Selective Service, Volume II

“Darn it,” Torque cursed under his breath while he charged down the sidewalk.

As he skirted pedestrians and traffic, recklessly rushing through intersections, his thoughts raced. If he hadn’t had to intervene and stop a mugging, having to change outfits before and after the inconvenient intervention, he would have been right on time - unfortunately for him, his heroics had cost him time and made him late. It was bad enough that he was already anxious as all get-out, uncomfortable in his dress vest and nervous to be going out on a date, but his tardiness only amplified his unease.

Rounding a corner and nearly running into a mailbox, he lifted his gaze and spotted the Broiler. Between the queue of would-be patrons and the neon signage, it would have been impossible for anypony to miss the restaurant from a distance, though arriving was only the first hurdle he had to overcome. Slowing as he approached, he scanned the small crowd of ponies lingering in front of the eatery.

“Torque,” a familiar voice shouted, making his ears perk up.

Looking over and spotting Měi seated on a bench by the door, he smiled, noticed whom was standing beside her, and instinctively grimaced. Swift Step, the stallion his sister was seeing, stood out like a sore thumb; taller and more heavily built than most, the titan turned and peered in his direction. He forced a smile and waved as he approached the mismatched pair, reminding himself that he had no real reason to be upset with the colossus.

“Sorry I’m late,” he sighed, brushing himself off.

Měi slid over and patted the empty space beside herself, smiling up at him all the while. “No need to apologize. Since we’re still waiting on Vise, there’s no harm.”

Turning his attention over to Swift, he extended a foreleg. “Swift.”

“Torque,” Swift rumbled, taking and shaking the proffered hoof. “I trust you’re doing well?”

“Aside from wearing this money suit, yeah,” he warily laughed, straightening his collar. Scanning the throng, he knit his brow. “You haven’t seen Vise?”

Shaking his head, Swift straightened up and peered over the queue of ponies. “I would say she got distracted by passing a bakery, but she knows we have a fine selection of desserts.”

“Wait,” he balked, squinting over at the unicorn. “We have a fine selection of desserts?”

“Indeed we do,” the titan mused. “Considering I’m the co-owner, I made sure of it.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t know that - you know, since he’s seeing your sister,” Měi giggled. Undoubtedly seeing and sensing his tumultuous mixture of emotions, she reached out and stroked his foreleg. “Swift here was kind enough to ask me if I’d like some refreshment while I was waiting for you. Imagine my shock when we found out that we would be dining together.”

Torque felt like he should have said something, another apology perhaps, but he remained silent. It wasn’t implausible for the two to strike up a conversation and ultimately conclude that they were there for the same reason, yet the revelation that Swift was a proprietor of the establishment was a lot to take in. As loath as he was to admit it, Vise really had found herself a catch with the stallion.

Shaking the unicorn from his thoughts, he turned his mind to more pleasant matters. His eyes wandered back to Měi and all her natural splendor. Adorned in what appeared to be an azure oriental dress with gold trim, she was nothing short of stunning - so much so that he wasn’t the only one admiring her. Glancing over and seeing Swift’s gaze lingering on her bust, he smirked.

“Do you like it?” she inquired, peeking down at herself. “It’s called a Qipao.”

“And here I thought you couldn’t look better,” he chuckled, leaning in and giving her a peck on the cheek.

“The dress suits you remarkably well,” Swift coolly noted. “If you’d be so kind as to give me who your tailor is, I’d -”

“H…here I am!” Vise bleated, barging through the crowd. “I got - Whew - oh jeez, I got caught up by this really nice stallion who was asking me for directions.”

Staring over at his sister, it was easy for Torque to see why somepony had stopped her. Clad in what he was sure was supposed to be a modest dress, Vise’s curvaceous physique was put on full display; her full hips, generous backside, and ample bosoms filling out their fabric confines, shifting and swaying while she fought to catch her breath. He could have gawked at her for hours, instantly reminded of just how bewitching her beauty and naivete could be, but the moment ended before it could begin.

Turning to face her, Swift tenderly lifted and kissed her forehoof. “In that stallion’s defense, I believe I’d find an excuse to speak with you myself - you know, if I was still single.”

His temper flared, his lip began to curl, and his hackles raised, hearing the giant speak to his sibling so comfortably. Nopony had given him a good reason to dislike Swift, and his sister had always been a good judge of character, but he couldn’t help but find the show of affection as an affront. Vise was an innocent soul, as sweet and carefree as anypony could get ~ what gave this big, burly bastard any right to treat her so -

“Ahem…” Měi softly coughed, tearing him from his darkening thoughts. As he looked over at her, she smiled and pressed herself to his side. “Don’t…”

The simple word struck a chord, resonating within him and defusing the ticking time bomb that was his ire. Anypony save for a changeling wouldn’t have noticed his distress - even then, without the context of why he’d be upset, they wouldn’t have understood why he was getting angry at what was essentially nothing. He slowly exhaled and let the rancor bleed away while holding her gaze.

“Thanks,” he murmured. “You really do look lovely tonight.”

“You’re one to talk,” she tittered, running a forehoof around his neck. “I knew you’d look nice all done up in a suit.”

He grinned, catching the subtle implication of her assertion. The midnight of her hide contrasted wondrously with the blue and gold she wore, yet it was her brilliant, mauve eyes that captivated him. With or without a disguise, she was an alluring creature and he was thankful for her in ways he struggled to express.

With a slight bit of green creeping into her face, she touched her cheek. “Is…is something on my face?”

“No,” he breathed as his face drifted closer to her, “you’re hard to keep my eyes off of.”

She tried and failed to conceal her blush, turning away while smiling from ear to pointed ear. “S…stop that.”

Embolden by her modesty, he snickered and rubbed his neck against her. “Only if you -”

“Oh wow!” Vise gasped, butting in and sundering the moment. “Torque, is this your marefriend?! She’s so pretty!”

“I - Cough,” he croaked, stepping back and waving between the two mares. “Vise, this is Měi. Měi, this is my sister, Vise.”

Collecting herself in a flash, Měi gave the pegasus a small bow. “I’ve heard good things about you, Vise. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Vise leapt forward and snared her in a hug, folding her wings around the changeling like they’d known one another for years. “It’s nice to meet you too! Anypony who’s willing to put up with my brother is a friend of mine - especially if they have him smiling like a goofball like that!” she laughed, nodding over to him.

“Come now, cut him some slack,” Swift hummed, coming up to his side and gently elbowing him. “Standing in front of such a lovely pair, any stallion worth his salt would find it difficult not to be slightly flustered.”

“Stoooooop,” Vise whined, batting at the unicorn’s chest with a wing. “You’re making it weird!”

“A unicorn, an earth pony, a pegasus, and a changeling walk into a bar,” Měi tittered. “Let’s hope this evening doesn’t serve as the basis for a joke at our expense at some point.”

Swift lifted a hoof and cleared his throat. “Correction, madam, two fine stallions and their lovely dates trot into a restaurant - true, we do have a bar, but this is hardly the strangest party I’ve seen dining at my establishment,” he remarked. “In any case, if you three are ready, I have a table waiting for us.”

As pleasantly as things had been going, recovering from what could have been an inglorious initial fumble or two, Torque saw no reason to wile away their time outside. “By all means, lead the way.”

He moved alongside Měi’s, waved to the door, and followed Swift and Vise inside. He’d heard that the Broiler was a nice place, upscale by all accounts, though he was stricken by just how posh the restaurant was. From what he could see, lingering in the foyer while his sister’s date chatted with the host, there were two cavernous dining areas, a full bar, and even a small stage at the back with a pianist. Already fearing the hit his wallet was going to take, he accompanied his party over to a table.

“Would water and a chef’s salad suit everypony?” Swift inquired, easing himself into one of the chairs.

Seating herself, Měi nodded. “Hot tea would be lovely.”

“And a coffee for me,” Vise added.

“Water’s fine for me, thanks,” Torque replied, taking his seat beside the date.

Vise eyed the server, ensuring the order was taken down before swinging his focus over to the lone earth pony. “We do have a number of -”

“So how did you two meet?” Vise interrupted, leaning over the table while beaming over at the couple.

“W…well,” Torque began, reflexively rubbing the back of his neck, “believe it or not, we sort of bumped into each other one day.”

There was no way in Tartarus he was going to spill the beans about how he really crossed paths with marefriend, so he could excuse himself for the small bending of truth. Both he and Měi had concluded that the inevitable question would be best met with a plausible, uninteresting answer. They met while getting groceries - nothing more, nothing less, and that’s the story they were going to stick to.

“Funny,” Swift noted. “It seems that lady luck smiled on both of us in that regard.”

Peaking a brow, Torque leaned back. “Bumped into her when you were out?”

“Close,” the unicorn muttered with a grin. “I was out getting coffee when fate dropped her into my lap.”

“Heh - yeah,” Vise laughed, sliding her chair closer to the colossus. “I guess you could say he ran off with me.”

The comment brought a pained look to the unicorn’s face, but Torque could forgive the small discomfort. If Vise was half as bubbly and affectionate with her oversized coltfriend as she was with everypony, he was going to have his hooves full. Feeling something caress his thigh, he looked over as Měi leaned against him.

“I could say the same about your brother, Vise,” Měi sighed. “He’s a charmer, make no mistake about that, but he asked me out to dinner a few days ago and then ran off. What if I’d said no?” she pouted, peeking up and winking at him.

“Torque, you didn’t!” Vise gasped.

“W…well - uh - y…you see,” he sputtered, unprepared for the playful accusation. “If you have to know, she gave me no choice.”

Softly laughing and rubbing her cheek on his shoulder, Měi closed her eyes. “Lies - lies and slander of the highest caliber. I would never pressure somepony into a date.”

“Ok ok ok,” Vise exclaimed, waving her wings and forelegs. “You two are too cute. Měi, whatever you’re doing with him -”

“Or to him,” Swift added. Earning himself a feathery slap on the shoulder, he halfheartedly grimaced. “What? Just look at how red - well, red or green they are!”

Looking across the table with her heavily-lidded eyes, Měi smirked. “Says the stallion who’s letting a mare half his size accost him with impunity.”

“I…” Swift trailed off, apparently taken off guard by the comment. “Touche…”

“Hah!” Vise whooped, thrusting a hoof over to the shapeshifter. “My mare! By the way, feel free to bully him if he’s asking for it - Celestia knows I need a little help keeping him in line.”

Swift quirked a brow over and down at the blithe pegasus then peered over at the changeling. “In all seriousness though, I do apologize if my banter unsettled you.”

“It’s quite alright. Growing up in a hive, you get used to ribbing,” Měi tranquilly responded.

“I can only imagine,” Swift grumbled, pinching the bridge of his snout. “With Maretropolis being as busy as it is, living in a hive must be quite busy.”

Unslinging and placing her purse on the floor beside her, Měi gave a little shrug. “It is, but most of my kind don’t mind it - after all, if that’s all you’ve ever known, you get used to the hustle and bustle. Honestly, there are days when I miss being around family.”

“Too true,” the unicorn rumbled. “After my parent’s passing, my brother is all the family I have left.”

“My condolences,” Měi breathed, dipping her head.

“It’s fine, but I appreciate the sentiment,” Swift stated. “Even if it’s just the two of us, we get along just fine.”

Staring over at the giant, Torque cocked his head. “Is he like you?”

Swift turned, his expression unreadable, and studied him for a moment. “In what way?”

“In…” Torque fell silent, realizing he may have just placed his hoof on a landmine.

Other than Swift’s immense size, there was something about him that wasn’t quite right. The broad build, height, and atypical facial structure were unusual for a unicorn, but it was the horn that stood out the most. Seemingly carved of ebony and with a slight, almost imperceptible curve, the bony protrusion caught Torque’s eye and led him to make the innocent, if not poorly timed question.

Pushing himself away from the table and slowly getting to his hooves, Swift locked eyes with him. “Do you take offense that there’s kirin in my blood?”

“What? No?!” he bleated, shaking his head and waving his forehooves. “I was -”

Swift chuckled, cutting him off, then burst into a fit of laughter. “I jest. Given that you’re open enough to date outside your species, I know you meant no offense. To answer your question, Charred, my brother, bears many of the same traits as I do.”

“But he got all the good looks,” Vise loudly whispered over at Měi, nodding her head over at her coltfriend.

With his cheeks darkening, Swift reseated himself. “So some would claim. If he was here, I’d call him out to introduce him - sadly, he’s off this evening.”

“Well pay him my regards,” Torque stated, still recovering from what could have been a very unfortunate turn of events. “And thank you - both of you for allowing us to dine here. I know this place stays busy.”

“Says the stallion who’s managing a shop on his lonesome,” the unicorn amusedly countered. “From what your sister has told me, your line of work can be challenging at times.”

“It can be, yeah,” he admitted, “but that’s part of the fun. You never know what’s going to roll in at any given time.”

“Ugh - don’t get me started,” Vise groaned. “Half the ponies who come in don’t know what they need.”

Měi closed her eyes and rubbed her temple at the remark. “Tell me about it. If you’re going to see an expert, trust the expert…”

Perking up in her chair, Vise shifted to face the drone. “Speaking from experience?”

“Yes and no. I may not have my hooves buried in machinery, but dealing with clients is something with which I’m all too familiar,” she softly lamented. “Don’t get me wrong, most are as sweet and accommodating as can be, but there are still those who try my patience.”

“Now I have to know. You are…?” Swift left the question to hang, studying the shapeshifter.

With a grace and smoothness that somehow belied and complemented what she did for a living, Měi proudly held a hoof to her chest. “I’m an entertainer.”

“Oooooooooh!” Vise gasped in awe. “So you’re a singer? No, wait, an actress?”

“Depending on the occasion, I can do either,” Měi giggled, cozying up against Torque.

Torque kissed her cheek and released a shuddering sigh of relief. She hadn’t mentioned how she’d respond to any discussion about how she made a living, but he should have realized she’d have the matter well in hoof. Quick witted, stunning, and with a forked, silver tongue, she was always a delight to be around, irrespective of what form she was in.

“Well I think that’s - Oh!” Vise chirped, leaning back as their server trotted to the tableside.

After ensuring everypony got their proper order, Swift looked to his guests. “Forgive me for not allowing you time to browse the menu. Far be it for me to make an order for you all, but the carbonara is, in my opinion, one of the finest dishes we have available,” he intoned. Being greeted with nods of approval, he motioned to the waiter. “Four orders of the house special.”

“And can we get some cheesy bread?” Vise excitedly asked.

“And two orders of grissini,” Swift added with a smile.

With their salads and beverages arrival, followed by the server’s departure, the quartet began to halfheartedly eat. Torque couldn’t speak for everypony seated, but he thought the salad was fantastic. The vinegar-based dressing, fresh croutons, and crisp vegetables were almost enough to bring their conversation to an end - almost.

The four continued to chat while they happily munched away, their discussion wandering from one topic to another as such aimless talks were wont to do, and everypony was in good spirits. While Torque had initially been apprehensive about the meeting, uncertain of how well he’d deal with his sister and her gargantuan coltfriend, his concerns were proved unwarranted - if anything, he found himself facing a wholly unexpected problem. Chewing and swallowing a mouthful of greens, he looked away from Měi as quickly as her eyes turned toward him.

He’d set off that evening bracing himself to spend some time with Vise, girding his loins and constantly telling himself not to ogle her or make things awkward, yet he’d ended up fixating on his marefriend instead. Měi’s smile was infectious, her eyes glimmered like a pair of gemstones, and her body - heavens above, even doing something as simple as sitting in her chair, she was hard not to look at. As the main course arrived, he flinched when something soft caressed his thigh.

“Enjoying yourself?” Měi sweetly inquired.

Having just shoveled a forkful of the creamy pasta into his muzzle, he tentatively nodded. “Mmm-hmm-ph?!”

He nearly choked, aspirating on the bite when her hoof crept up his leg and to his loins. It would have been impossible for anypony to see what was happening beneath the tablecloth, thank Celestia, but the sudden, amorous touch was enough to have him make a spectacle of himself. Beating his hoof against his chest, he fumbled for his water.

Vise shook her head and reassuringly patted Swift’s shoulder, seeing the giant’s concern. “He’s fine. Torque, it’s not a race!”

“I - Cough - I know,” Torque wheezed, finally getting the offending morsel down. “It is really good though.”

“Thank you,” Swift hummed. “I’ll be sure to -”

“Tch,” somepony clucked from behind them.

Looking past Torque, Swift grimaced. “Is there a problem?”

Torque turned and looked over his shoulder, following the unicorn’s gaze to a table seating a pair of ponies. The duo were clearly of blueblood, exceedingly well dressed and with a bottle of chilled, expensive-looking champagne resting between them, and they looked none too pleased. Wondering what had them out of sorts, he only eventually realized what - rather whom had spurred their ire.

Glancing back at Měi, he scowled and turned his attention back to the posh couple. He wasn’t normally one to doubt his instincts, but he prayed his intuition was wrong about the duo - if it wasn’t, he’d be hard pressed not to make an actual scene. He coughed into his hoof, caught the pair’s eyes, and quickly sought to address the matter personally.

As the mare at the table went to speak, the stallion shook his head and turned away. “Pay them no mind, dear.”

Swift snorted, appearing no less disgruntled than he had moments prior. “Pardon me for asking, but is something wrong?”

Acting like nothing was the matter, ignoring both Swift and Torque, the couple went back to their meal - at least they tried to get back to their meal. Ignoring somepony was easy to do at a distance, but it became considerably more difficult when said somepony was suddenly standing just beside you. Having to crane his neck up to look at the earth pony towering over him, the stallion scrunched his snout.

“Garçon,” the pony called, waving down a passing waiter.

“You got something to say, bub?” Torque asked, staring down the uppity pony.

“Bub?” the stallion scoffed. “I’ll have you know, I’m Cavallo - Sir Cavallo.”

Leaning in and causing the stallion to recoil, Torque sneered. “I don’t care. If you have a problem with my marefriend, I’ll -”

“Thank you, Torque, but I’ll handle this,” Swift hummed, placing a hoof on Torque’s chest and gently pulling him back. “My apologies, sir and madam, but you may not have heard me a moment ago. What happens to be the problem?”

Looking the unicorn up and down, Cavallo glowered. “And whom might you be?”

“I, my good stallion, am the proprietor of this fine restaurant,” Swift coldly stated, “and it appears as though there’s a dilemma that needs tending to.”

The stallion smiled smugly as he looked to Torque then Měi. “Darn right there is. For starters, I don’t appreciate having some hooligan confronting my wife and I while we’re trying to eat our meal,” he huffed. “Secondly, I was unaware that the Broiler allowed certain things to be served,” he continued, his voice dripping with contempt and his eyes settling on the changeling.

Torque clenched his jaw, his blood ran hot, and he tensed. Though his attitude had been tempered over the years, there was a hoofful of things that never failed to set him off. Staving off the temptation to do something that would only end up getting him in a heap of trouble, he held his ground when Swift tried to push him back.

Momentarily looking at the fuming earth pony, Swift frowned. “It appears as though you’re correct, Sir Cavallo, there has been a transgression. The Broiler prides itself in providing the best of service to the fine ponies of Maretropolis, although there are things we will not tolerate.”

“Too right,” Cavallo grunted.

“That is why I will politely ask you to leave,” Swift calmly continued. “Ma’am, you’re free to stay if you so choose, but we do not condone bigotry in this establishment.

The stallion’s jaw nearly hit the floor while his eyes widened. “You…you can’t be serious!”

“Oh I’m quite serious,” Swift chuckled. “If leaving of your own volition is an issue, I’m sure my friend here would be more than happy to assist in seeing you to the door ~ right, Torque?”

Smiling broadly, admittedly a bit too pleased with the turn of events, Torque rolled his head and cracked his neck. “I’m pretty sure I could manage that…”

“B…but…how could - Fine,” Cavallo finally blared, throwing his napkin on the table and bolting to his hooves. “Darling, we’re leaving!”

The mare, presumably his mistress or possibly much younger wife, hung her head while she mutely stood. She hadn’t done anything wrong per se, and Torque hadn’t the slightest clue as to the content of her character, yet the fact that she hadn’t said a word and was blindly following the stallion’s orders left a bad taste in his mouth. If she had an ounce of common sense in her head, she’d give the noble a piece of her mind or reconsider her relationship with him.

Watching the pair make their way out, he jumped when he received a pat on the back. As he turned his head and met Swift’s gaze, noting the approving look on the unicorn’s face, his opinion of the giant shifted. While he wasn’t about to go singing the stallion’s praises or anything, he wasn’t going to let a genuinely good deed go unrecognized.

“Darn good on you for that,” he groused, begrudgingly clapping the titan’s shoulder.

Swift gave the smallest nod of approval as he turned and proceeded back to his chair. “I could say the same to you, though you could have let me handle it…”

“And let you have all the fun?” Torque laughed, returning to his seat. “Come on, that pompous ass was talking about my marefriend.”

“Be that as it may, you should be wary of such heroics,” the unicorn amiably tutted. “Were I not here or had that stallion been with company, you may have gotten yourself in a scrap.”

Beaming over at Měi, Torque winked. “It’d be worth it.”

“Keep an eye on him, Měi,” Vise teased, “he can be a hothead.”

“What?” Torque asked, his expression faltering as he stared at the changeling.

Měi hadn’t said a thing, sitting motionless and watching him throughout the entire exchange - that was until that moment. With her eyes never wavering from his face, she leaned over and brought her muzzle to the side of his head. Was she going to chastise him for sticking up for her? Had the evening been ruined by the haughty, intolerant jerk? Did she suddenly want to leave? Remaining still, he gulped when her breath washed over his ear.

“My hero…” she whispered.

A thrilled shiver shot through him as she pulled away and pecked his snout. It wasn’t until he heard Vise giggling like a schoolfilly that he snapped from his stupor. Of course his sister would find the show of affection funny, even if she hadn’t heard what Měi had said, but he wasn’t about to give her any ammunition to get amusement at his expense.

The remainder of their meal passed by in a blur - not for lack of banter or disinterest by anypony’s part, but because he found it harder and harder not to fixate on his date. Her rapier wit, eloquence, and gorgeous good looks were enthralling, making it virtually impossible for him not to relish her company. By the time everypony had finished eating and were preparing to part ways, his thoughts lingered on her and her alone.

“Well it was an absolute pleasure meeting you, Měi,” Vise proclaimed, snaring the drone in a hug as soon as they drifted out onto the sidewalk.

Once the pegasus had released her, Swift stepped forward and offered his hoof to Torque. “Barring that small, unsavory interaction, I hope you enjoyed yourself.”

“I did,” Torque replied, firmly shaking the colossus’ hoof. “Thanks for covering the meal, by the way.”

“After the upset, it was the least I could do,” Swift chuckled.

“Don’t let him fool you,” Vise hissed, “he’s a big softy.”

Keeping his eyes on the unicorn, Torque sighed. “You better treat her right…”

Swift bowed and brought his horn to the sidewalk. “I wouldn’t do anything otherwise.”

“And you,” Vise chimed in, thrusting a wing over at Měi, “whatever you’re doing with my brother, keep it up - oh and don’t be afraid to give him a hard time.”

“I’ll do my best,” Měi tittered.

Warmly grinning at Měi, having said their adieus, Torque locked forelegs with her and trotted away. Everything had gone much, much better than he’d predicted, despite the little hiccups, and he couldn’t have been more pleased - still, his glee wasn’t purely from the dinner. As he kept pace with her, with her taking a slight lead, he found himself at a loss.

He wanted to tell her how incredible she was and how grateful he was that she’d agreed to go out with him, but he couldn’t find the words - worse still, she hadn’t spoken a word since they departed the restaurant. Troubling thoughts gradually began gnawing at him, bolstered by his insecurities and the fear that she’d been putting on an act in front of his sister. Though he tried his best to tell himself that he was worrying over nothing, his misgivings grew stronger with every step he took.

Stopping just outside a townhouse, she shrugged and faced him. “Thanks for the night out…”

“Don’t mention it,” he dully responded, barely managing to keep the melancholy at bay.

She swung her eyes over to him and tilted her head, doubtlessly sensing, if not seeing his unease. “Something on your mind?”

“You,” he confessed. “You’ve been running through it since I got up this morning.”

“I could say the same about you,” she breathed, breaking his gaze and halting in her tracks. “Torque, listen, you’re a good, sweet stallion. Are you sure that…”

Stopping beside her, he reached up and brought his forehoof under her chin. “Sure that what?”

“Sure that…” she sighed. “Sure that you want this - want me…?”

He stiffened, taken aback by the question. “What?”

“You know what you are,” she murmured, her voice barely audible as she cast her eyes to the ground, “and you know what I am.”

Snatching up her forehoof, he inched closer to her. “I don’t care! Měi, you’re amazing! I can’t get you out of my head, you’re stunning inside and out, and I really like you - like, like like you!”

She pulled her hoof back and turned away from him. “That’s…”

“We may not have met under the best circumstances, but you’re the first mare I’ve ever met who’s made me feel like this,” he persisted, trotting around to her face. “I don’t know what else I can say to convince you otherwise.”

Holding his breath, he waited for a reply that didn’t come. Maybe he really was a client to her, or she could have just felt pity on him - in either case, her silence spoke volumes. With a crushing woe settling upon him, understanding that the fun evening would be the first and last he’d have with her, he turned, took a step, and felt something tug on his vest.

As he looked back and her eyes, she released him. “You really mean that ~ don’t you…?”

There were a thousand things he could have said, from waxing poetic about her elegance to the way the mere thought of her brought a smile to his face, but he let his actions speak for him. Shooting forward and wrapping a foreleg around her neck, he locked lips with her. The dessert from their meal had been lovely, but the sensation of her returning the kiss was sweeter still.

She stumbled back, threw a forehoof to her purse, and blindly fumbled for her keys as she drove her tongue into his maw. It was a wonder that she was able to unlock and open the front door, yet she did just that. Nearly falling into her foyer while they made out, the pair’s passion soared.

Torque may not have been a changeling, but he could tell how much she wanted this. Kicking the door closed behind him, he pulled back and left a strand of saliva connecting him to her. He’d never wanted anything more in his life than her; she’d saved him from himself, steering him off a self-destructive past, and he saw her for what she truly was - a gift.

To his shock, no sooner than the door slammed shut, she threw herself upon him. They’d kissed more times than he could count, but this time was different. This wasn’t about bits, nor was it about showing a customer a good time - no, now she was showing a side of her truest colors. With startling strength, she shoved him against the wall and ignited her horn.

Though he didn’t see it, he heard the zipper at the back of her dress coming undone. The fabric over her shoulders slipped down, revealing her pitch-black hide, but he was given no time to appreciate it. Peppered with kisses that trailed down his jaw and to his collar, he peeked down when she tugged at the top button on his shirt.

“If - Huff- if you want to keep this in one piece, take it off,” she rasped, drawing her tongue up his neck.

He didn’t have to be told twice, awkwardly scrambling to remove his shirt and vest. Just like that, the powder keg of their feelings for one another exploded. Practically tearing at one another’s clothes while snickering and clumsily meandering into the living room, they left a trail of garments in their wake.

Beating him by a split second, she stepped out of her dress and threw him onto his back. He peered up at her in a daze, shaking off the brief dizziness of being tossed like a sack of potatoes, but all the heightened strength and speed in the world wouldn’t have been enough to save him. She lowered her hips as she stepped over him, dragging her slavering marehood against his rapidly hardening length while she brought her face to his.

“Too slow,” she cooed.

Giving him no time to recover and unbothered by the open shirt he still wore, she rocked back and steadily impaled herself upon him. The sensation of her velvety, succulent confines were every bit as amazing as ever, although the sight of her atop him was what inspired him to act. Gliding his hooves up her plump thighs, he braced his hind legs and bucked his hips.

She threw her head back and gave a guttural moan while he drove her body upward, yet the thrust he delivered was but the first of many. Falling into a steady rhythm, he basked in her splendor. The sight of her heavy bosoms wobbling on her abdomen, the peek of her harlequin depths clinging to his stallionhood, the velvety sensation of her marehood milking his length, the scent of her arousal - in every appreciable sense of the word, she was a feast for the senses.

Not to be outdone, only allowing him full control for a minute or two, she put her body to work. Slamming her hips down to meet his upward plunges, she slammed her ass against his waist with a fury all her own. It was far from the first time they’d shared such an amorous exchange, and he knew it would be far from the last, yet the zeal she displayed was unlike anything he’d seen from her.

“Hah!” she panted, draping herself on his chest, “H…harder…”- then

He was happy to oblige, tightening his grip and ratcheting up the intensity. Having abilities that put him on a different level than most ponies was a bit of a double-edged sword, yet one of the fringe benefits of being stronger and faster than most was that his performance in the bedroom was beyond what many could ever dream to attain. Listening to her voice crack and raise an octave, and taking pride in the way her thighs quivered from his ministrations, he brought a forehoof to her cheek.

There was one thing he could do to sweeten the deal, something that anypony save one of her kind may not be able to truly appreciate. Lifting her chin, he leaned in and locked lips with her yet again. He truly did care for her, cherishing every magnificent thing about her, and his passion for her flung her past the brink of what she could endure.

Shakily snaking a foreleg around the back of his head, she held him and whimpered into his muzzle. The hot spray of her climactic nectar against his pistoning shaft and loins was rewarding to a fault, though he didn’t slow because of it - on the contrary, he made him hasten his pace. If carrying her off to her bed would prove how much he longed to be with her, that would be a laughably small price to pay.

With their tongues entwined, they made wild, unapologetic love to one another right there on the living room floor. In spite of all their differences, from their species and pasts to their way of living, a spark had been kindled between them. As he drew closer and closer to his limit, having made her cum no fewer than three times, he pulled back and clenched his jaw.

“Fill me,” she sweetly hissed. “Make me yours and - Aaaagh!”

Her sinful plea was the straw that broke the camel’s back, shattering what little self-composure he’d been able to cling to. Clamping his eyes shut and giving a blissful roar, he hilted her and filled her with his essence. Never before had he claimed her while she was in her true form, but that was going to change.

Heaving air into his chest, slick with sweat and sensual juices, he peered up at her contented, smiling face. “I l…lov-”

“Sssssssh,” she breathed, silencing him by tenderly pressing a forehoof to his lips. “Save that for the morning.”

Though he was thrown off, he gave a tentative little nod. “Does that mean…”

“I feel the same way for you,” she uttered under her breath as she closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, “but I don’t want to jinx it…”

He could appreciate the sentiment, but that raised a question. “What now?”

“Now - Nnngh,” she grunted, unsteadily standing and freeing herself from his semi-rigid length. “Now we should have a shower and -”

“And cuddle in bed?” he interjected.

Her blush returned with a vengeance, she lowered her gaze, and she ground her thighs together like a lovestruck filly. “I’d…yes. I’d love nothing more.”

Pushing himself up, more giddy than - well, more giddy than he could ever remember being, he cautiously slipped under her, got her onto his shoulders, and looked back at her. “What way’s your room?”

“That way,” she responded, pointing toward a darkened hallway while smiling like a fool.

He set off briskly, carrying her as though she weighed nothing. “Do you - um - mind if I crash here tonight?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she whispered while caressing his neck, “my hero…”