“M-Mac, c’mon!” Caramel’s voice was nearly a whine when he hurriedly picked up his pace to trot at Mac’s side. He looked around at the ponies walking through Ponyville and could feel himself swallow a lump in his throat. “I don’t need it, really!”

“But ya want this,” Big Macintosh told the other. It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Caramel attempted to open his mouth and disagree with his boyfriend, but the words wouldn’t seem to come. He looked down at his hooves and he trotted through the grassy pathway.

“But it’s just a sweater.” Caramel bumped up against Big Macintosh in an attempt to get his attention. His eyes looked to the shops they passed, seeing food and quills and five buildings down he saw carousel boutique. “It’s too expensive…”

“I told ya, farm’s gotten more money this year so AJ’s given us all a bit of extra share.” Big Macintosh slow down in his walk and grabbed Caramel’s hoof. “Ya want this.”

“It costs thirty bits…” Caramel felt his ears flatten against his head when he looked to his side. He watched ponies pass, some in groups and some alone, but they all seemed disconnected from the two. “You could buy yourself something really nice with that, I have plenty of sweaters and scarfs and things to keep warm.”

“Ya stare at it every time we pass here, Sugar,” Big Macintosh laid his hoof on Caramel’s head. The emerald eyes of the other stared into Caramel’s own blue, and before he had the chance to blink Mac’s lips pressed down to his own. Caramel felt a wave of cool sensation run over his body, and he couldn’t help but smile when Mac help his lips there.

“But…” Caramel tried to speak when he pulled away, however Mac lifted his hoof and pressed it down on Caramel’s lips. He gave his nose a quick kiss before he shook his head.

“Yer at least gonna try it on.” Big Macintosh said. Caramel looked back to the crowd, and frowned when he saw a few ponies staring at the two of them.

Mac’s smile was reassuring, though Caramel still felt his heart sink when Mac continued walking. The tan stallion trotted to catch up and bumped up against Big Mac’s backside when they had reached their destination. Big Macintosh lifted his hoof to knock on the door, and took in a deep breath while he waited.

“Mac, are you sure there isn’t something you want to get for yourself?” Caramel asked one last time.

“Nope.” Big Macintosh shook his head.

The door opened quite quickly and the two stallions were greeted by wide, sparkling eyes that belonged to Rarity the unicorn.

“Oh, why hello darlings!” She spoke in a delighted tone, the smile on her face polite yet genuine. “I haven’t seen either of you in quite some time… though I’m quite sure I’m in no need of repair of anything…”

Rarity paused and put her hoof to her mouth in thought.

“We’re actually here fer a lil’ shoppin’.” Big Macintosh’s face was lacking most of the emotion he had just a few moments ago.

“Oh, my, that is an excellent bit of news I must say!” Rarity’s voice was louder than before. “I’ve told Applejack a hundred times I would love to give you a bit of a touch up! You have such a lovely coat and mane, it’s a shame there’s always that icky mud in it!”

Caramel’s head felt like it was beginning to spin at just how much Rarity was rambling on.

“Actually, Miss Rarity,” Big Macintosh lifted his hoof. “We just want ta see a sweater, an’ it’s fer Caramel here.”

“Oh!” Rarity’s attention turned to Caramel. “That’s good news as well. Why don’t you two...” Rarity paused and looked down to their hooves. “You came from the farm? Oh I’m being silly, of course you did, just, hold on.”

Rarity’s horn began to glow a light blue color, and Caramel heard a slap against the floor. He looked down to see a welcome mat placed before them.

“Do wipe your hooves, sweetie, I just had the place cleaned.” Rarity stepped aside and let Big Macintosh come in first. The large workhorse wiped down his hooves before Caramel followed.

Caramel’s eyes were greeted with lavender and magenta with few colors in between decorating the walls to the floors. It occurred to him that he had never actually stepped inside of the shop before, only looked in from the windows. It was much smaller than he had imagined it to be. He was so focused on looking at the diamond patterned ceiling that he bumped into the solid mass that was Big Macintosh.

“Now, normally darling I work on designing outfits. It’s not usual that you can just walk in like this and pick up anything,” Rarity lifted her hoof when she spoke and trotted around the room. “But, if we’re both thinking of the same adorable sweater that I made, then I’m positive it’s still in the shop.”

Caramel could feel Big Macintosh’s body wander off somewhere behind him, though he kept his eyes focused on Rarity.

“It’s a… A green sweater,” Caramel tried to remember the details. “Dark green. The top opened up but there was some string and a button to tie it shut.”

“I know exactly what you are looking for!” Rarity clapped her hooves together. “I made it in my spare time, I might have to make a few adjustments for your size, but nothing major.”

Caramel frowned and looked down at his own body.

“I’ll go see if I can find it. Wait here and feel free to browse!” Rarity trotted off quickly with a spring in her step.

When the door to the back room shut, Caramel could hear the sound of a chuckle. He raised his brow and turned to see Big Macintosh rifling through a rainbow of dresses. Caramel trotted over to him and saw the rack Mac was looking through. Nearly every dress had some kind of gemstone or ribbon on it.

“What’s so funny?” Caramel asked.

“Applejack said she’d rather die than put on these dresses one time,” Big Macintosh chuckled again. He pulled on a bright orange dress with blue gems scattered down the sides. "Place is pretty froo froo."

“They’re pretty, though,” Caramel smiled and looked at a pink dress.

“Ah dated a mare once who bought a dress from here,” Big Macintosh smiled and looked to Caramel. “She wore it on the first date. We went fer a walk through the farm, an she got it all muddy. Ah offered ta carry her but she wasn’t gonna have any of it.”

“What did she say to stop you from carrying her that I haven’t?” Caramel giggled at the thought.

“Yer easy ta convince,” Big Macintosh spoke with a shrug.

“She must have liked you a lot if she wore a dress,” Caramel moved his hooves through several of the dresses. “Was she pretty?”

Big Macintosh was silent for a few moments, as if he had to think on that. He put his hoof to his lips and stared down at the lavender floor.

“Well?”

“Ah can’t remember.”

“You can’t?” Caramel tried not to laugh at that, but failed. Big Macintosh simply shrugged his shoulders again. “How many girlfriends do you even remember the names too?”

“Ah remember a… a few..” Big Macintosh’s freckles started to blend into his fur. “Ah only remember the ones Ah liked.”

Caramel smiled, but it soon faded when he looked down at his body. He thought about Mac’s words a moment, and could feel his belly tingle when he thought more about it. “Do… do you like me?”

“Course Ah do, Sugar,” Big Macintosh chuckled as if the question was funny. He ruffled Caramel’s mane with his hoof. He kissed Caramel’s cheek, and Caramel could feel it start to redden.

“I’m your first boyfriend, aren’t I?” Caramel looked in Big Macintosh’s eyes for a brief moment before he darted his sight away. “I mean… I know I am, you told me. But… when did you learn you liked stallions?”

“Ah didn’t.”

Caramel blinked his eyes. He let himself process Mac’s answer for a few moments while he continued looking through the dresses. It only occurred to him that Mac had said something strange when a few moments had passed.

“Wait, what?” Caramel turned and looked to Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh blinked his emerald eyes, but his face remained emotionless.

“Ah like what Ah like,” Big Macintosh shrugged yet again. “Ah didn’t think stallions were an option till Ah started talkin’ ta ya. Just never occured ta me.”

“You never… I dunno, looked at stallions and thought about them for a while?” Caramel’s cheeks felt warm when he touched them. He shook his head and held back a groan of irritation.

“I look at ya a lot,” Big Macintosh smiled.

“Yeah, but… you don’t look at other stallions?” Caramel asked. Big Macintosh shook his head, and Caramel’s face felt even warmer.

“Ah don’t really look at ponies like ya do,” Big Macintosh answered Caramel. “Lot of mares asked me out on dinner dates an’ Ah just went ta be polite… only really felt attracted ta any after I got ta know them. Same fer you.”

“What do you mean the same?” Caramel put his hoof on Mac’s own.

“Just…” Big Macintosh sat down and swished his tail as he thought about how to word it. He stayed silent for a good ten seconds before he answered. “When Ah started talkin’ ta ya Ah didn’t think much of how ya looked. The more Ah got ta know ya the more I kept stealin’ glances an’ wantin’ ta touch ya. Ya looked cuter than any stallion Ah’d ever seen before… Ah didn’t have any clue if Ah would even like what ya whipped out first time we were in bed.”

“Shhhh!” Caramel put a hoof over Big Mac’s lips. Big Macintosh chuckled and Caramel only felt his heart pound. It took a few seconds, but Caramel lowered his hooves and sat down in front of his boyfriend. “I mean… Is that why you only started being so grabby after you started dating me?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh answered. “Ain’t ever had my hooves all over a pony unless Ah know em real good. Ain’t that attractive if Ah don’t love em. Ah’d like ya if ya were a mare or a stallion or… Griffon or Dragon Ah guess.”

Caramel smiled and looked down to his hooves. He giggled and felt Mac kiss his ear. “I love you too.” He said in a quiet tone.

“Oh look what I found!” The two stallions both jumped when Rarity came trotting back into the room. She was holding up the green sweater with magic and twirling it around. Caramel quickly got to his hooves and smiled at the sight of it before she walked over to him. “Oh you simply must try it on! You’ll look gorgeous!”

“Alright,” Caramel said with a laugh when Rarity handed him the sweater. He wiggled and squirmed his body to get it over his head and over his body. It was snug, but not too tight. It fit his body like a glove.

“Oh, you look absolutely breathtaking!” Rarity nearly squealed. Big Macintosh walked up beside Caramel and ran a hoof down his side. “Doesn’t he look great, Big Macintosh?”

“He did before.” Big Macintosh replied. Caramel looked away, but he had a feeling Mac was smiling at him.

“Oh, now that you’re here I’m not letting this opportunity pass away!” Rarity spoke in a headstrong tone. “Come over here Big Macintosh, I have a few outfits I’d like you to try on. I’ll even throw in a five bit discount off of that sweater if you let me!”

“Excuse me?” Big Macintosh’s eyes broke their usual expressionless sight and turned ot one of worry. “T-That’s fine Rarity, we only really wanted the sweate-”

“Nonsense!” Rarity grabbed at Mac’s hoof with her magic. “I want to make you shine! I’m sure Caramel will just melt when he sees what I have in store for you! If you hate it you can roll in mud or whatever you do in the farm once you get out of my clothes.’

“C-C’mon Mac, it could be fun,” Caramel giggled at just how worried Mac managed to look. He kissed Mac’s freckles and the workhorse simply looked between the two. “You’d look cute if you cleaned up a bit.”

“But Ah…” Big Macintosh walked towards Rarity despite his hesitance. Caramel giggled at his deep red blush that covered up his freckles. “Ah’m already clean.”

“Nonsense.” Rarity shook her head. “I’ve seen what Applejack calls cleaning, and and I’m going to have my work ahead of me if you’re anything like her.”

“Sugar?” Big Macintosh looked to Caramel, but was only greeted with a tiny shove that Big Macintosh frowned at.

Maybe by now Big Macintosh began to regret dragging Caramel to the store.

Author's Note

I don't know why but I was weirdly excited to talk about Mac being a Pansexual.