Well hello there. I'm such a dependable source of entertainment, I know. At least I know that I like going back to read these, so if that's all that comes from these and my incredibly long hiatus gaps, I'm happy about it. Strap in
"Thanks for the help Dana; I'd usually just use the tweezers but having smaller fingers to reach in really makes a difference."
"No problem Donny, I'm glad to help!" Dana chirped, crossing the lab to pull off her disposable gloves. She wasn't quite sure what she'd find coming down to the lair that day, but she had a full day off and hadn't seen or heard from Raph since the incident of her "boyfriend" (a title for Gerry the suit she was growing to regret), so she figured a little casual confrontation couldn't hurt. When she had no sign of the large, moody turtle and instead heard clanging from the lab, it was decided that visiting a gentler turtle was a better decision.
"So are you down here to get Raph to talk like a big boy or was it a beautiful day in the sewers?" Donny knew the answer well; Raph's practice punches were a lot harder than usual these past few weeks and his agitation had clearly reinvigorated his sleep talking; there was a lot of "stupids" "doofus" and "Dana"'s, but it seemed like Dana didn't even know what to do.
"Ah, you got me, I did not come to stick my phalanges into your busted microwave wires." Dana had popped herself up on a counter, leaning over to get a better view of the work station. "He hasn't talked to me in weeks. I've got no goddamn idea what his issue is and he got super passive aggressive with me after my date; it's like he was super pissy for no reason and it's impossible to get him to talk to me if I don't corner him face to face."
"Well, you know him; the only confrontation he'll take willingly is one he starts." Dana huffed back at the turtle genius; it felt very unfair that she couldn't have some weird beef with a reasonable turtle, talking to Don or even Leo would probably prove to be simpler. After fidgeting beside Donny as he finished fixing the busted microwave, which brother had done it she didn't really want to know, she scrambled herself off of the countertop, off to look for her rage turtle.
"I'm going to guess he's in the weight room, unless you know something I don't." Donny didn't even need to confirm as they heard a thud and a grunt come from the direction of the weights. She briefly thought about bringing a shield in case a rogue weight went wild, but even an angry Raph wasn't a total douche. Dana walked quickly to the entrance tunnel to the makeshift gym and stopped hesitantly just by the entry way. She could see a discarded dumbbell haphazardly lobbed to the corner and a familiar large terrapin now focusing on bench pressing what she could only guess was nearly the weight of a small motorcycle. Dana felt his body twitch from across the room, he knew she was there. After a few palpable seconds of silence she breeches.
"Hey." The only response was a hefty lift of the weight Raphael focused on.
"… I missed you." A grunt. Another rep. Repeat. If he was going to be difficult, she'd take a page out of his book; no patience.
"I find it really funny that I'm the one playing nice when you flipped out at me and stopped talking for no good reason, but I guess you don't know what nice is." Well, that got his attention. He hitched the bar onto the support with one fluid movement, gingerly climbing out from beneath far quicker than she'd anticipated. He looked up with a snap of his neck and the unreadable expression drew a shiver from the small woman in front of him. She couldn't chicken out now.
"You gonna talk to me or just stare at me until I disintegrate?" Raph fought to keep the smirk off of his face; did she have to be cute- er, funny? He briefly remembered feeling so betrayed and angry after she'd texted him about her date, and he couldn't quite place why; but the longer she looked back at him with those big doe eyes, the more he remembered why he'd been avoiding her.
"… uh. Well, y'know I…" god he felt stupid; deep breathing, just like Splinter says. "I'm sorry about freaking out, guess I was just in a bad mood." Amazing, he thought, what a smart excuse. Dana was fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, she was losing her nerve "okay, but… you never texted or anything; kinda feels like you're mad… uh, I'm just gonna go, okay?" Before he could stop himself, Raph was up and grabbing at her wrist as she turned to leave. She stopped, turning back to see the large turtle staring right into her. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I got so angry… I guess I just figured we'd probably barely see you a lot less once you had, like, normal friends." Partial truth. Dana softened, turning fully toward him and sliding her arm through his surprisingly gentle grip so she could interlace her fingers as best as she could.
"Aww… you really care that much? Not that I'd stop hanging out with you guys, I love seeing you -" that sounded mushier than she wanted it to; quick, backtrack! "- guys. Wouldn't give it up if I could." She smiled up at the big mutant, hoping the heat on her face was all in her head. Why did she get so flustered all of a sudden? She'd have to hash that out with herself later, for now it was time to make him squirm a bit. She stepped a hair closer and looked up at him through her eyelashes.
"So you really like me that much, Raph?" She now had an answer to whether giant ninja turtles could blush because his cheeks lit up nearly the color of his mask as he began to sputter.
"I… what makes - when did I say…" Dana couldn't help herself as she giggled mercilessly and took a step back. "I meant like friends, you ding dong." Partial truth. Wait, what? She shook the thought.
"But, watching you get flushed is-" cute. She willed her brain to shut up with these sudden and confusing intrusions. "Hilarious." Raph tried to glare, but even he couldn't stop from letting a chuckle out as he ruffled the young woman's hair. She huffed, turn to leave and motioning him to come along. He followed almost too obediently. He made a note to himself to be a little less eager.
"So now that we're good, I've been waiting to watch Daredevil until you got your head out of your ass."