Culture Shock

MorsTactica, who else you sillies!

Got this out today. Leave a comment, positive or negative expect a reply!

Leon intercepted the ball, then juked right, narrowly avoiding being tackled by a linebacker. He sprinted forward, weaving through the defenders like a rodeo horse through barrels. He ran onward, drawing out his strides till he seemed to fly, only skimming the surface of the ground, getting from one end of the field to the other in no time, with the nearest defender still 20 yards behind him as he crossed the end zone. He heard Dash cheering from the stands and couldn't help but laugh. He jogged back with sarcastic slowness, waving at the defenders whom were doubled over and attempting to catch their breath.

“You've done it again Leon, you gotta teach me how to do that!” exclaimed an out of breath Jack, leaning on a bench by the sideline.

“I've told you man, I just run.” Shrugged Leon, tossing the ball to the Coach.

“ALRIGHT LADIES! GOOD PRACTICE! GET OFF MY FIELD!” Yelled the coach, opening the locker room door. All the players filed in at a jog, quickly stripping out of their sweaty pads and into various fresh clothes.
Leon put on a pair of athletic shorts and a muscle shirt, slinging his gear bag over one shoulder and his backpack on the other. Leon stepped outside to see Rainbow Dash waiting by the door, sitting on the curb and drawing on the sidewalk with a rock.

“Hey Dash, let's go.” Said Leon, offering a hand to help her up. She denied it and stood up by herself. They began walking to his truck.

“When you run... It reminds me of flying. That was crazy, you left those guys in the dust!” Dash looked at Leon, whom tossed his bags in the bed of his truck. He leaned against the side of the truck and looked over at Rainbow Dash, who did the same.

“I have always been able to run. I dunno why. Comes natural.” Replied Leon, who entered the truck and started it, then cranked up the A/C. Rainbow hopped in and looked over at Leon. Tears formed in her eyes, and a few sobs escaped her mouth. Rainbow looked as if her favorite puppy was just ran over. Her shoulders slumped, she began to cry in wracking sobs that shook her whole body.

"I can't do this!" Rainbow exclaimed, bawling, and latching onto a surprised Leon.

"You can't do what? Talk to me RD." Leon said softly, putting his arm around her in an attempt to provide some sort of comforting touch.

"My life is gone! Everypony! Everything! I have always been able to fly, and now I never will again! I'm a Pegasus in a Human body!" Dash sobbed, pushing Leon away angrily. "I bet you did this! That's why I appeared in your house! It doesn't even make sense! I was just out flying and then... You turned me into this.. this... thing!" Dash was yelling now, pointing at Leon angrily.

"I didn't even! How could I? I was just as surprised as you! I don't know what is going on!" Leon replied, with a bit of anger in his voice. "How could it be my fault? I didn't ask for you to come here!" Leon looked angry as well now, his eyes narrowing.

"How else can this be explained?!" Rainbow dash shouted back through tears, tossing her hands up in outrage.

"I don't think it can. This has all been so confusing and I've been trying to play it off, I don't know... I just don't know. What I do know is we are in this together." Leon stated with finality, some of the anger backed off of his voice

"I... I guess you're right. Whatever. Sorry for snapping at you." Rainbow finished with a sad note, then crossed her arms and leaned against the door of the truck. Leon blasted the radio of his stereo all the way to eleven, heavy metal shaking the glass of the doors. He backed the truck up and began driving home. He parked the truck in the road in front of his house.
"Home at last." Leon breathed, shutting off the truck. Rainbow got out of the truck and began walking to the house. Leon hopped out and caught up with RD. "Hey, what gives? I thought we were cool."

"You have no idea what I'm going through. You don't know what loss is." Rainbow retorted, coldness in her voice.

"I may not have lost everything, and I guess I never will. You have no right to say I don't know what loss is!" Leon got a hard look on his face, and he seemed to be staring at something infinitely far away. "I lost my father, my brother, and my mother all one day. My mom may be alive, but that isn't her. She hasn't been herself since... Nevermind. I know what that feeling is. I didn't lash out at people trying to help me though." Leon stormed into the house, slamming the door after him.

"Leon, what's wrong? Where's Andrea?" Leon's mother asked, looking at him from the sofa.

"Outside. I'm going to the guest room. Don't bother me." Leon replied, exiting. Rainbow Dash entered a moment later.

"What's going on?" Inquired Leon's mom, sitting up.

"I don't know and I don't care. I'll be in his bedroom." Rainbow left as well.

"Well I never..." Mrs. Miller sat back on the couch.

Leon stared at his phone, the only source of illumination in the otherwise dark room. The digital clock on screen said 20:23. "Get up and fix it. Talk to that girl." He could hear it now, in his father's gravely, Oklahoman accent. His mom had offered dinner but he had declined, sitting in the silence. The clicking of his phone simulating a keyboard on its digital screen shattered the silence. "So what do I do man? Speak to her?" Leon texted, sitting up on the bed of the guest room.
The phone dinged. The screen displayed "Jack: I don't know Leon. You're better with girls than I am. I would try to talk with her, but what do I know?"

Leon pocketed his phone and opened the door, walking to his bedroom. He knocked.

"Who is it?" came a reply, gruff in nature but betrayed by tears.

"It's Leon. Open the door." Leonidas said back, leaning against the wall.

"No! Go away!" Rainbow Dash half-yelled with a sniff.

Leon sighed and sat down in front of the door. He texted Jack again. "She won't let me in. Literally." He sent it and then leaned back against the wall. Ding.

"That sucks. Let her be then, it's Friday night anyways. She needs space probably."

Leon read the text and then put his phone in his pocket once more, leaning against the doorframe with his head, slipping into a rough sleep.

"Son? Get up. the hallway is no place for sleep." Leon's father stood over him, his Marine Corps BDUs still dusty from the Afghanistan desert.

"When did you get home, dad? I thought it would be at least three more months." Leon stood up and hugged his dad, almost needing to stand on his tippy-toes to put his arms around the neck of the tall, imposing man.

"That doesn't matter. Let's take a walk." Leon's father turned around and took militaristic steps toward the front door. Leon walked behind him, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. They stepped out onto the porch, then the road.

"So what's up dad? Kinda weird to go walking on the road at this time of night." Leon stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"I like the night air. It's not filled with sand. It's also a lot quieter here." Leon's father looked over at Leon.

"You take my advice and go play football son?"

"Yeah. I'm a receiver and a tight end, just like you said I'd be. Pretty good apparently. I'm always told I'd make you proud."

"You're having some trouble? Even teenage boy don't generally sleep in the hallway for no reason."

"Girl trouble, what else? She... Andrea... I don't know. She's very depressed and won't let me talk to her."

"Well, one time your mother wouldn't speak to me for about two weeks. Her great grandma died, you know the one that is responsible for that great cobbler she makes? I didn't think we'd ever speak again."

"How'd you get her to talk to again?" Leon inquired, coming to a stop.

"I gave her time to heal, and once she was ready a shoulder to cry on. Women are strange creatures. Just don't push anything. Be there for her but don't smother her. She needs time to think things out. She'll need some of your strength to make it through the day sometimes, and some days she'll need to know she can make it on her own." Leon's father began walking back to the house.

"Okay. What about until then?" A car rolled by, going a bit fast for the residential street.

"Like I said, just show you are there for her. Who is this girl anyways? She live here in town?" They were almost to the steps now, and Leon looked very nervous.

"Andrea, she's an exchange student. She lives uh... Here" Leon pointed to the house.

"Why wasn't I alerted of this? That explains you being in the hallways though. Always the gentleman, you." Leon's father took a seat on the couch. Leon sat next to him.

"So what about your bags? Did you drop everything and fly yourself home?" Leon laughed a bit at the end.

"Dead men need no baggage. Hey bud, I'm going to need you to wake up." Leon's father casually spoke, turning on the TV.

"What? What are you talking about?" Leon sat forward, looking at his father.

"Wake up Leon! You're blocking the doorway." Dash was standing over him, silhouetted by the dawn. Leon quickly wiped a few tears out of his eyes.

"Were you crying? Why were you crying?" Dash took a few steps back and sat on his bed.

"Nothing. I uh... Nothing. You're speaking with me." Leon said with moderate surprise, then he picked himself up and began to walk down the hallway. Dash followed him silently. They arrived in the kitchen.

"Yeah.. I did a lot of thinking last night. Being a jerk to you isn't going to help me. So... I'm sorry." Leon turned to face Dash.

"It's no problem Dash. I want to help. I'm here for you." Leon looked down at Rainbow Dash.

"Hey now pal, don't get lubby dubby on me. I was just apologizing for being mean is all." Leon got a slightly disappointed look in his eyes, and crossed his arms.

"Well, I wasn't coming onto you. I was just saying RD. No need to get defensive. You'd think you had a thing for me or something." Leon chuckled at the end and then got down some bowls from a cabinet.

"Well I don't, so don't get any ideas. What are the bowls for?" Rainbow inquired, leaning against the bar.

"Cereal. You don't have a problem with milk do you?" Leon walked to the pantry, shuffling boxes. He stopped to pop his back, then resumed his search.

"Nah. It's used in cake and stuff. Doesn't it cover that in our show?" Rainbow yawned, then scratched her head. Leon grabbed some regular mini-wheats from the pantry and poured them into the bowl.

"Yeah, but I felt like I should ask." He acquired the milk from the fridge and filled to bowls to the appropriate levels, then put the milk back in the ice-box. Leon grabbed some spoons and put them into the bowls, then slid one to Rainbow Dash.

"What is this exactly?" Rainbow held the spoon in front of her face, inspecting a bit of the cereal.

"Mini-wheats. It's good, dig in." Leon began to eat, and did so rather ravenously. He was refilling his bowl as Rainbow Dash was just beginning to eat.

"This isn't too bad." Dash mouthed around cereal.

"Right?" Leon nodded and then rinsed out his bowl, sitting back against the sink.