Neon Lights held Sugarcoat close as they found seats and sat down. The lump he had in his throat had not left, but he had to check in with her. "How are you holding up, Sugar?"
Sugarcoat heaved a long sigh. "I've been better. What about you?"
"Same, Sugar... same."
Sugarcoat placed a hand on Neon's thigh and caressed it. "Neon. Baby," she said softly. "It's okay if you have to cry."
Neon's eyes widened slightly, and the inner battle he had been fighting suddenly became more difficult to win.
"You comforted me." She leaned into Neon and pecked his cheek, then whispered in his ear as she took him by the hand and laced her fingers with his. "So let me comfort you."
Tears welled up in Neon's eyes. "Sugar... I-I..." Why was he holding back? He had cried in front of her before, so why should this be any different?
Sugarcoat took her free hand and ran it through Neon's hair. She smiled warmly, and Neon broke as everything that had happened crashed into his mind all at once.
A near-death experience. An alternate world. Magic was real. It was all far too much for Neon to absorb in one go, and it completely overwhelmed him.
What if Sugarcoat had died? Neon didn't think he'd be able to live with himself if that had happened! What had happened was nothing short of a miracle.
Finding himself unable to cry any longer, Neon shuddered and sighed.
"Feel better, hot stuff," Sugarcoat asked softly as she ran a hand through his hair.
Neon wiped a tear from his eye. "About as good as I can, considering." He rested his head on Sugarcoat's shoulder and laced his fingers with hers.
"Yeah, this whole situation is fucked up beyond belief."
Neon nearly laughed mirthlessly. "That's putting it mildly, Sugar."
"I wonder how 'everyone else' is going to take this," Sugarcoat said as she gave Neon a meaningful look. He took the hint.
Neon shrugged. "I'm just glad everyone got out unharmed." He leaned into Sugarcoat. "Their minds will probably be just as blown as ours," he whispered.
Sugarcoat nodded. "Wouldn't surprise me," she whispered back.
Neon quickly pecked Sugarcoat on the neck, then sat upright. Sugarcoat giggled, then sighed and closed her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I love you," she said softly as she ran her thumb up and down the back of Neon's hand.
Neon nuzzled his head against Sugarcoat's. "I love you too, baby."
Being close to Sugarcoat like this was simply heavenly. It felt like time had stopped whenever he made physical contact with her, and it was a feeling he wouldn't trade for anything.
Looking back, it seemed unlikely that he and Sugarcoat would end up in a relationship since they were engaging in casual sex. He would've laughed at the thought. Then again, the rumored magic was apparently real, and he was still trying to wrap his head around that!
Still... falling in love with someone over the course of a week and having those feelings reciprocated was unexpected but welcome change in Neon's life. Casual sex became passionate lovemaking, followed by tender cuddles until they'd both fall asleep in other's arms.
The very thought made Neon's heart sing.
Sugarcoat leaned into Neon. "When we get home, we are going straight upstairs to fuck each other's brains out." She grabbed him by the head and kissed him passionately, furiously swirling her tongue in his mouth.
Upon breaking the kiss, Neon chuckled. "Good to have you back, Sugar... good to have you back."
"With a goddamn horny vengeance," Sugarcoat whispered seductively into Neon's ear, then slowly licked his neck. "That was just for starters." She turned to the seat across to her to see two shocked students, then rolled her eyes. "Don't give me those looks, we all know you're going to masturbate over this."
The two students slowly looked back at each other, then shrugged and went about their business.
Neon grinned as Sugarcoat turned back to him and smiled. It really was good to have her back to her old self again.
"What was it like?"
Sugarcoat raised an eyebrow. "What was what like?"
"That one moment where you and the girls looked at each other. When you all banded together for something other than competition."
Sugarcoat thought for a moment. "It was a sudden, spur of the moment decision. Besides, I don't think any of us would've been able to live with ourselves if we just left them all to die."
"Completely understandable. I doubt anybody in their right mind would want to live with blood on their hands."
"Holy fucking shit!!"
Neon and Sugarcoat jumped, then peeked to see the source of the noise. Sugarcoat rolled her eyes. "I'd expect Indigo to make a random outburst, not Lemon."
"We're all dealing with this shit in different ways, hon."
"Yeah. I know..."
"At least you seem to be doing better now."
"As best I can, hot stuff. As best I can."
Neon leaned into Sugarcoat. "So do we file a report to Dean Cadance or what?"
Sugarcoat snorted. "She saw it all happen herself, there's no need."
"Yeah," Neon said as he rested his head against Sugarcoat's and closed his eyes. "I guess you're right."
"Don't get too comfortable, babe. I think we're almost there."
"Too late, Sugar," Neon said dreamily. "I'm already comfortable."
Sugarcoat smiled warmly and ran a hand through Neon's hair.
"Now I don't want to get up."
"You're going to have to, whether you like it or not."
"I don't. Just five more minutes. Pretty as you are please?"
Sugarcoat snorted. "You'll have more than enough time for that when we get home and you know it, you smooth talker," she said, booping Neon on the nose.
"Aww, now why did you have to go and press the magic button," Neon asked playfully.
"Because I want you to press my buttons all night tonight," Sugarcoat said alluringly.
Neon barked a laugh. "Looks like I'm not the only smooth talker around here."
"Of course not," Sugarcoat said with a grin. "If I wasn't, we wouldn't be fucking."
"Fair point." Neon missed these little back-and-forth moments with Sugarcoat...
The bus slowly stopped in front of Crystal Prep.