Prompt #254: "Apples and Oranges" by Baby Seal Burritos
(This story exists in the same continuity as "Losing" from Prompt 225 because we need some stallion love up in here.)
Big Macintosh rolled his neck and groaned softly as he felt the kinks all along his spine that had accumulated over a long day of bucking apples in the orchard; he was more than prepared for a nice long relaxing bath or just a few moments to lie still and do absolutely nothing to further agitate his overworked muscles. As he moseyed his way back to the barn his mind drifted to the stallion waiting in there for him to finish up his chores, and his tail flicked in excitement behind him as he imagined that he could ask him to help him unwind a little. A slow smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he picked up the pace unconsciously.
He nudged open the barn door without a word, and he was met by a cry of elation.
âHey! Big Guy!â
Big Macintosh smiled a little bigger as he felt a familiar weight ram into him from above; a smaller, less solid pony mightâve been knocked to the ground, but Big Macintosh wasnât one to get pushed around by just anypony, so his playful attacker bounced off of him with a grunt and tumbled backwards onto the ground.
The pegasus laughed and hopped back onto his hoofs with a showy flap of his wings, wriggling his hips behind him as his eyebrows danced suggestively. âI got some unexpected time off. So what else can I do but come see my favorite Big Fella?â
Big Macintosh flicked his ear back at the sound of a snort behind him. âWhat he means to say is that he came to see your big fella.â
Soarin pouted and drug a hoof against the ground as Thunderlane cantered up behind Big Macintosh and gave him a loving nuzzle.
âThatâs not the whole reason,â Soarin argued, âbut yeah. Thatâs one of them. You wouldnât believe how much I need a little something, Big Guy. The Wonderbolts is such a ladiesâ club.â
Big Macintosh chuckled and gave Thunderlane a kiss on the cheek. âIâd be happy to lend you a hoof, Soar, but Iâm tired.â
Soarin sat on his haunches with a sigh, ears drooping; giving Big Macintosh the saddest look he could muster.
Big Macintosh couldnât hold back his snort of amusement. âLet a workhorse get off his hooves for a little while, wouldya? Not everypony has the stamina of a big fancy famous pegasus.â
Soarin gave a short bark of laughter, recovering from his melancholy almost instantaneously, and hopping to his hooves. âWhat a funny thing for an earth pony to say. Not having stamina.â
Thunderlane wrapped his hooves around Big Macintoshâs neck and tugged him down onto the ground. The workhorse was more than happy to oblige, rolling onto his back and resting in the slightly smaller pegasusâ lap. Big Macintosh had to admit that he had a certain fondness for pegasi; he was a large pony, and it was hard to find another pony that matched or exceeded his size who could cuddle him against them, but pegasi had a distinct advantage. Thunderlane stroked Big Macintoshâs stomach with the soft feathers of his wing, eliciting a blissful sigh and a wriggle of pleasure from the larger pony.
This is exactly what he needed. Heâd have to make sure that Thunderlane was thanked properly later.
Big Macintosh opened his eyes when he felt Thunderlaneâs wing retract, and he saw a bashful Soarin smiling down at him before giving his stomach a soft kiss. Big Macintosh smiled back at him and the pegasusâ ears shot up and he beamed, always reacting so strongly to the smallest praise, Big Macintosh thought with a small shake of his head. Soarin had hopped back to sit between Big Macintoshâs legs to give them a proper athleteâs massage that worked out the soreness like a dream, starting with one and then the other. Big Macintosh sighed in bliss; he figured there werenât a unicorn alive that could achieve a better feeling touch with their magic than either of these ponies could using their wings and hooves.
Thunderlane had started rubbing his sides with his wing again, and he groaned softly, opening an eye and peering up at the smirking face above him.
He stretched up and gave that smirking pony a kiss on the chin. âTell me âbout your day, you two. I want to hear every detail.â
Thunderlane chuckled softly as Soarin didnât wait an instant to launch into what was most likely an exaggerated tale about flying all the way here to Ponyville from Canterlot, and Big Macintosh listened quietly with a warm feeling of contentment burning in his belly. There wasnât a time that he felt much better than he did when he had both his stallions around, and although they were as different as apples and oranges he loved them both with a fierceness that belied his demeanor.
Maybe tomorrow Soarin would return to Canterlot with a fresh-baked pie and a promise to come back as soon as possible, and maybe Thunderlane would continue to live here in the Sweet Apple Acresâ barn, but both ponies would have a home here.
Soarin finished his massage and draped himself across Big Macintoshâs belly. Thunderlane rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, and Big Macintosh smiled one of his small, secret smiles. Theyâd always have a home as long as he was around.
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RWL's Commentary
Big Soarilane! This was a sexy and sweet moment between all these studly stallions. I like how they were all characterized here, with Soarin being so eager and talkative and Big Mac being quieter and more laid back, and Thunderlane teasing Soarin a bit. The line about Soarin just wanting Big Mac's big fella was great. And then seeing the two of them just taking care of Big Mac while he relaxed was wonderful. And the love Big Mac felt for them really came through. Great stuff!
