Pleather-bound Heart

Enigma gulped nervously as he knocked on the door. He'd called ahead to let them know he was coming so he knew they were home. Still, he couldn't help feeling bad. He'd had to reschedule four times now. Little emergencies kept coming up that he had to deal with and he couldn't imagine they were happy.

However, he was finally here. Which meant getting the job done. Or at least, near done. The door opened and Silverchain stood there, watching him. “Ah, so you managed to make it. I was beginning to worry.”

Enigma smiled timidly. “I-I really am sorry. I meant to come, honest. It's just been so wild lately, with getting back together with my ex and... you know.”

She nodded. “Mm hm. I am aware. Do come in.” She stepped aside.

He walked in and looked around. Everything looked the same. He could hear Jadewing in the kitchen. The door closed behind him and he turned to look at Silverchain. She stared back, but there was something different. He couldn't quite place it. “Is something wrong?” he asked softly.

“I wish to speak with you. About your... sudden return to your marefriend.”

He cringed and nodded. “I see. Listen, I know what I'm doing. I'm a grown stallion and I can--”

“You can do as you please, that is no problem of mine,” she said firmly. “I merely wanted to... give you this.” She held out a small piece of paper.

He took it and blinked. “A phone number? I already have your number though. Why would I need this?”

“It's for an abuse hot line. If you feel you cannot take it, or that she is pushing you too far, please do not be afraid to call for--”

“I don't need it!” he said, dropping it on the floor. “I... I'm fine, really.” A smile spread on his lips. “I appreciate your support, really. But she's not bad. I was just... exaggerating at the time. Making things up. Being too sensitive. There's no need for you to worry.”

She nodded. “I'm sure. But please, hold onto that number. Do know that if you ever require help, we are here.” She turned and trotted down the hall. “Shall we continue the job?”

“R-right, of course.” He looked down at the ground, eying the paper. He slowly picked it up and put the number into his phone before scrunching it up. I'll never need it, I'm sure. It's just to make her happy. That's all. He trotted behind the mare and stepped into the toy room. “I am sorry for all the delays. I really did mean to come sooner, honest. I just--”

“It is quite alright. A new relationship can be very time consuming at the start. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“No. I can't, she expects me home before dusk. If I'm not home she'll get mad.” He cringed as he thought about two nights ago when he'd gone out to get some fruit. She'd been in a near panic when he got home, thinking he left her again. He just couldn't do that to her anymore. “Thank you for the offer.”

“Of course,” she said with a nod before trotting off. She paused halfway down the hall. “Enigma?”

“Yes?” he asked, popping his head out of the room.

“Will you still be making our other items, as requested?”

He paused and cocked his head to the side. He then nodded. “Of course. Why wouldn't I?”

“Merely curious. How long until you believe this will be completed?”

“Not much longer. Most of it's ready. A few more days and I think I can have the rest completed. I really am sorry it's taking so long.”

“It's fine,” Silverchain said before trotting off into the kitchen.

“How's he doing?” Jadewing asked as she stirred a pot on the stove.

“He is fine, for now. He took the number, there is nothing else we can do for him aside from hope he is making the right choice. Your toy is nearly complete, however.”

“Is he still going to make the other things?”

“Yes, he has said he will.”

Enigma stared at the dangling pieces of pleather and sighed. What was he going to tell Tap? She was already upset about him having to make this for them. Once she found out he'd agreed to make the others she was going to be furious. She'd probably try to contain it, but he could always tell. It wasn't her fault, she at least didn't tell him. Instead she just got mad, her tone would change, she'd punch the pillow, roll away from him, but she didn't say anything. She was right, it wouldn't be fair for him to get upset at her if she didn't say anything.

He wished she would say something. That she'd just yell at his. This felt so much worse. He knew she was mad, that she didn't like it, her body language was more than enough. But she contained it, which made him feel even guiltier since she was at least trying to deal with it. Trying to accept the fact he was designing creepy things she didn't like. He was, once again, the bad pony. He wished he wasn't, but he always was. He wished he knew how to be better, to be the kind of good, kind, loving pony she deserved.

He closed his eyes and laid his head against the metal bars, letting out a soft sigh. If only he wasn't such a freak, if only he didn't like things like this. If only his special talent had been in almost any other field. He didn't want to upset her, he just wanted to build these things and make other ponies happy. Why couldn't she like them?

He stared at the strips of pleather and sighed, going back to work quickly. It was simple, but he couldn't make himself enjoy them no matter how hard he tried. All he could think about was her, waiting back home for him. He worked on it for a few more hours before all his energy finally left him. He got up and crawled out of the room, wiping some sweat from his brow.

Silverchain was out in the hall, waiting for him. She gave a small smile. “How is it going, Enigma?”

“I think I'm done for today. I'm sorry about how long its been taking. But it's almost done. I'll try to come back later this week and the first test run should be ready. If that's okay with you.”

She gave a nod. “That will be fine. I am happy everything seems to be working so well.” She looked to the room. “I'd love to see your work.”

“Oh, right, it's in there, waiting,” he said softly, looking back.

She frowned. “You seem distressed. Is something wrong?”

“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “I just need to go. She's waiting for me. I'll see you later this week, okay?”

She nodded. “Fine. How about the day after tomorrow?”

“That'll be fine,” he said gently before trotting out the door. He looked to the sky, though it was calm and quiet. He half expected rain to start.

“I'm home!” he called out as he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

“Did you have fun?” Tap asked from the couch. She sounded pretty cheerful and he let out a sigh of relief.

“Yes. It's almost done.” He took a deep breath. He could do this. He had to do this. She would know eventually, best to let her know now. “How was your day?”

“I was just watching a movie. My friend invited us out tomorrow, Iceprism. Her and her husband, you okay with that?”

He cringed and gave a nod. “Y-yeah. I'm fine with that. That sounds delightful.”

“Good, come here. Watch the rest of the movie with me?”

He nodded and moved to sit by her, giving a little smile.

“Are you upset?” she asked gently.

“What? No! Of course not. Why would I be?”

Her hooves wrapped around him. “I want you to be happy. I want you to want us to be together. I... don't want you to disappear again. Please don't.”

He nodded. “I... I won't. I mean it. I'm sorry. I never... should have.”

“If it's my friends, you don't have to come. I don't mind making that sacrifice for you. That's what lovers do, they sacrifice for each other.”

He nodded. “I-I know. It's fine. Your friends are fine.”

“Good,” she said before looking back towards the television. “You should get to know Ironweight better, anyway. You two can be good friends.”

“We don't really have anything in common.”

“So? Find something. You want to have friends, don't you? Real friends? If you'd just let yourself be closer to him, you could have a real friend.”

He nodded. “I'll try, okay? I ummm... I need to talk with you about something. It's... my job.”

She cringed. “Yes?”

“Err... I have a few more jobs after this. I... I want to keep doing commissions. Real commissions. Like I used to. The money is really good and it's not that much harder. I just think it would be a good idea. It could help us pay bills and everything. We won't have any more... dry seasons again.”

She frowned and he could see the annoyance spread across her face. But after a few moments she took a deep breath and nodded. “Fine. If that's what you want, I don't mind. You can... keep selling these things if you please.” There was an edge to her words, like a knife. “I do want to talk with you about something, though.”

“What?”

She sighed. “When you... left me, you abandoned me and I had nowhere else to go. I... was floundering for a while. We had food, but not enough to last me forever. There were some other things and I had to borrow money from my parents.”

He paused and stared at her. “What?”

“I didn't have any choice! What was I supposed to do? I couldn't go looking for a job when I had no idea where you were. I was so distressed that I could barely get up in the morning! It was all I could do to keep from having a breakdown after you abandoned me!”

He cringed and nodded. “R-right. Y-you're right. I'm sorry.”

She nodded and gently put a hoof over his. “So you'll help me pay them back, right?”

“O-of course. How much did you borrow from them?”

“Not much, don't worry. We can talk about it later.” She gave him a small nuzzle. “I'm happy you're home. We should stay home together like this more often.”

“We're home together all the time,” he mumbled softly.

“I know. But you always lock yourself up in that stuffy little room by yourself. You should come down here and watch things with me.”

He nodded. “I can try, I guess. But it is my job, I do need to be able to go up there a lot and work on things. I can't spend--”

“It always comes back to that, doesn't it?” she asked, glaring at him.

“W-what?”

“I'm sorry I don't have a job,” she said softly, snuggling up to him. “You don't have to rub it in my face. If I did, who would take care of you all the time? Who would cook your meals, clean up your messes? I mean, you leave them all over the place.”

He blushed and looked down. “I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it... l-like that. I just meant...”

“I could get a job, you know. I've put my career on hold for you, to take care of you while you do your little... naughty building things. Isn't that what you want me to do? Aren't you happy with me?”

He nodded quickly. “I-I am, I'm sorry, I didn't mean, I was just saying that, I thought, I mean, I-I'm sorry.”

She nodded and closed her eyes. “It's fine. So you'll try to come down more often to be with me? We can be together all the time. No more drifting apart.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

She frowned and looked up at him. “Is something wrong? Are you upset again?”

He shook his head. “N-no, of course not.”

“Honey, you know I said if you were mad or scared, all you had to do is tell me. I'm here for you. Remember?”

He nodded. “I know Tap, I'm fine. Let's just watch the movie, okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.” Her head laid gently on his shoulder, her horn against his side. He wanted to pull away and run upstairs, to get away from her. But that wasn't right. She wanted him there, so that's where he belonged.