[OOM: The Roof]

[mnt_raph]

*It's been close to two weeks since Raphael scaled the back wall of Milliways leaving a trail of blood behind him.
Nearly two weeks and his ribs still hurt and his jaw still aches.
Nearly two weeks and the stitches still aren't ready to come out.
Nearly two weeks and the yellow tinge of healing bruises still remains.

And even though he's remarkably more mobile than he was when he climbed up, he still has yet to climb down.
All posturing aside, Raph is afraid.
Something waits for him.
He doesn't know what, but he's almost positive he can hear it growl in the dark.

It's all coming apart at the seams.

...

Happy Birthday Raphael.
You've some how managed to fuck up more than last year.*

Comments

[mnt_mike]

Mike stands in front of the door, hand poised and ready to knock...if only he could find the strength to do so.

He has no idea what he's going to say when the door opens.
If the door opens.

He knows it won't open.

He's sure that despite the bright lights and the blaring music inside the tent, that his brother knows he's there. If Raph hasn't shouted or opened the door by now, he won't.

Something tells Mike that, "Happy birthday" just isn't going to cut it.

Soundlessly he places a green Tupperware container in front of the door, and leaves.

[the-damsel.livejournal.com]

April almost tripped over the Tupperware on her way inside. She didn't deliberate about knocking, you see. She had business, and birthday or not, she was going to see to it.

Frowning down at the container, she sighed, knowing where it had come from well enough. Silently, she picked it up and then pushed her way inside.

She wished she had better tidings.

[mnt_raph]

*The lights are on, the music plays, and yet it appears as if no one is home.

Someone is hiding.*

[the-damsel.livejournal.com]

The music is loud. So loud, in fact, that April hollaring in an attempt to draw him out might not even be heard. Spotting the radio on the kitchen counter, she crossed to it and after a moment's inspection, found the off switch. The Tupperware was plunked down onto the counter beside the now-silent contraption, and she turned, quickly scanning the room before leaning back against the breakfast bar with a slow sigh.

"You might as well come out, you know," she remarked to the room in general. "Save us both some time."

[mnt_raph]

*A groan comes from the direction of the bathroom.

The music wasn't just entertaining, it was helping Raph hide. It's not easy to hide close to the ceiling when you're recovering from an injury, never mind several injuries.

The groan is very quickly followed by a loud thump as Raph comes crashing down into the bathtub.*

[the-damsel.livejournal.com]

When she reached the bathroom, she stopped to lean against the doorframe, an eyebrow arched.

"Why are you hiding from me, anyway?" she asked, as if he had purposely revealed himself and they were having a normal conversation.

[mnt_raph]

ow.

*He is ever so thankful that the shower curtain is obscuring him from view.*

someone was tryin' to be quiet. figured was safer to hide...

[the-damsel.livejournal.com]

"Come out here and let me look at you."

Her tone wasn't especially stern or demanding. More weary than anything else. She hated that she'd not seen him in almost a month, and it had to be tainted with... well.

She shouldn't have left. She knew that now.

[mnt_raph]

*Crap. Crap crap crappity crap.
After a long moment's hesitation, Raph pulls back the shower curtain. He's...well, he's looked worse. The whole left side of his face is one large healing yellow bruise. There's a railroad of black thread making its way up his left forearm, and that's just what she can see.*

[the-damsel.livejournal.com]

April stood motionless for a long moment, simply staring at him. At length, she turned and walked out of the bathroom, stopping several feet away.

Breathe. That is what you're going to do right now. Just breathe.

Her hands were shaking, and not with fear. It was taking everything she had to keep herself from wanting to kill Melaka Fray just then. April knew she didn't have the entire story. Knew that much of it was likely Raphael's fault. Yet, she'd never exactly been the queen of rationality, and this was Raph, god damn it.

Slowly, she uncurled her fingers, not even realizing they'd been in fists.

"Raphael."

[mnt_raph]

yeah, april.

*Very very carefully Raph begins to ease himself out of the tub. The landing, a necessary evil because of his arm and leg, did not go so well with his ribs.

Barefoot, and clad in just shorts and a tanktop, he leans against the doorframe to the bathroom.*

[the-damsel.livejournal.com]

"Explain."

One word. That was it. She'd not even turned around. Was quite possibly afraid to yet.

[mnt_raph]

*Raph does what any guy in this situation would do....he lies through his teeth.*

tried to take on the tree again. lost. end o' story.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly knocks loudly on the door, shifting a large package to one arm.

"Raphie! Hey, Raphie!"

She sighs.

"If you're having a party without me, I'm going to be so pissed."

[mnt_raph]

it's like grand frickin' central 'round here tonight.

*Raph grumbles from where he's kicked back on his bed.*

S'OPEN.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly pushes the door open, lays the package down on a chair, and turns around, smiling to greet Raph."

"Hey, Ra-holy fuck, what happened to you?"

[mnt_raph]

nice to see you too.

*See how he didn't even come close to answering that? It's a gift, really.*

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly plants her hands on her hips, winces slightly, adjusts the left hand a little higher, and glares.

"I repeat: Holy fuck, what happened to you?"

[mnt_raph]

*Oh don't think that wince went unnoticed.*

fight. you?

[awesome_lilly]

"Nazi shot me. Also a temple fell on me."

She eyes him.

"Who'd you fight?"

[mnt_raph]

tree.

*He lies, but she'll never know the difference.
There's a beat.*

we have nazis?

[awesome_lilly]

Well, Lilly considers Raph as exactly the type of person who would take on a tree. He probably thought the tree was giving him attitude somehow.

"No, the bar doesn't. I went back to Indy's world. He has Nazis. Lots of them."

Indy does not actually keep them as pets, no matter how Lilly has just made it sound.

[mnt_raph]

hear they got a spray for them now.

*She hasn't mentioned Mel, which means Mel hasn't mentioned him. Thank someone for small favors.*

you went back as his sidekick didn't you. ain't you ever seen those movies?

[awesome_lilly]

"Yes," Lilly says immediately.

"That's half the reason I went. Seriously, except for Marion, the girl sidekicks sucked in those movies."

[mnt_raph]

that's 'cause they weren't there to be sidekicks, they were there to be ... you know ... bed buddies.

*Yeah, Raph has just said bed buddies. The shock of it is just starting to sink in.*

You uh...wanna beer?