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April chugged at least half of her bottle, the dryness in her throat and mouth fading with every swallow. When she’d finally had enough to recover, she drew it back with a gasp, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, her heart still working on settling back to its resting rate.
“Whoo,” Fanning at herself she turned to see Shini snickering beside her, looking much less ragged than she herself looked. “Is this how you guys’ train everyday?”
Shini cooed at her question, April no longer flinching when she found a hand coming up to gently cup her cheek, used to the touchy feely way the fighter got with people she knew. “This is just the beginners trainer love.” The mercenary purred. “Just wait until we get you up to our level.”
Her nose twitched slightly when Shini’s hand moved up from her cheek to tap a long, graceful finger against the tip of it.
As the witchy ninja sauntered away- because Shini couldn’t even walk in a gym after a killer workout without making it look like she was about to strut down the runway- April could feel her shoulders sag.
This was the beginners workouts? Just when she thought she was getting a hang of the exercises she’d started doing years ago with the guys. How was she supposed to keep up with these two?
“O’Neil.”
Snapping up straight, the loud crunch of her bottle being crushed in her hand rang throughout the large space, her body freezing for a brief moment before she spun around to face the woman who had addressed her. “Karai.”
Karai gave a soft chuckle at her reaction, a heat pooling to April’s cheeks as she felt a small burn of embarrassment flooding her. Trying to play it off she went to take another swing of her bottle, hoping the cold water would help to cool her down a little while she waited for her new boss to say whatever it was she was going to say.
“You did well out there.”
Not having expected the praise, April almost choked on her next sip.
“A little awkward, but not bad.”
There it was.
Wiping at her mouth where some of the water had spilled out, she couldn’t help the small smirk that came to her lips.
“Is that an actual compliment?”
There was a funny little flip in her chest at the scoff that Karai gave at her question, her smirk easing into a small proud smile at the tiny upward twitch of Karai’s own lips.
“Don’t get used to it.”
April could feel herself stiffen up when Karai leaned in close and suddenly, she couldn’t help but feel self conscious about just how much she was still sweating and how her clothes were drenched and sticking to her and if she smelled bad or not or-
Karai snatched her own water bottle off the bench where April had settled hers, along with a rag that she used to wipe what little sweat she’d built up. She felt like her eyes were glued to the older girl, her hands clasped with a crushing grip around her bottle while she stared openly as Karai swung down a large gulp of her own.
As the water bottle was lowered, she could feel her cheeks growing warmer at the finely sharped brow that pulled up into an arch as those dark eyes meet her own bright blues.
Oh shoot. She was staring. Worse. She’d been caught staring. Was staring creepy? Staring was probably creepy.
“Uh, y-you looked good.”
That brow drew higher, judging her in ways that had the water settled in her stomach doing flips.
“Training.” April quickly added, wincing at the sound of her own voice.
Why was it so high and awkward? Why was she being awkward?
Shaking her thoughts away she tried to play it smooth, tilting to lean against the wall. “Your form looked good in training is what I-.”
It had completely slipped her mind that she was still standing by the bench and not right next to the wall.
At least until she went to lean her shoulder into the solid surface and felt nothing but air.
With an undignified squawk, her arms flailed out, windmilling for a few seconds as she tried to regain her balance before…
A hand grabbed at her waist, and she felt the breath catch in her lungs instantly.
“Whoa there,” She could feel the strength in her grip, her stomach flipping enough that it made her jerk a little in the hold as Karai helped her keep her balance. “I didn’t realize the training was that hard that it effected your brain.”
Although she wanted to gasp in mock offence and shoot back her own comment, words seemed to be failing her, and just when she was about to open her mouth to say anything, the small squeeze against her side had her snapping her mouth shut with a sharp click.
“Go home and get some rest O’Neil.” Was there a slight purr to her voice? Was April just hearing things? “Tomorrows training is going to be even harder.”
“Oh joy.” Finally finding her voice, she still had yet to find her scattered thoughts, her eyes on the one in front of her but her mind on the hand still settled firmly on her waist. “Looking forward to it.”
Her knees felt a little weak at the way Karai’s lips curled into a small smirk, but they just about gave out on her when Karai pulled her hand back, her fingers dragging across April’s stomach before they lifted away.
Oh
“Did you want a lift home? I can get one of my soldiers to drive you back.”
As much as her sore legs were begging her to take the ride, she found herself shaking her head, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Nah. Thanks for the offer but I think I’m going to head over to the guys place tonight.”
She just had to keep it cool for the next few minutes.
And than she could sprint home.
And freak out about it later.
Seeing as how they all had an agreement that anyone outside of Shini and Karai knowing where the boys lived was a no, she respectfully accepted the answer with a nod.
“Tell them I say hi.”
With the intense gaze removed from her, April felt like she could breathe a little easier now. “I will.” She assured her, walking next to Karai as they headed towards the exit of the training room. “Raph will want to know when your next sparring match will be.”
Her laugh made April smile.
“Tell him if he’s that desperate to lose again, we can set something up for this weekend.”
“Will do! Though you know that’s only going to make him train harder right?”
“But of course.” Karai held the door open for her, and April tried not to blush at the polite gesture. “I wouldn’t want to make it to easy on myself.”
Admiring her confidence April wondered if she could talk to Raph about joining him in his training, wondering if maybe one day she could also stand a chance against Karai in a fight.
The thought of them sparing together brought an ever brighter flush to her cheeks and she quickly decided that maybe it would be best to not think about that right now.
“Well, see you tomorrow!”
She didn’t want to say that she ran out of there, but she will admit that even Shini looked shocked at the sped she said goodbye and took off.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Leo! Leo! Are you awake?”
While she was hissing the words in a whisper between her lips she was sure the rapid knocks against his door would be enough to wake up the whole household.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to keep it up long before the door cracked open.
“I am now.” Leo mumbled, rubbing at his eyes, the croak his words came out with showing just how recently he woke up. “Is everything okay?”
“No!” Giving him no time to recover she shoved her way into his room, closing the door behind her as softly as she possibly could in her hurried state. When she spun back around to face him, she could see how much more focused he looked, the confirmation of something being wrong doing better than any caffeine to snap the grogginess out of him.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing her mistake she quickly waved her hands out in front of her. “Nothing bad or serious. Well, serious to me, but not serious-serious.”
For the second time that night, she had a Hamato arching a brow ridge at her. “Okay?” Leo mumbled, allowing himself to relax a little as he let out a large yawn. “What’s the serious not serious situation?”
“I’m having girl problems!”
They both stood there in silence, April’s hands clenched tightly at her side, never having spoken about this to anyone before as Leo just… slowly blinked at her.
And then he couldn’t seem to look at her at all, his eyes darting everywhere but at her face, a slight pink hue coming to his cheeks as he suddenly looked a little uncomfortable.
“Oh, well, uh, I-I think there’s still some of your products in the bathroom and… Well, you can use the heating pad I use for my knee, and I think Mikey’s got a stash of chocolate in the kitchen. You can have my room if you need it and I could run out to the store if there’s anything-.”
Catching on to what he thought she was talking about, April quickly jumped in. “No. Nonono. Not-not those kind of girl problems.” She confirmed, watching as Leo’s shoulders slumped in relief, a smile tugging at her lips. “But I love that you were making plans to help.”
Leo gave a snort at that, making his way back to his bed and flopping back into it. “Oh course. I look after all my siblings.”
Hearing that warmed her heart, but in a different way then it did around Karai.
“Aw!” She cooed, clasping her hands in front of her. “You’re the best little brother a girl could have!”
Leo’s huff of laughter was almost muffled completely by his face being buried in his pillow.
When he patted the empty space next to him as he snuggled back into his pillow, laying on his stomach and yet curling slightly to the side so he could still see her, April wasted no time in taking a seat next to him.
“So, what are girl problems?” He asked, April finding her nerves coming back as she sat leaning against the headboard.
“Well… I- I think I have a crush?” It came out more as a question than anything, and from the way that Leo stared at her, she knew she had to explain further. “I- so, there’s this girl…”
She paused, waiting for Leo to interrupt with questions.
And waited.
And waited.
“And?”
She was almost surprised that Leo had no further questions about that, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t relived.
“And, she’s kind of… Karai.”
Now that- that, got a reaction.
Leo gasped, instantly sitting up on his hands and knees, his eyes wide and a weirdly large grin coming to his lips.
“One second!”
She didn’t move other than to press herself closer to the headboard as Leo leapt over her and all but zoomed over to his little bookshelf. She’d never seen him move that fast outside of either training or patrol. From where she sat it was impossible to see what he was working on, and when he spun back to face her she could feel her suspicion rising at the oddly giddy energy he was pretty much brimming with as he hid something behind his back.
While he walked back over to her, she could feel herself leaning back. “What’s…?”
Before she could finish, she felt the role of a magazine smacking the top of her head.
“She’s in the Foot Clan!”
“Ow! Leo! What the-!?”
Another few smacks, harmless enough if not annoying, and to quick for her to catch.
“The Foot Clan!”
“Leo!”
“Fooooot Claaaan!”
Leo howled, smacking her one final time.
That broke them both.
Leo dropped his magazine to the floor, snickering as he sat back on the edge of his bed while April covered her mouth in an attempt to muffle the strength of her own cacking.
They fell into the bed, snickering like the teens they never really got to be, both of their eyes darting over to the door just in case their antics had woken anyone up.
Thankfully, no one came through the door, and as they settled back down April turned to face him, tucking her hands under her head she grinned at the smile on Leo’s face.
“Do you want to make some tea, steal Mikey’s chocolate and listen to me rant for a bit?”
“Yes.”
Leo didn’t even hesitate, and April found she couldn’t stop smiling as she rolled off the bed and followed after Leo, both of them already gossiping together quietly as they headed out of his room and towards the kitchen for some late night snacks and bonding.