Proximity

by paperhearts


Larceny

In the dim light of the store, Smolder glanced between the item in her hand and the salespony with the piercings standing behind the counter. She couldn't decide whether he was deep in thought or just bored, but either way it amounted to the same thing. He was distracted, and that was going to cost him dear.

Making a show of nodding her head to the pounding anthem coming from the speakers above, Smolder lowered a hand and unfastened one of the buckles of her satchel. She froze as the salespony moved, but a quick sideways glance confirmed that he had just reached for the sleeve of the album that was playing. She held her position for a few more moments, watching him read and listening to the crunching riffs drowning out the downpour outside. It would have been easier to steal something from beyond his line of sight, but where was the fun in that? Besides, she had to do something to reignite the old thrill. Indulging her heritage had become an increasingly frustrating experience of late.

Keeping an eye on the salespony, she moved to place the item in her satchel.

"This place is amazing!"

Smolder bit back a cry of surprise as Ocellus appeared at her side, brandishing a bulging plastic bag and chittering excitedly. The smile on her face was one that only Ocellus could wear, balanced precariously between genuine, unguarded pleasure and the anxiety of having that pleasure judged.

"Look," she continued, so busy pulling things from the bag that she didn't see Smolder hastily thrusting the item back on the shelf. "I bought some t-shirts! And records!"

Smolder glanced past her at the salespony, who was now half-watching them, and swallowed down her frustration. Taking the proffered t-shirts, she unfolded them.

"Redemption Hypocrisy and... Tartarus Apocalypse? Check you out, 'Cel, diving straight in to the magma chamber." She raised an eyebrow, only half in jest. "What's next? Planning on giving out black eyes with me at the next BloodFest or something?"

Ocellus' angled cheeks darkened as she pushed the t-shirts back into the bag. "Oh! Well, um... Not really, no. It's just that we're still learning so much about music back home, you see. I hadn't even heard of metal until I came to Ponyville." Her smile became almost wistful for a moment, before Ocellus realised that it was under scrutiny. "And then you played that record last week. It's so..."

"Awesome?"

"Powerful!" Ocellus' head twitched as she considered her assessment. Then she nodded. "It's hard to describe. Listening to it, um, I just get this feeling, like I have so much energy, like I can do anything I want and who cares what anyone thinks... Within reason, of course."

"Of course." A teasing wisp of smoke escaped from Smolder's mouth as she laughed. "So no black eyes then."

Ocellus hid her smile with a hoof. "No black eyes." Her gaze dropped to Smolder's hands. "Aren't you going to buy something? I thought you wanted to come here?"

"I wanted to get out of the rain, but sure." Smolder's eyes returned to the shelf beside her. "I dunno, I keep coming back to these collars. Y'know, for my tail." She retrieved the one she had almost stole and turned it over in her hand. "I mean, it looks pretty cool, right? Spikes and all that."

Ocellus clapped her hooves together, her smile widening. "Oh definitely, and pink really suits you."

Smolder felt warmth spreading across her face. "Spikes suit me too," she replied, although her muted hiss didn't stand a chance against the fury now spilling out from the speakers.

Ocellus stepped closer and tapped Smolder's cheek. "Definitely suits you," she said with a laugh. Her expression fell as Smolder wordlessly returned the collar to its shelf. "Did I say something wrong? You should buy it if you want it... It really would suit you."

Smolder glared at the floor. It felt as though someone had started stabbing needles beneath her scales, and the sensation became worse every time she entertained the idea of actually paying for the collar. When she looked back up at Ocellus, it was clear that her girlfriend had been reading her mind.

"You're going to steal it, aren't you?"

Smolder exhaled, then shrugged, hoping that it made her look more indifferent than she felt. "I was thinking about it."

Ocellus tilted her head, her expression was unreadable. Then she nodded.

"I'll go distract the salespony."

She turned and walked towards the counter without waiting for a response, which was good because Smolder didn't actually have one. Feelings that were still weird and ill-fitting made their presence known, feelings like gratitude and appreciation, but it didn't take long for the needling discomfort to return and smother them. Was it really okay for her to still be like this? Wasn't she supposed to make at least some concessions now that she had actual friends, now that she had an actual girlfriend? Ocellus didn't agree with the dragon principle that if something can be taken it should be taken, but she was putting those doubts aside, along with her own timidity, to make Smolder's life easier, to make her happy.

Her hands balled into fists. Knowing that actually made her feel worse. Grabbing the collar from the shelf, Smolder decided to do the right thing.

"Hey!" Her voice roared over the music. Both the salespony and Ocellus looked across the store at her, nonplussed. Smolder held the collar aloft and glared at them. "I'm taking this and I'm not paying!"

And then she ran from the shop.


Ocellus found her beneath the vaulted shelter of the market cross a few minutes later. Her girlfriend was clearly trying, and failing, to disguise her mirth, which actually made Smolder feel better about the whole experience.

"So... That happened," she said, taking a seat beside Smolder and flicking the rain from her carapace.

"That it did," Smolder replied.

Ocellus nodded, and then pulled a small bag from her own satchel. "Do you want some lunch?"

"Maybe in a bit." Smolder looked at her askance. "Sorry for, y'know," she waved a hand, "everything. Sometimes I wish I could change how I am; sometimes I wish I could just stop changing."

Ocellus unwrapped a sandwich and nibbled on it, leaning her head against Smolder's shoulder.

"I feel the same," she replied. "But at least we're changing and fighting change together. I don't want you to ever feel like you're doing it alone. I don't want you to ever feel like you want to do it alone."

They sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the contact and watching the rain smash against the cobblestones. Smolder turned the collar over and over in her hands.

"You paid for it, didn't you?"

Ocellus coughed and spluttered, fragments of sandwich spraying to the ground. She looked away, her snout upturned.

"I also don't want you going to jail. Now give me that collar."

Smolder tossed it to her, a smile on her lips. Ocellus worked deftly and gently, tightening the collar until it was snug against the scales on Smolder's tail. "It really does suit you," she said, the smile in her voice obvious.

"I know," Smolder replied around the rest of Ocellus' sandwich.