Isopia - who rarely looked happy - did.

As Zero looked around her small paradise, Isopia couldn't but help feel that all her work to make this spot entirely her own, had been worth it. If only so that someone like Zero might see it, and appreciate it the way that she did. "That's my hut." She answered casually. "The walls give off heat so that I will stay warm when the frosts come. And that -" She indicated towards the hottub, "-is my hot pool. The same rocks heat it, so the water is always warm." Only a small amount of pride crept into her voice, but it was unmistakably there.

Iso was certainly not one to harbour grudges. She'd only been doing what she thought was right, but so had Ampere. That she thought the blue mare's parenting methodology was flawed, or that she had acted rashly and emotionally, was something that they could argue about. However that she had acted on what she thought was best, was admirable. At least Iso thought so, and so ill-will had been kept for Zero's Ma. Even so, it did make things a little awkward. Iso looked over her shoulder to her hut. She kept the blade given to her by Ampere in there, and she wanted to make sure that it wasn't visible from here. If it was, that meant that Ampere could also see them, were she looking. But as it was, the blade was nestled in some dirt and leaves. For now, their secret rendezvous would stay secret.

The earthen-girl paused, trying to think of a way to combat Zero's self-conscious tirade of words, when he did it for her. As his small body pressed up against hers, Isopia felt the familiar but untraceable welling up of warmth inside of her belly. It spread outwards, racing down her wings and into her hooves. She felt simultaneously awkward, but completely at ease as Zero's muzzle groped higher on her wither. Lowering her death-marked skull around his lightning-splashed shoulder and back, the girl returned his hug, as best as she was able.

Was Zero the only one she had ever been this close to?

Was he the only one she had ever been hugged by, and hugged back in return.

Her wings awkwardly shuffled forward. Was her neck curled about his, enough? Was using her wings too much? Would it make him feel small, or un-whole given that she had two, and he only one? Would it feel like his Ma's embrace? Swallowing hard, Isopia tried to rid her skull of these thoughts, but was completely unable.

"It's okay." She whispered, trying to just erase the tension that the triangle of herself, Zero, and Ampere had forced upon them, and to instead enjoy the warmth of his small body. Although Iso still wasn't overly fond of being touched physically, she earnestly didn't mind Zero at all. "You're a good friend too." She mumbled into his shoulder, before pulling back slightly, unsure of how to tell when a hug was supposed to end.

"Why did you come all this way? Does your wing hurt? We can sit in the hot pool if it does.."

At one point, she had only ever thought of sharing the pool with Volterra, and that was only because he had helped her build it. Still, the monochromatic stallion was the only one, even in the fantasies her mind wove when she had trouble sleeping, who ever entered the waters. But now, with Zero in her small glade, there seemed to be no one else better suited than he, to share the benefits of her labour.