With numb feet and soft breaths, they curl into each other with the dimming lights casting soft golden rays through the open window. Night gently greets the landscape, patiently waiting for the transition as the day made its slow exit from the deepening sky.
It was only suppose to be a small, after school nap, some 20 minutes before they began their assignments. The morning had caught them off guard as they disregarded all clocks under the florescent lights of Twilight’s laboratory. Twilight’s mother was the one who’d made them aware of the remaining hour before school started again, realizing that they’d worked a solid 36 hours with no stop. It was no wonder that the 20 minutes had turned into several hours before Sunset’s eyes fluttered open. It made her glad that they’d preemptively donned their pajamas before crawling under Sunset’s covers.
She was greeted by a chill that blanketed her in the absence of a real blanket, having fallen off some time ago. Twilight was nuzzling into her chest like a giant cat, greatly limiting her movement.
She finds her lips quirk up into a happy half-smile. Soft strands with drifting scents of lavender tickle her chin, the crook of her shoulder still warm from a softly snoozing face, mouth slightly agape with the whistling inhales and exhales of her girlfriend’s breath.
Twisting at the hip, Sunset realizes that Twilight’s grip was more encompassing than what she’d originally assumed. A hand was clutching the waistband of her pajama bottoms while two slim thighs kept her leg in place above the knee. A further attempt rustles Twilight enough to elicit a sharp breath, the hand on Sunset’s waist tightening as she cuddles closer.
“Ungggggg…,” she whines.
“Sorry,” Sunset whispers.
“Mmm.” Twilight acknowledges her by loosening her grip, breath calmly easing back into its slow, even interludes.
A soft chuckle escapes from Sunset’s chest and she lifts her free hand to caress Twilight’s shoulder.
Her calloused fingers graze on the soft silky feel of Twilight’s t-shirt, trailing down to the smooth texture of her arm.
Sunset ponders on what lotion or skin products she uses to get her skin so velvety soft. Despite not being as eccentric about such matters as their dear friend Rarity, Twilight was still meticulous about her regimens, no doubt delving in all matter of research to ensure maximum results. It would be so like the bookworm to research the top leading brands across a variety of criteria, charting them out in complex graphs before settling on a decision, working it into an implementation plan to solidify it into habit.
Sunset’s thumb rubs a circular pattern just under the sleeve, feeling the cuff of the material, cool to the touch.
Twilight probably hadn’t picked this top herself.
The light purple with silvery star patterns curved around her like a hug, but still remained loose enough to be breathable. It felt amazing and worthy of a pretty penny, not something that would have drawn Twilight’s attention at all.
Sure, her girlfriend had a fair fashion sense, at least, when someone was able to coax her outside long enough for a shopping trip. It was only accomplished a handful of times, most of which weren’t shopping trips for herself either. If Sunset were to venture, it had been a gift from her parents.
Sunset could see that. She’d gotten to know Twilight Velvet and Night Light very well in the last few years she’d known their daughter, and Sunset could tell they doted on their youngest like the baby of the family that she was, the best education they could provide, an endless supply of lab parts and equipment, books upon books upon books.
Sunset’s mind began to drift at the charmed life her precious someone had grown up in.
Another intake of breath and a shiver passes through Twilight’s body. Sunset’s attention is drawn back into the present, the cold asserting itself into the forefront of her mind. Where was that dang blanket?
She wishes that she could search for it. It was likely on her side of the bed. She could probably reach it with ease if she could roll onto her side.
Sunset shifts again, though Twilight’s grip was still firm. She lightly taps as the purple arm. “Twi,” she whispers.
Twilight mumbles into her shirt. “Yeah?”
“It’s cold.”
The girl doesn’t move to loosen her hold but Sunset makes out the faint twinkling of what could have been mistaken as tiny, distant bells clinking together. She recognizes it for what it is, and isn’t surprised when her wool blanket levitates over them, tucking under the mattress and snuggly encasing them in warmth.
“Better?” Twilight asks, her voice still halfway to unconsciousness but lilting with playfulness.
“Much.” Sunset kisses the top of her head and they both sigh.
It itches where Sunset’s hand grazes between Twilight’s skin and the rough fabric. She frowns at the contrast.
She’d gotten the blanket from a thrift store down the street for a handful of dollars. It hadn’t completely saved her from the worst of the winter nights but it was enough to keep her from completely freezing over.
Unconsciously, Sunset presses Twilight’s warm body closer to her.
Autumn was still in it’s early stages, Summer’s influence keeping her room comfortable, but come those cold nights... Sunset breaths in the scent that lingers in Twilight’s hair, resolving to suggest Twilight not sleep over in the coming weeks.
Her eyes drift to the small fissures that spiderweb across her ceiling and walls.
She thinks that maybe she could suggest sooner rather than later.
Her heart tightens and a rare emotion of self-consciousness overtakes her, feeling suddenly inadequate.
Her focus shifts downward from her walls to her shelf. She could make out three books with crisp binding. One of them was the enchanted book she used to communicate with a certain purple princess, the other two were anniversary presents from Twilight herself. Most of the others had been free, taken from the local library’s giveaway box, the remaining few from the half-price bookstore down the street.
Her back was turned toward her more hefty toys, notably the gaming system and surround sound system. She still remembered cracking them open one afternoon, examining the circuitry, extensively repairing and replacing damaged parts that she’d scrounged from other devises in junk yards and trash heaps.
Thank Celestia—literally—for the showers in the women’s locker room, lest her smell would have certainly reflected those action. Not like she could have showered at “home.” After all, her living quarters weren’t even considered a proper room, merely a glorified storage space in a condemned building on the industrial part of Canterlot.
…Am I really making my girlfriend sleep in a storage space?
A sudden urge to slap herself overtook her body, though it was impeded by Twilight’s position. Instead, she draws her teeth forward to bite at her lip until a dribble of blood flows from the incision.
She hadn’t thought of it before and Twilight hadn’t mentioned it, but it should have been obvious from the beginning. The sheltered school nerd with the resident bad girl, a life of wealth and riches vs. her run down slum, they were a living cliché. She had to wonder how long the charm could last. As fun as it was right then, would it make Twilight happy later down the line? Was there anything down the line? Certainly not if she was going to subject Twilight to the same life style that she’d grown accustomed to. The last two years were more magical than any alicorn laser light show and she had no intention of ever letting Twilight go. There was no one else that could match her in wit and intellect, demonstrate kindness and curiosity, yet still make her feel so utterly needed.
Twilight mutters under the scratchy covers.
“What was that?” Sunset asks, missing her words.
Twilight lifts her head pulling away to squint into Sunset’s face. “What time is it?”
Finally free, Sunset turns on her back to reach for her phone on the night stand. “6:43.”
“We overslept.”
“By a lot.”
“We still have our assignments.”
“Waiting on my desk.”
Twilight sighs before diving back into her comfortable spot on Sunset’s chest. “Few more minutes.”
Sunset welcomes her, tangling their legs together and circling her arms around the other woman. “Not like you to stray so far from your schedule.”
Twilight inhales deeply, her back lifting as a small smile graces her features. “I would for you.”
Sunset’s heart lurches in her chest, disrupting its calm paces with a jump.
Twilight’s eyes clear with a significant portion of its haze and looks up. “Did you like that?”
A flush engulfs Sunset’s face and she stutters. “It-it meant a lot that you said it.”
Twilight’s fingers play on her stomach, tracing the lines of soft muscle. “Why so?”
“I was thinking about something before you woke up.”
“What was it?”
“Not something that you’ll like.”
Twilight ruminates on that, thinking hard about its implication. Her face scrunches slightly but soon softens with interest. “Tell me anyway.”
Sunset’s face has turned back into its normal amber, unconsciously lidding her eyes, the sad undertones clashing with the small smile that stayed on her lips. “Would you be happy with me?”
Twilight tilts her head at the simple query. “Of course, Sunset.” There’s no hesitation in her voice but she still wonders if it’s an adequate answer.
A shake of her Sunset’s head confirms her assumption. “Not just me as a person, but everything that you’ll have to deal with.” She directs her teal eyes to the side, finding it difficult to keep level with the crease that was slowly deepening between Twilight’s brows. “I don’t have much more to give than myself and there’s no stability in that. Even if I don’t know where we’re going, I never want to make life difficult for you. I want you to be happy, Twilight.”
She looks up through her bangs, nervous about what she would find but the wide eyes and open mouthed wonder surprised the anxiety right out.
After a few attempts to find words, Twilight finally speaks. “Are you going to propose to me?” She asks.
Sunset took her turn to gape, mouth working like a fish. “What?”
Twilight’s eyes, like mini-worlds, zooms forward until they were inches apart from hers. “Our life together, moving forward, is that what you’re worried about?”
Sunset blinks. “Well, yes but that’s not what I was thinking about.”
Slowly, a smile spreads across her face, delight mixed with excitement. She presses it on Sunset’s lips in a quick peck. “I know what you were thinking about, you goof. The fact you’re thinking about it is just…I can’t help but feel lucky.”
Sunset tilts her head. “I don’t understand.”
Twilight sits up, leaning over Sunset’s form and placing a hand on her face. “Sunset Shimmer, do you know what I see in you?” Three rapid blinks and deep confusion greets Twilight who responds with girlish giggles that echo across the slightly dilapidated room. “What I see is one of the smartest women I’ve ever met. She’s sweet and funny. She’s always there when someone needs her. She’s charismatic and she leads almost unconsciously. But you know what else?”
Sunset’s confusion gives way for a broad grin, her pearly white teeth making a breath taking appearance. “And what is that?”
“She’s someone that always gives her all to any goal she wants, so if she wants to make an amazing life together somewhere down the line, I know she’s going to make it happen. She’s unstoppable that way.”
Sunset chuckles. “She does sound pretty amazing.”
“You have no idea.” Twilight leans down, meeting their lips together. She kneads her lips, feeling their contours before parting her lips, sliding out her tongue to explore the inside of Sunset’s mouth. She breaths in the warmth and passion, licking and lapping, Sunset’s tongue joining her own until they’re pushing and sliding between each other.
Twilight pulls away, hot and flushed. “I love you, Sunset, and whatever we have to go through, I know it’ll be amazing as long as it’s with you.”
Sunset’s chest heaves in quick successions but she doesn’t notice the labored sound of her breath. “I love you too, Twilight. I don’t know anyone else I’d want beside me. No matter how hard or easy our life becomes, I wouldn’t want anyone else.”
“Of course.” Twilight leans back into the crook of Sunset’s neck. “No one else would be able to keep up.”
They giggle together under the itchy wool blanket. Sunset cuddles closer, her hand resting on Twilight’s back over the soft feel of her silk pajamas, and closes her eyes.
Author's Note
I've been reading something called The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and it's got such beautiful prose. All of it is written in present tense so I wanted to try writing that way.
Thought this would be a good break from Burdens We Carry. I've had to rewrite that new chapter so many times. Sigh.
Welp. I hope you guys like this one. I'm out
~LTTP
