Just a Bike Ride
Cold machinery clashed against cold machinery. The darkness in the room gave a false sense of coolness, as the air in this room was hot. Every now and then, sparks would fly due to the clashes of steel. It would be the only light illuminating the room.
A sadist's smile grew on his aged lips. His long, brown, mustache began to waver, as he dragged his fingers along it. His blue eyes gazed toward his newest creation, and his smile only grew.
Finally, after all these years of planning... it would all come together.
His defeats, they only fueled his rage. And now, it would come to a dastardly close. Earth would be his, no matter what anyone said about anything! The Eggman Empire, will rise!
...
The sweat from her brow dragged and dragged. She needed to focus, but that was a hard thing to do with all this heat beaming down upon her. The grip she had on her wrench loosened, and she could feel it slip away. She fought on though, just a little more, just until this bolt was tightened.
Her grip increased, and she began twisting and twisting, forcing the lone bolt to grind into the metal. A smile cracked on her lips, and she licked her lips. Pushing on a bit further, she tightened and tightened until the bolt was fastened deeply into its circular groove. Pulling back, she let out a held in breath. A smile etched its way on her lips a few seconds later. Sticking out her tongue, she licked up the salty taste of her sweat. So good...
Hope Kintobor, fourteen year old genius mechanic, and quite possibly the youngest person to ever join G.U.N.
Her ocean blue eyes dragged up and down the machine before her. Black steel upon black steel was its color scheme. She hated G.U.N.'s taste, but was she any better with her red and black overalls. It didn't take long for anyone to tell why.
His mysterious brilliance. His stoic attitude. His habit of always showing up whenever anyone needed him. She surely adored him. Of course, she would never say that, ya'know, with her being a human and all.
Taking a rag, she soaked it in the bucket beside her, and began dragging it up and down the G.U.N. symbol on the vehicle's hood. She would do this every now and then, just until the vehicle's symbol shined. A shining vehicle, is a happy vehicle.
Her blue eyes traveled to its treads, and she took note of the pieces of dirt, grass, and grime inside of it. Chuckling, she wondered why the person driving this was so reckless. Reckless indeed. Taking her fingers, she began to painstakingly dig out each piece of dirt she found. Using another tool, one that vaguely resembled a pick axe, she began removing other pieces of grass. When she was done, this machine will look amazing. Just the thought of the owner's face, filled with glee, it enticed her. She knew better though, of course. She knew how he would really react, that being, no reaction at all.
Finished with the four treads, she shifted her attention elsewhere. The vehicle, she loved it so much. With her own hands, she built it, from head to toe. Hours were spent in the designing phase, just making sure this masterful mechanism would work. Its sleek design, its figure that looked like a cross between a speed boat and tank, the small stature it held to hold only a specific kind. She loved it! Especially, since it had one important detail.
Lifting the vehicle's hood, she gazed upon its intense inner workings. It shimmered brilliantly, despite the many oil stains that dragged upon it. A chuckle left her lips, as she thought about how dangerous this one stain could be. Taking her wet rag from before, she began cleaning the oil stain valiantly, in hopes that it would go away. It did, of course, because she would never leave a job half-finished. Glaring deeper into the vehicle's organs, she saw the one simple modulator, that made this creation worth it.
It shined, despite everything else. Lifting a flashlight she brought with her, she turned her lights upon this machine. The symbol gazed back with a brilliant blue color. Licking the salt from her lips again, she closely analyzed the chip in its entirety. Nothing seemed to be too out of the ordinary with it, much to her pleasure. She had heard from the driver that it was acting off. Checking the diots that stuck out of the module, she could tell it was in perfect running order, just from the simple train of her eye meaning someone wasn't using it right. She was good like that.
Finished with the engine, the young mechanic shifted her attention to the vehicle's seat. Since it was so low to the ground, there was no sense to give it a door, so she merely hopped over the side, and to the soft seat on the other side. Pressing down on it, she felt so giddy at how soft it was. She designed it with extra care, after all, and she'd hate for the driver to be uncomfortable. Being as short as she was, she was able to fit in the vehicle, despite it being made for someone of a shorter stature. Her fingers graced the side of the steering wheel. The leather object sent tingles up her fingers. Even as hard as he would grip it, it wouldn't tear, bend, or break. Once again, this was all her doing.
Her dainty mechanic fingers dragged along the buttons on the dashboard. Even though the vehicle was silent, she could still imagine the murmur and the whirl it gave when on. Such a powerful vehicle, she loved it. Slipping her finger up and down the AC button, she could only imagine why she designed such a thing. Since the vehicle's top was down 100% of the time, it was quite pointless. And yet, thinking about it, she remembered the words of old. Even a silent instrument has its place.
Finally, she brought her fingers to the keyhole. She didn't have the golden object which would turn the beast on, so she was left with little else to do but sit there. In a few minutes, the driver would be here, and she would be gone. It was unnatural for her to have such an affection, not for someone like him, at least. No matter how cool... how strong... how determined... how... nice, on occasion, he could be...
She needed to be rid of these thoughts, these thoughts of him. Right now, she needed... rest. Nothing appeared nicer in her mind than her cot right now. Just down the hall... a quick elevator ride up three floors... past the debriefing room... and the third room on the right.
Her eyes closed... yeah... that's the one...
"Hope?" his indifferent voice called.
She jerked up almost immediately. Her azul eyes darted left and right, as she searched for the speaker that awoke him. His gloved hands trekked alongside his cars edge. Locking her eyesight on the slight movement, she grew embarrassed and scared. Her eyes looked up, and she met his, as he gazed back down. A forced smile appeared on her lips a second later. Gaining the courage to speak, she said,
"Hey, Shadow..."
He remained silent against her call. Instead, his eyes grew half closed, and he dragged his fingers through his quills. His usual aloofness was replaced today. Instead, he seemed oddly... calmed. Heck, he was even wearing one of those grey jackets Rouge bought him some time ago. Hope couldn't help but find this odd, and yet, she was so mesmerized by it, she couldn't ask why.
"Hope," he said, his eyes looking away, "what are you doing in my car?"
Slowly, and probably by instinct, his arms crossed over one another. Hope's eyes twinkled. He looked so cool when he did that.
"Uh... I was just..." she grew flustered, "Cleaning it..."
His head bobbed up and down with a nod. Ruby eyes glided over his cars hood, as he noticed it shimmered with a greater shine today. Gazing down to the treads on the vehicle, he smirked at how clean and muck free they were. That must have taken all day.
"I'm... sorry, Shadow," Hope said as she removed herself from his seat, "I'll just be on my way..."
As her footsteps echoed along the pavement floors, she head another pair appear behind her. Was... was he following her?
"Hope, wait..." he said, catching her attention.
Over her shoulder, she gazed at him. He hadn't moved from his spot.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"To my room..." she answered.
"Well," he commented, his hand once again grooving back his quills, "you're going to bed so soon?"
"Is... there something wrong with that?" she questioned, her cyan eyes traveling to him.
A low, almost malicious, chuckling left his lips. She loved that.
"Yeah," he answered, "it's like... six, and the sun is setting... you're going to bed so soon?"
"I have nothing else to do, today." she answered.
"C'mon," he said, stretching out his hand, "I was going out for a drive this evening. You wanna come along?"
Did he really just ask her? Seriously, did he? She... she couldn't remember the last time Shadow invited her to do anything, or if there even was a last time. She, she didn't know how to react to such a question.
"Hope," Shadow said, sensing her change in demeanor, "are you okay?"
"Yes!" she said, jumping up.
His eyebrow raised as he gazed at her.
"Yes, to both, might I say..." she said, growing embarrassed.
He didn't answer her in any way, other than nodding. Shifting his attention to his car, he hopped inside in such a cool manner. Or maybe, it was Hope's young mind that made it seem cool. From his jacket, he withdrew the gold-colored key that would give the vehicle life. It hovered over the entrance slot, but Shadow didn't put it in. Gazing back to a stunned Hope, he said,
"Are you coming?"
Jolted by his sudden words, she nodded with a gleeful smile. But there was a problem. Shadow's car had only one seat. That was the one design flaw she had with it. Sure, she made it for him, and only for him, but she always felt she should have given the thought of a passenger seat a go.
So, feeling defeated, she let her shoulders fall. Shadow raised an eyebrow at the sight, and at her words.
"Shadow, I can't fit in that thing with you..." she murmured disdainfully.
Gazing down to the steering wheel, he nodded.
"Why of course." he answered, in indifference.
So, instead, he hopped out of the car, and began cycling through his keys.
"Of course the car you made for one person," he said, disappearing behind another vehicle, "would only fit one person."
With Shadow gone behind another vehicle, Hope felt alone. In some way, she blew her one chance of spending some time with Shadow. Time for bed...
The whirring of a vehicle echoed a second later, catching her attention. She glared up at the noise, and noticed a powerful light appearing from the shadows. She covered her eyes as the light blinded her. But the vehicle, it got closer, and closer. It got so close, it was almost defining, and yet Hope kept her eyes covered. A second later, she felt the touch of a hand against arm. Removing her hand from her eyes, she saw the light was gone, and replaced by Shadow. Right now, he sat on his lively motorcycle, the Dark Rider.
"This, is better." he remarked over his machine.
Turning away, he reached to his motorcycle's head and brought forth a generic G.U.N. helmet.
"I believe," he said, analyzing it, "this is good for you..."
Handing it to her, she took it apprehensively. It felt heavy in her hands, and he expected her to put it on.
"Unless you wanna go deaf," he said, "I recommend you put it on... it should make the motorcycle quieter..."
A nod came with his words, and she put it on hastily. Just as Shadow said, it got extremely quiet, as the noise of the motorcycle became as gentle as a cat's purr. Shadow's hand reached forward, and he began to strap the helmet around Hope's chin, much to her embarrassed pleasure. When he was finished with that, he shuffled up onto his bike, and allowed her a seat on it. Of course, this would mean, she would be touching his back directly.
Once his head turned away, Hope felt a rush of excitement. To be this close to Shadow, she couldn't believe it. This was, like, he dream! But she needed to slow herself down. This was just a friendly excursion... a friendly excursion with Shadow, someone who doesn't go on friendly excursions. She smiled giddily at such a simple thought. Today, she was going to be alone with Shadow.
For a little while, at least...
With a now dainty demeanor, she sat on his back-end of his bike. The simple bumping of the motorcycle sent shock waves up her spine. Maybe it was because her legs were spread apart though. Okay, now she was just thinking silly like.
And yet, she must have been doing something wrong. Shadow's head turned around to face her, and he gave her a glare with his red eyes that shot her.
"Are you trying to kill yourself?" he asked rhetorically.
"Uh... no..." she answered, truthfully enough.
His eyes slanted at her meek words though, showing unhappiness. She didn't like that.
"You're such a kid, Hope." he said, his frown growing into a smirk, "Here, let me help you."
Grabbing a hold of her right hand, he laid it on his waist, and then grabbing a hold of her left hand he once again laid it on his waist. The motion was so quick, and yet to Hope, it was forever. An eternity she didn't mind spending. Her fingers moved through the fur on his body, and the warmth he gave off touched upon her pleasure centers.
She had issues. That's for sure...
"Hey, Hope, you ready?" he asked.
"Yes... Shadow..." she said, hoping he didn't hear her slurred words.
Looking back to his vehicle he gave a secret grin, one Hope didn't see. Pulling on the gas, he caused the beast under their legs to shake and growl. Even over the loud noise, he could hear Hope jerk and silently scream in fear. His grin grew.
Pulling back on the gas handle, he sent the motorcycle forward, over the smooth pavement of the G.U.N. parking lot. Hope's eyes gazed back and forth at the many vehicles they passed. She felt so little for some reason.
Shadow's speed increased, and the duo flew past a few moving vehicles. Once again, the midnight hedgehog caused his motorcycle to howl, but only to intimidate his passenger. Each time the vehicle screamed, he could feel Hope's grip tightened. She was so childish.
The exit came about a few seconds later. Though they couldn't see the sun itself, the rays it beamed through the entrance was tantalizing. The force of the Dark Rider increased, and the vehicle dashed out of the exit, screaming wildly as it did so. Hope squeezed her eyes shut tightly, as she was so scared by the rapidly blurring images that passed her. Weren't they supposed to have checkpoints that guarded the pathway to G.U.N.
Thinking about this, she gained the courage to open her eyes. Just as she feared, the blurring background hadn't returned to normal. They were moving so fast, she could see her hair fly out the back of her helmet. Dragging her eyes to the ground, she could only see black, white, and grey colors, blind into one another. She just wanted Shadow to slow down, for only a few seconds at least.
Gazing a head of them, she saw a checkpoint with its gate closed. A smile of happiness grew on her face, for Shadow had to stop. That was all she needed. But instead, his speed increased. The Dark Rider between their legs got faster and faster, much to Hope's displeasure. Diving her head into Shadow's head, she enveloped her eyes in darkness, while a scream left her lips. Shadow grew oddly empowered by her sounds. Training his eyes forward, he prepared for a very specific maneuver. Of course, had he been alone, he would have easily performed it, without a second thought. But with Hope's added weight, he needed to be certain. Just gaze forward, and lean, right under the checkpoints outstretched hand.
Pulling on the gas, he increased the Dark Rider's speed. A smile grew on his lips, and, with great finesse, he jerked to the side, sending his bike into a lean. Hope's scream grew louder, as she felt gravity go straight to her side. The bike made a howl, as it was forced to one way, and it gracefully slid underneath the checkpoint's gate. Safely on the other side, Shadow was able to return the bike to its natural setting, of two wheels on the ground, and standing. Looking back to Hope, he saw her eyes were tightly shut behind her helmet.
"Hope," he said, "you can look now."
With his words in her mind, she gained the courage to see. Her blue eyes gazed forward, and all she saw was one, long, endless road, with grassy hills on both sides. Turning away, she gazed back at the G.U.N. base they just left. Being on the other side, she smiled as she saw the great green base grow smaller and smaller as they drove away. Her eyes went away a few seconds later, causing her to see the city they were heading toward.
Radical City... it was a great place, filled with so much lights and fun. Hope had gone down to it quite a few times, but only when she was with a certain bat named Rouge. It was strange, since her home laid on a mountain overlooking the city. Every night, she would open her window, and gaze upon the gleaming city, as the wind brushed along her face. She adored that feeling.
And now, she was going down to the city streets with... him... This had to be a dream come true. Well, minus the crazy fast driving, that is.
The Dark Rider that howled under their legs, came to an eventual slow, as Shadow's grip on the gas faltered. A certain face of disappointment grew upon Hope's face, oddly enough. The blurring backdrop, slowly came together, and formed visible constructs once more. Grass pedals were visible, trees, clouds, the road, everything. And she didn't like it.
The bike drove off the road a moment later, and came upon a small grass clearing. The wheels on the Dark Rider gave out a whispering murmur, before stopping silently. The bike stopped its jerking a moment later, and Shadow removed the keys from its head. Kicking up the Dark Rider's stand, he leaned his bike on the side, and got up from its seat. As he laid his hands inside his jacket's pockets, he walked over to the guard rail before him. And then, growing silent, he gazed upon the city, and eventually the horizon, with his ruby eyes.
Hope hadn't even gotten from her seat, not yet, at least. As she removed the helmet from her head, the wind from the mountain glided along her face. A smile grew on her lips, as the wind cooled her face, and the sound bent against her ear. Just being out of that base was a treat.
And yet, she wanted more. Her blue eyes traveled over to Shadow, and she just watched in silence as he gazed upon the sunset evening. Hope's smile grew fainter, but remained strong never the less. Getting up from the motorcycle, she tip toed over to Shadow's being. His demeanor never changed, even as she got closer and closer. It wasn't until her tender hand came upon his shoulder, that he noticed her.
"I like this place," he murmured lowly, his voice as cool as usual, "so calm... so silent... its nice."
Was he... was he... opening up to her? With Shadow's attention elsewhere, she took the time to give a face filled with glee, even if this was just for the moment.
"How 'bout you, Hope?" he said, gazing at her, "Do you have a special place where you go to be alone?"
For some reason, she couldn't get the power to speak up. This caused Shadow to grin.
"You probably enjoy being alone, in your mechanical caves... working and working..."
"That's not true..." she murmured, as if by reflex.
Catching onto her words, Shadow let out a chuckle.
"Oh, is that so?" he said, withdrawing his hands, "Then tell me... what does Hope Kintobor do when she needs alone time?"
But, she was without answer. Lifting her fingers to her mouth, she thought about Shadow's simple question. What, does, she do to get some alone time? As sad is it was, she would work on the various vehicles G.U.N. had. Her job, was her alone time. But she couldn't tell Shadow that. He was so cool, how would he react if she told him she just... works?
"Uh... I... don't know..." she answered, simply enough.
Shadow's lips began to quiver, and as he turned away, a laugh accompanied him. That one gesture, made Hope feel sick to her stomach. His laugh, it belittled her. She just wanted to, fade away, into nothing.
"Yeah... I don't know..." he said a second later, "I know how you feel..."
And just as easily as he cut her down, he brought her up.
"I once was like that," he continued, "never having a... place to myself. I use to wonder around endlessly, sometimes with Omega, most of the time by myself." he looked to her, "It sucks, to put it lightly."
Yeah, it does...
A gust of wind rattled his quills, and caused Hope to wilt for warmth. Shadow noticed this, and removed his jacket shortly after.
"Here," he said, handing it to her, "you'll catch a cold..."
"Thanks Shadow," she said, taking it from him, "but, won't you get cold?"
"Please," he said with a chuckle, "I'm covered from head to toe in fur... I'm alright, should I say."
Once again, he made Hope feel childish. But, she didn't feel as pathetic as before. He told a joke, after all.
"I like you, Hope." Shadow said, whilst wagging his finger.
Turning away, he made his way back to the Dark Rider. Hope, however, remained frozen by his words. He said it in a friendly sort of way, and yet Hope couldn't help but feel like he meant something more by it. It must have been her adolescent mind playing tricks on her, but she didn't care. He said, 'I like you, Hope' and that's all that mattered.
"Hope?" he called from his motorcycle, "Hope, are you alright?"
Gazing at him, she gave a weak smile. Her knees were trembling.
"Yeah, I'm fine..."
"Let me bring you home," he remarked, "I don't want anyone throwing a fit over your absence."
Once more, he cranked up his bike, allowing it to roar against the land. But Hope wouldn't move. Her eyes gazed at his figure, and she just felt the need to ask him something. It would be now, or never.
"Hey Shadow," she said, her face growing into a weird combination of fear and embarrassment, "I... wanna ask you something..."
His eyebrow raised, showing interest.
"And that would be?" he questioned.
"Uh... you..." her face grew cherry red, "Can I..."
"Hope, are you sure you're okay?"
"Can I come with you, tonight?" she said quickly, gazing to the ground.
For a few seconds, all she could hear was the roaring of the cycle's engine. And then it died.
"What was that?" he asked, his ears twitching.
"Oh nothing!" she yelled, "Just take me back! It was silly of me to ask!"
Now she really felt stupid. Only Shadow could make her feel a rush of emotions like this. And right now, she both hated, and loved him. Sliding the helmet over her head, she prayed he couldn't see the faint tears falling from her eyes. In fact, she didn't even want to ride with him back to the base. She wouldn't have minded if she walked back, anything to escape the embarrassment swelling up inside of her.
"Fine," he said, through the wind, "get on, I'll take you with me."
Did she just hear what she thought she heard? Did Shadow actually say yes?
"Hope!" he said louder, "Hurry up, before I change my mind!"
Through the helmet's visor, she looked at him. His eyes remained cold and stoic, even as she stood before him. Twisting the keys in his bike once more, he sent its wild roar above all.
"Hope!" he called, "Are you coming!"
Weakly through force, she nodded.
"Yes!" she cried, sending Shadow back.
"Goooood..." he slurred, "Then hurry up, we don't have all night."
Night... night... night...
As she ran toward the bike, everything else faded into obscurity. Just one night...
Wait a second... where did Shadow live?
"I hope you don't mind loud noises," he said as she arrived at the bike, "Rouge's club runs off into the night."
Oh right... that's where he lived... oh well, no going back now...