This is most certainly a romantic chapter. I'm really proud of this, hope you all like it. :)
Chapter 12: Walk Me Home
Rouge left Tails' workshop and was just about to take wing and head back to her house, when she heard someone calling her name. She turned. Knuckles was standing a few feet away, concern laced on his face. Rouge knew he didn't like to show weakness very often, and she was one of the only people who could draw it out of him.
"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked, lessening the distance between them and taking her hands.
"Of course," Rouge said, not willing to meet his indigo eyes. Normally one of the best liars in the business, Rouge felt herself having to be honest with Knuckles. He did something to her, made her walls come down. And then there was something about what happened up there that had shaken her.
She felt Knuckles' large, powerful hands give her more delicate, feminine ones a squeeze.
"You know I care about you, right?" Suddenly his face was very close to hers, and it was impossible to not meet his eyes.
Rouge wasn't accostomed to such...tenderness from Knuckles, or from anyone. No one had ever bothered to treat her like a lady before. Every other guy she had dated had just been after one thing, but Knuckles...he respected her and loved her, even though she sort of represented everything he was against.
When she'd seen him rush in after her, not caring about his own safety, how he'd been pissed to see her hurt...Rouge realized he truly loved her and cared about her well-being. This unconditional love...she realized it's what she'd really needed and had been seeking all along.
"I know you do," Rouge told him. "I care about you, too."
Knuckles smiled and then pressed his lips against hers. Rouge leaned in deeper, letting go of his hands and placing them on his chest. Knuckles wasn't exactly the best kisser in the world, but atleast he was passionate. She'd take the true love over the kissing any day. And besides, he'd get better with practice. She'd be happy to teach him.
Suddenly he pulled away just a little, so their noses touched, yet he could still talk to her.
"Just to let you know, any time you need bailing out...I'll be there," Knuckles said. "But now: I do believe I made you a promise. And I always try and keep my word."
Rouge's eyes lit up. So he hadn't forgotten.
"Would you like to come with me and check on the Master Emerald?"
"Does this mean you're going to let me have it?" Rouge teased him, her eyes dancing.
"No," he said. "But you can come look at it any time."
"Oh Knuckie," Rouge said and hugged him, tenderly nuzzling his shoulder. "You really know how to give a gal the best presents."
"Now don't get any ideas," Knuckles said roughly, though he was blushing like mad. "It stays where it is."
Rouge didn't care. She knew he had to act all tough, but he cared for her. It was so obvious.
She relased the echidna from the hug and he took her hand. The couple then started heading for Angel Island.
"So is it true that you really were going to work with Eggman?" Rouge asked him.
Knuckles looked away, embarrassed. "Yeah...I guess I just trust people too easily."
"I don't know, you were always suspicous of me trying to steal your Master Emerald..." she teased him.
"Was I wrong?" Knuckles asked, looking at her sideways. The two shared a rare laugh.
"But you're different though," Knuckles added, then wished he hadn't. Crap, now he was going to have to tell her his feelings...I am so not cut out for this. Words always failed him around this girl. As did his whole thought process. She had the two things he could never counter well: looks and intelligence.
"Oh?" Rouge asked. "And how so?"
"Well..." he started. "You're beautiful." Gah, he normally didn't say things like this, but she really was...Yes, brutal honesty had its shortcomings.
Could he really blush any more? Good thing it was dark outside. Then again, being a bat, Rouge had excellent night vision. Curses.
Rouge didn't know what to say. It was nothing to hear that she was beautiful; it was simply the truth. But to hear Knuckles say it...it meant something. Not only because she knew he wouldn't just say something like that...but also because she was falling more in love with this echidna every day, hour they spent together.
She felt heat on her cheeks and then she was really shocked. It took a lot for her to blush, but now it was just walking hand in hand in the rain through the forest as the man she was in love with called her beautiful. So you are finally going to admit that you love him?
Yes.
"You're not so bad yourself," she replied. "Do you know why I've always liked you, Knuckie?"
The echidna glanced at her, relieved that he didn't have to keep talking.
"You don't try and fool anyone," she said. "You are who you are. And I could always respect that about you."
"Even when I yelled at you?"
"Mmm," the bat said. "Especially then. Because you're so cute when you're mad."
Yes, he certainly could blush more.
Knuckles just nodded. He was tired, honestly, and was a little anxious to check on the Emerald.
The couple finally made it to Angel Island after walking the remaining miles in the rain. The echidna and the bat stood in front of the Master Emerald, trying to admire it despite their being no sun to illuminate it.
This was ground zero to them. What he had sworn to protect and she had sworn to steal. So in a way, it was both of theirs.
"You know," Rouge said. "Whenever I come here, it's to see you, and not the Emerald."
Knuckles snorted. "Right, like I believe that," he said, although he was a little touched.
"Hm. See if I ever come back again."
"Oh, I have no doubts you'll be back here."
Rouge smirked and gave him another kiss. "See you later, handsome."
"Good night, Rouge."
Then the bat flew off, eager to get some sleep. Knuckles was pretty tired himself. He lay down in his usual spot in front of the Emerald.
He'd had never been scared of the huge beasts that had tried to steal his Emerald...but Rouge had always struck a little fear into his heart. Maybe it was because she was so tricky.. Or beautiful. She was just intimidating, becuase Knuckles knew fighting her was a battle he couldn't win. He never liked to fight girls anyway, but this one...she always seemed to have the upperhand. It infuriated him how she was so cunning and gorgeous and manipulative. But back then...he hadn't just been afraid she would steal the Master Emerald. She had been stealing his heart, too, one piece at a time.
And now? He had ended up giving it to her. Strange how that worked out.
...xxx...xxx...
This will never, ever get old, Sonic thought to himself. Running with Amy in his arms. Could there be anything better?
Well, maybe if his ankle didn't feel like it was on fire. And if it wasn't still raining. Darn water always ruined everything. It had made him slip on the wing of the X-Tornado and turn his ankle.
Sonic felt the need to slow down a little after running a few miles, as the pain in his ankle was almost unbearable. Now it was just pain, pain, pain, pain instead of painpainpainpain. He was hoping beyond hope Amy wouldn't notice. Usually she watched him like a hawk, but maybe she was just tired now. All of them were.
"So what were you giggling about back there?" Sonic asked her.
"Oh," Amy said. "Just Tails and Cream."
"Tails and Cream?" Sonic echoed. "What about them?"
Amy rolled her eyes. "Sonic, are you really that clueless? They obviously like each other."
"You think?"
"I know."
"What makes you so sure?"
"How Tails lingered in the garage when we all went to eat and he came up with that lame excuse of having to fill up the X-Tornado. And he's been acting...strange."
Sonic looked down at her strangely. "How do you notice stuff like that?"
"Like how I'm noticing that you're practically limping?"
"What are you talking about?" Sonic feigned ignorance. Crap crap crap. He slowed down a little. "I'm... just tired."
"Aren't we all?" Amy said to Sonic's relief. He really dodged a bullet there.
He dropped her off at her house, and was about to give a kiss goodnight and catch some shut eye, but Amy pulled away from him.
"Sonic..." Amy said as she stood in the threshold, frowing a little. She hated the thought of him sleeping outside in this weather. "Are you sure you don't wanna..." she gestured inside.
Sonic felt his face grow hot. "Uh...Amy, I don't think...we shouldn't...uh, we're not married..." he said awkwardly, diverting his eyes.
Amy's eyes flew open. "Oh don't be such a perv," she said, and slapped him, although her own muzzle grew red at the thought. "I have a nice fluffy couch you can sleep on."
Sonic considered. He'd planned on sleeping on her rooftop tonight, just like he had so many times before (even before they had started dating). Of course, he'd never told her that, but sometimes he'd just had to make sure that she was safe. And by sleeping on her roof, he would ensure that if anything came to get her, they'd have to deal with him first.
But tonight, with it still pouring down rain and the wind blowing, and after that tough fight they'd had... why not let Amy pamper him for once? Besides, he really owed her.
"Alright."
Amy let out a sigh of relief, and wasted no time in going to her linen closet and pulling out a comforter and 3 pillows. Sonic followed her into her house, wondering what he'd gotten himself into.
"You spoil me, Amy. I don't need-"
"Sonic, don't try and argue with me. It's been a long day and you need your rest," Amy said firmly and walked right past him, carrying the pile of softness. Sonic followed her back to the couch and watched as she so carefully and lovingly set up a place for him to sleep, readjusting the pillows atleast 3 times.
Sonic couldn't help but smile to himself. He knew Amy really cared about him, and honestly, sleeping on the couch wouldn't be too bad. Sonic couldn't help but notice, as he watched her work, how much of a figure she was developing. Amy was really growing up into a pretty, sweet, brave young woman. And she was all his.
"Is this alrght?" Amy turned and asked him when she'd finished. The blush on his muzzle revealed he had been checking her out. She knew it; Amy could always tell when Sonic was looking at her. The thought made her redden.
Sonic examined the spread. "It's way better than how I usually sleep," he said, smiling at his girl.
"Well, aren't you going to give me a goodnight kiss?" Amy said and battered her eyelashes.
The next thing she knew, Sonic was embracing her and kissing her in quick succession, rapidly planting his lips all over her muzzle in short pecks. Amy gasped a little at the suddeness, but her air supply was further cut off when Sonic went for her lips. Amy kissed him back firmly, their lips dancing together, each enjoying the amazing explosion of feelings of being in each other's arms and making out. Amy gently stroked his back quills, causing Sonic to shiver a little from the pleasure of her gentle, loving touch.
Sonic pulled back slightly, panting from the rush, and studying Amy's now blushing face. It wasn't fair that she was this pretty. No one should be able to capture a guy's heart like this.
"I've been wanting to do that all day. And you know how much I hate waiting," Sonic whispered.
"How did you get to be such a good kisser?"
"From kissing you, of course."
"You better not be kissing anyone else."
"I don't need to."
Sonic couldn't help it, he just had to kiss her again. He leaned forward, letting their lips touch again, this time more delicately. Amy kissed him back, ever so sweetly. When their lips parted again, Amy lowered her nose to nuzzle his chest, bringing a smile up Sonic's face. Her bang-quills brushed his muzzle.
"Does this make up for everything I've done to you today?" Sonic whispered as he soothingly massaged her back.
"Mmm hmmm," Amy responded and drank in the brilliance of his emerald green eyes.
"You'd better get to bed, Ames. I have a feeling we're gonna have another big day tomorrow."
"Mmm, okay," she said reluctantly, and the two hedgehogs untangled themselves. Amy backed away but lingered at the corner of the living room, taking in the wonderful view of Sonic. He was so mind-numbingly good looking.
"Good night, Sonic."
"Good night, Amy."
Sonic winked at her and watched her disappear behind the corner, almost wishing there could be more, but knowing it wasn't right. They were too young. They weren't married.
Sonic sat down on the couch and started taking off his shoes. The left one came off without a hitch, but when he pulled the right one he winced as it revealed his now swollen and purplish ankle. Sonic gently touched it. Tender.
He really had sprained it. It didn't matter though: he wasn't going to let an ankle sprain put him out of commission. Hopefully it'd would go away by tomorrow; he really did heal well. Sonic let go of his leg and climbed under the covers, only to fall into a deep sleep.
What? Don't look at me like that. I mean, there has to be some morality on this website.
*steps off soapbox* Hope you all liked this chapter, I think it's some of the best Knouge I've ever written. The SonAmy...I've written better but I still like this scene.
