Selective Service, Volume II

Vise slowed and her smile faded as she spotted Swift. She was supposed to meet him at the park for a trot, some pony-watching, and simply to relax, but she could tell at a glance that something was amiss. Pacing by a bench and holding a phone to the side of his head, he scowled.

“That’s not necessary, I’ll - no, no you won’t,” he growled. “Grell, you are not in charge here ~ is that clear?”

Like a fly on the wall, she listened and slowly crept closer to him. She hadn’t the slightest clue about who he was talking to or what he was discussing, but she could immediately tell that he wasn’t in the best of moods. She made a point to alter her approach and come around the front of him, if only to silently let him know that she was there.

He bared his teeth and lowered the mobile just enough to grimace at the device. “If you have a problem with that, we can take it up with Burner when I get back. You may be valuable, but you will not undermine our operations or threaten our employees.”

Frowning, she nervously fidgeted just out of reach. She’d only seen him angry - legitimately angry on a hoofful of occasions, and she was thankful for it. While he was one of the biggest, sweetest stallions she’d ever met, moments like these reminded her of why so many ponies looked upon him with dread.

“There’s no such thing as inconsequential corporal punishment…” he huffed, glancing up and spotting his marefriend. His eyes widened and he started, flinching at the sight of her. “No I - no, we’ll continue this conversation later. Place the aforementioned Aco-Lights on cleaning duty until I return. I’ll be back shortly.”

Hanging up on whoever he was talking to, he levitated the phone into his saddle bag, hung his head, and groaned. Vise didn’t hesitate in the slightest as she trotted over, reared onto her hind legs, and wrapped her hooves around the back of his head. Whatever had happened, she was going to do her best to take his mind off it and maybe - just maybe offer a bit of insight.

She nuzzled her muzzle against his neck and held him close. “Long day?”

“That would be an understatement,” he muttered, “but it’s better now.”

Pulling back, she peered into his eyes. “And why’s that?”

“Why do you think?” he chuckled, leaning in and giving her a peck on the cheek.

Her cheeks darkened and she giggled like a school filly, overjoyed that she’d managed to salvage his spirits. “Big softy.”

“You’re not the only one who holds that opinion,” he lamented.

“I’m guessing somepony thinks you’re not being a meanie more often?” she inquired, lowering herself onto all fours and backing away a hair.

Nodding, he pinched the bridge of his snout. “Grell, the help my brother decided to call upon, has a feather in her ass and is trying to use brute force and menace to rein in the underlings. I keep telling her that punishments should only be given sparingly, lest you breed contempt and derision amongst those you hold power over, but she won’t listen - she never listens.”

“Well I’m sure Burner values you over her,” she reassuringly stated while she rubbed his foreleg with her hoof. “You know what you’re doing, you clearly have a way with the Aco-Lights, and - shoot!”

He peaked a brow at her small outburst. “Is something wrong?”

“No - well, yes maybe,” she grumbled.

More confused than ever, he cocked his head and squinted. “No, yes, and maybe - which are we going to go with?”

“It’s nothing bad,” she clarified, pouting her lip up at him. “I actually have some good news I wanted to share with you.”

“Oh?” he chirped. “If it’s good news, I hardly see how that would have you out of sorts.”

“Well…” she began, twisting and innocently drawing her forehoof in a circle on the ground. “So you know how Torque has been acting weird right?”

Keeping his eyes on her, he nodded. “Yes. Has he been -”

“He wants to go on a double date with us,” she blurted. “And guess where he wants us all to go!”

As he closed his eyes, his expression fell flat. “Please don’t say he wants to go to -”

“The Broiler!” she exclaimed. Seeing his frown, she lifted a hoof and attempted to playfully shove his shoulder. “It wasn’t my idea!”

“Aside from the prospect of eating at a restaurant that’s one of the faces of my - Ahem - business, I’m glad your brother is doing better. He is doing better ~ isn’t he?” he quickly added.

“Oh yeah, tons,” she merrily answered. “I don’t know what happened or what he’s been going through, but it’s like he’s back to his old, chipper self - even better than that, he has a marefriend!”

Leaning toward her, he smirked. “And you want me to impress Torque and his newfound love interest at the Broiler ~ correct?”

“I mean, yeah,” she guffawed. “I can understand that you’re probably used to the food there, but it’s so good! Just please, please do this for me. You know how protective Torque is about me! This might be your best chance to win him over!”

A wolfish smirk split his muzzle while his eyes narrowed. “And what do I get in return for this? Procuring reservations, ensuring the finest quality of service, and I’m sure fitting the bill will - Mmmph?!”

She struck like lightning, grabbing his cheeks and giving him a deep, passionate kiss to silence him. He may have talked a good game, acting like he was bending over backwards for a night out, but she knew better than to let him fool her. Waiting until he contentedly hummed and went to slip a forehoof around her neck, she hastily withdrew.

“For starters, you’ll get more of that,” she tittered, winking up at him.

Wavering, trying and failing to maintain his stern demeanor, he rose to his full height. “That’s all?”

“Oh not even,” she noted. Trotting to his side and locking forelegs with him, she beamed. “If you play your cards right, I might just wear something fancy out - something that I know you’ll enjoy.”

It came as no surprise when he relented, smiling and shaking his head while he began trotting forward and to the hoofpath. “I suppose I could pull a few strings - by the way, who’s this marefriend of his?”

“No idea,” she flippantly responded. “He gets all flustered whenever he mentions her, blushing and acting all bashful, so I know she’s gotta be something special.”

Trotting along at her side, he leaned ever so slightly against her. “Well I guess we’ll both find out tomorrow…”