UlTrRa SiK pRoDuCtIoNs pReSeNtZ:

LoVe'S bUrN

By: UlTrAa ShAdDow

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Sega's characters….but I'd be a very happy guy if I did!

"You can close your eyes to things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to things you don't want to feel."

Knuckles' POV:

It was all still very blurry to me; how could she have done that to me?

I remember seeing Rouge enter a park and I followed her. Man, I felt so nervous, but I had to make my move. With orchids hidden behind my back and sweat on my brow, I gathered enough courage to call Rouge's name.

She whipped around to face me with a look of shock as I slowly approached. Before she could say anything, I handed her the orchids and gave her a peck on the cheek.

She blushed a deep fuchsia and stammered, "Kn-knuckles, y-you're here? And you bought these flowers for me? I'm so lost!"

I smiled. "Rouge, I came back because I realized what I had lost...and I'm sorry for being such a jerk, so from now on, I'll always put you first in my life."

Rouge shook her head. "Oh Knuckles, I don't know what to say.."

"Say you'll take me back, and be my queen," I said softly.

We gazed at each other deeply, I smirked, I could tell she was falling for me...Before she could reply, a shot rang out and I heard a cry. We both turned towards the cry and I saw a bleeding hedgehog fall to the floor.

"No!" she cried.

Rouge ran over to him while I looked around to see what was going on, and it seemed to me that the police had shot the fool. I gazed at Rouge who was now talking to the black hedgehog.

Now, why'd that guy look familiar? Ah yes, he was the same guy I had seen at Rouge's apartment.

...The bastard...

Before I could say anything to this chum, Rouge had performed the Black Wave. The aura of the attack violently knocked the police off their feet and I fell from the attack as well. Although I was in pain, I was able to look up and see Rouge and the black hedgehog running away from the pursuing police.

I had quickly run after them in hope of finding Rouge before the pissed cops did. I searched the city frantically, calling her name every five minutes. I had been looking so hard for Rouge that I had lost all track of time and not realized how dark it was getting.

Well, it was getting late, and I felt my legs begging to give, so I decided that it'd be best to head back to Sonic's place. While going on my way, I heard whispering voices, so in curiosity I followed the two voices into a dark alley. That's when I saw it.

There in the darkness was Rouge kissing that black hedgehog. There, at that very moment, I realized that she didn't care for me anymore...I felt my heart ice over, and my blood boiled as I gritted my teeth. I looked at the orchids and threw them to the floor; apparently this was over between us.

I shook my head as the same burning image kept replaying in my head. How could she do this to me? I just spilled my heart out to her, so what does she do, she smashes it.

Typical, huh? I sighed then turned to the bartender who was busy drying out glasses. He turned to look at me with a look that read, 'What do you want kid?' Smiling dryly, I tapped the counter, signaling that I wanted another drink.

"Kid, you just had three shots of vodka straight, are you sure you want more? It's unhealthy," he scolded.

"Just bring me another damn drink," I hissed.

The bartender shrugged and gave me another glass of vodka straight. I knocked all the other used glasses off of the counter and took another hit.

I winced from the strength of the vodka straight and I heard a hearty laugh. I turned to the stool to my left to see a familiar face.

...An unwanted familiar face.

"Eggman?" I asked, surprised that he could fit on the stool.

I hope all the disdain in my voice didn't show up too much.

...Eh, then again, if it ran him off...

He smiled; damn, looked like there wasn't enough after all, "Hello Knuckles, how have you been?"

I stared, no glared at him for a good five minutes. That question was like asking how a mouse caught in a mouse trap felt.

However, that wasn't the only reason I glared at him; underneath that friendly, ice-breaking question was a desire. He wanted something from me. "Whatever it is, it's a hell no," I replied pointing my index finger at him.

"Well, I'm fine too, thank you very much," he said with half a chuckle. I glared at the doctor yet again; who in the world does he think he's gonna fool?

"What do you want?" I asked irately, "Why are you here?"

"Well, other than making sure you don't kill yourself from alcohol poisoning, I wanted to offer you a partnership," he said, taking a sip of his wine.

See, I knew he wanted something. Nowadays whenever people are nice and friendly, they want something. Sad isn't it, but its the truth.

"Oh? And what's that?" I said eying him.

"Well, my dear echidna, I was wondering whether you'd be in for helping me with world domination," he said inspecting his wine glass.

World domination? Why should I not be surprised? But then again who comes to a bar and asks someone, 'Hey! Wanna go rule the world together?'

" Up to your old tricks again, eh? So why not get Sonic, he's damn fast," I said hiccupping. Eggman laughed, although I didn't mean to amuse him.

"Well, having Sonic work with me would be nice, but let's be real now, he'd never cooperate with me. Hell, he wouldn't even order pizza with me."

I couldn't help but laugh, mentally picturing the two trying to order pizza together. Just think how stupid it would be to picture Sonic holding a phonebook while Eggman dialed the numbers meticulously.

"That's true. Well, I may be a little tipsy, but I'm still not drunk enough to work with you, Doc. I'm outta here," I said.

I gave the doctor a fake salute, then rose from my stool and started on my way. But I soon halted in my tracks when I felt something cold and clammy grab my arm, "Just who in the hell do you think--"

"Knuckles, I know about what happened tonight." Eggman said gently.

If it wasn't for Eggman's solid grip on my arm, I just might have fallen over, " Wh-what?"

"Knuckles, I said I know what happened tonight."

I instantly broke loose from Eggman's drip, spun around, and hoisted him into the air by his collar. If I'm strong enough to break boulders with my bare fists than I'm certainly more than qualified to haul fatty into the air, "What about tonight!?"

As clamor began to fill the room, I realized that I had caused a scene and people were trying to coax me out of hurting the doctor. Well, attracting attention is the last thing I need at the moment. I slowly released my grip on Eggman's collar and slowly, the crowd dispersed.

Surprisingly enough, Eggman was still in good humor, "Perhaps you'd like to chat some place more private?"

I was out of options, or lonely, or drunk, or maybe a little bit of all three, "...Whatever..."

I followed the whistling doctor across the street to a more so diner-type of place. I ended up trailing him to the check-in where a waitress stood, beaming amiably, " Hello! Welcome boys!"

"Good evening Miss--" Eggman paused deliberately.

" Charlotte, I'll be your waitress for the evening," she paused, " A table for two?"

"Please."

"Any preferences as where you'd gentlemen would like to sit?"

"Hmm, perhaps one of the corners Charlotte, my friend he's a little shy."

Both Eggman and Charlotte laughed as I stared with a look on my face that had to look like a deer in the headlights. Excuse me, but was Eggman being charming?

Yeah, he was, in fact he was laughing and making jokes with Charlotte. You know, a person would never know that is was the same guy that tried to take over the world day in and day out.

"Aw, that's all right!" Charlotte replied, tossing a wink my direction, " Follow me. boys."

We followed the bubbly waitress to a small, wooden table. She plucked out a pen and paper and looked at us, " What would you fellas like to drink?"

" Coffee, black with milk," Eggman replied smiling.

" Do you serve anything strong?" I asked.

The waitress blinked, " Um, like what sir?"

Mentally I sighed; like I was going to say, 'Yeah, start me off with some beer! And swill in some vodka! So I can be so drunk, that by the end of the evening I won't be able to see straight!'

"Umm, this'll sound weird but could you mix pepsi and black coffee together so all that caffeine could...make a very strong drink?"

Charlotte's beam could have lit up an entire stadium, " Sure, only 'cause you're so shy! I'll be back with your drinks in a second!"

Once she disappeared from sight, Eggman turned to face me, " Pepsi and black coffee?"

I opened the menu, not actually studying its contents but more so grazing it, "...Don't you in any way think this is informal, we're here for business. You don't like me and I don't like you; so this is business."

Although I didn't look at the doctor, I could hear the smile in his voice, "A man who knows what he wants, impressive."

"Good and I'll stay on that track by asking, what do you know about what happened this evening?" I asked him, now lowering the menu to look at him.

"What do you think I know?" he said.

I glared at the doctor; puzzles waste time and enigmas make me mad, I'm not about to spend an hour on the doctor trying to read his damn mind.

Before I could respond, however, Charlotte returned with both of our drinks, "Okay, here's the coffee for the big man and here's the 'caffeine special' for the shy boy. I'll be back in ten to take your orders."

I watched until the waitress was out of sight to resume our topic. Once she disappeared, I turned to face Eggman. Frowning, I tapped my fingers against the tabletop. I didn't realize I was rattling our drinks in the process.

"Surprise me," I said dully.

"Well," he said clasping his hands together, "First off, I know the identity of the male Rouge was with."

I looked up with burning eyes; for this I was going to need energy. I downed my first helping of the 'caffeine special'. Although it forced a cough out of me it wasn't too bad.

"Who?"

"The male Rouge was with is our friend, Shadow," he said, sipping his coffee nonchalantly.

My eyes widened and I gasped. Yet again, this resulted in me forcefully spitting out my drink. I wiped my mouth, thinking.

An image of a sulking black hedgehog with a vicious glare appeared. Slashes of red streaks embellished his dark quills; too radical for my taste if you ask me.

"Shadow? The ultimate life form punk?" I responded.

...What? Like I'm going to be happy that he's with my girlfriend?

"One and the same," Eggman replied.

"I thought that guy was long gone..." I said to myself.

Eggman sat silently for a moment, although I knew he was chewing over his next words. Now he settled for folding his arms over his belly. His big, huge, round belly.

"Happy to see him?" Eggman asked.

I smiled grimly at the doctor; he helped us save the world, supposedly died, then returned to take my girlfriend; I'm thrilled doc!

"Not exactly," I replied grimly. Eggman laughed. "Ha! Who would be if he returned and stole your girlfriend?"

I scowled at him while he now laughed nervously; right now I'm wondering how well Eggman's neck will fit into my clenched hands.

"Doctor, what kind of proposition did you have in mind?" I said bleakly, " And with that last comment, it had better be a damn good proposition."

"Well Knuckles, it's about our friend Shadow," he started.

I sneered while he continued, "You see, Shadow was my grandfather's creation and since he's gone now, Shadow's my inheritance, so naturally, I want my property. Understand?"

" Yeah, yeah, I see," I said waving a careless hand, "So why do you want my help?"

Eggman frowned, "Well, I told those blasted police officers about my inheritance to Shadow, hoping that they'd help me but instead they believe it'd be best to put him into captivity and freeze him. Ha! Some help they are! It's so hard to get good help nowadays."

The doctor grumbled a little more before he took another big swallow of his coffee. I stared at the table, mulling over the doctor's offer.

So, help him capture his 'property' before the police, huh?

"And so, you're racing the police to get to Shadow first," I said.

"Exactly," Eggman said, "So, what do you say to my proposal?"

I crossed my arms, thinking. Do I really want to help him? He's the same man who's taken the Master Emerald countless times! But then again Shadow did take something much more precious from me...

And besides, this presents me with an opportunity to give Shadow his homecoming gift.

Finally, I raised my eyes to look at Eggman,"...When do I start?"

To be continued!

Chapter Six Theme: 'Used to love you'-John Legend