Spitfire’s wings ached as they pumped up and down. Each flap was a labor after the day of training she just endured. One of the new recruits had questioned if she could even keep up so she took it upon herself to run the whole group of them ragged with her leading each exercise. She had done it and even made it look like she had an easy time of it although how much she was sweating might have clued them in otherwise. Perhaps she did need to do some more physical things at base and a bit less desk work.
The wind fought her a bit as she banked to the left to correct her course. Her cloud home was going under some renovations and she was living with a non-work friend while it was being done. He lived a little farther away from the Wonderbolts base than she did, maybe another five minutes at most, but today it felt like miles as her wings protested each additional flap she had to take. As her temporary home came into view she put on a burst of speed to close the distance and nearly crashed into the front of the house as her wings gave out. She had to claw her way up to the porch and laid across it panting.
Rummaging can be heard from in the house and a pink pegasus with blonde hair bursts out the front door waving a broom. “For the last time I told you-” His eyes look down at the sweaty worn out mare then lets out a sigh. “Oh it’s just you. Rough day?” He helps her to her hooves and leaders her into the house.
“You… You could say that yeah.” Once in the living room Spitfire flopped herself onto the couch. She could feel her aches slowly start to fade from her mind as her eyes started to droop closed before her laying was interrupted by the stallion jumping onto the couch next to her.
“Let me guess, you did something dumb again because one of the new members challenged. If they actually challenged you or you just say what they said as a challenge I’ll never know.”
“That's not entirely inaccurate.” She blew a raspberry at the stallion. “Just a lucky guess Lucky and I’ll have you know that they totally challenged me!” She raised a fore hoof into the air in an attempt to look victorious, though in her worn out state it came off a bit more pathetic than she wanted. “And I showed them why I’m the captain and they’re just the rookies!”
Lucky patted the sweaty mare on the head. “Because you’re the biggest and loudest idiot on base?”
Spitfire smiled. “Yup!” She closed her eyes and enjoyed him petting her mane. Spitfire was just about asleep until she felt somepony trying to take her out of her flight suit. Sleepily she muttered “Take me to dinner first at least.”
Lucky grunted as he worked the uncooperative mare out of her flight suit. “You stink. Your suit stinks. If you sleep in your suit you’ll be a mess and stink up my house. Take a shower at least before you get back to freeloading.” With the practiced ease of one who has had to do this before he has Spitfire laying striped of her suit on his couch. “I’m going to throw this in the laundry. You, go take a shower unless you want a repeat of the incident.”
Spitfire bolts up at the mention of the incident and salutes. “SIR YES SIR!” Making use of her panicked energy she hops off the couch and makes her way to the bathroom to shower.
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Spitfire aimed her wet towel at the hook and flung it. The towel flew through the air, hit the wall and fell to the floor in a heap. She shrugged and made her way back to the couch which was also serving as her bed while living here. With a groan she laid back down on the couch. The hot shower helped her aching muscles but didn't completely take care of them. Her ears twitched as she heard Lucky humming while doing something in the kitchen.
“Hey, want something to drink?” Lucky poked his head in to check on her.
“Naw I’m just gonna konk out for the night and let my body rest.” She pulled up a pillow from the edge of the couch and laid her head on it. Quickly she felt herself slipping into a slumber before she felt a pair of hooves start to massage her back.
“Let me at least give you a post workout massage. You really need to keep better care of yourself.” He starts on her shoulders and withers. His touch is soft as he works her tense muscles with his hooves. As he comes across knots in her muscles he applies more pressure on them with a skilled touch.
Spitfire was about to decline till she let out a pleased moan as his hooves started doing their magic on her. “Yeah that's good. You should work for us as the base masseur.” She wiggled a bit on the couch as she enjoyed his hooves.
“Naw I have too much to do and you don't pay well enough. I'm sure the hundredth time you ask that will do the trick though.” He worked down her back and between her wings before working on those themselves. Expertly he went up and down her wings making sure they were stretched properly and any kinks were worked out of them. Finishing with her wings he worked her lower back and flanks as well. As he got to her flanks Spitfire grinned.
“Enjoying yourself back there huh?” She gave her flanks a playful shake.
“I could just stop now, you know.”
Spitfire quickly stopped her teasing. “Yes sir…”
Soon enough his hooves had done their job on all of her major muscle groups and Spitfire felt like a puddle on the couch. A puddle of worked pleasure as her muscles felt warm and pleasant. Once again she felt herself drifting off to sleep till she felt fore legs wrap around her as Lucky laid down next to her on the couch. “Rookie do you have clearance to snuggle the captain like this?”
Lucky hugged her harder while nuzzling into her mane. “Since I'm letting you crash at my place for the time being I out rank you and have clearance to cuddle you all i want.” He let out a sigh and rested his head on top of hers.
She let him have his moment before twisting around and scooching up on the couch a bit. Before he could react she grabbed his head in her forehooves and shoved his face into her chest floof. “Nu uh. I'm older than you so I out rank you in this domain even if it's yours.” With a fore hoof she stroked his mane while he wrapped his fore legs around her for a gentle hug.She held a hoof in front of his face and grinned.
He leaned forward into her hoof for a boop and she laughed a bit. "Aww, are you going to kiss my hoofsies?" She gave him a small smirk as he pouted and buried his face back into her floof.
“Don't make this weird Spitfire.” Bit by bit his eyes were drifting closed and he let out a yawn. Seeing his yawn Spitfire mimicked it as her fatigue from the day hit her hard. Resting her head on his she let her own eyes close.
“Hey thanks for letting me crash here, it means a lot. Really.” Her breathing slowed along with her petting of his mane. Instinctually they both wrapped their wings around each other for warmth and for peace of mind.
“Anytime so don't worry about it. Anything for an old friend even if said friend is a pain in the flank like you.” Soon enough they were both asleep with small smiles on their faces and snores could be heard from outside the house. Snoring belonging to one was loud but infrequent while the others were quiet but constant. Neither would really comment on the snuggling in the morning but both would have a better day for it.