Well, this ended up a lot longer than I intended it to be, so I suppose there's going to be a part three.
Sadly, also no lemon or lime yet. Stupid story progression and whatnot, but I did warn this was more plot-oriented...
Anyway, hope you like, and send Shadow hugs?
BATTLE OF WILLS (PART 2)
As he reaches for the handle, the Commander's office door opens to reveal a human female dressed in full GUN attire; tight dark blue combat leggings with a multitude of pockets down the legs, a close-fitting black long-sleeve shirt and a military vest of dark blue, also with numerous pockets. Her hair is cut short and roughly styled to add body, and her features are oddly petite for the tight, serious expression on her face.
While he doesn't remember her immediately, the name emblazoned on he breast pocket jogs his memory. "TOPAZ".
He'd worked alongside Topaz a number of times leading Team Dark while she ran the dispatched human team, Rouge acting as their relay, but never directly below her authority or vice versa. This meant he knew very little of the woman, both regarding her private life and her opinions of him, but he in turn respected her as a talented agent, and one of Rouge's closest friends.
They regard one another for a moment and, to his surprise, she doesn't seem afraid; her own jaw twitches in agitation and her eyes are narrowed. After a moment, she angles her body to pass him and heads down the hall towards the closet Rouge still resides in. Shadow notes the berth she gives his personal space as he watches her go, unsure if the gesture was an unconscious expression of fear she'd managed to keep from her features or respect for him as a coworker.
Perhaps the respect was mutual. That would be nice.
"Agent." He takes a deep breath and turns back to the office, the anger he'd felt previously having dissipated to be replaced by a sudden heaviness in his limbs. Perhaps the better part of his retirement was not having to engage people, may they be general cadets brave enough to approach him with asinine questions, or formal "meetings" with the Commander over small, apparent discretions he had unknowingly committed and had to defend himself against.
Even if he'd been resigned to attendance a moment before, it just became more complicated, and he silently curses himself for reacting so strongly to Rouge's familiar teasing. He hesitates without realising, unwilling to return to the verbal battlefield, until the Commander's tone hardens, his voice louder. "Shadow."
He releases the breath and grudgingly steps into the all-too familiar office. In the seven years in Towers' employ, the room had never changed; it was small - only slightly larger than Shadow's own office. Most people in such a powerful position would deem unbecoming of their status, but as Shadow was highly aware, Abraham Towers was not most people. He liked his surroundings as he liked his employees; highly organised, properly controlled and effectively used. Given the majority the information he needed to access was digital, his desk was most of what he required, a safe below the desk and a single filing cabinet on the far wall being the remaining furniture.
Said desk took up most of the room and sat dead centre. His computer is angled slightly to allow him to talk to people ahead of his desk whilst still having access to his data, the keyboard, mouse and a small photo frame the only decorations on the worn wood. A number of chairs are arranged either side of this desk, their occupants always dictated by their desired interaction. Those seated in front of him were those he was directly talking to, while those behind were supplementary; there to enforce his points, provide opinions or act as intimidating factors on those before him.
He closes the door behind him and, since he'd received a summons that afternoon, Shadow doesn't hesitate to sit ahead of the man as he lets his features return to a neutral scowl. As expected, Towers is unperturbed by his expression, his back straight and greying hair swept back neatly. His left hand strums the wood as they hold each other's gaze for a number of minutes, and Shadow folds his arms across his chest and gets comfortable, waiting for the interrogation to begin.
Eventually, Towers stops tapping his fingers. He averts his gaze only to turn on his computer, switch on the monitor and ignore Shadow in favour of browsing for something despite having plenty of time to do so earlier. The hedgehog snorts softly at the power play and looks to the wall instead. The only decorations besides the steel-grey paint are framed medals, certificates of years of service and promotion papers signed by the President of Station Square.
The sparseness of personal touches reminds Shadow of his apartment, and he feels uncomfortable knowing they share that trait.
Perhaps five minutes pass before the Commander speaks and draws the hedgehog's focus once more, eyes still on his computer screen and fingers dancing across his keyboard. "While we have a number of things to discuss this evening, perhaps we should begin with what just happened. Namely, your assault of Agent Rouge in the hallway, and her subsequent imprisonment in a supply closet." He turns the monitor so Shadow can see the screen: a still image of him dragging Rouge backwards with one hand, while the other opens the closet door. Shadow can feel the man's eyes boring into his cheek as he regards the image. "Care to explain, Agent?"
Seconds pass, and Shadow is acutely aware of them. The longer he takes to reply, the less likely the Commander will be to believe what he says. He feels like an idiot for still allowing his emotions to dictate his life, even with over a decade of practice to refine them, and shakes his head at that. The Commander seems to take the silence as a response "No?" He asks incredulously, his tone beginning to buzz with anger. "The cadet we dispatched to patrol the hallway says he clattering, and a girl crying, and you have nothing to say in your defence?"
"I snapped," he finally states in response, eyes snapping to the Commander. The elder is leaning forwards slightly across his desk, his lips pressed together into an affronted sneer. In turn, Shadow scowls but manages to keep his voice level. "You know how she is, Sir." The title is sardonic, and Towers' catches it, his own eyes narrowing into a frown at the hedgehog. "Having been retired for six months, I was unaccustomed to her teasing. I admit fault in an overreaction, and no one was harmed. We reconciled."
Towers scoffs. "Bullshit, Shadow. You expect me to believe you forced her into a closet - coincidentally one of the few places we don't have surveillance cameras - to 'have a chat'?"
"Yes," the commander snorts at the reply and sits back in his chair once more. Repressing the urge to growl at his commanding officer, Shadow closes his eyes and takes a deep breath again. For Amy, he reminds himself as he breathes out slowly. Agreeable, rational and open to negotiation. He clings to that as he meets the other's gaze again and forces himself to relax. The tension doesn't entirely leave his muscles, but his expression becomes less aggressive. "If you won't take my word, ask Rouge."
The silence stretches out between them again, as if Towers' expected him to expand on the point. Once it becomes obvious the ebony hedgehog has nothing to add, he changes the subject, leaning back towards his computer. "I was informed of a spike in Chaos Energy during your exchange. While it can't be pinpointed to an exact location, it certainly originated from Area 99 and lasted for less than ten seconds. Yet you haven't signed out a Chaos Emerald…"
"No," ebony states softly, aware one of his better-kept secrets was about to be added to his file. The Commander glances at him from his computer screen, obviously giving him time to elaborate of his own accord. This time, Shadow takes it. "I have developed the limited use of Chaos abilities without requiring an emerald or the removal of an inhibitor. It evolved after the altercation with Infinite that saw me absent for six months. I assume it is related to the amount of raw Chaos energy that sustained my body during that ordeal, but I am unsure."
Towers began touch-typing. "How limited?"
Shadow shrugs slightly, feigning nonchalance. "I haven't tested them extensively, only what was useful whilst defeating Infinite and Eggman. Chaos Spears come easy, Chaos Control is tiring, and I have not attempted a Chaos Blast due to the side effects being debilitating even in possession of an emerald. Given I do not use my abilities in retirement, it didn't seem worth reporting."
"A fault in reasoning," his commanding officer states, still typing as he studied the other. Shadow tries not to fidget under his gaze, since doing so could tip the other off he's not been entirely truthful. Seconds crawl past again before Towers finally looks back to the monitor, commenting. "Regardless of how important you believe information to be, always report it, Agent. The most seemingly-redundant piece of intelligence could break a case. Understood?"
The retired agent represses a smile. The information he'd given was approximately 85% accurate. As demonstrated to Rouge recently, Chaos Spears came naturally to him now, but he omitted a couple of facts, one being that he'd been able to develop a few other skills from the ability since his retirement. Ones he practiced some distance from Station Square whenever his chaperones decided not to bother pursuing him at high-speed down open highway, where natural Chaos levels from the vast, uncultured soil of Mobius easily covered the small surges such abilities could create.
He nods once, this time keeping the sarcasm from his tone, ensuring a sincere: "Understood, Sir."
Towers nods a few times himself as he updates Shadow's file. "Once Topaz has spoken to Rouge and independently corroborates your explanation, we'll move to to discussing what I actually called you all here for." He taps the enter key with more pressure than required before looking back to the hedgehog, clasping his hands together before him on the desk as a smirk touches his lips. "If her account doesn't agree with yours, well… I'm sure you understand we'll have to adjourn early to have you arrested and charged with assault, perhaps battery…"
He isn't fooled by the suggestion of arrest. It didn't even matter that Rouge's explanation would match his own, because Towers would never just arrest him. He could see the gleam in Towers' eye that stated that, as soon as he was deemed surplus to requirements, something would happen that would see that he be reduced to nothing more than an expensive paperweight in a stasis pod if he remained at Towers' mercy. Perhaps tonight, perhaps in another seven years, his commanding officer would decide he would serve better as a research project and have him dealt with accordingly.
He could be a model employee, but his life was still forfeit at the whim of this man, who now smirks at Shadow's discomfort.
The threat is blatant, and memories break their compartments, running rampant through his mind. Fear prickles at the edge of his consciousness, taunting him with past experience aboard the Ark as a lab rat, and the experiments and procedures he has undergone; the sharp, sterile smell of testing rooms burns his nose in memory, flashes of needles administering drugs with a sting, the burn of acids and chemicals on skin, the smell of sweat-moistened fur and the iron tinge of blood. His blood. His ears fold back and his quills bristle along with his hackles, pupils dilating in fear of being forced back into such an existence.
His jaw tightens as his lips fold back in a snarl, a low growl escaping his throat. Adrenaline is pumping through his system, clouding his judgement as fight or flight activates. In seconds, he's ready to leap out of his chair and maul this man if it guarantees his freedom and, backed into an emotional corner, his mind is having difficulty comprehending any other escape routes.
"Sir?" Topaz's voice penetrates the adrenaline haze and snaps him back to reality. While he doesn't look around, the tension rolls off her into the room. "Is everything alright?" Shadow takes a deep breath, closes his eyes and forces his quills to lower, focuses on the air flowing into his lungs as his chest rises. He imagines her hand reflexively having gone to her holster, fingers poised to whip out the weapon and fill the back of his head with bullets. Breathing out, he opens his eyes once more to meet Towers' gaze.
He holds the agents gaze, the smirk on his face taking a smug turn. The hedgehog has to repress his instinct to cower beneath the stare, to submit in the presence of the man with power over his existence, and instead straightens in his chair. If the Commander is disappointed he still possess all his limbs, he hides it well, showing no reaction as he looks to Topaz for her report. The words exchanged are nonsensical and distant, blood pounding in his ears. It isn't until a hand rests on his shoulder he realises he's shaking. Rouge takes the seat beside him and studies him in concern, large eyes glistening with worry. He swallows hard and takes a deep breath, nodding silently to reassure he's fine even though he isn't, and she gives his shoulder a light squeeze before resting both hands in her lap.
Shadow realises how close he'd just been to losing his composure and it frightens him; he was accustomed to reacting instinctively to offensive stimuli, but it was predominantly anger that surfaced, sometimes trepidation. Not since his first fifteen months of hell on the Ark - before Maria begged Professor Gerald to allow him freedoms beyond tests and samples - when his life was a constant hazy turmoil of pain at the hands of those omnipotent scientists had he felt so much fear.
Fear he'd quashed when discovering how to remove his own inhibitors, unleashing the full extent of his abilities under his own control rather than theirs, and demanding the respect Maria convinced him he deserved.
"No discrepancies then. Good. We can continue." Towers' voice drags him from his thoughts. Looking up, he sees Topaz nod. She casts him a glare before returning to her seat behind their commanding officer and motions for Rouge to accompany her, though the bat waves her away and remains at his side. Shadow shares a look with his former partner, who smiles a little and nods once. Reassured now by her admission in the closet and this show of support, he smirks slightly and returns the nod, grateful for her presence as a grounding for his otherwise volatile emotions.
Their attention is drawn back to the Commander when he drops a thick file on the wood with little ceremony, drawing his chair closer to the desk again as he closes a drawer. Red irises meet discoloured ones before he moves to draw the folder closer, angling the cover open with a single finger to peer inside as the other speaks. "A new assignment. On-site, sociable hours, alongside Rouge and Topaz."
His normal demeanour firmly back in place, Shadow snorts and drops the cover once more, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest. "Recruit training."
"Yes," the human states, clasping his hands together on the desk. He waits for Shadow to meet his gaze again before continuing. "The Mobian Detachment did great work during the Forces Saga, resulting in an influx of potential Mobian recruits. Young hopefuls who want to serve their city, just like you." The hedgehog tisks, and Towers narrows his eyes. "You're aware recruitment figures in the Mobian Detachment has increased tenfold since your last stand with Eggman, correct?" He waits for a nod of acknowledgement before continuing. "Five months ago, we had to institute a new training program especially for Mobians. I regretted retiring you almost instantly, since most of them joined in the hope of working with you, Agent."
Shadow raises an eyebrow at that, because most Mobians he'd ever met either wanted to fight to prove themselves or fled as soon as their legs regained mobility. He found the prospect of any Mobian willingly joining an institution like GUN simply because he worked there was ridiculous. He glances to Rouge, who raises her arms and shrugs, though a smirk touches her lips. "That's what they've been telling me, Hon. There was a lot of disappointment Topaz was running fitness, and some even went AWOL before signing contracts when told you were on indefinite leave."
"Indeed." Towers sounds irritated with that reminder, though it doesn't show on his face. He takes a breath and continues. "Since you killed Eggman, both Topaz and Rouge no longer had long-term commitments, so were assigned to recruit training. Rouge has been handling their espionage and hacking skills, preening those best suited for spy operations from the masses, while Topaz has been focused on athletics, dexterity and weapons training."
Noting any area of training he may be apt for are covered, he narrows his eyes at Towers. The greying human's smile widen as taps the closed folder between them with an index finger. "This folder contains the files of all thirty-seven Mobian recruits with an aptitude for abilities; Chaos-based, elemental, or innate physical adaptations that make them more… specialised than their fellows. While we have been attempting to cultivate these abilities in your absence, it had come to my attention - and Rouge and Topaz agree - it is inadequate. They would be better tutored by someone with experience in the field, and you're our best, Shadow."
He pinches the folder cover between his index and middle fingers and raises it once more, noting again the new contract atop the thick stack of recruit files. A pen tucked inside the spine rolls away from the stack and Shadow has to suppress a laugh. As if I'd be foolish enough to sign tonight, he thinks. He squints at the fine text, unable to read it at a distance, before letting the folder flip shut again as he retracts his hand. "Depends on the terms," he states nonchalantly, intense eyes back on those of his boss.
Towers' smile reaches his eyes, and the hedgehog feels the fur on his arm stand on end, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach. While the assignment itself is sound enough to pass as real - and he has no doubt everything he'd been told so far was true regarding the recruits - that expression makes him nervous. He realises he's being walked into a tangling web his commanding officer is constructing to keep him close and controlled, just as he had been in Team Dark, and that it's been spurred on by Amy's arrival in his apartment.
He swallows thickly and tries to keep the concern from his face, waiting for Towers to explain.
Their eyes meet as the old man leans forwards on his forearms. "You'll have to sign a new contract and officially return from retirement. As for payment, you'll receive the reinstatement of your previous wage with a small raise, and a fuel expense allowance for the motor vehicle you commute with. In addition, you'll also be permitted access to a Chaos Emerald whilst on campus to assist training."
Shadow's eyes try to widen and he forces them into a glare, raising an eyebrow instead. Since Eggman's defeat, he'd been permitted a Chaos emerald just once, on the failed mission to retrieve Infinite after his Phantom Ruby was destroyed. Once living in an apartment off-site, he assumed he'd never handle one again, let alone for training purposes. Towers ignores the expression and turns back to his computer monitor, silent for a few seconds before he speaks again. "All the details you require - dates and times, recruit files, paperwork expectations and performance targets - are within that folder, so unless you have any prudent questions on the matter, we can move on."
He shakes his head and Topaz is dismissed soon afterwards, leaving the three of them to continue the meeting. While Towers browses his computer for the correct files, Shadow glances to the clock and groans. An hour has passed since the closet incident. With another topic to cover and the commute home, he'd likely not get back to the apartment for another two hours.
He slides down in his seat and leans his head back to stare at the ceiling, hoping Amy was having a better evening than he was.