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(Dazzlings) Part 2: Complications

By OniiChansFables
Created: 2020-10-29 17:06:44
Expiry: Never

  1. >The brilliant glare of the late summer sun flickers through the low treelines as you put on your turn signal, the sprawling expanse of the local fair’s dirt parking lot quickly filling as you park.
  2. >All of you quickly pile out of the car, and after a brief chorus of stifled groans and popped joints, you weave through the labyrinth of vehicles up towards the main thoroughfare.
  3. “Celestia said that they’d be west of the concert stage,” you think aloud, one hand shielding your eyes from the reflective glare of the nearby water tower as you scan the area.
  4. >”How did they get all of this set up so quickly?” Aria ponders at the dizzying array of rollercoasters down on the far end of the fairgrounds.
  5. >”Never underestimate the power of funnel cakes,” Sonata quips. “I’m surprised they don’t have this place up and running as soon as spring hits.”
  6. >You and the elder two regard her with a quizzical look before a voice catches your attention.
  7. >”ANON!”
  8. >You whip your head over to your left to see a short, heavily pregnant woman in a bright blue sundress bouncing on her tiptoes, one arm frantically waving you over.
  9. >”Oh, it’s so good to finally meet you!” she gushes as you approach, springing forward and flinging her arms around your neck in a surprisingly tight hug.
  10. >You return the gesture lightly as a tall man with a striking electric blue mop of hair strolls up behind her, gently encircling her with his own arms as she pulls away from you.
  11. >”Ahh, Shiny! Stop sneaking up on me!” she giggles with hollow anger as he chuckles and rubs her stomach.
  12. “I presume you’re... Candy?” you say awkwardly. “The principal’s email used some rather odd nicknames.”
  13. >”Cadance,” she corrects you with a grin. “There’s only one man allowed to call me that, and he’s behind me with a ring.”
  14. >You roll your eyes as the man extends one hand past his wife.
  15. >”Shining Armor,” he introduces himself. “I handle security at the school.”
  16. "So, the cop?"
  17. >"Yep," he says as the girls finally catch up to you. "I got a good word put in by the principal, and they were happy to pawn off the position on me.
  18. >His face lights up in mild shock at your grip as you shake.
  19. >”Don’t dash off like that, Nonny!” Sonata whines. “It’s a nightmare crawling through that crowd!”
  20. >”Yeah, Non-ny,” Cadance teases you as your youngest ward leans into your side with a pout.
  21. “There’s only three women allowed to call me that, and they’re all beside me,” you snark.
  22. >Red creeps across Cadance’s face as Shining throws his head back in laughter, the girls looking to you for context.
  23. >”Come on, the rest of the faculty’s over by the picnic area,” Cadance grumbles as she spins on one heel, gesturing for you to follow.
  24. >You and Shining share an exasperated look before falling in line, the bustling of the masses gradually giving way to semi-dry grass as a small grouping of weathered wooden benches pops up just over the hill, a handful of people already setting up plastic tables.
  25. >”Celly!” Cadance shouts as she jots down the hill, coming to a shaky stop. “Anon’s here!”
  26. >You see the tanned woman pop her head up from assembling a table leg and wave with a smile, getting up and brushing off her dress before walking over.
  27. >You’d always been just a tad on the short side, but even in the flats she’d picked for the day, she’s got a few inches on you.
  28. >”Glad you could make it, Anon,” she beams, her gentle smile grabbing your attention. “We’re all excited to get acquainted with the newer staff members.”
  29. >Despite the lack of any tension, she’s blushing slightly.
  30. >You let your subconscious gnaw on that bit of information as you return the smile, Cadance’s giggling ringing faintly to your side.
  31. <><><>
  32. >You sigh and inspect your nails as your uncle and the principal exchange pleasantries, you and your younger sisters’ stomach’s grumbling angrily.
  33. >”So, where is everyone?” Sonata pipes up. “Shouldn’t this party have started twenty minutes ago?”
  34. “What she said,” you butt in. “A certain SOMEONE said we shouldn’t eat breakfast this morning since we’d be eating soon anyways.”
  35. >Your uncle sheepishly laughs and scratches his head.
  36. >”Come on, we’ll help you get things set up,” he offers, assuming your complicity.
  37. >Whatever. You always hated sitting on your hands, anyways.
  38. >The four of you spread out, grabbing lawn chairs out of the bed of two trucks and assembling tables as a few more people file in.
  39. >”So, Adagio,” Cadance asks as the two of you unfold the plastic table. “How’s your uncle been doing? Is it just you four living together?”
  40. >You raise your brow at her shifting stance, your glare easily cutting through the artificial smile on her face.
  41. “Shouldn’t you be asking him that?” you tersely reply, your voice hard. “And yeah, he’s single.”
  42. >The woman sputters for a moment before laughing, her eyes frantically looking everywhere but at you.
  43. >”My, you’re quick to the point, aren’t you?” she chuckles as she fastens the last table leg. “I just wanted to make conversation, that’s all. Oh, Celly, I need to talk to you!”
  44. >She hurriedly walks away towards the principal, leaving you to flip the table over and line it up with the rest.
  45. >”What was that about?” Sonata asks as she walks up beside you.
  46. “She’s up to something,” you growl, your clenched fists shaking. "Come on, let's get seated."
  47. >You’ve met enough social climbers to know when someone’s digging for info.
  48. >You and your sister walk back over to the main gaggle, a sharp thumping sound greeting you as you make your way to the front.
  49. >”Damn, Anon, who pissed you off this morning?” Shining bemoans, rubbing the back of his hand.
  50. >“Come on, double or nothing!” he replies, his right elbow resting on the table, fingers flexing. “You ain’t a quitter, are ya?”
  51. >He’d rolled his sleeves up, and your eyes wander to his forearms, an impressive coil of muscle on the underside of each, slightly swollen from exertion.
  52. >“Watch me smoke this fool, Dagi,” he smugly says as the two lock hands again, each silently counting to three before straining against each other.
  53. >You can see the vessels along the top of his bicep press up against the skin as he slowly pulls his arm back towards him.
  54. >You blink rapidly and turn your head, heat flooding your face.
  55. >“At least make it interesting,” he mocks, Shining’s face matching the shade of yours as he blows air through his teeth like a bellows.
  56. >It was always apparent he was strong, but you didn't think he was capable of outmatching someone half a foot taller than him.
  57. “Stop toying with him,” you speak from the sidelines as you walk around, hovering close to your uncle’s arm.
  58. >”Ugh, yes, Mother,” he moans as he slams his opponent’s hand onto the plastic almost immediately, the table violently shaking from the impact.
  59. >”Fuck, dude, take it easy. I think you bruised me,” Shining mutters as he withdraws his arm, clenching his fingers.
  60. >”I got two gears, man: on, and dead,” Anon boasts. “They didn’t call me Python back in football for nothing.”
  61. “That just sounds stupid.”
  62. >He blushes and sits back down as the rest of the table laughs.
  63. >”Wait, YOU were Python?”
  64. >You and Anon turn around to see Celestia walking up, Cadance behind her with a devilish grin on her face.
  65. >As your eyes catch the eyeliner and shadow on the principal’s face, everything suddenly makes sense.
  66. >And it makes you furious.
  67. >Impulse seizes control of you for the briefest of moments as you take the free seat by your uncle, Sonata already occupying the spot on his left.
  68. >”Yep! I’ve tried to do maintenance since then, but this used to be nothing for me,” Anon replies. “I’d pick people twice my size up and drive them out to the sideline every Friday night.”
  69. >Celestia giggles at his bravado, and you find yourself baring your teeth unconsciously for a moment before you reel yourself in.
  70. >You don't go unnoticed as the older woman briefly locks eyes with you, giving you a small, warm smile before walking between two of the tables and seating herself to the left of Shining, with Cadance following.
  71. >You could swear the guidance counselor's pupils were dilating from the intensity of the glare she's throwing at you.
  72. >As your uncle turns himself back around, you scoot closer and lean into his shoulder, deciding that the fat bitch can stare all she wants.
  73. <><><>
  74. >"Didn't think we'd have a local legend at the meetup today," Celestia croons as she leans on the table, her half-lidded eyes locked with yours.
  75. "Ah, enough about me," you protest. "Any more and I'll start leaking hot air from my ears."
  76. >Oh nonononono," Sonata butts in from beside you. "I wanna hear this. Python? Are you kidding me?"
  77. >"If he won't tell you, I will," Celestia replies. "Your uncle here is the best linebacker in Canterlot High's history. There's more than a few trophies in our display case thanks to him."
  78. >You feel red in your cheeks already.
  79. >"He'd always flex those forearms of his after a sack, and the nickname eventually stuck," she continues. "Nobody ever wanted to play against us out of fear that he'd take their quarterback out of commission for the season."
  80. "Oh, please, you're exaggerating."
  81. >"Not in the slightest. You had senior cheerleaders fawning on you during your freshman year," Celestia rebukes. "I remember a few off them coming to me to borrow makeup between classes, but I didn't think someone like you would draw that kind of... attention."
  82. >She punctuates her sentence with a quick wink at you, and the color in your face takes on a new and sudden context.
  83. >You're cut off from responding by pressure on your right side as Adagio nuzzles into your shoulder urgently.
  84. "What's wrong?" you ask, your boss's candid attitude ignored in favor of your niece.
  85. >"...I'm just not used to having this many people around," she mutters nonchalantly.
  86. >You get the feeling she's not telling you everything, but you shrug and wrap your arm around her, the girl giggling to herself slightly as she presses her side flush against yours.
  87. >The idle chitchat persists for a bit before a dark gray minivan meanders its way up to park by the trucks.
  88. >”Took her sweet bloody time,” Cadance grumbles as the lot of you stand up, your eyes falling on an almost deathly pale woman stepping out of the van and stretching.
  89. >”Forgive my tardiness, Tia. Downtown is absolutely dreadful to get through at this hour,” she says with a groaning sigh as she pops her shoulders with a vicious crack.
  90. >”M-hmm. Set your alarm twice next time,” Celestia replies as she lifts up the trunk door.
  91. >The woman rolls her eyes and joins her sister in passing pots and slow cookers full of various foodstuffs to the lot of you, bucket brigade-style.
  92. >Gingerly setting a pair of wrapped foil pans down on an isolated pair of tables, you feel a persistent tapping on your shoulder.
  93. >”Greetings, Anonymous,” Luna begins, extending a hand almost as stiff as her arrow-straight spine. “I am Luna, Vice-Principal of Canterlot High. I look forward to working together with you in the coming months.”
  94. >You take a long look at her poised expression, eyes closed in an almost regal pose, and burst out laughing.
  95. >”What’s the matter? Have I offended you somehow?” she asks in alarm.
  96. “Oh man, if I’ve ever heard anyone reading from a script, that was it!” you bellow between fits of shrill giggling. “What’s next, a musical number?”
  97. >Luna frowns and crosses her arms as her sister joins in your stint, barely suppressed laughter escaping her as she bites her tongue.
  98. >”There’s something to be said for professionalism,” the vice-principal protests with a raised finger.
  99. >”Lighten up, toots! It’s a party!” Cadance interjects with a slap on Luna’s back. “Now come on, let’s eat. I’m absolutely FAMISHED.”
  100. >You suddenly decide that being between the pregnant woman and a buffet table isn’t the best of ideas, and slide out of the way as her and Shining tear open the first packs of disposable plates.
  101. >”About damn time,” Adagio growls.
  102. “Adagio, language!” you hiss.
  103. >”English,” she deadpans.
  104. >The lot of you briskly grab the appropriate utensils and pile your styrofoam plates to the brink, carefully making your way back to your seats.
  105. >”So Shining, how’d you two meet?” you ask between forkfuls of absolutely sinful pulled pork.
  106. >”Candy and me met back in the hospital when she used to manage preliminary trips for the AP grads,” he replies after wiping his lips. “We hit it off almost immediately on account of my wingwoman.”
  107. >”Oh, shut up,” she giggles. “Twily had no idea what was going on.”
  108. >”Keep telling yourself that,” he shoots back. “That little squirt’s dangerous when she’s paying attention.”
  109. >”Why were you in the hospital?” Aria pipes up from her otherwise disinterested end of the table.
  110. “Aria, I-“
  111. >”It’s fine, Anon,” Shining cuts you off. “Do you remember that airbase bombing in Cloudsdale about seven years back?”
  112. >You stop chewing, your eyes wide as you slowly nod, the table suddenly silent.
  113. >”I’d just gotten back on solid ground about an hour beforehand, trying to find a bathroom when the bomb went off. Took a handful of metal right in the stomach. I’d have been blasted into paste had the other one not failed to detonate,” he nonchalantly continues. “Pretty shoddy explosive work for a guy who worked in demo, to be honest.”
  114. >”Did you at least get a cool scar?” Sonata chimes.
  115. >”Oh yeah!” he chirps as you hide your mortified blush in your napkin.
  116. >”Shiny, please,” Cadance implores.
  117. >With a noncommittal shrug from Shining, the table dips back into the low chorus of chewing for a few minutes before Luna cracks open the cooler by the table leg, pulling out a bright red bottle.
  118. >”Really, sis?” Celestia gawks as the navy-haired woman cracks the seal on the daquiri, taking two sizable chugs to wash down the last bits of her sandwich.
  119. >”Oh please, dear sister. I brought plenty for everyone,” she responds after a brief cough. “A little refreshment is nothing to be afraid of.”
  120. >”That’s not the... oh, forget it,” Celestia concedes as her sister turns the bottle up again.
  121. >You offer to grab up the empty dishes, piling up a stack of trash that threatens to collapse in your grip as everyone stands and stretches.
  122. >”Here,” Celestia says as she grabs the top half of the heap. “There’s no way you’re getting all of that in the can at once.”
  123. “Is that a challenge?”
  124. >She laughs serenely as the two of you dump the refuse.
  125. “Alright, let’s see if this fair’s anything worth writing home about,” you think aloud as the girls join you.
  126. >You don’t notice the dagger glare the elder two of your nieces are giving Celestia as the lot of you make for the thoroughfare.
  127. >And none of you notice a soon-to-be mother trailing behind, an almost lip-splitting grin on her face.
  128. ---
  129. >Your timing is impeccable as you make your way back into the fairgrounds, the bustling crowd thinning out as people begin to make their way towards the animal shows.
  130. “Alright, time for the fun part!” you grin as you crack your knuckles, sizing up the prize stalls stretching down the thoroughfare.
  131. >”Some of these game prices seem really high,” Aria comments, her eyes soaking in the almost dizzying array of colors around her.
  132. >”Oh, don’t worry about that,” Celestia speaks up. “I went ahead and got a deluxe pass.”
  133. >Adagio’s scowl deepens just a bit behind you as your boss hands you a cyan slip of plastic, “ALL-ACCESS” emblazoned above the QR sticker.
  134. >”So, Py-thon,” Sonata ribs, “since you’re such a big, bad dude, how bout a little wager?”
  135. >You cross your arms and chuckle.
  136. “Alright, shrimp. What’s your offer?”
  137. >She gestures over to the nearest stall, an almost comically stereotypical bottle toss game.
  138. >”You get two tries to beat this game. You lose, we all get new outfits,” she coyly says.
  139. “And if I win?”
  140. >”It’s a secret,” she whispers, one finger over her lips.
  141. >You and the other three share an eyeroll, your boss handing the pass over to you.
  142. “Game on.”
  143. >The barker behind the counter smirks as you stroll up and scan the card, stepping away from the wall and yawning.
  144. >"The game is simple, dear sir," he chirps. "You've two chances to knock down each stack of bottles. Topple all three, and victory is yours!"
  145. >You resist the temptation to smack the false energy out of his mouth as two rubber balls roll down from a tube on the side of the stall, rolling along the sluice in the front counter to stop in front of you.
  146. >The first throw lands square in the center of the stack, six pink canisters falling to the floor.
  147. >You pause your arm as you reach for the other, listening to the ruckus.
  148. "A plastic bottle doesn't make a solid sound," you whisper to yourself.
  149. >A tight grin appears on your face, quickly followed by a second chorus of clattering as you curve the other ball, not bothering to shift your position.
  150. >"Show-off," Celestia jests, poking your shoulder with a fingernail.
  151. "This is the easy part," you mutter, the barker out of earshot as he moves back to the wall and leans, fiddling with his shirt buttons. "The last one's always rigged."
  152. >"What, you really think people still try that?" Adagio interjects as two more balls exit the chute. "All the rigging tricks are common knowledge at this point."
  153. >You point to the last stack as you line up and take another shot, sending the top three bottles flying.
  154. "Look carefully. See the blue stripe on each of them?" you continue, another throw catching the rightmost of the three remaining targets.
  155. >"...one of them's thinner than the others," Aria says, her eyes lighting up in realization.
  156. "He put the weighted bottle on top of the first two to fool people," you announce loudly as you pick up a small chunk of asphalt from the fairground road and chuck it at the center bottom bottle, a loud snap ringing in the air as the stone splits the cheap plastic open to reveal the lead weight.
  157. "Now, my question is: why does the manager of this humble attraction think that it is a good idea to try and fuck me over?" you growl, turning yourself towards the barker, his posture suddenly arrow-straight.
  158. >"N-Now sir, I can assure you that this is a-"
  159. "What this is, /good sir/, is a classic case of an idiot thinking he can pull a fast one on his customers with little more than a paintbrush and some soda bottles," you cut him off. "Now, if you were smart, you would've used softballs filled with cork and put a little sand in the bottom bottles, but that would require you to actually give a fuck."
  160. >You're doing better at reigning in your anger than you expected as you lean over the counter, a leering, malicious smile threatening to split your bottom lip as you stare the pinstripe-clad huckster down, his body language not unlike that of a raccoon caught in a log trap.
  161. "A stuffed animal of choice for each of the girls, and maybe, just maybe, I won't have your license pulled like an infected tooth."
  162. >The barker slowly nods, backing away from you as if allergic as you step behind the counter, grabbing the prize hook from its perch by the ball tube as you go.
  163. "Alright girls, take your pick," you say, tapping the stick against the counter as your free hand gestures to the myriad of plush and stuffing above you.
  164. >"I call the snake!" Sonata shouts, jumping in front of Aria as the middle sibling points to a bright blue sea turtle.
  165. >"I'll take the bear," Adagio mutters.
  166. >You bring down the reptiles, Sonata squealing like a rusted door hinge as she wraps hers around her neck.
  167. >Adagio stops you as you reach back up.
  168. >"No, that one...please," she blurts, avoiding eye contact.
  169. >You follow her gaze to see a white bear resting on the far wall, locked in a sitting position, holding a carnation pink heart with both arms.
  170. >"Softie," Sonata teases her sister as you hand the bear to Adagio, yelping as the eldest gives her a quick yank on the ponytail.
  171. >"Thank you," she softly says, clasping the toy tightly against her chest.
  172. >"...Can I get the giraffe?"
  173. >All of you turn to Celestia, the older woman staring at you as though attempting to still process the events of the past five minutes.
  174. "Sure," you reply, pulling down the plush and tossing it to her, casually dropping the hook as you step out of the stall.
  175. "Go put those in the car," you order, taking the door remote off you keyring and handing it to Adagio. "We'll be by the dunk tank when you get back."
  176. >As the girls walk back to the car, you whistle a tune and stick your hands in your pockets, walking alongside Celestia as the two of you slowly meander down the thoroughfare.
  177. >"Well, that escalated rather quickly," the principal remarks. "You're not one for subtlety, are you?"
  178. "Say what you mean, and leave it at that," you reply. "Too many people want to play lawyer-ball these days. Whole lotta jaw-workin' for no good reason."
  179. >"Preaching to the choir," she giggles.
  180. "Yeah, I bet. You've got a whole lineup of aspiring bureaucrats above you, don'tcha?"
  181. >The two of you share a hard laugh as you stop, leaning against the warm aluminum of the dunk tank game, nary a soul around.
  182. >"...So, how are the girls?" Celestia asks after catching her breath, tucking the giraffe under one arm.
  183. "Never better. Why?"
  184. >"Well, I just want to make sure things are alright," she replies, her smile slowly fading. "I can't imagine what it's like from your perspective."
  185. >You sigh at her obvious prodding and fold your arms.
  186. "I'll be honest, Celestia - we've all been on a pretty rocky boat," you begin. "I still can't really process it. I don't see or hear from her for damn near a decade, and suddenly I get a call from my neighbor that she's been in jail for a month."
  187. >"You can't help that," she croons, placing a hand on your shoulder.
  188. "I know that. But still... did a lot of thinking, did a lot of drinking," you mutter. "Might've shed a few tears, too - that night's real fuzzy in my memory."
  189. >Your vision suddenly shifts as Celestia pulls you into a hug, the giraffe falling to the ground as she squeezes you earnestly.
  190. >"You poor thing," she murmurs into your shoulder. "Nobody should have to go through something like this."
  191. >She pulls away from you, sniffing slightly as she smoothes the hem of her sundress.
  192. >"I'm sorry. I tend to get carried away with subjects like these," she admits, picking her plush up and dusting it off.
  193. "It's alright. I appreciate you listening," you respond. "I'm still working through a lot of these questions."
  194. >She nods with a beaming smile, and your mind stops for a few brief moments as you take note of her appearance properly for the first time today.
  195. >The light eyeshadow, modest pearl earrings, the peculiar shimmer of her hair in the sun...
  196. >"What? Is there something on my face?" she asks.
  197. >You snap out of your stupor with a rigorous shake of your head.
  198. "Sorry, I was somewhere else for a second," you say, scratching your temple.
  199. >"Wanna hit the Ferris Wheel?" she says with a giggle at your blush. "It's traditioooon!"
  200. <><><>
  201. >”Ow! Damnit Sonata, watch where you’re stepping!”
  202. “Sorry,” you meep as your poof-haired elder sister grimaces.
  203. >”The one day I wear open-toed shoes outside...” she grumbles, checking her toenails for any damage. “Would it kill you to pay attention for once!”
  204. “Alright, that’s it!” you shout as you open up the backdoor of your uncle’s sedan, tossing the plush reptile around your neck inside. “What crawled up your ass and bit you today?”
  205. >”Have you not noticed that Uncle’s suddenly being roped into a date with his boss?” Adagio snaps, her arms flying out above either side of her head.
  206. >”Don’t you think you’re overreacting-“
  207. >”No Aria, I am not!” she continues. “The makeup, the giggling, wanting some alone time with him - this is textbook stuff!”
  208. “And? He can date whoever he wants to,” you reply with a shrug. “I don’t see a problem.”
  209. >”Of course you don’t, not now,” your big sister shoots back, eyes wide and twitchy. “But soon he’s not home till midnight, or he can’t stop talking about her, or she’s sleeping in his bed instead of you. You really want that?”
  210. >You stop halfway through opening your mouth to reply.
  211. >Nobody gets away with taking your pillow.
  212. “Alright, got any ideas?” you blurt, clasping your hands together as your other big sister rolls her eyes.
  213. >”Just keep him from giving her attention,” Adagio says with a furrowed brow. “If she thinks we’re gonna be a pain to be around, maybe we can shoo her away.”
  214. >”You really think a high school principal isn’t used to annoying teenagers?” Aria dryly asks.
  215. >”Not helping, sis!” you and Adagio say in unison before nodding and closing the sedan door.
  216. “Come on, we’ve let her sink her claws into him for too long already!”
  217. >You turn on one foot and dash back towards the fairgrounds, slowing your pace as you remind yourself that you picked the lacy bra out this morning.
  218. >As you turn the corner back onto the thoroughfare, you stop dead in your tracks, your sisters almost slamming into your back in the process.
  219. >”Uh, ‘Nata? You okay?” Aria asks, poking your shoulder.
  220. >You merely point forward.
  221. >Three pairs of eyes widen as your Uncle waves back from one of the cars of the Ferris Wheel, Celestia sitting suspiciously close to him as the ride lights up in preparation for movement.
  222. “Oh it’s on, bitch,” you hiss, popping your knuckles against your palm.
  223. >Come Hell or high water, the right side of the bed is yours, and it’s going to stay that way.
  224. <><><>
  225. >”Oh, I haven’t had the chance to go up in one of these since I was a girl!” Celestia cheers as you climb up into one of the open cars of the Ferris Wheel.
  226. “Your carriage awaits, Madame,” you gush in your stupidest butler voice possible as you offer one hand.
  227. >”Most gracious of you, sir,” she returns with an accent of her own, giggling as she slips her fingers between yours and gingerly steps in.
  228. “Oh good, they showed up in time,” you mutter to yourself as you glance the girls coming back out of the corner of your eye, waving half-mindedly at them.
  229. >”Why are they running? I hope nothing’s wrong,” Celestia says as she cranes her head over your shoulder, her torso pressing against your side.
  230. >You’re suddenly aware of the heady scent of lilac coming from the collar of her dress.
  231. >”What are they-“
  232. >”COME ON, GIRLS!” you hear Sonata shout as she jumps, her sisters following her as three bodies fly into the car, Sonata barreling into your chest shoulder-first as the other two stick their landings.
  233. >”Made it...” the youngest pants with a wide grin, sweat pouring down her forehead.
  234. >”I told you to slow down,” Aria mutters as she plops down beside you in the spot Celestia occupied before she scooted over to dodge the incoming teenagers.
  235. >”Umm...there’s only four seats in this...” Celestia pipes up from the other side, nervously taking a step towards your left side before Adagio crashes down into it with a yawn.
  236. >”You don’t mind, do you Uncle No-nny?” Sonata croons, swinging her legs over your thighs and giving you her best puppy eyes.
  237. “I guess,” you shrug, Sonata humming and wrapping her arms around your neck as she scoots up further on you.
  238. >With a jolt, the contraption springs to life, the car door sliding closed with a loud click as you begin to ascend.
  239. “So Celestia, do you enjoy working in the school system?” you say in an attempt to restart conversation.
  240. >”I can’t say it’s leisurely by any stretch, but it’s always rewarding work,” she replies, idly twirling one strand of hair over her chest. “It’s exciting to see a future generation grow and mature.”
  241. >”Yeah, that kind of thing really puts things into perspective for you,” Adagio interjects. “Anyway, how’s your sex life?”
  242. >The slight screech of the Ferris Wheel stopping to load more passengers is the only sound for the next few seconds.
  243. >You can feel the blood in your veins stop moving as you stare at her in mortified shock, before Celestia bursts into laughter, a hand to her mouth.
  244. >”What? Just trying to break the ice,” Adagio says, answering your embarrassed blush with a look of indifference as she slings your arm over her shoulders and nuzzles into your side with a sigh.
  245. >”Hey, don’t look at me, big guy,” Sonata chimes as you look to her for backup. “I’m just here for the ride.”
  246. >”Oh my!” Celestia finally ekes out past her ebbing giggling. “I can’t say a student’s ever asked me that before.”
  247. >”I mean hey, I can’t think of any other reason to cake all that eyeliner on, sister,” Adagio snarks.
  248. >You plant your forehead firmly in your free hand and groan.
  249. >”And I suppose those painted toenails are for health reasons, hmm?” the older woman fires back.
  250. >You look between your fingers to see the two glaring with smirks at each other as the ride starts moving again.
  251. “This is karma for bullying the tabletop club back in middle school, isn’t it?” you murmur into your hand.
  252. >Three of the girls chuckle at your beet-red face before a whimper gets your attention.
  253. “Aria?”
  254. >You turn your head to see the middle child clenching her hands in a white-knuckled grip, eyes screwed shut.
  255. “What’s the matter, hon?” you softly say, sliding Sonata off your lap with one hand and shifting yourself to face left.
  256. >”I just... I didn’t realize how high we would be going,” she stammers through clenched teeth.
  257. “It’s alright, sweet pea,” you croon. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. We’re already halfway through.”
  258. >Abruptly, Aria flips herself over onto you from her seat, head tucked just under your chin as her small hands press into your chest.
  259. >”I know, but...” she trails off.
  260. >The instinctual part of you whirs to life as you embrace her without a word, kissing the top of her head softly as one hand rubs her back.
  261. >You see Celestia sporting an equal look of concern as she moves beside you, offering what comfort she can.
  262. >What you can’t see, however, is the wink the pigtailed girl gives her sisters.
  263. —-
  264. >”Well, that was exciting,” Sonata chirps as the lot of you exit the cab, Aria monopolizing your right forearm as she clings to you.
  265. >”Yea, it was alright,” Adagio mutters. “Shame we had a fifth wheel.”
  266. >”Indeed,” Celestia says as all of you begin to file out into the now bustling thoroughfare. “Oh, Anon, I think I left my plush on the ride! Could you be a dear and get it for me, please?”
  267. “On it, boss woman,” you reply, lifting your arm out of your niece’s grip and turning back towards the wheel.
  268. >”Oh, you three are certainly persistent, aren’t you?” she says the moment you’re out of earshot.
  269. >”Watcha mean-“ Sonata starts.
  270. >”I know what you’re doing, and it’s not gonna work,” Celestia cuts her off. “It’s so sweet that you’re concerned about him like this, but you don’t understand what he needs.”
  271. >”Oh, really now?” Adagio barks, hands firmly on her cocked hips.
  272. >”Really. Oh, but you were so cute with your little episode!” she gushes, pinching Aria’s cheek. “Shaking like a little-“
  273. >Her voice dies in her throat as Aria’s hand locks around hers in a vicegrip, breathing heavily through her nose as she stares the other woman down.
  274. >”Don’t. Touch. Me.” she growls, tossing the offending appendage away from her.
  275. “Alright, I hate to cut this shindig short, but I need to swing by Walton’s and make sure the girls have all their school supplies,” you say as you return, curious as to why Celestia’s holding her hand.
  276. >”Oh, don’t worry. I understand,” she responds with a tiny smile. “We’ve all got a lot to at this time of-“
  277. >”Oh SIIIISSYYYY!”
  278. >All of you turn around to see Luna grinning like she’s just told a dirty joke, walking with a slight stagger towards her sister with an empty red bottle in her hand.
  279. >”Luna?” Celestia gasps as she barely catches her sister before she falls over. “What’s wrong with you?”
  280. >”Theh... they told me to lighten up, so I did!” she laughs, the heavy odor of vodka reaching your nose from almost a meter away. “You really oughta try one of these, Sunbutt!”
  281. >Celestia yelps as her sister gives her a sharp smack on the rear, shrieking in laughter as the elder sister brings her hands to her bottom.
  282. >”And yooouuuu, brickhouse,” she swoons, falling against your side. “You’re a bit pudgy, but mmmm... wanna see why they called me Loony back in college?”
  283. >Sweet merciful Christ what a down-blouse angle-
  284. >You forcibly separate the two of you before she can begin pawing at your clothes, spitting out a polite goodbye to your boss and tossing her the plush.
  285. >Your mind manages to piece itself back together as you reach the car, Adagio handing the electronic lock back to you.
  286. —-
  287. “Okay Dagi, would you like to tell me what in the HELL convinced you that little stunt you pulled was a good idea?” you say as the girls close the door behind you.
  288. >”What? It was funny,” she nonchalantly replies, examining her nails. “And she really was trying too hard.”
  289. “Funny or not, she’s my boss! Do you not understand that I can’t keep all of you fed off of being an at-home desk jockey?”
  290. >”You were doing just fine for the last six weeks,” she grumbles, crossing her arms.
  291. >You grit your teeth.
  292. “That’s where you’re wrong, Dagi. I’ve been slowly bleeding my savings keeping all of this together long enough.”
  293. >”Do you really think she’d cut you loose because of us?”
  294. “That’s a risk I can’t afford for your sake. Or are you telling me you’re okay with one meal a day?”
  295. >You turn around to see her glaring at you harshly.
  296. >”I’ve done it before,” she slowly says, a hard edge in her voice, “And I can do it again.”
  297. “Oh, don’t get dramatic with me-“
  298. >”Don’t you DARE!” she yells. “You wouldn’t know starving if it punched you in the mouth!”
  299. “And you wouldn’t know about being a parent if it-“
  300. >”I KNOW IT BETTER THAN YOU EVER COULD!”
  301. “HOW?!”
  302. >”BECAUSE I’VE HAD TO BE ONE FOR THE PAST EIGHT FUCKING YEARS!”
  303. >The room falls silent, the nerve you touched still stinging as Adagio stares you down with flared nostrils and bared teeth.
  304. >”...Please stop fighting...”
  305. >All of you turn to Aria, nervously looking at you as best she can around your headrest.
  306. >”Nothing good ever happens when we start yelling...” she whispers, looking back at you, fear threatening to spill out from her eyes at any moment.
  307. >Your brain turns off higher thought as you and Adagio drop your arguing, holding the middle child gently as you mutter swift apologies to her.
  308. >After a painful handful of seconds, she calms down, and you and Adagio meet gazes again.
  309. >”Look, I’m sorry,” she begins. “I crossed a line, didn’t realize what consequences could come of it.”
  310. >You merely extend one arm, tucking the other girl to your side and stroking her shoulder.
  311. “No television, games or computer access until school starts,” you say, your throat feeling as though lined with lead. “Am I clear?”
  312. >She nods against your chest.
  313. “Good. Sonata, please get the bags out of the back of the car. Aria, help her. That paper case is heavy.”
  314. >As the younger two walk out the front door, Adagio tries to pull herself away, only for you to bring your other arm around and double down on the embrace.
  315. >”H-Hey! What’s-“
  316. “Please, do not scare me like that again. I love you too much to not worry like this,” you interrupt. “I don’t want to think of what would happen if I couldn’t balance the checkbook at the end of the month.”
  317. >You softly leave a kiss on her forehead as you release her.
  318. “Now come on, I could use my favorite sous chef to help with lunch.”
  319. >Both of you manage a small smile before heading to the kitchen, your mind slowly coming to rest from the dervish of unease that had kicked up a few hours earlier.
  320. >They’re a handful, alright.
  321. >But that’s why they matter.
  322. ===================
  323. >5:00 AM.
  324. >The bud nestled in your left ear pulls you back into the world with an obnoxious blaring, your hand clumsily floundering upon be nightstand before turning your phone alarm off.
  325. >You pop your neck and slowly rise up, sliding Sonata off of you and stifling a giggle at her still-sleeping whine, pawing at your warm bedsheets.
  326. >You can’t blame her, not at this ungodly hour.
  327. >But your flair for the dramatic was more important than sleep.
  328. >You yank open your nightstand drawer and grab a small, rectangular box, tucking it into your waistband before throwing on a plain white tee.
  329. >Tiptoeing out of the room, your nose catches the scent flowing down the hallway.
  330. >Rich, bitter, and quite familiar.
  331. >”Mmmmmeehhh,” is the only greeting Adagio gives you as you enter the kitchen, fully dressed and clasping a mug of coffee in both hands.
  332. “Well, good morning to you too,” you snark, grabbing the carafe off the burner and pouring yourself a helping of liquid energy. “What stirred you out of bed?”
  333. >”Could ask you the same thing,” she replies, standing up from the table.
  334. “Well, I’ve got priority on account of me having bills.”
  335. >She rolls her eyes and leans on the counter, brushing stray curls from her eyes.
  336. >”It’s...”
  337. “Feel like you’re dreaming again?”
  338. >She looks up from her mug at you in surprise before sighing, letting her shoulders uncoil.
  339. >”How did you know?”
  340. “You never make eye contact when you’re self-conscious,” you say, wrapping an arm around her. “It’s an unfortunate habit of yours.”
  341. >”I guess you have been paying attention,” she mutters, setting her mug down. “But that still doesn’t help.”
  342. “What do you mean?”
  343. >”I mean that... we’re all just assuming this’ll all work they way we want it to. What if we go back to school and can’t readjust? What if you get fired for some reason and we go broke? What if you can’t afford to keep us here, what if she-“
  344. >You cut her off in an almost painful embrace, her trembling halting in the wake of the sudden contact.
  345. >She weakly tries to pull away from you before conceding and leaning back into you, arms reluctantly circling your lower back.
  346. “You let me handle all of that,” you murmur.
  347. >”I just don’t understand,” she says, one cheek pressed against your chest. “How can you not be worried?”
  348. “I worry every single day.”
  349. >She looks up at you, dumbfounded.
  350. “How could I not be? I have three beautiful young women in my life that I care for dearly. I’ve spent the last fifty nights with lingering doubts in my head as I go to sleep. But I can’t let those get in the way, can I?”
  351. >You take her open-mouthed expression as permission to continue.
  352. “If I spend all my time worrying about what could happen, I’d never have time to focus on what is happening,” you press on. “And then, all those terrible things are guaranteed to come. And I can’t let that happen, now can I?”
  353. >You ruffle her hair hard enough that it snaps her out of her stupor, blushing as you release her.
  354. >”...Thanks. I guess I got trapped in my own head,” she squeaks out after a moment.
  355. >The dull gleam to her gaze gives you the feeling she still is.
  356. “Come on. I want to show you something,” you say, gesturing for her to follow as you head for the bathroom.
  357. >Flicking the light on, you move over as she enters behind you, a quizzical expression on her face.
  358. “Just stand here and keep your eyes closed,” you say, centering her by the shoulders to face the mirror fully.
  359. >She opens her mouth to question you, but shrugs and complies, taking a deep breath.
  360. >You take the box from your side and silently slide off the lid, gingerly handling the contents as you fasten the fabric snugly.
  361. “Open up.”
  362. >Your whispered words hang in the air as she opens her eyes and gasps in shock, robbed of her voice as her fingers trace the contour of the silk choker against her neck.
  363. “Real topaz on silver backing. Managed to talk a pawn shop dealer into giving me a steal for them,” you say, holding up the two identical pieces of jewelry still in the case.
  364. >”...It’s beautiful...” she breathes, enamored in her examination of the pendant.
  365. “You’re beautiful,” you correct her with a hug, forearms encircling her abdomen. “I wanted to give them all at once, but you looked like you needed something to be happy about.”
  366. >”Where did you get the money for this?” she asks, turning the stone and marveling at the reflection in the cold florescent light.
  367. “Hyun’s a bad gambler,” you laugh, squeezing her softly for a few seconds as she finally stops playing with her gift.
  368. >You stop laughing at your own joke as a choked noise comes from Adagio, her eyes rapidly filling with moisture as the trembling returns.
  369. >”Why?” she manages to croak out, turning around to look at you directly. “What’s the reason for this?”
  370. >Your heart tightens in pain at her face, slender features contorted with barely restrained emotions.
  371. “I love you, Adagio,” you softly say. “If it makes you happy, then I don’t need a reason other than that.”
  372. >The air is suddenly forced from your lungs all at once as she slings her arms around you, letting go and bawling into your shoulder freely, clutching fistfuls of the back of your shirt.
  373. “Ssshhh,” you croon, rubbing her back tenderly. “There’s no need for crying. Not today.”
  374. >Your words go ignored as she continues blubbering and shuddering, cheeks almost soaked as the strength leaves her legs, anchoring herself to you as you slowly bring the two of you to rest on the bathroom floor.
  375. >”Nobody’s ever... nobody... ever...” she struggles to say before collapsing back into hysterics.
  376. >You surrender and let her ride out the wave for a few more minutes, whispering what words of comfort you can, until her breathing starts to even out.
  377. “You feeling better?” you ask as she sniffs, trying her best not to get snot on your shirt.
  378. >She merely nods.
  379. >”Uh, you two okay?”
  380. >You snap your vision to your right to see the other girls standing in the bathroom doorway, Aria poking her head out from behind Sonata in curiosity.
  381. “Yeah girls, we’re fine. Go ahead and get your outfits picked out for the day. We’ll be out of here in a moment.”
  382. >As her younger sisters shrug and walk away, Adagio finally removes her head from your chest to look at you.
  383. >”Uncle Anon?”
  384. “Yeah, hon?”
  385. >”...I love you too,” she mutters, misty eyes clearing as a small smile finds its’ way into her face.
  386. >It takes all your self-control not to hug the daylights out of her right then and there, opting for a mere kiss on her forehead.
  387. “Come on. We’ve all got a big day ahead of us.”
  388. —-
  389. >Morning sunlight obscures the left corner of your vision as you carefully pull into the faculty lot of Canterlot High, mumbling curses at your too-short sun visor.
  390. >You take a deep, long breath to steel yourself, shaky hands removing your keys from the ignition as you watch students pour in from the buses, each lined up to the curb and moving the moment they’re empty.
  391. “Hold up, Sonata,” you say, the girl in question already reaching for the door handle. “I’ve one more thing to take care of.”
  392. >You reach over to the empty passenger side and open the glove compartment, pulling out three small objects one at a time as the girls look on in confusion.
  393. “I forgot to get these out of the car last night, but they should still be mostly charged,” you continue as you pass out the three blue cellphones, straining your neck to look your charges dead in the eye. “You’ve got unlimited talk and text, and I’ve taken the liberty of adding some contacts for you.”
  394. >The girls remain silent as you exit the sedan, popping the trunk open and grabbing their schoolbags as they slowly follow you.
  395. “I’ll have a talk with the teachers today about remedial classes since you got pulled out of last year early, but just try to pay attention as best you can, okay? I know this’ll be tough, but I’ll do what I can.”
  396. >The trio looks up at you from their gawking at their new technology, Sonata having already discovered the slide-out keyboard and typing away.
  397. >”I, ummm...” Aria stammers.
  398. >”She means thank you,” Sonata cuts in with a snicker. “And I do, too.”
  399. “You’re welcome,” you reply, accepting the bubbly girl’s hug as the breakfast bell rings. “Now go and get something in you before class starts.”
  400. >Sonata doesn’t budge, and your other side is suddenly occupied by the middle child, eyes screwed shut as she presses herself into you.
  401. >”I love you, Uncle Anon,” she meeps, stepping away immediately after with a blush.
  402. “I love you too, hon.”
  403. >With a kiss on each cheek, you send the three off, leaning against your car and sipping from your thermos as you take in the morning air.
  404. >”Aren’t you all just adorable together?”
  405. “Don’t you have a horny wife to attend to?” you quip back as Shining walks up beside you, his pitch-black uniform seeming to swallow the sunlight.
  406. >”How did you-“
  407. “Cologne does not absolve all sins, lover boy,” you cut him off with a long, condescending draught of your coffee. “I could smell the stink from five yards away.”
  408. >”I knew I should’ve changed shirts,” he scolds himself, frantically examining himself for any other signs of his wife’s advances.
  409. >”So, how’s it feel? Taking all these steps, I mean,” he awkwardly asks once through with his grooming spat.
  410. “Gonna have to narrow that one down for me, big chief.”
  411. >”Well, I have no idea how the hell you can deal with having three teenage girls to take care of out of nowhere so calmly. I’m still not used to the whole parenting idea, and I’ve had two years to think about it. How can you just stand here and watch them walk away like nothing’s wrong?”
  412. >You finish off your coffee and sigh through your nose, tucking your thumbs into your belt loops.
  413. “Not very good at small talk, are you?”
  414. >”Do you have a smartass answer for everything?”
  415. “Yes. As for your other question, you want the happy answer or the honest answer?”
  416. >”Lying to me’s a misdemeanor, so...”
  417. “Fair point,” you concede, standing straight and locking your car with a button press.
  418. “I could lock them up if I wanted to, Shining.”
  419. >”Come again?”
  420. “I could fill out the forms and buy the special textbooks, and keep them cooped up in the house every day of the week. But that’s no fair to them.”
  421. >You join his slow stroll up the parking lot sidewalk to the main building, the morning sun’s rays splintering into shadows through the treeline.
  422. “I can’t let myself be selfish,” you continue. “This isn’t a prize-winning dog or a tricked-out muscle car we’re talking about. They’re young women trying to find their way in the world, and the only thing taking them away from the world will accomplish is taking their future away as well. So I put the rat back in his cage and let him squeal ‘till he’s hoarse,
  423. >”The rat?” Shining asks as you step through the propped doorway into the gym.
  424. “Oh, sorry. Little metaphor my neighbor made up back in my college days when I was panicking over my major.”
  425. >”Makes sense, I guess,” he mutters. “But aren’t you scared they’ll get hurt?”
  426. “Of course I am. But that’s not going to change anytime soon, school or not,” you respond as you enter your front office, Luna’s voice filling the area with one half of a rather heated phone conversation.
  427. >”You’ve thought about this a lot, haven’t you?”
  428. “At least once an hour, pretty boy. But I’d be lying if I said I haven’t enjoyed these last two months. I can’t help but feel a little proud of them, really.”
  429. >A small smirk forms on your face as you log in to your office terminal.
  430. “Well, I’ve got seven different registries to organize, and you’ve probably got a fight in the cafeteria to break up.”
  431. >He nods with an eye roll and exits with a brisk pace, one hand reaching for the shortwave radio on his belt and flicking on an AM station.
  432. “Oi!” you call back. “Feel like a little wager?”
  433. >”Gambling with three mouths to feed? How shameful,” he quips.
  434. “Romans 2:1-16, Mother Superior,” you fire back. “Fifty bucks says Celestia cans a kid by the end of the day.”
  435. >”You’re on,” he says over his shoulder as he strolls away.
  436. As you open your email and wait for the triple-digit levels of unread messages to load, you sigh through your nose.
  437. >You’re gonna need more coffee.
  438. —-
  439. >Like mildewed water dripping from a pipe, the morning tedium has set in at a steady pace, your cramped environment’s lack of AC forcing your first shirt off and leaving you in a cerulean spandex undershirt.
  440. >Even by the tight-fitting standards of exercise tops, it barely fits you, your upper arms pushing the fabric to its limit.
  441. >As you put your desk phone back on the receiver for the seventh time in the past 30 minutes, you push yourself back in your chair and stand with an echoing pop from your knees.
  442. “Hey Luna, how much time do we get for chow?” you yell behind you down the narrow hallway connecting the administrative offices.
  443. >”40 minutes!” she hollers back. “Don’t worry, Candy’s bringing takeout in!”
  444. >You shrug and plop back down, whipping out your phone and staring into the picture of the girls you’d set as your background.
  445. >Your pulse quickens for a minute as a thousand questions flicker through the forefront of your mind, before the distinctive click of the front office door opening rips you back to your surroundings, blinking and furiously shaking your head.
  446. >”Anon, do you have a moment?” Celestia asks, one brow cocked at your state of mild undress.
  447. “Y-Yeah,” you spit out. “What’s up? Something about the girls?”
  448. >”I’m afraid so,” she says after a second, crossing her arms with a silent sigh. “We’re not going to be able to offer remedial classes after school. They’ll have to come in on Saturdays with the rest.”
  449. “Couldn’t pin down any of the staff, huh?” you reply, leaning back. “Can’t really say I’m surprised. Girls won’t be happy about it, but there’s not much we can do.”
  450. >”Well...” she shrugs, “there is another option.”
  451. “Hmmm?”
  452. >”You. All of the actual classwork is administered via an online portal. You just need to be there so the exams can be given properly and to supervise. You’ll be compensated for the time, of course.”
  453. “...Yeah, I do like money,” you think aloud, hands behind your head. “Sign me up, boss woman.”
  454. >”Great! I’ll print out the needed paperwork,” she replies. “They should be able to start by Thursday if they’re ready.”
  455. >You nod and stand again, the scent of Chinese compelling you to follow Cadance as she steps behind her superior with two absolutely monstrous bags.
  456. “Here,” you grunt, taking one of the parcels from the wobbling woman.
  457. >She hurriedly mutters a word of thanks as she stabilizes herself, a now-free hand flying out to the wall for support.
  458. “What made you think heels like that were a good idea on carpet?” you ask as you traverse the narrow, winding corridor to the staff breakroom, setting the bags down on the plastic card table in the middle.
  459. >”Oh, it’s a lady thing, Anon. You wouldn’t understand,” she replies with a flick of her hand, brushing stray strands of hair from her face.
  460. “I mean, you already bagged the guy. No need to keep up appearances, you know?”
  461. >She smirks and rolls her eyes as Luna and Celestia join you, rummaging through the cabinets for paper plates.
  462. <><><>
  463. >Your heart still hasn’t stopped pounding.
  464. >Possessed, your subconscious wills your hands back to the pristine jewel resting against your collarbone as you slowly stand, your schoolbag limply leaning against the leg of the desk as the bell rings for lunch.
  465. >The silk band brushes and shifts against your neck, the spots where his fingers were slight with numb sparks of sensation.
  466. >You can still smell his aftershave, your head swimming in the aroma of mint and the faint musk of sweat.
  467. >”Uhh, Dagi? You okay?” Sonata prods with a finger against your shoulder, pulling you up from the water of your jumbled thoughts.
  468. “Uhm, y-yeah,” you stammer, fingers still fiddling with your choker.
  469. >”You sure don’t look it,” she replies, hoisting her bag onto her back. “You’ve been staring at the wall for the past twenty minutes.”
  470. “I, uhh...”
  471. >”Is the choker uncomfortable? Aria asks as she walks up behind you. I can get it off if you want-“
  472. “NO!” you spit out in a hushed tone. “I-I’m fine! I just need to get some air or something, okay?”
  473. >Your sisters look at each other and exchange a shrug before following you out of the classroom, following the last-minute directions that had been scrawled out on posterboard and taped to the walls to the cafeteria.
  474. >The cascading cacophony of hundreds of voices comes within earshot, and Aria stops in her tracks, her shoes squealing as they grind against the tiling.
  475. “What’s wrong?” you ask, your left hand finally leaving your neck to rest on her shoulder.
  476. >”I... I’m not hungry,” she murmurs, eyes away from you and examining her notebook.
  477. >Your brow furrows at the signs you know all too well forming in your little sister’s body language, and you grab her by the hand and turn around, Aria grunting in protest.
  478. “Come on. We’ll see if Uncle Anon can let us eat in his office.”
  479. >You’ll be damned if you let her lock up again on her first day.
  480. ...And he’s probably a better conversation partner, right?
  481. <><><>
  482. >”Anonymous, if I may inquire, why are you wearing such... athletic attire? You were in proper dress code this morning,” Luna pipes up as the lot of you form an impromptu queue, circling the table with forks and loading your plates.
  483. “It was either strip or pit out my overshirt,” you respond. “Not very professional-looking when you’ve got underarm sweat running down your sides.”
  484. >”Might want to move up a size, tubby,” Cadance teases, poking your slight paunch with her fork.
  485. “Mhmm, real astute of you, kettle,” you dryly say. “Does THIS look tubby to you?”
  486. >You bring your left arm up, your dominant hand occupied with twirling lo mein around a fork, and flex, knotting your fist tight.
  487. >”...No, no it doesn’t,” Luna murmurs, reaching over and lightly grasping your forearm, both hands barley able to completely encircle it. “Good Lord, what do you EAT?”
  488. “1500 push-ups and squats a week, and a lot of chicken,” you boast with a smug smile whilst swallowing. “I don’t have the space for real workout equipment, though. I was considering it, but then-“
  489. >The front office door’s ringing pulls all your attention behind you as a multitude of footsteps announce themselves, your nieces traipsing into view from the hallway.
  490. >”Speak of the devil,” you hear Celestia mutter under her breath.
  491. “What’s up?” you greet through a mouthful of bourbon chicken. “Need something?”
  492. >Aria ticks her head down a bit before Adagio pushes her forward with a nudge of her shoulder.
  493. >”Umm, I-I was just wondering if w-we could eat in here? It’s really loud outside,” she struggles to speak, hands half-balled and grasping the hem of her shirt.
  494. >The look Adagio gives you tells you all you need to know as you get up from your seat and motion for her to take it, turning towards Celestia with a challenging stare.
  495. >”I don’t see the harm in it,” she says, cold apathy in her voice as she stands. “Cadance, could you call the cafeteria and have them bag three lunches?”
  496. >”Nonsense! I got more than enough for us, I don’t see why they can’t have some,” the counselor replies with a wave of her hand. “Dinnerware’s on the counter girls. Help yourselves!”
  497. >”So what about equipment?” Luna asks as the girls grab and load plates of their own, the older women in the room bunching into a huddle on the other side of the table to make room.
  498. “I was thinking about getting some, but I had to knock down a wall upstairs to renovate into their room,” you continue. “I might still be able to find space for a treadmill.”
  499. >”Upstairs?” Luna interrupts.
  500. “Uhh, yeah? What’s that supposed to mean?”
  501. >”O-Oh, nothing! I just didn’t expect anyone so young to have a home that large.”
  502. “We’re the same bloody age!” you reply in exasperation. “If you must know, my grandfather signed it over to me when I turned nineteen.”
  503. >”I’ve never heard of that happening before,” Celestia chimes in.
  504. “He ran the numbers and figured out the estate tax would be more expensive than the fees for transferring land ownership,” you explain as Adagio and Aria plop down on either side of you very closely. “He’s somehow still alive and out on a boat down in Tallahassee. Probably fishing right now.”
  505. >”Wait, really?” Sonata butts in. “Why weren’t we told about this?”
  506. “I dunno. I can call him tonight if you wanna talk.”
  507. >”Well, at least your workouts explain the grunting noises out of your bedroom,” Adagio says, wiping her lips.
  508. “What did you think was going on?”
  509. >”I just assumed you were whacking it,” she nonchalantly responds as she reaches for the pepper.
  510. >Your coworkers erupt in laughter as you choke on your rice, gagging in shock as your face flushes in mortification.
  511. >”Don’t go dying on me, you dolt,” she complains, standing up with you and thumping you on the back twice, dislodging the wad of grain from your windpipe.
  512. “I... just... oh, forget it,” you blurt, plopping back down in your seat.
  513. >”Hey, I’m not the one who whacks it with the door open.”
  514. “You be quiet!”
  515. >Your blush fails to recede for the next fifteen minutes as the lot of you polish off the takeout, Sonata and Cadance chatting about baby names in a nonstop back and forth until the lunch bell rings.
  516. “Alright, scurry your butts back to the gulags,” you say with a wave of your hand as you slip your button-up back on, you and the girls stepping out of the office.
  517. >”Uhm, Uncle Anon?”
  518. >You whip your head over to see Aria looking at you with misty eyes.
  519. >”T-Thank you,” she mutters with a blush.
  520. “Aw, it’s no problem, sweetie,” you gush as you snap her up in a hug. “I know this is hard for you girls.”
  521. >”Hugs!” Sonata chirps, gluing herself to your other side and giggling like an idiot.
  522. >All three of you look at Adagio expectantly, the oldest child crossing her arms.
  523. >We’re in public, Uncle Anon,” she protests with an impatient glare.
  524. “Yes, and?”
  525. >The other two separate themselves from you as you hold your arms out.
  526. >She says nothing, but hastily looks away while acquiescing, huffing and squeezing you tightly as you chuckle.
  527. >You catch Luna smiling warmly at your little procession from across the landing joining the cafeteria to the hallways, Cadance blathering on about something in her ear.
  528. “Alright, let go,” you pry, the recent influx of body heat starting to make you sweat.
  529. >”...Don’ wanna,” she mumbles into your chest. “It’s too cold in the classrooms.”
  530. >Sonata nods in agreement, her mouth occupied with a fresh stick of gum.
  531. “Aria, go get my bag out of my office,” you order, the middle child peeking up and scurrying back into the administration rooms, emerging a minute later with your messenger bag.
  532. “I packed this away in case of rain,” you say you pull out a thin, waterproof athletic jacket. “It’s a bit big for you, but it’ll work for now.”
  533. >Adagio pulls herself away long enough to take off her schoolbag, following your lead as you help her slip into the dark grey garment.
  534. “Better?”
  535. >Adagio ignores you at first, looking over herself as the sleeves hand over her hands, before giving you a small nod and humming in approval.
  536. “Good. Now go. I love you,” you gently say, kissing her on the cheek.
  537. >You grunt in surprise as she grabs your shoulder and keeps you bent over, kissing your cheek lightly in return.
  538. “I love you too.”
  539. >”Me next!”
  540. >All of you share a giggle at Sonata’s exuberance as you send them off, sighing as you man your battlestation and fire your terminal back up for the rest of the day.
  541. >”Hey Anon, you seen Candy anywhere?” Shining asks as he walks up behind you from the back offices.
  542. “Uh, yeah actually, she-“
  543. >GOD DAMNIT!”
  544. >The both of you jump as Celestia barges between the two of you and flings the door open.
  545. >”Not ONE day and some idiot’s peddling cigarettes in the bathroom!” she yells as she storms towards the stairwell.
  546. >You and Shining share a look of shock before the gears in your head click, and a wide smile comes across your face.
  547. “Pay up.”
  548. —-
  549. “Oh, good Lord what a day,” you groan as you stretch yourself out on the couch, your shoes by the edge of the furniture as you flick on the television. “Hey Aria, you down for some Kekken?”
  550. >The girl in question pops her head out from behind the textbook she’d been immersed in.
  551. >”Are you sure, Uncle Anon? I thought you’d want us to be studying because of the makeup classes,” she replies quizzically.
  552. “Ah, don’t worry about it. I’m gonna be the one handling that anyways,” you shrug, pulling open the coffee table drawer and grabbing a spare controller.
  553. >”What do you mean?” Sonata butts in, walking past the two of you to the door and grabbing the schoolbag she’d left there.
  554. “Had to talk it over with the boss woman, but starting next week I’ll be the assistant for your remedial classes,” you continue. “Apparently all of this is done online now, so I’ve just gotta supervise and help with questions sometimes. I get 1.2 times weekly salary divided by 40 per hour for it, so I’m not complaining.”
  555. >”Huh. ‘Kay,” she responds as your oven timer goes off in the kitchen.
  556. “I’ll get that. Sonata, go get your sister,” you say as you hop up off the couch. “And you stay right where you are, missy. I need a practice partner or I’m gonna get hosed online.”
  557. >Aria rolls her eyes and returns to her book as you slip on your sandals.
  558. As you pull an oven mitt on and open the door to the sight of mouthwatering potato casserole, you can’t help but think that things are looking up.
  559. <><><>
  560. “Damnit...”
  561. >Your voice is cracked and husky as you fall back against your bed, your top and skirt cast aside, letting your skin tingle at the touch of the air.
  562. >The tips of your fingers feel incredible as you run your hands along your flat abdomen, vivid memories of today flashing through your head as you reach lower.
  563. >You pull the covers over yourself as one hand slips down under the waistband of your underwear, brushing against your throbbing sex.
  564. >You try to pull your mind elsewhere, but the still-present remnants of his touch force themselves into your focus, heart hammering beneath your sternum.
  565. >A single digit enters, followed by another, and you moan.
  566. >You’re still wrapped up in his jacket.
  567. >The rich scent of him floods your head and pulls you deeper, your hands working faster as you succumb to the sensation, bucking and arching your back.
  568. >You’re there in what feels like no time, biting the fabric of the comforter as you soak your palm, playing with one pert nipple idly as you collapse and writhe upon the mattress, your vision white and spotty.
  569. >As your breathing finally steadies for the first time since this morning, you see his face in the mirror of your imagination, wearing the same faint, patient smile that manages to calm you down.
  570. “What is wrong with me?”
  571. >”Dagi?”
  572. >You shriek and jump up, yanking the covers almost over your head in surprise at your littlest sister poking her head inside.
  573. >”...Dinner’s ready,” she says with a perturbed expression before walking away. “Don’t know what the hell bit her on the ass...”
  574. >You deflate like a slashed tire and let your head lay against the headboard with a sigh.
  575. “Oh, this is bad...”
  576. =====================
  577. “WAKE UP!”
  578. [spoiler] GRAB A BRUSH AND PUT A LITTLE MAKEUP [/spoiler]
  579. >You and Adagio guffaw at the piercing shriek Sonata lets out as she jumps off the couch, tripping over her schoolbag and grabbing her coffee table to steady herself.
  580. >”No! Help! Petro-Chico is after my chicharrones-“ she babbles before the rest of her brain kicks on, eyes frantically scanning her surroundings, the rays of a Wednesday sunrise streaking through the windowshades.
  581. “Have a good power nap?” you quip. “I told you staying up late was a bad idea.”
  582. >”Jerk!” she snarls at you, slapping your chest and hissing as she clutches her now-stinging hand. “Dammit, how are you this solid?”
  583. “All the fat’s about six inches lower,” you reply. “Now come on, even Dagi got ready faster than you.”
  584. >”What’s that supposed to mean?” the girl in question asks from beside you.
  585. “You know exactly what it means,” you say. “Everybody in the car! You’ve got a big day ahead of you!”
  586. >Aria follows behind you as you open the front door, shrugging at her younger sister’s frustration.
  587. >”Stupid Kekken,” she mutters under her breath.”
  588. “Did I stutter?” you yell back from the porch, arms crossed and one foot impatiently tapping as the ponytailed girl eeps and dashes out the door.
  589. “If I have to pull her to bed by the ear, I will,” you grumble to yourself as the eldest sister locks and closes the front door behind her, a heavy odor of your shampoo filling your nose as she joins you. “I understand your frustration, Dagi.”
  590. >Your words are swiftly ignored as she hugs you, standing on the tiptoes of her flats to quickly kiss you on the cheek.
  591. >”Have a good day at work, Uncle Anon,” she softly says. “I love you.”
  592. “Aww, look at you being all soft,” you gush, returning the gesture with a peck to the forehead. “Love you too, sweetie.”
  593. >”Get a room!” Sonata calls from the car.
  594. “Oh what, you wanna share your bed heater?” you snap back, a knowing look on your face as she slips back in and closes the back driver door as you pull out your keys.
  595. “Little brat... come on Dagi, traffic’s not getting any lighter.”
  596. <><><>
  597. >Nope, last week definitely wasn’t a fluke.
  598. >You try your best to steady your breathing as you seat yourself, the homeroom bell ringing sharply as students traipse the hallway, bumping and bustling every way but up as they scramble.
  599. >These phantom feelings - his hand on your shoulder, your lips on his cheek- send exhilarating sparks down your spine.
  600. >”Uh, you okay?” Sonata asks as she opens up he binder next to you. “You’ve been a lot less bold and brash than usual this week.”
  601. “...Just caught up in schoolwork,” you lie through your teeth.
  602. ‘You’re not brash,’ you think to yourself.
  603. >Just to-the-point.
  604. >You close your eyes and force your mind to clear itself, hands clenched in concentration as your heartbeat finally slows and evens out.
  605. >You open up your schoolbag and swear.
  606. “Aria, got a pencil?” you ask as you rummage through, grabbing your notebook and pulling out your uncle’s athletic jacket with one hand, blinking in surprise.
  607. >You don’t remember packing that.
  608. >”You still have that?” Aria responds as she hands you a pen. “It’s not THAT cold in here, is it?”
  609. “Y-Yes!” you blurt, setting the writing device down and immediately knocking it off your desk as you swing the overwear around your shoulders, arms easily sliding in.
  610. >Both of your sisters stare at your flustering as you grab the pen up hastily before the teacher’s entrance grabs their attention.
  611. >Yours, however, is caught in the scents currently surrounding you.
  612. >Your face turns pink as your nose picks up the smell of your own heavy sweat, mixed in with hints of another’s musk and the lingering touch of cucumber.
  613. >”Adagio? Are you with us?”
  614. >With an almost dizzying speed, your eyes snap to the teacher, her own pen tapping against her clipboard expectantly as her stare bores into you.
  615. “Yes!” you half-shout, sinking in your seat.
  616. >You shudder and sigh, pressing a well-trimmed fingernail into your thigh to clear your head before focusing on the markerboard as roll call finishes.
  617. “Get it together...”
  618. >”Huh?” Aria pipes up.
  619. “Not you!”
  620. >You slide lower in your chair as snickering can be heard behind you.
  621. >It’s okay, Adagio.
  622. >Just six hours to go.
  623. —-
  624. >”You think that bit about imaginary numbers is gonna be on the test?” Sonata says as the three of you stand and stretch, other students shuffling around you to leave.
  625. “If you have to ask...”
  626. >”Good point,” Aria chimes in from behind you. “I still don’t understand the point of them, though. If it’s impossible to use in an actual equation, why do we need it?”
  627. >”Ask Uncle after classes,” Sonata responds. “We get mandatory study time, remember?”
  628. >”Yeah, I guess...”
  629. “Why are both of you so chatty today?” you hiss as you hoist your bag upon one shoulder. “Both of you were whispering the whole class!”
  630. >”Hey, not my fault you can’t focus,” your littlest sister replies as the three of you exit the classroom. “Seriously, what crawled in your bra and bit you this morning?”
  631. “Why is it always bras with you?”
  632. >”I’ll give you three guesses, mosquito-bite,” she teases, poking your side.
  633. “Quit it!”
  634. >”Loud AND annoying. How wonderful. Just what this dump needed more of, right Silver?”
  635. >All of you stop and turn left towards the source of the insult, a pair of short girls in gaudy jewelry sneering at you.
  636. “Problem, bitch?” you spit.
  637. >”Yes, actually. Could the lot of you please stop making buffoons of yourselves in class? Your wretched stench is more than enough to deal with,” the haughtier of the two drolls, her eyes dramatically rolling.
  638. >”I knew you were trash, but just looking at you is more disgusting than I expected,” the other girl follows, twirling an errant lock of hair around her finger. “How long before they’re behind bars like their mother, Tiara? Two years? Three?”
  639. >Your fingers twitch.
  640. >”And who are you, you walking chandelier?” Sonata shoots back.
  641. >”Oh, pardon my lack of manners. It seems the lot of you are a bad influence. Diamond Tiara, your absolute better,” the first girl proclaims with practiced ease, a smug smile accompanying her curtsy. “You may refer to my companion of refined tastes as Silver Spoon.”
  642. >”That explains the tacky headband,” Sonata mutters.
  643. >”As if an unwashed plebeian such as yourself could fathom proper fashion,” Tiara preens, adjusting her hairpiece.
  644. “Let’s just go,” you say, grabbing your sisters by the hand before turning around and realizing the sudden lack of space.
  645. >”I’m afraid my loyal subordinates can’t allow that,” Tiara chuckles spitefully as the three of you back away from the half-circle of girls that had crept up around you, all of them sporting looks of indifference or mild anger.
  646. “...What do you want?” you say, Aria moving close to you.
  647. >”Well, a lady like me has certain tastes that must be satisfied,” she continues. “And I’m rather afraid I’m lacking in immediate capital to do so.”
  648. “Lotta effort for a shakedown, princess,” you retort, shoulders taut as the two girls to your right shift closer.
  649. >”A what? Oh no, I’m far beyond such barbaric acts, dear. However, a little bird has informed me that you’re quite experienced in that field,” she chortles. “And they’ve also informed me that your precious mutt of an uncle seems quite well-off for his age.”
  650. >You can’t stop yourself from baring your teeth in a growl, clenched fists hidden beneath the sleeves of your jacket.
  651. >”Quite a fitting look for her, wouldn’t you say?” Spoon mocks you from the sidelines with a laugh.
  652. “What makes you think you can just demand cash from people?” you say through gritted teeth.
  653. >”Well, unlike you, Do-ggy,” she lolls, “I’m rather fond of rumors, especially pertaining to older men. Perhaps there’s some secrets in your household? How about that jacket of your covering up some bruises, or a sudden drug test after a birthday celebration turning up some nasty results?”
  654. >Your ears fill with the sound of your heartbeat as your snarl tightens, one eyelid ebbing in compulsion.
  655. >”That’s what I thought. I’m planning to have a little outing at the end of the month. I think about $200 should cover it, right girls?”
  656. >The mob around you grumbles in begrudging agreement, stepping ever closer.
  657. “If you even THINK of touching him...”
  658. >”I don’t need to, Doggy. That mutt can stroll along, happy as can be, as long as you can pay. Understand-“
  659. >The tense exchange is cut off by a loud BANG echoing through the empty hallway, a single figure standing a few meters from the gaggle.
  660. >”You’re not referring to me, are you?”
  661. <><><>
  662. >You thought today was going to be a good day.
  663. >You thought things had finally settled in, that you new job had finally given you enough stability to relax.
  664. >You were wrong.
  665. “You’re not referring to me, are you?” you lowly speak, voice dripping with venom as you approach the gussied-up girl in the middle, your hand throbbing from the sharp blow you’d given to the side of the lockers. “Because I can’t imagine a student shaking down an employee’s children in plain view.”
  666. >”Oh, so you’re the simpleton holding their leashes,” the girl scoffs as she turns to you, sauntering up to you without a speck of doubt. “I must say, you’re somehow bigger and shorter than I thought you would be.”
  667. “Is that so?” you growl. “So sorry to disappoint.”
  668. >”What, overheard our lively little discussion?” she smirks. “As if it matters. A person of your standing hardly has any clout in this place-“
  669. >Your control slips for a few precious milliseconds as your fist flies out, one of the rusted, abandoned lockers squealing in protest as your knuckles crumple the aluminum door inwards.
  670. >The gaggle of so-called muscle immediately scatters, your display of strength sending them clambering for class as the tardy bell rings.
  671. >”W-What are you-“
  672. “Oh, me? I’m just making sure nobody thinks these old things should be used,” you croon wickedly, another door caving in. “Someone might get hurt trying to get into them.”
  673. >”If this is some kind of-“
  674. “Kind of what? Whatever do you mean? We’re just having some polite introductions,” you interrupt, punctuating with another ruined locker door and forcing her to take a step back, looking over her. “Now, please, tell me: who were you referring to?”
  675. >”Oi, Anon,” a voice calls out, and all of you look up to see Shining marching down the hallway. “This the girl harassing people?”
  676. “Yes, yes she is,” you state plainly.
  677. >”I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tiara stammers, visibly sweating as her eyes dart to and fro.
  678. >Your cruel smile widens as you reach into your shirt pocket and pull out your phone, the display alight with a bright red “RECORDING” message, the timer underneath steadily ticking.
  679. “You really need to learn to keep your voice down.”
  680. —-
  681. >”Alright, take it from the top,” Celestia commands as you, your nieces, Shining and the two girls crowd around her desk, the office packed like a hand-loaded shotgun shell. “What happened?”
  682. “I’ll let her do the talking,” you say, laying your phone down on the desk and hitting play, the recording the only sound in the room for a full minute.
  683. “I haven’t had time to read the requirements for an official write-up,” you start. “But I’m fairly certain extortion is somewhere on the list.”
  684. >”And you threatening me isn’t?” Tiara protests behind you.
  685. >”Threatening? I didn’t hear any of that on the message,” Celestia responds, craning her head to see the grimacing student. “Was that so, Shining?”
  686. >”I didn’t hear anything like that,” he replies.
  687. >You throw him a knowing wink as the principal leans back in her chair with a sigh.
  688. “Anonymous, I need you to send me a copy of that recording,” she says. “And as for you two, I want you back in my office at the end of the day. I need to decide what to do with you. Dismissed.”
  689. >The gaggle behind you quickly files out the office door, leaving you and your boss in an uncomfortable silence.
  690. “That’s it?” you ask, arms crossed and one brow cocked.
  691. >”Like I said, I need time. This is a gray area as far as the law goes,” she replies. “I’ll make some phone calls.”
  692. >You sigh through your nose and nod, grabbing your phone off the table and quickly emailing the message to her.
  693. >”I’ll need you to delete it from your phone,” she continues as she takes out her phone. “There’s a school policy regarding keeping pictures and videos of students.”
  694. “Really?”
  695. >”It’s dumb, I know, but those are the breaks. You can thank the perverts out on the West Coast for that.”
  696. >You shrug and purge the file from your phone with a swipe, pocketing the device.
  697. >”You might want to talk to the girls,” Celestia pipes up as you turn to leave. “I’ll call Cheerliee and tell her to make an attendance exception.”
  698. “Thanks,” you reply. “There’s some important questions I need to ask.”
  699. >As you close the door, Celestia lets out another heavy sigh as she opens the email, her finger trembling as she hits delete.
  700. >”Sorry, Anon,” she murmurs to herself. “My hands are tied with her.”
  701. —-
  702. >”You can let go now, Uncle Anon.”
  703. >You ignore Aria’s words as the fading whispers of adrenaline finally leave your system, cradling your charges close to your breast.
  704. >Cadance had been kind enough to leave her office to give the lot of you some privacy, your rear parked on the edge of her desk as you sigh.
  705. >”Can’t breathe, Uncle...” Sonata gasps.
  706. >You let go immediately in mild panic, mind alight as Adagio firmly presses one finger to your lips.
  707. >”I know you’ve got questions,” she says, “but I need you to chill out. You’re making me nervous with that look of yours.”
  708. “...Okay,” you breathe. “Sorry. I just got kinda worked up-“
  709. >”I get it,” she cuts you off. “Trust me.”
  710. >The knowing look in her eyes manages to calm you down enough to uncurl your hands, letting them prop you up against the desk as you lean back.
  711. “Alright,” you begin. “What did she mean by ‘experienced?’
  712. >The three of them share an uncomfortable moment of eye contact before they nod.
  713. >”We... We used to do some work for thugs,” Adagio confesses, her and her sisters’ heads downcast. “Stand around, wear gray hoodies, hold a knife to scare people, stuff like that.”
  714. “Muggings?” you interject, mouth dry.
  715. >”No, we didn’t rob people... usually,” she continues. “We were mostly just there to intimidate people while he did the actual shakedowns.”
  716. “Who?”
  717. >Aria immediately stands straight, a loud, whimpering breath escaping her as she begins to shake, slowly backing up towards the teal-painted wall.
  718. >A dozen different klaxons fire off in your head, but before you can move, Sonata turns to her, whispering words of comfort with a gentle hug.
  719. >”...I don’t want to talk about him,” Adagio mutters.
  720. >You merely nod and drop it, recognizing the mental wound as both of you training an eye on the younger two.
  721. “Have you done anything like that since I... since I took you in?”
  722. >You’d do a blood contract for a bottle of water right now, your throat feeling like crumbling stone.
  723. >”...We haven’t needed to. You’ve kept us fed,” Adagio replies somberly, her and Sonata shaking their heads vigorously.
  724. “Good. Now listen,” you command, rising off the desk to stand fully. “I want you to promise me two things.”
  725. >Aria manages to look at you as you step forward, easily within arm’s reach of any of them.
  726. “You stay out of trouble with the law,” you proceed. “If you need something, you come to me. I know I’m sounding like a broken record at this point, but I mean it. And if those little brats try to threaten you again, tell me. Boss woman owes me a favor after that flat tire on the Interstate."
  727. >"Uncle Anon?"
  728. >You turn back towards Aria with a puzzled expression.
  729. >"Are you gonna be okay? That girl said something about spreading rumors."
  730. >Despite the subject matter, you can't help but smile at the genuine look of concern on her face.
  731. "I'll be fine, honey bun. No criminal record, 3.7 GPA in college, held down a job just fine for 10 years. I'm clean as crystal," you reply.
  732. >The sharp ring of the lunch bell interrupts the lot of you through the door, and Sonata's stomach roars to life with a gurgle.
  733. >"That's what happens when you sleep through breakfast," Adagio smirks at her embarrassed face.
  734. "Now now, save the bullying for home when we can take pictures," you jest as you open the office door. "Come on, I'll let you eat at my desk. I wonder if we've still got some of those sparkling juice bottles from the gym teacher's birthday in the fridge?"
  735. >Two sets of feet walk past yours before you grunt in surprise as Adagio stops, tightly embracing you.
  736. "Hon, are you okay? Getting real touchy lately," you ask. "Not that I'm complaining."
  737. >"Just... thanks for that. I don't know what I would've done if that went on much longer," she murmurs.
  738. "Me too, hon," you reply, returning the affection with one arm, rubbing her back before she reaches up to kiss your cheek.
  739. >"I love you, Uncle Anon."
  740. "I love you too."
  741. ====================
  742. >”SON OF A BITCH!”
  743. >You and Adagio turn your heads from the piled-up basket of laundry you’d been folding together as your Saturday morning peace is shattered, the thumping of bare feet against the staircase growing ever-louder.
  744. >”Yeah, that’s definitely what the neighbors need to hear,” Adagio snarks as she puts down the two dozen mismatched socks she’d been organizing. “What’s going on, Sonata?”
  745. >You roll your eyes as the fumbling continues for a few seconds before abruptly stopping.
  746. >”Um, actually, Uncle Anon, can you come up here?” she shouts back nervously, your ears barely making out her sentence as you stand up, one ridiculous pile of the girls’ garments sandwich tight between your hands.
  747. “I’ll go see what’s wrong. Gotta make space on the coffee table anyways,” you reluctantly mutter.
  748. >You manage to suppress a smile at Adagio’s nod, both of you fully aware that she owes you one, before trekking up, careful to keep your elbows from jostling against the walls.
  749. “Alright, what’s all the yelling-“
  750. >Your voice dies in your throat as you step into the girls’ room, your youngest niece turning around to greet you in nothing but her underwear, her hands carefully cupped under each breast.
  751. “...Sonata?”
  752. >”Yeah, Uncle Anon?”
  753. “What did I say about wearing a shirt?”
  754. >”Oh, just put those down and come over here! I need help!” she nags, face quickly filling with color as she bounces on the balls of her feet, giving you an unintended distraction.
  755. >You pull your still-scattered mind together and comply, setting the stack of fabrics in your hands down on the bed with a thump.
  756. “Alright, what did you do?” you say as you face the ponytailed girl.
  757. >”Nothing! It’s just... look, this is really embarrassing. You can just-“
  758. “Whatever it is, I can at least listen,” you cut her off, suspicious as to her suddenly shifting eyes. “Now, what happened?”
  759. >Sonata looks down at the ground for a few seconds, taking a deep breath and blinking.
  760. >”So, I’ve been putting on weight for a while now,” she sheepishly says, head listly cocked to one side. “And I’ve been wearing my bras out one after the other.”
  761. >You sigh and clap one hand to your forehead.
  762. >”So I started throwing them out, right? But soon I found myself down to just one,” she continues. “This one. And the underwire just came out of the fabric.”
  763. “And why didn’t you tell me?”
  764. >”...I forgot?”
  765. >The plastic grin on her face does nothing to mask her white lie.
  766. “Sonata, I told you, you don’t have to worry about asking me for something if you need it,” you reply with an exasperated sigh. “And now you’ve got no underwear left?”
  767. >”Y-Yeah,” she admits, eyes cast away from your gaze. “But, like, here’s the thing...”
  768. >She lifts one breast up slightly, and your eyes go stark wide as you see a thin rivulet of dried blood on her side.
  769. >”The wire’s slicing me,” she says, drawing your attention away from her chest for the time being. “I can’t undo this thing without cutting myself wide open.”
  770. >Both of you sport matching beet-red blushes as she takes a step forward.
  771. >”So, um, umm...”
  772. >You breathe deeply and steel your nerves as best you can.
  773. >”Could you hold my tits for a minute?”
  774. >And almost immediately your demeanor falls apart, mouth flapping wildly as you attempt to construct a halfway passable response.
  775. “N-Nan- I mean, the fuck?” you sputter like a failing engine.
  776. >”Just for a bit? Dagi’s never gonna let me live this down if I ask her,” she pleads, doe eyes alight with worry. “Please?”
  777. “Can’t I just undo it?” you ask with an exasperated sigh.
  778. >”N-No!”
  779. “Why?”
  780. >”You don’t just let an older guy undo your bra, Uncle Anon! It’s weird!”
  781. “But your idea’s SOMEHOW okay? And what do you mean ‘older guy?’”
  782. >”Just help me here!” she begs, her blush spreading to her neck. “It’s digging in!”
  783. >You throw your hands up in defeat as you step forward, nerves shaky as you reach out and gently cup the underside of each breast, briefly touching her hands as she pulls away.
  784. >”Higher,” she mutters, looking away from you as she brings her hands behind her and starts fiddling with the clasps.
  785. >You’re left with nowhere to look but her cleavage as she shifts and tugs, your ring fingers keeping the thin metal band underneath aloft.
  786. >The feeing of blood leaving your face for other parts of you is almost dizzying as your fingers settle into the flesh, lively and springy, almost pressing back.
  787. >...How long has it been?
  788. >”Almost there,” she absentmindedly says, her voice managing to rip you from your thoughts long enough to feel a burning shame.
  789. “So much for boundaries,” you think aloud.
  790. >She bites her tongue to stifle a giggle at your mortified face as she finally brings her hands back to her front, holding up her bust as you yank yourself away.
  791. >”Excited?” she purrs at you with a cocky grin.
  792. “N-No!” you stammer. “Why are you cracking jokes? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
  793. >”Well, I was, but only because I let this go for so long,” she casually states with a shrug.
  794. “And not the... other part of this?”
  795. >”What? They’re just boobs,” she replies. “It’s not like they’re anything special. See?”
  796. >You slap one hand over your eyes as she shakes her torso back and forth slightly.
  797. “Not helping!”
  798. >”Oh quit being a drama queen,” she scolds you as you spin on your heels and make for the door.
  799. “Just get a shirt on,” you bark.
  800. >”Yes, please.”
  801. >The blood in your veins freezes at the sound of Adagio’s voice as she steps past your shocked-still form, opening up the closet and throwing a cyan top to her sister.
  802. “I-I can explain-“
  803. >”Don’t need to. Me and Aria heard the both of you squealing from across the house,” she interrupts.
  804. >”Really?”
  805. >”Yes, really. Now get that on and help me with the laundry so we can go.”
  806. >Sonata nods and turns around, slipping the shirt halfway over her head before stopping.
  807. >”...Waitaminiute. We?”
  808. “Hurry up and dress,” you call our past your covered vision, hands clasped back to your face. “My eyes are starting to hurt.”
  809. >”Yes, we,” the eldest sister continues. “You’re not the only one with this problem, remember?”
  810. >”You did break a strap last week, didn’t you?” Sonata replies with a pondering tone, bouncing over and trying to pull your hands away.
  811. >”God, you’re a prude,” she teases before reaching under the bed for her shoes.
  812. >”Prude?” Adagio interjects.
  813. >”Yeah, he’s over here freaking out about boobs like I’m on fire or something,” Sonata responds. “You have touched boobs before, right Uncle Anon? I get that these puppies are pretty nice, but-“
  814. “I’M LEAVING!” you shout, trying to keep some of your dignity intact as you bolt out the door, only to stop on a dime as you almost bowl Aria over in the hallway.
  815. >”Is there something wrong, Uncle Anon?” she innocently asks, worry in her voice.
  816. “No, nothing, nothing at all!” you spit out as you weave past her for your bedroom, hissing as you bang your elbow against the wall.
  817. >You slam the door shut and promptly deflate with a sigh, breath you didn’t realize you were holding rushing out.
  818. >You look down with a gulp at your throbbing lower part, straining for freedom against your sweatpants.
  819. “...Well, shit.”
  820. <><><>
  821. >”That was really mean of you, Sonata.”
  822. “Yeah, but it was hilarious!” you say as you indulge yourself in a giggling fit, falling back into the mattress you hadn’t slept on in weeks and holding your sides in mirth. “Did you see the looks on his face?”
  823. >”No, I just got here,” Aria meekly replies. “But I don’t think messing with him like that’s a good idea. He was just trying to help.”
  824. >”What did you think was going to happen?” Adagio butts in. “You’ve been hogging his bed for the past two months and you didn’t expect him to get hot and bothered at that?”
  825. “Wait, what do you mean?” you ask as you pop back up into a sitting position.
  826. >”He was hard, Sonata,” your older sister says. “Since we got here, he probably hasn’t had a chance to... you know...”
  827. >You snicker at her sudden blush, one hand of hers gesturing what she’s too embarrassed to say.
  828. “Oh so what? You jealous you’re not the one giving him a boner?” you dryly croon, suggestively raising your brow. “Explains all the kissing as of late.”
  829. >You break down into another stint of laughter as her blush immediately deepens to an almost crimson hue, eyes alight with panic.
  830. “Oh my God, I’m right!” you blurt out between guffaws. “I knew you two were cozy, but holy shit!”
  831. >”W-W-What the hell are you on about?” she manages to sputter out. “First of all, he’s over a decade older than me. Second of all, it’s illegal!”
  832. >”...Actually, it isn’t...”
  833. >The two of you swivel your heads over to Aria, the middle child sporting colored cheeks of her own as she speaks up.
  834. >”The age of consent in this state is 16,” she meeps. “And incest is only illegal within immediate family.”
  835. >”And... HOW do you know this?” Adagio asks with a dumbfounded look.
  836. >”You should pay more attention in World History,” she replies. “We were talking about European royalty just last week.”
  837. >”That doesn’t explain... never mind,” Adagio sighs. “I feel weird just talking about this.”
  838. “Everyone feels weird about their cruuush,” you sing from your spot on the bed, grinning like an imp.
  839. >”SH-SHUT IT!”
  840. >The conversation dies down for a bit as the three of you scramble to tidy yourselves up, pushing and prodding for a good angle in the full-sized vanity mirror attached to your dresser.
  841. “Perfume?” you giggle at your oldest sister as she spritzes a shot across her collarbone. “At least save some for your wingwomen.”
  842. >”Oh, you want a shot?” she snaps at you, aiming the nozzle at your eyes with a snarl.
  843. >You eep and slink away, tying your hair back as Aria giggles.
  844. “Oh, so you’re taking her side?” you melodramatically accuse with a pointed finger.
  845. >”I didn’t say anything,” she smiles.
  846. “Whatever. I’m gonna go see if he’s done unwinding,” you scoff as you make for the door.
  847. >”Un... Unwinding?” Aria asks, one brow cocked.
  848. “Uh, yeah?” you reply, one hand making a sharp tugging motion. “Most guys can’t just stop like we can and be fine.”
  849. >”Really, Sonata?” Adagio scolds you, affixing her earrings with a learned speed. “He’s not some animal, you know.”
  850. “I got twenty bucks says he’s busting a nut right as we speak,” you challenge with a smirk.
  851. >”You’re a bad gambler,” your eldest sister replies with a roll of her eyes. “But I’ll take your money.”
  852. “You’re on.”
  853. >With a quick flick of your wrist, you pull open the bedroom door and tiptoe down to the end of the hall.
  854. <><><>
  855. >Sweatdrops travel down the slope of your temples as you pull on your navy khakis, your persistent erection making it difficult to zip up.
  856. “You gotta be fucking kidding me,” you think aloud, fumbling with the metal tab before hissing through your teeth as you catch yourself on the ridge.
  857. >Breathing deep, you let curses roll free from your tongue, unable to shake the heady feeling of arousal from your mind.
  858. “...Fuck it,” you growl, closing your bedroom door and stepping into the tiny bathroom off to the side, your body taking up most of the free room as you begrudgingly begin to work yourself.
  859. “Come on, brain,” you mutter. “Whip up something good so I can get back to my life.”
  860. >Your pace quickens as you close your eyes, a muted mess of color and sound slowing coalescing in the eye of your consciousness.
  861. >A feeling, a scent...
  862. >You shudder as the wondrous memory of your youngest niece’s chest floods back into recollection, a bitter tinge of shame quickly swallowed as your penis swells and hardens even further.
  863. >You’re already fast approaching the precipice, her bubbly voice lingering and wrapping itself around your brain, sinking into the haze of lust you’ve found yourself enraptured by.
  864. >With a low groan muffled by your free hand, you release, vision spotty as the cold coil of pressure breaks and you stagger, your orgasm seeming to drag on for ages.
  865. >Your faculties returning to you, you silently thank your grandfather for choosing beige carpeting, almost a dozen ropes of your seed barely visible in the semi-shaggy fabric.
  866. “Holy shit...”
  867. >Your coalescing consciousnesses pieces together the source of your arousal, and a crashing sense of guilt envelops you as you reach for a tissue from your nightstand.
  868. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! What is wrong with me?” you panic, wiping your hand off hastily. “She’s fifteen, for fuck’s sake! I can’t just...”
  869. >You tuck yourself back into your underpants and zip up, your head resting against the cool drywall as you sigh.
  870. “This is so wrong...”
  871. >The sound of footsteps slip under the crack of your door, and you swear, shoving your bits back into your pants and fastening up as fast as you can.
  872. >”You ready, Uncle Anon?” Sonata calla from outside.
  873. “Just let me get my shoes on. I think I left them in the living room,” you reply as you open the door, hurriedly scooting past the girls, not daring to look at any of them.
  874. >”Told ya,” Sonata whispers as you move out of earshot. “Pay up.”
  875. >Taking the stairs 3 at a time, you grab your shoes from beside the living room recliner and slip into them, tying your laces with the precision of a dragster put crew as your nieces follow you down, pulling the last loop taut as they reach you.
  876. >”Something wrong, Uncle Anon?” Sonata asks, her grin wide and malicious as she bends over, hands on her knees as she examines you.”
  877. “Yep!” you yelp, whipping your head to break sight of her cleavage and farting for the key rack.
  878. >Lost in your head, you ignore the girls as they break into low chatter.
  879. >”Quit it!” Adagio hisses. “You really want to piss him off?”
  880. >”Hey, maybe he likes bad girls,” the youngest giggles. “You might wanna change your strategy, Dagi.”
  881. >”I swear to God,” she mutters, one palm on her forehead as she glares at her little sister.
  882. “Alright, mall, yeah?” you blurt as you open the front door, fingers fumbling to set the lock as you hang on the front porch before getting it right and dashing for the car.
  883. >Aria rolls her eyes at her two sisters as they look at you from the doorway, heads craned.
  884. >”This is gonna be fun,” Sonata snickers.
  885. —-
  886. >”Welcome to Bloom! How can I help you today?”
  887. >Sweat immediately starts forming on your face as the perky sales clerk approaches you, hands clasped behind her back as a miasma of perfume and industry-grade antiseptic assaults your sinuses.
  888. >Painfully conscious of how dry your throat suddenly is, it takes a moment for your brain to piece together an answer.
  889. “My girls n-need to be fitted for some new brassieres,” you manage to spit out.
  890. >”Right this way,” she chirps, turning on one heel with a practiced fluidity and briskly moving through the racks, the four of you contorting yourselves to follow her through the seeming maze of garments without knocking anything off its hanger.
  891. >”Our fitting rooms are just over here,” she announces, stopping on a dime and pointing hard to her left. “You’ll find bands and a check top ready for you in each stall. Please feel free to find me if you have any questions!”
  892. >Before you can open your mouth to respond, she dashes back into the racks, turning out of view as she almost jogs away.
  893. >”If I ever heard anyone reading from a script, that was it,” Adagio scoffs, checking her nails nonchalantly.
  894. “Bands and a check top?”
  895. >"Measuring tape and an adjustable tee," Adagio explains.
  896. "Why do you need a tee shirt for bra sizes?"
  897. >You've gotta make sure your bra actually holds well," Sonata butts in. "Go too tight, your girls end up bulging out. Go the other way, and the cups pucker."
  898. "...Huh," you deadpan. "I'm guessing that's more dependent on bra style than anything?"
  899. >"Yep!" she chirps, raising one arm and pointing to the side of her ribcage. "Then you've gotta be able to fit it on the outer hook so you can tighten it after it loosens and-"
  900. "I think I get the idea," you quickly say, recognizing the signs of one of her rambles winding up. "You'd think there'd be more than two stalls, though."
  901. >"Uncle Anon?"
  902. >You whip your head over towards Aria as she speaks up.
  903. >"...Can I get a fitting, too? I don't think I've... g-grown much, but it couldn't hurt, right?"
  904. >The look of bashful hope on her face melts away the undercurrent of embarrassment in your heart, and you smile, kneeling down slightly to plant a kiss on her forehead.
  905. "Of course, hon," you reply. "Might as well get it out of the way, right?"
  906. >"Th-thank you," she stutters, letting out an eep as you circle one arm around her back and gently embrace her, returning the gesture even as her cheek presses into your chest.
  907. >"Go ahead, Aria," Adagio says, jerking her head towards the stalls. "I can wait."
  908. >With a matching pair of nods, the two younger sisters head into the changing booths, taking a plastic tag along the way as you and Adagio take a seat on the firm-cushioned bench on the other side of the room."
  909. "...Wait a minute, am I allowed in here?" you ask the air, the question almost reflexive as you realize what an observer might think.
  910. >"You're fine," Adagio answers. "That little it of wall jutting out behind from there stops you from being able to peep, anyways."
  911. >You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding in relief.
  912. >A few moments of silence pass before Adagio scoots closer to you, nestling in the crook of your shoulder as you habitually raise your arm up and around her.
  913. >It’s not till then that you become aware of the carnation pink sundress she had picked, two small ribbons adorning the straps as she looks at you, slight color in her cheeks.
  914. “You look cute,” you smile, laughing as she flinches and stutters, a full blush taking form on her face.
  915. >”How-“
  916. “You’re bad at keeping secrets,” you chuckle, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "You don't have to doll yourself up every time we go out somewhere."
  917. >"I know," she responds. "...But I like to. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to look nice like this."
  918. >You pick up the implications and merely nod, pecking her forehead in acknowledgement.
  919. >"You've been doing that a lot, you know?" she says.
  920. "That's..." you trail off, recounting the last few weeks rapidly in your mind. "Huh. I guess you're right. Is that bad?"
  921. >It's her turn to laugh as she grabs your other hand from your lap with hers, holding it as she snuggles up.
  922. >"No. Not at all."
  923. >"Good, cause I'm not planning on stopping," you quip. "Aria seems to like it."
  924. >"I'm just happy to see her trying to be more proactive," she replies. "I was worried she would just clam up the whole time we're here."
  925. "Guess that means I'm doing something right," you shrug.
  926. >You look down after a few second of no response to see Adagio smiling at you.
  927. "What?"
  928. >Without a word she raises up slightly, letting her lips touch your cheek in a slow, deliberate kiss before settling back down.
  929. "You're doing great," she mutters softly. "Better than any of us could've hoped."
  930. >A pang of shame comes and goes at the memory of your earlier lust, mouth forming a tight flatline as she sighs.
  931. >”Maybe tonight I can finally tell hi-“
  932. >You look down at her as she cuts herself off mid-thought, shooting up like a firework and off of you.
  933. “Say what now?” you ask.
  934. >”Nothing, Anon.”
  935. >”Done!” Sonata chirps as she exits her booth, Aria following a few seconds later, still adjusting her blouse. “We’re gonna go find some cute ones, kay Uncle Anon?”
  936. >You nod as the two of them scamper off, Aria telling in surprise as her little sister grabs her by one arm and nearly drags her back into the racks.
  937. “She really doesn’t know when to quit, does she?”
  938. >”You just figure that out now?”
  939. >You smirk as Adagio stands, straightening her choker before entering the booth and locking the door.
  940. >”Might wanna make sure they’re not grabbing something off of every single rack,” she calls behind her.
  941. “That’s probably a good idea.”
  942. ——-
  943. >”So, what do you think?”
  944. >You clap your hand to your forehead in exasperation as Sonata giddily bounces on the balls of her feet, twirling and observing herself in the large mirror to the side of the changing rooms.
  945. “Do you really have to ask my opinion on a bra?”
  946. >”Uh, duh! It’s tradition!”
  947. “What?” you blink twice, raising a finger.
  948. >”Yeah! You always get as many opinions as you can when you pick a new brand.”
  949. >You sigh again, all of the girls sharing a laugh at your mortified gazing at the floor before your cellphone rings.
  950. “Oh, it’s Hyun. Haven’t heard from her in a while,” you muse to yourself, picking up the call.
  951. “Moshi moshi!”
  952. >”Racist.”
  953. >A hearty laugh escapes both you and your neighbor over the line as you lean back, gesturing to Aria to occupy her sister somehow.
  954. “What’s good, girl?”
  955. >”Oh, nothing much. Just wondering why I can’t get you to show up at the range.”
  956. “This again? Hyun, you’re being overdramatic about all this.” you scoff with a roll of your eyes.
  957. >”Oh come on! We haven’t been shooting since sophomore year!” she pleads. “You can bring the girls if that’s the problem!”
  958. “I’m pretty sure they’re not interested in guns, Hyun.”
  959. >”Who’s not interested?” Adagio pipes up, peeking her head around the corner.
  960. “Nothing,” you mutter. “Look, Hyun, that is kind of a factor. I’ve got my hands full helping them with catchup classes on the weekends.”
  961. >”I can help with that,” she promptly shoots back. “Valedictorian, remember?”
  962. >You hold your tongue before more than a few smart-ass answers come to mind, rubbing your temples.
  963. “Fiiiine. We’ll meet with you next Saturday, okay?”
  964. >”Pinky swear?” she teases.
  965. “Don’t push me.”
  966. >Ending the call before she can continue pestering you, you pocket your phone and turn your attention back to the girls.
  967. >”What was that about?” Adagio asks, having stepped out of the booth, one of the fitting shirts under her dress, slowly watching the contour of her torso as she puts her arms through a careful stretch.
  968. “We’ve gotta go down to the range and humor our friendly neighbor before she kicks down the door and drags us there,” you respond with a sigh. “And before you ask, yes, she really will.”
  969. >”Really?”
  970. “Oh yeah. Remind me to tell you about her second ex sometime.”
  971. >”Um, Dagi?” Aria calls from the changing room. “Will this work?”
  972. >”Hold on,” the eldest sister says, sauntering over before a series of thumps rings out from the booth, accompanied by a yell.
  973. >You bolt over, your shoes screeching against the linoleum as you turn on a dime, finding all three of the girls in a tangled pile.
  974. >”Told you your shoe was untied!” Sonata whines from the mess as they squirm, barely any room to move as they crawl over one another.
  975. “Oh Good Lord,” you groan as you reach down, giving Aria a hand as you pull her away and to her feet, the other two separating shortly after. “It’s just a bra! How complex can it be?”
  976. >As soon as it arrived, your frustration vanishes, leaving you holding your middle niece as she trembles, eyes screwed shut at your sudden spike in volume.
  977. “Oh, I’m sorry, hun,” you croon, kneeling and taking her in your arms, joined by her sisters in a silent moment of affection before she manages to smile.
  978. >”I’m okay,” she quietly says. “I’m okay. Thanks, Uncle Anon.”
  979. “It’s no problem, sweet pea,” you whisper, kissing her cheek as she giggles. “Now, what was wrong?”
  980. >”She’s bulging,” Sonata comments casually. “Move down three on the band and up one on the cup.”
  981. >”You sure?” she asks.
  982. >”Yep. You’re hooked on the tightest ring and you’re filling it, but you’re gonna be both too loose and spilling after a few runs in the wash. I’ll help ya look,” the youngest girl rattles off, casually checking her nails.
  983. >All three of you share a dumbfounded look.
  984. “And you just know that?”
  985. >”You get pretty good at this when you’ve got a chest like this,” she grins, cupping herself. “F’s like these need care and attention, you know.”
  986. “I didn’t need to know that.”
  987. >”Aw, too bad,” she jests. “Oh, get that jealous look of your face, Dagi.”
  988. >”W-What?”
  989. >”Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll hit puberty soon.”
  990. >”Why you LITTLE-“
  991. “Quit it, both of you!” you command, crossing your arms as they back off, looking at you warily. “I’ve got enough of a headache already.”
  992. >You’re not wrong - the mild ache in your head is now pounding on the underside of your skull incessantly, stoked by the choking aromas of the store.
  993. >”Sorry, Uncle Anon,” Sonata meeps, tapping her index fingers together. “Come on Aria, let’s get our shirts back on and go get the right size.
  994. >You sit back down and groan, closing your eyes for a moment before you feel a hand on your shoulder.
  995. >”Here,” Adagio murmurs, three small blue pills in her free palm, a bottle of water pinched at the lid by two fingers. “See if this is enough.”
  996. “Finally using that purse I got you?” you laugh as you take then medicine from her, downing the little jug in three full gulps and muffling a belch.
  997. >She says nothing, raising her wrist to your forehead and gently pressing.
  998. “I’ll be fine, Mom.”
  999. >She blinks and blushes, muttering a word of apology as she sits down beside you.
  1000. “It’s alright,” you say. “You get what you needed?”
  1001. >”Yeah.”
  1002. “Good. How’s salmon sound for dinner tonight?”
  1003. ——-
  1004. >The feeling of your pillow against the back of your head is all too welcome as you lean back, propped up under half a dozen pillows as you grab the remote from under the covers and flick the TV on, illuminated in the dim glow of your nightstand lamp.
  1005. “$190 for six bras,” you grumble to yourself, lamenting the early loss of this month’s entertainment budget as you surf the channel guide, poring through the numbers for a few minutes before giving up and switching over to the evening news.
  1006. >Minutes pass by, your brain half-numb to the two pundits throwing slurs and strawmen at each other, before a voice pulls you from the lull.
  1007. >“Uh, Uncle Anon?” Adagio calls to you from the doorway of your bedroom.
  1008. “What is it, little one?” you reply.
  1009. >”Can I ask you a weird question?”
  1010. >You pull back the spare covers and motion her over, a nervous look on her face as she walks around to the far side of the bed and sits on the edge.
  1011. “Well, you’ve got my attention. What’s on your mind?”
  1012. >”You sure you don’t mind me prying?” she asks, sitting up a bit straighter.
  1013. “I don’t see why not.”
  1014. >”...I really thought you would have a wife or something,” she continues. “It doesn’t make sense that you’re single.”
  1015. “Well, I haven’t really tried to put myself out there,” you shrug after a second. “After college, I just kinda clammed up. Had some really rough flings when I was there, though.”
  1016. >”Really now?”
  1017. “Yeah. But that’s a story for another time,” you add, her curious grin unsettling you. “Why you asking?”
  1018. >”I haven’t had any real experience myself,” she responds.
  1019. “Oh? Someone catch your fancy?”
  1020. >She nods, color in her cheeks.
  1021. “That’s a surprise. Must be one hell of a guy to have you interested.”
  1022. >”...Yeah. He really is.”
  1023. “You gonna make a move soon?” you pry.
  1024. >”What? N-No!” she stammers, fidgeting.
  1025. “Why not? I thought an assertive woman like you would go get what she wants,” you tease.
  1026. >”But I’ve got schoolwork and stuff and I thought I might wanna try to get in a club or something. I don’t know if I have that kind of time to just-“
  1027. “Adagio.”
  1028. >Your voice beats the air like a stone as you cut her off, taking one slender hand in yours.
  1029. “What is the first rule of this home?” you ask.
  1030. >”...That honesty come first,” she hesitantly replies.
  1031. “Yes. Now tell me the real reason. I know when you’re lying, and you know that too.”
  1032. >”...I’m... I’m afraid he’ll hate me for it,” she struggles to admit, taking a brief second to collect herself. “That it’d be a huge mistake in the long-term, and that I’ll lose someone important to me.”
  1033. >A single look into her terror-filled eyes confirms her stress, and you sigh and bring your other arm around, taking her by the waist and swinging her into your lap, wrapping your arms around her and bringing her close.
  1034. >”Uncle Anon?” she blurts in surprise.
  1035. “Listen,” you begin, “I know it’s scary to trust people you don’t know. I know that it seems like a lot of things are do-or-die at your age. But don’t worry about it. Whatever happens, for better or worse, you’ll pick yourself up and keep moving.”
  1036. >”You really think so?” she slowly asks, voice filled with a reluctant tension.
  1037. “I know so. You’re so much stronger than you realize, Adagio. I’ve met dozens of women that don’t have a fraction of the spirit you do, and many of them have had their whole life to find it. Life will go on. The sun will rise, the rain will fall, the trees will die and bloom again. And you’ll still be standing, your own woman, living the way you want to.”
  1038. >A solid minute ebbs by as you cradle her in your arms, softly rocking yourself from side to side before she looks at you.
  1039. “There’s no harm in taking a chance sometimes.”
  1040. >”I want to believe you, but I don’t know... I don’t know if I can,” she chokes out, teeth gritted.
  1041. “Then I’ll believe enough for the both of us,” you beam without skipping a beat. “No matter what, I’ll be here for you if you need me. I promise.”
  1042. >”...Are you sure?”
  1043. >You place your hands on the small of her back and pull her closer, a smile on your face.
  1044. “Of course I am,” you reply.
  1045. >Neither of you say anything for a few moments before Adagio shifts herself off of you.
  1046. >”Thanks,” she mutters. “Sorry about bothering you like this.”
  1047. “It’s nothing, sweet pea,” you croon, sitting up against the wall of pillows between you and the headboard as she slides off the bed and makes for the door abruptly.
  1048. “Hey!”
  1049. >Your call fails to stop her in the doorway, looking at you through the reflection of the room on your dresser mirror as she dashes off.
  1050. >Left alone again, you pinch the bridge of your nose and breathe.
  1051. >You know she’s not telling you something.
  1052. <><><>
  1053. >Stupid.
  1054. >So, so stupid.
  1055. >With a dejected slowness in your step, you pull open your closet and set your dress back on its hanger, your uncle’s jacket covering you halfway down your pale thighs as you flop down on the edge of your bed.
  1056. >You almost told him.
  1057. >You almost lost control.
  1058. “Fuck,” you chastise yourself. “You know better than this, Adagio.”
  1059. >Carefully trimmed nails press into your temples as you look up at the ceiling and let the minutes trickle by, the lightbulb’s glare leaving spots on your vision as you blink.
  1060. >You can still feel his hands on your waist.
  1061. >Unable to repress it, you shudder, torrid urges stirring in your imagination as your fingers slowly slip down underneath the waistline of your underwear.
  1062. “Anon...”
  1063. >Mind addled by hormones, you suck air between your teeth as you feel the first caress, already tense and whimpering to yourself.
  1064. “What am I doing?”
  1065. >”What ARE you doing?”
  1066. >You shriek and flail, tumbling off the edge of the mattress as Sonata flings open the door, a grin that would make Satan himself nervous plastered across her face.
  1067. “I-I-I-I can explain-“
  1068. >”And why oh why would you be making those kinds of noises, I wonder?” she coyly purrs, one eyebrow cocked.
  1069. >Her taunting stops as Aria pokes her in the back from right behind her, the distraction shaking enough embarrassment off of you for you to scramble for the dresser.
  1070. >The two of them whisper to each other while you furiously dig to a pair of black shorts a size too small for you, sliding your legs in and yanking them up.
  1071. “What the hell are you two doing?” you hiss.
  1072. >”Just a little snooping, as usual,” Sonata chirps, stepping into the room, her and Aria already dressed for bed.
  1073. >”I just wanted to get something to read,” she shrugs with a paper-thin veil of faked composure, holding her hands up.
  1074. “Don’t you know how to knock?” you bark, trying and failing in spectacular fashion to look intimidating.
  1075. >”Oh, would you relax?” Sonata scoffs, sauntering over and sitting down on the bed, hooking a hand on your shoulder and pulling you down as well. “We can keep a secret.”
  1076. >Sputtering and fuming, you give your sister a glare capable of melting plastic as Aria timidly joins the two of you.
  1077. “I don’t know what you’re talking about-“
  1078. >”Oh my God, just drop the act already!” your littlest sister groans, throwing her head back. “It’s fine!”
  1079. “What act?”
  1080. >With a nod of her head, Sonata gives Aria a look begging for backup, the twin-tailed girl peeking up in surprise before hastily clearing her throat.
  1081. >”Dagi, we’re not upset,” she says in a voice barely above a murmur. “You don’t have to worry.”
  1082. >”And it’s not like you’re really hiding it at this point,” Sonata adds. “We can smell what you do in that jacket.”
  1083. >Color flooding your cheeks, you finally sigh in admittance, pulling yourself away and crossing your arms.
  1084. >”Hey, cheer up!” Sonata chirps. “You think you’re alone here?”
  1085. “Wait, what?”
  1086. >”Yeah! We’re right behind you!” she giggles, pumping a fist. “You two are too cute together!”
  1087. “...You’re onboard with this?” you ask, head numb from the rollercoaster of emotions you'd been on throughout the day.
  1088. >”...You can’t pick who you fall in love with,” Aria interjects. “And trying to stop it just makes you unhappy in the end.”
  1089. >She trembles for a bit before clenching her hands.
  1090. >”Look what happened to Mom...”
  1091. >You cross your arms and sigh.
  1092. >”Buuuuuuut, it’s gonna cost ya,” Sonata sing-songs, an impish grin on her face.
  1093. >You can’t help but roll your eyes.
  1094. “How much?”
  1095. >”We're not after money,” she shakes her head, leaning in and looking at Aria before the two share a nod, the kind you’ve learned by now means trouble.
  1096. >“We want a piece of him, too.”
  1097. >Half a minute of silence passes by.
  1098. >You can see your sisters’ mouths moving, but you haven’t the faintest what they’re saying.
  1099. >”Oi!” Sonata finally snaps, flicking you on the nose and pulling you back to reality. “Well?”
  1100. “...WHAT?”
  1101. >”I told you she’d get mad,” Aria squeaks from her spot on the middle of the bed, nervously fidgeting with her hair.
  1102. “No shit!” you respond, left eyelid twitching errantly. “This is already confusing enough without you two getting involved!”
  1103. >”Look,” Sonata begins, “none of us have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting that sugar dick if we just ask him.”
  1104. “Oh my gawd,” you drawl, hiding your face in your hands as your blush reaches near-burning levels.
  1105. >”But if ALL of us try, we can pool our resources! He can’t just block our numbers and act like it didn’t happen like he could with other girls, or brush it off as one of us being naive,” she continues with a bubbly giggle. “Think about it! What guy wouldn’t want three girls younger than him who are DTF at any moment?”
  1106. “It’s not a sexual thing, Sonata!” you growl. “He’s not just some slab of meat!”
  1107. >”Well, DUH,” she deadpans back. “You really think I’d let him manhandle me while asleep every night or put up with that stupid game of his if I just wanted to get laid?”
  1108. >”It’s not stupid!” Aria interjects sharply. “It’s the most skill-intensive fighter in over a decade!”
  1109. >”It’s got three K’s in its name!”
  1110. >”You’re just jealous you can’t do electrics,” the middle child smugly smiles in a rare moment of pride.
  1111. >You blink a few times in agitation before deciding to drop the tangent, turning to face Aria directly.
  1112. “And what about you?” you press, removing your fingers from your cheeks as you cross your arms.
  1113. >”...He makes me feel calm,” Aria warmly responds after a moment, looking down at her lap. “Like I don’t need to worry about anything.”
  1114. >Your mental faculties thoroughly wrung dry of energy, you sigh yet again and remove your choker, tossing it onto your dresser across the room.
  1115. “I need to sleep on all of this,” you say, moreso to yourself than anyone else.
  1116. >”Does that mean yes-“
  1117. >”Sonata, please,” you whine weakly, holding back a yawn.
  1118. >”Oh, okay then.”
  1119. “My kingdom for a gram of codeine,” you lament as you swing your legs in a 180, tucking your bottom half into the pulled-back stretch of blanketing and sliding waist-deep under the covers, uncaring of your state of dress.
  1120. >”So, we draw up battle plans tomorrow morning?”
  1121. “What did I just say, shrimp? I swear to God, if I have to-“
  1122. >”Everything okay in there?”
  1123. >The room falls ghastly silent as your uncle slowly looks over his shoulder into the room through the open doorway, sighing in relief that all of you are decent before stepping inside.
  1124. >”I heard yelling,” he bluntly states, one massive mitt of a hand gripping the corner of the wall where your closet opens as he leans.
  1125. >Before you can say anything, your sisters give each other a lightning-quick nod and spring into action.
  1126. >”Dagi tucked in early and had a bad dream,” Aria daintily mutters, putting on her best puppy eyes. “We were just helping her calm down.”
  1127. “Say wha?“ you mumble, disoriented.
  1128. >”Oh dear,” he rumbles, his gravely baritone sending a shiver down your back as he approaches you, leaning over and touching the underside of his wrist to your forehead. “You feel a little warm, too.”
  1129. >”Yeah, you probably shouldn’t tuck in here tonight, Dagi,” Sonata chirps, head cocked and hands clasped as if she was a bedside nurse. “They say that you’ll just be restless the whole night if you sleep in the same spot as your last nightmare.”
  1130. >”Really?” he idly says, forehead wrinkling mildly in worry as he examines you. “First I’ve heard of it.”
  1131. >Just looking at you is all it takes for him to make your heartbeat quicken.
  1132. >You break eye contact and busy yourself fiddling with the half-dressed pillow behind you, sliding it back into its case before it can slip off completely.
  1133. >”No harm in trying?” she shrugs with a nervous giggle.
  1134. >”...I suppose not,” he breathes, reaching down.
  1135. >Two forearms twice as thick as your neck suddenly coil underneath you and effortlessly pull you from the covers with a high-pitched yelp, dragging the blanket off the bed.
  1136. “Put me down, you brute!” you fume at him, slapping his chest and promptly wincing at the stinging sensation in your knuckles.
  1137. >”Me brute! Me want pretty lady!” he grunts with a cheeky grin, turning to your sister’s as they heartily point and laugh at your pouting face.
  1138. >You scream as he shifts his grip and unceremoniously slings you stomach-side down over one shoulder, a hand grabbing your thigh for balance as you smile in spite of yourself at his theatrics.
  1139. >”This mine now. Good bye,” he slowly says, jaw stuck out and eyes rolled back like a rock troll as he furrows his brow, sending the girls into a laughing fit.
  1140. “Let go of me!” you shout to no avail, pounding your fists on his back as he turns around and hauls you out of the room, your attacks bouncing off him as he stomps down the hallway to his bedroom.
  1141. >”Pretty lady sleepy here,” he rattles, flicking the light on and letting you slide off his shoulder onto the bed with a flop.
  1142. “Asshole!”
  1143. >”Watch profanity. Christian home.”
  1144. “Stop it!”
  1145. >Your toothless anger makes him snicker as you can’t help but smirk at him.
  1146. >”Why pretty lady mad? Pretty lady no look good mad. Smile nice. Smile... uh.... what word... better?” he drolls, one finger scratching his scalp as his mouth forms an almost simian O-shape.
  1147. >Finally cracking at his antics, you break down into giggles as he walks around and nestles himself in his usual spot, folding his arms behind his head as he leans against the pillow mountain spanning the top of the mattress.
  1148. “You jackass!”
  1149. >”Feel better now?” he grins, popping the pillar he calls a neck with a groan of relief.
  1150. “...Yes,” you admit, settling into the hillside of bedding next to him and crossing your arms with a blush. “That caveman act was dumb, though.”
  1151. >Your uncle throws his head back in a roar of laughter at your pride, uncoiling his arms and letting one fall back above your head, moving down and scooping you close to him.
  1152. “H-Hey-“
  1153. >”Stubborn to the end, aren’t ya?” he chuckles.
  1154. >You merely sigh and surrender yourself as he grabs the covers and slings them over the two of you.
  1155. >”Adagio.”
  1156. >Looking over, you’re greeted with a suddenly somber gaze from your uncle.
  1157. >”What was wrong earlier tonight?”
  1158. “Huh?”
  1159. >”You ran out of here all of a sudden. What’s really bothering you?”
  1160. “...Just got caught up in my head,” you mumble. “Dumb boy stuff.”
  1161. >”Aw, don’t worry hun,” he gushes. “With a woman like you after him, he should feel lucky.”
  1162. “Y-You mean that?” you stammer.
  1163. >”Scout’s honor. Don’t be so hard on yourself,” he replies.
  1164. >A click catches your attention as the lights suddenly go out, and you whip your head to see two pairs of eyes duck out of the doorway.
  1165. >”Okay, that’s it. I’m calling an electrician tomorrow. Sick and tired of blowing bulbs in here,” Anon grumbles as he flicks his alarm clock on.
  1166. “Good idea,” you mutter with a roll of your eyes.
  1167. >As you let your head hit the pillows fully, you let out a gasp of surprise as he leans down and gently touches his lips to your cheek.
  1168. >”Night, Dagi. Love you,” he whispers.
  1169. >In the near-pitch darkness, nobody can see your scarlet-tinted face as you quickly return the kiss, hitting his chin.
  1170. “Love you too.”
  1171. ——-
  1172. >You awake to find yourself splayed out, legs dangling off the side of the bed as you grunt and force yourself to find your center of balance, pushing pillows off of you as you sit up and rub your eyes.
  1173. >Popping your back, you look around, the sunlight faintly streaking across the mangled bedsheets.
  1174. “Anon?”
  1175. >The behemoth in question promptly swings open the door, startling you as your hands fly to your jacket and yank the zipper up to your neck.
  1176. >”Morning, buzzsaw,” he smiles, offering a hand that you accept, pulling you to your feet and giggling as you stumble into him.
  1177. “Dizzy...”
  1178. >”Not surprised. You were out like someone’d clocked you in the jaw. Had to fight Sonata to keep her from drawing on your face with a marker,” he says, holding you tight against his chest as your vertigo fades.
  1179. >You look up just in time for him to peck you on the forehead, and melt into his body heat, content to just stand there and enjoy yourself.
  1180. >That is, until your stomach makes a sound somewhat akin to a bullfrog.
  1181. >”Breakfast?”
  1182. >All you can do is nod.
  1183. >Following him out of the bedroom and down the stairs, your sisters watch you skulk to the kitchen and make a beeline for the carafe, grabbing a thoughtfully left-out mug and filling it before inhaling the steam.
  1184. >”Aria, go ahead and get some water boiling,” Anon orders, the girl eagerly opening the cabinet by the stove and digging out the Dutch oven.
  1185. >As your uncle leaves the room to fetch the mail, Sonata strolls up beside you as you seat yourself at the table.
  1186. >”Well?”
  1187. >One word carries a book’s worth of weight as you turn to face her, mug clasped between your hands.
  1188. “I...”
  1189. >”You loved it, didn’t you?”
  1190. >You swear under your breath and set your beverage down.
  1191. “So what if I did?”
  1192. >”Imagine that feeling every single night. Nice, right?”
  1193. >You’re too groggy to lie, grunting in confirmation as bitter liquid slides down your throat, slapping the empty mug down and shuddering at the hot feeling in your stomach.
  1194. “...What’s your plan?”
  1195. >Sonata lets out a giddy shriek, clapping her hands and bouncing on the balls of her feet.
  1196. >”Alright, girls!” she chimes with a shining smile. “Let’s bag us a man!”

Anonymous (Twin Sister Applebloom)

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