The central building of the headquarters soon looms over the cab as they pull into the stop. Both of the stallions exiting the cab remain silent and head for the door. Inside, Slate tells the receptionist where he is going, and then gaits over to the elevator. It is a long and painfully quiet ride to the top. Neither Slate or Rhythm make eye contact.
Leaving the elevator, Slate turns to Rhythm and tells him, “you are to stay here. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Rhythm replies in the most insincere tone he could manage. Eyes follow Slate until he enters a room at the end of the hall.
After standing for a moment, Rhythm soon decides to sit down, for he is exhausted physically and emotionally. Why did I get so upset? The blue pony wonders to himself. I know I can’t compete with his anger. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so nosy, but… he was still keeping secrets from us. Rhythm gazes at the door, and lets out an audible sigh. He rubs his eyes with both his organic and prosthetic hooves.
Many agonizingly long minutes pass. Eyes closed, Rhythm continuously replays the events of the day in his head. He opens his eyes as soon as he hears the door at the end of the hall open. He gets to his hooves and meets up with the grey Unicorn. Slate is holding an envelope in his purple magic.
“What’s that?” Rhythm asks.
“She gave me some money. As a reward and to help cover medical costs,” Slate clarifies.
“Well, that was nice of her,” Rhythm states.
They return to the elevator and descend to the ground floor. From there, they make their way to the medical center, which is a few blocks away from the central building. Again, both Unicorns are mute, however this time Rhythm glances at Slate, but the older stallion does not return the exchange.
While on their way to the clinic, Rhythm resumes his contemplating, and wishes that things could have gone different. Even when regretting some of his decisions and words, Rhythm stays upset at his father. However he knows that Slate is still far too irritable to attempt a conversation. I just want to talk about it without there being yelling every five seconds.
At the clinic, Rhythm holds open the door for Slate, but the grey Unicorn makes nothing of the kind gesture. Taking a pen at the front desk, Slate signs in, and takes a seat in the waiting area soon after. Rhythm steps up to the right of him, watching the quiet stallion.
“You don’t have to stay here,” Slate announces while tilting his head towards Rhythm’s direction, but never looking him in the eyes. His words that broke the silence almost frighten Rhythm. “I don’t know how long they’re going to keep me here. It’s not worth waiting for me. Besides I… I think I want some time alone.” Slate’s gaze straightens again, as he stares blankly into nothing.
Rhythm stays in place for a short time, studying the pony in front of him, with an odd ache in his heart. He only replies with “Okay,” in a hushed tone before he departs.
Leaving the medical center, Rhythm notes how the sky has darkened. The clouds began to thicken as they prepare for rain, a rarity in southwest Equestria. The blue stallion stays close to the houses on the sidewalk as he makes his way back to his parents’ house.
Brown eyes gaze down at the ground, and take not of the hooves which they travel by. The prosthetic right leg, designed by Slate, reminds Rhythm of how upset his father was when he found out that he had lost his leg. That anger that Slate held onto was caused by something personal, as he too lost a leg when he was younger. While Slate finally came around to design a leg for his son then, Rhythm hopes that he can come around again. But this anger was different. He always makes up eventually, Rhythm tells himself.
A droplet of rain touches the Unicorn’s muzzle, rolling into his black beard. A few more droplets reach his back. Without flinching, Rhythm creates a shield above him with his magic. He holds it a few more blocks until he reaches his destination. Entering, Rhythm is greeted by his mother.
“CharmingRhythm, you’re back. How did-” Sapphire starts, but hesitates as her golden eyes look around. “Where’s your dad?”
“He’s at the clinic. He got injured,” Rhythm reports.
“Wh-what? Is he okay?” Sapphire questions, concern filling up her voice and eyes.
“He seemed like he was okay,” Rhythm says, shrugging one shoulder, “but you know how he is. I’m guessing broken ribs.”
Sapphire makes a disheartened “oh”, as she recoils her head back and covers her mouth with a hoof. She opens her eyes again, now with even more concern in them. “I hope he doesn’t have to stay there for that long.”
Rhythm walks past the blue mare, and twists his head back to her. “Mom, he’s been keeping secrets from us.”
Confused by the sudden change of topics, Sapphire replies, “What do you mean?”
“He told you that he’s been taking late shifts at the workshop, but that’s not what he’s been doing at all. He’s been working on some project, assigned by the president, with some team I think,” Rhythm tells, with his brows furrowing. “The reason he didn’t want me to come on the mission because he didn’t want me to find out about this.”
“Oh, Charmy,” Sapphire say, stepping forward. She places her hoof on his shoulder. “I’m sure there’s a reason for this. If it’s assigned by the president, then maybe he has to keep it secret for business purposes.”
“I… I know,” Rhythm mutters, “but I can’t help but feel hurt.”
Sapphire assures him, “He would never mean to hurt us. Even if he had to keep things from us, he wouldn't do it to intentionally hurt us. He loves us, you know." Rhythm only gives her a few nods.
“Besides, he told me he's taking longer shifts for better pay. While he might not be in the workshop, I'm sure he's still doing this for better pay, to support us,” Saphhire says, putting faith in her husband.
“I guess so,” Rhythm murmurs with his eyes cast downward. “I just wish we didn’t have to argue like that.”
“He got upset, huh?”
“Yeah… but so did I. Ugh,” Rhythm places a blue hoof to his face. “I acted like an ass to him. I shouldn’t have been so nosy.”
“Well, there’s always time to make up,” Sapphire gives her best attempt to comfort him. “And I’m sure he’ll come around, he always does,” she echoes Rhythm’s thoughts from earlier.
“Yeah,” Rhythm says simply. He lets out a heavy sigh, and begins to gait over to the hallway.
“You need anything, hun?” Sapphire asks. “Any food, maybe potions?”
“No thanks, Mom. I- I think I can take care of myself, but I appreciate it,” Rhythm replies with a tired smile. He continues on his path to the guest room.
In the middle of the night, CharmingRhythm finds the air around him suffocatingly humid and hot. Cyan light pours from his horn, illuminating the room. He leaps off the bed and opens the window. While the rain has long passed, its smell still lingers. He returns to the bed, sitting instead. If it wasn’t for the temperature, his thoughts would have awoken him anyway.
Rhythm stares at the empty bed across from him, which used to be his brother’s. The Unicorn wishes that he was with him now, to have someone to talk to. Yet his brother was out on his own adventures with his partner. Rhythm wondered how often they argued while on missions.
Anxiety fills his mind. He wishes to speak with his father, but knows that he can do nothing but wait until he returns. Rhythm lies down. Even reluctant to sleep, he lets his body relax, waiting to drift back asleep.