>Back to Anon.
>You decided to take the long way home.
>Yes, there is an even longer way to your home. Although, by longer that usually means “full of mudpits to get caught in”.
>You needed the stress relief. You hadn’t lost your temper like that in ages. Your hand still hurt from breaking his nose, but you had taken a couple aspirin for the pain and Arlene had brought some ice over. There was also a nice long scratch from where his glasses had slashed your fist as they broke.
>You hoped he was in worse shape than you felt.
>Oz is quiet in her seat, holding onto the grub. You decided you didn’t feel like cooking tonight, so you instead grabbed some stuff from the one fast food place in town. A burger for you, and a veggie burger for her.
>It was odd such a thing existed, but when you’re the only fast food joint in town, you gotta cater to everyone to survive.
>You hit a bump and reach over to turn up the music; something by Hank Senior. You’re trying to blow off steam, so this helps.
~~~~~~~~
>”Goddamnit, boy! You can’t go decking customers like that!” Jeb had you in the back store room. Clet was cleaning up the glass and watching Oz so she wasn’t there for this.
“He ain’t a customer, Jeb. He’s a shit stain on Rosie O’Donnell’s bed.”
>”Be that as it may, you can’t just do that!” Jeb groaned and shook his head. “Didn’t they teach you common sense in the military?”
“They tried.”
>You give a grin and Jeb rolls his eyes. “Look, I understand he’s your brother and how you feel about him, but was it worth ruining part of my store? I was more worried your damn seeing-eye pony was going to wreck everything, but not you.” He pulls out a phone and dials a number on it. “Don’t go anywhere,” he growls at you as he steps off to the side.
>You hated to admit it, but the old man had a point. Still though, it infuriated you to see Oz being treated like that. She couldn’t help being a program-turned-pony. 
>Yes, you had briefly considered it. You hated yourself to admit it. In fact, you punched a wall just for thinking it. Ow, that hurt. But yeah, you did. Why? You wanted Oz to be happy. Was she truly happy being here with you, or would she have been happier with her own kind? There had to be more; Mike had even said so.
>With a sigh, you look up as both Clet and Jeb enter. “Glass is up, boss!” Clet held up a trash bag proudly. “Good.” Jeb looked at you. “Go clean up that oil. Let me know when Arlene gets here.”
“Arlene?”
>”Did I stutter, boy? Now git.”
>You head over to the cleaning closet and gather up a mop, dustpan, broom, and dry sweep. You head out to the lobby and set the supplies down near the large oil slick you inadvertently created. Well, you did create; you simply used your brother as the tool to make the mess.
>BP ain’t got shit on you.
>Oz is sitting on the counter, looking caught between a bunch of emotions. You gently rub her neck and smile at her. 
“Everything good, Oz?”
>”Y-yes, Anon. I’m just…I feel like my systems are not responsive. I feel aloof and detached. I thought this only happened to the Internet Explorer browser.”
>Oh snap. You chuckle.
“It’s called ‘shock’, Oz. You’ll be fine in a bit.”
>She nods and you begin to clean up the oil. It’s a length process due to how much there be spilled. As you finally start mopping it up, the door to the shop chimes as Arlene enters. She looked around the shop at the damage and shook her head before walking over to Oz. After a moment, she pet her gently and given her a bunch of flowers. Arlene looked over at you and smirked.. “Ottawa, huh?” 
>You felt the heat rush to your face and hastily you begin whistling “Dixie” to distract yourself. You finish up and look at Arlene.
“Come on, Arlene. Jeb’s in the back.”
~~~~~~~~
>After that it had been a long ass meeting. Amongst other things, you had to explain why exactly you had decked Mike, and what was so special about Oz. They had been surprisingly accepting of this.
>Maybe marijuana legalization in this county wasn’t a bad thing.
>You had also asked for them to help you with how to proceed, and Jeb, being a retired ‘Nam vet, was more than willing to. Clet and Arlene had plenty of good suggestions, but the main concern was that you watch your back.
>”If they really want her, they’ll be back. They won’t risk kidnapping, but they might try a lawsuit. They did that to someone in Kansas a few years back when he made his own iPod…out of broken iPods.” 
>Jeb’s words ring in your head as you hit yet another large mud puddle, causing Oz to squeak in surprise. Her window was rolled up, but she couldn’t see out of it thanks to the literal wall of brown earth caked to it.
>Finally, you reach the spot you wanted. Home was just down the hill you had parked on. 
>You were parked on the top of the large hill. The stream from earlier originated from here; a small waterfall trickling down the side of the hill. A single apple tree dominated the rest of the area, and it was under it you set the truck in park and cut the engine. From here, you could see the roof of your house and the rest of the forest. In the distance, the town is visible. In a couple hours, the sunset will be beautiful.
>Unbuckling your seatbelt, you stretch out in the seat and look at Oz. She’s eyeing the bag of food quietly, but you can tell she’s hungry.
“Dig in, Oz. Can you pass me mine, please?”
>”Of course, Anon.” She levitates your grease-sodden burger of choice to you; the smell of bacon and cooked meat activates your hunger card, and your stomach rumbles as you unwrap this little piece of heaven.
>You bite into and your expression falls.
“…they forgot the onions.”