World Lampshade

        Scootaloo stared into the darkness as music blared around her, the utter intensity of the sound shaking the bed she was laying on slightly. She buried herself deep under the multiple blankets that piled on top of her, the only things being revealed to the world being the very end of her muzzle and her forelegs. Said forelegs wrapped around a balled up bunch of blankets in hopes that they would bring her some form of comfort.

        In a way it did, as she nearly fell asleep before the loud guitar solos woke her up. She still couldn’t gather the energy to turn it down. Maybe later. If she felt like it.

        Her room was filled with the scent of green tea, the source of which was cooling on her night stand. It had been placed there not too long ago by Fluttershy, her surrogate mother/sisterishthing. Scootaloo hadn’t touched it yet and probably wouldn’t for another few hours. She wanted to, but she just wasn't feeling like moving that few inches would be worth it.

        She was waiting, a bit unconsciously, for someone to show up. Not a general someone, of course, as Fluttershy had already attempted to coax her from her bed with food. She was waiting for her someone. They hadn’t quite worked out the terminology, but she was sort of willing to call him her boyfriend.

        She stared through the darkness and at the picture she had taped to the side of her nightstand, she wanted to wake up near him, even when he was away on business. The picture was taken before their first date, Fluttershy nearly demanded that the two pose for it, so the they were decked in their finest.

        The stallion was wearing a suit that he’d had his sister make. It was just a standard black and white affair, but the red bowtie helped liven it up just a bit. His curly, purple and pink mane was straightened and pulled back, something that Scootaloo couldn’t help but yell at him for, and his white coat was almost so well washed that it shined. Under him, Scootaloo had written one word: “Tenor,” along with a smiley face.

        She, on the other hand, was wearing a simple white dress that she was given (read: had forced upon) by Fluttershy. Needless to say, she didn’t quite enjoy it. She would have prefered something purpler, but she couldn’t work up the courage to ask Tenor’s sister for anything relating to the date.

        Scootaloo cracked a small smile. It was definitely her favorite picture for a reason, whether that reason was the awkward way Tenor wrapped his hoof around her, despite her being a good bit taller than he was, or it could be how embarrassed she looked for even being seen in a dress. Ah, how times change. Three years can really change some ponies.

        After that horrid excuse of a date, a night that ended with a rodeo clown and a wet noodle, the two had multiple other dates and changed gradually. Scootaloo cut her mane and Tenor agreed to never straighten his again. Tenor got noticed for his piercing vocals and Scootaloo pierced her ears, something Fluttershy passive aggressively disagreed with. And, thankfully, Tenor, ever the late bloomer, finally got tall enough to kiss Scootaloo without her leaning down to close the distance. And then some.

        There was a knock on the door, stopping Scootaloo from reminiscing before she had any fun. Before she could open her mouth, the door was pushed open.

        “Sorry I’m late,” the intruding stallion sighed, “Rarity has been running me ragged as of late,” he approached the bed slowly, pulling back most every layer of Scootaloo’s blanket fort with his magic, “I did rush though. Once I figured that you were feeling under the weather.”

        Scootaloo groaned dramatically, though she couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face, “It’s nearly twelve, isn’t it?” she said, her voice gravely and hoarse.

        Tenor ran his hoof through his mane, chuckling softly. “Stop sleeping so late, and maybe I’ll be able to get here earlier,” he sat down on the edge of the bed before picking up the ignored cup of green tea with his magic, offering it over to Scootaloo.

        She sighed loudly and forced herself to a sitting position, letting the blanket fall off of her, and accepted the drink. She drank it slowly, and as she did Tenor undid the green bowtie around his neck. He hated to discard it, it matched his eyes so well, but he threw it to the floor as it didn’t have much use at that point.

        Scootaloo finished her drink, set her cup down where Tenor found it, then flopped back down on the bed. She pulled the blanket back over her body, leaving her face out for once.

        “Feeling better?” Tenor asked as he slid off of the bed, trotting over to the other side and climbing in.

        Scootaloo sighed happily as he wrapped a hoof around her. “Just starting to. How long are you gonna stay?”

        Tenor smiled and pulled his mare ever so slightly closer; close enough that he had his nose pressed against the back of her neck. “I’ll be staying until I can make you feel better, even if it’s just a slight bit.”

        “Well when you put it that way,” Scootaloo started slowly, shifting her position slightly to press against Tenor more, “I feel awful, just completely terrible, and I probably won’t feel better for a few hours.”

        “Child’s play,” Tenor muttered as he nuzzled against her neck, “How many hours do we have? Ten-ish?”

        “Try twenty,” Scootaloo responded with a smirk, “Red doesn’t have me scheduled until tomorrow. It’s not quite the ‘infini-cuddles’ you’ve been looking for, but it’s something.”

        “A very good something, I might add,” Tenor might have added, right after kissing the back of Scootaloo’s neck, “I love you, doll.”

        “Can’t quite kiss you right now, but I love you too.”

        Tenor groaned happily, not wanting to even bother with words. The two shifted into prime sleeping positions. Tenor lay on his back with one arm wrapped around Scootaloo as she lay her head on his chest, wrapping a foreleg around him.

        They lay there for a few minutes, calmly enjoying the others’ presence and waiting for the embrace of sleep. The tight grip that had eluded Scootaloo for so long, something she was going to take back by force. She needed this and wasn’t going to give up until-

        “I can’t sleep,” Scootaloo groaned, completely disregarding her dreams, “You’re still too soft to use as a pillow,” she poked his, rather chubby, stomach to demonstrate, and it gave little to no resistance.

        Tenor nodded, “Yeah, you’re not the most comfortable either, darling,” he pulled back slightly, rolling onto his side and moving to eye level with Scootaloo, “Do you have any other ideas?”

        Scootaloo smiled, wrapped a foreleg around him again, and pulled herself close enough that their noses touched, “This is good,” she said before kissing her boyfriend.

        It was a soft, gentle kiss, neither one wanting to push it any farther, that lasted a little under thirty seconds. Tenor was the first to pull back, smiling widely.

        “Very good,” he said softly, “We should do this more often.”

        Scootaloo shrugged, “It’s kind of hard to do when you get all paranoid,”

        “Or when you’re bouncing off the walls, just waiting to get outside,” Tenor countered with slight venom.

        Scootaloo nodded in silent agreement, “Let’s try to do this more. Maybe then you won’t have such an attitude.”

        Tenor’s expression softened, “You know I love you.”

        “If you loved me, then you’d stop talking so I can get some sleep,” she let out a small yawn, much like everyone who says they’re tired, “Not that I don’t like you, of course.”

        Tenor said nothing, but pouted and whimpered like a sad puppy. While overused by him, it was still quite effective in throwing Scootaloo off.

        Scootaloo sighed happily, her smile growing larger, “You’re such a dork,” she planted a small kiss on Tenor’s nose, “But sleep is needed. I worked two night shifts in a row, and I need what’s left of this day off. Not gonna waste it like the last one.”

        “It wasn’t that bad,” Tenor said very unconvincingly, “Could’ve been worse.”

        “I couldn’t fly,”

        “And I sounded like a girl,”

        There was an unspoken ‘again’ in both of their sentences, right after the comma, that they both understood.

        “But,” Scootaloo sighed moments later, “It could’ve been worse. I mean, look at Alain.”

        Tenor chuckled softly, though there was a slight edge of bitterness to it, “He seemed to enjoy it. The beautiful thing about normal people, I suppose.”

        “Normal’s boring though,” Scootaloo said, “I mean, look at us.”

        “A compelling argument,” Tenor said with a smile, “It was still an awful joke though.”

        “Joak,” Scootaloo corrected.

        “I’m not having this conversation again,” Tenor sighed, “I thought you wanted me to shut up so you could catch up on sleep.”

        Scootaloo shrugged, “Not tired anymore. Just hungry.”

        “Would you like to go pick up some lunch?” He asked.

        She thought for a few seconds, then scooted down slightly to press her muzzle against Tenor’s chest, “Maybe in a few minutes, “she said, slightly muffled by chest fluff. She snuggled close to him and closed her eyes, letting out a small sigh. As time passed, her breathing grew slower and her grip around Tenor grew slack.

        Tenor rolled his eyes, “So much for lunch, I guess,” he looked down at Scootaloo, a loving smile edging its way onto his face, “Dinner doesn’t sound too bad though. I’m not hungry right now anyway.” He gingerly wrapped a foreleg around his mare and closed his eyes, following her lead.