Borrowed and forgotten

Rainbow Dash had put off cleaning for long enough and so reluctantly started going about taking care of her mess. Thinking more than once how much she'd like to have someone like Alicia around just to keep things clean for her.

As she finally got to work on her bedroom she paused and stared in disbelief as she saw James' haori just poking out beneath her pillows. She'd completely forgotten that she had borrowed it and he was currently wearing one that Rarity had made for him.

The worst part is that she had lied to him to borrow it. Claiming that she was cold and needed a jacket for when she got back to Ponyville that night. She had meant to give it back to him the next time she saw him (a couple days at most) but that was almost a month ago.

In reality she just wanted to wear it for a while. It was comfortable, and even though it made her feel small while wearing it, she kind of liked that feeling in this case.

Blushing, she remembered spending that first night completely wrapped up in it, sleeping deeper than she could remember sleeping in a long time.

Her blush deepened as she remembered how it found it's way under her pillows. After sleeping in it a couple times, she stuffed one of her pillows inside and held it as she slept. She remembered more than once burying her muzzle in it and smelling so many things he surrounded himself with.

The earthy smell of his garden, the flowers growing alongside the other plants, the smell of the woods surrounding his home, even the smells of his soap and shampoo. All of these combining into one sensation that reminded her of him.

Embarrassed despite being completely alone she silently folded it and placed it on her nightstand, determined to give it back to James the next time she saw him.

She only thought of it again once her bed was made, carefully she picked it back up and looked at it. After a glace in either direction, knowing well that she would be alone in her own bedroom, she buried her muzzle in the garment once more and took in a deep breath.

It was significantly weaker than it was before, but it still smelled like him and the material felt good on her face.

Despite her returned blush, she wore a faint smile as she pulled back from the familiar clothing. It was still a couple days before she expected to see him again.

As she placed James' haori on her pillow once more, she spoke openly to herself, as if she needed to hear this out loud. “I am not telling Starlight about this.”