Shadow didn't like this anymore.

It was one thing to joke around about taking over the world and conquering the lands and reaping the treasures and spoils, but seeing the moon get hit with a laser? And knowing that this laser wasn't even at full power yet?

This was going too far for his comfort. He needed to get those emeralds and get out of there as soon as he could. There were just a few things that stopped him.

One: there was still one more emerald out there. Eggman was going to send out whoever and whatever he could spare to snatch it up, and he wasn't going to skimp on security for the six they had. If Shadow was going to take his gems and run, he was running with the full set.

Two: the emeralds they already had might trip off some kind of alarm if Shadow took even just one of them out of the core. He'd be caught before he reached the transporter, unless he managed the best footwork of his life.

And three: …

...what about Rouge?

Shadow frowned. He didn't know what was up with that bat. She acted so hot and cold, going from holding him at arm's length and ignoring and dismissing him, to complimenting him and patting his head, only to walk away from him, not looking back, as she went to go shoot highly-concentrated beams of energy at the moon.

What the fuck was even going on in that head of hers?

Shadow couldn't read her, and it made him uneasy. It made him even more uneasy that he still liked her despite that. That he wanted to keep her around. He wanted to soak up the fleeting moments of affection that she offered to him, wanted to believe that she really did have a soft spot for him, wanted to believe that maybe, if it came down to it, she would save him if he was ever in danger again.

All he wanted was to have people care about him, and she… she might have cared. Cared enough to save him, and not just the emeralds. Cared enough to talk to him, not just ignore him. Cared enough to comfort him, to pat his head, like a sibling might have done to an annoying little brother who drove her up the wall but she still liked at the end of the day.

Shadow wanted to slap himself for being so pathetic, but he couldn't help it. Was it really so wrong to hope for that? To want that care and protectiveness from someone else, when all he knew growing up was that the world was ready to chew him up and spit him out unless he could prove that he was worth a damn? To just be wanted, in a new kind of way, not by a watchlist or an angry jeweller or for a race and a little bit of banter from a handsome rival who never stuck around for very long?

Nothing Shadow had ever done in his life had worked in the way he had hoped. Becoming a renowned thief and surrounding himself with beauty had made his life better but not good. Boasting and putting on airs had made him more charismatic but got him no friends. And now, things were tentatively putting themselves together in a way he hadn't expected, and he didn't know how to keep it all in place. Not when he still wanted those emeralds. Not when his initial motive might lead to destroying the fragile bond he had made.

And if Rouge was truly set on destroying the planet, not just wielding that cannon for show, then… then Shadow would have to give up on her, and the thought hurt him so much more than it should have.

His head still swam with his dilemma as he walked into the central control room, but the sight of Eggman pacing angrily around and slamming his fist against any flat surface he could find brought him back into the present.

"Why are you so upset?" he asked, glancing from the doctor over to Rouge, who was standing nearby with her arms crossed. She didn't look too pleased either, but then again, she usually looked like that. "You really did something impressive and managed to create complete havoc on the whole planet! Does this now mean we control the planet and can do as we choose?" He couldn't help but let a teasing, mocking tone slip into his speech, and it seemed that Eggman caught on to it, because he looked seconds away from snapping at him.

Instead, Rouge spoke up. "At this rate, the cannon will take too much time to charge up. If you want to unleash its full potential, you'll need all seven Chaos Emeralds."

She had completely ignored him. Ouch.

"Where in the world have you been?" Eggman demanded, ignoring Rouge in turn to focus on Shadow. Not exactly what he wanted out of this whole exchange, but at least someone was giving him the time of day.

"Chill out, I've been doing my own work," he replied, waving away the question with a lazy flick of the hand. "And what's been going on here? Something happen?"

"Our threats fell on deaf ears," Rouge replied, and Shadow felt a surge of relief that she was acknowledging him again.

"So now you're throwing a tantrum like a little kid?" he taunted, watching Eggman's face contort in rage. He let out a chuckle. "How totally embarrassing!"

The doctor smacked his fist against the console, causing Shadow to jump in surprise. Maybe he had overdone it a little. "And what about your end of the bargain, thief boy?" he asked, pointing a finger at him. "What about that last Chaos Emerald? We had a deal, right? So, where is my emerald?"

"Calm the hell down." Shadow rolled his eyes, searching around his person. "Didn't I tell you I've been doing my end of the work? And after all the trouble I went through to print this out for you…" He took out a newspaper clipping, still recent news, and waved it in the doctor's face. Clear and right smack in the middle of the page was an image of a Chaos Emerald, the final one of the set.

"Why didn't you show me this before?" Eggman demanded, tearing the clipping from Shadow's hands, and the hedgehog huffed, putting his hands on his hips.

"Because we were on an island? That was going to explode? Get your priorities straight, I'm here to give intel when it's needed, not when we're about to be blown sky-high."

Eggman sent him a dry glare before reading the article in earnest. "Station Square saved from a life-threatening missile attack. The city has awarded its famed prize to the boy who saved Station Square. Miles "Tails" Prower was given the Chaos Emerald as a testament of his heroic deed at a ceremony held at city hall… Hrrrmph!" He lifted his head, already seeming in a better mood. "This makes things a whole lot easier! Hurry, go back to Earth and find them fast! I want that Chaos Emerald!"

With that, the doctor strode off, leaving Shadow behind with Rouge.

"Can you believe that guy?" Shadow griped, but Rouge was looking elsewhere, lost in thought. She murmured something under her breath, something that sounded a lot like 'soon', before walking past Shadow, not even sparing a passing glance.

Shadow's heart twisted in pain, and he stepped away, moving to the console, resting his hands on the metal. He was an idiot. An idiot for thinking that the smallest bit of decency was somehow a gateway into a closer bond. Rouge didn't care about him. Rouge didn't-

A hand landed on his shoulder, and Shadow nearly jumped out of his skin, whirling around to find Rouge looking puzzled at his reaction. "I'll go down to find the last emerald," she said. "I want you to stay up here. If something goes wrong with the technology, you can let us know and do some maintenance. I saw that you're good with it."

...She noticed that?

"You've also had a shocking experience. You still seem to be processing that."

Shadow frowned, turning his head away. "So I'll just slow you down, then?"

"...Did you not hear a word I just said?"

Rouge sounded so disappointed, and Shadow scrambled to fix it before she could run off and the guilt ate him alive for being so callous at her concern.

Her concern! She was concerned about him!

"No, I did! I just…" He clenched his fists, hating how he couldn't just put it into words without sounding whiny or pathetic or stupid. "...I'll make sure everything's in perfect condition for when you get back."

Was it a trick of the light, or did Rouge's face soften? Was he still entertaining the idea that she could care about him, or was this real?

The hand on his shoulder squeezed before letting go, and as Rouge turned away, Shadow heard her say, "About what I said earlier… you did a good job before, and finding this last emerald for us… you've been a great help. Thank you, Shadow."

With that, she left, and Shadow felt more elated than he'd felt in ages, because Rouge had thanked him! Rouge saw his value, his worth, and acknowledged it! He turned back to the console, eyes roving over the gems that glittered therein, and though he was tempted, he didn't even try to touch them.

He would do as she asked. He would stand guard, make sure everything was fully functional, and when push came to shove and everyone started to push their own agendas…

...maybe he would be able to convince Rouge to work with him instead.

Next chapter: Rouge and Eggman tail Tails, and Shadow does a little bit of research.