I hope people get my snapscube reference. Thanks for reading. ;)

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Ch5 Good Days, Bad Days

The weekend had finally rolled around for Team Dark. Shadow was surprised that he would receive days off, as Rouge had called them. But he supposed that they couldn't make him work anymore than Rouge does since they had to be attached to the hip; and Rouge got her days off by gods. The bat was very particular and high maintenance, Shadow had noticed. He honestly didn't know what to do with his time. He had never had down time, not like this. When he lived on the ark every day was a work day. Just living on the ark was like a job, filled with intense training, exhausting experiments, and caring for Maria. He hadn't minded the last part even though he was a bed aid that she essentially owned along with the professor. He preferred not to think about that aspect of it though, besides Maria never treated him like a servant. The same could not be said for most of the other scientists.

Shadow made his way to the bottom floor by stepping into the elevator. On his way down though it came to an abrupt halt. Shadow cursed under his breath, believing the elevator to be malfunctioning, but just as he was about to chaos control away a door behind him opened up. Shadow wiped around and looked at Rouge standing in a fluffy red robe with a rhinestone R on the right side. She wasn't wearing any makeup, and her eyes looked tired as she sipped a coffee,

"It's too early Shadow. Don't you know what sleep is? Where are you going?"

Shadow blinked at the question and the prospect of a secret door in the elevator,

"Actually, I was looking for you. I probably should have guessed that you would still not be ready for the day."

Rouge took a sip of her beverage while keeping her eyes on the hog,

"Come on, let's have breakfast."

The bat turned and motioned for Shadow to fallow. As soon as she showed her back to the hog noticed that there was no hole for her wings. He could see them under the fabric creating a hunch on the females back,

"You remind me of Quasi Modo."

The woman turned sharply with death in her eyes,

"Excuse me?"

"Your wings." Shadow pointed out.

Rouge tried to look behind herself then squinted her eyes at the male,

"Well not a lot of clothing companies accommodate for winged folk, so excuse me."

Shadow considered this fact. It must be a great inconvenience, especially for someone who loved the expensive and in fashion. One thing was lingering on his mind though,

"Why don't you just mend it?"

Rouge turned again,

"I can't sew."

"How come? Did your mother not teach you? I thought all women were trained in that skill?" Shadow spouted off.

Rouge thought for a moment as to what the delusional male was talking about. Then it hit her,

"This isn't the fifties hun. People don't typically have to patch up their clothing anymore. If they ruin something, they go buy new."

"Well that's extremely wasteful." Shadow huffed.

Rouge put a hand to her forehead,

"Yes, I guess it is. But women don't need to sew or anything like that anymore, that's the point I'm trying to get at. We don't have to be house wives so not every woman knows how to sew, cook, bake, or even clean."

Shadow paused for a minute,

"Oh... well, would you like me to mend it for you?"

The bats eyes shot open,

"You can sew?"

"Now who's making assumptions?" The male said cheekily.

Rouge dead panned,

"I guess you're right. Shadow, how do you know how to sew and don't tell me it was a part of ultimate life form training."

Shadow froze for a moment but quickly regained his composure, hoping that the bat had not noticed. She did.

"I was taught."

Rouge didn't press it further. She made her way over to her fancy white marble kitchen bar and took a seat in a stool,

"In that case I'd love for you to fix some of my cloths. By the way this is yours."

Rouge handed Shadow an envelope with G.U.N printed at the top. The hog carefully examined the sudden gift,

"What is it?"

"Your pay check. I pulled a few strings and got them to give you preliminary check. Since I told them that I needed to be reimbursed for your expenses."

Shadow handed the paper back to Rouge,

"Well, then it's yours is it not? To pay you back for the items you bought me and the food."

Rouge rolled her eyes and pushed the check back to the male,

"Shadow it's yours. Buy yourself something nice. Actually, tell you what, you can pay me back in mended clothes and trust me I've got a lot."

Shadow nodded finding the exchange acceptable then opened his check. The hog's eyes bugged out of his head when he saw the amount,

"What... What would I do with all this money?"

Rouge, who was in the process of pulling a pan out of one of her cabinets, walked back over to Shadow to look at the check,

"Shadow that's not that much, your actual paycheck is much more. I mean it's nothing to write home about but still it's more."

Shadow stared blankly at the amount. Sure, he could spend this on things that he needed right now but he was going to receive one every week. What was he supposed to do with it when he didn't need anything? Shadow looked to the bat,

"Can we go to the store?"

Shadow perused the shelves of the furniture store trying to find anything that fit his tastes while Rouge and omega trailed behind. Rouge had picked up a sewing machine and was tasking Omega with carrying it around, as she looked for thread. Rouge was not in her usual spy outfit today. She had on one of her casual looks that consisted of a cropped hoodie and athletic high-rise leggings, along with a pair of gold tennis shoes. The bat pointed out a comforter that she thought the dark male might like; but the black and red striped item was quickly turned down. Shadow did however approve of a forest green one with an emerald green lining. Rouge watched as shadow picked up a matching pillow case and sheets set,

"Why that one?"

Shadow shifted his eyes back and forth surprised by the question,

"It's simple and it's my favorite color."

Rouge had honestly never considered that the ultimate life form had things he actually liked, enjoyed, or preferenced, it rocked her world at the prospect of something as juvenile as a favorite color,

"Oh... what's your favorite season?"

Shadow was distracted once again with the pillows and trying to read each one to find the best,

"Um, well I don't think I've truly experienced them all yet, but I do enjoy the cold more than the heat."

Rouge's mind was racing, he was actually answering her without pulling the I'm the ultimate card; I don't like anything,

"What's your favorite food?"

"Ice cream. Does ice cream count as a food? I think it does." Shadow answered still not looking at the female.

"Hun, cream is one of my basic food groups, I know that much." The bat laughed.

Shadow smirked while looking over a large card board box that read futon. Rouge thought that his therapist was working wonders on his social tendency,

"Favorite kind of music?"

Shadow lifted the box into the cart then finally made eye contact with the bat. She saw a hint of blush which the woman could only assume to be from being caught distracted,

"What... why are you so interested in my personal affairs all of a sudden?"

Rouge shrugged,

"Just making small talk with you."

Shadow squinted questioningly at the woman then turned his attention to Omega,

"Well I don't want to leave Omega out of the small talk. Omega what's your favorite color?"

The robot whirled to life at the question as he proceeded to calculate his answer,

"My preferred color code, hex code FF3A00."

Shadow nodded his head in thought,

"Yes, but what about your favorite color code sequence?"

"Code 110000111000001111000110111101111100." The mechanical man continued on as Shadow turned with a smug face and began to walk down the aisle away from the loud robot and confused bat.

"Shadow! What have you done? Shadow make him stop! Shadow! He's just going to keep going."

Once all three had made it back to club Rouge, Shadow took his newly bought goods and brought them all to his loft. The hog began unpacking the various cleaning products that he had purchased and looked at the dust and grime around him. He was certain he could knock it out by tomorrow if he started straight away. He pulled off his normal gloves and replaced them with yellow latex ones, becoming annoyed when his black claws would break through the material. He then filled a bucket with water and cleaner but just as he was about to start, he heard a knock at the door. He looked up from what he was doing in irritation. He thought that people couldn't get up to this floor. The hog opened the door and on the other side stood Rouge with an old t shirt and shorts on and Omega right behind her,

"Shadow, I wanted to say I'm sorry earlier. I completely forgot about the mess up here and I've been so wrapped up in my own shit it never occurred to me that you didn't have any way of cleaning it up."

Shadow stared at the usually done up female. He had honestly not wanted to alert or alarm her to that fact. She had already helped him so much and he felt he had failed to give anything in return. Rouge took shadows silence as an opportunity to assert herself before he could protest,

"besides we have the ultimate cleaning and sterilization bot."

Rouge stepped to the side presenting Omega with jazz hands as the robot stood in a battle stance, showing off his new attachments. Two spinning buffers,

"All microbes will submit to my power."

They worked all afternoon on cleaning up Shadow's new home. That's what it was beginning to feel like for the dark male, his home. Shadow sat on the floor putting his futon bed together while omega buffed the hardwood floors and rouge flew up to the windows and skylight to squeegee them. Around eight o'clock the job was done and the place was a shadow of its former self. The male sat on his new bed and felt at peace. His mind was clear just like the dirt and he was... happy? Rouge sat next to shadow and omega awkwardly sat on the floor trying to copy the others.

"Is it all good now?" Rouge questioned starring at the male that looked the most relaxed that she had ever seen him. Shadow nodded and then to rouge's surprise smiled,

"Yes, this is satisfactory."

He opened his eyes that caught the last bit of sun as it went down outside the window. The shine captivated the bat like a pair of rubies.

"Thank you." The male said softly as if afraid someone might hear him.

Rouge smiled back,

"Hey it's no problem. Anyway, I'm tired and my show is on soon I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?"

Shadow nodded again and wished them good night,

"Good night Rouge; go charge Omega, thank you as well."

The robot bowed like a toy soldier to the hog then stomped out the door. Rouge waved as she flouted out behind him.

The next day Shadow was once again up at the crack of dawn and unsurprisingly rouge was still asleep and would probably be until noon. Shadow made his way downstairs undetected and walked outside. He wished for a change of scenery. He wanted to visit his favorite spot in the central city park. It wasn't too far away and he should be back before anyone knew he was gone. He needed to stretch his legs and he didn't care what gun said the bat just didn't have his stamina and he wanted to be alone. Shadow race out the front doors and then down the street.

Once in the park Shadow found his tree. It was on top of a hill and overlooked the rest. Blue and white flowers grew underneath the tall oak and the sound of birds filled Shadow's ears. He stood in the same place for a long while and lost track of time. Just as he was about to head back, a strong gust of wind blew past him. No; this wasn't wind. Shadow groaned as he turned to see a familiar blue hedgehog standing about a yard away with a dumb smirk on his face.

"Hey Shadow! Out for your morning brood?"

"Leave me be, hedgehog."

"Aww you're no fun, say I need your help." Sonic said placing his hands behind his head and looking to the tree.

Shadow froze. He didn't look at the teen but he could see him in his peripherals. Sonic needed his help? Of course, Sonic needed his help, Shadow thought, he's the ultimate life form. A sense of pride swelled within the striped male,

"And what could you possibly want?"

Sonic came closer as if before he felt it was too dangerous to do so,

"So, do you know that old egghead has been up to some shady business?"

Shadow paused then his brows shot up signaling to the younger male that he had gotten his attention,

"Yes, I am aware.

Sonic was visible becoming more excited,

"Really got any info that could help me out, I'll share mine."

"First tell me what you are doing out here and what you want with me." Shadow stated a little harsher then intended.

"Well I'm gathering up all the Chaos emeralds and Tail's sensor thing is saying there's one around here and since I found you out here, I thought..."

Shadow deflated. Sonic didn't want his help in stopping the Dr, he just wanted something from him. Well he would be damned if he was about to give up his emerald to Sonic. That blue annoyance could figure out another way to stop Eggman.

"So what are you implying, hedgehog?"

Sonic sensed the tension shift to a more aggressive one and put his hands out in defense,

"Nothing it's just… I've got four, Tails has one, Knuckles has one, there's only one left and I thought that maybe you..."

Sonic was cut off,

"I don't have one, so you will have to continue your search."

Shadow lied through his teeth and sonic could tell. Shadow knew he wasn't the best at lining. Sonic didn't push it further however,

"Okay. Well I'll keep looking around then. Let me know if you find anything. Oh, um what info did you have?"

"It's classified." Shadow said through gritted teeth before he raced away.

Once he was far enough away Shadow pulled the green Chaos emerald out of his quills and chaos controlled back to club rouge. He reappeared outside the front doors and caught his breath that had somehow escaped him. He peered through the glass of the still locked doors and sighed. When would he stop feeling like a prisoner? When would things start making sense? He knew his actions in the park were selfish and petty but he was just so... angry. At who he didn't know was it sonic, was it G.U.N, was it himself? The dark male felt like locking himself in his room for the rest of the day. He teleported inside and walked past the bar at the front.

"And where have you been?"

A voice rang out from the unlit portion of the club. Rouge was off to the side washing the deceptive mirrors that had been covered in dust for far too long. She stared the hog down through the mirrored image,

"Well don't give me the silent treatment. Talk. I know you can mister edge."

Shadow balled his fists and turned to face the woman. His features consumed in rage,

"It's none of your business, bat."

Rouge was unwavered by the tone,

"Don't give me that. Do you want the humans to lock you back up? Because that's the way you're heading if you're not careful. You think you're the only one that this would affect don't you."

"Shut up!" Shadow shouted catching the woman off guard. Shadow may get mad but she had never heard the soft-spoken male yell. He didn't usually have that kind of temper much like a red echidna she knew. Shadow grit his teeth,

"If I was to be put away and tried for my crimes then nothing would happen to you. You had nothing to do with it. Gods is it too much to ask to be left alone."

Rouge finally turned from the mirror,

"Of course, something would happen to me and Omega. We would lose you. We would never get to see you again don't you understand? We both care about you."

Shadow stared yet again wanting to believe the words of another but just couldn't,

"I... I don't know what to trust... Damn it first Sonic and now this! I'm so sick and tired..."

Shadow trailed off. Rouge watched the hog's eyes glaze over,

"Sonic? Shadow, what happened? Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not! I've never been! And I never will be! I'm a lost cause! I... I don't... even feel like a person. I feel like an object and I think that's what I've been my whole life. From the time of my creation I've been a tool for others to use, and now I'm useless and outdated."

Rouge walked carefully closer to the crumbling boy. She watched as a single tear hit his shoe while he was refusing to look at her,

"Oh Shadow... I'm sorry I know you've got a… well, a hell of a lot on your plate. I shouldn't have jumped down your throat. it's just I'm worried that you're too reckless sometimes. And you're not useless, please believe me."

Shadow said nothing as he continued to try and hold himself together. Rouge sighed and approached the male,

"Shadow, is it okay if I hug you?"

There was a long pause but finally the bat received a nod. She wrapped him in her arms. He stayed stationary except for the few tears that would roll down his chin and land on Rouge's shoulder. They remained like that for a while until Rouge pulled him away holding on to his arms and looking up at the beautiful young man before her,

"Well that's enough of that we don't want to ruin that spotless reputation."

Shadow smirked and rubbed his eyes. Another figure suddenly appeared from another area of the empty club,

"I too will engage in inferior emotionally comforting embraces if it will aid Shadow."

Omega outstretched his gigantic metallic arms and grabbed both Mobians squeezing them to his chest plate. Shadow rolled his eyes,

"Omega if you utter a word of this to anybody I swear to Chaos…"

"I will delete my video files of you leaking moisture." Omega belted.

Shadow sighed as rouge snickered to herself,

"I must be going soft."