Number Nine greens


                                            Just so they're all together


                                            "Stupid fucking horse."

                                            >She tracked coal dust inside

                                            >Again

                                            >Following the black hoofsteps stamped into your carpet, you stomp over to her open bedroom door

                                            > She acknowledges your presence with a "Hm." as she's digging around in a chest, back turned towards you

                                            "You're making my house filthy." You don't bother trying to hold back to venom in your voice

                                            >Nine pauses her movements and glances over towards you

                                            "You're filthy."

                                            >Her brow furrows some and she turns fully around, facing you with blank stoicism

                                            >Both of you stand stock still, you with your arms akimbo

                                            >A minute passes

                                            >Nine's lips purse in this sort of lopsided way, bothered by the lack of a cigarette

                                            >Your eyes remain on one another's

                                            >Another minute

                                            >Your eyes dart to the floor as she takes a tired hoofstep fowards

                                            >Another hoofstep, your brow raises suspiciously

                                            >Steadily, she moves closer and closer to you, each step leaving behind progressively less prominent black crescents on the tan carpet

                                            >She's only inches away

                                            >You swallow from how dry your mouth has gotten

                                            >You have to remain firm

                                            >She's much taller than the average pony, eye-level with your chest

                                            >Your chest which she gently places the top of her head

                                            >With a shove from her powerful neck, you land flat on your back on the hallway floor with a grunt

                                            >Thank God for carpeting

                                            >Too busy gathering your bearings, you fail to notice as Number Nine places herself over you

                                            >She gently lowers herself, pinning you beneath her substantial weight

                                            >It's enough to keep you in place but not enough to keep you from breathing

                                            >You go to shout in her face, but she tucks her muzzle into the crook of your neck and immediately starts nuzzling

                                            >You squirm and turn your head away, inadvertantly giving her more to nuzzle

                                            >You can tell that you won't be able to get away until she lets you

                                            >She keeps nuzzling against your neck, her soft fur contrasting against the gritty soot being rubbed into your skin

                                            >Your neck starts feeling damp from the deep, heavy huffs from her nostrils, sending a shiver down your spine with each breath

                                            >Nine lets a bit more of her weight rest on you, her body hot as a furnace

                                            >Hot enough to make your skin tingle with sweat

                                            >Several more minutes of Nine's nuzzling later, she finally pulls her head back

                                            >The side of her face is cleaner now

                                            >She gazes down at you with an unreadable expression for a moment before she brings her nose to the front of your hair and blowing a harsh puff of air from her nostrils and into your scalp

                                            >Nine pulls away once more and lifts herself off of you, walking off down the hall

                                            >Once you hear the bathroom door open and close, you lift yourself up into a seated position

                                            "St-stupid fucking horse..."


                                            -=-=-=-=-


                                            >*CLIPCLOP*

                                            >Looking over towards the sound, you see Number Nine watching you from the doorway

                                            "What?"

                                            >Nine responds with a bored blink

                                            "Go away, I'm busy." You say as you turn your attention back to the pan on the stove

                                            >You hear more hoofsteps and the fridge door opens out the corner of your eye

                                            >It closes followed by the sound of a bottle popping open

                                            >You turn just in time to see Nine down half a cider in a few gulps

                                            "It's not even two in the afternoon." You comment with a hand on your hip

                                            >Number Nine glances at you, her eyes giving you a quick once-over, then she swiftly downs the rest of the cider in a single gulp

                                            >You roll your eyes with a scoff and return your focus to the food you're cooking

                                            "W-woah, hey!" You exclaim as you're pushed away from the stove by Nine shimmying her way between you and it

                                            >Nine scooches around and adjusts herself until she's sitting directly in front of you

                                            >The table's position behind you forces the two of you to be pressed right up against one another, Nine's chin flat against your chest and her nose smushed up under your jaw, pointing your head slightly upwards

                                            "God dammit, Nine, what is this? What are you doing?"

                                            >Number Nine responds with a huff of air against your chin and she presses into your further

                                            >You grumble as you reach an arm around her as best as you can to flick off the stove, then you wrap both arms around her bulky withers

                                            "Happy, you stupid horse?"

                                            >Nine remains silent and gently nuzzles her nose against you

                                            >You roll your eyes again when you feel her muzzle pull back into a smile

                                            "Stupid fucking horse..."


                                            -=-=-=-=-


                                            >You glance at the clock for the fifth time this minute

                                            >One hour and thirty-seven minutes later than usual

                                            >You weren't keeping track, you just noticed is all

                                            >You look back to the open book in your hands

                                            >Still on the same page as forty-five minutes ago

                                            >The front door creaking open nearly makes you jump out of your armchair, but you remain seated

                                            >You focus on your book as you hear heavy, uncoordinated hoofsteps approach

                                            "Long day?"

                                            >The hoofsteps halt

                                            >A heartbeat passes and the hoofsteps resume, dragging more than before

                                            >They stop again right before you

                                            >You refuse to raise your eyes from the page, knowing that Nine is definitely giving you that stupid drunken smile of hers

                                            >A large, sooty hoof rises over the top of your book and gently forces it down into your lap, making you finally look up at her

                                            >You were right

                                            >She does have that stupid drunken smile on

                                            >You stare her in the eye stoically

                                            "I was reading that." You mutter as disdainfully as you can

                                            >You see her focus sluggishly dart across your face, lingering on your lips before returning to your eyes

                                            >Nine brings a hoof up and onto your right armrest as she inches closer

                                            "Something I can help you with?"

                                            >Her right hoof lifts off of your lap and plants itself against the back of the chair, just left of your head, and you're reminded just how large she really is

                                            >Your heartbeat quickens, and you swallow as you try in vain to calm yourself

                                            "W-what are you doing?"

                                            >Number Nine responds with a snort, sending a burst of boozy mare breath across your face

                                            >You barely suppress your grimace as her head leans in closer

                                            >As she gets closer, one of your hands shoots up to her chest

                                            >Nine stops moving, glances down at your hand, and back up to you

                                            "Nine, this isn't f-funny..."

                                            >Your voice has lost nearly all its animosity and you're staring into the deep pink of her eyes

                                            >She leans in further

                                            >And further

                                            >You feel time slow down as you close your eyes and she finally reaches you

                                            >The moment your lips touch, you feel a shiver run down your spine and your hand reflexively grasps a fistful of her grimy fur

                                            >Nine presses further into you and you let out a muffled whimper

                                            >What feels like an eternity passes as the two of you kiss, yet Nine pulls away all too soon

                                            >Your breathing is shaky, your heart is beating out your chest, and your lips feel positively electric

                                            >You open your eyes to see Nine staring back with that same drunken grin

                                            >Looking at her face again, your heartrate picks up just a hair more

                                            >Number Nine stares at you for a brief minute more before letting out a giggle and stepping back onto all four hooves

                                            >Your gaze remains forwards as the coalmare stumbles her way off to her room

                                            >The slamming of her bedroom door knocks you out of your daze

                                            >Your fingers reach up and tremblingly graze your lips as your mind desperately claws to hold onto that perfect feeling she'd made you feel

                                            >Alas, it withers too quick, leaving only its memory

                                            "Stupid fucking horse..." You whisper to an empty room