Rules of Engagement

I moaned softly, my voice muffled completely by the pair of panties that were currently stuffed into my mouth. I should mention that they’re my panties, although had they been Aria’s I wouldn’t have complained either. It’s not like I haven’t been down there on her my own damn self plenty of times before, you know?

“Ssh,” Aria whispered, her voice rich and playful as she pressed herself against my back, “quiet now, Shimmer… don’t want them to hear us, do you?”

“Mm,” I grunted, and brace myself against the fabric wall, spreading my legs a little more.

I felt the plastic hardness of Aria’s toy against my ass, and the cool, liquid chill of the lube she had liberally applied.

“Now… just relax,” Aria’s voice was heated with lust as she pushed forward. “Just… relax.”

My eyes rolled up in my head as I felt her slide the first few inches inside me, and my legs buckled. My skirt was hiked up around my waist as I pressed my body against the wall and shook. I could hear voices outside, and the terror of being caught just gave me a greater thrill if I’m being honest.

Being caught in the computer lab had cracked something open in me and I discovered that, apparently, I’m a bit of exhibitionist… who knew?

Aria’s own skirt was on the ground around her feet, pooled beside a small backpack she’d brought with her that contained the strap-on she was currently using on my ass. That wasn’t the worst, or best, part I suppose, depending on your point of view.

Above us, a voice chimed reminding everyone that there was a sale going on in the men's department.

I shivered again as Aria slid another inch deeper, and I heard her sigh in satisfaction. “Fuck, you’re so damn good, Shimmer,” Aria hissed, gripping my hips, “I could ride you like this all… fucking… day.”

“Mmlease,” I groaned, my heart hammering in my chest.

It had been but over two weeks since the night we’d spent in my room. The night I had decided to throw myself wholesale into the living inferno that was Aria Blaze. Some say you can’t fight fire with fire, but as my old pyrothurgy professor used to say: ‘Of course you can fight fire with fire! You can fight everything with fire!’

I’d woken up that morning to a room that had been upended by what had turned into a kind of sexual demolition derby, two empty bottles of mead, and a pair of disturbing realisations.

One: It was three’o’clock in the afternoon meaning I had just under an hour to get ready and make it to my next midterm.

Two: Somehow, I was still drunk, and knowing my luck my hangover would hit right around the start of exams.

I was right, but I’m also Sunset goddamn Shimmer so I aced it anyway, then I rushed out of class, threw up in the ladies room, and dragged myself back to bed where I could patiently wait for the cold, merciful release of death. What I got instead was a gorgeous, gentle, attentive, and infuriatingly sober Siren spending the evening taking care of me. Aria had kept a cool rag over my head, water in my system, and even better?

Aria sang for me.

For hours and hours, Aria sat in bed with me, with my head in her lap, and sang for me. It was the best hangover of my life, and only reinforced my decision to stay with her through whatever came, and if I hadn’t been certain that I was in love with her before that, then I was definitely sure after.

I saw her every day after that; sometimes she would come to me, other times I would meet her at the Last Note, but we’d always be sure to end the day together. Except for today, that is, which we had made certain we would be able to spend the entirety of together getting into the best kind of trouble.

So here I am: getting my ass pounded in the fitting room of a major department store by my psychotic immortal girlfriend.

“Mmf, fuck, we should’ve done this sooner,” Aria whispered, biting at my ear as she hilted herself inside me, making me groan pleasantly into the wad of fabric at the feeling of being so full, and she gave my ass a firm squeeze. “You really are fucking perfect, Shimmer.”

Perfect for her. Just like she is for me.

I shook and jerked, trying to keep myself as quiet as possible, but it was getting harder and harder as I got closer to my peak. Aria rolled her hips back and forth, pushing and thrusting and sending shockwaves of pleasure through me that was making it agonizingly hard to stay on my feet.

Then, like the snap of a released spring, I hit my edge. Aria must have felt me get there too, because her hand swept around and clamped hard over my mouth, which was a blessing because no amount of fabric alone was going to properly muffle that sound. I shook, my body rattling as I came and I soaked my own legs before sagging back against Aria, feeling unspeakably satisfied.

“What a good girl you are,” Aria hissed quietly, running her tongue against my neck. “That was so good… I’m so proud of you.”

I shivered in delight at her words. I would do anything to hear that, and frankly I’d probably indulge Aria in just about anything. Same as she would do for me, honestly. After all, this one had been my idea.

Slowly, Aria pulled herself free of me, then plucked my panties from my mouth, and I mewled softly at the sudden feeling of her being gone, but a moment later she was kneeling in front of me, letting me brace myself against the wall of the fitting room while she supported my legs, and dutifully began cleaning me up.

With her tongue.

Did I mention that I would do anything for this woman?

Once I was, ahem, tidied up, Aria stood and leaned in to wrap her arms around me, pulling my skirt down to decency on her way up as she dressed herself, and she pressed her lips to mine with a wide, happy grin before leaning in and melting against me.

“Happy birthday, Shimmer,” Aria whispered against my neck.

I giggled wildly and wrapped my arms around her too, pulling her closer as I buried my face in her hair and took a deep breath. The scent of lavender and mint rippled through me and I felt my whole body relax.

“Hey Aria?” I said quietly, my voice slightly muffled by her two-tone locks. “Don’t, like… freak out and run when I say, uh, what I’m about to say, okay?”

“Pff, Aria Blaze doesn’t run,” Aria replied cockily.

“I love you, Aria.”

Aria froze, and for the first time in weeks I felt that strange tense and shiver, and then she had her hands on my cheeks and was dragging me into another furious kiss. Amidst it, I heard her voice, muffled against my lips and tongue.

“Mmve ymm.”

I pulled away, blinking. “W-what?”

Aria’s eyes were wide and almost furious, and that fever-bright light that brought her amethyst orbs to life was burning so blindingly that I could hardly meet them.

“I said,” Aria spat the words as she gripped my collar, “I fucking love you too!”

Then she started dragging me down again into another kiss, but this time I didn’t let her. I was still taller and had about thirty pounds over her, so I heaved her up into the air and into my arms. Aria responded by locked her legs around my waist and kissing me furiously.

A knocking came at the door, and a quavering voice called out.

“U-uhm, are you two done?” he said, uncertainly. “Someone else needs to use this booth.”

Aria pulled away from me and glowered at the door. “Eat shit!”

“Aria, don’t,” I admonished her with a scowl. “The poor guy’s just doing his job.”

I set her down, and Aria shifted her glower to me, then huffed and started gathering up her things, stuffing them unceremoniously back into the backpack.

“Hey!” I said, annoyed. “Well?”

Aria looked up at me, fixing an angry glare on me, but I didn’t budge. After a moment she stood up and slung her pack over her shoulder and fixed her hat to her head.

“Well ‘what’?” Aria snapped.

My lips twisted into a scowl of my own, and I reached out and shoved the door open to reveal a slightly portly and terrified-looking young man.

“Apologise!” I said firmly, pointing at the young man.

Aria’s eyes widened and she sputtered for a few moments, but I kept glaring down at her, not budging on it even an inch. If I gave Aria that inch she would take every single mile in the world, and we both knew it.

Over the course of a few seconds, Aria’s face went several amusing shades of red before she finally turned, glaring heated death at the poor kid, and said through gritted teeth and in a voice like a razorblade being scraped over leather.

“Sorry about that.”

I smiled and turned to him. “Yeah, sorry about that,” I parroted. “It’s all yours.”

Linking an arm with Aria, I dragged her out of the fitting rooms as we made our way back into the store proper and out towards the mall beyond.

The Crystal Emporium was a hub of activity for Canterlot, for both the wealthy and poor alike. Hardly a day passed that it wasn’t filled with shoppers, mall-walkers, and students once schools let out, as well as college students awaiting classes since it was the primary bus hub for the city.

It was also where I had agreed to meet my friends for a birthday lunch at a local Marexican place on the bottom level. It’s one of my favorite types of cuisine and Pinkie knew it so, naturally, she’d had the table reserved for ages.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” I asked, giving Aria’s hand a slight squeeze as we walked through the mall.

“I’m fine, Shimmer,” Aria said, rolling her eyes. “You wanna come out as stripper-sexual to your friends on your birthday then far be it from me to stop you.”

“Hey, that’s a little unfair,” I replied, frowning slightly. “You’re like, the most important person in my life right now… I want them to like you.”

Aria’s cheeks reddened a little as she shrugged. “Just don’t get your hopes up too much, okay Red? No promises that they’ll approve, not that I care.”

“I care,” I said quietly, and I heard Aria grumble incoherently from beside me. “Is it too much for me to ask you to care about it too?”

“Kinda,” Aria said evenly, and I grimaced. “Look, Shimmer, when you've lived as long as I have caring is a luxury, and you can’t just ask me to.”

“Can’t I?” I asked, my voice hardening a little.

Aria made a wordless growling sound in the back of her throat, but she didn’t let go of my hand. In fact, she held on tighter as if she were afraid I would be the one to let go.

“You said you loved me.”

“Oh come on!” Aria groaned loudly, drawing some looks from passersby. “You’re gonna play that card? Already? I literally just said it!”

I smirked a little. “What? Did you expect me to play fair?”

Aria’s voice descended into angry grumbling as she stared at the floor.

I saw the restaurant come into view around the corner a few moments later, and I knew they were all already there waiting by now. I’d told them I had a big announcement for them, and I’m pretty sure Rainbow already guessed it was that I had a girlfriend. She’d noticed several days ago that I'd been significantly more relaxed lately and, because she’s Rainbow Dash, she had immediately assumed it was because I was getting laid regularly.

I’m a little miffed that she was right about that, but I’d never admit it out loud.

“Okay, I’m gonna go in first, and then you come in when I introduce you, okay?” I said, smiling down at Aria who still looked annoyed. “Please behave, Aria.”

I half-expected her to scoff of something but, instead, she just sighed, shrugged her shoulders, and stared down for a few moments before saying:

“I’ll do my best.”

I felt a goofy smile split my face and I leaned down kiss her. I have never in my life had anyone I liked kissing more than Aria Blaze. There’s just something perfect about how she melts against me, about how her full cupids-bow lips taste, and about how she kisses me back with just as much passion as I kiss her.

“Okay, see you soon,” I said, fairly skipping away. “A-and… I love you.”

Aria’s cheeks reddened further and she pulled her hat down over her face.

I still heard her mumble back, “I love you too.”

The restaurant was done up heavily in warm, earthy tones. It had dark brown walls, antiqued tables with wooden chairs, and the smell of good food filled the air. The scent of cooking Marexican food always gets me hungry without fail.

Seated at one of the larger tables were my friends. Rarity and Applejack were seated right beside each other, their chairs scooted closer than the others as usual, while Pinkie practically vibrated in place at the head of the table. Twilight and Fluttershy were chatting on one end while Rainbow sat by not one but two empty chairs on another side of the table.

It seemed they had guess my intentions.

“Hey girls,” I called out, and they all looked up with broad smiles.

“Hey, there’s the birthday girl,” AJ drawled, grinning as she pushed a glass of iced tea my way. “A warm’n ‘appy birthday to ya, Sugarcube.”

“And many happy returns,” Rarity chimed.

“Happy Birthday!” Pinkie cheered, and confetti fell over my head from somewhere. I long ago stopped trying to locate their source. “How're classes?”

“Good, aced my midterms,” I replied, pulling out a chair by Dash and sitting down.

“Naturally,” Rainbow scoffed. “The only one with better grades than you is Twilight.”

“Hey, I’m a genius, not a savant.” I shot back, and Twilight giggled, an adorably cute sound.

“We’re so happy you could come out,” Fluttershy said quietly. “I feel like we haven’t seen you in ages.”

I laughed a little weakly. Hey, they weren’t wrong. I’d been spending most of... okay, all of my free time with Aria lately.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” I said, reaching out and putting a hand over Fluttershy’s. “But that’s part of my big announcement!”

“Lemme guess,” Rainbow said confidently. “Sunset Shimmer’s gettin’ her groove on with a new lady-friend?”

“Heh, uh, y-yeah,” I replied, unable to keep either the blush or the happy smile off of my face. “She’s really… incredible, honestly, I’m really happy.”

Rarity let out a delighted squeal at my lovestruck tone, and Applejack rolled her eyes a little, but she was smiling widely while she did. Twilight reached out and put a hand on my shoulder, her own calm smile telling me everything I needed to know about how happy she was for me.

“But darling, please,” Rarity leaned in conspiratorially, “you must tell us how you met.”

Mm, and here’s where things start to get complicated.

“Okay, well,” I began sheepishly, “as I’m pretty sure Rainbow Dash guessed… we met at the Last Note lounge.”

“Called it,” Rainbow said smugly, shooting me a pair of fingerguns.

I rolled my eyes, laughing a little. Somehow Rainbow never failed to make ‘cheesy’ come off as ‘endearing’.

“Yes, she did mention,” Rarity replied, “and how scandalous, but for the sake of my own curiosity, I have to ask: patron or… employee?”

I raised an eyebrow at that. Rainbow was waiting and watching expectantly, and there was an air of anticipation around Rarity that made me immediately suspicious. A dawning notion crested over my mind and I leaned in, eyeing the pair of them.

“Did you two…” I started, glancing between Rarity and Rainbow, “did you two make a bet?”

Rarity blushed, a pretty scarlet color that made her cheeks rosy as she pulled back in dramatic offense. “W-what? Why the sheer thought of-”

“Loser picks up the check for today,” Rainbow chirped with a smirk, earning a blazing glare from Rarity, “now c’mon, spill, stripper or nah?”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t keep my own blush off of my cheeks. “It... it was one of the dancers.”

“Yahtzee!” Rainbow crowed, pumping her fists, “I knew you landed a stripper!”

“Well, fuck,” Rarity cursed smoothly, drawing a laugh from the table. “Fine, I suppose lunch is on me, then, well-played, Dash.”

“So are you gonna introduce us?!” Pinkie cheered, looking absolutely thrilled.

Moment of truth, I guess. I had asked Aria if she was okay with this but now that it came to it I couldn’t help wondering if I was okay with it. I wanted to be, but…

No, I wasn’t going to be ashamed of being with Aria. If they couldn’t be happy for me then, well, I’d burn that bridge when I came to it.

“S-sure, so… it’s actually someone we know,” I started as I pulled out my phone and shot a text to Aria telling her that she was good to come in. “So it’ll be more of a reintroduction.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware we knew any exotic dancers.”

“Well, actually you've never met her, Twi’,” I said, realising it was true. “This was just a bit before we all met during the Friendship Games, actually.”

I saw the rest of the group share glances. I could see the thoughts moving between them as they were trying to narrow the timelines in their minds and figure out who I was talking about. It was my twenty-fourth birthday, so prior to the Games would have made it several years ago.

“Sorry, Sugarcube, ah’m drawin’ a blank here,” Applejack said, leaning back in her chair and putting an arm over Rarity.

“Unfortunately I am as well,” Rarity admitted. “Was it someone we went to school with?”

“Uhm, yeah, briefly…” I replied with a weak laugh. Technically the Sirens had been enrolled as students for however short a span of time.

Fluttershy just shrugged and shook her head, while Rainbow visibly wracked her brains. I could see Pinkie across the table on the verge of apoplexy as she mentally cycled through her library of contacts to try and figure out who I could possibly be talking about.

That was when I caught the faint scent of lavender and mint in the air from behind me getting closer. Well… here we go, I stood up, pushing my chair back as I held out my hand behind me. I felt the familiar warmth of Aria’s slender fingers slipping between mine as she stepped up beside me. She still had her cap on, the bill lowered over her face, but her hair was unmistakable.

“Uh, girls, I’d, uhm… I’d like you to meet my girlfriend,” I turned, freeing my hand from Aria’s and slipping it around her waist as she raised her head to meet the eyes of my friends who all stared with various flavors of shock, “Aria Blaze.”

“Hey, nerds,” Aria said with a smirk, and I sighed.

“Best behaviour, Aria,” I muttered through the side of my mouth as quietly as possible, “please?”

Rainbow Dash stared, her jaw sliding off of the table and onto the floor as she looked between the two of us. Applejack looked… alarmed was probably the best term, while Rarity had a look of sharp scrutiny on her face. Twilight looked vaguely confused as to why Fluttershy was hiding behind her, and Pinkie looked like the human equivalent of a four-oh-four error happening in real time.

The silence was deafening, broken only the sounds of the other diners in the restaurant, as I waited for them to respond.

Aria glanced between everyone at the table, then chuckled and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. “Well, I guess that could have gone worse, huh?”

“Uh… I mean,” Rainbow finally started, coughing to clear her throat, “I… guess since we gave Sunset a second shot and that worked out pretty okay… it’d be a pretty dick move not to give you one too, huh?”

Thank you, Rainbow Dash, you beautiful idiot.

Rainbow stood up and held out a hand. “Nice to re-meet you, Aria, guess your sisters are probably kicking around somewhere too, huh?”

“Actually they died of starvation after your magic horse laser took away our emotion-eating magic,” Aria said calmly and I felt the bottom drop out of my stomach, “I figured out a way around it before I carked it too, but it was too late for them.”

My friends looked utterly mortified. Pinkie’s hair had gone completely flat while Fluttershy was making incoherent squeaking noises. Applejack and Rarity both looked like they were about to throw up, and Rainbow just stood frozen in place with her hand out and looked as though a stiff breeze might knock her off her feet while Twilight looked like her eyes were about to fall out of her skull.

I slapped Aria across the back of the head.

“Are you serious?” I snapped. “Your sisters are just fine! Adagio called to threaten me this morning, like always! I want my friends to like you, you two-toned gibbering moron, not die of cardiac arrest!” I turned and put a hand over my face, breathing out slowly. “Adagio, Aria, and Sonata own the Last Note; Adagio is the general manager and lounge singer, Sonata does the books and tends the bar, and Aria here is the star dancer, alright? I swear we didn’t accidentally kill anyone, guys, my girlfriend just has a phenomenally shitty,” I hissed those words while shooting a withering glare at Aria, “sense of humor.”

Aria was roaring with laughter, holding her sides with one hand while rubbing the back of her head with the other. I massaged my temples, suddenly realising why I saw Adagio making that same motion so often.

“I am so sorry about that, girls,” I said grimly. “I love her to death, but I really should have known she’d pull something like that.”

After a moment, though, I realised that Aria wasn’t the only one laughing. Rainbow was practically on the floor cackling, although I’ll admit the rest of my friends didn’t look thrilled at Aria’s little joke.

“Oh man, that was perfect!” Rainbow gasped, “I really dead-ass bought that!”

Rainbow Dash you perfect goddamn idiot. I love you so much.

Finding her feet again, Rainbow Dash held her hand out one more time and this time Aria actually took it, looking exceptionally pleased that someone found her horrific prank amusing. She was going to be utterly intolerable after this, I knew.

Pinkie gave a weak chuckle as her hair began slowly reinflating, and Fluttershy looked like she’d straight passed out into the complementary salsa out of relief as Twilight just sighed and patted her shoulder calmingly. Applejack looked especially miffed but I understood; joking about dead sisters probably crossed a line for her. Rarity, on the other hand, just looked like she was eyeing the both of us very carefully.

“Sorry but… did I hear that right?” Rarity said, one delicate eyebrow inching towards her perfect coiffure. “You ‘love her to death’?”

Aria flushed and shot me a glare, and I suddenly realised how I was going to get her back. I grinned malevolently at Aria who paled and began backing away.

“S-Shimmer, let’s not do anything hasty here,” Aria said slowly, holding up her hands. “It was just a joke.”

I let a small, smug grin cross my lips as I closed the distance between us and took Aria's hands before shooting a look at Rarity whose eyes were widening.

“Oh yeah, I did definitely say that, and ya wanna see something else?” I asked playfully, and I felt Aria trying in vain to tug free of me. “Watch this.”

“Shimmer, don’t you fucking dare,” Aria hissed. “Not in front of everyone!”

Rarity leaned forward with a hungry look in her eyes, and even Applejack seemed invested as she leaned forward, looking less peeved and more interested.

I grinned and leaned forward. “Hey, Aria~”

“Don’t-” Aria started, leaning back.

“I love you.”

Aria clammed up and her face flushed bright red, and I could practically hear Rarity’s squee go hypersonic. Everyone was staring now as Aria leaned back, and I saw her swallow for a moment before mumbling something incoherent.

“Pardon?” I said with an ear-to-ear shit-eating grin, “I didn’t hear that.”

“I said…” Aria grumbled, her face completely red by this point, “t-that… I…”

“I’ll cry if you don’t say it,” I said quietly, my grin never wavering

Aria stiffened as she scowled, staring away from me towards the wall. “I… I love you too.”

“EEEEEEEEEEEE,” Rarity’s pitch practically rattled the glasses. “That. Was. ADORABLE!”

“I’m going to kill everyone here, and then myself,” Aria grumbled as I scooped her into my arms and pulled her into a kiss.

“Don’t do that,” I admonished playfully. “I literally just got you saying it, so I’m gonna milk it.”

“Ooh, just said it?” Pinkie chimed in happily. “Just today?”

Aria smirked and I felt a cold chill up my spine.

“Yup,” Aria replied, turning to Pinkie, “literally said it for the first time like an hour ago, right after we got done fucking in the Acie’s fitting room.”

“HAH!” Rainbow cackled, slapping my back as my face turned bright red. “Damn, girl, you are nasty!”

“Oh my,” Fluttershy had turned red too, but I could see her legs shifting under her seat.

Like I said. Freaky.

“Oh… that’s uhm… oh dear,” Rarity stammered, blushing, but Applejack was laughing too.

“Aw c’mon, Rares, ain’t like we ain’t got t’knockin’ in a few risky places,” AJ replied with a broad grin, and Aria raised both eyebrows.

“Darling,” Rarity hissed vehemently, “that is supposed to be private.”

“An’ it’ll be private,” Applejack assured her smugly, “right up til ya throw stones an’ Ah gotta stop ya on account’a our glass house, y’see?”

“Hah!” Aria snickered as she dropped into one of the open chairs. “Nice one, blondie, high five!”

Applejack rolled her eyes but accepted the offer and their hands clapped together as I sat down beside Aria.

To my surprise, lunch went pretty well after that. I had genuinely been expecting a lot more pushback on the idea of me dating a Siren but my friends seemed to be willing to give Aria the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

We had to fill Twilight in on the details of course, with her having joined our circle after the Battle of the Bands… Quill, almost seven years ago, she’d only gotten the cliff notes on the subject.

“Well at least they didn’t try to collapse the space-time continuum like I did,” Twilight said sheepishly. “I guess that counts for something right?”

Aria raised an eyebrow. “Damn, Doctor Doom, you don’t fuck around with your supervillainy huh?”

“I was a lot more impressionable back then,” Twilight grumbled. “Also Principal Cinch should never have had any influence over children, that woman was horrible.”

“I believe the term is ‘heinous bitch’, darling,” Rarity put in with a smile as she nuzzled against Applejack.

Maybe it was because Aria and I could rarely keep our hands off of each other for more than ten minutes, but at one point Aria had moved to my lap, and then shortly after that Rarity had followed suit with Applejack.

Naturally, AJ didn’t seem troubled by that in the least.

“Ooh, Ooh, Ari’! You should invite your sisters to our next shindig!” Pinkie chirped between mouthfuls of empanada. “I bet they could use some friends too!”

“Dunno, Pinks,” Aria replied, before interrupting herself to lean in and nip at my ear, drawing out a squeak. “My sisters are kinda busy, but you’re all welcome to come by the Note any time, I’ll tell security you’ve all got VIP passes.”

“That sounds nice,” Fluttershy said quietly, her cheeks coloring. “Are there any, uhm… specialty nights?”

Aria let out a low whistle and smirked. “We have a full event calendar online, Leather Night is the second Tuesday of every month though.”

I watched Fluttershy’s eyes widen, and an odd sort of smile flash over her face before it vanished.

“You were right,” Aria whispered into my ear, “she’s real freaky.”

“Right?” I hissed back.

Glancing down at her phone, Aria rolled her eyes and sat up from where she had been sprawled against me.

“A’right ladies, I gotta head out,” Aria said, stretching a little. “The Note opens up in less than an hour and I’ve got big girl work to do.”

“Aww, well thanks for coming!” Pinkie cheered, sweeping out of her seat one moment and then suddenly she was next to us hugging Aria. “I’m super glad you’re nice now!”

Aria grunted in surprise and patted Pinkie’s arm in a perfunctory manner. “Yeah, nice… wouldn’t necessarily go that far.”

Pinkie giggled then pranced back to her seat, leaving Aria staring at her hands for a moment before glancing back at me.

“Holy crap,” Aria muttered, “that girl’s like someone gave T&A two legs, thicc thighs, and a coke addiction.”

“And she's one of my best friends so be nice,” I chided Aria quietly.

“Oh I’d be real nice to her,” Aria said smirking as she got up and wiggled her fingers.

I felt a furious surge boil up from my gut at Aria’s words, and it must’ve showed on my face because Aria’s eyes widened slightly. Before I could think I was up and had her fingers gripped lightly in my hand.

Lightly, but unyielding.

“Touch anyone else with these,” I hissed, “and lose’em.”

Aria and I stared one another down for several moments, her eyes were wide with fury and mine were lit with jealous rage. The others must have a caught on to the atmosphere because they went silent and stared at us.

A grin slowly replaced Aria’s angry glare. “Fuck, you’re hot when you hate me.”

I grimaced. “I’ll never hate you, Aria… I-”

“Yeah, yeah, mushy stuff, I know,” Aria said with a laugh before leaning in and kissing me warmly.

I smiled against her lips, feeling my heart swell as I pulled her close, and I heard a soft ‘awww’ and a few cooing sounds from the girls as I gathered Aria up in my arms.

As we parted Aria stared up at me and I got that skipping feeling in my heart I get every time I looked into those beautiful gemstone eyes of hers.

“Alright, I’m outta here,” Aria said, pulling out of my arms. I was about to say the words when Aria glanced back at me and beat me to the punch. “Love you, Red.”

My mouth hung open, the words catching on my throat as I was wrong-footed.

“I… I love you too,” I said back after a second.

She shot me a wink and sauntered out of the store, giving her hips an exaggerated little sway for me on her way out.

“You know, as disturbing as some of that was to witness,” Rarity began as Aria exited the restaurant, “I must say I’m a little jealous of that kind of passion.”

“Ah ain’t passionate enough for ya, darlin’?” Applejack asked pointedly.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Of course you are my dear, I didn’t say I wanted that precisely, just that the idea was a little romantic,” then she looked up at me with a small frown of worry, “I must say though, Sunset, are you and Aria… alright? You looked positively livid for a moment there.”

“Yeah, Sunset, what gives?” Rainbow put in, “You looked like, crazy-jealous for a second.”

“I guess I am, a little,” I admitted, “but that’s just sort of how we both are, y’know?”

“I’m not exactly an expert here but is that healthy?” Twilight asked, leaning forward with a bit of concern touching her features.

“It’s fine,” I assured her, waving a hand. “Like I said, it’s just how we are.”

“If you say so,” Rarity replied a little uncertainly. “But, as the matter stands I too must depart! I’ve got work soon.”

“Same here,” Pinkie chimed, hopping up and grinning as she began tidying up the table.

“Uhm, Pinkie, isn’t that the employees' job?” Fluttershy asked quietly.

“I’m a diner brat,” Pinkie explained, “I can’t help it!”

We shared a laugh and slowly everyone began filtering out. Pinkie took off with Fluttershy while Twilight headed to the buses to make her evening class.

Rarity was at the cashier paying when Applejack pulled me aside and gave me a pointed look.

“Sunset, Ah’m gonna ask flat out,” Applejack said evenly. “Are ya’ll sure about this?”

I furrowed my brow in annoyance. “Sure about what? About Aria?”

Applejack nodded.

“AJ I’m more sure about Aria than I am almost anything else in my life,” I said a little heatedly. “Besides, I got a second shot and so did Twilight and, objectively speaking, we both caused more damage than the Sirens ever did.”

Applejack raised her hands in a placating manner. “Ain’t about that,” she said quietly, “ya’ll got second shots ‘cause ya’ll were genuinely sorry ‘bout what ya did, and ya wanted to make it right.”

“So?” I asked, feeling a tense irritation building in my neck. “What’s your point?”

“Mah point,” Applejack said firmly, “is ya’ll were sorry, but I ain’t sure that gal’s ever been sorry for a dang thing in her life, and that’s a real long life we’re talkin’ ‘bout here.”

“I don’t care if she’s sorry,” I said, realising with a faint pang of guilt that I meant it, “can’t you just be happy that I’m happy?”

“Look, Sugarcube, ah’m pleased as punch ya’ll’re happy,” Applejack said softly, setting a hand on my shoulder. “But Ah got a bad feelin’ ‘bout this, hon, and I really think this thing ya’ll got is gonna hurt ya.”

“Please don’t do this AJ,” I pleaded, “please don’t make me choose between her and you guys… it would kill me.”

Applejack sighed. “Losin’ her would hurt that bad?”

I felt my voice catch in my throat, and my expression twisted. For a moment Applejack looked confused, like she was trying to figure out what the expression I was making even was.

Then it hit her.

“Oh,” Applejack muttered, going pale. “Ya’ll would… you’d choose-”

“I don’t want to choose, Jackie,” I snapped, “but I’m not leaving Aria, alright? Ever.”

“Ever’s a real long time, Sugarcube,” Applejack said darkly. “But yah, fine, ah’ll stick by ya, like always… even if it means just bein’ around t’pick up the pieces.”

“Is everything alright ladies?” Rarity’s musical voice spoke up as she approached. “You two look like death.”

“Fine’n dandy, darlin’,” Applejack said without looking away from me, “jus’ checkin’ in on Sunset, ya’ll ready t’go?”

“Indeed,” Rarity said, before shooting me a look that said she knew much more than she was saying. “And… Happy birthday, dear.”

“Thanks, Rares,” I said with a thin smile, “I love you girls, you know that right?”

Applejack sighed, but nodded and offered me a tired smile. Rarity just nodded and leaned in to hug me tightly.

“Take care of yourself, darling,” Rarity said softly. “We all love you so much.”

“Yeah,” I said, returning the hug. “I know.”