‘Ahahaha... errr, just little.’
‘No need to be shy, they say I am pretty!’
‘Well, you are a princess...’
‘You don’t think I am?’
Sombra didn’t answer, becoming more and more fed up.
‘Don’t you?’ she teased, so close now that Sombra could feel her breath on his cheek.
‘Are you enjoying your embarrased pet?’
‘Fine, I’ll stop. I thought you were enjoying it... sorry.’
Was that what it fucking looked like? You were a bit though, admit it. Fuck off.
‘Really its fine if you do, Som-bra. That’s all I wanted to say.’
‘Must be a common thing for you.’
‘Most of them don’t get to see me in person I imagine.’
‘So I guess we’re done for today.’
‘Yes you’ve done well. It was brave of you to go to the brink again. One last thing before I send you off with the pegasi, if I may.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Sombra, do you dislike crystals?’
‘Yeah... huh, what?’
‘Why did you say that?’
‘I was wondering that myself. I don’t mind them.’
‘Got you!’
Lithe for her size, Luna sprang and fluttered ahead of Sombra, towards where he’d be leaving. But Sombra was too puzzled to leave.
‘Huh?’
‘Your dreams, I told you I could get into ponies’ dreams! I tweaked it so that you’d say you disliked crystals.’
‘Oh... how bold.’
‘I didn’t pry, I promise. I just made you dislike crystals and left. Didn’t see a thing.’
‘Thanks, I guess?’
‘Just think of it as a blown kiss!’
So what, you like me now?
Sombra got back to home. Still no Alex, Robyn asleep. Sombra was thinking about Tinker again.
Both the night and the morning after passed quickly for Sombra, entirely unmemorable, like it wasn’t related to him, or even if the events were related to each other. There was choiceless cosmos between him, and the world surrounding. ‘It is related though,’ he told himself. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, it is. It is it is it is. What is related to me? Some teenage spice with Luna, and what? Your mother? You don’t listen to her anymore. Your father? You don’t hear him anymore. And Tinker...
‘I’m going to see Tinker.‘
‘Oh good, you haven’t seen each other in a long time have you?’
Sombra was already gone.
‘Knock knock.’ went the door, or was it his hoof? Sombra couldn’t tell.
Thirty seconds, and nothing.
‘Knock knock!’ it went, louder this time.
‘Tinker? You in there?’
Tinker came to the door, cowering at first, but he smiled once he saw it was Sombra knocking, and not somepony else, whoever else.
‘Sombra, it feels so long! Good to see you!’
Tinker was camp, like when they first met. He even grabbed one of Sombra’s hooves in glee.
‘Ahaha it has! I just wanted to check you’re doing alright.’
‘Yeah yeah, I’m good! Come on in, the house is empty apart from me.’
‘Your father?’
‘He’s out.’
Out.
Tinker enthusiastically ushered Sombra in (too enthusiastic).
‘Tinker?’
‘Sombra?’
‘Where are the beer cans?’
Tinker sat on the sofa.
‘Y’know, the ones ‘sposed to be covering the floor.’
He was sitting in an odd way.
‘And why are you sitting like that?’
‘And where’s your cutiemark, Sombra? No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.’
Tinker paused.
‘Hug me, please.’ Tinker said.
Sombra did as his friend asked, concerned as he was bewildered. Tinker sobbed in his arms, and Sombra found himself nuzzling Tinker’s mane. It didn’t feel like a choice, but it did hurt to see him in tears. Was that a choice?
‘Oh Tinker...’
‘It’s- it’s my Dad.’
Sombra pulled back his own tears. He didn’t feel disconnected.
‘He had a stroke, big stroke.’
‘Is he-’
‘No no, hes fine. Just different... really different.’
Tinker gently pushed Sombra away and looked into his eyes. Sombra got an offbeat vibe, a bit of intimacy when he (they) should be reeling, right? That is what we should be doing, right?
‘So different that he doesn't seem like him anymore.’
‘Does he not let you drink anymore?’
‘No, and he yells at me, and now he’s going out with some gold digger, doesn’t believe me about it.’
He could probably could have pushed it further, but I wouldn’t want to fight with my own father either. Wait, I suppose that isn’t exactly true...
‘Why didn’t you come over to my place or something, Tinker? You know I would’ve helped.’
‘Didn’t know if he’d live for a while, couldn’t leave his bedside. Oh look at me...’
Tinker wept once more. Sombra was starting to feel like a guardian, listening to all Tinker's problems and avoiding talking about his own.
‘Say, could you maybe smuggle in some? Like before, with the cloak.’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’
‘Thanks. I mean, I could push it further, but I don’t wanna end up fighting the old guy.’
‘Yeah yeah I get it.’
‘...Listen, Sombra theres another thing.’
Sombra had a surge of butterflies as he heard Tinker’s tone. It’d been emotional time enough already!
‘I don’t really see for a better time to say this, but um I’ve always liked you.’
Sombra shifted in the sofa.
‘What, liked liked?
‘Maybe even loved, I’m not sure. But its obvious you don’t reciprocate, which is fine. I just, thought you ought to know. You’re probably already hooked up with Luna!’
Sombra tried very hard to conceal his dread. How is always so precise with these things?
‘I’m just kidding.’
‘Yeah yeah, ‘course. Sorry though, can’t be so nice for you.’
‘I know this a bit of a stretch of me to ask, but could you, er... Oh I’m getting embarrassed now, silly me.’
Tinker is this?
‘Could I maybe, kiss you?’
Sombra hesitated.
‘You don’t have to if you don’t want!’
‘It’s okay, just don’t take it the wrong way. I don’t, you y’know-’
‘Yeah, just friends. Good friends.’
Well that’s one way to get your first kiss.