Getting Shy

Patrick was in the process of finishing a banana which was on the verge of going bad. He would have preferred something less healthy and more tasty, but 'Shy had insisted he get some fresh fruit in his home and she made a point of eating a piece each time she visited. It was probably good for him, so Pat didn't complain, even if he had to hurry sometimes to beat spoilage. If he had to toss anything 'Shy might never find out, but if she did there'd be hell to pay. He glanced at the clock but then shrugged to himself. He wasn't expecting Fluttershy to visit that night. She'd said she had something with Mason and would be busy the whole evening.

His mouth was full of soft, over-sweet banana when someone hammered on his front door. Patrick jumped up out of pure reflex, dropping the half-eaten fruit on the coffee table as he hurried to see who it was. Maybe Anton needed something. That was probably it. Just as he was leaving the room his phone started to ring and Pat swore under his breath. Of course it would ring exactly at the same time something else was happening. It wasn't as if the thing had had a whole afternoon of time during which to ring!

The phone would have to wait, he decided. He could always call them back later. He hurried to get the door, where the fierce knocking continued. He wondered who it could be in such a hurry. Patrick couldn't imagine any other visitors and he knew Fluttershy would have just let herself in. He left the door unlocked specifically for her. He remembered to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand just before grabbing the door knob and opening.

Mr. Mason was very red in the face and had a wild, crazed look in his eye which almost sent Pat reeling backwards. A moment of pure shock prevented him from speaking just before the man punched him right in the face. The sight of his infuriated neighbor and the ringing blow were enough to push him over and Pat fell on the carpet with a painful grunt. He covered his head with his arms while he tried to make sense of the situation.

"You sick fuck!" Mason shouted, advancing into the hallway with his fists bunched up and a snarl on his face. "Degenerate piece of trash!" He kicked, savagely, and Patrick cried out from the sudden pain in his shin. It felt as if the bone was broken, but there was no time to check before Mason tried to grab at his clothes. Pat rolled out of the way as much as he was able. "Admit it you little shit! You are fucking my horse!" Mason yelled, his assault momentarily forgotten so he could shout at Pat.

"How did-" Pat immediately clamped his mouth shut, but it was too late. Maybe - maybe - Mason hadn't been completely sure before, but he knew now.

He kicked again just as Pat was crawling away on his back. "How did I find out?! I'll tell you how I found out!" Mason kept shouting as he advanced over the prone figure. "My fucking vet told me, that's how I fucking found out! I take Flutter for her checkup and they accuse me of being a god-damned animal fucker! Animal fucker, you piece of shit! ME!" He tried to kick again, as if to punctuate his words, but the blow glanced off Pat's arm.

He had taken her to a vet. The thoughts felt sluggish and unfocused in Pat's mind. He still couldn't think clearly from the sudden shock. He'd taken Fluttershy to a vet. "It wasn't-"

"Don't give me that crap," the man interrupted. He extended a trembling hand and pointed an accusatory finger. "Who else?! I checked the GPS and she's been sneaking over here at night! You've been taking her collar off, you sick bastard!"

It was a secondary thought but Pat suddenly went cold. Of course a smart, GPS- and SIM-enabled collar would have an alarm if it was removed. He'd thought that himself, but never took the idea seriously. Maybe Mason just hadn't been checking it, or else he'd have figured it out a lot sooner.

Mason tried to kick him again, but the initial explosion of his anger was over and the blow was weaker. Patrick crawled further back, but his infuriated neighbor easily kept pace. He was still pissed and there was spittle running down his chin, and Pat thought he wouldn't beat him to a pulp, at least. "You've been fucking my horse- You piece of shit have been fucking my animal every night! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

It wasn't true about every night, but Mason didn't seem like he'd listen to reason. Perhaps it was a sign of shock that Pat fixated on that little fact. It wasn't really important and it wouldn't make a lick of difference even if Mason believed him. Luckily Pat's back hit the door frame to his bedroom and he was able to pull himself upright. His leg throbbed where Mason's stiff shoe had connected, but at least the bone wasn't broken.

"You'll pay for this!" Mason went on, voice suddenly growing calmer and quieter. He no longer looked like he wanted to kill Pat, but his hands still shook and his eyes were wide with rage. He nearly snarled his words: "I'll sue you so hard your fucking grandkids will still be paying me off! Not that you'll have any, you fucking degenerate!"

He was still reeling, despite being upright, and Pat desperately needed to get away. He had to think and he couldn't do that with Mason yelling in his face. He needed time, at least a few seconds, to process this. "Get out of my house."

"What did you say?!"

Pat's hands bunched up into fists and he straightened up. He was taller than Mason and less fat. He would kick his ass if he had to and the consequences be damned. The sudden pain of loss flooded in and Patrick clung to anger so he wouldn't have to think about never seeing Fluttershy again. "Get the fuck out!"

"Everything okay in there?"

The voice was the most welcome thing Pat had ever heard. Mr. Petrinov had noticed all the noise and had come to investigate. Mason spun around and almost growled when he saw the owner. "No!" he spat. "Your tenant has been fucking my horse!"

Patrick winced at the accusation and was about to deny it again, if only for Anton's benefit, but his landlord lifted up his eyebrows and shrugged. He seemed calm, but one of his hands was still holding the door handle in a white-knuckled grip and he'd stuck the other in his pocket. Maybe he had a weapon in there, Pat thought. "Don't know about your horse, Mr. Mason. None of my business so you'll have to discuss it with him, but I will not be having you yelling in my house and assaulting my tenant, understand?" His voice was a mixture of calm and threatening, and Pat dared hope Anton would somehow fix everything. It didn't make sense, but he was still reeling from the unwelcome realization that Mason knew about him and 'Shy.

For a moment it looked like Mason would strike Petrinov next, but he somehow brought himself under control, maybe frightened by Anton's calm demeanor. His nostrils flared as he took deep breaths, but he didn't say anything more.

"Now," Anton continued, "I suggest you leave before I am forced to call the police. If you have a problem with my tenant, solve it somewhere else."

The angry neighbor spun around and Pat flinched, expecting another hit, but the man just pointed a finger again. "You haven't heard the last of this, Patrick, believe me! I'll see you in court!"

He stalked away and Mr. Petrinov shut the door behind him. That left him alone with Pat and he observed the young man with a slight frown of worry. "So it is true? I suspected, but this is not something you accuse another man, you know?"

It was pointless trying to hide it, so Pat just sighed and lowered his gaze.

"I am not the one to judge what it is you do when you are alone, but this is a big pile of shit. I hope you know that."

"What should I do?"

That sudden, irrational hope that Anton would be able to help died when the man shook his head. "Like I said, it's none of my business. I just didn't want him smashing up my house, right?"

No help. If Anton caught Pat's disappointed look, he didn't show it. He sighed and opened the door. "Good luck, Pat. Something is telling me you're going to need it."

With that he was gone. Pat stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame for long minutes as the incident replayed in his mind. He'd always been afraid something like this would happen, but he'd never expected Mason to react this violently. Whenever he had dared think of it, his imagination painted the other man as outraged, disgusted, but at least willing to listen. Patrick could have explained that 'Shy was a person. That they were in love. He hadn't expected the man to just walk over and start beating him. Mason had said he was going to sue him. He'd probably win and- Pat almost barked a laugh. Whom was he kidding? There was no 'probably' about it. Even if bestiality hadn't been against the law, Mason could afford the best damned lawyer in the country. It was unfair and it sucked, but both the law and money were on Mason's side, Pat knew.

"Fuck!" he swore.

It didn't help, but it was just about all he could do. There was no way out of it. He'd probably go to jail or something. The worst part was that all his friends and family would think that he was a horsefucker. They would never understand that 'Shy wasn't an animal.

What about Fluttershy?! What would happen to her? He'd been trying, unconsciously, not to think about her, but he suddenly knew that their relationship was over. No more of those soft, warm nights with her cuddled up against him. The icy realization clenched around his gut like a frozen fist. He loved her, he really did, but now he'd be lucky if he ever saw her again at all. He desperately wanted to see 'Shy, but she wouldn't thank him for putting her in the middle of this mess. Mason probably had her locked down tightly. Did he-

The thought was chilling and made Pat tremble in sudden worry. Surely he wouldn't have killed her?! Even for this?

He stood up on jerky, uncoordinated legs and stumbled his way to the kitchen. He leaned on his counter and looked out the window to his neighbor's house. The lights were on, but he didn't see neither 'Shy nor Mason. Maybe he was hurting her right now?! Patrick nearly ran out and barged into his neighbor's house, but movement caught his eye and he saw the man pacing up and down the living room. He had his cell phone pressed against his head and was gesticulating wildly.

Probably already talking with his lawyer.

Everything had gone to shit and it would be even worse tomorrow. Pat pushed away from the counter and sat heavily in the kitchen chair. The place was getting dark, but he didn't really need the light. At some point he remembered the half-eaten banana, but he didn't want it anymore. It didn't matter anyway. All he could think of was the immediate future. Would the police come for him? Could he escape into a different state? That'd mean abandoning 'Shy to her fate. She'd be heartbroken, but maybe she'd understand. It was a completely messed-up situation and he couldn't see any way out of it.

The phone began to ring again and it sparked Pat's anger. Whatever jerk wanted him in the late afternoon could have waited to get a call back. There was no need to harangue him like this, not when he had this new pile of shit on his plate! He stomped over to the coffee table and grabbed his phone, intending to switch it off. He froze when he saw who was calling.

Fluttershy.

In his haste to answer Patrick missed the button a few times, then he didn't drag it far enough to pick up with how hard his hands were shaking. He succeeded on his fourth try and fumbled the phone to his ear. "hello?!"

There was a sniffle, followed by an exhale of breath before 'Shy spoke up. "Are you t-there?" She sounded about as bad as Pat felt. The thoughts about the trouble he was in quickly sank under pure worry for her. Had Mason beaten her?

"Yeah."

"T-They-" she fell silent again and Pat didn't know what to say, so he waited. There was another sigh. "I didn't- the doctor-" She sounded afraid and heartbroken and all Patrick wanted to do was hold her and comfort this poor, miserable creature. Of all people in the world, 'Shy deserved this crap the least.

"What happened?" he asked and tried to keep his voice steady.

"She- She put her fingers-" Fluttershy began and she didn't have to go on, Pat could imagine. He suddenly didn't want to hear about it.

"I know. It's not your fault."

That finally broke the dam and 'Shy began sobbing. The speaker crackled as she breathed right into the microphone. "I'm sorry, Pat! I didn't know they would do that! I di-didn't tell them! I wouldn't! B-But Mr. Mason-" she paused so she could suck down a lungful of air. "He just knew!"

More than ever he wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her, but it wasn't possible, not over the phone. It might never happen again and the realization made his stomach clench up with the sudden, hollow realization of loss. "It's not your fault."

"I called you as soon as we came home, b-but you didn't pick up," 'Shy went on, talking in rapid, clipped tones as if she was trying to occupy herself with something, anything, or else she would start crying again. "Mr- Mr. Mason came back and I think he's even angrier than be- than before. I c-can hear him cursing."

For a moment Pat considered telling 'Shy to hang up and hide the phone. If Mason found out about that he'd take it away. This way at least Pat had some way to talk to her. It wasn't much and she couldn't help him, but she was the only other person in the world who knew and would be sympathetic right now. He couldn't bring himself to tell her to hang up, though. She sounded like she was in shock. More than that, he needed the lifeline of her voice right then. He didn't have to think about never seeing her again while they were talking.

"It's going to be okay."

"It's not," she replied flatly, her monologue about Mason momentarily interrupted. "Pa- Patrick, he said he'd beat me for doing this."

"If he does-"

"I don't care about that!" she interrupted him with some force, but then fell silent.

He waited for what would come next. He was a little bit grateful because he really didn't know what he could do. Bust into Mason's house, knock him down and take 'Shy? Like some kind of damned hero in a stupid story? They'd have to run away and it'd have to be pretty far, Patrick thought. He probably wouldn't be able to find a job after that. They'd be homeless and broke, living under some bridge or in some dump, eating from garbage. Everything would suck.

"He-" Fluttershy finally broke the silence. "He s-s-said-"

"What did he say," Pat prompted after waiting for a while longer.

"That if I- if I r-really wanted to fuck hu-humans he'd sell me to a whorehouse..."

It was like a knife in Pat's gut. He stood up, determined to get the poor mare out of that place, consequences be damned. "That's not going to happen! I'm coming to get you out."

Her reply didn't come right away, and when it did it was quiet. "Don't," she said. "It was just- just a threat." Maybe she was trying to convince herself, or maybe it was just for Pat's benefit. "If you come he'll call the police and they'll p-put you in prison, Pat."

"But-" Patrick sat down with a heavy sigh, his free hand going to his hair just for something to grip. "I'm not gonna let him put you in a- in a place like that."

"He w-won't," 'Shy reassured him again. She sounded more certain this time and Pat chose to believe her.

"If he does- Call me. Scream or something. We'll run away together." The spike of adrenaline faded and Pat put his head on the table. It was all he could do to hold the phone up. His face hurt where Mason had hit him and his shin ached, but he didn't even care about those. It was a small blessing that it wasn't really broken, but the loss of 'Shy was the real pain. He wanted to fight back against the injustice. He needed something. Physical violence wouldn't work against Mason. He would need something more.

Patrick clutched at straws in desperation. "The papers!"

It was sufficiently unexpected that it jerked 'Shy out of the dark place in her mind. She had been quiet, but now she asked: "What?"

"Those papers. Mason was laundering money, or dodging taxes or something for his company, I'm sure of it! You said you can get into his safe!"

So far 'Shy had refused to even hear about that option, but now her life might be on the line, so she didn't immediately reject it. She didn't agree, either, Pat couldn't help noticing.

"Please, Fluttershy. We're both completely fucked, it's the only way! M-Maybe if I have those documents I can make Mason back off. Please!"

"I'll- He's coming, I have to go!"

There was a sudden beep in Pat's ear and the line went dead. The timing was way too convenient and he was afraid 'Shy was lying about Mason coming to her room so she didn't have to answer. Maybe she just needed some time to think. That was probably it. She'd call him back later. He'd make her understand, somehow. It was his only chance. If he got some incriminating evidence about Mason and taxes, he could get the man to leave him alone. He'd take Fluttershy and move. As long as Mason didn't try anything stupid, Pat would never send the papers to the IRS.

It had to work! It had to!