//------------------------------// // Side Story: Feelings Expressed, Finally // Story: Days in the Mind of One that is Great and Powerful // by The REAL Mister Pkmn //------------------------------// Today had been an extremely long day. All the excitement of earlier was pretty draining for Maestro. Despite that, he’d actually gotten Sarah to accept the offer he’d posed to her before they had to deal with Xavier using Sombra’s magic as an anthro. The car ride to the restaurant was plagued by silence, mostly because of Sarah’s nervousness and uncertainty. It was a nice dinner, at a quiet nondescript restaurant. Nothing fancy, but Sarah still seemed antsy. “So, uh… what did you want to talk about that night…?” She was more nervous than before, but managed to not clam up. “L-look, about what I said that night… I didn’t really mean to say that, I just sorta … panicked.” She chanced a glance at him. He smiled at her. She melted somewhat inside as he spoke to her. “I understand. Really, I do. I suppose I should have phrased things better that night. Adjusted my tone. Ah, well. Life moves on.” Their dinner arrived, but neither of them paid it any mind at the moment. Sarah was nervous, uncertain as to what she should say, or what he might say next. Would he tell her he wanted nothing to do with her? That he couldn’t stand her? She refused to believe that; Maestro wasn’t that kind of guy- she should’ve realized that when “Chrysiana” tricked her with that Maestro guise. No, if Maestro were to reveal something like that, he would likely let her down easy, cushion the blow. That’s probably what the dinner was for. He was letting her down easy. She looked downtrodden at that prospect. Noticing this, Maestro considered carefully how he was to continue. After all, revealing right away what he knew might not go well. “But allow me to reiterate- I brought you here to talk about something. So, Sarah. Tell me… do you have somebody you like? As more than just a friend?” Surprised by this line of questioning, Sarah could only wonder why he would ask this. There were only a few reasons, two in fact- One being that he wanted know as a friend, purely out of concern for her happiness. The other being that he was interested in her, and was curious about any “competition” he might have. Sarah thought the second was impossible, so decided that the first must be the reason. “W-well, I do have somebody I like, quite a lot in fact.” Feigning surprise (top-notch acting), Maestro replied. “Really now? What is this person like?” He pulled out a note book, one that he’d prepared beforehand, for effect. It had two columns, one listing his qualities (as he knew them all), the other was to list the qualities of the “mysterious person that Sarah likes” (aka, also him). Fiddling with her earrings a little to help calm herself, Sarah tried to keep it vague. “Well, he’s kind, honest, generous, funny, loyal, hopeful, smart, artistic, handsome, charming, perceptive, careful, and analytical. He’s really someone that I can rely on.” Taking a look at the list (for effect, of course), Maestro smirked. “Well, that’s certainly something. Seems He and I have quite a lot in common.” He looked at her with a gentle smile. “This person you like wouldn’t happen to be me, right?” Time seemed to stop as Sarah’s eyes widened. Of course he’d figure it out! One of the things I listed was that he’s perceptive! Oh crap! What should I do!? Deny it!/Admit it… [Deny it!] Chuckling nervously, Sarah put on her most convincing lying face. “N-no! O-of course not! H-he just happens to share a lot in common with you, that’s all.” Seeing as he was no one’s fool, Maestro took notice of her obvious lie- But he decided that maybe she just wasn’t ready yet. So he played along- for the moment. “I see. Forgive me for my presumptuousness, but I just couldn’t help but notice the similarities.” He looked deep into her eyes, piercing her very soul. “I noticed a while back that you’d started having certain… cues around me. It must be so hard, being around somebody that has practically the same qualities when compared to the person you like.” Sweating bullets, Sarah realized that he’d just called her bluff. He knew. He knew that she knew that he knew. And he was waiting for her next move in this game. A look on his face revealed a smile. He wasn’t angry at her attempt to deny it. Had he enjoyed the little chase? She just had to know. “A-alright. S-so, maybe I kinda fibbed about you not being him. But I must ask…” She looked down timidly. “Why do you want to know? Why did you bring me here? Just to get this out of me?” Shaking his head as he sighed, Maestro replied. “No. I… needed this.” He lifted her face to meet his eyes. “I knew for a long time how you felt about me, but for the longest time… I was confused as to how I felt about you. Did I like you as just a friend, or was there something more there? I had to know- So, I actively spent time with you to see if I could find an answer. And now… I think I have.” He then brought her face closer to his own. “I think this will explain far more than words ever could.” Before Sarah could even think to respond, before she could even react, Maestro leaned in, and kissed her square on the lips as his eyes closed. Her eyes widened. Was this really happening to her? She was afraid, that at any moment, she’d be stirred by a Luna anthro or something waking her from a dream that was never meant to be- but it didn’t happen. She closed her eyes as the kiss deepened,  tears streaming down her cheeks from her happiness as they embraced. This was really happening! She no longer had to dream, because she was living it! But even so, the moment had to end. And when it did, she couldn’t stop blushing. Eventually getting a hold of her emotions, she spoke. “So, does this mean…?” Smiling, Maestro put a hand on her cheek. “Yes.” He brushed away her tears as he he held her close. “It does. From now on, we are a couple.” He broke away a little and paused before continuing. “It’s going to be bit of an adjustment on my end, seeing as I’ve been burned before. But for you?” He smiled as he looked her in the eye. “I’ll power through.” The embrace ended and they finished their dinner, which had gotten a little cold because of how caught up they’d gotten. But, now things were different between the two of them. They hadn’t know each other very long, but this connection they’d forged seemed to be powerful. And that thought couldn’t have made them happier.