Tabitha stood before her building. It was a grand edifice, and it was hers. It was larger than many of the buildings around it, but not the city as a whole. That was fine. Being about ten stories tall wasn't bad for a 'simple' apartment building and she liked having it... even with unexpected troll guests.

She brought up her camera and snapped a picture to capture the front of it, then started trotting along to get some side photos of the place. "I'm surprised I didn't think of this earlier." Having more 'normal' tenants would be nice. Most of the ponies were reasonable sorts, and easier to deal with than elves, yetis, or trolls.

She walked back towards the entrance, making a mental note as she went to get the film developed. She'd have to find where ponies looked. A newspaper? She had seen least one of those, so that seemed like a good place to start.

"Hey Boss." It was Bubbles, and she was smirking at Tabitha as if she had just pulled something, something big.

Tabitha glanced around, as if graffiti or something else obvious was waiting for her to spot. Nope. "Hey Bubbles. How goes the patrol?"

"It's fine." She waved it off as if it was a silly question. "Remember that stallion you bagged?"

Tabitha had no idea of any stallion she... Oh. She darkened a little. "We're not a 'thing'."

"Oh? Good to hear, because I took him. He's mine." She thumped her chest with a hoof. "So you'll have to find some other horse... whatever you are."

Tabitha wasn't sure how to react. They really weren't girlfriend and boyfriend, but Bubbles was being a real ass about it, and she wasn't a robot. Being tossed aside so quickly did hurt... "That's his choice," she responded guardedly. "But why are you telling me?" Shouldn't it have been Razz, if anyone?

She tilted her head a little. "Suppose it is, but you should know he's off limits, and he's mine, so if you gots a big problem with that, well, better tell me now." She had a daring look, chest puffed and body tense.

Tabitha decided Bubbles was ready to be fired or otherwise lashed out at. Was she sabotaging herself? "Bubbles, calm down. So you and Razz are a thing, that's... good." It hurt a little to say that, even as other parts complained that it was good news, far from bad. "We have a thousand reasons to be nice to each other. How about we start there?"

Bubbles seemed confused at the response. "You're alright with it?"

No. "Yes. I hope you two are... happy." She forced a smile despite the awful feeling in her chest that refused to go away despite the logic she hurled its way. "Will you two be moving in together?"

"Let's not get too fudgin' hasty now." She shook her head quickly. "We just made it formal, give us some time, dang. Boss lady, you sure are fast to get that room back.

"There's more."

"More?" Tabitha's eyes wandered as her tail flicked. Is that to be when she'd learn about the damage Bubbles had inflicted on her home?

"My brother's staying with me for now." Bubbles blew a big bubble of gum before giving a loud chewing sound. "He won't get in the way of my work or nothin', promise. You got a problem wit' that?"

"N-no..." That was far less than what she had thought. "If it's long term, we should get him on the lease properly. Other than that, that's very nice of you."

"I'm not abandonin' my damn brother." She snorted loudly with derision. "We're practically a team!"

Tabitha decided Bubbles sounded very impassioned about it. There was only one pony she knew that fit that bill. "This isn't about Trap, is it?"

"Who told you that?!" She scowled as if attacked. "Stop lookin' into my life."

"I do have to put a name down on the lease," Tabitha replied, hiding behind routine. "He's a friend of Razz's too, right?"

"We're together forever." She raised a brow. "Yer not invited."

That was enough. There would be nothing but frustration dealing with Bubbles. "Good luck." Tabitha moved to flee to her office, teeth clenched but face carefully passive. She left her security guard behind and wasn't challenged until she sank down behind her desk.

Those emotions she had shoved to the side refused to be ignored a moment longer and bubbled to the top. She felt her face moisten even as she sniffed once. "This is stupid," she complained to herself as she wiped it away. "We weren't even a thing. He's still a horse!" The emotions would not be denied no matter how loudly she refuted them.

A knocking at the door shook her from her slump. She made one more quick wipe and smiled. "Come in."

It was Coco. She had the robe from before, all repaired and cleaned. "I finished this for you, Tabitha." Though Tabitha wore a brave face, Coco saw through it and began to look concerned. "Oh no, what happened?" She advanced for the desk directly.

Tabitha didn't want to talk about it, not at all. "Nothing big. Thanks for the robe." She reached over the desk and snatched it off of Coco's back. A question formed though... "Say, Coco?"

"Yes?" She reared up, her forelegs on the desk so she could look at Tabitha more easily. "How can I help?"

"How do... ponies break up?" Her phrasing was slow and unsure. Was she really asking that?

Coco pinkened faintly. "That's very personal, between the ponies. I've heard of all ki-- Oh! Oh... oh..." Every time she said it, it got quieter. "I'm sorry for bothering you, Miss Tabitha. I'll see myself out." She dropped back to all fours.

Tabitha realized the mistake and thrust out a hand. "Woah!" Had she really just told a talking horse to woah? "I didn't mean you! God, for someone else."

Coco paused and slowly turned back, a few of her own tears at the corners of her eyes. "O-oh! I'm... I'm being such a dunderhead about this." She forced a smile. "I haven't had many... long-term relations, so maybe I'm not the best to ask. The first just... stopped showing up. No note, no call, nothing just... gone."

Tabitha winced at that. Whatever the species, that seemed one of the crueler ways to break things off. "I'm sorry."

Coco forced a smile, as genuine as any other that seemed on offer that day. "It's not your fault. That was some time ago." She put a hoof to her chest and took a slow breath. "Now... before we get that far, I would like us to be clear. If you decide you want to... try something else, please tell me. I'll return the favor."

Tabitha nodded at that. "I will, promise." Were they a thing? Tenuously, the answer was a yes. She thought Razz wanted that spot. But he didn't... Wait. "How likely would a pony lie about another pony liking someone else?"

Coco looked mystified. "I'd hope about zero, but people can be very selfish at times... My last employer was an example of that, and I was swept along for the ride." She rubbed at her own cheek. "I'm trying to be better, really."

Tabitha set a hand down on her desk. "I have to talk to somebody. Thanks, again, for the robe. I appreciate it." She was already getting to her hooves and moving for the door. She had to wait for Coco to depart before she could lock the door. "I'll see you later, alright?"

"Of course, Tabitha." Coco smiled. "I have a question."

Tabitha blinked. "Oh?"

"What's your last name?" Coco tilted her head. "All this time, and I've never heard you use it. You do have one, right?"

"Lawrence," admitted Tabitha with a faint stutter, amazed that even she hadn't thought of it in a while. "Tabitha Lawrence."

"Like a tailor?" Coco was smiling. "That's like destiny."

Tabitha felt suddenly heavy. She hadn't considered that angle at all. It was too much. "I have to talk to that person, alright?" With the door locked, she outright fled, leaving a confused Coco behind.

She ran free of the apartment building just to realize she had no idea where Razz was beside a hotel. And even if she did know where he was... "I will not be the psycho lady that charges in asking this..." Still, she had fled, and she didn't plan to go back, not right then.

With a heavy heart and limbs to match, she decided to give some local food a chance instead, to try and unwind.

It wasn't as if she even tasted it, in the end.

Coco settled on her haunches in the elevator, frowning with thought.

"What troubles you?" The monster from the second floor settled beside her. He wouldn't be there long, just on the second floor.

Coco felt the urge to reply quickly. "I'm just wondering if I pushed too hard."

"You barely know how to push." The doors slid open and he stepped free.

The door slid shut on the creature's strange advice.

She stepped off on her floor, just to see a pony leaving Tabitha's room. She frowned, but that faded quickly when she saw who it was. "Mister Berry, hello."

He smiled at her a little awkwardly. "H-hey there." He seemed to regain his balance and stood up tall. "I have news?"

"Oh?"

"I... You can have her." He turned away, but still had his head turned at her. "I'm letting her go."

Coco blinked softly. Was that what Tabitha was reacting to? How had Razz told her? Was it like that? "Is that how you tell a mare that she's ditched?" She frowned sharply, feeling defensive. "Goodbye, I don't need you anymore?!"

"What?" He spun back only to back away from Coco. "No! I haven't even talked to her yet, I promise."

Oh... Still. "You'd better not tell her like that! She's a lot more delicate than she looks! She deserves to be treated with some respect." She drove down her right forehoof as she snorted. "I'd better not hear you were mean to her, or I won't care what you two are doing. I..." She was going red in the face. What was she trying to get at? She didn't know, and it was catching up with her. "Just watch it!"

"Alright." He watched her flee towards her room and shook his head. He went for his own place with a little grumble. "Mares..." There was no promise that Bubbles would be any better, but he knew her at least. They were friends first.

That counted for something, right?

Author's Notes:

Well, that was a thing. Tears may have made the letters run.