Getting Shy

The visits became a regular thing, although each time with some forewarning. Pat had told Fluttershy to come by any time, but she insisted on asking him if he had time at least a day in advance. His answer was always the same, but she still asked. Despite that, the arrangement suited Pat just fine. This way he never had to see Mr. Mason and be forcibly reminded that the man was Fluttershy's owner. He could simply pretend like the mare was a friend who sometimes came to visit. For the most part they played games and talked, although there were a few times when one or the other would cook and they'd have a meal together. More than once Pat had been about to joke about having 'dates', except he still didn't know how Fluttershy might react to that, so he kept quiet.

"Uuuurgh," the mare was groaning, sprawled sideways on Pat's couch, her hind hoof resting against his thigh. He'd started up Spyro Reignited, but this time she didn't seem interested in watching it. Instead, she'd spent the past few minutes simply complaining. "And then I said I guess I didn't use enough washing powder and he told me to wash all his shirts again! The others were perfectly fine!"

"Jeez, what a hard ass," Pat commented, commiserating.

"Yeah! And it wasn't my fault he got barbecue sauce all over his sleeve! Maybe if he knew how to eat without making a mess... Gah!" In a way, Fluttershy being annoyed with her owner was good. Pat liked it, because she then confided in him more and spent more time in his apartment with his sympathetic ear. A few times something Mr. Mason had said nearly brought Fluttershy to tears and she had welcomed Pat's embrace. Those soft, pony hugs were absolutely amazing, especially when she added her wings into the equation.

"I needed to get away from there, at least for a while!" Fluttershy concluded her rant. "I'm going stir crazy in that house! It's just so boring!"

Pat got an interesting idea and hit the pause button. "Hey! How about we go for a walk around the park? It's not too far, I can drive. We still have about four hours of daylight left!"

Fluttershy stared at the ceiling, then her hind hoof patted Pat's leg as she shifted in excitement. "Well, Mr. Mason is home. I c-could go ask him?" she proposed, both eager to go and frightened.

Perhaps she was afraid of a refusal, or maybe she was just worried about the unknown. Pat decided it was the latter. "There probably aren't even that many people around. And some of the trees are starting to go all brown and orange and stuff. Or at least they will, soon."

This clinched it and Fluttershy rolled off the couch. "I'll be right back!" she promised, rushed to give Pat a quick hug, then ran out. She neglected to close the door in her haste but Pat didn't mind. He had to go change his clothes anyway and he could get the door on the way to his bedroom.

So that was how Pat ended up with the remote for Fluttershy's GPS shock collar. Mr. Mason had been quite good-natured about letting the two go to the park together. He'd said that Fluttershy could use some exercise and to have her back by seven, so she could start on the load of laundry. However annoyed the mare had been about that dirty shirt incident, it seemed as if her owner hadn't even given it a second thought. He simply expected perfect obedience. In either case, that was in the future and Fluttershy was happy to forget it for a while. She had taken the passenger seat and Pat did his best to buckle her in. Now he was driving and she was staring out the window with curiosity.

"You're not gonna try and run away on me, right?" It was only partly a joke question, on some level Pat was a little worried. Luckily Fluttershy gave him a bright smile and reached over to place a hoof on his knee.

"Of course not!" she said, then her ears pinned back and she sighed. "Where would I run anyway? I can't take this off by myself-" she pawed at the collar, "and they'd just hunt me down and punish me. I don't want that."

It was a sad reminder of her station in life and Pat felt decidedly uncomfortable with the remote in his pocket. It was true that Fluttershy's collar was tied to it, but it also had a phone card which would let Mr. Mason know exactly where the mare was at all times. "Sorry. That was insensitive," he apologized.

Fluttershy just kept staring at the road ahead and her ears didn't move.

"For what it's worth, if I had the money I'd buy you off Mr. Mason..."

At this the mare turned and stared at him, eyes large and probing. "I d-don't think that's a good idea, Pat."

"Huh? Why not?!" It hurt a little for Fluttershy to say that. It would be infinitely better for her to live with him than Mr. Mason.

She took a deep breath. "I'm not sure I can explain it, really. Pat," she began and put a hoof on his knee again, "I like us being friends. Do you think we could still be... friends if you... owned me?" Her voice hitched at the word 'owned'.

"Yeah! I wouldn't think about myself like your owner, Shy. It'd just be a- a formality!"

She flashed him a small smile, then shook her head. "It's no use anyway. I don't think Mr. Mason would sell me..."

There was that, and it irked like hell. Now that he had the idea in his mind Pat wanted nothing more than to own Fluttershy. Surely if he had her and showed her just how he'd treat her she wouldn't be so reluctant. "Well, maybe someday," he muttered. "Anyway, we're nearly there. Let me just park there." This made her feel better and she focused her stare out the window, taking in the park with a decidedly excited expression.

Pat was just about ready to leave for work when there came a knock. It was rather unexpected, because Fluttershy knew he had his shift today and no one else really had a reason for a visit. He shrugged a little to himself and left the half-eaten banana on his table as he went to look. It really was 'Shy, if a somewhat nervous one.

"Oh. Um. H-Hi!" she began, rubbing a foreleg with the other hoof. "Um, do- do you have a minute? I p-promise it won't take long."

Pat quickly looked at his phone. It would be a stretch, but for Fluttershy he didn't mind coming in a bit late. "Sure thing. Always for you, 'Shy."

She flashed a smile and turned around. "Come with me, please. Mr. M-Mason would like to talk with you."

That didn't bode well and Pat was instantly apprehensive. Did the guy finally realize he'd been getting too close with the pegasus and was about to tell him off? Surely if that was going to happen 'Shy would have given him a hint or something. Furthermore, Pat thought, Mason probably wouldn't send her to fetch him at all. He'd just forbid her to visit and that'd be that. Not like Pat or Fluttershy could do anything about that, realistically.

He followed her, pausing only to close his apartment before she led him to Mr. Mason's modern front door. She didn't even pause as she slipped inside, but stopped to wait in the hall for Pat. He closed that door too and followed his friend deeper into the house. He knew the layout pretty well, at least some of it, and she led him to the living room where Mr. Mason was sitting, relaxed on the couch. He was dressed for work as well. This was unusual. Mason, being the workaholic he was, usually left for work before Pat even woke up. He was running quite late.

"Ah, Patrick. Thanks for coming on such short notice."

Surely he wouldn't be giving him an approving nod if he was about to chew him out, right? "Y-Yeah, sure. No problem..."

The man inspected Pat for a moment, then looked at Fluttershy, who was industriously studying her own front hooves. Her ears were completely flat and her wings were slightly spread. Pat recognized the pose. She was afraid of what would come next. His own heart began to beat even faster than it was and he clasped his hands together to keep them from shaking.

After a moment Mr. Mason continued: "Well, this is a bit sudden, I know, but I hope you'll be able to assist me with this one thing."

Was the man asking for some kind of help? Pat couldn't fathom what sort of assistance he could give the man, but it caused a glimmer of hope to spring up. Maybe it wasn't anything bad. "If I can, yeah." he answered, keeping it simple.

"Good, good," Mr. Mason said. He heaved a sigh and went on: "Anyway, I have a business conference in Paris the whole of next week, so I'll be gone from the country. I'm leaving later today, actually." He stared at Fluttershy again, considering, before continuing. "The house should have everything, but this little horse tells me she'd be lonely."

Pat glanced over just in time to see Fluttershy's mouth tighten at being called a 'horse', but she didn't look up or comment. It was obvious that Mr. Mason was a strict master. "So I was hoping you'd be willing to take her in. You know, since you've been spending all this time together. I'll pay for the food, of course."

It took Pat some time to properly understand the words and then he couldn't quite believe them. "Y-You want me to take care of 'Shy?!"

Mr. Mason took it the wrong way and stood up. "She's no trouble, really," he spoke quickly, trying to seal the deal. "I- uh- don't really have anyone else to ask, you see?" Before Pat could reply, the man was standing right in front of him, still talking rapidly: "If you can't, then that's that and she'll just have to stick it out, but she gets mopey when she's lonely and... well."

They both looked at Fluttershy, who was blushing furiously. Pat couldn't tell whether from embarrassment or anger, but Mr. Mason took it as the former and chuckled. "See?" he asked. "What do you say? She won't be any trouble and she can clean your place up while she's at it, right Flutter?"

Fluttershy finally glanced up and nodded emphatically. "Yes, sir!"

Pat finally managed to get a word in edgewise. "Sure! I m-mean, yes! I'll do it. No problem!"

Mr. Mason's shoulders sagged in relief. "Splendid! You're doing me a big favor, Patrick. Keep track of how much you spend on food and I'll pay you back double, deal?"

Pat, staring at Fluttershy who was smiling back at him, just nodded mechanically. The man grabbed his hand to shake it, which reminded Pat he had to say something. "It's no trouble, really..."

Then Mr. Mason turned to Fluttershy and pointed a finger. "As for you, I expect you to treat Mr. Patrick with the same respect you show me while you live in his house, understand?! I don't want to hear about your behavior from him!"

Fluttershy was happy enough that she didn't even flinch. "I promise, Mr. Mason!"

The owner turned back to Pat. "Anyway, I have to run now. She'll pack her things and- are you working today?"

"Uh, yeah. Just leaving, actually."

Mason grew thoughtful. "In that case, finish cleaning the house, Flutter and pack up your things. Mr. Patrick will come get you when he's back. Lock the door behind you, got it?"

Again she nodded happily. "Yes, Mr. Mason!"

"Good. Thanks again, Patrick. See you!"

Pat made some kind of goodbye, but he was still too stunned to really acknowledge the man. Fluttershy living with him for the whole week? It was like a dream come true, except he couldn't revel in it right now because was already late for work. He patted the mare on her head.

"I really gotta go, but this is gonna be fun, okay? You can have the other bedroom and everything." That last was more of an afterthought and mostly for Mr. Mason's sake. Secretly Pat was hoping the mare would want to cuddle at night. It'd be a totally amazing feeling to wake up with 'Shy! Even if they didn't do anything! He knew how soft the pegasus was. He'd refrain from doing stuff if it meant he could have his hands on her the whole night. Almost in a daze he followed Mr. Mason out of the house, then stumbled back home to grab his keys and wallet. It was going to be a fantastic week! A sudden thought struck him and Pat wondered if he could get some vacation days on short notice.