In A Bed
So, let's sum things up. I know that Fluttershy’s in love with me and not Rainbow Dash. I managed to make her understand that there's probably no chance that she and Rainbow Dash would be marefriends. But why did I lie about the rest? Lying is a second nature for a changeling, which helps us survive, but I had no reason to do so. And furthermore, it's probably my only chance to say to another living being, in all honesty, that she likes me. Being an outlaw changeling tends to prevent it by being more or less all alone.
“Achoo!”
“Oh, you need to go to bed quick!” the pegasus advised. “Or your cold will worsen.”
Good bye Lyra, and hello again old me. Doppel headed to the sofa. “I think I'm just going to lay down on the couch,” he drawled.
“No, you'd be better in a bed” she proposed.
Again? It's an obsession. I'm an outlaw changeling! I’d slept on the ground for a year and a half, I don't care anymore.
“I don't need the bed. I'm okay,” he answered very calmly.
“But it would be more comfortable, isn't it?” she insisted.
This pony could get stuck with the Stockholm Syndrome right as she knew she was being kidnapped. I could be considered like an invader, and yet she offers her bed and sleeps on the couch. Even if she told me that her couch is just as comfortable, I couldn't bring myself to take her bed without feeling a little guilt.
Why should I care anyway? Changelings are opportunist living beings. Why don't I take the bed that she’s wanted to offer me so badly? Oooh, if I was still in the Hive, I'd be the laughing stock to even think about declining that offer.
“Why don’t we just both take the bed? That way, no one has to sleep on the sofa!” he finally snapped.
On this sentence, Fluttershy's face went from yellow to red in a second, unable to look Doppel in the eye. Why did I suggest that? Did my brain decide to take a holiday without telling me? Now, she's embarrassed as hell and I sound like a pervert. The changeling looked everywhere, as if he was searching something that could help him. His attention stuck on pegasus' bunny who stared him with a frown. Don't look at me like that Angel. I may have said a strange sentence, but I didn't hurt her... I think.
“Sorry, I'm...” Doppel try to speak, deciding that the awkward silence should end.
“It's okay,” she cut.
“Bh? What?” he managed to gibber.
“I said that it was okay for your proposition,” she whispered, behind a beautiful shade of red. “Well, if you still want.”
Oooh colt. This is going to be a very awkward night.
--|-|--
Doppel was lying down in the bed, alone for the moment. Fluttershy was in the bathroom, preparing herself to go to bed. The changeling waited for this instant with apprehension, his cheeks red. Why am I blushing like this? It's not like she is going to come back indecent. I know Rainbow Dash told something like that, but what can she hide? He shook his head after thinking about how the pegasus could come back from the bathroom. Stop thinking about things like that! She's just going to lie down beside me, like Camouflage and Mimic did when it was cold. She obviously has to press herself against me to fit in the bed and... On this thought, the changeling's face reddened more. Oh, I'm ridiculous. Fluttershy finally got out the bathroom.
“Since I’m going to be staying here, shouldn't we consider buying another bed?” Doppel asked. “Because I'm sure that you'll never let me sleep on the floor or even on the couch.”
“Do you really like sleeping on the ground?” the pegasus whimpered. “My bed isn’t that uncomfortable is it?”
“No, no” Why did she jump that far ahead already? I only said that I don't need a bed, and she takes that as a lack of hospitality. I must get used to explaining everything in a manner she cannot take negatively. “No, the bed is very comfortable. I tried to say that I feel bad about taking your bed every night since I'm already used to sleeping on the ground, and you having to take the couch, that although might be very comfortable too, couldn’t replace your bed.”
“Oh no, it's okay. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about this.”
Fluttershy looked at him in silence. If I had bits, I'd already have bought the bed. “Go to sleep. We talk about that tomorrow,” Doppel suggested.
He moved over to let some room for the pegasus to enter in the bed and put himself on his flank, looking at the door. Fluttershy did the same looking at the other wall. They both had their hooves out of the bed, even though they were back against back.
“Do you have enough space?” the changeling demanded.
“Yes, it's okay” she stammered.
How did I get myself into this? Oh yeah, it's my fault. Why did I suggest to her for both of us to take the bed? She's embarrassed, I can feel it. If she was changeling, she have to feel my awkwardness too. So why did she accept? Because she loves me?
Doppel moved a little to get more comfortable. His back rubbed against the pegasus', which sent shivers down his spine.
I’m shivering now? I've done some things pretty indecent with Bon-Bon when she cornered me under Lyra's disguise and it never embarrassed me. Obviously, I tried to find an excuse to get out of it. Doppel thought of it a little more. A slight blush crept over the changeling's face. Though this isn't that bad. I could get used to it...
Fluttershy moved in her turn, her mane caressing Doppel's head.
Her mane is as soft as she is. If this continues, I won't be able to sleep if I have to react every time she or I moves. Oh no, I have to sneeze! The changeling put his hooves against his nose to prevent sneezing but it had no effect. The only thing he managed to was sneeze silently, but he cannot prevent the transformation into Carrot Top.
“Are you okay?” Fluttershy worried.
“Yes, don't worry. Go back to sleep,” he reassured.
I definitely can't stay in this bed with her. If the shivers weren't so bad, I still wouldn't be able to sleep either. And my sneezes will wake her up every time too. It's decided, as soon as she sleeps, I'll go downstairs and sleep on the couch.
Doppel looked over his shoulder to check if the pegasus slept. She closed her eyes but her breathing was too fast for somepony sleeping. He decided to wait a little more.
--|-|--
Fluttershy was going through all the events that had happened that day. For her, the changeling's behavior had been very strange. At first, in the morning, where he managed to stand up when he wasn't able for days, only for him to say he was leaving. It happened just the day after her nightmare. After, it had Rainbow Dash's arrival- No, his come back. It was him and he never intended to leave at the first place. That was what he said. However, he had suddenly blushed and left again, promising that he'd come back.
Was it because I was too assertive that he left, telling me that he'd come back? No, he came back after all. Even if I had to make him come in by force.
She sighed. It was true that apart from the time he entered with the disguise of Rainbow Dash, he’s never came in by himself.
He really doesn't want to bother me. He even tried to help me as a repayment for what I've done. He's really good when he embodies ponies. He made me believe that he was Rainbow Dash. She blushed at the thought. I've could tell him that I already knew that the feelings I have for Rainbow Dash wasn't love.
She stared at the wall, particularly the clock which showed her the time she’d spent awake. She turned around to see that the changeling had taken back his native appearance.
I thought that it'd be more awkward to sleep with him. Maybe it's because he had to do it already with Bon-Bon. But it feels so natural. I wonder what he'd say if I hugged him during the night. She wanted to turn over and test it, but she gave up the idea.
Anyway, we're already back to back. It's funny, his carapace doesn't feel weird to me. It's not fur, but it's not disgusting either. She moved a little to feel it better. It only made him shiver and move a little towards the end of the bed. “Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you,” she apologized.
“It's okay,” he answered.
It's not okay. I'm the one who decided that we'd sleep together. Why did I do that anyway? I'd be embarrassed to do that even with my friends. Why didn't it matter with him? He even sacrificed his comfort for this. His hooves aren't inside the bed and he looks like he is going to fall at any moment. I can't let him spend the night like this. It would be too uncomfortable. As soon as he's asleep, I'll go downstairs and sleep on the couch.
--|-|--
Look at you, Doppel. You're being pushed outside the bed by Fluttershy. A few more inches and I'm on the ground. He lightly chuckled at the thought. Fluttershy would never forgive herself if I fell.
But why can't I push her a little more to get me space. She's treated like a doormat even sometimes by her own friends. Every changeling would do this. Though if she pushes me off the bed slowly, she wouldn't notice that I'd left the bed. It's perfect! However, more time that passes, more I don't want to leave.
He sighed. It's very uncomfortable sleeping like this. I already hate sleeping on my flank, but now it’s even worse. Why are we even sleeping back to back? I'm going to lie on my back. It wouldn’t be that bad. He moved to get himself more comfortable. He smiled as he put his front hooves on the cover. He heard Fluttershy move a little and moan. Shoot, I think I woke her. Guess I’ll need to stay longer.
--|-|--
In Ponyville's library, nearly all lights were shut down, except for one. It came from Twilight's bedroom. The unicorn was devouring an entire book collection. In his basket, Spike was sleeping. He had run all over the place to help his foster mother during her last research.
“It's a good thing you're here Owlowiscious, because Spike is exhausted.”
Suddenly Spike woke up in one stand and spat a small fireball which transformed into a letter. “Mail? This late?” he wondered. “It's from Princess Celestia!”
Twilight picked up the letter by telekinesis and opened it before her. “What does it say?”
“Good news?” the little dragon hoped. The unicorn skim through the letter twice before letting out a squeak. “So, it's not good news?”
--|-|--
Neither Doppel, nor Fluttershy kept their promise. They were currently sleeping soundly, cuddling in each other hooves.