Her hoof gestured to the tray of white sugar cubes, the question resting in her eyes.
"Two please."
She nodded, moving towards the treats.
"Actually," Pause "Make it three. If you can."
Her eyebrow raised, looking at the stallion.
"What?"
She shrugged, dropping the extra cube with a splish.
"What do you mean, it's nothing? Even nothing is something."
She shrugged again, pushing the cup towards him and turning to the next in line.
"Oh, I see. Bloody hell, you can't get a little extra buzz in the morning without everyone warning you about weight. I'm NOT fat."
Zero Tone didn't respond, not like the mute mare could, but only rolled her eyes. Never Wake sighed in annoyance, grabbing the cup of coffee and leaving her to work the morning crowd. Before sitting down, however, he called out across the crowded cafe; "Don't forget about order 25!"
The mare opened her eyes wide in surprise, before running back into the kitchen of Wakin' Up Coffee. Coming back out and balancing a bag of coffee beans in her hooves, she looked over at Never, her green eyes thankful.
"No problem honey." Never sat in his chair, using magic to levitating the coffee to his lips and sighing as the warmth flowed through his body. A slight buzz slowly tickled the back of his skull, and he took another sip, basking in the warm glow of the sun that rested outside the uncovered window of the small, but busy, cafe.
The stallion looked around the crowded floor, bustling with quiet morning activity. Newspapers rustled, cups clattered, and the faint laughter of young couples made Never smile. Ponyville was always the best on a Saturday morning.
Never took another sip, and almost moaned at the taste. He thought about digging out a cigarette, but decided against it. It was a busy day, and the customers around him wouldn't much care for the second hand smoke. Besides, the few mares that he has had always complained about the taste. "It's like kissing an ashtray," one had said, before proceeding to kiss him, warmly but not deeply. Zero never complained, but it wasn't like she couldn't really say anything against it.
Never sighed again, and took a deep drink. When he put the cup back down, a stallion was walking towards him, legs stomping proudly and a few crumbs lying on his muzzle. A tan colored coat complimented his dirty brown mane, neatly combed to the side. Blue eyes stared at him with mild curiosity, head tilted to the side with sunglasses perched above his brow. His barrel of a body was surrounded with a utility belt, walkie-talkie hanging loosely. His chest was stamped with a golden badge.
Buck. The unicorn pushed his steaming cup aside, facing the approaching pony with annoyance. He hasn't done anything wrong, and he has never had a record, but... Well, no one likes a cop unless they need one. And right now, on this peaceful and beautiful morning, he did not need one.
Never looked into the approaching cops eyes...and then it clicked. "Hey! Order 25!" He got up and stuck out his hoof, a friendly grin stretching his face.
"Uhh...." The confused earth pony met the hanging hoof with his own, hesitantly. "Right. Although I'm also known as Officer Rain. Or Light Rain. Or just... Well, Rain." The stallion chuckled lowly, and then sat down from the seat opposite of Never, who followed suit. They sat in the corner, out of the way of clustered customers. The officer placed a cup of coffee and a wrinkled brown bag with food before leaning back into his chair.
"Can I have a stick?" Rain pointed towards the pack sticking out of his jacket pocket. Never glanced down, and pulled out the cigarettes, handing one to the officer before deciding to have one for himself. Coffee could wait. They both flicked open lighters, hooves cupped together to keep the flame intact. A few small drags later, they exhaled smoke with a sigh, the nicotine adding to the caffeine buzz.
"So... Anything I can do for you, Officer Rain? My names Never Wake, by the way" Officer Rain. Still gotta stay formal, even if he gave you his full name. Light Rain is bloody stupid for an earth pony anyways. Never smiled at the pony, eyes lined with interest, even if he already knew the reason for the previously unexpected visit.
"Yes, actually, Mr. Wake. I, uh... Wanted to ask you a question." He took another drag, smoke escaping from his snout, and continued. "I mean, just curious, um...you're not in trouble or anything son, and I hope I'm not taking up any of your time or..."
"It's fine mate" Never smiled again, silently wincing at the pony calling him son. "I've got nothing planned. What do you need?"
"Well... Um... I had been waiting for my order, for, well... Quite a while, actually. And I understand it being busy and all, and that the mare up there was all by herself, but... Well, I sure you can tell what my job is, heh, and we don't really get a lot of breaks. Ya know what I mean?"
Never nodded, beckoning for Rain to continue.
He did. "Yeah. Anyways, I was just about to walk out the door when she reached out to me. A few moments later, I'm at the counter, talking to um...Her, and I wanted to ask what had taken so long, and she just shrugged and pointed over to you. And I tried to ask her what that meant, but she was already looking at the next in line. So... It was either (A), you had been distracting her, or (B) you had reminded her. And, well, I'm just gonna guess the second, because you seem like a good enough stallion. So... Thank you, by the way."
"No problem."
"But, when I was walking over here, I felt something... Off. Because well, to be honest, I've been waiting a LONG time for that order. And, I have never seen you before. You weren't behind me, or the guy behind the guy behind me... You weren't in the line at all. Hay, you weren't even in the store, or on the block! So... I just want to ask... How did you know about my order?"
Never had hardly been paying attention to the pony, the question Rain had been meaning to ask already resting in his mind. This guy can babble on and on, can't he? Now Never sat up, focusing on the earth pony. "Well... It's gonna be a bit hard to explain, but... Hey, what is that in your mane?"
The officer arched an eyebrow at him, before attempting to tilt his head back over his shoulder to look at it. "Where?" He asked quizzically, neck straining. "I don't really see anything."
"It's right... Well, ok, to the left." Never pointed with his cigarette at a spot that didn't exist, hoof moving in sync with Rain's motions. "You've almost, um... Here, let me." Putting his cigarette in a dirty ashtray, he got up and scurried behind the pony, reaching out a hoof.
Rain hesitated, then turned his neck away, allowing Never to continue. Now it was Never's turn to hesitate, realizing what he was going to do, but only for a moment. He lowered his hoof down into the mane, ruffling it up a little while mumbling under his breath, pretending to dig around for something. He closed his eyes, and breathed deeply.
Hmhh.
Oh.
Uh huh.
Oh.
OH. Oh....
WOW.
He shook in excitement. The handshake had given him little to work on, but this... Wow. THIS. Would be enough. To put on a little show.
Never backed up slowly. "Got it. Just a crumb is all, Rain." He paced back to his seat, sitting back down. Rain. Yeah, no need for formalities now. You've got enough. He took a long, heavy drag, and puffed out the smoke towards the cop. "What were we talking about again?"
"Um..." He swayed the smoke away with a stray hoof, before gathering himself. "My order. Remember?"
"Hmhh?" Oh right right, of course." Although focused on a spot in the empty air, seeming unfocused, Never raised his eyebrows. "Here's a thought. I've always wondered, really, and now that I have a bloody police officer right here... Well." He laughed. "I've always wondered. Why does Ponyville even HAVE a police department? What with the Royal Guard and all, and it's just so damn peaceful here too."
Although mildly annoyed that Never dodged the question, Rain smirked. "You know, I just had an officer ask me the same question the other day. Wel-"
"Two actually. In the last week. Hey, looks like I'm not the only one who wants to know! Oh, and by the way, you totally missed the hint from your wife this morning."
"Erm... What... What hint?" Rain pushed his brows together, full attention on the unicorn.
"When she puts her hand on your crotch, she's not still sleeping. Just saying. Your milks curled, too."
"What... Wait. Milk?" The pony was exasperated, mouth agape.
"Your quick little midnight snack... Well, maybe not quick, there was a lot.... After you got home from work? You know, it was the night everyone worked overtime to clear out the tavern. Anyways, you left the milk on top of the fridge. I'm surprised you haven't smelt it yet."
Rain glared at the pony across him. "What the hay, man! Who are you!"
"Never Wake. Remember? Oh... Oh now that's interesting."
"What? What is?" Fear crept into the stallion's voice, coffee completely forgotten.
"You know." The unicorn took one last drag before pressing the lit end of the cigarette into the ashtray. There was a slight hiss before the stick was crushed. "The shooting range"
The narrowed eyes went wide. Wide in fear. But it was only for a split second, a fraction of time. He leaned back, grabbing his cold coffee. "I don't know what you're talking about." He raised the cup to his muzzle. His hoof shook.
"Really? For a cop, you're a lousy liar. Oh trust me, I don't blame you. I really don't. You're just ambling on, about to get back to your desk after a long, hard day. You finish practicing, you place the gun back down, and you're walking out the door. But then you stop. I mean... the situation is just too perfect. It couldn't be real, but it is. Almost every pony was gone for the day, and here you were, in an almost deserted building, just you and the most amazing flank you have ever seen peeking out of number 5. Her cutie mark was amazingly perfect, a pink star reflected in a crystal pond. You can't really remember her name, but that doesn't matter right now. Nothing matters, not her gun, not the door, not the flickering light, just that gorgeous, round flank and how her tail swished, giving you the slightest peek at her glistening mare hood. She turns her head back, and grinned at you staring. You look away, probably flushing, before you look back at her, caught. She giggles, and raises her tail up. It falls to her side, and you're gaping at her beautiful marehood. Mare juices are slowly leaking down her leg as she moans in lust. "Like what you see?" She asks, and bends down over the counter in front of her, brushing aside her pistol and ammunition. Looking forward towards the target now, she shakes her rump ever so slightly, and moans again. And God you love it. Sweet Celestia, you adore it. This was a dirty fantasy come true, stuff that every horny stallion dreams of. You're cock is already growing at the sight and the scent hanging in the air, and by the time you're mounting her, it's rock hard and slapping against her pussy. She doesn't need any foreplay, and neither do you. You need to rut her, and goddammit, she's bloody wet enough already that you just slide right on in. And now you're panting as your head pops inside, enticing a high pitch moan from her. You slide slowly in, her tight walls clenching your length, dragging you inside. Her moaning only raises along with her back, trying to get more of you inside. She mumbling how big you are, and you nibble at her ear, making her purr, before you bottom out all fourteen inches inside, your balls slapping against her. You both lay there, panting, and then you start backing up, her marehood clenching, trying to keep you inside, and God It feels amazing. Once you're almost out, you buck your hips back in again, making her screech in ecstasy and push back against you. And now you're grunting as you steadily thrusting into her at a slow pace. And you're both panting now, the cock sliding in and out of her. "You like it don't you? You're a little mare, and you love this when it's rough" she moans louder from the dirty words, squeezing against your tool. "Please... Oh it's so good... I want more." You slap her flanks, and they jiggle slightly from the touch. She purrs again as you turn her ass red, pleasure all over her body as you caress her cutie mark. It's only when you lean forward, sinking your length into her g-spot and lick her horn is when she peaks. She screams, clenching even more tightly around you as her mare juices start pouring out and pooling on the floor. She shakes as you continue to rut her, leaning on top of her back, muzzle beside her neck, and get a few more thrusts inside her convulsing pussy before you grunt even louder and sink inside of her, your balls drawing up and your stallionhood throbbing spurt after spurt of sticky cum into her depths. You're both breathing in time, just pouring into her, cum covering her walls. You pull out with a wet pop, and unload the last few spurts onto her back, panting loudly. Your half erect cock is lined with her juices, and your semen starts coming out of her slowly, dripping and joining the pool on the floor. She's laying across the counter, sprawled, back slowly rising and falling while your cum dries on her pink coat. You sit down on your haunches on the floor, thinking about how to clean the rest of the mess up... And if she'll give you a quick blowjob. You aren't thinking about going home to your wife and telling her about work, or waking up in the morning next to her and gazing into her eyes, or getting up and walking to your foals rooms, or sitting down and eating breakfast with your whole family, or walking them to school, or kissing your wife before to head to work, or how you are going to see the same mare, every day, as long as you work, and know you had used her to cheat on your wife, or that you would have to see your wife, every day, and know you cheated on her. You weren't thinking about your family then... But you are now, aren't you?"
Rain continued to stare down at the table. Never's words washed over him like acid, burning him as he stayed still. He breathed shallowly, chest barely moving, in, and out, and back in, and he looked back up. His eyes glared into Never's. They shined with anger, grief, rage, confusion, fear, and hundreds more emotions. And then they blinked, and they all disappeared, combining into one. His eyes were full of sadness as tears glistened in the corners, gut tightening his words. "Shut up. Just... Shut up." A hot tear flowed down his cheek, and he lowered his head to the table, hooves hugging himself, and sobbed. He cried deeply, his wrenching sounds echoing inside the cafe. Conversation faltered, and ponies peared over to the corner. Zero Tone leaned over her counter, fresh cup resting in her hoof.
Never's heart melted at the stallions sobs. "Aww... I didn't mean... Bloody hell." He pushed himself up, and stepped in front of the bawling pony, facing the customers. "Give my mate some privacy, please. Go on. Stop looking, you wouldn't want to watch if it were you."
The crowd turned away, embarrassed, and resumed their conversations. Zero made eye contact with Never, quietly sighed, and gave the cup to a waiting mare. Never signed too, and turned back around to Rain. His sobs had turned into stifles, and he gently rocked back and forth. "Are you listening?"
The crying cop could only nod a little nod, still sniffling.
"My special talent is memory magic. The longer I touch some pony, the more memories I receive from them. A hoof shake can give me a glimpse, but the longer I hold on, the farther back I go. That's how I knew Zero had forgotten your order: in the memory, she threw it in the trash by accident. And that's how I knew about everything you've done in this past week, when I touched your mane. The thing is, sometimes I can get a little... Too much into the memories. So I didn't think for a second how you would react to... Well... You know. I'm truly sorry, Rain."
The officer lifted his head. He continued to sniffle, but got out a few words. "It's... Alright. It's the... Fucking God awful... T-truth. I... I l-love her, Never. I h-have a f-fa-family. Please don't... Don't..." He shut his eyes in shame.
"I won't tell anypony. I swear." Never patted Rain on the back comfortably. "Want me to buy you something?" The pony dried his nears with a napkin offered from Nevers magical grip, and grunted out his request of decaf.
The next hour consisted of the two stallions connecting. They drank coffee and smoked cigarettes, and as Rains tears faded, he couldn't help but have a good time with the other pony. Another friendship was made in Ponyville.
"Whelp." Rain bent his back in an arch over the chair, stretching his muscles out. "Duty calls. Not THAT kind of duty, of course."
Never cackled. He felt good. Great, actually. He was filled to the brim with fluids, and caffeine rode through him in waves. The pair got out of their seats and shook hooves again.
"It was nice to meet you mate." Never said.
"You two, my friend. See you later" Rain turned around and headed for the door, but paused after flicking his sunglasses down. Looking back at Never, he called out. "Hey, come by the station sometime. We can always use some pony with your talents."
"Sure! Maybe I can take your job!" They both laughed at that, and Rain walked out of the shop, off to work.
The unicorn glanced back at his table, empty cups stacked to the roof and cigarette butts still smoldering. It has been a good morning. And, he thought, pushing past crowded ponies. It's gonna be an even better day. He smiled at the thought, and continued pushing his way towards the door.
The ponies around him bustled and moved against him, and Never felt quick glimpses of their morning come up like five second videos. Snapshots of the past appeared out of nowhere, and Never smirked as her saw ponies stumble out of bed, or into showers, or brushing their teeth. . He saw stallions dealing with their morning wood, some with other mares, but most on their own, with their magazines. He saw the aftermath of hangovers, the feeding of pets, the affectionate hugs of significant others cuddling into each other before leaving to work, the alarms blaring, the foals crying, the TV glaring, the horses clip-clopping, the sun shining, the...
The...
He froze. Entirely. His hooves stopped moving, and his eyes stared straight ahead, at an image that didn't... Couldn't exist. His mouth stood agape, his muscles tight and rigid. Eyes full with terror, he glanced down at the foal he had just touched. And later on in his life, right up until he laid in his deathbed and sighed, he would always see this moment, see this memory clearly, out of everything else, and wonder, aimlessly, if it was worth it, if it was worth the lives lost, if it was worth the pain, if it was worth it. And he would always come back to the same answer, which was, yes, it was important. He had to.
His eyes locked on the foal. The light red coat looked back up at him, his eyes sad. They were there, if only for a moment. And then they weren't, and the foal walked back towards a stronger stallion, who was too busy looking at the menu to see the confrontation.
The unicorn watched him leave, and then he turned and ran behind the counter, burst through the kitchen door, galloping, gasping, up to the top to his home.