Getting Shy

This was finally the big moment. Perhaps the most important one in Patrick's life so far. He was sitting in his car in front of that stupid warehouse, waiting for Nigel to bring 'Shy out. The man hadn't wanted him to come inside and that was fine with Pat. He'd flashed his wad of cash to show Nigel he really had it, now he was watching all around in case the other guy had some clever plan to get a few of his buddies and rob him. Maybe he'd watched too many movies, he thought. He felt the envelope with cash through his jacket and sighed. Nearly fifteen thousand dollars and it made a depressingly small wad.

Just minutes now and they'd be home free. Fluttershy would need to hide at his flat for a few weeks, but once they moved they could enjoy their new life to the fullest. No more sneaking around at night and they could do more things together. Patrick nearly got lost in the reverie, but snapped back to the present when he heard a distinctive hoofstep. He twisted around on the driver's seat to try and see, but the little guard house was in the way. The next clop was unmistakable and once he caught it Pat clearly heard the quiet, rhythmic steps of a pony. It was an unmistakable sound, especially on tarmac or concrete.

Soon enough Nigel's phone flashlight shone and Patrick reflexively closed his eyes. He held up a hand to shield himself from the too-bright glare and squinted to see that butter-yellow coat. She hadn't spotted him yet because her eyes were on the ground and she seemed resigned to whatever fate Nigel was dragging her off to. Maybe she'd forgotten that Pat would get her out, or perhaps she hadn't believed him. 'Shy had been very aware of how expensive ponies were and she must have thought he would never be able to afford the price.

"Fluttershy!"

Her ears snapped to attention and as she looked for the source of the voice her muzzle scrunched up in incomprehension. "Pat?"

She sounded surprised and looked at Nigel, then back at the car. A thick rope was looped around her neck and the man was firmly holding the end of it in his hand. He had to pull to get 'Shy moving again and she never took her eyes off Pat, perhaps worried he might vanish if she did.

Nigel dragged her around the front of the car and opened the passenger door. "Up!" he commanded and gave the rope a sharp yank.

Fluttershy carefully placed her forelegs on the floor of the car and tried to jump up. She fumbled it and hit her face on the seat. She flapped her wings to keep her balance, but it didn't help and she folded down beside the car.

"Dammit," Nigel grumbled and yanked the rope again. "I said UP!" he commanded again.

"Hey, take it easy!"

Fluttershy got back on unsteady hooves and put her forelegs in the car again, but by this time Patrick was already leaning over and had his hands under her barrel. He winced at how sharp her ribs felt, but he pushed the thought away and helped her up mostly by gripping her fur between his fingers.

She didn't complain and pushed with her hind legs. She wouldn't have made it on her own, but with Pat supporting her the little mare flopped across the seat and just focused on breathing after that little exertion.

"Money," Nigel commanded.

Patrick was only too glad to be rid of the man and away from the place, so he took out the envelope and gave it to him. He was about to start the car, but Nigel kept the door open while he counted. It was the exact amount, he had made triple sure.

When he was done, Nigel rustled around his front pocket a little and took out some paper of his own. Patrick didn't understand what that was about, but he took it when Nigel held it out to him.

"The papers. I had to fudge it a little but you own it legally now. Have fun!" He didn't wait for a reply, or even said so much as a thank you, before closing the car door and heading over to the guard hut. Pat remembered he still had to turn the cameras and alarms back on. It didn't matter. He wanted to get away from the place as soon as possible in case Nigel changed his mind at the last moment.

He had Fluttershy in the car and that was what mattered. She was trying to reach the seat belt, but even in the best of times her hooves weren't quite suited to the task.

"It's okay, you don't need it," he assured her.

The engine turned over and he drove away. As soon as they were moving, he put his right hand on Fluttershy's withers and began rubbing little circles, hoping she would take some comfort from the touch.

"Is- Is it real?" she finally asked. "I dreamed about this. Maybe this is another dream."

"It's not, Buttershy. It's really real. You're out of that place."

He glanced at her and was encouraged to see that she was looking out at the dark, quiet buildings passing by in the night. She seemed alert, which meant she probably wasn't too traumatized. "I t-thought-" she began, but a hiccup racked her body. "I thought he- he was taking me- the man..." Her breath hitched and 'Shy drew another through her nose, sharply. "I t-thought they were going to..."

She fell silent and Patrick felt her move as she collapsed in on herself. Her muzzle was quickly hidden under her wing and she began shaking in great, powerful sobs. So much about not being traumatized, he thought to himself grimly.

He made a decision and parked the car at an empty bus stop. He thought about leaving the engine idling, but that'd just prove that he didn't take Fluttershy's mood seriously. She looked like she would need some time and it didn't make sense to waste fuel, or draw unwelcome attention. He shut the engine down and unbuckled himself.

"C'mere. Let me hold you."

She didn't move on her own, but when he put his hands around her barrel 'Shy unwrapped herself and let him move her over to his lap. It was a little tight with the steering wheel, but Patrick reached down beside himself and pulled the lever to slide his seat all the way back. That gave them enough room.

'Shy wanted to fold down again, but he sat her in his lap and held her against his chest so that her muzzle ended up resting on his shoulder. She stank of the place, but he ignored it. "It's okay. I've got you now. It's over," he murmured.

The dam burst and Fluttershy began sobbing miserably. "T-They looked up to me!" she wailed. "M-My friends! They- they begged me to save them!"

Patrick began to understand what it was about, but he didn't know what to say to make it better so he just waited and let 'Shy cry herself out in peace. They had the whole night.

"I couldn't," she went on. "I'm supposed to be an Element of Harmony, but I couldn't do anything!" Fluttershy whispered. If she weren't speaking almost directly into his ear, he wouldn't have heard it at all. She suddenly put her forehooves on his chest and pushed herself away so she could stare at his face. Her eyes blinked away tears, trying to focus on Pat, but she gave up and squeezed them shut. "They put us in stalls, Pat! Like animals! We- we had to poop right there! Like animals, Pat! I hated it!"

That last came out in a low growl. "I hate them and I hate what they're doing to us!"

"Shh, it's okay now. I got you out. I don't think you're an animal, okay?" He didn't know if 'Shy heard it or not, because she didn't reply. She pressed her face back in his shirt and sobbed, but her hind hooves went around his waist and Patrick felt infinitely better. She was turning to him for comfort which meant she wasn't shut off completely.

He slid his hand up to her tangled, grimy mane and felt around until he found an ear. He took it between thumb and forefinger and rubbed it, careful not to pinch too hard. Maybe her sobbing decreased, or maybe it was just his imagination, but he kept it up. He waited in relative silence for the tiny, shivering pony to cry herself out. He kept ministering to her fuzzy ear, only stopping occasionally to wipe the tears from her muzzle with his fingers.

Eventually the sobs subsided and 'Shy shook her head to free it. Her eyes opened again and the nearby street lamp made the twin trails down her muzzle glisten, but Patrick didn't have much time to observe. 'Shy lunged forward and pressed her lips against his even as her forehooves gripped his shoulders to keep him in place.

He didn't fight and allowed 'Shy to pry open his lips so she could shove her tongue inside his mouth. The taste of no toothbrush for a week, combined with whatever they were feeding the ponies was bad, but he ignored it, happy simply to have her with him again. She almost flailed her tongue around in her mad rush for something even she probably didn't understand and Pat lifted his hand to put against her cheek to try and calm her down. Before he could, though, 'Shy pulled away as suddenly as she had begun the kiss. A small dribble of her saliva ran down his chin, but he paid it no mind.

"I love you," she said in a breathless whisper. "You came back like you said! I'm sorry I didn't believe you..."

"It's okay, I understand. I love you too. It's gonna be better now, I promise."

"You're taking me away? I'll- I'll live with you?"

She still felt fragile and Patrick remembered her misgivings. He took a second or two to find the best way to put it. "As long as you want."

It was the right thing to say and Fluttershy suddenly smiled. She darter forward again to leave a small peck on his lips, then lowered herself back into his lap with a sigh. Pat hadn't even noticed that she had stood up for her kiss. He could feel her trembling, weak from a mixture of fear, relief and malnourishment.

"Are you cold? I can turn the heat up."

She shook her head and rubbed her muzzle against his chest. "I'm just... I'm tired. I didn't want to eat. Pat, I wanted to die in that place..." Her voice was suddenly filled with horror and her ears folded down. He tightened his hug around her.

"Hush, I understand. You're safe now. Do you want something to eat?"

"Fries!" 'Shy suddenly burst out and pushed herself away yet again to stare at Patrick's face. "Fries and, um, pizza! And something sweet. Milkshake?"

It'd eat a bit of their grocery budget, but he couldn't say no, even if he would have to call his parents and borrow some money to make it to the next paycheck. Patrick still had some cash in his wallet and it'd be enough for a meal. He remembered how her ribs had felt and nodded to himself. It was time to feed his pony.

The thought had come unbidden and his breath halted for a moment when Pat recognized it. His pony. He had the papers. Fluttershy was his, legally. Not that he wanted a slave, but at least now she wasn't at the whims of some jerk of a master. He cared for her, he really did, and he'd make sure she was well. "Okay, let's get you some food then. You must be starving."

She nodded, but didn't show any inclination of wanting to leave his lap. "Hay and raw oats. That's all they fed us..." Her ears lowered and 'Shy looked away. "Um, did you really visit me the other day? It's all a bit of a blur."

"I did. I had to see you and make sure you were okay. I'm sorry it took so long."

"I- I know I promised I would eat..." she began, hesitating as she sought for words. She added hurriedly: "And I did! It just- wasn't a lot. I didn't know if it had just been a dream."

"That's okay. The important thing is we're together and now we're getting some decent food, okay?"

A smile flashed across her muzzle, but was gone almost before Patrick could see it. Still, it was a good sign. "Yeah. I think I'd like that."

"Here, I can't drive with you like this. Can you move over?"

For a moment 'Shy looked like she would start crying again, but then she lifted herself on shaky legs and more stumbled than stepped into the passenger seat. He kept a hold around her barrel the whole way or else she would have fallen. Once there, 'Shy started to curl up into a ball again, but Pat put a hand on her back.

"Wait," he said." He quickly shrugged out of his jacket and then draped it around her. As soon as 'Shy understood what he was doing, she lifted up her forelegs to put them in the sleeves. They were far too long for her, but she didn't seem to care and almost... immersed herself into the fabric.

"It's got your smell," she said as she wrapped the cloth more tightly around herself. "Thanks."

"I'll turn up the heat too, if you don't mind. It's a bit chilly still."

She gave a nod and settled back. Patrick was relieved to see she was sitting upright this time. He considered putting on her seatbelt, but decided against it. The roads were empty, he'd drive carefully and there should be no police. Even if there were, the novelty of seeing a pony in a car would outweigh the fact that she wasn't buckled in.

"I know just the place. They have pizza 24 hours."

Despite their tight budget Patrick also became hungry when he entered the place. It was basically a shack just off the highway and he'd picked it because it offered delivery so it was mostly deserted this time of night. He got two simple cheese pizzas, large fries with ketchup, and a bottled water. They didn't have milkshakes, but there was a freezer with some Popsicles, which might be a good alternative. 'Shy had agreed to wait in the car, snuggled up tightly in his jacket. It was a bit chilly to be walking around in just a tee, but he didn't mind.

The cooks were fast and he got back to the car scant minutes after he'd left. He pushed the seat all the way back once more and put the boxes in his lap. The carton with fries he offered to 'Shy, since there was no room for it elsewhere.

She sat up and patted the seat between her legs, where she could easily keep the fries upright. "I m-missed you," she admitted with her eyes lowering and ears splaying in embarrassment.

"I'm back now. Let's eat!" Patrick tore off a slice of pizza and 'Shy balanced it on a hoof. Her other one strayed to the fries and she deftly scooped up some into her mouth.

It was good seeing her eat and he could have watched it for a while, but the smell right under his nose was impossible to ignore and Pat bit into the pizza himself. Fast food somehow tasted better in car, he thought to himself. Curious how that happened. This same pizza at home and on a plate wouldn't be nearly as good.

For a while they didn't speak and the air was filled only with noises of chewing, swallowing and an occasional hiss of air as they both tried to cool the scalding food already on their tongues. Pretty soon the first pizza was demolished and Patrick simply moved the empty box to the back seat and opened the next one. Fluttershy's eyes lit up when she noticed there was more and held out a hoof for another slice. She had eaten more than half of the last one and that was perfectly fine with him.

He gave her a big piece and grinned. "Nice to see you so hungry, Buttershy."

She froze mid-chew and her ears flattened. "No. No, don't call me that. Please." Her eyes seemed on the brink of filling up with tears once more.

"Huh? Why not?"

The little mare shook her head. "It reminds- reminds me of- I-" she sighed and the hoof with the pizza slice lowered somewhat. "I just don't like it anymore."

"That's okay. Anything else you want me to call you?" Pat offered.

This took some thought but finally she shrugged. "I guess 'Fluttershy' is fine. It's my name, after all..." She still didn't begin eating again and instead kept her eyes somewhere on the floor. One of her ears lifted up and she looked at him. "Um, Pat? There's something I have to tell you..." Of all things she sounded afraid.

"Sure. Anything, 'Shy. Oh, is 'Shy okay?"

Fluttershy waved a dismissive hoof. "It's fine. Um, back in that place? They-"

Mere memory was enough to make her wince and Patrick started to worry. It didn't look like she'd be able to go on, so he tried to guess? "Did they beat you?"

She started to shake her head, but then paused and shrugged. "A little. When I didn't want to eat, but that's not important."

It didn't sound unimportant and he reached over to grip her free hoof with a hand. "I'm sorry."

'Shy shook her head again. She didn't say anything more, but she also didn't resume eating, so he tried again. "Did they- uh, did they, y'know. Um, force you to..."

She looked at him strangely, but then realized what he was referring to and her ears instantly snapped down. She seemed to fold in on herself and her breath hitched for a few moments before she forced it out through her mouth. "No, no no!" she hurriedly explained, but she wrenched her hoof out of Pat's gentle grasp and put it on her belly. "Nothing like that, d-don't worry. They didn't rape me..."

Her behaviour didn't quite match her words and Patrick felt the sting of boiling anger which took some effort to keep in check. "It's okay, you can tell me. I won't be mad at you."

"They didn't rape me, Pat!" 'Shy repeated more firmly and glared at him. "You need to believe me! It's just..."

"What then?!" His voice might have been a bit too forceful and he was instantly sorry, but before he could apologize 'Shy spoke up again.

"They treated us like animals. Me and my friends from Equestria. I- I hated it." She heaved a heavy-sounding sigh and lifted her half-eaten slice of pizza again. She looked at it as if surprised to find it in her hoof, but then bit into it.

"It's not right," Patrick commented. "What they're doing."

Even before 'Shy swallowed she shook her head in agreement. "No, it's not. Pat, I have to go back. I have to find a way back home and I have to tell the Princesses! They'll know what to do!"

Doing that would be pretty much impossible, he suspected, but this wasn't the time to crush Fluttershy's hopes and dreams. He put his hand back around her hoof. "We'll try. I promise we'll look for a way, okay?"

This earned him a smile, albeit a small and fleeting one. She leaned closer and nuzzled the back of his hand, leaving a greasy pizza stain. As soon as she noticed, she flashed him another grin and apologized: "Sorry!" She began trying to lick it clean, but since she'd eaten a lot of it, all that she managed to do was spread the grease around.

"It's fine, don't worry! I have paper towels somewhere."

That did the trick and 'Shy stopped trying to obsessively clean his hand. She looked up at Patrick and even in the dim light from a street lamp he could see her tiny blush. He chuckled at the sight and a moment later 'Shy followed.

It was a huge relief to hear her laughing.

"Finish your piece, there's more where that came from. Oh, and they didn't have milkshakes, but I can get you some ice cream if you'd like."

Her eyes circled the interior of the car as 'Shy thought it over, then nodded. "Sure! I'd like that."

Another idea intruded upon his mind and he decided to bring it up. He'd rather have 'Shy ready for it than have to face it as a surprise later on. "Oh, just so you know: You'll have to hide for a few weeks back at my place, okay? The money I paid to get you out was a lot, so we can't move right away. Don't worry, it'll just be a month, maybe two, okay?"

Her ears went back down and 'Shy shuddered. "We r-really can't move?"

"Sorry. You were really expensive, you know?" As soon as it was out Pat realized that it sounded completely wrong. It was confirmed when 'Shy began to drawing in on herself once more and her eyes began filling up with tears again. He quickly shifted his hand from her hoof to her cheek, where he cupped her chin and stroked the tears away with his thumb. "I don't mind, really. I don't care about the money, 'Shy, I just care about you. I'll earn it back and then we'll move, I promise."

She blinked a few times to clear her vision, then let out a long sigh through her nose. The rushing air tickled the hairs on his wrist. "I don't like being your property, Pat."

"You're not." To punctuate his claim Patrick leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. He remembered a funny, Equestrian word she'd used herself in the past. "You're either my special somepony, or my roommate, whichever you'd prefer."

Her mouth did quirk up in a smile and Fluttershy lifted both ears as if to hear better. "You'd prefer the former, wouldn't you?" she asked.

"Mhm!"

"Okay. I guess that's okay," she said, but her eyes slid aside and her muzzle scrunched up in distaste. Pat decided to drop the topic for now. She'd get around the idea in time, once she saw what it would really be like.

"Okay, let me get you some ice cream. What flavor? They only have vanilla and chocolate."

"Chocolate please!"

"Coming right up!"