Welcome new and old readers to the next chapter! Thank you for those who have been reading this fic for a while and been patiently waiting for the newest chapter. I love reading the reviews and your guesses on what would happen next. As usual, R&R and enjoy Chapter 7!
Note: I'd like to thank Lady Sonamy for a little bit they wrote in a review a while back. I've been finding ways to build up to this part in the story ever since and I'm happy to finally give credit. Thanks again!
DISCLAIMER: Don't own any SEGA characters, just the fic.
Chapter 7: Coming to Terms With Feelings.
Emerald eyes kept to the ground while another similar shade of green stared right at the pink and black figures before him. Shadow had still not bothered to turn into the direction of Sonic, but kept himself in a sort of guarding position of Amy. He was clearly not in the mood to talk to his blue nemesis, but he did say that they were to chat later on. He didn't actually expect the hedgehog to comply with his demands. With a sharp sigh he began to speak.
"What the hell do you want at this time of night, Faker?" His voice rang venomous in the blue hero's ears. Amy looked up to Shadow to see the pissed expression on his face, still refusing to acknowledge her former love interest in front of them. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong, but just like every other time Sonic had been near the two she just felt guilty. She couldn't pin as to why. She wondered if maybe it was the small lingering love she still carried for her longtime hero. He was all she had set her eyes on until now after all, and being with Shadow was still so new to her. Sure, her time with the ultimate lifeform had been anything but unenjoyable, but she couldn't just ignore her old feelings for Sonic. She knew they were still there, and it made her feel guilty that they were.
"It is pretty late isn't it? Makes me wonder why you guys are still out." The blue replied. Amy's face grew hot with embarrassment wondering how much did Sonic even see. Shadow growled at Sonic's sly response, to which the blue hedgehog only chuckled. "Someone's not in a good mood. Anyway...If you don't mind, I'd like to talk with Ames."
Shadow noticed his partner before him flinch as he called her name. She snapped away from her thoughts, finally looking into the emerald eyes that had not looked away from her since he had arrived. To her surprise she felt a comforting pat on the back before noticing Shadow had turned around to face his rival.
"Anything you need to say to her you can say right here." Shadow provoked. Sonic scoffed with a frown on his face.
"What, so you're like her bodyguard now or something? Last time I checked you guys weren't so close. Now you've been…'dating' for like what- a day and a half- and suddenly you're inseparable?"
"That's none of your concern." Shadow hissed.
"Sure, whatever. I'm sure that's what you think. But you're wrong. And with that I'd like to talk to Amy. Alone. So if you don't mind...shoo. You can go now." Retorting he swished his hands back and forth as if to command the ultimate lifeform to leave. Amy's eyes widen. Did Sonic really just...
"Excuse me?" Shadow growled in irritation. He took a step to the nuisance in front of him. He couldn't believe Sonic would even think of talking to him in such a demeaning manner. "You've been nothing but a disturbance this entire day. You have no room to acting this smug. You think I didn't notice you watching us the whole time?" Sonic was taken aback by his comment. Shadow looked back to see Amy, growing in anger as she is reminded of the past events of that day. He gave her another reassured pat to calm her down. "If you're here to apologize to Rose for your deplorable behavior, then say so and leave." Caught off guard Sonic could only look at Shadow with his mouth opened for a moment. Shadow gave no expression to his blue counterpart in return, but made sure his language spoke sufficiently through his piercing crimson gaze. Sonic only closed his eyes with an annoyed laugh.
"Shadow...I'm really not in the mood for your crappy attitude." His lids opened to look to the rose behind the black hedgehog. "Amy. Can I please just talk to you?" His voice was more serious. Amy opened her mouth as to say something but was interrupted.
"You will not." Shadow stepped in, moving closer to Sonic while pushing Amy back.
"Shadow…"Amy tried to intervene.
"And who the hell are you to tell me that? I'm talking to Amy not you, ultimate asswipe." Sonic hissed, stepping closer to Shadow.
"S-Sonic!" Amy tried again.
"I'm the one telling you to piss off before I make you, jackass. You're not here to apologize? Fine. Leave."
"Shad-"
"Oh I'm here to apologize! But I also have other things I'd like to say without your stupid face right smack in between me and her." Sonic interrupted.
"That sounds like a good enough apology for me. I think your time here is overdue. Leave."
"I think I should be saying that to you."
The two were growling at each other, hands formed into fists ready to pummel the other into the ground. Emeralds glared into rubies as one waited for the other to make the one last comment to snap the string of their patience and begin their brawl.
BAM!
Their eyes quickly avert from each other to look past Shadow's figure, to see that Amy had slammed the door behind them as she went inside. They could hear a huff from the other side, giving clear indication that she was beyond upset.
"Rose…" Shadow began.
"Don't Rose me. You guys want to fight like total idiots? Fine by me! But I'm not going to stay here and watch while you interrupt and ignore me! Jerks!" She yelled out from the other side of the door.
"A-Ames! I still want to talk-"
"I don't want to talk to either of you right now! Goodnight!"
"But Ames…" Sonic attempted.
"GOOD. NIGHT." Amy raised her voice, making the two hedgehogs flinch back. They knew better than to provoke the angry rose. They could hear her stomp off in her cottage before hearing another door slam, assuming it to be her room. Sonic sighed and slumped down, cursing to himself. Shadow rubbed his temples in frustration. Now he had but another thing to make up to her for the date, no thanks to his source of irritation.
"This wouldn't have happened if you would have just backed off and let me talk to her! So typical that you wouldn't know anything...especially about Amy. I knew you weren't worth her time." Sonic bitterly commented at the hedgehog before him, slowly looking up from his hunched position with a glare.
"Excuse me?"
Sonic only huffed, not bothering to respond to the ebony hedgehog. Shadow walked over to the blue hero, his figure towering over Sonic's slumped one.
"Listen, hedgehog. This wouldn't have happened if you had not been the typical headache that you are. I do not care to know your reasoning behind your actions today towards Rose and I, but if you know what is good for you, then you will back off. You're nothing but a nuisance to us." Sonic could hear a snap before jumping up to the ebony hedgehog with fury.
"No. It's YOU who needs to back off." He points a finger out, pressing it against Shadow's chest.
"Don't touch me." Shadow growled. Sonic ignored his demand before continuing.
"I don't know what you're planning suddenly dating Amy like this, but I'm not gonna sit by and let it happen. You think you can just waltz in here and sweep her up like that? No way. You don't deserve someone like Amy. And last time I checked, she had no type of interest in you, and now suddenly you guys are dating? You think I'm gonna believe that story with Rogue setting you two up? Please."
"And I suppose she was doing so much better waiting an eternity for your pathetic self to come to terms with his own feelings?" Sonic eyes widened at the barbed comment from his ebony rival.
"...What?"
Shadow let out a grim chuckle. It was entertaining for him to see his rival try to get the upper hand, only to be shot down. Closing his eyes he continued.
"Do you really take me for a fool, Faker? As much as it disgust me to even say it, you clearly harbor feelings towards Rose. But I won't allow your pitiful emotions to accuse me for something you clearly don't know about."
"What the hell are you-" Before Sonic could finish Shadow shot a glare at his rival, shutting him up.
"I'll say this one more time. Whatever goes on between Rose and I is none of your business. My feelings for Rose is none of your business. I don't care for your jealousy, but if you continue with your infernal interruptions I will make sure you pay." With an ending smirk Shadow moved away from the blue hedgehog frozen in place before walking away.
"NO!"
A streak of blue topples the ultimate lifeform down, landing a punch to his face. Shadow grunts at the unexpected hit, kicking his rival off before he could land another punch. Sonic staggers for a moment. His emeralds full of rage and jealousy prepares for a spindash attack towards Shadow. He attempts to get the ultimate off guard but fails, only managing to graze him with the ends of his sharp quills. As he uncurls Shadow runs towards the hedgehog punching him in the stomach, making the hero fall to the ground. Shadow grabs Sonic by the neck to lift him up, ignoring the grunts of the hero trying to gasp for air. He tries to slam the blue blur to the ground but a quick fist uppercuts Shadow, releasing his choking grasp of the hedgehog. Before Sonic could even land from Shadow's release the ultimate swings his leg on the ground tripping the blue hero. This time Sonic is quick to respond and kicks Shadow back. He once again prepares for a spindash and strikes at Shadow, bouncing back after the hit.
"YOU DON'T GET TO BOSS ME AROUND, SHADOW!" Sonic uncurls from his spindash and speeds towards Shadow for another punch. Throwing his fist to the ultimate lifeform his eyes widens seeing that Shadow had caught the fist with his hand. He grunts in aggravation readying up for a second punch, but just as the first his punch was caught by his ebony rival. Sonic tried to pull away from his grasp but to no avail. Shadow gave him no expression. He wasn't angry, or surprised. In fact, though he didn't really care, he was quite curious to see what Sonic was going to blurt out. It entertained him. As if on cue, Sonic begins to speak.
"Everything was perfectly fine before you came along with this. But ever since this happened everything just feels WRONG, and it's because I know you'll do something wrong! She was just fine without you, she doesn't need you. So back off before I make you. BACK OFF SHADOW! YOU DON'T DESERVE SOMEONE LIKE HER." Sonic yelled before pulling away from Shadow's grasp, huffing violently after his outburst.
"Then who does?"
Sonic's eyes widened with horror. Shadow's ears twitched before turning around to see Amy outside the door. She had changed out of her day attire, now wearing a large sweater and shorts, with pink fuzzy slippers. Shadow had an urge to tell her to change into something more weather appropriate, but the look on her face made him stay quiet. Nodding, he backed away so that the two emerald pairs of eyes would only see each other. He knew at this point he had no place to meddle.
"Well, Sonic? If I can't date Shadow, then who should I be with?" Amy questioned the hero once more.
"...A-Amy…"
"Who is there for me at this point that I can be with that would be approving in your eyes Sonic?" She started to walk closer to the hero. Sonic wanted to move away but he couldn't. He wanted to run like he always would at Amy's confrontations, but his legs wouldn't. He felt as if the cold winter froze him in the spot. All the anger he felt towards Shadow had disappeared, and now he could only feel the pit in his stomach. His eyes still were wide, he just couldn't do anything.
"Everytime I get close to a guy you get like this. You've even done this with Tails and Knuckles, no matter how many times I've told you they're like my brothers!" Her tone of voice begins to grow harsh. Her emerald gaze pierces into Sonic, trying her damned best to keep the tears from her growing emotions to flow out. "I've loved you for so long Sonic. For Chaos' sake you knew that! I made sure you did. But you didn't care, you just kept me waiting. And at first, I didn't mind waiting for you. I would have waited an eternity for you. I loved you that much, that I was blinded by that love. No matter what anyone had told me, I just only cared about you. But I've grown Sonic. As everyone does. And growing meant I had to face the facts. The facts that I couldn't just keep waiting while everyone was moving with their lives. I want to be happy like everyone else, Sonic. I see everyone living their best life, and I was there waiting for something that deep down I wasn't even sure would come true. And the worst part of it all is that you don't want to be with me, but you don't want me to be with anyone else. And then you go on to say I'm perfectly fine. Chaos, Sonic! I was never fine! I wanted to be loved, each and every day by you Sonic. But you never gave me that. You just wanted me there, never to move on." Tears no longer being able to be pushed back, she covers her face before sobbing. "How miserable do I have to be before you're happy?!"
Sonic's face went pale as he processed all that he had heard. He felt his heart cracking at the pain Amy pour out in front of him. He knew he was being selfish. He knew deep down he truly loved Amy, ever since they were young. Tails had told him time and time again to confess to Amy and live the life the two had been wishing for. But he just couldn't come to terms with it. He knew the risks that came with having a partner, and to him, there were just too many cons to outweigh the pros. He didn't think of it as such a big deal, but now he clearly saw Amy didn't see it that way. She was hurting every time. Every time he would refuse her feelings, everytime he would refuse his own. It was his own fault she had moved on. He knew, but he didn't want to accept it. He still thought Amy was his.
"I'm sorry." He muttered out. "I should have said something sooner." Amy moved her hands from her face and looked to her hero with confusion. Her eyes glistened from the tears that continued to shed down her cheeks. He kneeled down in front of her, now catching Shadow's full attention at his gesture, even earning a glare. He took one of Amy's hands to his own. "I should have told you sooner that…"
"I love you."
•••
"He said WHAT?!" Slamming the table down Rouge and Cream got up to inch closer to Amy. The sakura hedgehog jumped back, giving a nervous smile to the eyes that watched them in the cafe. She then looked to her friends with a pleading look to calm down. The two looked around to see all eyes on them, and sat down clearing their throats to compose themselves. It was the next day, and Amy had been recalling the events to Cream and Rouge.
"Erm...Hon...what did you tell him?" The ivory bat questioned in a low voice. Amy sighed and looked away from her friend's suspenseful gaze.
"I rejected him, of course."
Cream gasped while Rogue looked to with a sort of relief in her eyes. They didn't want to overwhelm their pink friend with questions, but Chaos did they have so many to ask. They knew a lot was still on Amy's mind, and asking too many questions would only overwhelm her thoughts. Cream put a hand on Amy's before giving her a reassuring smile. Rogue sighed, not being able to take anymore suspense.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm glad you did sweetheart. But I can't help but wonder why? You've been waiting to hear those words from blue for a while now." Amy's head turned to Rogue and nodded, agreeing with her last statement. She took a sip of the tea that was in front of her before speaking.
"That's what I asked myself too. All I ever wanted was to hear those three words from his mouth. I can't even express how long I waited. But when he said it then...it just didn't feel right. I felt like...I felt like he wasn't the one I wanted to hear those words from. Not only that, but...I mean come on, what does he expect? Did he think I was gonna drop Shadow on the dime just because he confessed? That's a little harsh, don't you think?!" Amy pouted, receiving a few giggles from her two friends. She raised a brow, confused.
"I'm glad you didn't give up on Mr. Shadow, Amy." Cream gave her friend an optimistic smile. "I know I was always rooting for you and Mr. Sonic...but I see you're happy with Mr. Shadow. The way you smiled just by texting him, it's the same way I smile with Tails."
"Speaking of our favorite doom and gloom, how did he handle hearing something like that? Knowing him he probably didn't express much, but if he cares about you I'm sure it bothered him." Rouge inferred. Amy sighed with a nod.
"After I rejected Sonic, I swear he looked relieved. Then again maybe I'm giving myself too much credit. He wanted to talk to me afterwards, but I was just so drained from everything that had happened, so I told him I would talk to him later." She sighed once more, not ready to fall back into another serious conversation. Rouge and Cream looked to each other before looking back at Amy.
"Is that why Mr. Shadow has been near us this whole time?" She questioned, pointing to Shadow who had been waiting outside the cafe, close enough to be within view of the three. Amy closed her eyes and nodded, trying not to slump down on the table in public.
"Apparently to him, talking later meant to stay near me at all times until I tell him it's time to talk." Amy groaned.
"Aww! He's like a puppy." Cream giggled. Rouge almost spat her drink at the rabbit's comment, trying to suppress her laughter. The two look at the ivory bat with curiosity of what was so funny, but Rouge only laughed harder seeing Shadow outside with Cream's comment in mind. Shadow took notice of her laughter and glared at her with confusion and irritation.
"HAHA! Oh Cream, please never say that in front of Shadow. Or maybe, do tell him. With me in the room with a camera ready. His reaction would be priceless." She wiped a tear from her eye as she settled down from the laughing fit. "I gotta say though, I'm surprised you didn't talk to him right away. You're always ready to talk about feelings. What's with the hold up?"
Amy took a peek outside to glance at Shadow, who quickly took notice of the pink hedgehog's gaze. She turned back to her friends, not wanting their eyes to have met. A blush came to her face.
"I'm not...sure. We've only been together for about three days now. He's shown a bunch of new sides to him that I never thought he could show, always surprising me at each turn, but I just can't help but feel...like it's too good to be true. I guess you could say that I'm worried talking to him will just make him feel like this isn't worth his time, and I'll be alone again." She looked down, holding her teacup with both hands, fiddling the rim of the cup with her thumb. Cream's eyes drooped, not sure of what to say. Rouge gave the rabbit a reassuring hand before beginning to speak.
"Well, for starters. I know Shadow, and if this was a waste of time trust me, he would let you know. He's waiting outside for a reason, and that's because he really wants to talk to you, and sort this out. It sounds to me that it really bugged him how Sonic would just up and confess to you like that, with Shadow right there. I'm sure he wants to know your thoughts. You may have rejected him, but clearly there's more on your mind about that, right?" Rouge, took a sip of her own tea before looking to Amy with a smug look, knowing that Amy knew she was right. Amy nodded with a sigh.
"Yeah. You're right. Making him wait this long isn't fair to him."
"Then it's settled!" Cream chimed in, giving Rouge a wink. Rouge gave a smirk and winked back.
"Huh?" Before Amy realized the two had picked her up from each shoulder and directed her out of the cafe. Shadow had stared them down as they made their way closer to him. Releasing their grasp on Amy they turned their focus to Shadow.
"Hey there handsome. We have some things we have to do now so I leave our little Rose here under your care, alright? Let's meet up soon, Amy!" Rouge walked off, not bothering to hear a response from her friend. Cream saw Rouge leave and began to follow her.
"See you later Amy and Mr. Shadow!" Finally catching up with Rouge, she questioned. "You think they'll be able to figure it out? You do know Mr. Shadow more than I probably ever will."
"I think they'll be just fine dear Cream. Let's not worry about them." She gave the small rabbit a big smile. "I'm on a roll with the advice though! Now tell me, how are things with you and that little fox?"
The two were now left alone. Shadow had his arms crossed, and after a moment of watching the rabbit and bat leave, his crimson gaze turned back to Amy. The rose gave a nervous chuckle, before looking away from his ruby stare.
"So...Shadow. I guess now would be a good time for our chat?"
