Getting Shy

On one beautiful, late summer afternoon Pat and Fluttershy were able to have a picnic. By now Mr. Mason allowed the mare to leave his yard and go into Pat's, so the two could talk more easily. She'd brought a blanket to lay down and Pat had procured cucumber sandwiches, apparently her favorite. There were also some tomato and lettuce ones for variety. The pair sat on either side of the basket Fluttershy insisted was necessary for a picnic. The discussion so far had been mostly about Pat's work.

He flicked through his phone until he found another picture and turned it to show her. "Here, look. It's Harris' office. He usually leaves the door open. He says we should come to him anytime we have a problem."

Fluttershy inspected the image with curiosity, smiling to herself. "That doesn't sound too bad."

"You wanna know what I think?" Pat asked, then went right on and answered: "I think it's just because Harris wants to hear if we're slacking off."

Her smile faded, but Fluttershy gave Pat an earnest look. "Well, he does have a business to run..."

"Nah, he's just middle management."

It took a few seconds Fluttershy to wrap her head around the unfamiliar expression, but she grasped the concept amazingly quickly, especially since she'd never been exposed to large bureaucracies before. "He still has to make sure you're all doing a good job, right? Or else somepo- some people would get fired."

"I guess..."

She smiled and placed a surprisingly warm hoof on Pat's wrist. "See? There's always more than one side to things."

Pat waited until she removed her hoof, then took the phone back and flicked through the images some more. "Oh, here's one. It's Jen's new car! She was so proud."

Fluttershy examined the phone once Pat showed her and then giggled. "Oh my gosh, it's so green! How does she find it in the grass?!" They both laughed at the comment. It really was the most unusual color. While Pat looked for another interesting picture, Fluttershy browsed in the basket. "There's one tomato sandwich left, um, if you want it."

"Nah, I'm good. You have it," Pat offered.

Fluttershy did so, holding the triangular piece of bread with both forehooves. For some reason she reminded Pat of a chipmunk, the way she nibbled at it and he couldn't help smiling at the sight. "So, what's new with you?"

Fluttershy took the time to finish chewing her piece before replying. "Oh, nothing much. It's just... so boring! Laundry and dishes and dusting," the little mare complained. "Same thing every day. If I'm lucky, Mr. Mason lets me cook something. Only stuff I don't have to touch with my hooves, of course." Her ears splayed out and she lowered her gaze to the ground. "He wouldn't let me have any animal friends."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

When Fluttershy looked up, her eyes were brimming with tears and Pat froze in sudden fear. Hopefully he hadn't upset her and cut their picnic short. "Ba-Back home," she sniffled, "I used to care for a lot of animal friends... Oh, Celestia how I miss them!"

She wasn't running away, just infinitely sad. Pat put his phone down and moved the basket out of the way. That let him shuffle closer and put his hands on her sides. Before he knew it, Fluttershy's hooves were reaching around his chest and her muzzle was buried in his shirt. The only thing he could think to do while the mare cried was to pat her back with a hand, careful not to hit the wings.

"There, there," he said. Another cliché, but it seemed to work. "I'm sure if you explain-"

Fluttershy spoke into his chest, her breath incredibly hot even through the fabric. "I tried! I explained, a-and I begged, b-but Mr. Mason said no!"

Her whole body shook with her sobs and Pat couldn't keep the question back. "Why is this so important to you?"

At this the mare pulled away and glared at him, but at least she didn't shake his hands from her shoulders. Instead, she twisted slightly and patted her butt with a hoof. "This!" she snapped. "This says what my special talent is! My purpose in life! To care for animals and be their friend!"

Pat frowned at the picture. It was just butterflies. "Your tattoo?"

Fluttershy gave a small gasp and jerked away, glaring daggers at Pat. "It's a cutie mark and it's important to me! It's not a tattoo!"

All he could do was lift up his hands, palms out in a conciliatory gesture. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I only know about things you tell me. I didn't mean to offend you."

When she relaxed Pat saw that her fur had been standing on end. He wondered if that was a sign of how angry she was. "Well... apology accepted. I guess you couldn't have known."

"Wanna tell me more about it?"

Fluttershy gave him a long look, but then shook her head. "No. I mean, not now. Another time?"

He was just happy she wasn't permanently mad with him. A look in her eyes when she snapped had made Pat feel decidedly uncomfortable. It was too intense by half. "Sure, whenever you're comfortable with it. I'll try and not make any more stupid remarks."

He put an emphasis on 'try', since there really was no avoiding it. Fluttershy understood and gave him a faint smile. "Good. It's important to try."

At least she seemed to have moved past her sorrow at not having any animal pets. Pat made a mental note never to bring that subject up again. There was another thing she'd said he could perhaps use to spend even more time with her. "Anyway, if you're bored, get Mr. Mason to buy you a console or something. Then we can play games together when you have time. It's a lot of fun."

Fluttershy perked up her ears. "Console? What's one of those?"

"Ah, jeez, it's complicated to explain. It'd be easier just to show you mine."

Fluttershy got a thoughtful look, then put her head to one side and smiled. "What if I ask Mr. Mason if I can visit you tomorrow? A-After my chores, of course. Or maybe before?"

Pat was stunned, but he recovered quickly. "That'd be great! I'll clean up the place."

Fluttershy giggled and leaned closer to put a hoof on Pat's arm. "You don't have to anything special for me, Pat. I'm sure I'll like it even if it's a little messy."

"That's just it. If I spend the whole day tidying up I guess I can bring it down to 'a little messy'."

She positively chortled with laughter at the joke. At length she just lay down on her side across the blanket and heaved a sigh. "Thanks for making me laugh, Pat."

He tipped an imaginary hat, taking the opportunity to watch Fluttershy's belly. It looked incredibly soft and he wanted to touch, but it would be entirely the wrong thing to do. She was quite skittish and he had to be careful with things like that. However, when she stretched out her legs he noticed a flash of pink flesh low on her belly and Pat's breath caught. His research on the Internet told him that's where the tits were on a horse. He sat up straighter and forced his gaze back to her face. Fluttershy had her eyes closed and it looked almost as if she would fall asleep. Taking the lead from her, Pat also lay down on his back, close enough that her hooves brushed him when she shifted. He looked up at the clouds, trying to come up with something to say.

Fluttershy beat him to it. "This is nice. Um, is there any strawberry juice left?"

He didn't even have to look in the basket to know. "Yeah, there's one bottle."

"Could you get it for me?"

It was the work of moments for Pat to sit up, grab the drink from the basket and uncap it. When she heard the hiss of air the mare opened her eyes and rolled to her belly. That pressed her side against Pat's thigh, but he didn't mind that in the slightest. When she sat up, her face was mere inches from his. Pat froze up, wondering if she'd kiss him, but Fluttershy just smiled in faint puzzlement.

"Well?"

Suddenly he remembered the bottle in his hand and offered it. Fluttershy expertly grabbed it with her mouth and teeth, and lifted it up to take a long swig. When she lowered it once more, Pat grabbed it before she had to look for a place to put it down. It was easier with hands and she flashed him a grateful smile. "Thanks. Um... so," she looked at the horizon where the sun had mostly set and the clouds glowed orange. "I guess I'll have to go now. Um, I'll let you know what Mr. Mason says about tomorrow, okay?"

Pat just nodded, both sad that the picnic was over, and grateful that he'd get some time to sort through all these new thoughts and emotions. He couldn't decide whether Fluttershy was warming up to him romantically, or just stringing him along and using him for snacks, or if she really was that innocent and didn't realize. For that matter, Pat didn't know himself how he felt about the silly little horse. She was incredibly endearing, cute almost to a fault, and smarter and more perceptive than any girl he'd ever met. Yet the fact remained that she was a pony. An entirely different species. Sure, he liked her as a friend. Liked her a lot, in fact.

The question was, could there ever be anything more? He both wanted and feared it. An ugly word forced itself into his mind whenever he thought about it. He had to keep reminding himself that she wasn't really an animal.

"Sure. My next shift isn't until Monday, so you just come up and knock anytime, okay?"

Before answering, Fluttershy put her mouth on the bottle again and Pat released it so she could lift it up and empty it. Then she twisted her neck to drop it neatly in the basket.

"Oh, I'll clean up, don't worry," Pat offered.

Fluttershy just gave him a smile. "It's no trouble. Anyway, the basket is mine and I have to wash the blanket. I might as well pick up the bottles and wrappers."

It was incredibly sweet of her and Pat easily agreed. He got up and stepped off the blanket so she could fold it up and place it in the basket. Then it really was a work of moments for her to gather up the small amount of trash they'd produced. After she was done Pat felt like he should have insisted. After all, it was easier for him to pick up trash with his hands than it was for Fluttershy with her mouth.

It was over, anyway, and she gave him another warm smile. "Thanks for a lovely picnic, Pat!"

"Yeah... same."

Pat gave her a little wave, then turned and walked back to his house while Fluttershy headed to the street. There was no door in the fence and that was the only way she could get back to Mr. Mason's house without simply jumping over. Well, she could also have flown, but Pat had noticed Fluttershy sometimes didn't remember she had wings and preferred to walk. It wasn't far, anyway, and maybe she wanted to stretch her legs. When she was on the sidewalk the mare looked back and gave Pat another wave with her wing, which he returned, before they both entered their respective houses.

Pat was about halfway through his bacon-sandwich-based breakfast when there came a knock at the door. Surely it was far too early? He dropped the uneaten half on his plate and hurried to the entrance. A quick look through the peephole revealed nothing. Pat opened the door to find a nervously grinning Fluttershy on his doormat. It was the first time she'd visited and the mare was looking curiously around Pat's legs at the dimly lit interior.

"Oh! Hi! Come on in!"

She didn't need telling twice and stepped inside while Pat shut the door behind her. Fluttershy sat on her haunches and grabbed something she'd been gripping with a wing. "Um, I got you this. Uh, it- it's a gift."

It was a packet of cloth and when Pat unwrapped it he revealed a piece of-

"It's marble cake," Fluttershy explained, looking at him nervously to see how he'd take it. "I baked it last n-night."

"Thanks! Looks delicious!" He took it to the kitchen, where he still had the bread knife out and could slice it up for both of them to enjoy. Fluttershy followed, but she paused to look in each door until she came to the living room, where she simply stopped in the entrance. "Here," Pat said, putting two slices on a plate and leaving a third on his counter for later. "You'll have some too, right?"

There was no reply, so he just took the thing to the table before looking around for his guest. She was still waiting right in the door, inspecting the place with some curiosity.

"Fluttershy?"

She jerked her gaze back to Pat and gave him a nervous grin with her ears sticking out nearly horizontally. "Oh. Sorry. I was just... looking." She finally walked to the table and clambered up on the chair opposite Pat. Her gaze landed on his half-eaten sandwich and her nose wiggled. She didn't say anything, but Pat remembered her love for animals and quickly grabbed the offending, meat-filled thing.

"I'll- I'll just put this- I'm done with it anyway." He took it to the counter and left it there before hurrying back. "Sorry about that."

Fluttershy shook her head, but Pat imagined there was this air of indefinable sadness around her. "It's okay. Many humans eat... uh, m-meat. I'm... okay with it." She certainly didn't sound it and Pat suddenly felt very guilty. He didn't know what to say, though. He liked his salami and bacon and an occasional steak. Not that he could cook one himself, but out in the restaurant near the office they served most delectable cuts.

Pat wrenched his thoughts away from that place and focused on Fluttershy in the present. He nudged the new plate with her marble cake. "Here, let's have your cake instead. Looks delicious." That seemed to work and Fluttershy smiled more widely. She waited for Pat to select a piece, then grabbed the remaining one. For a short while they ate in silence, then Pat remembered to praise it a little. "It's good. You're a fantastic cook, Fluttershy."

She blushed at the praise and averted her eyes, but she clearly liked the compliment, at least if her flattening ears and fluttering wings could be believed. "Um, thanks, but it's just something I learned from Pinkie. She's an amazing baker!"

Again a piece of her old life, but Pat knew enough not to follow up with questions. If she was in the mood, Fluttershy would tell him more on her own. This time she didn't and instead looked around the place, taking note of the dust on most furniture and the odd piece of clothing lying here and there.

Pat had meant to start cleaning up right after breakfast, but Fluttershy had surprised him by how early she came over. "Sorry about the mess. I don't clean as often as I should."

Rather than looking offended, or grossed out, Fluttershy smiled instead. "Actually, it looks kinda cosy. You know? Um, lived-in. I didn't have all that much time to clean back in my cottage either, not with taking care of all the animals."

That sadness was back, but Pat didn't know how to dispel it. He tried a distraction instead. "So, wanna see the rest of the place?" he offered.

'Shy was happy with the suggestion and put the remnant of her marble cake piece back on the plate for later. "Sure!" It wasn't a long tour, but Fluttershy seemed surprised that Pat had two bedrooms. She looked at the unused bed for some time in silence, then turned that gaze on Pat. "You often have guests sleep over?" she asked.

"No, it's not- Um, how do I explain this?"

She waited patiently while Pat thought about what to say, then just decided on the simple truth. "You see, Anton - he owns the place - he meant the upstairs for his family. He wanted to have two children, but, um, his wife died. So he turned it into an apartment to rent out, but it still has two bedrooms. I just use the one."

Her ears wilted and Fluttershy took a step closer to lean her muzzle against Pat's leg. "Aw, that's so sad!" she commented and he realized she absolutely, one hundred percent meant it. The horse really was a sweet soul and it was utterly adorable.

Pat couldn't help himself, but Fluttershy didn't seem to mind when he put his hand on her head and fiddled with an ear. It was soft and warm, very pleasant to touch. Unfortunately scant seconds later she pulled away and blushed a bit. "Sorry. I, uh, get emotional sometimes."

"Nothing to be sorry about. Anyway, there's just the bathroom left, b-but.. um." He'd just remembered that he'd undressed there last night for a shower and just left the clothes, including his possibly non-too-clean underwear right in the middle of the floor. "Actually, will you excuse me for a moment?"

He hurried into the bathroom, slipping inside and shutting the door quickly so that Fluttershy wouldn't see. The pile was exactly where he feared and he picked it up and stuffed it into the hamper. Then he waited a few seconds and flushed, to give the appearance of really having needed to go. A quick wash in the sink and he was done with one potential embarrassment averted.

Fluttershy was waiting in the corridor, looking up at some paintings Pat had hung up. Pat hardly paid them any mind lately, colorful images of landscapes and animals. It was the latter ones the mare paid close attention too and Pat heard her give a forlorn sigh. He made a possibly stupid decision, but if it would bring smile to her face it would have been worth it. "Say, I've been thinking about getting a pet or something, y'know?"

That much was true, Pat had considered maybe a cat, or a small dog, or perhaps a rabbit. One of his best friends from elementary school had a pet rabbit and from what Pat understood, they were quite low maintenance.

Fluttershy's eyes lit up. She wasn't allowed pets of her own, but maybe she could live her talent, her cutie mark, through Pat. "You'd do that?" she asked, voice trembling just a bit by giddiness.

"Sure! Except I don't know a whole lot about animals, so... maybe if you helped me take care of it?"

Pat could swear Fluttershy's eyes positively sparkled with delight and her grin threatened to split her face in half. "Of course!!" She was about to jump and hug him, but a thought occurred and her expression darkened. "If- if, M-Mr. Mason doesn't m-mind," she stuttered, having found the problem in the plan.

"Well, you ask him. I'd be willing to give you a key so you could come and check when I'm at work. I trust you." Not to mention it would give the mare many excuses to come visit, which suited Pat just fine. Fluttershy was very nice company, filling a hole in his solitary life he hadn't even realized was there. "Come on, let me go show you the console. Remember? We talked about it yesterday."

Fluttershy didn't answer, but she followed and there was extra spring in her step. She very nearly pranced and her hooves tapped a cute little melody on the hardwood floor. She was also smiling beautifully. Pat was happy as well. This was a fantastic development. Thoughts of the mare just casually strolling into his apartment for a beer or a game filled his head. True, it'd mean he'd have to keep the place at least reasonably tidy, but on the other hand maybe she'd help with that as well. It'd be just like having a roommate. A hot, girl roommate. He paused when he realized he'd just thought about 'Shy being sexy. He'd meant it, but it was an unexpected idea. Was he physically attracted to a member of an entirely different species?

So what if he was? He sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to him, but Fluttershy chose instead to sit a bit further away. That was fine, Pat thought. Her animal-like nature and soft-looking coat made him want to pet 'Shy, but he wasn't quite that familiar with her yet, or she with him. These things took time. He could show her some video games in the meantime.

"Well, this is called 'Playstation', okay? Now I'm guessing you won't like shooting, violent games, right?"

Fluttershy shook her head and her ears fell, so Pat scrolled past the various shooters and RPGs, landing on something which might suit the mare perfectly.

"Hm, I don't even know why I got this. Probably on a sale or something, but I'm glad I did. It's called 'Harvest Moon'."

Fluttershy glanced at the screen and was instantly captured by the colorful graphics. Maybe it was love at first glance, but Pat knew she would simply adore the game. It had been boring to him, originally, but Pat had a savegame he could show off. He entered the barn in the game and Fluttershy gave a little gasp.

"Baby cows? Cute baby cows?!"

"Yep, there sure are. So you like it?"

Fluttershy looked at him with shiny eyes and nodded emphatically. Except, that presented a new problem. There was no way the mare would be able to use the controller.

"Hmm, this might be a bit tricky. I don't think you can play it with hooves."

Her ears wilted instantly, but then she gasped and clapped her hooves together. "I know! There was this, um... Mr. Mason called them 'commercials'. It was for ponies! Like, they said it was for playing games." She looked around the room for inspiration, then saw the controller in Pat's hand. "It looked kinda like that, except bigger."

Was it possible? It made sense, though. These ponies were expensive, it stood to reason that people who got them would be willing to spend more money on 'accessories'. "I'll check on the Internet. If it's not too expensive, I'll order you one!"

This statement made Fluttershy's eyes grow large and extra-sparkly. "You'd do that for me?!" she gasped.

"Sure! It shouldn't be too big of a problem." No matter how overpriced the thing was Pat would buy it. The mere thought of having this pony sitting on the couch beside him and playing a game together was reward enough. Not to mention that Fluttershy scooched closer and nuzzled into his side. "Thanks! It really does look like a lot of fun! It's a- a game about animals!"

"Well, not just animals. It's mainly about farming." He laid his hand carefully down around the yellow mare, patting her- her withers, if the anatomical diagrams he'd seen on the Internet were to be believed.

"Heh. Applejack would like this, I think. She is all about farming."

It was probably one of her old friends, but Pat didn't think he'd enjoy this Applejack's company as much as Fluttershy's. He probably wouldn't have anything to talk about. "Well, there's other kinds of games. Maybe you'd like some of the ones for kids. Like, I think I have Spyro somewhere, but I'd have to download it."

Fluttershy released him and pushed herself upright once more, a faint blush on her muzzle. Pat took the cue and removed his arm, even though it was a mental struggle. She was so soft! Her fur was like silk between his fingers.

"Um, I'm sure I would like it if you think so," Fluttershy said at last. "B-But right now I wanna see more of this!"

Pat remembered the game on the screen. "Oh. Yeah, sure. We can play for a while."

The words reminded Fluttershy and she scrunched up her muzzle in thought. "I should be home in an hour to start my chores."

"Sure. That's plenty of time."