A/N: This is my first fic. I have gone through and fixed a few mistakes that were driving me insane. As you will soon find out this is completely AU. And the characters are kind of OoC…
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Living Pains
Chapter 1: Shadow Falls
People say that living on your own is a wonderful experience. Shadow couldn't help but consider this as he lay on the floor of his apartment. Standing above him, looking terrified at the cut on his forehead was his roommate Amy Rose.
"Shadow are you okay?"
"I hear Canada's really nice this time of year. I could move there. Then no one would give me concussions every day." He wiped a hand across the cut, sighing when there was no blood.
"I do not!" Shadow gave her a level glare from the floor, somehow managing to be imposing splayed out in his pajamas. "Yesterday doesn't count!"
"You hit me with a shovel." He finally decided to get up off the floor. It was dirty after all. He paused and gave her a look.
"What?"
"Why did you have a shovel anyway?"
"No reason. You're not still mad at me are you?" She gave him the best sad puppy-dog eyes she could muster. The second he made eye contact he was doomed.
"No. Just don't hit me next time. I don't want to go to the hospital. Again."
"That was just because you were unconscious." She gave him her most adorable grin.
"Because you hit me with a shovel." Her grin faltered ever so slightly. "In our apartment." Her grin faded completely at that.
"I'm sorry Shadow." She mumbled. As she went to go back to her room, she heard an irritated growl behind her before his ebony arms wrapped around her in a warm hug. She froze for a moment, her cheeks turning a light red.
"Don't be it's one in the morning. I'm just grumpy." He whispered in her ear. The result was her blush deepening to a darker crimson than before.
"This is like when we first met, just the other way around." He grinned despite himself.
"Yeah." When his arms loosened to let go of her she turned and hugged him back. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and ran off to her room. She looked at him before closing her door.
"Goodnight Shadow."
"Goodnight Rose." Amy climbed into her bed with a yawn. Rose. She thought with a slight blush. She didn't know why Shadow called her that. At first it annoyed to no end when he used that name. Now though, now she didn't even respond to him referring to her as Amy. It wasn't on purpose, just his voice and that name didn't click somehow. The pink hedgehog shook her head to clear away her thoughts. And people say I don't think enough! She laughed to herself as she drifted off to sleep.
For the second time in five hours, Shadow was on the floor. On the upside, this time he didn't have any new head injuries. Yippy for me. He thought grimly. Standing above him was his soon to be murdered best friend, Knuckles. The red echidna had waltzed into Shadow's room and literally pulled him out of bed. If only Amy hadn't hidden his gun…
"What do you what?" Shadow was too tired for this. Wasn't there some kind of law about this?
"We have work today you idiot." Shadow glared at him indignantly.
"…I will shoot you." He grew suspicious when Knuckles smirked.
"Amy told me she took away your gun. Again." Shadow sighed in irritation.
"Fine, give me a minute." After changing his pants, Shadow walked into the kitchen pulling a red sweater over his head. He pulled it down to reveal Amy's specialty: waffles. He paused in the doorway and glanced at Amy.
"I thought today was my turn to cook?"
"Nope, you've got the day off from that." He shrugged and joined Knuckles and Amy at the table. After they ate Amy asked Shadow if she could talk to Knuckles in private. He muttered something about breaking both arms if he tried any funny business and went to start the car. "So did you tell everyone?" She asked the worried looking echidna.
"Yeah. Um, you're sure he only has one gun right?" He asked, looking slightly desperate. Amy giggled at him before nodding. "Good." He sighed in relief. "Yeah, Rouge's bringing Cream over later. Tails is going to try and keep Sonic from taunting Shadow all day."
"Perfect! We should probably hurry up, if we keep him or Rouge waiting they'll complain all day." The two locked the front door and headed downstairs to the car. Amy climbed into the front while Knuckles sat in the back. "Thanks for waiting Shadow." Amy said to the extremely annoyed looking hedgehog in the drivers seat. "What's wrong?"
Five minutes earlier…
Shadow exited the apartment building to find Sonic the Hedgehog writing on his windshield.
"What do you think you're doing?!" He grabbed Sonic by the collar and yanked him away from his and Amy's car.
"Oh I got a new cell phone and wanted to give Amy my number." The ebony hedgehog glared at him wordlessly. "Shadow?" Sonic was getting worried, when Shadow got quiet bullets normally went flying in all directions.
"I'll give her the number for you if you clean that crap off."
"D-deal. But, um you're not going to shoot me?" Silence was his only answer. "She took your gun away didn't she. Again." He grinned. "You're not that scary without your gun Shadster!"
"I can always buy a new gun Sonic."
"Sonic asked me to give this to you." He handed her a scrap of paper with a number written on it. "Can I have my gun back?"
"Are you going to shoot Sonic?"
"…he won't be able to run from you if I do." The pause before she answered made Knuckles consider riding with someone else to work.
"No it's illegal." She sighed.
"I'm scarier than the cops are. And thanks for helping out today, Sheila doesn't normally call in sick." And so the conversation continued all the way to the Club Rouge. They arrived just in time to catch the morning rush, something Shadow was mystified about. "Who would want to go clubbing this early?" He asked the club's bartender. The light grey cat shrugged as he and Shadow passed drinks around.
"Not a clue. Oy! Pay before you leave!" He yelled to a costumer. As the morning and lunch rush blended together, they found themselves needing a break. Unfortunately, they could not exactly close for lunch. As the club finally began to quiet down, Shadow and Rouge decided they would close so the employees could eat. Tim, the bartender, and the cook joined the others. As they talked their conversation turned to subject Shadow despised.
"Look all I'm saying is that you need a girl Shadow." Rouge said, grinning at the glare he sent her.
"She's right Shadow. You've been getting angsty lately."
"I'm not angsty Knuckles. I'm just, you know, me." He shrugged, ignoring the mocking looks Tim and Knuckles sent him.
"Look I know this girl." Amy began.
"Rose." He said in a warning tone.
"She's really sweet."
"Rose."
"And charming."
"Rose."
"And she thinks you're really cute." She finished quietly. He froze and sat still for a while. He didn't move until he slapped Tim's hand away from his last taco.
"Wh-what?" He was completely shocked. How could a girl think he was…that? He decided that Amy must be playing some elaborate game on him.
"She thinks you're cute Shadow." Amy said firmly. She realized immediately that she may have said it a little too firmly.
"That's not funny." He said and walked away from their table without looking back.
"Shadow." Amy said quietly. She looked at the table and saw that he had left the car keys behind. Probably on purpose to. She thought with a sad smile.
"Amy, don't worry. We still have the party option." She brightened at that slightly. She looked out the club's front window and watched as Shadow faded from view. Shadow decided to do what he always did when he was angry, annoyed, or upset. He wondered around until he made his way home. On the way he worked out the frustration that had plagued his mind. He was walking up the stairs when he heard a scream. His head shot up just in time to see a bright yellow blur crash into him. His first thought was that he was cursed. His second never came as he realized that the blur had been a female hedgehog, and they were kissing. His eyes opened to large dark blue ones staring back at him. She pulled back and slapped him in the face.
A/N: Let me know if you like this version better.