Chapter 12
North stared at him, unmoving in Thunderlane’s arms. He was silent so long, Thunderlane started to worry. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? Will he hate me? What then? What do I do? North was silent for a while longer. Then he spoke, looking down at his hooves.
“Why would you love me?” he asked quietly, ears flattened.
“There are so many reasons.” said Thunderlane.
North looked up, expression blank. “Like?”
Thunderlane took a deep breath. “Well… North… I love you because you were so kind to Rumble, even though you had every reason and opportunity to get mad at him.”
North said nothing, his blank gaze remaining fixed on Thunderlane.
Encouraged by North’s silent attentiveness, he continued. “I love you, because you understand how much he means to me. I love you, because you trusted me, and told me who you really are. I love you, because you were willing to accept my help, despite how embarrassing it was to have us both in the shower. I love you because helped that mare, even though you could’ve died in that water.” His voice broke on the word ‘died’, his chest filled with a sharp pain when he remembered how close he’d come to losing his friend.
He brushed his nose against North’s. “I love it when you sing. I love it when you smile. I love you because you played hoofball with me and Rumble, even though you hate the game with passion.”
Thunderlane hugged North tightly, wings and all, shielding him from the cold rain. “I love you, North, because of who you are.” he whispered into North’s wet mane, brushing the back of his head. And he knew it was true. His heart blazed with heat and light, warming up his entire body from his chest to the tips of his hooves and ears. It chased away the pain, and the hurt, and the soreness of the day’s work.
He heard North speaking faintly, feeling the whisper of air against his chest. He looked down, and now he could hear North singing softly and shakily. He listened intently, recognizing the song.
Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth
North hesitated a moment, before proceeding to the next lines.
For here you are, standing there, l-loving me
Whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
A single crystal tear fell from North’s eyes.
N-Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
Thunderlane recognized his cue, singing the lines softly. He understood what North was doing now.
For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
North picked up again.
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
They joined their voices together.
Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
North had straightened up, his crystal blue eyes flickering between Thunderlane’s dusty gold irises.
So somewhere in my youth
Thunderlane felt himself slowly drawing closer to North.
Or childhood
North was so close.
I must have done something…
They finished together, barely more than a breath of air passing between their lips as they drew together.
Something… good.
North hesitated a brief moment. Then, his breath coming in short bursts, he pressed his lips gently against Thunderlane’s. Unlike the previous kiss, this one was gentle, full of meaning. His lips were soft, and his body warm. For a long, drawn-out moment, they remained in contact. Then, slowly, North removed his lips, and put a hoof on Thunderlane’s chest, which Thunderlane grasped with one of his own. North shivered as a chill wind struck up around them. Thunderlane adjusted his wings, deflecting the cold away from them. North rested his head on Thunderlane’s shoulder, who smiled, resting his chin on North’s head. There was a fire in his chest now, burning brightly like a shield against the wet, frigid air.
“How’re we going to explain to Rumble?” asked North, mumbling into Thunderlane’s coat, tickling his fur. Thunderlane’s eyes dilated slightly, and he laughed nervously.
“You have no idea.”
“None.” said Thunderlane. “I don’t know how he’ll take it.”
“Well.” North straightened up, looking him in the eyes. “No time like the present?”
“We’ll see. Depends on what kind of mood he’s in.”
“He’s got those books from the library, right? He’ll probably be reading happily when we get back.”
“Speaking of which-” said Thunderlane, letting go of North’s hoof and standing. “We’d better get going. You’re soaking wet.”
“Hark who’s talking.” said North, who stood as well. He ruffled Thunderlane’s mane playfully. “You’re not exactly the Sahara yourself.”
Thunderlane laughed. “Come on, then.”
Together, they began the journey back to Thunderlane’s house. After a minute, Thunderlane noticed that North, despite his attempts to conceal it, was still shivering violently. Thunderlane sidled closer, and extended his wing invitingly. North eyed him nervously, then shrugged, and let Thunderlane slip his dark wing over and around him. He pressed his side against Thunderlane’s, soaking up his warmth.
Their coats rubbed gently as they walked forward. Thunderlane could feel North’s strong muscles flexing under his smooth white coat. He was surprised when North leaned over and rubbed his head against his neck. Hesitantly, he brushed his chin against the top of North’s head. North pushed back gently, and the warm spot in Thunderlane’s chest hummed.
It was this point when Twilight showed up. She walked around the corner, umbrella suspended over her head by her pink magic. Everyone came to a stop, Alicorn mare on one side, two pegasi stallions on the other. Thunderlane removed his wing from North, who’d tensed at the sight of another pony.
“What’re you two doing?” asked Twilight, breaking the awkward silence.
“Well, er…” North mumbled.
“I can walk next to my Special Somepony if I want.” said Thunderlane defensively.
“Special Somepony?” said Twilight and North together. Twilight raised an eyebrow, but North was grinning happily.
Thunderlane put his wing back around North. “Yeah.”
“I’m certainly happy for you.” she said, smiling, alleviating any fears the two stallions had. “But how are you going to explain this to Rumble?”
“Not sure.” Thunderlane glanced over at North. “We need to see what kind of mood he’s in first.”
“Well, good luck.” She raised a hoof in farewell, then went on her way.
“Thanks.”
“Let’s go, ‘Lane.” said North, nuzzling Thunderlane’s neck affectionately.
Thunderlane returned the gesture, brushing North’s mane lightly. “Sure.”
It didn’t take long for them to return to the house. They hurried inside, grateful to be out of the cold rain. Both of them were dripping, so Thunderlane ran upstairs to get a towel. He returned, and tossed one to North, who caught it and started drying off.
“Wait a second.” he said. “Why’re we doing this… if we’re just going to shower anyway?”
Thunderlane laughed. “Good point. Come on.”
Once they were in the shower, Thunderlane gently lathered up North’s wings. North sighed, surrendering to Thunderlane’s capable hooves. After rinsing his feathers out, Thunderlane decided to try something. He picked up the washcloth, and started scrubbing North’s back. North jumped, looking back at him in surprise.
“What’re you doing?” he asked, eyebrow raised.
“I’m washing your back.” Thunderlane said, rubbing away at his shoulders. “Why?”
“You know I can do that, right?”
“Yeah.”
Thunderlane didn’t relent, moving his washcloth up to North’s neck. North didn’t interfere, not until Thunderlane’s hooves began to drift downward.
“I’ll do that.” he said, cheeks glowing red. “Okay?”
Thunderlane grinned sheepishly, turning away and taking care of himself. When they’d finished, North turned the water off, and climbed out of the tub. They dried off, and exited.
“Rumble now?” North asked, looking down the hallway. The light in Rumble’s room was still on.
“I want to see how he is first.” said Thunderlane, edging down to the cracked door.
He peeked inside. Rumble was laying on his back, absorbed by the book in his hooves. Thunderlane pushed the door open, and stepped in. He could feel North’s eyes on him as he walked up to Rumble’s bed.
“Hey, buddy.” he said, sitting down next to the bed. “I’m back.”
Rumble jerked, head spinning to face Thunderlane. His attention diverted from the book, his expression regained it’ usual youthful happiness.
“Did you find North?” he asked. “Is he alright?”
“He’s fine, buddy.” Thunderlane glanced back at the door. “Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What?” said Rumble, sitting up.
“Well…” Thunderlane sighed. I have absolutely no idea how to say this. He decided to stall for time. “Do you like North?”
Rumble nodded vigorously. “He’s really cool.”
Thunderlane could practically feel the grin on North’s face from the other side of door. “That’s cool buddy. Because, well…” He looked over at the door. “North?”
“Yeah?” said North, poking his head into the room.
“Could you come here?”
North nodded, and walked in. He took a seat next to Thunderlane, who fought against the urge/need/desire to put his wing around him and hold him close. Not yet.
“Rumble.” said North. “How would you feel if… er… Thunderlane and I were…”
“Were what?” asked Rumble, tilting his head.
“T-Together.” said Thunderlane.
“What do you mean? Together how?”
Before Thunderlane could answer, North caught his lips with his own. And how will this help?
“T-That kind of together.” said Thunderlane, staring at North, raising an eyebrow. How does that help?
North blinked, raising an eyebrow for a second and shrugging. He knows now.
Thunderlane returned his gaze to Rumble, who was staring open-mouthed. Then his expression morphed from one of shock to a giant grin.
“You two… like each other?” he asked, shivering with anticipation.
“Yeah.”
“Now I’ve got two brothers!” he shouted, jumping up and down on his bed.
“Something like that.” said Thunderlane, who was relieved that Rumble was taking it this way. “So… you don’t mind?”
“Mind? Why would I mind!” He jumped off of his bed, tackling North. He hugged him tightly around his neck.
“Rumble!” North choked out. “Air!”
Rumble let him go, beaming. North sat up, then picked Rumble up and set him on the bed.
“Well Rumble, it’s time for lights-out.” said Thunderlane.
“Okay.” said Rumble, who suddenly had an evil grin. “You two have fun.”
“Rumble!” Thunderlane scolded, glancing over at North, who’d turned a deep shade of red.
“Go on!” said Rumble, shooing them.
North stood, and walked out of the room. Thunderlane shot Rumble a final look, then turned off his lamp and left. He found North downstairs, staring into space.
“Are you alright?” he asked, sitting down next to him.
“Sure.” said North.
“North?” Thunderlane leaned down. “Is it what he said?”
“What do you mean?” said North. “The sexual allusion?”
“Um… yeah?”
“Yes. Well… sort of.”
“Sort of?”
North changed the subject. “How does he even know about that sort of thing?”
“That’s an excellent question.”
North sighed. “He probably read about it.”
“Hmm…” Thunderlane nuzzled North’s neck, and managed to get him to smile. “Well…”
He wrapped a wing around North’s back, kissing him lightly on the cheek. “How about you and I go to bed?”
North gave him a quizzical look. “Not like that.” he added, realizing how it had sounded. “Just to… wind down.”
“Sure.” North followed him upstairs.
“Your room or mine?” asked Thunderlane, looking between the two doors.
“Seeing as I’ve banged my head against yours under your bed,” said North, an amused grin now present on his face, “I think I deserve to see what the top of it looks like.”
Thunderlane laughed. “Alright then.”
He opened the door for North, allowing him to pass by. Thunderlane’s room wasn’t much, just the necessities. Bed, wooden dresser, and small table next to the bed with a lamp on it. The bed was neatly made, and everything seemed to have a place. Thunderlane didn’t spend much time in his room, so he’d never felt the need to decorate it.
“This is nice.” said North, brushing the top of the dresser.
“It’s alright.” said Thunderlane, turning down the covers of the bed. “I don’t do much in here, other than sleep.”
“Well…” North climbed onto the bed and sat. “You’re not alone tonight.”
Thunderlane took a seat next to him, examining his face. Now that they were by themselves, he looked very tired.
“Are you alright?” he asked, nudging a hoof against North’s.
“It’s been a really long day.” North closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
“Yeah.” Thunderlane rubbed his nose, where the snake had bitten him. It still hurt a bit.
“Thunderlane?”
“Hmm?”
“Did… did you mean what you said earlier?” North was watching him now, regarding him with a worried expression.
“Yes.” Thunderlane said, brushing his wing against North’s. “Every word.”
North nodded, and he seemed to relax. There was an awkward silence, extending for several seconds. Thunderlane broke it by turning off the light, and lying down, patting the bed next to him. North laid down, cuddling against his chest. Thunderlane was aware that, in his relationship with Caramel, North had been decidedly the more dominant of the two. However, he seemed to have no problem with letting Thunderlane take charge… right now, anyway. He didn’t expect North to be completely submissive to him, given his background. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
After pulling the blankets over them, he wrapped one of his wings over North, who was playing with the longer tuft of fur on Thunderlane’s chest.
“Good night, ‘Lane.” North whispered, his hoof coming to a stop.
“‘Night.” Thunderlane whispered, stroking a hoof through North’s mane.
They both slept better than they had in ages.
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The Tardis
___________________________________________
The Doctor wasn’t any better off than he’d been for the last month. He was sitting in front of the consoles, head resting on them. He sighed depressingly, staring at his sonic screwdriver.
“How much longer?” he asked, his voice unusually close to a whine.
The Tardis beeped out a reply, and he groaned.
“Really?”
The Tardis confirmed its answer, and the Doctor growled. He removed his head from the consoles, and rolled over onto the floor.
“You know what I need?” he said, sitting up quickly. “A vacation. I’m going on a vacation.”
He stood and ran around the consoles, pulling and pushing levers and pressing buttons, seemingly at random.
“Allons-y!” he shouted, flipping the last switch and propelling the Tardis onward.