On this cloudy spring day, Shadow the Hedgehog was spending time in his room at the mansion of his best friend Rouge the Bat. In the past, he would've been content to be a drifter, but considering Rouge had been so persistently kind and understanding towards him, he enjoyed sharing mealtimes and other activities with her. At the moment, though, he was more interested in listening to music by himself, so he broke out a copy of Metallica's Kill 'Em All – an original Megaforce Records vinyl pressing, no less – put it on the turntable of his Crosley CR704 combo player and put the needle in position. Within seconds, his room was filled with the loud, fast, heavy sound of "Hit the Lights", and Shadow not only made the "devil's horn" gesture with his left hand, but he headbanged to the music. Though he really enjoyed attending heavy metal concerts, listening to his favorite music at home also satisfied his need for metal power.

By the second verse, Shadow's Hedgehog Sense tingled, and were it not for this, he wouldn't have known to stop the music. Having done so, he went to see who had alerted him: it was Rouge, wearing a long white nightshirt with a big pink heart on the front, similar to the breastplate of the bodysuit she usually wore. In contrast to her usual disposition, she was frowning.

"Hello, Rouge. What can I do for you?"

"Shaddy, could you please turn your music down?"

Shadow crossed his arms. "And what's wrong with it?"

Rouge put her fists on her hips. "Shaddy, I can hear your angry metal music all the way over in my room!"

"So?"

"Some of us are trying to get their beauty sleep today, you know!"

"Listen, Mother, if my music's too loud, you're too old."

Rouge reached out for Shadow. "Oh, that does it, buster!"

Rouge tackled Shadow.

"ROUGE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA TICKLES!"

"Oh, I'm old, am I!? Very smart thing to say to your mommy!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STAHP THIS!"

"No! You have to be punished for sassing me!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I DON'T DESERVE THIS!"

"Don't act all innocent, Shaddy! You know what you did!"

"BUT I…AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Who's your mommy!? Who's your mommy!?"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU ARE!"

"That's right, and while you're living here, you obey ME!"

"OK, I'LL OBEY YOU! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Yes, and you'll take the tickles!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE STAHP!"

"You think I'm done with you? Well, just watch me!"

"Um…"

Already very green-faced and tingly, Shadow wondered what Rouge had in store for him next. When she turned around to face the other way and grabbed his foot, he knew.

"Unfortunately for you, I know exactly how to get your shoes off!" Rouge smiled.

After undoing the Inhibitor Rings on his ankles, Rouge pulled off Shadow's shoes and socks.

"Rouge…um…you don't have to…AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"But I DO! You've been a bad, naughty boy!"

"PLEASE DON'T TICKLE MY FEET! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Sorry, but no amount of pleading is going to stop me from tickling those little hedgie feet of yours!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OH MY GOD!"

"Say, Shaddy…are you ticklish behind the knee, too?"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOT THAT!"

"YES! This is so much fun!"

"MAYBE FOR YOU! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Don't deny it, Shaddy! You and I both know you love tickles!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! WHY!?"

"You know why!"

"PLEASE! PLEASE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! STAHP!"

"OK, I'll stop tickling you, but on one condition…"

"W…what?"

"Promise me you'll never crank your metal up that loud again?"

"But metal is meant to be played loud."

"WHAT!?"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OK! I WON'T PLAY IT THAT LOUD!"

"That's better!"

Rouge stopped tickling Shadow. She did, however, lie down and cuddle him from behind.

"Rouge…w-what are you doing!? I promised you I wouldn't crank my metal up again!"

"Easy, boy! I just wanna cuddle with you!"

"OK…"

So, Shadow took a deep breath and put faith in Rouge not tickling him again. Even if he was still green in the face and feeling tingly, he genuinely enjoyed cuddling with her.

"Hey Rouge…"

"Yes, Shaddy?"

"Even if you are ruthless when it comes to tickling, I genuinely enjoy it. As a matter of fact, I actually consider it therapeutic."

"Oh really?"

"Sure, I may say 'stop' or stuff like that, but really, considering how much I hate life sometimes, I could use someone as beautiful as you to remind me of the good things."

Rouge's eyes widened. "Shaddy…did you just call me beautiful!?"

"I did. I didn't say it to flirt with you; I just wanted to let you know that you've been very good to me and I appreciate everything you've ever done for me."

"Shaddy…"

"Yes?"

Rouge let go of Shadow and stood up. "Please stand up."

Shadow stood up.

"Come here!" said Rouge.

Shadow did so, and Rouge gave him a big hug, which he returned.

"Rouge the Bat…I love you. I don't mean that romantically, but…"

Rouge tightened her grip on Shadow a little. "Hey, it's OK! I know exactly what you meant! I love you too, Shadow the Hedgehog!"

Shadow smiled as he took in all of Rouge. Even if he did make her mad by tormenting her with thrash metal, he felt that it was worth it considering the payback she gave him. What really lit his fire was the fact that she always had that soft, warm, cuddly touch awaiting him no matter what. Similarly, Rouge was happy to provide her touch to Shadow. In spite of his bad boy image, she knew that deep down inside, he had a good heart and would never do anything to her out of pure malice. Besides, she loved the feeling of his quills and chest fur. Eventually, Rouge backed away from Shadow, but kept her hands on his shoulders.

"So, anything else I can do for you, you naughty little loverboy?"

Shadow smiled. "Actually, I don't really have anything planned today. As long as I get to do something that involves snuggling with you, I'll be happy."

Rouge smiled. "Oh, Shaddy!"

"Just let me put my record away first, OK?"

"OK!"

Shadow went to put his Metallica record away, while Rouge smiled, knowing that she could have him under her thumb whenever she wanted.


Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.