The (Homeless) Dazzlings

by NintendoGal55

Rating: mature
Tags: Slice of Life, Dark, Romance, Human
Length: 4890

The very lives of the Dazzlings before, during and after the Battle of the Bands is anything but dazzling.

Co-written by Jerry Peet
Cover Image Source

Adagio Dazzle, Sonata Dusk and Aria Blaze never had it easy ever since being banished to the human realm. Having to live in poverty and without citizenship is incredibly taxing on the trio of former sirens.

Within it all, Sonata finds solace in her undying devotion to Adagio. But no one had ever said that love was easy. Adagio especially never expected to see her role as the leader in a whole new way.

Even in the worst of times, at least they have each other.

WARNING: Contains strong language, sexual content, [spoiler]sexual assault[/spoiler] and tons of feels.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-05-17 15:44:09 UTC

The (Not So) Beginning

A diner definitely wasn’t the most glamorous place to get sustenance. Even for them. But it was better than nothing, at least. That was pretty much all they needed as the three teenage girls entered the establishment. Without so much as a second look from any of the patrons, they took a seat at a booth next to the window.

Already, the eyes of one of the girls was scanning the place, seeking some kind of a way to plant a seed. However, it was already helped with a few other teenagers sitting a few booths away from them. The other two girls simply sat there, occasionally looking about, or otherwise keeping an eye on their leader, so to speak.

Aria slumped over, her omnipresent scowl deepening slightly as she sighed. Sonata, however, was smelling the enticing aromas from the kitchen and smiled. Her eyes eventually drifted back to the girl sitting across from both of them, feeling her lips pulling to a bigger smile.

“Seriously… talk about scraping the bottom of a barrel, Adagio,” Aria muttered, leaning her chin against her hand, “And just how do you plan on stirring up trouble? It’s not exactly a wrestling ring in here.”

Adagio didn’t answer as she continued to turn her gaze over the patrons of the diner, “Hmm…” she pondered quietly as she glanced back behind her, seeing a young couple arguing.

“Ooh, a couple’s argument!” Sonata said cheerfully, giggling behind her hands, “I wonder if it’s a nothing fight…”

Adagio held a hand up to silence her as she leaned back and perked up an ear.

“...I’m telling you, it was just a text!” the girl snapped.

“Yeah right, then why won’t you let me see it?” the boy retorted.

“Because my phone is private prop-you are a nutcase!” the girl huffed angrily.

Huffing a little herself, Aria rolled her eyes, “So that’s one. How about the rest of the place? I don’t think one arguing couple’s going to be enough.”

“Oh, come on, Aria! Give it some time!” Sonata pouted, crossing her arms, “Not everything happens at once!”

“Shut up, I wasn’t talking to you,” Aria said sourly, lifting her hoodie up over her head.

“Ladies, calm yourselves,” Adagio remarked as she watched an angry, bitter girl storm into the diner and sit down at the counter, making demands of the waitress, “That might work.”

“About time,” Aria said, following her gaze.

Sonata fiddled with her hood, feeling her stomach rumble, “Can we still get actual food, though? I’m hungry…”

Adagio fished a twenty-dollar bill out of her pocket and looked at it before handing it to her, “Sure, go get something to eat…”

Smiling brightly, Sonata took the money, “Yay! You guys want something?”

“Eh, a burger, I guess,” Aria said with a noncommittal shrug.

“I’m fine,” Adagio shrugged as she continued to watch the people around her. They’d started making hushed whispers when the angry girl had strode in.

Sonata got out of the booth as Aria gave her room to do so, and strolled up to the counter. Aria watched her go, frowning slightly and exhaling.

“Seriously, Adagio, why do you keep her around? She doesn’t even really need to be here,” Aria muttered, shaking her head.

Adagio shrugged, “What else are we supposed to do with her?”

“Let her do her own thing,” Aria said, adjusting one of her pigtails. She bit her lip, then sighed, “I don’t even know why you let her tag along. She just does what we do and that’s it.”

“You know she’d die without us,” Adagio remarked, narrowing her eyes.

Aria glanced toward an oblivious Sonata as she cheerfully chatted with the cook while he prepared their food. She sighed, crossing her arms and laying her head on them, “So that’s it, we’re just saving her butt.”

Adagio glanced over to Sonata as well and sighed, “...Yes, we’re saving her butt.”

“Oh well… least she’s following you like a little puppy instead of me,” Aria remarked.

Adagio glanced back at Sonata and gave the tiniest of smiles, “Mmhmm…”

A couple of minutes later, Sonata returned to the table with a couple of items. A hamburger for Aria, which she took with a stiff thank-you, and a hot dog for herself, along with a small bottle of soda pop. She slid the change over to Adagio, smiling gratefully.

“So! What’d I miss?” Sonata asked as she settled back into her seat.

“I don’t even know why you bother asking that. Nothing happened,” Aria rolled her eyes as she bit into her burger.

“We were just talking, Sonata,” Adagio sighed as she resumed her people-watching, taking note of how everyone was gossiping about the girl who’d sat down at the counter.

“Oh, okay,” Sonata bit into her hot dog, chewing thoughtfully. She looked back toward the counter, then at Adagio, “He was saying it was a slow night. But it was incredibly busy during lunchtime, though. Something about something going on over at the high school.”

“Oh? What’s that?” Adagio asked, turning her eyes back to Sonata.

Sonata twirled the end of her ponytail, thinking for a few moments, “I think he said there was some kind of big dance going on. A lot of the students were here today and were talking about it.”

“Oooh. School dance. Wow,” Aria said dryly, rolling her eyes, “Must’ve been the only exciting news all week.”

“Actually, it is,” Adagio smirked, “School dances are rife with bitterness. It’s a feast waiting to happen.”

“Eh, whatever, I guess,” Aria shrugged, eating more of her burger.

Sonata munched on her hot dog, looking out the window. She grinned widely as a long, black limousine drove past, “Limo! Limo! I win!” She gave Aria a light tap on the arm.

“Sonata, I told you, you’re supposed to point out the colours of a car, not the type,” Aria rolled her eyes.

Adagio chuckled and sat back as she watched the bitter girl get up and storm out, her red and orange hair dancing behind her. She could feel the discontent brewing around her as her jewel gave a shimmer, “My my, they really don’t like her, do they?”

Sonata looked down at her jewel as well, following Adagio’s gaze, “They really don’t seem to! What’s up with that?”

“Who cares, at least it’s something,” Aria remarked, “That’s odd, though. It doesn’t usually react like this around just one person in a place like this.”

“Hmm… looks like somebody’s making a pariah of herself,” Adagio smirked as she sat back as her jewel absorbed the energy around her.

“Yay!” Sonata smiled, finishing her food, “That’ll be awesome! I’ll bet we could get tons of energy from her!”

“Mmhmm,” Adagio smiled as she glanced out the window, watching the girl berating two younger boys.

Adagio sat up in her bed, reading by the dim candlelight she’d set up. She sighed as she took another glance around their hovel. It was an abandoned, two-level office building. Small, likely used for a family business before it was shut down. Their makeshift home had been set up on the second floor, with things such as beds and furniture cobbled together from whatever they’d managed to get their hands on.

Sounds of the floor creaking outside her room were heard, likely from Aria as she went to the bathroom to wash up. This was also evident from huffy sighs that sounded along with them. Silence followed for a moment or two, before new footsteps arose. This time, they approached Adagio’s door.

Creak. Creak. Creak. ...Creak.

While Adagio silently counted off in her head, there was a soft but audible set of knocking on the door.

“Adagio?” Came Sonata’s voice, “Can I come in?”

Adagio looked up and smiled, “Sure, come on in,” she said, waving her inside.

Sonata smiled as she came in, closing the door behind her. She got onto the bed, crawling over to Adagio, giggling a little.

“I can’t sleep…” Sonata said, twirling her hair a little bit, “Seeing that magic was so exciting.”

Adagio reached over and stroked Sonata’s arm. The real reason she kept Sonata around was because she admittedly held a soft spot for her. While she annoyed Aria to no end, she could brighten up even the most dire of circumstances.

Like now.

“It was, wasn't’ it?” Adagio smiled, putting her book down.

“Mm-hmm!” Sonata smiled, sitting a little closer to her, “I haven’t even seen you this excited in a long time, Adagio… I missed that gleam in your eyes.”

Adagio giggled softly, “It was nice to get a decent meal for once.”

Nodding in agreement, Sonata came closer and snuggled up beside her. She too hadn’t felt this excited in such a long time, probably not since shortly after their banishment. Maybe before? She wasn’t sure. Then again, she did manage to find pleasure in many of the little things this world had to offer, which was usually enough to keep her going. Sonata gave a little nuzzle to Adagio’s neck, closing her eyes a bit.

While she didn’t always see eye to eye with what Adagio and Aria did with all of this; there was always one thing that kept her coming back and staying. There was no denying the feelings she felt toward Adagio, something she’d felt ever since meeting her the first time. Sonata exhaled a little, breathing in Adagio’s scent while doing so.

“You smell pretty…” Sonata cooed.

Adagio wrapped an arm around Sonata’s shoulder and gently squeezed, “Thank you,” she whispered as she cuddled her close.

Adagio couldn’t recall a single night where Sonata had slept in her own room. She’d set one up, built her a bed like she had for herself an Aria (about as good a bed as you could get with planks and cinder-blocks). But Sonata never slept in it. She always wormed her way into Adagio’s room at some point in the night and slept with her.

In truth, Sonata didn’t like sleeping alone. She admitted to finding it cold and lonely, with nothing to snuggle up with. No one would have ever expected her to outright say someone like Adagio was a perfect candidate for cuddling, but she knew this very well. All throughout their travels in Equestria, the hotels were one big room with enough space for all of them to sleep. But ever since being banished here, that sort of thing was a luxury.

Sonata cuddled closer, feeling Adagio’s warmth against herself, looking up into her captivating eyes, “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about our store cupboard,” Adagio sighed, “We’re running out of food…”

“Are we?” Sonata pouted a little, “Oh, dear… I can do a midnight run, if you want.”

Adagio shook her head, “I don’t want you out scavenging alone. We’ll go together tomorrow night. There’s enough for the day.”

“Okay,” Sonata smiled, nuzzling into her shoulder, “Can we go to a pharmacy, too? I’m low on… er, the feminine stuff.”

Adagio pulled open the dented filing cabinet, where she kept their combined money, “...Sure. I think we have enough.”

Giving a little more of a smile, Sonata nodded and curled up against her, “Thank you… I’d borrow Aria’s, but the type she uses doesn’t work for me.”

“Of course,” Adagio said, rubbing Sonata’s stomach as she cuddled her closer, laying down as she blew out the candle, “We’ll get you what you need, Sona.”

Sonata giggled from the touch, relishing in the attention Adagio was giving her, “Thanks… Mm… that tickles…”

Adagio smiled, feeling less tense already as she nuzzled Sonata’s hair, pulling the worn out blanket over her and wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. Sonata snuggled closer, nuzzling her neck and sighing in contentment. Sure, their triumphs were amazing for seeing Adagio so thrilled, but she could never get enough of moments like this.

“Goodnight, Adagio…” Sonata whispered.

“Goodnight, Sonata,” Adagio whispered.

Sonata's (Unpsoken) Feelings

“What are you doing?” Aria asked, rousing Adagio from her sleep.

Adagio rubbed her eyes and looked up, her vision partially obscured by Sonata’s hair, “Wha...?”

“Wake up already,” Aria sighed, “And what are you doing, anyway?”

“What do you mean?” Adagio murmured, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.

Aria pointed to Sonata, “What’s she doing in here?”

“Uh…” Adagio looked down at Sonata, who was still sleeping, “...She got spooked by the noises outside,” she shrugged.

Letting out a huff, Aria rolled her eyes, “And you actually let her? She has to learn to suck it up and just deal with it. She’s not a baby.”

Adagio rolled her eyes, “I think you’re just a tad too uptight about this.”

“Am I? Or are you just too lenient?” Aria crossed her arms, “You always give in to her. Whatever Sonata wants, you get it for her. When’s the last time you ever told her ‘No’?’”

“That’s irrelevant, Aria,” Adagio huffed, getting out of bed and straightening her jacket, “We may be living on the street, but we aren’t starving. Me getting the small things she asks for isn’t hurting anybody.”

Aria scowled a bit, but sighed and dropped it for now, “All right, fine. Go ahead and be sickeningly cute together. I’m going for a walk. Maybe I’ll play my harmonica in the subway for a bit…”

Aria stormed out, leaving the two of them alone. Adagio sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, giving Sonata a little shake, “Wake up, Sonata.”

“Mmmm…” Sonata stirred, then yawned as she sat up, rubbing her eyes, “What time…?”

“It’s…” Adagio checked her watch, “...Seven-thirty, sweetie.” Her eyes widened. That wasn’t intentional.

Lucky for her, Sonata didn’t even seem to notice. She yawned, nodding, “Okay… I’m getting up. Mm… Can I use the bathroom? I need to shower.”

“Of course,” Adagio nodded, patting her back.

Yawning again, Sonata stretched and then headed off to the bathroom. Within a minute or so, the water was heard running as she showered. Alongside some muffled sounds of singing. Adagio stretched and sauntered out to the ‘living room’ (or rather, the room with the moth-eaten couch they’d dragged in off the curb) and flopped down onto it.

They didn’t do much during the day, preferring to scavenge for food and magic during the evening or nighttime. Having already decided that she and Sonata would scavenge that night, she started thinking up ways to get ahold of some more money.

After a little while, Sonata emerged from the bathroom, wearing a towel wrapped around herself. She noticed Adagio, then smiled brightly as she went to go sit down beside her, crossing her legs.

“Hi!” Sonata giggled.

“Hello,” Adagio smiled, looking up, “...You going to get dressed?”

“Yes,” Sonata giggled, “I just like to dry off before I do.”

“Alright then,” Adagio smiled, sitting up and briefly patting her shoulder.

Sonata giggled and sat closer, “Where’d Aria go?”

“She got all pissy and went out,” Adagio shrugged, standing up and going to the kitchen to take stock of their food.

Sonata sighed a bit, “Jeez… I don’t think I’ve seen her smile since we were performing in Canterlot before we got here…”

“Mmhmm. She’s been complaining about you since we landed,” Adagio scoffed.

“What did I ever do to her?” Sonata pouted.

“I don’t know,” Adagio sighed, “Just before she left she had a rant about you sleeping in my bed.”

Sonata’s eyes widened, “She actually caught me this time?”

“Yeah, she came in to wake me up,” Adagio shrugged.

“Oh…” Sonata exhaled, taking a smaller towel and rubbing her face with it, “I figured she wouldn’t like it.”

“Don’t mind her,” Adagio came back into the living room and patted her back, “You’re welcome to crawl in my bed as much as you want.”

Sonata smiled at this, a little blush dusting her cheeks, “Believe me… I will.”

Adagio opened her arms, inviting Sonata in for a hug, “Come here.”

Grinning, Sonata went over to her and embraced her, sighing happily, “Thanks, Adagio.”

“Of course,” Adagio smiled, stroking her back, “You’re the only happy thing on this planet.”

Sonata giggled and blushed, “Aww, come on!”

Adagio pulled back to look at her, rubbing her shoulders, “I’m serious. We’re living in a run-down hovel, scavenging for bits to eat. You’ve been nothing but a little ray of sunshine the whole time!”

Sonata blushed some more, “Well… I guess one of us has to be. Besides, I don’t know… It can be pretty fun.”

Adagio smiled and patted her cheek, “What can be fun? Living like this?” she chuckled.

“Sometimes I read these stories at the library, about families or friends living together off nothing,” Sonata admitted with a smile, “I found them interesting!”

Adagio giggled and hugged her tighter, rubbing her back, “Well I’m glad you’re having fun, at least.”

“I try,” Sonata hugged her more too, nuzzling her neck, “Adagio… can I ask you something?”

“Sure, what is it?” Adagio asked, nuzzling her hair.

Sonata nuzzled her back, considering her question, “If we ever do get enough magic, and whatever else… what’s next for us? Do you… really want to go back to Equestria?”

Adagio paused. Of course she wanted to go back to Equestria. She was powerful, she was in tune with her world’s magic. She was as beautiful as she was deadly. Only… she didn’t know how. Even if she had the magic, she didn’t know how to open a dimensional gate. That wasn’t how siren magic worked. She nuzzled Sonata and squeezed her tighter.

“...I don’t know,” she sighed, “I don’t know what’s next, sweetie.”

For a moment, Sonata was a bit stunned by the term of endearment. She wasn’t unfamiliar with others calling someone that, but never expected to be on the receiving end. Adagio certainly flirted many times in the past, but not quite like this. She snuggled closer, nuzzling her neck a little.

“Me neither,” she admitted, “I don’t even know what I want to do.”

In truth, she actually did. Sonata didn't quite miss Equestria, aside maybe from a few little things. Over a thousand years had to have passed back there, as Adagio had surmised. But then again, she wasn’t exactly crazy about the idea of being left here alone while Adagio would go back, with or without Aria there too. But if anything, Sonata just wanted a quiet little life. Many a time, she pictured a sweet little shanty, right near the ocean in plain view. The sounds of the waves lapping at the shore, the squawking of seagulls, and feeling the fresh sea breeze.

Not that she could share this, at least not without being ridiculed or at least told it was impossible. But a girl could dream.

Adagio pulled back from her, her hands gently squeezing Sonata’s shoulders as she looked her up and down. Sonata had gotten her all sentimental, the sneaky little kid that she was. She drifted her hands down her arms, running her thumb over the towel she was wearing.

“Want me to take it off?” Sonata smiled sweetly.

“Mmhmm,” Adagio smiled, lowering her eyelids as she ran her hand over Sonata’s collarbone.

With a grin, Sonata dropped her towel to the floor, shamelessly exposing her naked body to Adagio. If there was one thing she did like about this world, it was the female anatomy. Even now, Sonata found it so fascinating, and pretty, too. Especially Adagio’s...

Adagio smiled and ran her hands down Sonata’s sides, dancing her fingers over her smooth skin. Adagio loved this aspect of their new forms as much as Sonata did. Aria, being Aria, was completely indifferent to it, “There we go… you’re so pretty…”

Sonata giggled and blushed, reaching up to gently undress Adagio, “Thanks… You’re so pretty, too…”

Like with sleeping in her bed, this wasn’t the first time Adagio and Sonata had gotten frisky. It started shortly after they arrived, and was almost a daily thing ever since. Adagio’s hands trailed around to her back as Sonata unbuttoned her blouse and pulled off her jacket, “I think Aria’s going to be gone all day,” she whispered.

“Knowing her, maybe…” Sonata cooed, reaching a hand up to play with her hair, “Mm… this is always the best part of our days…”

“Mmhmm,” Adagio purred, her hands coming down to squeeze her behind as she shrugged off her blouse, leaning in and kissing her forehead.

The contact left Sonata giggling, to which she leaned up and kissed her cheek, “Where do you want me?”

“Hmm…” Adagio’s hands came around to rub her stomach, “Why don’t you… go hop up onto the counter for me.”

Sonata nodded, going over to the kitchen counter and sitting atop it, “Like this?”

“Just like that…” Adagio whispered as she gently pushed Sonata’s legs apart and leaning down to kiss her stomach.

Letting out a giggle, Sonata brought her fingers down to gently toy with Adagio’s curly, poofy hair, “Oh yeah, just like that…”

Adagio leaned down and kissed Sonata’s abdomen, her fingers gently dancing around her nethers as she made sure Sonata was comfortable on the counter. Little mewls of pleasure sounded from Sonata as her fingers danced in Adagio’s hair.

“Oh Adagio…” Sonata mewled in a mixture of pleasured and wistful.

“There’s my girl…” Adagio purred as she wrapped her lips around Sonata’s nub, playfully suckling it as she toyed against her sex with her fingers.

Sonata squirmed pleasurably, moaning softly, “Aaaah… Ooh Adagio… How’d you get so good…”

“You’ve been here for two years, you know,” Adago snickered as she pushed her fingers into Sonata.

“I know…” Sonata cooed, giggling, “You’re still too amazing…”

“I know I am,” Adagio smirked as she angled her wrist and started to slowly thrust into her while circling her nub with her thumb, coming back up to kiss her stomach.

Moaning and clutching her hair tighter, Sonata leaned back a bit, panting, “Aaahh… that’s it… right there… mmm… mmm!”

Adagio moved her hand faster as she kissed back up Sonata’s stomach, reaching her neck as she suckled her collarbone. It did quite a bit to send Sonata into a frenzy of pleasure, her form shaking a little now. She now clutched at Adagio’s shoulders, moaning louder now.

“A-A-Adagio…! I’m going to… to…! Ngh!” Sonata squeaked.

“Come on now,” Adagio cooed, angling her hand and thrusting harder as she kissed up Sonata’s neck, “Come for me, sweetie…”

“A-Aaaaahh!” Sonata squealed as she came, spilling her juices along Adagio’s hand. She panted and nuzzled her hair, “Oooh...that’s it…”

Adagio lifted her hand and licked her fingers clean, “That’s my girl,” she smiled as she kissed Sonata’s cheek, pulling away from her to fish a can of soda out of the fridge.

“Ooohh… Adagioooo….” Sonata cooed, leaning back a little and giggling to herself.

Adagio smiled as she popped the can open, “Yes?”

‘You’re amazing and I will love you to the end of time… Stay with me forever...’ Sonata thought. She held it back, at least enough, and just smiled, “Nothing, you just have that effect on me.”

Adagio smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek, “Go get dressed before Aria comes home.”

Nodding, Sonata hopped down from the counter and went to her room. Adagio giggled, watching her rear as she leaned back against the counter.

“I love that bright ray of sunshine…” she smiled, sipping her soda.

“See anything worthwhile?” Adagio asked as she rummaged through the shelves of an abandoned Supermarket. One benefit of Canterlot was that an entire district had become dilapidated and deserted. It was like rummaging through the remains of an apocalypse without the radiation and death.

“I think so!” Sonata was looking under a pile of boxes on a lower shelf, “Some of these weren’t even opened yet!”

“I found some cereal,” Aria came into view, holding a few cereal boxes in her arms, “I even found that one Sonata likes.”

“Oooh! Good! Put them in the cart,” Adagio smiled as she hefted a bag of canned food off the shelf.

Nodding, Aria did so, and went over to another aisle. Sonata jumped up beside her, grinning widely, which startled Aria slightly.

“Look, Aria! I found crackers! Can you believe it? All this time and I’ve had no crackers for my soup!” Sonata giggled.

Aria rolled her eyes, but otherwise shrugged, “Okay, just go put them in the cart.”

Adagio dropped the bag of cans into the cart and started digging through the opposite shelf from Aria while Sonata went to scavenge on the other side of the Supermarket.

“Hey… why was the counter all sticky?” she asked quietly.

“Hmm? I dunno, someone was cooking?” Adagio suggested.

Aria rose an eyebrow, “Must’ve been Sonata. Sometimes she misses a spot.”

“Mmhmm, probably,” Adagio shrugged, keeping her back to Aria as she gritted her teeth. Aria needled her a lot about Sonata, and if she found out that the two were sleeping together, she was likely to get more aggressive than she already was.

“By the way,” Aria’s voice cut her thoughts once more, “did you manage to find out where that magic came from?”

“From the looks of it, everyone who goes to Canterlot High has it out for that one girl,” Adagio remarked, “Just her being in the room makes everyone light up with hostility.”

“Huh,” Aria said thoughtfully, browsing the shelves in front of her, “I guess that must be where the magic is. I just wonder how strong it is, or if she was even capable of using that magic.”

“I don’t know, yet,” Adagio shrugged, throwing some more cans into the cart, “I’ll keep an eye on her, see if she’s special or if she’s just some bitch everyone hates.”

“Maybe we should go to the school!” Sonata piped up as she came into view, “I don’t know, if that girl goes there, we might be able to get some clues!”

Adagio shook her head, “We have to try and stay far away from any government buildings. Too risky.”

“Yeah, Sonata, seriously. How would we even get in? Technically, we’re illegal immigrants and don’t even have backgrounds,” Aria said crossly. At Sonata’s sad look, she rolled her eyes and sighed, “Don’t give me that face. Look, it’d be nice to scope out the school and even see where the magic is coming from, but it’s not practical.”

Adagio sighed, “Sona, do me a favor and try to find some bagged noodles,” she said, pointing to the pasta aisle, eager to keep the two of them separated.

Sonata nodded, going off to an aisle some ways off. Aria watched her go, then went to look at the bottom shelf.

“We’ll have to track that girl, though,” Aria put in, “If she has the Equestrian magic or can lead us to it, she might even know where there’s a portal.”

“If there’s a portal,” Adagio corrected her, “Nothing’s ever certain. Worst case scenario, we can leech off her loathing.”

“I’m just saying, she had to get here somehow,” Aria pointed out, “But I guess that old musically-challenged fart banished her, too.”

Adagio shrugged. She didn’t like leaping to conclusions, unlike the other two. She quietly lowered a few more cans into the cart and examined the contents. There was enough food for the next couple of months.

“That should do. Sonata, I-”

There was a crash and the sound of a shelf falling over, along with a tiny “Oops…”

“Damn it, Sonata!” Aria groaned, facepalming, “You had one job!”

“I’m sorry! The shelf fell apart!” came Sonata’s voice, quiet against the sound of the shelf settling.

“It’s alright, just bring over what you can and let’s get out of here,” Adagio sighed, taking hold of the cart.

There was some shuffling, before Sonata came back over, holding a few boxes of non-perishables. She placed them into the cart, wringing her hands nervously as she stepped over fallen objects carefully. As if afraid of breaking or knocking something else over. Adagio gently squeezed her shoulder as she led the two of them back to the door.

“Don’t worry, it’s alright,” she sighed.

“Okay…” Sonata murmured, relaxing a little bit, “Um… I found some money under a display. It was mostly change, but I found a couple of five and ten dollar bills.”

“Great, put it in the lockbox when we get back, sweetie,” Adagio smiled, before stopping and checking to see if Aria had heard that.

Aria didn’t seem to, and was picking up something off the ground. A small blue teddy bear. She stared at it, then shrugged and tossed it aside. Sonata dashed back, picked it up, and came back to Adagio’s side, snuggling the toy. Adagio couldn’t help but giggle as she glanced back to see Aria taking another dig through the cash register.

“Finally got something to sleep in your own bed?” she snickered, leaning in toward Sonata.

“It’s a start,” Sonata giggled, “I like teddy bears. They’re so cute and fuzzy!”

Adagio took another glance back at Aria, seeing she’d ducked down under the counter, before turning back and giving Sonata a quick kiss to the cheek, “Just like you.”

Grinning widely, Sonata squeezed her new toy with glee as she blushed, “Sure thing, Adagio…”