Something Special

[walkyourownway]

Title: Something Special
Fandom: Wild Kratts, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Character(s): Chris Kratt, human!Fluttershy
Genre: Romance
Rating: K/G
Disclaimers: Wild Kratts © Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic © Hasbro
Notes: Just a bit of introspective fluff I wrote for the heck of it. At first I wasn’t going to post this at all. But then I decided that that was a bit unfair, since this is technically based on an idea empress-penguin gave me some time ago.

Summary: N/A

Chris wasn’t sure what to make of the supplies he found set up on the front lawn as he approached Fluttershy’s home; a shovel, some wood and concrete blocks, a PVC pipe or two, as well as a bag of what looked like rubble and debris that she had cleaned up from the yard. The assortment of things appeared to have just been put there recently, as though just freshly gathered. And while he wasn’t quite sure what they were for, if he knew his girlfriend well enough he figured it was most likely creature-related.

The front door was also opened, which was a bit surprising. Even with her house as removed from town as it was - or maybe even because of it - Fluttershy was usually pretty careful about her safety. Leaving the front door so wide open wasn’t usually like her.

Besides that, though, everything seemed pretty normal. There were still animals at the feeders, though some were quick to disperse as he approached. Nothing felt wrong despite the slight strangeness of the scene before him. So with more curiosity than anything, he headed up the front steps into the house.

About to call for Fluttershy and announce his sudden return home, he paused at the doorway as he peered inside. His eyes quickly found Fluttershy sitting on the floor of the living room, her hair pulled up and away from her face, and looking as though she had been hard at work in the yard. She didn’t notice his arrival though, too busy with the injured little snake in front of her to spare any attention elsewhere.

But he didn’t really mind, and couldn’t help simply watching as she treated her patient - looked like a species of garter snake from what he could see. He folded his arms across his chest, leaning against the doorframe as he watched her use a Q-tip to apply some antibiotics to the snake’s wound with the utmost of care. Some soiled gauze next to her told him that this was a changing, and seeing the snake remain as calm as it did told him that it had been recovering in her home for quite a while.

He could feel the smile spreading across his face. Despite being such a cool creature, the snake had a rather unfortunate reputation for being a pest or, even worse, considered dangerous or evil creatures. As misunderstood and feared as snakes were, not a lot of people would take the time to nurse an injured one back to good health.

But then again…Fluttershy wasn’t like a lot of other people.

And Chris wasn’t sure what it was about her, why he was so drawn to what she was doing - really, it wasn’t anything different from how he, or Martin, or any of the crew would treat an injured animal. But there was something about her gentle touch, the delicate way she wrapped the fresh gauze around the snake’s wound…her quiet concern and compassion towards the wounded creature that made it so hard to take his eyes off her.

All too soon Fluttershy was finished; the snake itself would never appreciate the dazzling smile she gave it, as though she was taking care of a beloved child. But he certainly could…and he had to think that the snake at least knew that it was safe and well cared for in her kindness.

"There we go…" he heard her suddenly say, her voice soft as she gently lifted the snake into her hands. "You’re looking much better today. You should be good as new very soon. Hopefully I’ll be finished building your new home by then…"

His eyes followed her as she opened the top of an aquarium filled with aspen bedding, very carefully placing the snake inside before retrieving a water dish. “Now you just rest a while, and I’ll be right back.”

It was as she turned to head to the kitchen that she froze, finally realizing that he was there. “Chris…!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t know you would be home so soon…!”

He grinned a little, finally stepping into the house and walking towards her. “Aren’t you happy to see me?” he teased.

Somewhat flustered, Fluttershy blushed as her eyes shifted to stare at the ground. “Y-Yes, of…of course I am…” she floundered, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “I-I was just…I just meant…um…W-Welcome home…”

The switch was immediate; how Fluttershy could change from the devoted and skilled animal caretaker to someone so shy and somewhat awkward. This quiet woman that the world might not even notice most of the time, most people would never get to see just how she truly shined.

And in the end, that didn’t even matter to Fluttershy. She didn’t really care whether other people knew what she was capable of or not, whether they knew of all the good she did, so long as she did the best she could to help those who needed her.

He smiled, brushing some hair from her eyes and gently tilting her face so she would meet his eyes. “I missed you…” he said.

Her expression softened as a smile lifted the corners of her lips. “I missed you too.”

His lips caught hers in a gentle kiss, holding it for a few precious moments before breaking it. She smiled warmly at him, then lightly nudged him playfully.

"You should have told me you were coming, though," she said with a bit of a laugh.

He couldn’t help snickering as he shrugged. “Well we were finished early and I wanted to surprise you. But if I had known you had a patient, I probably would have.”

Fluttershy glanced back at the snake, smiling softly. “Mm…I’ve been taking care of him for a few days…He should be healed pretty soon. I’m hoping to get a hibernaculum ready for him before I release him, though…”

He smiled, leaning in to gently press another kiss to her forehead, inhaling the smell of earth and sun mixed with her natural scent. “Well, how about I get this water dish filled up, and then I’ll help you build the hibernaculum…”

Glancing up at him, she smiled. “Well, I don’t mind the help…but I can fill this up just fine…”

Chris gently took her hand, his touch lingering before he carefully slipped the water dish out of her hand. “It won’t take long…You stay and watch the patient, and I’ll be right back…”

"Well…okay…" She let her hand drop, leaving the dish with him. "Thanks, Chris."

"No problem…" With one last grin, he hurried off to the kitchen.

If the world didn’t get to see the way she shined, then the least he could do was help her to keep doing all the amazing things she was capable of.