Afterglow

Kiss Me at Midnight

Rated: T

Chapter Summary: It's New Years Eve and April was getting a New Year's Eve kiss whether Raph wants to or not - little does she know, he's two steps ahead of her.

This chapter happened within like twenty minutes. I did not plan at all to do a New Years chapter but it just came out and I liked it, so enjoy! I hope y'all have a wonderful New Years!

It was cliche.

God, it was the most trivial, pointless, gooey, and nauseatingly romantic thing about New Years Eve - and that of course, is kissing your significant other on the exact moment of midnight. Yeah, it had absolutely no significance and was just like any other kiss would be like at any other moment during any time of the year, but fuck, she needed it.

April had already missed out last year since that New Years Eve included a particularly bad crime wave and Raphael was out all night on patrol; so, this year, dammit, she was getting a freakin' New Year's kiss whether Raphael wanted it or not.

Bring this to the current time where herself, Raphael, all of his brothers, not to mention Splinter and Casey all spread out over the living room. April felt herself growing desperate the closer it got to midnight; she highly doubted Raph would appreciate exchanging saliva right in front of his brothers, best friend, and father. It probably wouldn't go over very well...

Dammit... April growled internally, spiting the clock hands that grew closer to the ting of midnight. Completely enthralled in finding a lapse in conversation to drag Raphael away was impossible and the minutes just kept clicking by.

11:49 the bright red numbers flickered at her; the mocking flash of time slipping by grating on her last damn nerve.

The redhead took a deep breath, glancing back to the television where the annual dropping of the ball was taking place. Sure, they could have just walked down the street to see it, but with the cold weather mixed with four reptiles was hardly a good mix. She didn't feel Raphael's eyes on her face as she impassively watched the New Years Eve special. The disappointment at the fact it was just not going to happen quickly dampened her good mood as she nestled herself further into her beanbag.

Another quick glance at the clock and the last five minutes left in 2015 - it was probably not the best time to be sour about a single damn kiss - after all, it had been the best year of her life so far. She gathered that was most likely the reason she wanted the midnight kiss so bad. Yeah, it was full of its up and down just like all the other years before, but this year was special; her and Raphael were closer than ever. Sparing him a look, she smiled at his profile, the television light illuminating off his skin. It's a wonderful thing to find your soulmate; an occasion most people would never get to experience, and here she was, only 19 years of age positive she already found hers.

It was enough.

Sure, a midnight kiss would have been great; would have been fan-fucking-tastic - but, it is what it is and whining about it was just plain selfish on her part.

With that thought, April smiled, eyes glancing up back to the television and the happiness of the holiday with her family was good enough for her.

That's why it shocked her so badly when Raphael suddenly grasped her hand. Without any explanation, he pulled her to her feet and began pulling her out of the living room and in the darkness, none of the fellow occupants really didn't seem to notice or care as the two left the room.

"What's going on? Is everything alright?" April asked in a hushed whisper, trailing behind the reptile as he headed toward the turnstiles; hand loosely held enough to be let go but she still didn't release it.

"Here. Put this on." Raph vaguely answered, handing her her jacket and scarf before hurriedly putting his own on.

"What the heck, Raphael? It's almost midnight. Where are we going?"

"Just put it on. Come on - gotta hurry." he replied, not even waiting for her to follow him or even time to ask for an explanation as he jumped over the turnstiles and out into the sewers.

April was frozen in place for a moment - the sheer strangeness and quickness of events was almost too much for her. It took her a whole 30 seconds for her to even realize he wasn't standing in front of her anymore; it wasn't until she heard his singsong "O'Neil" from down in the sewers that her brain finally caught up.

"Dammit, Raph! Wait!" April called after him, throwing her jacket on and following after her boyfriend.

Once she finally caught up to him, she didn't even have a second to think before he grabbed her around the waist and was climbing up the nearest manhole. The cold air was harsh on her face as soon as he lifted her through the circular opening; the breeze only lasted a second before she squeaked in surprise when he flew up the nearest fire escape and onto the top of the building.

April's breath caught for a moment as she took in her surroundings. The ball-dropping ceremony was a few blocks away, but the building was so tall, it was the perfect view of it. Her mouth finally on par with her brain had her turning to her quiet terrapin boyfriend. The words died on her tongue when the countdown began.

TEN...NINE...EIGHT...

April peered off the edge and saw the crowds and mass of humanity on the streets below, the streets blocked off and all eyes turned on the golden ball atop the building.

SEVEN...SIX...FIVE...

She smiled, taking in the moment - all the couples just looking so happy. Getting to be here and see it live instead of the small twenty inch television screen with bad reception.

FOUR...THREE...TWO...

So lost in the moment, it wasn't until the last second she turned back to her boyfriend and smiled - and her heart nearly stopped when she suddenly found herself in his strong arms, the warmth exuding in waves from his sheer proximity.

ONE! - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Raphael's mouth met hers the second the ball fell; lips pressing firmly upon her own and April swore her chest was going to explode from the sheer emotion contained in that one kiss. Her eyes closed and she just melted; melted into his arms, lips melding into his as her arms fell limply over his shoulders in a vain attempt to hold herself up. Legs virtual jelly underneath her but she couldn't find herself to give a single crap in this moment. Smiling against his mouth, April tightened her arms around his neck, kissing him with all she was worth as the sounds of the crowd and cheers melted into complete silence, this one perfect moment engraving itself on her mind and heart forever.

Yeah, it was just as cliche and cheesy as a bad romantic comedy, but for her, this was reality - and she wouldn't trade it for the world.

Happy 2016! Hope this is your best year yet! xoxo