#mirageraph

1. (Aggressive/angry kiss)

@mirageraph

The evening was quiet, more than usual, especially at such an early time as 1930 hours. The streets and small parks used to be lively with many families and their kids walking around and having a great time. At the parks, parents would usually bring their kids along to have a 2 hour playtime at the jungle gyms or even the small splash areas that were open for the summer time. Already at week one, much of the parks and streets became empty and lifeless due to scared parents. For a good week already--children were dying at random.

The news had hit the young Nephalem right in the heart; at first the Redemption cult and Council Woman considered this to be some kind of disease spreading across the city--though, what kind of disease would only target just children, and just when they’re asleep? It got worse once the report of an 11th child was placed on the list of mysterious deaths in the city. The Council Woman of the Redemption cult could only turn the other cheek for this situation, which was strange that she would do so, considering this was the type to be in the “oddities” category, but due to the lack of leads on this case--there was really not much they could do. Madgie, however, did not dare to turn her back on this situation for sure. As far as she knew, whatever this thing is, is targeting just children that are 8 years or under; in which concerned her even more--since her little cousin is 8 years old. 

Although the other Nephalem, Magnus, was on the same page as Madgie, he still needed some kind of lead in order to figure out what is going on. For now, all he could do was do some research, and stay on the side until Madgie really needed him. Though at this rate, she really considered on trying this solo--or at the very least work with someone who actually had some kind of humanity within them to try harder on stopping this problem from escalating. 

Cherry didn’t have words to explain what she was sure Raphael saw. He’d never seen her without clothes before. She’d made sure of that. She wasn’t proud of her body, of the many old marks that still striped her body. It was more than those little ones as well. It was the two jagged ones that ran down either side of her spine. Large, raised, and ugly, she was happy they were in a spot that she couldn’t see them all the time and that no one else could see them.

He’d seen them though. She could see it in his eyes as she caught his reflection in the vanity. He was always so quiet. Sometimes, he’d make a little noise so he didn’t scare the pants off her. Just a small scuff here or a cough, just enough to alert her, but it was also second nature for Raph to be as quiet as the shadows in the corner of the room. She knew he’d never frighten her, he would never sneak up on her maliciously.

Cherry was quick, but clumsy, knocking over a lot of the little crystals and trinkets on the top of her dresser as she snagged her dressing robe from the little hook on the wall. She didn’t put it on as much as she just pulled it around her as tightly as possible. The emotions welling in her throat, in her chest, were making it hard to breathe. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say, how she was going to explain it...but she’d been hiding this for a long time. Was he even going to believe her?

Turning, the small woman saw her friend was still on the fire escape. It was his usual time to come over-she’d been late getting back from work. She hadn’t looked at the clock. How could she be so careless? Cautiously, she somehow managed to get the window raised with one hand, the other keeping her robe closed. Once the window was opened she looked at Raph with sad eyes, the night air brushing her curls.

“I guess...we should talk,” She murmured.

@mirageraph @thelastraigeki

Well, this had been her idea hadn’t it?

Pain laced into Cherry’s senses as she tried get her bearings. Her reflexes other than flinching and panicking were terrible. She was still learning after all, she tried to tell herself. The idea, however, didn’t help her feel any better, she felt like an idiot.

For some time, Cherry, along with Raphael and his younger brother Michelangelo had been meeting in a large room that was meant more for youngsters to learn how to tap and tumble than learning hand to hand combat. Casey had sought the place out and Cherry helped to rent it for the evening

. Again, this was her idea. What a dumb idea.

After hours the place was deserted. The mats were pulled out for the three and lessons would take place for several hours. It was funny, as she pushed herself up into a seating position, that all she could see were bright child pictures of girls in tutus and leotards and the words DANCE DANCE and CHEERY and DO YOU BEST in colorful sparkly letters while a bandana’d turtle shoved his way into her sight, profusely apologizing and trying to see if she was okay. 

The place was cheap. The little gymnastic group needed the money and agreed to rent it to them without much question. They couldn’t afford an actual dojo and Raphael was leery about Cherry coming down to the lair on a regular basis. This was the next best option.

“I’m okay-it was my fault,” Cherry managed as Mikey held his fingers in front of her face.

Come on, how many fingers am I holding up?” He insisted and it made Cherry snort with laughter. She felt a little better. 

 “Well, you’ve only got three so- three,”

Cherry had met the younger turtle before. He tended to be around April and Casey’s home a lot and occasionally had come over when they came to check on her. He was very easy going and kind. She was happy to get to know more of Raph’s family. 

She took the younger turtle’s outstretched hand as she began to regain her wits and let him help her to her feet. Cherry had insisted Raph start to teach her ninjitsu. She had hoped it would give him more confidence in her ability to stand with him. He was always so worried about “what if” and “what could be”. She wanted him to trust her.

She’d enjoyed it so far. There had been training and katas and everything had been slow moving to get her body used to movements. Tonight, however, was different. Her first real taste of what it could be like to fight and she knew they’d gone stupidly easy on her. The problem wasn’t Raph’s teaching or even that Mikey had gone too hard on her. She’d had her instructions on how to move as Mikey threw a fist at her. She should have blocked it. It should have been easy. She knew how. This wasn’t some martial arts movie where she spent two weeks waxing cars and her body suddenly knew what to do. She panicked at the object being thrown, she froze, then at the last second attempted to throw up her hands as she flinched away. In the end, Cherry was left with an impact to her left cheek, but it wasn’t bad. She knew Mikey wasn’t even trying to hit her. If he had been, she’d have been in real danger.  To be honest, she’d been hit worse in her life, dealt with more pain. It was more the damage to her ego, embarrassment that she was still dealing with the damage a man long dead had inflicted on her, and that she had failed Raph and his brother. 

 “I just-I need a minute...” She murmured, back stepping away, needing a little air and space.