"So...Peter's back."
"What!?"
I bolt upright at the news, my back hurting a bit from my resting place on the couch. The bandages on my wings shift as I move, and I end up grimacing in discomfort.
"Yeah. I had no idea he was coming back," Twilight informs me. She sighs as she levitates a few books into the shelves. "Apparently, he went to the liquor store, and then to his house. Bon-Bon saw him, but she said he looked like he was in a bad mood, so she left him alone."
"I've got to go talk to him," I announce, picking up his..."iPod" in my mouth as I prepare to leave.
"Didn't you just hear me, Rainbow? He's in a bad mood - he might not want to talk!"
"So?" The iPod falls onto the floor. I sigh in irritation. "I don't give a shit - I need to talk to him - he'll improve his mood if I make him."
"Alright," Twilight sighs with a shrug. I pick up the iPod again. "But don't expect me to bail you out."
I nod, and quickly turn and leave the library, briskly walking through the early-winter crisp to get to Peter's house. Thank goodness these bandages are coming off relatively soon - I don't think I can stand being stuck on the ground and in that library any longer!
When I arrive at his house, I firmly knock on the door and begin to wait. I hear a swig of a bottle, and a low moan as someone stands. I start to tap my hoof in impatience, and when he finally opens the door-
Oh, Celestia...
"You look like shit," I remark with a disgusted scowl. And he does - his eyes are red, his hair is a mess, and his shirt looks like it was attacked by a Chimera.
"Mungh," he responds, leaning against the door frame as he takes a long swig. "What d'you want?"
"I had to talk to you," I inform him. "Can I come in?"
He shrugs, and walks back to the couch before flopping down. I shut the door behind me after I pick up his iPod again. I put it on the table before giving him my best glare. "Do you remember why I took this?"
He looks at me, his face expressionless and mopey before he shrugs. "Nah."
"You tried to make out with me," I inform him. "It was funny at first, because you were drunk, but...you basically attacked me after a while. I knocked you out and took your iPod."
"Huh," he mutters, taking another swig. "Sounds like fun..."
My face turns green as I smell his breath. "It wasn't. I'm giving it back because I know that's not really you - after what you said to me in the hospital, I know you're nicer than that. I'm giving it back because I'm apologizing for -"
"Blah blah blah," he cuts me off, shaking his head with a sigh. He tries to drink more, but realizes that the bottle is empty. He rolls his eyes as he tosses it into a garbage can with seven other bottles before fetching another. "Yeah, okay - when you're done with the stupid fucking bullshit, come back and talk to me."
"Excuse me?" I demand. He scowls at me, and I'm about to start fighting with him when I remember that he's dead drunk. I release a sound of disgust. "You can't go a few weeks without getting drunk, can you?"
He remains silent for a little while before muttering, "maybe not."
I sigh as I turn to the door. "Whatever. It's not my problem anymore. Enjoy being a lonely drunk."
He grunts, and I roll my eyes as I open the door. I'm about to step out when I hear him beginning to sob, and I just...I just can't walk away when a friend is crying.
That doesn't mean I have to be nice about it.
"What're you crying about?" I demand, harshly. "Over what - the fact that you can't go too long without a drink?" He doesn't respond, and I quickly get aggressive. Weeks of being stuck in a hospital and an assload of frustration unload right here, all of it onto him. "What the fuck are you crying about!?"
My shouting triggers something in him. He stands and launches the bottle he's holding at a wall, shattering it and soaking the plaster in alcohol. I take a step back in shock and fear as he turns and begins to roar. "It's just not fair!"
"What?"
"It's not fair! I was happy - I had a life! Yeah, my family sucked dick, but I was fucking happy! I had friends - I had one of the best friends I could ever ask for! I had a job, I had a life, I was happy! I never wanted to come here - I never wanted to fucking be here! I never asked for this! I miss my friends, I miss my home - fuck, I even miss my shit-head family! And now, I'm stuck here, forever! I can't ever see them, ever again - I'm fucking alone! And it's just not fair, because they get to stay - and I DIDN'T WANT TO GO!"
By the time he's finished his tirade, he's backed me against his corner with his face about a centimeter away from my own, his eyes full of fear, pain, anger, and loneliness. I frown as the anger slowly fades, and all that remains is a broken-down form of himself - he begins to sob, and seems to deflate. "I'm sorry," he whispers, unable to look me in the eye. "I'm sorry..."
He brings himself back to his couch, and I slowly come out of my corner, embarrassed and pissed off. But I'm too concerned to really do anything about that.
He curls up on his couch, sobbing into his knees and repeatedly apologizing to me. After a moment of inner debate, I decide that there's nothing I can do but let him sleep it off, and I start to leave. Before I'm all the way out, I stop, and turn back to him, tears burning behind my eyes as I watch Peter - the person I grew to know as being so confident - completely break down. I sigh as my ears flatten against my skull, and I force myself to say four words.
"You are not alone," I announce, softly yet firmly. "You are not alone," I repeat, a bit softer this time, before looking down at the floor for a moment. I wait for him to respond, but all he does is sob. I nod to myself as I exit the house, gently and quietly closing the door behind me as I slowly walk down the pathway. I remain alert, fearful that I might hear him trying to hurt himself.
By the time I've arrived at the library, the sun has completely set. It was noon when I left. It feels like five minutes ago that I left, but it feels like years ago that I watched Peter completely break down.
"How'd it go?" Twilight asks as I walk in. She must've caught a glimpse of my expression before I managed to mask it. "Oh, Rainbow - what happened? Is everything alright?"
"Y-yeah," I respond with a sigh. "He's just...a nasty drunk." I chuckle lightly, forcing my outward demeanor to be cheerful, yet slightly perturbed.
"Alright," Twilight responds. She nods before turning back to her books. "You should get some rest - that's a pretty long walk, especially since you're on pain relievers."
I nod as I go into the guest bedroom and get comfy. I'll have to see him tomorrow morning, and without my wings, it'll make it tough to get there without my friends noticing.
Fuck - why do I even care so much? Fucking douchebag, making me feel bad for him...maybe I'll just beat the shit out of him.