Father of the Night 29: Promotions.

=Father of the Night 29=

>The three of you sit at the kitchen table together.
>Well, less together, more "you vs him."
>You and AJ sit on one end of the table, Bruce on the other.
>The boy is staring down his snout at you, slowly tapping his hooves together in contemplation about what he had just heard.
>"So...when you say "I was the Mare-Do-Well..." he begins.
>Applejack clears her throat. "I mean that I dressed up and tried to fight crime, yes."
>His eyes narrow, making you  and AJ pokerface as hard as you both are able.
>"And you knew about this?"
"Uh...I just found out recently, yeah."
>Bruce sighs. "...Why did you wait until NOW to tell me?"
>AJ sighs. "Because yer only nine years old, Bruce. And nine year olds shouldn't have ta do what you do."
>Huh. That was the same thing she told you.
>"Well you getting hurt is not an acceptable alternative to that, Miss Applejack." Bruce retorts.
>Wait.
>That was the same thing YOU said.
>You must be rubbing off on him...
>Applejack closes her eyes and nods. "Yeah...it wasn't my brightest idea, took Anonymous here to get it through my head."
>You ruffle her mane a bit.
"It won't happen again Bruce, don't worry about it."
>Bruce sighs, rubs his own mane, and taps his hoof against the table. "Alright, yes, I don't have the energy to deal with this on top of everything else."
>Whoa.
>Guardian Mode: Engaged.
"Something on your mind, buddy?"
>The tapping stops. "You could say that..." Bruce says.
>You look down at AJ.
"Hey, let's go out to dinner, huh? Get your mind off whatever it is."
>He sighs again. "If you think it will help..."

-Music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob7qQ55WZ-s-
>Bruce sits across the table from you yet again, only this time with a more confused face than one of stern acceptance.
>All around the three of you, annoying waiters and equally annoying mascots dance and prance around. Behind you a band was "tearing it up" as the manager said.
>Such was the way of things at Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag.
>You make a mental note to have Uncle Moe arrested if you can.
>Bruce eyes a particularly large rat mascot with wary eyes as it dances around a nearby table with a screaming toddler.
"Heh...sorry."
>He snaps up and turns his head to you. "Sir?"
"It was the only one around."
>His face softens a tad. "No, it's fine it's...charming."
>AJ digs into her platter of hay fries and shake next to you. "'Least the food's good!"
>She had that right, it almost passed for real food.
>"So how's things, Bruce?" AJ asks. "Make any new friends?"
>Bruce shuffles a bit. "I've made some...pen-pals, yes. They live all over the kingdom."
>"Well shoot! That sounds mighty fine. Where do they live?"
>"Oh, one on a farm, the other...near the beach, one on an island, another in the desert." he says idly stabbing at his meal.
"Wow. They're all over the place, huh?"
>Bruce nods. "Yes...a rather odd band I've come into contact with."
"You gonna meet up?"
>He shrugs. "Maybe one day...if it's needed."
>"Well how's school? Y'all learning new and interesting things?"
>Bruce doesn't respond how you imagine he would.
>Instead he sighs harshly and sets his fork down, just staring at his plate.
>...Uh oh.

>"...Bruce?"
"Buddy?"
>"It's nothing." he says.
>Bullshit.
"Horse apples."
>"Anonymous! Language!"
>Damn older sister instinct...
>You turn back to Bruce.
"What's up, boy?"
>He sighs explosively. "We have to do a paper at school...on our parents and what they do..."
>Oh...
>...Yeah...
>AJ and you lower your heads.
>Damn. That was...heavier than you expected.
"Write about...who they were."
>You lift your head and look at the boy.
"Not as who everyone else saw them as, but what -you- saw your parents as."
>AJ nods. "Yeah! Ya gotta have some fond memories of yer mom and pop from around the house, away from all them prying city eyes."
>Bruce continues to stare at his food, but nods a bit. "I remember when mother took me trick-or-treating for Nightmare Night..."
>"Yeah? What about your pops?"
>Bruce smiles a tiny bit. "I remember...father helping me with my tutoring...he was the one who taught me physics, for every action there was an equal and opposite reaction."
>You nod in agreement.
"See? You have a lot of stuff you can write about."
>Bruce nods once then looks up and smiles. "It seems I do indeed. Thank you Anonymous, Applejack."
>The two of you smile as you all dig back into your food.
"...This hay is a bit undercooked."
>"Why did you ask for -cooked- hay?"
"It makes it go down easier."
>Bruce sighs and AJ rolls her eyes.
>"Sir, you are one of the oddest individuals I've met, and I dress up as a bat."
>Gee thanks, boy.

>Dinner passes and the three of you walk home.
>You twist the key in the lock and head inside, shaking off the day.
"I swear, if those mascots sang another song, I was going to SCREAM."
>"You were gonna scream? And here I was plannin' ta buck him into the salad bar." AJ grumbles.
"You overreact a lot."
>"'Taint overreactin' THERE."
>Bruce shuffles in quietly after the two of you. "...I liked it."
>You both eye him.
"It wasn't -that- bad."
>"I heard worse."
>The three of you share a laugh until AJ yawns.
>"Sheeeeooot...I'm bushed, too early of a day today."
>Bruce puts his hooves together and bows to AJ. "Thank you, Miss Applejack. I always enjoy seeing you."
>She ruffles his mane. "Y'all be good, Bruce."
>"Have a nice walk home, ma'am."
>Heywait.
"You know..."
>AJ looks up at you.
"You don't...like, HAVE to go home tonight, especially if you're tired."
>She cocks an eyebrow but grins. "Y'all inviting me to spend the night at your place, Anonymous?"
>Time for the patented Anon charm.
"Sure. I may only have one bed that I also sleep in, but it's big enough for several people at a time. Believe me, I checked."
>You throw in a wink.
>That hangs in the air for a second before you and AJ share a deep laugh.
>"Always a kidder."
"Who say's I'm kidding~?"
>"Anyone who MET ya."
"You only have me there because it's so obvious."
>A light chuckling draws your attention down.
>"You two never fail to make me laugh." Bruce says.
>You laugh yourself.
"I'll take what I can get."
>Bruce trots upstairs and waves to the two of you. "I need to go get started on my report now. goodnight Miss Applejack...goodnight dad."
>You twist your head so fast there's a sonic boom, but Bruce is gone by the time you do.
>That...that was...
>Hehe...
>You turn back to AJ all smiles.
"Hear that...?"
>Dad...