Rouge's Valentine
The middlemost morning of February carried a clear sky and brought bright strips of daylight through the thin slits in Rouge's bedroom curtains. She stayed in bed so long as she was able to ignore the glaring beams, but couldn't withstand them as the sun rose higher above the top floor of Club Rouge. It was just as well, she conceded, for her employees would be arriving soon enough to open the club; so, she pulled herself out of bed and dressed in her signature outfit, then brushed her teeth and hair before going downstairs to let the club staff open for the day. She took a stroll to the nearby post office to check her mail, passing shops and restaurants that advertised Valentine's Day products and services.
'My, don't those look nice,' she thought to herself, admiring a pair of heart-shaped earrings in a jewelry store window.
She looked to her left, then her right, making a mental note of the abundance of bystanders present on the sidewalk. 'Too many people around to think about taking them... for now.'
Moving on to the building that stored her mail, the bat unlocked and opened the sleek metal box, pulling out a single envelope before closing it again. The rectangular sleeve was colored a pastel pink, with a small red heart sticking it shut – Rouge turned it over in her gloved hand, looking for the sender's name, and saw curvy letters spelling out 'Amy Rose' on one corner of the paper.
'A letter from Amy?' she wondered, her eyelids raising curiously. 'On Valentine's Day?'
Looking up at the bold blue sky, she let the crisp breeze coax her into flying atop the post office, sitting on the roof to read the letter in private. As she slid her finger under the heart-shaped sticker, Rouge saw a hint of white card stock, soon pulling it out of the envelope to gaze at the front. It was a plain white greeting card with red glittery letters that spelled out "Happy Valentine's Day!"
'How sweet of her to send these out,' the lady thought, slipping her thumb into the crease of the card to prop it open.
The same curvy lettering was present on the inside, showcasing Amy's handwriting as it read, "Rouge, I hope you'll join us for a Valentine's Day party at my house. It's going to be SWEET! - Amy"
The ivory jewel hunter smiled to herself as she considered attending the event, then slid the letter back inside the pink envelope. 'Well, it is a special occasion... why not?'
The bubbly hedgehog was placing down a platter of sprinkle-topped sugar cookies for her guests when she heard a knock at the front door. The inside of Amy's modest home was filled with partygoers who chatted and sampled the various snacks and sodas covering the counters and tables. Most of her friends were in attendance – as well as a few plus-ones they'd decided to bring along – and upbeat instrumental music played in the background while they laughed and talked amongst themselves. Rose strolled through the scattered crowd, excusing herself around acquaintances to open the door. Rouge was her newest arrival, standing at the entrance with a greeting card in her grip.
"Rouge!" the girl exclaimed. "So glad you could make it!"
"Sounded like a good time," the bat explained, looking down at Amy's outfit. "Seems you've updated your wardrobe for the occasion."
The young hostess clasped both hands behind her back and grinned, proudly sporting a dress and boots identical in style to her typical look with inverted colors. Cherry red accented the snowy white, and she wore a scarlet heart-shaped sticker on each of her peachy cheeks. "Thanks! I couldn't pass up the chance to show off my new dress to Sonic!"
She giggled and Rouge held out the card, saying, "I gotcha this."
"Oh, wonderful!" Amy took it from her hand and gestured inside the house. "Come in, everybody's here!"
The bat walked through the doorway and gazed around at the clumps of guests all standing together and mingling. Some she recognized – like Sonic and his crew – but others were strangers, so she simply looked around for the first person she felt like talking to. Across the room, she spotted tall white plumes standing higher than the other partiers' heads, which she recognized as hair belonging to Silver the Hedgehog. Rouge made her way over and found Blaze, Tails, Vector, and Espio standing alongside Silver; some were holding plastic cups, and they seemed to be having a simple conversation until they noticed her approaching.
"Hey, guys," greeted the charismatic woman, waving at the group.
"Hey, Rouge, good to see you," Silver said, briefly raising his cup in lieu of waving back.
Vector commented, "Man, everybody's showing up to this thing! I don't know if Amy can fit any more people in here!"
The rest of them chuckled, then carried on with light conversation until Rouge got curious about what they were drinking. When she asked, Blaze pointed towards a long table sitting against a wall.
She said, "There's soda, water, and Amy set up a bowl of cherry punch for everyone."
Teal eyes noticed a familiar acquaintance when the white-haired lady scanned her gaze across the table – Knuckles the Echidna filling his cup with a ladle of ruby-hued punch. Rouge lowered an eyebrow mischievously as she saw the opportunity to tease him, then walked over to make her presence known.
Strolling up behind the redhead, she cleared her throat before speaking, "Well, well, look who I found."
Knuckles turned and furrowed his brow a bit when he saw her, his mouth pulling into an annoyed frown. His gruff voice rushed forth with a snappy comeback. "Great, who invited you?"
"Hm!" She smirked, holding eye contact and raising one hand to rest on her hip. "I'm surprised you resisted the urge to show up at my doorstep begging me to be your plus-one."
"Ha! As if I'd ever want to invite you anywhere," Knuckles responded, turning more as he began walking past her.
"Wait!" Rouge reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Didn't you get me a gift?"
He flashed his fangs and snickered. "No. Why, do you think you deserve one?"
"I'd consider you boneheaded if you didn't think so," she teased, still smiling playfully while crossing her arms.
"Think of me what you will – I don't donate to thieves!" The echidna's smirk remained as he turned his back to her and walked away, hearing Rouge scoff.
She uttered mockingly, "Touchy!" before pouring herself a shallow cup of punch.
Wandering around the living room of Amy's house, the pretty bat sipped her drink and followed the music. It led her to the boombox sitting on an end table, where Sonic the Hedgehog was casually leaning his weight on the wall and tapping his foot to the beat. His green eyes lit up a bit when he saw Rouge, and he smiled as she walked over.
"Hey!" he greeted, snapping his fingers once and pointing at her. The tread of his shoe continued to thump on the carpet while they talked. "Didn't know if I'd see you here – no plans for Valentine's Day?"
She shrugged. "Not really. I figured something would be happening. If I wasn't here, I'd be off picking out a nice present for myself."
Sonic chuckled, "Just can't keep your sticky hands off the expensive stuff, huh?"
"Ugh, you're the second person now to harp on me for my extravagant taste." Her glossy lips curved into an amused smile.
"Let me guess: the first was Knuckles?" he asked, one brow lowering as he grinned.
It was her turn to chuckle as one gloved palm moved to rest on her hip again. "He really is that obvious, isn't he?"
Sonic shrugged playfully, and there was a moment of silence between them. The mingling bat took a swift look around and noted that someone was missing from the party. She looked back to him and asked, "I don't see Shadow anywhere; did he not get invited?"
Once again, the blue hedgehog's shoulders touched his muzzle. "I think Amy invited everybody. Even Omega's around here somewhere. But you know Shadow, this isn't really his scene. Stubborn guy like him? He probably threw out the letter without even opening it."
"Hm..." Rouge's free hand left her hip and raised to cup her chin. She tapped one finger below her lips, then replied, "I should pay him a visit. Do you have an idea of where he might be?"
Sonic took a second to think, looking up at the ceiling and rubbing his own chin in contemplation. "Maybe somewhere outside the city. Beyond that? No clue."
Before Rouge could thank him for the suggestion, she heard Amy's voice from behind. The pink hedgehog emerged past a handful of guests and vaguely addressed them both before beaming at Sonic. "Hey, guys, hope you're having a good time. Sonic! You have to try the cupcakes I just made – it's a new recipe, they're so good!"
She stepped forward and grabbed one of his hands, tugging her royal blue crush even while he urged her to tone down the excitement. He chuckled nervously at Rouge and shrugged as Amy pulled him along, then disappeared past the crowd of people, leaving the bat to consider making her exit. She finished her drink, searched for a trashcan, then noticed a few hand baskets sitting on the living room table when she began making her way to the front door. Looking them over, she could see various chocolates, candies, and pastries filling the white woven receptacles. They were presumably for everyone, by the way they were displayed, but Rouge couldn't resist temptation.
'No one will really care if I only take one, right?' she justified in her mind, shifting her gaze around to ensure she wasn't being stared at. 'Besides, a certain someone's missing out on all these goodies!'
Her hand wrapped around the wicker handle of one basket and she smoothly slipped it off the table to stick by her side. The thieving woman walked past a handful of guests – who seemed too preoccupied with their conversations to notice her kleptomania – and out the front door with not a proper goodbye said to anyone.
Rouge took a leisurely stroll through the city on her way to find Shadow. She felt light on her feet as the clear sky shone warm light over everything, and the cool breeze blew past to kiss her tan skin before she could get too hot. Perfect weather – even if it was a little bright for the bat's liking. Her hips swayed confidently and her heels clicked on the smooth cement sidewalk. The basket rocked back and forth with the gentle swinging motions of her grip. Rouge's smile was unfaltering, and she gazed once again at the passing shops, all done up in heart-shaped decorations to celebrate Valentine's Day. Her walk was disrupted when she looked through the large window of a jewelry store. Instantly, her turquoise eyes were drawn to a wristwatch sitting in the center of a flashy display; made of shining solid gold, it twinkled in the light that reflected through the glass pane. Dazzled by its beauty, Rouge stared as her lips parted to flash white teeth in a delighted grin, followed by a mischievous idea.
'Maybe I should be bringing Shadow a proper gift. He does look good in gold...'
With no one in the immediate vicinity, she figured she would have enough time to swipe it and escape without being noticed. So, she pushed the door open, hearing the bell above it chime to announce her presence, and walked in. The clerk standing at the counter looked past the customer browsing the ring selection; Rouge smiled and raised her hand briefly to indicate a wave, which gained a smile from him before the customer asked a question. Aware that she needed to let the employee forget about her existence, the sneaky woman pretended to browse necklaces in an enclosed glass box right beside the window display. She waited a minute, listening in on the conversation between the store clerk and his customer. Peeking out of the corner of her eye, Rouge decided to make her move when he opened his counter to pull out a ring.
As he showed it to the customer, describing its components to push the sale, she took a quick look around to make sure no one would see her approaching the display. It was tempting to steal more than just the watch, but the skilled bat knew better than to take a risk by grabbing more than what she'd gone in for. So, the golden accessory was swiftly lifted from its velvet pillow and stuffed away. Rouge was exiting the store before the jeweler had even finished his sales pitch, and she relished the jingle of the bell as the door closed behind her. The jewel hunter didn't linger in front of the store, quickly pushing off the ground to take flight – she held Amy's stolen basket close to keep it level, then chuckled triumphantly into the open air and used her free hand to retrieve the watch from its hiding place.
"What a beautiful piece of jewelry!" she said out loud, amazed by the white gleam reflecting off of the expensive metal. She turned it over a few times in her hand, admiring the craftsmanship as much as she could before the glint became overwhelming. "Shadow better appreciate my thoughtfulness in gifting him something so precious."
A carefree Rouge set off to look for her loner friend outside the city, coasting over buildings and peering out at the mountainous, forested area spreading past its borders. She wasn't able to see anything resembling Shadow until she passed the outskirts of the city; once she scanned her gaze over the grassy cliffsides, she finally spotted a distant black splotch among the green terrain.
'Aha! Target in sight,' she thought, then zipped towards the dark figure.
As she got closer, the bat confirmed that it was the Ultimate Lifeform occupying the slope of the lush cliffside. He was lying on his back, resting on the earthy ground with both hands behind his head. His eyes were closed and he looked to be at peace, though his mouth curved downward in its natural dull frown. The slight breeze rustled his fur, and as he lay perfectly still, Rouge wondered if he was asleep. Her heeled boots settled in the grass as she landed, staring curiously at the black and red hedgehog while holding the wicker basket with both hands.
Before she could take a step, Shadow's lips parted and his deep voice filled the tranquil air. "Who's there?"
Surprised at his alertness – and amused by his no-nonsense nature – the white-haired lady smiled and took a few steps towards him. "Your best friend Rouge, of course. Who else would be able to find you out here so easily?"
He kept his eyes closed and remained quiet for a moment, then calmly asked, "What do you want?"
The hedgehog heard her scoff softly and silently predicted the sarcastic remark that would follow. She said, "It's always business with you, isn't it? No friendly hello for your closest ally?"
Shadow was still as a stone, opening his eyes slowly to adjust underneath the glaring sun rays. His gaze fell on Rouge, her dim silhouette standing near his legs, sunshine spilling around her figure as it hit her back. He didn't linger too long on her face, dropping his eyes to the basket in her hands.
"I figured you were used to my coldness by now," he replied, trying not to sound playful.
He didn't like to participate in Rouge's banter, since she usually ran with it more than he cared for, but it was difficult to come off as disinterested as he wanted; the resting man was in a good mood, a rare occurrence. And his partnership with the charismatic bat had brought them close enough that bits of her teasing tendencies had rubbed off on him, occasionally tainting his tone with a tinge of jest while in her company. She always saw through it, as she did in that moment, letting out a short chuckle and shifting her weight to one foot.
"It's Valentine's Day, you know," said the smooth-talking treasure hunter. "We missed you at Amy's party."
Looking back up at her, Shadow's mouth pinched into a slightly deeper frown. "Hmph. How many meaningless holidays am I supposed to care about on this planet?"
Rouge stepped closer, causing the hedgehog to finally pull himself up from the ground. His gaze followed her as he sat up straight, then looked into the white basket when she set it on the grass between them. She sat down next to him while he studied the gathering of sugary foods.
"Look," the bat began, "I know being drab is your style, but would it kill ya to have a little more fun? At least try some of these specially-assorted snacks."
Conceding to her request, Shadow reached into the basket and grabbed a chocolate cookie covered with red frosting. He took a moment to wonder how the dessert could be considered anything more than a simple cookie. Rouge decided to claim a heart-shaped box of chocolates for herself, pulling it out of the basket and opening the plastic.
The unimpressed hedgehog asked, "What makes them so 'special,' exactly?"
His friend plucked one of the chocolates from its indentation and held it up, as if to illustrate her point. "They're a labor of love! You think people put together basket arrangements every day?"
She popped the chocolate into her mouth; Shadow didn't quite understand what she was getting at, or even why anyone would put such effort into something seemingly trivial. He ate the cookie, but didn't react much to its flavor, then looked over the rest of the basket with apathy. Though he generally liked the treat's taste, he noted that he clearly wasn't getting as much enjoyment out of it as Rouge.
"It's nice, I suppose." His attention was back on her, noticing the smile she held while chewing. "But I can't see myself putting up with Sonic and the others just for this."
The personable woman closed up the heart-shaped box, putting it back in the basket and swallowing her snack before speaking. "Well, then it's a good thing I decided to hand-deliver it to you. And, I even had the idea to nab this for you on the way over."
She made eye contact with Shadow and revealed the golden wristwatch – his expression turned to subtle wonder, while her sweet smile widened into a mischievous one. Lying in her palm, the jewelry glittered once more in the sunlight as she held it out towards him. The taciturn lifeform stared at the twinkling object, a bit confused but also impressed.
"Hm, that's quite the accessory you've swiped – at no cost, undoubtedly." He couldn't help but smirk with the teasing remark as his ruby eyes ran back up to her teal ones.
Rouge raised her free index finger and pressed the side of it to her lips in a silent shushing gesture, then winked playfully. Following her silence, Shadow let his smirk drop and asked, "But why get such a thing for me? I haven't got much use for a watch."
He witnessed the lady's smile drop as well; her eyes rolled in slight annoyance, and she let out a sigh before prodding the watch at his chest. "Oh, Shadow, be materialistic for once in your life! You'd really reject my gift?"
The dark hedgehog's smirk returned against his will, faintly entertained by her insistence. He took the watch into his own palm and responded, "Of course not."
Rouge's impatience faded with his acceptance of the stolen item, and she started to smile again as she watched the golden band wrap around the cuff of his glove. He spoke while settling it around his wrist, "I hope you don't expect me to get you something in return."
Her index finger lifted once more to rest innocently against her muzzle. "Hm, well... to show the same generosity wouldn't kill ya."
Both of their smiles lingered as they looked at each other, Rouge's expression silently asking him to return the favor while Shadow's suggested he may be thinking about obliging. She couldn't tell for sure – his vocal tone was so dry most of the time, it was difficult to tell when he was being sarcastic. The watch's band clasped around his wrist, drawing the pair's attention. He raised his arm to study the accessory at a different angle, turning it a couple of times to watch the gold reflect in the sunlight.
Beside him, Rouge leaned closer and said, "Looks nice, doesn't it? The shine really brings out your eyes."
The bat's smirk was playful when he turned to gaze at her, and they sat silently for a brief moment while he lowered his arm again. There was a subtle air of tension between them; Shadow could just barely feel it rising, and noticed how close she'd gotten to him. But they didn't move, and she broke the tension shortly after by speaking.
"Tell ya what: come to Club Rouge later tonight. I'll close it up and we can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere, just you and me." Her head tilted to one side and her eyelids rose to display an inviting demeanor. "You can even stay in my loft for the night. I've got a spare bed, so you can sleep on a nice, thick mattress for a change."
When he didn't respond immediately, she added, "And it'll give you time to find me a gift! What'ya say?"
Rouge's long eyelashes fluttered for a moment, once again silently asking her friend to accept. He considered it, then received a happy smile from the lady when he answered, "Sure."
Shadow then experienced a thin wave of compassion from her reaction, feeling compelled to follow up with, "I suppose I'll pay Omega a visit before heading your way."
The ivory bat sprung to her feet, her smile still wide, and he could feel the difference in her energy – heightened from her resting state after having her offer accepted. "Now that's the spirit!"
She bent over and grabbed the heart-shaped box of chocolates from the basket, then turned and began walking away. "I've gotta go, but feel free to enjoy the rest of those desserts. See ya later!"
A quick wave predated her takeoff, Rouge leaving the cliffside and flying back towards the city. The hedgehog watched her go for a second, then turned to look down at the woven basket sitting beside him. He made the decision to try enjoying the gift as something special before reaching for another snack.
Club Rouge's alluring owner waited until sundown to close up the casino. Once the patrons were gone and the place was tidied for the night, she dismissed her employees and wished them a happy Valentine's Day; walking out with them, she stood by the entrance and watched them all leave. The bat looked around in case Shadow was nearby, scanning the street and then letting her gaze trail over the nearby buildings. In the darkness of nightfall, she spotted the hedgehog's barely visible form standing on a rooftop, looking down at her. They locked eyes, and when Shadow saw her smile, he took it as his cue to teleport down to her level. He flickered out of sight, and Rouge's eyes snapped to his new position when he reappeared beside her.
"Good evening, Rouge," he greeted, still in a better mood than usual.
"Hi," she started, the nuanced tone of her voice dripping with maturity. However, her timbre became warmer and more complimentary when she looked down and noticed the golden watch glittering around his wrist. "Oh, you're still wearing it! So, you did like it?"
He smirked and briefly crossed his gaze over to the accessory before looking back to her. "Well, you went through so much trouble to grab it for me, I figured I should appease you and wear it for a little while."
"Is that your sarcasm again?" the treasure hunter asked playfully, balling her fist and resting it against her hip.
"Of course," he answered truthfully. "I do like it."
Gratitude crept into her expression as she turned towards the entrance. "I knew it wouldn't be a waste. Come on in!"
She opened the door for him, letting the hedgehog walk into the lobby. The first thing he noticed about the normally-flashy night spot was how calm the atmosphere seemed to be. The bright lights of the slot machines weren't blinking wildly, and the overhead lights were dimmed. Instead of electric techno, the speakers were playing soothing jazz, and the building was empty, as Rouge had promised. He allowed a soft smile to touch his lips while his companion locked the double doors behind them. The muffled shuffle of her heels on the carpet then drew closer, as did the jingle of the club keys; she stepped next to Shadow and smiled.
"How about we go up to the lounge for drinks?" she asked in a friendly tone, walking with him. "I've got food, too, if you're hungry."
"I could go for a glass. And maybe a light meal." He didn't force his smile to falter when he saw her eyes dart towards it – he knew the bat had a fondness for the moments when he showed contentment, and he trusted her enough that he didn't feel the need to hide the occurrence.
The third-floor lounge was as dim as usual, and the same soothing jazz played through the speakers that dotted the corners of the room. The two of them walked past couches and four-person dining tables towards the bar, which occupied the back wall. Rouge stepped behind the dark mahogany counter and opened up the mini freezer while Shadow made himself comfortable on one of the bar stools. She took out a small pizza and got the hedgehog's approval before popping it into the toaster oven to bake. Then she opened up the drink fridge and pulled out a bottle of sparkling wine.
"How about some champagne?" the cheery woman asked, propping the green container on her left palm while gripping the bottleneck with her right.
Shadow nodded and watched with interest as Rouge removed the cork, being reminded of the jewel thief's strength as she pulled it out of the bottle without much effort. A tinge of excitement rose in his stomach, the hedgehog surprised at the feeling of being anxious to give her the gift he'd brought. But it wasn't difficult for him to contain any eagerness he experienced, easily concealing the emotion and accepting the glass of champagne that was handed to him.
With a twinkle in her eye, the lady began pouring her own drink and said, "Thanks for visiting, by the way. I didn't have any plans for the holiday, so it's nice to spend the evening with someone."
One of his dark eyebrows lowered in curiosity. "I thought you went to that party you'd mentioned earlier?"
"Yeah, but that was just a quick thing," she replied, swatting the air with her free hand and carrying the fizzing glass around to his side of the bar. "It was alright, but... truth be told, I left because you weren't there."
Shadow's brows raised, his crimson eyes following her smooth walk over to the bar stool on his left. It was expected for him to skip out on events, but he was somewhat surprised that Rouge hadn't intended to spend the day with Sonic's crew. He'd always thought her to be incredibly social – especially compared to himself – and assumed she actually enjoyed their company. He tried not to stare at her curvy figure when she lowered herself onto the cushioned seat, forcing his expression back into its neutral state.
"And why's that?" asked the skeptical hedgehog. "You weren't exactly missing the life of the party."
She swallowed her sip of champagne and responded candidly, "I wanted to spend time with you! Just because we work together sometimes, doesn't mean I want our personal relationship to be based on that. Some days I'd like to see you socializing with the rest of us; you know, shoot the shit every once in a while?"
A breathy chuckle escaped Shadow's lips before he could stop it, taken a bit off guard by her straightforward answer and the informal wording in her honesty. There were many things Rouge was good at, and speaking her mind was a big one; he could always expect her to combat his cynical view point with a casually thoughtful response that instantly challenged his dour outlook. Her quick wits were part of what made her so intriguing, and he had to give her credit for that.
"Alright," uttered the hedgehog, swirling the yellow-orange drink in his glass. "I get it. I'll think about making an appearance to some of these holiday events you like to attend. Is that good enough?"
Rouge gracefully clutched her champagne glass with both hands and grinned softly, her bright eyes staring into his. "Hey, if you're willing to make an effort, I'll take it! And I hope you know what I'm all about in saying this. I just don't want you to miss out on all the fun these kind of get-togethers have to offer. I know you like to believe they're a waste of time, but just trust me; chances are, you'll make some great new memories if you expand your lifestyle."
"Yeah, sure," Shadow quipped, teasing her a bit. "I still have so much to learn from you, don't I?"
The elegant bat laughed, one hand raising to her muzzle as her eyes closed. It made his smile widen, and he prepared to give her the surprise that'd been waiting to be revealed. When her laughter subsided to a chuckle, Rouge let out a sigh and began coyly primping one of her curled locks while looking at her drink. Shadow decided to take a few gulps of his chilled sparkling wine once she raised her glass for another sip, then heard a restrained exclamation resonate from the young lady's closed mouth, as if she had just gotten an idea.
"I can't believe I almost forgot," she spoke, then placed her drink on the bar top before excitedly clasping both hands in her lap and leaning towards him. "Have you got my present?"
The enticingly mysterious man lowered his own glass and smiled at her once more, feeding into her anticipation as he nodded and reached behind his back. Rouge looked down and saw in his strong gloved grip a violet Chaos Emerald; her eyes widened drastically and her jaw dropped when he held it out towards her. The gem glimmered in countless hues of purple, bringing a sparkle to her eyes as she gasped.
The bat's left hand shot up to cover her lips. "Shadow! A Chaos Emerald?!"
He didn't add to her reaction – though Rouge's elated expression did make him feel good about his gift choice – instead calmly saying, "I know you like them."
Her twinkling teal orbs were glued to the emerald as she used both hands to scoop it from Shadow's palm. She praised, "I love it! I wasn't expecting something this nice! A gorgeous Chaos Emerald... how did you even find it?"
The jewel-lover's gaze switched to Shadow, her grin unwavering while he spoke, "I used my own to scout out its location. It really wasn't that difficult to track down."
Despite the hedgehog downplaying the effort he put into obtaining her favorite gem, Rouge took it as the ultimate sign that he cared about the present she received; at least enough to think about what she would want more than anything. Her left hand floated to her cheek and her lids lowered, eyes still sparkling at him.
"Well, nothing can compare to this!" she said gratefully. "It's the best present I've ever gotten!"
Shadow turned to grab his drink from the bar top, lifting it and responding casually, "Don't mention it."
As he raised the glass to his lips, Rouge leaned forward and planted an unexpected kiss on his cheek, making the hedgehog halt. Surprised, he stared at her while she verbalized her appreciation.
"Thank you so much, Shadow." She looked at the gem again and added, "I think I know the perfect place for you, my precious jewel."
The quiet, stolid lifeform felt a warmness in his heart seeing Rouge so happy, and he let a genuine smile touch his lips before taking a drink and truly enjoying the citrusy taste of bubbly champagne.