"Is he back online?"
Shadow's voice was the first thing Metal Sonic heard as he emerged from recovery mode. His optical sensors took in the sight of Shadow standing before him, watching intently. He was looking up at Metal Sonic—Metal Sonic had apparently been placed on a spotlit pedestal for repairs.
Eggman sat at a nearby console, then pushed himself away from, his chair rolling back. Eggman inspected his work. "That's right, he's good as knew," he said. "Really, the damage wasn't that extensive. I only had to…"
But Shadow kept staring up at him, tense, until Metal Sonic confirmed this himself by beeping at him.
"You know, Shadow, I truly do appreciate your bringing him back to me like this," Eggman said, "but how exactly did this happen in the first place? How did you come upon him? Oh, well, I suppose I'll just have to examine his memory files and find out for myself."
"No." Shadow turned to him. He clenched his hands into fists so tight they were shaking. "You will not be reviewing Metal Sonic's memory files. His memories aren't for you, Doctor."
"What do you mean? He's my own creation! Surely I reserve the right to look into—oh no." He wrung his hands as he glanced at Metal Sonic, then back to Shadow. "It's nothing like that, I assure you."
"Don't play dumb with me, Doctor!" Shadow leaped onto the console. "It's more of the same, and I already know you tampered with his memory at least once!" he snapped. "If you erase or alter Metal Sonic's memories again, you'll lose all of yours. I'll make sure of that!" as Shadow's voice rose, a blue light enveloped his body. At first, Metal Sonic thought it was from the backlit keyboard of the console, but as it rippled around Shadow and glowed brighter, it became clear it was emanating from him. It was like the effect of moonlight amplified tenfold. Metal Sonic longed to look as imposing and beautiful.
"P-Please, Shadow, have mercy!" Eggman cried. "Metal Sonic, help me!"
Metal Sonic stayed put. He smugly flashed the text, "Immobilized for repairs" on his display.
The blue light surrounding Shadow brightened. Even his eyes glowed with power. "You'd beg him for help after what you did to him?! You disgust me!"
"Why would I ever tamper with my greatest work of art? You don't have anything to worry about," Eggman said hastily. "'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,' that's what they always say!"
This pathetic floundering did not calm Shadow. "Chaos—!"
Metal Sonic was overtaken by waves of relief with this evidence that his and Shadow's battle did not mar their tentative friendship. Metal Sonic let out a series of tones, like he was humming a little lovestruck tune, as he thought about this. The sounds caught Shadow's attention, and while he was distracted, Eggman input the code on his console that allowed Metal Sonic free movement again. With this mobility, Metal Sonic put his hands together and slotted his fingers against each other. He was completely enamoured. Suddenly it dawned on Metal Sonic how exactly Sonic the hedgehog's rescue of Amy Rose solidified her desire to follow and support him forever.
"Uh… what?" Unfortunately, Shadow's aura dissipated when he noticed this—though the skin of his muzzle darkened. He reached back to adjust his quills while schooling his expression. He hopped off the console and approached Metal Sonic.
Metal Sonic eagerly stepped off of the pedestal so the two of them could be on the same level. His processor was abuzz with half-formed questions. "… … …Metal Sonic: no longer Shadow's enemy…?" He had drawn blood, had stuck the first blow. Why had Shadow spared him? Why did he protect him now? At least if Metal Sonic had defeated Shadow, it would have proven he was superior and deserved respect, but he had essentially forfeited the match—he was not worthy of anything from Shadow.
"You remember that I told you I asked Omega to spare you because I could relate to your struggles, right, Metal Sonic?" Shadow gently laid his hands on Metal Sonic's shoulder plates. "I also know what it's like to think the only way to be fulfilled is to kill… even if it isn't really what you want. And it was very obvious it wasn't what you wanted."
"Shadow: does not spare enemies due to simple understanding."
"You're right, I don't. If I thought there wasn't any hope of reasoning with you, I would have destroyed you and put you out of your misery," he said, in a low voice. "But in the Ifrit's dimension, you sacrificed yourself to save me. You couldn't have known for sure if I'd bring you back with me, or that you could be repaired…" he trailed off, looking down and to the side. Shadow had a distant look on his face, as if he was looking back through time and reflecting on the past. Pride surged through Metal Sonic—who else had been destroyed in Shadow's name? No one but Maria Robotnik!
Eggman took advantage of this silence to chime in with, "What are you whispering about over there?"
Shadow spun around and Metal Sonic mourned the loss of his hands on him—not that he could feel the touch, but the contact had eased his fears. "What we're discussing is none of your damn business!" Shadow gestured to the side, as if he were slapping Eggman away.
"Oh ho, I see now! That uncharacteristic blush on your face makes it obvious." Eggman brought his hands together. "I hope you know that you both have my complete and total support—one of my greatest creations and my grandfather's masterwork, together? What a wonderful sight to behold—"
Sparkling energy was summoned to Shadow's palm as he readied a Chaos Spear, aiming it at Eggman's head. "Get the hell out of here!"
With surprising swiftness, Eggman did exactly that.
Shadow rolled his eyes and sighed. "Some humans are as pathetic as I used to think they all were," he muttered. He and Metal Sonic shared a look.
Finally alone together, both found they did not need words. Metal Sonic slowly led Shadow down the halls of the base, the two of them walking side-by-side. Shadow kept staring at the machinery and the wiring. Metal Sonic could practically feel his comparing it to the Ark. Shadow was probably also memorizing the layout in order to lead a raid against it later, and Metal Sonic was quietly pleased at shirking his security duties. When the two of them passed by Orbot and Cubot, the two robots retracted into their compact forms, shivering in fear. Metal Sonic added a note to his database that romantic feelings resulting in a quieting and clarity of the mind. He would never have guessed before experiencing it himself. As he and Shadow walked, Metal Sonic noticed their reflections in the green-tinted glass of the chambers Eggman used to store his in-progress creations—the kind Metal Sonic had been held in while being upgraded. Shadow and Metal Sonic had similarities, like their red eyes, but they had neither been designed to fit together, nor to oppose each other. After years of despair, Metal Sonic had surpassed his programming.
When he and Shadow reached the exit and raised the door, letting in the late night air, Shadow wordlessly held out a hand. Metal Sonic reached out partway, but hesitated. He looked down at the ground, where the bright light of the base was spilling out. Metal Sonic kicked at the dirt.
"When you feel ready to talk to me again, come find me. I'll be waiting," Shadow said.
As Shadow skated away so fast leaves were pulled from the trees, Metal Sonic zoomed in, tracking his movements until he was out of sight. Metal Sonic stood listening to the sounds of night creatures and staring at the moon. He was left with the irrational thought that the moon was shining for Shadow. A shadow always revealed the path to a light, after all.
Neither the bright rainbow of lights nor the jazzy music were enough to make Shadow raise his downcast eyes and sagging ears as he and Rouge lingered outside of her club.
Rouge had her arms crossed over her chest. "So you're telling me he did admit to having a crush on you, but then he tried to kill you when you offered to help him? Why am I not surprised this would happen to you, Shadow," she said. "Now you understand why Sonic is always running away from Amy." She gave him a sympathetic smile. "But this is great! If we ever need to get an in on Eggman, you can flirt with Metal Sonic! I'll teach you how—" When Shadow still did not respond, she abruptly changed her tone. "Shadow… I thought you said everything had been resolved between you two. What's wrong?"
"I just hope he makes the right choice one day," Shadow said softly, finally looking up. "He claims to have these feelings for me—which I don't understand—but he's still unable to follow the path I traveled."
"He's just taken the first steps," Rouge said, "don't act like your journey was a short one. Besides, I'm sure he appreciates everything you've done for him. I'd imagine that's why he ended up with a crush on you in the first place. You know, you do so much for people, it shouldn't come as a surprise that someone would fall for you." She pointed to the street and called out, "Isn't that right, Metal Sonic?"
Metal Sonic finally revealed himself from behind one of the parked cars approached the two of them. He chirped in surprise.
Rouge motioned to her ears. "All that whirring and clanking—how could anyone have missed it?" She gave Shadow, who was stunned, a pointed look.
"So you followed me after all," Shadow said, more to himself than to Metal Sonic.
"Don't let Shadow's gloomy attitude get to you," Rouge said, "he's just having a low blood sugar moment. You should get him a Pop Tart or something if you're here to pick him up for a date." She winked.
Shadow rolled his eyes.
"I also hope you know that when I was telling Shadow he could seduce you to get to Eggman, it was only a joke—"
That set some passion alight within Shadow. "Nobody is seducing anyone!" he snapped. For a moment, it seemed his eyes were glowing reflections of Metal Sonic's own. Or was it just the headlights and taillights shining on them as cars went by?
Rouge huffed. "Not with that attitude, you're not!" She spread her wings. "Maybe you'll be more eager when I stop intruding." With that, she crouched down before launching herself into the air, a sharp silhouette against the multicolored marquee of her casino. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" she called, sing-song, as she flew away. Even Metal Sonic's sensors were soon unable to lock on to her.
"Tch. Typical," Shadow muttered. He motioned for Metal Sonic to follow him into the closest alleyway, where the sounds of the nightlife were more hush. He leaned back, his eyes half-lidded, an expectant look on his face. "Well? Is it true that you appreciate what I've done?" he asked.
Metal Sonic knew words would not be involved in the optimal response. Immediately realizing what would be, he pressed one of his hands to his metal muzzle and then blew Shadow a kiss.
Blood rushed to Shadow's face—detected by Metal Sonic's thermal imaging software—and he made an array of high-pitched sounds Metal Sonic had not thought possible from him.
Metal Sonic began to tap his foot, feigning impatience, as Shadow continued sputtering.
That was enough to get Shadow to pull himself together. Once he no longer looked like short-circuiting machinery, he exclaimed, "Damn it!" He shook his head and pulled his quills back. Without looking directly at Metal Sonic, he said, "W-Well, if that's true, then I expect you to… to try harder!"
Metal Sonic clasped his hands together. After seeing all of this, he was certainly inspired to try harder. Shadow would never know what hit him!