Acceptable Risk

Open Mouth Insert Both Feet

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, neither characters nor anything pertaining to the franchise. I do own a cat though, so I have that going for me which is nice.

Author's Note: So I've decided to write some shorts (some might not be so short some might be rally short) from the perspective of April/Raph. Originally for the 2012 series Raph was supposed to be in love with April, not Donnie. Since the series presents him as a guy who can't really be honest with his feelings I figured that Raph would be the ultimate tsundere type guy.

Also I'm on tumblr .com. Come follow me if you like. I'm a big turtles fan and sometimes post extra stuff there

I don't know when this one takes place. Remember when you were a kid and there was that one kid who was always bugging you and saying mean stuff. You hated that kid. Only to find out later it was because they actually liked you? Not an effective approach as Raph soon finds out.

"So, what do you guys think?"

April spun on one foot, sending her dress whirling around along with her. It was a bright yellow sundress with tiny white flowers embroidered into it. Apparently a gift from her Aunt, April had been excited to show her friends. She'd arrived at the lair dressed in the full outfit, with matching sandals and her hair hanging loose around her shoulder.

Raph felt his mouth go dry and his hands twitched with the urge to run his fingers through her fiery locks.

He was staring, he knew he was staring if only because Mikey kept laughing at him when April wasn't looking while Donnie and Leo were trying to hide their matching grins. Smug jerks.

"You look really pretty, April." Leo smiled kindly at the girl, who lit up at his compliment.

"Girl, you look like da' bomb!" agreed Mikey, accompanying his statement with the appropriate sound effects and hand gestures.

"That colour is very complimentary to your skin tone. It is a very well put together outfit."

As Donnie finished, Raph could feel all eyes turn to him. He cleared his throat uncomfortably, hoping his face wasn't turning red.

"What do you think Raph?"

"Ya Raph, what do you think?" Mikey bounded over and nudged his brother, not so gently, in the plastron.

Though he desperately wanted to smack the orange idiot good, Raph merely cleared his throat again. What should he say? That she looked nice or whatever? That she was the most beautiful girl in the city, possibly the world? That he might actually l-like her?

Time stood still. He had to say something. Everyone, including April, was staring at him. Say something.

"Complimentary? Geeze April you look like a lemon."

Not THAT!

"What they didn't have a giant banana costume for you to wear?"

Shut up. SHUT UP!

It was too late. He could see it on his brothers' faces. Leo's jaw was hanging open, Mikey had most of his head in his shell, his hands covering his eyes, and Donnie, well Donnie was slowly edging his way out of the line of fire.

Chancing a glance at April, Raph felt his chest seize up. This was not going to end well. Her cheeks were bright red from embarrassment and anger. Judging by the way she was clenching and unclenching her fists it looked like the girl was about 5 seconds from throwing a punch. Not that he blamed her.

Despite April's obvious anger, Raph still felt that curios tight warmth that he felt whenever he looked at her. Even furious April looked cute, with her eyes sparking and her hands clenched into fists. She looked like a fuming little kitten.

"God Raph, you're such a jerk." Spinning on her heal April stomped out of the lair.

"I'm…going to make sure she gets home okay."

With a half-confused, half-irritated glance in Raph's direction, Donnie followed his friend out of the lair.

Almost immediately Leo rounded on his brother.

"What were you thinking?" He shouted, arms waving wildly. "Are you trying to get her to hate you? Because if you are, you're doing a fantastic job."

Raph covered his face with his hand, shame coursing through his body.

"Ugh stuff it Leo. I know I messed up, okay?"

"That's an understatement." Leo grumbled.

"I just didn't know what to say, so I freaked out and said the first thing that came into my head."

"Bro," Mikey slung his arm over Raph's affectionately, "you gotta be smooth with the ladies. Sweet talk 'em ya know?"

"I'll apologize next time she comes over." Raph promised, though he mumbled it under his breath.

"That's assuming that she ever does come over again."

With a shake of his head Leo stalked off towards the dojo, Mikey bounding along in his wake.

Raph, on the other hand, was left frozen. Of course April would come back.

She had to.

Right?

Okay I'm going to honest…I was that kid. I would bug the crap out of people I liked to get them to pay attention to me. I feel like Raph uses his sarcastic side to hid his true feeling so much that it's become like a bad habit. Whenever he feels uncomfortable he automatically makes some smart ass comment. So I'm assuming he fails badly when he goes to apologize to April because…he's Raph and Raph sucks at sorry. Thanks bunches to all the people who reviewed. Some lovely anon gave me a great idea which I am currently working on. Anyone else with idea please send them along or even just a comment to say hi. I love the feedback.