Spitfire couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken a casual walk through Canterlot. Hay, she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d touched the ground in Canterlot. Her previous two visits to the capitol city were for shows, and all of that time she’d been up in the sky, or in her cloud trailer napping, or being productive when she wasn’t sneaking in a cat nap.
Formulating new flight patterns and show stoppers didn’t just happen over night, after all. It took lots of planning and all nighters of figuring who to do what stunts when. Meanwhile, Soarin’ and the other ‘bolts were out having fun on those nights, hitting the clubs, after show parties, living up on the nightlife like she’d done in her youth.
Huh… was she getting old?
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Spitfire heard the smooth voice at the same time she felt something bump against her side. Looking to her right, she was greeted with the pleasant sight of her companion for the night, and as he’d so handsomly stated multiple times tonight, their third anniversary as a couple.
“You’ve been here long enough to know it goes bit for your thoughts.”
The human, Jacob, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small copper disk. Spitfire was all too familiar with that coin.
“Sorry, I don’t have any bits on me. Just a penny.”
Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Okay, smarty-pants, then how are we even going out? I’m sure as Tartarus not paying for it.”
“Relax, I already reserved and paid for it. We just gotta show up.”
Spitfire went silent, looking forward again as they walked. He hadn’t disclosed where they were going, however with how nearly barren the streets were, she’d suspect they would make great time.
Odd how empty Canterlot is tonight…
Jacob placed a hand on Spitifre’s neck, giving her an affectionate rub. Spitfire leaned into his hand, and all too quickly Jacob pulled it back and placed both hands in his pockets, all the while wearing a grin. Sptifire’s tail twitched behind her, and Jacob pretended to not notice as he spoke, “It’s nice, to be able to go for a quiet walk like this, through the city. Just the two of us, and Luna’s moon.”
Or battling off any paparazzi. Spitfire nodded her head. “No argument here.”
As busy of a city that Canterlot was, the evening air was still and silent except for their walking, Jacob’s dress shoes were barely audible around Spitfire’s hooves, and she wasn’t even wearing any shoes! Every building they passed, ponies were inside enjoying their time, yet all the outdoor furniture was either put away or baren, save for the occasional odd pony on their break.
Before long, they arrived at a small building surrounded by outdoor seating and tables. Just like the many establishments they’d passed earlier, they were all barren except for one covered in a clean white cloth, with pre-rolled utensils in napkins, and a little unlit candle in the center. Spitfire found it odd, the scene was void of any life.
For a performer such as Spitfire, who’s fans could be borderline invasive at times, it was a pleasant sight. It still begged the question, which she voiced.
“Are they even open?” Spitfire asked.
Jacob winked, and knocked on the door.
As they waited, Spitfire looked up to the sign hanging above the door. La something Prench it said, and by the lack of wear the establishment hadn’t been here for long.
Shame she didn’t know any Prench. She could only hope they didn’t serve those disgusting snails…
Spitfire stuck out her tongue at the thought, causing Jacob to give her a weird look.
“What?” Spitfire asked.
Jacob shook his head, and knocked again.
“Yes, yes! I’m coming!”
The door opened to reveal a smart dressed gryphon. His hair slicked back and a black tux quite similar to Jacob’s. Spitfire looked down at herself, at her slightly worn brown aviation jacket.
“Oh, yes! Mister Fuller, party of two, hm?”
Jacob nodded his head.
“Yes, yes, of course. Right this way!” The gryphon grabbed a couple of menus and walked towards the seating area.
Once the waiter was out of ear shot, Spitfire nudged the human. “You said this was a casual dinner.”
Jacob shrugged, and followed the gryphon, leading them to a table on the far side of the fenced in area. The fence barely came to her chest, so what it was there for other than decoration was beyond Spitfire, but then again, it was a ground bounder thing. She figured Jacob could just jump over it with ease.
As the gryphon went to light the candle, Spitfire removed her jacket. Jacob, ever the gentlemen, took it and pulled out her seat, draping the worn clothing over the back. Taking her seat, he gently scooted her in.
“Well, thank you.”
“Always a pleasure,” Jacob said and took his own seat. “You know, I did say it was a casual dinner. I’m not in anything real fancy, am I?”
Spitfire gave the human a look. “Well, you’re not wearing jeans and a T shirt, so it’s dressier than your normal attire.”
“Well, not all of us have your natural good looks.”
Spitfire blushed at that. “Don’t you start with those pick up lines. I wanna be able to eat without gagging on your corniness.”
“Okay, deal.”
The two began talking, and before long the waiter arrived to take their orders. Once placed, their conversation returned to normal. Between work, shows, and training new cadets, Spitfire had nothing to discuss that hadn’t been said before.
Jacob followed suit, the most exciting thing happening being Princess Twilight paying him a surprise visit a couple days ago, generally checking up on him and making sure all was well both mentally and physically.
“It’s good to know one of our princesses does care about you,” Spitfire said, taking a sip of her water.
“They all do. I fear since meeting you, Princess Cadance a bit more so than the others.” Jacob reached over, grasping Spitfire’s hoof in his hand. “And if I’m to be frank, you’ve helped so much.”
Spitfire found herself blushing again. “Yeah, well, remember who asked who out.”
Jacob squeezed a little tighter.
Spitfire looked around again at the vacant patio. Memory escaped her the last time she’d had a quiet evening out with anypony, or anyone, least of all by herself. It begged the question, did he reserve the entire restaurant? As nice of a job that Jacob had, there was no way he could afford something like that.
Before anymore could be said, the food arrived, two moderately sized salads, one topped with diced chicken, the other apple slices. Spitfire placed the question in the back of her mind, remembering to ask later about it.
“Oh, now I see why you chose this place.” Spitfire picked up her fork.
“Actually, it wasn’t, but it was a nice bonus.”
“Oh? And what made you choose this place?” Spitfire looked around the empty courtyard. Only the occasional pony was seen walking the street, and even then they seemed to be in a hurry.
Jacob looked at his watch. “Oh, give it another twenty minutes.”
Spitfire raised her brow. Jacob smiled back, then took a bite of salad.
She knew that look. It was usually a look that ended with her panting heavily from exercise. Just what kind, well, depended on the mood and cider.
Silence reigned over the table as the two ate. When asked for desert, Spitfire had wanted to look at what they had, but Jacob shook his head.
“We won’t have time.”
“For desert?”
“Desert here.” Jacob winked.
The waiter nodded, and with a snap of a claw, put on a top hat and grabbed his umbrella, leaving the two.
“Wait, is he leaving?”
“Of course. With this kind of weather, a outdoor restaurant can’t do business.”
“This kind of…” Spitfire began, then took a whiff of the air. So distracted with Jacob and his smells, she didn’t even realize how heavy the scent of of precipitation was. Considering Canterlot, it wasn’t all that odd since they were up higher.
This, however, was an almost pure saturation, heavy rain smell.
Spitfire's ears jumped up. “You didn’t…”
Before he could answer, a drop of water landed on her muzzle.
“Well, I think now’s a good time for a walk back to the hotel, no?” Jacob stood, walking around the table to pull out Spitfire’s chair.
She grabbed her jacket, and before she could put it on, Jacob took it from her hooves.
“I think you’ll enjoy it more in the buff.”
Spitfire rolled her eyes. “That’s what I keep telling you.”
Jacob booped the mare’s nose. “Yeah, funny how that works out, isn’t it?”
And there was that goofy smile of his. Before she could make a rebuttal, the rain started up in earnest. Spitfire looked up, the night sky clouded from view, save for the occasional pegasus moving clouds around.
“So that’s the whole grand plan? Dinner out, then a walk through the rain?”
Jacob shrugged. “Who said it had to be a walk?”
Spitfire smirked, and before she realized it Jacob was running away with her jacket in his arm. “Catch me if you can!” He leapt over the small fence with ease, much to Spitfire’s amusement.
They both knew she could catch him in an instant, she was captain of the Wonderbolts after all.
But what fun was there, without the chase?
Spitfire took off on her hooves, wings outstretched, but never taking flight. As nimble and fast as the human was, she had twice the legs and a lot more lean muscle than he did. Her work was mostly all physical and training. His office job was not, a government job less so.
Before long, she was right beside him, now doing a brisk walk through the pouring rain. Her coat was soaking wet, both mane and tail weighed down from the saturation and sticking to her neck and flanks respectively. Jacob’s hair was cut short and barely affected by the rain other than being slick. His clothes, however, were positively drenched. He had a huge smile on his face as he looked down to her, and it was contagious as she smiled back.
The few other ponies out did not share their enthusiasm, taking shelter under awnings or sprinting from building to building. Spitfire aimed for puddles that were forming, splashing herself and Jacob more so, and he in kind would return the gesture, his squeaky dress shoes be damned.
All too quickly, they got to the hotel awning, and stood outside dripping, the bellhop giving them displeasing looks.
“I take it dinner didn’t go as planned?” He asked, handing them each a towel.
“Actually? It went exactly as I planned.” Jacob dried his head, and gave the towel back.
The bellhop scowled at his still dripping clothes, but said nothing as they walked past and into the hotel lobby.
“You know, had I thought of it sooner, I could have made a Singing in the Rain scene with one of those light poles outside,” Jacob laughed. “But with how much you ponies already burst out into song, the joke would be moot.”
“A lot of pegasi sing when they’re on cloud duty, especially in the rain,” Spitfire said.
“Considering how you sing in the shower? I’d believe it.”
Spitfire’s cheeks puffed out. “Really? You had to just say that in a lobby full of ponies?” she whispered, tone slick with venom.
“What can I say? You’re adorable when you’re mad.”
A few passing ponies giggled at Jacob’s comment, but quickly minded their own business upon Spitfire’s gaze.
The two entered the elevator, and before the doors could fully close there came a shout of pain.
The elevator doors opened, with Jacob rubbing his shoulder.
“You forget you have hooves sometimes, because that actually hurts a bit.”
“That’s what you get.” Spitfire humphed, walking out, tail flicking about.
Jacob stepped out and followed down the hall to their room. He grabbed his keys, opening the door and stepping in.
“Okay, well then-”
The human was tackled to the ground, Spitfire kicking a hoof to slam the door closed as she stood above her human companion. Her mane continued to drip water, the droplets lost into Jacob’s still soaked shirt.
Jacob smiled. “And hello to you, too.”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
Jacob lifted his hand to salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
He leaned up and locked lips with his marefriend, and before long she joined him on the floor.
Some time later, the two found themselves sitting on the bed, towels covering them and where they sat. Spitfire laid out on the bed, stretching as Jacob rubbed her back.
“That was good.”
Jacob looked at the mare. “Just good?”
Spitfire shrugged. “No academy record, that’s for sure.”
Jacob responded with a pinch at one of her wing roots.
“Ah! Okay, okay, it was better than good, I’m just not used to giving out praise like that.”
Jacob laughed. “Even after three years, you still just can’t give me any satisfaction.”
Spitfire raised a brow, turning to look at the human.
“You know what I mean!”
Spitfire swatted Jacob with her tail. “Yeah, I do, but it’s a lot more fun this way.”
Jacob stood, walking over and turning on the radio. After a couple of seconds, the tubes warmed up enough and music began playing, and he adjusted the volume enough so it wasn’t too loud.
Returning to the bed, Spitfire let out a shiver as she tossed away the wet towels. “I miss your fireplace right now. This would be the perfect time to enjoy a warm fire.”
Jacob tossed his own towels off his side of the bed, and removing the one wrapped around his waist, his boxers the only article of clothing on, which were covered in little Wonderbolt symbols Spitfire noticed with fascination.
“Well, I can’t give you a fireplace, but I can give you some heat.” Sitting on the bed, the human grabbed his marefriend and laid onto his back, resting the mare’s back onto his chest and hugging her tight. Spitfire rubbed her face under his chin, resting in the crook between neck and chest.
The two shared in the embrace, the soothing music of the radio nearly luling them into a sleep.
However, Spitfire could not go to sleep without asking something that was on her mind.
“You… didn’t reserve the whole restaurant, did you?”
Jacob stopped petting Spitfire’s side. “Hm?”
“I mean, the whole place was vacant. I was just worried you went and blew a lot of bits you didn’t have to get the entire restaurant. I mean, as sweet as that would be, you… hey!”
Spitfire stopped talking at the human’s ever growing laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
“You, Firehead. You and your crazy money saving. No, of course I didn’t reserve the whole place. As we both witnessed, there was a scheduled rain tonight, so most places were closed up. I, however, took advantage of it and got a place that was closing early. I did have to pay a bit extra to keep them open for the extra half hour, but it was worth it for the privacy, don’t you think?”
Spitfire nodded her head, and using her wing she coaxed Jacob’s hand into continuing to rub her side.
As much as she wanted to just drift off to sleep right then and there, her mind was still racing with thoughts, and worse yet, feelings.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Jacob asked.
Spitfire let out a defeated sigh. “Tonight was good.” Remembering their previous bout. “No, great. Tonight was better than great. I loved it. I love… you.”
“And I love you too, Firehead.”
“Yeah, it’s just…”
“You expected more?”
Spitfire let out a sigh. “I dunno, Jake. What else am I to expect?”
Gently, Jacob shifted up on the bed, sitting up with Spitfire still resting on him, as he leaned against the headboard.
“Has anypony ever told you you love the rain?”
Spitfire shifted, looking back to the human with a brow raised.
“You do. I’ve seen you fly during shows, when you’re coming to my place, or just helping out with a little cloud trouble after a storm. For all the gruff and stiff faced Wonderbolt that you are, I’ve caught you smiling more times than you’d care for me to admit to you smiling in the rain.
“That’s why I thought of tonight. The secluded dinner, the walk home in the rain, and now us both resting in each other’s company, still damp from the rain and fresh sweat of our bodies-”
“Okay, okay, I was here you know, I know what we did.”
“Fair enough. Most of all, Firehead, I know you. I know you don’t get to go out and live up the life like the rest of the Wonderbolts. I’ve talked to Soarin’ enough, as well as Rainbow Dash and Fleetfoot. They all tell me the same thing, that you’re focused on your work, and you need to get out more.”
“Traitors. They’re all getting extra laps next practice.”
Jacob laughed at that. “No need for that, Firehead. They care about you. I care about you, and I could see it before they told me anything. I wanted to make tonight special not just for us, but for you.”
Spitfire rolled over, pressing her chest and barrel into his.
“Just like you said, you expect a lot out of others. You’re a Wonderbolt, a trainer, a leader. You put all of yourself into your work, expecting everypony else to do the same, if not more.”
“Jake, what are you getting at?”
The human reached over to the night stand, and grabbed something.
“The day isn’t over. I have a gift for you.”
“I didn’t get you anything, I thought we agreed-”
“Yeah, well it’s the guy’s obligation to still get his girlfriend, marefriend, whateverfriend, a gift on a yearly anniversary like this. Now, hold out your hoof.”
Spitfire huffed. “Fine. Better not be another lame novelty pin for my jacket, or stupid expensive pair of shades. I know you like to get me expensive things, but I’m not-”
Jacob placed a small copper disk into her hoof, silencing Spitfire.
For several seconds, the mare stared at the coin, the one thing her boyfriend held dear to him.
“What… I mean, your penny?”
Jacob shrugged. “It felt right. Expected, after three years. Also consider it a late payment on all those thoughts I’ve bought off you.”
“But, Jake, this is important to you! You always have this with you. I mean, like you always told me, besides your clothes this was the one thing-”
“The one thing that I have of home, I know. Now, I want you to have it, so that it’s the one thing of mine, of my world. Because, Firehead, now you are my world, and this is a symbol of me, to you.”
Spitfire looked down at the coin again in her hoof.
“I know what you were expecting of me tonight.” Jacob said.
“What do you mean?”
“All the other Wonderbolts bug me constantly about it. ‘When are you two gonna get married? You make such a great couple, shouldn’t you make it official?’ Even in the background, I hear it from my friends at work.
“But I know you, Firehead. You still have a long career to take care of. You have a lot of shows still in you, and fans that want to watch the hero Spitfire perform eye grabbing feats of the heavens. Lots of green recruits to shape up and push to their best.
“So that’s what that penny is. It’s my life, now in your hooves. When you’re ready, I will be too. You have my heart, and now my soul. I love you, Firehead. Always.” Jacob squeezed the mare tight.
Silence took control of the conversation for a short while.
“Wow… that... “ Spitfire placed the penny in her other hoof. “That was the corniest thing I ever heard.”
Jacob laughed at that, quickly joined by Spitfire.
“Yeah, it was, but the situation deserved it. I want to be with you, Firehead, but I don’t want to be the reason you’re held back. I mean, we’re both at that age where we can wait a bit longer.”
Spitfire examined the penny more. “You know, you basically just proposed to me, right?”
Jacob shrugged. “Well, I guess so?”
“And you also know, I know you as much as you know me, and what’s rattling around in that big head of yours.”
It was Jacob’s turn to raise a brow at his companion. “Oh?”
Spitfire placed the penny into Jacob’s open hand. “Penny for your thoughts.”
The human rolled the penny around in his fingers, then placed it back onto the night stand. Hugging his marefriend tighter, he rubbed his head against hers.
“My family was always small. I was an only child, with divorced parents, a father I almost never saw, grandparents long passed away. No uncles, aunts, cousins, anything. It was… lonely. Even after I moved out and started my own life, I just couldn’t… I couldn’t connect with anyone else. I secluded myself at work, my neighbors in my apartment complex generally didn’t care and left me alone.
“And then I came here, and the first year was about the same as I’d been back on Earth, but one day Rainbow Dash dragged me to one of your shows, and well…”
“Then we met,” Spitfire said.
“Yeah. You were just so… full of life, talking with everypony around and having a good time. I couldn’t believe for a second you were… well…”
“The same as you? Alone?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, just because we’re the colorful equines that you call us, doesn’t mean we live life differently. It was just my mother and I too, for a long time. She still comes to my shows on occasion. And sure, I have Soarin’ and Fleetfoot as best friends, but they’re both way more outgoing than me. I like this, sitting around and enjoying your company.”
Jacob rubbed Spitfire’s shoulders. “So do I.”
“So you see, us two lonely ponies, er, people, came together and aren’t so lonely anymore.”
“You got that right, Firehead.”
Spitfire snuggled into Jacob’s chest once again, resting her ear over his heart so she could hear the fast beat. Outside, the rain continued to come down with a steady rhythm on the window pane. She longed for some lightning, or even thunder, to liven up the night sky, however she wouldn’t leave Jacob’s side to fly in it, as much of a thrill that she got from the static build up and weaving between lightning clouds.
Jacob was just… more than that to her.
“Five years.” Spitfire said out of the blue.
“Huh?”
“Five years. Then I retire.”
Jacob tightened his grip on his marefriend. “Firehead, you don’t-”
“No, I have to. Forty is the cap for performers, but I will still be able to train new recruits. And then, I’ll be free. We will get married. Adopt a couple foals.”
“Wait, adopt what?”
“We’ll find a nice place near Cloudsdale, hay maybe even stay in Ponyville. Your place is nice.”
“W-what about foals?”
“I’ll only be working a few days a week, so I’ll be able to stay home longer and be with you more. No more weeks on end gone on tours, just us together-”
Jacob grabbed the mare and turned her around, silencing her with a passionate kiss. They broke apart, Spitfire’s eyes still closed. They touched foreheads together.
“Firehead, you don’t want to just give up that easy.”
Spitfire held her eyes closed. “Who said that’s giving up?”
“You, three years ago.”
The mare finally opened her eyes, the tears no longer held back.
“I know what you want, but what I want is for us to be happy. I mean, I never considered adoption, but still, do you really want to deal with kids? If I’m to be honest, I don’t.”
Spitfire bit her lip.
“I know you’re saying that to try and make me happy, but that’s not what I want. I want us. You need to ride out your career to the max, and then focus on training the next generations.”
“What about you?”
Jacob shrugged. “Like you said, we have my little place in Ponyville, perfect for two. Your time away just makes the time you’re with me even more special.”
Jacob began stroking Spitfire’s neck. “With my job in the Castle of Friendship, I’ve always got plenty to do, be it assisting Princess Twilight, Spike, or even Mayor Mare. That town is one disaster after another, and someone has to manage it while the royals deal with the chaos. I just do the paperwork.”
Sptifire let out a snicker. “Which job is harder?”
Jacob looked out the window a moment. “Honestly? Theirs. They’re doing all the heroics and putting life and limb on the line. I’m just getting callasts on my fingers from using quills so damn much. I wish you ponies would just accept ballpoint pens useable on legal documents.”
“You could try a typewriter?”
“I don’t have the knuckles of a fighter, they’d be worn down to the bone in a week.”
“I dunno, remember one of our earlier dates, when you punched that stallion? Could have fooled me.”
Jacob squeezed his mare tight. “You just have to bring that up, don’t you?”
“What can I say? That was the first time you really impressed me. Come to think of it, I was gonna call our dates off after that one, but then that stallion got in your face…” Spitfire shuddered at the memory.
Jacob’s hand began wandering to her exposed belly, rubbing it gently. “Oh? Did me fighting a pony turn you on?”
“More than you know, stud.” Spitfire chuckled. “But no, that wasn’t it. It was how genuinely upset you were at that pony for what he said about us.”
“More so you, since I was in the washroom when he approached you.”
“Yeah, and I can’t lie when I say that at the time, I kinda understood the xenosism, and partly why I was gonna call it off. Then, you came storming out of nowhere, told him to apologize, he didn’t… so you gave him a… what did you call it?”
“A five finger sandwich. I figured it appropriate since we were at lunch.”
“Right, that, yeah, heh.” Spitfire rolled onto her side, draping her free wing to the empty space on the bed, and hugging her foreleg on his side.
Jacob’s hand changed target, now working on massaging her wing.
“Hmmm. That always feels so good, especially after the flight from Cloudsdale to Ponyville.”
“Is that why I always find you just laying on my couch or bed, wings splayed out?”
Spitfire nodded her head, rubbing her face into Jacob’s chest, her open eye focused on a strange part of his anatomy. Why did human males have nipples?
The two laid in silence once more, save for the pattering of rain and quiet radio playing ideal mood music. Spitfire rolled onto her otherside, still resting on Jacob’s chest, and stretched out her other wing, allowing her boyfriend to repeat the same treatment. Before long, both of her eyes were closed, and she was dangerously close to drifting off to sleep.
“Hey, Firehead?”
“Hm?” Spitfire left her eyes closed.
“I meant everything I said, you know that, right?”
“Mhm.”
“And you meant what you said too, right?”
“Mhm.”
Jacob finished up with her other wing, and brought her up closer to his head so he could rest his chin on her head.
“Goodnight, my love.”
“Goodnight,” Spitfire mumbled.
The two lovers fell asleep to the gentle pitter patter of rain, and soothing music, ready to tackle on the next anniversary.
Author's Note
This marks my first official commission story, and I have to say it went better than I thought it would. From start to finish, it took me a little over a month, and actual writing time about four hours, which doesn't sound like a lot, but for me that's quite something. I'm usually spending lots of time going back and forth, rewriting sections and taking almost a year to get a decent 8k words out.
Thanks again to Doomgooey for being patient with me while I worked on his story, and I hope you enjoy it and it's what you were wanting. As stated, this commission helped cover gas for my truck for a week, which helped out a lot since work has been horribly slow.
If you're at all confused by the typewriter bit, there is a hyperlink going to a blog post by Admiral Biscuit, where it discusses the many types of real typewriters, and some possible solutions to the show's few examples. I'm proud to say that myself along with Lord Legion helped the mighty Biscuit at a few bar meet ups discussing different ideas, so I felt like it was appropriate to include it somewhere.
If you spot any errors, I'd appreciate anyone pointing them out, and if you do, I'll give you a penny per error found at a con that I'm attending (as of this year, only Trotcon unless I win a small lottery and can magically afford Bronycon).
