//------------------------------// // Tension Points // Story: Secrets of the Heart // by Quick Fix //------------------------------// As Bounty settled himself into a chair and attempted to relax, Applejack looked from him to Windhover. The pegasus was looking at the unicorn with a small sense of confusion and...Was that a glint of fear in his eyes? The sight sent a small jolt of dread through her gut, realising that having two ponies that quite possibly, very likely had a crush on her in the same room may not end well. She would just have to try and keep things civil if it came to that though, it wasn't like it was the first time she'd needed to do so. The sound of a quiet snore broke her train of thought and she looked up to see Bounty had fallen asleep almost as soon as he had settled down. Whatever he'd been through the last few days, it looked like he really hadn't gotten any sleep. "So...Who is he?" Windhover asked as he stepped closer to Applejack, never taking his eyes off Bounty. "Bounty's one of my workers here on the farm. He's not normally like this though..." Applejack explained. "Normally he can tackle anything thrown at him, so seeing him in such a state is..." Applejack paused as she tried to figure out exactly what word she wanted to use. Distressing was her first thought, followed closely by upsetting or even disturbing. Somehow though, she had the impression that Windhover might be put off by that. Then she wondered why she was so concerned for his feelings, yes they had been friends for some time but she had only known him face to face for about fifteen minutes. Yes she did her best for everypony but this was something else. Was it because even through all this, his presence was keeping that ugly feeling locked away and allowing her to think freely? She'd have to think about it later, right now she'd been thinking long enough for it start looking awkward. "...Worrying." She finished. "I've got a good idea," Windhover commented. "Really, that friend I mentioned had a few nights where she looked as bad as he does." Applejack nodded. From what he'd mentioned in his letters, it did seem similar. The more she thought about it, the more they shared similarities. Both of them had experienced the city life and didn't seem to be fans, they understood each other's life experiences (even if he didn't understand the truth of the swamps completely he had been born not too far away, he had to know had bad it could be), they even had a strong family-centric basis. "So," He continued. "Maybe we should talk about something a little more cheerful. Or normal." "Normal does sound good," Applejack commented as she went back to her work board. "You mind if ah work and talk at the same time? I got a mite behind yesterday." "No problem. Besides, if you couldn't I'd think you were a changeling." Despite it being a rough joke, Applejack chuckled softly. If her back hadn't been to Windhover at the time she would seen him blush slightly as she did so. With that moment out of the way, the two of them settled into more casual conversation. Applejack kept working on her papers as they swapped questions and elaborated on points made in their letters. The longer it went on, the further she could feel herself relaxing in his presence. Most of the other ponies she was regularly around tended not to hang out at the farm so having others in the house, even with Bounty still asleep and looking halfway to falling out of his chair, was hugely welcome to her. On his side of things, Windhover looked to be having the time of his life. Getting to meet his hero and be her friend, nothing could dull that feeling. Right? That was something about emotions that was often overlooked, how easily they could be hidden. Beneath the skin, Windhover felt an endless barrage of questions hammering away at his confidence and focus: Does she suspect anything? Should I say something now? Would it be weird if I admitted to everything I implied? Am I even good enough to be around a pony like Applejack? Does Bounty think the same things? Why is it so warm all of a sudden? He blinked back into focus and realised that Applejack had come up to him, staring at him closely. He blinked rapidly and pulled his head back a little, trying to keep his heart rate under control due to the proximity. "Errm, could you repeat the question?" He asked, grinning nervously. If Applejack noticed, she didn't call him out on it. "Ah said do you think it'd make a good hearth's warming present?" She repeated, grinning slightly. "Well ah, right now I think that you should make that call." He kept meeting her gaze, silently trying to will away the sweat he could feel forming on his forehead. Applejack stared him down for a second longer before nodding and stepping back. "True, something like this needs more than a minute to think about," Applejack glanced up as she realised she'd placed a quill behind her ear at some point during the discussion and fetched it out. "Speakin' of which, would you excuse me a minute?" Windhover nodded and stepped back as Applejack left the room, waiting until he was alone before wiping his brow. Though he was glad that hadn't gotten any more awkward, part of him regretted not saying anything about any of his personal questions. As he looked round for some kind of distraction, he noticed Bounty was still sliding out of his chair in his sleep. Even as he watched, the unicorn slipped sideways and ended up fully draped across his seat, still snoring slightly. Windhover stepped over and carefully lifted his legs back onto the chair so he wouldn't fall any further. As he went to do the same with the forelegs, he couldn't even get a hoof on them before Bounty's leg snapped to life and wrapped around his outstretched one. "Ack! S-sorry!" Windhover gasped as he looked back at Bounty, his eyes now wide open and regarding the pegasus coldly. "Do you even know what you're apologising for?" Bounty asked. "For waking you up." "I was awake when I fell over just then, just so we could talk," Bounty countered, tightening his grip on Windhover's hoof. "But I'd be apologising for being lousy at hiding your feelings." "You're, gonna have to be more specific." Though he was trying to keep it casual, his voice wavered as he said it. "Like that," Bounty's eyes narrowed. "Back on point. How long have you had feelings for Applejack?" "Wh-what?" Windhover tensed as he realised his secret was out. "You think you're the only pony who's gone through the same thing?" Bounty let go of Windhover's hoof and sat up to his full height. With the addition of the chair he towered a good three feet above the pegasus. "I'm only going to say this once. Back. Off." Windhover took a few steps backward. "Very funny...Back off from Applejack. I don't think she'd appreciate some city colt she's barely got to know hitting on her." "I think that if either of us stand a chance with her, it should be her decision on who she'd choose." Windhover countered as he turned away. Bounty blinked rapidly for several seconds and glared at the pegasus but held his tongue for now. The two of them held an awkward silence for a few minutes before Applejack returned. Bounty quickly rubbed his muzzle and forced a yawn, trying to act like he'd just woken up from his unexpected sleep. Windhover rolled his eyes at that but didn't say anything. If he spoke up about what happened, then it would just be his word against Bounty's and that would probably just end up making things worse. "Sorry about that, had to make sure a few things were where ah'd left 'em," She explained, brightening further as she noticed Bounty was up and about again. "How're you feeling?" "Honestly, I've been better," Bounty admitted, glancing at Windhover for a brief second. "I should be able to get home now though. Thank you for letting me recuperate here." "No problem, but make sure ya stop by the hospital today." "Yes mom," Bounty commented as he got up to go, smiling slightly as Applejack chuckled slightly. "Hopefully I'll see you at Pinkie Pie's Hearth's Warming party. Windhover...I'll see you around." "Yeah, you too." Windhover replied flatly, never taking his eyes off the unicorn until he had left the building. As soon as it was just him and Applejack again he relaxed. "Did I miss something?" Applejack asked as she watched his reaction. Windhover sighed slightly and looked back at her. "No, we just had a talk while we were waiting for you." He replied, moving over to a sofa along the back wall of the room and sitting down. Even now it was just the two of them he didn't want to bring up what had happened. Something seemed to be bothering Applejack, he knew the signs of when somepony was trying to keep a secret out of focus from experience. The last thing she needed now was an extra issue to deal with. "Talk about anythin' in particular?" Applejack asked as she gathered several papers off the board and went to sit down next to him. "No, but he did leave me wondering about something..." Windhover swallowed back his nerves at having a pony he admired so much being less than two feet away now and looked away quickly when she seemed to shift her focus from the papers to him. "Hmm?" "You'll have to stop me if I'm asking about something too personal but, you and Bounty. I'm seeing indicators that, there may be something there. So, am I just looking too hard or is there...?" "You worried somepony's got there before you, sugarcube? Applejack asked softly. Windhover looked at her in shock and blushed deeply, trying to keep his wings folded in and get his mouth working to formulate a response before he realised she was giggling at his reaction. "Relax, ah'm just teasing." "Oh." He shifted in place and blushed more, embarrassment joining the mix of surprise and attraction swirling through his body. "Though to answer yer question, there ain't nothing between me an' Bounty. Closest I can say is that there seems to be mutual attraction, but neither of us have acted on it." "Okay." Windhover mused, doing his best to relax again. His mind was racing though, wondering if he actually still had hope. Even if she'd been messing with him, had she been hiding something in it? No, that had to be wishful thinking on his part. Somepony like her could do so much better, like somepony who told her everything. More than anything though, he wondered how Bounty was taking everything after what had happened between them. As he stepped through the farm gates and onto the snowy path back to Ponyville, Bounty stopped and gritted his teeth. His head hadn't stopped thumping since he'd woken up and his temper was still frayed. It was aggravated by the fact that he had no idea where it had come from, even on a bad day he normally wouldn't be so aggressive. The worst part about it all though, was what had occurred while he was asleep. If it hadn't been for him slipping over in his sleep, the sheer vividity would have convinced him that his dream was real. Even now he could remember every detail. Banners of purple and gold adorned the walls on either side, placed between windows. A carpet roll of the same colours led up to where he sat upon a throne of what seemed to be diamond. Looking to his left brought another pony into his gaze, a pink unicorn looking at him with deep concern. No, a quick glance down showed she was actually an alicorn. Queen Cadance of the Crystal Empire? Why was he sitting on King Armor's throne and why had it been such a realistic dream? A rush of cold wind snapped Bounty from his thoughts and he set off a quick pace. Now he was thinking rationally again, he knew Applejack had a point. Home could wait, right now he needed to visit the hospital and hopefully talk to a doctor about what was going on. Maybe a psychiatrist too.