A Spike of Remorse

by TheGildedHeroPrice

A Brother's Pride

Author's Note:

Warning, this isn't edited. I have homework to die under. College is so fun. Thank you weird Lit teacher who makes us read 50+ pages every night, fill out notes, worksheets, and do awkward essays. You are the best.

The car was silent as Shining Armor drove down the road, slower than his normal fast track life demanded. This was concerning for the young green-haired boy who sat shotgun, his eyes locked onto the moving world outside the window.

The radio had been turned completely off, the once joyful atmosphere now a quiet wasteland for the two as they each waited for the other to speak up. Five minutes later, Shiny cleared his throat loudly to gain the little boy’s attention.

“So…” Shining said, his hand coming up to fix the collar on his shirt before placing it back on the wheel with the other.

“So?” Spike asked, his own hand awkwardly messing with the buttons on his sleeve of his other hand.

“You’ve got a girlfriend now.”

“Eeyup.”

“Need someone to supervise your dates?”

Spike looked over at the older boy with a scowl, his arms crossing over his chest as he rolled his eyes.

Shining Armor was fighting a smile as he tried to keep up the responsible big brother persona.

“No Shining. I don’t need you to watch over me like I’m some kid.”

“Oh, so you’re no longer a kid, huh? You can take on the world with your own two hands now?”

“I feel like it.” Spike smiled, his eyes shining brightly in the afternoon sun.

“Haha, that’s my bro,” Shining reach over and playfully shoved Spike causing the young boy to laugh. “Just like a Sparkle.”

The laughter died out quickly leaving the car silent once again.

Spike frowned, staring down at his shoes as the car continued on the path back home.

“Shining?” The young boy asked quietly, refusing to look up.

“What’s up big guy? Still nervous? Sweetie Belle ain’t here right now, it’s just us. Tell me what’s on your mind. You got any questions?”

“I—”

“You and her hitting it off, got any questions about giving her a little something-something?” Shining asked, laughing to himself.

“Shiny I—”

“Oh, I know. You two going to get together this weekend? Twi’ said something about the girls all getting together this weekend, or was that last weekend? Ya know, I don’t even know what the girl does anymore. She’s always out of the house. Strange, Twily used to never leave her room. Now she’s more social than I was!”

“She’s… she’s been spending a lot of time with Rainbow Dash,” Spike said, thinking.

“Her? Huh, didn’t put that together.”

“I think Rainbow and Scoots are going to invite me over to work out with them.”

“Trying to put on a little muscle to impress that little cutie?” Shining asked.

“Well, I mean, umm… after today…”

“Think you might need to protect her again?”

“Or myself,” Spike mumbled as he played with his hands in his lap.

“Want to talk about it?”

“What do you know?” Spike asked.

“Just what I saw, two of them holding you by the arms, the third nailing you in the eye. I was about to step in and do something they’d regret, but then I saw you getting back up.”

“That was dumb,” Spike mumbled.

Shining pulled the car over to the side of the road and put it in park, he turned and faced Spike. “Hey, little bro, look at me.”

Spike glanced up, surprised at the seriousness of Shining’s expression. “W-what?”

“I know we’ve never really connected on anything, you and Twilight have this… bond I just don’t share with you. Not in the way she does, but, at that moment, I’ve never been more proud of you in my life.”

“For getting my butt kicked?”

“For standing up for something, for not backing down, for going into something not because you’d win, but because it was the right thing to do.”

“Mom, Dad, and Twily won’t see it that way.”

“You’re right about that, they won't. But, on this, they’re wrong. Whatever happens when you get home, you’ve done me proud, you’ve proven yourself a man today.”

“You said I wasn’t…”

“I was just busting your balls, being a man is standing up for what’s right, even if you’ll lose.”

Spike leaned over and hugged Shining, a hug the young adult was quick to return. “Thanks, B.B.B.F.F.”

“Anytime, L.B.B.F.F.”

As Shining restarted the car and merged back into traffic, Spike found himself with a new appreciation for Shining. It felt… better with him, like they had bonded for the first time, as men, in the last five years. That thought gave him the confidence to ask a few other questions that were on his mind. “Shining?”

“Yeah, Champ?”

“Umm… Sweetie, I think I um… like her.”

“She is your girlfriend.”

“I mean, like, I um… I kinda, touched her.”

“I’m guessing you don’t mean on the shoulder.”

“No, she um… hugged me in gym. It was after those three guys gave me a swirly. I went to wrap my arms around her, and kinda, grabbed her butt.”

“And what did she do?” Shining didn’t know if she should be pissed, high five him, or what.

“She um… hugged me tighter, I could feel her, you know, pressed against my chest.”

“So she was down with it?”

“Huh?”

“She liked it?”

“I umm… don’t know.”

“Did she push you away, make a scene, or seem offended?”

“No she just blushed when she saw me, um… hard…”

Shining chuckled, “Can’t blame you there. Biology’s a bitch.”

“Yeah, Dad already gave me the talk.”

“Ugh, sorry.”

“Yeah, no more than me.”

“Well, here’s my talk: Don’t do that.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t go around grabbing girls’ asses. Don’t think that’s somehow normal, or appropriate, or anything like that. You do and you can get into some serious trouble, and not just with the teachers, I’ll kick your ass.”

“But Sweetie—”

“Liked it, I give you props for that, but that’s a huge risk, had she not you’d have been expelled.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah.”

Shining noticed the mood shift and placed his hand on Spike’s head. “Hey, relax. The fact she didn’t is major props, bud. But be aware, it can still get you in trouble if the wrong person sees you, both of you in fact.”

“B-both of us?”

“Yes. So… I should say not to do things like that, that you’re too young and yada-yada-yada, but no, I’m not going to. I’m going to say be careful. You’re growing up, noticing fun things about the opposite sex, it’s perfectly normal and natural to want to explore. And hell, as long as she wants to and you’re not forcing her against her will, go ahead, have fun. However…”

“Yes?”

“She’s not a piece of meat for you to learn off of. There’s a sweet little girl there too. And that’s more important than anything the two of you might want to do. Remember that, keep that in your mind at all times. You use and abuse her, and you will hurt her, more so than you can ever imagine.”

“I’d never!”

“Not intentionally, no. But unintentionally, without thinking, or letting your smaller head drive your actions? Yes, yes you will.”

“Smaller head?”

“Sorry, forgot, dad talk,” Shining said, sighing. “Alright, you know the BS about hormones and all that other scientific mumbo-jumbo.”

“Twily would kick your ass if she heard that.”

“And if I told her what you did?”

“Fair point.”

“Anyway, what all that BS means is you’ll act without thinking, that when you start feeling good, like you did today and exploring with your hands, you won’t be thinking with this head,” Shining placed his hand on Spike’s head. “Rather, you’ll be thinking with the one engorged with blood in your pants.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah, better men than us have done dumber things under the effects of that head.”

“Sucks to be a guy,” Spike mumbled.

Shining laughed. “Trust me, women got their own shit to deal with. You’ll learn more about that later, especially if you and Sweetie stay together.”

“What do they go through?”

“Umm… I’ll let you ask Twilight that,” Shining replied. “Once she gives you the official explanation, I’ll fill in the rest with what it means for us.”

Spike sat back, not at all satisfied with that explanation.

Shining chuckled a little as he glanced over to the little boy. “How’s your eye?”

“Stings,” Spike replied.

“Just wait until Dad sees it,” Shining mumbled.

“Or worse, mom. She’s going to freak. Luckily I didn’t get any blood on my uniform.”

Shining frowned as he pulled the car into the driveway, shifting the gear into park. He turned to look at the little boy as he slipped his belt off.

“Do you think she’d care about your uniform? You seriously got hurt today bud. I don’t thi—”

“I didn’t get hurt that bad. Besides it’s not like these uniforms are cheap.”

“Yeah, I know Spike. I had to get like eight new ones every three months or so. It’s not about the money though—”

“Can we just go inside? I got some homework to do.”

Spike grabbed for the handle but Shining immediately hit the lock button.

“No, you can’t go. Not until you tell me what’s up. The rents piss you off today or something?”

“Rents?” Spike questioned, looking out the window up at the house.

“You know? The Rents, our pair-rents.” Shining sounded it out, his hand gesturing at the open air. “Now, what’s up?”

“Or something. Can I go now?”

“What?”

“You said, and I quote,” Spike turned to look at the older boy, a scowl marring his small face. “The rent’s piss you off or something? My answer is, or something.”

Shining reached out an arm and grabbed Spike’s tiny wrist. “What’s up with you? You were fine a moment ago and now that we’re home your all pissy. Are you pmsing or something?”

The younger boy tried to jerk his arm away from his brother, the action causing the older boy to glare at him and increase the force of the hold on his arm. “Let me go, Shining.”

There was a tone in his voice that caused Shining Armor to do just that. He pulled back, seeing a mark of anger in the little boy’s green eyes. “I’ll ask once more, and that’s it, will you tell me what happened?”

Spike just glared at him. “I tell you, you unlock the door?”

“Promise.”

“Today was either the best, or the worst day of my life, I don’t know which one.”

“Spike, wha—”

“You promised, unlock the door.”

Shining considered not, of pressing the issue, but he had promised, he even if the bombshell wasn’t what he had been expecting. He knew why it might be his little bro’s best day, but worst? Yeah, what he saw of the bullies were bad, but that meant it must have been constant, throughout the whole day.

“You going to unlock the door?”

Shining moved his finger and unlocked the door.

Spike just looked at him. “Thank you.”

“Spike,” Shining said as he watched Spike open the door. The green-haired boy looked back. “In there, you’re on you own today. I gotta get to my date with Cadance. Unless, you need me?”

Spike’s heart dropped a little, he really did need Shining, but… “No, it’s okay. Thank you for being upfront with me, and for, you know, saving me.”

“Y-you sure?” Shining asked. “I can call her an—”

“No, you helped me with my girl, I wouldn’t want to take you from yours.”

“Good man,” Shining said proudly, “Although it’s not a mark of a man to never ask for help, it’s the mark of one to know when he does need help.”

“Understood, but after the day I had, I’m pretty sure I can handle whatever they dish out.”

Shining smiled as Spike got out of the car and shut the door. His every instinct told him to call Cadance and tell her that his little bro needed him, that Spike had no clue what he was about to walk into, but he knew Spike would find that as a personal attack, as Shining saying that he couldn’t handle it. So, with a sigh, he started the car and backed out of the drive way.

“Good luck, little bro. You’re going to need it.”

***

The front door to the Sparkle family house closed loudly, the sound echoing throughout alerting the two parents that one of their children had arrived.

Night Light set down his paperwork and made his way out of his office to see his youngest son dropping his bag in the doorway.

“Hey there kiddo, did you have a good day?” The older man smiled, making his way over to the boy to pat him on the shoulder.

Spike immediately shrugged off the hand and backed up a step, glaring up at his foster father.

“No, I didn’t. You know I didn’t, so why are you asking me that?”

“I just heard what your mother told me, but you do have a bit of a little something right here.” Night said, his hand coming up to point at his left eye.

“Haha.” Spike rolled his eyes trying to shove past the older man but Night was quicker than him.

Without a moment's hesitation the young boy was swept off his feet and held in the air above the older man.

“Let me go, let me go!” Spike wiggled his entire body trying to get out of the hold but Night Light was stronger then him.

“Not until you tell me why you’re all frowny faced.” Night was smiling even if his wife was mad at the young boy for getting in trouble on the first day, he couldn’t be happier for the boy.

This was the first time since Spike had become a part of the Sparkle family that the young boy had been part of some drama. Shining was always in some sort of trouble where either Velvet or himself had to go get him out of. Twilight, well while she was never in trouble, she always had kind of activity that required the two’s attention.

Spike stopped struggling. He glared down at his dad. Fuming.

“Spike!” A feminine voice shouted from the end of the hall at the sight of her son with a black eye in his dad’s hands.

“Uh oh, busted.” Night mumbled, lowering the boy so he was on his hip and no longer in the air.

Twilight Velvet came marching down the hall, her eyes lit with fury as she came to a stop in front of the two.

“Just look at your uniform! How could you get in trouble on the first day of school! I thought we raised you better than that.” She waved a hand, gesturing to the ruffled mess that an untucked shirt and slightly messed up bow.

Told you Shining Armor. First thing she brought up was my uniform.

“Give him a break honey, he was just—” Night said, but was immediately interrupted.

“I don’t want to hear it from you Night Light Sparkle. Spike, do you know how mad we are with you? You couldn’t make it the first day without causing some sort of trouble? What’s next? Quitting all together? Maybe we can get you into some sort of military school before the end of the week. Would that make you happy?”

Oh, now you’re concerned with my happiness? Gee mom, glad to know I mean something to you.

“Darling, please. Let the bo—”

“Don’t darling me! We raised him better than this! Everything we’ve done for him and he gets into a fight on his first day at a new school! i won’t even get into the call I got from Celestia asking if he was happy, of course he’s happy!”

Spike started fuming at that. But before he could say anything, Velvet went back into the kitchen and came back with a bag of frozen peas. “Keep this on your eye and go clean up. I want an explanation for why you felt the need to pick a fight on your first day, young man!”

Spike opened his mouth to say what he wanted to say, but a tap to his head caused him to look into his foster father's calm yellow eyes.

“Let’s get you cleaned up and then we’ll all have a nice, calm talk in the kitchen. Okay champ?”

The young boy nodded slowly, his left hand holding the bag of peas tightly as he pressed it to his eye.

Night Light set the boy down slowly, steadying him on his feet before standing back up to his full height.

“Alright, you go get changed and come knock on my door when you’re ready to talk,” The older man said as he walked back to his office, pausing in the doorway he looked back. “And Spike?”

“Yes sir?”

“No matter what, I still love you bud.”

“You too dad.”

Night Light noded and disappeared into the room.

Velvet was patiently waiting at the bottom of the stairs which disturbed the young boy. He hadn’t been watching her so he assumed she was waiting for him to go upstairs so she could talk to her husband.

Spike quickly made his way past her and up the stairs, pausing at the top to look back but she was already gone. Shrugging the boy made his way to his room, pausing in front of Twilight’s door.

Hesitantly he placed his hand on the doorknob to her room, his hand twisting to turn the handle but he didn’t push the door open.

What am I doing? Twilight isn’t even here. There’s no point in going in there. Not that I’d want to talk to her anyways. She’d probably just lecture me again.

“Spike, why’d you go and do that for. You could have been hurt. Spike, do you know how worried we all were. Oh poor Spike.” The young boy raised the pitch of his voice to imitate his older sister’s voice.

With a roll of his eyes he let go of the handle and made the rest of the way to his own door.

“Whatever.” He mumbled pushing into his own room and slamming the door shut behind himself.

Inside he stripped off his clothes, not knowing or caring what condition they came off, or the fact that he heard a few buttons pop off his shirt as his rough treatment of the fabric. The shirt came off first, followed by the shoes, socks, and shorts. He tossed all the items across the room and went for his personal clothes in the wardrobe.

Spike quickly tossed on a pair of black pants and a purple shirt. Throwing on some more comfortable socks, he went across the hall to the bathroom to wash his face and assess the damage.

Turning the light on and he splashed some water on his face, the pain of his shiner immediately coming back as he realized he left the peas in his room.

The young boy raised his head and looked up at his own reflection in the mirror.

Kshh! The sound of shattering glass echoed down the stairs.

Comments

[Twidashforever]

Big Brother AF Shining Armor!

[Jack Kellar]

Shoot, Spike. I'm angry at Velvet too for instantly blaming you like that, but getting angry at the world to the point where you slug a mirror? Our boy may need a bit of counseling. Let's hope Night Light doesn't glaze over it with misplaced humor.