Disclaimer: I do not own Knuckles, Rouge or any of the other official SEGA characters. Aki is property of me. Thank you!
This is my first attempt at a KnuxRouge fan fic. Actually, it's my first attempt at a fic period. So please, no flaming! This takes place during my comic series Sonic Chaos Adventure. If you're interested in checking it out (which I highly recommend that you do!), visit my author page for the link. Now, enjoy!
Protector
The halls of Station Square Hospital were bustling with doctors and patients rushing from one room to the next. But in one small hallway, one small hospital room, everything was perfectly still. Everything was silent aside from the beeping of the heart monitor. The only two people in the room were the patient, a white bat suffering from a bullet wound, and the echidna who brought her in.
"…How could this happen…?"
Knuckles had been asking himself that question ever since he got to the hospital. "This had nothing to do with her…why did she get involved? Why did I just stand there and let her get hurt? Why…why did I let this happen?" He rubbed his forehead, as if he were trying to erase the awful scene from his memory.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He wearily lifted his head towards the door to see a very concerned white mouse looking back at him.
"…Kid got here quick…" Knuckles muttered to himself as he stepped out of the room to greet the mouse girl. "Hey Aki…"
"I came as soon as I heard." Aki said, worry written all over her face. "…How is she?"
"Thankfully, the bullet missed any vital organs. She passed out from the shock. Doc said that she'd make a full recovery."
"Oh, that's good!" Aki breathed a sigh of relief. "I was afraid something awful happened!"
"…Nothing would've happened if I'd have been more careful …" Knuckles muttered darkly. His fists were clenched so tightly that they were trembling. "If I had just…" his voice quivered. "If I…"
"Knuckles…" Aki gently placed her tiny hands around Knuckles' huge fist with a concerned look on her face. She had never seen Knuckles like this before. Usually, he was so cool and stern and focused. Now seeing him nearly on the verge on tears, it was hard for her.
"Knuckles…why don't you tell me what happened?"
A/N: Wow, that's a short chapter…; I promise the other chapters won't be as short. Next time we'll find out what happens to Rouge, but until then, R&R!