Pleather-bound Heart

“I can't believe that worked,” Ironweight said, shaking his head and laughing. He was a large orange unicorn with a black mane. The two were in the middle of watching the frozen archery competition on the television.

Enigma looked up. “What? The shot? Her aim was really good.”

“No, the little scam you played on Tap,” the stallion said with a chuckle before lightly punching him in the withers. Enigma cringed, but didn't say a word. The other stallion was bigger than he was and acting like it hurt tended to make him try to toughen his 'friend' up. He'd gone home with an almost numb leg because of it once. “Pretending to run off so she'd track you down? Makes me almost wish I'd thought of something like that before I was married. I bet the sex was pretty good, after. Right?”

Enigma gulped. “Y-yeah.” They hadn't even touched each other in that way since. Tap had tried a few times, but he hadn't been able to gain even a modicum of excitement at the prospect. All it seemed to do was make her more angry. He'd even claimed a headache a few times.

“So, how long you planning to leave her hanging in the wind?”

“W-what?”

“Well, you have have to have something planned, right? I mean, you ran off from her. What do you have in mind to make it up to her?”

“She... she said all she wanted was for me to be back. She hasn't asked for anything else.”

“What, you're going to make her beg?” the stallion asked with a chuckle. “You're cold. I always thought you were supposed to be a nice guy.”

Enigma blushed. “I... I don't know. I-I'm sorry.” He rocked nervously in his chair. He was here, what more did the stallion want? He was doing everything he could for Tap. He wanted her to be happy.

“She was crying here almost every night. Seriously, man. That's pretty cold. You should try to make it up to her. I know I could never do that to my Iceprism. Not only because she'd kill me, either. Pretty abusive.”

He blinked. “Y-you think I've been abusive?”

“Yeah. Run off in the middle of the night, make her track you down. All because she slapped you? What kind of man does that?” the stallion said with a roll of his eyes. “Let me tell you, I've been hearing about it almost every single day since it happened. The wife thinks I'm somehow involved. What could have possessed you to do something so stupid?”

Enigma lowered her eyes. “I... I don't know. I just thought... I wasn't feeling... I couldn't feel happy there.”

“You ask me, you're too picky. A mare like that is fine. Most would have said good riddance to you. I kind of wish she had, if you pull any more crap like that I'm going to have to listen to them bitch about it for weeks. Again.” There was a hint of threat in his words that made Enigma gulp nervously.

“S-sorry. I never... meant to put you through that,” Enigma whispered, closing his eyes. “I just...”

“Maybe you're unbalanced in the head.”

Enigma froze, his eyes widening. “W-what?”

“Well, most stallions wouldn't do something like that over something so small. A little slap? Come on. Maybe you've got some trouble in the head. When's last time you had your magic checked?”

Enigma turned red. “I-I... I don't... can we just watch the game, please?”

The other stallion shrugged and looked back at the television. Enigma watched him nervously. He had a feeling the larger stallion didn't like him very much. He moved slightly away from him, huddled on the corner of the couch. He could hear Tap and her friend in the other room, talking. He just wished he could go home, he knew they'd be talking probably for hours and he hated being here.

But abandoning her again, even in such a minor way, was something he couldn't do to her. Ironweight was right. He was being abusive. He had to find another way to talk with her. He perked up. He could talk to her on the way home. It would be perfect.

Enigma waved the two bye as he and Tap trotted out of their house and started making their way home. “That was delightful, wasn't it?” she asked with a smile.

He gulped and nodded, before shaking his head. “No. It... really wasn't.” He took a slow, deep breath. “I... me and Ironweight don't get along. Next time, can I not come? I don't ever feel comfortable when I go over there.”

“What?” Tap asked, stopping to stare at him. “What do you mean?”

“W-well, I don't... like him. I'm sure he's a great guy, but he's not someone I ever have fun being around. I always feel nervous and--”

“Oh my gosh. Really? You barely know the guy and you're going to complain about how he makes you nervous? Maybe if you got to know him a bit more you wouldn't be so upset.”

“W-what?”

“He's married to Iceprism and I know he's a great guy. How hard is it for you to just try to know my friends?”

He shook his head. “I-I didn't mean, I just--”

“If you got to know him, you'd like him. Come on, he's a great guy. You just need to try more and stop being so sensitive.”

Enigma gave a slow nod. “Y-you're right. I'm sorry. I-I'll try harder. Sorry... I... I didn't mean to upset you...”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “You didn't upset me. Just annoyed me. Come on, there's no reason for you to treat my friends so rudely. Why are you always so picky and sensitive about every little thing?”

“I don't know. I just didn't... really enjoy myself. I...”

“Was it because he likes sports? You know, most stallions like them. The wonderbolts are famous because of it. You're just being too picky. Too needy.”

“Y-you're right, I'm sorry, I-I'll try not to be so picky all the time. Sorry.”

She nodded and looked ahead as she trotted. “You know, we could ask other ponies if you don't believe me. See what they say. Maybe--”

“I said I was sorry and I agreed with you, what more do you want from me?” he shrieked, stomping a hoof down. He cringed when he realized the other ponies on the street turned to stare at him. His head lowered in shame.

“Enigma, you don't need to make a scene everywhere we go,” Tap said with a sigh. “I was just trying to look out for you and find out what's wrong.”

“R-right, I'm sorry. C-can we just let it go, please? Just... please.”

She let out an exasperated sigh before nodding. “Fine. You need to keep yourself under control better, though. Flipping out all the time is very unattractive.”

He nodded. “Right, I'm sorry. I'll try to keep in better control.”

“Good.”

Enigma stared at the roof, trembling. Tap was sleeping in the bed besides him. They'd managed to have a little romantic fun, but he hadn't enjoyed it. He felt like he was suffocating, like the world was closing in around him and there was nopony to help him. He couldn't focus on his work, no matter how he tried. Things were starting to feel just as bad as before. No, worse. He hugged a pillow to his chest and rolled over, as far from her as he could get.

She was right, he was weird and never gave anything a chance. He was horrible. He was judgmental and rude. Everything he did was just a big mess up. He crawled out of the bed and slowly trotted out of the room.

“Where are you going?” Tap asked, making him jump.

“I-I was thirsty, I-I just wanted a glass of water,” he said quickly.

“A glass of water? Really? You aren't trying to run off again, are you?” She tugged on him with her magic and he came a step closer. “You know what I said, remember? If you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here. You don't need to run off. You don't need to hide. Just tell me.”

He nodded. “I know. I'm fine, really.” He felt like he was going to throw up. “I just want a little drink. I swear I'm not going anywhere but downstairs.”

She nodded and started to get out of bed. “Well, I'm a little thirsty, how about I come with you?”

“T-there's no need, I'll bring you up a glass too, okay?”

She frowned, but gave a nod.

He quickly trotted out of the room and walked to the kitchen. He reached out for the cabinet with a hoof, and froze. His hooves were shaking. He shook his head and instead grabbed it with his magic. The cabinet opened and he quickly grabbed one of the glasses and pulled it out.

His magic faltered and it crashed to the ground, shattering. He let out an eep and pulled back.

“What was that?” Tap's voice called out from the other room.

“I dropped a few spoons!” he called back instantly, fear spurring him forward. He quickly started picking up the shards of glass in his magic, dumping them into the trash. He prayed she wouldn't come out. “It's okay, I picked them up!”

“You need to be more careful,” she called back. She didn't sound any closer. He let out a sigh of relief and grabbed the broom and dustbin, sweeping it all up as best he could before tossing it in the trash.

With his screw up hidden from view, he put the tools away and slowly pulled out two more glasses, placing them on the counter, slowly. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, before filling them with water. “You can do this,” he whispered to himself. “It's just carrying water. That's all there is to it. You're a grown stallion, it's not hard. It's not scary. It's the easiest thing in the world.” He downed his before picking up hers and carrying it to the bedroom.

“Enigma, are you alright?” Tap asked after he handed it off. “You didn't spill any, did you?”

“A-a little.”

She sighed and shook her head. “You need to be more careful. Not go so fast. If you rush things you'll end up making a big mess and then I'll have to clean it up.”

“Sorry,” he mumbled softly. “I'll do better next time.”

She nodded. “Okay.” She took a few sips before laying it on the bedside table. “Is everything okay? Thinking about the job tomorrow?”

He blinked and shook his head. “No. But it's almost done. I just have the last few pieces to work on, then it's complete. Just a little more.”

She nodded and gave a smile. “That's wonderful. Are you excited?”

“W-what? Me, excited? W-well... a little. I mean, it's been... nice, working on it. It'll make me happy to see the end result.”

She gently reached out to put a hoof on his shoulder. “Well, if it makes you happy, that's what's important, right? Then you'll start work on those... other things you mentioned, won't you?”

He gave a nod. “Yeah. It won't take too long to develop them, though. They should be fairly simple, all in all. Compared to the big project.”

She gave another nod and kept stroking his back. “I... see. Well, good night.” She pulled her hoof back and flipped off the light.

He closed his eyes and laid on his back, trembling softly.

What was he going to do?