//------------------------------// // An Infrequent Event // Story: Pyrophobia // by Valorousspectre //------------------------------// Chapter 6: An infrequent event. Rarity was lying in her bed, thinking back to earlier that night and fighting back tears. The realisation that it was Spike that had almost killed Gray, the anger in Talisman’s eyes, The shocked look of hurt and betrayal in those beautiful deep green eyes. In another room down the hall, Gray was doing something similar. Thinking back to that moment when Spike was unceremoniously dumped on his face. Remembering the thoughts running through his head when he saw him, the incredibly depressed mood that came afterwards... Then, at the same time, the two thought about the hug they had almost shared. Rarity finally let her tears slip down onto her pillow. She didn’t know what was going through her head when she did that. She knew he had lost everything he had, but that didn’t feel like the right reason. Gray smiled, flinching when his cut face burned. The cut was a result of Rarity’s second slap and it was still bleeding slightly. Still he smiled. He remembered her soft form pressing against him, the scent of roses from her coat.... Rarity remembered feeling the tears from the stallion damp against her dry coat, the strangest scent that she couldn’t quite place but realised she quite liked... Both ponies fell asleep smiling that night. Rarity had forgiven Gray, but was worried he hadn’t forgiven her. Gray felt the same way, having forgiven her for the slaps, which he now thought he had needed anyway, but not sure if she’d ever forgive him. ~*~ Sweetie Belle was crying. The realisation woke up Rarity who was instantly worried. Sweetie Belle was always getting into some sort of trouble in her boutique. She rushed out the door and collided full pelt into Gray. Both of them fell to the floor from the contact. She looked up at him and she filled with guilt. This was the first time she’d seen Gray’s face from last night. The cut was still open, reopened in the collision and was, once more, leaking trace amounts of blood. Gray looked at his hooves, hiding the superficial cut on his face, and the deeper cut in his eyes. Rarity walked past slowly, trying not to disturb him, fearing he’d run or something. Gray thought differently. When she walked past without saying anything, he took it as a dismissal. His eyes threatened him with tears and he forced them back angrily. The cries still rang out through the hall. Sweetie Belle had cut herself, no doubt. There was a shallow cut across her hoof from where a scissor blade had just cut the skin. She’d been playing quite happily before she bumped a shelf. The scissors had fallen and just cut her a she dodged back. Now she was crying, her big sister was here, but still she cried. Rarity was at a loss as to what to do. Gray poked his head down the stairs, curious as to what happened. His eyes, previously hard with cold anger, softened at the sight of the crying filly. He walked down the stairs and approached the sobbing filly, ignoring Rarity. “Hey there Sweetie Belle. Are you ok?” Sweetie Belle looked at Gray. Something about his demeanour spoke volumes of comfort. She sniffed, but stopped crying out. “I c-c-c-c-cut m-myself... See?” She held out her hoof for Gray to see. He smiled at her and took the hoof in his. He looked over at the scissors, now lying on the ground. “Did those scissors do this?” Sweetie Belle nodded, her bottom lip quivering. Gray let go of her hoof. “Wait here. I’ll show them scissors a thing or two.” His voice had changed from his normal, plain sort of voice, to a deeper baritone, like big heroes in movies and cartoons. Rarity raised an eyebrow in surprise. He was an actor, but that isn’t something just anypony can do. She watched as he engaged in a mock battle with the inanimate object, yelling heroic phrases and being a genuinely entertaining distraction. Sweetie Belle, cut forgotten, was laughing and calling out to Gray, telling him to beat the scissors senseless. Rarity couldn’t help but laugh affectionately. Thankfully, nopony heard her over his commotion. She felt the affection for the fun stallion swelling in her... but she was scared of it. What if he still hadn’t forgiven her? Breakfast was a small affair, as usual. Rarity, trying to find out if he’d forgiven her yet, kept trying to look Gray in the eye. Unsuccessfully. Gray did whatever he could to avoid her gaze. Soon after, the rest of the cutie mark crusaders arrived at the boutique and dragged Sweetie Belle away, leaving a very nervous Rarity and a very heartbroken Gray behind. Still at the table, they sat in silence for a long while. Gray stood up. “Well... I’d best be going... I know you have more important things to do than look after me.” His cut wasn’t bleeding anymore, but it still pained him as he spoke. He went to leave and Rarity stood up and took a step forward. “Please.... Don’t go Gray.” Gray stopped a few steps short of the door and turned around. That look... The look from the previous night was back with a vengeance. “Rarity... I know you can’t forgive me... What I said.... It was stupid... But-“ Rarity cut him off. “Can’t forgive you? Gray, I forgave you the moment I calmed down!” She took a few steps towards him. “I... I wanted to ask your forgiveness for what I did... It wasn’t ladylike at all! And...” She looked at the cut on his face and her eyes welled up with tears. “The cut... With Sweetie Belle gone and some privacy... I’d hoped...” Her voice was getting hysterical. She’d never gotten this worked up about something like this before and the emotions were new to her. “I’d hoped I could get the chance to say I’m sorry...” Her words broke off into sullen sobs, her downturned face seeing only floor. Gray looked at the unicorn, a feeling of happiness obliterating his depressed state. She forgave him. She forgave him! He walked forward, his face alight with joy. How could he not have seen? She was worried about him not forgiving her! That’s why nothing had been said! He enfolded Rarity in an emotional hug, feeling her tears against his chest. Rarity threw her arms around him, still sobbing into his coat. Gray could smell the roses on her.... Rarity was still crying, but she felt much better. She knew he’d forgiven her completely, but she couldn’t stop crying. But they were tears of joy now. For a long time the two sat entwined in the arms of the other, not wanting to let go. Rarity had stopped crying a while ago, but she was completely content in his arms. Gray whispered into her ear. “My name is Gray Lapis... Nopony else really knows that name. I only tell it to those who I completely trust.” Rarity smiled over his shoulder. Gray slowly and carefully disengaged from the dreamy mare. “Rarity... did you.. uh...” Rarity put a hoof over his mouth. “There’s a lovely cafe near Sugarcube corner. I’ll treat you.” She shook her head when he tried to speak and pressed her hoof down on his mouth firmly. “You have no money Gray. I will treat you tonight. Think of it as an apology for the cut.” She gently caressed the cut as she spoke, sending thrills through Gray. He smiled. “Alright Rarity. But only until I have my theatre up and running ok?” Rarity giggled and nodded. “I’ll meet you there at six. I’ll just have to tell Rock Ranger that those two can have their lesson run for a little... longer.” Rarity flashed a suggestive look Gray’s way. Gray gave a slight bow with a smile. ~*~ Rarity sighed. She really didn’t want to talk to Rock Ranger. She didn’t really know why she didn’t like talking to him, but neither of them really spoke to each other. Sweetie Belle was up on a hill, singing a short song that Rock Ranger had written especially for her. Rarity smiled as she heard her sisters’ voice. By Celestia, she loved her voice. Rock Ranger was up there too, looking at the lyrics while Sweetie Belle sang. He was nodding reassuringly. The song ended, and Rock ranger looked over at Rarity as though he’d known she was there the whole time. “Rarity? What are you doing here?” Rarity smiled at the Pegasus. “Ranger, I’m... going out tonight and I came by to let you know that you two can extend your lesson. Or Sweetie Belle, you can stay with the other crusaders if you wish. Your choice.” Sweetie Belle’s eyes lit up. “Really sister?” Rarity nodded. Sweetie Belle looked at Rock Ranger expectantly. He sighed. “Alright kid. We’ll extend the lesson and call the other crusaders.” Sweetie Belle squealed happily and ran rings around Ranger. Ranger laughed uproariously. “Yep. Go get the others Sweetie. Take Beau with you. She’s been watching us for long enough.” There was a haughty huff as a cloud up above followed Sweetie Belle to Ponyville. Ranger turned to Rarity and grinned. “You’re going on a date Rarity. No doubt.” Rarity nodded. “How’d you figure it out?” Rock Ranger chuckled. “Easy. The look in your eyes mainly. The way you’ve never said anything about this sort of thing before is another dead giveaway.” Rarity blushed slightly. “Well... don’t tell the others yet please? I’d rather make sure it was working before I told everypony.” Ranger chuckled and nodded. He made a cross over his heart. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye Rarity. I will not tell a soul.” Rarity laughed. “Thank you Ranger. Thank you very much.” ~*~ Gray was nervous. It may not be the first date he’d gone on, but it was certainly the one he wanted to go right. He’d waited until Rarity had returned from her errand before he’d let his worries get the best of him. But he was resolute. He wasn’t letting anything ruin this. They left together, leaving the boutique side by side. It was a beautiful evening and the sun was just setting. “Perfect set...” murmured Gray. “Now the main actor has to do just right...” The café was indeed very nice. The waiter there, having served Rainbow Dash and Rock Ranger when they first went out smiled. He knew Rarity quite well, having visited her boutique a few times for decor advice. Dropping off the menus, he left the two on their own with a single lit candle as their only light. Quite deliberately of course. Rarity loved it. The mood, the lighting. It was all just right. ~*~ They’d finished their dinner and were walking back to the boutique. Rarity was in high spirits, having enjoyed the date immensely. Gray was still nervous. He didn’t want anything bad to happen. Especially not now. Not now that it had gone so well. They walked in companionable silence for a while. Then Rarity smiled at Gray. “Gray Lapis. Sounds like the name of a jeweller family. What got you into acting?” Gray laughed nervously. “Yes, you guessed right. I’m part of a family of jewellers who, may I say, were very proud of their actor son.” Rarity giggled and stopped, forcing Gray to stop as well. She caressed his cheek, still aware of the cut. “I bet they were Gray.” Gray blushed and looked at his hooves. His acting classes hadn’t prepared him for this. “I, uh... Well they made plenty of money, which is why they got me into acting school for ten years when I was a colt. It was harsh, but well worth the time.” Gray continued walking, Rarity following. She was listening intently. “I learned all sorts of things from that school. Dramatic elements, absurdism, chamaedia... It was all part of the lifestyle and I loved it.” His head swung down dejectedly. “But my high spirits were dulled by countless years of rejection. Every time it was the same thing. But you already know about that.” They had just arrived at the boutique. Rarity stopped him at the door and put her hoof on his shoulder. Her eyes were sympathetic. “You didn’t lose that spirit though Gray. You never lost it.” She removed her hoof from his shoulder and put it over his heart. “It’s been hidden in here all that time. In here Gray is who you are.” She slid her hoof around his torso until it rested on the small of his back and pulled him into a hug. “And it won’t ever disappear Gray Lapis. That Rarity herself guarantees.” She went in to kiss him. His eyes widened with shock and he looked away, Spike’s words bouncing around in his head once more. Rarity frowned slightly and kissed his cheek instead. “Don’t put yourself down so much Gray. You’re much better than you give yourself credit for.” With that, she took him back into the boutique. They sat up for a while, talking about little things, all the while Rarity thinking about her rejected affections and wondering if she was going too fast.