Chapter Text
Fluttershy swore her heart wasn’t supposed to beat this fast just from standing next to Rainbow Dash.
The mall was busy today. Noisy chatter, footsteps clacking against tile, the faint melody of a pop song playing over the speakers, but all of it blurred into the background because Rainbow Dash was standing right next to her. And she smelled nice. Like… strawberries? No, something sportier. Like those fresh, breezy-scented deodorants she always saw in the store. Not that she was paying attention to what deodorant Rainbow used. That would be weird.
“Oh, uh, you okay?” Rainbow asked, raising a brow.
Fluttershy jolted. Oh no. She had been staring at her!
“I-I’m fine!” she squeaked, voice cracking. “Totally fine! Why wouldn’t I be fine?”
Rainbow squinted at her suspiciously before shrugging. “Dunno. You just looked kinda out of it. Anyway, wanna get smoothies or what?”
“Yes!” Fluttershy said way too quickly. “I mean—yes, smoothies sound nice.” Her face burned. She could feel it. She probably looked like a tomato.
Rainbow just grinned, nudging her shoulder. “Relax, Flutters. It’s just smoothies, not a pop quiz.”
Fluttershy nodded, gripping the straps of her purse so tightly her knuckles turned white. Just smoothies. Just Rainbow Dash. Just her crush she had no idea how to confess to.
They reached the smoothie stand, and Rainbow immediately started scanning the menu. Fluttershy, meanwhile, was too busy internally panicking. Should I pay for Rainbow’s smoothie? Would that be too obvious? Or would it be sweet? But what if Rainbow didn’t want me to? Oh no, what if she thinks it’s weird?
“—Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy yelped. “Huh?”
Rainbow was staring at her again, looking half-amused, half-concerned. “You good? I asked what flavor you’re getting.”
“Oh! Um, mango-strawberry.”
“Solid choice,” Rainbow said approvingly before turning to the cashier. “I’ll get the same.”
Fluttershy blinked. “You like mango-strawberry?”
Rainbow shrugged, avoiding eye contact. “Yeah, it’s cool.”
But Fluttershy knew Rainbow’s go-to was usually something with blueberries or kiwis. Her heart skipped. Was Rainbow getting the same order as me on purpose? The smoothies arrived, and Fluttershy reached for her purse. “Oh! Let me pay—”
“Nah, I got it.” Rainbow beat her to it, already handing over the money.
Fluttershy gawked. Rainbow is paying for me?
Rainbow cleared her throat, rubbing the back of her neck. “I mean… you always, like, pay for everyone’s snacks and stuff, so… figured I’d return the favor. No big deal.”
Fluttershy felt like she might melt into a puddle right then and there. Her fingers curled around her cup as she ducked her head, smiling shyly. “Th-Thank you, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow looked away, sipping her smoothie in a very casual, definitely-not-flustered kind of way. “Yeah, no prob.”
They started walking again, but the air between them felt… different. Charged. Like an invisible string tugging them closer. Their hands brushed as they walked side by side, and Fluttershy swore she could hear a tiny gasp from Rainbow before she very quickly stuffed her free hand into her hoodie pocket.
Fluttershy’s face burned. She took a sip of her smoothie just to keep herself from grinning too hard.
This was… nice. Really, really nice.
Maybe, just maybe, Rainbow Dash liked her back