Your Human and You: I think, Therefore I Am

The wooden door swung open providing my family the means to enter our humble abode. Each and every one of us carried a different expression as we crossed the threshold into our home. Dad looked irritable and mom would constantly glace at him, concern etched into her face. Sweeper carried the same pouty face he had since the morning. Had I been able to talk in public I would have warned him that his face would get stuck like that. personally I felt content with how the day went. It had been fun especially when Humana showed up. Badge on the other hoof looked exhausted. He had spent hours talking to Humana about me. Things like where my family brought me, was I neutered, and what foodstuff I liked to eat. Badge had answered everything from the mundane to the very detailed. The latter of which got quite embarrassing. Most of the questions were answered truthfully. The only one Badge straight out lied about was my age. He told Humana I was Three and a half when in actuality I was almost seventeen.

My slow ageing can be added on to the list of 'not normal' things I have that other humans don't. So far out of the things we've tried the only thing that I share with normal humans is our species' Acneigh's fetlock to avocados. We found out by accident when I decided to try out new foods I thought I could eat. Luckily while it is a poison to my kind I have more of a deadly allergic reaction to it. I get very ill fast but if I'm taken to a vet and treated quickly enough I'll live. The days of my recovery won't be fun but I'll survive.

Shining Badge, being last one to enter the house closes the door behind us. The closing of the door marks the end of my periodic ban on acting normal, my normal. Free of the role I must play in public I open my mouth to speak of the wondrous day I had and to thank my parents for giving it to me.

"Fitty, are we going to have to do it again." My mother's worried tone silences me before I could speak. Only now did I realize that something was bothering my parents. Something must have happened at the park but what?

Sweeper is the first to vocalize the confusion my siblings and I are having. "Do what again?" Dad and mom flash us a somber look before entering the kitchen. Sweeper stops short of going in as well. "You mean we're going to need to move again don't you." he groaned. A moment later he turns to me as badge and we try to pass by him. "This is your fault you know." He points an accusing hoof at me.

"HEY, you can't blame me for this." I retorted knowing full well where this was going.

"Yes I can. If it wasn't for your abnormalness then we wouldn't have to move every few years. We wouldn't need to sacrifice so much to hide what you really are." he yelled.

"Sweeper"

"We could have lived normal lives if you weren't here."

"Sweeper"

"But noooo we have to carter to your needs because you're special. Well let me tell you something. You are not. No matter how different you are from the other humans you're still one of them. A DUMB. STINKING. DIRTY. HUMAN. You will never be abl-"

"SWEEPER EVERCLEAN FACTORY" The yelling of my father as well as the slamming of his hoof against the wooden floor broke Sweeper from his rant. "THAT'S ENOUGH." he roared. I even heard the plates in the cupboard rattling  from his voice. "Go to your room. You are not having dinner tonight."

Sweeper opened his mouth to argue but he lost his voice under the stern stare of my father. Sweeper lowered his head to the ground. My parents might not have been able to see his face pass the table but I could. He was seething. With a snort he lifted his head and ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs to his room. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Dad was taking deep breathes to cool his anger. Badge just stared with is mouth agape. He probably wasn't sure what to say to all of this. I was angry but I couldn't help feeling guilty by the truth of Sweeper's words. It was true, my family could have really lived a normal life. There have been times when either my façade had slipped or my slow growth had brought unwanted questioning. It has only ever happened a few times but when It did we needed to move to prevent my secret from being discovered. Nopony know what would happen if the public found out about me but my parents don't want to take any risks.

Thankfully mom broke the silence of the kitchen. "I'll talk to him later but for now let's get dinner started." She smiled at Badge. "And it's your favorite Badge, spaghetti with wheatballs.

Dinner was quite enjoyable, even more so without Sweeper there. He is my brother and I love him but sometimes he just goes to far. After we were done eating everypony went to do their own thing. I ended up in my room staring at the ceiling. I let my thoughts wonder so I won't dwell on what Sweeper had said. One thing kept returning to the forefront of my mind. Humana.

Her beautiful fur, her bright eyes, and her wonderful voice. I couldn't stop thinking about her. The signs were there, Only the most oblivious of the oblivious won't see it or ignore it. I had a crush on her.

Time to see my good old brother Badge.

I exited my dark room and walked into the lantern lit hallway. Badge was just a door down to my left while Sweeper was on the other side next to the bathroom. I could hear voices coming from Sweeper's room as I made my way to Badges'. they were to quite to listen to but It couldn't be anypony else other then mom and my youngest brother.  Whatever they were talking about was none of my business so I don't look into it any farther. Reaching Badge's room I knocked on the door before walking in.

Badge's room is a lot like the one I sleep in. A bed, a dresser, and a desk all reside within. What he has that I don't is a bookshelf and a no longer used toy chest along with other miscellaneous things like posters and pictures. I can't deny that I'm jealous of the guy sometimes.

Badge was sitting at his desk with a lantern next to him. In front of him is a book. "Sup bro, need something?" he asked, lifting his head away from the book to look at me. Saying nothing I walked over to his bed and sat down. I leaned back till my head came in contact with the wall behind me. All the while my brother following me with is eyes.

"I have a crush on Humana." I blurted out.

The jaw dropping 'what!' I was expecting never came. Instead I got a raised eyebrow. "Really? You just met her today. It's kind of hard to see anypony...or should I say anyone in our case falling in love so quickly. I don't know about you but I don't believe in love at first sight."

"I don't either but who said anything about interest at first sight." I said pensively.

Badge scratched his chin. "Touché, bbbbuuutt you got to emit that it is kind of cliché, you and a pony. Like those old fantasy stories of interspecies lovers who fight against the forces who want to tear them apart." he chuckled.

"true, though do any of those fantasy stories have one of the lovers as a member of a race that are pets?" I sighed. It was now that we were getting to what I really wanted to talk about.

Badge sighed, which eventually turned into a groan. He knew what I was getting at. It was something that neither of us could change no matter what we do. My brother stared into my eyes. "Are you absolutely sure you like this mare. Are you sure this is not some spur of the moment thing?" He asked with a serous tone that I have only heard a few times before.

It didn't need much thought. I have never really been interested in human girls. Even when some are so blatantly trying to seduce me by presenting me their vaginas and asses. It has only happened three times thankfully and while I should be flattered I could care less about it. It all comes down to wanting a partner who I can talk to and enjoy just being around rather then someone who is just running on instincts. That's what mares have and want I want...well stallion have it too but I'm not interested in them in that way. In short, it is lovely mares that get my blood moving.

  "Yes." I say with determination.

Badge remained silent for a few seconds before giving me a astute nod. "Well the good thing is she already likes you...just not in that way, but I guess that's a start. The first thing we need to do is get to know her. Once you see if she is really somepony you want to be with, then we need to see if we can trust her with your secrets."

I nodded in agreement. I may have a crush but I wasn't about to show off my intelligent abilities to a mare who might reveal everything to the wrong ponies. There was something else that cross my mind. "Hey Badge, how come you're so understanding with me liking a pony."

He chuckled. " Because Luke, even if you are a human you're also my brother so it shouldn't be that strange that my brother likes somepony. Things are just a bit more complicated then normal...but when has anything related to you been normal."  Badge laughed harder and eventually joined in. "Now that that is settled I need to get back to my Police Regulation book. The sooner I get to Human takedown methods the sooner I get to try them on you." He grinned maliciously.

" I won't make it easy for you." I replied with my own grin.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."