Maria shut off her alarm and stretched, drowsy but smiling. Today was Cake Day. Once a year, to reward everyone for their hard work, the Ark's cafeteria served a certain type of cake as an all-you-can-eat special. This year they were serving sponge cake. It was an event that never failed to draw a crowd of hungry scientists.
She lay in bed rubbing her eyes, wondering if Abe would be up this early like he'd claimed yesterday.
She took a shower and got dressed. As she wondered whether to wait for him or to go and wake him, a knock sounded at her front door as if on cue. She answered swiftly and there was Abe, disheveled but ready.
"Happy Cake Day!" he greeted, his two-colored eyes dazzling.
They held hands as they made their way toward the cafeteria, his arm swinging madly back and forth in excitement.
There was traffic. People donned in uniforms or white coats filled the halls and an amiable chatter permeated the air.
He squeezed her hand as they spotted the sets of cafeteria doors. One set led the way in and the other led out, but both were rapidly opening and closing as people filed through.
One figure stuck out from the rest because it was smaller and standing alone. Shadow was looking into the cafeteria through the window next to the entrance doors.
Maria was happy to see him and wanted to say hello, but Abe turned sour.
She asked, "Would you like to go on without me?"
"No, we're supposed to eat cake together! I'll just... follow you. I'm not s-scared of him."
"Okay," she responded, doing her best not to grin as he clung to the back of her dress and kept himself hidden. She walked carefully toward the window.
"Good morning, Shadow."
The hedgehog shifted his gaze, face softening as his eyes rested on hers. He returned her greeting and asked why the cafeteria was so busy this morning.
She explained the purpose of Cake Day.
"This is the one day when everyone on the Ark can have dessert for breakfast if they want to. We were just about to head in now. Are you coming, too?"
A muffled sound of protest came from Abe as he tightened his hold on her dress.
Shadow blinked, taking notice of someone hiding behind Maria's waist. After a moment, he smirked. "I'd like to, but I'm forbidden from eating until after my training is done for the day."
Her eyes widened. "What! But it's Cake Day! And sometimes your training sessions last until night! Whose idea was it to not let you eat today of all days?"
"I might know exactly whose it was," he answered darkly.
She had asked the question rhetorically, but hearing Shadow might have been barred from the event on purpose shocked her. This wasn't right.
She stood up straight and tall. "I'll save you some cake and come find you when I can. I'll make sure you get a taste before they run out."
"You don't have to do that."
"Well, I want to. You never had sponge cake before, right? And you live on the Ark, too, just like the rest of us. You deserve a reward for all your hard work, Shadow. I'll stop by and wait until the minute you're set free."
He stared for a moment, then smirked again. "Fine, if you're that determined. That cake must be a delicacy."
"It really is delicious, but if I sound determined, it's because of you. You're important to me and I don't want you to be left out."
The smirk he held vanished. He looked at her as though bewildered anyone could say such a thing to him.
An impatient child's voice grunted behind her. "Maria." A strong tug on her outfit stole her attention.
"Oh! Sorry, Little Abe, we're going now." She turned to Shadow again. "I'll see you later, then, okay?"
At his nod, she smiled and walked away with Abe clinging along. They went through the entrance doors and headed for the buffet line.
She considered offering a lighthearted joke about how brave he was around the "bad guy," but thought better. Although it was Cake Day, it was also the day Abe had a doctor's appointment, and she knew how nervous those made him.
The line moved slowly but surely. They caught a glimpse of the counter's end, where plates upon plates of sponge cake slices waited.
As they gathered the food they wanted for breakfast, Maria caught the surly expression on Abe's face and soothed his bad mood by reminding him the best part about a doctor's appointment: receiving a lollipop when it was over.
He brightened. "Actually, my doctor promised to bring me here for dinner and cake when it's all over."
"Oh, that's nice." She moved further down the buffet line. "Speaking of cake..."
They'd reached the end of the counter and picked out a slice each. As they searched for a place to sit, she made a mental note to wrap a bit of her treat in a napkin for Shadow. She imagined the look on his face when he tasted the light and airy flavor for the first time.
"And I bet he'll want a real slice afterward, so I'll invite him back here once his training's done," she whispered to herself.
After breakfast, Maria attended her lessons and left to find Shadow as soon as possible.
She asked around and discovered where he was training. Upon finding the right hallway and entering the right door, she found herself inside a small room with a one-way window looking into a larger room, where Shadow underwent his regimen. A broad-shouldered man observed him from the window, and Maria wondered if he was the one who decided Shadow couldn't eat today. Part of her felt disappointed it wasn't Professor Traxton. She believed she would've been able to convince him to change that rule.
The overseeing researcher wore a permanent irritable expression and kept glaring at Shadow through the glass like he had a grudge against him personally. No matter how politely she addressed him, he spoke curtly, contemptuously, leading her to abandon the notion of convincing him of anything. Instead she watched Shadow through the one-way viewing window and waited.
And waited and waited.
She cradled the napkin holding the bit of sponge cake, knowing it wouldn't taste as good as a fresh morsel, but also knowing Shadow would appreciate it nonetheless.
When it was finally over, the researcher entered the training room without saying a word, leaving her alone. She looked on in worry as he approached Shadow. He seemed to spit out whatever he was telling him with venom dripping every syllable. However, Shadow's face remained neutral, as if this was standard procedure.
The irritable man marched back through the viewing room and disappeared into the hall.
"Maria?"
She turned. The door slid closed as Shadow entered the small room and approached her.
"Hi... Um... Who was that man?"
"Him? He's no one worth worrying about, that's who. His bark's worse than his bite," he said lightly, and his tone eased her troubled mind.
She showed off the napkin with a flourish. Carefully, she unfolded it so as not to let a single crumb fall.
She grandly kneeled in front of him and smiled. "Say, 'ah.'"
He closed his eyes and opened his mouth silently.
"You're supposed to say—"
"I've had enough of following orders for one day, thanks," he said evenly.
She giggled and popped the bit of cake onto his tongue.
His eyes shot open wide, mouth closed and still. He stood like that for a second before chewing.
"Never tasted anything like that before, huh?" She relished seeing his reaction up close, at his level.
He swallowed. "Never."
"Will you come with me for dinner? There's a whole bunch of slices we can have. I've been saving that piece since this morning and I promise they're best eaten fresh."
"Alright. Shall we go now?" He offered to help her stand from her kneeling position. She squeezed his hand so he couldn't let go, and he squeezed back almost simultaneously, like he was hoping she wouldn't let go, either. He reached for her other hand with his free one to take the napkin, crumple it, and toss it neatly into a nearby trash bin.
They stepped out to the hall and began a leisurely walk toward the cafeteria. Her heart beat with joy. They didn't talk along the way, but now and then one would look at the other and receive a small smile.
The cafeteria doors came into view. Maria, feeling giddy, released Shadow's hand and sped ahead.
She burst through the doors and cried out. A large pushcart blocked her path, carrying tall stacks of plates, cups, cutlery, and bowls.
And she'd crashed into it at full force.
As she fell forward, it bumped into an empty table and spilled its supply of assorted dishes. Lying helplessly on the floor, she squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the dull pain in her stomach to be combined with a shower of sharp strikes.
No such thing happened. Shadow appeared in the nick of time, shielding her upper body from harm until the clatter stopped. All she felt was his weight and a few dishes grazing her legs harmlessly. A pause. They lay still, catching their breaths, and asked each other, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," replied Maria.
"Don't worry about me," replied Shadow.
He carefully helped her up, tableware sliding off him. Miraculously, nothing was shattered and neither of them were seriously hurt.
A young man wearing an apron and rubber gloves rushed over. "Are you alright, miss? Please forgive me; I should've moved this cart aside, but I only stepped away for a minute..."
She placed a hand on her belly, more for reassurance than from pain. "I'm okay, really."
"Y-You're not going to tell my boss, are you?"
She waved him off. "Of course not. I'm the one who shouldn't have run."
"Don't leave your damn kitchen equipment in front of the doors, idiot."
The worker jumped at Shadow's growl and hurriedly grabbed for the dishes to stack back onto the cart. Maria noticed a few cups had tumbled out of reach and picked them up. Shadow rolled his eyes, so she purposely added, "Here, I'll help you finish stacking!"
"You're too kind," said the young man.
"No kidding," Shadow muttered.
But he didn't stand there watching for long before squirming with unease and relenting, joining them.
They finished the cleanup. As the young man pushed the cart toward the kitchen, the girl and hedgehog approached the buffet counter.
No one was in line, for the cafeteria was all but empty. They each grabbed a plate and moved down the counter, selecting what they wanted. But when they reached the end, there was only one lone plate of sponge cake.
She nodded at him, happy he'd get to experience his first real slice.
They found a small table and sat down across each other. She noticed him eyeing his cake and gleefully told him that if he wanted, he could have his dessert first.
"I'll... pass." He picked up a fork. "How's that saying go? 'Save the best things for last.'"
They ate dinner slowly. After a few minutes of silence, Maria said, "Thanks for protecting me earlier. When I crashed into the cart." Her cheeks warmed from remembering how her fear shifted to relief when he covered her. She'd felt safe beneath him.
"It's nothing. I'm glad you're alright."
They continued eating, and when he was ready to start on his cake, she put her fork down to watch.
She expected him to savor it, but the sweet treat vanished in just a few bites. She smiled, resisting the urge to laugh.
"Ahem."
They jumped.
A newcomer stood by their table, arm's length from Shadow. It was a bespectacled old man in a white coat, and he was staring daggers at the hedgehog. His piercing gaze sent a chill through Maria's body.
"I presume you are Project Shadow the Hedgehog, Professor Gerald Robotnik's latest experiment? Have they not yet taught you that stealing is a heinous crime in all civilized societies?"
Shadow turned his head to glare up at the man's face. Maria never witnessed such a look of disdain from him before.
A tense moment of silence passed. The old man's frown deepened and he continued, "I made special arrangements for a fresh slice of sponge cake to be set aside tonight. I go to retrieve it only to discover its absence, and lo and behold, it wound up in your possession. The last plate of cake for the day. You are a despicable thief."
Shadow snarled, "I didn't steal anything! It's not like it had your name on it."
"Balderdash! There should have been a reservation sign beside it at the end of the counter."
"Well, there wasn't." Shadow ceased eye contact and reached for a glass of water. "Sounds like your problem is with the staff, not me."
Maria saw her chance to cut in while Shadow took a drink. "He's telling the truth, sir. I was with him at the buffet and there wasn't any reservation sign there."
The man looked sharply at her. "I take it you are Miss Maria Robotnik, Professor Gerald Robotnik's granddaughter?"
"Yessir, I am."
"I have heard how supportive you are of your grandfather's work, but you should not... consort with any of the Ark experiments. Especially this one," he said, jerking his head at Shadow, "since none of us know the full extent of what he can do. Who knows what secrets he and Professor Robotnik are hiding from us." He suddenly broke into an eerie smile. "For example, did you know that Project Shadow the Hedgehog does not require the consumption of food? That taking my sponge cake was pointless since he does not need to eat like the rest of us? An injustice for me and an utter waste of time for you both."
His smile changed into a smug smirk as Maria's face faltered. Shadow's grip on his cup of water tightened as he set it down, resulting in a small "heh" from the old man. Seemingly satisfied, he turned to leave. "I would be wary of the company you keep close to you, Miss Robotnik."
Neither spoke as he walked away. Chin on her chest, she snuck an awkward peek at Shadow. He clenched his jaw, eyes fiery, fuming at his plate.
She gave him a moment, unable to decide whether or not to ask him if the old man's claim was true. If he didn't need to eat... then the rule regarding his training today wasn't that unreasonable. And those times he agreed to have dinner with her...
Suddenly, Shadow swung his fist. It crashed down on the table with such force the dishware jumped. They clattered loudly; Maria's glass tipped over and spilled water onto the floor.
His eyes widened at the sound of her surprised squeak. He apologized instantly and stood up, gathering napkins from the napkin dispenser in the middle of their table.
She reached for it too, wanting to help, but he used his other hand to stop her. His grip hurt, but she kept quiet and let him clean up the mess alone. He let her go and avoided her eyes as he worked at her feet, wiping the spill. When he finished, he stood up with the wad of wet napkins. She touched his arm to get his attention.
His ears flattened. "Sorry. I hate scaring you." His voice was small.
"It's okay to be angry, Shadow; I'm not afraid. I just want to help."
They looked at each other, seeking trust in the other's eyes, and his face relaxed. "You're helping me a lot just by staying with me."
She beamed, her heart swelling. "I won't ever leave you, I promise. I can consort with whoever I want, and I choose you."
To her pleasant surprise, he let out the tiniest wisp of laughter. It was subtle and it was infectious.
"What?" she asked, grinning.
"'Consort,'" he answered.
They both agreed it was a silly-sounding word.
Abe watched the bespectacled old man come back to the table. As soon as his doctor sat down, he asked, "What happened, Dr. Eagle?"
"I am afraid the experiment has stolen it, possibly along with the reservation sign, as well. I checked with the staff, but all the ingredients for sponge cake are out of stock. Sorry, Abraham, I know I promised you a treat for being a good boy at our appointment today. How about you take your pick from my candy jar instead? We can stop by my office on the way back."
"Okay!"
"And I apologize for making you sit here alone when I had to tend to another matter earlier. Quite unexpected. Perhaps twenty minutes was too long for a child to wait, but tradition insists one must not begin a meal until all subjects are present."
"We have our dinner now, though, so we can eat, right?"
"Yes, we can start."
The two ate quietly. Abe detected movement near the cafeteria exit and looked up.
Shadow and Maria were on their way out, holding hands. They stopped briefly before the doors, where she cupped his cheek and leaned down. He stood up straight, arching his face closer to hers as she spoke words to him that Abe couldn't hear no matter how hard he strained his ears.
He stabbed his food with his fork and chewed it, hardly registering the taste. In his lap he fiddled with a small sign that said, "Reserved by Dr. Kurtis Eagle" in fancy letters. He stashed it away slyly.
