Tough Love

by Reaps

Rating: teen
Tags: Diamond Tiara, Slice of Life, Anthro, Silver Spoon, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Romance, Scootaloo
Length: 2940

Sometimes, all you need is to clear your head to see things as they are. Scooter may not understand it that well, but when he's pushed over the edge, a good "head clearing" leads to a slight aftershock for him.

Scooter never quite shook his anger towards his schoolyard bullies, even a year after they all graduated. At eighteen, he still finds himself with obviously clouded judgement and a simmering anger he can't quite explain. As he sets out one day in the hopes of clearing his mind a little at the local skate park, he finds himself thinking back to his years dealing with his tormentors.

Upon reaching the park, however, he finds his thoughts catching up to him as he sees a familiar stallion. Though he tries to keep himself controlled, a few sharp remarks quickly send him over the edge. With his anger boiling over and the source of it so near, things can't turn out well, right?

Critics Welcome!

So, here we are, a little story inspired by a song I heard recently. Also inspired by how freaking little these two are shipped at all! *ahem* Yes, it's a shipfic, and yes, it's r63 ScootsxSpoon.

Oh, and don't worry, I didn't forget anything. Just keep reading.

Published 2013-11-23 04:50:03 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-23 04:50:03 UTC

Tough as Nails

Scooter awoke from his nap and stretched, pleasantly surprised to find that the unpleasant tinge in his shoulders from before had finally gone away all but entirely, and was now easily ignored. He next stretched his wings, not-so-pleasantly surprised to find the joints still stiff and sore. He took his time in easing them back down from their cramped state, mentally noting to keep them folded for a while longer.

This wasn’t anything new to him, really. Nor was the bruise under his eye, or the ones on his chest and right thigh. “Lesson learned, keep wings tucked close when up against an earth pony.” With that said, he stood and walked to his kitchen to fix a drink and a small snack. He felt a very familiar sting in his right leg as he walked, but it had become so typical that it was easily ignored.

With his meal and drink fixed, he made his way back to his couch to eat. As he started on what would likely be his only lunch for the day, he couldn’t help but think back to the fight to wind him up so sore. It wasn’t his first, far from it. It wasn’t exactly his favorite, either. He’d wound up against an earth pony, though an admittedly small one, compared to those like Applejack.

Now, he couldn’t help but think back to how stupid the thing to start the fight was: Scooter had been fairly calm for him lately, but all it took was the earth pony accidentally bumping into him and spilling his drink on Scooter’s jacket.

Come to think of it, none of the fights he’d gotten himself into lately had anything happen worth warranting a fight. He’d gotten his plot handed to him a few times, but it never really stopped the fighting.Thinking back, he could also see that his friends had been watching him closer than they used to.

Then he remembered the day that started it all, as well as the pony to start it, Gold Watch.

One day around lunchtime, Scooter was eating with his friends at school. Apple Buck finished his quickly and left to finish up some work. It was about this time that Scooter and Silver Bell heard a familiar voice.

“Well, well, what happened here? Did that hick decide you two weren’t worth his time finally? That must hurt pretty bad,” Gold Watch called from nearly halfway across the cafeteria as he approached.

Silver Bell simply shook his head and ignored the earth pony. Scooter, however, wasn’t in the mood to simply ignore anything that day.

“What’s your bucking damage, Goldilocks? I thought we put that crap behind us.”

Gold Watch rolled his eyes. “What’s wrong? I thought you ‘had thicker skin’ than this, skate rat.”

“Okay, first off, I’m just not in the mood to deal with your crap today, okay? Second, when are you going to figure out that calling me a skate rat isn’t an insult?”

Gold Watch simply scoffed and waved dismissively. “Whatever, you’re still as lame as can be. Just give up trying to be cool, even Apple Hick can’t stand to finish lunch with you.”

Scooter slammed his hands on the table and stood. “He has a project to work on. Just leave us alone and go cuddle with DC, will ya?”

Gold Watch glared at that. “Oh, why? So you can hang all over your little filly friend there?”

That tore it for Scooter. “You bucking plot!”

In a second, the entire lunch room went quiet as all eyes trained on the standing pegasus and the earth pony propping himself up on a table and holding his mouth. A moment later, Gold Watch pulled his hand back to see blood.

“You hit me… You hit me and now I’m bleeding.”

Scooter stood, panting, adrenaline still lingering from his lashing out, and his emotions still running hot. “You’re damn right I did! It’s about time somepony put you in your pl-”

Scooter was cut off, not by a teacher breaking things up, not by some cocky comeback from the earth pony, but by something almost nopony in the room expected. Gold Watch had straightened out and lashed out himself, his punch sending the lighter pegasus stumbling back.

Scooter winced as the shaft of his wing caught his weight against the edge of the table behind him, but his adrenaline coming back through meant he didn’t stay down for long. As he stood up, though, he noticed he wasn’t moving forward, and soon that neither was the apparently still angry Gold Watch in front of him.

Silver Bell, having finally gotten a chance to react to the situation, had his horn lit up and the two ponies held in place by his magical grip.

After that, Silver had talked them both down enough that they didn’t throw any more punches, and from that day until graduation, Scooter and Gold Watch had avoided each other as best they could.

“That stupid pretty-colt. Him and his bucking fancy, prissy mane, his freaking glasses, his pretty, purple eyes, his mare-ish hips, his…” Scooter blinked and shook his head.“What the buck is wrong with me?!”

Scooter finally noticed that he was finished with his meal and set the plate and glass on the coffee table before standing. “Maybe getting some fresh air will help.”

With that, he slid on his hoodie, made sure his wings were comfortably in place, put on his gloves, grabbed his board, and set off to the skate park, hoping to clear his head finally.

Along the way, Scooter noticed Apple Buck apparently talking to somepony. Though he couldn’t make out quite whom, it hardly seem to matter, as they finished their conversation soon after.

Scooter smiled and waved to his friend as he coasted closer on his board. “Hey, AB! What’s up?”

Apple Buck turned and smiled back at his friend. “Heya, Scoots. You doin’ okay?”

Scooter stopped when he was close enough, kicking his board up to catch it before chuckling a bit sheepishly. “Oh, what, you mean that fight? Nah, I’m fine. I’m not too stiff anymore.”

Apple Buck sighed and shook his head, though he still kept his smile. “Ah swear, Scoots. You and yer tough act just never quit.”

The stallions shared a short laugh. “Well, I’m heading to the park for a bit. Wanna come with me?”

“Sure thing. Ah got a few hours before dinner.”

“Awesome. I’ve been wanting know how this new trick looks to somepony else.”

“Then let’s go.”

The two stallions smiled and raced off to the skate park on hoof.

As per usual, their race ended in a tie and with Scooter breathing a deal harder than Apple Buck.

“How do… How do you have so much in you, dude?”

“Heh, ya fergot already? Us earth ponies are built to keep goin’. Heck, if ah had the speed I know you got under yer wings, too, ah’d’ve left ya in the dust.”

Scooter chuckled and gave his friend a playful jab to the shoulder, earning one himself. The two found their way to a nearby bench, Scooter sitting to catch his breath, while Apple Buck sat more just to have something to do.

Skating wasn’t what the farm-pony usually found fun, but hanging out with Scooter typically was. Then Apple Buck seemed to remember something as he soon slammed his palm to his forehead. “Horse apples! Ah was supposed ta watch Winona today. Crap, Ah’m sorry, Scoots. Ah’ll watch ya do that trick next time, okay?”

Scooter’s smile dropped slightly, for a moment, but he shrugged and flashed a smile quickly after. “Hey, no problem. Just means I get to look even more awesome when you actually see it.” The two smiled, and Apple Buck stood and jogged off.

Scooter stretched his arms and stood as well before dropping his board on its wheels and getting ready to kick off. Just before he could get his hoof on the board, however, he heard somepony call out, “What’s that, twice now? Does he just not like you anymore?”

Scooter didn’t have to look up to know who it was, and the smart move probably would have been not to. Nonetheless, he looked up to see the last pony he wanted to, and that he was alone. Scooter smirked. “What’s wrong, Gold? Can’t think of anything original without your coltfriend to tell you what to say?”

Gold Watch bared his teeth and began advancing towards Scooter, to which he promptly replied in kind. “Diamond is busy. You wouldn’t even understand.”

“AB’s busy too, with real work.”

“Real work? He rolls around with pigs.”

“And Crown kisses up to them.”

The two finally stood with less than half a meter between them, staring one another down as best they could. “What was that, you alley rat?”

“I said your friend kisses up to pigs, Goldil--”

This time Gold Watch was the one to throw the first punch, sending Scooter stumbling back. The moment he caught his hoofing again, however, Scooter saw Gold Watch running at him. Scooter didn’t hesitate for even a moment as he ducked and lunged at Gold Watch, catching the earth pony off guard and tackling him to the ground. Scooter then quickly mounted Gold Watch, straddling him just above his waist and pinning his arms beside his head.

“What is your bucking problem?!”

“None of your damn business!”

Gold Watch may not have been the strongest earth pony, but Scooter being a pegasus made him naturally fairly light. It made him apparently light enough, as Gold Watch managed to quickly flip them both over before taking Scooter’s place almost perfectly, mounting the pegasus just above his waist and pinning his arms down.

“Now take back what you said about Diamond!”

“No bucking way. Get off of me!”

Being lighter didn’t mean Scooter was weak, and he showed it as he managed to flip the two over again, this time mounting Gold Watch higher up, just below his chest, and now pinning his arms above him.

“Now why are you being such a prick?”

Gold Watch struggled under Scooter, hoping to get free, but found the new position made that nearly impossible. “I told you, it’s none of your damn business, now get off of me!”

“I’m not letting you go until you tell me.”

“I said get off of--”

“Not until you answer me!”

“I like you!”

“Why don’t you just kiss me, then?!”

“Get off and I will.”

“Fine!” Scooter no sooner let go than Gold Watch forced him onto his back, pinning his arms to the side. Just as Scooter was about to lash out again, he felt Gold Watch’s lips pressed against his. Scooter felt his mind whirling about to try and make sense of the situation, but when it took too long, his instincts took over.

Scooter wrestled his arms free, moving one hand into Gold Watch’s mane as his other arm wrapped around the other stallion’s back. In one quick motion, Scooter flipped them back over, never letting the kiss break. They kept their lips locked in a kiss spilling over with emotions the two had kept bottled away for too long, until they both needed a break for air. The two pulled apart, panting and staring at each other.

After a moment, Scooter spoke up. “Two things, Gold. One, if we just started what I think we did, I’m the guy, no questions asked; and two…” Scooter slammed his hand against Gold Watch’s chest, earning a grunt in pain. “That was for punching me in the face.”

Gold Watch let out a slight growl. “You bucking prick.”

“Takes one to know one, Goldilocks.” Scooter didn’t give Gold Watch a chance to respond, instead going in for another heated, almost angry kiss, which was returned in kind and without hesitation.

Author's Note

So, there we go, my contribution to one of my favorite groups! You know which one you are. *wink* *wink* But seriously, I had fun with this, and there's a "mini-chapter" after this in case you want to know what AB was up to.

Where the Buck Were You?

...“Horse apples! Ah was supposed ta watch Winona today. Crap, Ah’m sorry, Scoots. Ah’ll watch ya do that trick next time, okay?”

Scooter’s smile dropped slightly, for a moment, but he shrugged and flashed a smile quickly after. “Hey, no problem. Just means I get to look even more awesome when you actually see it.” The two smiled, and Apple Buck stood and jogged off.

Apple Buck turned the corner as he jogged away, but stopped as soon as he reached the entrance to the center. He looked around to make sure Scooter didn't see him and quickly went in. Lucky for him, the center was basically empty, and always was. As he expected, however, there was one pony inside, and said stallion was already walking up to the balcony opposite the park. Perfect! thought Apple Buck.

The farm pony made his way up the stairs and walked to the balcony. "Last place Ah expected ta see you, darlin'." He chuckled a bit, even after getting another jab to his shoulder. "Aw, c'mon now, Diamond, ya know Ah'm just messin with ya." He smirked. "After all, Ah put up with years of it from you."

Diamond Crown groaned but smiled. He gave Apple Buck a quick kiss on the cheek. "You're right, dear. I know. I'm just kind of tense trying to deal with Gold Watch lately." He sighed and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, taking one and slipping the filter between his lips.

Apple Buck raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Now, Ah know we've talked about that, DC."

Diamond Crown chuckled slightly and shrugged. "Nasty habit. At least it's only once in a blue moon, like now." He held the pack out to Apple Buck. "You look like you could use one, too."

Apple Buck shook his head. "Nah, Ah just need somethin' ta take mah mind off o' all this crap Scoots has gotten himself into lately." He leaned back against the rail and sighed. "Ah swear, he's been in more fights since that day than ah could keep count of."

Diamond Crown put the pack away and took out a box of matches, striking one and lighting the end of his cigarette. "Dear, hold your breath for a moment. I need to see where downwind is." Apple Buck knew the procedure and held his breath as his coltfriend took a drag and puffed it straight up. Pleasantly surprising for them both, the smoke drifted off the balcony and away from Apple Buck. "Much better, now, back to Scooter. I really am sorry Gold has gotten all this riled up. I thought he would've outgrown this all by now."

Apple Buck chuckled. "Aw, don't worry 'bout it. Ah'm sure they calmed down a good deal by now."

"Yeah, and maybe Luna will raise the sun tomorrow."

Apple Buck's ears laid back some. "Ah dunno, sugarcube, Ah guess Ah'm jes' tryin'a tell mahself that it weren't a bad idea leavin' them out there. Ah mean, it's kinda our fault too, ya know? The first 'un happened 'cause we were off kissin'. If we'd've stayed there, it wouldn't've happened."

Diamond Crown sighed and took another drag, puffing out away from his coltfriend. "I know, I know. It's not like we expected it to happen, though, right? I mean, how was I supposed to know Gold was going to show his feelings that way?"

"Ah never got that, either. Why in Tartarus would somepony pick on somepony else they liked? Don't make no sound sense."

"You have to remember, Buck, Gold isn't exactly, well, normal, for lack of a better word. He expresses himself differently. That's not to say that's any excuse, by no means is it. I just don't know how to tell a stallion he should express himself differently." Diamond Crown took another drag on the quickly shrinking cigarette.

Apple Buck sighed. "Yeah, Ah suppose Scoots is like that, too. Well, ya know, 'cept he never picked a fight with nopony. He'd start 'em over little things, but he'd never try an' be the cause."

Diamond Crown shrugged and looked to his cigarette, which was all but gone by now. He sighed and wet his thumb on his tongue before using his thumb to snuff out the light. He then tossed the butt to the dirt below. He stretched for a bit before he remembered something. "Hey, Buck?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened last time we left those two more or less by themselves?"

Apple Buck tilted his head. "Uh, don'tcha remember? They got in a..." His words faded as he realized what his coltfriend was getting at. "We gotta go stop 'em!"

"Agreed."

The two rushed inside and down the stairs, nearly tripping once or twice along the wat, but keeping fairly steady. By the time they could see the park, however, they heard something neither expected.

"Two things, Gold. One, if we just started what I think we did, I’m the guy, no questions asked; and two…" they both heard a light thunk. "That was for punching me in the face."

"You bucking prick."

"Takes one to know one, Goldilocks."

Author's Note

What, you thought I was just using it as a pointless convenience? Buck that! This is a mini-chapter, and more or less just a little something in case you all were wondering what the hay AB was doing.