Loving Care

You are Anonymous Unknown. You are Nineteen years old and you are an exactly average Human. That statement is one hundred percent accurate, because you are the only human in this world of magical talking equines. Like literally, the only one. You've checked. Anyway you have been in Equestria for seven years now and you've gotten so used to life here that you can't imagine yourself anywhere else. You went to school here, which is so much easier than school back home, You got a job here and you have friends here.

Your Job is at the local cafe. Where you work for five hours a day, five days a week. It's a pretty good job all things considered. You could think of worse jobs in the world. Plus the manager is really nice...to an extent. Because you are the only human in existence, you brought in more customers from the freak-show effect, making more money, making the manager happy, making her want to keep you, making her be more nice to you. You realized this very quickly. You saw that she was a lot more lenient on you than the other, equally hard working, staff. She also payed you more, which made you look like an asshole. The staff didn't really care however, none of them really hating you...well except Muffin top, but she hates everyone so it's fine.

You have friends, so many friends it was hard to account for them all. Your best friend was a stallion named Thunderlane, He had your back at school and since then. He transferred to your school in Canterlot on the third year from Cloudsdale because he was being bullied. He and you hit it off pretty quickly. He was rather shy at first, like a certain yellow mare in town. You had to make the first move. You saw him there sitting at a table on his own looking depressed. So, Being the good guy that you were, you decided to go say hello. He barely spoke to you at first, he was barely able to tell you his name. But he kept following you around, not in the creepy way, more like the 'You're the only person I know' way. You eventually got him to speak to you in a flowing conversation, kind of. You had to tell him when you were finished and when he could speak, but you got there. He was a very shy colt. It's a good thing he's grown out of it, unlike a certain yellow mare in town.

You and him now share an apartment on Saddle Way and you two are pretty close, always there for each other when needed. It's a good thing you've never been needed. You spend most of your free time playing video games and hanging out at the weekend, but mostly video games.

You do have other friends of course. dome of the staff at work, Lyra Heartstrings, Cloud Chaser and a fine young steroid overdosed stallion named Bulk Biceps are among them. They come round and hang out from time to time. Cloud Chaser especially, her being Thunderlane's marefriend and all. But it would take you all day to describe all of your relationships with them...like, literally, all day. There were a lot of funny stories for later.

So, some might say that's a pretty full Life. That you have everything a man could want, A well paid job, a home, friends? well no. You still felt empty inside. Despite having so many friends you were still painfully lonely. You are ashamed to admit that you are still a virgin. You've never had a marefriend, you've never even kissed a mare. You've kissed a human back on earth so you didn't completely miss out. It's not that you had reservations about inter-species relationships, come on you spent most of your teenage years here, you're gonna stop caring what she is, as long as she's a she. You were even sure that a lot of mares wouldn't be so reserved about the issue, it was just that with you being so different, you were too afraid to ask a mare out. So that was the only problem with your life. You considered yourself lucky that was it. It could have been worse, a lot worse.

“Table seven Anon.” Prench Roast, the till operator, calls. You move over and collect the tray, sitting on it is an espresso with a dove made into the foam and a scone. You carry it over to table seven, with as much enthusiasm ad you can muster, where a young filly and her mother are sitting. You lay the tray down and gesture to the mother.

“I'm assuming the espresso is for you?” She shakes her head.

“No actually it's for my daughter, Turtle Dove. She's having her first coffee today to celebrate her getting her Cutie Mark.” The filly in question is beaming with pride and you don't blame her. A Cutie Mark is a ponies rite of passage into adulthood, a symbol of maturity that shows you your purpose in life. You turn to the young filly.

“Well congratulations! May I see it?” She isn't the slightest bit hesitant to jump off of her seat and walk out into your view and there you see it. On her rump is a picture of a two doves flying in a circle. You didn't know what it meant, but you guess it was probably something to do with animals or flying...she's a unicorn...It's not flying. You internally face palm at your unspoken stupidity.

“Wow! -” You exaggerated. She was still young. It still hurt to act all baby talk. “- Tell you what, to celebrate, the coffee's on me.” You pat the pocket on your apron for emphasis. She lets out a cute little squee. The mother thanking you and paying for her scone. and with slightly lighter pockets you head over to Prench, picking up a tray with used plates and cups on the way there. You throw a two bit coin, and the money given by the mare, into the till and lean against the wall behind Prench.

“You know Coffee Gain doesn't like it when you do that, Right?” Prench Roast remarks. Without braking her stature. She was tending to some customer, a red stallion, Big Mac if you were correct.

“Well, what Coffee Grain,Doesn't know, wont hurt her. Besides, if she doesn't like it, then she shouldn't pay me so much.” She smirks.

“You know Anon, I think You're the only stallion in existence to ever complain about being payedtoo much.”

“Hey it's a lot worse than you think. If I didn't actively try to be a good guy to you all, you'd all probably hate my guts.” She looks to you and mocks shock.

“What!? And loose one of my best friends? Ha never!” You roll your eyes.

“You know, we wouldn't be friends if I was like how I am in my head, right?.” She snickers. The clock buzzing signalling the end of your shift. The next pony comes in and takes Prench's place, Another one does the same for you. You and Prench head through the back and over to the back, where Coffee Grain would give you your paychecks.

"I think you are laying it on a bit thick Anon. I don't think you're that bad in your head. You're just saying that."

"Kick her! Kick her in the head!"

"I'm pretty sure I'm not." She just smiles and looks your way.

“Anon. I think I would still be friends with you. -” Her tone becomes sultry as she walks closer beside you. “- In fact, -” She stands on her hind hooves and slams you against the wall. Pinning you. “- I kind of like a bad boy?” She leans in close, really close, to the point where you can feel her hot breath on you lips.

“I-I...Uh...Er...” You can feel her breath on you face as she leans in closer and closer. Until...she bursts into laughter.

“HA HA HA, Anon, You are just so funny when I do that.” She says letting you off of the wall. She knew about you and your...problem. She often played these jokes. The only real reason it got to you the way it did was because, for a mare, she was pretty hot. She had a light brown coat and dark brown mane and tail. She had these golden eyes that bore into your being and the cutest freckles dancing across her nose. She was beautiful, but you would never Try anything. You were just friends.

“How many times do I have to say? I hate it when you do that.” You snap. .

“Do you have any idea how cute you look when you blush like that? How could I resist?” She pouts You glare at her. She did this a lot, the casual flirting. Sometimes it was cute, other times it was annoying. So, sometimes, you had to get her back.

“I can imagine I look like you, when Note Worthy Comes in for his daily muffin.” Her face goes straight and her cheeks blush.

“I told you, I don't have a thing for Note Worthy.” She says through gritted teeth, while lifting her nose in the air, still blushing.

“Awww, Look at wittle woasty bwush.” You say in baby talk. Of course, this only made her blush more.

"I told you I hate that name." She says, irritation laced in her voice.

"If you're gonna throw shit, be prepared to take shit."

“Shut up Virgin.” You deflate slightly. But remain smiling.

“Sssooo, I won that one?” She huffs and returns walking down the hallway. “Yeah totally won that one.” You walk proudly into the office at the back of the building. Coffee Grain. your boss, is sitting behind an over-sized desk. She reached into a drawer and grabbed two envelopes. Handing them to you. She didn't look up once.

“Good afternoon, Mr Unknown and Miss. Roast. Your payment.” Coffee Grain, your boss says. Prench takes them off of her.

“Don't come in tomorrow, we're doing renovations and we're closing the cafe. You will be payed because it was a last minute decision.” She states, rather dryly. You could understand why, but she didn't have to be so pissed about it.

“Thanks.” Prench says looking at the envelopes. She hoofs one to you.

“I want you both here at seven on Thursday.” Grain says.

“Have a good evening Mrs. Grain.” You say automatically.

“You too Anonymous.” Once you leave her office Prench gives you a look.

“Kiss Ass much?” You smile.

“The only ass I'm kissing is your sweet subtle tush.” She gains a sly grin

“Hee Hee, How about now? In the supply closed? I wanna see you squirm monkey.” You laugh.

“Sorry, not tonight gotta play Battle Stallion with Thunderlane.” She huffs.

“You're gonna turn down this! -” She stands on two hooves and rubs her front seductively. “- to play video games?” You laugh.

“Well, when you put it like that...Yes! ha ha.” She laughs as well as you walk out off into the main cafe.

“You plan on paying for some fun tomorrow with those extra bits ya got?" She says waggling her eyebrows. She did this a lot too, mooching off of you.

"What makes you think I don't want to keep it?"

"You try to Please people too much." She says matter of factly. You snort.

"Did I win that?" She asks, with a cocky tone. Your gaze remains straight ahead.

"No." You state sternly.

"Yeah I won that." She says mimicking your earlier comment. You both enter the main cafe area. Customers quietly conversing.

"Hey I gotta go, I'll see you later, okay?” Prench says hovering into the air in preparation to fly home.

“See you later.” She flies out the entrance. You were about to leave as well, but you saw a heartbreaking sight. A mare was sat alone at a table, her eyes were red and puffy, her hair a little messy and she looked like she was trying desperately not to cry again. The sight broke your heart.

“Hey Frothy Top, Who's the mare at table Five?” You ask the stallion.

“I don't know, She just showed up and sat there, she didn't even order anything, just sat there.” You look to her. She was a young looking mare possibly a bit older than you. She looked devastated, Properly devastated.

"Just leave her alone. She'll probably be fine. Just leave her alone. just leave her alo- FUCK!"

“Hey make me up an espresso with a heart top, would ya please?” You ask the barista.

“Sure thing.” After a few minutes, he hands you the coffee, you pay for it and you head over to the mare. You place the cup in front of her. Her depressed appearance suddenly shifts to confusion then she looks to you.

“I didn't order this.”

“It's on the house. You okay miss?” She nods.

“Y-Yeah...just fine....” You nod, she clearly wasn't but you weren't going to push the issue further. You did what you could. You begin to walk away...

“Wait.” Fuck...You stop and look to her again. “I'm not...I'm really not.” She looks like she's going to cry again. You pull the chair opposite her out and take a seat.

“Do you want to talk about it?” She smiles at you.

“You don't know me. Why would you care?” She sounded more grateful, than accusing.

“I have a soft spot for crying mares.” She laughs and takes a sip of her coffee. You really wanted to go right now.

“This is good.” She says.

“You can thank Perfect Mix for that.” She smiles

“Thank you.” You chuckle.

“Not me, I'm Anon.” She smiles back.

“I know but I also know those stallions at the counter were just avoiding eye contact with me before you came out. So, thank you.” You smile.

"What's your name?" You ask trying to break the ice.

"I'm Loving Care. Though not many ponies call me that." She replies taking another sip of her coffee

"What do they all you?" She doesn't lift her gaze from her cup.

"Button's mom." You snort with laughter.

"Seriously?" She nods.

"Well. I think Loving Care is a nice name." You say, getting her to smile and look to you. "So. you have a kid?"

"Yes I have a son. his name is Button Mash, he's eight years old...So...you come from another world?" She asked. You were expecting that one.

"I came from another world called Earth and no, I don't know how. Just sorta happened." You drone. It was your practiced phrase for those questions. They were asked so many times.

"Can you tell me about your world?" She asks. That you weren't expecting, so few ponies really gave a crap about your world, except for the science weirdos.

"I guess, where do you wan't to start?" And so you spoke to this complete stranger about Earth, humans, everything you could remember, TV and other Basic information. You couldn't describe too much of it in detail because you were twelve the last time you saw Earth. But it was enough to get her interested. But, unfortunately, you had to address the elephant in the room eventually.

“Do you want to talk about what's got you down?” She looks down, all of her face turned from an expression of interest to oone of sadness.She was almost about to cry again. You lean over the table and hold her hoof in your hand.

“Shh, Shh, It's okay. You don't have to if you don't want to.” She regains her composure.

"T-thank you. I think it would be best if I went home."

"I think that would be a good idea." She climbs out of her seat and walks out of the cafe. You follow.

"Don't you have work?” She asks.

"I got off work an hour ago and I should probably head home too.” You walk through the town. She was still looking a bit down but not too bad. You come to a quaint little house in the middle of town. She takes a small key out of a basket and unlocks the door.

“Thank you...again, really, you don't know how much that helped.” You smile.

“Of course. I'll see you later. Are you sure you're going to be okay?” She nods. At least that emotional roller coaster was done with. You hope you'll never have to...

“Yes, I'll be fine...though... could you...come round tomorrow. I think I'm going to need a friend.” Oh fuck nuggets.

“What about your other friends. Wouldn't they be better suited?” She looks down.

“They're out of town.” You sigh. There goes your day off...Convenient.

“Of course then. Thunderlane's gonna be pissed when he finds ou- .Oh shit Thunderlane!” She flinches.

"I said I'd be back an hour ago!" You turn and leave.

"I'll see you tomorrow." You call as you sprint down the road. you didn't hear anything else, too busy trying to get home.

You walk into the apartment Thunderlane already at the console playing Love and Tolerate, an ironically violent video game.

“About time, dude. Come on I got your controller right here.” You sigh and take a seat on the sofa.

“Thanks.”

“Right, Ready to get your flank kicked!” You laugh, your head whipping back to look at the ceiling.

“Only if I feel like going easy on you!” You jest. He sets up a lobby and starts the match.

“Alright! 'Bout time.” He shouts.

“Bring it on.” the match starts and you grab a load out.

"You owe me an hour tomorrow." He says, eyes glued to the screen.

"Can't, Gotta see someone." He doesn't seem convinced.

"All day?"

"Well, I don't know how long." on the screen you see your character get stabbed in the back with a small hidden blade. The person who killed you currently squatting over your corpse.

"rgg. fucking tea-baggers." You swear under your breath. Thunderlane just offers a small grunt of laughter.

"So who is it?"

"A mare I met at work."

"All Right! about time." He hold up his hooves for a bump.

"Not like that you moron!" You shout currently spamming every button on your controller.

"Oh? well what is it like?"

"She was needing a friend...I only just met her today." You say with confusion and frustration. He looks to you, a grin on his face.

"Well, that just proves it then. She has the hots for you." You deadpan.

"She has a son and I'm pretty sure that means she has a husband." His grin remains on his face.

"Not all the time." He waggles his eyebrows.

"Dude! It's not. like. that."

"Pfft . Whatever Anon. Are you sure you're not gay?" You huff.

"Positive. You're dying by the way." He looks to the screen and notices his character is dying.

"Oh shit!" You were laughing at his vain attempt to rescue his character by slamming buttons on his controller.

"Oh it is on now, bitch!" You move in and avenge his character by slamming an arrow through his face. Thunderlane revived and joined you as you both double-teamed the enemy.

The rest of the evening happened with nothing out of the ordinary. just you and your bro enjoying an extremely violent video game. With Nothing else on the forefront of your mind.