‘What am I doing?!’ The part of Twilight’s brain not swimming in beer shouted. The rest of her mind quashed the thought and deployed tongue. That was the last straw for sensible thinking who overpowered everything. Twilight pulled back from Rainbow. “Sorry! Sorry oh my gosh, sorry!!” She was blathering, looking everywhere but at Rainbow. A hand caught her chin to stop her frantic head shaking, Rainbow smiled and planted a kiss right on Twilight’s lips. Her shocked brain shut up and control was returned to the enthusiastic parts.
‘Well this is nice’ Ranibow thought, circling her arms around Twilight and leaning in for a deeper kiss. That overbalanced them both and soon they were in a heap on the floor amongst empty cans. “Yer drunk.” Twilight giggled, getting her breath back.
“So are you Shparkle.” Rainbow slurred.
“So, Imma, Imma… I’m living a little.” Twilight replied, nose to nose with Rainbow. “Iz, is time fer bed though. ‘Fore we do anything stupid.” She chuckled as Rainbow clambered off her. “Tickles!” She snorted cutely. Rainbow returned the smile as her legs gave way and sent her onto the sofa.
“My legs’r not working.” Twilight grabbed Rainbow’s arm and pulled herself up, sitting on the sofa next to Rainbow again.
“We can sleep here then.” She dumped some rubbish onto the floor and leaned onto Rainbow. Rainbow was forced down onto her sofa, Twilight wrapped around her. She wriggled comfortable and placed an arm over her friend.
"Night then.” She whispered, turning off the lights with her free hand.
“G’night Rainbow.”
**
The position of Rainbow’s home on the airfield meant that sunlight didn’t reach in all its glory until the afternoon. The late night and volume of beer meant natural waking times meant nothing to either girl. So it was mid-morning when the utility truck belonging to Fluttershy drove through the gates of Spectrum, open for the day by the regular staff.
No one had seen either of her friends but Rainbow was on vacation time anyway. Outside Rainbow’s place was a familiar purple Ford, so Twilight was still there. Fluttershy parked up and walked in, Rainbow’s favourite shoes and a pair Twilight often wore were dumped in the hallway, another clue. Tiptoeing along Fluttershy heard someone snoring lightly in the living room. She timidly pushed the door open but smiled over what she saw.
Rainbow was laid back on the sofa, snoring and her arms loosely holding Twilight. Twilight was lying on top of Rainbow, head tucked under Rainbow’s chin and her arms wrapped around the girl beneath her. Fluttershy retraced her steps, they must have had a late one if the empty cans were any indication. She didn’t squee until she was safely sat in her truck. It was just too cute! Starting up and driving away Fluttershy just knew she had to tell Rarity. The truck left the airfield and carried on down the road.
**
Sunlight flooded through the window, dazzling the pair sleeping on the sofa. Rainbow woke up first; she’d had a good night, best sleep since the party. Memories of the night before popped up as she investigated the unfamiliar weight pinning her to the sofa. Twilight was still asleep, she had the cutest face Rainbow had ever seen, but a pressing thought meant that Twilight had to wake up. Rainbow idly traced the pattern of Twilights jumper, tickling her back. Twilight shifted and snuggled closer “Fi’ more minutes…” she whispered. Rainbow gave her a little shake.
“Wakey wakey sleepy head.” She said. Twilight’s eyes shot open and she rolled off Rainbow and, landed on the floor. “Just what I needed babe,” Rainbow grinned, “Back in sixty!” she shot off towards her bathroom as Twilight lifted herself from the floor and sat on the sofa.
‘Did we? Did I? Oh my gosh, what?’ thoughts queued politely in Twilight’s head, each leaving a report on last night’s activity and her physical and mental condition thereafter. As the memories trundled though her mind, Twilight stared into middle distance. She didn’t notice Rainbow’s return.
“So, Twi’. If you don’ mind me asking, what was last night?” The question was almost timid, which was strange coming from such a person. Twilight sat and gathered her mental faculties.
“Um... I, uh...” So far so bad. Twilight carried on her sightless gaze. “I...” Rainbow’s face fell.
“So, it was the beer then right?”
“No!” Twilight shouted, snapping out of her stupor. “No, it wasn’t the beer. I mean it probably helped but I wanted to... to kiss you.” She blushed and gathered her knees under her chin.
“So, why’d you want to do that?” Rainbow asked, sitting next to her.
“You were so sad Rainbow, you were talking like you were worthless...”
“So it was pity then?” Rainbow’s tone was tight, like she was holding back the catch of a sobbing fit.
“No Rainbow, I just, I wanted to show you that someone else could love you.” Twilight hugged her knees and avoided looking at Rainbow. She’d never planned on confessing her attraction like that (if at all) she hadn’t told anyone but Celestia, her parents and Rarity about her inclinations.
“You? Me? You!” Rainbow caught hold of Twilight and turned her to face her.
“Yeah.” Twilight was blushing, her eyes held a little gleam. She was certainly telling the truth.
“Bwhuh?” Was all Rainbow could think to utter. Here was Twilight, sat on her sofa having spent the night there in her arms after kissing her. All but telling her that she loved her. The only thing that had stopped her kicking Gilda out after she’d screamed at Fluttershy and raged at Pinkie the first visit had been her need for someone. Now here was one of the more cool girls in her life essentially clearing the way for a deeper relationship. This had to be a dream, she was going to wake up and it would still be two days from Gilda leaving her. A day since the phone call declaring them over, sat in the darkness with her bruises and scratches and no courage to tell the others.
Twilight sat, a little confused, ‘I seem to have broken Rainbow’ was the first thought that popped into her head. She waved a hand in front of Rainbow’s face to no reaction. “Uh? Rainbow?” No reply. Then tears started to roll down her face.
“Rainbow? Are you ok? Why are you crying?” This was a worrying development. Daringly Twilight gathered Rainbow in for another hug, pulling her close. “I’m here.” She whispered into Rainbow’s ear.
The warm breath on her ear told Rainbow it wasn’t a dream. She blinked some tears from her eyes and looked at Twilight. “So all this is real then?” it came as a whisper, as if speaking aloud would dissipate the spell. Twilight nodded slowly, daring to clasp Rainbow’s hands with her own.
“Yes it is Rainbow. Are you ok? I mean now and with all this and...” She trailed off.
“Are you kidding me Twi’? This, this is awesome and after the other day I thought awesome would never happen again.” She slumped back into the sofa, Twilight sat back too, her head pillowed on Rainbow’s shoulder. The pair of them just stared at the opposite wall. Holding hands and silently turning over events in their minds.
“I don’t want to be a rebound, Rainbow.” Twilight was the first to say anything. Rainbow grimaced at her.
“I would never do that to you Twilight. It’s just not in me to do it.” She squeezed the hand in her own and the navy haired girl smiled softly.
“I know Rainbow, but Gilda was a big part of your life, your emotions.” She looked into the rose eyes beside her. “Now she’s gone, the way she left... I don’t want to just step in and fill a gap. I kinda wish I had waited a while to tell you how I feel.” Rainbow was tearing up again. Twilight made sense, everything she was saying was something to consider. However it didn’t feel right at all. “I think... I think we should both give this a lot of thought. Before we do anything else.”
“Take it further you mean?” Rainbow wasn’t worried, this was such a Twilight thing to do, it wouldn’t surprise her if Twilight had a phone directory thick pile of notes on any potential relationship.
“Yeah.” Twilight gave another one of her caring smiles. Rainbow had noticed the different ones her studious friend had, this one was new though. A little like the ones she gave Spike when he was being cute, but with something a little different behind it.
“Maybe, thinking about it would be a good idea.” Rainbow unconsciously covered her scratches with her hand, letting go of Twilight’s. “How long for?”
“As long as you need.” Twilight replied as she stood, “Now, we out-slept our hangovers, so it must be time for me to fetch Spike, he’ll be getting worried.” She picked up her handbag and shook it; the rattle of keys assured her she was good to go. “I’ll see you around then Rainbow.” She left, Rainbow saw her to the door and away in her car, out of sight. She stood for a long time in the afternoon sunlight, simply thinking.