A/N: Requested by robertdoc on tumblr.
Set post-Recall Vote. One of those "not really April/Andy so please don't hurt me" chapters!
It was the first thing that jumped out to her when Leslie came in all beaten and sloppily dressed, hair a mess, and with those dead eyes that were everything she isn't. All the way from her house where she could have stayed to snuggle with Andy all night, but instead knew she was needed elsewhere. Maybe her contribution wasn't going to be winning Leslie a reelection, or even going back in time to kill everyone who got recalled just to say she could do it, but April felt compelled to do something.
So of course she called Leslie in the middle of the night when regular people would be asleep, making up some ridiculous story for her to come to the gas station just a few blocks away from her house. April waits outside by the huge freezers, arms crossed and tapping her foot impatiently. Was Leslie really going to believe that story? The SUV pulling up and the short figure booking it towards her was evidence enough.
When she stepped into the light, Leslie still looked completely dragged under the events of the last few days but her eyes were fierce with purpose this time. That at least made April's job a little easier, not to mention it looked like Leslie had showered at some point since earlier. For once, Ben was good for something.
"Where is he? Never mind, c'mon let's get you home," Leslie grabbed her hand, trying to pull her from the sidewalk. "April! Let's go, we both know you're as physically capable of handling this as Tom-"
"Leslie, stop," April murmured, pulling back and discovering that she really couldn't stop herself from being pulled around. "Leslie, stop!"
"What? Do you want to be kidnapped? April, I know you think it's funny but think of how much we'll miss you! Andy-"
"There's no kidnapping," April laughed, watching Leslie's face turn into a mask of disappointment for a moment before regaining that motherly composure. At least, in that, April saw her resolve break. "Besides, you don't have to tell me how much Andy would miss me. Hell, he was practically crying when I told him I was going to meet with you."
"Why didn't you just tell me? I was worried sick," Leslie tilted her head, her voice a little disgusted. "April, seriously. Seriously, April. April, seriously, don't do that again."
"Leslie," April whined, "you wouldn't have come out of your house and I needed to do this in private."
"Do what? Look, if you're gonna tell me you and Andy are secretly murderers whose final kill is going to be a grand going out scheme on a train, you can count me in because if there's-"
"Oh my God," April groaned loudly, rolling her eyes. "Please, just listen to me." She waited for Leslie to say a word, crossing her arms and pouting her lips just a little. When Leslie didn't seem to be arguing, April sighed and continued. "Okay, so... this recall stuff sucks. Which, yeah, that's a crappy way to describe it but it does. It sucks."
"Yes, it does," Leslie agreed.
"And you, Leslie Knope, are an awesome person who doesn't deserve to have that happen to you," April said slowly, looking down and away from Leslie's eyes because this is impossible to say to her face. "You're one of my best friends, but I could also kill you whenever. You said it yourself, I'm a murderer... but you probably don't deserve it. So, I'm gonna do this now because this sucks and I wish it could be better."
"What-"
April darted across the grimy gas station parking lot and slipped her arms around Leslie's in a tight embrace. Nestling her head in Leslie's shoulder, intent on making this as close as she possibly can to get the message across that she meant this hug, she squeezes just a little. Leslie made a soft noise, somewhere between a sigh and a coo, before returning it. They sat there for a few more moments, silent and swaying just a bit with Leslie tapping her back like she really needed this. Her arms were tightly holding on, and April knew she needed it but couldn't find herself just up and doing it in public with people watching.
"So, this recall stuff sucks," April mumbled with her chin on Leslie's shoulder.
"Yeah, it really does," Leslie returned.
"So..."
"But, I've got the greatest friends and, my dream may be totally dead but at least I've got you guys," she noted, finally moving out of the hug. "Friends whom I love very dearly, and am beginning to see the beautiful seeds that I planted starting to come to-"
"Ew, no I don't like this anymore," April said with a half-hearted grimace before Leslie gave her that no-nonsense, pleading look. "Okay, keep stroking my ego."
"I'll stop, but first I want to say thank you for caring," Leslie said low, quiet like April liked to hear, "and I love you very much."
"I love you too," April answered in that same tone, moving forward to give Leslie another hug. This time, it was brief. "So, yeah. I can't get you back in office, but I wanted you to know I cared since it's kinda hard to just show that when other people are around."
Leslie gave her a slightly taken aback look, and it didn't hit her until she had said it that April was being open and honest here. No dripping sarcasm or deeply nested ironic flair, just honest and open. Without saying another word, afraid what the hell she might accidentally say now, April ran towards her car parked behind the gas station and sped off back to her house. She could be this open with Andy, and she'd probably have to in order to explain what she was doing at this hour not in his arms like she would have really liked. Still, she had things to do and he would understand. He'd probably call her cute again, which wasn't so bad when they were alone.