Swept up

Hey everyone! A warning to anyone reading this chapter as it's released, i added a bit to the end of chapter 3, so be sure to go back and read that before you read this. Just scroll down to the end of the story and read the last few paragraphs, they were originally going to be for this story, but in the end, i decided it would flow better if they were in chapter 3. Alright! back to your regularly scheduled story!

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Rarity leaned back, pinching the bridge of her nose and sighing. She looked at the clock... It was already dark out, and no word from Fluttershy. Rarity had promised herself that she would stay up until Fluttershy had come by, but with all the travelling she had done the past few days, the surprising amount of energy required by the fashion show itself, and getting up early for Fluttershy that very morning, Rarity had been running herself ragged. She felt under her eyes anxiously, terrified that bags would form and cause unsightly wrinkles... At least it was almost her spa day, she was sure that a little time with Lotus and Aloe was just the thing she needed to wash away the last few days' stress.

Fluttershy rapped her knuckles gently against Rarity's door, glancing at the clocktower as she did so. She suddenly felt a pang of guilt; She was stopping by Rarity's a bit late, what if she had Sweetie Bell over and she was sleeping? Her thoughts were cut short as the door swung open, much like it had that morning, to reveal Fluttershy's purple-haired friend, who's face broke into an exuberant smile at the sight of her.

"Fluttershy! my dear, there you are! Out a little late i see." Rarity beamed, allowing Fluttershy to walk in, this time of her own volition. As Fluttershy entered, Rarity examined her. Still rather well put together, even if her cheeks were a bit pink, most likely from the cold. They sat down together at Rarity's table, Rarity setting out a few chocolates and popping one into her mouth. "Alright darling! Dish. What happened?"

Fluttershy took one of the chocolates as well, and in short order, explained the events of her outing with Gust. Rarity listened intently, occasionally asking for deeper details but otherwise remaining a quiet, yet reactive audience. Fluttershy explained that most of the talk was focused on what she did and what she liked, and that he seemed very complimentary of what she did.

Rarity giggled. "Oh, so he's one for flattery. I must say i find nothing wrong with that... Anyway, dear, go on."

Fluttershy obliged, explaining that after Gust had paid for their drinks-

"What was the tip like?"

"Uhm... it was eight bits, and he left ten..."

"Not bad, not bad..."

-Gust had offered to go for a walk with her, but they settled on him merely walking her home instead. When Fluttershy mentioned Gust had given her his jacket, Rarity melted. "Ohhhhh that is the most adorable-! It's like something out of my stories!" She squealed, bouncing in her seat giddily and sighing.

"...Your Stories?"

"Uh- Ignore that. Continue, continue!"

Fluttershy blinked at this little outburst, blushing, but forged onward with her story, ending it with them arriving at her gate."

"So..." Rarity prodded, leaning forward slightly "Is that where you broke it off? How did he take it?"

Fluttershy's blush deepened, and she turned her gaze to the floor as Rarity's eyes widened. "Ah-actually... I decided to... That we're gonna... see each other again. On Sunday."

Rarity gripped the table, and slowly to her feet. "Fluttershy." She said, forcing her voice to remain even. "If you are playing some sort of joke on me, i need you to tell me. Right now."

Fluttershy shrank back into her seat. "Uh, I'm not... Sorry"

Rarity remained quiet for a moment before, at a speed that would have put Rainbow Dash to shame, sped over to Fluttershy, picked her up, and wrapped her in a tight hug, bouncing up and down with the energy of a super ball. "OHHHHH MYYY GOODNESSS FLUTTERSHYYYYYY!" She squealed, embracing her friend.

Fluttershy squeaked in shock as she was gripped by her friend. "R-rarity... Can't... breathe..."

Rarity blinked, and looked at Fluttershy's strained face. She laughed nervously, and set her down, causing Fluttershy to wobble dazedly on her feet. "Sorry about that, dear... But ooooh my goodness I'm so happy for you!" She exclaimed, resisting the urge to embrace her friend again. "What made you decide to see him again?"

Fluttershy shrugged. "Well, I... I don't really know... I just... I liked the way he talked to me and treated me... He let me say whatever i wanted to say, and... and he liked what i had to say, I-... He made me feel... Like i was really special and safe and- I don't know... " She stuttered, smiling at the thought and shaking her head, her blush reappearing.

Rarity sighed dreamily, lost in the romance of the situation. "Oh, Fluttershy, I'm just thrilled for you~"

Gust landed squarely on the doorstep of his house. The cloud-constructed structure was rather small, but with great, wide, arched windows, giving the building an open-air feel. The architecture of the home fit in well with the surrounding city of Cloudsdale, with many Ionic pillars supporting the upper deck of the house. Humming to himself, Gust clicked open the door and slipped inside. As he fumbled around for the light switch, he heard a sudden clattering from the kitchen. His entire body froze, tensed... no one else should have been in here. Wings spread slightly, he moved over to the other room with a surprising display of stealth... until he tripped on a tiny tuft of cloud and fell flat on his face.

The silhouetted  figure was standing before the fridge was rusting through, but froze, much as Gust did, as he heard the muffled thump of the young man hit the floor. He peered around, unable to see the figure who had suddenly fallen to the floor, and called out, slightly unnerved, with a muffled voice. "Guuft?"

Gust sprang from the floor and barreled at the intruder, who only had time to raise his hands in a futile attempt to halt the charging pegasus.

"Wai-ooff!"

For a few moments they wrestled wildly, until the intruder spat something, and began shouting in a hoarse, choked voice. "GUST! GUST! IT'S ME! GET OFF ME, MAN!"

Gust froze, still holding onto the other man in an awkward headlock. "...Coffee?"

Gust stood up and flicked the light on. There, laying on the floor, a tarnished sandwich in hand, normally straight black hair tousled, and dark brown eyes staring, absolutely bewildered, was... Gusts' roomate, Coffee Klatch. They stared at each other in total silence for a few moments, before coffee finally broke the silence, still on the floor. "...WHAT IN TARTARUS IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

Gust flinched at Coffee's shouting, and reached down to help Coffee up "Sorry! Sorry!...I thought you were headed out on a business trip, I didn't think anyone would be home, i heard a noise, and..." He muttered something that sounded a bit like. "Burglar..."

Coffee rolled his eyes, grasping Gusts' hand and lifting himself up. "For quite literally the hundredth time, that's not until tomorrow, Gust..." He took Gusts' outstretched hand and hopped to his feet, wincing as he stretched his cream-colored wings. "I'll give you this..." Coffee groaned. "You've got quite a tackle, pal..." Coffee was a good deal better built than Gust, stockier and thicker with muscle, though he was a good deal shorter.

Gust smiled sheepishly.  "Thanks..." He said before blinking. "Wait a minute... What were you doing eating a sandwich in the dark?!"

It was Coffee's turn to look a bit embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head. "Well... You know i'm a late night snacker... And worker... And, uh, liver... I was finalizing some of my travel plans for tomorrow, and well... I got hungry..."

Gust quirked an eyebrow. "And you decided to make it... in the dark."

Coffee Shrugged "I wanted to see if i could! Gotta challenge yourself, man!"

With an exasperated sigh, Gust clapped a hand to his face. "I'm beginning to feel less guilty about decking you now."

Coffee chuckled, throwing his hands into the air. "Alright, alright... We'll split the blame 70-30..."

"Me with the 70?"

"Well, YEAH. You came at me like a linebacker, dude."

Gust grinned and rolled his eyes as he made his way over to their couch and flopped down onto the plush cloud-formed furniture. "Fair enough." Coffee joined him, still munching on what remained of his sandwich.

"So. How'd the thing go? With... Shutterfly?" He asked, ripping off another chunk of bread with his teeth.

Gust had to force down a smile, and merely gave a nonchalant shrug. "Fluttershy. And pretty good, I guess... We're meeting up again on Sunday, so..."

Coffee blinked, swallowing down the last of his sandwich before grinning widely and pelting Gust's shoulder with a series of rapid punches. "I! TOLD! YOU!" he shouted triumphantly, laughing as Gust winced and returned a blow in kind.

"I told you man! I told you if you talked to her she'd like you! Thank Celestia we shoved you over there, otherwise you would've sulked the rest of the day about it!" He laughed, clapping Gust on the back. "Can't wait 'til the others hear about this..." He sighed contentedly, leaning back, occasionally guffawing as Gust's face grew hot.

Coffee nudged Gust with his elbow. "Hey, c'mon man, we're just looking out for ya, you know that! You're the only one of us who hasn't EVER had a girlfriend yet- You said you wanted us to help you so... We kinda had to throw you off the cloud, see if you could fly, y'know?"

Gust looked over at his friend. He and Coffee had been friends since flight school... He wouldn't do wrong by him. Not on purpose, anyway. "Alright, alright... I appreciate it. Where you headed this time to sell?"

Coffee grinned. "I'm gonna go for it. I'm gonna crack the Canterlot nut. By they time I'm done there, every single high-end unicorn in that city's gonna be drinking Crazy Klatch's Canned Coffee Concoction Culinary Component! I'll be the face everyone's glad to see in the morning- Oh! I could rework that into some kind of slogan! Be right back, I gotta grab a pen!" He said, hopping off the couch and sprinting into his room.

Gust called after the speeding pegasus. "You know, you can't sell any of your stuff if you drink it all! How many cups did you have today?"

"...Only five! It's not my fault it's delicious!"

"Well, you made it, so technically-"

"No one asked you!"

Gust sighed, moving into a lying position on the couch, grinning to himself.

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Woo! Sorry for the short  chapter everyone, but life kinda hit me like a ton of bricks this week! With any luck i'll get another chapter VERY soon (read: less than a week) But until then, enjoy this chapter!