mnt_raph | (no subject)

(no subject)

*It had been a long night. The kegger out by the lake seemed to rage on for hours. He should have gone down and at least gotten a drink. Instead he did what he always did on his birthday. He sat up on a rooftop watching the world go by him. Force of habit? Or plain old fear? Raph was trying not to think about either, truth be told.

He rolled out of bed, counted to 25, and watched as the bed remade itself. The process wasn't complete until the Death stuffed toy was prominently placed against the pillows. He'd tested this a few times. No matter where he put the thing, it somehow always got put back in the exactly same position. Raph found it a little disturbing.

Something catches his eye as he makes his way from the main room to the bath room. It's that blasted VHS tape Mike left. The one with the obvious "men in suit" version of him and his brothers. Raph wrinkles his nose at the cover and keeps walking. There's a hot shower with his name on it.*

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*One hand holds the towel up, the other reaches for the gloves. He's never felt material like this before. A small shiver makes its way up his spine.*

Wow. Thank you.

*Almost nervously, he takes a step closer and kisses her gently on the cheek*

She looks up and makes a very small sound as he kisses her.

They're not quite touching. Not closely, anyway. Just the parts that stick out. She presses her cheek against his for a moment.

"You're welcome."

*He closes his eyes and exhales slowly, and leans into her. At that moment the silver pendent around his neck bumps her shoulder.*

She doesn't move. Very carefully, doesn't move.

Things crackle between their skin. Nothing concrete, but definitely palpable. It's almost painful. She's thinking about how miserable she's going to make her sibling's life.

Her voice is choked, husky. "Do you have any idea what this does to me?"

He really doesn't. He never could.

*he's trying not to move, really he is, but his body is so tense from trying not to that it can't help but do so.*

doubtful, but i know what it does to me.
the voice is low, strained, and on the verge of shattering.

"I shouldn't be here."

He can feel the movement of her lips on the corner of his jaw. And she can feel the tension running through him. And she's not being smart.

*in between a few deep calming breaths*

your sister said ... I should yell at you ... and that we can't have sex on the ninja blanket.

"For Ares? Yeah. That was kinda stupid."

She's focusing on the shampoo bottle she can see over his shoulder. Focusing very intensely.

"Did she get you the doll, too? It's... really cute. The doll, I mean. And the blanket." Her voice is just a little strained.

*His eyes are closed as that seems to help him keep his balance. His voice is a harsh whisper*

nah. that's from mike. he found it at a comic shop in the city. it's uh...to keep me company while you're at work, or somethin'.

"I'm not sure how I feel about that... but I like the idea of me being fuzzy..."

She reaches up, will against will, to brush the back of her knuckles against his cheek. It's lighter than the brush of butterflies.

I told him it was kinda *gasp* wierd.
*The voice is weak....like the idea of a whisper*

death?

She moves her hand away from his face by a fraction of an inch. The air sizzles.

"Yes?"

*he opens his eyes and looks at her. If there is a manly way to smolder, he's found it.*
i'm sorry

*The resulting kiss is frustrated desperation incarnate*

She is careful only to take what she is given, and only to give back as much.

If she did any more, if she let all of it out on him, she doesn't know what would happen. Most likely she'd destroy him utterly.

But she meets him movement for movement, breathless. One hand tangles in his hair, still heavy from the shower.

*he reluctantly breaks the kiss*
this...this is *pants* bad...isn't it?

She really is Desire's sister. Her eyes are smoky oblivion.

"You don't know how bad."

*Resting his forehead against hers*
is it more or less bad that right now, I don't care?

She doesn't answer. She kisses him.

And this one is different. It's too gentle, too leisurely, full of promise. It's a kind of kiss that could go on all day.

*Raph seems quite all right with that timetable.

He tosses the gloves onto the bed, they sit there for all of 25 seconds before the magic of the tent whisks them away to their proper location.

His arms wrap around her*

Careful. Careful, careful, careful.

His skin is slick beneath her fingers, and warm, and he's holding her, and she can feel it...

...And she was almost over this, too.

*He arches slightly under her touch, which causes his towel to slip. This is enough to snap him back to the here and now. His eyes fly open as he attempts to catch his breath, and the meandering towel.*

you. i want you to stay. ohhowiwantyoutostay.
*he closes his eyes again and turns away slightly*
but...you have to be okay with that.

*he turns back and looks her in the eye*
are you okay?

She stops... catches herself. Forces herself to think.

"Sooner or later I'm going to hurt you. Worse than hurt you. There's a reason... mortals and Endless... we don't..."

She sighs in frustration, and turns away, running a hand through her (still-wet) hair.

"I don't want to hurt you. And I'd grind you up, eventually. This can't last."

She hugs herself, tightly.

"...But you make me warm."

*The further away she makes herself, the more he wants...he needs...to get to her. He figures this must be what she's talking about. But knows these feelings aren't new. He's always felt this way about her, long before he even knew she was a her. You can't do what he does and not love Death. Just as you can't avoid handing yourself over, part and parcel, to her whims.

Securing his towel around his waist, he moves towards her. She can feel him long before he brings her into the hug. Arms around her, head nestled in the nape of her neck.*

Nothin' lasts. But you know, I can't think of a better way to go. Just so long as it's only me.

The Endless in his arms lets out something that could be taken as a sigh as she leans back into his arms. She should step forward, break away, and leave here... but she ~~won't~~ can't.

So she stays. And permits herself to smile a little as she reaches up to touch his cheek, the other arm resting on his.

"Very well..." For now.

happy birthday to me

*he says as he nuzzles her neck again.*