The Snow on Her Cheek

Chapter Four

The Swingin's Mutual

***

Octavia opened her eyes, feeling the rays of sunlight penetrating through her eyelids. The furniture looked strangely book-ish, its dark frames outshined by the vivid solidity of the light. For some reason, the cellist felt warm and happy inside, though she couldn't get a grip at the reason for this. Something had happened last night. Something good... A loud snort came from her right, from a particular white unicorn - from the most beautiful mare in the world.

Oh, that's the reason, Octavia mused with a smile and gently stroked Vinyl's blue mane. Strangely enough, it remained in the same condition - spiky and rather eccentric, even after the night of... vigorous activity they'd shared together. And what an activity it had been... Which led her to a thought...

"Vinyl, dear, wake up," she whispered into the white unicorn's ear, kissing her just below the horn lovingly, admiring the beauty of the mare in the weak sunlight.

Vinyl groaned and rolled over, finding herself face to face with the grey mare, who immediately seized the opportunity and locked the pianist in a passionate kiss. Needless to say, that was enough for Vinyl to wake up at once, and, to be honest, that was the most pleasant awakening she'd ever experienced.

"Tavi..." she managed to let out weakly, bathing in the pleasant aftertaste. "Good morning." She smiled and looked into the grey mare's eyes - the most wonderful eyes in the world - with hers, this time not shielded by the ever-present goggles.

"Morning, Vinyl~" Octavia cooed and kissed the unicorn on the cheek. The two mares lay under beneath the covers, bathing in each other's presense. Both felt extremely good, and neither had the desire to do anything, until Octavia finally resolved to break the silence.

"What now?" she wondered aloud, looking at Vinyl with visible concern in her eyes.

The white mare shrugged, trying to look unamused. Play it cool, Vinyl. Play it cool. "Well, we could have breakfast or..." she began, but was stopped by the grey hoof pressed against her lips.

"You know what I mean, Vinyl." Octavia sighed. "What are we going to do now?" She looked at the white mare solemnly. Is it... the end? At the very beginning? "What are we now? Was it... a one-night thing... Or not?" she wondered, putting extra emphasis on the last word, hoping that maybe-

"For me, it wasn't," came the reply. Vinyl smiled and gave Octavia a smooch on the cheek, to which the grey mare purred contentedly. Now, choose your phrasing carefully, Vinyl. You like this mare, and you don't want to ruin the moment. "I, for one, would like this relationship to pros- prosp- continue," the unicorn finished embarrassedly, making the cellist giggle. "Hey, I'm trying to propose here!" the pianist shouted, blushing. Amazing, Vinyl. You are the awesomest orator ever. You would've bucking lost to a foal in a spelling game!

Octavia's mouth fell agape and suddenly became very dry. Propose... As in, when ponies start dating and... Oh my Celestia... Is this really happening?

"Octavia... Tavi..." Vinyl cleared her throat. "Will you be my marefriend?" she finally asked, immediately facehoofing. "I'm  moving too fast, aren't I? Just, I really, really like you and- mffmfmf!"

The cellist threw herself on top of the unicorn and silenced her with a kiss, tears of happiness streaming down her face. Yes yes yes! Finally! Octavia wanted to jump for joy all about the flat, all about Manehattan, all about the whole Equestria! As they broke the kiss, Vinyl looked at her marefriend (Hey, she didn't say yes yet!) in confusion.

"So... You kissed me, but you're crying?" she mused aloud. "Is that a yes or a-"

"It's a yes, you silly pony," Octavia interrupted her, smiling through tears. "I would love to be your marefriend."

"Awesome. We're dating now!" In an instant, Vinyl was grinning again, happy and cheerful. Dammit, Vinyl, just look at yourself! You've got the best marefriend in all of Equestria! Congrats, filly!

Octavia chuckled. "We totally are." She looked through the window, at the dirty streets of Manehattan, the dark and unwelcoming city... The dark and unwelcoming streets... The dark and unwelcoming buildings... The dark and unwelcoming ponies... She sighed.

"What's up, Octy?" Vinyl enquired compassionately.

"You see, Vinyl..." Octavia sighed again. "While here, at home, we can be marefriends, and laugh, and kiss, and do..." She blushed. "...other things..." Vinyl's grin grew even wider, but was somewhat extinguished from her face by a particular grey hoof. Well, I totally deserved it, the unicorn thought, rubbing the back of her head.

"...Out there, we will have to hide. We won't be tolerated. Only at home we will be able to throw off the masks..." Octavia looked at her marefriend sadly. But maybe...Suddenly, her face brightened. "But that's just another reason for us to live together!" she exclaimed, while Vinyl blinked due to the sudden outburst.

"Wow, Tavi, and here I thought I was the straightforward one here..." she said but, upon seeing her marefriend blush, quickly added, "I totally agree, though! Your place or my place?" she asked, hoping that the cellist would choose the former, her own place being more of a den that a flat.

"I'd rather we lived at my place, if you don't mind," Octavia replied, raising her brow questioningly.

Vinyl nodded eagerly. "Sure. We can always pretend we're just two good friends living together. Besides..." She looked at Octavia with a sly grin. "The walls here are soundproof, which will be really convenient at night." She winked at the embarrassed cellist, who simply nodded.

Vinyl sat up in bed, stretching her limbs. "And I know at least one place - one little jazz bar - where we don't need to hide our relationship." She smiled at her marefriend reassuringly. "Don't worry - we have each other."

"Yes," Octavia repeated, snuggling closer to the white mare. "We have each other, and nothing else matters." She closed her eyes blissfully, feeling the aching emptiness inside go away at last, replaced with the warm projection of the white unicorn mare.

"Well, we still have something to do, Tavi," Vinyl murmured into Octavia's ear in what seemed to the cellist was a sexy tone.

"All right, but only after we have had shower," Octavia whispered back, nibbling on the white unicorn's ear. "And I'll be on top this time." Oh, Vinyl, you hot thing~

"Wow, Tavi..." Vinyl's red eyes widened to the size of saucers. "I wanted to suggest moving my things here..." She grinned. "But I like your idea better." Oh yes, I like it much, much better...

Octavia blushed, her hoof slapping against her face. Failure, Octavia. This is called failure. Spell with me: F-A-I-L-U-

"Come on, Tavi! That's a good thing!" Vinyl said in an encouraging tone. "Not just the sex, I mean." But the sex was great! No, Vinyl! Stop thinking about her flank for a single damn second! ...Mmm, flank... "The fact that you're getting looser. More... free. Less restricted."

Octavia lowered her hoof and watched her marefriend in awe. Does it mean?..

"I think..." Vinyl smiled and put her hoof on top of the cellist's. "You are ready to play jazz."