Felicity

Flash Sentry barely got out of the apartment since Sunset and Twilight took him in. So it stood to reason that he rarely—if ever—set foot into their places of work. This was his first time in months showing up at the laboratory where Twilight performed her studies. The last time he went, she used her tools to take blood samples that Sunset could send to the Princess of Equestria.

"All part of the research path to victory!" Twilight had enthusiastically declared. Many an exasperating week had followed that particular day, and the "path" grew far longer and less victorious.

So, needless to say, Flash found very little joy in so much as looking the facility, much less stepping inside. But he had enjoyed a relatively positive past few days, for once. He certainly wasn't in the mood to bring everyone around him down—which, unfortunately, was per the "norm." If Flash could clean up at home, then it stood to reason that he could clean up in public too. It was the least he could do. Besides—Sunset suggested that they'd just be stopping on by to pick up Twilight and head to lunch. They shouldn't have been there for too terribly long.

Thus, Flash decided to do what he did best: be quiet, passive, and unassuming. To think: he wasn't always like that. The young man had a legacy full of rock'n'roll and loud sports cars. But that was at least four years and ten inches ago. And his family had sold the car at least halfway through the blackout.

Among other things.

A gust of frigid cold air conditioning shook Flash out of his dismal thoughts. He clenched his teeth, hugging himself as he scampered to keep up with the far taller and far fitter Sunset Shimmer. With a click of hard boots against the icy tile floor, Sunset led the two of them past the lobby and into the first security checkpoint. Flash glanced all around, observing people in and out of labcoats, shuffling to one destination or another. They each had a similar logo on their nametags. Flash felt that he had seen the symbol somewhere before, but it eluded him. At least he was looking. It had been a long time since he bothered to observe anything about the world around him. Over the past few months, Flash spent every outing with his head hung down—a testament to the slave he had become to the shadows of his bedroom. But things... just felt different now. Something was keeping the boi's delicate chin up, and he had the hardest time putting his finger on it—

Buzzz!

Sunset's communication with the guard beyond the initial barrier culminated. A door was opened from the otherside, and the two of them were led through. The next hallway felt even more arctic than the previous. It gave Flash anxious flashbacks to those fitful few days of waking up in the hospital. Now there was nothing that could stop his shivers—or the chattering of teeth—as he struggled to keep up with his far taller friend.

Sunset—ever the telepath—noticed it in an instant. Her tongued clicked sympathetically inside her mouth, and already Flash could see her peeling off her jacket.

"Here, Flash..." She held the article out to him in mid-walk.

"I-I'm f-fine," he lied.

"You're practically turning blue," she huffed. "Put it on."

"That th-thing is enormous!" his voice cracked.

"Jee, thanks," she smirked bitterly.

"Wh-wh-what I mean is, it'll m-make me look like a kid if I put it on!"

"And you think that's my fault?" Sunset stuck her tongue out. "Now slip on the jacket or I'll be carrying you the rest of the way to Twilight's lab!"

Flash sighed. Defeated. Again. He took the article—teetered slightly from how heavy it was in his dainty wrist's grasp. It took some fumbling, but he slipped into the jacket. It looked and felt like a miniature trenchcoat on the petite young man. But it still retained her body heat, and there was even a small whiff of Sunset's meager perfume. It felt familiar, safe, secure. He felt unworthy. "Thanks, Sunset," he murmured. "I-I mean it."

"I know you do," she said, slowly turning a corner so that the boi could catch up. "And I know you're not trying to make a scene. I'm proud of that."

He clenched his jaw, gazing aside at the doors they passed. "And somehow... I still do..."

"Even through your shirt and hoodie and sweatpants...?" Sunset raised an eyebrow. "This place makes you shiver?"

"I... I'm sorry..."

"Don't be, honey..." Sunset reached over to squeeze his shoulder through the jacket. "I guess I just... take for granted how sensitive your body is these days."

"I wish it wasn't the case..."

"It's just a matter of adapting, for the time being," Sunset said. "Althought—and you'll hate me for this—it's kind of fitting."

He gave her a dull stare. "You think my suffering is fitting?"

"Pffft! Hahaha—NO."

"Cuz honestly..." Flash shrugged. "...I couldn't blame you."

"I just mean..." Sunset's footsteps slowed as the two of them reached what must have been the door to Twilight's lab. "...you've always had a super sweet... super sensitive heart, Flash." She gave him a dazzling, saccharine smile. "Who knows... all of these changes that's happened to you? Magic spell or not—curse or not—maybe your body's just... decided to match what's on the inside?"

"Yeesh, Sunset..." Flash nevertheless blushed. "...I think I liked it better when you ragged on me for being a lazy ass."

"Mmmm... an ass, maybe..." Sunset winked. "You seem to be working out the 'lazy' part."

"Meh." Flash hugged himself through the jacket, staring off. "Don't you think it's a bit too soon?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"On what exactly inspires you."

Flash blew out the side of his mouth. "I couldn't say."

"Hold onto that thought." And Sunset knocked on the door. A muffled voice that could only belong to an adorkable egghead echoed in reply. Sunset turned the handle and led herself and Flash in. "Hey, girls~!" Sunset beamed with genuine joy. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long~"

"Not at all!" Twilight Sparkle smiled brightly, sitting on a stool before a lab table in the center of the room. She was accompanied by an elegant, tall, and certifiably not-Twilight. "We were just catching up! How did the doctor's visit go?"

"Oh... you know..." Sunset exhaled. "It went." She placed her hands on her hips. "I figured we'd snag you both to join us for lunch. Sound good?"

"Sounds positively divine~" purred an enchanting voice. Sweet, womany, like honey-on-the-eardrums. "I've been working all morning before showing up here. I'm famished."

Flash's heart skipped a beat. His voice caught in his throat as he stared at the exquisite fuchsia figure at the far end of the room.

"Is Flash joining us?" Twilight asked.

"I would hope so," Sunset returned.

"Great!" Twilight smiled at the frozen boi. "Good afternoon, Flash. I do believe you've met my longtime friend—Mi Amore Cadenza?"

"Hmmm?" The seraphim in question tilted her pastel head. Her rosy eyes instantly lit up at the sight of him, and she filled the room with a radiant smile. "Ah yes~ There you are, sweetie~" She clasped two hands together and let out a gorgeous giggle. "Keeping warm, I see?"

"Uhm..." Flash squeaked, legs buckling as he hugged himself under the jacket. "...maybe?"