It was not his place to speak up, and Soarin had to keep his tongue from speaking his mind. From what he had witnessed, Soarin was happy to see Vapor Trail able to muster up the courage to confess her love to Sky Stinger. For a good portion of two years, Soarin had found himself in love with Spitfire, but was unable to find the strength to tell the captain the truth. The encouragement he needed finally showed itself when Vapor Trail not only told Sky the truth. It was also how she simulated a scene of asking Spitfire out with him. Vapor Trail’s amazing technique really put the umph! in Soarin’s feathers.
However, Sky Stinger’s final sentence simmered most of Soarin’s motivation to even approach Spitfire.
“Is… is this a no?” Vapor Trail squeaked. Just her tone alone broke Soarin’s heart. Her delivery was perfect! She expressed her emotions to the very core. Even Soarin felt the love and became a little jealous that a mare like Vapor Trail didn’t share emotions to the degree she did to himself. But was Sky Stinger being resistant? Was he trying not to break Vapor Trail’s heart and hope to let her off easy? Or maybe Sky actually wanted his friend to date Soarin and not himself. It was a stretch of a possibility, but Soarin could only assume, for he was not in the horseshoes of Sky Stinger or Vapor Trail.
“This is far from a ‘no,’” Sky Stinger answered. Soarin’s ears twitched and he couldn’t help but lean forward to hear what else needed to be said. Vapor Trail pressed against her friend as if to climb him. “But just not close enough to a definite ‘yes.’” Her pressure was short lived and the mare settled herself.
A flame of relief kindled within Soarin’s breast, not just for Vapor Trail but for himself. His biggest worry about asking Spitfire to be his special somepony is rejection. Nopony wanted to be rejected by the pony they loved. But what encouraged Soarin was Sky Stinger’s reply. Soarin had a strong feeling that Spitfire was going to think about her choice of being his boyfriend. They have been friends for years. The likelihood of a “yes” is definitely in the ballpark. But the chances of a foul ball was a possibility as well…
“Okay,” Vapor Trail nodded. It was obvious that Sky Stinger’s inept ability to be specific bothered the mare and her ears bent back as far as they could.
Sky Stinger looked at Vapor Trail as if he didn’t know what to do. He continued to hold her, but Sky looked like a father unable to take care of their foal. Soarin was beginning to be more concerned with Sky Stinger more than Vapor Trail.
“Let me… Let me show you how close I am to saying 'yes…'” Sky Stinger said. He gave no warning to anypony, not that it needed to be said. The stallion planted a firm kiss on Vapor Trail’s cheek. It happened so fast, Vapor Trail reflexed her wings out. Even Soarin did the same thing. Sunbeam was also astonished and flew off of Vapor Trail’s shoulders to watch from a distance.
Vapor Trail’s knees buckled and nearly gave way, but she held fast. When Sky Stinger concluded his kiss, the mare said, “I need to take a step outside.” She looked back at Soarin with a beat-red face and then to Sunbeam. “You want to come with me, Sunbeam?” The fish nodded and followed the mare who briskly made for the exit.
The moment she was out of sight, a cheerful squeal quickly followed. Soarin smiled for Vapor Trail’s joy and tried to imagine if Spitfire would react the same. As for Sky Stinger, he was blushing but not smiling. “You don’t seem very happy, Sky,” Soarin said as he got off the bed.
“Trust me,” Sky Stinger began, “I am very happy.” He circled a hoof around his face. “This is the expression of concern.” Another cheer of happiness ripped through the air.
“But why?” Soarin chuckled. “Do you not hear how happy Vapor Trail is? Or even see?”
“Don’t tell me things I can easily notice,” Sky Stinger bit back. “I am not oblivious.” The sudden mood swing hit Soarin and the stallion took two steps back. The turquoise pegasus blinked and quickly changed hit attitude. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to get aggressive.”
Soarin gave Sky Stinger a wide grin. “You are nothing compared to Spitfire. I once got myself a personal pizza with pineapples on it. When Spitfire saw that I had a toping she didn't like, she got so mad, she ordered a large pizza with tomatoes and wouldn’t let me have a piece of it.”
“All that over a pizza?” Sky Stinger laughed.
Soarin’s smile grew wider. “It’s funny how you can talk about politics and start a heated debate. But talking about whether or not pineapple on pizza is a good idea will end up with somepony dead.”
“No no no!” Sky Stinger argued with a shake of his head. “Arguing if a cat or a dog is the better pet will cause a war.” Soarin used the moment to laugh alongside his teammate. It was certainly a surprise to Soarin that Sky wasn’t always boastful about himself. Then again, Rainbow Dash was the same. She liked to bark, but she also knew how to crash, along with various other good traits about her. “Anyways, back to this whole romance issue.” The scene was easily swapped out and the comedy relief was gone. Back to reality. “Again, I did not mean to get in your face like that, Soarin. I am just… worried.”
“About Vapor Trail?”
“No,” Sky Stinger admitted. “About me.” It was too difficult for Soarin to respond to his teammate’s comment and only waited for Sky to continue. “Let me explain…”