027. Holiday carols
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"You're not going to Miss Amy's Christmas party?"
Shadow merely flickered his eyes off his computer screen to greet the orange spirit echidna's own. Tikal's transparent figure sat against the window sill in front of him as she casted him a curious yet pending gaze.
"No," Shadow answered and went back to his work, "I need to finish these reports."
"...But it's Christmas," she went on, her voice growing a little softer, "Don't you want to celebrate with everyone?"
He snorted. "If you mean having the potential of food being thrown at me then no thank you. I'd rather stay here in my room, away from all of that."
"I'm sure Vector and Charmy would behave themselves, Shadow. Amy wouldn't let them make such a mess."
The hedgehog didn't reply and continued typing. While she was right, it still wasn't enough of a reason for him to go. That wasn't to say he didn't care for the season at all. He did... to an extent. He did buy things for people he got along with. He bought Rouge a bracelet she'd been wanting for some time, he bought some upgradable parts for Omega, he bought Tails a new tool set simply because he was sick of seeing the one he intended to use for the rest of his life which were clearly starting to deteriorate. The list went on and while it did leave quite a dent on his wallet, he didn't mind at all. It was the season for giving, wasn't it? He might as well participate.
That reminded him. He still hadn't opened the presents laying underneath his tree downstairs.
"Knuckles didn't seem enthusiastic either about the party either," the spirit giggled out, "Miss Rouge came down and dragged him off of Angel Island. It's a good thing she did. Looking over him these past few days protecting the Master Emerald, I really wished he'd just go somewhere and have fun."
"Hmm... So you've been keeping tabs on him then?" he asked.
Tikal nodded. "I always do. Being the last from our tribe and such, I check on him everyday to make sure he's okay. It's not easy being the only existing Guardian for the Master Emerald after all. And I know how lonely he can be on the island, so I do take the time to talk to him and get the Chao to give him some company."
Shadow hummed briefly in understanding and leaned back against his chair to stretch his legs. "And so now he's been occupied, you decided to come check on me."
"Well," the spirit smiled sheepishly, "I had a feeling that you weren't going to the party. You're doing work on a holiday like this when you should be resting. Don't you... get bored of it?"
"Not particularly, no."
A slight frown reached her lips. "You always work so hard, Shadow. Everyone deserves to celebrate and get some rest."
Again, Shadow decided to make no reply towards her statement to which she eventually accepted. Minutes later, his eyes were on the computer screen again as he focused on his reports. He wanted rest, more than anything. However, these reports weren't going to finish themselves. He knew he was being stubborn and could just take the week off after the holidays, but it just wasn't in Shadow's nature to do so. He was a workaholic and the comfort of his own home was just too hard to resist.
Also, all those damn Christmas songs were too fresh in his head for him to hear again. He'd hear them everyone he'd go. In the park, in the store and even in the G.U.N headquarters. He didn't know the Commander was so serious about the tradition. He was surprised he hadn't gone insane.
'Silent night… Holy night…'
He couldn't remember the third line- but maybe it was a good thing he didn't. The last thing he needed was a distraction and for someone to hear him sing-
Hmm... I think it was something about a virgin.
Shadow's elbow slipped clear off his desk as he started. He blinked, feeling dizzy and shot his surprised eyes up at the spirit. "What?" he mumbled, meeting her expectant gaze until logic caught up to the hedgehog and his face reddened faintly, "You... You could hear me?"
Of course, she replied, her lips catching into an amusing smile.
Right... she could. Tikal had the power of a God, of course she would be able to hear his thoughts. But at the time span they had known of each other, he knew she would respect his boundaries when it came to more... personal thoughts.
Did she know that he'd be singing in his head...?
"Sorry, I'll try to stop," Shadow promised, but Tikal simply shook her head with an untroubled smile.
It's fine, Shadow! Do what you need to do to focus... but I'm not sure if that was helping you.
"Like anything could," he huffed, but the spirit's widening grin stymied most of his own exasperation, and so he shook his head and turned back to his work.
The song was still in his head but Shadow did his best to push it back. He was certain Tikal was just being kind enough by not complaining about his small problem. The lyrics were still there in its broken glory, the words sliding through the edges of his senses as he tried and failed to take in the name of some location-
...Sleep in heavenly peace.
Shadow lifted his chin up from his palm, a bemused expression dusting his features as he looked at the echidna. The spirit stared back at him with a matching look until her face contorted into that cute owlish expression she always made when she was taken aback or- Shadow suspected, clearly embarrassed.
Sorry, Shadow. I-I guess I have it stuck in my head too...
"No, it's fine," he assured and was baffled how quick he responded because of how true it was, "It's my fault anyway." It was odd but kind of nice hearing the spirit sing. She had a nice calm, soothing voice. It was one of the reasons as to why Shadow never minded when she'd come to visit him. He felt at ease. "Go on if you like, I don't mind," he told her.
The spirit didn't answer at first and simply stared until Shadow went back to his typing. And ironically enough the hedgehog found it oddly easier to read when he was filling the silence until Tikal decided to stifle her own 'thoughts' from their link or not- Being much more capable of the feat than Shadow himself.
…Silent night… Holy night…
Shadow hid his smile in his palm, knowing she would see his eyes crinkling if he looked, but striving not to discourage her.
It went on for a while, being repeated over and over in the same way as before. However with Tikal's voice, it was somehow not as aggravating, more calming and lulling than anything. It didn't help his concentration any better but at least it was far more of a pleasant experience to drag away the minutes-
"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock!"
Shadow couldn't help but chuckle and flickered his gaze over to the echidna again, her shy smile plastering her lips when she sheepishly met his eyes. "Did you do that on purpose?" he asked.
"Maybe," she said meekly before stifling a giggle, "I think that song was your favourite. You liked humming it in your head whenever you'd get ready for work."
"Yeah well, be careful- That is not a nice one to put back into my head, and now I'll have to sing something worse to get it out again," Shadow argued, smirking at his own 'threat' as the echidna spirit blinked at him.
"Like what?"
He was uncertain for a moment, until the Christmas songs that kept playing on the radio came back into mind. He remembered something through their connection... This one song... that Tikal particularly got sick of hearing during their time together.
"Rocking around, the Christmas Tree-"
Tikal whined and shook her head. "Noo, please not that one! Hearing Miss Amy and Cream singing that all day was not so very pleasant."
A small grin came up to his lips. "Mistletoe hung where you can see, every couple-"
-tries to stop, the spirit practically pouted through their mind link this time. However the slide of another's voice over Shadow's own made him stop and blink in surprise, the two of them having left staring at one another as they realized they had, for all intents and purposes, just sung together. Shadow had no other word to describe it, especially when he admittedly settled into the fact that he actually liked it-
He still would have shaken his head and went back to his duty... if Tikal hadn't had him pinned with her searching, uncertain blue eyes… And finally, slowly begun to sing-
…I'm dreaming, of a White Christmas-
"-just like the ones I used to know," he finished off quietly.
Tikal beamed, relief and warmth shining on her face. Her lips curled, her cheeks dusting pink as she timidly went on, Wake me up, before you go-go-
"Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo," Shadow smiled when she beamed again, his stomach fluttering relentlessly which had to be his nerves. Nonetheless he kept on going. "Wake me up, before you go-go..."
I don't wanna miss it when you hit that high... Wake me up before you go-go.
"Cause I'm not planning on going solo," all his restraint was gone whilst he muttered out a laugh when she started bopping her head, "Wake me up before you go-go-"
Tikal cheerfully brought out her arms. "Take me dancing toniiight!"
They both shared a laugh together and went on like that, going through as many songs as they could remember before the other would rush into starting another- As if afraid even a moment's silence would break the spell. But they really got more and more into it, Shadow's reluctance fading away as he thought of another annoying tune and tossed it to Tikal's way, who only began singing it joyfully.
Time had passed but Shadow didn't care. He completely forgot about his case studies and continued singing the tunes with the spirit. He even began bopping his own head at some of the songs too. Tikal floated and spun around his room, dancing without a hint of shame to which he could only watch with amusment.
"Do you have a Christmas wish, Shadow?"
He opened his eyes and looked at Tikal. She sent him a soft smile before floating over to the window to face the beautiful evening sky. "I can't do much anymore but I'll always wish for peace in this world."
Shadow watched as the cool breeze glided through the echidna's dreads, her eyes filling with hope and gentle admiration. He felt his heart beating at a steady pace, his folded arms loosening up against his chest, his lips once again curling into a smile that he only wanted to hold, for her...
"Yeah," he whispered but he was sure she heard him anyway as he closed his eyes again, this time picturing the Master Emerald, "I do."