Second Time Around

"You have hardly touched your food mon cher." Fleur said with a pout as she watched Mayes look off into the distance as the restaurant sprung to life around them.

Mayes was thinking hard on Rarity and Rara. His conversation with both of them had left a rather bad taste in his mouth and also gave him a bitter sadness that nestled right in his heart. Watching Rarity cry was enough to bring him to the brink of tears. It was too late for that. Focus on the now.

"My apologies Fleur, my kind eat substantially less than you do." He lied once more with a fake grin as the mare in front of him hummed thoughtfully.

"I do not mind at all. I merely hope you saved room for dessert." She added with a wink as she licked the end of her spoon almost seductively.

Mayes' brain was running at such a speed from the display that the room slowly began to spin in his vision. This wasn't what he expected from the date, or from any interaction for that matter. Most ponies had treated him vehemently badly with not the slightest hint of an interest outside of an oddity. Within a short time he had gone from a monster to some kind of performance piece and even though it had been pleasant he found himself beginning to get anxious over the whole matter.

"Would you mind one moment? I have to use the washroom." He quickly said as he got out of his chair and hurried past the ponies that had begun to take notice and whisper.

"How peculiar." Fleur whispered to herself with a giggle as she continued to enjoy the pudding that had been laid in front of her by the waiter. In her mind she began to formulate the plan needed to get back what was rightfully hers. Sure Mayes was a sweet oddity, a distraction even, and she soon began to think on perhaps playing with him through to the end. It might be just as fruitful if not more so than her other play things.

"Fleur."

Fleur opened her eyes with a short gasp as she saw Both Coloratura and Rarity standing at her table with glares venomous as a snake.

"Putes sales." Fleur spat as she set her silverware down delicately.

"Back at you skank." Rara managed to spit back with her eyes narrowing to fine points.

"Pray what are you des gens ordinaires doing here? Can you not see Mayes and I are enjoying dinner?" Fleur whispered in an obvious attempt to get the two mares to leave.

"Well of course we are aware darling." Rarity began while holding a very sweet and understanding tone. "Aware you're using him to bolster your ratings like a flagrant whorse!" She finished with a yell while slapping down Fleurs termination papers with enough force to shake the table.

"Rarity? Rara? What are you doing here?" Mayes asked as he rounded the corner shaking his hands at his sides.

Rarity was the first to look at him. He looked worn, tired, yet deep down she saw he was actually happy to see her and Coloratura. Something was off. Something didn't feel right to her.

"Mayes! These jealous imbéciles have barged in uninvited to interrupt our pleasant dinner." Fleur chastised as she pouted at Mayes with the biggest puppy dog eyes he had ever seen.

Mayes took a moment to look at the scene unfolding before him. On the one hand he had a beautiful mare dining with him but on the other he had his closest friend and love interest there as well. Rara and Rarity wouldn't have come to merely sabotage his date. Something was definitely up.

"What's that on the table Fleur?"

Fleur felt it was her time to panic. As Mayes went to reach for the stack of papers she immediately magicked them from his grasp and held them close to her face.

"Mayes dear this is nothing. Merely a ruse concocted by two mares that don't wish for you to be happy."

Mayes faltered and crossed his arms to glare down at Rarity and the other mare.

"Are you fucking serious?" He finally sighed as he brought a hand to rub his eyes.

"Mayes it's not like that." Rarity interjected.

"No not you," Mayes continued as he turned his attention to Fleur. "You. Are you seriously so full of yourself that you'd honestly expect me to believe you over my closest friend and Rarity?"

Fleur looked like all the color had drained from her face as she began to sputter quietly.

"H-how dare you!? I am Fleur De Lis! I am the face of Mare Vogue and I will not be treated as such!"

Mayes smiled softly to himself with a chuckle and pointed at her.

"Yep. There it is. God damn I hate it when things are too good to be true."

The room fell into a deadly silence as the three mares and Mayes stopped to merely think deep on what was about to happen. As Mayes began to open his mouth Coloratura decided it was finally time to be a bit daring. Her entire time with him had culminated to this feeling of butterflies and bombs going off in her chest and for once she was going to do what she was meant to do.

She reached up with her hooves, grabbed his tie in her teeth, and yanked him down for a kiss.

Mayes was so taken back by the gesture he didn't even know how to react. The soft fur of her lips was warm and inviting, much softer and more pleasant than any woman he had ever kissed before. With shaky hands he moved them down and held her neck, cradling her head as he kissed her back, completely oblivious to the crowd that was staring slack jawed.

"Mayes... I um..." Rara began as she broke the kiss and merely let herself melt into his grasp.

It was at this point however that she noticed the silver platter hovering towards her and a very angry Fleur controlling it.

"Fresh Grünkohl!" Came a exuberant cry as one of the stallion waiters swung forward directly in front of the platter.

A loud clang and a crash echoed throughout the whole restaurant as the platter fell and Fleur was coated in a wet and slimy green spinach material from her mane to her clothing.

"Terribly sorry about that miss! I didn't notice the floating platter until I turned the corner!" He blabbered on as he pressed his hooves to her mane trying desperately to get the material out.

"That's our cue to leave darling." Rarity whispered as she grabbed Mayes sleeve with her magical grasp.

The three made their way to the check stand where Mayes paid for the meal and promptly inquired about the waiter.

"Brick Wall. Most of us ere' call im cock block. Right good fella hard on customas'." The mare at the stand explained as she watched Mayes pile more bits into a pile.

"That's for him. Thanks for the meal!"

A Short Silent Walk Later

The walk to the chariot and the ride back was silent. Rarity sat on one side of Mayes while Coloratura sat on the other. Seeing Rara kiss Mayes had stirred something deep inside of the dress maker. She felt her cheeks heat up and her body go rigid with an infernal heat that muddled her mind much more than she was comfortable saying out loud. She chided herself at the thought of kissing Mayes AND Coloratura and chalked it up to the adrenaline of the events that had transpired.

"Alright guys and gals. We're here." Goodwin proclaimed from the front as he hopped down and opened the doors.

Mayes left the carriage first and stared at the ground while he shook his head.

"So much for that royal welcome eh?" He chuckled as Goodwin hoofed him in the side gently.

"Welcome to stardom kid. Just be glad you got two lovely mares that are looking out for you. That Fleur has dragged many a stallion and mare down with her in the hopes of prolonging her failing career."

Mayes merely nodded and looked back to the mares that stood behind him.

"Yeah. I am thankful... for both of them." He added with a smile to Rarity.

Rarity felt her ears grow hot as his stare lingered on her momentarily after he had finished his thought. The entire time she was with watching, waiting for a moment to make her feelings as well known as Coloratura.

"YOU FILTHY PUTES COMMUNES HOW DARE YOU SULLY THE NAME OF FLEUR DE LIS!?"

Rarity didn't know what came over her after a groan and a growl echoed from her. Much like the Changeling invasion of the capital when she was forced to be very unladylike she felt herself black out. Moments later she noticed the body of Fleur was lying twitching on the ground in front of her and Mayes staring with the biggest grin she had seen in her time knowing him.

"I... apologize I don't know what in the world came over me." She said to him as she looked down at her throbbing fore-hoof.

"Are you kidding? That was a just round house punched her! I had no idea you could even think of doing that! God that was sexy as hell." Mayes yelled as he grabbed her from under her barrel and carried her with Coloratura into the hotel lobby.

The elevator ride was quiet but only because both Rarity and Coloratura were unable to speak with Mayes carrying them both under his arms. Rarity in particular was giddy as a school filly at the idea of Mayes carrying her like a veritable prince charming.

"So... Rara. You wanna tell me why you kissed me?" Mayes finally asked as the door opened into their penthouse.

Rarity felt a little color drain from her face as he let her down and walked to the fridge to grab two bottles of clear liquid. She decided to follow Coloratura to the couch where they both sat waiting for Mayes to come back with his drink.

"I mean. I kind of figured you were into me with the glances and the stares but I just didn't... know." He continued as Rarity saw him filling up three glasses.

Coloratura blushed as she rubbed her fore-hoof with the other.

"Don't make me say it Mayes. I always liked you it just was hard to talk to you when you were always fawning over Rarity."

Fawning over me... Rarity thought as she looked down with a soft smile.

Mayes returned to the living room with three glasses of wine and handed each of them out to Rarity and Coloratura before sitting between them. The three sat in silence as Mayes quaffed a glass then filled another while staring at the fireplace.

"Alright. I think I've finally gotten to the point where we can talk about this like adults. Rarity you're going first." He said while placing a hand on Rarity's head to rub at her ears.

The reassuring gesture hit its mark and Rarity felt a groan escape her throat as she leaned into his hand.

"Why now Rarity? What's changed?"

Rarity felt herself bury her chin into the tuft of fur under her neck in a show of embarrassment and thought. She had asked herself quite a lot since her return. Whether it was physical attraction alone or more she hadn't sufficient time to figure out but just hearing his voice and feeling his hand on her head was enough to make her struggle for air.

"Darling I'd love to t-tell you what's on my mind but your hand is doing t-terrible things to my mind." She said with a flirtatious tone she hadn't realized she possessed.

Mayes withdrew his hand with a cough that clearly accented his own blush. Rarity turned to him in time to see Coloratura nuzzling his wrist with her snout while humming softly to herself.

"I was never able to allocate the proper time to allow a suitor Mayes. I was completely serious about my work being overwhelming in the past and while I did love every gift you gave me I always felt that wall I built that forbade me from sharing any similar feelings" Rarity began as she chose her words carefully while nuzzling under his chin.

"But certain.. events have led to some feelings that I've never had before. Feelings that have caused me to be very unprofessional and very unladylike."

She took a moment to smell the sweat on his neck. The subtle scent of pine cologne and musk mixed so sweetly she almost couldn't stop herself from having a taste. The man before her was yielding some very interesting effects on her.

"As much as I... APPRECIATE!" He yelped as Coloratura licked at his jawline, "Your um... honesty I'm just not sure how to carry on."

Coloratura and Rarity stopped their ministrations and looked at him with concern.

"I just... I don't want to choose between you two. You both mean a whole lot to me... I mean... I love you. Both of you."

Rarity felt tears in her eyes as she smiled brightly at him. Luckily enough it was Coloratura that broke the silence with a simple reply that would change the course of the night and their lives.

"You don't have to love. There's a reason why it's called a herd."