Chapter 11: The Face-Off
Amy had settled into her new room, to her surprise, she was very impressed with how spacious it was. Although she knew Sonic was entitled beyond belief, she still didn't think that she herself would have a taste of the good life, especially when he had treated her poorly.
Her room was a simple, but elegant: her room was in a corner of the house, the windows were wide enough to display a full view of the city, a flatscreen TV hung at the top of the ceiling while her bed frame sat with nothing but fluffy white pillows and light and airy covers that covered it. The floorboards were a gray finish, making it seem more like a small condo than a room, and Amy was only impressed that she wasn't offered a poor excuse of a guest room, but she supposed even Sonic can have a heart… sometimes.
She smiled widely, her eyes glittering over the sight of her comfortable looking bed, her big TV, she even spotted a lounge chair by the big window that caught her attention. There was so much incredible light that came naturally from the window, it had stunned her. She had half a mind to go downstairs and give her kidnapper a huge hug, but she digressed.
After looking into the closet, she noticed that Sonic had movers bring most of her clothes in, despite the fact that Amy thought she would have to make several trips, but seeing as she didn't need to now, it made the process of moving in a lot easier. She set her purse down and added the clothes she had already brought along, and right after, she went downstairs to seek Sonic.
She found him in the living area again, sitting down and reading a magazine, cup of coffee in hand. Although the whole day consisted of moving, she was surprisingly not tired. Seeing Sonic in leisure definitely made her feel a little out of his league. Is this what rich people do on a daily? Damn… Must be nice…
She sat down in the loveseat next to him, clearing her throat before speaking to him.
"Hey…" she greeted, looking away from him for a moment.
"Yeah? Did your stuff get in okay?" he asked quaintly. Amy gulped. Why is he being so nice to me all of the sudden? Why is this so hard? AH! I feel like I'm blushing!
"Everything made it okay, actually! That's why I came down here, I just wanted to thank you for bringing in my clothes for me. That meant a lot," she said, her eyes slowly looking towards him once more.
Sonic blinked, setting his coffee down after letting out a sigh. I can't believe this… This is such a breath of fresh air compared to the stupid shit that he usually says, especially lately… Maybe we can get along. Maybe I can find a middle ground with him. Maybe I–
"I mean… If I didn't bring your clothes in, you'd probably make me buy you more, which I am not about. I'm already putting so much stock on you, the last thing I want to do is spend my money on frivolous things such as clothes for you. Although… I should probably do that anyway since most of the rags you have in that walk-in closet of yours are just so grimey and outdated, like… What year are you even in? Are you just so stuck in the middle ages that you're not open to picking up a magazine? I mean, seriously– there are women out there that are so on top of the fashion world, that I would've hoped that at least you of all people would've had something decent to wear, but hey: I can't work miracles, but I'm definitely a charitable person. Don't worry, Amy. In fact, I changed my mind. I would love to help you out. Especially when it's my responsibility to provide relief to the less fortunate. And also–"
Amy rolled her eyes to the back of her head. She spoke too soon. How could she have thought that he would've done something nice for her just for the sake of being nice? She had always known Sonic to speak out his mind, but this was too much. As he continued on and on about her wardrobe, Amy's smile never wavered, and instead of continuing to hear his tangent, she interrupted, "ANYWAY! Thanks for that. I'll go to my room now, bye."
"Hey, hold on!" called out Sonic, rising from his seat. He grabbed her by the arm, bringing her body close to his. He had the same smirk he's been flashing her since the beginning, and she was getting so sick of it all.
"What do you want? Leave me alone!" argued Amy. She attempted to push him away, but Sonic refused.
"Why are you being like that? I was just teasing. Why can't you take a joke?"
"Because you're such an asshole! Would it kill you to be nice?"
"I'm honestly not," he responded gently all of the sudden. "I just wish you would just let me be nice to you."
Amy stopped dead in her tracks. She's always seen Sonic's face and dreaded that sly smirk he flaunted at her. His eyes peered right through her, and she couldn't help but feel an unfamiliar feeling in her chest. It was not that of uneasiness, but it was more personal than that.
For a moment, she took into account the position she was in: she was uprooted from her normal life and caught in a web of misfortune and servitude. She just wanted her heels back, wanted her apartment back, and just her whole life back. Although her mind ached for a break from all of this, her heart said otherwise. Almost like a small thumping in her chest.
She could only think about how he made her feel many years ago, and how close they were at some point. But now, she stands there confused on what to do next.
Amy's lips parted, as though she were going to utter something back to him, but within that moment, the two heard a heavy knocking on the door, which caused Amy to jump. She looked towards the door instinctively, gasping at the voice that penetrated the door without even skipping a beat: "AMY! Are you in there?"
While Amy was staring at the doorway with confusion and in a daze, Sonic's eyes rolled to the back of his head. He released Amy while clicking his tongue, making his way towards the door. "How did you even make it past my gate?" Sonic asked in slight astonishment.
Amy stood there confused. How is Sonic talking to this voice in such a familiar tone? And the voice called out to her, so… who is this?
Sonic opened the door and to Amy's surprise, there stood Shadow, gasping for air and sweating as though he ran a marathon. He leaned against the door frame, attempting to speak between breaths, "I'm… Here… To… Take… Amy… Back…"
"S-Shadow?" Amy muttered. It was the only thing she can even muster to say. She was surprised to even see him here of all places, but how did he know?
Sonic walked towards Amy, standing in front of her, "There's no way I'm just letting you take her just like that, y'know..."
Shadow gritted his teeth, gaining his energy back and approached Sonic, moving him away forcibly and grabbing Amy's wrist, "We're leaving!"
"B-But I..." was all she could say.
"Hey! Where the hell do you get off? She's not going anywhere with you!" shouted Sonic aggressively.
Shadow looked at him and suddenly shoved Sonic aside, "I'm not letting you take advantage of her like this. We're leaving."
Sonic released a chuckle, blinking twice before rolling up his sleeves, "... I'm just gonna pretend you didn't just push me. Who said anything about holding her here against her will?"
"You don't have to say anything, I can just tell! Why don't you just leave Amy alone?"
"Because I don't need to hear you say anything! I know she's trapped here and she doesn't need to be here with you so why don't you just back off!"
As the two continued to argue, Amy was finally coming back to her senses. She didn't want to be taken by either one of these people. She just wanted to stay out of it. "You guys… Why don't we all just relax…" said Amy, coming between them. They continued to glare at each other, moving about one another as Amy kept herself in the middle.
"Look, ya faker… You're not her keeper, so why don't you just be a good boy and go back home? She clearly doesn't want to leave," muttered Sonic boldly.
"I know what you're up to, and there's no way I'm just going to let it happen. She has already dealt with what you did to her in the past, so just let her go!" shouted Shadow in response.
Amy kept looking back and forth between the two, her mind racing. On one hand, she felt somewhat relieved that Shadow had noticed so quickly that she had gone, while on the other, she didn't understand why she wasn't able to speak up for herself while he stood there, defending her honor.
Sonic noticed Amy's look of confusion and sneered, "She clearly doesn't want to leave. She could've done so by now, but she clearly thinks otherwise."
Shadow gritted his teeth, "Knowing you, you probably hung something over her, like I don't know how you are!"
"Stop it, you two! Just– Just stop!" said Amy in intervention.
But before she could even blink an eye, Sonic pushed her aside and threw himself at Shadow, knocking him to the ground. He swung his fists at Shadow, bruising him badly. Shadow kicked Sonic off of him, making him land on the ground. Each blow to each other increased Amy's anxiety and her cries kept being shut out.
She finally decided to come running to Sonic, sitting in front of him to deflect the blow that Shadow was going to do, but Shadow paused, "Amy...?"
She faced him with tears in her eyes, "...Please stop, you two. Please…"
She turned to Sonic, "Are you okay?"
Sonic murmured his answer, but just as he did, Shadow punched the wall, "Why are you helping him?!"
Amy turned to Shadow, shocked at his raise of voice.
"Because he's hurt. I was going to check in on you, too."
"Oh, really? Didn't seem like it! It's almost like you're getting swept up over the bare minimum he's giving you again–"
"Shadow, stop it! I'm happy you came here to help me, but we can talk–"
"YOU ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WANTED TO BREAK UP WITH YOU!?"
Amy flinched, her eyes stayed on his steadily. "... Why are you saying this now?"
He paused, only to wipe the blood from his lips, "I just don't like how he just swept you away and is forcing you into this. I know he's doing something to keep you here."
She winced once more. He was holding something over her. But for some reason, she felt determined to see it through. Being honest with herself, she couldn't help but be curious about Sonic's overall situation, but she couldn't say that in front of him. She just wanted to see what he's up to and why he was desperate enough to do all this to begin with.
She turned to Sonic, "Can you… Just give us a minute?"
Sonic's glance alternated between she and Shadow, before he closed his eyes and let out a sigh, "Fine. I'll be outside."
In almost a rare act of God, he did just that. Sonic left through the front doors and closed it behind him, giving Amy the space she needed.
After the two were finally alone, she turned to Shadow with pain in her eyes, attempting to hold her gaze onto him. She didn't know what to say, nor did she know what to do. She didn't know what to make of anything anymore.
"Why… Why are you here?" she finally asked, brushing a bit of dust off his clothes.
Shadow clicked his tongue. "I just… I noticed that you were gone and I just thought it had been weird that you just up and left and… I somehow knew he had something to do with this."
"But… how would you have known that?"
Shadow tightened his lips closed. "I just… I had a hunch. That's all."
Amy looked down at her feet, then back up to his eyes once more. "Were you worried about me?"
"God, yes– Of course I was! Just… bearing the thought of you being alone with him here is way more than I can take."
Amy's eyes began to water.
"Then when I saw you defending him, I just… couldn't help feeling like you actually want to be here," he continued, smiling slightly.
Amy stood there in silence. She didn't know what else to say to him. She only wanted to calm the situation down, but now… being there with him, she'd rather they had at it.
"Shadow… You need to leave."
"But! Why?"
"Because I'm okay, Shadow. I'm not in any immediate danger. I'm here on my own will."
"I don't believe you! Just! Come home with me! You don't need him! Whatever it is that he has over you, you don't need him!"
Amy couldn't help but feel her sympathies leave her heart. She was getting tired of having to repeat herself every moment.
"Shadow… You being here just isn't helping… Please."
Shadow continued to shake his head. "No… Not until you come home with me. Amy, please. You can't stay here, you're at complete risk–"
"Shadow… You just have to believe in me. I'm asking you calmly to please go."
He held his stance until he loosened his shoulders, heading out the doorway in which he came. As he was leaving, Amy stepped forward a bit, "I-I'll call you, if it makes you feel any better."
He nodded, continuing his way out the door and past Sonic, who was leaning against his door hinge waiting for him to leave. Shadow turned back around and gritted his teeth, pointing his index finger at Sonic challengingly. "If you even lay a hand on her, I'm kicking your ass!"
Sonic smirked, "It isn't even like that, man. This is a totally different look from the other night–"
Shadow winced, looking away from Sonic's gaze. "I… I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh? Are you sure about that? Because I can help you remember if you want… We can go back to that bar we reunited at–"
"I don't need a recap, you fuck. Leave Amy out of this."
"Isn't it funny, though? You telling me to leave her out of this, even though our whole agreement involved her–"
"SHUT UP!" shouted Shadow; he pounced his way back to him in a flash, pressing his elbow against Sonic's neck where he was leaning. He snarled at him, his fangs baring at him intimidatingly, "You need to shut your fucking mouth."
Sonic beamed brightly, sticking out his tongue, "I thought you were leaving?"
Shadow kept his grip until letting go moments later, cursing under his breath and resuming his walk out of his manor.
Not much longer after he had left, Amy came out as well, "Sonic! Are you okay? Where's Shadow?"
"I'm okay. Just pissed off the guy, is all. Are you?"
"Yeah, I'm okay… I've just never seen him that mad before…"
"I have. He's no harm though. But it'll be okay, don't pay him any mind."
Amy couldn't help but wonder about what Shadow and Sonic meant by an "agreement"; her curiosity has gotten her this far, but how far is too far?
- End of Chapter 12 -
