Afterglow - Chapter 32
Rated: T
Sunrise
Chapter Summary: To celebrate her birthday and the start of summer break, April, along with Raphael head to the place where it all started.
There was something about driving for hours upon end that was relaxing for the normally hotheaded terrapin even if it was a pain in the ass to finally get out of the big city. Raphael quickly had come to despise traffic all while still getting well-acquainted to driving the Shellraiser. An odd experience of a bunch of different battling emotions to say the least.
Yet, once he had driven an hour north, it was nothing but smooth sailing.
Bountiful trees, mountains, and farmland as far as the eye could see; the beauty in nature lost on New York City with it's steel skyscrapers, concrete streets, and endless stream of people, cars, graffiti, and pollution. Getting out and being enveloped by and in nature was an experience Raphael never would have imagined happening in his life...and it was all thanks to her...
The red-banded terrapin stole a quick glance of his sleeping girlfriend sitting on the seat next to him; body curled in his direction and drooling a bit on the pillow underneath her head. He couldn't stop the dopey smile that crossed his face upon seeing her. She'd been asleep for most of the drive since she was gone most of the day finishing the last of her finals and packing while he got to sleep in til they left that evening.
Raphael realized he didn't mind driving at all.
Eyes re-glued to the road in front of him, he took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air from the cracked window. Relishing the cool, clean air and the fact the two of them were going to be spending the next week and a half away from his annoying brothers...and to finally be alone. Those wondrous thoughts dancing in his head, he calmly drove the remainder of the way toward Northampton.
"Hey, we're here." the whisper tickled across her ear, slightly disturbing the tuft of orange bangs.
April grumbled and tried to ignore the voice to get some much more needed sleep, but her boyfriend wasn't having any of it. He reached over from his place at her open door, undid her seat-belt before unceremoniously scooped the thin woman into his arms.
"R-Raph..." April growled sleepily, mourning the loss of her soft pillow when she was greeted with Raph's hard chest plates against her freckled cheek.
"I warned you." he chuckled, walking the distance to the porch.
"Ya better be takin' me to bed." she mumbled back, trying to make herself as comfortable as possible in his arms, which she would admit was pretty damn easy...
"You'll get yer wish for about half-an-hour while I unload the vehicle but I'll be dragging your ass out again to watch the sunrise." he replied, unlocking the door and entering the house.
"Ugh...we're here for over a week...there'll be plenty of sunrises that I'm not completely exhausted to see..." her voice slurred and muffled into his throat but he could tell she was at least semi-conscious to form decent sentences.
"Not the very first one from our trip here though." He reminded her and she just grumbled something nonsensical in response.
Raphael smile widened at that; making his way through the familiar house.
It'd been over a year since they were last here and it was evident by the thin layer of dust that accumulated on various furniture around the house. Walking up the stairs, he chose the largest room for them to share during their stay. Glancing at the bed in the darkened room, he was glad to see it was clean of dust or other debris before carefully placing his girlfriend atop of comforter. Brushing his lips along her forehead, he left her to sleep for a bit as he got to work.
Raph worked quickly; emptying the Shellraiser of food, essentials, and a couple necessities; hooking up the electricity by going off Donatello's well-written instructions. Once that and the water was taken care, of the sky began to gradually lighten, giving him just enough time to collect April whether she wanted to be or not.
As expected, she was still fast asleep and drooling in the exact same position he laid her down.
"April, come on." Raph spoke, pushing lightly at her thin shoulder.
The redhead in question just grumbled indistinctly but sounded surprising close to "leave me alone" but Raphael wasn't sure.
Not to be deterred, Raphael poked her in her stomach and April instantaneously slapped his hand away from her infamous tickle-spot. Rather amused at the sleepy redhead's behavior but not wanting to drag this out, he spoke again.
"April, you have two choices. Either you walk with me or I'll have to carry you to the porch. Your choice." he laid down the ultimatum and awaited her answer.
Blue eyes peeked out from behind her lids as she took in his blurry form looming over her.
Squinting at the barest hints of light coming through the windows, she lazily reached her arms out for him. There was no way in hell she was walking right now.
Raph chuckled lightly at that; she didn't even bother speaking. Not wanting to miss the sunrise because of her laziness, he allowed her to wrap her arms around his neck and he picked her up bridal-style.
"Thanks..." she muttered into his throat as they exited the room.
"Don't get used to the chauffeur service, O'Neil."
"Mmm...Too late. I'm addicted for life..." she smiled, lazily kissing his pulse point as he made it down the stairs and onto the porch.
"Sure, but next time, I'm dumping you in the lake."
"You do and you won't live to see your next birthday."
Raphael couldn't help but laugh at her threats, she was about as vicious as a lethargic kitten right now. "I'll keep that in mind." he stated anyway.
The porch swing, while old, was well made.
Wood sturdy and foundation optimum to hold even his over 300 pound weight. Didn't stop it from making an egregious squeak as he sat down with April still in his lap; he didn't seem to care about the sound the swing made once pitch black night sky began growing lighter. Yellow, pink and red hues painted beautifully across the expanse of sky and the surrounding clouds; the brilliant colors kissing the tops of rustling trees.
Feeling the redhead adjust slightly in his arms, Raphael spared a glance down and was surprised to see April's eyes slightly open. She was taking in the view as well. His eyes resting on her longer than usual, he couldn't help but take in how the colors danced across her face.
Sensing his eyes on her, she met his gaze and gave him a lazy smile. When he returned it, a sense of utter and complete happiness overwhelmed her and she couldn't help but express it.
Raphael didn't expect her to sit up and kiss him. Lips warm and soft pressing on his own as the first hint of sun peeked out from between the thinner layers of trees. She pulled away to lay her head back on his shoulder. Resting his own on top of hers, both relaxed at the scene transpiring. The bright rays illuminated across the expanse of green grass and trees rusting. The chirping of birds and the fading of cicadas surrounding them.
It was perfect...
Yet, it wasn't to last.
The two, while technically on vacation, still had a shitload of stuff to do before they could even fathom enjoying whatever remained of it. The group had left the house a bit of a hurry the first time around; leaving a lot of trash and things needing fixing considering the craziness that took place here. Between the living swamp monsters that turned Raphael into a flower, Leo's spiraling depression, Bigfoot, not to mention the Kraang stuff in the basement...it was a hell of a lot to cleanup.
A royal pain in the ass to say the least.
The couple worked all day, cleaning, mopping, and hauling trash; emptying, cleaning, and restocking the fridge and pantry. All in all, just making Northampton livable again. An all day project that was long, tiring, and downright exhausting behind them, the two were barely able to amble up the stairs to the bed before falling asleep within seconds.
Both knew whatever happened, tomorrow would definitely be better...
April groaned into the pillow; hating how her body had adjusted to her 5am work-out and college sleeping schedule that became ingrained into every fiber of her being over the past couple months.
It really sucked when every part of her body ached fiercely from the marathon of cleaning yesterday.
Knowing sleep was not possible because of her damn inner clock, April sat up and stretched her arms high over her head. A yawn escaping as she took in the before-dawn that awaited outside the window. The black sky and bright twinkling stars greeting her. Wiping the remainder of sleep from her eyes, she couldn't help but smile when the occupant next to her adjusted a bit in his sleep. April could barely make out his shape in the darkness, but it didn't stop her from reaching over and caressing his arm. Taking time in brushing her finger over every curve and line of hard muscle that adorned it...still one of her favorite things about him.
April took a second to lean down to kiss his face before deciding to start the day right.
Ambling down the stairs, she made her a pot of coffee before going out on the porch to watch the sunrise...all she hoped now was that Raphael decided to join her. Mainly because dragging his gargantuan ass out of bed wasn't even possible...
The first thing Raphael became aware of is the slight nip in the air. A chill he swore wasn't there just moments ago. A hand brushing along the other side of the bed, he found he was correct when April had indeed left; the sheets barely holding on to a glimpse of warmth.
It was enough to pry his ass from the sheets.
Sitting up, he quickly headed to the bathroom to take care of business and brush his teeth before he went in search of his redheaded girlfriend.
Forget sneaking up on her...he muttered internally.
The creaky floorboards under him made it sound like an elephant was prancing through the house. Even if he was only100 pounds, he was certain it would sound the exact same.
Raphael peeked into the dark kitchen, the living room, and the foyer without any luck.
It was only when he passed the open front door where he saw her.
Leaning against the wooden porch and peering out at the upcoming sunrise was April.
The pink and yellow hues illuminating off her fair skin causing her to appear almost ethereal. As he took in her form and recalling just everything about her from her fierce stubbornness, fiery personality, and the most kind heart. All he could think about was just how unbelievably fortunate, blessed, lucky (or whatever you want to call it) he was..
How this girl who had the world at her fingertips would choose someone like him. The reality of it still blew his fuckin' mind.
Raphael wasn't sure how long he stood here; shoulder pressing into the doorway and staring at her, but his reverie was broken upon April sensing him.
Head turning and face peering at him over her shoulder; she smiled. Bright white teeth showcasing proudly between her lips as she took in his visage.
"Good Morning, Sleepyhead..." she greeted.
"Hmph." he relied with a throaty chuckle before pushing away from the door and closing the distance that separated them.
Deciding to stand behind her rather than at her side, his arms eagerly wrapped around her. Sure to rest his head upon her thin shoulder; one hand pressing gingerly atop her flat stomach while the other grasped her hand. She immediately tightened her fingers around his digits and melted into him; pressing her back against his plastron.
"Hmm..." he breathed into her neck and caressed his cheek against hers; the action causing her own to flush, "...it is now..."
April smiled at his affection, certain to lean further back and rest the majority of her weight upon his sturdy stance. It was moments like these she cherished most. The opportunity to just be with him without distractions or obstacles; the ability to be in his presence and absorb the blessing it was. As crazy as her life was at times, he was one thing she wouldn't change for the world.
And by how he held her right now, she knew he felt exactly the same...