Author's Note

The feedback I got for last chapter was a little overwhelming and a lot heart touching. I don't really know how to explain it without getting all sappy, but you're all sweet is what I'm gonna say. Also, don't worry, there's gonna be at least one more chapter after this focused on nothing but the good stuff. This was just more setup and a bit of teasing.

Spike's Embarrassment

Spike was nervous. It was the correct word to use in a situation like this. As he thought of it his mind went back to when he was learning to speak, and Twilight would read him definitions of words in her books. Though his vocabulary had never grown quite as expansive as hers, he prefered comic books to her long thick novels, he knew very well it was the right word to use right now.

The sound of a train whistle in the distance did little to calm Spike’s pounding chest. Though Twilight was here with him sitting just beside him, Spike had never felt more alone. He stared at the approaching train in the distance just as Twilight lifted her head from her book and a wide grin split her lips.

“That’s Shining!” The alicorn said in a giddy tone, jumping off the bench and giddily kicking her hooves down.

Spike swallowed, and realized a lump had been forming in his throat. His claws had been unable to sit still, and even linking them together made him want to squeeze and flex them. He stared down to the ground, which resulted in being a very bad idea because it meant he was staring right at the tops of his feet. They could, in a way, be blamed for the reason he was so nervous.

Two months ago, Shining Armor had learned a secret of Spike’s. A secret Spike had tried to deny for months on end even before that. A secret that even thinking of it now made him curl his toes and look away from his feet, because all it did was bring back the memory of when him and Shining had been messing around and the incident occurred. He mistakenly let himself think of it again. Shining sitting on his ankles, slowly running his hooves up and down Spike’s bare, sensitive soles. Spike begging. Spike growing aroused. Spike being humiliated beyond words.

Spike thought again as he had so many times before how good it felt to have his feet toyed with… He shook his head at that. No, that wasn’t true. He didn’t like it. It was weird to like it. He just… had a reaction that was embarrassing.

Spike realized the area between his legs was growing stiff at the memory alone, and instantly he bit his lip and forced away the thoughts. The last thing he needed was for it to happen in public. The train was approaching, and as Spike hopped off the bench he felt the vibration of the train on his soles. Another reminder.

The train came to a stop, and Spike found himself lingering behind Twilight. She hadn’t noticed just how nervous Spike had been about today. He was glad for this, because it meant it was easier to hide the reason.

As it turned out, Shining Armor was just as eager to see his sister as Twilight was to see him. He was the first off the train, standing there with a big goofy grin when the doors opened.

“Twily!” He called, jumping forward to embrace his sister in a tight hug. Spike had to stumble back to avoid being toppled over as he gasped, loudly. Already they were acting like themselves, babbling on as fast as they could and talking over each other about what happened since they last talked.

Seeing Shining here since last time was… overwhelming. The memory played over and over again in Spike’s mind of the moment.

“Hey, Spike,” Shining Armor said when he finally broke from Twilight. Their eyes met, and Spike felt his heart pound.

“H-Hey,” Spike said, knowing his words stumbled. He looked away fast, but realized out of the corner of his eye Shining Armor frowned at him. Spike had hoped he would be over it by now. Hoped that he could look at it as something embarrassing and stop obsessing over it by now. If Shining noticed just how nervous Spike was being, he didn’t say anything.

This was going to be a long week.

Back in the castle, Spike’s anxiety only grew worse. He had thought, or hoped, that being around Shining Armor for longer would make the past simply not matter anymore. Even with Twilight there to distract Shining Armor and fill in the blanks Spike wasn’t anywhere near ready to pounce on, there was an invisible tension in the air.

At first, Spike thought he had been imagining the way Shining kept looking to Spike. He passed it off as paranoia for the first ten glances once they were in the Castle, but after that it began to grow unnerving. Not once did Shining try to actually talk to Spike when he gazed at him, but just stared. It was clearly intentional. Spike wished he could read minds, or at least find the nerve to look back at Shining when he started to get a read on his emotions. Spike found he could not sit without anxiety plummeting unless his feet were flat against the floor or hidden under a pillow. Just having them out felt exposing.

“So, Spike,” Shining Armor said. It was the first time Spike had been addressed directly since the train station, other than being asked to prepare tea. “What have you been up to, bud?”

Spike blinked. He hadn’t been paying attention at all to the flow of conversation. Last time he was listening Twilight was laughing about something related to Cadence. A memory Spike didn’t have to share.

“Um,” Spike said, realizing he had done nothing but squeeze his fingers for the past thirty minutes. “Nothing really. Just… Assistant work and reading comics and stuff.”

“That’s cool,” Shining Armor said in a way that very, very clearly was not how he would respond if things were normal. If things were the same. If Spike hadn’t gotten turned on over having his feet touched and was desperately trying to pretend it never happened. Just having Shining here brought back the mess of discomfort he had managed to ignore for the past two months.

“Hey, Twi,” Shining said. “That train ride was long and I’m, like, super sweaty. Where’s your bath again?”

“Oh,” Twilight said, giggling as though realizing she had been so caught up in talking. “Spike will show you.”

“I will?” Spike asked.

Finally, Twilight looked to Spike with a curious look. Not annoyed, just curious. Spike realized just how rare it was for him to question things asked of him.

“I-I mean, I will!” Spike said, pushing aside his nerves and eternally grateful that Twilight’s face returned to normal and all curiosity vanished.

“Awesome,” Shining said, getting up as well.

Instantly, Spike regretted going along so willingly. It took no less than ten seconds after leading the way for him to realize he was alone with Shining in the castle’s hallway. His feet touched down to the crystal flooring and each step made his heart beat faster. He was entirely aware Shining could look at his feet with each step if he just gazed his head downward.

“It’s just over here,” Spike said, leading Shining toward the bathroom. He was speaking fast. Moving fast. Desperate to get away from being alone with Shining. “Towels are there, Twi has a bunch of girly soaps, and I…”

“Spike?” Shining Armor asked.

Spike froze, and for the first time forced himself to look up at Shining. He was standing there with a slight frown on his face. He didn’t look angry, or disappointed, or judgemental as Spike feared he might. If Spike had to guess, he looked… worried, almost.

“Y-Yeah?” Spike asked, overly aware his voice trembled. He felt small in a way beyond physical size.

“We’re… cool, right?” Shining asked.

He knows he knows he knows he knows! Was all Spike could think in a rush of anxiety.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked, forcing a laugh as he backed into the door and nearly tripped when it fell. He realized he was retreating into the bathroom. Even worse, Shining seemed to be following him. “I’m cool? We’re like, really cool. What’s there not to be cool about?”

“You just seem… nervous is all,” Shining said with a shrug. He stopped with his hooves at the edge of the doorway where the tile turned from purple to pink. “You’ve been really quiet since you got here. I mean, we were pals before the last time I visited. I just wanted to make sure…”

“What last time?” Spike said, forcing a grin so wide and hysterical he knew he must look insane. Shining was frowning again, worried as before. “Y-You mean the… the… thing?”

Spike realized with great stress he was unable to even hint to it. He couldn’t say the word feet or tickling. Not out loud. It made his stomach churn to even attempt it. It was too humiliating. Too weird.

“I just wanna make sure we’re still friends,” Shining Armor said with a sigh. “And that… you don’t feel too bad about it.”

Spike felt a new feeling plume in his chest. Guilt. Had Shining really been worried about him all this time? Was that why he kept looking at him?

“It was two months ago,” Spike said, his voice growing quiet as he glanced away. “I thought you’d forget about it by now.”

“I tried,” Shining said.

Spike didn’t think those words would make him flinch, but they did.

“N-Not like that!” Shining said, backpedaling hard. “Not like it was awful or something. Just, I was worried you’d be nervous still and… I-I felt kind of nervous.”

“About what?” Spike asked, crossing his arms to feel a little less exposed. It didn’t help much, even as he backed up further until his back was against the crystal cabinet that held the sink. “I’m the one who…”

Spike trailed off, and found himself squeezing his legs shut. Again, he was unable to say it, but this time the inability to do so came with a flush to his purple cheeks.

“Y’know,” Spike mumbled. “Got excited.”

Shining Armor was staring again. His big blue eyes felt like fire on Spike’s skin. He wanted to shrink now. It seemed to last forever as the silence drug on longer and longer.

“I did too,” Shining said, breaking the silence.

That was what drove Spike over the edge.

“You what!?” Spike snapped, eyes widening as he looked to Shining, whose face was now crimson on top of snow.

“You didn’t notice?” Shining snapped right back. They were shouting now.

“I was a little busy!” Spike yelled back.

“But my… t-thing touched your!”

“Boooooys!” Twilight yelled from the other room, voice carrying down the long spacious hallway. “What’s the matter? Are we out of soap?”

Twilight came fluttering down the hallway, landing gracefully just behind Shining. She stared at the two, who looked like statues staring at her wide eyed with their faces all flushed.

“Seriously,” Twilight said, frowning. “Is something wrong? Why are you two shouting? I can hear it on the other side of the castle.”

“C-Comics!” Shining Armor shouted. “Spike said he had a first addition of Power Ponies and I need to see it like right now!”

Spike stood, paralyzed. Twilight looked from Spike, to Shining, and then rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“Oookaaaaaay,” Twilight said with a little chuckle. “You two are dorks. Hurry up and take your bath so we can go out to dinner.”

As soon as Twilight was gone, Spike slumped down and let his bottom hit the floor and legs outstretched. Shining lowered his head and sighed. Spike didn’t realize it, but he was trembling slightly.

“Are we done yelling?” Shining Armor asked, stepping into the room.

“I dunno,” Spike said, drawing his knees to his chest more for the fact that his soles were visible over anything else. “Were you just teasing me? Did you really… get excited from…”

“Tickling you,” Shining Armor said in a whisper, and then slowly nodded his head. Spike stared at him with wide eyes, and then felt his face heat.

“Oh Celestia,” Spike whined, planning his hands against his face. “I’m gonna throw up…”

“Hey,” Shining said quickly, getting down low to crouch near Spike. He outstretched his hoof, and placed it on Spike’s shoulder. “Dude, it’s not weird at all. I talked with Cadence about it and…”

“Mmm!” Spike made a sudden noise and covered his mouth to stifle a shout. His whole body tensed.

“W-Why?” Spike hissed under his breath.

“Because I…” Shining said, putting a hoof behind his head and rubbing. “Because I kept thinking about it, I dunno. Kept thinking it made me feel weird and made you feel weird and was worried exactly this would happen. Y-You just have really cute feet, I dunno.”

Silence fell like a book being dropped. One of Twilight’s massive dictionaries.

“Cute?” Spike asked, curling his toes on the crystal flooring.

“I mean,” Shining said, face growing pinker. “A little. You laughing was cute, too. A-And the way you writhed. The whole thing, really. I mean, a lot. Not a little.”

Shining Armor was rambling now, and then suddenly sat down and coughed into his hoof and glanced away.

“Cadence is really open to pretty much anything,” Shining Armor said once it was clear Spike was too shell shocked to add anything. “She’s the one who said I should talk to you about it. When I told her I liked stallions a few years ago she let me mess around and see if it was true. This was the one thing I didn’t tell her about till earlier just cause… I-I dunno, I’ve known you your whole life. You’re older now though and…”

“Shining?” Spike asked.

“Yeah?” Shining said, though a bit too loud. He was snapped out of his rambling trance in and instant, and was suddenly alert.

“I dunno if I can stand,” Spike said.

It was true. His legs felt like pure jelly, and trying to put any pressure onto them made them tremble and shake. He was still shaking slightly out of nerves alone. To even talk about this out loud was like dropping a weight he had been carrying for months.

Thankfully, Shining began to laugh. It was a nice laugh. A relieved laugh. Spike found himself smiling too, and even began to giggle a little before Shining stood up, and outstretched his hoof to Spike. Spike got to his feet, shakily, and went forward to lean a good amount of his weight on Shining’s chest. A hoof went around his back to keep him steady.

“You okay?” Shining asked.

“Yeah,” Spike said through a mouthful of Shining’s chest fluff. “Just…”

Spike pushed away, though kept his hands on Shining’s chest in case he felt like he was going to fall again.

“I dunno what I like,” Spike said slowly, testing the words before getting them out to make sure he wouldn’t stutter or embarrass himself. “I’ve been really scared to try. When you… t-tickled me.”

Spike flinched at his own stutter. Even saying it out loud felt alien and poison on his tongue. Surprisingly, nothing struck him down and nobody laughed. Shining just nodded his head.

“I really liked it,” Spike said, quietly. “I really, really liked it, Shining.”

“I did too,” Shining said. It made Spike tense up. “I guess ponies don’t really get to be around feet much. And you… yours are…”

“Are what?” Spike asked.

Shining frowned.

“Soft…” He muttered.

Spike found himself laughing. A quiet giggle. Shining was smiling too, though it was in response to the flush on his face.

“I-I dunno how to describe it,” Shining giggled. “Stop laughing, jerk.”

Once the two of them managed to stop laughing, Spike found enough of his own strength to push off Shining and stand properly. He still looked down at the space between them, but felt Shining put a hoof on top of his head.

“I seriously don’t want things to be weird between us,” Shining said. “You’re like my bro, you know that. If you wanna forget about it then I can, alright? But if you wanna…”

“Wanna what?” Spike said, not even waiting to give Shining a chance to finish. Shining frowned.

“Wanna do it seriously?” Shining said. It was as if he wasn’t sure it was the right way to say it, so he formed it as a question. “If you liked it, and I liked it I mean. I mean, you said you were too scared to try. I could… help.”

Spike found himself staring wide eyed and stunned. Thoughts and questions and anxieties were bubbling around in his head, and by the time he finally opened his mouth he was interrupted.

“Guuuuys!” Twilight called. “Did you seriously not bathe yet? The place is gonna close before you stop nerding out!”

“S-Sorry, Twily!” Shining shouted. “Running water now!”

As if to prove this, Shining used his magic to turn on the faucets of the tub. He stepped away from Spike, leaving him there to squeeze his fingers and curl his toes some more. Shining leaned on the edge of the tub, and gave out a massive sigh.

“Maybe,” Spike said at last, turning to shut the door slowly and make sure it was locked. “Just a little?”

He spoke just barely loud enough to be heard under the torrent of water flowing from the tub. Shining turned to him, and instantly Spike’s heart pounded in his chest. Shining smiled, and Spike felt his cheeks grow hot. He approached both Shining and the tub slowly, hugging his sides.

“Seriously?” Shining asked.

“Please don’t make me say it again,” Spike said with a bit of a whine as he bounced on his toes with impatience. “I wanna do it, okay?”

Shining’s smile grew, and he glanced to the tub.

“Remember when you were little and we used to take baths together?” Shining Armor asked.

“Yeah?” Spike replied, staring at the filling tub.

“Weeeeelllllll,” Shining said, rolling his eyes all the way to the tub as he said so, and then nodded at it. “Perfect excuse.”

Without another word, Shining climbed into the half filled tub and sighed. It was steaming warm. Spike stared. His heart was pounding. Right now? Right here of all places?

So why was his body moving?

Without thought Spike wrapped his fingers around the edge of the massive tub and hoisted himself up. He saw on the edge, gripping the sides with his fingers. Shining Armor was right in front of him, face smiling up as he sat back relaxing.

The water rose, and touched the tips of Spike’s toes. He curled them, and saw Shining’s gaze go downward. A voice in the back of Spike’s head told him to hide his feet, while his real thoughts told him it was okay. The water rose until it encased his feet all the way to his ankles, and all the way to Shining Armor’s shoulders.

“You okay?” Shining asked, sitting up and slinking forward some.

“I think,” Spike said, running his foot slowly in the warm water. “What’re you gonna do, though?”

“I dunno,” Shining said with a shrug. “Just… touch them?”

“O-Okay,” Spike said despite his stutter, and grabbed the edge of the tub tighter as Shining approached.

Shining grabbed Spike’s angle gently, and hoisted his sole from the water. It was dripping. His foot was purple like the rest of him, though the scales on his feet were slightly paler than the rest of him. A little known fact about dragons, was that their feet were both softer and paler than the rest of them. Spike fought the urge to pull his foot away. To keep it hidden. Shining brought up his hoof from the water, and ran it slowly.

“Mmm,” Spike made a noise. Instantly he flushed at that little stroke of the hoof bringing up the urge to laugh. Shining looked up to him.

“They’re soft,” Shining Armor said.

“I use Twilight’s shampoo sometimes,” Spike said, not sure why he was admitting it now. “I… I like how soft it makes them.”

“So do I,” Shining Armor said, touching the sole more. By now his hoof had found Spike’s toes, a dangerous spot to even think about touching. They were round and pudgy with his claws pointed and sticking out. Shining touched each of them. He rubbed each of them slowly. Then, he did something Spike didn’t expect at all. He brought them to his lips, and kissed.

“Ah!” Spike cried out, slipping from the edge of the tub and sliding down into the water in a mess of a splash. He was encased quickly, his body landing down on Shining’s own. Once his head bobbed up he was coughing, and struggling to rub his eyes so he could see again.

“D-Dude, I’m sorry,” Shining said quickly. “I shoulda warned you. I-I just wanted to do that, I’m sorry.”

“F-Fine,” Spike said, shaking his head between a cough of water that got trapped in his throat. “I-It’s fine, Shining.”

Spike tried to move, planting his body against Shining’s own to find a bit of leverage and properly sit up in the water. Instantly Shining Armor’s body tensed, and his eyes widened. He could just see Shining begin to open his mouth when Spike felt something graze against his toes.

“Don’t!” Shining hissed. It was too late. Spike’s foot was touching his cock, and it was half hard.

Spike froze, not sure if he should move or wait for Shining to do it. Slowly, he removed his foot. His face got hotter.

“Oh,” Spike mumbled.

Spike then realized he too was hard. He was suddenly very glad for falling into the water for Shining to not have to see them.

“Y-Yeah,” Shining said, sinking a little and hunching. “I told you, they’re really cute.”

Spike blinked just one time, and sucked in a slow breath.

“This is weird,” He said.

Shining laughed at that, and came closer.

“It really is,” Shining said. His body was pressing to Spike’s now at the edge of the tub. His hoof was in the water, and in a second Spike found the sensation back on his foot, the time the opposite one. Shining sat back, pulling up Spike to his chest with a bit of magic. He grabbed his ankle again, and this time pulled the foot to his face. He didn’t even hesitate before opening his mouth, and giving it a long, lustful lick all the way up to his toes.

“Ah,” Spike whined. “Shining…”

“That’s so much better than I imagined,” Shining nearly moaned with his face still pressed to Spike’s foot, his muzzle under the toes. “This isn’t too far, is it?”

Spike wished he had the courage to say it wasn’t far enough. That one little lick had sent electricity throughout his entire body. He wanted it to happen again and again and again until he was satisfied and high on the sensation of Shining playing with his bare, sensitive feet.

“It isn’t,” Was all Spike could manage to say before Shining kissed his toes again one by one.

“Oh, Jeez,” Shining laughed as he pushed the ankle away. Suddenly he was laughing. Actually, he couldn’t stop laughing it seemed like. It was to the point where Spike was worried something was wrong, and anxiety was pooling inside of him.

“What?” Spike asked, pulling his feet back and sitting up half in the tub half on Shining’s lower chest.

“I was just so worried about thinking about doing all that,” Shining said. “I seriously came to thinking about doing that like five times, Spike.”

Spike’s eyes widened.

“Too much info?” Shining asked, still chuckling.

“N-No,” Spike said, shaking his head. “It’s fine.”

He was very aware he was hard, and even more aware it was pressing to Shining Armor’s chest. He told himself this was okay. This was allowed. This was fine and it was really happening and he could be okay with it.

“I thought about it too,” Spike admitted. “Not just you… anybody, really. Playing with them.”

“They’re really cute,” Shining said.

“You said that,” Spike said with a smile.

“Heeeeeey!” A voice startled the two of them from outside of the room. “Shining? Have you seen Spike?”

“I’m in here!” Spike called. Shining’s eyes were wide. “I-I’m just talking to Shining!”

“While he’s bathing?” Twilight asked skeptically.

“Y… Yes?” Shining was the one who answered.

“Ugh, whatever,” Twilight groaned. “Hurry up you two! I’m hungry!”

She was gone again, and the two settled down.

“That killed the mood,” Spike mumbled, his cock already half as hard as it was a moment again. Shining smiled, and nodded his head in agreement. Still, he grabbed Spike by the foot and kissed it before setting it down, and hugging Spike.

“What’s that for?” Spike asked, his face pressed to Shining’s wet chest.

“Dunno,” Shining said with a shrug. “Just wanted to.”

Without warning, Shining pushed Spike back and they pressed their muzzles together. Their lips were only a few inches apart now. They stared into each other’s eyes, and for once Spike didn’t feel nervous.

The kiss was brief, sweet, but not rushed. It was just long enough for it to feel right without overstaying its welcome. Shining’s lips were soft for a stallion, but the strength in his hug as they connected was all the strength of a steed. It made Spike feel safe, and more happy than he had been all day. When they parted, Spike realized he was giggling but couldn’t remember starting.

“Later,” Shining said in a whisper. “I wanna tickle your feet.”

Spike smiled.

“I’ll be mad if you don’t,” Spike said with a smile in return.

“What do you say we wash up before Twi gets mad?” Shining asked. “And see if her shampoo really does make your feet softer.”

Spike grinned, and began squirming in place as Shining’s hoof found his foot again. He couldn’t help but feel excited, both for right now and what awaited him later.