Together We Stand

dance with you (rise)

April let out a dejected groan as she trudged down the sewer tunnels, a miserable scowl on her face from her terrible day. Even her normally perky afro puffs lacked any joy or movement, seemingly drooping down without any reason other than to convey her cruddy mood. Laws of physics be damned.

Everyone had rotten days, that was just a part of life. But this day in particular seemed like a snowball effect of the hours growing worse and worse until it smacked her right in the face. Not literally, though it sure as hell felt like it.

When she entered the lair, she was immediately greeted by Leo and Donnie both sitting opposite each other, shell to shell, beaks pressed against their phones.

April smirked, dropping her bookbag on the sofa and taking a seat beside them, watching the twins with mild interest.

Leo rapidly texted something, pressing a button with a huff. "And send!"

Donnie let out a squawk of annoyance once they caught a glimpse of the new message. "You did not just say that!" Then started tapping frantically on the keys as if their life depended on it. "Take that, Mr. Dum Dum."

A notification popped up with an obnoxious chime. "Hey, not cool!" Leo narrowed his eyes, already typing his own nasty response.

"Are you two text fighting again?" April glanced at both of them with amusement, though her expression was sour. "Can y'all do that some other time? I need to vent to somebody." If she had energy left, she would have rolled her eyes. Those two were constantly getting into petty arguments over the most ridiculous things.

"Not until Leo admits he's wrong," Donnie grumbled.

Leo turned around furiously. "Except I'm not wrong, sibs."

"You absolutely are 100% wrong."

"What are you two even fighting about?"

Donnie's eyebrows furrowed. "He thinks Jupiter Jim VIII: Attack of the Space Slugs is a better movie-"

"...which it is," Leo finished the sentence for his twin with a smug grin.

"But I personally believe wholeheartedly that Jupiter Jim V: The Great Galaxy War is a much superior film in terms of acting, directing, and amount of space related violence. It's not just a movie, nay, it's an experience!"

"...which it isn't."

"That's great," April sighed, her tone genuine but her voice sounding irritated as she slumped down on the sofa, her head in her hands.

Leo caught on quickly to April's mood shift and frowned. "Say, you okay? You seem less April-y than usual." He flopped down next to her, gesturing for Donnie to join her other side, which they did.

"Not an actual adverb 'Nardo..." Donnie whispered under their breath.

"What's got you so down in the dumps, amiga?" Leo ignored Donnie, his expression softening for his sister. "Normally you're eager to join in our wonderfully important discussions."

"I know, I'm sorry guys," April removed her glasses, cleaned them with her shirt, then placed them back on her face. "But since you asked...this day has just been awful." She took Donnie and Leo's confused, but concerned stares as a cue to elaborate further; "I overslept this morning and missed the bus first off. Then as I sprinted to school like I was running a freakin' marathon, I stepped in a huge muddy puddle and fell over!" She lifted up one combat boot which was still soaked and smelled slightly. "I was late to class, I was a huge frazzled mess, my socks were all wet and my teacher yelled at me for being two minutes late. That's not even the worst part!"