A/N: So, this is a pretty different way of how I make a fanfiction. So, please excuse any oddness in this story.
Chapter 1: My Knight in Ebony Armor
"Stupid landowners…"
Rouge sighed, scrubbing her floor to the house. She had recently bought this house like a month ago, and even called her government friends to announce her excitement to finally have her own house, moving away from the government and her own club called "Club Rouge", to find some peace, and away from the rabid men from the club. She did not like that kind of living, nor has she attempted to get into it. Besides, all she did was manage things for extra side cash.
Now that she had her own home, which is miles away from Club Rouge, the batgirl was now able to live peacefully, while thinking about more schemes to steal jewels, which makes her giddy into delight. However, the landowners have not taken care of the house very well, and the floor was quite dirty, so Rouge was stuck cleaning the house. Granted, she has been lazy with it, but now the landowners decided to give her a deadline to make it clean, which is two weeks after today. That was more than enough time for a normal person, but also keep in mind that Rouge is also a government agent and that's barely enough time to get one room done. Like all agents, she is never off duty, thus she had to get the house clean as soon as possible.
"Just they wait…" Rouge said, scrubbing faster, "I'll get a lawsuit, sue them, then buy more jewels to decorate the house with… then I'll…"
Rouge heard a pretty harsh knock on the door, hearing the banging twice. She decided to ignore it, trying to fulfill her current task first before doing anything else and hoping that the person at the door would leave. Of course, it's never that easy. She heard the banging noise three more times, which was getting on her nerves. Sighing to herself, she stood up from the floor, leaving her scrubber, and started to walk to the front door.
"I'm coming! Man you impatient people…" Rouge said, opening the door slowly, "I swear, if you people- Oh my god!"
What was in front of Rouge was a beaten, tired, and 'ready-to-drop' black hedgehog the instantly fell onto the batgirl after she opened the door. Rouge smelled Shadow the Hedgehog, noticing the blood on him as well as the sweat covered in his fur. Just what happened to him? Why is he here? Who did this? Those questions raced into Rouge's mind about her close friend, from who she hasn't seen for two months…
"Shadow?"
Rouge called out to his friend, noticing his march out of Station Square and towards the valley ahead. Shadow turned around to Rouge, keeping his usual expression towards her, being emotionless as ever.
"Where are you going?" Rouge asked.
"Out," Shadow said, bluntly.
This didn't satisfy Rouge one bit. For someone like Shadow to hide secrets have been proven to be quite dangerous in the past. She had to know.
Pausing for a moment, Rouge opened her mouth, "Why are you leaving?"
"Why would you care?" the black hedgehog stated.
"Because I do! You're my friend whether you like it or not, Shadow!" Rouge blurted out, covering her mouth afterwards.
She felt embarrassed for saying that, but in one way or form, she was glad that she said that. Staring at Shadow, she could tell that he did a smirk, although it was barely visible. The batgirl grew a bit irritated by Shadow's stern behavior.
"If you must know…" Shadow said, unfolding his arms, "I'm going to wander around… find a purpose."
"But you already have a purpose…" Rouge said, "And that's being a hero."
Shadow shook his head, "I am not fit to be a hero, nor am I going to become a villain… I just want time to think things out."
"Why not join-" "No."
Rouge sighed, seeing Shadow's mind was fully made up about joining GUN. However, she had to keep trying. Deep down inside, she didn't want to see him leave.
"Shadow…" Rouge said, her voice with more emotion, "when will you be back?"
"I don't know," Shadow said again, "and I'd like to keep it that way, thanks."
Rouge paused, trying to find more words to say. Her heart thumped too quickly, giving her a large series of emotions in her at this moment. She didn't want to see him go, despite all of her military training to block out all emotional attachments to people, she did not want to see Shadow leave. The black hedgehog looked at Rouge, but then he turned forward and begins his march.
"Shadow!" Rouge called out.
She saw him turn around again. Yes! This was her chance! Knowing this, all she had to do was just think up the right words and he'll stay… right? She had to give it a try. Confirming herself, she thought of words to say then pin them down. Well, that was easy, now all she had to do was make the effort to say them. She opened her mouth, but all that came out was… gibberish. That's right, gibberish, equivalent to the word 'Blah'. Surprised, and flustered, she continued with her gibberish, trying to say actual words but just couldn't. Her temperature started to rise as she began to cry, and she dropped to her knees in attempt to use actions to make up for her loss of words. All that she accomplished was making Shadow smirk, and then walk off. She raised her voice to gain his attention, but it was all for naught. Shadow continued to walk, and Rouge stared at him until he was out of sight.
Rouge still remembered that as if it was yesterday. That what happens when you're not allowed to expose any feelings for anyone since you're a spy. She tried to keep herself professional around Shadow for such a long time that her emotions confused her thoughts. She had missed her chance to get him to stay because of it. But, she was finally able to get over it… until he came back, and fell into her arms.
The batgirl looks at Shadow, noticing he was out cold, and beaten, "Well, at least he isn't in a worse condition," she said, reassuring herself.
Rouge then noticed what she was doing. Why is she still at the front door? Not answering her own question, she hauled Shadow into the house and closed the door. Multitasking, she opened up a closet and grabbed a large number of towels while attempting to not get the floor dirty from a bloodied hedgehog. Successful at both tasks, she put the towels on her couch in the living room, and laid Shadow on it. Leaving momentarily to get a clean rag and bandages, her thoughts continues to conflict about reasons why Shadow looks so beaten. The one glaring thought screamed out Eggman, while all the others were just petty things.
"Fact is…" Rouge said as she walks into her bathroom and grab the bandages from her cabinet, "…Shadow isn't the type to get beat up… he'd rather die."
Pondering, Rouge walks back to Shadow, staring at him. Bruises was on his arms, his forehead looked like it recently bled, and his chest showed a large number of cuts. Rouge sighs to herself, thinking that these bandages may not be enough, but it'll have to do. She can't take Shadow to the hospital because some people might take advantage of his status, and she also couldn't afford GUN getting in on Shadow since he is the Ultimate Lifeform, which may lead to unwanted experimenting. Convinced, Rouge nods to herself and sat in front of Shadow and lifted his head up, taking the bandages and wrapping it around his head, moving the spiky quills out of the way. Once his forehead was wrapped and secured, she pulls Shadow to her lap to get started on wrapping his chest.
Despite the situation, Rouge smiles to herself, actually liking the moment. Shadow is back, and she had a new house… just what more could she wanted? Well, besides having Shadow back in a better condition of course.
Suddenly, Shadow's eyes just perked open and quickly sat up, although his body strained and his muscles got irritated, "Where am I!?"
Rouge put a stern look on her face, and grabbed Shadow's shoulders, pushing him back down to her lap, "Hold still you hedgehog, don't move until I say you can."
Although she was hiding it, she was surprised how quick Shadow got his consciousness back. Then again, he has pulled off some amazing stunts in the past, so why should she be surprised?
"…Rouge?" Shadow muttered, feeling on his bandaged head, which made him flinch in pain.
"Don't touch your wounds, you'll only end up making them worse and harder to heal," Rouge said, while she continued to bandage the hedgehog up, leaning forward to wrap the lower area of the chest, "Are you sick? Fever? Anything?"
"Rouge… I'm the Ultimate Lifeform."
Rouge did a small smirk, recognizing her mistake, "Right, Ultimate Lifeforms don't get diseases…"
It was then that she noticed what her current situation was. She is leaning forward to wrap up Shadow, and his head was on her lap. She is still wearing her usual outfit, meaning that her assets are currently saying hello to a certain black hedgehog. Smirking to herself, she quickly sat up to catch her peeper in the act.
"Gotch- what…?" she said.
What she is looking at is not what she was expecting. What she was expecting was a drooling hedgehog with bulged eyes. Instead, she has a resting hedgehog with closed eyes.
"Relieved, yet disappointed," Rouge thought, sighing, "What a weird combination."
Dismissing her thoughts, Rouge leans forward once more and continues wrapping up his chest, being careful and delicate. After a moment, Rouge wrapped it around Shadow one last time, then she cut off the bandage from the roll, fastening and securing the bandages to make sure that it was laying firmly on the wounds.
"There…" Rouge said, smiling to herself, "it'll get healed in no time, knowing Shadow."
"It would be really nice if you leaned back."
Rouge automatically leans back to notice Shadow looking up. Despite her expectations, he wasn't drooling, nor did he look like he was staring. In fact, he looked bored out of his mind. However, this isn't what hit Rouge. What got to her was the pure fact he hasn't said 'Thank you' or 'I appreciate it'. She could've left him out there in the street, or better yet in a dumpster. Her thoughts right now are telling her that she should've done so.
"Rouge…" Shadow said, which makes Rouge look at him calmly, "thanks for the bandages."
Now her thoughts are saying she was wrong for ever thinking of throwing Shadow in a dumpster, "N-no problem Shadow… we're friends right?"
"If you believe so."
Rouge puts on an irritated look, "Can't you ever give me a straight yes or no answer? It would be nice every once in awhile!"
Shadow makes a small visible smirk, and closes his eyes, not giving a reply. This only made Rouge more irritated, and she slipped from under Shadow's head, making him hit the towels on the couch unexpectedly.
"Ow!" Shadow grunted.
Rouge stops cold to her feet, and she turns around, looking more than curious, "What did you just blurted out?"
Shadow looks back at his ally, putting the same look she has. Rouge then just starts chuckling, turning into a laugh. Shadow kept the same look her had on his face, obviously wondering why Rouge was laughing.
"I can't believe…" Rouge battled to say, "You said ow! You sound like a kid when you did that!"
However, Rouge attempted to calm herself when she noticed that Shadow was less than stellar about the situation. She began to feel bad about her outburst, and began to think of a way to apologize.
Then, it hit her, "You want to use my bed to sleep on?" she asked, making a small smile.
"Why?" Shadow asked.
"I'll take that as a yes, come on Shadow, chop-chop," Rouge said, helping Shadow up from the couch, trying her hardest to not cause anymore damage to him. She noticed Shadow's slight confusion to the whole thing, but she didn't care. She needed him to be more comfortable, and lying on bloody towels wouldn't help.
Traveling down a hallway to the other end of it, she opens the door to her bedroom. Hauling Shadow, she walks in and lets Shadow lean on the wall.
"Stay right here," Rouge said, walking out of the bedroom. She grabs a clean towel and goes back to the room and towards Shadow, "Now hold still."
Rouge didn't want Shadow to get blood on the bed, so she wipes off as much blood as possible off of his body. Once she was finished, she put the towel in the dirty basket and takes Shadow to the bed, making him lay down.
"Get some sleep Shadow, you need to get well," Rouge said.
Shadow nods, and did no other type of response. Rouge makes a small smile, and walks back to the living room to get back to scrubbing. It was still late afternoon, which is enough time for Shadow to sleep, and hopefully he will feel better enough to walk around without worrying about injuries.
"Well, that didn't go so bad, good job Rouge, you did great," Rouge told herself, scrubbing the somewhat dirty floor, "you did your good deed for today. Too bad a reward wasn't involved… ah, what am I saying… Shadow's back, that should be good enough…"
Rouge's eyes suddenly perked, and she stood up, leaving the scrubber again, and walked back to the bedroom, "Shadow, what happened to…" she then noticed Shadow was fast asleep, "…you."
She sighs, missing her chance to confront the problem to her friend. Rouge forces a smile on her face, and walks over to the bed, looking at her sleeping friend. Well… she couldn't believe how Shadow is looking right now. When he is awake, he is the most emotionless guy ever. But when he is asleep… he just looks so charming… peaceful… beautiful. Shadow's arms were fully spread out from across the bed, and his left leg was slightly bent, the knee pointing towards the ceiling, while his other leg was straight. His feet were freed from their long imprisonment of the Air Shoes, which were laying beside the bed. What made it so enchanting was the fact that Shadow wasn't even using the covers, revealing more of him. He was snoozing quietly, his chest rising up and down with his stable breathing, and his mouth was slightly open. Rouge notices all of these things… how? Well, she's a spy, what do you expect?
"Well, I should leave now…" Rouge said quietly.
Well, she said it, so why isn't she moving? Her legs wouldn't budge to the left, not wanting to leave that room. Rouge's eyes couldn't stop staring at the black hedgehog. That peaceful face… his chest… his powerful legs… those lips. Oh god those lips. It hypnotized Rouge from the start, and now that she is this close… she just couldn't resist.
"Just a peck… just a peck…" Rouge said quietly, leaning forward.
The batgirl poked Shadow's lips with her lips, and stayed on there for a half of second before she reluctantly pulled back. The kiss was everything she imagined, tender, smooth, and tasty. All it did was make her want even more, and it showed from Rouge's shivering legs, that still wouldn't move towards the door.
"Just one more…" Rouge told herself, leaning forward again.
Rouge did another lip-lock, but this time her lips refused to move away. She didn't resist either, letting her eyes close and become warped into the kiss, letting her feel like she was in a dream. That was how the kiss felt to her, an everlasting dream; that would only last for a few more seconds. Why? Because when she opened her eyes, Shadow was staring straight at her.
Yelping in surprise, Rouge stood up straight and tried to make herself look normal, "I-I-I um, slipped and fell, don't take it personally."
That was such a horrible lie. Rouge may be able to analyze computers and electronics, but Shadow is an excellent face reader, especially with her. Rouge knew that Shadow knows when she lies through her teeth. What confirmed this further, was Shadow standing off of the bed.
Nervous and flustered, she began to think of more excuses, "It-it was an accident, Shadow, I didn't mean…" she was immediately interrupted.
Why? Well, she is currently unable to speak any words, only close to murmurs. Her lips are struck with another's lips, Shadow's lips to be specific. For a minute, no word was spoken, and only total utter silence filled the room. The two stood there, with their eyes closed, until Shadow pulled back. Rouge tried to push forward in order to stay, but couldn't, meaning her lips were still hungry and willing.
"Shadow…" she said.
The black hedgehog didn't say anything. He just pulled her close to him and put his lips to her once more, both being drawn into the tender, delicious kiss. Rouge got so into it, that s she leaned forward, making both her and Shadow fall onto the bed. Their lips danced with each other, moving passionately and in sync with each other. They were on fire, the passion shooting through the roof. While their lips engaged with each other, their hands traveled along each other's body, while their legs tangled with each other. Rouge didn't care about Shadow's bruises on his arms, she has never felt like this before, and that was good enough for her. Shadow, however, was a different story.
"Ow!" Shadow grunted, feeling on his chest.
That was completely her fault, which she had already admitted. Her hands were too firm onto his chest, and she must've irritated his cuts. Disappointed in how things turn out, Rouge sat up and got off of Shadow, sitting beside the black hedgehog.
"…What just happened?" Rouge asked.
Shadow paused for a moment, before replying, "I don't know."
However, in the back of her mind, she was glad it didn't go farther than that. Despite popular belief, she is still a virgin. The government trained her into seducing, but never farther than that. Thus, she has no experience in intercourse whatsoever, and she already knew that Shadow doesn't have experience. But right now, she was just confused…
Shadow sat up, despite his body's refusal, "Rouge…"
Rouge looked at Shadow, her mind off his wounds at the moment, "Shadow?"
The two touched each other's hand on the bed; both getting a small tingle that surged through their body. Rouge loved every moment of this, not believing how things turned out. However, there was something wrong with this picture, and she knew that. She looked at the problem the second time… then third, then fourth, until she finally figured out her mind wasn't playing tricks.
Shadow's hand was on top of her hand, "…I'm sorry for leaving you."