Afterglow - Chapter 39

Rated: T

Returning Home

Chapter Summary: Raphael and April reluctantly return back home and back to the repetitive swing of things.

Wow. I knocked this chapter out within about an hour. I love it when the chapters just write themselves. ;-P Hope y'all enjoy even if it's a bit shorter than usual.

Going home would have been one thing - hell, walking would have been one thing if her and Raphael had stopped after the first round on the porch…

…but they didn't.

Another time on the swing, a few on the couch, once on the living room floor before finishing in the bed; covers tangling them together was where they finally passed out.

Raphael had been particularly, how would you say, "enthusiastic" the last few times. Thrusting into her hard and fast like the speed of a jackhammer and the power of the Energizer bunny all at one time pounding into her body. Not to mention, her legs being splayed that wide for that length of time didn't have great effects on her poor thigh muscles…

It felt absolutely incredible at the time they were doing it, but the morning after, not so much.

April awoke to a dull ache in her nether region like she hadn't experienced since the morning after she lost her virginity and her legs sore as if she just went through a vigorous work-out. Internally cursing her boyfriend snoring beside her, she rolled over to try and fruitlessly catch some more Zs until she realized the time.

"10:17" said the blinking lights from the alarm clock to her left.

"Aw, dammit…" the redhead muttered sleepily, moving her arm to sock Raphael in the shoulder probably harder than intended.

"Hrnnn. W-Wha?" Came the grouchy turtle's voice muffled by the pillow his face was partially buried in.

"We need to go. Traffic bad." April muttered in broken sentences, cursing the pain that grew more intense as the cloud of sleep began to wear off.

"...groghth…"

"Raph…" she grumbled at his tired voice and lack of a legitimate reply.

"What?" he asked at least partially awake.

"We need to go…" April whined, "the traffic is gonna suck going back into town if we don't."

"Mmm…do we have to?"

April just growled something nonsensical in reply before reluctantly sitting up; hating how it stung quite a bit to do so. "Dammit…" she growled,clenching her legs together a bit until it dissipated.

"What's wrong?" Raph grumbled, his sleepy face turning toward her and one green eye open and peeking up at her.

"Nothing, you just went a little too hard and fast last night." she said, hiding the flush of red on her cheeks by reaching for her tank top and bra that somehow ended up tangled in the blankets.

A devilish smirk lifted the corners of his mouth as he wiggled his brow ridges at her turned back. "But that's how you like it. I didn't have much of a choice." he chuckled as his hand maneuvered over to her and began caressing her hip. She was quick to swat it away.

"Shut up."

"Hmm…a little grumpy are we?"

"No. That's your thing." April grumbled, throwing her legs off the edge of the bed to put on her underwear and leggings that were scattered nearby.

"Aw, c'mon, April." Raphael groaned, muscly arms reaching up in a stretch. He was careful to appreciate how her eyes flicked to the movement. "It was our last night, we had to make the most of it."

"I know, but I -ouch!" she replied, hating how it stung to high heaven with every step. "Dammit. Get me some Advil, will ya?"

"Only if you ask nicely." he singsonged as he dragged himself from underneath the covers.

"Now, Raphael. This is all your fault in the first place!"

"How? Yer the one who kept asking for it."

"Raph…" her voice took on a sinister tone.

"Alright, alright. Sheesh! Someone's in a bad mood; I guess I didn't get you off enough last night."

"You got me off plenty, Raph… I'm just…ugh, never mind." April sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and trying to ward off a migraine.

"Yer just sad we have to leave, huh?" Raphael asked as he approached, two pills in hand and a small cup of water in the other.

April glanced up at him and just smiled; hating how he was nearly impossible to stay angry at.

"Yeah, that must be it - not the fact that my privates ache like hell..." she teased, grabbing the pills and water from him and swallowing them.

"I knew it." he said with a deep chuckle.

April froze when his hand brushed back her messy bangs to give her forehead a tender kiss. It was soft and sweet and he pulled away almost instantly to finish packing their bags. A smile tickled the edges of her lips as she watched him for a moment before helping him do the same.

An hour later, they finished packing up the ShellRaiser. April ran back inside to double check they weren't forgetting anything before turning off the water and generator until next time. Exiting Northampton for the last time, she locked the cabin behind her. Freezing for a second and smiling at the wooden grain that greeted her. She already couldn't wait to return to this place with her beloved Raphael…

"Ya gonna put yer ass in gear or not, O'Neil? Traffic! Remember?" Raph shouted from the driver's side of the ShellRaiser.

…so much for those kind thoughts…

"Keep your damn shell on! I'm coming!" She yelled back, not bothering to hide the anger lacing her voice.

"Ooh, replaying what you kept screamin' last night?" he asked in his normal smug tone as she pulled herself into the passenger seat and shut the door behind her.

April just gave him the stink eye and ignored how nice his deep reverberating laugh sounded by putting on her seat belt and refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking at him to see how her face flushed.

"Just shut up and drive." she muttered as she stared out the window.

"Don't you mean, go faster?" he chuckled, "OUCH!" he shrieked when she socked him in his bicep, which April admitted probably hurt her more than him but it was worth it.

"No. Just drive." she replied smugly, allowing a smirk to tickle her lips.

Raphael just chuckled at her behavior, starting the vehicle and pulling away from Northampton. Once on the main road, April couldn't help but look back into the rear-view mirror and watch as the cabin disappeared into the distance.

"RAPHIE! APRIL!" Michelangelo screeched happily, running toward the couple that approached the turnstiles.

Raphael jumped over the turnstiles; quickly blocking Mikey from April and taking the brunt of Mikey's affection with a bear hug.

"I missed you guys!" Mikey continued happily, swaying in a hug with his older brother.

"Heh. Missed ya too, Mike." Raphael chuckled, allowing Mikey to continue the hug in hopes he'd leave April, who was still in some pain, alone.

"Hello, you two. Have a nice time? Leonardo asked civilly as he walked over to the couple.

"Yeah, it was nice. What have you guys been up to?" April replied, smiling back a tinge of pain as she pushed herself through the turnstiles after Raphael and placed her duffel bag on the floor.

"Nothing much. Been pretty quiet." Leonardo answered, eyes flicking down her when he no doubt noticed the strange way she was walking. April was certain he wouldn't ask though…

"That's good." April shrugged, brushing her bangs behind her ear as Donatello approached the group.

"Hey, Raph. Hey, April!" Donnie greeted with a wave which April returned.

The redhead in question flinched a bit when Donnie approached her. Worried he'd want a hug, she moved back a bit to brace herself; hating when she stepped too fast and the pain was echoed across her expression. She could almost slap herself when she realized Donnie just moved her bag over a bit so it wouldn't be in the walkway.

"April. Are you okay?" Donnie asked and April inwardly cursed her actions.

"Y-Yeah! Of course I am!"

"You sure? You're walking strangely. Did something happen?" Donnie continued.

April glanced over to Raphael who was now staring at her and trying his damnedest not to smirk. The bastard…

"April?" Donnie asked again, arm reaching out to her and she pulled away.

"Huh? No! I'm fine, seriously!" April stammered, giving another step between them and she hid the pain convincingly this time.

Donnie's brow ridges furrowed at her answer but she just smiled at him and hoped he's just drop it.

He didn't.

"No, seriously, are you okay? You're limping, April."

"Oh no! Did you get hurt, April?" Mikey intervened and April swore her face turned the shade of a ripe tomato.

"N-No! I-I hit my shin on a table! That's all. It's no big deal!" she lied, careful to notice the Cheshire Cat smile that appeared on Raphael's face.

"It must be pretty bad if you're having trouble walking - want me to look at it?"

"No!" she shouted much louder than intended.

Raphael coughed to hide the laugh that escaped. Leonardo gave him a strange look which Raph shrugged off and cleared his throat.

Donnie flicked his eyes over her face for a sign of deception and was apparently satisfied with her answer. "Alright, April. If you're sure you are okay, I guess. If you change your mind -"

"I know, I know! Thanks, Don, but I'm okay!" April said, reaching over to pat Donnie's shoulder in hopes of calming the genius turtle's concerns.

"That's good! Hey, I made some pizza for lunch! Come on!" Mikey announced, dropping the conversation and heading to the kitchen without another word.

For this, April was grateful even if Donnie and Leo still were looking at her a bit strangely before following after the excited orange-banded brother.

Once they were out of hearing range, she sighed in barely suppressed anger when Raphael suddenly appeared at her side.

"Kicked the table, huh?" he chuckled, voice deep and way too sexy as it rattled near her ear.

"Shut up before I kick you too…" she grumbled and he just laughed louder.