Author's Note
THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS. IT'S BACK FROM HIATUS!
I cleaned up chapter 1 a little, for any returning readers caring to give it a re-read.
Also; maybe the theme for this story? The title is just about perfect, as are the lyrics.
Nº 1
Celestia's 7:00 AM sun shined through the tall pane windows of the Tip-Top Cafe's front, the little shop being situated at the first floor of a 4-story complex along Canterlot's busy Main street. Looking perfectly down the center of a joining street, the café not only had the perfect positioning for the morning sun to not be shaded by the adjacent buildings but had the perfect positioning of prime café real estate. Not only did those passing by see the shop, but those approaching down this joining road were in direct line of sight of the café, meaning business during all hours was never a slow endeavor; especially in the mornings.
When Tea Leaf had spent her younger years in Fillydelphia, she had thought to be the exact opposite of a morning pony, but moving to Canterlot to pursue her master's at Canterlot University had changed that idea. Working the opening shift had grown on her. Initially, she had loathed waking so early to drag herself from bed, but the beauty of the Canterlot morning overpowered her desire to sleep later. Arriving at the front doors right at the crack of dawn to open with Steam Wand and Sugar Flake, the resident pastry chef, had become something she loved. Though, while such a routine was something she enjoyed, true enjoyment came from the perfectly timed, no matter rain, snow, or wind, 7:30 AM visit from a pristine, gently pink-maned mare by the name Fleur De Lis.
As a stallion before Tea Leaf spoke his order, her eyes were drawn up and to the left at the plain white clock hung above one of three pane windows that made up the tiny shop's front: 7:30. A graceful, white hoof swung open the door to the café, a slender, tall, somewhat intimidating (from a beauty standpoint, for certain) figure entering, the morning's sun giving her white fur and pink mane a radiant, almost angelic glow as she stepped in file with the 4-pony long line that had formed before the register.
"You got my order, right?" spoke the stallion stood before the counter in the usual cantor and demeanor of Canterlot's well-offs.
"Yes; you said a cappuccino with 2 sugar, 3 creamer and a double-shot of espresso, right?" returned Tea Leaf, quickly throwing her head to remove her heavily curled, green bangs from her face.
"Single shot, actually."
"Apologies. The norm is a double." Tea rolled her head over her shoulder, her bangs falling back over her eye. "Cap 2-3 with a single!" she called to Steam Wand, who's blue aura of magic fiddled and worked meticulously with the many machines before him.
"Gotcha, boss." he returned in the almost stoic manner he held, his white figure barely moving as he allowed his spells to do the work for him.
Being the son of a Royal Guard meant Steam Wand had picked up much of his father's soldier-like demeanor, and since he too aspired to join the guard once he was old enough, it was a good thing.
Like clock-work, the brew was procured, the customer gave their bits, the bits were calculated and placed within the register, and the brew was handed over. Again, and again, the process went through the machine that was the duo at the counter until Fleur De Lis finally made her way to the register, her smiling lips never parting as she watched the all-knowing Tea Leaf crane her head to address Steam Wand.
"The usual!" she called.
"Which, 'the usual'? There's like 13 'the usual's."
Tea stomped her hoof on the tiled floor, grunting annoyedly as her actions prompted Steam to, for once in his life, turn and see who the order was for.
"The usual." Tea re-affirmed, raising her brow.
"Ah, The usual."
"I didn't know my taste in coffee had reached the top spot as 'the usual'!" Fleur De Lis chimed as her pink aura procured the exact amount of bits required for her order, Tea taking them in an outstretched hoof, the spell holding them tickling the softer parts of her underhoof for a moment before they were fully released.
"Eh, well; 'the usual' is part of our code...." Tea lied in return as she popped the register open, her eyes not never leaving Fleur's as she dropped the bits into the metal tray with a clink. "There's 'the usual' and 'the usual', and... well, you see how the list goes on and on."
Steam caught on every word as he worked at preparing the preset combination of ingredients and steps held in his mind.
"Oh, and here I am thinking I had the special, top spot!" Fleur exclaimed jokingly, her words bringing a look of worry to the barista's teal eyes.
"No, no; you're still special; it's just that, uh... we have other orders we remember!"
A light laugh and a dismissively waving hoof were Fleur De Lis's response. "Honey, don't be so flustered. I understand what you mean. The fact I have a place on 'the usual' list makes me very happy."
"Just an FYI, you are the top spot on 'the usual' list, Miss De Lis." Steam commented as his blue spell transferred the finished, piping hot coffee to the checkout counter, his words causing Tea to momentarily glare at him.
"I am? Well, I'd love to know what sets me apart from the other patrons." Fleur De Lis returned as she looked to Tea Leaf, who's clay-brown cheeks held a light blush. Fleur brought her brew to her lips, gently sipping as she patiently waited while Steam Wand's magic took a certain pastry from left one of the two refrigerated, glass cases flanking either side of the register counter.
"Well, I mean; like I said, you are a special patron, but you always have the same order, so we've got a special code for when you arrive!" Tea lied once more, shifting on her hooves as she watched Fleur De Lis step to the side of the line, her white, fuzzy ears listening intently as she sipped her coffee and retrieved the little brown paper bag containing her morning's treat from Steam Wand's spell.
"Mh, I see." Fleur flicked her head to throw her pink bangs, smiling to Tea as she turned for the door, "You have a good morning, dear; don't try to let any more customers get you in such a flurry, you hear?"
The little bells above the door chimed upon her departure, Tea watching as the seemingly glowing mare continued on past the cafe's front windows.
"Good morning, I'll just be having an orange juice. Trying to cut back on caffeine, you know?" the next customer in line chuckled as she came to the register, her head craning back to take a pouch of bits from beneath her furled, gray wing.
"I see lots of ponies trying to do the same thing." Tea commented back as she slid a single bit across the counter with her hoof, scooping it from the edge of the laminated wood as she dropped it into the now open register, momentarily turning her head back to look at Steam as his magic took a single glass bottle from the cafe's glass-faced fridge. "Why'd you put me on the spot like that?"
The bottle gave a light clink as it touched down to the counter, the gray Pegasus mare smiling as she took the bottle in her mouth and departed. "Because watching you try to explain that to her was about the best fun I've had this morning." Steam smiled in return, looking over his shoulder.
"Oh, you are such a jerk." Tea's attention went back to the front of the store as yet another patron stepped forward.
He explained his preferred style of brew, the information was relayed to Steam Wand, who had heard what the stallion wanted just fine when he himself had said it, and he began to 'work his magic'. As Tea dropped the customer's funds into the register, she diverted her gaze to the pastry cabinet to her right, focusing on the few crumbs left by a certain pastry's absence.
"You made sure to give her the right one, right?" Tea inquired without looking over her shoulder, the high hiss of steam ringing through the café for a moment as the machines to her back worked.
"Yes, I gave her the freshest one; as long as you put it where you always put it."
"Top right corner, slightly separated from all the others..." Tea mumbled to herself, checking her memory to ensure she had indeed remembered to set aside the mentioned pastry before the café had opened. "Yeah, I did."
A steaming-hot, whipped-cream topped coffee passed by her to the counter, the suit-wearing stallion taking his order with his hoof and stepping off to the side, taking a few spare napkins in his mouth from a polished aluminum dispenser.
"Well, then there's no need to worry, your mare-friend got her treat." Steam grinned, darting his look over his shoulder.
"How many times must I tell you; I am simply friends with her!"
"And she's a mare, isn't she?"
"You know very well what that term means."
"Can I get one of those absolutely de-lectable Danishes?" Came a somewhat prissy female voice, Tea turning to address the new customer.
"Of course; 4 bits, ma'am."
~§~
7:30 on the dot. Lucky for Fleur De Lis, there was only a single other patron waiting in line before her, and thus far, no one else had come in the take their place behind her in the queue. Her hooves gently clapped at the polished hardwood floor as the bow-tie wearing stallion before her trotted off with his coffee in-hoof, his magic taking a newspaper from the rack by the door as he exited from the café, taking a seat at one of the several sets of metal chairs and tables before the three pane windows of the shop.
"Morning, Miss De Lis!" Tea Leaf greeted with her usual genial smile, her outstretched hooves taking the perfectly calculated number of bits from Fleur De Lis' gently ticklish pink aura.
"Morning. Nice to see the place a little slow for once." commented Fleur, her puffy mane swishing side to side as she looked around the somewhat empty café, only a few seats being taken by ponies as they enjoyed their morning's treats.
"The usual, Steam." Tea spoke over her shoulder, Steam Wand simply humming in acknowledgment as he began to create the specified drink. "Yeah, it's been a slow morning, but a good morning." a short sigh came from Tea as she and Fleur shared a look. "Anything new with you?"
"Same-old, same-old. I suppose I could boast about some recent purchases, but I feel that's a bit... boring of me." Fleur stepped forward, crossing her front legs atop the counter as she smiled to Tea Leaf. "I should like to hear how things are with you; especially your schooling,"
"Oh! Well, I've got an exam right after I get off my shift... so that's fun." Tea spoke with an air of anxiety masked as annoyance. "Luckily, the prof's given us a little time for some peer-to-peer study, so hopefully March Wing and I can get some more information packed into our heads while we've still got access to all of the prof's books."
"March Wing's that stallion-friend of yours, yes?"
The attention was temporarily drawn to a floating coffee cup as it came to rest just before Fleur's hooves, her eyes moving down to address her brew as it was taken by her own pink aura.
"He's a stallion, and he's a friend, yes. Just a friend."
"Dear, I didn't mean to insinuate anything..."
"Oh, no; sorry... I didn't mean to snap at you, me saying that is Steam's fault."
Fleur drew her glance to the mentioned white stallion, his blue eyes returning her gaze for only a moment as his magic retrieved a specially set aside pastry from the chilled case. "Speaking of dear Steam Wand, how have you been faring? I rarely get to meet you in conversation." Fleur De Lis inquired, leaning her head past Tea Leaf's view to address Steam Wand as he slid the pastry into a little brown paper bag.
"As you yourself said; same-old same-old."
The contained pastry took the previous place of Fleur's coffee, her hoof lazily rotating the little parcel as she took a second sip of her brew. "Anything new with your father? Promotions, anything of the sort?"
"Well, he's working on his certification as a Class 9 SW, and so far that's been going well."
Fleur blinked. "I'm... not privy to army nomenclature."
"Class 9 Spell Wielder. Cloaking spells and stuff of that sort."
"Sounds exciting! I could use something like that..."
The chiming bell above the cafe's door drew the group's attention to the front of the store as a couple entered, their quiet chat being the only sounds for a moment as they stood in line behind Fleur De Lis.
"Well." Fleur brought her crossed hooves from the counter and lifted her pastry with a spell. "You two continue on with your day."
With that simple dialogue and a smile, Fleur De Lis trotted to the exit, Tea Leaf's eyes being drawn to her seemingly glowing figure as she pranced through the morning's light.
~§~
The cafe's air hung with the loud chatter of ponies enjoying themselves. Every available chair, both inside and out, was filled. Slow mornings like yesterday were a double-edged sword; sure, things were nice and quiet, and there wasn't such a constant rush to fulfill every incoming order, but the tip-jar went a little dry. On mornings like today's, the influx of customers, and therefore work, was well worth it for the extra bits.
"Well, how did that exam of yours go?" Fleur De Lis inquired intently, her magic transferring the bits into Tea Leaf's always perfectly outstretched hoof.
Tea could just let her place the bits to the counter as most other customers did, but the gentle tickle given off by Fleur's aura was something she loved almost as much as their talks.
"Actually, we didn't have the exam, our professor hit some poor mare mid-air while on his way to class that morning, and didn't make it until pretty late." Tea Leaf looked over her shoulder. "The usual, Steam!" She shouted over both the cafe's sounds and the loud whir of a bean grinder.
"The usual." Steam Wand spoke more to himself than to Tea as he began working.
"Oh, dear! I should hope he's not too injured." Fleur De Lis exclaimed.
"He's built like a castle wall; I'm more worried for the mare he hit. As bad as it sounds, I'm really glad she decided to fly in the wrong square inch of airspace that day, because the exam got delayed! More peer-to-peer study time!"
Fleur chuckled, looking down as her typical coffee was placed atop the counter by an all-to-familiar blue aura. "A little schadenfreude never hurt anypony."
"Schadenfreude?"
"You know, taking pleasure in the misfortune of others? It's an expression from Germaneigh."
"Oh! You've been to Germaneigh before?" inquired Tea Leaf, her ears perking, but her eyes turning away from the slender mare as she ensured the pastry given to Fleur De Lis was indeed the correct one.
"No... not yet, at least. I simply know the expression; one picks up many words from outside languages when they spend enough time around the right ponies."
The crinkle of a paper bag drew Fleur's eyes over to the second part of her morning's purchase as the parcelled pastry was handed off to her own aura.
"I've always wanted to travel to Germaneigh." Tea spoke with a slight tone of longing.
"As have I." Fleur stepped to the side with her items as she allowed the light blue mare to her rear take the next place in line. "Maybe, some day, you and I could schedule a short trip there. I think that would be exquisite."
"I should quite like to try your special of the morning." Interjected the light blue mare upon having Fleur finish her statement.
"That'll run you 6 bits, ma'am." Tea Leaf turned her head to Steam Wand. "Special!"
"I heard."
"Just makin' sure." Tea's attention turned forward as she took the mare's funds, her hoof popping open the register with a metallic 'ping' as the coins joined their new friends within the multi-compartment tray. "I'd love to go there, but that 'someday' will be quite a ways off, seeing as I'm only a Junior."
"Time flies." Fleur De Lis began her departure from the café. "on the note of your time at University, I wish you the best of luck on your future exam!"
Just as she did every morning, (save for weekends) Tea Leaf watched in an almost trance-like state as the mare's slender figure passed by the three glass panes of the cafe's front as she went along her day.
~§~
"Don't tell me your exam was canceled a second time." Fleur De Lis laughed as she came to the front of the line.
A small collection of bits floated to Tea Leaf's waiting hoof, that same little tickle following the departure of Fleur's spell.
"The u-"
"I heard who it is. The usual."
Tea Leaf stood looking over her shoulder for a second, "...yeah," she turned back around, smiling to Fleur De Lis. "Sadly, no; we did have the exam. After having an entire extra day to study helped a lot, though. Both myself and March Wing are hoping for at least a B."
"Well, I should think you to be hoping for an A. Don't you think it best to set the bar high for yourself?" Fleur responded with an air of wisdom.
"March Wing and I have a little system where we convince ourselves we'll get a C or B on a test, so that way, when we get our grades back, if we get a B+ or an A it's super nice, and if we get a C then it's not as disappointing."
"Ah, psychological warfare; just used against one's own mind. That's almost ingenious."
A steaming cup of coffee came to rest atop the counter, Fleur De Lis never taking her sight from Tea as her pink magic brought her piping brew to her lips.
"I assume you saw there was a fairly heavy chance of rain tomorrow?" Tea Leaf inquired to change the subject.
"Yes! Yes, I did, and I could not be more elated. This monsoon has seemed a little sparse." Fleur De Lis turned momentarily to look out the cafe's windows at the overcast world beyond, everything having a slightly desaturated, evenly lit appearance, "even if Cloudsdale fails to bring us some rain, I can find myself enjoying the overcast skies. It has been such a beautiful morning."
A familiar crinkle of paper brought her attention back around, her magic taking her pastry from Steam Wand's blue aura. "It would be nice to catch some rain." Tea Leaf commented as Fleur began her departure. "Have a good morning, Miss De Lis!"
The mare shot her a smile. "I wish you the same, honey!"
As the slender, pure white figure passed by the windows, her mane and fur went unglowing; something that made Tea Leaf slightly loathe the overcast nature of the morning.
~§~
The three pane windows of the café provided a distorted, strangely in-motion image of the street and buildings beyond as sheets of rain fell from the clouds above, the few casually dining and drinking patrons seated inside either wearing damp coats or having an umbrella propped beside them in waiting for when the rain must be met again. Through the windows the rumble of the rain filled the café, the occasional crack of thunder breaking the fairly quiet, conversationless air inside. What was somewhat out of the ordinary for this storm was the lack of any considerable wind; the rain followed a perfectly vertical path to the streets and buildings of Canterlot.
This morning had been another break in the normal rush of business, as most of the ponies trotting in to simply enjoy their morning stroll were absent in place of those who stopped by to get their breakfast and coffee en route to the day's work. A chiming jingle from the doorbells drew Tea Leaf's eyes to the cafe's entrance, the unfiltered patter of rain filling the café. Stood in the doorway was the completely drenched Fleur De Lis, her sleek figure nude of any clothing and her magic barren of any umbrella. Her pink mane and tail hung heavy and uncurled with the weight of water, one-half of her face covered by the dripping mat of her bangs. Her fur glistened with moisture, water running down the contour of her chest and dripping to the hardwood floor as she trotted to the counter, her hooves leaving wet, slightly muddy prints. If Princess Celestia herself had followed behind Tea Leaf's eyes would not have moved from the figure before her.
"I hope me trailing water on your floor isn't too huge of a problem!" Fleur De Lis chimed in an extraordinarily happy tone, that typical well-off canter normally held by her voice seeming to be non-existent.
Tea Leaf's eyes simply remained locked with the mare's exquisite, dripping figure, her gaze darting from feature to feature as she remained totally speechless.
"Dear, you look like you've seen a ghost!" Laughed Fleur after a moment, flicking her wet bangs from her eye, a little spray of water entering the air from the motion.
Tea Leaf's heart felt hot in her chest, that little flick driving her crazy. "A beautiful ghost." she finally muttered, Fleur De Lis giggling at Tea's comment.
Her hoof came to her chin, head canting to the side as she shot Tea a loving gaze from the corner of her eye, "Please, don't flatter me so!"
Was she doing this on purpose?
"The usual, Miss De Lis?" Steam Wand piped up from behind the still mostly paralyzed Tea Leaf.
"Oh, yes, quite!" Fleur's eyes went back to Tea, giving her that same, eyes-half-open look. "The usual."
She was doing this on purpose; she had to be.
The elegantly spiraling horn adorning Fleur De Lis' temple shined with a gently pink aurora as she procured the exact amount of bits for her coffee and pastry, her gleeful gaze remaining with Tea Leaf's as she moved the coins closer.
"No hoof? You've never missed a beat like this before, dear."
Tea's eyes widened as she snapped from her trance. "Oh! Goodness, right." her hoof came from the floor, turning bottom-up as the bits were gently deposited, that same little tickle almost sending a shake through her body.
What she would give to feel that sensation in other places...
"Hey, Steam; the usual," Tea began, her head turning to address Steam Wand, as she did a cup floated past her sight to the counter.
"I know, Leaf," he returned with a smile, his magic now taking a paper bag from a stack atop the cooler beside the register.
"O-oh; well, good work," fumbled Tea as she turned back around, almost scared to meet Fleur De Lis' wonderful pink eyes once more.
"A little absent-minded this morning, hm?" Fleur's gracious smile suddenly went to a worried frown. "You didn't fail your exam, did you?"
"No, no... we, we haven't gotten our grades yet." Tea cleared her throat, inhaling quickly as she finally returned Fleur's look. "You've ju- I've just been a little dreamy this morning, that's all!"
Fleur took a sip of her drink, looking away as a blue spell brought forth her bag, encased treat, her own magic receiving it. "Ah, well."
There was that look again.
"As have I."
Fleur De Lis took a sip of her coffee, giving a little moan from the warming drink. There was a moment's silence as she licked her lips, her head giving a tiny flick to move her mane back from her eyes as she peered up to Tea. "To re-iterate, I hope it's not an issue that I tracked a little water in here."
"Oh, no, you're fine... Steam's on floor-mopping duty today, anyway."
"Your decision wheel is rigged. This is the third day in a row." Whined Steam Wand as he casually leaned against the counter to the rear of the prep area, his work for the moment currently done.
"Then I apologize, dear Steam."
"You're not the only pony to come in soaking today, so there's no need to apologize."
"Mh, yes, but I'm sure I'm the first to be here naked of my raincoat and umbrella. I simply couldn't resist; it's made me feel like a foal living in Fillydelphia again."
Tea Leaf perked up, "You lived in Fillydelphia?"
"Born there, actually."
"Oh my gosh! I was, too!"
"Were you a north or south filly?"
"South, my parent's house is a few blocks down from Hoofton park. I'm amazed, Miss De Lis, for the longest time I figured you were born here in Canterlot!"
"Nay, my parents and I moved up to Canterlot when I was 10. I take it your parents still reside in the home you mentioned?"
"Yeah, they do. It was my grandparent's house before they moved to Manehattan, so they sold it to my parents when they were young. I don't think you could convince my parents to move to Canterlot Castle."
"Home is where the heart is." Fleur De Lis gave a short sigh. "Dear, you and I must talk more than our simple chats. There must be some time you can find in your life for a date."
Tea Leaf shifted on her hooves. "I get off school too late for dinner, and my weekends are always fully booked because I'm a T.A... so I just ca-"
"What about lunch? That school must give you a break for a mid-day meal."
Tea stood silent for a moment as she thought. "Our lunch is only like 45 minutes... that's not very long."
"You're making excuses, dear. 45 minutes is perfectly long enough for you and I to trot off somewhere and pick up a sandwich or a salad." Fleur's magic aimed her cup towards Tea Leaf, her head tilting down as she looked through her brow."Don't turn me down a second time."
Tea's words fumbled for a moment before she sighed. "I am making excuses. My break starts at 12, but I should be back to campus at 12:40 so I've got time to get to class."
"Well, how does tomorrow sound? My Thursday's are typically boring, so I think this would be a nice opportunity to spice things up a little."
"Yeah, tomorrow'd work just fine."
Fleur's hooves clacked to the hardwood. "Wonderful, dear! Took me long enough to get a date and time out of you," she taunted, shooting that same look to Tea Leaf.
"Like I said, you know... I'm busy a lot... it's hard to find 'me' time."
"Well, dear." Fleur De Lis gave a little frown. "I'll be sure to change such a travesty."
The two jumped collectively as a thunder crack broke the air, the incredible noise fading to a crackling rumble as it died off.
"Goodness." Fleur commented quietly, taking another drink of her coffee as she looked over her shoulder to the still pouring rain outside.
"You're sure you want to go back out in that?"
"Oh, of course. I'm not too far from home, anyway. A little rain never hurt anypony!"
"It certainly hurts the hardwood..." Steam Wand commented.
"Once again, my apologies."
Steam simply waved a hoof in dismissal. The cafe's door came open to let in both the sounds of the rain and an umbrella-wielding stallion, his black mane slicked back and his white coat nearly untouched by the rain. His eyes met with Fleur De Lis' as she turned around, their faces lighting up upon seeing each other.
"Fancy seeing you here!" the stallion's deep, almost regal voice stated as he approached the counter.
"Goodness me, how nice it is to see you again, Frame!"
Frame paused as his eyes traced up and down Fleur De Lis' wet figure. "You poor thing, did you get caught out in the rain without an umbrella?"
"Nay; this was by design. Simply enjoying the weather." she returned, beginning towards the door with her morning's treats held by her magic.
"It's a good look for you." Frame spoke, watching her departure for a moment before continuing to the counter.
"Tea Leaf seems to think so. Speaking of you, Tea; I'll be seeing you at 12 tomorrow. Don't you dare stand me up, I know where you work!"
As Fleur's wet hoof pushed open the door, that wonderful sound of the rain poured back into the café as she stepped back outside. Fleur shot a smile to Tea Leaf as she flicked her tail in her direction, the little action stiffening Tea's figure as she watched the drenched mare pass by the windows.
~§~
Clouds still withheld the sun's light, but unlike yesterday, only drizzled occasionally instead of the constant downpour that had lasted most of the morning and afternoon. As beautiful as Canterlot was when it rained, Tea Leaf was more than relieved to see things dry; if Fleur De Lis popped up again with her sculpted, slender figure drenched from hoof to horn again she doubted her strength to not pull her across the counter and romance her on the spot.
Perfectly at 7:30 AM the door gave its signature chime as the ladder mentioned mare stepped inside, a white, stocky built stallion dressed in a fine suit and bow-tie following her in as they chatted, their words lost among the sounds of the café.
"Have you made any decisions yet, ma'am?" Tea Leaf inquired to a horribly indecisive Pegasus mare as she tapped her chin, her green eyes never moving from the menu board hung from the ceiling as she continued to browse.
"Oh... well... how about the, uh..." Her hoof moved from her chin as she let out a sigh. "I think I'll have a croissant sandwich."
"One of my favorites. 5 bits." as the Pegasus began to retrieve her coins, Tea Leaf turned over her shoulder. "Croissant!"
"Gotcha, boss."
"If you'd like to take a seat somewhere, you can, ma'am. It'll be a moment before your order's ready."
The Pegasus simply nodded, stepping out of line, Fleur De Lis and Fancy Pants taking her place.
"Morning, Miss De Lis, and Fancy Pants." Tea smiled, turning over her shoulder once more, "The usual!" She paused for a moment, turning back around. "I didn't take your order, Sir. I'm sorry; Miss De Lis usually comes solo."
"You're in the green, my dear. I'll just be having a latte, seeing as I've already eaten this morning." Fancy returned with his almost trademarked way of speaking, giving Fleur De Lis a little smile as he took his bits from a coat pocket, dropping them to the counter while, as usual, Fleur's pink aura deposited hers to Tea's waiting hoof.
"And a latte!" She called to Steam Wand, dropping Fleur's bits into the register before scooping up those given to her by Fancy.
"So, I understand you've got a little lunch date with the fine Miss De Lis today, yes?" inquired Fancy Pants, his magic holding his monocle from his face as he cleaned the little glass optic with a cloth.
"Yeah, when I go on my lunch break."
The trio's attention was temporarily brought to Fleur De Lis' order of both her coffee and pastry as they were set to the counter by a blue spell, Tea taking a split second to ensure the correct, freshest pastry had been selected, "On your break? I thought you were attending University." Fancy elaborated as he re-installed his now pristine monocle.
"I mean my lunch break at school,"
"Ah, I see. Forgive my ignorance."
His attention came back to the counter as his order was placed before him. With their coffees and pastry in-hoof (or in-spell, if you would) the duo turned for the door. "I'll see you at 12, dear!" Fleur De Lis called over her shoulder as she leaned against Fancy while they walked.
"See you then, as well, Miss De Lis!"
Just before the door's chime rang through the café, Tea Leaf could just barely catch Fancy Pants make the comment. "You are right, darling; she's a cute little thing."
~§~
Like a lighthouse beacon, she stood in the drizzling rain. At the base of Canterlot University's wonderfully ornate and quite large marble and granite main staircase, Fleur De Lis stood with her front hooves crossed upon one of two flat stone podiums connected to the railing's end. Her upright pose showed off her perfectly sculpted chest and belly, her wonderful hind legs holding her body up how Celestia's golden throne held her. At least she wasn't soaked horn to hoof.
"Glad to see you decided to show!" Fleur De Lis chimed in her usual demeanor as Tea Leaf stepped her way down the flight, many of the ponies around her having their eyes drawn to Fleur's pose just as Tea's were.
"I'm glad it decided not to rain..." Tea commented once in ear-shot, Fleur bringing her elegantly crossed hooves from the podium to the paved path with a clop.
Fleur hummed. "A drizzle will do. As much as I'd love for a downpour, I think it horribly inappropriate for us to have a meal while looking as of we had stepped out of the shower!"
Tea's mind ran wild with the image.
"Do you have a preference?" Fleur inquired after a moment as the two continued on from the University's entrance to the elaborate city beyond.
"For mares?" Tea inquired nervously, totally missing Fleur's intended question.
"No, you silly-filly! For lunch! Goodness me, I hope the rest of our conversation isn't like that!" Laughed Fleur De Lis, giving the now flustered and blushing Tea a look of surprise.
Tea's clay brown cheeks went red.
"I... uh, whatever you'd like, I guess. You're buying, so it's up to you." Tea's slightly delayed response came as she tried erasing the past few seconds from her mind.
"Well, then I know a wonderful place nearby. I must know, Tea; what prompted you to assume such a... personal meaning to my question?"
Tea Leaf momentarily looked up at Fleur, the juxtaposition of their heights making her look a lot shorter than normal, and for that matter, feel a lot shorter, "I... guess it was the pause before, and I assumed you had already chosen a place for us, and I thought you were just trying to make some small-talk."
"Hm. Well, your mind certainly works in strange ways of you made such a conclusion from my question... no offense."
"None taken,"
Things went quiet as the two continued on, the still light drizzle of rain being just enough to give the ground a damp appearance.
~§~
"I'll just be having your wonderful house soup of the day, the ingredients look divine." Fleur De Lis informed as her pink aura lowered her menu to the table.
"And for the acquaintance?" Asked the server, his finely combed mustache bobbing as he spoke.
"Cucumber sub, please. With extra peppers."
"Wonderful." Both menus before each mare were taken by the server's hoof. "I'll be back shortly with your meals."
Tea Leaf looked out the window of their booth for a moment as she watched the rainy, overcast world go by. "Thanks for taking me someplace so nice. A little extravagant for a little lunch, thought, don't you think?"
Fleur De Lis took her lips from her glass of water, humming as she shook her head and swallowed. "No, not at all. First impression matter most."
Tea raised a brow. "First impressions? I've known you for months now, this is hardly a first impression."
"This is the first time in those months I've actually been able to get you for a lunch, however."
Tea tilted her head a little. "That's true."
Fleur took a second drink of water, her glass coming to the finely lacquered table top with a clink.
"So, how's Fancy Pants been doing? I haven't seen you come in with him for a while." Tea inquired as she turned back from the window.
"Wonderfully. He and I had a place to be this morning, and he had been at my abode the night before, so I suggested he tag along."
"You two don't live together?"
"No... what makes you assume that?" Fleur spoke as she cocked her head to the side.
"I thought you two were in a relationship."
Fleur gave a little chuckle, "We're in a different relationship than most would assume. He and I are long-time friends and business partners, as I have some considerable stakes in his companies, and he co-owns my studio. We have a strict agreement to never adorn the other with the title 'mare' or 'stallion' friend. Love hurts business, we've both seen that truth in action." Fleur took a quick sip of her drink. "I love the old boy dearly, but we've kept things open. Now, that said... sometimes the tension needs to be cut." She smiled. "That's where our relationship has stayed interesting."
"I think I get what you mean..."
Fleur De Lis hummed knowingly.
"It's odd to hear that about you and Fancy Pants, though. I see you and him running around town all the time."
"Oh, well of course! He and I are very, very dear friends, and I love being around him; it's just that we're not in what most would refer to as a solid relationship. He hasn't found a mare to settle with, and nor have I with a stallion, so he and I will, on occasions like this morning," There was that smile again. "break the tension."
"So you're single?" Tea asked intently, seeming to ignore the last part of Fleur's statement.
"Yes, indeed."
"I'm kind of amazed by that, actually. For a mare as beautiful as yourself, I'd think it'd be easy to find a stallion."
Fleur's hoof waved as she giggled. "Such a flatterer! While I agree with you on me being beautiful." she held her head up boisterously, yet still in a joking fashion. "I don't agree on the easy part. I've never met another stallion I'd consider doing more than a night of fun. I'd even say that about dear old Fancy, as much as it would harm him to hear me say that."
Tea held her silence for a considerable time as she thought deeply, wondering if the question in her mind would be a curse or a blessing. Almost as a saving grace, their server appeared with each of their meals balanced wonderfully on an outstretched foreleg, the soup being the first thing to the table, then the sub.
"If you two should like anything more, do not hesitate to call me over."
With that, he made a somewhat hasty departure. Tea's hooves instantly moved to retrieve her sandwich as she took a big, crunchy bite while Fleur took a somewhat light drink from her spoon of soup.
~§~
The dawn's sun gave no light to the street Tip-Top's Café resided upon, Tea Leaf and Steam Wand standing side by side at the locked door as they waited for the key-holder and pastry chef Sugar Flake to show his face.
"I'm glad you finally went to lunch with Miss De Lis, she's been trying to meet you more for like a month now." Steam spoke, his upright and rigid stance resembling that of the Royal Guard while Tea Leaf leaned lazily against the cafe's patio railing with her hooves crossed.
"I am too... and, you know how I am around her. I'm timid when she's in the café, imagine now nervous I was when we were sitting there actually talking!"
"You really are over-thinking this. Loosen up a little; she's not going to start looking down on you if you say something stupid."
Tea shifted her glance to the side, "Let's hope you're right."
Steam squinted. "What do you mean, 'let's hope you're right'? You didn't say something stupid, did you?"
"Please don't laugh..."
Steam had already begun to laugh; albeit lightly and mostly stifled. "Oh, by the Princess' name; what did you say?"
"As we were walking to the restaurant, she asked; 'do you have a preference?', and because of how she paused before asking, I thought she was trying to make small-talk by, you know; just asking some questions..."
"Uh-huh?" Steam leaned in as he listened intently.
Tea's cheeks went rosy, "And I said 'for mares?'."
Steam's hoof came to his face, a smile being seen from behind as he let out a sigh. "Oh, man; you really did goof."
"She's not going to be... I don't know what's she'd be, but this won't ruin our friendship or anything, will it?"
"Tea, don't be ridiculous. You slipping on a question isn't going to make Miss De Lis hate you or anything."
A pause was held as the duo looked up as Sugar Flake trotted his way to the patio's entrance, his yellow aura taking the cafe's keys from one of the four pockets on his chef's coat. "Good morning, everypony."
"Good morning, Flake. Tea finally went to lunch with Miss De Lis yesterday."
A click sounded from the door as the keys turned, Sugar Flake pushing it open with a hoof as he walked inside. "Oh, really? How'd that go?"
"It was great! We had fun, we talked about stuff, the food was tasty, and she was even nice enough to walk me back to campus!" Tea Leaf quickly intervened before Steam Wand could mention a certain blunder.
"That's great!" as Sugar and the two front counter workers made their way inside, he paused just before entering the back room to prepare the morning's treats, "Makes me wonder why you've always hesitated to go with her before."
After Sugar's departure, Tea Leaf looked to Steam as they walked behind the counter. "Because I've been worried I'd say something stupid."
~§~
Tea's hoof flipped the cafe's sign from 'closed' to 'open', smiling to the line of 5 or so patrons through the door's window as she began towards the counter, the chime of bells signaling the first customers of the morning.
"Do you think she... knows? That I like her?" Tea Leaf asked timidly as she stood to face the first patron in line.
"Honestly... I doubt it."
"A large green tea with lemon, please!" spoke the young, white-coated Unicorn mare at the counter.
"3 bits, ma'am." as Tea slid the three bits from the counter, she looked over her shoulder as Steam prepared the drink. "Really? What makes you think so?"
"She's a photography star and a model, I'm sure you aren't the first pony to get a little flustered around her."
Tea's eyes temporarily looked to the filly's beverage as it floated to the counter, her own magic taking it as she trotted for the door. "Have a good morning!"
"You too, miss!"
Taking the filly's place in line was an elegantly dressed Pegasus, her pink mane falling over one side of her face. "Latte topped with caramel and whipped cream, please." she informed with that signature 'Canterlot Cant' as Tea had heard it called a few times.
"5 bits, and would you like a lid?" Tea's hoof slid the five bits from the counter, turning her head to address Steam. "Latte with the works,"
"Oh, yes; please, I've got a carriage to catch and I'd like to not cover myself in coffee."
"And a lid."
"Gotcha, boss."
Tea turned back to face the patron, and after a moment of being stared at, she watched as the finely dressed mare's face lit up. "My goodness, I thought you were familiar! I saw you yesterday when you were at lunch with Fleur De Lis!"
"Y-you did?"
"Yes! My husband and I were sat a few tables over and we noticed you two walk in! If you see her again, do give her a compliment, I adore her work in extenuating the mare's physique."
"Well, she's a regular here, so I'm sure I'll see here again this morning." The mare's latte was placed before her, a highly polished hoof coming up to take the drink. "I'll make sure to compliment her for you."
"You're a dear! Have a good morning, now!" she called, making her way to the door.
"You too, miss!"
"Well, you're already getting recognized! You're a regular celebrity now!" Steam taunted.
Tea simply scoffed.
~§~
The door gave a chime as an unexpected figure stepped in, her presence causing Tea to look up at the clock; it was only 6:45.
"Good early morning, dear!" Fleur De Lis called as she walked to the counter, which, conveniently enough, had no patrons at it currently.
"Miss De Lis! You're early! You always come here at 7:30..." Tea returned.
"Quite. I've got a train to catch at 7 this morning down to Manehattan for a little pow-wow of sorts, and I could never go any other place than here for 'the usual'!"
Tea's extended hoof took the bits from their tickling, pink spell. As she dropped them into the register, she looked back to see Steam already working to make her drink.
"So, it's a Friday. Tomorrow is a weekend, and thus; you're off school and work, yes?" Fleur spoke, bringing Tea back around.
"Yeah, that's right..."
"Well, how about tonight you and I catch a late dinner? My train comes back at around 5, but as I understand you're mostly busy until well into the night."
"Uh, how late?"
"I'm willing to eat at midnight, time doesn't matter for me."
"Eh, well... I'm going to be helping my professor out tonight until like 10... most places close at 10."
"Oh, I know well enough. You see, I was hoping we could have dinner at your abode, I know you fancy yourself as a cook."
The attention temporarily moved to Fleur's coffee as it was delivered to the counter. "I... I don't know, Miss De Lis. That's kind of late, and I don't know if my roommate will be out with her friends tonight or not..."
"Hey, Tea; slight issue." Steam spoke as he pointed his hoof to the cooler box beside the register, Tea looking to see that Sugar Flake hadn't yet brought out the one fresh pastry she had him make for Fleur.
"Oh! Her special pastry isn't here!"
"'Special pastry'? I have a special pastry?" Fleur De Lis inquired as her ears perked.
Tea snapped her sight to Fleur as she remained totally quiet, "Nice one," Steam spoke quietly as he pressed his hoof to his face.
"Tea Leaf, what do you mean by 'my special pastry'?"
With a deep blush, Tea brought her head to the counter, covering her face with her hooves. "Oh, what did I just say..." she mumbled.
Steam sighed. "Do you want me to tell her, Tea?"
There was a short nod.
"You see Miss De Lis, Tea has given special instructions to our pastry chef to make you a perfectly fresh item every morning instead of giving you one that was prepared a day earlier. He hasn't brought it out yet because you're early."
Fleur looked from Steam to Tea with a look of joy, and also confusion. "Dear, is this true? You've had your poor chef make me my own fresh treat every morning?"
"Yeah..."
Much to Tea's surprise, Fleur De Lis reached across the counter, pulling her from her hooves into a warm hug. "That is the sweetest thing any pony has ever done for me! You truly are too much, Tea Leaf!"
Tea's cheeks flushed rose from beneath her clay-brown fur as Fleur leaned away, a huge smile on her face. "Don't worry about my little pastry being a few hours older than normal, my dear. Just knowing you've gone to such lengths to make my morning just that little bit better will make up for any deficiencies in taste."
On queue with her words, Steam's horn lit up as he began packaging one of the standard pastries from the cooler, Tea Leaf still standing with a completely embarrassed and flustered expression.
"Well, that aside; how does dinner at your place sound? I can be there at 11, if that's convenient for you."
"H-How about tomorrow? My room-mate has some internship thing that lasts until 6 the next morning, so then we can have the apartment to ourselves."
Fleur De Lis gave a smile as her magic took her now standard pastry from Steam. "Tomorrow works wonderfully. When does this internship event begin for your room-mate?"
"Uh, I think at 8 or so..."
"Poor thing, has to be up that long?" Fleur shook her head. "Well, then I'll be by at 9. I should get your address before I run off; however."
"Oh! Uh, hold on," Tea ducked behind her register counter, popping back up a moment later with a small notebook and pen in her mouth, Fleur simply taking the two items in her magic as she prepared to write.
"15B Tower Street, 4th floor, number 1029,"
Fleur's eyes focused on the paper for a moment as she quickly jotted down Tea's words, tearing the note from its book and floating them back to the counter.
"Wonderful. As I said, I'll be there at 9. I'd stay and fraternize a little longer, but I've got a train to catch!"
As she trotted for the door, Fleur De Lis gave a smile to Tea. "Good morning to you, Tea Leaf!"
"You too..."
The door's bells jingled as the mare made her way past the windows, bouncing happily on her hooves with a smile still held on her lips.
"I am such an idiot... how'd I let myself slip like that?"
"Ah, the wonders of being in love with somepony and not knowing if they love you back; or if they ever will." Steam returned with a somewhat joking air of wisdom. "You're overthinking this little thing; if anything, it might make your friendship better. She certainly knows you care about her now."
Tea sighed. "I am overthinking this..." after remaining motionless for a moment, she groaned and put a hoof to her face. "I forgot to tell her about that mare earlier."
"You're on a roll this morning."
~§~
The deep orange light of the evening's sun gave a wonderful glow of warmth to Canterlot's streets, Fleur De Lis finding it hard to not feel invigorated from the light as she pranced towards Tip-Top's Café. Her train had made it's arrival a little later than scheduled; 5:21 instead of 5:00, but she still had more than enough time to get to the café before 6, which was when the little shop closed, and to that effect; when Steam Wand's day was done.
Throughout her day, the morning's pastry event had stuck with her quite fiercely, and her mind had begun to wander with the possibility Tea Leaf had simply been doing that favor because of her status as a prominent photography model and business-mare, and not because they were genuine friends. It was a terrible thought, but it seemed very possible, as it was an occurrence she had experienced in the past more than once. She knew it rude to bring such a question up to Steam Wand; but she had to know, for better or worse. Down the street she could make out two figures leaving from the cafe; one standing behind the other as the door was shut and locked. With the cafe closed for the evening, Sugar Flake and Steam Wand had their goodbyes and went off in separate directions; Steam conveniently heading right towards Fleur De Lis as she made her approach.
"Oh! Good to see you, Miss De Lis." Steam called from a short ways away.
"Good to see you, as well." as they met, Fleur gave a little motion with her hoof as she turned back the way she came. "Walk with me, dear."
"Is... there something you need, Miss De Lis?" Steam inquired curiously as she complied, walking at her side.
"Indeed; I have an inquiry about Tea Leaf; specifically this morning."
"The pastry thing?"
"Yes. I know it's rude of me to ask this, maybe even nosy... but, has Tea been doing that as a true friend or just because of my status?"
Steam held his silence for a moment, deep in thought. "Tea would kill me for telling you this... but it's for the good of both of you," Fleur felt a lump in her throat, "It's neither, really."
"Pardon? How is it neither?"
Steam looked to Fleur with a nervous smile. "You didn't hear this from me; but Tea Leaf is madly in love with you,"
Fleur De Lis stopped dead in her tracks. "What?! But... she's a mare..."
"...That likes other mares; especially you."
A look of horror came to Fleur's expression. "By Celestia's throne; it makes sense now! She's always so nervous around me... and her gesture with the pastry, her constant compliments of my appearance... Wednesday... when I came in soaking from the rain... that's why she was so awe-struck! Oh my goodness, what have I been doing to that poor filly..."
Steam hummed and nodded.
"I... I simply assumed she acted that way because I'm a celebrity, I'm so used to others being the same way, it's never clicked that her reactions were... genuine."
"You've dug yourself into quite the hole, as well. You jokingly flirt with her all the time, and now she thinks you might 'feel' for her."
Fleur's expression remained the same as her eyes wandered aimlessly, her mind reeling. "What have I done to that poor filly..."
"You've made her happy; that's for sure."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah. She loves talking to you in the morning, she's told me that you were the main reason she kept working at Tip-Tops. I remember when she first started working with me, and every morning... eugh, she was such a drag. But, as time went on, and you two became more friendly, she started to love waking up and coming in early, just to see you for 3 minutes out of her day."
"How have I been so ignorant to have never seen all of this before!? I... I feel like I've genuinely hurt her in some way."
"As much as she tried to avoid it, she really loved going to lunch with you."
"Why has she been so adamant about turning me down if she's so deeply enthralled with me?"
"Fear. She doesn't want to mess anything up or say something stupid... which she already has, apparently."
"Messed things up? Heavens, no! She hasn't done anything wrong!" Fleur's exclamations paused as Steam held up a silencing hoof.
"I mean, say something stupid. I'm sure you remember a certain blunder you and she had while at lunch?"
Fleur's eyes widened in remembrance. "Oh, yes... her comment as we were en route to lunch. I was wondering why she had thought there to be such a meaning behind a simple question."
Steam offered another silent nod, Fleur pausing as she thought on this whole matter. "Does she wish to make love to me?"
Steam blinked a few times, visibly shocked by the question. "I... I think so. I'd assume so." he paused, thinking a little longer. "Yeah... she does. She's never said it out loud, but yeah; she does."
"I'm not a mare's mare... you know that, and I'm sure she does, so what... what do I do if she tries to get me in bed with her?"
Steam chuckled lightly. "If you don't lean towards mares, then you don't lean towards mares."
"If I told her no, I'm sure it would crush her... and I don't want to hurt her or do anything to ruin our friendship..."
"You could just kiss her."
The suggestion gave Fleur a moment of pause, her eyes once again wandering. "Oh goodness... what do I do here, Steam? If she does try something tomorrow night, I'll end up saying no, and it'll most likely hurt our friendship... but I can't say yes, because... I don't like other mares how she does! I've never really considered myself as somepony that would lean both ways..."
"Like I said; if you don't like mares, then you don't like mares."
Fleur tapped her hoof in thought. "You also said 'you could just kiss her'. For that sweet little filly, I'd most certainly cuddle and maybe give her some pecks on the cheek... but actually making love to her? I... I don't think I could."
"Miss De Lis, if you actually spooned her, you'd make her the happiest mare to ever live."
She paused again in thought. "I... still don't even know about kissing her, though. I'm promiscuous, I won't deny that... but, I simply don't lean towards mares."
Steam put a knowing hoof on Fleur's shoulder, "You do what you think is best, Miss De Lis."
Author's Note
There might be some errors. If you spot something misspelled or some fucked up grammar, tell me. I don't have an editor and I haven't found the time today to totally read this.
Nº 2
A quick, tune-like knock pulled Tea Leaf's ears from her favorite record to the door, a little knot forming in her stomach as she looked to the clock that hung in the living room; exactly 9:00 PM. Perfectly on time. With haste, Tea turned to the sink, running her flour-coated hooves under the luke-warm water for a moment before drying them on a towel hung from the oven's wide handle. As she trotted from the kitchen down the short entrance hall, that little knot in her stomach tightened. She stood with her hoof on the door knob for a moment, taking a breath as she finally opened it. Instantly, her nostrils were filled with the pure vanilla scent being given off by Fleur De Lis. A wonderful smile rested upon her gently pink lips, her similarly-hued eyes seeming to glimmer despite being in the relatively dim hall of the building, and her pink mane flowed with perfection; not a hair was out of place.
"Right on time, Miss De Lis! I don't know how you're so perfectly timed," greeted Tea as she stepped aside, allowing Fleur to step inside.
"I keep my time better than I keep my appearance," returned Fleur with a smile.
"Well, I don't know about that..."
Fleur's ears hadn't quite picked up Tea's little comment as she stepped further inside, her eyes browsing over the quaint apartment.
"Your place is adorable, it's exactly what I was expecting from two college students."
Her steps came to a pause as her eyes were drawn to the outside world beyond the apartment's two sliding glass doors that led to a small balcony.
"My goodness! Look at that view!"
"Gold Thread and I have to pay a bit more for rent for the side facing Canterlot, but it's well worth it."
"On the note of your friend and roommate, how has this internship of hers been going?" inquired Fleur De Lis as she stepped past the couch and coffee table in the living room towards the porch.
"Really well, actually," Tea made her way the rest of the way down the entrance hall into the kitchen, "she basically has a job at the place; the only reason it's still an internship is because she's in school. Next year when she graduates the position she's got will become her full-time job."
"Really? Well, that's wonderful! So, she's a Junior like you?"
"No; she's a Senior, it's just that next year is graduation."
Fleur hummed as she turned from the window, looking around in the dimly lit apartment; the only light being provided by the kitchen. For two college students, they kept their abode quite tidy, any piles of books or papers had a rhyme and reason to them, and there weren't random items scattered across the small living room. To her immediate right was a single, closed door; one she assumed would lead to the bedroom.
"I'm going to assume you have a single bedroom and bathroom?"
"Yep. Keeps things cheap, and the bedroom is big enough for us to have two beds."
"And having a single bath doesn't get annoying? Two mares trying to ready themselves in the morning with a single bathroom sounds like pure chaos." Fleur noted, dropping her haunches to the cushiony couch, her ears only lightly tuning in on the guitar, drums and male vocals playing from the record player sat atop its own little podium before the coffee table.
The clanking of pots drew Fleur's attention towards the kitchen, the angle at which she sat making it so that only the back of Tea's head was visible through the open window of the kitchen's wall. "She gets up at 7, I get up at 5. Things work out pretty nicely."
Now curious with the commotion in the kitchen, Fleur got to her hooves and walked into the kitchen, stopping at the entrance and placing her front hooves atop the edge of the counter, her pose purposefully showing off the contour of her stomach and hind legs. "I feel as if this should have been the first thing I should have asked; what are you preparing for us?"
"Homemade pizza; one's cheese, and the other is garlic, olive oil instead of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and peppers." Tea explained as she kneaded a ball of dough against a large, bamboo wood cutting board, her eyes being drawn to Fleur's pose for only a moment.
"Goodness me; that's quite the jump in style!"
"Well, I don't know what you prefer, and I didn't want to make something you wouldn't like... so I figured going to either end of the spectrum was a safe bet."
"Dear, I would never let my personal preference get in the way of something a dear friend has done for me. You could make any pizza and I'd eat it just the same."
Tea smiled brightly, clearly tickled by the comment. "I'm glad you consider me a 'dear friend'."
"Well, of course, I do! You're one of the most interesting and fun ponies I've been acquainted with."
"You're just trying to flatter me now! You're a model and a business-mare, I doubt I'm the most interesting pony you've met."
"Everypony in my line of work is nearly identical. It gets horribly boring; having to see the same type of pony wearing the same type of clothes and speaking with the same tone as the next. You, on the other hoof, are a struggling student working her flanks off to make a life for herself. Working in a niche coffee shop, going to University for hours, then coming home to cook home-made pizza. That is interesting."
Tea's hooves paused their motions as she simply stared at Fleur with a blushing, slack-jawed expression. "Really? You'd... prefer to be friends with me over ponies with wealth and success?"
Fleur scoffed. "Any day of the year, my dear!"
"Wow... I don't know what to say," gushed Tea, continuing to knead her hooves into the dough.
"You don't need to say anything, I was simply speaking my mind." returned Fleur as her eyes wandered through the kitchen.
It was clear Tea Leaf enjoyed the culinary arts; her workplace was laden with many high-grade pieces of equipment, each one displayed proudly instead of sitting in an equipment cabinet as most ponies would do with their machines. Professional-grade stand mixer, French press, high-end blender, two different type of juicing machines, toaster oven; it was all there. One machine out of them all caught Fleur De Lis' eyes the most; upon a large, dark wood cutting board sat a huge, rectangular, stainless steel coffee maker, the little void space around it being taken up by various little containers and a stack of four tiny saucers and four equally tiny espresso cups.
"Goodness me, that's quite the coffee maker," Fleur had a quick chuckle, "you're supposed to be a poor college student, how have you been able to afford all of these amazing machines?" she inquired, waving her hoof across the kitchen to address each mentioned machine.
"The only thing I've actually bought was the stand mixer and the toaster oven. Everything else was gifted to me by my parents; except for my baby there." Tea motioned her head towards the beautifully chromed coffee maker. "I won that in a promotional campaign a good 3 years back when I worked in a different coffee shop. The manufacturer had this thing where they gave all the employees at my work these discount cards to give to customers, and the cards had our names on them. Whoever could get enough customers to use their card and buy something would win the machine, and, well..." Tea once more looked to her beloved coffee maker, "guess who did the best?"
"For how much charisma you have and as friendly as you are, I'm not surprised that you won. Buying something like that on your own would be quite the endeavor; I can tell it has quite the hefty price tag."
The clack of wood on wood broke the air for a moment as Tea's hooves brought a rolling pin to her dough ball. "1,500 bits. And, amazingly; that's one of the cheaper ones."
Fleur's eyes went wide. "1,500 bits? For that much, I should hope it does everything!"
"Oh, it does. Roasts and grinds its own beans, froths milk, you name it. It almost takes the fun out of making coffee... almost."
"I might have to get one of those..."
"But, if you do, then you'll stop coming to Tip-Tops!" Tea whined jokingly.
"Dear; you're right... scratch that idea."
"That, and how often do you drink coffee other than in the mornings?"
"That's the only time."
Tea chuckled. "Don't bother dropping the insane amount of bits, then. If you were like me and drank a cup with dinner and a cup before going to bed, then I'd suggest it."
"Oh, heavens. I could never drink that much coffee."
Fleur's eyes were drawn to the rhythmic motion of Tea's hooves as she expertly smoothed the pizza dough into a perfectly circular disk. "Is there anything you can think I could help with?"
Tea's motion paused, exhaling from her nostrils as she thought, her eyes coming from her work to Fleur De Lis' fairly lengthy horn.
"You have magic! I can get you to chop up the tomatoes and peppers! Trust me, Miss De Lis; chopping with hooves is way harder than with magic." Tea beamed, turning to the cabinets behind her as she took a second cutting board out.
"I'll take your word for it, and please; just call me Lis. No need to be so formal."
"Well, Lis; would you like to do the peppers or tomatoes first?" inquired Tea, now sifting through a drawer upon placing the cutting board on the counter before Fleur.
"Peppers."
"Alright, so," Tea set a large chef's knife on the cutting board, stepping across the kitchen to the fridge, "What you'll want to do first is cut the top off." A bright red bell pepper was placed beside the knife right-side up, Fleur's pink magic taking the blade and the pepper as she complied with the first step. "Okay, turn the pepper upside down so you've got a nice, stable platform so you can chop it in half." The pepper rotated, came to rest, and was halved with a satisfying 'chop', Tea smiling as she went back to her dough. "Now dice each half into thin strips so they all look like little C shapes."
A quick chopping took over the gently playing music from the other room as Fleur worked happily at her peppers, Tea stepping back and opening a cabinet above the stove to retrieve a bottle of olive oil.
"Done."
Tea's step paused, the bottle of olive oil hanging in her mouth as she looked at Fleur, her hoof coming up to take the bottle. "Already?"
Fleur hummed as Tea's eyes went to the cutting board, a pile of perfectly diced peppers sitting beside her knife. "You're sure you've never cooked before?" she asked with a joking smile, placing the bottle beside her dough.
"Indeed, and I'd certainly like to change that. This needs to be a more often occurrence."
"I concur." Tea's hoof lifted a bunch of 5 tomatoes still attached to their branch from a bowl of assorted fruits and vegetables that sat a short distance from her cutting board. "So, now for the tomatoes," Fleur's magic took the bunch from Tea's hoof, "take two from the bunch and do what you did with the peppers; cut their tops off."
The pop of a cork drew Fleur's eyes up as Tea opened the olive oil, beginning to pour a perfectly steady and precise stream of the oil in a spiraling motion from the outside of the dough to the inside. "Shall I slice them or cut them into little squares?" Fleur asked, having finished preparing her two tomatoes.
"Well, personally; I like cubed, but w-" "Cubed it is, then."
Fleur brought her knife down to chop one of the tomatoes in half, her eyes widening at the ease at which the knife had moved through the fruit. "Goodness, this knife is very sharp..."
"Oh yeah, that's one of my favorites."
"Do you sharpen them yourself?" Fleur asked as she continued working at dicing the tomatoes.
"If I tried to sharpen them, I'd ruin them. The stallion that owns the supply store I go to sharpens them for free if you've bought them from his store, and I only buy from his store, so I get all my knives done for free!"
"Already got some friends in the business, I see?"
Tea hummed past the olive oil bottle in her mouth as she turned around to place it back in its home cabinet. With the bottle away, she turned to Fleur, looking at the two fine piles of chopped veggies,
"Now, time to put the toppings on. I... assume you can handle that without needing my direction?"
Without a worded response Fleur lifted her chopped ingredients with her magic, floating them above the prepared pizza and spreading them in an intentionally perfect manner.
"Perfect! Alright; now to shred the cheese. Wanna handle that, as well?" Tea asked as she went to the fridge.
"Might as well! I've nearly made this pizza by this point."
Tea chuckled, taking an unwrapped block of mozzarella cheese from the fridge to the chopping board before Fleur. "To be fair, the dough is the hardest part. You know; I could do a... sort of cooking class for you."
"Really? I'd absolutely adore that, dear! It'd be a great way for us to spend more time together!" Fleur looked down to the cheese as she used her knife to slice open the packaging, Tea stepping back over to deliver a cheese grater.
"Yeah, it would! If... I can make time to do this often."
Fleur simply smiled as she began to shred the mozzarella. She couldn't decide if Tea Leaf was truly strapped for time, or if she was dodging her advances.
"How much cheese do we need?"
Tea shrugged. "As much as you'd like."
With her magic moving with haste and precision Fleur continued on reducing the block of white cheese down, her enjoyment of the somewhat menial task showing through the little smile she held. After a healthy pile had built up Fleur stopped, placing the block of cheese back to the cutting board.
"Done."
Tea paused a moment as she looked at the cheese, clearly thinking on something. "What if... we put potatoes on the pizza."
Fleur cocked her head back, scrunching her nose. "Potatoes on pizza?"
"Have you really never had it before? Slice 'em super thin to where they just melt in your mouth, and add that wonderful starchy-ness to everything," Tea's head rolled back, "oh, it's so good."
"You're the cook here; I'll trust your insight."
Tea turned for one of the cabinets. "You won't be disappointed."
From a hemp bag in the bottom compartment of the cabinet Tea procured a single, somewhat small potato with her mouth, bringing it to the chromed, stainless steel sink and running it under the water while scrubbing it with her hooves.
"I would tell you to get your knife ready... but I've got something that will make quick work of this potato."
With a smirk, Tea opened a different cabinet, pulling what looked like a tiny version of an old-timey washboard out and placed it on what little space was left on the large cutting board. Though, where this device differed was the incredibly sharp and shiny angled blade attached to the middle of the slotted board.
"This here; is the chef's cheat sheet. A mandolin. So, take the potato and cut it in half."
"I thought you said my knife wouldn't be needed." she returned with a smug look, complying with Tea's directions.
"Okay, maybe we'll need it a little bit. So, now that you've got two halves, place one of them at above the blade." Fleur's magic positioned one-half of the potato right where she had been instructed. "Now, just slide it up and down on the board."
Effortlessly, and with little resistance, the potato slowly withered away, perfectly sized slices falling to the cutting board below.
"You're quite right... that was cheating." commented Fleur as she leaned her head down to meet the freshly sliced potatoes at eye-level.
"Trying to do perfect slices like that with a knife is a pure pain in the flank," Tea slid the mandolin into the sink as she looked over all of the ingredients, "well, I think we're ready to put the toppings on!"
A pink aurora surrounded every single individual piece of ingredient from each pile and, with perfect precision, delivered them to their oil-soaked circle of dough. Everything was perfectly placed; perfect spacing between potato slices, evenly spread cubes of tomato and pepper, and not a single space left without cheese.
"Now that was cheating..."
With the pizza now ready, Tea turned around to open the oven and retrieve a thin, wooden pizza shovel, the utensil being held firmly in her teeth as she wiggled the blade under the pizza, transferring it from the counter to the ceramic pizza stone on the top shelf of the oven.
"And now, we wait."
~§~
"So, dear; I'm curious. I know you're in school for business, but exactly what do you want to do with your life?"
Tea sat back in the living room couch where she and Fleur De Lis sat side-by-side, the record player before them quietly playing folk music.
"I'm hoping to open a restaurant. I'm not too bad of a cook, and thus far, I've gotten quite a bit of experience from previous jobs. That, and my father's a business owner, and he knows his way around the paper work and technicalities of things."
Fleur's eyes widened, her magic setting down her glass of water to the coffee table in front of the couch. "A restaurateur!? That's quite the venture."
"Oh, I know. It's a hard, unforgiving business... but any business is."
"You are quite right in that. I'm kind of surprised you don't work at a restaurant currently."
"I only have a few hours in the morning to work; no restaurant has any job that requires that little work. I've got my restaurant experience already, though. My first job was as a dishwasher for a friend of my dad's; he owned a little restaurant just a few blocks from the house, so I could walk there after I got off school. I was only 14 when I started out there, just working 2 or 3 hours, then slowly moved up to a prep cook, and after I got out of high school I found a full time job at a place as a line cook. I worked there for a year before I moved to Prance for a year to attend Le Cordon Jaune; I got my Grand Diplôme, which is the highest training you can get without actually being in a degree program, then I got homesick, moved back to Fillydelphia for a while where I worked as a sous chef for 6 months, then moved to Canterlot so I could get my Master's in Business."
Fleur held her silence for a while, her mind processing everything she had just heard.
"I don't think the Princesses are as busy as you."
Tea laughed heartily, "I don't think they are, either! It's... been a ride, that's for sure. A fun one, though. The stress of it all... I love it. That's why I keep pushing. Every Head Chef I've worked with has said that I've got more than what it takes, so that's good, I guess."
"You are easily the most devoted pony to your craft I've ever seen. I do wish you luck in the future."
Tea blushed, looking at Lis from the corner of her eye. "Thank you... that means a lot, coming from you."
"What do you mean?"
"From somepony of success. From somepony that's met more ponies than most others will."
Fleur waved a hoof. "Oh, you're just flattering me now."
Tea shook her head. "Oh, no I'm not. I mean it."
A little giggle left Fleur as she leaned back into the couch, her physique and posture causing her head to stand much taller than Tea's. There was a slightly awkward silence as the two drew each other's gazes away, the record player taking over the room's sound.
"I'm more of a Swing type mare... but this folk you listen to is quite relaxing," finally piped up Fleur, taking her gaze back to Tea.
"Gold Thread is to thank for the music. I didn't really know what folk was until I met her, and she got me hooked on it."
Fleur's magic lifted her nearly empty water from the table. "It's certainly a lot slower than Swing," she slid from her haunches, standing up to refill her water, "Swing's got so much more... beat to it! It makes you want to swing!" as she began walking for the kitchen, she swayed her hips side to side, her tail brushing through the air like a pendulum as it, for only a split moment each time, revealed herself to Tea.
Tea cleared her throat, looking forward as she blinked a few times. She was trying to decide if that had been on purpose or not.
"Would you like a drink, dear?" called Fleur from the kitchen, prompting Tea to turn back around to see her peeking at her through the kitchen's open wall.
"I would, actually. The cabinet just above the stove, in there's a bottle of Bourbon. Black label, half-full. If you'd bring it as well as the glass next to it, that'd be wonderful."
A little cough of distaste came from Fleur. "Bourbon? You like this stuff?"
"Oh yeah. I assume you're more of a wine mare?"
"Champagne, if I do drink it. I only drink if I'm at formal parties. Never really did develop a taste for liquor..."
Tea hummed as Fleur stepped from the kitchen, her magic holding her glass of water as well as a now filled glass of Bourbon, along with the bottle. Each beverage was set to the table before their respective owners Fleur sat back down.
"For some reason, you strike me as somepony that would enjoy liquor."
"I could never bring myself to enjoy the taste, and I don't appreciate what it does to the body."
Tea picked up her glass with a hoof, swirling the dark liquid around. "I kinda do. That little buzz, it's fun sometimes. Getting totally drunk? I've done it once, and will only do it once. Worst morning ever."
She shivered.
"I, too, have only gotten horribly intoxicated once before... and I concur that it was one of the worst experiences I've ever had."
Tea sipped at her bourbon, smacking her lips quietly as she savored the flavor. "If being a chef doesn't work out, I'm going into liquors."
"Oh, don't worry, dear. You'll make it. I can tell you will."
A ding from the kitchen instantly perked Tea's posture, her hoof delivering her glass back to the table as she rose from the couch.
"Dinner's ready!"
~§~
"I... can't eat another bite," groaned Fleur as her magic placed her half-eaten slice of cheese pizza to her plate.
"That's a shame... I have dessert."
Fleur turned to Tea, looking a little angry. "Why didn't you say so before my 5th piece!? If I had known, I wouldn't have eaten so much."
Tea smiled. "I guess you could stay a while longer to let your food settle. It's just a little bit of cheesecake."
A power-play. Tea had made a move. Fleur felt a tiny knot in her stomach. Tea was going to try something on her, she could sense it.
"I... have no problem with that."
Tea's smile remained as she shifted her gaze to the nightlights of Canterlot city, the castle shining brilliantly in the distance being a sight she had never grown tired of. The two, at Tea's suggestion, had sat on the porch to enjoy their meal as opposed to the small dining table within the apartment. Fleur had been slightly skeptical of the idea at first; the porch chairs looked far less comfortable than the dining room's, but the tradeoff was worth it. A totally unobstructed view of the city. Thin clouds above glowed from the high moon's light, that oh-so-pure white light producing a faint glow on the shingle roofs of Canterlot's many buildings. Like specks of dust on a sunbeam, the occasional lone Pegasus over the city gleams for a moment in the air, flying from one place to the next. It was quite romantic, something Fleur knew Tea had done intentionally.
Or, at least she felt she knew. There was a little bit of doubt in her mind. It was quite possible that Tea's choice hadn't been with that intent. She had, after all, stated that she and her roommate ate on the porch often. As the two sat quietly, Fleur began realizing something. Tonight had been the most fun she had had in quite a long time. There was something different about it, however. Something that made her feel... warm inside. It was happiness, sure, but there was something else there that she couldn't put a hoof on. She hadn't been able to put a hoof on it all night.
As Tea Leaf slid her plate from her hoof to the little wooden table before the two, she looked away from the skyline to Fleur. "So, what did you think of dinner?"
"Dear, it was absolutely exquisite. Both the cheese and the... mix-bag pizza you prepared us were equally phenomenal."
"You made the mix-bag pizza; not me."
Fleur chuckled. "Oh, I suppose you're right on that! Well, you did make the dough... and the ingredients were your idea."
"I didn't come up with the recipe, though."
A look of frustration took Fleur's smile, "honey, you're discrediting yourself far too much."
Tea paused, laughing nervously. "I... am. Sorry."
"Oh, no need to apologize. You're just far too modest, which... isn't something I see a lot."
"In your line of work, I'd assume not." Suddenly, Tea gasped as her eyes widened in remembrance. "Oh! Speaking of your line of work, a day ago some mare wanted me to say that she loves your work in 'extenuating the mare's physique'." I forgot to tell you that morning when you came in."
Fleur's eyes widened, "oh! Well, if you see her again, tell her that I give my thanks."
Fleur's wide eyes slowly narrowed.
"How... did she know that you knew me?"
"She saw us at lunch. Apparently she and her husband were a few tables away."
Fleur hummed. "Small world."
The conversation fell flat, the two staring back out over the city beyond.
"Lis... I got something to confess."
Fleur's stomach instantly turned into a knot. She felt as if her pizza would come back up. Her eyes quickly darted to the worried, nervous expression on Tea's face.
"Honey... I know. You're... madly in love with me."
Tea's face went pale, her jaw dropping. "I-I... wha-! I was going to tell you that I used a special flower mix for the pizza dough!!"
An awkward pause hit the two, their shocked gazes quickly diverting.
"Tea... I-I didn't mean to jump the gun like that."
"How long have you known?"
Fleur stopped, looking into Tea's eyes for a moment as she thought hard.
"For... only a little while now."
Tea held her silence, her cheeks red as she turned her gaze away, sighing. "Don't be mad at me..."
Fleur laughed gently, leaning over and putting a hoof on Tea's shoulder. "Dear, why would I be angry with you?!"
"Because we're both mares! A-And... you don't like other mares... how I do!"
"How do you know that?"
"B-Because I know that you and Fancy Pants-"
"No, dear, I mean how do you know that I don't like other mares?"
Fleur felt her stomach tighten further. Internally, she slapped herself. She was only digging the hole deeper.
"I... are you trying to say that... you do like me? I know you enjoy my company and all... but do you like me how... I like you?"
The look Tea had given her made her heart sink. She was going to have to say no. She was going to break Tea's heart.
"I think so..."
"You... think so?"
Fleur cringed. She took a deep breath.
"Tea... I'm not a mare's mare, and I don't quite find myself attracted to you as... you would be attracted to me, but I absolutely adore you, and I love being around you... a lot more than I thought I actually would."
Tea's smile brought reassurance.
"You adore me?"
"Honey, of course, I do. You're the most adorable little thing I've ever met."
There was a moment of tranquility as the two's eyes remained locked, their cheeks red. Tea was the first to look away, her gaze falling back on the city beyond.
"Well... I guess the proverbial cat is out of the bag."
"Aren't you happy that it is?"
Tea looked back to Fleur's little smile.
"As long as it doesn't... ruin what we've got."
"Dear, you're going to have to do a lot worse than telling me you love me to ruin our friendship."
To that, Tea smiled.
~§~
The tranquility of the night was no longer broken by speech. Tea had gone inside a moment ago to get their desserts, leaving Fleur to sit and ponder. And ponder, she did. Emotions mixed and mingled like the ingredients of a dish in her mind. She hadn't ever felt such a way. She hadn't ever felt such a constant pounding from her heart, or such a heavy knot in her stomach. She hadn't ever felt happy and sad at the same time. Tea had taken things wonderfully, but she still felt horrible that her personal preferences would get in the way of, basically, what Tea wanted. Tea wanted her as a lover and companion. She was able and willing to be a companion... but what's the point of holding the pony you love in your hooves if you can't make love to them?
Love. A word that now seemed to linger in her mind. The strange things she had been feeling, had they been love? Fleur thought back on her life, trying to think of a time she had felt the way she did now, but she couldn't. She had spent many nights with Fancy Pants before, and many times, through steamy breaths, declared that she loved him, but that was a circumstantial type thing. Sure, when in his company, she felt happy, and did feel a little flutter in her chest at times, but this was far different. Far worse. Far more... potent.
The sound of the sliding glass door brought Fleur's gaze to Tea as she stepped outside, a plate of cheesecake held carefully in her teeth and by her hoof. The plate in her hoof was set down to the table first, followed by the plate in her teeth. Fleur's eyes locked with the cake, her mouth instantly beginning to water as she stared at the perfectly presented slice given to her, the slightly golden brown top being adorned with a gooey cherry sauce and a few strewn about maraschinos.
"Oh... goodness. This looks incredible." Fleur's pink aurora lifted up her plate from the table, a look of disappointment taking her expression as she looked to Tea, who had just sat down beside her. "Dear, how should I eat this without a fork?"
Tea's smile faded as she looked to the table, seeing a lack of silverware.
"Oh, for Celestia's sake..."
Fleur giggled as she watched Tea stand back up to return inside. Her eyes went back to the cake floating in her magic, a few moments going by as she stared at a drop of cherry goo slowly making its way down the porous side of the slice. As if acting against some law, she floated the plate to her muzzle and chomped the front portion of the slice off, the act leaving a dollop of the red sauce on her nose. A tiny moan left her throat as she spared no time in taking a second, larger bite, this time her muzzle pressing against the plate as she scrapped up the crumble-y crust up with the cake. Again, what cake remained deposited its remains on her nose and the fur surrounding her mouth.
The sliding door comes open again, causing Fleur to freeze as her wide eyes dart up to Tea, who held two forks by their ends in her teeth, and around her teeth her lips formed a frown. Fleur's magic took the two forks from Tea's mouth.
"Dear, how should I eat this without a fork, hm?" Tea says, jokingly annoyed.
"It's... really good cheesecake."
Tea's smile returns as she sits back down beside Fleur, her eyes remaining locked not with Fleur's, but something just below. After a moment, Tea's hoof rose as she gingerly gathered some of the cake that had gathered around Fleur's mouth with the tip of her hoof, the act causing Fleur to flinch a tiny bit. Keeping eye contact with her, Tea brought the tip of her hoof to her lips, a little giggle leaving her throat as Fleur groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Just because I know you love me doesn't mean you get to act all... saucy with me!" Fleur whined, shrinking into her chair as she placed one of her two forks beside Tea's plate.
"Oh, come on! That was funny!"
Fleur smiled, giggling as she turned her gaze back to her treat, her magic guiding her fork to cut off another bite. "It... was funny, indeed."
~§~
Cakes had been eaten and many, many words had been shared. The awkward topic of the night had somewhat fallen into the background, regular conversation resuming. Though, it had not fallen entirely into the background. Tea had, at first jokingly, informed that it was quite difficult at times to use a fork properly without magic, and had loosely suggested for Fleur to assist with her horn's powers by maneuvering her fork for her, but (Fleur assumed it was a surprise) to her surprise, Fleur had obliged. Fleur had done many promiscuous things in the past, but feeding another mare cake was almost at the top.
The moon now hung a little lower in the sky, and the city beyond remained silent. No more Pegasi flew from point A to point B, and no specks of movement could be seen on what few streets were not totally concealed by trees or buildings. Both were quite tired, their voices held that ever-so-slightly audible croak that came with drowsiness. From the moon's position, it could be estimated that it was around 1 in the morning. Fleur, of course, now fantasized about returning to her own apartment to drop down into bed and cuddle up with a pillow and her sheets. Tea's mind held an idea identical save for the pillow being replaced by Fleur's soft figure.
Sometimes, sugar is the sweetest when you don't eat it. A yawn from Fleur drew Tea's gaze over to the slouched Unicorn.
"Tired?"
"Oh... of course. It's past midnight, I do believe."
Tea hummed, that hum being followed by a yawn, as well. She blinked a few times, a hoof coming up to dry the wetness that had been brought by the yawn.
"I'm getting tired, too. I've... had an amazing night with you, Lis."
Fleur smiled. "As have I. Now that I know your secret, does this mean we can spend more time together?"
Tea chuckled as she slouched further into her chair. "Yes, it does. It is relieving knowing that I don't have to try and hide it anymore."
"You... aren't bothered by the fact I don't share your feelings with such intensity?"
"Not really. I mean... you aren't into mares. I am. There's a little bit of a conflict in interests, ya know?"
Fleur looked away. She was awe-struck with Tea's maturity.
"I'm just glad that I can still have you as a friend. At the end of the day... that's all I really want."
She turned back. "Well, you've got a friend. That's for certain."
The two shared a smile before silence returned. That silence hung heavy for a time before Fleur yawned again, stretching her slender limbs out before her.
"I... feel it's my time to depart, unless you've got more of that cake around..."
Tea laughed. "No; sadly, I don't. I'll walk you out."
With that, the two stood up, Fleur stretching a bit more before she followed Tea back into the quaint apartment. A little bit of stumbling in the darkness brought the two to the door, where a single, somewhat dim light in the entry hall allowed the two to see.
"Well, goodnight, Lis," spoke Tea with a somewhat somber note to her voice as she opened the door, standing aside to allow Fleur out.
"Goodnight, Tea Leaf. Thank you for such a wonderful meal, and such a wonderful time."
Tea smiled as Fleur stood just at the edge of the doorframe. "You're welcome. See you Monday morning?"
Fleur nodded, returning that smile, "indeed."
With that, Tea slowly pushed the door shut, standing idly for a moment before turning and beginning to move back into the quiet apartment. That quiet broke, however, as Fleur burst back in through the door, her eyes locking with Tea's as she walked towards her, stopping just short as she held Tea's face close to hers with a spell.
"You... stupid dork! You made me fall in love with you!!"
Instantly, she locked her lips with Tea's. Every muscle in Tea's body tensed for a moment as her eyes went wide, and as the seconds dragged by she slowly relaxed. Their kiss broke with a smooch, Tea's bed room eyes staring deeply into Fleur's as she reared up on her hind legs, wrapping her forelegs around Fleur's neck and pulling her into a second, harder kiss. Their heads turned, their lips accepting one another's invitation. Fleur had thought she would simply imagine herself in the hooves of a stallion, but as she engaged with Tea, that image never came. She was loving every second of it. It was an odd pleasure. It was a pleasure that came from knowing Tea found pure bliss in their oral engagement. Tea broke the dance, holding her head back as she stared at Fleur for a moment.
"Sleep with me."
Fleur laughed nervously. "Dear, I-I don't think I... I could make love t-"
"I meant actually sleep with me. Like... fall asleep with me. Stay the night."
Fleur's expression went blank as she looked at the lustful mare holding her.
"You... don't wish to make love to me?"
Tea chuckled, pressing her muzzle into Fleur's. "More than anything."
Fleur leaned her head back, smiling nervously. "T-Tea... I just don't think I actu-"
"Then don't. You're going over the top even with this," Tea brought her hooves from Fleur's neck, standing normally, "Lis, the fact you even kissed me is... more than I can even fathom. If you're just comfortable with falling sleep with me, then that's fine by me."
~§~
Fleur knew it would happen. Deep in her mind, she had known she would do it. As she lay half-awake in the morning sun, Tea curled up beside her atop the covers, she thought on the previous hours. Her head craned up as she looked to Tea, her mane disheveled and her coat of clay-brown fur out of place and ruffled. A little smile worked its way onto her lips. There was something so unconceivably adorable about the young mare. Maybe it was Tea's demeanor. Maybe it was the fact that Tea loved her so much. Maybe it was that Tea was a genuinely attractive mare. Fleur couldn't decide. But, whatever it may be, it had been more than enough to make her heart flutter. Above that, it had been enough for her heart to over-power the doubt and fear in her mind of making love to somepony of the same sex.
Their venture had started with cuddling and kissing, as Fleur had planned, but so quickly had she become overwhelmed with lust. Sex was on odd thing. While the whole act itself had been pleasurable, of course, she gained more pleasure from not the act, but from Tea herself. Her steamy little moans. The way her eyes seemed to sparkle any time Tea had looked down at her. The way she had shakily and nervously asked for Fleur to 'use her magic on her'. Seeing Tea smile, giggle, and whine in ecstasy had been more than enough stimulation for her. That hadn't stopped Tea from returning the favor, however. Fleur smiled again. She had been pretty horrible at it. Her tongue's movements were inexperienced, and she kept pausing to ask 'is this good?' instead of shutting up and keeping her muzzle buried between Fleur's legs. At one point, she had simply held Tea's head in place by clamping her thighs around her head.
Fleur's gaze was again drawn to Tea as a little groan of waking sung from her throat. Slowly, her eyes opened, her limbs stretched out, and her back arched.
"Good morning." Fleur spoke, her voice a little croaky.
Tea groaned, twisting her back as she stretched further. "Great morning."
There was a moment of quiet as Tea finally stopped stretching, her eyes wandering over Fleur's sunlit, glowing figure for a time.
"You're so pretty..."
Fleur giggled, waving her hoof. "Shut up! You flatter me too much!"
Tea responded by reaching forward, scooping one hoof under Fleur and wrapping the other around her back, pulling her into a hug. "No. I don't." Tea nuzzled her cheek into Fleur's chest. "Oh... and you're so soft, too."
Fleur blushed, feeling her cheeks heat up. "S-Stop it!"
Tea giggled, complying to save Fleur the embarrassment.
"Thank you... Lis. That was the single greatest night of my life. Bar none. Nothing will ever top that. Well... getting all three of my Hoofelin stars might top this. But for now... this is the best."
Fleur's expression went blank. "Hoofelin stars?"
"Oh, come on! You're in the ritz of Canterlot and you've never heard of the Hoofelin Guide or the three Hoofelin stars?"
"I'll assume it's a restaurant thing..."
"It is the restaurant thing. Having your restaurant get three stars in the Hoofelin Guide is to become immortal. It's the highest rating a chef or an establishment can get."
Fleur nodded, smiling at Tea's dorky passion. "I understand."
"So... what happened to 'I don't think I could make love to a mare'?"
Fleur thought a moment. "You happened. I... think last night was also the best night of my life."
"R-Really?"
"You're... horrible at actually making love to another mare, but you make up for it quite well with all those giggles and whinnies of pleasure."
Tea blushed, turning her head away. "Now you're the one flattering me..."
Fleur smiled as she sat up, sitting to her haunches atop the bed. "No, I'm not."
With that, Fleur slid from bed, stretching and arching her back before walking towards the bedroom's open door. "How hard is that coffee maker of yours to work?"
"You put a cup under it and press the button."
"I think I can manage that."
As she began leaving, Fleur swayed her hips a little, flashing herself to Tea as she walked to the kitchen.
"O-Oooh, please don't do that anymore..."
Fleur laughed. "You're too easy."
Now standing before the grand, chrome coffee maker, Fleur looked around at the many cabinets in the somewhat small kitchen. Simultaneously, a pink aurora surrounded the knobs of each door, swinging them open in perfect sync. With zero effort the coffee mugs were located, and two of the bright red, lacquered vessels were brought down to the counter. With equally little effort each cabinet shut quietly, Fleur now focusing on the task at hoof.
She jumped as the sound of the apartment's front door coming open cut the morning's silence. Fleur stood totally still as she kept her eyes on the kitchen's entrance, her eyes eventually locking with those of a blue-furred, white maned mare, her flank adorned with the mark of a simple golden string looped into a knot.
"Wha... who... Fleur De Lis!?" Exclaimed Gold Thread, staring at Fleur with wide eyes.
"Indeed. I assume you're Tea's lovely roommate, Gold Thread."
"Oh, Gold! Uh, good morning!" Tea called from the bedroom as she trotted into view, her mane and tail a mess.
There was a slightly awkward pause as Gold's eyes darted from Tea to Fleur.
"No..." She began smiling. "Wait... oh, no..."
Fleur returned the smile, now looking at the blushing Tea. "Oh, yes."
Gold now too looked at Tea. "By the throne, you finally did it."
"Well... technically, Lis did. I just... I didn't think she'd go that far with me."
Gold giggled as she danced on her front hooves, bolting over to Tea and taking her in a hug. "Oh, my goodness!" Gold looked to Fleur. "You managed to lose your virginity to her! I'm... I'm jealous."
Fleur's eyes went wide, her gaze locking with the still bashful Tea. "You were a virgin before last night?!"
"Y-Yeah..."
Fleur laughed, stepping forward and propping herself up on the counter, folding her forelegs to her chest. "You are quite lucky, you know that? Not many ponies get to lose their virginity to a photography model."
Tea's eyes darted across each of the smiling mares before her, feeling horribly small. "I-I'm gonna take a shower."
Gold and Fleur shared a little laugh as Tea backed into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
"Well, this wasn't how I expected to meet you," commented Gold as she walked into the kitchen, lazily leaning against the counter.
"I can say the same. I assume you know me from my work?"
Gold scoffed. "I know you because Tea hasn't shut up about you for the past 2 months."
"It's that bad, hm?"
"Oh, it's bad. I can't wait to hear what you did to her last night."
Fleur laughed at Gold's grin. "You believe she'll actually tell you about it?"
"I know she will. Though, I gotta guess... she sucked, didn't she?"
Fleur threw her head back in laughter. "Yes! Yes... she wasn't all that good at it. But... like I told her, all of her cute little noises made up for it."
"That's... sweet to hear. You don't know how happy you've made her."
Fleur nodded, turning to the coffee machine. "I have a pretty good idea."
