After my short talk with Gordon I promptly fell into the couch that I have gotten to know so well over the past eleven days, knowing full well that tomorrow would quite possibly be the day I’d never get to see Luna again. That messed with my sleep pattern a bit, after all I have been watching over her the whole time she’s been here. Well, that and she kissed me, her FIRST kiss, something like that isn’t really forgettable, nor is it easy not to think about. I tossed and turned, but eventually, my body decided that enough was enough and I was graced with a few fleeting moments of sleep.
When I finally woke up, I saw that it was 07:00, funny, the day I kinda needed to wake up early and I sleep in. The college Prof. Moore was at was maybe an hour away, mainly because of traffic. The second I prayed myself off the couch my nostrils were filled with a familiar, beautiful aroma. I looked to the kitchen to see Luna hovering over the stove, completely unaware that I had woke up. I decided that I’d not try to have some fun at her expense, remembering full well how it ended the last time. So I just walked up next to her quietly to see if she was doing what I thought she was doing.
“Hey Luna.” I said spooking her a little, “Whatcha doin’?”
“Oh, Good morning Aedan…” She replied trying to hide the fact that she been startled, “I awoke no more than an hour ago. When I saw that you were yet to rise I thought a surprise would be nice.”
“Surprises haven’t really been that good to me for a while…” I said smiling.
“I think you’d find this surprise welcome.” Luna said returning the smile, stepping to the side. “For I have made you bacon!”
Sure enough, Luna had cooked an entire bag of God’s greatest gift to the world. Granted most of it was burnt to hell, but it’s the thought that really counts. I was surprised that she would even touch it after I told her what it was… and the reaction afterwards, but bacon is bacon and she cooked it, for me.
“Well… thanks Luna.” I said looking over the plethora of blackened strips, “But you really didn’t need to-“
I was cut off by at least five of the overcooked pieces of bacon forcefully being shoved into my mouth. The taste of ashes was almost enough to make me gag, almost, but the look on Luna’s face was full of pride for what she had done. I didn’t want to just spit the black soup in my mouth out right there, so I had to man up. Taking a gulp that would put almost any alcoholic to shame, the overwhelming flavor charred bacon nearly caused me to unload the dinner I had from two weeks ago, but I managed to hold it all in. My entire body shuttered the moment I felt it finally drop into my stomach, but Luna just stood there, smiling proudly at her work.
“Well?” she asked with anticipation, “How do you like it?”
“It’s delicious…” I said fighting a gag. “You… you really know how to cook.” (Normally I would have no problem with a woman cooking for me, but Luna didn’t belong in the kitchen.)
“I’m so glad you enjoyed it!” She said giving me a quick hug. “I’ll get onto making you more!”
“NO!” I yelled quickly reaching for her, again spooking her, “I mean… I’ve eaten plenty, and your cooking is just too amazing to cross these lips again.” (Oh God, I hope Luna was still horrible at noticing sarcasm.)
“I am honored that you feel that way.” Luna replied, her smile widening “I’ll be sure to cook this again soon.”
Well, it was good she still didn’t realize when I was being sarcastic, but now I stumbled into possibly having to eat more of that atrocity that she cooked. However we still needed to go to the college and sense we’d get there around nine or ten it was going to be hell for me. I never went to college, well I never went there to study, I went for the girls and booze. Now I was going to have to drag Luna through possibly thousands of guys that were exactly like I was once. The thought was unsettling to say the least, but before we could go anywhere I needed to get changed and Luna needed to rethink her choice of attire.
Her outfit was fine, that is if she were on a beach. She was wearing a white tank top; partially see through because I noticed the navy blue bra underneath that stopped just above her hips, showing some of her amazing stomach. A skirt that stopped about halfway down her thighs revealing those godlike legs to me once again and finally, some ankle socks and the shoes I’d bought Sara for her eighth birthday, but I’d misread the box and got her some adults sevens and not kids.
“Luna…” I said trying to think of a good to put it lightly. “Before we head out… you might need to change before we head out.”
“Why?” she asked looking down to her outfit, pulling at the straps of her top, causing me to used much of my will power to not look down. “Am I not ‘modest’ in your world’s standards?”
“You’re actually a catholic school girl compared to what I’ve seen some women wear in public these days…” I answered, “But where we’re going… you might want to cover up more.”
“Are we heading to a location that is colder?” She asked.
“No…” I said shaking my head, “but, picture if you will, a small city filled with guys like the Trents…”
“I’ll put on some pants…” Luna said, her pupils shrinking at the thought, “and one of those ‘turtlenecks’ Dawn got for me.”
“Good Idea…” I said, fighting a chuckle. “I’ll throw something on out here, you go ahead and get covered up, just don’t take too long.”
“Indeed…” Luna said disappearing into the bedroom, my eyes unwittingly following her as she did so.
Dressing for me was easy, just had to find an undershirt, a shirt some pants and my shoes. Five minutes later I was done, now all I had to do was wait for Luna and all she needed to do was change her top and bottoms, surely it wouldn’t take long. About two hours later I realized that she was a woman, maybe a pony woman (or mare if you want to be specific), but a woman nonetheless. Cautiously I walked to my room, wondering what the hell was taking her do freaking long. It only took me a few seconds to find out.
She was just standing there, already wearing a pair of form fitting jeans, but no top, except for the bra of course. I was admiring man’s idea of a perfect figure for maybe two seconds before I finally remembered what I walked over here in the first place.
“Luna… what the hell is taking so long?”
“I’m SO sorry Aedan…” Luna said looking downward, almost as frustrated as I was, “But I can’t decide which top matches my bra…”
“Wait… What?” I asked, “You can’t decide which top matches your what?”
“My bra…” She repeated. (Women…)
“Why does that matter?” I asked, “It’s not like if I take your top off I’m not going to be turned off because your bra doesn’t match your shirt.” (Where the hell did THAT come from?)
There was an awkward silence to end all other awkward silences between the two of us for a few seconds. I mean I could hear her heartbeat it was so quiet. It wasn’t until Luna finally decided to say something.
“Um…” she said trying to hide the fact she was blushing, “Which do you think?”
She showed me the choices, but she kept herself covered up. That was odd, hell I’ve seen her naked… multiple times (not that I’m complaining, but still…) why the hell was she becoming self-conscious all the sudden?
“The one on the right…” I said, “It’s more… blue or whatever you like?”
“A-are you sure?” She said looking to the shirt in question, “I was thinking this one would be more appropriate.”
I face palmed, Luna really needed to get back home, she was becoming too much of a human girl. “Then wear THAT one…” I grumbled, “We still need to get to the university this month you know.”
“Very well…” She said, gently placing the one she wanted to wear on my bed. “Um... Aedan?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you mind taking a short leave?” She asked, turning red yet again, “I really should get fully dressed.”
“Uh… Yeah, sure…?” I said, even more confused than I was before, “I’ll be on the couch.”
Weird, the once ‘completely fine with walking around naked in public’ Luna was now shy about her features. Well at least she as acting shy about it in front of me. I decided that it was mainly because that she was getting so used to wearing clothes that she was starting to get used to being clothed and someone looking at her like that made her nervous. A few minutes later I was alerted to her presence by a gentle touch on my shoulder. I looked up and sure enough there she was a small smile on her face.
“Do you like it?” She asked.
“What?”
“My clothing…” she replied pointing to herself, “Is it worthy?”
“Uh… yeah…” I answered, raining an eyebrow, “You finally ready to head out?”
“When you are Aedan…”
“All right…” I said getting off the couch and grabbing the car keys, “Let’s roll out.”
We made our way to the parking lot, passing Mr. King along the way, but he scurried into his office the moment I looked in his direction. Apparently he didn’t care anymore about cohabitation anymore. (Score one for me) I opened the door for Luna and made my way to my side. When I hopped in I expected to see her fumbling with the buckle or at least asking me to help her get it on, but she’d already done it. So the two of us were off to hopefully (and finally) get Luna back home. We were barely into the first song of my playlist before Luna decided to start up a conversation.
“So…” she began, “This Prof. Moore… is he the one who will take me home?”
“I don’t know.” I replied, “But he may know how you got here, or maybe even a way to take you back to where you belong.”
“That would be nice…” Luna said twirling her hair, “I do long to see Equestria yet again… even if only for a fleeting moment.”
“I’m sure you’re just as sick of this place as I am.” I said with a smile, “You’re probably chomping at the bit to get outta here.” (Pun DEFINATLY intended)
“True this world is full of vile, deprived individuals… the air is full of the stench of pollution and it seems that everyone is only looking out for themselves…” she paused for a moment, to look out into the city, but then continued. “But no matter where you are… you can always find a reason to stay.”
“I guess you’re right about that.” I said shrugging my shoulders, “Reasons are the thing that keeps us going in life.”
“What are your reasons?” Luna asked, catching me off guard.
“MY reasons?” I repeated.
“Yes… YOUR reasons.”
“Well… for a long time I kinda lived for myself, never really letting anyone in my little circle… except Gordon of course.” I began, “Then… like my parents said… I was about fourteen when I met Sara… It’s kinda funny…” I began to laugh at the thought, “I met her pretty much the same way I met you… minding my own business… then suddenly I was on my back wondering what the hell just hit me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah…” I continued, “Seeing her like that… I couldn’t leave her… Sara changed my life that day…”
“And she became a reason.” Luna said growing a smile.
“I guess you could say that… She needed a big brother figure too… her family was pretty broken up… her dad was an alcoholic and her mother had to stay medicated so she wouldn’t go crazy… not to mention neither really cared much about her.” I paused, because I’d be damned if Luna saw me cry. “We were inseperable for about four years… then I joined the marines, to protect people like her… we stayed close through letters and skype, and whenever I got the chance I took leave so I could see her… S-she was… important to me…”
“I can see that.” Luna said with a gentle smile. “But why did she die?”
“I thought I’d already explained that…” I said reluctantly. “Her mom stopped taking her crazy pills… she must’ve thought she didn’t need them anymore… then she trapped Sara and her husband in the house and lit the damn thing up, killing all of them… And I couldn’t save her…”
Now it was hard for me to hold back and I was certain that Luna was noticing, mainly because the look on her face was the exact same as when she consoled Larry after he got laid off.
“You must’ve really loved her.” Luna said placing her hand on my shoulder.
“It was hard not to…” I said forcing a smile, “She was adorable, corky, innocent, trusting… a lot like…” I stopped the moment I noticed Luna was staring at me intently, awaiting the rest of my story.
“A lot like what?” she asked, leaning in closer.
“Well to be honest… a lot like you…” I answered, “I mean hell, you have the same eyes… and smile.”
Before I knew it Luna was once again inches away from me, like a praying mantis getting ready to go in for the kill she leaned in again, but my duty as the driver meant I needed to keep my eyes on the road. So I turned back to face the pavement before anything bad happened, and not a moment too soon. The stoplight had just went red, sending my car into a sudden halt that spooked the hell out of both of us.
“Let’s just listen to the music…” I said turning my attention back to Luna, “Shall we?”
“Indeed…” She replied, shaking off the little jolt I’d put in her. “I’ll let you drive for now.”
The next forty minutes seemed to pass relatively quick; even with the silence between the two of us, but that was easy to look past. Finally through traffic and stop signs we were at our destination and just my luck, they looked like they were switching classes.
“Well…” I said looking to Luna, “We’re here…”