> Life
>  by HauntingSpiritRisingMoon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Valentine's Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sound Wave yawned and stretched his hooves out, tapping the headboard of the bed. He loved how soft the bed was, and he could feel warmth next to him. Cuddly warmth.

He smiled and opened his lime green eyes. Next to him sat one of the most important ponies in his life, Stage Play. His boyfriend.

Stage Play's coat was the color of gold, and his mane silver. He was a pegasus, and Sound new all the ways to get those wings to spread. Stage's copper eyes would glint in the darkness, making Sound shiver with excitement each and every time.

Stage slept back up, to make sure his wings didn't get in the way. He breathed softly while he slept, a soft smile on his face. His acting masks Cutie Mark was covered by the blankets. 

That was something that always puzzled Sound about his boyfriend. When he was acting, he could speak like any other pony, but off script he spoke as if he was two people. Sound had yet to meet Stage's parents, but he knew that Stage was planning to take him to Coltifornia once so he could meet them.

The two currently lived in an apartment building in Canterlot. It was near the castle, so the place was known for it's luxury. As much as Sound wanted to stay here and sleep next to Stage, he knew he had to get to work. 

So he pried himself out of the comfort of his bed and shivered. He always felt colder when he climbed out of bed. He heard the bed creak behind him and winced as he heard Stage yawn. He had intended not to wake him up.

"Good morning, Sound Wave..." His sleepy voice called. As he turned away, he saw Stage stretching, and he groaned slightly. 

Sound smiled at him. "Good morning, Stage Play. I have to get to work."

Stage ran a hoof through his mane as he yawned again. "We know." There. That was it.

He always spoke like this. He hadn't a clue why, but Stage always did. The actor pony couldn't remember a time when he didn't speak like that. 

As Stage got off the bed, Sound trotted into the kitchen, his hoofsteps click-clacking against the floor. He watched out of the corner of his eyes as Stage Play went into the bathroom, and soon he could hear the shower running. 

Sound reached into the cupboard and brought out a box of oats. He grabbed the milk from the refrigerator and placed it. Next he put down the bowls.

He made toast, put butter on it, grabbed a normal piece of bread and some peanut butter, and placed them next to the bowls. Bread on the left, toast on the right. He then put an orange on the left side and an apple on the right. 

Stage sat on the right. He was allergic to oranges. So Sound sat on the left and began his breakfast.

This was their routine for work days. Stage would take a shower while Sound prepared and ate his breakfast. Once Stage was done in the shower, Sound Wave would take his shower while Stage ate. Then the two split off for work.

The tech-smart pony suddenly blushed as he realized his flank felt sore. 'Welp...' Sound Wave thought, 'Can't say I was drunk as an excuse this time...'

He looked up as the door opened, and blushed again as he saw Stage. 'Dammit wet mane fetish...' He pawed at the ground to resist the sudden urge to tackle him to the floor right there and then.

Stage smirked and made it worse by posing an extremely sexy pose that made Sound's heart beat faster. He glared at Stage. "Why do you always have to tease me?"

Stage chuckled. "Because we know how much you like it..." As he trotted past Sound to get to his breakfast, Stage made sure to brush his tail against Sound's muzzle, making the stallion shudder as he smelled the strange vanilla musk on his tail. This only made Stage laugh harder. 

Sound scowled and groaned before heading into the bathroom. He was confused when he noticed a sign on the shower curtains. It read, "Guess what day it is?" 

Sound shrugged it off and went into the shower. He let the water roll down his back and sighed in perfect bliss. The shower was always something he could look forward too.

When he was finished, he toweled off his mane and tail and stepped outside. He was pleasantly surprised as he saw rose petals on the floor. Sound rolled his eyes, and decided to play whatever game Stage was up to. 

As he followed the trail, a sign was seen on the floor. It read, "Still haven't guessed what day it is?" He chuckled and rolled his eyes. Soon a second one was seen. "Here's the answer..." And finally, taped to the door, was the final sign. It read, "Open door."

And when he did, Sound found he couldn't speak or move as his jaw dropped. His silvery magic dropped from the door handle in shock.

Stage Play sat on the bed, surrounded by rose petals. He lay in an enticing posture, an ice bucket with a bottle of wine covering his private area. His head was lowered in a way that turned Sound on like a light switch. 

When he spoke, his voice was full of sexual meaning, "Happy Valentine's Day, Sound. Now be a dear and close the door."

Sound happily obliged. Only then did he remember that he didn't work on Valentine's Day.

Then Stage spoke again. "We don't tease you for no reason, Sound. We tease you when we want something."  Stage lifted the wine bottle out of the bucket and placed it on the nightstand. 

That's when he knocked the bucket aside and pounced.
> A Not-So-Friendly Visitor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sound dragged a hoof down his face, all hope gone from his eyes, even though Stage was smiling. "You invited him here!?"

Stage nodded. "Don't worry! Photograph has always been kind to us, and he was accepting when we came out!"

Sound gave him a deadpan stare. "Yeah, but the one time he did meet me he hated me! He kept giving me the stink eye!"

Stage rolled his eyes and nuzzled the nervous stallion. He spoke softly. "Don't worry. He's just overprotective. We won't let him do anything to you." Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Stage brightened up. "He's here!" He rushed to the door to open it, and there stood Photograph. 

Photograph reminded Sound of Big Macintosh, a farmer in Ponyville. He was large, muscular, and quiet. However, Big Macintosh was considerable nicer. As soon as Photograph spotted Sound, his regular face turned into a frown.

He spoke to his brother. "You're still hanging with this guy?"

Stage frowned. "Um... Yeah. He is our boyfriend..."

Photograph grunted, and then walked inside. As he went into the living room to unpack, Sound stood next to Stage. "We see what you meant by saying he hated you...."

Sound nodded solemnly. 

As time went on, the underlying tension was thick enough that only a chainsaw could cut it. It grew and grew with each nuzzle, cuddle, or kiss between the stallions. Photo tended to keep his distance from them, especially when Stage seemed to want a little more than cuddling and kissing. 

Photo would spend his time wandering around Canterlot, admiring the scenery and- what else- taking photos. Sound had no idea what ran through this pony's head. He seemed to only despise Sound.

One day, when Sound was heading home, he was alarmed when he heard screeching from inside. He threw open the door and stared in shock at what we saw.

Stage Play was hovering in the air, his wings flapping as he shouted at his brother. Sound only caught the tail end of the shouting match. "-AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO INSULT HIM AND US LIKE THAT, THEN YOU CAN JUST LEAVE!" 

Photograph stared at his brother. His lip quivered, and Photo hid his face. Stage looked upset. "Photo, are you okay? We're so-"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Photograph was trying to hold back laughter.

Stage regained his angry demeanor. "And what is so funny!?"

Photograph struggled for breath. "You look so funny when you're angry! It's like you just smelled something funny!"

Sound Wave could only stare as this stallion laughed his head off, completely out of character. But soon though, he regained his serious demeanor. "Seriously though, bro, you should break with him. He's no good, he's a wimp, and you can do so much-"

SLAP!

Photograph's eyes widened in shock. Sound's eyes widened in shock. Stage was shaking in silent fury, a furiously red mark now on Photo's cheek. When he spoke, it was dangerous. "No. Sound is nothing like what you said, and you will leave here now. Do not dare to undermine him in our presence. Leave, or choose your next words wisely."

It was strange, seeing Photograph cower under the smaller pony's gaze. Sound couldn't see it, but he imagines Stage's gaze was full of fire.

Personally, Sound was impressed and in shock. He could imagine similar emotions were going through Photo's head.

Then, dooming him more, Photograph smiled. Stage glared at him. "What are you smiling at!?"

Photograph stood up, a proud look on his face. "I wanted to test how much this stallion really meant to you. I wouldn't let anypony be my brother's boyfriend without my approval!"

Sound sighed in relief from the doorway. "Phew. I thought you were angry at me because we didn't meet in the best circumstances."

Photograph stretched his back as he walked towards his brother's hotel room. They were waiting here for their parents to come back from a deal they were making with Fancy Pants.

Photograph liked being blunt, so he never tended to knock. 

So when he arrived at his brother's door, he opened it without even listening if anyone was inside.

That's how he met Sound Wave.

Before the door had opened, Sound had pressed Stage against the door, kissing him ferociously. So when the door opened, they fell.

Sound found himself standing above a madly blushing Stage, and him laying belly up underneath him. They both looked up at the same time to see Photograph.

He stared at them, grimaced, and left without a single word.

Stage looked surprised. "S-Sound! How long were you there!?"

Sound grinned evilly and used one of his favorite quotes, which happened to make Stage blush like a school filly. "From beginning to the climax."

Stage grimaced and blushed, looking way. "Shut up..."

Sound chuckled. "Seriously though, I arrived to hear the tail-end of your rant." He nodded at Photo. "Nice to know we have no beef, dude."

Photo nodded. "Yep." Photo then walked over to Sound and stuck out a hoof. "How about this? Let's compare different phrases and nicknames that embarrass him to no end."

Sound grinned and shook the offered hoof. "Deal!"

Stage groaned in frustration. "Why.......?"

Meanwhile, Photo was already explaining some of his choices. "Well, one of the nicknames I used to call him oftenly was...

"Fore Play."

"Ugh...............!" 




As days went by, Sound learned many things. The two spent more time together. 

Soon though, it was time for Photo to head back to Manehatten. Sound actually felt sad that he was leaving. 

It was worth it though, as Sound also learned many ways to tease Stage.