Rarity was freezing.
Not to mention dripping wet, with her makeup running and her manestyle in shambles. She let out a pathetic little whine and shivered under the store awning she stood under.
It was that time of winter where it was easing toward the wrap-up, getting warmer so they couldn't have snow, but the pegasi had no problem dumping buckets of freezing rain on them. She squinted ahead, judging the distance between this building and the one across the street. Deep breath......
She slipped on a patch of melting snow, tripped, then skidded a few inches before crashing into a pile of slush. Perfect. Just. Perfect.
Rarity's shivers were uncontrollable now, shaking a bit of the snow off her coat. She sighed and stood, her legs quivering. One hoof in front of the other, Rarity, come on....
"Rarity!"
Rarity sat up and stared in the direction of the shout. Twilight ran towards the wet mare, wrapping her scarf around her and helping her up. "Rarity, what are you doing out here without a coat?!"
"I d-didn't know that t-there was going to be r-rain." Rarity moved a little closer to Twilight, desperately needing her body heat.
"Rarity...." Twilight squeaked. "Maybe you could come to the library, stay the night.....Carousel Boutique's on the other side of town, what were you even doing out?"
"G-getting fabric. M-my bags are still over there..." She gestured lamely at the other side of the road, where her forgotten bags were leaning against a potted plant outside the fabric shop. "And yes, Twilight, I would love to stay the night."
Twilight smiled, and a lavender glow enveloped Rarity's bags, carrying them over to Twilight's side. Rarity gratefully took them in her own magic, and together they walked to Golden Oaks, Rarity walking a little closer than normal to Twilight.
************************
Twilight pushed open the door. "Spike! Spike! Spike, can you get Rarity some blankets? She'll be staying the night."
"Rarity? Yeah, sure." Spike poked his head out from behind a bookshelf, a feather duster held in one hand. He shared a knowing look with Twilight, and went to fetch a blanket.
Rarity headed over to the fire and curled up next to it, desperately needing its warmth to heal her. Not to mention dry her coat. The sudden heat caused a nice shiver to wash over her, even more so when Twilight curled up beside her. They stayed that way for a while, saying nothing, just enjoying each other's company.
"Here you are, Rares-" Spike entered the room, only to stop and stare as he spotted Twi and Rarity cuddling. He smiled. Twilight had told him about her crush a few weeks ago. He'd been a little offended at first that she was crushing on his mare, but he was never going to get her anyway. So they had concocted this little plan, and so far it was going perfectly.
"I got blankets."
"Oh! Um, thanks, Spike." Twilight took a blanket in her magic, wrapping the now-sitting-up Rarity in it. Rarity smiled gratefully, even going so far as to nuzzle Twilight. Maybe Twi's affections weren't one-sided. Spike could only hope.
"Yes, thank you, Spikey-Wikey." Rarity nuzzled him as well.
Twilight abruptly stood. "I'll go make cocoa." She hurried into the kitchen before Spike could say he could make it himself. Rarity stared after Twilight with a look of concern.
"I hope she isn't as bad as Sweetie Belle at cooking. Oh, don't tell her I said that, you won't tell her, will you, Spike?"
"Nope. Won't say a word. She's read a few cookbooks, though she never does do much actual cooking."
Rarity laughed. "I can't say I cook much either. Well, I do cook, but I can't do anything fancy like those cookies of yours, Spike."
They lapsed into awkward silence after that until Twilight came out with three mugs of cocoa. "I didn't make it from scratch, I just used the instant cocoa packets, I hope that's alright." She sat down between Rarity and Spike, completing the small circle.
"It's fine, Twilight. I use the packets, too." Rarity sipped her cocoa. Twilight followed suit, and the room once again lapsed into silence as they all had Twilight's cocoa.
Twilight stole a glance at Rarity. Even with her mane all mussed, even with her makeup ruined, she was a beauty. She then realized her extra cot was still broken....Whoa. Down, Twilight. Down.
"You know, Rarity.....my extra bed is broken. Would it be alright if you slept in my bed with me tonight? Or would you rather use the floor? That's okay with me if you want to use the floor-" Rarity pressed a hoof to Twilight's mouth, effectively silencing her.
"I'd be just fine with sleeping with you, darling." Rarity's eyes held a knowing spark. Twilight blushed. Spike just stared. Was Rarity implying.....?
Twilight levitated a book from a shelf next to where they were sitting. "You know, I've been wanting to show you this, Rarity. Back when Canterlot was first founded...."
Spike quietly excused himself, and hurried up the stairs. They needed a little private time, and they didn't even know he'd left the room. Twilight's eyes held that glow they always had when she was researching something, and Rarity looked quite a bit happier than he'd ever seen her. Those two were made for each other. He grinned and headed over to the small bathroom Twilight had claimed as her own when they'd first came to Ponyville. They were in the cupboard below the sink, he knew that. Candles, candles.....Ah-ha!
He fished a few candles out of the cupboard and set them around Twi's bedroom, careful not to set any too close to her books. He breathed a little flame onto each one, and dimmed the lights. There. The atmosphere was perfect.
Going back downstairs, Rarity had snuggled up rather closely to Twilight, her head resting on Twi's shoulder. Twilight seemed to be enjoying the contact, her cheeks a bubblegum-pink hue only seen on a pony who's romantic fantasies were coming true. Her tail also flicked animatedly. Spike coughed. Both girls jumped.
"It's getting kinda late, isn't it?" Spike shot Twilight a wink. "I've prepared your room, if you two want to call it a night."
"I don't really care." Twilight shrugged. "You want to go to bed, Rarity?"
Rarity stood up. "In a moment, dear, just let me clean myself up, then I'll join you. You go on up."
Rarity took one of her bags, then headed into the downstairs bathroom. She rummaged through it. She knew she had bought some blue-striped fabric, and she never left home without a portable sewing kit. Where was it...Fishing it out, she took her measuring tape, scissors, and needle and thread, and managed to stitch herself a pair of rather cute socks.
They were a bit of a hasty creation, but they would have to do. She headed up the stairs only to bump into Twilight, who's ears were down as she stared at all the candles Spike had set up.
"When he said he'd 'prepared our room', I didn't think....."
"I think the candles are rather nice, dear." She gave Twilight a playful poke. "What do you say we go to sleep?"
Twilight's eyes grew wide for a moment before she nodded somewhat weakly. She crawled under the covers, Rarity quickly following suit.
Twilight was ecstatic. She and Spike had set everything up perfectly. And Rarity was wearing socks! And she looked pretty sexy. The thing about perfection, however, was that you had no idea where to go from there. Rarity apparently had the same mindset, as she then climbed on top of Twilight.
"What are you-"
"Don't tell me you're backing down now. Now that we're in bed and everything." A devilish look crossed Rarity's face. Twilight was surprised. Where was the demure lady Rarity?
"I...can't we just cuddle?" Twilight's words came out as a feeble squeak.
"Twilight." Rarity whispered, her breath light and hot on Twilight's lips. "I love you. You love me. We both know this. I, for one, would like to make it official."
Twilight's cheeks were pink for the third time that night. She really had wanted to kiss Rarity ever since she'd really gotten to know her and started crushing on her....and Rarity liked her that way too....
Oh buck it.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Rarity's. For a moment Rarity looked just as surprised as Twilight had been when she'd climbed on top of her, but then her eyes became relaxed slits, and she leaned into Twilight, wrapping her arms around her. Her tongue reached into Twilight's mouth, poking first, then playing, wrestling with Twilight's. Twilight's mouth tasted like tea and coffee, a pleasant flavor. Rarity began to move her hooves further down, tickling Twi's flanks. Twilight let out a small squeal and broke the kiss. Rarity smiled, committing her discovery to memory.
"I love you, Twilight."
"I love you too."
"D'you want to go further tonight?"
"No. I'm kinda tired."
Rarity slid so she was next to Twilight, her arms still wrapped around her marefriend. Twilight's hooves settled slightly above Rarity's hips, and as the rain began to finally subside, Rarity was grateful for the winter rain.
Author's Note
I borrowed the Rare in socks from Like a Virgin, a cute Sparity story you should go read.
