At the Warzone, it could have been easily guessed that the match had already started, judging by the vitriol flying between two players. Wearing opposing colors, they stood before the threshold to the pitch, but not quite crossing it yet.
“Be careful, Rain-fail Dash. Keep getting on my nerves and I might shoot you, right in your petite little butt.”
“Can it, Adagio Dummy. Your aim stinks so bad I'd be more afraid if you were aiming for the player next to me.”
“Dog breath.”
“Booger brain.”
And then they smiled. Adagio held up her gun, and Rainbow tapped it with her own in camaraderie.
“Ready to school some fools?” Adagio asked.
“You bet your training bra I am,” Rainbow said. She stopped in front of the door and bowed dramatically. “Age before beauty,” she offered.
“Har de har har,” Adagio snarled, making sure to hit Rainbow in the butt with the heel of her boot as she walked by.
The two walked out onto the field. They had barely made it out there before someone called out, “Hey, look! The queen has a royal bootlicker.”
“Bet it's her carpet she's licking, not her boots,” his buddy rejoined. They laughed and clinked their guns together.
Fist clenched, Rainbow took an angry step forward, but Adagio held her back with a hand on her shoulder. “Not now,” she said quietly.
“Why not?” Rainbow hissed.
“Because—and I'm speaking from experience—revenge is best served with a paintball to the crotch.” She tapped her temple knowingly. “Trust me. They've said worse before.”
“And they will again?” Rainbow suggested.
A cruel smile crossed Adagio’s lips. “Two people probably won't, anyway.”
With a jingling of keys, Adagio opened the door, and both girls tumbled in.
“I swear, that gets more fun every time,” Rainbow laughed.
“I know! Did you see him when we were leaving?”
“Couldn't even look me in the eyes and tripped over a trash can? I totally did!” Rainbow nudged her with her elbow. “You're the best girlfriend ever, Queen.”
“You're too kind, Rainbow Wonder.”
Rainbow inhaled as Adagio leaned down and kissed a couple of the visible bruises on her shoulders. She did like that.
Then Adagio rested her hands on Rainbow’s clavicle and leaned in. “I'm going to grab us something to eat. If you want a little something more, you can go get ready in the bedroom,” she murmured into her ear.
Rainbow grinned, anticipating a few more kisses on a few more bruises (and some other places, too). Adagio’s apartment was pretty small, and as she walked down the hallway, she was already undressing. She reached the door to the bedroom and her jacket hit the bed, with her shirt quickly following.
Her fingers were already sliding under her sports bra and lifting it up when she realized she was not alone in this room. “Agh!” she shrieked.
Sonata Dusk grinned. “Hi, Rainbow!” she said cheerfully.
Rainbow grabbed her shirt off the bed and held it in front of herself like a barrier. “What are you doing here?” she demanded hoarsely.
“I live here,” Sonata said pleasantly.
“You what?”
“I live here!” Sonata repeated, just as pleasantly as before. She looked back at Rainbow and cocked her head. “Why are you holding your shirt and not wearing it?”
“I wasn't expecting company,” Rainbow hissed.
Adagio came in, holding a plate of sandwiches and scowling. “Sonata, did you eat the last of the chili?”
Sonata smirked evilly. “You'll find out tonight!”
Adagio facepalmed. “If you stink up my room, you'll be sleeping outside, you understand? And I don't just mean on the couch.” She looked over and raised an eyebrow at Rainbow’s shirt, but Rainbow beat her to it.
“You didn't tell me she was living here now,” she hissed accusingly.
“You didn't tell me you'd told her where I worked,” Adagio retorted.
“I didn't think it'd make a big difference. What, did you just invite her to live with you?”
“Uh…”
The door opened, and Adagio said the same thing she had said for months now. “Welcome to the Sub Station, I can help you when you're ready.”
“Hey.”
Adagio looked up from wiping down the counter. Her eyes widened as she recognized the person talking to her. “Sonata. Uh… Hi.”
There was a pause. Sonata’s hands were clenched firmly in front of her, as if she were nervous about something; but she was here, and she seemed determined to say her piece.
“What are you doing here?” Adagio winced internally as she realized that that had come out a bit ruder than she'd wanted, and she quickly glanced over her shoulder to make sure her supervisor was not standing there.
Sonata didn't seem to notice; or if she did, she hid it well. “Rainbow told me you worked here, and you weren't… you know… too angry with me.”
Adagio chuckled mirthlessly. “Not anymore, I'm not. First you, then Aria left after that whole rap battle fiasco, and then I was by myself.” She exhaled, low and deep. “That was… wrong. Sirens aren't supposed to be alone. Melody only gets you so far…”
Sonata grinned. “But you need harmony to make the music beautiful,” she finished.
“Yeah,” Adagio said. “Something like that.”
There was another silence.
“You're also… making music with Rainbow Dash, huh?” Sonata grinned, waggling an eyebrow.
“Call it two-part harmony with no dry reverb,” Adagio said with a smirk.
“Good. I'm… I'm glad. I’m glad you’re happy.”
There was another pause. Adagio bit her lower lip, unsure what to say next.
“Pinkie got me a part time job at the bakery where she works,” Sonata continued. “It's not much, but it's something. And she's letting me stay at her house. Buuut one of her sisters kinda creeps me out, another one doesn't really like me, and the last one keeps borrowing my panties in what I think is an attempt to feel pretty.” She hesitated. “And I feel kinda bad taking up space on her floor. Can I… move back in with you?” she pleaded, clasping her hands together. “I can help with rent…”
Adagio smiled. “Well, I've moved out since then, and my new place is a little smaller; but I bet I can find you some space somewhere in my bedroom.”
Sonata perked up. Sharing a bedroom was something they did back when they were actually somewhat friendly with each other—back when they were sisters—and if Adagio was offering again… “F- for realsies?”
Adagio nodded. “For realsies.”
Sonata seemed to vibrate with happiness. “I'll get my things!”
“S- something like that,” she said.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Well, it's great that the band is getting back together,” she said sarcastically, pulling her shirt back on.
Adagio frowned and held out a hand. “You don't have t-”
Rainbow snatched a sandwich off the plate and walked away. “Not in the mood anymore, Adagio.”
Sonata giggled. Adagio glared.
That glare intensified as Sonata started to rap. “Oh, poor Adagio, her life is such a wreck / She teased Rainbow a bit too much and now she'll have no s-”
Adagio slammed the door shut and stomped off.