Fighting Games

Chapters

The New Girl
Casual Play
Nopony Cares
So What?
Scantily Clad Snuggles
The Big Fight (Blood warning)
You Have a Visitor
Victory
Less Casual Play

The New Girl

It had only been three days since Babs Seed transferred to her new high school. One thing she had to say for sure was that the students around here were quick learners. In just those few days, everypony there had learned not to mess with her.

Walking down the halls, she blows a bit of her pink mane out of her face while she casts casual glances to her fellow students. A few colts, once talking smugly amongst themselves, quickly hide behind or in lockers as she approaches, lest another one of them have a black eye to tend. Others have learned that she’s fine as long as you don’t give her any grief, giving her friendly waves that she returns with a nod.

And to think, she was nervous about coming here.

She passes another hall when she hears a loud crash. Turning over, she sees four colts. One of them is on the ground against the lockers, the others standing over him. She could only faintly hear what they were saying. Before she could really make out anything, she sees one of them kick the poor kid on the ground.

The others laugh. Babs grits her teeth.

“HEY!” she barks out, stomping towards them.

They look over and see the new girl. For just a moment, they stand their ground, not about to be chased away by some girl. However, as Babs rolls up the sleeves of her jacket, doubt begins to flood their mind. They see the toned muscles in her arms and recall the stories of just what this mare is capable of.

The first colt to leave does so in a quick jog to put as much distance between himself and the dangerous new girl. Another soon follows suit. The third tries to stand tough, but inches away just to keep out of swinging distance. However, as Babs got closer, his higher brain function telling him to flee finally reaches his legs, turning him right around and not stopping until he was past the corner.

With those three gone, Babs looks down at the poor colt they were picking on. He’s still curled up in a cowering ball, khaki pants pressed against his sweater vest and a backwards cap hiding his face.

“You okay?” she asks.

Slowly, the colt looks up at Babs. Looking around to find the others gone, he looks at the item he was holding near his stomach. A portable gaming device called a ‘Joy-Boy.’ Seeing as it’s not been damaged, he smiles.

“Y-Yeah… I’m okay…” he says shakily. “Thank you.”

“Forget about it,” she says with a wave of her hoof. “Where’s ya’ next class?”

“Oh, it’s in, um…” He looks both ways down the halls. “…room 213.”

She chuckles. “I’m headed there myself,” Babs says, rolling her sleeves back down. “I’ll take ya’ there, make sure those guys don’t cause anymore problems for ya’.” She offers a hoof to help him up.

“Really? T-Thanks!” he says, taking her hoof. In just a brief moment, Babs pulls him up with such force that he almost falls right back over.

“Whoa there,” Babs says. “Sure you’re okay?”

He nods as he catches his balance. ‘Wow, she’s strong…’ he thinks.

“Come on then,” she says, giving him a little tug of the hoof she’s holding for him to follow. “By the way, I’m Babs Seed. Who’re you?”

The colt has to almost jog to keep up with her pace. “I-I’m Button Mash,” he replies.

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/58956897417

Casual Play

“So, um… this is my living room…” Button says, showing Babs the inside of his house. While normally the mess of tangled wires in front of the television wouldn’t be an issue when he had his normal friends over, he somehow feels a bit embarassed about it while having new company. “Mind the, uh, controllers,” he mumbles.

Babs lets out a sharp whistle. “Wow, Ya’ sure got a lotta these things,” she comments.

“Thanks…?” Button says, not quite sure how to take the statement. “Got all kinds of games, too. Adventure games, strategy games, sports games, fighting games-”

“Fighting games?” Babs asks, her ears perking up a little. It was no secret that Babs was definitely a brawler, what with the boxing gloves as her cutie mark. “What are they like?” she asks.

“Oh, they can be some of the most exciting games to play or watch!” Button says, enthusiasm building in his voice as he talks about his passion. “The high energy and fierce concentration as the opponents trade blows, choosing between light jabs and heavy attacks where one misstep could cause them to take some serious damage!”

A smirk appears on Babs’ lips as he goes on.

“Those expert level matches keep me on the edge of my seat the entire round!” Button exclaims.

Babs chuckles. “So you an expert fightin’ game player, then?”

Button is brought down from his excitement as he bashfully rubs the back of his head with a hoof. “No, not really… It takes an awful lot of training to get as good as a those players that compete professionally.” He rocks back and forth on his hind hooves. “And to be honest, while fighting games are fun, I mostly prefer more of the strategy genre,” he concludes.

“Yeah, you seem like more of a thinker anyway,” Babs says, turning to look at Button’s game collection on the shelf.

Button, while unsure whether or not it was another compliment, feels his cheeks warm at her words.

“So you mind showin’ me one a these fightin’ games anyway?” Babs asks.

“Oh, uh… sure,” Button says, walking over to his collection. “Let’s start with something classic: Street Fighter II.” He pulls the cartridge from the others and gives a quick little puff of air into it. Walking over, he puts the cartridge into the old system and turns it on. After a moment of untangling wires, he’s able to free the two controllers from his SNEIGHS and gives one to Babs.

“I’ll teach you the basics and we’ll see how you like it, okay?” Button asks, sitting down on the couch.

“Sounds good to me,” Babs says, sitting beside him against a pillow. As the title screen appears on the television, she turns in her seat, back to the pillow beside her. Kicking up her hooves, she lays her hindlegs across Button’s lap. “Don’t mind me gettin’ comfy, do you?” she asks.

“U-Uh, no…” Button says, the warmth returning to his cheeks. “N-Not at all…”

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/59001076688

Nopony Cares

Button looks out in awe, the entire city laid out before his very eyes. Babs glances over and sees him captivated by the view.

“Pretty, ain’t it?” she asks.

“Yeah…” Button says, his voice filled with wonder. For a moment, the sight made him forget where he was. Unfortunately, the view couldn’t make him completely forget as his eyes travel down and around the construction they were sitting on. “Hey, Babs?” he asks.

“Hmm?” she hums curiously.

“Are we supposed to be up here?”

“Heh. Nah,” she replies calmly.

However, such a tone does little to alleviate Button’s building anxiety. “What if the construction workers come back?”

“Those lazy bums been buildin’ this place since before I moved here,” Babs says. “Soon as the clock strikes six, they all pack up an’ go.”

While that actually succeeds in making Button Mash feel a little more relaxed, Babs’ next action makes his nervousness start to grow again.

She pulls out a small paper box container, shaking it a couple times to cause a little yellow and white stick to poke out. Putting her lips around it, she pulls it out of the pack before offering one to Button.

“N-No thanks…” he says, waving a hoof. “Where’d you get those things?”

“Night manager at the gas station downtown’s too lazy to card ponies,” Babs says around her cigarette, putting the pack away and pulling out a lighter. “He didn’t even look twice at me about it.”

Flicking the lighter, a couple sparks emits a flame the she bring the other end of her cigarette into it. Inhaling through the heat, she pulls back and exhales a cloud of smoke through her nose. The smell of burning tobacco causes Button to cough a couple times.

She puts the lighter back in her pocket as she looks out toward the city herself. Ever since she found this place, it had been a nice little place to chill for a bit. Somewhere to get away from it all, if only for a few moments. She’s happy she’s able to share it with the colt she’s been coming to know so well.

Or at least she’d be happy if he didn’t keep looking around like somepony was going to jump out at any moment.

“You need to just relax,” Babs comments.

“Sorry…” Button says. “It’s just… what if we get caught?”

Babs takes a drag of her cigarette. Taking it out of her mouth for a bit, she blows the smoke out down and away from Button.

“If somepony comes by, don’t worry.”

“But what if they see us?”

“What if they see us? What do you think they’ll do?”

“Uh…” Button’s ears droop back as he looks downward.

“Button, let me tell you a little secret, okay?” Babs asks.

Button’s eyes go to her as he nods.

“The truth is… nopony cares.”

He raises an eyebrow out of confusion. “What?”

“You heard me. Nopony cares,” she puts the cigarette back into her mouth. “Somepony walks by, sees us, they’re not going to stop. They’re not going to come up, take us down, then tell on us. They’ll just keep walking and not even remember us by the time they get home.”

“Really?” Button asks.

“Yep. It’s the same for a lot of things. Can you remember the last time you saw somepony trip in front of you?” Babs asks.

“Uh…” Button puts a hoof to his chin as he thinks.

“Or the last pony you saw walk into a wall? Or enter a room, look around, then walk right back out?”

After some time, Button just shakes his head. He knows he saw these things happen at some point, but cannot recall a specific scenario.

“There ya’ have it. So the next time you’re worried or embarrassed or somethin’, just remember. Nopony cares.” Babs turns back to admire the city. “Nopony important, anyway.”

Taking some time to digest Babs’ words, Button finds himself nodding again. He actually notices somepony walking by underneath them. However, they do not look up, either because they haven’t seen them or because Babs is right.

He begins to smile as he turns back to the view that Babs had brought him here to show.

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/59625343387

So What?

“And in 1207, the princesses had declared to make a new settlement in the west of the continent…”

The teacher drones on in his lesson as Button Mash scribbles in his notebook. A casual observer may see a good student taking notes, but looking inside they would see him doodling away. Mostly characters from his games fighting each other, some impossible to meet opponents as Button ponders who would win in a fight between the medieval warrior of legend or the future marine armed with only what he can find around him.

His ears pick up whispering and snickering behind him. This is nothing new, ponies were whispering and snickering behind Button’s back since before he could remember. He goes right back to his doodling as he thinks about his new match up: the sentient prehistoric dinosaur versus the annoying cat nopony liked. Oh, this is sure to be a one-sided match.

A folded up piece of paper lands on Button’s desk, making him jump slightly. First, he looks up to see if the teacher is watching, but breathes a sigh of relief as he sees him turned toward the blackboard. Taking the note underneath the desk, he opens it up to see what it says.

He nearly folds the note back closed again as he sees its contents. A crudely drawn picture of himself and Babs engaging in a lewd act depicted as grotesquely as possible.

Glancing over to where the note had come from, he sees two colts snickering to themselves. As one notices Button looking at them, he makes an obscene gesture with his hooves making them other having the try and muffle himself lest his laughter disturb the class.

Button considers keeping the note and showing Babs. He has names and evidence, so they would easily regret their actions before the day is out. He decides against being petty, though. They aren’t worth it.

Taking a page out of the book of Babs, he summons his most powerful weapon for the situation: Apathy. He doesn’t care, therefore it does not affect him. Done and done.

...In fact, why not show them how much he doesn’t care? He writes something below the drawing and folds it back up. When the teacher is turned away again, he slides the folded paper across the floor back towards the two colts.

Curiously taking the note, they open it up to see their drawing along with the words “SO WHAT?” written below it.

Button hears another round of snickering. He rolls his eyes as he goes back to his doodles.

~~~~~~

The next day, Button Mash walks through the halls, standing tall. He hums a whimsical theme from his latest videogame under his breath as he adjusts the messenger bag on his shoulder. Turning a corner, he does not care what sort of ponies he may see as he does so.

He does catch the eye of a couple of classmates who used to beat him up. However, ever since befriending the tough as nails Babs Seed, they all just try to avoid him as much as he used to try to avoid them. Never before had Button been able to roam the hallways feeling so free, not having to fear who he might run into.

It’s a great feeling. One that always causes Button to smirk when he sees a classmate duck around a corner or suddenly take an interest in the loose brick facing away from him. But this is all just part of his normal routine. He’s never been one to hold a grudge, even if they had given him grief for the longest time. He could very easily just say to Babs that they had tried one of a thousand different things they used to do before she transferred and they’d be lucky if there was anything left for the janitor to clean up.

But Button didn’t care. He was above it. He was past it. Bygones.

Nopony scared him anymore so he was free to walk and do whatever he feels li-

Suddenly, a hoof wraps around his shoulder, pulls him back, and pushes him against the wall. He immediately goes into his cowering mode, putting his head down and bracing his body for any incoming blows.

However, he loosens a little when none come. And he notices the hoof holding him isn’t painfully pressing into his shoulder either. Slowly, he looks up and sees a familiar orange face under a pink mane.

“Man, ya’ make it so easy. I can see why those other kids would pick on you,” Babs says.

“S-Sorry…” Button mumbles. “So what’s up?”

Whatever relief he felt upon seeing his new friend quickly melts away as the unamused expression of Babs begins to bore into him. His heart begins to beat faster as he begins to suspect he might be in trouble.

After a moment more of silence, Babs asks, “You been tellin’ ponies that we’re together?”

“What? No!” Button says, putting his hooves up defensively. “Who’s been saying I did?”

“Some guys,” Babs replies. With her other hoof, she pulls a piece of paper out of her pocket. “They showed me this from yesterday.”

Button recognizes the note as his heart sinks. Opening it up, sure enough, it was the crude drawing of him and Babs along with his little message below it.

“This your writin’?” Babs asks.

“Y-Yeah…” Button says. “But I didn’t mean it like that!”

“How’d you mean it, then?” Babs asks, crumpling the paper and tossing it into the trashcan next to them.

Button swallows around the newly formed lump in his throat. “I-I just meant that I didn’t care about… what they thought…” Waves of chilling terror run up Button’s spine as a realization that he might have ruined his friendship with Babs sets in. “I’m sorry, Babs! I really didn’t mean it to be like this!”

She stands silent again for a moment.

“So why do ya’ suddenly care now?” she asks.

“What?”

“Ya’ said you wrote that because you didn’t care. Now you’re apologizin’ up and down for it. What changed?”

“Well, I guess that… maybe it’s because… you might care?” Button squeaks out. His fear is somewhat settled down as Babs begins to chuckle.

“Do you really think I would care about something like this?” she asks.

“Um… enough to pin me against a wall, apparently.”

“I was just curious is all.”

“There are other ways to get my attention,” Button offers, happy that Babs isn’t actually mad.

“Yeah, but I wanted to ask you something else,” Babs says.

“Like what?” Button asks.

“Since your little smart-assery yesterday, the whole school thinks you an’ I are a thing,” Babs explains.

“Okay,” Button says curiously, wondering what Babs’ question may be.

“So since everypony already thinks that…” Her eyes meets Button’s.

“Yeah?”

“Do ya’ wanna be?”

The words bounce around Button’s head, looking for a way into his mind to be processed. “Like, you… and me… like… special someponies?” he blathers out.

“Somethin’ like that. I like hanging out with ya’ and I assume you like to do the same with me,” Babs says.

“I-I do!” Button says. “I like hanging out with you.”

“So how ‘bout it?” Babs says. “I ain’t had a special somepony before and you’re the closest I got to one. And besides, what really changes about us?”

“I, um… never had one either…” He licks his dry lips. “But what if we don’t like it?”

“Then we can go back to bein’ friends.”

“And what would others say?”

“Do we care?”

“I guess not…”

Button’s heart fills with a new kind of fear. An anxiety as he considers a relationship with Babs Seed. As he said, he does like hanging out with her. She’s tough, but nice and funny when she wants to be. He should consider himself lucky that such a mare, let alone anypony would want to go out with somepony like him.

“...Okay,” Button says. “I guess I’d like to be your special somepony, Babs.”

“You guess?”

"No, I-I mean, I would. I would like to be your special somepony.”

“That’s better,” she says with a smirk. “Now let’s make it official.”

“Wha-?”

Before Button could get another word out, Babs pushes her lips against his. Unfamiliar to the sensations now occurring, he just lets it happen. He can’t say he doesn’t like what’s going on right now. The warmth and softness off her lips causing a growing giddiness within his stomach.

Suddenly, he feels something slide into his mouth. Babs puts her other hoof against the wall next to Button as she leans herself more against him. She wrestles her tongue against his, sloppily coercing it to rise and join it, which it does. The giddiness in Button’s stomach shoots up through his spine and explodes like fireworks of excitement within his brain.

All too soon, Babs pulls back as Button is left to stand there gasping.

“That’s something special someponies do, right?” Babs asks, a wicked grin on her muzzle. “Not too bad. We’ll have to do that more.”

Button dumbly nods, numbness from the sudden surges in feeling spreading down his limbs.

“I guess that’s one thing that’ll be different for us,” Babs considers. “But hey, we both got class to get to. I’ll talk to you later?”

“Okay…” Button breathes out.

Babs takes her hoof off of him and he slides down the wall, sitting with a dopey smile. She chuckles a little before turning away, letting him sit there in his own little world for a while.

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/58956897417

Scantily Clad Snuggles

“You were awesome, Babs!” Button Mash says as he applies another bandage to Babs’ shoulder.

She chuckles at his enthusiasm. Normally she would be happy to be bathed in Button’s praise, but the fight that had just occurred took it out of her. When she had heard that the school district had an honest-to-goodness boxing league, she leaped at the chance to sign up. She loved to fight, but her old town only had a run down little gym with two punching bags and rarely anypony to truly spar with.

However, there’s something to be said about going hoof to hoof against others who actually know how to fight rather than inflated ego blowhards that populate the school hallways. Not that Babs has had a problem, yet. She had won all six matches straight since she joined. A practically unheard of feat. All that’s left is the regional championship in two weeks and she would have a completely undefeated season.

She winces a bit as Button presses in the bandage to make it stick. The steam hanging in the air from Babs’ post match shower didn’t make it any easier for him to apply them. The cuff of her opponents glove had rubbed hard against it, peeling off some skin. She was fine to leave it alone, but it drew some blood, so Button slaps a bandage on it. For as much as he seems excited for Babs and her fighting career, he also tends to be a bit more of a worry-wort.

“I think that’s the last one,” Button says, putting the box of bandages back into his bag.

“Thanks,” Babs says with a little chuckle. She didn’t feel the need for any sort of treatment, but she’s as happy to let Button help her as Button is to help.

They both stand up. Babs puts on her hoodie and usual jacket as Button picks up the duffel bag with her boxing gloves. The locker room is empty except for themselves, so their hoofsteps echo as they approach the exit. Being used to the leftover heat of the steam causes Button to feel a little chill as they leave. In the gymnasium, a few ponies are still standing around, talking. The referee is talking to some of the faculty, filling out paperwork on a clipboard. Babs and Button walk right past all of them towards the exit.

Pushing the door to the outside open reveals that a mixture of snow and rain had started falling while they were inside. Babs puts up the hood of her sweatshirt while Button zips up his coat and adjusts his hat. Stepping out amongst the drifting white snowflakes and falling water drops, Babs reaches into her pocket. Pulling out her pack of cigarettes, she shakes the box to get one to poke out and puts it in her mouth. She offers the pack to Button who holds up a hoof with an apologetic smile to decline. It’s obvious that despite all the confidence Button has been growing lately, he probably would never take one. She doesn’t blame him, but she always offers, just in case the day comes. Flicking the lighter in her hoof, she burns the edge of the cigarette and inhales before blowing a cloud of smoke up into the cold air. The nicotine works into her body, starting to relax her tense muscles from their exertion.

The walk back to Babs’ house is silent. She prefers it this way as a chance to unwind after a fight. Button understands this well and lets her have her peace and her cigarette. He’s even started to grown used to the smell, but thankfully the wind is blowing the majority of the smoke away from him.

The day is so quiet. A gray sky, no ponies, no animals, not even a car passes by. Only the sounds of their walking, the rain, and the gusts that blow past them are present. It’s a nice feeling that allows them both to just forget about everything for a while. Turn their brains off, no worry of school or boxing, no stress or second guessing anything in their lives or each other. At least, for Button. The gears of Babs’ mind are grinding together as a dilemma strikes her.

Soon enough, Babs’ house comes into view. Taking the last drag of her smoke, she blows out the last and rubs the end of it against the sidewalk to put it out. Walking up to the porch, Babs takes out her key to unlock the door. Clicking to slide into place, it turns with a small squeak before allowing her to open it. They brush off the snow that have collected on themselves before stepping inside.

By the front door is a series of clothing hooks. Button sets down Babs’ duffel bag, takes off his coat, and puts it on a hook while Babs does the same for her jacket. Taking a look around Babs’ home, Button still can’t help but feel a little embarrassed that her house is always so much cleaner than his. It also seems that nopony else is home at the moment; their arrival not being acknowledged at all. Babs starts walking up the stairs and Button follows as always.

“I need to piss,” Babs says. “I’ll be a moment.”

Turning the corner, she walks into the bathroom while Button waits outside. Turning on the light also causes a fan to start blowing in the air vent, the noise masking her activities. Lifting the lid of the toilet, she sits on the seat and thinks to herself as nature takes its course.

She thinks about Button. She’s been doing that a lot lately, she’s noticed. Well, he is her coltfriend after all, it’s normal for a bit of infatuation. But still, something seems… lacking. Ever since that day that they decided to be special someponies, not a lot has happened. Maybe a peck on the cheek once or twice, but nothing that really put them past that friend stage.

Is Button afraid of her? Still around only because he fears what would happen if he tried to leave?

The memory of their first kiss comes back into her mind. His big smile. How he slumped to the ground, barely able to speak.

A small chuckle escapes Babs’ throat as she tears off a square of toilet paper. The chuckle isn’t at the memory, but at herself even thinking such things of how Button wouldn’t be there for her for anything other than his free will.

As she stands up to flush, something chilly against her fur catches her attention. Looking down, she notices just how dripping wet her shirt is. Her jeans as well are nearly soaked through. Sighing, she pulls the damp sweat shirt up over her head and drops it into the tub before kicking her jeans up into it as well.

To no avail, unfortunately. The material of the sweatshirt had managed to hold water and soak her undershirt as well. She pulls it off as well with a grumble and tosses it with the other clothing.

And then another thought strikes her. Is Button just standing around in wet clothes as well? Her house didn’t have the best heating, so he could be catching an awful chill in damp attire. She turns the knob to the faucet and collects a small spray of water which she rubs between her hooves. Drying them off on a towel, she opens the door just a crack. Immediately, she hears the electronic sounds of Button’s Joy-Boy.

“Button?”

No reply.

“BUTTON.”

“Huh- what?” Button mumbles confused, breaking out of his game playing daze. He taps the start button and looks towards the door. He can only see the the edge of Babs’ muzzle, which he could swear is trying to keep from grinning.

“Are your clothes wet?” she asks. It’s a little hard for Button to hear her over the fan in the room she’s speaking from.

He feels around his shirt. He didn’t notice before, but his shirt and pants are definitely wet to the point that it’s noticeably chilly. He didn’t realize when he was playing, but it’s a bit uncomfortable now that he thinks about it.

“Yeah,” Button replies.

“Give ‘em here. I’ll hang them over the shower so they can dry off.” She sticks a hoof out the door.

No reply comes from Button for a moment.

“...Why?”

“So you’re not sitting in cold, wet clothes.”

“But then I won’t be wearing anything.”

That’s true. Which would be worse, wet clothes or no clothes? A point can be made for the former as Babs almost feels the need to shiver coming over her just standing in her bathroom with nothing but her underwear. She thinks about the issue and gets an idea.

“We’ll find another way to keep warm.”

“How?”

“Cuddlin’ up together like special someponies do.”

This could be her wish granted. She wanted to do more intimate things with Button and this may be the chance. All that’s left is Button’s response to her idea.

At first, there’s another couple seconds of silence. The she hears some shuffling and light grunting. After a few more moments, a wet shirt and pants are put in Babs’ hoof and she smiles. Pulling them inside, she closes the door and begins to hang the clothing up over the shower’s curtain bar as promised so they can start to dry off. Turning back to the door where scantily clad snuggles await, she stops.

She breathes into her hoof and sniffs it. Did she still smell like the cigarette she had on the walk back? Is it still on her breath? In her fur? Giving a couple sniff of her forearm yields no definitive results, but she may just be used to it. Going to the sink, she turns it on and scoops some water into her mouth and swishes it around. She takes some more water and begins lightly washing her arms and chest with a bit of soap in an effort to mask any sort of smell she may not be able to detect. Spitting the water out, she attempts to smell her own breath again. Drying herself off with the hoof towel, she opens the cabinet in hopes of finding some mouthwash or something stronger.

But wait… why does she care? Why does she suddenly give a rat’s ass about the opinion of-

Because it’s Button.

Her search continues, but finds nothing. A little panic starts to go through her as she doesn’t want to make Button wait too long or else he may think something’s wrong or get nervous and change his mind. She takes her toothbrush and puts a little toothpaste on the end of it before scrubbing her teeth. Brushing up along all of her pearly off-whites, she then scrubs her tongue up and down with the leftover minty suds. Spitting into the sink, she rinses her toothbrush off, but gets a little more water to rinse with by bringing water trapped between the brush’s bristles up to her lips.

One last spit and she checks her breath again. It’ll have to do. Breathing out the breath she hadn’t noticed herself keeping, she turns to the door yet again and- wait, she was holding her breath?

Babs’ couldn’t believe how nervous she’s acting. An impromptu scrub and brushing teeth all because he may not like how she smells? He’d probably snuggle up to her even if she didn’t shower after her match.

But would he enjoy it? Would he want to, or would he just to be nice? Or is he just being nice now?

She grits her teeth and curses her overworking mind. She would not second guess this. What’s going to happen is that she will fearlessly open the door, take Button into her bedroom, and then oh god, oh god, oh god-

STOP.

She breathes deeply and calms her mind. No more thoughts. Only cuddles in nothing but underwear to keep warm.

…

She looks down to her underwear.

…

Buck it, he already said yes.

Hoof stretching the elastic, she steps out of her final piece of clothing and tosses it with the rest despite it being dry. She’s not afraid to get crazy and she doubts Button will complain, but of course he’d probably not say anything to spare her feelings- GODDAMMIT!

She nearly yells the last thing that went through her mind. No more distractions. She forces herself forward and puts a hoof on the doorknob. With a turn, she pulls it open, revealing herself all at once. No slow opening or delay for her to suddenly change her mind. She stands proud in front of Button, ready to share the warmth of their-

And he’s back to his Joy-Boy.

The dinging sound effects of his game become louder as Babs clicks off the fan. That action alone is enough to get Button’s attention as he looks up. He was not ready for the sight, however.

He imagined Babs would still be covered by something, but no. She stands in front of him, showing everything off, as confidently as she always is. A shiver unrelated to the cold runs down to his stomach as he wonders how Babs is able to act so brazen without a second thought.

“Come on,” she says, approaching him. Button could only babble a few syllables.

Seeing Button dumbstruck does boost Babs’ confidence a bit. She can feel his gaze going up and down her body. She smirks.

“Like what ya’ see?”

Slowly, he nods.

“Well then, let’s go,” she says, turning towards her bedroom. She only takes a single step before hearing the sounds of the Joy-Boy again. She understands that Button is probably just saving his game at this point, but it gives her an idea to continue her brash charade.

Walking over to Button, she kneels on one knee and puts her hooves on his shoulders. Pulling him forward, she’s able to get him to bend and balance him up over her own shoulder. She stands back up with Button slung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“I said, let’s go,” Babs repeats, walking toward her bedroom with coltfriend in tow.

Her bedroom was nothing special. Only a bed, a desk with scattered papers and a wooden cabinet were in there. Right now, only the bed interested her and she makes her way over to it. Turning herself around carefully as to not hit her precious cargo on anything, she sits down and lets Button down onto the mattress.

First, she takes his Joy-Boy from him and turns it off before setting it on the ground. Then she takes his hat off his head. It’s wet like the rest of his clothes were, but she sets it on the corner of the bed.

Looking back to Button, she sees that he’s nearly shaking like a leaf. Either it’s the cold or perhaps his nervousness for reasons that she forced out of her mind before they could ruin the moment. She extends her hoof and places it on his shoulder.

Wow. Even just his shoulder feels warm. She begins to pull him closer, but instead of scooting forward, he just leans over where he sits. By the time he reaches her, his head is against her chest. She starts to lay back carefully with Button until her head is against the pillow. The sheets are cold, but Button’s fur against hers is more than enough to make up for it.

Button hears a gentle thumping inside Babs’ chest as it rises and falls. A soothing sound, something that makes him feel peaceful and safe around this creature who not two hours before just punched the living daylights out of another pony. His classmates fear her. The town beckons to her will. But Button Mash…

The word is on the tip of his tongue. It’s a feeling that seems almost… bubbly. It tickles his spine, makes his head light, and causes something in his chest to feel like it’s about to lift up and float away. It goes beyond ‘like’, into a territory he has never experienced before. Then again that makes sense. He’s never cuddled up with a special somepony before, but he’s enjoying it so far.

His last thought causes him to feel a sliver of guilt. He’s never done this before because he’s never had a special somepony. Babs said the same thing when they started going out. How long has he been keeping this sort of feeling from her through his nervousness?

“I’m sorry,” comes words from Button’s lips before he realizes he said them.

“...Why?” Babs asks, a little confused as to Button’s sudden apology.

“For being a bad coltfriend,” he replies. “For having us wait this long to do something like this.”

Babs snickers while patting his head. It feels strangely comforting to know he has the same kind of anxiety about their relationship. “You seemed to want to when I suggested it.”

“I know, but I’m sorry for not wanting to earlier…” his voice trails off into a mumble.

“Well, now ya’ do and here we are,” Babs states plainly.

Button shrugs.

“So how about not bein’ so nervous anymore?” she suggests, not only to Button but to herself. “If you have a suggestion, just throw it out.”

Button smiles. “I-I’ll try.”

Babs goes back to enjoying the close company while Button thinks. He feels the need to do something right now, something that could at least start him down the road of making Babs feel as word-that-escapes-him-currently as he does.

He thinks. What different that Babs is doing that he’s not? Something he can share?

He then feels Babs’ hoof petting him, up and down his neck. Looking at his own hooves, he notices that he’s not doing anything with them. He pushes against the mattress, trying to dig them underneath Babs so that he can wrap his arms around her like she has hers around him.

“Ow!” Babs exclaims as she feels something pinch her from either side. “What are ya’ doin’?”

The exclamation of pain makes Button freezes instantly. In his hurry to try and do something for her, did he just hurt Babs?

“I, uh, wanted to, um…” Button stutters.

“Spit it out. Don’t be nervous, we just discussed this.”

Button takes a deep breath. “I w-want to hug you…” he squeaks. “Like you’re hugging me,” he adds.

“Oh, is that all?” she says. Arching her back, she gives Button room to fit both his hooves. He goes around her waist, feeling a little more excitement by being able to hold her like this. As soon as he has a good grip, Babs relaxes herself back down again.

“A-AH!” Button exclaims as he feels his hooves get pressed against the mattress and Babs. She quickly arcs back up.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I just didn’t expect the weight of- NO, THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT!” Button shouts as soon as he realizes what he said. “I DIDN’T MEAN, I MEAN, I SWEAR-”

“Quiet.”

Button stops instantly.

“Let’s see here…” Babs says, looking to see how Button may be more comfortable with herself laying on his arms. Accidental weight comments aside. “Can you scoot off me for a moment?”

Button complies, the cold setting in as soon as he moves away from Babs’ body. She also moves herself over, keeping one hoof on Button’s back. She moves close enough to the edge that her tail spills off the side. With enough space for Button as well, she pulls him closer, resulting again in the position with his head against her chest.

“Try now.”

He wraps his arms around her waist again and when she lays back down his forearm is much better to support the load. In fact, her body on its side make a much cozier fit for the two on Babs’ small bed.

She pulls him close to make sure neither of them fall onto the floor. She hadn’t realized just how little space they would have, but they could make it work.

Button squeezes his grip around her waist as she holds Button’s head close. They lay there together, eyes closed as they feel and think about each other.

Author's Note

Sources:
http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/61252144070
http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/59525373924
http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/59047586159

Sorry that this is a bit rushed. I just wanted to get this part done and it's late. Also, the next couple of chapters are the parts I've been wanting to write since the beginning of this little project. Stay tuned!

The Big Fight (Blood warning)

Babs' head feels like it's spinning as she collapses back onto the stool in her corner. The bell, once a marker of her triumph, had become her savior from the colt opposite the ring from her who she is now facing. She hears a ringing in her ears as her entire body aches. The room is blurry as her now blackened eye starts to swell up. Blood sticks her mane to her scalp as bruises cover her face and chest.

Her opponent smiles back with his bucktooth grin. Featherweight is anything but. Some ponies could move around a boxing ring, but this colt could dance. He has a nasty habit of somehow appearing when and where you least expect, usually when you're completely vulnerable. His father is by him in the corner, a smile on his face as he gives his son an encouraging shout of “YEEEAH!” With precise and devastating jabs along with his speed and ability to come from any angle, Babs just can't get in any decent shots.

The crowd is no help either. So many watch with glee as the terrible tough girl that roamed the schoolyard gets knocked down a couple pegs. Those who used to rule the halls with intimidation see this as a chance for a return to order, back to the days where they were top of the food chain without Babs and her bullshit justice telling them what to do. They whipped their schoolmates up into a frenzy, wildly cheering for the opposition alongside throwing insults at the orange earth pony in the safety of being just one of a thousand voices.

She coughs as she tries to breathe, something clotting in her nose. The last of her will is draining as she struggles to stay upright where she sits, let alone trying to go another round. And those shouts, those mocking shouts... Her parents were out on vacation and she has no idea where Button is. He usually loved to see her fight, but if he couldn't even be bothered to be here for her now, then what hope did she have? She usually doesn't care what others think, but now she's all alone. She can't win.

Her eyes close as she reaches for the towel next to her, ready to throw it in.

“-ABS!”

Wait... was that...?

“BABS! YOU CAN DO IT!”

Button!?

Her eyes immediately go to the source of the noise. Sure enough, she immediately recognizes the backwards cap covering the dark brown mane. He's running through the crowd, shoving ponies aside as two others seem to be chasing him. They grab at his collar and try to pull him back. He forces himself forward out of their grasp and continues towards the ring.

Babs feels a mixture of emotions. Happiness that Button is here. Confusion about where he's been. Rage at those trying to stop him. But at the moment, there's nothing she could do. Only hope that Button could reach her and give her some words of encouragement before the bells rings again. They make another grab for Button's arm and turn him around. Then, he does something that Babs has never seen him do before.

His arm in a pulled back position already, he turns his body against his aggressor to force his hoof forward with as much force as possible into their chin. A solid blow that causes the colt to reel back before falling over. Even Babs is impressed with how that punch looked. She can't see his face, but it causes the other pony following him to stop and just check on his friend who's now out cold. After that, Button continues toward Babs without any other trouble.

“Babs!” Button calls out, running to Babs' corner, out of breath. “Thought you might need this...” He carries a bottle of water in his hoof which he gives to her. It feels cool and the seal of the cap cracks as she turns it. It must be fresh from one of the vending machines.

“Where were you?” she asks, her spirits lifting instantly.

“Those guys locked me inside one of the lockers. They didn't want me here to cheer you on,” he explains.

“Not much here to cheer for,” she says, her shoulders slumping as she shakes her head. She couldn't even get mad at those guys for laying a hoof on Button. “I'm gettin' my flank kicked.”

“You can beat this guy, Babs. Trust me,” Button reassures. “I watched a little of the fight before getting up here.”

“Oh?” Babs asks, feeling a little ashamed that Button saw even a moment of her currently poor performance. “It doesn't matter. He's too quick for me...”

“Remember when we play games at my house?” Button asks.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Remember when you'd fight against a really fast opponent in Super Smash Colts or Marevel VS Clopcom?”

“Those are different, Button. Those are just games!”

“But what did you have to do to beat them?”

“I had to... anticipate their movement.”

“By?”

“Looking for patterns. But he doesn't have any! He just punches where I'm open, no matter what!”

“He puts his head down,” Button states in a whisper for only Babs to hear.

“Wha-?”

“He puts his head down before he moves in. After that, if he steps back, he's going for a jab. He crosses his hindhooves, he'll go for a hook.”

The information takes a moment to register in Babs' mind. When it does, it bursts into a light of realization. Potential counters and strategies being pouring themselves out in front of her making victory seem plausible. Until a thought occurs.

“What if he tries changing it up?” she asks.

“I've heard it's mostly subconscious,” Button explains. “He's not even aware he's doing it. But in case he does try something, I'll keep a watch on him and let you know.” He smacks his hoof into the wrist of the other. “You just worry about laying out his sorry flank on the mat!”

Babs smiles and nods. With Button in her corner, she now has everything she needs to win. Just one pony to believe in her.

She usually doesn't care about what others thinks, but now she has Button. She can't lose.

She puts her gloves up and presses one nostril of her nose closed. Blowing hard out the other, she forces the blockage of snot and dried blood out in a spray.

Taking the water, she doesn't drink it, but rather pours the cold liquid over her head to wash away the bangs the clung to her face and obscured her vision. She shivers slightly as it runs down her neck, back, and chest, the edge of the chill waking her up and putting her back in the moment.

Setting it down, the bell rings which make both combatants stand back up again and prepare to fight again. Babs punches her gloves together.

“Time for round two, motherfucker...”

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/59434050150

Moving back to bite-sized chapters. Only a couple left from what the artist as drawn.

You Have a Visitor

“Ms. Seed? You have a visitor.”

Babs' eyes look up from the gold trophy in her lap to the nurse in the doorway. Around the corner walks in the familiar brown colt in the backwards cap with a mass of gray tucked under his arm. With a sigh, Babs sets the trophy on the stand beside her bed.

Button approaches Babs' side carefully, scooting up a chair to sit in next to her bed. Half of her mane was shaved off so they could put in stitches to her scalp. Her eye was still swollen black and she has a couple new bandages applied here and there. The doctors kept her overnight to observe and make sure she didn't suffer from any sort of serious concussion.

“So, I um... I brought you your sweater,” Button says, giving Babs the hoodie he had with him.

Babs smiles a little. “Thanks. Getting' a little cold in here,” she says while taking the sweater. She pulls it up over her head, careful not the rub any of the stitches with it. Poking her head through, she shifts her arms into the sleeves.

When she's done, she just sits back. The two briefly make eye contact before Babs' eyes go down to the little strings of her hoodie. Button's eyes follow as well as he just watches her fidget with them.

The two sit for a while as a cold silence rolls in. Button doesn't know what to say. Obviously 'Congratulations' is out of the question. Thinking about what Babs has missed at school, he gets an idea for something to break the ice.

“So the ponies at school think you're possessed,” he says.

This actually gets a smile out of Babs, who is thankfully he finally said something. “Didn't they think that before?” she asks.

Button shrugs. “But now you've proved it.” The memory of last night plays again in his head as a smile creeps onto his face from ear to ear.

“Whatcha' thinkin' about?” Babs asks.

Button shakes his head. “Just how cool you are.”

Only for this one colt in the entire land of Equestria, Babs blushes. “I'm still hazy as to what happened,” she admits. “Can you fill in the details for me?”

“What happened is that you're going to be in that colt's nightmares for the rest of his life!” Button says.

“And what did I do?” Babs asks.

“Well, let's see...” Button says, putting a hoof to his chin. “How much do you remember?”

“I remember you showin' up with a bottle of water. Then... a lot's missin'.”

Button smirks as he prepares to tell the story. “Well, after the bell rang, you got up and prepared to fight again.”

“I remember that I was losin'.”

“Not for long. You got up there and he kept trying to dance around you.” Button puts up his hooves in a mock fighting stance. “But when he tried to duck in for a punch, BOOM!” He swings his hoof out in front of him. “You nearly flattened him out on the first blow! You lifted him off the mat!”

Babs begins to chuckle as she gets to hear the amazing tale about herself. “Then what happened?”

“It went like that for a while. He'd try to go for a punch, but there you were. Or rather, there was your hoof.” Button holds up one hoof and punches it away with the other for emphasis. “You had him figured out. He couldn't surprise you and you were always ready for him.”

“Because you were there,” Babs says, starting to remember some events more clearly.

Button waves a hoof. “Yeah, but you were the one fighting. Either way, he got knocked down every other swing, so I'm surprised he even lasted the full round.”

“The fight went three rounds?” Babs asks.

“Well, more like two and a half,” Button explains.

Her eyebrow raises in curiosity. “What happened? Did he finally wise up an' stay down?”

Button is silent. Babs smirk slowly fades as she realizes that whatever happened, Button is having trouble talking about it. He opens his mouth to try and speak, but just shakes his head as he attempts to put it into words. She gets an idea as to what happened.

“Is what happened next... why I'm in the hospital?” Babs asks.

Button nods. “Your opponent made an illegal move,” Button says. “He was disqualified. You only won by default.”

Babs' jaw drops. She lets out an irritated groan as she covers her face with her hooves. Her victory, her underdog come-from-behind victory with the help of her special somepony cut down and cheapened because her opponent was damn coward.

“Not that you weren't awesome!” he blurts out. He knew she wouldn't be happy with the news, so he tries to explain it quickly. “Seriously, what happened next was probably better than if the fight ended normal- I mean, except for...” He points at Babs' stitches.

She takes her face out of her hooves. Now she's curious. “What happened?”

A little giggle escapes Button's lips as he recalls the event. It's small, but the simple action relieves her disappointment and works up her wonder again.

“Like I said, he was getting creamed. The kids even started cheering for you! By the end of the second round, the place was filled with the chant: 'BABS! BABS! BABS! BABS!'” Button says, even cupping his hooves around his mouth for the cheer. He laughs again and continues, “You were waving to the crowd. I was telling you other things I saw about his fighting. You were sure to win.” Button's excitement falls. “And then...”

“What?” Babs asks. She keeps a smirk even through the impending bad news.

“He was battered. Tired. And then he got desperate,” Button explains. “His family was trying to get me away from the ring because they knew I was helping you. They tried to claim that they put something in the water I gave you.”

“That would explain the pee test they had me do,” Babs mumbles.

“Yeah. Either way, I guess he just got angry because when you had him against the ropes...” Button holds up a hoof and slaps it away with a sweeping motion. “Bam. His hindhoof came up and he kicked you across the jaw.”

Babs puts a hoof up to her chin. It feels a little tender now that she knows.

“You were knocked back. You lost balance and fell over. But, um...” Button pauses to breathe. “You fell right onto the corner of the ring. Caught the edge of the big metal bar holding up the ropes.” He holds an arm straight up and brings his other hoof down on top of it. “Ker-rack.”

Babs sucks some air in through her teeth and winces. “I knew that damn ring at the school was shitty, but...” She shakes her head with a sigh. “So where's the part where I'm awesome?”

The smile comes back to Button's face. “When you got back up.”

“I got back up?” Babs asks. “After that?”

“Yes, you did. And you weren't just mad. You were furious. Blood was pouring down your face,” he says, dragging his hoof down from his scalp. “But you just stood there as if it was nothing! And then you yelled at him.” Button points his hoof out. “YOU'RE A DEAD COLT, FEATHER-BITCH!” He said in a whispered yell, but couldn't even finish the line without laughing. “The look of sheer horror on his face. Priceless. I wish I had a camera, but there were a few ponies with them there. I'll ask around because you need to remember this face.”

“So the ref stopped the fight after that?”

“Not immediately. They didn't know what to do since you looked alright. Well, as alright as you can be with a big gash in your head.” Button shrugs as he talks. “But then, you just CHARGED at him! He was so scared, all he could do was bring his hooves up to shield himself! Did very little to save him.” He leans over in his seat to peek out the door. “I think he's just a couple rooms down, honestly.”

“Whoa, really?” Babs asks, a little fear in the idea that she landed a pony in the ER in a it of rage. Not that it wouldn't be satisfying to have a bit of mutually assured destruction by the fact that he put her in a hospital bed.

“Not really, I'm just kidding,” Button says with a wave of his hoof. “They wanted to check him, but he was fine enough to just send home. Still had the crap beat out of him. I think the refs called the fight more for his sake than yours.”

“I just charged at him?”

“And started wailing on him. He got backed up to the ropes again, which held him up. Poor guy,” Button says, chuckling at the last part while shaking his head. “But after the ref pulled you off of him, he collapsed. Ref started counting, but then some other guys came and the final bell rung when he got to four. But I counted, he didn't get up before ten.” He takes a deep breath. “Then you just started drifting when the nurses started checking up on you. After you passed out completely, the ambulance was called.”

Babs looks over at the gold trophy again, seeing her warped reflection in it. She also sees Button in it as well, right beside her. Where she knows he always be.

Button puts his hoof on her shoulder. “Undefeated champion,” he says. “Way to go.”

Babs feels pride start to well up within herself. “Couldn't have done it without you,” she says.

He doesn't respond. If anything, he would have just brushed off the comment like it was no big deal, but that would be doing a disservice to his privileged position of being the sideline colt for the one and only Babs Seed.

“So how's it feel?” he asks.

“Awful,” she replies, but still with a smile. “Like I got kicked in the face then split my head open.” They both share a laugh. Her hoof lightly touches around her stitches again. “I look like a mess, too. Probably a lot less pretty then I used to be,” she comments, heavy with sarcasm.

Button laughs again. “Not at all, Babs.” The statement gets a confused look from her. “You're just as pretty as ever.”

He takes his hoof off her shoulder and stands up. Leaning over, he looks at the stitches on her scalp and presses his lips against them in a small kiss.

“O-Ow...” Babs says.

“Oh, sorry!” Button says, pulling away. “But, um... I think you're still as cool and pretty as ever,” he says, his face starting to blush. He didn't quite know what possessed him to be so forward all of a sudden.

Babs smiles. She could take mock offense as a joke, but the poor guy probably couldn't take it after trying to be sweet to only poke her sore stitches. Besides, she feels herself almost becoming lighter than air at his words. Only Button Mash could ever call Babs Seed 'pretty' and get away with it.

“Thanks,” she says, her own cheeks starting to turn red as well. “But if you want to try again, keep it to just the lips for now.”

“A-Alright,” he says. Deciding he does want to try again, he leans in to kiss her, this time where she specified. He's still afraid she may be sore there as well, so he only presses enough to make contact.

Babs, still bruised and tired, is more than happy with the light touch of his lips against hers.

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/60129834004

Victory

“YES!”

The victory theme rings out through the living room as Babs pumps her hoof in the air.

She had been released from the hospital earlier today and still had a thirst for some high violence action. Unfortunately, she was still covered in fresh cuts and bruises, so she settles on the next best thing: videogames with her special somepony, Button.

And somehow, she had claimed a win over the colt who grew up with these games. Over the weeks with Button's constant guidance, practice on bored days after school, and the steep learning curve into some high-level strategies, the student had become the master.

Now, Button could make excuses. It wasn't his best character, he wasn't a fighting game guy (although that changed fairly recently), or he had volunteered to play with the slightly faulty controller he'd need to replace soon. However, one thing he could never say is that he went easy on her. He would never do that to her, for he knew simply letting her win without effort would be a greater insult than a hundred losses. So he tried his best every match. And today, Babs won out.

He didn't feel angry, upset, or cheated. He feels proud. Proud of Babs for her victory like every boxing match he's seen her fight.

Babs isn't one to gloat. That little hoof pump was more than she usually does after winning a fight, but something about this is just so exciting. She beat Button! The excitement of the match is still going within her and she finally overcame the one opponent she never had before.

The one now giggling beside her.

“Babs Seed, everypony!” Button says, imitating a boxing announcer while putting a hoof around her shoulder. “She'll knock your flank out in the real world AND the virtual world! Is there anything this mare can't do?” He takes her hoof and raises it up like a referee declaring the winner, slowly because he doesn't know if she's still sore from her hospital visit. “The champion!”

She basks in the moment, every second feeling as satisfying as that championship she blacked out in. Her grin stretches as wide as it can. Button cheering for her is better than a crowd of any number of ponies. Even when he lost, he's excited for her.

They shared many memories on this couch, leading up to this one crowning moment of triumph. Babs feels her heart beat harder as she looks at the face that has guided her through it all.

An idea strikes her. “Do I get a prize?” she asks.

His smile vanishes for a moment in confusion. Taking his hoof back, he shrugs and his smile returns as he replies with a chuckle, “Well, the champion should get something. What did you have in mind?”

The smile on his face slowly falls again as he sees Babs' half-lidded eyes stare at him. She reaches around with one hoof to his shoulder and another on his arm. Slowly, she leans forward and pulls him in, connecting their lips together.

They don't kiss too often, nor do they talk about it either. Babs is supposedly a super tough mare and Button is a colt with more interest in gaming. It's not a subject that one would associate with either of them, but they'd be lying if they said fireworks didn't go off in their heads when it happens.

The surprise of Babs' advance subsides as Button relaxes, leaning into the kiss and enjoying the soft lips pressed against his. They feel as if they have a bit of force to them, some muscle underneath that's as dangerous to cross as the rest of this mare, but it's a kind of sensation that Button can't get enough of.

Babs' gets a different enjoyment, feeling Button's lips and motions bend to her. His warmth embraces her. A tenderness that accepts her; every single part of her in a solace she could never find in any other stallion.

After a while, she pulls away. They both take in a deep breath as they open their eyes again. The screen on the television has long since changed and has gone back to the character select screen, waiting for the players to make their selection to a five second loop of music.

Babs sets her controller down on the floor. “Did I ever get the chance to thank you?” she asks.

“Thank me? For what?” Button asks.

“For being there. For helping me, each and every step of the way.” She reaches and takes Button's controller from him. Her grabbing accidentally presses a selection for player two on a random character their not paying attention to. “All those fights you watched. And all those fights you trained with me.”

“But... you did the fighting, Babs,” Button says. “I was just-”

“You were the reason I won,” she interrupts, bringing both her hooves onto his shoulders. “I could never have done anythin' without you.”

“B-But,” Button tries to say as he feels himself getting pushed back.

“So thank you, Button.”

“...anytime, Babs.”

She lays down on top of him, her weight making him press down further into the couch cushions. Normally, the couch would be uncomfortable to stay still in, but right now, there's no place Button would rather be.

Sliding her hooves around again, she holds one at the back of Button's head and the pressing down on his mane, making sure he's not going anywhere. He wraps his hooves around her back, pulling her as close as he can without making her uncomfortable.

Slowly, she closes her eyes, and pushes her lips back into his.

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/63758858089

Well, it's been fun, but that's all the artist has drawn. Maybe more to come if they decide to draw more with this pair. Either way, thank you all for reading and thanks to Stedilnik for his wonderful work!

Less Casual Play

“You’re getting pretty good, Babs!” Button says as the victory music plays. Even though he won the match, he still can’t help but feel a little bad whenever he beats Babs. After all, he has years of gaming experience under his belt and it’s only been a hoofful of months since Babs even picked up a video game.

Babs lets out a little pfft as a reply. When the menu screens pops back up, she picks the same character she used last time. Button moves the cursor around the menu a bit, trying to decide who to play next. He decides to go with his weakest character to give Babs a better chance.

He adjusts himself a bit in his usual couch seat next to Babs. Sometimes the seat gets a little uncomfortable if you sit still for too long. Something that he thinks was done on purpose because of his long gaming sessions.

“You want to choose the arena this time?” Button asks.

“Sure,” Babs replies, taking control of the cursor to look through the potential options of where their imaginary fight would take place. They had all the cliches there: empty field, back alley, generic fighting ring. They’ve played these all, but Babs wanted something a bit different. Something a bit cooler.

And she may have found what she was looking for. A terrifying scene of lava and demons flashes up on the screen with the word TARTARUS in bold to introduce the level. Babs begins a little wicked giggle as Button notices that this is actually the highest ranked difficulty course in terms of stage hazards.

“Are you sure about this one?” Button asks. “I don’t think-”

“YES,” Babs yells out, pressing the select button. A low bass hums through the speakers as the camera swirling between flaming chains dangling from the jagged ceiling. Button worries that as easy as he could go on her, the stage itself may not be as forgiving. As the characters get introduced while surrounded by spraying magma, Babs starts to feel the couch’s uncomfortable result of sitting too long herself.

Instead of just adjusting herself as Button had, she turns herself and lays down. However, instead of putting her hindlegs over Button’s lap like she usually does, she instead turns the other way, draping her hindlegs over the edge of the couch while resting her head against Button’s thigh.

Button tenses as blush lights up his face. Babs gives a little chuckle.

“Don’t mind me gettin’ comfy, do you?” she asks, just like the first day she’s played games at Button’s house.

“N-N-No…” Button squeaks out just as the fight begins.

Author's Note

Source: http://stedilnik.tumblr.com/post/59001076688