Button's heart-rate was through the roof, he was fairly close to hyperventilating, and his eyes were moving about at a fast rate as he tried remembering what had happened last night.
This was wrong. It was so very, very wrong. It was like accidentally digging down into a cavern full of lava in Minecraft type of wrong.
How did this happen?! What happened last night? and why?! Was it something in the drink? or maybe the food? Maybe it was Discord playing some cruel and unusual prank on him? No, couldn't be, over the years of that draconequus being around Ponyville, Button could say that this doesn't feel like one of his pranks. If so, then what...?!
Due to his panicked state of mind, he failed to notice that his hyperventilating had roused his bedmate to awaken as well, only noticing once Sweetie Belle gave an audible yawn.
Button stared down at her with fearful eyes, as she looked up towards him with a dreamy look in her eyes before it was replaced by a look of pure shock.
Button could easily feel Sweetie Belle's heart pounding in her chest as the two silently exchanged fearful looks then slowly pulled away from one another to the point both were just hanging off the side of Sweetie's bed.
"This can't be happening! Please tell me I didn't just..." Button thought to himself.
"What happened?! How did-? Rarity's going to be so angry." Sweetie quietly muttered to herself. Sweetie waited a moment before saying, "B-Button...did we...?"
He hesitated, but eventually found enough nerve to speak, "I...I d-don't know." Hoping to high-heaven that they didn't just do what he thinks they might've did.
Sweetie Belle bit her lower lip, "If we did or didn't, we can't tell anypony, right...?"
Like that wasn't the most obvious answer. Button quickly nodded in agreement.
At that point, the pair were surprised at the sound of knocking at the bedroom door, and shot up into a sitting position. Having been sitting far too close to the edge, Button quickly lost his balance and fell right off. Sweetie tried catching him before he did, but it was already too late as he fell to the ground with a 'thud'.
"Ow..."
"Is everything alright in there...?" They heard Rarity ask from the other side of the door.
"Y-yeah, everything's fine, Rarity." Sweetie replied in a shaky voice. "No need to come in."
Button facehoofed at the last part of Sweetie's response, "Don't say that! That makes you sound suspicious you dim-witted mare." he silently fumed through clenched teeth, already seeing the shocked look on Rarity's face as she walks in to find him there.
"Then...what was that sound? It sounded like something hit the floor."
"Um..."
There was a moment of silence, "Sweetie, was it Button Mash falling out of the bed?"
"How did you know?!" Sweetie asked out immediately.
"A lucky guess, Sweetie. I thought I heard yours and his voice late last night after I woke up from a nap." another pause, "Well, as long as he's not hurt...Come down as soon as you two are ready, I'll have breakfast ready for you two in a couple of minutes."
Button was absolutely stunned, not only was Sweetie Belle's sister, Rarity, aware that he was there, but she seemed to be absolutely fine with it. Now he was confused, whether to be thankful to whatever high power there was in this world that he dodged that, or to be cursing his unfortunate luck that he was in this predicament to begin with.
"This is making my head hurt." He thought to himself, as he rubbed his head, "How did going on one date with Sweetie Belle result to this? Mom is gonna roast me for not coming home last night, forget if she ends up hearing that I woke up in Sweetie's bed. And if the others find out... Goddess, they'll never let me live this down."
Sweetie Belle seemed to take notice to his actions, and crawled over and placed a hoof on his head. "You didn't hit your head from that fall, did you?"
"Don't worry about me, I didn't..." He replied, though now he was mildly fuming on the inside about Sweetie not trying to at least catch him with her magic. She was unicorn afterall, wasn't she?
"Listen, I'll talk to Rarity about it, I know she can be a little... gossip-y about stuff like this."
Button rolled his eyes. "Like that helps me feel any better?!" He mentally asked.
"I know that Rarity knows how to be quiet about stuff though, so maybe...she'd be willing to stay quiet about this too." Sweetie explained, her tone clearly portraying a level uncertainty and worry, "And...we still don't need to tell anypony about this if you want. We can keep it to ourselves. We can just tell them about dinner if anyone asks."
Button sighed, "Sure, I'm okay with that. Listen, I think I better get going. Mom's probably worried I didn't come home last night." He stated as he got up to pick up the collar and tie combo he had wearing and had apparently discarded aside before going to sleep, and putting it in his saddle bag. The collar and tie was almost next to Sweetie's discarded dress from last night, which sent a bothered chill down his spine.
"Button, wait."
"What now, Sweetie?" he asked in an irritated tone as he threw his saddlebag onto his back, wanting to leave before anything else happened.
Then a shocked look appeared on his face as he felt Sweetie kiss him on the cheek.
"Thanks for staying last night, Button, I really appreciated that you helped me out in Minecraft."
He raised a hoof to the cheek, wondering if the warmth he felt at the contact was the precursor of it burning into his cheek, "No, problem, Sweetie Belle. It was the least I could do, I suppose." He said as he quickly walked out of the room.
Sweetie didn't follow, choosing to stay in her room and happily relish that she had successfully gone out on a date with Button Mash. It didn't totally go as planned and she was not really sure what happened between the time of her playing Minecraft and waking up with Button in her forehooves, but at least it was a nice evening. Instead, she opted to quickly gather and discard the cider bottles littered on the floor before readying herself for another day. Also maybe get a glass of water, her mouth felt a little dry.
Button crept down to the main room of the boutique as quietly as he could, finding some of Rarity's sewing materials down there, and that the curtains were still closed, indicating to him that it was still early enough that Rarity hadn't opened the shop, yet. At the moment the ever fashionable unicorn mare was still in the kitchen cooking. Button was hoping that it would stay that way and he could just leave without having to face the fashionista.
It didn't turn out that way.
Rarity trotted right into the main room just as he was at the front door, "Oh, you're leaving already, darling? Don't you want some breakfast before you go?"
"Y-yeah, I'm sorry Miss Rarity, but I have to get back home. I'm sure my mom's probably worried that I didn't go home last night." He replied with a nervous grin and his ears pinned back.
"Oh, I'd certainly agree. She must be worried sick about you." She stated firmly, as she put on her glasses and a few sketches of dress designs she needed to do floated up for her to look at, getting ready for another long day of work. "I know I'd be beside myself with worry if you were my son. I would have worried myself sick guessing if you had gotten hurt or if some unsightly beast had ponynapped in the middle of the night. Why, I'd dare say I'd be as crass as to rush out in my bathrobe looking for you if you took any longer."
Button allowed himself a nervous chuckle at the statement.
"But I'd certainly also be concerned if you were hungry. Breakfast is a very important meal of the day. It helps dictate whether you'll have enough energy for the day as well as being key to maintaining a healthy body, especially for a young stallion such as yourself. So I'm sure your mother would understand if you stayed if even for a minute to eat something." She concluded as she gathered up some of sewing materials, like some spools of thread, pins, a pair of scissors, and a couple of gems she plans on using later.
"Sorry, I really can't."
Rarity sighed, "Okay, if you're really in that much of a hurry. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, Button Mash, and you're more than welcome to stop by whenever Sweetie Belle is around, or if you ever need an outfit fixed or made." She said with a kind smile, "Though it would be most preferred if you do during the day, and not in the middle of the night. We're a small town, and ponies will talk if anypony sees you spending nights here so frequently."
"Understood."
"Ta ta, darling!" She said in a cheery tone, then turned to leave for her work area.
Button hesitated for a moment, maybe he should've stayed for a few minutes, Rarity has been really hospitable and he was hungry afterall. This bit of exchange of words with Rarity was a lot less frightening than what he had heard it would be like, especially considering Rarity was Sweetie Belle's older sister, and would be looking out for her best interest. Well, at least he can smile about that.
Just as he was about to finally leave, he heard her one last time.
"Oh, of course. Button Mash, if I could have one more word with you..."
He turned to look at her, he saw the blu-ish glow of her magic sailing towards him and immediately jumped into a standing position, using the door behind him to keep his balance as he stood on his hind legs, before it stopped in front of him. In Rarity's aura, he saw the exact pair of scissors Rarity had been levitating, with the pointed end pointing right at him.
"It almost slipped my mind. I wanted to talk to you in regards to me finding you in my little sister's bedroom this morning." Her tone still calm, but the look in her eyes betrayed her otherwise serene expression with a glare that teemed with self-restrained fury.
"Now, I am aware that Sweetie has a deep infatuation with you right now, and I know how fickle kids your age can be these days. So understand this, Button, I am Sweetie's older sister and it is my duty to make sure she remains safe." She added as she waved the scissors around in the air.
Button was beyond scared, his eyes following the pair of scissors rather than the mare holding them. He was listening though, Rarity had his undivided attention at this moment, as he nodded in understanding.
"The ruckus both of you made last night leaves a lot to imagine, and I can't tell whether you both have done something unbecoming of me to speculate on or I'm hastily jumping to conclusions. Either way, you're lucky it was me who found you. It would a be much different story if it was my parents. I can guarantee you, our father would not be amused. Not. One. Bit."
Button nodded again, dreading what Rarity and Sweetie's father would've done if Rarity was doing this.
"Since I do not know for certain what happened, I will let you go with a warning." She stated as she withdrew the pair of scissors enough to let him get back on all fours. "If I ever discern that you intentionally meant to hurt Sweetie Belle physically or emotionally, I shall repay you a hundredfold in kind and ensure you live to regret it."
Button gulped at the thought.
Rarity levitated the scissors so they were now pointed straight down at the ground, "Or to put it in terms that I know for certain you will understand: If you ever dare to hurt my sister..." She quickly slammed the scissors down into the floor with all the force she could muster and shot a glare that if looks could kill it would've put Button in the grave. "Game Over. Do we have an understanding?"
"Y-yes, w-we have an understanding. Crystal clear." He quickly replied, as he felt his heart jump up into his throat upon hearing the scissors slam into the floor.
"Good." Rarity then pulled the scissors from the floor, the deadly look in her eyes slowly vanishing, "Oh, and I know it was rather unladylike for me to threaten you in such a manner, but as I just told you, Sweetie is my sister and I'll protect her with every fabric of my being. I'm sure you can understand."
He merely nodded, far too scared to even try saying anything now.
"So I offer you this, for your discretion about my threat to you, I will promise you that I will not breath a single word of you being in Sweetie's room all night, much less her bed, to anypony including Sweetie and I's parents. Do we have a deal?"
"Deal."
"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to work." With a claim that rung finality, Rarity took her leave.
Button didn't hesitate as he quickly opened the door and left. He went over to a nearby tree and took a seat under it to catch his breath, and allow the adrenaline rush he got from that scare subside. That whole older sibling protecting the younger one was way scarier than he ever expected it to be.
He took one more look at Carousel Boutique before leaning his head back against the tree.
"What have I gotten myself into?"