A day later:

“I’m gonna head back now. See you all in the morning.” J said as he walked to the door.

“It’s pouring… You should wait till the storm passes.” Star said.

“I’ve been outside during storms before… don’t worry.” J said. “And it’s not like it’s super bad.”

As he opened the door the wind picked up. “See? It’s not super bad! Just horrible!” J said.

“At least take an umbrella!” Star said.

J grabbed an umbrella. “See you all tomorrow!” He said as he left the house. As he shut the door and stepped out onto the street he looked around.

A man approached J and leaned in. “Hey did you have any change? Money? Anything at all.” He asked.

“Oh. Sure.” J said as he reached into his pocket he pulled out some money, “Here.” He said handing it to the man.

“Thanks.” The man said, turning around and walking around the corner.

J glanced around and followed a few feet behind him.

The man approached a woman sitting under an umbrella, propped up and tied against a lamp post. He handed her the money and sighed. “You shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help.” He said.

“I can’t…” She said quietly.

“You asked me…” He said.

“You’re different… You… You’re all I have left.” She said.

The man shook his head. “I’m sorry… But I can’t do this anymore.” He said.

“P… Please don’t leave…” She said quickly, reaching up to grab his hand.

The man stepped back. “I can’t… I just… Goodbye.” He said. He turned away and paused before seeming to reluctantly walk away.

The woman pulled her knees up and curled up, shaking from the cold as she started to cry.

J slowly walked up to the woman, kneeling down in front of her. “You look like you could use some help.” He said.

The woman looked up at him and shook her head. “No I’m fine.” She said.

“Being stubborn is just going to catch you a cold.” J said.

“And being generous is going to get you mugged…” She said, lifting her leg up and kicking him in the knee.

J grunted and gripped his knee with one hand. “Fuck… and it just healed…” He muttered.

The woman grabbed the umbrella and stood up, turning and starting to walk away.

“Fine… I was only offering a spare bed and a meal… guess being nice isn’t a good thing around here…” J said as he pushed himself up.

There was a large gust of wind and the woman froze immediately, being caught off guard as the umbrella was torn from her hand. She watched as it flew away, not even attempting to chase after it.

J glanced at her before walking over to her and pushing his umbrella into her hands. “Still doesn’t mean I won’t try.” He said.

“Why…” She mumbled.

“Because I know what it’s like to be left alone to the world.” J said.

She turned to him. “Don’t you understand! If I can’t help myself then… What’s the point…” She said.

“I understand completely.” He said. “It’s just sometimes we all need a little help.”

She stopped and stared at the ground. “You don’t know what I’ve been through…” She said quietly.

“I may not… but I know I’ve been through something pretty close to it.” J said. “Twice.”

She stood silent for a few moments. “There’s food?” She asked.

“Yeah.” J nodded, “And drinks.”

She crossed her arms. “I… Guess there’s no shame in… Taking an offer.” She mumbled.

J smiled a little, “Well just follow me.” He said, turning around and starting to limp back to his house.

The woman quickly rushed over and put his arm around her.

“Oh… thanks.” J said.

“Don’t thank me… It’s not like I’m helping you… It’s cold and I want to get inside. I don’t know where your house is and this will get us back faster…” She said, staring straight ahead.

J smiled a little more. “Okay…” He said.

“You’d better not be some rapist… Because I’ll kick your ass.” She snapped, staring at him before continuing to walk him down the road.

J shook his head, “No… I’ve been through that myself…” He said quietly.

“Oh…” She mumbled, looking down at the ground for a moment.

“It doesn’t really matter anymore…” J said.

She stayed silent.

“A lot worse thing have happened since then anyway.” J said.

She cleared her throat. “Of course worse things have happened. I’m out here in the cold aren’t I? Now get me some damn food and maybe I’ll let you know my name.” She said.

“Is… that an invitation to a date?” J asked.

“Maybe… Are you accepting it?” She asked.

“I don’t see why not…” J said. “It’s kinda hard to say no to a pretty girl.”

She smiled happily before it turned into a smirk. “Then yes. I’ll rate you depending on the food. And if it’s good then… We’ll see where it goes from there.” She sighed.

“Then I hope you like grilled food.” J said. He stopped at the entrance to the shed. “Oh. And don’t mind the exterior. It’s much bigger on the inside.”

----------------------------------------------

“Okay this is it.” J said.

She stared into the many rooms in both surprise and awe.

“Want anything to drink?” He asked.

“Yes.” She said, shaking her head and regaining her composure.

“What will it be?” He asked.

“Soda.” She said, falling onto the couch and shoving her face in a pillow.

J nodded and walked away coming back a short time later with a bottle of soda. “Here you go.” He said, placing it beside her, “I’m going to get started with the food. If you need anything from me I’ll be in the kitchen…” He turned around and left the room.

After a few minutes J came back into the room with two plates of food. He instantly saw the woman had been crying again. He set both the plates down on the nearby table and sat down beside her, “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“Nothing…” She said quietly, taking the food and starting to eat it immediately.

J sighed, “You don’t want to talk about it… so I’m not going to push it.” He said.

She finished eating and shoved the plate into him. “Any more?” She asked.

“Yeah.” J said. “I’ll go get you some.” He stood up and walked out of the room again.

He came back a short time later with another full plate and sighed when he saw his food had been eaten. He shrugged and sat the plate down on the table in front of her. “There you go.” He said.

“Your’s was getting cold.” She said as she took the third plate from him and started eating.

J leaned back on the couch and stretched a little.

The woman tapped on J’s shoulder.

“Yeah?” J asked as he looked over.

The woman handed him the plate, only a single bite had been taken from any of the food on it. “You look hungry too…” She said.

“Nah I’m fine.” J said handing the plate back to her, “Just eat up. And if you want some more just tell me okay?”

She looked at him for a moment before setting the plate down.

“Is something the matter?” J asked.

She started shaking slightly and more tears fell down her face. “You…” She said quietly.

“I’m… guessing you really didn’t expect… a complete stranger to be kind to you?” J asked.

“What do you want from me…” She asked.

J smiled, “Nothing at all.” He said.

“No one’s this nice… Unless they want something… So tell me…” She asked with a little more emphasis.

“I don’t want anything from you.” J said. “It’d be selfish for me to ask anything from you.”

“It’s selfish for me to take this from you… All I am is selfish…” She said, starting to sob again.

“No you aren’t.” He said as he hugged her.

“No… No I… I don’t… Want…” She stammered, trying to push him away. Her pushes only got weaker as she started crying harder and just fell into him.

“Shh… shh… you don’t have to cry.” J said comfortingly.

“Please… Don’t make me go out there again…” She sobbed.

“That never crossed my mind.” J said.

------------------------------------------------

“Feeling better now?” J asked with a soft smile.

“Maybe…” She shrugged, sniffling slightly.

J loosened his hug a little bit. “Need anything else?” He asked.

“Did I say to loosen up? I’m still cold. Now do your job.” She said sternly.

J hugged her tightly again.

“Than- I mean… Good.” She said.

“So…” J said.

“What?” She asked.

“I feel I should at least know your name if you’re living with me now.” J said.

“Well… I guess the food was worth a name.” She said. “Lightning Dust.”

“Well… Just call me J.” He said.

“Hey I gave you my name now give me yours you bastard…” She said, hitting J in the arm.

“I did… my name is J Dog.” J said, rubbing his arm a little.

“Fine. Be that way.” She said, pulling away.

J sighed, “Might as well… My REAL name is Joel.” J said. “I prefer J though.”

“Well if you’re going to call me by my name then I’m going to call you by yours.” She said, kicking her legs up on the couch.

“Did you need anything else?” J asked.

She pushed her feet onto his lap. “Foot rub.” She smirked.

J shrugged. “Okay.” He said.

“Great. Well get to it already… You have a lot to make up for.” She said.

J grabbed her foot and started to massage it.

She smiled and relaxed back. “Being an ex-Wonderbolt isn’t so bad…” She sighed.

“Ex? What happened?” He asked as he continued to massage her foot, slowly working back to her leg.

“I was kicked out. Some girl named Rainbow Dash helped with that…” She sighed.

J stiffened up momentarily before shaking his head.

“She’s a goodie two shoes little prick and if I ever see her again… Well… The chances of that are unlikely.” She chuckled.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about either of those things.” J said calmly, his grip on her foot tightening.

“Ohhh yeah… Just like that.” She mumbled.

J’s lip curled upwards momentarily.

“Something wrong?” She asked curiously.

“No…” J said, continuing to rub her foot.

“Alright… Well what do you do for fun around here? Besides picking up and tending to homeless women off the street.” She said, a small bit of sadness in her voice.

“Play music… play some games… train just… do whatever I can basically.” J said.

“Music?” She asked.

“Yeah…” J nodded. “Theres also all the movies and TV shows I have loaded down here.”

“What do you play?” She asked.

“Guitar and bass.” J said.

“Ah I see… How about you play something?” She asked.

“Sure.” He shrugged.

As J was about to get up there was a knock at the door.

J walked up and opened the door a little. “Yeah?” He asked, “Oh hey Dash. Whatcha doing out here?”

“Yeah stop playing dumb.” Dash said. “You know full well what I’m here for.”

J paused for a moment.

Dash opened up the door the rest of the way and stepped inside out of the rain.

“Yeah… now isn’t the best time… as much as I really want to… it’s just… not a good time.” J said.

“And why isn’t it?” Dash asked.

“Well… someone’s currently here that I want to… keep separate from you for at least a little bit…” J said.

“Why? Are you scared that I’d get jealous and do something about whoever it is?” Dash asked.

“Yes and no… I just want to avoid any confrontation like that.” J said.

“I can handle myself.” Dash said, pushing past J and walking down the steps.

“Okay I’ll admit this place is pretty coo-” Lightning froze, staring at Dash.

Dash froze too and stared back at her.

The two of them stared at each other silently.

“Oh god…” J said as he walked down and stepped between them. “I’m not letting this happen.” He stated.

“You… You’re friends… With her?” Lightning asked.

“Friends? We’re way past that point…” Dash said.

J remained quiet.

Lightning pushed J out of the way and stepped in front of Dash, staring at her.

“What the h-” Dash was interrupted.

Lightning hugged Dash tightly, her body starting to shake.

“What…” Dash said uncertainly.

“Please… Don’t kick me out… Not again…” Lightning mumbled shakily, gripping Dash tighter.

“What do you mean… don’t kick you out? I can’t…” Dash said.

“I’m sorry… Ju… Just don’t… Leave me alone again…” Lightning said, starting to cry.

“I won’t…” Dash said.

“Lightning?” J asked.

Lightning let go and took a breath in. She looked down at the ground. “Do you have a bathroom down here?” She asked quietly.

“Yeah… but first. If anyone tries to say that you aren’t welcome here anymore… come tell me. I’ll need to have a talk with whoever it was.” J said. “And it’s right down the hall… to the left.”

“I’m going to take a shower… If that’s alright.” Lightning said, already walking to the bathroom.

“Okay.” J said, “Go right ahead, it’s not like you don’t live here too…”

Lightning stopped for a few moments before walking in and closing the door.

“How… exactly did she get here?” Dash asked.

“I’ll… tell you.” J said, motioning to the couch.

---------------------------------------

“So… I caused this to happen…” Dash said quietly.

“I… I hate that I have to say this… but… it seems… yeah…” J said with a reluctant nod.

Dash remained quiet.

“Dash… theres always something that’ll happen that no one has any chance at foreseeing.” J said comfortingly, “No one knew that the worst thing could have happened.”

“Yeah… I guess…” Dash said with a small nod.

J sighed.

“I still want to apologize…” Dash said.

“If you want to… I’m not going to stop you.” J said.

“Just… tell her I’ll talk to her later…” Dash said quietly, “I need to think a little more…”

J nodded, “See you.” He said.

Dash nodded and walked up the stairs and back outside.

J slowly stood back up and walked down to the bathroom, he knocked on the door. “Lightning are you alright?” He asked through the door.

There was no response.

“Lightning?” J said again this time sounding a little worried. “Please… I want to talk…”

There was again no response.

J instantly blinked past the door and into the bathroom, “God no… I’m not letting that happen ever again…” He said sounding completely scared now.

Lightning was sitting in the tub in the bathwater. Her eyes snapped open and she looked at J wide eyed. “THE FUCK?” She screamed, covering herself with her hands.

J covered his eyes, “God damn it…” He mumbled, “Sorry…”

“GET OUT YOU PERVERT!” She screamed, throwing a bottle of shampoo at his face and soaking it in soap.

“I’m sorry…” J said, “I… I was scared that something else had happened…” He quickly left the bathroom.

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The bathroom door clicked open and Lightning walked out, sitting on the couch and staring straight ahead, not looking at J.

“I said I was sorry… and I really am…” J said quietly.

“I guess a locked door doesn’t mean anything to you.” She said quietly.

“No… it’s that… I’ve had a lot of bad experiences when no one answered me from inside a locked bathroom.” J said.

“I’m sure…” She sighed.

“And… I was really worried that something had happened to you…” He said quietly.

“Oh?” She said, raising an eyebrow.

He closed his eyes and remained quiet.

She stood up and crossed her arms. “Well… That’s fine. And I can understand you wanting to see me naked too… I’m pretty hot.” She shrugged.

J sighed, “You really… aren’t grasping what I was scared had happened are you?” He asked quietly.

“Well I’m fine… Don’t worry about me.” She said with a smile, kissing his cheek. “I’m not going anywhere…”

“That’s good.” He said, smiling a little. He looked up at her, “Do you want me to leave so you can get dressed?” He asked.

“Not if you don’t want to.” She winked.

“Well… I guess I’ll stay then.” He smiled.

-------------------------------

“So did you need anything?” J asked.

“Nope.” She said.

He nodded and leaned back on the couch. His eyes closed and he started scratching his chin as if thinking about something.

“What?” She asked.

“Nothin… just remembering something an old friend of mine said to me a long time ago…” J said.

“Well if I’m asking it’s not nothing. So tell me.” She said, scooting closer.

He shrugged, “You may be lost, but you’re not wandering alone.” He said.

“I see… Did your friend by chance live on Dagobah?” She asked.

J sighed, “No.” He said.

“Hey I’m just joking…” She said, nudging him with her elbow.

He looked at her quietly, a small smile forming on his face.

“Hey… You got anyone else besides uh… Rainbow Dash… Around here?” She asked.

“Yeah. All of her friends.” J said.

“Uh huh…” She mumbled.

“Hey… nothing bad is going to happen.” J said comfortingly, “I know that they’ll be welcoming.”

“And do they all live in this shed?” She asked sarcastically.

J rolled his eyes, “No one other then you and me live down here.” He said.

“Oh so I’m special?” She asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yep. Seems like it.” J nodded.

“Hm… Well then. How about we go up and see everyone then. I might as well meet the whole family right?” She suggested.

“Tomorrow… it is late.” J said.

“Fair enough. Where’s your bedroom?” She asked.

“Down th- Wait… why do you want to know where my bedroom is?” He asked curiously.

She just stared at him.

“Um… this way?” J said uncertainly as he stood up.

Lightning followed him into his room and stripped down to her underwear before sitting down on the bed. “I’m sleeping with you tonight. Unless you have a problem with that?” She asked.

“No… not at all.” J shrugged, removing his shirt and pants. “Its just sort of… surprising.”

“Well you’re probably not used to those. It’s a good thing I’m around.” She sighed, staring at the scars on J’s body as she lied back.

J laid down beside her, “Oh… yeah… those…” He said quietly.

“You want to talk about them?” She asked.

J sighed, “No… I don’t want to spoil the good mood.” He said.

“Good… Then let’s go to sleep.” She said.

He rolled onto his side and without saying anything pulled her in close.

She tensed up slightly before relaxing. “Mm… Okay… Yes… Do that.” She said.

He smiled and lightly nuzzled the back of her neck.

“What uh… Are you doing?” She asked uncertainly.

“Well… cuddling…” J said quietly, “If… that’s alright… if it isn’t I can just hold you…”

“No I just… Didn’t expect it.” She said.

“Oh… and I feel I should return something you did earlier…” J said softly.

Lightning tensed up slightly. “Um…” She mumbled nervously.

J kissed her cheek.

She instantly relaxed and sighed. “Oh… Alright.” She said, a small smile forming.

J nuzzled her neck again, “I’m happy you did decide to take up my offer.” He said.

She stayed silent.

“Something wrong?” He asked, gently grasping her hand.

He noticed her eyes were closed and she had fallen asleep.

He smiled and laid his head down, closing his eyes and falling asleep.