Afterglow - Chapter 30

Rated: M

Soulmates

Chapter Summary: As Raphael sleeps, April recalls the little moments that drew her to the hot-headed terrapin in the first place...also, some sexy times in Raph's bedroom occur...

First off, I want to apologize for taking so long to update this and to thank you for being SO patient with me. Be assured I have not given up on this story, I've just been preoccupied with other stories and struggling a bit with an idea to do for the 30th chapter. I decided to just wing it and see what happens. It ended up to be nearly 5,000 words and included some smut so it's not like I didn't try haha.

Hope you enjoy. :-) xoxo

Also, fun fact about the band "Charred Walls" in the story, there are two screenshots where the band name is on the bass drum of Raphael's drum set and the same name is in April's locker when she opens it. I didn't just make it up. ;-) If you want proof, check out this same fict on A03, I'll be posting the pictures there (it's canon enough for me).

Also, a HUGE thank you to 15LMDR, whose tumblr post gave me the inspiration and pointed out the Charred Walls thing! It inspired a great deal of this chapter! So, thanks, hon! :-D

Deep breaths in and out; fingers absentmindedly caressing languid strokes upon a hard armored surface. They were the only sounds punctuating the quiet of the room. A comfortable atmosphere and silence she did not get to experience as often as she would prefer.

April listened to his languid breathing and the lull of Raphael's strong, steady heartbeat under her ear; for some odd reason, she found herself unable to sleep. Considering their earlier romp in the dojo, not to mention cleaning the whole damn lair, it was quite strange when when she didn't immediately fall asleep when her head hit the pillow (or his bicep or chest she found herself using as one most of the time).

Struggling to relax, she finally gave up and opened her eyes and took in his familiar bedroom as her boyfriend remained in blissful slumber. The bluish light igniting from an antique radio allowing her to see in the normally pitch black room. Head still firmly resting upon his chest, she glanced at the decor of his room she knew quite well.

With nothing better to do than admire the many posters adorning his walls with familiar bands and a couple piece of incredible art her boyfriend had done. Eyes trailing lower, she sighed upon seeing Spike's empty tank and pondering why Raphael still kept it but she'd never ask him such a delicate question. Not wanting to dwell on that any longer, her blue eyes landed upon his drum-set. One she'd never actually seen him play; The "Charred Walls" name embedded in the bass drum.

A smile formed on her lips as she recalled the exact logo etched into her high school locker. It was one of the first things that opened a conversation between Raphael and herself in the first place. Those first few months after they'd met; a time in which he was rather distrustful of her but was slowly opening up. A time in which she'd accepted and flirted with her attraction for the green-eyed terrapin that began to develop over time. When he was still oh, so quiet around her - the conversation was one she remembered so well.

April O'Neil just arrived through the turnstiles and it was quite an odd sight to see only Raphael around; as soon as she saw him, she was rather tempted just to go head to Donnie's lab instead of getting the cold shoulder the red-banded terrapin was famous for.

April wasn't exactly pleased with how standoffish this brother was. He seemed so incredibly mysterious and interesting (not to mention damn attractive) but he never let her in and any words exchanged or time spent one-on-one was nearly non-existent. Not to say the redhead didn't try but more often than not, he just left the room before she could speak. April wanted to get to know him better but it was hard when Raphael avoided her like the plague. She was full on ready just to pass him by when a familiar name and logo caught her eye.

"Is that Charred Walls?" April asked more excited than she cared to admit upon seeing the magazine Raphael held in his hands.

Raphael reluctantly peeked out from behind the magazine. Green eyes glancing at the girl in obvious confusion before his eyes landed on the cover and without verbally answering, he just nodded and shrugged before burying his face behind the magazine yet again.

Not wanting to be deterred this time, April continued, "I never knew you liked them! I never actually met another person who appreciated the fine quality of the vulgar curses they're able to rhythm with. Heh, come to think of it, I don't think I ever even met anyone who's even heard of them. As awesome as they are, they're pretty vague." April said with a laugh, bravely plopping next to the nervous terrapin on the couch.

Raphael was nervously glancing at her from the corner of his eye before his green eyes gravitated back to the pages. April was staring at his profile, admiring his sharp features and sneaking a glance at the magazine. It was the reason she approached him at all in the first place.

"Yep..." he muttered dully and it was obvious he was as welcoming as a pms-ing porcupine right now but that only made April more determined to get to know him a bit more.

"What's your favorite song of theirs?" she asked, digging into her book-bag and pulling out her laptop. April didn't want to make him uncomfortable, but desperate times call for desperate measures. After a moment, he still hadn't responded and April's slight smile fell and she was prepared for him to close his magazine and bolt from the room but it was a complete shock when he finally answered her.

"Fade to Black." he replied, the sound of him turning a page a welcome noise in the deafening silence; if he was turning pages and still reading, it may mean he wouldn't leave her high and dry after all.

It was at this moment she realized perhaps her and the red-banded turtle weren't so opposite after all. "...Fade to Black?" she asked.

"Yeah. Why?" he asked, his brow ridges heavily furrowed as he genuinely looked at her for the first time since she arrived.

"Heh. It's just - that's mine too." she replied with a shrug.

Raphael couldn't hide the shock that alight his green eyes upon her answer. "...Really?"

Did he seem...excited?

"Yeah." she replied with a smile, showing him her song list on her laptop and the only song on it was indeed, 'Fade to Black'.

"Holy shit, ya weren't kiddin'." Raphael muttered and she couldn't help but giggle at the use of profanity; it appeared he was the only one of his brothers that did so. Mikey was too innocent, Donnie too squeaky clean and awkward and Leo too anal-retentive to let a curse fall from his lips. She appreciated Raph's honesty and his rawness; it was a refreshing change.

Raphael's green eyes rose to hers for only a second and April's heart definitely didn't skip upon seeing the ghost of a rugged smile raising the corners of his lips.

"Heh. Pop Quiz, in their 1987 classic song, 'Angel of Death', who was Ragin' Rob referrin' to in the second verse?" Raph asked, putting the magazine aside as if it would give her a hint, and looking at her expectantly. April was more than happy to play along with the 'Charred Walls' trivia.

"His step-mother."

"Heh. You're right. Pretty good, O'Neil. Most people think it was his ex-wife or somethin'. That musta been one strange relationship." Raph chuckled and April couldn't help but smile when he referred to her by her last name.

Little did she knew it would be one of the most endearing things she'd grow to love about him...

"Cool. Now, let's see if you can take it - which song did they label their all-time greatest masterpiece but no one really seemed to like it?"

"Soulmate." he replied with ease and April was a bit taken aback for how the word sounded coming out of his mouth.

She didn't even realize when her laptop was by her side and they were sitting closer than they'd ever been in proximate to one another before. This was before he'd even saved her from the Kraang base - a time in which she never fully understood just how much he'd mean to her one day.

"You're right." she laughed and the sound seemed to break whatever spell fallen over him. "Oh, I think you'd like this - check it out!" she continued, reaching for her laptop and placing a part of it onto his thigh. She felt how he flinched at her touch but he recovered quickly, gently grasping onto the other side to keep it level.

"What is it?" he asked as she opened her internet page and began searching for the right video.

"You'll see." she responded, opening up YouTube and pulling up one of their old concert videos she had discovered. Stealing a glance at him, he seemed a bit apprehensive and pulled away slightly from sitting too close to her. Not allowing his actions to bother her, she scooted even closer to him and she felt the nerves coming off of the turtle in waves; yet she ignored it. "Here it is. Check this out!" she announced, hoping the change in conversation would calm him slightly.

Raph stole a glance of her from the corner of his eye before he scooted a little closer to her and looked down at the laptop. April wasn't sure how to react to his close proximity but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy it. She noticed how clean he smelt, always picturing him to smell like sweat since he worked out so much, but he didn't. He smelt like a fresh stream filled with clean water; it was unbelievably pleasant...

"Aw, hell, is this an actual concert?" Raphael mused, breaking April from her thoughts.

"Yep. Sure is." she replied, smiling at his voice and the how he was obviously trying to cover-up just how excited he was. She half-listened and watched the video she made full screen but her eyes kept gravitating toward Raphael's face and how bright his eyes were. She'd never seen him this way and it surprised her at how open he was being with her at this moment...she didn't want it to end...

April was about to speak again to keep this rare conversation going when an all too-familiar voice had her flinch.

"April!" Donnie announced himself walking into the lair. Within milliseconds, Raphael had grabbed his discarded magazine and buried his face behind it like nothing at all had happened. While slightly disappointed, she had no time to think about it when Donnie continued, "I'm so glad you're here, I think I may have found a way to manipulate some of those samples I was showing you yesterday!"

"That's great, Don. I'm coming." she said, immediately smiling at the obviously excited turtle, ignoring the slight disappointment of losing out on spending time with a fellow "Charred Walls" fan, and closed her laptop with a soft click before rising to her feet.

Donnie didn't wait up for her, heading to his lab with a spring in his step.

Taking a moment, she looked back at Raph and was shocked to see him looking at her. She was about to speak but the hot-headed terrapin beat her to the punch.

"Mind if we finish that video some other time?" he asked.

"Yeah, of course." April replied with a big smile and she didn't know why but her heart fluttered when a half-smile appeared on his face before he turned back to his magazine.

April stood there for a long minute pretending to put the rest of her items away yet she could barely contain her giddiness at what she saw- he smiled - at her! The accomplishment probably wasn't much but it felt monumental to the redhead. Perhaps Raphael wouldn't be such an enigma to her now...

"C'mon, April! You need to see this!" Donnie broke her out of her thoughts as he suddenly reappeared and drug her to the lab.

April languidly traced the many marks on his plastron, fingernails scraping as the memory played out in her mind. She recalled them finally watching it together; well, Mikey was there sitting between them, but they saw it anyway. It wasn't much but it was one of the first moments he smiled at her; breaking that shell to see a bit of who he was underneath. Simply amazed at how life worked; how a conversation over a band of all things perhaps having a butterfly effect and leading them to this miraculous point in time.

Falling in love and being together nearly two years...it was quite incredible...

April's eyes lifted and took in his face slack in sleep and him being just so fuckin' adorable it made her heart ache...she just loved him so much... She didn't plan it, didn't think it through, just moved; raising her head, she began kissing his face and neck. Ghostly soft at first than firm, almost nipping at his warm smooth scales. While she was still a bit sore, another part of her was desperately craving him again... Thinking back on some of their life together and how she wouldn't change a thing for the world - it made her a little emotional - and the odd combination of horny, which she didn't mind. Not being able to help herself, she continued kissing him and the warmth began pooling between her legs, body and soul wanting him so bad...

Raphael awoke with a light groan, still half asleep when he realized what April was doing; her hands getting dangerously close to his groin.

"Whataya doin'?" he mumbled sleepily, one hand rising to his face to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

Suddenly, she grabbed at his lower plastron plates, scraping her fingernail on the maneuverable plates covering the area where his penis descended from. He yelled lightly before muffling the sound into his palm.

"That answer your question?" she growled into his neck, which she began nipping lightly with her teeth.

"Ooh... Heh. What's the occasion, O'Neil?" Raph chuckled as he began waking up more fully; hands now busying themselves with her still covered breasts.

"Why does there need to be an occasion?" April mumbled back, her lips brushing along the side of his head and her fingers tangling in the tails of his worn red mask. "Can't a girl just wanna have sex with her handsome boyfriend?"

"Hhn... Ya know normally I'd be more than happy to oblige with that request, but aren'tcha sore?" Raph asked, his hands reluctantly leaving her chest to rest along her back; leaning up to kiss the tip of her nose.

"Just a little, but I'll be fine...Now, come on, Raph..." April mumbled, her arms tightening around his neck as she brushed her mouth over his.

"We can't do it here. Dad's already suspicious."

"So?" she chirped, hands skirting over his nape.

Raph lifted his brow ridges as he peered up at her quizzically. "Yer kidding, right?"

"I'll be quiet..." April whispered raspily, her hands cupping the back of his skull as she leaned down until her lips could press over his.

"C'mon, April... Don't make this harder then it has to be..."

"Ooh, you're already hard for me?" April cooed, one of her hands trailing down his plastron.

"Oh, gawd!" Raph choked as her fingers danced around his lower plastron scutes. "Please, April, ya know we can't..." he continued, reluctantly tugging her hand away from his groin.

"I said, I'll be quiet." she whined.

"Hate to tell ya, but yer anything but quiet, sweetheart." Raph chuckled against her neck, his snout burrowing into her loose ponytail

"Like your groaning and pounding me into the mattress is any less obnoxious?" April sneered, her face pulling away from his to look him in the eyes.

"Did you forget? I'm a ninja. I could turn that that noise off anytime I want. You know I display that mostly for you babe, cause last time I checked, ya loved that noise." Raphael smirked.

April downright snorted at that statement.

"Hey, you're the screamer in this relationship, sweetheart. I recall your dad having to reassure the neighbors that you were very much alive and hadn't been screaming as you were being murdered a couple weeks ago." Raph chuckled, his face brushing against hers.

"Oh God, you would bring that up..." April muttered, her face bright red as she recalled that particular morbid conversation with her own father. She was still having issues looking him in the eye.

"I'm just sayin'."

April grew quiet and contemplative after that; acknowledging perhaps it wasn't such a good idea. Growing to accept that fact and ignore her hormones, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, just enjoying the novel feel of Raph's scales rubbing against her smooth skin instead. His body firm and cool pressed under hers in his dimly lit bedroom she thought the conversation was over and decided to see if she would relax enough for sleep; what she didn't expect was when his lips began ghosting over the skin of her neck.

"I thought you didn't want to do this..." April muttered, one of her hands cupping his face.

Raph's head rose and he looked at her, his reptilian eyes glowing in the dark room. His lips were pursed and brows furrowed and he appeared to internally debating his next words.

Raph sighed before finally speaking, "Tell ya what - we'll think of this as a training exercise. Our goal: have mind-blowing sex without making a peep."

"Not even a peep? You're insane." April muttered, knowing that was impossible and the sounds she usually made were uncontrollable at times. "How about this - just turn on your radio."

"Won't that be a bit obvious?"

"Hey, it's better they hear music than the sounds were gonna be making..." April whispered suggestively, her hand making its way back toward his groin, her short nails scraping along his plastron.

"True." Raph said, reaching for the remote on his nightstand and turning on the music, the soft lull of the radio announcer's voice coming through the speakers.

"How about you put on Charred Walls?" she asked.

Raph looked up at her and smiled; it appeared to be a pleasant memory for both of them.

"Sure. What song would ya like?" Raph asked, shrugging a bit of soreness lingering in his shoulders, the curve of hardened muscles of his deltoids easily catching her eye in the dim light.

"How about Soulmate? It has a nice beat you can fuck me with. That oughta muffle at least some of your pounding." April giggled, her fingers rubbing along the retractable scutes between his legs that began to open up with her ministrations.

He smirked, leaning up to kiss her soundly before he played his 'Charred Walls' CD and the song they spoke about what may as well have been a lifetime ago. Once the familiar tune began playing, April wasted no time in drawing out this foreplay any longer.

"So... is little Raphie ready to come out and play?" April muttered, her hands leaving his groin to grasp at his mask tails and trying to maneuver him to roll on top of her which he was more than willing to comply with. "Now, c'mere, ya big lug... I think we wasted enough time talking..." she whispered before pressing her lips insistently over his.

Putting most of his weight on his elbows, he cradled her head in his large hands and proceeded to kiss her breathless. He rubbed his groin against hers, feeling the incredible dampness of her thin cotton underwear against his lower scutes. He swallowed down the soft moan she made when he gyrated his pubis against her clit.

"Shh..." he breathed against her lips as his hands made quick work of her tank top - throwing the thin article to his messy floor. Wasting no time, he grabbed her warm soft breasts in his hands, pinching her nipples til they hardened into stiff peaks.

Taking his hint, April pulled her arms away from his shoulders to quickly shimmy out of her panties, lying back as he quickly adjusted himself on top of her.

April held back a giggle as he handed her a pillow before making himself comfortable between her legs. Teeth instantly bit into the cloth the second his lips pressed over her pussy. This tongue and fingers swiftly getting her off, thrusting a couple fingers deep inside of her to loosen and his tonguefurther lubed her up. Giving his girlfriend a quick glance and smirk, he began suckling on her clit, tongue furiously flicking it back and forth; in seconds, April's muffled groans of pleasure were lost into the thick pillow.

As soon as her orgasm passed, Raphael crawled atop of her again, her legs wrapping eagerly around his waist. All it took was a push, a sigh, and a second later, he was up to the hilt inside of her. Raph bit his tongue, fighting against the churr that immediately wanted to flee his throat upon feeling her slick cavern pulsating around his thick penis.

"Mmm..." April whimpered, the barely audible noise sounding like a foghorn to his ears. Raph searched for the pillow that was doing an awesome job at muffling the sounds, but he found the pillow forgotten on the floor.

"Shh..." he breathed against her hair, the sound muffled easily into her locks of red hair strewn messily over the sheets from her loose ponytail.

Digging her short nails into his shoulder, signaling him to continue before she really hurt him.

Raph smirked feeling her inaudible orders, the pinprick of barely noticeably pain echoing on his thickly scaled shoulders. Still obeying the hint, he began to move, shallowly thrusting in and out of her moist entrance.

April closed her eyes tightly, refusing to allow the insistent moan to leave her throat - throwing her head back as her top teeth embedded themselves into her lower lip.

Thrusting a little faster, he slowed upon hearing the wet squelching noises he was making upon speeding up. Growing frustrated with this new development, he reached over to his stand to grab his remote and turn up the music.

Once he was certain the sound would hopefully drown out his and April's activities, he began to piston faster into her welcoming body. April let out a soft sigh as he continued pillaging into her warmth. It didn't last long, the sound of the bed squeaking and the headboard tapping the wall had him stopping. Figuring out a plan, Raphael didn't exit her, just climbed off the bed until his feet were on the floor; adjusting her rear to align with the edge of the bed, he continued moving. The absence of his weight had depleted the squeaks of the springs and he was free to start plowing freely. One hand cradling her hip and the other under her body, he pillaged her, leaning down to kiss and suckle both of her breasts before pressing his face into her sternum where he erotically licked the skin there.

While he wanted this to last, he knew making this a quickie was his best option. Maybe him and April could even sneak out and take a shower afterward in order to avoid an awkward conversation over breakfast. He quickly hiked her thighs higher on his hips and used one hand to brush insistently against her swollen clit hoping to bring her to a quick orgasm.

April tensed, the squeak from his actions dying in her throat as she swallowed it down. As this thumb continued to circle against the swollen nub, she was finding it nearly impossible to not vocalize the immense pleasure he was giving her. She bit her tongue as her hands held on to the curve of his carapace when he began to speed up, the soft slap of his thighs hitting her ass blended nicely with the beat of the song playing.

Raphael felt her wet sheath tightening around his penis and the swelling of her clit letting him know she was extremely close to orgasm. Quickly deciding it would best if they finished at the same time, his thumb slowed, barely caressing her hooded nub as he furiously thrust into her body until he was ready to reach final completion. He felt a tightening in his abdomen and a slow burning across the base of his penis. Knowing he was close and April was at the cusp, a game plan was quickly made. He looked down at her flushed face, the overwhelming feeling of affection toward his girl nearly made him forget to keep his voice down down. As his hips continued their rhythmic motion, he adjusted slightly, further spreading his stance and laying heavier on top of her until their chests were flush against each other, his lower plastron brushing against her clit with every thrust.

Without warning, his mouth devoured hers as his hips accelerated, his penis slamming into her fast and hard. April practically screamed into his mouth, the sound being muffled effectively with a long note from the singer. The rapid movements of his thrusting making her nearly lose control as her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as she fiercely kissed him back.

With a couple more hard pounds into her tightening vagina, orgasm rushed over both of them at once. Raph swiftly fucked her hard once more, the tip brushing against her cervix as his seed erupted into her womb - feeling that last final penetration made his plastron rub perfectly against her throbbing, swollen clit and finally bringing her with him tumbling over the edge of ecstasy.

As their lips and tongue continued devouring each other, both sighed as the intense peak washed through them. Raphael moved back upon the bag as April's arms loosened and cradled the back of his head, her tongue running across the expanse of his wide mouth. Over time, their kisses ebbed to a stop and Raph rolled over, pulling her to lay on top of him.

"I love you..." she breathed quietly against his mouth, "so much..."

"Love ya too." Raph replied with a genuine smile before pulling her down for another passionate kiss. Languid brushes of mouths and tongues ebbed to a stop before they just rested for a moment. Bathing in the pleasure for only a second than without warning, he sat up with her still in his lap and grabbed a blanket; wrapping her in it before walking toward his bedroom door.

April was still getting down from her high, so the fact that he was moving didn't hit her until they were next to his door. Immediately, her eyes searched his out wondering just what the hell he was planning.

Raph must have sensed her immediate distress because he took a moment to look at her and smile before placing a thick finger over pursed lips. The universal signal to keep quiet as he walked out into the hall. Using all of his ninja senses, he figured out where all the occupants were; everyone asleep but Donnie who rarely left his lab before 4am. With assurance they were safe, he took off to the bathrooms to shower.

For once, the universe seemed to be on his side; they showered, cleaned, and were able to get rid of the obvious smell of sex from his room. The two were walking zombies by this point when they finally collapsed together on his bed, the looping song "Soulmate" lulling them into blissful slumber.