Sonorous growled and muttered, “We’re working on it.”
“We still have till the end of next week,” Zen said. “Why are you even here?”
“To make sure I get paid,” the unknown stallion asked. “Your last three payments were late. I’m getting tired of it.” He stomped the ground and pointed a threatening hoof at Zen and Sonorous. “Make sure you have my payment. Twelve days. You don’t wanna find out what happens if you don’t.”
With that said and done, the stranger turned and departed. As he passed Violet, though, he sneered and flicked his tail at her face.
“Hey!” she recoiled and almost started after him. She would have, too, had it not been for Zen holding her back. Violet turned with her ears flattened, gave him an incredulous look, and snorted.
“Don’t,” he sighed. “He’s not worth it.”
Violet looked down and grunted, stalking off to the couch and lying on it. Her mind was in a jumble and she had difficulty making sense of it all. One detail stood out to her, however, and she clung to it. That piece of paper she had read the night before, the one about the eviction notice… Does that have something to do with this? It was the only variable that didn’t quite fit into the puzzle yet to her. She sighed and wished she was more accustomed to urban life.
All was silent in the room. While Violet lounged, Zen plopped down onto the same couch and put a hoof to his muzzle. Sonorous retreated to his room and shut the door behind him. Violet unconsciously leaned against Zen.
“There’s something I have to tell you,” she whispered. Zen turned to her and nodded, putting a hoof on her shoulder.
“Last night,” she started, taking a deep breath. “I saw the calendar up there—” she pointed to it, “—and saw that your claim of forgetting to get your friend a birthday present didn’t match up with it. You haven’t even gone to the birthday party.”
Zen’s smacked his forehead with a hoof. “You noticed that, huh…? I’m sorry, Vivi…”
“It’s okay,” she assured. “I have something to confess, too. I noticed how keen you were about keeping those papers from me. I got curious. Late last night, after…” she sighed. “…our scuffle… I snuck into your room and snagged the papers. I just had to see what was so important.”
Violet saw Zen putting the pieces together. “So you knew.”
“Well… not exactly. I saw the papers, but I couldn’t make sense of one of them, the one I’m guessing is the important one. What’s an eviction notice?”
The stallion blinked and stared for a few moments before recognition dawned in his eyes. “Ooooh, I keep forgetting that you’re not from here… Well, to put it simply, Vivi… soon, we’re gonna be kicked out of our apartment.”
Violet’s pupils dilated and she gasped. “What!? Why?”
Zen gestured to the door. “You saw the landlord. We’re behind on payments. Ever since I got laid off by my old contractor… things have been rough. I’ve had to pick up any commission I could take. Sonorous hasn’t landed a job yet, either, and he’s been searching for quite a while.”
She tiled her head. “Commission? What exactly do you do?”
“Oh,” he laughed and showed Violet his cutie mark. It was a hammer and saw surrounded by a circle that was both black and white. “There. See the hammer and saw? I build houses and do other architecture. And the circle behind them is called a peace sign. Building is very therapeutic for me, and I try to make every one of my works do the same for those who live in them.”
Violet nodded and smiled. Zen returned it and nodded towards the hallway at the end of the living room. “Sonorous is a bit different. His talent is… well… reporting. He tells it how it is. If you haven’t caught his cutie mark yet, it’s a megaphone with a newspaper behind it.” Raising an eyebrow, she looked to the hallway.
“He’s tried to find somewhere in which to put his writing to use, but so far… nothing,” Zen explained. “In fact, the last job he had, he lost… and that’s kinda how we came to know each other.” This caught Violet’s attention and she snapped her gaze back to the stallion once more.
“How’d that happen?”
“Somebody who didn’t like what he was reporting—probably because the truth would have ousted him—sued Sonorous. They must have paid off the judge, because there was no way that he should have lost that case. He lost his job and got reassigned to community service to help build the infrastructure of Manehatten, got paired up with me. It’s been about a year since he’s done all of his service but… eventually, he lost his old home and I couldn’t not take him in.”
Violet blinked several times, disbelief evident in her blank expression. She felt a surge of affection for the kindhearted stallion. Abruptly hugging him, she buried her muzzle in his chest and squeezed him tight.
“Woah,” he said with a chuckle, hugging her back. “What’s this for?”
“Because you ruthlessly care,” Violet said. “Even if it puts yourself at risk, you help others. Why… why did you take me in, especially when you’re so close to losing your own home?”
Zen looked down at her and sighed, pushing her back so that he could look into her eyes. “I have a confession to make. When I suggested that, I didn’t care for how long you stayed. I was just lonely and wanted a bit of company aside from Sonorous. He’s not really that bad… he’s just been on edge lately. Both of us have been. But, Vivi…” he lost his ability to speak for a moment. Zen took a deep breath and swallowed hard before continuing. “The more time I spend with you, the less I think about building anyone else’s home… and the more I think about building our home.”
Violet gaped and failed to breathe, looking away to hide her reddening cheeks. She didn’t know what to say. Even if she had prepared for this a thousand times over, she presumed she still would’ve been speechless. How can you prepare yourself for… for compassion? For intimacy? For love…?
Zen tilted his head to one side, unsure and worried. He sighed and looked away himself. “Sorry… I shouldn’t have said—”
“No!” Violet countered and hugged him with all she had, wrapping her forelegs around him. “No… for ten years, I’ve shut other ponies out and ostracized myself. It never worked, and it never will. I know that now. I would rather…” she kissed his chest and leaned against it. “I would rather hug somebody and risk being shoved away than never… ever… getting another hug in my life.” She sighed lightly as he returned the hug, if a bit tighter.
“I’d forgotten what being hugged was like.”
The stallion didn’t say anything more, just kept his grip firm on her, resting his head on hers. They remained as such for an hour, listening to each other’s heartbeats. It was therapeutic. However, when Sonorous came out of his room, finally, he reminded them the insistency of their situation, albeit with reluctance.
As the pegasus started into the living room, he caught sight of Zen and Violet in their silent embrace. He stood there for several moments, fighting himself over stirring them. Sonorous knew they had to start searching for work if they wanted any hope of saving their home but the thought of breaking such contact gave him pause for a good, long while.
“Hey,” he said at last. “We should get going, you two. We need to finish our current job and see if we can find any more.”
Audible sighs were heard from both of them as they let each other go, but not before Zen swiftly kissed her on the cheek. Violet had just let him go but at the kiss, she embraced him firmly one last time, kissing him on the muzzle.
“Tonight,” she whispered, taking a cryptic angle. Zen’s eyes dilated somewhat and he nodded. Sonorous started towards the door, motioning for the two other ponies to follow. They did, but they walked side by side, never more than a foot apart. When they were out of the apartment complex, Sonorous turned and faced Zen.
“Why don’t you show Violet around the city some more? I can work on the current commission while you do that. See if you can find a place for her. Meet me back at the zone at noon?”
“Sounds good,” Zen nodded, curling one of his forelegs around Violet’s. “It’s a date.” Violet laughed and shoved him playfully.
“I don’t remember agreeing to this.”
“Would you have disagreed in the first place?”
“Noooooope!”
“Then off we go!” he pointed in a random direction and started off at a gallop. Violet took off after him, grinning all the while. Sonorous watched them go and stayed there, a slight grin on his muzzle. Only when they were out of his sight did he, at last, start on his way toward the front of Manehatten, and the construction site.
Zen showed Violet all he could find. He showed the mare not only jobs, but sights. They sat on a bench in a park, strolled by some of the tallest skyscrapers, and, against their better judgment, had lunch in one of the restaurants. The stallion had pressed his desire to do so and Violet couldn’t say no to that quivering lip of his.
“Yay!” he cheered, throwing his forelegs into the air.
“But only for a quick bite,” Violet said, chuckling and flicking his chin with her tail as she moseyed on inside. They entered a restaurant called “The Barn Garden” and Zen was pleased to find that there was a short line. A few minutes later, they were seated by a slick stallion that served them complimentary glasses of water.
“Will you be needing any appetizers?” he asked.
“No thanks, just give us a couple minutes to come up with our orders, please.”
The waiter nodded, placed two menus, and departed from their table. Silence permeated their corner of the restaurant, having been seated in a booth with a rather nice view of Manehatten. Violet looked all around her, taking in the atmosphere. It was calm and quiet. Soft, classical music played in the background. A silver coated mare with two-toned hair couldn’t escape Zen’s eyesight, no matter if he could dare.
“How are you doing, Violet?” he asked simply. When Violet looked back to Zen, she smiled.
“I’m doing great,” she said, placing her hooves on the edge of the table and looking down at the menu. “What shall we eat…?” Zen looked at his own menu and listed a few entrees off the top of his head. Violet’s ears perked at the mention of a daisy and sunflower sandwich with a couple diced apples on the side.
“That’s what I’m getting.”
“Yeah, it’s a popular choice here,” Zen said with a chuckle. “The apples they get are so fresh, you could swear they’re from Sweet Apple Acres.”
“From where?”
Zen blinked a few times before it dawned on him once again. “I keep forgetting how rural your life was.” But Violet waved the matter aside.
“It’s alright. I’ll learn as I go.”
The waiter returned to them, asking if they had chosen their orders. Zen gave his first, then Violet, and after offering to refill their drinks, left them alone once more. Violet found herself blushing before Zen the more she swam in his eyes and decided, instead, to gaze out the window.
“It looks like Sonorous has gotten over his initial… dislike of me.”
Zen laughed a little. “And how could he not? He was making an ass of himself. Besides… you’re a wonderful mare, Vivi.”
She looked back to him with a ghost of a smile and didn’t even try to hide her cheeks now, red as they may be.
“You’re not so bad yourself, Zen,” she responded at just above a whisper. “In fact… I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together.” Violet leaned forward to try to speak in a more private manner, despite the isolation they already possessed, and tried to quell the rising tumult in her stomach, that tidal wave that always seemed to rise whenever she found herself alone, yet… with Zen.
“And I hope we can spend much more—” she had started to say but was abruptly halted when Zen closed the distance between them and planted a firm kiss on her muzzle. He unconsciously moved around the table to get closer to her, so that he may press his body against hers, feel her warmth, and inhale her scent. Violet’s eyes widened but she didn’t pull away; in fact, she clenched her eyes shut and returned the kiss twice over, letting her hooves meander about his chest. Zen’s own hooves ran through her hair, her locks falling all about her face. They tightened the kiss, letting themselves get swept up in the throes of passion. It wasn’t until the waiter turned his attention away from a far-away table and was only one foot away from theirs that he turned his head and noticed what was happening with wide eyes. He promptly tip-hoofed away.
When Zen and Violet ran out of breath, only then did they pull apart from each other. Violet stared, panting, in some disbelief, some relief.
“Some appetizer…” she said with a smirk. “It only made me more hungry for the main course.” The mare wrapped her forelegs around him and kissed him again; this time, she pulled away quickly and kissed his cheek, then his down his neck, and ended at his shoulder, resting her head upon it.
Zen held her firmly, stroking her back with a foreleg. He caught the waiter’s gaze out of the corner of his eye, however, and there was a question on his muzzle. Zen’s eyes widened once more and Violet felt a tap on her shoulder, rousing her.
“I think the waiter is, umm… waiting for us.”
Violet looked over and noticed the somewhat annoyed look on his face. “Oh!” She let Zen go so that he may return to his seat, but not without another swift kiss. The waiter joined them and the two of them gave their orders, apologizing for their earlier… “embrace,” Violet called it.
“It is fine,” the waiter assured. “Just want to be sure of your orders. Will you be needing anything else? Refills?”
“More water for me,” Violet said. “Thanks.”
The waiter nodded and went on his way. Zen and Violet locked gazes, on the verge of yet another “embrace.” Violet, however, restrained herself and spoke three words she never thought she’d be able to hear again, let alone say.
“I love you.”
Zen stared, mouth agape, for several seconds. “I… I love you, too, Vivi.” Violet smiled at him, feeling warmth spread through her. She placed a hoof on Zen’s, who then put his other hoof on hers. Together, they shared in the silence, companionship, and knowledge that their feelings for each other were reciprocated. Violet thought she would burst, her entire body tingled so much.
When the waiter returned once more, he delivered their food and Violet was grateful for that. It gave her something else to focus on. If she had to look at Zen’s eyes for much longer, she feared she’d lose herself again. Not that that was bad thing. I just can’t stuff myself with stallion muzzle, lest I end up losing an appetite for it…
Zen and Violet ate their food rather quickly, though. Neither of them spoke much, other than asking for condiments. When Violet stole a few glances Zen’s way, she caught him looking at her. After finishing, the stallion beckoned the waiter over and asked for the bill. After receiving it, he winced slightly. Violet felt her stomach lurch but made no mention of it. Zen placed a stack of bits on the table and motioned for Violet to follow. They exited the restaurant and the stallion looked up, blocking the sun with a foreleg.
“Should be about noon, now…” he mumbled. “Guess we should return to Sonorous.”
Nodding slowly, Violet followed behind Zen as he lead the way. Neither of them spoke all the way, and Violet fought down a rising uncertainty in her stomach. That wince that Zen had done… it unnerved her. She wanted to talk about it, about any possible money issues, but then she realized that they had found no job for either of them all morning. She remained silent and her mood took a rapid deterioration. After a short while—she wasn’t sure, nor did she care—Violet recognized the post office and then the fire department. Not a couple minutes later, they were outside the city once again and she spotted the pegasus.
Zen and Vivi approached Sonorous with their heads down. Noticing this, Sonorous’s ears flattened and he sighed.
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah…” they said in unison.