Even as she felt her hair fall, she still felt the bugs under her skin. Her body wracked with chills. Heaving, she struggled to walk for a bit, she clung to the wall to walk up the stairs.

Angel came out to see the commotion and followed her worriedly.

Fluttershy stumbled, no doubt getting bruises along her legs and she stripped her clothes as quickly as her shaking hands would allow, even before she reached the bathroom, even as the burn hurt with each movement.

She clenched her jaw as tight as she could, in order to not scream out. The moment the shower head turned on, she collapsed, the water cold and icy, the water a pinkish tone from the blood as she continued to claw. She felt dirty. Disgusting.

She knew she was wasting blood, but she couldn't help it. Couldn't stop the need to remove him. Breathing shallowly, she clawed at the burn on her breast and tried clawing at the old brand on her thigh.

"Nghk! Ahhh-owowow!! Fuck! Why?!" She sobbed.

The door opened suddenly and she went to see who it was, eyes full of tears and wide. It was Sombra.

His own eyes had widened and a look from calm to alarm crossed his features and he dropped what clothes he'd brought in, presumably to shower himself.

Surprisingly, he didn't leave, like she thought he would. Instead he came over, Angel watching from the counter, and crouched near her.

"Fluttershy. What happened?"

It was obvious he was trying to be calm.

A chill wracked her body and she began clawing again, releasing a half sob, half wail. "I...I feel so gross! I feel like there's bugs crawling all over. Please, Sombra. H-h-help me...g-g-get his-" she heaved, "his touch off m-me!"

Sombra looked uncomfortable, but he nodded. "Just focus on breathing. I'm going to turn the water off so I can bandage you-"

"NO! No! I-if you s-stop the w-w-water, his-his touch will-will still b-be there!" She panicked, grasping his arm tightly, even as her lips were blue. "His-his f-f-f-fucking hick-hickeys will be th-there!"

Sombra gave her a pained look, before he grabbed the shampoo and a rag to help with using the water to "clean" her. Getting soap in her injuries wouldn't be a wise idea.

"Why is your hair in the kitchen?" He thought he could try and get at least some sort of answers from her.

She stayed quiet, flinching each time his hand got near her neck. Sombra was trying his best, not even knowing how to comfort someone on a normal day. He sighed, though, he cared for her dearly and he wasn't about to leave her now that he found her.

"Ah." He said sternly when she went to claw at her neck again and he stopped her. "Whoever 'He' is, he's not here, Fluttershy. Use your sense."

Fluttershy began getting choked up, shaking, as Sombra washed her hair and tried talking about something mundane. Something to distract her.

She washed her body, at least most of it, avoiding the wounded areas per Sombra's orders. Even though he paused at seeing the two brands, he didn't speak about them immediately.

"Sombra?" Fluttershy asked, her voice hoarse. Her eyes were red rimmed and she looked tired, as he helped her into a towel and to her room to get clothes.

For some reason, she wouldn't wear her own, him having her not wear a bra so he could bandage her chest. He settled on getting one of Discord's shirts from the hamper, it not looking as dirty as some and even though he was highly against it, her being clean and the shirt not, she seemed to relax a bit once putting it on like a dress.

He glanced over, giving her a look as she tried clawing at herself again while he'd been looking for the medical kit. "What did I just say, Fluttershy?"

She jolted and stopped, biting her lip, tears welled. "He broke my phone. He...he covered Discord's love bites!" A hiccup. "He branded me again!" She covered her face.

Sombra's face contorted into anger, but before she could see, he schooled it. "Let's get you bandaged so you don't see them. When I'm done, I'll call someone. Who do you want me calling?" He wasn't going to bother with the police, if all of this was going on and what Fluttershy had said before held weight, there were people who could pull strings.

Sombra knew she probably needed a hug, but he was never good at social queues and when a good time would be. He got close, her only jolting a couple times, and began with her neck. He was surprised she didn't puncture any veins. He had her lift the shirt while he bandaged her breasts, he could barely make out the burned circular brand on it, since she'd agitated the bad burn by scratching at it.

Looking down, he observed the brand burned and an old tattoo under her underwear near the hip.

"That too?"

She had winced at pulling the shirt down and looked. "No. That's old." She spoke quietly.

He nodded and got up, going to return the kit and to clean up the messes she made.

She let him, but not without following to at least the couch and laying on it, Angel close behind and snuggling up to her. She'd grown quiet, but looking at her face, it was obvious she was still awake.

Fluttershy heard him go upstairs and she stayed laying.

She should get up. It was already passed dark. She wasn't sure how long she stayed laying there, trying to convince herself to get up, but next she knew, Sombra was walking towards her.

"Want someone or to be alone? Hungry?" He asked, though she could hear the worry in his tone.

"Don't go. I don't want to be alone right now." She whimpered, partly ashamed for her fragility.

He nodded, grabbing a book and the remote, then sitting next to her. Angel snuggled behind her knees and Fluttershy began to unwind. She was safe, with Angel and Sombra and soon the others-

She jolted upright, maybe too fast, and looked at Sombra, who's eyes widened at her sudden movement. "What will Discord think? I-I-I can't-"

Sombra pushed her back down. "He's more perceptive than you realize. He'd know, especially if you explain. We also have to get you a new phone."

"A new...but that one...I had that one since before we were caught. It had pictures of-of my family...before." She sat up, anxiety rearing, until he pet her head.

"I bet Derpy has pictures. And you have memories. Just focus on recovering." He said, though he looked at her hair and she realized how choppily it was done. Some hairs longer, some shorter.

She nodded, not able to speak. She heard him let out an awkward noise and spread out his arm. "I'll...I'll give you a hug, or cuddle. Whatever. I'd rather do this than see you naked again."

That got a small laugh out of her. "Thank you." She got closer and curled into a ball against his side as he read. After some silence, she heard him begin to read out loud. She smiled, even through the pain. She knew she got lucky, but it was still close and it was still traumatic.

She began to finally relax and nod off.

Or...tried. Each time she began to fall deeper, Rich's face would appear and she'd jolt awake, still curled against a reading Sombra.

She stayed quiet, so did he.

An hour or so later the front door opened and in came Derpy and Chrysalis, both having went to the grocery store, judging by the bags. Neither noticed the two on the couch. Fluttershy went to stand and help, but she was pushed back when Sombra stood to help instead. "Rest. Or at least until you decide if you want them knowing."

She listened, curling against the couch arm as he went to help. She began mouthing what happened to herself, seeing if she even could tell them, but her throat would close at certain points. But they'd ask. They'd wonder. So, taking a deep breath, still in underwear and a old shirt (she really should change, but Discord's scent helped to assure her she was safe), she stood, legs a bit wobbly but tried finding strength in her loved ones. Something she didn't have last time. Something she didn't have the courage to.

When she peeked into the kitchen, they were all almost done putting things away. She went to mess with her hair, a nervous tick, but realized it wasn't that long anymore. It wasn't as heavy.

She shivered, but not from cold and she gulped, taking tentative steps in.

Derpy looked over first and gasped. "Fluttershy! What happened?! You're all bandaged!" She hurried over and Fluttershy stammered.

Chrysalis looked confused and concerned. "You okay, Hun?"

Sombra stayed put, putting things away.

Fluttershy kept stammering. "I...I-uh...s-something happened...with-with s-s-someone. I..." she suddenly felt super nervous.

Derpy didn't even know what really happened. She's pretty sure only Discord knew the true story and he wasn't there.

"What could've happened that resulted in this?!" Derpy asked, both eyes trained on her in a rare moment of semetry.

Fluttershy's mouth opened and closed and she held herself. "A-a man n-n-" she began but then the door opened again and she wanted to run.

Especially when she heard that familiar snort/yawn hybrid Discord had.

So, she tried. Problem was, Sombra was near the back door that connected the kitchen to the back, and when she went to run, he got in front of her and grabbed her upper arms.

Derpy and Chrysalis gave them both weird looks, even as Fluttershy tried pressing herself against Sombra as much as she could.

She thought herself lucky when he didn't come into the kitchen and she heard him walk upstairs, probably to change.

She looked at Sombra, a wild panic there. "Please, Sombra, let me out! He-he can't know! Please!" She begged, but he gave her a look and shook his head.

"Sorry, Fluttershy, but you know he's going to have to find out. I told you, he's perceptive." Sombra said, almost tiredly, which he had every right to feel.

She whined in her throat. But she couldn't! She couldn't have Discord hate her! "But he'll get the wrong idea! Sombra, please! Please!"

"What will he get wrong?" Chrysalis asked, not liking how panicked Fluttershy was acting, especially when it came to being near Discord.

"Fluttershy, what's wrong?" Derpy asked.

Sombra sighed. "You might as well. Even I don't know everything that happened and you scared me."

"N-n-no!" She began hyperventilating. "Dammit, Sombra! I-I-I can't have him hate me because of-of-nghk!" She couldn't risk it! She'd risked so much, so much of her luck and it kept biting her in the ass. She truly loved Discord more than she'd ever thought and the thought of him hating her or thinking of her as disgusting would break her.

Sombra was wider than her and about her height but his grip was firm and even though she saw the look on his face, she couldn't understand why he wouldn't let her go. She began shaking, feeling her throat closing. She couldn't bear the thought of Discord's warm, rough hands pushing her away.

"Please..." she whimpered so quietly it was almost just a breath.

"No, Fluttershy. You're not going to get anywhere with anyone by running. You know we won't judge you." Sombra tried.

Fluttershy wished he never walked in on her. "Yes! Yes you will! You will because-because..." she knew, somewhere in her heart, she was being irrational. He was right. They wouldn't. Or at least, not intentionally.

"Does anyone know where Fluttershy is? Her phon-" Discord stopped short, poking his head into the doorway.

The only two who knew what the scene in the kitchen was about, would've been the two closest to outside.

Sombra sighed, rubbing his temple.

Fluttershy looked at Discord like a deer in headlights, not sure what to hide.

Discord seemed to take a second to process what he was seeing. "Soooo what the Hell did I just walk in on?" He was obviously confused, just like Derpy and Chrysalis.

Fluttershy wouldn't be able to say why she did what she was about to. She wanted to have courage that they'd stay by her, but they were honestly all she had left. "I-I-it's nothing. Just-just being cl-" she began, not even able to fake a smile, but then she felt something cold like a blade run against her skin, ripping, then the bandages against her neck fell.

She looked back quick, reopening the scratches and looking at Sombra like he'd betrayed her. "Som-"

He actually glared at her, putting the scissors he'd used to cut the bandages, away. "No way, Fluttershy. I know you and you're not covering this up to avoid it. Just say what happened. We're all here. Might as well let it out."

She saw the others looked at her neck worriedly. She knew it was a gory sight. "But..."

Sombra rose a thick brow. "Don't make me cut off that shirt."

She brought her arms over herself and that's when she heard Discord speak. "Fluttershy, why are your wrists bruised? What happened to your neck?"

Seeing the look on his face, she cowered. "Please don't be mad!"

Discord sighed, taking some steps towards her, slowly. "Why would I be mad?" He sounded hurt.

When she looked to his eyes, those soft, worried, beautiful eyes, she broke. Her lip wobbled and she began to cry again. "I'm sorry, Discord. I'm sorry. You're so wonderful and I...I can't give you anything!" She gripped at her breast, not wanting to have the brand, she tried clawing at it, though the shirt and bandages acted as a buffer.

"We'll leave you two be." She heard Chrysalis say, pulling a worried Derpy out and Sombra smacked her hand.

"I told you not to do that. You'll have to explain later." He nodded to Discord and left, rubbing at his head, muttering things about stubborn women and that Fluttershy was why he was gay. Which wasn't true, but there was a part of Fluttershy that smiled at it.

(And truly, neither were aware of the fact none of the other three actually gave them privacy. They eavesdropped.)

Discord tried getting a bit closer and Fluttershy hesitated in letting him. "Why do you think you owe me anything?"

She looked up at him. "I don't...but...you've given me so much."

Discord slowly reached his hand out and brushed his knuckles against her cheek, her jolting at the action. "We'll start slow, yeah? What events happened that resulted in my Dear being so torn up?"

Fluttershy gulped, hunching in on herself. "I...I was talking to you. Then-then..." she began to remember, not that she forgot, but she would've probably tried forgetting. Avoid it like it wasn't there. Remembering Rich's lips on her neck made her begin scratching again and Discord was quick to stop her.

"My Dear...what happened?" Discord, despite seeing her struggling, still pushed. It was obvious he didn't want to push, but had to.

She figured it might've only been fair, that he push. "He...he wrapped my scarf so-so I couldn't-couldn't run." She began to shake, but he lifted her chin gently, not breaking his eyes from her's, egging her on. As to not scratch and claw at her neck, she wrapped both hands around his forearm, grasping tightly. "Then he...he smashed my phone. So I couldn't even-" her knees knocked together and she lost her balance.

He still didn't speak, neither in encouragement nor to make her cease. He began to pull her out back, her having no choice in the matter.

He forced her to lay in one of their giant leaf piles then he got over her, leaving plenty of room.

She saw his eyes were glowing. Sombra might've been right because she hadn't even gotten to the worst parts and he was getting upset. "I won't hurt you." His voice was hoarse with emotion.

She nodded. She knew that. She tried finding her voice. "He tossed me...into Celestia's office." Her voice grew quiet. "He said I belonged to him. He knew about your love bites!" Her voice got high pitched and she covered her face to hide her tears. "I can't! I just-just can't, Discord! Please! I promise! I promise I didn't-didn't want the brands!" She was getting hysterical again.

She felt the ground and air pulse strongly. His tone was a snarl and she could feel his hot breath against the back of her hands. "Let me see what he did to you. You don't have to speak more, my Dear."

She slowly removed her hands and saw how hard he was trying to not show his anger, his magic being the pulse she felt. She searched his face, nodding after a bit.

At first, she tried moving her arms to the bottom, but froze. Her hands shook terribly and the more movement she did agitated her new brand. "A-actually...can-can you do it? We-we'll start with-with the old-old...b-brand."

He nodded and slowly, using his fingertips, Discord ran his hand up her thigh, lifting the shirt. She could feel him shaking, either from rage or nerves, she couldn't tell.

Fluttershy could tell by the warmth against the bandages on her thigh, that he'd went that far, but he stopped. She wasn't sure if he pieced it together or if he guessed close enough.

She opened her mouth to ask, only to have him lean down and devour her mouth with one kiss, it speaking volumes of his tenderness towards her, despite the growing earthquake under them.

When he pulled away, he caressed her face. "Are you sure?"

She felt like prey in a predator's nest. "What will you do? If-if you saw?"

His eyes lowered to her neck, the deep colored hickeys visible still under the deep red slices in her skin and collarbone. She could feel the deep growl rumbling in him and she flinched, body tensing when his head lowered towards it.

Only to open her eyes slowly, feeling warmth, like the fireplace in Winter, and saw flames licking up from her chin and caressing her cheeks.

Discord had blown fire onto her neck.

He stayed over her, even as smoke still flowed from his mouth as he breathed. "Even torture would feel too merciful for the one who hurt you."

"He touched my hair...said...said he loved it-it was like a-a leash. So...I had to cut it. It felt...SO-SO gross. I felt...dirty." She confessed, unsure why when he said she didn't have to.

She startled, having clenched her eyes shut, but opened them when he began to nuzzle her face. Despite his own shaking, his own furious anger running off his body, he was still trying his best...to be so tender with her.

'Closer...' she thought and spread her knees apart.

'What does he do to make you spread them?' Rich's voice mocked in her memory.

A chill of fear ran down, but looking at his shaking hands, when she tilted her head towards his, his fingers clenched roughly in the leaves...she knew the answer. She knew there was an answer.

She spread her knees, lifting her legs to lock behind his lower back and she forced his body down to against her's, making him make a strangled noise and blush, her movements distracting him from his simmering.

It only took a second for him to gather himself, before he was trying to console her the only way he knew how.

She spread her knees...because he loved her.

All of her.