Getting Shy

The days seemed to blend together in Patrick's mind. He hated his dead end job even more than before and could think of little else than going home. Then, once he was on his couch, he stared listlessly at the TV, waiting until it was time to sleep. Every little noise around the apartment made him start, hoping Fluttershy would come visit, but it was usually a false alarm. Each time his phone dinged or vibrated he scrambled to look in case it was 'Shy trying to call him.

When he absolutely couldn't stand the emptiness anymore, Pat went out and walked around the back yard, hoping she would have some work outside or would simply come to chat with him for a while. The waiting was unbearable and Pat's hatred of Mr. Mason grew with every day the man kept Fluttershy too busy to see him.

Then came the good moments, when he caught her outside and they talked for a few moments, or when she came to visit, sometimes staying for a meal and occasionally bringing something she'd cooked herself. It felt as if all the color which had leached out of Pat's world came back in force during the time they spent together.

Yet more precious were those beautiful nights when 'Shy was able to sneak away and come to his bed. Pat wished it could be every night, but she was cautious almost to a fault and stayed put in her own room if Mr. Mason so much as set foot out of his normal routine. When he could think clearly Pat was glad she was calling the shots, because he could never show that much restraint if it were up to him. All the caution was what allowed them to be together undetected. Most of all Pat hoped his neighbor would take more extended business trips so he could spend whole days with 'Shy.

Little by little the couple grew closer and Pat could no longer imagine life without her. Seeing that smiling, lightly blushing muzzle peek around the door frame when she came to visit just made his day. Hearing her soft, quiet voice on the phone when she called during the day made it that much easier to deal with irritating customers. It was even starting to positively affect his job performance and Harris was starting to drop little hints of a possible raise in the future.

Pat didn't really care about the job, though. He had become so focused on the times they spent together that he barely noticed the season change. There was more rain, the days were getting shorter and the temperatures colder, but his routine never really altered. It was as if he flipped between two states: missing 'Shy and having 'Shy.

It was another chilly day in late October, a fact Patrick only registered because he saw some Halloween decorations around the neighborhood on his way from his job. The evening he had spent in a daze, trying to play some game or other on his console, but in fact just running down the clock before he had to go sleep and do it all again the next day. 'Shy hadn't been able to visit that entire week and if it continued that way Pat's weekend would be cold and lonely. She'd explained that Mr. Mason was working longer hours and was liable to ask for a cup of tea or a sandwich at any time. She simply had to stay in the house, free to do her things but always attentive. Luckily she had been able to call for a few minutes here and there, but even then Fluttershy's voice was tense with worry that Mason might walk into her room at any moment.

It irked Pat no end that he wouldn't afford her even the basic courtesy of knocking first.

Even worse, because of the unpredictable nature of his late-night work, 'Shy didn't dare sneak away in the evening. It sucked, but Pat could never blame her. He blamed that jerk of her owner. He could never really understand workaholics. It was as if they had no life. The small mercy of that was that Mason had little time or patience to really interact with Fluttershy, so she was left mostly to herself. She was often bored, which meant she risked calling him more often. She even told him she missed their... 'fun times'. When she was finally able to come over she would be very pent up and in need of some quality stress relief. That was something to look forward to.

Patrick put his controller down after realizing he'd been staring at the main menu for over fifteen minutes, trying to make himself get interested in the game. He glanced at the clock, which read half past ten. He checked his phone, but there hadn't been a call from 'Shy he'd somehow missed. It looked like another lonely night. With a mournful sigh, Pat shut the TV off, dragged himself upright, and went to give his teeth the most cursory of cleanings. He'd sleep, then he would wake and go to work. One more day and then it would be a Saturday. He wasn't working that weekend and a slim hope remained 'Shy might be able to talk Mason into letting her visit.

Pat didn't have many dealings with his rich neighbor, which suited him just fine, but he still knew a lot about the man's moods and the stress of his job through 'Shy. While Mason didn't seem to care about his maid and his neighbor being friends, neither did he go out of his way to enable them to see each other. Fluttershy was there to serve his needs first and foremost. He'd paid a lot of money for what was essentially twenty-four hour care and cleaning, and any time 'Shy took out of that was a loss on his investment. At least that was the image Pat had built up in his mind. The one redeeming quality Mason had was that he didn't want to take 'Shy to his bed. Pat didn't know what he'd do if that happened, but it made him sick to his stomach to even consider it, so he tried not to think about it.

Eventually he made it to his bedroom and slumped down on his pillow. His hand slid around, unconsciously looking for a warm, furry body next to his, but of course there was none. He sighed, turned to face the wall, and closed his eyes. Perhaps he'd dream of her at least, if he couldn't have the real thing. He inhaled as the all-too-familiar scent of her shampoo tickled his nose.

A familiar sound made him sit bolt upright, holding his breath and hardly daring to hope. He turned his head, trying to catch more noises. There it was again! A clop of a hoof on concrete stairs. Patrick suddenly began to smile and shifted over to make room in his bed. He always left his front door unlocked while he was at home these days so 'Shy could come in whenever she wanted. He listened expectantly as the mare struggled with the door handle and his heartbeat quickened when she closed up behind herself and made her way to the bedroom. It was dark, so all Pat could see was a shape in the door frame, but that profile was unmistakable.

"Um, are you asleep?" she whispered.

"No. Come in!"

She took a few more steps, but stopped in the middle of the room. "Oh, I'll just be a second, my hooves are wet..."

It was a slight delay, but Pat didn't mind. He listened as 'Shy walked to the bathroom and imagined he could hear the scrub of fabric against her legs. Not long after there was the noise of the hamper lid opening and closing and 'Shy came back. This time she approached the bed, looming over it, but still didn't climb in.

"Buttershy?"

"Um, I'll just wait a couple of minutes," she explained. "Someone was walking in the street so, uh, I hid in the bushes. I had to wait for them to leave, so I'm a bit cold."

Pat didn't understand the hesitation. "Well, come in and warm yourself up then," he suggested.

There was just enough light for him to see her shake her head. "I will, but my hooves are icy and I don't want to make you cold as well," she explained.

"It'll be fine. I don't mind, really." He held up the blanket and patted the mattress with his free hand. Even a chilly pegasus was preferable to an empty bed. Besides, Pat thought about how cozy and happy 'Shy would be when he put his arms around her and warmed her up.

She was still hesitating, so he patted the bed once more. "Are you sure? My hooves are really cold."

"It's okay, Buttershy. Let me help get you warm."

At long last she lifted a leg and climbed in. She hesitated and he was about to repeat his invitation once more, but 'Shy moved before he spoke. She settled down on her back at the far end of the bed and Patrick draped the blanket around her. Her fur was icy to the touch, but that just made him want to comfort her more. "C'mere."

"We really should wait until-"

Pat ignored her concern and reached around her barrel. 'Shy didn't resist when he turned her to face him, nor when he slid his other arm under her head to serve as her pillow. The momentary chill on his skin was nothing compared to the joy that she'd sleep with him that night. Without really thinking about it Pat pulled her closer, tried to tuck her against his chest. A single touch of her hooves on his flesh made him gasp in shock and jerk away.

It felt as if someone had taken four pieces of metal out of liquid hydrogen and pressed them against his bare skin. It was a piece of luck her hooves hadn't stuck to him!

Fluttershy pulled away when Pat hissed. "I'm sorry!" she whined. "I tried to tell you!"

He wouldn't be defeated. If her hooves felt that chilly, the poor thing must have been freezing. Pat wondered just how long she'd been hiding in those bushes. "No, come back. I was just surprised. Come."

She didn't resist as he put his arms back where they were supposed to be and pulled her closer once more. This time he was ready and held her against him, despite the unbelievable chill of her four hooves. Patrick gritted his teeth and tried to keep himself from shivering, but he persisted. "Here, slide a little more, there's my warm spot." He pressed himself against the far wall and allowed 'Shy to occupy the bit of the bed he'd warmed up with his body heat before she came. He hugged her close once more, this time barely reacting to her hooves. They already felt a little warmer. He tightened his hold around her barrel and she buried her face against his chest so her head was completely covered by the blanket. Her fur was still chilly to the touch, but after Pat ran his hand down her side a few times 'Shy was starting to warm up. He knew just how good a job he was doing when she began to sigh in luxury.

Each deep breath she took made Pat smile wider as it slowly heated the cozy space between them. He wanted to gather the poor, little shivering thing and cradle her against himself until she was nice and toasty.

"Gosh," 'Shy finally said, "I guess I didn't even realize how cold it was!"

Instead of reply, Pat lifted the blanket so he could place a tender kiss on Fluttershy's forehead. She moved her head up to return the favor and pressed her cold nose against his cheek. They shared a very chaste kiss, then Pat put his fingers on her muzzle and guided her down against his neck, where he carefully pressed her nose against his skin. He knew that the colder she felt to him the warmer it would be for 'Shy. She let out a breath she'd been holding and Pat could swear it turned into a purr at the end there. "I love you just so much. I'm really glad you came today."

There was a slight shift under the blanket and Patrick lifted it a little to look. 'Shy had folded her ears back and her eyes darted to and from his in rapid shifts. "I c-couldn't stand it," she admitted. It was too dark to see, but he was sure there was a blush on her face. "I missed you this whole week. I just had to come."

"That's sweet. I missed you too," Pat said and punctuated his words with another small kiss.

"I- I-", 'Shy began, but whatever word came next was lost in a slight whimper. She swallowed and tried again. "Would- would you- um, if it's okay, I mean. You totally don't have to..."

"Mm?"

She was about to ask something she felt was embarrassing, which usually meant sex. Patrick waited patiently, having learned it did no good to try and rush the mare. 'Shy swallowed and stole another little kiss to give herself some more time. She squirmed in his grasp, moving all four hooves to new spots on Pat's skin, seeking out more warmth. Her wing extended to rest across his side as she tried to pull herself a little closer. Finally she was ready to take another stab at her question. "What I wanted to ask- Uh, you can say no, okay? It's just- mumblemumblemumble."

Even that hurried, stuttering, incoherent little sentence was enough for 'Shy to start breathing faster. She took refuge in pressing her face against Pat's chest again as an excuse so she didn't have to meet his eyes.

"Say again?"

She swallowed another lump, but didn't move her head away. It would be easier if she hid her muzzle from sight, Pat knew, so he just put his palm against her cheek and waited. "I was wo-O-ndering," she began, a squeak nearly interrupting the word, "if you'd, um, d-dothatthingwithyourtongue."

It all came out in a rush, but this time Pat understood. He was never getting used to this and each time 'Shy suggested something sexual she was so timid about it as if she was a filly in her first time with a guy. Pat tried to encourage her, but the times 'Shy was able to openly talk about it were rare and mostly came either during their lovemaking or just after it. It was cute in a way, so he didn't mind at all, especially with how forward and needy she became once she got started.

"Sure I will!" he assured her. "You know I love doing that to you, Buttershy!"

She finally pulled her face away and gave him one of her signature timid smiles, somehow managing to get part of her face obscured by her mane even while lying on her side. "Thanks!" she squeaked. "I couldn't- um couldn't stop thinking about it all week..."

Patrick slid his hand down to her side, just below her wing, and twirled his fingers into her fur. "Just tell me when you're ready." Another thing he'd learned. Sex worked a lot better if he let 'Shy stew of a little before going at it. The anticipation would fill her up and then spill over, making her a completely different - and much sexier - pony.

"I'll. um, I'll have to go right after," 'Shy said with a pang of sorrow in her voice.

"Aw. Why?"

She shook her head and let out a sad sigh. "Mr. Mason is acting really strange and sometimes he gets up even earlier than usual. I really don't want him to catch me gone, Pat."

It made sense and he was sad to lose a full night of cuddling. In some strange way he enjoyed just sleeping in the same bed as 'Shy even more than the sex.

"Aw, I'm sorry. Maybe it's just a busy time or something. Companies finish their business year around now, so he probably has a whole lot of work to do."

Fluttershy nodded against his chest. "I guess. He's had me helping him with copying some papers. He never let me near his papers before."

"That's probably it, then."

He waited for a bit longer, wondering if she would want to talk some more. He'd get to enjoy her snuggles longer that way and delaying the lovemaking would just make it all the sweeter for anticipation.

After a few seconds 'Shy asked: "Pat, where is the Isle of Man?"

"Huh? Where did that come from?!"

Her question was totally unexpected and Pat couldn't make sense of it at first. Luckily she explained: "When I was copying those documents there were some things about, um, The Isle of Man. It sounded like a place, but I've never heard of it."

Pat thought back to his geography lesson.

"I think it's some thing over in Europe, isn't it? Technically a country, but I think it's under British rule."

"Huh."

It didn't sound as if 'Shy had understood anything beyond 'it is a place somewhere'. After some time she asked: "What about Cayman Islands?"

Before Patrick could dredge up something from his memory 'Shy went on: "I mean, I know they're some islands, but why is Mr. Mason's company doing something with all these islands?"

It was a very good question and a dark suspicion began to rise up in Pat's mind. Most of the times he'd heard those two names recently it was on the news and connected with scandals.

"Buttershy, can you remember what those papers said?"

'Shy scrunched up her muzzle in thought, then shrugged. "I'm sorry, I just saw those names. There were a lot of numbers and then something complicated I didn't really understand. Why?"

An inkling of a plan was starting to form and Pat barely dared think about it for fear it would vanish if he examined it too closely. "Could you maybe get me a copy of those documents?"

This got him a sharp gasp and she shrank back, away from him. "B-But Mr. Mason told me to be really careful with those papers. He said they're really important. It s-said 'Confidential' on them!"

It was making more and more sense. Pat didn't understand why Mason would entrust a task like that to his house slave, but what else could it be? His company was dodging taxes by sending money to tax havens and maybe there was a way to use that to blackmail Mason into giving him 'Shy. Pat was starting to get excited as his mind worked on a vague plan. "Please? I think it might be very important. It could help me get you away from Mason."

In the dim light Pat saw Fluttershy's ears wilt. In all their time together, that was the one point on which she remained elusive and defensive. "Pat, I-"

He didn't want another argument, so he put his fingers on her lips to shut her up. "Hush, I'm sorry. I won't make you do something you're not comfortable with. I'd just like you to think about it." Besides, he wasn't completely sure he had the right end of the stick, even. "Could you take a closer look when he gives you something like that to do next time and tell me what the papers say?"

She was obviously battling with her integrity and despite the difficulties it was causing him, Patrick couldn't help but feel a touch of pride. Enslaved and forced to work, but she still wanted to be honest. Well, as honest as possible, considering that she'd been sneaking over without her owner's permission or knowledge.

"Please, Buttershy? I promise we won't be doing anything illegal, I just want to know. Maybe Mr. Mason or his company are doing something bad. I need to make sure, okay?" Another angle occurred to him and Pat leaned in to kiss Fluttershy's nose. "If he is, I don't want you to get dragged down with him."

She still wasn't certain, but 'Shy sighed and gave a slight nod. "Okay, I'll try and remember what it says next time. For you, Pat."

He wrapped his arms around her and drew her closer once more, elated that he might soon have leverage on the unlikeable Mr. Mason. With luck, just a hint that he knew something, maybe a detail or two would be enough to get Mason to sell him Fluttershy at a price he could afford. Maybe he didn't even need the actual papers. Pat dug his fingers into Fluttershy's fur and kissed the side of her muzzle. Her hooves pressed against him again and they felt quite warm, very unlike that first moment when she came in.

He couldn't wait anymore. He placed another kiss just below, and the next one on her neck. It was somewhat cliché to trail kisses down her belly until he reached her treasure, but 'Shy absolutely loved it when he did that and it got her really hot and bothered if he took his time. She was already breathing deeply as he nuzzled the fur aside and gently kissed her collarbone. She curled her forehooves to her body and already spread her hind legs to give him access.

Pat was careful not to put weight on her wings which were coming unfurled as he kept moving lower. It had been too long since the last time they'd made love and he wondered if he could make her come just by playing his tongue against her teats. He'd only managed to do that once so far, but it was an incredible experience and 'Shy had absolutely loved it. She'd said it was a different kind of orgasm.

Pat decided to take it as a challenge. She would be going back when they finished, so he might as well make it last as long as possible. He'd get through work the next day somehow. That was why they invented coffee.

"Mmmm- oh, Pat," Fluttershy breathed. He sneaked a peek and saw her eyes were already closed and there was a smile on her face.

He changed his grip, so he was holding Fluttershy's midsection in place as he descended to her bellybutton. She always liked it when he paid attention to it and it was absolutely fascinating to him how it was covered with such soft fluff. He didn't know when she'd be able to visit next, so Pat had to make the most of this night.

He had to make her squeal.