Author's Note
I highly recommend listening to this stormy night ambience while reading. For immersion purposes, of course.
Have a lovely day/night, everyone!
Reminiscence
. . .
Large droplets pelt at the surface of the window, one after the other. They linger for just a fraction of a second before yielding to gravity's embrace, sliding in zig-zagging motions as they race each other to the ground below and vanish out of view. The world outside is a blur, obscured by the heavy rainfall pounding relentlessly through the forest.
It's a stormy night in Bridlewood.
The rhythm of the rain is almost uniform, with the pitter-patter of the downpour sounding in your ears, accentuated only by the howling of the wind accompanied by low rumbling from the clouds. Intermittent blasts of wind would send you up in shivers, the cottage responding in turn by bracing itself all the more resolutely in the face of possible downfall.
Maybe that was it. The cottage.
The walls you could trust to hold. She had said so herself: the house had been standing for over a decade, through sun and rain, snow and all. The walls would not give in. But you couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt with every creak that would escape the wall's lips, and with everything else that followed, you could understand why it was so foreboding.
... Was it, though?
To anyone with an ounce of sense, the frigid tempest raging outdoors combined with the lovely warmth of a cozy bed was the perfect sort of evening for one to fall asleep to. Ideal, even. But despite all its somnolescence, the peaceful evening and its little gifts could do nothing to bring you closer to the sweet release of unconsciousness.
Why?
The evening dragged on. Periodically checking the time did nothing to alleviate the sense of urgency growing in you, either. Though you were practically bone-tired, you could never seem to find it in you to leave the realm of wakefulness in exchange for that moment of paradisical repose. Sleep was mocking you from a minute's distance, that much you knew. You swear you had it in your fingertips, yet at the last minute it would slip away from your grasp, getting further and further...and with it, all prospects of your much-needed rest. Gone.
And though your eyes were closed, your mind remained as wide-awake as ever. Free to roam, pounding ever onward despite your entire body begging for its silence. This way and that way you turned, you tossed...up and over and down and under your pillow went, but sleep did not come. The rain even seemed to be getting louder, as if to drown out your futile attempts at chasing sleep and to further rub in the fact that: Try as you might, sleep would never come.
You were too tired to feel frustrated. Too frustrated to feel tired.
Expecting nothing but ill-tidings, you reach for the stubby alarm clock on your bedside table and grope for the light button. As you press it, the ephemeral blue light illuminates your features for a moment as the barely visible digits confirm your worst suspicions. You fall back onto your pillow, which was no longer as warm and welcoming before getting up.
12:21 AM
You groan, a little too loudly perhaps. You register sounds of movement coming from the room past the landing, where your gracious hostess—and unapologetic crush—was supposedly in peaceful slumber. Glancing nervously at the doorway, you wonder briefly if your sudden noise of discomfort had woken her.
...No, you didn't have to drag her into this.
Faust above knows that the unicorn needed her rest.
You sit up in bed, rubbing your tired eyes as you slide off the edge and into your bedroom slippers. It's not hard to tiptoe your way out of the room without making a sound, as the rain took care of masking all other insubstantial noise as you make your way past the landing.
...Her door is slightly ajar. As you pass by the doorway leading to her bedroom, you catch a glimpse of a bundle of blankets and pillows, underneath which you had no doubt lay Izzy Moonbow, fast asleep. For one tantalizing moment you envision yourself walking in, gazing longingly at the sheets and the one beneath them, before yielding to the burning desire to just crawl in and lay down next to her until the morning sun would come...
You slap yourself. Figuratively and literally. Why did you have to be such a weirdo? Or a romantic...? The line between the two is very blurry. Either way, it was best if you just left her alone.
Staggering down the curved staircase leading to the first floor, you take notice of the living-room table. It's still littered with the clutter from last night, which you had spent in Izzy's company. A smile finds its way to your face as the happy memory pierces through the haze of exhaustion in your brain and replays itself right before your eyes:
"Do you like mares?"
You choke on your soda.
"W-wha...?"
She casually repeats the question, varying little in her tone but as curious as ever.
"Do you like mares?"
It takes a full second for you to compose yourself.
"Well, I—uh... I need some context here."
She rolls her eyes in exasperation, torn between amusement and chagrin.
"You know what I mean."
Raising your cup to your lips, you take a long sip of your drink as the cogs in your head work in overdrive to come up with an acceptable response.
"...I like mares in general, if that's what you want to hear."
She tilts her head in wonder but accepts your response anyway.
"Mm-hmm... Okay, still my turn. Truth or Dare?"
"Truth."
"Kiwi-mayonnaise frappé or cheddar-almond frosted bagel?"
You grimace.
"The second one sounds far more palatable so I'll go with that."
She giggles.
"Okay, it's my turn." You scrunch up your face in concentration.
"Truth or Dare."
"Dare!" She flashes you a toothy grin.
"Finish this entire bottle of root beer in less than 10 seconds or...er, you'll have to sit closer to me, I guess." You finish lamely. You were out of ideas.
She laughs.
"Oh, pfffffffft. That's an easy one. Lemme just—"
She levitates the bottle to her lips, just as you start the countdown with your fingers. Before you know it, it's 'time's up' and she's only halfway through the entire thing. You win.
She seems unconcerned with the consequences.
"So how close should I get?" She smiles lightly.
You make a noncommittal noise in your throat.
"As close as you like, I guess. Or as far as you'd prefer, it's really up to you—"
Without warning, she shuffles closer a full ten paces, so close that you were now sitting only a foot apart.
"This good?"
"...Yeah, sure." you shrug.
She smiles. A little too sweetly, perhaps. Either that or you were imagining it.
"Okay...Truth or Dare?"
"Truth."
She leans forward, enunciating each word with clarity.
"Do you like mares romantically?"
You fall back into the couch in mock disdain.
"This again? Why on Equus do you want to—Izzy. Is it that important for you to find out?"
"Well, I..." She pauses, thinking it over. "...I guess I'm just curious. You know, it has been a year since you arrived, and I was just wondering if you ever considered the possibility of...you know—"
"Yeah, yeah, point taken." You pinch your nose bridge out of impulse, closing your eyes.
"...Well, I won't deny the fact that it crossed my mind at some point... But whether I have actual feelings for anypony in particular is an entirely different question." You finish, turning away from her.
There's an awkward silence. She's trying to catch your eye, you can tell.
Screw it.
"*sigh*... Yes, Izzy. I like somepony, okay?" As you speak, you notice her countenance falls. Slightly, and barely noticeable but it was a visible change nonetheless.
"Hey, are you alright?"
"Wha—yeah! Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine. Whoever said I wasn't?" Her ears perk up in surprise, and her expression clears up quicker than you can question it. "... Okay, it's your turn."
You gaze at her in mild suspicion, and she falters slightly underneath your scrutinizing stare.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth." Her ears droop as she smiles sheepishly.
"Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?" You ask in bewilderment, "It's nothing significant. Really, would it matter to you if I was thinking of pursuing somepony?" You reason.
She glances up at you to meet your eyes without flinching, smiling warmly.
"Of course it matters to me, silly! You're a wonderful human, and I only want the best for you." She smiles softly, her cheeks flushed pink. "Whoever they are, I hope they treat you right. Because...because I sure would."
A pause.
"Gosh, I...thanks, Izzy." You scratch your head in embarrassment. "Thank you for being so...considerate."
"Heh, heh...don't mention it." She titters nervously. "I'm just looking out for you. It's...it's what friends do..." She trails off, lost in thought.
"Anyway." She clears her throat. "It's my turn again... Truth or Dare?"
"Dare." You take a sip of root beer.
"I dare you—" She hesitates before extending her foreleg towards you."—to hold my hoof."
The oddness of the situation doesn't quite register with you yet.
"... Huh?"
You can tell that she's trying to keep a straight face, but her facade eventually crumbles as she devolves into giggly hysterics.
"*giggle* What? You're so serious sometimes. Is it too much to ask?" She blushes slightly, her foreleg trembling midair. "It's just a hoof-hold, no biggie...can you do that for me?"
"Um, okay then." You nod, obliging her unusual request.
You reach out with a trembling hand, grasping the broad pad of her hoof in your palm. It's surprisingly warm to the touch, as opposed to what one would expect from any equine back on Earth. Her forehoof is strangely prehensile too, managing to get a firm hold on your palm despite the lack of fingers. Thoroughly intrigued, you relax your grip on her bottom hoof to allow yourself to get a good feel of her fleecy appendage, eliciting an "Mmm!" of contentment from Izzy as your thumb lingers affectionately somewhere above her fetlock.
A few minutes of your impromptu hand/hoof-holding go by, and you're starting to get used to the feel of her hoof in your hand. This wasn't such a bad idea after all, you think as you stroke the surface of her phalanx, running your thumb in little circles around the area. Izzy seems to be enjoying the attention, though part of her expression disappears within the veil of her cerulean mane as it falls over her face, hiding her from view. You stop, suddenly conscious of the fact that she had been getting increasingly quiet since you had started your little hand/hoof-holding session. Izzy snaps back to reality, finally retracting her forehoof in embarrassment.
"T-Thank you...that felt really nice." She mumbles.
You chuckle nervously. For the first time during your laughter-filled evening, neither of you can find anything to say. But it's in the silence where the truest feelings are spoken without words, and in this particular pause, both of you can feel that a very potent change had occurred between you two, whether or whether not either of you chose to admit it.
Izzy clears her throat, finally making eye contact with you.
"Hey, uh... I'm sorry if things got weird." Her tone is subdued, almost shy. "... I promise I won't try anything like that anymore..."
"No, Izzy, it's alright! Really!" You're suddenly indignant.
"You mean it?" Her ears perk up hopefully. "You're not upset?"
"Of course not! Why, if anything, I...I kind of enjoyed it." You admit, causing Izzy to turn pinker than usual. "I mean, sure, it was a bit unexpected, but I liked the feeling. It felt...safe."
"...Safe?" Izzy tilts her head. "Is that how I make you feel?"
"It's how I've always felt around you, Izzy. You make me feel at ease...and I can't explain why." You shrug your shoulders. "Listen, please don't feel bad about all that. If anything, I'm the one who should be thanking you, considering the fact that I—"
"... Yes?" Her eyes widen in sudden interest.
"T-That I—" Your voice falters in sudden realization. "*ahem*—considering the fact that I've known you for so long."
"... Oh." Is all she says, leaning back into the couch looking pensive.
You relax a bit as your heart stops racing. For a brief moment you had teetered on the edge of saying, "—considering the fact that I like you", but you had caught yourself at the last minute.
Izzy clicks her tongue, shuffling over to close the window behind you. You had just begun to notice the low rumblings echoing through the sky. A few raindrops can be heard falling on the roof. The steady plunk-plunk increases in intervals by the second, and pretty soon a steady drizzle starts to pick up as the entire forest welcomes the first sign of rain.
"Oh—shoot!" Izzy exclaims as the lights go out without warning. You stand up in surprise. The abrupt transition from light to dark disorients you for a moment, particularly Izzy.
"The rain must've knocked out the power grid..." Her voice is coming from somewhere on your left. "...I should've known. The weather forecast said that the storm was going to make landfall this week, but I didn't think it was gonna be today! Today of all days..." Her voice trembles as a loud boom of thunder echoes overhead, seemingly confirming her suspicions.
The unicorn panics in her haste to find her bearings, and though your vision is compromised you can hear a variety of items clanking and toppling over as Izzy hops of the couch and onto the carpet.
"H-Hey, where are you?" You can sense the panic in her voice, and you call out to her in an attempt to set her at ease.
"I'm right here, Izzy."
"Where is here?" She turns.
"I'm right next to you." You giggle.
Just as your eyes begin to adjust to the dim, an unexpected source of light illuminates the room as quickly as it had left.
Izzy's horn casts an iridescent glow overhead in her search for you. She relaxes at the sight of your face two inches from hers, though this is quickly replaced with embarrassment owing to your close proximity to one another. She staggers back in surprise, falling onto the couch.
"Hey, you good?" You chuckle.
"I-I'm fine." She smiles sheepishly. "Don't do that..."
"Do what?"
"Disappearing like that. You scared me." She makes the most adorable pouty face you've ever seen. "I thought... I thought you left."
You're mildly amused, but you do your best not to let it show seeing how truly disturbed she looks. You approach her cautiously, sitting on the edge of the couch.
"I'm right here, see?" You reach out for her hoof once more, massaging it consolingly. "I'm not going anywhere. Do you really think I'm going to leave you?"
Her eyes are still focused on your hand massaging her hoof, but her ears fold in a flustered manner as a slight blush creeps up her cheeks.
"Sorry...I'm being silly again, aren't I?" Izzy sighs, and the light of her horn falters slightly as her concentration wanes, and the glow dims considerably. "It's just the dark...not a big deal."
She seems to be directing her words to herself rather than you, as if to reassure herself of their truth. You give her hoof a gentle squeeze, still unsure of what to say.
Seconds pass, just as the rain grows increasingly heavy by the minute. As you sit in silence huddled beneath the faint glow of Izzy's horn, you contemplate upon your two options at the moment: to reach out to your friend and try to understand what she was feeling at the moment, or to simply sit in silence and wait.
You decide to change the subject for Izzy's sake. You didn't want to press your gracious hostess for any more information than she was willing to disclose.
"... You know, I think that's enough Truth or Dare for one evening." You give her a small smile, which she returns. "Do you want to head up to bed? I can clean up after us here."
She ponders your suggestion for a moment.
"No, not yet. I kinda want to stay here a for a bit...with you." Her eyes twinkle. "Would that be alright?"
You nod.
"Of course." You motion to stand up to get started on the mess, but you're suddenly yanked back into a sitting position by Izzy's magic. You raise an eyebrow at her in question, just as she realizes what she's done.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that... I-I think it's a subconscious reflex." She still looks stunned with herself, rubbing her horn with a free hoof. "I'm still getting used to magic... I just can't help it sometimes."
A sly grin creeps up your cheeks.
"Subconscious reflex, huh? So you're telling me that you subconsciously want to be with me?" You nudge her shoulder teasingly, snickering.
She sways a bit from your nudge, but she doesn't laugh. Nor does she deny your words, but she remains unmoving, her gaze fixated upon your face.
"...Actually...heh. I think you might be right."
You stop snickering, glancing in disbelief at the mare sitting next to you. She sits stock-still, her eyes scanning you restlessly for any sign of reproach.
"Wh-What did you say?" You stutter.
Her ears flop in embarrassment.
"I...You might be right. I guess that deep down, I kind of—okay, I really enjoy being with you. You're just so fun to be around, you're literally the kindest, sweetest, and most sincere stall—er, boy I've ever met. EVER." Her voice drops to nearly a whisper, but you can still hear her. "Nopony has ever gotten this close with me before, let alone tried... It just makes me really happy that you are the way you are, even if sometimes you fail to see that. How much you mean to me. How you make my life so much better just by being in it, just by existing...b-because I do. Every day when I'm with you, I can see it. I can feel it."
Her rambling ceases the moment she realizes what she had just said, and a rosy blush finds its way to her face as she tries to pretend that she isn't as flustered or embarrassed as she is in the moment.
"Look...my point is, I enjoy being with you, that's all." Both front hooves curl up reflexively to her chest, and she looks away shyly. "It might sound really silly to you, but it's the truth. I swear."
Your neck suddenly feels warmer than usual.
"H-hey. Izzy." You begin, still unsure.
She almost looks afraid, as though scared of what you might say. Her eyes are focused on you with caution, almost anxiously awaiting your response.
You take her hoof encouragingly, letting her broad pad rest in the center of your palm.
"Look, for what it's worth... I really enjoy being with you too." You smile.
Her eyes light up in hope, and she opens her mouth as if to say something, but closes it almost immediately after.
You chuckle, running a finger up her forehoof. She giggles a bit from the affection, clearly a stranger to the feeling of fingers upon her coat. You can't help but note how adorable the unicorn looks when she's flustered, her blush could possibly be your most favorite color at the moment.
Your gaze wanders.
"...And for the record, you're fun to be around too. Gosh, Izzy, you are the sweetest, kindest, and the most bubbly mare I've ever met. And I've met a lot of people." You sigh, the memory of your old home haunting you. "It might not be obvious, but...I'd be very miserable if you'd dissapear. I can't bear to lose somepony like you, you mean too much to me for that to happen."
You grip her hoof a little tighter.
"I just wish I told you this sooner, and not—well, like this." You chuckle sadly. "But I'll tell you now: You mean the world to me. Just...don't forget that, okay?"
You glance up back to look at her. She's sitting motionless, her mouth half-open. You swore you could see stars in her eyes, which were gazing at you with apparent fondness.
"I-Izzy, are you okay?" You mumble.
You could feel the heat rising to your cheeks as silence overtakes the confines of the living room. It's not unpleasant, though you would have appreciated it if Izzy would relinquish you of that adorable, puppy-eyed look she was giving you. It was unnerving.
In all the best ways, of course.
She regards you with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling. It's mesmerizing, enchanting, even. So much so that you fail to notice her leaning in until her head was now resting against your chest, hoof in hand. She sighs dreamily, and suddenly you're left trying to make sense of the sequence of events that had just transpired.
You might have said too much.
Outwardly, you appeared (for the most part) composed, calm, and okay with the fact that a cute mare was now snuggled up against you like it was completely natural. And to any outsider with no context of the evening's events, you were looking for all the world like two lovers simply enjoying each other's company on a cold evening.
Not that you mind in the slightest.
Your body quakes with suppressed elation as she begins to rub her cheek against yours, gently at first, but then with such vigor and enthusiasm that you resist the urge to moan as her coat makes contact with your skin. You and Izzy had hardly touched one another like this before, so the unexpected contact between you two was downright euphoric as you attempt to retain your composure.
Inwardly, your mind was screaming for you to do something. Make a move, gosh darn it! Pull her in closer? Look her in the eyes? Hold her tight and tell her what she truly meant to you..?
You were at a complete and total loss of what you were supposed to be doing in this situation. All things considered, this was a first. She must've sensed your unease, because she arches her neck back to take a good look at you, giggling softly.
"You know, you can put your arms around me, right? I don't mind..."
Her tone is gentle, and with an upsurge of confidence, you slip your free arm around her waist, pulling her close in (what you supposed to be) a friendly embrace. She sighs for the second time that evening and looks up at you with adoration, her eyes reflecting the faint glow of her horn.
"H-hey...um...this feels really nice." A faint blush tinges her cheeks as she speaks, "... I hope this isn't weird for you or anything, but I'm glad I can do this with you... It feels special."
You're all smiles at this point, and as the evening rolls on, and as the unicorn starts to show more signs of fatigue and drowsiness, you ponder upon what could've been the outcome of the evening's events. Yes, you were this close to letting her know how you truly felt for her, but...now was not that time.
She couldn't know. Well, not yet at least. And as you hold the mare in your arms just a little bit tighter, you can't help but feel that maybe the time would arrive far sooner than later.
. . .
CRASH!
BOOM!
You jump a mile as a loud thunderclap jolts you out of your reverie. Your disorientation lasts for a quarter of a second before you regain your composure, cursing yourself as you realize that you had been standing by the couchside for a full 10 minutes, lost in the happy memory of the evening.
You have more important matters at hand now.
The rain isn't letting up, which is a welcome sign. Suddenly you wish that you were back in bed, bundled up all cozy under the covers despite knowing full well that if you decided to head back now, your tiredness would fade away as quickly as it had come.
Rubbing your eyes and stifling a yawn, you waltz into the darkened kitchen and feel your way around the counter, making your way towards the refrigerator standing by the grandfather clock. Hesitation grips you for a fraction of a second before you relax your grip on the handle, remembering that Izzy had assured you that you were more than welcome to peruse her storage of food for anything that caught your fancy, should you need to, at least.
Not that you hadn't in the past, you think as you grab a jug of milk by the door. You were still getting used to the fact that the two of you were living together, with Izzy's constant reassurances that you were more than welcome to whatever she had to offer.
Before closing the door, you perk up in concentration as you listen to your surroundings. The rainfall is reaching its summit, a clamor of thunder and lightning mingled with the howling wind.
WHOOSH!
You can see the kitchen window from where you stand, the streaks of raindrops beating upon it were getting more haphazard in movement by the second, slanting in the direction of the raging tempest and disappearing from view.
Now was a good time to go back to bed.
You motion to close the door, but just before it clicks shut, the second shock of the evening nearly scares you out of your wits as a gentle voice speaks from behind you.
"Up a bit later than usual tonight, are we?"
You turn in place, looking for the source of what had startled you. Your heart races as you wait for your eyes to adjust as the fleeting light from the fridge leaves the room. The kitchen is still pitch-dark, and you can barely make out the silhouette of the lovely unicorn standing directly in front of you. Nevertheless, you knew in your heart that it was her. And though she was but a faint outline, you could tell from her tone that she was smiling.
You relax slightly.
"Oh... Good evening, Izzy."
"I think you mean good morning. It's really late. Or rather, early." She tilts her head in bemusement. Or was it concern? Either way, she was gazing at you with something akin to wonder, not a single trace of reproach written on her features.
"...Can't sleep?" She takes one step closer, and you can see that she looks slightly worried.
"Y-yeah." You sigh. "It's nothing to worry about though, I'm fine."
"Did you take your pills like I asked you to?" Her tail gives an anxious flick.
"Yeah... I did, but they don't seem to help much." You chuckle in spite of yourself. Equestrian medicine was clearly weaker than its Earth counterparts, as a single sleeping pill could do no more than elicit a single half-hearted yawn from you.
"Still, I don't think it's the pill's fault. I guess... I guess I'm just really tense tonight, that's all."
She's silent. You wonder briefly if you should've just kept quiet about it, but your doubt is quickly replaced with surprise as Izzy suddenly throws herself upon you, pulling you into a rather awkward, one-sided hug. Thoroughly flustered, you stoop down to be on level with her, and you throw your arms around her in an attempt to return the favor.
Her coat is soft, with an almost plush-like feel to it. It's almost velvety to the touch, yet downy enough to maintain its status as fur, though you'd rather not call it that. You swallow once to calm your nerves, yet you find that you have no need to as all that had replaced your incessant worries from the moment she had made contact with you was pure bliss. Bliss with the fact that this was her in your arms, the very mare you so longingly wanted to hold for the longest time.
You don't know how long the embrace lasts, but eventually you give her a gentle tap on the shoulder, signifying that you were ready to pull away. She does so with the slightest of hesitation, which makes your insides squirm with guilt. You wish you had held her longer than that.
"H-hey. Um... thanks. I needed this." You chuckle nervously, shifting your gaze to the floor.
"Mmhmm..." She gives you another mysterious smile, making you wonder.
You shiver slightly as another thunderclap echoes through the din. With a wave of your hand, you gesture towards the kitchen window, indicating the turbulent weather. "It's still a cozy night, though. Why are you still awake?"
She giggles softly.
"I suppose the same reason as you. I'm a little tense." Her horn glows, and two empty glasses fill themselves in the sink and levitate over to the two of you. You take yours with enthusiasm, lifting the glass to your lips just as she does the same.
After one long draft of water, Izzy sighs, placing her glass facedown upon the counter. She turns to gaze at the midnight sky through the window, which was by now an incomprehensible blur of rain and lightning. She sighs, the sorrow in her tone unmistakable, causing you to look at her in surprised concern.
"Are you okay?"
You wonder if she heard you. She must have, because she begins to speak in the voice of one recounting a sad memory.
"... Before unicorns lost their magic, nights like this wouldn't be much of a bother." She pauses. "We wouldn't even have nights like this. The chief unicorns would just have to cast a wind-dissipation spell on the forest, and any storm passing through would be reduced to gentle rainfall and calming wind." She chuckles, lost in memory.
"But when we lost the magic, so did our control over the forest. I guess you won't really know what you have until it's gone. It was only when we lost the magic that we realized how much we've come to rely on it." Her ears droop sadly. "And the nights...well, let's just say they got worse."
You motion to move closer to her, raising a hand in an attempt to set her at ease. She sees it, and she smiles as she happily leans into your touch, cupping her cheek in your hand without hesitation. You rub her cheek affectionately, urging her to go on.
"Thanks... I—I needed that too..." She clears her throat, resuming to gaze at the window with fascination. "... You know, I've been living alone for the past 5 years, and you might laugh, but... I never got used to being alone in bed." She turns away. "My mom would always cuddle close to me when I was a filly, telling me that even without the magic, we would be safe here. But when she...when she left, I guess I didn't feel so safe anymore. The world feels ten times scarier when you're on your own, I suppose..."
She winces as another thunderclap shatters what little comfort had built up during your brief exchange with her. Eventually, the rumbling fades off into the drip-drip of the rainfall, and Izzy lowers her head in distaste.
"...I really don't like stormy nights."
You can't think of anything to say. You want to speak up, anything to let her know that you sympathize with her pain. It kills you to see her like this, had no one asked her before...?
"I'm...I'm really sorry, Izzy."
She turns to face you, her gaze resting upon your tired features.
"Don't be, it's not as bad as it once was. And besides..." A smile plays upon her lips as she takes in your entire form. "...I have you now."
An involuntary shiver runs down your spine at her words.
She giggles, pressing the side of her face into your stomach, prompting you to slip your free arm around her shoulders to pull her close in a loving half-hug. She tilts her head slightly to avoid impaling you with her horn, resting her head on your abdomen with her eyes closed. You place your empty glass next to hers on the counter, allowing you to brush aside a portion of her mane that was obscuring her vision. To your mild surprise, underneath her gorgeous cerulean-blue locks lay a deep crimson blush, evident despite the sparse light conditions you were in.
Her breath hitches as realization floods her understanding. Suddenly aware of your eyes on her, she bends her head low to conceal her flustered expression from you. She doesn't move an inch, keeping herself pressed up against you as if her life depended on it. You suppress a chuckle, befuddled at the mare's drastic change in behavior towards you. It was a welcome change though, you think as you gently stroke her mane. Clearly, you both needed this. Badly.
Izzy lets out her breath in one shaky sigh, finally pulling away to take a look at you. Her gaze is intent, probing. It was almost as if she was searching for some confirmation in your eyes before coming to a decision.
"Hey, are you okay?" You ask.
The integrity of her stare is broken, and she shivers slightly as the rain begins to pick up in volume once more.
"...Would it be okay if I ask you something?"
"Of course. Anything." You reply.
"Can you walk me back to bed? I—I mean, if you're heading back now...if you want to stay up for a bit, that's fine too." Her gaze wanders to the darkened staircase looming in the corner.
You take a full second to process her request, nodding in agreement.
"Of course, Izzy, and you don't have to ask. I was just about to go back anyway..." You sneak a glance at the window. "...We both should."
She brightens up considerably, her ears perking up.
"Great! So, shall we?" She raises a hoof and takes one step forward, nudging her head in the direction of the living room.
You begin to follow, taking care to keep close to her as you make your way through the dark hallway. The rain outside is still a cascading downpour, which offered some sort of comfort and reassurance that the possibility of sleep wasn't out of the window just yet. Izzy remains close to you, walking at a steady pace to your right. Her hooves make no sound as they come into contact with the cold floor, which explains how she had crept up behind you a few moments ago without you noticing.
The living room table comes into view. For a brief moment, Izzy pauses to examine the remains littered upon its surface. You can't tell from the dark, but you could have sworn you saw her smiling as though recalling some happy memory...
The both of you begin your ascent up the steps, and the narrow stairway forces you two to move closer together in order to progress. This of course meant that your bodies would occasionally be touching, but she doesn't seem to mind. And neither do you, for that matter. If anything, the moments wherein you would be in physical contact with her seemed to be prolonged by the fact that neither of you were keen on moving away.
You eventually reach the landing which parted in two ways: To the right led to Izzy's quarters, and the left was your room, which you were disappointed to say held no more value to you at the moment as you were sure to be tossing and turning in bed a few moments from now.
You turn to face the unicorn, acknowledging the junction in your path.
"Well, I guess this is where we part for now..." You nod slowly. "... Goodnight, Izzy."
As you turn to make your way back to your room, you're stopped dead in your tracks as you feel a slight resistance tugging at your pajama sleeve. Looking down you can see that a faint glow had surrounded it, the source of which was emanating from Izzy's horn. The unicorn had not moved an inch since you bade her goodnight, and she stands rooted to the spot in abject longing.
"W-Where are you going?" Her voice quakes slightly.
"...To bed?" You survey her with curiosity. "I'm sorry, do you need anything else?"
She looks paralyzed, whether with fear or simply indecision, you didn't know. Maybe it was both. You approach her cautiously, more concerned than puzzled at her strange behavior.
"Izzy, is there something you need to tell me?"
She swallows once, mumbling something underneath her breath. It's barely audible, but you can catch some words such as "cuddle" and "bed". The rest of her words are an indecipherable mess, and she trails off into unintelligible mumbling.
You stand around for what seems like an eternity, rocking back and forth on your heels. Izzy seems incapable of speech, shying away from eye contact.
Just as you begin to inch your way back to your room, Izzy starts to speak.
"Look, I...I was just thinking. It's a really cold night. The storm outside is just plain awful, and...neither of us can sleep." She speaks slowly, and you can tell that she's trying not to sound rushed. "I was just wondering if...maybe, you'd like to stay with me for tonight?" Her tone is hopeful.
The grandfather clock chimes somewhere on the first floor, just as you're left in confusion by Izzy's suggestion.
"Pardon?"
She paws at the ground nervously.
"Do I really have to repeat myself? Stay. With. Me." Her ears fold against the side of her head as she looks away shyly. "Look, I'm not trying to force you or anything, and this certainly isn't something I've done before..."
She smiles sadly.
"I just thought that maybe we'd both be able to fall asleep easier together rather than alone...and hey, I promise that it'll be warm! A-And cozy too..." She adds as an afterthought.
She peers at you bashfully.
"Please?"
You struggle to think. Emphasis on struggle. Your mind is a hazy mess right now, and you're already having trouble stringing two words together in your mind's eye. The only things that register to your weary psyche are the words "warm" and "cozy", which to you only meant sleep.
You merely grunt in response, earning an appreciative squeal of delight from the unicorn.
"Yay! I-I mean, *ahem*, wonderful. So, um, wanna come in?" She stands at the threshold of her room, waiting for you.
You follow, stooping low so as not to bump your head on the doorway clearly not suited for one of your stature. Izzy saunters towards the bed, humming softly. Her bed is situated in a corner by the window, bathed in sparse moonlight filtering through the veil of falling rain outdoors. She's waiting by the bedside, her eyes trained entirely on your form. Again, her expression is unreadable, but a smile lingers on the corners of her mouth as you near her. Her tail gives an excited twitch as you place one hand on the mattress, and she clambers atop it in one swift motion. She glances back at you almost coyly, settling down upon the cushions dutifully surrounding the two of you. Clearly, she had planned this from the beginning.
Using one leg to heave yourself upon the mattress, you mentally note how incredibly soft Izzy's beddings are. It's a miracle you don't sink right into the fluffy linen upon which you lay, and you briefly wonder how Izzy had managed to stay awake all this time in spite of all the comforts her room provided. Looking at her though, you realize that she was missing out on just one more comfort no pillow nor cushion could ever provide. The comfort of being in bed with another.
You. She needed you.
Izzy looks upon you with renewed fondness, and she hardly breathes as you slowly crawl towards her waiting form. As you near her, you're gripped with sudden hesitation of what the situation implied. What exactly is happening? Is this really what she wanted, what the both of you wanted? Just a few hours earlier you definitely would not have predicted this happening. Were either of you ready to let your guard down like this and just...cuddle? You're flummoxed by the thousands of thoughts and 'what-ifs' racing through your head at that given moment, before Izzy's beautiful voice breaks through the buildup of doubt and worry in your mind.
"... Hey, it's okay. I understand what you're feeling. Look, I'm nervous too." Her voice trembles. "But I really want us to be comfortable with each other like this...a-and to tell the truth... I've wanted this for quite a while now."
Your eyes widen in surprise.
"Y-you have?"
She nods fervently, and the sincerity of it gives you the strength to close the distance between you two as you lower your body next to hers, just as another thunderclap splits the sky in half. Shaking slightly from the disturbance, Izzy eases back into position, slowly and deliberately snaking a forehoof around your waist and using it as leverage to pull herself up to rest against you. She lays her head about six inches away from your face, settled down all snug upon one of the pillows. Your heart flutters as her big lustrous eyes gaze into yours, and you can feel your chest grow tight as her tail slinks its way around your shin, wrapping around it in a ticklish, protective manner.
You suddenly don't know what to do.
Izzy's expression morphs into one of concern, before comprehension dawns on her features.
"I-I'm sorry, am I going too fast for you...?"
"N-No, not at all." You swallow bravely, wiping your sweaty palms on your pajama sleeve. "I'm sorry, it's just—nevermind. Um...come 'ere..."
You gingerly slip your right arm around her back. To your immense relief, she doesn't recoil from your touch, signifying that she was okay with the physical contact. One might argue that she even enjoyed it, as you don't have to try too hard in your attempt to pull her in closer. She practically melts into the hug, taking care to keep her horn pointing away from your face. The resulting position is a rather awkward one, with Izzy's head facing sideways as her forehooves adjust to your stature. She doesn't seem to mind, especially after you discover that: owing to your size difference, you're able to fully embrace the unicorn in your arms without either of your limbs getting in the way.
Izzy notices this. Sensing an opportunity, she lifts her hindlegs and casually wraps them around your thighs, holding you fast in an unapologetic straddling position. Nothing too suggestive, if anything it was more cuddly than sensual. You're too lost in each other's eyes to take notice of anything else anyway. Her eyes are bright, alluring, and full of life. You had never seen them shine as bright as they do right now, two radiant pools of the loveliest shade of orchid you had ever seen. The view is simply stellar.
Izzy blinks once, and paradise disappears from your vision for a moment as reality catches up with you: You and Izzy are wrapped in a loving embrace, and it was almost hard to believe that just a few moments ago you were hesitant about the whole situation. Even Izzy seems at ease, all traces of shyness gone. She shifts around in the comfortable embrace, enjoying the feeling of being held by you. Her horn glows for a brief moment, and you stifle a gasp as her blanket starts to slide over you both. It tightens itself like a snug cocoon but leaves enough room for small movement within the confines of the fabric. Izzy giggles softly at your flustered expression, taking care to lower her voice to a whisper.
"It was getting a bit chilly in here..." She absentmindedly tugs at the collar of your pajama top. "How are you feeling right now?"
You close your eyes for a fraction of a second, collecting your thoughts.
"To tell the truth, I'm just...tired." You smile drowsily. "In a good way. Just really, really sleepy, but...I don't feel like falling asleep just yet. There's still something I need to ask you."
Her eyes widen in the dark.
"Oh? What is it?"
"About what you said earlier. That you've been wanting this for a while now?" You trail a finger up her spine, earning a shiver from her. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"...Oh, that. Well..." Her tone is bashful. "Honestly, I've just been waiting for the perfect moment to ask you. Now just seemed like the perfect time, what with the rain and all." She gazes out the window in thoughtful silence.
"...But yeah, I've wanted to hold you like this for quite some time." She smiles playfully. "Call me weird, but...you really are as huggable as I imagined."
The both of you erupt into quiet giggles, though Izzy falls silent as a hand subtly finds its way to her cheek. You go quiet too as you realize that during your emotional high you reached out to touch her. But just as you attempt to pull your hand away, a faint glow surrounds your wrist and keeps it pinned in place. Even Izzy looks surprised.
"S-Subconscious reflex..." Her breath is shaky.
You and Izzy stare at each other. You can feel your face grow hot, but she doesn't need to know that. Not in the dark. You can't tell whether she was blushing either, but her breathing grows heavy as she inches ever closer, her movements slow and deliberate. By now the distance between your face and hers is a mere two inches, and because of your closeness you can feel her warm breath playing on your lips, the sensation foreign to you.
You're paralyzed.
Izzy hums in contentment, and you twitch in anticipation as she slips her forehooves around the back of your neck, pulling herself up to stare you down almost lovingly. You're shaking with suppressed nerves. Could this be what you think it is? You want to be sure, but you don't want to jump to conclusions. Should you...?
Your eyes finally adjust to the dark, and you can finally see Izzy's expression in clearer detail. She looks unsure, almost hesitant. She's trying to make her mind up about something, and it finally dawns on you what that 'something' is.
This was really happening.
Her visage reddens considerably.
"Can I ask you something too?"
You nod, swallowing your nerves.
"Of course."
"Last night, you told me that I make you feel safe." Her voice trembles. "...Is that true?"
You smile weakly.
"I'd never lie to you, you know that."
Her blush deepens as she leans in, her voice soft-spoken.
"Do you feel safe right now?"
Her grip on you doesn't slacken, and you can feel the importance of what your next words would mean to her.
"Yes, Izzy. I do." You smile, aware of what was coming.
Izzy beams at you with pure admiration, her eyes aglow. Those were the exact words that she needed to hear.
"Good, good..." She whispers softly.
Her eyes are half-closed, and all you can hear is your heartbeat pounding in your ears as she slowly leans in, just as you do the same.
Your mind goes blissfully blank as the distance between you two is closed by one simple action. She presses herself against you, the fluff of her chest acting as a secondary cushion for your tired and worn-out body. She works her way around your torso, her forehooves running along your back in loving, tender movements. Through the fog of bliss and elation, only one thing registers to your brain at the moment.
... Izzy has the softest lips you've ever felt in your life.
The base of her horn presses against your forehead as fiery passion seizes her senses completely. Your hand instinctively flies to the back of her head to drag her deeper into the kiss, and a few whines escape her throat as your other arm pulls her in by the waist. Her mane is lusciously soft, and it somehow manages to retain its silky-smooth texture despite the curly arrangement. You don't know how long the kiss lasts, but you eventually find yourself in need of air. She does too, for that matter. Eventually, both of you pull away, a thin strand of saliva connecting your lips before breaking apart a moment after. The rain's volume suddenly returns just as you're both left panting for breath, gazing amorously at one another.
Silence descends upon the room as the calm washes you over. Your heart rate slows just as your breathing becomes less erratic. Izzy takes a deep breath, letting it out in one dreamy sigh. She leans in to nuzzle your cheek, prompting you to gently wrap an arm around her shoulders. You can feel all the pent-up tension between you two ebbing away as you let the reality of the moment sink in: You love each other.
The both of you just lay there for a while, listening to the sound of falling rain. There are numberless questions, of that you are aware. Countless questions that both of you are dying to ask one another, you just don't know where to begin.
It's Izzy who finally breaks the momentary silence.
"... Wow." Her eyes are twinkling. "I mean, I kind of saw it coming, but I loved it all the same."
"I-I did too." You smile bashfully. "I never expected you'd feel the same way..."
She smiles mysteriously, tilting her head in wonder.
"How long have you had feelings for me?"
"About a few weeks. I only realized that I've fallen for you after we baked that chocolate cake together, remember that?" You laugh nervously as you recall the happy moment. "I got some icing on myself, but I couldn't reach it. So then you—"
"—reached up and licked it right off your cheek." She finishes, blushing profusely. "... Yeah, I remember that. Your face was so red back then..."
"So you knew?" You ask. "All this time?"
She smiles sadly.
"I had my suspicions, but I couldn't act on them unless I was completely sure. I was afraid I'd make the wrong move..."
You nod knowingly.
"... So what about you? How long have you...er, liked me?"
"Months. A few months after you arrived, after you moved in... That's when I fell for you. At first, I couldn't begin to understand why. We were two completely different species." Her eyes are suddenly watery. "And then I realized that it didn't matter to me at all that you were human. Because...because you already make me happy just the way you are."
The puzzle pieces begin to align in your head.
"So last night, all those nice things you said about me... Did you really mean all that?"
She giggles, nuzzling your cheek affectionately.
"...I don't say things I don't mean. I really do enjoy being with you. You're the sweetest boy I've ever met, and to tell the truth..." Her blush deepens. "... I don't wanna lose you."
"And you won't." You're touched by her statement, and you reach for her forehoof to let her know that you care. "I'll never leave you, Izzy Moonbow. Ever."
She gives you another peck on the lips, sending shivers coursing throughout your body. The gesture still feels foreign, even now. But it's one you enjoy nonetheless.
"Heh, heh...warn me the next time you try that again, okay?" You give her snout a gentle boop. "...If I'm being honest, a while ago was my first time, you know...um, kissing." You look away, slightly ashamed.
"Aww, hey, it's alright! Nothing to be ashamed of. A-And just so you know...that was my first time, too." Izzy's grin is contagious, and your spirits lift slightly. "Look, you and I, we're going to share a LOT of 'firsts' together. I can't wait. I want to figure things out with you, I want to learn more about you just as much as you've been learning about me..." She rambles on, counting off all the things she wanted for you two to experience. "... I-I want to do all kinds of things with you, but um...maybe we shouldn't talk about, er... those things right now..."
You chuckle appreciatively, giving her a loving squeeze. She hums in delight, her beautiful orchid eyes taking you in with fond admiration. You cup a hand to her cheek, just as you had done earlier. But this time is different, there's a more intimate feel to your touch, and the way Izzy presses into your hand as though starved of affection is enough to make your chest tighten in sheer delight.
"Don't worry, Izzy. We'll take this slow, I promise."
The mare nods, her hoof hovering above her heart.
"I'd like that. Just...let me know if I'm going too fast for you sometimes."
The rain outdoors is still a tempestuous racket, and with all the excitement of the evening, you aren't sure if sleep was still an option. Yet you can see Izzy showing signs of apparent drowsiness, no matter how much she tries to hide it. You smirk slightly at the endearing sight of the exhausted unicorn in your arms, who despite all odds was still struggling to remain conscious for your sake.
You lean in to whisper in her ear.
"You can rest now, Izzy. I'm here, go ahead and get some sleep."
She pouts.
"Noooooo, I want to stay awake with youuu..." You can tell she's being playful, but you have no time to oblige her drowsy plea for attention. It's really late.
"Izzy...you need rest. You've had a long day, we'll have more time to talk tomorrow, I promise. But for now, you need to sleep." You run a hand through the sea of her mane, hoping that the rhythmic motions would be enough to lull her to slumber.
Izzy seems to consider this for a moment, before looking up at you almost pitifully.
"...But you'll be awake."
Her concern is flattering, and you try your best not to smile.
"Don't worry about me, I'm used to this by now. I promise I won't stay awake for long."
She doesn't look convinced. Her horn glows once, and the next thing you know, you find your face planted firmly into the fluff of her chest. Izzy sighs, nuzzling your forehead. At the very least, her chest fluff is very soft. You can detect a faint scent of aloe, probably your favorite scent in the entire world. You wonder if Izzy had deliberately chosen to use that specific soap just for you, but you decide not to ask. Not because it would be weird, but because you too were feeling inexplicably drowsy as well...
You yawn. You briefly wonder what the time could be, but as you try to sit up to take a look at the analog clock by Izzy's doorway you are suddenly yanked back onto the bed. Izzy presses a hoof to your lips, whispering.
"Shhhh...Don't look at the time. Believe me, it'll only make falling asleep harder." The blanket rearranges itself around you two. "Just focus on my heartbeat, okay, love? Count the beats. You'll fall asleep in no time."
You do as she says. The side of your face is pressed into her downy chest, just as the soothing rhythm of Izzy's heartbeat reaches your ears.
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...11...12...13...14...15...16...17...18...19.......
...
...
You never make it to twenty. Izzy watches as your breathing slows, your shoulders relaxing... pretty soon she's drifting off herself, but not before whispering into your ear just before her eyelids close shut.
"Goodnight, my precious human... I love you."
. . .
Author's Note
*chef's kiss*
Mwah!
I like how this turned out.
I'm back from my extended hiatus, and with me I bring a crapload of romantic cuddles! I have not left, my darlings, oh no....
I hope all of you are having a lovely day/night. And I certainly hope you enjoyed this little scenario, we all need to feel loved sometimes. Izzy wishes you all good luck for what the day brings!
Side note: I'm debating writing a sequel. We'll see where this goes.
