April spent well over an hour going over katas and weapons techniques with Splinter, by the time she exited the dojo she could barely feel her legs. Her foot had just hit the bottom step, when the curtain to the kitchen slid to the side to revel her youngest "brother". Mikey smiled and beckoned her through the doorway. April entered to find an assortment of foodstuffs along the counter. Mikey cast something about April's neck, she looked down and found herself draped in an apron, which Mikey was now fastening about her waist. April was about to question what was going on, when the curtain rustled again and Donnie walked in, holding a lump of metal with wires poking out in every direction. Donnie opened his mouth to say something, when he caught sight of the apron. Mikey turned to Donnie, and informed his brother that April had promised to help make dessert, a promise of which April had no recollection.
Donnie offered to help, but Mikey assured him two workers was enough, and Donnie was free to go back to his machines. After Donnie had left, looking rather disgruntled, Mikey turned to April and said, "You don't actually have to help if you don't want to." April stared at him for a full three seconds before she finally understood. Mikey knew she had an eight hour school day, followed by an hour of training, followed by homework, and he wanted to make sure she got some quite time.
April sat down on to a stool, and watched as Mikey moved about the kitchen, measuring the ingredients, putting them a bowl, then setting them aside. He had such a smooth rhythm, it was calming to watch. Mikey walked over to her and placed his arm around her shoulders, "Do you want brownies with nuts, or M&M's?" he asked.
April gave a little hum of thought before answering, "Both."
"Both?" Mikey repeated with a little laugh, "Must have been an interesting day, huh?"
"You have no idea." April replied, emitting a small groan before beginning a rant about her day. Mikey listened intently the whole time. She had just gotten to complaining about the pop quiz in history, when Mikey handed her a batter covered spoon. Mikey told her she did such a good job of rolling with the punches in life.
April talked about how she felt she'd never perfect the kata she was working on, as Mikey set the pan of batter into the oven. He told her he knew she would get the kata correct with a bit more time, and that there was no shame in asking for help, or to slow it down. She told him about the scholarships she was applying for, while he finished cleaning his work station. He told her she was very bright, and any school would be lucky to have her skills. She told him a joke she'd heard on the bus, while he cut the brownies, and set them on plates. He laughed along with her, he enjoyed hearing her laugh, it was a like a bird song, sweet and melodious, without needing words to convey its joy. She told him how good it felt to talk to him, while he scooped ice cream onto the brownies, and set one down in front of her. And he told her that he loved hearing about her day, and was always willing to listen.
Mikey always liked hearing about April's day, good, bad, or indifferent. She used to think it was weird that he wanted to know all about these mundane little details, like, the color of the walls of her classroom, or what the seats of a bus felt like. It took her longer than she liked to admit, for her to realize, he wanted her to tell him, because he knew he would never experience it himself. Talking about this kind of thing with her, was the closest he could get to the above world of normality.
Now, the two sat across from each other in happy silence, chewing their crunchy treats, the heat of the brownies balanced out beautifully by the chill of the ice cream.
It would have been a very sweet moment, had Raph and Leo not accidently torn down the curtain, trying to beat each other to the brownies.