Of Turtles and Lizards

Don't Worry About Me

Raph's POV

Today's training was intense, even more so than usual. After a couple of hours Sensei gave us a short break and Mona pulled me aside.

"About last night..." she said quietly and I could feel my face getting warmer, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." I replied softly. "It was no big deal."

"Yes, yes it was." Mona Lisa looked me in the eyes. "I really appreciate everything you've done for me, Raphael." She kissed me on the cheek and I could feel my face turning red.

"I think he's blushing!" Donnie said from across the dojo where he stood next to Michelangelo who was uncharacteristically quiet.

"I am not!" I said with annoyance and Mona giggled.

"I think he's actually turning red!" The brainiac teased.

Okay that's it! No more Mr. Nice Turtle! I chucked one of my sai at him, missing his foot by mere inches.

Don stared at it wide-eyed for a moment, before looking at Michelangelo. "Hm-maybe not."

"Yeah." Mikey agreed and I smirked, crossing my arms across my plastron.

Mona Lisa smiled, an eye-ridge raised in amusement at my triumphant expression. I stared at her for a moment, a real smile spreading across my face. She's gorgeous. I love it when she smiles, it makes her that much prettier. I mean, she's always been beautiful, but when she smiles, something in her face just makes my heart flutter. Oh, man, did is seriously just think that?! I really am going soft!

I realized that Raphael was staring at me, and my smile faded slightly. There was something in his eyes that I didn't recognize and it was starting to make me feel like I was a specimen being held under a microscope. Finally, he snapped out of it, and his eyes widened when he realized that I'd caught him staring. Does he stare at me like that all the time? I wonder.

Mona Lisa caught me staring and I looked away, my face heating up again. I looked at my brothers, who were watching us with Cheshire grins on their faces. Oh no. Do I stare like that all the time? I thought in horror.

"Come on guys; let's give these two a moment alone." Leonardo said with a grin on his face and a mischievous glint in his dark blue eyes. I glared at him. Gee thanks a lot, big brother.

I grinned in amusement at the horrified look on Raphael's face when he realized he'd been staring. The grin bloomed into a full blown smile as I saw the glare the red-masked turtle sent to his elder brother. I struggled to hold back a giggle as Leo practically dragged his two youngest brothers out of the room, leaving the two of us alone.

I rubbed the back of my neck nervously and turned towards her. "So...that just happened." I began awkwardly. Ugh! Why is it so hard to talk to her now?! We've been friends for a while now and I've never had this much trouble! "Um...Mona? There's something I wanted to ask you."

She looked up at me and the words died in my throat. I opened and closed my mouth a few times. "So, uh, about last night...I was wondering, um, if that meant that you might be willing to uh, to um, to be involved in a..." I took a deep breath and whispered, "A relationship, w-with me."

"What was that?" She asked.

"I was wondering if you wanted to be in a relationship with me. You know, like boyfriend girlfriend kind of thing..." I repeated a little louder and clearer.

Mona Lisa stared at me, with an eyebrow raised. "I thought we went over this last night?" She asked slowly, smiling as I tensed and began shifting my weight from side to side, nervously.

"Well, yeah. You said you like me, but I just wanted to make sure that you would be open to...you know."

"No I don't know. Open to what?" I said, teasing him. It was just way too good an opportunity to pass up. I love it when he acts this way. He's so adorable when he's nervous. Anything I can to prolong a moment like this is well worth it.

His green eyes flashed up to lock gazes with me, filled with nervousness. "Uh...you know, the stuff that girlfriends and boyfriends usually do..."

"You mean like this?" I took his left hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. I pressed our foreheads together and stared into those beautiful green eyes of his. This must be what they meant when they said eyes are the windows to the soul. I thought. Raphael's eyes were just so mesmerizing. They drew me in, made me want to be closer to him. The red-masked turtle wrapped his other arm around my waist and leaned down, pressing our beaks together.

This kiss was amazing. It was so much deeper and more passionate than anything I'd ever felt before. My eyes closed and I melted into it, my muscles slowly giving way, until emerald green arms were the only thing keeping me upright. Raph slowly pulled away and held me close, leaning me up against his plastron. I snuggled up against him and he grinned down at me, running his dark green fingers through my hair. I wonder why he likes my hair so much...I thought.

"You really like my hair, don't you?" I asked and he looked down at me.

"Of course I do. It's beautiful, just like you." I shifted my gaze, trying to hide my blush, but it was no use. Raph noticed, and he chuckled. "Not used to compliments, huh?"

"Not that kind. No."

My turtle boyfriend smirked. "Better get used to it, girly, 'cause I'm not going to stop."

"I know." I replied, knowing full well that while his voice was teasing, he was being completely serious.

"So, you're okay with being my girlfriend and all that, right?"

I stared at him with an 'are you kidding me?' look, "What, the kiss wasn't enough? Yes! Get it through your thick skull, meathead!" I replied, punching him not-so-gently in the arm.

"I like you too." He grunted in pain.

I giggled, placing both hands against the upper part of his plastron.

Raph smiled, but the smile quickly melted and he had a look on his face that told me he was trying to figure out how to word what he was about to say. I gave him my full undivided attention as he began. "Mona, that nightmare you had last night..."

I shuddered, the mere mention of the dream made the whole thing come flooding back to me and I flinched, pulling away from my 'boyfriend' slightly.

"I know you probably don't want to talk about it right now," he said, rubbing the small of my back soothingly. "But I want you to know that when you're ready, you can talk to me."

"I know Raph, thank you. But it just really isn't the sort of thing I want to be thinking about right now. It would be best to just forget it even happened. Please. When the time comes, I'll tell you, but until then I just..." My voice faded away and I stared at the ground.

"I understand. But if it ever starts bothering you again, let me know. I—really don't like seeing you upset." His neon green eyes were filled with pain and concern, making me gasp.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned against his plastron. "Hey. Cheer up. Don't worry about me, tough guy. I can take care of myself."

"I know. That's what worries me." Raphael replied in earnest.

"You don't need to worry, Raph. It's just a memory," I realized my mistake and immediately corrected myself, "I mean nightmare." I corrected. Neon green eyes narrowed and I knew Raph had caught my slip-up. But instead of saying anything, the turtle just nodded, his gaze sending me a silent message: I'll wait until you're ready. I gave him a grateful smile which he returned before pulling me into a hug.

"Raph?" I said after savoring a few long moments in his embrace.

He pulled away slightly and looked down at me. "Yeah Mona?"

"Thanks."

"For?"

"Always being there for me."

"I'm your boyfriend now. I'll always be here for you. No matter what." Raphael's muscular arms held me close until we resumed training. I can honestly say that I've never before felt so safe and as loved as I did in my boyfriend's arms.