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Fire crackled in the hearth. Blankets spread the pointed heat into a fuzzy warmth against her flank. Twilight turned the page.
A bell rang as the library door opened.
“We’re closed,” announced Twilight.
The door closed. Hooves stomped in the entrance. Twilight looked up from her book.
“Oh, Fluttershy. Come on in.” They both glanced at the door. “Right. Forget I said anything. What brings you around tonight?”
Fluttershy removed her still snowy boots and unwound her scarf, hanging it beside the door. “I was in town and thought I’d come warm up with you before heading home. If that’s okay.”
“Sure. I was just reading anyway. The library’s been pretty dead and there’s no princessy stuff to do. You should see my reading list. It just keeps getting longer, and I’ve finally got a chance to knock it down a bit. Who knew that becoming a princess would eat into my spare time and stop me from curling up by the fire with a good book on a cold winter night? Don’t answer that. But not tonight. Now is the time to reclaim my evenings!”
Fluttershy giggled. “You know… when you go on like that…”
Twilight’s smile melted like the snow. Am I rambling again? I’m rambling aren’t I.
“You’re just adorable. I love that about you.”
The smile came right back. “Well, make yourself at home. I’ve got some hot tea in the kitchen. Help yourself. I’ll just be here with my books if you need anything.” She nodded toward the stack of books beside her blanketed nest on the rug.
Fluttershy’s eyes travelled up the stack. “That’s your reading list?”
“No. Well, yes, but only a small part of it. Just what I planned to work on tonight.”
“I don’t think I could read that much in a week.”
“It’s not like I plan to read the whole thing tonight.” Much quieter, Twilight added, “Just most of it. Until I fall asleep.”
“Mmhmm.” Fluttershy’s gaze lingered on the books before it shifted back to Twilight, a smile growing on her face as it did. “I’ll be right back.”
While Fluttershy drifted into the kitchen, Twilight returned her attention to the book before her. Engrossed as she was, she didn’t really notice Fluttershy’s return.
“Mind if I sit beside you?”
“Nope,” muttered Twilight, barely noticing the question. What didn’t escape her notice in the following moments was Fluttershy pressing up against her. Not what I thought she meant. She ignored it and continued reading. Not worth mentioning, I guess.
The sound of fire and turning pages filled the air. Between the blanket, the fire, and Fluttershy, Twilight became uncomfortably hot. She pulled off the blanket covering her.
“Oh, Twilight!”
“Hm?”
“Your feathers.”
“What about them?”
“You haven’t been preening.”
Twilight winced.
“Here, let me.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I insist. You just go on and keep reading. Don’t mind me.”
She tried. She really did. The feel of Fluttershy’s mouth and hooves in her wings was just too relaxing. She closed her eyes and laid down her head. This is bliss.
She frowned when Fluttershy finished. “That’s it?”
“For now.”
Fluttershy curled up against her again.
“Don’t you need to be heading home?”
“Do you want me to go?”
“No, it’s not that. I was just checking. It’s nice to have company while reading, even if we don’t talk much.”
“I know the feeling.”
“Feel free to grab a book if you want.” Twilight lifted hers back up. She’d barely started reading again when Fluttershy spoke.
“Do you like any of your friends?”
“Of course,” Twilight snorted. “I like all my friends. That’s why they’re my friends.”
“No, I mean really like.”
“Yes, Fluttershy. I really like all my friends.”
“Romantically.”
“Oh.” She lowered her book. “I never really thought about it. I’m so busy with everything that I never really considered dating.” She lifted the book to read. Why did she ask that? She read half a sentence. Do I like any of my friends? I don’t know. She returned to the start of the sentence. How would I know? What does it even mean to be romantically attracted to someone? She read a few words. I guess you’d go on dates. Spend time with each other. She stared blankly at the page. That’s not much different than what I do with my friends anyway. Fluttershy’s dated before. Maybe she—as Twilight turned to ask, the force of Fluttershy’s steady gaze and subtle smile struck her, snapping her gaze back to the book. We’re spending time together. Alone. We often go out for meals together. An uncomfortable tightness grew in her chest, but she daren’t move.
Do friends preen each other? Am I giving the wrong signals? The only sounds in the room were the fire crackling and Twilight’s unexpectedly rapid breathing. Are they the wrong signals?
Slowly, Twilight bookmarked and closed the book, staring distinctly ahead. I can’t look at her. Summoning all the grace and nonchalance of a freshly minted princess, she very evenly asked, “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“I mean, is there… someone you like.”
“I like all my friends.”
Twilight snorted, all her tension draining by the act. “That’s not fair. Using my own words against me.”
“All’s fair in love and war.”
Twilight’s heart beat faster. “So is there? Someone you like romantically.”
“There is, but I’m not sure if she reciprocates. She doesn’t really have time for dating anyway.”
Twilight could barely breathe. “Maybe she just needs to stop and think about it for two seconds, and appreciate what’s right beside her. In front of her. I mean. I don’t know what I mean. What do you mean?” She finally turned to glance at Fluttershy, but her gaze was locked in place by the subtle smile of mirth. The breath that wouldn’t come before now came faster than ever.
“What I mean is, is it okay if I…”
Twilight waited.
“If I…”
“Fluttershy?”
“Twilight?”
“Is it okay if I kiss you?”
“Ohmygoshyes.” She closed her eyes and leaned in. Twilight’s lips brushed hers in a light peck, and Fluttershy’s hopes fell. It’s a start. She opened her eyes right as Twilight leaned back in, her lips lingering this time.