Getting Shy

Eventually it was the last day of work for the year and Patrick had a full week to himself. It was Alex's turn to cover the holiday shift and on top of that Pat had cashed in some of his vacation time, so he wouldn't have to be back in the office until January. He was hoping to spend as much time with 'Shy as possible, but even without that some time off was a nice thing, especially over the holidays.

First up was Christmas Eve. Pat usually didn't put up a tree, but when he saw how enthusiastic 'Shy was about the idea he went to the trouble. It was just one of those fake, plastic trees, but with all the decoration haphazardly piled on top of it the thing looked almost real. He brought out his crudely-wrapped gift and left it under the branches. The whole thing actually looked kinda nice, Pat decided. Maybe 'Shy was on to something. Even if she was, the real magic was having someone special over to enjoy it with. Hopefully she'd be able to make it like she promised. It wasn't like Mr. Mason intended to celebrate Christmas in any way. In that, him and Pat were pretty much alike. Why go through all that trouble putting up decorations only to take them down a week later?

The important difference was that Mason didn't want to do it even for 'Shy.

One final touch was needed before she arrived. Pat went to his stove and rummaged in the cupboard for a metal pot. He'd bought some eggnog in keeping with the season and he wanted to try it warm this year. He poured the whole carton into the pot and turned on the heat. Then he added a generous portion of rum for that extra touch of special. Enough to ensure they'd both be relaxed, but not so much to get them drunk. Eggnog was basically milk, Pat remembered, so it might boil over if he didn't keep an eye on it. He gave it a quick stir then positioned himself so he could watch the pot and at the same time look out the window at Mason's house.

There was no one in the living room, but it was brightly lit and there was a mug of what looked like coffee on the table. As Pat watched, Mason came and sat down. He was watching something on the TV and he reached for his beverage. Just before he could take a sip he paused and looked in a different direction. Pat thought he spoke and there could be no doubt to whom he was talking. His heart sped up when he realized it was probably 'Shy asking to come over. Hopefully the man would say yes. Patrick found himself tensing up as he tried to read Mason's expression, or at least as much as he could see of it from the angle. After listening for a bit the man said something else and gave a curt nod.

His breath left him all at once and Pat grinned to himself. 'Shy was coming over to spend Christmas Eve with him! Everything was going to be perfect! In his exuberance he went and gave the eggnog another stir, uncaring that he spilled a bit around the stove. She was coming over! It was useless, he couldn't stay still. 'Shy would be there in a minute, but even that felt like too long to wait. He lowered the heat to the minimum, hoping it wouldn't boil over, but not caring even if it did, then went to the hallway. He waited at the door and listened for that telltale clop of hoof on concrete.

There it was!

His nerves held out for a few more seconds, but then Pat darted forward and pulled the door open with a big smile on his face. "Hi! Come right in!" he greeted.

Fluttershy drew back from the unexpectedly opened door and a wing shot out to protect her face. When she heard his voice she lowered the feathers a little and watched Pat in shocked surprise. "How have- Um, have you been waiting there for me?" she asked, obviously taken aback.

"No! Nothing like that! Well, maybe for about ten seconds..."

"Then how did you know I was coming over?"

A series of lies lined up for Pat to blurt out, each stupider and less believable than the last. He shook his head slightly and settled on the truth, even if it sounded a bit stalker-y. "I was actually cooking and happened to look through the window just when you were talking with Mason."

This placated 'Shy and she didn't ask the follow-up question Pat had been dreading. "Oh." She began moving again and he stepped aside to let her in.

Just before he could close the door Pat spotted a wet hoofprint on the doormat and looked up to see that the sidewalk was wet and covered in dirty slush. "Oh, hold on," he told the mare.

She had been about to walk forward, but froze with a forehoof in the air. "What is it?"

Pat almost told her to go back out and wipe her hooves on the doormat, but he thought better of it. Why not turn it into something nice for her? "Stay there, I'll be right back!"

He hurried to the bathroom and picked up a towel. It was clean and he'd only used it to dry himself after a shower, so it would do. In moments he was back with 'Shy who was looking at him strangely. "What are you doing?"

Patrick slid to his knees and carefully wrapped the cloth around the hoof she was still holding up in the air. He wiped as gently as he could and made sure to seek out every nook and cranny.

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't even notice."

"It's okay," he reassured her.

He was done and unwrapped the towel to inspect his handiwork. In the spur of the moment he leaned forward to plant a quick kiss right on her hoof. He heard the slight hitch of her breath, but only because he'd been listening for it. A quick glance revealed that she also had the beginnings of a red tint to her face. She didn't say anything, however, when he held out his hand to accept her next hoof. The process was pretty much the same as before, ending with a kiss once it was clean. This time her tail flicked in expectation as Pat was bowing his head.

Then Pat moved to her side and 'Shy finally spoke up. "Um, y-you don't have to, I can wipe my own hooves-" She fell silent when he gently tugged on her hind fetlock. She couldn't lift it as high as her foreleg, but it was enough for Pat to wrap the towel around and scrub it clean.

For some reason doing this to 'Shy was hot in an indescribable, ephemeral way. He realized he liked pampering her, maybe because of how cute her blushes were. Again her tail swished, coming close to brushing his face. Fluttershy always tried to resist, but as soon as Pat's fingers were on her body she usually acquiesced, often with- he turned his head to look and saw that she was indeed biting her lower lip. Even that was somehow sexy as all hell.

He finished his scrubbing and 'Shy tried to tug her leg free from his grasp. "That's okay, you don't have to-"

Once again he interrupted her with a kiss right on he hoof, even if he had to lean down a lot. His hair brushed her belly and 'Shy shuffled away to give him room. There was just one of her legs left and Fluttershy began turning around to get it within reach, but Pat stopped her with a hand on her rump. Instead he reached under her and carefully grasped around her fetlock. The awkward position meant his arms brushed against her belly and, more importantly, her teats, but that just served to make Pat harder. Each time he touched her skin made Fluttershy's breath catch and her wings were already unfurling, which Pat had come to recognize as a sign of arousal. She tried to get them under control, but that only resulting in slight rustling as her feathers moved against each other.

If he felt under her tail she'd probably already be damp, but he resisted the urge and decided to drag it out as much as it could. Fluttershy turned into an absolute crazy mare in bed if she was pent up enough. Soon he had her hoof clean and Pat discarded the soiled towel. He could pick it up later and put it in the laundry, the important thing right then was the kiss. Her hoof jerked in his hand, but he held it firmly enough and 'Shy stopped trying to get away as he gave her that final smooch. On his way up Pat made sure to brush his head along her belly, making her inhale sharply through her nose.

"There, all clean." He glanced back to see that her tail was already flagging up, but Pat didn't pursue the feeling. Instead he sat on the carpet and slid back until he was by her head.

Her lips found his as soon as he was in sight and 'Shy wrapped her forelegs around his neck. Her tongue explored him almost forcefully, with urgent need.

"Someone's feeling frisky tonight," he said when he could pull away for a moment.

Fluttershy blinked and her ears perked up as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You- I- After- What?!" she managed, before catching Pat's grin and falling silent. She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. Her wings settled back with a show of finality. "Like that's a surprise after your, um, 'performance'!" 'Shy said and stomped a hoof in mock annoyance.

"Speaking of surprises, there's a present for you under the tree!"

This completely derailed her train of thought and a smile blossomed on her face. "For me?! You didn't have to!"

"Maybe, but it's there. Come look."

There was an extra bounce in her step and a dance-like shuffle of her hooves and 'Shy hurried forward, unable to hold herself back. She looked a lot younger like this, Patrick remarked to himself. A child excited for her Christmas gift. It took him a few seconds to stand up and follow, and when he made it to the living room 'Shy was already examining the roughly-wrapped item. This was an unexpected benefit of his poor wrapping skills, Pat mused, since she couldn't tell what was inside just from the shape. He'd been slightly worried she'd laugh at how crudely it was made, but instead, there was a cute little smile on her muzzle.

She'd been trying to find the edge of the paper, but with how much sticky tape Pat had put on it, that pursuit was entirely futile. In the end she simply bit at some loose paper and tore it away. In seconds she had the panda plushy free of its wrapping and held it up at hooves' length to inspect it. Since it was a toy for children it had very exaggerated eyes and a smiling mouth sewn into the fabric. Pat realized it reminded him strongly of 'Shy. Perhaps that was what had drawn his eye to it.

"I love him!" 'Shy squealed and hugged the plush to her chest. She rocked a little side to side as she stuck her muzzle against the panda's small face and gave it a nuzzle.

"Well, I remember you said how lonely you feel sometimes at Mason's, and how much you miss your animals. Well, it's not as good, but maybe it'll help a little?" It sounded silly now he got to say it out loud, but apparently 'Shy thought otherwise. She unwrapped her hooves from the plush, but only for long enough to lunge at Pat to hug him instead. The panda was crushed between them but neither of them paid it any mind as they shared a kiss. Once they broke apart 'Shy placed the plush in her lap and inspected it more closely.

"Why did you say 'him' when you saw it?" Pat asked.

This question made her giggle quietly. "Because it's a boy. Don't you see it?"

Patrick blinked in confusion. It was a cartoon-faced plushy panda, there was no way it could have a gender, was there? He mutely shook his head.

'Shy turned the plush around to show him and pointed with her hoof. "See the shape of the black patches around his yes? And how this patch from his forelegs wraps around just here?"

Pat blinked in confusion and shook his head. "Just looks like any other panda to me."

This made her chuckle again and 'Shy shrugged. "Well, I'm the expert on animals here and I say it's a boy panda. That should be good enough for you."

It wasn't actually possible that 'Shy could distinguish male and female panda on sight, was it? On the other hand, would that be significantly stranger from her being able to talk to them? "Sure, if you say so. So it's a him. Got a name in mind?"

She leaned her head to one side in thought, then looked at the plushy. "Um, I'll call him Mr. Rollie."

Pat shrugged a little to himself and grinned at 'Shy. "Sounds good. Mr. Rollie it is. Anyway, I'm glad you like it."

Her gaze remained fixed on her new toy, but Fluttershy's smile became somber. "I love it, Pat. Thanks."

"What's wrong?"

Finally she looked at him and seemed to consider if she even wanted to tell him. "I didn't get you anything."

"That's fine," he shrugged. "I don't really need a present to know you care about me, Buttershy. I'm just happy you're here."

She was shaking her head even before he'd finished talking. "It's not about that, Pat," she said glumly. "I wanted to get you something, but Mr. Mason said no. I guess-" Her ears splayed and she pressed the newly-named Mr. Rollie to herself, "I guess it's just another reminder I'm not my own pony anymore. It wasn't my decision and I absolutely hate that!"

Patrick was about to point out that this would change as soon as she was his, but something told him 'Shy wouldn't appreciate it right then so he kept his mouth shut. Instead he reached out and laid a careful hand on her withers. "Things will get better, just don't lose heart, 'Shy."

She gave a slight nod and was about to say something, but there came a splash and a hiss from the stove. "Oh jeez, the eggnog!" Pat jumped up and sprinted to the kitchen to halt the unfolding disaster. Hopefully the drink wasn't entirely ruined and would be good once it cooled down.

He heard Fluttershy's hoofsteps behind him, but she had to grab a chair, which meant it was up to him to turn the heat off an put the pot aside. By the time 'Shy was able to poke her head up above the stove the damage was already done. The spilled eggnog was cooling on the stove top and the pot looked only about three quarters full now. Pat was wiping the outside of the pot with a wet sponge.

"It's best to clean it up right away, otherwise it'll dry out and make a big mess," Fluttershy suggestd.

"Yeah, just let it cool down for a bit."

Rather than listening, 'Shy held out a hoof for the sponge. "Gimme," she commanded with quiet authority. "I've got hooves, I'm okay with hot."

Pat passed it along without further comment and she began soaking up the spilled eggnog. "You can pour the rest of it into a couple of mugs so we have something to drink when I'm done," 'Shy suggested.

"Good idea. Thanks, Buttershy."

She lifted up her muzzle and puckered her lips in a clear invitation and Pat gave her a quick kiss before taking the pot to the counter a few steps away. He already had the mugs ready.

"Um, can you put on a Hearts- uh, Christmas movie? I've been seeing the commercials for them since November and I really wanna see one."

"Sure thing. Want me to open some cookies as well?"

"Oh, yes please!"