Dressed in her most comfortable pyjamas, April lay bundled in a blanket on the couch, her arms stretched over her head. Leo was selecting a film to watch while Donnie prepared snacks and Mikey went to go find Raph. April was fairly certain they were just going to end up watching some science-fiction thing, though. She massaged her shoulder until it clicked, the last remnant of her injuries from Karai. The bruises down her arms and legs had faded completely, without even a single trace of their yellowing. It was nice to see her skin looking normal again.
Leo glanced over. "Everything alright?"
She nodded. "All good. I think I'm all healed up, finally."
"Good," he said, with a little smile. He returned his attention to the television.
"I'm really sorry we didn't save you from her."
April shrugged. "It's okay, you guys had a mission. And anyway, it felt so good throwing her down those stairs."
It was true; as horrific as the memories of the attack were, a little part of her still took glee in the look on Karai's face as she threw her over her shoulder. But the look on Leo's face right now was telling her that she probably shouldn't have said that, so she mumbled an apology.
He shook his head, abandoning his task for now. "It's fine. I know you hate her – the others do, too."
Tugging the blanket closer, April murmured, "But you don't."
"I can't," Leo sighed heavily. "I lo… I, uhm, I like her. A lot. But I don't know why."
"Neither do I," she admitted, "you could do way better. But I understand; you can't help who you have a crush on."
Leo nodded vigorously. "Like Donnie with you…you- Ubisoft! Yeah, Ubisoft." He chuckled nervously. "Don sure does love his Ubisoft."
Deciding it would be less painful for everyone to just let it slide, April forced a smile. "They do make cool games."
"Yes! They do! Exactly. That is why he likes them so much. Yes." The little I'm-a-good-brother pat on the back Leo was mentally giving himself couldn't have been more obvious if he had actually done it.
The laugh burst from April's throat before she could stifle it, but at least it broke the upcoming silence. She shuffled closer to Leo, prodding him with a foot. "Stop diverting, we were having a conversation."
She peered up at him. "What is it, Leo? What do you like about her so much?"
"Uhm…" The turtle coughed awkwardly, his cheeks turning a maroon-like colour as the blush rose in his green skin. "I'm not really sure. I just… like her. I wish we could get her to change sides."
Rolling her shoulder again, April huffed.
"Don't think there's much chance of that." She winced. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." Leo sighed. "Shredder's daughter. Why'd I have to fall for Shredder's daughter?"
"Irony?" She suggested half-heartedly.
"The universe is mean like that."
"Yeah…"
Usually so strong, Leo looked utterly broken. She could see the guilt in his eyes, as if Karai's allegiance was somehow his fault. Crawling out of her blanket cocoon, April lay a hand on his shoulder.
"You know, I once had a crush on a guy called Roger- What?" She cut herself off as Leo snorted, frowning indignantly.
"Roger," he echoed, evidently trying to hold back more laughter.
She sighed. "Shut up, I know. He was very hot. Anyway, point being, I had a crush on him, and we went out once. Things went well-"
"Did you kiss?" Leo interrupted, eyes wide.
She tapped the side of her nose with a knowing smirk, then crumbled into her own fit of giggles. "Yeah, but he was bad, way too much tongue. If you ever kiss Karai and get her whole tongue shoved into your mouth at once, that really will be the end of the relationship, I promise."
Face flushed again, Leo managed an, "I'd risk it."
April swatted him on the shoulder playfully. "Anyway, I was still talking. Roger and I had one date, and I thought it went well. I even helped him with the school project he was about to be graded on, since mine was already done. He got a great grade." Lips twisted into a scowl, she mumbled, "And he got a great date the next week, with some blonde girl. Turns out he only wanted me for my science."
Swallowing nervously, Leo nudged her arm. "Your science is impressive, to be fair."
She grinned. "Yeah, until it all gets too Kraang-y for me." After kicking the blanket aside completely, she slumped into Leo's side and said, "Point was, he was using me. But did I still pine after him for a year and a half and doodle his name in all my notebooks? You bet. Love is cruel sometimes."
Slinging his arm around her shoulders, Leo hummed in agreement. "You bet."
With all the chaos in her life now, it was nice to just sit and relax with Leo for a bit. She had missed their little therapy sessions; it was much harder to snatch a moment of privacy to talk about feelings in the lair than it had been on her fire escape. As if to prove her correct, someone cleared their throat in the background.
"Uhm," Donnie was trying to sound casual, balancing three bowls of popcorn and two large bottles of soda somehow, "am I… interrupting?"
"Nah, of course not, Don," she replied with a beaming smile, scooting off Leo to grab the blanket again. "Come sit, we still haven't picked a film."
Still looking slightly suspicious, Donnie shuffled over. Leo leapt to his feet to take two soda bottles and a popcorn bowl, as a peace offering. With all the snacks laid out on the table, they were just about ready to start, as soon as Mikey (and hopefully, Raph) returned. Donatello was now wedged very pointedly between the two, hands folded in his lap in an attempt to appear casual.
April leaned over, a grin tugging at her lips; she just couldn't resist. "So Leo, what were you saying about Ubisoft?"
Donnie frowned. "The games company? Why were you guys talking about a games company?"
She actually thought Leo might have fallen off the couch in the burst of laughter that followed.
So, coming up to the end now, guys. I think there'll be one more chapter with Splinter and then Residence is all done. Thanks for sticking with us for this long :)
Also, I have no idea why Unisoft was the first thing I thought of that started with "you", but let's just go with it :')
