One Big Awkward Family

by PropMaster


Drafty

Discord watched Fluttershy out of the corner of one eye, maintaining his relaxed position on the couch. She rose into the air with a few swift flaps of her delicate wings, gaining some height to reach the indoor birdhouses and feeders for her winged friends. He admired her careful mannerism, doling out enough bird seed from a pail clutched between her forelegs into each feeder to satisfy all of the avian creatures inside her home, but not so much that they would gorge themselves. As soon as she finished, she set the pail aside and moved to the lower windows, lifting the blinds and opening them. Fresh, chill air filled the house, and Discord couldn't help but notice the little shiver that moved through Fluttershy's frame, or the way she held her wings a little tighter against her sides to keep warm.

Though he wasn't uncomfortable, he snapped his fingers, creating a hot tub that floated in midair. He grinned as Fluttershy watched him incredulously. "The chill is rather terrible this morning, Fluttershy. What with you opening the windows and all, now I'm cold," he griped.

"The windows have to be open so my bird friends can come and go as they please. You know that, Discord. It's important for them to get their exercise." She finished opening the windows, allowing a brisk crosswind to fill the house.

Discord rolled his eyes as he slid into the hot tub with an exaggerated sigh of content. His eyes were closed, but he could picture Fluttershy's tiny frown as she said, "Speaking of exercise, somepony's being awfully lazy this morning."

He gave Fluttershy a hurt look. "Who? Moi? I've been helping! I fed your ground-bound critters!" Discord shifted around in the tub, trying to find a comfortable position, sending hot steam billowing into the room.

Fluttershy opened her mouth to object, but the whistle of a kettle gave her pause. "Oh! The water is ready. But don't think this conversation is over, mister." She trotted into the kitchen and out of sight.

Discord smirked as he raised the water temperature of the hot tub by a few degrees. The interior of the room was filled with warm steam, billowed about by the cold air, but he could tell that it was far more tolerable inside.

From the living room, he listened contently to the sound of tea being made. The clink of china, the rustle of tea leaves, the trickle of hot water into empty cup. Fluttershy's voice called from the kitchen, "Don't think I haven't noticed the pudge you've developed. Even the embodiment of chaos needs his walkies."

Discord stood up from the hot tub, placing his claw-paw hands on his nonexistant hips. "Excuse me? Pudge? There isn't an ounce of pudge on me! I'm positively sinuous!" Discord said, gesturing to his person.

"Nonsense. I know the difference," Fluttershy said, returning to the living room with a teacup and a slice of toast balanced on a saucer. She sat down, carefully avoiding the hot tub floating in the middle of the room, and took a sip of tea. Warm steam billowed around her, and she relaxed slightly. "By the way, it's very nice in here thanks to your hot tub. It's positively cozy!"

The jig was up. Discord sneered. "Oh, it's nice, is it? Well, it's not like this was for your benefit! Somepony simply can't take a hint about open windows and drafty chills."

He dismissed the hot tub with a snap of his fingers, conjuring a big purple towel in its place. He proceeded to wrap the towel around himself like an imperial cape, and with a haughty "Hmpf!" he stalked outside, opening the top of the front door and jumping over the lower portion to enter the front garden.

Once outside, though, Discord smiled to himself.