Chapter Four: What is the Heart Truly Feeling?
Shadow and Rouge were out by the pool now. Shadow looked at a water-slide; Sonic was at the top, and the others were seated around a table.
"Hey, everyone watch this!" Sonic shouted.
The blue hedgehog hesitated a moment, obviously hoping his hydrophobia wouldn't get the best of him. Then he curled into a ball, gathered up some speed, and practically flew down the slide, and skipped across the surface of the pool, and he landed on the other side of the pool.
"Showoff" Shadow muttered, and seated himself at a table.
Rouge shrugged and laid down on a sun-bathing recliner near the pool while Tails and Knuckles applauded Sonic (Amy just stared in admiration).
Shadow had brought a newspaper with him, hoping to learn something new about the sightings.
Rouge glanced at Shadow, then at the pool, and back at Shadow.
An idea formed in her head, and she smirked.
Rouge slowly stretched her wing out to the pool, and flicked some water on Shadow, catching him off guard.
"What the-? Is it raining?!" Shadow said, looking up at the nearly-cloudless sky.
Rouge hummed an innocent tune.
Shadow narrowed his eyes at her, and then returned to his paper.
He felt a tiny splash of water again.
"Damn it! Where's that..." Shadow noticed Rouge suppressing a smile, and the tip of her left wing was wet.
Shadow smiled deviously. "Very well, if that's how you want to play..." he said, approaching Rouge.
She glanced up at him. "Shadow, what are you... AAHH!" Shadow flipped her recliner over and Rouge fell into the pool with a large splash.
When Rouge submerged, Shadow expected her to be angry, but Rouge was laughing.
"That's more like it, Shad!" she giggled, then splashed him with both wings.
Shadow himself was starting to enjoy this. "Oh, it's ON, now!" he yelled, and leapt right in, showering Rouge with the splash.
Rouge giggled again, and they began splashing each other back and forth.
Sonic and the others took notice of this.
"Uh... what are they doing?" Knuckles asked.
"Well... I believe Shadow's actually SMILING, and uh... for some reason, being wet is funny" Sonic replied.
"Ah" Knuckles said, content with the answer.
Sonic looked surprised. "Man, you actually bought that?" he asked. "Knuckles, I have no idea what they're doing, or why it's especially fun for them."
"They better not me laughing at ME" Knuckles growled.
Shadow and Rouge stayed out there for a few more hours, now soaked and exhausted.
"That was pretty fun, eh Shad?" Rouge asked, drying off.
"Yeah, I guess" Shadow admitted, using his third towel to thoroughly dry himself.
"Well, come on" Rouge said. "Let's go do something together."
So they went to a diner inside the hotel. It was a nice diner with competent waiters, great food, and a nice, very clean environment.
Shadow and Rouge both ordered some ice cream. Shadow had simple vanilla, but Rouge got a hot-fudge sundae with cherries and peanuts.
Shadow was halfway done with his when they started conversing.
"So, Shadow" Rouge asked. "You think we should hang out like this more often?"
Shadow was silent a moment, then said; "After this mission... perhaps... yes, I don't see why not."
Rouge smiled. "That's nice of you to say."
Shadow nodded and gave her a small smile.
Rouge ate another spoonful, and then asked; "Shadow, why is it you... well, tolerate me more than other people so much?"
"What do you mean?" Shadow asked.
"Well, you seem kinda hostile towards a lot of people, but not me... any particular reason?" Rouge asked.
Shadow shrugged. "Because... well, you're my friend, I guess."
Rouge nearly choked; that was practically the highest praise you could receive from Shadow.
Rouge was bold enough to attempt a move. "Well... what do you say we take it up another level? Be more than friends?"
She slowly licked her spoon after saying this.
Shadow stuttered. "Uh... Wha-What do you mean?"
Rouge was silent again.
"Shadow, there's something I need to tell you..." she said.
"What?" Shadow asked, suddenly curious.
Rouge looked a little nervous now. "We... we should probably go back up to the room to discuss this" she said.
Shadow nodded, left a 1 cent tip on the table, and they left.
Had they been up at the room at that very moment, they would've seen the scanner going off like crazy.
Two Metarex soldiers stood on top of a building just two blocks away from the hotel along with their commander.
They'd been standing there for almost an hour.
"Commander Red Pine, perhaps we should try this later" one suggested.
"Hmm... yes, this grows tiresome" Red Pine agreed. "Contact Eggman and tell him that we've set up our soldiers and so have the Black Arms, and that I and our new ally is ready as well."
The Metarex soldier saluted. "Yes, Commander Red Pine. In memory of the Great Lord, Dark Oak."
