Something isn't right...The black and red hedgehog thought. Shadow attempted to shift his position on the couch hoping it would ease the thoughts attempting to wake him from his sleep. Much to his surprise, he found a large amount of weight on top of him preventing him from moving with ease.

What the-? He thought. Shadow slowly began opening his eyes. They widened at the site that was presented in front of him. His head jolted back

A female white bat sat on top of the Ultimate Life Form's stomach with her elbows pressed into his chest. Her hands were underneath her chin supporting her head. She held a wicked grin upon her face."Mornin', Handsome." She purred.

Shadow turned his head so his nose was no longer pressed against her's. "Rouge" He muttered before attempting to remove the treasure hunter off of him without hurting her.

Rouge giggled as she slid beside the hedgehog. "What's the matter, Shadow? I thought you'd like waking up to a pretty girl like me,hm?"

He swung his legs off the side of the couch and shook his head. Shadow had been staying with Rouge after the invasion of the Black Aliens. Commander Abraham Towers thought it would be best if he was kept under watch by a G.U.N operative in case he decided to go rogue again. Now he had come to an understanding that perhaps the commander had intended this to be a punishment for him instead.

Rouge, much to everyone's surprise, did not mind having to accommodate her home for the black and red hedgehog. In fact, she had told him time and time again that he could stay as long as he wanted to. Though Shadow made it very clear that he only intended to stay two, maybe three weeks at most.

However, much to the hedgehog's dismay he found himself still residing in the crazed female bat's apartment for over three months now. Rouge had been very persistent in his staying with her. He was unsure if it was because she enjoyed his company or if it was a mission to keep him by her side for a hefty reward.

"Isn't it too early for this, Rouge?" Shadow grunted rubbing the back of his neck which was sore from so many nights of sleeping on the bat's couch.

She smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Nah. I have to get to work soon."

"And why did you wake me up if you are the one that has to go to work?"

"Cause the Commander wants to see you. He never calls to see how I'm doing but he always seems to want to know how you're doing." Rouge replied with annoyance in her voice.

Shadow's ears perked up. "Did he say why?"

Rouge rolled her eyes and unwrapped her arms from his neck. "I don't know, Shadow. Why don't you just come with me and find out?" She snapped back. The bat stood up from the couch to grab her boots which were by the door to her bedroom. She slipped them on and turned her attention back to the black hedgehog. "So ya coming or what?"

Shadow just sighed and slowly stood up from the couch. "I guess I don't have anything better to do."

They soon arrived at G.U.N Headquarters. Rouge and Shadow sat in front of a large chestnut colored desk waiting for the Commander to arrive. Rouge anxiously shook her leg which was crossed across her other leg. She crossed her arms and scoffed." Hmph. How dare he wake me up so early just to have me waiting this long."

The black hedgehog just rolled his eyes. But his roommate was he was busy, then he shouldn't have requested to see them so soon.

Hearing the door shut from behind them, they turned their heads to see the elder human approaching them with a large file in his hands. He sat at his desk and with out hesitation stated his reason for asking them both to come in. "Shadow, I want you to join G.U.N."

Both Rouge and Shadow were taken back by his sudden proposal. Rouge was the first to comment. "Well, that was certainly unexpected."

Shadow's eyes locked with Commander Towers'. He was trying to find any sign of trickery. There was no logical explanation as to why he would want Shadow to work with them. Not too long ago they were trying to kill each other and though they had somewhat made peace with each other, if seemed like a rather unusual offer.

"Why would you want me to join the group of people who were responsible for the destruction of everything I held dear to me?" He growled.

Rouge's ears dropped. She had almost forgotten how awful G.U.N. had been in the past. She tried to inform Shadow that many of the people who were responsible for his tragic past were probably dead or in retirement at this point. However her words fell on deaf ears. Shadow still held a deep hatred for them despite him making the decision to no longer live in the past.

Commander Towers closed his eyes and folded his hands over the documents on his desk. "I know your reasons for hating our organization and I don't object to your feelings at all. But we could use someone like you on our side. You proved yourself very useful during the Black Alien invasion."

"So your saying you just want me with you so you don't ever have to be against me? Pheh, figures. I'll have to decline your offer."

Just as Shadow was about to stand up to leave, Rouge grabbed his wrist. Shadow looked at her but her gaze was still at Commander Towers. "There's something more you have to say, isn't there?"

Shadow pulled his arm away from Rouge. He turned back to the Commander with his arms crossed. "Fine. I'm listening."

Towers gave Rouge a nod to show his gratitude and continued speaking to the hedgehog. "We've gotten a mission that is rather dangerous for one operative to do on their own. Rouge is our strongest agent, but I'd rather her not do this mission by herself."

"Hold on just a minute!" The bat shouted slamming her hands on the desk. "You're saying that I can't handle a mission on my own so you want Shadow to join just to help me on one lousy mission!? That's not fair to either of us!"

Shadow smirked at his roommate's outburst. The Commander sighed knowing he was losing the focus of both of them. "Let me continue, Miss Rouge. Anyway, Rouge has reject working with anyone else in our team. However, we have noticed that she seems to have, well for lack of a better word, grown fond of working with you and would probably not mind having to work with you for future assignments. Do you still protest, Miss Rouge?"

Both men turned to Rouge, who was desperately trying to suppress the blood flow to her cheeks. Half out of frustration that G.U.N felt she needed a partner after so long of her working alone and half due to the fact that she had been spending so much time with the damn hedgehog that people were starting to thinking something was going on between them. "I work just fine on my own. Shadow has already declined. So I think we'll just go now."

"Wait a second, Rouge. There's still more to this, right?"Shadow responded almost in mockery of Rouge trying to delay his leaving.

The female bat glared at the Commander "Stop beating around the bush. What is this really about?!" She said venomously.

With a sigh Towers opened the files on his desk revealing a wanted poster for the infamous treasure hunter. This one was different than an average wanted flyer. It just had the words "WANTED" across it bold letters with a picture of the bat and the letter "S" in bold next to her name He handed it to her. "This was brought to our attention just a few days ago."

Rouge took the wanted flyer from him. She was confused. Upon beginning to work for G.U.N, she had been told her crimes of theft would be considered voided. She had been taken off of the bounty list. "I don't understand..."

"That is a wanted flyer from the Black-market. Their bounties are done by ranks. The higher rank a person is the more money they are worth. As of right now, you are ranked at S class making you worth anywhere between 10 million-20 million dollars. Unlike government issued bounties, bounties from the Black-market aren't done with arrest. The person has to be killed in order for them to collect payment. With such a high price on your head, you are bound to become target for some pretty skilled hunters."

Shadow had suddenly found interest in the conversation. He wasn't so much interested in what would have to Rouge as he was that something like this could happen. "Why would Rouge be worth so much to these people though?" He asked

"Rouge is a skilled fighter so she will be a challenge. She is an agent and master jewel thei-"

"Treasure hunter!" She interrupted with a look of disgust on her face.

Commander Towers froze momentarily but soon continued, "A master treasure hunter which I guess they would assume her to be rather weathly. Plus rumor has it that she has a rather skilled companion on her side." He said eyeing the Ultimate Life Form.

"So you want me to join G.U.N to be Rouge's bodyguard? Why wouldn't you just ask me to keep her safe?" Shadow asked annoyed.

"Well yes and no. Rouge is strong enough to hold her own, but to be fighting down bounty hunter after bounty hunter, eventually she will wear herself out. It would be easier to have some extra help. Not just for this mission, any mission really. As I said before, she has rejected every agent we offer to help her, but you might be different."

"Heh, you talk about me like I'm not even here, Commander." the bat interrupted again. She stood up from her seat and crossed her arms. "I don't need a partner, though it could be a lot of trouble if these hunters are as skilled as you say they are. Plus I guess, if you are insisting that I get a partner, I guess I wouldn't mind having tall, dark, and handsome over here." She nudged her head towards Shadow giving him a wink.

"Well, Shadow, what do you say?" Towers questioned him.

The black and crimson hedgehog sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I don't have anything better to do anyway."

The Commander nodded. "Alright then. You are now part of my team and assigned as Rouge's partner. Your first assignment as a team is to infiltrate this Black-market and shut it down. We can't have any more of our agents targeted by them. Don't make me regret this decision."

Shadow nodded as he turned to leave the room and Rouge saluted as she followed her newly appointed partner.

Author's Notes:

I was in a writing mood again and felt like writing another Shadouge fic. I don't expect this to be too long, but I hope it's still interesting. Please read and review. Thanks! Until next time