Jungle Fever

“Damnit,” Mac muttered under his breath, scratching at the scrubble of his beard. His shirt was soaked with sweat, and it felt like his back just got used as a punching bag by a mule’s back leg. Grunting in pain, he attempted to lift the feed bag again, only to shout out again and drop it on the floor of the barn. Jack appeared from outside the doors and went over to her brother.

“Mac, don’t ya overdo it,” the stern voice of the younger sister snapped, moving over to lift the bag onto her broad shoulders. She towered over most young woman, and even a few men, but she still seemed miniscule next to Mac. “Yer still a bit off after what happened ta ya the other day–-ain’t no shame in admitin’ it. I can always cancel my plans.” She moved to the back of the barn and hoisted another bag onto her other shoulder, then returned to her brother. “Jus’ go back inside an’ get some rest. I’m sure Granny’d be happy ta get ya some ice or somethin’.”

“Jack, I’m fine. Just a couple of scratches is all,” he assured her, blowing some sweat from the tip of his nose. “And I have everythin’ covered, so enjoy yer date.”

“A couple’a scratches, my ass. Zecora jus’ ‘bout had ta drag ya back home, Mac. I ain’t ‘bout ta blow ya off jus’ ta catch some fella’s eye.” She glanced away from him for a brief moment, then continued under her breath. “‘Sides, I get the feelin’ this fella’s gonna be ‘bout the same as the others.”

“Say what now?” Mac asked in surprise, his eyes widening. “What others?”

Jack wryly smiled. “Ain’t exactly my first date, sug. ‘Couple a times I went inta town wasn’t jus’ ta hang with the girls, ya know?” Her expression darkened, a thick cloud on an otherwise sunny day. “Ain’t nothin’ clicked with ‘em, though. It’s jus’ like I can’t see fellas...” She shook her head, throwing her thoughts to the side. “Nevermind, Mac. This ain’t ‘bout me. This is ‘bout makin’ sure yer not gonna do somethin’ dumb like pullin’ a muscle ‘fore harvest again.”

“Or how ‘bout ya actin’ like a stubborn mule and not accepting any help over that?” Mac shot back, using the collar of his shirt to wipe his forehead of grime and sweat. “Jack, I can take care of myself. I don’t need my kid sis to tell me what to do.”

“Judgin’ by that sweat, I think ya do, Mac.” Jack adjusted the bags on her shoulders and turned towards the barn doors. “Let me go take care ‘a the calves, an’ we’ll continue this ‘lil heart-ta-heart.”

“More like nag-to-nag,” Mac grunted, wincing slightly as he felt the bandages wrapped around his chest and back moved and irritated his wounds. “And where’s Bloom at? Still hangin’ at the clubhouse?”

“Ya know it,” Jack agreed, glancing over her shoulder as she stepped outside. “Whole lot of her an’ her friends schemin’ one thing or ‘nother. Jus’ ‘bout gonna pull that girl outta there before she gets inta trouble. ”

“Good, cause Granny’s nearly got supper ready, and that girl is thin as it is.” Mac removed his work gloves and scratched at his stubble once more, wondering if it was time to shave again. “When she gets back I can clean her up. Ya get on yer date.”

“We’ll see,” Jack said simply. She paused, once more in thought. “Hey, Mac?” she quietly asked.

“What is it?” he asked, stopping near the open bar doors.

“What would ya say if I didn’t...” She nervously swallowed and shook her head once more. “N-nah. Ferget it. Ain’t nothin’ worth sayin’.” She started walking, rounding the corner of the barn. “I’ll see ya ‘round.”

Mac just stood there, wondering what to say next, but thought better of it. Hell if he knew what was wrong with Jack, and he definitely knew he wasn’t a fountain of knowledge. Any advice he could give would be as effective as chipping at a boulder with a toothpick. “Damn women,” he cursed.

“Yeah, two of ‘em,” Jack said from the barndoor, the bags of feed still resting proudly on her shoulders. She stepped to the side, making room for a certain ebony soothsayer to take a few tentative steps into the barn.

Mac gulped, a cold sweat running down his neck. Zecora was looking as beautiful as ever, her hair tied back in a ponytail with several gold hair loops. She was wearing a modest robe that spoke highly of her luscious curves. Curves Mac got to enjoy not too many days ago.

“Z-Zecora, pleasant seein’ ya here,” Mac said, a nervous edge to his voice. “So, uh, what’s the occasion?”

She gave a hard shake of her head, disappointment obvious in her tone. “Jack says you were trying to lift feed. You’re not listening to the words I begged you to heed.”

“Ah, not ya too,” he muttered. “Listen, I’m just fine, alright. I don’t need either of ya’ll babyin’ me.”

“We ain’t babyin’ ya,” Jack snapped, glaring at the man. “We’re jus’ makin’ sure that ya ain’t gonna overdo it–-there’s a difference.”

“That difference bein’ that you two don’t think a grown man can take care of himself.” Mac walked angrily past them, his boots kicking up dirt as he made his way back home. He was too tired and in way too much pain to deal with those two at the same time.

Jack and Zecora shared a small roll of their eyes, then offered a slight smile at their similar actions.

“Swear, that lunkhead’s jus’ more stubborn as anyone I know,” Jack mused.

Zecora gave a small laugh. “He has spoken words with a similar ring. Perhaps being stubborn is an Apple thing.”

Jack gave a small snort of laughter, then spat at the ground. “Maybe.”

She glanced Jack’s way and smiled. “My arrival here perhaps is fate. I’ll take care of your work, you take care of your date.”

The farmer seemed briefly speechless. “How’d ya know ‘bout that? Mac tell ya?”

A nod confirmed it.

“Consarnit!” Jack swore, kicking at the ground. “”Fer bein’ a quiet fella, bastard sure don’t know when ta keep his mouth shut.”

“I for one think that it’s good, you searching for a mate like you should.”

She shrugged. “I guess... Though, ya sure ‘bout helpin’ me with the chores? I still got a bit.”

“Are we not neighbors upon this land? It’s only right I lend a hand.” Zecora reached up Jack’s tall figure and plucked one of the feedbags from her shoulders. “Come now, I’m sure you have to run. Let’s work together to get this done.”

Mac was far enough away that he was sure they weren’t looking at him when he checked over his shoulder. Well, looks like they’re gettin’ along fine together. They always did before. Not like me and Zecora’s new relationship would change that.

But there still loomed the fact he hadn’t told Jack they were an item. He racked his brain for any sort of specific reason. He sure as hell didn’t want Jack ripping on his at all hours of the day for having a girlfriend. “Goddesses, that would be awful,” Mac said to himself, abruptly stopping in his tracks.

Oh shit, his girlfriend and his sister were alone together. That could only mean one thing. Gossiping. “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit,” Mac muttered between breaths, running back to the barn in due haste.

“Mac?” a voice called from the orchard. Bloom poked her head out behind a thick tree and walked towards the fence. “Why ya runnin’?”

Mac slid on his feet, kicking up a cloud of dirt as he hastily tried to stop himself. Nearly tripping over a rock, he managed to stay to stay on his feet and act as nonchalant as possible. “Oh, um, no reason.”

Bloom raised her brow but said nothing, moving over to the white fence and ducking underneath the railing. “Are ya sure? ‘Cause ya never run ‘less it’s important.”

“Nah, it’s fine, Bloom,” he assured her, hopping on one foot and the other as he wondered what Zecora and Jack were talking about. “Ya just got back from hangin’ with yer friends?”

She smiled, looking up at her brother and nodding. “Yep! We were playin’ in the clubhouse!”

“Well, that’s just great, sweetheart.” Damn, damn, damn, he was losing more and more time. He needed a diversion, and fast. Looking over at his sister gave him the perfect idea. “Hey Bloom, Zecora’s here. Wanna go say hello?” he asked her. Her smile widened.

“Yeah!” she loudly agreed, reaching out to take Mac’s enormous palm with her hand. Mac couldn’t help but notice how small her hands were sometimes. Girl has a lot of growin’ to do. “Where she at?”

“The barn, hangin’ with Jack,” he told her, allowing himself to be pulled along by her eagerness.

The women turned as Mac and Bloom entered the barn. Zecora’s face split into an excited, eager grin. “Well, look at my favorite girl! How are you today, little pearl?” She reached into her robe and pulled out a small, wrapped object.

Bloom graciously accepted it, a wide grin on her face a she unwrapped it to reveal an orange colored cube. She quickly gobbled it down, giggling as she enjoyed the sweet delight. With the speed only a child could muster, she hugged Zecora and wrapped her arms around the medicine woman’s hips. “Thanks Zecora. Ya always do make the best homemade candy.”

Zecora returned the embrace, putting her hand on the top of Bloom’s back and giving a small, affectionate pat to her head. “You are quite welcome, my child. I’m glad I didn’t make the flavor mild.”

They stayed together a few seconds longer, Bloom finally disbanding from the hug just to hop up and down, her big pink bow bobbing on her head. “Zecora, Zecora, are ya gonna stay fer supper? Please, please, please?”

She gave a maternal smile, once more looking almost wistfully at the child. “I would say you have a deal. Provided your grandmother is alright with me sharing a meal.”

“Yay! Ya hear that, Mac and Jack? Zecora is gonna stay!” Bloom shouted, the small girl practically buzzing with excitement.

“Yeah, yeah, I heard, Bloom,” Mac chuckled, smiling at his youngest sibling. Sometimes Bloom’s hyperactiveness got the better of her, but Celestia be damned if she wasn’t a cute bugger all the time. “Glad to have her joinin’ us.”

“Yeah, well, ya’ll enjoy yerselves. I know Granny loves the company,” Jack said, moving out of the barn. “I gotta haul a–-” she stopped, glancing at the child beside Zecora, “along an’ get my work done if I’mma go ta town at a decent hour.”

“Where ya headin’ out to at the town, if ya don’t mind me askin’?” Mac said, a small smirk on his face. “A fancy pancy restaurant?”

“I sure as sugar hope not,” she said under her breath. “It’s like they don’t know how much actual people eat at places like that. They might as well be feedin’ birds.”

“Well, ya can afford to starve a bit,” Mac chuckled, his smirk quickly turning devious.

Jack rolled her eyes. “Ain’t like all of us girls need ta be petite.” She lowered her own voice and gave a pointed glance Mac’s direction. “Sides, ‘Cora’s got herself a bit a curves under that robe, if ya didn’t know. Bit a weight jus’ means a bit more ta sink yer teeth inta.”

Mac was blushing up a storm, glad that Bloom was chatting with Zecora at the moment so neither of them heard that. “I don’t know what ya mean by that.”

“Sure,” Jack dryly replied, brushing a thumb along her nose. “Ain’t like I can read ya like a book or nothin’.” She glanced over her shoulder towards Zecora, who rose and approached the two siblings, Bloom in tow. “Jus’ ask her already. Ain’t like she’s gonna make the first move.”

Well technically, she already did, Mac thought dryly. “I already told ya, I ain’t interested and I’m too busy,” he reminded her, scowling slightly. “Get it through yer head already, Applejack.” He knew she hated being called by her real name, but he hoped it would make his point get across. She scowled but kept quiet, walking past him with a huff.

Zecora glanced down at Bloom and patted her on the head. “Go to the house and make up a snack.” Her gaze turned to the bigger farmer. “I’d like to have a word with Mac.”

“Zecora, why are Jack and Mac fightin’?” she asked, a frown on her face as she held Zecora’s hand tightly.

“It is merely a brother and sister engaged in a spat. That is all, we’ll simply leave it at that.” She gently squeezed Bloom’s hand, then gave a small, encouraging push towards the house.

Bloom glanced back at her brother, but eventually left the two in a scurry of small footsteps. Mac and Zecora were alone, and one hell of an awkward silence hung over the pair. Coughing slightly to clear the air, Mac asked, “So... um, Zecora. How you’ve been since I last saw ya? Yer injuries healin’ up good?”

“My wounds are healed, they are quite fine,” she curtly said, crossing her arms. “That, however, is not on my mind.”

“Zecora, ya know I didn’t mean that. I just didn’t want Jack to know,” he assured her, walking closer to her. She slumped her shoulders.

“Why is that? What is your aim? Does being with me fill you with shame?” She looked up at him, obvious hurt in her eyes. “Are my tears to you nothing but mud, simply because I have tribal blood?”

Mac rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing his hand in a gentle yet firm manner. “‘Cora, never think like that. I ain’t ashamed of nuthin’. It’s just... Jack’s my little sis. I already have hard enough time dealin’ with her regularly, but if she knew we were an item, I wouldn’t hear the end of it.”

Her gaze flickered with anger for a brief moment. “Your words are simply what a child would say. A man would stand tall, come what may.”

“Zecora...” Mac gulped, his eyes guilt ridden for how he hurt her. He just wanted to be with her, yet the change of it all frustrated him. He didn’t like change, and a relationship was a big step. “I still don’t know how Jack will react. How she’ll treat us differently. I’m just scared, okay? This has never happened to me before.”

“Jack has been and will be a friend. What we have together will not make that end,” Zecora said, glancing briefly to make sure nobody was around, before standing on her toes and landing a kiss at his jawline.

Mac smiled, wrapping his arms around Zecora’s waist and resting his hands on her toned stomach. He was definitely enjoying the feel of her back against his front, getting this intimate with her. “I promise, when Jack gets back I’ll tell her everythin’.”

Zecora let out a sweet laugh that reminded Mac of honey. “Your words do certainly make me grin. Now, what about the rest of your kin?”

“Well, Jack will probably go blabbin’ to the entire town. Or at least the family and her friends,” Mac told her, leaving a few soft kisses on her neckline. She smelled like mangoes and strawberries, and Mac could almost imagine her skin tasted like it too. Zecora moaned at his actions, squeezing his hand tight. She stared up at him. The hurt she had felt was fading into a vague memory. She tilted Mac’s head down and stretched for all she was good for, finally landing a kiss on his lips.

Mac’s lips contorted to the shape of her mouth, his eagerness evident from how quickly his tongue entered her lips. It swirled around in her mouth, reaching to the roof then gums and teeth and finally her own tongue. They wrestled together there, each lost to passion and lust for the other.

After several minutes of sweet, silent love, it was Zecora who finally broke their embrace. She ran her finger down the buttons of Mac’s shirt, tracing over every seam. She paused at the top one, before shaking her head. “I’d simply relish making love all night. However, I believe we should get a bite.”

Mac’s hand stopped near the top of her robe, just as he was about to pull it off. “Are ya sure?” he asked with a disappointed edge in his tone. “I mean, when’s the next time we have a shot like this?”

“As soon as you go tell your kin. Perhaps then I can show some skin.” Zecora winked, taking Mac’s hand into her own. “Now come along, it’ll be a treat, sitting down to watch Bloom eat.”

“Yeah, much better than what I had in mind,” Mac grumbled, but smiled all the same. He wrapped his free hand around her waist, holding onto her perpetually seductive side. He hoped to get a better look at it later, luck and Celestia be willing.

Yeah, I can do this.