>So, everyone has that one weird friend, right? >That friend who likes you *way* more than you like them, who's constantly trying to get you to look at their weird animal drawings, or take them to the zoo? >Well, if you don't, then you're probably the weird friend, but that's beside the point >You're sitting by yourself on the third floor, enjoying your free period, when your personal "weird friend" seems to materialize from the hallway behind you >He creeps up to your shoulder, gently nudging you >"H-hey, Anon..." >You groan internally "Hey, Butters." >Yeah, you're aware that's not his real name >But what kind of name is "Fluttershy," anyway? >Even being named after a South Park character is more dignified, in your opinion >"Watcha reading?" >Unprompted, he takes a sit next to you, pressing his body *way* too tightly against yours "Just a manga." >"Oh. That's really cool." "Mhm." >Another universal constant of the "weird friend" relationship: the inability to hold a conversation >Fluttershy seems unwilling to let you read in peace, however, and immediately begins to rooting through his backpack >Multiple chew toys, packs of dog, cat, mouse, and non-species-specific treats flops out onto the ground before he finds whatever he's looking for >"D-d-do you want to see the p-pictures I took when I v-visited the Herpetarium?" "Not really..." >"You sh-should! There w-was this really cool Crocodylus mindorensis exhibit they j-just got." "Fascinating." >Fluttershy is the only person you know who can make crocodiles this boring >"It is, isn't it?" >His face brightens, your sarcasm flying right over his head as always >"Y-you should totally come w-w-with me! I j-just happened to get t-two extra tickets for th-this weekend..." >He upends his entire backpack, a mess of paper-wrapped treats, animal photos, and goddamn Zoobooks (those still exist?) spilling out onto the ground >And atop the mess of animal paraphernalia sit two tickets to the Canterlot City Zoo "Uh..." >"I've a-already got the tickets. And it sh-should be really fun. I usually d-d-don't have anyone to go to the zoo with... I c-could show you the new family of otters they j-just got... they're s-s-so cute.. especially the little babies... heh..." "Sorry, Butters. Dash wanted me to take her out to see Civil War." >"D-Dash? The two of y-you are still... oh." "Yeah. Sorry. Girlfriend has to come first, and all." >"N-no... that's... that's f-fine..." >He hastily stores everything back in his bag, his eyes fixed on the floor >"I'll j-just ask one of m-my other friends. Like, uh... y-yeah. One of m-my other friends. Which I h-h-have a lot of." "Mhm." >He twiddles his fingers, his breathing coming in short, frantic gasps >"W-well I should get going! Got to ask all my friends about g-going with me! V-very busy!" *** >"H-hey." >How the hell does he keep finding you? "Hey." >You don't even look up from your lunch, hoping Fluttershy will get the hint >As always, he doesn't >He plops down across from you, and you can smell the stench of various animal species from across the table >Fucking gross... >He brushes greasy, cropped pink hair out of his eyes, then goes back to fiddling with his thumbs >"So, um... y-you and Dash doing anything th-this weekend?" >Why's he so obsessed with what you and your girlfriend do? >Maybe he's jealous of you for dating her >Or... of her for dating you? >Ew >You've got enough weirdness in your life without this dude awkwardly hitting on you >Oh Christ, that's exactly what he's doing, isn't he? "Yeah. We're... I dunno, doing something. I gotta go." >"W-wait!" >Fluttershy begins frantically digging through his bag >"I, uh... I... m-my birthday... th-th-this weekend... h-having a party... if y-you wanna go..." >With shaking fingers, he draws a folded slip of paper from his backpack and drops it on the table >"Y-you know... m-m-my house... I'll h-h-have food... only v-vegetarian, if th-that's okay... y-yeah..." >He wipes sweat from his forehead >"I'll l-let you go now." >And with that, he saved you the trouble of having to leave, and hastily scurries away >The invitation is... yikes >There's cringe, and then there's "hand-drawing an invitation to your birthday party when you're in high school" cringe >Granted, the art isn't bad >It's just a sketch of a bunch of animals sitting around a table laden with presents and cake, with a banner that says "Happy Birthday Fluttershy" draped above them >But still... damn >You feel like your heart would implode if you even stepped inside the place >Thank Christ you've got an excuse not to go "A tournament?" >"Yeah man, sorry. Completely forgot." "In Baltimare?" >"Yeah." "Shit. Is there any way I could ride with you?" >"Nah. Taking the bus with the team." "Shit." >"Yeah. Really sorry, babe. We can hang out as soon as I get back though, okay?" "When?" >"Monday morning, probably." "Shit." >"Yeah... I'm really sorry. I'll see you then, alright?" >Dash blows you a kiss, and hangs up >Well, there go your weekend plans >You sit back on your bed, the boredom already settling over you like a mantle >Girlfriend's not in town... >And you haven't seen your other friends in like a month >Oh Christ, you've become that kind of boyfriend haven't you >You whip out your phone to text Soarin, but two hours pass with no response >Slowly, the realization settles on you that you're going to have nothing to do but go to Fluttershy's party... >For some reason, you kept the invitation >Maybe it was just you being a sentimental fuck, but he *did* put a lot of work into it >So... yeah, you've got it, and by extension, the time of the party and Fluttershy's address >Shit, are you really about to do this to yourself? >Would it really be better than just being bored on your own? >Eh, fuck it, you'll go >It'll be torture, you're aware of that already >But a few hours of cringe will give you some good stories to tell, right? >And besides, Fluttershy will probably be absolutely insufferable if you miss his party >So... fine, you'll go >Looks like you've got until tomorrow night to mentally brace yourself for the cringe, and to get him a present >So, yeah, you're really doing this >You know that grungy, timeless quality that life seems to take on when you're doing something you know is a bad idea? >Yeah, that's pretty much you right now >You don't even know what to get this guy >Aside from animals and stalking you, you aren't aware of any of his interests >So, fuck it, you'll go with something simple >Fluttershy talks about his stupid pet rabbit almost non-stop, so you'll get him a plush rabbit >Probably a better gift for a four than a fourteen-year-old, but the way you look at it, he's lucky you're going at all, not to mention getting him something >So you drop twenty bucks on a giant rabbit plush, your wallet seeming to scream in protest the entire time >Fluttershy's house is a surprising distance from Canterlot High, weged out in the city's sketchy outer limits >And the house itself it... oof >You hate to throw the term "crack house" around, but... yeah >It's definitely not the kind of place you'd want to stay for more than a few minutes >This is just seeming like a worse and worse idea, isn't it? >You glance around as you take the steps up to Fluttershy's door, hoping desperately to see a sign of someone you know >Did he invite anyone to the party besides you? >Jesus Christ, why are you letting yourself do this? >*Knock knock* >Why, why, why... >The front door opens just a crack, multiple chains preventing it from opening further, and Fluttershy's face peers out of the darkness >His eyes widen upon seeing you "Um... hey." >"A-Anon! Y-y-you actually... oh... here..." >You hear the rasp of metal as he undoes the bolts, swinging the door open >He's dressed only in sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, his feet bare and dirty from the filthy floors >Nestled amongst his cropped pink hair, he's got a single, faded cardboard party hat >"I, um... I d-didn't think you'd actually... uh..." >He fiddles with the hem of his sweater, shifting his weight from foot to foot >"Here... c-come in..." >He steps back, letting you into his house >It's, well, exactly what you'd expect from the outside >The plaster is cracked and peeling from the walls, all of which are dotted with dark, unidentifiable stains and hung with cobwebs >Dusty, empty liquor bottles, fast-food trash, and empty packs of cigarettes are scattered across the floor, amidst what looks suspiciously like animal droppings "So, uh..." >You swallow the lump forming in your throat "Happy Birthday, Butters." >Even in the dim lighting, you can see him blush >"Th-thanks... is that..." >He peeks at the gift bag you're holding behind your back "Oh, yeah. Here you go." >You pass him the bag, and he clutches it to his chest >"Y-you didn't have to..." "Believe me, I know. But yeah, hope you like it." >He nods, beginning to shuffle down the hallway >"I, um... I g-guess we can h-h-hang out in the basement... I r-really didn't know what to p-p-plan..." "Sounds fine. Is anyone else coming?" >Please, for the love of God, say yes >"I inv-vited my other friends, but... t-t-they were busy." "Oh." >You have to give yourself credit, you're keeping pretty damn calm >But on the inside you're fucking screaming >You have to spend an afternoon with this weirdo!? >In his creepy crack house!? >ALONE!? "Hey, listen, uh... I just remembered, I gotta go, and... uh..." >Before you can excuse yourself, a harsh, guttural male voice, like glass scraping against stone, cuts you off from the other room >"Fluttershy! Who is that?" >He winces, and begins to slink toward the kitchen >"J-just one of m-m-my friends, dad." >"Friends? Since when do you bring friends over?" >The door at the end of the hallway is thrown open, revealing a lanky, dirty-looking man framed in the doorway >He's about a foot taller than Fluttershy, but unmistakably his father >His hair is grown longer, and matted with what looks like days of sweat and grime, and his jaw is set in a hard, grim line >"A boy? I didn't say you could bring boys back here!" >"S-sorry..." >He leers at you, and you reflexively tighten your fists, and lurches out of the doorway >With a speed completely unfitting his drunken state, he leaps toward Fluttershy and grabs him by the hair >"And what the hell is this?" >"I j-j-just wanted to g-grow it out a little..." >"Like hell!" >He jostles Fluttershy's body, making him squeal in pain "Hey!" >You start towards them, but he slips a knife from his pocket, brandishing it towards you >"Watch it, boy! You're in my house! I'll deal with my *son* however I want." >He lingers on the word "son" in a way that sends a chill between your shoulder blades >Fluttershy's dad returns his attention back to him >"Now listen. You're gonna get this mess cut, or I'm gonna shave it off. Understood?" >"Y-yes..." >"Yes what?" >"Y-yes sir..." >Fluttershy clutches the bag tighter against his chest, whimpering >His dad finally notices Fluttershy's present, and lets go of him to pull it out of his hands >Fluttershy collapses to the floor, clutching his head >"What the hell is this?" >"M-my present." >"Why the hell'd you get him a present?" >Fluttershy's dad turns to you again "It's... it's his birthday." >"Yeah? Huh. No shit." >He glances inside the bag, shrugs, and tosses it back down at his son >"Whatever. Be out of my house by ten, or I call the cops." "Understood." >With that, Fluttershy's dad disappears back into the kitchen, and you hear the clink of bottles as he stomps past them >You extend a hand to him, and help him to his feet >Fluttershy grabs up the present, and clutches it to his stomach >"Th-thank you." "For what?" >"He d-didn't get as bad as he normally does. Because y-you were watching." "That's... we're going to call someone. Now." >"N-no!" >He clutches your arm, eyes suddenly wide with fear "What do you mean, no?" >"He said if I c-call anyone... if the p-p-police ever show up... he'll... k-kill Angel." >Fluttershy brushes his hair out of his eyes, a tiny shiver running through his body >Your stomach twists in a knot >"He's n-not like that all the time. I'll b-b-be okay." "Are you sure? I bet if you hid your rabbit somewhere, and then called the police..." >Just the idea seems to terrify Fluttershy, and he immediately shakes his head >"N-no... p-p-please, can w-we just not talk about it? I r-really don't want to cause any trouble." "Okay. Okay." >You're not surprised to find your own hands shaking >"I, um... I h-have some games in the b-basement. If you'd like to p-play something." "Yeah. Yeah, sure." >Fluttershy grabs ahold of your arm, and leads you towards the basement >Ironically, it actually feels safer descending lower into the house than it does getting closer to the kitchen >The entire time, he keeps the still-wrapped present clutched against his stomach like some sort of totem against the dark that seems to close in around the pair of you >The stairs are... well, precarious, to say the least >The boards themselves are splintered and warped, and rogue, rusty nails stick out at random intervals as you descend >Despite the house's small size, the basement seems to extend deep into the earth >The floorboards creek beneath Fluttershy's feet as he descends, skillfully avoiding every nail and splintered section of wood >"So, um... there isn't r-really much to do down here. B-but, um... I hope you like it..." >He shoulders the door at the bottom of the staircase open, revealing a wide, dingy basement space >It's completely windowless, the only light provided by a single bulb hanging from the ceiling >Fluttershy grabs ahold of his arm, coughing >"Y-yeah... sorry it's kind of a mess... I sh-should have cleaned." "No, it's fine." >You step closer to him, instinctive "You alright, Butters?" >"Huh?" >You gesture towards upstairs, your meaning clear >He shrugs >"I'll b-be fine. He's been better to me than usual, since it's m-my birthday." "That was *better*?" >"I m-mean... uh... it's really not that bad. P-please, just try to forget it." "I'm not gonna be able to forget that. Seriously, if that's better than usual, than you need to get away from here." >He shakes his head >"No. Even if I w-were someone else, things wouldn't be anyway. And he's not normally that bad anyway. J-just a few things make him mad. Normally I k-know what to do. I just kinda messed up today." "A few things? What kind of things?" >Fluttershy backs up against the wall, shaking >Clearly the subject makes him uncomfortable, and you step back, breathing deeply >The dusty air catches in your lungs, making you hack "Butters... you sure you're okay?" >"I'm s-sure." "Alright. But if you need help with... you know, with something around here, just tell me. Okay?" >"Y-yeah. I will." >He glances at the floor, then takes an awkward, stuttery step towards you, as if to embrace you >Then immediately steps back, and slinks over towards the corner of the basement >"So, um... I h-have a few games over here... if you w-want to play..." >So, twenty minutes later, you're seated across from Fluttershy, working on an "animal kingdom" puzzle >Turns out, by 'games', he meant a single set of Monopoly missing half its pieces, a busted checkers board, and a chess set where half the pawns have been replaced with pennies >Not exactly some high quality entertainment >The present sits unopened across from him, the silvery lining of the gift bag just a few centimeters away from his anxiously-drumming fingers >You can tell how badly he wants to open it, but for whatever reason he's still putting it off >Maybe he's afraid that, once he opens it, the magic the party will be over >But that's just your speculation >Fluttershy's fingers dance across the puzzle, nimbly sticking a corner piece into place >He's competed half the puzzle in under ten minutes >Seeing as it's one of the five he owns, and you doubt there's much other entertainment in the house, you're not really surprised >"Wh-why'd you come?" >He immediately closes his mouth, cheeks red at having blurted his question out "What do you mean?" >"Like... I dunno. Nobody else I invited showed up. Why you?" "Um..." >Because you had nothing better to do? "I dunno. It's your birthday." >Fluttershy gives you a small, sad smile >"Yeah..." >His fingers move up to fidget with the gift bag >"Is y-your girlfriend okay that you're here?" "Dash? I mean, yeah, I guess. Wouldn't know. She's at a tournament." >"Oh?" "Yeah. Out of nowhere, just left me." >"Oh. I h-hate it when people just r-randomly cancel plans on me too." >You lock eyes with Fluttershy for just a moment, before he looks away >"S-sorry. Anyway, r-really. Thanks s-so much for being here. Can I open my present now?" >He clutches the bag against his chest, eyes wide and hopeful "I mean, yeah. It's yours." >He sucks in his breath, fingers shaking so badly they can hardly peel away the thin layers of wrapping >When he sees the stuffed rabbit inside -- which looks strangely juxtaposed, sitting in the middle of the dingy basement -- he lets out a tiny squeak >"O-oh my... it's..." >Fluttershy lifts the rabbit out of its bag in a scene vaguely reminiscent of that moment from Lion King >Only far less majestic, and far more dirty >He buries his face in the toy's soft stomach, sniffling >"It's... it's s-so cute..." "Yeah? You like it?" >Unable to speak, he just nods >And, before you're able to react, he throws himself on top of you, his meager weight barely enough to knock you backwards >His arms circle stomach, squeezing you with the little strength he possesses >"Th-th-thank you! Thank you, thank you, th-thank y-y-you..." >He buries his face against your chest, the stuffed rabbit ending up squished between the two of you "Um, yeah. You're welcome." >You try to worm you way out of Fluttershy's embrace, but that proves to be harder than you thought >Every time you try to push him away, he seems to squeeze tighter, clinging to you like a terrified child >And then, suddenly snapping to his senses, he pulls away, shaking >"S-sorry..." "No, it's cool." >You sit back up, and Fluttershy scoots back to the table, squeezing his new rabbit against his belly >"Y-you know you didn't have to g-get me anything." "You already said that." >"Y-yeah, but... mmm..." "What?" >"I d-don't know. I f-feel super weird." "Weird? Weird how? Your dad didn't hurt you too bad, did he?" >"No. J-just... I don't know. I f-feel really... small. But r-really important at the same time. I d-don't know how to describe it. It's like I'm a t-tiny kitten, and you're--" >He cuts himself off, hiding his blush by burying his face in the rabbit >"S-sorry..." "I mean... I guess that's kinda what getting a present feels like. I dunno." >"I g-guess. I dunno. I haven't g-gotten a present in a while." >Oof >"I m-mean... that's not really a problem. I don't r-really do much to deserve one." "Well, deserving it isn't really the point, is it? You just give presents because you like someone, right?" >Fluttershy blinks twice "I mean, right?" >"That... th-that..." >He squirms, hugging the rabbit tighter >"That s-sounds nice. And it m-m-means you... kinda like me?" >He peeks out from behind the rabbit, nervous blue eyes regarding you from between its ears "I mean, yeah. Of course I like you, Butters." >Okay, maybe it's a bit of a lie >You definitely haven't looked forward to his company before >But what the hell else are you going to tell the poor guy on his birthday? "That's why I'm here, right?" >Fluttershy drops the rabbit into his lap, folding his hands over it and staring down at the floor >You hear only the faintest hint of a sniffle before the basement door opens >Immediately, Fluttershy scurries across the room, placing himself between you and his father, the rabbit tucked behind his back >The staircase groans in protest as his father descends, his lanky hair hanging in his eyes and his shirt unbuttoned >"You." >He points past his son to you, glaring >"Out. Now. Time's up." >Fluttershy immediately speaks up, his voice cracking in an indignant squeak >"B-but you said two hours!" >"I changed my mind. He goes." >"B-but--" >"What did I say about having boys in the house?" >"You... but..." >He starts towards Fluttershy, and he cowers >Despite flinching, he still keeps himself between the two of you >"Come here." >He motions for Fluttershy to join him >Obediently, he stands, heading over towards his father >Immediately, his father lays a heavy hand on his shoulder, the resulting *smacking* making Fluttershy wince >You stand, not willing to confront him, but making sure he knows you're watching >Fluttershy's dad locks eyes with you, glaring >"Flutter." >"Y-yes?" >"Room. Now." >He shoves Fluttershy towards the stairs >He stumbles, his foot catching on a nail >As he lurches the rest of the way up the stairs, little flecks of blood dot the floorboards >You stand there across from his dad, listening to Fluttershy's footsteps on the floor above you >They trace across the basement, and towards the far end of the house >You hear a door open, then close >For a moment, you close your eyes, saying a silent prayer you'll hear a lock click >It doesn't come, but that could very well be because you didn't hear it >You strain your ears, hoping for some sign that he's safe >*click* >Maybe you're just imagining it, but you think you heard him lock the door >With that, you brush past Fluttershy's dad >He glares at you, and you hold his gaze until you reach the top of the stairs >"You know, don't you?" "Know what?" >"'Know what.' Psh. Don't give me that." >He spits >"You know about him. That's why you're here." "I have no idea what you're talking about." >"You do. You wouldn't be here if you didn't." >Fluttershy's dad begins to advance towards you, his steps somewhat uncertain on the grimy floor >"He doesn't have friends. He's never had friends. If you didn't know, you wouldn't be here. So, I'm gonna tell you once." >He gets one foot on the stairs, the board sinking nearly an inch beneath his weight >"Leave him alone. If I ever see you around here again, I'm calling the police." "Yeah? Is that a promise?" >A dangerous edge creeps into Fluttershy's father's voice, audible even through his drunkenness >"You gonna question me in my own house, boy?" >He takes another step up the stairs >You just shrug "I'm sure I won't be the only one doing the questioning." >"Huh?" >Fluttershy's dad blinks >"The hell are you talking about?" "Nothing. I'm leaving. Here." >You open the door, taking an exaggerated step out of the basement "See? Going. Bye." >His dad starts up the stairs after you again, but the threat is ultimately empty >He keeps just enough distance to come across an intimidating, but not enough to maintain the threat >You turn away, walking through the dark hallways to the front door "Hey! Butters! I'm heading out now, alright? I'll see you at school on Monday!" >You voice echoes uncomfortably loud in the cramped house >An effete little squeak is all that answers, which you guess is Fluttershy's best attempt at shouting >"Y-yeah. Monday." >And, with that, you leave >"Everything alright, dude?" >Dash plops down next to you, a beer in each hand and a bowl of chips clasped between her forearms "Huh? Oh, yeah." >It's Sunday night, now >Apparently they swept the tournament, and ended up home early >Dash is practically glowing with excitement, but you can't quite match it >You're pretty worried about Fluttershy, for obvious reasons >And to make matters worse, you're unable to find him on Facebook, or any other social media site, and you're pretty sure he doesn't have a cellphone >"You sure? Come on, man! Today's been awesome! Lemme tell you about the tournament!" "Alright." >Dash's face falls for a moment, but she continues on with the story >"Okay! So, like, we'd won our two first games like it was nothing, right? Cloudsdale played like absolute shit, and Baltimare was missing their two best players. But then we get up against Griffonstone's team, and holy shit! They've got this offense player named Gilda, or something, and she's just..." >Your mind trails off as Dash rattles on about her story, and your mind returns to Fluttershy >There has to be a way you can get him out of there >While keeping his pet rabbit alive too, apparently >Why doesn't he just let the rabbit go? >Then he could get out of the damn house with no worries >Why would anyone let someone treat them like that? >"And then... are you even paying attention?" "Huh? Oh, shit. Sorry." >"Dude. What's wrong? Just tell me." "Sorry. I'm just super worried about a friend of mine." >"Who?" "Butters-- I mean, Fluttershy." >"That weird guy with the pink hair?" "That one." >"The guy with the super creepy crush on you?" "He does *not* have a crush on me." >Dash blows a raspberry >"Dude, I play on an all-girls sports team. I'm an expert in barely-restrained homolust." "That's... not terribly comforting." >She shrugs >"Still. The guy super likes you. But what's wrong?" "I was at his house yesterday. Birthday party." >"Yeah?" >You tell Dash about Fluttershy's dad, the abuse, the threats, and everything else >Dash lets out her breath in a huff >"That's... Jesus Christ, man." "Mhm. I'm super worried his dad's gonna do something awful." >"I mean... I think he probably has already, by the looks of things." >Dash lays a hand on your shoulder >"Okay, so what do we do?" "What do you mean?" >"I mean what do we do? You're not just gonna let this happen, right?" "Well, no, of course not." >"Then?" "Then... I don't know. That's why I'm worried. He's terrified of losing that stupid rabbit. And I don't want to know what his father will do to him if we mess up." >"Then we'll make a plan, dude!" >Dash sets the chips and beer on the table, all thoughts of her tournament seemingly forgotten >"Alright. So. We need to get him alone somewhere, so we can get him in on it..." >So, all-in-all, it's probably the weirdest date night you and Dash have ever had >But it's surprisingly productive >The two of you stay up until well past one in the morning, chatting over how exactly you can get Fluttershy away from his dad, while keeping his rabbit safe >"Dude, just tell him we'll get him a new one. Like, shit. It's just a bunny." >You whack Dash in the shoulder to show her exactly what you think of the idea >Eventually, the plan you come up with is pretty simple >You'll enter Fluttershy's house after school, after alerting the police and his dad will call them to try and get you kicked out >Then they can enter without him realizing what's going on, and investigate, and hopefully get Fluttershy away from there >It's... kind of foolproof, honestly >Dash stays the night, falling asleep with you on the couch as the two of you unwind before tomorrow >The next day, you find Fluttershy in the hallway, sitting in his usual corner while he sketches >Seems like all the guy ever does when he's alone is draw, but you suppose there's not really much else for him to do "Hey, Butters." >"A-Anon!" >He quickly hides his drawings, stowing them in his backpack >"I d-didn't expect... you usually don't... w-why are you here?" "What do you mean? It's school. I come here every day." >"N-no... why are you talking to me?" "I just wanted to make sure you're okay." >Which is partially true >And you're pretty sure the answer is a resounding "no," judging from the dark bags under Fluttershy's eyes >His hair is still matted and dirty, and you can smell that he hasn't showered since you last saw him >He curls up against the wall, tucking his legs against his chest >"Y-yeah. I'm fine." "You sure? You dad didn't... he didn't do anything, did he?" >Fluttershy stays silent "Butters?" >"N-no. He didn't." >He can't lie for shit >Fluttershy hangs his head, his greasy pink bangs unable to cover his eyes >And that's when you realize "Your hair... it's shorter than it was last night." >"Y-yeah. My dad doesn't like when it gets long. S-so he cut it." "Jesus. He didn't hurt you, right?" >He shakes his head, but still won't meet your eyes >So that's probably a yes >"I d-don't really want to talk about it. Everything's f-fine, really." "Oh. Well, uh... listen. Can I talk to you for a bit?" >Fluttershy looks around, then nods his head >"Of c-course." "Alright. Do you want to get away from your dad?" >Fluttershy sighs >"I t-told you. I c-c-can't. He'll k-kill Angel." "Not if he can't get to him. I have a plan to get you out of there." >Fluttershy grabs ahold of his arm, rubbing his shoulder >"I d-dunno. My dad is all I've e-ever had. Where would I g-go? N-n-no one else would want to take care of me." "You could find someone. Maybe the government. Or a friend." >He shakes his head >"They w-wouldn't want me. I'm a t-terrible kid to have to look after. Honestly, I l-l-lucky my dad didn't kick me out y-years ago." "You can't possibly be that bad. And even if you are..." >You extend a hand to Fluttershy "I'd be happy to have you over at my place." >"O-over at your... oh." >He wriggles up against the wall, a tiny smile forming on his lips >"I'd l-like that." >Checking the clock, you see that there's still a good half hour left until classes start >So you drop your backpack on the ground, and wedge yourself into the corner next to Fluttershy >He awkwardly flinches away, backing as far up as the corner will allow "So..." >You glance at his paper "What are you drawing?" >"Oh, th-this? Nothing interesting. J-just some birds." >He tries to cover the drawing, but it slips from his trembling hands, the stack of paper splashing across the floor >When he said "some birds," he meant a lot more than "some" >The floor is now littered in page after page of canaries, sparrows, pigeons, doves, and multiple species that you're too dumb to recognize >"Ah! S-sorry!" >Fluttershy throws himself on the ground, hastily scrambling to scoop all of his drawings back into his backpack >"J-just... here... d-don't look, they're r-r-really not that good... oh, no..." >He scoops them up hastily, but not before you've gotten a chance to admire his work >It's incredibly lifelike, even if it's not particularly imaginative >He's definitely got talent "No, they're good. Can I look?" >You hold out a hand, and Fluttershy freezes >"I, um... you d-don't want to. They're r-really nothing special. J-j-just something for me to waste my time on." "Please? I'd like to see." >"Okay. O-okay." >He hands you a single drawing >It's a black-and-white, shaded sketch of a raven on top of a fence >"J-just something I did to p-pass the time during study hall. Nothing very s-special." "You serious? This looks great!" >Fluttershy blinks >"Huh?" "It looks really good?" >He checks the drawing again, as if expecting you to be looking at something else >"H-how? It's just a drawing of a bird." "Well, yeah, but... it just looks really good." >He shrugs >"It's nothing special." "I disagree. I think you did a really good job, and it looks awesome." >You admire the drawing again "You're a really good artist." >Fluttershy just shrugs again >"N-not really. All I c-can do is draw animals. It's n-not real art." "Way better than I can do. Can I keep this?" >You're not sure why you said it, but Fluttershy's eyes widen >"K-keep it? Why?" "I dunno. Just to hang it up, or something." >"H-hang up my drawings? I m-mean... I d-dunno... if you really want to... yes..." >He squeaks out the last word, clutching the rest of his drawings against his chest >"Y-you can keep it." >He hastily stores the rest of his drawings in his backpack, where you catch a glimpse of the stuffed rabbit you gave him lurking inside it >Guess he really did like it >Fluttershy folds his hands in his lap, awkwardly glancing everywhere but at you "Anyway. I was wondering... maybe I could come over later?" >"T-to my house?" "Yeah." >"I'd love that!" >He gets so excited, he nearly tackle-hugs you again >But then he retreats, curling into a little ball in the corner >"But my dad won't let you. He'll... he'll be mad." "What if I said I had a plan? To get you away from there?" >"Y-you do?" "I do. But you'll have to help, okay?" >"I... um..." >He begins to tremble, but fixes his mouth in a thin, determined line >"I'll d-do it." >You drive Fluttershy home after school, pausing a block or two away from his house to phone the police >"Hello?" >A rough, confident baritone answers you, vaguely colored with a California accent >The exact kind of voice you'd want a police officer to have, really >You explain the situation to him, trying to gloss over the details of Fluttershy's abuse, but also to give him enough of an idea of what's going on in your friend's home, and then conclude with the plan you and Dash hashed out last night >"...and you think he'll phone us when you see him with his son?" "Yes. Otherwise, if you show up without him having called you, he'll... he'll hurt my friend." >The officer considers for a moment >"Alright. We'll wait until he calls us. But if you do anything to provoke him, especially in his own home, you realize you'll be giving him a legitimate case against you, right?" "I do." >"Okay. See you then." "Thank you, sir." >You set the phone down, taking a long, rattling breath "Okay, Butters. You ready?" >Next to you, Fluttershy is deathly pale >He's removed the stuffed rabbit from the bag, holding it in his lap and frantically stroking it between its ears >"I th-think so." >You pull the car up outside his house, the familiar peeling walls and rotted wood churning your stomach >The windows have been plastered with old newspaper, preventing you from seeing inside >You kill the engine, and open the door to step out >Fluttershy immediately grabs your hand >"W-wait." >He holds you fast with what little strength he has >"If a-anything happens, just go, okay? Please d-don't let him hurt you." "I'm not gonna abandon you here with him, Butters." >"No, I mean it. I'm u-used to it. He c-c-can't do much to me anymore. B-but if he hurt you..." >Fluttershy shakes his head >"I w-won't let it happen." "It won't. The police are gonna come, and they're gonna take you to a better home." >Fluttershy squeezes your hand tighter >His hands are surprisingly soft and delicate, like little birds fluttering in your palm >But you can feel the rough, dirty patches amongst his fingers, no doubt the result of living in such a filthy, harsh place >"P-please. Just promise, okay?" "Butters--" >"Promise." >He gets that same determined look on his face from before, his mouth setting in that tiny line "Alright. If things go south, I'll leave. I promise." >You squeeze his hand back "But I want you to promise me something too, okay?" >Fluttershy pauses for a minute, then nods "Promise me that, if things go bad, you'll get out out of the house. Take your bunny and leave, okay?" >"I... I d-don't know if I can." "You can. I promise. Get out of the house, find somewhere self, and I'll come get you. Understood." >Fluttershy begins to shake, but grits his teeth and clutches the stuffed bunny to his chest >"I w-will. I p-p-promise." "Okay." >You step out of the car, as does he "Then let's do this." >Fluttershy steps in front of you as you take the steps up to his front porch >When he reaches the door, however, it refuses to open >"L-locked? Why..." >He tries to jimmy it open, but the door won't budge "Do you have a key?" >"N-no. My d-dad wouldn't let me have one." "Oh. Maybe we could--" >You're interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door >They're heavy and frantic, moving away from the front of the house and back towards the back of the kitchen >Fluttershy's eyes go wide >"H-he already knows you're here! Angel..." >He tires desperately to get the door open, even going so far as to throw his meager weight against it >The door rattles on its rusty hinges, but doesn't move >Fluttershy slumps against it, shaking >"Angel... he's g-going to... to... no! N-no! Please, don't!" >He throws himself at the door one more time... >And it opens >But not because of him >Fluttershy goes tumbling into the house, landing at his dad's feet >He groans in pain, quickly scampering away >Fluttershy's dad stands silhouetted by the dingy confines of his house, his hair slicked back with water and his clothes mildly cleaner than when you last saw him >And in his arms, cradling it like a baby, he's holding a tiny white rabbit >"Stand up." >He nudges Fluttershy with his heel, and he quickly scrambles to his feet, backing up against the doorway >"What did I say about bringing boys back?" >"I... I d-didn't... I j-just wanted to s-spend time." >He grabs Fluttershy by the shoulder, pulling him further into the house >In his other arm, the rabbit squirms, but he holds it tightly against him >You try to follow, but his dad whirls on you >"Hold it! Don't you dare step into my house!" >He lets go of Fluttershy's shoulder, grabbing his hair instead >"Tell him to leave!" >"Nnn..." >Fluttershy squeals in pain, tears leaking from his eyes as his father's fingers twist in his hair >"Tell him!" >Didn't he call the cops? >You start to reach into your pocket for your cell phone >"D-don't... Anon, j-just... just go." >Fluttershy writhes beneath his dad's grip, trying to lessen the pain on his scalp >He forces his eyes open, more tears spilling onto his cheeks as he pleads >"P-please... I d-don't want him to... to hurt Angel... please j-just go... I'll b-be fine." >"There." >Fluttershy's dad pulls his son against him, wrapping his arm around Fluttershy's shoulders >"See? He doesn't want you here. Now go." "Or what?" >You desperately hope he'll say that he'll call the police >"Or this one..." >He shakes his son >"Is going to need a new pet bunny. Isn't that right?" >Fluttershy squeaks, shutting his eyes >Angel squirms, but can't seem to get free >"P-please..." "Alright. I'm going." >You step back out of the house >"And if I see a single goddamn cop on my front lawn..." >He jostles Angel, and the rabbit chirps in fear >Arms leaden, you swing the door closed >The last thing you see is Fluttershy's miserable face as his dad drags him back into the house >You step back, leaning against the rotten wooden railing >"You didn't call them?" >You're talking to Dash now, having pulled your car back into school >She waited in the parking lot for you, and now the two of you are huddled in the back seat together >You're shaking badly, and a horrible green pressure is rising in your stomach "I couldn't. He said he'd kill the rabbit." >"It's just a rabbit, though. I mean, I know he'll be sad, but..." "I know." >"Don't you think it'd be worth it?" "Probably." >"Then why not just call them?" "I don't know. I guess it kind of feels like giving up. Like I'm letting him win." >"Dude. You're gonna get him put in jail. How does he win?" >You shrug "If he kills the rabbit, Fluttershy's going to keep being miserable. And if he's still miserable, then his dad wins." >Dash leans back in her seat >"I guess. Still doesn't seem right. We could just the police in there to bust him, even if the rabbit doesn't make it. In the end, he gets a better home, right?" "You're right. But still... you've heard how he talks about that stupid rabbit, right?" >"Um, no? Today is the first time I've spent any real time with the guy." "Oh. Well... it's pretty much his life. In fact, it's probably... oh, shit." >"What?" "It's probably been his only friend for a long time." >"Oof." "Yeah..." >"So... leaving the bunny behind isn't an option?" "Only as a last resort. I don't want to see what'll happen to Butters if he loses Angel." >"Alright. Makes sense." >Dash kicks back, trying to appear calm despite the worry you can see reflected in her eyes >"Then what's the plan?" >You lean your head into your hands, letting your breath out in a huff "That's a good question. I have no idea. His dad's a fucking psycho. There's no way he'll let Butters just take the rabbit." >"Yeah..." >Dash kicks off her sandals, her toes fidgeting with the seat's linoleum >"I think I've got an idea, actually." "Yeah?" >"Mhm. It's... kinda stupid though, if you're cool with that." "If I wasn't cool with stupid ideas, we wouldn't be dating." >Dash chuckles, elbowing you in the ribs >Fluttershy isn't in his usual corner the next morning, nor anywhere in the cafeteria >You scan the halls of the school while Dash heads off to meet with her soccer team, hoping for any sign of your reclusive friend >The longer you go without finding him, the worse the pressure in your stomach begins to feel >His dad did something awful, you're sure of it >When the bell signaling the start of homeroom rings, you lean against a row of lockers, breathing heavily to try to calm yourself >Getting through your first class is hell >What happened to him? >Could his dad have hurt him that badly? >Or even killed him? >No, he wouldn't go that far >You're overreacting >His dad is bad, but he wouldn't... >Would he? >Only ten minutes have passed in the first period >How are you going to make it? >"Mr. Anonymous?" >Twenty minutes into class, Ms. Harshwhinny's voice interrupts your daydreaming >To be perfectly honest, you're happy to hear her >Your own imagination is taking you only to increasingly darker places "Yes, ma'am?" >"Is everything alright?" >The entire class turns to look at you >Looking down, you realize that you're soaked in sweat, and pale as chalk >You've clenched your pencil so hard it's snapped in half, one of the shattered ends poking into your hand, causing a thing line of blood to drip down your fingers "Yeah. I'm fine." >Ms. Harshwhinny, as always, is not a woman to be easily mislead >"I see." >She sighs, getting up from her desk >"Come with me, Mr. Anonymous." "Huh?" >She steps out into the hallway, motioning for you to follow >"Now, Mr. Anonymous, tell me what's wrong." "It's really nothing, ma'am. I appreciate the concern, but--" >"Anonymous, I understand that my class isn't exactly the most riveting experience in the world. But no one does this..." >She grabs ahold of your bleeding hand >"...to themselves over 'nothing.' Now, if this is something you'd rather now share, I'll understand. But you can't honestly expect me to stand idly by when one of my students is so obviously suffering. That would be disgustingly unprofessional." >You bite your lip >How much do you trust Harshwhinny? "Do you know Fluttershy, ma'am? He's in my year." >Harshwhinny considers for a moment, then nods >"I believe I do. Had him in my Intro to Economics course last year. He was a good student, if not very talkative." "He hasn't shown up today." >"Oh?" "And I'm worried. His... his home situation isn't great." >A flash of understanding shows in Harshwhinny's eyes >"I see. Well, I can check the attendance record for today, to see if his father sent in any notice of his absence." "Please." >Harshwhinny pulls her phone from her pocket, dextrous fingers scrabbling across its screen >"Apparently his dad registered a sick notice some time around five in the morning." "He did?" >"Indeed. The record says he called us almost four hours ago." >She stores her phone back in the pocket of her jacket >"Now, about this family situation. Is this something I should be notifying the police of?" "I... I'm not sure yet." >Harshwhinny frowns >"I see." >She starts back towards the door to the classroom, then reconsider >"Well... as he's your friend, I'll trust your judgment on this, Anonymous. But if you need my help or advice, for any reason, let me know." >She scribbles something down on a piece of paper, and passes it into your hand >"Now, do you feel up to continuing class? Or do would you like me to excuse you to the nurse's office?" >After Harshwhinny's class finishes, you go back to wandering the hallways for the twenty minute break period >You still don't see him >Harshwhinny's phone number is now stowed safely in your wallet >You hope you won't have to use it, but if Fluttershy doesn't show up today... >Well, you have a feeling you'll need some help >"Anon! Dude, where is he?" >Dash grabs onto your arm, looking worried "I don't know. His dad reported him sick this morning." >"His dad? Oh shit, dude..." "Yeah. If he doesn't show up by the end of the day, I'm thinking we go get him." >"No, dude. You know that's a bad idea." "I can't just sit here any do nothing." >"I know, man. I know. It sucks." >Dash leans against the locker >"I barely know this guy, and I'm worried sick. You must feel awful. But, come on, we gotta stick to the plan." "But if he doesn't show up..." >"Then we'll make a new plan. Come on." >She pulls you into a brisk hug >"We're gonna figure this out. I'll see you before lunch, alright?" >"Before lunch" takes absolutely forever to arrive >You end up doodling in your notebook for the entirety of your history class, unable to focus >No matter how much you try to focus, your mind just runs circles through all the awful things that could be happening to Fluttershy >You hope he's okay... >And then, just as you're heading back to the cafeteria to attempt to choke down some lunch, you see him >Fluttershy's hunched over his locker, dropping his books inside while avoiding eye contact with anyone around him >Despite the heat, he's dressed in a thick, long-sleeved sweater >And, okay, maybe you lose your cool just a *little* bit >And maybe you kinda, sorta, you know... >...run up and hug the everloving shit out of him "Butters! You're alright!" >You practically tackle the poor guy into his locker, wrapping his tiny body in your arms >"A-ah!" >He struggles for a moment, panicked, before realizing it's you >"A-A-Anon! What are you... p-people are watching..." "He didn't hurt you, right? You're alright?" >"I, uh... y-yeah. I'm fine..." >Even through the sweater, you can feel his heart hammering through his skinny chest >You break the hug, holding Fluttershy at arm's length while you examine him >He averts his eyes, and a tiny tremor runs through his body "Butters? What did he do to you?" >"N-nothing. I'm f-fine, I promise." >He fidgets with the sleeves of his sweater, the cuffs drooping down over his hands >"Were you r-really worried about me?" "Of course! Holy shit, I thought... I thought he'd done something crazy..." >"Ha... no... n-nothing crazy, j-just the usual." >He realizes what he said just before it's too late "The usual? What's the usual?" >"It's n-nothing. I'm f-fine, really." >He goes back to fidgeting with the sleeves of his sweater "Butters?" >"Y-yeah?" "What's under the sleeves?" >"N-nothing! J-just... I, y-you know... was cold..." "Even though it's seventy-five degrees outside?" >He back up against the locker >"It's... it's nothing serious." >Fluttershy holds up his arms, sleeves slipping down to reveal dark purple bruises marring the pale skin of his forearms "Jesus." >"It's r-really nothing. He was j-just in a bad mood yesterday, and..." "Butters..." >You sigh >He's clearly not in the mood to be chided right now >The poor guy looks like he's barely keeping it together as it is "I'm just really glad you're okay." >You give him another hug, this one much gentler than the first >Fluttershy leans his head on your shoulder, squeezing himself against you >"Th-thank you so much, Anon..." "For what?" >"For t-trying so hard to help. And just for... for c-caring what happens to me." >You eat lunch with Fluttershy, of course >He's pretty averse to eating in the cafeteria, so you carry food up to the seldom-used third floor of Canterlot High, and eat together in the corner of an empty classroom >Where, as usual, he tells you more about his stupid rabbit >And god damn, you never thought listening to stories about someone's bunny would be so enjoyable >Hell, he could be telling you in-detail about the Rwandan Genocide, and you'd still be happy to listen to him >You're just so glad this poor fucker's okay >Well, as okay as he can get... >"And then I t-took Angel downstairs, and he sat in my l-lap while I was drawing. And he only b-bit me twice! He's r-r-really getting a lot better." "Yeah? Can he do any tricks?" >"Well... him not biting me is already k-kind of a trick... heh..." >Fluttershy holds out his hand for example, where you can see it's pocked with a half dozen tiny, angry little bite marks >"But he's a g-good bunny, though. He's really sweet, he just has a bit of an attitude problem." "Huh. Sounds like Dash." >"Y-yeah, heh... Dash..." >Fluttershy begins to fidget with the hem of his sweater >He scoots a few inches away from you >Then a few inches back towards you >And then a few more inches away... >And then finally an inch of two closer, sitting so close that your shoulders are *almost* touching >"Y-you two are s-s-still dating?" >Fluttershy's face is cherry red, and he's fidgeting with his sweater so hard it looks like he's trying to un-knit it "Um... yeah?" >Holy shit, Dash was right >This guy has totally has a massive crush on you >For a moment, you're disgusted, but the feeling quickly dissipates >It's not like he means you any harm, and keeping him safe is more important than any discomfort you might feel right now >"Oh. J-just curious. Are you, um... are things g-g-going well?" "Pretty well. She wants to help us." >"Th-that's good to hear." >Fluttershy tries to hide it, but the disappointment is plain on his face >He lets out a tiny cough >"Anyway, um..." "So, your dad gave you Angel back?" >"Y-yeah. Well, n-not really. He kinda passed out last night, and I k-kinda took him back to my room. I th-thought he'd be safer there." "Okay." >You take a bite of your sandwich, the gears in your head turning >"Why d-do you ask?" "Oh, no reason. You doing anything after school?" >Fluttershy perks up immediately >"N-no! Of course not, I... y-you know, I never d-do anything after school..." "Awesome. Dash and I were going to go get ice cream. You want to come with?" >"With you? Um... the t-two of you? Would that be a little, you know, weird?" "Nah, it's cool. Your dad won't mind, right?" >Fluttershy shrugs >"He p-probably won't even wake up until this evening." "That's perfect." >As if on cue, the bell rings to signal the end of your lunch period "I'll see you then, alright? We can meet up here." >"You want me to do what?" "If anyone calls wondering where I was today, can you tell them I was in your office?" >Harshwhinny sighs >"Anonymous, this will go a lot easier if you just tell me what's going on." "I can't." >Across from you, your teacher raises an eyebrow "Mostly because I don't really know what's going on myself." >That gets a small smile out of her >"Understood. But, you have to realize, Anonymous, I can hardly just lie to the police." "Oh. Yeah..." >"As much as I want to help you, doing so would simply be unethical. And unprofessional, on top of that." "Alright." >"But... well, I don't see any reason I couldn't stretch the truth a *little*." >You sigh, relieved "Thank you, Ms. Harshwhinny." >"Of course. But, should it turn out you've deceived me into covering something of a, shall we say, *unpleasant nature*..." >Harshwhinny clicks her tongue >"Well, I won't hesitate to make sure you are swiftly and summarily thrown under the bus. Understood?" "Completely. Thank you so much, ma'am." >Harshwhinny nods, her smile widening >"Don't mention it." >You stand to leave >"I'm serious. Don't mention it to anyone. I can tell you're up to something, Anonymous, but I've chosen to trust that it's something good." "It is, Ms. Harshwinny. I promise. Thank you so, so much." >"Heh. You take care of Fluttershy now. That boy could use a good friend." >You return Ms. Harshwhinny's smile "My thoughts exactly." >The ice-cream outing isn't quite as cozy as you were hoping >Fluttershy stays silent for most of it, glancing nervously over at Dash >He sits as far to one end of the table as possible, taking the tiniest possible bites of the chocolate sundae you bought him >Now, a more-tactful person would realize their friend's shyness, and tone back their own rowdiness back a bit >But Dash isn't exactly a tactful person >"So what's up, dude? You're not gonna give us the cold shoulder, are ya?" >Dash smacks Fluttershy on the back, making him squeak >"I'm f-fine..." >"Yeah? How do you know Anonymous? He talks about you all the time, you know." "I do not--" >Fluttershy's eyes go wide >"H-he does?" >He looks between you and Dash, aghast >"All the time, man! He worries about you a ton!" >"Oh m-my..." >Fluttershy begins toying with what's left of his hair, as if trying to will it to fall in front of his eyes >"So yeah man, how's everything? Your dad's not being a too big a piece of shit, right?" "Dash..." >You facepalm >Is she ever going to figure out that there are certain subjects you just, you know, shouldn't bring up? >"What? I'm just being friendly! I'm worried about this little scamp too!" >She wraps an arm around Fluttershy's shoulders, pulling him closer >Fluttershy kind of looks like he wants to die >"He, um... w-well... uh... he wasn't as b-bad as he is sometimes is. I m-mean, it was my fault, honestly. He hates it when I bring b-boys home, and I should have--" "Okay, let's talk about something else." >Fluttershy looks relieved, but Dash just rolls her eyes >"Fine, fine. So, dude, you listen to any music?" "Oh no..." >Fluttershy shrugs >"I g-guess. When my d-dad lets me listen to his radio with him." >"Yeah? What kinda stuff you like?" >"Um... j-just whatever's on, I guess. I don't know..." >"You have a favorite band, right?" >"N-not really. I k-kinda don't know any." >She starts fidgeting his hair again, twirling little pink strands around his finger >"My dad doesn't l-let me have any CD's." >"That's awful!" >Dash turns to you now >"Dude! We gotta get this guy into something good! Like--" "You're just gonna make him listen to Dragonforce, aren't you?" >"--Dragonforce..." >Dash frowns when she realizes you just Jojo'd her >Your next line is... >"Of course, dude! Dragonforce is the best! You're not gonna make him listen to your gay hipster shit, are you?" >She smiles now, knowing she's hit you where it hurts "It's not gay, and it's hipster! Just because it's not popular--" >"Doesn't mean it's hipster." "--doesn't mean it's... hipster. Yeah." >You frown, and Dash cackles >"I, um... I'd like to l-listen to Anon's music. If that's alright." >Dash just shrugs, but the small smile still playing on her lips makes you think she planned it like this >Did she just... double-Jojo you? >"That's cool. But, at some point, we're gonna bing the entirety of Valley of the Damned and throw back a case of Mountain Dew. Alright?" >"Um..." >She nudges Fluttershy again >"Alright?" >Fluttershy smiles >"That d-doesn't sound so bad." >"Of course it doesn't! My ideas never do." >"That's n-not what Anon says." >"W-what? My ideas are perfect! When have they ever gone wrong!?" >"He t-told me you tried to drink an entire case of Red Bull and Gatorade before a g-game once. Apparently you spent two hours throwing up." >"That wasn't my fault! There was... uh... they'd gone bad! They were expired!" >Fluttershy giggles, taking another big bite of his sundae >"I d-don't think that's how it works... but okay." >The three of you end up talking for far longer than you ever thought you would >You and Dash carry most of the conversation, of course, but Fluttershy does his best to join in wherever he can, gradually opening up a bit more >Outside of animals, the guy is pretty naive >Actually, no insanely naive >Dash makes some shitty, off-handed joke about "wrapping it before you tap it", and Fluttershy just stares at her >"H-huh?" >"Wrap it before you tap it, dude. Like a condom?" >"A what?" >"Uh..." >Dash glances at you >"You know, like... never mind." >"L-like what? What's a c-condom?" "It's... like, you know... the thing you wrap your dick in. When you're boning." >Wow, now you know how your parents must have felt >"Wrap your d-dick... oh m-my..." >Fluttershy goes beet red, hiding his face in the sleeves of his sweater >You feel like you're about as red as he is right now >Dash is trying her absolute damnedest not to laugh >She fails, collapsing into a fit of hysterics >Fluttershy peeks out from between his hands >He glances at the plastic covering on Dash's straw, which inspired the joke >"H-heh... oh! W-w-wrap it before you... tap it... l-l-like sex! That's actually r-r-really good!" >He joins Dash in laughter, his effeminate little titter a stark contrast to her rowdy guffaw >When you get back to the car, Fluttershy checks the digital clock on your dashboard >"E-eight o'clock! Oh no! M-my dad, he's... he's going to..." >Immediately, all the joy that seemed to build up in him dissipates >He lets out a defeated sigh, deflating against the seat >You reach over, and put a hand on his shoulder "Hey, don't worry. It's gonna be alright." >"Y-yeah. I guess. C-can you take me home now? I'd r-rather just get it over with... sorry..." "Actually... me and Dash had a bit of a different idea." >"H-huh?" >You pull out of the ice-cream shop, heading for your house >"W-where are we going?" "My place." >"B-but... my d-dad..." "Your dad's not gonna know where you are. And he's gonna have to call the police if he wants to find you, right?" >Fluttershy's eyes go wide as your plan dawns on him >"So... I'm going to... with you... and my dad will..." "You're gonna be staying with me for a bit. Congrats, Butters. You're officially kidnapped." >"K-kidnapped? But what about A-Angel?" "You said you had him in your room, right? He'll be fine." >Fluttershy begins to shake >"B-but... if my d-dad gets him... he'll..." >He begins to chew at his fingernails, eyes wide with fear >"I d-don't want Angel to be alone with d-dad. Especially if he's angry. He m-might forget to feed him, or... or..." >Fluttershy buries his face in the sleeves of his sweater, the idea too horrible to even comprehend >"P-please, Anonymous... j-just take me back. I'll b-be fine, I just need to make sure Angel's okay..." >Sighing, you pull off the road and into an abandoned parking lot "I'm not taking you back to him, Butters. Not if I have any other choice." >"B-but--" >You peal out of the parking lot, heading in the opposite direction now "So we're going to bring the rabbit back to you." >You pull up outside Fluttershy's house at just past eight-thirty, stopping a block down the street so as not to alert his dad >"P-please, Anon! This isn't a g-good idea! You're breaking the law!" >"I think it's an awesome idea!" Dash interjects "He's breaking the law too, right? And I think doing... well, doing what he's done to you is way worse than stealing back your own bunny." >"Y-yeah, but... nnn..." >He begins wringing his sleeves >"I d-don't like this." "It's okay. We'll go in together, alright? That way he'll think it's just you, and I can sneak in and grab angel." >"Okay... I guess..." >Dash grabs your hand just as you're heading out of the car >"I'll keep it running, alright? If you need to blow this place, we'll be ready." "Right." >She gives you a good-luck kiss, which Fluttershy glances away to avoid seeing >God, he's so gay for you, isn't he? >Easy, Anon, you've got a rabbit to save >Now's not the time to focus on your friend's latent homosexuality >Fluttershy creeps up the stairs to the front door of his house, wrapping his fingers around the doorknob >Of course, it's locked >He hangs his head, biting his lips >You're hiding at the bottom of the staircase, trying to keep out of sight of the windows "Don't you have a key?" you whisper >Fluttershy shakes his head >"M-my dad normally lets me in... when he's awake..." >Somehow, his regular speaking volume seems even softer than your best attempt at a whisper "Is there any other way in?" >"Well... the b-basement, I guess... but he d-doesn't like it when I use the b-back door..." "Do we have another option?" >Fluttershy considers for a moment >"I g-guess not... here..." >He circles around to the back of the house, where a huge wall of weeds and bramble conceals a rusted metal door >You follow, peeling the bramble away as quietly as possible >A few thorns nick your fingers, sending little droplets of blood down your palms >"H-here. Let me." >Fluttershy pushes you away, and nimbly extracts the plants without so much as scratching himself "Damn. You'd got good hands." >"H-heh. I g-g-guess it comes from drawing so much." >He gets the door clear, and then begins trying to jimmy it open >The hinges shriek horrible, after being opened just an inch >Fluttershy freezes in his tracks, a bead of sweat rolling down his face >The two of you strain your ears, but you don't hear any noise from inside the house >"M-maybe he's asleep?" "Maybe. Okay..." >You grab the door, pulling it open as slowly as you can >The hinges groan in protest >You swear you hear movement inside, and immediately stop >Fluttershy is shaking now, his eyes scanning the windows >There's no lights in the back yard, so you're confident Fluttershy's dad couldn't see you even if he was looking for you >Still... that means you won't be able to see him either >The thought sends shivers down your spine, and you reflexively glance over your shoulder >Just darkness lurks behind you, along with rows of weeds and the fence enclosing Fluttershy's yard "We're not gonna be able to get this open without a ton of noise. Is there another way in?" >Fluttershy glances up at the narrow window above the door >The next thing you know, he's climbing up your back >"P-please don't drop me." "I'm not gonna drop you." >"Okay. Okay." >He takes a deep breath, sitting atop your shoulders >"I'm n-not hurting you, right? Tell me if I h-hurt you." "You're not gonna hurt me. You weigh like twenty pounds." >Now that you're holding Fluttershy, you can feel just how badly he's shaking >The poor guy is absolutely terrified, and even through his legs you can feel his pulse hammering >All this over one stupid rabbit... >Fluttershy finally gets himself on your shoulders, sitting with his legs on either side of your neck >His crotch presses against the back of your neck as he pauses to get balance >You pause, preparing for the uncomfortable feeling of a dick against the back of your head >But, actually... you don't feel much of anything >Just the fabric of his sweat pants and the squishiness of his thighs >Poor guy must not be very well hung; it feels like there's nothing there >"I, um... I th-thnk I'm ready..." >Maybe it's just you, but it seems like Fluttershy takes a little more time than is necessary to climb off your shoulders >"O-oops." >He slips back down, landing with on top of you again >And this time, you definitely feel him give your face a little squeeze with his thighs >"S-sorry..." >He hasn't let go yet "Butters?" >"Y-yeah?" "You gonna get off?" >"O-oh! Yeah! S-sorry about that... j-just a got... it's k-kinda slippery... l-lost balance..." >It's too dark to tell, but you can practically feel him blushing >Finally, after way too much finagling, he disappears through the slit window >You hear a thump on the other side, followed by a tiny squeak >"Ow..." "You okay?" >"Y-yeah. Here, I'll g-give you something to c-cimb up." >A minute passes, and a twisted-up blanket is tossed through the window >You grab ahold, and haul yourself up, wriggling through the narrow space >Fluttershy helps you to the ground, taking hold of your hands to help you balance >"Okay. I d-don't hear him, so I th-think we'll be alright. But you h-have to be quiet, okay?" "You sure about that? I was planning to belt out as many verses of Stayin' Alive as I can remember--" >You're interrupted by the sound of footsteps upstairs >Fluttershy glares at you, as if that were somehow your fault >"Flutters! You here!" >Fluttershy's eyes go wide >He takes a minute to answer, before choking out >"D-d-down here, papa!" "What are you doing? If he sees us, he'll--" >Fluttershy grabs you >"Anon. I n-need you to promise me something." >Something about his tone of voice silences you >"I'm g-going to distract him. You c-can sneak upstairs, g-get Angel, and leave. I'll m-meet you guys later." "Butters, I'm not going to let you--" >"L-listen to me. No matter what happens, you h-have to save Angel. I'll b-be fine. I know how to h-handle it." >He turns his eyes toward the ground, swallowing >Despite the timid posture, you can tell you're not going to change his mind >This guy is really going to sacrifice himself for a rabbit; of course he is >"You p-promise." "Alright. No matter what happens, I'll get the bunny. But you have to promise me something too, okay?" >"W-what?" >You wrap Fluttershy in a quick hug, even as you hear is dad's footsteps approaching the basement door "Promise you'll be safe." >He tries to respond, but chokes on his words >You release him, and sprint back towards the basement stairs, ducking into the narrow alcove underneath them >Just as you wedge yourself out of sight, the wood above you creaks under Fluttershy's dad's weight >He lurches down, his feet hitting the stone floor of the basement >"When did you get home?" >You can hear the slur of alcohol on his voice >"R-right after school." >"Yeah? Did you?" >"Y-yeah. I d-did, I promise." >"Bullshit." >His footsteps stop >As soon as his back it to you, you begin to creep up the stairs >"I d-did! I p-p-promise!" >"Yeah?" >His voice drops you a dangerous whisper, and your footsteps slow >You're almost to the top when you turn, reflexively, making sure Fluttershy his okay >His dad has him by the hair again, Fluttershy contorting his body to try and lessen the pressure on his scalp >"And why didn't I see you anywhere, smartass?" >"I, uh..." >"Didn't think I'd realize you were gone? Huh?" >"I w-was down here." >"You're a liar!" >He tosses Fluttershy against the wall, where he rebounds with a painful-sounding smack >"Who were you with? Was it a boy?" >"N-no!" >"Don't you dare lie to me again!" >He bends down to hit Fluttershy >Against your better judgement, you take a step back down the stairs, starting towards Fluttershy >You don't care about the plan, you're not letting this happen >The floorboard creaks audibly under your foot >In that moment, you and Fluttershy meet each other's eyes >"Please..." he mouthes >You can see the tears shining in his eyes >"Just go..." >His dad begins to turn around >There's nowhere for you to hide >You tense up, ready to run for it, or fight >And then, before he can turn far enough to see you, Fluttershy leaps up, giving his dad a limp-wristed smack across the face >Immediately, his father forgets all about the noise behind him >"You..." >His voice drops to a deadly whisper >"S-sorry! I d-didn't mean... I j-j-just..." >"You just hit me. Your own father. In *my* house." >Given the drunken rage that colored his voice earlier, the near-whisper is somehow a thousand times more terrifying >Fluttershy gives you one last look, his eyes pleading >"Please..." >"What the hell are you staring at!?" >Before he even gets a chance to look, you're up the stairs and out of the basement >Heart hammering, you race through the house >Every instinct you have screams at you to turn around, but you don't >You promised him you'd get the rabbit, and you're going to get the rabbit >Fluttershy understood what he was getting into, you tell yourself >He can handle this >Just a few hours, and the two of you will be back at your house, pretending this was all a horrible dream >You burst into the first room, finding only a dingy bathroom, the bathtub coated with grime and grease and the floor tiles cracked >The next room looks like storage; just a bunch of boxes and trash piled to the ceiling, illuminated only by a single bulb dangling from the ceiling >The next room, though, has to be Fluttershy's >It's bare, for the most part, just more plain stucco walls and empty floors, with a messy, sagging cot shoved into one corner >The walls, however, are plastered with his drawings >Every species of bird, mammal, reptile, and a million drawings of rabbits surround you like the world's most depressing art museum >There isn't even a window >Next to the bed, there's a single wrought-iron cage, containing a tiny white rabbit >The creature begins to panic the moment it sees you, hopping frantically from one side of its cage to the other >You undo the cage, and Angel immediately sprints out, making a beeline for the door "No you don't..." >You scoop him up, holding him against your chest >He bites you >And goddamn, does this little bastard have some sharp teeth >Hissing in pain, you reflexively drop him, and he continues his quest towards the bedroom door >Fortunately, your legs are longer, and you beat him to the door, closing it before he can escape >Angel begins sprinting madly about the room, his little hind legs thumping against the stone floor >It's not terribly loud, but you're sure Fluttershy's dad can hear it >You hope he's okay... >You charge after the bunny, but your foot slips on a pile of paper and you go spilling to the ground, landing on Fluttershy's cot >It collapses under your weight with a resounding *crack* >Groaning, you roll over >Angel backs into the far corner of the room, shivering in terror >Well, he sure takes after his owner... >You jump up from the cot, swiping him off the ground and wrapping him in your shirt >He thrashes, biting you again, but you grit your teeth and bear the pain >Stupid, stupid rabbit >You've barely taken two steps outside the room when you hear Fluttershy's dad stomping up the stairs >"Who the hell is in here? Did you bring someone back with you!?" >"N-no! I swear!" >He growls in rage >"If it's that boy from last time, I'm sending him home in a body bag! And I hope you know it'll be your fault!" >Fluttershy squeaks in terror >Immediately, you duck back into the storage room, keeping the door open just a crack, so you can see out into the hallway >Fluttershy's dad emerges from the basement, carrying your friend along by his hair >You duck further back into the room, clutching angel against your chest >He lets out a tiny, terrified chirp >Fluttershy's dad stops >"What the hell was that?" >"J-just Angel... he m-must be hungry..." >You have to give Fluttershy props, he doesn't betray any of the terror he probably feels >"That fucking rat again? I'll give it something to chew on..." >You hear the door to Fluttershy's room crash against the wall as his dad throws it open >"Where is that little shit?" >"P-please! He's just hungry! Let me feed him and--" >"Feed him? And where are you getting the food?" >"I, um..." >"You're using my money, aren't you!" >"N-no! I mean, I j-just... I..." >His composure begins to break, genuine fear showing through on his face >You step out of the storage room, peering through the bedroom door >Fluttershy's dad has him pinned up against the wall, one hand on his throat and the other jabbing accusingly at his chest >Your arms tighten around Angel >Fluttershy can't see you; he has his eyes firmly shut as tears leak from beneath his eyelids >"You're lying to me again, aren't you?" >"N-no, I promis--" >*smack* >Fluttershy's dad hits him so hard you can feel the shock in your teeth >Your friend is tossed across the room from the momentum of the blow, smacking against the wall and collapsing to the floor as his drawings rain down from the walls around him >He curls into a little ball on the floor, shivering and clutching his face >Fluttershy's dad starts toward him >And that's when you do something stupid >Hoping his sound localization are diminished enough by alcohol, you pound your fist against the storage room door, the knocking resounding through the entire house >"What the fuck!?" >His dad whirls around, but you're long out of sight >"Who the fuck did you call here?" >"N-no one!" >"Bullshit! If I see a single goddamn cop out there, I'm twisting your little rat's neck!" >He stomps out of the room, past the storage room and down towards the front door >You sprint into Fluttershy's bedroom >"Anon! Y-you need to get out of here!" "Not without you! Come on, we can--" >"No." >Fluttershy curls up against the wall, nursing his right eye >It's swollen and purple now, the skin surrounding it mottled with bruises >"I c-can't risk him following us. Just leave me here, okay?" "I'm not--" >You hear his dad stomping back up the stairs towards the bedroom >Fluttershy pushes you away >"J-just go. I'll catch up with you guys. I p-promise." >His one good eye locks on yours, and he forces a smile >"I p-promise. I can handle it. Now g-g-get out of here." >You duck back out of Fluttershy's room and into the storage room >His dad stomps past, rage in his eyes >And then you're gone >Your brain seems to go on autopilot for a moment, possibly to keep you from comprehending what kind of horror you just left Fluttershy to >You sneak down the hallway and back down to the basement, hauling yourself through the window with Angel still in your arms >Dash is still waiting in the car when you return >"Dude, you alright?" >You sit in your seat, and just stare at the steering wheel >"Anon? Everything cool?" >She takes your hand, squeezing your fingers "Yeah... yeah, it's good. We're just gonna... gonna wait for him a bit." >"Alright." >You lean your head on the dashboard, breathing heavily >"Jesus, man. You don't look good." "I should have gotten him out." >"Huh?" "His dad freaked out, and... I could have gotten him out. But I let him talk me out of it." >You run a hand through your hair, frowning "I fucked up bad. Dammit, Butters, Please be okay..." >You're not really sure who or what you're praying to, but it feels better than doing nothing >Dash lets you lean your head on her shoulder, and the two of you wait >And wait >And wait... >At some point you must have dozed off, because the next few hours seem to pass in a haze >You're awoken by Dash shaking you gently >Angel is curled in your lap, his chest rising and falling as he breathes >Through the darkness, a scrawny, hunched figure slowly creeps towards your car >Even though you can tell it's Fluttershy immediately, your hand still reflexively goes to the lock button >He approaches the passenger side, holding a hand over his injured eye >"H-hey..." "Butters!" >You accidentally raise your voice a bit too much, and Fluttershy shrinks back into the shadows >He motions for you to keep your voice down "Sorry." >Quietly as you can, you step out of the car and wrap him in the gentlest hug you can >He leans his head on your shoulder, gently shaking "Are you okay? Do you need us to get you to a doctor? Do you need the police?" >"N-no... I'm b-b-be fine. It wasn't anything t-too bad." >He refuses to meet your eyes as he says those words >"D-did you get Angel?" "Yeah, he's safe. Here." >You open the door for Fluttershy, allowing him to see his rabbit snoozing on the passenger seat >"Angel!" >He squeals, grabbing his rabbit up into his arms >Angel squirms, and tries to bite him, but Fluttershy doesn't seem to mind >He nuzzles the rabbit against his face, cooing gently into the critter's ear >"It's okay Angel... it's okay..." >He leans back into you, holding Angel pressed between both of your chests >Dash sticks her head out the window, and gives you a smirk >You swear you see her mouth "no homo" at you >When Fluttershy notices her watching, he quickly scoots away from you, avoiding eye contact with Dash >"Th-thank you so m-m-much, Anon..." "Don't worry about it." >"N-no, really... I..." >He starts chewing on his lip, shifting anxiously from foot to foot >"I h-have something to tell you later, okay?" "Yeah?" >"Mhm. When w-we're back at your place. J-j-just remind me, okay?" "Okay. Now... you hungry?" >Fluttershy immediately perks up at the mention of food >"I... um... k-kinda, yeah. But I've only g-got a couple dollars, so you do you think we could g-go to--" "Don't worry about it. I got some extra cash to burn." >"B-but... you already g-got me ice cream..." "Yeah? It's ice cream. It's not I bought us some Fois Gras or something. So, where do you want to go?" >"Anywhere is f-fine... whatever you like... j-just, is it okay if it doesn't have meat?" "Yeah, sure. Not much is open, so we'll probably just hit a late-night Supermarket. That good?" >Fluttershy nods as he slowly climbs into the car >Dash is pretty much conked out through the entire ride back >Or, rather, she looks like she is, but you're pretty sure she's just pretending >Come to think of it, when you first met her, she had a bit of an obsession with cheesy yaoi fanfiction >Is she thinking you and Fluttershy will... >Goddammit, Dash, she totally is >Fluttershy holds Angel in his lap, gently stroking the rabbit as he snoozes >"Anon?" "Yeah?" >"I j-just... I just wanted to s-s-say that you don't have to keep going through t-trouble like this." "Huh?" >"I m-mean... I appreciate it... I r-r-really do, it's been..." >He leans his head against the window, breathing deeply to try and steady his speech >"It's been really weird. But in, like a g-good way. Having someone actually..." >He interlaces his fingers, staring down into his open palms >"Actually, you know, care about me... about what h-happens to me... it's been so weird. And I w-wanted to say thanks. F-f-for everything." >You hear Dash shift on the back seat >Yeah, she's definitely listening >And this is definitely going to show up in some bad internet fanfiction at some point, isn't it? >"And, j-just so you know... y-you don't have to keep doing it. I d-don't want you to feel like you h-have to keep looking after me. What you've done so f-far is enough. So... if you g-get tired of me, or want to move on... to, you know, better friends... it'll be okay." "Butters..." >You shake your head as you pull into the Supermarket parking lot "You're right, in a way. In the beginning, this was just a charity case." >Dash "wakes up" as soon as you pull in, and follows a few steps behind you and Fluttershy, not interrupting your conversation but clearly listening to every word "But it's more than that now. I'm not helping you just to help you anymore. You're my friend." >Fluttershy lets out a tiny little noise, somewhere between a gasp, grunt, and a squeak "So, I don't really have any choice now, do I? You're getting my help whether you like it or not. And as for moving on, well... let's just say I don't think you need to worry about that. I don't think you'd be so easy to replace." >This time, Dash joins Fluttershy in letting out a tiny squeal >You try to dial the conversation back to something a little more down-to-earth while you shop, asking Fluttershy what he'd like to do when you get back >"D-do? I mean... I th-thought we were just going to g-go to sleep..." "Sleep? Nah, it's a Friday night! We're gonna party! So, what do you wanna do?" >"We could watch some Black Butler" Dash chimes in "Yeah! Or we could watch something actually good. Or, you know, whatever you want. I've got a couple good board games. Or really anything." >"Oh, um... uh..." >Fluttershy goes back to toying with the hems of his sleeves, then forcibly stops himself, then goes back to fidgeting >You resist the temptation to tell him to stop >"I mean, whatever you w-want to do is fine..." >"You sure dude?" >Dash wraps an arm around Fluttershy's shoulders, steering him towards the dessert aisle >"Come on! Just tell us what you like to do, alright?" >You start to follow, but she turns back and motions for you to wait >Guess she wants some time alone with him? >That's... a little weird >What the hell is she planning? >The two of them don't return until you reach the check-out line >Flutters looks nervous... or, rather, more nervous than usual >And Dash is clearly trying, and failing, to hug one of her signature smug grins >Okay, yeah, she's definitely up to something >You wonder how long it'll be before she asks the two of you to re-enact her favorite Captain America/Iron Man shipfic, or something similarly horrifying >"So, um... Anon?" >The three of you are heading home now >Fluttershy is curled up in the passenger seat, his legs and arms tucked inside his sweater, holding Angel "Yo." >"Dash and I w-were talking..." >You can feel Dash perk up at the mention of her name, even if you don't see her "About what?" >"She, um... she t-told me you have a lot of old D-Disney movies." "Oh, yeah, a whole chest full of them. All on VHS, too. Super retro." >"W-would you be okay with watching those? I h-haven't seen any of them, and--" "Whoa, wait, what? You've never seen a Disney movie?" >Fluttershy considers >"N-not really... my d-dad doesn't let me use the TV..." "Holy shit. So you haven't even seen, like, Pocahantas? Snow White? The Little Mermaid? None of those?" >He shakes his head >"N-no. I m-mean, I guess I've heard of them, but... y-yeah." "Not even at a friend's house?" >Fluttershy hangs his head >It's not hard to read the meaning there "Well, we're about to get that fixed. Hope you don't have any plans for the next, I dunno, three days." >Fluttershy lifts his face, and gives you a small smile >"I th-think I can fit it in my schedule..." >You pull into your place at around eleven o'clock >However, you're not the slightest bit tired >And, by the looks of things, neither are Fluttershy or Dash >The escape left you frayed and on-edge, but getting Fluttershy to safety has left you feel alive and energized in your triumph >So, you know the three of you won't be sleeping any time soon >"Are y-your parents home?" "Nah. They're divorced, and my mom's out of town for work all the time. It's just us, for a few days." >"Oh. Is th-that okay? I d-don't want to intrude." "It's all good. She'll understand, when I explain it." >You lead your friends downstairs, to your basement >Which, it should go without saying, is infinitely nicer than Fluttershy's >The floor is carpetted, there's a huge, cushy couch pushed into one corner, and one wall is taken up by a huge flatscreen TV >Fluttershy stares around your place, his eyes wide >"Wow..." "You like it?" >"It's amazing. Everything is so clean, and so... c-cozy." "Hah, yeah. Well, I'm glad you like it. Because it's gonna be your home for a bit." >"Y-yeah... you're s-still sure that's okay?" "Of course. Why, do not want to live here, or...?" >"N-no! No, I really do. I just, I d-don't know... it feels like a little t-too good for me. If that makes any sense. I d-don't want to mess the place up." "Well, you literally can't mess it up anymore than Dash has. Like two months after we started dating, she punted a soccer ball down here and shattered the old TV." >"Hey! That wasn't *my* fault. I told you to block it!" "And then you sent it at my face at seventy miles-per-hour." >"It's not my fault I kick hard, jackass! Besides, it wasn't that good of a TV anyway..." >Dash flops down on the couch, pouting >Fluttershy giggles in spite of himself, awkwardly glancing at the spot in the middle "Take a seat. I'm gonna grab the movies and get dinner ready, alright?" >When you return with the fresh fruit, crackers, and cheese you got from the Supermarket, you find that Fluttershy has already settled in nicely >Dash has broken into the closet to grab the spare blankets and pillows, and built a comfy little nest on the couch >She lounges across one end, her feet propped up on the coffee table >Next to her, Fluttershy is wrapped in a cocoon of blankets, looking cozier than you've ever seen anyone >His stomach gurgles audibly when you set the dinner down "Well? You gonna take some?" >"I, um... I w-was gonna wait for you to go first. If I t-take too much, there won't be enough, and--" "We've got enough for like ten people. Dig in. In fact..." >You plop down on the couch between Dash and Fluttershy, kicking your shoes off "Think of this place like it's yours, starting now." >"M-mine? No, I couldn't. It's w-way too nice for me." "Eh, you'll get used to it. Now, what do you want to watch?" >"Anything is f-fine, really. Whichever one you l-like." >"Dude." >Dash leans across you, rooting through the chest of Disney VHS tapes >"We gotta show him Mulan." "You sure? I mean, he likes animals so much. We could go with, like, Bambi or Lion King or something. Or Pocahantas." >"Nah man, cute animals all that girly shit can come later. You gotta start with badass warriors and dragons!" "Alright, alright. We'll put on Mulan now." >"Gotcha." >Dash scoots off the couch to start the movie >Fluttershy, meanwhile, curls up under his blanket >He tries to make it subtle, but you notice him scoot a few inches closer to you, ending up with his hip barely resting against yours >When Dash returns, she scoots up against your opposite side, curling against you >Fluttershy avoids looking at the two of you, and even scoots away a bit just as the film starts >"Hey. Don't be a stranger. C'mere." >"H-huh?" >"Get in on this cuddle-puddle, dude. We got plenty of room." >She pats your thigh >"I, um... I m-mean... if A-Anon is okay with it..." >You can see him fidgeting under the blankets >Dammit, Dash... >She's totally getting off to the idea of you cuddling some other guy, isn't she? >Completely shameless... >Well, you can't exactly say no, not when Fluttershy is making that face at you >His eyes are so wide, you can see the entirety of the TV reflected in them "Yeah, sure." >Fluttershy stays wrapped in his blanket cocoon, and attempts to worm his way on top of you >It doesn't go super well, and he almost topples off >You reach out to grab him, keeping him from falling off >And, in the process, pulling his body against yours in a tight, cozy embrace >He lands against you with an little gasp, and immediately refuses to move >You gently try to shove him off, but nope, he's stuck there >And now your arm is wrapped around his shoulders too >Dash is practically drooling >Okay, now this is going to sound incredibly homo >But cuddling Fluttershy is actually kinda... nice >He's soft; insanely soft, even softer than Dash >Especially around his... well, around his butt, which is currently squished against your upper thigh >God, you're going to need to go lift weights, drunk shitty beer, and punch someone to work off this encroaching gay >Fluttershy adjusts his weight on top of you, curling up to better fit inside your embrace >You've reached the scene where Mulan first introduces herself as "Ping," and where she's first at risk of them realizing she's a girl >Due to Fluttershy's proximity, you can feel his heart beating faster "You alright, man?" >"H-huh?" >You're surprised to find him sweating slightly "Your heart's going crazy, Butters. Everything okay?" >"Y-yeah! So great! I'm g-g-good!" >He starts tapping his foot against the couch and compulsively shifting his position >Dash gives you this sly look, which you don't really want to interpret >And then she starts wiggling her eyebrows at you, which you *really* don't want to interpret >Fluttershy starts stuffing pieces of slices fruit into his mouth so he doesn't have to talk >"S-super good... nothing g-going on here..." >He realizes he's still talking, and stuffs more fruit in >He starts to calm down a bit... until you get to the scene where Mulan is bathing >Fluttershy's heartrate goes crazy again >Man, there's regular sheltered, and then there's "can't handle Mulan" levels of sheltered "Butters? You sure you're alright?" >"Y-yeah! Alright!" "Uh huh... you sick or something?" >"Um... y-yeah, maybe... I m-mean... n-n-not contagious or anything! Y-you can keep... h-holding me..." >He settles back against you, taking deep breaths as if hoping it'll calm his heart-rate >Dash is "asleep" again now, so it's just you and Fluttershy >The movie continues to play, but it's hard to tell if he's actually enjoying it >Something about it is really messing with the poor guy >Is it that really intense for him? >At least he gets a real quick out of Mushu, though >When he first appeared on the screen, he let out an audible gasp >"O-oh! He's so cute, oh m-my..." >And his antics continue to amuse him, always getting a little breathy giggle out of your friend >But still... something's really freaking him out >When you get to the point where Mulan is "discovered," Fluttershy gets really bad >He starts visibly squirming, to the point that it's uncomfortable to hold him "Okay, Butters. What's wrong?" >"N-nothing! S-s-super great!" >He curls into a little ball in your lap, shivering "Do you need something? Like, I've got some Tylenol upstairs, I don't know if that'll--" >Onscreen, Mulan is tossed out into the snow, half-naked >"I g-gotta go to the bathroom!" >He jumps off you, his feet tangling in the blankets and preventing him from landing properly >So he face-plants hard on the carpeted floor "Jesus, dude! You okay?" >"Y-yeah! Just... y-you know... heh..." >He tries to untangle himself from the blanket, but can't >Onscreen, the various other soldiers are chastising Mulan for her betrayal, and send her away >Fluttershy gulps, and begins wriggling his way across the floor towards the closet like a caterpillar, avoiding looking at the television "Butters?" >"Y-yeah?" "The bathroom is upstairs." >"O-oh. Y-yeah, right. I knew that." >He squirms back across the floor to the staircase, and then finally starts unwrapping himself >Except it doesn't go so well >He gets his arms out, but can't seem to untangle his legs >"Can you, um... h-help me?" "Yeah, sure..." >Joints protesting, you get up from the couch and bend down to untangle your friend >You have no idea how he did it, but he somehow managed to force the blankets to tie a knot around his ankles >You reach your hands down into the mess of blankets too try and free him >Which, of course, requires you to trail them right down his thighs >The minute your hand grazes his hip, Fluttershy lets out a tiny squeak >His cheeks go beet-red, and you can feel tiny little tremors running through his body >"A-Anon..." "Hold on. I'll get you out of here." >"Th-thanks. Hnn~" >Dash has one eye open now, watching you >You scowl at her, and she just winks in response >You force your hands down past Fluttershy's hips, praying you don't accidentally touch anything that'll scar you for life >The blankets are wrapped around him insanely tightly, meaning you have to worm your hands down across his body very, very slowly >Fluttershy cranes his neck, his teeth gritted >Dash is visibly sweating now >You get to the top of his thighs, trying to keep your fingers as far from his crotch as you can >Fluttershy wriggles a little "You okay?" >"Y-yeah... that j-just kind of tickles..." >Dash bites her lower lip >Grunting, you work your hands down a little lower >At least there's no hint of a dick, you tell yourself >As gay as this might feel, at least you haven't touched his dick >Come to think of it, you've been cuddling with this bastard for like an hour, and you didn't feel his dick then either >... >Poor bastard must *really* not be well hung >You force your hands down a little lower, starting to sweat yourself >How did he get these blankets so tight around his legs? >"A-ah..." "Oh, shit, you okay?" >"Y-yeah... s-sorry... that just h-hurt a little..." "Okay. I'll be gentle." >Behind you, Dash makes a noise you haven't heard before >You look over to find her fanning herself with her hand >Well, if you find any mystery stains on the couch later, you know who to blame >Your hands work lower down Fluttershy's legs, making him squeak >"Nnn... careful..." "Yeah... I'm trying. This doesn't hurt, right?" >"N-no... just k-keep going slow..." "Alright..." >You grunt, forcing your hands down to his mid-thigh "It's just... really tight..." >"Y-yeah... hnn..." >The constricting blankets force your hands together, and they end up squished between his thighs, just a few inches below his crotch >Fluttershy groans, his entire body shivering >Dash is panting now, and she's moved so that half her body is strategically hidden beneath the blankets and pillows >Okay, yeah, you're going to power-wash this couch the first chance you get >Right after you can get your hands out of Fluttershy's crotch >"Hmm... are y-you there yet?" "Yeah, almost... almost there..." >You get down to his knees, then across his calves >Even through his sweatpants, you can feel the silkiness of his skin and the plush softness of his legs >Gayness levels rising... >There's no returning now, is there? >Fluttershy lets out a shuddering gasp as you reach his feet, and begin to work at undoing the knot binding them >"Th-that kinda tickles..." "Sorry..." >"N-no it's okay... it f-feels kinda nice... ah~" >Dash is now almost completely hidden from view; she's just barely peeking out over the top of the couch >Forget washing, you're gonna burn this couch and get a new one >Wait, weren't you planning to let Fluttershy sleep there? >Oof... >Your fingers start scrabbling furiously against the knot >Fluttershy gasps as your hand grazes the bottom of his foot >"H-hnnn..." "I know. Just hold out a little longer, okay?" >"Y-yeah..." "I'm super close. Just a little more..." >"Okay... I c-can hold on... y-your hands are so strong..." "Yeah. I'm still not hurting you, am I?" >"N-no... it f-feels just fine..." "Alright..." >You give on final, loud grunt as you pull the knot apart, freeing Fluttershy's legs >He gasps in relief, falling backwards onto the stairs >"Th-thank you so m-much... that f-f-feels so much better..." "Yeah... holy shit, that was harder than I thought." >"Y-yeah..." >Fluttershy hauls himself into a standing position, his legs wobbly >"I'm g-gonna run to the bathroom. I'll b-be back in a bit." "Alright. I'll make us some dessert while we wait." >"B-but we already had ice cream earlier..." "What, is it a law that dessert has to be a once-a-day thing? Let's live it up!" >Back on the couch, Dash is completely obscured by the blankets, except for her face >She's either pretending to be asleep again, or she passed out in the past two minutes >You don't the implications of either that much "You're such a perv." >"There's nothing pervy about pure love, dude." >Okay, yeah, she's still awake "Oh, fuck off. I was just helping untangle him." >"Y-yeah? And how did that feel? Was he soft? D-did he wriggle a little? Was he sweaty?" "I'm just not gonna answer that." >Dash licks her lips >"Come on, man. D-did you touch his..." "Dash!" >"I was gonna say butt!" "That's still weird!" >"And adorable!" "I swear to God. Can I have a normal sleepover with a friend without your boy-love fantasies being injected into every five minutes." >Dash immediately perks up, her eyes wide >"Do... do normal guy sleepovers involve that much cuddling?" "No! Of course not!" >"Then... this is special? What you guys have is a unique bond between boys?" "No! We're just... he just..." >"Oh my... he looked like he needed love, and you gave it to him! You decided to overlook your lack of attraction to him, and give him the comfort he needed. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh..." >Dash starts fanning herself again, breathing heavily "You... yeah, no, I'm gonna go make some milkshakes or something." >"Are y-you and Butters gonna share one? With two straws?" >You just stare at your flustered, sweaty fujoshi girlfriend "I *really* hope you're sitting on a towel or something." >You fix some milkshakes for dessert (chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, and chunks of cold cookie dough, it's pure diabetes) and carry them down for the three of you >When sitting back on the couch, you keep an eye out for any wet spots >Dash pulls herself into your lap, being all hyper-intimate and loving like she always gets when she's horny >Fluttershy creeps downstairs a few minutes afterwards >He catches sight of you and Dash snuggled together, and sits on the far end of the couch >Dash notices, reaches across you, and physically drags him into the cuddle-puddle >Fluttershy watches the movie, transfixed, until its end "So, what'd you think?" >"Th-that was super cool. And there are a b-bunch more?" "Dozens. Which one do you want next?" >Fluttershy bends over to peer into the chest >He spies the VHS case for Bambi, and his eyes go wide >"O-oh my...!" "You see one you like?" >He pulls the case out, practically glowing >"It's... it's got a little deer... and a bunny... it's s-so cute..." "Ha, yeah. I thought you'd like this one." >As you take the case from his hands, his fingertips graze yours ever so slightly >You set the movie up, and join the cuddling again >Fluttershy sips quietly at his milkshake as it starts >The moment the owl first appears on screen, he gasps >"S-so cute!" >And then the squirrel >"Oh my... I c-can't..." >He starts to lean forward in his seat, eyes wide as he takes in every frame Disney-animated animals >"Wh-why did no one tell me about this before..." >And then Thumper shows up on screen >Fluttershy holds his hands to his face, his mouth working soundlessly >"A-Anon..." "Yo." >"C-can you pause it? I th-think I need a moment." "Sure." >You pause the film, and Fluttershy lays down on the floor "You alright?" >"It's... it's so c-cute... I d-d-don't think I can deal with it." >He crawls towards the stairs >"I'm g-gonna go check on Angel real quick..." >Dash watches him go, then leans her head on your shoulder >"Are you okay if I pass out like this?" "You mean pretend to be asleep and spy on me?" >"Wh-what? I would never!" "Oh, right. Of course. Clearly I must have trust issues." >"Yeah! Clearly..." >Fluttershy returns with the stuffed rabbit you got him clutched against his chest >Since when did he have that? >Must have had it in his backpack >Does that mean he's been bringing it to school with him? >That's... >Fuck, it's really cute >He sits back on the couch, snuggling up against you with the stuffed bunny in his lap >And just like that, he's entranced again >For most of the movie, Fluttershy keeps his distance while you and Dash cuddle >In fact, as you progress further and further through Bambi he starts to scoot closer to the screen, sitting on the floor and inching closer to the bright, colorful characters as if he wished to join them >He absentmindedly pets the stuffed bunny's ears >And then you get to *that* scene >Bambi and his mom trek through the swirling winter, in search of food, and finally happen upon some fresh spring grass >Fluttershy lets out a tiny "aww..." >And then the crack of bullets blasts through your TV speakers >Fluttershy gasps >"O-oh! They're n-not gonna get hurt, right?" "Uh..." >Bambi starts sprinting across the snow, with his mother behind him >"Just run! Don't look back! Run!" she yells >Fluttershy sticks his fingers in his mouth, chewing on his nails >"P-please be okay... please be okay... please be okay..." >Bambi makes it back to the thicket without his mother >"A-Anon? His mama's okay, right?" "Well... Butters, you know... uh..." >"P-please tell me she's okay! She can't die! He's so little! I d-don't want him to have to live without his mama!" >You glance at Dash, who's still pretending to be asleep >Seriously!? >She's gonna leave you to handle this by yourself? "Butters... I mean..." >"Anon, p-please! That's n-n-not okay! His m-mama can't be dead! That's not f-f-f-fair! He's so little and s-s-so scared... he shouldn't have to live without a mama!" >Onscreen, Bambi is now scampering through the forrest, terrified and alone >"No... n-no..." >Fluttershy collapses, weeping "Hey! You alright, man?" >You untangle yourself from Dash's sweaty embrace and scoot across the floor to sit next to Fluttershy >He shakes his head, crying harder >"His m-mama... poor l-l-little deer... his m-m-mama..." >You awkwardly wrap an arm around him, not really sure what else to do "It's... it's just a movie, Butters..." >Absolute wrong thing to say >He cries harder, wrapping him arms around your waist and squeezing you with a strength that, in all honesty, he shouldn't possess >"It's n-not fair! Who's g-g-gonna look after him if h-he doesn't have a m-m-mama? He's s-so little... and s-so cute... he needs a m-m-mama... she c-can't be dead, it's n-not fair..." "He still has his dad, see?" >Fluttershy lifts his head, seeing Bambi join with his father >And that's when the sheer awfulness of the situation hits you "Oh, wait... shit, Butters, I'm so... I didn't realize..." >You cradle your friend in your arms, no longer caring how gay it might be >Your right hand moves to stroke his hair as he sobs into your shirt "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." >"It's n-not fair... he n-n-needs a mama... he sh-shouldn't have to live without a mama..." "I know. I know. I'm sorry." >He sniffles, having left a sizable tear stain on your shirt "We don't have to watch the rest if you don't want to." >"N-no." >He wipes his eyes, looking back at the TV >"I w-want to make sure he ends up h-happy." "Oh. Alright. I mean, he does." >"You p-promise?" "Of course. I've seen this movie a million times. He lives with his friends in the forest, and everyone's super happy." >"Alright." >He sighs, relieved >But I w-want to see it happen. Is that okay?" "Yeah, of course. Here." >You scoot back to the catch, taking your spot next to Dash and patting the cushion next to you >Fluttershy sits next to, keeping his distance this time >He curls into a little ball, still shaking slightly with dry, quiet little sobs >When the movie ends, he closes his eyes, a small, relieved smile forming on his lips >"Th-thank you, Anon." "For what?" >"Showing me that." "Really? I mean, it seemed like it kinda... you know, made you miserable." >He wipes his nose, letting out a tiny chuckle >"Yeah, it kinda did. But I think that was good for me. I... I'm g-glad I got to see him happy. It was r-really sweet." >He grabs up one of the couch pillows and hugs it against his chest >"I feel really good now..." "I'm really glad, Butters. You deserve it." >He beams, the light from the TV reflected in his eyes >"It's... I don't really know how to describe it. I didn't know you c-could feel like this. I mean, I knew you *could*, but... I never thought I would actually get to know what it was like." "What what's like?" >"Feelings s-safe... feeling..." >He mumbles the next word under his breath "What's that?" >"Y-you know, feeling... l-loved." >You blink, and Fluttershy immediately blushes, fidgeting with the collar of his sweater as he hastily explains >"N-not to say that you, you know, l-l-love me! I know that's n-not how it is! You have Dash! I j-just meant, like, you know... friend love... just like... yeah..." >Behind you, you hear a sharp intake of breath >Yeah, you knew she was faking >Out of nowhere, Fluttershy blurts out: >"C-can I ask you something?" "Huh?" >"I mean tell you! Can I tell you something? Something w-weird?" >He scoots closer to you, his hand barely coming to rest against yours "Uh... how weird?" >You can feel Dash squirming behind you >Fluttershy, meanwhile, leans closer, his face inches from yours as his voice drops to a whisper >"J-just... um... I... I'm a..." >Before you can answer, you feel Dash's hand at the back of your head >And before you can ask what the hell she's doing, she shoves your face right against Fluttershy's >Your mouth meets his in an awkward, sudden kiss >For whatever reason, you don't pull away immediately >You tell yourself it's shock but... >Something about the softness of Fluttershy's lips, the gentle gasp he makes when your mouth meets his, and the way he tilts his head to kiss you better... >It's nowhere near as bad as you'd imagine >In fact, it's... kinda nice... >Ah! >No, what are you thinking! >Even for you, this is way to gay! >You break the kiss, and whirl on Dash "What the hell!" >"What?" "You just... are you insane?" >Dash looks like she's in heaven >"It had to happen! It was too perfect, the way you were looking into his eyes, and talking about your feelings and love and..." >She sucks in her breath >"Just... unf. So unf. But like an emotional unf. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, That was so sweet!" "It was not! It was disgusting!" >"D-disgusting?" >The sound of Fluttershy's voice snaps you out of your tirade "I mean... no! Not disgusting! Just..." >"So you're saying you liked it?" >Dash wriggles her eyebrows "No! I'm just saying..." >You glance between the two >"I'm r-r-really sorry, Anon..." >Fluttershy hangs his head, miserable >"I sh-shouldn't have l-let that happen..." "No! It wasn't your fault! And it wasn't bad, I just..." >"It w-wasn't?" >He looks up, suddenly hopeful >"D-did you... maybe... like it a little?" >Dash creeps up behind you, her eyes wide and expectant "I mean... yeah, okay, maybe a bit." >Fluttershy squeaks, beaming >"Y-you mean it? R-really?' "Yeah. Sure, whatever." >"Then... d-does that mean that I'm a g-good kisser?" "Uh..." >Dash nods "I mean..." >She nods harder "You're..." >She nods so hard you think her neck is about to snap "Yeah. You're pretty good." >Fluttershy looks like he's about to faint >"Th-thanks..." >Dash elbows you in the ribs "What?" >"Aren't you gonna give him another? Come on, man..." "Dash, goddammit..." >You grab your girlfriend by the arm, bending in so that only she can hear you "You realize what you're doing isn't cool, right? You can't play with this guy's emotions just because it gets you off." >"Anon..." >She grabs your face in her hands >"I already got off." "Whoa, hold on, did you at least wash your hands before--" >"This is about so much more than that. Look at the love in his eyes, Anon." >Dash forcibly turns your head, making you look >Fluttershy gives you a small smile >"This guy is crazy about you. You're the only one who's ever let him feel like he fit in. Just imagine how he must feel about you..." >Dash starts breathing heavier, her face flushed >"You can't let this slip away. You have to kiss him. Right now." "Not gonna happen." >"Please?" "Dash?" >She makes you look at Fluttershy again >And, well... he does look like he could use another kiss... >Agh, no! >What the hell are you thinking? >That's a dude! >Your crazy-ass girlfriend is seriously convincing you to kiss a dude! >She's given you the gay! >"Anon?" >Fluttershy scoots a little closer to you >"Are y-you okay?" "I'm fine! Totally fine!" >You jump up from the couch "You two aren't okay! What the fuck? Gah! No!" >You shake your head, as if gayness could be shaken from the skull by force alone "I'm gonna go... I dunno, do some pushups or something. Jesus Christ..." >You head to the bathroom, and splash some cold water on your face >In all seriousness though... what was that? >For a moment there, you really did want to kiss him >Like... sure, there's nothing wrong with being a guy who's into other guys >That's not what this is about >But that's not you! >And you've got a girlfriend already! >Sure, a girlfriend who's done everything in her power to make sure the two of you *do* end up kissing, but... >You splash more water on your face >It was just a weird slip-up >The two of you had been all cuddly, and your brain just got confused >Plus, he's super girly, right? >Your brain probably just parses him as a girl, for some stupid reason >Yeah, that's it >He just tricked your brain into treating him like a girl, and you got confused >When you return downstairs, Fluttershy is curled at the end of the couch, looking downcast >Dash is scowling at you "What?" >"N-no... it's n-not his fault..." >Fluttershy stands up from the couch, walking over to you >"I'm s-sorry I tried to make you kiss me again." "Sorry? You've got nothing to be sorry for. Dash was just being a little pushy." >"Y-yeah, but... I s-still wanted it to happen. I'm r-really sorry." >He hangs his head >"I sh-shouldn't have expected you to w-want to kiss me again, anyway... b-b-but..." >He looks up now, staring you in the eyes >"Th-thank you for the nice things y-you said earlier. They m-made me feel really g-g-good... about myself..." >He wraps his arms around your waist, leaning against you in a soft, chaste little hug >And you return it in the most heterosexual, platonic way possible >By which you mean you squeeze the daylights out of the poor little guy >So, sleeping arrangements turn out to be a little harder than you thought "So, Butters... I was gonna let you crash on the couch, but I think Dash has defiled it already." >"Hey! I mean, you're not wrong, but still! That's not something you just tell someone!" "Says the girl who made my entire sofa smell like tuna." >"It doesn't smell that bad! Wait, does it?" >She takes a tentative sniff "But yeah. The only sleeping bag I have is kid-sized, so... would you be okay just sleeping on my bed? Dash and I will take the floor." >"Uh, yeah, no. I ain't sleeping on the floor. Got practice tomorrow and I need the rest." "Well..." >"I c-can sleep on the floor. I d-don't really mind, it's k-k-kind of something I'm used to." "I'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor, Butters. You deserve a good spot. Here." >You pat the mattress "You and Dash can take the bed, I'll take the floor." >Normally, you'd be the last one to allow some other guy to share a bed with your girlfriend >But clearly Fluttershy's about as gay as Sir Ian McKellen's fabulous white robes, so you don't think you need to worry about any funny business >In fact, you should probably be more concerned that Dash is gonna try to airdrop a sleeping Fluttershy on top of you, or something >Probably after stripping you naked, or something >Okay, yeah, no, she's staying on the couch >"Oh? You want me on the couch, huh?" >She wriggles her eyebrows "Yeah, 'cause you're the one who turned it into a cesspool." >"Okay, seriously? It's not *that* gross." "Yeah, sure." >"Don't act like you don't know what this is really about." >She winks at you "What?" >She wriggles her eyebrows "What!?" >"You just want to share a room with him alone, don't you?" "I do not! I just don't want you pulling anything funny!" >"Yeah? Well, I won't. I promise." >She's still smiling, to the point it's starting to become a little unnerving "Oh God, what are you planning this time?" >"Nothing! I think my work here is done." "Are you serious? Nothing is gonna happen!" >"Oh, no. Of course it won't." >She gyrates her hips, miming humping something >"You two are just sharing a room for some innocent sleepover time, right~?" "We are!" >Dash squeals >"That's even cuter! Are you gonna stay up late and talk about your feelings? Can I join!" "Absolutely not! We're going right to bed! There's no way I'm gonna stay up having some mushy hear-to-heart, so just chill!" >... >"H-hey... Anon? C-can I tell you something?" >Fluttershy is snuggled in the handmade quilt covering your bed, but he peeks his head out to watch you >You're on the floor, wedged between the bed and the wall, in a space barely big enough for your body and the various pillows you layed down to sleep on >It's not exactly uncomfortable, though >In fact, it's super cozy >You just wish you could trust Dash's behavior enough to let her share it with you "Yeah, of course. Anything, Butters." >You prop yourself up on your elbow, listening >"I, um... I h-have a secret to tell you." "Yeah?" >You brace yourself for the oncoming confession of love, the skin on your back tingling >As if it weren't already obvious, you think to yourself >"I'm... I'm a..." >He bites his lip "You're a what?" >"N-never mind. Is it alright if I t-tell you in the morning?" "Yeah, sure." >Fluttershy sighs, looking relieved, and curls back up in the blankets "And hey, Butters?" >"Y-yeah?" "If anything happens with your dad... don't worry, okay? From this point on, I promise, he's not gonna hurt you again. Anything goes wrong, just get behind me or Dash. We're not gonna let him hurt you anymore. You deserve better." >For what feels like a long time, Fluttershy is silent >"You r-really don't have to do that..." "You're right. But we will. You're our friend now, Butters. And we're gonna keep you safe, no matter what." >"B-but... I don't want to see what he'd d-do to you..." "Doesn't matter. I can take it, Flutters. Hell, I probably deserve it, given how much of an asshole I've been to you." >"N-no! Don't say... don't say that..." "Either way, still doesn't matter. I can handle it. You've suffered more than your share. And I'm not letting you suffer more, if I can stop it." >Not even caring how gay it is, or might be, you reach up and touch what you think is his hand "From here on out, I promise, I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure you're happy." >And this time, he has no response >The two of you fall asleep, one after the other, in a comfortable, protected silence >You wake up at some point in the middle of the night to find Fluttershy much closer to you then he was when you fell asleep >*Much* closer >As in he's crawled off the bed and curled up against you in the narrow space on the floor >It was barely big enough for you, but the tightness of the space has the forced the two of you, in your sleep, to intertwine your bodies, so the point where you're practically embracing him just by lying there >For a moment, you consider shoving him away, or waking him up >But, well, maybe it's just the complacency brought on by your sleep-induced delirium >Or maybe it's just the fact that having a warm body is nice on a chilly Fall night >But you don't >Dash will have a field day when you sees this, you think >But yeah, it's kinda nice lying here with him >Doesn't feel gay in the slightest >In fact... >And that's when multiple pieces start to fall into place >Maybe you just needed the half-awake, addled mindset to piece it together >Or maybe it was just the sheer proximity that made the facts unavoidable >But the clues now begin to coalesce >No guy is this soft >Fluttershy's own words spin through your head >"I'm a..." >Followed by his dad's >"If you knew about him..." >Then his reaction to Mulan, especially the scenes of her being exposed >And then you recall the feel of his body, and the squishy, subtle curvature of it as it presses against you >But there's no way... >Sure, it makes so much sense, but... >There's one way to be sure >Feeling like the world's biggest sleaze, you slowly trail your hand down his side, to his hip, and then to his crotch >... >Yeah, that's definitely *not* a dick >Fluttershy's eyes flutter open >"A-Anon? Wha... what are you..." "N-nothing!" >Reflexively, and somewhat guiltily, you scoot as far away from him-- from *her* as possible >Holy shit, you're sleeping with another chick! >You girlfriend is right downstairs! >Fluttershy blinks, rubbing sleep from his -- from her -- eyes >"What's wrong?" >She looks down, the meaning of her proximity and your sudden aversion dawning on her >"Oh no..." >She locks eyes with you, and you can see tears already forming >"I... I'm s-so sorry!" >She tries to scoot away from you, but just backs up against the bed >As cramped as the space is, the two of you can barely put two inches between yourselves >You put your head in your hands, a strange mix of emotions welling up inside you >Strangely, though, you don't feel betrayed, or even angry >In fact, you're pretty damn happy >This means you're not gay! >Deep down, you must have known she was a chick all along! >That's why you had no issues kissing her, or running your hands all over that skinny, supply, soft little body... >Both you and Fluttershy blush, the intimacy suddenly too awkward >You try to scoot out of the space, but now it's your turn to be wrapped in way too many blankets >Unfortunately, your attempts to scoot away just tighten their coils around Fluttershy >She yelps, trying to free herself >Her struggles just further enwrap her >"H-help!" >Squeaking in discomfort, she rolls directly into your lap >You try to push her off, but you can't even move your arms >Fluttershy just wriggles pathetically, trying to free herself >Eventually she tires out, and the two of you just lie there, sweating >If Dash is awake, you *really* don't want to know what she's thinking >Or what she's doing to your couch... >The two of you lie there, snared together into a forced snuggle-fest, until you've both calmed down a bit >"I r-really am sorry." "Eh. It's not a big deal. Dash will be super disappointed, though." >"Y-yeah... I wanted to tell you two, b-but... I thought you h-hate me if I did." "Why would I?" >"I d-dunno. My dad always t-t-told me I was a terrible girl. That no one w-would want a daughter who was awkward and u-ugly and w-w-weird... especially not him... he s-said if I could be s-son instead... the good son he wanted... maybe he'd f-forgive me..." "For what?" >"For w-what happened with mama... when I was born..." "Oh Jesus. Butters..." >You can't move your arms enough to hug her >But you lay your head against hers, hoping the meaning comes across the same >She snuggles up against you, sniffling "If you have to cry again, it's okay." >"I d-don't want to. Not on you, it'd be so embarrassing..." "I don't mind." >You scoot your body under her, supporting her with what little of your torso you can manage to move >She sniffles again, a gentle sob escaping her lips >"D-Dash is going to hate me, isn't she?" "No way. She cares about you too. In fact, half of this whole thing has been her idea." >"B-but..." "She doesn't *just* like you because she's a creepy yaoi-obsessed pervert. That's only, like, thirty percent." >"Yeah... I don't know. I'm w-worried this will change things." "Oh, it will. It will change a bunch of stuff. But you know what it's not gonna change?" >Fluttershy stays silent "You're our friend. And we're always gonna care about you." >And with that, the floodgates break >For the second time that night, you find yourself cradling -- or, as close to cradling you can get with no arms -- a sobbing Fluttershy >"You... th-thank you s-s-s-so much... y-you and D-Dash... I d-don't know what to s-s-s-ay... nnn..." >She sniffles again, wiping her nose on the blanket >Her next words are muffled by the cloth and the wetness of her tears >"I l-love you..." "Huh?" >"N-nothing... s-s-sorry..." >She curls up in your lap, resting against you >"It is okay if I s-s-sleep like this? I know it's p-probably weird now, but... I've n-never gotten to sleep with someone else..." "I... yeah. Just this one night, though." >Awkwardly, you maneuver yourself to lay down across the pillows, tangled in a warm, cuddly cocoon with Fluttershy >"Thank you, Anon..." >She closes her eyes, sighing >"Th-that's all I need..." >You awaken to the sound of very, very heavy breathing coming from above you >For a few moments, you try your best to ignore it >Fluttershy and you have somehow managed to entangle yourselves even more, to the point where you're squeezing her against your chest like a child >Her skinny body radiates just enough to keep the blankets toasty warm, but not so much as to become sweltering >The breathing increases in volume, and you finally force an eye open >Dash is perched on your bed, staring at you "Zzz.. Dash? Wha... gah!" >You scoot back against the wall, protectively wrapping yourself around Fluttershy "How long have you been there?" >You keep your voice to a whisper, but still inject enough anger into your voice for her to get your point >"Just a couple minutes, dude." >She crosses a hand over her heart >"You two are so damn cute together, you have no idea..." "We... I... we were just cold, okay? It's not like this is a..." >"No, dude, you don't have to explain it. You're just so perfect for each other, how could you resist?" "...I hate you sometimes." >Dash sticks her tongue out at you >"Just go back to sleep. It's still early." "Not with you watching. This is so weird." >Somehow, Fluttershy is still conked out >Or she's taken a page from Dash's book, and is just pretending to be in order to avoid the awkwardness >"Come on, man. I won't do anything weird." "I find that hard to believe." >"Nah, don't worry. I took care of it after I woke up." "That's... that's not any better!" >"Oh, come on. If it were me and Spitfire, are you really saying you'd be completely disinterested?" "I mean..." >She winks >"Just let me enjoy this, okay? It's just so pure..." >Dammit, Dash... >She's not gonna take it when she realizes Fluttershy's a she, is she? >For a moment, you consider telling her yourself >But, well... that's not your secret to spill >Fluttershy can tell her when she wakes up, you figure >In the mean time, though, why not mess with Dash a bit? >You snuggle back into the covers, nuzzling your head atop Fluttershy's >Dash lets out a tiny squeak >"S-so cute..." >You place a tiny "sleep-tight" kiss on Fluttershy's forehead >The color rises in Dash's face >She's visibly sweating now >"Dude... my heart..." "You know we're holding hands under this blanket, right?" >Dash gasps, shivering >"You're doing this on purpose now, aren't you!" "Yeah." >"You... dude, you're so gay. Just accept it." >Dash's face brightens >"Dude! You two should be the couple today!" "What?" >"Yeah! You know, while we're hanging out, or whatever. You two can be the couple! Like, just for pretend, but like... you know. I think it'd make him really happy. And it'd be *so* hot--" >She catches herself, awkwardly chuckling >"I mean cute! Cute, you know. Heh..." >Dash runs a hand through her hair, trying too look innocent "You want me to pretend to be dating someone else, while you watch?" >"Y-yeah? I mean... what? It's not *that* weird." >You raise an eyebrow >"Oh, come on! It's not that weird! I spend all day, every day, being the awesomest I can for everyone else to enjoy. Maybe sometimes I just wanna be the one watching." "Whatever you say." >"So you'll do it!?" >She grins, wriggling her eyebrows at you "Will I pretend to be dating a dude while you follow us around like a creepy fangirl?" >"Well, it sounds kinda bad when you put it like that." >She rubs her right arm, looking admonished >"I mean, you don't have to, dude. I'm... I'm sorry if I'm a little pushy with all this. It's just... I don't know, man. It's like watching something out of a manga, except way better. You two are just so perfect together, and it... it makes me happy, I guess." >You stare at her >"...and a little aroused." >You stare harder >"Okay, okay, a lot aroused. But... I don't know. The two of you are really, really cute together, and honestly it makes me kinda sad that you're not into him." "Seriously?" >"Yeah. I mean... he really needs someone." "That's true..." >"So, even if it's just for a day... I'd like to see you treat him super special. Because he deserves it." "And you don't mind?" >"Of course not, man. I don't need attention *all* the time. Just, you know... most of the time." >She winks >"But yeah. Where do you want to go?" >You glance down at sleeping Fluttershy, and know immediately where you want to take her "Is there any way you could get us some tickets to the zoo?" >You fall back asleep for another hour or two, and don't wake until you feel Fluttershy stirring next to you >She opens one eye, glancing around the room >"Wh-where..." >Then she realizes you're next to her, and curls up against you >"O-oh... morning, Anon." "Mm... hey, Butters." >You know you should probably extract yourself from her now -- after all, Dash is in the other room getting zoo tickets -- but it's inhumanly hard to remove herself from her warm little embrace >"I h-haven't slept that well in a long time." >She buries her face in the blankets >"Thanks..." "No problem. But... you know this isn't gonna be a regular thing, right?" >"Y-yeah... and th-that's fine. One night was enough. I j-just wanted to know what it would feel like." "Yeah..." >You start to untangle yourself from the blankets >Fluttershy tries to cling for you for a moment, but quickly lets go >She sinks back agains the wall, wrapping herself up >You start rooting through your dresser, grabbing an oversized hoodie and a pair of sweatpants from a few years ago, then tossing them to her >"Wh-what are these for?" "I dunno. Thought you'd like some fresh clothes." >"Oh, um... I m-mean, only if you're okay with me w-wearing your things..." "Of course. But... could you shower first?" >"Huh?" "Not trying to be mean, but you kinda smell like a rabbit." >"Oh, heh." >Fluttershy chuckles, fidgeting with the hem of the blanket >"S-sorry. I forgot that n-not everyone likes bunnies as much as me." >She crawls back onto the bed, picking up the stuffed toy you gave her >"C-can you check on Angel for me while I shower?" "Yeah, sure." >You leave Fluttershy on the bed, and head into the kitchen >Angel is still in his cage, staring impatiently at you "What?" >You swear you can see the rabbit scowling "Your mama will be back in a minute. Just sit tight." >"Are you talking to the rabbit?" >Dash slinks into the kitchen in her underwear >She wraps her arms around you, laying her head on your shoulder as you root through the pantry for some breakfast "Maybe." >"What's he got to say?" "Not much. Don't think he likes me." >"Smart bunny." "Har har. What happened to my box of Cocoa Pommels™?" >Dash falls silent, the only sound in the room being the gentle patter of water coming from the shower "Because I know there's no way anyone could have eaten all the rest of my Cocoa Pommels™ while I was asleep, right?" >"Y-you know, why don't we go out for breakfast together? All three of us? You can take Butters on a special date!" >You crane your neck, glaring at her >"And, uh... I'll pay! Heh!" "Sounds good." >You kiss Dash's forehead and head to the fridge, pouring yourself a glass of milk >Angel thumps his foot again "What? I don't have any carrots." >The rabbit continues to thump the bottom of his cage "Would you calm down? How do I make him calm down?" >"I dunno. I'll go ask Butters while I'm changing." "Alright." >You sit down with your milk, ready to enjoy it in front of this smug little rabbit fucker >Because you're either a retard, exhausted, or both, it takes you a solid two minutes to realize what Dash just said >And you don't realize it until you hear the door to the bathroom opening "Hey, wait! Butters is in there!" >"Yeah, so? He's gay as it gets. He can handle a little female nudity." "No, Dash!" >You get up from the table, trying to prevent Fluttershy's imminent exposure >After the door opens, you hear the slap of Dash's feet on the bathroom tiles, followed by a shocked squeak from Fluttershy >Dash, of course, handles the situation with utmost grace >"Hey Butters. Hope you don't mind if I..." >The Octomom of pregnant pauses follows her >"Dude, why do you have a vag?" >"I, um... uh... I..." >You can practically hear Fluttershy's teeth chattering from the other room >"Please don't look at me..." >Getting up from the table, you run towards the bathroom, ready to drag Dash out of there >Seriously, why can't she learn to handle an awkward situation with a little grace? >"I'm not looking at you! I just wanna know why you've got a vag--" >And then, taking way longer than it should have, it finally hits her >"Oh! Dude, you're a chick!" >And that's when you step into the bathroom to drag her away >The bathroom itself is cramped, leaving only two or three feet between Fluttershy and Dash >Fluttershy, fortunately, has managed to partially cover the front of herself with a towel >Still, it leaves a *lot* of her exposed >She looks... well, about like you'd expect >Skinny, to the point of being androgynous, withonly the barest hint of femininity expressed in her narrow shoulders and the slight curve of her hips >She shies away when she notices you staring, and you quickly tear your eyes off her body >You step up behind Dash and grab her arm to drag her out >Unfortunately, it didn't occur to you just how easily startled Rainbow can be when she gets flustered >"Gah! Let go!" >She flips her shit the minute you grab her unawares, pivoting on her heel as she tries to shake you off >And she succeeds... or, at least, she sort of does >Dash spins in a half circle, throwing you off her >And sending you right into Fluttershy >You plow into her, and she falls backwards into the bathtub, the towel going flying >In midair, you twist your body to try and avoid falling on her >And you succeed! >Unfortunately, this causes you to fall with your face right between her legs >"A-ah..." >Fluttershy groans, looks down, and realizes the position the two of you have fallen in >"O-oh my... I'm s-s-so sorry!" >Reflexively, she tries to cover herself >Unfortunately, that instinct also causes her to try to cross her legs, which ends up just immobilizing your head right in front of her crotch >Man, you're *really* glad she just bathed >"I'm s-sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... ah~" >Your attempts to escape, unfortunately, cause your face to brush against her lady-bits >Fluttershy squirms, a shudder running through her body >Something warm and wet -- which you *really* hope is just leftover bathwater splashes against your cheeks >Finally, you manage to extract yourself, ending up crammed in a bathroom with a buck-naked Fluttershy >With her lower half hidden, is honestly is really easy to mistake her for a boy >The two of you glance at each other, and it's an absolute toss-up as to who is blushing harder >And then you glance at Dash >She has a look on her face >You have no idea how to describe it, really >It's somewhere between the horror of realization, absolute and utter confusion, and intensely overpowering arousal >Granted, those are like the only three emotions Dash has, half the time... >"I, uh..." >"I'm s-s-so sorry! I d-didn't mean... I j-just lost my balance!" >She quickly turns away from you, hiding her face >"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry..." >Dash wipes sweat from her forehead >"I'm uh... I gotta go, uh... check on the zoo tickets! Gotta make sure they printed properly! Be right back! In like fifteen minutes!" >She sprints out of the room >Then sticks her head back in >"D-don't go in the basement!" >Fifteen and a half minutes later, the three of you are seated on the bed >And wow, does "awkward" not even begin to describe it "So, uh..." >"Yeah." "I, um..." >"I'm s-s-sorry..." >"No, it's cool. I just, uh..." "Are you okay, Butters?" >"Y-yeah... are you?" "Perfectly fine. Dash?" >"I'm good, dude." >She lets out a shaky breath, her right hand still twitching "Well..." >"Yeah." "Zoo?" >"Oh, right! The tickets!" >She runs back to the basement to print them, returning a minute later with a slip of paper for each of you >You scan yours, while Fluttershy stares at hers like it's a hundred dollar bill "Why do they have our names on them?" >"Huh? Oh. They're upping security, apparently. After what happened down in Maretropolis, you know." "Oh, right." >You clear your throat, hoping to disperse a little of the sudden somber mood "But yeah, awesome. You still up for breakfast?" >Dash pats her stomach >"Always, dude. What're you in the mood for?" >You turn to Fluttershy >"Oh, um... anything is fine. As long as th-there's no meat..." >"Awesome! Let's go." >She jumps to her feet, grabbing both you and Fluttershy by the hands and pulling you along with her >As soon as you're out the door, though, she steps backwards, letting the two of you walk together while she trails behind >Is she still pushing this "date" thing? >You glance back at Dash, giving her a "what gives?" kind of look >She motions for you to hold Fluttershy's hand >Okay, yeah, she's definitely still going for the date angle >Why? >Mentally, you shrug >Probably just wants more spank material >She motions again for you to take your friend's hand, wriggling her eyebrows >By the time the three of you arrive at the zoo -- after a breakfast of fresh-baked muffins -- you and Fluttershy are still holding hands >Mostly just because she refuses to let go >As you head up to the front gate, she keeps shooting nervous looks back at Dash, as if worried your girlfriend will suddenly stop being cool with the two of your intimacy >But Dash just shoots her an encouraging smile, and you continue up towards the entrance "Looks like you were right about the increased security. Wow..." >"Yeah dude. I guess it's good though, right? Least we know we're pretty safe here." >A pair of police officers are stationed near the front >They're armed, though they look fairly relaxed >One of them, an intimidatingly-muscled, punkish-looking woman, even nods towards you as you pass her >Fluttershy, however, shrinks against you >And that's when it occurrs to you "Yo, Dash?" >"Hmmm?" "You didn't use Fluttershy's real name on those tickets, did you?" >"Uh, yeah?" >The cop eyes your pink-haired friend over as you pass her, brushing cropped white hair out of her eyes to get a better look >Thankfully, she lets you go, but you can feel her eyes on you even as you head through the gate >"Why? What, should I have called her Butterscotch or something?" "No. It's probably nothing." >"Doesn't look like nothing." >"He's w-worried my dad might have c-c-called the police to look f-for me." >"Already?" >Dash glances between the two of you, then back at the white-haired cop >She's not looking at you anymore, thankfully, but you can't help but feel a little on-edge >"M-maybe. He g-g-gets really upset when I l-leave without his permission. And he's r-r-really mad about me b-being with Anon..." >"Shit. Maybe we should leave?" "No point in that. We're already here, right? If they were gonna grab us, they'd have done it at the gate." >"True..." "And if they do decide to talk to us, we can just explain the situation, right?" We're not doing anything wrong." >Dash looks relieved >"Yeah! Good point." "So let's just enjoy this. We can worry about everything else later. For right now..." >You squeeze Fluttershy's hand "Where do you wanna visit first, Butters?" >Now, you'd probably guess she'd want to go right for the petting zoo, right? >Or maybe the big cats, or horses, or anything fluffy and cute, really >But hope, she heads right for the reptile house, dragging you behind her "Uh... are you sure?" >"Yeah! They g-got this really cool new Freshwater Crocodile exhibit! Apparently they're p-prety hard to find in captivity!" "Oh. Uh..." >"Dude! Hell yeah! That sounds awesome!" >For the first time since it began, your hand-holding with Fluttershy is broken >Dash grabs ahold of your friend and drags her towards the Canterlot Zoo Herpetarium, leaving you to follow in behind them >The inside of the place is muggy and claustrophobic, just a winding series of dark hallways with glass cases flanking either side >Inside the cases are every species of snake, turtle, and lizard you can imagine >Dash and Fluttershy work their way through the crowd, heading towards the lower levels >In the basement, the place opens up into a wide, arena-sized room, the center of which falls away into a pit several fit deep >And at the bottom of the pit, nestled in different, fenced-off pools, are the crocodiles >You get shivers just looking at them, but Fluttershy and Dash are fascinated >"Dude, look at that guy! He looks like he could bite someone in half!" >"Y-yeah. Apparently their jaws can exert around t-three thousand PSI of pressure..." >"I have no idea what that means. But it sounds bad-fucking-ass!" >A nearby mom scowls at Dash's language, and she blushes >For a moment, it's your turn to be the third wheel >You rest against the wall, watching the girls chatter >They're huddled together like they've been best friends their wholes lives >Fluttershy is trying to explain the anatomical features of freshwater crocodiles, and why they're so dangerous >Dash clearly isn't following along with the finer details, but every time Fluttershy gets to a particularly gory bit, her eyes light up >"And then th-they use these really powerful m-muscle contractions in their bodies to t-twist the prey, and that b-breaks it's neck." >"Dude." >"Y-yeah?" >"That's so cool! It's like getting suplexed by a dragon!" >That's one way of putting it, you guess >Fluttershy giggles, bouncing excitedly on her heels as her and Dash circle the exhibit >For the moment, it almost seems like you've been forgotten, but you don't really mind >It's just so nice to see the two of them getting along this well, and Fluttershy's happiness is universally contagious >You swear you notice people smiling at her as she walks past, some of them even exchanging comments with her about the animals >She's in her element now, and she's loving every second of it >And so you're content to sit back for a bit and let the girls have some time together >When they disappear from view, your eyes begin to wander around the Herpetarium's basement >It's a pretty standard crowd down here: moms with their kids, couples around your age, elderly groups, Ms. Harshwhinny... >Wait, why is she here? >Just as you notice her, she catches sight of you too, and begins to work through the crowd towards you >"Er... Mr. Anonymous. Fancy meeting you here." >She seems... different than she does at school >Way more flustered >In fact, she seems more than a little embarrassed that you ran into her here >It could just be the weird lighting, but you could swear you see her blushing "Afternoon, ma'am." >"Yes. Ahem. Yes. Afternoon. I'm just here on school business, you know. Planning a field trip." >She puffs out her cheeks >"Very serious stuff. Very important, very professional." "Oh, um..." >"I'm not here for myself, I'm sure you realized. That would be extremely childish. I'm planning a field trip." "Sounds like a good trip." >Harshwhinny looks relieved you're buying her flimsy excuse >"Anyway, while I was scouting, you know, for the trip, the trip I'm planning today, I couldn't help but notice you were with Fluttershy. Is... Is everything okay? With him?" "Uh... I mean, well..." >"If there's anything I can help with, I'd like to know." >Just then,the two girls come circling back into view, Fluttershy chattering excitedly with Dash about something you can't make out >Harshwhinny regards them with calm concern >"Seems like, whatever you're doing, it's working. He looks a lot happier." "Yeah. We've gotten a lot closer recently." >A whole lot closer, but you'll keep that to yourself >"That's good. Poor boy could use a good friend." >She frowns, adjusting her scarf "Ma'am? Something wrong?" >"No!" >She covers her mouth >"No, of course not. Nothing at all. You're doing a fantastic job looking after your friend, Mr. Anonymous. I'm... Im very proud." "Um... ma'am? Are you sure everything's okay? You seem a little..." >"I'm under a fair amount of stress, Anonymius. Field trips don't plan themselves, you know." "Of course." >Ms. Harshwhinny coughs >"Ah, yes, well. Ahem. I should've really get going then. You still have my phone number, right?" "Oh, yeah. I should, yeah." >"Excellent. I'm serious, Anonymous. If you need help, please let me know." >Before you can reply, your teacher gives you an awkward pat on the shoulder and leaves >Well... that just happened >Seriously though, why was she here? >Harshwhinny has never seemed like the kind of woman to want to be around a bunch of kids all day >Well, you appreciate her insistence on helping, at least, though you doubt you'll need it >"Hey dude. Who were you talking to?" >You catch up with the girls as the three of you head out of the Herpetarium >Fluttershy is still grinning like an idiot, taking a few last looks at her favorite species of snake as you head out "Harshwhinny." >"That grouch who teaches Econ? Why was she here?" "Planning a field trip, apparently." >"A field trip to the zoo? For an Econ class?" "I mean, that's probably not why she was *really* here. But that's what she said." >"Hmmm. Weird." >Dash drags Fluttershy away just as you're about to reach the door, and the two of them run over to glass case holding a huge Burmese Python >"Dude, sick! It says they're about to feed him!" >"O-oh." >"Oh shit! Look, they gave him an actual live rabbit!" >"Y-yeah... that's what they do..." >Fluttershy bites her lip, but doesn't look away >She's clearly distressed, a sheen of sweat shining on her face and little tremors running through her body >You look away just as the snake begins to constrict around the bunny >Dash watches, fascinated, for only a moment >Then she notices the look on Fluttershy's face >"Uh, yeah... this is kinda boring. You wanna go see something else?" >Fluttershy nods, grateful for the excuse >Outside, the bright Fall day is gradually graying out as thick, iron-colored stormclouds roll in >Dash frowns at the sight "What?" >"Nothing. Just don't wanna have today get cut short." "You afraid of a little rain?" >"No! Just, you know... whatever. Wanna get some lunch?" "Sure. Butters?" >You look back at your friend, who's still huddled against Dash >She doesn't look so good >"Sure. I'm n-not really hungry, though. You d-don't have to get me anything." "You sure?" >"Y-yeah..." >She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, looking like she's about to throw up "Hey, you alright?" >"Y-yeah. Fine. It's j-just been a while since I've s-seen a feeding. It's not a big deal." >You don't even need to be prompted by Dash this time, you just grab Fluttershy and hug her >The three of you get to the zoo's café and head for a table in the back corner >All of the walls are painted with little cartoonish murals of gorillas, lions, giraffes... >Basically an entire Serengeti, rendered there in front of you in primary colors >Fluttershy starts to look a little bit better as she admires the murals, smiling to herself >"I h-haven't seen these before." "I thought you came here all the time." >She shrugs >"N-not really. My dad usually doesn't w-want me to go. And even then, I d-don't really have enough money for the food here, so... yeah..." >Dash sits down at one end of the tiny cafe table, and just as you're about to sit next to her she stands back up, and pushes Fluttershy into her spot >"I'll go order for us, 'kay? You two just sit tight." >She winks at you, then heads off to the counter >You turn to Fluttershy "Hey. You sure you're doing alright?" >"Y-yeah. Just a little sh-shaken up, I guess." "Alright. I'm sorry." >"It's f-fine. Why are you apologizing?" "I dunno. I just hope that didn't ruin the day for you." >"R-ruin? No, never. Today has been amazing. One of the b-best days... actually p-probably the best day I've ever h-had, next to the day I g-got Angel..." "Well, that's good." >You take Fluttershy's hand now almost out of instinct >It hits you just how lame you sound a second too late "I mean... I'm honestly really glad to hear that, Butters. You deserve a good day. Hell, you deserve a few good years." >"W-what do you mean?" "Nothing, I guess. You're a good person. You deserve better than your dad." >Fluttershy falls silent for a moment >"I g-guess..." "What's wrong?" >"N-nothing. Just... I d-don't know. I guess I'm a little worried that what you're s-seeing in me isn't the real me. You and D-Dash are the only people who have..." >She shakes her head >"Never m-mind. I'm sorry." "No, keep going. I mean, if you're alright with it." >"It'll just r-ruin the mood." "Dash has literally masturbated five feet from us. You can't possibly kill the mood any harder than her." >"H-heh... I dunno. I guess it's j-just really weird, having people suddenly c-care about me like this. I'm w-worried I j-just accidentally tricked you into thinking I was worth more than I really am, or s-something." "Well, if you have tricked us, then you did a damn good job. Because I think you're pretty great. And I can tell Dash does too." >"Y-yeah. I guess." >She smiles, admiring the mural to give her and excuse not to look at you >"Is... is she okay? With, you know, the t-two of us being like this?" >Her fingers wriggle against yours "Oh, you have no idea..." >"Hm?" "She's super okay with it. Dash... she talks about herself a lot, sure. And her ego is the size of a fucking horse. But she really loves her friends. More than pretty much anyone I've ever met, really. If you and me being like this--" >You trace your thumb in a circle across her palm "--makes you happy, then she's more than all for it. Plus... well, I don't think I'll mention the other half." >"What other half?" "The other half that left a stain on my couch..." >As if on cue, Dash returns >"Hey dudes! You two look cozy." >"Y-yeah." >Nervous, Fluttershy begins to scoot away from you, but Dash reaches across the table and pushes her closer >"Alright! Let's eat!" >She plops down a plastic tray bearing burgers for you and her, and fruit salad for Fluttershy >Along with two glasses of lemonade, one of which contains two straws >Guess who that's for? >Lunch is a quality experience, even if the food is a little underwhelming >Dash is absolutely enamored with the two of you; almost more than when she thought Fluttershy was a dude >When you and her both try to take a sip of lemonade at the same time, your heads bump, causing Dash to let out a tiny, excited squeal >"Do that again! Oh my God!" >The next time, your noses bump against each other >Dash's resulting noise is far less cute >Sounds like a heavily-aroused horse >After that, you work out the logistics of sharing a lemonade, and lunch goes more smoothly >Until, of course, Dash starts to get bored >"Hey!" "Mm?" >"I just had a great idea!" "Yeah?" >Fluttershy swallows a bite of strawberry >"W-what?" >"This is your guys' date, right?" "Uh... I guess?" >"D-date?" >"Yeah!" >"I d-didn't know it was an actual d-date..." >She glances between you and Dash >"D-does that mean... this is my first... oh my..." >"Yeah! First date! Everyone loves compliments on the first date, right?" >She bends across the table, grinning like an overeager idiot "I mean, I guess? Why, Dash? You want us to compliment you?" >You elbow Fluttershy's shoulder "I told you about her ego..." >"No, dumbass. Compliment each other! It'll be like a real date!" "Uh..." >"Y-yeah! That s-sounds really cool!" >Fluttershy turns to you, expectant >"Do you w-want to go first, or should I?" >You glance between her and Dash "Yeah, you go." >"Okay! I, um... I..." >She furrows her brow, thinking "Oof. Is it really that hard to think of something?" >"N-no! I'm just trying to make sure I s-say it in the right way." >She throws a nervous glance towards Dash, who responds with an encouraging smile >And a thumbs-up >"I... I you're a super nice, super cool person. And y-you always make me feel really happy when I'm around you, and really special, and um... yeah..." >She wipes her forehead >"Heh. I guess that was maybe a little too much." "No! No, thanks, Butters." >You scratch the back of your head, trying to think of something >But everything that comes to mind is cheesy, over-the-top, lame, or all three >Fluttershy folds her hands in her lap, her right leg kicking in excitement >"Okay, well... it's your t-turn now." "Yeah." >Dash leans in further, so close you can feel her muggy breath on your cheek >"Yeah, Anon. You're turn. What's your favorite thing about Butters?" "I... um..." >Fluttershy leans in too, to the point where you're starting to feel a little claustrophobic "I... I think you..." >You're aware that half the restaurant is probably staring at you now "I think you're adorable, Butters." >Of all the lame shit that came to mind, that was what you picked? >Jesus, it's like you're not even trying >Fluttershy just stares at you >"You... t-t-t-t-think I'm c-cute?" "I mean... you know, in like a... friend--" >Dash shakes her head at the word 'friend' >Is she serious? >Alright, fine, if this is really how far she wants to push the "date" thing, then you'll go there "Yeah. Yeah, I think you're super cute." >She crosses her hands over her mouth, leaning up against you >"Oh, m-m-my... th-th-th-thank you..." >Dash is sitting at the other end of the table, looking like she's about to cry >"It's... it's just so pure..." >She dabs at the corners of her eyes with her napkin >"So precious..." >After lunch, the three of you head back outside >The brewing storm has reached a fierce, ominous leaden color above your head >Dash glances up at the clouds >"That's so cool..." "You say that about every thunderstorm." >"They're cool." >Fluttershy just presses up against you, looking nervous >She's been clingy since your compliment, but now it's less cutesy and more worrisome "You alright, Butters?" >"Y-yeah. I'm fine. Just don't r-really like storms." "Oh. Well, you don't need to worry. If it gets bad, we'll just find someplace to hide." >The crowds are thinning out now, and most of the animals have retreated into the indoor segments of their enclosures >Fluttershy points towards the end of the path, where the zoo's aquarium sits monolothic and empty-looking >"Are y-you guys okay if we inside for a b-b-bit?" "Oh, yeah, sure." >You step away from Fluttershy for a minute, though, pushing her towards Rainbow "I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick though. I'll catch up with you two inside, okay?" >"Oh. O-okay. We'll wait for you." >Fluttershy latches onto Dash, and the two girls head off towards the aquarium together >As you step out of the bathroom, however, something possesses you to scan your surroundings >Perhaps it's just latent paranoia, or maybe it's some bizarre precognition on your part >But for whatever reason, you take a look around, just to make sure the coast is clear >And that's when you see him >Fluttershy's dad is standing just a few meters away, near the café's entrance, talking to the white-haired cop from earlier >You try to find some way to make a break for it, but leaving the bathroom would put you right in plain sight of both of them >And odds are, he's told them exactly what you look like >In fact, if Ms. Harshwhinny is here, then there probably isn't anyone at school to cover for you >So he could easily have as much information on you as he wants >Despite the chill brought on by the storm, you're starting to sweat >What the hell are you going to do? >Dash and Fluttershy are all the way over in the aquarium, they don't even know he's here >You have to warn them >Ducking back into the bathroom, you grab your cell phone >But just as you're about to dial Dash's number, the bathroom door opens >Panicked, you slip into the room's single stall >Footsteps sound on the tile, and someone enters >You retreat against the back of the stall, biting your lower lip >The footsteps stop just outside the stall, and someone knocks >"Anyone in there?" >The voice is definitely Fluttershy's dad's >Shit, what do you do? >He's cut off your only exit >Fight him? >Hope the police show up? >"Hey! Anyone in there!" >He knocks again, and jiggles the locked door >Dammit >There isn't enough room to slip underneath the walls >Closing your eyes, you pray to whatever will listen for some sort of miracle >And then you get one >A huge, cacophonous boom of thunder echoes through the bathroom, and the lights flicker and die >"Gah! What the hell!?" >And that's when you take your chance >With the room now pitch-black, you throw the door open >It bangs right into Fluttershy's dad's face, sending him backwards >"Gah! What the hell!?' >He starts to chase after you, but you've got a sizable head start >Hands groping wildly in the darkness, you simultaneously find the door, and a plastic wastebin sitting next to it >In a single motion, you throw the wastebin behind you, hearing a satisfying *crash* as it splits open, spilling paper towels across the floor >The crash is followed by another, louder one as Fluttershy's dad trips, going down hard onto the floor >You throw the door open, keeping your head ducked as you sprint outside >The cop is nowhere to be seen, thankfully, but you're not going to wait for her to reappear >Rain hasn't started to fall yet, but the humidity in the air and the frigid breeze whirling around you informs you that it isn't far away >You hear the bathroom door open with a bang, and quickly throw yourself behind a bench >Through the bench's wooden slats, you watch Fluttershy's dad storm out of the bathroom, his face red with fury and his nose bleeding >He looks directly at you... >... >Then looks away, continuing to scan the surroundings >You begin to creep back towards the aquarium, making sure to keep yourself low >Fluttershy's dad heads back into the bathroom, presumably to clean his nose >You take the chance to jump back to your feet, sprinting like a madman towards the darkened aquarium building >"Anon!" >"Dude, what's up?" >You reach the girls, thankfully, to find that nothing seems to have changed >The aquarium is light, though dimly >"The power flickered for a moment, man. Everything alright? You look super worried." >Panting, you explain to Dash and Fluttershy about your encounter with her dad >Fluttershy's eyes go wide, and she begins to tremble as you near the end of the story >"H-he's here? But... but..." "He's been talking to the police. And he's probably looking for me." >"But how d-did he know I was here?" >Dash smacks her forehead >"The names on the tickets. Goddammit, I'm so stupid!" "It's okay. We just need to get out of here without being spotted. The storm's driven everyone inside, right? We just have to sneak back to the parking lot and get back to my house. Then... we can call the police." >"Why not just call them now? We got Butters, we got her dad." "It won't work. He got to them first. Probably made up a story, and it'll take time for them to figure out he's lying. And in that time..." >Fluttershy hangs her head >"I'd b-be living with him, wouldn't I?" "Yeah. Unless we can get a case against him, or get an adult to vouch for us..." >And that's when it hits you "Harshwhinny." >"Huh? What does she have to do with this?" "She gave me her phone number." >"Scandalous." "No, not like that. She said to call her if we need help. So, we sneak out, I call her, she takes us somewhere safe, and we inform the police. If she's staying with another adult, we can make a case for not taking her back to her dad." >Dash ponders for a moment >"And if he comes for her? Before we can get to the police?" "Then..." >"Then I'll g-go with him." >Fluttershy steps forward, raising her head >"I'm n-not going to let you two get hurt trying to keep m-me safe. You've done enough me already. If it r-r-really has to come down to your or me... p-please pick yourselves. I can t-take it." "No." >You place a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder "It's not going to come down to that. And even if it did, I wouldn't leave you in his hands. Not for anything." >You take Fluttershy's left hand, and Dash takes her right >She blushes in repsonse, looking like she'd like to shrink away >But she can't, as the two of you hold her tight "We're gonna keep you safe, Butters. And I don't care what it takes." >As if to underscore your words, thunder booms outside >The power flickers again, the emergency generator humming somewhere in the building as it strains to keep the aquarium running >You and Dash glance around then at each other "Let's get out of here." >The first few raindrops have already begun to fall when you exit the aquarium >Fluttershy pulls her hood up over her head, partially to keep herself dry, and partly to hide her face >Dash runs ahead to the next fork in the path, scanning around for any sign of police presence >She waves for the three of you to follow, and you chase after her down the right fork "You remember how to get back to the car, right?" >"Yeah! I think." "You think!?" >"Shhh! Dude, I'm trying, okay? My sense of direction isn't that great." >"I, um... I k-know the way." "You do?" >"Y-yeah. I k-kinda know the layout by heart... heh..." >She wipes a sheen of rainwater from the backs of her hands >"But, um... w-we're kind of far away." "How far?" >Fluttershy takes a second to answer "How far? It's not, like, the exact opposite side of the place, right?" >... "Right?" >"N-not the *exact* opposite..." "Goddammit. Okay, well... the rain's gonna keep everyone else inside. We just have to keep a low profile, and hope--" >The sound of an unfamiliar voice silences all three of you >Turning, you see a uniformed security guard walking towards the three of you, looking concerned >"Everything alright, you three?" >Fluttershy seizes up immediately, cowering against you >Dash takes a step forward, as if preparing to fight >Christ, you really hope she doesn't pull a totally-typical Dash move, and start fights she can't win >Looks like it's up to you to diffuse this "Yeah, we're fine. Just trying to get outta the rain." >"I hear ya. You know there's the café just around the corner there, right?" >Fluttershy shoots you a fearful glance >In all likelihood, that's probably where her dad is staying, after he got caught by the storm "Um... yeah. I know." >"Why don't I take you guys back there? It's not safe to be running around in a storm like this. And apparently they're upping security. Something about a kidnapper on the loose." "I think we'll be fine." >The security guard raises a skeptical eyebrow >"I dunno. I'd feel a lot better if you guys were somewhere inside. Here, just come with me, and--" >And then Dash does something stupid >Ducking, she scoops her hand into a puddle of muddy water and flings it into the man's eyes >"G-gah! Hey!" >He steps back, rubbing his eyes >And then Dash grabs Fluttershy's hand and yours, and makes a run for it >You don't think your heart has ever beat so fast in your entire life >Keeping up with Dash's ridiculous speed is hard enough, but you swear you see security guards, police officers, and Fluttershy's dad lurking behind every corner >Each time you change paths, you're certain you'll see them standing at the fork, ready to grab you >But, by some miracle, you don't run into anyone >The storm gets worse and worse as you run, pouring down so much rain that you can barely see a few feet in front of you Background music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u81zmQrib9g [Embed] >Fluttershy keeps silent, mostly, panting heavily as she tries to keep up >She mutters occasional directions to Dash, guiding the three of you up to the main building >By the time you get there, all three of you are completely soaked >Fluttershy pulls you underneath a small overhang next to the (now closed) gift shop, where you're allowed a brief moment of dryness "How do we get out without them seeing us?" >"I d-don't know. Maybe the police are out l-l-looking?" "Maybe. But I don't wanna take that risk. Dash?" >"Yo." "Can you go in and check? You're the only one that nobody's actively searching for, yet." >"Yeah. Sure. But if I'm not out in like five minutes... just book it, okay?" "Don't pull that macho shit. We're not leaving you." >"Yeah, yeah. Alright." >She ducks out into the rain, and inside the main building >A minute later, she returns >"No go, dudes. There's still a cop in there. Doesn't look like he's keeping a super sharp lookout, but I don't think we wanna risk it." >Fluttershy sucks in her breath "What do we do, then? Is there another way out, Flutters?" >"M-maybe..." "Where? And please don't say it's back where we started." >"N-no. But... it might not be open. Sometimes the security guards leave the supply entrances unlocked, j-just in case of emergency." "So we could sneak out?" >"Y-yeah... if they're open..." >You glance over at Dash >She shrugs >"It's the best idea we got. How do we get there?" >Fortunately, the rain abates to barely a drizzle as you head for the service entrance >Unfortunately, it's locked >"Dammit!" >Dash smacks the gate, her wet hair sweeping a rainbow arc around her head as the momentum of her body drags it into a wreath about her skull >"How the hell are we gonna get outta here?" >You glance up at the top of the fence, which is coated in ominous-looking wire >It's not barbed, though... >Why not? "We could climb?" >"W-we can't. It's electrified. See?" >She points to a sign a few meters down, which confirms that the fence is indeed protected by a 10,000-volt series of wires "Wait... the power outage. It's probably still down. The lights everywhere were still off." >"You sure, dude?" "I think..." >"I'm pretty s-sure they could have a backup generator..." "Maybe. But you saw how the one in the aquarium could barely keep up. It could be down. And besides, it's the only option we have." >"You're not gonna test this, are you dude? That's a good way to get your ass fried." >You glance around, and pick up a stick >Throwing it against the wire produces no effect >Dash glances at you >And you look back at her >"A stick? Seriously?" "I mean, nothing happened to it." >"A stick is different than your arm, dude." "Yeah, but wouldn't it do something if it was on? Like..." >You reach out a tentative hand, stepping on the bottom links of the fence to give yourself a boost >Standing on your tip-toes, you can barely reach the wire... >"Dude, I'm serious, this is a bad idea--" >The back of your hand grazes the wire "G-gah!" >Your entire body begins to violently shake as a single, choked gasp of pain escaped your lips >"Anon!" >"N-no!" >Both girls rush toward you, horrified >And then you turn around, giving them a smug grin >You grab the wire again, and haul yourself up and over >It's not exactly easy, but then again you're not in the best shape >Not compared to Dash at least, who gets over like it's nothing >Fluttershy goes last, with both of you waiting to catch her >Her climbing is slow, but it seems like it's more due to nervousness than lack of physical ability >Every time she touches the wires, she lets out a nervous little squeak >Finally, after twenty seconds that feel more like twenty minutes, she gets over >You and Dash scoot closer as she begins to descend, one hand still on the wire >Suddenly, she begins to convulse, gasping in pain >"A-ah! Anon, h-h-help! A-ah..." >She drops like a rock, and you barely manage to get under her in time "Butters! Butters! No!" >You grab her up off the ground, shaking her >She doesn't respond >"Here! I know some CPR. Lay her flat for me." >Dash bends in, ready to give Fluttershy mouth-to-mouth >Immediately, she springs back to life, scooting away from Dash >"G-gah! It w-was just a joke!" >She looks between both of you, realizing your horrified expressions >"S-sorry... I j-just thought what Anon d-d-d-did was funny... I d-didn't mean to... I'm s-sorry..." >You grab Fluttershy, wrapping her in the tightest hug you've ever given another human being "You idiot, Butters. Don't do that to me ever again. Holy shit." >Getting to the parking lot is easy, once you're outside >There's plenty of fancy gardening to hide in as you make your way across the zoo's grounds >And then, once in the parking lot, hiding becomes even easier >The three of you crouch down low, ducking from car to car as you make your way towards the back >And then, finally, you see your own vehicle >The sight of a way back to safety is so exciting, you lose control of yourself for a moment and sprint out towards it >Fluttershy follows before Dash can stop her, and the two of you get to midway between your hiding spot and your own car when you hear a voice calling out behind you >"Hey! Hold it, you two." >The force behind it is enough to stop you in your tracks >Turning, you see the white-haired cop from earlier striding towards you >She's soaking wet from the rain, causing purple-tipped strands of her hair to hang down over her eyes >She pushes them aside, scowling "Um... afternoon, officer." >You step closer to Fluttershy out of instinct >"Afternoon. You guys heard about the lockdown, right?" "Lockdown? No, I didn't." >"Mhm. Dad was looking for his son. Apparently some kidnappers dragged him here." "I didn't hear about that." >"You didn't, huh? Because the both of you fit his description pretty well." >The steps closer, and you realize she's a solid three inches taller than you are >The cop leers down at you, her lip twisting >"You don't look much like a kidnapper, though. How old even are you?" "Seventeen." >"Huh. Well... he didn't mention that. And how old are you, sir?" >She addresses Fluttershy now >"I'm s-s-s-s... s-s-s-s..." >Your friend starts to tremble, her voice raising to a terrified squeak >At the effeminate sound of her voice, the cop raises an eyebrow >"S-sixteen..." >"Sixteen years old, pink hair, skinny, about five two... yeah, it all fits. But, no offense buddy... you sure you're a boy?" >Fluttershy begins to hyperventilate, but forces herself to answer >"N-no... I'm not..." >"Yeah, that's what I thought. So, either I've got the wrong two people, and they just happen to look exactly like the right two people... or something weird is going on here." "Officer? Can I explain?" >She shrugs >"Go ahead. I think some actual explanation might be nice. This guy just charges in here, demanding we find his kid, barely tells us anything..." >She shakes her head >In as few words as possible, you tell her about Fluttershy's dad, and your attempts to get her away >The cop regards your story with cold speculation >When you finish, she bends down to Fluttershy's height, looking her directly in the eye >Fluttershy begins to shake even harder, but bites her lower lip and stares back at the policewoman, not even blinking >"Is this true?" >"Y-y-y-y..." >She swallows >"Yes. It's true." >The policewoman watches Fluttershy for a second more, eyes seeming to bore into her as she scrutinizes your friend >"I understand." >She straightens back up, letting her breath out in a huff >"I see." >She cocks her head back towards the zoo, frowning >"Do you three have a place to stay?" "Yeah." >"Somewhere where he won't know where to find you? And with an adult?" "Um..." >Your parents still won't be home, and... could Fluttershy's dad find your address? >It's public record, in the school system, you think >"If not, I can take her into the station." >Fluttershy's eyes go wide >No, you can't let her stay alone >You need to find someplace to stay where her dad can't look for you, and someplace with some adult supervision >That leaves one pretty obvious option >You just hope you still have her phone number "Yeah. I think we've got somewhere." >"You're coming to stay with *me*!? All three of you?" >The shock in Ms. Harshwhinny's voice makes you recoil "It doesn't have to be all three of us, ma'am. Just Fluttershy, really." >"Oh, no! No, that's perfectly okay! I mean, I don't know if I have enough room, and my place is a mess, and good Lord what am I gonna do about dinner--" >She coughs, clearing her throat >"But, um, yes. All three of you are perfectly welcome to stay the night. Just, ah... give me maybe half an hour to prepare. I need to find something for you all to sleep on, and get food, and maybe buy some board games, and..." >She trails off again, and you can almost hear her blushing through the phone >"Yes, well, I need to make sure my house in in good order for guests. So... I'll see you at four then, okay? Is that okay for all of you?" "Yeah, should work." >"Excellent! I mean... I'll see you then." >And then she hangs up >Dash immediately grabs your arm, once you put the phone down >"So? She's cool with it?" "Sounds like it. Just be on your best behavior, alright?" >"What's that supposed to mean!?" "It means Ms. Harshwhinny had better not find any mystery stains on her couch tomorrow morning." >"Hey! I would never do that!" >You raise an eyebrow >"I mean... I wouldn't do it to someone I don't *know*..." "So fapping on people's couches is your sign of friendship?" >"Pretty much. It's a real bond of trust, you know." >She punches you in the arm, and the three of you drive off towards your house to pick up Angel >"Not gonna lie, dude, this feels super weird." "What do you mean? Since when is it weird for you, your boyfriend, and a girl you kidnapped to spend the night with your highschool teacher?" >Dash just frowns >"I dunno, man. What if this is super awkward? Or what if she's really weird?" "Why would she be weird?" >"She's like forty, right? And she still lives alone. Probably has like a million cats." "Whoa, hey. That's kinda rude, isn't it? She *is* letting us stay with her." >"Yeah, but... eh." >Dash shrugs >"I guess it's better than nothing. But if things get super awkward, I'm peace-ing right the fuck out." "Super awkward, like... someone masturbating on your couch?" >"Will you let that go?" "I'm pretty sure you already did..." >"Hey!" >Dash is about to smack you, but just then Ms. Harshwhinny opens her front door >She's dressed... well, not like you're used to seeing her, at least >Her usual purple business skirt has been replaced by a pair of mom jeans that look a size or two too small (especially around her hips), and a graphic tee of some band you've never heard of >Looks like some sleezy 90's buttrock >You can't tell if she's trying too hard to look casual for you and the others, or if your teacher just has zero concept of fashion sense >When she speaks, her voice has a decidedly different tone than you're used to hearing in the classroom >It's less measured, and far more energetic, colored by an almost childish excitement >"Hey! Come on in, I just finished cleaning--" >Barefoot, she takes a few steps down her front porch, waving excitedly for you to enter >And then she stops herself, straightening back up >"I mean... welcome. It's good to see you three made it here alright. Would you like anything to eat? Anything to drink?" >And just like that, she's lapsed back into her regular mannerisms >Except, you know, still dressed like an aging hipster "Um... I think we're good." >You glance at Dash, who nods in agreement, and then at Fluttershy >"I'm f-fine..." >"Excellent. Very glad to hear it." >Harshwhinny lets out an awkward, tiny cough >"Anyway, um... let's go." >The inside of Harshwhinny's house is, well... it's not what you expected, but then again you have no idea what you expected at all >Everything bears the rushed, thrown-together look of a place that was hurriedly cleaned at the last minute >Huge, messy stacks of books cover every inch of furniture, other than the couch and a single armchair >And pretty much all the floorspace, aside from a narrow path leading to the kitchen, is covered in stacks of painted canvas >Harshwhinny seems to step through the room as if to keep herself constantly between you and the artwork >"So, um... I don't really have much to do. I tried to find a board game we could play, but I don't really... you know, own many." >She coughs again, longer this time >"So I bought one of these sets that has a bunch of games in it. It's just chess and checkers and those types, but you know... it could be fun." >She tugs at the collar of her shirt, glancing around the room >"But you don't have to play it, of course. If you want to watch TV, that's fine too. I got Netflix a few days ago, so... yes. Of course. Make yourselves at home." >You, Dash, and Fluttershy share a look >Dash has the smuggest "I told you this would be awkward" type of grin on her face >Stupid Dash >Why does she have to be right sometimes? >It's so awkward that you're starting to break out in cringe sweat, despite the post-storm chill that's pervaded the house >Harshwhinny seems to pick up on the discomfort, and quickly excuses herself >"Yes! Well, I'd better go take care of dinner." >You swear you can see her blushing as she shuffles into the kitchen >So, the three of you are left standing there in Harshwhinny's living room, still soaking wet from the rain >From within the kitchen, you hear the sound of crashing pots and frantic movement >A single louder crash rings out, followed by the sound of something smashing against the floor >All three of you uniformly wince >Harshwhinny pokes her head out from the kitchen, and you see that there's a huge splotch of flower across the front of her shirt, making the band graphic look like it were swallowed up in a snowstorm >"It, um... might be a while before dinner is read." >She glances over the three of you again, and her eyes widen >"Oh! You poor things, you're soaked through! I can't believe I didn't realize. Do you want to go home and get something dry? Or I can lend you something, I guess. That might be a bit too weird though. Um..." >She brushes her hair out of her eyes, accidentally leaving a huge white streak amongst her bronze bangs >Harshwhinny shakes her head >"You're welcome to anything you need. There's some old clothes of mine from when I was, well, a little younger down in the basement. They won't be missed." >And with that, she ducks back into the kitchen >"Wow. Who wouldn't thought someone so stuck-up could be such a..." "Such a nice lady, who's letting us stay in her house?" >"Yeah, yeah. But still dude, this place is a nightmare." >As much as you'd like to defend your teacher, Dash has a point... >Harshwhinny's basement is a labyrinth of cardboard boxes, most of them crumbling with age and mildew >Fluttershy keeps close to you, and it registers that this place probably brings back some not-so-pleasant memories >You take ahold of her hand, and she gives you a grateful smile >Dash blazes ahead, sticking her nose in every box she can find >"Dude, look at this shit." >She opens one of the boxes, revealing more painted canvases >The paintings themselves, cracked due to age, are... >"These are fucking awful." "Dash!" >"What? Look at these! Even I know they're terrible. Why would she buy so many if they're such shit... oh." >You raise an eyebrow >Dash closes the box, looking admonished >"Okay, okay. I'll shut up." >She moves further into the basement, stepping over a stack of folded quilts >"Doesn't make them good though..." >"I d-dunno..." >Fluttershy grabs one of the canvases, glancing over it >"Her t-technique isn't s-s-so bad... she just needs a little help w-with balancing colors, and p-perspective, and k-kinda everything..." >Dash gets to the back corner, her eyes straining in the darkness "See anything?" >"Nope. She could have given us better directions than "in the basement," to be honest." "Your ability to complain about people's kindness is astounding." >"Yeah, yeah. Don't make me violate your couch again." >Dash hip-checks you as you pass her, a devious little grin on her face "Gah!" >You go flying sideways, accidentally toppling over a stack of boxes >They go spilling to the floor, upending and regurgitating their contents >A dozen little pieces of colorful plastic and rubber are scattered across the concrete floor >One rolls to your feet, and you stoop down to get a better look >It's a little plastic firetruck >Dash picks up a different piece, a tiny construction worker with a big, smiling face >"I thought Ms. Harshwhinny didn't have kids." "She doesn't. At least, that's what she's said." >"Then what's all this?" >She starts trying to scoop the toys back up into their box "No idea. Probably better we don't ask." >It takes a few minutes to pile all the plastic cars and people back into their box >Dash replaces it, and the two of you continue searching >When you do find the boxes of clothes, Fluttershy and Dash quickly pick out dry outfits for themselves >You're slightly jealous; it'd be nice to get out of these soaked jeans >Dash catches you staring, and grins >"You want us to pick you out something too, man? I'm sure ol' Harshy's got something just your size." >She holds up a stack of nearly-identical skirts, all of them slim and slightly showy >"You could try on one of these. Bet you'd just look fantastic." >"Um, R-Rainbow?" >"Or maybe this?" >She holds up a pair of raggedy, long-cut jean-shorts >"Look how stylish they are!" >"R-Rainbow..." >Fluttershy tugs at your girlfriend's sleeve, but she doesn't even notice >"Oh, here we go! You wanna try some of these on, dude? Bet they're super comfy!" >She holds up a pair of frilly, pink, "boy shorts"-style panties, winking at you >"D-D-Dash!" >"What, dude?" >She turns, looking where Fluttershy is pointing >Ms. Harshwhinny is waiting as the bottom of the basement stairs, her shirt covered in flower and blotches of red sauce >She's staring right at the three of you >Dash freezes, the pair of Harshwhinny's panties still clutched in her hand, in full view >Harshwhinny just stares, then lets out a tiny cough before straightening out her posture. >"I, um... I have dinner, ready, if you're hungry! Just follow me!" >Dash immediately throws the panties down, blushing furiously >"I, um, yeah! Great! We'll be right up! Just gotta get changed, heh!" >She grabs the box of old clothes, and steps toward the corner for some privacy >Unfortunately, she steps on top of a little plastic pickup truck leftover from the toy spill earlier >"Wah!" >Dash falls flat on her ass, throwing her arms out to catch herself >Which, unfortunately, causes her to toss the box into the air, spilling Ms. Harshwhinny's old clothes across the three of you >You duck just in time, only getting hit by a single pair of her pajama pants, adorned with little trophies >Dash and Fluttershy, however, get the worst of it >A small tidal wave of fabric crashes onto your friend, covering her in Ms. Harshwhinny's old pajamas, t-shirts, and undergarments >Dash fairs none the better; the pair of lacy pink panties from earlier ends up right on her face, covering her eyes >Ms. Harshwhinny continues to stare >You look at her >Then at the two girls, one of which is currently peaking out from beneath a pile of her underwear >And then back at her >And then back at Fluttershy and Dash >And then back to her... "Well! Uh... let's eat?" >The kitchen, when you get upstairs, is an absolute disaster >Pans full of half-mixed sauce cover the counter, half of them with their previously-red contents now scorched beyond recognition >The walls, floor, ceiling, and furniture are all dotted with splotches of flour, and little flecks of dough are concentrated around the sink >The haze of something burning hangs in the air, and several burnt husks of what looks like pizza, or maybe casserole, or pasta, or... well, something charred beyond identification are stacked around the garbage >And there, in the middle of Harshhwinny's kitchen table, are stacked three take-out pizzas from the local Late Night Slice >Your teacher accompanies you into the kitchen while the girls change >"I hope you don't mind takeout food. I... had some issues cooking myself." "I can see that." >Your words come out a little harsher than intended, and your teacher winces >"Yes. Well, of course, I haven't had much need to cook for multiple people before-- I mean, lately." >She coughs, trying to brush some of the flower out of her hair >"Yes, well, I hope you don't mind takeout. I think I've got something to drink too..." >She opens her refrigerator, revealing row after row of cheap red wine >Quickly, she closes it, trying to step in front of you before you get a good view of the fridge's contents >"Actually, why don't I go buy some soda, real quick!" >While Ms. Harshwhinny makes a very hurried trip to the store (still covered in flour), you head down to check on the girls >And that's where you discover an -interesting- sight >Fluttershy is crouched in a compromising position on top of the pile of clothes, supporting herself on all fours with her face pressed into the mound of fabric and her ass up in the air >And she's dressed only in her own faded, gray underwear >Dash is seated a few feet away from her, regarding her pose with intense curiosity >She looks up when she sees you, and waves >"Oh! Hey, dude!" >Fluttershy lifts her head, her eyes going wide when she sees you >"A-Anon! We j-j-just... I... D-Dash wanted to see..." >She buries herself in the pile of clothes, trying to hide >It doesn't work very well >She curls up, trying to cover herself with her hands >"He's seen you naked before, dude." >"Y-yeah, but... eep." >She curls up, embarrassed "So... should I be concerned about what's going on down here? You're not about to put a Spitfire wig on her and call her mama, right?" >"Hey! I only did that once!" >She kicks at a crumpled tee-shirt >"And you couldn't even get the voice right..." "So... what's this?" >Dash flashes you her signature perverted grin, visible even in the basement >"You'll see." >You can practically feel the ;) radiating from her >Fluttershy, meawhile, buries herself further into the pile >"Um D-Dash? Anon? Can you p-please get me something t-to wear?" >"Does this work?" >Dash holds up a yellow sundress >It's a little ratty from age, but even you can see that it'd fit her really well >Fluttershy hides her face in the pile of clothes >"I, um... I h-havent' worn a dress before. I d-dunno." >"Hey, that's cool. I just thought it would look super cute on you." >Her grin widens, and she glances over at you, and she drops her voice to a stage whisper >"And I bet Anon would like it a ton too." >She peeks out, just a bit >"Y-you think?" >"Oh, yeah, definitely. He's just crazy about cute little dresses like this." >She winks at you "Yeah, yeah. Spitfire wig." >"Shut up, you. So, you wanna try it on?" >"I, um... I d-dunno... are you sure I'll l-l-look good in it?" >Dash licks her lips >"Completely." >You're just about to ask her what horrible, devious scheme she's planning next, but then you hear Ms. Harshwhinny's car pulling into the garage >The three of you mosey on upstairs, you still dressed in your damp clothes from earlier and Dash in an oversized t-shirt and a pair of jeans so high-cut it's hard to imagine Harshwhinny ever having worn them >Fluttershy, however, requires a lot more coercion >"I d-don't think the d-d-dress works..." >"You'll look fine, dude! Now hurry up! I'm fucking starving!" >She finally slinks out of the corner she used to change, her head hung >The dress fits her perfectly >How did you ever think she was a boy? >It hangs loose on her skinny figure, making her look effete and willowy >But it adds a grace to her movements, and an elegance that doesn't normally come across when she's in sweat pants >"See, man? Told you he'd love it!" "Huh?" >"You were *so* staring." >Dash punches you in the arm "I was not! I was just... you know. Admiring." >"That's staring!" >Fluttershy lets out a tiny "eep" >"Adm-m-miring? You really think I... I look..." >She's turning as red as the sauce on Ms. Harshwhinny's shirt "I mean, yeah. You look really pretty." >"A-ah... th-thanks..." "You okay?" >"W-what?" >Fluttershy sways, as if in a trance >"Y-yeah... I'm f-f-fine... feel r-really good..." >Dash jumps forward, catching her before she falls >"Adm-mire... heh..." >You get upstairs just in time to meet Ms. Harshwhinny coming through the door, her arms laden with shopping bags "I, uh... thought you were just going to get drinks." >"I was!" >She kicks her shoes off, quaking slightly under the weight of her groceries >"But I, um, realized we didn't have any potato chips. Or any dessert. Or any fresh fruit. Or..." >She glances down at the mounds of bags clutched in her hands >"Okay, maybe it's a little too much." >She leans against the wall for support, starting to sink lower under the weight of all the bags >"I, um... could use some help, if that's okay with you." >After helping Ms. Harshwhinny stow away a frankly freakish amount of snacks, you finally sit down for dinner >And that's when she notices Fluttershy's choice of attire >She balks for a moment, probably still getting used to the sudden reversal of gender >"Oh! Ms. Shy, dear, you look gorgeous!" >Fluttershy yelps, nearly choking on her bite of pizza >"Th-thank you, m-m-ma'am." >Your friend sinks lower in her chair, unable to process so many compliments >"I actually have a few more dresses like that one downstairs, somewhere. You don't have to take them if you don't want to, but it just suits you so well, I think it'd be a crime not to. Obviously I'm in no shape to be wearing them now, but..." >She coughs >"Yes. You're perfectly welcome to them." >The four of you go back to dinner, munching silently on your pizza >Dash shoots you another "told you this would be awkward" look >You try your best to respond with a "be nice, goddammit" look, but it probably doesn't come out right >"Mr. Anonymous? Ms. Dash? Is everything alright?" "Oh, yeah. Rainbow's just having some attitude issues lately." >"Hey! I'm perfectly fine!" "Spitfire wig." >Dash grits her teeth, scowling >"Next time, instead of your couch, I'm gonna use your face." "Long as I don't have to do a Spitfire voice." >Harshwhinny glances between the two of you, confused >"I... see." >She turns to Fluttershy >"So, Ms. Shy. I feel like I haven't gotten much of a chance to know you. What do you like to do?" >"Um... uh... I l-like animals. And drawing. And d-drawing animals. And... being with Anon and R-Rainbow Dash." >Fluttershy taps her fingers together >"That's about it, r-really." >"Oh. Well that sounds really interesting!" >She forces way too much enthusiasm into her sentence, and Fluttershy actually flinches >Harshwhinny's cheeks go pink, and she crosses and then re-crosses her legs >"I mean, um... I'm sure you've seen that I have a little interest in painting too." >Fluttershy looks over at a stack of canvases just a few feet to her left >"A l-little bit, yeah." >"Yes, well. It's quite a fun hobby. Even if I'm fairly rotten at it." >The conversation dies, and Ms. Harshwhinny takes a long drink of her soda >... >... >... >"I d-d..." >"Hmm?" >"Nothing." >... >... >... >You grab another slice of pizza, and Dash kicks you under the table >You mutter under your breath: "Spitfire wig" >She kicks you harder >... >... >Ms. Harshwhinny coughs, and takes another sip of her soda >... >Fluttershy sets down her half-eaten slice of cheese pizza, and starts examining the stack of Ms. Harshwhinny's paintings >You follow her gaze, actually taking some time to look over the art yourself >It's... well, it's definitely not good >Even to someone who doesn't know much about art, you can tell it's pretty clunky >And the colors don't look quite right >But still, you're not sure how to put it, but there's some charm to them >Fluttershy clears her throat >"I, um... I d-don't think they're so bad." >"What's that?" >"Y-your paintings, I d-don't think they're bad." >Harshwhinny laughs >"Dear, you don't have to lie to me. I've seen real artists' work, and I've seen mine. I'm nowhere near acceptable." >Fluttershy looks down, admonished >You reach out with your foot and poke her under the table >She looks up at you, and you motion towards Ms. Harshwhinny with your head, hoping Fluttershy will get the hint >"Oh, n-no! I m-m-mean, it's not perfect, but... I d-dunno... I think it looks nice." >"You do?" >Harshwhinny clears her throat >"I mean... that's very kind of you to say. I appreciate it." >Fluttershy stands halfway up from her chair, then stops >"Is it, um... okay if I... g-go and get one of them? I saw it w-when we came in and I th-thought it looked really nice." >Harshwhinny blinks twice, taken aback >"Yes! Of course, dear. Go right ahead." >Fluttershy returns a moment later with one of Harshwhinny's paintings tucked under her arm >From what you can see of it, it looks to be a forest in springtime, packed with rich greens and tiny little animals nestled amongst tree branches >She sits next to your teacher, scooting her chair over so that the two of them can both see the canvas >"I r-really like what you're doing with the color blending. It makes everything l-look really warm, and it draws the viewer in. It's a r-really nice piece to look at, ma'am." >Harshwhinny bites her lower lip, and when she speaks, her voice is even more strained than you're used to >"Thank you, dear." >"Th-there are a couple things you could work on, though. Y-you know, to really make it perfect." >"Oh, yes, of course. There's more than a couple, I'd imagine." >"Y-yeah. I c-could show you, if that's okay..." >The remains of dinner are quickly cleared away, and the four of you retire to Harshwhinny's living room >She and Fluttershy sit on the couch together with the canvas propped between them, while you and Dash get the floor >Dash immediately goes into "I'm bored, someone pay attention to me" mode, huddling in a corner and flicking through her phone >You decide to let her sulk for a bit, and turn on Harshwhinny's TV on low volume in the background >Harshwhinny already has some strange, 80's British Sci-Fi show already cued up >The title of the show flashes on the screen, followed by an awesomely-cheesy techno intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AmykynKhMw [Embed] >You watch, hypnotized by the strange pseudo-Victorian setting and the giant alien robots >It doesn't strike you as something Harshwhinny would like, but then again, neither did painting >Speaking of which, Fluttershy is giving your teacher the stutteriest Bob Ross lesson you've ever heard >"W-what you're doing with the color here is nice. I feels really alive, and it's v-v-very pretty. But, um... you see how it doesn't blend quite right?" >To her own credit, Harshwhinny is also quite the patient learner >She takes Fluttershy's criticism well, never personally >"Ah, yes. I see what you mean. Maybe add some darker shades to smooth it out?" >"Y-yeah! I bet that'd look r-really nice!" >Your attention is torn away from the onscreen aliens for a moment as Harshwhinny gets up from the couch, heading towards the kitchen >"You don't mind if I start a new one now, do you?" >"N-no. I c-c-can help, if that's okay with you." >Harshwhinny nods, and the two of them get to work >Dash finally gives up on the "pay attention to me" act, and cozies up next to you >"Hey, nerd." "Hey." >"What even is this show? It makes no sense." "You missed like five episodes. Of course it doesn't." >"Ugh, this is so lame. What are those things?" "Alien robots." >"Oh?" "The red ones have laser cannons." >Dash perks up a little more >"Okay, I take it back. This show looks alright. Explain to me what's happening." >She hops into your lap, circling her arms around your neck as she waits for you to fill her in on the plot >You try to shove her off, not wanting to embarrass Ms. Harshwhinny >And, if you're being perfectly honest with yourself... you feel kind of bad making Fluttershy jealous, too >But Dash refuses to be moved; she's determined to get attention even if she has to take it by force >And so you spend the next few hours being aggressively cuddled, while Harshwhinny and Fluttershy get to work on painting >It really is hilarious, hearing how different Fluttershy sounds when she's talking about art >The stutter is still there, sure, but she sounds so much more... >You're not really sure how to put it >Natural? >Or maybe just less terrified >But either way, the nervous tension that always seems to color her voice all but disappears when she talks to Harshwhinny >"D-do you think you could try adding some water here?" >"Here? Like, a lake or something?" >"Yeah. I think that'd l-look really nice." >"You're absolutely right. Here, let me fill it in..." >You can't hear the scrape of the paintbrush over the sound of stompy aliens coming from the TV, but you assume the lull in silence signals the two of them continuing to paint >The episode ends, and for a moment you're lost in the gentle silence >It's so cozy, really >Harswhinny and Fluttershy are whispering to each other about painting now >Glancing over you're shoulder, you see that the two of them are sitting close together now, with Fluttershy resting her head on Harshwhinny's shoulder while she works >She looks really happy >When you catch her eye, she gives you a small smile, which you return >Dash, of course, still hasn't received enough attention >She forcibly turns your head, making you look at her >"Hey, dude. You wanna get some sleep?" "Uh, I dunno, I was kinda enjoying." >"Nah. Let's get some sleep." "I don't really--" >"Hey, Ms. H?" >Harshwhinny looks up from her painting >"Rainbow? Something you need?" "Yeah. Just wondering where we could sleep." >"Oh! I forgot to show you." >She gets up from the couch, and you push Dash off your lap and stagger to your feet >After holding her for so long, your legs are dead numb >Within twenty seconds, she's butt-naked >"Hurry up, dude!" "Hold on, alright? And quiet down, or they'll--" >You hear a noise from outside, and freeze >Judging by the lightness of the footsteps, it's Fluttershy heading down the hall to use the bathroom >You breathe a sight of relief, removing your clothes as silently as possible >"Pussy." "Oh, shut up. Just because I actually want to maintain some dignity..." >"Taking two minutes just to get your pants off isn't dignity, dude." "Spitfire wig." >"If you keep bringing it up, I'm gonna break it out again." "Okay, okay." >You clamber onto the bed, embracing Dash >Her body -- silky, warm, and lithe -- presses against yours as the two of you sink down to the bed together >She rolls onto her hands and knees, and you run your hands along her back as you prepare to push yourself inside her >"Duuuuude, just hurry up, agh... I'm so fucking wet, just do it..." >You press your tip against her snatch, but before you can enter her >"A-Anon-kun..." "What the hell?" >Dash adopts the same position Fluttershy was in earlier, making a nervous, pouty face up at you >"I'm n-nervous, Anon. This is m-m-my first time." "Is... that supposed to be an impression of Butters." >"W-what's wrong? I th-thought you liked me. D-d-d-don't you want to sh-show me your love?" >She presses her ass up against you, wriggling her hips >"It's okay that I'm a b-b-boy, right? You s-still want me?" "Okay, this is getting weird..." >She begins to grind against your cock, sucking in her breath >"You c-can put it in me, if you r-r-really want to... I d-don't mind, as long as y-y-y-you're happy "Dash..." >"D-Dash? Anon-kun... please d-d-don't call me your girlfriend's name. I w-want you to want me." >Dash starts to rub your cock between her buttocks >In spite of yourself, you're hard as a rock now >Partially for her, and partially because, well, her Fluttershy impression is actually pretty good >"C-come on, put in my b-b-butt. I want to m-make you feel good." >She rubs you harder, letting out squeaky little gasps of pleasure "Alright, alright... holy shit..." >You're breathing hard already "Lube. There isn't any..." >"I b-borrowed this from Ms. Harshwhinny earlier... I h-hope it's okay... you d-d-don't have to use it if you don't want to." >She passes you a bottle of buttscotch-scented hand lotion >"N-now, um... p-please hurry up, if that's okay with you. I r-really want you in me." "Okay, okay... just hold on..." >Hands shaking, you undo the cap on the bottle, and squirt some along the length of your cock, smearing it around >Dash lets out a quivering moan, pressing her butt up against you, practically begging >You place your hands on her hips, and position the tip of your cock against her anus >"J-just... please be g-g-gentle, okay?" "Yeah, yeah, sure." >Slowly, you slide yourself inside her ass >"N-nah~" >Dash squeaks as you begin to thrust into her >"A-Anon-kun... y-y-you're so big... a-ah~ Be c-c-careful with me! I'm s-s-so sensitive!" >Okay, yeah, that impression is way too good, if completely, ridiculously cheesy >And it definitely shouldn't be making you feel like this, right? >You dig your hands into Dash's butt, ramming yourself into her >She sticks out her tongue, squeaking and gasping in ecstasy >"Y-you make me feel so -g-g-g-good, Anon-kun! >Hot streams of fluid begin to flow down Dash's legs as she cums, her eyes rolling back up in her head >"I w-want more! G-g-give me more... if that's, um... ok-kay with you... hnng~" >She bucks her hips into you, forcing you deeper inside her "Ah... B-Butters!" >You don't even realize you just called your girlfriend by the wrong name >But she sure does >Upon hearing you call out Fluttershy's nickname, Dash immediately cums again >And this time, she can't keep quiet >Still in her Fluttershy voice, she out a long, choked moan, her entire body shivering as she spews her juices out onto the sheets >At the same time, the muscles of her ass contract around your cock, pushing it out of her body >You end up cumming onto her buttocks and across her back, spraying her with white goop as she collapses, shaking >"Th-th-that was... s-so good, Anon-kin..." >She curls up, making doe eyes at you >"I c-c-c-can't believe you r-really like me that much... d-did I do good?" "Y-yeah... oh my God... really good." >You collapse next to Dash, chest heaving >She runs her hand over her ass, raising some of both her cum and yours to her mouth >"Y-you taste so good, Anon s-senpai..." >And that's when you hear the door click open >Fluttershy steps in, still in her sundress >"A-Anon? Why d-d-did you yell my name? Is everything okay--" >And that's when she catches sight of you and Dash, both butt naked, with her covered in your semen >Fluttershy immediately freezes in place, her eyes wide, and her face a deep crimson >"O-Oh! I'm s-s-so sorry! I j-just... I h-h-heard yelling, and I w-wanted to make sure you... y-you guys were okay! W-wanted to make sure... w-w-w-what's all over Dash?" >Fluttershy takes a concerned step towards Rainbow, who's still trembling as she recovers >"Is s-she alright?" "Uh, yeah. She's fine." >"B-but what's she covered in? And w-why is she shaking? You d-d-didn't hurt her, did you?" "What? No! No, of course not, we were just, you know..." >Fluttershy starts to chew on her fingernails, obviously upset >"Y-you were what? W-why did Rainbow s-sound like she was hurting?" "Because... because we were having sex, Butters." >How naive can she get? >Well, come to think of it, if she had no idea what a condom was at sixteen, then... >"Th-then that s-s-stuff is... oh. Oh m-my..." "Yeah. But she's okay, Butters." >"I'm okay, dude. Feel fucking' great..." >Dash gives a weak thumbs up, still trembling >Fluttershy still does't look convinced >"B-but... you told me that y-y-you needed to wrap it b-before you tap it, r-r-r-remember? Unless... are you g-guys having a baby!?" >She crosses her hands over her mouth, looking like she's about to faint "What? No!" >"B-but you're not wearing a... a thingy..." "Well, yeah. I don't need one." >"B-but then you're gonna have a baby, right?" "No, Butters. We're not." >"H-how do you know?" "Because... because..." >"Because he put it in my butt, dude." >Dash rolls over, showing Fluttershy the leftover fluids still seeping from between her buttocks >This time, Fluttershy's legs actually do give out >She collapses against the wall, sweat breaking out across her forehead >"Y-you can... y-y-you can do that? That's s-so... b-b-but doesn't it hurt?" >"Nah, dude. It's awesome." >Fluttershy starts to chew on her nails again, grinding them down to little shaven stubs >"Y-you promise? You p-p-promise you're ok-kay?" >Dash actually chuckles >"I'm *so* much more than okay. You wanna try next?" >Fluttershy nearly chokes on her own finger >"M-m-me!? You w-want me to... w-with Anon..." >"Yeah, dude. Long as you're okay with me watching.' >"I... b-but... I... h-having him i-i-i-in me?" >She looks over at you, and her legs begin to wobble >Her eyes trace up and down your body, and a tiny wet spot appears through the fabric of her dress >"I n-need... I n-n-need... I... I NEED TO GO TO THE B-B-BATHROOM." >Fluttershy pivots on her heel, and sprints down the hall to the bathroom "Butters!" >You start to get out of the bed after her >But then Ms. Harshwhinny pokes her head into the room >"Is everything alright, you two? Is there anything I can do--" >She catches sight of you first, her cheeks going pink, and so she tears her eyes away to focus on Dash instead >Who's also naked >And still on her stomach >With her spread buttcheeks facing Harshwhinny >For a moment, the room freezes >And then Ms. Harshwhinny is out of there faster than you can say "creampie" >"Well, everything seems to be in order! I'll just leave you to it then! Goodnight!" >She heads back into the living room, probably trying to pretend like that never happened >Dash gets up from the bed, stretching >"I need a shower, dude. Can you go kick Butters out of the bathroom for me?" "Yeah, sure." >You give her a quick kiss on the nose, and head down to check on your friend >The bathroom door is closed and locked, of course >You step up to it, and are just about to knock when you hear... something >"A-Ah~.... hnnn... nnnah~" >And underscoring Fluttershy's squeaks, there's a constant wet, squishing, *shlick*-y noise >"Well? Come on, man, I need to clean this off my ass before it dries." "Just give her, like, ten minutes." >"Ugh, fine. But if I end up sitting in your cum all day tomorrow, you'll be in a Spitfire wig for the rest of you life." "Yeah, yeah. Fuckin' Spitfire wig." >Just as you head out to check on Fluttershy again, she emerges >And damn, she must have had a good time in there; her legs are wobbly, her body is covered in sweat, and she's walking like she's in a dream >"H-hey, Anon." "Hey, Butters. You alright?" >"Y-yeah." >Fluttershy falls into your arms, panting >"I f-feel super good now..." "That's awesome." >"Yeah, super awesome. Outta the way!" >Dash pushes the two of you aside, charging butt-naked into the bathroom >Fluttershy just blinks, dazed >"She's... k-kinda weird, isn't she?" "Heh, yeah, she is. But that's why we love her." >"Y-yeah..." "You alright?" >Fluttershy nods >"You t-think you... you f-f-for real love her?" "I dunno. I ask myself that a lot, actually." >"F-for real? I always thought it w-would be the kind of thing where you j-just knew." "So did I. But, I dunno, I guess real people are a bit too messy for that." >Fluttershy goes silent for a moment >"C-can you stay with me for a b-bit, before I go to bed? It feels w-weird, sleeping away from home. Away f-from dad." "Sure." >You follow Fluttershy into the living room, where Ms. Harshwhinny is still seated on the tiny couch, making the finishing touches on her latest painting >She looks up the minute she sees you and Fluttershy, her cheeks pink >"I didn't see anything! Not that there was anything to see, even! I can change the bedsheets, if you want!" "Uh... thank you, ma'am." >"No problem! Here, I'll go get right on that!" >She high-tails it out of the room faster than you've ever seen a woman her age move >You take her spot on the couch, with Fluttershy curled up at the opposite end >"So... w-what does it feel like. When you love someone. Is it g-g-good?" "Good, yeah. Really good. Most of the time, at least. I dunno, it's just amazing to be able to get up in the morning knowing that you mean the world to someone else." >"I b-bet..." "It's not all great, of course. When you really get know someone like that, they get to dig out all the dark, awful little bits of yourself, and then they're just... there. I dunno. It can be super freaky." >"And w-when you feel like that, that's when you k-know you love someone?" "I guess. I dunno, it's probably different for everyone. Why?" >"Oh! Um, n-no... no reason..." "Butters? You alright?" >"Y-yeah..." "I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear." >"N-no. It's fine." "You sure you don't want to tell me what's wrong?" >She shakes her head >"It's s-stupid. I don't want to k-kill the mood. It's b-been a really good night, and I shouldn't ruin that. Sorry." >Harshwhinny steps into the living room, carrying the balled-up, stained bedsheets >"Everything alright, you two?" "Yes, ma'am. Thanks." >"Sure you don't need anything?" >She really shouldn't be carrying those so close to her body... "No, we're good." >"Okay. I'll be right back, I promise. Just gotta throw these in the wash." "Thank you, Ms. H." >Harshwhinny disappears again >"She's r-really nice." "Yeah. Kind of a shocker, really. Wouldn't get that impression from how she is in class." >"It f-feels really weird." "What does?" >"Having her l-look after me like this. I d-dunno. Do you think she l-loves me?" "Whoa, um..." >"N-not like you and Dash! Not that way. I m-mean, like... like a m-mama would." "Oh, um... wow, Butters." >"Sorry. S-stupid question." >She tucks her legs under her, leaning her chin on her hands >"She b-barely even knows me. F-f-forget I said anything." "It's not stupid. Just a little, I don't know, fast. She probably doesn't feel like *that* yet, but, I mean... why wouldn't Ms. H. like you?" >Fluttershy locks eyes with you in the darkness >"F-for the same reasons my d-dad doesn't." >You open your mouth to speak, but your words catch in your throat >It feels like a year's worth of silence passes before Ms. Harshwhinny sticks her head back in >"Everything okay, you two?" "Oh, yeah." >Fluttershy looks slightly worried when you stand up to leave, but something tells you that this needs to happen "I'm gonna head to bed. Thanks, Ms. H. For everything." >"It was nothing, dear, really. It's just been wonderful to have someone else in the house--" >She coughs >"I mean, of course. It's the least I could do. Oh, and I changed the sheets, so let me know if they're still acceptable. And, if you need anything else--" "Then I'll get it myself. You've done enough." >Harshwhinny lets out her breath in a huff, flustered as ever >"That's hardly... Hmph. Fine. Understood." >She gives you a stiff, formal nod >"I'll see you in the morning, Anonymous." "Night, ma'am." >You step out of the living room, open the door to the spare bedroom, and close it without going in >Instead, you sit on the carpeted floor of the hallway, just out of sight of Ms. Harshwhinny and Fluttershy >You hear the couch springs groan slightly as Harshwhinny sits next to your friend >"Everything alright, dear?" >"Oh, y-yeah. Thanks." >"Are you sure? You look worried." >"I, um... it's n-not worth talking about." >"Are you sure? I won't force you dear. But, if you feel comfortable telling me, of course, I wouldn't mind. Hearing what you have to say. I'm perfectly open to it. You know, in a professional way." >She coughs >"You don't have to if you don't want to though. Of course." >"I j-just, um... do you like me?" >The couch groans again, this time close to Fluttershy's side >Peering around the corner, you see her sit up, frantically waving her comment away >"Th-that's not what I meant to say! I j-just meant, um... I..." >"Is that what you were worried about? Honey, of course I like you. This has been one of the best evenings of... well, ever, really. For me. And you've been the biggest part of it." >Harshwhinny gives Fluttershy a gentle, if slightly stiff-armed, pat on the back >"So, yes. I like you, dear. You're a very nice young lady." >"Th-thanks, ma'am." >"There's no need to thank me. I should really be the one thanking you. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun. Don't know if I ever have." >"Me too. It almost feels too g-good. Like it's just a b-big daydream that I f-f-forgot to snap out of..." >"For both our sakes, dear, I hope you never do." >For a moment, the two are silent >"M-ma'am?" >"Yes, dear?" >"C-can I ask you something?" >"Of course." >"Do you h-have any kids?" >Again, a long silence stretches between the two >"No. I don't. Why do you ask?" >"Oh, um... n-no reason, I j-j-just... I'm sorry... me and Anon found these toys downstairs, and... I w-wondered... sorry..." >"No. It's okay. Forgot I still had those." >"Oh. Okay. S-sorry. I didn't mean to intrude..." >"It's quite alright, dear. It's strange for a woman my age to keep children's toys. I should really get rid of them. Not like they'll change anything." >"Ma'am?" >"I'm fine, dear. Don't worry. It was a long time ago. I thought I was going to... to have a little boy. But things didn't work out. I was so excited, I'd bought so many toys... I couldn't bear to throw them out." >Harshwhinny takes a single shaky breath >"I'm sorry you had to find them. I'll get rid of them soon, I promise." >"N-no! I mean... it's n-n-not a problem. They're important to you, and you s-should keep them. You should hold onto the important p-pieces of you, even if the memories aren't so good." >Harshwhinny gives her a wry, sad smile >"Like these paintings?" >"Y-yeah." >Fluttershy picks up the painting they worked on together, admiring it >From the angle you're at, though, you can't quite make out what it is >"Y-you know... from what I've seen, at least, um... you'd have made a really good mom." >... >When Harshwhinny speaks again, her voice is strained in a way you've heard from her before >"...thank you, dear." >She stands >"I... I think I'd better get to bed, now. Goodnight." >"Ma'am? Ms. H.?" >Harshwhinny covers her face with her right hand, and walks out of the room >And as she does, you swear you can hear her let out a single, choked sob >Fluttershy is stunned for a moment >"M-Ms. H! I'm sorry! I didn't... I didn't mean to..." >She jumps to her feet, trying to run after her >You stop her midway >"A-Anon! Lemme go, I n-need to hell her... I didn't mean to m-m-make her..." >She starts to hyperventilate, nervous shakes wracking her body >"Oh no... oh no, oh no, oh no..." "Hey, hey. It's alright." >You pat the middle of her back, hoping it'll help calm her down >"It's n-not! After everything she d-did... she w-was so nice, and I made her cry! It's n-not okay!" >Her breathing deepens, and you feel her wobble in your grasp "You didn't make her cry. You said a good thing." >"B-but... but she's..." "She's hurt. But that's not your fault. I think... I think that's what she needed to hear." >"But what if it's not? What if I r-really hurt her?" "Come on, it's Harshwhinny. She's as tough as it gets. I think you made her feel a part of herself she'd been hiding for a long time." >"Are you s-sure? You sure I didn't hurt her?" "Pretty sure. I think she just needs some time to herself. To reconnect with that piece of herself you just showed her." >"Ok-kay." >Fluttershy leans her head on your shoulder, her shivering subsiding >"T-thanks, Anon." "Don't mention it. You did a good job. I don't think I've ever seen Ms. H so happy. Or happy at all, for that matter." >You squeeze Fluttershy's shoulders "And I think you've been the biggest part of that." >"That's w-what she said. You t-think she really meant it?" "Of course she did. It's not hard to tell. She's definitely not all bubbly like this over Dash's stupid antics." >"H-heh. I'm g-glad. She deserves to be happy." "So do you." >Fluttershy tilts her head up, locking eyes with you >Slowly, her mouth begins to drift towards yours >You find yourself frozen, not quite moving towards the kiss, and not quite moving away from it >Suddenly, there's a hand on your shoulder >"Eyyyy, what are you two lovebirds up to?!" >Dash smacks your ass, grinning >"You two aren't about to start something without me, right?" "No! We were just..." >"Aww, you're trying to do the 'forbidden love' thing now! That's so cute!" >Dash is dressed only in a towel, wrapped not-so-modestly around her waist, leaving her chest exposed >Fluttershy blushes, scooting behind you >Your girlfriend, meanwhile, balks >"What? Aw, come on! Are you seriously gonna stop there?" >"I, um... d-don't know what you mean." >Dash rolls her eyes >"Ugh, you two are you so lame. But I like the spirit!" >She grabs you by the hand, pulling you back towards the spare bedroom >"Well, come on! I need sleep and attention!" "Your two favorite things." >"You know it. And they go so well together, too." >She flops into bed, throwing the towel off >And Fluttershy gets her second-ever view of stark-naked Dash >The blush on her face increases, leaving her cheeks bright pink >"Hurry up! I'm gonna get cold if you two make me wait." >She pats the spot next to her, wriggling her eyebrows at Fluttershy >"I, um... I d-don't... that's..." >"What? I'm not gonna bite you. It'll be cozy!" >Fluttershy mumbles something unintelligible "Dash..." >"What? It's skinship! Friendly bonding! It's totally platonic!" "You could at least put on *something*." >"Ugh, you're no fun." >She grabs the lightning-bolt-pattern compression shorts she uses as panties, and pulls them on >"Alright, decent enough?" >You glance at Fluttershy >"I, um... I... I d-don't... I'm s-s-sorry..." "Dash?" >"Oh, for the love of... alright, here." >She pulls on her t-shirt too >"That good?" >Fluttershy nods, looking relieved >"I'm s-sorry..." >Now it's Dash's turn to blush >"Whoa, hey! I didn't mean it like that." >She looks at you, as if hoping you'll back her up >But she's alone on this one; you honestly have no idea what she was thinking >If one of your friends tried to get you to sleep with them in the nude, you'd be pretty weirded out too >"Whatever you're comfortable with is cool, dude. I just though..." "You were just thinking with your vag. Classic Dash." >You throw yourself onto the bed, patting the spot between you and Dash "You're welcome to join us, Butters. Whichever you want." >Fluttershy fidgets with the hem of her dress >"I, um... t-that sounds really nice, actually... as l-long as it's okay..." "Of course." >Fluttershy ducks out to change, telling you that Ms. Harshwhinny lent her some pajamas in addition to the dress >Dash, meanwhile, cuddles up to you >"Come on. That was totally a good idea." "It was a horrible idea. The girl freaks out from just a hug. You seriously thought she'd be okay sleeping next to your naked ass?" >"Yes." "Well... huh." >As she often Dash, Dash has once again left you speechless >But at least she's snuggly >You curl up against her under the blankets, waiting until Fluttershy returns >When she does, she's dressed in a loose-fitting, frilly pink nightie >"S-sorry... it l-looks really stupid, doesn't it?" >"Yeah, dude! You look like--" >You clamp your hand over Dash's mouth "I think it looks great on you. And so does Rainbow." >Fluttershy smiles, clambering gently onto the bed >"Are you guys, um... s-sure it's okay if I sleep here? I don't want to--" >Dash doesn't even wait for a response >She grabs Fluttershy and pulls her into the cuddle-huddle, sandwiching the nervous girl between herself and you >"I, um... I..." >Fluttershy lets out a contented little squeak >"T-this isn't so bad, actually..." >"Told ya, dude." >Dash snuggles up to Fluttershy, resting the other girl's head on her arm >You, meanwhile, drape an arm over both girls, pulling the blankets into a tight little cocoon around you >Dimly, as you sink into sleep, you wonder how Ms. Harshwhinny is doing over in her room down the hall >You hope she's alright >Since meeting Dash, you've hardly ever had to sleep alone >And since meeting the two of you, Fluttershy hasn't either >What's it like to be alone as long as she had? >... "Hey, Butters?" >You don't address Dash, as her snoring tells you she's already sound asleep >"Y-yeah?" "You okay getting up early tomorrow?" >"I usually do... w-why?" "I wanna make breakfast. For Ms. H." >"Oh." >Fluttershy catches onto your idea immediately >"Y-yeah, sure. I'm not much of a cook, but I'll help as m-much as I can." "Thanks." >You feel her hand brush against yours under the covers >"Anon?" "Yeah?" >"Can you p-promise me something?" "What?" >"N-no matter what happens... with m-my dad, and everything else... this isn't the last night we'll spend together, right?" "Butters..." >"S-sorry. That was a stupid thing to say." >You rest your head against the back of hers "I promise, Butters. Dash and me aren't going anywhere. I can' promise every night will be like this... but we're not gonna give you up." >"Alright." >She takes ahold of your hand, squeezing >"That's a p-promise. You can't break it, okay? The t-two of you have to s-stick around." "It's alright, Butters." >Your breath tickles the back of her neck, making her wriggle beneath the covers "Even if we could leave you, I don't think we would." >You drift into sleep holding Fluttershy, feeling her breathing slowly fall to a gentle, swelling snore >Well, not quite a snore >More like tiny, breathy, tired little squeaks >Either way, it's the perfect sound to fall asleep to >The sound you wake up to, however, is far less pleasant >*bzzzz* >The buzzing of your phone drills into the back of your skull, pulling you out of your cocoon of warmth >You sit up, rubbing your eyes, and grab your phone from your bedside >Who the hell is calling you? >And why are four in the morning? >You hang up, laying back down >Probably either a telemarketer or just a mis-dial >However, before you can even close your eyes, your phone starts ringing again >Same number >You stare at it, trying to muster the effort to actually move your arms >Ugh, why? >You're so comfy here... >Finally, feeling like you've accomplished some Herculean trial, you grab the thing up and take the call "Hey?" >You don't even bother trying to hide the exhaustion on your voice >If they want to call you in the middle of the night, they can deal with you being tired >An unfamiliar voice answers >"Hello. Is this Anonymous?" "Uh... yeah. Why?" >"This is officer Shining Armor with the Canterlot PD. We've received reports of a break-in at your house." >Stunned, you can only repeat the officer's words back to him "A break-in? At my house?" >"Yes sir. We've got me and a few other officers down here checking it out, but it doesn't look like anything was stolen." "That's... good, I guess." >Someone broke in, but didn't steal anything? >Could it be him? >How did he figure out where you live? >Unless... >Harshwhinny mentioned something about the school registry, right? >Shit, he must have found your address >Thank Christ you got yourself and the girls away from there >But still... >"Sir?" "Yeah, sorry. You're sure nothing was stolen?" >"Doesn't look like anything's missing. Still, we'd appreciate it if you could come down here and answer some questions, just so we know who we're looking for." "Yeah, definitely. I'll be right over." >"Anon? W-wha..." >A very-sleepy Fluttershy watches as you dress yourself, rubbing sleep from her eyes "Sorry, Butters. Something came up." >"Huh? Is e-everything okay?" >She bolts upright, clutching the blanket in jittery, nervous hands >Dash, meanwhile, remains out cold >That girl could sleep through a hurricane "Yeah. Someone broke into my house." >"W-what? That's n-n-not alright! Is everything okay? N-no one was hurt, right?" "No. But I'm gonna go talk to the police. I'll be back in a bit, okay?" >Fluttershy jumps out of bed, trying to look determined while still dressed in her nightie >"I'm c-coming with you." "No, Butters. This could be dangerous, and--" >"And you'll n-need someone to look after you. I'm going with." >She takes ahold of your arm, setting her mouth in a resolute little line "Butters..." >"I'm g-going." "It's just me talking to the police. It's gonna be boring." >"I t-thought you said it'd be dangerous." "It is, but..." >"S-sounds like you're gonna need some help f-f-figuring out what's going on, huh?" >Fluttershy gives you the smuggest grin you've ever seen on her face "I'm serious, Butters." >"And s-so am I. We're going together." >The sudden lack of stutter makes it pretty much impossible to disagree >Outside, the air temperature has dropped significantly after the rain, and the ground is damp and slippery beneath your shoes >Fluttershy sticks close to you, dressed once again in her hoodie and sweatpants >Neither of you could manage to wake Rainbow, and you figured encounters with the police would probably go better without her, well, interference >You drive slowly, the car's headlights illuminating the coils of mist that reach up like tendrils from the ground >They dissipate the moment the car's slipstream hits them, bursting into little wisps of water vapor before they can grab at the vehicle >Fluttershy is characteristically silent, leaning her head against the glass as she stares out at the passing trees >You start to realize just how secluded Harshwhinny's house is >Trees press in all around, separating individual houses by ten or fifteen meters >She must be lonely out here... >The feeling of having your house broken into is, primarily, that of violation >Everything about your home just feels... wrong, somehow, knowing that some intruder has tramped through it >Suddenly, your bedroom seems a little less private, and your bed a little less comfy >"Sir?" >The cop's voice stirs you out of your musing "Mm?" >"Anything out of place?" "No. Everything's where it should be, as far as I can tell. Do you think this could have been, I dunno, a mistake? Like someone hit the wrong house?" >"Yeah, that's possible. Or they panicked. Or they didn't find what they were looking for." >That last line sticks with you "What they were looking for..." >"Hm?" "Nothing. I'm gonna go check downstairs again." >You head back down, stepping over the shards of broken glass littered around the now-defunct front window >A cop is already taping a tarp over it, to keep out the coming rain >Seems like you're in for plenty of storms in the next few days... >"Anon?" "Yeah." >You snap back into reality once again, to find Fluttershy shaking your arm "Sorry. What's up?" >"I w-was looking at the fridge... d-does something look off?" "Off? What do you mean?" >"The pictures are knocked around... and it l-looks like there's on missing..." "What do you... oh, shit." >"W-what?" "Shit, shit." >You run to the fridge, fingers scrabbling over the pictures >"Is s-something really missing?" "Yeah." >"What?" "I had a picture of Dash up here. Right here." >You tap an empty space on the fridge, a chill that has nothing to do with the rain growing on the back of your neck >"Oh no..." "So whoever took it knows me, and now knows about Dash." >"You don't think it w-was..." "I do." >"Oh no... oh no, oh no, oh no..." >Fluttershy begins to hyperventilate, crossing her hands over her mouth >"Anon. You n-need to take me back. Just take me b-back home. Don't do this to yourself. Oh no... I'm s-so sorry..." >She grabs the countertop, breathing heavily >Her legs begin to shake, and she nearly collapses >You grab her arm, helping to steady her "Butters! >"Yo! Is she okay?" >Turning, you see the white-haired officer from the zoo standing in the doorway >You swear you see a flicker of recognition on her face too, but she doesn't waste time on whether or not she knows you >Immediately, she's at Fluttershy's side >"Hey, you alright?" >"Y-y... y-yeah..." >The cop turns to you >"You got a paper bag in here, or something?" >You run to the pantry and grab one, and the officer holds it to Fluttershy's mouth >After a few rounds of breathing in and out of the bag, Fluttershy begins to calm >"I'm sorry... I'm s-so sorry..." >"Easy, kid. What's wrong?" >Fluttershy mumbles under her breath, and the white-haired cop just glances up at you, confused "It's... a bit of a long story." >"Long story, eh? Something I should know about?" >She straightens up to her full height, her stature eclipsing yours just enough that she can stare down her nose at you "You could say that, I guess. >Clearing your throat, you mentally prepare yourself to spill all of the past weeks' drama "I think we know who broke into this house." >"Oh yeah?" >She leads a miserable-looking Fluttershy over to the couch, not bothering to ask permission before she sits down with her >The cop waves you over >"The others are probably gonna head back to the station. Doesn't seem like there's much more we can do here. In the meantime, though..." >She points a finger at you >"You're gonna tell me what's going on, 'kay?" >You shoot Dash a text as the three of you head back to the officer's squad car [Hey. Talking to the police. Will be back in a few hours. <3] >She doesn't respond, as expected; it'll probably be a good five or six hours before she wakes up >Then again, Dash does tend to get antsy sleeping in unfamiliar places; maybe she'll be up sooner than expected? >"You two want breakfast?" "Hm?" >The officer repeats herself >"Breakfast. You guys want something?" "Oh, sure. Thanks." >"No problem. You two might be in for a long morning, figure it's the least I can do." >She pulls away from your house, heading towards the highway >"Name's Officer Griffin, by the way. But you guys can call me Gilda, if you want. I don't really care." >She brushes her hair out of her eyes, nimbly merging between two oncoming semis "Thank you, ma'am." >"Yeesh. Yeah, I'm putting the kibosh on that right now. Call me officer, or my first name, but none of that ma'am shit. Blech." >She sticks out her tongue, switching into the right lane and flooring the car forward >"Sorry if that was harsh. But yeah, no. I'm not your mom, you don't gotta talk to me like I am. Now..." >She zips back across the highway into the exit lane, heading off towards a small market bistro on the side of the road >"You say you think you know who broke in, right? Why don't you fill me in while we grab some sandwiches." >And thus begins the least pleasant story you've ever told >You go through your first meeting with Fluttershy, her dad's insistence that she was a boy, the abuse, the threat to her pets, the zoo incident >"Oh!" >She peels out of the parking lot, heading back towards the highway >"That's why you two look so familiar! Is that guy the one you're talking about?" "Yeah!" >"Ah, shit. You poor kids. That guy's your dad?" >She turns to Fluttershy, who squeaks and shrinks back into her seat >"Y-yeah... sorry..." >"What are you apologizing for?" >"N-nothing... I'm s-sorry you have to deal with him..." >"Kid, this guy's just another weirdo for me. To have some abusive asshole like that as your dad..." >For a moment, Gilda falls silent >"It's nothing good. Nice girls like you deserve better." >She pulls into the station at five in the morning, exiting the car just as the first gray rays of twilight are beginning to peak through the treeline >"You two get some rest and finish breakfast, alright?" >She pats a glum-looking Fluttershy's shoulders >"I'm gonna head in and get the paperwork started. We're gonna ask you two to give testimony, then we're gonna figure out what to do. Sound good?" >Fluttershy nods "Yes ma'am--" >Gilda flashes you a dark look "Yes, Officer Griffin." >"Hmph. I'm never gonna get used to the sound of that..." >You and Fluttershy sit together in the station's waiting room, listening to the Oldies station playing on low volume over the place's PA >She takes about two and a half bites of her sandwich, and sets it back down "Hey." >You place your hand on her arm, and she flinches >"S-sorry..." "Butters. You don't need to keep saying that." >"I know, b-but... ugh. Why did I have to get you c-caught up in all of this? You and Dash don't deserve this in your lives. You're g-good people." "So are you." >She doesn't respond, but you can tell by her facial expression that she's not convinced >Raising her sandwich to her mouth, she tries to take another bite, but ends up just dropping it into her lap again >"If I w-were good... really good, like you t-think I am... then he'd love me." >Your hand moves down her arm, palm meeting hers and your fingers intertwining "And if you really were as bad as you think you are, than me and Dash wouldn't." >Fluttershy bites her lip "I don't regret any of this, Butters. Even if he'd stolen every single thing I own. You're worth all that and more." >Fluttershy starts to tremble, but says noting >She just stares at the floor, squeezing your hand as the songs play on and the seconds tick by >Finally, the door to the waiting room opens >Gilda tromps out, a steaming mug of coffee in one hand >You finally realized that the bags under her eyes aren't just caused by her purple eyeshadow; poor woman looks exhausted >"Hey, dudes. You two holdin' up okay?" "Yeah." >Fluttershy gives a small nod >"Awesome. So, we're gonna record some testimonies, okay? Just come in, sit down, take a drink, and tell them exactly what you told me, okay? Everything that happened that you think we need to know." "Got it." >She cracks a smile, stepping just close enough to ruffle your hair >"Cool. You'll go first, hotshot. And then you, alright?" >She squats down to Fluttershy's eye-level >"Alright?" >She places a hand on your friend's shoulder >Fluttershy swallows, and stammers: >"I... I d-don't know." >The rasp drops out of Gilda's voice, and her voice lowers to an almost motherly coo >"Hey, it's okay. If there's stuff you really don't think you can tell us, it's okay. Just... anything you can manage is good enough, alright?" >"Y-yeah. Okay." >"Thanks. I'll be right back out as soon as it's your turn, 'kay?" >Fluttershy nods, curling up on the chair and hugging her legs against her chest >You wrap an arm around her shoulder, giving her a quick squeeze before you leave >Poor girl... >Testifying is pretty easy >You're lead into a tiny office, stocked with plenty of bottled water >An older, male cop sits across from you with Gilda at his side >"Alright, son. Whenever you're ready, just start. We've got a recorder running right now, and I'll be taking my own notes. That okay?" >You nod, and begin the story from the beginning again >Gilda watches, her golden eyes betraying no hint of emotion >The unfamiliar cop doesn't even look at you; he just keeps his eyes on his clipboard as he jots down notes to go along with your testimony >When you run out of things to say, you've gone through two bottles of water >The male cop nods, and dismisses you >"That's all we need. Thank you for your time, Mr. Anonymous. We'll assign someone to your case as soon as your friend testifies as well." "Thank you, sir." >You stand up, and Gilda follows you back into the lobby >"Hey, buddy." >She kneels down next to Fluttershy, placing a hand on her shoulder >"You're up now, okay?" >"A-alright." >"It's gonna be easy. Just sit down, and tell us everything we need to know. If you need anything, just ask. And if you don't feel okay telling us something, don't worry." >"Right." >Fluttershy stands, stuffing her hands in the pocket of her hoodie >She turns to you, her bangs hanging in her eyes >"I'll s-see you in a bit, okay?" "Yeah. You'll do great, Butters." >Gilda leads her into the office, and you're alone again >Bored and listless from worry, you pull out your phone, only to discover that Dash must have texted you back while you were testifying >Guess she had some trouble sleeping after all >[heyyy dude <3 heading back 2 my house 2 change and it's kinda weird being here alone with harshwhinny lol] >[c u in a bit! good luck] >You consider responding, but decide against it >You'll see her in a couple hours, after all >No sense in worrying the poor girl with police drama, really >So you just kick back, resting your eyes for an hour >... >Which stretches into two hours >... >And then into three... >Three and a half... >... >Finally, after you've slapped into that dead-eyed state of boredom that comes with prolonged anticipation, the door opens >Fluttershy shuffles out, her eyes on the ground >An exhausted Gilda followers her, once again sipping from a cup of coffee "Hey!" >You jump up, running towards your friend "How was it? Everything okay?" >Fluttershy just shrugs, unable to meet her eyes >Gilda steps in front of her, placing a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder >"She wasn't exactly able to... well, tell us much." "But she was in there for three hours." >"Yeah. We tried to help her through it, but... well it was hard for her." >She pulls your friend against her in a gruff side-hug >"I'm s-sorry..." >"Don't apologize, kid. You didn't do jack shit to deserve something like this. You're a good girl, and you're trying your best to deal with an awful situation." >She ruffles Fluttershy's hair >"Don't ever apologize to me, or Anonymous, or anyone just for being stuck somewhere bad. Okay? No matter what, no matter how trash you feel, you're a good kid." >Fluttershy doesn't look very convinced >"I'm s-sorry. I promise, if w-we try again, I'll have more. I j-just..." >She sniffles >"I'm sorry." >Gilda gives you a "I tried" look >"Well, the good news is, we're gonna get to hang out a lot more." "Yeah?" >"Mhm. The chief assigned me to look after you guys while we're investigating her dad." "Oh! Awesome!" >"You're g-gonna stay with us?" >"Well, not stay-stay. But I'll be dropping by. Speaking of which, you guys have a decently safe place, right? Somewhere where this creep isn't gonna know how to find you?" >And that's how, thirty-five minutes later, you pulled up outside Ms. Harshwhinny's house with a police officer following you >Above you, the remnants of yesterday's storm are already gathering, forming a deep gray sheet that hovers like a mantle in the sky as you approach your teacher's front door >Harshwhinny answers her door in nothing but a bathrobe and slippers shaped like little piglets >When she sees the two of you, she smiles >And when she sees Gilda, her face goes pale >"O-officer? Is something wrong?" >She draws the robe tighter around herself, trying to look at least slightly more presentable >Gilda laughs >"Nah. Well, not with these two, at least. There's been some, eh, troubles with this one's dad." >She pats Fluttershy on the shoulder >"I'm gonna be hanging around here for a bit, I guess. Just to keep an eye on these two and make sure nothing happens." >It does feel a little weird being referred to as "these two," but it takes you a minute to remember why >Why isn't Dash back yet? >You pull out your phone, only to find that she hasn't texted you anything about her whereabouts >Slightly worried, you send her one [Hey. Where you at?] >"Oh! Well, that's... quite respectable of you!" Harshwhinny says to Gilda >She begins to head towards the kitchen, beckoning for you to follow >"Here! I'll make us some breakfast! I mean, I won't make it... I can't cook for anything, heh... but I'll reheat some pizza?" >She stops in front of the fridge >"Oh, no, what am I saying. So unprofessional. I, um... could... uh... I have cereal?" >Gilda chuckles >"I'm fine, thanks. These two could probably use something, though." >Fluttershy just shrugs, but you don't say anything >Harshwhinny steps toward you, concerned >"Anonymous? Everything alright?" "Huh? Oh, yeah. Just wondering why Dash hasn't texted me back." >"She's probably busy, dear. Poor thing seemed in such a rush to get home." "Huh. Yeah." >Gilda steps away, pulling out her own cell phone >"Huh? Yeah? Not there, huh? Yeah, I'm with the kids. Sure, yeah, I'll tell them." >She flips the phone shut, stowing it in her uniform pocket >"So, they went to check out your dad's house." >"Y-yeah?" >"Wasn't there. We're gonna check in every hour or so, just to see if he comes by. But until then, stay here, alright?" "Yeah, of course." >Harshwhinny steps in, wrapping a protective arm around both of you >"What do you mean? They're not in danger, right?" >She hugs the both of you against her body with an honestly alarming strength >Gilda shakes her head, though she doesn't look entire convinced >"Not yet. But we should be on the lookout, just in case." >Harshwhinny nods >"Of course! I promise, I'll make sure the both of them stay safe!" >She gives you another squeeze >"You got that, you two? Just stick with me, and I promise, no creep is going to touch you." >Harshwhinny notices Gilda staring, and blushes >"And, of course... it's good that we have a policewoman here too. Yes. But still. I promise." >She coughs, letting go of you >You pull out your phone, checking for a text from Dash >Still nothing >Why won't she respond? >Outside, more storm rolls in, damping the morning light out and casting the world outside into deep, dark gray >Gilda bumps your shoulder, peering down at your phone >"Your friend text you yet?" "No." >"I'm sure she's just busy, man." >You want to believe Gilda, you really do, but the more you think about it, the more dread begins to build in the pit of your stomach >Dash wouldn't have ignored your messages this long >And she also wouldn't want to be away from you and Fluttershy for this much time, right? >And plus... >The break-in, and that missing photo... "He's going after her." >"Huh? What do you mean?" "*He* is! He's going after Rainbow Dash!" >"N-no!" >Fluttershy squeaks in terror "We have to go! Now!" >Gilda doesn't even wait for an explanation >She charges out towards the car, grabbing her keys >Fluttershy takes ahold of your hand, and you pull her along behind you >Even Ms. Harshwhinny joins in, trying to keep up in her slippers and robe >The four of you pile into Gilda's car, and she flicks the sirens on so you can really floor it on the way to Dash's house >You really, really hope you're not too late... >The cop car pulls up in front of Dash's house, but you're out of the vehicle before it's even had a chance to come to a stop >You sprint up to the front door, buffeted by the frigid winds carrying the storm "Dash! Dash, you in there!?" >You slam your fist against the door, but receive no response >Gilda runs up after you, followed by Fluttershy and Harshwhinny >Gilda is the first to speak, her voice hushed and urgent >"Anything?" >You shake your head >"Alright. You think she'll mind if I get a little violent?" "If she does, I'll handle her. Please, help." >Gilda nods, raises her right foot, and kicks the door open >The cheap lock explodes under the force of her kick, and the door bursts inwards >"Hey! This is the police! Anyone here?" >She charges in, one hand on the G42 strapped to her waist >The house is overwhelmingly silent, the point where the lack of response physically weighs down your neck >"Hello?" >Gilda runs up the stairs, heading in to check more of the house >You check your phone, only to find that Dash still hasn't left you a message >What happened to her? >She's been bad about responding to messages in the past, sure >But it's been hours, and she's still not home >And the missing picture >You step back out of the house, your heart hammering in your chest >Dash doesn't have a car, so she tends to depend on Uber, bumming a ride, or just walking >Given how remote Harshwhinny's house is, she probably needed Uber >So she should have needed a driver, right? >Which means she definitely got here >Was he waiting for her? >Then there should be some sign of a struggle; there's no way Dash would get taken without one hell of a fight >"A-Anon?" >Fluttershy tugs on the hem of your shirt, her face pale >You turn, following her gaze >"Good lord," Ms. Harshwhinny gasps >It's not noticeable at first, but there's a tiny splotch of blood at the end of the stone steps that lead to Dash's front door "Shit." >You kneel down next to the red stain, shaking "Gilda! Come here!" >The policewoman charges back out of the house >"What? What is it?" >She looks where you're pointing, and curses >"Shit. That's not good." >Dropping to one knee, she examines the red stain >"It's dried. At least a few hours old." "Oh my God." >"It's small, though. Unless there's more, than it could be nothing... >You scan the surroundings, eyes flicking over the driveway, the small, dried-up garden, the front porch... "There's more." >Another thin line of blood is splashed across the boards of the patio, difficult to notice unless you look directly at it >And, upon further inspection, heavy footprints are squished into the dirt of Dash's parents' garden, along with some smushed plants suggesting that someone fell >And fell hard >There was definitely a fight here, and one with a clear winner >But who? >You can't find any other sign of the struggle, and nothing points to its outcome >Christ, you hope Dash isn't hurt >Gilda clearly doesn't have any more answers than you >Her lip twists in frustration >"I'm gonna radio the station. Anyone who's available, we're gonna have them looking for your friend." "Please. Please, find her..." >You touch the red splotch, saying a quick prayer to whatever will listen that Dash will turn up okay >The four of you return to Gilda's car, all of you looking uncharacteristically dismal >Harshwhinny won't stop mumbling to herself: >"I shouldn't have let her go..." "It's not your fault, ma'am." >You rest your head against the glass window, watching the clouds grow ever darker up above "I should have told her to stay put. I should have warned her. Oh, God..." >You rest your head in your hands "What if she's hurt? Like, really hurt, and I could have stopped it?" >Fluttershy places a light, trembling little hand on your thigh >"Anon... p-please don't do this to yourself." "Why not? I should have told her! I got so caught up in... in playing the hero, like some kind of jackass. I forgot all about her warning her. Oh my God." >You clench your teeth, desperation rising in your chest to the point where you want to throw the car door open and sprint back to your girlfriend's house "I fucked up. I fucked up bad." >"D-do you think Dash would say that, if s-she were here?" "Huh? What do you mean?" >"She wouldn't want you to b-be worried about her like this, right? She'd get all p-p-puffed up and angry like she likes to do, and she'd p-probably smack you, and tell you that she doesn't need to be looked after. That she can take care of herself." "Yeah... sounds like her." >"She wouldn't w-want you to just mope about her, r-right? She'd want you to trust her. And... I t-think that's what we should do. T-trust that she's okay." "I really want to, Butters. I really do. But I just want to know she's okay." >"I know. And s-soon, we will, right? She's the t-toughest girl I've ever met. We're g-gonna see her again." >Fluttershy's words can't quite convince you; in fact, they don't even come close >So instead, she leans against you, taking your hand in hers >She gives you a gentle squeeze, gently massaging your palm as you return to Harshwhinny's house >"Alright. Here's what we're gonna do." >Gilda has the two of you seated on the couch in front of her, with Ms. Harshwhinny pacing in the background >Outside, the first drops of rain are beginning to *thunk* against the windows, the wind howling against the panes as it tears apart the trees outside >"I'm gonna head down to the station, report everything, and we're gonna get all open units out looking for your friend. In the meantime, I'll make sure that anyone on patrol stops by here when they get the chance, okay? Just to make you're all doing alright." "Got it." >"In the mean time, don't leave. Understood? Until we know where this creep is, nowhere's safe. If anything bad happens, or if you feel threatened..." >She drops a slip of paper onto the table >"That's my personal number. I'll get over here as soon as I can." "Okay. Thank you ma-- Gilda." >She gives you a cocky smile, ruffling your hair >"No problem, kid. We've got a lot of good people working on finding your friend, I promise we'll get her." "Thank you." >You're still not entirely convinced, but Gilda's words put you slightly more at ease >"Cool. I'm gonna head out. Lemme know if anything happens, and I'll be back in a few hours." >Gilda steps out, arms over her head for shelter as she sprints to her car >Ms. Harshwhinny joins the three of you on the couch, sighing >She holds her body in a position of forced nonchalance, trying to appear relaxed >But her hands are clenched in her lap, balling around the soft mink of her robe >"It's... it's going to be alright. Gilda knows what she's doing, after all. She'll find your friend, and then we'll all have dinner together again. Or lunch. Or both." >She clenches and unclenches her hands, fingers shaking >"Either way, things are going to be just fine. I promise." >She gives Fluttershy a stiff pat, and then reaches across her to touch your arm >"Anonymous?" "Yeah?" >"If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know." "Thank you, ma'am." >"Anything at all. I don't meant to be pushy, sorry. But..." >She sucks in her breath >"This is so awful. You're nice kids, and you shouldn't have to go through this. I'm so sorry." >Before you can react, she's hugging both of you >Which, given that there's only a bathrobe between you and her naked body, is a little... >Well, more intimate than you expected to get with your economics teacher >Fluttershy just sits there frozen, but you awkwardly try to return to hug, reaching up to pat Ms. Harshwhinny on the back >She pulls away, flustered >"Sorry... got a little carried away." >She rubs her arm, returning to her spot on the couch >"I just... you three are great kids. Having all you stay with me has been the most fun I've had in... well, longer than I'd want to admit. I couldn't stand to lose any of you, and I can't imagine what you must be feeling. If I can do anything for you, please let me know." >She stands up >"Until then... I'll be in my room. Good night." >"It's, um... morning, ma'am." >"Right. Yes, of course." >Harshwhinny tightens her bathrobe around her and scurries out of the room, keeping her face turned away from you >"I'm g-gonna go get Angel." "Huh? Oh, okay." >"He hasn't b-been let out in a while. He's probably m-m-mad." >Fluttershy stands, and heads back into the spare bedroom she's been keeping her rabbit's cage in >Angel is, of course, feisty as ever >When Fluttershy returns, he's kicking and squirming, even trying to bite her fingers >Somehow, though, she doesn't seem to care >She sits on the floor, holding him in her lap as she coos into his ear >"Such a pretty little b-bunny... yes you are..." >He nips her pinkie finger >Fluttershy doesn't even seem to care >She just keeps petting her bunny, even bouncing him on her lap >Slowly, her face begins to brighten, even as bite marks start to score her arms >"D-do you wanna hold him, Anon?" "Oh, um... I mean, not really..." >She holds up the rabbit, sticking out her lower lip >"Are you s-sure? He's s-super friendly..." "Uh..." >Fluttershy scoots towards you, practically plopping Angel in your lap already "Okay, yeah. Sure." >You take hold of the dumb rabbit, and he immediately bites you >"S-see? Isn't he adorable?" "Ack. Yeah, he's great." >You try to hold the little critter like she was, but he won't hold still >Immediately he starts trying to wriggle free of your grasp, thrashing like a tiny furry demon >"Awww, he l-likes you!" "Yeah. We're best friends." >Angel bits you again, and you grit your teeth >Ms. Harshwhinny picks that moment to bustle into the room, once against dressed in her mom jeans >And this time, she's wearing an oversized Metallica t-shirt, with a few acid turns around the hem >It's like she's completely forgotten that she's not living in the early nineties anymore >Wait a minute... >She bustles through the living room, staring at her phone "Ma'am? Everything okay?" >"Hmm? Oh, yes. Perfectly okay. Just a small incident up at school." "How small?" >"Oh, you know. A break-in, apparently. Nothing important stolen, as far as they can tell. They just want the faculty to meet so we can make sure nothing's missing. All standard procedure." >She wipes a hand across her forehead >"I'll need to head out for an hour or two. And I'm taking you two with me." "With you?" >"Of course. I can't be expected to leave you here, when *he* might be looking for you." >She shudders >"Absolutely not. You're coming with me." "I'm sorry ma'am, but I can't." >"What do you mean? Anonymous, I insist. If I have to be away from the two of you, I'll be..." >She blushes >"Well, I'll be worried sick. Please don't do that to me." "I'm sorry, ma'am. But this is the last place Dash saw us. If she's out there without her cell phone, this is where she'll come looking. I need to wait for her." >"Anonymous, please. She can find her way to safety, I'm sure." "I know. But she's not going to think about her safety first. She'll be worried about us, even if her life's in danger. That's how she is." >You pull out your phone out of habit, your hopes of a text from her long since dead "Please trust me, ma'am. She's going to come looking for us. And I want to make sure I'm here for her." >Harshwhinny sighs >"You promise me the two of you will be okay?" "I do." >"I mean it, Anonymous. I'm going to put a lot of faith in you, here." >She squats down, ending up on eye level with you >"You have to promise me that, when I get back--" >She chokes for a second, swallowing hard >"You have to promise you're still going to be here. Both of you." >She hangs her head, her bangs obscuring her eyes >"Please be safe, okay?" >This time, you and Fluttershy are the ones hugging her "We will, ma'am. First thing when you get back, and when they find Dash, Butters and I are gonna cook dinner for all of us." >"B-but I don't know how to--" "Shh." >You place a finger over her lips >Ms. Harshwhinny straightens up, adjusting the collar of her t-shirt >"Thank you, Anonymous. I really appreciate that. I'll be back as soon as I can." >She hesitates for a moment, as if dreading walking out the door >But, finally, she departs, the starting of her car's engine muffled by the wind >You get up and lock the door behind her, passing Angel back to Fluttershy >As soon as she's touching it, the stupid rabbit calms down again >You walk a circuit of the house, checking and locking each window >While your back it turned, the wind whips a fallen branch right into the glass, causing an ear-splitting *whack!* that makes you jump >Fluttershy yelps at the noise, clutching Angel protectively against her chest and diving beneath the coffee table >"W-what was that!?" "Just a stick. It's fine." >Another one thuds somewhere further back in the house, and you strain your ears for the sound of broken glass >Outside, the rain begins to increase in intensity, falling in thick gray sheets that obscure your vision to the point where you can only see a few feet in any direction outside the house >Something heavy lands on the roof, the resulting thud shaking the entire house "Shit!" >You fall back onto the couch, ending up next to Fluttershy >Angel freaks out from the sound and begins to thrash >"Angel! Calm down! It's j-just-- ah!" >He bites Fluttershy hard, making her drop him >Immediately, he scampers out of the living room, disappearing deeper into the house >"Ow..." >Fluttershy cradles her hand, which now has a thin line of blood trailing down it >"A-Angel! Come back!" >She jumps up, running after her pet >Another thud echoes through the house, this time coming from the basement >A second thud immediately follows it, sounding like it came from the same location >"Anon, help! I c-can't find him!" "He'll be fine, Butters. Just wait for him to come to you." >"B-but what if he escaped? He won't survive out there!" >A third, even louder thud echoes through the basement >For a moment, you pause >It didn't sound like a stick... >"Anon, p-please!" "Alright, fine. Where'd you last see him?" >"I d-don't know! He just ran off! There's so m-much stuff in here, I d-don't know where he could be hiding!" >As if to prove Fluttershy's point, you nearly trip over a stack of Ms. Harshwhinny's paintings when you stand "Well, we can just wait, okay? It's not like he's gonna starve. Just wait here, and he'll find--" >At that moment, something heavy crashes down outside >The lights inside Ms. Harshwhinny's house flicker and die >"Anon? Is everything okay?" >The panic is beginning to rise in Fluttershy's voice "It's fine, Butters! Just hold still, I'll find you!" >"N-no, Angel! Find Angel! What if he sneaks outside and gets lost? Oh no, oh no... >You hear something crash in the other room as Fluttershy begins to root around frantically for her pet "Butters! Just calm down, okay?" >You bump into the door to the basement, finding that it's wide-open >One of you must have left it open during the chaos last night >"Okay!" >She starts hyperventilating so loud you can hear it even from the hall >Fumbling through the darkness, you find the doorway to the spare bedroom >You can't see Fluttershy, of course, but you can hear her knocking over stacks of portraits >"Angel! Come to m-mama, Angel! Angel?" >You have a split-second to realize that she's getting closer before she smacks into you >You go tumbling backwards, smacking into the wall at the opposite end of the hallway >Fluttershy lands on top of you, her frail, quivering body sprawling across your midsection >"Ow..." >Something furry brushes past your leg, hopping down the hallway >"Angel! Angel, come back!" >Fluttershy nearly elbows you in the face as she leaps for her rabbit >Judging by the resounding *thud*, followed by a defeated squeak of pain from Fluttershy >"Angel..." >You hear him thump away down the hall... >And head straight down the stairs and into the basement >"Angel! Angel come back!" >Fluttershy dives towards the basement, but you grab ahold of her and hold her back >For a moment, she thrashes just as much as her bunny, but then quiets >"Anon, w-what are you doing? I need to get him!" "Butters. Please, just... don't go down there." >"B-but... but Angel..." "Angel's gonna be fine. Let's just stay out of the basement, okay?" >"W-why?" "I... I don't know. I think something's down there." >You can feel Fluttershy sit up, holding tight to your arm as if worried you'll drift away from her >Thunder rumbles across the sky, and for a moment her face is illuminated by a flash of lightning >"D-down there? Why would something b-b-be down there?" "I don't know. I just have a really, really bad feeling about it. I don't think it's a good idea." >"Anon? Y-you're scaring me. What's down there?" "I think..." >And that's when all-too-many pieces finally click "Oh sweet Jesus. It's him." >"Him? N-no..." >Fluttershy's shaking intensifies >"But he couldn't... he w-wouldn't..." "Dash told him where we are. He staged the break-in to get Harshwhinny to leave, and now..." >You grab Fluttershy, protectively clutching her against your chest "Oh Christ, I'm such an idiot. Fuck, fuck..." >"A-Anon! What's wrong?" "I didn't see it! I shouldn't have let her go. Oh my God..." >"Anon! P-please! Y-you don't really think..." >But you can hear it in her voice that she knows it as well as you "Your dad's down there." >"B-but... he..." >Something very loud, and very heavy, smashes to the ground somewhere in the basement >Fluttershy yelps >She jumps into your lap, quivering >"Oh no... no, no, no, no, please no..." >She grabs ahold of your face in her hands >"Anonymous, g-get out of here. Please." "Not gonna happen." >You scoop Fluttershy up, setting her on her feet as you stand >"Y-you can't! He'll kill you! If he finds me, he'll... w-well, I'll be okay. I c-can handle it. But you need to go, please." "No. I'm not letting this creep take you." >You pull out your phone and dial 9-11 >There's no need to speak; they'll relay your need to Gilda immediately >You just hope she gets here soon >"A-Anon!" >You push past her, heading for the basement door >It shuts, but there's no lock >No more sounds emanate from the basement; at least, none that can be heard over the rain >You strain your ear, waiting for something >... >The cops will be here soon... >As long as he just stays down there to sulk, then there's nothing to worry-- >*THUD* >Something heavy hits the bottom of the stairs >"A-Angel!" >Fluttershy crosses her hands over her mouth >"Anon, p-please let me go... I c-can handle him, just l-let me make sure Angel is okay..." >She tries to wrestle away from you, but you wrap an arm around her waist and hold her fast "Shhh... Angel's gonna be fine. It's not your bunny he's after." >"B-but..." "We're gonna get out of here. Now." >"N-no!" >Fluttershy keeps her voice at a whisper, but raises its intensity enough to get her point across >"I'm not gonna leave him!" "Goddammit, Butters..." >You hear footsteps slowly ascending the stairs toward the basement door "Shit." >Forcefully, you grab Fluttershy by the hand and drag her back towards the living room >She resists for a moment, but quickly realizes the hopelessness of the situation >The two of you get halfway to the front of the house before the basement door opens >It's too far to the front door to reach it without being seen, so you duck into the kitchen and hide under the table, pulling Fluttershy along with you >She lets out a tiny *eep*, but quickly covers her mouth >Out in the hall, the floorboards creak as someone steps onto the main level of the house >Slowly, they begin to advance towards the living room, their steps limping and awkward >Maybe he's injured? >If you can outrun him, you could just leave him for the police to deal with >Shit, if only you'd known that before you cornered yourself... >The steps get closer, accompanied by a scraping along the wall >Could he have a weapon? >It doesn't sound like he's doing too well; if he doesn't have a weapon, you could overpower him >Moving as silently as you can, you creep out from under the kitchen table, and grab a butter knife >Not much, but it's something >As he gets closer, a low, pained wheezing sound reaches your ears >It... doesn't quite sound like him >He must *really* be hurt >You slink to the kitchen doorway, crouching against the wall >A footstep echoes down the hallway >And then another >And another... >He's barely three feet away from you, lying against the opposite side of the same wall >A breathy, high-pitched wheeze escapes his lips >Why does he sound like-- >No, it's probably just your imagination >You feel the wall shift as his body drags along it >He's almost to the door way now, barely a step from you... >Your hand tenses around the knife... >A figure steps into view, obscured by the darkness >Immediately, you spring on top of him, tackling him backwards onto the ground >Your hand goes to his chest, hoping to pin him down >... >There's boobs under your palm >The minute your mind makes the connection, a fist slams into your jaw, hitting you so hard your teeth rattle >You fall to the side, clutching at your face >"Get off me, creep..." "Dash!?" >"Anon! Oh, thank fuck you two are okay." >Before you get a chance to recover from having your face nearly caved in, Dash is on top of your chest, hugging you >She's missing her usual strength, though, and she's shaking as badly as Fluttershy >"Is Butters here? Are you both okay?" "Yeah... yeah, we're fine. Holy shit, Dash!" >You wrap your arms around your girlfriend, returning her hug with all the enthusiasm you can muster "I was so worried about you..." >She lets out a weary chuckle, her voice strained and missing her usual spunky rasp >"About me? Nah, dude. I'm the last person you need to worry about." >She's soaking wet from the rain, and you can feel holes ripped into the back of her jacket "You fucking idiot, you're the one I worry about most..." >You shake your head, nuzzling your cheek against her shoulder >All the worry drains out of you, replaced by relief that washes over you liek the torrents of rain outside "Goddammit, Dash. What happened?" >"I beat his ass, dude." >Dash sinks into your arms, heaving a sigh "Whose?" >You ask as if you didn't already know >You feel Fluttershy slinking towards you, but she keeps silent >"Her dad's." >Dash flops out of your grasp, leaning across your lap so that she can reach Fluttershy >"What's up, Butters?" >"H-hey, Rainbow..." >The two girls share a gentle embrace >"I'm s-so sorry. I should have known he'd t-try something like this..." >"Nah. Like I said, I handled it. I beat his ass. And I beat him here." >You pull out your cell phone, using its light to illuminate your girlfriend >Dash is grinning like an idiot, her eyes full of pride >Her hair is tangled and matted from the rain, and her clothes are badly torn >A large blotch of blood stands out against her white t-shirt, but you have no way knowing whether its hers or not "He attacked you? What the fuck..." >"Yeah. Jumped me as I was pulling into my house. In front of the neighbors and everything. I punched him out, and he ran off like a little bitch." "So... you don't know where he is?" >"No idea. But he's hurt now." >Dash's pride sinks a bit when she sees the look on your face >"What's wrong, man? I kicked his ass! We're in the clear! And now that I'm here, I can beat his ass again, as soon as he shows up! It's all gonna be okay, dude. I promise." >She takes your head in her hands, making you look at her >In the dim light of your phone, you can see the fire in her eyes >"Come on." "I can't risk either of you getting hurt. We need to get out of here." >"Where are we gonna go, dude? Are we just gonna keep running from this guy? We've got the police coming! We've got me! Let's just fuck him up for good!" >"I, um..." >Fluttershy raises her hand >"I agree w-with Rainbow." >"Ha! See? Butters gets it. This is our chance, man! We don't have to keep running from this guy! We can win!" "But what if one of you--" >"Dude." >Dash sits on top of your lap, putting her finger on your lips >"You don't gotta keep doing this to yourself. It's not your job to keep us safe." >She takes ahold of Fluttershy's hand, pulling her into the mix >"We all gotta look out for each other. If we try to run again, who knows what this guy'll do. Right now, he knows where we are. He's coming here. We can stop this now, and we can... we can finally just be together. All three of us." >You sigh "All... Alright." >You sit up, and Dash wraps you in an uncharacteristically gentle hug >"We're gonna be okay, man. I got your back." >"M-me too. I promise, Anon, he's n-not going to hurt Dash. And d-definitely not you." >Fluttershy sets her mouth in a determined little line "Right. And I'm gonna make damn sure he can't even touch either of you, if there's anything I can do about it." >Dash grins, smacking your shoulder >She lets out another tiny cough >"That's what I like to hear. Now..." >She sucks in her breath, and you wait for her to drop an awesome, Dash-esque action movie line >"...do you think I have time to take a shower before he gets here? I feel *super* fucking gross..." >You and Fluttershy head down into the basement to grab Dash some clean clothes >Or, rather, you look for clothes >Meanwhile, Fluttershy scrambles to find her rabbit, calling Angel's name as she frantically sprints back and forth >You can hear the rabbit thumping around in circles, staying just out of her reach >The relief of meeting up with Dash has melted away a lot of the terror from earlier, but the unease is slowly beginning to creep back into your chest >You grab up a pair of Harshwhinny's faded mom-jeans and a t-shirt with a bunch of wolves on it, and head back upstairs >The bathroom door is locked, but you don't hear any water running "Dash? You okay?" >"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'm great, dude." "Alright. You okay if I come in?" >"Oh, um... yeah." >You hear her moving behind the door >"Sure." >The lock clicks, and Dash swings the door open >In a rare display of modesty for her, she's wrapped in a towel >"What's wrong, dude?" "I was gonna ask you, actually." >It's difficult to make out much more than just her outline >You pull out your phone, using its light to illuminate the tiny room >Dash's hair is disheveled, and a trickle of blood is running from her nose and out of the corner of her mouth >Her left eye is swollen and dark, and a long, thin cut runs along her shoulder >"What do you mean, dude? I'm fine!" >She smiles >"It'll take more than that guy to get to me." "Are you sure?" >"Yeah!" >A little more blood dribbles down her chin "Dash?" >"Dude." >She wipes it away with the back of her hand >"I'm fine. I kicked his fucking ass." "Dash, if something happened--" >"Nothing happened. I kicked his ass and got out of there. That's it. Come on, man." >She balls her fist tighter around the towel >"You didn't think he'd seriously hurt me, right? Me? Nah. I fucking *stomped* him. He was practically crying. Ran away like a little bitch." "Rainbow--" >"That's what happened. I like kicking ass, I'm good at kicking ass, I kicked his ass! I won!" >She holds her head in her hands >On the next words, her voice cracks >"I t-totally beat his f-face in... I w-won..." >You kneel down next to Dash, and wrap her in your arms "I'm sorry, Anon... I'm so sorry..." "You've got nothing to be sorry for. You did great." >"No. No, really... I'm so sorry..." >She shakes her head >"He was so strong... just kept hitting me and hitting me... I was so scared..." >She sniffles, another tremor running through her body >"I ran. I couldn't do anything, so I just... ran. I couldn't stop him. Even when I had the chance to end all of this... to keep you two safe..." >She hiccups, her entire body tense with the strain of trying not to cry >"I failed. I'm so, so sorry." >You kiss Dash on the forehead, resting your head atop hers "You didn't fail. You're okay, safe, and you're brave, and I love you. That's so much more than enough." >Dash lets the towel fall away from her back >All along her tanned skin, dark, painful-looking bruises stand out like greenish-purple pockmarks >Between them are little plenty of small scrapes, and when she lifts the towel away from her stomach, you see an ugly cut tracing a zig-zag across her midsection >The wounds tell you everything that she's too proud to say "Gilda'll be here soon. I'll get her to take you to a hospital." >Dash refuses to look you in the eye >A tiny tremor runs through her body, and she lets out one tiny choked sob >"Thanks." >With that, she drops the towel and clambers into the bath "Do you want me to stay with you?" >She shakes her head >"I'll... I'll be fine." "Alright. If you need anything, I'll be right outside, okay?" >Dash nods, still not looking at you >You hear a tiny *plink* as a tear drops from her cheek and onto the bottom of the basin >"A-Anon?" >Fluttershy emerges from the basement, sweating profusely and clutching Angel to her chest >"Is everything okay?" "Yeah." >"Is R-Rainbow alright? She seemed a little..." "Weirder than usual?" >Fluttershy nods, sitting next to you outside the bathroom "Yeah. She..." >You sigh, realizing how much it'll crush Fluttershy to hear this "Her run-in with your dad didn't go so well." >The color drains from Fluttershy's face >"N-no..." >She clutches Angel tighter against herself, ignoring the rabbit biting her wrist "She's gonna be okay, though. I mean, c'mon, it's Dash. She's always okay." >You wish you felt as confident as you sound >Or sounded confident at all >Fluttershy isn't convinced in the slightest >She stands up, tucking Angel under one arm as she slinks into the living room >You linger for a moment, not wanting to get any further from Dash >Fluttershy sits on the couch, staring blankly out Ms. Harshwhinny's living-room window "Butters..." >You get up from the bathroom and rejoin your friend on the couch "You can't beating yourself up over his actions." >"I'm n-not." "That's not what it looks like to me." >"I c-can't keep doing this to the two of you. Even if the two of you don't hate m-me for it... I still h-hate me for it." "Why? We've told you so many times, you're worth it to us." >"But I shouldn't be!" >This might be the first time you've ever heard Fluttershy raise her voice >The stutter vanishes as well >"You guys keep doing this for me! Getting yourselves hurt, and taking all this stress, and... and... and just ruining your own lives! All for me! All for some boring girl who doesn't know anything but animals, and... and stupid drawings." >She curls into a ball on the far end of the couch, holding Angel in her lap >"The more you t-try to do this for me... the more worthless I feel..." "Butters..." >You try to place your hand atop hers, but she shies away >"Why are you two even s-still doing this for me?" "Because you're our friend! Come on, we've told you this. We like you." >"But why? You two are happy together. You've got such a b-beautiful relationship... I don't add anything to it. I'm just this... thing you two have around. And everyone is so n-nice to me, because they feel bad for me..." >She rests against the window, watching the rain >The storm has died down now, leaving the ground outside littered with tree debris and soaked with rainwater >Only a gentle shower falls now, underscoring Fluttershy's words with a soft pitter-patter >"But I don't actually m-make anyone's life better. I'm just this worthless thing people keep around." >Her hand moves to stroke Angel between his ears >"I'm n-not much better than a pet, am I?" >... "You remember how you used to always ask me to go to the zoo with you?" >"Huh? Oh, I mean... I guess." "Aside from Dash, there weren't a lot of people who wanted to hang out with me. The friends I had were always 'too busy,' or whatever. Even Dash'd get dragged down to soccer tournaments and shit all the time. I got lonely a lot. But you'd always be there, just asking for a little of my time." >"Y-yeah..." "And I was a total prick to you, for no reason. Just because you were 'the weird kid' or whatever. But... no matter how shitty I was, you were always there the next day. Wanting to hang out. And, in a way... I kinda liked it, I guess. You made me feel wanted, and cool, and... I dunno. All the times when I felt like I was left behind, it was really comforting to know some kid was desperate to spend time together." >You join Fluttershy at the window, placing a hand on her shoulder "So, you've added a lot. To my life at least. And Dash, well... she's fucking crazy about you. Thinks you're the cutest thing ever. You make her super happy." >"Is that all? Just... m-making people happy?" "What more would you want?" >"I d-don't know. I guess I just... I feel useless. The two of you have done so much for me, but all I d-do is exist." "Well, what's wrong with that?" >"What do you mean? It... it makes me feel so pointless, I guess..." "But you're not. I mean... just being around you makes everyone happy. Me, Dash, Ms. Harshwhinny, even Gilda, we all love being around you." >"But that's..." "What? Not enough?" >"I d-don't know. It just doesn't feel right, I guess. I just d-don't see what about me could really m-make you so happy." "Well..." >You move your hand to her side, pulling her against you in an awkward, one-armed embrace "Maybe you don't have to see it. But we can." >"Yeah..." "Maybe just trust that, if all of us like you so much, then there really is something worthwhile about you. Even if you don't know what it is yet. Just... be glad that you're able to make so many people happy." >Fluttershy nods, and leans her head against your shoulder >Outside, through the drizzling rain, you see a car turn onto Ms. Harshwhinny's street >And it's not hers >Next to you, Fluttershy tenses up >"That's h-his car." >Strangely, the panic you expected doesn't arrive >Instead you feel strangely calm, even as the car slices through the rain towards Harshwhinny's house "I'm gonna go check on Dash." >As you place your hand on the doorknob, Fluttershy stops you >"W-wait." "Yeah?" >"Just... s-stay back with Rainbow, okay?" "But what about you?" >"I'll t-talk to him myself." "Butters..." >Fluttershy turns to you, pushing her hair away from her eyes >"I c-can do this. I need to do this." "But what if he hurts you?" >"It w-won't be the first time. Please, Anon. If you k-keep trying to save me from him, I'll... I'll always feel like a b-burden. I need to do this m-myself." >You sigh >Behind the door of the bathroom, the flow of water stops "Okay. But please be safe." >"I w-will. I promise. I know I c-can do this." >She balls her hands into tiny, scrawny fists at her sides >"Just t-take care of Rainbow, okay?" "Of course. And if you need my help..." >"Right. Thank you, Anon." >She drops her head, sucking in her breath >Outside, her father's car stops right in front of Harshwhinny's driveway >You open the door to the bathroom, leaving it cracked just enough that you can see Fluttershy from inside >Dash is sitting upright in the water, a wash-cloth pressed against the wound on her abdomen >The bleeding seems to have stopped, but your girlfriend looks pale and miserable >"Anon? What's going on?" >She sounds loopy too; her usual spunky rasp is replaced by a sickly croak "Nothing. Fluttershy wants to talk to her dad. I'm gonna wait back here and make sure nothing happens." >"Oh. Alright..." >She leans back against the wall of the tub, shivering slightly "Dash? You okay?" >"Yeah, dude... gonna be fine..." >She sure doesn't act like it >You glance back at Fluttershy, to find her still standing resolute in front of the door >Well, as resolute as someone can get when she's shaking so badly her knees are knocking together "Here. Lemme get you outta the water." >"Nah, dude... I'm gonna be good..." "Uh huh. Come here." >You wrap one arm under Dash's knees and one under her back, lifting her out of the water >She groans, but doesn't resist >As soon as she's out of the water, she starts to shiver harder >You grab a fresh towel to wrap her in, cradling Dash against your chest >"Dude, you worry *way* too much... I'm gonna be fine..." >A particularly bad tremor runs through her, and you nearly drop her >So you grab a second towel, draping it over her like a blanket >Something heavy slams against the front door >Fluttershy squeaks in fear, but holds her ground >You scoot to the edge of the bathroom, watching her through the crack in the door >In your head, you estimate you could reach her in about ten or fifteen seconds if you had to >But hopefully it won't come to that... >Another slam comes, and the doorknob begins to crack out of the wooden frame >He hits it a third time, and the knob bends at an unusable angle >Fluttershy steps back, and the final impact sends the door swinging inwards >There, silhouetted in the rain, is Fluttershy's dad >Upon seeing him, your stomach twists and rage and revulsion >His hair is is limp and soggry from the rain, pinkish-white strands wreathing his grimacing face >Stubble coats his chin, and his eyes betray a cool, simmering rage >"You." >He reaches out to grab her, and Fluttershy winces, reflexively ducking down and preparing for the blow as the old habits take over her >Just then, you hear another door slam outside >Fluttershy's dad whirls around >"You little rat!" >He grabs her by the hair and tosses her into the wall >She squeaks in pain, ricocheting off and knocking over a stack of Harshwhinny's paintings in the process >"You called the fucking cops!?" >Relief washes over you, despite the hatred roiling in your gut >"Freeze!" >Gilda's "cop" voice is legimitely terrifying, and Fluttershy's dad actually flinches at the sound >She's finally here! >He turns slowly, his hands up >Holding Dash, you scoot out into the hallway, finally allowing you to look out the front door >Gilda is standing halfway up the driveway, her G42 leveled with Fluttershy's dad's chest >He grits his teeth, reaching for his daughter again >"I said freeze!" >Slowly, he raises his hands and turns to face her >"That's better. Now, get away from the girl and step out of the house." >Fluttershy's dad drops his head, licking up rainwater from around his mouth >He takes a step out of the house, then looks over his shoulder at Fluttershy >"What are you doing? Come on." >"N-no." >Fluttershy stands, an ugly bruise already forming on her temple >"What do you mean no?" >Her dad's voice drops to a low, throaty growl >"Get the fuck out there and tell them what happened. I'm saving you." >"I w-won't." >"Like hell you won't. Get over here!" >He grabs for Fluttershy, but Gilda shouts him down >"I said freeze!" >Despite the noise-slush of drizzling rain, you can still hear Gilda cock her gun >Fluttershy's dad stops, his hand still outstretched towards his daughter >He drops his voice to a whisper >"You really think you can stay with them? Really?" >Fluttershy hangs her head >"You killed mom. You're worthless and hideous as a daughter. As a son, you're barely passible. You really think any of them..." >He gestures to you and Dash >"...can really love you? After what you've done? After what you are? I'm the only one who can even stomach you. In a few months, when they realize how awful you are, you'll beg to live with me again. And you know it." >Tears begin to run down Fluttershy's face >"Remember those times you tried to run away? How did it feel?" >Fluttershy doesn't answer >Outside, Gilda barks another order at Fluttershy's dad >"I said get away from the girl!" >Fluttershy's dad takes another step away, motioning for her to follow >"Come on. Just tell them what happened. If you do, I might even forgive you." >Gilda begins to move sideways, keeping a clear line of sight with Fluttershy's dad, and keeping the young girl out of her line of fire >"I'm the only family you'll ever have. And I'm the only family you fucking deserve. Now come on." >You lay Dash against the wall, stand, and begin to move towards Fluttershy >She hears the creaking of floorboards, and holds up her hand >"N-no." >"What?" >"I'm n-not going with you." >She lifts her head, locking eyes with her father >Her face is streaked with tears, but she manages to keep her voice steady >"You spent my entire life making me feel worthless. And... for a long time, I really believed it. But you were wrong." >She looks over at you and Dash, and then at the picture her and Harshwhinny painted last night, which is drying next to the couch >"These people really like me. And for the first time ever, I feel... I feel okay about being me. I'm not worthless. I'm loved. And you're not gonna stop that. And you're never, *ever* going to hurt them again." >"Oh, I'm not? And who's gonna stop me from beating his faggot ass in..." >He gestures towards you >"...just like I did to that rainbow-haired dy--" >Fluttershy hits her dad >It's definitely not a good punch; her wrist buckles almost the moment her hand connects, and her scrawny arms barely pack enough strength to bruise him >But the effect is still the same >Her dad staggers back, blinking in confusion >And then his face twists into rage >"You little *shit*..." >In the next second, three things happen one after the other, but your brain processes them simultaneously: >Fluttershy's dad wraps his hand around her neck, the other raising to hit her face >A sharp, ear-splitting *crack* rings out >And a small spurt of blood flies from the back of Fluttershy's dad's knee as the bullet finds its mark >You snap back to reality after a second of shock, the sudden violence of the shot's report making you reflexively throw yourself in front of Rainbow >Gilda lowers her weapon and charges in, hand going to her belt >Fluttershy's dad, meanwhile, lets go of his daughter's neck as he falls to the ground, gasping in pain >His face is bleached white with shock and pain, and his hands scrabble over the wound in a vein attempt to staunch the bleeding >Gilda throws herself on top of him, rolling him onto his stomach >He attempts to resist for a moment, but Gilda pins his arm behind his back and forces him to the ground >Skillfully, she locks the cuffs around his wrists >Fluttershy staggers away from the scene, her hands over her mouth >To her own credit, she doesn't look away, even as Gilda attempts some emergency medical treatment to the wound she administered >She produces a thick gauze pad, takes Fluttershy's dad's knee in her hands, and shoves the material directly into the wound >He emits a low, pathetic moan, and goes limp from the pain >Gilda jumps back to her feet once he's restrained and in no danger of bleeding out, glancing between you, Dash, and Fluttershy >"Is anyone hurt?" "Yeah." >You pull the towels away from Dash just enough to expose the gash on her belly >Gilda nods >"I'm gonna call an ambulance for him. Once they get him patched up, we'll take him back to the station. I'll get you three to the hospital myself." >She radios the dispatcher, stepping closer to Fluttershy's dad just in case >Dash groans, her eyes fluttering open >"Hey, dude... what the hell is goin' on..." "We're gonna get you to a hospital. Just relax, alright?" >"Nah, man... don't need a hospital... I'll just sleep this one off..." "Alright. You do that." >Dash passes back into unconsciousness >The ambulance finally arrives, and Fluttershy's dad is carted off, still cuffed and unconsciousness >Gilda wipes a hand across her forehead >"Alright. Let's go." >She helps you carry Rainbow out to the car, setting her gently in the back seat >Unfortunately, that only leaves room for one of you to sit in the car with her >You and Fluttershy glance at each other, the same thought process running through both your heads >After what she just went through, there's no way in hell you can just leave her alone >But you also can't just let Dash be taken to the hospital by herself... >By some miracle, another car turns onto the street >It zooms towards the house as if driven by a maniac, tires screeching on the asphalt as it mounts the curb before coming to a stop >A very, very flustered Harshwhinny jumps out >"Where are they? Are they hurt? For the love of God, please tell me they're not--" >She spots you and Fluttershy inside >"Oh, thank heaven!" >She sprints inside, grabbing you in one arm and Fluttershy in the other >You don't think you've ever been hugged so tightly in your entire life "Ma'am? Are you alright?" >She nods, and you can feel tears seeping into your shoulder >"I'm so sorry. I never should have left, I never should have left, I never should have left... oh my God, I'm so sorry..." >She nuzzles you and Fluttershy, shaking >"I'm so glad you're okay..." >"Wait..." >She looks around >"Where's Rainbow?" >You gesture towards the police car, and Ms. Harshwhinny immediately lets go of the two of you, sprinting over to the vehicle >"Oh no, oh no..." >She places a hand over her mouth, her face blanching >"She's... she's going to be okay, right?" >Gilda nods >"She'll be fine. Just a few nasty scratches. I'm gonna take her to the hospital." >"Hospital! Right! Can I help?" >"Um..." >Ms. Harshwhinny starts to chew on her perfectly-filed nails >"Please! There has to be something I can do, right? Right?" >You step up behind her, and lay a hand on her shoulder >She flinches, sweat already beginning to break out across her forehead >You glance between the Gilda's car and hers, and she gets your hint >The ride to the hospital feels a lot longer than the ten minutes it takes >Harshwhinny keeps muttering to herself the entire time >"Stupid, stupid, stupid... never should have left them alone... terrible as a guardian... stupid, stupid..." >You try to say something comforting, but now that the immediate threat of Fluttershy's father is gone, worry is starting to overtake you >You should have seen through Dash's tough-girl act earlier >What if she's seriously hurt? >What if... what if she doesn't make it? >Fluttershy seems to pick up on your nervousness >You feel her hand slip into yours, her tiny, gentle fingers wrapping around your palm >In her face, you see the same worry you feel, except magnified >Poor girl's been through way more than she deserves... "Hey." >"Hey." "You gonna be alright?" >She nods, though you can feel her hand is shaking like a tiny, nervous bird >"You?" "I think so." >"And Dash?" "I... I really hope." >You squeeze Fluttershy's hand back >She scoots up against you, leaning her head on your shoulder >Outside, the rain has finally let up, though the sun still hasn't yet begun to poke through the leftover veil of washed-out clouds >Neither you nor Fluttershy have anything more to say to each other; at this point, you're not even sure there is anything *to* say >But the two of you hold each other, just your presence providing enough comfort to keep the other steady as you speed towards the hospital >Gilda disappears almost immediately when you reach the hospital, going to assist with providing security during Fluttershy's father's treatment >Which leaves you, Ms. Harshwhinny, and Fluttershy to take care of Dash >She regains consciousness for a moment when you carry her out of the car >"Dude... calm down, alright?" "Oh, thank Christ." >You're carrying Rainbow bridal-style in your arms, struggling slightly under her weight >All that muscle has made her surprisingly dense >"I said calm down, dumbass... bleh..." >Her head lolls to one side >"I feel super weird." "That's why we're getting you to the hospital." >You step through the automatic doors, and a pair of nurses are already approaching you with a stretcher "You're gonna be just fine, Rainbow." >You wish you felt as confident as you sound >"Hospital? Nah, man... let's go home... I'mma sleep this one off..." "No, you're not. You're gonna sleep it off right here." >With the nurses' assistance, you get Dash onto the stretcher, and she's wheeled off >As soon as she disappears, the adrenaline-rush drains from your body, leaving you feeling exhausted, heavy, and slow >Now there's nothing to do but wait >And wait >And wait >And wait... >There's a cozy little waiting area on Dash's floor, and the three of you congregate there, each of you trying not too think too hard about what'll happen if she doesn't walk out of this place >But she has to, right? >She can't die, not like this >You wouldn't know what to do without her... >Fluttershy, if it's even possible, seems like she's taking things worse than you are >She has her hands clasped in her lap, gripping each other so tightly that her knuckles have turned white >Her face is deathly pale with worry >You place a hand on her arm, but it's like she hardly notices you're there >In her eyes, you can see she's somewhere far away from her >Next to her, Harshwhinny looks like she's fighting to not be sick >She still mutters under her breath, occasionally >"Stupid, stupid... never should have left." >Eventually, she gives up on sitting still, and starts to pace >Which isn't so bad at first >But after a few minutes, the endless click-clack of her high-heels against the tile floor starts to grate on you "Ma'am?" >She looks over at you, her face red >"Oh. Sorry." >Ms. Harshwhinny sits back down, her right leg furiously bouncing >It's been two hours >The doors to the waiting room open >Your heart swells in anticipation, but you try to keep your hopes down >It's probably a call for another patient >And if it's for you, there's no guarantee the news will be good-- >"Family and friends of Ms. Dash?" >You're the first one to your feet, sprinting over to the doctor "Yeah! I'm a friend. And I guess family. I don't know. What happened? Is she okay? Is she alive?" >The doctor takes a step back, adjusting his glasses >"She's stable. We've managed to stop the bleeding now, and we've begun repairing the internal damage." "I-internal damage?" >Your heart sinks >"The laceration pierced the small intestine and has left minor damage to her uterus. It's honestly something of a minor miracle she didn't bleed out." "Christ..." >She took all that, and was still smiling? >And even more than that, *she* was trying to reassure *you?* >Just what the hell is Dash made out of? "But she's gonna make it, right?" >"If by 'make it' you mean survive, then yes. But there may be some... complications." >The brief relief you felt immediately drains away "What kind of complications?" >"It's difficult to say. She'll likely be in a fair amount of pain during the recovery process. The internal damage should heal in time, but it's likely the pain will persist in some measure for the rest of her life." >You gulp "Okay." >"The lacerations on her hands, however, should heal nicely. Aside from some superficial scarring, she'll retail full use of her motor skills." "The damage to her hands?" >Somehow, that had escaped your notice >"Yes. Minor lacerations. I'm no forensics expert, but it would appear that she attempted to fend off whatever caused the lacerations to her belly, and was unsuccessful. Still..." >He claps his hand on your shoulder >"She should wake up in a few hours. We'll perform a full surgery tonight at nine o'clock. In the mean time, you're welcome to visit. But please, if all possible, trying to avoid stressing her." "Understood." >The doctor nods, and departs "Well..." >"Y-yeah..." >Fluttershy glances down at the ground, heaving a sight of relief >"I'm r-really glad she's okay, but... p-poor Rainbow..." >Fluttershy hugs herself, frowning >Ms. Harshwhinny puts a hand on both of your shoulders >Her voice is finally steady, though you can tell it's an act >She puts on her best "adult" voice, speaking to you in a motherly coo >"Why don't we go get some lunch, okay? Maybe when we get back, she'll be ready to see us." "Yeah." >You shake your head, trying to clear the foreboding thoughts "Sounds good." >Just as you reach the doors, however, they're thrown open >Fluttershy pulls you backwards, barely keeping you from having your nose smashed in >A shaggy-looking man bursts in, his eyes glancing wildly around the room >His hair shares Dash's color pattern, though in a darker, more muted palette >The poor guy looks like he hasn't slept in at least a day "M-Mr. Blaze?" >"Anonymous! Hey!" >He grabs ahold of your shoulders, shaking you as he shouts into your face >"Where's Rainbow? Is she alright? I had no idea she was here! They don't let me keep my phone on me at work, and I didn't see the hospital had called until I was on break, and--" >He pauses, nearly hyperventilating >"Please, please just tell me she's okay." >For the first time that day, you're finally able to deliver some good news "Yeah. Yeah, she's gonna be alright." >Blaze nearly faints >"Oh, thank God. I'm gonna go check on her." "Uh, I don't think they'll let you--" >"Nope, they're gonna let me see her." >And with that, he pushes past you, strolling down the hallway despite the attendants' complaints >Lunch is a less somber affair than the drive here, at least >Things still aren't perfect, but the dread has begun to lift from the three of you >Unfortunately, in its place are plenty of new questions >Fluttershy spends most of the meal just silently staring at the floor of the hospital's cafeteria, silently chewing on her salad >You honestly can't imagine what she must be going through >Even if her dad was a disgusting human being, to see him shot in front of her... >And now she'll have to face him eventually, whether in the hospital or in court >Her hands are too busy for you to hold, but you scoot close enough that your elbow comes to rest against hers >Neither of you say anything, but there's not really anything to say at this point, is there? >Ms. Harshwhinny is the first to break the silence, letting out a tiny cough >"Would you two like to hear a joke?" >Both you and Fluttershy glance up at her, confused >A slight pink tinge touches Ms. Harshwhinny's cheeks, but she doesn't look away "A joke?" >"Yes. You know, to take our minds off... off everything." "Oh. Um, sure." >You take a bite of your french fries, waiting >Ms. Harshwhinny clears her throat >"So, there's this young man, and he's with his date at the big school prom. But she keeps looking over at this other couple, and he gets worried she might be, well, admiring the other fellow's dance moves a bit too much. So he goes over to the refreshment table, where a bunch of other couples are already gathered around. He decides he wants to get something to drink, right? Just to give him an excuse to get away from his girlfriend. When he gets there, he meets this bee--" "Wait, what?" >"It's one of those 'animals can talk' jokes, Anonymous." "Oh. Okay." >Harshwhinny adjusts the hem of her t-shirt >"It's funny, I promise!" >She clears her throat again >"Anyway. He meets this talking bee. And the bee asks him why he's so upset." "Uh huh." >You're trying to keep up with this joke, but it's starting to go a bit off-rails... >"He explains about his girlfriend, and how he's worried about her. Then the bee launches into this story. He explains that he once ran for president of the United States, back when he was a much younger bee." "Wait, the bee was the president? Why?" >Harshwhinny smirks >"Just wait. And then the boy asks why the bee didn't end up becoming president. The bee starts to talk about his mother, explaining how they were never close, and that seriously impacted his self-confidence for the rest of his life. The boy asks what that has to do with his girlfriend. The bee sighs, and calls his friend, the butterfly, over. The butterfly explains that she used to want to be a singer, but never had the money to pursue a career. Meanwhile, the boy's girlfriend is getting closer to the table, still talking to this new guy, right? So the boy looks around for a place to hide. Unfortunately, there's a line for the lemonade, and a line for the soda. So he decides to go to the punch bowl, because there's no punch line." >Harshwhinny stops, crossing her legs and grinning "...huh?" >Fluttershy lets out a tiny chuckle, which slowly swells into a breathy, tittering laugh >"That was pretty good, ma'am." >"Yes, well, it's always been one of my favorites." >She beams, happy to see that Fluttershy at least got it >You, meanwhile, have no idea what the hell just happened "Wait, what? What was the joke?" >Harshwhinny winks at you >"You'll figure it out. Just think about the last line." >Her and Fluttershy join together in laughter, and you go back to your fries >As stupid as that joke was, it's good to see the two of them laughing, at least >The three of you return to Dash's floor after lunch, feeling in slightly better spirits >You still don't get the stupid joke, though >Why was there a talking bee? >Why was he the president? >What was the thing about a line for punch-- "Oh! There's no punch line! Punchline! The entire joke is just a huge buildup for nothing. Goddammit..." >Harshwhinny laughs so hard she snorts, then immediately clams up, looking embarrassed >"Yes, Anonymous. That's the joke." >Her and Fluttershy share a look, both grinning >When you get back to the waiting room, you find Rainbow Blaze seated in the far corner, next to Gilda >"Bullshit! I wanna see him! Lemme see the bastard who did it!" >Blaze's face is bright red, and it looks like it's taking a concerted effort for him to stay in his seat >Gilda, meanwhile, seems almost unnaturally calm >"Not gonna happen, sir." >"Not gonna happen? That pig stabbed my daughter!" >"I know, sir. And I'm really sorry." >She stands up, placing a hand on Blaze's shoulder >"As soon as he's deemed fit to be discharged, we're going to place him under arrest until he can stand trial." >"Bastard doesn't deserve a trial..." >Gilda grimaces, looking like she's having a hard time staying in control of her emotions >"He's done some horrible things. I understand. He'll be lucky if he gets out of prison before he's an old man. But if you do something stupid..." >She glares at him >"It's just gonna make things worse for all of us. Understood." >Blaze clenches his fists to the point that his knuckles turn white >"Yeah. Yeah, I understand." >"Good. I'm gonna go see if we can take his ass back to the station yet." >She turns to the three of you, nodding >"How're you three doing?" "Alright, I guess." >Ms. Harshwhinny nods her agreement >"We just got back from lunch. Is Ms. Dash awake yet?" >Gilda frowns, and gestures towards Blaze >"You can talk to him about that. I need to check on the dad. I'll let you know what we decide to do, okay?" >She bends down, reaching Fluttershy's eye-level >"Hey, kid. You holding up okay?" >Fluttershy nods >"I'm g-gonna be fine. Is dad..." >"He'll live. They've got his leg patched up as best they can. He won't be walking for a long time, though." >"Okay..." >Fluttershy's face is unreadable >"Am I g-going to get to... to see him again?" >Gilda looks slightly confused by the request >"Yeah. If you want to. They're going to need you to testify, at some point. But if you'd like to see him before we send him off, I'll make sure it happens. But I'm gonna have to be in the room, just in case he tries to pull something." >"Y-yeah. That's okay. I j-just want to... to clear a few things up, I g-guess." >"Alright. I'll come get you real soon, alright?" >She pats Fluttershy's shoulder, and heads off >Rainbow Blaze sighs, leaning his head in his hands >You sit next to him "So... is she not awake yet?" >He shakes his head >"They rescheduled her surgery. Turns out the damage was worse than they thought, and they couldn't let her wait until tonight. They're gonna do the full operation now. Should last about three hours, they said." "Damn..." >"Yeah." >He sniffs, shutting his eyes >No tears spill out, but you can tell that's only due to an intense amount of effort on his part "She's gonna get through it, though." >"I know. But still..." >His fists tighten, making his knuckles crack >"She shouldn't have to go through this. Dashie doesn't deserve anything like this." "No. No, she doesn't." >You sigh, barely aware of Fluttershy leaning against you >Again, the two of you sit just close enough for your shoulders to touch >It's nothing too intimate, that'd hardly be proper, but it's good to know she's there >Somehow, you almost feel as if her belief in Dash will be enough to make sure she gets out of this okay "He didn't have a knife when we saw him." >"Hm?" >Blaze raises an eyebrow "Fluttershy's dad. He didn't have a knife when we saw him. And there were cuts all over her hands." >Blitz reaches the same conclusion as you, then squeezes his eyes shut "She was hurt trying to get the knife away from him. She… she wanted to save me and Butters. Even if it meant all this." >Blaze gulps >"That's Dash, alright. So brave she's almost stupid." "Heh... almost..." >There's no real way to describe how long it takes for a nurse to finally approach your group >By your watch, it's only been about four hours >But each minute seems to stretch on endlessly, as if the clock itself were taunting you by refusing to change >"Family and friends of Ms. Rainbow Dash?" >In your stupor, it actually takes you a minute to register that she's talking to you >But when you do, you nearly trample the poor woman, and Blaze nearly tramples you as the two of you rush over to her >Fluttershy and Harshwhinny aren't far behind, but they're both slightly more in control of their excitement "Is she alright? She's gonna be alright, right?" >The nurse casts her eyes down at her clipboard, biting her lip >"The operation was a complete success. The internal damage is repaired, and her stitches are all in place." >Blaze faints >Or, rather, he doesn't quite faint, but he hits the ground hard nonetheless >You aren't doing much better >Harshwhinny grabs you around the shoulders, holding you steady >You mutter weakly: "Thanks, ma'am…" >The nurse gives you all a small smile, then glances between you and Blaze >"Looks like the two of you were pretty worried, hm?" "You could say that…" >"Well, I'm afraid I've got a little bit of bad news…" "Oh." >"Ms. Dash should recover quite nicely, however… the process won't exactly be enjoyable for her. It's likely she'll be in considerable pain, and she'll have to spend at least the next two weeks in bed." >In spite of everything, more relief washes over you >If that's the worst news that they have to give, you'll accept it >Still… Dash is really not gonna like being stuck in bed for a month, is she? >Blaze seems to have the same idea, shaking his head as he staggers to his feet >"She's gonna hate that, lemme tell ya." >"It's unfortunate, but necessary. Excessive movement could damage the stitches. Still, she should be fit enough to be released within the next week. We'll prescribe her…" >The rest of the nurse's words are lost on you >Dash is gonna be okay! >Or, well, as okay as an obsessive athlete who has to spend the next week in bed can be… *** "So, we can visit her now, right?" >"Yes, but… please try to be understanding. The morphine is still wearing off, and she'll be a little loopy. Also, it'd be best not to put her under any undue stress. Alright?" >Blaze shoves past you and the doctor >"To hell with undue stress. I need to see my daughter!" >"Wait, sir!" >But Blaze isn't listening, of course >He shoulders the door into the room open >The early morning light (Christ, how long has it been since you slept?) is filtering in through the single narrow window, draping Dash in yellow-gray light >She blinks, stirring slightly >"Daddy?" >Blaze freezes in his tracks for just a moment, his lower lip quivering >Then he runs to Dash's side, dropping to one knee and throwing his arms around her >His voice drops to a whisper, and you can't make out what he's telling her >But you suppose it's not really meant for you to hear >Dash just gives her father a warm, confused smile >"Why're you so worried, heh… I'm fine…" >She yawns >Dash straight-up yawns >In the middle of the hospital with her guts newly bandaged, after nearly being stabbed to death, and all she can do is yawn >"Can you bring me some food… I dunno… fuckin' cinnamon rolls or something…" >Blaze can barely speak, he's trying so hard not to cry >"Yeah, Dashie… I'll g-get you some cinnamon rolls…" >The doctor sticks his head in the door >"I don't think that's really advisable--" >"I'm getting her some cinnamon rolls, dammit!" >He turns back to Dash >"Anything else, sweetie?" >Dash shrugs >"I dunno… I'd like to see Tank… make sure he's okay…" >Blaze nods >"Right. I'll go home and grab him as soon as I can." >The doctor is starting to look worried >"Uh… who's tank?" "Her pet turtle." >Fluttershy gasps >"D-Dash has a turtle?" >She steps out from behind you and Harshwhinny, her stutter returning now that she's speaking to a stranger >Dash responds, her face cracking into a huge grin when she sees Fluttershy: >"Yeah, dude. He's like, the coolest turtle ever… that's why I named him Tank… because tanks are cool..." >She tries to adjust her position, but the sedative has made even that much impossible >Fluttershy crosses her hands over her mouth >"You have a t-tiny turtle… c-c-can I see him?" >The combined relief of having Dash recover and the prospect of seeing a turtle is too much for Fluttershy >She goes limp, and you and Harshwhinny both rush in to catch her >There's been a lot of that going around today, hasn't there? >Dash finally notices you >"Oh, hey… Anon…" >She closes her eyes >"It's really good to see you… I'm super glad you're okay…" "You're glad that *I'm* okay?" >"Yeah, man. I was worried about your stupid ass…" >She yawns again, smacking her lips >"You're taking good care of Butters, right?" >Fluttershy blushes "Yeah. I'm doing my best." >"That's good. Really good. You two are so cool…" >She yawns again >"I love you two so much. So, so, so much. I'm so glad you're alive… I'm so glad I know you…" >She tries to move her arm, but can't >You take her hand instead, gently holding it against your chest >"I did a good job, didn't I?" "You sure did." >"I was super badass, right?" "Like Daring Do times ten." >"Ha, yeah…" >She yawns >"Well… I'm gonna die now… it was nice knowing you." "Nice knowing you too, Dashie." >You lean down and place a kiss on her forehead >"See you all in hell… g'bye…" >Dash closes her eyes >…and then begins to snore >"Hey, kid." >Gilda finds your group just as you're about to head home >Blaze looks half-dead from exhaustion, and you're not doing much better >The policewoman herself looks like she could use a nap of her own, but she still holds herself with the authority expected of her position >Fluttershy gulps, knowing what's coming >"Y-yes, ma'am?" >"If you want to see your dad, now's the time. We're taking him into the station as soon as the paperwork clears." >"R-right." >Fluttershy's hand finds it way to yours >"You're okay c-coming with me, right Anon?" "Yeah, sure." >You turn to Ms. Harshwhinny "We'll be back soon, ma'am." >She nods, trying hard to keep the worry out of her face >"I'll be waiting for you. Good luck." >She holds out an arm to Fluttershy, awkwardly half-embracing her >Fluttershy completes the hug without hesitation, throwing her arms around Ms. Harshwhinny's waist and squeezing her in return >Harshwhinny is thrown off for a moment, but quickly wraps Fluttershy in her embrace, leaning down to whisper in your ear >"No matter what he says, you're amazing girl. I'm so, so lucky to have known you. And even if he doesn't realize it, so is he." >With her face pressed against Harshwhinny's chest, she nods, and you can see she's left a tiny little tear-streak staining your teacher's shirt >After a few seconds, the two break apart >Harshwhinny nods in your direction, locking eyes with you, and the two of you are off >The barren, sterile white of the hospital walls seems to just increase your foreboding, but Fluttershy doesn't slow her pace, even as Gilda stops in front of a random room, knocking on the door >She places a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder >"I'm gonna be right behind you, kid. He can't do anything." >"I k-know. I'm not afraid." >With that, Gilda opens the door and Fluttershy steps inside her dad's room >You watch from out in the hallway, not wanting to interfere >Inside, Fluttershy's father lies in a narrow, uncomfortable-looking hospital cot, his right wrist cuffed to the cot's railing >Dressed in a paper hospital gown, and pale from loss of blood, he looks so much less frightening than before >He just looks like a sad, defeated old man >When he hears the door open, he twists his head to the side >Gilda enters first, her hand on her gun in an obvious show of force >Fluttershy's father narrows his eyes, but says nothing >Then, when his daughter enters, his expression changes >For a moment, he looks even angrier, but it quickly settles into something more like… sadness? >Or is it fear? >Gilda steps to the side, letting the two of them face each other >Fluttershy takes a deep breath, planting herself next to her father's bed, just out of his reach >"H-hey, papa." >Her dad quickly forces his face back into his accustomed expression of dull anger >"Why are you here?" >"I w-wanted to talk to you, I g-guess…" >You can see Fluttershy's resolve beginning to waver, but she stands her ground >"Talk to me? Why? You should be talking to *her* to get me out of here!" >He strains against his cuff, gritting his teeth >"No." >"What do you mean, no?" >"N-no." >The anger on Fluttershy's dad's face quickly becomes far less forced >"You ungrateful little brat! If you honestly think you're going to leave me rotting in jail while you go off with that bitch-boy and his dyke girlfriend--" >"Don't t-talk about them like that!" >Fluttershy's dad actually shuts up >"You d-don't know anything about them! They're m-my friends! They love me! R-really love me! And you tried to… to… to k-k-kill them!" >Fluttershy stamps her foot >"Y-you're a bad p-person… and you're d-dangerous… and this is w-w-w-what has to happen." >She's visibly shaking now, but she holds her dad's gaze >"What has to happen." >He repeats his daughter's words, his voice flat >"You ungrateful little brat." >Fluttershy's dad clenches his fists so hard that his overgrown nails dig into his palms, sending little red worms of blood trailing down his wrists >He begins to strain against the cuff now, the metal circlet digging into the flesh of his wrist >"You killed my wife, you rat! You have any idea what it was like to keep you after that?" >"I d-don't, but--" >"Every day, I had to look into the ugly face of the little cunt to killed her. Any other decent father would've thrown you away where you belong. But I didn't. I kept you, because it's what she'd have wanted. And I was stupid enough to actually care about you…" >He collapses back into the bed, realizing his struggle is futile >Gilda keeps her hand on her gun, just in case >"I tried to make you strong, so you wouldn't end up like her." >"Is… is t-that what you thought you were doing?" >Fluttershy advances towards her dad, looking almost like she's going to smack him >"All those t-times you hit me… and t-told me I was trash…" >"Yes! Because I wasn't going to lose the rest of my family!" >"You t-told me you hated me!" >"And so what? You killed my wife, you little brat. Loving you wouldn't have changed anything. It didn't for her." >"I d-didn't kill mama!" >"You may as well have. Because that's the kind of kid you are." >"N-no! Shut up!" >She forces the words out with more volume than you've ever heard in her voice >"I d-didn't kill her! It w-wasn't my fault! And I'm not gonna let you tell me that it is anymore!" >She gets close enough to actually jab a finger in his chest >He reaches up to grab her, but she slaps his hand away >"I'm w-worth more than that! I h-have friends now! People l-like me!" >She drops her eyes for a moment >"Maybe even love me…" >And then resumes her original posture >"And I d-don't have to believe you anymore! I'm… I'm w-w-worth something! You're just s-so wrapped up in your own misery that you can't b-bear seeing me happy! But I d-don't care anymore. I'm s-surrounded by so many good people. And I'm g-gonna be happy." >The conversation drops, and a tense silence overtakes the room >Fluttershy turns her back on her dad without another word, and walks quietly towards the door >However, her dad interrupts her before she can leave: >"No you're not." >"What?" >"You're not. You think he…" >Fluttershy's dad nods in your direction >"…and the dyke actually care about you? They feel bad for you. But it'll end. And when it does, you'll have nobody. Not even me." >"You're w-wrong." >Fluttershy turns back to her dad just long enough to finish her last sentence >"And y-you're never going to understand how w-wrong you are. But you don't have to. B-because I'll know. And t-that's good enough." >She steps over the threshold >"And b-besides… even h-having nobody would be better than living w-with you." >And with that, she leaves, with you and Gilda behind her >Fluttershy walks as if in a trance, her face betraying no hint of emotion >She holds herself calm and almost unnaturally steady, especially given how badly she was shaking earlier >However, you can see spots of sweat starting to soak through the dress Harshwhinny gave her >Unprompted, you walk up next to her and take her hand >She doesn't say anything, but her eyes meet yours for a brief moment before she changes her gait, walking close enough that her shoulder touches yours >You've started to get used to the feeling of just having her barely pressed up against you >Not too close as to be overwhelming, but a small reassurance that she's still there >Harshwhinny jumps up from her seat the moment the two of you walk into view >"Oh, thank goodness! Did everything go okay?" >Fluttershy gives her a small nod >"That's good, that's good. I mean, I wasn't worried, of course. You were in very capable hands with Officer Griffin. Still, though, it's…" >She scratches at the back of her head, forcing herself to calm down >"It's really good to see you're okay. What did you say to him?" >Fluttershy bites her lip, and Harshwhinny starts to sweat >"Oh, of course. You probably don't want to talk about it, poor thing. I'm so sorry. I, um…" >She glances around, tugging at the collar of her shirt >"Here. Why don't we go back to my place, and I'll, um… I dunno. We'll do something nice, I promise." >She gives Fluttershy an uneasy smile before facing Gilda >"Officer? Is that okay?" >Gilda shrugs >"I don't see why not. Poor kid's got nowhere else to go, I guess. The state's probably going to look to look into finding her a guardian before too long." >Harshwhinny looks downcast, but quickly hides it >"Yes. That's understandable. It's not like I expected anything else. Only natural for that to be the process." >Gilda raises an eyebrow >"Uh… yeah. But it's a bitch of a process to get through. So, you know, if I vouched for a certain guardian, got some weight off the back of whatever poor slob has to deal with the kid's case, maybe I could…" >She lets the words trail off, and you notice that Harshhwinny is holding her breath >When she realizes Gilda is waiting for her to say something, she coughs >"Well, being a teacher, I may know one or two responsible, *professional* adults who could provide a good home. Of course, it's not my decision to make, now is it?" >She turns to Fluttershy >"I'd, um… I'd l-like to think about it first." >"Right, right. Of course. Obviously I won't attempt to influence your decision. That would be extremely unprofessional. Yes. So…" >She gestures awkwardly towards the doors to the parking lot >"Are we all okay with going back to my place?" >Blaze, of course, stays behind to be with his daughter when she wakes up >He promises he'll give you a call when she's ready for visitors again >And with that, you're off >An aftershock from yesterday's storm is still hanging over your heads as you make your way to Ms. Harshwhinny's car, but at least the rain has stopped >In some places, the sun has even begun to poke between the clouds, casting weird mis-matched bright spots across the ground >Ms. Harshwhinny keeps her head down and her hands in her pockets, not making any attempt at conversation >Gilda, for whatever reason, follows you >When you get to the car, she leans against the bumper, one arm tucked under her jacket >"Hey." >She rubs her side beneath the jacket, chewing on her tongue >"I'm still on duty until eight tonight. But, after that, you're cool if I come by, right?" >She speaks mostly to Harshwhinny, but she also looks to the two of you for confirmation >"Oh! Of course, officer." >"Y-yeah. That'd be alright." "Sounds good." >Gilda nods, looking slightly relieved >"Cool. There might be some, uh… official stuff to talk over. It'll suck, but hopefully we can get through it quick." >Harshwhinny takes Gilda's hand free hand > "Thank you so much, officer." >"Ugh. Please, just Gilda." >"Right. Well, Gilda, I'm an absolutely miserable cook. But if you'd like to stay for dinner…" >"Oh, heh, well… I dunno. You really don't have to do that for me. I got plenty of, uh… Hot Pockets and shit back home." >"Please? I insist. It's really the least we could do, after everything." >Gilda sighs, a small smile playing on her lips >"Well, if you're gonna twist my arm. See you guys at eight, alright?" >When you get home, Ms. Harshwhinny heads immediately for the kitchen >"Would you two like anything to eat? Drink?" "No. I'm good." >"Y-yeah. Not r-really that hungry right now…" >"Yes. Of course. Well, you're welcome to the TV. Or… whatever you'd like." >You notice a slight trembling in her hand when she opens the fridge >She half-extends her hand towards one of her many bottles of cheap wine, but then withdraws it >Instead, she chooses some Minute-Maid grape juice, pours herself a glass, and sits down "Ma'am?" >"I'm perfectly fine, Anonymous. Just a little frazzled. Please don't concern yourself with me." "I, um… okay." >"What? Don't worry about me. I'm quite alright. Just glad to see you two healthy and safe." >Another tremors runs through her hand when she raises the glass to her mouth, and a little juice spills onto her shirt >"Just try to enjoy yourselves for a while. Please." >She hiccups, drinking more of her juice >Fluttershy sits down next to her, placing a hand on your teacher's shoulder >"Um, M-Ms. Harshwhinny. You'd t-tell us if something was b-bothering you, right?" >"Of course, dear. I just want you to enjoy yourself. After all, tonight will… probably be our last night together." >Harshwhinny sets her glass down, wiping her mouth daintily on the back of her hand >And then she starts to cry >It's not the choked, restrained sobs that you heard Saturday night >Instead, Harshwhinny just holds her head in her hands, quiet tears spilling down her cheeks >"M-ma'am? Our l-last night together?" >Fluttershy looks over at you, horrified >"W-what do you mean?" >Harshwhinny shakes her head, using the hem of her shirt to wipe tears from her face >And then she actually smiles >"Nothing. It's nothing. Just me being stupid, overly dramatic, and…" >She sniffles >"…and, well, extremely unprofessional. I'm sorry." >She pulls up more of her shirt to wipe at her face >"It's just, well, Saturday night was probably the best night I've had since… well, in the past fifteen years, at least. I actually felt like part of a real family. I know that probably sounds stupid to you two, but you're good kids, and so is Ms. Dash. Having you here with me made everything feel so much better, and… and I'm afraid I might have ruined that." >She sniffles, and finishes the last of her juice >"I never should have let her go back to her house. I never should have left the two of you here alone. I'd… I would've made a pretty lousy mother-- I mean, a pretty lousy guardian, wouldn't I?" >"No!" >Both you and Harshwhinny are startled by Fluttershys' outburst >"P-please don't say that about yourself!" >She grabs ahold of Harshwhinny's hand, then drops it, then grabs it again >"I c-can't... you c-can't think that! Because you're not! It's not fair!" >She starts to hyperventilate, shaking with frustration >"I've known b-bad parents. Y-you're not. You're so, so not. You're t-trying so hard to make us happy, and you c-care about me, and... and no. Please. D-don't say that." >She throws her arms around Harshwhinny >"And p-please don't say this is our last night together. None of this w-was your fault. I w-want more nights here. Because, here, with you, and Rainbow, and Anon... it's the c-closest thing to home I've ever had. P-please don't say it has to end." >"Dear..." >Harshwhinny looks over to you for help, but you just shrug >She sighs, her arms creeping up Fluttershy's back to return her embrace >"Do you mean that?" >"Y-yes. I w-want more nights here. I w-want... I want to s-stay with you, if they'll let me." >The crying that Harshwhinny tried so hard to keep down wells up again, and now both women are sobbing like schoolgirls >And you, meanwhile, are just kind of... there >You scoot over towards the counter, taking a sudden interest in Ms. Harshwhinny's dishes >"I'm not sure if they will, dear." >Despite the tears, Harshwhinny's voice is surprisingly steady >"And even if they do... I don't know if I deserve it. I nearly let him kill you." >"But you d-didn't!" >Fluttershy breaks out of Ms. Harshwhinny's embrace, but leaves her hands on the older woman's shoulders >"We c-can't keep blaming ourselves for what h-he did. I know w-what you feel like, but... but we can't do this." >She sets her mouth in a determined little line >"My d-dad hurt me. And f-for a long time, I believed it. I r-really thought everything mean he did was my fault. But it wasn't. You c-can't blame yourself for what he did. All w-we can do is try to keep each other safe." >She pulls herself tightly against Harshwhinny, laying her head on her chest >"And I t-trust you to do that. I f-feel really good here. And I want to stay." >Harshwhinny lets out a decidedly unprofessional squeak >"You... you mean that?" >Fluttershy nods, wiping little tear-streaks across your teacher's chest >"I really do. This is the c-closest to home I've ever had. I d-don't want to leave. And I'm n-not gonna let this be our last night together." >Harshwhinny sniffles, laying her head atop Fluttershy's as the two of them both cry harder >She wraps her arms tighter around Fluttershy, rocking her back and forth like a child >You, meanwhile, are just kind of... there >The two of them aren't even talking anymore, they're just hugging and crying >Is this a chick thing? >You back out of the kitchen, mentally making the excuse that you want to examine some more of Ms. Harshwhinny's paintings >Even out in the living room, you can still hear them crying together >They've been going for like five minutes now, that's kinda impressive... >Kinda weird to you that they waited to have the cry-fest until everything was finally okay, you think to yourself >You remember back to when you showed Dash "The Brave Little Toaster" for the first time, and she cried for like twenty-five minutes >"It's a healthy cry! These are manly tears!" >Maybe it's something like that? >You're probably never going to understand, are you... >Anyway, as you laze around in the living room, waiting for the weep-fest to finish, you find yourself admiring the painting Ms. Harshwhinny and Fluttershy worked on together >It's actually really impressive; the kind of thing you could imagine hanging in a museum, or in the background of some rich dude's house >As you admire the smooth, deep-green landscapes, a sudden sense of calm washes over you >It's so much that you can't keep standing, and end up falling backwards onto the couch >Things are finally turning out okay >Dash is gonna recover, Fluttershy's got a home, and everyone had a good, healthy cry >Everything wrapped up, even if it left all of you with a few scars >You have to wonder... what now? >The crying session lasts a whopping hour >Yes, a literal hour; you spend nearly the entire time watching the clock, wondering how long they can keep it up >Can this really be called healthy, at this point? >When the two do finally emerge, they return to the couch, wiping their reddened eyes with balled-up tissues >You're just sort of... there, still >The TV is running in the background, playing more of that weird giant-alien-robot show you find Saturday night >Fluttershy sits next to you, not close enough to touch, but close enough that you can hear her breathing slowly calming from the cry session >Harshwhinny is by herself, slumped across the armchair in a somewhat-unprofessional position, her feet propped up on the coffee table >Despite the tear-streaks making a mess of her makeup, she looks happy >Happier than you've ever seen her, really >She keeps looking over at Fluttershy, and smiling >Neither of them saying anything more as the show plays through episode after episode (which get progressively weirder the further you get in; you honestly have to wonder what the hell the BBC was on back in the 80's) but you figure everything there is to say has already been said >Or, rather, cried >Still, things are incredibly peaceful for a few hours >But, of course, nothing can ever peaceful for long; not in your life at least >Harshwhinny pulls out her old-as-dirt flip phone, checking through it >And then, out of nowhere, she bolts upright >"Oh, good Lord!" >She jumps up from her chair, accidentally stumbling over a pile of paintings >"Oh no, oh no, oh no, I'm such an idiot!" "Ma'am? What's wrong?" >"M-Ms. H? What is it?" >Dread is beginning to creep back into your chest >Did something happen that she didn't tell you about? >Could she have gotten a message about Fluttershy's dad? >Could he have escaped? >Fluttershy clearly has the same thought as you, and her face goes pale >Ms. Harshwhinny tangles her fingers in her hair, looking like she's about to pull it out >"No, no..." "Ma'am! Please, tell me what's wrong? Are we safe?" >"Oh, what? No! No, we're perfectly safe! It's not that. It's..." >She removes her hand from her hair, and begins to chew on her nails >"It's... it's seven forty-five..." >She announces with the same tone she would probably use to tell you she had cancer "Um... okay?" >"And I invited Officer Griffin over for dinner at eight! I don't have anything to serve her! And I can't cook to save me life!" >She smacks her hand over her eyes >"I'm going to disappoint her! After all the help she's given us, all I have to offer for dinner is some cans of Soup For One! I'm going to look like an unprofessional idiot, and she's going to be let down." >Harshwhinny slumps against the wall, sinking down into a sitting position >"I can't believe I let myself forget..." "Why don't we just make something? You've got ingredients, right?" >Harshwhinny hangs her head, ashamed >"Only if Soup For One and freezer pizzas count as ingredients..." "Oof. Well... we can make this work! There's a grocery store nearby, right?" >Harshwhinny shrugs >"I suppose. But we'll never be able to get everything we need, get back, and have dinner ready by the time she gets here..." "So? We can cook after she gets here! It'll be like, a..." >"Like a bonding experience!" >Harshwhinny jumps to her feet, wrapping you in an enthusiastic hug >Your head ends up right against her breasts, where you can feel the leftover dampness from Fluttershy's tears >"Anonymous, you're a genius! Or, at the very least, an excellent party planner!" "Uh... thanks, I guess." >"Now let's go! We need to make this dinner perfect!" >She slams her fist into her palm >"Now... do either of you know how to cook?" "Uh..." >You glance over at Fluttershy, though you're not very hopeful >"My dad usually d-didn't let me in the kitchen." "Yeah, I can make like... spaghetti? Maybe?" >Harshwhinny bites her lip >"This is bad. As a police officer, and clearly a proud professional woman, officer Griffin will most likely be right on time. That's not enough time to cook after we get back, unless..." "Unless we stall?" >Harshwhinny nods, beginning to pace >"The two of you can stall for time. I'll run to the store, and..." >She shakes her head >"No, that won't work! It'd be incredibly impolite to cook dinner while the guests are already over! Oh, I'm so stupid... so stupid..." >Harshwhinny starts massaging her temples, her eyes wide with panic >"I'm going to look like the worst host ever, aren't I?" "Wait!" >Harshwhinny turns to you >"Anonymous? You have an idea?" "Not really. I just think we're worrying about this a bit too much." >"One can never worry about the quality of their hosting abilities *too much*, Anonymous! Officer Griffin has sacrificed a lot for us, and we're going to make sure she's welcomed warmly!" >A knock sounds at the front door, and Harshwhinny nearly collapses >"Oh no..." >She turns to you, as if announcing the beginning of the apocalypse >"That's her, isn't it?" "Probably." >You place a hand on Harshwhinny's arm "It's gonna be fine, ma'am." >"It will most certainly not be! I'm going to disappoint a good friend of ours." "How?" >"Because! Because I... you know, look at this place." >She gestures to the stacks of failed paintings and randomly assorted books that cover her home >"It's a dump. And if I can't even serve a decent meal. Who wouldn't be disappointed?" >Fluttershy peeks out from behind you >"I m-mean... I'm not. I love it here." >Harshwhinny puffs out her cheeks >"Yes, but..." >"I don't think Officer G-Gilda will be any different. She seems like a n-nice lady. She'll probably just be happy to be able to s-spend the night with people she likes." >Fluttershy twiddles her fingers >"At least, that's w-why I like it here so much. Tonight is m-more about the people she g-gets to be with, right? It's about being around people who like you, not... not just a m-meal." >Harshwhinny is silent for a moment >Outside, Gilda knocks again, louder this time >Harshwhinny sighs, hanging her head >"You're right. I'll just... I'll try to calm down." >She begins massaging her temples even as she heads over to answer the door >"Calm, calm... professionally calm..." >Gilda is standing on the front porch, a grocery bag in each hand >"Hey!" >She puts on a big, overly-friendly grin >"What's up?" >Ms. Harshwhinny stiffly extends her hand to shake >Unfortunately, Gilda is unable to shake, due to the groceries she's carrying >So both women are left there just sort of staring at each other >Harshwhinny tries -- somewhat successfully -- to turn the handshake into an offer to take the bags from Gilda, covering up her blunder with her signature awkward cough >"I'm so glad you could make if, officer. I, um... won't you come in." >"Yeah. Thanks for havin' me. Hey, you two." >She nods cordially to you and Fluttershy, handing Harshwhinny the bags >"I was gonna pick up beer, but I thought that wouldn't be a good idea with the kids and all. So I, uh, got the next best thing." >Harshwhinny opens the bag, revealing a six-pack of that super-fancy soda that comes in glass bottles >"And this is for you. Not sure if you drink at all, but... yeah. It'll look nice, at least." >In the second bag is a bottle of Cherry Jubilee name-brand vintage wine, the glass embossed in patterns reminiscent of twisting vines >"Wow." >Harshwhinny is stunned for a moment >"T-thank you, officer! I, uh..." >She scratches at the back of her head, flushing >"I'm afraid I don't have much to offer you in return..." >Gilda shrugs >"Just call me Gilda. And it's no big deal. Honestly, anything would be good right now. Haven't had anything to eat since this morning." >"Yes! Of course, that's only natural, yes... yes..." >She's stalling, and doing a terrible job of it >Harshwhinny turns to you, and waves you and Fluttershy into the kitchen >Gilda just sort of hangs behind, inspecting Harshwhinny's paintings >"What do I do? Look at this!" >Her voice is dropped to a whisper, each syllable nervous and hissing >She points to the fancy beverages >"I can't serve her soup-for-one after she bought me top-shelf wine! That's criminal!" >"B-but... she just said..." >"That's beside the point! It's the principle of the thing!" >Harshwhinny covers her face in her hands >"I can't do it! I feel like such a--" >Gilda pokes her head in >"Yo, not trying to snoop, but... is everything alright?" >Harshwhinny immediately straightens up >Her hands go to her own next, probably hoping to find a scarf to fidget with >But the collar of her tee-shirt isn't quite enough, and so they resort instead to toying with her earrings >"Yes! Everything's fine! Just, um... trying to figure out what to make! You know, because... that's something I can totally do..." >Gilda nods >"Yeah? You mind if I take a look? I might have a couple ideas." >"A... look?" >"Yeah. You know, in the pantry. I've cooked up some pretty janky, tasty stuff out of random junk before." >It's kinda funny how proud she sounds of that fact >For a moment, Harshwhinny just blinks, confused >"Oh! Y-yes, of course! Go ahead!" >Gilda grins, biting her lip, and opens up the pantry >"Hah. You're almost as bad as me." >"Almost?" >Harswhinny looks relieved that Gilda's not disappointed >So relieved that she starts to lean against the kitchen counter, trying to stealth-wipe sweat from her forehead >"Yeah. You've at least got enough food for a few weeks. I've got like a tenth of this, at best." >She claps her hands together >"So let's get started." >Harhwhinny looks confused >"Started? What do you mean?" >Gilda starts to grab packages of ramen out of the pantry >"I've got a really good recipe for how to cook ramen. You've got hot sauce somewhere, right?" >"Hot sauce? Oh, yes! Right over here!" >Harshwhinny runs to the kitchen, and Gilda walks over to you and Fluttershy >"Alright, can you two see if there's any veggies or anything we can throw in here?" "Like what?" >She shrugs >"I don't know, kid, I ain't Gordon Ramsay. Just look for anything that looks like it'd taste good with noodles." >She helps Harshwhinny look for sauce, then goes back to ransacking the pantry for ingredients >In the freezer, you dig out two bags of frozen broccoli and one of carrots, and throw it to Fluttershy >Gilda grabs some canned chicken from the pantry, grinning to herself >"Whoa, name brand?" >She stands up >"You're pretty fancy, for a bachelorette." >Harshwhinny giggles >Yep, full-on giggles >The sound is one of the strangest you've ever heard >"Well, when you only have yourself to spend money on, you're allowed to splurge a little, right?" >A lot of her earlier nervousness seems to have abated >In fact, she's starting to look like she's having fun >"Ha, you're right there. If I wasn't such a miser, maybe I'd understand." >The two women chatter on about the hardships of life as a single female >Meanwhile, Gilda gives you and Fluttershy instructions to chop the veggies and then throw them in a pan to fry >"Chop them? W-with what?" >"Uh... that?" >Gilda points to a set of knives on the far end of the counter >Fluttershy eyes the blades with worry, wringing her hands >"Um, I... uh..." >A bead of sweat rolls down the back of her neck >You tsep in front of her, grabbing up the knife herself "Here. I got it." >You grab a cutting board and the vegetables, and start to dice them into little pieces >"T-thanks. Sorry, I d-didn't mean to... to freak out like that." "No, it's totally cool." >You take a step closer to Fluttershy, keeping her close as you finish chopping the veggies >When you finish, Gilda has you throw the them into a pan to fry along with the hot sauce and noodles, and everything begins to fry together >"Alright. Now stir everything together, alright? Make sure nothing sits on the bottom too long or it'll burn." "Like this?" >You start to stir, but the exhaustion of the past days' drama has left you too fatigued to keep your hand steady >As the spoon scrapes the bottom of the pan, you accidentally push a clump of noodles over the rim and onto the stove >"Nah, not like that. Just keep everything inside, alright?" >You try again, but nearly end up spilling again >"Here." >Fluttershy steps up behind you and lays her hand on top of yours >"Are you alright if I h-help?" >Her smooth, gentle fingers curl around the back of your hand, holding it steady "Yeah. Thanks." >Fluttershy steps up behind you >Since her arms are so much shorter than yours, she has to press her body up against your back in order to reach your hand >Slowly, gently, she moves your hand in circles, stirring the noodles >The steam coiling off the pasta causes her palm to sweat, and she grips you tighter to avoid letting you slip out of her grip >Fluttershy extends her arm all the way -- and yours by extension -- which requires her to squeeze against your back >Through the thin dress Harshwhinny lent her, you can feel every skinny contour of her body: bony hips, soft, flat stomach, and the gentle, featureless cushion of her chest >She leans her head on your shoulder, watching the food's progress >Despite how much you've found yourself holding her lately, this feels... different, somehow >It's no longer about her comforting you, or you her >She's doing this just because she wants to >And, well, you're not entirely sure how you feel about that, especially when Dash isn't here >But she's not trying anything risqué, she just wants to be close to someone >After what her dad said to her, and everything else she's had to deal with... >Yeah, she deserves it >Fluttershy seems to focus pretty exclusively on the noodles near the back of the dish, requiring her to stay tightly pressed against you in order to reach them >And you let her, even leaning back into her embrace >After so much chilly, rainy air, she's refreshingly warm >"There. Is t-that better?" "Yeah. Thanks." >She extends your arm fully again, despite not really needing to >Without any proper place to place her head, she opts to simply rest it against your shoulder >Gilda steps into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe >She gives you and Fluttershy knowing smile >"How's it coming, you two?" "Pretty good. Think it looks about done?" >Gilda steps up next to you >You can vaguely smell wine on her breath; her and Harshwhinny must have broken into her "gift" early >"Yep. Give it another minute or two, and it'll be good." >As she leaves, she gives Fluttershy a pinch on the butt, and whispers something in her ear >It sounds vaguely like "get some," from what you can hear >Fluttershy's face goes red, and she hides against your back >Yeah, Gilda's definitely been drinking a bit >When she leaves, Fluttershy's blushing furiously >The two of you ladel the noodles onto four plates, carrying the spicy, steamy mixture into the living room >Ms. Harshwhinny is lounging on the couch, a glass in her hands >Judging by the pink spots on her cheeks, she's definitely had a little bit too >"It's just so draining sometimes, you know? I'm aware how unprofessional it is to complain about work, but there's just so much that makes me... agh!" >She grabs at her hair, shaking her head >Harshwhinny adjusts herself in her chair, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt >She looks surprisingly disheveled, especially for an appearance-focused woman like her >You... don't think you're ready to handle her while drunk >Maybe you and Fluttershy should eat and then find an excuse to go to bed >Ms. Harshwhinny awkwardly pats you on the arm as you set the plate down >"Thank you so much, dear. Really. It's been so long since I've had a home-cooked meal." >Her eyes suddenly go wide >"So, so long. Since I was a little girl, probably. Oh, my..." >She looks like she's about to cry >You and Fluttershy share a very, very concerned look >Gilda, fortunately, is completely on top of things >She drains half her glass in a single gulp, letting out a loud belch before digging into her plate >After wolfing down a good chunk of her dinner, she points her fork at Harshwhinny >"I know, right?" >Harshwhinny blinks, holding back tears >"What do you mean, o-officer?" >"Just Gilda. And I mean it sucks, you know? Like, what does a woman have to do to get a decent meal?" >She takes another huge bite, and washes it down with the rest of her meal >"And yeah, I know exactly what you mean about work." >Gilda matches Harshwhinny's posture, both women slouching at opposite ends of the table >"You bust your ass all day, trying to do the 'right thing' for your kids, right?" >Harshwhinny nods, curling into a little, not-so-professional ball on the floor between stacks of her paintings >"Trying, I suppose. Lord help me if I know what 'the right thing' is." >Gilda perks up, poking the fork towards Harshwhinny again >Little red flecks of sauce fly from its tip, staining the coffee table >A concerned glance crosses your teacher's face, but she doesn't say anything >Gilda, however, looks way too excited >"No, exactly! That's the problem! You're supposed to be helping people, right? But nobody has any idea on how they want to be helped!" >She lets out an annoyed sigh, slumping further in her chair >You and Fluttershy just sort of sit in the corner, not really sure what to make of the whole exchange >It's almost like dinner and a show, in a way >Except the dinner is ramen >And the show is a drunk schoolteacher rambling with an even-drunker cop >And instead of a theater, you're wedged together in between stacks of canvases and old books >Okay, it's nothing like a dinner and a show >It's just a hastily-made dinner with a bunch of drunk, dysfunctional people... >...and you can't imagine a better night, honestly >Well, you can >It'd be the same night, just with one more person >As if sensing you're still worrying, Fluttershy leans against you again >You're starting to enjoy how readily she takes the initiative >As much as you miss Dash, it feels so good to be able to hold her >The two of you end up combining both your portions of dinner onto a single plate, and then enjoying your meal from the same dish >Fluttershy raises a bite to her mouth, awkwardly slurping up the noodles in the noisiest, messiest way possible >"Sorry. It's been a w-while since I've had actual noodles." >On her next bite, a stray noodle slaps against her cheek, leaving a line of sauce >You wipe it off for her >For a moment, she leans her face into her touch, closing her eyes >Said moment probably would have lasted longer too, if Ms. Harshwhinny hadn't interrupted it by increasing the volume of her ranting tenfold >"...and sometimes I feel like I don't even know what professionalism means!" >"Wait, what? You? That's like the only word you say, dude." >Gilda's slurring now, and the bottle is nearly empty >"I know! But, no matter how much I try, I just... agh!" >She rubs her forehead >"I never feel like I'm actually doing any good! No matter how hard I try to do my job well, I'm still just some random teacher that nobody likes!" >She rests her head on her knees >"It just gets old, sometimes..." >Gilda nods >"I feel you, dude. I really do. I thought I'd be saving people, but I'm just the person who shows up and ruins their day..." >Harshwhinny gives a glum little nod, fidgeting with the hems of her socks >"I know. I thought I could make a difference on these kids, but most of them hate having to deal with me." >Gilda slumps onto the floor, scooting towards Harshwhinny >"It really makes you wonder what's it all worth, doesn't it?" >"Really does." >Gilda pours the rest of the wine into Harshwhinny's glass, and both women drink deeply >Fluttershy gulps, scooting forward >You have a good idea of what she's going to say, and give her a reassuring pat on the back as she scoots toward the dining room table >"I, um... I know what it's all worth." >Both turn, red-faced from drink >"Yeah? What's up, kid?" >"What do you mean, dear?" >Fluttershy resists the temptation to fidget with her dress >"Well... you've both made a huge difference for me. Ms. Harswhinny, ma'am, you gave me a home, and m-made me feel like I was part of a family. Even if it's a b-big, weird, crazy family... you g-gave me a lot. And Officer Griffin--" >"Just Gilda! Why won't anyone..." >She sighs, her head lolling >"Ugh. Nevermind." >"S-sorry. Gilda. You saved me. Like, really saved me. S-so... I think it's pretty worth it, at least." >Fluttershy runs her hands through her hair, looking nervous >For a moment, you don't realize why she's suddenly clamming up again >She casts a timid glance at the empty bottle, twirling a pink lock of hair around her finger >Then you make the connection >The booze you always smelt on her father's breath... >And now her new 'parents' are drinking too >You scoot up next to Fluttershy, bumping against her just enough to remind her that you're there >She smiles, the tension beginning to drain back out of her >Harshwhinny sniffles >"A family? Us? You..." >She hiccups, covering her mouth >"Excuse me. Oh, lord, I'm an unprofessional mess, aren't I?" >Gilda chuckles >"I've got a great new drinking game idea..." >Harshwhinny reaches towards Fluttershy >Next to you, Fluttershy flinches, but holds her ground >Harshwhinny places her hands on your friend's shoulders, pulling her into a shaky hug >For a moment, Fluttershy looks like she's going to squirm away >But Harshwhinny's embrace is gentle, and she gradually relaxes into your teacher's arms, resting her head on Harshwhinny's arm >Gilda scoots over toward the two of them, wrapping the pair under one arm >"You know, you guys are alright." >She pats Harshwhinny's back >"You get me, Ms. H. You really do." >"Please. Victoria. Call me Victoria." >"Ha. Vicky. I like that." >The use of her nickname makes Harshwhinny blush like crazy >"Ha. Yes. I like it too. Very unprofesisonal, of course, but... I guess that's okay. I like it." >She snuggles up against Gilda, holding Fluttershy in her lap >"I like it a lot." >You're just about to excuse yourself from the room when Gilda waves you over >"Get over here, hotshot. You're not getting away that easily. Come on." "Uh... alright." >Reluctantly, you join Fluttershy and the two older women, sitting next to Harshwhinny >She wraps an arm around you, pulling you against her >You know, when you first enrolled in her class, you never really imagined you'd hit this point with her... >Not content with simply cuddling, Gilda sprawls across the three of you, letting out a contended belch as she flicks the TV on >"'Scuse me." >Turns out, that weird sci-fi show is still cued up, and Harshwhinny looks over at Gilda to chide her as the show's theme song plays https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AmykynKhMw [Embed] >"How incredibly unprofessional." >"I thought you were saying you didn't even know what professionalism meant." >"Yes, well... even I can tell when someone's attitude is... bleh, out of line. Whatever." >Her head lolls, and Harshwhinny begins leaning heavily on you and Fluttershy >If she falls asleep on top of you... >Well, you're not sure how you're going to be able to look her in the eye the next time you're in her class >Fluttershy squeaks, trying to work out from under her, but Harswhinny holds her tight, like a child with a plush toy >Gilda just laughs >"Ha. Yeah? You sound *just* like my old teacher, back in boarding school." >"How did you ever end up in boarding school?" Harshwhinny asks, holding back a giggle >Gilda doesn't hold it back, though her laugh could hardly be described as such >It's more of a guffaw, the kind of laugh that's probably waking the neighbors next door >"I told you, miss. I was real problem child." >"Oh, I can see that. Good thing you had somebody to straighten you out." >"You have no idea. She was insane." >"Don't worry, I think I know the feeling." >You're really, *really* not comfortable where this is going >Are the two of them... flirting? >With two kids caught in the middle of them? >You start to try to worm your way out of the cuddle pile, but Fluttershy refuses to let go of you, and while she's the farthest thing from heavy, even her meager weight is enough to make it impossible to get out from under Harshwhinny's arm >"Ha, yeah. You're a lot like her, honestly. Except maybe a little less crazy, and little more..." >Harshwhinny hiccups >"A little more what?" >"I dunno. Awkward." >Harshwhinny playfully slaps at Gilda's hand >"I am not awkward, for your information. I'm simply not afraid to, uh..." >Gilda's trying really hard not to laugh >"S-stop! I'm simply not afraid to put myself in uncomfortable situations, that's all! It's very professional." >At that, Gilda can't take it anymore >She flops backwards, laughing hysterically, curling into a ball and clutching her stomach >"You're hilarious, miss. Oh my God..." >She rolls over onto her back, sprawled across Harshwhinny's lap, and wipes tears from her eyes >"You're so much like her it's scary." >"Oh?" >"Yeah. She was really cute when she got angry." >Even in the darkness of the living room, you can see Ms. Harshwhinny's cheeks go from her usual tan, to pink, to bright red, and then to a deep, deep crimson >"C-cute? Well, I never... you... clearly the alcohol talking..." >"Of course it's the alcohol talking." >She raises a hand to Harshwhinny's face, poking her cheek >"Doesn't mean it's not true." >Okay, nope >NOPE >You need out >You need out right now >Fluttershy looks like she's practically asleep, so you might not be able to save her >Close as you are to her, you can feel Harshwhinny's heartrate accelerating >She lays her hand atop Gilda's, breathless >YOU NEED OUT "Uh, ma'am?" >Harshwhinny doesn't hear you, though >Her and Gilda are staring into each other's eyes >"Officer, this is... this is immensely forward..." >"Just Gilda. And hey, I told you..." >She begins to caress Harshwhinny's cheek >"I have a real attitude problem." >You close your eyes, praying to God, Buddha, Allah, Harambe, or whoever will listen >Please, don't make you sit through your teacher making out with a cop >Or, even worse... >No, you're not gonna think about that >You like Ms. Harshwhinny, she's easily the coolest teacher you've ever had and you appreciate everything she's done for you, Fluttershy, and Dash >But you're not about to get an up-close and personal look at her getting some >You don't care how hot it may or may not be, you'd never be able to look Ms. H in the eye again >Speaking of, her and Gilda's eyes are locked on each other, their faces slowly drifting towards each other >"Well, she was right about that. Your attitude needs serious adjustment, young lady..." >OH GOD MAKE IT STOP >It's like watching a cheesy romance novel play out in real life! >"Yeah? What're you gonna do about it?" >The two women's mouths are inches apart now, and Harshwhinny has her hand against the back of Gilda's head, fingers intertwined in her hair >You start squirming like mad, trying to drag yourself and Fluttershy away >Fortunately, you think you can feel Harshwhinny's grip on you loosening, due to the distraction... >"Well, I think I might just have to... erm..." >Harshwhinny pauses for a minute, trying to think up a suitably witty induendo >"...punish you?" >Gilda lets out a low, throaty chuckle >"Bring it on, miss..." >You turn your face away, out of decency, awkwardness, or something else, just before the kiss happens >But you know it did >Harshwhinny's entire body goes rigid at the moment their mouths meet, and then gradually slackens as she eases into Gilda's embrace >Eyes tightly shut, you take advantage of her relaxed state and worm your way out from under her arm, dragging Fluttershy with you >Your friend is fast asleep now, and no wonder; it's been a brutal couple of days for her >Harshwhinny and Gilda don't even notice you making your escape, as they're far too engrossed in each other >You hoist Fluttershy up into your arms -- a fairly easy task, there's no way she weighs more than a hundred pounds -- and tote her into the spare room >There's no sign of a cot or extra bedding anywhere, and there isn't enough room to sleep on the floor >So, it looks like the two of you are sharing a bed again >You try to set her down as gently as possible, resting her head on a stack of pillows >For whatever reason, though, that's what wakes her up >"A-Anon? What's g-going on...?" >Fluttershy looks genuinely frightened, squirming around in the covers >You wonder if, maybe, she's so used to being mandhandled that the soft embrace of an actual bed is far more unnerving to her than being carried around "Nothing. Just getting you to bed." >She looks around the room, notices it's just the two of you >"Oh." >She sits up, hugging her knees against her chest >"T-thanks." "You alright?" >You sit down next to her, placing a hand against the small of her back >She leans against you, nodding >"Was d-dreaming... about my dad." "Oh. Shit." >"Nothing bad, just... I felt like I was back with him. And things were the s-same." >You run a hand through her hair, the short, cropped locks a little greasy against your fingers >"I just c-can't believe all this is still happening. It d-doesn't feel real." "You're right. It doesn't. But, honestly, looking at your dad, Dash, and at Ms. H, and everyone we know... I kinda realized something." >"About what?" "I dunno, about them, and us, and everything. It seems like it's so hard for everyone to get over the bad stuff they see in themselves, and others, and the world..." >"L-like me?" "Like everyone. Your dad looked at you, and all he could see was... well, you know. He ignored the wonderful daughter he had, and tried to make you into a son he hated. And Ms. Harshwhinny only saw the students who resented her, not the people who look up to her. And Dash... Dash only saw that she lost a fight, and not that saved us." >You pat Fluttershy's side "It takes so much good to wash out the bad we see in the world. So, I guess it's normal to feel like that." >You rest your head atop hers, staring through the guest bedroom's narrow window at the sky outside >Now that the stormclouds have cleared, it's a surprisingly clear, beautiful night "And I guess that just means we'll have to keep making sure that we have good days together." >Fluttershy falls silent for a while >"...and w-what about you?" "What do you mean?" >"What's your, you know... your t-thing you only saw the b-bad stuff in." "Oh, I dunno. Probably you, I guess." >"M-me?" "Yeah. I dunno, you were just 'that one weird friend' to me, for so long. It took me a while to realize how much I, you know..." >"H-how much you what?" "How much I really liked you." >Fluttershy's silent for a moment >She leans against you, resting her head on your shoulder >"R-really liked me... ha..." >She shakes her head, nuzzling her cheek against your shirt >"It's weird... you act so nice to m-me, I shouldn't be surprised to hear you s-say, but... um..." >Her fingers intertwine with the lace around the hem of her dress >"It's still r-really nice to hear." "Well, you deserve it. You deserve more than that, really." >Fluttershy shrugs, still watching out the window >"I g-guess I don't really agree. All this n-niceness... I really don't feel like I deserve it." "Well, you'll just have to trust me. You do." >Fluttershy turns away from you >For a moment, you're worried that you said something off-kilter, and she's going to leave the room >But she doesn't >Instead, she twists back around before you can react, wrapping her arms around your stomach "Butters? You alri--?" >She presses her face up towards yours, her mouth so close to your own lips that you can taste her breath >Then she freezes >The two of you hold that position for a moment, then Fluttershy pulls away, shaking >"I'm s-sorry. I d-didn't mean to." >You raise your hand to your mouth, the ghost of the kiss that didn't happen making your lips tingle >"I j-just... w-what you said, I felt..." >She sighs, laying across the corner of the bed and curling into a little ball inside her oversized dress >"I'm s-sorry." "No... no, it's alright." >You lay down next to her, close enough only so that your arm forearm barely touches hers "I'm the one who should be apologizing. There's been so much pretend going on with the two of us, that..." >"No, don't b-be sorry about that. The pretending, it's... it's b-been really nice. That d-day at the zoo, when you and were... the c-couple, it was amazing. I never t-thought I'd get to feel something like that. Even if it w-was just... you know... pretend." "But..." >Fluttershy bumps you >"Anon, it's alright. I'm used to p-pretend. And besides..." >She shrugs >"Even just having f-friends is so much m-more than I ever thought would h-happen to me. I'm okay like this, really." >She sticks a fingernail in her mouth, giving you an uncertain little smile >"But... if you w-want to pretend for m-maybe one more night..." "I... yeah. I'd be okay with that." >You scoot towards the back of the bed, and Fluttershy follows you, curling up against your side >The rain has left a chill draped throughout the house, so you pull the blanket close around yourself her >Fluttershy doesn't say much, but she doesn't really need to >You adjust yourself into a more comfortable position, letting her rest her head against your arm >The profound sense of "okay" finally settles over you >Fluttershy's safe, Dash is going to be okay, Ms. Harshwhinny is happy >After all this hell, things are finally okay >It's definitely a weird sensation, but... >...well, you think you'll get used to it >Given past experiences, you're not exactly a huge fan of being woken up by your phone buzzing >The chirps cut through the comfy fuzz of sleep, and you slowly haul yourself away from Fluttershy's warm, lithe body and grab it from the nightstand >Your stomach twists as you open the message, worrying about what it might contain >It's from Blaze, which already isn't a good sign >Eyes still bleary from waking up, you squint at the letters in the early-morning light, feeling sick >[Hey! Dash is up!] >Huh? >You re-read the message a few times before its meaning sinks into you [Is she okay?] >[Ha, more than okay. She's already clamoring for attention. You should head down here soon, because I'm about to pass out.] >Did he stay up all night, just waiting for her to wake? >Christ, that's some dedication [We'll be right over. Same room?] >[Same. And she made me ask you to smuggle in a cheeseburger for her.] [Lol, alright. We're on our way.] >You set the phone down, your stomach slowly returning to its normal "not about to explode with worry" level >Man, you can't help but wonder how bad all of this must be for your blood pressure >Turning over in bed, you poke Fluttershy's side >Her eyes -- for lack of a better word -- flutter open, and she glances around the room >"...'n? Is everything okay?" "Yeah. Dash is up." >"Up? Like, f-for real up? You know, not like s-she was yesterday..." "Apparently. And she wants us to see her." >"Oh! Y-yeah! Let's go!" >Fluttershy is out of bed before even you, grabbing you by the hand and dragging you towards the door >Out in the living room, you're mildly worried about what you'll find >To your relief, though, both Ms. Harshwhinny and Gilda are still fully dressed, cuddled together on the couch >Gilda is sprawled length-wise across it, and Harshwhinny is curled up atop her, smiling serenely >Fluttershy crosses her hand over her mouth >"O-oh my... she looks so happy..." "Hah, yeah." >You keep your voice down, not wanting to wake them >Just so Ms. Harshwhinny doesn't worry -- well, she'll worry anyway, but just so she worries *less* -- you scribble a note about where you went, and leave it on the coffee table >Quietly, then, you tiptoe out of the house, heading to your car >When you get to the hospital, you begin mentally bracing yourself >How bad is Dash going to be? >Apparently she's lucid, at least, but she's bound to be weak to the point of frailty, after recovering from a wound like this >The idea of seeing her all broken up but trying to act happy is... well, not pleasant >You could barely take it last time >Fluttershy, sensing your nervousness, allows her hand to bump against yours >She doesn't take ahold of it, but your pinkies link together for just long enough to let you know she's there >You look down at Fluttershy, and she gives you an encouraging nod, bumping shoulders with you as the two of you reach Dash's floor >When you reach the door, you pause, bracing your hand against the nob >In your other hand, you're holding a bag with two cheeseburgers from the local Hayburger™ joint >Well, here goes >You really hope you can handle this... >Slowly, you slide the door open >You get one brief glimpse of Dash's smiling face before a pillow flies across the room and smacks you in the face >"Gotcha!" >You can only blink, stunned >Dash is sitting upright in bed, dressed only in a hospital gown, allowing you see the bandages wrapped around her abdomen >"Jesus, dude. What's wrong?" "I..." >"You look super cut up." "I was... worried." >"About me? Ha! Nah, dude. I'm great!" >She holds out her hands, grabbing at the bag despite the fact that you're two meters away from her >"I get to sit here and have you bring me food! And I don't even have to go to school!" >You pass her the burgers, which she immediately digs into >Apparently the look on your face hasn't changed, because goes back to staring at you, swallowing slowly >"Uh... you sure you're alright? You like you're about to cry or somethin--" >You wrap your arms around Dash, trying to resist the temptation to squeeze her too tightly >She flinches, surprised "Goddammit, Rainbow... goddammit..." >"Uh... okay then." >Her left arm is pinned by your hug, but she reaches her right up to pat your back >"Shit, dude. What's with you?" "I'm just so glad you're alright..." >You're crying now, but you don't care >"Of course I am, dude. C'mon, I'm me." >She gives you a little headbutt "I know, I know... goddammit, Dash..." >You feel her chest shake as she chuckles >Fluttershy worms her way next to you, joining you in hugging Dash >"Lunch in bed, and now this? Shit, I should get stabbed more often..." "Don't you dare. I know y-you're joking, but... goddammit, Dash..." >You're blubbering like an idiot, which just makes Dash laugh harder >"Jesus, dude. You'd think I almost died, the way you're acting." "That's not funny." >Dash pokes you in the ribs >"It's a *little* funny." >You don't even have a response >For now, it's enough to just be holding her, to feel her breathing, to smell her hair >And Dash clearly has no problem with the sudden burst of attention >The nurses have the sense to leave the three of you alone as you cuddle together, enjoying the warmth and safety of each other's presence >The rest of the day is amazing >The longer it goes on, the lighter you feel, until it seems like you could practically float away by the end >Sitting on the bed with her, you and Fluttershy fill Dash in on everything she missed, including the "incident" with Harshwhinny and Gilda last night >"The two of them!? You serious?" "Yeah." >"You're one hundred percent serious? The cop from the zoo and Ms. H?" "One hundred percent." >Dash crosses her hands over her heart, letting out a tiny squeal >"That's so precious, dude! Oh my God! You gotta take pictures for me!" "Dash!" >"What? It's adorable, and I wanna see!" "You'll see when you get out of here. They're... probably going to be a thing for a while." >"Awww. That makes me so happy, you have no idea. Ms. H deserves this." "Definitely. I just hope I don't get caught in between them again." >"Between them? Duuuude." >Dash sits up in, scooting up close >"Tell me everything." "I, uh... think we did already." >"No, no. I mean *everything.*" >Dash is starting to get a very familiar look in her eye >You take the opportunity to excuse yourself to go to the bathroom >You end up just wandering the halls for a bit, just in case Dash needs her "alone time" after the comment about Harshwhinny and Gilda >When you return to her room though, her and Fluttershy are still inside together >You poke your head in, and find them both huddled together, whispering about something "Yo." >Both girls look up at you >Fluttershy's face is beet red, and Dash has the same grin from earlier >"Welcome back. You were gone for like twenty minutes, man. What did you eat, a horse?" "Felt like it. What are you two plotting." >Dash is about to talk, but Fluttershy cuts her off >"N-nothing at all! W-w-we weren't p-planning anything! Especially n-not about you." >She's blushing harder now, and a few stray beads of sweat make their way down her cheeks "Oh. Well, uh... good to know?" >You sit a little further away from them this time >"You're so paranoid, Anon." "Yeah. Can't imagine why." >Dash leans back, crossing her legs >"Anyway, you two are heading to school tomorrow, right?" "Pretty sure." >"Together?" "Far as I know." >"You'll be at school all day tomorrow. Together." "That's usually how it works?" >Dash looks at Fluttershy, and winks >"Perfect." "So... am I just gonna be left outta this one?" >Dash is the picture of smug >"For now." >She winks at you this time, and Fluttershy hides her face in her hands >The rest of the day seems to pass not so much in a blur, but in a slow, pleasant trickle >It's weird; you feel like, after she almost died, you and Dash should be having some meaningful conversation about how important you are to each other, or the fragility of life, or something... well, you don't know, *deep* >But instead you end up shooting the shit about soccer, listening to her trash-talk rival teams, and eventually get into a long, drawn-out discussion about how the Civil War reboot is the most disappointing cashgrab ever >And, somehow, just simple conversation with her feels a million times more profound than waxing philosophical about death >Fluttershy doesn't talk much, only interjecting occasionally >She doodles on random napkins and scraps of paper left throughout the room, decorating Dash's room with tiny cartoon rabbits, raccoons, and even a sleek, terrifying-looking wolf >Dash demands that one be hung up right above her bed >When it comes time to leave, you say goodbye with a quick kiss on her mouth, and Fluttershy follows with one on Dash's cheek >Without even really thinking about it, you return to Ms. Harshwhinny's house >It just feels like the more natural place to stay, now >You find her alone in the kitchen, dressed in only her pajamas and an apron, splattered with... well, just about everything imaginable >Splatches of red tomato sauce, clumps of flower, flecks of cheese >She turns to you the minute you and Fluttershy step into her house, smiling brightly >So brightly that it's honestly a little uncanny >When she speaks, her voice possesses an unfamiliar sing-song quality >"Hey, you two! Hope you're hungry! And, um... willing to wait a few hours. Because I think I messed something up in the lasagna..." >To underscore her words, something in the oven starts to sizzle, and a trickle of smoke seeps from inside it >Harshwhinny yelps, flinging the oven open >A huge ball of smoke blasts out, staining her face with soot >She pulls a slab of something burned beyond recognition out and tosses it into the sink >"Well, um... maybe we'll skip the lasagna tonight!" >Harshwhinny leans on the counter, trying to act casual >Her hands are covered in bandaids, and the spots that aren't are stained with what looks like plum juice >She does her best to act casual, holding the injured appendages behind her back >"Anyway, um... how was the hospital?" >For a moment, you and Fluttershy can only stare >The "lasagna" is starting to fill the kitchen with a grayish haze, and you're somewhat worried about the health effects of breathing all this smoke "It was... it was good." >"Excellent! Ms. Dash is recovering well, I hear?" "A little too well. I don't know if I can handle this much Dash." >Fluttershy chuckles >"It w-was really fun though. She's excited to s-see you again, too." >Harshwhinny's face goes bright red >"Well... that's quite flattering. Oh! We should prepare a party for her, when she gets back! I'll even cook us dinner, and--" >At that moment, the fire alarm goes off from all the smoke, filling the air with a whining screech >Harshwhinny panics, running to switch it off >"It'll be fun!" she yells over the alarm, standing on her tip-toes to try and reach it >When she finally gets it shut off, she returns to you, sweating >"What do you think?" "Sounds good to me." >"Excellent!" >Harshwhinny returns to the stove, where a pot of... soup? ...is boiling over, staining the iron grating beneath it with white >"Dinner" isn't ready for another two hours >In the mean time, you and Fluttershy hang around Harshwhinny's house, trying to get things prepared to return to school tomorrow >You assume your parents -- who have been conveniently absent for a lot of this, you realize -- should be back before too long >It feels bizarre, really, the return to normalcy >Tomorrow you'll wake up, you'll get to the same highschool, take the same classes... >And no one will be any different >For them, the past two weeks have been just like any others >No attempted murder, no nearly losing their girlfriend, no helping their middle-aged teacher find love... >And unless you tell anyone, only you, Fluttershy, and Dash will actually know what happened >"A-Anon?" "Yo." >Fluttershy bumps you with her hip as you head down into the basement, looking for stuff she can wear tomorrow >"You're doing t-that thing again. The 's-space out' one." "Oh. Sorry." >"N-no, I really like it. Makes you look, I d-dunno... brooding. Kinda c-cool, if that's okay to say..." "Hah. Thanks." >You fish through a pile of Harshwhinny's old dresses, tossing some of them aside >There's a surprising amount of low-cut tops and high, showy skirts in here >Most of them look like they've never been worn... >On going through Ms. Harshwhinny's stuff, you figure out that she must have had some weird cat obsession at some point, because there's an entire box full of kitty-patterned sweaters >You throw one to Fluttershy >"Oh my G-Gosh! L-look at the little kittens! It's so cute!" >She immediately pulls it on over her dress >It's a good size and a half too big for her, and the sleeves droop down past her hands >Still, she looks delighted, wrapping herself inside the garment >You grab a couple more, just for good measure >When you return upstairs, arms laden with sweaters, dresses, and pairs of Harshwhinny's old jeans, Gilda is there waiting for you >"Hey, you two. What's all that?" "Just hand-me-downs. Gotta get ready to head back to school tomorrow, and all that." >"Hand me downs? Shit, I've probably got some old jackets lying around. You'd look super tough." >She winks at Fluttershy, who immediately perks up >"J-jackets? Yeah! I'd k-kinda like to, you know... l-look cool sometimes..." >"Ha, yeah? Well shit, I'll bring some with next time I'm over." >Harshwhinny scoffs as she staggers into the room, weighed down by a tray of... something... and multiple plates >"There won't *be* a next time, unless you learn to take those awful boots off before you stomp all over my carpet." >Gilda chuckles, propping her feet up on the coffee table >"Oops. Sorry. Must've forgot." >"You're absolutely incorrigible, you know that." >"Only because you've said it twenty times." >"Well!" >Harshwhinny plops down next to Gilda, sitting just close enough to her that their shoulders touch >"This makes twenty-one. You are beyond abysmal as a houseguest!" >"Yeah? Damn, guess I should just leave, then..." >Gilda pretends to get up to leave, and Harshwhinny immediately grabs her arm >"W-what? I most certainly did *not* say that!" >She pulls Gilda back onto the couch, conveniently yanking her against her chest at the same time >Gilda grins, shifting her position into order to lounge against Ms. Harshwhinny >"So I can stay?" >"You may. You simply have to improve your behavior. And besides..." >She gestures to the tray of... toast? >Scrambled eggs? >Bacon? >Meatloaf? >All of them together, in some sort of unholy combination? >You honestly can't tell, but Ms. Harshwhinny looks so proud of it that, well... >Whatever it is, you're about to eat a whole plateful; that smile won't be denied >"...I can't kick you out before dinner!" >Turns out, whatever the hell Ms. Harshwhinny made, it's not really that bad >You finish an entire plate, the taste somewhere between grilled hot dogs and macaroni and cheese >Sounds like it wouldn't work, but somehow she' stumbled upon a perfect combination >You figure it's either a "million monkeys with a million typewriters" thing, but you wouldn't rule out Ms. Harshwhinny having some secret cooking chops, too >Her and Gilda flick the TV on one dinner is finished, trading whispered conversation back and forth while they cuddle >You take the opportunity to give them some privacy, and you and Fluttershy retreat to the spare bedroom >She's still wearing the kitty sweater, and curls into a tiny ball inside of it after she sits on the bed >You pace the room, working out the plan for tomorrow "So, we'll stop by my place to grab our stuff, and then..." >"T-then we'll be back." "Yeah. Back to normal life, or whatever. Jeez." >You sit down next to her, bumping her shoulder "Weird, huh? We probably haven't even missed that much." >"Y-yeah." >Fluttershy folds up deeper into the sweater, tucking her knees against her chest "You alright?" >"Y-yeah. Just... things aren't going to g-go back to the way they used to be, tomorrow... r-right?" "Used to be? You mean like-- oh." >"I mean, it's okay if they are. I know I'm p-probably not the kind of girl you'd w-want to be seen around, but--" >You grab Fluttershy, arms sinking into the plush confines of her sweater as you wrap her in the tightest hug you can manage "All day. Whenever we get the chance. We'll be together. I promise." >Fluttershy's hand trails down your arm, fingers intertwining with yours >"P-promise?" "Of course." >"Alright. B-but I'm gonna hold you to that." >She pulls away from the hug just enough to stare you directly in the eye, trying her best to look stern >It... doesn't quite work "Trust me." >You lean your head against hers, your foreheads touching "I can't promise tomorrow'll be great. But I can promise I'm not gonna leave you." >You give her hand one final squeeze, feeling her pulse flutter between her fingers as her heartrate jumps >The two of you share the bed, as you've come to get used to >It's starting to feel... strange, in a way >Fluttershy doesn't cuddle with you like normal; she keeps to her own side, only occasionally brushing against you as she shifts in her sleep >You miss Dash horribly, but at the same time, having her here is so comfortable >Back when keeping her safe was your main priority, the fact that she was a girl was simply cursory information >But now that everything's back to relative normality, you can't help but feel like this is a little too much >You've got a girlfriend, a girlfriend who almost died for you >And here you are, in bed with Fluttershy >Dash is more than okay with it, you're sure, given what you've seen from her so far >Hell, she'd probably demand the two of you cuddle more, and ask for pictures >But, still, you can't help but feel like she deserves a bit more, well... loyalty >At the same time, though, poor Fluttershy's never had anyone to really hold her >And you can't think of anyone who deserves that kind of comfort more than her >Beyond that, too, you always enjoy being close to her "Bleh." >You speak the syllable aloud, rolling over to look at your phone >It's already two in the morning, and you can't sleep >Fluttershy mumbles something about feeding Angel, and rolls onto her stomach >Her hand comes to rest against your forearm, her fingers splayed across it >It's so strange; they're not trembling at all >You can't help but feel like someone is going to get hurt, if you keep this up >But, really, thinking like that isn't giving the girls enough credit >Dash can be an absolute spazz on her own, but she's not dumb >And Fluttershy, sensitive as she is, is still clever and emotionally conscious >So, in the end... >Fluttershy mumbles something else, indistinct >She sniffles rolling towards you >Her shoulder ends up touching yours >And that's where she rests, finally peaceful >Maybe, you think to yourself >Maybe you can trust yourself and the girls to figure this all out >Slowly, you finally begin to calm, and feel yourself sinking into sleep >Things will probably be a bit messy, sure >They always are, with the three of you >But you love the both of them, albeit in somewhat different ways, and you really think that, somehow, you'll work things out >It's a comforting thought, really >Wow, having hope can feel so weird, sometimes... >You wake up before Fluttershy, and untangle yourself from bed as gently as possible, so as not to wake her >Out in the kitchen, the gray light of dawn is already filtering through the window, illuminating the carnage leftover from Ms. Harshwhinny's attempts at making breakfast >You dig through the pantry, pulling out a box of Cocoa Pommels™-brand breakfast cereal, and pouring a bowl for yourself, Fluttershy, Gilda, and Harshwhinny >There's something strangely comforting about the way the four bowls of breakfast look when lined up together >You suppose it's just nice to have a chance to fix a large breakfast, and know it'll be enjoyed by people who love each other >Speaking of which, Ms. Harshwhinny and Gilda are asleep together on the couch, having passed out watching TV once again >Fortunately, they're still clothed >You tiptoe across the living room floor, poking your teacher's shoulder >Her eyes immediately flutter open, and she stares at you, looking horrified >"I'm going to be late for work, aren't I?" "I mean--" >"Coffee. I need coffee." >Pulling a stunt similar to yours, she untangles herself from Gilda without waking the lady-cop, padding into the kitchen on bare feet >She glances down at her skirt, which she's been wearing for over a day now, and frowns >"Unprofessionalism in its highest degree. Oh well, can't be helped. Coffee. Shower. Need to find graded papers." >She frantically begins to rummage through the kitchen, looking for a clean mug >On the couch, Gilda just snores on, pulling a pillow against her chest since Harshhwinny is no longer available >Getting Fluttershy out of bed is more than a little difficult >When you try to shake her awake, she just rolls away from you, wrapping herself in a cocoon of blankets >You shake her again, but she just mumbles something about hibernation >You're not sure if that's her intentionally messing with you, or if she just has really convenient animal-based dreams >So, it's time to take slightly-more drastic measures >You reach down and wrap your arms around Fluttershy, trying to haul her off the mattress "Come on, Butters." >She mumbles again, struggling weakly against you "Come on... school time..." >"Don' wanna go... wanna stay here, w-with you..." "Well, I'm going, so--" >She flops backwards onto the bed, trying to drag you with her >Fortunately, her scrawny, meager weight is hardly even enough to unbalance you >You drag her up and out of bed, setting her on her feet >Fluttershy wobbles a bit, leaning on you for support >She cranes her head, mouth opening in a long, tired yawn >"You r-remember your promise, right?" "Of course." >"If you break it, I'm g-gonna be mad. Super m-mad..." >She yawns again, teetering "I'm not gonna break it. We have the same lunch period, right?" >"Y-yeah! Will you be hiding up on the t-third floor?" "Probably, yeah." >"Okay. And you p-promise you'll wait for me?" "Promise. But first we have to actually, you know, get there." >"Oh, y-yeah. Right." >And that's how you convinced a sleepy, stumbly Futtershy to take a shower, and got her out of the door in time to get to school >You realized something wasn't quite right when you saw how she was dressed >Fluttershy neglects to put on one of Ms. Harshwhinny's hand-me-down sundresses, electing instead for an old pair of her sweat pants, and a t-shirt at least three sizes too big for her >The clothes hang from her in limp, baggy folds, obscuring much of her body beneath their bulk >You don't pay much attention, assuming she just wants to try something new >But, as the two of you head towards school, she spends most of the car ride in uncomfortable silence >You get the sense this isn't something that has to do with you, so you don't press the issue >But you get closer to school, she goes from nervous, to shaky, to full-on sickly in appearance "Butters?" >"Y-yeah! I'm f-fine!" >She sticks a finger in her mouth, chewing at her nail "Uh..." >"It's n-nothing! Just, y-y-y-you know how I w-worry sometimes! Heh! Just w-wondering if I fed Angel!" >She fakes a cough, and then the next few words fall out of her in a jumbled heap >"Oh and b-by the way could you call me 'he' for a l-little bit please, sorry..." "Huh?" >"N-nothing!" "Call you a he? But I thought--" >And that's when multiple pieces fall into place, and you feel like a total dick "Oh, shit. I'm sorry, Butters." >"N-no! It's really not a b-big deal, just, y-you know..." >She starts to fidget with a short pink lock, twirling it around and around her knuckle >"I r-really like being a girl around y-you, and Ms. H, and G-Gilda and Dash, b-but..." >She sighs >"I d-don't think I'm r-really ready to be that way... around everyone. So, m-maybe for now... I can still be Butters to you? Like I u-used to be?" "I... yeah. Yeah, of course. I can't promise I won't slip up, though." >"That's okay. I'm s-sorry if it's a little weird." "Since when has anything about this, or us, *not* been weird?" >Fluttershy lets out a nervous little laugh, crossing and re-crossing her -- his, you try to force yourself to think -- legs >You pull up to a red light, slowly coasting to a stop >In the few seconds before it changes, you lay your hand on Fluttershy's shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze "Everything about you makes me happy, Butters. I can deal with a little weirdness if it'll make you happy too." >Fluttershy doesn't say anything after that >A tiny coo escapes her lips, and she leans her head against your hand >Eventually, of course, the light changes, and you have to drive away again >But for the rest of that single stop, the world seems to pare down to just the two of you, the hum of the engine, and the whisper of her breath across your knuckles >The two of you part ways, each heading to your own separate classes >Ms. Harshwhinny's is... particularly interesting >You keep catching her glancing over at you, and she keeps catching you doing the same, but both of you try to act like it's not actually happening >On one level, you both share the bond that any two people who experience a life-or-death situation together will have >And on another level, you got her laid >So, yeah, more than a little awkward >Still, it's hard not to feel a little proud of how chipper she seems, compared to her usual attitude >She even dismisses class ten minutes early, professionalism be damned >As you head towards the door, however, she calls you back >"So? How am I doing?" >Ms. Harshwhinny claps her hands together in front of her chest, rocking on her heels like a girl of four years instead of forty "What do you mean?" >"With the class! Everyone looked so much happier! Is it working?" "Oh! Yeah, totally. I dunno, I could at least tell what was going on, for once--" >Ms. Harshwhinny gives you a playful bonk with her clipboard, giggling >"Any deficiencies in understanding are your own fault, Anonymous. Ah! I feel so good!" >She bounces on her toes, shuffling through a stack of papers behind her desk >You notice she already has a photo of Gilda nestled amongst them, right next to a currently-empty frame >She takes a deep breath to calm herself, running a hand through her hair >It's not in its usual golden bob; instead, it's messy, free-form, and... >Dare you say it, somewhat lively? >"It's like being twenty again. Lord, I don't think my heart can take it." >She places her palm against her breast, grinning >"Anyway, how is Ms. Shy? Adjusting well, I'd hope?" "Pretty well. Haven't gotten to see her yet. But she seemed pretty happy this morning." >"Excellent." >Harshwhinny finally sits down, but not before spinning a few circles in her office chair >"Anyway! I was thinking, why don't the three of us run by the store after school lets out? Ms. Dash is scheduled to be released in a few days, yes?" "Far as I remember." >"Well..." >Ms. Harshwhinny rifles through sheets on her clipboard, until she comes to one long, detailed itinerary >"I've been thinking about that party I mentioned, right? And I believe that, with my organizational abilities, Fluttershy's natural feel for coziness, and your... well, something or other, we have the opportunity to make this the welcome-back party she deserves!" >Ms. Harshwhinny beams, looking immensely proud of her idea >You agree, and then head off to find Fluttershy for lunch >Now that she's no longer hanging around you pretty much 24/7, you realize again just how hard she can be to find >You head to the cafeteria first, but it's far too bustling and noisy for her to by comfy here >Just as you're about to head to the third floor, though, Soarin stops you >"Anon! Dude, where've you been?" >As usual, he's too clueless to be able to read people properly, and it probably doesn't even dawn on him that you're in a hurry "It's a long story." >"Well come on, man! You can tell me!" "I will in a bit. I'm looking for someone right now." >"Yeah? Who?" "Butter-- Fluttershy." >"The weird guy with the animal drawings?" >Internally, you wince >Shouldn't have thought it'd be that easy... "Yeah. Yeah, that guy." >"Uh... alright? Why?" "I promised him we'd eat lunch together." >Soarin glances around, as if looking for whatever joke he's missing >"Wait, today? Why?" >He scratches at the back of his head, following you as you head for the stairs leading to the third floor >"Dude, Thunderlane and I were wondering where you were. You gotta tell me what's up." "I will. You're more than welcome to join us if you want to, dude." >"But... seriously, with him?" "Seriously." >Soarin flicks at his hair, exasperated >"Uh... okay? I'll go grab Thunder..." >Thunderlane apparently has better things to do, so Soarin follows you up to the third floor alone, still pestering you with questions >"Come on, dude, seriously. What happened?" "I'll tell you in a bit. Just lemme find my friend." >"But... come on, man! Just a hint!" "Wait until I--" >You round the corner, and find Fluttershy >She's sitting curled against a row of lockers, a scrap of paper balanced against her Econ book >A single sandwich, bought from the school cafeteria, sits next to her, and she's lazily doodling a cartoon bunny >She waves to you, then pales when she notices you brought company >Soarin elbows you, whispering into your ear >"Dude, are you sure about this?" "I am. Don't be rude." >"But, man... agh..." >Reluctantly, he follows you as you head over and sit next to her "Hey, Butters. This is Soarin. He's a friend of mine." >She lets out a tiny squeak, shrinking against the wall >Soarin gives you a "why are you doing this to me, dude?" type of look, then forces a smile >"Uh... hey. Nice to meet you. I, uh..." >He glances at you for help "Soarin wanted to here the story. You know, about what happened with us and Dash?" >"The s-s-story... uh... I..." >She starts to wring her hands, nervously fidgeting with her sweater >"I... I d-dunno..." >You sit next to her, giving her arm a reassuring nudge "You sure? I think he'd really like to hear it." >To his credit, Soarin manages a much more genuine-looking smile this time >"Yeah! Totally! Sounds pretty cool, if you're hyping it up this much."