Deep in His Eyes

Obligatory Content Warning: This story contains mature content and coltcuddleing, if you don’t have the stomach for it or just don’t want to read it here’s a little shortcut Alt + F4. Enjoy!

Deep in His Eyes: Chapter 2

A rooster crowed; somewhere out in the distance of the orchard. The rising sun cast long shadows across the fields, between the hills and trees, leaving a crisscrossed pattern over the landscape. Slowly, the light edged itself up to the window of a lone wooden cabin that sat atop one of the hills, and pierced its glass, filling the room inside with its warming light. Braeburn stirred, the thin blanket wrapped around him rustling as he sat up, letting the heat from outside fall upon his bare body and warms him to his core. Contentedly, he breathed in deeply and sighed, letting the scent of the early dawn fill his nostrils.

"Ahhhh..." He breathed, stretching his legs and forehooves out.

The tan stallion shuffled to the edge of his bed, letting his hooves drop over and click against the wooden floor. A day as glorious as this simply couldn't go unappreciated, and what better way to do so than with a hearty breakfast and good old fashioned hard work? For the young farm colt, it was ideal. He ran a hoof through his blonde mane, ruffling it and yawning a little as he stood himself up with a good amount of energy for somepony who had just awoken. He trotted over to his wardrobe and swung the doors open, taking his vest and hat from their respective places. After a quick freshen-up in the washroom, he stepped out of his bedroom and towards the kitchen. He passed through the main hallway of his humble cabin passing by framed pictures from past apple family reunions. He stopped for a moment to stare at one in particular, when there was a loud knock at his front door. Braeburn stopped, he thought, he remembered.

"... dangit... Eager little bucker, ain't ya?" He chuckled to himself, walking the remaining length of the hallway to his front door and opening it.

"Well yah sure ah’ here early..." He trailed off as he held up a hoof to his muzzle yawning.

The pegasus was hovering about a foot off the ground, his large powder blue wings flapping elegantly to maintain his height. "Hiya Brae!" he said, far too enthusiastically for this early in the morning. Even though Braeburn enjoyed his work, this level of excitement was, new to say the least.

The earth pony yawned again motioning the Wonderbolt inside. "Howdy, yah had breakfast yet?" He said a bit lazily and clearly not fully awake.

"Are you inviting me for breakfast, Cowpony?" Soarin' laughed, touching down with his hooves and trotting happily inside. "I haven't as a matter of fact. I thought we were just going to get started, show you exactly what a ‘fancy flier’ can do."
"Ah' course... Ah' course... But not before we get ah’ bite to eat. No since in havin' ta'take a break later just cuz we're hungry." He walked over to the kitchen and began rummaging through his cupboard.

The pegasus stood in the doorway, his wings relaxed and folded at his side. As he watched the apple farmer lean down to search the cupboard, his eyes searched with him. He saw packets of oats, fresh fruits, a couple of bundles of hay. Eventually, Soarin's eyes drifted from the cupboard along the kitchen surface until, purely by chance, Braeburn's face fell into view. Somewhere deep inside Soarin', a twinge went off and gave him a shiver along his front. "Whoa..." He uttered, shaking his head and opening his eyes again, only to have them fall upon the farm pony's raised flank as he leant deeply into the cabinet. Soarin's eyes went wide. The twinge went off again, but this time a tingle accompanied it, his cheeks prickling red with blush. Before he could do anything about it, his wings leapt up into a ready position with a loud 'pomf'.
"BUCK" He yelped, before clapping a hoof to his mouth and glancing away nonchalantly, as Braeburn turned to look at him.
The earth pony turned around to look at the pegasus, an expression of pure confusion on his face. Fortunately for the Wonderbolt, he was half awake and the raised wings didn't register. "Uh... Somethin' wrong Soar?"

Soarin' shifted awkwardly on the spot, his eyes avoiding Braeburn's gaze. "Ha, I'm fine! Honest! Just uh... Hit my head on the doorframe. Y'know, flyin' too high... Indoors..." The uncertainty in his lie was thick and clear to see.

"Well... Uh maybe ya'... should put them wings of your's away an' not fly indoors. Ah don't want ya' breaking nothin." He pulled two packets of oats from the cupboard and a bit of the fruit opening a drawer and setting two bowls on the counter.
The pegasus breathed a sigh of, relief? Maybe. Either way, the farmhand seemed to have bought his excuse. The buck was that about, Soarin? He thought to himself, I'm not... I don't... He couldn’t think. His mind was suddenly and inexplicably clouded, his erect wings were distracting him and he simply couldn’t take his eyes off the young, busy colt in front of him. He had noticed last night. One look into the Earth Pony's emerald eyes had hit something inside of him. Something powerful. Something that, until now, he had only felt in the heat of the moment as he lay underneath a mare, their loins grinding and bodies writhing together. But now he felt it about this, slight built, flowing maned, beautiful eyed, sculpted flanked stud of a...What the buck are you thinking? He thought.

"Could yah go ta' mah fridge an' grab us some milk please?" Braeburn poured the oats into the two bowls and carried them over, one at a time, to his small kitchen table just big enough for two. He looked sleepily over at the pegasus, seeing a very perplexed looking stallion and wondered what exactly what he was thinking. "You sure ya' didn't hit your head too hard? Maybe ah’ should take a look at it."

Soarin' absentmindedly nodded, before realizing what he had just agreed to. "Ah, no, I'm okay, that’s alright..." He said, shuffling over to the fridge and getting the required ingredient. Snap out of it Soarin'. You're not a coltcuddler and neither is he, his thoughts rambled on. Relax and stop obsessing over something so stupid!

Braeburn raised an eyebrow questioningly but dismissed it taking two spoons over to the table and taking a seat. The pegasus watched him sit and began to pour some of the milk into his bowl of oats, before stopping and looking up at the apple farmer. The earth pony smiled at him and kicked the other chair out, inviting him to sit down. He's a cutie, for a colt, right? Soarin’s mind continued, as the blue coated Wondebolt smiled nervously and sat down at the table.
"Y'gonna eat, or..." The earth pony said, spoon halfway to his mouth. Soarin' responded in some kind of half minded nod-smile-giggle combination, before practically slapping himself round the face and scooting his chair forwards.
"Yes, yes I am. Thank you." He said, taking up the milk and pouring it into the bowl.

As the milk flowed onto the oats, Soarin's mind once again betrayed him. Hey, he lives alone right? I bet he clops every single day, I know I would if I had my own place. His mind rambled. He hated it, but loved it at the same time. Speaking of clopping, just imagine what he looks like when he…

"SOARIN." A country accent split into his consciousness, and he was once more brought back into reality. White liquid dripped from the edge of the table, Soarin’ gulped. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." He said, putting the milk down and mopping up the spill with a stack of nearby napkins.

"How about we jus' finish up here an' then we'll get started..." Braeburn said a concerned tone in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Brae, seriously. I... I.. must have hit my head harder than I thought." The pegasus stammered, before sighing and shoving a large spoonful of the oats into his mouth as Braeburn did the same.

Wow. He can fit A LOT in his mouth. They both thought, as they made eye contact across the table.

************************************

"Ah'right so ya’ just plant yer forehooves firmly in the ground like this; and quickly lash out yer rear hooves and plant 'em squarely on the trunk." The earth pony bucked at an apple tree behind him, dropping a tree-full of apples into several strategically placed buckets as he turned to the pegasus with a broad grin on his face.
Soarin', on the other hoof, severely lacked the enthusiasm of his farmer counterpart. They had been working on repairing the barn, digging and ploughing the fields for the new crop, and painting the orchards fence. He stood before Braeburn bruised, dirty and covered in paint.

"So... I..." the pegasus panted, getting into position. "Like this?"

"Mhm that’s exactly right, now be careful to plant ya’ hooves flat on the trunk or you'll just wind up hurtin' yourself. Take ah few practice bucks without puttin’ power behind em first."

The exhausted Wonderbolt raised a rear hoof and patted it against the tree trunk. "Just here..?" Braeburn nodded. It was astonishing how unaffected the earth pony seemed to be; the work had barely even messed up his mane. With a deep breath, the pegasus reared his back legs and bucked with all his might. The tree shook, and a couple of apples fell out. Not much, but Soarin' grinned, pleased with himself.

Maybe he'll suck your dick if you can kick ten out at once? His brain mocked him, and he immediately scowled, annoyed at himself for thinking such thoughts.

"That's pretty good for 'ah start. Yah got the form right, ya' just need more power behind it!" Flashing another smile the earth pony bucked at the tree sending the remainder of the apples tumbling to the baskets below them. "Ya' can try again on the next one okay?" He drug one of the baskets over to the next tree and waited for Soarin' to bring the other one.

The smile the farm pony gave turned the blue stallion's stomach over, sending his chest fluttering with a feeling of pressure and that same, familiar twinge. Hey, his mind whispered as he approached the tree, you might not be a coltcuddler, but you’re certainly gay for this pony.

“Ya gonna come and try again? Or just stand there starein' at me with ah goofy look on your muzzle all day?"
Soarin’ snapped back to life, trotting over to the farm pony and taking up a position next to him. Go on. Touch his cheek, urged his mind, feel those muscles in his flank. He ignored it. The two ponies bucked at the tree in unison, and every single apple fell from the tree landing in the baskets below. The earth pony looked over at the exhausted Wonderbolt and shouted. "YEEHAW ya' did it! Boy do you look plum tuckered out."

Soarin' beamed widely, feeling a bit of heat rush to his cheeks as he blushed. Whatever was going on, he was certainly crushing on the young farm pony, and it was turning him into a damn filly.

"Thanks Brae... But wow... I have NO idea how you do this every day..."

"Heh, I hope ya' have ah bit more 'priciation for us workin' folks now." He sat on his haunches under the tree motioning for the pegasus to sit down next to him, breathing out a sigh of happiness as the early evening breeze blew through his mane. He removed his hat setting it next to him and leaning against the tree behind him.

"I do, I do!" The pegasus huffed, dropping down onto his back next to the tan earth pony and putting his hooves behind his head. His gelled mane had drooped from the sweat of the day, and as Braeburn looked at him he noticed for the first time how nice the Wonderbolt’s mane actually was.

"You ponies have a hard time... But I guess it's alright for you all huh? I mean, you seem to like it." Soarin's voice low and quiet, barely above a whisper.

Braeburn pondered for a second, then lay back next to the exhausted pegasus and gazed up at the clouds floating past lazily in the Appleousian sky.

"Ah guess... Ah guess it helps to keep mah mind in check. A routine, te' keep this muddle of a life we all lead makin' sense." His green eyes scanning the heavens. Next to him, Soarin's own were gazing back at him. "There's a feelin' of accomplishment. Like ah done somethin' worthwhile that everypony'll appreciate. Ah don't see much proof o' that though..." The farm pony sighed, closing his eyes.

"What do you mean?" Soarin' asked. "You don't think they appreciate you?"

The earth pony turned away from the pegasus for a moment and plucked two apples from the closest basket offering Soarin' one. "It's a whole mess a' work gettin' these here apples down... As I'm sure you learned tahday..."

Soarin' took one of the fruits from Braeburn without much hesitation; he had worked up a mighty appetite, after all. But he was preoccupied with the revelations about Braeburn's philosophy on work.

"Brae..?"

"...not to mention all the work that went into planting them. Hay, the whole town would likely starve if I wern't out here workin' mah tail off every day..." The farmer simply stared at the apple in his hoof letting locks of his blonde mane fall in front of his eyes. "It'd just be so nice ta' hear a thank you now 'an again... tain't much ta ask for..."
There was a silence, heavy and thick, the only sound the wind rustling through the leaves of the apple trees. Slowly, quietly, the silence was broken by a subtle whisper, coming from the Wonderbolt next to him.
"Thank you..."

Braeburn couldn't help allowing a small smile creep across his muzzle. "Ya' know what Soar?” He paused for a moment breathing out a contented sigh. “Ah sure am glad ya' did crash inta' me yesterday..."

The pegasus shuffled up to his forearms, propping himself up against the tree behind them both.

"In a weird way... So am I..." He said, slowly. "You're like nopony I've ever met before. You have this amazing outlook on life and ponies in general... You're hospitable, you're kind, you're funny, you're hot, you…"

He stopped dead.

BUCKBUCKBUCKBUCKBUCK DID HE HEAR THAT? His mind panicked.

Another silence, this one lasted longer than it should. Soarin's heart pounded madly against his ribcage. Braeburn just sat, his forehooves crossed in front of him between his legs. He was staring out over the orchard, the wind blowing through his mane and letting it ruffle in the breeze still obscuring his face. Soarin' just watched, beads of cold sweat running down his forehead.

Finally, Braeburn spoke. "Ya’ smell awful."

Soarin’ didn't quite register what had been said, blinking. "...uh..." The single syllable was rife with confusion.

"Ah said ya’ stink." The apple farmer said, peering through his mane at the pegasus and smiling lightly. "Hard work don't agree wit'ya, huh?"

The blue pegasus frowned and looked down at himself. Did this mean he had gotten away with it? That his slip of the tongue had in fact gone unnoticed? "I... Huh, I guess..." He muttered, as Braeburn started to giggle next to him.

"Ya’ll be wanting a bath a’fore ya get goin." he said, scrabbling to his hooves. "An' as a matter of fact, ah will be too."

Soarin’ pushed himself up, using the tree behind them as support. "I... Yeah. I'll get one back at my hotel, I'll..."

"Non-sense!" The apple farmer scoffed, turning to face the Wonderbolt with a small grin across his face, his pearly white teeth gleaming at him. "Ah know a place nearby. Ah go there to relax every now an' then. Don't see much harm in lettin' you come along just this once..."

The earth pony began to walk away, as Soarin stood still, a mixture of feelings washing over him; tiredness, confusion, frustration, and most of all disappointment.

He looked up at Braeburn as he walked away, before noticing he was no longer wearing his Stetson. The pegasus looked down at where they had just been sitting and, sure enough, the farm pony had left it behind.

"Hey!" He yelled, picking up the hat with his teeth and jogging up to his partner's side. "You uh... Were going to leave this behind..."

Braeburn stopped, forcing Soarin’ to follow suit. For a second, both pairs of green eyes were on the hat, before it's owner picked it up and smiled broadly at the Wonderbolt.

"Thank you..." The apple farmer murmured softly. But instead of placing it on his own head, he gently flopped it onto Soarin's flat, unkept mane. "Here. You hold onto it fer now. Ya look good in it..."

With that, he turned once more and beckoned to the pegasus to follow him. Soarin’ just watched as the slim, attractive, kind, wonderful stallion strode away from him. Was it his imagination or was he wiggling his hips ever so slightly? He shook his head, before cantering off in pursuit.

********************************
The sun was setting. The oranges and purples of the sky were dying away into dark blues and blacks, and the fantastic night sky was already beginning to fill with stars. Princess Luna was doing her work and soon, Equestria would be under her quiet, respected reign for another night. The two wandering ponies trotted onwards through the quickly darkening desert. They had been walking for a half hour maybe, and had long since left behind the thick canopy of Appleloosia’s orchard. The town was just a few lights in the mid-distance now, and Soarin glanced back at where they had come from.

"Uh… Brae?" The pegasus whispered as two of them walked underneath massive eroded stone structures of the desert.
The earth pony looked over his shoulder back at Soarin' noticing how good the pegasus looked in his hat. "Somthin’ wrong Soar?"

"Wh... Where exactly are you taking' us? It seems an awful lot of hassle just for a wash." the pegasus said, flicking his head around at a sudden movement that, ultimately, only turned out to be a bird. "Its getting' dark and... I'm not sure it's safe out here this late..."

"Aw don't worry ya' big baby, we're almost there. Trust me when ah' say... It's worth tha’ walk." He couldn’t help but muster up a laugh as the frightened Wonderbolt jumped at the sight of a small snake slithering under a rock, as they continued forward towards a large outcropping of rock.

Soarin’ ruffled his brow, thanking Celestia, or should that be Luna? That it was too dark for his blush to be made out. "I am not a baby..." He muttered, eliciting another small chuckle from Braeburn as they walked through a crevice in a rock face in front of them and up a natural stone staircase.

"C'mon, you gotta admit this is..."

He was cut short by the sight that awaited him.

They had ended up on a large, rocky outcrop that jutted out from the cliff they had scaled. It was huge, easily large enough for a small house to comfortably sit there without fear of falling into the oblivion over the edge. But even then, it was only so high as to grant the two ponies a spectacular view of the lights of Appleloosia, without any of the unpleasantly strong winds caused by the altitude.

Soarin’ stood, mouth agape as he surveyed the area. A single tree stood proudly, rooted firmly in a patch of soil that seemed out of place. Underneath the tree was a wooden crate, on top of which a large metal lantern stood unlit. Next to the crate was a single sleeping bag, weighted down by a small stone on each corner. But most spectacularly, and what Soarin noticed as soon as the heat struck him, was the steaming pool of water that was near the cliff face. A natural hot spring, this high up.? To quote the apple farmer, it boggled the pegasus' mind.

"This... This..." He stammered, and Braeburn couldn't help but burst out into laughter.

"...was worth the trip?" The earth pony finished Soarin's sentance amid bursts of laughter and trotted over towards the edge of the cliff to look out, takeing in the view and breathing deeply. He turned around and smiled broadly at the pegasus who hadn't moved. "Ya' just gonna stand there lookin’ shocked ah’ll night?"

"Its so..." The Wonderbolt managed, taking Braeburn's hat off his head and laying it next to the lantern as he walked over to stand by the farmer's side. "Its amazing..."

"Ain't that the truth? I was as shocked as you when Little Strongheart showed me this here place."

"So... You come here a lot, then..." Soarin' said, looking at the lantern and sleeping bag.

"When 'ah can get away from mah work for long enough..." Braeburn smiled over at Soarin' nudging him softly with his hoof. "Heh and ya' was right about to turn back weren’t ya?"

Soarin' blushed again, but this time with a smile on his muzzle. "I guess I should keep in mind that I can actually trust you..."
Braeburn nodded, a look of self accomplishment jokingly across his face as he picked up his hat and hung it on a tree branch. He trotted over to the wooden crate and picked up the lantern, popping his hat on one of the tree's branches. He pushed the lid of the crate open and reached in it, shuffling some things around for a few minutes before pulling his hoof back out holding a box of matches. He struck one and lit the lantern, shutting the crate back with a happy sigh. "Ah... There we go!"

As the apple farmer raised the Lantern up, casting its impressive light around the area, two pairs of emerald eyes met across the night. Soarin’ was staring. His mind was telling him to stop, that it was rude, but Braeburn wasn't breaking eye contact. The two ponies just stood there, as the lantern's candle flickered and then stabilized.

Finally, Braeburn chuckled and placed the lantern onto a rock near the edge of the spring, before reaching up with a hoof and slipping his vest off one shoulder. "Uh... Brae, what..." Soarin’ said, his mind too occupied with watching the stallion undress to prevent him from staring.

"We did come here for a bath, didn't we?" The apple farmer smiled, letting the vest drop from his body onto the rocky ground. Soarin’ continued watching, his heart beating in his chest as his hungry eyes wandered over the young colt's slim, toned body.

“Oh... Yeah, that's right..." the pegasus said, forcing himself to look away and over the view of Appleloosia.
Braeburn let a miniscule smile pass his lips, as he sat himself down on the edge of the pool and dripped his hooves in. "C'mon Soar, y'still stink, ya know!" He grinned, snapping Soarin’ out of his trance.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming'..." The blue pegasus said, another red hot blush prickling across his cheeks.
As Soarin’ approached the edge of the spring, Braeburn watched him from his perch as the Wonderbolt tested the water with his hoof. The earth pony saw the look of pure wonder and happiness spread across his face. "Whoa..." The pegasus said, and Brae giggled.

"Feels good, don’it?"

Soarin’ glanced up at him, eyes glowing with youthful excitement. Braeburn's own eyes were half closed, relaxed, and that thin, contented smile was still on his lips.

"Are you gonna..." The pegasus asked.

Thoughts ran through the apple farmer's mind. Quick thoughts. Secret thoughts, thoughts of the stallion stood before him.
"You first, Soarin’..." The words like velvet as he did.

Soarin’ felt a twinge, that same twinge from that morning, and goose bumps ran up and down his spine. "Heh... If you insist..." He said, the effeminate side of his voice showing through again. He dropped his rear legs over the edge, and then slowly lowered himself into the warm, enveloping water. "Ooooh Celestia..." He murmured, sparking a tingle in the watching earth pony's groin.

Braeburn continued to watch as Soarin’ lay back in the water, the steaming liquid glistening off the short fur of his body and highlighting his subtly toned athlete's muscles.

"Oh wow, Brae... I am SO coming here again..." The pegasus smiled, his eyes closed as he lay back, before dipping his entire body underwater and resurfacing a second later, his mane completely flat against his neck.
The apple farmer sat on the edge of the pool, admiring Soarin's movements. He was, despite a total showoff in the air, extremely graceful in his movements, his hooves stroking over his arms and chest as he washed the sweat of the day away.
"Uh... Brae?" the pegasus spoke, noticing the adoring look on the farmer's face.

The Earth pony didn't respond, but gazed longingly into the glowing, relaxed eyes of the stallion in the spring. Soarin’ stared back, feeling himself relax entirely, as though all the stresses he had felt before were simply washing away into the steaming, refreshing water. The two ponies shared their gazes for what seemed like an eternity, unspoken thoughts passing through their minds as they did.

Eventually, Braeburn let a small, pearly white smile pass his lips that made Soarin's heart skip. He couldn't help it. With a slight splash, his saturated wings sprang into life and stuck up proudly, a tingling sensation running from his shoulder blades to the tip of the longest feather.

"Oh, my..." The pegasus said, hastily ducking under the water as Braeburn giggled and covered his mouth with a hoof.
"Hit your head again Soar?" He chuckled, as the wonderbolt slowly reemerged just enough so that his nose and eyes were out of the water, hiding his bright, glowing blush.

The sight of the, clearly embarrassed, pegasus acting like a bashful alligator made the apple farmer giggle even louder, before leaning back on his elbows and sighing loudly. "Hey..." He said, as Soarin turned and was about to get out of the pool, "Where you goin'?"

"I... I made a fool of myself I'm..."

Before the wonderbolt could finish, Braeburn had shuffled over to him and leant down on his legs, his deep, lush eyes once again gazing into Soarin's. "Hush, y'aint done nothin of the sort..." he said, velvety voice and all, before slowly lowering his entire body into the water in front of the pegasus.

Soarin’ simply watched as the earth pony dipped his head under the water, then stroked his hooves over his shoulders, chest and stomach, washing himself clean in the warm water. His slim, beautifully toned body shone in the lamplight as the water saturated his thin fur coat, and Soarin felt his wings tingle even more.

"Y'know... If'n yer worried about makin' a fool o' yerself..." Braeburn smiled softly again, "Jus imagine how ah feel doin' this..."

Soarin’ was about to ask: Doing what? But the earth pony’s answer came fast enough.