Rarity had absconded with not one, not two, but three of the gyms towels. One for her hair, one for her body, and one for toweling off. She had taken so long that both Rainbow Dash and Applejack has dried off and dressed by the time she came out of the showers. "Oh, darlings, were you two waiting for me?"
Applejack shook her head but Rainbow Dash nodded. The two shot glares at each other as Rarity giggled, undoing the lock to her locker as Rainbow Dash decided to try and stop any protests from her farm companion by speaking first. "Yeah, we had a question to ask you."
Applejack groused as she was beaten to the punch. "I think it can wait a bit."
Rarity was the one who answered that one. "Oh, come now, darling. It's nothing to be embarrassed by, we all have the same parts after all." Though she hadn't removed her towel yet, Rarity's meaning was obvious.
Applejack threw her arms in the air and turned. "Fine, you want to do this now you do this!"
Rainbow Dash frowned as Applejack walked away. "Hey AJ! We agree..."
"You pushed it!" Applejack grumbled as she walked to the other end of locker room and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms and watching.
Rainbow Dash grimaced a bit. That was Applejack. If there was a way she thought something was supposed to be done, she nigh refused to do it any other way. Though as Rainbow Dash looked back at Rarity she had to snicker. "What a supportive girlfriend I have, eh?" Rarity pressed her fingers to her lips as she snickered. Applejack scowled at her girlfriend. She knew it was a joke, but Applejack had an idea of things that shouldn't be joked about. As Rainbow Dash opened her mouth again Rarity waved her fingers in AJ's direction. Tilting her head in question Rainbow Dash asked without speaking.
Rarity rolled her eyes and turned away from Rainbow Dash, saying in a low voice, obviously to keep others from hearing. "Go apologize darling. Funny or not, it was still mean."
Rainbow Dash grumbled but turned as Rarity leaned up to the little mirror in her locker, examining herself closely after the shower. Grinning a bit sheepishly at Applejack, Rainbow Dash stuffed her hands in her pockets. "Hey."
"Hey."
Rainbow Dash grimaced a bit, why was she listening to Rarity? Applejack was her girlfriend, not Rarity's! Still... "You know I was kidding about that girlfriend thing, right."
"I know."
"So... We're cool, right?" Rainbow Dash raised a fist for a first bump. Applejack grimaced but raised her own fist to return the fist bump. After a few moments of silence Rainbow Dash sighed. "That really bothered you that much?"
"Mhmm."
Rainbow Dash puffed up for a moment before blowing out her breath and shaking her head, her shoulders slumped. "Ahh jeeze... Applejack..."
Applejack nodded. "You're sorry?"
Rainbow Dash frowned in annoyance. "You could at least let me say it."
Applejack smiled gently and leaned in, giving her sporty girlfriend a soft kiss on the cheek. One that Rainbow Dash was legitimately surprised by, Applejack didn't tend to go for public displays of affection. "Well to be honest, just you havin' the idea to apologize is nice. And rare."
The smile had turned into a smirk as Rainbow Dash grunted in irritation. "Yeah, wasn't exactly my idea..."
Applejack's eyes wandered over to Rarity and she smirked a bit herself. "Having a buffer wouldn't be the worst idea ya know."
Rainbow Dash grinned a bit wickedly. "A buffer for fighting... And f..." Applejack made a chopping motion with her hand and glared at Rainbow Dash who raised her hands defensively. "Okay, okay, sorry. No more dirty jokes for the day."
"The weekend." Applejack grinned, Rainbow Dash usually noticed when she pushed the jokes a little too far for Applejack's comfort.
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Keep dreaming farm girl."
Applejack chuckled a bit. "I'll take what I can get."
"So we going to wait for her to finish? We should get our last creeping in."
"Speak for yourself."
Rainbow Dash was surprised to notice that an unknown time ago Applejack had closed her eyes. Not that that was truly required. Rarity was an expert in dressing while shielding her self with her towel, despite her earlier teasing, she was very particular about her privacy. "So, after she's finished?"
Applejack nodded, eyes still closed as she waited. Rainbow Dash shrugged and watched Rarity out of the corner of her eye. Mostly to know when she was finished... Mostly. An annoyingly long wait, at least for Rainbow Dash. She didn't care for all that make up stuff that Rarity liked. At least Rarity went easy on it at the gym. "She's done."
As Applejack opened her eyes as Rarity approached, smiling happily at her two friends. "So, darlings, what can I do for you two?"
Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash and raised an eyebrow. Rainbow Dash grinned and shook her head. "Well me and AJ wanted to talk to you about our relationship."
Rarity's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Oh dear! I'll help however I can! What's the problem? Is it Rainbow Dash being mean?"
Rainbow Dash scowled and Applejack couldn't keep herself from shaking with, mostly, suppressed laughter. "No. No. It's not that Rarity..." the rest of Applejacks sentence was cut off by more chuckling.
Rainbow Dash glared at both of them and shook her head. "Sheesh, what do you say about me when I'm not here?"
While Applejack kept laughing Rarify nodded, looking apologetic. "You're right, darling, I'm sorry. What is it?"
Rainbow Dash tried to start again. She was bold, and awesome, but asking your longtime friend to date you and your girlfriend was a step... "Well... We were wondering, Rarity..." Rarity nodded attentively, waiting for the request. "If you would... Be interested in taking our relationship to the next level...?"
Applejack grinned as Rainbow Dash was about as vague as possible. But Rarity gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "You're getting married!?" Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack jerked back at that conclusion. "And you want me to be your wedding planner!? Oh dar...!"
"We ain't gettin' married!" Applejack cut in before Rarity could get any further down that rabbit hole. She grumbled, she was planning on leaving this to Rainbow Dash as Applejack was less than subtle about most things... But apparently Rainbow Dash wanted to beat around the bush... And Applejack could only guess where Rarity's third guess would lead her. "Rainbow Dash and I talked, ok?" Rarity nodded, now frowning as she tried to puzzle out where the entire conversation was going. "After some..." Applejack glances at Rainbow Dash who, remembering the trigger had the decency to look abashed. "Less than subtle hints Dash dropped that she knew I used to have a crush on you."
Rarity giggled gently. "Oh that's perfectly normal dar..." She gasped and covered her mouth, again. "Oh no! Did I cause you two to fight!? I'm sorry dar..."
"Can ya let me finish!?" Rarity nodded and made the zipping your mouth shut and throwing away the key gesture. "Well first I thought she was just teasin'. Then she suggested maybe inviting you over for a... 'sleep over'" Rarity started to blush as she covered her mouth for the third time. "But I said no." Rarity nodded. "Then after some digging I kinda got her to admit she liked ya too..."
Rarity's eyes flicked between her two friends. Her cheeks almost crimson and even Rainbow Dash knew to take a moment and let Rarity adjust. And after a moment Applejack continues. "So with Dash's clumsy phrasin' earlier..."
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash cut in. "It wasn't clumsy! It meant exactly what we're asking!"
"It wasn't clear! That's why I had t..." Applejack shot an annoyed glare at her girlfriend.
"I had it under control and you interru... Woah Rarity!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack both lunged forward to catch the fainting violet that was Rarity. Rainbow Dash grimaced. "We really should have seen this coming."
Applejack grimaced and nodded. "Let's get her over to the bench." They rather easily carried her over to the bench. "So... Uh... Should we get someone? Is this dangerous?" Rainbow Dash started to shake her head until someone else answered for her, at least indirectly.
"I better not be on the floor..." both Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked down at Rarity. "Before I put my foot in my mouth were we talking right before I fainted or was that all a part of a dream?"
Applejack cleared her throat, a little self conscious about saying it again, concerned that Rarity might react poorly, again. But Rainbow Dash had no such convictions as she grinned. "We were talking about the three of us maybe shacking up."
Rarity flushed again and Applejack looked up angrily. "Rainbow Dash!"
"What!? I was just saying..."
"Darlings, please!" They both looked down at Rarity as she started to sit up. Rarity couldn't stop her cheshire grin as both her friends bent down to help her. She could get used to this. She shook her head a bit. "Goodness you two. I didn't pay it much mind before but are you always this bad."
Applejack snickered and shook her head. "Nah, Rainbow Dash just likes puttin' on a show is all. She doesn't want everyone to know she's downright sweet at times."
Rainbow Dash glared at the farm girl. "Hey! I am not!"
Rarity giggled but raised a hand to stop Applejack from responding. "Darlings, please, fighting isn't really helping your case."
Applejack frowned a bit. "Our case?"
Rainbow Dash shook her head, smirking. "She means her joining our little ménage à tro..."
"Rainbow Dash! Dirty jokes ain't helpin' either!" Applejack scowled at her sporty friend who almost started another fight. Thankfully Rarity was sitting right between them so that took a few moments for her to consider before just dropping it.
Rarity giggled as she glanced between the two. "You know, a stick just keeping you two at a certain distance might work just as well." She stood up, brushing herself off. While normally they would have taken exception at the statement, both Rainbow Dash and Applejack let it slide while waiting for an answer, looking at Rarity expectantly. Rarity noticed and snickered slightly. "Darlings, you really don't expect me to give you an answer immediately do you?"
Rainbow Dash nodded and even Applejack looked expectant, though she was quick to wipe that off her face. "Ahh... No, of course not sugar cube..."
Rainbow Dash frowned at her girlfriend before the elbow to her ribs made her take the hint. "Oh! Right! Yeah, we were just... Uh... Telling you. You can take as long as you need." Rainbow Dash faltered for a moment before grinning, bringing her fingers up and doing finger guns to Rarity. Which elicited a groan and facepalm from Applejack, and a cascade of giggles from Rarity.
"You two are just terrible liars." Rarity shook her head, still giggling slightly as she turned on the spot. "But really, darlings, it's flattering. And I'm not by default opposed to the concept. And as you know I do have a certain... Predilection that you both fit."
Rainbow Dash grinned and nodded. "Hah! That's right!"
Applejack on the other hand stared dumbfounded. "Uh... I thought you liked guys and girls?" It was Rainbow Dash's turn to groan and facepalm, and again Rarity started to giggle.
"AJ! She means she likes people with muscles." To make her point Rainbow Dash flexed, grinning at her farm friend who nodded, that did make sense.
Rarity shrugged and grinned. "Well, it's less so the muscles, and more the strength. Which is why I still go for girls more often than guys. I like to think that my girlfriend could protect fragile ol' me!"
While Rainbow Dash was busy posing both Rarity and Applejack snickered. Rainbow Dash frowned. "Hey, what's so funny?"
Applejack grinned and flicked a finger between them in turn, starting at Rainbow Dash. "Speed."
"Yeah?"
Applejack flicked her finger at herself. "Strength."
"Yeah?"
Applejack flicked her finger at Rarity. "Impenetrable diamond things."
"Ah!" Rainbow Dash started to chuckle too. "Well I still like to think we could protect her. I'd kick their butts and you'd get her to safety!" As Applejack and Rarity started to laugh again Rainbow Dash sighed. "What is it this time?"
It was Rarity's turn to point at things, this time Rainbow Dash. "Speed..."
"Ok! Ok! I got it!" Rainbow Dash huffed and crossed her arms, mumbling to herself. "I'm awesome at protecting people..."
Applejack grinned a bit and punched her girlfriend lightly in the arm. "You have all that experience guarding things don't you?" Rainbow Dash laughed, but only at how bad the sport reference was.
Rarity smiled as she walked over and picked up her bag. She smiled to herself as she put the strap over her shoulder. Pretty soon she might have someone to carry the bag for her! If they were going to the same gym after a... Wait a minute... Rarity turned violently on her two friends who were gently jostling each other. "You perverts!" Both of them froze as Rarity stormed towards them, her face contorted in anger. "You two have been coming all the way out here to peek at me haven't you!?"
"N-Nah! Rarity! We were just..." Applejack put her hands up placatingly as Rarity shoved her finger right into her friends face... And Applejack thought she had it handled until Rainbow Dash felt the need to 'help'.
"Only in the gym!" Both the girls stared turned their heads to stare. Applejack in disbelief, and Rarity still looking furious. "We weren't spying in the showers of locker room. I swear. I mean, I'm a sports player, if I did that, I wouldn't be on any teams...! What?" She had now noticed Applejacks glowering at her and Rarity glaring.
But a few moments later Rarity giggled and shook her head. "Do you really think I look that good?" She leaned back and gave herself a once over. "I have been hoping that working out's been paying off... It's hard to do without getting all... Disgusting." When she noticed her two friends staring at her she snickered as she turned again. "I am an actress darlings. If I couldn't pretend to be angry I wouldn't be a very good one." She grinned and walked towards the door, deciding to give them one last shot before leaving. "Besides, it's be quite hypocritical for me to be angry with you over that."
The two echoed their question. "Huh?"
Rarity grinned over her shoulder at her two friends. "Really darlings, you don't think I watch your games or help granny during the apple seasons just because we're friends, do you?"
The two girls started at the closed locker room door for longer than either would have admitted.