Reading Scars
There were few things in the world that could break Twilight Sparkle's concentration when she really got into it. A barking canine was not one of them. A call from family members were not one of them either. Not even a fire alarm could have hoped.
"Ouch! Fuck!" Sunset Shimmer yelped, pulling her arm away from the sizable interior of a machine, a large gash forming on her arm. In her surprise, her body attempted to erect itself from her crouched position before being knocked back down by the top lip of said machine's opening.
Thankfully, the distressed cries of pain from her best friend hadn't made it onto Twilight Sparkle's list.
The studious girl had quickly jolted her head upward and it didn't take long for her to figure out what had transpired. "Oh gosh. Sunset, you're bleeding."
Sunset groaned, softly rubbing the top of her head. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
Twilight's brows knit in concern, tossing her reading material before approaching the other girl and gently placing her hand on her arm and back. "Come sit over here."
A weak nod soon after was the only response. It was the only response that was necessary for Twilight to begin leading Sunset to where she had sat just moments before. Her book was still waiting, face down a hands reach away. Twilight didn't even glance at it.
"Let me see your arm."
Sunset didn't protest, too busy with the small nub that was already forming on her crown. "It's not big and it's not deep either. Just wipe it down and it'll probably stop bleeding in a few minutes."
Twilight nodded, agreeing with the analysis. "Okay. I think I have some sterile gauze we could use..." She trailed off, curiously catching her attention on the amber skin on Sunset's arm and hand. They were littered with more scars and marks than what she'd noticed before. Twilight felt her head tilt in silent questioning, lifting a finger to trace along the higher forearm. There was a particularly interesting discoloration about three inches in length, adjacent from the newer wound that was still yet to be treated. It was jagged and what had caused it was circular in nature according to the rounded edge of one side.
"Umm...Twilight..." Sunset said. She wasn't quite sure why her friend was so quiet all of a sudden.
Twilight continued on with her examination. There was another scar much smaller but definitely deeper, if the raised tissue was anything to go by. She trailed her hand along the forearm, feeling it's texture.
Sunset felt an involuntary shiver down her spine and a blush spread across her cheeks. "Sparky!" She squeaked, voice slightly cracking at the end. She hadn't meant for that to happen and she wanted her voice to be slightly louder and maybe not so high pitched. None of it mattered anyway. Twilight hadn't given any indication that she'd heard, feather light caresses still forthcoming.
"Why do you have so many scars?" She asked, keeping her eyes downward.
Sunset hummed uncertainly, uncomfortable with being such an impromptu study subject. "Well, I do use my hands a lot. I guess I'm more careless than I appear."
"I see." Twilight nodded. "You definitely indicate such."
"Indicate such?" Sunset raised a brow.
"Repeated jagged scar tissue for carelessness during handling of sharp and/or rough objects. Most likely it's because you don't ever wear protective wear when you're fiddling with your motorcycle or our equipment." Twilight grinned. "But I already knew that."
Sunset gave an amused scoff but didn't say anything. A smile played on her lips as she wondered exactly how far Twilight's selective hearing went.
As if sensing the intent, Twilight blinked. A fog that she wasn't aware had been there cleared from her amethyst eyes and she raised her arms up like a criminal from a cheesy murder mystery. "Sorry. Sorry. I didn't mean to invade your personal space like that."
The small smile mutated into Sunset's trademark devilish grin. "I gotta say. I didn't peg you as someone to start rubbing on someone so casually. How forward of you Sparky."
A redness quietly engulfed Twilight's cheeks. She looked down, biting her lip. "I just got distracted." She mumbled. "I just never realized how many times you've been hurt before and I guess I just wanted to look or something..."
Sunset had to lean forward to fully hear the end of the sentence. Twilight's volume was slowly decreasing until she performed a commendable imitation of Fluttershy.
She pulled back to smile apologetically. "I was just teasing you, Twilight. I know how you get." She blushed. "Though, usually it's toward books."
Twilight Sparkle had examined her body like an open book from the local library. That was quite a novel and unexpected thought. Sunset averted her gaze, suddenly aware of her proximity to her friend. She sat back down. The blush that had previously covered Twilights face had thoroughly relocated itself to occupy Sunset's own.
Twilight giggled. "Yeah, sorry about that. I guess you just intrigued me."
That statement didn't help the thoughts inside Sunset's head.
"Well, it's probably redundant now but can I see your arm? We should really wipe off that blood."
Sunset glanced at said blood. A lot of it had dried already leaving a crusty brown trail down from the inside of her lower forearm to her wrist. It hadn't hurt until she looked at it but even now it just barely stung. She held it up to Twilight who already donned a latex glove and held an alcohol moistened gauze. She gently wiped at the mess. Sunset stiffened slightly, taking in a hissing breath when the slight sting amped up at the alcohol's touch.
"You really should be more careful, Sunny." Twilight stated absently. "You slice yourself up way too much doing these repairs."
"Maybe you should be more careful so that we wouldn't need so many repairs." Sunset playfully quipped back.
"Sure." Twilight mumbled absently.
Sunset rolled her eyes. "You're such a dork."
A knit formed on Twilight's forehead. "No I'm not."
"Oh, so insults aren't excluded from your selective hearing."
"Should you really be insulting someone treating one of your wounds?"
"Only because it's you. You're too nice to leverage that against me."
Twilight took a moment to think of a counter to that. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Sunset chuckled. "Weak."
Twilight stuck her tongue out enticing more giggles to spur from Sunset. It was infectious and it wasn't long before Twilight felt herself giggling with the other girl.
In the wake of their mirth, a comfortable quiet settled over them. She soon made quick work of Sunset's injured arm but found herself wanting to hold on just a little longer. She wasn't quite sure why but Twilight enjoyed the gentle warmth that came from being so close.
"Hey, Sunset," Twilight began. She heard herself quieter than her natural volume, as if her voice was afraid of disturbing the quiet.
Sunset seemed to be of the same mind as she replied with an equal measure of quiet. "Yeah?"
Twilight's head was closer to Sunset than she'd thought. When had that happened? "I don't know why, but somehow, I feel really comfortable with you."
Sunset tilted her head. "Okay?"
Twilight drew even closer until deep indigo bangs mingled with yellows and reds. "I feel comfortable with our other friends too but it's a little different with you. I feel like I can talk to you about everything in the world or I don't need to talk at all and it'll still be okay. I guess I feel that way towards our other friends too so maybe those aren't the right examples..."
"...I see..." Sunset's tone was controlled and thoughtful, an undercurrent of something intense almost hidden behind it. Almost.
Sunset had moved her arm so that she could weave her finger's through Twilight's and Twilight rubbed a thumb over her friend's knuckle. She was happy with how natural it felt to just hold on.
"I'm probably sounding a little stupid right now."
Twilight felt Sunset shake her head. "You don't sound stupid. You sound confused, but I don't think it's possible for you to ever sound stupid."
Twilight pulled away so she could stare at teal irises. They were so bright and clear. An entire universe was dwelling in those mirrors. All at once, a million questions and complete speechlessness welled in the back of Twilight's mind, a limbo that seized her higher brain functions. She was stuck there for some seconds or maybe minutes, she couldn't tell.
Sunset tilted her head. "Twilight?"
And reality asserted itself once more. Twilight felt the passing moments and she tore her gaze from Sunset, disconnecting her hand and pulling out of the bubble they shared. "You’re probably right. I guess I am a little confused." Twilight reached a hand to the back of hear head to scratch at her neck. "I'm sorry. I'm not sure what I wanted to say."
There was a flicker of that intensity, fighting to break through to the surface before it was gone again, swallowed by a friendly yet strained smile. "If you figure it out, I'll be all ears okay?"
Twilight smiled back. "Thanks Sunny." Twilight took Sunset's hand in hers again. "I'm so lucky to have a best friend like you."
Sunset gave Twilight's hand a squeeze. "Me too."