Prompt: Raph and April : 'I can't let you do that."
Words: 485
Rating: K+
Too Much
"Hey you."
Raph looked up from his issue of 'Modern Ninja Magazine' into April's smiling face, which was brimming with excitement. She held something behind her back in both hands, though he couldn't see what it was. Just that it was red and bulky.
"Hey you," he replied as he set the magazine aside and stood to greet her.
"Happy Mutation Day!"
She held out a medium sized box, wrapped in bright red paper and tied off with a white bow out to him. Surprised, Raph took the box and tore off the wrapping paper. He stared dumbly at the brand new full face motorcycle helmet he had secretly wanted for a while. Unbelieving, he ran his hand over the photograph of the reflective face plate and marbled red plating on the side of the box.
April had spent almost three hundred dollars on a gift for him? This was too much. He couldn't accept anything like this.
"April, no, I can't let you do that." Raph held the box back out to her. She looked slightly offended by the gesture as she stared between him and the box.
"Why not?" she asked, "You'd been pining over that thing for weeks…. Don't you like it?"
Raph was stricken by the hurt tone in her voice and the way that her eyes misted over. Putting the box aside, he took both of her hands, struggling to make himself understood.
"No, no. I love it. I really do. It's just that I know it's really expensive and I want you to save your money for something important, that's all."
April's face wrinkled up with annoyance as she pushed him back a step, breaking his hold on her arms.
"But you're something important, you big lunkhead!"
She stood before him, trembling with pent up frustration. Raph just stared at her for a long moment, unsure of how he should respond. Swallowing hard, he stepped closer, shame clouding his bright green eyes.
"I'm sorry." he apologized sincerely.
Cupping her face tenderly, he kissed her deeply. She tensed for a second before she melted into him, her hands reaching around his head to pull him closer to her. Roughly, he raked his hands through her hair, dislodging her headband and loosening the band that held her ponytail. Both fell forgotten to the floor as Raph reveled in the softness of her hair between his fingers.
After a long moment, he pulled back and looked her full in the face. She was flushed and her eyes shone as bright as stars in a summer sky. Her long red hair framed her face and Raph thought that in that moment, she had never looked more beautiful.
"How am I going to top such an amazing gift for your birthday?" he asked huskily. She smiled coyly as she traced the scratches and notches on his plastron.
"I'm sure that you'll find a way."