Deus Ex: Cosplay Revolution

Honestly, I'm not even gonna bother with them. This is one of the few times I've had to relax, and I'm not letting a pair of MIBs get in my way. I'd be more worried if crazy bitch came back, but if they were here to keep an eye on me then whatever. Just as long as I got to see a movie, maybe get some popcorn.

I tapped Shade on the shoulder. She looked at me, and I pulled her head close. Mighta looked like I was doing something lovey-dovey but I wasn't.

"You see the mares in suits?" I whispered. She nods. "You think you know where they came from?"

"The intelligence division of the Canterlot guard. I've worked with them a couple times. Real friendly lot, they are." She rubs up a little closer to me. I'm already uncomfortable as it is. "Act like we're dating."

Almost, almost want to yell "fuck no!" and run off, but honestly I've lost control of my life as it is. "You cold?" I ask, a bit louder than I should have. "Don't think a dress like that is appropriate for tonight. Want to borrow my jacket?"

"Thanks, honey," she says. I take the coat out from under my arm, sneakily hiding the tailor's letter in my pocket before unfolding it and putting it over her shoulders. The bottom of it falls to her ankles, and she pulls it so that it sits better on her. Can't say it's not cute, though. "Bit big, isn't it?"

"Not on me," I grunt. Then I point to the Star Wars ripoff. "So, Star Ponies? Think I'd like to see that. Think the villain would be cool."

"Hm... Heard from a friend that it was a bit cheesy. Do you like cheesy?"

Considering I already know the plot of the movie... "I love cheesy. Can't get enough of it. Do you?"

A chuckle. "I'm alright with it. So, want to get something to eat before seeing it?"

I nod.

There are few people who can pull off "mysterious" well. I most certainly couldn't: half the time I spent here was bluffing and hiding, and the other half was running. Shade, she could pull off mysterious if she wanted to, but I don't think she was. Right now I think she was aiming more towards the "loving woman in relationship with skittish, disfigured guy" image, which I really didn't care for. So long as those MIBs stuck far away, I could get some food, and a good night of sleep, then so be it.

"Momma used to take me here when I was young. They have the best chili in the country, as far as I'm concerned," she says, pointing to the Varsity-lookalike right in front of us. I've stopped giving a shit, really, about the similarities between home and here, because as a good man once said, don't fucking think about it, and get through the fucking day. Think that was Confucius or someone. "You okay with that?"

I nod. Y'know, I was half-expecting a fancy restaurant that she was taking me to. Honestly, I don't give a fuck.

The MIBs are still following us. I'm itching to grab a chair and pull something straight out of WWE, a couple armbars, maybe a sleeper hold or two, hell, even a German Suplex. Fuck, I when was the last time I suplexed someone?

"C'mon, let's go inside. Not too crowded this time of day," she... commands, I guess, grabbing me by the elbow and dragging me inside.

The process of ordering is quick, seeing as we wait about five minutes before we get to the counter. I order onion rings covered in chili, because none of the other options on the menu look appealing to me. Shade gets a hayburger, hayfries, and a large drink. The wait time for the order is pretty short, considering the simplicity, and we're sitting at a booth right after.

Considering the last time I was on a date was a couple bajillion years ago, I was just sitting there picking at the onion rings. Man, my life was moving far too fast...

Still, good idea to keep an eye on the MIBs. They're sitting at a booth right over, sitting across from each other. Looks like they're not dumber than I am after all.

"So, whatcha think of the hospital?"

Might as well... "Better than back home. How much did you have to pay to get me out?"

"Pay? We got free healthcare in Equestria. How bad is it back where you lived that they had to make you pay for the doctor?"

Man, I didn't know myself. "I dunno. We don't have magic swords back home."

And then it descends into small talk. I finished the onion rings in a couple minutes, but Shade was still eating. Think I made eye contact with the MIBs, cause they started talking soon as I looked away. Man, I swear if they follow me and stalk me while I'm on the toilet, there'd be hell to pay.

A question tugs at my mind. "Is Summer your first or last name?"

"Summer Shade. That's my name."

"Alright. You know mine, Darrell Mays. Think I'll go by the nickname of Shadowfall, though. That seems like a good nickname."

"Yeah. You done? I think we can still catch that movie if we hurry.

I shrug. "Yeah, sure. Let's go. Kinda wanna get there before anyone else."

"Alright!" she says, getting up and sliding the trash off her tray into the bin.

Sighing, I follow her. I have well and truly lost control of my life...