Ben

Kaboombabomaboooooooooom!!!

I jolt awake to the sound of thunder. I hear a scream from upstairs. Disoriented, I trip getting up, then scramble to me feet and rush to Sweetie's room She's shivering under the covers, "R-Rarity??!"

I shake my head. "No, it's me, Ben. You alright?"

She whimpers, "N-No... I'm afraid of storms... Mainly thunder..."

I come over, sitting beside her. "It's okay, I'm here."

The ball off blankets snuggles under me as best as it can. I hug her trembling form, trying to make her feel as safe as possible. Every time she seems to calm down a little, more thunder quakes the world. Until...

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!

I wonder who the heck would be knocking, no, banging, on the door at this time of night. Sweetie whimpers quietly as I shift to get up. "I'll be right back,” I reassure her, “just give me a moment to get the door, okay, Sweetie?" I step off the bed, resting a comforting hand on the bundle of adorable fear.

She whimpers louder, "O-Okay..."

I rush down to grab the door, unlocking it and opening it. I’m greeted to the sight of an orange filly, shivering in the rain. "U-Uh... Hi..." Her teeth chatter. "C-Can I come in and visit Sweetie for the evening?"

"Scootaloo?" I ask incredulously. "What happened? You look like a soaked hen!"

She chuckles. "A dripping cock, a soaked sock, etc, etc. I've heard them all." She enters past me. "Ugh... Brrr..." She sits and rubs her hooves together, generating very little heat

"Here, come on up, Sweetie's in her room. What in Equestria were you doing out there?"

She bites her lip, still shaking. "Mind if I took a quick shower first?""

I shake my head. "Of course not, go right ahead, it'll warm you up."

She nods, heading upstairs.

I make sure the door is securely closed and locked, then hurry back upstairs to make sure Sweetie was still alright.

I at this point notice the bathroom door vaguely open on the way to Sweetie. I realize that she probably doesn't have a towel, so I go to the hall closet and grab one, then head back to the bathroom, opening the door slowly to leave it inside.

I was right in my assumption, and am greeted to a lovely show of Scootaloo's plot while she's facing away, washing her hair.

I feel a twitch down below, glad that she didn't see. I can't help but stare for a bit before shaking myself. I try to leave the towel on the counter and slip out without being noticed.

She turns around and stares at me.

I stare back.

She raises an eyebrow, obviously not noticing that her plot is showing. "Can I help you?"

"I was dropping off a towel for you. You doing alright?" I've lost count of how many time I've been thankful I'm wearing jeans today.

She nods, wincing as soap drips in one of her eyes, causing her flank muscles to twitch slightly. "Ow.. Yeah. Thanks." She wipes it out of her face. "How's Sweetie? I know she's really bad in thunderstorms."

I have to forcibly stop myself from licking my lips, but I keep a casual face. "She's kinda scared, but alright, I think. I think she's more scared of Rarity not being with her than anything." I scratch my chin. "How 'bout you? What the heck were you doing out in the storm?"

She shrugs. "I dunno.  Anyway, I gotta finish doing this so..." She leans her head to the side, subsequently turning her plot away from me, so soap stops dripping in her eyes.

I nod. "Alright. You coming to Sweetie's room once you're done?"

"Sure." She says with a straight face.

"You alright?" I ask. "You look troubled."

She shrugs. "I'm fine."

"Uh-huh," I deadpan.

"You sure about that? You know, you can tell me if something's wrong."

She stares. "I don't think it's really important. Now if you don't mind..."

I walk out, closing the door behind me.

I was half-tempted to go downstairs, just to slam my head on the table again.

You barely hear a sort of whine. Almost like somepony's calling your name from far, far away.

I sigh to myself. "I'm coming, Sweetie Belle."

I walk into her room.

She's whining on the bed, looking only slightly miserable. "Who was it?"

"It's Scootaloo. She's taking a shower now."

Her eyes perk up a tiny bit. "Scootaloo's here? But it's raining!" Her voice squeaks.

I nod. "I know, but she doesn't want to tell me why. Maybe if you talk to her, she'll tell you."

She frowns, "Probably not.." She looks down a little before waving her hooves to gesture me closer. "Aren't you coming back..?"

"Coming back?" I ask, slightly confused.

She pouts and pats the bed, "To sit with me?"

I smile. "Of course." I sit beside her, wrapping my arms around her. "Sorry for leaving you for so long."

She snuggles back next to me. "It's okay..."

I think for a second. "Hm... you know what cheers me up when I'm feeling blue?"

"Hm..." She glances up at my face. "What?"

"I like a nice, hot cup of cider," I say, ruffling her mane. "Not alcoholic, just regular apple cider. Want me to make us some?"

She smiles and nods. "Mhm!"

"Will you be alright for another minute or two without me? I'll try to be fast."

She nods. "I'll.. Probably be okay.."

I hug her one more time, then get up. "I'll be right back." I walk out, headed downstairs for the kitchen.

Once there, I sit at the table, sighing. "Why do I feel like a complete and utter failure tonight?" I raise my hand, which glows blue. The fridge door opens, and a bottle of apple cider hovers out, pouring itself into three mugs. It goes back into the fridge, and the door shuts. The mugs set themselves down on the table, and I use a five-minute-warming spell.

Leaving them to sit, I walk aimlessly around the kitchen. Happening across a knife block, I pull one out. It's a nice, clean, straight blade, and I look at it, mentally warring whether to etch a new word into my arm, or just redefine them. They're fading a little, maybe I needed a reminder.

The bathroom door upstairs shuts loudly.

I shake my head, dismissing it. I don't put the knife down. I know Scoots is headed for Sweetie's room.

I toss the knife in the air, the blade whirling around in a beautiful display, catching it neatly in my hand before tossing it again. And again, and again.

I catch it one more time, and, with my hopeless feeling at a high, I slide back the sleeve of my hoodie, looking at the gently-scarred skin. Yep. It needed redefining.

I have to take a moment to pick out exactly where the faded scars are, the lines nearly invisible. I grip the blade, readying my magic to make sure blood doesn't get everywhere.I begin to carve out the lines, forming the letters necessary.

F. I gasp slightly with the pain, but continue.

A.

I. I cut for being a useless idiot.

L. I cut for thinking I could find love with the mare I loved most.

U. I cut for thinking I ever had any worth.

R. I cut, knowing I am nothing important, nothing anypony will ever need.

E.

I sigh, looking at the bloody letters. I gaze at them for a few moments, then conjure a long, white cloth. I wrap my arm up, then tie the ends together. Once I roll my sleeve back down, it's completely hidden. Just to be safe, I cast a quick illusion spell. There. Now even if my sleeve rolls up, it won't be noticed.

I raise my hand, and the mugs float, wrapped in the soft blue glow. I head upstairs, taking a moment to compose myself before knocking on the door. "Sweetie? Scoots? I have the cider."

Hoof steps run over and open the door. "Here." Scootaloo says, behind the door.

"Thanks." I walk in, levitating a mug each to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "There you are, the Apple Family's famous cider. Drink up while it's still warm." I do my best to sound enthused, covering any doubt by bringing my cider up to my lips, taking a sip. "Mmm."

They both indulge in the cider as well.

"Good?" I ask. "It's not too hot, is it?"

They nod. "It's perfect.." Scootaloo mumbles through her cup.

I smile, trying to hold back my sadness with the act. "Thank you, I'm glad you like it." I take another sip.

Nopony noticed anything, thank Celestia.

I continue nursing my mug of cider, letting the cool warmth wash over me, doing what it can to ease the pain in me.

By the time I've finished my mug, I'm feeling more or less alright. I set it down on the bedside table.

Sweetie finishes too, leaving Scootaloo slowly sipping her mug. "Hey Scootaloo, why were you out so late anyway?" Sweetie asks, tilting her head a little.

I stay quiet, hoping that she won't stay silent about it with me in the room.

She shrugs. "Things."

"Things?" Sweetie echoes.

"And places."

Sweetie pauses, then nods slowly, frowning a bit. "I see..."

I can feel the tension in the air, and decide to step out. "I'm gonna go wash out my mug, I'll be back in a few minutes." I take my mug, leaving the two of them alone to talk.

Scootaloo stands up, gulping the rest of her mug down quickly. "Me too."

Sweetie sits there for a moment, before glancing down at her mug and jumping up, "Oh! Oh! Me too!"

I blink, utterly confused. "Uh, okay."

They follow me to the kitchen.

I hover their mugs over to the sink, grabbing a sponge. I'd intended to let the two talk alone, but now I didn't have a clue what was goin' on. I assumed that maybe Scoots had seen what I was doing and ducked out.

"So, Ben." Scootaloo piques up, "What are you and Sweetie doing in this big ol' boutique all alone?" She then nudges me with her foreleg elbow.

"I'm hanging around so that Sweetie doesn't have to be alone while Rarity is out for a day or so." I smile back at them as I wash the mugs out. "Yup, I'm not babysitting. Totally."

She snorts. "Of course."

I chuckle. "But seriously, though, I don't see it as babysitting. Babysitting is holding a toddler and making sure to change it once it wets itself. Nah, this is more just keeping her company." I ruffle Sweetie's mane. "Know what I mean?"

Sweetie smiles, grabbing my hand and holding it to her head longer whilst giggling. "I see." Scootaloo's poker face is better than a stone statue of a stone statue with a poker face.

"Oh, do you? What do you see, exactly?" I jokingly question, matching her poker face.

She nods slowly, reaching over and nudging Sweetie off my arm. "Can ah... We speak in private?" she asks, gesturing behind her with a neck flick.

I nod. "Sure. One second, Sweetie, we'll be right back."

I walk with Scootaloo over into another room, out of earshot. "What's up?"

"You realize she has a major crush on you right?" She asks, raising an eyebrow and clamping a hand on her side. "Surely you've heard what she nearly forced her last babysitter she had a crush on to do."

I shook my head. "No, what'd she do?"

She stares before shaking her head and walking away, back into the kitchen.

"Wait, Scootaloo, come back, please. What'd she do?"

She ignores me, flipping me the pony equivalent of the bird by raising one wing at me. Also known as flipping me the chicken. I walk, even more confused than before, after her back into the kitchen.

She's now chatting quietly with Sweetie in the kitchen, casting me the occasional glance. I, not knowing what else to do, lean up against the wall, waiting for them to finish their conversation.

They finish up and wander over to me. "So... It's like... One in the morning or something. So... I gotta go." Scootaloo says, staring at me with zero emotions.

I raise an eyebrow. "You gonna be alright, walking home in the dark?"

She stares. "Of course I will be."

I sigh. "Alright, alright. You want another mug of cider, for the road, at least?"

She shakes her head. "No thanks."

"Alright..." Behind my back, I use a quick, undetectable spell Twilight taught me for going stargazing - a spell to keep somepony from getting cold for several hours.

"Stay safe out there, okay?"

I smile at her before leaving the room, going downstairs and lying on the couch.