CB- Ch.3- The Calm Before the Storm

 Close Bonds: Third Chapter

 

 

 

 You've been having a hard time sleeping tonight. You toss, turn, and flip your pillow in search of the cool side, but slumber eludes you.

 

 

 

 Too much on your mind, maybe?

 

 

 

 It's been a rather exciting day.

 

 

 

 You groan, the day's events weighing down on you. You don't want to think about it right now, you just want some sleep.

 

 

 

 Suddenly, the sound of a soft plodding on tile clears your head, and echoes about the dark recesses of your mind.

 

 

 

 Those hoofsteps. They can only be one pony.

 

 

 

 The plodding makes its way up to your bed. Your eyes are closed, but you can hear a rump touch the ground just in front of you.

 

 

 

 A soft whisper. "Ivan?"

 

 

 

 You don't respond. The voice takes the initiative to speak up, if only by a little bit. "Ivan, you awake?"

 

 

 

 You pretend to be asleep, curious as to what she'll do. The bed squeaks, and you can feel Rainbow Dash climb onto your mattress.

 

 

 

 Okay... What now?

 

 

 

 The covers lift slightly, letting in a bit of cold air. You peek one eye open, and see Rainbow slide under the covers. You close your eyes shut when she turns back to you, and lets out a content sigh.

 

 

 

 A few minutes pass. You think she's gone to sleep, until you feel something soft press itself against you. Daring to peek one eye open, you see that the little cyan pegasus is snuggling against your bare chest. You realize that the only thing you're wearing right now is boxers. If you were to become aroused...

 

 

 

 Needless to say, the jig would be up.

 

 

 

 She's pressed her whole body against yours now. Her fur feels so good against your skin; its soft, lavish feeling brings about a sense of comfort and warmth...

 

 

 

 Okay. You could probably fall asleep like this.

 

 

 

 "You're awake, aren't you, Ivan?"

 

 

 

 Her voice is flat, as if what you're doing has become extremely obvious.

 

 

 

 You allow your eyelids to open, dropping your façade. Finding two lavender orbs staring back into your own, you can't help but smile.

 

 

 

 "Yeah. How did you know?"

 

 

 

 She gestures downwards. "You're poking my side, Ivan."

 

 Your face and ears start to feel hot. You adjust yourself, then answer, "Sorry. Couldn't help it."

 

 

 

 You jump when something tightens around your crotch area.

 

 

 

 She giggles, and removes her tail from your nethers. "Hmm, I must say, I'm quite impressed." Winking, she adds, "You know, if it's giving you trouble, I can always give you some help..."

 

 

 

 You shift slightly, so that you're eye-to-eye and not you-know-what to you-know-what with her. "As of right now, Dash, I'm content with this. Right here."

 

 

 

 She looks you straight in the eye, blushing and smiling ever so slightly. She must be happy with what you said.

 

 

 

 Just one of those times when refusing sex is the right thing to do?

 

 

 

 She leans forward. You lean forward too, thinking her intent is to kiss you on the lips.

 

 

 

 Sike! She moves a little to your left and begins licking your cheek.

 

 

 

 And then she moves on to your neck, and then your chest.

 

 

 

 You wonder what she's doing. It's pretty enjoyable, but you've never had a girl besides Rainbow Dash lick you before.

 

 

 

 Okay, well you have. But not like this, where the girl in question gives you an entire bath with her tongue.

 

 

 

 "Hey, Rainbow? What are you doing?"

 

 

 

 She stops, and looks at you questionably. "Doing what?"

 

 

 

 "Licking me. Do I taste good or something?" you tease.

 

 

 

 She raises an eyebrow. "You do, actually. But that's not why I'm doing it."

 

 

 

 Your turn to raise an eyebrow. "Then why?"

 

 

 

 She thinks a moment, then asks, "Do humans lick each other?"

 

 

 

 It clicks. Must be a cultural difference.

 

 

 

 "No, not like that," you reply. "Can you tell me what it means?"

 

 

 

 She takes another moment to ponder. Then, a devilish grin stretches across her face. "You see, when two ponies love each other very much-"

 

 

 

 "Haha," you laugh mockingly, "So it's just something lovers do?"

 

 

 

 She frowns. "That word. Lovers. I don't really like that word."

 

 

 

 You smile. "Okay, mates then. Mates lick each other when they're about to mate?"

 

 

 

 She obviously doesn't like your choice of words, but says nothing about it. "Kind of. It's more of an 'I enjoy your presence' type of thing. Close friends and family do it to each other too, sometimes."

 

 

 

 Hm. Interesting.

 

 

 

 "If you don't want me to do it anymore, I'm fine with that."

 

 

 

 You shake your head. "No, no, I actually like it. I'm just wondering why I'd never heard of this before. I mean, I've been living here for a year now."

 

 

 

 She comes up with an answer readily. "Well, it's only really close friends. The only pony I can see close enough to you to try that, besides me, is Fluttershy. And, well, you know how she is."

 

 

 

 You chuckle. "Yeah, I guess it kind of makes sense now."

 

 

 

 The two of you lay there in silence for a moment, each of you in your own little world on your side of the pillow.

 

 

 

 Finally, a thought enters your head. "Hey, Dash?"

 

 

 

 She pops out of her thoughts. "Yeah?"

 

 

 

 "You wouldn't mind if I... Tried this new gesture out, would you?"

 

 

 

 She blushes a bit, and smiles. "Sure."

 

 

 

 You view her one last time. Then, hesitantly at first, you lean forward, and wipe your tongue across her cheek.

 

 

 

 You expect to get a mouthful of dirt-flavored hair. Instead, the softness that you felt earlier on your skin is now being enjoyed on your tongue.

 

 

 

 Deciding to explore a bit, you move down to her neck. She shivers at your touch.

 

 

 

 Heh. You're a natural.

 

 

 

 You continue to do this all down her neck and shoulders, slowly making your way down to her chest area.

 

 

 

 My god. She is soft.

 

 

 

 Your hands, which have subconsciously moved down to her cutie marks, begin to squeeze. She lets out a soft moan, and then you realize something.

 

 She voices your concern before you do. "I-Ivan... I-I thought you said you wanted to w-wait awhile... I'm f-fine with this, but..."

 

 

 

 You pull her in close, hugging her tight. "You're right. Sorry."

 

 

 

 You can feel her chest rapidly rising and falling against yours. She's warm, hot even.

 

 

 

 You palm the back of her head, and pull her into your neck. She gives a slight lick and a yawn, then puts a hoof against your chest and falls asleep.

 

 

 

 Relaxed now, you follow her example. Draping your arm around her midsection, you slow your breathing and drift off.

 

 

 

 ----------

 

 

 

 You don't remember walking to the hospital.

 

 

 

 You remember waking up to Rainbow Dash practically smothering you in her sleep. You remember prying her off your face, taking a shower, eating breakfast, and picking at random scabs while reading the morning paper.

 

 But you don't remember walking here.

 

 

 

 Oh well. Not like it matters. Didn't they have a word for this type of thing, back on Earth? Highway amnesia, or something like that.

 

 Alright. Enough dilly-dally. Adjusting your name tag, you venture forth through the entrance.

 

 

 

 ...And are met by the scent of over-cleaned furniture and the wheezing of sick ponies in the morning.

 

 

 

 Oh well. At least you can't catch most of their diseases.

 

 

 

 Wait, something's off.

 

 

 

 "Hey, Ivy!"

 

 

 

 Oh. That's right.

 

 

 

 You approach the reception counter, doing your signature 'put the elbows on the desk' move. "You're a few seconds late with that greeting, Cream. I almost thought you forgot."

 

 

 

 "Forgot? Please, Ivan, it's like you don't know me." She waves her hoof, and ends up accidentally knocking down a stack of papers in the cabinet above.

 

 

 

 "Smooth," you comment, observing the mare scrambling to pick up the papers. "Maybe your age is catching up with you," you tease, smirking.

 

 

 

 The cream-pink unicorn flips her ponytail, and quickly retaliates. "Oh? In case you didn't know, I'm turning twenty-four next week."

 

 

 

 "Oh, good. So you'll be getting the senior citizen discount soon?"

 

 

 

 Coming back up to eye level with the papers neatly stacked, she smiles, feigning anger but unable to hold back her grin. "Ivy, if I'm a senior, you're dead. You're older than me, in case you've forgotten."

 

 

 

 You chuckle nervously, scratching the back of your head. "Heh heh... Yeah. So, uh, happy early birthday. You doing anything special?"

 

 

 

 She rubs her chin, then shrugs. "Well, besides being forced into a party by Pinkie Pie... Got nothin'. No special somepony to take me out to eat, or anything like that..."

 

 

 

 You muss up her now-messy pink and white mane, and reassure her, "Don't worry. You're a pretty mare; somepony's bound to come along and sweep you off your feet..."

 

 

 

 She shoves away your hand and fixes her hair. "Feet?"

 

 

 

 You facepalm. "Hooves. Sorry. Sweep you off your hooves."

 

 

 

 She raises an eyebrow. "Allllrighty then..." Shrugging, she busies herself with some papers. "You'd better report to Lyra soon. Don't want her to think you're skipping work or anything, do you?"

 

 

 

 You roll your eyes. "Come on. At most, I'll be a minute late. Even for Lyra, that would be quite the assumption."

 

 

 

 She shakes her head. "Yeah, Ivy. Keep telling yourself that."

 

 

 

 As you walk past her towards the hallway entrance, you swipe her pen, eliciting a satisfying "Hey!". Catching a few curse words followed by the mentioning of your name, you smile.

 

 This Monday seems to be off to a good start.

 

 

 

 ----------

 

 

 

 "Ivan, you're late!"

 

 

 

 You groan. "Lyra, please. My watch says seven thirty."

 

 

 

 "Well, mine says seven thirty-one. And around here, we-"

 

 

 

 "Hey Lyra sshhhhhhh!"

 

 You don't normally resort to immature tactics like this. But when you do, it's always with Lyra.

 

 

 

 She scowls at you, then goes about looking through papers.

 

 

 

 You begin cleaning up her workspace. It's not like she's your boss or anything, but you tend to hang around Lyra when you work. You do menial tasks she asks you to do, she does whatever she does, and the two of you have interesting conversations.

 

 

 

 Her ordering you around has cast a misconception among your coworkers that she's in charge of you. Lyra herself even tends to believe it at times.

 

 

 

 "So," you say, meaning to strike up conversation, "Anything... Interesting, happen recently?"

 

 

 

 A styrofoam cup of water is surrounded by a green aura, and levitates up to Lyra's mouth. She takes a sip, then sets it back down. "Well, I was looking through those papers you stuffed in my mouth..."

 

 

 

 Uh oh.

 

 

 

 "Turns out you got one of those fitness magazines. You know, the ones with all the hunky colts on them? I took it back to my house, and-"

 

 "Ugh, Lyra, don't tell me-"

 

 

 

 "Needless to say, it's gonna be a bitch getting those stains out of the rug." She smirks.

 

 

 

 "TMI, Lyra. TMI."

 

 

 

 She frowns. "What?"

 

 

 

 Celestia, that's the second time today you made an Earth reference. "It means 'too much information.' It's an expression used back on Earth. 'T', 'M', and 'I' are letters in the English language, so 'TMI' is an abbreviation."

 

 

 

 "Aaand, that just passed right over my head." She makes a dropping sound with her mouth.

 

 

 

 You shake your head. "How did you ever become a doctor, Lyra?"

 

 

 

 She tosses her mane. "Shut up, orderly. I have a degree in medicine, not Equish."

 

 

 

 "English, in this case."

 

 

 

 "Hey! Did I say you could talk?"

 

 

 

 You stay quiet, deciding that arguing with her over this is pointless. You instead busy yourself with clearing up the cluttered enclosure that's Lyra's office. Without you, she would be a mess, and you both know it.

 

 

 

 After a bit, you notice she keeps glancing at your hands. You throw an apple core into the trash; she stares at your hands. You pick up a candy wrapper; she stares at your hands. You take the papers she's working on, and throw them on the ground; she's still staring at your hands.

 

 

 

 You bring your hand right up to her snout.

 

 

 

 Bop!

 

 

 

 "Ow! What the hell, you little bitch?"

 

 

 

 You laugh, receiving a hoof to the shoulder. You didn't bop her very hard, just enough to snap her out of her hand-induced trance. She, however, probably left a black-and-blue bruise under your sleeve.

 

 

 

 "Heh heh heh. I guess I deserved that."

 

 

 

 Her cheeks are red, and she's giving you that same squinty-eyed look Rainbow does. "Ohh, no. I'm not through with you. You're going to go take care of last week's urine samples."

 

 

 

 Wait, what?

 

 

 

 You groan. "Shit."

 

 

 

 She grins deviously. "That's right, Ivan. You don't touch me. Now go piss off."

 

 

 

 ----------

 

 

 

 "They really should dispose of these right after testing, instead of leaving them here for someone else to clean up later."

 

 

 

 You look over the precarious tower of pee cups, and sigh.

 

 

 

 "Guess I'd better get started..."

 

 

 

 You're about to begin with the cup at the top, but something catches your eye.

 

 

 

 "Hm... What's this?"

 

 

 

 A note is leaned against the side of the tower, near the bottom. The following is written neatly on the front;

 

 

 

 ~•_••⌠ ~⌂∩§σo,

 

 

 

 ~¥≡}{ u∞.

 

 

 

 ~Γu⌠§

 

 

 

 What it says to you and anyone else who can read Equish;

 

 

 

 Dear Ivan,

 

 

 

 Fuck you.

 

 

 

 -Lyra

 

 

 

 "Overkill, Lyra! Overkill!"

 

 

 

 ----------

 

 

 

 You walk out of the hospital, no lab coat or name tag. They're in the biohazard wash.

 

 

 

 It was the perfect time for Nurse Redheart to come running down the halls, wasn't it?

 

 

 

 "Ivy! Ivy, wait up!"

 

 

 

 Cream bursts through the door after you.

 

 

 

 You smile. "Hey, Cream. You looking for your pen?"

 

 

 

 She shakes her head. "No, actually. After you took it, I realized it was my fake pen."

 

 

 

 What? "Why would you keep a fake pen?"

 

 

 

 She giggles. "You may want to check your pockets..."

 

 

 

 You do as she says, slightly fearful of what she's referring to. After a few moments of searching, however, you discover that the pen is gone.

 

 

 

 Secretly, you breathe a sigh a relief. "I think I left it with Lyra," you say, wiping the sweat from your brow.

 

 

 

 Her eyes widen. "Wait. Does Lyra write with her mouth?"

 

 

 

 Shrugging, you venture to ask. "Why?"

 

 

 

 She goes into another fit of giggles, this time being contagious and causing you to smile.

 

 

 

 "What's so funny, Cream?"

 

 

 

 In an attempt to quiet down, she lets out a loud snort. It's kind of funny, so you snicker a bit too. For some reason, this causes her to erupt into full-blown laughter, and pretty soon you're both doubled-over on the street, gasping for air between giggles.

 

 

 

 You finally settle down, but just enough to get a few words out. "Hehehe... What were we even laughing at, Cream?"

 

 

 

 She wipes the tears from her eyes, chuckling at the end of her sentence. "I don't even know anymore."

 

 

 

 The two of you continue to giggle on and off as you walk down the road, receiving stares from passing ponies. Pretty soon, it comes time for you to part ways. She waves goodbye to you, and trots off in the direction of her home.

 

 

 

 You grin. You spilled pee on Nurse Redheart, you don't even know what's going to or has already happened to Lyra, and you probably freaked some ponies out with your maniacal laughter.

 

 

 

 Good day so far. Now let's see what's up with Rarity.

 

 

 

 ----------

 

 

 

 A bell rings as the door to the Carousel Boutique swings open.

 

 

 

 A voice calls out from the hall. "Just a min-u-u-u-ute!"

 

 

 

 Heh. Rarity and her singsong voice.

 

 

 

 The white mare steps up to the counter without looking your way. "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where- Oh, hello there, Ivan!"

 

 

 

 She and Sweetiebelle share more than physical traits, that's for sure.

 

 

 

 "Hey, Rarity," you say, walking up to the counter. "I hope it's not rude to ask, but how are my jeans coming along?"

 

 

 

 "Oh! Wait here!" She dashes off into the hallway again, curled mane and tail bouncing with every step.

 

 

 

 Hm. She tends to have a lot of energy for a 'lady'.

 

 

 

 You wait there, tapping your fingers on the glass counter. Looking down, you observe the fine jewelry and accessories for sale.

 

 

 

 A small sapphire stone necklace catches your eye. Smiling, you realize that it reminds you of someone.

 

 

 

 How much does it cost, you wonder?

 

 

 

 …

 

 

 

 Five hundred bits.

 

 

 

 Eh, you can always get her more cider.

 

 

 

 "Here you are, Ivan. Your new clothes."

 

 

 

 You look up as Rarity walks back in, two pairs of pants floating in a magical aura a little bit to the left of her.

 

 

 

 Wait, two pairs?

 

 

 

 She seems to read your mind. "And, I made sure to get that dreadful stain out of your old jeans. Free of charge, of course."

 

 

 

 You take the now stain-free pants, admiring the satisfactory job she did. You would have never known they had been spoiled in the first place. "Thanks, Rarity. Element of Generosity-"

 

 

 

 "Now, that will be fifty bits for the new pair."

 

 

 

 "-my ass."

 

 

 

 She giggles, handing you the freshly-sewn pair. You must say, they are quite exquisite. Not to mention you're technically buying from a designer company, so you really should have seen it coming.

 

 

 

 You pull fifty bits out of your handy-dandy saddlebag, and place them on the counter. "Thanks, Rarity."

 

 

 

 She smiles, taking them up with her magic and dropping them in the register. "It's no problem at all, sweetie. Say hello to Rainbow Dash for me, will you?"

 

 

 

 "Sure will," you answer, the bell ringing as you step out the door. "See ya, Rarity."

 

 

 

 "Ta-ta!"

 

 

 

 ----------

 

 

 

 Ah, home sweet home.

 

 

 

 "Hey, Rainbow, you here?"

 

 

 

 No response.

 

 

 

 You slip off your shoes, relishing the cool air that passes between your toes. You plop down on the couch, setting the jeans beside you. You'll put them away later.

 

 

 

 You reach forward, and grab a certain book off the coffee table. I am the Messenger, the title reads. It is, again, one of the few things you brought with you from home.

 

 

 

 A good choice, considering you had no idea what was going to happen.

 

 

 

 You read a bit. For about the seventh time, you find yourself near the end of the book.

 

 

 

 An hour passes. You decide to get up, and do the nightly chores. First, starting dinner.

 

 

 

 You put some water on to boil. Something simple tonight, maybe pasta.

 

 

 

 Next, put away your jeans.

 

 

 

 On the way out of your room, you look down the hall at Dash's room.

 

 

 

 Hm. She's not home. Maybe I'll just straighten up a bit in there. I'm sure she won't mind.

 

 

 

 You open the door. The lights are off, and the shades are drawn.

 

 

 

 Strange. Doesn't she usually like to look at the sky?

 

 

 

 You clap twice, and the lights come on.

 

 

 

 "Ivan, get the hell out."

 

 

 

 You blink. "What?"

 

 

 

 "I said, get the hell out of my ROOM!" she lashes out. You see a light blue blur jump out of the covers, and that's enough for you.

 

 

 

 SLAM!

 

 

 

 Wow.

 

 

 

 What's gotten her so worked up?

 

 

 

 ----------

 

 

 

 The smell of spaghetti lingers about the house. Your stomach grumbles, eager to be nourished by your heavenly pasta.

 

 

 

 "Shh, it's almost ready," you coo your restless belly. It groans in response.

 

 

 

 Rainbow Dash still hasn't come out of her room. It's making you worried. You're hoping the smell of your dinner will draw her out. You need to know what's going on.

 

 

 

 But at the same time, you're kind of hoping she won't come out. Especially if her anger is directed towards you, for whatever reason.

 

 

 

 You stick a wooden spoon into the boiling pot, and the noodles are soft. You check the tomato sauce, and it seems to be ready.

 

 

 

 You take two plates, and put a generous amount of noodles and sauce onto each. You take both plates to the table, and begin eating.

 

 

 

 And you wait. You wait for Rainbow to come out.

 

 

 

 Eventually, she does. She silently sits down at the table and begins to eat.

 

 

 

 The two of you stay like that for awhile. You say nothing, not wanting to accidentally get on her nerves.

 

 

 

 Finally, some words. "Listen, Ivan. I'm sorry about snapping at you back there."

 

 

 

 Her voice is solemn and expressionless. Mouth full of spaghetti, you wave it off, as if to say, "Water under the bridge."

 

 

 

 She sighs. "I suppose you want to know why I was acting so strange earlier."

 

 

 

 You swallow. "Only if it doesn't bother you to tell me, then yeah."

 

 

 

 She pauses for a moment. "I'm sure you're smart enough to know what 'that time of the month' is."

 

 

 

 Ooh boy.

 

 

 

 She seems to know what you're thinking. "Yeah. And I'm guessing you're still keeping up your 'lets wait' ideology?"

 

 

 

 You nod. "I just want out first time to be... special, I guess."

 

 

 

 She nods back. "I understand. Just remember, I... I won't be thinking straight. Most of the time, at least."

 

 

 

 "Alright. Thanks for giving me a heads-up."

 

 

 

 The rest of the night goes by uneventfully. Soon, dinner is over, and you're in bed. Your own bed. Alone.