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The ballroom glittered beneath hundreds of crystal chandeliers, their light scattering across polished marble floors and champagne glasses.
Conversations hummed around Rarity in elegant little clusters, occasionally interrupted by the flash of a camera or the soft laughter of some socialite Rarity had forgotten the name of.
It was exactly the sort of evening she belonged in.
She should have been paying attention to the guests complimenting her latest collection.
Instead, she was looking across the room.
Rainbow Dash stood against the far wall, arms folded across her chest, looking like she had been personally offended by the existence of formalwear.
The suit wasn’t even hers. Rarity had made it herself. It was a deep navy tailored suit, which would’ve absolutely looked elegant on anyone else. But Rainbow made the suit look like something she’d wear on a regular Tuesday night.
Her white button-up was only partially buttoned, the first few buttons left undone. Her tie was loose and swayed whenever she turned her head. The sleeves were pushed up to her elbows, exposing her athletic arms.
She couldn’t even find the decency to style her hair properly. Her rainbow box-dyed wolf cut was messy as ever, like she ran her hand through it a few times in an attempt to style it, but gave up halfway.
Don’t even get her started on the several piercings that remained on Dash’s face. This was a fucking gala, was it not? Who wears piercings to a gala?
Beside her, Applejack was leaning against the same wall, talking to her about whatever. In Rarity’s haze of scrutiny, she didn’t notice Rainbow was looking directly at her.
As their eyes met, Rainbow raised her eyebrow and her lips curved up into one of her stupid crooked grins. Rarity felt her stomach flutter.
Rarity shook her head and brought her attention back to the woman speaking to her. She tried her best to tune back in to whatever conversation they were currently having.
“And I must say, the embroidery is absolutely exquisite,” the woman said.
“Oh, thank you darling.” She smiled. Her fingers traced the rim of her champagne glass for a moment before she spoke again. “Lovely speaking to you. If you’ll please excuse me.”
The woman nodded and Rarity turned away. She wasn’t even sure where she was going, her legs moving like they had a mind of their own. Heels clicking against the marble floor like it was announcing her presence.
When she was a few feet away from Dash and Applejack, she internally rolled her eyes. She stopped in front of them.
Dash looked up. Her gaze roamed over Rarity for a few seconds before letting out a low whistle.
“Whoa, Rares. You look prettier than a magnolia in bloom,” Applejack said.
“Thank you, darling.” Her lips curved into a smile. “You clean up nicely.” She said, gesturing to Applejack’s dark brown suit. Which was considerably more refined than Rainbow’s. “Unlike someone,” she muttered under her breath.
Rainbow raised her eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I just mean, you could’ve at least tried to put some effort into looking decent. For starters, taking out that ridiculous jewelry in your face.”
Rainbow snorted. “Do you have some deep vendetta against my piercings?”
“I didn’t say that.” Rarity’s eyes briefly flicked towards the silver at rainbow’s eyebrow before dropping to the one at her lip. Her gaze lingered on the shiny metal for a few seconds before she caught herself. “They’re simply.. not formal.”
“Uh-huh.” Dash said, shoving her hands into her pant pockets. Rarity frowned, her finger absentmindedly tapping against her champagne glass.
“You gonna finish that?” Dash asked, eyes trained on the glass.
Rarity scoffed slightly before handing it over to Dash. Their fingers brushed slightly. “Go ahead,” Rarity murmured.
“There’s the rest of the group.” Dash gestured with the glass, before bringing it to her lips and taking a sip of the golden champagne.
“Heyo!” The voice came from directly beside Rarity, making her jump. She placed a hand above her racing heart.
“Pinkie! Don’t do that!” She could hear Dash snort. Rarity shot Dash a glare before turning toward Pinkie, which was probably a horrible decision, because she was immediately blinded by pink and glitter.
“Darling, you’re so.. sparkly.” Rarity’s eyebrows scrunched together.
“Thank you! I was going for human disco ball!” Pinkie beamed, her grin so wide it revealed all her teeth.
“I can tell,” Rarity nodded.
As other conversations sparked, Rarity could feel a set of eyes on her. She looked up and made eye contact with rainbow. Rainbow’s lips pulled into a smirk and she winked at her.
Holy shit?
It felt like a routine. Their secret moments in crowded rooms, the lingering gazes, the brush of their fingers. It was all familiar.
Nobody had any idea about her and Dash. No idea about their stolen kisses, or touches in darkened rooms.
Rainbow had left an indentation the shape of her in Rarity’s heart, and to say the least she was absolutely ruined.
She had made her mark on Rarity, like a golden tattoo. One that stuck to her skin and didn’t wash away no matter how hard she scrubbed.
Everything around her became quiet as she zoned out. Or rather.. lost her mind.
All of this silence and patience, pining in anticipation was making her go mad. She could feel her hands shaking, and she blamed it on holding back from Rainbow.
She crossed her arms and dug her freshly manicured nails into her flesh. She clenched her jaw in desperation for it to all stop.
All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting, waiting to be alone with Rainbow, waiting for her to subtly suggest something. She felt dizzy.
“Rarity?” A familiar raspy voice said. It was like everything stopped around her the second Rainbow said her name. Her heart stopped racing, her mind stopped spinning, and her hands stopped shaking.
“Err— yes, darling?” Her voice squeezed out from her dry throat.
“You ok? You’ve been staring at the floor like it personally offended you for the past three minutes.” Dash’s voice was softer than before.
Rarity could feel her cheeks warm, realizing every one of her friends were now staring at her. “Yes, I’m great. I think I just need some air. If you all will excuse me..” she huffed out before turning on her heel and walking away.
Her heels clicked loudly against the marbled floor, the sound too loud for her spinning head. The light from the chandelier was oh so bright.
She wandered around for what felt like ages before finally finding a balcony. Her fingers traced the key hole. Her hand slid up to the door handle and she gripped onto it like a lifeline.
Rarity pulled the door open and stepped onto the balcony. The night breeze hit her like thousands of icicles piercing her skin. She didn’t mind though, it felt nice against her warm body.
She made her way to the railing, placing her elbows down and leaning forward. Her face fell into her hands and she let out a quiet sigh.
Dash and Rarity’s secret had been going on for what felt like years, but in reality it had only been a couple months. She didn’t even know how or when it had started, but she knew it consumed her every waking thought.
She didn’t want Dash like a best friend. The way she felt towards her was the way you should feel towards a lover.
It was as if Dash had carved her name into Rarity’s bedpost. She was the last thought Rarity had at night, and she was the first thought she had when she woke up. She flooded her dreams and her nightmares. Many nights Rarity often woke up in a cold sweat and had to strip her sheets and take a midnight shower.
It was inescapable, the thought of Rainbow. But Rarity didn’t even try. The feeling of Dash was like a flame that never seemed to burn out. The closer she got, the more it intensified. Rarity didn’t care. If she got burned, at least they were electrified.
Rarity couldn’t even recall the amount of times she had spilt wine in the bathtub because her mind was too preoccupied with Dash while she was pouring.
Whenever Dash kissed her face, it felt as if they were both drunk on the feeling. It was an addiction and rarity was in withdrawal.
Another sigh escaped her lips. Goosebumps were starting to grow on Rarity’s exposed skin. A hand ran through her purple curls as she ultimately decided to go back inside.
She turned around but stopped. Rainbow was standing in the doorway. “Rarity,” she said, and just like that, everything stopped. “Felt like having a smoke. I’ll find another balcony.”
“No, no. Stay. I was just leaving.” Rarity waved her hand in dismissal of Dash’s words.
Dash stepped onto the balcony and walked towards the railing, next to rarity. “Mm, mind keeping me company?” She looked at Rarity, her hand reaching into her pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
Against Rarity’s better judgment, she slowly nodded. Dash grinned.
“Don’t you usually have Applejack accompany you on your little smoke breaks?” Rarity questioned, her eyebrows scrunching together.
“Maybe I was just using that as an excuse to come out here.” Rainbow said, her fingers tracing the edges of the white box in her hand. She flipped the top open with her thumb and pulled out one of the white sticks.
“Is that so?” Rarity couldn’t help but stare as Rainbow twirled the cigarette around her fingers, pocketing the box and bringing the stick to her lips, where Rarity’s gaze so shamefully followed.
“I said maybe.” Dash replied, lighting the cigarette and taking a long drag. She held the cigarette out. Rarity eyed it for a few seconds before taking it and bringing it to her lips.
“Everyone thinks that they know us. But they know nothing about us.” Rainbow said casually, which made Rarity almost cough on the smoke. She quickly exhaled and stared at Dash.
“What?” She asked, her eyebrows so scrunched together like they were threatening to merge.
“I just find it funny. Everyone thinks that they know us, yet they don’t know about us.” She chuckled. Rarity rolled her eyes.
Dash was making fun of their little secret, while Rarity felt sick-to-her-stomach with butterflies whenever she thought of the rainbow-haired asshole. She took another drag, carefully thinking over her words before saying, “very funny. Absolutely hilarious, darling.”
“What’s wrong?” Dash took the cigarette back from Rarity and took another drag.
The smoke escaped from Rarity’s red lips as she exhaled, the white swirling with the darkness of the night, before quickly disappearing. A lot like words, Rarity thought. Spoken so easily to please, hurt, and lie. Disappearing into the air as soon as they’re spoken.
Well, not really disappearing. They stick around in one’s thoughts, replaying over and over.
Words were complicated, but Rarity had always been told she had a way with them.
“Whenever you say my name, everything just stops.” Rarity muttered, “I don’t want you like a best friend.” She turned to Rainbow, watching in satisfaction as her face contorted into an expression she couldn’t quite name.
“What?” Rainbow said quietly, her grip loosening on the cigarette.
“It’s a simple concept to get, darling. I don’t want you like a best friend. Nothing about us is ‘friendly’.” Rarity put her hands in the air and scrunched her fingers to mimic air quotes.
Rainbow looked at her in confusion, eyebrows raised. The metal on her eyebrow reflecting in the pale moonlight.
“We act like lovers.” Rarity said plainly. “Even in my worst times, you see the best in me. Flashback to my mistakes, my rebounds, my earthquakes. Even in my worst lies, You see the truth in me.”
Dash stared at her like she was speaking gibberish. It pissed Rarity off to say the least, but she kept going. “Every time I look at you, my hands shake. I can’t explain this—“
Dash’s lips connected with her own, warm and gentle. Rarity’s lips brushed against the cool metal piercing on Dash’s lip.
The kiss very quickly turned messy, Rainbow moving to place open mouthed kisses on Rarity’s neck. She was pressed up against the railing, her fingers wrapped around the metal in a white-knuckled grip.
Dash’s hands moved up her waist, not stopping her ministrations on Rarity’s neck. When she finally pulled back, Dash’s mouth had smudged lipstick pulling at the corners of her lips.
She stared at Rarity, and Rarity stared back. Her chest rose and fell, breathing heavily. “Seriously?” Dash huffed out, slightly out of breath. “That’s how you feel?”
Rarity nodded slowly, not trusting herself to say anything else. “I wish you told me sooner.” Dash muttered. Her forehead fell against Rarity’s.
Rarity let out a breathy laugh, still trying to catch her breath from the kiss. “And what exactly would you have done?”
Rainbow slowly grinned. “Probably this.” She leaned forward and captured Rarity’s lips into another kiss, a softer, slower one.
When they finally pulled apart, Rarity let out another shaky laugh. Rainbow’s fingers fidgeted with the fabric of Rarity’s dress. The one Rarity had spent hours designing.
“Fuck looking prettier than a magnolia blossoming, or whatever AJ said.” Dash muttered, really taking in Rarity’s appearance. She let out a low whistle, shamelessly checking her out.
“You look like a diamond. Well, you’re sparkling like one. You look stunning.” Dash tilted her head and bit the inside of her cheek. “Ehh— Applejack’s compliment was better. I can’t do the poetic bullshit she does.”
Rarity’s hand made contact with Dash’s cheek. “Thank you, Dash. You’re too sweet.” Her expression softened and a smile tugged at her lips. She reached up and straightened Rainbow’s tie.
“The dress looks great, by the way. I know you’ve probably been waiting all night to be praised for your craft.” Rainbow added.
“Or maybe I’ve just been waiting for you to notice it.” Rarity shrugged.
“Is that so?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow, which only made Rarity’s smile widen.
“I said maybe.” She replied. Dash shook her head and ran a hand through her box-dyed hair.
Rarity leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Only made this dress so you could take it off.” She teased, watching Dash’s cheeks turn pink and her eyes darken.
“Take it off?” Dash repeated to which Rarity nodded. “Then what are we waiting for?” She whispered, sliding her hand to the zipper of Rarity’s dress.