't believe I got it!" she repeated, her warm breath fanning over his neck and causing a shiver of longing to ripple through him. "Did you hear him? Did I seriously get the part?!"
Raphael chuckled softly, not giving a single thought to relinquishing his hold on the woman in his arms. "I heard him. Was really startin' to wonder if you had though."
Alex pulled back in his embrace and smiled at him, her deep blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "Sorry about that."
"So you're a little strange, big deal," he said with a shrug. "So's Mikey." He paused, making a thoughtful expression by arching one of his brows. "Must be why you two get along so well."
Laughing, she smacked him playfully on the arm and in a split second her laughter died away and that hand moved from his arm, sliding up to his shoulder, resting on the contoured muscles as her eyes clouded over with an emotion he had seen once before from her. The night she had kissed him. He had no clue how long they had stood like that. He was dimly aware of her speaking, saying they should get home. He replied with the slightest of nods but at the same time tightened his arms around her drawing her closer to him and further into the spell that had fallen around them.
Somewhere in a nearby alley a cat yowled, a trashcan clanged noisily against the pavement and the spell was broken. Alex blushed furiously, deep ruddy red staining her cheeks. At the same time Raph released her, taking a step back and clearing his throat nervously. "We should get back," he said, repeating what Alex had already suggested.
Offering only a curt nod, Alex followed him a short ways down the sideway and back into the dark tunnels of the sewer.
They walked on in silence, a silence that seemed to reverberate off the walls. Raphael cast a sideways glance at the woman walking beside him. She was so quiet. What the hell was she thinking? He sure wanted to know. It would make this whole…whatever it was between them a lot easier to figure out if she would just tell him something…anything really.
His thoughts were silenced as they approached the lair. Angry voices, most noticeably Leonardo's, drifted out to where they stood. Raph couldn't hear what they were saying. But then again he didn't really need to. He knew it was about him. When wasn't it? Shoulders slumping in defeat he swore under his breath and readied himself to be yelled at. Same shit…different day. Then something strange happened. A hand slipped into his, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. He turned his head, looking at Alex. She stared at him with a warm smile but her vibrant eyes were hard as steel. "I wont let them be mad at you," she said very softly.
Something deep inside him twisted. It wasn't a bad feeling, far from it. It was the kind of feeling that came when you realized just how special a person was and not just to anyone…but to you. Alex was willing to stand up to his brothers for him. True he didn't exactly need it…but no one had ever done anything like that for him before.
"Come on," she lightly coaxed; pulling on his hand and leading him down the stairs.
"I'd brace myself if I were you Alex," he warned as they entered the lair together. Three heads belonging to the three turtles that sat on the couch and chair immediately jerked up upon hearing the click of Alex's heals against the concrete floor.
"Where the hell have you been?" Leo snapped, starting in on them immediately, his angry gaze settling on Raph. "And what possessed you to bring Alex with!?"
Anger quickly rose within Raphael along with a sarcastic remark that was quelled a second later and replaced by an amused smile when Alex stepped in front of him and crossed her arms over her chest. Oh, this was going to be good.
"Raph had nothing to do with it Leo so don't get all mad at him," she said calmly and although her voice was as soft as silk it brooked no argument and the response was immediate. Leonard's rigid stance slackened and the anger quickly vanished from his eyes. "I had to go top side," she continued, "so I talked him into coming with me. He didn't want to but I'm pretty convincing when I need to be."
"She really is Leo," Raph agreed, trying to keep a straight face.
Leo looked back and forth between the two. "What did you need to go top side for?" he finally asked Alex.
"Well…um-." She cast her gaze to the floor. "I've wanted to try out for this play for a while now, The Moulin Rouge. And the auditions were tonight. So-." She let the sentence hanging, assuming they all were smart enough to guess what had happened from there.
When it became obvious that no one had a response to that Mike rolled his eyes, slightly disgusted with his never-curious-enough brothers and spoke up. "Well how did ya do?"
Alex looked up and smiled but it was Raph that answered for her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and with a smirk that actually looked proud said, "We've got a little star on our hands guys."
"No shit!" Mike exclaimed. "You got the part of Satine?"
That question instantly earned him three very strange looks from his older brothers who had no clue that Mike's love for movies had gone as far as musicals. The orange masked turtle once again rolled his eyes. "Well one of us has to be all knowing in the movie department," he muttered.
"Yeah Mikey, I got the part," Alex confirmed, laughing at his indignant expression.
Forgetting about how angry he had been when he'd returned home only to find Alex and Raph gone, Leo came forward and enveloped her in a friendly hug. "Congratulations Alex."
"Yeah," Don added, next in line for a hug. "You're going to get us tickets right?"
Alex smiled, wrapping her arms around Don's neck. "You bet. Can't think of four people I'd rather have there."
"Turtles babe, turtles," Mike corrected, shoving Don aside and pulling Alex into a warm embrace. "You know what this means right?"
Alex pulled back and gave him an odd look, her delicate brows forming a frown. "No. What?"
He waggled his brow ridges and grinned comically. "It's party time. This calls for brewski's and ski ball! I know a place. Casey works there. We'll just tell Sensei where we're going and not to expect us home till late."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Raph said from behind Alex. He turned to Leon, not in the least bit surprised to see the wary expression that had settled itself onto his face. "Come on Leo. Kick back for a night. She deserves a celebration."
Leonardo cast a glance at the subway car Splinter occupied. The windows were glowing softly from the candles lit within. "Well-."
*~*~*~*
"Hell yeah! Beat that babe!" Mike yelped as his last ski ball sunk its way into the 500-point slot with a hollow clatter. He did a short-lived victory dance, his trench coat flapping around his muscular legs.
Alex looked up at him from under the brim of Raphael's fedora, which she had snatched from his head and took off with when they entered the bar and found it blissfully empty except for their host for the evening and bartender, Casey Jones. Each of the four turtles had immediately relaxed, keeping their trench coats on just in case but piling their hats at the end of the table they had settled themselves in. Beers had been served along with a wine cooler for Alex and now they were all lounging in a spacious booth, Leonardo and Donatello on one side and Alex and Raphael on the other.
Smiling, Alex slid from the booth, pulling off the beaten fedora and leaving it on the edge of the table next to her half drank wine cooler. "Not bad, not bad," she murmured, slipping a note of boredom into her voice. "But why don't you stand back and let a pro show you how it's done."
"Ooh, ain't she cocky?" Mike teased lightly, inserting more quarters into the Ski Ball machine. The balls came rolling down the shoot with a sound like thunder slowly building in the distance.
Winking at him, Alex picked up one of the ski balls and rolled it between her hands. "She is when she knows she can whoop your ass." And she could. Or at least she thought she could. The truth was she had never actually played Ski ball before. But she had bowled. She loved to bowl. So this couldn't be much different…could it? "Ready to loose Michel…angelo?" she mocked with an enticing wiggle of her backside, drawing laughter from her group of friends, even the one she was up against.
"Show me what you got babe," he instructed light heartedly.
And she did. She drew her arm back and rolled the ball with graceful ease right into the thousand-point slot. Turning slowly, Alex gave Mike her best innocent smile as she listened to his three brothers snicker. "A thousand points…that's good right?"
The games went on, Mike switching from best out of three to best out of ten and although he had his moments, Alex was still the undefeated champion. A few hours and several consumed alcoholic beverages later, Casey called it quits for the night and ushered them back out into the alley. "Alright guys…walk safely. Good thing ya'll don't drive. I'd hate to have to fight ya for the keys."
"I'd put my money on Alex," Michelangelo yelped, swaying slightly and being caught by his only slightly more sober brother Donatello. "Later Case."
"Jeez Mikey, remind me to cut you off a lot earlier the next time we decide to do this," the purple masked turtle muttered under his breath.
"I'm fine
Don, you're the one who's too drunk. Quit stumbling so much."
"You're the one stumbling brainiac! I'm just keeping you from falling on your face."
Over the arguing the others said goodnight and found the nearest manhole, descending into the sewers and trudging their way through the tunnels towards home. Once there they stumbled down the stairs, now more sleepy then actually drunk. As the others went their separate ways, all tired enough to do a nosedive straight into bed, Raph hung back. There was something on his mind, something he had wanted answered all day but had never gotten the chance. But now...now he had it.
"Alex," he called out softly to her retreating back, hoping that none of his brothers would hear him. She turned slowly, her long blond hair flaring out slightly before settling against the bare skin of her shoulders. A slow smile curved her full lips and she hesitantly walked to him. "What is it Raph?" she asked, staring up at him with curious deep blue eyes.
Suddenly he was finding it difficult to form the words. All day he had been thinking of different ways to ask her, to find out why...and now his mind had failed him, groping clumsily for the smallest reminder of what he was going to ask her. Damn it, why did this always happen when she got near him?
"Raph...are you okay?" she asked, laying a hand on his arm.
That simple touch brought his mind to attention and he finally remembered. "Alex," he started slowly, "Um...I was wondering...why did you kiss me the other night?"
She stared at him for a moment, wide eyes watching him uncertainly. "I don't know," she whispered.
"Well...did you even mean to do it? I just figured you were tired...or something like that."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "No. I knew what I was doing. I...I wanted to kiss you Raphael."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. All this time he had thought it was just a fluke, something she had done without thinking. "You wanted to?" he asked quietly, unable to hide the note of disbelief in his voice. She nodded, dropping her gaze nervously to the floor between them. "Yes."
"Then," he murmured, lifting a hand to cradle the side of her face and draw her gaze back up to his. "You wouldn't mind if I wanted to kiss you too?"
If possible her eyes grew even wider and her beautiful lips parted in surprise. "I...no. I wouldn't," she admitted.
He nodded once, very slowly, never taking his eyes from hers. "Good." Leaning down he gently pressed his lips against hers and wrapped his arms around her small waist, drawing her close. She gave in with no hesitation, sliding her hands up his arms and around his neck with a tiny sigh and pressing her lithe body against his. Cautiously, as if he were afraid she would vanish any second, he deepened the kiss, overjoyed when she immediately responded by opening her mouth and tilting her head to the side. The kiss was very slow, almost lazy in a way, something to be savored as the time drew on unnoticed by the two who were just now realizing exactly how deep their feelings for each other went.
Reluctantly, Raphael drew back, breaking the passionate embrace and staring in wonder at the woman in his arm. God she was amazing. Lifting a hand he brushed long strands of golden honey locks back from her face, tucking them behind her ear. "Goodnight Alex," he murmured softly, releasing his hold on her and walking with deliberate slowness to his room where he could be alone with these new, tangled up emotions. And once again Alex was left alone, confused...but also secretly pleased. She had never known he could kiss that well.