The three of you sit at the kitchen table together. Well, less together, more "you vs him." You and AJ sit on one end of the table, Bruce on the other. The boy is staring down his snout at you, slowly tapping his hooves together in contemplation about what he had just heard.
"So...when you say "I was the Mare-Do-Well..." he begins.
Applejack clears her throat. "I mean that I dressed up and tried to fight crime, yes."
His eyes narrow, making you and AJ pokerface as hard as you both are able. "And you knew about this?"
"Uh...I just found out recently, yeah."
Bruce sighs. "...Why did you wait until NOW to tell me?"
AJ sighs. "Because yer only nine years old, Bruce. And nine year olds shouldn't have ta do what you do."
Huh. That was the same thing she told you.
"Well you getting hurt is not an acceptable alternative to that, Miss Applejack." Bruce retorts.
Wait. That was the same thing YOU said.
You must be rubbing off on him...
Applejack closes her eyes and nods. "Yeah...it wasn't my brightest idea, took Anonymous here to get it through my head."
You ruffle her mane a bit. "It won't happen again Bruce, don't worry about it."
Bruce sighs, rubs his own mane, and taps his hoof against the table. "Alright, yes, I don't have the energy to deal with this on top of everything else."
Whoa. Guardian Mode: Engaged.
"Something on your mind, buddy?"
The tapping stops. "You could say that..." Bruce says.
You look down at AJ.
"Hey, let's go out to dinner, huh? Get your mind off whatever it is."
He sighs again. "If you think it will help..."
-Music-
Bruce sits across the table from you yet again, only this time with a more confused face than one of stern acceptance. All around the three of you, annoying waiters and equally annoying mascots dance and prance around. Behind you a band was "tearing it up" as the manager said.
Such was the way of things at Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag. You make a mental note to have Uncle Moe arrested if you can.
Bruce eyes a particularly large rat mascot with wary eyes as it dances around a nearby table with a screaming toddler.
"Heh...sorry."
He snaps up and turns his head to you. "Sir?"
"It was the only one around."
His face softens a tad. "No, it's fine it's...charming."
AJ digs into her platter of hay fries and shake next to you. "'Least the food's good!"
She had that right, it almost passed for real food.
"So how's things, Bruce?" AJ asks. "Make any new friends?"
Bruce shuffles a bit. "I've made some...pen-pals, yes. They live all over the kingdom."
"Well shoot! That sounds mighty fine. Where do they live?"
"Oh, one on a farm, the other...near the beach, one on an island, another in the desert." he says idly stabbing at his meal.
"Wow. They're all over the place, huh?"
Bruce nods. "Yes...a rather odd band I've come into contact with."
"You gonna meet up?"
He shrugs. "Maybe one day...if it's needed."
"Well how's school? Y'all learning new and interesting things?"
Bruce doesn't respond how you imagine he would. Instead he sighs harshly and sets his fork down, just staring at his plate.
...Uh oh.
"...Bruce?"
"Buddy?"
"It's nothing." he says.
Bullshit.
"Horse apples."
"Anonymous! Language!"
Damn older sister instinct...
You turn back to Bruce. "What's up, boy?"
He sighs explosively. "We have to do a paper at school...on our parents and what they do..."
Oh...Yeah...
AJ and you lower your heads. Damn. That was...heavier than you expected.
"Write about...who they were." You lift your head and look at the boy "Not as who everyone else saw them as, but what -you- saw your parents as."
AJ nods. "Yeah! Ya gotta have some fond memories of yer mom and pop from around the house, away from all them prying city eyes."
Bruce continues to stare at his food, but nods a bit. "I remember when mother took me trick-or-treating for Nightmare Night..."
"Yeah? What about your pops?"
Bruce smiles a tiny bit. "I remember...father helping me with my tutoring...he was the one who taught me physics, for every action there was an equal and opposite reaction."
You nod in agreement.
"See? You have a lot of stuff you can write about."
Bruce nods once then looks up and smiles. "It seems I do indeed. Thank you Anonymous, Applejack."
The two of you smile as you all dig back into your food.
"...This hay is a bit undercooked."
"Why did you ask for -cooked- hay?"
"It makes it go down easier."
Bruce sighs and AJ rolls her eyes.
"Sir, you are one of the oddest individuals I've met, and I dress up as a bat."
Gee thanks, boy.
Dinner passes and the three of you walk home. You twist the key in the lock and head inside, shaking off the day.
"I swear, if those mascots sang another song, I was going to SCREAM."
"You were gonna scream? And here I was plannin' ta buck him into the salad bar." AJ grumbles.
"You overreact a lot."
"'Taint overreactin' THERE."
Bruce shuffles in quietly after the two of you. "...I liked it."
You both eye him.
"It wasn't -that- bad."
"I heard worse."
The three of you share a laugh until AJ yawns.
"Sheeeeooot...I'm bushed, too early of a day today."
Bruce puts his hooves together and bows to AJ. "Thank you, Miss Applejack. I always enjoy seeing you."
She ruffles his mane. "Y'all be good, Bruce."
"Have a nice walk home, ma'am."
Heywait.
"You know..."
AJ looks up at you.
"You don't...like, HAVE to go home tonight, especially if you're tired."
She cocks an eyebrow but grins. "Y'all inviting me to spend the night at your place, Anonymous?"
Time for the patented Anon charm.
"Sure. I may only have one bed that I also sleep in, but it's big enough for several people at a time. Believe me, I checked."
You throw in a wink.
That hangs in the air for a second before you and AJ share a deep laugh.
"Always a kidder."
"Who say's I'm kidding~?"
"Anyone who MET ya."
"You only have me there because it's so obvious."
A light chuckling draws your attention down. "You two never fail to make me laugh." Bruce says.
You laugh yourself "I'll take what I can get."
Bruce trots upstairs and waves to the two of you. "I need to go get started on my report now. goodnight Miss Applejack...goodnight dad."
You twist your head so fast there's a sonic boom, but Bruce is gone by the time you do.
That...that was...
Hehe...
You turn back to AJ all smiles. "Hear that...?"