HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYBODY! Since it's 2011, it's time for chapter 11! A little treat from me to you, so I hope you like it!
WARNING!: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS GORE! Look, even though this is an M rated story, and I can do whatever I want, I feel like I should warn you about the gore ahead. I dunno. I'm cool with that stuff, don't know if you are, so just a warning there. You'll figure it out when you get there.
IF YOU FEEL THE NEED FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I ADDED THAT SORT OF STUFF: I dunno. I like to throw in unexpected stuff and mix it with all the clichéness. Romance/humor/angst/drama stories are pretty common, but isn't it just better to add more to it? Besides, as some people hate dark stuff, you gotta love the way it sticks to your mind, even if you don't like the idea, and I've been feeling rather dark recently. Weird way to feel on New Years, huh?
Now that I read it though, it's pretty creepy, but a friend of mine talked me out of deleting it, so here it is.
Sorry for the OOCness – I'm not really sure how to make the character's into character anymore. If you got any tips, feel free to share.
DO NOT OWN SEGA.
Lips like Sugar
Chapter 11
Temptations and Worries, Fear Not, My Plant, The Bitch is Gone.
"Mmm…" Her delightful moan, her leg pulling up, her foot brushing against his ankles. His groan, his hands crawling up her nude form, running lines against her flat stomach before resting upon her heavenly swells, her heavy, hot breathing patting against his neck, his embodiment plunged deep within her, his shifting causing a moan to elicit from both figures.
"Amy…" He groaned as her hands travelled up his back, quills tangling in an ocean of blue and pink, her lips gliding, her delightful shudder, his own following, howls of ecstasy, slick bodies moving.
They fell against the sheets in heavy pants, bliss and pleasure washing over them.
"Amy…"
"Shadow…." His eyes shot open, narrowing as a growl erupted from his throat. She merely smiled, never opening her eyes, sliding off the bed before wrapping her body in silk pink robes, her eyes glancing slyly at him, her body taunting him.
"Does it bother you, Sonic?" She hissed, hate-filled eyes glaring at him with such venom he never knew the kind hedgehog was capable of.
He blinked, why was he in a forest?
"Tell me! Tell me the truth! Tell me you never loved me! Tell me you were playing me along! Tell me I was nothing but your annoying fan! Tell me!" He blinked once more, his eyes falling on the young Amy, angry green eyes, adorable short pink quills framing her face, sweet and childish face, her pout, that red dress that matched his favorite shoes, the gold bangles jingling on her wrists, that red hair band warming his heart at the old sight of her.
Unconsciously, he shook his head, stepping back.
Amy growled and leaped towards him as her fingers collared him. "Tell me! Tell me so I can stop all this! So I can stop chasing after you in hope! So I can stop getting hurt every singletime you run away! Tell me!" Wait… His eyes washing over the scene, widening in realization. This… this is where he broke her heart.
"Amy…" And he finally saw, that pain he was causing her, that love she held for him, that line of hope, the one that wished for him to deny her, to tell her he actually loved her.
He couldn't.
And her tear-filled eyes, so much pain, so much anguish, how could he have done this to someone? To her? To the woman he…
"Tell me Sonikku…" She whispered, her voice no longer filled with rage, but broken. He wanted to fix it, he wanted to make it better, he wanted to remove her pain, dammit! He wanted to BE with her! But he couldn't, and his heart cried as words flew from his mouth.
"Amy… I can't…" Her eyes were filled with anger, filled with hate, bitterness, sadness. He was breaking her, and he was washed with a feeling of satisfaction.
'No! No! I don't want to hurt you! I was stupid Amy! I'm not like that! Stop! Stop!'
Her anger washed his skin in scorching fire, filled with so much fury, his cheek burned as her hand slashed against his cheek.
"You… You bastard!" Sonic's eyes were wide, his cheek humming a vibrant red.
"SAY IT!" She screamed, and he looked at her with a helpless gaze. He wanted to stop this! He didn't want to hurt her! He didn't want to see this - see her face filled with pain as he tortured her.
He could hear her heart cracking, and he was pretty sure that he could hear his own too.
Sonic continued shaking his head, backing away from her as she continued to scream at him.
"SAY IT! SAY IT! SAY IT!" Frustration was building inside of him. No… no… no…
Dread filled him, words clawing at his throat. No! No! No! He didn't want to say those horrible words. He didn't want to tell her the truth that once rung. He didn't hate her! He didn't hate her! He… He LO-
"SAY IT SONIC!" She screamed with such a force, and he broke out in a cry as the words were released, forcing him to watch with misery as he crushed her.
"I NEVER LOVED YOU! I NEVER SAW YOU MORE THAN AN ANNOYING FAN! I NEVER FELT ANYTHING MORE TO YOU THAN ANNOYANCE! YOU WERE ALWAYS A NUISANCE IN MY EYES! I NEVER LOVED YOU! I DON'T LOVE YOU! I HATE YOU!" His breath was heavy by the end, and he was washed with confusion that he didn't feel.
"Alright then, go back to your slut." His eyes widened as his hand rose with its own accord.
No no no no no no no no no NO!
Her head was tilted to the side, her eyes wide, her cheek a buzzing cherry.
Misery, guilt, and horror like no other washed over him.
"You…" She whispered, her voice raspy and hoarse, still trying to recover from the shock.
His gaze ripped from her face to his hand, the same one that struck her face. Amy. The one that struck Amy. His Amy.
"Amy… I… I didn't…" His eyes searched her face for repentance – ANYTHING – to remove that choking guilt constricting his air.
"How…" Her eyes were also filled with disbelief. Shock. Hurt. Despair. He brought this to her. He did this, and could only watch, his body cold - so cold - numb as her eyes filled with hate and anger.
"HOW COULD YOU?"
And then she turned around, and his arms flailed, desperately trying to catch her, to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, to tell her he was lying and he truly did love her, that he wanted to be with her.
Eyes wide, he watched in anger, sadness, and despair as she ran from him, away from him, and leapt into the arms of his rival, the hedgehog holding her with that gentleness, that care, that love, as she cried.
Jealousy filled him, and he reached forward, wanting to snatch her from Shadow's arms, but he couldn't move. Couldn't move! Couldn't get her!
Thunder erupted, the loud boom making Amy scream, and he tried to run for her, tried to go to her, but his body was paralyzed, frozen, and could only watch as Shadow be the one to soothe her, to protect her, when he couldn't.
Shadow was there for her, and he wasn't.
"No!" He screamed, falling to his knees as he tried to reach for her, tried and tried, he tried so hard, but she seemed to go farther and farther away, the scene of her clutching to Shadow, him holding her, promises for each other being whispered, burned into his mind.
His rival's eyes fell on him, staring right at him, his cold eyes burning with hatred.
"She's mine!" He snarled; angry red eyes filled with loathe.
His mind swirled as he suddenly found himself against the wall, pain shooting from his spine, Shadow's dead eyes glaring at him with deep hatred.
"You hurt her. You played with her. Your fucking hand struck her, and I'll make sure you'll suffer. Not today, not now, not while this innocent creature floats by in risk of seeing bloodshed, but know this Sonic the Hedgehog, you will suffer by my hand, and may god have mercy on you that day."
And then, a slow, dangerous, and very malicious smirk crawled on Shadow's face, the hedgehog looking around, and Sonic's eyes widened in terror as he realized that the sinister turned hedgehog was searching for the sweet pink one.
The cold fear dripped down his spine like bloody ice, his eyes widening, his body freezing as the next words came from Shadow's lips.
"Well, well well…" Fear. Fear like no other washed over him, choked him, clung to him as the hedgehog's malevolent and cruel eyes fell on him, a wicked smirk in place. "She's not here. Not innocent anymore either. You poisoned her, didn't you? You crushed her, forced her into a cruel world, stripped her from her innocence." He chuckled darkly, and Sonic's eyes widened in sheer horror as the edge of the cool blade rested on his cheek.
"Remember when I promised you pain for hurting her? Promised you suffering? Well…" Shadow laughed darkly again, throwing his head back as his loud laughter boomed in Sonic's ears.
"It seems," He felt the chilled blade swipe a clean cut against his cheek, and he screamed as the slice burned, the blood bubbling down his cheek, and Shadow's warm hand fell on his cheek, the hot red liquid pouring and seeping onto his hand, and the black hedgehog stared at it in wonder and sick pleasure.
"That today is that day." And he could only scream and cry as blood flew from his mouth, Shadow's fist retreating before the deep spikes on his knuckles shredded through his face. And the pain, it hurt so much.
Again and again and again. The fist kept coming back, hitting his face, his stomach, his legs, his arms, his back, everywhere. Again and again, tearing into his flesh, his spleen spilling onto the ground, his lip torn out, a huge chunk of his stomach ripped out and thrown to the side, all his fingers broken and ripped off one by one, those large hands digging deep into his legs before ripping off his feet, and he would try to cry, try to scream, but he was so enveloped with pain, so much pain. Horrible pain. Torture in its darkest forms of pain, and like no other he could have imagined.
And then, swiftly and agonizingly, the smooth, cold metal of the penetrating spikes smashed into his mouth, his teeth shattering and blood lunging for escape, flowing from his lips.
But the worst of it all, when she, his angel, his haven, smiled down at him with her angelic smile, and he felt peace, felt content, for one moment, but only for a second before her face contorted to one of hatred as she ripped his happiness from him, tearing into his chest, pulling out his heart as she held it in front of him, his eyes widening and unable to do anything as he watched his beating organ in horror.
"I hate you Sonic the Hedgehog." Her voice was so venomous as he lifted his eyes, pure terror and fear freezing his body as he stared upon what was left of the angel she was. Scars littered her body, many red fresh cuts scattered all over her frail, clammy body, many ripped batches of fur revealing the insides of her stomach, arms and legs, and all parts that weren't torn had strange black cuts all forming words: Sonic, Pain, Die, Love, Hate, Sonic, Sonic, SONIC. Bruises, all over her body, her bones were broken, all twisted to irregular angles.
Though her face, her face was the one that brought him most panic. Her once angelic face, all cut, carved, torn, stabbed. Her left eye was gone, blood gushing like a fountain, and what was left of her other eye was gazing so hauntingly at him, his blood freezing at the sight, his air gone, the last of anything that was him sent into the pits of utter terror.
He wanted to scream! He needed to scream!
"You hurt me, Sonic the Hedgehog. You made me into this. You did this to me." Her head lolled, and he cried, cried for him, cried for her, cried. Scream. He couldn't scream.
He looked up again, and once more he fell into her belied angelic face. She was smiling softly at him, her hand reaching for him, but Shadow's black one fell on her shoulder, and she turned to the black hedgehog with child-like innocence as she listened to the silent words spoken in her ear.
And slowly, Sonic watched in horror as he saw himself, whispering words into her ear, himself striking her over and over with that same hand, and he saw as her young and sweet face was soon deformed, and returned to the cruel one.
Fear. Fear. Fear as she slowly walked up to him, hate, hate, hate, and she held his heart in front of him. His black, black, black heart.
No! No! That wasn't his!
"It's yours." She whispered hauntingly, her sweet, sickening voice sending tremors of unimaginable fright as his body shook in an insatiable earthquake.
It… It couldn't be his…
"Look at it." She pleaded more than ordered, and he cried at her high, young and unmistakable voice that had once begged for his love, now beseeched him to lift his head and look at what was not his.
"Sonikku… Look at it, Sonikku…" He cried, and raised his head, locking eyes with her as tears streamed down his face. He couldn't deny her. She was so beautiful, and she was crying too, and what he would give to wipe away those tears. She whispered that heartbreaking name over and over again, and he watched as her hand reached for him and he leaned his face forward. He wanted to feel her touch; he wanted to feel her touch…
Her eyes widened in fright and alarm, her arm jerking back as she held it to her chest.
No! No! Why'd she pull away?
She kept staring wide-eyed behind him, and what he would give for the ability to crane his neck and see what she saw.
"Sonikku…" She choked on a sob, sinking to her knees as she stared right at him, and he cried too. Her heartbroken look was enough to send any man into tears, and he wished to wipe those crystalline tears away. He wanted to hold her and scare away all her frights; he wanted to protect her…
Sonic's eyes widened as the sounds of footsteps approached, and before him in the surrounding dark, Shadow melted from the abyss, his form wrapping around Amy as he pulled her to his chest. Why did she keep staring at him? Why did she look at him and cry?
Shadow, too, placed his eyes on the torn blue hedgehog, smirking maliciously as he wove his fingers through Amy's hair, his eyes lowering as his lips brushed against her ear, and though his whispers were so quiet, Sonic heard every word.
"He's with Sally. He cast you away…" The devil-impersonated hedgehog brushed his lips upon her collar bone, and Sonic's silent scream rang as the wide-eyed pink hedgehog shivered. She looked so innocent, so frightened. Her fingers curled, and he continued to murmur deceptions in a soft voice as he lavished her with affections.
"He never cared about you. You're nothing to him. He used you, and never cared. Those sweet roses… Amy Rose… They were never for you… your favoring were never for him… he gave them to her…"
No! No! No! Those aren't true! Amy! Amy!
He could only watch in anguish and despair as the life faded from her eyes and finally, she broke her stare from him, and the sense of gagging and screaming fell upon him. She sighed, looking down at her lap as the black hedgehog wove his hands around her, mumbling sweet words that contradicted the wicked spark in his eye.
His body was so cold, cold sweat dripping down his spine, cold blood rushing through his vein, cold, cold, cold…
Shadow looked at him knowingly, a mocking look of sympathizing pity on his face. He gently brushed Amy's hair, and Sonic cried. No, no, Amy…
And he pulled her into a kiss, one that Sonic could not bear to watch as he ripped his eyes away from the scene.
And he finally looked at the pumping, black organ.
And then, he watched in pure numbness and utter horror that he could no longer comprehend as her fingers tightened around his heart, watching as she literally crushed it before him, and everything fell into the dark, cold hands of Death.
"AAHHH!" Finally, he released that scream, his body drenched in cold sweat, fear shaking his body in tremulous racks, his mind driven on overload as he struggled to breathe, his arms flailing wildly as he gasped for air.
"Ah…" He clenched his chest, hands running over his body, checking and feeling, and everything was intact.
Desperately, he jumped out of the bed, dashing out of the room as he frantically searched for a source of water, grabbing a cup as he greedily drowned down the cool liquid. More till more, he drank until his eyes blinked into sleepy consciousness, and slowly, he pulled the glass cup from his lips and shakily set it down on the counter with a slam.
Resting his head on the cool counter, he breathed heavily for the longest of times, his breath settling into a calm pace.
"Nightmare…" He whispered to himself, informing his terrorized mind into awareness. He rose, leaning back against the cool wall of the humming fridge, sliding to the ground as he supported his head with his fist.
With glowing green eyes in the darkness, he stared in front of him for what could've passed as an eternity, silence with no companion but the soft breathes of the sleep-deprived hedgehog.
"Why… do I still feel… afraid…?" It was always the same question after the same nightmare intruded. At the random of times, the cruel dream would take over him at night, filling him with fear he knew not was possible.
When you have a nightmare, and you wake up after it's over, you feel relief at the nothingness and safety around you, right? The nightmares over, it was all a dream, everything was okay.
Then why couldn't he feel that way? Why was he still clung by an insignificant sense of fear? Why did he still shake of barely memorable red eyes and broken bodies? He couldn't recall but the false pain and her crying sobs and those menacing red eyes he had yet to determine. Yet, why did he still tremble with fear of it? The nightmare was gone, it wasn't real.
And why did it return to him as a constant? He wasn't superstitious, didn't believe in the whole 'message' thing, but surely this dream meant something… or nothing at all.
"But it won't stop…" He whimpered.
Clenching his eyes tight, her smiling face flashed in his mind. Her short red dress was adorned; she held her hands before her as she yelled her undying love. Ah, young, sweet Amy. She was something that he would have never expected to change. In the younger days, everyone was so sure Amy would never give up on Sonic no matter what, and with the repeated actions of affections, she had become a constant.
And with everything that came as a constant, it was taken for granted. Since she was there as the rising sun, every day coming to chase the wind, no one would ever expect it to leave, right? I mean, come on, it was the sun.
Did anybody ever stop and think, 'Hey, sun, how's it going? Say, don't you ever get bored? Aren't you tired of everything? Won't you leave at one point?' And why not? Maybe the sun was tired of mistreatment, maybe it didn't want to come back anymore, and who are we to stop it?
…Not like it's possible anyway. I mean seriously, imagine trying to persuade the sun to come back and help the human race. What would we do, shove our hands in front of it and try to push it back to us? Yeah right! Then again, the situation wouldn't be likely to happen in the first place, but if it did, the sun would be very stubborn and pissed.
Point was: Amy was a constant to Sonic as the sun was to Earth. She had chased Sonic for so long, in the vibrancy of her hope and faith, everyone too had believed that she loved Sonic, and would never give up on him. With the amazing belief she held in the hero, no one would ever think she'd stop. No one ever thought that the sun would leave the Earth right?
Ah… technically, the sun got cheated on by the Earth, but the Earth wasn't even dating the sun in the first place, and the sun was pretty annoying. But then again, the Earth didn't have to slap the sun! But eh… it was probably the 'heat of the moment' thing. No one could really blame the Earth for that, since he was all cool and stuff.
But…
Ah, forget it. Sun and Earth do not match Sonic and Amy's situation.
An inaudible sigh escaped his lips, lofting his head to stare at the ceiling. With a blink, he saw her face again, but now it was older, and he saw her now. The red dress was forgotten, and not even words of like had left her lips. She spoke instead of her nothingness to him, her mentioned dislike to him, and her intoned affections towards his blasted rival.
Why in the world did anything have to change? Why couldn't the world have stayed the same? He would save everyone, be a hero, get chased by fan girls, mostly Amy of course, visit his brother Tails, and life would be at its best.
With a sigh of resignation, he stood up, dragging himself to the bedroom as he fell onto the sheets in attempt to retain whatever was left of his stolen sleep.
…
Yeah, so not working.
He sighed again, throwing his legs over the side of the bed as he threw on his boxers. Stumbling out of the room, he threw himself upon the couch, his arm falling on his face to block his eyes as he released a groan.
"What am I supposed to do now?" The city noises hit against his ears, and he idly wondered why he moved to the city. The forest was much calmer, and he always felt more comfortable there, so why did he come here? The place that limited his running, that restricted his needs?
Right, the people, the crowds, the girls, the image, the reputation - that's why he came here.
But still he missed the ole days, being free, nothing to worry, just running…
Running… That was something he hadn't done in a long while. Yeah…
An eager smile grew on his face as he threw on a pair of clothes, his eyes lingering in his closet, his fingers clawing till he reached the very end, a wide grin touching his lips as he pulled out the dusty box, opening the lid with care as his eyes brightened upon the sight of his old shoes.
The same shoes he wore when saving everyone. The same one he wore when saving her. Saving Amy. The same when she went out of her way to create a dress to match its exact color. He chuckled, remembering the day she ran up to him in her pink glory, an eager and hopeful smile on her face, gold bracelets to symbolize the rings that gave him power.
"Hey Sonikku! Notice anything different? It's devoted to you!"
But he… out of his guilt that day. His shoes were… as ridiculous as it sounds… burning him. They were strapped to heavy blocks, and they were on fire. The guilt… he relinquished his favorite shoes that day. Abandoning them in this box, as if undeserving of them, and remained unopened…
Until now.
He couldn't exactly explain it but… the wonderful feeling, that light feeling, the carefree feeling that swam over him when he wore those shoes once more, fitting exactly as they once did, although he wasn't sure how, but they were big shoes.
And the old days, the days where he'd save everyone because he wanted to, got chased by his number one fan, hung out with his two best buddies, and smelled flowers in the mountains at its freshest without care, washed over him in the heaviest sense of longing and lingering happiness.
And he ran, ran again, no Sally to weigh him down, no image to keep, no pressure of expectations, no need for anything. Just running - free.
He greeted his old friends: the rush, the wind, the smells, the adrenaline, the pride, the freedom. It was what defined him, why had he neglected this for so long?
It all swam around him - the wind caressing his face in its familiar call, the color rushing past him, and he felt free once more. With the wind, he ran, because that's who he was, Sonic the Hedgehog, world's fastest hedgehog, running with the wind, everywhere, there when he was needed, because he was a free creature.
He was a hero.
He breathed deep, breathing in the wonderful smells crashing and blending with each other. The wet grass in the early dawn, the sweet honey in the bees' awake, the floral scent of the flowers, her lavender and fresh waterfall scent…
He skidded to a stop, his eyes widening as he realized indeed that the hedgehog was lying out on the grass in nightwear, just staring at the sky. He just stood there, not saying anything, but somehow, she knew.
"Hey, hero." Her voice was soft; her hair was sprawled out wildly and amazingly around her.
"Hey." He replied, walking up to her and settling himself down, staring in sheer awe, in wonder at how beautiful she looked. "Watcha doin'?"
She blinked, a thoughtful look for a moment, "I dunno."
"Well…" He scanned the area, "What are you doing here? This isn't Tails' house."
She glowered, her eyes taking on a fire, "Well we had to relocate after a certain someone destroyed our house."
Sonic's eyebrows drew together, "What? Who?"
She ignored him, instead mumbling to herself, "Which reminds me, I gotta go visit the hospital…"
"What…?" He shook his head; there was no point in asking anyway. She'd become weird ever since she came back… or was she always like this?
"You know, it's kind of cold now." He eyed the simple green tank top.
"Don't care. It's too nice out to care." He smiled, and her eyes took that thoughtful look again.
With a side-glance at him, she knew, "You finally wore those shoes again. I never thought you'd separate from those in the first place."
He blinked, awe at her ability to suddenly know things.
"But, maybe they were too small for you." A smile touched her lips, as if she just thought of something funny, "Why'd ya take them off in the first place?"
"…" He didn't answer, not sure how to reply to her and her green eyes fell on him, before returning to the cloudless sky.
"They burned me." He finally said, the only thing that seemed to make sense to him, and didn't.
"Burned you…" Her smile was strange, as if she understood something he didn't.
"So, I took them off."
"Mhmm…" He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her.
"What do you know?"
"Me?" She wore that funny smile again. "I don't know anything."
"You know something I don't."
"Your shoes burned you."
"Yeah, so?"
"Exactly." He frowned, not understanding, and idly wondering how it was that she was so wise and knowing of things people couldn't normally understand.
"Come on, explain what you mean!"
"What are you talking about?" She gave him a questioning look.
"About the whole… thing you're doing!"
"Again, hero, you've lost your mind."
"No! You're just driving me insane!" She laughed lightly, and his heart took on an irregular pattern.
"Yeah, but it's my job!" She grinned and he couldn't help but grin too, deciding to just drop the whole thing. Eyes gliding over her form, he decided to voice his thoughts.
"Watcha thinking about?" Possibly him…?
"Shadow." She replied honestly, but that didn't mean his honest reaction was pleasant.
"Why him?" He snarled bitterly and venomously, and she glanced at him in surprise, but thought real hard for a moment, coming up with an answer that only could frustrate the hedgehog.
"Because it can only be him."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He yelled, although he was interrupted by a new voice.
"Sonic." He looked up, surprised to find hard, gold eyes staring at him.
"Espio? What are you doing here?"
"You know, these lines seem to happen often lately…" Amy noted, sitting up, but they paid no mind to her rather confusing statement.
Espio didn't answer him, settling for glaring at him while Amy rolled her eyes, answering for him instead,
"I called him here."
"Him?" Amy's eyes narrowed at the blue hedgehog.
"Yeah, him. Seriously Sonic, your attitude is beginning to suck balls."
"Me?" They glanced annoyingly at him before thoroughly ignoring him, Espio seating himself beside Amy as they sat there… doing nothing.
He sighed angrily, not wanting to leave, but his presence was clearly unwanted, and it wasn't like Espio was a threat to his feelings. Espio's stick up the ass was far too up to let the male have feelings, much less for Amy. He was too reserved for that, and he was probably here because of Amy's incredible powers of persuasion, if anything, he was being polite, but nothing otherwise.
Sliding out of the scene to return to his thoughtless run, Amy breathed a sigh of relief.
His eyes gleamed, "You haven't thrown any form of hatred."
"Meh."
"Why?" She blinked, her mind circling once more.
"'Cause I can't bring myself to." His eyes narrowed. He had such strange eyes…
"He caused you pain. You should make him repent."
"Yeah, I probably should." His eyes softened.
"But you won't."
"Mhmm…"
"You're too kind-hearted." She laughed lightly, rolling to the side and resting her head on Espio's lap.
"Yeah, maybe, but give him some credit, he did save my life more than once."
"I could have done that too." He spoke quietly, his fingers gingerly fiddling with the tip of her quills.
"Mm… I'm sure you could've, but he did. So I'm just being fair here." His eyes gleamed once more, his eyes slowly shifting to her.
"Then let us hurt him."
"No. No one is getting hurt on my account, so shut up Espio, and let me enjoy being here with you." And so they sat in silence.
"Sonic harbors displeasure to your feelings towards Shadow." Espio stated, eyes narrowing.
"Yeah, I really don't get that. Probably a whole rivalry thing."
"No, it's more than that." Amy blinked, sitting up, her eyes searching his, as if she could read the answer from him. Espio's eyes were special, could see things people couldn't see, and nobody knew.
But Amy had figured it out long ago. Damnable little Amy somehow figured it out, even though he first kept his distance from her, holding a hate-hate relationship.
"Your eyes. They're different." Her young sweet face puzzled him, but it was her statement that did it all.
"What do you mean?" Her voice was low, not a whisper, just quiet.
"You're pretty special, aren't you?" She smiled that radiant smile of hers, giggling lightly, "That's pretty cool. So, what can you do that I can't?"
To this day, he still pondered on how she knew, how she figured it out.
"Reasons of Sonic's hatred are more than just rivalry." Amy frowned, not understanding, her eyes still searching his, as if the answer will be written in his clear, secretive eyes.
"I won't find out." She replied, eyes still locked with his.
"You will."
"Not from you." He was secretly amazed how she could understand, how she could read his eyes, how she realized what he spoke of, without speaking of it. She didn't have the same eyes as his, didn't have that secret power, but she always seemed to understand what he was feeling, always seemed to understand unspoken words.
"Not from me." He repeated slowly, and she smiled, her eyes flashing mischievously. The wet dew was sprinkling against them, the grass brushing lazily as the wind, and Amy shivered.
"You're gonna get sick." Espio spoke knowingly, and Amy pouted.
"Am not!"
"Yes, you will."
"Well, I wasn't until you jinxed me with that comment."
"I jinxed you?"
"Ahh! Stop increasing the power of the jinx! I'm doomed!" Amy cried out, shivering again.
…And then she sneezed.
"Told you so." He spoke smugly.
"Shut up, Espio." His lips were dying to break out into a smile.
She stood up, he following her as she eyed the house a little walk away, a grin growing on her face, that mischievous glint growing brighter and brighter.
"Tails is still sleeping, and I've got a whole can of whipped cream."
His lips twitched into a smirk.
How ridiculous was he? So what if she didn't arrive as usual to their meetings, it was okay right? He wasn't supposed to be worried or thoughtful of her or anything! He was supposed to-
Fuck it, he was worried. She didn't arrive at the class session, she didn't appear after it, she didn't come, and he was worried, anxious, on edge and very distraught.
What if something was wrong? What if something happened to her? What if…
"Tails." He spoke deeply, calmly, coolly, but somehow, the fox's wise eyes saw right through the façade and spotted his deep anxiety and worry for his female companion. Damn fox. He was one of the few people he liked… Damn fox.
"She's sick today, a really bad flu, I think. I was just heading over to the drug store to get some medicine." He smiled knowingly, "You should see her. That would really make her happy."
He glared at the fox, but he just received a smile in return, his blue eyes twinkling in that annoying knowing way of his, the same one Amy had, before he turned and left, leaving Shadow to his grumbles.
'I don't need you to tell me to go see her' He scowled, but was inwardly grateful… and worried again. His Amy was tired, in pain, sick. She needed him, and so he would be there for her!
…Wow. Okay, so maybe his feelings were a little more that strong, but it didn't matter. It wasn't like he was in love or something. Ha! Impossible. He didn't love. He... grudgingly and admittedly, cared, but impossible to love.
…Maybe.
"Why do you stay with me?"
"Because you're special."
"Special…?"
"Yes, you're special."
"… That's not a reason."
"It is," Her eyes were sparkling again, "Because I like you too much to let you go."
"Oh."
"That reason enough for you?" Her smirk.
"Yeah."
"Good."
He smiled.
She was pale, and sick, and tired, and needed him. Her beautiful pink fur was dull, its sheen had faded, her body was clammy, weak, her eyes were tired, but still, she smiled.
"I still smile for you." Of course he was surprised, but it also made him happy, and he took care of her, knowing that he was willing to do anything and everything for this woman. His heart beat so fast right now…
"Stupid, why would you still smile for me?" He spoke softly, sitting at the edge of her bed as she strained her efforts to give him that smile again. Brushing his fingers lightly over her hand, he frowned at the how cold she felt, and got up, immediately disappearing into the house.
He was frantically running around, doing his best with the medicine, the comforts, ANYTHING to make her feel better. She shakily captured his wrist, her red cheeks and puffy eyes captivating him to her, her nose twitching, and she smiled again,
"Shadow, stay. I'll be fine."
"You're sick."
"So? I'll be cool." Even when sick, she was still her own arrogant, cheery, smile-filled self, and he didn't want it any other way.
"Actually, maybe you should go. I don't want you getting too close and getting sick too."
He growled as she tried to slip her hand from his, so he reached forward and tangled
their fingers once more. He wasn't going to let her go.
"I'm not leaving."
She smiled amusedly, "Not even with promises of cookies?"
"I'm staying with you." Her eyes widened, a bare push of air, a tear slipped from her green eyes, but she smiled, and tightened her hand, reminding him of how fragile and small she was compared to him.
"Thank you." She whispered, smiling, but still added, "You're going to get sick."
"Then I'll get sick, I'm not leaving you." He added for extra measure, his deep voice rolling with the small hum of laughter, "Besides, I'm too strong to get sick."
She threw the pillow at him, but her grip was weak, her hands were frail, and so he held them, he gave her his strength, and that surreal, that special, secret little bond of theirs bloomed.
"For the record, you still owe me for destroying my house, need I remind you." Shadow winced. Of course he didn't need a reminder. He was cleaning up, but the retarded chao had escaped from the government worthy security Shadow had placed him under and had flown out of the house, forcing the poor chao-sitter to search for the chao for the remainder of the night, returning home successful to severe torture, mainly Amy's never ending screaming, and the apathetic and murderous expression that was Tails. Luckily though, he was in the good, and very merciful hands, of the kind fox, and he had been spared, but not from Amy's shrieking, and the rather humorous sight of her sitting on his back, pulling madly at his ears while they shouted blames at each other.
Ah, one of the very rare moments that proved Shadow to humiliation.
"Aaaaand You still owe me five dollars. I'm so not putting you off the line just for that mushy comment." She smiled, her eyes twinkling again, her happiness radiant, her fur regaining their lustrous and lively pink, and all he could do was smile back, happiness swelling in his own heart, as well as pride - the knowledge of bringing her happiness, him being her happiness, making him feel…
Whole.
Strange, he never knew that he was incomplete, but he knew that he'd never be whole without her.
"It wasn't mushy."
She grinned cheekily, "Corny then."
"Was not."
"Was too!"
"Was not!"
"Cheesy?"
"No!"
"Sweet?"
"No."
"Adorable?"
"No."
"Romantic?" He shut his mouth. She too realized her words, a blush spreading on her cheeks. With a shy and bashful smile, she crept onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzled her cheek against his, giving him her sign of affection, and he gladly accepted it.
"Never mind, no need for labels. Just know that it means a lot to me." His arms slinked around her, frowning slightly when he realized her waist was slightly smaller than the last time he held her.
"Have you been eating?" His frown deepened when her shoulders suddenly tensed. He pulled back, his eyes searching hers,
"Er… Yes?"
"You're a terrible liar."
"I can lie if I need to!"
"So you are lying."
"Am not!" He didn't answer, instead, gently lifting her from his lap and setting her on the bed.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Wait here." His voice left no room for arguments.
"What…?" She mumbled. Her eyes following him as he left the room, her heart left in tingles and smiles.
She wasn't far from the truth, and she definatly played with the thought. But could she do that to herself, do that again…
Do something like…
Like fall in love? With Shadow?
No, it wasn't the idea of being in love with Shadow that was preposterous, but that… that she let herself do that, love someone, lose her restraints, and she didn't even know it.
Maybe, maybe, the whole thing that was preposterous was that she liked the idea, didn't mind those nice feelings that led her to where she was, and that maybe, maybe…
She had feelings for Shadow.
And at this, she smiled; because, even though it would lead to impending doom and terrible pain, even though she was putting herself on the line again… it was okay.
She trusted Shadow, and she knew he would never willingly hurt her.
But that's when it fell apart.
Shadow, Shadow, Shadow. She had feelings for him, but did he have feelings for her? Would they find happiness, or would she end up a hollow shell once more, her heart shattered?
The fear of rejection sank its fangs into her heart.
She didn't forget what happened with Sonic, what happened that night, didn't forget the pain.
But she knew, Sonic wasn't Shadow, Shadow wasn't Sonic. She could never mistake them for the other.
"Amy?" She lifted her eyes, a soft smile falling on her lips. For one thing, Sonic never made her chicken soup.
She took the bowl and shot a grateful smile towards him, a murmured thank you, her fingers reaching for the spoon, that is, until he abruptly snatched it, the bowl as well.
She blinked in confusion, her eyes meeting his, and he didn't answer, only lifting the spoon to her mouth, the steam gently clouding and evaporating above.
"What…" Her eyes widened when she realized he wanted to feed her.
"Hey, hey, I can feed myself!" His eyes narrowed, bringing the spoon closer,
"No, I will feed you."
"You're being corny and cliché again!" He growled, and she merely turned her head, lifting her nose in the air, her eyes closed, a smile dying to break out, but she held strong.
"You are no-Mmmph!" Her eyes shot open, wide and surprised and shocked and in disbelief and so many things! She was so not expecting this! But his lips were warm, her heart was exploding! She was sure of it!
And so many feelings! They were rushing too fast! She couldn't think!
So instead, she pressed back, let a moan slip as she tasted him, his spices, unaware of how crazy she was making him.
And she enjoyed it, loved it, didn't care what happened, and savored his tangy taste, the heat pooling within her stomach, the exploding rushes from the caverns of his hot mouth, a wild passion springing forth and… chicken soup?
"Mmmph!" She screamed, but it was muffled as the warm soup was forced into her mouth, but still, he didn't let go of her just yet...
With all her struggles, she finally broke free of his grip, pulling away, her angry glare falling on him,
"Sh-Shadow!" His face remained expressionless, while hers angry, but inside, they were trembling, shaking with exploding bottled emotions.
That… was amazing.
She shoulders trembled, her anger at Shadow, at herself, for letting herself fall again, for letting herself…
"Shall I repeat that, or will you willingly let me feed you now?"
"N-no, you can…" She took a deep breath, desperately trying to calm herself and her raging emotions, "Feeding me is g-good… With the spoon!"
She was going to lose it, dammit! What she would do to just lean forward and enforce a full-fledged real kiss.
He brought the spoon to her lips, gently tipping it in her mouth as she gulped down the liquid.
And it was nice. Shadow, feeding her, it was… really nice.
Still, she retaliated, verbally of course,
"You know… there were other ways to force food into me." She reminded of the 'shoving soup down her throat through maddening lip-lock'.
"It seemed the quickest and most effective, without using instruments to open your stomach." She stuck her tongue out at the gross imagery.
"Quickest and most effective my ass… We're in reality, Shadow!" He didn't say anything, and continued to feed her. Really, for something so wimple as feeding someone, it was rather hard, and she was practically taunting him! He was the one who held the spoon, so why was it she who held the cards?
"You don't have to baby me."
"Let me baby you."
"But I can-" He forced the spoon in her mouth once more, loving the way her lips pursed in a pout, and idly wondered if he should switch back to the old method. He definatly wanted to, but he wasn't entirely sure that she did, and so, he settled with this. He found a sort of… enjoyment, from lavishing her with his attention like this, 'babying her', as she called it, caring for her. She was his, his to care for, his to nurture, his to protect.
"-do it myself!"
"I know." He stated calmly, paying attention to the wonderful red on her cheeks. He wondered if he should kiss those too. Maybe they'll grow brighter? He'd like to see that.
"Then why are you feeding me?"
He sighed, no point in hiding the truth from her anyway,
"Because I want to." Her mouth shut with an animated 'pop!' How could she argue with that? She was bursting with happiness, and she smiled at him, loving the small smile he gave her in return.
So she stayed silent, enjoying the moment, secretly enjoying the process.
"Mm… Where did you learn to make chicken soup?" She thought for a moment, "I mean, it's good."
He glared at her, "I can make good food."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and he mumbled a small confession, "Tails."
She grinned.
While walking down the hall, one should expect to be jumped by a squealing woman.
Well, only if you knew Amy.
She latched onto him with her shrill, endearing scream of happiness, her legs wrapping around his waist, her arms looping around his neck.
"You did it!" He hid his smile, settling for a questioning look, since really, he didn't know what she was talking about.
"The doctor said that I'd be sick for two weeks! I thought I'd miss the big test! I passed! Passed! Did it! I was supposed to be sick for two weeks! You healed me in three days! Three days! I did it! You did it! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She squealed, hugging him tightly and smiling in joy. He let out a smile of his own, not caring who watched the scene – instead, caring about the woman in his arms, holding onto her, and the happiness she brought him.
A little farther from the occurring scene, four heads peaked out of a corner, watching the scene.
"I told you those guys totally have the hots for each other." Rouge smirked, a smug look on her face.
"Well it's great she finally got someone, but Shadow?" Charmy eyed the hedgehog in question.
"Hey," Cream poked the bee, "Don't underestimate the guy. He looks cold, but an idiot can see the special bond they have."
"Okay, we established that, now why are we hiding and spying when just about everyone else is standing and gawking at them out in the open?" Knuckles stated, his back starting to complain from leaning for so long.
"Because we're more important! Besides, Amy will chew our asses out if she catches us." Cream huffed, tearing away from the rather heartwarming scene and standing up, arching her back, and Charmy followed suit.
"Well, class is over. Cream, you doing anything right now?" He gave her a goofy grin. She shook her head, giving him a questioning look.
" 'Cause I could really go for a burger or two." She smiled at him, standing up and taking the arm he offered her.
"Sure, lead the way." They walked off, leaving the couple to alone.
"Hey! They totally blew us off!" Rouge fumed, her eye twitching.
"Seriously, those two are gonna get hooked up."
"Dammit, everyone is getting hooked up!"
"Espio and Vector aren't."
"Yeah well…" Rouge thought for a moment, "If they don't find chicks, then they'll eventually hook up with each other."
They both shivered at the mental image, "Espio and Vector do not look good together!"
"I mean, Espio's hot enough to be gay, but it's just plain wrong of Vector switches to that side too." Rouge exclaimed, noting that a manly gay Espio was sort of hot and sexy.
"Uh-huh."
"…"
"…"
"…Wanna go get some burgers?"
"Sure.
Dammit! He had to get those two away from each other! Amy was his!
"I'm all yours." He was so sick of her voice!
"Sally." He growled, "Not now!"
"But-" Her whiney voice, and so his went dangerously low, "I said, not. Now."
Her eyes widened, but Sonic's eyes narrowed in disgust when he realized she was just aroused by this.
But his look of disgust melted away as he saw his pink hedgehog walking towards them. She was so beautiful, her pink quills bouncing with her bubbly mood, her bangs brushed to the side, slightly falling on her shining emerald eyes, curving to wrap the elegant curve of her jaw, her ability to make red look amazing on her, the way the loose shirt still showed off her form, and those legs to die for, wrapped in absolutely irresistible and plain jeans, so simple, yet she made it look so damnably enticing on her.
"Hey Amy." He completely forgot of Sally, smiling at the pink hedgehog as she passed them. His smile falling when she didn't answer, though it quickly returned when she tilted her head to the side slightly , her erratic quills framing her face, the long straights and curls and spikes falling like a waterfall, only some of her face visible to him, her green eyes glinting.
"Hey hero." Her lips curved upright, his heart jumped, her dazzling smile, and his fuming girlfriend.
"Oh that is it, you bitch!" Sonic was unable to stop Sally as she lunged at the pink hedgehog.
But who to save her other than her true hero?
Amy blinked, warmth flooding her as she found herself being held by the hedgehog she truly believed in, his arms nestling under her shoulders and knees.
"Shadow?" She breathed, her eyes locking with his.
"She was going to hurt you." His angry whisper.
"You saved me." Her awed one.
He held her closer, his deep, soothing voice rumbling in her chest, his words forever locked in her heart, "You're mine to protect."
"Shadow…" Her eyes sparkled brighter than he'd ever seen them before, and he felt himself falling all over again.
And he was… happy.
But that seemed to happen every time he was with this woman…
'He's holding her with gentleness. They look at each other like… they're the only two people in the world… and she… Amy… He's looking at her like…Shadow almost looks like… like he's in… No! It doesn't matter! I want Amy! I will have her!'
'But how can you have her, when you have me?' She mocked in his head, her brown furry tail swishing in an attempted arousal jump.
"I don't want you." He growled, his eyes narrowing at the squirrel who landed on the ground, her shrill voice erupting in a scream of frustration.
"What's wrong with you Sally?" He yelled, not caring the attention they attracted. Murmurs spread like wildfire, hundreds of eyes watching them, many others leaving to call more.
"Me…?" He couldn't see her face, with her bottom facing him, her back hunched, her palms on the ground, her heavy trembling.
"Me…" She whispered again, her voice mysteriously soft, but the clenching of her fists belied, her nails twitching and screeching gently against the tiled ground.
"ME?" She screamed, abruptly standing and turning on her heel, lashing out on the pink hedgehog once more. Shadow backed up, growling, determined to not let ANYTHING touch her. He even managed to avoid the amazingly long seven inch nails.
And seeing her, his Amy, the beautiful form of her today, the little young on of her in the past, his old fan girl, in another man's arms, the protection she sought from him, his angered looks, her poisonous hatred for his angel, his raging blood, her wince, her eyes.
Sonic snapped.
"What the fuck, you stupid bitch?" He yelled at the surprised squirrel. No one, much less Sonic, had ever yelled at her like that. The crowd gasped, their whispers growing louder, so many voices, so many people.
"Sonic-"
"What's wrong with you? You actually attacked Amy? What the fuck did she do?" He was seething, but in order to hide her fear, so was she.
"What the fuck did she do? She's stealing you away from me! Look at you! You're defending her! Not me, HER! Ever since she came, it's always been about HER!"
"You think this is a competition Sally? Amy didn't steal me from you! It's me that finally realized how much of a bitch you truly were!" The crowd gasps, many cheer, others watch in awe. Sonic was living up to his true title.
"WHAT?" Her shrill voice, Amy winced, he growled.
"How can you EVER pick that over me?"
"Amy's way better than you! The list of how she's better than you would never fucking end! She's prettier, smarter, funnier, cooler," He didn't miss Amy's thumbs-up, as well as her silent cheer, and he used that to strive him, knowing every word only shocked and angered the squirrel even more.
"AND she's not a fucking stupid SLUT!" Usually, he never really noticed how much of a slut she looked, more that she dressed hot and how she looked, but ever since… Well, he finally opened his eyes and saw this female for who she truly was.
"WHAT? ARE YOU CALLING ME A SLUT? YOU… YOU BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU?" It was him that was now the target for her scarily long nails, but he caught her hand right before it struck him, his facial expression much like Shadow's.
The crowd's shocked and numerous gasps, her shocked face, Amy's proud smile, drove the final button.
"You bitch. You disgust me. We are through."
Her mouth was agape, but she didn't say anything as she got up, not looking at him as she turned around, nothing as she walked away, but they all heard her last, venomous, broken words.
"This…This isn't over." Shivers spread, murmurs of beliefs and disbeliefs, and she left. Gasps, cheers, awe, smiles, gazes, screams, laughter, happiness.
And then, he was filled with the feeling of… right. Everything was right. Everything was okay again.
And then, for the first time in a long time, he lifted his gaze, and saw his group, the friends of his childhood. Tails, his long time best friend, the same one who secretly hated him, was standing in front of him, smiling. Tails was smiling at him. At him.
Knuckles, the rival, the best buddy, gazed upon him with pride. That secret dislike locked away, happiness replaced; an old look in his eye. He too, for the first time, wasn't smiling with him, wasn't giving him a smile for the sake of a smile, but was actually looking at him, seeing him, seeing Sonic the Hedgehog, and smiling.
And Amy - dear, sweet, Amy. It was probably her that made him happiest. She was proud of him. No mocking gazes, no indifference, no small dislike, no, she was staring at him with pure content, pleasure and pride found from his actions, the same way she looked upon him all those years ago with adoring eyes after a defeated robot lay behind him and he stepped up to shine in the light she put upon him - as a hero. It was her eyes, sparkling at him with her dazzling green, and her smile, that little curve at the end of her mouth, that soft smile, she was giving to him.
Tails finally spoke up, "Ya finally did it…" His ears sang at the name he hadn't heard in a long time, "…buddy."
"Tails…"
"'Bout time you got rid of that bitch anyway." He grinned at the red echidna. Finally he turned to Amy, his eyes locking with hers, wondering what could have been.
Her lips parted, and she spoke softly,
"Way to go," And for once, she dropped the mocking tone, speaking genuinely, "…hero."
"Amy…" He stepped forward, his eyes searching hers, searching for any signs of hatred, any signs of bitterness, anything negative, towards him, but found nothing.
"You should hate me." He started, many eyes widening, but somehow, Amy's eyes took an understanding look.
"You shouldn't even be talking with me without being angry. I deserve everything you throw at me. What I did Amy… I finally get it." His eyes trailed off.
"Yeah…" Her voice was really soft, and gentle, almost like a whisper in the wind, but he could hear her so clearly.
"I understand… what you meant. About being sorry. I really didn't understand earlier but…" His pleading eyes locked with hers once more, and he was shocked to find that she still held no form of distaste towards him, only understanding and…
"When you said I should be sorry, you meant being truly sorry. Fully regretting my actions, wishing I could change it, would do anything to make it better. And me being truly sorry would lead to now where I'd ask you what you want and how to make it better and all these other and…"
"You… You really should hate me." She smiled slightly, "I can't believe I actually did something like that, to you. To someone, and I can't imagine how much I must've… And the guilt really eats me away and…"
"Sonic." His eyes washed over her smiling face, "Get to the point."
He gave his own smile, "I know I said this before, and… I know I'm probably gonna get a total no, because I deserve it, but… I'm sorry, Ames."
His eyes were clenched, but imagine his surprise when he felt her soft arms wrap around his neck,
"About time, hero." He smiled, savoring every moment of this as he wrapped his arms around her as well, inhaling her wonderful lavender and citrus scent.
"Thanks, Ames." He whispered, ignoring the chorus of 'Aww'.
He was quite reluctant when she pulled back, but asked one, final question, "So, Amy… we cool?"
"Not really." He blinked.
"What?"
"You still have to get me that pack of Oreos you promised." He broke into a grin, as well as his friends as they gathered around him.
"Hey, Tails." Knuckles motioned, and Amy grinned, knowing the words that were going to flow, "You know what this means right?"
Tails broke into a grin, pulling his girlfriend close to him as he whispered words to her, a smile of understanding growing onto her face. Playing along, Tails used a purposeful loud voice. "No, what?"
"PARTY!" Everyone erupted in cheers, smiling and pulling out random beers.
Amy's eyes trailed to the side, falling on the hedgehog who was staring so intensely at her. With a smile, she slipped through the crowd, walking up to him, immediately being pulled into his embrace the second she got within range.
With a soft sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers finding his.
"You didn't need to forgive him."
"It's about time anyway." She looked up at him, pondering on whether or not she should lean forward. "Besides, he finally apologized."
"I've heard his apologies before, why now?"
"Because he apologized." Shadow's eyes narrowed in understanding as he nestled his head on top of hers.
"Did you mean it?" She whispered, loving the way his arms wrapped around her.
"Hm?" His chest thrummed, and she listened to his heart beat.
"About me. About… protecting me." He pulled back slightly, only enough to look at her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek.
"Never will I let anything hurt you." She smiled at him, tucking her head under his chin, falling where she belonged, her fur tingling as he brushed his lips against her temple; she breathed his scent.
"I trust you, Shadow." His grip on her tightened, his nose buried in her hair.
"I know."
"And I want to make sure that… that you'll never doubt that."
"I never will."
"Hm…" Her lids fell, and he could feel her smile against his chest, and he couldn't hold a smile of his own. "Good."
And so he held her, pondering on what a strange enigma she was, and how lucky he was to have met her.
Her eyes trailed on his chest, her eyes hazing slightly as she caught view of the white fur tucked under his shirt. She was going to faint! Dammit! Why did Shadow have to be so damn sexy? Her eyes were clouding, images flashing through her eyes, heat pooling at her stomach.
"Amy…" His fingers fiddled with her quills, marveling at how soft and silky it was, and her fur, it brushed against him with her silken touch, a satiny feeling washing on him, her velvet like skin sending shivers down his spine.
"Hm?" He shuddered as her fingers brushed against the white fur, a groan rumbling in his chest, his mind blowing up in pure pleasure.
'So I found a sensitive spot…' She smiled, awed at the feathery soft touch flowing through her fingers, and he did nothing to stop her, trembling as fireworks of pleasure and ecstasy exploded within him. No one could ever bring him happiness like she did.
"Will you… will you stay with me?"
She smiled, understanding what he meant, but still stating the obvious, "I am with you."
He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent, mumbling his question into her ear. She pulled back, he opening his eyes slightly, his intense gaze searching her eyes. Her fingers crept down his chest, running down his arm before meeting his and curling with each other,
"Yes." He dipped down, fully intending on capturing her lips, growling in annoyance at the purposeful cry of his name.
"SHADOW!" He was so close too…
"Damn." She cursed, and he smiled slightly. Pulling away, they turned, meeting the rather humorous sight of Cream strangling Sonic.
"You idiot! They were going to kiss! Finally! Dammit! Do you know how many people are gonna be pissed about this? The bets are on! I've got FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS on this, FIVE HUNDRED FUCKING DOLLARS, so stop interfering, dammit!" Amy cleared her throat, catching their attention as the eyes of her childhood comrades turned to her, apologetic smiles thrown her way.
She smiled, her fingers lacing with Shadow behind her, away from the eyes of the others, but all were aware anyway, and Sonic was very tempted to say something, but held back, not wanting to destroy the newly formed friendship with her. But later…
She would be his.
"So…" Her eyes sparkling, his hand tightening around hers, "Anyone up for some cake?"
"I thought we were going to the bar…" Cosmo whispered, recieving stares from everyone. Yes, even Shadow.
He was watching her again, but he couldn't help it. She spoke of something important to do, but she didn't state it, making him more curious, and she was looking so damn lovely with the fall leaves surrounding her, he just had to!
Of course, he was an expert of blending with the shadows, or so his name stated, and slyly, he silently followed her, eyeing the strange box she held, as well as the way she held a solemn look about her.
And she was doing that thing again! He was really tempted to march up to her and grab her, but he slinked his way through, blending nicely and wonderfully with the patterns of dark abyss.
She… She was walking into a… a cemetery?
What in the world would she be doing in a graveyard?
And she moved with precision, her movements sure and steady, as if she'd walked down this road before.
She stopped, right in front of a rather large tombstone, a strange one actually, one decorated with faded stickers and rhinestones.
Kane Rose.
Rose… Could this… possibly be her husband? Amy couldn't be married, could she? No! Not A-
"Hey Dad." Oh…
"Long time no… hear? I guess. Whatever, sorry for not visiting you that often." Her chiming voice rang in his ears, and she was humming a small tune as she began listing some of the things in her life, as well as incredulities of how the deceased man was doing underground… or above.
"Hm… Hey, Shadow, think you can help me here?" He froze, shoulders tense, but she shot him a knowing smirk. She… She knew!
Dejectedly, he stepped out from his hidden darkness, walking up to her before stopping beside her.
"How did you know?" She smiled.
"I just do." He wondered about the reality of this female, and how powerful she misleads to be.
His eyes fell on the tombstone, and he went silent.
"He died a while ago, six years ago actually." She seemed to answer him, but rather than crying or becoming depressed, she was smiling.
Damnable confusing woman.
"He must've been a great person." He spoke, more out of sympathy than anything. It seemed more appropriate to do than anything, but she didn't seem to mind, instead smiling wider as she pulled out a bunch of white roses settling them in front of the large rock.
'Amy hates roses. Her father loves them…?'
"Actually, he was a total dick." Shadow's eye twitched.
"A real jerk, too." She added, looking thoughtful. Pursing her lips slightly, her nose scrunching and making the adorable look that was Amy, she continued, "I guess you can say he was a good person at heart. He's a total ass when it comes to attitude but…"
She smiled softly, pulling out another item from the box, "He loved me very much."
He wasn't really sure what to feel at the moment, but he was surely in disbelief and slight annoyance when he caught sight of what she was holding.
There, on the front cover of the magazine, was a very familiar looking and rather gorgeous male pink hedgehog, posing with his pristine white shirt open to reveal a rather chiseled six-pack, a pearly white very familiar smirk, and mischievous green eyes, surrounded by red roses, the male himself holding one.
"He was a half European super male model." She stated, setting the magazine against the tombstone, the large silver writing on the paper glinting in the sun.
"Total womanizer, too, but I guess that's expected."
"You take after him." She grinned, giggling lightly.
"I know, but I don't think I work as a male model." His lips twitched slightly at her humorless joke.
"Your mother?" Her grin faltered, her eyes taking a sad tint, and Shadow immediately regretted asking.
"I don't really know. I know that she died but…"
"You don't have to tell me."
"Argh! Shut up! I'm explaining my guts to you!" He grinned slightly, looking down at her as her eyes fell back on the large stone.
"A while back, when dad was still alive, I got really curious. He told me that she died, but he refused to give me any details, or what happened, at least. I know, he's hurt, a lot. He always gets sad and upset when I mention her…"
"Anyway, I got curious, and I started to, you know…"
"Research?" She grinned at his suggestion, but she gave him hers, "Spying and snooping, really."
"Father, although a male model, a really famous one at that, was really busy, he was actually rather smart." Her eyes sparkled.
"He covered the story really well, mostly destroying evidence of the whole thing, but I managed to recover some scraps and bits of the story, and I'm still not sure what exactly happened."
Her fur was brushing against him, the cool autumn air breezing every little while, sending quills flying and shivers producing.
"Well, clues lead me to either my father had a one night-stand and she figured it out and left him or…"
"Or she left him for someone else." Shadow finished for her, their eyes locking.
"Yeah, but I think that… that she really did love my father, you know. And I knew, even though my father always hid it really well, I knew, he was… secretly hurting inside." She broke their eye contact, resting on the box again,
"You don't believe either story." Shadow stated, and Amy was rather surprised at how well he knew her.
"Yeah… I think that… someone else was in the story." Shadow blinked.
"You believe that there was an interference between your parents."
"Yes. I was young, but I wasn't stupid. My parents loved each other too much to let the other go just like that. Especially my dad. He's really stubborn and kinda stupid too, and goes out of his was way just to make sure my mother is happy." Doesn't that situation sound familiar?
"I'm very aware that my father had a few enemies; he always did love getting on people's nerves. And mother gained a bunch after getting together with father. While getting curious and all, I went through my dad's medical records, you know, just to see anything interesting."
Of course he was curious, scooting closer, he mumbled, "What did you find?"
"The usual, health pills, vaccines, but… something wasn't right."
"Hm?"
"A drug for prescription. The medical reason stated that my father was having mental withdrawals and blackouts, but if something like that happened, he'd have to pulled out of modeling until he was better, but he shot his huge modeling gig the day after the prescription was dated."
"So?"
"I called in a few favors, got hackers on my side and I began my 'research'"
"And…"
"And I found that the prescription drug they'd given my father was a false."
"Fake medicine?"
"It was actually... sex pills. You know, the one that made you go wild in need of… you know." She was red, but she couldn't help it! Shadow's chest fur was driving her insane!
"So?" Yeah, like he was unaffected by it…
"Interference. My dad slept with a woman, but that's where everything gets really suspicious." She paused a bit, "At first glance, it could be coincidence, but the odds are far too much. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find this information, but the woman my father bed that night was the perfect exact image of my mother."
"Why? Why? How could I have been so stupid? Luna! My Luna…"
"No wonder it's suspicious." Amy grinned at Shadow's scoffing remark, and he finally sat down beside her, and instantly, her fingers sought his.
"Anyway, the next day, it was posted out, and somehow the news reporters already knew that this wasn't my mother, and they, you know, hid the lady's face to wrap up the whole scheme."
"What happened next?"
"Mother didn't believe it, until dad confessed."
"She left him."
"No! Don't go! I swear, darling, I'll make it better! Please, you can't leave me! I know I made a mistake but… please… don't go."
"Of course. Loyalty was everything to my mother. She had pretty bad experiences with cheating, so this just worsened everything."
"Then?"
"Father was heartbroken, and that's when he began having withdrawals and blackouts. But it was definatly the worst when mother passed away."
"She… She's gone Amy…"
"What happened to you?"
"They fought guardianship, but the answer was clear when she was gone."
"How did she…"
"Sick. She got really sick and depressed and passed away."
"Oh." Their fingers laced with one another.
"That's when father's big modeling career started."
"Your mother's death resulted in his success?" She laughed at his notion.
"You could say that. Unattached and depressed, he devoted himself to his work. I guess, although I didn't like it back then, but then again, I was really, really little, so I didn't understand why modeling and jumping from one woman's bed to another helped him heal, but in a weird way, it did… but he'd never forgiven himself for what happened to mom, and he committed himself to never loving again."
She smiled slightly, pulling out a picture frame. "He always told me love hurts, that I should never do it, I should distance myself away from people."
"You never listened to him."
"No way! He was being a total idiot. Besides, I didn't see him that often anyway."
"He doesn't live with you?"
"No, modeling gigs take him around the world. I lived on my own, but he always sent plenty of money to fund my life."
"Honey, Daddy's got to go. He has work… no, I can't stay, but I'll visit you sometime. Look out for me in a couple of months, okay kiddo?"
His hand tightened around hers, and she smiled brighter, "You never thought to catch the person who started all of this?"
"Well yeah, but there are far too many people to narrow it down for, and father demanded a stop to my search when he found out I was 'researching'."
"Enough with this nonsense! Stop searching for her! She's gone!"
"And did you?"
"Of course not, I was as stubborn as he was. But maybe it was…" She trailed off, her head resting on Shadow's shoulder,
"There was this day… when he finally didn't block himself, didn't hide, and finally broke down, begging me to stop that I did. He couldn't take it; he was still in a lot of pain, even after all those years. He begged me, saying he didn't want me to know, didn't want me to leave him like she did, didn't want to… to lose me like he lost her. He believed if I discovered the truth, he'd lose me too."
"Amy, please… not you too. You're all I have."
Their eyes fell on the picture frame, the photo inside really beautiful.
The male from the magazine was there in the photo, smiling like he was the luckiest man in the world, an extremely adorable possibly four-year-old Amy waving happily to the photo, a banana plushie in her hand?
The female hedgehog was noticeable though, gorgeous, happy, and a very familiar smile that can be related to the Amy smile. White, very very white fur, in a nice red summer dress, and sparkling purple eyes… and she was holding a banana plushie in her hand.
"What's with the banana?"
Amy smiled embarrassedly, "Eh… There used to be this show about fruits and my… eh… my favorite character was the banana."
He stared at the photo again.
"Her name?"
"Luna."
"The moon?"
"Yeah."
After more staring of the picture for a while, he noted the many similarities between the pink little female and her mother, and in a sort of way, although wrong, knew why a modeling job, one that separated him from his daughter, helped him heal. "He saw you as her."
"In a sort of way, I guess. Our relationship sucked and rocked at the same time. You know, I pissed him off a lot."
"Really?"
"Yeah, with my canny ability to get on his nerves like no other, also, since I never did anything he expected me to do."
"He expected you to hate him after abandoning you."
"You know me really well." She whispered, smiling at him, and he gave his own smile back, pulling her closer to him. He cherished her warmth, as much as he cherished moments like these when it was just them, together, and he could…
"It pissed him off. A lot and…" She suddenly laughed, leaning more into his shoulder.
His eyebrows furrowed as he pondered on what was just so funny, but she answered him, "You know, you're the first person I've ever told this."
"You never spoke of it?"
"Well, only Cream, Knuckles, and Tails even know that I had a father who once existed, but you're the first person to ever hear the story."
"Why me?" Their voices were suddenly low and husky.
Her eyes were sparkling again, their foreheads barely touching, shoulder to shoulder.
"Because you're special." She whispered, and he grabbed her chin, because dammit, he wanted to kiss her!
But it was she, the only person other than him and Cream that wanted him to kiss her so badly, that stopped him.
Narrowing his eyes, he gave her a questioning look, wondering if she suddenly changed her mind and didn't want to…
"My father will hunt you down and haunt you till you go mad. It doesn't matter if he'd dead; he's willing to rise six feet to make sure a dude goes running away."
"You don't want me to… because we're in front of your father's tombstone in a graveyard and you believe he'll rise from the dead to come after me because his over-protectiveness of you lives on after his death and he still doesn't believe you should be around males?" She smiled, settling herself on his lap, her legs on either side of his waist, rubbing her cheek against his,
"Exactly."
Her jewels were sparkling, the stars twinkling in an ocean of green, her mouth was held in a gasp, her fingers barely touching the ends of her soft lips, and he wondered if he should claim those plump lips right now.
But he held back, loving the way her eyes lit up as she spotted the item in her hands, loving the surprised expression, loving…
His heart bubbled with pride at her reaction, his eyes watching her, her awed green hues shifting from him to the item in his hand, the one he held out for her.
"You…" Her voice was barely above a whisper, and he was extremely pleased, enjoying that he was able to bring such an expression from her, and doubts in his head of possible dislike for it completely dissipated as the joyous emotions flooded her wondrous windows of green.
Her eyes widened even more as he leaned forward, nudging the item to her, confirming that it was indeed for her, and he wanted her to have it.
"Oh… my god…" He practically used all his strength to hold back that smile that wanted to break on his lips.
She took a shuddery breath, shaking her head as she finally calmed herself down. "That… That's not for me… is it?"
He frowned, a line creasing his forehead as he decided to voice his actions, "Yes, it's for you."
"Shadow…" Her fingers gingerly touched the edges of the delicate gift, marveling how something that looked so sharp could feel so smooth.
"Wh… Why?" Her voice was so quiet, and he patiently waited for her to take it.
"Because I wanted to."
"This must have cost a fortune. Shadow… I can't accept this." She spoke reluctantly, and Shadow frowned.
"Yes you can, and you will." She was so stubborn, but the adorable pout on her face made his heart warm.
"Why… Why would you give it to me?"
"Because I made it for you." Her eyes widened in surprise, her already star-struck eyes shining with new respect and awe, and he didn't bother hiding that smile anymore.
"You… You made this?" Her eyes fell on the beauty, both the hedgehog and the wonderful structure his hands had created.
"Yes, now take it."
"Shadow…" His name falling softly from her lips, his favorite sound from her, and this time, he reached for her hand, wrapping his fingers around the soft, warm palm as he brought it to him and placed it over his other hand, the gift nestled gently between their hands. Pushing it towards her, his hands slipped away, leaving her to stare in amazement.
"It's beautiful." Indeed, it was. In her hand, a flower like no other rested in her hand. A flower, so distinct from any other, a glorious sun beginning with in the middle, the vibrant colors washing together in a wonderful blend, the red of Shadow's eyes melting into a deep orange, fading to a wonderful hue of sunny yellow, washing into a glorious gold before waving into the pristine colors of white before ending in marvelous pink that blended perfectly with her own fur. He had made it perfect, made it exact, his hands crafting this beauty. Her fingers brushed against the smooth surfaces of the petals, feeling as if it were clear glass, but the material was stiff, and very hard, and she doubted it would crack if she threw it to the ground.
Cupping the bottom, her eyes widened as she felt his fingers dig into her hair, a soft, tickly feeling resting on her ear as the sweet scent filtered in her nose, immediately recognizing the hint of the grape syrup delved within.
Lifting her eyes, her happiness indescribable, her heart racing. She already knew what he had done, her fingers lifting to touch the soft petals of the real flower.
"How did you…" She trailed off her eyes meeting his, falling back to the crystallized form of her favorite flower.
"A Plumeria?" He nodded at her, his fingers brushing against the beautiful flower resting so wonderfully in her hair.
"Flames of the Sun." He recited, happiness filling him as she smiled at him.
"You… you got the exact one." She looked at him in awe, an unbelievable expression in her eyes that just seemed to boost his pride.
"Yes." His eyes softened at her smile, the delicate way she held his gift as if it were glass.
"How… how did you get this?" She caught his eyes, her delighted sparkle meeting his gaze, and he spoke softly.
"Does it matter?" He fingered the live flower in her hair, the one she was speaking of.
"You went through so much trouble." Their voices were low, only loud enough for each other to hear, but no one else.
"It was worth it." He spoke honestly. It definatly was worth it. He saw her smile, he made her happy, and it made him happy that she was happy. It was the least he could do. A flower in comparison to changing his whole world. It seemed he received the better end of the deal, and his desire to make her happy, well, he was happy to comply.
Change his world… She did more than that. Flipped it, turned it, and morphed it into something completely new. She had given him new eyes, and everything seemed to… have colors now. Not that he couldn't see colors before, but he… he could actually see everything, every color, and everything was so bright, so colorful.
Especially around her.
He smiled at the familiar warm feeling of her wrapped around him, and he responded immediately, holding her tightly as he nuzzled his nose against her shoulder, rather enjoying her pleasant scent mixed with the flower's sweet grape aroma.
"How in the world did you get a flower that grows in Thailand?" She mumbled into his shoulder and he chuckled, nuzzling his cheek with hers, relishing the soft, warm, fuzzy feeling between their contact, the feel of her sending tingles through his body.
"Shadow…" She blew against his ear, smiling at the shiver she produced. She loved enticing reactions for him, it thrilled her. Especially his chest fur…
"Thank you so much. You… have no idea how much means to me." She whispered, and he smiled, his fingers running through her hair, tugging the band away and throwing it to the side, inaudibly sighing as her wild hair brushed against his face in their descent, her sweet aroma hitting him tenfold.
"I didn't know you were an artist." Amy noted, and Shadow shook his head, his nose still nuzzling her neck.
"I'm not."
"Well, then, you should really start being one." She smiled against him, pulling away as her hands wrapped around his larger ones, "You have very beautiful hands."
His eyes shone with an unidentifiable emotion, his gaze held on the woman before him, and only her. She was all he had, all he needed, and he never planned on letting go.
"You should become an artist."
"No."
"Why not? You can obviously become one! This… This is very beautiful." She breathed out, her breath somewhat taken by the intense look in his eye as he stared at her.
"I do not wish to become one. What I create, I create for you. Not for anyone else." He spoke honestly, and Amy's heart lifted, tears gathering in her eyes, Shadow's eyes widening.
"Wh… Why are you crying!" She shook her head, lightly pounding her fist on his chest.
"You… You idiot!" She pressed back into his chest, and he smiled, holding her close, happier than ever.
"You know, too much coffee will give you sugar high issues." Amy stated, sipping lightly on her chilled lemonade. Tails ignored her, gulping down the steaming liquid down his throat as they lazily strolled through the streets.
"Don't you remember when Charmy drank some coffee?" Tails shoulders tensed, recalling the incident.
"Yeah but… Charmy already had sugar high issues." He replied smartly, resuming gulping down the caffeine.
"That's my point! It's exactly the same!"
Tails raised a brow, "How is it the same? Charmy already has sugar high issues while I am drink-"
"It's the same!" She yelled out in frustration, bluntly closing the discussion as Tails shook his head amusedly.
They walked in a content silence, several colored bags held in Amy's hands.
"Ooh! Check out that stuffie!"
"The… what?" His gaze followed Amy's finger, his eye twitching when he realized she was pointing to a stuffed Pikachu.
"So what? It's Pikachu."
"IT'S PIKACHU!" Amy yelled loudly, catching attention, but before it was drawn to her, she zoomed into the store, emerging ten seconds later with a new bag in hand.
"Was that necessary?"
"Very." She grinned, and he couldn't help but grin back.
"Wait… Why would you need a Pikachu?" He questioned, aware of her sudden extremely bright mood.
"I don't need it."
"Then why did you buy it?"
"I'm gonna give it to Shadow." Tails blinked, not sure if he was hearing right.
"Shadow?"
"Yeah! That guy has no stuffed animals! It's just not normal."
Tails eyebrow twitched. 'What are you talking about? It's not normal for a guy to have stuffed animals.'
But he didn't question her antics.
"I mean really, who does he cuddle with at night?" She spoke haughtily, and Tails just chuckled, although he paused at the sound of their names being yelled.
"Amy! Tails!" The blue hedgehog suddenly materialized in front of them, a grin on his face as he greeted him, but his attention was immediately focused on Amy.
"So, watcha doin'?"
"Hey to you too." She rolled her eyes, but held a grin anyway.
"So, Amy…" They began small conversation, but something strange happened.
"That guy is a total dick!" He grinned, but then everything stopped when she laughed. Her lips parting, light, laughter of bells tinkling in the air, and then his heart swelled, it burst, it soared, it did something, but all he could do now was stare at her lips, wondering what they tasted like. There was no Sally to stop him, nobody to stop him. He was single, she was single, and he was dying to sample her sweet lips…
"Sonic?" She blinked, wondering why he was suddenly staring at her like that. He wasn't even focused on her; he looked more like he was focused on-
Her eyes flew up in shock as he smashed his lips onto hers, wrapping his hands around her arms, locking her in place as he forced his tongue into her mouth.
"Mmph!" It was all happening too fast. She couldn't tell what was going on. She didn't want this! She didn't!
Something wet slid down her cheek, sparkling like a crystal in the sun, but her body wouldn't move. She couldn't move!
'Somebody! Help me!'
And then a fist flew out of nowhere, smashing into Sonic's cheek as he was forced away from Amy, flying several feet away.
She stumbled back, falling on to the ground, her feet under her while her hands fell limply at her side.
"T…Tails?" She trembled, looking behind her, the fox still in shock, frozen in the same place. Turning back, she looked up, red met green, and she knew she was safe.
"Shadow…" He stood protectively in front of her, his eyes on fire, his fury rolling off of him, his rage trembling in sheer force.
Sonic stumbled to his feet, his fear rocketing when he caught the look of fury on Shadow's face. He had never seen such an angered look in his life.
And so the fighting began, people a safe distance away, but close enough to observe, Amy on the floor, staring in numb shock at a spot on the floor.
Sonic… kissed her. He kissed her! Why… Why the fuck would he kiss her? Why would he…
That bastard! He KISSED her! Her! Amy Rose! The damn chick who had been craving his attention ten years ago while he ignored her, but when she finally didn't give a flying fuck about him, he KISSES HER! So many emotions, all rushing through her head and blurring her vision. Too much was happening; she could barely comprehend what was going on.
Nothing, nothing on earth, the universe, could describe the fury, the hatred, the burning feeling coursing through him, the need to kill this son of a bitch fueling him. This bastard! The fucking blue hedgehog! He kissed his Amy! His Amy!
Nobody touched her! And this bastard dared to grab her and… kiss her! He was going to kill him!
And that abandoned, barely noticeable damp little circle on the ground, fueled him, knowing that this bastard caused her distress, his Amy…
But then his blood ran cold as her scream hit his ears, and he whipped around so fast he almost knocked the wind out of himself, but his heart refused to beat as he caught sight of his Amy, his precious Amy, the woman he was supposed to protect, being held by a massive huge robot, her tiny frame looking as if it was being crushed by the robot's large hand.
And so many things happened - his heart fell prey to the iciest blizzard in the world, a deep, sickly dread pooled in his stomach, his head clouded with so many thoughts, so many possibilities, his veins pumped, although the blood never seemed to move, and he cried for her, the burning need to… to protect her. He wanted her back, back where she really belonged.
He needed to hold her again.
Their eyes met, her fearful ones, his angry ones, and he ran, faster than he knew he could, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
Rage eyes narrowed as smaller, but surely strong robots landed in front of him, breaking him from view of his Amy.
"Amy!" He cried out, fist curling as he punched the first robot, a large hole throwing the machine back, but more kept falling, all blocking him from Amy as they shot towards him, and his eyes narrowed.
'Hold on Amy, nothing will stop me from getting to you!'
And with that, the battle started, screams of others as they ran away, kicks, punches, throws, the crunch of metal against bone, the screech of metal grinding against another, blood spilling onto the ground, desperate eyes searching.
He threw another robot away, and he finally caught sight of the giant robot, the one holding his angel captive, and his worry, his anguish, his misery, his despair, his need - all came crashing down on him as his hand tried to reach her.
"Amy!" He called for her, and she painfully opened her eyes, shooting him a weak smile that made his heart call out for her, his blood boiling. This large robot would be nothing but a tin can by the time he was done with it!
"Amy!" The blue hedgehog called out to her, stepping forward, and she cried out in pain once more, the robot crushing her the closer they got, and the blue one received a venomous glare from the black hedgehog.
"Amy…" A while away, the weak orange fox stepped out of the shattered window, several shards of glass protruding from his body as blood poured from his wounds.
"Amy!" He called out to her, his hand arching forward, trying to reach her, but he could do nothing but watch helplessly as his best friend, his sister, his mother, his everything, was taken away.
Everything was happening so fast…
"Shadow…" So quiet, barely audible, but he'd know his name from her lips anywhere, and for the first time, the feeling of sheer dread and desperation filled him, anger upon realizing that he couldn't do anything without hurting his darling, and for the first time:
He felt helpless. Absolutely and undeniably hopeless.
Weak. He...
"Amy!" The robots, they came back, reaching him and wrapping their cold metal claws around him, holding him back. He struggled, but too many robots… and all he could do was attempt and fail to pull his body away from their iron grip, and then he looked up, and their eyes met for just a moment, and he hated himself more than ever.
He was failing her, and she didn't look at him with hatred, with bitterness. She was looking at him with those warm, loving, beautiful green eyes of hers. She wasn't angry with him, like she should be. She… she kept staring at him with that gentle, caring...
And it was truly killing him, because he failed her, and she still…
She was being taken away, she was being pulled away from him, and he could do nothing, NOTHING, as she tried to reach for him, he trying to reach for her, but she was still ripped from his grasp, taking his heart with her and leaving an incomplete man.
He was useless, pathetic, a damn excuse of a man trying to save the woman he…
"No!" Shadow cried out, not caring who watched as he fell to his knees, the robots all disappearing after their leader, shoving his fist into the ground, a large hole created as he felt a strange sensation pricking his eye.
"Dammit!" He screamed out his anguish, repeatedly smashing the ground with his fist.
Amy… Amy… Amy…
Gone… She was gone…
Amy… Amy… Amy…
He lost her…
Amy…
Was it raining?
He…
Amy…
His eyes widened as he realized what he was doing.
Amy…
He… he wanted to cry…?
He… wasn't crying-!
He never cried. Ever. He didn't cry. Never. Not for anything, not for anyone.
Amy…
He let his forehead rest on the ground, let his tears fall, let his fear run over him, let the guilt wash over him. Amy was gone. Gone…
"Get up." Sonic's voice was cold, colder than he ever thought, but dammit! His conscious wouldn't leave him alone. The black hedgehog, grudgingly but admitted, was the strongest person he knew. Strong, respected, feared, prideful, that was Shadow. And… and seeing him like this was wrong, and he couldn't…
"Argh…" Sonic groaned, shakily getting up and rubbing his cheek. "That really hurt."
Well, he kind of was expecting Shadow to punch him, but it really hurt!
"You son of a bitch!"
"Well… at least you're up." Failed attempt of a joke.
"She's gone! Gone!" Shadow yelled, although his repeated words lowered to a whisper, the most dejected look Sonic had ever seen on someone.
The one when a man loses the woman he loves.
He hung around Amy too much, but this had to be done. He needed to know… exactly how Shadow felt about Amy.
He couldn't believe he was doing this… but he had to do this… for Amy.
He had kissed her, felt incredible, but she...
He didn't doubt that it would be him, Sonic the Hedgehog, would have her. He sure as hell wasn't going to let Shadow have her, but he wasn't stupid, and knew that, by looking at the black hedgehog, that he could sympathize. He lost Amy, and as unbelievable as it is, contrary to his previous belief… Shadow just might have feelings for Amy too. And for once, he couldn't blame him.
It all happened so fast. How in the world did it happen?
'Well… I know I should be worried but… this… this is my chance to… to get back the old days. This is what I've been waiting for! A robot, a problem, and I'll be the hero, and Amy… It'll be like old times…' After that a thought, the idea of Amy being his, being his fan girl once more, pumped him as he did what he had to do.
"So, I'll get her back." Throwing on a smug and arrogant façade.
"You? If you hadn't-" Sonic dodged, narrowly missing the fist.
"Yeah? If I hadn't what?" Provoking the black hedgehog without reason was fun, but he had a purpose here.
"She could be killed this very instant!" His words hit them both, and they both paused.
Amy… gone…?
No, it wasn't possible…
"This isn't an old childish kidnapping, you stupid bastard!" Shadow lashed out, although his shoulders trembled with fury and fear. Amy…
"This bastard has her… and he can do anything!" Sonic knew Shadow was speaking about the blue hedgehog's heroic past. Knew that he was talking about the days were a robot kidnapping was just a foot through the door and save the day. Amy would never really get hurt and…
But this was reality… the old kidnappings had faded and… It was bad enough that this was happening now, a time where this... this situation, the robots, the attacks, this wasn't supposed to exist anymore. How was this even happening...? And...
And this guy could do anything!
Sonic's own panic had started to rise as the weight of the situation began to sink into his mind. With wide eyes, he searched for the one person possibly stronger than him, the man who looked his equal and opposite, and saw his reflection.
Shadow was slipping as well, because the one thing that gave him reason to get up… could very well be under the edge of a knife.
No… They had to get her back! They couldn't give up! Sonic the Hedgehog was a hero, so a hero he would be!
'But first…' His eyes fell on the black hedgehog. Red eyes stared blankly at a spot, the same spot Amy was taken, he realized. And the look on his face… No! No! Shadow couldn't give up! Amy wasn't gone yet! She could still very well be alive and…
No… His own resolve was weakening. He had to act fast!
'First I need to convince Shadow… and… I need to know if it's Amy he's really fighting for… or the way she makes him feel. If he's willing to do anything for her, then we've got a shot!' He shivered in anger at the thought. Really, he was becoming like Amy if he was doing weird things and forcing people into self realizations.
"So, I'll save her, I always do."
He leaned back, Shadow's foot sliding by his face, before he threw a few attacks of his own.
"I'm the hero here, back off Shadow, I'll save her."
"You? You're a-" Dodge. "-fucking phoney!"
"And what are you? An angel? Leave saving Amy to me, I can do it better than you ever could." 'He's close to cracking, I just gotta find the right words…'
"YOU? Amy's gone because of you!"
"And you're busy moping around. Obviously you can't-" Lean back! "-save her!"
Shadow didn't say anything, although guilt shadowed his features, and Sonic actually halted from the sadness and pain he found. Shadow… blamed himself? Why… Why would he blame himself? He didn't do anything wrong…
'Attacking the way he didn't protect her won't work, because he actually believes it. How… How stupid! Why would he think that he didn't protect her? There were too many, we were outnumbered, and… and it's been so long since I've fought, that I can barely remember how to destroy a robot… Argh! That doesn't matter! I…' Sonic paused for a moment, an idea formulating in his head. 'His feelings. It's obvious Shadow cares about Amy, so I attack that, and he's sure to confess, making him realize, and he'll end up gathering the determination to save Amy himself.'
(Flashback)
"Well, this is kind of weird." Amy shrugged before adding, "But I guess I live for weird stuff."
Looking before her, Silver, Knuckles, Tails, Cream, Cosmo, Sonic, and a bunch of random people she didn't care about were sitting in their seats, and with wide eyes, she idly wondered how University teachers handled so many eyes staring at them like this. It was like half a stadium, many students in their seats, and they all had shocked, surprised, and any form of disbelief on their faces. Why would they look like that, you may ask? As well as to why she was standing at the front of the room? Well…
"How in the world did you get Mr. Hoot to drag the Historical Geography teacher into the closet?"
Amy grinned nervously, "I dunno."
"Aw, come on Amy!" Cream shouted from the middle of the room, enjoying her embarrassment, "It's about time we learned your secret! How did you get Mr. Hoot to become a horn dog?"
"It was probably the Playboy pictures." Silver and Knuckles snickered at the remark.
From the front of the room, Sonic watched intensely and amusedly at the shifting pink hedgehog. She always did seem to get herself in messes she wasn't supposed to get herself in. What she had done: she had come in late, Mr. Hoot about to sentence her to death when she suddenly began this talk of how hot the Historical Geography teacher looked today. Mr. Hoot was about to shout at her and pull out a knife when she suddenly started to blabber this shit… that Mr. Hoot actually listened to. It was as if she was pumping him up for a match, and by the end, Mr. Hoot was so determined for something that all Amy had done then was shout a 'go for it' and Mr. Hoot ran out, coming back with the Historical Geography teacher in hand, who did look kind of hot, and they had stomped to the back of the room, taking the back closet, and haven't come out since.
They all knew what was happening in there though.
"What did you do?" Tails exclaimed, eager to gain more knowledge.
Psh, yeah right to that! Wouldn't anyone what to know the secret to cheating death from your Math teacher?
"I got him laid. You all said he needed to anyway." That got a laugh from the class.
"No, really Amy!"
"Yeah, come on Ames!"
"Aaaaaaamy!"
"Yeah! Yeah!"
A look of irritation crossed her face, and Sonic chuckled at the string of curses only he could hear. Normally, he sat in the middle, or the back, but when Amy had begun her 'speech', he had shoved every person there was to get to the very front, and he probably traumatized and scarred that poor nerd for life.
He didn't care.
"Erm… okay. All I did was…" She sighed in frustration, her eyes washing over the crowd as she lifted her hand, placing her finger over her lips as she rested her head on her fist, a thoughtful look cradling her delightful features.
"Hm… I kinda… made him realize." Sonic's ears perked, a great sense of zeal and curiosity taking over, and soon, he was unconsciously leaning forward in his seat.
"Realize…?" It was barely a whisper, but it didn't matter, for many others had repeated it aloud. Of course they wanted to know Amy's secret, although he doubted they'd be able to pick up her unique tactless talent for placing it under commission. Still, he was curious, and also wanted to know of her ways. Get to know her better…?
"Umm… well… it's sort of like a weak point you have to find and… well, when you find it… sometimes you can tell if he hasn't realized it and..."
She groaned in frustration, although she snapped her fingers after a moment's thought.
"Perfect." She whispered to herself, but Sonic heard.
"Basically," She grinned deviously, seating herself on the owl's desk as she began opening the drawers one by one, searching for something. "I figured that Mr. Hoot was unmarried, he'd be awfully lonely."
She grinned at everyone, some shooting her knowing smirks, "And one is awfully lonely, one is awfully horny."
Chatters of agreement began, but Tails cut in. "Then how'd you know it would be the Historical Geography teacher?"
"'Cause she's so boring! They're perfect for each other." Many murmurs of agreement began on that one.
Hands digging into the locked drawer, Silver's useful technique of breaking and entering, as he taught her, coming to use as she opened in and cried out in triumph as she found what she wanted.
"And…" Pulling her item out, she flashed it for the whole class to see, gasps, giggles, yells, and knowing proclamations echoing. "Because of this."
Of course, why else would Mr. Hoot have a bunch of photo-shopped photos of the Historical Geography teacher in various poses of… acknowledging anatomy.
"So you got him to realize he wanted the Historical Geography teacher?" Cream questioned curiously. Amy nodded eagerly, walking to a student at the edge of the class, an order for copies to be made as the colleague nodded in agreement.
"Is it really that easy?"
"Well," Amy pressed her finger against her cheek, "you gotta choose the right tactics, in order to make him get a self-realization. Once you do that, he'll build his own confidence and determination, so the rest is on his own. In other words, after he realizes what he wants, he starts remembering stupid crap or something along those lines, and it will go something like 'I can do it!' or he'll, you know, realize something, build self-strength and do what he knows is what he wants or what he has to do... i think." She scratched her head, but the class was pleased anyway.
"Well, when the world are we gonna use that?" Sonic questioned. It was pretty stupid after all…
"To get snuck out from giving your math homework." Amy shrugged
(End of Flashback)
'The right words, the right words… If I attack his feelings, he'll soon pick up the sad act and go for saving Amy... but what am I supposed to pinpoint?' Sonic thought as he skidded back from the force of another blow. A sudden resolve hardened in his eyes, and he smiled at his victory. 'I know…'
"You are cold, you mislead people, you're cruel, you can't even feel. You think you can save her?"
The red of Shadow's eyes flamed, the black in his anger rose. "You stupid faker, you're so delusional to believe you can save her, you're incapable of being visible to your own obvious weakness of idiocy. She was just taken, and you already claim that you have the power to overpower the same strength that had recently overcome you." 'Ouch. That was a point. Why do you think I'm trying to persuade you? It can't just be me.'
"So? I'll save her, and it'll be like old times. Remember when she told you that she was in love with me?" He snickered emptily. He'd never actually say words as these… at least not purposefully and meaningful.
"She doesn't love you!"
"Why do you even care? She means nothing to you."
"She means EVERYTHING to me!" His shoulders shook, from anger, from force, from exhaustion, from…
"Then let's go."
Shadow blinked, "What?"
"Let's go get Amy."
"We?"
"Yes, we, now come on, I don't got all day, and Amy needs us." Shadow was silent, searching him in suspicion, searching for any forms of distrust, betrayal, anything to make him back down from this deal, and Sonic let him, knowing that the hedgehog had every right to be suspicious of him.
Sonic the Hedgehog. A hero. A man of greatness. A leader, a natural at everything. But he, Sonic the Hedgehog, he… he had done many mistakes in his life, made too many enemies, and… it was time to make things right with the things that needed to be.
Tails was right. Knuckles was right. She was right.
Their eyes locked, eyes that hated each other for so long, and they formed a pact.
Holding out his hand, red eyes fell on the outstretched hand, locking back with jade eyes.
Palm met palm, red met green, rivalry met forgiveness.
"Let's get her back."
Wow, developing a like for Sonic, aren't I? I dunno, I think I've made him the bad guy long enough, especially after the last few episodes. But really, I love Shadow, think Sally's a bitch (sometimes. She can be cool –sometimes- but really… what are you supposed to think of princesses these days…), but eh… I think I'm growing a small liking to the blue hedgehog for some reason.
Any cure?
Ha, made it long too. I have no idea how I managed to pull that off.
AND HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYBODY! YOU'LL GET COOKIES SOMETIME THIS YEAR FOR READING THIS SENTENCE… MAYBE!
Anyway, tell me how ya liked it! (Yes, you can flame. It's understandable if you guys are weirded out by the beginning, cause i kind of freaked out too after reading what I did, but this is my story, and I decided adding something unexpected and... freaky like that would be good. Mix things up, you know? Make it unique, in a sort of way, I guess.)
Paranoid Crack Abuser~ Says Later!
