Rouge emerged from the water, cleansed and renewed.
The rain had long since stopped, but the clouds still covered the sun; it was impossible to tell what time it was. She had a clock back at her camp, of course, but that didn't help her now.
Still, who cared?
She realized somewhat belatedly that she hadn't brought a towel with her. A naughty smile crossed her face. Aw, who needed one anyway? And she didn't want to get her body suit wet, oh no. She'd just return to her camp and dry off there.
There was, naturally, the distinct possibility that Knuckles would see her like this. Which, she thought, grin widening, was part of the point.
Her natural attractiveness was well-known to her and exploited by her. Though under normal circumstances she was partially concealed by fur, the water had pasted it to her body. If ever Knuckles wanted to ogle, now was the time.
She walked, slowly but surely, back towards her camp. Her ears were alert for any sound. She wondered what would be the best way to react if she encountered Knuckles. Mock outrage? Sly glee? Coy shame? The whole range was open to her, depending only on what she wanted to accomplish.
She heard a crash and the rustling of leaves to her right. She whipped in that direction, but couldn't see anything. She waited several seconds before deciding it was nothing and continuing on.
Well, what did she want to accomplish?
She stalled, even stopped moving. She didn't want to be alone again, she knew that for certain. She also knew that Knuckles wasn't keen on loneliness, either. But the matter of who would constitute their relations—that was undecided.
She felt suddenly that it had to be Knuckles.
There was, of course, a rational explanation for that. It was a matter of self-preservation. The fewer people who knew about her weakness, the better. So far, only Knuckles knew. Therefore, it was safest for her to depend upon Knuckles, as it would keep the number of people who knew at one.
And if that stupid soft spot in her tried to point out an ulterior motive, she would ignore it.
She started moving again, once more on the lookout for any sign of Knuckles.
So, she wanted to… what was it? Develop a relationship? What was that, exactly? Rouge found herself at a loss. Seduction she could do, but that was always a precursor to taking total advantage of someone. She didn't want to take that path with Knuckles. In her youth she'd conjured up a pretty good "willing student" act that had gotten her some good training, but there was nothing for Knuckles to teach her; besides, he'd never buy it if she suddenly pretended to be weak.
In the past, she'd always dealt with those who were stronger than her—it had been a long time since she'd done that!—and those who were weaker than her.
Never had she interacted equal-to-equal.
'Now that was bizarre,' she thought. Ever since she'd perfected her arts she'd never had an equal. Yet she'd admit that this echidna was on par with her when she'd spent the past three months making fun of him?
Well, yes.
It was embarrassing! If she'd just met someone and they proved themselves her equal, that was one thing, but for someone whom she'd known and dismissed to suddenly rise up was quite another!
'But that wasn't what happened,' her soft spot said. 'He was always your equal, you're only now admitting it.'
Shut up! This is so aggravating!
'What is?'
You!
'But I am you.'
No, you're not! You're a misbegotten deformity that won't stop infecting my psyche!
'Nonetheless, I am you.'
Go away!
She shook her head vigorously, as if that would clear it.
Knuckles. Focus. What to do with Knuckles.
'But I don't know what to do with Knuckles!'
This was maddening.
When she finally staggered back to her tent, all she had to show for her travel time were some annoying thorns in her fur and a pounding headache.
She sighed and reached for her luggage. In it was exactly one towel the size of a napkin. The towel she'd wanted was nowhere to be found.
"NOW what?" she said.
A few seconds later she heard a soft whump right outside her tent. She poked her head out and saw her towel lying in front of her. It was rumpled and shaken, but there it was.
She immediately searched for people, using sight, sound, and smell. She could vaguely smell Knuckles—yes, that was the sound of him landing. What was going on?
First things first. She grabbed the towel and ducked back inside the tent.
When she reemerged, dried and dressed, Knuckles was waiting for her.
"It seems I have a magic towel," she said. "It disappears from my bags and reappears outside my tent."
"I used to know a few sorcerers who could solve that problem for you," Knuckles said, obviously joking.
She flashed her teeth. "Can you cut the lame attempts at humor and explain yourself?"
"I knew that you were going to take a swim and I also knew you didn't bring a towel. My plan was to find a towel and bring it to you."
She frowned. "Well, I suppose you did, but why did you wait until I got back?"
He suddenly found it difficult to speak. "Well, by the time I'd gotten the towel, you'd already finished your swim."
Apparently, he thought that that explained things. "Go on," she prompted.
"Well, you were naked!" he said. "How was I supposed to get you the towel at that point?"
"You're naked," she pointed out.
"Yeah, but you were naked and wet," he countered.
"Granted," she said, "but I still fail to see what your problem is."
The two of them stared at each other, unable to communicate.
"It… wouldn't be appropriate," he said at last.
"Are you gay?" she said bluntly.
"No," he said, flustered.
"Then don't you want to see me naked?"
Knuckles' blush was visible, which, given his fur hue, was quite a feat. "No," he said again.
"Why not?" She turned and began posing. "I know there's nothing wrong with me."
"No!" he said firmly. "You're perfect. It's just…"
"What?" she snapped, though her heart had fluttered at the compliment. "Can't you just have out with it?"
"Why are you trying to show yourself naked?"
She tried to hide how this unsettled her. She covered her face with a smile. "Come now, if I wanted you to see me naked, I'd just strip right here."
Knuckles crossed his arms, clearly not convinced.
"What?" she said again.
"You're just not making sense. And you didn't answer my question."
"You didn't answer mine," she fought back.
They stood and stared at each other again, too unsure to go on.
"If I forget I asked you my question," he said at last, "will you forget the question you asked me?"
She deliberated a moment—but she already knew her answer. "What question?" she said, her voice not that of a question.
He smiled. "I don't know. I can't remember."
After a few more moments of unproductive silence, she turned away. "Well, I need to organize my equipment."
He shrugged. "Your business. I'll be close by."
When he wasn't looking at her, Rouge shuddered. What was THAT all about?!
So odd. Of course she felt no shame talking to Knuckles, even if it were about nakedness. Yet it'd made him extremely uncomfortable—to the point that he couldn't talk about it. It was as if he expected modesty from her—as if he hoped for modesty from her.
Well, if she took him at his word, then what reason would he not want to see her naked? She'd known all too many males who would strangle Knuckles if they were in his position; if she'd granted them such kindness she could have had them drooling and subservient at her feet.
Yet Knuckles resisted. Why was that?
'Is it possible… he doesn't think too highly of me?'
That couldn't be; he had called her perfect, after all. But she was having trouble coming up with another explanation.
There was also the fact that he was young, and not used to dealing with people—especially people as beautiful as she. But it couldn't be entirely chalked up to simple inexperience. He was actively avoiding her.
"It wouldn't be appropriate?"
That was his explanation, in its entirety. How lousy. Knuckles sure knew how to not help her out.
For whatever reason, he was trying not to appreciate her. Well, she'd just have to fix that problem! And hopefully, this time, she wouldn't have to rip her heart out to do it.
Someday she'd find a way to get that content-tingle back—but until then, Knuckles' appreciation would have to do.
TO BE CONTINUED…