Ring the Bell

Rainbow and Hammer walked side by side, the cool evening air brushing against their coats and whipping their manes. Hammer's steps wavered slightly, the lingering effects of his concussion were visible, though he did his best to mask it. Rainbow wasn’t fooled however and her violet eyes darted towards him every few seconds to make sure he was still on his hooves. “You still okay?” she asked, concern laid just beneath the surface.

“Pretty good, yeah.” Hammer replied with a casual shrug that betrayed his wobble. His gaze wandered as they passed a row of storefronts until it landed on a particularly elegant building. His steps faltered. It was a well-lit building, his gaze caught by its elegant facade. The glowing sign above read The Golden Bridle. He stopped completely, taking in the sight. “The Golden Bridle, huh?”

Rainbow followed his gaze, her cheeks flushing the moment she realized where he was looking. “Oh, that place is super expensive.” she said quickly, hoping to steer him away. “We can just get some hayburgers or something.”

Hammer blinked at her, his expression unfocused yet cheerful, like someone lost in a pleasant daydream. “Expensive, huh?” His eyes drifted back to the restaurant. “Yeah, let’s eat here.”

Rainbow’s wings twitched as her blush deepened. “Wait! Are you sure? I mean—”

“Well, have you been?” Hammer interrupted, his tone curious rather than teasing.

“No!” she blurted, then hesitated. “I mean, you’re supposed to go with your… well… with somepony special...” She trailed off, her voice quieter as her blush became impossible to ignore.

Hammer grinned at that, a lopsided, dazed grin that only made her more flustered. “Then we’re in luck! We’ve got you.” Without waiting for her response, he started toward the entrance, his gait uneven but determined.

Rainbow groaned, dragging a hoof down her face before following, looking around to make sure there weren’t any prying eyes before she trotted after him. “You’re impossible, you know that?” Hammer shrugged in response.

The restaurant’s interior was breathtaking. Soft candlelight illuminated plush seats and polished tables adorned with fresh flowers and elegant silverware. The gentle strains of a string quartet filled the air, weaving a melody that was equal parts soothing and romantic. Most of the patrons were couples, leaning close to share whispers or affectionate nuzzles.

Rainbow swallowed hard as they approached the host. This is way too fancy… and way too romantic, she thought, swallowing hard. But Hammer seemed blissfully oblivious.

A host, a refined-looking earth pony with a slicked-back mane, approached with a friendly smile. “Hello, welcome to the Golden Bridle,” he greeted warmly. “Just two tonight?” He looked Hammer up and down, the skeleton spandex, the dried blood in his mane, that imposing stature. He gulped a little.

“Yes.” Hammer said, a bit louder than necessary, his enthusiasm cutting through the subdued ambiance. “Booth if you have it.”

Hearing the friendly voice from the giant washed away the host’s nerves, “Of course, sir. Great costume, by the way.” The host grabbed two menus and led them to a cozy booth by a window. It offered a view of the cobblestone street outside, but Rainbow barely noticed, her focus instead on the couple in the neighboring booth. Those two ponies were affectionately nuzzling, lost in their own little world of romantic bliss. Rainbow started sweating.

Rainbow took a deep breath and slid into her seat across from Hammer, her ears pinning back slightly as her face turned crimson. The whole atmosphere was so… intimate.

Her blush deepened as she finally settled into place, sinking into the plush seat. She fidgeted with the edge of the tablecloth, stealing glances at Hammer, who had plopped down across from her with an almost childlike grin.

“Your server will be with you shortly.” the host said with a courteous nod before leaving.

Hammer’s gaze lingered on Rainbow, the soft candlelight danced across her face, highlighting her violet eyes and the faint blush still lingering on her cheeks. For a moment, he forgot about his aching head. He sighed, leaning back with a contented expression that made her heart flutter despite herself. Meanwhile, she squirmed, caught between wanting to break the tension and not wanting to draw attention to it.

“So…” Rainbow finally said, her voice cutting through the soft hum of the restaurant. “Any particular reason you insisted on coming here?” Her tone was casual, but her feelings were dancing around like crazy in her chest.

Hammer shrugged, his dazed smile never wavering, clearly unaware of her internal struggle. “Do I need a reason? I just wanted to take you out to a nice dinner.”

Rainbow’s feathers ruffled and her wings threatened to flare as she sat straighter. “But what do you mean by ‘take me out’? Is this like a d—?”

“Hello, you two!” a cheerful unicorn interrupted, appearing beside the table with a notepad levitating in his magic. “My name’s Ashwood Peppercorn, and I’ll be your server this evening. Have you decided on drinks yet?”

Hammer blinked, startled, then scrambled to look at the menu. “Uh… I’ll have the Berry Harvest Splash, thanks.”

Rainbow skimmed the menu quickly. “And I’ll take the house cider.” she said, then hesitated, shifting her glance toward Hammer. “Classic, not hard.” she added with a sigh. Responsibility won out, as usual.

Ashwood nodded, jotting down their choices with a flourish. “Perfect! I’ll be right back with those.”

As Ashwood departed, Rainbow debated circling back to her earlier question. Her eyes rested on her hooves where her weight shifted under her nerves. She opened her mouth to speak, looking back up, but before she could say anything, she noticed Hammer inspecting the table’s decorative flower arrangement. He sniffed at the vase, curious, his head approached slowly and bit the flower off.

His expression turned sour as he spat it back onto his hoof. “Ugh, decorative.” He hissed, wiping the flower onto the handkerchief.

Rainbow blinked, then burst into laughter, the sound clear and melodic amidst the quiet atmosphere. Hammer grinned at her, his eyes brightening at the sound. “What? It’s not my fault they made them look so real.”

Rainbow’s laughter softened into a chuckle as she shook her head. “You’re such a goofball.”

“Maybe.” Hammer said with a shrug, his gaze lingering on her. “But you like it.”

Rainbow’s laughter trailed off as Ashwood returned with their drinks, carefully setting them on the table. “One Berry Harvest Splash and one classic house cider.” he said with a flourish. “Ready to order, or would you like a few more minutes?”

Hammer glanced at Rainbow, giving her that same dopey, lopsided smile. “You ready, Dash?”

Rainbow blinked at him, caught a little off guard by the casual nickname in such a fancy place. She quickly nodded, burying her flustered thoughts behind the menu. “Yeah, I’ll take the Wildflower Honey-Glazed Carrots.” she said.

“Great choice.” Ashwood replied, scribbling it down.

“And I’ll have the Daisy-Stuffed Ravioli.” Hammer added, leaning back against the plush booth seat with a satisfied nod.

“Excellent!” Ashwood said with a smile. “I’ll get those started for you. Let me know if you need anything in the meantime.”

As the server disappeared, Rainbow wrapped her hooves around her cider glass, her mind lingered on the question she had yet to get back around to asking. Her eyes flitted across the table to Hammer, who was taking a sip of his Berry Harvest Splash and squinting at it like it might bite him.

“Sweet.” he declared with a small wince before taking another sip. “Really sweet.”

Rainbow smirked. “What did you expect? It’s got ‘Berry Harvest’ in the name.”

Hammer chuckled and set the glass down. “I don’t know. Maybe something less… sugar-rushy.”

The way he grinned at her afterward, his expression so open and relaxed, made Rainbow’s stomach do a weird flip. He was looking at her like she was the most fascinating thing in the room, even with all the polished silver, the band and the flickering candles that surrounded them.

She cleared her throat and looked down into her drink. “So… uh, how’s your head feeling?”

“Huh?” Hammer blinked at her like he’d forgotten about the injury. “Oh, it’s fine. Feels like I’m walking through a fog, but no big deal.”

Rainbow frowned, her brows knitting together. “That sounds like a big deal to me. You’re lucky it’s just a concussion and not worse.”

Hammer waved a hoof dismissively, his grin undeterred. “Yeah, but I’m here, aren’t I? And you’re here. That’s all that matters.”

Rainbow’s face heated again, and she buried it behind her cider glass, taking a long sip to avoid responding.

Hammer didn’t seem to notice her flustered state. Instead, he leaned on the table with his chin propped in one hoof, studying her with a lazy, dreamy smile. “You look nice tonight.” he said suddenly.

Rainbow nearly choked on her cider. She coughed and set the glass down with a loud clink. “What?”

“You look nice.” Hammer repeated, like it was the most natural thing in the world. He gestured vaguely at her mane. “The way the light hits your mane, it’s, uh… cool. Pretty cool.”

Rainbow stared at him, her heart thudding in her chest. She couldn’t tell if he was deliberately flirting or if the concussion was just having him spout whatever came to mind. Either way, it was making her pulse race quicker by the second.

Before she could figure out how to respond, their food arrived, the plates arranged beautifully with vibrant colors and delicate garnishes. Rainbow had never seen carrots look so fancy in her life.

“Wow. Fast service.” Hammer said, eyes wide as he took in his ravioli. “This is way too fancy for me.”

Rainbow snorted, grateful for the distraction. “No kidding. I feel like I should be wearing a dress or something.”

Hammer tilted his head, considering her with that same dreamy look like he was picturing it. A small smile crossed his face. “I bet you’d look great in a dress.”

Rainbow’s fork froze halfway to her mouth. “Uh…” She blinked rapidly, her wings twitching against her sides. Hammer’s eyes lingered on her wings for a moment, making her blush harder. “Thanks… I guess.”

Hammer, still oblivious, as was the theme of the night, dug into his ravioli with gusto. “This is good.” he said through a mouthful, gesturing to her plate with his fork. “How’s yours?”

Rainbow took a bite of her carrots and nodded. “Pretty good. Definitely not hayburgers, though.”

“Hayburgers are great, don’t get me wrong.” Hammer said with a grin, then swallowed his bite. “But sometimes you gotta splurge a little, right?”

Rainbow hesitated, watching him as he took another bite, completely at ease. He wasn’t trying to be romantic, she realized, not overtly, at least. He was just… Hammer. Honest, unguarded, and somehow effortlessly charming.

The thought made her blush harder, and she quickly returned her attention to her plate, determined not to let her feelings show. This wasn’t a date, she reminded herself. It was just dinner.

But as the evening went on, with Hammer continuing to smile at her like she was the only pony in the room, Rainbow found it harder and harder to believe her own words.

Before long, the plates were cleared, save for a few crumbs and the faint aroma of their meal lingering in the air. Rainbow sat back, swirling the last of her cider in her glass as she looked across the table. Hammer leaned against the booth with a contented sigh, the dazed but happy smile he’d worn all evening still firmly in place.

“You know,” he said lazily, his hoof tracing a little circle on the tablecloth, “this place is nice. But I think it’s you that really makes it feel special.”

Rainbow snorted, trying not to let his words fluster her. “You really know how to lay it on thick, huh?”

Hammer blinked, his expression confused. “What do you mean?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Nothing. Forget it.”

“I really like being around you.” he added softly, his voice steady but sincere. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this relaxed. Or… this happy. You just make everything feel lighter”

Rainbow stared at him, momentarily lost for words. The warmth in her chest spread, and she felt an uncharacteristic flicker of nervousness. “Hammer, I—”

Before she could finish, a sharp, familiar voice rang out across the restaurant. “Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow’s head whipped around, her heart sinking as she spotted Applejack stomping toward their table. The orange mare’s green eyes blazed with a mix of anger and something else—hurt, maybe. Behind her, the flustered host tried and failed to intercept her.

“What in tarnation are you doin’ here?” Applejack demanded, her voice loud enough to turn every head in the restaurant. Even the musicians froze.

Rainbow blinked, her wings instinctively flaring at her sides. “AJ? What—what are you doing here?”

“What am Ah doin’ here?” Applejack shot back, her tone incredulous. “That’s my question for you, Rainbow Dash! You’ve been in town all weekend and haven’t lifted a hoof to help me on the farm! I’ve been workin’ my tail off while you’re out here havin’ candlelit dinners! I asked for your help and you said you would if you could! I told you we were behind, Rainbow!”

Rainbow groaned, rubbing the back of her neck. “AJ, I wasn’t even in town until today. I was training with the Wonderbolts.”

“Then why were you at a haunted house yesterday?” Applejack snapped, her eyes narrowing in accusation, “A haunted house we help fund!”

Hammer grit his teeth. He clearly wasn’t aware of that. Should’ve just gone to the clowns. Rainbow froze, the excuse dying in her throat. “Uh, I—”

Applejack stepped closer to the table, her voice rising. “You lied to me! Again! You were runnin’ around yesterday, hidin’ from me, Ah bet, and today you’re here, actin’ like life’s all fun and games, while I’ve been breakin’ my back all day to keep things goin’!”

Hammer flinched, lowering his head slightly as her loud, angry words seemed to strike him like blows. He pressed a hoof to his temple, his face scrunching in discomfort. Rainbow caught the motion and frowned, her protective instincts kicking in. “Applejack, enough!” she snapped, rising halfway out of her seat.

Applejack’s eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed. “Enough? Don’t you dare tell me to back off, Rainbow Dash! You’ve been ignorin’ me for weeks now—always takin’ off and hidin’ when Ah ask for help! And now look at you, sittin’ here in a fancy restaurant with him—” She jabbed her hoof toward Hammer, who shrank back, his ears pinning against his skull.

Hammer tried to speak, his voice strained. “Applejack, I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t you talk to me!” Applejack snapped, her voice cracking slightly. “This ain’t about you! This is about her and how she’s always puttin’ herself first! She acts like she’s got the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she’s really just a selfish, immature—”

“Stop it!” Rainbow’s shout only drew more attention. She rose fully now, her wings flared wide, her chest heaving with anger and frustration. Her eyes were fierce, but her voice trembled as she continued. “You don’t get to talk to me like that, Applejack. You don’t!” Her voice trembled with anger and something deeper—betrayal. Applejack blinked, stunned into silence, but Rainbow didn’t stop.

“You think I’m selfish? Fine! Maybe I am!” Rainbow shouted, stepping around the table and standing between Hammer and Applejack. “But guess what? Not everyone wants to spend their weekend bucking apples or pulling weeds or whatever you think is so important! Maybe my idea of fun isn’t working myself to the bone for your farm!”

Applejack’s face twisted with hurt, but Rainbow wasn’t done.

“And yeah, I like Hammer!” Rainbow’s voice cracked, her cheeks burning. “He’s a really cool pony, and if you can’t handle that, then maybe we aren’t as good of friends as I thought!”

The words hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. Applejack’s eyes glistened, her lips trembling as she fought to respond. Finally, she shook her head, her voice soft but filled with pain. “Fine. You do whatever makes you happy, Rainbow. Don’t let me stand in yer way.”

She turned and stormed out, her hooves clattering against the restaurant floor. Through the window, Rainbow saw Rarity waiting with the Crusaders, her mouth agape as Applejack barreled past her, tears streaming down her cheeks. Rarity shot them an apologetic glance before chasing after her.

Rainbow slumped back into her seat, her wings drooping as she buried her face in her hooves. The restaurant was still deathly quiet, the other patrons pretending not to stare while clearly listening to every word.

“I’m sorry.” she muttered, her voice muffled. “This was supposed to be a nice dinner…”

Hammer was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “It’s not your fault, Dash.” His voice was softer now, a little heavy. “I… I didn’t mean to cause problems.”

Rainbow glanced up at him and felt her chest tighten at the look on his face. He was upset with himself, like he thought that he was the problem, the reason for the fight. She slowly reached across the table, resting her hoof on his. The touch made him blink, his ears perking slightly as he looked at her. She blushed a little.

“It’s not you.” she said firmly, her voice gentle. “AJ’s just… complicated. Let’s get out of here, okay? You need to rest. Come to my place—I can keep an eye on you better there. Plus, you can see Tank. And it’ll be a lot quieter.”

Hammer stared at her for a moment before nodding, a small, grateful smile tugging at his lips. “I’d like that.” The musicians started to play again.

She smiled back, her hoof still on his as he flagged down Ashwood to pay the bill. Even as the weight of the confrontation lingered, Rainbow felt a small sense of relief. Whatever else happened, she wasn’t going to let Hammer feel like this was his fault—and she wasn’t going to let Applejack’s anger ruin the night entirely.

Rainbow Dash’s wings beat steadily, pushing a cloud with Hammer perched on top of it toward her floating home. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the towering structure ahead. When they crested the final gust of wind, Hammer’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening as he took in the spectacle before him.

“Sweet Celestia.” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Rainbow grinned at his reaction, her chest puffing with pride. Her home stood tall, a three-story castle perched high above Ponyville. Cascading fountains of liquid rainbow poured from one level to the next, creating streams that wove around the base. Above it all, a massive rainbow shot from the roof, its colors so vibrant they seemed almost magical in the fading light.

“Like it? I made it myself.” Rainbow said, her tone casual but her expression radiating pride.

Hammer blinked, nodding slowly as he found his voice. “It’s…awesome.” He cautiously stepped off the smaller cloud and onto the soft, plush surface of her lawn. His hooves sank slightly, the sensation strange but not unpleasant.

Rainbow led him toward a shimmering pool of liquid rainbow near the entrance. Hammer peered over the edge, his reflection distorted by the swirling colors. “You ever seen liquid rainbow?” she asked, dipping her hoof into the vibrant pool. “This is what rainbows are made of.” Without hesitation, she brought her hoof to her mouth, licking it clean. “It actually tastes pretty good.”

Hammer hesitated but curiosity got the better of him. Mimicking her, he dipped his hoof in and gave it a tentative lick. His eyes widened as the flavor hit his tongue—mildly spicy with subtle notes of hickory, citrus, and a surprising floral sweetness. He wasn’t great with spice, but this was an entirely new flavor. He liked it.

“This is…really good.” he admitted, genuine surprise in his voice. Rainbow’s grin widened as she turned toward her home, glancing back over her shoulder.

“You coming?”

Hammer gave the pool one last glance before following her inside. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, though in a different way. The open space seemed to flow like the breezes Rainbow Dash thrived in. On one side of the room was a compact kitchen, complete with cloud-crafted appliances that made Hammer’s head tilt in mild confusion. He found himself wondering how a stove made of clouds could possibly work but quickly brushed the thought aside. Magic’s gonna magic. The center of the room held a sturdy table with four chairs, each one also formed from clouds, and across from the kitchen was a cozy living area. A fluffy cloud couch dominated the space, and on it rested a familiar shell.

Tank’s head popped out at the sound of their arrival, his propeller buzzing to life as he lifted off the couch and zipped over to greet Rainbow first. The tortoise licked her cheek affectionately as she pet his shell, a faint blush dusting her face.

“Hi, Tank. I’m happy to see you too, bud.” she said softly, her voice more tender than Hammer had heard before.

After a moment, Tank turned toward Hammer, his propeller whirring as he flew over excitedly. Hammer grinned wide, laughing as Tank nuzzled against him. “Hey there, big guy! Long time, no see.”

Tank’s enthusiasm only grew as Hammer began scratching his shell and giving him belly rubs, the tortoise going completely limp with satisfaction. “Who’s a good turtle? Oh, you are. Yes, you are!” Hammer cooed, his grin widening as Rainbow groaned.

“Tortoise.” she corrected, rolling her eyes but smirking as she headed for the stairs. “Come on, you’ve got to see the rest of the place.”

“Turtle.” Hammer replied nonchalantly, not even glancing up as he gave Tank a few final pats on the head before following Rainbow up the stairs.

The second floor was both practical and impressive. Rainbow gestured proudly to a small gym area filled with workout equipment. Weights of various sizes were stacked neatly, and a treadmill occupied one corner. Hammer tilted his head curiously, stepping closer to the weights. Unlike most of the furniture downstairs, these weren’t made of clouds. He raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly. “How do real weights even stay up here?”

Rainbow smirked. “Some spell Twilight put on them. Need to stay in tip-top shape in my line of work.” She flexed her wings for emphasis, causing Hammer to laugh and shake his head, though his eyes did linger on those structured feathered appendages as she continued up the stairs.

Rainbow led him to the third floor, and Hammer felt his steps falter as they reached the door to her bedroom. He stopped, his gaze shifting nervously between the door and the floor beneath his hooves. Rainbow turned back, raising an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her tone light but her expression curious.

Hammer hesitated, his ears flicking back as he cleared his throat. “It’s just…this is my first time in a mare’s room.” he admitted, his cheeks heating up. “Feels a little…weird, I guess.”

Rainbow blinked, her wings twitching slightly before a small, teasing grin spread across her face. “What, you think I’m hiding something scandalous in there?” she teased, nudging his shoulder lightly. “Come on, it’s just a room.”

Hammer chuckled nervously but followed her inside. The moment he stepped through the door, his eyes darted around, taking in the space. It was exactly what he expected from Rainbow Dash: trophies and Wonderbolt memorabilia lined the walls, and a shelf overflowed with books. Most of them were well-loved Daring Do novels, their spines creased and pages yellowing from repeated reads. A few newer books on flight techniques and anatomy were stacked neatly to the side, clearly less loved.

Scattered garments dotted the floor, and Rainbow zipped around, scooping them up in a blur. “Uh, sorry about the mess.” she said quickly, tossing them in a closet and closing it, her cheeks tinged pink. “I don’t usually wear clothes, so I forget they’re even there.”

Hammer chuckled, his own blush fading slightly as he relaxed. “Don’t worry about it. We’re all a little messy.” He gestured vaguely at himself, still clad in his bloodstained spandex suit, and Rainbow’s expression softened.

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, her wings twitched again before she cleared her throat and gestured toward a door on the far wall. “Speaking of messy, you really need a shower. Can you, uh…handle it yourself?”

Hammer smirked, trotting toward the bathroom. “I’m concussed, not handicapped.” he teased, glancing back at her. “Unless you’re offering…”

“In your dreams.” Rainbow snorted, making the stallion chuckle as she rolled her eyes.

“Can’t blame a stallion for trying.” He said and promptly turned towards her bathroom. Her gaze lingered on Hammer as he walked away, she watched how his spandex suit clung tightly to his frame, the fabric tracing every contour of his muscles. The powerful shoulders, the firm curve of his back, the way his legs flexed with each step—it all drew her attention in ways she wasn’t entirely comfortable with. Heat crept up her neck as she bit the inside of her cheek, trying to shake the thoughts forming in her head.

Her wings twitched, and she shook her head hard, snapping herself out of it. "Get a hold of yourself, Dash." she muttered under her breath, feeling the tips of her ears burn. As the sound of the shower starting drifted out from behind the bathroom door, Rainbow flopped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. "You’re not that kind of mare." she told herself firmly. But even as she tried to banish the images from her mind, a small, traitorous smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

With a groan, she rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. This was going to be a long night.

Soon enough, Hammer emerged from the bathroom, a towel draped across his back and his mane still damp, clinging to his neck and face in uneven strands. Rainbow Dash glanced up from her spot on the bed, Tank snuggled against her side. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but her gaze lingered on the way the water darkened his coat and how his mane framed his features, still damp. Something about the look made her heart skip a beat. It reminded her of something Twilight told her while reading one of her books on pony psychology—that you find the pony you love more attractive with a wet mane. The thought startled her, and she quickly glanced away, her cheeks warming.

“I left my spandex and boots in there.” Hammer said casually, snapping her back to reality. “Hope you don’t mind.”

Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively, hoping her face didn’t betray her thoughts. “That’s fine.” she said quickly, focusing on stroking Tank’s shell to ground herself.

Hammer moved further into the room, his steps slightly unsteady. “So... where am I sleeping?” he asked, looking around with curious eyes.

“The bed.” Rainbow answered firmly, sitting up a little straighter. Hammer’s ears twitched, and he opened his mouth to protest, but Rainbow cut him off with a sharp look. She furrowed her brows, getting this cute little wrinkle on her nose and she crossed her forelegs, her expression brooking no argument. “I’m watching you because of your concussion, and I want you to rest easy. Now take. The. Bed.”

Hammer blinked at her for a moment, taken aback. Then, to her surprise, he broke into a soft grin, his gaze warm and a little dazed. “Yes ma’am.” he said with playful obedience. Rainbow raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by how easily he relented. As he made his way toward the bed, his focus seemed to wander, and he stopped halfway, looking at her. “Where are you gonna sleep?” he asked, his tone genuinely curious.

Rainbow hesitated, realizing she hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Huh. I don’t know,” she admitted, glancing around the room as if the answer might present itself.

Before she could come to a decision, Hammer reached the edge of the bed and flopped down dramatically, letting out a contented groan. He rolled onto his back, then onto his side, twisting this way and that like a colt enjoying a soft patch of grass. “Celestia’s mane,” he muttered, his voice muffled by the mattress. “This bed is so comfy. I don’t think anything in the world is this soft.”

Rainbow couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him sprawled out like an oversized puppy. “Probably not.” she said, shaking her head as he rolled onto his back again, staring at the ceiling with a dazed smile.

Hammer turned towards her and propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze finding hers. “I mean, you have to watch over me, right?” he asked.

Rainbow nodded, unsure where he was going with this.

“Then join me here.” he said with a casual shrug. “I don’t bite. Usually.” He gave her a cheeky grin, his voice dropping playfully. “Fair warning, though—I am a cuddler.”

Rainbow’s cheeks went crimson, and she quickly looked away, brushing Tank’s shell more aggressively than needed. This is just because of the concussion, she told herself firmly. Hammer didn’t mean anything by it—he was clearly still loopy. But the thought of sharing the bed with him made her wings twitch nervously.

“I mean, it’s not like you’re gonna sleep on the floor, right?” Hammer said, shifting his position as he scooted toward the pillows. He flopped down beside her, settling in comfortably. “C’mon, Dash. You’ve got nowhere else to go, and you’re not gonna make me sleep alone up here, are you?”

Rainbow groaned inwardly. He wasn’t wrong. The couch was two floors down, and the thought of flying out to find another cloud at this hour made her wings ache in protest. She sighed, finally giving in. “Okay.” she muttered, though the word was barely audible. “Just don’t try anything funny.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Hammer forced through a yawn. She climbed into the bed beside him, stiff and awkward as she adjusted the covers. Her wings fidgeted at her sides as she tried not to think about how close he was or how warm his presence felt. This is just to keep an eye on him, she repeated to herself. That’s all.

Hammer grinned, looking far too pleased with himself for this small victory. Rainbow hesitated for a moment before settling in next to him, careful to keep a bit of distance. Tank crawled up onto her chest as she pulled the covers over them, his weight grounding her as her mind raced. She tried to focus on anything else, but the warmth of Hammer’s body next to her was impossible to ignore.

“Goodnight, Dashie.” Hammer murmured, his voice soft and affectionate, as if the nickname were the most natural thing in the world.

Rainbow froze. Dashie? Hearing him use Pinkie Pie’s nickname for her, and in such an affectionate tone, made her heart leap into her throat. She glanced at him, but he was already out cold, his breathing soft and even.

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, her blush deepening as her eyes traced the outline of his frame beneath the covers. He looked peaceful, his brown coat illuminated faintly by the moonlight filtering through the window. Her thoughts began to wander, drifting into dangerous territory, but she quickly cut them off, giving herself a firm mental shake. Get a hold of yourself, Dash.

With a final sigh, she leaned back into the pillows, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as she tried to calm her racing thoughts. “Goodnight, Hammer.” she whispered at last, her voice soft as she let her eyes close. The warmth of him beside her and the steady rhythm of his breathing soon lulled her toward sleep.